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  • Selma Blair was struggling emotionally hours before alleged violent airplane altercation: Here’s what she said

    Selma Blair was struggling emotionally hours before alleged violent airplane altercation: Here’s what she said

    The actress shared an emotional Instagram message just hours before her arrest following an alleged violent incident aboard a Delta flight. Her representatives say she experienced a medical emergency. Selma Blair appeared to be struggling emotionally just hours before an alleged violent altercation aboard a Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to New York City on Sunday, October 11, 2026.

    The 54-year-old actress, best known for her roles in Cruel Intentions and Legally Blonde, admitted she was feeling “sad” and “not great” in an Instagram exchange before the incident that resulted in her arrest at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

    Selma Blair is seen at Los Angeles International Airport© GC Images
    Selma Blair is seen at Los Angeles International Airport

    According to TMZ‘s October 12 report, Blair responded to a social media follower with a candid message about her emotional state. “I’m sad. I’m grateful. I hope. I am not great,” Blair wrote.

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    The troubling exchange has attracted renewed attention following reports that Blair allegedly assaulted two flight attendants during her cross-country journey. Her representatives have since confirmed that she experienced a medical emergency, while her attorney maintains that the alleged conduct was unintentional.

    Selma Blair’s Emotional Instagram Message Before Her Arrest

    Hours before boarding the flight that would lead to her arrest, Blair interacted with followers on Instagram.

    According to Page Six, a fan had left an encouraging comment expressing happiness that the actress appeared to be enjoying life and making new memories. Blair liked the comment but responded with a message suggesting that her emotional reality was more complicated than her social media posts indicated.

    Selma Blair was struggling emotionally hours before alleged violent airplane altercation© GC Images
    Selma Blair was struggling emotionally hours before alleged violent airplane altercation

    Her words revealed a mixture of sadness, gratitude, and hope, although she did not explain what was troubling her.

    The actress also shared an Instagram post featuring photographs of herself, friends, and her service dog, Scout, along with an aerial image taken from an airplane. “From LA to New Mexico to La to nyc to LA Scout and I have been busy. I miss you,” she captioned the post.

    The montage was set to the Pixies song Wave of Mutilation, according to Page Six.

    What Happened During Selma Blair’s Alleged Delta Flight Altercation?

    Blair was arrested after authorities responded to reports of a physically abusive passenger aboard a Delta flight traveling from Los Angeles to New York on October 11. According to Reuters, two flight attendants reported injuries following the incident, and one was transported to a hospital for medical evaluation.

    TMZ reported that Blair allegedly punched one flight attendant and bit another after attempting to open an aircraft door during the flight. Those specific allegations have not been established in court.

    The aircraft landed at JFK Airport at approximately 11 p.m., where Port Authority police took Blair into custody and transported her to a hospital for evaluation. Air traffic communications also indicated that medical assistance was requested for injuries reportedly involving bite marks and a bloody nose.

    The FBI is investigating the alleged in-flight assault. 

    Selma Blair’s Representative Says She Suffered a Medical Emergency

    Following the actress’s arrest, her representative addressed the incident in a statement provided to several news outlets, including ABC News. “Selma experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct,” the representative said.

    The statement added that Blair received immediate medical attention after landing and was in stable condition.

     Selma Blair is seen on July 08, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. © GC Images
    Selma Blair is seen on July 08, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.

    Her attorney, Shawn Barnes, offered further context during her arraignment in Queens Criminal Court on Monday, October 12. According to Us Weekly, Barnes told the judge that Blair had missed several doses of medication used to manage severe neurological symptoms associated with her multiple sclerosis.

    He also explained that the actress had been working extensive hours before traveling and had fallen and struck her head during the flight. Barnes argued that these circumstances, combined with the flight’s altitude, contributed to severe confusion and disorientation. “This was not an intentional assault,” Barnes told the court.

    The attorney’s explanation represents Blair’s legal defense and has not been independently established as the medical cause of the incident. 

    Selma Blair Pleads Not Guilty to Assault Charges

    Blair’s legal difficulties extended beyond the allegations involving flight attendants. According to The Associated Press, the actress was also accused of kicking a Port Authority police officer while being secured to a stretcher and subsequently kicking a nurse at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.

    Charging documents alleged that the officer suffered pain and swelling, while the nurse reported pain in her chest. Blair appeared in Queens Criminal Court on October 12, where her attorney entered a not guilty plea on her behalf to two counts of second-degree assault related to the officer and nurse.

    Selma Blair is seen on April 06, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.  © GC Images
    Selma Blair is seen on April 06, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.

    The judge set bail at $20,000 cash or a $60,000 bond, and Blair was subsequently released. Her next court hearing is scheduled for January 19, 2027.

    Separately, federal authorities are pursuing allegations connected to the incident aboard the aircraft. Blair is presumed innocent of the charges unless proven guilty. 

    Selma Blair Previously Experienced an Airplane Incident in 2016

    The latest allegations have also revived interest in an earlier airplane incident involving Blair. In June 2016, the actress was hospitalized following a disturbance aboard a flight from Cancún, Mexico, to Los Angeles.

