Goosebumped and shivering, thousands flocked to the gates of Buffalo, N.Y.’s KeyBank Center on Friday night (March 22), where Ariana Grande launched into night No. 3 of her Sweetener World Tour. The aroma of wing sauce and French fries wafted into nostrils as a horde of blown-out curls breezed through security (thanks to Ariana’s post-Manchester bag rules), heels clicking past vestibules of Labatt Blue to watch Social House and Normani kick off the next three hours.
Despite tapping into stan Twitter and veraciously following Ariana’s socials, I had avoided all the Sweetener spoilers I could. But even after sneaking a peek at the setlist on the train ride up to Buffalo, I still had a few surprises lying ahead when Ms. Grande strutted into the arena to begin a mind-altering musical mission through space, time, love, and riches. And lucky for you, we’re breaking it all down below.
BAGS SCHMAGS
Let’s get the boilerplate stuff out of the way. Ariana implored her fans to opt out of bags… or at least suggested they choose small plastic ones. I bought one from her website, but damnitall, it did not arrive in time for the show. Thankfully, I was able to check my tote — containing the computer I typed this on, deodorant and a change of underwear (TMI?) — at customer services. Phew! Anyway, getting through security was a dream because there was nothing to hold it up.
THE SEARCH FOR MERCH
Light pink and ‘00s themed, the merch contained retro-looking tees and, no, the “dick stain” shirt was nowhere to be found.
NORMANI NAILS IT
You guys, we need to talk about Normani. In the words of Nicki Minaj, Normani really is “that bitch.” And she knows it. In fact, the former Fifth Harmony member used Nicki’s legendary VMA words in a collage of headlines that intro’d her performance. Looking like a sexy disco ball, Normani showed off her incredible dance skills between a medley of Rihanna covers and 5H throwbacks, along with fan-favorite “Love Lies” and her newest track with 6lack, “Waves.” Do not because surprised if Mani is headlining arenas in just a few years.
WELCOME TO THE LAST SUPPER
When Ariana finally took center stage to “Raindrops” and “God Is A Woman,” she recreated her Last Supper choreo from the VMAs — just as we predicted.
THIGH-HIGHS OVER GUYS
Beyoncé has her leotards, Justin Bieber has his Nirvana tees, Lorde has her Adidas, and Ariana? Ariana has her thigh-high boots. Six pairs to be exact. Versace designed all of her ‘fits for the tour, including boots of the white latex, black latex, plaid latex,x and red latex variety. Who needs pants anyway?
WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS
It makes perfect sense that a giant celestial orb clung to the center of the stage. Very on brand. After all, a few months ago, Ariana dedicated a multi-snap Instagram Story just to the planet Jupiter. The outer-space theme worked beautifully when it came time for “NASA” or when a massive moon dropped from the ceiling for “Goodnight n Go.”
A MARATHON SETLIST
Your girl played nearly 30 songs over the course of the night — which means there was very little talking and lots of singing. Ten songs came from Sweetener and nine came from Thank U, Next. She also threw in an oldie-but-goodie medley for the OG fans, including “Right There,” “You’ll Never Know,” and “Break Your Heart Right Back.”
While we hear the voices of Nicki, Childish Gambino, and Big Sean (some fans assured me they’re not dating, just hanging) throughout the show, she didn’t bring out any of her famous friends. In Boston, two nights earlier, she invited 2 Chainz onstage to perform “Rule The World.” Nothing like that in Buffalo, unless you count Goldie Hawn in the First Wives Club clip she played or the Wall-E and Eve cartoons caught in her backdrop.
JUMP IN THAT CADILLAC
Yep, Ariana brought a car onstage. To top it off, during “7 Rings” — currently the No. 1 song in the country, by the way — the vehicle got spray painted with the city name: Buffalo!
BABY ARI
Just to prove how much of a glow-up Ariana has had — and to prove how little she’s changed — concertgoers were treated a vintage vid of our tiny Grande going full Jim Carrey by reciting an entire monologue from Bruce Almighty (a movie that takes place in Buffalo, N.Y., so, appropriate).
DIFFERENT POV
Although the Nicholson brothers weren’t as present in the dance troupe as they were in previous tours, they still played the part of creative directors, with one of them filming Ariana for “The Light Is Coming,” therefore creating a live music video right on the catwalk.
REGISTER TO VOTE
If you took a snack break, you could also register to vote. Ariana hosted nonprofit HeadCount at the show in hopes to get fans involved in democracy!
