Two weeks after a gunman sprayed more than 100 bullets at the CDC’s headquarters, killing one, the agency is cutting staff who focus on preventing violence. The layoffs at the Division of Violence Prevention, which cover 100 staffers, are part of a broader push initiated on April 1 to purge the public health agency of thousands of employees. The violence prevention group funds research on “community violence, domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse and neglect,” sharing findings with states and communities to bolster public safety. A week after the shooting, 50 former employees of the division wrote in a blog post that “the irony is devastating.” “The very experts trained to understand, interrupt and prevent this kind of violence were among those whose jobs were eliminated,” they wrote. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was slow to respond to the August 8 shooting, which killed DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose. The gunman believed that he had been harmed by the COVID vaccine, which Kennedy Jr. has criticized.

Marriott allowed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hold immigrants in a hotel that it owns in Louisiana, contradicting a 2019 policy not to use its properties as detention facilities. The Marriott-owned Sheraton Four Points in Alexandria, Louisiana, has held people slated for deportation since 2023, the Guardian reported. Marriott did not deny the publication’s findings: “Acceptance of business does not indicate support or endorsement of any group or individual,” the company wrote. It also wrote that its hotels “are not designed or intended to serve as detention centers” and that the Alexandria hotel is “operated by a third party.” The company struck a different tone six years ago, when a company spokesperson said that “Marriott has made the decision to decline any requests to use our hotels as detention facilities.” The hotel spotlighted in the Guardian report is close to a major ICE deportation hub. Separate reports have found that ICE deported an Ecuadorian man and his 15-year-old son after the pair were “locked up” for four days in the Sheraton without phone or internet access. ICE did not respond to a request for comment.

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Summer is officially drawing to a close, which means shorter days, cooler weather, and criminally overrated pumpkin spice everything are ahead of us. As we inch closer to the dreaded end of daylight saving time and the beginning of SAD season (or “cuffing season,” if you’re a glass-half-full person), the good news is that it’s the perfect time to cozy up with a new blanket. Lola Blankets are indisputably the best on the market—they’re designed from the softest faux fur fabric we’ve ever felt and are actually machine-washable. Right now, the brand is hosting its annual ‘Christmas in August’ sale to quell our end-of-summer blues.

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For a limited time, score a very generous 50 percent off everything site-wide and a $50 gift card with the code AUG50 at checkout. If you’re new to Lola Blankets, you cannot go wrong with the Original Lola, but we also love the XL size (it fits over a queen-size bed) and the weighted versions as well. Either way, it’s the brand’s biggest sale of the year, so if you’re looking for a luxury blanket for snuggle season, now’s the time to treat yourself.

Golden Bachelor contestant Gerry Turner, the first bachelor to participate in The Bachelor spin-off, Golden Bachelor, secretly dated another contestant after splitting from ex-wife Theresa Nist, whom he met on the show. Nist, who was married to Turner for three months, revealed on the Wednesday episode of the “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast that Turner, 74, dated Christina Kempton, who was sent home on week three during the season. “I’m actually the one who suggested he go out with Christina,” Nist revealed, noting his relationship with Kempton lasted six months. Since then, Turner has entered a new relationship with a woman named Lana, and Nist has said she is also dating. The reality tv show, which centers around senior citizens looking for love, ended its first season with Turner marrying Nist, 72, in January 2024. While Turner cited his cancer diagnosis as a factor that strained the relationship, Nist has said that his diagnosis had “zero” weight in their split. Despite their public breakup, Nist harbors no ill will towards her ex. “I really am happy for him,” she said. “He found someone that really suits him, and that’s wonderful.”

There was no food thrown during a melee that broke out on a Carnival Cruise ship this week, but it could still be called a food fight—or a fast food fight, more accurately. A video of the brawl shows at least seven people throwing punches on the cruise ship, and ends with the videographer turning the camera around and saying, “Over chicken tenders is crazy.” Multiple security guards can be seen attempting to quell the conflict at its outskirts, but they were largely unsuccessful. Mike Terra, who posted the video on his Instagram, later told the New York Post that the eruption likely had to do with “more” than just chicken tenders—but that it did break out while the fight’s participants were in line for food. He said he had been cruising for years but had never seen anything like Monday morning’s events, which took place as the ship was returning from the Bahamas to Miami at around 2 a.m. The “Carnival Cruise Fight” genre is a nascent but growing one on social media, with videos of fights from April and July both going viral. It’s unclear if those disputes involved fried foods or any other style of cuisine. The Daily Beast has reached out to Carnival for comment.

