Cracking Down

The new cap on credit card late fees. [For the best experience, read in browser.]( [Wake-Up Call] [by Katie Couric Media] March 7, 2024 Good morning! Your credit card bill could get lower, thanks to a new federal regulation — [we’ve got the details](. Then, on the heels of a new study on exercise and longevity, we’re sharing [the best type of workout]( to live your longest, fullest life. Speaking of being nice and full, we’re dishing out [a cozy one-pot soup recipe](, and be sure to [sign up for Good Taste]( for more where that came from. All that, plus [my most personal episode of Next Question]( yet, right here...   In the News [Hand in neon green sleeve holding credit card in front of shopping related icons]( Getty Images / KCM Cracking Down As more Americans fall into debt, federal regulators are reigning in credit card late fees. But [is it too good to be true](? What changed: With all of the Super Tuesday news, you might’ve missed that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule to lower late charges by big credit card companies to a maximum of $8 for most fees. (The average is $32.) The agency says the move will save Americans as much as $10 billion a year. Why now: The rule change is part of a broader push by the Biden administration to crack down on junk fees. The White House estimates that Americans pay $90 billion annually in extra charges on everything from concert tickets to apartment rentals. The bigger picture: Americans owe a record $1.13 trillion on their credit cards, with an average balance of $6,360 per person. But Bankrate analyst Ted Rossman says the new regulation may have unintended consequences. “Everyone, including those who pay on time, might see higher rates and higher fees,” he tells us. Here’s a breakdown of the rule, and [why it’s getting pushback](. [READ MORE](   More Stories [Nikki Haley]( Getty Images Politics: Nikki Haley finally suspended her presidential campaign yesterday — and notably did not endorse her former competitor, Donald Trump. GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell has finally endorsed Trump, despite a three-year impasse between the two men. Meanwhile, Trump still has a hill to climb among Republican voters, as [Super Tuesday's results]( showed he's yet to win over the moderates and independents who cost him the 2020 election. IVF in Alabama: Alabama has passed a new law to protect IVF providers from civil and criminal liability following the state Supreme Court's [decision that frozen embryos are legally children](. Two clinics say they'll resume treatments ASAP, but legal experts have warned that constitutional challenges could still emerge. Rust shooting: Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in New Mexico. Reed was responsible for firearm safety on the movie set where, in 2021, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed by [live ammo in a prop gun held by Alec {NAME}](. She's the first person to stand trial in Hutchins' death. The charge carries up to 18 months in prison, plus a $5,000 fine. Rest in power: Shafiqah Hudson, the feminist writer who fought social media trolls, has died at just 46. Her brother confirmed her passing, but said he didn't know the cause. Hudson rose to prominence in 2014, when she began the #YourSlipIsShowing hashtag which exposed trolls posing as Black feminists. She worked tirelessly — without compensation — to combat online disinformation ahead of the 2016 election. “The world owed Fiqah more than it gave her,” author Mikki Kendall told the New York Times.   In Focus You've probably read that colorectal cancer is on the rise, but here's some good news: Artificial intelligence is making this terrible disease more preventable than ever before. [This Sunday at SXSW](, I'm joining an esteemed panel of experts (including two from Medtronic, the leading global healthcare technology company) to unpack the most exciting innovations and hear more about the life-saving solutions in the pipeline. [SEE MORE](   Required Reading [A clock with image of sneakers on part of it]( Getty Images / KCM Clock in: How much time do you really need to spend working out? A new study found that men need to do 300 minutes of exercise per week to lower their mortality risk by 18%, while women need just 140 minutes per week to achieve those same benefits. Here's the download on [the best type of exercise to boost longevity](. Speaking out: Prince William had something to say about all the social media theories surrounding his wife's whereabouts. We've got [his remarks right here](. Good Taste: There's just one thing to do in this weather — hole up at home with comfort food. [Jake Cohen's one-pot chicken and white bean soup]( will get you nice and cozy from the inside out. Devour delicious recipes like this one, and a whole lot more, when you [sign up for our culinary newsletter](, Good Taste. The new issue hits inboxes later today, so don't wait! Sale away: Now's a good time to update your wardrobe, as Ann Taylor is offering [30% off a purchase]( and an extra $50 off orders of $200 and up with code MORE.   In Conversation This week on Next Question, I'm joined by not one, but two very special guests: Emmeline Clein, author of Dead Weight, [the impactful book about the origins of dieting](, and my daughter Carrie! It's one of the most personal episodes yet — all three of us have struggled with disordered eating, and we'll unpack the societal pressures that drive many women to chase thinness. [Listen right here](.   A Spring In Your Step [Bombas socks]( Bombas We're big fans of a seasonal wardrobe refresh, and that goes for your often-neglected sock drawer. We're eyeing these [lightweight no-show socks]( from our partners at Bombas, which are made to keep you comfortable in warmer temps and have heel grips to keep them in place under open-top shoes. And if dressing on theme is a personal hobby, we recommend the [Garden Party]( pack of flower-adorned socks with built-in support and blister protection. [SHOP HERE](   [Ripple Effect by Katie Couric Media]( Thanks for reading Wake-Up Call and being part of our community! If you have questions or comments, drop us a line at info@katiecouric.com. See you tomorrow! [Alternate text] Update your preferences or [unsubscribe]( If you buy something through this email, KCM may earn a commission. Katie Couric Media, 75 Varick St, Ste 12, New York, NY - 10013-1917 Copyright © 2023 Katie Couric Media, All rights reserved.