At a CNN town hall, Vice President Kamala Harris candidly admitted that she struggles with making quick decisions, as she prefers to research issues thoroughly before taking action. She acknowledged that while this tendency can sometimes be seen as a weakness, it also serves as a strength, allowing her to make well-informed and thoughtful choices. Harris emphasized that she values accuracy and understanding, believing that careful consideration leads to better policy decisions rather than impulsive reactions.

Harris also admitted that she sometimes leans heavily on her team for advice and input. While this reliance could be viewed as a drawback, she framed it as an asset, explaining that having a diverse group of advisors allows her to consider multiple perspectives before making important decisions. She noted that leadership is not about making decisions in isolation but rather about ensuring that different viewpoints are heard and weighed appropriately.

During the town hall, she highlighted the importance of surrounding herself with intelligent and knowledgeable individuals. “I value having a team of very smart people around me,” she stated, reinforcing her belief in collaborative decision-making. Harris stressed that effective leadership is not about always having the answers immediately but about knowing where to seek the best information and perspectives to arrive at the right conclusions.

While she acknowledged her decision-making process is not flawless, Harris defended her approach as thoughtful and meticulous. She sees her preference for thorough research and collaboration as a way to ensure the best possible outcomes, even if it sometimes takes longer to reach a conclusion. By embracing both her strengths and areas for growth, she presented herself as a leader who prioritizes wisdom and inclusivity over haste. 

Social Security Announces 2025 COLA Increase — Here’s What It Means for You

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has officially announced the 2025 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), offering relief to millions of Americans navigating higher prices for everyday essentials. While this year’s increase is more modest than 2023’s historic jump, it still represents a meaningful attempt to keep benefits aligned with inflation.

How Much Is the 2025 COLA?

The 2025 COLA is 3.2%, affecting over 70 million people, including:

• Retired workers

• Individuals receiving disability benefits

• Survivors

• SSI recipients

The new amounts begin appearing in January 2025 checks.

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How Much More Will Beneficiaries Receive?

Average Monthly Benefit (Retired Worker)

• Increase: About $50 more per month

• New Average: Approximately $1,790

Below is a clearer breakdown of estimated 2025 benefit amounts, incorporating the 3.2% adjustment:

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Old-Age Retirement Benefits (Estimated for 2025)

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Disability Benefits (Estimated for 2025)

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Survivors’ Benefits (Estimated for 2025)

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SSI (Supplemental Security Income) — 2025 Estimates

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Why the COLA Matters

A COLA increase is meant to preserve purchasing power for people living on fixed incomes, especially seniors. Many rely heavily — or entirely — on Social Security to cover essential expenses such as:

• Groceries

• Medications

• Housing

• Utilities

• Transportation

While the increase provides welcome relief, many advocates note that rising healthcare and housing costs continue to outpace annual adjustments.

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What You Should Do Next

✔ Check Your Updated Benefit in January

Your payment will automatically include the new COLA. No action is required.

✔ Look for Your SSA Notice

The SSA will send out individualized benefit letters in December, detailing your exact 2025 amount.

✔ Review Your Budget for 2025

Even a modest increase can help balance rising costs.

✔ Stay Informed

Visit the official ssa.gov site, or consult trusted organizations such as AARP and Medicare.gov for guidance.

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Want to Know How Taxes Affect Your Benefits?

If you’re preparing for retirement — or already in it — taxes can significantly impact how far your Social Security checks stretch.

Check out our analysis:
“Top 10 States Where Retirees Benefit Most and Least.”
It breaks down:

• Which states offer the best tax relief

• Where Social Security is taxed

• How Trump’s proposed Social Security tax changes could impact retirees in the coming years

Perfect for anyone planning a financially stable retirement.

The Grief I Never Saw

My son died in an accident at sixteen.
And my husband, Sam, never shed a single tear.

Not at the hospital while machines fell silent.
Not at the funeral as I clung to the coffin.
Not in the empty house where our boy’s laughter once lived.

I grieved out loud.
He grieved by disappearing into work, into chores, into silence so heavy it widened every crack between us.

I begged him to talk.
He stayed made of stone.
Slowly, the resentment we never addressed began to harden around our marriage like cement.

Eventually, it was too much.
We divorced.
He remarried.
Life carried us in different directions, the way grief often does when it has nowhere to breathe.

Twelve years passed.

Then one morning, I received a phone call:
Sam was gone. A sudden death. No warning. No time to patch any of the broken places between us.

A few days after his funeral, his new wife asked to see me.

She sat at my kitchen table, her hands trembling around a cup of tea she wasn’t drinking. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then, with a voice that was barely holding itself together, she said:

“There’s something you deserve to know.”

