Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” he’s “testing the waters” and considering a run for president. The Democratic senator said a widespread desire to stray from the status quo is what got Donald Trump elected, and is what Democrats need to champion in 2028. “Democrats really need to stand for something, we need to be against the status quo,” he told host Kristen Welker. Van Hollen recently campaigned for Abdul El-Sayed in his primary campaign for a Senate seat in Michigan. El-Sayed, 41, a progressive, is largely viewed as an outside of the status quo candidate. “That’s why I’ve been kicking the tires as I look at 2028 because I don’t think the Democratic Party has answered the call about how we’re going to make sure we have an economy that really does work for everybody, especially working people.” Van Hollen has served as a senator for Maryland since 2017.

Bunny Levine, known for her roles in Gilmore Girls and La La Land, has died at 97, peacefully in her sleep. She passed Thursday in her Tarzana, California home, from what appears to have been natural causes. Before launching her Hollywood career in the late 1980s, Levine was a school librarian and teacher in Teaneck, New Jersey, for about 25 years. She has appeared in some of television’s biggest shows, including Everybody Loves Raymond, Law & Order, Ugly Betty, Private Practice, Criminal Minds, New Girl, and The Mindy Project. Levine has also acted in comedy movies You Don’t Mess With the Zohan, Sandy Wexler and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah. In March 2025, the actress told the Daily Evergreen about her career pivot after decades of working in education. “I feel very blessed to have been able to get back to what I had always wanted since early memory. I wish that everyone could find that happiness.”

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Fall is officially around the corner, which means shorter days, cooler weather, and criminally overrated pumpkin spice everything is on the agenda in the coming month. As we inch closer to the dreaded end of daylight saving time and the beginning of SAD season (or “cuffing season,” if you’re a glass-half-full person), the good news is that it’s the perfect time to cozy up with a new blanket. Lola Blankets are indisputably the best on the market—they’re designed from the softest faux fur fabric we’ve ever felt and are actually machine-washable. Right now, the brand is offering a very generous 50 percent-off deal to help us quell our post-summer blues during its annual Christmas in August sale.

Lola Blanket Christmas in August Sale

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In addition to this unheard-of deal, the brand is also offering free shipping on orders over $250 and a $50 gift card with every order. It’s a great opportunity to treat yourself and save one for holiday gifting... or not. If you’re new to Lola Blankets, you cannot go wrong with the Original Lola, but we also love the XL size (it fits over a queen-size bed) and the weighted versions. Either way, it’s one of (if not *the*) biggest deals of the year, so if you’re looking for a luxury blanket for snuggle season, now’s the time to treat yourself. Use the code AUG50 at checkout to unlock the savings.

The two-year-old son of Buffalo Bills player Ed Oliver has tragically died after an accidental drowning, prompting an outpouring of well wishes for the NFL star. Oliver’s son, also named Ed, reportedly drowned in a residential pool in Harris County, Texas, on the evening of June 28. Authorities responded to a life-in-danger call, where they found the toddler unresponsive in the pool. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Bills General Manager Brandon Beane was among those to react to the “unthinkable tragedy,” saying the team will support Ed’s family “as we all grieve this tragic loss.” Though he wasn’t identified as Oliver’s son at the time, the Harris County Sheriff’s Department reported the drowning death of a toddler in Houston in late June. Oliver has been participating in training camp since then, with his teammates only recently learning of the tragedy. Bills quarterback Josh Allen said on Saturday that “there’s nothing that you can say to make the situation any better except being there in whatever ways he needs.”

A young soccer player has died after collapsing on the field during a pre-season match. Quévin Castro, 25, collapsed mid-match in Malveira, Portugal. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died. His team, Real Sport Clube, paid tribute to the player. “Quévin Castro was far more than a player, he was a member of our family, leaving a mark on all those who had the privilege of knowing him, both on and off the pitch,” the team wrote in a social media post. Castro, who had previously played for West Bromwich Albion in the United Kingdom, was also mourned by his former team. “West Brom are devastated to learn of the untimely passing of Quévin Castro, aged just 25. Albion will pay tribute to Quévin on Sunday, with a period of applause in the 25th minute of the fixture against Burnley. James Morrison’s men will also wear black armbands,” the club announced. Castro returned to his home country of Portugal after joining West Brom in 2021, when he was still a teen. He also played for Burton, Notts County, Gateshead, and York before heading home to Real Sport Clube.

