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Today’s Rundown:
- TAYLOR SWIFT & TRAVIS KELCE ANNOUNCE ENGAGEMENT: Pop superstar Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce are officially engaged. They shared romantic garden photos on Instagram, joking, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.” Kelce’s dad revealed the proposal happened about two weeks earlier in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and they FaceTimed both families after she said yes. Fans and the internet erupted with excitement following the sweet news.
- TRUMP FACES CONSERVATIVE BACKLASH OVER 600,000 CHINESE STUDENT VISAS: President Trump announced plans to allow 600,000 Chinese students into U.S. colleges—a major shift from his past restrictive visa policies. Conservative supporters criticized the move, saying it undermines the “America First” agenda and could threaten opportunities for U.S. students. Trump defended it by saying colleges, especially smaller ones, need these students to stay open. Nonetheless, the announcement left many in his base surprised and upset.
- INQUIRY INTO EX-PROSECUTOR JACK SMITH CALLED ‘IMAGINARY AND UNFOUNDED’: Lawyers for former special counsel Jack Smith are pushing back hard against a watchdog investigation questioning his political motives during Trump prosecutions. The inquiry—launched by the Office of Special Counsel at Sen. Tom Cotton’s request—is accused by Smith’s team of being based on an “imaginary and unfounded” premise. They insist Smith followed the law, DOJ guidelines, and neutral prosecutorial principles. The case centers on whether Smith violated the Hatch Act.
- JUDGE UNSEALS SMEAR-CAMPAIGN TEXTS IN BLAKE LIVELY VS. JUSTIN BALDONI CASE: A judge has revealed private texts and emails from the legal dispute between Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni over the film It Ends With Us. The disclosed messages include discussions about hiring a crisis-management firm and social media tactics—though some described the effort as “unnecessary” due to how criticism unfolded naturally online. The case highlights the behind-the-scenes turmoil in Hollywood and heads toward a March 2026 trial.
- VOTING RIGHTS ADVOCATES SUE OVER BIASED TEXAS MAP FOR 2026: Voting-rights groups are suing Texas, alleging the new election map unfairly diminishes the influence of Black and minority voters ahead of the 2026 elections. They say the plan is racially biased and infringes on fair representation. Civil rights leaders are pushing to have the court overturn the map and protect equal voting power. The lawsuit could impact one of the most competitive states’ political landscape.
- SOUTHWEST AIRLINES REVISES PLUS-SIZE PASSENGER RULES: Southwest will now require passengers who don’t fit within one seat to prepay for an extra seat starting January 2026. Refunds may be possible under certain conditions like flight capacity and fare class. This change comes alongside the airline’s move to assigned seating and the elimination of free checked bags. Critics say the new rule is a step back from Southwest’s inclusive approach and could inconvenience plus-size travelers.
- GAMBLING ADS NOW FLASH EVERY 13 SECONDS DURING MAJOR U.S. SPORTS GAMES: A University of Bristol study found that in major U.S. sports broadcasts—especially NHL playoff games—gambling-related ads appear about every 13 seconds. Fans saw an average of 4.7 betting messages per minute in some games. Since sports betting was legalized in 39 states, such advertising has exploded, raising concerns about the impact on young viewers and addiction risks. Lawmakers and researchers are calling for more regulation.
- CRACKER BARREL BRINGS BACK CLASSIC ‘OLD TIMER’ LOGO AFTER BACKLASH: Cracker Barrel has restored its “Old Timer” logo following widespread criticism from customers and even President Trump. The brand’s attempted redesign didn’t sit well with fans who felt it erased tradition. In response, the company reclaimed its nostalgic look and reassured customers that its identity will remain. Stocks dipped briefly amid the uproar but have since regained stability.
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