My heart tightened.
I braced myself.

She told me that Sam did cry — just not where anyone could witness it.

The night our son died, he had driven alone to the small lake they used to visit when our boy was younger. A place where they’d fish, talk about school, skip stones. A place that belonged to them.

And then she said the part that broke me open:

“He went there every night for years. He left flowers. He talked to your son. He cried until there was nothing left in him. But he didn’t want you to see him like that. He thought if he stayed strong, you’d have something to lean on.”

Her eyes filled.
So did mine.

All those years, I believed he felt nothing.
In reality, he just hid everything.

Later that evening, something pulled me to the lake — a quiet instinct, soft but certain. When I arrived, the sun was dipping low, painting the water in gold. Under a tree near the shoreline, I noticed a small wooden box tucked inside a weathered indentation in the trunk.

I opened it with shaking hands.

Inside were letters — dozens of them — each written to our son.
One for every birthday since he’d been gone.

Some letters were short, only a few lines.
Some pages were tear-stained.
Some carried memories I hadn’t known.
All of them carried a love Sam had never stopped feeling.

I sat down on the cold ground and read until the sky went dark.

For the first time in twelve years, I saw the truth:

Love does not always grieve the way we expect.
Some hearts break in the open.
Others break in secret.
Both are still love.

And sometimes, the people we think abandoned us were actually carrying their pain so quietly — and so heavily — that we never noticed how much it cost them.

As the last light melted into the lake, I whispered into the wind:

“I see it now.
I see you now.”

And in that quiet moment, forgiveness finally found a place to rest.

When it comes to the food on your plate, not all beef is created equal. Understanding the difference between store-bought and farm-raised beef can help you make more informed choices that affect your health, your wallet, and even the environment.

1. Quality and Taste
Farm-raised beef, especially from small-scale local farms, often comes from cattle raised on

a grass-fed or grain-finished diet with plenty of pasture time. This typically results in meat that is more flavorful

 

with a firmer texture and richer marbling. Store-bought beef, particularly from large supermarket chains, may come from cattle raised in feedlots with a high-grain diet and limited space to roam. While it may look more uniform, it can lack the depth of flavor that many associate with traditional farm-raised meat.

A Legacy of Leadership: Remembering a Pioneering Voice in American Civil Rights

The corridors of American political history lost one of their most enduring and transformative figures this week, as a man whose life spanned nearly a century of social change and progress passed away peacefully. His journey from local activism to national prominence represents a remarkable chapter in the ongoing story of American democracy and the struggle for civil rights and social justice.

Donald Trump’s electoral victory divided families up and down the country, and even put an end to one family’s Thanksgiving plans

An American family’s festive plans were torn apart after one woman saw her husband’s post about Donald Trump while ‘doomscrolling’ online.

Families up and down the country have had to reckon with this extreme disagreement over the past decade, with both liberals and conservatives convinced that the other side wants to bring an end to the Founding Fathers’ grand vision for a free and democratic republic.

One woman’s story of how her heartbreak and terror at Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris last year perhaps exemplifies this growing divide in society better than others.

Author Andrea Tate wrote in HuffPost last year about how her husband and his family were no longer welcome for Christmas or Thanksgiving after Trump’s victory last November.

“He won, and, from where I stand, America lost,” she lamented.

Attraction can catch anyone off guard, even someone who’s happily married.

Sometimes, a married woman may start feeling drawn to another man, even if she has no intention of acting on it.

These feelings don’t automatically mean infidelity is coming, but they can create subtle shifts in behavior that people around her might notice.

According to Psychology Today, men and women often cheat for different reasons. When women cheat, it’s usually about more than just sex – they’re looking for romance, emotional connection, or intimacy. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to cheat mainly for physical satisfaction, without much thought about emotional closeness.

Of course, some men do cheat because they feel both love and sexual attraction for someone else, but many see it as purely opportunistic. They might even say they’re happy in their main relationship, love their partner, and enjoy their sex life, with no intention of leaving.

Women usually aren’t like that. For most women, emotional closeness matters just as much — or even more — than sex. So, if a woman cheats, it’s often because she’s either unhappy in her relationship or has formed a real emotional connection with someone else. Either way, it can be a sign that she’s ready to rethink her current relationship.

Infidelity is more common than most people think. A 2021 Statista survey found that about one in five Americans have cheated on a partner at some point.

A 2022 study revealed that roughly 20% of men and 13% of women admitted to being unfaithful. That means the odds of dating someone who has cheated before are actually pretty high.