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If you’re planning to tune into the U.S. Open this year, there’s a new way to get in on the action (even if your knowledge of tennis begins and ends with Challengers). Polymarket, the popular prediction-market platform, increasingly allows users to trade on the outcomes of real-world events, ranging from politics and pop culture to sports.

Unlike a traditional sportsbook, Polymarket works more like a financial market: Users buy and sell contracts based on whether they think a particular outcome will happen, with prices fluctuating as the market’s collective expectations change. This means you can put your tennis predictions to the test while seeing what thousands of other traders think will happen in real time.

The timing is especially fitting for this year’s U.S. Open. Polymarket recently became the ATP Tour’s official prediction-market partner, expanding its presence in professional tennis and integrating real-time prediction markets with live match coverage.

With the 2026 U.S. Open kicking off Aug. 23 and the main singles draw beginning Aug. 30, users can follow the action (and the market’s shifting predictions) as some of the biggest names in tennis compete for the final Grand Slam title of the year.

U.S. Olympic track athlete Jenny Simpson has revealed she will never run again after surviving a cardiac arrest during a training session in June. Simpson, 39, collapsed while running in North Carolina, requiring CPR and an automated external defibrillator before being rushed to the hospital. Doctors later diagnosed her with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which caused her heart to stop. “My future is an incredible gift. It’s hopeful, and it will continue to have great purpose,” Simpson wrote on Instagram. “But my diagnosis also means it would be dangerous for me to return to running. That chapter has ended. Thankfully, my story hasn’t.” She asked fans not to tell her they feel sorry for her. “Please tell me you’re glad that I’m here,” she wrote. “That’s how I feel-so glad that I’m still here.” Simpson won bronze in the 1,500 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics and captured the world championship in 2011. She also earned world silver medals in 2013 and 2017 and previously held the American record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

A Texas court has reduced the penalty handed to Alex Jones for spreading misinformation about the Sandy Hook massacre. The Infowars founder was ordered to pay $50 million to Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, the parents of six-year-old Jesse Lewis, who was killed alongside 19 other young students and six adults in the tragic 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting. The Texas Third Court of Appeals left intact more than $4.1 million in compensatory damages awarded by a jury to Heslin and Lewis for defamation and emotional distress but slashed more than $45 million in additional punitive damages down to $1.5 million to comply with the state’s $750,000 cap for each plaintiff. Heslin and Lewis argued during the trial for damages that they’d received death threats and harassment from Jones’ supporters. Jones and his company have filed for bankruptcy.

Pizza Hut is dropping “Pizza” from its name as the chain begins a temporary football-themed makeover. The franchise is going simply by “HUT” to mark the start of football season, covering the word “Pizza” on some restaurant signs with a large red football banner. The company noted that “hut” has been called before football snaps for generations, adding that now “it’s calling your next order.” The company said in a social media post the temporary rebrand will be in place for the next 25 weeks. The transformation comes as the parent company Yum! Brands is preparing to sell the chain in a deal worth $2.7 billion. Private equity firm LongRange Capital agreed to acquire Pizza Hut’s operations outside mainland China for about $1.5 billion, while Yum China will buy the Chinese business for $1.2 billion. Pizza Hut Global CEO Aaron Powell announced on Friday that he will leave the company after the LongRange deal closes, despite being asked to remain in the role. “I’ve always believed in leaving things better than you found them—and this business is in a better state,” Powell wrote on LinkedIn. Pizza Hut is not the first major food chain to shorten an iconic name. Kentucky Fried Chicken became KFC in 1991 to distance itself from negative health connotations, while Dunkin’ Donuts officially became Dunkin’ in 2019. The Daily Beast has reached out to ‘Hut’ for comment.

