Business & Markets — September 24, 2026

Disney raises streaming prices. Disney raised streaming prices by up to 13% after doubling profits, making its ad-free plan more expensive than Netflix's and extending an industry-wide wave of streaming price increases.

TechCrunch frames the move as part of a broader pattern of streaming inflation, with the company acting from a position of financial strength after its profits doubled. The report notes a competitive shift: subscribers seeking an ad-free Disney+ experience will now pay more than they would for Netflix's comparable tier, a change that could factor into how households weigh their streaming subscriptions as costs rise across the industry.

TechCrunch · Read more →

More than 10 million student-loan borrowers behind on payments. New federal data show 9.3 million student-loan borrowers in default and 1.5 million more seriously delinquent, exposing millions to wage and Social Security garnishment.

The figures come from new federal data, offering an updated picture of the scale of distress among borrowers. Business Insider distinguishes between two groups: those already in default and a smaller population classified as seriously delinquent, meaning they are at risk of joining them. The practical stakes, per the report, are collection tools available to the government, which can reach both paychecks and Social Security benefits.

Business Insider · Read more →

Brightline reportedly nears bankruptcy. The Florida passenger railroad carries $5.5 billion in debt; a Chapter 11 filing would let it restructure and potentially keep its trains running.

According to Inc., the report of a possible filing remains unconfirmed by the company. The outlet emphasizes that Chapter 11 is a reorganization process rather than a shutdown, meaning the passenger service could continue operating while the company works out terms with creditors on its $5.5 billion debt load. The key open question is whether the railroad pursues that route and how restructuring would affect its obligations.

Inc. · Read more →