Cheat Sheet
Top 10 Right Now
1
Barstool Sports Bro-in-Chief Dave Portnoy Saves Baltimore Pizza Shop From Closing
ONE PRICEY BITE
Published 12.24.24 5:21PM EST 
Dave Portnoy
Dave Portnoy Michael Hickey/Michael Hickey/Getty Images

It may have been the most expensive pizza pie ever sold, but all for a good cause. Dave Portnoy, the president of Barstool Sports, saved a Baltimore pizza shop from closing down on Christmas Day by gifting its owner $60,000 to keep its doors open for a year. The polarizing media mogul stopped by TinyBrickOven in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Charm City to test out a slice as part of his wildly popular One Bite Pizza Reviews series. In the nearly 6-and-a-half-minute video, which is posted on Portnoy’s @stoolpresidente social accounts and his YouTube page, TinyBrickOven’s upbeat, enthusiastic owner tells Portnoy that, because the shop hasn’t been able to attain a liquor license, it hasn’t been making enough money and will close down.

After being impressed by the pizza—he scored it a 7.9—and the shop’s commitment to paying it forward by supporting veterans, Portnoy asks how much money it would take to keep doors open for another year: “If there’s somebody super rich right in front of your face who’s in the pizza business, and by serendipity he’s like, ‘What do you need to stay open for a year?’ you gotta give him some figure, because otherwise he’s gonna walk away.” They eventually land on $60,000, which Portnoy pledges to give before Christmas.

Read it at The Baltimore Banner

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2
Warning Issued After Bird Flu Found in Raw Pet Food on West Coast
AVIAN ALERT
Updated 12.25.24 2:44AM EST 
Published 12.24.24 10:39PM EST 
Turkeys at a farm in California.
Authorities are warning pet owners to avoid feeding their animals raw food after bird flu was detected in some turkey products. Anadolu via Getty Images

West Coast public health authorities have issued a warning to pet owners after a house cat in Oregon died from bird flu. The Oregon Department of Agriculture confirmed Tuesday that the cat, which they said was “strictly indoor,” contracted the virus after eating Northwest Naturals raw turkey. The pet food company has since issued a voluntary recall of the product. The Los Angeles County Public Health Department also confirmed that four cats in California died after contracting H5N1. They believe the cats were exposed to the virus through recalled raw milk. Another three potential cases of H5N1 in house cats are currently under investigation. The warning comes just one day after the county recorded its first case of H5N1 in a human. The patient experienced “mild symptoms” and was already recovering at home, the LA Public Health Department said in a separate statement. The department still believes that the virus poses a low overall risk to the public and has no evidence of person-to-person spread.

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Save 50% Off MasterClass Subscriptions for Last-Minute Holiday Gifting
CULTURE PASS
Updated 12.23.24 1:44PM EST 
Published 12.01.24 6:29PM EST 
MasterClass sale
MasterClass.

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Neil deGrasse Tyson. Martin Scorsese. Bill and Hillary. Martha Steward. These are just some of the people we are unlikely to meet in person, but at least we can get up close and personal with them by taking their MasterClass online courses—and at a major discount for a limited time. The expert-led platform has a robust library of educational classes on far-ranging topics: science, music, arts, personal empowerment, and more. The classes are taught by industry experts and household names, including Gordon Ramsey, Mariah Carey, David Lynch, Jeff Koons, and many more.

MasterClass Annual Subscriptions
Up to 50% Off

Right now, you can score up to 50 percent off on MasterClass subscriptions just in time for last-minute holiday gifting. You do have to take a short quiz to get to the deal, but honestly, it’s worth the 60 seconds. Honestly, whether you waited until the last minute or not, you’ll be gifting the dad in your life with intelligent, cultured content and giving them the opportunity to learn something new from someone famous.

