MAGA goon Alex Pfeiffer, one of Trump’s top communications staffers, has left the administration after just nine months in the job. The 29-year-old joined the Trump campaign in August before taking a role in the administration as principal deputy communications director at the beginning of the year. Now he becomes one of the highest-profile names out the door since the atomic Trump vs. Musk implosion, which saw the “first buddy” ignominiously step down from his role as efficiency czar. Pfeiffer joins public relations firm Watchtower Strategy with Arthur Schwartz, a partner at the firm, telling Axios: “Alex is one of the most effective communicators in the Republican Party, and we’re thrilled to share his talents with our clients.” He has a pedigree MAGA resume. From 2016, Pfeiffer worked at Tucker Carlson’s Daily Caller before switching to Fox News, where he helped produce Carlson’s show. He then went on to work in the MAGA Inc. super PAC in 2022. Compared to Trump’s chaotic first term in office, when roughly 35 percent of his top aides left, Trump’s second term has been relatively calm, per the Brookings Institution.
NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith is gearing up to dive headfirst into political commentating with a new $36 million, three-year contract with SiriusXM, according to The Athletic. Smith, 57, is set to debut a two-hour political talk show, Straight Shooter with Stephen A., Wednesday night on SiriusXM. It will be on the platform’s bipartisan channel called “POTUS Politics.” Smith already signed a five-year ESPN deal earlier this year worth $105 million, which allowed him to make fewer appearances on the network. Now the sports commentator is going to make roughly $40 million per year across both contracts, in addition to his YouTube and podcast revenue. Smith’s foray into politics doesn’t come as a surprise as he’s often touched on political topics during his sports broadcasts and outside interviews. Last week, he provided his opinion on the assassination of Charlie Kirk in an interview on Newsmax, lambasting House members for a lack of “decorum” during a moment of silence for Kirk’s death. Smith has even hinted at a presidential run, saying in January, following Trump’s 2024 win, that “the Democratic Party looks so pathetic after this election, I might entertain running.” The president also gave him the thumbs up, saying in April that he’d “love to see [Smith] run.” But fans of his sports commentary, which primarily focuses on the NBA, can still catch him on his daily ESPN show First Take.
Fall is nearly here, bringing crisp air, colorful leaves, and—unfortunately—the start of cold season. While it’s nearly impossible to completely avoid all illness, there are plenty of ways to mitigate the risk to you and your family. One way is by taking advantage of the CVS Big Fall Wellness Sale, live until 9/27, to stock up on cold- and flu-busting must-haves with buy one get one 50% off pricing. With CVS, your order can be ready for pickup in as little as an hour, or scheduled for same-day delivery (availability may vary by address).
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The prime suspect in the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann in Portugal was released from prison in northern Germany on Wednesday after serving a seven-year sentence in an unrelated rape case. Christian Brueckner, 48, who was convicted of the rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal, was released under the condition that he be monitored with an electronic ankle tag. German prosecutors believe Brueckner is responsible for McCann’s disappearance from her family’s vacation rental home in the Portuguese resort of Praia da Luz. Brueckner, who lived in the southern Algarve region where Praia da Luz is located, has multiple prior convictions for sexual offenses, including against children, and a long record of petty crimes. Cellphone data placed him near the resort at the time of the 3-year-old’s disappearance, though he has denied any involvement in her disappearance. “The prosecutors’ statement says they haven’t gathered enough direct evidence to charge him,” legal consultant Mark Stephans told CBS News. Brueckner will likely remain the prime suspect in the case.
