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The United States should not greenlight Chinese drugs while drowning American companies in red tape, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) said during an event with Breitbart News, highlighting the threats of China.
The post Exclusive – Sen. Cotton: U.S. Shouldn’t Greenlight Chinese Drugs While Drowning American Companies in Red Tape appeared first on Breitbart.

Key takeaways

Caring for a dog or cat is getting more expensive, with total costs often topping $50,000.
Many households rely on credit cards, savings or loans to cover unexpected vet bills.
Planning ahead with pet insurance or a dedicated emergency fund can make those costly bills easier to manage.

A surprise vet visit can end up costing thousands — and for many pet owners, the cost comes second to the care, even if it means draining an emergency fund or taking on debt.
The price of pet care is only climbing, with veterinary costs up roughly 43% since 2021, outpacing many household budgets. Routine costs alone now top $4,000 a year on average, according to research from Money.com and Healthy Paws Pet Insurance. Over a typical 12-year lifespan, that adds up to more than $50,000 —and that’s before factoring in unpredictable expenses or chronic conditions that can push that total much higher.
Faced with those costs, many pet owners say they’d rely on credit cards, loans or financing if they couldn’t afford care upfront — 38% say they put a vet bill on a credit card, while 20% would tap savings even if it meant draining them.

That may solve an immediate problem, but leaning on debt to pay for pet care can create lasting strain — especially when high interest rates turn a one-time vet visit into a lingering expense. And for many households, those costs aren’t one-time. About a quarter of pet owners with chronically ill animals report spending between $5,000 and $10,000 a year on care.
Many pet owners try to offset rising costs by shopping around for better prices, buying in bulk, grooming at home or switching to generic medications. But these strategies don’t address the biggest financial risk: unexpected medical bills.
“One of the biggest gaps I see in financial preparedness, especially with pet ownership, is that people plan for routine costs but not for the unexpected,” says Stacey Stark, a financial advisor and president at Aurelia Capital Advisors. “Pet owners will budget for food, grooming and basic care, but major medical events are often treated as unlikely instead of something that will probably happen over a lifetime.”
That disconnect often leads to reactive decisions in high-stress situations. “Relying on credit, savings or crowdfunding in those moments is not a plan; it’s a reaction.” Stark adds.
Experts say the best protection is to treat pet ownership like any other long-term financial responsibility and plan ahead. That means setting aside money in a pet-only emergency fund or using pet insurance to help prevent sudden medical bills from becoming major financial setbacks.
Among the respondents with pet insurance, roughly 75% say it has significantly reduced their out-of-pocket costs, while 87% report greater peace of mind when it comes to their pet’s health.
“At the end of the day, pets are not discretionary expenses,” says Stark. “They are living family members, and financial planning should reflect that reality.”

More from Money
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How Much is an Emergency Vet Visit?

