Vigilantes, protectors and killers
Ohio corrections officer killed during inmate assault Christmas morning: 'Made the ultimate sacrifice'
An inmate allegedly assaulted and killed a veteran corrections officer on Christmas Day at an Ohio prison, an attack authorities said was "beyond comprehension."
foxnews.com
‘I have a blood test coming up — how should I prepare?’: Ask a doctor
Blood tests are common, but can cause fear or anxiety for some. Fox News Digital spoke with a doctor about what you can do to be prepared and comfortable before your next blood draw.
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Star Trek’s Cold War
This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here.I retired from a long teaching career a few years ago, but during my later years in the classroom, I offered a course on the Cold War and American pop culture, to try to help younger students understand the fears that dominated so much of American life in the 20th century. When my students saw how many times images of nuclear devastation (and references to Ronald Reagan) popped up on MTV back in the day, they started to get it. We also discussed The Twilight Zone, a series full of barely disguised allegories about the Cold War; the series’ head writer and creator, Rod Serling, a World War II veteran, explored traumas from his past and his worries about the future in many of the episodes he wrote.But the students were surprised—as you might be—to find that Star Trek, one of my childhood favorites, was an ongoing and intentional commentary about the Cold War during its three original seasons from 1966 to 1969.A number of science-fiction luminaries wrote for Star Trek, including Norman Spinrad, Theodore Sturgeon, and Harlan Ellison. But the creator and executive producer of the series, Gene Roddenberry, was the show’s moral center. Roddenberry was a former Los Angeles police officer who, like Serling, served in World War II and shared his preoccupation with issues of war, peace, and social justice. As the writer Marc Cushman documents in These Are the Voyages, an exhaustive multivolume history of the series, Roddenberry often drove these famous writers to fury with his heavy-handed rewrites. (He and Ellison, for one, remained enemies to the end of their lives.)To be sure, some Star Trek episodes were just fantasy and fluff. (“Spock’s Brain,” in which the first officer has his brain stolen by a planet of gorgeous but apparently daft women, is often regarded as the worst episode, but there are several contenders.) Others commented on American social problems, such as racism, with thuddingly obvious symbolism: “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” describes an endless war between two races on the same planet, one black on the right side of their body, one black on the left side, and … well, you get the picture.But to appreciate the Cold War setting of Star Trek, you need only to understand that the Earth-led United Federation of Planets (a free and democratic association committed to equality among all beings) was NATO. Captain James T. Kirk—born and raised in Iowa, according to the show—commanded its finest flagship, the USS Enterprise. The bad guys, standing in for the Soviet Union, were the Klingons, whose empire was a brutal and aggressive dictatorship.Two Cold War themes run through Star Trek: the risks of great-power confrontation, and the danger of ultimate annihilation. In “The Omega Glory,” a mediocre episode that Roddenberry pushed to have produced, the Enterprise finds an underdeveloped planet where Asian-looking “Kohms” oppress the white “Yangs.” Turns out it’s a planet that developed just like Earth in every way—there is some sci-fi hocus-pocus to explain how planets sometimes do this—including an America and a Red China (Kohms and Yangs, Communists and Yankees, get it?), and then wiped itself out with biological warfare.Other episodes were a bit more sophisticated. In “The Return of the Archons,” Kirk encounters a society that is run like a beehive by a single leader named Landru, who demands that all citizens be “of the body.” (Spoiler: He’s a computer. Out-of-control computers were another common theme.) As Cushman notes, the crushing of the individual for the good of the collective was an intentional statement about life under communism.Likewise, just as the U.S. and the Soviet Union competed against each other in the developing world of the 20th century, the Klingons and the Federation were often at odds with each other over developing planets in the future. In “The Trouble With Tribbles,” a famous episode and one of the show’s few comedic attempts, the Klingons and the Federation are competing to develop and win control of a neutral planet. The Federation’s bid is to offer to plant wheat; the Klingons respond by secretly poisoning the seeds. And in “Errand of Mercy,” the Enterprise races to stop a Klingon takeover of Organia, a strategically located planet seemingly run by annoying pacifist simpletons. But the Organians, it turns out, are actually super-advanced, nearly omnipotent beings who have had enough of all this conflict, and they impose a peace treaty on both sides, thus averting an interstellar war. (“It would have been glorious,” the disappointed Klingon commander says at the end.)In 1968, Star Trek made one of its most obvious comments on the Cold War in “A Private Little War,” an episode written about the Vietnam War. Once again, the Federation and the Klingons struggle over an underdeveloped and internally divided planet, but this time the Klingons start