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Lincoln running group aims to break mental health stigma
Four men from Lincoln who lost their friend Jake to suicide are behind Miles That Matter.
Steelers HC Mike McCarthy Admits Plan With RB Kaleb Johnson
As questions continue to surround the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ running back position behind Jaylen Warren, head coach Mike McCarthy decided to grant Kaleb Johnson a big opportunity on Friday night.After only receiving two carries in Pittsburgh’s preseason opener on August 13, Johnson touched the ball 12 times in the 17-0 loss to the Jets. And while, […] The post Steelers HC Mike McCarthy Admits Plan With RB Kaleb Johnson appeared first on HEAVY.
Reigning NFL rushing champion James Cook focused on helping the Bills win
The Buffalo Bills gave Cook a $46 million, four-year deal that’s a bargain compared to the money teams handed out to running backs this month.
Eagles’ Saquon Barkley Sends Blunt Message on Patriots Joint Practices
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley shared why he doesn't like joint practices. The post Eagles’ Saquon Barkley Sends Blunt Message on Patriots Joint Practices appeared first on HEAVY.
Women’s Equality Day: Miami women are still breaking barriers
Voting gives women the power to choose their leaders. Running for office gives women the opportunity to become them. | Opinion
State lawmaker Aisha Wahab wins California special election to replace former Rep. Swalwell
Swalwell, a Democrat who was running for California governor, ended his campaign and resigned from Congress in April after he was accused of sexual assault and harassment, which he denies.
2 Sisters Started a Business That Soothes Babies. It Went Viral and Made $5.3 Million Last Year: ‘Living the American Dream.’
Jane Molina and Joy Williams were running another company when they began to build Ninni Co.
PFF wildly underrates Jaguars running back room in NFL rankings
PFF ranked the Jaguars’ running back room last in the NFL, but Jacksonville’s young committee has more upside than the ranking suggests.
Michigan Making Push for Nation’s No. 1 Running Back
Michigan football is making a major push for 2028 No. 1 running back Kevin Hartsfield as Tony Alford builds a strong relationship with the star.
Jamie Justice Is Running a $101 Million Longevity Science Fair
Justice, executive director of XPRIZE Healthspan, wants teams to prove human aging can be measurably reversed, not just slowed.
Former Dolphins RB retires from NFL after 7 seasons
A running back who spent four years with the Miami Dolphins has officially announced his retirement from the NFL after stints with five other teams.
Robbie Butler to be new health minister
Robbie Butler is a former UUP deputy leader and has twice considered running for leadership, only to withdraw at the last moment.
Why You Move Matters When It Comes To Brain Health, Dementia Risk
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterTHURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2026 (HealthDay News) — It’s been said that regular physical activity can help lower risk of dementia, but a new evidence review suggests that why you move also matters. Leisure-time exercise like walking, cycling, running, swimming or playing ...
States pour taxpayer dollars into college sports as athlete pay, soaring costs squeeze budgets
A growing number of states are providing tax dollars to university athletics. The move comes as major college sports programs now are paying millions of dollars to athletes. The financial battle for the best athletes has strained many athletic departments, which are now running deficits. North Ca...
Inter renews and enhances its Partnership with Gattinoni
FC Internazionale Milano has renewed and expanded its partnership with Gruppo Gattinoni, extending a collaboration that has been running for more than 15 years in the business travel sector. From the ...
Marlins' Playoff Hopes Are Beginning to Fade
The Miami Marlins are running out of time if they hope to make their first playoff appearance since the memorable 2023 season.
Cancer doctor reveals 5 habits that may reduce disease risk and improve outcomes
A breast surgical oncologist shares five everyday strategies to reduce cancer risk, including how GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic could play a role.
Mental health provider accused of sharing data with Meta, Google settles lawsuit for $3M
While LifeStance Health maintains it did not knowingly do anything wrong and is committed to the privacy of its patients, it has agreed to make sure that no third-party tracking technologies are running on its website.
Democrat Mary Peltola and Republican Dan Sullivan lead in Alaska primary for US Senate
Incumbent Sullivan is running for third term while Peltola is fighting to flip seat and aid Democrats retake control of Congress
World Humanitarian Day 2026: Protect those who protect humanity
19 August 2026, Cairo, Egypt – They treat the wounded. They deliver medicines across conflict lines. They keep hospitals running when electricity and water run low and essential supplies are disappearing. They respond...
