Men's Journal's Blog, page 78

The 4 States With the Most Psychopaths Might Surprise You

If you’ve ever suspected that where you live might be shaping your personality, science is now backing you up — in a way that’s both fascinating and deeply unsettling. 

According to a massive new study led by researchers at the University of Copenhagen, certain places in the U.S. are more likely to produce people with what psychologists call "dark" personality traits. Four states top the list.

The study analyzed data from more than 2 million people across 183 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Researchers looked at dark traits like psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism, and compared them with what they called "adverse societal conditions" — things like poverty, inequality, corruption, and violence. 

The findings were clear: people living in harsher environments tend to score higher on the so-called "Dark Factor."

So which U.S. states stood out? Nevada, New York, South Dakota, and Texas topped the rankings for the highest levels of these traits. 

The researchers relied on crime rates, poverty stats, and corruption convictions to draw their conclusions. The results were consistent. People living in places with more societal dysfunction are more likely to show signs of selfishness, aggression, and a willingness to exploit others.

Lead researcher Ingo Zettler explained that the study doesn't mean people in those states are doomed to be bad actors. However, it does suggest that our surroundings shape us more than we might think. 

"Even small variations can lead to large differences in how societies function," he said.

On the flip side, the states with the lowest levels of dark traits were Vermont, Utah, Maine, and Oregon. These areas tend to be more economically balanced and socially stable, creating environments that, according to the study, are less likely to foster toxic behavior.

The takeaway? Dark personality traits aren’t just something we’re born with. They're also a product of the world we live in. 

While the data can't predict individual behavior, it paints a sobering picture of how deep the connection between society and psychology really runs.

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Pinstripes Bowling Bistro Warns It May Close All Locations Amid Bankruptcy

Pinstripes was supposed to be the future of going out. With bowling lanes, bocce courts, bistro-style food, and fire pits, the upscale chain tried to turn dinner and drinks into an experience. But now, that experience may be coming to an end.

The company is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and has warned that all 18 of its sprawling venues could close. 

Known for hosting everything from date nights to office parties, each Pinstripes location could pack in up to 1,500 guests. Now, those massive spaces are in limbo.

Once pitched as a stylish rival to Topgolf and Dave & Buster’s, Pinstripes boasted "rapid growth" across the country. But behind the scenes, it was bleeding money. 

The chain reported an $8 million loss in February and saw sales drop nearly 8 percent. Just one year after going public, it was kicked off the New York Stock Exchange.

The company did secure $7.5 million in financing to stay afloat but had to give up most of its ownership to get it. 

According to Bloomberg, Pinstripes plans to keep operating during the bankruptcy process. But for fans of late-night bocce and wood-fired pizza, it's not looking great.

Pinstripes joins a growing list of once-popular chains on the ropes. Red Lobster, Hooters, and TGI Fridays have all filed for bankruptcy in the past year. And even longtime standbys like Cracker Barrel and Applebee's are reporting shrinking profits as more people eat at home.

Related: Popular Seafood Restaurant Stages a Surprising Comeback After Bankruptcy

The economy's slow cooldown hasn't helped. Food costs are still high. Budgets are tight. And that $21 prime rib sandwich might be the first thing to go when folks are watching their wallets.

If the bankruptcy moves forward, Pinstripes could be the next domino to fall. And for anyone who ever spent a birthday in rented bowling shoes with a cocktail in hand, that's a tough loss.

Brad Pitt's Driving in 'F1: The Movie' Was ‘Signed off on’ by Lewis Hamilton

If there wasn’t enough pressure for Brad Pitt to endure some of the challenges F1 drivers face, imagine having to do it alongside the most highly decorated drivers in Formula One history.

This was precisely the case for Pitt and fellow actor Damson Idris while filming the highly anticipated F1: The Movie. Lewis Hamilton, who holds the joint record for Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles (seven), is in the film, so he got an up-close look at Pitt and Idris on the track.

While neither actor appears bound for Formula One after filming the movie, director Joseph Kosinski did reveal what Hamilton thought of Pitt and Idris' driving in F1: The Movie.

Brad Pitt (L) and Damson Idris (R) of the upcoming Formula One-based movie, 'F1,' interact in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit.

Clive Mason/Getty Images

Kosinski explained what went into creating such a potentially dangerous movie while speaking with The Hollywood Reporter. While he mentioned "a lot of conversations with the insurance companies," he also stated that Hamilton "signed off" on Pitt and Idris, an impressive tip of the cap from the F1 star.

