Phil Lesh, original bassist for the Grateful Dead, “passed peacefully” at age 84 Friday morning, according to an official statement. “He was surrounded by his family and full of love,” the message reads. “Phil brought immense joy to everyone around him and leaves behind a legacy of music and love.” Along with lead guitarist Jerry Garcia, rhythm guitarist Bob Weir, keyboard player Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (who died in 1973) and drummer Bill Kreutzmann, Lesh co-founded the band in 1965 and remained part of the group until Garcia’s death in 1995. After that, he broke off into a series of side groups (most notably Phil Lesh and Friends) before joining the “Core Four” remaining members, which at that point included second percussionist Mickey Hart, for a series of reunion shows for the 50th anniversary “Fare Thee Well” tour in 2015. In addition to his lifelong dedication to music, Lesh was a vocal advocate for organ donation after undergoing a successful liver transplant in 1998, urging fans at every subsequent concert to become organ donors.

Bradley Whitford called it quits on the Washington Post over the paper’s decision not to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time in 40 years. The paper’s owner, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, banned the left-leaning paper from endorsing Kamala Harris, according to its reporters. The West Wing star took to X to share a screenshot of the confirmation page showing the cancellation and tweeted “Democracy Dies In Darkness,” the newspaper’s slogan since 2017. The Batman and American Fiction actor Jeffrey Wright also shared screenshot confirmation of his subscription cancellation too, tweeting, “Hometown paper. Grew up with it. Bye, byatch.” Wright then shared a confirmation that he canceled his subscription to the Los Angeles Times, as that paper’s billionaire owner, Patrick Soon-Shiong told the paper’s editorial board it was not allowed to endorse Harris.

Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.

Have you been searching high and low for an alcohol alternative that lets you unwind and relax without worrying about a hangover the next morning? Meet Happy Flower, a brand offering delicious, alcohol-free drinks that offer a zero-proof buzz so you can socialize and unwind without the consequences of a glass of wine or cocktail.

Strawberry Daiquiri (4-Pack)

Buy At Happy Flower

Each can of Happy Flower contains zero alcohol and five milligrams of hemp-derived THC, known as Delta-9—a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant that gives a soothing and uplifting buzz—sans the hangover. But the real kicker is the taste. Happy Flower’s flavors draw inspiration from beloved classic cocktails. Enjoy a vibrant margarita bursting with zesty citrus flavor, a refreshing peach bellini that blends bubbly effervescence with fruity sweetness, and a delish strawberry daiquiri brimming with ripe, juicy fruit flavor.

“Monsters” star Cooper Koch celebrated the news of Erik and Lyle Menendez’s resentencing recommendation—but warned that “the journey is not over.” Koch, who played Erik in the hit Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, posted a statement to his twin brother’s Instagram account after the LA County District Attorney, George Gascón, recommended a resentencing for the Menendez brothers. Lyle and Erik, who both are serving life sentences for the murder of their parents in 1989, had their stories reinvigorated by the series, which the family condemned. “Our voices, our unwavering support, remain crucial—not just for the brothers to ensure their release, but also for every victim of sexual abuse fighting to be heard,” said Koch. “I hope to see Erik and Lyle soon. Free from all of this.” Co-creator of the show Ryan Murphy said before the recommendation that if the brother’s were to be released, he’d want to make additional episodes.

James Franco has not spoken to his longtime friend and collaborator Seth Rogen in the years since Franco settled a sexual misconduct lawsuit and admitted to sleeping with students at the acting school he ran, the actor revealed in a new interview with Variety. Asked if the two men, who started their careers together on Freaks and Geeks before co-starring in numerous films including Pineapple Express, This Is the End, and The Interview, are still in touch, Franco said no. “I haven’t talked to Seth,” he said. “I love Seth, we had 20 great years together, but I guess it’s over. And not for lack of trying. I’ve told him how much he’s meant to me.” Following the public scandal, Rogen said in 2021 he had no plans to keep working with Franco, explaining, “I despise abuse and harassment and I would never cover or conceal the actions of someone doing it, or knowingly put someone in a situation where they were around someone like that.” The ex-friends were last photographed in public together at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards, where Franco won a Best Actor trophy for their final collaboration, The Disaster Artist. Like Rogen, Franco wore a TIME’S UP pin, which prompted multiple women to start speaking out against him.

Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.; that’s

Looking to do more to support your gut health? Pendulum’s Metabolic Daily is a live multi-strain probiotic that supports the body’s ability to do more with the food you eat. Think of your stomach as a professional sports team. This multi-strain probiotic is like adding a few MVP-level players to that team, enhancing the team’s overall performance. According to preclinical studies, Metabolic Daily can improve metabolism, help metabolize sugars and carbs, convert food into energy more efficiently, and sustain energy levels.

In fact, Pendulum’s Metabolic Daily is a favorite of award-winning actress, director, and producer Halle Berry. “Metabolic Daily is my go-to probiotic for keeping my energy levels up,” she says in a press release. “I’ve tried other probiotics since I was 19 years old, and nothing really moved my needle like this product moved my needle.”

Metabolic Daily Membership (1-Month Supply)

20% Off Your First Month

Subscribe At Pendulum

You could pick up a single bottle with 30 capsules; that’s enough for a month. If you prefer, you can also subscribe for automatic shipments, which is super helpful for busy folks. You can choose to receive your order every month, every three months, or every six months. By subscribing, you also won’t have to worry about running out, and you’ll save up to 44 percent on your order.

If you’re looking for a new probiotic supplement to supercharge your wellness journey, look no further than this celeb-approved supplement.

A Northern Irish man whose online catfishing caused the death of a 12-year-old American girl has been sentenced to 20 years-to-life in prison. Alexander McCartney, 26, admitted to 185 charges involving 70 children, but police estimate he may have upwards of 3,500 victims. McCartney posed as a teenage girl on social media to befriend young girls globally, procure illicit images from them, and then blackmail them into performing sex acts. He is believed to be the U.K.’s “most prolific catfish offender,” according to The Irish Times. Cimarron Thomas of West Virginia died by suicide in May 2018 after refusing McCartney’s demands to involve her younger sister in sex acts. Her father, Ben Thomas, died by suicide 18 months later. McCartney previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter because of Thomas’ death. His offenses cover a period from 2014 to 2019, and he has been in prison since 2019. He was also arrested several times between 2016 and 2019 but continued to offend.

If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing or texting 988.

Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post has endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election race two years after writing that he was “unworthy” of being president again. The traditionally right-leaning publication, with the third-largest print circulation in the country, wrote in 2022 that Trump’s silence on Jan. 6 was “damning.” In an editorial, the Post concluded: “As a matter of character, Trump has proven himself unworthy to be this country’s chief executive again.“ The paper now says that the former president is the clear choice to “put the nation on the right path.” While acknowledging that Trump can be “ridiculously hyperbolic,” the Post Editorial Board said his first term results “were paychecks that grew markedly faster than inflation, the lowest unemployment in 50 years, a secure border and peace overseas.” The board added: “In 2021 when Biden-Harris took over, the country took a hard left turn with disastrous results.” The Post blames illegal immigration, “radical and ridiculous culture wars over DEI and gender equality,” and a world on the brink of war. “Any close study of her record shows it to be that of a San Francisco progressive,” the Post says of Kamala Harris. No mention of Jan. 6.

A new Republican PAC using the name of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg released two ads on Friday in an attempt to soften Donald Trump’s image on abortion, which has been a weakness in his campaign. “RBG believed abortion laws should be decided by the states, not the federal gov’t. Trump also doesn’t support a federal abortion ban. Great minds think alike,” reads the X bio of the PAC. The PAC, called RGB PAC, was formed only days ago and has spent $20 million on Trump, according to The New York Times. RGB PAC is an unlikely name for a pro-Trump PAC. Ginsburg criticized Trump while she was alive, and her dying wish in 2020 was to not have Trump pick her replacement on the court. Trump did pick her replacement, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who was part of the majority decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022. The PAC’s central idea is also an extrapolation of Ginsburg’s views on abortion. Ginsburg argued that the right to an abortion would have been better supported by the basis of gender equality, rather than privacy, which was what Roe decided.

