SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " favorite " 1,264 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Shaky political "science": breakdown of the peer review process
[This article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in December 2025, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting (RCV). Many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first four articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report; the second one analyzed a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report; a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research; and a fourth article that analyzed seven studies sponsored by New America’s political reform program that deployed flawed methodology based on “simulated” elections instead of real-world elections, which when combined with some basic misunderstandings of RCV, produced odd and misleading results]. In this fifth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we examine two flawed studies on the impact of RCV on voter turnout authored by San Francisco State University professor Jason McDaniel. McDaniel’s research in these two papers stands out for its puzzling methodology, inadequate and cherry-picked data, and faulty analyses that not only misunderstands ranked choice voting but reflects a basic misunderstanding of politics in general. The first of the McDaniel studies actually passed through a peer review process and then was subsequently published by the Journal of Urban Affairs, despite its obvious errors. It is perplexing that a jury of peer political scientists did not catch the errors and send it back to McDaniel for a rewrite or outright rejection. This calls into question the credibility of the peer review process itself. The peer review process is supposed to represent the intellectual pinnacle of the profession – a way for academics to certify the quality of each other’s work, and to act as a check against sloppy research. In the case of the McDaniel study, the peer review process failed. Yet his flawed study has been cited dozens of times by other political scientists in their own flawed works — an unvirtuous circle of academic research. Here is the first Jason McDaniel study that we analyzed: “Writing the Rules to Rank the Candidates: Examining the Impact of Instant-Runoff Voting on Racial Group Turnout in San Francisco Mayoral Elections,” by Jason McDaniel, 2016, Journal of Urban Affairs. This study covered San Francisco’s use of ranked choice voting (RCV) in mayoral elections, purporting to show that RCV reduces voter turnout overall, increases voter errors, and has a negative impact on “marginal populations,” i.e. racial minorities, mainly as the result of the alleged complexity of RCV asking voters to rank candidates and having to be familiar with multiple candidates and related dynamics. McDaniel reached these conclusions by examining five San Francisco mayoral elections taking place in odd years (i.e. where there are no federal or state races on the ballot) from 1995 to 2011, comparing three earlier non-RCV races (in 1995, 1999 and 2003) with the later two RCV races (in 2007 and 2011). Only two RCV races were studied, and as McDaniel acknowledged, only the contest in 2011 was “competitive” (that contest in 2007 was the first mayoral election using RCV, and incumbent mayor Gavin Newsom won easily in the first round of counting, earning 74% of first choices and far ahead of the second place candidate who had just 6.3% of first choices). Yet even the allegedly competitive contest in 2011was won by an incumbent with a landslide margin of nearly 20 points. No other elections were studied by McDaniel, even though San Francisco elects 17 other offices besides mayor with RCV, including the 11 seats on the Board of Supervisors (the name for the city council) in even years, and six other citywide offices in odd years. Previous academic research has found that competitive elections can stimulate greater voter involvement and higher turnout. For unexplained reasons, this study ignored at least 34 other RCV races between the years 2004 to 2011, many of which were very competitive and had high voter turnout. Instead, McDaniel’s analysis based its conclusions on data from only a single, marginally-competitive mayor’s race using RCV. These 2007 and 2011 mayoral elections were the only two RCV elections that McDaniel used as the sole basis for his small data set to determine the impact of RCV on voter turnout. Despite having no meaningful data to inform his study, McDaniel nonetheless concluded that RCV lowered turnout when compared to the previous three mayoral non-RCV elections using two-round runoffs. Then, using the same inadequate database of San Francisco elections, McDaniel also found that “Instant-runoff voting is associated with a significant decline in Black voter turnout and White voter turnout…On average, Black voter turnout decreases by 18 points and White voter turnout decreases by 16 points …” But how could he credibly arrive at that conclusion when his study was based on voter turnout in two RCV contests that were not even remotely competitive? Beyond that, McDaniel tacitly admits that the key determining factor driving Black voter turnout was not RCV vs non-RCV elections, but the presence of a viable Black candidate. McDaniel wrote, “Black voter turnout was about 17 percentage points higher for the two elections that featured an African American candidate compared to the three elections that did not” — but one of those three elections did not use RCV. The same dynamic was present for White voter turnout, in which higher turnout was not correlated with RCV vs non-RCV elections, but the presence of a viable White candidate. Beyond that, McDaniel’s voter turnout results, whether correlated with the race of the candidates or RCV vs non-RCV elections, showed no clear patterns. In his Figure 1, he shows low Asian voter turnout in the non-RCV elections in 1999 and 2003 when there was no viable Asian candidate running, but in the 2007 mayoral election using RCV, there is still no viable Asian candidate, yet Asian turnout increases dramatically. For Latinos, voter turnout is virtually the same in 1999 (no viable Latino candidate, non-RCV elections), 2003 (leading Latino candidate, non-RCV elections), 2007 (no viable Latino candidate, RCV elections) and 2011 (leading Latino candidate, RCV elections). Meanwhile White voter turnout increased dramatically from a low in the 2007 mayoral election, in which the leading candidate was a white incumbent, to the 2011 election in which there were no leading white candidates that finished any higher than sixth place with 5.6% of the vote. Clearly other factors were determining voter turnout than either the race of the candidates or RCV vs non-RCV elections. Despite these inconsistent findings, McDaniel boldly marches forth to render conclusions about the impact of RCV on different groups of racial voters, even though his conclusions are not remotely supported by his data. This looks like the worst kind of “data cherry picking” to cover up a puzzling conclusion based on a poor data set involving only two RCV elections, neither of which were remotely competitive. McDaniel’s cherry picking didn’t stop there. In calculating voter turnout for the three non-RCV mayoral elections in 1995, 1999 and 2003, he failed to mention that in each of these years there was a two-round runoff election, with a first round election in November in which no candidate garnered a winning majority of the vote, followed by the decisive runoff in December. So there were two non-RCV elections in each election year. But McDaniel only decided to include one of the two elections in his data set, apparently the December runoff in each year (which had higher turnout in two out of the three mayor’s races, and lower turnout in the third). So he ignored the November 1995 election, the November 1999 election when turnout was only 45 percent, and the November 2003 election when turnout was only 45.7 percent. This is flawed methodology based on blatant cherry picking, since McDaniel simply omitted three elections worth of data that did not fit within his frame. His study should never have made it through a peer review process, and it is an embarrassment to political science that not only was it approved for publication, but it has been uncritically cited by dozens of other political scientists. Share A “study” without wider context or credible data Lacking a data set that included even a single competitive RCV mayoral race, McDaniel declared that RCV lowered voter turnout in 2011, when turnout was 42.5 percent. But he also ignored -- or did not realize -- that voter turnout in mayoral elections during 2011 had sharply declined in all big cities, including far more steeply in nearby Los Angeles and other cities. In fact, San Francisco’s election in 2011 had the second highest turnout of any mayoral election in the nation’s 22 largest cities from 2008-2011. Was 2011 just a particularly low turnout year all across the country, perhaps because the country was still reeling from the aftermath of the housing market collapse in 2008-2010? McDaniel ignored this factor and did not search for alternative explanations beyond his flawed thesis. Furthermore, while McDaniel suggested that RCV leads to