As we navigate the mid-point of this decade, the landscape of achievement has shifted beneath our feet.
We find ourselves in the 2026 Paradox: a world where we have more artificial intelligence tools at our fingertips than ever before, yet the most valuable currency in the marketplace is no longer technical proficiency, it is human connection.
While algorithms can optimize our schedules, write our basic code, and even generate our marketing copy, they cannot replicate the nuanced, soulful, and intuitive qualities that define true leadership and lasting success.
To thrive in this environment, we must stop trying to out-compete the machines at what they do best and start doubling down on what makes us uniquely human.
The Human Edge is not a soft skill; in 2026, it is the hardest, most competitive advantage you can possess.
The Great Commoditization of Technical Skills
For decades, the path to success was paved with specialized technical knowledge. Whether it was mastering a specific software, understanding complex financial modeling, or learning a programming language, these hard skills were the gatekeepers to high-level opportunities.
However, the rapid advancement of generative AI and automated systems has commoditized these skills. What used to take a team of experts weeks to analyze can now be processed by an AI agent in seconds.
This shift doesn’t mean technical skills are irrelevant, but it does mean they are no longer the differentiator.
When everyone has access to the same powerful tools, the advantage goes to the person who knows how to lead, inspire, and connect. We are moving from an era of knowing to an era of relating.
The successful entrepreneur of 2026 is not the one with the most data, but the one with the most insight into the human experience.
Empathy as a High-Level Business Strategy
In the past, empathy was often dismissed as a nice-to-have trait, better suited for HR departments than the boardroom. In 2026, empathy has emerged as a core business strategy.
Why? Because in an automated world, customers and employees are starving for genuine connection. They don’t want to be treated as data points in a CRM; they want to be seen, heard, and understood.
Empathy allows you to anticipate the needs of your market before they even articulate them. It enables you to build a brand culture that attracts top talent because people feel valued for who they are, not just what they produce.
When you lead with empathy, you create a level of loyalty that no discount code or algorithm-driven recommendation can match. It is the foundation of trust, and in a fast-paced digital economy, trust is the only thing that doesn’t scale, which makes it incredibly valuable.
Intuition Over Information: The Power of the Gut
We are currently drowning in information but starving for wisdom. In 2026, the ability to make decisions in the face of ambiguity is a superpower. While AI can provide you with endless data visualizations and probability scores, it cannot provide you with gut feeling.
Intuition is the result of thousands of hours of human experience, subconscious pattern recognition, and emotional resonance.
Successful leaders in this era use data as a compass, but they use their intuition as the captain. They understand that the most important decisions, who to partner with, when to pivot, which vision to pursue, often defy logic.
Cultivating your intuition requires you to step away from the screen, quiet the noise of the digital world, and reconnect with your internal guidance system. It is the human ability to find meaning in chaos and direction in the unknown.
Resilient Adaptability: Finding Meaning in the Shift
The pace of change in 2026 is relentless. Technologies that were cutting-edge six months ago are already being phased out. In this environment, resilience is no longer just about toughing it out; it is about resilient adaptability.
This is the ability to not only bounce back from failure but to use that failure as the raw material for your next evolution.
Motivational success is often portrayed as a straight line upward, but the reality of 2026 is a series of pivots. Resilience is the mental fortitude to stay grounded when the ground is moving. It is the capacity to find a why that is stronger than any how.
When your sense of purpose is rooted in something deeper than your current business model or job title, you become unshakeable. You don’t just survive the shift; you lead it.
Practical Steps to Level Up Your Human Edge
If you want to sharpen your emotional intelligence and secure your success for the remainder of the decade, you must be intentional about your personal development. Here are three actionable steps you can take starting today:

Practice Radical Presence: In a world of constant notifications, giving someone your undivided attention is a rare gift. Whether it’s a client meeting or a dinner with family, put the phone away. Practice active listening, not just hearing the words, but sensing the emotion behind them.
Audit Your Self-Awareness: Spend ten minutes each morning in silence or journaling. Ask yourself: What am I feeling? Why am I reacting this way? The better you understand your own internal landscape, the better you can navigate the external world.
Foster Human-First Environments: If you lead a team, prioritize psychological safety. Encourage open dialogue and vulnerability. When people feel safe to be human, they perform at their highest level.

Conclusion: The Future is Human
Success in 2026 is not about becoming more like a machine; it is about becoming more human. The tools we use will continue to change, but the fundamental needs of the human heart, to be understood, to belong, and to contribute to something meaningful, remain constant.
By investing in your emotional intelligence, your intuition, and your resilience, you are future-proofing your career and your life. You are choosing to lead with soul in a world of silicon.
The algorithm may be powerful, but it will never have your heart, your vision, or your edge. Embrace your humanity, and you will find that the most successful version of yourself is the one that is most authentically you.
The post Why Emotional Intelligence is Your Secret Weapon for Success in 2026 appeared first on Addicted 2 Success.

