You can’t just remake Faces of Death in the traditional sense. The 1978 original lurched out of the shadows at the tail end of the mondo film craze and was presented to audiences as a series of authentic clips depicting gruesome footage of real human and animal deaths. Of course, those claims were later debunked, but a seedy, forbidden quality lingers even decades later. Can the new Faces of Death movie hope to capture that same sick feeling? Should it even try?
The first full trailer for the film, directed by Daniel Goldhaber and written by Goldhaber and Isa Mazzei (who previously collaborated on Cam and How to Blow Up a Pipeline), suggests there is some method behind this madness.
And yes, it’s a red-band trailer—Faces of Death‘s marketing approach is seemingly designed to remind us how shocking the movie’s subject matter will be—meaning you’ll have to actually go to YouTube (and be signed in) to watch it.
Definitely some disturbing “found-footage” imagery there, and also hints at the frame story featuring a suitably horrified-looking Barbie Ferreira (Euphoria).
Here’s the official synopsis, which ties it all together: “In Faces of Death, the exploration of the original film’s infamous ‘is it real or not?’ conceit continues as a woman (Ferreira) working as a content moderator for a major video platform discovers what appears to be reenactments of murders from the original film. In an online world where nothing can be trusted, she must determine whether the violence is fiction, or unfolding in real time.”
So there’s a bit of Blow-Up (or Blow-Out, speaking of remakes) at play as the content moderator becomes convinced she’s uncovered some very dangerous footage and must determine whether she’s right or not. There’s also a Black Mirror feel to that idea, as technology becomes overtaken and misused for deeply sinister purposes.
The idea that the new murders are copied from Faces of Death is also a nice (if ghastly) touch—as is not trying to replicate the “real or not” situation for viewers, who are well aware this is a fictional film, and instead centering that on Ferreira’s character, who has the right narrative context to make her own perceptions ambiguous.
The rest of the cast includes Dacre Montgomery, Josie Totah, Aaron Holliday, Jermaine Fowler, and the suddenly ubiquitous Charli XCX. Who will survive, and whose agony will be captured on tape? Find out April 10 when Faces of Death hits theaters.
The kids, work deadlines, what’s for dinner… these are the kinds of things that often occupy our thoughts. What’s going on inside our cells? Not so much. However, our cellular health is the key to a healthy body, and enzymes play an important role in the entire process.
This article is a deep dive into enzymes, what they really are, how I use them, and how they can help with energy, digestion, and more. While I don’t take lots of supplements or even take them every day, enzymes are one of the few exceptions. I used enzymes in my journey to recover from Hashimoto’s autoimmune disease and I still use them now for other reasons.
After 7 years of taking them and plenty of trial and error, I’m sharing what I’ve found!
What Are Enzymes?
Enzymes are like a precision tool our bodies use to break things down and build them back up. From a scientific perspective enzymes are protein catalysts that lower activation energy and speed up our reactions, all without being consumed in the body. Different ones serve different purposes, like a key only fitting a certain lock. For example lipase helps digest fats and only fats, while amylase only digests carbs.
They also work differently under different conditions which is why they can function differently depending on how they’re used. Things like pH, temperature, co-factors, and minerals all play a role in pulling the trigger for enzymes to do their job.
In theory we get them from food, especially produce. Our body also makes many enzymes, like amylase in our saliva to break down carbs, or gastric enzymes for proteins in our digestive tract. These enzymes break down most of the macronutrients in our body so we can actually use what we eat.
However with declining soil quality and nutrient density and disrupted gut microbiomes and absorption, many of us can use some extra help in this area. In hindsight I finally realized that my body wasn’t making and using enzymes well and I really wasn’t absorbing all the healthy food I was eating. Enzymes are just as important as minerals and light in my book when it comes to foundational health.
They’re especially helpful during times of stress, inflammation, and gut issues. Enzymes are also key when it comes to dealing with heavy metals, parasites, and general recovery.
The Best Way To Take Enzymes
If our bodies aren’t effectively making all the enzymes we need, then the next best thing is to take a quality enzyme supplement. How you take them though also makes a difference. When we take enzymes with food they work to help us digest, absorb, and break down the compounds of our food more efficiently. These are especially helpful for reducing bloating and gas after eating. Digestive enzymes also help with that heavy, overly full feeling when food is just sitting around and not being broken down well.
Taking enzymes on an empty stomach works entirely differently. Away from food enzymes work in a more systemic way, like proteolytic enzymes. So while they have multiple uses, the timing matters here. Research has explored enzymes like serrapeptase and nattokinase for circulation and inflammatory support. Nattokinase has been studied for breaking down blood clots, while serrapeptase has been researched for swelling after surgery.
You can find enzymes derived from plant and microbes that help the body fill in the gaps of what it’s already doing. I’ve learned the hard way that the best way to support the body is to work within the body’s natural systems. The idea isn’t to bypass or overload the body’s natural systems, which can lead to problems down the road.
Different Kinds of Enzymes
I mentioned that different enzymes do different things, so what are the different kinds of enzymes? First up there are the lipases that deal with breaking down fats, like glycerol and fatty acids. Next are amylases like glucoamylase and lactase. These deal with carbs, starches, lactose oligosaccharides, and other forms of carbohydrates. There are even some enzymes that target fiber to help make it more digestible, meaning less gas and bloating.
Specialty enzymes like serrapeptase and nattokinase perform other functions in the body.
Deciphering Enzyme Supplement Labels
Turn over an enzyme supplement bottle and you’re sure to see different abbreviations and lingo on the label. For example, protease may be labelled with HUT, PC, and SAPU, which are related to how much enzymes there are and their activity amounts.
These units matter more than milligrams, which don’t tell you much about what it’s actually going to do for you. There are a lot of different terms to consider here, but the main idea is to look beyond the grams and milligrams and look at the activity units.
Who Should Take Enzymes?
Not every supplement is the best option or necessary for every person. Those who can benefit the most from taking an enzyme supplement include anyone with compromised gut function or digestive issues. Research shows benefits for those with low stomach acid and pancreatic insufficiency, both of which can happen with age.
And if the problem isn’t addressed we tend to make less stomach acid and pancreatic enzymes as we get older. Anyone on a high protein or high fat diet can also see benefits, since we’re asking for more digestive power from our body and it could use the extra boost.
Another time I prioritize enzymes is when I’m traveling and eating out or during the holidays. Since I’m breaking my routine during these times I’ve found enzymes are helpful for keeping my digestion on track.
How to Make Enzymes More Effective
If there’s one theme you’ve probably heard me repeat over and over, it’s that supplements work best when they’re layered onto a strong foundation. Enzymes are no exception. Before adjusting doses or experimenting with timing, I focused on simple foundational habits that support the body’s own enzyme production and activity.
Chew More Than You Think You Need To
Carb digestion begins in the mouth thanks to salivary amylase. When we rush through meals, we skip that first important step. Digestion starts before we even swallow.
Slowing down also shifts us into a parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) state. When we eat stressed or distracted, digestive secretions can decrease. For me, something as simple as taking three slow breaths before eating noticeably improves how I feel afterward.
Support Stomach Acid (If Needed)
Low stomach acid becomes more common with age and can impair protein digestion and nutrient absorption. Having enough stomach acid is essential for breaking down proteins. Betaine HCl or bitters can be helpful for this, but check with your provider first. This is very individual, and anyone with ulcers, reflux, GI bleeding, or on certain medications should work with a professional before experimenting.
Don’t Water Things Down
Hydration matters, but large amounts of liquid during meals can dilute stomach acid and enzymes. I drink most of my fluids between meals rather than with them. For some people, that small shift alone reduces bloating and the overly full feeling after eating.
Move After Meals
Even light walking after meals has been shown to support digestion and blood sugar regulation. I’ll often go for a short walk after meals (especially in the sunshine!). Movement also supports lymphatic flow. A short walk, gentle stretching, or simply staying active can support both digestion and recovery without needing an intense workout.
