Trump Is Building More Than a Ballroom—He’s Claiming the White House Forever

Big, sore-thumb, a--hole buildings have become Donald Trump’s signature brand, and part and parcel of his public identity. His aesthetic is not just about vulgarity, but an opposing force—so of course he would build in Washington. Of course, he would look to reconfigure the White House! The White House ballroom, however, will not be completed—if it’s completed—until the end of his term. So if he’s not going to be able to get much use out of it, what’s its real use? Just being able to build it, for one thing. Nothing motivates Trump so much as provoking a fight and then winning it (or just prolonging it). His skills here are relentlessness; his true pleasure, nearly in a sexual sense, comes with crushing his opponents, disregarding civility and the rules of the game. Plus, he has additional expertise when it comes to actually building something in the face of people trying to stop him. The more you build, the harder it is to stop you. Doing most of the things that presidents have to do on a daily basis—so boring!—doesn’t give him pleasure. He barely pays attention. But having a big building project restores him. His ballroom will tower over the White House. It will effectively be the White House. The perpetual Trump White House. Will anyone even remember what used to stand in its place?

Click through and subscribe to Michael Wolff’s HOWL on Substack to see how Donald Trump plans to leave a permanent mark on Washington.

An internal investigation by The Athletic has found that former sports reporter Dianna Russini committed a “breach” of company policy by not disclosing her relationship with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. The investigation found that the pair’s close ties gave the appearance of a conflict of interest, “regardless of whether the relationship was romantic.” No conclusions were made about the nature of the relationship, which erupted into scandal after the New York Post published photos of the two looking cozy together at a resort. The images sparked questions about Russini’s coverage of the NFL, especially as a top insider. She was earning close to $800,000 as a senior reporter at The Athletic but stepped down in April after the photos caused an uproar.

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Whether you’re looking to create a shaded spot for outdoor date nights or family barbecues, you can transform any outdoor space with the world’s most popular modern pergola kit from Hanso Home. Its latest design, the Smart Motorized Louvered Pergola, is built with Category 5 hurricane-rated T6 aerospace-grade aluminum and features a laundry list of sophisticated design specs, including adjustable louvers to control the sun, a 100 percent rain- and rust-proof build, an optional remote-operated roof, and an enhanced LED lighting kit. The newest pergola is also engineered for 165 mph wind resistance, withstanding near-hurricane-force winds with louvers closed and hurricane-force winds with louvers open.

Hansø Horizon Smart Pergola

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You don’t have to have a backyard villa to elevate your backyard space with Hanso Home’s new-and-improved pergola. Although the pergola does not come assembled (you can also hire their team to assemble it for you for an additional fee), it is easy to self-assemble with two people in two to four hours, which is one of the reasons that it’s a top choice for U.S. renovation contractors—along with the fact that adding a premium pergola to your yard can increase your home’s value by an average of $27,000, according to the brand. Best of all, the Fifth-Generation Hanso Horizon Smart Pergola is built to last for at least 30 years and is backed by a ten-year warranty.

An American Airlines flight bound for Chicago O’Hare was forced to abort takeoff from New York City’s LaGuardia Airport Thursday morning after striking a bird, officials said. The Boeing 737-800 was about to take off around 8:20 a.m. when the bird strike caused the crew to make a brief ground stop at the airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Bird strikes at LaGuardia are not uncommon—there have already been 94 this year, according to FAA records. Since 1990, there have been over 3,800 incidents involving wildlife. The most famous was the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson.” Just six minutes after US Airways Flight 1549 took off from LaGuardia, the plane struck a flock of Canada geese that disabled both engines. Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger safely landed the aircraft in the Hudson River, saving all 155 people aboard. The FAA is investigating Thursday’s incident. Departures from LaGuardia were also delayed by an average of 45 minutes Thursday because of bad weather in the area.

Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka has snapped at a reporter whom she accused of misportraying her buildup to the U.S. Open. Sabalenka, 28, tore into a journalist during a post-match news conference for implying she was partying last week instead of preparing for the tournament in New York. After congratulating Sabalenka for her second-round victory, Matt Futterman of The Athletic began to ask, “I’m super curious, how are you finding your mood now that the tournament has started. Obviously, last week it was lots of parties and fun and stuff like that.” Sabalenka cut him off. “You guys are a joke—parties and fun,” she said. “Like, why would you even say that? Why would you even think about that? Like, what kind of question is that? Just because I posted some activities with brands, you think I’ve been partying and not training?” Futterman attempted to backtrack, but the tennis pro blew him off. “Next question,” she said.

