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Battlefield 6 to Get Top Gun Crossover in August
Battlefield 6 is getting a Top Gun crossover next month.
3 Florida women taken into custody related to taking $7 million
Three women were taken into custody in connection to taking nearly $7 million from a local business. Here's what to know about the case.
What Andy Burnham’s first speech as Labour leader tells us
The incoming prime minister showed his oratorical skill and that he is prepared to borrow from populism
Bethesda Reveals Roadmap: The Elder Scrolls 6, Fallout 5, Obsidian's New Fallout Game, Several Remaster Projects, and More All Confirmed
Bethesda Game Studios has laid out its roadmap for the foreseeable future. It includes The Elder Scrolls 6, Fallout 5, a new Fallout game from Obsidian, multiple other Fallout projects, several remaster projects, and a live "Fallout Day" in Washington, D.C. in 2027.
Livestream: Mayor Sheffield, Detroit health chief to address wildfire smoke threat
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield, Chief Public Health Officer Ali Abazeed, and other city officials will hold a press conference to address the ongoing health risks from Canadian wildfire smoke impacting the region.
OpenAI Employees Are Funding a Political Fight Against Their Own President
Researchers charged with studying AI’s risks are spending their own money to counter the political influence of one of their company's co-founders.
Adam Silver says WNBA star Caitlin Clark is a ‘political football’ amid Alyssa Thomas foul debate
Silver said the debate around Clark is “incredibly unfair to her” since she is such a great player who does not want attention like this.
Claims about GTA 6 pre-orders are incorrect and "absurd", analyst firm says, but it's still had the "strongest pre-order campaign ever recorded"
Estimates suggest GTA 6 made $260 million in pre-orders in its first week alone.
Why Gadi Eisenkot is rejecting the haredi political embrace that once helped Netanyahu win
POLITICAL AFFAIRS: Yitzhak Yosef’s embrace – and Eisenkot's effort to distance himself from it – reflects Israel's shifting political landscape.
I've been on PrEP for 11 years. Access to the HIV prevention drug is in danger.
Several interconnecting barriers continue to hinder PrEP access and exacerbate HIV prevention disparities.
Siri AI vs. Old Siri on Apple Watch: It Wasn't Even Close
The WatchOS 27 public beta is here, and Apple's revamped assistant finally does what Siri should have been doing all along.
Mind science may unlock effective leadership
Something is changing about what it means to lead.
The Best Test to Know If Your Gut Is Healthy, According to a GI Doctor
In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, a gastroenterologist reveals her answer to the common question, “What’s the best test to know if my gut is healthy?”
Are American politicians too old?
The debate about how old is too old to serve in public office has resurfaced this week after the shock death of the Republican senator Lindsey Graham and the surprise return of Mitch McConnell, the 84-year-old senator who published a photo of himself in hospital after a long absence from the spotlight
Knuckle hop and two-foot high kick: the Olympics for Alaska Natives breathe new life into ancient games
The annual World Eskimo Indian Olympics draw hundreds of Indigenous athletes to partake in traditional games and celebrate their heritage
No, Doom maker id Software hasn't been "nerfed into the ground and gutted" by the Xbox cuts, insists director Hugo Martin
Doom and Quake creator id Software tries to reassure fans it's okay following the devastating recent Xbox cuts.
Neuro Is Building a Nine-Figure Business One Piece of Gum at a Time
These founders cracked $100 million in revenue and their supplement-enhanced gums and mints are on their way to 77,000 stores. Why both Red Bull and Wrigley should be nervous.
Junk science drives wrongful convictions. That's not justice.
It is more important than ever for states to adopt evidence-based standards to ensure that only credible and vetted information is given to juries.
Does stopping GLP-1s make you gain the weight back? What the science says
A trio of recent studies suggest that some people can keep the weight off.
Caitlin Clark is 'a political football in this country,' says NBA's Adam Silver
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver answered questions about Caitlin Clark and WNBA officiating Thursday, saying "it's become political ping-pong with her."
Newark gets new entertainment venue with bowling, arcades, restaurant
Lefty's Alley and Eats brings bowling, axe throwing, a game show experience and a full restaurant to its new Newark location.
