In the last of our five-part series, Sophos X-Ops explores the implications and opportunities arising from threat actors’ involvement in real-world industries and crimes
In the third of our five-part series, Sophos X-Ops explores the more legally and ethically dubious business interests of financially motivated threat actors
Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought is now also the acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where he has directed staff to not issue any new rules, to suspend effective dates of all final rules and to stop any new investigations.
"I am honored that President Trump designated me as Acting Director of the Bureau on February 7, 2025," Vought said in an email to CFPB colleagues obtained by RealClearPolitics. "As Acting Director, I am committed to implementing the President's policies, consistent with the law, and acting as a faithful steward of the Bureau's resources."
He issued several directives that, effective immediately, must be followed by all employees, contractors and other CFPB personnel "unless expressly approved by the Acting Director or required by law," according to RealClearPolitics.
The directives include not approving or issuing any proposed or final rules or formal or informal guidance and for the bureau to suspend the effective dates of all final rules that have been issued or published but have not gone into effect.
Vought also ordered the bureau not to "commence, take investigative activities related to, or settle enforcement actions." CFPB must not open any new investigation in any manner and must cease any pending probes, he said.
The acting director said the CFPB shall not issue public communications of any type, including research papers.
Additionally, the CFPB must not approve or execute any material agreements, including those related to employee matters or contractors, and must not make or approve filings or appearances by the bureau in any litigation except to ask for a pause in proceedings.
The bureau was also told to cease all supervision and examination activity and to cease all stakeholder engagement.
Vought also sent a letter to the Federal Reserve requesting no money for the CFPB's third quarter of fiscal year 2025.
"Pursuant to the Consumer Financial Protection Act, I have notified the Federal Reserve that CFPB will not be taking its next draw of unappropriated funding because it is not 'reasonably necessary' to carry out its duties," Vought wrote on X. "The Bureau's current balance of $711.6 billion is in fact excessive in the current fiscal environment. This spigot, long contributing to CFPB's unaccountability, is now being turned off."
This comes after Vought was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday to lead the Office of Management and Budget.
Fox News Digital has reached out to CFPB for further comment.
A contest for control of Wisconsin’s top court may be even nastier and more expensive than its bitter 2023 predecessor, with the fate of an 1849 abortion ban and other policies at stake.
The saying goes that a cobbler’s kids have no shoes. But my own experience in creating an estate and legacy planning product after the passing of my father over a decade ago has ensured that I practice what I preach.
Given that I know how important formalizing my wishes and information is, I recently updated my own estate plan. Here’s why you should update yours, too — or get on it if you haven’t already put one in place.
Whether you are asset-heavy or asset-light, have many dependents or none, or have complex or simple affairs, putting an estate plan together is critical to make sure your wishes are carried out and that your loved ones aren’t overwhelmed by the process. Being organized now helps save your loved ones’ time, money and grief when they need it the most.
First, make sure you have an updated will. This will legally set forth your wishes and make the process easier for your loved ones to work through. From clarity on what happens to your assets and personal effects to even who gets your loyalty points, being thoughtful up front assists your loved ones in carrying out your wishes while minimizing fighting between family and friends.
My suggestion is — if you have a family dynamic that allows for it — include your loved ones in the process. This way, family members can voice their concerns and thoughts while you are still alive and feel like they are part of the process. Plus, some of the decisions may impact them directly, such as if family members want to be buried near each other and need to secure burial plots.
Or perhaps some family members are more comfortable playing certain roles while other members don’t want the responsibility. A frank conversation can help sort this out now when emotions aren’t in overdrive.
While there are online options to get a quick will, and that is certainly better than having no will, you may want to contact an estate planning attorney, who can give clarity on state rules that pertain to estates. Attorneys can often offer up strategies or referrals for information around tax planning and efficiency as well. They will also make sure you have the appropriate witnesses and notarization as required by your state.
My estate plan also includes powers of attorney for healthcare decisions and personal property decisions. Powers of attorney grant someone the ability to make a decision on your behalf if you cannot make those yourself, such as due to an accident or other mental incapacitation.
In addition to deciding who plays that role, it sets forth parameters for that person to follow. Your healthcare power of attorney can include directives around organ donation and burial vs. cremation, among other health and final wishes decisions.
While putting together your will and powers of attorney are great first steps, they won’t cover all your wishes and information. Think through your digital assets. What do you want your loved ones to have access to from your digital files, and what do you maybe not want anyone to see? Do you want a note left on your social media account to alert friends who may not hear about something happening to you? This is something you can put into your will directly or lay out in the given location within your legacy and wishes planning kit.