A dismembered body found in a Tesla belonging to R&B singer D4vd has been identified as a 15-year-old girl named Celeste Rivas, according to TMZ. Rivas’ body was discovered in a tow yard in Los Angeles on Sept. 8, after police were called about a stench emanating from the vehicle. The “severely decomposed” corpse was then discovered inside a bag in the Tesla Model Y, with a report suggesting the victim was “inside the vehicle for an extended period of time before being found.” The vehicle was later found to be registered to singer D4vd, real name David Anthony Burke. An earlier report said the victim was a female with wavy black hair and a distinctive tattoo on her right index finger. The tattoo, which read “Shhh…” was used by Rivas’ mother to identify the body as that of her missing daughter, who reportedly had a boyfriend named David and vanished in April 2024. Burke also has a tattoo on his finger with the letters “Shhh…” He is currently on a world tour and is not in the U.S., but is said to be “cooperating with authorities. The vehicle has a Texas license plate and is registered to D4vd, and has not been reported stolen. The investigation continues.
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Sleep can be hard to come by these days. From city noise and snoring partners to late-night scrolling and spiraling thoughts, there’s a lot that can get in the way of a good night’s rest. In fact, research suggests that one in three adults doesn’t get enough sleep. (Hello, fellow insomniacs!) Luckily, you don’t have to accept exhaustion as your default—Ozlo Sleepbuds can help improve sleep hygiene sans habit-forming treatments or sleeping in separate rooms (aka ‘sleep divorce’).
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Rob Lowe is terrified of golf carts and “almost got killed” in one at Patrick Schwarzenegger’s wedding. The Parks and Recreation star was speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Sept. 16 when he recounted getting into a spin in one just 10 days prior, according to People. Lowe, has been friends with Patrick’s dad, Arnold Schwarzenegger, for years—the star’s sons Matthew, 32, and John Owen, 29, are around the same age as the 31-year-old White Lotus actor. “I’ve known Patrick since he was a little boy,” Lowe said. He had been present as Schwarzenegger and Abby Champion tied the knot at Lake Coeur d’Alene in northern Idaho, and it was here that things went south. He told Kimmel, “I literally almost got killed on a golf cart… I’ll do crazy stuff, I’ll big wave surf, I’ll heli-ski, but little things scare me. Like, I’m petrified of golf carts… I’m really, really petrified of rolling a golf cart… I did a full double 360.” Quizzed by the host over his top speed, Lowe continued, “It was down a really steep hill, and the grass was wet. But I’ve had movies where they give you stunt driving, so I just kept the wheel like this [keeping still] like I was trained to. My friend said, ‘You looked like a statue as you were spinning.’” Kimmel then asked him if he tried the brake, to which Lowe replied: “No! Then you’re done. You do not want to do that,” the West Wing star added, revealing where the fear came from: “I’ll tell you what it is. It’s that I feel that they’re tipsy-topsy, like, ready to roll over all the time.”
A 29-year-old hiker was rushed to the hospital after being ambushed by a bear while hiking in Yellowstone National Park, park officials confirmed. The hiker was trekking solo on Turbid Lake Trail when he encountered the bear, thought to be a grizzly, and attempted to ward it off using a spray, the park said. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries to his chest and left arm during the attack and was found by park rangers about an hour later, where he was airlifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Turbid Lake Trail has been closed while park authorities investigate the attack. “Because this incident was a defensive reaction by the bear during a surprise encounter, the park will not be taking any management action against the bear,” Yellowstone said in a statement. The incident was the first time a hiker had been attacked by a bear in the National Park since 2021, when a grizzly bear ambushed another solo traveller. Park officials strongly recommend hiking in groups of three or more, making noise, and carrying bear spray to prevent such encounters.
A transatlantic flight was grounded after flames spat from its engine as it prepared to take off. Footage of Swiss Air Lines Flight LX55 taxiing is interrupted by a flash of orange from the rear of its right thruster, followed by a cloud of smoke. The Airbus A330-300 was taking off from Boston Logan International Airport for Zurich, Switzerland, but was forced to abort. It reportedly did so under its own power, and no one was hurt. According to CBS, the Federal Aviation Agency said in a statement, “The crew of SWISS Flight LX55 stopped their takeoff at Boston Logan International Airport due to engine issues around 6:25 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Sept. 16. The FAA briefly paused some arrivals to the airport before the plane taxied off the runway. The FAA will investigate.” Speaking to NBC Boston, a passenger aboard the flight said there was “kind of a boom noise and a big jolt, so the plane jolts forward.” Swiss Air Lines told the Daily Beast in a statement: “Investigations into the exact nature of the engine problem are currently underway… We deeply regret the inconvenience caused to passengers by this incident.”
