WASHINGTONIn a gesture many critics have decried as yet another blatant bribe to secure favorable regulatory treatment,Frito-LayCEO Steven Williams presented President Donald Trump this week with a 24-karat, solid gold Funyun. The president has long voiced his desire to own a golden, crunchy onion, and we knew it would be our privilege to make that a reality for one of the greatest dealmakers in history, said Williams to reporters as a beaming Trump proudly moved the gold Funyun sculpture to a permanent spot on the Resolute Desk. This expertly crafted artwork reflects how much we atFrito-Layrespect the presidents unwavering commitment to protecting the freedoms of American snackers and snack makers alike.We hope that here, under your visionary stewardship, this Funyun will stand as a tribute to our shared commitment to bold, flavorful action. At press time,Frito-Layhas pledged to donate $26 million in Funyuns, Ruffles, Munchos, and Cool Ranch Doritos to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library.The post Frito-LayCEO Gifts Trump Gold Funyun appeared first on The Onion.

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Cooler weather doesnt have to mean staying home. In fact, fall and winter are the perfect times for a getaway. LGBTQ+ travelers can choose from destinations that pair beautiful settings, from sunny beaches to snowy mountains, with a strong sense of community. Whether youre looking for a warm-weather break, a wine country weekend, or a queer-friendly ski trip, these spots offer events, nightlife, and local culture worth the trip, no matter the season.Warm and welcoming spotsCasas de las Brisas, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Photo: Chris McQueenPuerto Vallarta, MexicoThe heart of the citys LGBTQ+ scene beats in Zona Romntica, a walkable neighborhood lined with queer bars, lively beach clubs, art galleries, and boutique hotels. The area is also home to inclusive healthcare services, including clinics that offer PrEP and other affirming care, making it a welcoming space for both visitors and residents. Puerto Vallarta is widely regarded as one of Mexicos safest and most vibrant LGBTQ+ destinations, drawing international travelers year-round.Its nightlife is a major draw, with renowned drag queens and cabaret performers taking the stage at venues like The Palm Cabaret and Act2PV. Stars from RuPauls Drag Race and popular drag performers from the U.S., frequently headline shows here, alongside local favorites. From beachfront happy hours to late-night drag revues, Puerto Vallarta blends tropical beauty with a thriving queer arts and entertainment scene thats hard to match. Plus flights from most destinations in the U.S. are under five hours.Palm Springs, CaliforniaPalm Springs has been a popular LGBTQ+ destination for decades, known for its desert scenery, mid-century architecture and large queer community. (Its estimated that around 50% of Palm Springs residents identify as LGBTQ+.) The city has a wide range of LGBTQ+-owned hotels, restaurants, and bars, plus a busy events calendar even in the cooler months.November brings Palm Springs Pride, which takes over downtown with a parade, concerts, and block parties. In late March, The Dinah draws thousands for the largest lesbian-focused event in the world, with pool parties, live music, and comedy shows. The city is also a good base for exploring the surrounding area, from Joshua Tree National Park to nearby hot springs. With sunny weather and plenty of LGBTQ+ spaces, Palm Springs offers a reliable warm-weather getaway.Plus, its a dry heat!Fall cool-weather getawaysProvincetown, MA. Photo: Tyler ButlerProvincetown, MassachusettsAt the tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown is a longtime LGBTQ+ destination with deep community roots and a strong arts scene. Fall and winter bring a slower pace, smaller crowds, and lower rates on many LGBTQ+-owned inns and guesthouses.And P-Town isnt just for visiting in the summer. Whale watching runs into late October, and events like Womens Week in the fall and Holly Folly in December keep the calendar active. Even in quieter months, year-round spots like the Provincetown Art Association and Museum and the Crown & Anchor offer things to do. For travelers who want a coastal getaway without the crowds, off-season Provincetown offers a more relaxed experience while keeping its queer character front and center.Seattle, WashingtonSeattles Capitol Hill neighborhood is the center of the citys LGBTQ+ life, with bars, clubs, bookstores, and community spaces that stay busy through the winter. The city has a strong arts scene and regular drag shows at venues like Queer/Bar and Unicorn. Seattle also boasts one of the countrys remaining lesbian bars, The Wildrose Bar, a Seattle staple since 1984.Winter in Seattle is mild compared to much of the country, though its rainy. That makes it a good choice for travelers who prefer cooler weather without heavy snow. (Note that residents of the PNW often favors rain jackets over umbrellas.) The citys coffee culture, museums, and music venues offer plenty of indoor options, while outdoor enthusiasts can take day trips to nearby mountains for skiing or snowshoeing. Seattle combines big-city amenities with a visible queer community and easy access to Pacific Northwest nature. Bonus: Portland, Oregon is only a three hour road trip away for another queer adventure.Santa Rosa and Healdsburg, CaliforniaLocated in Sonoma Countys wine country, Santa Rosa and Healdsburg offer a mix of vineyard landscapes, small-town charm, and a growing LGBTQ+ presence. Fall is harvest season with temperatures in the high 60s to low 40s, making it an ideal time to visit for wine tastings, grape stomping and seasonal food events.Out in the Vineyard, an LGBTQ+-owned wine tour company, hosts events throughout the year, including wine weekends and private tastings at queer-friendly wineries. Both towns have walkable downtowns with tasting rooms, restaurants, and shops, and Healdsburgs plaza is a popular gathering spot.Snowy and Nordic escapesRainbow Street, Sklavrustgur, Reykjavk, Iceland. Photo: Aiden Patrissi Reykjavik, IcelandReykjavik is one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly capitals in the world, with strong legal protections and visible queer culture. (Same-sex marriage has been legal in Iceland since 2010.) While daylight hours are short in winter, the city comes alive with seasonal events, cozy cafs, and easy access to Icelands natural attractions like its famous hot springs.The downtown area has a small but active queer nightlife scene, with bars like Kiki Queer Bar and regular drag shows. Winter travelers can combine city time with day trips to the Blue Lagoon, northern lights tours, and glacier excursions. Februarys Rainbow Reykjavik festival brings together locals and visitors for parties, performances and guided trips to Icelands landmarks.Reykjaviks approachable size makes it easy to explore on foot, and the citys inclusive atmosphere means LGBTQ+ travelers are welcome year-round, whether theyre there for nightlife, nature or both.Montreal, CanadaMontreal blends European-style charm with a lively, year-round queer scene. The Village, one of the largest LGBTQ+ neighborhoods in North America, is packed with bars, clubs, restaurants, and shops, many of which stay busy even through the cold months.Winter brings holiday markets, outdoor skating rinks, and cultural festivals, along with a steady lineup of drag shows and queer nightlife. Winter events like Igloofest, an outdoor electronic music festival, draw big crowds and often feature queer performers like DJ Minx and Dopamyne.For travelers who want a respite from the cold, the city has an extensive underground pedestrian network known as the RESO, connecting shopping centers, transit hubs and attractions without having to go outside. Combined with its arts scene, diverse food options, and inclusive atmosphere, Montreal offers plenty for LGBTQ+ travelers year-round.Telluride, ColoradoKnown for its dramatic mountain setting and historic charm, Telluride is also home to one of the countrys top queer ski events. Telluride Gay Ski Week takes place each February, bringing together skiers, snowboarders, and non-skiers for a week of parties, drag shows, film screenings and on-mountain events.The town has a walkable downtown with independent shops, restaurants and bars, plus a free gondola that connects Telluride to the nearby Mountain Village. Even outside of Gay Ski Week, Telluride offers high-quality skiing, snowboarding and winter activities in an inclusive, welcoming environment.The post Queer-friendly destinations to visit this fall and winter appeared first on News Is Out.