And, as you put this plan and related directives together, make sure your loved ones can find everything! It doesn’t help to have a will or power of attorney that nobody can find! I previously wrote about the Aretha Franklin will saga, where no will was found, then several different copies surfaced, including one found in the cushions of her couch. The ensuing legal battle took five years to resolve!
You want to make it easy for your loved ones to find your wishes, information and documents. Consider building out a full legacy and wishes planning kit, like my Future File kit or similar kit you put together, that contains any information plus anything physical that a loved one or estate executor may need to access in one place.
This is where copies of your will and powers of attorney should be left. If you don’t want to physically put them in the kit, you can instead leave instructions on how to access them.
I hear from people that things like safe deposit box keys often are a major challenge to find if they are not organized in one location, like a legacy kit. Sometimes, a loved one may not know how to contact your estate planning attorney, accountant, financial advisor, bank, or other key service providers. This information should also make it into your kit as part of a comprehensive estate plan.
A side benefit of having a kit is that you have one thing to grab in case of an emergency situation, whether that be an accident, natural disaster or otherwise.
How should you get started on your estate plan or your update? Consider getting a kit like Future File that asks questions and helps you think through your wishes. Where prompted, take that information to expert service providers, starting with an estate planning attorney, to get your legal documents in order. Finally, make sure your loved ones can access that information you can put together.
Even though I did my estate plan and legacy kit a while ago, circumstances changed and I felt a ton of relief after finishing an update.
Don’t put it off — nobody knows what tomorrow may bring, as we are constantly reminded. It will give you peace of mind to know it is taken care of and will save your loved ones a lifetime of grief, as well as a ton of time and money in their time of need.
Do you know the difference between 550 and 780? Yes, they’re 230 digits apart, but they’re also examples of bad and good credit scores, respectively.
Win a pair of $329 Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. Enter here, no purchase necessary!
If you don’t check yours regularly, now’s the time to start. Small mistakes are a lot more common than you think, and they can do some serious damage to your credit score. I’ll let you in on some of the most common credit report mistakes and what you can do to fix them.
The three credit reporting agencies (TransUnion, Experian and Equifax) are required by law to provide you with one free credit report a year. Sweet. There are a few ways you can request a copy from each agency.
Online is the fastest route. If you submit a request via phone or mail, expect to wait two weeks after the paperwork is received.
Typos or wrong info: Anything from your name spelled incorrectly to your address or your birthdate off by one number. Tiny mistakes can mix up your credit with someone else’s.
Accounts you don’t recognize: If you see something you don’t recognize, don’t ignore it! This includes credit cards you never applied for, loans in your name or purchases you didn’t make.
Duplicates: It’s not normal to see a debt twice on a credit report. This includes things like the same collection account, transferred debts showing as separate accounts or paid-off debts still sitting there.
Incorrect account info: Sometimes, payments can mistakenly show up as late, or closed accounts may still show as active. Other times, reports may show the wrong credit limit or mess up your payment history.
Outdated info: Bankruptcies older than 10 years, late payments older than seven years and outdated collections accounts should not be showing on your credit report.
Don’t panic! Write down and make copies of anything that looks off, then file a dispute with the credit reporting company by mail, phone or online.
If you’re filing online or by mail, explain in writing exactly what’s wrong and why, and include copies of documents with proof. Make sure to include your contact info, credit report confirmation numbers and a copy of your version of your credit report.
And always follow up! Bureaus are required to look into your disputes within 30 days. Track its progress until you have a resolution in writing. If your dispute is valid, the bureau has to fix it and tell the other bureaus as well.
A lot of these issues boil down to good old-fashioned human error. It happens, but don’t let that stop you from taking charge.
Equifax also runs a database of 716 million income and employment records, including, potentially, yours. It’s called The Work Number, and employers use it to make sure you are who you say you are.
Your Employment Data Report (EDR) includes things like where you’ve worked, when you worked there and your exact past salary numbers.
Trying to get a new job? An employer could use your EDR to find your past salary range and lowball you in negotiations. And, of course, Equifax will sell your EDR to anyone who’s buying, including debt collectors.
You can freeze your EDR just like a credit report. You can also see who’s tried to access it within the past two years. You’ll need to make an account with The Work Number to do it.
Once you register, look over your report and make sure it’s accurate. Fill out this data dispute form if you find anything fishy.
Then, head back to the dashboard and click Freeze Your Data. Fill out the Data Freeze Placement Form and submit it. The Work Number will send you a freeze confirmation letter, along with a PIN. Save your PIN in your password manager. You’ll need it if you ever want to unfreeze your report.
You can always log into The Work Number or call them to unfreeze your report.
If you can’t find your employer: They may not be registered with The Work Number. Call the freeze helpline at 1-800-367-2884 to double-check.
