Trump welcomes Putin and the Alaska Summit called “very productive”
President Donald Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Alaska Summit “very productive,” but said there was “no deal.”
CNN anchor Jakkapper was caught up in a hot microphone during a special August 15th report on President Donald Trump’s summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Tapper, which normally runs the 2-hour program “The Lead” from Washington, DC, from 5pm to 7pm, was live in Alaska on Friday when his colleague Anderson Cooper tried to throw it back at him.
“I’m fine. Please bring the show back to me,” Tupper said. Hot Microphone Moments was shared on X by the conservative Newsbusters who manage editor Curtis Houck.
The smiling Cooper then said, “On the back of the show!”
“Alison Cooper”: Trump calls CNN anchor Anderson Cooper from Runt “Alison”
After a nasty exchange, Tupper welcomed Sen. Adam Schiff to the show, but California Democrats couldn’t hear the CNN host. “I think I’ve lost you,” Schiff said.
Tupper then told the audience, “I have a real communication problem today. Sorry. If anyone can hear me, let’s go back to New York.”
At that point, Cooper once again said, “Now, Jake, thank you so much,” and took over.
USA Today reached out to Cooper, Tapper and CNN representatives for comment.
At the Alaska Summit, Trump and Putin failed to achieve a major breakthrough in peace negotiations over Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Tuppers get frustrated sometimes during on-air coverage. In 2020, Tupper made Lala Trump’s remarks at the 2020 campaign event, “Women for Trump.” Former President Joe Biden gave an interview about “Coalition State.”
“Every time he comes on stage and they turn to him, I go like this. Then Tupper asks, “How do you think the little kids in the Startters feel when you see you make such comments?”
Trump then replied that he had no idea that Biden had studs.
“I think what Jake saw on stage with Joe Biden is obviously a cognitive decline, and that’s what I’m referring to,” Trump said.
Tupper then shut down the interview and told Trump “I have no position to diagnose anyone’s cognitive decline.” In May, Tupper revealed that he had apologized to Trump for the incident.
That same month, Axios’ Tapper and co-author Alex Thompson released the controversial book, Original Sin, which explored the decline of Biden’s physical and cognitive functions during his presidency.
The book received a major backlash from certain liberals and center corners on the political spectrum.
President Trump warned that the National Guard might be sent to other cities. The black mayors of those cities vow to push back.
DC Mayor responds to Trump’s plan to control city police
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser called President Trump’s acquisition of DC police “uncertain” and “unprecedented.”
OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and this other California official are dealing with a warning from President Donald Trump that he may send the National Guard there more than just a comment.
They are prepared for the fight.
Lee and other black mayors, along with civil rights activists and lawmakers across the country, are increasingly concerned that Trump will portray single cities such as Oakland, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. They are all led by black mayors, and all of those leaders are Democrats.
Van R. Johnson, president of the African American Mayors’ Association and mayor of Savannah, Georgia, said: “That’s not right. It’s not fair. I want the federal government to work with us. We’re just calling.”
Rep. Yvette Clark, chairman of the New York State Legislature, called the Trump acquisition of DC’s “blatantly racist and sleazy power grabs.”
“It won’t stop in Washington, DC,” she said in a statement. “The interests are high not only in Washington, D.C., but also in the future of democracy in every corner of the country.”
Trump used presidential forces to take over police in Washington, D.C. in early August, and he has been ramping up the crime sue, and authorities have not done enough to deal with it – despite statistics showing that crime in the district is 30 years low.
Trump also threatened to deploy National Guard to help fight crime in other communities.
“We’re going to reclaim the capital,” Trump said on August 11th. “And we’ll see other cities too.”
He called it “historical action to save our country’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedram, demons, and more.”
Different visions to tackle urban issues
White House officials claim that the country’s capital is filthy and that Trump saw it firsthand.
In March, Trump signed an executive order entitled “Make the Columbia District safe and beautiful.”
“If Democrats had common sense, they’ll continue to follow President Trump’s crackdown on violent crimes that have plagued our nation’s capital and Democrat-run cities around the country,” White House Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers said in an email to USA Today. “Instead of criticizing President Trump’s popular, harsh crime policies, they should focus on cleaning up their own cities, some of America’s most dangerous places.”
Although many big cities are run by Democrats, both violent and property crimes have declined nationwide in recent years, federal data shows.
Civil rights leaders criticized Trump for portraying cities, particularly cities led by black mayors, as if they were on the verge of crime.
“Drawing the false picture of the city’s largest black majority city led by a black mayor is part of the Trump administration’s ongoing strategy to exploit racial mistrust in political interests,” said National Urban League President Mark Morial and Washington Urban League President George Lambert in a statement.
If Trump really wants to help the city, several mayors argued that he would not cut funds for poverty countermeasures programs and community police efforts.
“This federal government should invest in cities like Oakland instead of investing in us,” said Lee, who spent 27 years in Congress, including Trump’s first term. “If you want to see cities thrive as well as survive, it doesn’t make sense what this government is doing.”
more: “D.C. has the right to govern itself”: Civil Rights Leader condemns Trump’s move to buy
“Reasonable people can see the optics.”
Trump has not yet publicly cultivated race in his criticism of those cities, but experts point to a history of his racially lightly remarkable statements, including his first term, which questions why America takes people from Haiti and some countries in Africa. Trump is also called Baltimore, a predominantly black city, and is known as “a disgusting, rats, rodent-infected chaos.”
Jason Williams, a professor of justice studies at Montclair State University in New Jersey, said the president had not specifically mentioned race at the time or recent references, but that was clearly hinted at. Williams said urban centres are historically codes for talking about black people and communities of color.
“He doesn’t necessarily have to say that to know what it means,” Williams said. “It gives him plausible negativity. I don’t think this president would care.”
Lee of Oakland told USA Today that Trump’s actions found “fear and appropriation.”
“A lot of what he does is cause anxiety and it gives him an excuse, so we need to be ready and ready to fight,” she said.
Oakland has a contingency plan if Trump tries to send National Guard, Lee added. When asked if she could provide details, the mayor replied, “I’m not free to do that now. It’s inappropriate at this point.”
In DC, Trump justified his actions by citing a recent one-night attack in Los Angeles with former federal officials, and he called on the National Guard to quell the civil protests spurred by the crackdown on offensive immigrants. He may use other isolated cases to target other metropolitan cities, said Insha Rahman, vice president of advocacy at Vera Judicial Institute, a nonprofit focused on criminal justice.
“It’s the lean meat that Trump uses to crush the maga base and is only effective as a bait when it remains unchecked,” Rahman said.
“We were here before.”
Federal authorities sometimes use their power to undermine black city leadership, portraying them as incompetent or prone to crime, Williams said. He pointed to examples such as city renewals in the 1960s and 1970s., When the government dismantled its postwar profits.
“We were previously here on federal overreach and hard-working attempts to roll back victory,” Williams said.
The country’s capital has long been in the crosshairs of Trump and the GOP Congressional leaders. Earlier this year, Republican lawmakers threatened to withhold funds if Bowser didn’t remove the Black Lives mural from the streets near the White House.
“D.C. has always been this kind of political football for Republicans,” Williams said.
While some black mayors are worried that the city will become Trump’s target, Savannah Mayor Johnson continues his job to combat crime.
“We’re worried about fighting the federal government and fighting crime,” he said.. “I think it’s a distraction from what Americans are really talking about, that’s the ongoing ‘if’. ”
Johnson said the ideology and approach of some black mayors may be different to Trump’s, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be partners in issues that include crime.
“We understand elections. We are our own politicians,” he said. “We’re accused of playing with people on the field. When Donald Trump became president, he too became president of our city.”
Ukrainian President Voldy Mee Zelensky visits the White House to discuss a peace deal with Donald Trump following the US President’s Putin Summit
Trump welcomes Putin and the Alaska Summit called “very productive”
President Donald Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Alaska Summit “very productive,” but said there was “no deal.”
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has abandoned his pursuit of a ceasefire in Russia’s war against Ukraine and calls for a peace deal after an Alaska summit with Vladimir Putin failed to produce an immediate deal.
“The best way to end the horrifying war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a peace agreement to end the war, and often not halt,” Trump said after speaking on the phone with Ukrainian President Voldy Mee Zelensky and European leaders.
Trump said Zelensky will be in Washington on August 18 for an oval office meeting with both leaders after the February 28 clash.
more: “No Contract”: Trump’s takeout from Alaska Summit with Putin
The Trump administration suspended sharing intelligence and shipping weapons to Ukraine after the incident. Zelenskyy refused to apologise for his role in spat shortly afterwards. However, he sent Trump a settlement letter that helped him track the relationship a few days later.
Trump began turning his back from Putin towards Zelensky in late April after Russia attacked Kiev with missiles. He said that in mid-July, Europe allowed Europe to purchase arms from the US for Ukraine, and that if Putin had not agreed to the peace deal in a short period of time, he threatened to attack Russia and its trading partners with sanctions and tariffs.
The resulting summit with Alaska’s President Putin was praised by both presidents as being productive, but no specific agreement or ceasefire was mentioned. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said he would be accepting unspecified deals that President Putin was moving forward during the nearly three-hour closing door talk. He said the next step in the process would be to meet in person at their own summit, where Zelensky and Putin offered to mediate.
Zelenskyy first revealed his plans to visit Washington next week in an overnight post at X. They talked for about an hour and a half, and the European leader joined in the second half of the call, he said.