49ers Land Perfect Running Mate for Nick Bosa in 2027 Mock Draft
The 49ers could be in the market for another edge rusher in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Jordan Marshall Is Michigan’s Dark Horse Heisman Candidate
When talking about potential Heisman Trophy candidates entering the 2026 college football season, Michigan running back Jordan Marshall isn’t one of the first names that gets brought up. Maybe he should be. Marshall enters his junior season as Michigan’s clear No. 1 running back after a breakout 2025 campaign, and everything appears to be lining…
San Francisco 49ers Address Christian McCaffrey Contract Holdout Rumors
Just as training camps were getting underway earlier this month, the NFL saw a sudden trend of elite running backs […]
Spotify's Running Mode Is Now Available On Android
Spotify's Running Mode is now available on Android.
Broncos' Rookie RB Earning His Stripes Ahead Of Regular Season
The Denver Broncos will deploy a talented running back trio on offense but it'll be hard to get each back enough touches.
Giants sign Najee Harris ahead of Dolphins preseason game
The New York Giants added running back Najee Harris ahead of the team’s preseason game at the Miami Dolphins.
Meta Ran Ads for an App That Promised to Nudify Female Politicians
One advertisement featured a pornographic video with a deepfake closely resembling a prominent US politician. Apple removed the app from the App Store after an inquiry from WIRED.
Zach Lahn is MAHA’s great farm country hope. Is he the populist hero he claims to be?
He’s running for Iowa governor on promises to bust up Big Ag. But some farmers are questioning his authenticity.
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ ‘The Odyssey’ Continue Tussle Atop U.K., Ireland Box Office
Sony’s superhero tentpole “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” dominated the U.K. and Ireland box office for a third consecutive weekend, adding £6.1 million ($8.3 million), elevating its running total to $106...
Giants’ Cam Skattebo impresses coach despite not being 100%
John Harbaugh praised running back Cam Skattebo’s skills.
Gonzaga, Mead star Jeff Brown headlines 2026 Inland Northwest Sports Hall of Fame class
SPOKANE, Wash. — Two legendary coaches, giants in Spokane’s basketball and running communities and the most decorated wrestler in the region’s history make up the 30th class of the Inland
Latest injury update on Bears running back Kyle Monangai
Bears running back Kyle Monangai's knee injury could cause him to miss Week 1.
2 Tennessee Titans players make Yahoo! Sports' top 100 fantasy prospects
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate and running back Tony Pollard make Yahoo! Sports' top 100 list of fantasy prospects.
Fantasy analyst names Titans offensive playmaker a sleeper candidate
CBS fantasy analyst Ross Kelly identified Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard as a potential sleeper candidate this season.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris visiting NFC team
Former Steelers running back Najee Harris visits NFC team.
8 fantasy football RBs to avoid based on trends
Figuring out which running backs to bump down in our fantasy football draft rankings can be a daunting task. Here are eight candidates based on trends.
Some think Christian McCaffrey's "tightness" could be a hold in
The official word is that 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has missed a week of practice due to "tightness."
Steelers Predicted to Make Surprising Cut at Running Back
Steelers Depot's Matthew Marczi predicted Mike McCarthy and the Pittsburgh Steelers to release 2025 third-round running back Kaleb Johnson. The post Steelers Predicted to Make Surprising Cut at Running Back appeared first on HEAVY.
Breece Hall suffers non-contact injury at Jets practice
New York Jets running back Breece Hall suffered an injury at practice on Monday.
AirPods Max 2 Discounted by $120 Across Amazon and Best Buy
Apple's AirPods Max 2 have hit $429.00 on Amazon this week, down from $549.00. This sale is available in two colors on Amazon, while Best Buy has all five models in stock at this low price. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
In Florida, Wasserman Schultz sparks a debate over what representation means in diverse districts
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is running for reelection in a new Florida district after Republicans redrew the congressional map.
