Storms drench millions from DC to New York as flash floods inundate roads and snarl air travel

<p>-

  • Storms drench millions from DC to New York as flash floods inundate roads and snarl air travel</p>

<p>CNN Meteorologist Briana WaxmanAugust 1, 2025 at 12:10 PM</p>

<p>Flooding is seen on Clearview Expressway and 35th Street, Queens, New York, on July 31, 2025. - NYC DOT</p>

<p>Torrential rainfall and flash flooding slammed the mid-Atlantic and Northeast Thursday, wreaking havoc along the Interstate 95 corridor and leaving a young boy in Maryland dead. This was another serious flood event in a summer that's been full of them.</p>

<p>Heavy storms developed in the afternoon and lasted through the evening. Flash flood warnings were active in parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia by mid-afternoon with more drenching storms to come. In Maryland and Pennsylvania, flooded roads and stranded vehicles were reported by the National Weather Service and local officials.</p>

<p>In New York City, heavy rains halted traffic along a major east-west thoroughfare in Queens, east of Manhattan. Video from the area shows cars and a semi-truck stranded in the water, with one man seen sitting on the roof of his car while he waits to be rescued.</p>

<p>At least two cars that had been submerged on the expressway were pulled from the floodwaters, a law enforcement official told CNN. Emergency crews rescued two people from one of the cars, the official said. The other vehicle was unoccupied, the official added, noting that no injuries were reported.</p>

<p>In Manhattan, videos from inside Grand Central Terminal showed a Metro-North train drenched in rain earlier Thursday. One passenger told CNN being inside the train car felt like being in a car wash.</p>

<p>A separate video earlier showed water pooling on the floor of a city bus in Brooklyn.</p>

<p>CNN has reached out to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for further information regarding reports of flooding on the New York City subway.</p>

<p>Intense rains led to several leaks at SEPTA stations in Philadelphia, according to Andrew Busch, a spokesperson for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. "The water has subsided, and crews continue work to dry station surfaces," Busch said.</p>

<p>Flooding is seen in Northern Blvd and Bell Blvd, Queens, New York, on July 31, 2025. - NYC DOT</p>

<p>New Jersey declared a state of emergency early Thursday due to the potential for intense rainfall and flash flooding, according to a news release from acting Gov. Tahesha Way.</p>

<p>Gov. Kathy Hochul also declared a state of emergency for New York City and its surrounding counties due to the potential flooding. Mayor Eric Adams declared a local state of emergency for the city, which will be in effect until 8 a.m. Friday.</p>

<p>Maryland Gov. Wes Moore also urged residents in his state to prepare for potential flash flooding. Harford County, about an hour north of Baltimore, saw several water rescues between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday, according to a county spokesperson.</p>

<p>A young boy in Maryland died after flash flooding swept him into a drainage pipe, according to Doug Alexander, a spokesperson for the Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company." The boy was playing in the yard when a gully that is normally just a trickle of water quickly swelled, reaching waist deep for rescuers, according to Alexander.</p>

<p>The boy was 13 years old, the Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company confirmed to CNN affiliate WBFF.</p>

<p>"The rushing water had pushed him into this pipe, and the rescuers were fighting the current and everything else trying to get him out," Alexander told CNN. "We had to call in quite a bit of additional help, and we were finally able to recover (him), but he'd succumbed to drowning."</p>

<p>Air travel was disrupted late Thursday afternoon, with ground stops in effect at several major airports including major NYC and DC-area airports, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport was experiencing average delays of around three hours. Thousands of flights within, into and out of the US were cancelled or delayed, according to FlightAware.com.</p>

<p>The rain was courtesy of a cold front that broke a long-lasting, punishing heat dome that has been keeping the East sweltering during the day and simmering at night.</p>

<p>After a summer of frequent rain and flooding, the water simply had no place to go. Flash floods are most common in summer, as warmer air can hold more moisture and intense daytime heat helps fuel potent storms. But overwhelming rainfall is becoming more prevalent due to climate change, as rising global temperatures drive weather toward extremes. Hourly rainfall rates have grown heavier in nearly 90% of large US cities since 1970, according to a study from the nonprofit research group Climate Central.</p>

<p>Rainfall across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast has already been above normal this summer — especially in parts of eastern Pennsylvania, central New Jersey, northern Maryland, and the DC suburbs — leaving soils saturated and primed for rapid runoff and flooding even without extreme amounts of rain.</p>

<p>New Jersey has been slammed by flooding this summer, including when at least two people were killed two weeks ago. Parts of Virginia have flooded multiple times this season.</p>

<p>On July 19, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency — the highest level of flood alert — for the Washington, DC, area with rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches in 30 minutes raising rivers and sending water over roadways. Dozens of people had to be rescued from floodwaters after heavy rain struck parts of Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC.</p>

<p>Heavy storms have come to an end Thursday night for much of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. The flood risk shifts south into the Carolinas on Friday, more states all too familiar with serious flooding this summer. Tropical Storm Chantal's flooding rainfall killed at least one person in North Carolina in early July.</p>

<p>CNN Meteorologist Taylor Galgano and Mary Gilbert contributed to this report.</p>

<p>For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com</p>

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Storms drench millions from DC to New York as flash floods inundate roads and snarl air travel

<p>- Storms drench millions from DC to New York as flash floods inundate roads and snarl air travel</p> <p...

Stanton and Rice hit early homers as Yankees beat Rays 7-4 on busy trade-deadline day

<p>-

  • Stanton and Rice hit early homers as Yankees beat Rays 7-4 on busy trade-deadline day</p>

<p>LARRY FLEISHER August 1, 2025 at 6:35 AM</p>

<p>1 / 5Rays Yankees BaseballNew York Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton reacts after hitting a home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Thursday, July 31, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)</p>

<p>NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton and Ben Rice homered in the first two innings and the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 in a game interrupted by rain for nearly three hours Thursday.</p>

<p>On a busy trade-deadline day, the Yankees made a flurry of moves highlighted by the acquisition of two-time All-Star reliever David Bednar from Pittsburgh for three minor leaguers.</p>

<p>Tampa Bay, also active at the deadline, lost three starters to injury during the game.</p>

<p>Stanton hit his eighth homer since returning from tendinitis in both elbows last month for a 3-0 lead against starter Ryan Pepiot (6-9) four batters in. Rice launched a three-run shot into the Yankees' bullpen in right-center to make it 6-0.</p>

<p>New York starter Marcus Stroman (3-3) allowed four runs and six hits in five innings. Yerry de los Santos struck out five in three perfect innings, then was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after the game.</p>

<p>Jonathan Loáisiga got three outs for his first save since 2022.</p>

<p>Cody Bellinger hit an RBI single ahead of Stanton's two-run homer. Yankees newcomer Austin Slater had an RBI groundout in the third, and New York won for the fourth time in five games since putting Aaron Judge on the injured list.</p>

<p>Stroman did not allow a hit until the fourth, when the Rays scored four times. Jonathan Aranda and Jonny DeLuca hit RBI singles, Taylor Walls had an RBI double and Junior Caminero lifted a sacrifice fly.</p>

<p>Pepiot was tagged for seven runs and six hits in four innings.</p>

<p>Key moment</p>

<p>Stanton homered after Walls lost a popup by Paul Goldschmidt in the wind and the ball dropped behind in shallow left field for a double.</p>

<p>Key stats</p>

<p>Rice has seven homers in 21 starts as a leadoff hitter.</p>

<p>Up next</p>

<p>Yankees LHP Carlos Rodón (11-7, 3.18 ERA) opens a three-game series in Miami against the Marlins on Friday.</p>

<p>Rays RHP Shane Baz (8-7, 4.61 ERA) faces LHP Clayton Kershaw (4-2, 3.62) and the visiting Dodgers in the opener of a three-game series Friday.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb</p>

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Stanton and Rice hit early homers as Yankees beat Rays 7-4 on busy trade-deadline day

<p>- Stanton and Rice hit early homers as Yankees beat Rays 7-4 on busy trade-deadline day</p> <p>LARRY ...