shipping weapons to one of the warring sides. The script went through various changes as the writers wrestled with whether Kirk should intervene and arm the planet’s more peaceful faction—which he finally does, with deep sadness.The original Star Trek often fudged the question of whether Earth experienced a nuclear war. (Later entries in the show’s canon, including the Star Trek movies, confirmed that a nuclear World War III did, in fact, take place.) But nuclear weapons were often on the writers’ minds. Spinrad, for example, created the “Doomsday Machine,” an alien device that devours entire planets; when it wanders into our galaxy, Kirk ruminates on how Earth once foolishly thought of thermonuclear bombs as an ultimate weapon.At times, the producers responded directly to Cold War events. In early 1968, the U.S. Navy ship Pueblo was captured by the North Koreans, who claimed that it was in their waters on a spy mission. They held the crew prisoner for nearly a year. The Star Trek writer Dorothy C. Fontana decided to put Kirk and Spock in a similar situation, with the Enterprise trapped after entering Romulan territory. The episode, titled “The Enterprise Incident,” aired while the Pueblo’s crew was still in captivity.One function of popular culture is that it helps artists and audiences work out their anxieties. The Cold War was a terrifying time, and its themes dominated American culture, whether in spy send-ups such as Get Smart or the weekly adventures of the Mission: Impossible team in fictional locales that were barely disguised representations of Communist countries. Science fiction is an excellent medium for allegory, and Star Trek promised that, somehow, we were all going to get through the 20th century and eventually live under the wise aegis of the Federation.Unfortunately, it also suggested that mankind was going to have to live through another Cold War all over again—at least until the Organians put a stop to it.Related: “My MTV Cold War retrospective” A brief history of Soviet rock and roll Here are three new stories from The Atlantic: The big thing to know about pain The agony of indulging in Squid Game again Bob Dylan broke rules. A Complete Unknown follows them. Dispatches Time-Travel Thursdays: In the 19th century, fear of rabies drove New York residents to complain about dogs. Some 150 years later, the city’s canine population is rabies free, but New Yorkers haven’t stopped complaining, Kate Cray writes. Explore all of our newsletters here.Evening Read Millennium Images / Gallery Stock Why Rich People Don’t Cover Their WindowsBy Michael Waters Walk down the block of a wealthy neighborhood at night, and you might be surprised by how much you can see. One uncovered window might reveal the glow of a flatscreen TV across from a curved couch; through another, you might glimpse a marble kitchen island and a chandelier. Of course, some of the curtains are closed—but many are flung open, the home’s interiors exposed, like you’re peering into a showroom. Uncovered windows have quietly become a fixture of high-end homes across America … Although this phenomenon is most visible in cities, the link between wealth and exposed windows extends across the United States. Most people do still close their shades, but Americans who earn more than $150,000 are almost twice as likely to leave windows uncovered as those making $20,000 to $29,000, according to a large 2013 study for the U.S. Department of Energy—nearly 20 percent of the first group compared with just over 10 percent of the second. The line isn’t smooth as you slide up and down the income scale, but the overall trend is clear: The choice to draw or not draw the curtains is in part driven by class. Read the full article.Culture Break MGM Studios Watch. Blink Twice (available to rent online) anticipated the culture shift that defined 2024.Read. These eight books will inspire you to move your body.Play our daily crossword.Isabel Fattal contributed to this newsletter.When you buy a book using a link in this newsletter, we receive a commission. Thank you for supporting The Atlantic.
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Why does Trump want to acquire the Panama Canal, Greenland and Canada?
President-elect Donald Trump spent Christmas Day laying out his foreign policy aspirations for his second term, including his threat to retake control of the Panama Canal. He also suggested the U.S. could take control of Greenland and Canada. CBS News political reporter Taurean Small has more on his recent statements and how the world reacted.
cbsnews.com
A land parcel on an ultra-exclusive Florida island has listed for $200M — offering the rare chance to live next to Jeff Bezos
One of the most expensive pieces of real estate currently on the market in the United States is on exclusive Indian Creek Island off of Miami's coast.
nypost.com
Woman says to-be fiancé died in Christmas house fire searching for ring
A California man died in a Christmas morning house fire while searching for an engagement ring for his girlfriend.
foxnews.com
Israel's attorney general orders investigation into Netanyahu's wife
The probe will focus on the findings of a recent investigative news program on alleged actions of Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister's wife, officials said.
cbsnews.com
'Home Alone' director finally answers what the McCallisters did for a living
"Home Alone" director, Chris Columbus, shared on The Hollywood Reporter's "Awards Chatter" podcast how Macaulay Culkin was cast and what the characters did for work.