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Forget books and binders—if you really want to step into a new school year with confidence, you need a fresh pair of jeans. When it comes to classic styles and denim looks, no brand screams iconic more than Levi’s.

Whether you’re actually heading to class or just ready for an end-of-summer style reset, Levi’s has you covered with seasonal staples that deserve a spot in your fall rotation. From timeless blue jeans to throwback trucker jackets, the brand’s signature styles are all on sale through Labor Day, meaning you can save up to 30 percent on your soon-to-be favorite outfit essentials.

You don’t have to sneak into your dad’s closet to capture the perfect loose-fit look. Levi’s Baggy Dad jeans feature a relaxed, flattering silhouette with just the right amount of room for everyday comfort. The only thing missing is your favorite sneakers.

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“There’s no such thing as the perfect pair of jeans,” said someone who’s clearly never worn Levi’s 501® Originals. First introduced by founder Levi Strauss more than 150 years ago, these signature blue jeans have remained a cultural staple ever since—outlasting trends, influencing competitors, and never going out of style. Spoiler: they never will.

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As timeless as denim jeans are, nothing punctuates a fall outfit like a throwback denim jacket. If you’re after something straightforward and classic, you can’t go wrong with Levi’s original Trucker Jacket, which has been nothing short of iconic since it first dropped in 1967. Looking for something with a bit more attitude that still retains throwback appeal? Try the brand’s ’90s Trucker, featuring a pitched silhouette and retro edge.

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Brent Hinds, the former lead guitarist of heavy metal band Mastodon, died Wednesday night from a motorcycle accident. He was 51 years old. According to the Atlanta Police Department, Hinds was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he collided with an SUV that failed to yield. Authorities pronounced the guitarist dead at the scene. According to Fox 5 Atlanta, the case remains under investigation. Hinds, who co-founded the group with bassist Troy Sanders, guitarist Bill Kelliher, and drummer Brann Dailor in 2000 produced a total of eight studio albums, with their 2002 album Remission garnering critical acclaim. The group went on to win several awards, including a Grammy in 2018 for Best Metal Performance. Hinds parted ways with the band in March, stating he was kicked out, while Mastodon said that the parting was a mutual decision. Despite their shaky end, Mastodon released a statement about Hinds’ passing on social media, stating “we are in a state of unfathomable sadness and grief...we are heartbroken, shocked, and still trying to process the loss of this creative force with whom we’ve shared so many triumphs, milestones, and the creation of music that has touched the hearts of so many.”

Millie Bobbie Brown and Jake Bongiovi have welcomed a baby via adoption. The Stranger Things actress, 21, and Bongiovi, who is the son of legendary musician Jon Bon Jovi, announced the arrival of their new baby girl Thursday. “This summer, we welcomed our sweet baby girl through adoption. We are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy. And then there were 3, ” the couple wrote on Instagram. Brown, who married the 23-year-old actor in May 2024. talked about wanting to be a mother and grow her family earlier this year on an episode of the “Smartless” podcast. “My mom actually had her first child at 21, and my dad was 19. And you know, it’s been my thing since before I met Jake,” Brown said. “I wanted to be a mom just like the way my mom was to me.” The Enola Holmes star noted that both she and her husband come from families with four kids. “I really want a big family,” Brown said. “It is definitely in our future, but, for me, I don’t see having your own child, you know, as really any different as in adopting.”

Willem Dafoe swatted away a question about President Donald Trump’s America eight years after saying he feared the country was moving in the wrong direction. The Platoon star, 70, speaking in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Sarajevo Film Festival, where he was awarded the Honorary Heart of Sarajevo award, was asked by a moderator whether he felt the U.S. was on a better track now than it had been in 2017. “You gotta be kidding me with this question, right?” he said, according to Variety. “If you know anything about me and you do, that’s not a real question.” In an appearance on Larry King Now during the first Trump administration, Dafoe said he felt there were “better people to talk about the political situation” than actors, but admitted: “I don’t think we’re going in the right direction—we’re a powerful country and I think we have a responsibility to the rest of the world.”

HBO Max released a sneak peek into season 2 of the hit medical drama The Pitt, giving viewers a look at another anxiety-inducing day in the lives of the overtaxed emergency team at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. The series, starring Noah Wyle, Patrick Ball, Taylor Dearden, and Katherine LaNasa, is set to premiere in January. The trailer shows clips of the intense work environment, with the doctors performing bloody surgeries as they confront various medical emergencies. Tensions are heightened at one point as two police officers run through the hospital. One character who is noticeably absent from the trailer is Tracy Ifeachor’s Dr. Heather Collins, who will not be returning to the show per a July Instagram post from Ifeachor. According to EW, the second season will take place on the Fourth of July, 10 months after the events of season one. The Pitt premiered on January 9, 2025, with the first season consisting of 15 episodes—each one playing out in real time and covering one hour of a demanding medical shift through the lens of healthcare workers in a Pittsburgh ER. The series, which has been applauded for its realistic depiction of the stress America’s health care workers are currently under, won the Gotham TV Award for Breakthrough Drama Series in June. In September, it will compete for a total of 12 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series.

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As summer winds down and fall approaches, it’s the perfect time for a seasonal reset—a chance to refresh your home and invest in getting more rest. And what better place to start than with what you spend a third of your life on: a mattress. Now is the ideal time to make an upgrade with SweetZzz Mattress’ early bird Labor Day sale.

Right now, you can save a whopping 53 percent on the brand’s premier Honey Hybrid Mattress in all sizes. The top-rated organic mattress is chiropractor-endorsed for spinal health and pain relief and has earned an impressive 8.7/10 rating from Sleep Foundation.

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The SweetZzz Mattress is designed with a breathable top layer made with an organic latex that cushions common pressure points like the shoulders, hips, and back—great for both side and combination sleepers. It’s equipped with 1,500 individually-wrapped springs with reinforced edge support that provide long-lasting stability and durability without the heat retention of traditional beds, making it great for hot sleepers.

The best part? Aside from being over half off for a limited time, SweetZzz offers a lifetime warranty, free nationwide shipping with white glove delivery service, and a 100-night risk-free trial. Your ticket to a lifetime of better sleep is right here.

James Dobson, the child psychologist and radio personality who advocated for conservative social values and wielded immense political power, has died at 89. Dobson, who first gained prominence with his 1970 book Dare to Discipline, which advocated for teaching children “self-control” with corporal punishment, leveraged his resulting notoriety into founding the evangelical organization Focus on the Family. As a key architect of the religious right, he also co-founded the Family Research Council, an organization designated as an anti-LBGTQ+ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for propagating propaganda linking homosexuality to pedophilia and claiming the Democratic Party is run by “Jews.” Dobson later became ingrained in the upper echelons of the Republican Party and advised five different presidents, culminating in a role on President Donald Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board, where he helped solidify the fusion of white evangelicalism and far-right politics. “Dobson has become the primary source of misinformation about gay and lesbian people in the world,” said gay pastor Mel White in 2005. “He is single-handedly doing more damage to the truth than anyone else, in our opinion.” Dobson is survived by his wife, Shirley, and his children, Danae and Ryan. In a statement, the family said his impact endures through “the many lives he touched, the families he strengthened, and the unshakable faith he proclaimed.”

A new class action lawsuit against United and Delta Air Lines claims the airlines sold window seats without windows. The suit, filed in federal court on Tuesday, claims passengers were seated next to empty walls despite paying extra for seat preferences and seeks millions in damages for more than a million customers per airline. While some aircraft like the Boeing 737, Boeing 757, and Airbus A321 are designed with rows of windowless aisles due to AC ducts and other systems, the complaint alleges that Delta and United fail to disclose this information to customers, unlike competitors like American or Alaska Airlines. “Had plaintiffs and the class members known that the seats they were purchasing (were) windowless, they would not have selected them—much less have paid extra,” the United complaint reads. According to Business Insider, the suit states that Delta passengers can spend $70 or more to choose seats while the United suit states costs can exceed $50 for domestic flights and $100 for international ones. The lawsuit notes that passengers purchase window seats for reasons like extra light, to occupy antsy children, or to mitigate anxious or claustrophobic feelings. United Airlines did not comment on the case. Delta Airlines did not respond to the Daily Beast’s request for comment.