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Maeda 'nothing short of a legend' at Celtic
Celtic fans, we asked for your views after Daizen Maeda's move to promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town was confirmed. Ian: Daizen Maeda was appallingly let down by Celtic at the last minute and he struggled initially last season.
Audi must work with Volkswagen to realign business, CFO says
Volkswagen's premium brand Audi must work with the group towards a comprehensive restructuring, the subsidiary's finance chief said on Monday, after reporting declining sales in the first half of the year due to weakness in China and the U.S.
Nick Woltemade told he's free to leave Newcastle on loan
Newcastle United are planning to send Nick Woltemade out on loan for the 2026/27 season, according to The Athletic.The Premier League club have already informed the German forward of their decision, w...
'The Traitors' India Sets August Season 2 Premiere on Prime Video
Prime Video India will premiere 'The Traitors' season two in August, with Karan Johar returning to host 21 celebrity players.
50 Cent and Planet Hollywood Launch $100 Million Entertainment Venture in New York City
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is expanding his business empire with a new $100 million partnership that aims to transform Planet Hollywood’s flagship Times Square location into a celebrity-driven entertainment destination. Jackson and Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl announced the launch of PH Live, a new venue that will combine live music, film premieres, sporting events, […]
Restaurant owner launches GoFundMe after fire leaves Southside business “beyond repair”
Johnathan Streeter wrote that he noticed a burning smell at the restaurant around 4 p.m. Saturday, left the premises at 7 p.m., then got a call about 9:30 p.m. telling him the restaurant was on fire. He said the damage was so extensive “the restaurant is no longer fixable.”
Kilmarnock sell left-back Thompson to Beveren
Kilmarnock have sold left-back Dominic Thompson to Belgian top-flight club Beveren. The 25-year-old Englishman, who has signed a two-year contract with the side who won the Challenger Pro League to earn promotion last season, joined Kilmarnock from Scottish Premiership rivals Motherwell last summer. Thompson told Beveren's website he was pleased to join a team that "comes into this with a lot of confidence after an incredible unbeaten season".
Once valued at $2B, this Utah tech darling is selling off its business for a fraction of that
After racking up nearly a billion dollars in losses, a company once seen as a premier Utah tech success story is selling its core business.
Goals will come for Kilmarnock, says Kiltie
Greg Kiltie has "full faith" Kilmarnock will find their scoring form once the Premiership season gets under way. Despite creating a slew of chances, the Ayrshire side drew a blank in a goalless draw at Peterhead in their final Premier Sports Cup group game on Saturday. Despite losing the penalty shootout, a point was enough to ensure they finished top of Group H and progressed to the last 16.
I paid $1,500 to upgrade to Delta One for my Paris flight; worth it?
The author was offered a $1,500 upgrade to Delta One at check-in. She bought the premium ticket and details whether the experience was worth it.
Morocco Football Boss Enters Politics With Premier Bid Possible
Morocco’s football czar joined one of the kingdom’s biggest political parties, edging closer to a possible bid for the role of prime minister in September’s elections.
Mourinho Makes Vini Jr. Decision Amid Arsenal Transfer Interest
Mikel Arteta identified the Brazilian as a key target as Arsenal prepares to defend its Premier League crown.
'No panic' at St Johnstone after cup exit
St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari says there is "no panic" after his team were knocked out of the Premier Sports Cup after losing on penalty kicks to League One side East Fife. It was East Fife substitute Jaiden Fairley who scored the winning penalty in the bonus shootout, but they miss out on a runners-up place via goal difference.
Pamela Anderson says ‘no one’s reached out’ to her about ‘Baywatch’ reboot
Pamela Anderson revealed that ‘no one’s reached out’ to her about appearing in the ‘Baywatch’ reboot. She starred in the original iteration of the lifeguard drama series as C.J. Parker.
Arsenal exploring deal for Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior
The Brazil international is in the final 12 months of his contract and is a prominent target among others for the Premier League champions.
Basic Business? Platinum Pro? Premium Plus? Airlines have a naming problem—here’s how to fix it
Naming experts explain why Delta’s new ‘Basic Business’ class doesn’t work, and what airlines can do to make flying at least sound fun again.
