Rolling out the news you want

Welcome to the BLUNT Newsletter, your direct access to pop culture that is short and to the point.

CANNABIS

Pennsylvania GOP Senate chair anticipates increased Republican support for marijuana legalization, emphasizing public input through hearings to shape legislation.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders proposes using medical cannabis revenue to fund free school breakfasts and lunches for public students.

Study finds cannabidiol-based supplement improves osteoarthritis symptoms in dogs, enhancing mobility and overall quality of life.

US NEWS

Palisades Fire reaches 17% containment, Eaton Fire 35% containment; progress ongoing.

President Biden’s executive order permits Defense and Energy Departments to lease federal lands for AI data centers and clean energy projects.

Pete Hegseth’s Senate hearing left his defense secretary nomination uncertain, with GOP support and Democratic criticism over qualifications and conduct.

Senate Republicans express private reservations over Tulsi Gabbard’s qualifications as Trump’s spy chief nominee, citing concerns after recent meetings.

WORLD NEWS

Israel and Hamas reportedly near a Qatar-mediated ceasefire agreement, exchanging hostages for prisoners, marking progress toward ending the conflict.

Princess Catherine announces her cancer is in remission after undergoing chemotherapy, following her March 2024 diagnosis.

MI5 declassified files reveal Queen Elizabeth II was unaware of Anthony Blunt’s Soviet espionage confession for nearly a decade, alongside Cambridge Five insights.

Europe’s Gaia observatory ends operations after cataloging nearly 2 billion Milky Way objects, advancing our understanding of the galaxy’s structure and evolution.

SPORTS

Laura Siegemund, 36, ranked 97th, stunned Olympic gold medalist and 5-seed Qinwen Zheng, eliminating her in straight sets at the Australian Open.

Jimmy Butler demands Miami Heat trade before deadline, remaining sidelined since Jan. 2 as team seeks to maximize trade value.

Tiger Woods debuts in TGL, but Jupiter Links falls to Los Angeles Golf Club (12-1) in an entertaining match.

Missouri upset #5 Florida (83-82), Ole Miss defeated #4 Alabama (74-64), highlighting a thrilling night in the powerhouse SEC conference.

POP CULTURE

Major music labels cancel Grammy events due to Los Angeles wildfires, prioritizing safety amidst ongoing devastation affecting the region.

Drake withdraws legal petition against UMG and Spotify, resolving the matter amicably with no costs assigned to either party.

Rashida Jones resigns as MSNBC president after four years; Rebecca Kutler named interim president amid network restructuring and challenges.

BUSINESS

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is close to finalizing a $1B investment deal with sports streaming platform DAZN, bolstering its portfolio.

Coors Light temporarily rebrands as “Mondays Light” to ease post-Super Bowl blues, aiming to refresh sales amid declining beer market trends.

Meta announces major layoffs, cutting 5% of workforce, primarily targeting underperforming employees to “raise the bar” on performance standards.

Quote of the Day:

“A single twig breaks, but the bundle of twigs is strong.”

- Tecumseh

That's all for now! We hope you enjoyed this edition of the BLUNT Newsletter. Have a fantastic rest of your day!