Minerals Matter
Enzymes rely on cofactors like magnesium, zinc, and sodium. Zinc in particular plays a role in digestive enzyme production and stomach acid function. This is why I see minerals as foundational. When we have enough minerals, enzymes, both the ones we make and the ones we supplement, tend to work better.
Enzymes and Autoimmune Recovery: My Experience
During my recovery from Hashimoto’s, I often felt congested inside, like things weren’t moving well. Stiff joints in the morning, puffy fingers, and low energy were all too common for me. I started with the foundational basics like minerals, nervous system work, sunlight, sleep, and a focus on eating protein. I then layered in both digestive and systemic enzymes.
The changes were gradual, but over time I noticed:
My rings were looser in the morning
My joints felt less stiff
Digestion felt smooth instead of heavy
My sleep deepened
Enzymes aren’t a magic pill, but I’ve definitely noticed how using them helped my body have what it needed to reach my health goals. And the consistency helped more than doing something intensely.
Enzymes for Performance and Recovery
While this is discussed more in fitness circles, it’s worth mentioning. Especially since more people are realizing how much better they feel physically and mentally with a focus on healthy proteins.
Digestive enzymes can support higher protein intake by improving nutrient breakdown and reducing bloating. Proteolytic enzymes (taken away from food) have also been studied for supporting muscle recovery and reducing delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
While performance wasn’t my original reason for using enzymes, I’ve seen consistent anecdotal benefits here, especially among strength athletes. My older teen athletes now take enzymes without any prompting from me because they’ve noticed a difference too.
The Best Enzyme Options
As with any supplement, quality and context matter. Be sure to discuss with your healthcare provider if you take anticoagulants, have a bleeding disorder, are post-surgery, or have ulcers or active GI bleeding. Children may benefit from specific enzymes, but you can always check with their provider for targeted advice.
When choosing an enzyme look for something that has clearly labeled activity units (not just milligrams). Third-party safety testing when available is also something I reach for. I also want formulations that are designed to remain active at appropriate pH levels so my body can actually use the enzymes.
My favorite enzymes that check all the boxes for me are these:
Practical Tips If You Want to Experiment
If you’re considering enzymes, here’s the approach that worked for me:
Start low (one capsule)
Track how you feel (digestion, energy, stiffness, sleep, etc.)
Increase gradually if needed
Be intentional about timing (with meals vs. away from meals)
I found that timing and consistency mattered far more for me than high doses.
Final Thoughts on Enzymes
Enzymes may not be flashy or trendy, but they’re the quiet catalysts working hard behind the scenes. For me, they were a needle mover when layered onto sleep, minerals, sunlight, nervous system safety, and nutrient density.
I don’t take many supplements daily. Enzymes are one of the few I rotate in regularly because I’ve seen enough benefit to keep them in my toolkit. Our bodies are incredibly intelligent, but sometimes they just need the right support to function how they were designed.
Have you ever experimented with enzymes before? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
How did these individuals become vitamin D deficient in the first place? According to Bredesen, it’s a combination of lifestyle habits and nutritional choices: “They’re living indoors, they’re not getting out enough, they’re not taking vitamin D, or they’re not absorbing the vitamin D they are taking.”
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
British parliamentary by-elections are generally poor indicators of national contests but very good at giving you the state of the parties today.
By that measure Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government has a great deal to worry about after the Green party’s victory in a parliamentary by-election in what was supposed to be a Labour stronghold in Manchester. The Gorton and Denton contest delivered a stunning win for the small party and one that points to the further fragmentation of British politics. Under a new party leader pursuing arguments influenced by Zohran Mamdani’s New York mayoral campaign, the Greens have moved closer to establishing a viable populist left force in British politics.
Labour fell to third place, behind both the Greens and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. The result points to disastrous results for Labour in May’s Scottish and Welsh parliamentary and English council elections. It will lead to renewed pressure for a change of leadership. The outcome is also a warning for Reform. Although this seat would not normally be a prime target, Nigel Farage, who leads the party, should be troubled that his ever-rightward drift is being met by voters increasingly searching for the best way to stop him winning.
While much of Labour’s strategic focus has been on the Reform threat, it has been losing far more voters to parties of the left. Labour MPs are now demanding a new approach, not least because the Greens’ win also weakens the party’s most potent political argument — that it alone can stop Reform.
By pursuing disaffected left and Muslim voters disillusioned by the Labour government’s line on Gaza, the Greens are hollowing out Labour’s base of support. With their added appeal to young people they pose a particular threat in inner-city areas. The new Green MP Hannah Spencer, a young female plumber, also appealed directly to white working-class voters.
The defeat is all the more damaging for Starmer because he blocked the candidacy of Labour’s charismatic Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, to prevent him challenging for the Labour leadership. May’s elections are likely only to increase his lame-duck status and fuel the demands for a change. Starmer hopes next week’s spring financial statement will highlight more encouraging economic news. But voters are yet to feel the change he promised and a series of political retreats do not instil confidence that he can deliver.
Starmer will now face demands for Labour to tack further left by spending and borrowing more and increasing wealth taxes. The danger here is that this weakens a push for growth already hampered by higher business taxes and regulation. No Labour recovery is possible without an economic one.
For the Greens, success will rightly see greater scrutiny, not least of their ill-conceived economic policies and the sectarian politics which marked their courting of Muslim voters. But the message is that the populist left has firmly arrived in the UK. British electoral politics will now become even more a patchwork of local contests with parties needing far smaller vote shares to win and elections decided by tactical voting. Labour and the Conservatives find themselves squeezed between the Greens and Reform (as well as nationalists in Scotland and Wales) at a time when both are unpopular.
This is perhaps the biggest concern following the Greens’ success. The worry for those who fear Reform is that while the populist left can win in local or regional elections, they are not an adequate safeguard against the populist right at a national level. Those who want moderate, inclusive, economically sane politics need at least one of the two major parties to get their act together and quickly.
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There’s something about a matching set that makes getting dressed feel instantly easier. Instead of standing in front of your closet piecing together separates, you can reach for a coordinated duo and look completely put-together in seconds. This spring, matching sets are everywhere, from soft knit lounge combos that make slow mornings feel elevated to breezy shirt-and-short sets that look right at home at brunch. The best part? They strike that rare balance between polished, comfortable and effortless.
Retailers like Amazon and Walmart are overflowing with spring-ready options you’ll want to live in, whether your day involves working from home, running errands or meeting friends for evening plans. Plus, you can wear the sets together or mix the pieces into the rest of your wardrobe. Ahead, shop 20 matching sets that make the transition from couch to cocktails feel completely seamless.
20 Amazon and Walmart Matching Sets You Can Wear All Spring
1. Striped Cutie: This striped knit duo feels like instant sunshine. The short-sleeve pullover and elastic-waist shorts create that effortlessly coordinated look, while the ribbed texture gives it a cozy, polished feel. With 24 color options ranging from playful brights to neutral staples, it’s the kind of set you’ll reach for on repeat from morning coffee runs to weekend lounging.
2. Shoulder-Baring Chic: An off-the-shoulder neckline instantly elevates this cozy knit set, giving it just enough drama for dinner plans. The relaxed sweater pairs perfectly with drawstring shorts that feel as comfortable as your favorite lounge pieces. Add sneakers or strappy sandals, and suddenly you’re ready for plans beyond the couch.
3. Cloud-Soft Essential: Made from a silky-soft rayon blend, Trendy Queen’s oversized tee and shorts combo feels like wearing your favorite blanket. . . only cuter. Side slits and a relaxed silhouette add movement, while the drawstring waist lets you customize the fit. Wear it for travel days, lazy Sundays or quick errands when comfort is non-negotiable!
4. Batwing Beauty: Batwing sleeves and contrast stripes give this knit set a fashion-forward twist. The oversized crewneck top drapes beautifully, while the high-waisted drawstring shorts balance the volume. It’s an easy way to look styled without overthinking a thing.
5. Quiet Luxury Knit: This sleeveless knit top with contrast edging and pleated wide-leg pants looks far more expensive than it is. The thick yet breathable fabric gives it structure, while the flowy silhouette keeps things comfortable. Pair it with gold jewelry and slides for an understated, polished moment.