In Florida, Wasserman Schultz sparks a debate over what representation means in diverse districts
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is running for reelection in a new Florida district after Republicans redrew the congressional map.
Cardinals Rookie RB Jeremiyah Love Reportedly Likely To Miss Rest Of Preseason
Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love is dealing with a high ankle sprain that is expected to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the preseason.
Nintendo Switch eShop latest sales: lowest prices ever for Front Mission remakes, New Super Lucky's Tale, more
A bunch of new sales are up and running on the North American Nintendo Switch eShop. These include the lowest prices ever for the Front Mission remakes, New Super Lucky’s Tale, and more. Here’s the full roundup: – A Memoir Blue – $2.79 (was $7.99) – AEW: Fight Forever – $15.99 (was $39.99) – Arcade Archives Bosconian – $5.59 (was...
Carolina Panthers Running Back Talks Return to Game Action
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks talked about his return to the field after dealing with injuries.
Gloucester CPA launches business founder-focused podcast
The profit and performance adviser said many of her clients’ revenue would grow, but the founders running the businesses were “stuck in the weeds.”
2026 Fantasy Football ADP Risers and Fallers: Running Backs
Track the biggest 2026 fantasy football running back risers and fallers as training camp news, injuries, and role changes influence ADP trends.
Patriots reach injury settlement with running back Terrell Jennings
Terrell Jennings landed on injured reserve before the preseason opener.
Dan Campbell Reveals Potentially Serious Injury to Lions Running Back
Dan Campbell says Lions running back Kye Robichaux may have broken a bone in his foot after an impressive and durable training camp.
21 DAYS TO 2026 KICKOFF: LJ McGhee
BracketCat counts down the 21st day until the 2026 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State running back LJ McGhee.
Matthew McConaughey teases political ambitions after meeting the Pope
Matthew McConaughey tells USA TODAY about his recent meeting with the Pope and whether that changed his perspective on running for political office.
MRN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Shandi's
What’s better than ice cream in August? Not much. MRN’s Crissie Caccamo talks to Shandi Long about the one year anniversary of her ice cream parlor “Shandi’s”. It’s located right on 6th Street … dangerously close to the Muddy River News world headquarters. Crissi and Shandi talk about running a small business and how to...
An AI running an SF store fired an employee for the first time
Andon Labs, which is experimenting with letting an AI have majority control over a retail store, said that it fired an employee with good reason.
Chiefs heiress Gracie Hunt reveals why she lifts heavy weights
Gracie Hunt reveals her farmer's litmus test for clean eating and explains why heavy strength training replaced marathon running in her fitness routine.
Josh Jacobs could return to Packers practice next week
Packers running back Josh Jacobs has missed more than a week of practice with a groin injury, but his return could be around the corner.
DeSantis says he doesn’t support Republican Rep. Cory Mills in Tuesday’s primary
The congressman is running for a third term under a cloud of controversy.
Collins vows to push for ICE reforms
In recent weeks, Democrats and Democrat-aligned groups have been critical of Collins, a Republican running for her sixth term, for supporting increased funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Patriots’ Alabama Product Steps Up After Sudden RB Shakeup
Hours before the New England Patriots opened their preseason against the Indianapolis Colts, their running back depth chart changed in a hurry.Terrell Jennings landed on injured reserve, ending his season, while New England brought back JaMycal Hasty. The moves came one day after the Patriots signed Hassan Haskins, leaving a crowded but unsettled battle behind […] The post Patriots’ Alabama Product Steps Up After Sudden RB Shakeup appeared first on HEAVY.
What placing Terrell Jennings on IR means for the Patriots
The third-year running back was moved to the reserve list ahead of Thursday’s preseason opener.
Someone is already running One UI 9.5 on a Galaxy S26
As Galaxy users around the world wait for Samsung to bring One UI 9 (Android 17) to their devices, someone has managed to get hold of a One UI 9.5 firmware for
Kids to learn business skills running their own booths at Arlington County Fair
Booths run by some of Arlington's youngest entrepreneurs will be setting up at the Arlington County Fair this weekend, selling crafts, food and more. Kids Markets will be hosting two kid-run markets on Saturday and Sunday at the fair, setting up booths in the upper field with goods such as jewelry, arts and crafts, crocheted
How CFOs Keep The Business Running While They Rebuild Finance
Finance transformation cannot stop the monthly close. Learn why sequencing, governance, and control are essential to successful change.