Virginie Bridoux - A life shaped by sports volunteering: "There's simply nothing else like it"
French volunteer Virginie Bridoux began her journey as a sports event volunteer 20 years ago, saying it made her "a better person". Discover her story and sign up to follow in her footsteps and become a volunteer for LA28.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Might Make the Long Wait for a New 2D Castlevania Worth It
After playing the first three hours of Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, Dead Cells developer Evil Empire's take on the legendary series seems to be poised to live up to extraordinarily high standards set by its predecessors.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse - Komani classic rises again from Paris sewers and Joan of Arc is a boss
Evil Empire creatives explain how it is playing to today’s ‘metroidvanias’ and honouring the original’s legacy with much fresh slaying to be done
At TIME100 Sports Gala, Honorees Toast to the Power of Sport and Support
Jalen Brunson, Alysa Liu, Alex Morgan, Prince Harry, and LeBron James spoke at the inaugural TIME100 Sports Gala.
‘Everybody Watches’: TIME100 Sports Honorees on Red Carpet Celebrate Rise of Women’s Sports
Eileen Gu, Hilary Knight, and Trinity Rodman spoke to TIME on the red carpet of the inaugural TIME100 Sports Gala.
Taking salsa classes can improve mental health, Oxford study suggests
Researchers find dance reduced depressive symptoms and social anxiety in young people in eight-week trial
Ann Widdecombe’s death should make Britain ask itself: what sort of political culture do we want?
Dehumanising politicians is the first step towards justifying their elimination. It matters more than ever to keep putting the person back into the picture, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff
FBI: Motown Sports Village promoter charged in alleged multi-million dollar wire fraud scheme in Romulus
A West Bloomfield man has been federally charged with wire fraud in connection with a heavily marketed proposal to develop a sprawling youth sports and entertainment complex in Romulus.
FBI: Motown Sports Village promoter charged in alleged multi-million dollar wire fraud scheme in Romulus
A West Bloomfield man has been federally charged with wire fraud in connection with a heavily marketed proposal to develop a sprawling youth sports and entertainment complex in Romulus.
Google Pixel 11 Specs Leak Ahead of Next Month’s Unveiling
Early leaks for the Google Pixel 11, Pro, and Pro Fold reveal potential specs, a variety of new colors, and a price increase across the lineup.
GTA 6 Hacker Moved to Prison for Retrial Two Years After Indefinite Sentence to Secure Hospital
The hacker behind the massive GTA 6 leak in September 2022 has been released from indefinite imprisonment at a secure hospital and is now awaiting a retrial.
What does medical science say about testosterone deficiency?
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the military will now annually screen the testosterone levels of active service members over 30. NBC News' Dr. Akshay Syal explains the impacts of low testosterone, possible causes, treatments and the risks.
Iceberg lettuce investigated as possible source of cyclosporiasis outbreak
Nearly 7,000 cases nationwide are confirmed or under investigation, according to the CDC. Michigan has accounted for the bulk of cases so far.
Yes, breathing wildfire smoke can harm your health – here’s what you can do to protect yourself
When you breathe in wildfire smoke, harmful particles can travel deep into your body.
Doctors in Royal Oak perform world’s first single-port robotic heart surgery
Surgeons at Corewell Health in Metro Detroit have performed what the health system says is the world’s first documented single-port robotic mitral valve repair, a breakthrough they believe could help make heart surgery less invasive for some patients.
In interview, Beshear says he received calls about McConnell 'suggesting he's passed'
In an interview with Katie Couric posted to YouTube July 15, Beshear said he received calls from officials \
3 big Senate fundraising takeaways: From the Politics Desk
Plus, previewing Trump’s speech tonight.
GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen Insists Sony Killing Physical Discs 'Doesn't Matter at All' Because Video Game Sales Make Up So Little of His Business
GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen has sparked a fiery debate in the gaming community after remarking that sales of physical games are “totally irrelevant" to his business.
