Just days after he orderd a federal takeover of the District of Columbias Metropolitan Police Department, President Donald Trump stood on the Kennedy Centers red carpet Wednesday morning to announce that he will personally host the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors on CBS in December, breaking with decades of tradition in which presidents have attended the gala in the audience but not taken the stage as emcee.Speaking from the blue presidential lectern, with pictures of the honorees hidden beneath red cloths that were pulled away as he announced each name, the former TV personality said he initially turned down the request to host. Im the president of the United States. Are you fools asking me to do that? Sir, youll get much higher ratings. I said, I dont care. Im president of the United States. I wont do it. They said, please, Trump recounted.He added that a plea from White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles convinced him: Okay, Susie, Ill do it. Thats the power shes got.He told the audience, I didnt want to do it. Theyre going to say he insisted. I did not insist, but I think it will be quite successful. He then reminded attendees of his television experience: Its been a long time. I used to host The Apprentice finales, and we did rather well with that, so I think were going to do very well. Trump hosted the NBC reality competition show from 2004 until 2015.Related: Kennedy Center scrubs LGBTQ+ Pride concert after Donald Trump takeoverTrump said that he chose 98 percent of the nominees, and that he rejected several woke options.Trump unveiled this years recipients: country music singer George Strait, theatre legend Michael Crawford, actor Sylvester Stallone, Grammy-winning singer Gloria Gaynor, and rock band KISS.They call him the King of country, Trump said of Strait. Good looking guy. I hope he still looks that way. Introducing Crawford, best known for originating The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, Trump said, Nobody did it like him.When it came to Stallone, whom Trump described as my friend, the president went on at length, telling a detailed story about how the actor refused to sell his Rocky script unless he could play the lead role himself. Trump recounted how Stallone rejected a string of actors brought in to audition because they lacked a boxers physique, holding out until the studio allowed him to take the part.Related: Drag artists organize rally outside Kennedy Center to protest Trump's hostile takeoverTrump called Gaynors I Will Survive an unbelievable song that gets better every time you hear it, noting her Grammy wins in 1980 and 2020. And of KISS, he said, Its an honor to present KISS, teasing that the band is going to do something very special ahead of the CBS broadcast.At the top of his remarks, Trump quipped, Next year, well honor Trump. Later, he shifted to a broader vision for the Kennedy Center, promising that with a little work the building would be magnificent and praising its good bones. He cited new seating, restored marble columns, and private fundraising that he said closed a $26 million budget shortfall. He also credited Republican lawmakers for securing $257 million in federal funding for renovations.Since appointing himself chairman of the Kennedy Center board earlier this year, Trump said, we ended the woke political programming and are restoring the Kennedy Center as the premier venue for performing arts anywhere in the country, anywhere in the world. Awards shows like the Academy Awards, he said, went down the tubes when they became political, but if the Kennedy Center made it our kind of political, meaning his MAGA agenda, well go up.Related: Drag artists who crashed Donald Trump's first Kennedy Center show want him to know: 'You cant erase us'That framing comes after months of drastic changes to the Kennedy Centers leadership and programming. In February, Trump removed several board members and installed gay former ambassador Richard Grenell in a newly created executive director role. Within weeks, the Capital Pride Alliance moved multiple WorldPride events out of the venue, including a Drag Story Hour, AIDS Memorial Quilt panels, and the WorldPride Reading Room, citing what they described as an increasingly inhospitable environment for drag and queer-inclusive programming.In the same period, the Kennedy Center also canceled the Gay Mens Chorus of Washingtons planned performance of A Peacock Among Pigeons with the National Symphony Orchestra.Trumps Wednesday announcement had the feel of both an awards reveal and a political rally. Seated in the front row to Trumps left were South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, whom Trump congratulated on his poll numbers in his reelection campaign, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.Founded in 1978, the Kennedy Center Honors have long been considered one of the most prestigious recognitions in the performing arts, celebrating lifetime contributions to American culture.

Kesha is turning up the heat this summer with the launch of her Freedomme Summer Bangers playlist, a collection of tracks reflecting her current creative and personal inspirations. More than just a music drop, the playlist is tied to her Freedomme movement, which champions sexual freedom, personal agency, and shaking off societal shame.The movements message also pulses through her latest music video, Boy Crazy, which embraces unapologetic honesty about desire. For Kesha, self-expression is something she thoughtfully practices on a regular basis.Shes made that clear on her Feeld profile, where she identifies as omnisexual, kink-friendly, and dominant. Its okay to be explicit about our desires, shes said before, and this playlist follows that same path: bold and unfiltered.On Tour, On Brand, and On FeeldCurrently in the midst of her tour, Kesha says the live shows have become more than performances, theyre spaces for communities to come together.I love creating community on tour for my fans, she said. One of the biggest problems of today is that we are so connected yet feel so disconnected and lonely. One of the beautiful parts about my tour sponsor, Feeld, is that I think love and connection and touch are really important to human beings well-being and I think having to date in a dating app world where youre shrouded in shame for just being into whatever youre into, and being who you are, is unhealthy, so I love that Feeld creates a safe community for people to be really who they are being actually what theyre into and can help make this world a more pleasurable loving place.A City-by-City ExplorationKesha isnt just talking about Feeld, shes using it along the way.Ive been using Feeld on tour, from Salt Lake to NYC, and let me tell you, every city has its own flavor, she said. Its fascinating to see the different kinks and connections people are into. Its like each stop on tour is its own little universe of desire.Why the Partnership WorksFor Kesha, teaming up with Feeld was a natural fit.This partnership with Feeld just makes sense, she said. Its all about freedom, self-expression, and connecting without judgment. Thats everything I stand for, and everything this tour is about.The Freedomme Summer Bangers playlist is available now, offering a soundtrack that matches Keshas message: be who you are, say what you want, and dont be afraid to turn the volume up while you do it.Source

