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FBI investigating Delaware politician’s alleged ‘bribe’ to primary foe, after WHYY News exposed secretly recorded job offer
New Castle County Recorder of Deeds Mike Kozikowski lost the race to David Tackett, who filed a complaint with prosecutors about the gambit.
The Locations of North Carolina’s Industrial Poultry Farms Have Been a Secret—Until Now
A few days before Christmas in 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency received a complaint through its National Response Center: “There has been a horrible smell in the air for almost a week,” the caller said, according to state records. “It’s so bad it’s making people throw up.” The caller thought the odor was emanating […]
Seahawks Get Strong Trade Deadline Take on Lions’ Sam LaPorta
The Seattle Seahawks have their go-to star for their passing game in Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but could they potentially pursue another pass-catching weapon to pair with the wideout? While there are concerns about the team’s running game, those worries can go away with Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price returning from injury. Nonetheless, Seattle has lost Elijah […] The post Seahawks Get Strong Trade Deadline Take on Lions’ Sam LaPorta appeared first on HEAVY.
Winter or summer time: What’s best for your health?
Permanent standard time would be better for health, experts say, while once again we are to change our clocks over the weekend.
World Series 2026: William Contreras shines with his bat, his arm and his ABS challenges in Brewers' Game 1 victory
Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis honored for mental health efforts
The Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis spoke about his support for mental health.
Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis honored for mental health efforts
The Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis spoke about his support for mental health.
Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis honored for mental health efforts
The Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis spoke about his support for mental health.
Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis honored for mental health efforts
The Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis spoke about his support for mental health.
Buccaneers’ Jalon Daniels Talks About Jersey Swap With Aaron Rodgers
Jalon Daniels talked about getting to meet and swap jerseys with his idol, Aaron Rodgers.
Buccaneers’ Jalon Daniels Talks About Jersey Swap With Aaron Rodgers
Jalon Daniels talked about getting to meet and swap jerseys with his idol, Aaron Rodgers.
Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown - Delta Chronicles 2 DLC launches October 28!
The Delta Chronicles 2 DLC contains 5 new missions, 2 recruitable heroes, 2 new technologies, 3 NPC ships & adds the Q Logs as a voiced bonus feature.
Arts and entertainment throughout the region
A listing of arts and entertainment events throughout the region.
Arts and entertainment throughout the region
A listing of arts and entertainment events throughout the region.
Veteran Brook Lopez producing strong start to season for Clippers
10/23 Gridiron Glory
PADUCAH, Ky. — Check out the scores and highlights from week 10 of Gridiron Glory below.
Washington Wizards Outmatched vs Toronto Raptors, Fall 112-102
Trae Young and Tre Johnson combined for 42 points, but the Washington Wizards were outmatched at home against the Toronto Raptors
Local business owner faces cleanup after Toledo chemical release
Skyline Party Rentals faces cleanup, lost pay for workers
Politics Unplugged Podcast: Election countdown with Laura Gersony
With Election Day nearing, Arizona’s congressional races are drawing national attention. Arizona Republic reporter Laura Gersony joins Politics Unplugged to break down the high-stakes fights in AZ-01 and AZ-06, where the House majority could be on the line. The conversation examines whether Republican candidates can separate themselves from President Donald Trump as affordability concerns and negative ads dominate the closing days. The episode also looks at outside spending, Elon Musk-backed turnout efforts and the unexpectedly competitive race involving Rep. Eli Crane in northern Arizona. Plus, Dennis Welch and Colin Stanton discuss Arizona’s statewide races, polling, campaign cash and the Valley’s rough sports week.
Politics Unplugged Podcast: Election countdown with Laura Gersony
With Election Day nearing, Arizona’s congressional races are drawing national attention. Arizona Republic reporter Laura Gersony joins Politics Unplugged to break down the high-stakes fights in AZ-01 and AZ-06, where the House majority could be on the line. The conversation examines whether Republican candidates can separate themselves from President Donald Trump as affordability concerns and negative ads dominate the closing days. The episode also looks at outside spending, Elon Musk-backed turnout efforts and the unexpectedly competitive race involving Rep. Eli Crane in northern Arizona. Plus, Dennis Welch and Colin Stanton discuss Arizona’s statewide races, polling, campaign cash and the Valley’s rough sports week.