foxnews.com
Heat president Pat Riley shuts down Jimmy Butler trade rumors, addressing 'distraction' head on
Miami Heat president Pat Riley addressed rumors that the organization is willing to trade six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler, shutting them down as they've become a "distraction."
foxnews.com
Watch ‘Call Her Daddy’ host Alex Cooper discuss the LA home she bought for parents
Alex Cooper revealed the very generous gift she gave her parents for Christmas. On the latest episode of “Call Her Daddy,” the podcast host reflected on the “emotional moment” she and husband Matt Kaplan told her parents the big news. Watch what she had to say in the clip! Subscribe to our YouTube for the latest on all your...
nypost.com
‘Baby Driver’ actor Hudson Joseph Meek’s death under investigation as accident, no foul play suspected: report
Substances reportedly did not play a role.
nypost.com
‘Hugely grateful’ Kate Middleton offers rare comment on her cancer journey as she hugs a fellow survivor
The Princess of Wales revealed her cancer diagnosis in March and confirmed in September that she had completed her chemotherapy treatments.
nypost.com
Bizarre NYC street aquarium closed because of cold, snow — but locals say fish were stashed in secret location
Something smells fishy. A Bed-Stuy fire-hydrant-fueled street aquarium that went viral on social media was forced to close due to frigid temperatures and snow — but organizers claim the fish are alive and swimming in a secret location. The attraction in a shallow tree put has drawn concern from animal activists who said the conditions...
nypost.com
North Texas braces for tornados, flooding and thunderstorms
A wave of storms is hitting the South with most of northeastern Texas and parts of Louisiana under tornado watches. Texas also faces potential hail, flash floods and wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour. CBS News national reporter Kati Weis reports.
cbsnews.com
High school basketball coach dead, 8-year-old daughter missing after Christmas Eve tragedy
An Oklahoma basketball coach was found dead, and his 8-year-old daughter remains missing after the family's car was swept away by raging floodwaters on Christmas Eve.
foxnews.com
Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt engaged
Newly engaged Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt originally bonded over their deep faith and the two have placed God first in their relationship.
foxnews.com
Florida pizza delivery worker allegedly stabs pregnant customer after $2 tip
A pizza delivery worker, upset over a tip, allegedly repeatedly stabbed a pregnant woman at a Florida motel, a sheriff's office says.
cbsnews.com
Gen Z cashiers have no idea whether dollar bills are real — and it’s driving bosses and customers batty
Apparently, real doesn't always recognize real.
nypost.com
Watch Patrick Mahomes explain why he awkwardly rejected Netflix’s football cake
The harder the battle, the bigger the victory. Patrick Mahomes explained in an interview with Netflix why he didn’t give into his temptations and awkwardly rejected Netflix’s football cake. Watch what he had to say in the clip! Subscribe to our YouTube for the latest on all your favorite stars.
nypost.com
ChatGPT hit by outages as OpenAI reports "high error rates"
The OpenAI issue was caused by an "upstream provider," according to the artificial intelligence organization.
cbsnews.com
Man sneaking a smoke in between NYC subway cars killed in gruesome Christmas night mishap: sources
A 49-year-old straphanger smoking between subway cars was crushed to death after he slipped onto the tracks on the Upper East Side Christmas night, according to sources and police.
nypost.com
Alleged Boston porch pirate dubbed the 'Tom Brady' of thefts arrested with bags of packages, police say
An alleged Massachusetts porch pirate being compared to NFL legend Tom Brady was arrested on Christmas Eve for multiple package thefts, police said.
foxnews.com
Seattle doctor rushing to do trans surgeries before Trump inauguration slammed in scathing ad campaign
Seattle-based Dr. Javad Sajan, who crowed about his race to complete “all my trans surgeries before Trump tries to stop me" in a viral TikTok video last month is getting hit with an ad campaign accusing him of profiting off those "life-altering surgeries" on children.
nypost.com
Watch Hoda Kotb get emotional from Savannah Guthrie’s gift in one of her final ‘Today’ shows
Secret Santa turned bittersweet. The anchors of the “Today” show exchanged their Secret Santa gifts on a recent broadcast, and Hoda Kotb broke down in tears over Savannah Guthrie’s present. Watch her reaction in the clip! Subscribe to our YouTube for the latest on all your favorite stars.
nypost.com
Osteria Mozza is a smash hit from the start in Georgetown
Nancy Silverton and Stephen Starr bring a Midas touch to a beguiling new dining room and market on M Street.
washingtonpost.com
Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Order’ on VOD, A Jude Law Vs. Nicholas Hoult Thriller About The Pursuit Of Violent 1980s White Supremacists
Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult are at odds – and terrific – as a federal agent and a neo-Nazi in The Order.
