[The 7] Surprising new House battlegrounds; mortgage pain; beating Sunday scaries; and more

With midterm elections drawing closer, political analysts are flagging an unexpected set of congressional districts that have moved into competitive territory.

Districts once considered safe for incumbents are now rated as toss-ups, forcing both parties to pour resources into races they had largely written off.

The shifting map reflects broader demographic changes and elevated voter anxiety over the economy.

Mortgage rates remain stubbornly elevated, keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines of the housing market. Affordability has reached its worst levels in decades, as the combination of high rates and still-rising home prices continues to erode purchasing power.

Economists warn that without a meaningful drop in rates, the market could remain frozen well into next year, squeezing first-time buyers the hardest.

Research and mental health professionals are highlighting practical ways to combat the widespread phenomenon known as the “Sunday scaries” — the creeping dread that many workers feel as the weekend winds down.

Recommended strategies include setting clear boundaries between work and personal time, scheduling enjoyable activities for Sunday evenings, and reframing Monday as an opportunity rather than a threat. Experts note that the problem has intensified in remote-work environments, where the boundary between professional and personal life has blurred.

Global equity markets began Monday on a cautious note, with investors digesting a busy week of corporate earnings reports and fresh economic data from both the United States and Europe.

Uncertainty over the pace of interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve continued to weigh on sentiment, while energy prices added another layer of volatility following fresh tensions in key producing regions.

A new report underscores the growing financial toll of climate-related disasters on ordinary homeowners, as insurance companies continue to raise premiums or withdraw entirely from high-risk markets.

States such as Florida, California, and Louisiana are seeing the starkest examples, with some residents facing the prospect of becoming uninsurable. Policymakers are debating whether government-backed insurance programs can fill the widening gap.

Companies across multiple industries are beginning to draw up formal policies governing employees’ use of artificial intelligence tools on the job.

The policies vary widely — some firms embrace AI-assisted productivity tools wholeheartedly, while others impose strict limits on what data employees may feed into external platforms. Labor advocates warn that without clear regulation, workers could face liability for AI errors while employers reap the benefits.

On the culture front, this weekend’s box office results revealed a continued appetite for franchise sequels, with a major studio release eclipsing its competitors to claim the top spot.

Meanwhile, several high-profile art exhibitions opened over the weekend in major U.S. cities, signaling a robust autumn cultural calendar. Critics noted that attendance figures suggest audiences are eager to return to in-person cultural experiences after years of disruption.