US stock futures drop as Trump imposes sweeping new tariffs

<p>-

  • US stock futures drop as Trump imposes sweeping new tariffs</p>

<p>Medora Lee, USA TODAY August 1, 2025 at 7:17 PM</p>

<p>U.S. stock futures are lower, ahead of the key monthly jobs report and after President Donald Trump signed an order imposing sweeping new tariffs on countries across the world.</p>

<p>July's jobs report is due at 8:30 a.m. ET and is expected to show the economy added 100,000 jobs, according to a Dow Jones survey of economists. The unemployment rate is seen edging up to 4.2% from 4.1% in June.</p>

<p>Such a jobs report would be considered a "Just Right" labor market, said Tom Essaye, founder of Sevens Report Research. It would "further push back on growing tariff-relatedrecession concerns, keep the Fed on track for a rate cut in September and further invalidate the stagflation narrative." It also would provide stocks with a reason to extend their recent rally, he said.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Trump signed an executive order confirming "reciprocal" tariffs on dozens of countries, with duties ranging from 10% to 41%, beginning in seven days. He also said goods that switch means of transport, or are transshipped, to avoid tariffs will face another 40% tax.</p>

<p>Starting Aug. 1, Canada will face a 35% tariff, excluding goods compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade. That's up from 25% previously.</p>

<p>Countries that are not listed in the latest order will face an additional duty of 10%, the statement said.</p>

<p>Earlier, Trump said he's giving Mexico another 90 days to come to a longer term agreement with the United States to avoid higher tariffs.</p>

<p>At 6:15 a.m. ET, futures tied to the blue-chip Dow fell -0.95%, broad S&P 500 futures slipped -0.97% and tech-heavy Nasdaq futures dropped -1.10%.</p>

<p>FILE PHOTO: The Wall Street entrance to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is seen in New York City, U.S., November 15, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File PhotoCorporate news</p>

<p>Earnings also continue to be key in determining stock market direction. Of the 297 companies in the S&P 500 that have reported earnings through the morning of July 31, 80.8% have topped analyst expectations, according to LSEG Data and Analytics, compared with the 76% beat rate over the past four quarters.</p>

<p>After the market closed, Amazon and Apple -- two so-called Magnificent Seven influential, mega cap tech stocks -- reported results.</p>

<p>Amazon topped Wall Street estimates with its second-quarter results, but its cloud computing growth was disappointing.</p>

<p>In contrast, Apple exceeded second-quarter expectations, including the largest revenue jump since 2021. Sales were helped by strong 13%-plus growth in iPhone sales due to tariff-related buying and popular devices. It projected tariff costs could reach $1.1 billion in the current quarter.</p>

<p>Among non-Magnificent Seven stocks,</p>

<p>Coinbase beat second-quarter adjusted earnings per share estimates but revenues fell short.</p>

<p>Social media company Reddit's second-quarter results topped Wall Street forecasts. Its revenue grew 78% to $500 million, its fastest revenue growth in three years, according to the company. It also provided upbeat third-quarter guidance.</p>

<p>Cloudflare topped forecasts with its second-quarter results and raised its full-year profit and revenue guidance.</p>

<p>First Solar reported second-quarter results above analysts' expectations and raised its 2025 revenue guidance.</p>

<p>Stryker's second-quarter results were better than expected. The medical device maker also raised its earnings outlook for the year, with forecasts for a smaller tariff hit.</p>

<p>Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected] and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning.</p>

<p>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US stock futures drop as Trump imposes sweeping new tariffs</p>

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<p>- US stock futures drop as Trump imposes sweeping new tariffs</p> <p>Medora Lee, USA TODAY August 1, ...

NFL world reacts to virtual measurement system's debut at Hall of Fame Game

<p>-

  • NFL world reacts to virtual measurement system's debut at Hall of Fame Game</p>

<p>Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY August 1, 2025 at 10:02 AM</p>

<p>Move over, chain gang. A new measurement system has been introduced to the NFL, and fans got their first glimpse of it during Thursday's preseason game between the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Chargers.</p>

<p>The NFL's virtual measurement system debuted during the first half of the Hall of Fame Game after a 10-yard run by Lions running back Craig Reynolds.</p>

<p>Rather than having the chain gang run out to the field, the officials simply waited for the virtual measurement system to calculate whether the veteran running back had made the line to gain.</p>

<p>Below is a look at how the process played out:</p>

<p>Introducing the new virtual measurement system for first downs, which allows the NFL to accurately and efficiently measure the distance between the spotted ball and the line to gain. pic.twitter.com/QvlsSmWnSo</p>

<p>— NFL (@NFL) August 1, 2025</p>

<p>The virtual measurement was handled efficiently and didn't disrupt the flow of the game. That left several prominent NFL voices impressed with the process and optimistic it will serve as a quality replacement for the chain gang, which remains on the sideline in case of an emergency.</p>

<p>The virtual measurement reveal is the hottest thing I've ever seen</p>

<p>— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) August 1, 2025</p>

<p>Virtual measurement is ELECTRIC 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TCE9OkYHeI</p>

<p>— DraftKings (@DraftKings) August 1, 2025</p>

<p>Virtual measurement! So sick.</p>

<p>— Jake Marsh (@JakeMarsh18) August 1, 2025</p>

<p>turn me on with 5 words:"timeout for a virtual measurement"</p>

<p>— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 1, 2025</p>

<p>We tested the virtual measurement system during a @RamsNFL preseason game last summer at SoFi. It worked well. Easy integration into the broadcast.</p>

<p>— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) August 1, 2025</p>

<p>However, a smaller cohort was reluctant to trust the new protocol. Others joked the process would be less aesthetically appealing than watching the chain gang determine whether a player generated a first down.</p>

<p>I really don't know how to feel about this…It's the new virtual measurement system for first downs….give me chain gang all day.pic.twitter.com/rmgpanmELN</p>

<p>— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) August 1, 2025</p>

<p>The new new virtual measurement system for first downs will never be as advanced as this pic.twitter.com/n2snKaXXf0</p>

<p>— NFL Memes (@NFLHateMemes) August 1, 2025</p>

<p>"Timeout for a virtual measurement" pic.twitter.com/JbxvkZnDId</p>

<p>— betr (@betr) August 1, 2025</p>

<p>As long as the NFL's virtual measurement process remains efficient, the league will probably not have too many regrets about switching to it as the primary method for measuring first downs.</p>

<p>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL world reacts to virtual measurement system replacing chain gang</p>

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NFL world reacts to virtual measurement system's debut at Hall of Fame Game

<p>- NFL world reacts to virtual measurement system's debut at Hall of Fame Game</p> <p>Jacob Camenk...