The liberal brains at Time magazine really had to think hard to come up with a way to make Iranians look good and the Republicans look bad. So the top story of their Time.com newsletter today was: “The Iranians Stuck Between ICE Detention and Deportation to War-Torn Homeland.” Naturally, it’s a gay couple stuck in Trump’s cruel web. Reporter Philip Wang began: 

When Ali and Adel showed up at the southern border in El Paso, Texas in 2025 after traveling thousands of miles from Iran, they believed that America was a place of freedom and opportunity.

Instead, the Iranian gay couple found themselves in separate ICE detention facilities hundreds of miles apart, facing the threat of deportation back to Iran. TIME is using pseudonyms to protect their safety.

They always love using pseudonyms for any Trump “victims” because it makes them sound like they’re in great danger. Liberal outlets love to use this for pro-Hamas protesters and ICE-busting radicals, too. 

The couple, one in his late 30s and the other in his early 40s, fled Iran for Turkey in 2021 after being arrested by Iran’s morality police who opened a criminal investigation into their relationship—same-sex activity is punishable by death in Iran. Soon after, fearing for their safety, they left Turkey for Mexico and eventually arrived in the U.S.

The next obvious step in this publicity is to run all the defense lawyer’s talking points: 

Wolf said Adel’s condition is particularly alarming. He suffered severe organ damage after the couple was attacked in Mexico en route to the U.S., and has since lost a significant amount of weight and experienced fainting episodes while in detention.

“He’s incredibly frail, to the point where he could no longer ambulate. He couldn’t walk because of the pain,” Wolf said. “He had to have other detainees pick him up and carry him to the bathroom and to the shower, which was incredibly distressing.”

Then comes the data points of an anti-Trump project from professors at UCLA and UC-Berkeley: 

Ali and Adel are among hundreds of Iranians facing an impossible choice: remaining in a U.S. immigration system increasingly defined by mass deportation, or returning to an authoritarian regime that represses its citizens. According to data from the Deportation Data Project, ICE arrested at least 432 Iranians in 2025, more than half of whom had neither been convicted of a crime nor were facing pending criminal charges at the time of their arrest.

If either of these poor unfortunate souls had any criminal record, you wouldn’t know, since they’re kept pseudonymous. 

The second item in this “news” letter also seemed more like a press release: “Here’s Which Cities Are Likely to Host the Biggest No Kings Protests.” Chantelle Lee touted the Saturday protests against evil Trump: “This Saturday could be the largest day of domestic political protest in U.S. history, according to event organizers.” Left-wing protests are often presented in the rosy view of “event organizers.”  

On Friday’s CNN This Morning, Audie Cornish introduced a segment on lawsuits against social media companies declaring: “This week, one woman received justice in her fight against Big Tech.”

Not a verdict or a jury award—but “justice,” equating the verdict with justice itself. The anti-corporate tilt is on.

The segment highlighted a recent jury decision holding Meta and YouTube liable in a case involving a young woman’s mental health. It also featured prominent trial lawyer Mark Lanier, who said the verdict sent a message that companies “will be held accountable,” that “so many families” have been harmed—and that more cases are coming.

The program spotlighted a $6 million verdict and aired Lanier’s comments, even as his firm says it has recovered “over $20 billion” for clients and typically charges whopping contingency fees of “between 33 and 40%” of recoveries.

Cornish added that the case could be “just the tip of the iceberg,” noting that thousands of similar lawsuits are pending—suggesting a potentially massive wave of litigation.

She then turned to plaintiff Tammy Rodriguez, whose 11-year-old daughter died by suicide in 2021, and asked about criticism from a Wall Street Journal editorial describing such cases as a “social media shakedown” benefiting trial lawyers more than families.

Rodriguez rejected that characterization, insisting the lawsuits are not financially motivated.

“The attorneys that we have been involved with are not out there for the money,” she said. “It’s not about the money for any of us actually. As hard as it is for people to hear that or they don’t want to believe us, this is about accountability.”

WATCH: CNN Guest Claims Lawyers Suing Social Media “Not Out There for the Money” pic.twitter.com/VKE1525AYN
— Mark Finkelstein (@markfinkelstein) March 27, 2026

Rodriguez acknowledged skepticism about that claim, noting that “people say this is a drop in the bucket,” but argued that financial penalties are necessary because companies “only feel it in their pocket.”

