As we all collectively mourn the end of the Paris Olympics (which didn’t come before a shirtless man scaled the Eiffel Tower, and no, it wasn’t Tom Cruise, who later did a stunt jump from the top of the stadium during the closing ceremony), the torch has officially been passed, and the countdown is on for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. For those of us who need a sports fix before then, we can find comfort in the fact that the WNBA playoffs and NFL season kick off next month. New stadium snacks are already being unveiled, including this cotton candy burrito, which seems questionable, but looks more appetizing than I thought it would. Are those Fruit Loops? Now let’s get to the news...
— Marina Carver / Senior Editor / Brooklyn, NY
What's Happening
Sports
A League of Their Own
What's going on: Throughout the Paris Olympics, the world watched as US women experienced triumph after triumph (see: Simone Biles, Ilona Maher, and Katie Ledecky). The final weekend of the Games was no exception: The USWNT won gold after beating Brazil 1-0 (thank you, Mallory Swanson). A’ja Wilson led the US women’s basketball team to victory against France — marking the first time in Olympic history that a basketball team has won eight consecutive gold medals. And Olivia Reeves is bringing home the US’ first Olympic gold medal in weightlifting in 24 years. Of course, we can’t forget Team USA’s track and field stars — from Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (a queen — just look at her crown) to Sha’Carri Richardson (another queen with a viral stare).
What it means: US women dominated in Paris. They earned a combined 26 gold medals — the most by a women’s team in a single Olympics, according to ESPN. If you do the math, that’s 65% of the US’ gold medals this year. When you factor in silver and bronze, the US women won more medals than the US men and entire countries, including Australia, Great Britain, Japan, and even the host country, France. As NBC News put it: If the US women were their own nation, they’d rank third for the highest number of medals. We don’t know about you, but we can’t wait for LA 2028.
Trump Campaign Was Hacked By…Someone Named "Robert"?
What's going on: Over the weekend, former President Trump’s campaign pointed fingers at Iran for allegedly stealing and sharing sensitive internal communications. Campaign officials did not provide any evidence that Iran was behind the attack. Instead, they cited Microsoft’s recent report stating that Iranian hackers targeted a presidential campaign with a spear-phishing email — though, the company didn’t specify which campaign. Politico first reported the hack on Saturday, revealing it received anonymous emails last month from an AOL account belonging to a so-called “Robert” — including docs that appeared to be from a senior Trump campaign official. Among the other documents: A 271-page research dossier listing JD Vance’s record, statements, and “potential vulnerabilities” if he were selected as VP. We wonder if the “childless cat ladies” comment made it in.
What it means: The alleged hacking puts a spotlight on the risks campaigns face in the digital era. In 2016, WikiLeaks released nearly 20,000 emails from the Democratic National Committee server. It also puts potential foreign election interference front and center, with less than three months to go before Election Day. An official with the National Security Council said it’s taking any reports of interference “extremely seriously” and deferred to the Justice Department on this alleged incident. Meanwhile, an Iranian representative from the UN told The Associated Press it does not give “any credence to such reports.”
Schools Are Cracking Down On Student Phone Use — Will it Help?
What's going on: This year, back to school season isn’t just about cute folders and freshly sharpened pencils — students, teachers, and parents in a handful of states (including Indiana, Louisiana, and South Carolina) are facing new laws aimed at cutting down kids’ phone use during school hours. So far, ten states have passed laws or adopted policies to curb smartphone-related distractions, with more states likely to follow. Teachers in particular have been pushing for such legislation for years, with 72% of high school teachers saying students’ phone use in the classroom is distracting and a "major problem," per a Pew Research poll this year. Many students, you guessed it, are against the bans, and some parents still want their children to have access to phones for communication purposes.
What it means: These laws stem from bipartisan concerns around how phones affect kids, their mental health, and attention spans. Beyond the issue of distraction, a significant worry is the use of cell phones for bullying, especially in the AI era. With that said, these phone bans can’t entirely solve these problems, as most students will still have access to school-provided laptops. One student tech risk-monitoring service found over 8.5 million cases of cyberbullying on Google Docs since 2019, and more than half a million involving Microsoft Teams. Still, lawmakers and teachers are hopeful the new rules — which may direct students to put their phones in locked pouches or even in “phone jail” — will improve concentration, communication, and reduce bullying.
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Extra Credit
Watch
After a two-year hiatus, Industry is back. The third season of the HBO series — which has been sold as a younger and hotter version of Succession or Billions — picks back up at Pierpoint & Co., the fictional bank in London where deeply Gen Z traders ruthlessly navigate the seedy world of finance. Season 3 features more shifting alliances and juicy drama as Pierpoint dives into “ethical investing” — whatever that means. Described by critics as both “brutal” and “intoxicating,” this new season — which premiered last night — is proof that good things are worth waiting for.
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Settle This
We can’t believe it either, but the Paris Olympics have already come to an end — which country won the most gold medals?
Wake your brain up this Monday with a game of Flipart. Just rotate the pieces to fit within the frame and get ready to feel the rush when they all fall into place. Get into it.
