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For A Long Life, This 1 Sleeping Habit Matters Most (And It’s Not How Long You Sleep For)

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I’m not trying to stress you out here, as stress can impact your sleep, but as we age, it’s essential that we really get our sleeping habits in check. This is because how we sleep can impact how we age.

For example, experts recommend that adults go to bed no later than 1am, regardless of their circadian rhythms, to ensure healthy ageing.

Additionally, poor sleep habits can make your brain age faster.

So, yes, it is all a little intimidating because what are adults if not perpetually tired?

There is a simple change you can implement which will make a significant difference

According to a new study published in the aptly-named journal Sleep, having a regular sleeping pattern of going to bed and getting up at the same time every day is a stronger predictor of your mortality risk overall than sleep duration.

The research found that even people who consistently get 7–8 hours – but who had irregular sleep schedules – each night are at a higher risk of strokes, heart attacks and even cancer than those who slept less but had a consistent schedule.

Those with the most consistent sleeping patterns had up to 48% lower risks of all-cause mortality compared to those with the least consistent routines.

The experts at BBC Science Focus warn: “Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean you can get away with sleeping only four hours a night just by sticking to a regular 3am bedtime – getting enough (but not too much) sleep still matters.

“In the study, those getting under six hours or over nine each night were at an increased risk of mortality. However, although sleep duration was still important, the link between mortality and regular sleep patterns was stronger and more consistent.”

How to get a more consistent sleeping pattern

The sleep experts at The Sleep Foundation advise: “Try to follow the same steps each night before going to bed, such as dimming the lights, quietly reading or stretching, putting on pyjamas, and brushing your teeth.

“Over time, those actions become cues that tell your body that it is time for sleep. To promote mental tranquility, incorporate relaxation methods such as meditation, yoga, listening to soothing music, or reading.”

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I Tried Nigella Lawson’s Secret To The Best Scones, And I’m Never Going Back

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Based on how strict I am about my carrot cake, brownie, and rocky road recipes, you’d be forgiven for thinking I’m against learning new tricks.

But that’s not the case! I recently found out that freezing cookie dough before cooking can help achieve that gooey, tall finish I love; I’ve adapted a chef’s habit of cooling spuds before roasting them.

I’ve even changed how I prep my American pancakes on the advice of pros.

So, of course I was willing to listen to Nigella Lawson herself when it came to scones.

Not only does the chef replace regular milk with buttermilk (a tenderising trick I grew up with in Ireland), but she uses a clever combination of fats and adds leavener-boosting ingredients too.

Having tried it, I’ve been amazed at what a difference they’ve made; they’re more tender, fluffier, taller, and more delicious than I’ve ever cooked prior.

A pitiful rubbery puck of a scone from the writer before Nigella's advice on the left: layered, golden, taller scones on thr right following the chef's tips

Amy Glover / HuffPost UK

A pitiful rubbery puck of a scone from the writer before Nigella’s advice on the left: layered, golden, taller scones on thr right following the chef’s tips

What are Nigella’s secrets to the best scones?

The TV presenter and chef adds as much cream of tartar as she does bicarbonate of soda to her scone mix.

This, combined with the acidity of the buttermilk, leads to a steep, rapid rise ― key for fluffy and tender scones.

Additionally, most people who have tried making scones will tell you that it’s very hard to keep butter cold enough to do the job.

Like puff pastry, the fat needs to be kept as solid as possible during mixing to create flaky pockets of delicious dough.

Nigella’s suggestion is easy and elegant ― she mixes two parts butter to one part vegetable shortening, which is solid at room temperature.

She “chops” the butter before adding it to the flour, too, ensuring the warmth of your fingers has less time to melt the butter when rubbing it in.

All of those changes turned my previously hockey puck-like, rubbery creations into proud, tall, tender delights.

The writer's scones in a baking tray on the left; on a plate on the right

Amy Glover / HuffPost UK

The writer’s scones in a baking tray on the left; on a plate on the right

Can I sub out these ingredients if I don’t have them?