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3
Another Automaker Donating $1 Million to Trump’s Inauguration
JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON
Published 12.24.24 10:41PM EST 
Raindrops are seen on Toyota car logo in Krakow, Poland on December 23, 2024. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Raindrops are seen on Toyota car logo. NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Toyota Motor of North America has announced that it will donate $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming Jan. 20 inauguration celebration, a company spokesperson announced Tuesday. Toyota Motor of North America, a subsidiary of the Japanese automaker that oversees operations in North America, Canada and Mexico, joins General Motors and Ford as a donor—with the latter two also pledging $1 million and vehicles to use in the festivities. However, Toyota said it has no plans to also provide vehicles. Amid Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada in a bid to prioritize “America first” will heavily affect all three automakers as the manufacturing process for U.S.-made cars often starts in the country then crosses country lines at various stages. The donations could signal a peace offering as Trump also readies to roll back many policies on carbon emissions and electric vehicle incentives, reported Reuters.

Read it at Reuters

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4
Olympic Snowboarder Sophie Hediger, 26, Dies in Avalanche
TRAGEDY
Published 12.24.24 8:55PM EST 
Sophie Hediger
Sophie Hediger, who competed on the Swiss Olympic team for snowboard cross, was killed in an avalanche on Monday. Millo Moravski/Agence Zoom/Getty Images

A 26-year-old Swiss Olympic snowboarder was killed in an avalanche on Monday, the European nation’s skiing federation confirmed in a statement the next day. Sophie Hediger, a snowboarder who competed in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, was caught in an avalanche near the resort town of Arosa, near Davos in western Switzerland. The Swiss-Ski federation said Hediger was freeriding, or snowboarding on ungroomed slopes, which the federation said was one of her hobbies. “We are stunned and our thoughts are with Sophie’s family, to whom we offer our deepest condolences,” said Walter Reusser, the CEO of Swiss-Ski in a statement. The federation did not provide any further details about the snowboarder’s death, but local police told ABC News she was caught by the avalanche after leaving a closed black diamond slope in the area. She was located about two hours after being buried, according to the report, and pronounced dead at the scene.

Read it at ABC News

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Make Incredible Espresso Martinis on New Year’s Eve With This Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
ESPRESSO YOURSELF
Updated 12.13.24 7:42PM EST 
Published 12.13.24 7:39PM EST 
A table with four cocktails and a black bottle of Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur on it. Two of the drinks are being held by hands.
Mr Black

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2025 is quickly approaching, and there’s no better way to celebrate the new year than with 2024’s cocktail du jour—the espresso martini. It’s the perfect way to toast 2025 with sophistication, flavor, and an energy boost. Think you can’t make the buzzy beverage at home because you’re not a bartender? Think again. You can create this beloved cocktail effortlessly with just a cocktail shaker, fresh espresso, vodka, coffee beans, and Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur.

Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur

It all starts in the land Down Under—Australia. Mr Black sources its ingredients, including 100 percent specialty-grade Arabica coffee, from local farmers and cooperatives. The liqueur is then slowly brewed with purified cold water to preserve its delicate, complex flavors. The result? A bittersweet masterpiece with bold flavor, balanced sweetness, and a lasting coffee kick. Its rich, coffee-forward taste is a crowd-pleaser, and the sleek bottle design adds a touch of elegance to any bar cart. Making an espresso martini is simple. Combine Mr Black, vodka, and freshly brewed espresso in a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously until cold. Then, strain the mixture into a martini glass and finish with three coffee beans as a garnish. Skip the champagne toast this year and ensure you stay awake for the countdown to 2025 with a Mr Black espresso martini.