    Selma Blair is seen in Studio City on March 04, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.© GC Images
    Selma Blair is seen in Studio City on March 04, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

    Blair subsequently apologized, explaining that she had mixed alcohol with medication and experienced a blackout. “I made a big mistake yesterday,” she said in a statement at the time, according to the Los Angeles Times.

    She also expressed regret for her actions.

    What’s Next for Selma Blair Following Her Arrest?

    Blair now faces an ongoing legal process as investigators examine the allegations surrounding her Delta flight and the events that followed her arrival in New York.

    Delta Air Lines has emphasized its commitment to passenger and crew safety, stating that it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward unlawful or disruptive behavior.

    Selma Blair on September 23, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. © Variety via Getty Images
    Selma Blair said she felt sad and not great hours before an alleged violent Delta flight incident. Here’s what happened, her medical update and latest legal news.

    Meanwhile, Blair’s representatives continue to characterize the incident as the result of a medical emergency.

  • Dolly Parton estate war rages on as nephew defends ‘threatening’ texts

    Dolly Parton estate war rages on as nephew defends ‘threatening’ texts

    Dolly Parton‘s estate battle is taking another dramatic turn, with the late country music legend’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, fighting back against accusations that he threatened people connected to her multimillion-dollar business empire.

    Seaver, 49, who served as Parton’s longtime head of security, insists that controversial text messages cited in a lawsuit were taken out of context. He claims the exchanges were private conversations between grieving friends, not threats of physical violence.

    Bryan Seaver, Dolly’s nephew, delivered the family’s message and shared personal memories of his famous aunt.© Redferns
    Bryan Seaver, Dolly’s nephew, delivered the family’s message and shared personal memories of his famous aunt.

    The escalating legal dispute has placed Seaver at odds with Parton’s longtime manager, Danny Nozell, who oversees She’s Alive, LLC, the company responsible for managing the singer’s business interests following her death on August 25, 2026.

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    Now, with a crucial court hearing approaching on October 20, Seaver is attempting to convince a Tennessee judge that the temporary restraining order against him should not remain in place. 

    Dolly Parton’s Nephew Claims His Threatening Texts Were Misinterpreted

    In a new affidavit filed Tuesday, October 13, Seaver denied allegations that he threatened violence against Parton’s business associates or employees.

    American singer-songwriter, actress, and businesswoman Dolly Parton, poses for a portrait circa 1995 at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. (Photo by Ron Davis/Getty Images)© Getty Images
    American singer-songwriter, actress, and businesswoman Dolly Parton

    The legal documents challenge the way his messages were presented in court, arguing that Nozell had previously been a close friend and trusted colleague.

    Seaver acknowledged using profanity and aggressive language while discussing business frustrations. However, he maintained that his comments concerned professional relationships and financial disagreements rather than anyone’s physical safety.

    According to Rolling Stone, Seaver stated in his affidavit: “I have never threatened physical harm to Mr. Nozell, to any SAL employee, contractor, attorney, advisor, or business partner, or to anyone else associated with SAL.”

    Parton had publicly acknowledged health challenges before her death, but the extent of her condition was not widely known© NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via
    As the legal battle continues, Seaver’s attorneys have emphasized the emotional toll on his family.

    He added that he had no intention of doing so.

    Seaver also argued that Nozell had encouraged him to promote his background in military contracting and security work, only to later cite references to that experience as evidence that he posed a danger.

    In one exchange, Seaver reportedly described himself as an international arms dealer and mercenary. He claimed Nozell reacted positively to the message at the time. “Clearly, he wasn’t frightened or intimidated,” Seaver said in his filing, according to Rolling Stone. 

    What Did Bryan Seaver Say in the Text Messages?

    The lawsuit filed by She’s Alive includes several inflammatory messages allegedly sent by Seaver around the time of Parton’s death.

    In one September 1 exchange cited in court documents, Seaver threatened to launch a podcast targeting Parton’s commercial relationships. According to The Associated Press, the message included a threat to create a podcast dedicated to “ruining Dolly’s brand partnerships.”

     Dolly Parton backstage at the 53rd annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. © Getty Images for CMA
    Dolly Parton backstage at the 53rd annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee.

    Seaver argued that his remarks were connected to a payment dispute and concerns about business practices, not an intention to physically harm anyone. Other communications referenced his experience with weapons and military contracting.

    One message reportedly included the statement, “I’m not an entertainment person. I’m a killer.” Seaver previously told ABC News that the remark referred to an inside joke within Parton’s inner circle. “Dolly called me her killer,” he explained, adding that the expression was a joke used among people close to the singer.

    He also insisted, “I’ve never threatened anyone.” The estate’s representatives, however, have presented the communications as evidence of escalating intimidation and potential retaliation. 

    Why Is Dolly Parton’s Estate Suing Her Nephew?

    The dispute erupted shortly after Parton’s death, when She’s Alive terminated Seaver and his private security company, Squadron Augmented Protection Services. Seaver had spent more than two decades working in security for his famous aunt, making the breakdown in their professional relationship particularly significant.

    The company managing Parton’s estate subsequently accused him of threatening and intimidating employees, advisers and business partners.

    Dolly Parton kept her cancer battle private © Getty Images
    Dolly Parton’s estate battle intensifies as nephew Bryan Seaver claims threatening texts were taken out of context and fights a restraining order in court this month.