“In my conversation with President Trump, I said that if there is no trilateral meeting or if Russia tries to avoid an honest end of the war, sanctions should be strengthened. Sanctions are an effective tool,” he said. “Security must be guaranteed and long-term guaranteed. Both European and US involvement must discuss all issues important to Ukraine with Ukrainian participation, especially those of the territorial region, which can be determined without Ukraine.”
In statements from their own European leaders, they threw their support behind the Putin Zelensky summit with Trump, calling for Ukraine’s US-backed security guarantees.
“It’s up to Ukraine to make a decision about its territory,” the leader said. “International borders must not be forced to change.”
Hurricane Erin has rapidly become more resistant to Category 5 storms. It is not expected to hit directly in the US, but creates dangerous surfing.
How to prepare for a hurricane
It’s important to take these steps before the hurricane season.
Hurricane Erin was reinforced into a scary Category 5 hurricane with 160 mph sustained winds as the storm moved west through the Atlantic.
The hurricane is not expected to be a direct hit in the US, but it will cause dangerous surfing situations along the East Coast. Erin will head west-northwest later that day and north-west after the weekend, passing north of the Caribbean island.
On the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, the minimum Category 5 wind threshold is 157 mph. By size, Category 5 hurricanes are the strongest possible one.
“(b)y mid-week, Erin is forecasting at least twice or triple the size, which will result in coarse oceanic conditions over the Western Atlantic,” the Hurricane Center said.
The rain strip outside the storm was already beginning to affect the island, predictors said on August 16th.
Erin was formed as the first hurricane of the Atlantic season on August 15th, and soon became the first major hurricane. The major hurricanes are those that reach at least Category 3 status. A quick reinforcement occurs when a hurricane skips one or more categories on the Safir Simpson Hurricane-style scale within a day.
Forecasters said Erin would continue to intensify rapidly.
Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1st and continues until the end of November. Aggressive hurricane weather usually peaks between mid-August and mid-October. The first hurricane of the Atlantic Season with average form around August 11th.
Hurricane Elin Tracker
This predicted track shows the most likely pathway in the center of the storm. The full width of the storm or its impact is not shown, and the storm center can move out of the cone for up to 33% of the time.
Hurricane Erin Spaghetti Model
The illustrations include an array of prediction tools and models, not all are created equal. Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five best performance models to make its predictions.
How do hurricanes form?
Hurricanes originate in the tropical regions above warm waters. Thunderstorm clusters can develop across the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are correct, clusters are swirling into tropical waves and storms known as tropical depression.
Tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm when its sustained wind speed reaches 39 mph. When the wind reaches 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane.
Get ready for a hurricane now
Potentially delaying preparations for salvation can mean waiting until it’s too late. “Get disaster supply while the shelves are still in stock and flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period, so get that insurance inspection early,” NOAA recommends.
Get ready for a hurricane now: Here’s what you need to do to stay safe before the hurricane arrives
Establish an evacuation plan: If you are at risk of a hurricane, you will need an evacuation plan. Now is the time to plan where you will go and how you will get there.
Assemble disaster supply: Whether you’re evacuating or evacuating, you’ll need supplies not only to get through the storm, but also for the potentially long aftermath.
Get an insurance inspection and document your property: Contact your insurance company or agent now to ask for an insurance inspection and make sure you have sufficient insurance to repair or replace your home or belongings. Remember that home insurance and tenant insurance don’t cover floods, so you’ll need a separate insurance for that. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent, or through your national flood insurance program. Flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period, so take action now.
Create a family communication plan: NOAA said he took the time to write down your hurricane plan and share it with your family. Determine where family gatherings are to be located and include out-of-town locations in the event of evacuation.
It strengthens your home: Now is the time to improve your home’s ability to withstand the effects of a hurricane. Trim the wood; attach storm shutters, accordion shutters, and/or impact glass. Seal the wall opening.
The final words of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Alaska Summit were delivered with a smile spoken in an unusual burst of English.
“And next time in Moscow,” Putin said no translation is needed, in response to President Donald Trump, suggesting that they meet again soon.
President Putin is known to give casual side comments and elegance in foreign languages. He also said “thank you” in English at the end of the summit with Trump.
However, the Russian leader – former intelligence agent KGB with security services in the Soviet Union, usually avoids speaking in English during diplomatic conversations using translators.
Putin is known to be fluent in German. During his time as a KGB officer during the Cold War, Putin was assigned to Dresden. Dresden was in East Germany at the time. Putin and former German Prime Minister Angela Merkel were known to speak German to each other during their meetings.
According to the Kremlin itself, he also speaks good English.
In May, when the two leaders spoke on the phone, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin could get the impression he had said to him before his interpreter relayed the translation to him.
It suggests that he is likely to understand his US counterpart when the pair travelled together briefly in Trump’s presidential limousine after their arrival in Alaska on Friday.
In 2017, the Kremlin said, according to the Russian Izvestia newspaper, Putin had a “almost complete” understanding of English and could even modify interpreters.
When he is “out of the road,” Putin said, “most of the time he speaks English, but when negotiations are being made and official meetings are taking place, of course he communicates through an interpreter,” Peskov said.
“I’ve translated at the highest level for so long, so I know what stress it is,” Peskov said.
The interpreter can also be used in high-level meetings to pilot the leader’s room.
For example, prior to his talks with Trump, Putin appears to have not understood or heard the offensive questions he cried in English by pressing media about the war, and instead made no speeches, making confusing expressions.
When asked if he would “stop killing civilians,” Putin appeared to gesture that he could not hear the question.
There are quite a few examples of Russian leaders showing off his language skills outside the negotiation room.
He conducted an exclusive interview with CNN about the conflict in Georgia in 2008, where he spoke in part in English.
In 2013 he issued a rather long on-camera statement in English and announced the Russian bid to hold the 2020 World Exposition in the central city of Yekaterinberg. “It’s going to be a priority national project,” he said in Russian accented English in the two and a half minutes clip.
Perhaps the most famous exhibit of his English proficiency, he once directed “Blueberry Hill” at the Charity Gala in St. Petersburg in 2010, but he stumbled over several words. Some Hollywood celebrities, including Kevin Costner, Goldie Horn and Kurt Russell, were among the audience to witness an unusual performance.
At a video conference earlier this year, he responded in fluent German to a German man who had been seeking citizenship in Russia. After switching to German, Putin spoke a bit about his time living in East Germany, and other officials at the meeting laughed.
On Friday, Trump responded quickly to Putin’s English invitation for another meeting in Moscow, saying, “Oh, that’s interesting. I don’t know, I can get a little fever on it, but I can probably see it happening.
Things you need to know about possible strikes in Air Canada
Air Canada says it will begin cancelling flights and refunds immediately after the union representing 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants issues a strike notification overnight.
CBC-Top Stories
Air Canada flight attendants ground most flights, affecting thousands of passengers, and launched an indefinite strike.
The strike comes from a breakdown of negotiations between the union and airline management over wages and compensation.
As Air Canada is a popular connector for flights to Europe and Asia, it is estimated that around 27,000 US passengers will be affected daily.
Most Air Canada flights are grounded as carrier flight attendants begin an indefinite strike. According to FlightAware, 86% of Air Canada’s Saturday schedule has been cancelled, with 96% of Air Canada’s schedule being until 9:20am.
The airline began uninterrupting operations on Wednesday in preparation for the walk-off, warning in a statement that it expects around 130,000 passengers around the world to be affected by daily strikes.
The flight attendants left work after union negotiators reached a deadlock with the airline management over wages and compensation.
Air Canada offers exemptions to passengers whose flights may be affected, allowing travelers who book a flight by August 14 to travel between August 21st and September 12th without paying the difference in fares or fares. More information about the exemption is available on the Air Canada website.
AirAdvisor, the consumer airline’s refund website, suggests that as many as 27,000 US passengers could be affected per day.
Air Canada is not a major airline in the US, but it is an important cross-border link and a popular option for connecting flights to Europe and Asia for American travelers.
Airadvisor says Air Canada has up to 135 flights a day from the United States to the Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver hubs, with New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle and Miami seeing the most service. The airline operates several flights from the US to other non-hub destinations in Canada.
Flights run by Air Canada’s regional partners Jazz and PAL will remain open during the strike, so some services booked through Air Canada will continue, but the airline said in a statement that their affiliates only operate around 20% of their services.
The airline has warned that it is trying to re-occupy passengers on other airlines, but that seat availability is limited.
“Customers whose flights have been cancelled will be notified and eligible for a full refund available online via www.aircanada.com or the Air Canada mobile app. The company has arranged with other Canadian and foreign carriers to provide alternative travel options to its customers wherever possible,” an Air Canada statement said. “Customers will be notified of alternative travel options identified for them. However, given that other carriers are already very full due to the summer travel peak, ensuring that such capabilities will take time and often become impossible immediately.”
As a major United Airlines partner, thanks to both carriers’ Star Alliance membership, United Airlines may see the most overflow for rebooking between US carriers
What is Canada Air?
Air Canada is Canada’s flagship airline and largest airline. As a member of the Star Alliance, its partners include United Airlines, Lufthansa, All Japan Airlines and many other global carriers.
How big is Air Canada in the US?
Air Canada is the largest airline connecting the Canadian market to its US destinations, and is also a great option for anyone looking to connect from the US to Europe or Asia.
“It’s the timing and range that especially destroys this strike. We’re in the summer travel window where the planes are already running at 85-90% capacity and there are few last-minute alternatives,” Airadvisor founder Anton Radchenko said in a statement. “Air Canada is more than just an airline. It is a major connector between the US and Canada, dealing with thousands of passengers every day for leisure, business and essential travel. Once the network has acquired, the ripple effects touch all major US hubs, from JFK and LAX to Seattle and Miami.”