Child-led citizen science helps Ecuadorian community tackle beach pollution and shape environmental decisions
Pollution from human-generated waste in marine ecosystems has reached critical levels, with cigarette butts (CBs) among the most persistent and harmful pollutants. Globally, an estimated 4.5 trillion ...
Denver Broncos Make Patrick Surtain II Announcement Before Cardinals Game
Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II has a chance to return against the Cardinals after missing two games, but Denver has not cleared him to play. The post Denver Broncos Make Patrick Surtain II Announcement Before Cardinals Game appeared first on HEAVY.
Business pioneer Loida Lewis on leadership, Filipino American representation
In 1974, Lewis became the first Asian and Filipino woman to pass the New York bar without attending a U.S. law school and ran a multinational, billion-dollar company.
Science Hill finishes state runner-up in program's best season
MURFREESBORO — Consider the standard set for Science Hill's volleyball program. The Lady Hilltoppers' best season in program history ended with the team's deepest ever state tournament run.
CVS is trying out pharmacists in chronic health management
Dr. Amy Compton-Phillips on Friday said healthcare affordability and access could potentially improve if pharmacists in its 9,000 retail stores play a bigger role in chronic disease management.
Prisoners Writer Aaron Guzikowski Is Scripting a New Alien Film at 20th Century Studios
Aaron Guzikowski, writer of Prisoners and creator of Raised by Wolves, is scripting a new Alien film for 20th Century Studios and Scott…
Association Between Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Duration and Periodontal Health: A Retrospective Observational Study
Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that may be associated with alterations in periodontal health and disease. However, the relationship between RA duration...
EAST TEXAS POLITICS: State party chairs weigh in as first week of early voting wraps up
Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder and Texas Republican Party Chair D’rinda Randall join Blake Holland on this week’s edition of East Texas Politics on East Texas Now as the first week of early voting wraps up ahead of the November midterm elections.
Rollins says USDA is 'full-bore ahead' on Forest Service reorganization
The Trump administration wants to move Forest Service headquarters from Washington to Salt Lake City, shutter 23 research stations, and close many regional offices and replace them with state offices.
Health Brief: Making sense of Treasury’s biotech deal proposal
Pharma sees a potential catch in Washington’s latest effort to curb China’s biotech ambitions
Political science professor speaks on impact of Harris-Colom rally
A professor said high-profile supporters may motivate voters ahead of midterms.
Seeking to help Collins in Maine, Trump exempts some Canadian imports from his 50% tariffs
Collins, locked in a tight race with Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, issued a statement saying she'd spoken with Trump's top trade negotiator, Jamieson Greer, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick "about the toll tariffs are taking on Maine families, businesses, farmers, and growers.''
WATCH: Trump at GOP rally in Florida revives idea of military intervention in Cuba after Iran
Broncos Offensive Coordinator Thinks Nix Could Go On A Run
The Denver Broncos are trying to straighten out Bo Nix, but Davis Webb thinks a turnaround could be at hand.
Better Living: The science behind why we get scared
Better Living: The science behind why we get scared
Cook Political moves Ohio governor’s race after Ramaswamy attack ad
The race moved from “toss-up” to “Lean D.”
Texas Midterms: Who’s Winning the Battle for Voters?
Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina delve into the latest news in politics
Why experts are pushing RFK Jr. to release a federal definition of ultraprocessed foods
More than 100 science, medical and nutrition experts signed and sent an open letter Friday to the Office of Management and Budget, urging the administration to release the first-ever government definition of ultraprocessed foods.
DOJ has monitored elections for decades. Here’s why some state officials are concerned this year
The agency regularly monitors polling places. But this year’s effort on Nov. 3 will more than double the number of federal monitors deployed during the 2022 midterms.
