NBC

And then there were eleven (in tonight's main event)...

You know, to help fight ISIS...

• China stocks resume sharp slide as economic worries mount (Reuters)
• OECD head says sees further cut to global growth forecasts (Reuters)
• The U.S. Dollar Is Gaining Like It's the 1980s — For Better or Worse (BBG)
• Glencore Slumps to Record Low, Erasing Gains Since Debt Plan (BBG)
• Woman killed, 400 homes destroyed by California wildfire (Reuters)
• Why Morning Is the Worst Time to Trade Stocks (WSJ)
• German Investor Confidence Damped by Weaker Emerging Markets (BBG)

"The Chinese right now are getting very concerned because they understand this will create embarrassing optics around the visit for them."

The catchphrase that seems to be picking up more and more steam is “cutting the cord” when referring to those that are dropping traditional cable TV for viewing choices or alternatives by other means. However, is “cutting the cord” really the reason for ESPN’s loss of millions viewers? Perhaps a large part of the underlying reason is: ESPN (like a few notable others such as NBC™) has seemingly transformed at near hyper-speed from sports reporting – to political sports reporting. The political edge now rampant throughout the shows, games, interviews, et al is overbearing, overburdening, and overdone.

"There is no reason to embarrass the president of China..."

Want further evidence of the misappropriation of taxpayer funds to post-secondary education? Look no further than the Pell grant program.

The stunning imbroglio of Hillary Clinton's path to The White House took another absurd twist tonight when just hours after The FBI confirmed an "attempt" was made to wipe the hard drive of her email server (or in other words, remove all data on it), the former secretary of state seemed to mock the claims in a press conference. When asked specifically if she wiped the server, she 'ummed' and 'ahhed' then jokingly said "what with a cloth or something?"

The fallout from last week’s massive explosion in the Chinese port of Tianjin continues to worsen, despite Beijing’s best efforts to play down the danger to the public. The death toll from the apocalyptic blast - which was described by witnesses as akin to a nuclear explosion - has risen above 100 with 114 people confirmed killed and more than 700 injured. Some 6,000 have been displaced. Authorities now fear that storms in the area could transform sodium cyanide (which is water soluble) present on the scene into hydrogen cyanide, which is "rapidly fatal." 

Recent price volatility in the media sector got us wondering: is “Cord cutting” the home cable box in favor of online entertainment really hitting critical mass?

Normally, candidates that are not part of the “establishment” do not pose much of a threat. In order to win elections in this country, especially on a national level, you need name recognition and you need lots and lots of money. Donald Trump has both, and no matter what you may think of him you have to admit that he has star power. And he was never supposed to run for president. You see, the truth is that only members of “the club” are allowed to play. The elite very carefully groom their candidates, and they are usually able to maintain a very tight grip on both major political parties. This two-headed abomination that we call a “two party system” is in reality just a one party system.