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HuffPost

Everything You Need To Know About The New COVID Vaccine | HuffPost Life

Updated COVID-19 vaccines targeting the JN.1 variant are now available at pharmacies nationwide at no cost under most insurance plans, with professional medical organizations recommending vaccination for older adults (65+), people with chronic conditions, pregnant women, young children, and those under 65 without underlying conditions who want protection. The CDC has not issued updated guidance this year due to the disbanding of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, but major medical organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases Society of America have released similar recommendations, with doctors suggesting vaccination in mid-to-late September or October to build immunity before the winter surge, and noting that side effects should be mild and temporary.

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overcast.fm

apple.news

apple.news

Bari Weiss Blew Up 60 Minutes. Now She Has to Fix it. — New York Magazine

Bari Weiss, hired as CBS News editor-in-chief in 2025 to modernize 60 Minutes, clashed with the show's insular, hierarchical culture and ultimately engineered a purge of its long-standing leadership—firing executive producer Tanya Simon, several producers, and correspondents including Scott Pelley in what staff called "Black Thursday." Weiss and her replacement for Simon, tech journalist Nick Bilton, are rebuilding the show with new hires like conservative columnist Ross Douthat and are pursuing innovations in digital strategy and story formats, while critics argue she was either exercising political interference on behalf of the Trump administration or simply mismanaging a complex institution she didn't understand. The piece suggests that whether this overhaul vindicated Weiss's vision or exposed a show worth dismantling will only become clear as the reshuffled 60 Minutes moves forward.

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thelede.info

The Independent

Wildfires across Europe detonate forgotten World War bombs

Wildfires and drought sweeping Europe this summer are unearthing and detonating unexploded ordnance left from the two world wars, from Belgium's High Fens battlefields to receding rivers in Hungary and Slovakia. Drawing on interviews with historians, bomb disposal officials and researchers like Sarah Njeri and Christina Greene, the piece argues that climate change is ending Europe's "climatic luck," reactivating buried munitions once kept dormant by stable weather and forcing firefighters and civilians to confront wartime dangers decades after the fighting ended. It's a striking example of how climate change is colliding with historical conflict legacies in unexpected, physically dangerous ways.

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PBS News

7 questions about the national debt hitting $40 trillion

This explainer breaks down the milestone of U.S. gross federal debt crossing $40 trillion, clarifying what "gross debt" actually measures (including intragovernmental IOUs like the Social Security Trust Fund) and tracing the run-up to pandemic-era shocks plus sustained post-2020 deficits driven by bipartisan spending and tax cuts. It contextualizes the figure against other nations' debt-to-GDP ratios—noting the U.S. sits at 125.8%, behind Japan, Italy, and Greece among others—while cautioning that Japan's domestically-held debt structure makes its situation less comparable or reassuring than it might seem. The piece closes with a warning that interest payments now exceed defense and Medicare spending, and flags several fiscal watchdog groups pushing Congress toward earlier, less painful reforms.

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www.readtangle.com

The everything, everywhere, all at once corruption story.

This is Isaac Saul's Tangle News piece cataloguing the Trump family's alleged self-dealing during his second term — crypto ventures, foreign business deals with Gulf and Middle Eastern figures, and suspicious market timing — arguing these dwarf the Hunter Biden scandal in scale yet get virtually no Republican oversight or public traction. Saul, who covered Hunter Biden extensively, uses his own record to argue he's not being partisan, framing the piece as an attempt to compile the sprawling, underreported evidence into one accessible account. It's worth keeping as a straightforward "here's the full list" reference rather than a single-issue exposé.

Permalink politicsnewsreaddonald trump

www.independent.co.uk

Tributes paid to six US troops killed in Iran drone strike including mother who was two days away from returning home

This piece profiles the six US Army Reserve soldiers killed when Iran struck a logistics command centre near Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, a day into the joint US-Israel "Operation Epic Fury" campaign against Iran. It centres on personal details from grieving families—Sgt. Amor's near-return home and unprotected relocation, Sgt. Coady's fresh promotion and cybersecurity studies, Capt. Khork's ROTC-driven patriotism, and Sgt. Tietjens' martial arts teaching—giving a human face to the first named American casualties of the escalating conflict.

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www.nytimes.com

Colin Powell Still Wants Answers

Colin Powell privately opposed the 2003 Iraq invasion as foolish and warned President Bush it would end badly, yet he became the war's most persuasive public advocate by delivering the February 2003 U.N. speech presenting allegedly solid intelligence about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. The article reveals that C.I.A. analysts and other intelligence officials doubted much of the evidence Powell presented—including claims from a dubious source nicknamed Curveball—and that the speech was constructed under pressure to make an unconvincing case more "slam dunk" persuasive for domestic audiences, with dissenters kept out of the preparation process. Powell later acknowledged he could have simply refused the assignment and resigned, which might have created a political domino effect that prevented the war, but he chose not to because "he's the president."

Permalink historyunited statespoliticsnews

www.mentalfloss.com

It’s Grilling Season, Which Means It’s Also Clean-Your-Grill Season—Here Are the Best Ways To Do It

Regular grill cleaning prevents buildup that degrades flavor, reduces heat efficiency, and risks foodborne illness, with a practical approach involving quick cleanups after each use plus deeper monthly maintenance. The guide recommends scrubbing hot grates with a brush or aluminum foil, vacuuming out ash and debris, scraping the grease trap, wiping the exterior with mild cleaners, and soaking removable parts seasonally, with an optional trick of using a halved onion to break up stubborn gunk.

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www.mentalfloss.com

The Right Way to Fold Fitted Sheets

Most people roll up fitted sheets in frustration because their elastic edges and sewn-in creases prevent them from folding neatly, but there's a technique that works: hold the sheet inside-out, tuck all four corners into each other to create a cone-like shape, then straighten and fold it into thirds both lengthwise and widthwise to create a compact rectangle. With practice, this method produces a properly folded, stackable fitted sheet suitable for linen closet storage, eliminating the need to simply ball it up and accept wrinkles.

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www.mentalfloss.com

51 Must-Visit National Park Properties Across America

This is a state-by-state guide to over 400 National Park Service sites across the United States, highlighting one notable property in each state plus Washington, D.C. Each entry provides a brief description of the site's distinctive features—whether geological formations like the Grand Canyon, historical landmarks like Valley Forge, or cultural heritage sites like the Freedom Riders National Monument—along with specific activities and attractions visitors can expect to find there. The guide serves as a practical reference for planning road trips or identifying NPS destinations within driving distance regardless of location.

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www.mentalfloss.com

The 30 Greatest Action Movies of All Time

This article traces the evolution of action cinema from its roots in early silent films to the present day, arguing that action emerged as its own standalone genre rather than merely serving as set dressing for Westerns, spy thrillers, and sci-fi adventures. The piece presents thirty essential action films spanning from 1953 to 2018, organized chronologically, with the caveat that it focuses primarily on movies made after 1970 when action truly crystallized as a primary genre, while briefly acknowledging influential precursors like *The Wages of Fear* and *Seven Samurai*. Each entry describes how the film either pioneered specific action techniques, influenced subsequent filmmakers, or achieved a perfect balance between visceral spectacle and emotional or character-driven storytelling that defines great action cinema.

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www.mensjournal.com

Nine Trails Added to U.S. National Trails System

The Interior Department added 340 miles of new trails across nine states to the National Trail System, bringing the total to over 91,000 miles, with all nine newly designated trails classified as National Recreation Trails rather than the longer scenic or historic trail categories. The additions range from a one-mile garden trail in Alabama to a 158-mile water trail spanning Wisconsin and Illinois, and include greenways, nature parks, and mountain biking destinations designed to support outdoor recreation and local economies.

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www.mensjournal.com

83-Year-Old Triathlete Joseph Maroon Shares the Six Daily Supplements He Swears By

Joseph Maroon, an 83-year-old neurosurgeon and competitive triathlete, credits his transformation from poor health at 40 to his current fitness level to a combination of six daily supplements—fish oil, turmeric, fisetin, resveratrol, trimethylglycine, and magnesium—along with a Mediterranean diet and avoidance of processed foods. Each supplement serves a specific function, from fish oil's cardiovascular benefits to magnesium's support for the intense exercise required in his seven triathlons since age 53. Maroon's regimen began as a response to depression and poor eating habits following personal losses, demonstrating that significant lifestyle improvements can start at middle age.

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www.fodors.com

Is There Anything You Can Do About Hidden Cameras at Your Airbnb?

CNN's investigation found that Airbnb receives tens of thousands of reports about hidden cameras in listings but has done little to address the problem, partly because the company owns no properties and thus faces minimal legal accountability. Although Airbnb banned indoor cameras globally in March 2024, the company quickly settles lawsuits with victims under non-disclosure agreements, rarely involves law enforcement, and provides no transparency about how it enforces the policy. Guests are left to conduct their own searches for cameras upon arrival, with no foolproof method available to ensure their privacy.

Permalink technologysafetyprivacytravel

apple.news

Cable Flys Can Carve Out Your Chest Faster Than Presses. Are You Using Them Right? — Men’s Health

While heavy pressing builds overall chest size and strength, cable chest flys are the superior exercise for carving definition and detail in the pecs, particularly as a finishing move. The key to maximizing the cable fly involves precise positioning—cables set just above shoulder height, a light grip near the base of your palm, and continuous shoulder blade engagement—combined with specific movement cues like stopping before a full crossover and leading with your pinkies to maximize the chest squeeze.

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