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5
Coffee Crisis: Christmas Eve Starbucks Strike to Be Largest Ever
DECAF HOLIDAY
Updated 12.25.24 4:36AM EST 
Published 12.24.24 2:29PM EST 
A customer sits in a Starbucks coffee shop in New York
A customer sits in a Starbucks coffee shop in New York Keith Bedford/Reuters

Hope you asked Santa for some caffeine for Christmas. Starbucks stores across the country shut down Christmas Eve in what is expected to be the largest strike in the company’s history. More than 5,000 workers are expected to walk off the job before eight reindeer start their journey later this evening, when a five-day work stoppage ends. More than 290 stores “fully shut down” and more than 300 were on strike across 45 states, the Starbucks’ workers union said. Talks between Starbucks and the union stalled Friday over issues of wages, staffing, and schedules.

Read it at Reuters

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6
Lawyers: Abercrombie CEO May Have Dementia, Be Incompetent to Face Sex Charges
OUT OF FASHION
Updated 12.24.24 1:46PM EST 
Published 12.24.24 1:45PM EST 
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries leaves a Long Island court with members of his legal team
Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries leaves a Long Island court with members of his legal team Spencer Platt/Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Two months after the former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch was indicted on criminal charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution, his lawyers say he may have dementia and could be incompetent to face his charges. In court papers unsealed Monday on Long Island, defense lawyers for Michael Jeffries, 80, said that a neuropsychologist concluded, following an examination, that he likely has dementia with behavioral disturbance, Alzheimer’s disease, and Lewy body dementia. In a joint letter, the defense lawyers and prosecutors have asked for a competency hearing. Jeffries, who is free on a $10 million bond, pleaded not guilty to the sex charges. Along with his romantic partner and a third man, Jeffries is accused of luring men to sex parties under the guise of modeling opportunities. Accusers say, according to the Associated Press, that they were “sometimes directed to wear costumes, use sex toys, and endure painful erection-inducing penile injections.”

Read it at Associated Press

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7
‘Disturbing’: ‘It Ends With Us’ Actress Jenny Slate Supports Blake Lively
CIRCLE THE WAGONS
Published 12.24.24 11:32AM EST 
Blake Lively and Jenny Slate attend the 'It Ends With Us' premiere in New York City
Blake Lively and Jenny Slate attend the 'It Ends With Us' premiere in New York City Caitlin Ochs/REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs

The It Ends With Us cast and creative team continues to rally around Blake Lively after she went public about an alleged coordinated attack on her reputation. Earlier this week, Colleen Hoover, who wrote the book the film is based on, as well as its screenplay, and actor Brandon Sklenar, who starred opposite Lively, released statements in support of the actress. Sony Pictures, which released the film, also backed Lively. Now, Jenny Slate, who played Lively’s sister in the film, is standing by her “loyal friend” and “trusted source of emotional support.”

In a statement to Today.com, Slate said, “As Blake Lively’s castmate and friend, I voice my support as she takes action against those reported to have planned and carried out an attack on her reputation. Blake is a leader, loyal friend and a trusted source of emotional support for me and so many who know and love her.” Lively filed a legal complaint on Dec. 20 against It Ends With Us director and lead actor Justin Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment and enlisting crisis managers to launch a smear campaign against her. “What has been revealed about the attack on Blake is terribly dark, disturbing, and wholly threatening. I commend my friend, I admire her bravery, and I stand by her side,” Slate added.

Read it at Today.com

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8
‘Merry MAGA Christmas’: Trump’s Incoming Press Secretary Shows Off Giant Seasonal ‘Ginger Donald’ Cookie
OVERBAKED
Published 12.24.24 10:37AM EST 
Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s incoming White House press secretary, showed off a giant festive “Ginger Donald” cookie on her Instagram.
Karoline Leavitt Instagram

Karoline Leavitt, President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming press secretary, showed off a giant MAGA gingerbread cookie featuring a frosted likeness of her boss on Monday. The human head-sized treat, which she noted came from baker Ginger Betty’s in Quincy, Massachusetts, features a “Ginger Donald” gingerbread man with frosted recreations of Trump’s pouting lips and red-haired eyebrows, baked into a larger, circular cookie with the frosted, seasonal salutation “Merry MAGA Christmas.” Rather than Trump’s usual red coif or similarly colored MAGA ballcap, the Ginger Donald sported a Santa hat. In an Instagram story, Leavitt asked: “How cute is this gingerbread MAGA cookie?” Meanwhile, she recently claimed that the Washington, D.C. press corps is secretly elated to have Trump—who has long bashed journalists, threatening to shut down news networks and imprison reporters—back in the White House.