6. Coastal Cardigan Set: A button-front cardigan and matching shorts create endless styling options — wear it closed as a top or layered over a tank. The stripes add a breezy, seaside feel, while the drawstring shorts keep things relaxed. It’s basically made for spring getaways.
7. Jet-Set Knit: This ribbed knit set was made with travel days in mind. The drop-shoulder cap sleeve top feels relaxed yet refined, while the wide-leg pants create a long, flattering line. Comfy for long flights, but stylish enough to wear straight to dinner.
8. Waffle Weekend Set:Textured waffle knit makes this set feel cozy without being heavy. Cap sleeves and relaxed shorts keep it airy, while pockets add practical appeal. It’s the kind of outfit you’ll throw on for quick errands and end up wearing all day.
9. Linen-Blend Dream:This linen-blend set delivers effortless vacation energy, thanks to its square-neck crop tank and breezy wide-leg pants. The lightweight fabric keeps things cool, while the tailored silhouette looks so elevated. Just add sandals and a woven tote for instant resort vibes.
10. Square-Neck Staple: A square-neck tank gives JWD’s simple set a modern edge. The high-waisted shorts balance the cropped top perfectly, and the loose fit keeps everything easy. Choose from solid neutrals or fun prints depending on your mood.
11. Sporty Stripe Classic:Athletic-inspired sleeve stripes give this pairing a retro feel that’s equally nostalgic and practical. The lightweight fabric makes it ideal for cooler spring mornings, while the joggers’ adjustable drawstring ensures a flattering fit.
12. Ice-Silk Breeze: Crafted from wrinkle-resistant ice-silk fabric, this set feels cool against the skin even on warm days. The sleeveless crop top features a delicate back button detail, while the cropped wide-leg pants add movement. It’s a polished option that still feels relaxed.
13. Slouchy Cool Duo: Drop shoulders and an oversized fit give this sweatshirt-and-shorts combo an effortlessly cool vibe. The loose silhouette makes it perfect for lounging, but it looks equally good styled with chunky sneakers. Consider it your new off-duty uniform.
14. Color-Block Moment: Bold color-blocking brings instant personality to this casual set. The crewneck tee and drawstring shorts feel sporty, while the graphic contrast makes it stand out. It’s a fun way to break out of neutral territory.
15. Ribbed Pop Set: Raised ribbed details add texture to an otherwise minimalist tee-and-shorts combo. The structured drape makes it look more elevated than standard loungewear, especially in standout shades like red-orange.
16. Power-Set Energy:PrettyGarden’s tailored vest and wide-leg pant combo channels modern suiting in a spring-ready way. The button-front vest creates a flattering shape, while the flowy pants keep things comfortable. It’s perfect for workdays, dinners or anywhere you want to feel put-together.
17. Sporty Skirt Set: A relaxed tee paired with a mini A-line skirt gives this set playful energy. The breathable fabric keeps things cool, while contrast details add visual interest. Style it with sneakers for daytime or sandals for evening plans.
18. Printed Statement Pair: This set pairs a simple solid top with eye-catching printed pants for instant impact. The wide-leg silhouette flows beautifully, while the drawstring waist keeps things adjustable. It’s an easy way to add personality to your spring wardrobe.
19. Lounge Upgrade:A Henley neckline gives the soft tee a slightly tailored feel, and the matching shorts feature pockets and an adjustable waist for everyday practicality. The set is relaxed enough for lounging but polished enough to wear out.
20. Tenniscore Knit: This knit top and pleated mini skirt combo taps into the ever-popular tenniscore trend. Ribbed trim details add structure, while the soft sweater fabric keeps it comfortable. Pair it with sneakers now and ballet flats later for endless styling options.
There’s something about a two-piece set that instantly looks intentional. Maybe it’s the coordinated styling or the way it takes the guesswork out of getting dressed, but matching outfits tend to read far more elevated than the effort they require. The right set can easily pass for a boutique find, even when it’s secretly a […]
Warner Bros. Discovery has officially confirmed plans to intensify its crackdown on password sharing for its streaming service, HBO Max (known as Max in several regions). This move marks the end of unrestricted account sharing outside of single households, as the company seeks to align its policies with emerging industry standards.
The announcement was reinforced during the company’s most recent earnings presentation, where executives clarified that the enforcement of these restrictions will be accelerated globally throughout the year.
The strategy aims to curb the use of accounts by individuals who do not reside in the primary subscriber’s household. This initiative follows a trajectory similar to that of Netflix, which saw a significant revenue boost after implementing similar restrictions.
Warner Bros. Discovery initially began testing these measures in the United States in August 2025. Following the success of those trials, the model is now being prepared for a wider rollout across international markets, including Brazil and Europe.
Under the new regulations, subscribers who wish to share their account with someone living at a different address will likely be required to pay an additional fee for an “extra member” profile linked to the main account. This shift is part of a broader effort to strengthen streaming revenues amid an increasingly competitive digital landscape.
In addition to the policy change, Warner Bros. Discovery announced a shift in its financial reporting. Moving forward, the company will cease the disclosure of detailed quarterly subscriber numbers for HBO Max, adopting a stance similar to other industry giants like Disney+ and Netflix.
Despite this change in transparency, the company has set an ambitious target to reach 150 million total subscribers by the end of the year. The transition reflects a pivot toward prioritizing profitability and average revenue per user (ARPU) over raw subscriber growth.
NEW YORK, Feb 27 (Reuters) – On paper, American consumers spent last year tightening their belts, and even retail heavyweights stumbled. But sit-down restaurants and some drive-through chains buzzed with patrons seeking a special treat or cheap comfort food.
Their upbeat sales made the U.S. restaurant industry a rare bright spot for jobs, with restaurant payrolls ticking up 1% last year, adding about 108,000 jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In contrast, the overall U.S. economy added 181,000 non-farm jobs in 2025, marking the weakest annual payroll growth in 20 years outside a recession year.
Success among restaurants was not evenly spread, though.
Corporate filings show that eateries such as Brinker’s Chili’s, Yum Brands’ Taco Bell and fast-growing coffee chain Dutch Bros lured customers by aggressively marketing bundled deals, leaning into digital innovation and limited-time offers, and focusing on high-margin, Instagrammable food.
But previous darlings like Chipotle and Cava were hurt by what analysts call the “slop-bowl fatigue” – growing weariness among younger consumers with high-priced, customizable grain or salad bowls.
Tempe, Arizona-based Dutch Bros and its franchisees added roughly 8,000 employees in the last two years, a 33% increase, the company said.
“We have a healthy pipeline of growth,” CEO Christine Barone told Reuters after the company’s earnings in February. The brand, which serves customizable beverages, is a hit with younger consumers, Barone said.
A similar story is playing out at another chain that, like Dutch Bros, sells more treats than meals.
Ice cream chain Whit’s Frozen Custard has grown its payroll by up to 40% a year for the past two years, said owner Bill Aseere, to keep up with rapid growth. It now has stores in 93 locations across 10 states and some 15 to 20 employees per store.
Amanda Wang, co-founder of fast-growing Chinese beverage chain Ningji Lemon Tea – part of a tidal wave of Chinese tea brands coming to the U.S. – said her chain’s new restaurants in the U.S. were buoyed by demand among price-weary consumers for affordable indulgences.
Tea “offers that little bit of happiness,” she said.
As a whole, the restaurant industry grew payrolls even as it weathers depressed traffic and rising labor costs, analysts say, thanks in part to menu price increases. Menu prices at restaurants grew 4.1% in 2025 compared to grocery inflation of 2.3%, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
A deeper look at 2025 payroll data shows the difference in fortunes between types of restaurants: staff headcount at snack and non-alcoholic beverage restaurants grew 3.6% in 2025 and those at sit-down restaurants rose 1%. But fast-food payrolls grew only 0.4%, while cafeterias and buffet payrolls shrank 3.9%.
