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Netflix helped train viewers to stop watching television on a schedule.Now it may be borrowing from the old TV playbook.Netflix (NFLX) is apparently considering always-on live channels that would stream programming all the time so users would have something to watch 24/7 without having to pick a certain episode or movie, according to a recent exclusive from The Wall Street Journal. The corporation is also exploring streaming bundles, with Peacock mentioned as a possible partner.The surface story is simple: Netflix wants new methods to keep people viewing.The streamer could be transitioning from a simple on-demand service to a wider entertainment utility, one built around binge-watching series, live events, short-form video, games, bundles, and even traditional background TV.That’s important because Netflix’s next growth phase will be about more than just acquiring subscribers. It’s about extending people’s time and monetizing more of that time through advertising.Netflix says it wants to be “the first place people go for entertainment and the last they cancel.” The Wall Street Journal story lends further credence to the narrative.Netflix’s live-channel idea is really about engagementNetflix is still in a strong position.The company, in its shareholder letter, reported that revenue jumped 16% in the first quarter year over year and that operating income was up 18%. It reaffirmed its 2026 revenue guidance of $50.7 billion to $51.7 billion with an operating margin of 31.5%. Netflix also said advertising revenue was still on track to hit $3 billion in 2026, about tripling year over year.Those are good figures, but they do not remove the question of engagement.Now, Netflix is reportedly testing live channels. This comes as the firm also experiments with short-form video, video podcasts, and a new game tool to boost younger viewers’ engagement. Netflix has been more worried about audience decreases between first and second seasons of many original shows, while Nielsen statistics revealed Netflix accounted for 7.8% of TV viewing in April, The Wall Street Journal noted.This is why always-on channels are more engaging than they sound, and not because cable was better. It did do one thing well, however: It made viewing passive.On-demand streaming is strong, but it demands a decision. Viewers launch the app, scroll through rows of recommendations, select one, dismiss another, and occasionally go away without watching much of anything.Always-on channels cut down on that friction. They give customers a lean-back alternative, just like cable channels, Pluto TV, Tubi, and other free ad-supported services. For investors, that might imply more viewing time, more ad impressions, and more opportunities to protect Netflix from becoming an app people only open for big releases.Netflix’s ad business gives the idea a financial purposeThe live-channel concept matters because advertising is becoming a more important part of Netflix’s growth story.Netflix said in its Q1 shareholder letter that growth in the first quarter was boosted by rising ad revenue and that its ad revenue is still on track to double to $3 billion by 2026. The business claimed it is also working on better monetization, as well as providing additional entertainment value and employing technology to improve the service.More Tech:Microsoft may be done making Xbox cheapIBM handed two major wins within 24 hoursSpaceX’s 32% crash may force Musk into radical moveAlways-on channels could fit that strategy.Live television generally doesn’t let viewers skip ads, which might be a boon for Netflix’s ad business. Always-on channels will place Netflix in closer competition with free, ad-supported streaming providers like Pluto TV and Tubi, TechCrunch reported.That competitive set is critical.Netflix has long been valued as the streaming winner because it scaled subscription entertainment better than competitors. But subscriptions are not the sole combat arena. There’s also a battle for attention.YouTube, TikTok, Tubi, Pluto TV, Disney+, Amazon, and traditional TV all contend for the same hours in a viewer’s day. Always-on channels would give Netflix another advantage in that competition. It would also add additional inventory for advertising.A hit show can create strong engagement, but only for a limited time. A live channel, on the other hand, can be broadcast 24/7. If Netflix can leverage its recommendation engine to construct smart channels around genres, franchises, moods, or audience categories, it may develop a more repeatable ad product.That’s the favorable case, although the risk is that Netflix looks less differentiated.

Netflix’s next ad push could look surprisingly familiar.Shutterstock

Netflix is becoming less like one app and more like a bundleThe reported bundle discussions may be just as important as the live-channel idea.Netflix is contemplating bundles like those from Apple and Amazon and is reportedly looking at Peacock as a prospective partner. That hints at another strategic pivot.Netflix took years to prove it could win on its own. Now the market could be forcing streamers back into aggregation.Consumers have too many subscriptions to manage. Media businesses are looking to lower churn. Streaming platforms want to be the default destination, not one app among many.A Netflix bundle might assist with that. If the platform can become the home base for new services, it might boost retention and give users fewer reasons to cancel. That would be in line with Netflix’s declared objective of being the first place consumers think of for entertainment and the last place they leave.It would also shift Netflix closer to the role Amazon plays via Prime Video Channels, or the model Apple uses via Apple TV distribution.The challenge is whether Netflix can bring on partners without watering down its brand.The reason Netflix is so powerful is its simplicity. A bundle technique may add value, but may also make the experience more challenging if not done well.Key takeaways for Netflix investorsNetflix is reportedly considering always-on live channels that would continuously stream programming.The move would give Netflix a more passive, lean-back viewing option.Always-on channels could support Netflix’s ad business because live-style programming is harder to skip.Netflix expects ad revenue to reach $3 billion in 2026, roughly double the prior year.The company is also reportedly exploring bundles, with Peacock among the services discussed.The bigger investor question is whether Netflix can increase engagement without losing the simplicity that made it dominant.Those criteria make this a non-rumor product.Netflix is facing the same dilemma that every media firm grapples with: how to keep people in its ecosystem in a never-ending ocean of entertainment alternatives.The corporation has outgrown its original streaming brand. It includes live events, games, advertising, short-form experiments, and a growing focus on social and community signals, including the purchase of Letterboxd.Always-on channels would fit that larger pattern, without replacing Netflix’s top shows. It would make the service more routine between large releases.Netflix’s next act may look more like televisionNetflix doesn’t have to become cable to expand. But it may have to take back part of what cable accomplished successfully.Cable was a habit. Always not knowing what they wanted, viewers switched it on. Channels created background viewing, discovery, and exposure to ads again and again. But streaming destroyed that model, and each individual viewing session became more dependent on choice.The corporation may find some advantage in mixing both worlds, as Netflix’s alleged always-on channel proposal shows.The investment case is whether Netflix can make that blend work. If always-on channels enhance viewing time, support ad revenue, and reduce churn, they might significantly contribute to the business. If they feel busy, it may signal that Netflix is seeking engagement at the expense of product clarity.The company remains healthy financially, and its ad business is still growing rapidly. But the apparent push into live channels and packages demonstrates that even Netflix is not immune to the focus.The silent message to investors is simple: Netflix won streaming by replacing television.Its next development phase may rest on bringing back just enough TV to keep consumers from drifting away.Related: Netflix adding lifestyle content to win viewers’ attention

