Breaking News, Business, Financial and Economic News, World News from EconoTimes

Become a contributor

Bookmark Econotimes

Thu, Jan 22, 2026 04:22 AM All times are UTC

Follow Series

©Econometrics LLC . All Rights Reserved.

Jacob Smith

Assistant Research Professor of Statistical Science and Political Science, Duke University
I am an Assistant Research Professor of Statistical Science and Political Science at Duke University and previously was a Lecturing Fellow in the Thompson Writing Program. I have a Ph.D. in Political Science from UNC-Chapel Hill. At UNC, I studied American Politics, Public Policy, and Methods. I also have a M.A. in Political Science from UNC-Chapel Hill and a B.A. in Political Science from Kenyon College.

I have a book forthcoming from University of Michigan Press on the minority party in legislative bodies, focusing especially on the U.S. Congress.

I have also examined political advertising in the context of North Carolina Commissioner of Labor Cherie Berry, whose picture appears on official inspection placards in every elevator in the state. Other research projects include an examination of the effect of the Donald Trump nomination on congressional candidate and a study of the effects of gun control policy and mental health access on the rate of gun deaths in the American states.

Black candidates can win in swing districts

Dec 19, 2020 10:01 am UTC| Politics

During the 2020 presidential election, there was a lot of discussion about what makes an electable candidate. Is it someone who is moderate? A candidate who can turn out the base? Do other attributes of the candidate...

Economy

Asian Stocks Rise as Wall Street Rebound and Greenland Tensions Ease, South Korea Hits Record High

Asian stock markets mostly advanced on Thursday, following a strong overnight rebound on Wall Street as investors welcomed easing geopolitical tensions surrounding U.S. demands over Greenland. Improved global risk...

BOJ Rate Decision in Focus as Yen Weakness and Inflation Shape Market Outlook

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged at the end of its two-day policy meeting on January 23, as policymakers wait for clearer signals on Japans economic trajectory. The central bank...

Gold Prices Ease in Asian Trade After Record High as Geopolitical Tensions Cool

Gold prices retreated in Asian trading on Thursday after reaching an all-time high in the previous session, as easing geopolitical tensions and a firmer U.S. dollar reduced safe-haven demand. The pullback followed comments...

Australian Dollar Hits 15-Month High as Strong Jobs Data Fuels Rate Hike Bets

The Australian dollar surged to a 15-month high on Thursday, supported by improving global risk sentiment and a surprisingly strong domestic employment report that reshaped expectations for Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)...

Valero Makes First Venezuelan Crude Purchase Under New U.S.-Caracas Deal

Valero Energy has purchased a cargo of Venezuelan crude oil in what sources describe as the first transaction by a U.S. Gulf Coast refiner under Washingtons recent agreement with Caracas, which allows the purchase of up to...

Politics

U.S. Steps Aside as Syria Reclaims SDF-Held Territory in Power Shift

A series of high-level diplomatic meetings in Damascus, Paris, and Iraq paved the way for the Syrian governments rapid takeover of territory long controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), fundamentally...

Trump Reverses Course on Greenland After Diplomatic Backlash

President Donald Trump has stepped back from earlier threats to use military force or tariffs as leverage to acquire Greenland, ending weeks of uncertainty that rattled U.S. allies and exposed internal divisions within his...

New York Judge Orders Redrawing of GOP-Held Congressional District

A New York judge has ruled that the congressional district represented by Republican U.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis violates the state constitution and must be redrawn, a decision that could have major political...

NATO Chief Says Greenland Sovereignty Not Discussed as Trump Backs Off Tariff and Force Threats

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the question of Greenlands sovereignty did not arise during his recent discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump, signaling a shift in tone after Trump stepped back from earlier...

Supreme Court Signals Doubts Over Trump’s Bid to Fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook

U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday signaled strong skepticism toward President Donald Trumps unprecedented effort to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, raising serious questions about presidential power and...

Science

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Senate Sets December 8 Vote on Trump’s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee announced it will vote on December 8 on President Donald Trumps renewed nomination of private astronaut and tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Isaacman, known for his...

NASA Cuts Boeing Starliner Missions as SpaceX Pulls Ahead

NASA has significantly scaled back Boeings Starliner program after years of technical issues and delays, announcing that the next Starliner mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will fly without astronauts. The...

Technology

Apple China Holiday Sale Offers Discounts Up to 1,000 Yuan on Popular Devices

Apple has announced a limited-time promotional campaign in China, offering discounts of up to 1,000 yuan (approximately $143.60) on selected products, including iPhones, Macs, iPads, and Apple Watches. According to...

Memory Chip Shortage Drives Higher Gadget Prices and Weakens Global Tech Demand

Global demand for smartphones, personal computers, and gaming consoles is expected to decline this year as rising memory chip prices force manufacturers to increase product prices. Major electronics brands, ranging from...

Morgan Stanley Flags High Volatility Ahead for Tesla Stock on Robotaxi and AI Updates

Morgan Stanley has warned that Teslas fourth-quarter earnings could lead to an unusually wide range of outcomes for the stock, with investor reaction likely driven less by near-term financials and more by updates on...

Apple Stock Jumps as Company Prepares Major Siri AI Chatbot Upgrade

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) shares climbed as much as 1.6% on Wednesday afternoon after a Bloomberg News report revealed that the tech giant is preparing a major overhaul of Siri, signaling Apples most significant move yet...

HKEX’s Permissive IPO Rules Could Open Opportunities for Korea to Strengthen Its Position in International Listings

In 2025, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) became the premier venue for initial public offerings (IPOs) globally, having raised nearly US$36 billion from new listings. This notable 200% year-on-year increase is directly...