    Court filings alleged that Seaver’s conduct created serious safety concerns and disrupted professional relationships. A Tennessee judge granted a temporary restraining order in September, restricting Seaver and his security company from entering She’s Alive properties or coming within 1,000 feet of certain employees and business associates.

    Seaver disputes the allegations and argues that the restrictions are excessive. He claims Parton’s extensive business connections make the order difficult to follow, potentially limiting his ability to conduct ordinary business across Nashville.

    The judge has not yet made a final determination on whether the order should continue. 

    A $251,000 Payment Dispute Adds Another Twist

    Money appears to be another major factor in the increasingly contentious legal fight. Seaver claims that his security company was owed approximately $251,000 for services connected to Parton’s properties.

    According to his court filing, the payment dispute involved Herschend Family Entertainment, the company associated with Dollywood and Parton’s SongTeller Hotel. Seaver says the outstanding amount has since been paid.

    The singer always had a love of butterflies© Getty
    The singer always had a love of butterflies

    He also alleges that disagreements over security arrangements at the SongTeller Hotel contributed to the breakdown in relations. His affidavit raised concerns about alleged construction delays, fire inspections and the conduct of contracted security personnel.

    He maintains that his complaints were intended to address business problems rather than intimidate employees.

    The estate’s lawsuit presents a substantially different account, alleging that Seaver’s conduct went beyond an ordinary commercial disagreement. 

    Dolly Parton’s Personal Letter Could Strengthen Nephew’s Defense

    One of the most striking developments involves a letter Parton reportedly wrote in November 2024 recommending Seaver’s security company. The letter, included as an exhibit in his court filing, praised his personnel as “very professional, very discreet, and very good at what they do.”

    Parton also reportedly described Seaver as her longtime security chief and encouraged hotel management to consider his company for security services. Seaver is using that history to challenge the suggestion that he represented a danger to Parton’s business operations.

    NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 13: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Dolly Parton backstage at the 53rd annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Robby Klein/Getty Images for CMA) © Getty Images for CMA
    Dolly Parton backstage at the 53rd annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on November 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee.

    The singer had also selected him to announce her death publicly, underscoring the prominent role he occupied within her professional and personal circle.

    However, Parton’s earlier endorsement does not, by itself, resolve the allegations concerning Seaver’s later communications. 

    Dolly Parton’s Family Responds to the Estate Controversy

    As the legal battle continues, Seaver’s attorneys have emphasized the emotional toll on his family. In a statement shared with People on October 12, attorneys Dominic J. Leonardo and James L. Collier said their client had never sought public attention.

    They explained that Seaver was selected by Parton, with his family’s approval, to announce her passing. The lawyers also criticized how the dispute unfolded while relatives were mourning. “Seeing text messages that are misleading and taken out of context has been very hurtful to our client and his family,” the statement said.

    Dolly also performed that year at the ceremony© Gety
    Dolly Parton estate war rages on as nephew defends ‘threatening’ texts

    They argued that the initial restraining order was granted without the court hearing Seaver’s defense. The attorneys said their client hoped to resolve the dispute amicably while protecting Parton’s legacy. 

    Meanwhile, Parton’s sister Freida previously pushed back against suggestions that the entire family was fighting over the singer’s fortune.

    In a social media statement reported by Axios, she said no one within the family was fighting over the estate. “We all love Bryan, just as we love each other,” she wrote.

  • Donald Trump Says Execution Of Fort Hood Shooter Will Not Be Livestreamed

    Donald Trump Says Execution Of Fort Hood Shooter Will Not Be Livestreamed

    Donald Trump has reversed the Pentagon‘s plans to livestream the December execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, convicted of killing 13 and injuring dozens of others in a shooting rampage at Fort Hood.

    Trump posted on Truth Social on Thursday, “I think streaming the execution for all to see might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan but, many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die, through streaming, or through any other visual device. He will die, as scheduled, by firing squad, but this event will not be streamed.”

    When the Pentagon announced plans last week to stream the execution, it drew an immediate outcry, including from a number of religious groups and from politicians on the right and left. Trump indicated he was reconsidering the plan in comments to reporters this week.

    Had the administration followed through, it’s unlikely any of the major networks would have carried it. There also was some question of whether such an event would have been allowed on platforms like YouTube, given its terms of service.

    Trump wrote that “the execution may be viewed in person by the immediate families of the victims, if they so choose. They deserve to witness JUSTICE!”

    The execution by firing squad is scheduled for December 3.

    Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, called the plans to live stream the execution “a barbaric promotion of a culture of death.”

  • Gerard Piqué has date night with Clara Chía after a courtroom face-off with Shakira

    Gerard Piqué has date night with Clara Chía after a courtroom face-off with Shakira

    Gerard Piqué had a busy week. Seven days after a high-stakes reunion with Shakira within a courtroom in Barcelona, Piqué resurfaced in a more relaxed setting — alongside his long-term girlfriend, Clara Chía, at one of the most talked-about nights on Barcelona’s music calendar.

    Gerard Pique and Clara Chia enjoy a soccer game in Morocco, while Shakira was on tour with the children.
© Jordi Martin/The Grosby Group
    Pique and Clara Chia have been together since 2022

    The couple turned up at the farewell concert of the beloved Catalan band Oques Grasses, which is splitting up after a 16-year run. Thousands of people packed the stadium for the send-off, with Piqué and Chía among them. 