more “overvotes” – which is an invalidated ballot in which a voter, in either a non-RCV or RCV race, makes a mistake and selects two candidates for a single choice – he failed to address that in the June 2012 US Senate primary contest, which used the typical “one-choice” plurality method and did not use RCV, there was more than five times as many overvotes in San Francisco and Oakland than in the RCV mayoral elections in those cities. Additionally, turnout had been significantly higher and more representative in RCV elections for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors races -- that McDaniel didn’t even bother to study -- as compared to previous “delayed two-round runoffs” for those offices, often higher by as much as 40% in the RCV races. Perhaps the most surprising irony was that an earlier study co-authored by McDaniel (Overvoting and the Equality of Voice under Instant-Runoff Voting in San Francisco by Francis Neely and Jason McDaniel, 2015, California Journal of Politics and Policy) found that overvotes are often more common in lower-income precincts, but that the pattern of overvoting is similar in both RCV and non-RCV contests. Wrote Neely and McDaniel: “[Overvote] errors appear to be a function of complexity in general and not IRV per se…. the pattern of overvoting is similar in both IRV and non-IRV contests…Even among votes cast in a top-of-the-ticket race like U.S. Senate, overvoting occurs in an uneven fashion” (IRV, or ‘instant runoff voting,’ is another name for ranked choice voting in single-winner contests). So McDaniel not only contradicted his own conclusion in his earlier study with Neely, but the earlier study had been an important corrective for one of the most frequently made mistakes made by anti-RCV political scientists – a continual failure to provide crucial context by pairing a comparative analysis of real world RCV elections with an analysis of real world plurality or other electoral methods. Unfortunately McDaniel’s earlier study does not get cited much by other researchers, and McDaniel did not even cite it in his own flawed study analyzed above. Incredibly, McDaniel cherrypicked McDaniel, even as his flawed study has been cited dozens of times. Despite being a textbook example of poor political “science,” featuring both inadequate as well as cherrypicked data, the shelf life of McDaniel’s study has been extended endlessly by other political scientists and media outlets who have cited it uncritically. Equally troubling, the Journal of Urban Affairs put this paper through its peer review process and published it despite its numerous flaws. McDaniel gets it wrong, Part II Not content with producing one shoddy, confused paper, McDaniel produced another one a few years later, here is the link: Electoral Rules and Voter Turnout in Mayoral Elections: An Analysis of Ranked-Choice Voting by Jason McDaniel. San Francisco State Univ. (McDaniel, 2019). In this paper, McDaniel extended his previous flawed research focused on San Francisco, about voter turnout and voter impact, to multiple RCV cities through the 2018 elections. In his data set he included San Francisco, Minneapolis, St Paul, Oakland, Berkeley, San Leandro and Santa Fe. He then compared their turnout in mayoral elections to non-RCV cities, and to mayoral elections in those cities held before first RCV usage, and concluded “a significant decrease in voter turnout of approximately 3–5 percentage points in RCV cities after the implementation of RCV.” But he replicated many of the same mistakes as his first study presented above. While in this study McDaniel attempted to distinguish between various factors, such as odd year vs. even year elections, competitive races vs. noncompetitive, contests with open seats and other factors, the analysis is superficial and inadequate. He attempts to incorporate so many often-conflicting variables that his conclusions are once again unsupported by the actual data, and ultimately unconvincing (this second study never underwent a peer review process). For example, McDaniel declared that for RCV cities “in elections that are more competitive than average (margin of victory less than 20%), there is no significant RCV effect on voter turnout.” Yet McDaniel is a professor in a city, San Francisco, in which the 2018 special election using RCV to fill a mayoral vacancy was exceedingly close, decided by a margin of only one percentage point, and resulted in the second highest turnout in San Francisco history for a mayoral election. Illustrating the complexity involved in assessing the critical factors in turnout, that special election was held on the same election day as federal and state offices, which tends to boost turnout. Yet more voters participated in that RCV mayoral election than voted on the same day in the non-RCV primary for governor in which former San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom was running. Even more puzzling, in this study McDaniel inaccurately cited his own previous study from 2015 with Neely. McDaniel wrote, “Neely and McDaniel (2015) examine individual ballot image files within a natural experiment, and find higher rates of ballot errors in RCV elections compared to non-RCV elections” (emphasis added). However, we quoted from that 2015 study several paragraphs above, and in actual fact Neely and McDaniel actually concluded the opposite -- that the pattern of overvoting – which is the most common form of ballot error – is similar in both RCV and non-RCV contests. McDaniel also ignored the fact that in Bay Area RCV elections held in even years – at the same time as federal and state elections, when turnout is highest -- the “undervote” (that is, the dropoff in ballots cast for governor or mayor) has declined, which contradicts his thesis that the act of ranking ballots in RCV elections is too complex and presents a barrier for certain demographics of voters. To his credit, McDaniel actually acknowledged another contradiction in his own paper, which found a negative RCV turnout effect in some odd-year elections but not others, admitting that “may present a challenge to the theory that increased complexity [from RCV] will have a marginal negative effect on voter turnout.” But he tried to wallpaper over that contradiction by blaming it on an unlikely source -- bad election administration. McDaniels wrote, “This would suggest that the negative impact of RCV on voter participation may be alleviated by high quality election administration,” without presenting any data or even anecdotes to support such an unfounded theory. While competent election administration of any election, whether RCV or non-RCV, is crucially important, there is no credible research that supports the far-fetched notion that the quality of election administration has much of an impact on voter turnout in US elections, whether using RCV or otherwise. Upgrade to a $5 subscription The unvirtuous circle of academic research It is puzzling how McDaniel’s first study could have survived the peer review process for the Journal of Urban Affairs. The mistakes in McDaniel’s first study above should have been obvious to anyone with a basic understanding of ranked choice voting as well as elections in general, and elections in San Francisco specifically. It undermines faith in the credibility of the peer review process to think that a jury of peer political scientists did not catch the egregious errors and reject McDaniel’s sloppy research and paper. And it remains a black mark on political science that this thoroughly discredited study has been cited dozens of times by other researchers. Indeed, in our research paper it became apparent that many political scientists cite each other’s flawed research to pad their list of citations and to legitimize their own flawed research, creating an unvirtuous circle of political science. More broadly, McDaniel’s voter turnout studies, like other studies evaluating RCV’s impact on turnout, lacked a recognition that no credible opinion or research can claim that RCV increases voter turnout merely because so many voters are excited to vote for their favorite candidates instead of “lesser evil” candidates without worrying about spoilers. Instead, with respect to turnout, the advantage of RCV has always been that, in most places where it has been used, it has eliminated a pre-November primary or post-November runoff, which usually saw about half the turnout of the November general election. This is especially true during even years when there are state and federal elections on the ballot which substantially drive turnout more than local contests. Any study that does not adequately account for this non-November primary/runoff vs November general election dynamic, or odd year vs even year election factors, is simply not credible. Both of McDaniel’s studies largely failed on those grounds. Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to a $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS…your digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe
How PayPal went from Wall Street favorite to unwilling merger target
Five years ago PayPal was a Wall Street favorite and a leader in digital payments. Since then the stock has plunged, Apple Pay dominates payment services in the U.S. and PayPal is facing a takeover bid it does not like. What happens next?
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.
Vote on top offensive linemen in high school football preseason
Take a look at the top offensive linemen in Greater Cincinnati high school football in 2026. Be sure to vote for your favorite of the group.
Maine Democrats rally around logger Troy Jackson to replace Graham Platner
Jackson, a progressive who champions worker rights and Medicare-for-all, has quickly emerged as the favorite to take on Republican Susan Collins in the Senate race in November.
Poll: Favorite World Cup Fans
After Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, it’s likely that soccer will go back to being a secondary sport here in the United States. Sure, there will be excitement in 2027 for the Women’s World Cup, but that’s happening in Brazil. There will be coverage of the U.S. women’s team, but not nearly as much interest in games not involving the USWNT.
I Watch TV for a Living and These Are My 3 Favorite Shows of 2026 (So Far)
With so many new and returning TV shows this year, three have stood out to me as the best shows of 2026 so far. From ‘Widow’s Bay’ to ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles,’ here are my picks.
Do you like soccer more than American football? We asked Americans to choose between their favorite sports
65% of Americans prefer football to basketball, 58% prefer baseball to soccer, and 35% prefer hockey over basketball.
Fitbit's Whoop Challenger Quietly Added a Game-Changing Upgrade
The Fitbit Air launched with great hardware and work-in-progress software. Now, a new partnership with a cult-favorite health startup may shore up the new tracker's biggest weakness.
Texas A&M’s 2026 Title Dream Isn’t Crazy ... Just Complicated
Texas A&M enters 2026 with Marcel Reed, a rebuilt line and a loaded defense. The Aggies aren’t title favorites, but their playoff ceiling is very real.
Column: My favorite films of 2026, so far
In general, the highest-quality movies are usually reserved for the end of the year as we head towards awards season. But there are movies releasing every week of the year,
Costco adds hot fan favorite to food court menu as shoppers debate taste and value
Costco is expanding its famously affordable food court menu with a new $6.99 chicken strip meal and the addition has already divided shoppers over its flavor, breading and value.
Can Notre Dame Handle The Pressure In 2026?
With a Heisman favorite under center and a veteran coaching staff, Marcus Freeman’s most talented roster yet must overcome past snubs to finally secure a national title.
Get to know: Arkansas '29 RB target Sadiq Goji
Little Rock Parkview 2029 running back Sadiq Goji, a Nigeria native, has adjusted well to the United States and found his favorite American meal.
Insider: Warriors feel they're underdogs in LeBron James sweepstakes
The Warriors are reportedly well aware that they're no longer one of the favorites to land LeBron James in free agency.
Fort Bend County Fair announces 2026 entertainment lineup
The 90th celebration of the Fort Bend County Fair will showcase an exciting entertainment lineup featuring Texas legends, country favorites, and rising stars who will take the stage throughout …
Scottie Scheffler favored to win Open, but bettors like Europeans
Scottie Scheffler is the betting favorite to win the Open Championship, but sportsbooks are getting action on European golfers like Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood.
What are Giants fans’ favorite All-Star Game memories?
Another All-Star Game is in the books. What All-Star Game memories are Giants fans most fond of?
iOS 27: My favorite new iPhone features (other than AI)
The iOS 27 public beta is here, and the headlining changes are Siri AI and the array of new Apple...
47 revelatory hours with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
To review this month’s supposed remake of 2013’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, I must first correct the record. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced isn’t a game about pirates (and assassins) in the 18th century Caribbean. Sure, sure, that’s what the trailers would have you believe. They’ve go their clips of Edward Kenway swinging his swords and steering his pirate ship into cannon-blasting combat against British frigates. Is Resynced truly a pirate game? Of the 47 hours I spent playing Resynced over the past few weeks, I will admit I spent maybe 44 (?) of them collecting plunder with Blackbeard, drinking rum with Anne Bonny and debating the pros and cons of the lawless pirate-run settlement Nassau with Benjamin Hornigold. I may in fact have spent dozens of hours sailing to remote islands, reading treasure maps, opening messages left in bottles, sinking the odd Man o’ War with a well-timed broadside, collecting sea shanties for my crew, befriending a pet monkey, and hunting whales. I am nevertheless neither so Gullible nor so Narrow-Minded as to call the magnificent Resynced a “pirate remake.” Oh no. Forget any reviews of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced you may have read. Forget what you yourself may have played, if you’ve spent any time with the game since its launch. What Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is really about I’m here to give you the scoop (spoilers for Resynced’s Animus menu lore, which many players are probably not going to see): Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, the new game whose development was led by Ubisoft Singapore, is set in the year 2096. It’s about a societal split, about revolution, about an old Assassin’s Creed adventure repurposed in the series’ distant future as propaganda or samizdat. It’s about the overheated future of 2096, essentially conquered by the series’ well-established nefarious Templar-run company Abstergo. (In this future, Abstergo is, among other things, remaking a 2013 pirate movie called Devils of the Caribbean, but this time in VR. The VR version will be backed by a marketing plan that involves AI influencers, a 10,000-avatar “metaverse premiere event” and that manufacturing of memes aimed at “50 million VR nodes.” See what I mean about Abstergo being evil?) Resynced is about a late 21st-century population mollified by the widespread use of Abstergo’s Animus devices which let people experience the lives of historical figures culled from “genetic memories.” It’s about an insurgent faction of Assassins. And it’s about a plan to wake the population into revolutionary fervor by showing them the memories of 18th century pirate Edward Kenway, who—as depicted in the original Black Flag and again in Resynced—gradually comes to an understanding about the Assassins of his day and their centuries old fight for freedom. Resynced is also about an AI developed within the late 21st-century Animus, called Ego. It has found a way to alter genetic memories, to create and show Animus users false ones. The game is about Ego’s efforts to tell the people experiencing Edward Kenway’s memories that Kenway was wrong, that fighting against order is folly, that we should crave a world where “compliance is rewarded with power.” Who are we in this game? We’re an unnamed Animus user in 2096 who experiences Kenway’s journey virtually. At four moments during Kenway’s exploits in the Caribbean our virtual jaunt can be interrupted for 10-15 minutes, as we explore Animus “rifts” where Ego explicitly tries to tell us how wrong Kenway was. None of this is what 2013’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag was about, of course. That was a different game, even if you also spent dozens of hours pirating as Kenway in that game, across missions and a map that’s been faithfully reintroduced and rebuilt for Resynced. The 2013 Black Flag was about you playing as an unnamed researcher newly hired in 2013 by Abstergo Entertainment, the video game development wing of the Templars’ evil-corp. In that game, you were assigned to use the Animus to dive into the genetic memories of Desmond Miles, a man who died in Assassin’s Creed III and who was descended from a long line of Assassins (and at least one Templar) whose adventures were featured across the prior AC games. In 2013’s Black Flag, your mission was to plumb the Edward Kenway experience for material that Abstergo could use in productions such as the motion picture Devils of the Caribbean, though the Templars had some ulterior motives for the assignment. Resynced is therefore not a remake of 2013’s Black Flag. It’s a sequel. It is a new game about a new exploration of Edward Kenway’s pirate/assassin journey, set 83 years after the framing sequences of the original game. Resynced provides a new narrative framework that, thanks to the concept of an AI that wants to alter historical memories, arrives with creative justification to tweak a now-classic 13-year old game. That makes Resynced, already a hot seller, a tantalizing hint of where Ubisoft could go with a line of Assassin’s Creed remakes. They could remake the first game, the Ezio games, even the recent ones set in ancient Egypt and Greece. And for each, they could not just modernize the graphics and controls but expand and alter their sequences of events to use them as reference points for a conflict set in the late 21st century, as rival factions try to weaponize historical memories. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, even when that work consists of ravings about Assassin’s Creed’s modern day plot, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe A story most players will probably miss If you didn’t know any of this, I’m not surprised. If you played the game and still didn’t catch it, I’m not a bit shocked. If Ubisoft has no plans to do more of this, I won’t fall down. Almost all of what I’ve described is optional and missable in Black Flag Resynced. I nearly missed it myself, as I planned for a breezy playthrough of an old Assassin’s Creed favorite. Instead, I found myself in a 40+ hour hunt for the “real” story, buried deeper in Resynced than any gold-filled chest. The story of 2096 is Resynced’s meta-story, told in two remote pockets of the game: 1) four optional playable “rifts” that players may find as they proceed through Resynced’s pirate fantasy , 2) in dozens of text files tucked three menus deep in the game’s barely-interactive Animus hub. Assassin’s Creed games have almost always had a meta-story about people in the 21st century (usually matching the game’s release year) and their connections to the main history portions you play. Those meta-stories have always been squeezed into the margins, though seldom as severely and as, uh, graphiaclly simple, as in recent games. Back in 2013, the modern-day exploits of you as an Abstergo Entertainment employee were prominent. They were portrayed via first-person portions that occasionally interrupted the third-person Kenway experience and could be explored for hours, complete with their own missions, side quests and puzzles. Resynced’s 2096 story—of Assassin “Watchers” vs. Abstergo/Tempar goons, of rogue AIs, of panicking scientists, of a woman wondering why her Animus-addicted husband is muttering about Mary Read (“What does he mean by Assassins?”), of a fight for the population’s hearts and minds via varying interpretations of Edward Kenway’s life choices—is mostly told through unlockable text files. The files are interesting. Offered via diary entries, intercepted chats and news reports, they present varied perspectives of a world in crisis. One set works as a narrative puzzle as it reveals the Rashomonic interpretations of a massacre, or was that a successful Assassin hit? Another favorite reveals the rising bitterness of a person who, through Edward Kenway’s journey, now shakes at the ignored evil around him. One surmises that Ubisoft is averse to putting the Assassin’s Creed’s meta-story in the way of more marketable pirate playgrounds and ninja/samurai epics. Instead, we get a better-than-nothing text-in-menus approach introduced in 2025’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows. In Shadows, players unlocked the meta-story text files largely via time-gated missions that called on the user to kill X number of enemy type Y, clear three enemy castles, re-win a three-phase fighting tournament, and other grinds. Time restrictions on accessing these missions and unlocking the files meant it could take players months to access the full story in-game. But even in the most hardcore Assassin’s Creed hangouts, the fanbase instead seemed to throw up their hands rather than grind to keep up. In Resynced, Ubisoft has shown some mercy, diminishing the amount of new text files that are tied to timed grinds. Now, most of the text-based 2096 lore are associated with “data file” collectibles that players can find in the world. That includes a batch of written entries that explain a historical link between the feudal Japan era in Shadows and the piracy adventures in Black Flag. Players who explore a lot will find dozens of data files, though the game does not appear to offer any in-game tracker for finding each one. You just need to keep looking for them. As of this writing, I have most of them, but not all. I can’t find any full guide for them online. And even Ubisoft’s optional $5 microtransaction that reveals lots of items in-game does not appear to reveal the locations of the text files (at least the official description omits them from its collectibles list). That’s not a huge bother, because tracking the data files down compelled me to re-explore the waves and islands of Black Flag. That was a thoroughly pleasant task to do for the first time in a dozen years. I expect many players, though, will be content to wait for the files to be reproduced in an online AC wiki somewhere, the easier to read on a web page. It may not seem enticing to play a video game in order to gradually unlock pages of text to read. Why not, you may ask, just read a book, where they put the pages in order? For one, they’ve not tucked this latest installment of Assassin’s Creed’s meta saga in a book. I also enjoy the unordered delivery, the dawning comprehension of a story about 2096’s desperate people and questionable tech, which I glimpsed first at its middle, then the end, then the front, then other moments in between1. I am also enamored with the idea of the Assassin’s Creed games I’ve previously played, including Black Flag, being repurposed for an information war. The ideas in Resynced’s meta-story, which builds off characters and ideas in Shadows’ chunks of text, are strong. The potential of where they could go with it is exciting. As for the pirate stuff? Looks great, controls pretty well, is fun to play and oh so speedy in terms of how much of a good time you can have with each sit-down. It never gets old to chase a new shanty page across a rooftop, bombard a fort with upgraded mortars or use a diving bell to explore sunken wrecks (hats off to the team at Ubisoft Barcelona that worked on the underwater portions in Resynced; that team is now facing layoffs, such is the misery of modern gaming and oft-troubled Ubisoft). New pirate missions in Resynced involving new ally characters are brief, dramatic and add more to Edward’s story, even if the gameplay perks they provide barely enhance the gameplay. A new denouement for high-class pirate Stede Bonnet is affecting; a new hunt for Blackbeard’s treasure is a welcome extra moment. A new epilogue to hunt down a pirate killer, on the other hand, over-complicates Kenway’s character. The ending credits remain my favorite of any game I’ve ever played. Black Flag provides great source material. The revisit is well-made and a great sign of what could be. It is offered in a different wrapper that hints at an opportunity for more interesting remakes to come, should Ubisoft choose to pursue such treasures—and as we brace to resist or comply with an Abstergo future. 1 The messages that Edward Kenway finds in bottles tell another out-of-order story, one about a man reckoning with the strange memories and voices he’s heard in his head since he was a boy. That tale was also in the 2013 game and develops into one of Black Flag’s most compelling character arcs. In Resynced, it has lost its climax, because the bottle story previously paid off in the halls of the first-person Abstergo Entertainment, which is exclusive to the older game. An altered resolution, written by the 2013 game’s lead writer is fine, doesn’t invalidate the 2013 version, but makes for an inferior final note.
How can ASU's Cutter Boley lock down QB1?
Cutter Boley is the clear favorite to be named ASU's starting quarterback, so what does he still need to do to end the competition?
Magic, Memes & Meditation: Sotce's Summer School Diary
The internet's favorite spiritual poster takes NYLON behind the scenes of her Summer School in Estonia through an exclusive photo diary.
Why This Thursday Is One of My Favorite Political Anniversaries of the Year
When I think of it, I always return to a certain Senate hearing exchange.
A Science Museum program is giving students a spot on the Minnesota Vikings
Through its Vikings Voyage program, the Science Museum of Minnesota is providing students with a look inside the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers behind their favorite football team.
Silverstein brings emo favorites to Capitol Theatre
Emo band Silverstein will bring familiar favorites and new songs to Capitol Theatre on Saturday, July 18.
2026 NASCAR Odds: Denny Hamlin Favored For North Wilkesboro; Kyle Larson Second
NASCAR is heading to North Wilkesboro for the first points race at the track in 30 years. Who will take the checkered flag? Here are the early odds.
11 Actors You Probably Forgot Had Hit Songs
Many actors have tried their hand at music, but only a few have landed genuine hits. From chart-topping singles to unexpected fan favorites, these stars proved they could succeed in more than one corn...
I use NotebookLM every day, and these are my 5 favorite tips and tricks
I've been using NotebookLM for a long time. Here are some features and tips that genuinely save me time and make my work easier.
The ESPY Awards return to New York City this week: Presenters, attendees and more
The star-studded ceremony will celebrate major sports achievements, revisit unforgettable moments, and bring together the sports industry's fan favorites and biggest stars.
Gallia County Fair presents 2026 grandstand entertainment lineup
GALLIPOLIS, Ohio — Nationally recognized country and Christian recording artists, along with a hometown favorite and local performers, will take the Holzer Stage during the 2026 Gallia County Junior Fair
Trey Gowdy reflects on Sen Lindsey Graham’s impact on politics as sudden death stuns DC
'Sunday Night in America' host Trey Gowdy recounts his favorite moments with late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on ‘America Reports.’
Michigan Sen. Gary Peters backs Haley Stevens in contentious race to succeed him
Retiring Michigan Sen. Gary Peters is endorsing U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens to succeed him. The Michigan Democratic primary between Stevens and progressive favorite Abdul El-Sayed has grown increasingly contentious.
I Figured Out Why 'Five Star Weekend' Actress Gemma Chan Looks So Familiar and I’m Totally Geeking Out
Gemma Chan’s role in 'The Five Star Weekend' may have you wondering where you’ve seen her before. Here's some of the actress’s most memorable roles, including the one that made her a rom-com favorite.
Dining critic's notebook: The best recent dishes in Pittsburgh
I’ve spent the past few weeks revisiting established favorites and diving deep into the restaurants at Station Square. (Keep your eyes peeled for...
Warriors Get Significant Good News on LeBron James Pursuit
The Golden State Warriors are now widely viewed as co-favorites to land LeBron James, with only the Cavaliers standing in their way. The post Warriors Get Significant Good News on LeBron James Pursuit appeared first on HEAVY.
Generations of Health: Lisa Boyd, PA, Discusses the Power of Family Medical History
Your family shares more than memories; they pass down a genetic blueprint that can shape your health for years to come. Lisa Boyd, PA-C, with CaroMont Family Medicine in Dallas, explains why knowing your family medical history is one of the most powerful tools in preventive healthcare. From predicting risk before symptoms appear to guiding smarter screening schedules, this information helps you and your care team make more informed decisions. Learn how to start the conversation, what conditions have hereditary links and when genetic testing may be the right next step for you.
Country music world heartbroken as 3 beloved groups have split in 2026
Country music fans have seen a trio of their favorite groups hang it up in 2026.
Plan Crowd-Free European Travel to This Popular Layover Hub
Consider this less crowded alternative to Berlin and Munich for travel to Germany for apple wine, fine dining, a hip new hotel, and the world’s capital of design this year. Frankfurt is drawing more locals and becoming a destination for food and culture.
This underrated Samsung feature is the first thing I set up on any new Android phone... except Pixels
Your favorite apps are always a swipe away.
Search Rochester restaurant inspection reports and health violations
Check the latest restaurant inspection reports to see if your favorite local dining spots are meeting safety standards.
Jim Cramer Is Still Recommending International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)’s Shares
We recently published Jim Cramer Insisted Recent AI Chip Selloff Wasn’t A Bottom & Discussed These 17 Stocks. International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) is one of the stocks discussed by Jim Cramer. International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) is one of Jim Cramer’s favorite stocks. The shares are up by a modest 1.3% over the past […]
MRN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: The Daily Grind
More than just coffee. The Daily Grind in Mendon has been brewing up more than your favorite drinks since opening in 2022. From breakfast and Underbrink’s treats to a brand-new drive-thru and a freshly renovated space, Chloe Shaffer and Megan Kirby are creating a place where everyone feels welcome. Hear their story on the latest...
Our readers chose their favorites in NKY arts and entertainment
From museums to live music, these are the Readers' Choice Awards winners in the arts and entertainment category.
Celtics Legend Takes Shot At LeBron James’ 76ers Consideration
It’s no secret that LeBron James is considering the Philadelphia 76ers amid his 2026 NBA free agency run. While the Sixers are far from the favorites to land James this offseason, they are likely within the top three. That list includes Philly, the Miami Heat, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. When it comes to the Sixers […] The post Celtics Legend Takes Shot At LeBron James’ 76ers Consideration appeared first on HEAVY.
Home Run Derby 2026 field: Hometown favorites Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper headline list of participants
What Watching a Soccer Final Does to Your Body, According to Science
A recent study tracked hundreds of soccer fans until their favorite team reached the final of a tournament. Their stress levels skyrocketed, and their heart rates jumped too.
These are my favorite new Messages features in iOS 27 [Video]
iOS 27 makes Messages smarter than ever with Apple Intelligence, Siri, Genmoji, and quality-of-life improvements.
The day I completed golf
On one of my favorite courses, in the gloaming, with a hickory driver, I hit the shot of my life. (Oh, and there's video)
Healthy Aging Expert’s No. 1 Social Activity To Promote Longevity
In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, a renowned physician reveals his favorite social activity to promote longevity because it requires several important skills crucial for heathy aging.
Fort Bend County Fair Announces 2026 Entertainment Lineup Featuring Sawyer Brown, Pat Green
ROSENBERG, Texas (Covering Katy News) — The Fort Bend County Fair has announced its entertainment lineup for its 90th annual celebration, featuring a mix of Texas country stars, Tejano favorites and nationally recognized performers during Championship BBQ Weekend and the fair's 10-day run. The 2026 Fort Bend County Fair begins with Championship BBQ Weekend on Sept. 18-19, followed by the fair Sept. 25 through Oct. 4. The entertainment schedule opens Friday, Sept. 18, with Tejano group Los Morales, followed by Texas country artist Cole Phillips on Saturday, Sept. 19. Phillips has gained attention for his traditional country sound influenced by classic honky-tonk music. The fair officially opens Friday, Sept. 25, with Tyce Delk, a New Mexico native whose touring schedule has expanded across the country. Country music veterans Sawyer Brown will headline Saturday, Sept. 26. The band, whose career spans more than four decades, remains known for hits including "Some Girls Do," "The Race Is On" and "Thank God for You." Go Tejano Day on Sunday, Sept. 27, will feature Prófugos de Nuevo León, along with performances by Los Rinches and Grupo Zenio. The second week of the fair begins Wednesday, Sept. 30, with Bellville singer-songwriter David Lewis, a recent Texas Country Music Association Male Artist of the Year nominee. Oklahoma Red Dirt artist Josh Meloy will perform Thursday, Oct. 1. Texas country star Pat Green returns to the Fort Bend County Fair stage Friday, Oct. 2. Green, whose career includes three Grammy Award nominations, has sold more than 2 million albums and amassed more than 200 million career streams. He is best known for songs including "Wave on Wave" and "Carry On." Country newcomer Vincent Mason will perform Saturday, Oct. 3. Mason has accumulated more than 500 million career streams and was recently nominated for Academy of Country Music New Male Artist of the Year. The fair concludes Sunday, Oct. 4, with Texas music legend Gary P. Nunn, whose "London Homesick Blues" remains one of the state's most recognizable songs. Weekend visitors also can enjoy performances on Music Row by J Paul Jr. & the Zydeco Nubreeds, Southern County Line, Los Rangerz and Horizon. The Fort Bend County Fair Association, a nonprofit organization, supports youth, agriculture and education. According to the association, it has awarded more than $2 million in scholarships during the past decade and generated $1.4 million through its 2025 youth auctions. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, July 10. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance and select the specific day they plan to attend, as tickets are valid only for the date purchased. Admission includes entry to the fairgrounds, access to the carnival, shopping, exhibits, food vendors and, when scheduled, admission to the rodeo and that day's concert. Season passes and single-day tickets will be available. For tickets and additional information, visit fortbendcountyfair.com or call the Fair Office at 281-342-6171. The address of the Fairgrounds is 4310 Texas 36 S in Rosenberg. 2026 Fort Bend County Fair Entertainment Schedule Championship BBQ Weekend Friday, Sept. 18: Los Morales Saturday, Sept. 19: Cole Phillips Fair Entertainment Friday, Sept. 25: Tyce Delk Saturday, Sept. 26: Sawyer Brown Sunday, Sept. 27 (Go Tejano Day): Prófugos de Nuevo León, Los Rinches and Grupo Zenio Wednesday, Sept. 30: David Lewis Thursday, Oct. 1: Josh Meloy Friday, Oct. 2: Pat Green Saturday, Oct. 3: Vincent Mason Sunday, Oct. 4: Gary P. Nunn × Expand FBCF Fort Bend County Fair 2026 Artist Lineup
Research shows sports fans get health benefit from watching their favorite teams
Kentucky Science Center announces line-up for summer Hollywood Movie Series
The Kentucky Science Center is bringing a mix of family favorites and blockbuster action with this summer’s Hollywood Movie Series.
The 10 best TV shows of 2026 (so far)
From "The Pitt" to "Widow's Bay," here are our favorites of the year.
What one Mass. blueberry bush tells scientists about climate change
The bush has been growing here since the observatory’s founding in 1885, if not longer. For 141 years, without missing a season, observers at Blue Hill have recorded the date when the first berry ripens. Their data provide a unique picture of the effects of a warming climate, and its impact on one of New England’s favorite summer treats.
Former Trail Blazers Forward Trendon Watford Teases Portland Return
With Portland’s frontcourt depth thin after a blockbuster backcourt overhaul, a versatile former fan favorite signals his desire to bring size and playmaking back to Rip City.
Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson reveals his favorite sport before basketball
Recent No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson revealed that baseball was his favorite sport growing up, before he ultimately chose basketball.
Mets franchise legend tabbed as favorite to be new manager amid Alex Cora problem
The favorite to be the Mets' new manager is a familiar face.
Maui County’s fringe mayoral candidates add unique ideas, opinions, entertainment to race
"It's one of my favorite aspects of politics is the fact that all of these folks get to run no matter how realistic their candidacies are. And sometimes they bring up really important issues, and sometimes they help shift the nature of what the mainstream candidates are talking about," political scientist Colin Moore said. "And sometimes it's just really entertaining."
Everything You Need to Know for Brazil vs. Norway
Everything You Need to Know: Brazil vs. Norway — World Cup Round of 16 Brazil enters Sunday’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 showdown as one of the tournament favorites, but Norway believes it has the firepower to produce one of the biggest upsets of the knockout stage. Five-time world champion Brazil meets Norway at…
Should celebrities and athletes shut up about politics? It’s complicated.
The POLITICO Poll finds that a majority of Americans think there’s too much politics in places it doesn’t belong. But they can still be influenced by what their favorite stars and businesses say.
Health Department releases food inspection reports for week of June 21
Find out how your favorite restaurant, convenience store and other food establishments in Jefferson County are performing on Health Department inspections.
MRN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT — Sheryl Scarbrough, TCBY
Today on Business Spotlight, brought to you by Bank of Springfield, Crissie Caccamo sits down with Sheryl Scarbrough, owner and operator of TCBY Quincy. Did you know TCBY stands for The Country’s Best Yogurt? As the Quincy favorite celebrates 40 years of serving the community, Sheryl shares the story behind the business, the legacy her...
Long Reads for the Long Weekend
(Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industry and business strategy. I write a weekly Streaming Ratings Report and a bi-weekly strategy column, along with occasional deep dives into other topics, like today’s article. Please subscribe.) Happy Fourth of July weekend! As has been a tradition of mine going back to the beginning of the EntStrategyGuy website, I’m sharing my favorite long reads of the last year, like I did in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, and 2025. Let’s dive right in! Subscribe “Different Prices for the Same Ride: How Uber and Lyft Use AI to Get More Money Out of You“ by Derek Kravitz in Consumer Reports I don’t think surveillance pricing, like the kind described in this brilliant Consumer Reports article, is long for the world—it’s toxically unpopular—but we’ll see if either party takes on this issue. If I ran a political party focused on affordability, I would focus on a few pro-consumer and pro-market policies: Banning non-compete agreements. Ending surveillance pricing Eliminating junk fees (read more here...) Ensuring “right to repair” for consumer (and military!) products Capping excessive app store fees Stopping digital/algorithmic price-fixing tools. Preventing automatic subscription price increases. And more. If you want to fight inflation, there are a lot of great ways to do it quickly. Speaking of higher prices... “Secret Documents Show Pepsi and Walmart Colluded to Raise Food Prices Across the Economy“ by Matt Stoller in BIG Again, I think a political party should focus on lowering prices for consumers. And deals like this—Walmart making a deal/forcing Pepsi to offer the lowest prices at its stores and nowhere else—hypothetically lower prices at Walmart...but raise them everywhere else. “15 DUIs, still driving: California’s failure to take repeat drunk drivers off the road“ by Robert Lewis and Lauren Hepler in CalMatters CalMatters does terrific reporting in California, something the Golden State desperately needs more of, and this article is a great example of that. “PugLips: The next insanely popular thing you’ve never heard of…” by Simon Carless in Game Discover Co I thought that this parody article (and yes, it’s a parody, but I was definitely unsure at first) was hilarious and totally nailed how much tech/business journalism feels these days. Actually, three of my favorite articles this year were on hype in the video game industry, including Georg Zoller’s “The Video Game Industries Very Dark Night”—which I linked to recently and wrote a follow-up here—and Owen Mahoney’s “Derek Zoolander, Videogame Exec”. In particular, I like Mahoney’s focus on user experience as a guide to what trends will actually grab hold of customers. “The Matrix Lies“ by Evan Shapiro in Media War & Peace Evan Shapiro’s first person account of his experience with AI was hilarious. I think LLMs capabilities have significantly grown from last summer, and yet...my editor/researcher just had an abysmal experience using an LLM to do a quite basic task (which our LLM normally does each week) and the LLM made a mistake on every single data entry...along with seven different mistakes affecting twelve of the twenty or so entries, including mistakes that are explicitly spelled out in the prompt. That’s a brutal failure rate. Again, if you use AI/LLM for data collection, you need to take a lot of extra steps to verify and check the data. “Ghosts in the Balcony: A Cross-Country Trip to 58 Theaters Fighting to Survive“ by Matthew Frank in The Ankler I thought Matthew Frank’s pitch to head across America to visit theaters sounded insane aggressive at the time—at least it felt that way to someone a decade older than him; man, to be in your twenties again, am I right?—but I knew the result would be great. And it was, a terrific feature by a great young writer. Also, I loved Matthew’s recent article on who’s getting the precious few entry level jobs in Hollywood. (Hint: nepotism.) “Disney erased FiveThirtyEight“ and “Did Las Vegas get too greedy?” by Nate Silver in Silver Bulletin I love media history and analysis, and there’s no one better to get the history of FiveThirtyEight than from Nate Silver, who wrote about his personal experience in one of my favorite pieces from this year. I also loved Nate’s breakdown of what’s causing Vegas’ woes, but I’ll offer one criticism, summarized as “Might I suggest antitrust?” Many centrists/center-right/libertarian thinkers (Nate is self-described as the latter) often don’t consider consolidation or antitrust as factors in policy issues like housing, America’s military readiness, or, in this case, Las Vegas. Even if libertarians want to debunk antitrust/consolidation concerns, I’d love to read that debunking. In this case, Vegas is incredibly consolidated (though it also has been for a long time) and I’d have loved to read Nate at least contending with this factor, since he addresses almost every other potential factor for Vegas’ decline. “Why Microsoft’s Carbon Removal Pullback Is Such a Big Deal“ by Robinson Meyer in Heatmap News I’m a big supporter of carbon removal efforts, but this nascent industry faces a lot of headwinds, including this big move most recently. I think it’s clear that solar panels and batteries should be able to get the world to its carbon footprint goals, but effective carbon renewal remains necessary to prevent the worst impacts of global warming. “AI is killing the cheap smartphone“ by David Oks LLMs and AI will impact the world in ways we’re not ready for, and already, third world countries are seeing the prices of cheap cellphones skyrocket due to the cost of chips skyrocketing. This article by David Oks is a terrific breakdown. “100 Days of Madness: Netflix, Paramount, Warner and the Future of Hollywood“ by Wade Major at Hollywood Heretic Wade Major dove deep into Hollywood/streaming’s financials in this must read piece. Not that I agree with everything in this article (read my take on Warner Bros./Paramount here) but the analysis is top notch. I think many people discount how quality thinking, regardless of the argument/conclusion, will make you a better thinker. “Erased by the UFC: Frank Shamrock, The MMA GOAT of the 20th Century“ by Nate Wilcox in The MMA Draw Newsletter Growing up playing the UFC fighting game on the Dreamcast, Frank Shamrock was my favorite MMA fighter, and this history/tribute to him was great. Other Fun Reads “The Hardest Part Of History To Tell Is How It Felt“ by Craig Fehrman at Defector “Unmasking the Sea Star Killer“ by Craig Welch at bioGraphic “What Could Save the Industry? Fin-Syn“ by Richard Rushfield in The Ankler Alex Rollins Berg in Underexposed on movie bumpers, pillow shots, Disney trash cinema, cult films, and Casablanca. David H. Montgomery in YouGov’s The Surveyor on punctuation marks, condiments, dinosaurs, and comic strips and kids media. “How Medium finally pivoted its way to profitability“ and “Why the best journalists on YouTube are all former Vox employees“ by Simon Owens in Simon Owens’s Media Newsletter “It’s Not Just You, Netflix Shows Have Gotten Slightly Shorter: Here’s What the Data Says“ by Kasey Moore at What’s on Netflix “Numlock Awards: How Diane Warren became the biggest loser in Oscar history“ by Nathaniel Rakich and “Numlock Awards: The Oscar Bait era is over. The Oscar Chum era is here.” by Walt Hickey & Michael Domanico at Numlock Awards
12 Healthy, No-Cook Proteins that Dietitians Love for Hot Days
Dietitians share their favorite nutritious protein options that you can use without cooking.
Start, Bench, Cut: Browns Legends Edition
When looking at these three Cleveland Browns fan favorites, which would you start, bench, and cut.
2026 NASCAR Odds: Denny Hamlin Favored As Cup Returns To Chicagoland Speedway
The NASCAR Cup Series is heading back to Chicagoland Speedeway for the first time since 2019. Here are the latest odds for the eero 400.
I compared same breakfast sandwich from Starbucks, Dunkin', Tim Hortons
I compared sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwiches from Starbucks, Dunkin', and Tim Hortons. My favorite had a flavorful egg and creamy cheese.
Magic bring back fan favorite Vucevic on one-year deal
Vucevic played nine seasons for the Magic before getting traded to Chicago.
ESPN reportedly favorite to renew TGL media rights
TGL, the tech-infused simulator golf league co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TMRW Sports, is in the market for a new media rights deal after having completed its second season earlier this year. The league spent its first two seasons on the ESPN family of networks, posting strong and stable viewership during a portion…
Crooked Letter Sports: We’ve got World Cup (and golf) fever | Ep. 303
As the World Cup moves to the Knockout Rounds, we take a look at the most exciting games so far and pontificate on the USA’s chances. Plus, Scottie Scheffler finishes second (again) and Rick picks his favorite Mississippi courses.
My favorite Kindle alternative is $30 off after a recent price increase
One of the best e-readers just got $30 cheaper.
Best of the Valley 2026: Our Favorites in Lifestyle & Entertainment
The Valley’s wellspring of cultural diversions - festivals, the arts, fitness, et al. - has never been deeper or more diverse. Grab your swimsuit and dive in!
The week in politics (July 1, 2026)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. And foodies discuss their favorite places for happy hour food and drink.
How safe is your favorite restaurant in the Hudson Valley?
Search our database to see the latest health inspection results and violations for restaurants across New York state.
DC sports fans have a chance to showcase their favorite memorabilia in new exhibit
The D.C. Public Library is calling on sports memorabilia collectors around the region to contribute to an upcoming exhibition.
9 former child stars who found success outside Hollywood
These former child stars found impressive careers outside the spotlight. See which of your favorites became lawyers, teachers, veterinarians, CEOs, and more.
The John Rogers Contrarian Playbook: How Envista, MSG Entertainment, and Smucker Stack Up for Retirement Investors
John Rogers built his fortune hunting unloved stocks that the market abandoned too soon, but three of his favorite contrarian bets look very different when filtered through the lens of retirement income and low volatility.
Rounding up Essentia media coverage from June
Each month, we share some of our favorite Essentia Health-related stories on the Newsroom.
Mavericks' Dusty May declares Morez Johnson Jr. as favorite Wolverine
Mavericks coach Dusty May expressed excitement about working with Morez Johnson Jr. again after the team drafted him with the ninth overall pick.
Raptors' potential trade package for Kawhi Leonard revealed
The Raptors are looking to bring back a fan favorite.
Congress wants to ban AI companies from selling your health data
The new proposal bans selling health and location data info — including data entered into your favorite AI chatbot.
Google Pixel phones may soon let you ‘shuffle’ your favorite wallpapers
According to new findings under the hood of Google’s software, future Pixel updates may deliver support for a “shuffle” option...
Dietitians on Healthy Food Pairings To Absorb More Vitamins and Nutrients
In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, dietitians share their favorite strategic food pairings to help your body absorb more nutrients.
30-Day Challenge: All-Time Favorite Bears Defensive Back
Each day in June, we’ll roll out a fresh topic to get Bears fans thinking in our 30 Day Challenge, and today we want to know your all-time favorite defensive back.
MS Comic Con 2026: cosplayers, celebrities and fans unite to celebrate beloved characters
Attendees decked out in costumes and homemade props from their favorite TV shows and movies gathered at the Mississippi Trade Mart for Comic Con 2026
NY restaurant inspections: Search health code violations by restaurant
Search New York restaurant inspection reports to see if your favorite local dining spots are meeting safety standards.
Ohio State Buckeyes projected to land elite offensive lineman
Ohio State sits on the cusp of another top-5 recruiting class, and the Buckeyes could be receiving even more good news this weekend. Four-star Jackson (Miss.) offensive lineman Caden Moss is set to commit Friday night, and the Buckeyes are surging late as the favorite to land him. Over the past 24 hours, Rivals national […]
The Ship's Sailing on the Best Anker Deals for Headphones, Earbuds, Projectors, and More During Prime Day
One of our favorite brands is seeing huge discounts during Amazon's annual summer mega-sale event. But hurry, as the savings end today!
Introducing: Breguet Celebrates the 225th Anniversary of the Tourbillon with Four New Releases, And the Return of a Collector Favorite (Live Pics)
A revived and revised version of the Roth-designed caliber 558.1 movement (significantly improved) headlines four watches to celebrate the patent date of one of Abraham-Louis Breguet's most notable achievements.
Mamdani's sweep in New York a 'political earthquake' among Democrats
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani scored a massive political victory on Tuesday when his trio of insurgent congressional candidates toppled two incumbents and the establishment favorite in an open seat, results some described as "a political earthquake" for Democrats.
21 small products that made a huge difference in our lives and are cheaper than ever
Our favorite small, budget-friendly products have made a big difference in our lives, and they’re heavily discounted for Amazon Prime Day.
19 great Prime Day deals on our favorite charging gear
Keep all of your devices powered with Prime Day discounts.
Amazon Prime Day streaming deal: Score Apple TV for over 50% off
Stream 'Widow's Bay,' 'Pluribus,' 'Shrinking,' and more of our favorite TV shows for cheap.
Red Wings Talking Larkin Trade With Stars?
The post Red Wings Talking Larkin Trade With Stars? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now. First it was the Minnesota Wild as the favorite to trade for Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin. Then it […] The post Red Wings Talking Larkin Trade With Stars? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.
Elijah Sarratt Received Advice From Ravens Legend Anquan Boldin
Baltimore Ravens receiver Elijah Sarratt revealed he received advice from fan-favorite legend Anquan Boldin.
Mesquite Entertainment celebrates 4th of July weekend with free poolside concerts, BBQ favorites and more
(Sponsored) Mesquite Entertainment invites guests to celebrate Independence Day weekend with free live entertainment, festive food and beverage offerings, and summer fun at the CasaBlanca Resort & Casino and Virgin
Prime Day deals are officially live: Shop the best tech sales from Apple, Sony, Bose, Anker and others for up to 54% off right now
Prime Day deals have discounted a bunch of our favorite tech from headphones to TVs to iPhone accessories and more.