‘Enemies of civilization’: top Trump officials disparage leftism at event
Marco Rubio and Stephen Miller took aim at only leftwing activism at meeting of 66 nations against political violence
4 surprise products we could see at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked (including the Galaxy Glasses)
We're expecting some curveballs at Samsung's 2026 Galaxy Unpacked event. Here's everything we know.
Is This the End of the Endless Frontier?
“Our country needs a new consensus on how to support science,” write Eric and Wendy Schmidt.
A businessman promised investors to build a $3B sports complex near DTW. Feds say it was a scam
A West Bloomfield man is facing a federal charge for his alleged role in a scheme to get millions of dollars in investment funds for a proposed sports complex in Romulus.
Political crisis and protests in Ukraine as Zelenskyy defends sacking defence minister
President says he had to choose ‘one side or the other’ after breakdown of relations between ministry and military leaders
Women’s Health Week report shows equity investments increased 41% in 2025
Women’s Health Week report shows equity investments increased 41% in 2025
Earth-like exoplanet could have life-supporting water on its surface
Scientists discover the first confirmed atmosphere in habitable zone outside our solar system on LHS 1140b
Scientists Discover a Planet With the Most Earth-like Conditions Yet
The discovery boosts the chances of finding extraterrestrial life.
$3B Motown sports project near Detroit airport is a scam, feds say
Developer Kenneth Bardwell is charged with blowing investor money on strippers, vehicles and luxury goods for himself, his wife and girlfriend.
Kai Trump says politics is 'not my thing'
Kai Trump, the president's granddaughter, has tried to stay out of politics in the past, while focusing on her golf career.
The Best Small-Business Payroll Software
Here are the payroll software providers that are highly rated and offer entrepreneurs peace of mind.
Google Pixel 11 Rumor Roundup: New Colors, Higher Prices and Lots of Leaks
Everything we've heard about what the new Pixel 11 phones look like, new prices and more storage than last year.
Senate Weighs How to Measure Science Edge Over China
Senate committee investigates how the U.S. tracks scientific progress and maintains competitive edge against China. Discover implications for research funding.
Introducing: The Swatch Mission To The Moon 1969 Moonswatch
Eleven grams of gold offered in this limited edition of 1,969 pieces, priced as if we were back in 1969.
Fortnite's Skimpy New Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn Swimwear Skins Are Locked to Modes Rated 13+
Fortnite has released DC characters Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn in skimpy swimwear, and locked their use to modes rated T for Teen, or ages 13+.
From The Sports Desk: Lionel Messi leads another late comeback win for Argentina
Messi and Argentina will now face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday, hoping to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cup titles.
Opinion | Politics Has Taken Over My Union
The UAW should focus on automotive job growth, not leftwing fads.
John Cena had eye mites. The pesky bugs are a lot more common than you think
John Cena reveals the "parasite" causing his blurry vision and red eye symptoms. He's taking proactive steps to protect his health as he approaches 50.
Mensah Explains Shocking Duke Exit: 'Business Is Business'
Darian Mensah publicly spoke on his dramatic transfer from Duke.
AI Isn't Replacing The MBA. It's Redefining What Business Leaders Need To Know
Employers are automating entry-level jobs & paying a premium for MBA grads. Judgement, not output, is now the real curriculum.
Utah Modernizes Public Health Data Reporting—a Win for Government and Residents
On June 1, Utah became one of the first states in the U.S. to require acute care hospitals to use electronic case reporting (eCR)—the automated, real-time exchange of information—to notify public health agencies about instances of reportable communicable diseases.
Dermatologist Reveals No. 1 Skin Symptom That Can Be a Sign of Heart Issues
In TODAY.com’s Expert Tip of the Day, a dermatologist explains the links between skin health and heart health.
Pokémon Go Fans React in Disgust as Players Hand-Picked to Attend Exclusive Times Square Event Sell Their Prized Mewtwo for Thousands of Dollars, Breaking the Game's Rules
Pokémon Go players are reacting in disgust after seeing fans who were hand-picked to attend the game's ultra-exclusive 10th anniversary Times Square event now selling off their unique Mewtwo on eBay for thousands of dollars — breaking the game's rules in the process.