Mission Improbable: A onetime Republican is trying to prove Democrats can win in Florida
David Jolly, a former Republican now running for Florida governor as a Democrat, is trying to revive the state’s political battleground status
Mission Improbable: A onetime Republican is trying to prove Democrats can win in Florida
David Jolly, a former Republican now running for Florida governor as a Democrat, is trying to revive the state's political battleground status.
Starbreeze Entertainment & VICE Studios Partners with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and G-Unit Film & Television for PAYDAY
Starbreeze Entertainment together with VICE Studios (Gangs of London) have partnered with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and his G-Unit Film & Television, to executive produce an adaptation of Starbreeze’s iconic, long-running video game franchise PAYDAY® for global audiences. , , , , “G-Unit Film & TV has built cinematic crime stories that connect with audiences around the world. Teaming up with Starbreeze and VICE Studios and bringing the world of PAYDAY to the screen gives us the chance to build...
Why Were Polls So Wrong in the Wisconsin Governor’s Race?
Francesca Hong, the democratic socialist running in Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor, had a double-digit lead in polls as recently as last week. Then she lost. What happened?
Minnesota is first state to set all-female matchups for the biggest races
Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Republican Michele Tafoya are running for Senate, while Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) and state House Speaker Lisa Demuth are running for governor.
Ben Affleck is running for mayor of L.A. when his son is kidnapped in ‘Animals’ teaser
Ben Affleck plays a man running for Los Angeles mayor whose son is kidnapped in the first teaser for ‘Animals.’ The thriller also stars Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, and more.
Trump brushes off reporter question about running for third term in 2028: 'The law is very strong'
President Donald Trump told reporters "the law is very strong" on a third term but has previously outlined a JD Vance route scholars reject.
3,500-year-old skeletons challenge what scientists thought they knew about syphilis
Ancient remains from Vietnam suggest diseases like yaws may have been passed from mother to child thousands of years ago, a form of transmission often assumed to indicate syphilis. The discovery could overturn how scientists interpret ancient infections and complicate the long-running mystery of syphilis’s origins.
In Wisconsin, the Centrists Strike Back With David Crowley’s Win | WSJ Politics Newsletter for Aug. 12
Plus, President Trump secretly switched planes to leave Turkey last month, and Zohran Mamdani discovers that running New York isn’t that easy after all.
Most Interesting Takeaways From Jaguars' First Depth Chart
Intense battles at running back and linebacker highlight Jacksonville’s initial depth chart full of surprises and interesting nuggets.
Are the Lakers already being overlooked for next season?
The Lakers have made a ton of changes, but with Luka Dončić running things everything will be just fine.
Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs chooses former GOP Mayor John Giles as running mate
Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has selected a Republican-turned-independent as her running mate in a tough reelection campaign.
In a partisan age, a Democratic governor goes outside her brand for a running mate
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D), facing a tough reelection fight, chooses former mayor John Giles, a lifelong Republican who recently became an independent.
LG Launches Back to School Sale With Major Discounts on OLED TVs and Monitors
LG is hosting a big Back to School sale on its website this week, with deals on monitors, TVs, home appliances, and more. LG's discounts have been automatically applied and do not require any discount codes or special memberships. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with LG. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs chooses former Republican as running mate in re-election bid
Hobbs faces a competitive re-election race against GOP Rep. Andy Biggs, former chair of the House Freedom Caucus.