“At the end of the day, people want go out to eat and celebrate those big occasions,” said Chad Moutray, an economist at the National Restaurant Association, referring to resilient spending at sit-down restaurants.
“Consumers might be pulling back from vacations, but they still prioritize eating out.”
The payroll data and Moutray’s comments underscore what the industry calls the “lipstick effect” – consumers tightened their budgets, canceling expensive trips and postponing big-ticket purchases, but treated themselves to an indulgent meal, coffee or dessert.
Brinker’s reported 23% growth in its hourly restaurant staff between fiscal years 2024 and 2025, according to SEC filings, though it indicated that a growing share of its employees were part-time.
Darden, the parent company of sit-down restaurants like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, increased staff for fiscal 2025 by about 3.8%.
Most national restaurant chains are franchised and do not report total employment figures among franchisees, but Chipotle and Starbucks, which operate the majority of their own stores, reported slight declines in total headcount for fiscal year 2025.
While cascades of tariff announcements have forced other industries to raise prices and reroute sourcing, restaurant owners have only faced the tariffs impacting narrow categories like cup packaging and Chinese Sichuan peppers.
(Reporting by Waylon Cunningham; Editing by Sayantani Ghosh and Nick Zieminski)
PragerU is also supplying the multimedia content for the Freedom Truck Mobile Museums, a travelling exhibition of touch-screen displays, Revolutionary War artifacts, and A.I. slop that will chug across the country on tractor-trailers throughout 2026, in celebration of the two-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It seems that the battle over who defines good and evil—or, at least, over who defines American history—will be waged, in part, from the helm of an eighteen-wheeler.
Prager, who is seventy-seven, is an observant Jew who sees evangelical Christians as natural allies in his pursuit of “transforming America into a faith-based nation,” as he once wrote. (He has also lamented what he termed Jewish “bigotry” toward evangelical Christians, whose “support, and often even love, of the Jewish people and Israel is the most unrequited love I have ever seen on a large scale.”) In 2009, decades into a successful career in conservative talk radio, he co-founded PragerU, in order to provide what he called a “free alternative to the dominant left-wing ideology in culture, media, and education.” PragerU has received major funding from hard-right benefactors, including Betsy DeVos’s family foundation and the billionaire fracking brothers Dan and Farris Wilks. According to its most recent tax filing—which describes PragerU’s purpose as “marketing and producing educational content for all ages, 4-104, with a focus on a pro-American, Judeo-Christian message”—it received more than sixty-six million dollars in donations in 2024. (In November of that year, Prager sustained a severe spinal-cord injury in a fall that left him paralyzed below the shoulders; he has since resumed making video content for the PragerU website, and composed part of “If There Is No God” by dictation.)
Prager’s nonprofit is just one of dozens of conservative organizations, many of them Christian, that are named as “partners” in the America 250 Civics Education Coalition, which is overseen by Linda McMahon, the Education Secretary. The coalition has the secular task of developing programming for America’s birthday, such as PragerU’s Founders Museum and the Freedom Trucks, the latter of which received a fourteen-million-dollar grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. (In March, President Trump signed executive orders to dismantle both the I.M.L.S. and the D.O.E.; they remain alive, albeit in shrunken, ideologized versions of their former selves.) Other America 250 partners include both of the major pro-Trump think tanks (the America First Policy Institute and the Heritage Foundation), a Christian liberal-arts school (Hillsdale College), the Supreme Court’s favorite conservative-Christian legal-advocacy group (the Alliance Defending Freedom), the Christian-right-aligned church of Charlie Kirk (Turning Point USA), and something called Priests for Life.
According to a D.O.E. press release, the America 250 coalition is “dedicated to renewing patriotism, strengthening civic knowledge, and advancing a shared understanding of America’s founding principles in schools across the nation.” Of course, one of America’s founding principles, taught in every civics class, is the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which might seem to frown on the knitting together of so many religious organizations and public funds intended to advance civic education.
“Real patriotic education,” McMahon said, at the opening of the Founders Museum last year, “means that, just as our founders loved and honored America, so we should honor them, while deeply learning and earnestly debating, still, their ideas.” One way to take McMahon up on this challenge is to deeply learn what James Madison wrote, in 1785, after a bill arose in Virginia’s General Assembly to establish a taxpayer provision for “Teachers of the Christian Religion.” In a petition to his colleagues in the Assembly, Madison asked, “Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other Religions, may establish with the same ease any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other Sects?” He abhorred the proposal as “a melancholy mark” of “sudden degeneracy.” “Instead of holding forth an Asylum to the persecuted,” he wrote, “it is itself a signal of persecution.” A governing body that would permit such an incursion on the free exercise of religion was one that “may sweep away all our fundamental rights,” Madison warned. The bill died.
Although PragerU has won fans at the highest levels of federal and state government, its educational content and short-form videos are reviled across many chambers of the internet, where the Prager name—attached to videos with titles such as “DEI Must Die,” “Preferred Pronouns or Prison,” “Multiculturalism: A Bad Idea,” and “Is Fascism Right or Left?”—has become synonymous with MAGA-brand disinformation. (PragerU claims that its videos receive tens of millions of views per quarter, but these metrics have not been independently verified.) A PragerU Kids video called “How to Think Objectively,” which was reportedly shown in Houston public schools, provides the thinnest façade for a lesson in climate-change denial. Democratic socialism and, especially, immigration are scourges of the Prager-verse, which has attempted to undermine the constitutional provision of birthright citizenship and cranked out endless pro-ICE videos since the Department of Homeland Security began its violent occupations of Minneapolis and other major U.S. cities.
The DoJ apparently has better things to do. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
The United States Department of Justice is getting lapped by both Congress and the British authorities on follow-up investigations around the Epstein files. There’s no excuse for either. As British police arrest astonishingly powerful men for their dealings with Jeffrey Epstein and the U.S. House of Representatives tries to force titans of finance and politics to answer tough questions, our Justice Department lags far behind. It’s not even clear the DoJ is doing anything at all.
Over in the U.K., law-enforcement officials have arrested former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and former ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson. (Technically, both have been arrested but not yet formally charged, under a wrinkle in British legal procedure.) The putative defendants reportedly face potential charges of “misconduct in public office” for allegedly providing confidential government documents, including sensitive financial information about investment opportunities, to Epstein. (British authorities have accused neither man of participation in Epstein’s child sex-trafficking ring.)
The British case is based in part on emails contained in the U.S. Justice Department’s own Epstein files, which were released less than a month ago. In a matter of weeks, British police investigated and arrested a former prince (Andrew) and a lord (Mandelson); have subjected both men, and others around them, to extensive questioning; and have conducted searches at properties associated with the subjects. Meanwhile, the most memorable step taken by our Justice Department since the release of the files was Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s public-service announcement that “the American people need to understand that it isn’t a crime to party with Mr. Epstein.”
The contrast extends to the tone at the top. King Charles — an actual monarch who wears a literal crown and carries a scepter to work — has told British investigators (in American parlance) to do what you gotta do. Or, in the proper King’s English: “What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and cooperation. Let me state clearly: The law must take its course.” Other heads of state should follow the king’s hands-off example — in a case against his own brother Andrew, no less.
Our own president isn’t quite of the same mind. He has long dismissed the Epstein case as a hoax, though it’s unclear what exactly he claims is fake. And he recently urged the American public to just get over it already. “I think it’s time now for the country to maybe get onto something else, like health care,” Trump responded when asked about the Epstein matter.
The DoJ has dutifully adopted Trump’s recommended approach: myopia blended with dissembling and a pinch of proactive excuse-making. As Blanche explained earlier this month, “There’s a lot of correspondence. There’s a lot of emails. There’s a lot of photographs. But that doesn’t allow us necessarily to prosecute somebody.” Not exactly the tenacious prosecutorial posture Blanche and I learned during our concurrent early days at the Southern District of New York. But hey, if our Justice Department isn’t going to make meaningful use of its own Epstein files, at least others will.