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02585-9Test-run shows how a team of three autonomous robots could search for extraterrestrial environments suitable for sheltering humans.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02542-6The EyeRIS camera system collects 3D visual data in near real time about the structure and biomechanics of marine life. Filming pearl octopuses (Muusoctopus robustus) with this system has provided a detailed look at the locomotion of free-living octopuses.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02423-yA genome sequence and single-cell atlas of a marine worm species point towards bursts of gene emergence, duplication and loss as the drivers of lineage-specific body traits.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09390-4Hominin fossils from the Ledi-Geraru Research Project area, Ethiopia, suggest that early Homo and Australopithecus species co-existed in the region more than 2.5 million years ago.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09206-5Spatial correlation in economic analysis of climate change

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The 23-time Olympic gold medalist gave some words of wisdom to the Baltimore Ravens before offering up swim lessons.

The visit by Ali Larijani, the head of Irans top security body, came as the Lebanese government moves to disarm Hezbollah, the militant group that has long been Tehrans most powerful regional ally.

Most of us just accept that government economic data is the best possible estimate of the economy. That could change, and that would be bad for all of us.

In a 2-to-1 vote, a federal appeals court panel ruled that foreign aid groups that sued to recover funds that President Trump froze cannot challenge the decision.

Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, has now used his election integrity unit to indict 15 Latino Democrats under a 2021 statute that outlawed delivering ballots for other voters.

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A public school district in northern Virginia voted yesterday to keep its current pro-trans policies despite the administrations orders to ban trans students from using the restrooms and locker rooms associated with their gender.The Loudoun County School Board voted to maintain its current policies regarding the facilities just days after the U.S. Education Department (ED) ordered the district along with four nearby school districts to ban trans students from using the facilities associated with their gender. The administration claimed that letting trans students use the appropriate facilities violated Title IX, the law that bans discrimination on the basis of sex in education. Related School board meeting devolves into chaos as religious right protests policy on transgender students The current administration reversed President Joe Bidens interpretation of Title IX, which found the statutes prohibition on discrimination on the basis of sex includes anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination. The rules rely on the Supreme Courts 2020 decision inBostock v. Clayton County, which found that sex-based discrimination necessarily covers discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, because its impossible to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people without taking sex into account.That is, denying trans students use of restroom facilities or making use of such facilities difficult solely because of their sex assigned at birth was, to the Biden administration, a form of illegal sex-based discrimination. And since many students cant last an entire day of school without using the restroom, such discrimination could effectively deny trans students an education. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The ED investigated the Virginia school districts, saying it had gotten complaints alleging that students in the Divisions avoid using school restrooms whenever possible because of the schools policies, and that female students have witnessed male students inappropriately touching other students and watching female students change in a female locker room. There is no evidence that trans people are a threat to cisgender girls and women in restrooms, but a 2021 study from UCLAs Williams Institute found that trans people arefour times more likely than cis peopleto be victims of violent crime. The ED then ordered the schools to rescind their trans-inclusive policies within 10 days and to adopt biology-based definition of the words male and female in all practices and policies relating to Title IX.But the school board in Loudoun County voted 6-3 to keep its current policy, explaining in a statement that they are following precedent set by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. In 2020, that court affirmed a lower court decision in favor of trans student Gavin Grimm, who had sued his school district after he was told to use the bathroom in a bucket in a converted janitors closet and was called a freak at a school board meeting about his bathroom usage. The court found that Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution prohibited his school district from discriminating against him. Our priority remains the same: doing what is right for Loudoun Countys young people; focusing on educating our students and ensuring our schools are places where every child feels they belong, the Loudoun County School Board said in a statement.The other four school districts ordered to end trans equality have not yet said how they will proceed, but they have to respond by Friday, which will be the end of the 10-day period. Prince William County School Board members met with lawyers last week and issued a statement saying that it continues to review and work through legal issues related to the EDs order and that the board remains firmly committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment for all students and staff.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Stories like this are a gut punch, not because theyre rare, but because they still keep happening. Its maddening to see queer people, especially youth, confronted in public spaces simply for existing. And in this case, the bathroom wasnt the danger. It was the person who followed someone into it.An 18-year-old Minnesota high school senior, Gerika Mudra, has filed a discrimination charge against a Buffalo Wild Wings in Owatonna. She says a server confronted her in the womens restroom, accused her of being a boy, and blocked the stall until she proved she was female.Prove Youre a GirlAccording to Gender Justice, the nonprofit legal group representing Mudra, the April incident began when she went to the restroom while dining with a friend. A female server allegedly followed her inside, banged on the stall, and announced, This is a womens restroom. The man needs to get out of here.Mudra says the employee stood in her way until she unzipped her hoodie to show her chest. Only then did the server leave, without an apology.Buffalo Wild Wings and its parent company, Inspire Brands, have not responded to requests for comment.Protected by Law, Ignored in PracticeThe complaint cites the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which bans discrimination in public spaces based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including cases rooted in stereotypes about how someone should look.What happened to Gerika Mudra was not just wrong, it was unlawful, said Sara Jane Baldwin, senior staff attorney at Gender Justice. No one should be harassed, humiliated, or forced to prove themselves just to use the bathroom.Mudra, who is biracial and a lesbian, says this isnt the first time strangers have questioned her gender in public restrooms, but its the most extreme. After that, I just dont like going in public bathrooms, she said in a video statement. I just hold it in. I keep thinking Im going to get harassed again.Hearing that trepidation come from an 18-year old who simply wanted to use the bathroom really is saddening and makes you think about the bigger implications of an employee, or anyone for that matter, doing this to others in our communities.Her stepmother, Shauna Otterness, called the encounter cruel and humiliating, adding, She just didnt fit what that server thought a girl should look like. We can do better, and we have to.The Bigger PictureAdvocates warn that incidents like this dont just happen to transgender people, anyone who doesnt fit rigid gender norms can be targeted. Nineteen states currently have laws restricting transgender bathroom access in schools and, in many cases, government buildings. Minnesota rejected a similar bill in 2017, but activists say rising hostility in public discourse continues to put both trans and gender-nonconforming people at risk.This kind of gender policing is, unfortunately, nothing new, said Megan Peterson, executive director at Gender Justice. We have to ask: What if Gerika had been a trans person? Would this story have ended differently?The discrimination charge now goes to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, which will investigate. The restaurant will have a chance to respond, and the parties may enter mediation.In the meantime, one truth is hard to shake: No one should have to unzip their hoodie just to prove they belong in a public restroom.Source