Against that backdrop, the claim that lawyers “are not out there for the money” is difficult to square with a system in which firms tout tens of billions in recoveries while taking substantial contingency fees—and where, as CNN itself noted, thousands of additional cases are still to come.

Cornish closed by asking Rodriguez about her daughter’s “legacy going forward.”

Rodriguez said her mission is now to “educate families,” adding: “If I had known, Selena would still be here.”

Even as Rodriguez acknowledged that many people question the claim that these lawsuits aren’t about money, CNN presented the case as “justice”—without exploring the scale of the litigation or the financial incentives driving it.

Here’s the transcript.

CNN This Morning
3/27/26
6:21 am EDT

AUDIE CORNISH: So, this week, one woman received justice in her fight against Big Tech. A jury found Meta and YouTube liable on all counts in a case accusing them of intentionally addicting the now 20-year-old woman and harming her mental health. 

MARK LANIER: This message is one that’s important to Kaley and her family. But it’s of very great importance to a generation of people who have been affected. There are so many families who’ve been tragically hurt through the addiction of social media. And we’ve sent a message with this that you will be held accountable. 
CORNISH: All right, so this case could be just the tip of the iceberg. There are thousands more just like it and more trials expected this year. 

Some of the plaintiffs aren’t even alive for their day in court, and that includes the daughter of Tammy Rodriguez. Her 11-year-old daughter, Selena, died by suicide in 2021. And Tammy has a pending lawsuit against several social media companies, accusing them of being responsible for her daughter’s death, claiming dangerous features on the apps that drove her to tragedy. 

Her mother, Tammy Rodriguez, is here now. Tammy, welcome back. Thank you so much for being with us. 

TAMMY RODRIGUEZ: Thank you for having me back. 

CORNISH: I had talked to you, I think, one or two years ago when the Supreme Court was doing a ruling along the lines of this case, a little bit different legally. And at that time, you all basically lost. So what was it like to be in this courtroom where a verdict was read in your favor? 

RODRIGUEZ: It was incredible. You know, I was there for the day that Mark Zuckerberg did testify. Unfortunately, that’s the only day I was able to be there for. 

But to hear him have to testify facing us this time. Wwhen we were in this you know, in Congress before, he faced away from us. 

This time he had to face us while he testified under oath, and that was huge for us parents. That’s a win in itself. 

. . . 

CORNISH: One of the things I noticed, the Wall Street Journal editorial page, their reaction was, the social media shakedown begins.” And they treated this ruling as something that they say is a victory for the lawyers who want to sue, not for the kids, not for the families. What’s your reaction to that? 

RODRIGUEZ: That’s 100% wrong. That, 100%, because I can tell you the attorneys that we have been involved with are not out there for the money. 

They’ve been able to put us in, in situations where they can enable us to meet, um, whether it be government, whether it be, you know, media or things so that we can educate, we can spread awareness. 

They’ve helped us to perform this parent network. It’s not about the money for any of us actually. As hard as it is for people to hear that or they don’t want to believe us, this is about accountability. 

Unfortunately, with Big Tech, they only feel it in their pocket. I understand that most people say this is a drop in the bucket, but this is only one case, and there’s so many more to come. 

CORNISH: What does this mean for your case, and are you thinking about what you want for Selena’s legacy going forward? 

RODRIGUEZ: Well, our case is in the federal court. We’re in the MDL. So we still have a while until we get in there. But I will continue for the rest of my life. That has become my mission is to educate families to these things that I had no idea about. And if I had known, Selena would still be here. 