Eye drops are related to one of the body’s most sensitive areas, making any possible product contamination especially concerning.However, the latest eye-drop recall differs from many of the warnings consumers may remember involving over-the-counter artificial tears.This recall affects a prescription corticosteroid commonly used after eye surgery or to treat inflammatory eye conditions.Lupin Pharmaceuticals is voluntarily recalling more than 2.5 million bottles of Prednisolone Acetate Ophthalmic Suspension, USP, 1%.The recall is because of the “presence of foreign substance,” according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration enforcement report.The FDA report did not identify the substance or provide additional information about how it was discovered in the public recall record.The company initiated the nationwide recall in June, and the FDA classified it as a Class II recall on June 30. The recall remains ongoing.Eye drop recall covers three bottle sizesThe recall covers 2,530,182 bottles manufactured by Lupin Limited at its Pithampur, India, facility.The affected prescription eye drops were sold in three sizes:5-milliliter bottles with NDC 70748-332-0210-milliliter bottles with NDC 70748-332-0315-milliliter bottles with NDC 70748-332-04Numerous lots are included, with expiration dates ranging from July 31, 2026, through March 31, 2028.More Recalls:FDA recall raises concern over blood pressure drugHonda’s million-vehicle recall hits core SUVs and trucksJeep owners should take immediate action to avoid huge riskBecause the recall involves roughly 190 separate lots, consumers should not assume a bottle is affected solely by its product name or appearance. Patients need to compare the NDC, lot number, bottle size, and expiration date with the FDA’s complete recall list.The FDA has classified the action as Class II, its second-highest recall category.A Class II designation means using the product could cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences, while the probability of serious health consequences is considered remote.That does not mean every bottle is contaminated or that everyone who used the medication will experience a health problem. It signals that the product does not meet the required standards and is being removed from distribution.

The FDA recalls 2.5 million bottles of eye drops.SelectStock / Getty Images

Patients should check the lot before changing treatmentPrednisolone acetate is a topical corticosteroid used to control inflammation affecting the conjunctiva, cornea, and other parts of the eye.It is also routinely prescribed following procedures such as cataract surgery. Some patients use it several times daily for weeks or months, while people recovering from certain procedures, including corneal transplants, may require longer treatment.UC Davis ophthalmologist Jeffrey Ma described it as “one of the most widely prescribed topical corticosteroid eye drops.”“It is commonly used to treat inflammatory eye conditions, such as iritis and uveitis, which are a group of diseases that cause inflammation of the iris and other surrounding structures inside the eye,” added Ma.Patients whose bottles appear on the recall list should contact their prescribing physician or pharmacist immediately to arrange a replacement, according to UC Davis Health.Prednisolone products that are not made by Lupin or whose lot numbers are not included in the recall are not part of this action. No adverse events connected to the current Lupin recall had been reported as of July 13.Related: 44-year-old mall retailer quietly closes 28 stores

Micron Technology (MU) just took a financial stake in a wafer supplier that most investors have never heard of.On paper, it reads like a routine line item inside a much larger spending announcement. Wedbush Securities says it’s something else: an early signal that the AI memory boom is about to hit a shortage nobody has priced in yet.Micron’s $3 billion bet on semiconductor raw materialsMicron revealed on July 9 that it plans to invest up to $3 billion to strengthen the U.S. semiconductor supply chain, according to a press release.The centerpiece is a $500 million strategic financing package for GlobalWafers, the Taiwan-based silicon wafer maker building a 300mm facility in Sherman, Texas.The two companies are also signing a 10-year supply agreement, giving Micron locked-in access to the raw silicon wafers that every chip gets etched onto.Related: Veteran analyst drops massive Micron valuation predictionThe Sherman plant is the sole domestic source for advanced 300mm wafers under the CHIPS for America Program, GlobalWafers CEO Doris Hsu noted in Micron’s announcement, underscoring how thin the current supply cushion really is.Micron now plans to spend more than $250 billion in the U.S. through 2035, up from the $200 billion it pledged in June 2025, according to DataCenterDynamics.Investors liked what they saw at first, with Micron shares rising almost 5% the day of the announcement, CNBC reported.

Micron’s $500 million GlobalWafers stake secures 10-year access to the wafer supply Wedbush calls the industry’s “next AI bottleneck.”MirageC / Getty Images

