Search headlines

Pope hope, that’s entertainment, and getting ahead in the CIA

Happy Friday friends, I want to start by just breathing for all of us a big long collective sigh of relief at the news this week that the pope’s doctors have basically blown the all clear for Leo’s health. Going from knowing nothing to him declaring to the world he needed surgery, to a cancer diagnosis, to bouncing out of the hospital in barely even days, to ringing the bell in less than two weeks is whiplash inducing. But in the best possible way. We are living in a world in which the Roman pontiff, by dint of history, biography and circumstance, is once more at the epicenter of global affairs. Not just conversations about religion, or Christian and post-Christian values, but the bleeding edge of the most pressing issues of human affairs. Think I am exaggerating a touch? Consider the images of the crowds who greeted Leo in Paris just weeks ago, and juxtapose them with the absolute photo negative scenes unfolding there recently. Ask yourself how many world leaders are talking about AI right now and directly citing the pope as they do so. Try to name a country who has had as many top-ranked diplomats in and out of both Russia and Ukraine in the last three years as the Vatican has in the last three months. It has been fascinating to watch Leo XIV emerge as not just a kind of pop culture reference point or totem to be cited (Francis was often name-checked this way) but as a kinetic force in global conversation. Given the state of things, we need global figures of gravitas and values, even better if they have real wisdom behind what they are saying. So news of Leo’s illness was, it seemed to me, a tremor with potentially Richter Scale implications. That not only has the worst not come to pass but instead we’ve had the best of outcomes announced is something to really be grateful for. Humanity, it seems to me, is entering one of its irregular but cyclical phases where the pace of change — technological, social, and geopolitical — outstrips the ability of previously settled norms and received wisdom to cope. Such periods – and I think the first decades of the last century were a similar such time – throw into question the viability of all kinds of institutions. And many of ours have been straining to breaking point for a few years now. The papacy has the power and the potential to be a steadying pole in all of this. That’s my hope, anyway. It’s a lot to freight the office with, though it is arguably its ultimate purpose from its founding, to be a steadying rock on which all that matters can be anchored. It’s also, of course, an intolerable weight of responsibility to place on a single man. But I am encouraged to have hope in – and for – Leo. The apostle whom he succeeds, after all, was famously unequal to some moments, failed some tests of faith, and resiled from taking the road which led ultimately to the circus on Vatican hill. Human frailty and limitations, of health, of character, of temper, can open us to Christ, whose strength is greatest in our weakness, so St. Paul learned. That gives me hope, and I am sure it consoles Leo, too. And so I will continue to pray for him. Because we need apostles of rock right now. Here’s the news. Subscribe The News The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued yesterday a new document “Venite ad me: Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change.” It’s not a short document, and it is at pains to stress this isn’t a doctrinal note from the dicastery, either. Rather, it brings together reflections on an important issue from the Church around the world. Some of it I actually found really rather powerful. It is, however, 25,000, which is a lot for a busy reader to get through on a weekday. So, you can read our busy reader’s summary right here. — News broke yesterday of an Oct. 22 meeting of U.S. bishops with President Donald Trump. The meeting was organized by an official at the Heritage Foundation, according to several sources close to the meeting. Video of several U.S. bishops praying in the Oval Office over President Trump was posted on social media Thursday afternoon, first by White House Communications Advisor Margo Martin, and then by the official twitter.com account of the Archdiocese of Denver. The meeting has drawn sharp criticism because of its proximity to the upcoming midterm Congressional elections, in which Democrats are widely expected to win control of the House of Representatives, while control of the Senate remains closely contested. Sources close to the bishops’ conference told The Pillar that some USCCB senior officials were surprised by the existence of the meeting when video of it first emerged online. And a source close to conference president Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City told The Pillar that the archbishop was “deeply frustrated” by the occasion of the meeting. An official conference spokesperson told The Pillar that the meeting was “not organized with or by the USCCB” and was “not affiliated with the conference.” You can read the whole story here. — The next National Eucharistic Congress will be held in Indianapolis in 2029, a return to the city that hosted the last gathering in 2024. You read it here first. By here, I don’t mean this newsletter, I mean at The Pillar. We broke the story this week. It’s a big deal, in as much as the last congress was a roaring success and the next installment has the potential to be a real focal point for evangelizing efforts in the coming years. Read all about it here. — As Pope Leo prepares for the longest trip of his pontificate, Church leaders in Uruguay say the pontiff will encounter a highly secularized culture, in a country with a very different Catholic history than many of its South American neighbors. The nation has not had a papal visit since 1988, and leaders who spoke with The Pillar say it has a dire need for evangelization, even amid the prospect of a small revival in faith. This is real reporting on the Church in the country, and frankly a story you simply are not going to be able to read anywhere else. Read the whole thing. — The Archdiocese of Detroit announced this week a plan that would see the vast majority of its parish priests reassigned next summer, amid a restructuring process expected to dramatically shrink the number of parishes in the archdiocese. Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said this week that the plan “asks much of our priests,” but is a “sacrifice they are making as brothers of one, unified presbyterate.” The thing is, as JD pointed out in an analysis yesterday, pastors of parishes have a legal right to stability in office, so the only way this kind of wholesale reassignment goes ahead is if all of the archdiocesan clergy agree to resign. That creates its own kind of legal issues, though, and re-raises longstanding questions about the effectiveness of canonical due process protections for priests when dealing with coercive exercises in authority. Read the whole thing here. — More than three months after the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its decree declaring the excommunication of the leadership of the Society of St. Pius X, questions remain about the full effects of the society’s schism. Specifically, the DDF’s July claim that marriages witnessed and confessions heard by SSPX priests are now invalid remains contested — and it emerged this week it appears that the Vatican’s own legal experts don’t agree. You can read my whole analysis of the situation and what it means here. All I would add is that the DDF’s undeveloped, some would say unsubstantiated, claim about the invalidity of some SSPX sacraments came in their July Explanatory Note on the schismatic consecrations by the society that month. It touches directly on both papal acts of governance — indeed it purports to nullify them — and the most intimate pastoral encounters possible in a parish setting. If there is one aspect of the Francis-era style of governance I would like the curia to finally cut out, root and branch, it would be these attempts to try to effect extraordinarily sensitive legislative acts via a note. — At least a dozen French bishops have spoken out following an eruption of violence on the country’s streets Oct. 17. Not surprisingly, they unanimously condemned the violence, but the length and content of their interventions varied significantly. Several sought to distinguish between the actions of rioters and what they suggested were the legitimate concerns of peaceful young protesters. Many also evoked Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 visit to France, suggesting it offered a powerful counter-image to the scenes of looting and destruction. A number of bishops also stressed their solidarity with law enforcement officials who struggled to contain the disorder, as well as the owners of the roughly 3,000 damaged or looted businesses. What’s the background to the nationwide unrest that the French media calls “les violences du 17 octobre”? And what exactly are the bishops saying? Read all about it here. — A Polish bishop called for the firm defense of unborn children as well as compassion for their mothers this week, as the lower house of Poland’s parliament passed two bills seeking to liberalize the country’s abortion laws. The bill on decriminalizing assistance in an abortion passed by 217 votes to 213, while the abortion in cases of fetal abnormality bill passed by 233 to 203, thanks to the government’s majority in the lower house. Both bills will now move to the Polish Senate, the upper house of parliament, where the ruling coalition has a larger majority. The fetal abnormality bill is symbolically significant because if it became law, it would effectively overturn a 2020 ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal that a 1993 law permitting abortion for a severe and irreversible disability or a life-threatening incurable disease was unconstitutional. Read the whole story here. Subscribe **[The St. Paul Center App | Bible Study On-The-Go Read and understand the Bible with St. Paul Center’s new app! With today’s leading Catholic Scripture scholars as your guides, the St. Paul Center app empowers you to read the Bible](https://stpaulcenter.com/app?utm_source=pillar&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=applaunch)** from the heart of the Church. Download the app for free at either the Apple or the Google app stores. https://stpaulcenter.com/app That’s entertainment I have written before about my deep and sincere reservations about the celebrity exorcist subculture which has taken root in American Catholicism. And, because I am very ill at ease with the entire thing, I try to keep a weather eye on the phenomenon without being drawn into the kind of online back-and-forth which these figures sometimes generate. Earlier this week, JD noted that one such celebrity exorcist type, Fr. Chad Ripperger, has undertaken, on the request of his bishop, a year’s fast from interviews and public speaking. I’m sure that will be salutary for him, if for no other reason than that receiving with docility requests from one’s rightful ecclesiastical superiors always comes with graces. Then a second thing happened this week which caught my eye. Apparently, another fixture in the celebrity exorcist world, Fr. Carlos Martins, has initiated a lawsuit against two lay men — apparently associates of Rippenger, though I am unclear in what way, exactly — for allegedly defaming him and his ministry on a podcast. It seems the suit was initiated nearly a year ago and is now pending. At issue, I read, is that the two men described Martins on a podcast as “not who he says he is” with regard to his exorcism ministry and that he “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” These statements Martins considers to be false and defamatory and, his suit claims, “directly affected the sale and reception of [his] The Exorcist Files book that was newly released at the time these episodes aired.” I don’t want to get too into the weeds of the details here, but a couple of things struck me about all this.

Oct 23 • 9:10 AM EDT • Entertainment • pillarcatholic.com

More Than a Charcuterie Board: A Mother and Daughter Build a Business Around Gathering.

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Birch Bay Retirement Village. NORTHEAST HARBOR—Food’s ability to be a social cornerstone is one of the founding premises of one of Mount Desert Island’s newest, and perhaps most unique, endeavors in cuisine based catering. From intimate gatherings to large functions, Olive & Pearl creates charcuterie boards that can not only astound the tongue but also the eye. Many would agree that food can bring people together. In fact, culinary delights, and sometimes adventures, have been utilized as the centerpiece for social and business occasions of all kinds for centuries. Often times it even has the ability to start conversation, temper differences, and build new relationships. Settings can vary, from a multi-course sit down meal, a backyard barbecue, or a couple of bowls of chips and dip in front of a television, but the result can be the same. Humans come together, they share food, and the whole process is a catalyst for thought, communication, and a shared experience. Imagined and created by the mother and daughter team of Dr. Susan Scanlan (formerly MacCready) and Kayla Musetti, Olive & Pearl was started in June of this year and has been creating, delighting, and growing since. We gave the two an opportunity to answer some questions about themselves and their new venture. The love, passion, and pride for what they are doing and the fact that they are doing it as a mother and daughter team came through so strongly in their answers that we decided to present the question and answer session in its entirety. The Interview What did you do prior to Olive & Pearl? We’re a mother-daughter team, and food, family, and hospitality have always been a big part of our lives. Susan grew up in a large family in Pennsylvania, where the table was always at the center of everything. There were multiple dishes, little bites, stories, and plenty of conversation. Food was never simply about eating. It was about gathering, celebrating, and spending time together. After living in several Southern states, Susan relocated to Maine more than 20 years ago, and Maine has truly become home. She loves its sense of community, natural beauty, and connection to local food and makers. Professionally, Susan is a registered nurse and holds a doctorate in health administration. She has worked in a variety of clinical, nonclinical, and leadership roles and currently works as a faculty academic director. Building Olive & Pearl has been an exciting creative venture alongside her career. Kayla is also a registered nurse and works in the ambulatory surgery unit at Mount Desert Island Hospital. While healthcare is an important part of both of our professional lives, Olive & Pearl has given us an entirely different way to connect, collaborate, and create something together. Tell us about the business. Olive & Pearl is a mother-daughter charcuterie business centered around beautiful food, thoughtful presentation, and bringing people together. We create curated charcuterie boards designed for everything from intimate gatherings and dinner parties to weddings, showers, corporate events, boat days, and celebrations of all kinds. We think of our boards as more than food. They’re an experience and an invitation to gather, slow down, and enjoy time with the people around you. We’re intentional about quality ingredients, artful presentation, and personalization. Whenever possible, we also incorporate Maine-made and locally sourced products, including cheeses, jams, honey, seasonal produce, and baked goods. What inspired you to start Olive & Pearl? In many ways, Olive & Pearl grew out of something we had been doing our entire lives —bringing people together around food. We’ve always loved creating beautiful spreads for family and friends. There was something special about watching people gather around a table, graze, talk, laugh, and simply enjoy being together. Friends and family began telling us, “You should do this as a business,” and one day, we stopped laughing it off and started mapping it out. We realized we had an opportunity to combine our different strengths and create something that reflected what we both value: hospitality, creativity, quality, and connection. Charcuterie felt like the perfect expression of that. It’s beautiful and creative, but it’s also communal and approachable. At its heart, it brings us right back to where the idea began, a table filled with food and people gathered around it. Do you have a business partner(s)? Our business partner is each other! Olive & Pearl is truly a mother-daughter partnership, and building it together has been incredibly meaningful and sometimes hilarious! We know each other extremely well, which can be both a strength and, occasionally, a challenge. We have different personalities and strengths, but we’ve learned to lean into those differences and use them to our advantage. There’s a lot of trust between us, and we’ve learned how to communicate, collaborate, and occasionally laugh at ourselves along the way. We’re also building Olive & Pearl while continuing our careers in healthcare and education, so we’re taking things thoughtfully and growing the business one step at a time. We all have to start somewhere. One of the most rewarding parts has been having something that belongs to both of us. We get to learn from one another, celebrate the small wins together, and create something that we hope will become part of our family’s story for years to come. When exactly did you launch the business? Recently, in June 2026, we launched Olive & Pearl, turning an idea we had talked about for years into real business. It has been incredibly rewarding to watch something that started around our own family table and begin to find a place within the community. How is it going so far? How do you feel it has been received? It has been going very well, and we’ve been incredibly encouraged by how warmly Olive & Pearl has been received. As more people hear about us, our orders have continued to increase, and we’re seeing growing interest in boards for events and celebrations. It’s exciting to watch something that began as an idea between the two of us start to grow within the community. One of the most rewarding parts is hearing from customers after their events or seeing photos of our boards being enjoyed. Knowing that something we created became part of someone’s celebration is incredibly meaningful to us. Is there a brick-and-mortar location or is it all online? Olive & Pearl is currently an online business. We’re intentionally starting this way so we can build relationships with our customers, learn what they love, and grow thoughtfully. Our long-term dream, if the business continues to grow, is to eventually have a sit-down space where people can experience Olive & Pearl in person. Do you have any future plans if things go well/keep going well? Absolutely. For now, our focus is on continuing to grow Olive & Pearl, getting to know our customers, and becoming part of more celebrations and gatherings throughout the area. Long term, we would love to have our own physical space where people can come together and experience Olive & Pearl beyond the boards themselves. We can imagine a place that combines food, hospitality, creativity, and community. Ultimately, we want to build something that continues to grow while still feeling personal and connected to the people and community around us. Is there an aspect of the business that you really love? There are so many things we love about it, but the people and the connection are probably at the top of the list. We love creating something beautiful, but what really matters to us is what happens after we hand it over to the customer. We picture our boards on kitchen islands, at backyard gatherings, on boats, at weddings, or around a long dinner table—with people laughing, talking, and lingering a little longer. We also love the creative side. Every board is an opportunity to play with color, texture, shape, seasonality, and flavor. We don’t just want to fill a board, we want to curate an experience. And supporting local makers is especially meaningful to us. Whenever possible, we love incorporating Maine-made cheeses, local jams and honey, seasonal produce, and products from nearby bakeries and businesses. It allows us to showcase some of what makes Maine so special. Perhaps most importantly, we love doing this together. Building something as a mother and daughter has given us another way to spend time together, learn from one another, celebrate small wins, and create memories. Is there anything regarding any aspect of Olive & Pearl that you may think is important that is not reflected on the website? One thing that may not always come through online is just how personal this business is to us. Olive & Pearl isn’t something we created simply because charcuterie was popular. It grew very naturally from our family, our traditions, and the way we’ve always enjoyed gathering with people we love. There is a lot of heart behind every board. We think about the people who will be enjoying it, the occasion they’re celebrating, and how we can make the experience feel special. We also want people to know that we care deeply about supporting locals whenever possible. Using Maine products isn’t just about sourcing ingredients, it’s about telling a little story about where we live and the talented people who make and grow wonderful things here. Is there anything that we have not asked that you think is important/relevant that would like readers to know? We hope people see Olive & Pearl as more than just a charcuterie business. At its heart, it’s about gathering. Our goal is to make it easier for people to create those moments when everyone gathers around the table, conversations last a little longer, and people simply enjoy being together. We also hope people see the mother-daughter story behind the business. We’re building Olive & Pearl alongside our careers, one step at a time, and there is something incredibly special about creating a shared family legacy in the process. For us, success isn’t just about how many boards we make. It’s about becoming part of people’s special moments - birthdays, weddings, weekends with friends, quiet evenings at home, or a beautiful day on the Maine coast. If one of our boards helps people put down their phones, linger a little longer, laugh a little more, and enjoy the people around them, then we feel like we’ve done exactly what we set out to do. All photos courtesy of Olive & Pearl. LINKS TO LEARN MORE Olive & Pearl website Olive & Pearl Facebook Olive & Pearl Instagram RECENT PRESS RELEASES AND BRIEFS To see all the press releases, click here. To see our news, click here. For the full archive, click here. All of these are on our dedicated website. [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/pemetic-students-share-thoughts-on) [ Pemetic Students Share Thoughts on Declaration of Independence Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/pemetic-students-share-thoughts-on) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/pemetic-students-share-thoughts-on) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/fall-festival-at-the-noreaster-for) [ Fall Festival at the Nor’Easter for Mount Desert Nursery School, October 24. Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/fall-festival-at-the-noreaster-for) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/fall-festival-at-the-noreaster-for) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/explore-career-opportunities-where) [ Explore career opportunities where you make a difference for Maine’s natural resources—and the people who enjoy them. Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/explore-career-opportunities-where) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/explore-career-opportunities-where) [ Cranberry Isles Comprehensive Plan Committee Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/cranberry-isles-comprehensive-plan) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/cranberry-isles-comprehensive-plan) [ ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/community-school-hosts-a-pancake) [ Community School Hosts a Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser October 25! Oct 22 ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/community-school-hosts-a-pancake) [ Read full story ](https://barharborstory.substack.com/p/community-school-hosts-a-pancake) HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other. We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going. If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship. It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light. Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now. Thank you so much for being here. Founding member information can be found here. Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you. Subscribe Share Bar Harbor Story Share Leave a comment

Oct 23 • 8:00 AM EDT • Business • barharborstory.substack.com

Billy Bush sounds off about fight with author Amy Griffin at Jennifer Meyer’s star-studded wedding

Bush claims the author of “The Tell” confronted him over his coverage of her legal battle with a former classmate.

Oct 20 • 12:57 AM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

Jenny McCarthy believes Tom Cruise attempted to ‘lure’ her and Jim Carrey into Scientology

The couple was invited to Cruise’s 2006 wedding to Katie Holmes, where McCarthy was introduced to Scientology leader David Miscavige.

Oct 16 • 4:56 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

Entertainment Weekly Shares Sneak Peek at Billy and Sally's Wedding on The Young and The Restless

Check out the vintage glam!

Oct 13 • 7:38 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

Denver wedding video business lands $350K on ‘Shark Tank’

Weddings aren’t the only thing Anne Marie Carroll is celebrating.

Oct 13 • 5:53 PM EDT • Business • denverpost.com

Tobey Maguire officiates wedding of ex-wife Jennifer Meyer

Tobey Maguire and Jennifer Meyer finalized their divorce and were declared legally single on September 21, a decade after their separation.

Oct 13 • 1:11 AM EDT • Entertainment • abs-cbn.com

Tobey Maguire officiates his ex-wife’s wedding weeks after finalizing divorce

Tobey Maguire wasn’t just present to see ex-wife Jennifer Meyer marry Geoff Ogunlesi — he presided over the nuptial.

Oct 11 • 6:21 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

Rob Lowe's son Matthew marries in wedding officiated by Gwyneth Paltrow

Rob Lowe's eldest son is now a married man!

Oct 11 • 4:47 PM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com

Gwyneth Paltrow officiates star-studded wedding of Rob Lowe’s eldest son Matthew Lowe

Matthew and Emily Markus said “I do” in front of A-listers including Chris Pratt, Katy Perry, Zoe Saldaña, and more.

Oct 11 • 2:48 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

Gwyneth Paltrow officiates star-studded wedding of Rob Lowe’s son

Chad Lowe’s family made their first public appearance since the death of daughter Fiona to celebrate the wedding of Rob Lowe’s son, Matthew, and Emily Markus, which was officiated by Gwyneth Paltrow.

Oct 11 • 2:48 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

I flew from the US to Turkey for a hair transplant before my wedding

Nicole Ethridge was self-conscious about her alopecia. She traveled from the US to Turkey to have a hair transplant. A bride-to-be, she is delighted.

Oct 10 • 9:39 PM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com

T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach's wedding details are revealed

T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach's wedding plans are taking shape.

Oct 5 • 3:05 PM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com

9 celebrity couples who called off their weddings

From Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck to Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney, these couples got engaged and called it quits faster than you can say “I do.”

Sep 30 • 8:30 AM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

Gambit's Best of New Orleans 2026: Entertainment

Design by Dora Sison / Gambit Best Bounce Artist googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1492300'); }); 1. Big Freedia (Instagram: @bigfreedia)2. Ha Sizzle (Instagram: @hasizzlethevoice)3. Subtweet Shawn (Instagram: @subtweetshawn1) Trixie Minx Photo by Sophia Germer / The Times-Picayune Best Burlesque Performer1. Trixie Minx (Instagram: @trixienola)2. Bella Blue (Instagram: @bellablueforever)3. Miss Angie Z (Instagram: @missangiez) Best Casino1. Caesars New Orleans (8 Canal St., 800-427-7247; caesars.com/caesars-new-orleans)2. Treasure Chest Casino (4550 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 504-443-8000; treasurechest.com)3. Boomtown Casino (4132 Peters Road., Harvey, 504-366-7711; boomtownneworleans.com) Best Drag Performer1. Debbie with a D (Instagram: @debbiewithad)2. Katrina Waters (Instagram: @katrinawaters504)3. Laveau Contraire (Instagram: @laveaucontraire) Best Festival (that's still around)1. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (nojazzfest.com)2. French Quarter Festival (frenchquarterfest.org)3. Hogs For The Cause (hogsfest.org) Best Food Festival1. New Orleans Fried Chicken Festival (friedchickenfestival.com)2. Oak Street Po-Boy Festival (poboyfest.com)3. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (nojazzfest.com) Tipitina's Photo by Sophia Germer / The Times-Picayune Best Live Music Venue1. Tipitina’s (501 Napoleon Ave., 504-895-8477; tipitinas.com)2. The Broadside (600 N Broad St., 504-766-0871; broadsidenola.com)3. The Fillmore (6 Canal St., 504-881-1555; thefillmorenola.com) Best Live Music Club1. Maple Leaf Bar (8316 Oak St., 504-866-9359; mapleleafbar.com)2. Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro (626 Frenchmen St., 504-949-0696; snugjazz.com)3. Chickie Wah Wah (2828 Canal St., 504-541-2050; chickiewahwah.com)3. Blue Nile (532 Frenchmen St., 504-766-6193; bluenilelive.com) Best Local Blues Artist/Band1. Little Freddie King (littlefreddieking.com)2. Samantha Fish (samanthafish.com)3. Tab Benoit (tabbenoit.com) Best Local Brass Band1. Rebirth Brass Band (rebirthbrassband.com)2. Hot 8 Brass Band (hot8brassband.com)3. The Soul Rebels (thesoulrebels.com) Best Local DJ1. Paul Lakeway (Instagram: @paul_lakeway)2. DJ Soul Sister (Instagram: @djsoulsister)3. ANTWIGADEE! (Instagram: @antwigadee) Best Local Funk Band1. Dumpstaphunk (dumpstaphunk.com)2. Galactic (galacticfunk.com)3. Big Sam's Funky Nation (bigsamsfunkynation.com) Kaye the Beast Provided Photo by Catherine Debuys Best Local Hip-Hop Group/Artist1. Kaye the Beast (Instagram: @kayethebeast)2. La Reezy (Instagram: @lareezymusic)3. Pell (Instagram: @pellyeah) Best Local Movie Theater1. The Broad Theater (636 N. Broad St., 504-218-1008; thebroadtheater.com)2. The Prytania (5339 Prytania St., 504-891-2787; theprytania.com) googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1492297'); }); 3. The Prytania Theatre at Canal Place (333 Canal St., 3rd floor, 504-290-2658; theprytania.com) Best Local Music Artist/Band1. Robin Barnes & The Fiya Birds (robinbarnesmusic.com)2. Trombone Shorty (tromboneshorty.com)3. Sweet Crude (sweetcrudeband.com) Best Local Rock Band1. The Revivalists (therevivalists.com)2. Better Than Ezra (betterthanezra.com)3. Cowboy Mouth (cowboymouth.com) Best Wedding Band/ DJ1. The Mixed Nuts (themixednuts.com)2. Bucktown All-Stars (bucktownallstars.com)3. Warm Advice (warmadvice.com) Doreen Ketchens Provided photo Best Local Street Performer1. Doreen Ketchens (doreensjazz.org)2. Jourdan Blue (Instagram: @jourblue)3. Sariyah Idan (ariyahidan.com) Best Local Theater Company1. The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans (504-264-2580; twtheatrenola.com)2. Le Petit Theatre (616 St. Peter St., 504-522-2081; lepetittheatre.com)3. The NOLA Project (504-302-9117; nolaproject.com) Best Local Traditional Jazz Group/Artist1. Preservation Hall Jazz Band (preservationhalljazzband.com)2. Kermit Ruffins (@ruffinsbbq)3. Trombone Shorty (tromboneshorty.com) Best Marching Band1. St. Augustine High School Marching 100 (Instagram: @staugmarching100)2. Edna Karr High School Marching Band (Instagram: @theofficialkarrband)3. The Roots of Music Marching Crusaders (therootsofmusic.org) Best Mardi Gras Parade1. Muses (kreweofmuses.org)2. Iris (kreweofiris.org)3. Endymion (endymion.org) 610 Stompers Photo by Chris Granger / The Times-Picayune Best Mardi Gras Dance Krewe1. 610 Stompers (610stompers.com)2. Amelia EarHawts (aecabinkrewe.com)3. The Jamettes (Instagram: @thejametteskrewe) Best Place to See Burlesque/Drag1. The AllWays Lounge & Cabaret (2240 St. Claude Ave., 504-218-5778; theallwayslounge.net)2. The Original Nite Cap (1300 St. Bernard Ave., 2nd floor, 504-224-2854; Instagram: @originalnitecap)3. The Country Club (634 Louisa St., 504-945-0742; thecountryclubneworleans.com) Best Place to See Comedy1. Sports Drink (1042 Toledano St.; sportsdrink.org)2. The Howlin' Wolf (907 S. Peters St., 504-529-5844; thehowlinwolf.com)3. Big Couch New Orleans (1045 Desire St.; bigcouchnola.com) Best Local Comedian1. Ryan Rogers (ryanrogerscomedy.com)2. Mark Normand (marknormandcomedy.com)3. Cyrus Cooper (Instagram: @cyrusjcooper) Best Strip Club1. The Penthouse Club (727 Iberville St., 504-524-4354; penthouseclubneworleans.com)2. Rick’s Cabaret (315 Bourbon St., 504-524-4222; rickscabaretneworleans.com)3. Larry Flynt's Hustler Club (225 Bourbon St., 504-524-0010; neworleanshustlerclub.com) Best Performing Arts Center1. Jefferson Performing Arts Center (6400 Airline Dr., 504-731-4700; jeffersonpac.com)2. Saenger Theatre (1111 Canal St., 504-525-1052; saengertheatreneworleans.com)3. Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts (1419 Basin St., 504-525-1052; mahaliajacksontheater.com) .donate-gambit-article-module-container { text-align: center; padding: 10px; /* background-color: #24da6d; */ background-color: rgb(153, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 20px; } .donate-gambit-article-module-title { font-weight: bold; color: #fff; } .donate-gambit-article-module-copy { color: #fff !important; font-size: 16px; } .donate-gambit-article-module-button { background-color: black; width: 50%; border-color: black; font-size: 16px; } .donate-gambit-article-module-button:hover { background-color: black; } @media only screen and (max-width: 600px) { .donate-gambit-article-module-button { font-size: 14px; width: 100%; } .donate-gambit-article-module-copy { font-size: 14px; } } BECOME A GAMBIT MEMBER AND JOIN OUR KREWE TODAY For more than 40 years, Gambit has covered New Orleans, for New Orleans. We’ve stood up to city hall with you, cheered the Saints with you, danced in the streets with you and cried over our collective loss with you. And we’re plannin’ on being here for 40 more. To do that, we need your help. Become a Gambit member today and help us continue our mission SUPPORT GAMBIT

Sep 29 • 5:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • nola.com

Bruce Willis and daughter Tallulah share sweet moment in rare photo together

The snap comes nearly two months after the “Die Hard” alum attended his daughter’s wedding.

Sep 29 • 3:15 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

Boardman bride, among others, allegedly scammed by bartending business

A Boardman woman says a mobile bartending business took nearly $500 from her on her wedding day. Now she wants her money back.

Sep 28 • 10:55 PM EDT • Business • wkbn.com

Dakota Johnson reveals root of Taylor Swift friendship, shares thoughts on Travis Kelce wedding photos

The “Verity” actress doesn’t think her longtime bestie will ever drop the pictures from her nuptials.

Sep 28 • 5:34 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

Graham Norton teases mystery star at Taylor Swift wedding

Graham Norton is keeping at least one detail from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's star-studded wedding under wraps.

Sep 28 • 1:42 PM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com

Taylor Swift sets new record at MTV VMAs

Taylor Swift is having another good year — just months after her lavish wedding to Travis Kelce, the pop superstar on Sunday made history by becoming the most awarded artist at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Sep 28 • 1:52 AM EDT • Entertainment • abs-cbn.com

Clovis East floral design students gain real-world wedding industry experience

While many high school students are learning in a classroom, some Clovis East High School students are also running a business and helping create wedding memories for local families.

Sep 25 • 8:40 PM EDT • Business • abc30.com

ProTributeBands.com Clarifies Direct Booking Model for Corporate Event Entertainment Planners

SAN RAMON, CA - September 25, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE -ProTributeBands.com, the curated booking and lead generation platform for high-end tribute bands, has outlined how its direct-booking structure works for event planners seeking corporate event entertainment. Under the model, bands featured on the platform negotiate terms and close each booking directly with the client, while ProTributeBands follows up to keep the transaction moving smoothly.The structure separates ProTributeBands.com from traditional booking agencies that insert themselves into every contract. Rather than acting as an intermediary that controls the final agreement, the platform connects event planners, performing arts centers, festivals, wedding clients, and private party hosts with pre-screened, national-act-caliber tribute acts, then steps back so the parties can settle details themselves. The platform maintains contact with both sides to ensure momentum is not lost during the process.Founded by David Victor, former guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the multiplatinum band BOSTON, ProTributeBands.com features tribute acts covering artists such as Queen, The Beatles, ABBA, Journey, The Eagles, and Pink Floyd. Selected bands receive optimized profile pages and booking leads generated through the platform."Event planners often assume a booking platform means another layer of negotiation and markup," said David Victor, Founder of ProTributeBands.com. "The approach here is different. The bands negotiate terms and close each booking directly, which keeps the conversation honest and the details accurate. The platform stays involved by following up so nothing stalls between the first inquiry and the signed agreement."The direct-booking method reflects how corporate and private event planning typically operates. Planners frequently need to confirm technical requirements, stage dimensions, scheduling, and performance specifics with the people who will actually be on stage. By allowing those conversations to happen between the client and the band, the model aims to reduce miscommunication that can occur when information passes through a third party.ProTributeBands.com applies a screening process before an act appears on the platform, focusing on production quality, musicianship, and readiness for larger venues. The company ranks tribute bands across categories including Queen, The Beatles, The Eagles, Journey, Pink Floyd, and BOSTON tributes, drawing on performance quality and audience response.The ProTributeBands guide to hiring a tribute band offers additional context for planners weighing these decisions, covering topics such as understanding the audience and event, assessing entertainment value, viewing an act in person before hiring, and reviewing rider and insurance requirements. The guide addresses the practical considerations planners face when selecting an act for a corporate function, festival, or private celebration."A tribute production for a corporate audience has to hold the room the same way a headline act would," Victor said. "The vetting exists so planners can trust that the act they see listed can deliver at that level, and the direct-booking structure lets them confirm every detail with the band before committing."ProTributeBands.com serves clients across the United States and abroad, working with tribute acts that perform at performing arts centers, summer concert series, product launches, corporate parties, private parties, and wedding receptions. The platform also accepts artist submissions from tribute bands seeking consideration for inclusion. The company operates online at protributebands.com.###For more information about ProTributeBands.com, contact the company here:ProTributeBands.comDavid Victor(925) 236-0217hello@protributebands.com11040 Bollinger Canyon Road Suite E-938, San Ramon, CA 94582

Sep 25 • 5:10 PM EDT • Entertainment • wkow.com

Taylor Swift references wedding to Travis Kelce in new song ‘Cleveland!’: ‘The love of my life!’

The Grammy-winning singer will always be a lover girl at heart.

Sep 25 • 12:20 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

City Hall should pay small business for losses due to Somewhere Fest

City-assisted street closure for Chase Koch’s mammoth music festival caused cancellation of wedding and party contracts for local venue.

Sep 25 • 5:35 AM EDT • Business • kansas.com

‘Tone deaf’: Rep. Moore backs Sen. Curtis’ call to investigate Trump Jr. gift from Russian oligarch

Utah Rep. Blake Moore said on Thursday that he “absolutely agrees” with Sen. John Curtis’ call to investigate Donald Trump Jr.’s lavish, private-island wedding after-party that was bankrolled by a Rus...

Sep 24 • 9:23 PM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com

GOP Senators ask committee to subpoena Trump Jr. over Russian oligarch’s wedding gift

Sep 22 • 9:04 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com

Republican senator calls for probe of Trump Jr. after wedding party bankrolled by Russian oligarch

Republican Sen. John Curtis of Utah wants the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate and subpoena Donald Trump Jr. after his wedding party was partially bankrolled by a Russian oligarch.

Sep 22 • 1:41 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

Republican calls for Senate investigation of Trump Jr wedding paid for by Russian oligarch

Putin ally helped cover cost of renting private island in the Bahamas for wedding of Trump Jr and Bettina Anderson

Sep 22 • 11:15 AM EDT • Politics • theguardian.com

GOP Sen. calls for probe of Trump Jr. wedding party bankrolled by Russian

He is calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate whether Donald Trump Jr. used his proximity to the presidency for financial benefit

Sep 22 • 9:23 AM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com

GOP Sen. calls for probe of Trump Jr. wedding party bankrolled by Russian

He is calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate whether Donald Trump Jr. used his proximity to the presidency for financial benefit

Sep 22 • 9:23 AM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com

GOP senator calls for subpoena of Trump Jr. over oligarch-funded wedding report

Republican Sen. John Curtis of Utah wants Donald Trump Jr. subpoenaed over a report a Russian oligarch funded his wedding.

Sep 22 • 9:13 AM EDT • Politics • scrippsnews.com

Taylor Swift points to wedding ring, shouts, ‘That’s my husband!’ as Travis Kelce scores touchdown at Chiefs game

The newlywed music icon showed out for Kansas City’s big home game against the Indianapolis Colts at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

Sep 20 • 10:34 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

Trump Says His Son Will Pay Back Russian Businessman for Wedding Party

The president said his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., had decided to return the money, but defended the gift worth hundreds of thousands of dollars as “totally allowed.”

Sep 19 • 12:29 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com

Trump says his son paid back Russian billionaire who funded parts of wedding celebration

President Donald Trump on Friday claimed his son, Donald Trump Jr., paid back the Russian billionaire who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund parts of Trump Jr.’s wedding celebration in the Bahamas.

Sep 18 • 7:39 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com

Trump says son has paid back Russian for wedding party

The president defended Donald Trump Jr.’s decision to take a large gift from Umar Kremlev, saying that such presents are “common.”

Sep 18 • 5:21 PM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com

Phoebe Dynevor marries Cameron Fuller in secret south of France wedding

Phoebe Dynevor, the original diamond of the season, is officially off the marriage mart! The “Bridgerton” star, secretly married fellow actor Cameron Fuller in a lavish ceremony at a chateau

Sep 18 • 5:01 PM EDT • Entertainment • recorderonline.com

Trump says his son told him he will pay back Russian oligarch for wedding contribution

WASHINGTON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - U.S.

Sep 18 • 4:57 PM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com

'Trust me on AI,' oligarch's wedding gift, Jolly: Florida politics

President Donald Trump says nothing to see here in a scary artificial intelligence break out. Check out the latest episode of Inside Florida Politics.

Sep 17 • 2:47 PM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com

'Trust me on AI,' oligarch's wedding gift, Jolly: Florida politics

President Donald Trump says nothing to see here in a scary artificial intelligence break out. Check out the latest episode of Inside Florida Politics.

Sep 17 • 2:47 PM EDT • Politics • floridatoday.com

Ivory Star Productions’ John Bentham brings boutique shows and brunch fun to the Rio

"Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding" and "Faaabulous! The Ultimate Drag Brunch Show" have been satisfying audiences for months, but renovations have created two separate showrooms for more immersive entertainment experiences.

Sep 16 • 10:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • lasvegasweekly.com

Bradenton entrepreneur turns love of bow ties into business

For many people, a bow tie only comes out for weddings or black-tie events. But for Bradenton entrepreneur Travis Ray, it's been part of his wardrobe since kindergarten.

Sep 16 • 6:14 PM EDT • Business • fox13news.com

Bradenton entrepreneur turns bow ties into business

For many people, a bow tie only comes out for weddings or black-tie events. But for Bradenton entrepreneur Travis Ray, it's been part of his wardrobe since kindergarten.

Sep 16 • 6:09 PM EDT • Business • fox13news.com

Pat McAfee dishes on what it’s like to watch football with Tom Cruise and Taylor Swift

The ESPN host admitted Monday was his first time “really” meeting the pop star despite attending her and Travis Kelce’s wedding in July.

Sep 15 • 10:35 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

One Couple’s Wedding Venue Struggle Exposes Maine’s Hostile Business Climate

Governmental hurdles in Vassalboro are proving just how challenging it can be for aspiring business owners in Maine.

Sep 15 • 12:38 PM EDT • Business • mainepolicy.org

Emma Roberts has ‘no regrets’ about going full ‘haunted doll’ for her wedding day

The “American Horror Story” star wed fellow actor Cody John in July.

Sep 15 • 11:52 AM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

2 years after launching bridal, wedding attire now makes up half of Tanner Fletcher’s business

After being a finalist in the CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund program, the brand has grown thanks to its gender-neutral design sense and celeb fans.

Sep 15 • 12:00 AM EDT • Business • glossy.co

Zendaya and Tom Holland's wedding gets bombshell update from Law Roach

It wouldn't be an awards show red carpet without Law Roach causing confusion about Tom Holland and Zendaya's wedding.

Sep 14 • 7:55 PM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com

Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding celebration was partially funded by Russian oligarch

ProPublica reported that Umar Kremlev "footed the bill for hundreds of thousands of dollars of wedding expenses"

Sep 14 • 3:24 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com

Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding celebration was partially funded by Russian oligarch

ProPublica reported that Umar Kremlev "footed the bill for hundreds of thousands of dollars of wedding expenses"

Sep 14 • 3:24 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com

Russian oligarch bankrolled Donald Trump Jr’s wedding, ProPublica report says

Sep 14 • 10:49 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com

Howard Stern's Back: Taylor Swift Wedding, Ronnie's Summer & More

Check out the full episode on the SiriusXM app.

Sep 14 • 8:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • siriusxm.com

Party business shuts down, leaving families out thousands of dollars before weddings, quinceañeras

A Southern California party venue business that once hosted weddings, quinceañeras and sweet 16 celebrations has shut down both of its locations.

Sep 11 • 4:57 PM EDT • Business • abc7.com

How planning a wedding helped worker launch tech career before layoff

Planning her wedding in 10 weeks helped Felisha Case launch her tech career. Now she's navigating her first layoff.

Sep 8 • 5:16 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com

Nikki Glaser reveals what she nearly stole from Taylor Swift’s wedding

Comedian Nikki Glaser, who is a self-proclaimed Swiftie, shared the memento she tried to steal from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding.

Sep 5 • 3:46 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

Family-friendly entertainment option:Laser light show at Rondele Ranch this weekend

Rondele Ranch in Harshaw is known for its incredible venue, memorable wedding and vacation space. But they are experimenting with different forms of entertainment, including a laser light show this

Sep 3 • 6:13 PM EDT • Entertainment • wjfw.com

Ronaldo: This is probably my last year of football

Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has given his strongest hint yet of when he will retire. "This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy," the Al-Nassr striker told Vogue magazine in an interview on Sunday to mark his wedding to Georgina Rodríguez.

Aug 16 • 1:33 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Bruce Willis makes rare public appearance at daughter’s wedding amid dementia battle

Tallulah Willis, the daughter of the “Die Hard” star and ex Demi Moore, married Justin Acee last week.

Aug 15 • 12:44 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

Bruce Willis makes rare appearance at daughter Tallulah's wedding

Bruce Willis showed up for his daughter Tallulah Willis's wedding as he navigates the progression of frontotemporal dementia.

Aug 14 • 7:52 PM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com

Bruce Willis makes rare appearance at daughter's wedding

Bruce Willis showed up for his daughter Tallulah Willis's wedding as he navigates the progression of frontotemporal dementia.

Aug 14 • 7:52 PM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com

Rob Gronkowski played matchmaker at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding for this ‘beautiful’ celebrity

Rob Gronkowski said he played matchmaker for former Patriots teammate Julian Edelman at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding.

Aug 14 • 12:58 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

Demi Moore shares intimate photos of daughter Tallulah Willis’ wedding dress fitting: ‘So grateful’

Demi Moore shared an emotional celebration of her and Bruce Willis’ daughter Tallulah Willis, including intimate wedding dress photos: ‘Grateful we were able to share this precious event together.’

Aug 12 • 10:13 AM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet Are ‘Vehemently Opposed’ to Kris Jenner’s ‘Televised’ Wedding Plans

Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet are ready to follow in the footsteps of friends Tom Holland and Zendaya by tying the knot privately, a source tells In Touch. “They love that Zendaya and Tom were ab...

Aug 12 • 6:30 AM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

Jose Felix’s impact on Jet Sports Training makes Southside fitness business limitless

A conversation with Bobby Rodriguez at the wedding of Jose Felix's cousin in 2017 led to a dinner meeting at the restaurant No Anchovies between the two Sunnyside High School graduates to discuss further the possibility of collaborating on a local fitness center. No Anchovies became the starting point of no giving up when it

Aug 9 • 3:26 PM EDT • Business • allsportstucson.com

Bruce Willis and Demi Moore’s daughter gets married in gown that took 712 hours to make

Tallulah Willis, the youngest daughter of exes Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, has tied the knot with musician Justin Acee in an intimate Sun Valley wedding.

Aug 9 • 1:10 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

Business Alum Builds a Marketplace for Cultural Style

Weddings, birthdays and celebrations often inspire people to wear attire that reflects their heritage and traditions. Through digital technologies, custom fashion — created to exact personal preferences and specifications — has provided an avenue for these occasions. But the growing field lacks standardization or best practices. Enter NOMAJI, the brainchild of Cal State Fullerton College of Business […]

Aug 7 • 6:00 PM EDT • Business • news.fullerton.edu

Travis Kelce’s coach Andy Reid defends athlete from ‘dad body’ claims in wake of Taylor Swift wedding

Travis Kelce’s coach Andy Reid defended the tight end from ‘dad body’ claims weeks after marrying Taylor Swift.

Aug 5 • 4:35 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

'90210' star AnnaLynne McCord sparks backlash with wedding fundraiser

There's no price tag on true love, but AnnaLynne McCord's walk down the aisle is a whole other story.

Aug 3 • 1:10 PM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com

New Orleans had its own version of 'American Bandstand' in the '60s: 'The John Pela Show'

Pela, who recently celebrated two landmark occasions in May — his 95th birthday and his 75th wedding anniversary — has always been a fan of music.

Aug 3 • 5:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • nola.com

After Hobbes vs Rousseau: Politics must move beyond human nature

Since the great debate between Hobbes and Rousseau, our political theory has been organised around a single question: is human nature essentially good or essentially corrupt? Graham Harman, the philosopher behind object-oriented ontology, argues that this is simply the wrong question to be asking. The real forces governing our collective fate - climate change, artificial intelligence, geography, and pandemics - are non-human; therefore, questions about human nature are not the central ones. Instead, Harman proposes a politics reorganised around our relationship to non-human objects and environments, in which quasi-government institutions incentivise and deter actions with the aim of extending the survival of the human race. “It is easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism.” This has become one of the most popular phrases among twenty-first-century intellectuals. Often misattributed to Fredric Jameson, it has been warmly embraced by such influential authors as Slavoj Žižek and the tragically departed Mark Fisher, and has fueled the notion that the major problem with the political Left is that it simply needs to become more speculative and creative. Naturally, this is never a bad idea in any human pursuit. But what if the political distinction between Left, Right, and Center itself results from a failure of imagination? SUGGESTED READING Hobbes vs Rousseau: are we inherently evil? By Robin Douglass This particular division has been with us only since the summer of 1789. During the simmering prelude to the French Revolution, it referred originally to the physical position in the National Assembly of radical figures on one side and loyal monarchists on the other. These positions are linked with two entirely different camps of modern political theory. On the Left we find a series of authors ranging from the moderate (Locke) to the supercharged (Rousseau) to the truly radical (Marx), all of them contending that exploitation of the many by the few justifies revolutionary overthrow of the existing order. On the Right they are countered by the likes of Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Schmitt, a group of thinkers convinced that corrupt human nature can be tamed only by force. In the words of the Nazi supporter Schmitt: “One could test all theories of nature and state and political ideas according to their anthropology and classify these as to whether they consciously or unconsciously presuppose [humans] to be by nature evil or by nature good.” This is the division we continue to face today, even in the daily retail politics of Western democracies.___Our species has regularly proven itself capable of both the noblest gestures and the most scathing cruelties, making it hard to define us as essentially either emancipatory or brutal in our aims.___The most refreshing feature of David Graeber and David Wengrow’s 2021 book The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity was their awareness that the forced choice between Rousseau and Hobbes (as they put it) is no longer sufficient. Our species has regularly proven itself capable of both the noblest gestures and the most scathing cruelties, making it hard to define us as essentially either emancipatory or brutal in our aims. Far from being stationed “beyond good and evil,” we seem to be fully entangled with both. We are not naturally good or evil, Graeber and Wengrow contend, but naturally experimental and imaginative. They rest their case on the archaeological record, which seems to bear witness to numerous episodes of seasonally shifting governments and festivals, which vacillate in the same society (even in the same year) between the egalitarian and the dictatorial. Such praise of political experiment makes a good fit with the generally anarchist position defended by these authors. Yet it is also what I find most disappointing in their position. Although they are right that the forced choice between Hobbes and Rousseau falls short of what our new situation requires, the authors simply replace it with praise for the human being as a political tinkerer and performer. In other words, they give us just another theory of human nature, one that would not have been out of place in the sixteenth or seventeenth century. What other options might we have?___The time is ripe for a retheorization of politics on the basis of something other than human nature… We are not just alienated and limited by objects, but also empowered and unleashed by them___One fresh approach would be to treat politics within a broader framework than human nature, given that the polis does not exist in a vacuum filled exclusively with people. When Bruno Latour went to observe the baboons of Kenya with the San Diego anthropologist Shirley Strum, they jointly concluded that these primates were more socially interdependent than our own species. Each baboon is so reliant on the dynamics of the group that they find themselves locked into constant surveillance of their potentially dangerous peers. The group structure turns out to be inherently volatile. Humans, by contrast, are able to stabilize their societies to a large degree through the mediation of inanimate objects. Although one’s position in society may seem to fluctuate over time, considerable stability is produced through such items as apartment keys, wedding rings, and identification cards, all of them serving to secure us a place distinct from that of our fellows. The Italian philosopher Maurizio Ferraris has written at length about the crucial role of documents in establishing social relations, making him a hero among notaries in his country. Proper names and license plates cement our position amidst other humans, as do symbolic achievements such as graduation from a top university or distinguished wartime service with its various medals and ribbons. None of this is found among baboons, despite their closeness to us on the evolutionary tree: after all, we did share a common ancestor just 25 to 30 million years ago. SUGGESTED VIEWING The goodness paradox With Richard Wrangham The time is ripe for a retheorization of politics on the basis of something other than human nature, whether understood in the manner of the Left or of the Right. We are not just alienated and limited by objects, but also empowered and unleashed by them. But initially, it is true, we face non-human things primarily in the form of constraints. It would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to form a human civilization underwater, deep underground, atop Mount Everest, or in outer space. Human dependence on the non-social background takes on subtler form in discussions of political geography, especially unloved on the more idealistic Left. Consider the luckless position of Poland during World War II, sandwiched between Hitler on one side and Stalin on the other. By contrast, note the good fortune of the United States in not having a military peer positioned on any land border. Anglo-American geopolitics, since the writings of the American naval commander Alfred Thayer Mahan and the British geographer Sir Halford Mackinder, has been wedded to the notion that one or more liberal offshore naval powers should prevent any authoritarian “heartland” regime from gaining effective control of Eurasia. That remains the case whether the opponent is the impatient Napoleon, the swashbuckling German Kaiser, the villainous Hitler, the murderous Stalin, or the industrial juggernaut Chinese. In their current Foreign Affairs article “Heartland vs. Rimland,” Michael Beckley and Hal Brands analyze the current and coming state of the world on the basis of these same rather durable principles. In recent years a similar outlook has been embraced, in inverted form, by the Putin-loving Russian philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, an icon of the Rightist intellectual underworld. For Dugin, the Anglo-Saxons are an evil force bent on destroying the spiritually superior people of the land: much like Athens in its failed war with Sparta, or Carthage in its eventual collapse against Rome. But the shared notion on both sides is that any strategy that fails to take geography into account is likely to end up as a defeated form of excessive optimism.___When dealing with environmental degradation, then, we are doing business with forces that promise dire effects on our species as a whole.___More striking for us today than geography is the non-human object called climate, which threatens rimland and heartland equally. Even if we contend that humans are one hundred percent responsible for triggering the climate crisis, it remains non-human in the sense of being an independent force beyond our effective control. In a major work published just before his death in 2002, The Structure of Evolutionary Theory, the American paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould noted the tendency of evolutionary theorists to focus too closely on the fate of individuals in view of their successful or failed adaptation to circumstances. With climate change, however, we confront a force that goes well beyond the scope of any individual life. Whereas Richard Dawkins extended evolutionary questions downward from individuals to the sub-individual gene, Gould pushed it upward, speaking of entire species or clades as impacted by environmental change. The asteroid that struck the Yucatán 66 million years ago is only the most famous example of this sort. In the wake of that catastrophe, large animals needing abundant supplies of food were at a fatal disadvantage by contrast with the smaller birds and mammals of the planet. When dealing with environmental degradation, then, we are doing business with forces that promise dire effects on our species as a whole. The effect is to shift our attention away from individual beings towards the survival of the group.In the United States in particular, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked considerable backlash among those who asserted a nearly absolute degree of individual freedom. In California I encountered those who demanded that their businesses be allowed to reopen, that it was enough to cover their mouths but not their noses, or that they should have the right to enter any public area despite refusing vaccination. Yet public health is probably the clearest argument against libertarianism, which often merely asserts the autonomy of individuals against any claims of the commons. In normal times the individual is worth defending; under conditions that threaten the survival of part or all of our species, compulsion may be our only resort, as with perfectly reasonable blackouts and rations in wartime. To rebuild human society under the constraints of climate change will be one of the great challenges of the century to come, as will our improvised grappling with artificial intelligence. Such phenomena pose existential risks for humanity, and leave far less room for tolerance of individual brattiness. Cases are mounting of devastating wildfires caused by arson. Recently it was reported that there is even a website where one can bet on the location of coming wildfires, raising the specter of deliberate blazes set to collect on wagers. The death penalty has steadily lost support in a world where many stress the infinite value of human life. But if we focus instead on entire ecosystems, those who purposely burn the forests may begin to look worse than serial murderers.___The politics of the future may be splintered by disagreement over such topics as how to manage our environing background and how to permit or restrict the entry of new objects into the political sphere.___So far I have spoken of force, authority, and punishment: measures sure to have greater appeal to those who identify with what we know as the Right. But other implications of the post-anthropocentric world are likely to have different backers. If non-human objects are seen as structuring political space, it stands to reason that they can no longer be introduced solely by the pace of technical breakthrough. Fields ranging from cybernetics to energy will demand increased politicization once they are reconceived not just as products of individual human investment, but as renovations of collective political geography. This need not involve world government, with its inherent risk of tyranny, but may involve quasi-governmental enforcers of prestige along the lines of a less corrupt FIFA or International Olympic Committee, punishing deviant states not with violence but with less tangible incentives.Politics will never lose its historic links with conflict and faction. But rather than factions aligned by differing theories of human nature, the politics of the future may be splintered by disagreement over such topics as how to manage our environing background and how to permit or restrict the entry of new objects into the political sphere. This will prove just as incommensurable with the modern Left/Right spectrum as a globe is with a two-dimensional map.

Jul 30 • 8:00 AM EDT • Politics • iai.tv

TV Tinsel: GAF royalty Rhiannon Fish returns in 'A Royal Wedding'

After two tries at last Rhiannon Fish is part of royalty — like Meghan Markle. Well, not exactly. Fish’s foray into nobility is by way of the third fictional saga,

Jul 27 • 6:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • recorderonline.com

Zohran Mamdani on Six Months in Office and the Democrats' Future

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani on six months in office, the future of the Democratic Party, Israel-Palestine, Taylor Swift's wedding and more.

Jul 21 • 10:00 AM EDT • Politics • rollingstone.com

When Friends Complained About The High Cost Of Wedding Videos, This Entrepreneur Saw Opportunity. She Created A Business That’s On Track For $3.8 Million In Revenue This Year.

Anne Marie Carroll, founder of Wedding Weekender, turned a layoff into a chance to start a business that turns wedding guests into photographers—and creates candid videos to capture the events.

Jul 19 • 12:55 PM EDT • Business • forbes.com

‘300-Pound Men From the Football Business Crying’ – CEO Reveals Emotional Meltdown Inside Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce’s Wedding

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding celebration has remained one of the biggest talking points across the NFL. Now, American Century Investments President and CEO Jonathan Thomas has revealed that...

Jul 18 • 11:05 AM EDT • Business • yahoo.com

Travis Kelce’s First Post-Wedding Workout Brings Chiefs Season Back

Travis Kelce is back to training for a new NFL season with the Chiefs post his high-profile wedding to Taylor Swift. After renewing his contract with the Chiefs amid previous retirement rumors, the tight end is back to the grind. For those unversed, Kelce tied the knot with the pop star on July 3 at […] The post Travis Kelce’s First Post-Wedding Workout Brings Chiefs Season Back appeared first on Reality Tea.

Jul 17 • 4:28 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

The celebrities who had to RSVP 'no' to Taylor Swift's wedding, from Shania Twain to Ryan Seacrest

First came the guest list. Now comes a new Hollywood flex: explaining why you couldn't make Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding.

Jul 14 • 2:24 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

Paul Wesley marries Natalie Kuckenburg in an intimate civil ceremony

‘The Vampire Diaries’ star Paul Wesley got married in an intimate wedding to Natalie Kuckenburg.

Jul 13 • 2:45 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

GLP-1s are latest wedding trend that has serious implications

Doctors worry the drugs are becoming a wedding fad as online prescribing makes them easier to obtain.

Jul 13 • 5:44 AM EDT • Technology • bostonglobe.com

Travis Swift and Travis Kelce reimbursed NYC for wedding security costs

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce paid more than $160,000 to cover NYPD and city costs tied to their MSG wedding.

Jul 11 • 11:14 AM EDT • Entertainment • scrippsnews.com

Mayor Mamdani addresses whether Taylor Swift is covering costs for police presence at MSG wedding

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani addresses whether newlywed Taylor Swift is covering costs for the extra police presence at her and Travis Kelce’s Madison Square Garden wedding.

Jul 10 • 4:52 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

Forget Taylor Swift's Wedding—The Best Thing to Hit MSG This Week Was Bon Freakin' Jovi

Everyone was buzzing about Taylor Swift's wedding to Travis Kelce at MSG this week. But the real hit MSG event? Bon Jovi's incredible 2026 concert. Here, my honest review.

Jul 10 • 12:52 PM EDT • Entertainment • purewow.com

All the places Taylor Swift’s been spotted after her wedding to Travis Kelce

Taylor Swift has been a jet-setting newlywed in the days following her wedding to Travis Kelce.

Jul 10 • 12:23 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

'Preaching as resistance': Dem minister behind Satanist wedding now linked to anti-Trump sermon guide

Sarah Trone Garriott authored a chapter in a 2018 "resistance preaching" guide that urged faith leaders to combat Trump and MAGA from the pulpit.

Jul 9 • 1:21 PM EDT • Politics • foxnews.com

NFL star says Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wedding guests were ‘floored’ when Adam Sandler came out

NFL star Ryan Fitzpatrick is sharing details about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding at Madison Square Garden, including how attendees reacted to Adam Sandler officiating.

Jul 8 • 3:37 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

Small Business Spotlight: Business blooms beyond bouquets

BUSINESS: The Busy Bloom OWNERS: Amanda and Walter Adkins ADDRESS: 708 S. 17th St., Wilmington EMAIL: thebusybloomco@gmail.com WEBSITE: thebusybloomco.com PHONE NUMBER: (910) 742-0790 YEAR FOUNDED: 2024 NO. OF EMPLOYEES: 4 WHAT IS THE BUSY BLOOM? AMANDA ADKINS: “The Busy Bloom is a flower shop with a spin – a creative experience shop located in Wilmington’s Cargo District. Founded in 2024 by husband-and-wife team Amanda and Walter Adkins, we offer fresh flowers, botanical teas, a build-your-own bouquet bar, candle-making experiences, gifts, workshops, wedding florals and event services. Our mission is simple: to make flowers accessible, approachable and enjoyable for everyone – not just for special occasions.” WHY DID YOU START THE BUSINESS? AMANDA ADKINS: “The Busy Bloom was born from a lifelong connection to flowers and a desire to create meaningful experiences for people. After doing my own wedding florals and after years of working in healthcare management, I found myself returning to gardening and floral design as a creative outlet and source of healing. The loss of my mother-in-law, who always shared flowers from her garden, inspired me to pursue floristry full-time. My husband encouraged me and built a small flower cart for us to grow, and fast forward to now, two years later, it has grown into a community-centered business focused on bringing joy, connection and creativity through flowers.” WHAT KIND OF GROWTH ARE YOU HOPING FOR? AMANDA ADKINS: “We’re focused on sustainable growth that allows us to continue serving our community while expanding creative experiences. We hope to grow our wedding and event services, expand our educational workshops and creative programming and become a destination where people can gather, create and connect. We’re also passionate about creating opportunities that showcase floral design as an art form, such as our Fleur Couture fashion show and other community collaborations.” WHAT PAST EXPERIENCE HAVE YOU HAD WITH STARTING/WORKING IN BUSINESS? AMANDA ADKINS: “Before opening The Busy Bloom, I worked as a clinical manager in healthcare and spent years building leadership, operations and customer service skills. I’ve also worked in education and nonprofit programming, teaching people about nature and local ecosystems. Along the way, I designed flowers for weddings and events on the side, gradually turning a passion into a business. Walter has years of welding and construction experience, combined with entrepreneurship and a drive to own his own company. …The Busy Bloom has been a journey of combining creativity with entrepreneurship alongside my husband ... learning every step of the way.”

Jul 8 • 9:28 AM EDT • Business • wilmingtonbiz.com

Charles Barkley skipped Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s nuptials because ‘I don’t do weddings or funerals’

Charles Barkley chose golfing over having to dress up to attend Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding.

Jul 7 • 7:43 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

Adam Sandler’s reaction when asked to officiate Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding revealed

Adam Sandler’s reaction to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce asking him to officiate their wedding has been revealed. The comedian led the star-studded ceremony at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Jul 7 • 5:35 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

Travis Kelce called out by another NFL star over wedding snub: ‘I’ve known you for 10 years’

Travis Kelce is being called out by NFL player Taylor Lewan for being left off his and Taylor Swift’s wedding guest list.

Jul 7 • 11:53 AM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

James Taylor reveals why he skipped Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding

James Taylor chose to keep a five-year tradition alive rather than attend Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s star-studded Madison Square Garden wedding.

Jul 7 • 11:47 AM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

Entertainment headlines with Brenda Alexander

Taylor and Travis are still making headlines after their wedding, and Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith are said to have officially reconciled.

Jul 7 • 11:10 AM EDT • Entertainment • fox5atlanta.com

Stars who missed Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce's wedding speak out

Despite Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's extensive wedding guest list, a number of celebrities were not among the hundreds gathered inside Madison Square Garden to see the superstars say "I

Jul 7 • 10:30 AM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com

Robert Pattinson reacts to missing out on ‘free stuff’ at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding: ‘What did I get?’

‘The Odyssey’ actor missed Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding, including all the ‘free stuff’ the newlyweds gave away to their guests: ‘What did I get?’

Jul 6 • 8:18 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com

Former NFL star is ‘flabbergasted’ over Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce wedding snub

A former NFL star and pal of Travis Kelce’s says he is ‘flabbergasted’ over not getting the invite to Kelce and Taylor Swift’s MSG wedding, which had a reported guest list of 1,000 people.

Jul 6 • 4:37 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com