On Tuesday, a federal appeals court allowed Arkansas to enforce its ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, overturning a lower court ruling that had held that the law undermined the interests of transgender minors in the state.This is a tragically unjust result for transgender Arkansans, their doctors, and their families, Holly Dickson, executive director of the ACLU of Arkansas, said in a statement. The state had every opportunity and failed at every turn to prove that this law helps children; in fact, this is a dangerous law that harms children. Related The Supreme Courts latest cruel blow could make it a lot harder to win trans rights cases The Supreme Courts latest cruel blow could make it a lot harder to win trans rights cases Arkansas became the first state to pass a gender-affirming care ban in 2021, prohibiting doctors from providing trans youth under 18 hormone therapy, puberty blockers, or gender-affirming surgeries. The law alsoprohibitsdoctors from referring minors to other providers in such cases. Four families with transgender children and two physicians challenged the law in federal court, arguing that it violated the U.S. Constitution.A federal district judge blocked enforcement in July 2021, and in 2022, a three-judge Eighth Circuit panel upheld that injunction. In 2023, the district court struck down the law as unconstitutional, issuing a permanent injunction. Later that year, the Eighth Circuit approved Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffins request for the case to be heard by the full court. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today This week, the Eighth Circuit held that the lower court abused its discretion by granting the permanent injunction and sent the case back to the lower court. Citing the Supreme Courts recent decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti, which allowed Tennessee to enforce its ban on hormone therapy for trans youth, the court rejected arguments based on equal protection, parental rights, and free speech. The panel held that parents have no constitutional right to obtain medical care for their child if lawmakers have prohibited it, even with the childs consent and a doctors recommendation.In reaching this conclusion, the court invoked a history and tradition test borrowed from a reproductive rights case but failed to define what history or tradition it relied ondismissing decades of parental rights precedent. Transgender civil rights attorney Alejandra Caraballo criticized the ruling. It doesnt matter how deeply rooted a constitutional right is, when it comes to trans people, it no longer matters, Caraballo said on Bluesky. Free speech, due process, equal protection, parental rights, etc. all are contorted with pretzel logic to ensure the outcome that harms trans people.According to the ACLU, the ruling means the ban on gender-affirming care will almost certainly take effect in Arkansasbut not right away.We are reviewing all legal options, and well continue working with our legal and medical partners to ensure families get accurate, up-to-date information, the ACLU of Arkansas said in a statement. Trans youth belong in Arkansas and we will keep fighting for their right to the healthcare they need.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

