The job market started 2026 by throwing it back to 2009. According to data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, US employers cut 108,435 jobs last month, the highest in any January since the global financial crisis.

The bone-chilling statistic marks a 118% increase from last year and is far higher than the previous month, but that’s not even the worst of it:

Does this mean we’re cooked? Not really. Economists say the figures don’t necessarily mean the labor market is collapsing. Challenger data only tracks announced job cuts (not actual layoffs), and other indicators point to a relatively stable job market, even as hiring begins to slow.

Employers said contract losses, economic uncertainty, restructuring, and closures were the main reasons for the cuts. Rather surprisingly, AI wasn’t credited as a leading factor for layoffs:

So, who’s firing everyone? UPS said it would cut roughly 30,000 jobs (making transportation the hardest-hit sector), while Amazon announced 16,000 corporate layoffs, joining already heavy losses in the tech industry. Healthcare and manufacturing also reported significant workforce reductions.

🌎 Why is this important? The record layoffs (and low hiring) show companies are pulling back and becoming more cautious about the economy, a trend that could ripple into pay, job security, and career opportunities, especially for younger workers trying to break into the workforce or switch jobs.

This is probably the least surprising headline of today. Four of the largest tech companies in the world are projected to spend roughly $650 billion on AI infrastructure this year, making it one of the biggest corporate investment splurges in modern history.

Most of the investment is aimed at expanding AI computing capacity, including servers, networking hardware, and specialized chips used to train and run large AI models. But that tech racks up a big tab:

Taking that into account, who’s picking up the checkbook?

Why ramp up the AI investment? Executives argue that the spending is necessary to meet demand and avoid falling behind in the AI race, especially to control next-generation cloud platforms, software tools, and digital infrastructure.

This year’s projected investment matches only two other major corporate spending waves in US history, the 1990s telecom cable boom and the 19th-century railroad boom, both of which ended up being bubbles.

With those examples in mind, Wall Street got a little antsy:

Is Big Tech spending too much? Analysts caution that the surge could outstrip revenue growth and pressure cash flow, potentially pushing companies to take on more debt or scale back returns to shareholders. Regardless of what happens, the outcome will shape the future of the AI economy.

🌎 Why does this matter? The spending surge could reshape the tools you use every day—from chatbots to smarter search—while also influencing prices, hiring, and the broader economy, meaning how Americans work, shop, and interact with technology over the next few years will likely shift as companies race to lead the next era of tech.

Who doesn’t want cheaper Ozempic? Last week, the Trump administration officially launched TrumpRx, a direct-to-consumer website designed to help Americans access lower-priced prescription drugs.

Instead of selling medications directly, the platform connects users to pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies offering discounted prices, allowing Americans to compare costs and purchase medication (with or without insurance) in one place. Check the website out here.

How does it save you money? TrumpRx cuts out middlemen like pharmacy benefit managers and parts of the insurance system, letting patients buy certain drugs straight from the manufacturer at a discount.

Since the US doesn’t directly control or negotiate prices the way most other nations do, drug prices in America tend to be higher than anywhere else in the developed world:

TrumpRx wants to change that: Officials say the platform should reduce out-of-pocket costs and give consumers more transparency by letting them compare prices and access those key manufacturer discounts online.

🌎 Why should you care? Healthcare costs hit everyday budgets hard, especially for those without strong insurance coverage. The White House’s platform can make medications for things like diabetes, fertility, or mental health more affordable and redefine how Americans access and pay for essential meds.

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Wall Street’s favorite number just got another zero. The Dow surpassed 50,000 points for the first time in its 129-year history on Friday, propelled by a sharp rally that lifted the index more than 1,000 points in a single day.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, a stock market index that tracks 30 major companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (see 101), just hit one of the most significant benchmarks in US stock market history despite recent economic uncertainty.

What drove it to hit a record high? Well, several forces pushed the index to the moon:

A few big names also helped: High-priced companies like Goldman Sachs, Caterpillar, and Apple were also big contributors to the Dow’s climb, partly due to how the Dow is calculated using stock prices rather than market size.

Don’t place a call on the Dow just yet: While the record high is impressive, analysts warn that markets are still sensitive to interest-rate decisions, economic data, and AI-driven volatility, meaning sharp swings could continue even as investors continue their long-term bull run.

🌎 Why should you care? The Dow’s milestone signals strong stock market growth, which can boost retirement accounts, investment apps, and overall economic confidence that affects hiring, pay, and spending. Even if you don’t trade stocks, market gains often affect how much Americans feel comfortable spending, saving, or investing in everyday life.

They’ve really seen it all. Corning, a company long known for glass products like lightbulb components, has emerged as an unexpected winner amid the AI boom thanks to good timing and trusted products.

Corning has a long history of innovation, from making Edison’s early light bulbs to creating Pyrex. It pioneered fiber-optic cable in 1970, though the once-breakthrough product eventually started to look a bit dull.

However, in 2018, Corning shifted its focus to producing thinner, more durable glass cables optimized for data centers, which left it perfectly placed to ride the wave when the AI tsunami took off:

Corning has seen success with emerging tech before: The company rode a similar wave from 1997 to 2000, that is, until the dot-com bubble erased more than 90% of its value. However, the company says it’s more diversified today, especially after it signed a $2.5 billion deal with Apple to become the exclusive maker of the cover glass for iPhones and Apple Watches.

🌎 Why does this matter? The AI boom isn’t only enriching Big Tech, it’s propping up smaller businesses that support the infrastructure needed for the surge in AI demand, which is shaping hiring opportunities (particularly entry-level ones), local economies, and the cost and quality of the digital tools people use daily.

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