WATCH: Smucker, Mannion to debate in Manor Township
Republican Congressman Lloyd Smucker and Democratic challenger Nancy Mannion are set to debate this afternoon at a forum hosted by the Lancaster Chamber and York County Economic Alliance.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson Sr. charged with marijuana possession
A bench trial has been scheduled for Jan. 4, 2027.
Where's Shane? Spookfest at Science City
Shane joins Science City Educators Emma Loesing and Whitney Klaas with Nature Works Educator Ryan Parker to get a sneak peek of this weekend's Spookfest.
‘Shazam!’ star Michael Gray dies at 75
NEW YORK — Michael Gray, who starred in the 1970s TV show “Shazam!,” has died. He was 75. The former teen heartthrob died from natural causes last week in California,
Lions Pass Rush Must Make Jordan Love Uncomfortable Sunday
A Lions insider says Green Bay hunts big plays more than anyone, and Detroit's answer starts up front. #OnePride
Detroit Pistons: Taurean Prince Update, Ron Holland Contract Talks
Later tonight, the Detroit Pistons will look for a 2-0 start as they face the Miami Heat on the road
Raskin named Goizueta Foundation Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Lutgarde Raskin, a scientist who is globally recognized for introducing tools of molecular biology to the field of environmental engineering, joined the Yale faculty in 2026.
Hila and Ethan Klein have made content together since 2011. Now she says he cheated for months.
Hila Klein, who started a YouTube channel with her husband in 2011 that now has 5.4 million subscribers, posted a lengthy statement on Instagram about the alleged affair.
Omaha students learn health hazards of smoking, vaping
Some Omaha students got a hands-on lesson on the health hazards of smoking and vaping.
Boston Encourages Residents to Apply for Health Insurance during Open Enrollment Season
Friday, October 23, 2026 – Open Enrollment season begins today, October 23, 2026 and runs through January 23, 2027, and Mayor Michelle Wu, the City of Boston, and Boston Public Health Commission strongly encourage residents to take advantage of the numerous coverage options available in Massachusetts and apply for health insurance through the Massachusetts Health Connector Marketplace. For those who need help navigating
If you haven’t seen everything, a guide to Nathan Fielder’s genre-defying work
He’s suddenly everywhere for his Elizabeth Holmes documentary, “You Can See Everything.” His past work, including YouTube clips and prestige horror, examines how we communicate.
Toys inspire business owner’s lifelong career in Bethel
The Toy Room team celebrating the store’s 10th anniversary are: (from left) top row, Ryan Wilson, Kim Wilson; middle row,
VA adds new and updated features to its electronic health records system
Among the changes, clinicians can now see vital signs, documentation, orders and key events on one streamlined timeline.
1978 court documents shed light on explosive Ohio political ad
The documents corroborate gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton’s story of childhood trauma.
Vivek Ramaswamy defends ad featuring Amy Acton\'s estranged mother
Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is defending his campaign ad featuring the estranged mother of Democratic rival, Dr. Amy Acton, in the Ohio governor's race. Speaking in northeast Ohio on Friday, he
LingSter Games founder honored by Small Business Development Center
John Ling of LingSter Games was honored as Veteran Small Business Owner of the Year by Finger Lakes SBDC after expanding to a Stoneridge Plaza storefront.
Connor Hellebuyck trade saga finally ends as Jets ship goaltender to Devils
Hellebuyck and the Devils will face the Jets in Winnipeg on Nov. 10.
Bowl Games Face Uncertain Future With a 24-Team CFP
College football bowl game viewership rose 13% year-over-year in 2025.
Brandi Glanville is ‘taking my face off’ to undergo ‘power wash’ under her skin, as health battle continues
The former Bravo star has been chronicling her facial disfigurement since 2023.
Supreme Court allows New Hampshire to fully ban student IDs for voting in midterms
The Supreme Court cleared the way Thursday for New Hampshire to fully ban the use of student IDs for voting during the midterm elections.
Another week, another embarrassing fan-player incident. College football appears to have a problem
Xbox wanted $800 million from Netflix for 7 years of its biggest characters, it’s claimed
Xbox is now said to be pursuing smaller deals…
Aaron Judge's Disconnect With Yankees Grows Amid Latest Report
Apparently, Aaron Judge isn't in agreement with a whole lot the New York Yankees do.
