— A writer shared what they really think of Pamela Anderson’s pickles. Call it briny discourse.
What's Happening
US News
RFK Jr. Had Some Explaining To Do
What's going on: If Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hoped for a calm day on Capitol Hill, he didn’t get it. His testimony before the Senate Finance Committee yesterday quickly devolved into a shouting match (at one point, a senator called the health secretary a “charlatan”). Pushing back — sometimes in dismissive and angry tones — Kennedy blamed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for America’s COVID-19 death toll and dismissed the (comprehensive) data that showed vaccines saved lives during the pandemic. He also falsely claimed that President Donald Trump’s domestic policy bill didn’t cut Medicaid. In another tense moment, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a medical doctor, accused Kennedy of effectively “denying people vaccines.”
What it means: This was Kennedy’s first Senate appearance since May, and the stakes have only grown higher. In less than a year, he has installed vaccine skeptics in top roles, restricted access to COVID-19 shots, and cut off funding for vaccine research. The fallout is visible: the CDC director is out, medical associations are openly blasting his policies, and doctors are warning that his decisions are destabilizing the health care system. Kennedy, though, isn’t budging. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, he argued his actions will restore trust in the CDC. And politically, he still has backing from the White House and much of the MAHA movement — though they rally more around his food safety crusades than his vaccine fight.
Now Boarding… More Uncertainty for Spirit Airlines
What's going on: For anyone who thought flying Spirit was a gamble, buckle up — there seems to be new turbulence. Starting next month, the airline will stop service to a dozen cities. The move comes less than a week after Spirit filed for bankruptcy…for the second time in a year. The budget carrier first ducked into Chapter 11 in Nov 2024, weighed down by rising costs and heavy debt. It clawed its way out, only to boomerang back into bankruptcy last month. At the time, Spirit promised business as usual: book flights, use tickets — nothing to worry about. But that doesn’t appear to be aging well.
What it means: Rivals wasted no time swooping in. United announced new flights to absorb stranded customers, while other carriers expanded domestic and international routes to grab Spirit’s share. Industry execs warned a sudden collapse would be “incredibly disruptive,” especially since Spirit is one of the few remaining budget airlines at a time when air travel is already painfully expensive. Spirit’s parent company even admitted there’s “substantial doubt” it can stay in business over the next year. It’s not the only discount carrier under pressure: Southwest has rolled out unpopular “changes” of its own. Pretty soon, the only budget travel option may be your own two feet.
What's going on: Venus Williams, 45, and Leylah Fernandez, 22, were the US Open doubles wild card we didn’t know we needed. Their run to the quarterfinals had fans cheering not just their game but also their joy and chemistry — Williams even called Fernandez “the best partner I’ve ever played with outside of Serena.” (Yes, her sister had some thoughts.) Perhaps what made their partnership even more magnetic was how their 20-plus-year age gap — one of the widest on tour — created a seamless pair. Experts pointed to Williams and Fernandez as proof of why big age-gap friendships matter. Talk about a different kind of game, set, match.
What it means: These kinds of friendships can often reduce feelings of competition or comparison. A friend who’s 20 years older probably isn’t measuring your job title against hers — she’s cheering you on and reminding you that “shoulds” are overrated. These relationships can also expand your viewpoint, reinforcing that bad days aren’t the end of the world and inspiring the curiosity that gets you out the door on a Tuesday because “why not.” In Williams’s case, Fernandez brought that spark, making the seven-time Grand Slam champ twirl again. Psychologist Kimberly Horn calls this mix “built-in mentoring.” Or as she put it, Williams and Fernandez gave us “a rare public glimpse of how friendship has no age limit.”