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Whether you’re diving into a new fling or flying solo this fall, Lovehoney makes either ride a lot more satisfying. And right now, the premium sexual wellness retailer is slashing prices for Labor Day. From now until Sept. 14, you can save up to 70 percent sitewide, along with an extra 20 percent off all sale items. From vibrators to lingerie to lube, Lovehoney has everything you need to bring your fantasies to life.

Not sure where to start? Check out We-Vibe’s most advanced couples’ vibrator yet. It’s designed with fusion wave technology that delivers rhythmic, wave-like vibrations to the clitoris and G-spot simultaneously. The real fun, however, comes with the remote. Either you or your partner can control the toy by squeezing the remote to increase the intensity of the vibrations.

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Another great choice is Svakom’s Clitoral Stimulator. This dual-action toy pairs powerful suction with precise licking. It features ten distinct rhythmic modes ranging from a gentle purr to an explosive roar, plus three gradually intensifying levels of suction, giving you endless ways to edge yourself. Most importantly, this tongue never gets tired.

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If you’re still not sure where to start, try Lovehoney’s AI assist. This feature can help you find the perfect toy, no matter your experience level.

A Survivor Greece contestant who lost his leg after being struck by a tour boat’s propeller while filming the reality show is suing its producers for $100 million. Stavros Floros, a 21-year-old beekeeper, was spearfishing for food on May 11 when the propeller struck him. His lawsuit alleges that producers required contestants to spearfish in open water frequented by tourist boats without providing adequate safety measures, such as rescue boats, protected zones or warning markers despite previous close calls. The reality star lost his leg in the ocean and said that only a “tourniquet applied by a stranger aboard the offending tourist boat kept him alive.” Floros stayed in a Miami hospital for 61 days after the accident, undergoing multiple surgeries. “From the very first moment, there was an immediate response to provide assistance and safely transport the injured contestant, while the competent port authorities are investigating the causes of the incident in order to fully determine the circumstances,” the show’s production company AcunMedya said in a statement following the tragedy. The show was subsequently suspended indefinitely.

Tennis superstar Carlos Alcaraz says he will be taking more breaks from the game as his career progresses—even if it means missing tournaments. The Spaniard made the admission Tuesday after winning in the second round of the U.S. Open. Alcaraz, 23, missed four months—and two major tournaments, Wimbledon and the French Open—this year after injuring his right wrist. That involuntary time off appears to have shown him the benefits of long breaks. “I took more than I wanted, to be honest, but you know, seeing how tight is the calendar, obviously I don’t want to have this break because (of) an injury,” he said. “But in the future, I’m going to take some breaks, some long breaks. Maybe not four months, but one month, two months, missing some tournaments, because it’s impossible to play them all.” Alcaraz suggested that these breaks may well prevent injuries that would otherwise force him to miss more time. “We are seeing a lot of players getting injured, a lot of players getting tired. If they don’t do anything about it, we are going to see even more in the future.”

A man trapped inside a San Francisco garbage truck has been rescued after a passerby heard screams coming from the vehicle. The truck driver had already compacted the trash once when the person alerted him around 4:11 a.m. on Wednesday, People reported. The driver then shut off the truck and heard the man crying for help. Firefighters determined it was too dangerous to dump the load and instead began digging through the garbage by hand. About 25 firefighters spent more than two hours working to reach the man, who remained conscious and responsive throughout the rescue. Paramedics inserted an IV into his arm to guard against crush syndrome, a potentially deadly condition caused by prolonged compression. The man was freed before 7 a.m. and taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital in serious condition, The San Francisco Standard reported. Officials said he had apparently climbed into a dumpster before it was emptied into the truck. The incident remains under investigation.