Tryst Hospitality has unveiled a fresh take on a classic: the Elizabeth Taylor Chocolate Martini. Inspired by a concoction Taylor once mixed with Rock Hudson while filming the 1955 epic Giant, the new version swaps the film set for the bar scene, but keeps the decadence. The drink blends Titos Vodka, Kahla, and chocolate syrup, shaken over ice and served up: very smooth and very rich. But its more than just a nod to an old-school recipe; its also a fundraiser. For every martini sold, $1 will benefit The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF), which works toward an AIDS-free future.From West Hollywood to Fire IslandThe Abbey Food & Bar in West Hollywood has long been home base for Trysts partnership with ETAF, hosting World AIDS Day tree lightings and other events. Now, the collaboration is going global across Trysts venues, including:The Abbey and The Chapel at The Abbey (West Hollywood)The Tryst Puerto VallartaThe Tryst Fire Island (opening 2026)The Tryst San Juan (under renovation)Circo San Juan (opening Fall 2025)The Blue Whale and Pavilion (Fire Island Pines)Each location will contribute a guaranteed annual donation to ETAF, regardless of cocktail sales, with matching support from liquor brands when possible.A Toast to a TrailblazerFor Tryst Hospitality founder Tristan Schukraft, the cocktail is both a fundraiser and a salute.Elizabeth Taylor talked about AIDS publicly before anyone else would, he said. She hosted the first fundraisers, stood beside our community when others wouldnt, and used her voice when it mattered most. In life, she was our champion and in death, she continues to be.ETAF Executive Director Cathy Brown echoed the sentiment: Elizabeth believed in using every platform to raise awareness and funds for the fight against HIV. This initiative brings her spirit into spaces where community thrives.Order UpThe Elizabeth Taylor Chocolate Martini is now available at participating Tryst Hospitality venues. Guests can raise a glass knowing theyre keeping Taylors legacy alive one decadent sip at a time.More about ETAFs work can be found at www.etaf.org.Source

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09393-1Orthogonal chimeric receptors containing intracellular domains for IL-4R, IL-20R, IL-22R and GCSFR reprogram T cells to promote distinct natural and synthetic cell states with functional and therapeutic implications.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09387-zA microphase crosslinking strategy, leveraging aziridine-based crosslinkers, is used to render organic thermoelectric materials stretchable and elastic.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09414-zPARP inhibitor treatment triggers histone release from the chromatin in cancer cells; consequently, targeting the histone chaperone NASP renders cells vulnerable to PARP inhibition.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02576-wDesign could help to probe the ignorosphere, a layer of ultra-thin air that has largely escaped exploration by balloons, aircraft and satellites.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02355-7A nano-engineered structure that levitates when a laser of a similar intensity to sunlight is shone on it could help scientists to study a hard-to-reach region of the atmosphere.

Paris Saint-Germain beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 on penalties to win the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, completing a remarkable rally after scoring two late goals to take the match to a shootout.