The U.S. Healthcare System is Already Mostly Socialized
Now that Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s open Senate seat, the outcome of this crucial race will depend mainly on two things: Whether Republicans succeed in demonizing El-Sayed because he’s brown and a Muslim, and whether they succeed in demonizing him as a left-wing radical. I will defer for the now the question of whether bigotry will be effective this year, although I will address it another day. What I want to address instead is El-Sayed’s signature issue — healthcare. Yes, El-Sayed advocates Medicare for All, a position the usual suspects denounce as “socialism.” I will get to the politics of his stance soon. Today, however, I want to talk about the substance. We should be clear that El-Sayed doesn’t even call himself a socialist. On the contrary, he explicitly disavows the label, saying “I’m a capitalist who just knows about capitalism”. In fact, as I explained in a previous post, the policies that El-Sayed advocates qualify him as a social democrat, not a socialist. Still, El-Sayed advocates a system under which the government would pay almost all medical expenses. Isn’t that socialism? Well, if that is the criterion then much of U.S. healthcare is already socialist. In fact, the government’s role is so large that U.S. healthcare is better described as partially privatized socialism than as anything resembling a free market. Let’s start with the raw numbers on health insurance, which pays the bulk of Americans’ medical expenses. Americans receive health insurance either from private companies or from public programs, overwhelmingly Medicare and Medicaid. Here’s what the breakdown of coverage and spending between private and public looked like in 2024: While a majority of Americans with health insurance get it from private companies, well over 100 million of us are covered by government programs instead. And these government programs pay more total dollars for medical bills than the private insurers do. Why do government programs that cover a minority of the population account for a majority of health insurers’ outlays? Mainly because Medicare covers seniors, and we’re expensive. Also, while Medicaid covers many younger Americans, disabled and elderly beneficiaries account for most of its spending. Even by the raw numbers, then, U.S. health insurance looks as much public as private. But that understates the government’s role: Private health insurance in the U.S. is both highly regulated and heavily subsidized. This is obviously true for the insurance coverage purchased by tens of millions of Americans through the exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act. But employment-based health insurance, which covers 161 million Americans, is far more of a government creation than most people realize. For employment-based insurance exists largely because of huge implicit government subsidies that come with major strings attached. Here’s how that works. If your employer pays you $10,000, that’s taxable income. But if your employer pays $10,000 toward a company health insurance plan that meets certain criteria, it isn’t taxable. That’s a huge effective subsidy, running at more than $300 billion a year. Take that subsidy into account, along with the more than $100 billion per year spent subsidizing policies purchased under the ACA, as well as the outlays on Medicare and Medicaid, and net effect is that the government pays for more than two-thirds of Americans’ health insurance. Granted, there are strings attached. Roughly speaking, employment-based health plans can’t discriminate based on medical history — that is, they can’t deny coverage to employees with pre-existing conditions — and they also can’t offer the plans only to highly compensated employees — a health plan that is only for the C-suite is considered taxable income. So given the restrictions of the federal tax code, employer-based health insurance is a lot like Obamacare, which also prohibits discrimination based on medical history and provides subsidies to make insurance affordable to lower-paid workers. The fact is that virtually all of private healthcare insurance is already well under some form of government control through regulation and tax subsidies. How should we think about this system? First of all, is Medicare socialist? Don’t tell anyone, but the way Medicare operates — it covers every senior’s medical expenses, whatever they turn out to be, while being funded by taxes that depend on one’s income — could be summarized by the old Marxist slogan “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” And back in 1961, when Ronald Reagan was the face of a last-ditch effort by the American Medical Association to block the creation of Medicare, he denounced Medicare as “socialized medicine” and warned that it would destroy our freedom. In reality, American freedom survived until Jan. 20, 2025, while Medicare is immensely popular, with an 82 percent favorable rating in the most recent KFF survey. Medicaid, government health insurance for lower-income Americans, comes in at 73 percent. This is in sharp contrast to public views about private insurers, who are widely disliked if not hated and accused of denying essential care. Furthermore, if Medicare is socialism, then the whole U.S. health insurance system, with the government paying most of the bills and placing conditions on private insurers, is almost equally socialist. If you insist on calling any program the government pays for and regulates socialist, then U.S. healthcare would best be described as a partially privatized form of socialism. And one must ask, what is the point of