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

House committee advances bill banning most THC hemp products, alarming industry leaders who say it could destroy legal cannabinoid markets nationwide.

Cannabis may help beat summer heat by regulating body temperature, reducing inflammation, and providing cooling effects through CBD, THC, and terpenes.

Review finds purified cannabidiol reduced seizure frequency by 30–50% in randomized controlled trials, highlighting potential therapeutic benefit for epilepsy.

US NEWS

A historic heat wave scorches the eastern US, breaking records, straining infrastructure, and prompting widespread alerts amid dangerous heat indexes.

Trump, at NATO summit in the Netherlands, claims US strikes caused “total obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear sites, despite inconclusive intel. Ceasefire with Israel appears to hold. Qatar pushes to leverage the truce to restart Gaza negotiations amid regional uncertainty.

Zohran Mamdani wins NYC mayoral primary, defeating Cuomo with progressive campaign focused on affordability, shaking up national Democratic politics.

Zizian cult-linked suspect appears in court for killing a Border Patrol agent, as authorities investigate broader ties to multiple homicides.

WORLD NEWS

NATO may raise defense spending target to 5% GDP by 2035, responding to Trump’s pressure; 22 members already meet 2%.

Israel-Iran ceasefire holds as Gaza war rages on. Mediators eye talks, hostages remain. Critics call for extending peace to Palestinians.

Middle East conflict prompts China to reconsider stalled Russian gas pipeline and increase oil imports as energy security fears grow.

SPORTS

The 2025 NBA Draft kicks off tonight at 8 p.m. ET from Barclays Center, Brooklyn, with Round 1 airing on ABC and ESPN (Round 2 follows Thursday on ESPN)

The 2025 NBA Finals Game 7 attracted 16 million viewers, marking the most-watched finals game in six years.

Celtics trade Porzingis in 3-team deal to cut costs; Kyrie Irving signs 3-year, $119M extension with Mavericks.

POP CULTURE

Singer and TV star Bobby Sherman, beloved 1960s–70s heartthrob, has died of cancer at age 81.

R&B icons Brandy and Monica announce 24-city arena tour celebrating their 1998 hit.

Mick Ralphs, co-founder of Bad Company and Mott the Hoople, has died at 81.

BUSINESS

U.S. stocks rose sharply while oil prices dropped over 5% as investors watched Israel-Iran ceasefire developments and market volatility eased.

A federal judge ruled Anthropic can train AI on copyrighted books without author permission, marking a legal win for AI developers.

CareerBuilder and Monster file Chapter 11 bankruptcy to enable operational sale, marking major shift for early online job search pioneers.

Amazon expanding fast delivery to 4,000+ small towns; Tesla shares dip 2% amid legal concerns over autonomous robotaxi behavior.

Quote of the Day:

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken,"

- Oscar Wilde.

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