SHARING IS CARING
No one can ever say Ariana doesn’t treat her fans well. For “Bloodline,” she dragged around a collection of jewels to share with her Arianators in the pit. She even pulled a lipstick from her bra and tossed it into the crowd! It was at that point I wished I would’ve shelled out money for that VIP upgrade, but I’m not ready for my receipts to look like phone numbers just yet.
I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND
We stan a queen who holds her fans’ hands while performing. Ariana did just that during “One Last Time,” which has become an anthem for her fans after the tragic Manchester bombing during the Dangerous Woman Tour.
THANK U, NEXT
Ariana left us with “No Tears Left To Cry,” but not so fast! After fans started chanting “Thank U, Next,” each time getting louder, the Sweetener crew came out to perform Ariana’s first-ever No. 1 song. Does that mean “thank you… next concert?” Excuse me while I cruise StubHub for the next tour date.
Here at Mashable, the Elizabeth Holmes obsession could not be stronger.
We’ve read the book, listened to the podcast, watched both of the documentaries — and have been wearing nothing but black turtlenecks for the past six days. (Okay, not really on that last part, but we have been blinking less.)
While Alex Gibney’s Theranos doc for HBO The Inventor took the internet by storm after its premiere last Monday, us Holmes aficionados know the two-hour film barely scratched the surface on this fascinating ex-CEO.
If you’re new to the Holmes craze, welcome! We’re so happy you’ve joined us. Now that you’re one of the crew, let’s round out your knowledge a bit beyond what the doc covered.
Ranked from least to most bizarre, check out 5 Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos facts not explored in The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley below.
5. Ramesh Balwani and Holmes shared a ludicrously expensive mansion while at Theranos.
The Inventor touches on the fact that these execs-turned-lovers shared a house when Theranos was thriving, but it doesn’t quite get into why that house was so remarkable.
According to Vanity Fair, Balwani and Holmes shared a full-blown mansion in Los Altos, California, approximately six miles away from Theranos headquarters. Los Altos has long been considered one of the most expensive housing markets in the U.S. and of course, Theranos was ponying up when it came time for the couple to pay monthly rent.
It’s unclear just how much that cost the company, but economic realities of the area indicate it wasn’t cheap. Between the house, multiple chauffeurs, and security detail, Holmes and Balwani seem to have racked up a ridiculous bill during their brief time as Silicon Valley stars.
If anyone has copies of those receipts, let us see them. Please.
4. An Academy Award-winner directed those Theranos PR videos — and they may blemish his reputation
The Inventor introduces Errol Morris, the director responsible for most of the footage you see during the film, as the creator behind those Apple commercials. In reality, he’s a much bigger deal than that and his role in propping up Elizabeth Holmes is potentially damaging to his reputation.
Theranos hired Morris, who is an Academy Award-winning documentarian, to capture footage of Holmes for use in promotional materials. Throughout The Inventor, Morris’ off-camera questions for Holmes come across as praise-filled, credibility bolstering inquiries — a fitting tone for a PR job, but a potentially problematic look for Morris as a hard-hitting documentarian close to what would become one of the most highly publicized fraud cases in the history of Silicon Valley.
“The continued use of the footage slowly dismantles Morris’s — and any other would-be truth-seeking documentarian’s — supposed objectivity,” Emily Yoshida explains for Vulture.
“Morris’s whole deal is that he gets deep, probing insights out of his subjects; that he can draw stuff out of authority figures that other reporters cannot. But he has also used this reputation for commercial gain.”
Of course, Morris wasn’t the only one fooled. Holmes was able to convince her board of directors, investors, and the public of her product’s viability for over a decade.
3. Holmes would occasionally fall out of her (allegedly) fake deep voice while drinking.
The Inventor doesn’t take a deep dive into the origin of Holmes’ mysteriously baritone voice, but The Dropout sure does.
Based off of the successful ABC Radio podcast of the same name, the Nightline documentary interviews a number of people close to Holmes. Former Chief Design Architect at Theranos Ana Arriola revealed how employees learned about Holmes’ true speaking voice.
“We didn’t know that it wasn’t her voice until much later,” Arriola recalls.
“I think I was at one of the company parties, maybe she had a little bit too much to drink or whatnot. But she fell out of a character and exposed that that wasn’t necessarily her true voice.”
“When she came to me, she didn’t have a low voice,” notes Dr. Phyllis Gardner. “She was just like a typical undergrad.”