Patrick Mahomes will tune in to the Kelce brothers' podcast. As for Andy Reid? He's deferring to his grandkids.

Ukrainians are heroes. Its time that Trump started acting like it.

The Trump administrations plan to, in effect, audit the content of Smithsonian museums drew criticism from groups that represent scholars and promote free speech.

The results signal a shift after a recent uptick in drinking among middle-aged adults in particular.

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CORRECTS THAT OFFICER WAS KILLED, NOT WOUNDED - A memorial is seen in the aftermath of a shooting near the CDC where DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was killed while responding, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)2025-08-13T21:22:47Z ATLANTA (AP) A barrage of bullets launched at the headquarters of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week by a man authorities say was angry over COVID-19 vaccinations is the latest attack directed at health care workers amid hostility lingering from the pandemic.Some public health care workers say the shooting that killed a police officer and rattled the CDC campus shouldnt be surprising in the face of ongoing misinformation and animosity about the safety of immunizations.All of us, anybody who stands up for science or vaccines, will at some level get hate mail or a phone call thats unnerving or a death threat, said Paul Offit, the co-inventor of a rotavirus vaccine.Just four years ago, while hospitals overflowed with unvaccinated patients, school board members, local leaders and doctors were regularly confronted in public with taunts comparing them to the Taliban, Nazis and leaders of Japanese internment camps. Sometimes the conflicts descended into violence and harassment. The distrust and anger that grew since then has been amplified by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said Offit, who heads the vaccine education center at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. Kennedy has been a leading voice in spreading false information about vaccines, scientists and public health leaders, often using heated rhetoric that says they have caused mass death and injury. People he describes in such language have said his comments have led to threats, intimidation and even violence. Kennedy denounces violence but criticizes CDCs workKennedy, who toured the CDC campus on Monday, said no one should face violence while working to protect the health of others and called political violence wrong. But he went on to criticize the agencys pandemic response.One of the things that we saw during COVID is that the government was overreaching in its efforts to persuade the public to get vaccinated, and they were saying things that are not always true, Kennedy said during a television interview with Scripps News later in the day.A spokesperson for Kennedy blasted any notion that blamed vaccine misinformation for Fridays attack.This narrative is pure fiction, built on anonymous complaints and a willful disregard for the facts, said Andrew Nixon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Secretary Kennedy is not advancing an anti-vaccine agenda he is advancing a pro-safety, pro-transparency, and pro-accountability agenda.Authorities have said that 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White had written about his discontent with the COVID-19 vaccine before he opened fire on the CDC.White also had verbalized thoughts of suicide, which led to law enforcement being contacted several weeks before the shooting, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. White died at the scene of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Friday after killing DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose. Shooting rattles CDC campusFollowing the attack, CDC employees were asked to scrape off old CDC parking decals from their vehicles. But even before that, some workers had taken steps to become less visible, including not wearing their public health service uniform, said Yolanda Jacobs, a union leader who represents some CDC workers.The CDCs new director told employees this week that no act of violence can diminish their mission to protect public health. We know that misinformation can be dangerous. Not only to health, but to those that trust us and those we want to trust, Dr. Susan Monarez told employees during an all-hands meeting Tuesday, her first since the attack capped her first full week on campus as director.The federal agency, tasked with tracking diseases and responding to health threats, has been hit by widespread staff cuts, key resignations and heated controversy over long-standing CDC vaccine policies upended by Kennedy.What happened on Friday is a direct result of that misinformation, said Sarah Boim, a former CDC worker whose job was targeted for elimination earlier this year. Health Secretary Kennedy is one of the biggest pushers of misinformation. The shooting, she said, left her in tears. My friends and family still work in those buildings, she said. My mom works in one of those buildings.In the aftermath, officials are assessing security and encouraging staff to report any new threats, including those based on misinformation about the CDC and its vaccine work.Anti-vaccine tension has been buildingDespite its prominence since the pandemic, anti-vaccine rhetoric leading to harassment and violence took root before then.In 2019, an anti-vaccine activist assaulted California state Sen. Richard Pan, streaming it live on Facebook, after Pan sponsored a bill to make it more difficult to get a vaccine exemption. Another threw blood at Pan and other lawmakers.The attacks came after Kennedy spoke outside the California Capitol, two large posters behind him featured Pans image, with the word LIAR stamped across his face in blood-red paint. Pan, a pediatrician, blames Kennedy for what happened then and now at the CDC.And you wonder why someone would go shoot up the CDC, Pan said. Because he basically told them that those are the people you should hurt.___Hollingsworth reported from Kansas City, Missouri, and Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. JEFF MARTIN Martin covers a variety of topics including crime, hurricanes, and civil rights across the southeastern U.S. He was a member of the AP team named a finalist for the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting for the Lethal Restraint project. mailto HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH Hollingsworth has worked for The AP for 25 years, covering stories of interest in the Midwest and beyond. She is based in Kansas City, Missouri. twitter mailto JOHN SEEWER Seewer covers state and national news for The Associated Press and is based in Toledo, Ohio. twitter mailto