If you watched The Ultimatum: Queer Love season two, you know it ate and left no crumbs. The sapphic spinoff of Netflixs high-stakes relationship experiment split up six queer couples and paired them with new trial wives for three chaotic weeks before reuniting them to make the big decision: marry or move on. And while many cast members caught heat for messy behavior (hi, Dayna), one couple shocked everyone by surviving the chaos and getting engaged: AJ and Britney.Britney came into the show issuing the ultimatum, while AJcharismatic, flirt-forward, and emotionally evasivebecame one of the seasons most divisive figures. But in a surprise twist, AJs connection with her trial wife, Marie, didnt pull her away. Instead, it gave her clarity, and by the finale, she was ready to put a ring on Britneys finger.Now, weeks after the dramatic reunion aired, the couple is speaking outand they have notes.I would be crying by the bathroom. My partner is over there, and were exes right now, Britney said in an interview with PinkNews. The edit shows [that] I dont care, Im just here having a good time We would have people take us away so that they could reset, or something I would be crying in the bathroom.The show portrayed AJ as a smooth-talking flirt who connected easily with multiple cast members. While she didnt deny that, she also told PinkNews the show focused almost entirely on her dates, not on the moments where she wrestled with what she really wanted.I feel like I resonated with a few people, she said, but noted that production would occasionally encourage them to revisit specific conversations or steer away from discussing their original partners, despite how central those relationships were to the shows premise.They had to get us to stop talking about our exes so much, AJ claimed.Britney agreed, noting the hours of unseen footage that didnt make it into the final episodes: We filmed for five days a week, a minimum of 10 hours a day. So, I mean, theres a lot cut out.While theyre still together, the couples frustration highlights the gap between what was filmed and what viewers actually saw. The love is real. The edit? The jury is out.Stream both seasons of The Ultimatum: Queer Love on Netflix.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09347-7Iceberg calving can act as a submarine melt amplifier through excitation of transient internal waves.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09364-6A new type of Fe/NC catalyst composed of numerous nanoprotrusions dispersed on two-dimensional carbon layers with inner-embedded single Fe-atom sites has been developed that delivers a high-performance platinum group metal-free proton-exchange membrane fuel cell.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09396-yAn ultra-high-resolution chromatin organization map of E. coli, using Micro-C, reveals intricate chromatin structures involved in the silencing of horizontally transferred genes and those associated with active operons.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08849-8Y. Wang et al. reply

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08847-wAccuracy of rubber-related deforestation maps

NASCAR says it has no plans to limit driver celebrations in the aftermath of Xfinity driver Connor Zilisch's fall in Victory Lane and subsequent broken collarbone.

Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. was involved in a scuffle during a joint practice Wednesday against the Titans.

Tom Dundon, owner of the NHL's Hurricanes, has agreed to buy the NBA's Trail Blazers for more than $4 billion and keep the team in Portland, sources told ESPN.

Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders injured an oblique throwing Wednesday morning, according to the team, and was held out of the first day of joint practices with the Eagles.

The president has crowed about the billions of dollars collected so far from tariffs. That money could be at risk if the White House loses the legal battle.

Every generation gets the Sex and the City version it deserves.

$70K plus a lot of blood, sweat, and tears turned this garage into a tiny home with a sleeping loft, full kitchen, walk-in closet, and fairly sizable bathroom. READ MORE...

Agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection as well as Metropolitan Police wait in a parking lot before driving along Kennedy Street NW in a caravan, in the early morning of Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, in northwest Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)2025-08-13T18:05:41Z WASHINGTON (AP) As a wary Washington waited, the White House promised a ramp-up of National Guard troops and federal officers on the streets of the nations capital around the clock starting Wednesday, days after President Donald Trumps unprecedented announcement that his administration would take over the citys police department for at least a month. The citys Democratic mayor and police chief framed the influx as a plus for public safety, though they said there are few hard measures for what a successful end to the operation might look like. The Republican president has said crime in the city was at emergency levels that only such federal intervention could fix even as District of Columbia leaders pointed to statistics showing violent crime at a 30-year low after a sharp rise two years ago. For two days, small groups of federal officers have been visible in scattered areas of the city. That is about to change, the administration says. A significantly higher presence of guard members was expected Wednesday night, and federal agents will be out 24/7 rather than largely at night, according to the White House. Hundreds of federal law enforcement and city police officers who patrolled the streets Tuesday night made 43 arrests, compared with about two dozen the night before. In one neighborhood, officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI could be seen along with the U.S. Park Police searching the car of a motorist parked just outside a legal parking area to eat takeout and drop off a friend. Two blocks away, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers gathered in a parking lot before driving off on patrol. In other parts of the city, including those with popular nightlife hot spots, federal patrols were harder to find. At the National Mall, there was little law enforcement activity aside from Park Police cruisers pulling over a taxi driver near the Washington Monument.Unlike in other U.S. states and cities, the law gives Trump the power to take over Washingtons police for up to 30 days. Extending his power over the city for longer would require approval from Congress, and that could be tough in the face of Democratic resistance. A variety of infractions are targetedThe arrests made by 1,450 federal and local officers across the city included those for suspicion of driving under the influence, unlawful entry, as well as a warrant for assault with a deadly weapon, according to the White House. Seven illegal firearms were seized. Unlike in other U.S. states and cities, the law gives Trump the power to take over Washingtons police for up to a month. Extending Trumps power over the city for longer would require approval from Congress, and that could be tough in the face of Democratic resistance. The president has full command of the National Guard, but as of Tuesday evening, guard members had yet to be assigned a specific mission, according to an official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. As many as 800 troops were expected to be mobilized in a support role to law enforcement, though exactly what form remains to be determined. The push also includes clearing out encampments for people who are homeless, Trump has said. U.S. Park Police have removed dozens of tents since March, and plan to take out two more this week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said. People are offered the chance to go to shelters and get addiction treatment, if needed, but those who refuse could be fined or jailed, she said. City officials said they are making more shelter space available and increasing their outreach. Violent crime has dropped in the districtThe federal effort comes even after a drop in violent crime in the nations capital, a trend that experts have seen in cities across the U.S. since an increase during the coronavirus pandemic. On average, the level of violence Washington remains mostly higher than averages in three dozen cities analyzed by the nonprofit Council on Criminal Justice, said the groups president and CEO, Adam Gelb.Police Chief Pamela Smith said during an interview with the local Fox affiliate that the citys Metro Police Department has been down nearly 800 officers. She said the increased number of federal agents on the streets would help fill that gap, at least for now. Mayor Muriel Bowser said city officials did not get any specific goals for the surge during a meeting with Trumps attorney general, Pam Bondi, and other top federal law enforcement officials Tuesday. But, she said, I think they regard it as a success to have more presence and take more guns off the street, and we do too. She had previously called Trumps moves unsettling and unprecedented while pointing out he was within a presidents legal rights regarding the district, which is the seat of American government but is not a state. For some residents, the increased presence of law enforcement and National Guard troops is nerve-wracking. Ive seen them right here at the subway ... they had my street where I live at blocked off yesterday, actually, Washington native Sheina Taylor said. Its more fearful now because even though youre a law-abiding citizen, here in D.C., you dont know, especially because Im African American.___Associated Press writers Konstantin Toropin and Will Weissert, photographer Jacquelyn Martin and video journalist River Zhang contributed to this report. LINDSAY WHITEHURST Whitehurst covers the Supreme Court and legal affairs for The Associated Press. Shes won multiple journalism awards in a career thats spanned two decades. twitter mailto ASHRAF KHALIL Khalil writes about local issues in Washington, D.C., for The Associated Press and covers the social safety net around the country. twitter instagram mailto

Stephanie W., 28, who is homeless, rests on a foam mattress as a United States Park Police vehicle drives past, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, in northwest Washington near the Kennedy Center. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)2025-08-13T17:25:19Z President Donald Trump says homeless people in the nations capital will be moved far from the city as part of his federal takeover of policing in the District of Columbia and crackdown on crime. With his exact plans unclear, there is concern among advocates and others who say there are better ways to address the issue of homelessness than clearing encampments, as the Republican administration has pledged to do. Washingtons status as a congressionally established federal district gives Trump the opportunity to push his tough-on-crime agenda, though he has not proposed solutions to the root causes of homelessness or crime.Heres a look at what we know and what questions remain about how Trumps actions will affect the citys homeless population:How many homeless people are in Washington?It is difficult to obtain accurate counts of homeless populations. On one day at the end of each January, municipal agencies across the United States perform what is called a point-in-time count aimed at capturing the total number of people in emergency shelters, transitional housing or without any housing.The 2025 count in the district put the total at 5,138 adults and children, a 9% decrease compared with the year before, according to Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser. Where will the citys homeless people be taken?Its not entirely clear.Trump wrote on his social media site before Mondays news conference announcing the takeover that The homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. Asked during a media briefing at the White House on Tuesday where homeless people would be relocated, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said local police and federal agencies would enforce the laws that are already on the books, which, she said, have been completely ignored.Citing a city regulation that she said gives local police the authority to take action when it comes to homeless encampments, Leavitt said homeless people will be given the option to leave their encampment, to be taken to a homeless shelter, to be offered addiction or mental health services. Those who refuse will be susceptible to fines or to jail time. In the past five months, the U.S. Park Police has removed 70 homeless encampments, giving the people living in them the same options, she said. As of Tuesday, Leavitt said only two homeless encampments remained in district parks maintained by the National Park Service and would be removed this week.What are city officials doing for the homeless?District officials said Tuesday they were making additional shelter space available after Trump said federal agents would remove homeless people in the city. Kevin Donahue, the city administrator, said outreach workers were visiting homeless encampments and that the city has a building available that could house as many as 200 people, if needed.Donahue made the comments during a conversation with community advocates and Bowser. The conversation was broadcast on X.He said the outreach would continue through the week with a greater level of urgency.Bowser said that when Trump sees homeless encampments in the city it triggers something in him that has him believing our very beautiful city is dirty, which it is not. What are Washington residents saying?Washington residents emphasized reductions in crime in recent years and concerns over the removal of homeless encampments in interviews Tuesday criticizing the federal takeover of the citys police department.Jeraod Tyre, who has lived in the city for 15 years, said crime has been slowing down lately and argued that federal troops would only escalate tensions because they do not have relationships with the people in the community like local police do.Sheiena Taylor, 36, said she is more fearful as a result of the presence of federal forces in the city where she was born and raised.Taylor said she has seen federal officers around her home and on the subway and worries about their targeting of young people and people experiencing homelessness.Being homeless isnt a crime, she said, emphasizing the need for solutions to the root causes of homelessness or crime rather than policing. What do we still not know?Its not exactly clear what agents specifically will be tasked with moving homeless people to areas outside the city.There also hasnt been detailed information about how the people will be housed or provided for in new locations.Some advocates have raised constitutional questions about the legality of forcibly removing homeless people from the city.___Associated Press writers River Zhang, Christine Fernando, Mike Balsamo and Darlene Superville contributed to this report.___Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP MEG KINNARD Kinnard covers national politics for The Associated Press. She lives in South Carolina. twitter instagram mailto

People walk between buildings on Harvard University campus, Dec. 17, 2024, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)2025-08-13T17:14:00Z WASHINGTON (AP) Harvard University and the Trump administration are getting close to an agreement that would require the Ivy League university to pay $500 million to regain access to federal funding and to end investigations, according to a person familiar with the matter.The framework is still being sorted out with significant gaps to close, but both sides have agreed on the financial figure and a settlement could be finalized in coming weeks, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.Harvard declined to comment.The agreement would end a monthslong battle that has tested the boundaries of the governments authority over Americas universities. What began as an investigation into campus antisemitism escalated into an all-out feud as the Trump administration slashed more than $2.6 billion in research funding, ended federal contracts and attempted to block Harvard from hosting international students. The university responded with a pair of lawsuits alleging illegal retaliation by the administration after Harvard rejected a set of demands that campus leaders viewed as a threat to academic freedom. Details of the proposed framework were first reported by The New York Times.A $500 million payment would be the largest sum yet as the administration pushes for financial penalties in its settlements with elite universities. Columbia University agreed to pay the government $200 million as part of an agreement restoring access to federal funding, while Brown University separately agreed to pay $50 million to Rhode Island workforce development organizations. Details have not been finalized on where Harvards potential payment would go, the person said.The Republican president has been pushing to reform prestigious universities that he decries as bastions of liberal ideology. His administration has cut funding to several Ivy League schools while pressing demands in line with his political campaign. None has been targeted as frequently or as heavily as Harvard, the richest U.S. university with an endowment valued at $53 billion.More than a dozen Democrats in Congress who attended Harvard cautioned against a settlement on Aug. 1, warning the university it may warrant rigorous Congressional oversight and inquiry. Capitulating to political demands, they said, would set a dangerous precedent across all of higher education.___The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. COLLIN BINKLEY Binkley covers the U.S. Education Department and federal education policy for The Associated Press, along with a wide range of issues from K-12 through higher education. twitter mailto