"The good thing for me is that Brad and Damson both proved themselves to be incredible drivers," Kosinski said of Pitt and Idris. "Very capable behind the wheel, they were signed off on by Lewis Hamilton himself."

"So, as nerve-racking as it is to see them driving at this speed, I really had faith in their ability and also the team we put around them."

#F1TheMovie director Joseph Kosinski shares that Lewis Hamilton approved of Brad Pitt and Damson Idris driving race cars for the film pic.twitter.com/XgzXDJEgjW

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) June 16, 2025

You'd be hard-pressed to find a better endorsement for Pitt and Idris, and that fact alone had to put the director's mind at ease a bit while filming F1: The Movie.

The duo's driving will officially be on display on June 27, when F1: The Movie hits theaters.

Related: Ryan Gosling Fan-Favorite Movie Gets Long-Awaited Sequel Update

Ex-Tesla Insider Says Company Is 'Absolutely Hosed' Under Elon Musk

After half a decade climbing Tesla’s ranks and helping shape its sales training strategy across North America, Matthew LaBrot reached a breaking point. 

In May, he anonymously published a letter titled Tesla Employees Against Elon that openly criticized Musk’s leadership, citing political extremism, plummeting demand, and a brand in crisis. Two days later, he was fired.

"I couldn't keep going to work pretending the problem wasn't at the top," LaBrot said on Hard Reset. "It hit a point where I had to say something."

LaBrot, who still owns a Cybertruck and Model Y, doesn't consider himself a rebel. He joined Tesla in 2019 as a true believer in the mission of clean energy and electric vehicles. 

But over time, especially after Musk's increasingly political social media posts and public behavior, LaBrot saw firsthand how loyal customers were turning away.

"I was training people to sell vehicles while Musk was alienating the exact audience we were trying to win over," he said.

His protest letter called out not just Musk, but also a board LaBrot claims is asleep at the wheel. 

Related: Elon Musk Changes Everything After X (Twitter) Outage

"There was a time when CEOs got fired for having affairs. Musk can post conspiracy theories, echo extremists, and make Nazi-adjacent gestures—and instead of accountability, they double down."

Since going public, LaBrot says he's been flooded with support from fellow Tesla employees, current and former. But the consequences have been severe. 

Related: Tesla Pushes Hard with New Incentives as Sales Slip

Despite being well-qualified, he's been unemployed for more than a month with zero interviews. "I'm not saying there's a blacklist, but it's tough. I'm on the 'L' side of this right now."

He still drives his Cybertruck—with a decal reading "ProTeslaNotElon.com"—and says plenty of people flip him off. But others quietly reach out with encouragement.

As Tesla's Q2 sales loom, LaBrot believes the company’s trajectory is bleak. "Without a backlog of orders and with Musk pushing away the customer base, the damage might be irreversible."

Related: A Shocking EV Shift Just Hit Tesla Where It Hurts

Livvy Dunne's Date Night With Paul Skenes Abruptly Interrupted

LSU icons Livvy Dunne and Paul Skenes were barely settled into their seats at Charles Schwab Field on Monday when a rain delay disrupted their day.

The couple was attending the Men's College World Series winner's bracket game between the LSU Tigers and UCLA Bruins in Omaha, Nebraska. The Bruins grabbed the early lead after scoring three runs in the first inning. The Tigers, with Dunne and Skenes watching from their seats just near the on-deck circle, responded with four runs in the bottom of the first, powered by Jared Jones' three-run blast. LSU added another run in the third inning and enjoyed a 5-3 lead in the fourth when a weather delay ensued.

Soon enough, the packed crowd at Charles Schwab Field headed for cover as heavy rain showered the area. The rain delay lasted hours, and play will resume at 10:03 a.m. ET on Tuesday.   

Fortunately for Dunne and Skenes, they partied before the game.

Related: Livvy Dunne Sends a Message After Gymnastics Retirement

Livvy Dunne: Miller Lite gal 🍺🫡 #cws #LSU pic.twitter.com/ouJsdicwyd

— College Sports Only 🏈 🏀 ⚾️ (@CollegeSportsO) June 16, 2025

This guy has pretty good handwriting, we might have to keep him around to do all the board updates! @Paul_Skenes pic.twitter.com/ovKwUUtnqG

— CWS Jello Shot Challenge (@CWSShotBoard) June 16, 2025

Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne took in the scene at Rocco’s ahead of LSU vs. UCLA. pic.twitter.com/mos9XBVbIy

— Hurrdat Sports (@HurrdatSports) June 16, 2025

Related: Livvy Dunne Turns Heads at LSU's College World Series Game in Omaha

The couple hit up Rocco's Pizza and Cantina in downtown Omaha. The local institution is famous for its famous Jell-O shot challenge, which, of course, Skenes and Dunne participated in. 