nypost.com
NFL Hall of Famer calls out George Pickens amid Steelers three-game slide
NFL legend Terrell Owens called out Steelers wide receiver George Pickens for his mishaps in Pittsburgh's third straight loss, this time against the Kansas City Chiefs Christmas Day.
foxnews.com
2 former FTX executives get time trimmed off their prison sentences
Ryan Salame’s release was moved up more than a year and Caroline Ellison won back a few months for their roles in the 2022 collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange.
washingtonpost.com
Israeli attorney general orders probe into allegation that Netanyahu's wife harassed opponents
The Israeli Justice Ministry said it would investigate reports Sara Netanyahu harassed opponents and witnesses in the Israeli leader’s corruption trial.
latimes.com
Historic Knickerbocker Greys youth group spared from eviction — but fight might not be over yet
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed a bill meant to stop the Park Avenue Conservancy, which runs the armory, from evicting the Knickerbocker Greys, a youth cadet program founded in 1881.
nypost.com
Kate Middleton makes rare comment about cancer battle after Christmas Day service: ‘I’m hugely grateful’
Sharing gratitude after her difficult year.
nypost.com
'Absolute necessity': Trump sparks concerns after floating desire to control Panama Canal, Greenland
Trump suggested the U.S. could take control of Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal.
foxnews.com
Retiring Dem congresswoman blasts colleagues who ‘just stay forever’ in Washington
New Hampshire lawmaker hits colleagues who stay in Congress for too long: "I’m trying to set a better example."
foxnews.com
Marianne Williamson, 2-time Dem presidential candidate, launches bid for DNC chair
Williamson is calling for a reinvention of the Democrat party.
abcnews.go.com
Dec 26: CBS News 24/7, 1pm ET
38 killed in Kazakhstan plane crash; Beyoncé performs NFL halftime show
cbsnews.com
Justin Baldoni's ex-publicist sues over alleged Blake Lively smear campaign
Stephanie Jones has sued Baldoni and his crisis PR team alleging a smear campaign to discredit her and Blake Lively during the fallout from 'It Ends With Us.'
latimes.com
Donald Trump Jr. brings girlfriend Bettina Anderson to Mar-a-Lago for Christmas dinner
The socialite posted a selfie to Instagram in a festive red frock, paired with jewelry including a necklace with a cross pendant and black heels.
nypost.com
Delta flight bound for Las Vegas diverted to Kansas City airport due to 'unruly passenger'
An unruly passenger on a flight bound for Las Vegas forced travelers to land in Kansas City as they waited for more than two hours on the tarmac.
foxnews.com
Trump spokesperson rips Dems for wanting to ‘steal the election’ after op-ed argues Congress can block him from White House
"Oh, look. Democrats want to steal the election and invalidate the will of the American people," Steven Cheung wrote on X in response to the op-ed.
nypost.com
Madonna celebrates Christmas and Hanukkah with much younger boyfriend and four of her kids
The superstar is dating someone 38 years her junior.
nypost.com
CNN's Dovere: Biden Will Be Remembered as the 'Guy Who Was Just in Between the Trump Terms'
CNN senior reporter Edward-Isaac Dovere said Thursday on CNN's "Inside Politics" that President Joe Biden will be remembered as the guy who was in between the non-consecutive presidential terms of Donald Trump. The post CNN’s Dovere: Biden Will Be Remembered as the ‘Guy Who Was Just in Between the Trump Terms’ appeared first on Breitbart.
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Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen airport where WHO chief was about to board plane
Israel says it is targeting Houthi military sites in Yemen's rebel-held capital city, Sanaa.
cbsnews.com
Madonna shares rare photo with daughters, boyfriend Akeem Morris celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah ‘all at once’
The Queen of Pop shared a video montage featuring photos from Wednesday's festivities, as both Christmas and the start of Hanukkah fell on the same day this year.
nypost.com
AP Takes Heat After Olympic Boxer Who Failed Gender Tests Won Third Place for 'Female Athlete of the Year'
The AP has come under fire for handing out its third place slot for female athlete of the year to Algerian Olympic boxer Imane Khelif. The post AP Takes Heat After Olympic Boxer Who Failed Gender Tests Won Third Place for ‘Female Athlete of the Year’ appeared first on Breitbart.
breitbart.com
Teddy Bridgewater comes out of retirement to sign with Lions after winning high school state title as coach
After coaching his alma mater to a high school state title in Florida, Teddy Bridgewater is out of retirement and back with the Detroit Lions.
foxnews.com