    He offered no comment to the press upon his arrival. His body language said plenty, though, holding on to Chía as the two arrived at the venue. Footage from the weekend showed the two exchanging sweet gestures throughout the night. 

    Piqué and Chía have been together since 2022. In their four years as a couple, the pair have kept things low-key, even though they’ve never hidden their dynamic. Every so often, the two reappear in venues like concerts and other public settings, reminding the world that the two are still going strong. 

    Gerard Pique and Clara Chia remain happy and in love© G3/The Grosby Group
    Gerard Pique and Clara Chia remain happy and in love

    Back to court with Shakira

    Piqué and Chía’s date night came on the heels of a tense outing that was under the sharp eye of the media. On October 6, Piqué and Shakira appeared before a judge in Barcelona to revisit the visitation arrangement for their sons, Milan and Sasha. The former couple signed and ratified the agreement in December 2022.

    The hearing drew so much attention that Shakira’s legal team issued a statement clarifying exactly what she was asking for. 

    Piqué wore a dark suit and an open-collar white shirt for the Barcelona court appearance.© Europa Press Entertainment
    Piqué wore a dark suit and an open-collar white shirt for the Barcelona court appearance.

    “The request is not intended to reduce the time the children spend with their father. Its goal is that the burden of traveling between Miami and Barcelona not fall solely on them, but be shared,” they said. 

    Shakira has also led a busy month. Earlier this week, she concluded her concert residency in Madrid, a chapter that has been pivotal for her career as an artist. “This month has been, I think, one of the most important of my career. This residency has been historic,” she said, as reported by PEOPLE en Español. 

    “You truly make time stop and make me strong. Because you give it to me, to come out here onstage every night with total joy and my heart feeling full.”

    A structured white shoulder bag and platform heels carried the coordinated palette through her accessories.© G3/The Grosby Group
    A structured white shoulder bag and platform heels carried the coordinated palette through her accessories.
  • Comcast Gave $7.5 Million To Help Fund Donald Trump’s White House Ballroom, New Report Reveals

    Comcast Gave $7.5 Million To Help Fund Donald Trump’s White House Ballroom, New Report Reveals

    Comcast gave $7.5 million to help Donald Trump fund a new White House ballroom, but the donation was well below that of an array of other contributions from major tech companies like Apple and Amazon, according to a new report.

    The Washington Post obtained a list of all major donors to the project. The White House had previously disclosed a list of donors, including Comcast, but did not include the amounts.

    The top contributors included Nvidia and Apple, which each gave $25 million, as did the Adelson Family Foundation and the Charlie Ergen household and donor advised fund, per the Post. Another $22 million came from Google’s settlement of Trump’s lawsuit after YouTube suspended his account in the wake of the January 6th attack on the Capitol. The Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Foundation gave $20.27 million. Ike Perlmutter, the former CEO of Marvel Entertainment, is a longtime supporter of the president. Amazon gave $5 million, per the report.

    Outside of Comcast, no other major media companies were listed as contributors of $100,000 or more.

    A Comcast spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    The total donations reached almost $330 million. It’s unclear how expensive the ballroom will end up costing, as previous reports have put the figure up to $500 million.

    A federal judge ruled earlier this year that ballroom construction had to stop because Congress first had to approve it. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon did allow for building of an underground bunker to continue.

    The Supreme Court, however, has allowed the ballroom to proceed as the case moves through lower courts. That may make the situation moot, as construction of the ballroom, replacing the East Wing of the White House, is well underway, with the framing of the structure visibly rising on the White House grounds.

  • Trump order fast-tracks logging on federal lands, but posts exaggerate scale

    Trump order fast-tracks logging on federal lands, but posts exaggerate scale

    Claim:

    U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would open up 59% of national forestland to logging.

    Rating:

    Mixture

    What’s True

    Trump signed an executive order allowing federal permitting agencies to ignore environmental protection laws in an effort to increase domestic timber and lumber production. The executive order also calls for expanding domestic logging production on federal lands. Following that executive order, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the USDA would attempt to roll back the Roadless Rule, which, at its height, prohibited logging on approximately 59 million acres of land.

    What’s False

    The order and proposed repeal of the Roadless Rule would not open 59% of national forests to logging. Rather, by Snopes’ calculations, it would allow logging on an additional 24% of national forestland.

    In October, posts on social media suggested that U.S. President Donald Trump signed an “emergency order” opening up 59% of U.S. national forests for logging. Snopes readers wrote in asking whether the rumor was accurate.

    The claim resembled one we fact-checked in March 2025. Then, we investigated a Trump executive order that social media posters claimed would result in 280 million acres of forest being clear-cut. We found the claim to be a mixture of true and exaggerated information.

    We came to the same conclusion on this new variant. While the claim is based partly in truth (the referenced “emergency order” is the same executive order we investigated in 2025), it also exaggerates the facts. We therefore rate it a mixture of true and false.

    Here’s a breakdown:

    The order is real

    On March 1, 2025, Trump signed an executive order aimed at fast-tracking logging on federal lands. The order, titled “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production,” directed the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, two of the largest caretakers of federal lands, to update guidelines in order to “facilitate increased timber production,” among other things.

