CNN’s Christiane Amanpour took a deep dive Saturday into “what the world makes of the U.S. political circus,” now that Donald Trump has swept Iowa and is moving into New Hampshire.

“We cannot deconstruct the minds of the American voter, but how is the world reacting to Trump’s blowout in Iowa?” Amanpour asked The New York Times London Bureau Chief Mark Landler.

Landler said the international belief is that “there’s an inevitability to Trump not just being the nominee, but being restored to the White House.” He continued:

I think for a lot of people outside the U.S., they looked at this with a sense of dread but not surprise. Because I think there’s been a great sense that this is going down a certain track, and that’s one more off ramp that we’ve now avoided, New Hampshire is the next off ramp. So, that’s my sense of it: that there was no surprise, almost a reaffirmation of a fatalism that exists around the world that Americans are going to reelect this guy.

“Why would people…automatically think he’s going to be president again?” Amanpour asked London-based  journalist Emily Maitlist.

“I’d say the number here that people are actually looking at that is leaving people jaw-dropped is the 66% of Iowan voters who believe Donald Trump’s lie,” Maitlist said. “That they have been convinced that Donald Trump is the right president of this time and that his questioning of the legitimacy of Joe Biden is something that he’s taken to Iowa.”

Landler added, “I think that it is more of an emotional feel; that if the country was capable of doing this once before, and they see these kinds of numbers, this kind of incredible, resilient, unshakable loyalty on the part of MAGA Nation, I think it just — it more resides in the pit of their stomach. ‘Well, if it happened before, it could happen again. We need to start planning a as though it may happen again.'”

Watch the clip above via CNN.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley told Neil Cavuto Saturday that former President Donald Trump has been mocking her name because that’s what he does when he feels “threatened” and “insecure” and she has him worried about the primary.

Haley appeared on Saturday’s Cavuto Live on Fox News, and responded to what Cavuto called “racial zingers” Trump has been using to mock her given first name. He has also been floating the birther conspiracy that Haley can’t run for president because her parents were born outside the U.S.

Before running for president, Haley served in the Trump administration as ambassador to the UN and was a close political alley of the former president. In recent weeks, she has gained momentum in the polls for the New Hampshire primary next week.

Haley did not dispute that these are racial attacks on her by Trump. And she claimed the ex-president “feels insecure” and is “threatened” by her candidacy that’s now gaining support in a important primary state. She also hit Trump for losing to President Joe Biden in New Hampshire in 2020.

CAVUTO: Speaking of President Trump, he’s revved up the name calling with you. And now a new nickname for you is Nimbra. It’s a play off your birth name. Then it’s Nimra, and he goes back and forth. But a lot of people are interpreting that as racial zingers. Do you see that way?

HALEY: Politics is not personal for me…It’s what he does. This is what he does when he feels insecure. This is what he does when he feels threatened. I worked with him. I know exactly how he is.

CAVUTO: But he never did that when you worked with him.

HALEY: No, because he thought I did a great job. And he said I was tough. And he said that I was the best U.N. ambassador they ever had. And he always told everybody, don’t mess with me, you know, because, you know, she’s a killer. She’s going to make sure that she keeps America strong. He praised me constantly and we had that. But this is what I’ll tell you about that. This is why we have a choice. We either stick with the same or we go forward. You’ve got whether it’s Joe Biden or Donald Trump. They take politics so personally. We can’t have a country in disarray and a world on fire and have these fellas have thin skin to where they go in name, call and do all these things. I look at it as 70% of Americans don’t want to see a Trump Biden rematch for a reason. You look at the fact that both of these guys are going to be in their 80s, and we’ve got a lot going on.

CAVUTO: Do you think he’s appealing to that base of his that likes comments like Nimrada and all this other stuff maybe.