2. Holmes had a dog named Balto. He pooped all over Theranos.
Holmes’ Siberian Husky Balto — named after the heroic sled dog who delivered antitoxins to Alaska after a serious diphtheria outbreak in 1925 — would walk the halls of Theranos with Holmes regularly, even entering sanitary labs.
“Holmes brushed it off when the scientists protested that the dog hair could contaminate samples,” Nick Bilton writes for Vanity Fair.
“While Holmes held board meetings, Balto could be found in the corner of the room relieving himself while a frenzied assistant was left to clean up the mess.”
Multiple sources have also reported that Holmes would insist upon classifying Balto as a wolf, since he shared the breed’s typically small shred of wolf DNA.
According to Bilton, “In meetings, at cafés, whenever anyone stopped to pet the pup and ask his breed, Holmes soberly replied, ‘He’s a wolf.’” Uh … okay, then.
1. Holmes and Balwani could spend the rest of their lives in prison.
The Inventor serves primarily as an origin story for Holmes, but this sordid tale is still developing.
As Gibney notes in the doc’s final act, Holmes and Balwani are headed into criminal proceedings sometime later this year, facing two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 9 counts of wire fraud each.
What The Inventor doesn’t get into is how those proceedings could play out. Each count carries a maximum 20-year sentence and, plea deals notwithstanding, should Holmes and Balwani stand trial and be found guilty they could face up to 220 years in prison a piece.
While these sentences could be served concurrently at the recommendation of a judge — meaning Holmes and Balwani would spend only up to 20 years in prison — they could just as well be required to serve them consecutively. They could also get lighter sentences depending on if they’re found guilty on only some counts and what a jury and the judge decide is an appropriate judgment — there’s a multitude of unknowns here, after all.
Whether their future punishment — if any— fits the crime remains to be seen. We’re just hoping Balto has somewhere to stay.
This isOne Good Thing, a weekly column where we tell you about one of the few nice things that happened this week.
Doodling can be a great way to get the creative juices flowing, to help concentrate during class, or to kill time when you’re done taking a test.
Drawing during class is often frowned upon and scolded by teachers who think that their students are paying too much attention to their creations and not the lecture. However, some professors applaud their students artistic endeavors.
When Kaitlyn Kearns was finishes with her mechanical systems class quizes, she uses the extra time to draw out these adorable sea creatures. Her professor leaves the sweetest responses to the doodles the back of the assignments.
After sharing the images, Twitter responded with a collective “aww.”
Her professor’s comments and encouragement elevated the already cute cartoons to a new level of wholesome.
Lots of people were curious to know if she’d done well on these quizzes considering she had the time to draw such pretty pictures. She assured her audience that she only drew pictures when she was sure she’d gotten everything right, but didn’t have any more content to share since that class had gotten increasingly difficult.
Kearns is an undergraduate studying mechanical engineering at the University of Kentucky and hopes to create a webcomic about the struggles of college life. Based off of the outcry for more drawings, she seems to have quite the audience already built in.
Since people seem interested: – I only draw if I’m sure I did it right and I have extra time – I did get As on all these quizzes – currently don’t have more to post cause the class got harder Please keep posting your doodles tho they’re so cute
It turns out Kearns isn’t the only one whose teacher remarks on class time drawings. Many other students shared their artwork on the thread with similar engagement from their teachers.
Some teachers added on to their students’ doodles, bringing them to life just a bit more.
While others gave bonus points for making them chuckle.
Let’s hope Kaitlyn’s class gets easier so she can giver her people what they crave, more back-of-quiz doodles!
London, United Kingdom – Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to march through central London on Saturday to demand a final say on Brexit.
As the impasse over a way forward continues in Westminster, the original Brexit deadline of March 29 has now been pushed back to April 12.
Protesters want the government to put any solution to the deadlock to a second referendum.
Dubbed “Put It To The People”, the march will set off at noon (12:00 GMT) and end with a rally near the Houses of Parliament at about 2pm (14:00 GMT).
It is organised by the People’s Vote campaign, which includes more than a 100 grassroots groups advocating for a public vote on the Brexit deal with the European Union, and is supported by a number of pro-European organisations.
Pro-remain MPs from across the political spectrum have confirmed their attendance, while tens of coaches will descend on London from across the country.
‘Catastrophic consequences’
The last People’s Vote march in October was one of the largest in recent decades, attracting an estimated 700,000 people.