    Trump’s executive order specifically asked those agencies to investigate and implement ways to increase both the speed and quantity of timber produced by cutting environmental regulations. 

    It asked the Fish and Wildlife Service to streamline approvals for forestry projects that could potentially be halted by the Endangered Species Act within 60 days of the order. It also asked the Agriculture and Interior departments (which control the Forest Service and BLM, respectively) to exempt “timber thinning” and “timber salvage activities” from the National Environmental Policy Act. That act, signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1970, requires the federal government to consider the environmental effects of its proposed actions through environmental impact statements.

    The executive order also encouraged the Agriculture and Interior departments to use the emergency regulations of the Endangered Species Act “to the maximum extent permissible under applicable law.” Those regulations allow the act to be bypassed in situations where time is of the essence, such as “acts of God, disasters, casualties, national defense or security emergencies.” (Trump’s executive order was issued alongside another order declaring that importing timber and lumber poses a risk to national security.) Under the emergency regulations, the Fish and Wildlife Service provides “strictly advisory” recommendations for how to protect endangered species that can be “implemented at the discretion of the emergency response personnel.”

    In other words, the executive order would allow the logging industry to bypass environmental restrictions found in the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act.

    The acreage

    The Forest Service manages 193 million acres of land across the country (about 188 million acres of national forest). Unlike national parks, national forests were established with the purpose of permitting logging and resource exploitation as well as wildlife conservation and recreation.

    If the 59% claim were accurate, then using the 188 million total acres figure from the Forest Service we would expect to find that the order opened up about 110 million acres for logging. But this wasn’t the case. 

    The Forest Service deems just 49 million acres of its land “suitable for timber management,” far less than the 110 million acres suggested by the claim.

    Social media posts said NPR was the source of that figure, yet when we searched NPR’s archive for stories suggesting that either 110 million acres or 59% of national forests would be opened up to logging, we found no results.

    The Roadless Rule

    Instead, we found that the posts appeared to misinterpret or misrepresent NPR’s reporting regarding a real policy change implemented by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who was tasked with carrying out the 2025 executive order. 

    According to an August 2026 news release, Rollins announced that the USDA would roll back the 2001 Roadless Rule, a policy that prohibits the construction of new roads on national forestland. Because roads are required to transport the raw materials, the Roadless Rule effectively places a limit on the number of timber and mining operations on national forestland. The news release noted the USDA would take public comment on the proposed change until Sept. 21, just before the claim began spreading. 

    When the Roadless Rule was first implemented, it applied to “nearly 60 million acres” of land, according to the Forest Service. We suspect this was the origin of social media users’ claim that Trump’s executive order would open up 59% of national forests to logging. Various sources, including NPR, reported 58 million to 59 million acres would be opened up. People may have mistaken the acreage for a percentage. 

    Even then, the social media posts dwelled on the wrong acreage figure, because the Roadless Rule no longer covers the original acreage. Colorado and Idaho enacted state-level Roadless Rules offering higher levels of protection for some land, and those stricter protections effectively supersede the federal rule. According to the Forest Service, taking those restrictions into account means the federal Roadless Rule now applies to only around 45 million acres of forest. 

    Using the correct, up-to-date acreage, Snopes calculated the rule’s recision would open up approximately 24% of Forest Service land for logging. (We were unable to determine how much of that land is actually suitable for the purpose, however.) 

    Rollins’ repeal is supported by the logging industry and several Republican governors, who claim it will prevent wildfires by allowing humans to more directly access and manage remote forestland.

    The repeal is opposed by several groups, according to reports from Pew, NPR and Cal Matters. Environmental groups cite scientific research showing 80% of wildfires are caused by human activity, and therefore more human access would increase, not decrease, fire risk. This is backed up by the Forest Service’s own environmental analysis on the repeal, according to Pew. Meanwhile, tribal nations claim the repeal undermines tribal sovereignty, and a spending watchdog notes that the Forest Service already has a $6 billion backlog in road maintenance. Repealing the Roadless Rule would only make that worse.

    (In fact, during an phone interview for a different story on the Forest Service, Associate Chief Chris French told Snopes the maintenance backlog has been around for decades, and was part of why the rule was implemented in 2001. That detail didn’t make it into the final story.)

    A bipartisan group of 164 senators and representatives wrote a letter to Rollins and Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz in September pointing out all of those factors and noting that the Roadless Rule has immense public support.

    The USDA is expected to make its final decision on the repeal in early 2027.

    Sources

    “A Historical Perspective.” U.S. Forest Service, https://www.fs.usda.gov/forestmanagement/aboutus/histperspective.shtml.

    “Addressing the Threat to National Security from Imports of Timber, Lumber.” The White House, 2 Mar. 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/addressing-the-threat-to-national-security-from-imports-of-timber-lumber/.

    Clear-Cutting | Definition, Effects, Arguments For, & Facts | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/clear-cutting. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

    Einhorn, Catrin. “Could Trump Use the ‘God Squad’ to Override Environmental Law?” The New York Times, 28 Jan. 2025. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/climate/trump-endangered-species-god-squad.html.

