Welcome to the Daily Briefing. Here’s Thursday’s news.
- Karoline Leavitt is leaving her role as White House press secretary.
- Nick Reiner faces new charges in the Rob and Michele Reiner murder case.
- Sixteen inmates were hospitalized after a lightning strike at an Ohio prison.
Nicole Fallert here, still excited I saw the eclipse.
Lettuce as an inflation indicator?
From June to July, consumer prices still rose — but at a slower pace than previous months. But wages still aren’t keeping up with cost of living.
Americans are feeling the pain at the dinner table. In July, lettuce prices fell 16.4% as consumers shied away from products tied to a widespread outbreak of cyclosporiasis. Meats, poultry, fish and eggs costs decreased 0.7% over the month, while dairy and related products got a bit cheaper, too. Still pricey: nonalcoholic beverages, cereals and bakery products.
Need help on food savings? Read a grocery store insider’s tips.
More news to know now
- A casual $12.5 billion: The Los Angeles Lakers are being sold to businessman Joshua Kushner and former Disney CEO Robert Iger in what would be the highest amount ever paid for a North American sports franchise.
- The DNC’s critical moment: The Democratic Party has burned through more than $207 million since the start of 2025 — and the spending has some Democrats on edge.
- Florida’s AG or culture warrior? Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has targeted Major League Baseball, the LGBTQ+ community and the Catholic Church.
Eclipse
The sun & the moon align
Some parts of the U.S. and large portions of Europe were treated to a total solar eclipse on Wednesday. The sky show isn’t over: Another eclipse is happening soon and the Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight.
Health & Wellness
The dark side of fillers
Looksmaxxing has exploded online over the past year with young men desperately pursuing physical perfection, from chiseled jawlines to flawless abs. But why are so many young men convinced their appearance needs to be fixed, and when does self-improvement turn into self-harm? USA TODAY Senior Wellness Reporter Charles Trepany joins The Excerpt podcast to explain.
Before you go
- Travis Kelce broke his wedding silence.
- The WNBA is at the center of debate over transgender athlete inclusion.
- Northwestern boasts college football’s newest, priciest stadium.
Have feedback on the Daily Briefing? Shoot Nicole an email at [email protected].
Reporting by Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Read the full article here
