Madison Troyer


Benzinga •

The 529 Plan Blind Spot: Why Millions Of Parents Are Missing Out On Tax-Free College Savings

It's no secret that raising kids is a major financial commitment. Among the more common financial concerns parents have is the ability to help fund a child's education. The cost of higher education has skyrocketed over the last two decades, leaving many feeling unable to predict how much they need to put away to make a dent in the total. Knowing how to save for that cost is also a concern for many.A new study conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Intuit Credit Karma found that 66% of parents...
Stacker •

The best movies of 2025 so far

As is so often the case, the first half of 2025 had some serious highs and lows. There were major box-office hits, like "Sinners," which is poised to be one of the highest-earning horror movies of the past decade, along with some colossal disappointments, like Disney's universally panned live-action "Snow White," which is expected to lose the studio $115 million.

While the early months of the year are generally slower in Hollywood, the summer season is where things really pick up. Looking ahead...
Benzinga •

Little Kid TV, Big Money: How Children's Shows Became Streaming's Most Valuable Asset - Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), Kartoon Studios (AMEX:TOON)

One of the biggest hurdles that streaming services face in their efforts to maintain profitability is retaining customers, CNBC reports. In an effort to offset the cash losses that come with subscriber loss, services have employed a number of different strategies, from upping advertising opportunities to putting out better content. Recently, they've discovered a better, more sustainable solution: children's programming."Kids' content drives a huge amount of engagement because kids watch it over...
Benzinga •

'A Risky Business': Why Hollywood's $4.2B Summer Doesn't Mean The Crisis Is Over - Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS)

Things are finally looking up for Hollywood, but the crisis isn't over yet, industry watchers tell CNN.Box office returns have been down since the pandemic, with factors like theater closures, writers' strikes, ill-received blockbusters, and the rise of streaming releases impacting revenues. The start of the year didn't do much to inspire faith in studio executives, either. Things got off to a slow start with box office sales between Jan. 1 and April 3 down 13% compared with the same period last...
Benzinga •

Donald Trump Jr.'s New Private Social Club Counts Winklevoss Twins, Crypto Czar David Sacks As Founding Members

Donald Trump Jr.'s new members-only social club, called Executive Branch, held a launch party on Saturday, CNBC reports. In attendance were several founding members, including Cameron Winklevoss and Tyler Winklevoss, founders of cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, and newly appointed crypto czar David Sacks.Executive Branch was founded by Donald Trump Jr. alongside Alex and Zach Witkoff, the sons of billionaire investor and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and Omeed Malik and Chr...
Benzinga •

Pink Tariffs Cost Women $2 Billion More Than Men, And The Gap Could Widen

President Donald Trump's tariffs are sending shockwaves through the economy, threatening to increase the cost of everything from generic drugs to auto parts. Now there's yet another sector where experts are warning consumers will likely see a dramatic increase in cost: women's clothing.


For years, tariffs have been higher on imported women's clothing than on men's. According to research done by the Progressive Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank, tariffs on women's clothing are consis...
Benzinga •

'We Are Seeing Some Of Their True Personalities Come Out.' Melinda French Gates Speaks Out About The Rise of Billionaires In Politics

When President Donald Trump put together his cabinet at the beginning of his second term, he stocked it with uber-wealthy businessmen. From Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the former CEO of Key Square Capital Management who has a net worth north of $500 million, to Steve Feinberg, the deputy secretary of cefense and former CEO of Cerberus Capital Management whose net worth hovers around $5 billion, these appointments are the most recent examples of the ultra wealthy dipping their toes into pol...
Benzinga •

De-Extinction Company Colossal Biosciences Has Resurrected the Dire Wolf, Validating Its $10.2 Billion Valuation

Colossal Biosciences, a biotechnology and genetic engineering company that focuses on de-extinction, announced Monday that it had successfully resurrected the dire wolf, CNN reports. In January, the company secured $200 million in Series C funding, earning it a valuation of $10.2 billion. This price tag places it in the elite "decacorn" club, the nickname given to privately held companies with valuations north of $10 billion. 


Founded in 2021, the company's banner project is bringing back the...
Benzinga •

Federal Reserve Governor Says He's A 'Big Advocate Of Stablecoins,' But Wants The Government To Steer Clear Of Own Crypto

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said that he's a fan of stablecoins and believes they have a place in the payment system, but does not see the need for the government to adopt one of their own. 


"I’ll say I’m a personal, big advocate of stablecoins. I have been saying this for over three-plus years now, about how this could bring competition, efficiency and speed into the payments system,” he told audience members at a conference held by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Fri...
Benzinga •

'It Actually Is What Drove Us Toward Cryptocurrency.' Eric Trump Says Cancel Culture Caused Family Shift to Bitcoin - Hut 8 (NASDAQ:HUT), Capital One Finl (NYSE:COF)

Bitcoin mining company Hut 8 HUT said last week that it is launching a new subsidiary with Eric Trump. American Bitcoin "aims to be the world's largest, most efficient pure-play miner while building a robust strategic Bitcoin reserve," according to a company statement.


