Rolling out the news you want

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

Smoking Weed = Better Orgasms

Stormy Takes the Stand: Adult-film star Stormy Daniels is scheduled to continue her testimony in Donald Trump’s hush-money trial, following her recount of salacious details about her alleged encounter with the former president.

Happy 98th Birthday Sir David Attenborough!

Stock Market Watch: US stock markets closed mixed, with slight gains in the S&P 500 and Dow and a minor decline in the Nasdaq, as investors anticipate Federal Reserve rate cut news. Meanwhile, Reddit's shares surged over 14% after-hours following a 48% revenue increase in its first quarterly earnings since its IPO.

CANNABIS

During a hearing, Drug Enforcement Administration head Anne Milgram informed lawmakers that it would be "inappropriate" for her to discuss marijuana rescheduling due to her involvement in the ongoing rulemaking process for the issue.

A recent study on women with female orgasmic disorder has found that cannabis use can enhance sexual experiences by increasing orgasm frequency, easing difficulties in achieving orgasm, and improving overall orgasm satisfaction.

New York City officials have initiated an operation to shut down unlicensed marijuana businesses across the city.

US NEWS

The Boy Scouts of America, amid a significant bankruptcy and sexual abuse settlement, will rename itself Scouting America in February, marking its first rebrand in 114 years.

At least one person has died and over 30,000 people are without power after tornadoes struck Oklahoma. Additionally, parts of the central and eastern US remain under watches for tornadoes and thunderstorms.

Ukrainian officials have thwarted an assassination attempt against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, arresting two colonels accused of acting as spies for Russia.

WORLD NEWS

Israel has taken control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, prompting a UN warning about the potential collapse of aid flow into the territory. Meanwhile, discussions for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas are ongoing. Foreign leaders have condemned Israel's recent military action in eastern Rafah.

The first visit by a British royal to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began has taken place.

At least six people are dead and dozens are missing following the collapse of a multi-story building in South Africa.

SPORTS

Both NBA top seeds, the Celtics from the East and the Thunder from the West, kicked off the second round with dominant victories, each winning by more than 20 points.

Borussia Dortmund has defeated Paris Saint-Germain to advance to the UEFA Champions League final.

The San Jose Sharks secured the top pick in the NHL Draft Lottery, winning the rights to the No. 1 selection. They are expected to choose Boston University center Macklin Celebrini. The Chicago Blackhawks will have the second pick, followed by the Anaheim Ducks with the third.

Real Madrid is set to face Bayern Munich today at 3 pm ET on Paramount+ in the other UEFA Champions League semifinal matchup.

Bryce Harper led the Philadelphia Phillies to their seventh consecutive victory last night, hitting a grand slam in the fourth inning and going 3-for-3 to help secure a 10-1 blowout win over the Toronto Blue Jays. With this win, the Phillies now boast the best record in the majors at 26-11.

POP CULTURE

The Roast of Tom Brady: "Tom hates fat. Do you know about his diet program? It is so strict, but if you follow it exactly as he does, you too can lose ... your family."

The 2024 Met Gala has concluded, and the accompanying Costume Institute exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, titled “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” will display around 250 rarely seen items.

A security guard was injured in a shooting outside Drake's mansion in Toronto.

BUSINESS

Disney shares drop nearly 10% despite news that streaming platform Disney+ brought in its first-ever quarterly profit.

TikTok has filed a lawsuit against the US government, challenging a law that mandates its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest or face a ban in the US. The video platform argues that it should be permitted to operate under First Amendment free speech protections.

Self-driving cars are under increased safety scrutiny. U.S. regulators have given Tesla a deadline to explain its Autopilot recall. Meanwhile, a separate self-driving startup has raised $1 billion from major investors including Microsoft and Nvidia.

Boeing has revised its plans to send astronauts into space, delaying the expected launch of its Starliner spacecraft once again. The takeoff is now scheduled for no earlier than Friday.

Quote of the Day:

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday.”

―A.A. Milne

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