HALEY: I don’t sit there and push people away. I think that’s the problem with the Republican Party. I bring people in, and what’s happening with the Republican Party is they’re deciding what’s a good Republican, what’s a bad Republican? Who’s the right Republican? Who’s the wrong Republican? Do we really want to get that? Because that’s not how you win a general election. There was a poll that came out yesterday, and it shows in New Hampshire. I beat Biden. Donald Trump loses New Hampshire by seven points.

Watch the full clip above via Fox News.

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) plans to endorse former President Donald Trump on Friday evening at a rally in New Hampshire, according to a report from the New York Times.

Scott’s decision is seen as a kind of betrayal to former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley who appointed Scott to the U.S. Senate back in 2012 following the retirement of Republican Sen. Jim DeMint. Scott dropped out of the Republican primary back in November after having sparred with Haley during debates, but had yet to endorse in the race ahead of the Iowa Caucus.

In recent weeks, polling has indicated a surge for Haley in the New Hampshire primary despite Trump leading by a double-digit margin in the RealClearPolitics average of polls.

According to the Times, Scott’s endorsement of Trump will likely spark conversations about him serving as Trump’s running mate as he remains the highest-ranking elected Black Republican in the country.

The former president has reportedly been pursuing Scott’s endorsement since he dropped out of the race last year. On the campaign trail, Trump and Scott avoided criticizing each other, following their close working relationship during the Trump presidency.

Per the Times:

Mr. Scott arrived at his decision only recently. After ending his own campaign for president on Nov. 12, he had said he would not endorse “anytime soon.” But he came to the conclusion that Mr. Trump was the best candidate to defeat President Biden, according to one person familiar with his thinking.

Mr. Trump has pursued Mr. Scott’s endorsement since the senator exited the race last year. His endorsement not only lifts Mr. Trump in New Hampshire, which hosts its primary on Tuesday, but also in South Carolina, the home state of one of Mr. Trump’s top remaining Republican rivals, Nikki Haley. The Trump team is hoping to force from the race both Ms. Haley and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida with a decisive win in South Carolina’s primary on Feb. 24, avoiding an expensive fight for delegates that would otherwise extend through March after Super Tuesday.

Scott reportedly received calls from not only Trump but also Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) asking for his endorsement. Haley along with some mutual friends reportedly called Scott earlier this week pushing for his endorsement, while fellow Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) joined the campaign for Scott to endorse Trump.

Fat people often experience discrimination and stigmatization when they seek medical treatment. It’s a big problem that leads to metabolic issues, increased inflammation, avoiding medical care, and increased mortality risk. It can be a challenge, but verbally advocating for yourself at doctor’s appointments could reduce some of the negative impact of weight stigma.

Researchers say that feeling stigmatized or stereotyped at a medical appointment can actually make it harder for you to think and communicate effectively. If that rings true to your own experiences at the doctor, you might want to go into your next appointment with a cheat sheet of phrases recently shared by speaker, writer, and researcher Ragen Chastain, in her Weight and Healthcare Newsletter, where she writes about the intersection of weight science, weight stigma, and healthcare.

“Of course, there are tons of techniques to navigate weight stigma, but when I think of the top three phrases, I think about options that will help us get the care we want and need, even in a healthcare system that often tries to reduce the entirety of our healthcare to ‘diagnosis fat, prescription weight loss,’” Chastain wrote.

“How would you treat a thin person with this symptom/condition?”

How to prepare

Write this question out on a notecard to treat like an actual script when you are in the doctor’s office. Speaking up can be so intimidating, especially when we feel marginalized and devalued. Try saying the phrase out loud to yourself at home before your appointment so you're not totally winging it when you get there. It’s ok to check your notes and ask this very frank question.

When to deploy

If your care provider gives you a diagnosis and starts straight away to tell you about weight loss options, remember: whatever condition or symptom you have, people in smaller bodies experience the same symptom or condition. They are not prescribed weight loss for their allergies or sprained ankles. There are other options for you, too.

Your doctor, Chastain wrote, may even be relieved to skip the weight loss lecture to talk about more evidence-based treatments.

