Nicki Minaj posted an odd video — filmed in the dark — pretending to be Dr. Anthony Fauci … as she continues to rail against him publicly. On Friday, the “Pink Friday 2” rapper posted a 59-second clip of her acting like she’s Fauci … and she…
“Love After Lockup” star LaTisha Collier will be serving the next 15 years in a low-security prison … only a short drive from where her husband Keith Collier lives, TMZ has learned. LaTisha is headed to an all-female prison in Iowa, which…
* Trump’s statement on this appears to have wildly exaggerated the relevant details: “After President Donald Trump announced Thursday what U.S. and Board of Peace officials described as a pathway to a potential agreement that would disarm Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, a senior White House official told MS NOW that public agreement from Israel is the next and final step to completing the deal.”
* The latest from Spain: “An estimated 50,000 to 60,000 migrants entered a small Spanish territory alongside Morocco on Thursday and Friday, according to Spanish authorities. Although at least 48,300 had returned to Morocco by Friday afternoon, the mass crossing prompted an immediate backlash from far-right politicians in Europe that seemed poised to linger.”
* I’m looking forward to hearing the explanation for the delay: “More than two days after the Senate narrowly confirmed Jay Clayton to serve as director of national intelligence, the senior federal prosecutor supported by Republican senators has not taken the oath of office, four U.S. officials told MS NOW on the condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions.”
* Does Carr see himself as the arbiter of what “public interest” means? “Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr on Friday defended his agency’s recent actions against ABC, saying broadcasters have a duty to ‘operate in the public interest’ and the FCC is merely trying to restore that standard.”
* Tactics like these seem to raise all sorts of difficult questions: “The Trump administration has a new tactic for trying to isolate cases of alleged voter fraud — digging into the IP addresses of those who went online to register to vote. The FBI recently obtained the IP address of someone who registered online in South Carolina, according to documents first shared with Axios.”
* I am yet to see anyone, anywhere make a coherent case as to how this helps Americans in any way: “The Department of Homeland Security alerted employers this week that it had officially ended humanitarian protections for about 350,000 Haitian immigrants, triggering mass layoffs that threaten to disrupt summer travel and destabilize an array of essential institutions and industries up and down the East Coast and across the Midwest.”
* An inherently silly demand that’s impossible to meet: “The Trump administration is in the middle of finding out that it’s very hard — maybe even impossible — to regulate perceived ‘wokeness’ in artificial intelligence. The government’s main procurement agency is a year into trying to translate President Donald Trump’s ban on ‘woke’ AI into contracting language, and technology companies are pouring out in opposition to what they’ve come up with.”
WGN is apologizing for airing a meme of Kyle Shanahan as Mitch McConnell during a news segment on the NFL head coach’s recovery from a recent car crash … telling TMZ the epic screwup was NOT malicious. The station tells TMZ … “On Wednesday’s…
I’m back! After a busy ESSENCE Festival season, I’ve returned to share with you some of the latest lifestyle product drops that I would buy based on the quality, functionality, and reviews. And I’m making up for lost time. This latest Living Well covers both the new releases from June and July, spanning skincare to tech, items to help you sleep better, and ones that keep you moisturized — from head to toe to vagina. (Just had to slip that one in there.)
See what’s new that your cart has been missing below.
Why it’s a must-have: In addition to new warm colors, the latest Google Home Speaker also makes it easy for you to have conversations with it by not forcing you to say “Hey, Google” everytime. Get the answers you need, the music you want and more to start, pause and end your day right.
Why it’s a must-have: Serves squalane, hyaluronic acid, ceramides and Vitamins B5 and E to soften lips. You also will appreciate the sheer splash of color and the flavors, inspired by delicious mocktails.
Why this is a must-have: A brand of skincare for pregnancy, postpartum and the demands of motherhood? Genius. These particular items, the Take a Sec Cleanser and Go-To Moisturizer, clean and hydrate the skin with no frills, just effective ingredients that have a refreshing impact.
Why it’s a must-have: Ayesha Curry’s brand has infused their masks (five come in a box by the way) with all the good things it needs, including pineapple fruit water and extracts that contribute to a richly nourished and glowing dermis.
Why it’s a must-have: for pet lovers, it has a three-layer foam system that offers real orthopedic support, allowing your pet to have a good night’s rest.This 42-inch bed is perfect for the bigger breeds.
Why it’s a must-have: It’s lightweight, can cover everything from stairs to upholstery, and has a technology that adapts in real time to the needs of your floors, sensing debris, edges, corners and more. Added bonus is all the attachments to clean up all sorts of tight spaces, covered in dirt, hair and the like.
Why it’s a must-have: for those of us with a stubborn scalp, this new system helps you cope with buildup, irritation, and dryness while still assisting in keeping your scalp moisturized.
Why it’s a must-have: All eight pairs are serum infused and made with caffeine and other ingredients that offer under-eye hydration, brightness and reduce puffiness.
Why it’s a must-have: Because Halle Berry said so, of course. But more than that, it uses a pharmaceutical technology that forms a breathable moisture-retention barrier down there.
Why it’s a must-have: not just hydrating, the latest addition to the brand’s lineup has zero sugar, but electrolytes, light caffeine and a refreshing taste to help you power through the day.
Why it’s a must-have: Serious steam in just 25 seconds, a bigger water tank that offers up to 20 minutes of nonstop steam, and no leaks and water spots left on clothes.
As the Owens women reunite for Practical Magic 2, the two newest members of the onscreen family hope to do fans proud. Joey King and Maisie Williams, who play Sally Owens’ (Sandra Bullock) daughters Kylie and Antonia in the Susanne Bier-helmed sequel, agreed that they felt the weight of taking over the roles from Evan […]
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story US stands on the brink of a widening regional war The U.S. war with Iran is flaring up across the region, threatening to pull U.S. allies into a fight that Washington and Israel started five months…
The Italian government on Friday imposed border checks with Spain in response to an influx of tens of thousands of migrants in the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta. The move will impact flights and maritime transport and temporarily suspends Spain’s Schengen border-free rights, an agreement that allows citizens of European member states to move…
Diane Keaton’s massive mansion has found a new owner … for a casual $23 million … TMZ has learned. Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ … the sprawling 9,219-square-foot property went under contract on Friday — meaning they’ve found…
FIFA President Gianni Infantino looks on after the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina on July 19, 2026, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. | Marvin Ibo Guengoer — GES Sportfoto/Getty Images
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup wasn’t perfect, but it was still pretty great. Legions of fans got to experience the US (and Canada, and Mexico), and Americans embraced visiting teams in turn. There was lots of extremely good football (soccer), and Cinderella teams like Cape Verde had a chance to shine.
Not even two weeks later, though, FIFA president Gianni Infantino is doing his best to kill the good vibes. He has a new proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity, attempting to capitalize on an enormously profitable tournament — with record revenue of about $15 billion in this year’s edition.
Specifically, his plan would create a new entity to run the World Cup, with FIFA the majority owner. Up to 21 percent of the company would be offered to private shareholders, in a major departure from FIFA’s current, ostensibly non-profit model.
And so far, nearly everyone hates it. Many of FIFA’s 211 member associations are in outright revolt; one of its six regional confederations, UEFA, which represents European football, has threatened to boycott FIFA events if the plan goes forward. “We will never lend this model our legitimacy,” UEFA wrote in a statement released Thursday.
Go a little deeper
UEFA is not the only governing body in football that has condemned Infantino’s plan to bring private money into the World Cup, though it has led the charge. Concacaf — which represents North and Central America, plus the Caribbean — and the Asian Football Confederation have also come out against the idea.
Collectively, they make up nearly two-thirds of FIFA’s member associations, which creates a real math problem for Infantino — the plan would require approval from a majority of FIFA members to take effect.
The intensity of the backlash has raised questions about Infantino’s future. As the Athletic reported on Thursday, he’s up for reelection as FIFA president in March, but he may no longer have an easy time of it. On Friday, FIFA’s chief operating officer described the proposal as “the project of one person” — Infantino — in a statement coming out against it.
For now, though, FIFA and Infantino say they plan to forge ahead with a “consultation period” for the plan. It sets up an even higher-stakes version of the battle over “hydration breaks” — which double as lucrative commercial breaks — that Roger Bennett, founder of the soccer podcast Men in Blazers, described to Vox in June.
“Ultimately,” Bennett told Vox, “the whole game of football is currently in a battle between its roots and the commercial imperative that comes from being as big as it is. … It is the last megaphone which is faintly audible around the world. And when you have something that big, it becomes deeply desirous to make as much money as you can out of it.”
One link for later
➨ Bail on plans the right way. If you’re currently staring down a weekend engagement you’d rather not attend, Vox’s Allie Volpe has some pointers on canceling without injury or offense. For starters, you can only bail on casual events with someone you either know very well or not that well at all. And you should offer an honest excuse before attempting to reschedule.
Before you go…
Did you know…that, until 2016, scientists routinely excluded female mice from medical research? The National Institutes of Health now requires that researchers include both sexes to help guarantee that drugs work safely for both men and women.
Today’s trivia: What’s the Vietnamese word for “festival”? (You can find this and other brain puzzles in Vox’s daily crossword. Look for the answer in tomorrow’s edition.)
Yesterday’s trivia: Yesterday we asked you to identify the “ugli” fruit. Ugli is the registered trademark for the Jamaican tangelo, a natural — and honestly, perfectly good-looking — hybrid that was discovered in the wild in the early 1900s.