Archers dominate Outlaws in Western Conference clash
First blood has been drawn in the push for the Western Conference regular-season crown. Through the whipping winds and driving rain, the Utah Archers dominated their conference rivals, the Denver...
Man City's Khusanov signs new five-year contract
Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov signed a five-year contract extension with the Premier League club on Saturday.Khusanov helped City win the FA Cup and League Cup last season, as well as finishing second in the Premier League.
Pennsylvania ACA health insurers propose double-digit premium increases for 2027
Nearly all health insurance companies that sell individual plans on Pennsylvania’s Affordable Care Act marketplace are asking for average premium increases ranging from 10.5% to as high as 41%
Robinson delays captaincy decision until cup group games complete
Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson intends to name his captain for the season ahead of their Premiership opener with Hearts, saying he has "four or five" options. Robinson has rotated the responsibility so far, with Kevin Nisbet, Brad Lyons and Dan Happe all being handed the skipper's armband during their three Premier Sports Cup victories. "We will change it again," said Robinson.
Affordable Care Act rates could increase again in Pennsylvania
People who buy their healthcare coverage in Pennsylvania through the Affordable Care Act are expected to see their premiums skyrocket.
Who needs what in Premier Sports Cup?
With one round of fixtures left in the Premier Sports Cup group stage, who needs what to progress this weekend?
Owen Foster stepping down as chair of state’s most powerful healthcare regulator
His tenure has been defined by a harder line on reining in hospital budgets and insurance premium increases. He plans to stay on as a board member.
Goodbye neck pillows: We tried Emirates' game-changing new headrest
Emirates' A350 economy cabin already included a handful of premium features, but the new U-Dream headrest is the best yet.
Can Emery transform Aston Villa again?
Aston Villa will still be seeking another top-four finish next season - when the Premier League landscape looks certain to be a lot different from last season and Villa are without many of their previous squad. After ending their 30-year wait for a trophy with May's Europa League win, can Emery continue to produce his magic? Last season, Villa's expected points was 48.50, which would have left them 12th - eight places below where they eventually finished.
Requested 2027 Affordable Care Act rate increases average 17.1% in Pennsylvania
Health insurers serving Pennsylvanians with coverage under the Affordable Care Act are proposing to increase premiums by an average of 17.1% for individuals...
'The Odyssey': Stop saying it needs to be watched in Imax 70mm
With 'The Odyssey,' Christopher Nolan put a spotlight on Imax 70mm and the hierarchy of premium formats. Which is applaudable, but not a future theatrical business model.
Pennsylvania ACA health insurers propose double-digit premium increases for 2027
The total average premium rate increase request in the individual market is 17%. Some insurers like Ambetter are requesting an average increase of 40%.
Unsecured Business Property Tax Bills to Be Mailed in July
Nevada County Treasurer-Tax Collector Michelle Bodley and Assessor Rolf Kleinhans remind local business owners that annual Unsecured Business Property Tax bills will be mailed in July, with payments due by August 31. Businesses are encouraged to review their bills promptly and pay by the due date to avoid penalties. Unsecured Business Property Tax is based […]
Comic-Con 2026 Panels, Activations, Cosplay & Convention Floor
San Diego Comic-Con's features Hall H panels, exclusive previews, world premieres and cast appearances from film, TV and gaming
People paid big money for Halo: Campaign Evolved's early access on Xbox and they aren't getting it
Reports are coming in of people unable to play Halo: Campaign Evolved's early access via its Premium Edition or Premium Edition Upgrade on the Xbox, but the developers are on the case to fix it
Midterm voting preferences by race and ethnicity, age, and other demographics
This is part of a larger report on Americans and the 2026 midterm elections. Several months ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Democrats hold a 6 percentage point edge over Republicans among registered voters on the generic ballot for Congress (43% vs. 37%). Two-in-ten voters say they are not sure (14%) or support another candidate […]
As the 2026 Midterms Approach, Economy Is Front and Center
Americans are now almost evenly split over which party they most agree with on economic policies: 37% say the Democrats, while 36% say the GOP.
The Morning Show heads off into the night.
