Failed presidential contender Mitt Romney has revealed he pleaded with the Joe Biden administration to pre-emptively pardon Donald Trump over investigations into his alleged handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. “Why? Number one, I don’t want the anger and the hate and the vitriol,” the former presidential candidate told CNN’s Dana Bash during an event at Drew University in New Jersey. “But number two: We just can’t begin to be prosecuting political opponents,” he added, as Trump now charges ahead with a campaign of prosecutions against his political opponents. “What did they say back to you?” Bash queried. “They didn’t do that,” Romney replied with a grin. He then added that President Trump was now doing exactly what his opponents most feared he would last year. “He said he was gonna have revenge and retribution, and he is,” he said.
Major U.S. airlines have warned that the impending government shutdown could severely strain the nation’s aviation system, resulting in widespread flight delays and travel disruptions. Airlines for America, a trade group representing carriers including United, Delta, American, and Southwest, cautioned that a shutdown would cause slowdowns and impact travellers. “When federal employees who manage air traffic, inspect aircraft, and secure our nation’s aviation system are furloughed or working without pay, the entire industry and millions of Americans feel the strain,” the group said in a statement. The warning comes with precedent. During a 35-day shutdown in 2019, around 50,000 Federal Aviation Administration employees were required to keep working without pay. As the number of absences began to balloon once security officers and controllers started missing paychecks, the FAA was forced to reduce air traffic in New York, adding further pressure on lawmakers to end the shutdown. The potential shutdown, set to begin Wednesday unless a congressional funding deal is reached, threatens to worsen the existing air traffic controller staffing crisis.
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A marine biologist leading a scientific expedition to a remote island in Costa Rica was rushed to the hospital after being attacked by a giant shark. Dr. Mauricio Hoyos, 48, was bitten on the head while studying marine life in the Cocos Islands, a remote archipelago located approximately 340 miles off the coast of Costa Rica, known to harbor up to 14 different species of sharks. “He was tagging species for monitoring, and when he tagged one of the island’s shark species, the shark turned,” a physician with the Costa Rican Fire Department explained. “It was about 4 meters long (13 feet) with an enormous bite force—it turned and bit him on the head.” Hoyos, from Mexico, was transported back to the mainland, a gruelling 36-hour journey. He suffered severe injuries to the face, arm, and torso. “Incidents like this are extremely rare,” Alex Antoniou, executive director of research group Fins Attached, said on social media. “Dr. Hoyos is an extraordinary scientist who has dedicated his career to shark conservation, and we are deeply grateful for the support of the Cocos Island community in this very difficult time.”
An American Airlines flight was forced to abort a takeoff at 154 miles per hour to avoid colliding with an errant plane on the runway. AA Flight 2453 was taking off from Los Angeles International Airport bound for Boston when Aerologic Flight 619 appeared in front of it. The cargo flight rolled onto the runway “without authorization,” the Federal Aviation Administration said. The two planes came within 5,200 feet of each other. The runways at LAX range from 8,926 to 12,293 feet long. The AA Airbus A321 was carrying 93 passengers and seven crew when it was forced to slam on the brakes. FlightRadar24 shows the plane turned right towards the gate after losing speed. It later took off safely after a two-and-a-half-hour delay. CNN reports the cargo plane, a Boeing 777, had landed from Shanghai, China. It had been directed to cross runway 25L, but instead turned right, crossing into the path the Airbus had been due to take. “We thank our crew members for their quick action and our customers for their understanding,” American Airlines said. The Daily Beast has contacted Los Angeles Airport for comment.
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ESPN’s Paul Finebaum might be trading in playoff games for politics. The longtime sports broadcaster revealed on Monday that he is seriously considering leaving his job to run for a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama, Sports Illustrated reported. Conversations with political figures in the state have left Finebaum, 70, feeling encouraged to pursue public service, he said during an interview on the OutKick The Show with Clay Travis podcast. “I was very cautious, didn’t take it too seriously. And then ultimately I ended up talking to someone who made it clear that there was a desire for me to be involved,” Finebaum said. “And this person was compelling and compassionate in the approach to me, and I started thinking about it.” When Travis asked Finebaum if he was ready to give up his broadcasting career to make the move into politics, he responded: “I would. I would have to.” Finebaum, one of the most notable voices in college football, currently hosts a four-hour daily show on ESPN Radio and the SEC Network. He said he plans to officially decide whether a political run is in his future within the next month.
Actor Josh Hartnett was hospitalized when his SUV collided with a Canadian law enforcement vehicle. The two vehicles crashed at an intersection just before 1 a.m. on Thursday. Hartnett was on his way home after filming an untitled Netflix series. Hartnett was a passenger in the vehicle driven by a 59-year-old unidentified driver, according to the report. The pair were treated for “minor injuries,” while a police officer went to hospital as a precaution. Cops said the vehicles were “significantly damaged.” Law enforcement is looking for any witnesses or footage that could help further their investigation. Though the actor’s current project has not been announced yet, IMDB shows the untitled Netflix series features Mackenzie Davis and Natasha Henstridge. Under the show’s profile, the series plot is about a heroic fisherman who fights to protect his community after a sea creature has caused destruction to his town.