The Department of Energy (DOE) said in a public notice scheduled to be published Thursday that it will throw out all Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests sent to the agency before October 1, 2024 unless the requester proactively emails the agency to tell it they are still interested in the documents they requested. This will result in the improper closure of likely thousands of FOIA requests if not more; government transparency experts told 404 Media that the move is insane, ludicrous, a Pandoras Box, and an underhanded attempt to close out as many FOIA requests as possible.The DOE notice says requesters who submitted a FOIA request to DOE HQ at any time prior to October 1, 2024 (FY25), that is still open and is not under active litigation with DOE (or another Federal agency) shall email StillInterestedFOIA@hq.doe.gov to continue processing of the FOIA request [] If DOE HQ does not receive a response from requesters within the 30-day time-period with a DOE control number, no further action will be taken on the open FOIA request(s), and the file may be administratively closed. A note at the top of the notice says it is scheduled to be formally published in the Federal Register on Thursday.The agency will send out what are known as still interested letters, which federal agencies have used over the years to see if a requester wants to withdraw their request after a certain period of inactivity. These types of letters are controversial and perhaps not legal, and previous administrations have said that they should be used rarely and that requests should only be closed after an agency made multiple attempts to contact a requester over multiple methods of communication. What the DOE is doing now is sending these letters to submitters of all requests prior to October 1, 2024, which is not really that long ago; it also said it will close the requests of people who do not respond in a specific way to a specific email address.FOIA requestsespecially complicated onescan often take months or years to process. I have outstanding FOIA requests with numerous federal agencies that I filed years ago, and am still interested in getting back, and I have gotten useful documents from federal agencies after years of waiting. The notion that large numbers of people who filed FOIA requests as recently as September 2024, which is less than a year ago, are suddenly uninterested in getting the documents they requested is absurd and should be seen as an attack on public transparency, experts told 404 Media. The DOEs own reports show that it often does not respond to FOIA requests within a year, and, of course, a backlog exists in part because agencies are not terribly responsive to FOIA.If a requester proactively reaches out and says I am withdrawing my request, then no problem, they dont have to process it, Adam Marshall, senior staff attorney at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, told me. The agency cant say weve decided weve gotten a lot of requests and we dont want to do them so were throwing them out.I was pretty shocked when I saw this to be honest, Marshall added. Ive never seen anything like this in 10 years of doing FOIA work, and its egregious for a few reasons. I dont think agencies have the authority to close a FOIA request if they dont get a response to a still interested letter. The statute doesnt provide for that authority, and the amount of time the agency is giving people to respond30 daysit sounds like a long time but if you happen to miss that email or arent digging through your backlogs, its not a lot of time. The notion that FOIA requesters should keep an eye out in the Federal Register for this kind of notice is ludicrous.The DOE notice essentially claims that the agency believes it gets too many FOIA requests and doesnt feel like answering them. DOEs incoming FOIA requests have more than tripled in the past four years, with over 4,000 requests received in FY24, and an expected 5,000 or more requests in FY25. DOE has limited resources to process the burgeoning number of FOIA requests, the notice says. Therefore, DOE is undertaking this endeavor as an attempt to free up government resources to better serve the American people and focus its efforts on more efficiently connecting the citizenry with the work of its government.Lauren Harper of the Freedom of the Press Institute told me in an email that she also has not seen any sort of precedent for this and that it is an underhanded attempt to close out as many FOIA requests as possible, because who in their right mind checks the federal register regularly, and it should be challenged in court. (On that note, I am filing a FOIA request about this proposal.)The use of still interested letters isn't explicitly allowed in the FOIA statute at all, and, as far as I know, there is absolutely zero case law that would support the department sending a mass still interested letter via the federal register, she added. That they are also sending emails is not a saving grace; these types of letters are supposed to be used sparinglynot as a flagrant attempt to reduce their backlog by any means necessary. I also worry it will open a Pandora's Boxif other agencies see this, some are sure to follow.Marshall said that FOIA response times have been getting worse for years across multiple administrations (which has also been my experience). The Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have cut a large number of jobs in many agencies across the government, which may have further degraded response times. But until this, there hadnt been major proactive attempts taken by the self-defined most transparent administration in history to destroy FOIA.This is of a different nature than what we have seen so far, this affirmative, large-scale effort to purport to cancel a large number of pending FOIA requests, Marshall said.