Apple announced that one of its biggest early hits will be coming back for a fifth and final season in 2027. The Morning Show premiered alongside Apple TV as one of its prestige plays, with a notably star-studded cast. The news comes the same day Apple announced a new dating series. [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/072226_The_Morning_Show_Fifth_Final_Season_Announcement_Big_Image_02.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]
Halo Support 'Investigating' Issues With Premium Upgrade For Campaign Evolved
It launched with problems across Xbox and PC
Wright State University and Premier Health Nursing Academy expands affordable pathway to nursing careers amid growing demand
Financial support, paid clinical experience and a direct connection to Premier Health are helping Wright State nursing students graduate with less debt while building a stronger local healthcare workforce. Continue reading →
Health insurance costs leave older Mississippians without care
Because insurers can charge people in their 60s premiums three times higher than those in their 20s, many older adults enrolled under the Affordable Care Act saw some of the steepest price increases this year without the income-based subsidies.
I Only Needed One Episode of This Show to Know We're in for Some Messy Chaos
Looking for your next TV obsession? This binge-worthy series delivers messy drama, unforgettable personalities and a premiere that ends on a major cliffhanger. Find out more here.
Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts Health Plan CEO talks GLP-1 weigh-loss drug coverage
A year in, Point32Health CEO sits down to discuss insurance premiums, drug prices, and layoffs.
Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea: Crystal Palace defender is quick, excels when one-on-one and is a leader now too
France international Maxence Lacroix is a target for Chelsea after two successful seasons with Crystal Palace. But why do they want to sign him? Adam Bate looks at the defender’s record in the Premier League and examines what makes him such a special player…
Early Access Begins Today
If you pre-ordered the Halo: Campaign Evolved Digital Premium Edition or Collector’s Bundle, you can enjoy early-access play in both solo and four-player cross-play co-op starting today!
You Can Now Fly Delta Business Class for a Lot Less, but There’s a Catch
Travelers can now book cheaper premium cabin tickets on Delta, but they’ll give up flexibility, lounge access, and other perks depending on the fare.
Unsecured Business Property Tax Bills to Be Mailed in July
Nevada County Treasurer-Tax Collector Michelle Bodley and Assessor Rolf Kleinhans remind local business owners that annual Unsecured Business Property Tax bills will be mailed in July, with payments d
Governor Healey announces $72 million in health care savings for 2027
Gov. Maura Healey announced today that the Massachusetts Division of Insurance has secured a projected $72 million in health care premium savings for residents and businesses in 2027.
The first mom in space shares the weight of science
The “Once Upon a Time in Space” four-part series reveals the human stories that are often untold within conversations about the science of space exploration. New episodes premier Tuesda…
‘Stuart Fails to Save the Universe’ review: A bafflingly unfunny spinoff
A spinoff of "The Big Bang Theory," "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe" (premiering Thursday on HBO and HBO Max) ultimately plays as one big shrug.
Then vs. Now: Bo Jackson vs. J.K. Dobbins
Jackson is already really reminding me of J.K. Dobbins
Biz Talk Today TV's Franchise Value Spotlights the Business Behind Sports with Investment Strategist Shana Orczyk Sissel
CrossCheck Media announced today that Franchise Value, its newest original series on Biz Talk Today TV, officially premiered this month and returns today with another in-depth examination of one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global economy—the business of sports.
Upgraded to premium economy on long flight; better value than business
Upgrading to premium economy on my long Qantas flight between the US and Australia felt like a great value, especially compared to business class.
What the sudden demise of the UK’s department of science means for the future of research
If we want to be reminded what real damage to a science system looks like, we only need to glance across the Atlantic.
Eclipse Business Capital Provides $55MM ABL Credit Facility to Food & Beverage Industry
Eclipse Business Capital (EBC) provided a $55 million asset-based lending credit facility to a premier frozen food supplier.
Roberto De Zerbi: Tottenham's transfer business 'not finished yet'
Roberto De Zerbi says Tottenham's summer rebuild is far from complete, insisting the club's transfer business is "not finished yet" as he looks to shape a squad capable of competing at the top of the Premier League.
Insurers cut prices in hunt for new oil and gas business
Projects in safe regions become more highly prized and send premiums down as competition rises
'Star Trek: The Next Generation' cast: See what became of the Enterprise crew nearly 40 years later
'Star Trek: The Next Generation' ushered in a golden age for the beloved franchise. See Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, and more nearly 40 years after the premiere.
