President Donald Trump has set his sights on a new linguistic enemy. While speaking at an artificial intelligence summit Wednesday, Trump realized mid-thought that he doesn’t like the word “artificial” at all. “I can’t stand it. I don’t even like the name,” the 79-year-old president said. ”You know, I don’t like anything that’s artificial so could we straighten that out please?” he asked, pointing to someone in the audience. “We should change the name.” As disbelieving laughter rippled through the room, Trump insisted, “I actually mean that—I don’t like the name ‘artificial’ anything.” He then offered an alternative—one he often uses to describe himself: “It’s not artificial. It’s genius. It’s pure genius.” Trump—who in January renamed the “Gulf of Mexico” to “Gulf of America” for federal agencies—signed three executive orders aimed at deregulating AI, which he called “one of the most important technological revolutions in the history of the world.” One executive order also targets what Trump called “woke” AI. During his speech, he accused the Biden administration of trying to “regulate and restrict A.I.” in order to ”centralize it, censor it, control it, weaponize it.”
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Woman, 51, Attacks Kid, 17, Over Disney Parade Spot: Police
A tourist has been charged with child abuse after she allegedly assaulted a teenage girl during an altercation over a spot at a Disney World parade in Florida. Martha Lucia Zapata Echeverri, 51, a citizen of Colombia, allegedly grabbed a 17-year-old girl by the arm to pull her aside, leaving behind a bruise and abrasion according to authorities. The altercation started when Zapata Echeverri was following her daughter to get a better view of the parade. The mom then allegedly placed her hand on the teen, trying to make space. The teen told authorities that she asked the woman to not touch her in Spanish. She then moved out of the way for another tourist, before Zapata Echeverri allegedly grabbed her and pulled her to the side, the report claims. However, Zapata Echeverri told investigators the teen pushed into her, saying it was “her spot.” Zapata Echeverri was arrested and charged with one count of child abuse. No other surveillance footage or witnesses could corroborate the events that allegedly took place.According to a statement from her attorney, Bryan Farinas, she has denied the charges and has been released from the Orange County jail after posting bond. “We believe this is a situation that was significantly mischaracterized. Based on the information that we have reviewed at this time, Ms. Zapata Echeverri was confronted and physically pushed by the alleged victim,” Farinas said. The Daily Beast has reached out to The Orange County Sheriff’s Office for comment.
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3
Columbia Agrees to Pay $200M Fine to Placate Trump
Columbia University has agreed to pay a $200 million fine to reverse the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to its federal funding. The deal will also resolve more than half a dozen civil rights investigations related to antisemitism claims, according to the agreement. Alongside the fine, Columbia agreed to follow laws prohibiting race-based admissions and hiring, and to stick to promises made in March to address antisemitism and to tamp down student protests.President Donald Trump boasted about the deal in a Truth Social post in which he commended Columbia for “for agreeing to do what is right.” Trump has accused Columbia and other elite universities of failing to adequately address harassment of Jewish students, while also railing against their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. He forced Columbia to the negotiating table by canceling $400 million in grants and contracts in March—an amount that grew to more than $1 billion when factoring in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), according to The New York Times. The settlement reopens the spigot of research funds and also makes clear that the Trump administration holds no power to interfere with faculty appointments, admissions policies, or academic speech. Harvard, which opted to sue the administration over its funding cuts unlike Columbia, is still negotiating to claw back its funds. When reached for comment, Columbia referred the Daily Beast to its announcement of the agreement. The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.
Jeff Bezos is not considering a bid to buy CNBC, a source close to Bezos has told the Daily Beast. It comes after the New York Post reported Wednesday that the billionaire was thinking about adding the network to his media empire, citing a person familiar with Bezos’ thinking. Another source close to the billionaire told the outlet that CNBC would “align well with his interests,” adding that the cable network could serve as a “neutral voice” in Bezos’ portfolio, which includes The Washington Post. However, a source close to Bezos told the Daily Beast the report was false, saying, “There’s not a shred of truth to that story.” CNBC, which airs financial news shows like Squawk Box and Mad Money with Jim Cramer, is currently owned by cable giant Comcast. But Comcast is spinning off CNBC and other cable assets into a new publicly-traded company called Versant by the end of the year. Bezos has not approached Comcast about a potential acquisition, sources close to the company told the New York Post. Another source told the outlet that Versant is not looking to sell. Versant declined to comment to the Daily Beast. Bezos purchased TheWashington Post from Warren Buffett for $250 million in 2013. His tenure as owner has stirred controversy in recent years after he axed endorsements and pushed for editorial changes.