A good follow-up

It can feel confrontational to question weight bias and push a provider to see you as more than your BMI, especially when you have a history of feeling demeaned or disempowered in medical settings. If you leave an appointment feeling like you didn’t get weight-neutral treatment, follow up with a message on the portal asking the doctor how they would treat a thin person with your condition or symptoms. The next time, it may even be easier for you to advocate for yourself in person.

“I’m exercising my right of informed refusal.”

How to prepare

Take your notepad! Remember you don’t have to decide on every treatment option at the moment it is suggested. If your doctor’s proposed treatment sounds like part of an intentional weight loss agenda, you can make a note to do more research or ask questions at the appointment. 

When to deploy

This phrase can be useful if you want to bypass the scale at medical appointments where your weight is not medically relevant. 

You may also use this phrase if your provider suggests diets, weight loss surgery, weight loss medication, or any other treatment that you have already researched and decided is not a good option for you (for any reason), and they don’t take “no, thank you” as your final answer. You always have the right to refuse treatment. 

“This type of stigma can be implicit, and the provider may not be aware that they are engaging in it which, of course, doesn’t negate the harm,” Chastain wrote.

A good follow-up

Maybe you were caught up in the moment and for a second, prescribed weight loss sounded like it might just work this time. If you left the appointment and later reconsidered, it’s not too late to send the doctor a message telling them just that. Follow up by asking what treatment options they would suggest for a thin person.

“Thank you, but today I would like to focus on…”

How to prepare

When you walk into an appointment, you likely know what your concerns are. If you don’t already have a diagnosis, you know what symptoms have caused enough discomfort to make you call the doctor. Make a note of your symptoms/concerns before the appointment so you can check each one off as you discuss it. 

When to deploy

When your appointment (or provider) goes off track. Some doctors are so eager to “save” patients with weight loss interventions, your initial reason for seeking treatment gets overlooked. This phrase politely pulls the focus back to your concern.

“The phrase ‘I’d like to focus on…’ can be invaluable when you went to a healthcare provider for something specific (sprained ankle, strep throat, prescription refill, severed limb, etc.) but the practitioner’s weight distraction is getting in the way of the ethical, evidence-based, patient-centered care you deserve,” Chastain wrote.

A good follow-up

Check out more of Chastain’s suggested questions and research for navigating weight stigma in medical situations.

“If the result isn’t what you hoped for, please remember that while that may become your problem, it’s absolutely not your fault—we shouldn’t have to study for a doctor’s appointment in the first place!” Chastain wrote.

For more scripts for talking to healthcare providers while fat, check out writer Meg Ellison’s suggestions. 

Buying a home is a huge step in the average person’s life. A home purchase is typically the largest asset any of us will ever own, and most people need a pretty big loan in order to pull off the transaction. The numbers in your mortgage documents can be eye-wateringly, heart-palpitatingly large, but we usually rationalize that down to an affordable monthly payment that gets us out of the hole—and into 100% equity—in a few decades.

But what happens when our lives change and those monthly payments aren’t affordable anymore? The property you bought with your mortgage is what’s securing the loan, so once you fall a few months behind on your mortgage, your lender may initiate a foreclosure process. That basically means they take possession of your house and sell it to get their money back. When you receive the first notice that your lender has started that process, you might be tempted to give up. Don’t—there are options left to explore, and plenty of work you can do to improve your situation. Here are six things to do right away if you’re being foreclosed on.

Research

The first thing you need to do is learn everything you can about your situation. You’re not powerless, and there may be moves you can make—but you need to know what those moves are. Start with:

• Mortgage documents and correspondence. First, review your actual mortgage docs, which will detail how your lender handles delinquency and foreclosure. One key thing to look for is a “power of sale” clause, which is where the lender claims the right to sell the property if you default on the loan—make sure you understand the details laid out there. Next, review all the correspondence the lender has sent regarding late payments, and make a note of any options listed in there that might be useful to you.