I’ve been surprised by how hard buttermilk can be to find in the UK, but luckily, you can make your own by simply adding a little lemon juice to regular milk and letting it sit for up to 10 minutes.

Don’t be tempted to replace this part ― it’s key to the scone’s fluffiness.

If you don’t have vegetable shortening, Nigella’s team says lard is the next-best substitute.

But again, the chef adds the product for a reason; “Vegetable shortening gives the scones and also pastry a flaky texture which butter cannot replicate,” her site reads.

Having tried her adjustments, I regret to inform you that she’s completely right.

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Matthew Lawrence Says He Got In Trouble On Set For Dismissing Gabrielle Union’s 1 Request

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Judgment day arrived a bit ahead of schedule for Matthew Lawrence, when he failed to meet one of his co-star’s work standards.

During a candid moment on Monday’s episode of the podcast Magical Rewind, hosted by Matthew’s Boy Meets World co-star Will Friedle and actor Sabrina Bryan, the trio dived into behind-the-scenes of the ’90s TV Movie H-E Double Hockey Sticks.

The film, which centred around Will’s devilish character, who was sent to Earth to capture the soul of a young hockey player (played by Matthew), also starred a young Gabrielle Union.

During the filming process, Gabrielle allegedly wanted to rehearse lines with Matthew, but the actor declined her offer.

“There was this one moment where — and, again, I’m oblivious, I had no idea — she wanted to rehearse,” he recalled. “And I was like, ‘No, I’m good’.”

Actors Matthew Lawrence and Gabrielle Union.
Actors Matthew Lawrence and Gabrielle Union.

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His rationale? “Running lines” took “all the freshness” out of the performance.

Gabrielle allegedly wasn’t thrilled with his decision and took her grievances to a higher power.

“And she got angry and went and reported me to the director and the studio,” Matthew said. “The only time in my entire career, because usually I’m, like, the advocate, and I’m fighting for kids and, like, you know, women’s rights.

“This is the only time in my life when I was called into the office for something I did on set. And I had no clue.”

Matthew confessed that this was his only “run-in” with another actor – a moment that he said left him “embarrassed”.

At the time, he said he wasn’t familiar with Gabrielle’s work, but recounted that people on set knew that she was going to blow up and become a big star.

The same year as the film’s debut, she went on to star in 10 Things I Hate About You, and She’s All That, and the following year had appeared in the cult classic Bring It On as well as Love & Basketball.

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Want To Prevent Dementia? Ask These 12 Questions At Your Next Doctor’s Appointment.

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While you’re probably used to asking your doctor about new moles or a pesky cough, you might not be used to talking to them about your social connections or anxiety.

Turns out, there’s an array of topics you should be bringing up with your primary care doctor (or your neurologist, if you have one), according to a recent report in the journal Neurology.

The report detailed 12 questions that patients should discuss with their physician that can help protect the brain from cognitive decline. And while it lists some obvious brain health inquiries, it also includes factors that you likely don’t connect to your cognitive health, like your social interactions and diet.

Here are the 12 questions, according to the journal:

  1. Sleep: Are you able to get sufficient sleep to feel rested?

  2. Affect, mood and mental health: Do you have concerns about your mood, anxiety or stress?

  3. Food, diet and supplements: Do you have concerns about getting enough or healthy enough food, or have any questions about supplements or vitamins?

  4. Exercise: Do you find ways to fit physical exercise into your life?

  5. Supportive social interactions: Do you have regular contact with close friends or family, and do you have enough support from people?

  6. Trauma avoidance: Do you wear seatbelts and helmets, and use car seats for children?

  7. Blood pressure: Have you had problems with high blood pressure at home or at doctor visits, or do you have any concerns about blood pressure treatment or getting a blood pressure cuff at home?

  8. Risks, genetic and metabolic factors: Do you have trouble controlling blood sugar or cholesterol? Is there a neurological disease that runs in your family?