Where to watch The Real Housewives of London Season 1 premiere tonight
Bravoholics, your new favorite reality show has arrived from across the pond.
Xteink's Next Pocket-Sized E-Reader Could (Almost) Replace Your Kindle
The Xteink X4 Pro adds more premium features over earlier models—though it's still not for everyone.
Hailup Is Building the Digital Future of the Caribbean Entertainment Industry
ATLANTA, Georgia , July 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hailup Influencers Inc., founded by Byron Aris, is transforming how Caribbean influencers, artists, and creative professionals connect with fans and generate income worldwide. Designed exclusively for Caribbean talent, Hailup enables creators to monetize their brands through personalized video messages, premium fan experiences, live streaming, and exclusive digital content while strengthening authentic connections with audiences across the Car
Is that food really made with 100% avocado oil? Likely not
A new study finds that consumers who are paying a premium for foods advertised as made with avocado oil are probably not getting what they think they're buying.
Premier Lacrosse League Quietly Struck Exclusive Deal With Polymarket
The deal with the Premier Lacrosse League was signed earlier this year.
Coming to XBOX Game Pass: Halo: Campaign Evolved, Beast of Reincarnation, and More
Suit up Spartans, it’s time to jump into Halo: Campaign Evolved (plus a whole bunch of other games). We’ve got more coming into Premium, some Day One with XBOX Game Pass games, and more. Let’s get to it!
Tuesday letters: Voter outreach, farewell, Roan Plateau drilling and national politics
Get out the vote As the November elections approach, we are reminded that democracy depends on active participation. Voting is one of the most important ways citizens can make their voices heard and help shape...
Miami's cost of living now tops New York City's despite Florida's tax advantages
Rising property taxes, insurance premiums and 36% inflation since 2019 have pushed Miami's cost of living above New York City's for the first time on record.
Moebius Picks Up ‘Happily Ever After’ Ahead of Toronto Premiere
Hong Kong-based sales agency has acquired world rights excluding Taiwan to Fiona Roan Feng-I's second feature, selected for Special Presentations.
'Kimmel' Guest Host Colman Domingo Trolls MAGA With Epic Melania Trump Reminder
The actor mocked right-wing outrage over the cast of “The Odyssey.”
UFC Freedom 250 Fails to Knock Out The Ratings
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) If UFC fans wanted one image to say, “Hey, Paramount+ is crushing it with their UFC rights deal,” I could provide that image. Here it is: (Reminder: this is my creation of the Nielsen Top 30, since Nielsen doesn’t combine the lists or include sports. I take all three lists and combine them. Some streaming TV shows probably have higher ratings than many of the films on this list.) Look at that! UFC Freedom 250 is number one! It topped the Nielsen “Top 30” list for shows and films that made the top ten the week of 15-June. So if you’re a UFC fan or supporter of Paramount+, that’s the good news for you this week. This program topped the ratings charts for one week. Everything else is bad news, or at least a huge caveat to that story, which I’ll explain today in the first part of this week’s Streaming Ratings Report—for the weeks of 8-June and 15-June—which is a double issue since I’ve been writing on a bunch of topics recently. UFC Freedom 250 is one of the biggest streaming events of the year, and super relevant to Paramount+’s strategy, so it merited its own article. Let’s dive in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of June 8th to June 21st 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Check Out My Interview on UFC 250 at MMA Draw After you read this article, if you want even more thoughts on UFC and Paramount-Skydance/Paramount+, I did a written interview with MMA Draw. They asked me to answer some questions about UFC Freedom 250, and I was happy to chat with them. Find it here: [ The MMA Draw Newsletter Did Paramount really overpay for the UFC? What the data tells us so far If you know the history of American television, you also know that combat sports is often a leading indicator of the future… Read more a day ago · 10 likes · 1 comment · Nate Wilcox and Zach Arnold ](https://www.themmadraw.com/p/did-paramount-really-overpay-for?