And then there’s Congress, which has taken a flawed but aggressive approach to its Epstein investigation. While a bipartisan (but mostly Democratic) coalition of lawmakers forced passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee has pressed forward with a series of aggressive subpoenas for testimony. Yes, the subpoenas are largely for political show, and no, the House has not extracted any damning admissions — but it’s putting powerful people on the spot and making them face meaningful questioning under oath.
Last week, billionaire Les Wexner — whose name the DoJ originally redacted from a document listing him as an unindicted “co-conspirator” but then unredacted after Representative Thomas Massie publicly called out the redaction — faced five hours of questioning from the Oversight Committee. Wexner, a close associate of Epstein’s, claimed no knowledge of his friend’s criminality. Wexner also denied allegations that he had sexually abused Virginia Giuffre, who testified in 2016 that, as a minor, she had been trafficked to have sex with Wexner multiple times. (She died by suicide in 2025.)
The beauty of being a federal prosecutor is you don’t have to take a blanket denial as the final word, even from an arrogant billionaire. People disclaim wrongdoing all the time. Sometimes they’re telling the truth; other times they aren’t. So ordinarily, given the lead provided by Congress, DoJ prosecutors may take Wexner’s testimony and subject it to rigorous testing — talk to other witnesses, examine emails and texts, check out phone, financial, and travel records. Yet we’ve seen no indication of DoJ doing any such thing.
This week, the Clintons take their turn at the Oversight Committee’s deposition table. After a prolonged back-and-forth during which they played themselves into a strategic corner, the former First Couple relented and agreed to testify under the looming threat of a contempt-of-Congress charge supported by some bipartisan votes.
The Hillary Clinton subpoena was an obvious stretch by a congressional committee seeking to drag in a boldface name. She had nothing to do with Epstein; the best that Republican committee chair James Comer could do in defense of the subpoena was to note that — brace yourself — Clinton had hired Ghislaine Maxwell’s nephew to work on her 2008 presidential campaign and later at State. Yes, that’s the headliner. Clinton proceeded to tear the committee a new one with her opening statement on Thursday and, predictably, nothing of relevant substance came of her testimony.
But Bill Clinton will have to squirm when he answers questions today. The committee surely will confront the former president — a frequent flier on Epstein’s private jet — with photographs that show him partying with Epstein (not a crime, remember, per the deputy AG); swimming in a pool with Maxwell and a female whose identity has been redacted, and reclining in a hot tub at night, hands behind his head, along with a female whose image has been blacked out.
Meanwhile, we’ve seen no sign that the Justice Department has subpoenaed or otherwise sought to interview Wexner or Clinton or any other powerful Epstein associate — and certainly not the most powerful of all former Epstein pals, Trump himself. (Notably, even the aggressive House Oversight Committee hasn’t sought testimony from the current president.)
The DoJ’s apparent inaction is particularly galling given that prosecutors hold far more potent investigative tools than Congress does. Prosecutors have the vast resources of the Justice Department and FBI at their disposal, while Congress must make do with minimal investigative staff. Prosecutors can obtain search warrants and wiretaps, while Congress can’t. And prosecutorial subpoenas generally can be broader in scope than congressional subpoenas and are enforced more rigorously by the courts.
The Justice Department has been flailing for months now to justify its inactivity. Back in July 2025, top DoJ officials released a memo declaring that, after an exhaustive review of over 300 gigabytes of information, “We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.”
Since then, the Justice Department has offered mixed messages (at best) about its ongoing investigative efforts. And while prosecutors could be moving stealthily behind the scenes, entirely undetectable to the public — I’m dubious, but it’s possible — we’ve seen zero public indication of actual in-the-field enforcement activity: no search warrants, no subpoenas, no interviews with key players, no arrests.
Meanwhile, the British authorities and Congress forge ahead. It’s an embarrassing moment for our Justice Department’s leadership and a telling indictment of its own stubborn — and perhaps purposeful — indifference.
Ultrahuman on Friday unveiled a new smart ring with longer battery life and a redesigned form factor, as the Bengaluru-based wearable maker seeks to revive its U.S. business that was disrupted last year by a patent dispute with rival Oura.
The Ring Pro, Ultrahuman’s third-generation smart ring, offers up to 15 days of battery life — compared with four to six days on the Ring Air — and is priced at $479. It will be available for pre-orders globally, excluding the U.S., with shipments beginning in March.
Ultrahuman’s U.S. business was disrupted in October 2025 after the U.S. International Trade Commission — a federal agency that handles trade disputes — ruled in Oura’s favor in a patent dispute. The ruling prevented the startup from importing new ring inventory into the country, although existing retail stock continued to be sold. The blow was significant. The U.S. accounted for about 45% of Ultrahuman’s roughly 700,000 daily active users worldwide, according to co-founder and CEO Mohit Kumar.
Meanwhile, to work around Oura’s patent, Ultrahuman developed the Ring Pro with a new design, Kumar told TechCrunch, adding that the device has been submitted to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for clearance. U.S. Customs and Border Protection for clearance to confirm it can legally be imported into the country.
Despite the U.S. disruption, Ultrahuman is currently operating at an annualized revenue run rate of about $150 million, Kumar said. It reported $64 million in operating revenue in the financial year ended March 2025. The startup remains profitable after tax, although margins are expected to narrow due to litigation costs, tariffs, and the redesign effort, he added.
Alongside the new ring, Ultrahuman introduced Jade, a real-time “biointelligence” system that analyzes user health data across its devices and services to generate personalized insights and recommendations.
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Kumar said Jade is designed to move beyond retrospective health summaries toward real-time, actionable guidance.
Ultrahuman’s Jade AI systemImage Credits:Ultrahuman
“Most AI tools today look backward at your data,” he said. “Jade is built to react to your health in real time and surface actions users can take.”
Kumar said Jade will be available to all Ultrahuman users, including those using the older Ring Air, and does not currently require a subscription.
The Ring Pro features a redesigned heart-rate sensing architecture for improved signal quality during sleep and a new dual-core processor to enhance data accuracy and on-device computing. The device can store up to 250 days of health data and weighs about 5% to 6% more than the Ring Air, launched in July 2023 at $349.
Ultrahuman has also introduced a Pro Charger with up to 45 days of battery life to support on-the-go charging and enable faster updates and diagnostics through direct case connectivity. The charger also supports wireless charging via Qi, the same standard used by most modern smartphones.
Ultrahuman’s Pro ChargerImage Credits:Ultrahuman
Women account for about 68% of Ultrahuman’s user base, up from roughly 65% a year earlier, Kumar said, reflecting strong adoption of the startup’s women’s health features.
Ultrahuman also offers subscription-based services across its broader health platform, including a coaching and recovery program called PowerPlugs, the Blood Vision metabolic panel, Ultrahuman Home, and a continuous glucose monitoring offering. Subscriptions contribute about 16% of Ultrahuman’s revenue, while Blood Vision accounts for roughly 5% to 6% of the business, Kumar said.
Ultrahuman’s key growth markets include the UK, Canada, Australia, and India, Kumar told TechCrunch, with the latter contributing about 8% to 9% of overall revenue after recent investments in local customer support.
Global smart ring shipments grew nearly 80% year-over-year in 2025, driven by demand for compact wearables with advanced sleep tracking and longer battery life, said Anshika Jain, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research. Oura continues to lead with more than two-thirds of the market, while Ultrahuman holds the second position.
Jain added that future leaders in the category will be defined by sensor accuracy, AI-driven insights, and seamless ecosystem integration.
Separate IDC data showed global smart ring shipments rising about 30% year over year in Q3 2025 to nearly 1 million units, driven in part by demand for screenless fitness trackers, said Navkendar Singh, associate vice president at IDC India. Ultrahuman captured roughly 25% of the market during the period, per IDC.
Founded in 2019, Ultrahuman has raised about $55 million to date and counts Alpha Wave Incubation, Blume Ventures, Steadview Capital, and Nexus Venture Partners among its investors.
Ultrahuman, Kumar said, is building additional production capacity to support demand for the Ring Pro over the coming months.