He said the airline’s hub in the Northern US is likely to increase traffic as Air Canada passengers to and from overseas destinations are rebooked through the US market. US passengers heading to Europe via Toronto or Montreal, or to Asia via Vancouver, could also encounter problems during the strike.
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
Zach Wichter is a travel journalist and writes the USA Today Cruising Advanced Column. He is based in New York and can be contacted at zwichter@usatoday.com.
Trump welcomes Putin and the Alaska Summit called “very productive”
President Donald Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Alaska Summit “very productive,” but said there was “no deal.”
Vladimir Putin was laughing. Donald Trump wasn’t.
As Russian and American leaders shook on the stage after they failed to reach the deal at the Alaska summit, President Trump saw his face that his four predecessors may have recognized after their own encounters, who denied the world with their resolve to rebuild their empire.
Trump seemed tired, irritated and worried. The path before him ignored the path before him, as he characteristically refused to ask a single question from the reporter’s phalanx, who raised his hand before him. With a small smile on his face, Putin was so relaxed and relaxed that he would tease him about speaking in Moscow – English, no one would miss the point.
However, hours after the Air Force returned to Washington, Trump was resurrected and appeared to embrace a new and different plan for peace. He abandoned his top priorities 24 hours ago, a strategy supported by Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO allies.
“The best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is not a peace agreement that ends the war, and often does not halt,” he said of the truth, a social media platform.
Incidentally, this was the approach Putin had always wanted.
Zelensky met him at the White House on August 18th, and Trump announced he would consider what will happen next. Ukrainian leaders have consistently opposed ceasefire talks without a ceasefire, giving Russia the opportunity to keep its battlefield advantage unhindered.
The fear among Ukrainian supporters is the last rebirth of the Ukrainian leader in February in the oval office. He was condemned by the President and Vice President JD Vance for his insufficient gratitude to the United States to hinder the peace deal with Russia.
“Now it’s really President Zelensky who’s going to accomplish that,” Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity after the summit. A three-way meeting with President Putin could then follow.
In Putin’s case, like a limousine lift and a red carpet.
It’s no wonder why Putin appears happy in Alaska.
The summit was a blow-off for him, ending quarantine from the west with a welcome of red caterpillars and a rare vehicle in the back seat of an armored presidential limousine called the “beast.” The Russian leader could see him talking and laughing through the window with the president.
He was pleased to have returned to American soil for the first time in ten years.
Joined by two advisors, they spoke for about three hours before skipping the planned luncheon and economics meeting, instead heading to the news meeting without question.
The two leaders then took another vehicle back to the airfield.
The summit did not achieve what Trump said in advance what he wanted most: a ceasefire. The term “ceasefire” was not mentioned in subsequent statements.
Trump had also set a series of deadlines for Russia to agree to progress and to face secondary sanctions. The latest deadline passed on August 8th, when they agreed to meet in Alaska. After the summit, he also did not mention the word “sanction.”
By the next morning, “just a ceasefire contract” was no longer the goal.
Campaign promise now postponed for 200 days
The big promises Trump made during his 2024 campaign have not proven to be more difficult to achieve than his assurance that he could resolve the crushing war in Ukraine on his first day in office, based primarily on his confidence based on his relationship with Putin. But that was more than 200 days ago, and despite Trump’s transition from friendly pleading to an undefined threat of “very serious consequences,” attacks on Russian Ukrainian forces and its civilians have not been mitigated.
Despite the declaration of “pursuing peace” engraved on the blue background behind the two men.
“So there’s no deal,” Trump told pregnant audiences, an unfortunate approval from a self-explained master negotiator, entitled “The Art of the Deal.” Fulmmox, who appeared on Trump’s face at a press conference on August 15, was familiar with Barack Obama and sent Secretary of State Barack Clinton to meet with Russian Foreign Office buttons in 2014 to see the illegal Annex Crimea in Moscow, with the red “reset” button as a visual aid for the new era.
Or, when George W. Bush saw the event after his first meeting with Putin in 2001 after he decided that he “see a man in his eyes” and declared that he had determined he was “candid and reliable.”
They are not adjectives the president has used about Putin since.
That being said, Trump’s tone to President Putin called him “Vladimir” even after the summit failed to reach its pre-set goals. “We did well,” he told Fox News. “I’ve always had a great relationship with President Putin.”
Federal officials warn about unpaid toll texts from coast to coast
People across the country have got scam texts requiring unpaid tolls and coughing otherwise. This is what you need to know.
Straight Arrow News
American inboxes face daily floods of unnecessary spam. Phishing texts claiming that no tolls have been paid or that the package cannot be delivered, calls from lawyers who promise to erase their debts, and malware emails that offer prize money from sweepstakes that no one has ever entered.
The youngest and oldest of us have developed a way to manage a huge amount of messages by “deleting” them at the moment when something appears to have passed the spam filter. But this instinct runs the risk of missing a real emergency message that California residents have learned the hard way.
Ashley, 47, said she received texts from figures claiming it was a toll road, a California passerby manager.
She did just that, with everyone who advises consumers to remove fake text messages about tolls from their mobile phones, from the federal government to the tolls themselves.
more: Toll Road Fraud: More and more transports warning fake texts in multiple states
“I thought it was a scam and I thought, ‘Oh, I’m not going to fall into it, I’m too smart,’ so I kept deleting it,” she told USA Today. “Ahead of this, they were communicating with me via email, and they didn’t even know they had my phone number.
There was little evidence that Ashley would click on the link asking for “Now.” Warnings about a storm of phishing texts from scammers pretending to be paid authorities have been issued by the Federal Trade Commission by the FBI agency since January.
Ashley said there’s no reason to believe these are different, as she received obviously fake texts from senders who claim to be from UPS, FedEx, her bank and more. It was a big bold deactivation notice until she received the email, which was eventually reviewed by USA Today.
When the “fraud” text turns out to be authentic
“(Email) said, “We have deactivated your account. If you use one of our toll roads again, you’ll be a terrible violation,” Ashley said. “And I’ve been using them all the time so I panicked.”
At that time, she finally logged in, checked her account and found out she had been disconnected from the auto-reregistration feature that had previously been attached to her bank card.
“I got into my account and in fact it was deactivated, cancelled, and in reality all of those text messages were from them,” she said.
Luckily, she still hadn’t balanced the massive unpaid tolls and fees, but she said the idea that she could break the law or put her in a bad position without bothering her knowledge.
“Whenever I get a text message saying, ‘I need to send you money’ or ‘click this link’, I don’t know where it came from, so I’ll automatically delete it,” she said. “I’m wondering how companies can communicate with their customers through textbooks. There are as many scams as they can, so I don’t think they don’t believe texts from legal businesses, so I’m not sure they can.”
Passengers recommend caution
Michelle Kennedy, media relations manager for Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), which runs Toll Roads, told USA Today in an email that while some account holders may receive texts about legitimate account issues, the “majority” of text interactions reported to agents is related to fraud.
“(TCA) will send an accounting message to an accounting message only if you choose to receive the message. It will only be sent if your account cannot process payments.
Customers may also receive interactions from legitimate customer service representatives via email, phone or physical email.
“There are several ways (TCA) customers can interact with toll roads, check account status, establish accounts, manage accounts, pay tolls, and resolve violations,” she said.
How to Find Text Message Scams
Ashley was able to reactivate his account without paying huge fees, but accounts that become delinquent could result in penalties of hundreds, or even thousands of dollars, in other states.
With iPhones and Androids surges by over 700% in June alone, the need for attention seems to be vanishing anytime soon, so how can consumers protect themselves from malicious texts without missing any real important text?
Leila Bilge, the global head of fraud research at antivirus and cybersecurity software company Norton, has some tips.
“It’s not enough to rely solely on instincts as fraudulent messages are becoming more persuasive,” she said. “Think your inbox like a busy street. Some doors lead to real business, others are traps. You won’t be stepping into sketchy alleys just because someone screams your name, so treat suspicious messages the same.”
Bilge’s checklist for verifying the validity of the text includes some simple follow tips.
Don’t just trust the name – Scammers can expand the sender’s name. Tap a contact to view the actual email or phone number behind it. Also, just because your message includes a full name doesn’t necessarily mean it’s authentic.
Stop pressure – Emergency languages like “Act Now” and “Question Now” are classic scam plays. Legal businesses rarely create such panic.
Ask yourself: Did I expect this? – Do not take bait if you haven’t been waiting for delivery or notifications. This doesn’t always apply to unexpected bank alerts such as credit card fraud, but the key is not to panic and check directly with your bank.
Go directly to source – Do not reply or click on a message. Open the official website or app and see if there are any items that require attention.
“When people feel that they understand how fraud works and are equipped to safely verify their messages, they are more likely to pause, think, and make the right phone call without missing out on anything important,” she said. “The more we are calm and confident, the more difficult it will be for a con man to succeed.”
Scientists say the findings help explain how life can exist in extreme environments, using compound methane, a compound, instead of sunlight.
The Pentagon doesn’t say alien evidence, they want to compete for the topic
Leaders at the Pentagon office to investigate UFOs testified that there was no evidence of extraterrestrial or alien technology.
A new study found strange animals that get energy from chemical reactions instead of the sun at the bottom of an oceanic trenches up to 31,000 feet deep in the northwest Pacific Ocean between Russia and Alaska.
