Extra, Extra
Hope Against Hope: “Mediators trying to end the Israel-Hamas war expressed hope for an imminent deal Friday, saying two days of talks had wrapped up in Qatar and they aimed to reconvene in Cairo next week to seal an agreement to stop the fighting.” Mideast mediators strike hopeful note after talks in Doha. No matter how hard Biden pushes for a ceasefire, or how hard it is to get Hamas to actually attend the ceasefire talks, or how much worse Trump would be for the Palestinians, the protesters will show up at next week’s DNC in very large numbers.
+ Flank Stakes: Nataliya Gumenyuk in Foreign Affairs with an interesting analysis of How Kyiv’s Attack on Russia—and Successful Defense of Its Northern Flank—Has Changed the War.
+ Down at the Crossroads: “Kari Lenander runs migrant shelters in west Texas and New Mexico where every green cot has regularly been filled for years. Now most of the beds are empty. Along the U.S.-Mexico border, migrant apprehensions plunged in July from a year ago, to the lowest level of the Biden era.”
+ Jailhouse Rock: “A Missouri woman with a long history of small-time scams and fraud was arrested Friday morning on federal charges in connection with a scheme to extort Elvis Presley’s family out of millions and steal their ownership interest in the music legend’s former Memphis home, Graceland.”
+ Phishing for Compliments: “The rule prohibits businesses from buying reviews or testimonials, whether positive or negative, the suppression of reviews, as well as buying or selling fake indicators of social media influence. It also bans fake reviews written by AI and reviews written by employees of a company without disclosure.” FTC finalizes rule to prohibit sale or purchase of fake reviews.
+ Behold the Mayo: “Hellmann’s has partnered with Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis to release Will Levis No. 8, a fragrance based on the smell of Hellmann’s signature product. The just-released scent combines hints of tart lemon, coffee, musk, vanilla, and something the company is calling ‘mayonnaise accord.'” Hellman’s Is Releasing a… Mayo-Inspired Fragrance?