    Emergency Endangered Species Act Consultations for National Defense | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. https://www.fws.gov/node/265135. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

    ESA Section 7 Consultation | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. https://www.fws.gov/service/esa-section-7-consultation. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

    “Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Addresses the Threat to National Security from Imports of Timber, Lumber, and Their Derivative Products.” The White House, 1 Mar. 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/03/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-addresses-the-threat-to-national-security-from-imports-of-timber-lumber-and-their-derivative-products/.

    “Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Rapidly Expands Timber Production.” The White House, 1 Mar. 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/03/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-rapidly-expands-timber-production/.

    “Forests and Woodlands.” Bureau of Land Management, https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/forests-and-woodlands. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

    Friedman, Lisa. “Trump Moves to Increase Logging in National Forests.” The New York Times, 2 Mar. 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/02/climate/trump-logging-national-forests.html.

    “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production.” The White House, 2 Mar. 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/immediate-expansion-of-american-timber-production/.

    NEPA | National Environmental Policy Act – Categorical Exclusions. https://ceq.doe.gov/nepa-practice/categorical-exclusions.html. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

    US EPA, OP. What Is the National Environmental Policy Act? 31 July 2013, https://www.epa.gov/nepa/what-national-environmental-policy-act.

    B, et al. “Trump Administration Moves to Open Untouched National Forests to Logging.” NPR, 18 Aug. 2026. Environment. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2026/08/18/nx-s1-5936495/trump-administration-moves-to-open-untouched-national-forests-to-logging.

    Balch, Jennifer K., et al. “Human-Started Wildfires Expand the Fire Niche across the United States.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 114, no. 11, Mar. 2017, pp. 2946–51. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1617394114.

    Becker, Rachel. “Trump Wants More Roads and Logging in California Forests. Here’s the Wildfire Risk.” CalMatters, 18 Aug. 2026. California Wildfires. calmatters.org, https://calmatters.org/environment/wildfires/2026/08/trump-california-forests-logging-roads/.

    Earth.Org. “Trump Opens Up 59 Million Acres of National Forest to Logging.” Earth.Org, 25 June 2025, https://earth.org/trump-to-open-up-59-million-acres-of-national-forest-to-logging-mining/.

    Izzo, Jack. “The Trump Administration Is Shaking up Forest Service. We Broke down What’s Changing.” Snopes, 1 May 2026, https://www.snopes.com//news/2026/05/01/trump-forest-service-restructure/.

    ———. “Yes, Trump Signed Executive Order to Fast-Track Logging on Federal Land.” Snopes, 5 Mar. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/trump-clear-cutting-national-forests/.

    K, et al. “Here’s Why Trump’s Promised Logging Boom Faces Headwinds.” NPR, 13 Oct. 2025. National. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2025/10/13/nx-s1-5528947/heres-why-trumps-promised-logging-boom-faces-headwinds.

    ———. “Trump to Rescind ‘Roadless Rule’ Protecting 58 Million Acres of Forest Land.” NPR, 23 June 2025. National. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2025/06/23/g-s1-74136/trump-to-rescind-roadless-rule-which-protects-58-million-acres-of-forest-land.

    NCAI and TWS Condemn the Administration’s Proposal to Rescind the Roadless Rule | The Wilderness Society. https://www.wilderness.org/articles/press-release/ncai-and-tws-condemn-administrations-proposal-rescind-roadless-rule. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

    “Roadless Areas.” US Forest Service, 5 Mar. 2025, https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/planning/roadless.

    TCS Comments to Forest Service on the Proposed Roadless Rule Repeal – Taxpayers for Common Sense. 7 Oct. 2026, https://www.taxpayer.net/energy-natural-resources/tcs-comments-to-forest-service-on-the-proposed-roadless-rule-repeal/.

  • Graphic simulation reveals exactly what happens to your body after quitting vaping cold turkey

    Graphic simulation reveals exactly what happens to your body after quitting vaping cold turkey

    Quitting an addictive substance is a very difficult process and one of the possible methods is going ‘cold turkey’, where you just stop taking the thing and ride out the consequences.

    Kids these days would probably call it ‘rawdogging’ addiction recovery, but going cold turkey is one of the most drastic and dramatic ways a person can quit a substance.

    A growing number of people are addicted to vaping, or more specifically they’re addicted to the nicotine that’s packed into vaping liquids, and if you’re going to try and quit that right away there will be a lot of problems.

    In fact, experts warn you shouldn’t try going cold turkey on vaping, unlike with smoking, as they pointed towards NHS advice which lays out a slow and gradual phasing out of the harmful habit.

    Instead you’re meant to get liquids with a lower amount of nicotine content and gradually reduce the amount to bring down your nicotine consumption and kick the habit.

    Experts recommend that if you're quitting vaping you don't do it cold turkey (Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

    Experts recommend that if you’re quitting vaping you don’t do it cold turkey (Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

    A vaping addict called Chloe who went cold turkey after realising she was ‘hooked‘ on vapes said that within a few hours of quitting she was ‘starting to gasp for it’.

    She said: “I had a serious case of brain fog, and it was all I could think about. The cravings were intense, and I questioned at multiple points if it was really worth it.

    “I couldn’t retain information, was chronically zoned out and was both horrified and shocked by how hard I was actually finding it.”