2 ex-FBI officials charged with making false statements about Hunter Biden's laptop
Two former FBI intelligence officials who specialized in foreign election interference were charged Friday with making false statements about their roles in investigating the origins of Hunter Biden’s laptop in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election.
Trump administration files lawsuit to block possible Democratic win in Alaska Senate race
This move has sparked concerns about a lengthy battle between the U.S. government and states over election certification.
Free screening of 'Arrival' with expert panel to be held Nov. 4 at State Theatre
The Penn State Eberly College of Science and Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics will host a free screening of the 2016 film "Arrival" at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the State Theatre in downtown State College as part of the college’s Science Matters Spotlight Sessions and Friedman Lectures in Astronomy and Astrophysics.
‘Yaga’ review: Witchy adaptation on AMC+ lacks any real magic
Whittock feels like somewhere where dark mysteries would live, buried in its dense forests and obscured by ash-gray fog. The fictional British Columbia setting of the new Crave series “Yaga,”
More Tar Heels say “Yes, and” to majors
Kate Blizzard (Romance languages and environmental science) is one of many students who dive deep into two academic disciplines.
NFL’s Global Takeover Is Just Beginning
The global slate is likely to swell to 10 games—and beyond.
Liev Schreiber has choice words for Apple TV reporter
Liev Schreiber appeared to be scolding an interviewer Tuesday during the red-carpet premiere for his new Apple TV series, "Nocturne." A bystander captured a behind-the-scenes snippet of the 59-year-old, who
PGA Tour’s Two-Circuit Shift ‘Well Defined,’ Says Joel Dahmen
The top 20 players on the Challenger Series will be promoted.
This Zac Efron Tearjerker Just Cracked Netflix’s Top 10
A familiar romantic drama is climbing Netflix’s Top 10 more than a decade after its theatrical release. Here’s why viewers are revisiting the tearjerker, and what they’re saying about it.
Prince William reveals favorite TV show during surprise appearance
After a long day of royal duties, Prince William likes to kick back in front of the tube.
Selig Argues for MLB Salary Cap: ‘You Have to Make Adjustments’
Selig unsuccessfully sought a cap while he was the Brewers owner.
Apple's iPhone Duo hits stores today with limited supplies and long lines
The iPhone Duo goes on sale Friday, but in-store supplies will be limited.
Carney rejects US election interference claims, criticizes Trump\'s ambassador to Canada
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has dismissed U.S. allegations of Canadian interference in the upcoming American midterm elections. Speaking in Istanbul, Carney expressed disappointment with U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra over
Carney rejects US election interference claims, criticizes Trump's ambassador to Canada
TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday there is “no merit” to U. allegations that Canadian politicians are interfering in next month’s U.
Carney Rejects US Election Interference Claims, Criticizes Trump's Ambassador to Canada
TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday there is “no merit” to U.S. allegations that Canadian politicians are interfering in next month’s U.S. midterm elections, expressing disappointment with Washington’s ambassador over the accusations. Speaking to reporters in Istanbul,
Poll: Low-information voters have turned hardest against Trump and the GOP
In 2024, the voters who knew the least about politics were some of Donald Trump’s strongest supporters. A Data for Progress poll released just before the election found Americans who didn’t consume any news at all said they’d vote for Trump over Kamala Harris by a 20-point margin, 60%1 to 40%. In February, we reported that many of these voters had soured on Trump. Voters who couldn’t name the party in control of Congress moved away from Trump at about twice the rate as high-information voters. But approval isn’t vote choice. With the midterms less than two weeks away, it is worth asking if these voters are turning against the president’s party in federal elections, too. In our October Strength In Numbers/Verasight poll, conducted Oct. 13–19 among 2,028 U.S. adults, we asked respondents two factual questions about politics: which party has the most members in the House, and which has the most members in the Senate. I classified anyone who got at least one of these questions wrong as “low-knowledge.” About 30% of adults miss at least one question, including 25% of 2024 Trump voters, 22% of Harris voters, and more than half of people who didn’t vote in 2024. In this article, I do two things with this data. First, I repeat my February analysis and compare how these two groups feel about Trump’s job as president; then I look at each group’s voting behavior in the upcoming House midterms. Register for free to read the rest of this piece.
Op-ed: The case for a primary care triple-double
Strong primary care is the foundation of a high-performing health system, proven to control costs and
I Can’t Believe Carrie Is Coming Back for Season 2
Don’t get me wrong, the show is good. But what are we doing here?
Colts QB Anthony Richardson Sr. reportedly charged with marijuana possession
A bench trial has been scheduled for Jan. 4, 2027.
HOMETOWN HEALTH: How pregnancy stress affects fetal brain development
Chronic stress has previously been linked to preterm birth and other complications during pregnancy.
iPhone Duo Says 'Hello' to You Personally
As expected, the iPhone Duo greets you personally if you purchase it from an Apple Store in the United States. MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris had an in-store pickup reservation for an iPhone Duo at Apple Fifth Avenue in New York today, and the device showed "Hello Aaron" when he turned it on.
Pope hope, that’s entertainment, and getting ahead in the CIA
Happy Friday friends, I want to start by just breathing for all of us a big long collective sigh of relief at the news this week that the pope’s doctors have basically blown the all clear for Leo’s health. Going from knowing nothing to him declaring to the world he needed surgery, to a cancer diagnosis, to bouncing out of the hospital in barely even days, to ringing the bell in less than two weeks is whiplash inducing. But in the best possible way. We are living in a world in which the Roman pontiff, by dint of history, biography and circumstance, is once more at the epicenter of global affairs. Not just conversations about religion, or Christian and post-Christian values, but the bleeding edge of the most pressing issues of human affairs. Think I am exaggerating a touch? Consider the images of the crowds who greeted Leo in Paris just weeks ago, and juxtapose them with the absolute photo negative scenes unfolding there recently. Ask yourself how many world leaders are talking about AI right now and directly citing the pope as they do so. Try to name a country who has had as many top-ranked diplomats in and out of both Russia and Ukraine in the last three years as the Vatican has in the last three months. It has been fascinating to watch Leo XIV emerge as not just a kind of pop culture reference point or totem to be cited (Francis was often name-checked this way) but as a kinetic force in global conversation. Given the state of things, we need global figures of gravitas and values, even better if they have real wisdom behind what they are saying. So news of Leo’s illness was, it seemed to me, a tremor with potentially Richter Scale implications. That not only has the worst not come to pass but instead we’ve had the best of outcomes announced is something to really be grateful for. Humanity, it seems to me, is entering one of its irregular but cyclical phases where the pace of change — technological, social, and geopolitical — outstrips the ability of previously settled norms and received wisdom to cope. Such periods – and I think the first decades of the last century were a similar such time – throw into question the viability of all kinds of institutions. And many of ours have been straining to breaking point for a few years now. The papacy has the power and the potential to be a steadying pole in all of this. That’s my hope, anyway. It’s a lot to freight the office with, though it is arguably its ultimate purpose from its founding, to be a steadying rock on which all that matters can be anchored. It’s also, of course, an intolerable weight of responsibility to place on a single man. But I am encouraged to have hope in – and for – Leo. The apostle whom he succeeds, after all, was famously unequal to some moments, failed some tests of faith, and resiled from taking the road which led ultimately to the circus on Vatican hill. Human frailty and limitations, of health, of character, of temper, can open us to Christ, whose strength is greatest in our weakness, so St. Paul learned. That gives me hope, and I am sure it consoles Leo, too. And so I will continue to pray for him. Because we need apostles of rock right now. Here’s the news. Subscribe The News The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued yesterday a new document “Venite ad me: Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change.” It’s not a short document, and it is at pains to stress this isn’t a doctrinal note from the dicastery, either. Rather, it brings together reflections on an important issue from the Church around the world. Some of it I actually found really rather powerful. It is, however, 25,000, which is a lot for a busy reader to get through on a weekday. So, you can read our busy reader’s summary right here. — News broke yesterday of an Oct. 22 meeting of U.S. bishops with President Donald Trump. The meeting was organized by an official at the Heritage Foundation, according to several sources close to the meeting. Video of several U.S. bishops praying in the Oval Office over President Trump was posted on social media Thursday afternoon, first by White House Communications Advisor Margo Martin, and then by the official twitter.com account of the Archdiocese of Denver. The meeting has drawn sharp criticism because of its proximity to the upcoming midterm Congressional elections, in which Democrats are widely expected to win control of the House of Representatives, while control of the Senate remains closely contested. Sources close to the bishops’ conference told The Pillar that some USCCB senior officials were surprised by the existence of the meeting when video of it first emerged online. And a source close to conference president Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City told The Pillar that the archbishop was “deeply frustrated” by the occasion of the meeting. An official conference spokesperson told The Pillar that the meeting was “not organized with or by the USCCB” and was “not affiliated with the conference.” You can read the whole story here. — The next National Eucharistic Congress will be held in Indianapolis in 2029, a return to the city that hosted the last gathering in 2024. You read it here first. By here, I don’t mean this newsletter, I mean at The Pillar. We broke the story this week. It’s a big deal, in as much as the last congress was a roaring success and the next installment has the potential to be a real focal point for evangelizing efforts in the coming years. Read all about it here. — As Pope Leo prepares for the longest trip of his pontificate, Church leaders in Uruguay say the pontiff will encounter a highly secularized culture, in a country with a very different Catholic history than many of its South American neighbors. The nation has not had a papal visit since 1988, and leaders who spoke with The Pillar say it has a dire need for evangelization, even amid the prospect of a small revival in faith. This is real reporting on the Church in the country, and frankly a story you simply are not going to be able to read anywhere else. Read the whole thing. — The Archdiocese of Detroit announced this week a plan that would see the vast majority of its parish priests reassigned next summer, amid a restructuring process expected to dramatically shrink the number of parishes in the archdiocese. Archbishop Edward Weisenburger said this week that the plan “asks much of our priests,” but is a “sacrifice they are making as brothers of one, unified presbyterate.” The thing is, as JD pointed out in an analysis yesterday, pastors of parishes have a legal right to stability in office, so the only way this kind of wholesale reassignment goes ahead is if all of the archdiocesan clergy agree to resign. That creates its own kind of legal issues, though, and re-raises longstanding questions about the effectiveness of canonical due process protections for priests when dealing with coercive exercises in authority. Read the whole thing here. — More than three months after the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued its decree declaring the excommunication of the leadership of the Society of St. Pius X, questions remain about the full effects of the society’s schism. Specifically, the DDF’s July claim that marriages witnessed and confessions heard by SSPX priests are now invalid remains contested — and it emerged this week it appears that the Vatican’s own legal experts don’t agree. You can read my whole analysis of the situation and what it means here. All I would add is that the DDF’s undeveloped, some would say unsubstantiated, claim about the invalidity of some SSPX sacraments came in their July Explanatory Note on the schismatic consecrations by the society that month. It touches directly on both papal acts of governance — indeed it purports to nullify them — and the most intimate pastoral encounters possible in a parish setting. If there is one aspect of the Francis-era style of governance I would like the curia to finally cut out, root and branch, it would be these attempts to try to effect extraordinarily sensitive legislative acts via a note. — At least a dozen French bishops have spoken out following an eruption of violence on the country’s streets Oct. 17. Not surprisingly, they unanimously condemned the violence, but the length and content of their interventions varied significantly. Several sought to distinguish between the actions of rioters and what they suggested were the legitimate concerns of peaceful young protesters. Many also evoked Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 visit to France, suggesting it offered a powerful counter-image to the scenes of looting and destruction. A number of bishops also stressed their solidarity with law enforcement officials who struggled to contain the disorder, as well as the owners of the roughly 3,000 damaged or looted businesses. What’s the background to the nationwide unrest that the French media calls “les violences du 17 octobre”? And what exactly are the bishops saying? Read all about it here. — A Polish bishop called for the firm defense of unborn children as well as compassion for their mothers this week, as the lower house of Poland’s parliament passed two bills seeking to liberalize the country’s abortion laws. The bill on decriminalizing assistance in an abortion passed by 217 votes to 213, while the abortion in cases of fetal abnormality bill passed by 233 to 203, thanks to the government’s majority in the lower house. Both bills will now move to the Polish Senate, the upper house of parliament, where the ruling coalition has a larger majority. The fetal abnormality bill is symbolically significant because if it became law, it would effectively overturn a 2020 ruling by Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal that a 1993 law permitting abortion for a severe and irreversible disability or a life-threatening incurable disease was unconstitutional. Read the whole story here. Subscribe **[The St. Paul Center App | Bible Study On-The-Go Read and understand the Bible with St. Paul Center’s new app! With today’s leading Catholic Scripture scholars as your guides, the St. Paul Center app empowers you to read the Bible](https://stpaulcenter.com/app?utm_source=pillar&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=applaunch)** from the heart of the Church. Download the app for free at either the Apple or the Google app stores. https://stpaulcenter.com/app That’s entertainment I have written before about my deep and sincere reservations about the celebrity exorcist subculture which has taken root in American Catholicism. And, because I am very ill at ease with the entire thing, I try to keep a weather eye on the phenomenon without being drawn into the kind of online back-and-forth which these figures sometimes generate. Earlier this week, JD noted that one such celebrity exorcist type, Fr. Chad Ripperger, has undertaken, on the request of his bishop, a year’s fast from interviews and public speaking. I’m sure that will be salutary for him, if for no other reason than that receiving with docility requests from one’s rightful ecclesiastical superiors always comes with graces. Then a second thing happened this week which caught my eye. Apparently, another fixture in the celebrity exorcist world, Fr. Carlos Martins, has initiated a lawsuit against two lay men — apparently associates of Rippenger, though I am unclear in what way, exactly — for allegedly defaming him and his ministry on a podcast. It seems the suit was initiated nearly a year ago and is now pending. At issue, I read, is that the two men described Martins on a podcast as “not who he says he is” with regard to his exorcism ministry and that he “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” These statements Martins considers to be false and defamatory and, his suit claims, “directly affected the sale and reception of [his] The Exorcist Files book that was newly released at the time these episodes aired.” I don’t want to get too into the weeds of the details here, but a couple of things struck me about all this.
Billions of ‘Uncounted’ People? The Real Mystery Is Where the Maps Think Everyone Actually Lives
A disputed study raises a practical question. If population maps put people in the wrong places, could disaster plans underestimate how many need help?
There’s a Reason That Netflix’s Ad Business Has Underwhelmed
Somewhat lost in the company’s slew of firings and engagement warnings over the past few weeks was the fact that Netflix is scaling back its ad forecast for 2026 from $3 billion to $2.7 billion. That’s despite the fact that: CTV is growing by 14-15% this year This year saw a monster upfront Netflix is the biggest streamer out there this side of YouTube, and was the platform that for years brands were supposedly dying to be a part of In other words, that’s an alarming pull-back from Netflix. A Wall Street analyst I spoke with last week was blunt, calling Netflix’s ad business “disappointing.” To me, a red flag on the ad front is that Netflix has never revealed how many ad-supported subscribers it has. Because if I know anything about how big companies work, if they have a positive number that makes them look really good - they tend to share it. (How many subs does go90 have right now? We’re not saying just yet. How are ads going on ChatGPT? Oh, a billion run rate - I see). Yes, to date Netflix has shared some fuzzy ad numbers, such as the idea that the company’s ad tier ‘reaches’ 250 million users globally.’ Here’s why that figure gives me pause: a)they lead with global, and b) they don’t explain how they are calculated. (Are they based on average people in each room? Surveys of some kind?). Regardless, some insiders say that Netflix’s ad tier is scaling nicely - others not so much. Either way, one of Netflix’s biggest challenge on the ad front appears to have been its starting point. Remember, when Netflix launched ads in 2022, it had 73 million subs in the US and Canada. That’s 73 million people who were used to Netflix with zero ads. And when the ad product rolled out, the company clearly was going after new users - a limited pool of potential subscribers by default. That focus seems to have changed over time, as Netflix has tried to convert longtime subscribers to the ad tier. Historically Netflix subscribers are very sticky. But is the company’s low churn a problem? Not necessarily, according to Antenna data. Rather, Netflix’s consumer loyalty is a bit of a double-edged sword. “Netflix is the one streamer which actually has seen substantial “trade downs” but has much lower ‘win backs,’ said Antenna founder Jonathan Carson (win-backs being people who were on the ad-free plan, cancelled, then rejoined on the ad plan). “Netflix has lower churn and so has less opportunity to win back old subs with a lower cost plan option.” This all might explain why Netflix has been so slow to roll out all of these table stakes targeting options until just this week. It likely didn’t have enough users to carve up into various targets. etc. However, what really hit Netflix’s ad business was Amazon’s move a few years ago to turn on advertising for Prime Video by default. Suddenly the market was awash in premium inventory, and Netflix was playing catch-up on multiple fronts. Thus, the streaming giant appears to still be figuring out if if wants lead in ‘programmatic TV,’ or premium ‘upfront’ TV sales. “The CTV market now sorts into three businesses, and Netflix is not the leader of any of them,” wrote analyst Jack Myers. Ouch. So how does Netflix ratchet up its ads business? Get the next NFL package You’re gonna have to wait until 2030 unless one of the bigger media companies like Skydance opts out, but the easiest (not cheapest) way for Netflix to become a huge TV ads contender is to get one of the regular NFL packages, ideally Sunday afternoons. That way it can sell ads to its whole U.S. subs base overnight. Go FAST This one is risky, because to program a compelling FAST channel, you’d likely have to take some older Netflix exclusive shows and make them available for free to non-subscribers. But FASTs, for better or worse, are ad-inventory machines. Go full UGC I’m not sure I see this happening. There is something already off about Netflix carrying podcasts and shows for creators. The experience sticks out in what is such a produced, and generally non-communal environment. But Netflix could open up its platform by allowing creators to upload videos without having to be approved by the service. But that opens a whole other can of worms (policing brand safety, copyright infringement, overall quality). Make a huge RMN Deal I was going to suggest something crazy, such as ‘instead of buying Warner Brothers, Netflix should buy Target. But the company doesn’t want to be in the brick and mortar business. Yet for Netflix’s ad business to compete in an Amazon world, it needs to be able to connect ad exposures to shopping. What if, instead of letting Amazon target Netflix viewers with its DSP, Netflix inked a deal with Target, or even took control of Roundel, and created its version of the Amazon full-funnel for brands? Price us out. I hope they don’t do this, but Netflix’s price increases - while significant - haven’t been enough to push long-term customers out of the ad-free tier. But if they made those prices so prohibitive, it could push large swaths of consumers to trade down. Then again, that could also dent engagement - as binging becomes much less appealing once you bring ads into the equation. Or, they could just launch a bunch of hit shows and maybe everyone will quickly forget all this angst. More from Amazon unBoxed A few weeks ago, I recorded two podcasts live at Amazon’s unBoxed event in San Francisco. I was able to go really deep with several brand partners about how Amazon’s various data and ad products work - particularly the under appreciated Amazon Marketing Cloud. First, I talked with Laura Abadias Velilla, of the Amazon specialty agency Amerge, along with Amazon’s own Charlotte Maines, Vice President, Devices Content & Advertising, about how the two partners helped a very specific printer company Epson launch into a brand new category - high end projectors. It’s a great example of how brands connect audience data across platforms to make budget deployment decisions. Next, I chatted with Monks VP Head of Digital Investment for North America Tom Burchill about how the agency actually brought in data from Linkedin to help target B2B customers across various Amazon properties for the brand Quicken. Check it out: Check these out, or just listen: