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Monday, August 17, 2026

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The Safety Team OpenAI Just DISBANDED That Was Supposed to Protect Us

According to the Financial Times, OpenAI disbanded its preparedness team at the end of last month. The job of the preparedness team was to assess if models posed serious risks and develop ways to mitigate those risks. (You know, like the possibility that it could go rogue and hack another company.) According to FT, responsibility has instead been divided up for specific areas like bio and cyber, then moved into existing teams. This is the latest change at the company, which has been in upheaval

The Verge·Tech·26d ago
Breaking

The Bag That Made a Tech Reviewer Completely ABANDON Their Old Life

Integrated BagLev hooks keep Peak Design’s City Line crossbody bag and backpack off the dirty ground. | Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge It's just a hook, sewn into a bag, but I really, really like it. Peak Design is so proud of its clever integration that the San Francisco-based maker of camera gear gave it a name: BagLev, for its ability to keep its new City Line of bags levitated above the dirty ground. How many of us are guilty of coming home and tossing a bag onto the kitchen table or c

The Verge·Tech·26d ago

What Happens When Your Child's Robot Companion DIES?

When Xander first met Moxie, she taught him that when he was anxious, he could calm down by exhaling through his lips so that he buzzed like a bee. They practiced breathing like dragons to manage feeling mad and sniffing like bunnies to boost his energy. But in the six years they’ve known each other,…

Your AI Is Emailing My AI and Nobody Knows What They're PLANNING

Not long ago, a colleague of mine received a courteous and professionally worded email. It informed him about the current state of a shared project and listed the next steps required and who was accountable for each. A perfectly ordinary email—except it was, from start to finish, the work of an AI agent that had been set up to act on behalf of the person it represented. My colleague’s experience is still relatively unusual, but it is also the canary in the coal mine. In May, Bloomberg profiled T

Fast Company·Tech·26d ago

The Education Company That Made AI Actually WORK for Students

Most of the AI industry treats a model’s ability to answer questions as a basic measure of progress. That standard becomes less useful when the goal is learning. In education, an answer can be factually correct and still fail the student because it gives away too much or solves a problem without helping the learner understand it. Pearson has spent the past three years confronting that problem. Its CEO, Omar Abbosh, says the company’s AI transformation has reinforced a basic lesson: Model capabil

Fast Company·Tech·26d ago

Why Companies Are DESPERATE to Prove Humans Still Make Their Products

By now you’ve probably already noticed it in some of the brands you use daily—“hand-drawn” typography or hastily scanned textures layered over otherwise unremarkable photos. Maybe your cleaning product brands use visual references from a time when “things were easier,” like hand-painted signage and retro illustrations. Or they’re using imperfect blobby type that’s supposed to help designs feel “organic.” Ever notice that your favorite new bakery’s identity seems purposely a little ugly? The use

Fast Company·Tech·26d ago

The Wildfire App That's About to Track EVERY Disaster

It’s mid-August, and Watch Duty’s CEO, John Mills, says fire season is only going to get worse. With British Columbia under a province-wide state of emergency and Spokane reeling from the most destructive wildfire in Washington state history, Mills takes us inside the most catastrophic fire season his team has ever faced. Since the L.A. wildfires made Watch Duty a household name, the Santa Rosa, California-based nonprofit has doubled its head count and revenue—growth Mills describes as a little

Fast Company·Tech·26d ago

The INVISIBLE Marks Claude Is Now Hiding in Everything You Write

Anthropic has clarified how it's planning to apply invisible watermarks to Claude-generated text in order to comply with Europe's AI transparency rules. On Friday, Anthropic announced that Claude's text marking system is "a version of the SynthID-Text approach" - an open-source watermarking technology developed by Google DeepMind that creates detectable patterns using wording probabilities. This watermarking feature, alongside C2PA support for Claude-processed images, is being introduced to meet

The Verge·Tech·26d ago

Why This AI Litter Box Thinks Your Cats SWITCHED Bodies

The greatest invention in pet tech in recent years is the litter robot. A machine that scoops your kitties' poop so you don't have to - what else could a cat owner possibly want? How about insights into your kitty's litter box usage that could flag health issues? Sign me up. But I have two feline friends… No worries, kitty facial recognition can handle that. At least, that is the idea behind the Litter-Robot 5 Pro, the highest-end model from the OG robotic pooper scooper company Whisker. Boasti

The Verge·Tech·26d ago
Breaking

Are You INVISIBLE to AI? Here's How to Find Out

Since the onset of the internet, brands have been fighting to optimize their spot in search engines, getting as close to the top of any given page of Google results as possible. But in the AI age, traditional search engines are falling by the wayside—and with them, more than one in four brands are becoming completely invisible, says a new report. The 2026 AI Visibility Index, an inaugural report from the strategic communications firm Lucie Content, assessed how many businesses are being recommen

Fast Company·Tech·26d ago
Breaking

Meta's BILLION-DOLLAR Nightmare Just Got WORSE in California

Meta faces ‘astronomical’ consequences as legal fight reaches critical moment in California  CNBC New Mexico’s attorney general pushes new social media safety laws after $900m court victory over Meta  The Guardian If Meta loses this trial, Instagram and Facebook could change forever  BBC Meta heads to court in a landmark trial about kids and social media addiction  NPR Meta trial: States allege Facebook, Instagram addicted kids  qz.com

Google News·Tech·26d ago

The ByteDance Deal Hollywood Hopes Will Stop AI From STEALING Everything

The Motion Picture Association and ByteDance on Monday said the two had developed a framework to protect the film and TV industries’ intellectual property across ByteDance’s suite of AI generative products, including the AI video and image generators Seedance and Seedream. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) comes months after the MPA in February sent ByteDance […]

Variety·Tech·26d ago
Breaking

Why AI Companies Are DESTROYING Thousands of Books

Not too many years ago, before the dawn of Kindles, used bookstores were a refuge for budget-minded, voracious readers. As the industry evolved, many suffered. Now they’re seeing a resurgence in sales, but the customers increasingly aren’t bookworms. They’re AI companies. Barter Books, for instance, typically sells 2,000 to 3,000 books per week, which isn’t bad for a used bookstore in Northumberland, the least densely populated county in England. Recently, however, the owner got a bulk order fro

Fast Company·Tech·26d ago
Breaking

The Food Delivery Revolution Coming From ABOVE Your Head

Uber is teaming up with drone company Zipline to start airborne takeout deliveries later this year, with the goal of reaching one million daily drone deliveries by 2029. Uber also said it was making a strategic investment in Zipline, a California-based company that has been orchestrating drone deliveries in Texas since 2025. The news comes as Uber's delivery rivals begin to step up their own drone deliveries, thanks to easing government regulations that allow companies to fly farther and cheaper

The Verge·Tech·26d ago

The HomePod Competitor That's Almost $50 OFF Right Now

The smart speaker market is more or less dominated by major tech companies: Apple, Google, Sonos, and Amazon. But WiiM’s powerful 100W Sound smart speaker is an attractive alternative because it’s not locked down to play nicely with select music services. It supports over 20 services, and it sports Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 and ethernet, giving you multiple ways to connect. Additionally, it taps into standards used by other speakers, including Chromecast, Spotify Connect, DLNA, Alexa Cast, and mor

The Verge·Tech·26d ago
Breaking

Apple Caught SCARING Users Away From Their Own Choices

Apple's changing its rules for data collection consent prompts after Germany's Federal Cartel Office accused Apple of giving the prompts a design that favored its own apps. Apple's App Tracking Transparency prompts reportedly cost social media apps nearly $10 billion when they launched with iOS 14.5, making cross-app tracking of users largely opt in. But as a designated "gatekeeper" under the EU's DMA rules, it is facing additional scrutiny over whether the program provides a level playing field

The Verge·Tech·26d ago
Breaking

Meta Faces a Trial That Could Cost $1.4 TRILLION

Of the thousands of lawsuits Meta faces over child safety on its platforms, none may be more consequential than one going to trial this week in California. States are seeking extensive financial damages that could, in theory, total as much as $1.4 trillion, plus changes to how the company operates Facebook and Instagram. The lawsuit accuses the social media giant of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features that get children addicted to its p

Fast Company·Tech·26d ago

Self-Driving Car Tech Is About to Transform HOW You Watch Sports

If you’ve ever played a sports video game—such as an entry in the long-running Madden NFL series, or one of the annual releases focused on the NHL, NBA, or MLB—you’re likely familiar with the ability to follow the action from every conceivable angle. It’s something that can’t quite be matched in an arena setting, even in buildings packed with cameras. Until now.  Peripheral Labs, a Toronto-based AI research company, is introducing what it calls “spatial intelligence” to live sports media, which

Fast Company·Tech·26d ago
Breaking

Sonos Finally Adds the iPhone Feature Users DEMANDED

Sonos released an update to its mobile app that finally introduces support for iOS' Live Activities, giving iPhone users quick access to playback controls on their lock screen. The added functionality is a "much requested, anticipated, and needed feature," according to a post Sonos shared to Reddit today that was spotted by 9to5Mac. While some features like displaying album art are not available, the Sonos Live Activity provides basic details and controls when listening to music or podcasts thr

The Verge·Tech·26d ago
Breaking

The Supreme Makeover That Just Made This Gaming Device LUXURY

Analogue and Supreme are teaming up to release metallic versions of the Analogue Pocket handheld in red and gold as part of Supreme's fall / winter 2026 collection. Here's how they're described on Supreme's website: Metallic portable handheld multi-video-game-system. Unibody aluminum with 24K Gold-plated and custom red glossy finishes. They also have a Supreme logo on the front and the back. I dig the colors, but not the logos. (But I'm not really a Supreme guy.) No price is currently listed on

The Verge·Tech·26d ago
Breaking

Why Instagram Just Made a Change That MILLIONS Hate

Instagram rolled out a new logo last week — which instantly drew jeers from some users. One of the top criticisms was that the cursive-style “s” in the updated wordmark confusingly looks like a “z,” leading to a flood of jokes about the new “Instagzam.” Instagram director of product design Jasmine Probst, who was one […]

Variety·Tech·25d ago
Breaking

YouTube's View Count TRICK That Changes What You See

YouTube will soon count a view as soon as a video starts to play, lining up with the system used by Instagram, TikTok, and its Shorts videos. The update will go into effect on August 24th, "which means creators will likely see their total view counts increase faster moving forward," the platform says. Instagram and TikTok similarly add a view to a video when it starts to play or replay, while X counts a view when a user watches a video for at least two seconds. YouTube applied Instagram and Tik

The Verge·Tech·26d ago
Breaking

Wordle Just Got a BIZARRE New Competitor — With Clippy

Like many of us, Sam Rosenthal plays games like Wordle every day, chasing after good scores and sharing the results with friends and family. But he's also a game designer, the creative director at Blaseball developer The Game Band, and so this regular habit got him thinking about what else could be done in the space. "When I was a kid and I played word games with my family, they weren't the New York Times puzzle games," Rosenthal explains. "We were sitting in a car on a road trip playing these r

The Verge·Tech·25d ago
Breaking

The Compact Mechanical Keyboard Now Selling for JUST $35

The discounted GMMK 3 doesn’t include the pictured wrist rest. | Image: Glorious Are you curious about custom mechanical keyboards, but don’t want to spend hundreds just to get started without being sure you’ll enjoy the hobby? You can grab the 65-percent Glorious GMMK 3 mechanical keyboard at Woot for $34.99 (usually $139.99) by entering the coupon code WOOTGAMING at checkout, and first-time Woot customers will get an extra $5 off when using the same code. It’s a well-equipped keyboard out of

The Verge·Tech·25d ago
Breaking

What Flock's Defenders Are MISSING About Surveillance

This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. To get stories like this in your inbox first, sign up here. Flock, the police-tech giant known for its network of some 120,000 automatic license plate readers around the US, announced some changes to its platform last Thursday. The updates are meant to prevent…

Breaking

Reddit's New Feature That Could REPLACE How You Consume News

Reddit is trying out a new way for people to take in content on Reddit: by turning text posts into audio / video content. As part of an experiment, some posts are being adapted into videos that use AI voices to read the text of the main post and some comments. The video highlights the text as it's read by the AI voice, and under the video, a note says that it's a "Real conversation voiced by AI." An old post in r/boardgames from eight years ago with 101 responses to a request for good road trip

The Verge·Tech·25d ago
Business

Why Kentucky Farmers Just Said NO to $26 Million and Big Tech

‘Country hick’ Kentucky farmers reject AI company’s $26M offer to build data centers on land  nypost.com Opinion | If You’d Like to Build a Data Center, My Farm Is Available  WSJ Ex-farm bureau chief invites AI data center developers to buy his land —argues blocked $6.3B project will just move to willing neighbors, defies 500-jurisdiction moratorium wave and 70% public opposition  Tom's Hardware Meet Blake Hurst, the Missouri farmer who is welcoming data centers  kq2.com Kentucky family turns do

Why Oil Prices Just Jumped as Middle East Tensions LINGER

Oil Edges Higher as Middle East Tensions Linger: Markets Wrap  Bloomberg.com Shipping slows through Strait of Hormuz after tanker attacks, data shows  Reuters Who controls the Strait of Hormuz right now? Here's what the ship traffic actually shows  Fox News Iranian Attacks Push Hormuz Shipping Toward Tehran-Controlled Route  gCaptain August 13, 2026 — Strait of Hormuz traffic remains low as world burns through oil stockpiles  CNN

India Built a Digital Payments MIRACLE—Now the Bill Is Due

India built the world's biggest digital payments miracle. Now comes the bill  bbc.com Explainer: How UPI’s free ride may hit a speed bump  The Tribune Parliamentary panel for expeditious introduction of calibrated MDR on high-value transactions  Deccan Herald UPI MDR benefits will depend on merchant mix, transaction value  The New Indian Express Opinion: UPI Did Not Kill the Tollbooth, It Moved It  News18

What to Do When Your New Team EXPECTS to Be Micromanaged

Emily stepped into the VP of Finance role ready to implement new financial and billing systems that would change how her company does business.  Yet one year in, she was still telling experienced team members what to do next on routine processes and making decisions that should never reach her, such as approving a $500 invoice credit. Meanwhile, the new systems she had promised senior leadership had barely moved. She did not have the capacity to be the strategic, forward-looking executive she kn

Deluxe Media and Tohokushinsha Set Asia-Pacific Localization PARTNERSHIP

Deluxe Media Inc. and Tokyo-based Tohokushinsha Film Corporation have formed a strategic partnership to expand localization services across the Asia-Pacific region. The non-exclusive deal pairs Deluxe’s ties to top studios and streamers, its scale and its tech-driven localization workflows with Tohokushinsha’s creative and in-market strengths built up over decades in Japan. Both companies said the […]

Variety·Business·26d ago

The Business Ideas Perfect for People Who HATE Networking

For many people, the hardest part of the working world is the personal interactions. Networking and meetings can be exhausting, particularly if you’re an introvert. If small talk is a form of torture and you walk away drained after interacting with others, there are plenty of small-business ideas that might be well-suited for you. A growing number of businesses can operate electronically and remotely, and there are several opportunities for entrepreneurs who would prefer to bypass a crowded offi

The Economic Data From China That Has Investors PANICKING

China’s Economic Activity Weakened in July  WSJ China's recovery sputters as consumption, output lose steam  Reuters China’s Economic Woes Mount With Disappointing Start to Half  bloomberg.com China investment slump deepens as economy shows signs of weakness  Financial Times China Industrial Output Growth Below Forecasts  TradingView

What Happened When I Measured My BRAIN During Business Travel

Last month, I traveled through three countries and multiple time zones, packing investor meetings, customer dinners, panels, and leadership sessions into just 10 days. Like many founders, I wore the schedule as a badge of honor. If I could keep up, I assumed I was performing at my best.  Then I looked at my brain. Throughout the trip, I’d been wearing Neurable’s EEG-powered headphones, giving me an objective view of how my brain responded to everything from travel and sleep to stress and recover

Breaking

What America's FASTEST-Growing Companies Know That You Don't

Hello and welcome to Modern CEO! I’m Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures. Each week this newsletter explores inclusive approaches to leadership drawn from conversations with executives and entrepreneurs, and from the pages of Inc. and Fast Company. If you received this newsletter from a friend, you can sign up to get it yourself every Monday morning.  Every CEO is managing uncertainty and complexity. Now imagine layering on exponential revenue growth—like percenta

A Lawsuit Over ICE CREAM Just Destroyed an Entire Company

A years-long lawsuit between two ice cream brands, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and Rebel Creamery, has come to a possible end, with a federal judge ruling that Rebel infringed Van Leeuwen Ice Cream’s trade dress, and ordering that Rebel owes Van Leeuwen tens of millions of dollars. But now, Rebel is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while it appeals the judgment. Here’s what you need to know. What’s happened? Rebel Creamery, the keto-friendly ice cream brand sold at Walmart, Kroger, and other g

Breaking

Why Wall Street Is NERVOUS About What Happens Next

Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures waver ahead of retail earnings  Yahoo Finance World shares are mixed and Brent crude is higher after worries over stagflation pull US stocks lower  AP News Stocks little changed at the open ahead of Fed minutes, retail earnings this week  Investing.com Stock Market Today: Futures Mixed After S&P 500, Nasdaq Notch 3rd Straight Week of Gains; Tech Shares Lead Advances  Investopedia Stock Market Today: S&P 500 to open flat on strong second-quarter ea