How the Milwaukee County pension scandal reshaped Wisconsin politics
The Milwaukee County pension scandal gave rise to the political career of Scott Walker and reshaped Wisconsin politics.
Health workers go on strike as Congo Ebola cases rise
Health workers go on strike as Congo Ebola cases rise
Science center in W. Palm Beach gets $3M in state funds for expansion
Palm Beach donors have given millions to enlarge the Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach, which got $3 million in new state budget.
State Department hosting international officials to talk left-wing terrorism
Counterterrorism experts say the Trump administration’s focus on the far left lacks context about the full range of threats from extremists across the political spectrum.
Maine Senate candidates sprint to build early edge in delegate race
Democratic candidates are pushing grassroots networks to attend county party events this weekend, hoping their supporters become delegates at the July 25 nominating convention.
Progressive uprising divides Democrats up and down Michigan's ballot
Amid voter frustration with the \
‘Social media bans are likely to make things worse’: psychologist Candice Odgers on kids, tech and mental health
She has studied adolescent mental health for 25 years and fears the debate obscures some of the biggest issues facing teenagers – from the impact of Covid to the health of their adult caregivers
South Los Angeles business owner says crime, drug activity push neighborhood to breaking point
A South Los Angeles business owner says ongoing crime, drug activity and trash outside his auto body shop have created unsafe conditions.
Norah O'Donnell reveals next career move after 'CBS Evening News' exit
A year and a half after she left her \
Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black Is Now Available in Pokémon TCG Live
The Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution—Pitch Black debut includes new Battle Pass decks and more.
ZeniMax Online Studios leadership to exit as part of Xbox cuts
There are major changes happening atop Maryland-based ZeniMax Online Studios, developer of the Elder Scrolls Online, Game File has learned. Joe Burba, a 14-year veteran of the studio who was appointed to run it last July, is departing, along with ESO executive producer Susan Kath, studio game director Rich Lambert and production director Ala Diaz. Their roles were listed among hundreds of others cut last week from the Maryland offices of ZeniMax, in a WARN letter sent to the state by ZeniMax and obtained today by Game File. Tonight, BUrbam Kath, Lambert and Diaz notified Zenimax Online Studios workers of plans to “transition” to a new leadership team consisting of promoted ZOS veterans. That transition will occur “over the next few months,” they told workers, according to a copy of the notice reviewed by Game File. “We will remain in place during the transition period to help ensure a smooth handoff.” Last week, Microsoft laid off of 1,600 workers across its vast gaming teams in locations around the U.S. and abroad. Just who has been impacted and how hard various studios have been hit has been emerging day by day. Game File reported last week that Microsoft/ZeniMax notified officials in Maryland that 379 gaming jobs were being cut across the state. They tallied cuts in two locations: one for ZeniMax Media Inc. (covering Elder Scrolls/Starfield/Fallout-maker Bethesda Game Studios and central Bethesda game publishing) and one for ZeniMax Online Studios (Elder Scrolls Online). More than 200 jobs were cut at the latter. Last week’s totals did not reveal job titles, nor did Microsoft announce any leadership changes in the ZeniMax group. That has now happened. Earlier today, Game File obtained from Maryland officials a breakdown of the 379 impacted roles, which, extraordinarily, included “studio head.” Microsoft later confirmed to Game File which studio head that referred to: ZeniMax Online Studios’. Microsoft has since has notified studio employees and internally announced new leadership. ZOS will now be run by Josh Henderson, previously head of business operations at the studio, and Nick Giacomini, who was promoted to game director for ESO last August. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my journalism, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Last week’s news of 200+ cuts at ZeniMax Online Studios generated public sympathy for those workers and questions about the long-term viability of the Elder Scrolls Online. ESO is a massively multiplayer online game that inherently persists on the strength of new content being developed for it. Earlier today, fans and workers in Maryland protested the cuts at the ZeniMax teams in a rally organized by the Communication Workers of America, the union that represents many of the impacted employees. Regarding concerns around the game, a community manager stated on Saturday: “The plan is still to deliver great content, and we will hopefully have an update