A provocative new study argues that the spread of smartphones may have played a major role in America’s falling birth rate. Its findings do not prove phones alone changed family size, but they sharpen a growing debate about how technology is reshaping intimacy, time, and parenthood.

Ariana Grande publicly rebuked the White House after one of her songs appeared in an immigration enforcement video, calling the use of her music “barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense.” Her statement has reignited a long-running debate over artists, politics, and the limits of music licensing.

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar delivered unforgettable football, but it also became a global flashpoint over labor rights, political expression, LGBTQ+ safety, and FIFA’s credibility. Long before the first match, the tournament had already become a referendum on what modern sport should stand for.

The Washington National Opera has sued the Kennedy Center, alleging that more than $17 million in donor gifts and endowment-related funds were never returned after their split. The case has opened a wider debate over arts governance, donor trust, and the financial obligations behind major cultural partnerships.

Gene Shalit, the instantly recognizable Today show film critic known for his puns, mustache, and decades-long television run, has died at 100. His death closes a singular chapter in American broadcast criticism and morning TV history.

Diplomatic momentum between Washington and Tehran has accelerated faster than most analysts expected, and energy traders are responding in real time. Oil prices have already moved sharply as markets price in the possibility of reopened shipping lanes, looser sanctions, and a partial return of Iranian crude.

A mass shooting in Midland, Texas, left one person dead and multiple others wounded after a suspect opened fire across a busy commercial area. Authorities say the violence unfolded rapidly, sent victims to Midland Memorial Hospital, and ended only after a tense police standoff.

Workers began taking President Donald Trump’s name off the Kennedy Center after courts refused last-minute efforts to keep it in place. Officials said the removal would be completed by today, marking a dramatic turn in a legal and political fight over the national arts institution.

Los Angeles County says it uncovered nearly 1,000 previously unassessed aircraft worth about $3.5 billion, revealing how private jet owners can slip through tax systems built on incomplete records. The fight now stretches from county tax offices to Washington, where a battle over aircraft tracking could reshape enforcement.

The Pentagon’s latest batch of declassified UFO records offers its clearest look yet at how the government documents unexplained sightings. The release adds videos, witness accounts, historical records and audio that deepen the public picture without delivering proof of extraterrestrial life.

SpaceX’s market debut delivered an immediate jolt to Wall Street, with shares jumping 11% and pushing Elon Musk past the $1 trillion mark on paper. The blockbuster listing is now reshaping how investors think about space, capital markets, and concentrated wealth.

Newly released video from Pasadena shows a police officer accidentally shooting a fellow officer during what officials called horseplay with loaded guns. The footage has intensified scrutiny of police training, culture, discipline, and public accountability.