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) I never thought I’d need a combat sports newsletter in my life, but the good folks at MMA Draw publish an excellent one on UFC, MMA, pro wrestling, boxing and more, analyzing both the sports themselves and the politics, economics and antitrust issues that impact them. Check the article and their newsletter out! Paramount+ Has Its Best Sporting Event of All Time…But Was It Worth It? Before we look at the UFC Freedom 250 data in particular, let’s talk about what we can’t say. Namely, let’s start with the lack of comparisons. First off, I’d love to put a chart out comparing this fight to past UFC fights on Paramount+…but we don’t have the data. This is the first time we’ve gotten Nielsen data about a Paramount+ UFC fight. As far as I can tell, Paramount provided data for the first fight, but it was a proprietary datecdote (saying it had “an average minute audience” of 5 million “views”) and then, for two fights, we got the linear viewership numbers when they aired on CBS, but no streaming data. Everything else was crickets. We also can’t compare this fight to other fights/combat sports on streaming, in particular the MMA and boxing, because Netflix also didn’t use Nielsen to track those events, opting for TVision and VideoAmp, respectively. (This isn’t Paramount’s fault, but does still suck.) We also can’t compare to UFC’s fights that used to be on ESPN+, since we don’t have any data for that, plus Disney+ didn’t have marquee fights. The comparisons would not be apples-to-apples. Can we compare to past Pay-Per-View fights? Absolutely not. The comparisons would absolutely NOT be apples-to-apples. That didn’t stop Paramount+, though, who bragged that their UFC events have reached drastically more people than past PPV fights. Duh. Sorry, but I gotta make this point again. A basic tenet of economics is that the cheaper something becomes, the more people consume or buy it. That’s Econ 101. (Sometimes pundits call things “Econ 101” that are actually like Econ 210 or even PhD-level economics, but no, this is really like first or second class basic economics.) Yet I still see one analytics firm consistently say that more people watch films on streaming than PVOD proves streaming which means that the streaming window is more valuable than the PVOD window. No, it’s not! Same thing here. Pay-Per-View events back in the day could be really, really, really expensive! So whole groups of people pitched in to buy them. That increased the perceived value of, say, the Mike Tyson fight. Or a UFC numbered event. So yes, the fact that Paramount+ makes numbered UFC fights essentially “free” if you’re already a Paramount+ member means consumption will go up. Obviously. Same for Netflix and their boxing matches. They’re talking about fights that used to cost consumers, in some cases, $50 in 1996…which is over $100 in today’s dollars. Over 1.6 million people paid that to watch the Tyson-Holyfield fight! Again, streaming is essentially “free”. Or $10 to $20, depending on what streamer we’re talking about and what tier you’re on. No wonder more people are “watching”. (Plus, Nielsen’s out-of-home viewing also helps these numbers.) UFC Freedom 250 Did Well…But I Have A Lot of Worries So what can we compare the fights to? Well, the good news is Nielsen put out that the fight averaged 7.0 million viewers for UFC Freedom 250, which is a solid number for a fight. We also know the length, at roughly 4 and a half hours. (I saw different run times, but this seems to be the consensus considering it started at 8 pm, had a delay and then finished after midnight on the East Coast. If you assume a shorter run time, then yes, the total hours viewed would go down.) That means I have the two numbers needed to add this to my Nielsen database. And then…I can compare this viewership to the NFL: And, uh, not great. But also within striking distance, mainly because the runtime for this event was so long. I’d also add that this event had viewership equal to a regular season NFL game on streaming, but if anything, it was more comparable to an NFL playoff or Super Bowl-esque event. And you can compare viewership to the top football games on broadcast, cable and streaming, and it’s not impressive at all: We can also compare it to other sports that week, including the NBA Finals and start of the World Cup: Again, not great. The NBA generated roughly four times as many average viewers each game for its NBA Finals. The World Cup has similarly big numbers. Also, that’s just a tiny fraction of the 25 most watched sporting events each week. The NBA, NHL and FIFA World Cup had many, many more games racking up hours. We could also compare this to other streaming programs to get an idea of “is this a good investment?” and here is how it ranks compared to other top Paramount+ programs: The worry here? Well, unlike scripted programming, which has rewatchability, older fights/sporting events have very little library value. Very, very few people are rewatching these fights, especially years from now. Paramount has also released datecdotes bragging about their subscriber numbers. Earlier this year, they claimed that the first UFC fight on Paramount+ brought in 1 million subscribers. Then, in their quarterly earnings report, they only ended up with 700K subs. Not great! They claimed they dropped lower-value international subscribers, but that’s why I tend to discount