Grocery Outlet Is CLOSING Stores Across 6 States—See the List

Back in March, discount grocery chain Grocery Outlet Bargain Market announced plans to close 36 underperforming locations. The store closures are part of a broader restructuring aimed at strengthening its long-term profitability and optimizing its existing store footprint.  All 36 of those stores have now closed, according to Grocery Outlet Holding Corp.’s most recent earnings report, which was released last week. The California-based company also closed an additional four locations, bringing th

Breaking

The Economic Warning Signs China Can No Longer HIDE

Industrial output and retail sales slump in July after one of the country’s weakest quarterly growth rates ever China’s economy is showing signs of extending a slowdown with a slump in industrial output and retail sales in July, adding to pressure on Beijing to intervene with measures to support activity. After the world’s second largest economy posted one of its lowest quarterly growth readings on record in the three months to June, the latest figures suggest it continued to falter in July. Co

Breaking

Why California Just REJECTED Paramount's $1.88 Billion Emergency Request

The California attorney general’s office fired back against Paramount’s request for a $1.88 billion bond on Monday, saying the company is seeking a “do-over” on its agreement to delay the Warner Bros. merger until an antitrust trial next March. In a statement, the A.G.’s office argued that Paramount is a “sophisticated” company that knew it […]

Variety·Business·25d ago
Politics

What Trump Just Ordered for Your Child's Vaccines That Doctors Can't BELIEVE

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (R) looks on as President Donald Trump speaks before signing an executive order calling for changes to the childhood immunization schedule in the Oval Office of the in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 10, 2026. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images President Trump signed an executive order to split the MMR vaccine into individual shots, despite opposition from medical experts. Major health organizations, su

Why Trump Says the White House Needs a MILITARY COMPLEX Inside

Trump says White House needs ‘military complex’ as courts block his ballroom  The Washington Post Supreme Court emergency docket roars back  The Hill New White House East Wing renderings reveal gold additions  axios.com Trump asks Supreme Court to let White House ballroom construction continue  CNBC Trump’s Ballroom Was His Dream of Beauty and Space. Now It’s a ‘Military Complex.’  WSJ

The MENTAL Crisis Brewing on a Navy Ship No One's Talking About

Centcom commander addresses mental health concerns for troops on USS Abraham Lincoln  The Hill Top U.S. commander acknowledges mental health issues on USS Lincoln  CNBC US pulls last aircraft carrier in Asia as Trump focuses on Iran and the Western Hemisphere  AP News Iran War Commander Visits the USS Abraham Lincoln  WSJ Families of US sailors denounce Trump and Hegseth for ‘dismissing their experiences and calling them liars’  The Guardian

What Trump's Attorney General Just Said About Presidential INFLUENCE on Prosecutions

Trump's views can factor into prosecutions, Attorney General Todd Blanche says  Axios Blanche declines to pledge independence from the White House  CNN Blanche Refuses to Say He’ll Always Be Independent of Trump as Attorney General  The New York Times Blanche on whether DOJ will be independent: ‘I’m not going to pledge that’  The Washington Post Blanche says he's not Trump's personal servant  Politico

Breaking

Trump Just Made a Military Decision That Could RESHAPE Asia Forever

Trump says US to reduce military drills with South Korea after it stayed out of Iran war  BBC Trump says US will reduce military exercises with South Korea, citing lack of help with Iran  CNN Trump seeks cuts to US-South Korea drills, reviving earlier objections  reuters.com Trump Will Make South Korea Pay For His Iran Humiliation  The Atlantic North Korea slams US-South Korea military drills and threatens strong response  AP News

How AOC Is Rewriting Her Own 'Woke 1' HISTORY

How AOC is rewriting her own "Woke 1" history  Axios Democrats reckon with ‘Woke 1’ as the party seeks to define an era — and distance itself from it  NBC News Ocasio-Cortez signals Democratic intention to move on from woke era  The Hill Ocasio-Cortez’s ‘Woke 1’ Quip Is a Cynical Move  Bloomberg.com A.O.C. Said ‘Woke 1.0 Was Crazy.’ But What Is It?  The New York Times

The Military Alliance Trump Is Quietly DISMANTLING

Trump orders military to ‘substantially reduce’ joint exercises with South Korea  NBC News Trump has handed a gift to Kim Jong Un and deepened concerns over US reliability  CNN Trump tells Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea, citing anger over Iran war  The Times of Israel Trump says US scaling back joint military operations with South Korea  BBC Trump orders cuts to South Korea joint drills despite warnings of North’s growing battlefield experience  The Guardian

The White House Imposter Plot That Just Got WORSE

Trump Ice Maiden Hit With New Imposter Plot After Embarrassing Breach  The Daily Beast Burnham exchanged messages with impersonator of top Trump aide  politico.eu U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham exchanged messages with someone impersonating top Trump aide Susie Wiles  CBS News Burnham exchanged messages with White House imposter  BBC UK’s Burnham Exchanged Messages With Susie Wiles Impersonator  bloomberg.com

Breaking

Why Trump's Border Wall Is Even DUMBER Than You Think

A bulldozer plows through land during construction for a section of border wall near Santa Elena Canyon on August 14, 2026 in Big Bend National Park, Texas. | Brandon Bell/Getty Images About 22 miles south of the former mining town of Patagonia, Arizona, down a winding, unpaved mountain road that passes cows grazing on open range, stands a cottonwood tree believed to be at least 200 years old. The "grandmother" tree, as some locals call it, is imperiled and already showing signs of stress, alm

Breaking

Trump's Last-Ditch Legal GAMBIT Just Failed Spectacularly

Trump fails to undo E. Jean Carroll verdict at Supreme Court  Axios US supreme court again rejects Trump’s bid to overturn E Jean Carroll verdict  The Guardian Supreme Court again rejects Trump bid to overturn E. Jean Carroll verdict  cnbc.com Supreme Court Again Rejects Trump’s Appeal of $5 Million E. Jean Carroll Payment  The New York Times Court turns down Trump’s request to reconsider its refusal to hear Carroll suit against him  SCOTUSblog

Breaking

Trump's Korea Decision Just Got Called 'INANE' by His Own Party

US president’s abrupt order to scale back joint exercises with Seoul is meant to ‘flatter’ North Korea’s dictator, top Democrat says US politics live – latest updates Donald Trump’s move to gut Washington’s 73-year-old military alliance with Seoul has been called “inane” and “shortsighted” as lawmakers warned it risked strengthening Russia’s hand in Ukraine. The US president abruptly ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea just days after North Korea test-fired ball

Breaking

Jon Ossoff Calls Trump's Iran War Handling 'Uniquely DESPICABLE' in Excoriating Speech

Jon Ossoff calls Trump’s handling of Iran war ‘uniquely despicable’ in excoriating speech  The Guardian Ossoff: ‘Something uniquely despicable about lying a nation into war’  The Hill Ossoff targets a close Trump aide, launching a personal feud with the White House as midterms loom  CNN Why Cheap Innuendo About Trump’s ‘Natalie’ Is a Dead End for Democrats  Newsweek MAGA Melts Down at Dem Star Over Blonde Trump Aide Gossip  The Daily Beast

The Trump Aide That Has a Senator DECLARING War

Ossoff targets a close Trump aide, launching a personal feud with the White House as midterms loom  CNN Ossoff: ‘Something uniquely despicable about lying a nation into war’  The Hill MAGA Melts Down at Dem Star Over Blonde Trump Aide Gossip  The Daily Beast Jon Ossoff calls Trump’s handling of Iran war ‘uniquely despicable’ in excoriating speech  The Guardian Trump roasted over ‘flying palace’ trips with aide: ‘He wants to build his ballroom and travel with Natalie’  independent.co.uk

Breaking

The Congressman Now Under Investigation for Sexual MISCONDUCT

House Ethics investigating Rep. Jimmy Gomez over sexual misconduct allegations  Axios House ethics panel announces investigation into Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez over sexual misconduct allegations  Yahoo News Singapore House Democrat investigated over alleged ‘inappropriate sexual contact’ with staffer  WFIN Ethics Panel Reviewing Allegations Against California Democrat  Bloomberg Government News House Ethics Committee investigating Rep. Jimmy Gomez for alleged sexual misconduct  CBS News

Why Trump Just EXPLODED at This CNN Reporter on Camera

President Donald Trump grew angry at CNN’s Kristen Holmes during a press briefing at the White House Monday, after she asked a question about whether he had spoken with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. “Quiet,” Trump told Holmes, CNN’s senior White House correspondent, after she asked if Jong-un had asked Trump to curtail U.S. military […]

Variety·Politics·25d ago
Breaking

Every Single Detail Trump Got WRONG About South Korea

Fact check: Every single part of this Trump story about South Korea is wrong  CNN ‘The slowest negotiators ever’: How lagging South Korean investment pledges are hurting its U.S. security relationship  Politico The Trump-Kim Jong Un bromance comes roaring back  vox.com Trump Will Make South Korea Pay for His Iran Humiliation  theatlantic.com Trump says North Korea's Kim has responded to his overtures  Reuters