soon.” In their note to the studio today, the outgoing leaders of ZeniMax Online Studios predicted “growth” for the game: We have tremendous confidence in Josh and Nick, the future of this studio, and the continued growth of ESO. With exciting experiences still ahead for our players as we wrap up work for Update 51 and beyond, we believe that your passion, creativity, and commitment to each other and the community will continue serving as the heartbeat of ESO. The list of jobs cut in the ZeniMax WARN notice in Maryland includes several very senior roles, including: Studio Head Studio Operations Director Studio Game Director Studio Audio Director Studio Art Manager Vice President and Controller VP, Global Sales & Business Development While some of those job descriptions match the exiting ZOS leadership team, Game File couldn’t verify if all were from that studio. The full list of cut roles shared by Maryland officials also covers workers at Bethesda Game Studios and its central publishing office. The following is an excerpt: The list of 379 eliminated ZeniMax jobs in Maryland also includes: four animators three bilingual CS (community service) leads for Chinese, Italian, and Japanese a creative director for the Elder Scrolls Online Player Life Cycle two food service workers seven producers more than 60 senior QA testers. and many others The WARN notice states that almost all of the 379 workers were notified of their layoff on July 6. In fine print, it states: “Approximately 9 employees were notified of the elimination of their position prior to July 6, 2026.” A 2021 mega-merger scaled back Microsoft announced in 2020 that it intended to buy ZeniMax and its network of game studios in 2020, and closed the $7.5 billion deal in March 2021. The purchase, which preceded Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, added several award-winning studios to Microsoft’s portfolio, including Bethesda (Elder Scrolls, Fallout), Arkane (Dishonored), and id Software (Doom). The studios’ output since then included a 2024 Game of the Year contented from MachineGames in the form of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle along with Starfield from Bethesda and the poorly-received Redfall from Arkane Austin. In recent years, a Microsoft repeatedly in cutback mode closed ZeniMax’s Tango Gameworks (which was reconstituted by Krafton) and closed Arkane Austin. The Xbox cuts last week have hit the ZeniMax group hard, with 158 jobs eliminated in Texas, many of them at id, and 379 from the ZeniMax teams in Maryland. Xbox also said last week that it would be entering a consultation process around Arkane Lyon, a process expected to end in a sale, shutdown or other form of divestment. The Lyon team has been working on a game tied to Marvel’s Blade vampire-hunting super-hero.
The ’Gay’ Attacks on Lindsey Graham Are All About Politics
Was Lindsey Graham gay? As the author of a book about the history of gay Washington, D.C., it’s a question I’ve been asked frequently for years, and even more so since his sudden death last weekend. The South Carolina Republican’s lifelong confirmed bachelorhood, vocal intonation, and Southern dandy demeanor (if not sartorial choices) prompted many to conclude that he was, as they say in that part of the country, “light in his loafers.” Graham’s repeated attestations to the contrary had zero effect on those invested in the narrative that he was. Only about the matter of J. Edgar Hoover’s rumored cross-dressing (for which there is much circumstantial but no direct evidence) am I questioned more. Whenever I’ve been asked to speculate upon Graham’s sexuality—and speculate was all that I or anyone else could do—I always answered the question honestly. While my personal sense is that Graham was probably gay, as a journalist and a historian I cannot rely on my intuition to make factual assertions. (Gaydar hasn’t yet been scientifically perfected.) Given the absence of any known female or male romantic interests, Graham may very well have been a heterosexual unlucky in love. He might also have been asexual. Barring the highly unlikely postmortem emergence of a personal diary or some other unassailable evidence attesting to Graham’s innermost yearnings, we will never know the answer. As is depressingly the case these days when a public figure dies, a chorus of voices reveled in Graham’s passing, many of them making light of his presumed homosexuality.
Trump rule that would politicize grants faces fight from scientists and many others
A Trump administration proposal would give political appointees power to screen and terminate federal grants. Scientists, local governments and a Republican senator are resisting.
Thune says he defers to McConnell and team on health updates
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said there have been absences from members of Congress for extended periods of time on both sides of the aisle when asked by NBC News' Ryan Nobles if there needs to be more transparency.