Wedbush says the real chipmaking story is upstreamFour days later, Wedbush analyst Matt Bryson reframed the deal for clients. He wrote that the GlobalWafers investment points to Micron treating raw wafer access, not just finished memory chips, as a potential chokepoint for the industry, according to a Seeking Alpha report.Bryson’s logic centers on timing. Memory and logic chipmakers are all scaling capacity at once, and that capacity needs raw wafers before it needs anything else.He expects wafer demand to climb sharply as those investments ramp between 2028 and 2030, according to the same report.That framing marks a shift from where most of 2026’s supply chain anxiety has focused. The industry has spent the year worried about packaging capacity and high-bandwidth memory output.Bryson’s note pushes the bottleneck conversation one step further back in the chain, to the raw material underneath everything else.It is also a different kind of scarcity than the shortage that rattled chipmakers in 2021. That episode stemmed from a shortfall in finished logic capacity that could be fixed in quarters.A raw wafer constraint sits further upstream, and expanding that kind of capacity typically takes years, not quarters.Manufacturing advanced 300mm silicon wafers is less about simple scaling and more about extreme physics.Producers must grow flawless, single-crystal silicon ingots that are entirely free of structural defects, a process requiring immense energy stability and cleanroom environments that make standard semiconductor fabs look forgiving.Because the technical barrier to entry is so high and the machinery required to slice, polish, and test these atomic-scale surfaces is tightly monopolized, spinning up a new wafer facility isn’t a matter of buying more equipment.It requires massive capital expenditure and years of microscopic calibration before a single commercial wafer can even be shipped.Why Micron stock didn’t celebrate this timeHere’s the part most coverage of the Wedbush note left out. Micron shares were down about 4% on July 13, the same session the note circulated, according to TipRanks. The drop had nothing to do with GlobalWafers.SK Hynix shares had cratered 15% in Seoul after a South Korean brokerage flagged weaker-than-expected second-quarter profit tied to slower HBM4 shipments.More Micron:Veteran analyst drops massive Micron valuation predictionIs Micron Technology a good long-term investment? What buy-and-hold investors should knowTokyo puts billions behind Micron’s chip planThe warning landed days after SK Hynix’s $26.5 billionWall Street debut, the largest-ever U.S. listing by a foreign company, and it dragged memory stocks down across the board.Bryson isn’t backing off Micron, despite the broader sell-off. He rates the stock outperform with a $1,400 price target, implying roughly 50% upside from current levels, according to TipRanks.Wall Street’s consensus is even more bullish, with 28 buy ratings against a single hold and an average price target near $1,564, according to the same source.The AI memory bottleneck keeps moving upstreamZoom out, and Micron’s wafer bet fits a pattern that has defined this entire AI buildout cycle.Every time one constraint gets solved, whether it’s fabrication capacity, advanced packaging or power availability, the industry finds the next one sitting just behind it.Silicon wafers are a particularly tight chokepoint to inherit. Five suppliers, including GlobalWafers, control roughly 80% of global wafer revenue, Fortune Business Insights noted.That concentration means Micron’s financing deal is about more than one Texas facility. It’s about locking in supply before every other memory and logic maker chasing the same 2028-to-2030 capacity wave comes asking for the same wafers.If Bryson is right, wafer availability becomes the next line item investors have to track alongside HBM output and packaging capacity.The companies locking in raw materials now, not just chip capacity, may be the ones with the real head start when the 2028 crunch actually arrives.Related: 5-star analyst sets bold SpaceX stock price target

The average American family looking to buy a home right now is dealing with prices that haven’t meaningfully come down, mortgage rates that are still punishing, and a market where there simply aren’t enough homes to go around. It’s a problem that’s been building for years, and Washington has mostly watched it get worse.That changed on July 11. Congress passed a housing bill so bipartisan it almost didn’t need a president. Trump refused to sign it anyway. He wanted Congress to pass a voter ID bill first. The deadline came and went, and the housing bill became law without him.What the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act actually doesThe name stands for Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream. The law covers 12 titles and 60 sections drawing from over 60 separate pieces of legislation, 36 of which had bipartisan sponsors, according to BPC.The core idea is supply. More homes, faster to build, cheaper to finance, easier to approve. Experts who study housing policy have been saying for years that demand-side tools like down payment assistance don’t fix an affordability problem caused by not building enough homes. This law is trying to fix the supply side.It exempts certain smaller housing projects from federal environmental reviews that have historically slowed construction for months or years. It allows pre-approved home designs so builders can move through the permitting process faster. It expands manufactured housing support, lifts the Rental Assistance Demonstration program cap by 100,000 units, and raises FHA loan limits for multifamily housing. It authorizes the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program for three years. It also includes nine of the 12 community banking provisions the House had added.Why experts say don’t expect housing prices to drop anytime soonThe law is real. The relief will be slow. Experts told CNBC that homebuyers and sellers shouldn’t expect fast change. Housing markets don’t respond to legislation the way financial markets respond to Fed decisions. Builders have to actually build. Lenders have to actually lend. Local governments have to actually update their zoning.The Bipartisan Policy Center’s implementation tracker for the law notes that most of the work falls to HUD, which must implement dozens of statutory directives with tight deadlines and limited staff capacity. Full implementation could take years, the tracker says.More Housing Market:Zillow sees change in housing market, home valuesNew home-selling strategy poses threat to buyersGoldman Sachs issues major prediction for U.S. housing marketThat’s not a knock on the law. It’s just how housing works. Construction timelines are long. Permitting changes take time to flow through to actual projects. The manufactured housing provisions, probably the fastest-moving part of the bill, could start showing up in the market sooner than other sections, but even that won’t happen overnight.Manufactured housing and why it matters for first-time buyersManufactured housing gets a lot of attention in this bill because it’s one of the few ways to put homeownership within reach of buyers who can’t compete in the traditional market. Factory-built homes cost less to produce and can be delivered faster than site-built construction.The law updates rules for manufactured homes and streamlines approval standards. Advocates have said removing outdated requirements could shave thousands of dollars off a home’s cost. For a first-time buyer in a market where the median existing home price is well above $400,000, a factory-built home that costs significantly less is a genuinely different path to ownership.The catch is land. Manufactured homes need somewhere to go, and zoning restrictions in many communities have historically kept them out of desirable areas. The law encourages pro-housing zoning but can’t force local governments to change their rules. That’s a limit the legislation can’t fully get around.