International

The Twin DISASTERS That Just Struck Indonesia in 24 Hours

2 powerful earthquakes hit Indonesia in one day, killing at least 47  CBS News Thousands evacuate after Indonesia quake kills 53, aftershocks hamper rescue efforts  CNBC Indonesia: Thousands displaced by deadly earthquake as rescue efforts continue  BBC M 7.7 - 68 km NNW of Ende, Indonesia  USGS (.gov) Tsunami Warning issued after massive magnitude 7.7 earthquake rocks Indonesia along the Pacific Ring of Fire  FOX Weather

Why America Just ABANDONED Its Most Important Military Alliance

President says move is based on ‘very good relationship with Kim Jong-un’ but US military officials have said Ukraine war is boosting regime’s combat capabilities Donald Trump has said he is scaling back joint US military drills with South Korea aimed at deterring North Korea, despite military officials from both countries warning that Kim Jong-un’s regime was learning new battlefield tactics from the Ukraine war. The drills under Ulchi Freedom Shield, one of two major annual exercises held by S

The Secret Meeting Between Kushner and Hamas That Could END the War

Kushner meets Hamas leaders in Egypt to push Trump’s Gaza plan  Al Jazeera Kushner Meets With Hamas to Advance Trump’s Gaza Plan  The New York Times Kushner has a rare meeting with Hamas' leader on the Gaza road map. A meeting with Netanyahu is next  Dallas News Live updates: Jared Kushner meets with regional leaders as multiple conflicts roil the Middle East  CNN Jared Kushner met with Hamas leaders in Egypt to discuss Gaza peace road map  CBS News

Why Ships Are AVOIDING the World's Most Critical Waterway

Shipping slows through Strait of Hormuz after tanker attacks, data shows  Reuters Oil Edges Higher as Middle East Tensions Linger: Markets Wrap  Bloomberg.com Who controls the Strait of Hormuz right now? Here's what the ship traffic actually shows  Fox News Iranian Attacks Push Hormuz Shipping Toward Tehran-Controlled Route  gCaptain August 13, 2026 — Strait of Hormuz traffic remains low as world burns through oil stockpiles  CNN

Breaking

What Jared Kushner Is Doing in the Middle East That Has Everyone WATCHING

Live updates: Jared Kushner meets with regional leaders as multiple conflicts roil the Middle East  CNN Kushner Meets With Hamas to Advance Trump’s Gaza Plan  The New York Times Trump envoy Kushner meets Hamas leader to push Gaza peace plan  BBC Inside Kushner's Hamas meeting: What comes next in Gaza  Axios Trump's envoys meet mediators, Israel strikes Gaza  Reuters

Breaking

The Wildfires Raging Across Europe That Just Turned DEADLY

Firefighters battle wildfires in Belgium and Greece as 2 die on an island near Athens  AP News Two dead and hundreds evacuated as wildfires break out near Athens  BBC Belgium's biggest wildfire on record heads towards Germany  Reuters Firefighters battle massive wildfires in Belgium and Greece as 2 die on an island near Athens  NBC News Wildfires kill two in Greece and torch Belgian nature reserve  The Guardian

Hundreds FLEE as Wildfire Erupts at Belgium-Germany Border

Hundreds flee as Belgium battles wildfire at German border  DW.com Two dead and hundreds evacuated as wildfires break out near Athens  BBC Belgium's biggest wildfire on record heads towards Germany  reuters.com Firefighters battle massive wildfires in Belgium and Greece as 2 die on an island near Athens  NBC News Wildfires kill two in Greece and torch Belgian nature reserve  The Guardian

Kushner's Secret Mission: What He's Telling HAMAS

Live updates: Kushner meets Netanyahu after talks with Hamas on stalled Gaza peace plan  CNN Trump envoy Kushner arrives in Israel after rare Hamas talks on Gaza peace plan  BBC Kushner Meets Netanyahu in Effort to Break Logjam Over Gaza  The New York Times Jared Kushner meets with Hamas ahead of talks with Netanyahu on Gaza  The Guardian Inside Kushner's Hamas meeting: What comes next in Gaza  Axios

The Earthquake That Turned Independence Day Into a NIGHTMARE

Thousands in Indonesia await aid after quake kills 55, overshadowing Independence Day  AP News Indonesia earthquake: Aid shortages and fears of starvation as aftershocks continue  BBC Search for Indonesia quake victims underway on Independence Day  NBC News Indonesian mother 'grateful' after emergency birth during 7.7 quake  Reuters World in Brief: Eastern Indonesia hit by earthquake; South Korea proposes Korean War talks  The Economist

Breaking

The 60-Day DEADLINE That Just Expired Between U.S. and Iran

Live Updates: U.S. and Iran locked in a stalemate as 60-day negotiation period ends  CBS News Live updates: US-Iran war; Deadline to reach deal passes with no end to conflict in sight  CNN US-Iran ceasefire set to expire Monday as peace talks show no progress  Fox News US-Iran MoU ends: What happens next?  Al Jazeera With US-Iran talks stalled, diplomatic efforts expand to unlikely European players  AP News

Breaking

Trump Just Threatened to BOMB a Middle Eastern Nation Over Iran

Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it ‘gets in the way’ of Iran deal as Kushner meets Netanyahu – Middle East crisis live  The Guardian Live updates: Trump threatens Oman as US-Iran agreement expires  CNN Trump says Iran should surrender, threatens to bomb Oman  The Detroit News Trump threatens to 'bomb' Oman if it 'gets in the way' as U.S.-Iran ceasefire expires  CNBC Live Updates: Trump Lashes Out at Oman as Deadline for U.S.-Iran Deal Passes  The New York Times

Breaking

Ukraine's Drone War Just Hit Russia's MOST Unexpected Target

The attacks began on a July weekend and have continued for a month, stretching from Moscow and St. Petersburg, to cities in the south, and eastward to the Ural Mountains. The targets weren’t oil refineries, maritime hubs or arms plants hit by other Ukrainian strikes, but warehouses that bring the convenience of online shopping across the breadth of Russia. Ukraine’s drones have pummeled the giant depots belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s biggest online retailer, burning billions of dollars’ wort

Kushner's Risky Advice to Netanyahu That Could BACKFIRE

Kushner urges Netanyahu to test Hamas disarmament in Gaza  Axios Kushner Meets Netanyahu in Israel in Effort to Break Logjam Over Gaza  The New York Times Trump envoy Kushner meets Netanyahu after Hamas talks on peace plan  BBC Kushner and Netanyahu agree U.S. general should oversee Hamas ‘demilitarization,’ source says  NBC News PM, Kushner, agree on deconfliction mechanism for reacting to Hamas threats in Gaza -- report  The Times of Israel

The Satellite Technology That's Changing Ukraine's WAR Strategy

How Satellite Advances Are Changing the Game for Ukraine  The New York Times Russia and Ukraine have stepped up their aerial war. Civilians are paying the price  CNN UK-made drones strike targets inside Russia  bbc.com UK drones used for ‘deep strikes’ in mainland Russia for first time  The Times Ukraine reported to have begun using British drones for long-range strikes on Russia – photo  Українська правда

Why South Korea's Broken Promises Are THREATENING U.S. Security

‘The slowest negotiators ever’: How lagging South Korean investment pledges are hurting its U.S. security relationship  Politico Fact check: Every single part of this Trump story about South Korea is wrong  CNN The Trump-Kim Jong Un bromance comes roaring back  vox.com Trump Will Make South Korea Pay for His Iran Humiliation  The Atlantic Trump says North Korea's Kim has responded to his overtures  Reuters

Science

What 8 Years of Research Revealed About Kids and SCREENS

An eight-year Finnish study found that children who spent more time on screens tended to show better cognitive processing as teenagers, challenging common assumptions about screen use. Researchers say the key may be balancing physical activity with screen activities that encourage learning, creativity, and active thinking.

Webb Just Found Something in Space That SHOULDN'T Exist

Astronomers may finally have a clue to what happens to the mysterious “little red dots” that crowded the early universe. By studying a spiral galaxy nicknamed the “Saguaro,” researchers found a compact, bright red center that closely resembles these distant objects—but with something Webb usually can’t see around them: a full galaxy. When the team simulated what the Saguaro would look like much farther away, its spiral structure essentially vanished, leaving only the bright red core.

Caltech Just Made Silicon Chips Do Something IMPOSSIBLE

Caltech scientists have created ultra-low-loss optical pathways on silicon chips that approach the efficiency of fiber optics and dramatically outperform existing technology at visible wavelengths. The breakthrough could unlock more powerful lasers, miniature atomic sensors and clocks, quantum systems, and more energy-efficient data centers.