subscriber additions when they’re leaked to the press.1 I expect we may see a bump again for UFC Freedom 250, but I’d caution using subscriber growth so soon after these events to judge the success, since new subs with high churn (see Peacock) aren’t great either. Also, analysts often want to attribute all subscriber growth to their favorite/pet show, and that just doesn’t make sense. The biggest caveat for UFC Freedom 250 and Paramount’s very first UFC marquee event is that these could be high watermarks for the sport. UFC Freedom 250 had an incredible amount of earned media coverage compared to most UFC fights. I mean, it had wall-to-wall national news coverage in the lead up to the event. (The first fight also had a lot of promotion from Paramount since it was first.) Other fights could reach this bar—say the Conor McGregor return to the Octagon—but they’ll be fewer and far between. Was This Deal Worth It? All to ask: is this Paramount deal worth it? In this case, I think the UFC Freedom 250 numbers are more distracting than helpful. This fight did well and compares well to other top sporting events. But we know that the first marquee event was at least a third smaller, if Paramount’s own data is to be believed. And it’s likely the other fights are much, much, much smaller. And then you get to the paycheck that Paramount-Skydance paid. FIFA’s World Cup cost about the same for Fox, but clearly generated multiples more total viewership. (Though it’s only every four years.) The NBA is much more expensive, but until the playoffs, they likely didn’t pay for itself. Even still, Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video likely overpaid. So, in that context, the NBA may be an overpay that makes the UFC look not so bad. But two overpays don’t make an underpay, to paraphrase the old cliché about wrongs and rights. And looking at UFC Freedom 250 as the likely ceiling of MMA on Paramount+, Paramount-Skydance likely paid too much. Share 1 I would love regular reports on subscriber additions by programs, but as is, it’s mostly leaked or rumored in haphazard ways.
ICYMI: See a teaser for Ariana Grande's new video
At the end of her concert Saturday night in Brooklyn, New York, Ariana Grande premiered the trailer for the video for "petal," the title track of her new album. She later shared the teaser on Instagra...
"Professional lurker" Todd Howard reappears on internet forums following Bethesda's Fallout and Elder Scrolls announcements to thank fans for their support
Reddit is apparently a font of inspiration for Fallout and Elder Scrolls boss Todd Howard, and he's back being active there again.
Science can serve dark as well as light
I’m not sure how many of you are watching “Star City,” Apple TV’s spin-off of its “For All Mankind” program (2019-present), but it’s one of the better sci-fi series I’ve seen in a while, with an impressively dark political message. (Some light spoilers below.) For the uninitiated, “For All Mankind” presented a slightly tweaked history of the U.S. space program in which it was the USSR that landed on the Moon first in 1969, and shortly thereafter put a woman cosmonaut on the lunar surface. This sparks an ongoing space race that, in the original series, yields a lot of benefits for humanity. President Nixon’s insistence on a female astronaut corps to compete with the Soviets boosts the feminist movement of the 1970s and the ERA passes. New fuels generated for the space program create clean and cheap energy around Earth. There are also some darker changes — the USSR is thriving well into the 2000s, there are terrorist counter-technology movements around the globe, laborers on Mars work in nightmarish conditions and organize strikes and riots, etc. the @smotus report is a reader-supported publication. To support this work, please become a paid subscriber. Subscribe That show offers glimpses into the subtle ways this Earth is different. Teddy Kennedy never went to Chappaquidick because he was racing back to Washington to deal with the space program crisis; he gets elected President in 1972. John Lennon survives his early 1980s shooting but Pope John Paul II does not. The Apple Newton succeeded. Pretty much the whole of season 4 is a setup for an Al Gore joke. Again, mostly, the vision that “For All Mankind” presents is a positive one, with technology advancing many human interests. “Star City” goes in a very different direction. This spin-off show is about the same set of events but from the Soviet perspective. As we meet them, the team of scientists and cosmonauts responsible for the lunar landing are still basking in their hero status, but their program is embedded deep in the Soviet security state of the late 1960s. Everyone’s apartment is bugged. Whole teams of clerical staff spend their days transcribing recordings of people’s lives. People in the program, including respected cosmonauts, are regularly arrested. An incredibly