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Partner update

Score Up to 60% Off Knix’s Bestselling Period Underwear, Premium Shapewear, and More

GO WITH THE FLOW
Updated 12.23.24 2:12PM EST 
Published 12.06.24 4:50PM EST 
A smiling woman with long red hair wears a matching burgundy bra and underwear set. She stands confidently against a light beige background, showcasing a comfortable and seamless design.
Knix

Managing your period shouldn’t feel like a full-time job—you already have one of those. That’s why Knix’s leakproof period underwear is an incredibly thoughtful holiday gift for yourself or someone special. What makes Knix underwear special is the unique gusset. Built into the underwear’s crotch section, the gusset is a liner that—depending on the style chosen—absorbs up to five tampons worth of liquid. Knix offers more than just underwear, too. You’ll also find supportive wireless bras, silhouette-accentuating bodysuits, and ultra-comfy PJs (perfect for those tough, crampy days).

Knix End-of-the-Year Sale

Right now, you can score up to 60 percent off sitewide, including shapewear, leakproof underwear, loungewear, activewear, and more during its epic end-of-the-year sale. This is one of Knix’s biggest sales of the year, so if you’ve been wanting to try the brand or restock some of your favorite items, now’s the time to get shopping.

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9
‘Anxious’ Flight Passenger Climbs Out Onto Wing
GET ME OUTTA HERE
Published 12.24.24 10:42AM EST 
Alaska Airline plane in the air.
Kevin Carter/Getty Images

An Alaska Airlines passenger was too “anxious” to wait to exit the plane after her flight landed in Seattle on Sunday, so she opened the emergency exit and climbed out onto the plane’s wing, per Fox News. The flight had just landed and passengers were queuing to exit when the incident took place, prompting Port of Seattle fire services and Seattle Police to intervene and help her safely off of the aircraft. The passenger was then taken for a medical evaluation. Though no other explanation for the bizarre move was reported, an Alaska Airlines spokesperson told Fox the “matter was safely resolved.” In addition to thanking their employees for their “swift response,” the airline is still trying to understand what took place. The spokesperson added, “We are working with our crew and airport officials to gather more details about what may have transpired.” No injuries were reported.

Read it at Fox News

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10
Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’ Manslaughter Case Ends as Prosecutor Abandons Appeal
IT’S OVER
Published 12.24.24 7:56AM EST 
Alec Baldwin hugs his attorney Alex Spiro at the conclusion of his trial for involuntary manslaughter in First Judicial District Court on July 12, 2024 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Ramsay de Give/Getty Images

An attempt to reinstate involuntary manslaughter charges against actor Alec Baldwin over the deadly shooting on the set of the movie Rust was withdrawn Monday, authorities in New Mexico said. First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies disclosed that special prosecutor Kari Morrissey ended the state’s appeal of a lower court decision to dismiss the charges against Baldwin, who was holding a prop gun on the set in October 2021 when it discharged, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza. The movie’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for Hutchins’ death. Baldwin pleaded not guilty in the case, stating he did not pull the trigger of the gun. Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the case in July, ruling that prosecutors and police withheld evidence that could have helped determine the source of the live round that killed Hutchins. Carmack-Altwies said the district attorney’s office “supports the Hutchins’ family and their continued fight for justice in civil court.” During a podcast appearance with fellow actor David Duchovny last week, Baldwin accused media outlets of wanting him “to die” because of the charges and said he intends to “expose what really happened” that led to the fatal shooting on the Rust set.

Read it at Santa Fe New Mexican

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