MLB pitcher's barking dog credited with a save at home and a thwarted break-in

<p>-

  • MLB pitcher's barking dog credited with a save at home and a thwarted break-in</p>

<p>Jonathan Lloyd, NBC Los AngelesAugust 1, 2025 at 9:03 AM</p>

<p>Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws to the Oakland Athletics in Los Angeles on May 14. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / AP file)</p>

<p>LOS ANGELES — It appears Yoshinobu Yamamoto's dog helped keep things safe at home when the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher was on a road trip.</p>

<p>The dog's loud barking and a staff member who turned on lights likely helped thwart a burglary attempt early Wednesday morning at the Dodgers phenom's Hollywood Hills home, law enforcement told NBC Los Angeles' NBC4 Investigates. Three people jumped over the back fence at about 5:30 a.m. and broke a rear glass door but never entered the residence, authorities said.</p>

<p>Nothing was taken.</p>

<p>An aerial view of Yoshinobu Yamamoto's backyard shows his dog. (NBC Los Angeles)</p>

<p>Staff members were home at the time and turned on the lights. Coupled with aggressive barking from Yamamoto's dog, the would-be thieves turned tail, law enforcement told NBC4 Investigates on Thursday. Someone at the home called a private security member, who then called police.</p>

<p>Video from NewsChopper4 showed the dog by the pool at the home later Wednesday morning. In an interview with Spectrum Sports, Yamamoto said he adopted the dog from an animal shelter.</p>

<p>"Since I was a kid, I always loved animals because my mom used to work at the veterinary clinic," Yamamoto said through an interpreter in the interview earlier this year. "Last year, while I was on the IL [injured list], my mom visited me in L.A. She wanted to visit the animal shelter, so we went there and I fell in love with my dog. So, I adopted him."</p>

<p>A private security team member was at the scene in an unmarked car. Authorities are trying to determine how the intruders bypassed the officer.</p>

<p>Police told NBC4 Investigates that anyone hiring private security should have them in a marked vehicle to provide a visual deterrent.</p>

<p>No arrests were reported, but law enforcement sources said three people were seen on security camera video. Police, who are looking at security camera video, are trying to determine whether the crime is connected to one of the many burglary crews operating in Los Angeles.</p>

<p>The Dodgers were wrapping up a series Wednesday against the Reds in Cincinnati.</p>

<p>Yamamoto, 26, of Japan, is 9-7 with a 2.63 ERA this season. He pitched seven innings Monday, giving up just four hits and striking out nine in the Dodgers' 5-2 win.</p>

<p>The attempted burglary is the latest crime targeting the homes of professional athletes in Los Angeles and across the country. Dodgers, Rams and LAFC players have all been recent targets.</p>

<p>Break-ins were reported at the homes of Dodgers infielders Max Muncy and Freddie Freeman in 2023. A burglary was reported at the Los Angeles home of LAFC striker Olivier Giroud in February.</p>

<p>In December, the FBI issued a warning to pro sports leagues about athletes' displaying valuables on social media. The best-practices memo, part of standard practice of communicating with businesses and companies about relevant crime trends, urged athletes to limit images of valuables on social media.</p>

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MLB pitcher's barking dog credited with a save at home and a thwarted break-in

<p>- MLB pitcher's barking dog credited with a save at home and a thwarted break-in</p> <p>Jonathan ...

Apple revenue forecast beats estimates, tariff costs projected at $1.1 billion

<p>-

  • Apple revenue forecast beats estimates, tariff costs projected at $1.1 billion</p>

<p>Stephen Nellis and Akash SriramJuly 31, 2025 at 3:30 PM</p>

<p>By Stephen Nellis and Akash Sriram</p>

<p>SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Apple forecast revenue for the current quarter ending in September well above Wall Street's estimates on Thursday, sending shares up despite a warning from CEO Tim Cook that U.S. tariffs would add $1.1 billion in costs over the period.</p>

<p>As the centerpiece of U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war, those tariffs cost Apple $800 million in the June quarter and spurred some customers to buy iPhones in late spring this year. Those purchases helped Apple's fiscal third-quarter sales beat expectations by the biggest percentage in at least four years, according to LSEG.</p>

<p>The company still forecast growth, though, with Chief Financial Officer Kevan Parekh saying the company expects revenue growth for the current quarter in the "mid to high single digits," which would exceed the 3.27% growth to $98.04 billion that analysts expected, according to LSEG data.</p>

<p>Apple reported $94.04 billion in revenue for its fiscal third quarter ended on June 28, up nearly 10% from a year earlier and beating analyst expectations of $89.54 billion, according to LSEG data. Its earnings per share of $1.57 topped expectations for $1.43 per share.</p>

<p>Apple shares were up 3% in after-hours trading, extending gains after Apple provided its forecast.</p>

<p>Sales of iPhones, the best-selling product for the company based in Cupertino, California, were up 13.5% to $44.58 billion, beating analyst expectations of $40.22 billion.</p>

<p>Apple has been shifting production of products bound for the U.S., sourcing iPhones from India and other products such as Macs and Apple Watches from Vietnam.</p>

<p>The ultimate tariff rates many Apple products could face remain in flux, and many of its products are currently exempt. Sales in its Americas segment, which includes the U.S. and could face tariff impacts, rose 9.3% to $41.2 billion.</p>

<p>In Greater China, where Apple has faced long delays in approval to introduce AI features on its devices, sales were $15.37 billion, up from a year ago and above expectations of $15.12 billion, according to a survey of five analysts from data firm Visible Alpha.</p>

<p>That gain was a turnaround from a year-over-year decline in China sales in the March quarter.</p>

<p>In a conference call with analysts, Cook said some of that was due to a subsidy program in China to help revive the smartphone market, which boosted some of Apple's products.</p>

<p>"It was the first full quarter of the subsidy playing out," Cook told analysts.</p>

<p>In an interview with Reuters, Cook said the company set seasonal records for upgrades of iPhones, Macs and Apple Watches. He said Apple estimates about 1 percentage point of its 9.6% of sales growth in the quarter was attributable to customers making purchases ahead of potential tariffs.</p>

<p>"We saw evidence in the early part of the quarter, specifically, of some pull-ahead related to the tariff announcements," Cook told Reuters, though he also said the active user base for iPhones hit a record high in all geographies.</p>

<p>The U.S. is still negotiating with both China and India, with Trump saying India could face 25% tariffs as early as Friday. However, analysts said India could still retain cost advantages for Apple in the longer term.</p>

<p>"The pull-forward in demand due to tariffs was somewhat expected given the uncertainty around pricing. However, it's important to put this in context as this is typically a slow quarter for Apple, yet they still delivered exceptional results with iPhone growth," Emarketer analyst Jacob Bourne said.</p>

<p>Tariffs are only one of Apple's challenges. The company faces competition from rivals such as Samsung Electronics Co in a tough market for premium-priced mobile phones. On the software front, Apple faces challenges from Alphabet, which is quickly weaving AI features into its competing Android operating system.</p>

<p>While AI leaders Microsoft and Nvidia have seen their stock market values soar to record highs, Apple's shares have fallen 17% in 2025, with investors concerned about the impact of tariffs, and about what they view as slow progress integrating AI features into its products.</p>

<p>Apple has delayed the release of an AI-enriched version of Siri, its virtual assistant, but Cook said the company is "making good progress on a personalized Siri." He also said Apple, which has thus far not engaged in the massive capital expenditures of its Big Tech rivals to pursue AI, is "significantly growing" its investments in artificial intelligence.</p>

<p>"Apple has always been about taking the most advanced technologies and making them easy to use and accessible for everyone, and that's at the heart of our AI strategy," Cook said.</p>

<p>Apple faces regulatory rulings in Europe that threaten to undermine its lucrative App Store business. Apple said sales from its services business, which includes the App Store as well as music and cloud storage, were $27.42 billion, topping analyst expectations of $26.8 billion.</p>

<p>Sales of wearables such as AirPods and Apple Watches were $7.4 billion, missing estimates of $7.82 billion. Mac sales of $8.05 billion beat expectations of $7.26 billion, while iPads hit $6.58 billion in sales, missing expectations of $7.24 billion.</p>

<p>Apple said gross margins were 46.5% in the fiscal third quarter, beating analyst expectations of 45.9%, according to LSEG estimates. The company forecast gross margins for the current quarter of 46% to 47%, with the entire range above estimates of 45.9%, according to LSEG data.</p>

<p>(Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San FranciscoEditing by Noel Randewich, Rod Nickel and Tom Hogue)</p>

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Apple revenue forecast beats estimates, tariff costs projected at $1.1 billion

<p>- Apple revenue forecast beats estimates, tariff costs projected at $1.1 billion</p> <p>Stephen Nelli...