Health

The Ebola Outbreak That Just Became Congo's DEADLIEST in History

At least 2,325 people have been killed, according to government data, surpassing the death toll from 2018-20 outbreak The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is now the deadliest in the country’s history with at least 2,325 people killed, according to government data, surpassing the toll from the 2018-20 outbreak. Congo’s public health institute said on Sunday that confirmed cases had risen to 4,945, including 101 new cases detected in the previous 24 hours. Continue reading...

The MENTAL HEALTH Benefits of Ozempic Nobody Told You About

Studies show that GLP-1 medications may have positive effects on mental health. Image Credit: Delmaine Donson/Getty GLP-1 medications are associated with a lower risk of worsening anxiety and depression.  GLP-1 drugs may help reduce key symptoms of binge eating disorder and “food noise.”  Other surprising mental health benefits of GLP-1s include reduced impulsivity and violent behaviors.  Additionally, setting personal goals can help make GLP-1 medications more effective.  Researchers are in

Healthline·Health·26d ago

The POOP PILLS That Could End Peanut Allergies Forever

elzauer/Moment/Getty Images A preliminary study found that “poop pills” — oral fecal microbiome transplantation (FMT) — increased tolerance to peanuts in some adults with a peanut allergy. Researchers found similar results in mice, with a certain type of gut bacteria playing a key role. While the findings are promising for future trials, it’s too soon to recommend FMT as a treatment for peanut allergy. A small clinical trial suggests that fecal microbiome transplantation (FMT), or “poop pill

Healthline·Health·26d ago

The mRNA VACCINE Revolution Just Came for Flu Season

The FDA approved a new mRNA flu vaccine for older adults ahead of the upcoming 2026–2027 flu season. fotostorm/E+/Getty Images The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new mRNA flu vaccine for older adults. The new flu shot, called mFLUSIVA, was found to be effective in clinical trials in preventing serious illness in people ages 50 to 64. The vaccine was also given accelerated approval for people 65 years and older, although more research is being conducted on that age group. A

Healthline·Health·26d ago

The FLESH-EATING Bacteria Spreading Along the Gulf Coast Right Now

Nearly two dozen cases of Vibrio vulnificus, known as a “flesh-eating” bacteria, have occurred in parts of Florida and Louisiana. Two people are dead. bactpadamkaz/E+/Getty Images At least 23 cases of a “flesh-eating” bacteria, Vibrio vulnificus, have been reported along the Gulf Coast in parts of Florida and Louisiana. A total of 7 people have died after developing the infection. While the illness is often mild, it can be fatal for people with a weakened immune system. The bacteria typicall

Healthline·Health·26d ago

The Salsa and Guacamole in Your Fridge That Could Make You SICK

Jalapeño peppers supplied by Taylor Farms and sold at major U.S. retailers like Whole Foods have been linked to Salmonella. anand purohit/Moment/Getty Images Several Taylor Farms products containing jalapeño peppers have been recalled due to concerns about Salmonella contamination. Whole Foods and other major U.S. retailers have issued recalls of the affected products. The recall affects prepared foods distributed across 26 states, and at least 345 cases and 36 hospitalizations have been rep

Healthline·Health·26d ago

The Blood Thinner That Could SLOW Alzheimer's in Your Brain

New research suggests that newer blood thinners may not only protect against strokes but also support brain health in people with Alzheimer’s. Tatiana Maksimova/Moment/Getty Images A study has found that blood thinners called NOACs may slow cognitive decline in those with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s patients with AFib are prone to brain damage from “silent strokes.” However, blood thinners can help prevent the formation of the clots that cause these strokes. Experts say NOACs are safer and more

Healthline·Health·26d ago

Why Taking the STAIRS Could Be Your Secret to Living Longer

New research shows that choosing to take the stairs could help reduce your risk of heart disease and early death. baona · E+/Getty A major study has recently found that taking the stairs may help reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. The researchers also found that climbing stairs can reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.  This adds to previous research showing that even short bursts of physical activity can have beneficial health impacts, and that just

Healthline·Health·26d ago

Why Your BELLY FAT Matters More Than Your Weight

Research shows that a person’s belly fat may be a better predictor of heart disease risk than BMI. ozgurcankaya/E+/Getty A new study reports that the amount of belly fat a person is carrying may be a better predictor of future heart disease risk than their body mass index (BMI).  An unhealthy waist circumference or waist-to-hip ratio may increase your risk of heart disease by up to 50%.  Speak with your healthcare professional about how to measure your waist circumference correctly and for h

Healthline·Health·26d ago

The Menopause NIGHTMARE Facing Women With Type 2 Diabetes

Women with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes report worse menopause symptoms, like hot flashes, a new study found. Justin Paget/DigitalVision/Getty Images Postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes reported worse menopause symptoms than those without the conditions. Physical symptoms like hot flashes and joint pain were more intense among participants with diabetes or prediabetes. Mood symptoms, such as irritability, were about the same across the board. Menopause symptoms may be

Healthline·Health·26d ago

Are You REALLY 'Maxxing' Your Health or Just Wasting Your Time?

“Maxxing” trends are growing in popularity on social media, but experts say many of these health hacks can be ineffective or even pose health risks. Olga Rolenko · Moment “Maxxing” trends aim to optimize specific aspects of health, with popular examples including proteinmaxxing, fibermaxxing, sleepmaxxing, and fertilitymaxxing. Some “maxxing” trends may encourage healthy habits, but taking them too far or following practices that aren’t backed by evidence may pose health risks. Experts recom

Healthline·Health·26d ago

Even LIGHT Activity Could Protect You From This Deadly Condition

Light physical activity should be integrated alongside treatment for atrial fibrillation (AFib) to improve cardiovascular health. MoMo Productions/DigitalVision/Getty Images Physical activity was associated with a lower risk of stroke and death among people with atrial fibrillation (AFib), according to new research. Even relatively low levels of exercise were linked to meaningful benefits compared with inactivity. Exercise should complement, not replace, standard AFib treatments, including m

Healthline·Health·26d ago

The Diet That Lets You Eat UNLIMITED Amounts and Still Lose Weight

A low-fat vegan diet may help people lose weight without counting calories, shrinking portions, or feeling constantly hungry. In a 16-week clinical trial, people eating mostly fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes consumed about 357 fewer calories per day even though the total amount of food they ate barely changed.

Why Taking Ozempic BEFORE Surgery Might Not Help You Lose More Weight

New research shows that using a GLP-1 before bariatric surgery may not increase weight loss. coldsnowstorm · E+/Getty A new study found that using GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic or Wegovy, before bariatric surgery was not associated with greater weight loss 12 months after the procedure. Researchers also found no significant differences in diabetes control, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, or emergency department visits. Experts say GLP-1 medications may still provid

Healthline·Health·25d ago
Sports
Breaking

The PGA Tour Show That Will Make You Question EVERYTHING

Arnold Palmer once said that golf was “deceptively simple and endlessly complicated.”  Now the PGA Tour hopes to give fans of the links something a little less intense: a good laugh. “PGA Tour Alter Ego” a new unscripted sports comedy series co-produced with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, launches Tuesday ahead of the organization’s BMW Championship. […]

Variety·Sports·26d ago
Breaking

How to Score CHEAP Tickets to the U.S. Open

The U.S. Open is nearly back in Queens, bringing two weeks of celebrity-packed stands and Honey Deuces to Flushing Meadows. The 2026 U.S. Open returns to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center beginning with Fan Week on Aug. 23, before the main singles draw kicks off Sunday, Aug. 30. The tournament runs through […]

Variety·Sports·26d ago
Entertainment

The ALL-STAR Send-Off for Bob Iger That Had Hollywood in Tears

Bob Iger is officially a legend within the Disney kingdom. We can’t call it surprising that the media giant named its former CEO (twice over) to its hall of fame, but it’s certainly fitting. Iger, 75, has guided the company to delirious heights of success – and through some of its darkest ever hours. Disney […]

The WICKED Surprise Ariana Grande Just Pulled at Her London Show

Ariana Grande brought out Cynthia Erivo to perform at her Aug. 16 Eternal Sunshine stop at London’s O2. The “Wicked” stars sang “For Good” and “Happy Days” on the second night in the U.K. for Grande’s tour. Grande is currently on her Eternal Sunshine Tour, which shares a title with her seventh studio album. The […]

The Hip Hop BREAKUP Album That's Being Called a Masterpiece

In every possible universe? | Image: Backwoodz Studioz "Breakups are… tough." It's the opening lines of an interlude towards the end of DOOMED! Called "It Happens in Every Universe." It's also basically the thesis of the entire record. It's no grand revelation, but it's a well-trodden subject that Open Mike Eagle manages to mine for artistic gold. Eagle's subject matter is usually personal, and his productions tinged with nostalgia. But DOOMED! is his most intimate album yet. A lot of that is

How Noah Kahan Turned MISERY Into a Rose Bowl TRIUMPH

“My name is Noah Kahan and I am here to make you fucking miserable!” the biggest male rock star on the charts right now announced almost at the outset of his sold-out show Saturday night at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Stadium. In this, he was unsuccessful, but to Kahan’s credit, he did not really try very […]