the part that is privatized? Do private insurers add anything positive? Or are they simply parasites, skimming off money that could have been paying for care? The case for viewing insurers as parasites is strong. Many Medicare benefits are now delivered via Medicare Advantage, that is, plans paid for by the government but run through insurance companies. MedPAC, an independent advisory commission, estimates that last year Medicare Advantage plans were overpaid by $84 billion, thanks to practices such as “upcoding,” in which patients’ health problems are overstated to get larger sums from Medicare. Assessing the waste from employer-based insurance is harder, but most evidence suggests that private insurers have substantially higher administrative costs than Medicare does. Furthermore, the complexity of private insurance, with multiple payers all trying to deny care when they can, is a huge burden both on providers — doctors, nurses, and hospitals — and on patients. What do private insurers offer to compensate for these costs? One must go through intellectual contortions to avoid the conclusion that they are, in fact, parasites. Which brings me back to El-Sayed. In supporting Medicare for All, he’s basically calling for an end to the partial, parasitic privatization of a healthcare system that is already hugely dependent on public funding. When one looks at it that way, it’s not at all a radical proposal. Admittedly, the political lift requires overcoming the opposition to higher taxes to pay for Medicare for All. Political realism rather than economics was the reason I and many other progressives supported Obamacare, with all its complexities, rather than demanding an immediate move to Medicare for All. But the political calculus may very well have shifted since the 2000s, as Americans are fed up with a system of unaffordable premiums, rampant claim denials, and byzantine claim administration. Moreover, funding healthcare insurance through taxation would allow for a much more progressive distribution of the cost. That is, compared to the present system, middle-income households would pay less as high-income households would pay more. And the U.S. would stop wasting large sums on pointless administrative costs. So let’s be clear: El-Sayed’s healthcare platform is perfectly reasonable on the merits of cost, fairness and health efficacy. And with private insurers never more hated, while millions of Americans are losing their health insurance, 2026 may be its time. MUSICAL CODA
Democratic rebellion against older politicians reaches new battleground
Former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, 47, is challenging Rep. John Larson, who is 78 and running for his fifteenth term representing Connecticut's first district.
Why LA Council chief says Nithya Raman reached ‘political bottom of barrel'
Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson says despite Raman’s claims that she’s being punished for running for mayor against Karen Bass, she knew about her committee assignment change. Conan Nolan reports for the NBC4 News at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026.
49ers Injuries Continue to Mount as Training Camp Rolls On
The San Francisco 49ers are hoping their growing list of training camp injuries is nothing more than a temporary setback, but the number of players missing practice continues to be a concern as the regular season gets closer. The latest names to miss practice are two of the biggest stars on the roster. Running back…
Saber's newest game trailer takes a shot at Gearbox's CEO, if you look closely
The first hint that something might be up with the recent debut trailer for Saber Interactive’s Rideshare Stimulator is an unusual choice of words—aside from that second one in the game’s title. “Don’t take your passengers too seriously,” the trailer’s narrator says, as he describes this upcoming game. It a car game about the gig work of driving eccentric people to their destinations, a riff on Crazy Taxi. And then, he says: “When I think I’ve met the randiest of passengers, someone even stranger gets in.” “Randiest”? That suggests “randy,” which usually means having strong sexual desire. Yet none of the oddball backseat occupants featured in the trailer seem particularly lustful. One is an old man who considers his grandson a failure, another shares the theory that birds might control traffic lights, another says he’s banned from an aquarium. A little later, there’s a license plate, shown 63 seconds into the trailer, on the front of an SUV: USB DRV It’s a Texas plate. The symbol between those letters is a cog wheel. If you know, you know. That’s a reference to Texas-based Borderlands game development studio Gearbox Software (their logo features a cog wheel). More specifically, it’s a reference to Gearbox’s CEO Randy Pitchford, who in 2018 found himself explaining the nature of video he’d saved on a USB drive that was found at a Medieval Times restaurant before being returned to the studio: “It was ‘barely legal’ porn. This girl’s handle was ‘Only 18.’” The “girl” in the video had committed a solo sex act that Pitchford, an avid practitioner of magic, found remarkable. “I realized, this is not a sex worker…This is a fucking magician.” Back then, the USB drive was central to competing lawsuits against Gearbox by the studio’s former lawyer and by Gearbox against him. A settlement in late 2019 “exonerated” Pitchford, per the Hollywood Reporter. The USB story has resurfaced at times, now in a trailer from a company that not long ago was corporate brethren with Gearbox. Saber vs. Gearbox The head of Saber told Game File that the reference is payback. “The