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This $11 Natural Deodorant Smells Like a Designer Perfume
Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.
Natural deodorant may not be the most exciting product in the self-care category, but for many of us, it’s a daily essential. But just because you’re looking for a natural deodorant that actually works doesn’t mean it has to smell like a generic body wash, and Humble Brands’ newest fragrance drop is proof. Humble Brands recently launched its newest scent, Sweet Amber, and it smells like a designer fragrance.
The Sweet Amber scent is Humble’s first aromatherapy product, partly inspired by the brand’s origins in Taos, New Mexico (known as a destination for healing). The amber used in the cruelty-free, aluminum-free deodorant is extracted from ancient, fossilized Himalayan tree resin and was crafted by Humble Brands’ in-house natural perfumer.
In addition to amber, the scent has bright, floral, and creamy sweet notes from jasmine and vanilla—similar to bestselling fragrances like Tom Ford, Le Labo, and Byredo. It also has hints of Nagarmotha, patchouli, and cedarwood, giving it a sweet yet smoky finish. Plus, unlike some perfume and body mists, this deodorant is not overpowering and has a long-lasting yet subtle projection.
The key ingredients in Humble Brands’ aluminum-free deodorant range (including its new scent) are corn starch, baking soda, MCT oil, and beeswax—no aluminum or weird chemicals. The cornstarch naturally helps to absorb sweat, while the baking soda neutralizes odor. The beeswax and MCT oil help soothe the skin by locking in moisture, so it’s great for those with sensitive and dry skin. The best part? All Humble Brands products benefit the non-profit organization,1% for the Planet, so you’ll be investing in a new self-care treat that’s good for yourself and the environment.
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5
‘Girl Dad’ Pat McAfee Speaks Out on Fake Sex Scandal Rumor
ESPN host Pat McAfee has apologized for spreading a fake viral internet story about an 18-year-old Ole Miss student. McAfee revealed on his show, ThePat McAfee Show, on Wednesday that he apologized to the family of Mary Kate Cornett, who was at the center of a false rumor in February that she was involved in a sex scandal with her boyfriend’s dad. Months later, McAfee admitted that he had “since learned that the story was not true and that my show played a role in the anguish caused to a great family, and especially to a young woman.” “I can now happily share with you that I recently got to meet Mary Kate and her family, and I got a chance to sincerely apologize to them and acknowledge that what I said about Mary Kate was based solely on what others were saying on the internet, or had previously been reported by others,” he said. He added that “as a girl dad,” he was “very thankful” to be able to let Cornett’s dad know that he “was wildly regretful” for the part his show played in Cornett’s “pain.” Cornett told NBC in April that she “thought it was absolutely ridiculous that an ESPN sports broadcaster would be talking about a 19-year-old girl’s ‘sex scandal’ that was completely false.”
Time released its list of The 100 Best Podcasts of All Time on Wednesday, and The Joe Rogan Experience did not make the cut. Some of the usual suspects, like Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy, Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert, and New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce claimed spots. Other picks included the recently launched Good Hang with Amy Poehler, Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Wiser Than Me, and WTF with Marc Maron, which is ending its 16-year run this fall. Social media users were most perplexed by Rogan’s omission. Time correspondent Eliana Dockterman explained the selection process in a separate article for the publication, “Much of collating this list, when it came to this particular breed of pod, involved sorting out who can conduct an insightful interview or piece together a compelling monologue from who is just a big name.” Rogan apparently did not fit that description, nor did acolytes Theo Von and Andrew Schulz. “Not defending Joe Rogan’s views whatsoever but we’re just kidding ourselves not including him,” wrote one representative observer responding to the list. The snubs weren’t only for the darlings of conservatives, however. Popular lefty podcasts Pod Save America and Chapo Trap House are also missing from the list. Time did acknowledge the podcaster’s influence when it named him one of its 100 Most Influential People this year.