• Local laws. Every state has its own laws governing foreclosure—get to know yours. This way you’ll know if your lender is acting within the bounds of the law, and you’ll know how much time you legally have to respond, and whether a short sale of your house will satisfy the debt or if you could be held liable for other costs. Look for a “right of redemption” as well, which in some cases gives you the right to reverse the foreclosure process if you can come up with the cash owed to “cure” the loan.

• Government programs. The federal government offers some programs that can help people avoid foreclosure, including the Making Home Affordable (MHA) program and the Hardest Hit Fund (HHF), which can lower mortgage payments or give financial aid to people struggling to pay their mortgages. Getting involved with programs like this can help you convince your lender that foreclosure is unnecessary.

Talk to your lender

Once you’re armed with some information, it’s time to open up lines of communication with your lender. Most lenders would prefer not to foreclose—it’s a lengthy and expensive process for them. They’d much rather keep getting monthly payments from you. So do the following:

• Figure out what you can afford. Step one is to know what monthly payment you can manage. Be realistic—calculate a number that lets you keep up with your other bills.

• Contact your lender. In the notices sent to you will be a contact person for your lender—call them. Request a loan modification, and make it clear you’re willing to work with them. Tell them what you can afford, and see what can be done. Your worst-case scenario here is that they say no, and nothing changes.

• Keep records. Note every call you make and letter you send, ask for everyone’s name and other information when you speak with them, and always ask that they record the time and date of every call in their records. Being able to demonstrate your efforts to make good on the loan and work with your lender is vital.

Talk to a counselor

While you’re talking to your lender and exploring alternatives to foreclosure, contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and look into speaking with a housing counselor. This is a free service, and the counselors can outline your options and offer advice on how to proceed. Their website also provides information on local counseling services to avoid foreclosure.

Lay the sale groundwork

Despite your best efforts and sincere intentions, it may not be possible to stop or significantly modify the foreclosure process. You should start preparing for that eventuality now, even if you hope to modify the loan and get back on track. Getting ready to sell the house in a short sale (selling it for less than you owe on the mortgage) before your situation becomes an emergency will allow you to get the best possible deal with less stress.

First, get a comparative market analysis (CMA) on the home. This gives you the market value of your home based on similar home sales in your area. Find a local real estate agent who has experience doing short sales and get them involved—not all real estate agents know how to navigate one. Finally, ask your lender about the procedure for requesting a short sale (they have to agree to one) and the likelihood of getting one approved.

Monetize the house

A foreclosure situation means you’re dealing with some sort of budget crisis. Whether it’s a lost job, sudden unexpected expenses (like a medical emergency), or an adjustable interest rate skyrocketing, a foreclosure means you’ve fallen behind on your bills. While you’re doing everything you can to understand and avoid the foreclosure process, you still own the house, and that means you can potentially monetize it to help your financial situation.

This could include adding roommates and collecting rent, or renting out the whole house or just parts of it using something like Airbnb. You can also monetize amenities like a pool or a backyard to bring in some extra cash, or sell all that stuff you have lying around. The specific opportunities will depend on you and your unique situation, but even if losing the house to foreclosure is inevitable you can at least help soften your landing post-foreclosure.

Consider bankruptcy

Finally, if you’re dealing with a foreclosure action in motion, do some research on filing bankruptcy. There are a lot of downsides to bankruptcy proceedings—most notably the impact on your credit and finances—but the bankruptcy process can freeze foreclosure proceedings, and possibly give you more avenues to deal with your mortgage debt. This is an extreme option, but you should start learning about the process in your specific area and what it can achieve the moment you’re informed of a foreclosure coming. Hopefully, you won’t have to go down this route, but as in everything else in life, knowledge is power.

AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

Ken Langone, the billionaire co-founder of Home Depot who announced that he would support Nikki Haley in the Republican presidential primary last month, has decided to hold off on making a “major gift” to her campaign until after the New Hampshire primary next week.