The 'Lanterns' Twist NO ONE Saw Coming

SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for the Season 1 premiere of “Lanterns,” now streaming on HBO Max. What kind of superhero show has the guts to kill off its lead character in the first episode? Of course, just because Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) is found dead in the bleachers by John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) and […]

What John Oliver Just Revealed About Trump's SHOCKING Move

On Sunday night, the summer’s hottest soap opera star, John Oliver, opened the latest edition of his Emmy-winning HBO series “Last Week Tonight” by addressing Trump’s controversial airplane switcheroo incident whilst leaving a NATO summit in Turkey. “The Iran War dragged on with a series of humiliating news headlines including this revelation about Trump’s trip […]

Why Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey' Just Lost to an UNKNOWN Film

Dirty Monkeys’ war comedy-drama “Once Upon a Time in the Middle East” took command of the mainland China box office during the Aug. 14–16 weekend, grossing RMB477.9 million ($70.3 million) over the three-day frame, according to data from Artisan Gateway. Following its Tuesday, Aug. 11 rollout and earlier previews, the production has amassed a cumulative […]

Nolan's ODYSSEY Just Did Something NO Superhero Movie Could Stop

“The Odyssey” ruled the South Korean box office during the weekend of Aug. 14–16. According to data from KOBIS, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council, the Christopher Nolan-directed tentpole generated $13.2 million from 1,691,744 admissions over the three-day frame across 2,114 screens, capturing 59.07% of the total weekend market. The film grew […]

Breaking

Why the Future of Film Will Be Written in SPANISH

Former Costa Rican Film Commissioner Marysela Zamora, who was instrumental in reviving the Costa Rica Media Market (CRMM) these past two years, will continue to serve on the Board of Directors of the Ibero-American Network of Film Commissions (Iberofic), where she will spearhead a regional agenda aimed at bolstering women’s leadership in the audiovisual sector […]

The Festival Film That's Building UNSTOPPABLE Momentum

Mexico’s Madrefoca Cine has boarded “Isabel Hernández,” Italian filmmaker Giorgio Giampà’s feature debut, joining Zoe Films, LaDoc and Fiasco on the Italy-Mexico co-production. The project is among the 15 titles selected for the 2026 Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum at the San Sebastián Film Festival. Its San Sebastián berth comes as Zoe Films builds a growing […]

Jack the Ripper Reimagined as Found-Footage HORROR

Found footage may be a fairly stale gimmick in horror these days, but the low-budget British indie “Snapshot” finds a way to freshen up the idea — and if that largely amounts to layering another technical gimmick over it, the results are nonetheless striking. Emulating the look of 19th-century pinhole photography, with the entire film […]

The Iranian Director Whose Film Trump Might BOMB

Iranian director Ali Asgari, who was in Venice Horizons last year with dark satire “Divine Comedy,” will soon be back — in competition this time — with his new feature “A Bit of Light.” Variety is unveiling a first clip of the timely film, which is being sold internationally by France’s Salaud Morisset and released […]

London Film Festival Unveils Competition Lineup With SURPRISES

The 70th edition of the BFI London Film Festival has revealed its official competition, with 10 titles set to compete for the best film award. The films selected represent 10 countries, including the U.K., Ireland, Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, and Poland. The winner will be chosen by the LFF awards jury. Among […]

'Supporting Role' Review: A Nocturnal Journey Through TBILISI

A nocturnal odyssey through the spectral streets of Tbilisi is conjured with mesmerizing effect in Georgian writer-director Ana Urushadze’s “Supporting Role.” On the heavy heels of Niaz (Dato Bakhtadze), a lumbering Georgian movie star whose glory days are behind him, Urushadze’s second feature plays like an old-school Jim Jarmusch joint — all existential wandering and weird, […]

She Just Made Emmy HISTORY Again—And She's Still Not FINISHED

In 2024, the longtime actress-turned-director became the first Black woman nominated for an Emmy for directing in the drama series category, earning recognition for HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. This year, she has done it again, earning two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, one for HBO’s The Gilded Age and another for Task.

The Sudden Loss That Left HOLLYWOOD in Shock This Morning

Hayden Panettiere’s death is under investigation, but there were “not any signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances,” according to police. The “Scream” and “Heroes” star died on Sunday in Greenville, South Carolina, at the age of 36. The Greenville Police Department confirmed to Variety on Monday that police and EMS responded at 1:51 p.m. […]

Legendary Director's First English Film Launches New PRODUCTION Empire

Film executive Todd Brown has launched Rawk Moving Pictures Corp, a new Canadian production house. One of the company’s first titles is “Two Gun Cohen,” the English-language debut of Hong Kong director Johnnie To. Brown, also a film critic and festival programmer, spent 17 years as head of international acquisitions at XYZ Films, where his […]

The '90s Rom-Com Getting a Broadway Makeover You Never Expected

Lena Dunham and Carly Rae Jepsen’s “10 Things I Hate About You” musical is coming to Broadway next year. The show, based on the 1999 rom-com starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger, will begin preview performances exactly one year from now, on Aug. 17, 2027. Opening night, as well as casting and theater information haven’t […]

Breaking

Why Rosie O'Donnell Thinks CNN's Future Would Be TRAGIC

Rosie O’Donnell is finally back behind the talk-show desk. Yes, the former host of “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” and “The View” will be serving as guest host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” the week of Aug. 17 while Kimmel is on vacation (as part of his summer rotation). He said he’d tapped O’Donnell for the stint […]

Breaking

Why Ellie Goulding Is SUING the People Who Made Her Famous

British singer Ellie Goulding has taken legal action against her former managers, Ben Mawson and Ed Millet of TaP Management, claiming that the two failed to disclose to her that TaP’s parent company, HNOE, was partially and then fully owned by Live Nation, creating a conflict of interest that benefited them and the company to […]

Breaking

Amy Schumer's Next Move After Her Marriage IMPLODED

Amy Schumer is getting her teeth into another comedy, with the Emmy winner set to star in and produce “Best Divorce Ever.” The film comes from writer-director Sean Mullin (“Bob Trevino Likes It,” “Amira & Sam”), with Concourse Media launching worldwide sales in Toronto next month. Schumer will produce alongside Matthew Lee Miller and Natalie […]

Breaking

The Author Lies That Made Sony WALK AWAY

Gillian Anderson has said that Sony ditched a deal to distribute “The Salt Path,” in which she starred alongside Jason Isaacs, after a scandal broke last summer over alleged fabrications in the supposedly true story. Based on a memoir of the same name by Ray and Moth Winn, the book and film tell the story […]

Why This Director Thinks American Independent Film Is DYING

Jeff Nichols is not only one of cinema’s foremost chroniclers of the American South, but is doing his damnedest to revitalize the film scene in his hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas. When he brought his acclaimed film “Loving” — about the landmark Loving v. Virginia case that legalized interracial marriage nationwide — to Little Rock […]

Jonas Brothers Announce Massive Tour That's About to SELL OUT

The Jonas Brothers, who have been road warriors in recent years, have announced a massive 45-city North American tour that continues their “Burning Up Tour All Over Again.” Magnus Ferrell, Franklin Jonas, and All Time Low will be special guests on select dates. Promoted by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on Friday, September 25 […]

The Emmy Records About to Be SHATTERED Forever

Final Emmy voting is now open. More than 20,000 Television Academy members have the final ballots in hand for the 78th Emmy Awards, with voting remaining open through Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 10 p.m. PT. When the envelopes begin opening — first during the two-night artisans ceremony, formerly known as the Creative Arts Emmys, on […]

HBO Just Committed to More NIGHTMARES From Derry

“It: Welcome to Derry” has been renewed for Season 2 at HBO. The show originally premiered on HBO Max on Oct. 26, 2025. It is based on Stephen King’s “It” novel and builds on the two-part “It” film reboot from 2017 and 2019. The show serves as a prequel to the films. The first season […]

The Vertical Video Format That's Changing How We Watch EVERYTHING

Webtoon Entertainment is embracing the vertical media boom with its initiative to craft microdramas out of some of its most popular properties including romantic dramas “Love Bites” and “Maybe Meant to Be.” The move demonstrates the fast-growing appeal of short-form vertical video, even for a company that is also on the cutting edge of the […]

Breaking

The News Show That Answers YOUR Questions in Real Time

On a new show from ABC News, anchors Gio Benitez and Ashan Singh help viewers fill rabbit holes before getting stuck in them. During a recent live-stream of “Searched, “a relatively new entry to the schedule of ABC News Live, Benitez, clad in bright white sneakers and a short sleeve shirt, offered followers different angles […]