Dunkin's new ad about a celeb's 'genetics' draws comparisons to Sydney Sweeney

<p>-

  • Dunkin's new ad about a celeb's 'genetics' draws comparisons to Sydney Sweeney</p>

<p>KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY July 31, 2025 at 5:58 PM</p>

<p>It's becoming the summer of dunkin' on brands.</p>

<p>Social media users are scrutinizing a new social media ad Dunkin', starring "The Summer I Turned Pretty" leading man Gavin Casalegno, with people honing in on the actor mentioning his "genetics" while hawking the company's new drink.</p>

<p>"Look, I didn't ask to be the king of summer. It just kinda happened," the 25-year-old says in the video shared July 29. "This tan? Genetics. I just got my color analysis back. Guess what? Golden summer. Literally.</p>

<p>"I can't help it; every time I drink a Dunkin' Golden Hour Refresher, it's like the sun just finds me," he continues. "So if sipping these refreshers makes me the king of summer? Guilty as charged."</p>

<p>View this post on Instagram</p>

<p>A post shared by Dunkin' (@dunkin)</p>

<p>USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Dunkin' and Casalegno for comment.</p>

<p>The messaging has divided social media, with some doubling down on their support of the coffee chain while others are drawing parallels to American Eagle's "genes" campaign starring Sydney Sweeney.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, a few people are left confused by the ad's script, with one Reddit user writing: "Not a single part of this ad makes sense? It's literally just word salad." One TikTok commenter wrote: "Genuinely what does a drink have to do with genetics???"</p>

<p>Dunkin' calls the video 'playful'</p>

<p>In a July 29 press release, Dunkin' called the promotion "a playful new social video (titled) 'King of Summer,'" from Casalegno, who'd previously starred in their "Not Just a Snack" campaign. "Casalegno now claims his crown, a playful nod to his effortlessly sunny energy and the golden glow of his order: the Golden Hour Refresher."</p>

<p>For his part, Casalegno said in the press release that said: "There's just something about a summer sunset that makes everything feel a little better, and Dunkin's Golden Hour Refresher really captures that vibe. It's refreshing and kind of just lifts your mood. I've been a Dunkin' fan for years, so teaming up again is such a fun way to celebrate summer."</p>

<p>'Why are ads so obsessed with genetics all of a sudden?'</p>

<p>The promotion of Dunkin's newest offering arrives on the heels of American Eagle's July 23 launch of its new campaign with "Euphoria" star Sweeney, which includes a pair of pants – called "The Sydney Jean" – that raises money for the Crisis Text Line.</p>

<p>In one of the promotional videos, Sweeney playfully interchanges the homophones of "jeans" and "genes," with the campaign's messaging indicating that the blonde-haired, blue-eyed actress from Washington has both "great" jeans and genes. Critics of the slogan have said it evokes the discredited philosophies of eugenics and glorifies whiteness.</p>

<p>The top-voted comment under Dunkin's TikTok post with Casalegno reads: "Why are ads so obsessed with genetics all of a sudden." Some of the other top-rated messages also posit rhetorical questions of the same nature.</p>

<p>"The genetics talk is so damn weird. Sincerely, a white guy," one Instagram comment reads, while another says, "Weird time to drop an ad talking about genetics."</p>

<p>People celebrate 'non-woke' messaging</p>

<p>There's also a contingent of people who are on board with the coffee that "America runs on."</p>

<p>"Guess I'll have to stop by Dunkin and get a drink on my way to go buy a pair of American Eagle jeans! Loving all of this non-woke" messaging," an Instagram commenter writes. Another user seemingly celebrated the release of an ad that reflects similar themes to Sweeney's amid American Eagle's controversy: "I love it! The libs are losing their weak minds."</p>

<p>These comments echo the views of President Donald Trump's administration, which chimed in on the discourse when White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, on July 29, wrote on X that "This warped, moronic and dense liberal thinking is a big reason why Americans voted the way they did in 2024."</p>

<p>Marcus Collins, clinical assistant professor of marketing at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, previously told USA TODAY that in the case of some brand launches, the scrutiny may be the point. In 2025, the language comes amid a zeitgeist defined by major brands rolling back diversity and inclusive initiatives, according to Collins.</p>

<p>"This feels pretty on brand for (companies) these days," Collins said.</p>

<p>Contributing: Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY</p>

<p>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dunkin' ad with Gavin Casalegno draws comparisons to Sydney Sweeney</p>

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Dunkin's new ad about a celeb's 'genetics' draws comparisons to Sydney Sweeney

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Some companies held off on price hikes as Trump delayed tariffs. That ends soon.

<p>-

  • Some companies held off on price hikes as Trump delayed tariffs. That ends soon.</p>

<p>Emily LorschJuly 31, 2025 at 5:38 PM</p>

<p>Companies behind the best-known brands are sounding the alarm: Prices are going up.</p>

<p>Hershey, Procter & Gamble and Mondelēz have said price adjustments will soon start showing up on store shelves. For shoppers, that could mean higher prices for popular items like Bounty paper towels, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Clif Bars.</p>

<p>Numerous companies told analysts and investors on recent earnings calls that higher tariffs are going to hike costs. In many cases, that will translate to higher prices for consumers.</p>

<p>Concerns about inflation persist even though price growth has come down considerably from its heights during the Biden administration. On Thursday, the Federal Reserve's favorite inflation gauge climbed more than expected. The personal consumption expenditures price index, a measure of consumer spending on goods and services, rose 2.6% from a year ago. Analysts were expecting a rise of 2.5%.</p>

<p>Experts have warned that elevated tariffs would mean higher prices on consumers, but President Donald Trump's delays mean some of the most expansive and aggressive tariffs have yet to be implemented.</p>

<p>That changes Friday, when Trump's reworked global tariffs take effect after he suspended them in mid-April. Some are as high as 50% for countries like Brazil, while others are 15% to 30% for the European Union and countries like South Korea, Japan and India.</p>

<p>Proceeds from tariffs that Trump has already implemented are indeed bringing in additional revenue to the U.S. Treasury. In June, $27.2 billion landed into its coffers. In May, it was $22.8 billion.</p>

<p>And Trump and his administiration have stressed that tariffs can bring jobs back to the U.S. while generating revenue that can pay down the U.S. debt or end up in taxpayers' pockets.</p>

<p>"President Trump's tariff policies have drawn historic investments and opened up global markets for U.S. businesses," Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick posted Wednesday on X.</p>

<p>Trump has also announced deals with a handful of major U.S. trading partners including South Korea, Pakistan, the E.U., Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan, though details of some of the deals remain largely unknown.</p>

<p>In North America, Procter & Gamble recently announced price adjustments on about 25% of its products, which will go into effect in the next few months. It said the average increase will be roughly 2.5%, broadly in line with overall inflation.</p>

<p>"These adjustments reflect a mix of factors, including higher raw-material and supply-chain costs, investments in product innovation and the impact of recently announced tariffs," a spokesperson said.</p>

<p>The global snacking giant Mondelēz, which is behind brands such as Oreo and Ritz, also announced incremental pricing to take effect in the coming months.</p>

<p>"We are clearly at a point in time where we see inflation going up," Chief Financial Officer Luca Zaramella said.</p>

<p>Zaramella said the price of raw materials is rising, especially as it relates to cocoa.</p>

<p>Hershey, too, is seeing the effects of the spike in its essential ingredient. It said in a statement that its price adjustment with retail customers is not related to tariffs or trade policies but instead reflects "the reality of rising ingredient costs including the unprecedented cost of cocoa."</p>

<p>Cocoa prices have skyrocketed more than 165% over the last two years.</p>

<p>For years, "we've worked hard to absorb these costs and continue to make 75% of our product portfolio available to consumers for under $4.00, ensuring that Hershey treats stay accessible and affordable for families everywhere," the company said.</p>

<p>The apparel sector is also feeling the pressure and warning of price hikes. The German sportswear giant Adidas said Wednesday that it might have to raise prices, in the United States only, because of the significant impact tariffs will have on the company's cost of U.S. goods. Adidas reported tariffs would add around 200 million euros ($231 million) in costs in the second half of this year.</p>

<p>"What we can say is we will not be the price leaders. We will move slowly and see what is happening in the market," CEO Bjørn Gulden said on an earnings call.</p>

<p>Many more companies are also reporting dented profits due to Trump's tariffs.</p>

<p>On Tuesday, Stanley Black & Decker said it expects to incur an $800 million annualized impact from policy changes that are tied to tariffs. And Conagra Brands said tariffs are likely to raise costs of goods sold by 3%, which would be an annual increase of more than $200 million, according to its CEO, Sean Connolly.</p>

<p>The auto industry seems to be making adjustments, as well. Elon Musk's Tesla said costs as a result of tariffs have increased about $300 million, and General Motors said earnings before interest and taxes in this most recent quarter dropped by $1.1 billion, which it attributed to tariffs.</p>

<p>Ford said Wednesday that it sees up to a $3 billion impact from tariffs but expects to be able to offset $1 billion of that.</p>

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<p>- Some companies held off on price hikes as Trump delayed tariffs. That ends soon.</p> <p>Emily Lorsc...

Whoa, baby! The real story behind the adorable star of 'Fantastic Four'

<p>-

  • Whoa, baby! The real story behind the adorable star of 'Fantastic Four'</p>

<p>Brian Truitt, USA TODAYJuly 31, 2025 at 6:21 PM</p>

<p>Spoiler alert! We're discussing important plot points and the ending of "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" (in theaters now), so beware if you haven't seen it yet.</p>

<p>"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" brings a superpowered quartet into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but there's an important fifth member of that group: an adorable hero baby.</p>

<p>Directed by Matt Shakman, the newest Marvel movie is a retrofuturistic sci-fi adventure in which the Fantastic Four deal with the arrival of a world-devouring giant called Galactus (Ralph Ineson). He'll spare Earth if he can have the baby son of superhero couple Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby). The Fantastic Four choose to fight, and little Franklin (Ada Scott) becomes a key figure in the action-packed climax.</p>

<p>Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox</p>

<p>Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) brings son Franklin Richards (Ada Scott) into their world in "The Fantastic Four: First Steps."</p>

<p>The MCU is famous for its top-notch casting, and finding the right baby was as significant to Shakman as choosing his other main actors. "We knew that the baby would ultimately probably be the biggest challenge of the movie," he says. "Just because it's a little bit easier to pull off a Silver Surfer than it is a baby who needs to be a big part of these emotional scenes."</p>

<p>Filmmakers went down two different roads. Several babies were brought in for production purposes because they could only have youngsters on the set for short periods of time. (For example, they used a three-week-old infant for Sue's zero-gravity space birth.) At the same time, Shakman also needed to cast a "hero baby," which involve screen testing a bunch of kids, looking for the right one to be a scene partner for the A-list stars.</p>

<p>Who is the baby in 'Fantastic Four'?</p>

<p>They ultimately cast Ada, a little British girl who was 3 months old during filming. "She has so much charisma," Shakman says. "There's so much intelligence in those eyes. Those eyes look just like Vanessa's eyes, they're kind of extraordinary in that way."</p>

<p>Ada's face was scanned "extensively multiple times" so that they could build a CGI model of her to use in effects-heavy action scenes or put on top of other babies' bodies for sequences that filmed over multiple nights, like Sue's big speech outside of the Baxter Building.</p>

<p>But the real Ada wowed Shakman in a couple of key emotional scenes. One featured just her and Pascal, as Reed Richards tells his son that he doesn't want Franklin to be like him and talks about his insecurities to the child. "She's looking at him with such understanding but also curiosity," the director says.</p>

<p>Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal, left) and wife Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) aim to keep their newborn son Franklin (Ada Scott) safe from a cosmic menace in Marvel's "The Fantastic Four: First Steps."Is the baby in 'Fantastic Four' CGI?</p>

<p>The other major scene is at the end, where Franklin – who's embued with the "Power Cosmic," a big deal in Marvel lore – resurrects his mom after she dies in battle defeating Galactus.</p>

<p>"She showed up to play" that day, Shakman says of Ada. "It was a really important moment, and Ada knew it was time to turn it on. It was kind of crazy. She seemed to understand, and I don't know how, what the scene was about. She was fully engaged with Vanessa, she was hyperfocused. Her little hands going down on the chest, that's her. The clapping after Vanessa comes back to life, that's her. That's all in camera."</p>

<p>Behind the camera, Shakman had plenty of help with all things baby, too. There was an assistant director whose job was to find the various babies used for filming, while production assistants "would sometimes jump in with toys trying to get eye lines to work," Shakman says. Plus, there was a teacher or welfare worker on the set with the babies, along with the mom, dad and/or primary caregiver. In fact, Ada's mom sometimes dressed up in Kirby's supersuit to help get shots early on during filming.</p>

<p>By the time the movie finished, Ada "was very comfy crawling around on Vanessa," Shakman says. And Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who played the motion-capture role of the Thing, also acted as "an on-camera baby wrangler."</p>

<p>While Shakman loves working with babies, there are times when they aren't always in the best mood or dozing off or upset because they're hungry. "But I got so lucky," the director says. "I had this really special baby who delivered an incredible performance and I still don't know how it happened. So I thank the movie gods for that."</p>

<p>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who plays Franklin, Reed and Sue's baby, in 'Fantastic Four'?</p>

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1,350 more National Guard members withdrawn from Los Angeles

<p>-

  • 1,350 more National Guard members withdrawn from Los Angeles</p>

<p>LUIS MARTINEZJuly 31, 2025 at 5:34 PM</p>

<p>The Pentagon has announced that 1,350 more federalized members of the California National Guard will be withdrawn from the security mission in Los Angeles that started in early June following protests against immigration raids carried out by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A remaining force of 250 National Guardsmen will remain in place to continue protecting federal government buildings and personnel in Los Angeles.</p>

<p>Close to 5,000 National Guard members and Marines were deployed to Los Angeles on June 7 for a mission that could potentially last up to 60 days, a time limit that ends next week.</p>

<p>"On Wednesday, Secretary Hegseth ordered the release of approximately 1,350 California National Guardsmen from the federal protection mission," Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's chief spokesman, said in a statement provided to ABC News.</p>