A man dressed as Darth Vader used a San Diego City Council meeting to deliver a satirical warning about the city’s use of Flock surveillance cameras. The unidentified speaker appeared Thursday in a full Darth Vader costume during a meeting focused on public safety. When “Darth Vader” was called for public comment, he approached the podium and declared his “support” for the license plate-reading cameras in the Star Wars villain’s distinctive voice. Vader said the “Emperor” was also a fan because the technology could help them surveil “rebel scum,” follow children and even help him stalk his ex-girlfriend. The stunt appeared aimed at concerns over Flock’s automated license plate readers, which upload vehicle information to a searchable database used by law enforcement. The cameras have helped authorities find missing people and investigate major crimes, but privacy concerns have fueled growing opposition. The Washington Post identified nearly 50 cases in which officers were accused or charged with improperly using surveillance systems, including to track romantic partners.

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When it comes to liver-focused supplements, many of us assume they’re only for recovering from a hangover or for people who drink heavily (or at least frequently). But alcohol is just one small part of the equation. Your liver is responsible for hundreds of essential functions, including filtering waste products from the blood, processing nutrients, supporting metabolism, and producing bile. This digestive fluid helps break down fats and absorb fat-soluble vitamins. When bile secretion or liver function is less than optimal, digestion can suffer, possibly contributing to symptoms like bloating, gastrointestinal discomfort, and sluggishness.

In other words, whether you drink alcohol or not, your liver could probably use a little extra TLC—especially if you’re dealing with persistent digestive issues such as bloating, irregularity, or stomach discomfort. Vitamin Shoppe is celebrating Wellness Month this August, with a slew of products formulated to support your liver (along with digestion and metabolism). Still, our favorite is Dose For Your Liver’s liquid supplement.

Dose for Your Liver Daily Shot

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Dose For Your Liver has earned the nickname “liquid gold” for good reason. The daily wellness shot is formulated with science-backed ingredients traditionally associated with liver health, including turmeric, milk thistle, dandelion, and ginger. The formula also contains bioflavonoids and other plant compounds designed to support healthy liver function, digestion, and metabolism. Plus, it actually tastes good. The bright, citrusy flavor reminds me of the SunnyD “orange drink” I grew up on, minus the artificial ingredients and sugar overload. Instead, you’re getting a concentrated mixture of botanicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may help support the body’s natural detoxification processes and general digestive health.

If you’re looking to give your liver (and, by extension, your digestive system) a little extra support without adding yet another capsule to your supplement routine, Dose For Your Liver offers a convenient way to combine several popular wellness ingredients into one surprisingly delicious daily shot. Grab a bottle (or two) on sale at The Vitamin Shoppe this month.

A car salesman has been declared a Belgian prince after the king’s brother identified him as his secret son. King Philippe’s younger brother, 63-year-old Prince Laurent, identified the 26-year-old Clément Vandenkerckhove as his son about six months ago, with details reported Wednesday. The new prince has equal rights to his father’s private estate alongside his three siblings: half-sister Princess Louise, 20, half-brothers Prince Nicolas, 20, and Prince Aymeric, 19. Vandenkerckhove has embraced the new title but will not receive a royal allowance, take on royal duties, or join the line of succession to the Belgian throne. He remains undecided on whether he will take on Laurent’s Saxe-Coburg family name. “I am proud of the name Vandenkerckhove,” the young prince said. “If I were to sacrifice that family name, it would be a betrayal of everything my mother has done for me.” Vandenkerckhove, raised by his Belgian singer and socialite mother, Wendy Van Wanten, confirmed his royal status in a TV documentary on Belgian network VTM last September.

A tornado destroyed a Long Island beach club on Thursday evening. Videos taken at East Atlantic Beach, Nassau County, show a waterspout forming near the shoreline and moving toward the mainland, where it became a tornado. The county declared a state of emergency after the unlikely natural disaster. “A tornado touched down in Nassau County minutes ago in Atlantic Beach,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said in a statement amid the storm. He also reported in Thursday’s press release that there were no confirmed serious injuries. The rare weather occurrence, which was the first tornado to hit the island in five years, damaged many of Silver Point Beach Club’s cabanas and other structures. “There is property damage at Silver Point Beach Club and Sun and Surf that is being assessed right now,” Blakeman added. “A search team has been mobilized to make sure no one is trapped within the cabanas.”