dig is because Randy took shots at Embracer in Borderlands 4,” Saber CEO Matt Karch told me when I asked him about the license plate. “Without Embracer, Randy is performing magic tricks at birthday parties for a living.” Having interviewed Karch during a cross-country flight in late 2024, I can confirm that Karch was unimpressed with Pitchford during their time both working in the Embracer group. I’d approached him not out of surprise that there was animosity but that it was manifesting publicly now. Gearbox was founded in 1999, worked on a port of Halo early on, and developed hit series such as the loot-based sci-fi shooter Borderlands before it was purchased by The Embracer Group in early 2021 for $363 million (with a possible earn-out of over $1 billion, if certain targets were hit by 2027). Saber was founded in 2001, worked on a remaster of Halo early on, had a big hit with zombie shooter World War Z and was purchased by Embracer in early 2020 for $150 million, with a potential earn-out of up to $375 million. For a few years, the Embracer group was a voracious acquirer of game studios. Then, as investment dried up, it choked. In March 2024, Embracer sold Saber to an investment company controlled by Saber CEO Matt Karch, and it sold Gearbox in an all-stock deal to long-time Borderlands publisher Take Two Interactive. Other studios were shut down. Hundreds of developers were laid off. Gearbox didn’t say much about their Embracer experience, nothing too direct, at least. In the summer 2024, Pitchford told reporter and occasional Game File contributor Nicole Carpenter that Borderlands 4’s story was in some way thematically connected to Gearbox’s experience at Embracer: “There’s this cultural and emotional shift in me, personally, and at the studio. What does it mean to trade some autonomy for organization?” When Borderlands 4 came out, there was something stranger: the matter of “Embracer’s Bluff,” a location in the game featuring an AI-powered toilet and a large trash dump, according to a detailed Kotaku account of the place. Gearbox never commented on it; Take Two never got back to me about it when I asked them last year. By contrast, since Saber exited Embracer, Karch has been one of Embracer’s biggest defenders, casting their management as well-meaning and supportive despite the layoffs and studio closures that resulted from their excessive expansion. Like others, Saber’s Karch saw Embracer’s as a shot. With Rideshare Stimulator’s trailer, he’s returned fire. “It’s amazing to me how fast people forget those who went above and beyond for them,” Karch told Game File. A rep for Gearbox did not comment by press time. Game File is a reader-supported publication. Your backing makes my reporting—including any coverage of trailer-based beefs—possible. Good news! I’m currently running Game File’s first big sale of 2026. You can get a one-year subscription for 23% off. Click here to take advantage of the limited-time offer. And thank you for your support! Item 2: In brief… 🚫 Wal-Mart has laid off the staff of Restart, a games media outlet launched in 2024, Aftermath reports. 🟥 A GTA VI preview is on the way, at last, via an “extended look” that will premiere, unusually, on Netflix at 3pm ET on August 27, then officially go live elsewhere six hours later. Last week, Game File noted that Take Two label Rockstar Games is overdue for showing off GTA VI, based on the timing of the initial hands-off previews of GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2. During a call with investors, Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said pre-orders for GTA VI were “unprecedented and astonishing,” but added the company can’t predict how many of those pre-orders represent bonus sales vs. sales that otherwise would have been made at launch. During the same call, Zelnick was noticeably bullish on the future of playing games over streaming cloud connections (predicting wider adoption in three or so years). He sounded unbothered by Sony’s plans to stop making discs for new games (he said the business is 90% digital already and predicted that there could still be limited edition physical editions of games “in the same way there’s still vinyl in the recorded music business.”) 👀 Take Two wrote off $43 million in their spring quarter after deciding “not to proceed with further development of an unannounced title in its pipeline from a third-party developer.” 🤔 Some rare age-demographics from a big publisher: Capcom recently told investors that “users in their 20s account for approximately half of the users of both Pragamata and Resident Evil Requiem.” Item 3: The week ahead Tuesday, August 11 Game releases: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (Switch 2; already out for PC, PS5, Xbox) continues the Bethesda strategy of putting Elder Scrolls games on everything; Royalty Free-For-All is a Smash Bros.-style fighting game featuring public domain characters such as Mother Goose brawling with Oliver Twist in a stage based on the original Little Shop of Horrors movie. Wednesday, August 12 Game release: Pro Jank Footy (PC, console) is an arcade-style Australian Rules Football game with increasingly ridiculous rules, the more you play (I enjoyed the Steam demo) Thursday, August 13 Game release: Super Mario Sunshine (Switch 2, originally released in 2002 on the GameCube) is released for Switch 2’s Nintendo Switch Online service. This game is the black sheep of 3D Mario games. It’s the successor to the breakthrough Super Mario 64 and the rare Mario game built around a single (vacation resort) theme. Mario’s got a water-spraying backpack, a Yoshi pal and a lot of blue coins to collect.