For the trendiest tenants in Hollywood office buildings, it’s the latest fad that goes way beyond designer furniture and art: mini studios
To capitalize on the never-ending flow of stars and influencers who come through Los Angeles, a growing number of companies are building bright little corners for content creators to try products and shoot short videos. Athletic apparel maker Puma, Kim Kardashian’s Skims and cheeky cosmetics retailer e.l.f. have spaces specifically designed to give people a place to experience and broadcast about their brands.
Hollywood, which hasn’t historically been home to apparel companies, is now attracting the offices of fashion retailers, says CIM Group, one of the neighborhood’s largest commercial property landlords.
“When we’re touring a space, one of the first items they bring up is, ‘Where can I build a studio?’” said Blake Eckert, who leases CIM offices in L.A.
Their studio offices also serve as marketing centers, with showrooms and meeting spaces where brands can host proprietary events not open to the public.
“For companies where brand visibility is really important, there is a trend of creating spaces that don’t just function as offices,” said real estate broker Nicole Mahalka of CBRE, who puts together entertainment property leases and sales.
Puma’s global entertainment marketing team is based in its new Hollywood offices, which works with such musical celebrity partners as Rihanna, ASAP Rocky, Dua Lipa, Skepta and Rosé, said Allyssa Rapp, head of Puma Studio L.A.
Allyssa Rapp, director of entertainment marketing at Puma, is shown in the Puma Studio L.A. The company keeps a closet full of Puma products on hand to give VIP guests. Visits to the studio sanctum are by invitation only, though.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
Hollywood is a central location, she said, for meeting with celebrities, stylists and outside designers, most of whom are based in Los Angeles.
The office is a “creation hub,” she said, where influencers can record Puma’s design prototyping lab supported by libraries of materials and equipment used to create Puma apparel. The company, founded in 1948, is known for its emblematic sneakers such as the Speedcat and its lunging feline logo, and makes athletic wear, accessories and equipment.
Puma’s entertainment marketing team also occupies the office and sometimes uses it for exclusive events.
“We use the space as a showroom, as a social space that transforms from a traditional workplace into more of an experiential space,” Rapp said.
Nontraditional uses include content creation, sit-down dinners, product launches, album listening parties and workshops.
“Inviting people into our space and being able to give them high-touch brand experiences is something tangible and important for them,” she said. “The cultural layer is really important for us.”
The company keeps a closet full of Puma products on hand to give VIP guests. Visits to the studio sanctum are by invitation only, though. There’s no retail portal to the exclusive Hollywood offices.
Puma shoes are on display in the Puma Studio L.A.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
Puma is also positioning its L.A studio as a connection point for major upcoming sporting events coming to Los Angeles, including the World Cup this summer, the 2027 Super Bowl and 2028 Olympics.
In-office studios don’t need to be big to be impactful, Mahalka said. “These are smaller stages, closer to green screen than a massive soundstage.”
Social media is the key driver of content created by most businesses, which may set up small booth-like stages where influencers can hawk hot products while offering discounts to people watching them perform.
Bigger, elevated stages can accommodate multiple performers for extended discussions in front of small audiences, with towering screens behind them to set the mood or illustrate products.
Among the tricked-out offices, she said, is Skims. The company, which is valued at $5 billion, is based in a glass-and-steel office building near the fabled intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street.
The fashion retailer declined to comment on the studio uses in its headquarters, but according to architecture firm Odaa, it has open and private offices, meeting rooms, collaboration zones, photo studios, sample libraries, prototype showrooms, an executive lounge and a commissary for 400 people.
Pieces of a shoe sit on a workbench in the Puma Studio L.A.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
The brands building studios typically want to find the darkest spot on the premises to put their content creation or podcast spaces, Eckert said, where they can limit outside light and sound. That’s commonly near the center of the office floor, far from windows and close to permanent shear walls that limit sound intrusion.
They also need space for green rooms and restrooms dedicated to the talent.
Spotify recently built a fancy podcast studio in a CIM office building on trendy Sycamore Avenue that is open by invitation-only to video creators in Spotify’s partner program.
“Ambitious shows need spaces that support big ideas,” Bill Simmons, head of talk strategy at Spotify, said in a statement. “These studios give teams room to experiment and keep pushing what’s possible.”
In a crowded election, the front-runner typically is whoever the other candidates are targeting. In the Democratic primary for the 8th Congressional District, where incumbent Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi is leaving to run for U.S. Senate, the focus is on former U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean.
Opponents have attacked Bean in commercials, at forums and in private. Having previously held the seat from 2005 to 2011, she has name recognition and legislative experience.
But the political landscape has changed dramatically since Bean held the seat and then lost it to Republican Joe Walsh in a Tea Party upset, a defeat she blames on her vote for the Affordable Care Act, the health care plan known as Obamacare. Since then, Donald Trump has been elected president twice, and immigration and inflation have become critical battlegrounds.
The 8th District itself has changed substantially. When Bean defeated longtime incumbent Republican Phil Crane to take office, the district was farther north, mostly in parts of Lake and McHenry counties that were more conservative at the time. Since redistricting, the district now lies in parts of Cook, DuPage and Kane counties, stretching mainly along I-90 from Des Plaines to rural Gilberts, and along the Fox River from St. Charles to Carpentersville.
The 8th District has grown solidly Democratic and has become much more diverse, with the U.S. Census Bureau reporting that 55% of the population was white, 15% two or more races, 13% Asian, 11% some other race, and 5% Black. In addition, 27% identify as Hispanic, and 28% were born in another country.
That demographic shift is reflected in the eight-candidate field running in the Democratic primary on March 17, which includes white, Asian and Black candidates trying to differentiate themselves. Some have no political experience, like Neil Khot, while others ran for the seat before, like Junaid Ahmed, or are members of the Cook County Board, like Kevin Morrison, or a local municipal office, like Yasmeen Bankole. Others have worked with the federal government, like Dan Tully, Sanjyot Dunung and Ryan Vetticad.
Despite differences in experience and tone, most emphasize similar themes: lowering costs for families, expanding access to health care and abolishing Trump’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which they say repeatedly breaks the law while arresting undocumented immigrants. They differ on the details of how stop Trump.
Bean’s own polling, released in January, showed her in the lead with 10% of the vote, but with other candidates close behind and two-thirds of voters undecided, leaving the race wide open.
The amount of campaign funds raised by the leaders was also similar at the start of 2026. Bean led with $1.3 million, followed closely by Ahmed and Khot, each with about $1.2 million.
Bean — who has been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Reps. Bill Foster, Brad Schneider and Nancy Pelosi, — sounded a common theme in the race: “The American Dream is under assault, as are our American values,” she said. Speaking of Trump’s attacks on immigration, she said, “It’s dangerous and unconstitutional. I’m ready to deliver again and hold him to account.”
Former Rep. Melissa Bean, a Democratic candidate for Illinois’ 8th Congressional District, speaks during a candidate forum at Harper College in Palatine on Feb. 7, 2026. (Talia Sprague/for the Chicago Tribune)
After Bean left office, she worked for JPMorgan Chase and Mesirow Financial. Ahmed, a progressive, has attacked Bean as “Wall Street’s favorite Democrat,” a reference to campaign contributions from the finance industry and to her opposition, while in office, to letting states override federal banking regulations. Bean argued that a national standard was necessary to let banks operate without conflicting laws.
But in responding to the criticism that she’s too tight with the nation’s monied interests, Bean argues that while she was in Congress following the 2008 financial crisis, she helped pass the Dodd-Frank Act, which was signed into law in 2010 and limited risky bank speculation and created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to regulate mortgages and credit cards.
Ahmed, who ran unsuccessfully against Krishnamoorthi in 2022, has countered that Bean is “out of touch.” A tech entrepreneur, Ahmed helped launch the nonprofit Chi-Care to deliver meals to the homeless. He boasts that he doesn’t take any corporate or PAC campaign contributions, and criticizes Bean for doing so.
With endorsements from U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, Ahmed has called for abolishing and replacing ICE as part of a broader immigration reform, supporting Medicare for all, and ending military aid to Israel due to its bombing and blockade of Gaza after the Hamas attack on Israel.