Scientists say the discoveries used compound methane, a compound, instead of sunlight, to shed new light on the potential of life in extreme environments. The animal was discovered by researchers using a human-wrapped diving vehicle.
“It is not just the depths that make our discoveries groundbreaking, but the incredible abundance and diversity of the chemical synthesis lives we observed,” said Mengrand Du, a marine geochemist at the Institute of Deep Sea Science and Engineering, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, published on July 30.
The authors suggest that similar communities may be more widespread than previously thought, and their findings challenge their views on how ecosystems are supported. “Even living in the most harsh environments, I have found that these life forms survive and thrive,” Du said.
For some, the findings encourage questions about the possibility of finding life on other planets.
“Because chemical species such as methane and hydrogen are common, it suggests that similar chemical synthesis communities may also exist in extraterrestrial oceans,” said Xiaotong Peng, a marine geologist and research co-author.
Can this kind of life be found on other planets?
Du told USA Today that similar chemically synthesized forms could be found in Moon Europe on Jupiter or Moon Enceladus on Saturn.
According to NASA, Europe may be the most likely.
“There is very strong evidence that the components of life exist in Europe,” said Bonnie Bratty, a planetary scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Institute, who was not part of the study.
At the bottom of the European oceans, where water meets rocky mantles, there may be heat veins through which heat releases chemical energy. “They may resemble the heat of the Earth’s deep oceans where primitive life exists and life could have been born on Earth,” Bratty said.
Europa Clipper will teach you more
NASA hopes that the European Clipper spacecraft will help determine whether (European) underground oceans have habitable environments.
She added that seeking a similar environment in Europe is the first step in answering questions about undersea life on other planets and the moon, as the current idea is that life is born at the depths of the Earth’s oceans.
“Europe is the first ocean world to be studied in great detail. Other bodies in the solar system, such as Titan, Enceladus, perhaps Ganimede, Uto Pun, and even many exoplanets and exomones, can have habitable environments similar to those on Earth,” she told the United States. “After we got results from Europa Clipper from 2030, we know more.”
more: NASA’s European Clipper will be released in search of “life ingredients” on Jupiter’s Ice Moon
On Earth, amazing deep sea tube worms and clams
Researchers discovered the animal kingdom (controlled by tubeworms and clams) during a series of dives to the bottom of the Krill Kamchatka and Aleutian groove.
The ecosystem was discovered deeper than the height of Mount Everest, the highest peak on Earth. The deepest one was 31,276 feet below sea level in the Kuril-Kamchatka ditch. This was nearly 25% deeper than such animals had previously been recorded anywhere on Earth.
This environment contains “the deepest and most extensive chemical synthesis community known to exist on our planet.”
The study reported that organisms like these living in extreme environments need to adapt to produce energy in a variety of ways. Known as the “chemical bond-based community,” they derive energy from chemical reactions rather than photosynthesis, which requires sunlight.
Such communities are located in deep-sea habitats where chemicals such as hydrogen sulfide and methane penetrate from the seabed, according to research.
The ancient fossilized teeth discovered in decades of archaeological projects in northeastern Ethiopia indicate that two different types of human, or human ancestors, lived in the same place between 2.6 million and 2.8 million years ago.
This discovery gives us a glimpse into the complex web of human evolution. The ten teeth found between 2018 and 2020 belong to the genus Australopithecus, a relative of ancient human beings. Meanwhile, the three teeth found in 2015 belong to the genus Homo, including modern humans or homo sapiens. The results were published in Nature on Wednesday.
This overlap of two hymonins in the fossil record is rare, leading scientists to believe that HOMO appeared after Australopithecus, rather than the two of their contemporaries. The Australopithecus species stood upright like modern humans, but had relatively small brains and were close to the size of an ape. The emergence of homo species is one with a larger brain, and is easy for people today to consider as an evolutionary upgrade of the species, the path to modern humanity.
However, the coexistence of the two indicates that humans developed and lived in multiple varieties at once. “This new study shows that the image that many of us have in the minds of the apes to Neanderthals is incorrect. “There are two species of humanity here. And human evolution is not linear, it is a bushy tree, and there are life forms that are extinct.”
Since 2002, Reid has been a community member of the Ledi-Geraru research project, with some focusing on searching for evidence of early homo species. In 2015, the team announced the discovery of the oldest known homo johnbone, 2.8 million years old. We also searched for evidence after the Australopithecus afarensis, which first appeared 3.9 million years ago, but there are no indications of these ancient human relatives in the fossil record 2.95 million years ago.
Australianthecus afarensis is best represented in the famous fossilized Lucy ruins discovered in Ethiopia in 1974. Lucy was shorter than the average human, reaching about 3.3 feet (1 meter) tall, with about a third of the size of a human brain having a face and brain that was close to the top. Her fossils introduced a mixture of human-like apella-like properties, providing evidence that ancient human relatives stood upright 3.2 million years ago.
When the team discovered Australopithecus teeth during two separate excavations in 2018 and 2020, they compared them to species such as Afarensis and another human group known as Garhi, but they did not match. Instead, scientists believe that it belongs to a species of Australian species whose teeth walked the Earth after Lucy and which walked the Earth alongside the early homo species.
“When I found a homo, I thought it was all we could find, so one day I was researching, I found an Australopithecus tooth,” Reed said. “Most importantly, it shows once again that human evolution is not linear. There were extinct species. Other species adapt better than others, and others certainly know this for Neanderthals.
The teeth were found in a distant area of Ethiopia. This is an important place for researchers looking for answers about human evolution. Various preserved fossils and some of the earliest stone tools have been discovered, Reed said.
The AFAR region is an active lifting environment. The tectonic plate below that Earth is actively pulled apart, exposing an older layer of sediment that shed light on nearly five million years of evolution, Reed said.
“The continent is literally upset, and that creates a lot of volcanic activity and tectonics,” says Christopher Campazano, a co-author of the study, associate professor at the Institute of Human Origins and associate professor at the School of Human Evolution and Social Change in Arizona. “At 2 1⁄2, three million years ago, these volcanoes spewed ash containing crystals called feldspars.
The Australian coalescence teeth documented in the new study were dated 2.63 million years ago, while the homo teeth date from 2.59 million and 2.78 million years ago. However, the team is cautious about identifying any dental species until there is more data and more fossils.
“We know what early homo teeth and mandibles look like, but that’s it,” Brian Billmore, principal research author and associate professor at the University of Nevada School of Anthropology in Las Vegas, said in a statement. “This potentially highlights the important importance of finding additional fossils to understand the differences between Australopithecus and Homo, and how they can overlap in the fossil records in the same location.”
The Australopithecus teeth were broadly similar to the Afalensis species’ teeth in contour and molar size, but the features of the pointed and canines were not previously seen in Afalensis or Garhi teeth, Villmoare said. The shape of the teeth was different from that of the ancient human relative parantropath, known for its homo species and its larger teeth and chewing muscles.
“Obviously these are just teeth,” Villmoare said. “However, we continue our fieldwork in the hopes of restoring other parts of the anatomy that could increase taxonomy resolution.”
According to Campisano, finding teeth was a complicated task.
“You’re looking at small teeth. You’re looking at individual teeth that seem to literally have many of the small pebbles spread across the landscape,” he said in the video. “So we have a great team of local Afars.It’s a great fossil hunter. They saw their entire lives walking around the landscape. ”
New research is important because it provides insight into the time frame between 3 million and 2 million years ago, a mystical period in human evolutionary studies, according to Dr. Stephanie Merillo, a paleontologist and assistant professor at Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania. Melilo was not involved in this study, but is involved in the Wansomill Paleontology Research Project, located in a distant triangle in Ethiopia.
Part of the question of learning about this prehistoric spread is how ancient filth layers were deposited over the course of East African history.
“Erosion on the rivers and lakes was low, with a little dirt deposited in the distance,” Merillo wrote in an email. “The deposited dirt contains fossils. They are all animals of our ancestors and all of the animals that lived with us. When there is little deposition, there are very few fossils.”
An important feature that helps archaeologists understand human evolution is the “bowl” on the surface of the Earth, which naturally collects layers of sediment rather than the surrounding landscape. Previous studies found evidence suggesting that Homo and Paranthropus coexisted there 1.5 million years ago.
The new study focuses on distant depression, the northern basin of Turkana.
“This contribution by Villmoare and colleagues shows that there are also several other species around Homo in the distance, but that’s not Paranthropus,” Melillo said. “Instead, they identify this ‘non-homo’ genus as Australopithecus. They do a very convincing job of demonstrating why new fossils are not parantropaths. ”
The study adds to the growing evidence that Australopithecus doesn’t roam just Afar’s depression, she said.
When Australopithecus and Homo were alive, the far-reaching areas were mostly Semidale now, and had far more seasonal variations in rainfall than they do today, Reid said. Millions of years ago, the environment there was still dominated by the dry season, but was interrupted by a short rainy season. The rivers that carried water across the landscape were only present for a portion of the year. Few trees were grown near the river, and the nearby environment was mainly wetlands and grasslands.
“We have fossil giraffe species that were grazing, which probably shows that they are highlighted when eating almost every other place,” Reed said. “Did Hymonin eat the same thing? We’re trying to look into and look at the isotopes of the teeth and microscopic wounds of the teeth.”
Understanding whether Homo and Australopithecus have the same food source can help them paint portraits of how ancient ancestors shared or competed with resources, Reid said. The team is also trying to determine which Hymoninns made the stone tools found on the site.
