Men's Journal's Blog, page 73
June 22, 2025
Kristin Chenoweth Turns Heads With NBA Finals Game 7 Star Spangled Banner
Before the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers tipped off their do-or-die Game 7 showdown in the NBA Finals, fans in Oklahoma City got a dose of hometown magic from a voice that’s no stranger to the spotlight. Tony and Emmy winner Kristin Chenoweth, a proud Oklahoma native and longtime Thunder superfan, was tapped to sing the national anthem, and she didn't miss a note.
Known for her powerhouse vocals and iconic roles on Broadway, including Wicked, Chenoweth brought polish and heart to her Game 7 performance. She kept it classic, resisting the urge to overdo it.
But when it came time to hit the high notes, she delivered with the kind of precision that only a Broadway veteran can. The arena erupted as she closed out the anthem, setting the tone for what would be an emotionally charged night of basketball.
Unlike some past renditions that have gone viral for all the wrong reasons, this one struck a perfect balance between reverence and performance.
"That was fantastic," wrote one fan.
"She hit that Nooooottte," another declared.
Related: Did the Thunder Jinx Themselves? Viral Parade Bus Video Fires Up Pacers Before Game 7
It was a moment that not only riled up the crowd but gave the Thunder a boost of hometown pride as they faced the Pacers with everything on the line.
Chenoweth has never been shy about her love for OKC’s team, often spotted courtside or tweeting support during critical playoff moments. Having her take center stage for the anthem on the biggest night of the season felt both fitting and personal, not just for the team, but for the entire city.
Game 7 came with its share of drama, but for a few moments before tip-off, all eyes were on a local legend giving fans something to rally behind.
Related: Tyrese Haliburton’s 6 Words Hint at NBA Finals Game 6 Status
Did the Thunder Jinx Themselves? Viral Parade Bus Video Fires Up Pacers Before Game 7
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle walked into his Game 7 media availability Saturday thinking about just one thing—not the Thunder’s defense, not the game plan, but a video that had just hit his feed.
"I just saw a video that's probably going to go viral," he told reporters. "Of some buses, open-top buses, presumably for the parade that are already painted with them as champions. That's all I'm thinking about right now."
Whether intentional or not, the Oklahoma City Thunder just handed Indiana a fresh dose of bulletin board material ahead of Sunday’s winner-take-all Game 7.
The footage showed buses labeled and prepped for a championship parade before a single minute of the final game had been played.
To say the moment struck a nerve would be an understatement. For a Pacers team that's clawed its way through Milwaukee, Cleveland, and New York to earn its Finals berth, it was hard to ignore the implication: the Thunder may already be planning their celebration.
Indiana certainly isn't.
The Thunder are preparing their NBA Champions bus 👀🍿
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 22, 2025
(h/t @mrmilkman702)pic.twitter.com/lTwyvDWmOf
Coming off a gutsy 108-91 win to force Game 7, the Pacers have made a habit of showing up when counted out. They stole Game 1 on the road. They dominated Game 3 at home. And now, they'll head back into enemy territory in a hostile OKC environment with momentum and maybe a little more edge.
The series has been a back-and-forth battle. Oklahoma City tied things up in Game 2 and then took Games 4 and 5 to grab a 3-2 lead. But Indiana refused to fold, coming out swinging in Game 6 to force the final showdown.
Related: Tyrese Haliburton’s 6 Words Hint at NBA Finals Game 6 Status
And now, thanks to a video of some open-top buses, there's a little more fuel on the fire.
Carlisle didn't dwell on the logistics. He didn't speculate on whether the parade planning was arrogance or just a premature logistical move. But he made one thing clear: his players know about it—and they’ll be thinking about it when the ball tips.
Game 7 started Sunday at 8 p.m. ET. Whether those buses roll through the streets of Oklahoma City depends on what happens next.
Related: Kevin Durant Traded to Rockets After Suns Era Falls Short
June 21, 2025
Elon Musk Raises Eyebrows With Bold Plan to Rewrite the Internet
Elon Musk has never been shy about disrupting established systems, and now he says it's time to overhaul humanity's collective knowledge, one chatbot at a time.