One of the more politically charged parts of the bill was what to do about large institutional investors buying up single-family homesZak/Getty Images

What the housing law does about institutional investors buying homesOne of the more politically charged parts of the bill was what to do about large institutional investors buying up single-family homes. The original House version included a provision forcing institutional investors to divest single-family homes over seven years. That was removed from the final bill.What stayed is restrictions on large institutional buyers and some protections designed to keep more homes available for individual purchasers. The House Financial Services Committee framed the goal as ensuring families, not institutional investors, have a fair shot at buying a home.Whether the remaining restrictions are strong enough to meaningfully change behavior from large buyers is a question that will get answered in practice rather than on paper. Companies with large single-family rental portfolios were watching the bill closely, and the removal of the forced divestiture provision was a significant win for that industry.What the new housing law means for community banks and local lendersNine community banking provisions made it into the final bill. The idea is that smaller local lenders need more flexibility to support housing growth in the communities where they actually operate. The bill streamlines certain bank exams and removes thresholds that supporters say have been keeping community banks from deploying more capital into housing and small-business lending.This matters more than it sounds. Big national lenders dominate mortgage origination, but local and community banks often play a larger role in smaller markets, rural areas, and communities where the biggest banks don’t have much presence. If the provisions work as intended, they could free up more lending capacity exactly where new housing supply is most needed and hardest to finance.The National Low Income Housing Coalition, which supported some provisions and opposed others, flagged that the bill doesn’t include the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act, a priority for affordable housing advocates that didn’t make the final cut. That’s a reminder that a 60-section omnibus bill is always a set of trade-offs. What got left out matters as much as what got in.Related: Redfin reveals change in housing market, home sales

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Home-cooked meals are great in theory. It’s almost always cheaper and healthier than ordering DoorDash or takeout from a local restaurant, and with enough practice, they taste better, too. But the reality of cooking at home isn’t as simple. Not only do you have to plan a weekly dinner menu and grocery shop for all the ingredients beforehand, but then you also have to wash the ever-growing pile of dirty dishes.A dishwasher solves this everyday cleaning challenge, but for kitchens in older homes or tiny apartments, there may not be enough space for the traditional appliance. That doesn’t mean your only option is to handwash every coffee cup and spoon that enters your sink. Instead, we recommend investing in a countertop dishwasher.What is a countertop dishwasher?A countertop dishwasher works just like a regular dishwasher, except it comes in a much more compact package. Comparable to the size of a standard microwave, these mini dishwashers are designed to fit on your kitchen counters, as the name implies. The machine is easy to install and won’t require a call to the plumber for the water hook-up, as most models will connect directly to your kitchen faucet or use a water reservoir during the wash cycles. The typical price point of a countertop dishwasher ranges between $225 and $600, depending on its features. Walmart’s overall pick in countertop dishwashers, the Simzlife Portable Countertop Dishwasher, is currently on sale for just $220, giving shoppers a massive markdown of 57% off its regular price of $510. It’s a popular pick as it offers five cleaning modes and has adjustable racks that fit up to 30 plates. One of the cleaning modes is designed for washing produce, which can help provide peace of mind amid the country’s cyclospora outbreak. Simzlife Portable Countertop Dishwasher

Courtesy of Walmart

Check price at WalmartIs a countertop dishwasher a worthwhile investment?There are many advantages of owning a countertop dishwasher, but let’s first discuss the one drawback. Countertop dishwashers are designed to be smaller, and they just don’t fit as many dishes. With a standard-size dishwasher, depending on the size of your family, you could go a few days loading it up with dirty dishes before it’s full and ready to run. Countertop dishwashers are better suited to homes with just one to two people and will likely need to complete a cleaning cycle after one meal. Compared to traditional dishwashers and washing dishes by hand, a countertop dishwasher can outperform them in many areas. Countertop dishwashers are more efficient. Regular dishwashers and hand washing use a lot of water to complete the job, but countertop dishwashers typically require less water. Since less water needs to be heated during the cycle, it often requires less electricity, too. They have a portable, easy-to-install design. You don’t need to pay a plumber to install a countertop dishwasher, but that also means you can take it along with you wherever you go. If you like taking adventures in an RV, it would be a handy appliance on the road. You could even use it at the cabin or your Airbnb, as long as there is a power source to plug it in.It can be advantageous for small households. It’s not just small kitchens where these countertop dishwashers can be utilized. If you live alone and never fill up the regular dishwasher completely, a countertop dishwasher could be a better alternative for your needs. Superior cleaning power compared to hand washing. Hand-washed dishes simply aren’t as clean as those that go through a dishwasher. To thoroughly sanitize your dishes, you need high heat levels that can kill bacteria and germs. A dishwasher can reach temperatures up to 155 degrees Fahrenheit, which is far hotter than the hot water coming out of your faucet. What countertop dishwasher is right for you?When purchasing a countertop dishwasher, there are a few areas to consider. One of the most important things will be the water source. Do you want to fill up a tank or have it connected to the faucet? Most options, including the Novete Portable Countertop Dishwasher, will have both, but you don’t want to be left without the feature you’d use most. Also, think about what size countertop dishwasher fits your needs. While all the machines are designed to fit on a counter, some hold up to six place settings, like the Hamilton Beach 6-Place-Setting Countertop Dishwasher, while others, like the Comfee Mini Countertop Dishwasher, only have room for the place settings of two to three people. Also, it’s helpful to measure the height of your plates to ensure they’ll fit inside. Finally, check the cleaning modes offered by each option. If you have a newborn at home, look for one with a baby care mode that thoroughly sanitizes baby bottles, like the Airmsen Portable Countertop Dishwasher.Novete Portable Countertop Dishwasher

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Check price at AmazonHamilton Beach 6-Place-Setting Countertop Dishwasher

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Check price at WalmartComfee Mini Countertop Dishwasher

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Check price at AmazonAirmsen Portable Countertop Dishwasher

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Check price at WalmartBlitzHome Portable Countertop Dishwasher

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Check price at WalmartHermitlux Countertop Dishwasher

