Some interesting news first from the New York Times this morning. Pope Leo XIV cast a mail-in ballot in his home state of Illinois.  Have you voted yet?  The mid-terms are three days away. Obamacare premiums will rise by 13 percent next year , hitting middle-income people already struggling with health care costs.  19 million Americans will thusly suffer. Tech company stocks tumbled, some by double digits , as investors fretted about whether their A.I. spending spree is paying off. The war with Iran has been very lucrative for U.S. oil companies, which nearly tripled their annual profit as consumers faced higher prices for gas and other fuel. Over $130 Billion: More than 50 major U.S. oil and gas producers and refiners collectively earned over $130 billion in net income during the six-month period from April through September 2026. [ 1 ] This from Google AI:  U.S. consumers have paid a staggering $147.7 billion to $160 billion in extra gasoline and diesel...