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The Upshot
October 21, 2025

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WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FROM UPSHOT FRIENDS

People line up with grocery carts outside Pilsen Food Pantry.

Akilah Townsend for The New York Times

Wealthy Americans Are Spending. People With Less Are Struggling.

Data show a resilient economy. But that largely reflects spending by the rich, while others pull back amid high prices and a weakening labor market.

By Ben Casselman and Colby Smith

A close-up view of a person wearing a purple sweatshirt driving a car.

Chona Kasinger for The New York Times

Lower-Income Americans Are Missing Car Payments

Inflation and a tough job market are making it harder for some people to pay back the car loans they signed in better times.

By Sydney Ember

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The New York Times

Where the U.S. Is Building Up Military Force in the Caribbean

About 10,000 U.S. troops and dozens of military aircraft and ships are in the region as the Trump administration increases pressure on Venezuela.

By Riley Mellen, Eric Schmitt, Christoph Koettl, Samuel Granados and Junho Lee

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

A hand with a dead bee on the palm.

Will Warasila for The New York Times

Has Your Scientific Work Been Cut? We Want to Hear.

For a new series, Times journalists are speaking with scientists whose research has ended as a result of policy changes by the Trump administration.

By Alan Burdick

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The New York Times

Why This Year’s Hurricanes Keep Turning Away From the East Coast

There are six weeks left in the Atlantic hurricane season.

By Nazaneen Ghaffar

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