More than a dozen Trump administration officials signed a letter Friday reaffirming John Kelly’s assertion that Donald Trump would govern like a dictator, fits the definition of a fascist, and has no concept of the Constitution or the rule of law. Kelly served as one of Trump’s chiefs of staff. “This is who Donald Trump is,” the officials said in a letter obtained by Politico. “We were sadly not surprised by what General Kelly had to say,” the letter continues. “We applaud General Kelly for highlighting in stark details the danger of a second Trump term. Like General Kelly, we did not take the decision to come forward lightly. We are all lifelong Republicans who served our country. However, there are moments in history where it becomes necessary to put country over party. This is one of those moments,” the letter states. “Everyone should heed General Kelly’s warning.” The officials included Kevin Carroll former senior counselor to Kelly; former assistant secretary of homeland security Elizabeth Neumann; former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci; former chief of staff at the Department of Homeland Security Miles Taylor; former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham; and former press secretary to the vice president Alyssa Farah Griffin.

Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.

If you’re looking to revamp your at-home fitness lineup ahead of 2025 and don’t have hours to commit to exercising each day, allow us to introduce you to the CAROL Bike. The science-backed and AI-powered fitness bike is engineered to give you maximum results in the shortest time possible—and by the shortest time, we mean as little as five minutes. In fact, according to the brand, the CAROL bike is “proven to deliver double the health and fitness benefits in 90 percent less time compared to regular cardio.”

Carol Bike

Buy At

Free Returns | Free Shipping

Not only is it a huge time-saver, but the CAROL Bike is also designed to be personalized to the rider’s individual fitness levels, goals, and preferences, making the workouts easy to follow, time-efficient, and super effective. CAROL’s AI and Reduced Exertion HIIT (REHIT) technology optimizes the workout to your ability and fitness level, so every second matters. The personalized, optimal resistance levels are automatically adjusted as you work out—at exactly the right time—making the most efficient workouts easy to follow. “CAROL Bike is designed to maximize training efficiency, with the shortest, most effective workouts, backed by science. And new rider-inspired features that give riders more flexibility to exercise their way,” says Ulrich Dempfle, CEO & Co-Founder at CAROL. You can try the CAROL Bike for yourself risk-free for 100 days, and the brand offers free shipping (7-10 business days) in the U.S.

Billionaire Elon Musk isn’t stopping his his voter sweepstakes, despite the Justice Department’s warning that he may well be violating election law. Musk’s America PAC has been handing out $1 million checks to swing state residents who register to vote and sign a petition pledging their support of the First and Second amendments. Although Musk has claimed that voters of any party are eligible to win, so far, he has mainly rewarded Republicans who’ve already cast their ballots. He’s also made his own political loyalties known, both by bouncing around Donald Trump’s campaign stage and by making massive donations ($75 million in mid-October, and $44 million on Thursday) to the Trump campaign through his PAC. Although the DOJ sent a letter telling America PAC to stand down—it‘s illegal to pay people to register to vote—it announced two more prize-winners on Thursday, The Washington Post reports. The letter was first reported on Wednesday, according to the Post, when the PAC skipped its daily drawing—surely just a coincidence.

The origin of a ”severe” E. coli outbreak affecting McDonald’s Quarter Pounders has been linked back to the sandwich’s onions. Supplier U.S. Foods announced Wednesday that Taylor Farms had issued a recall notification for yellow onions, jumbo peeled, diced and whole peeled, “due to potential E. coli contamination,” reports NBC News. An FDA spokesperson told NBC that the agency is now investigating the supplier and “all possible sources” as the cause of the outbreak. Out of precaution, Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut have all pulled onions from a portion of their restaurants. “There is no crossover with McDonald’s for the vast majority of our onion facilities,” said a Burger King spokesperson in a Thursday statement to Today.com. However, the spokesperson said “about 5% of” of the company’s restaurants do receive onions distributed from the Taylor Farms Colorado facility. The difference is that Burger King employees “only uses whole, fresh onions” that employees process by hand daily. Following the announcement, the restaurant giant said it has “reviewed our restaurant supply.” The spokesperson added, “We proactively asked our 5% of restaurants who received whole onions distributed by this facility to dispose of them immediately two days ago, and we are in the process of restocking them from other facilities.” There have been 49 cases, 10 hospitalizations, and one death connected to the outbreak, according to the CDC.