“Americans are realizing, we cannot be on the side of genocide,” he said. “I’ve yet to find someone who says, ‘I want my tax dollars to go to starve children.’”
Khot, who was endorsed by U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, said he’s running to fight for women’s rights, protect seniors and implement insurance reform, noting that his mother was denied coverage.
Born in India, Khot came to the United States 30 years ago with his parents, who emphasized education and respect for elders. Now, because immigration officers are asking people for citizenship identification, he carries a passport to show his identification, saying, “This is what we have come to in this country.”
“I’m looking to give back to the country that has given me everything,” he said.
Morrison, the first openly LGBTQ+ member of the Cook County Board, defeated the then-head of the Illinois Republican Party, Tim Schneider, in 2018. In office, Morrison helped create the county’s first Office of Behavioral Health, and he has called for lowering costs and protecting voting access and reproductive freedom.
He has endorsements from U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Mike Quigley.
“My generation feels like the American Dream is out of reach,” the 36-year-old said. “I’ll tackle the affordability crisis. I’ll always stand up for Main Street, not Wall Street … so we all have the ability to actually earn the American dream.”
Bankole was the youngest trustee ever elected to the Hanover Park Village Board, and helped create a water bill discount program there.
She cites her experience as an aide in Congress, having previously worked for Krishnamoorthi and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who has endorsed her candidacy. She’s calling for universal health care and child care, and abolishing ICE.
“We’re seeing the law broken time and again by ICE,” she said. “I believe in law and order, not violence and chaos.”
Dunung also came to the United States from India at a young age. She has a small education business, and served on the Truman Center for National Policy board. By taking care of her mother, who had muscular dystrophy, Dunung said she came to understand that disability care is a right, not a privilege.
She blamed both parties for failing to pass immigration reform, saying legal immigration must be streamlined and expedited.
“I’m tired of politics as usual, and I know that all of you are too,” she said at a League of Women Voters forum.
Tully was a judge advocate in the U.S. Army Reserve, and worked in the U.S. Department of Commerce, before resigning in protest of Trump, saying the president “betrayed the oath of office and is a danger to our country.”
Tully remains in the Army Reserve and argues that his legal experience makes him well-qualified to fight Trump’s challenge of the separation of powers and to reassert congressional authority. He has a 10-point plan to stop Trump, including reasserting Congress’ constitutional powers, and called for an elected U.S. attorney general to act as an independent check on the president.
“I have the experience to hold this administration accountable,” he said. “The president is acting outside the law.”
Vetticad, the youngest candidate in the race, is too young to serve in Congress, but he will turn 25, the minimum required age, just before the March 17 primary election.
He grew up in an immigrant, Catholic, Indian American family. He taught Sunday school and worked on counterterrorism in the Presidential Management Fellows Program for the U.S. Department of Justice, but resigned in protest of Trump’s policies.
He called for lowering property taxes, making groceries and health care affordable, banning Congress from trading stocks, and enacting gun safety laws.
“We need not just younger, but better voices in Congress,” he said.
Republican candidates for Illinois’ 8th Congressional District Jennifer Davis, from left, Kevin Ake and Mark Rice listen to questions during a candidate forum at Harper College in Palatine on Feb. 7, 2026. (Talia Sprague/for the Chicago Tribune)
The Republican primary features Mark Rice, who challenged Krishnamoorthi in 2024 but lost with 43% of the vote, tech entrepreneur Jennifer Davis, retired Chicago police Officer Herbert Hebein and accountant Kevin Ake, who was convicted of a hate crime in 2002 and previously ran unsuccessfully against Morrison.
I simply couldn’t pass up a grilled dinner– especially since I don’t own a grill myself at home.
“Izakaya” is traditionally a type of Japanese bar that serves small snacks and alcoholic drinks. In English, it directly translates to “stay-drink-place.” Think of it as the Japanese version of an Irish pub or Spanish tapas bar.
The inside space at Ichirō Izakaya in South Main of Fort Worth has bar seating with a view of charcoal grills, as well as booths and tables. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
The narrow space is decked out in natural woods and vivid chochin lanterns. Though the restaurant doesn’t serve sushi, it still has bar seating– similar to a sushi bar– where you can watch kitchen staff cook the yakitori on the indoor grills.
The menu has something for any palate– meat lovers, pescetarians and vegetarians. And the drink menu is complete with food-pairing suggestions. If you don’t know where to start, start with a glass of osake.
Most dishes have minimal ingredients, but they are executed flawlessly. In my opinion, simplicity is what makes Ichirō Izakaya attractive.
Charcoal grilled skewers at Ichirō Izakaya on Wednesday, Feb, 25 in Fort Worth. Pictured here is ribeye, corn, shishito peppers and negima chicken thighs. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
How to order at Ichirō Izakaya
Though the menu offers grilled yakitori skewers for no more than $7, the concept is set up for dinner guests to order multiple small plates. They suggest starting with a cocktail and one to two small plates, moving to five to seven yakitori skewers and ending with a final dish.
Pro-tip: scanning the table’s QR code will take you to their website where you can see photos of the dishes.
I ordered a cocktail, two small plates and six skewers and dessert– which was plenty. Expect to spend $30 to $50 per guest.
The Toki cirtus highball (left) and the ginger highball (right) at Ichirō Izakaya on Wednesday, Feb, 25 in Fort Worth. Both are made with Japanese whiskey and soda water. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
My ginger highball was very whiskey forward. I ordered this because it was happy hour, and it paired well with spicy skewers and miso glazed meats.
The fried lotus root and pan seared shumai dumplings were recommended. I wasn’t sure what to expect with lotus root however the texture is addicting– very similar to tempura. The spices are what I tasted the most.
And, can you go wrong with crispy bottomed dumplings? These were filled with pork and tasted very ginger forward. Scrumptious.
Next time I plan to order the takoyaki– fried octopus puffs.
Fried lotus root and pan-seared shumai dumplings at Ichirō Izakaya on Wednesday, Feb, 25 in Fort Worth. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
For my skewers I went with the negima (chicken thighs and scallions), soy-marinated ribeye, shishito peppers and charred corn. Everything was grilled excellently.
Ribeye skewers are a must order– tender, fatty, sweet but still salty. The scallions on the negima skewer add a bright tang to the juicy chicken thighs. Corn is buttery and smokey while the shishitos you can pass on.
I also got a taste of the grilled teriyaki yellowtail which had a delicious sticky glaze and flaky inside. You’ll love the Japanese pork sausage skewers if you like Texas barbecue sausage.
Grilled Japanese style pork sausage at Ichirō Izakaya on Wednesday, Feb, 25 in Fort Worth. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
Finally, I finished by inhaling the matcha crème brûlée. This item stays on the menu year-round but Ichirō Izakaya also rotates house-made seasonal desserts.
I love crème brûlée and I love matcha, so I loved this. It’s not too sweet, but rich and creamy with a crackly sugar torched top.
The matcha crème brûlée is a dessert offered year-round at Ichirō Izakaya on Wednesday, Feb, 25 in Fort Worth. Ella Gonzales egonzales@star-telegram.com
Japanese izakaya bar in Fort Worth
The South Main neighborhood is home to local favorites like Tinie’s, Panther City Barbecue, and Coco Shrimp, but it lacked a Japanese restaurant until Ichirō Izakaya opened its doors at 401 Bryan Ave.
Ichirō Izakaya is open for dinner only: Sunday to Thursday from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. Closed Mondays.
Happy hour, or “Kanapi hour,” offers $4 beers and $8 highball cocktails. It is Tuesday through Thursday from 4:30 until 7:30 p.m.
Pro-tip: call to make a reservation. Due to the small space, popularity, and limited hours, this place can get packed. Or, if you are planning on walking in, make it an early dinner and arrive no later than 5:30 p.m. (I went on a Wednesday at 5 p.m. and was seated immediately).
Ella Gonzales is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Ella mainly writes about local restaurants and where to find good deals around town.