Unless you’re actively applying for a loan or government benefits, or unless an employer actively requests your EDR, it’s a no-brainer to freeze it. And if a potential employer insists on checking your EDR to hire you, maybe it’s not the right fit after all.
Get tech-smarter on your schedule
Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.
Copyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.
Scott Bessent, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice to be Treasury secretary, will be in charge of steering the president’s economic agenda if confirmed by the Senate.
The New Georgia Project, whose leaders also included Raphael Warnock, now a senator, admitted violating campaign finance laws. It agreed to a $300,000 penalty.
Wall Street's largest banks simultaneously exited the same net-zero climate alliance that was probed by Republican lawmakers last year, announced just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office.
Since 2021, banking giants have been prominent members of the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), a global group of financial institutions "committed to financing ambitious climate action" to transition the economy to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
However, since December, six of the world's largest banks, J.P. Morgan, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and Bank of America, have all separately announced their leaving the alliance, which encourages its member banks to additionally "design, set, and achieve" science-based, net-zero targets.
The banks said that they remain committed to emission reduction targets, but they will do so independently.
"We will continue to work independently to advance the interests of our Firm, our shareholders and our clients and remain focused on pragmatic solutions to help further low-carbon technologies while advancing energy security," a spokesperson for J.P. Morgan, the latest bank to withdraw from the alliance, said in a statement.
BlackRock, the world's largest investment firm, also announced on Thursday it was separating from a major climate group, the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, which works with asset managers to attain net-zero emissions by 2050 or sooner.
The synchronicity of the exits comes just weeks before Trump, who is expected to break away from President Biden's greenhouse gas emissions reduction target and potentially withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, will assume the presidency.
"The sudden exodus of these big US banks out of the NZBA is a lily-livered effort to avoid criticism from Trump and his climate denialist cronies," said Paddy McCully, a senior analyst at Reclaim Finance, the Guardian reported.
"A few years ago, when climate change was at the front of the political agenda, the banks were keen to boast of their commitments to act on climate," McCully added. "Now that the political pendulum has swung in the other direction, suddenly acting on climate does not seem so important for the Wall Street lenders."
The exits come nearly a year after a group of House Republicans launched a probe into the six banks over their involvement in the international alliance over claims it could impact the agriculture sector.
Vince McMahon, who co-founded and previously served as the CEO of WWE, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have reached a settlement following a yearslong probe over undisclosed settlements.
The federal investigation was launched to determine whether McMahon disclosed to the company's board and others that he signed two settlement agreements worth more than $10 million with two women in order for them not to reveal potential claims against himself and WWE.
The SEC said McMahon, without admitting or denying its findings, agreed to cease and desist from violating certain provisions, pay a $400,000 civil penalty and reimburse WWE approximately $1.3 million.
McMahon released a statement on Friday, arguing the situation was the result of "minor accounting errors."
"The case is closed. Today ends nearly three years of investigation by different governmental agencies. There has been a great deal of speculation about what exactly the government was investigating and what the outcome would be. As today's resolution shows, much of that speculation was misguided and misleading," the statement read. "In the end, there was never anything more to this than minor accounting errors with regard to some personal payments that I made several years ago while I was CEO of WWE. I'm thrilled that I can now put all this behind me."
SEC officials on Friday said one agreement was signed in 2019 and the other in 2022. One agreement required McMahon to pay a former employee $3 million in exchange for the former worker's agreement to not disclose her relationship with McMahon and her release of potential claims against WWE and McMahon.
The other agreement obligated McMahon to pay a former WWE independent contractor $7.5 million in exchange for the independent contractor's agreement to not disclose her allegations against McMahon and her release of potential claims against WWE and McMahon, per the SEC.
McMahon stepped down from his role as chairman and CEO of the popular professional wrestling promotion in 2022, pending the results of an internal investigation which stemmed from allegations of hush-money agreements. His daughter Stephanie McMahon assumed her father's leadership duties.
A few weeks after stepping down, McMahon announced his intentions to retire from WWE. He returned as executive chairman in 2023, but resigned from TKO — a company that was the result of a merger between the WWE and Zuffa, UFC's parent company — in 2024. McMahon's resignation came after a former employee filed a federal lawsuit accusing him and another former executive of serious sexual misconduct.
McMahon maintained he committed no wrongdoing following the filing of the lawsuit.
By McMahon not disclosing the agreements to WWE's board, legal department, accountants, financial reporting personnel or auditors, it circumvented the company's system of internal accounting controls and caused material misstatements in its 2018 and 2021 financial statements, the commission said.
The SEC's order found that, because the payments required by the 2019 and 2022 agreements were not recorded, WWE overstated its 2018 net income by approximately 8% and its 2021 net income by about 1.7%.