Attorney General Pam Bondi testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies in June 2025. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Embattled Attorney General Pam Bondi is skipping CPAC’s Summit Against Human Trafficking amid the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal, but she swears there’s an innocent explanation for her absence. Bondi, who was set to speak at the event on Wednesday, says she is “recovering from a recently torn cornea.” Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti announced Bondi’s absence just as the event was set to begin, reading a brief note from Bondi that said in part, “I truly wish I was able to join you and support all of the work being done on this critical issue.” The announcement came roughly 90 minutes before TheWall Street Journal released a bombshell story alleging Bondi told President Donald Trump back in May that his name appears multiple times in the Epstein files. The president previously claimed Bondi had not informed him whether he was named in the documents. The White House has already denied TheWall Street Journal’s report. Communications Director Steven Cheung told The Daily Beast that the story was “nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media.” The Daily Beast contacted Bondi’s office for comment and was directed to Galeotti’s statement on her behalf.
Image shared by the Cambridge Fire Department of firefighters responding to the seizure call on Tuesday evening. Cambridge Fire Department/Facebook
Eight children have been hospitalized in Cambridge, Massachusetts, after experiencing seizure-like symptoms during a choir performance on Tuesday night. The children, all between the ages of 11 and 13, were members of a touring French youth choir who were performing a free show at St. Paul’s Parish, a Catholic church in Harvard Square, when they fell ill. Paramedics first responded to a report that one child at the concert was experiencing a seizure. Upon arriving, they found the first child was no longer seizing, but seven more had begun to exhibit similar symptoms. All eight children were treated on the scene, then transported to a local hospital. The Cambridge Fire Department later shared images on Facebook of a firefighter carrying one of the children away from the church. The department also employed a hazmat team to test the church’s air conditions. Investigators now believe fumes from cleaning supplies may have caused the children’s symptoms, though a spokesperson told USA Today that no one in the concert’s roughly 70-person audience fell ill. Luckily, the children’s symptoms were not life-threatening, and all eight had been released from the hospital by Wednesday afternoon.
An image posted to Facebook by the Cambridge Fire Department shows a firefighter carrying one of the eight children. Cambridge Fire Department/Facebook
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9
Trump Admin Plans to Burn $10 Million Worth of Contraceptives for Poor Nations
The Trump administration has decided to burn $10 million worth of contraceptives rather than distribute the supplies to poor countries. Win McNamee/Getty Images
The Trump administration has chosen to burn almost $10 million worth of contraceptives rather than send them to poor nations, according to Reuters. Sources told the outlet that the U.S. government rejected offers from the United Nations and aid groups to help distribute the supplies, which include contraceptive implants, pills, and intrauterine devices. They had been sitting in a warehouse in Belgium since January following Trump’s decision to freeze all foreign aid and shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development. The government will now spend around $160,000 to incinerate all $9.7 million worth of supplies at a facility in France. The Belgian Foreign Ministry stated that it had explored “all possible options to prevent the destruction” with U.S. authorities, to no avail. “Nevertheless, Belgium continues to actively seek solutions to avoid this regrettable outcome,” it said in a statement Tuesday, adding that “sexual and reproductive health must not be subject to ideological constraints.” Associate director of advocacy at MSI Reproductive Choices, Sarah Shaw, said that the government rejected the nonprofit’s offer to “pay for repackaging, shipping, and import duties.” “This is clearly not about saving money. It feels more like an ideological assault on reproductive rights, and one that is already harming women,” she said.
Shallow Hal star Rene Kirby died on July 11 after spending two months in the hospital battling infections and health issues with his esophagus, bladder, and kidneys. He was 70. He played his most prominent Hollywood role in the 2001 romantic comedy as Walt, Hal’s close friend and a hospital volunteer who, like Kirby, was born with spina bifida, a spinal cord defect that meant Kirby could not use his legs. Instead, he traveled by walking on his hands and maneuvering a three-wheeled bike using a hand crank, making him a local celebrity in his hometown of Burlington, Vermont. Kirby also didn’t let his disability stop him from skiing, swimming, and even winning state titles in gymnastics. Kirby had met Shallow Haldirector Peter Farrelly at a bar in Burlington in 1999, according to the Vermont-focused YouTube series Seven Days, and they became good friends. Farrelly eventually wrote the role of Walt for Kirby. “He’s got a zest for life that is contagious, and he’s extremely funny,” Farrelly said of Kirby to the Burlington Free Press. “You don’t have to stand up to stand out,” Kirby’s youngest sibling, Jon, recalled his brother saying. Kirby is survived by his mother and six siblings.