Democrats’ deepening Israel divisions: From the Politics Desk
Plus, a critical period for Ukraine.
CDC Director Nominee Erica Schwartz Grilled by Senators About Vaccines and Political Pressure
A former deputy surgeon general, Schwartz vowed during her confirmation hearing to “never compromise on the science.”
The States Try to Topple WarnerMount…Thus Begins the Local Antitrust Era
(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Well, it looks like it’s time for another strategy column. Can I finally avoid writing about M&A? No, it seems I cannot. Admittedly, I’m a week early with this column, since I usually put it out every other week. But this news couldn’t wait. This will make three “Most Important Stories” in a row with a merger or acquisition as its centerpiece. First, Roku-Fox (an acquisition), then Comcast-NBCUniversal (a divestment!), and now the State AGs and the WGA’s lawsuits against Paramount’s pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery (antitrust). M&A is usually the “most important” topic any given week, simply because a giant company merging or breaking up (or preventing those outcomes) can have the biggest impact on the streaming board. If you think about these companies as players in a game, changing the number of players is one of the biggest changes you can make. I shouldn’t really complain, either, since this lawsuit is very good news for customers and suppliers (econ speak for talent, workers and indie studios in Hollywood). So let me answer some questions about this potential trial, along with (shudder) making some heavily caveated predictions. I’ll also look at whether Hollywood must consolidate, whether or not the states can win, trouble at X-Box, Netflix’s YouTube binge, and more. Plus, I have five images that visualize this merger and the harm, including three brand new data looks you’ve never seen before. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Can The States and the WGA Stop Hollywood’s Consolidation (Crisis)? If every other newsletter and news outlet is writing about the same story, I try to avoid writing about it as well, but I can’t ignore a story this consequential. The story of the last year was the fate of Warner Bros. Discovery, and this development potentially extends that saga into 2027. As I tried to figure out my angle, I realized, like my last column, I’m again faced with a series of questions. These questions, though, are much more forward-looking. Will the states win? Will the WGA win? If so, what happens to Warner Bros. Discovery? Either way, will this chill the market for future mergers? So you know what that means: predictions. About the future, no less, the hardest thing to predict.1 Just remember: nothing here comes with a guarantee. And the more confident someone is in their predictions, the less you should trust them. This situation is incredibly fluid, nuanced, uncertain and tenuous. So let’s try to explain what may happen. Question: Why File this Lawsuit? I’ll admit, a few months back, I was fairly pessimistic about the fate of this lawsuit. Rumors had started bubbling up that the state Attorneys General (in particular California) wanted to settle with either some minor divestments (usually CNN) or behavioral remedies. And that tracked for me: the states usually settle lawsuits, like the recent John Deere right-to-repair suit. Yet, they plan to fight this. (As they did the LiveNation-Ticketmaster monopolization trial and the Nexstar-Tegna merger.) Honestly, that also makes a ton of sense. Frankly, this move is just good politics for these State AGs. Most are still running for higher and higher office in blue states—some folks have emphasized that only Democratic AGs joined this suit, but given the Ellison/Trump ties, and fears of retribution, that tracks—and a high profile case like this will help them move up the electoral ladder, especially since Paramount and its leadership (the Ellisons, father and heir) have sided with the other side of the political aisle. That makes them unsympathetic to Democratic voters and Hollywood workers in particular. Why did this lawsuit happen? In addition to the very real concerns about industry consolidation, this is why. That said, I don’t think we would have seen this lawsuit for Netflix and Warner Bros., simply because they’re more sympathetic and aligned with Democrats. But those consolidation concerns are real. The “town”—meaning Hollywood and such—really is seeing the damage of mergers on this industry. That’s why the WGA also filed its own lawsuit in defense of workers as well. (Wildcard: What about Europe? Will they try to stop the deal, too? There have been some rumors out of the UK they may try to fight the deal, and UK enforcers just stopped a Getty Images-Shutterstock tie up, so there is precedence. This argument could go either way, though. On one hand, the EU doesn’t need to step in, cause they states are handling it. On the other hand, this could make the EU’s case easier. Just imagine if both sides coordinated. I’ll simply say, “We’ll see!”) Question: Will The State AGs or the WGA Win? Can the state AGs play David to Paramount-Skydance’s Goliath here? That’s really