The Steelers defense is still missing 3 of its key pieces, but their new coaching staff isn't concerned
Patrick Graham has been entrusted with running the Steelers defense, making sure it has some of the vestiges of the old 3-4 schemes Mike McCarthy embraces...
Ocasio-Cortez says she's freezing her eggs as she considers her political career
The 36-year-old Ocasio-Cortez announced her decision on social media before explaining in an ABC "This Week" interview Sunday she has not ruled out running for president or for U.S. Senate.
Apple's Foldable iPhone Ultra Faces a Surging Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8
Apple's foldable iPhone is expected to arrive in September against a rival already outrunning its own forecasts. ETNews reports Samsung is building an extra one million Galaxy Z Fold 8 units, after the 4:3 device took 70 percent of a record 1.44 million Galaxy Z8 series pre-orders. ETNews reports Samsung is building an extra one million Galaxy Z Fold 8 units, after the 4:3 device took 70 percent of a record 1.44 million Galaxy Z8 series pre-orders.
Feds investigating if captain of boat that flipped in New York Harbor was running illegal charter business
Emerging Entrepreneurs Academy gives students real-life look at running a business
The annual six-week summer program graduated another 37 future entrepreneurs.
Finding political identity in nature and community
In “A Voice Like Mine,” Deb Haaland finds connection through running, and reflects on how we all have a role in the politics of community.
Breaking Down the Hawkeye Football Backfield Timeshare
Iowa added an elite running back in LJ Phillips out of the portal. Will he supplant or supplement returner Kamari Moulton?
Ben Allen explains why he should be California's next insurance commissioner
Ben Allen, a current State Senator, is running for insurance commissioner, citing his experience during last year’s Los Angeles-area wildfires as a key motivator for his campaign.
Why a new federal definition of hemp has a Vermont industry holding its breath
“The clock is running out,” said one CBD vendor. “It's so hard to plan and make any kind of business decisions with all this uncertainty.”
Voyager 1 is down to two working science instruments, and the fix that just bought its twin, Voyager 2, another year of power is now being tested on a probe NASA says no longer behaves quite like its sibling
After nearly fifty years in the void, NASA is attempting an untested power trick on a probe that's increasingly unpredictable—and may be running out of time.
Business Briefcase: Open-air downtown farm market underway
SHENANDOAH — Schuylkill County’s longest running seasonal outdoor downtown farm market is continuing its run from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Fridays through November along the east side of the first block of South Main Street. Launched in …
The Forge dining and entertainment complex is in midst of soft opening
The Forge still has several spots yet to open. But some of its dining/entertainment offerings are up and running.
Cam Edwards Ready to Lead Michigan State’s Backfield in 2026
Michigan State enters the 2026 season with plenty of new faces and questions surrounding its offense, but the Spartans may already have their answer at running back. UConn transfer Cam Edwards arrives in East Lansing after putting together the best season of his college career, giving Michigan State an experienced and proven option to lead…
Seahawks RB Jadarian Price’s Madden 27 rating revealed
Seahawks running back Jadarian Price was given a low initial Madden 27 rating compared to other top rookies in the league this summer.
Modders gain full Windows desktop access on GeForce NOW
Modders have demonstrated access to the Windows desktop running behind GeForce NOW sessions. The Trove-based workaround uses an executable replacement inside Steam.
Darline Graham tests value of a famous name vs. lack of experience in South Carolina primary
Darline Graham, the sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, is running in a crowded Republican Senate primary on Tuesday
The standard is the standard for UNLV running backs
One of the most talented positions for the Rebels this season, the running backs room is led by 1,000-yard rusher Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas.