Rolling out the news you want

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

Quick Hit:

Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Tulum, Mexico, as a Category 2 storm, after causing damage in Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados, killing at least 11. Expected in South Texas by Monday.

CANNABIS

Cherokee legalizes recreational marijuana for tribal members on the Qualla boundary, sparking mixed reactions and concerns about supply, legality outside tribal lands, and potential statewide impact.

Eight companies sue Iowa over new hemp law, citing regulatory limbo and potential criminalization of products without finalized regulations.

A new Florida poll indicates strong support for the marijuana legalization ballot measure, as the campaign releases two new ads.

US NEWS

President Joe Biden, in his first TV interview since the CNN debate with Trump, dismissed cognitive concerns and calls to withdraw from the race. He cited illness and exhaustion from overseas travel affecting his debate performance.

Four volunteers will exit NASA’s simulated Mars habitat at the Johnson Space Center after 378 days. The 1,700-square-foot 3D-printed habitat simulated Mars conditions, including vegetable harvesting and “Marswalks.” The crew emerges at 5 pm ET today.

Researchers discovered a route where altered cerebrospinal fluid travels from the brain to peripheral nerves, activating pain and inflammatory receptors, triggering headaches. Cerebrospinal fluid, surrounding the brain and spinal cord, changes when neural activity shuts down.

Train derailment in North Dakota ignites hazardous materials, prompting fire containment efforts and voluntary evacuation.

WORLD NEWS

Reformist Masoud Pezeshkian won Iran’s presidential runoff, defeating hard-liner Saeed Jalili with 16.3 million votes to Jalili’s 13.5 million. The election followed former President Ebrahim Raisi’s death. Voter turnout was nearly 50%.

New UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer appointed his cabinet after defeating Rishi Sunak. Starmer’s Labour Party won a parliamentary majority. Rachel Reeves became the UK’s first female chancellor to lead the treasury.

Andrew Tate can leave Romania but must stay within the EU as he awaits trial for human trafficking and rape. The Bucharest court ruling allows Tate and co-defendants freedom within the EU. Tate and his brother deny the charges, claiming innocence.

Tornado leaves 5 dead, dozens injured in eastern China.

SPORTS

Carlos Alcaraz wins a five-set thriller against Frances Tiafoe at Wimbledon, advancing to face Ugo Humbert or Brandon Nakashima.

Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia aims to unify industry but raises concerns over human rights and “sportswashing” allegations.

Julien Bernard fined for kissing his wife during a Tour de France stage, violating race regulations. Incident sparked mixed reactions.

Klay Thompson posts heartfelt goodbye to the Warriors and Bay Area, expressing gratitude and reflecting on his time with the team.

Pirates tie club record with 7 home runs in 14-2 rout of Mets.

POP CULTURE

Kevin Bacon, famous for decades, donned a prosthetic disguise to experience anonymity. Initially thrilled, he soon missed the perks of fame.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces a lawsuit by a former adult film actress accusing him of sex trafficking and sexual assault.

Vanessa Hudgens expressed disappointment after paparazzi invaded her privacy by taking pictures of her new baby.

Alec Baldwin to stand trial next week as judge rejects efforts to dismiss ‘Rust’ case.

BUSINESS

US added 206,000 jobs in June, surpassing estimates. Unemployment rose to 4.1%, the highest since October 2021. Wage growth remained stable, indicating a cooling economy. Federal Reserve monitoring for rate adjustments.

Saks Fifth Avenue buys Neiman Marcus with Amazon’s assistance.

Tesla becomes an official Chinese government car, marking a significant milestone for the company in the Chinese market.

Quote of the Day:

“I was built this way for a reason, so I’m going to use it.”

— Simone Biles

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