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

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal allowing police to use marijuana odor for drug tests faces opposition from lawmakers and cannabis regulators.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a bill imposing a mandatory $300 fine for small cannabis possession, aiming to prevent marijuana legalization.

Wisconsin lawmakers from both parties agree a medical cannabis legalization bill could pass this session, with leaders calling for a resolution soon.

A study of military veterans found most cannabis users reported mental health benefits, according to descriptive analysis of their experiences.

US NEWS

Twenty-one federal staffers resigned from DOGE, citing concerns over politically motivated hires, dismantling public services, and data security risks.

Intuitive Machines’ second lunar lander, Athena, is set to launch tonight at 7:17 p.m. ET from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This follows their historic 2024 achievement as the first private company to land a spacecraft on the moon. 

Yesterday, a Southwest Airlines flight aborted landing at Chicago Midway Airport to avoid a private jet on the runway. 

House passes budget blueprint with tax cuts, spending reductions, and border funding after Speaker Johnson convinces GOP holdouts to support Trump’s agenda.

Ukraine grants U.S. access to rare earth minerals in deal tied to reconstruction efforts and ongoing negotiations to end Russia’s invasion.

WORLD NEWS

Pope Francis, 88, remains in critical but stable condition with double pneumonia, continuing some duties from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. 

Three men stand trial for allegedly stealing a $6M golden toilet from Blenheim Palace in 2019; the artwork remains missing.

An unidentified illness in Congo has killed over 50 people within 48 hours of symptom onset; initial cases involved children consuming a bat. 

SPORTS

Larry Dolan, Cleveland Guardians owner since 2000, passed away at 94; his tenure marked by multiple postseason appearances. 

Diana Taurasi retires after 20 seasons, winning three WNBA titles, six Olympic golds, and becoming the league’s all-time leading scorer.

Luka Doncic recorded a triple-double as the Lakers defeated the Mavericks 107-99 in their first matchup since the blockbuster trade.

POP CULTURE

Kathleen Kennedy will reportedly step down as Lucasfilm president in 2025 after leading the “Star Wars” franchise revival since 2012.

Over 1,000 British musicians, including Kate Bush and Cat Stevens, released a silent album protesting proposed UK copyright law changes favoring AI. 

Chris Jasper, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and Isley Brothers member, passed away at 73 after a legendary career in R&B music.

BUSINESS

U.S. stock markets closed mixed: S&P 500 down 0.5%, Dow up 0.4%, Nasdaq down 1.4%. February’s consumer confidence index saw its largest monthly drop since 2021. 

Hims & Hers Health’s stock fell 22% after Q4 results raised concerns over weight-loss drug sales impacting profit margins. 

Tesla’s stock fell 8.4% after reporting a 45% year-over-year decline in European sales for January, dropping its market capitalization below $1 trillion. 

Quote of the Day:

“A cloudy day is no match for a sunny disposition.”

- William Arthur Ward

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