menacing Colonel Lyudmilla Raskova (Anna Maxwell Martin) forces confessions and tortures and kills, expressing little more than annoyance in the process. Meanwhile, the space program’s highly respected Chief Designer (Rhys Ifans) has a vision for the program that he knows the government will not approve. He insists that they need to think past the Moon to focus on colonizing the solar system, starting with Venus. (This is a rough parallel to the Americans’ pivot to Mars in the original show.) He essentially builds a secret space program within the space program, calculating that the government will embrace the mission after it has succeeded. (As an aside, I’m not sure why the Venus obsession, as a successful mission can’t produce the biggest public relations payoff: a cosmonaut standing on the surface holding the Soviet flag. Anyone standing on Venus would be immediately crushed by the 92-bar atmosphere and then cremated in the 900°F temperatures. But in a country with no free press perhaps the visual payoff was less valued.) But the overall vision is that the technological advances have only amplified the most fearsome aspects of the Soviet system. The state is paranoid (but not incorrect) about American spies and does monstrous things to protect its secrets. People are terrified to trust each other. Classic banality-of-evil figures order people to harm those they care about; those people comply rather than get shot. Others are forced into criminal behavior to protect loved ones. We’re reminded all the time these days of what happens when a government despises science. It manifests in the defunding of schools, the elevation of fossil fuels as the rest of the world pivots to solar, outbreaks of measles and diarrhea, etc. But “Star City” offers a vision of a bad government that likes science. It’s not encouraging. It’s not yet clear if there will be a season two of this show. But I strongly recommend season one. It’s both thoughtful and gripping. Share
METZ Launches the New MNH7000Z QD-MiniLED TV in Italy, Bringing Premium Home Entertainment to a New Level.
ROME, July 20, 2026--METZ officially announced the launch of its new QD-MiniLED TV MNH7000Z in Italy on May 20, combining advanced display technologies, immersive entertainment features and elegant design to deliver a premium home entertainment experience.
Forgotten ‘90s Sci-Fi Classic Is Begging For A Reboot
A brilliant multiverse premise deserved better. This cult sci-fi favorite is the rare series that could truly benefit from a fresh reboot.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 phones compared: Which one is right for you?
Motorola recently introduced the Motorola Edge 70 Max, a phone powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. In terms of compute metrics, this system-on-chip represents the absolute pinnacle of high-end value engineering, serving as the next best sub-flagship silicon right after the ultra-premium Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. It delivers sustained frame rates and high […]
Op-Ed: School employees' health costs are everyone's problem
As premiums soar by more than a third, lawmakers have an opportunity to change how we bargain for coverage
‘The Odyssey’ storms the globe in record-breaking $264 million box office premiere
Christopher Nolan whipped up a serious squall at the box office this weekend, with his ‘Odyssey’ adaptation shattering a ‘Dark Knight’ record with $264 million in its global premiere.
What scientists felt when approaching Egyptian mummies will truly shock you - Futura-Sciences
The Surprising Role of Scents in Ancient Egyptian Burial Rites In ancient Egypt, smell was far from a trivial detail: it was a crucial part of funerary rituals. Pleasant fragrances were linked to the gods and purity, while foul odors were a direct reminder of decay and death. For Egyptians,...
After Alan Rangel stumbles, how much longer can Phillies wait on No. 5 spot?
Alan Rangel’s rough outing was another reminder that the Phillies’ No. 5 starter spot is a black hole and remains a glaring deadline issue.
How To use Claude's Reflect dashboard and learn when it's time to touch grass
Break reminders are your friend.
5 Reasons Why Some Gamers Swear By Sennheiser Headphones
Sennheiser headphones match premium listener profiles, have great spatial imaging, multiple open-back architecture options, and an optimized ergonomic design.
Why do we need a nasty parasite to remind us public health matters?
Food experts tell me that federal cuts might not have directly impacted detection of this outbreak, but it could make it harder to learn from this one.
Nesbitt may face lengthy Falkirk absence
Falkirk manager John McGlynn fears midfielder Aidan Nesbitt may be out for 12 weeks. Nesbitt, 29, came off after 12 minutes of Falkirk's opening Premier Sports Cup win at Edinburgh City. The Bairns then lost to Ayr United and are still to play Alloa Athletic and Stranraer.