Here are nine signs that a married woman may be developing feelings for someone else.

1. She seems distant at home

If she’s physically there but mentally elsewhere, talks less than usual, or seems withdrawn, it could mean her thoughts are elsewhere — possibly focused on someone outside the marriage.

Marriage and family therapist Elizabeth Winkler points out that the word “distant” often comes up in conversations about infidelity. Partners —and sometimes even the other person involved — frequently describe someone who is cheating as emotionally withdrawn or disconnected.

2. She puts extra effort into her appearance

Small changes, like fixing her hair more often, wearing a new perfume, or carefully choosing outfits, may indicate she’s hoping someone else will notice her.

If your wife or girlfriend suddenly starts dressing sharper for work after previously not caring much about her appearance, it could be a sign that a new colleague has caught her eye…

Former detective Darren Staton warns that sudden changes in appearance, like buying new clothes or putting extra effort into how they look, can be a red flag.

3. She’s constantly on her phone

Hiding her phone, keeping it face down, or spending long hours texting or on calls could signal secret conversations or emotional attention directed elsewhere.

”Phones are such a big part of our lives and a reluctance to leave your mobile phone out unattended or allowing your partner to look at your phone is a flag,” Former detective Darren Staton told Daily Mail.

4. She avoids time together

If she’s suddenly “too busy” for shared activities or regularly makes excuses to avoid you, she may be seeking emotional or social connection with someone else.

5. She feels guilty — then justifies it

Even if nothing has happened physically, she may feel conflicted about her feelings. She might rationalize them with thoughts like, “He makes me happy,” or “We’re just friends,” trying to ease her own guilt.

6. Shifts in everyday habits

If someone is having an affair, it’s important to remember they’re essentially managing two separate lives, which takes a lot of effort to keep everything straight.

Former detective Darren Staton says:“You have to have a very good memory because you have two lives on the go.”

If your partner suddenly starts changing routines or how you spend time together, it could be a sign they’re trying to maintain appearances elsewhere.

Darren also suggested paying attention to any reluctance around things that used to be normal, like date nights, anniversaries, or family events.

7. She stops wearing her wedding ring

If a woman suddenly stops wearing her wedding or engagement ring, it can sometimes signal emotional distance or a potential issue in the relationship. However, it doesn’t always mean she’s attracted to someone else.

In many cases, choosing not to wear a ring is simply a matter of personal preference. The only way to truly understand is to communicate openly rather than make assumptions.

8. She becomes more critical of you

A shift in attraction can make a woman notice flaws she previously ignored. If she seems unusually judgmental or irritable, she might be comparing you—consciously or unconsciously, to someone else.

9. She becomes moody or overly emotional

Mood swings can indicate internal conflict, whether from stress, life changes, or attraction to another person. Sudden emotional ups and downs are often a signal that something is weighing on her.

It’s important to remember: these behaviors don’t automatically mean she’s interested in someone else. She could simply feel underappreciated or disconnected in the marriage.

As former detective Darren Stanton explains, “One or two changes in behavior aren’t really significant; we’re looking for six or seven consistent changes to their usual actions.”

The key is open, honest communication — talking about what you notice and how you feel before jumping to conclusions.

Have you ever experienced infidelity, and did any of these signs ring true for you? Share your thoughts in the comments!

When my grandmother passed away, I assumed the only thing she had left me was a modest $50 gift card—certainly not the kind of inheritance anyone imagines, but completely fitting for a woman famous for her extreme frugality.

What I didn’t realize was that this small card would unravel an entire secret life she had kept hidden from us all.

I had always believed Grandma was the stingiest woman alive. After her funeral, I found the gift card tucked among her belongings. At first, I almost gave it away, brushing it off as insignificant. But one quiet afternoon, curiosity nudged me, and I finally handed it to a cashier.

That was the moment everything changed.

The cashier’s hands trembled as she took the card. Her eyes widened, and her face drained of color. “This can’t be right,” she whispered. “Where did you get this?”

“It belonged to my grandma,” I replied, my voice suddenly unsteady.

Before I could ask what was wrong, she shouted, “Stop everything! Everyone, wait!”

The store froze. Customers stopped mid-aisle, staring at me as if I were holding something dangerous. My heart pounded as someone went to fetch the manager.

I was led into a small office away from the stunned crowd. The manager leaned forward, voice low, and said, “This isn’t just a gift card. It has a very special history.”

Still confused, I listened as she told me about a side of my grandmother none of us had ever seen. While our family thought of her as a woman who guarded every penny, she had secretly been an angel in disguise—using her savings to buy gift cards and anonymously give them to struggling families, single parents, and anyone in desperate need.