Skenes, who won a national championship as LSU's star pitcher in 2023, got compliments for his penmanship when he tallied the Jello-O shot board.

Dunne also got major props on social media for her beer choice at the game, a good 'ol Miller Lite. Dunne turned heads on Saturday when she showed up to LSU's game against Arkansas wearing a jersey that was half LSU (front) and half Pittsburgh Pirates (back) in homage to her superstar boyfriend. 

Doctor Charged in Matthew Perry's Death Makes Plea Decision

A Southern California doctor is expected to plead guilty to distributing the fatal dose of ketamine that contributed to the 2023 overdose death of actor Matthew Perry.

People reported that according to a plea agreement filed in Los Angeles on June 16, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, known as "Dr. P.," will plead guilty to four counts of ketamine distribution. 

Each count carries a potential 10-year sentence, meaning the 70-year-old physician could face up to 40 years in federal prison.

Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, died on Oct. 28, 2023, after he was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home. His autopsy confirmed the cause of death as the "acute effects of ketamine," with secondary factors including coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine, a medication often used to treat opioid addiction.

Plasencia is one of five people charged in the criminal investigation into Perry’s death. Federal prosecutors say the group exploited Perry’s vulnerabilities and saw him as a high-paying customer. 

According to the Department of Justice, Plasencia texted a fellow physician, "I wonder how much this moron will pay," while arranging a ketamine deal for the actor.

Other defendants have already entered plea deals, including Perry’s personal assistant and an alleged drug dealer. 

Only one person—Jasveen Sangha, allegedly known as "The Ketamine Queen"—has refused to plead and is set to face trial in August.

Investigators say Sangha and the others not only distributed ketamine illegally but also tried to erase their digital tracks after Perry’s death. In fact, one message reportedly read, "Delete all our messages" showing possible intent to get rid of any evidence tying them to the situation.

The plea agreement marks a turning point in the high-profile case that's stunned fans and reignited conversations about prescription drug abuse and celebrity exploitation.

What MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell Said to Lose $2.3 Million

Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow, lost his defamation suit today to Eric Coomer, a former Dominion Voting Systems executive. As part of the judgment, the jury ordered Lindell and his company to pay Coomer a total of $2.3 million in damages.

The jury found Lindell liable for three statements, two made directly by Lindell himself and one hosted on his online platform formerly called FrankSpeech.

FrankSpeech Network Inc. (FSBN) is being rebranded as Mike Lindell Media Corp. and is also the company behind Lindell TV, according to a press release. The press release states “FSBN is a public company quoted on the OTC Markets OTC Pink Market that heads up FrankSpeech (now LindellTV), a major broadcast platform founded by Mike Lindell in April 2021.”

After a two-week trial, Axios reported, the Denver jury awarded Coomer $440,500 in damages to be paid directly by Lindell, and $1.9 million to be paid by FrankSpeech.

The first defamatory statement, CPR reports, was made on May 9, 2021, when Lindell urged Coomer to turn himself in for election stealing, saying, “I mean, you are disgusting, and you are treasonous. You are a traitor to the United States of America.”

The second statement came in an interview on FrankSpeech, CPR noted. “Eric Coomer, you are a criminal. Eric Coomer, your lawyers better look out. I’m not putting up with this,” Lindell said. “You’ve been a part of the biggest crime this world has ever seen.”

The third defamatory statement wasn’t made by Lindell but rather was made by someone else at an event broadcast on FrankSpeech.

Lindell has said he will appeal the ruling, AP reported.

Basketball Legend Calls Caitlin Clark's Play 'Just Ridiculous'

Caitlin Clark's gameplay has left even a basketball legend stunned.

The basketball phenom has boosted the popularity of the WNBA with her already legendary three-pointers.

However, her play on June 14 turned heads when she made seven three-pointers to score 32 points against the New York Liberty. It was "just ridiculous," according to former Liberty star and Hall of Famer Rebecca Lobo. But she meant that as a compliment.