At this point, it is impossible to tell exactly how the two humans coexist, but Reed said he hopes future findings provide more answers.
“Whenever you have an exciting discovery, if you’re a paleontologist, you always know that you need more information,” Reed said. “We need more fossils. More fossils help us talk about what happened to our ancestors a long time ago, but we are survivors who know that it happened to us.”
Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory Science Newsletter. Explore the universe with news about fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.
Trump could triple tariffs and plug the loophole in “de minimis” which could affect temu and shein
Chinese freight under $800 faces 90% tariffs, affecting companies like Shein and Temu. Trump has ended the “de minimis” exemption.
Straight Arrow News
The trade loophole that allows less valuable goods shipped to US tax-free goods on August 29, after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to sunset the de Minimis trade agreement last month, is expected to end on August 29.
The White House said in July that packages sent to the US for under $800 sent to the US outside the international postal network have now faced “all applicable obligations.”
Shein and Temu are two popular fashion brands that attract American shoppers and often seek to order bulk orders at a heavily discounted cost, often with free shipping. With the end of the trade loophole, US consumers are looking to increase prices, including the fast fashion orders they once had.
Here’s how changes to policy will affect consumers:
What is De Minimis and why does it affect Shein and Temu?
Shein and Temu sell a variety of products, including clothing, furniture and more, which arrive quickly and cheaply.
More than half of all packages, including the De Minimis exemption, come from China, and more than 30% of all daily packages shipped under De Minimis are from Temu and Shein, Reuters reported in February.
The provisions of the 1930 Customs Act allow the De Minimis exemption, which is the main route for e-commerce imports from China, according to a parliamentary report from 2018 to 2023.
Shane, Temu prices have risen: I tracked some items and checked how much.
How will change affect consumers?
Shein and Temu announced in early April that prices will rise on both platforms in response to changes in trade policy between the US and China. They have yet to announce how much prices will rise once the De Minimis trade loophole ends at the end of August.
Eliminating China’s loopholes would have “a widespread negative impact on Americans, particularly poor consumers, especially poor consumers,” according to the Cato Institute.
Republican Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana welcomed the executive order, saying, “For too long, countries like China have been flooding the market with tax-free, cheap imports.”
Contributions: Kinsey Crowley and Staff, USA Today; Reuters
Recently, fewer Americans say they drink alcohol. Only 54% report consuming alcoholic beverages, the lowest percentage in nearly 90 years of opinion polls tracking alcohol consumption nationwide.
That plain statistics come from Gallup, who has been voting for Americans to drink habits since 1939. The record low of 54% in 2025 is compared to the all-time high of 71% reported between 1976 and 1978.
learn more: Drink less alcohol to reduce high blood pressure.
why? Gallup says the results are consistent with studies showing that every level of alcohol consumption is bad for your health. Low levels of alcohol consumption can lead to certain cancers and heart problems, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
The results of the vote were released on August 13th. Here are some findings.
Americans’ use of alcoholic beverages is declining
Can’t you see our graphics? Click here to reload the page.
The reduction in drinking reflects a reversal from previous studies that showed that moderate drinking could provide several benefits, Gallup says. The report differs in risks and benefits, but “levels of alcohol consumption are not safe for our health,” the World Health Organization said in 2023.
The definition of moderate drinking also varies from health agency to health, and for men and women, says Mayo Clinic. “That means that on the day a person drinks, women don’t have more than one drink, and men don’t have more than two drinks,” the clinic says.
An example of one drink is:
12 fluid ounces regular beer
5 Liquid Ounces of Wine
1.5 oz hard liquor or distillation spirit
More and more people think drinking is bad for you
This year, the perception that drinking could potentially harm your health has gained traction, Gallup says. Over half of those surveyed said drinking is bad for your health, starting from 45% in 2024.
Young adults who are more likely to avoid alcohol
Young adults ages 18 to 34 are most likely to believe that drinking is bad for your health, Gallup says: 66% have expressed that sentiment. People ages 35 to 44 were the second highest in that category. 50% and 48% of people over 55 responded the same.
In 60% of women are more likely to view moderate drinking compared to men (47%), according to the survey.
Gallup Poll’s attention is based on a telephone interview conducted by ReconMR from July 7 to 21, with a random sample of 1,002 adults aged 18 and over living in the 50 US states and in the Columbia area. For results based on a total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is ±4% points at a 95% confidence level. For results based on a total sample of 583 adults drinking alcoholic beverages, the margin of sampling error is ±5% points with a confidence level of 95%. All reported margins for sampling errors include computational design effects for weighting.
Source USA Today Network Report and Research. Gallup; Reuters
Are there any foods specific to the American On-The Maube lifestyle than grab-and-go sandwiches?
Our deep and diverse array of sandwich options rely heavily on the creativity and resourcefulness of the immigrant community.
Coast to coastal cities and states claim their classics. Studded with New Orleans olive salad, the mafaretta was invented by Italian immigrants who settled in the French quarter of the city. Cuban sandwiches evolved in Florida today and were shaped by immigrant communities in Cuba, Spain, Italy and Germany. And both Miami and Tampa praise it.
Are you feeling hungry already? I’ve rounded up 12 moreOne of America’s biggest sandwiches worth traveling – or, if you’re lucky, you’re looking for your own backyard. What is your pick? Share them in the comments below.
Famous for far beyond Chicago thanks to “The Bear,” this spicey roast beef sandwich comes from the early 1900s and the Italian immigrants of the city.
It is essentially a hero roll filled with thinly sliced beef, topped with an Italian relish mix of pickles Gardener. Sweet peppers and melted cheese can also be stacked. Siccio in Navy Pier is a popular place to dig.
The version featured in the FX/Hulu series “The Bear” was created by the show’s cooking producers, Chef Courtney Stoller grew up in Chicago alongside his brother and series creator Chris Stoller.
Although there is evidence of early roots in New York City, pimento cheese, a humble Southern staple, is sometimes called Southern pate.. However, the Southern edition that made it famous is a special favourite in states such as North Carolina and Georgia.
This is a regular offering for the concession menu for the men’s professional golf classic, Masters Tournament, located in Augusta, Georgia (sandwiches are still on sale for $1.50). Traditional recipes are always served in white bread. Inside, the mashup of ingredients that have been transformed into thick spread includes a classic arterial occlusion mix of sharp cheddar, mayonnaise and diced pimente peppers (a derivative of Spanish pimiento). Cream cheese, grated onion, cayenne, or hot sauce may also appear in some recipes.
Weck’s Beef is a local legend in western New York (mainly the Buffalo area) offered by Kummelweck rolls.
Have you heard of it? Weck refers to a kaiser roll covered in salt topped with caraway seeds. The bread on top is soaked juice Before we had a pile of thin sliced roast beef (usually rare), we had a thrilled horseradish enslavement.
Buffalo are highly opined when it comes to Weck’s beef, but Anthony Brudain has tried the Schwable sandwich, which has been around since 1837, calling it a “delicious little masterpiece.”
Florida Hata Sandwich
Florida may be well known for its Cuban sandwiches that both Miami and Tampa are theirs. But if you go anywhere along the Gulf Coast of Sunshine, especially along the Florida Keys, you’ll see grouper sandwiches on the menus of seafood shacks and upscale waterfront restaurants.
White, flake fish are the catches sought in both the Atlantic and the bay, and can be grilled, fried or black. According to an article in the Tampa magazine, the first restaurant ad for the grouper sandwich was in Panama City in 1974. In the classic version of the grouper sandwich with tartar sauce and pickles, the original French cafe in Clearwater Beach is not just the original beer batter version, but also a delicious Reuben Twist.
Katz’s delicatessen on the Lower East Side, the oldest deli in New York City, debuted in 1888 as a tiny Kosher Icelandic brother deli before the Katz family joined in 1903.
The sandwich is thought to have been the first to become popular in New York by Lithuanian immigrants. Pastrami traces its roots to the Turks of the Ottoman Empire, then to Romania. shepherd Perhaps surprisingly, it was made from goose. New York immigrants have adapted again to take advantage of cheap and abundant beef brisket. The American version uses smoked brisket, surrounded by pickled spices and added two slices of spicy brown mustard slains.
Known for more than country music and bachelor’s party mayhem, Nashville is the source of homemade hot chicken sandwiches that have become legendary as the city’s de facto fuel for fun.
The specialty of spicy chicken was said to have been invented more than a century ago when a lightly corned lover created a spicy food trap in the form of the overwhelming pepper hot fried chicken that her man had miserably loved, rather than not. The man is Prince Thornton, and today his great nie is still delving into the typical dishes that draw crowds towards Prince’s hot chicken.
The Los Angeles restaurant that invented French dip sandwiches in the early 20th century (the debate about what arguments Philip or Coles might not be resolved may never be resolved. However, it is not denied what this entry is set in the thinly sliced roast beef sandwich category, the fact that French rolls are soaked in bread juice or soup before meals.
As with Philip, the effect is tasty and drippy, whether the sandwich is already “wet” or not. au jus Cole’s habits mean that the eater falls into preference. Purists prefer to order the sandwich sun cheese, with spicy mustard as a seasoning.
New England Lobster Roll
Typical New England summer sandwiches have gained fame nationwide and worldwide. Fresh Chunky Lobster Meat from the Shell – Chilled and mixed with ingredients such as lemon juice, mayonnaise, herbs and other stuffed into bread split on top rather than on the sides. In Maine, lobster rolls are usually served cold and with Mayo, while the Connecticut classic version is warm and buttered.