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Comcast has been quietly contemplating acquiring a 33-year-old telecom competitor as it continues to struggle with customer losses in its cable TV and internet business. The company lost 322,000 cable TV customers and 65,000 internet customers in the first quarter of 2026 as it faces growing competition, according to its most recent earnings report. Amid a decline in customers, Comcast raised eyebrows last month when it announced its plans to split into two companies by separating its media and entertainment assets, including NBCUniversal and Sky, from its core broadband, wireless, and cable TV operations. In a press release, Comcast Co-CEO Brian Roberts said the split will better position the companies to pursue “significant opportunities that lie ahead.”“The transaction we are announcing will unlock a more entrepreneurial management approach and open up a multitude of new opportunities for each business,” said Roberts.Comcast weighs Charter Communications acquisitionOne of those potential opportunities reportedly involves Comcast acquiring Charter Communications, according to a report from the New York Post.Comcast has long contemplated this acquisition; however, “debt” is what’s causing the company to hesitate on initiating the deal.  Roberts isn’t interested in taking on another roughly $100 billion in debt while he’s in the middle of organizing a widespread corporate restructuring.Last year, Comcast sent a memo to employees revealing that its restructuring plans would kick off in January this year, resulting in massive job cuts that would impact employees in its Xfinity internet, mobile, and cable TV business.These restructuring plans now also include Comcast separating into two publicly traded companies. Related: Spectrum makes significant decision as customer losses mountIt is no surprise that Roberts is worried about debt. According to an analysis from The Motley Fool, Comcast has a total debt of $94.61 billion. Charter, which launched in 1993 and introduced its Spectrum brand in 2014, revealed in its first-quarter 2026 earnings report that its principal amount of debt is $94.3 billion. The company is also in the middle of a $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Communications, which is expected to help Charter offset customer losses in its broadband and cable TV businesses. Despite their billions in debt, both Comcast and Charter have sufficient cash flow. Comcast has around 2.3 times EBITDA (the amount of money a company makes before expenses) to cover its debt, compared to Charter’s, which is at about 5 times.While a merger between Comcast and Charter could help both companies better address rising competition in the telecom industry, it would likely prompt an antitrust review amid concerns that less competition could lead to reduced innovation and higher prices for consumers. In a recent analyst note obtained by Fierce Network, New Street Research analyst Vikash Harlalka said he and his firm believe a Comcast-Charter merger could be “transformative for both companies.”“We continue to believe that a Comcast-Charter merger should and can happen,” said Harlalka. “The industrial logic and synergies would be transformative for both companies.””Not least among these would be the potential to acquire at least a 50% share of T-Mobile and create the country’s third converged player to stand up to AT&T and Verizon in a facilities-based way,” he continued.

Comcast is looking to acquire Charter Communications, but is cautious about debt. Bloomberg / Getty Images

Streaming continues to threaten Comcast and CharterThe potential Comcast-Charter acquisition also comes at a time when Americans are increasingly pulling the plug on traditional cable TV and internet services.In the first quarter of 2026, cable and satellite TV companies lost about 976,000 cable customers, according to a MoffettNathanson report shared with TheStreet.More Telecom News:T-Mobile warns customers that a key service will double in priceVerizon adds generous offers for customers after price increaseSpectrum suffers heavy loss as customers ditch serviceThe rise of streaming services in recent years has made it hard for traditional TV providers, like Comcast and Spectrum, to compete for customers, especially when it comes to pricing. A survey from All About Cookies last year found that only 30% of Americans watch TV through traditional cable or satellite services. Also, 95% of those who canceled their traditional TV services are satisfied with their decision, while only 5% regret it. “Rising cable costs and the thousands of options for shows and movies on various streaming services have been key factors in the popularity of cord-cutting,” wrote All About Cookies Data Journalist Josh Kobert and Senior Digital Security Editor Kate Quinlan in the survey release. “As long as streaming subscriptions are more affordable than cable for the average household, it makes sense to move away from cable.” Comcast and Charter struggle to compete with internet rivalsU.S. consumers are also cutting the cord on traditional internet services and flocking to fiber and fixed wireless internet (FWA) options.Fiber internet has gained traction in recent years by delivering faster, more consistent connections that often surpass those of traditional wired internet. Meanwhile, fixed wireless internet, often marketed as 5G home internet, has also emerged as a formidable competitor in the broadband industry. The service typically costs less than many wired internet plans and has expanded internet access in rural and underserved communities. Wireless providers such as T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon all offer both fiber and fixed wireless internet services, which are successfully drawing in customers at a rapid pace, especially through converged mobile and internet offerings. In the first quarter of 2026, all three carriers collectively gained over 1.4 million new internet customers, according to numbers pulled from their latest earnings reports. Another rising threat to Comcast and other traditional internet providers is satellite internet. SpaceX’s satellite internet service, Starlink, launched in 2019, is quickly gaining customers. In December last year, the company revealed on social media platform X that it has more than 9 million active customers.Amazon also plans to start offering high-speed satellite internet through its Amazon Leo service, which is expected to launch later this year. During an earnings call in April, Comcast Co-CEO Michael Cavanagh said the company expects competition in the broadband industry to remain challenging. “Fixed wireless continues to market aggressively across our footprint, fiber overbuild is moving at a rapid pace, and promotional convergence offers remain elevated,” said Cavanagh. “We are not assuming this gets easier anytime soon.” He also said that the company is responding to this reality by “investing to compete effectively, whether it is against fixed wireless, fiber, or any other alternative such as satellite.”“To do this, we are staying focused on what we can control and what matters most to consumers: exceptional connectivity powered by the most reliable Wi-Fi, best-in-class products, and a simpler, more transparent experience that is easy to buy, activate, and support,” he said.  Related: Comcast targets frustrated T-Mobile customers with free offer