The U.S. State Department has released a heavily edited version of its annual report on human rights around the world. The report did not include any mention of LGBTQ+ rights violations and other abuses.As NPR notes, this years congressionally mandated report, which was initially prepared under the Biden administration, was delayed for months so that the State Department could remove references to categories of human rights violations not explicitly required by statute. Related Marco Rubio removes LGBTQ+ people & women from annual human rights report In March, both NPR and Politico reported on internal documents instructing State Department employees to cut references to gender-based violence, environmental justice, restrictions on political participation, government corruption, sexual violence against children, and violations of the rights of LGBTQ+ and disabled people, among scores of other human rights categories.We werent going to release something compiled and written by the previous administration, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said during a Tuesday press briefing, according to the Washington Blade, adding that the report needed to be changed to fit the view and vision of the current president. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today NPR reports that the report released Tuesday is about one-third the length of last years and does not include categories of human rights violations that have been included since the 1970s. The outlet also noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to hold the usual public briefing on the annual report, a move that drew criticism from Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.When he was a member of the Senate, he used to stand up and support an American foreign policy based on promoting democracy and human rights, Van Hollen told NPR. But ever since he was confirmed, he seems to have forgotten all that. As the Blade notes, sections on Uganda and Hungary make no mention of those countries sweeping anti-LGBTQ+ laws and restrictions on LGBTQ+ rights, though its section on Russia does note that in 2024, authorities invoked the countrys law banning propaganda on nontraditional sexual relations to children which has been used to suppress expression of LGBTQ+ identity and to target LGBTQ+ rights groups as extremist organizations.Critics blasted the edits to the annual report, which is used by advocacy organizations, lawyers, and others to assess political developments in foreign countries, need-based aid programs, as well as asylum claims from refugees fleeing persecution in their home countries.During a Tuesday conference call with reporters, former Biden administration special U.S. envoy for the promotion of LGBTQ+ and intersex rights and co-founder of the Alliance for Diplomacy and Justice Jessica Stern said that while she and her colleagues expected the report to be bad, they were shocked and horrified by what the administration released. It is deliberate erasure, she said, according to the Blade.Out Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) accused the administration of condoning the abuse, violence, and criminalization [the LGBTQ+] community is facing around the world.Erasing our community from these reports makes it that much harder for human rights advocates, the press, and the American people to be aware of the abuses LGBTQI+ people are facing worldwide, he said in a statement, according to the Blade. Failing to rectify this censorship will have real and potentially deadly consequences for LGBTQI+ people, including both for those who travel abroad from the U.S. and for LGBTQI+ people in countries whose leadership no longer need to worry about consequences for their human rights abuses. The State Department must reverse course and restore the LGBTQI+ section to these reports. According to the Blade, the Council for Global Equality has filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeking the release of additional information including any instructions provided by political appointees to strip references to abuses against LGBTQI+ persons from the reports.The groups co-chair Mark Bromley said in a statement that the Council for Global Equality denounces the administrations efforts to politicize the annual reports by stripping longstanding references to human rights abuses targeting LGBTQI+ and other marginalized groups. The group also condemned the glaring omission of violence and abuse targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons in the U.S., according to the Blade.Van Hollen similarly drew a connection between the edited report and the administrations domestic policies.If the administration is going to be undermining human rights here, he told NPR, they dont want to have to report on whats happening in other countries.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08848-9Rubber planting and deforestation

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02582-yOne centimetre-wide devices can use heat from the Sun to levitate plus, the new experiments trying answer whether gravity is quantum.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09389-x17-oestradiol establishes an anti-ferroptotic state in female kidney tubules.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09383-3A direct proxy for past dissolved organic carbon signatures using co-precipitated organic carbon in iron ooids enables reconstruction of marine dissolved organic carbon signals dating back to the Palaeoproterozoic.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09368-2The main multidecadal variations in the PDO index during the twentieth century, including the ongoing, decades-long negative trend, were largely driven by human emissions of aerosols and greenhouse gases rather than internal processes.

Sixty people survived after two boats with nearly 100 migrants capsized. The causes of the shipwrecks were not clear, Italian officials and U.N. agencies said. The death toll is likely to grow.

After British authorities accidentally exposed information about 19,000 Afghans, the government sought a legal order preventing disclosure of the breach.

The pop superstar received a costume design award for her Netflix football halftime performance tied to her Cowboy Carter album.

Starvation has spread in Gaza, as the prices of basic goods have skyrocketed and getting aid is difficult and often deadly. Ashley Wu, a graphics reporter for The New York Times, explains the dire choices that many Gazans face, as Israel faces growing condemnation over the crisis.