Among the high profile figures who announced their participation is the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
“We’re now days away from falling off a cliff edge with catastrophic consequences,” Khan said. “It’s time to take this out of the hands of politicians and put it back to the people.”
“No matter how you voted in the referendum, we can all agree that the path we’re being forced to follow is not in the national interest,” he said.
About 17.4 million Britons – nearly 52 percent of voters – opted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum, while just over 48 percent voted to remain in the block.
The vote redefined the country’s politics, drawing new fault lines within Britain’s two main political parties, Labour and the Conservatives, as well as it people.
Critics of a second referendum say it would be even more divisive than the first.
In a televised speech on Wednesday, Prime Minister Theresa May told the British public: “I am on your side”. She reiterated her determination to deliver Brexit and blamed parliament for the deadlock.
Her words sparked a backlash among MPs, who have rejected the withdrawal agreement she negotiated with the EU twice since January.
Petition against Brexit
An online petition to cancel Brexit by revoking Article 50 went viral the following day. By Saturday morning, it had gathered nearly four million signatures.
With only days to go to the UK’s scheduled departure date of March 29, EU leaders agreed this week on a dual-deadline mechanism to grant the UK some extra time.
The UK will leave on May 22 if the British parliament passes the deal. If it doesn’t, it will have until April 12 to indicate a way forward, which could include asking for a longer extension and agreeing to hold European Parliament elections.
Theresa May gets two-week Brexit reprieve from EU
If the deal is voted down again, the government could hold a series of indicative votes to see where consensus lies in Parliament, and a second referendum could be among the options.
However, Parliament rejected an amendment calling for a second referendum during a series of votes in mid-March.
While the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will not take part in the march, the party officially supports a second referendum. The party is mulling over endorsing a plan by two of its backbenchers that would see MPs vote for May’s deal on the condition it is then put to a public vote.
Recent polls have suggested that if there were a second referendum, Britons could vote to remain in the EU.
A snap poll this week found nearly two thirds of respondents would prefer remaining in the EU over leaving with May’s deal.
If the options were remaining or leaving without a deal, remain would still win but by a smaller margin of 43 percent. Almost half of respondents said they would support another public vote.
A few hundred people began the first leg of a ‘March to Leave’ walk [Christopher Furlong/Getty Images]
Meanwhile, a “March to Leave” walk organised by former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage, considered one of the architects of Brexit, took off from Sunderland last weekend.
A few hundred people began the first leg of a two-week protest due to end in Parliament square on March 29, accusing politicians of “betraying the will of the people” over Brexit.
Anxiety for Britons living abroad as Brexit day nears
While Labour supports a “softer Brexit” including closer economic integration with the EU, the hard Brexit wing in May’s own Conservative party has been voting down the deal over the so-called backstop – a protocol of the withdrawal agreement to avoid a hard border in the island of Ireland, which they believe would tie the UK to the EU’s trade rules indefinitely.
Alongside Scotland, Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU in 2016.
“In 2016, Northern Ireland wasn’t mentioned and it’s now become what the government calls a major stumbling block,” Doire Finn, the 24-year-old Northern Ireland coordinator of Our Future Our Choice, a youth campaign group supporting the People’s Vote campaign, told Al Jazeera.
The border in the island of Ireland is set to become the only land crossing between the European Union and the United Kingdom after Brexit.
There are concerns that a no-deal Brexit would have serious consequences for peace in the region, as well as on the lives of residents like Finn who live in the border area.
“Because I live so close to the border, I don’t like my life or the people who have built lives on a border that is completely frictionless, to be called a stumbling block,” Finn added.
“It’s important that there are Northern Irish people [at the demonstration] to have their voices heard in a more representative way than they are currently in Parliament.”
“Young people in particular are going to have to live with the consequences of Brexit for the longest.”
Gathered for a private meeting at a beachside Ritz–Carlton in Southern California, the oil executives were celebrating a colleague’s sudden rise. David Bernhardt, theirformer lawyer, had been appointed by President Donald Trump to the powerful No. 2 spot at the Department of the Interior.
Just five months into the Trump era, the energy developers who make up the Independent Petroleum Association of America had already watched the new president order a sweeping overhaul of environmental regulations that were cutting into their bottom lines — rules concerning smog, fracking and endangered species protection.
Story Continued Below
Dan Naatz, the association’s political director, told the conference room audience of about 100 executives that Bernhardt’s new role meant their priorities would be heard at the highest levels of Interior.