the whole thing, isn’t it? If you know this result, you could make a lot of money. When things are uncertain, it’s tempting to shrug and say, “Eh” meaning it’s a 50/50 proposition. I wouldn’t, though. When in doubt, you should expect that the merging parties succeed. AT&T did successfully buy Warner Bros., after all, and Disney bought Fox without any challenges. Many judges are extremely sympathetic to mergers, and I’d bet the state AGs get a judge who will allow the merger. (Even Obama-appointed judges often allow mergers.) As I understand it, we’ll see two main attacks. First, theatrical films. The AGs are arguing that, when it comes to share of box office and the number of both “wide releases” and blockbuster (or “tentpole”) films, the merging parties will have over 27% market share. Now, the Supreme Court once ruled from on high that any merger that exceeds 30% is presumptively illegal, but that’s guidance, not an ironclad bar. Still, the states will have to argue that this is close to having too much power, and with that power, this will likely further worsen the theater/studio splits in particular. Indeed, as Matthew Stoller pointed out, “just five studios are responsible for 95% of all blockbusters; if this merger goes through, then Paramount and Disney will control 60% of that.” So yes, movie studios will be very concentrated after this merger. Want me to visualize some of that? Well, here’s the share of films that grossed over $200 million at the domestic box office since 2022. (Note: this isn’t all films released in over 3,000 screens, but it is a good look at market power.) First, here are the 43 films by studio: Notice all the blue (Disney), orange (Universal), and purple (Warner Bros)? Yeah, those studios are powerful, and this combines Paramount with one of them. Here’s the look by studio and share of the films that grossed over $200 million: Now, if you look at that and also think, “Huh, should we break up Disney?” I’m with you. I’ve seen some folks poo-poo this idea that this is a real category, but it is! For an upcoming article, I’ve been pulling data on the share of top 100 films at the box office as a share of total box office, and it’s massive. Here’s the chart: (This analysis looks at The-Number’s top 100 films and total domestic box office each year.) To be clear, tentpoles make up 80.7% of the box office each year, so I do think it’s a genuine market. (To be clear, films grossing over $50 million make up 80% of the domestic box office, and films grossing over $100 million make up 64.1%.) I mean, the top 100 films at the box office make up 95% of each year’s grosses. Worse, the combined studios will likely cut output to flex that market power. Everyone can just look at what happened to Disney and Fox to see the precedent. (With fewer films, the remaining theaters have to give more for those few films that remain.) Here’s an image I’ve used a lot, the share of wide-release films from Disney and Fox over time: The AGs will also argue that this consolidation will also impact the cable industry. In this case, the consolidation is actually worse, but that environment is…complicated. Paramount will argue that the cable industry is shrinking. That said, predictions that cable will “go to zero” also don’t look very well supported by the data, as the declines are shrinking, meaning “cable” or “vMVPDs” will likely stabilize at some point. Can the state Attorneys General win on those two main arguments? I honestly don’t know. Again, I’d bet no, since history in general supports that, but it depends on the judge/jury and how they interpret the arguments. Notably, Paramount won’t face accusations about monopoly power in other areas, like streaming, news, sports rights, or vertical integration. I tend to disagree with leaving out sports rights, but I also see the appeal for a simpler case. The states also aren’t really pushing novel theories about labor harm either, which should help. (By the way, Sean McNulty at The Ankler wrote a great run through of potential options, and Capitol Forum also wrote a great paper on theatrical consolidation. Both these pieces predated the lawsuit. Matthew Stoller is also out with his analysis of the pros and cons of the case too.) In some ways, the WGA’s case is even stronger. Quoting Sean McNulty’s summary: “The WGA is citing WARNAMOUNT as crossing a 30% market share in multiple sectors, a number that the Supreme Court has precedent for deeming “presumptively anticompetitive” in a market. According to the WGA numbers, WARNAMOUNT would have represented: - 35% of film writing jobs between 2021 and 2024 - 36% of TV writing projects between 2022 and 2025 - 38% of overall deals between 2021 and 2024” Notably, antitrust enforcers did win recently in the Penguin-Simon & Schuster merger by focusing on labor impact, so don’t count this thinking out. (Wildcard: Will the states try to get a jury trial? Most likely no, they’ll let a judge handle it. If I’m them, though, I’d try to put this in front of a jury. Juries tend to understand monopoly power in a more realistic way than judges faced with legions of economists.) Question: What if They Win? What if They Lose?