There are so many types of lesbians these days that it can be hard to keep track of what all of the labels mean. There are everything from butches and studs, high femmes and pillow princesses, to Hey Mamas and lipstick lesbians. The lesbian experience is expansive and diverse, which is why there are so many ways to identify yourself to the rest of the community. But whether you love a label or chafe against them, it can be helpful to know what they all mean. One of the other terms youve probably heard tossed around is chapstick lesbian, but what does it mean, and where did the term come from? So find out all of deets, we talked to Sofie Roos, a bisexual licensed sexologist, relationship therapist, and author at relationship magazine Passionerad, who was able to break it all down for us. What is a chapstick lesbian, and where did the term originate?A chapstick lesbian is someone who lands somewhere in the gray area between masculine and feminine. The clever term describes a sapphic who presents in both masculine and feminine ways so that they dont fit neatly into the butch/femme dichotomy. The lesbian term comes from the stereotype of sapphics who just uses chapstick, which doesn't give them that classic feminine look, but still arent only masculine in their presentation, Roos tells PRIDE. It probably orginiated in the '90s and was popularized by Ellen DeGeneres on her sitcom Ellen when she told fictional parents that she would be a chapstick lesbian.So if a lipstick lesbian is high femme, then a chapstick lesbian is more low maintenance and straddles the line between femme and butch. Roos says there is also a lot of overlap with the terms soft butch, futch, or even stem and stud-fem if you are a Black chapstick lesbian.How does it present?Since chapstick lesbians are a mix of masculine and feminine, it might mean that she like to wear makeup sometimes, but wont go out in high heels and a mini skirt and their vibe tends to be more relaxed that a femme, though this will vary between sapphics.A typical chapstick lesbian can wear big baggy jeans, a tight top, no makeup, messy hair and black boots one day, and the other wear a cute little dress with light makeup, Roos explains. Their look can be a bit androgynous, often in the landscape where you cant tell if the clothes are bought at the men's or women's section, or that they mix between feminine and masculine clothing in one outfit or simply just rocks what the heck they want and doesn't care if it's for men or women, and mix as they please!How is it different than a 'Hey Mamas lesbian?Hey Mamas lesbians and chapstick lesbians are similar but not interchangeable terms. Hey Mamas is someone who like chapstick lesbian doesnt fit completely into the butch stereotype, but they also tend to wear more traditionally masculine clothing and backwards baseball hats and a major feature their knack for picking up women by saying, Hey mama.A chapstick lesbian is often more low-key and casual in their vibe, while a 'hey mamas lesbian tends to be more outgoing and flirty in their approach, Roos says. So even though they can dress similarly, the big difference is in their overall vibe!How is it different from other masc of center lesbians?According to Roos, chapstick lesbians tend to mix masculinity and femininity in a way that feels a bit more soft and girlish as opposed to being overtly masculine. So while many masc of center lesbians are more rebellious and stand out in their masculine expression, a chapstick lesbian comes off as more casual and melts in more with their style, being in the middle land, she says.Who can be a chapstick lesbian? How does gender interact with this identity?This is a sapphic term, meaning that ALL queer women can describe themselves as chapstick lesbians if they feel it describes their vibe and style because being a chapstick lesbian is not only about clothing, even though many think so its also about the attitude thats both girlish and boyish at the same time, Roos explains.But in the end, gender expression is expansive and complicated, so just because the word lesbian is part of the chapstick lesbian label doesnt mean that it cant apply to whoever feels it fits them, regardless of gender identity.

If theyre not crashing out over the latest celeb they think is trans or the fact that their votes actually have consequences, MAGA is spiraling over their favorite sport being infiltrated by wait for itmale cheerleaders. The Minnesota Vikings have announced that two male cheerleaders will be joining their ranks, and when videos of the cheerleaders performing hit social media, conservatives got angry. Dancers Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn are making their debut at Saturdays game and preseason home opener, which has fans threatening to cancel their season passes and InfoWars host Owen Shroyer making derogatory comments, complete with a misspelled word. Imagine you buy front row season football tickets and when you sit down there's some man girating [sic] right in front of you, he wrote on X. (@) @gator_gum had the perfect response, pointing out the hypocrisy of loving such a homoerotic sport but being applied by male cheerleaders, writing, Yes, he's blocking your view of the husky man in tights putting his hands between the legs of the other man in tights. Do you know they shower together after the games too? But that dancing guy! Draw the line!Other right-wing social media users took to X to voice their displeasure at having men join an NFL cheerleading team, with one person posting, The Minnesota Vikings HIRED a MALE as their LEAD CHEERLEADER for the 2025-26 NFL football season. This is just disgusting (@) Another person reposted the video announcement and wrote, I just threw up in my mouth."But former NFL star Antonio Brown took things a step further by reposting a video of Shiek in his new Vikings cheerleader uniform with the caption that used a homophobic slur. (@) (@) MAGA might be up in arms about these particular male cheerleaders, but they are far from the first. In fact, according to Outsports, last season there were seven teams had a total of 18 men on their cheer squads, a trend that was started in 2018 by the Los Angeles Rams. And in 2023, two out gay men became the cheer captains for the Rams' cheerleading squad. (@) (@) Another social media user pointed out that while the sport is dominated by women today, the first cheerleaders were men, a fact backed up USA Cheer, which makes the whole rage debate even more ridiculous. (@) Instead of being focused on the sport they supposedly care so much about, they are worried about who is cheering on the sidelines, in the ultimate No homo!