In a late-night post on X (formerly Twitter) Friday, Musk announced plans to retrain his artificial intelligence platform, Grok, using a rewritten version of what he called the "entire corpus of human knowledge."
The goal: to strip out what he deems inaccurate or biased information and build a cleaner, corrected foundation.
“We will use Grok 3.5 (maybe we should call it 4), which has advanced reasoning, to rewrite the entire corpus of human knowledge, adding missing information and deleting errors," Musk wrote on X. "Far too much garbage in any foundation model trained on uncorrected data."
We will use Grok 3.5 (maybe we should call it 4), which has advanced reasoning, to rewrite the entire corpus of human knowledge, adding missing information and deleting errors.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 21, 2025
Then retrain on that.
Far too much garbage in any foundation model trained on uncorrected data.
The statement is Musk's latest shot at mainstream AI models like OpenAI's ChatGPT, which he's long criticized for reflecting what he sees as "woke" or ideologically slanted training data.
With Grok, Musk's xAI is trying to offer what he views as a less filtered, more "truth-focused" alternative. In a follow-up post, he asked users to reply with examples of "divisive facts" that could help retrain the model.
Critics aren't convinced.
NYU professor emeritus Gary Marcus, a longtime skeptic of AI hype, compared Musk's move to something out of Orwell’s 1984. "You couldn’t get Grok to align with your own personal beliefs, so you are going to rewrite history to make it conform to your views," Marcus wrote on X.
Straight out of 1984.
— Gary Marcus (@GaryMarcus) June 21, 2025
You couldn’t get Grok to align with your own personal beliefs so you are going to rewrite history to make it conform to your views.
Grok has already made headlines—some of them controversial. In May, the chatbot mistakenly referenced "white genocide" in South Africa after what xAI called an "unauthorized modification" to its backend. The company said it conducted a thorough investigation and promised changes to improve transparency.
Despite that, Grok is slowly being adopted in high-level circles.
A Reuters report in May claimed parts of the Department of Homeland Security had started experimenting with the bot to analyze government data, though the agency later clarified that it had not endorsed any particular AI tool.
Musk's push to retrain Grok on a revised reality may raise philosophical questions, but it's clear he's not content to let existing knowledge stand unchallenged. Whether the world follows his version remains to be seen.
Related: Ex-Tesla Insider Says Company Is 'Absolutely Hosed' Under Elon Musk
NASA’s New Data Has Scientists Sounding the Alarm on Climate Extremes
The latest satellite data from NASA is painting a troubling picture of Earth’s climate, and it’s coming into focus faster than expected.
According to new research from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, extreme weather events like floods and droughts are not only becoming more common, but also more intense, longer-lasting, and more destructive.
The Guardian reported that data from the past five years show these events doubling in intensity compared to averages between 2003 and 2020. Even researchers behind the study admit they didn’t anticipate such a dramatic spike.
"We were surprised to find the actual population living in rural areas is much higher than the global data indicates," said lead researcher Dr. Bailing Li, who helped compile the figures using NASA's Grace satellite and dam relocation data across 35 countries.
The result: a grim confirmation that climate change is fueling a shift in the planet's water systems, and the consequences are just beginning.
Related: Climate Experts Issue Stark Warning About Global Warming Timeline
The data, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, reveals that global extremes now show a stronger correlation with rising temperatures than with other climate drivers like El Niño.
Events are lasting longer, affecting wider areas, and shifting with less predictability—creating what scientists call "hydroclimatic whiplash," sudden transitions from drought to flood or vice versa.
What's most worrying isn't just the scale of the change, but how unprepared most of the world remains. Experts say the current infrastructure, especially in water management, was built for a different era—one with a more stable climate.
Christopher Gasson of Global Water Intelligence warned that most water systems are facing extremes from both ends—too much water or too little—and that investment must scale quickly to keep up.
Meteorologists and climate experts across the globe echoed the concern.
Richard Betts of the UK's Met Office called the data "a stark reminder" that what was once theoretical is now reality. He stressed that most societies have built their systems around past weather patterns, leaving them vulnerable to extremes that now fall outside the historical norm.