Google’s Head of Search Shares 3 Rules Every Business Needs to Win in the AI Era
Google VP of Search Liz Reid tells Inc. what Google’s latest Search changes mean for entrepreneurs.
Elissa Slotkin picks side in Democratic primary for her former seat in Congress
U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin endorsed a former Navy SEAL in the swing district Democratic primary for her former U.S. House seat in mid-Michigan.
Go-karts, mini-golf coming to Panama City Beach near Pirates Voyage
The open space adjacent to Dolly Parton's Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show in Panama City Beach to be developed as an entertainment complex.
SBA loans available for residents, businesses hit by April storms
Wisconsinites affected by severe April storms are now encouraged to apply for disaster loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Hit Superhero Comedy Game Dispatch Finally Lands on Xbox This Month, Uncensored Scenes and All
Hit superhero workplace comedy game Dispatch will finally land on Xbox this month, developer AdHoc Studio has announced.
Cedar Point's Boardwalk Nights returns with entertainment, fun food offerings
Boardwalk Nights returns to Cedar Point July 17 with new entertainment and unique food like fried chicken ice cream.
PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for July 2026 Confirmed
Sony has confirmed the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for July 2026, which is headlined by Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Rise of the Ronin, and two PS2 classics.
Why Singing Is One of Sports' Most Enduring Rituals
Whether their team is winning or losing, people have an odd tendency to sing. Psychologists explain why.
From The Sports Desk: Argentina, England renew bitter rivalry in World Cup semifinals
Argentina is the defending World Cup champion and England is looking for its first title since 1966. The winner will face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday.
As Russia’s assault continues, Ukraine’s politics shift and an old alliance begins to fray
Beneath the drone strikes and talk of ceasefires lies a battle over history that is testing Kyiv’s chances for an end to the conflict
Michigan cyclosporiasis cases rise to 3,762, health officials update recommendations on prevention
Cyclosporiasis cases in Michigan rose slightly, state health officials reported on Wednesday, with more than 3,700 cases reported.
GoldenEye-inspired FPS Agent 64: Spies Never Die finally locks a release date, and it's not far away
Agents 64: Spies Never Die is coming soon to PC, and while players might recognize its very obvious GoldenEye influence, there's more to its action.
Halo: Campaign Evolved’s New Missions Have Me Obsessing Over the Series’ Ambitious, Troubled Expanded Universe All Over Again
Halo: Campaign Evolved's new Operation METEORITE missions could be a gateway to the series' ambitious expanded universe.
The World Cup used to let us micro-dose politics. Now it is engulfed by it
Whether it is our ‘identity maths’, naked nostalgia or diaspora experience. All seem scarred by the political contexts bearing down on this tournament
Dead Space series co-creator and industry veteran Glen Schofield announces his retirement in emotional video
Glen Schofield, whose name should be familiar to fans of the many major games he's helped create, is ending an almost four decade run in the games industry.
One small pen for one giant fee: Buzz Aldrin’s mission-saving felt-tip up for auction
Sotheby’s expects second man on moon’s marker, crucial to Apollo 11 return, to reach astronomical sum
Trump administration live updates: U.S. launches daylight strikes on Iran
Get live updates and the latest news on the Trump administration as the U.S. strikes Iran, Todd Blanche testifies on his nomination for attorney general and intel chief nominee Jay Clayton appears at his confirmation hearing.
Patient records stolen in cyber-attack on Australian healthcare provider
Partnered Health says personal information and medical details and notes were breached in the attack on 21 clinics