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield has quit the company after 47 years, citing a loss of freedom to “pursue our values.” The 74-year-old started the Vermont company alongside Ben Cohen and aligned it closely with social justice issues and activism. In his resignation letter, posted on Cohen’s X account, Greenfield said the freedom to express the values they hold dear had been part of their agreement with Unilever when it bought company in 2000. Now though, he says with a “broken heart” he can’t continue “in good conscience.” His exit comes as Unilever prepares to spin off its ice cream wing, the Magnum Ice Cream Company. “It’s profoundly disappointing to come to the conclusion that that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone,” Greenfield wrote. He added, “Ben & Jerry’s has been silenced, sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power,” complaining it comes while the “country’s current administration is attacking civil rights, voting rights, the rights of immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ community.” Cohen and Greenfield had clashed with Unilever over the years for their activism. Unilever said in a statement: “We disagree with his perspective and have sought to engage both co-founders in a constructive conversation on how to strengthen Ben & Jerry’s powerful values-based position in the world.”
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From softening fine lines to reducing pain, red light therapy has a laundry list of health benefits. Now, the NASA-backed wellness modality is gaining traction for its ability to help fight thinning hair. Hairmax’s innovative devices help correct and prevent hair loss by stimulating hair follicles through low-level laser therapy. With comparable devices, treatment times can last up to 30 minutes to reap the optimal results, which is not exactly convenient. Fortunately, Hairmax just launched a faster solution for treating thinning hair at home: the Lumina 272.
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A “de-extinction” company has revealed it has made a “pivotal step” in reviving the long-extinct dodo bird. Colossal Biosciences revealed it successfully grew pigeon primordial germ cells, the precursor cells to sperm and eggs. “Our goal is to make enough dodos with enough genetic diversity engineered into them that we can put them back into the wild where they can truly thrive,” said Chief Executive Ben Lamm. “We’re not looking to make two dodos, we’re looking to make thousands.” The flightless bird went extinct in the 17th century, but it has become relevant as a symbol of extinction. The company is using CRISPR gene-editing technology, developing gene-edited chickens to act as surrogates for the dodos. Not everyone is on board with the revival. Biologist Rich Grenyer from the University of Oxford called de-extinction plans a “dangerous” distraction that results in a “simulation.” “By labelling genetically engineered modern species as extinct ones brought back from the dead…it’s a huge moral hazard; a massive enabler for the activities that causes species to go extinct in the first place,” he said. The company has previously made headlines for attempting to revive other extinct species like the woolly mammoth and dire wolf.
Tennis star Taylor Townsend issued a groveling apology on Wednesday after facing a social media backlash over insensitive comments made about Chinese food. Taylor, the world No. 1 doubles player, shared videos on Instagram of buffet food during a trip to Shenzen, China, calling the dishes “the craziest thing I’ve ever seen… and people eating this.” The dishes, which included soft-shelled turtle, bullfrog, and sea cucumber, prompted her to exclaim, “These people are literally killing frogs… bullfrogs. Aren’t those poisonous? Aren’t those the ones that be giving you warts and boils and stuff? And turtles?… All in all, I’d give this, like, a solid two out of 10 so far, because this is crazy!” The comments stoked outrage on English and Chinese social media, prompting a swift apology from the 29-year-old American, who is in China for the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup. “I just wanted to come on here and apologize sincerely from the bottom of my heart,” Townsend said in a video posted on Instagram. “I understand that I am so privileged as a professional athlete to be able to travel all around the world and experience cultural differences, which is one of the things I love so much about what I do. I have had nothing but the most amazing experience and time here, and in the tournament. Everyone has been so kind and so gracious and the things that I said are not representative of that at all… I just truly apologize.”