Kim Davis, the former Rowan County clerk from Kentucky, made national headlines in 2015 when she refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, citing her Christian beliefs. Nearly a decade later, shes once again in the spotlight after filing a request for the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider Obergefell v. Hodges, the ruling that legalized marriage equality nationwide.But while Davis continues to present herself as a defender of traditional values, her own personal history paints a very different pictureone filled with multiple marriages, potential infidelity, and a complicated web of contradictions that continues to draw both criticism and controversy.A Marriage Timeline Full of DramaKim Davis has been married four times to three different men, and her marital journey is as tangled as her public persona.She married her first husband, Dwain Wallace, at 18. That marriage ended in 1994. Just five months after their divorce, Davis gave birth to twins. The father? Her third husband, Thomas McIntyrewhom she wouldnt marry until over a decade later.Before that marriage happened, she wed her second husband, Joe Davis, in 1996. They were together for about 10 years before divorcing in 2006. In 2007, she married McIntyre, but the marriage lasted less than a year. Then, in 2009, she returned to Joe Davis, marrying him again. He later adopted her twins.The overlapping relationships, affairs, and divorces have led many to point out the glaring contradiction between Daviss personal life and her public campaign to deny LGBTQ+ people the right to marry.Kim Davis at a Glance: Her Marital History1st Marriage: Dwain Wallace (married at 18, divorced in 1994); had two childrenTwins Born: Five months after divorce; fathered by third husband2nd Marriage: Joe Davis (19962006)3rd Marriage: Thomas McIntyre (20072008); father of her twins4th Marriage: Joe Davis again (remarried in 2009); current husband and adopted father of the twinsHypocrisy in the SpotlightWhen Davis refused to issue licenses to same-sex couples following the Supreme Courts 2015 marriage equality decision, she quickly became a conservative icon. Supporters praised her for standing her ground on religious beliefs. But critics were quick to highlight the hypocrisy: the woman trying to uphold the so-called sanctity of marriage had already been married and divorced multiple times, conceived children out of wedlock, and broken her own vows more than once.Her actions sparked outrage nationwideand also earned her jail time. After defying court orders, Davis was found in contempt and spent five days behind bars. In her absence, her deputies issued the licenses, and same-sex couples in Rowan County were finally able to marry legally.Born Again and Back in CourtIn interviews, Davis has claimed that her past no longer defines her because she experienced a religious awakening later in life. She has repeatedly insisted that her refusal to issue licenses was not about hate, but about faith. Still, for many, her history undercuts the moral authority she claims to hold.She has said issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples would send her to hella fear she held so strongly that she refused to do her job, even when it meant legal consequences. Her supporters argue that her born again status should absolve her past, but critics say redemption doesnt justify discrimination.Now, in a move that has reignited the fury of LGBTQ+ activists, Davis is trying to overturn the very Supreme Court decision that landed her in hot water. Her legal team claims that the original ruling violated her religious liberty. Her efforts are being cheered on by far-right conservativesand condemned by just about everyone else.Public Persona vs. Private RealityDavis has long styled herself as a devout public servant guided by her Christian faith. But the same public figure who warned that same-sex marriage would lead to moral decay has herself navigated a complex personal life that includes divorce, remarriage, and extramarital sex.The stark contrast between Daviss past and her political stance continues to be a point of discussion. To LGBTQ+ people who have had to fight for every inch of legal recognition and equality, her story is a reminder of how often religion is weaponized to justify discriminationby people who dont hold themselves to the same moral standards they demand from others.Kim Davis remains a controversial figurea symbol of the religious rights resistance to marriage equality and a case study in personal contradiction. While she continues her crusade against LGBTQ+ rights, her own history tells a far more complicated, and often hypocritical, story.Source

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02422-zDifferences in protection against ferroptosis explain why men and postmenopausal women are more susceptible than premenopausal women to acute kidney injury.

Nature, Published online: 13 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02545-3Crop-residue burning in South Asia decreases by up to 14.5% when smoke from fires would affect bureaucrats home districts instead of neighbouring ones. Bureaucratic action to punish farmers deters future fires by a further 13%. Thus, using administrator incentives to control crop burning could guide policy towards improving air quality and reducing infant and child mortality.

Lionel Taylor, an original Denver Bronco and a member of the team's Ring of Fame, has died at age 89.

The Brewers scored double-digit runs for the fourth time in August and routed the Pirates 12-5 to extend their winning streak to 12 games.

Thousands have been evacuated as quick moving wildfires burn in Eastern Canada.

The reversal risks declawing a century of consumer financial protections and replacing the backbone of bank accounts.

President Trump struck a remarkably unconcerned tone when asked to address the horrors of war, raising questions about whether he has the leverage to convince Vladimir V. Putin to agree to end the invasion in Ukraine.

Ethan Guo, a content creator, said that he has been effectively trapped at a Chilean base since June. The authorities had said he landed there without permission.

He retired as the N.F.L.s leading career receiver but was soon surpassed. In retirement, he went to prison for bilking investors in an $8 million fraud.