“If she doesn’t get traction in New Hampshire, you don’t throw money down a rat hole,” Langone told the Financial Times before admitting that he believes that “the two candidates” to make it to the general election in November are “Biden and Trump” and that he would likely support Trump in that hypothetical.

Nevertheless, Langone explained that he is pulling for Haley because “Trump showed that from election day 2020 to January 6, his whole focus, in my opinion, was himself — not what was good for the country.”

“We’re going to need a very competent manager, as well as a president-statesman,” submitted Langone during his interview with the Times. “I am supporting Nikki Haley because I think she comes [as] close to what you could hope for as anybody out there.”

Langone had previously been even more effusive in his praise of Haley when he first announced that he would support her campaign.

“I think she’s just what we need right now. I think her approach is smart. I think she’s clarified herself on some issues which is very important. And more importantly, I think the American people need this kind of leadership, statesman-like, elegant,” Langone told Fox News’ Neil Cavuto in December.

Haley finished in third place in the Iowa Caucuses on Monday, well behind Trump but just 2% behind Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. She is presently in second place in the polls in both New Hampshire and her home state of South Carolina, which will hold the third contest of the cycle a month after next Tuesday’s primary in the Granite State.

For the past couple years, buying a new or used car has been a nightmare for most people. Inventory shortages, supply-chain issues, and low trade-in values meant inflated prices and limited options for buyers. But research firm Cox Automotive reported earlier this month that new car prices and auto loan rates are projected to fall in 2024, finally offering some relief for car shoppers.

New car prices projected to drop

Due to improved supply-chain conditions, experts forecast new car prices will fall this year. “New-vehicle transaction prices are expected to decline moderately," Cox analysts said in the report. "The increase in inventory is expected to lead to higher incentives and discounts; however, we won’t see incentives at the record highs reached in 2019 when discounting exceeded 10% of transaction prices."

Plus, with demand cooling a bit, dealers may be more willing to negotiate rather than insisting on full sticker price. The huge markups that became the norm the past few years should ease up. Even lopping a few thousand off the MSRP is a win for buyers these days. And although MSRPs likely won't return to pre-pandemic levels quite yet, any reductions will help.

Hope for better interest rates

Auto loan rates are projected to remain around 7-8% APR this year, with a modest hope of them edging down. "Though the downward trend likely won’t be significant," reports Cox Automative, "any decline will help improve vehicle affordability and relieve many households struggling financially."

No matter what, try to avoid getting a long car loan, if you can. According to data from Experian, the average term for loans is nearly six years. You don't want to lock in high interest for many years that will squeeze a lot more money out of you by the end than you may realize.

Paying cash is ideal, but with reasonable financing rates on the table, it can make sense to finance part of your purchase—especially at 0% or low promotional interest offers.

Tips for buying a car this year

Even with this hopeful forecast for the market, it's still a historically tough time to buy a car. If you’re shopping around for a new or used car, it can feel there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Still, here are some financing options that can help soften the blow these days.

• Consider buying used or waiting. Pre-owned cars don’t face the same supply shortages and have depreciated substantially already. Or, if possible, try waiting out the shortages and price spikes entirely until supply rebounds.

• Make a large down payment. Putting 20% or more down reduces the amount you have to finance, lowering the interest charges. Plus, it helps guard against being underwater on the loan.

• Get the shortest term possible. Opt for a three- to four-year loan if you can manage the higher payments. This prevents you from getting stuck paying interest on a deflating asset for close to a decade.

• Shop around for lower rates. Check rates at credit unions and local banks and negotiate hard with dealers to get the lowest possible APR. Even small differences can save thousands over the life of the loan.

The car-buying environment should improve for consumers in 2024. Follow market projections, time your purchase right, understand your budget, and negotiate hard to get the best deal possible. Move quickly if you find the right car for you—deals in this market go fast.