High mortgage rates and housing prices are two main reasons Americans are struggling to afford homes in 2026.Freddie Mac mortgage rates have hovered around 6.5% for eight weeks. Housing prices hit an all-time high in June, according to a Redfin report.Real estate experts track and predict various U.S. housing market data. But it makes sense that the typical homebuyer would care the most about these two factors.Realtor.com, a leading real estate platform, releases an annual housing market forecast every six months. On July 8, the company published its predictions for the rest of 2026.I’ll break down the specifics, but I was surprised by the Realtor.com 2026 Housing Forecast Midyear Update’s overall message: Affordability for homebuyers is improving, and the company expects that trend to continue.”The housing market is inching forward as sellers reset expectations, price growth cools, and buyers gain more negotiating power,” Realtor.com writes.Realtor.com keeps it mortgage rate prediction flatIn the original Realtor.com 2026 Housing Forecast, published in Dec. 2025, the company predicted that both the annual average and year-end 30-year fixed mortgage rate would be 6.3%.The projection is unchanged in Realtor.com’s midyear report.Yes, Realtor.com still projects that the 30-year rate will end 2026 at 6.3%, and that 6.3% will be the annual average.I understand that this might seem like bad news to homebuyers. How is a stagnant mortgage rate prediction supposed to help with housing affordability?Related: Americans must face long-term reality after mortgage rate newsFirst of all, Realtor.com notes in its report that while the Iran war has kept mortgage rates in the mid-6.5% range, rates are still better than in 2025.It’s true. As of July 9, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 23 basis points lower than this time last year, according to Freddie Mac. The rate held at 6.5% or higher through the rest of summer 2025, then started to decrease in September. Then, rates stayed in the 6.3% range through mid-October.So, there’s definitely reason to believe that — although we’d all love for mortgage loan rates to be lower — they could help make homes more affordable in 2026 than 2025.It’s also important to note that Realtor.com did not predict higher rates than in December. And when we combine this flat prediction with the company’s other expectations, the message of improved affordability starts to make sense.

Realtor.com predicts that the average 30-year mortgage rate in 2026 will be 6.3%.MoMo Productions / Getty Images

Realtor.com expects even slower home price growth in 2026In my years of covering the housing market, I’ve witnessed a discouraging trend for homebuyers: In general, home values increase over time.Higher home values and sales prices feel great once you’re a homeowner. But when you’re buying, it’s a frustrating truth.So, it isn’t at all surprising that Realtor.com projected higher median existing-home price, both in its December and July reports.The company predicted that median prices would increase by 2.2% in its December report. But its midyear update foresees prices rising by only 1.2% overall in 2026.More Housing Market:Zillow sees change in housing market, home valuesSocial Security inaction could push mortgage rates higherRedfin reveals change in housing market, home salesA 1% drop in price-growth projections is a win for homebuyers. When Realtor.com originally predicted a 2.2% price increase this year, 2025 prices had risen by 2% in 2025. Now, year-to-date home prices have inched up by just 1% — leading the company to revise its number.”Monthly payments for 2026 homebuyers are now expected to register 1.9% below last year’s payment as our mortgage rate outlook is largely unchanged and our price growth expectations have softened,” Realtor.com writes.And that’s where the stagnant mortgage rate predictions come back in. When you combine unchanged mortgage rates and lower home prices, monthly housing payments decrease.Realtor.com data put the median monthly payment at $2,135 in 2025. For 2026, its prediction is a median housing payment of $2,095.Economic factors that could help with home affordabilityMay inflation grew by 4.2%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In April, it was up by 3.8%.Looking at the Consumer Price Index (CPI), one of the key measures of inflation, Realtor.com expects a median inflation growth of 3.5% in 2026. Meanwhile, it only expects home prices to rise by 1.2%.Even if either of these numbers end up being a little bit off, the gist remains the same: It’s likely that home prices will increase, but the growth rate will not keep up with inflation.”With inflation expected to run at a 3.4% rate for the year, home prices are actually falling in real terms which will reduce housing costs relative to other budget items,” Realtor.com writes.The company also expects net household income growth to rise by 3.9% in 2026 (up from its December projection of 3.6%).The combination of Realtor.com’s updated predictions slower home price growth and stronger income growth would mean homebuyers have more money available to put toward a house.Low housing inventory is the main driver behind the U.S. home affordability crisis. A recent Zillow study revealed that the country needs to build 4.7 million homes just to meet the current home-buyer demand — and that doesn’t even count the homes we would need to keep up with growing demand as time goes on.When inventory is low, houses generally become more expensive. Supply can’t meet demand, creating competition among buyers and giving sellers more power in real estate transactions.The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act officially became law on July 11. A main part of this law is to make it easier to build homes and help the housing shortage.The effects of this law could help with inventory and make homes more affordable for Americans. Realtor.com writes that it will keep an eye on its impact in coming years. Future Realtor.com home price and sales predictions could shift as a result.Key takeaways for homebuyers from Realtor.com’s predictionsMortgage rates are holding steady. If you’ve been waiting for home loan rates to drop before buying a house, I’ve got bad news — that probably won’t happen anytime soon. Rates may not spike, but they likely won’t plummet, either.History puts current mortgage rates in perspective. National mortgage rates are down since this time last year, as Realtor.com pointed out. I also crunched the numbers, and the average 30-year fixed rate since April 1971, when Freddie Mac started tracking rates, is 7.68%. Rates may be high compared to the early 2020s, but they are well below the historical average.Home prices growth is cooling. Remember, with occasional exceptions, housing prices increase over time. But the good news is that median prices are growing relatively slowly, and Realtor.com expects that slow trend to continue for the rest of 2026.Inventory is still too low, but could improve. Now that the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is law, inventory could increase, which would help housing prices. However, it’s unclear how long it will take for more homes to finish being built and how significant the impact will be.It could be a good time to buy a house. As long as you can comfortably afford to buy a house, I think it’s worth looking into. There’s pretty much no reason to wait for lower rates, and median housing payments are a little lower than last year. Just don’t overextend your budget, and be sure to shop for mortgage lenders to find the best deal.Related: Goldman Sachs issues major prediction for US housing market