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The White House announced on Tuesday a sweeping review of content at the Smithsonian museums, another flex by President Donald Trump in his effort to rewrite American history to align with his own version of it.The vetting process will include scouring wall text, websites, and social media for LGBTQ+ and other woke content in an assessment of tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals, according to a letter sent by administration officials to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III. Related Museum slaps mature content warning on exhibit featuring painting of two cowboys kissing Smithsonian museums have 120 days to adjust content that the administration finds problematic, replacing divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate and constructive descriptions.The administration has already stripped National Park Service histories of references to the LGBTQ+ community. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The announcement is just the latest attack on the Congressionally chartered and ostensibly independent institution, which is nonetheless funded almost entirely by the federal government.Trump laid out his revanchist vision of American history in March, when heissued an executive ordertitled Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.The order claimed that the Smithsonian had come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology and that it promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive. Last month, bills were introduced by Trumps allies in the House and Senate that would codify the executive order into law.Museum staff and curators can expect on-the-ground oversight within the next 30 days, the letter stated, including walk-throughs of current exhibitions by administration officials.Among the institutions dozens of facilities, eight museums are the first targets of Trumps content crackdown, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Museum of American History, and the National Portrait Gallery. The National Portrait Gallery has already been a casualty in the presidents war on woke. Even after the Smithsonian shut down its diversity office in March, following Trumps diktat banning DEI efforts across the federal government, the president went after the Gallerys director, Kim Sajet, whom he accused of partisanship and being a strong supporter of DEI.She resigned in May after Trump attempted to fire her, an authority he doesnt have under the Smithsonians charter.In July, artist Amy Sherald withdrew her planned exhibition at the Gallery after officials at the museum attempted to remove her provocative painting Trans Forming Liberty from the show. The large portrait depicts a Black trans woman in a blue gown holding a torch sprouting flowers in a pose reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty.Also in July, The Washington Post reported that a temporary placard containing references to Trump had beenremovedfrom an impeachment exhibit at the National Museum of American History, as part of an internal Smithsonian content review prompted by Trumps earlier attacks on the institution. The museum later updatedthe display to restore context about Trumps two impeachments, following outcry from members of the public and several Democratic leaders.The Smithsonian has long been a target of the presidents allies in Congress. In 2023, Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK)excoriated Secretary Bunch in a hearing, claiming sexual materialin a virtual drag queen story hour hosted by the American Art Museum was evidence of the targeting of childrenby the Smithsonian.A GOP press release on the hearing went further, calling drag the Lefts indoctrination of our children. The administrations latest salvo in the culture wars directs the Smithsonian to provide materials within 30 days, including catalogs and programs for all current exhibitions, digital files of all placards and gallery labels, and proposals for exhibitions over the next three years, a period coinciding with the presidents final departure from the White House.In addition to rewriting history at the Smithsonian museums, Trump has taken over Washingtons Kennedy Center as the chair of the Kennedy Center Board, where hes putting his own garish stamp on culture in the nations capital.On a Wednesday visit to the arts center, he announced hell be hosting the Kennedy Center Honors himself this December, inducting a new class of honorees including Rocky star Sylvester Stallone, the metal band Kiss, and country music artist George Strait. He rejected other potential honorees as woke.He floated the idea of making himself an honoree at next years ceremony.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The Television Academy is set to launch Televerse, its first foray into the festival world. Televerse will run from August 14 through August 16 in Los Angeles, right before the final-round of Emmy voting takes place. The event will include panels, an immersive event space showcasing TV production, reunions and retrospectives, and the first time [...]The post The Television Academy Launches Inaugural Televerse with LGBTQ Spotlights first appeared on GLAAD.

MAGA firebrand and racist conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer and Trump devotee Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes years-long fight has picked up again, but this time the two women are going full scorched earth while the internet sits back and watches.Its hard to tell when the womens feud actually began, especially since they mostly fight on X (formerly Twitter) and are both prolific posters, but while they share a love of President Donald Trump and his MAGA ideology, their battle of wills quickly turned nasty. After Loomer posted about what a disgrace it was that the Army presented a Medal of Honor to Retired U.S. Army Capt. Florent Groberg instead of a Republican and US born soldier, Greene called her out for having ZERO respect or reverence for even the most heroic people in America.At some point, Loomer blocked Greene on X, who posted a screenshot of the block notification, and then the gloves came off, and in classic Loomer style, she started flooding the social media site with post after post calling out Greene. (@) But instead of well-reasoned critiques, the barbs were decidedly nasty and overwhelmingly misogynistic.Loomer accused Greene of funneling government money to her own daughter and went full nuclear, calling her a Fake Christian Jezebel, a harlot, a lying fake Christian whore, a white trash hick, a "loud mouthed bitch, and posted over and over again calling out Greene for her alleged affair. (@) The rant started on Monday, when she posted things like Greene ruined her marriage when she got to Congress because she cant keep her mouth or her legs closed, and wrote that the congresswoman was on her knees all night. And its not for praying. Loomer didnt stop, also writing, How do you call yourself a Christian when youre wearing a cross while getting bent over backwards inside the gym by every man who isnt your husband? (@) Greene called Loomer out for being a coward and wrote that she psychotically turns on everyone and is "the most unstable person and worst liability to ever walk in the Oval Office.The hateful back and forth seems to stem from two things: Loomer thinking MTG is a sell-out who doesnt support Trump and who is using her role in Congress to line her own pockets and Greene calling Loomer out for being a MIGA (in case youre not terminally online like these two rivals, that stands for Make Israel Great Again). The two have been arguing about the U.S.s support of Israel since Loomer is Jewish and an outspoken supporter of Israel, while Greene has broken with the Republican Party and begun referring to the Israeli governments treatment of Palestine as a genocide and has called on the U.S. to stop sending money and arms to the country. Loomer, on the other hand, wants the Trump administration to crack down on pro-Palestinian protests and call anyone speaking out against the Israeli government antisemitic. As of August 13, Loomer is still on the attack, reposting a Mediate article about Greene sending campaign funds to her daughter, writing, I dont ever want to hear anyone in the GOP again criticize the left for using campaign funds to pay their kids if Marge gets a pass.The two women going for the jugular on such a public platform is an odd choice, especially when they have both already blown through so much political capital. Loomer used to have the ear of the president, even accompanying him on the campaign trail before she got pushed aside when her overt racism was exposed, and Greene used to be one of Trumps most ardent supporters, but shes since been condemned by a growing number of Republicans and largely ignored by Trump.Who knows where it will all end, but the fight seems to be continuing on, and people on social media are laughing at how ridiculous it is! (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@)

