The Daily Money: Trump takes aim at DEI

Happy Monday! It's Daniel de Visé with your Daily Money.

One cold January night before the New Hampshire primary, Donald Trump traveled to Rochester, a city of blue-collar, culturally conservative voters. 

“We will terminate every diversity, equity, and inclusion program across the entire federal government,” the former president declared to a packed auditorium. 

It was more than just a popular applause line at Trump rallies. Behind the scenes, Jessica Guynn reports, a coalition of dozens of right-wing groups is preparing to make Trump’s words a reality. 

Read the story.

What happened to pensions?

Inflation continues to ravage Americans' savings, making them nostalgic for a retirement benefit of yesteryear: the pension. 

Ninety percent of Americans saving in a company retirement plan worry it doesn't provide a reliable stream of income that can withstand the financial strains posed by inflation, which hit a 40-year high in 2022, according to a survey last fall by Greenwald Research.

Until about the 1980s, the pension, or defined benefit plan, “was a very, very successful program for people,” said Phil Maffei, head of corporate retirement solutions at insurance company TIAA. “You would get a portion of your income delivered as income for life when you retired.” 

What, then, happened to pensions?

Medora Lee reports.

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🍔 Today's Menu 🍔

Do you struggle in choosing between Applebee's and IHOP?

Good news! Dine Brands Global is looking into launching dual-branded Applebee’s-IHOP restaurants, Bailey Schulz reports.

CEO John Peyton said the company is considering bringing the joint restaurants to the U.S. after launching successful prototypes in international markets. Dine Brands has so far opened eight dual-branded restaurants, the most recent opening in January in Leon, Mexico.

Now, we can start lobbying for a devastating combo of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins. Oh, wait. . . .

About The Daily Money

Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer news from USA TODAY. We break down financial news and provide the TLDR version: how decisions by the Federal Reserve, government and companies impact you.

Daniel de Visé covers personal finance for USA Today.