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealYou can be as organized as you want, but if you don’t have the right organizational furniture, it’s a bit fruitless, wouldn’t you say? After all, itemizing, organizing, and consolidating only does so much if you don’t have the right nightstand, side table, or cabinet to tuck those items away and out of sight. And nothing’s more annoying than finding a great organizer and realizing that it’s a major eye-sore in your home. When it comes to storage space, style and functionality are the two key pillars, and the Galaxhero Storage Cabinet thankfully offers both of those in spades.Right now, the five-drawer cabinet is on sale for 51% off during a Walmart Flash deal. For a limited time, the bestseller, which originally goes for $180, can be all yours for just $88 if you act fast. Galaxhero Storage Cabinet, $88 (was $180) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at WalmartWhy do shoppers love it?Ideal for use as a file cabinet but usable in any room in your home, this cabinet provides long-lasting storage space in a sleek and modern design. Made with particle board wood, the cabinet’s surface is smooth and flat, with a laminate sheen that not only improves its appearance but protects it against wear and tear over time. Although it is engineered wood, it still has that traditional wood grain finish without the warping or contracting that can occur with regular wood due to temperature changes. It’s wear-resistant, eco-friendly, and lightweight, but sturdy enough to support your personal items. Measuring 30.67 inches long, 15.5 inches wide, and 25.59 inches high, this cabinet has a unique 2-in-1 layout, providing five drawers on the right side and two cabinets on the left. The drawers simply pull out with gliding hardware, so you don’t have to yank or push, whereas the cabinets are hidden behind two doors, giving you more privacy with what you’re storing. Many office and work-from-home professionals love the drawers as an easy way to organize papers, files, and other thinner items, whereas the cabinets are great for bulkier ones. Even the top of the cabinet provides space for storage, especially since it can withstand up to 150 pounds. Related: Walmart’s deals event offers up to 56% off shelving, organizers, and toolboxes for the garageThe bottom of the cabinet has four rolling wheels, which make moving it or adjusting it easy, but there is a locking feature that can keep it in place when you find the perfect spot for it. It’s perfect for offices, craft rooms, and even living rooms or bedrooms depending on how you style it and want to use it. Keep the chaos away with this seven-compartment unit. Details to knowDimensions: It measures 30.67 inches long, 15.5 inches wide, and 25.59 inches high.Material: Particleboard with a wood grain finish and hardware. Colors: Two.  “It’s provided wonderful storage for my craft room and looks great,” one shopper said. Others praise this cabinet for being such a great value for the cost, and love how great of an organizer it is. It’s easy to assemble and offers a decent amount of storage space without overwhelming an area or room. “Sturdy, attractive, and functional,” another shopper described it. Shop more deals Jejegorich Fluted Corner Cabinet, $124 (was $260) at WalmartArkantos Sideboard Buffet Cabinet, $94 (was $210) at WalmartEdx 71-Inch Wooden Storage Cabinet, $115 (was $191) at WalmartWhether you frequently work from home and are in need of some office organization or simply want a space to declutter daily mess around your house, the Galaxhero Storage Cabinet is the affordable and easy solution.

Nvidia (NVDA) stock has struggled to keep pace with the broader semiconductor rally this year, but Morgan Stanley just says the AI chip giant remains one of its favorite names.Shares of Nvidia fell 3.5% on Monday as investors continued to question whether the chipmaker can sustain its growth. Through July 13’s close, Nvidia was up 9.1% year to date, well behind the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index’s 72.2% gain over the same period.The muted stock performance comes even as Nvidia’s biggest customers continue to ramp up AI spending. On Monday, Meta Platforms (META) said it would increase spending on its Louisiana AI data center to more than $50 billion. Meta, along with companies such as Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), and Alphabet (GOOGL), remains one of Nvidia’s largest buyers of AI chips.Since generative AI took off in 2023, Nvidia has dominated the AI accelerator market. Its GPUs power large-language-model training and inference workloads, helping Nvidia become the world’s most valuable publicly traded company.Still, investors have become increasingly cautious. Hyperscale cloud providers are developing their own custom AI chips, while many on Wall Street continue to question whether hundreds of billions of dollars in AI infrastructure spending will ultimately generate attractive returns.Wall Street, however, remains overwhelmingly bullish. According to TipRanks, 37 analysts covering Nvidia have an average 12-month price target of $309.33, implying roughly 52% upside from recent levels.

Through July 13’s close, Nvidia was up 9.1% year to date, well behind the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index’s 72.2% gain over the same period.Getty Images

Nvidia earnings show AI demand remains strongNvidia’s latest results continued to support the AI investment thesis.For the fiscal first quarter ended April 26, Nvidia reported non-GAAP earnings of $1.87 per share, beating Wall Street’s estimates of $1.76. Revenue came at $81.6 billion, up 85% from a year earlier.Related: Major AI chip stock plunges after blockbuster $26.5 billion Nasdaq debutThe chipmaker also reported record Data Center revenue of $75.2 billion, up 92% year over year.“The buildout of AI factories — the largest infrastructure expansion in human history — is accelerating at extraordinary speed,” said Nvidia CEO Jensen Huangin a statement. “Nvidia is uniquely positioned at the center of this transformation as the only platform that runs in every cloud, powers every frontier and open source model, and scales everywhere AI is produced.”Nvidia’s upcoming Q2 FY2027 earnings report is scheduled to be released in August. The company expects fiscal second-quarter revenue of $91 billion, plus or minus 2%, assuming no data center compute revenue from China. It also forecasts an adjusted gross margin of 75% and adjusted operating expenses of about $8.3 billion.Morgan Stanley says Nvidia’s growth story is getting broaderAfter hosting investor meetings with Nvidia’s management, Morgan Stanley reiterated its overweight rating and a $288 price target, according to a recent research note sent to TheStreet. Nvidia remains the firm’s top semiconductor pick.Morgan Stanley said Nvidia management described “accelerating growth rates” even as revenue approaches “$100 bn per quarter.”Related: Apple stock move vindicates Palantir CEO warning for AI industryRather than relying solely on hyperscale cloud providers, Morgan Stanley said Nvidia is seeing growth from three major customer groups: AI labs, hyperscalers, and enterprise, industrial and sovereign AI customers.The bank noted that AI labs currently represent about 20% of Nvidia’s demand. It also said Nvidia’s exposure to one leading frontier AI model has increased from minimal levels to “close to 50%”, while other frontier models continue to be built primarily on Nvidia hardware.Morgan Stanley also dismissed concerns that custom AI chips will significantly erode Nvidia’s market share.”We continue to believe that two things can be true at once: hyperscalers will develop and deploy custom silicon alternatives (ASICs), while Nvidia will retain a very large portion of the business,” the analysts wrote.The firm said its industry contacts support management’s argument that “the lowest cost per token is quite frequently from Nvidia,” adding that cheaper custom silicon “does not drive better token economics.” “With both Nvidia’s and Broadcom’s AI businesses expected to grow more than 80% next year while remaining supply constrained, we don’t see a dramatic shift going forward and remain enthusiastic about growth in both categories,” Morgan Stanley said.The bank also highlighted accelerating demand from sovereign AI projects, enterprise customers and neocloud providers, saying power constraints, reshoring efforts and geopolitical considerations are creating a new wave of AI infrastructure investment. Management described that opportunity as fragmented today but one that could reach “substantial scale when the time comes.”Morgan Stanley also said Nvidia pushed back on recent reports that Rubin Ultra could be delayed until 2028, telling investors “Rubin Ultra will ship next year.” While management acknowledged changes to the rack design, it characterized them as improvements rather than delays.Although Nvidia’s size could limit further multiple expansion, Morgan Stanley said it now views the company as “the best value in the group.””The stock has risen but underperformed many peers. However, our conviction remains high. We previously rotated our top pick to Sandisk and later Micron because those names offered greater leverage to parts of the AI supply chain, but we now believe Nvidia offers the best value in the group,” Morgan Stanley said.Related: Citi sends powerful sign to SpaceX investors