  9. Affordability and adherence: Do you have any trouble with the cost of your medicines?

  10. Infection: Are you up to date on vaccines, and do you have enough information about those vaccines?

  11. Negative exposures: Do you smoke, drink more than one to two drinks per day or use nonprescription drugs? Do you drink well water or live in an area with known air or water pollution?

  12. Social and structural determinants of health: Do you have concerns about keeping housing, having transportation, having access to care and medical insurance or being physically or emotionally safe from harm?

Experts say these questions align with previous research findings and a focus on prevention instead of treatment.

This study is backed up by a report from The Lancet, another medical journal, last year, as Dr. James Ellison, a psychiatrist at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, pointed out. That report found that 45% of cases of cognitive decline or dementia could be delayed or even prevented by simple lifestyle interventions.

“I would say that the Neurology journal is keeping up with the current trend in health care, which is to try and emphasise wellness and prevention and not just response to disease,” Ellison said.

Dr. Tanu Garg, a vascular neurologist at Houston Methodist Hospital who often treats stroke patients, added that many of her patients’ families ask what can they do so they don’t end up in the same situation as their loved ones — and these lifestyle interventions are the answer.

“That’s why these questions are very important, because we are trying to prevent people from having difficulties in the future, whether it’s heart attack, strokes or just, in general, for brain health,” Garg explained.

How do these factors impact brain health?

While it’s clear how certain habits mentioned above could affect your cognitive health (like wearing a helmet, for example), other factors are a little more nuanced ― but are just as important to manage.

For instance, socialisation is a true indicator of brain health. “We are social beings … and there are even changes in metabolic activity and brain activity that occur when we’re isolated that are harmful,” Ellison said.

With isolation comes loneliness, which can put you at higher risk of cognitive decline and stroke, Ellison added. “It’s very important to cultivate a social network,” he said.

Garg also noted that those with close family and friend connections can also get more support when recovering from health issues, which is important for well-being, too.

The factors that seem to relate more to heart health, like blood pressure, are important, too. “Almost everything that’s good for the brain is actually also good for the heart,” Ellison said. “When the heart is functioning properly, it provides nutrients and oxygen, which fuel the brain and keep it healthy, and it helps remove toxic metabolites from the brain as well.”

“When the heart is not functioning properly, the circulation and oxygenation and metabolic care of the brain is compromised, and that can lead to cognitive changes,” Ellison continued. He added that one of the most common kinds of cognitive decline in older people is “vascular cognitive impairment, which is a direct result of compromised circulation in the brain.”

Garg said simple, small positive habits, like diet and exercise, can often bring the biggest health rewards. She recommends a Mediterranean diet and said you should talk to your doctor about the best exercise regimen for you, as it varies person to person. Additionally, if you smoke, you should talk to your doctor about quitting, to protect both your brain and your overall health, Garg said.

It’s also important to manage your emotions, and you can talk to your doctor about how to best do that, too. “There are so many different ways to curb anxiety and stress, but people don’t realise how much of an impact it can make on your body and your brain,” Garg said. Research shows that anxiety is linked to higher rates of dementia.

Exercise benefits your brain health and your heart health.

rbkomar via Getty Images

Exercise benefits your brain health and your heart health.

These are questions you should bring up throughout your life, not just once you reach a certain age.

While it’s never too late to think more holistically about your brain health, you should always pay attention to them — not just once you reach old age.

Ellison said these questions focus “on prevention throughout the life cycle, not just in the elderly.”

While cognitive decline is often only associated with getting older, problems during mid-life, such as sleep disorders and unmanaged high blood pressure, can compound your risks for cognitive decline and dementia later on, he added.

It’s also important to talk to your doctor about any cognitive changes you notice, no matter your age.

“If you go see a doctor sooner than later, then we can find things that are reversible to prevent further decline. But when you’re afraid or you’re not sure if it’s the right thing to do, then we may get to the point where you’re not able to fix things,” Garg said.

Garg always reminds her patients that it’s OK to ask your doctor questions, whether you think they’re the “right” ones or not.