There is no better place to sink your teeth into this crustacean sensation than it is located along the coastline between Maine and Connecticut. If possible, you’ll sit at a picnic table with a modest seafood shack ocean views, like a seasonal dining room, in two lights in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
Nothing falls like a hot mess of sandwiches, a city of brotherly love’s favorite sandwiches. A typical Philadelphia version is a must-have bread container with a soft, chewy hoagie roll on the outside.
Inside, the rib-eye steak is mixed with melted cheese. This is either proboron or, as some purists argue, Cooper Sharpe Cheese. Other Philadelphia cheesesteak fans have argued that American cheese and cheese with are the way to go. Pepper and onions can be added depending on the flavor. The sandwich was invented in the 1930s by hot dog vendor Pat Olivieri. Pat Olivieri’s family still owns Pat’s King of Steak and is open 24/7 in South Philadelphia.
California vegetable sandwich
Built to take advantage of this California’s favorite seasonal prize, known as the “Hippie Sandwiches,” this California favourite often places buds, avocados and multigrain breads with rich crunchy vegetables.
California vegetable sandwiches don’t have a clear origin story, but they may have begun to reach beyond the Golden State during the health food boom of the 70s and 80s. today, everytime Los Angeles offers a delicious version. This is a white cheddar vegetable sandwich with Japanese mayo on my home sourdough.
Think of this sandwich as a salad between two slices of bread, and it can be easily customized at home. Feel free to create your own take by adding layers of cheese and hummus. You never get the wrong avocado or slice the cucumbers that are pushed inside, but the key is to focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients.
It was said to have been invented to feed drivers during the 1929 tram strike in New Orleans, but many popular boys shone the spotlight on fried seafood from Louisiana’s waters.
A staple of New Orleans’ incredible dining pantheon, far from light meals, the sandwiches come in French bread with plenty of lashings of shredded lettuce and creamy lemoured sauce. Find the hand-drawn signs of Domilise’s in a quiet Uptown neighborhood and try the beloved version at one of the city’s PO’ Boy facilities
Louisville’s most legendary cuisine can be traced to the 1920s and the Brown Hotel. There, a grilled turkey sandwich with bacon and morna sauce was dreamed of as a late-night snack for a revelry at the hotel’s popular dinner dance.
Guests can continue to dig into the hotel’s restaurants and bars. It is served in skin trimmed with Texastostost. Sandwiches are available on the menu at restaurants in Louisville and Kentucky, including the Kentucky Derby.
Terry Ward I’m a travel writer and freelance journalist based in Tampa, Florida, who loves Cuban sandwiches. Second In Tampa sanguich In Miami.
Controversy over crime data can be found in the heart of the Washington, DC fire. Here’s what you need to know.
National Guard will be deployed to DC under emergency orders
The National Guard is reporting to DC Armory as part of a federal emergency deployment to restore public safety.
President Donald Trump’s crackdown on crime in Washington, DC continues the decades-long American narrative. Data says crime is declining despite the fact that many Americans feel out of control.
FBI data shows that the country’s crime rate has declined over the past 30 years, but more than half of Americans believe there are more crimes than in almost every Gallup survey conducted since 1993.
“People don’t track these things. They don’t look at statistics… They just have the feeling that they’re not safe,” said Howard Labine, a professor of political science and psychology at the University of Minnesota.
Safety is a real concern for many people.
Violent crimes still occur daily, according to Alex Piquero, a professor at the University of Miami and former director of the Bureau of Legal and Statistics.
“Is it safe today? Yeah, we’re even safer,” Piquero said. “But we are not completely safe.”
Democrat Achilles Heal: Did they learn their lessons about crime when the mayor attempted to protect the city from Trump?
Why are Americans’ perceptions different to crime data?
There are several reasons for this:
News and social media can blow away fear: Social media and news reports on relatively rare cases such as Flash Mob robberies could further burn misconceptions about public safety, Piquero said. The Pew Research Center discovered in 2024 that Americans who frequently consume local crime news are more likely to worry about crimes that affect them personally.
Party: The gap between Americans’ perceptions of crime was widening more than ever in 2024, with 29% of Democrats and 90% of Republicans saying they believe crime had increased that year, Gallup found.
Data distrust: Crime data is notoriously complex in part due to contradictions in the way local law enforcement tracks crimes. Drawing conclusions from the data has become political feed.
“There’s a cognitive issue, right? And is there a perception that crime is out of control? Yeah…” Piquero said. “But data doesn’t necessarily support that.”
Can you trust your crime data?
Crime data can be found in the heart of Washington, DC Firestorm. Trump calls the city’s crime statistics, which show a significant decline in violent crime, “a complete fraud.”
DC Police Union Chair Greg Pemberton told NBC4 Washington that he suspected the decline in local crime was as great as authorities claimed, and accused his hometown of intentionally forgerying data.
People who track crime data are familiar with issues of accuracy and tend to focus on large painting trends.
Piquero said that individuals who create crime data, especially at the federal level, are extremely committed to providing information that is “accurate, reliable, and timely.”
“I don’t think anyone cooks books about crime data,” he added.
Data analyst Jeff Asher believes that contested DC crime data is likely to exaggerate the decline in violent crime, but that’s not particularly surprising to him.
Asher, co-founder of data analytics firm Ah Datalytics, said it is not entirely clear why there is a discrepancy between the data reported to the FBI and the public, but it is not uncommon for law enforcement data, particularly real-time data, to be inaccurate.
“One of the pitfalls of people who rely on publicly available data is that it can sometimes be wrong,” he said. “And that happens – as someone who sees this data – it happens with a depressing frequency.”
There are gaps in national crime data
National crime data is not complete either. The FBI crime reports rely on information submitted by police, but 18,000 legal agencies do not need to report this data, leading to questions about accuracy, not everything.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Justice Statistics is generating an annual national victimization survey that includes both reported and unreported offences.
These reports generally reflect one another, Piquero said, but BJS investigations often show that certain crimes, such as domestic violence, rape and hate crimes, are consistently underreported to police. He said two pieces of data can be put together and you can feel how crime is changing.
“One is not essentially better than the others. I’ve always advised people to see both,” Piquero said.
Usher said other sources, including gun violence archives, crime data tools, and his company’s real-time crime index, will help Americans understand the broader trends in crime. Despite the crime data issues, the drops reported in DC fit the wider picture, Asher said. “We certainly feel confident in the decline we see nationwide.”
Contributors: Erin Mansfield, Zach Anderson, Kathryn Palmer. USA TODAY; Reuters
Understanding 401(k): How it works and why it matters
What is the 401(k) plan? Key benefits and ways to maximize savings.
A 401(k) retirement account is assumed to be a handoff. In theory, it’s not your money, but your savings for the future.
Still, when Americans leave their jobs, a third of them cash out their 401(k) accounts.
This is called a 401(k) “leak,” and costs workers billions of dollars of lost retirement savings.
In a recent paper, Vanguard reflects on why many Americans are liquidating their retirement accounts, when they estimate about 33% of their employment, and what employers and employees can do about it.
The 401(k) is designed to help American workers build retirement savings and use tax credits as an incentive.
According to the Investment Company Institute, 401(k) accounts nationwide have around $9 trillion. Half of all private workers are currently taking part in the plan, which is a record high.
However, $401(k) does not always fund someone’s retirement.
At least $1.7 trillion is found in lost or forgotten 401(k) accounts, according to a survey by financial services company Capitaize.
The new Vanguard research notes focus on another issue. Workers are to cash in their retirement accounts when they leave their jobs.
Cashing out 401(k) is often the worst option
When you quit your job, you have several options on your 401(k). Keep your money in your account and you can’t do anything. You can perform a “rollover” to transfer funds to another 401(k) or individual retirement account.
Alternatively, you can cash out. And if you’re done with work, cash out may sound appealing. There may not be another job lined up. Perhaps you are planning a move. Maybe a new child has arrived.
“It’s very appealing. You’re making this big decision in your life,” said Rob Williams, managing director of financial planning at Charles Schwab. “Your first instinct is to take money, especially if it’s not a lot.”
However, cashing out a 401(k) is at least the worst option, financially.
If you settle a 401(k) before the age of 59½, you will usually pay a 10% penalty for early withdrawal in addition to income tax on the amount.
Additionally, you miss the opportunity to collect compound returns over many years with your 401(k) investment.
Cashing out your $7,000 retirement account at age 40 will allow you to earn just $4,270 in actual cash in cash after penalties and taxes.
However, if you invest the same $7,000 investment for another 20 years and your investment increases at an annual rate of 8%, the total will increase to nearly $35,000, according to the Nerdwallet Calculator.
“We’ve seen a lot of money,” said Anqi Chen, associate director of savings and household finance at Boston College’s Retirement Research Center.
Why do workers departing cash out their 401(k)?
Retirements will leave their 401(k) account for several reasons, resignation experts say.
Vanguard researchers theorize that financial needs more than anything else drive workers to settle their retirement accounts.
Hourly workers are more likely to cash out 401(k) than paying employees. Vanguard said the reason may be because workers have more income fluctuations per hour. These ups and downs can lead to cash shortages.
Workers with low incomes are more likely to earn cash than those with high incomes. That data point also suggests economic needs.
“What really explains many of these early withdrawals is the challenges of short-term cash flow liquidity,” said Aaron Goodman, economist at Vanguard.
Vanguard found that emergency savings workers are far less likely to cash 401(k) when they quit their job.