With the World Meteorological Organization predicting an 80% chance that one of the next five years will be Earth’s hottest ever, the window for adapting is narrowing.
NASA's findings serve as a warning: the planet is heating up, and the consequences are already surging across every continent.
Related: Weatherman Issues Chilling Hurricane Warning That Has Viewers on Edge
TSA Just Banned These 7 Surprising Snacks From Carry-On Bags
Packing snacks before a flight is a tried-and-true travel hack—saving money, cutting down on sodium-packed airport food, and keeping hunger at bay on long hauls. But if you're not careful, your go-to favorites might be headed straight for the TSA's trash bin.
The Transportation Security Administration has recently cracked down on a handful of surprisingly common foods. These snacks violate the 3.4-ounce rule for liquids, gels, and spreadable items.
While that rule is nothing new, travelers often forget it applies to more than just toiletries. This summer, it’s catching people off guard at security checkpoints nationwide, according to The Mirror.
Spreadable and scoopable snacks like hummus and peanut butter are high on the list of problematic items. Even if paired with pretzels in a handy travel pack, those creamy containers often exceed the carry-on limit.
Yogurt and pudding, fan favorites among frequent flyers and parents alike, fall under the same category. Many individual-sized cups still cross the 3.4-ounce threshold, meaning they'll get flagged during bag checks.
Soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert are also considered too spreadable to pass muster.
And it’s not just dairy that’s a problem—sweet items like honey and savory staples like salsa have joined the list as well. All are considered liquid or gel-like substances under TSA guidelines, and anything over the limit won’t make it through.
While the rules themselves haven't changed, enforcement appears to be tightening. More travelers are reporting confusion over which items are allowed, especially when they look solid but fall into the "spreadable" or "gel" category. Even foods in resealable containers or single-serve packs can trip the alarm if they exceed the size limit.
The consequences? Delays, tossed snacks, and the occasional argument at security—all of which can derail an otherwise smooth travel day.
If you’re flying soon, it’s worth double-checking not only what you pack, but how much of it is going into your carry-on. Anything remotely creamy, gelatinous, or spreadable should be under 3.4 ounces or stowed in checked luggage.
In short, TSA is reminding travelers that if you can smear it on toast or eat it with a spoon, it probably counts as a liquid. And if it's over the limit, it's not coming on board.
Related: Major Airlines Suspend Middle East Flights in Emergency Move
Angel Reese Ties Personal Career-Low Rebound Total in Sky’s Ugly Loss to Mercury
The 2024 WNBA rebounding leader had what you could consider an “off” game during the Chicago Sky’s 107-86 loss to the Phoenix Mercury. Angel Reese, one of the league's best rebounders, once again leads the league in rebounds by a wide margin through the start of the 2025 WNBA season.
While she boasts an impressive 11.7 rebounds per game, the next-closest player is Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson at 10.1, with no other player in double-digits.
However, nothing seemed to go right for Reese and the Sky on Saturday, June 21, as Chicago needed a big fourth quarter just to cut the final margin to 21 points.
Hailey Van Lith #2 and Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky sit on the bench during the second quarter against the Phoenix Mercury at Wintrust Arena.Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
For Reese, though, her stat line of nine points, two rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal was noteworthy for several reasons. As Polymarket Hoops detailed, Reese's two total rebounds tied the fewest she's ever had in a game throughout her career, including the WNBA, NCAA and high school basketball.
Angel Reese had 2 rebounds today.
— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) June 21, 2025
That’s tied for the fewest she’s ever had in a game in her WNBA, NCAA, or high school career. pic.twitter.com/FQtWqf01Ue
Through her WNBA career, Reese hadn't fallen below eight rebounds in a game since May 30, 2024, when she finished with six boards against the Los Angeles Sparks. She also had racked up eight or more rebounds in all but two games as a pro, with the outliers coming over her first six WNBA showings.
Surprisingly, Reese's numbers are down this season following a strong rookie year. She averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds in 2024, and through 11 games this season, has posted marks of 11.0 points and 11.7 rebounds per game.