Ellison added that not all cognitive changes are related to major health issues, either. Stress, anxiety, certain medications and certain health conditions can cause cognitive issues, too, making it crucial to talk to your primary care provider.

Your doctor can also help you incorporate exercise, social connections, a nutritious diet and other healthy lifestyle habits into your life — because there’s real proof that these good habits work, Ellison said. The rate of dementia in older adults is decreasing. Specifically, dementia rates have fallen 13% per decade over the last 25 years, according to a 2020 study.

“The decrease in incidence has been attributed to population improvements in cardiac health, greater awareness of diet and exercise,” Ellison said.

While these habits may not seem big, they really can have a big impact on your brain health as you move through life.

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8 ‘Micro-Habits’ That Can Help You Live A Happier, Healthier Life

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If you’re like most people, you’ve probably tried to follow a new big habit just to find yourself faltering a few days later. Maybe you made it a goal to follow a plant-based diet only to find yourself reaching for bacon at breakfast. Or maybe you promised yourself you’d read four books a month only to scroll social media instead.

There’s a reason it’s hard to adhere to a new behaviour. “Many people struggle with motivation because they set goals that are too ambitious or require drastic lifestyle changes,” said Israa Nasir, a therapist and author of Toxic Productivity.

This is where a certain type of approach ― known as a micro-habit ― comes into play.

“Micro-habits remove that overwhelm,” Nasir said, noting that they “improve well-being by reducing the gap between intention and action.”

“There are two parts to a micro-habit,” Nasir continued. First “it is a small, easily repeatable action that requires minimal effort but has a compounding positive impact. When you do it consistently, it creates a large impact.” Second, “micro-habits fit seamlessly into your existing routine, unlike big habit overhauls that can feel overwhelming.”

Micro-habits tend to have a compounding effect because they trigger the brain’s dopamine response, which is the brain’s reward chemical, explained Gina Cleo, the director of the Habit Change Institute in Australia.

“So that reinforces the habit loop — when we get a hit of dopamine, our brain’s like, ‘whoa, that felt really good, we should do that again,’ and so our brain actually starts to make us want to do that habit again,” Cleo said.

And while the micro-habit may not seem as rewarding as a huge goal, that’s actually not true. Our brains don’t know the difference between a big habit and a small habit; you’ll get that dopamine hit whether you wake up and follow a micro-habit like taking a sip of water before having coffee or a full-blown habit like having water and breakfast before coffee, Cleo explained.

All that to say, micro-habits can have some major rewards. And while they can exist in any part of life ― such as your relationships, personal growth, exercise or mental health ― there are certain micro-habits that tend to offer the biggest rewards. Here’s what they are:

1. Take a breath before reacting or making a decision

Cleo said a lot of folks report being reactive when they don’t want to. And whether that means agreeing to plans when you don’t really feel up for it or snapping at someone you love, there is one micro-habit that can help you in pressure-filled moments: taking a breath.

“Taking one big, deep breath before reacting helps to regulate emotions, reduce stress and just regulate the nervous system,” Cleo said.

2. Make your bed in the morning

Making your bed each morning is a simple micro-habit that only takes a minute or two but is one of the best behaviours to adopt, said Emma Mahony, a therapist who works with patients in Pennsylvania.

“It also signifies the day is started and … you’re setting yourself up to come back to a nicer bed later on that day,” she noted.

3. Write down one thing you’re grateful for every day

While big goals like daily mindfulness or prayer may not be something you’ve historically stuck to, a quick gratitude practice can be the key to feeling more fulfilled and joyful.

Cleo recommends that you write down one thing you’re grateful for each morning when you wake up or each night before bed — and that’s it. This micro-habit can take just a minute or two each day.

“The gratitude practice … actually just trains your brain to focus on the positive,” Cleo explained. “It releases serotonin, which gives us that beautiful feeling of contentment and safety.”

4. Do a quick stretch every hour

Anyone who works a desk job knows how easy it is to go hours and hours without getting up. Cleo said making a goal of doing a quick stretch once an hour is a great way to not only show your body some love, but to boost circulation and prevent stagnation throughout the day.