“The View” guest host Abby Huntsman argued on Friday that Democrats should focus on promoting the future they actually want to offer the American people instead of obsessing over President Donald Trump.The co-hosts of “The View” were discussing how multiple potential Democratic presidential candidates have been simultaneously opening up in interviews about their past traumas, in what appears to be a bid to appear relatable. The panel was divided about using one’s past traumas as a tool to win over political support. Co-host Joy Behar argued that, according to a book by his niece, Trump grew up in a dysfunctional family with a bad father and an absent mother, but he himself has refused to treat or confront his past traumas like those Democrats have.Huntsman argued in response that people should stop obsessing with Trump.JOY BEHAR CLAIMS UNDER OBAMA THERE WAS ‘NOTHING TO MAKE FUN OF’ FOR COMEDIANS”I was just going to say, with Democrats, they have a huge opportunity here. If you look at polling, no one is a clear front-runner. This is sort of a moment in time of like, you’ve lost to Trump twice. People are really looking for someone who’s going to rise up, who’s going to be that inspirational leader,” she said.Hunstman continued, “Some people say, ‘Let’s attack Trump even more.’ I think the opposite. I would love nothing more than to not hear that name again and to move on to the future of this country.”STEPHEN A SMITH LOCKS HORNS WITH WHOOPI, SAYS DEMS MUST FOCUS ON AFFORDABILITY AND SAFETY, NOT CULTURE WARShe went on to criticize Democrats who are suggesting, “‘Let’s go after the family, let’s go after the fraud,’” arguing instead, “It’s like, we’ve been there. Who goes in the sewer with Trump and comes out looking better?  That’s not the way to go.””Everything he touches dies,” Behar joked. “There’s a book with that title. Melania wrote it,” she quipped.Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and did not receive an immediate reply.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is slashing the number of faith code affiliations at the Pentagon from over 200 to just 31. “The previous system had ballooned to well over 200 faith codes… It was impractical and unusable, and many codes were never used at all,” Hegseth said in a Wednesday announcement posted on X. Hegseth said that most service members, 82% of whom say they are religious, use only six of the codes.HEGSETH ORDERS ABOUT FACE ON PENTAGON’S SLIPPING GROOMING STANDARDSThe Secretary of War said he is streamlining the number of faith code affiliations down to just 31. “This brings the codes in line with its original purpose, giving chaplains clear, usable information so they can minister to service members in a way that aligns with that service member’s faith background and religious practice,” Hegseth said. Another change Hegseth announced was directing military chaplains to replace the rank insignia featured on their uniforms with their religious insignia.PETE HEGSETH SETS UP ‘LONG OVERDUE’ CHANNEL FOR GOLD STAR FAMILIES TO INFLUENCE POLICYHe said, “A chaplain is first and foremost a chaplain, and an officer second. This change is a visual representation of that fact.” Hegseth added, “Specifically unique to the role of a chaplain, they are first and foremost called and ordained by God. And, while they will retain rank as an officer to those they serve, their rank will not be visible.” He said these changes are just the beginning.HEGSETH BLASTS BRITS, SAYS IRAN’S CHAOTIC RETALIATION HAS DRIVEN ITS OWN ALLIES ‘INTO THE AMERICAN ORBIT'”These two reforms are big progress, but we’re not even close to being done. These are the first steps toward restoring the esteemed position of chaplain as moral anchors of our fighting force,” Hegseth said.”Theirs is a high and sacred calling, but they can only be successful if they are given the freedom to boldly guide and care for their flock,” he added.

President Trump’s willingness to de-escalate the Iran conflict has kept stocks from even larger losses in March — but is he losing his grip on markets?