<p>MORE: Pentagon pulling 2,000 National Guard deployed to LA amid ICE protests</p>

<p>"Approximately 250 California National Guardsmen remain in Los Angeles to protect federal personnel and property," Parnell said. "We greatly appreciate the support of the more than 5,000 Guardsmen and Marines who mobilized to Los Angeles to defend Federal functions against the rampant lawlessness occurring in the city."</p>

<p>Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images, FILE - PHOTO: California National Guard stand on the steps of the Federal Building after days of protests in response to federal immigration operations in Los Angeles, June 10, 2025.</p>

<p>Democratic Mayor Karen Bass posted on X that the withdrawal was "another win for Los Angeles" as "1,000 more troops are retreating" and added, "We will continue this pressure until ALL troops are out of L.A."</p>

<p>That drew a response from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who responded on his personal X account, "You're welcome Mayor. These brave troops are redeploying because their mission was so successful."</p>

<p>He added, "You should be thanking them for saving your city from mobs & chaos. We will continue to support law enforcement -- even when you won't."</p>

<p>In recent weeks the Pentagon had announced the withdrawals of 2,000 Guard members and 700 Marines, along with the reassignment of 150 Guard members to firefighting duty.</p>

<p>The initial mobilization came in the wake of protests following ICE raids in Los Angeles and was unusual in that they were ordered by the Trump administration instead of by Gov. Gavin Newsom. City officials labeled the deployment of the Guard and Marines as unnecessary and said that Los Angeles Police Department was more than capable of responding to the initial protests.</p>

<p>Because they were federalized National Guard and Marines, they were not able to carry out law enforcement duties, which is prohibited by law. However, during their mission to protect federal buildings and personnel, the mobilized military personnel had the authority to temporarily detain individuals before quickly transferring them to law enforcement personnel.</p>

<p>As the mission continued, some of the forces received training to accompany ICE personnel on immigration raids, though their role was specifically limited to providing force protection.</p>

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1,350 more National Guard members withdrawn from Los Angeles

<p>- 1,350 more National Guard members withdrawn from Los Angeles</p> <p>LUIS MARTINEZJuly 31, 2025 at 5...

Skydance Tells Senators It Wasn't Involved in Colbert 'Late Show' Cancellation, 'Fully Complied' With Anti-Bribery Laws in Paramount Deal

<p>-

  • Skydance Tells Senators It Wasn't Involved in Colbert 'Late Show' Cancellation, 'Fully Complied' With Anti-Bribery Laws in Paramount Deal</p>

<p>Todd SpanglerJuly 31, 2025 at 6:05 PM</p>

<p>Skydance Media has responded to an inquiry from three left-wing U.S. senators who expressed concerns about "bribery" with respect to the Trump administration's approval of its deal to acquire Paramount Global — and had questioned whether Skydance had any part in the cancellation of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert."</p>

<p>In a July 21 letter to Skydance CEO David Ellison, Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Ron Wyden asked a series of pointed questions about Skydance's Paramount deal. Among those: "Is there currently any arrangement under which you or Skydance will provide compensation, advertising, or promotional activities that in any way assist President Trump, his family, his presidential library, or other Administration officials?" The letter also asked, "Were you or other Skydance executives involved in discussions about canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert?"</p>

<p>More from Variety</p>

<p>Kamala Harris Explains Why She's Not Running for Election on Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show': 'I Don't Want to Go Back in the System. I Think It's Broken'</p>

<p>Shari Redstone Invokes Father Sumner Redstone's 'Steadfast Belief That Content Is King' in Final Quarterly Earnings Call as Paramount Global Owner</p>

<p>Paramount Captures Small Q2 Profit Ahead of Sale to Skydance</p>

<p>In a reply sent Thursday (July 31) to the senators obtained by Variety, Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon, Skydance's general counsel and co-president of business operations, said in part, "Throughout its history and during the review of the proposed acquisition of Paramount, Skydance has fully complied with all applicable laws, including our nation's anti-bribery laws."</p>

<p>Skydance was "not involved" in CBS's decision to cancel "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," according to McKinnon. "Paramount did provide notice of its decision to Skydance [about Colbert's show being canceled], but only after Paramount reached its own independent decision, and shortly before Paramount publicly acknowledged the cancellation." CBS said the cancellation of Colbert's show was "purely a financial decision."</p>

<p>The senators' letter also noted that Trump has claimed he had a side deal with Skydance under which the new owners of the merged company are expected to contribute $20 million in advertising, public service announcements and "similar programming" that promote causes he favors. That purportedly would be in addition to Paramount's $16 million payment to settle his lawsuit accusing "60 Minutes" of deceptively editing a pre-election interview with Kamala Harris.</p>

<p>In the letter, McKinnon didn't directly address the question of whether Skdyance has a "side deal" with the president for free advertising or other airtime. She wrote, "Skydance was neither a party to the lawsuit nor to Paramount's settlement of its litigation with the President." Paramount has said that its settlement with Trump — under which most of the $16 million will go to his future presidential library — "does not include PSAs or anything related to PSAs. Paramount has no knowledge of any promises or commitments made to President Trump other than those set forth in the settlement proposed by the mediator and accepted by the parties."</p>

<p>Under the transaction agreement, according to McKinnon, "Paramount had full discretion to settle any outstanding litigation unrelated to the transaction for up to $50 million without Skydance's consent." On July 1, Paramount requested Skydance's consent "to only one particular term relating to the publication of transcripts of interviews of Presidential candidates. Skydance did not believe its consent was required, but acceded to Paramount's request and provided it," McKinnon wrote.</p>

<p>Two days before the FCC approved the Skydance-Paramount deal, which is now set to close Aug. 7, Skydance's McKinnon sent two letters to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. In one, she said Skydance would install an ombudsman at CBS to review "complaints of bias or other concerns" as part of ensuring "viewpoint diversity." In the other, she said Skydance confirmed that Paramount eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, that Skydance doesn't have DEI initiatives and that the company committed to not implement any in the future.</p>

<p>In her July 31 letter to the senators, McKinnon reiterated that "Skydance is committed to promoting non-discrimination and equal employment opportunity and fully complying with applicable laws."</p>

<p>She also wrote, "Skydance believes in unbiased journalism and embraces a broad range of viewpoints. Upon closing of the acquisition, these guiding principles will ensure that editorial decision-making at CBS News reflects the varied ideological perspectives of American viewers. Skydance likewise believes all content should reflect independent editorial judgment and be free from government intrusion and politicization."</p>

<p>"As with any transaction that requires regulatory approval, Skydance executives and its representatives have had routine and customary interactions with government officials, including with the Administration, Congress, and federal regulators," McKinnon concluded in the letter to Warren, Sanders and Wyden. "We value productive relationships across all levels of government and look forward to strengthening those, including with you and your colleagues, in the months and years ahead."</p>

<p>Best of Variety</p>

<p>New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week</p>

<p>What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025</p>

<p>What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025</p>

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Skydance Tells Senators It Wasn’t Involved in Colbert ‘Late Show’ Cancellation, ‘Fully Complied’ With Anti-Bribery Laws in Paramount Deal

<p>- Skydance Tells Senators It Wasn't Involved in Colbert 'Late Show' Cancellation, 'Fully Complied' ...