Related: Andy Reid Makes His Thoughts on Travis Kelce Very Clear Before 2025 Season
New Details Emerge in Iran Attack: U.S. Used Submarines, 6 'Bunker Buster' Bombs
The United States bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities on June 21, and now new details are emerging about how the attack was launched.
The attack involved submarines and stealth B-2 bombers.
Fox News gave additional details on the attacks against the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan (Isfahan) facilities.
The U.S. used six "huge bunker buster bombs" to obliterate the Fordow facility, which is located deep in the mountains, Fox News reported.
They were "dropped from American stealth B-2 bombers."
Natanz and Esfahan were targeted differently, Fox News reported.
They were attacked with “30 tomahawk missiles launched by American submarines from 400 miles away," Fox News reported, saying that the U.S. "completely obliterated" Fordow.
What are bunker buster bombs? "The Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) is a weapon system designed to accomplish a difficult, complicated mission of reaching and destroying our adversaries' weapons of mass destruction located in well-protected facilities. It is more powerful than its predecessor, the BLU-109," the Air Force says.
The bunker buster bombs are also known as GBU-57s, and "can only be carried by B-2 bombers, with each aircraft capable of carrying two of these 30,000-pound weapons at a time," Newsweek reported.
Originally, it was believed that only two bunker buster bombs would be needed to obliterate Fordow.
What is Natanz? "The nuclear complex, about 250 kilometers (150 miles) south of the capital Tehran, is considered Iran’s largest uranium enrichment facility," CNN reported.
The network reported that much is not known about Fordow because of its location deep in the mountains. Its "main halls are an estimated 80 to 90 meters (around 262 to 295 feet) beneath the ground," the network added.
What is Isfahan? "Isfahan, in central Iran, is home to the country’s largest nuclear research complex," the network noted.
The network reported that lawmakers' response to the bombing was mixed.
Related: Reza Pahlavi, Son of the Last Shah of Iran, Speaks Out
New York Police Department Takes Action After U.S. Bombs Iran's Nuclear Sites
The New York Police Department is preparing for any fallout back home after the U.S. bombed three nuclear sites in Iran on June 21.
The NYPD wasted no time in announcing that it was deploying additional resources around Manhattan after the news broke. The police stressed that the deployment was a precautionary measure.
"We’re tracking the situation unfolding in Iran. Out of an abundance of caution, we're deploying additional resources to religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites across NYC and coordinating with our federal partners," the NYPD wrote.
"We’ll continue to monitor for any potential impact to NYC," police added.
We’re tracking the situation unfolding in Iran. Out of an abundance of caution, we're deploying additional resources to religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites across NYC and coordinating with our federal partners. We’ll continue to monitor for any potential impact to NYC.
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) June 22, 2025
The U.S. has dropped bombs on three nuclear sites within the borders of Iran, Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, sometimes known as Isfahan.
The planes have left Iranian airspace, the U.S. says.
CNN quoted an Iranian news agency as saying the sites were evacuated before the U.S. strike. The network reported that the response was mixed from lawmakers, some of whom were briefed before the attack.
American B-2 bombers delivered the strikes on the facilities, the network noted.
New York's emergency management office has recently focused on a heat wave striking the city.
The Fordow site that was attacked was built deep into the mountains.
Israel did not have the capability technologically to destroy it on its own because of how it was built; main halls were "an estimated 80 to 90 meters (around 262 to 295 feet) beneath the ground – safe from any aerial bomb known to be possessed by Israel," CNN reported previously.
Related: Reza Pahlavi, Son of the Last Shah of Iran, Speaks Out
Reza Pahlavi, Son of the Last Shah of Iran, Speaks Out
Reza Pahlavi is getting increasing attention because of the conflict with Iran, and he's been speaking out about it.
With the U.S. bombing three of Iran's nuclear sites on June 21, that attention is likely to increase.
But how is Pahlavi related to the last Shah of Iran?
He's his eldest son, but he lives in exile largely in the U.S. and is sometimes referred to as a crown prince. France 24 called Pahlavi the "the highest-profile opposition figure" to the current Iranian regime, noting that he is U.S.-based.