Younger workers could shoulder the entire burden of a Congressional Budget Office option that would gradually raise Social Security’s full retirement age to 70.The idea is gaining traction because Social Security’s retirement trust fund is projected to exhaust its reserves by late 2032, as confirmed in the 2026 trustees’ report.If Congress fails to act before then, every beneficiary would automatically lose 22% of their monthly payment once the reserves run dry.How the CBO’s retirement age proposal would reshape benefitsUnder the budget office’s option, full retirement age would climb by two months per birth year for anyone born between 1964 and 1981. For all workers born in 1981 or later, the threshold would settle at 70, three full years above the current level of 67, as detailed in the CBO’s analysis.Filing for benefits at age 62 would still be possible, but the penalty would be significantly higher. The gap between 62 and full retirement age would widen from 5 to 8 years, resulting in a much steeper monthly reduction for early claimants.Morgan Veth, vice president and financial advisor at Bogart Wealth, says those close to retiring will likely keep their current claiming strategies.Much like the changes to Social Security claiming strategies we experienced back in 2015, where they allowed people close to retirement to continue utilizing the strategy, I don’t envision a retirement timeline overhaul necessary for those who are close to retiringIncreasing full retirement age from 67 to 69 alone would reduce average annual benefits by roughly 13%, a separate CBO letter found. Pushing the threshold to 70 could lower total program outlays by an estimated $94.7 billion from 2025 through 2034. ‘Raising the retirement age is a benefit cut, as CBO has made crystal clear,’ then-Senate Budget Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse said in September 2024, responding to a separate CBO analysis of a proposal to raise the full retirement age to 69.Lower-income and physical labor workers face the steepest costsSupporters argue that Americans live longer than they did when Social Security was launched in the 1930s, and that a phased increase could reduce costs without affecting checks for current beneficiaries. That logic weakens when you examine which Americans have actually gained those extra years.Among American men, the life expectancy gap between top and bottom earners was 12.2 years, while the gap for women was 7.8 years, research compiled by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation showed.More Social Security:Social Security’s $30 trillion hole sparks tax debateSocial Security cuts raise new fears for womenSocial Security beneficiaries have reason to worryWorkers in physically demanding fields face an especially difficult reality. Roughly 31.6% of workers ages 55 to 64 hold jobs requiring significant physical effort, a joint analysis by the Economic Policy Institute and The New School’s Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis found.Extending careers to age 70 is unrealistic for many of them, as the typical American worker already exits the labor force around age 62, often due to health setbacks or involuntary job loss rather than personal choice, CBS News reported.

Raising the retirement age could hit lower-income and physically demanding workers hardest, as many cannot realistically work until age 70.Willie B. Thomas/Getty Images

Social Security’s accelerating trust fund crisisThe program’s financial strain is not a surprise, but it is worsening faster than policymakers had projected. The 2026 trustees’ report moved the retirement trust fund’s depletion date to the fourth quarter of 2032, one quarter earlier than the 2025 forecast of the first quarter of 2033.The Social Security Fairness Act expanded benefits without raising new revenue, and the subsequent One Big Beautiful Bill Act reduced income flowing into the trust funds by expanding senior deductions.”We need to either raise scheduled revenue, reduce scheduled benefits, or some combination of the two,” Karen Glenn, the Social Security Administration’s chief actuary, said during a conference call about the report.The program’s 75-year funding gap has more than doubled since 2000, climbing from 1.89% to 4.42% of taxable payroll, Brookings Institution researchers calculated. The ratio of workers paying payroll taxes to each beneficiary has fallen from 5.1 in 1960 to about 2.7 today, the Peter G. Peterson Foundation reported. For lawmakers, the appeal of raising the retirement age lies in a familiar political calculation: the people affected most are decades away from collecting.Younger generations face an uncertain Social Security futureThe proposed changes to Social Security, particularly raising the full retirement age to 70, could have significant consequences for younger workers. While these measures aim to address the program’s impending financial challenges, they disproportionately impact those in physically demanding jobs and lower-income earners, who may struggle to extend their careers. As the debate continues, younger Americans face growing uncertainty about the benefits they can expect in retirement. Retirement researchers, including Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research, have noted that private savings vehicles such as 401(k) plans and IRAs will become more important as scheduled Social Security benefits face potential reductions.The 2026 Trustees Report leaves lawmakers with a six-year window to act, and every proposed fix, from higher payroll taxes to a higher retirement age, carries trade-offs between the program’s long-term solvency and the distribution of benefit reductions across cohorts.Related: Are Social Security benefits protected from inflation?