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 Hits:

Brazilian Plane Crash Kills All 61 Aboard Near Sao Paulo.

CANNABIS

A survey shows 63% of Americans support allowing Olympic athletes to use marijuana without penalties, surpassing support for alcohol and tobacco. Debate continues as WADA maintains its cannabis ban despite calls for reform.

Review finds cannabis-based medicine shows promise in reducing tics in Tourette syndrome patients, but more research with larger samples needed.

North Carolina court ruling allows police to search based on marijuana smell alone, even if the substance is legal hemp.

US NEWS

Remnants of Debby bring heavy rain, tornadoes, and flooding to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with nine dead. Watches remain in effect from the Carolinas to New England.

FDA approves Neffy, the first nasal spray for severe allergic reactions, providing a needle-free alternative to EpiPen injections.

Lazar Dukic, a Serbian CrossFit athlete, tragically died during a Texas competition, prompting an investigation and event dedication in his memory.

WORLD NEWS

More than 90 Palestinians killed in Israeli strike on school and mosque sheltering displaced people, Gaza officials say.

Far-right protests in Britain thwarted by anti-racism rallies, easing tensions after a week of unrest and fears of continued violence.

Ukrainian forces advanced 12 miles into Russia’s Kursk region, capturing soldiers and embarrassing the Kremlin, highlighting vulnerabilities in Russian defenses.

SPORTS

Weekend Olympics Guide

Saturday:

• Women’s 4x400-Meter Relay: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, world record holder in the 400-meter hurdles, may compete if needed. The U.S. team was the fastest in the qualifying heat.

• Men’s 10-Meter Platform Diving: China aims to sweep all eight diving events after winning gold in the first seven.

• Men’s Basketball: The U.S. faces France for gold after a comeback win against Serbia, with France’s 7-foot-4 center Victor Wembanyama posing a challenge.

Sunday:

• Women’s Volleyball: The U.S. aims for back-to-back golds after winning its first-ever in Tokyo, facing top-ranked Italy.

• Women’s Basketball: The U.S. seeks to extend its Olympic dominance, having won every gold since 1996, as it takes on France in the finals.

Sha’Carri Richardson wins first Olympic gold in 4x100 relay.

POP CULTURE

An 18-year-old was arrested in Vienna for allegedly plotting a terror attack at a Taylor Swift concert, leading to the cancellation of three shows.

Travis Scott arrested in Paris after altercation with bodyguard at hotel. Charged with "violence against a security guard."

Rapper Nelly arrested in St. Louis for traffic charge, also accused of illegal drug possession.

BUSINESS

Microsoft warns that Iran is ramping up online activity to influence the US election, including phishing attacks and creating divisive content targeting voters.

Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki dies at 56.

Maduro to block X in Venezuela for 10 days following a dispute with Elon Musk over a contested election.

Quote of the Day:

"Two of my favorite things are sitting on my front porch smoking a pipe of sweet hemp, and playing my Hohner harmonica."

-Abraham Lincoln

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