Trump told CNBC on Wednesday why he turned to cryptocurrency. His family's namesake firm became "the most canceled company, probably on earth. It's actually what drove us towards cryptocurrency. You realize that cryptocurrency...
Stacker •

25 iconic outfits from film history

Judy Garland's Dorothy dress


If you're at all familiar with the making of "The Wizard of Oz," you're probably well aware of the fact that several pairs of Dorothy's ruby slippers have disappeared since the film wrapped in 1939. What you may not know is that her blue-and-white gingham dress was also lost for years.

It was only rediscovered in 2021 when the Catholic University of America (to which the dress was donated back in the 1970s) was doing a major cleanout of its d...
Stacker •

Plant-based sources of probiotics to boost gut health

In 1906, Henry Tissier successfully isolated a specific microbe in the stomach of a breastfed infant. His discovery of what came to be called Bifidobacterium confirmed what many had long suspected to be true: that certain bacteria, which could be introduced to the body via food, could have positive health benefits. The demand for these probiotics, whether they come from the foods we consume or via a supplement, has only exploded from there.

Humans have been consuming fermented foods—the sole na...
Stacker •

25 influential women artists of the 20th century

Augusta Savage


Through her sculptures, Augusta Savage transformed everyday moments in the lives of Black Americans into high art. A key figure of the Harlem Renaissance, Savage trained in Paris before returning to New York City, where she transformed her studio into a community art center; gave free lessons—other notable artists like Jacob Lawrence were students; and created commissioned projects like “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which was made for the 1939 New York World...
Nicki Swift •

All The Details About Marion Jones' Steroid Scandal After The 2000 Olympic Games - Nicki Swift

Matt Turner/Getty Images


By Madison TroyerNov. 13, 2023 8:15 am EST


In the early 2000s, you could barely turn on ESPN or open an issue of Sports Illustrated without coming across Marion Jones. The track star was a sports world darling — one of the fastest women in the world. She had set a very public goal of winning five gold medals at the 2000 Olympic Games and seemed likely to do it. So when things kicked off in Sydne...
Nicki Swift •

Prince William & Prince Harry's Strained Relationship: A Complete Timeline - Nicki Swift

Chris Jackson/Getty Images


By Madison TroyerFeb. 18, 2023 11:11 am EST


Whether you're a royal watcher or not, you're probably well aware of the fact that Prince William and Prince Harry have had a bit of a falling out. Anyone who's had half an eye on celebrity news will have seen the various tabloid headlines describing how they've given one another the cold shoulder at events or had less than flattering things to say a...
Nicki Swift •

The Shady Side Of George Santos - Nicki Swift

Drew Angerer/Getty Images


By Madison Troyer and Brent FurdykUpdated: Dec. 6, 2023 1:49 pm EST


The following article includes brief references to homophobia, racism, addiction, and domestic abuse allegations.
In November 2022, New Yorkers elected an untested Republican to Congress. On paper, George Santos — who represented the state's third congressional district until December 2023, but more on that below — appeared to...
Newsweek •

Bitcoin and the World of Cryptocurrencies, Explained

Three hundred thirty-one years ago, the first piece of paper money was printed in the United States. The Massachusetts Bay Colony supposedly issued those first bills to fund military action in King William's War. Flash forward to today, and those bills are as ubiquitous as the British pound or Chinese renminbi. In recent years, however, there have also been talks that those bills may be replaced with a newer form of money altogether: cryptocurrency.What is cryptocurrency? Is it really likely to...
Newsweek •

The History of Women in Public Office

On Jan. 20, 2021, a new chapter in American history began when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the country's first female vice president, were sworn into office. Harris' role in the position is certainly monumental, but her nomination, while significant, was not a first. That honor, of being the first woman nominated by the Democratic party for the role of vice president, belongs to Geraldine A. Ferraro. In 1984, Ferraro, a congresswoman from Queens, strode on stage alongside Walter F. Mondale to a...
ForceBrands Newsroom •

5 Female Winemakers Producing Wine You Can Feel Good About Drinking | ForceBrands Newsroom

As part of our ongoing Female Forces series to celebrate Women’s History Month (March), we’re highlighting some of the leading women in wine.
Wine has traditionally been a male-dominated industry. Most of the top vineyards, wineries, and brands have been founded by, and are run by men. And while women have been producing quality wines for decades, just 10 percent of California (which produces nearly 90 percent of the country’s wine) vintners are female.
But times are changing as more women are e...
ForceBrands Newsroom •

Cannabis 101: The Real Difference Between CBD and THC | ForceBrands Newsroom

The marijuana business is booming. It’s estimated that by 2021, the legal cannabis industry will have created an additional 400,000 jobs. That’s a staggering number and one that should be encouraging for those looking to begin a career in consumer product goods.
While older more established industries require a certain level of previous experience in order to land a job, the cannabis industry doesn’t have the luxury to establish requirements like that. With the market growing at such a rapid rat...