TAMPA, Fla. — The University of South Florida has announced its complete football schedule for 2026.
USF will open the season, its last in Raymond James Stadium before opening its on-campus stadium in 2027, on Sept. 5 at home against Florida International.
An early-season American Conference game is scheduled for Sept. 12 at Army.
The Bulls also play home, non-conference games vs. Delaware State on Saturday, Sept. 19, and Kent State on Saturday, Oct. 17, with the Kent State game designated as Homecoming.
The Bulls’ lone non-conference road contest takes place at Bowling Green on Saturday, Sept. 26.
USF will play a total of eight conference games, including home games with Temple, Alabama-Birmingham, Memphis and its season-ending game against Tulane.
The Bulls went 9-4 last year, with a third consecutive bowl appearance. USF also made the program’s first College Football Playoff ranking appearance and was ranked four times in the weekly Associated Press Top 25 poll.
The team has a new coach this season, Brian Hartline, after Alex Golesh left to become the head coach at Auburn.
The U.S. military used a laser Thursday to shoot down a “seemingly threatening” drone flying near the U.S.-Mexico border. It turned out the drone belonged to Customs and Border Protection, lawmakers said.
The case of mistaken identity prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to close additional airspace around Fort Hancock, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of El Paso. The military is required to formally notify the FAA when it takes any counter-drone action inside U.S. airspace.
It was the second time in two weeks that a laser was fired in the area. The last time it was CBP that used the weapon and nothing was hit. That incident occurred near Fort Bliss and prompted the FAA to shut down air traffic at El Paso airport and the surrounding area. This time, the closure was smaller and commercial flights were not affected.
Washington U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and two other top Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Homeland Security committees said they were stunned when they were officially notified.
“Our heads are exploding over the news,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. They criticized the Trump administration for “sidestepping” a bipartisan bill to train drone operators and improve communication among the Pentagon, FAA and Department of Homeland Security, which includes CBP.
“Now, we’re seeing the result of its incompetence,” they said.
Government defends use of anti-drone laser
The FAA, CBP and the Pentagon issued a joint statement late Thursday that acknowledged the military “employed counter-unmanned aircraft system authorities to mitigate a seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system operating within military airspace.”
The statement said it happened far from populated areas and commercial flights as part of the administration’s efforts to strengthen protections at the border.
“At President Trump’s direction, the Department of War, FAA, and Customs and Border Patrol are working together in an unprecedented fashion to mitigate drone threats by Mexican cartels and foreign terrorist organizations at the U.S.-Mexico Border,” the statement said.
Second time these laser systems shut down Texas airspace this month
The El Paso shutdown two weeks ago lasted only a few hours, but it raised alarm and led to a number of flight cancellations in the city of nearly 700,000 people.
In that case, an anti-drone laser was deployed by CBP without coordinating with the FAA, which then decided to close the El Paso airspace to ensure commercial air safety, according to sources familiar with what happened and weren’t authorized to discuss it.
Afterward, members of Congress said it appeared to be another example of different agencies failing to coordinate with each other.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he was planning to brief members of Congress about the incident. He said at an unrelated news conference last Friday that it wasn’t a mistake for the FAA to close the airspace in El Paso and that he doesn’t think it was a communication issue that led to the problems.
Lawmaker demands an investigation
Illinois Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the ranking member on the Senate’s Aviation Subcommittee, called for an independent investigation.
“The Trump administration’s incompetence continues to cause chaos in our skies,” Duckworth said.
The investigation into last year’s midair collision near Washington, D.C., between an airliner and Army helicopter that killed 67 people highlighted how the FAA and Pentagon were not always working well together.
The National Transportation Safety Board said the FAA and the Army did not share safety data with each other about the alarming number of close calls around Reagan National Airport and failed to address the risks.
Concern about drone threats growing
Two months ago, Congress agreed to give more law enforcement agencies — including some state and local departments — the authority to take down rogue drones as long as they are properly trained. Previously, only a select few federal agencies had that power.
Armed drones regularly carry out devastating attacks in Ukraine and have also allowed Ukraine to strike deep within Russia. The U.S. government has handed out more than $250 million to help the states prepare to respond to drones before hosting World Cup matches and celebrations planned this summer for America’s 250th birthday.
Another $250 million in grants will be awarded later this year to strengthen the nation’s drone defenses.
Drones already causing problems
Drones already cause problems along the border. Cartels routinely use drones to deliver drugs across the Mexican border and surveil Border Patrol officers. Officials told Congress last summer that more than 27,000 drones were detected within 1,600 feet (500 meters) of the southern border in the last six months of 2024.
The threat to planes from drones continues to increase along with the number of near misses around airports. Homeland Security estimates there are more than 1.7 million registered drones flying in the United States.
Anti-drone systems can use radio signals to jam drones, or high-powered microwaves or laser beams like the ones that have been used in Texas that are capable of disabling the machines. Some others station small drones to take flight quickly and ram into threatening drones. And there are systems that use bullets, but those are more common on battlefields than in domestic use.
(Copyright (c) 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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Actor Shia LaBeouf is reportedly heading to rehab as part of his new bail conditions after an altercation during Mardi Gras in New Orleans landed him in a legal situation. The Transformers star appeared in court on February 26, where a judge ordered him to seek substance abuse treatment and submit to weekly drug testing following his arrest on two counts of battery.
Reports say a judge has ordered Shia LaBeouf to rehab after Mardi Gras arrest
Orleans Parish Criminal Court Judge Simone Levine reportedly mandated that Shia LaBeouf enroll in a rehabilitation program and post a $100,000 bond to remain out of custody while his case proceeds. The judge also required the actor to undergo immediate drug testing, which his attorney later confirmed showed no illegal substances in his system at the time.
The court date comes just over a week after LaBeouf was taken into custody during the city’s Mardi Gras festivities. Police responded to reports of a disturbance at the Royal Street Inn & R Bar in the early morning hours of February 17, where staff had removed him for aggressive behavior. According to the incident report, the actor allegedly returned to the bar and struck multiple people.
During Thursday’s hearing, Judge Levine expressed serious concerns about the nature of the allegations, particularly reports that LaBeouf used homophobic slurs during the incident. The police report reportedly claims the actor allegedly targeted two men with derogatory language while striking them, with one victim reportedly suffering a dislocated nose.
“This defendant does not take his alcohol addiction seriously,” Levine said from the bench. “This court does not believe he understands the level of seriousness when it comes to these allegations.”
Shia LaBeouf has a documented history of legal issues, including prior arrests and a 2020 sexual battery lawsuit filed by ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs, which was settled out of court in July. LaBeouf has also been open about his struggles with sobriety in past interviews and court proceedings (via AP News).
Google will finally be able to provide real-time driving and walking directions in South Korea, The New York Times reported. The company has received permission from the nation’s Transport Ministry to export geographic data out of the country, which will allow it to provide GPS services as well as detailed listings for restaurants and other businesses.
“We welcome today’s decision and look forward to our ongoing collaboration with local officials to bring a fully functioning Google Maps to Korea,” Google’s senior executive Cris Turner told the NYT in a statement. However, the approval is contingent “on the condition that strict security requirements are met,” a spokesperson from the Transport Ministry said. Those conditions reportedly restrict Google from displaying sensitive military sites and longitude and latitude coordinates.
South Korea has generally restricted the export of 1/5000 scale map data over national security concerns, as it’s still technically at war with its neighbor North Korea. Google hasn’t been able to provide mapping directions or business details since it arrived in the nation, though it has applied twice in 2007 and 2016.
This lack of data sharing has reportedly been a bone of contention in trade talks with the US. Google argued that it was unfairly handicapped by the restrictions that allowed local apps like Naver to thrive.
However, critics in the nation have expressed concern that Google could now come in and monopolize the market. “If Naver and Kakao are weakened or pushed out and Google later raises prices, that becomes a monopoly. Then, even companies that rely on map services — logistics firms, for example — become dependent [on Google],” geography professor Choi Jin-mu told Reuters.