Breaking

The SNL Star Finally Getting His Own COMEDY Special

James Austin Johnson is going from Studio 8H to the stand-up stage. The “Saturday Night Live” star, who is best known for portraying Donald Trump on the sketch comedy series, will release his debut comedy special “He’ll Yeah” on Aug. 31. The hour will debut exclusively on Gorilla Comedy+, the recently launched streamer from 800 […]

Breaking

The Warner Bros. Exec Netflix Just POACHED

Netflix has hired Katie Martin Kelley as VP of film communications. In her new role, Martin Kelley will oversee communications for the streaming giant’s feature film department, encompassing live-action, documentaries, and animation. She will start on Sept. 8 and report to Netflix’s chief communications officer Dani Dudeck. Martin Kelley is replacing Emily Feingold, who left […]

Breaking

The Fantasy Book Titles Fans Have Been OBSESSING Over

The titles for the sixth and seventh “A Court of Thorns and Roses” books have been revealed by author Sarah J. Maas. The two upcoming installments are the latest books in Maas’ best-selling fantasy series, which currently includes five titles: “A Court of Thorns and Roses,” “A Court of Mist and Fury,” “A Court of […]

Breaking

Why Access to This Star's Trust Fund Just Got DELAYED

Nick Reiner’s attorney pushed on Monday for speedy access to trust funds to pay for his criminal defense in the killings of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner. Reiner, who is being held without bail in Los Angeles County jail, is trying to access $1.5 million in trust assets so that he can rehire his […]

Breaking

Inside the Emmy-Nominated Show Everyone's CELEBRATING

It’s hard to imagine, but FX’s “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette” almost didn’t happen. On Saturday night, an intimate tastemaker dinner held at Chateau Marmont’s Penthouse 64 was hosted by Variety in partnership with FX, and celebrated the show’s seven Emmy nominations. Senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay introduced executive producer Nina […]

Breaking

Why Bourdain's Book Is Suddenly Flying Off Shelves AGAIN

More than 25 years after Anthony Bourdain first pulled back the curtain on restaurant kitchens, readers are going back for seconds. Bourdain’s seminal 2000 memoir, “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly,” has returned to bestseller charts following the theatrical release of “Tony,” A24’s new biographical drama about his formative years. The book is also […]

Breaking

Taylor Swift Just Called Phoebe Bridgers' New Album an 'Absolute TRIUMPH'

Taylor Swift has spoken out about her love of Phoebe Bridgers’ new album “Lost Weekend,” praising the singer-songwriter for her “absolute triumph” of a record. Swift, who previously featured Bridgers on her 2021 song “Nothing New,” took to Instagram Stories to congratulate her on her latest project. “It’s her birthday but she gave us a […]

Breaking

Øya Festival 2026: The 10 Best Sets From the Cure to GEESE

Not many festival lineups are as stacked — and sonically diverse — as Øyafestivalen in Oslo, Norway. Over four days at Tøyen Park in the center of the city, there was truly something for everyone. Goth romantics young and old gathered for the Cure’s two-and-a-half hour headlining set on Wednesday; indie lovers got a double […]

Breaking

The Sudden DEATH That Has Hollywood in SHOCK

Ms. Panettiere was in cardiac arrest before she died, the coroner’s office said. In a May memoir, she detailed the difficulties she had growing up in the public eye.

The Filipino Stars Leading Hollywood's Next BIG Soundtrack

The full track listing for Dreamworks Animation’s “Forgotten Island” has been revealed. SB19, BINI and Lea Salonga are among the artists leading the soundtrack. As previously revealed, H.E.R. and Katseye’s Sophia Laforteza also feature. The soundtrack will be released on Sept. 18 with the film set to open on Sept. 25. The film follows H.E.R. and […]

Breaking

The Gang Leader Who Prosecutors Say MASTERMINDED Tupac's Murder

Las Vegas gang leader masterminded Tupac's drive-by killing, prosecutor tells jury  Reuters Live updates: Tupac Shakur murder trial begins with opening statements  CNN Long-awaited trial begins in rapper Tupac Shakur’s 1996 Las Vegas killing  South China Morning Post There Are Few Witnesses to Tupac Shakur’s Drive-by Shooting  The New York Times Tupac Shakur's 1996 murder was an "act of revenge," prosecutor tells jury in trial of accused mastermind  CBS News

Breaking

'Industry' Season 5 Adds Seven to Cast Including Cary Elwes

The fifth and final season of “Industry” is adding seven new cast members. Joining the HBO finance industry drama are: Cary Elwes (“Dead Man’s Wire,” “The Princess Bride,” “Robin Hood: Men in Tights”), Dianna Agron (“Glee,” “Shiva Baby”), Sam Riley (“Mint,” “Islands”), Jessica Brown Findlay (“Silo,” “Peaky Blinders”), Luke Manley (“Marty Supreme”), Bally Gill (“Slow […]

Breaking

How 'Palm Royale's' All-Women Stunt Team Pulled Off THAT Catfight Sequence

AppleTV+’s “Palm Royale” made Emmy history when it landed nods for Outstanding Stunt Coordination for Comedy Programming (Mallory Thompson) and Outstanding Stunt Performance (Colby Lemmo and Sonja Wajih) for Episode 6, “Maxine Finds Herself.” It marked the first time an all-women stunt team from the same series has been concurrently nominated in both categories. In […]

Breaking

The Tragic Discovery That Ended a BELOVED Star's Life at 36

Hayden Panettiere attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Netflix’s film “Blonde” at TCL Chinese Theatre on September 13, 2022, in Hollywood, CA. Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images Hayden Panettiere, star of “Heroes” and “Nashville,” died at age 36 on August 16. A 911 call referenced a possible overdose, but Panettiere’s official cause of death has not yet been determined. Authorities found no signs of foul play or trauma, and the investigation into her death is ongoing. Actor Hayden Panettiere,

Breaking

CNN Correspondent Landing Pre-Emmy Interview SERIES

CNN correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister is set to host a special pre-Emmy interview series airing exclusively on CNN. “Coming Up” will see Wagmeister sit down with Emmy nominees to discuss the stories behind the performances and achievements across their careers in television. The nominated stars include Colman Domingo (“The Four Seasons,” “Euphoria”), Paul W. Downs (“Hacks”), […]

Breaking

Bethenny Frankel's Cafe Reveals What's REALLY Coming Back

Reality TV star and entrepreneur Bethenny Frankel has returned to the food and beverage space with a new pop-up cafe in the Hamptons. But despite long lines wrapping around the corner, the new business venture seems to be getting mostly a lukewarm welcome. The East Quogue cafe, which opened up on August 13, stands out for its pink interiors and branded merch with the phrase “supermodel” on it. It also has a Bethenny-themed menu and lots of flowers. In addition to the drink menu (which includes p

The RADICAL Change Coming to Disneyland Forever

Tomorrow’s Tomorrowland at Disneyland could look very different than it does today. Tens of thousands of Disney fans learned over the weekend that their wishes have finally come true: The long-running attraction at the theme park in Anaheim, California will soon be reimagined—and it’s one of many changes to the theme parks on the way. Thomas Mazloum, chairman of Disney Experiences, shared this update to loud applause from Disney’s most loyal fans during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. “Soon,

Ryan Gosling's Marvel TRANSFORMATION Gets a Date

Disney has dated Ryan Gosling’s “Ghost Rider” movie for July 28, 2028, making it the third Marvel movie set for 2028. “Black Panther 3” is set for Dec. 15, 2028, while the as-yet untitled “X-Men” movie comes out on May 5, 2028. The titles were part of a large number of release updates made by […]

CNN Locks Down Anchors Before PARAMOUNT Takeover

Executives at Paramount Skydance have agreed to pay billions to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, but they may have to do a little more work if they want to put their own stamp on the programming at CNN. CNN recently struck a new deal with Abby Phillip, anchor of the raucous 10 p.m. roundtable “NewsNight” that […]

Peacock's New Rewards Program Offers FREE Pizza

NBCUniversal’s Peacock launched a limited new membership program in a beta test with a variety of perks — aimed at keeping them from flying the coop as streaming subscribers. The test of Peacock’s membership program is available initially to a limited, “randomly selected” group of Peacock Premium and Premium Plus subscribers, according to NBCU. “Through […]

iHeartMedia Names New President of MEDIABASE

RCS Worldwide has announced the promotion of Alissa Pollack to president of Mediabase, a top music industry source for airplay analytics, chart intelligence, and music data. In this elevated role, Pollack will also continue her full responsibilities as president of global music marketing at iHeartMedia. As president, Pollack will lead Mediabase’s strategic direction, global expansion, […]

The 'Different World' Sequel That's About to Drop on NETFLIX

School is back in session at Hillman College. Netflix’s new “A Different World” series released the official trailer and new images. The series is a followup to the NBC sitcom of the same title, which ran from 1987 to 1993 and was itself a spin-off of “The Cosby Show.” It stars Jasmine Guy and Kadeem […]

