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Today’s Big Story

Upsetting the Apple Cart

The rise and fall of America’s favorite apple, the Honeycrisp

Do you remember when the Honeycrisp apple dropped? I can’t be sure when I first found them, but I know it was soon after I started shopping for myself as an adult after college. Living in Los Angeles, they seemed like a revelation for an apple lover like me.

That unique balance of syrupy-sweet yet tart juice and shockingly crisp crunch catapulted the fruit into near instant popularity. According to The Takeout, when the Honeycrisp was first developed by botanists at the University of Minnesota in 1983, most supermarkets sold hardy apples that were available all year—which usually meant the much-maligned Red Delicious, that was only recently overtaken by the Gala in terms of popularity. “The Honeycrisp followed in the footsteps of the Granny Smith, one of the best apples for baking, that had recently been introduced to great success. But Honeycrisp had the added bonus of being sweet enough to match the tartness.” Buyers could even stomach a premium price, often three times the cost of other varieties.

Once they hit shelves, consumers couldn't get enough of them, and demand skyrocketed. But there turned out to be significant problems with both cultivation and storage. Honeycrisps grow beautifully in certain states, especially those with similar climates to their homestate of Minnesota, which was where they were all grown at first. But they suffer in warmer, less consistent climates, including Washington—which is quite unfortunate, seeing as Washington is the apple-growing capital of America.

“She’s a diva, an absolute diva,” fourth-generation Washington apple farmer Kait Thornton told the Wall Street Journal. Its thin skin is easily punctured by its own stem, which means workers must hand-clip the fruit from the tree, cutting productivity in half. The tree tends to produce more apples than it can handle, so growers must thin out the fruit. The Thorntons spray the trees frequently to treat an endemic calcium deficiency.

While farmers might lament growing Honeycrisps, production is on the rise. Honeycrisps, known by some farmers as “moneycrisps”, can fetch handsome paydays. But this year is expected to bring a bumper Honeycrisp crop, but farmers aren’t celebrating. A big harvest can send prices plummeting broadly as retailers discount other varieties like Gala or Fuji to compete with cheaper Honeycrisps. Apple growers say they’re at the mercy of the volatile Honeycrisp, unsure from season to season how it’s going to affect the price of their other varieties.

The Shutdown Mess Continues

Senate fails to advance GOP funding bill for 9th time as government shutdown enters Day 16

The Senate failed to advance a House-passed GOP bill to fund the government for the ninth time on Wednesday, the 15th day of the government shutdown. The vote attracted no additional support from Democrats, who are demanding an extension of health care tax credits in exchange for their votes. Republicans need to convince five more senators to cross the aisle, a number that has remained unchanged since the start of the funding lapse.

According to CBS News, members of the military were set to be paid on Wednesday despite the shutdown, after the Trump administration tapped unused research and development funds to cover their checks. FBI agents will also get paid during the shutdown, Director Kash Patel said Wednesday. But House Speaker Mike Johnson warned that the moves were a “temporary fix,” and that troops risked missing their next paychecks at the end of the month if the shutdown continues.

Also on Wednesday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from conducting mass layoffs during the government shutdown—a victory for unions that challenged President Donald Trump’s plan to use the fiscal standoff to cut thousands of personnel. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston said she believed the plan is “both illegal and in excess of authority and is arbitrary and capricious.”

American Passport Loses Power

U.S. falls from world’s 10 most powerful passports list for 1st time ever

President Donald Trump has said his tariffs have made the U.S. the “hottest country in the world,” but for the first time in two decades, America has dropped out of the world’s top 10 most powerful passports, which The Guardian says is “a significant dethroning for the global superpower.”

Just a few years ago, the United States passport was seen as the most powerful in the world by the Henley Passport Index, which ranks nations based on the number of destinations a traveler can visit without needing a visa. However, the U.S. passport started losing its power and last year dropped to seventh place. Now, we’re tied with Malaysia for 12th place, with 180 countries a traveler can enter without a visa.

The slide comes amid an immigration crackdown by the Trump administration that saw the State Department announce that it's reviewing the records of more than 55 million U.S. visa holders for potential violations. And Henley’s report cites White House policy as one of the contributing factors. It “signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics,” per a statement from Christian Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners. “Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind.”

The Rise of Hobby Rooms

Homeowners are ditching home offices for hobby rooms

It seemed like everyone was investing in their home office set-ups during the pandemic. But now, with the “return to office” push in full force, perhaps those desks have gotten a little dusty and people are eager to make better use of the space. After all, it’s not just a glorified Zoom background. What if it were a place you could practice music? Or do some woodworking or learn the art of leather working?

Bloomberg reports that as more people return to working full-time outside of the house, they’re converting their home offices into dedicated hobby rooms. Homeowners are now repurposing their home offices to build out wine cellars, teen rec rooms, cigar lounges, pilates studios, and other spaces that promote entertainment, pleasure, and retreat. In cities like New York, where space is especially precious and “the once must-have home office is losing its crown,” industry expert Eric Brown told the magazine, hobby rooms are taking on multiple purposes. “A room might start the day as a calm workout spot, serve as a kids’ gaming zone in the afternoon and then evolve into a sophisticated entertaining space by night.”

The change comes at a time when people seem to be finally prioritizing their own wellbeing. And it definitely marks a shift away from all-work and more towards balance. A recent survey by Thumbtack found that 84% of homeowners are prioritizing projects that “bring happiness over dollars,” with 31% planning on spending $10k+ on such projects, regardless of a ROI.

Do Red Cars Cost More to Insure?

Do red cars cost more to insure?

You may have heard the myth that red cars cost more to insure, often with varying reasons why. The truth is, the color of your car has nothing to do with your premium. Insurance companies are more interested in your vehicle’s make, model, age, safety features, and your driving history. What’s not a myth, though — is that people really can save a ton of money by switching insurers. Check out Money’s car insurance tool to see if you could, too.

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