Dame Helen Mirren knows how to command a screen and now, apparently, a garden. The Oscar-winning actress surprised audiences on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon earlier this week when she dropped an unexpected science lesson about one of summers most beloved fruits: the tomato.A tomato is a bisexual thing, you see, Mirren, 80, casually remarked while chatting with host Jimmy Fallon on the August 11 episode. The statement was met with gasps, laughter, and confusion from the studio audience and a look of amused disbelief from Fallon himself.Well, it is! she insisted, unfazed by the reaction.The 1923 and Thursday Murder Club star explained that she recently encountered a tomato-growing dilemma in her own garden, leading to a revelation about how tomatoes reproduce.I just want to give you a tip about growing tomatoes, she said, switching effortlessly from movie icon to gardening guru. You know the little flower? Well, a good way to get a tomato out of a flower is you have to tremble the flower.As she demonstrated the trembling technique with her finger, Fallon recoiled with an awkward laugh.Stop doing that, he said, jokingly waving her off. Im not doing that at all to my tomatoes.But it turns out Mirrens tip wasnt just cheeky innuendo it was actual science.A Tomato Sex Ed Moment, Courtesy of Dame HelenAccording to agricultural research from the University of Maryland and other sources, Mirren is absolutely correct. Tomato plants have what are called perfect or complete flowers, which means they contain both male and female reproductive organs. That technically makes them self-pollinating or, yes, in botanical terms, bisexual.While many tomatoes pollinate themselves naturally through wind and insect activity, a gentle shake or tremble of the flower can help dislodge pollen and stimulate fruit development. This method is often used by greenhouse growers and home gardeners alike to increase their tomato yield.So, Mirrens gardening hack may sound provocative, but its also grounded in real-world horticultural wisdom. Who knew tomatoes had such a compelling sex life?Mirrens Not New to Dropping Truth BombsThis isnt the first time Helen Mirren has turned a seemingly mundane topic into something inspiring (or viral). In April 2024, she made headlines for reflecting on aging and embracing each life stage with grace and wit.My mother said the greatest thing to me: Never be afraid of getting older, she said in an interview with E! News. Of course, when youre 18, middle age is like a foreign country. Its so far away from you. But, you know, when you arrive in that country, you realize that country has great things. Maybe you like that country better than the country you left behind.As a performer, Mirren has long embodied complexity, wit, and unapologetic individuality both onscreen and off. Whether shes playing royalty, solving crimes, or shaking tomato plants into submission, shes fully committed.From Shakespeare to SalsaThe viral moment occurred while Mirren appeared on the show to promote The Thursday Murder Club, her latest film alongside co-star Pierce Brosnan. As Fallon prepared a homemade salsa during a segment, the conversation took a turn from tomatoes as ingredients to tomatoes aswell, sexually independent plants.And in true Dame Helen fashion, she didnt hesitate to educate even if it meant flustering the host.Its yet another reason why Mirren remains a beloved icon across generations: shes glamorous, brilliant, and never afraid to ruffle feathers (or flowers). From her celebrated film career to her unexpected gardening wisdom, she continues to serve up surprises.So the next time youre out in the garden, gently shaking a tomato flower, remember you have Dame Helen Mirren to thank for that fruity foreplay.And yes, tomatoes are bisexual. Who said science cant be sexy?Source

Netflix has officially revealed the cast and title of Dan Levys new series, Big Mistakes and judging by the lineup, the only mistake would be skipping it. The eight-episode family crime comedy follows two wildly incapable siblings who get blackmailed into organized crime. Expect sharp banter, messy family dynamics, and more than a few questionable life choices.The Dream (and Drama) TeamLevy will star, serve as showrunner, and executive produce, teaming up with co-creator Rachel Sennott (Bottoms) and executive producer Anne-Marie McGintee under Levys Not a Real Production Company banner. Joining him in the chaos:Taylor Ortega (Welcome to Flatch)Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird, Hacks)Jack Innanen (Adults) as MaxBoran Kuzum (Thank You, Next) as YusufAbby Quinn (Hell of a Summer) as NatalieRounding out the recurring cast is: Elizabeth Perkins, Jacob Gutierrez, Joe Barbara, Josh Fadem, and Mark Ivanir.Behind-the-scenes photos already show Levy, Ortega, Quinn, and Metcalf in action and, yes, Levy seems just as thrilled to call Metcalf mother as youd expect.Levys Next Big ChapterBig Mistakes marks Levys first scripted series since Schitts Creek and his first under an overall deal with Netflix. It follows his 2023 feature directorial debut Good Grief, also for Netflix. In true Levy fashion, the project promises heart and hilarity wrapped in absurdly high stakes.Im so excited to be bringing this truly chaotic family story to life, Levy said. Taylor Ortega is going to become a household name, and its been my lifes mission to get to call Laurie Metcalf mother.NEW YORK, NEW YORK APRIL 17: Laurie Metcalf attends a screening of Somewhere In Queens at Metrograph on April 17, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)Photo: Instagram/@taylortegaRelease DetailsFilming is underway in New Jersey, but Netflix hasnt revealed a premiere date yet. One things certain with this cast and premise, Big Mistakes is primed to be our next queer binge obsession.Source

The NBA board of governors unanimously approved the sale of the Celtics to a group led by private equity mogul Bill Chisholm, a deal that values the franchise at more than $6.1 billion -- the largest ever for an American professional sports team.

The line of scrimmage referee from Shedeur Sanders' NFL debut officiated his collegiate debut.

Solomon Pea, who lost a bid for a seat in the New Mexico Legislature in 2022, was found guilty in March of orchestrating the attacks against state Democrats.

Swift is talking about her upcoming album on New Heights, a sports and pop culture podcast co-hosted by her boyfriend.