Politics 

An Unexpected House Call

What's going on: The Department of Justice (DOJ) has been known to come down hard on President Donald Trump’s critics, while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is stripping naturalized citizenship like never before. On Monday, the two departments came together for an unprecedented move: searching the home of Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN). The DOJ describes the action as an “ongoing federal criminal investigation,” with DHS head Markwayne Mullin saying last month that there “may be more” to her family’s migration that includes possible “illegal activity.” A naturalized citizen since 2000, Omar and her family fled Somalia in the 1990s seeking asylum, and her late father filled out the paperwork. Though conservatives have challenged her citizenship in the past, Omar has repeatedly rebuked such claims. In a post on X, she said President Trump was attempting to “target political enemies and weaponize law enforcement.” Speaking to reporters on Monday, the president said he has “nothing to do” with the DOJ’s probe.

Tell me more: Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison called the search “a dangerous escalation.” It’s also not the first time President Trump has targeted Omar or other politicians of color. The president has previously shared false claims questioning the citizenship of former President Barack Obama, then-Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The timing of it all is also raising questions. DOJ policy encourages prosecutors to avoid taking any action that may affect an election like “investigative steps, criminal charges, or statements.” And it’s been a longstanding practice to avoid such action 60 days before voters hit the polls. Ironically, Trump accused special counsel Jack Smith of breaking that 60-day rule while he ran for president in 2024. 

Related: How the Trump Admin Has Transformed the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division (NPR)

Mamma Mia!

Flying Too Close to the Grecian Sun?

What's going on: US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle might have to fly economy back to the States. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are “extremely pissed off” and considering firing Guilfoyle, following a series of deeply-sourced stories published in The Wall Street Journal. The reporting suggests that she has been trading personal favors for access to the Trump administration (like asking a Trump donor to pay off her $100,000 Amex bill in exchange for lobbying the IRS to resolve his tax issues). The latest? The Journal obtained an audio recording of Guilfoyle bragging about taking gifts from two Greek businessmen — including private jet rides and stays in five-star hotels in Davos, Gstaad, and Paris — and then brokering lucrative deals for those businessmen with European governments. Not great, especially considering nearly half of US ambassador posts are vacant (including many in Europe), giving Guilfoyle outsized influence in the region. Guilfoyle has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

What it means: The Trump administration is no stranger to corruption allegations. See: The UAE funneling $500 million into the Trump family’s crypto company, the new $400 million Air Force One that Qatar gifted Trump, the $1.6 billion Kazakh mining deal awarded to a company with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s son and the Trump sons on the board, etc. But the drip-drip of these WSJ reports about Guilfoyle is coming in the final weeks of the November 3 midterm campaigns. And Democrats are making corruption — alongside surging gas and grocery prices — the centerpiece of their closing argument. Aka bad timing for a key Trump official like Guilfoyle to be heard in an audio recording telling an American businessman, “I’m going to make you a lot of f*cking money.”

Related: Elon Musk Quietly Spends $276 Million on Republican Midterm Races (The New York Times gift link)

Online Drama 

A Feud Grows in Brooklyn

What's going on: Who could have guessed one of 2026's biggest celebrity feuds would involve Kelly Clarkson, a Brooklyn shop, and a mechanical bird? To recap the drama: Over the weekend, Clarkson told her 8.1 million Instagram followers that when she asked about a product at the shop Art of Play, she was “looked at as if I couldn’t afford it” and made to feel like “Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman.” The product in question? A $15,000 bird automaton named Molly. Art of Play (which has 169,000 Instagram followers) said the bird, mounted to the shop’s wall, wasn’t for sale. In a post, the small business added that they were “suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store.” Clarkson replied, saying the bird had a price tag displayed next to it and posted photos to prove it (which turned out to be from someone else’s 2025 Google review). “You’re not only rude, you’re also a liar. Got it,” she wrote.

Suddenly, this story is everywhere: Clarkson’s initial post has now been viewed over 40 million times and been covered by national and international press. Why did this toy bird drama strike a chord with so many? There are a few different theories: The New York Times suggests that the “online battle lines” were drawn between people who identified with Clarkson’s alleged experience of being snubbed by rude salespeople, and those who thought she was weaponizing her social media following against a small business and its staff of “a bunch of puzzle nerds.” Variety compares it to an earlier era of social media, when celebs were messier and posting was more frivolous. Remember those bygone feuds of Lizzo vs. a Boston Postmates driver in 2019 or Demi Lovato vs. an LA frozen yogurt shop in 2021? Maybe it’s time for all of us to log off. 

Related: Dan Levy Calls Out Shane Gillis’ SNL Comments About Women at the Gym and Says More Men Should Speak Up (Variety)

TOGETHER WITH MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER

Thing to Know

That’s what made it so difficult to treat. But now, new hope. In May, the FDA approved a new targeted therapy for TNBC based on a trial led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 

Christina, 33, started treatment after her cancer spread to her bones and she could barely walk. Just a few months later, she walked down the aisle as a bridesmaid at her sister-in-law's wedding. It's a real advance that gives people with TNBC more time and better days. MSK is building on this work, pursuing new treatments for every type of metastatic breast cancer. 

Every gift will be triple-matched, helping fund breast cancer research and breakthroughs — but only until October 31 at midnight. 

Quick Hits

💤 Researchers are looking into the connection between ADHD and sleep issues — turns out that it’s not the condition keeping us up at night, but that poor rest quality is just part of ADHD wiring.

🛒 One study found that it’s actually not hunger that drives impulse shopping at the grocery store — it’s going in without a plan. Another case made for meal prepping.

🥵 Scientists are paying more attention to how heat therapy, including saunas, might have a positive effect on inflammation and cardiovascular and mental health. It’s enough for us to justify that luxury gym membership.

✈️ First-class amenity kits are the latest collection trend among travelers. OK, but wait until you see our free earbud stash.

🧢 Celebrities are bringing back promo hats as a fashion trend, and this is huge for those of us who used to call into radio shows a lot.

🍏 Apple is all the rage among fall flavors… but a green apple Butterfinger? We’re going to guess this won’t be a featured item at your farmers market.