Taylor Swift will take over Late Night with Seth Meyers on Wednesday Oct. 8, Meyers announced on Instagram Monday. Swift will be the sole guest, according to The Hollywood Reporter, and will sit for a longer than usual late-night interview with the host. NBC dubbed the upcoming episode a “TAY/kover.” Swift’s first scheduled return to late-night after three long years was announced last week when Jimmy Fallon revealed she’d be stopping by his show on Oct. 6, as part of promotion for her 12th studio album, out this coming weekend. Swift’s appearance on Late Night will be her third with Meyers, following her eighth appearance on Fallon’s Tonight Show. Swift’s rollout also includes The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, out in AMC theaters to coincide with the release, and is buoyed by the news of her engagement to her NFL boyfriend Travis Kelce, with whom she broke the internet in August by appearing for the first time on his podcast.
The Simpsons Movie sequel is officially in production. The movie, produced by Disney’s 20th Century Studio, is set to be released on July 23, 2027, two decades after the first film. It has taken the place of an untitled Marvel project on the studio’s project schedule. In light of the sequel, there will no longer be a new comic book installment between Avengers: Doomsday on Dec. 18, 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars on Dec. 17, 2027. The Simpsons, created by Matt Groening, has broken the record for the longest-running animated series and sitcom on television. The show’s 40th season will air during 2028 and 2029. The show is set in Springfield, a fictional town, and captures the lives of the Simpson family, including dad Homer, mom Marge, and kids Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. The show was turned into The Simpsons Movie in July 2007. The film earned an impressive $536 million at the global box office from the original $75 million budget. Though the plot for the second movie has not been revealed, fans speculate that the story will build upon the first film, where Homer endangered Springfield when he accidentally polluted the town’s lake.
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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’).
Developed by former Bose engineers, Ozlo Sleepbuds are a science-backed wearable engineered to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer every night. Unlike earplugs or other sleep aid gadgets, Ozlo doesn’t just block sound. Instead, these earbuds are specifically designed to support a restful sleeping experience.
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In addition to premium noise-masking capabilities, the buds feature biometric sleep detection that senses when you fall asleep and transitions from whatever audio you were listening to—yes, you can stream from all your favorite apps—into built-in soundscapes engineered for rest. Plus, the side sleeper-friendly Sleepbuds are designed for all-night comfort, so you can drift off without distraction until the gentle in-ear alarm wakes you (not your partner) up in the morning.
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John Mara, the president, CEO and co-owner of the New York Giants, is battling cancer. The 70-year-old sports tycoon, whose grandfather founded the NFL team in 1925, announced the news on Monday, sharing that he is under the care of “an outstanding team of doctors” who have been guiding him through a treatment plan. “I’m feeling strong and optimistic, and I’m committed to seeing this through to a positive outcome,” Mara wrote in a statement, without specifying the type of cancer. “I plan to remain active with the team throughout my treatment, and I’m fortunate to be surrounded by incredible support—personally, professionally, and medically.” He ended his statement by requesting privacy for himself and his family at this time. Mara’s family includes wife Denise, a son, and four daughters. Mara is also uncle to Emmy-nominated House of Cards actress Kate Mara, 42, and two-time Oscar nominee Rooney Mara, 40. While neither actress has yet to comment publicly on their uncle’s diagnosis, the New York Giants posted his statement to their official social media pages with no caption. Mara has been part of the Giants’ franchise since 1991, when he joined as general counsel, but took over the role of president in 2005 following the death of his father, second-generation owner Wellington Mara.
R&B superstar Ne-Yo has made it clear he won’t stand for anyone trying to steal the spotlight after throwing a fan off stage during a concert in Kobe, Japan. Wearing a sequenced blazer, cowboy hat and leather pants, the singer was in the middle of performing his 2007 hit “Because of You” when an audience member, dressed in a white T-shirt tried to climb up beside him. The artist reportedly then lowered his microphone and pushed the fan back into the crowd. Ne-Yo later posted a statement on the incident to his Instagram account. “This is what you DON’T do.” “I’m a gentleman but I WILL slap the s–t out of a person disrespecting my stage. And then keep the party going. Don’t try me. All love, til it’s not.” He’s not the only artist to have lost his temper with overly eager fans lately either. Earlier in April, singer-songwriter Ryan Adams stormed off stage during a show in Ireland after fans refused to stop using flash photography. “Stop f–king flashing, I have epilepsy,” he shouted at the crowds, though he later returned to finish his set.