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Pull the Plug on Hulk Hogan Film—Here's What We Know

<p>-

  • Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Pull the Plug on Hulk Hogan Film—Here's What We Know</p>

<p>David ArtaviaJuly 31, 2025 at 1:39 PM</p>

<p>Kevin Winter/Getty Images</p>

<p>Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Pull the Plug on Hulk Hogan Film—Here's What We Know originally appeared on Parade.</p>

<p>Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's production company, Artists Equity, has shelved its plans to produce a film about Hulk Hogan's leaked sex tape scandal and the legal battle that ultimately bankrupted Gawker Media.</p>

<p>Parade verified with a source close to the development process that the project is no longer in the works at Artists Equity, and the decision was made well before Hogan's passing last week at the age of 71.</p>

<p>No public statement has been issued by Affleck or Damon as of yet.</p>

<p>The film, which never entered active production, was intended to explore the 2016 scandal that began when a video surfaced of Hogan engaging in sex with the wife of radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge.</p>

<p>The tape also captured Hogan making racist remarks, which led to a swift fallout that included a $140 million jury award and a reckoning over celebrity privacy in the digital age.</p>

<p>It's been reported that Hogan was never involved in the film and made clear he had no interest in contributing.</p>

<p>While the Hogan and Gawker saga remains one of the most headline-grabbing media stories of the past decade, it looks like its Hollywood dramatization will have to wait for now.</p>

<p>🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬</p>

<p>Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Pull the Plug on Hulk Hogan Film—Here's What We Know first appeared on Parade on Jul 31, 2025</p>

<p>This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.</p>

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Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Pull the Plug on Hulk Hogan Film—Here’s What We Know

<p>- Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Pull the Plug on Hulk Hogan Film—Here's What We Know</p> <p>David Ar...

Todd Marinovich, former phenom QB-turned-cautionary tale, steps out from under his own myth in new book

<p>-

  • Todd Marinovich, former phenom QB-turned-cautionary tale, steps out from under his own myth in new book</p>

<p>Jay BusbeeAugust 1, 2025 at 2:08 AM</p>

<p>Todd Marinovich, seen in a 2017 photo, tells his side of his infamous football story in his new book, 'Marinovich: Outside the Lines in Football, Art, and Addiction.' (Jeff Gritchen/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images) (MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images via Getty Images)</p>

<p>The bond between fathers and their athletic-genius children is a complex, fragile and often treacherous one. If the father pushes too hard, the child rebels. If the father doesn't push hard enough, the child might never reach their astronomical potential. And either way, the traditional protective and nurturing role of the father becomes transactional rather than emotional. When fathers take an active interest in their children's athletic development, approval and support are conditional; blasting all those reps and showing up big at game time are what's mandatory. The resulting generational wreckage can last much longer than any career ever could.</p>

<p>Before Tiger Woods and his father Earl, before Venus and Serena Williams and their father Richard, and long before the feel-good tale of Home Run Derby champ Cal Raleigh and his pitching pop, there came Todd Marinovich and his father Marv — the ultimate sports-dad cautionary tale. Nationally famous long before he graduated high school, Todd Marinovich became the grim answer to the question: What if you attempted to genetically engineer an NFL quarterback?</p>

<p>The answer, in Marinovich's case, was chaos, chaos that still echoes today more than three decades later.</p>

<p>Marinovich, a Southern California quarterback who played his college ball at USC and took snaps in the NFL for the Raiders, crashed and burned shortly into his NFL career, a victim of his own bad choices and — most everyone assumed — the immense pressure his father Marv placed on him practically from birth.</p>

<p>[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]</p>

<p>The truth, however, is far more complex and, to Marinovich's mind, far more favorable to Marv, who died in 2020. Marinovich — once dubbed the "Robo QB," or, even less charitably, "Marijuanavich" — has at last put his own story, in his own words, into print. "Marinovich: Outside the Lines in Football, Art, and Addiction" documents, in painful detail, the battles that the onetime quarterback and present-day artist fought throughout his career and continues to fight even now — with addiction, with perception, with himself. It's a harrowing but ultimately impressive and inspiring look at reconciling a public image with personal belief.</p>

<p>"My most fundamental flaw was both a tremendous blessing and a horrible curse, but it was my reality," he writes. "Without the zeal accompanying obsession, who knows if I would've succeeded in football? Someone else could have been the first college sophomore in history to declare for the NFL Draft. Yet, on the flip side, there wouldn't have been a soul-crushing dozen arrests, five incarcerations, and over seven trips to rehab."</p>

<p>There's a reason, then, that he begins the book with this epigram: "This book is an act of self-love after decades of self-defiance." (Disclaimer: Marinovich and this writer share an agent.)</p>

<p>For Marinovich, now 56, training began virtually at birth. His father, a former strength coach with the Raiders, developed a relentless regimen designed to maximize Todd's potential and hone his discipline. But early in his autobiography, Marinovich makes sure to draw a line in the sand:</p>

<p>"No one pushed me into football, least of all my dad, Marv," he writes. "I chose it. Any suggestions to the contrary were lies offered freely by the media to manufacture a Greek tragedy."</p>

<p>And yes, the media dove deep into the Marinovich story, starting long before he suited up for USC. Even as a high schooler, Marinovich was drawing national attention.</p>

<p>"That was a really trippy time for me, because I was so shy going into high school," he told Yahoo Sports recently. "And then articles were talking about my diet, like I was a freak show — 'He's never had a Big Mac!' It just wasn't true. I was healthy, and I ate healthy, but, you know, living in America, you're going to have a Big Mac."</p>

<p>Todd Marinovich (center) signs his Letter of Intent to attend USC with parents Marv (left) and Trudi, on Feb. 10, 1988 in Mission Viejo, California. (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images) (Bob Riha Jr via Getty Images)</p>

<p>During this time, Marinovich honed his ability to remain cool under pressure. An immensely talented basketball player, he played in dozens of hostile gyms, sinking last-second shots to win games in front of rabid crowds. It's the kind of training you can't teach, you just have to experience.</p>

<p>"I felt really comfortable when the time was running out that I want the ball," he recalls. "Not everybody wants the ball when time's running out. And that's OK. Just give it up, just pass it to the guy that does."</p>

<p>As much as he loved basketball, however, Marinovich loved football even more. Speaking today, he notes that there's an almost otherworldly component to the game when it's functioning at its highest.</p>

<p>"It's truly spiritual," he says. "It's 11 of us who are out there at once. It's so special when everyone has just got your back. All you've got to do is handle your guy, don't let the guy down next to you. You're looking at guys in the eye, and they know that you are not going to let them down. You're going, I'm going to die trying not to let you down, bro."</p>

<p>At his finest, Marinovich was something to behold at quarterback. He threw for 9,914 career yards in high school, a mark that was a national record at the time. (It's since been nearly doubled.) Marinovich threw for 2,477 yards his senior year, more than contemporaries John Elway, Jim Kelly or Dan Marino did in theirs. In two years at USC, he crafted some instantly indelible memories — a last-second drive to beat Washington State in 1989, a triumphant 45-42 victory over rival UCLA in 1990.</p>

<p>Those were good days for Marinovich and anyone in the Marinovich business. He was winning nationwide acclaim and shaking off his shyness to become a fixture on the L.A. party scene. He counted Charlie Sheen and Flea among his friends, and he was an unmistakable redheaded presence wherever there was a party to be had.</p>

<p>"There were some really amazing next-level times that I had before it got really bad," he laughs, "and that's just, that's all I'll say."</p>

<p>But the cracks were already starting to show. He engaged in an on-camera shouting match with his head coach in what was then called the John Hancock (now Sun) Bowl on the last day of 1990. A few weeks later, he was busted for cocaine possession, but still got selected in the first round of the 1991 NFL Draft.</p>