DARK SECRETS: ‘Lovers’ Lane’ murders suspect nabbed decades after couple found dead in carJUSTICE AT LAST: Accused Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann expected to plead guilty in murder caseSECURITY BREACH: Savannah Guthrie reveals new details in mom’s disappearance that don’t add up as questions haunt case, expert saysMURKY WATERS: Jimmy Gracey’s death deemed accidental after vanishing on spring break in Barcelona, police sayLISTEN TO THE NEW ‘CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO’ PODCASTGONE OFF KEY: Ex-‘American Idol’ contestant faces new charges over alleged murder of wife in Ohio homeBADGE BETRAYAL: Judge lets ex-police officer walk after she denied pointing gun at fellow cop who shot her in home standoffLIVING NIGHTMARE: ‘House of horrors’ suspect accused of holding stepson captive hit with new charges as she denies allegationsFOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON XDEADLY REVENGE: Ex-girlfriend, 3 others nabbed in killing tied to alleged murder-for-hire plot in ‘unusual’ case, police sayDIGITAL TORMENT: Shanann Watts’ father says family faced years of ‘evil’ online hate after Chris Watts murdersSIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER KILLER PLOT TWIST: Juror says Kouri Richins sympathy flipped after trial exposed kids’ book author’s plot to kill husband: reportTROUBLE IN PARADISE: Jurors shown bodycam of doctor’s bloody wife, rock he allegedly used to bash her in cliffside attack’SENSELESS VIOLENCE’: American worker shot, killed in Bahamas as senior officer charged with murder: police

Former “Superman” actor Dean Cain has swapped capes for badges.At this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the 60-year-old former “Lois & Clark” star doubled down on his decision to join U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a move he made in August 2025.”I’m Dean Cain, and some of you might be wondering why a former Superman actor is on stage at CPAC? Well, the answer is simple,” he told the Texas crowd. “It’s because I believe in truth, justice and the American way.”As Cain was met with a roaring crowd, he outlined what “the American way” meant to him.DEAN CAIN FIRES BACK AT ETHAN HAWKE’S CLAIM AMERICA IS NO LONGER A FREE COUNTRY FOR CELEBRITIES”Number one, individual rights… Number two, equality of opportunity, not outcome. That means no DEI, no CRT. And yes, on merit – no matter your race, your religion, your social status, it doesn’t matter, you earn it.”Cain, who has been vocal about his conservative views for years, continued, “Number three, competition. The ability to compete fairly without the government getting in your way. No men in women’s sports.”‘SUPERMAN’ ACTOR DEAN CAIN BECOMES ICE AGENT TO SUPPORT ‘VILIFIED’ OFFICERS ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAWHe then shifted gears from philosophy to action. He called out pushes to “defund the police” and “defund ICE.””Now, the theme here today is action, not words. And right now, I’m giving you a bunch of words. So what about action? Well, when extremists on the left screamed ‘defund the police,’ I joined law enforcement. When the leftists shrieked, as they are shrieking now, ‘defund ICE,’ I joined ICE.”LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSCain didn’t hold back on his take on Hollywood either.BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN DROPS ANTI-ICE SONG AFTER MINNEAPOLIS SHOOTINGS”And when Hollywood said, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re a conservative, you’re canceled,’ I said, ‘You know what? We’re going to create a new platform called Proud American Studios, and I’m going to do a podcast called “The Homeland,” and I’m going to celebrate the United States of America, the greatest nation the world has ever known.’”The crowd erupted in applause and chants of “U-S-A.””And we’re going to fight. We’re going to fight to keep it that way. So truth, justice and the American way, OK? God bless you all for being here.”Cain’s decision to join ICE wasn’t about politics — it was personal.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERHe’s been involved in law enforcement for nearly a decade, first as a deputy sheriff, then as a reserve police officer. But it was the criticism of ICE agents that pushed him to take further action.”Our ICE agents, who are amazing men and women, are incredible. And they’re black, and they are brown and green and yellow and Japanese and whatever. They’re a cross-section of Americans,” Cain previously told Fox News Digital. “They are doing their job, the job that Congress wrote the laws for them to support and uphold, and they’re doing the job of deporting people who are here illegally.”He continued to explain his stance on illegal immigration.”If you’re a legal citizen here in this country, no worries, you’re great, but if you’re here illegally, you’ve broken the law to begin with.”He argued that ICE agents deserve respect for doing the job that many are too afraid to do.”The fact that these men and women who are doing their jobs are getting vilified, I had to stand up with them and for them because I think it takes people standing up to change the culture.”