The cause of death for voice actor Peter Cullen, who played the role of Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise, has been revealed. A death certificate, obtained by TMZ, said Cullen died at his Los Angeles home on Aug. 26 following a cardiac arrest due to respiratory arrest. The underlying cause for the 85-year-old’s death was listed as malignant neoplasm of the lower lobe of the lungs. Cullen is best known for playing the deep-voiced hero Optimus Prime in the original 1984 Transformers, as well as in multiple Hollywood films and spin-offs between 2007 and 2023. His other iconic roles include the depressive donkey Eeyore in The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, as well as providing the distinct clicking noises made by the Predator in the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film. Cullen was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards in 2023, following his decades-long career voicing animated characters. In a statement following his death, Cullen’s family asked fans to honor his “remarkable legacy by serving your communities and leading others with compassion, integrity, and loyalty, and always remember ‘be strong enough to be gentle.’”

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Labor Day weekend may mark the unofficial end of summer, but it also signals the beginning of another season: hosting season. Between football watch parties, backyard get-togethers, kids’ sleepovers, and the seemingly endless string of holidays that follow through the remainder of the year, fall has a way of making you suddenly notice every stain, dust bunny, and suspicious spot on the rug you’ve ignored all summer.

Fortunately, you don’t have to wait until your in-laws are 20 minutes away to start panic-cleaning. Right now, Bissell is offering Labor Day savings on several of its bestselling cleaning essentials (including the viral Little Green Mini Upholstery Cleaner), with advanced cleaning and pet essentials designed to tackle everything from everyday pet hair and tracked-in dirt to the inevitable mid-party spill.

BIssell PowerClean DualBrush Cordless Vacuum

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And if you have pets, kids, or overly enthusiastic red-wine drinkers in your orbit, having a dedicated spot cleaner on standby can be especially useful. Rather than hauling out a full-size carpet cleaner every time someone spills a drink or a four-legged guest leaves muddy paw prints behind, Bissell’s portable cleaners are engineered to tackle smaller messes on carpets, rugs, upholstery, stairs, and other tough-to-clean surfaces.

For larger pre-hosting projects, the sale also includes options to give carpets and floors a more thorough refresh before guests arrive. In other words, whether you’re trying to erase evidence of summer from your living room or simply want to be prepared for whatever mess your next gathering leaves behind, Bissell’s Labor Day sale is a timely excuse to upgrade your cleaning arsenal before fall entertaining kicks into high gear.

Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner

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After all, you can’t prevent your friend’s dog from tracking mud across the rug (or someone from knocking over a glass of Cabernet), but you can make the cleanup a lot less painful—especially when these essentials are marked down up to 30 percent off.

Grammy Award-winning jazz singer Cassandra Wilson has died at 70. The acclaimed songwriter, known for her deep, smoky voice, is regarded as one of the genre’s most influential modern vocalists. She died on Tuesday morning; no cause of death was provided. Her representatives said in a statement to jazz radio station WBGO: “Cassandra Wilson transitioned peacefully at home, surrounded by family, close friends, and her manager.” Wilson was born in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1955, and started playing piano as a child and later learned guitar. She moved to New York in the early 1980s and became part of the city’s jazz scene. Over her career, Wilson shared the stage with legends such as Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis. She also wrote the acclaimed albums Blue Light ’Til Dawn (1993) and New Moon Daughter (1995). The latter became a major commercial success, earning Wilson a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance and selling more than 400,000 copies. Wilson won two Grammy Awards and received many other honors. In 2022, she was named an NEA Jazz Master, one of the highest honors in American jazz. “Cassandra Wilson carried the sound, spirit, and history of Mississippi with her wherever her music reached,” Jackson Mayor John Horhn said.

Gloria Steinem, the pioneering journalist and feminist activist, has died at the age of 92. Her death was confirmed via a statement on her Instagram page, although no cause was given. “Her words, actions, and example gave people permission to be their truest selves,” the post said. Steinem was a feminist activist her entire life, including serving as an honorary co-chair and delivering a powerful speech at the massive Women’s March against Donald Trump following his first inauguration in 2017. Steinem was recognized as one of the leading figures of the second-wave feminism movement of the late 1960s, whose gender equality activism resulted in widespread change such as legalizing abortion and allowing women to apply for credit cards without a man’s signature. Steinem was also a fearless reporter, including co-founding the feminist magazine Ms. and going undercover as a Playboy Bunny to expose the horrific working conditions of women at the New York Playboy Club. Her decades-long activism earned her the 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama, as well as the Lifetime Achievement in Journalism Award from the Society of Professional Journalists. Steinem’s memoir, An Unexpected Life, is set for release on Sept. 22.