This could be a quick, 10-second micro-habit where you fold forward to touch your toes, do a cat cow stretch or gently do a few wrist stretches. There’s no wrong way to do your stretching, and you’ll feel good after it’s done.

Micro-habits allow you to create a new routine without the overwhelm that can come from huge, overarching goals.

NickyLloyd via Getty Images

Micro-habits allow you to create a new routine without the overwhelm that can come from huge, overarching goals.

5. Get some fresh air first thing in the morning

One of Mahony’s favourite micro-habits that she does daily is getting fresh air within the first hour that she’s up. This could mean going for a stroll to get coffee or just opening up the door and getting fresh air in your face — it doesn’t have to be a full-blown outdoor workout or a long walk.

If you can’t get outside right away, Mahony said to just make it a goal to get out at some point during the day.

“I know a lot of us work from home, so that’s important … you’re connecting with nature and fresh air,” she said. “I also think [for] me it, particularly in the morning, signifies the start of the day.”

6. Spend time unplugged from your phone

Most American adults feel like they’re on their phones too much but will meet this problem with lofty phone-use goals that are tough to stick to.

Instead of creating goals that are too big, Cleo recommends micro-habits around unplugging that are actually manageable (and even rewarding). Cleo has no-phone zones in her home ― her dining room and her bedroom ― that force her to live unplugged when in those spaces.

But to start even smaller, you could make a micro-habit of putting your phone down while you eat or when you watch your favourite show. This enhances mindfulness, she noted.

7. Drink more water

Drinking water has a multitude of benefits for your physical health, including lubricating your joints, assisting in the body’s waste-removal process and allowing your organs to work properly.

Drinking more water is always a good goal but can be hard to achieve — which is where a micro-habit can help.

“Trying to wake up and drink a glass of water, or making sure you have a glass of water with every meal that you have” are two good places to start, said Mahony.

“I feel like a lot of people are like, ‘I need to drink more water,’ but then they’re like, ‘oh, I don’t have a water bottle,’ or ‘oh, I can’t drink that much in a day,’” she said. “Try to drink one glass more than you did the day before, and if yesterday you didn’t drink any water at all, try to have one glass today.”

8. Read a page of a book each night before bed

You don’t have to commit to reading an entire book or even a full chapter to reap the calming benefits of reading. One micro-habit Mahony is trying to get into is reading a page of a book before bed.

“The last thing I do before I close my eyes shouldn’t be my phone,” she said.

She suggests making a goal of reading one page of a book, or even a magazine or letter, before going to sleep.

“You could spend one minute with it, but I think allowing yourself that space before you go down, instead of having your phone consume your thoughts before bed, is also really important,” she said.

When establishing your micro-habits, be honest about where you are right now

When deciding what micro-habits are best for you, Mahony stressed that you should be honest with yourself about where you are now. Ask yourself what you’re capable of and what micro-habits you can actually stick to.

According to Mahony, sticking to a micro-habit helps you build trust in yourself — and when you build trust in yourself, you’re more likely to go back to the micro-habit. If you continuously set lofty goals and not meet them, that can create a negative relationship with that goal.

“Please be kind to yourself, and that looks like having a genuine, honest conversation about where you’re at right now,” Mahony said. “So, if you are someone who’s staying in bed all day, be honest about what you’re capable of doing. That could be something very small … maybe that just means you open your door and you take in a deep breath and then go back in bed for the day.”

Whatever you do, don’t allow comparison to set your micro-habits for you. Your micro-habit will look different from your partner’s or parent’s or neighbor’s micro-habit, and that’s OK.

For those who don’t know where to start, Cleo suggested looking at the big habit you’re trying to create and breaking that down into 100 pieces — those little pieces are your micro-habits.

Whether you choose to focus on meditation, physical health, mental health, finance, socialisation or career goals, there is no wrong way to set a micro-habit. Instead, whatever tiny steps you take toward your goal will only make your brain feel good and your goal that much closer.

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These 4 Reddit Hacks For Getting Toddlers To Comply Are *Chef’s Kiss*

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Toddlers and preschool-age children are forces of nature. Those tiny tyrants are full of love, life and wonder – but they’re also unyielding when they decide they don’t want to do something.

Thankfully though, there’s a hack (or four) for that.

A Reddit thread of parenting hacks has flagged some absolute gems which I will be using for the foreseeable future.

One parent shared their incredibly simple solution for getting their toddler to eat the snacks they want her to.

“If she asks for a snack and I offer her healthy options she will often refuse, ask for something like chocolate, and then get hangry when I don’t give her what she wants,” wrote user tomtink1.

“If I leave something like a banana at the edge of the kitchen counter earlier in the day she will steal it and eat it and everyone is happy.”

Another parent said they can get their toddler to (mostly) listen and do as they say by asking: ‘what if you did it silly?’

It’s an especially great way to diffuse potential battles when trying to leave the house.

“Yesterday trying to leave daycare with 1 degree temps outside, she was working up to a screaming ‘no!’ over putting on winter gear. I was this close to ‘do it or I’ll do it to you’ when instead I asked ‘what if you put it on silly?’,” said user anotherface95.

“Now mind, she’s 3…. So to her, the silliest she can get is she makes silly noises and wiggles a little. Snow gear – on! Tantrum – averted! Frostbite – thwarted! Power struggles – rescheduled!”

In the comments section, a parent said they use a similar tactic called ‘march, march!’ with their son.

“If he’s getting grumpy or distracted going anywhere I start chanting ‘march, march!’ and I will march to wherever we’re going,” said user pandito88.

“He always follows me with giggles and he tries to march his little leggies. Instantly snaps him out of grumpiness and redirects him where I want him to go.”

And if these don’t work for you, just call whatever you want them to do ‘a project’ – a particularly useful strategy for getting them to help tidy up at the end of the day. (I tried it last night and can confirm, it does work.)

“Mine is to call everything a ‘project’ so my three year old will help or at least tag along happily,” said user Typical-Dog244.

“Folding laundry? Project. Weeding? Project. Making me a coffee? Project. The girl can’t resist.”

Brilliant.

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I’m A GI Surgeon ― When You Eat Bananas Affects Their Health Benefits

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Did you know unripe bananas can have a small laxative effect?

I do, but not because I’m an expert on the fruit. I just really, really like green-tinted bananas ― life’s the best teacher, I suppose.

As bananas ripen, they become sweeter, too. That’s partly why they’re preferred for banana bread.

But according to gastrointestinal (GI) surgeon and author Dr Karan Rajan, there’s more variation in the food’s health benefits than you’d expect.

In a recent TikTok, he shared: “If you’re eating a banana… each stage offers a completely different nutritional profile.”

Which stage of banana ripeness is healthiest?

It depends on what your goals are.

In their green stage, Dr Rajan says, bananas are packed with resistant starches that work as a prebiotic (food for the healthy bacteria in our gut).

A 2021 study found that the resistant starch which is most present in the least ripe bananas can help to improve our microbiome.

Green bananas are lowest in sugar (10g per 100g) and highest in fibre (3.5g per 100g), the doctor continues.

In brown-spotted, overripe bananas, the sugar content nearly doubles to 17g per 100g. That, alongside their higher fibre content, is why less-ripe bananas might be better for those with diabetes.

Barely-ripe bananas have slightly less fibre and slightly more sugar, though as the fruit ages, “you also get more of a potassium boost.”

Fully ripe yellow bananas, meanwhile, are “packed with antioxidants,” the doctor says ― including catechins, which are great for our heart health and reducing inflammation.

It’s also got the highest vitamin C and B5 levels, and because that resistant starch we mentioned earlier has all but gone by the time the banana’s yellow, it;s far easier to digest.

That makes it perfect for a pre-workout snack, Dr Rajan suggests.

Lastly, overripe bananas have more sugar ― good for a quick, if short-term, energy hit ― and contain the least fibre.

It is also, however, “the richest in antioxidants” the fruit will ever be, as the brown spots we associate with older bananas come from those heart-healthy catechins.

How big are the differences really?

The 2021 paper we mentioned earlier said that while the types of fibre, sugar, and starch levels in bananas can change as they ripen, results from controlled studies don’t always match what’s found in store-bought bananas.

That’s partly down to “variables in the supply chain,” they say.

Besides which, all bananas have some health benefits. Turns out the best banana is often the one you like most.

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‘Very, Very Bad’: Former US Government Economist Makes Bleakest Trump Prediction

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It “seems almost unavoidable at this point” that the United States is “headed for a deep, deep recession” thanks to the Trump administration’s massive government job cuts and pullback from official contracts, a former Obama-era Department of Labor economist has warned.

Jesse Rothstein, a professor of public policy and economics at the University of California, Berkeley, predicted on BlueSky this week that the employment report for March 2025 will show “bigger job losses than any month ever outside of a few in 2008-9 and 2020.” (I.e. — when America was hit by the 2008 financial crash and then, later, by the coronavirus pandemic).

It seems almost unavoidable at this point that we are headed for a deep, deep recession. Just based on 200K+ federal firings & pullback of contracts, the March employment report (to be released April 4) seems certain to show bigger job losses than any month ever outside of a few in 2008-9 and 2020.

— Jesse Rothstein (@jrothst.bsky.social) 2025-02-19T01:37:08.298Z

Rothstein also envisioned “enormous private market uncertainty” that would make companies reluctant to hire.

It’s “going to be very, very bad,” he said he feared.

President Donald Trump has tasked billionaire Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, with slashing public spending via the non-official Department of Government Efficiency.

The current total number of federal jobs that have been cut is not clear.

But Rothstein estimated it to be more than 200,000.

The gutting of government is just one Trump policy that economists have warned could plunge America into a new financial crisis.

Others include Trump’s imposition of tariffs on imports and his vow to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz earlier this week said the tariffs could cause stagflation — or stagnant economic growth, high inflation and rising unemployment. The US is becoming “a scary place to invest” amid the ripping up of government contracts, he added.

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Ted Lasso Toppled As Apple TV+’s Most-Watched Original Show

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Ted Lasso has officially been dethroned as the jewel in Apple TV+’s crown.

Until this week, the Emmy-winning comedy had been the most-watched original show on Apple’s streaming service.

However, it’s now been bested by the return of Severance.

Earlier this week, Deadline reported that Severance had become the platform’s most-watched show ever, following its season two premiere last month.

Reacting to the news on X, executive producer and director Ben Stiller said: “Thank you everyone who waited for season 2 and those who have just discovered the show.

“Your incredible connection and dedication to the characters and details has been so wonderful to share. We all appreciate it so much.”

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Thank you everyone who waited for season 2 and those who have just discovered the show. Your incredible connection and dedication to the characters and details has been so wonderful to share. We all appreciate it so much. #severance https://t.co/XJppWmBINH

— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) February 19, 2025

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Thank you everyone who waited for season 2 and those who have just discovered the show. Your incredible connection and dedication to the characters and details has been so wonderful to share. We all appreciate it so much. #severance https://t.co/XJppWmBINH

— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) February 19, 2025

Apple’s head of programming Matt Cherniss also enthused: “We have long admired Ben’s extraordinary gift for original and immersive storytelling, and with he and Dan at the helm, Severance has proven to be an extraordinary success and a cultural phenomenon.

“The series has become an obsession for audiences all over the world and we can’t wait for people to continue to experience all the masterful twists and turns as the rest of the season unfolds.”

Although Ted Lasso came to an end in 2023, it may still have time to claim its record back.

Over the summer, reports claimed that Ted Lasso could be making a comeback, after several of its cast members’ contracts were renewed.

While this remains unconfirmed by Apple, supporting actor Nick Mohammad fuelled the rumours last month, when he revealed he was postponing several live shows due to scheduling issues, while making several subtle nods to Ted Lasso.

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