Once WWE learned of the settlement agreements, it issued a restatement of its financial statements in August 2022.
"Company executives cannot enter into material agreements on behalf of the company they serve and withhold that information from the company's control functions and auditor," Thomas P. Smith Jr., associate regional director in the New York Regional Office, said in a statement.
The president-elect has raised more than $170 million for his swearing-in, an inaugural record, as wealthy Americans flock to curry favor with him and some give money even without the prospect of V.I.P. access.
2025 is here, and after diet and exercise, money and paying off debt are always at the top of the list for Americans' New Year’s resolutions. How can you make a game plan that’s actionable and tactical on January 1? Here are five great ideas to get the new year off to a bang!
Did you know the average person visits the grocery store more than 10 times a month? According to Oxygen Financial, that adds up to a significant chunk of your time. And with each trip taking an average of 43 minutes (source: Time Institute), the hours really add up. And remember this, the grocery stores have the same goal as the casinos in Las Vegas, which is to separate you from your wallet.
In fact, right near me in Atlanta, Ga., a Publix recently opened with a full bar where you can drink beer and wine. Now, why would you need to do that? The reason is that grocery stores know it's paramount to get you to spend more time in the store and, consequently, you’ll spend more money.
Investing isn’t just for the ultra-wealthy anymore. With as little as $100, you can diversify your portfolio with assets once reserved only for the rich:
These options offer creative ways to grow your wealth without requiring a massive upfront investment.
Debt is a huge financial burden for many Americans, with credit card debt alone nearing $1.2 trillion and the average balance sitting at $6,327. Tackling your debt now will set you up for long-term financial freedom.
Here are two pro tips going into 2025:
Recurring subscriptions can quietly drain your finances. Many people forget about services they no longer use, and costs for some subscriptions like YouTube TV have doubled over the past seven years (now priced at $82.99 per month).
Do you have a stash of airline miles, hotel rewards, or credit card points? These points represent real money — but their value decreases over time due to inflation and rising redemption costs.
Consider this: In the past five years, your points have likely lost 20% of their value. Waiting too long to use them could mean missing out on rewards you’ve earned.
Here’s how to make the most of your points:
Whether it’s cutting down on unnecessary shopping trips or finding innovative ways to invest, these simple changes can make a big impact on your finances. Start small by reviewing your grocery habits or subscriptions, then work your way up to investing and tackling debt. Every step you take will bring you closer to becoming a millionaire.
President-elect Trump announced several appointments to his administration Thursday, including the team that will work with his nominee for the U.S. Treasury, Scott Bessent.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced that Ken Kies will serve as assistant secretary for tax policy.
Kies, who has worked as a tax lawyer for 47 years, has served as the chief of staff for the Joint Committee on Taxation and the chief Republican tax counsel of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Also joining the team is Alexandra Preate, who Trump appointed as senior counsel to the secretary.
Trump said Preate is an accomplished executive in public relations.
Trump appointed Hunter McMaster to serve as the director of policy planning and Daniel Katz was appointed to serve as chief of staff.
Katz, Trump wrote, is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a graduate of Yale. Katz also served as a senior adviser at the Treasury Department.
Trump’s appointment as deputy chief of staff in the Treasury Department is Samantha Schwab, who worked in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs during the president-elect’s first term.
"All of them are incredible, hardworking Patriots, who will work tirelessly to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN," Trump said of the team.
In addition to the Treasury Department appointments, Trump announced that Benjamin Leon James will serve as the next U.S. ambassador to Spain.
"Benjamin is a highly successful entrepreneur, equestrian, and philanthropist. He came to the U.S. from Communist Cuba at 16-years-old, with only five dollars in his pocket, and proceeded to build his company, Leon Medical Centers, into an incredible business," Trump wrote.
"He has helped support many worthy causes, like La Liga Contra el Cancer, and important Medical Research at Johns Hopkins and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute."
Trump also appointed Joe Popolo to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands.
Popolo helped transform the Freeman Company into what Trump called "the world’s leading live event brand experience company."
Popolo also serves as founder and CEO of Charles & Potomac Capital, LLC; the chairman of the board of Pinnacle Live, LLC; and, as a board member of Ondas Holdings.
"Joe is an E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner, and also a recipient of the Dallas Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO Award," Trump wrote. "He is a proud graduate of Boston College, a member of their Board of Regents, and also, a Patron of the Arts in the Vatican Museum."
Trump also appointed Cora Alvi to serve as his deputy chief of staff.
Alvi, Trump wrote, most recently worked as the national deputy finance director for Donald J. Trump for President Inc.
Login