Therefore, Vanguard urges workers to save an emergency. Researchers found that even $2,000 in rainy day funds allowed workers to quit their jobs without raiding their retirement funds.
Additionally, employees are much more likely to cash out their 401(k) accounts on a small balance. A typical cash out includes “thousands of dollars,” Goodman said.
Some workers, especially younger workers, cash out their retirement accounts.
“We are pleased to announce that we are a great opportunity to help you understand how we are doing,” said Mike Shamrell, Vice President of Thought Leadership at Fidelity Investments. “If you do that every other year in your 20s, it starts to add up.”
Rolling beyond 401(k) can be “incredibly stiff”
Cashing out a 401(k) is relatively easy. In contrast, it’s “incredibly difficult” to roll it into another retirement account, said Chen of Boston University.
That’s another reason why many workers cash out their retirement plans.
In a rollover, you either move your retirement savings to another 401(k) account in your new company, or to your IRA, your personal retirement savings account.
Rollovers can be complicated, especially when funds enter a new 401(k) account managed by another company.
A study by retirement savings platform Capitaize found that rollovers were “outdated and painful.” Only 22% of savers could roll over without assistance with the account, while 42% said the process took at least two months. In many cases, rollovers involve tedious shapes and old-fashioned paper checks.
“Some employers encourage people who have died to cash in unbalanced retirement accounts just because it’s easy for them,” said David John, senior strategic policy advisor at AARP Public Policy Institute.
According to Chen et al., the ability to move a 401(k) from one employer to the next is called “portability,” and the lack of that disrupts workers as it maintains retirement savings.
“They’re a bit overwhelmed by the process,” said Fidelity’s Shamrell as they consider rolling over their 401(k) accounts. “They feel it’s time-consuming and complicated.”
Recent initiatives in the retirement savings industry aim to solve portability issues. In 2022, a consortium of private retirement plan providers announced a collaboration to improve the portability of small retirement accounts.
When someone leaves the job, the provider’s network will ensure that retirement funds will “translate seamlessly from one job to another,” said John of AARP.
The Auto Import Program applies to accounts under $7,000. Most large retirement plan providers are taking part in this effort.
“I think there should be an evolution in terms of creating exercises that are more point-and-click on this,” said Williams of Schwab.
Trump’s budget bill will affect all aspects of the economy
The budget bill passed and signed the law touches on the lives of all Americans in one way or another. Will you get better or worse?
President Donald Trump’s aggressive economic policies are likely to slow US growth significantly and boost inflation, but it will not cease to cause a recession or “stagflation” – a disastrous scenario imagined by predictors before he took office.
“We won’t let the whole policy out of the economy go, but we’ll significantly reduce growth during Trump’s four-year term,” said Justin Begley, an economist at Moody’s analysis.
He added, “It’s not stagflation yet, but it borders like that.”
Stagflation is an economy characterized by high inflation, slow or stagnant growth, and high unemployment. This is a rare and toxic cocktail. Typically, slowing the economy leads to lower inflation, allowing the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates and stimulate more borrowing and activity.
Will the Fed have a lower fee in September?
However, the Fed faces a dilemma as it could further promote inflation to lower the rate to strengthen the softened labor market. The rise in consumer prices has generally been significantly eased after pandemic-related spikes, but has recently been higher due to Trump’s drastic import tax.
His policies impose countervailing forces on the economy. Tax cuts and increased spending on border security and defense are set in juice growth. But these positive catalysts are expected to be more than offset by tariffs, historic immigration crackdowns, layoffs for hundreds of thousands of federal workers, and massive cuts in social service programs such as Medicaid and food stamps, Begley said.
In Trump’s presidential election with former Vice President Kamala Harris last year, Moody predicted that Trump’s economic blueprint would cause a recession by mid-2025, among other research companies. The Moody’s have updated some of the predictions as the outline of his plans have recently been more clearly defined, Begley said.
“We see better where things are going,” he said.
What kind of tariffs did Trump impose?
For example, steel and aluminum, foreign cars, and Chinese imports have double digits of high tariffs in place. The White House then reached deals with trading partners, including Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and the UK, with tariffs set at 10% to 20%.
Trump’s deportation and restrictions on the southern border intersection are on track. And his huge budget bill, which he signed into law on July 4th, expanded tax cuts in 2017, strengthened military and border security spending and reduced eligibility spending.
How is the economy doing under Trump?
Moody’s Project Trump policy said it would cut an average of 0.4 percent points (almost half points) per year during his term. This will increase the economy by an average annual increase of 1.7% over four years, growing at 1.4% next year, reaching 2.2% in 2028.
The economy grew at an annual rate of 1.2% in the first half of 2025, according to an economist surveyed by the Wolters Kluwer Blue Chip Economic Indicator.
In contrast, the economy grew by an average of 2.3%, 3.5% during former President Joe Biden’s term, ten years after the Great Recession of 2007-2009. However, the latter included unusually strong benefits as the country was born out of the pandemic recession. In 2024, Biden took office last year, making the economy 2.8% healthy.
No matter who wins the 2024 election, growth was expected to downshift as consumer demand was curbed and Americans dried up government pandemic aid and other government stimulus packages.
But by the end of Trump’s term in 2028, the economy will be 1.3% smaller than if his policies had not been enacted, Begley wrote in the report. The unemployment rate is also expected to peak at 4.7% in 2027, then falling to 4.4% by the time Trump takes office. Without his policy, the unemployment rate would be significantly stable at around 4%, with around 885,000 additional jobs, Moody said.
Will inflation be reduced?
Similarly, Trump’s policies are poised to boost inflation at half the average annual rate. This leaves an average annual inflation of 2.6% during Trump’s term, peaking at 3.1% in 2026. Inflation will decline, almost reaching the Fed’s 2% target in 2028, the final year of his term.
Without the president’s policies, inflation would achieve the Fed’s goals next year, Begley’s analysis shows.
Do tariffs contribute to inflation?
Tariffs represent both the greatest resistance to growth and the biggest contributor to inflation, Begley said. Companies are expected to give consumers a large portion of their obligation costs and raise prices. And it is expected to take away their purchasing power and reduce consumption, which accounts for 70% of economic activity.
Without tariffs, Begley said the net impact of Trump’s policy on growth was slightly positive. The benefits of tax cuts and increased defense and border spending will outweigh the casualties of immigrant crackdowns, federal layoffs and cuts in Medicaid and food stamps, he said.
What are the negative effects of deportation?
Another huge hit comes from deportation.
Like tariffs, immigration crackdowns are projected both in reducing growth and promoting inflation. A decline in workers’ supply in industries such as construction, agriculture and hospitality is expected to raise wages and prices. And the low immigrant population means lower consumer spending.
Here’s why Moody’s predictions about the impact of Trump’s policies are less dire than before he took office:
Less retaliation from tariffs
Trump’s tariffs are higher than expected, but Moody was expected to see more significant foreign retaliation that would hit the exports of US manufacturers. At least so far, these countries have taken a more restrained approach.
Less deportation than expected
The Moody’s thought the Trump administration would try to deport around 1 million immigrants who lack permanent legal status each year. But Begley said it has proven logistically challenging. Goldman Sachs estimates that monthly deportations average around 600,000 per year.
Tax cuts allow middle class Americans to spend more money
Trump vowed to eliminate hints and taxes on overtime during his campaign, but the Moodys didn’t necessarily expect him to follow. However, the budget bill will scrap taxes on tips up to $25,000 a year, reducing taxes to as many as $12,500 over time.
Taylor Swift appears on the New Heights podcast alongside the Kelse brothers
Taylor Swift covered a wide range of topics during his two-hour appearance on the “New Heights” podcast with Jason and Travis Kelse.
Yes, humidity is off the chart
“It’s not the heat, it’s humidity” was a reality rather than the time-rich cliché that was taken over this summer. The “sitting and blessing” air mass has created a record dew point for tens of millions of Americans in parts of the country, says Owen Sier of the National Weather Service, who said it will boost the index of heat, making it difficult to cool down, especially at night. Meanwhile, the 209th Farmer Yearbook has come out, and its editor, Sandy Duncan, tells USA Today that you can expect “old-fashioned winters,” as Almanac predicts, “cold, snowy, repeat.”
Dryness and humidity: Watch the video to see how both are dangerous
President Trump may reclassify marijuana under federal law
President Donald Trump said decisions will come in the coming weeks regarding the reclassification of marijuana.
Trump gives marijuana a different look
Another law enforcement headline could have been on the radar in the fuss of President Donald Trump sending the National Guard to Washington, D.C., to fight crime in the capital. Despite relaxing laws and attitudes towards the pot, the government still lacks the classification since 1970, schedule 1 drugs – dangerous, addictive, lacking perceived medical applications. A decision could be made in just a few weeks.
40 years later, AOL’s dial-up is silent
AOL’s old signature “eeeeeeeeyaaah” is not soon. More than 40 years have passed since the dial-up modem protocol became a calling card for beginners in the Internet, the company has announced that it will shut down its services. It will go down the Skype path on September 30th, the company said after what it called a routine review of its products and services. In the heyday of AOL in the 80s and 90s, connecting to the World Wide Web was beginning to click on the average person, but web surfers needed patience. Today we are talking about Megabit and Gigabit.
The man behind “You have an email”: Elwood Edwards, voice of AOL, dies at age 74.