According to NDTV, Pahlavi's father, Mohammad Reza Shah, was the leader of Iran until he was forced out by the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
The son was "until recently a figure with little to no say in Iranian affairs. He now makes regular appearances on TV and is calling for a regime change in Iran," NDTV wrote.
جمهوری اسلامی به پایان خود رسیده و در حال سقوط است. آنچه آغاز شده برگشتناپذیر است. آینده روشن است و ما با هم از این پیچ تند تاریخ عبور خواهیم کرد. اکنون زمان ایستادن است؛ زمان بازپسگیری ایران. باشد که بهزودی در کنار شما باشم. pic.twitter.com/sXf9BWsZAH
— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) June 17, 2025
"The Islamic Republic has reached its end and is collapsing," Pahlavi wrote on X on June 17. "What has begun is irreversible. The future is bright, and together we will navigate this sharp turn in history. Now is the time to stand; the time to reclaim Iran. May I soon be by your side."
He has appeared on U.S. television in recent days to speak out on the conflict.
"Exiled crown prince of Iran HRH Reza Pahlavi advocates for a new future for Iran and weighs in on the possibility of the United States becoming actively involved in the Israel-Iran conflict," Fox News wrote before the bombing.
Exiled crown prince of Iran HRH Reza Pahlavi advocates for a new future for Iran and weighs in on the possibility of the United States becoming actively involved in the Israel-Iran conflict during an interview with @marthamaccallum. pic.twitter.com/apPe8KhjnZ
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 19, 2025
He is a pilot who was born in Tehran, the eldest son of the Shah and his wife Farah Pahlavi, NDTV reported.
His wife is Yasmine Etemad-Amini, and they have three daughters: Noor Pahlavi, Iman Pahlavi, and Farah Pahlavi, the television station reported.
Pahlavi "has long called for the restoration of the warm relationship that existed between his late father and Israel," France24 reported, but he "is far from enjoying universal support inside Iran or among exiles" because his positions are considered "divisive" inside Iran.
The family is controversial, according to News 18.
The Shah of Iran's dad, Pahlavi's grandfather, took power in 1925 and was named Reza Shah Pahlavi.
He was a "former military officer" who "overthrew the Qajar dynasty."
He "initiated sweeping modernisation efforts — building roads, schools, and a centralised military." But the allies formed him to abdiate in 1941 because he supported Nazi Germany, the site reported.
His son, the last Shah of Iran, was known "for his pro-Western stance and oil partnerships with the United States and Britain" and introduced "land reforms and women's rights," the site reported.
Major Burger Chain Announces a Change People Will Love
Summer is the perfect time to get outside an enjoy a fantastic burger, even though any season, really, is good for burgers. The summer season also brings late nights, because the sun is out so late, so the partying and fun tend to go into the early hours of the morning.
When that burger craving hits late, there are usually limited options about what to do about it. Some grocery stores are open late, but who wants to grill a burger at midnight?
Now, one major burger chain has announced a change that starts now, and it should help those who are hungry late at night.
White Castle has been around for more than a century at this point. "In 1921, Billy Ingram launched a family-owned business with $700 and an idea, selling five-cent, small, square hamburgers so easy to eat, they were dubbed Sliders and sold by the sack," the company states on their website.
Now, White Castle has announced expanded hours and special late-night deals to those in its loyalty program. Starting on the Summer Solstice, which was June 20 and marked the end of spring, the chain in offering new hours, branded merchandise and discounts with its Craver Nation Rewards loyalty program.
According to White Castle, 91 percent of its restaurants will now be open until 1 a.m. or later, and 72 percent are open 24 hours a day. That's the most late-night hours White Castle has offered since 2020. Also, for the themed merchandise, visit White Castle's House of Crave site.
"White Castle has always been there for our Cravers when it matters most — even when the clock strikes midnight and beyond," Jamie Richardson, vice president of White Castle, said in a statement. "Night Castle isn't just a moment in time — it's a state of mind. Whether it's summer nights, weekend outings or just a craving that won't quit, we're proud to be the place people turn to for craveable flavor, great value and unforgettable memories."
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