    She even found getting to sleep without having a vape within reach to be a difficult prospect, and when she did finally drift off she found herself waking often as she was tossing and turning in bed.

    Going through ‘intense episodes’ of cravings, by 72 hours in her withdrawal symptoms ‘peaked’ as she suffered mild headaches, unprecedented sweating, and regular cravings during the day.

    On the bright side her sleep had already improved somewhat.

    Her symptoms line up with some claims from a simulation on what going cold turkey from vaping does to you.

    It claimed that on the first day you’d ‘feel anxious, irritated, maybe even empty’, and by day three the headaches would be kicking in while you might cough up mucus from your lungs.

    Under bombardment from the cravings and brain fog your body isn’t a nice place to be for a while, but it does get better with time.

    As Chloe put it, she started feeling better rested from sleeping without vaping and she was through the worst physical withdrawal symptoms after a few days.

    However, she was still feeling very anxious, as though her brain was ‘racing at 100mph’.

    The NHS advises that you’re best off gradually reducing your nicotine intake by buying liquid with less of it in and taking longer breaks between your vapes rather than going cold turkey.

  • Shocking amount Gen Z have sex each year is influenced by cost of living crisis, survey finds

    Shocking amount Gen Z have sex each year is influenced by cost of living crisis, survey finds

    Gen Z is having a tough time in and out of the bedroom, it seems, as according to a new survery, 39 percent say ‘the cost of dating limited their opportunities for sex or romance’.

    Playboy, in collaboration with the Kinsey Institute and Julie, asked 2,373 US adults aged 18 to 29 about their sex lives for The 2026 Gen Z Sex Survey.

    And the results aren’t pretty.

    It showed that 43 percent say the state of their finances make it harder to date, even though 74 percent show a ‘moderate to very high sexual desire’.

    While it’s not that they don’t want to have sex, around 34 percent of men worryingly reported that porn has replaced the need for a real-life relationship. And one in three said they won’t hesitate to go for a digital partner sometimes.

    So, why is it that this generation is seemingly holding back from intimacy?

    Over 2,300 adults aged 18 to 29 took part in a poll that suggests we could be living in a 'sex recession' (Getty Stock Images)

    Over 2,300 adults aged 18 to 29 took part in a poll that suggests we could be living in a ‘sex recession’ (Getty Stock Images)

    Why are younger people have less sex?

    Playboy explains: “The sex recession appears to be real, but nuanced. Most respondents report relatively low activity despite moderate to high desire.

    “Most young adults are not particularly stressed about their sex lives. Most describe their sex lives as average or better than average. Fatigue from dating apps, fear of rejection, and lack of finances are making connection more difficult.

    “Young people are finding other outlets for intimacy: in friendships, online, and alone. Where Gen Z lives shapes the picture. Two-thirds of single people living with their parents had no partners at all in the last three months.

    “They’re having less sex, but not safer sex. Protection is inconsistent, and a third have never been tested for STIs.”

    The NHS says 'having an active sex life can have health benefits' (Getty Stock Images)

    The NHS says ‘having an active sex life can have health benefits’ (Getty Stock Images)

    No ‘nerve, privacy or money’ to get down and dirty

    Speaking to The Sun, one Gen Z’er admitted that it is also ‘hard’ for their peer group to find anywhere for a ‘bit of peace and quiet’.

    “My parents both moved out when they were 18 or 19, and my grandparents around the same ages, so they had the freedom to do what they liked,” they said. “It’s just not the same with our generation – which is pretty unfair really.”

    “They have the desire. They just don’t have the nerve, privacy or money to act on it,” Playboy adds.

    Well, the NHS says ‘having an active sex life can have health benefits such as improving the condition of your heart, reducing stress and improving mental health‘.

    “Being part of a happy, healthy relationship can also reduce depression and anxiety,” the health service notes, adding that ‘even a hug can reduce your blood pressure and improve your sense of well-being’.

    It seems there's many reasons behind why some people aren't having as much sex (Getty Stock Image)

    It seems there’s many reasons behind why some people aren’t having as much sex (Getty Stock Image)

    Are there negative side effects of not having sex at all?

    While we all know the benefits of being intimate, there are actually some negatives to not getting enough action.

    While abstaining from sex can reduce the risk of contracting a STI or STD and improve mental health, it can also lead to certain physical issues.

    For women, a lack of sexual activity can trigger decreased blood flow to the pelvic area, resulting in vaginal dryness and atrophy. A lack of stimulation can also cause pelvic floor weakness.

    And for men, infrequent sexual activity can cause issues with erectile function due to the decreased blood flow to penile tissues. Prostate health can also become a concern, as frequent ejaculation has been statistically associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer, according to Web MD.

  • Donald Trump calls off livestream of man due to be executed by firing squad

    Donald Trump calls off livestream of man due to be executed by firing squad

    Donald Trump has now called off the plans to livestream the execution of the Fort Hood attacker.

    Nidal Hasan had been set to become the first person to be publicly executed in the US in almost 90 years.

    The former US army major had killed 13 people and injured more than 30 others in a mass shooting at the Texas army base in 2009, and has been incarcerated awaiting his death.

    But following major criticism over the plans for the public display, Trump said on Thursday that ‘many very good and well meaning people would rather not watch him die’.