<p>He saw little NFL action, playing in just eight regular-season games, with one playoff appearance, over parts of two seasons. He threw for eight touchdowns and nine interceptions, plus a zero-TD, four-INT game against the Chiefs in a 1991 wild-card game. He dodged NFL investigators, often with grimly comical results — he would use teammates' urine to pass drug tests, but got popped when one of his teammates gave him urine while drunk at four times the legal driving limit.</p>

<p>After multiple failed drug tests and failed attempts at rehab, Marinovich was suspended for the 1993 season, and never played in the NFL again. He attempted to catch on with the Canadian Football League, the Arena Football League and other organizations, but nothing stuck. Eulogies for his career pointed the finger at Marv, but Marinovich is adamant that the blame belongs on himself, and only himself.</p>

<p>"Marv was a thorny scapegoat, as he'd delivered the genes and created the environment offering addiction fertile ground," Marinovich writes. "He could be a ruthless tyrant obsessed with perfection, but ultimately, his criticism was child's play. The most damaging voice came from within. At the height of addiction, I needed drugs to silence my mind as much as others require air."</p>

<p>These days, Marinovich lives on the Big Island of Hawaii, hanging out with his dog and creating art. (Check out his work on Instagram.) Creating art isn't a bad life, he admits.</p>

<p>"Art takes me away," he says. "I can escape into a place that … it's hard to describe, but time is non-existent in this place, and there's a flow to it. It's kind of similar to athletics, there's a flow to athletics. But with art, there are no rules, and in football, there are."</p>

<p>Todd Marinovich remains one of football's great what-ifs. But even though his NFL career was a spark at best, he still tries to look back on his days at quarterback with pride.</p>

<p>"For me, it's truly about the experience," he says. "And I had some just beautiful, amazing — all the adjectives — experiences that the game has given me, and I'm grateful for it."</p>

<p>"Marinovich: Outside the Lines in Football, Art, and Addiction," by Todd Marinovich with Lizzy Wright, goes on sale Aug. 5.</p>

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Todd Marinovich, former phenom QB-turned-cautionary tale, steps out from under his own myth in new book

<p>- Todd Marinovich, former phenom QB-turned-cautionary tale, steps out from under his own myth in new book</p> ...

Mikal Bridges agrees to 4-year, $150 million extension with New York Knicks

<p>-

  • Mikal Bridges agrees to 4-year, $150 million extension with New York Knicks</p>

<p>Leocciano CallaoJuly 31, 2025 at 11:51 PM</p>

<p>New York Knicks forward Mikal Bridges has agreed to a four-year, $150 million extension, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Thursday.</p>

<p>SNY initially reported the 28-year-old was eligible for a maximum four-year, $156 million extension. But, per Charania, Bridges took a slight discount to help New York's roster-building efforts.</p>

<p>The Knicks had a window from July 6 to June 30, 2026, before Bridges was set to enter free agency, to secure a new contract with him. The new deal includes a player option for 2029-30 and a trade kicker, according to Charania.</p>

<p>Bridges initially found his way to New York across the East River when he landed in Brooklyn from Phoenix in exchange for Kevin Durant. He spent five seasons with the Suns before getting traded to the borough south of Manhattan.</p>

<p>The former Villanova Wildcat averaged 26.1 points per game in 27 games for the Nets upon his arrival and 19.6 points per game after starting in all 82 games the following season.</p>

<p>Bridges was traded to the Knicks last offseason for Bojan Bogdanović, five first-round draft picks and a second-rounder. The move reunited Bridges with his former college teammates, Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson.</p>

<p>In his first season in blue and orange, Bridges proved to be a dynamic role player for the Knicks, averaging 17.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. His defense also shined in the Knicks' playoff run before they eventually fell to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. Bridges averaged 15.6 points, 4.5 boards, 0.9 blocks and 1.7 steals per game in this year's postseason.</p>

<p>Bridges' extension comes after the Knicks hired Mike Brown to replace Tom Thibodeau as their head coach. The team has also added reinforcements in free agency by signing Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson.</p>

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Mikal Bridges agrees to 4-year, $150 million extension with New York Knicks

<p>- Mikal Bridges agrees to 4-year, $150 million extension with New York Knicks</p> <p>Leocciano Callao...

Microsoft briefly becomes the second company to hit $4 trillion in market value

<p>-

  • Microsoft briefly becomes the second company to hit $4 trillion in market value</p>

<p>Steve KopackJuly 31, 2025 at 11:02 PM</p>

<p>Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. (Mark Kauzlarich / Bloomberg via Getty Images file)</p>

<p>Shares of tech giants Meta and Microsoft were soaring Thursday, with the two companies adding a combined $400 billion to their market values.</p>

<p>The two companies together are worth more than JPMorgan Chase, America's largest bank, or Walmart, the country's largest retailer, more than seven times over.</p>

<p>For Microsoft, its value briefly crossed $4 trillion, making it only the second company ever to reach that milestone after Nvidia. The company's market value retreated slightly to $3.97 trillion at the close of trading for the day.</p>

<p>Facebook and Instagram's parent company, Meta, is now on the verge of crossing $2 trillion. Meta shares closed 11.25% higher with Microsoft shares up about 5%.</p>

<p>The soaring stock prices come on the heels of better-than-expected financial results, fueled in part by the artificial intelligence revolution. Meta and Microsoft have each added $200 billion to their market value since Wednesday's close.</p>

<p>Microsoft reported that in the last three months revenue rose 18% to $76 billion, and said it plans to spend more than $30 billion in just the next three months, the majority of which will likely go to the continued expansion of its cloud services to support booming AI usage.</p>

<p>Meta said its revenue surged 22% to almost $50 billion. The number of people who use Meta's services on a daily basis is now almost 3.5 billion, the company said in a statement. Meta said its total expenses for 2025 will be between $114 billion and $118 billion, much of that likely going to investing in AI and its fleet of data centers around the world to power it all.</p>

<p>Investors will be closely watching another major artificial intelligence player on Thursday afternoon, when Amazon reports its earnings. Amazon's value currently sits just below $2.5 trillion and its stock was higher by around 2% on hopes that it too will see blockbuster results.</p>

<p>So far this year, shares of Nvidia have soared 30% and Microsoft's have risen 27%. Meta is also riding the AI wave higher, with its stock seeing a gain of 32% this year.</p>

<p>By contrast, Apple, which was the first company to ever hit $1 trillion, $2 trillion and $3 trillion, has been sinking this year. The iPhone maker's shares are down 18% as investors and analysts worry that its AI ambitions may be falling short of others such as OpenAI and Microsoft, even though the company often takes a wait-and-see approach to new technologies.</p>

<p>Shares of Alphabet, another trillion-dollar tech giant trying to compete in the AI space, are up only 1.5% for the year. The company has the third-largest cloud service, behind Amazon and Microsoft, and has faced concerns that use of its Google search engine could be declining due to the rise of chatbots like ChatGPT.</p>

<p>In May, an Apple executive testifying in Google's antitrust trial said traditional searches in Apple's Safari browser dropped for the first time ever in April. Google said it continues "to see overall query growth in Search."</p>

<p>At the end of 2023, the total market value of all publicly traded companies in the European Union was about $12.5 trillion. Apple, Alphabet, Meta and Microsoft's values are currently just short of that, at $11.4 trillion.</p>

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Microsoft briefly becomes the second company to hit $4 trillion in market value

<p>- Microsoft briefly becomes the second company to hit $4 trillion in market value</p> <p>Steve Kopack...

 

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