The Kennedy Center Gala certainly looks different
This year’s Kennedy Center Honorary Class is at – and the hosts make headlines with the winners. Artist Honor: Sylvester Stallone, country singer George Strait, British stage actor Michael Crawford, disco star Gloria Gayner and glamour rocker kiss. I will preside over the ceremony. Not a singer, not an actor, not an artist, and President Donald Trump himself is also the self-appointed new president of the Center for the Performing Arts. Announcing the candidate, Trump said he personally rejected “several Wokesters” on his prospect list. The ceremony will air on CBS later this year.
MLB judge breaks grass ceiling
Another sports barrier bites the dust. Jen Paul, 48, became the first woman to umpire a major league game, making baseball history twice – when she took the field as a first-based umpire, and the next day called Ball and struck at Tristo Park in Atlanta when courage was confronted by the Miami Marlins. And on all the accounts, she was fine. Perhaps, as Marlins pitcher Cal Quantrill told MLB.com, the woman behind the plate isn’t a big deal. “I think she did a quality job. – Edited and written by Robert Abitoborg, USA Today Copy Chief
“Odessa” is a sadistic song by Regina Hall and Kelvin Harrison Jr. Dish.
“Odessa” actors Regina Hall and Kelvin Harrison Jr. chat with USA Today’s Ralphie Aversa about musical films with co-star Sadie Sync.
Anna Faris and Regina Hall are back to their roots.
Not only will Wayans Brothers (Marlon, Shawn and Keenen Ivory Wayans) be on “Scary Movie 6,” but the two former stars from the franchise will also be reunited for a reboot, according to an announcement on Friday, August 15th.
“Fab Four is back and I’m excited to work and meet these two amazing women and meet again,” actor/writer Marlon Wayans wrote in an Instagram post. “We are very proud of everything they’ve done since the launch of the scary movie franchise.”
He shared the announcement along with the film, along with the film from Scary Movie 2. Faris is as Cindy, Marlon Wayans is as Shorty, Shawn Wayans is as Ray, and Hall is as Brenda. A few hours ago, Wayans teased the announcement by posting a photo of Faris and Hall from the original 2000 film alongside the inexplicable caption “👀m6.”
Hall and Faris’ final appearance in the horror parody franchise was in 2006’s Scary Movie 4. They didn’t appear in the 2013 standalone installment “Scary Movie 5.”
Both women found a breakout role in “scary films.” Faris took the comedy chops to “My Super Ex-Girlfriend,” “House Bunny,” and to the CBS series “Mama.” Hall appeared in “Girls’ Travel,” “Law-Attachment Citizens,” and “Alliance McBeer.”
The creative mind behind the franchise, Wayans Brothers, was only involved in the first two films. While Marlon and Sean wrote and starred in the film, Keenen Ivory Weian directed. David Zucker took on the role of writer and director in subsequent films.
Join the watch party! Sign up to receive USA Today Movies and TV Recs
Speaking to people in March, Marlon Wayans said that installments they weren’t involved “missing that taste.” So he joked in the sixth film, “We’re pulling out the hot sauce of Laurie and that Frank.”
“We got the gloves. We’re going to R. We’re going to have the same kind of tone and Wayan flavor as we gave the first one,” he said.
“Scary Film,” which drew $278 million at the global box office, has enjoyed several films from Scream, The Sixth Sense, The Matrix, Inking You You Dided You Dided, and The Blair Witch Project. The other four films follow a similar format.
Looking for a good horror movie? We rank the best scary movies of the century
What are the Scary Movie 6 that comes up?
In his Instagram post, Wayans confirmed that the film is aiming for a summer release, which is scheduled to land in theaters on June 12, 2026.
Taylor Swift left the fan crumbs showing that she’s heading for her third Super Bowl three years later, but this time as a halftime entertainer?
The timing may be appropriate for the singer.
In 2022, TMZ reported that, according to sources with first-hand knowledge, the singer was asked to perform, but “she didn’t want to perform until she re-recorded all of her first six albums.” In May, “Showgirl” announced that she had purchased the entire catalog from Shamrock Capital, telling fans that her music belonged to her.
And now fans think there was a clue when it recently appeared on the “New Heights” podcast on February 8th, pointing to Miss Americana, who brought the 12 eras to Levi’s stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Swift connects her song to Jason Kelse to the baked bread before she dives into the sourdough bread, saying, “Are you in favor of that?” or “It’s a story of bread, babies just say yeast.”
The 49ers mascot is Sourdough Sam, and this year the 49ers Stadium will host Super Bowl 60.
Taylor Swift at Super Bowl 59: Her outfits, her sweet companions range from ice spices to Kelse’s family
When Swift explained his knowledge of soccer before dating Travis Kelce, he mentioned the entertainment spectacle.
The singer-songwriter plans for events, album releases and clues for Easter eggs years in advance. Whether Swift wanted to complete her ReRecords by 2026 or buy back her Master, she wore an Erin Andrews jacket at Super Bowl 58 with the number “60” behind.
Additionally, Travis Kelce is about to begin his 13th season in the NFL.
The singer’s team did not immediately respond to emails requesting comment.
Last year, Kendrick Lamar was announced as a halftime entertainer in early September.
Don’t miss out on Taylor Swift’s news. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter this quick beat.
Follow Bryan West on Instagram, Tiktok and Taylor Swift Reporter on The USA Today Network x As @bryanwesttv.
“Superman”, Mission: Impossible”, ”F1”, summer must-see movie
USA Today film critic Brian Truto is releasing a list of must-see summer movies. Highlights include “Superman” and “Mission: Impossible.”
Do you like movies? Live for TV? USA Today’s Watch Party Newsletter has all the best recommendations delivered to your inbox. Sign up now and become one of the cool kids.
Vanessa Kirby is a superhero from the Fantastic Four movie, but she’s also pretty good that she’s not that super.
Kirby is surprised as a woman grieving the loss of a baby in “Fragment of a Woman,” and returns to another dramatic Netflix story with “Night Comes,” playing a woman trying to get last minute cash. This is one of several new films about Streaming Services, offering fresh films for your favorite devices, including HBO Max, Amazon’s Prime Video, and Hulu. There are original fares like Netflix animated comedy with cartoon dogs do not have For children, in addition to films released in theaters, like a horror flick with Ashley Green (interested in the family of “Twilight”) and a throwback family adventure in the 1980s.
Here are 10 new and well-known movies you can stream now:
“Crown of the Cornfield”
This clever, comedy novel reinvention focuses on a teenage girl (Katie Douglas) who travels to a small Missouri farm town. This place has a dark past, not only due to the burning out of local corn syrup factory, but also because of the violent clown named Friend who creeps up young people. Perfect for horror demons who want more plots in Gore.
Where to see: trembling
‘Repaired’
There were a lot of “One Wild Night” R-rate comedies, but it’s not a bunch of Stardogs. In a very adult animation romp, we know Mut (voiced by Adam Devine). He leads to a spectacular quest with the dog BFF 24 hours before he is castrated by the vet, and a shot of love with his neighbor, show Dog Honey (Kathryn Hahn).
Where to see: Netflix
“A strange story”
Pedro Pascal has appeared in about 57 films this year, but there’s nothing like this weird looking Throwback Action B-Movie. The “Fantastic Four” star plays the enforcer in a mission of revenge in a story intertwined with the Nazi-stop youngsters, rap battles, ninja hoop stars and crusty Tom Hanks set in Auckland in the 1980s.
Ashley Greene appeared in a horror film and was visited by a girl whose Home Office alleges that darkness was suddenly attached to her. Clairvoyant Doc and her daughter (Ellie O’Brien) work to help young people before they’re too late to a solid, visually creepy supernatural story for those who dig into psychological creepers.
Where to see: Hulu
“The Legend of Ochi”
This family-friendly fantasy comes in shades of “ET” and “The Neverendentencing Story.” Helena Zengel stars as Yuri, a young girl on the farm. He is taught by his father (Willem Dafour) and fears hunting and terrifying a mythical creature known as Ochi. When she becomes friends with the injured baby, Yuri makes an adventurous quest to safely deliver her new, adorable companion’s home.
Where to see: HBO Max
“monkey”
Based on Stephen King’s short story, Osgood Perkins’ gory and a glorious, ridiculous horror comedy unleash Theo James as an estranged twin who is trying to remove the cursed monkey toy, a precursor to death. It is a highly demented, interesting and insightful story with mortality and blood bucket themes.
Where to see: Hulu
“The night always comes”
You may need a stress ball to pass through this grip thriller. Financially tied up, Lynette (Vanessa Kirby) is determined to keep a roof above the family’s head. When her mother (Jennifer Jason Lee) flies around the $25,000 needed to close her mortgage, Lynn has to make up for the cash overnight by the necessary means and faces the demons of the past.
Where to see: Netflix
“Pickup”
The constant buddy joke between Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson is a wonder to allow this robber flick to be monitored. Armored truck driver Russell (Murphy) is approaching retirement, and when the latter becomes a criminal (Keke Palmer) and falls into a high-stakes robbery situation, he works as a cash pickup job with a young slucker Travis (Davidson).
Where to see: Prime Video
“Sharp Corner”
This unsettling thriller features Ben Foster as a man overly engrossed in a fatal car accident that takes place on the sharp corner of the road in front of his new home. However, the plot completely consumes him, leading to trouble at work and home front desk along with his wife (Coby Smulder) and his young son.
Those who stir bad movies for fun, please! Ice Cube plays a domestic terrorist dealing with alien invasions in this “screen life” thriller (app, text, email, video chat) that remakes the classic sci-fi Tale of HG Wells. Like the fate of the world that lies in buying Amazon online, it immerses you in the cheesy, ridiculousness of product placement.