"It means a lot more people are paying attention once again," Lobo said on June 16 on ESPN’s "First Take," according to Awful Announcing. "We know how much Caitlin drives ratings. We know how much Caitlin drives attention on the WNBA. For her to come back and do it in that way was just ridiculous."

Lobo wasn't done. 

“I’m sitting there at the end of the first quarter when she had that 38-second stretch where she drained deep three after deep three after deep three. I was just sitting there thinking, I’ve been around this league since 1997. I have never seen that in a WNBA game," she added. "Have we seen players go on runs? Of course, we have, but not like that, not where a couple of the three-pointers are from 30-plus feet."

“It was an exhibition by her after being out for 19 days to recover from an injury. Couple that with the other passes that she made and some of the other plays, it was just ridiculous," she added. "It’s not often that you’re watching the WNBA, or that I’m watching it, and I’m like, ‘Wow, I’ve just never seen this before.'”

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'Lilo & Stitch' Actor Dead Weeks After Film's Debut

On May 23, the live action Lilo & Stitch film made its debut in theaters to strong reviews and an even stronger box office numbers, hauling in $146 million in its first weekend domestically.

Just a month later, though, the Lilo & Stitch family lost a beloved member when actor David Hekili Kenui Bell passed away.  "It is with a heavy heart I share that my sweet, generous, talented, funny, brilliant and handsome little brother David H. K. Bell will spend today in the company of our Heavenly Father," his sister Jalene Kanani Bell wrote Sunday. 

"I’ve been waiting for the words and mindset to properly express the joy of a human, and Prince of a Man he was, but fate pushed my hand this morning by a pre-scheduled Father’s Day newsletter honoring the men in our lives."

One of Bell's final posts on social media showed photos from the Lilo & Stitch set on Instagram, as well as a clip from his audition. He played a character named Big Hawaiian Dude who comedically drops his shaved ice dessert at the sight of an alien portal. 

"My audition had some special effects 🤣 I'm pretty sure that's what did it 🤔😂 Also some random stuff 😁," he said in the caption of the post, which came two weeks before his death.

View the original article to see embedded media.

The Screen Actors Guild member also played a character named Isaac in Hawaii Five-0 Season 5, Episode 4 and Manu Saluni in Magnum P.I. Season 1.

"David loved being an actor, doing voiceovers, spending time with Brutus traveling as an ambassador for Kona Brew. The film industry and entertainment was so exciting to him and I loved that he enjoyed the arts," his sister added in her tribute post. 

"He went to Punahou and Kalani while our dad spoke Hawaiian so his ability to deliver lines with English understanding, Indigenous knowledge and Pidgen to da Max…made him a diamond in the rough. You can hear him over the PA system on arrival at Kona Airport where he loved working to create an awesome and safe customer experience."

A cause of death has not been announced.

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Busch Light Debuts New Lime Flavor for Summer

Fruity flavors don't typically come to mind when you think of beer.

There are fruit-flavored drinks, and then there is beer; one or the other.

However, that's been slowly changing in the marketplace, and now a popular beer brand is getting a makeover for summer.

Busch Light and Anheuser-Busch have announced the addition of Busch Light Lime, which the company describes as "a crisp, refreshing lime-flavored lager with a touch of sweet on the front end and a clean beer finish on the back".

"As lime is a familiar and welcoming flavor, having a distinct tart and zesty profile that’s known to be refreshing and ideal to enjoy in hot weather, the brand is offering fans another fruit-forward flavored lager to enjoy as they embark on their next outdoor adventure this summer," the beer brand noted in a press release.

Busch Light has been slowly introducing fruit-flavored beers into its lineup.

The company says it is the "second fastest-growing brand in the beer industry year to date."

The company introduced Busch Light Apple first, and brought it back after fans clamored for its return. That led to Busch Light Peach in 2023, a "limited-edition summer lager," according to the company.

“We’re kicking off this summer with our second seasonal drop so our fans can enjoy camping and post-hikes with their favorite cold, smooth beer in hand,” said Krystyn Stowe, Head of Marketing, Busch Family & Natural Family at Anheuser-Busch, in the news release. “Between Busch Light Lime’s debut and the return of Busch Light Apple, 2025 is the summer of flavor, and our fans love our fruit-forward flavored beers. Listening to our fans and bringing them the innovations they want is our top priority.”

The limited-edition lime beer is available in 25 states while supplies last. States where Busch Light Lime is available include: Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming, the company wrote.

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