A new partnership aims to break down barriers to mental health care.In a move to make mental health resources more accessible, The Okra Project has partnered with BetterHelp to offer three months of free virtual therapy for Black transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people across the United States. People can sign up via the linkhere.The collaboration comes at a time when the need for affirming care has never been more urgent. According to The Trevor Projects 2024 National Survey, 21% of Black trans or questioning youth reported a suicide attempt in the past year, more than twice the rate of their Black cisgender LGBQ peers. More than half considered suicide, while 83% reported facing discrimination based on race, sexuality, or gender identity.For many, the cost of therapy and the lack of culturally competent providers remain steep obstacles. This initiative aims to remove those barriers.Addressing a Crisis with ActionAccess to mental health care is not a luxury, its a necessity, said Gabrielle Ins Souza, executive director of The Okra Project. Black trans people are navigating multiple layers of trauma and erasure. This partnership is a step toward ensuring they can receive consistent, affirming care without a financial burden.Executive Director Gabrielle Ins Souza. Photo: The OkraBetterHelp, one of the largest online counseling platforms, offers therapy through video, phone, and messaging. By going virtual, the program sidesteps issues like transportation, geographic isolation, and the shortage of affirming providers in certain regions.More Than a Food Justice MovementFounded in 2018, The Okra Project began as a grassroots response to food insecurity within the Black trans community. Over time, it has expanded into a full-scale nonprofit offering therapy funding, wellness stipends, emergency aid, and healing-centered events.The organizations work has attracted partnerships with companies including Google, Dr. Bronners, and LOral. Now operating as an official 501(c)(3), The Okra Project is focused on long-term sustainability and expanding its impact nationwide.Our work has always been about meeting people at the intersection of survival and liberation, Souza added. Mental health is part of that liberation.How to Access CareEligible individuals can apply for therapy through The Okra Projects website, which outlines the process for connecting with licensed counselors via BetterHelp.Also, dont forget to sign up for three months of complimentary therapy via BetterHelphere.Source

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02536-4An analysis of the geometry of young Sun-like stars with planet-forming disks, measured by ground- and space-based observatories, shows that at least one-third of disks are misaligned with the spin of their central star. This distribution of stardisk configurations seeds the later diversity of planetary system architectures.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02539-1A humidity index has been developed that considers lateral flow along rivers and groundwater systems, as well as precipitation, potential evaporation and plant transpiration. It performs better than a conventional humidity index when describing water availability for ecosystems and societies in arid regions.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09321-3By analysing the smartphone data of 2,112,288 participants, in particular observing and comparing the activity of the same individual in two different environments, we find that increases in the walkability of environments result in increases in daily physical activity, providing evidence of the importance of the built environment on physical health.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09281-8A photophoretic aircraft that can levitate via thermal transpiration is achieved under near-space conditions, providing a potential platform for climate sensing, communications and Martian exploration.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09403-2Genomic, single-cell transcriptomic and epigenetic analyses show that chaetognaths, following extensive gene loss in the gnathiferan lineage, relied on newly evolved genes and lineage-specific tandem duplications, not caused by a whole-genome duplication event, to shape their distinctive body plan.

The president has taken a strong interest in the Kennedy Centers affairs ever since naming himself chairman in February, when he restocked its traditionally bipartisan board with loyalists.

The Treasury secretary has been slow to divest assets, including farmland, that he pledged to shed.

They transformed dolls into one-of-a-kind pieces that sold for thousands of dollars. A married couple, they died in a car crash in Italy.

A new tagging method called tap-and-go allows researchers to gather more data on the health and behavior of whales, with less disruption.

Obamaworld seems interested in understanding Zohran Mamdanis sudden rise to prominence.

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