ABC's New News Show Is Powered by Something UNEXPECTED

ABC News has officially introduced Searched, a livestreamed show that highlights stories people are discussing on social media and searching on the web, as reported earlier by Variety. Though the network just announced the show now, Searched began airing on the ABC News Live streaming channel in April, which appears on both Disney Plus and Hulu. In the press release, ABC News says Searched "pulls real-time data from the top search engines and social media platforms to provide topical news for th

The New Yorker Writer Who Just Joined '60 MINUTES'

Ariel Levy, a staff writer at The New Yorker magazine who has analyzed sexuality in culture and profiled a number of political and cultural newsmakers, will join “60 Minutes” as a contributor, the latest journalist to join the show’s ranks as it is being remade by Bari Weiss, the editor in chief of CBS News. […]

Breaking

Why the New 'Friday the 13th' Series Is DROWNING in Blood

“Crystal Lake” star Linda Cardellini is teasing the upcoming “Friday the 13th” prequel television series. Cardellini stars in the Peacock series as the franchise antagonist Pamela Voorhees. The show, premiering Oct. 15 on the streamer, follows Voorhees’ life prior to the events of the first “Friday the 13th” film. It also stars William Catlett as […]

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The Mental Health CRISIS Brewing on the USS Abraham Lincoln

Centcom commander addresses mental health concerns for troops on USS Abraham Lincoln  The Hill Iran War Commander Visits the USS Abraham Lincoln  WSJ US pulls last aircraft carrier in Asia as Trump focuses on Iran and the Western Hemisphere  AP News Families of US sailors denounce Trump and Hegseth for ‘dismissing their experiences and calling them liars’  theguardian.com Top Admiral Praises Sailors but Concedes Hardships After Visit to U.S.S. Lincoln  The New York Times

Google News·Other·26d ago

Why Hawaii Just Got SLAMMED by Tropical Storm Lala

Lala is again a tropical storm, sending drenching rain and high winds across the Hawaiian islands  AP News Thousands without power and at least 100 homes damaged after Tropical Storm Lala starts to move away from Hawaii  CNN Over 250,900 HECO customers remain without power across Hawaii  Honolulu Star-Advertiser Lala Sunday Updates: Outer bands of Lala bring heavy rain, gusty winds to parts of Maui, Oʻahu, Kauaʻi  Maui Now Lala downgraded to tropical storm, but damaging winds, heavy rain to pers

Google News·Other·26d ago
Breaking

The Street Takeover That Became a Cover for Something WORSE

L.A. street takeover acts as cover while thieves ransack local business  KTLA LA County detectives share 27 photos as they seek to identify East LA AutoZone burglary suspects  CBS News Sheriff posts photos of 27 suspected of ransacking AutoZone during East L.A. street takeovers  Los Angeles Times Authorities release images of 27 suspects in East LA AutoZone break-ins  NBC Los Angeles Chaos as L.A. street takeover leads to looting  Yahoo

Google News·Other·26d ago

Why THOUSANDS in Hawaii May Be Without Power for MONTHS

Hurricane Lala cuts power to thousands in Hawaii — rural outages could last months  San Francisco Chronicle Thousands without power and at least 100 homes damaged after Tropical Storm Lala starts to move away from Hawaii  KXLY.com Tropical Storm Lala tracking westward, threat of heaviest rain, strongest wind diminishing  Hawaii News Now Over 250,900 HECO customers remain without power across Hawaii  Honolulu Star-Advertiser ‘Utter Devastation’: Lala Turns Hawaiʻi Upside Down, Spares Some  civilb

Google News·Other·26d ago

Why Sirens Will Sound Before This ICONIC Tower Comes Crashing Down

Sirens will sound before detonations bring down Centennial Mills water tower Monday  KGW Demolition day nears as Centennial Mills fire takes toll on Portland's Pearl District  KATU ‘Sirens will sound’: City details explosive first step in Centennial Mills demolition Monday  KOIN.com OPB’s First Look: Farewell to Centennial Mills  Oregon Public Broadcasting - OPB Texts, sirens expected before Centennial Mills demolition on Monday  KPTV

Google News·Other·26d ago

Everything You Need to Know This MORNING

USS Washington to relieve USS Lincoln after concerns about conditions, Ukraine launches one of its largest aerial attacks on Russia, a look at where talks stand regarding the future of Gaza.

NPR·Other·26d ago

Why Your Definition of Success Is Probably WRONG

One of the things that continues to surprise me about executive coaching is how often conversations about work become conversations about family. Clients rarely come in wanting to talk about their parents. They want to decide whether to take a promotion, how to navigate a difficult boss, become more effective leaders, or determine why they’re burned out. Family history almost never makes the agenda. And yet, more often than not, that’s where we end up. Not because their parents are an active pro

The Secret to Photos That Make Your Pet Look AMAZING

Meet Noodle and Loaf, aka Carb Cats. | Image: The Verge, Getty Images Like the pets of any self-respecting millennial, my cats have their own Instagram account. Noodle and Loaf - aka Carb Cats - aren't exactly celebrities. But they are used to having their photos taken a lot. Between their Instagram account, my regular need to test smartphone cameras, and the fact that they are two adorable idiots, I've taken on an unofficial household role as pet photographer. I know I'm not the only one. It

The Verge·Other·26d ago
Breaking

What Ben Smith Just Revealed About Journalism's BIGGEST Problem

Today I’m talking to Ben Smith, the editor-in-chief of Semafor. Everywhere you go, people say they don’t trust the media — and yet they’ve never consumed more of it. Audiences have moved on from legacy names in favor of Substacks and podcasts and TikTok news influencers that seem to be everywhere in our feeds.  Why would anyone want to start a new global news organization in the middle of all that, when even once-storied brands like CBS News can’t seem to figure it out?  Well, that’s what Ben di

The Verge·Other·26d ago

Lindsay Clancy Murder Trial Enters Fourth Week of TESTIMONY

Watch Live: Lindsay Clancy murder trial resumes with 4th week of witness testimony  CBS News Digital forensics expert testifies about Lindsay Clancy’s Google searches in her murder trial. Follow live updates.  The Boston Globe Prosecution rests in Lindsay Clancy’s triple-murder trial  CNN Lindsay Clancy trial enters week 4 of testimony: Live updates  patriotledger.com Why Lindsay Clancy’s Insanity Defense Might Fail  The Atlantic

Google News·Other·26d ago
Breaking

Why Parts of Indiana Are Still UNDERWATER

Live updates: Flooding ongoing in parts of Indiana as others turn to cleanup  IndyStar Flooding ongoing across Indiana following deadly storms  USA Today 'Mother Nature always wins' | Flood waters cut through Hazel Dell Parkway bridge, crews asking for space as they work to assess damage  WTHR Chicago weather: Air and Water Show delayed Saturday; NIPSCO power outage repair truck hit by gunfire in Gary; more storms Sunday  ABC7 Chicago Deadly flooding in Indiana after several days of heavy rain  

Google News·Other·26d ago
Breaking

The Home Theater Furniture Worth Your MONEY in 2026

When you think of setting up a home theater, certain pieces come to mind: The 4K TV, your speakers, a high-end 4K Blu-ray player and a turntable for when you want to give your eyes a break and listen to music. But about your couch? Or the media console your TV, game consoles and other […]

Variety·Other·26d ago
Breaking

The 403% Surge Revealing What Gen Z Does INSTEAD of Dating Apps

In 50 years or so, quite a few Gen Zers are going to be telling their grandkids that they met while birdwatching.  At least, that’s according to the latest study from the events marketplace Eventbrite. The platform’s research found that Gen Zers are increasingly looking to find love IRL, and they’re doing it at the kinds of hobby-based events that might’ve once been the purview of older generations.  “For a long time, people kept dating in one box and hobbies in another,” Andrea Parodi, Eventbri

Breaking

The Lindsay Clancy Murder Trial Just Reached Its MOST Critical Phase

Prosecution rests in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy. Defense begins calling witnesses  WBUR Lindsay Clancy trial livestream, live updates: Prosecution rests, defense calls her mother  NBC Boston Lindsay Clancy’s mother, sister testify about her mental health struggles  The Boston Globe Livestream: Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial enters its fourth week of testimony  Boston.com Massachusetts woman searched online for 'postpartum psychosis' days before killing children, jury hears  Reuters

Google News·Other·25d ago

What This Mother Searched Online Days Before the UNTHINKABLE

Massachusetts woman searched online for 'postpartum psychosis' days before killing children, jury hears  Reuters After prosecution rests, Lindsay Clancy’s family members testify for defense in her murder trial. Here’s a recap.  The Boston Globe Lindsay Clancy’s mother and sister testify as defense begins its case  Boston.com Lindsay Clancy's trial highlights gaps in understanding, treating postpartum psychosis  NPR Lindsay Clancy trial livestream, live updates: Prosecution rests, defense calls h

Google News·Other·25d ago