Her thriftiness had been her cover. Underneath it was a quiet mission built on kindness and generosity. And the card I was holding, the manager explained, was the last one she had ever purchased. Astoundingly, it had never been used—not even once in more than ten years. It felt as though it had been waiting for me all along.

When I left the office, I was trembling. In my hands wasn’t just a piece of plastic—it was my grandmother’s hidden legacy.

A few days later, I found myself at a small diner my grandmother had always loved. I noticed a young mother struggling to pay her bill, her baby balanced on her hip as she counted coins with shaky hands. Without thinking twice, I handed her the gift card. “This was my grandmother’s,” I told her gently. “She wanted you to have it.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “You don’t know what this means to me,” she whispered. And in that instant, I finally understood my grandmother’s greatest lesson: true wealth isn’t measured in dollars, but in the kindness we choose to share with others.

Inspired by her example, I started a small fund in her name—helping strangers with meals, gift cards, or even a simple kind word. Every time I give, it feels like she’s right beside me, her hand warm in mine, guiding me forward.

My grandmother was never cheap. In fact, she was the richest person I’ve ever known—not in money, but in love. Now it’s my turn to carry that love onward.

Conclusion

What seemed like an overlooked $50 gift card became a powerful symbol of hidden generosity. My grandmother’s quiet acts of kindness, disguised by years of apparent frugality, taught me that real wealth comes from giving, not keeping. That final card was far more than an inheritance—it was her invitation for me to continue her legacy of love in the world.

Smoking has been around for a long time. Many things have changed in the last few decades; for example, you can’t smoke in restaurants, or not even in outdoor seating areas, most of the time. But still, a lot of people choose to smoke, or in many cases can’t stop, even though they might want to.

The health risks of smoking are widely recognized by authorities and experts. Per the Cleveland Clinic, smoking can affect “everything from the appearance of your skin and nails to how your tissues, organs and even your DNA work.”

It further reads that “the effects of smoking on your body start the moment you light up a cigarette,” as “thousands of chemicals released from burning tobacco start their damaging journey before you’ve even taken a puff.”

Smoking increases the risk for many health conditions such as cancer, lung disease, heart and vascular disease, diabetes, and miscarriage. Secondhand smoke also risks damaging you..

While full-time smoking is very bad for you, even though you, let’s say, would only smoke two cigarettes a day, it turns out to be very bad. Per ABC, scientists have now issued a new major warning about the dangers of smoking to only a few.

Scientists issue serious warning about smoking ‘only’ two cigarettes per day

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University examined the smoking habits of more than 300,000 adults over the course of 20 years. The study found that even smoking two cigarettes a day gave a person a 60 percent higher risk of death from any cause, compared to those who never smoked.

The study was published in PLOS Medicine on November 18, and further found that those who smoked had a 50 percent higher risk for heart disease.

Dr. Jennifer Miao is a cardiologist at Yale University and an ABC News Medical Unit fellow, and said: “Tobacco use is a very well-established risk factor for heart disease.” Dr Jennifer Miao, cardiologist at Yale University and a part of the ABC News Medical Unit, said. “It really damages the blood vessel lining and it accelerates the development of plaques and coronary artery disease.”

At the same time, those who stop smoking more or less straight away reduce the risk of health issues.

“It’s important that people know that when they stop smoking, their risk goes down immediately and significantly,” Dr. Erfan Tasdighi, an internal medicine physician at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and a co-author on the study, told ABC.

“Important to quit smoking early on”

“It’s important to quit smoking early on, and no amount of smoking is without risk and health consequences,” he added, saying that just smoking a little still can be very bad.

“We actually have the evidence … to say that even less than one cigarette a day can increase different multiple cardiovascular outcomes, and it’s not something that’s clinically insignificant. It’s very, very important for us as clinicians to acknowledge that it’s a lot easier said than done.”

Please share this article with friends and family on Facebook and inform them about the dangers of smoking.

It started with a bike ride. A group of children, full of energy, pedaled through La Rochelle. And then everything changed in a second.

An 83-year-old driver, headed the wrong way, struck them.

Several were injured. The scene was chaotic. Unthinkable.

And now, the question echoes louder than ever: At what point is it no longer safe to drive? Can someone be too old to sit behind the wheel?

Or is age just a number when it comes to road safety? The debate isn’t easy.

It never has been. Because behind the statistics are real people—parents, grandparents, neighbors.

People who’ve been driving safely for 50, even 60 years. But aging does change things.

According to France’s Road Safety Authority, drivers over 75 are involved in as many accidents as those aged 18 to 24.