    Trump has U-turned on the decision (Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images)

    Trump has U-turned on the decision (Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images)

    Hasan’s execution was due to be streamed to public

    It had previously been announced by the US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth that the public would be able to tune in to to watch the firing squad execution in real time.

    Hasan had been sentenced to death by a military court and is set to become the first service member to be executed by armed forces since 1961.

    At Hasan’s trial, he said he had ‘switched sides’ and claimed he’d carried out the deadly attack out of a wish to protect Islamic and Taliban leaders from US troops.

    Trump had previously said he approved of the livestream, before the apparent U-turn. He had been due to be killed on 3 December.

    Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement on last week: “Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has recommended — and President Donald J. Trump has approved — death by US Army firing squad for convicted terrorist Nidal Malik Hasan, the jihadist who opened fire on unarmed American soldiers at Fort Hood in 2009.

    “He killed 13 people and wounded 32 others while shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ during the attack.

    “The Secretary of the Army will set the time and place of the execution. Judgement day for Hasan has finally come.”

    Parnell also explained why the Pentagon had decided to go ahead with a public execution, saying: “People need to understand that there’s serious consequences for these types of things.”

    Nidal Hasan was sentenced to death in 2013 for the Fort Hood shootings (Bell County Sheriff's Office via Getty Images)

    Nidal Hasan was sentenced to death in 2013 for the Fort Hood shootings (Bell County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images)

    Livestream decision sparked criticism

    The decision to broadcast the state-sanctioned killing sparked fierce debate among lawmakers and human rights advocates.

    Vice President JD Vance also weighed in, saying he was not sure if the federal government would have actually livestreamed the execution, adding that if it did he would not watch it.

    A senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga. also criticised the decision, writing on social media:”I absolutely support the sentence of death, but live-streaming executions is what jihadists do. America is better than that.”

    The decision was also described as being ‘unprecedented in the modern era’ by death row lawyer John Mills.

    He told the BBC: “Seeking to make it live-streamed, a firing squad execution, is little more than attention-seeking by the Trump administration and is unlikely to occur, much less deliver any semblance of justice.”

  • Step-by-step simulation shows what happens to your body if you fast for 36 hours

    Step-by-step simulation shows what happens to your body if you fast for 36 hours

    A video shared on social media claims to illustrate what may happen to your body when you don’t eat for 36 hours.

    Intermittent fasting has seen a big explosion in popularity, with many people claiming that it has helped them in their lives, including none other than former UK prime minister Rishi Sunak.

    Sunak reportedly had regular 36 hour fasts, including during his time in number 10 itself, and there are some experts who claim that there may be health benefits to the practice.

    The video on the FoodVFact account shared a timeline, saying that after four hours your digestion stops and insulin levels drop.

    After eight hours your blood sugar has dropped, and after 12 hours fat burning in the body may also start to happen, entering ketosis.

    After 16 hours autophagy starts, and then after a full 24 hours it describes ‘major repair mode’ in the body.

    When you get to 30 hours growth hormones go up, and fat loss is accelerated. Finally after 36 hours the video describes ‘deep cleaning’ in the body.

    However, experts have also warned that while there may be evidence that some people may get some benefit from the practice, intermittent fasting is very much not for everyone.

    The body can enter ketosis (YouTube/FoodVFact)

    The body can enter ketosis (YouTube/FoodVFact)

    Adam Collins is an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Surrey, and warned that people who have an eating disorder or are pregnant should not try intermittent fasting, He also said that people who have diabetes should also be very careful if attempting it, though there may be some evidence of a benefit in people with pre-diabetes.

    Weight loss is of course one of the big driving forces behind the popularity of intermittent fasting, with the video showing that after a certain point the body enters ketosis, effectively where it starts burning fat in order to sustain itself.

    Collins has himself conducted research which compared people who underwent a period of intermittent fasting with people who followed a strict calorie-counting diet over the same period.

    “In essence, what you’re doing is shifting the body from using fundamental carbohydrates for fuel towards using fat as a fuel over that 36-hour period,” he told The Guardian.

    And ketosis is not the only process which there is evidence that fasting could trigger, there is also one called autophagy.

    Collins compared this to spring cleaning, saying: “Your cells start to break down cellular components and then recycle those components for other things.”

    After 36 hours the video claimed a lot of benefits from fasting (YouTube/FoodVFact)

    After 36 hours the video claimed a lot of benefits from fasting (YouTube/FoodVFact)

    One popular form for intermittent fasting is called the 5:2 diet.

    This is effectively dividing up your week into five days and two days, where you eat your normal diet on five of those days, but then reduce it down to a quarter of your usual diet on two of the days.

    It’s less drastic than fully fasting for 36 hours, but the idea is that you reduce your intake for that shorter period, and there is less of a big impact on your body than might be produced by fasting completely.

    Fasting itself is considered to be among the most extreme diets out there, and Frank Modeo, a professor of the Institute of Molecular Biosciences at Karl-Franzens University of Graz in Austria, warned that ‘it has not been sufficiently investigated within randomised controlled trials’ to know for sure if there are health benefits, Healthline reports.

    The definition of ‘fasting’ can also be loose, with some people still drinking tea and coffee, and others including bone broth in their fasting, while even stricter people go for just water.