World Cup final on Sunday; see where to watch 📲
Today’s Highlights 🔥World Cup16:00 – Spain vs Argentina – SporTV, Rede Globo, SBT, NSports, Globoplay, CazéTV, Disney+ Premium, Ge TV Veikkausliiga (Finnish Championship)12:30 – FF Jaro vs...
Kool-Aid McKinstry is about to silence every doubter
Kool-Aid McKinstry flashed elite playmaking ability in 2025, but inconsistency kept him from reaching the next level. With Brandon Staley’s new defensive system in place, the young Saints cornerback could be on the verge of becoming one of the NFL’s premier shutdown defenders in 2026.
Free Fall 2.0 Puts The Front Office At A Crossroads
Too bad the crossroads seem to overlook a cliff on all sides, but which way do you want to go? This reminds me of a trip to Europe years ago in which Siri instructed, calmly, “turn left”. Only we were driving on a mountain road and for as long as the eye could see a […]
Business founder, philanthropist T. Denny Sanford dies
T. Denny Sanford, the founder and chairman of First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard and the most significant philanthropist in South Dakota history, has died at age 90.
Nara Smith says 2-year-old-daughter Whimsy's cancer is in remission
The content creator, known for making elaborate meals while wearing glamorous ensembles, tells her TikTok and Instagram followers that she and her husband have spent the last eight months processing their daughter’s health battle.
So, Are You Getting The Premium Upgrade For Halo: Campaign Evolved?
Launch is just a few days away!
Sphere Entertainment: Too Many Unanswered Questions
Sphere Entertainment (SPHR) rated Sell: high capex, unproven sphere demand, $330M depreciation drag and premium valuation. See more details here.
Lucky Strike Entertainment: Gutter Ball
LUCK stock outlook: declining brand interest, high debt, and a 22% EV/EBITDA premium despite just 2% forward EBITDA growth: read why it’s a SELL now.
Apple raises prices for Apple Music and Apple One subscriptions
Apple has raised the price of Apple Music today in the United States and other countries. Starting today, Apple Music’s...
Two Ohio State Buckeye Legends, One Picture Frame
Two of the best Ohio State Buckeyes pose for a picture together, reminding us just how good we have had it watching the last 10 years of Ohio State Football.
Iowa health insurers propose premium increases for ACA customers
Iowa health insurance companies are proposing another round of premium increases for Affordable Care Act customers in 2027.
Kartoon Studios Advances IP-Focused Strategy with Sale of Frederator Channel Network Business
Company Retains Key Frederator Studios IP For Licensing Opportunities Strategic Transaction Continues Company’s Realignment Towards the Monetization of Premium Intellectual Property BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., July 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kartoon Studios, Inc. (NYSE American: TOON) ("Kartoon Studios" or the "Company"), a global entertainment company creating, producing, distributing and licensing children's and family content, today announced the strategic sale of Frederator Networks' Channel Ne
Raccoon in Whitesboro tests positive for rabies, health officials warn
A raccoon in Whitesboro has tested positive for rabies, and county health officials say it's a good reminder to know the warning signs of rabies.
Helium Comedy Gets Into Original Content With New Division Led By Maureen Taran
EXCLUSIVE: Helium Comedy, one of the United States’ premier independent comedy club operators, is getting into original content with the launch of a new division overseen by Maureen Taran. Conceived a...
NC State Health Plan overhauls insurer, hospital network and premiums. What to know
State employees will see numerous changes.
AI Isn't Replacing The MBA. It's Redefining What Business Leaders Need To Know
Employers are automating entry-level jobs & paying a premium for MBA grads. Judgement, not output, is now the real curriculum.
California employer health premiums will cost as much as a new car in 2027
Employers are bracing for what could be the highest rise in health insurance premiums in 16 years, driving up the cost of family coverage in California to more than $30,000.
California employer health premiums will cost as much as a new car in 2027
Employers are bracing for what could be the highest rise in health insurance premiums in 16 years, driving up the cost of family coverage in California to more than $30,000.
Samsung's next premium tablet just leaked in images, confirming our worst fears
Leaked renders of the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra point to an unchanged design for Samsung's flagship tablet, including the notch nobody asked for.