“We know him very well, and we have direct access to him, have conversations with him about issues ranging from federal land access to endangered species, to a lot of issues,” Naatz said, according to an hourlong recording of the June 2017 event in Laguna Niguel provided to Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting.
The recording gives a rare look behind the curtain of an influential oil industry lobbying group that spends more than $1 million per year to push its agenda in Congress and federal regulatory agencies. The previous eight years had been dispiriting for the industry: As IPAA vice president Jeff Eshelman told the group, it had seemed as though the Obama administration and environmental groups had put together “their target list of everything that they wanted done to shut down the oil and gas industry.” But now, the oil executives were almost giddy at the prospect of high-level executive branch access of the sort they hadn’t enjoyed since Dick Cheney, a fellow oilman, was vice president.
“It’s really a new thing for us,” said Barry Russell, the association’s CEO, boasting of his meetings with Environmental Protection Agency chief at the time, Scott Pruitt, and the then-Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke. “For example, next week I’m invited to the White House to talk about tax code. Last week we were talking to Secretary Pruitt, and in about two weeks we have a meeting with Secretary Zinke. So we have unprecedented access to people that are in these positions who are trying to help us, which is great.”
In that Ritz-Carlton conference room, Russell also spoke of his ties to Bernhardt, recalling the lawyer’s role as point man on an association legal team set up to challenge federal endangered species rules. “Well, the guy that actually headed up that group is now the No. 2 at Interior,” he said, referring to Bernhardt. “So that’s worked out well.”
Today, Bernhardt is in line for a promotion: the former oil industry lobbyist has been nominated by Trump to be secretary of the Interior. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a confirmation hearing Thursday, March 28. Bernhardt has been running the department since early January, when Zinke resigned amid an ethics scandal. The post gives Bernhardt influence over regulations affecting energy production on millions of acres of public lands, deciding who gets to develop it, how much they pay and whether they are complying with the law.
An Interior Department spokeswoman, Faith Vander Voort, said, “Acting Secretary David Bernhardt has had no communication or contact with either Barry Russell or Dan Naatz.” The IPAA executives were not available to comment on this story, a spokeswoman said.
At the meeting, the association’s leaders distributed a private “regulatory update” memothat detailed environmental laws and rules that it hoped to blunt or overturn. The group ultimately got its way on four of the five high-profile issues that topped its wish list.
Trump himself was a driving force behind deregulating the energy industry, ordering the government in 2017 to weed out federal rules “that unnecessarily encumber energy production.” In a 2017 order, Zinke called for his deputy secretary—Bernhardt—to make sure the department complied with Trump’s regulatory rollbacks.
The petroleum association was just one industry group pushing for regulatory relief — the American Petroleum Institute, the U.S. Oil and Gas Association and the Western Energy Alliance also were active. But since IPAA created its wish list, the Interior Department has acceded to nearly all its requests:
* Rescinded fracking rules meant to control water pollution. Frackers pressure-inject water and chemicals into the ground to break up rock and release oil and gas. In 2015, the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management moved to minimize water pollution caused by fracking, setting standards for well construction and proper management of fracking fluids. For the first time, the new rule also required frackers to get federal permits, a costly and time-consuming process, the industry complained.
The IPAA sued, contending the rule was not needed because fracking was already regulated by states. Under Trump, Interior sided with the energy industry, and in 2017 the rule was rescinded.
* Withdrawn rules that limit climate-change causing methane gas releases. An oil strike can release clouds of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. When producers lack the means to capture methane and sell it as natural gas, they either burn it or release it into the air. In 2016, to fight global warming, the BLM issued a rule sharply limiting these practices and imposing a royalty fee on operators who wasted natural gas on public lands.
IPAA sued, complaining producers would facehuge financial losses. Trump’s Interior Department sided with the industry and in 2018 rescinded key provisions of the rule.
* Abandoned environmental restoration of public land damaged by oil development. To offset the harm of oil production, the BLM often required producers to pay for restoration projects as a condition of their permits. This practice of “compensatory mitigation” is used by many government agencies. In 2015, then-President Obama ordered Interior to set a goal of “no net loss for natural resources” when issuing development permits.
IPAA pushed back hard against the “no net loss” standard, arguing that developers might be saddled with exorbitant mitigation costs. In 2017, Trump himself ordered the repeal of the Obama mitigation rule. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke attacked the concept as“Un-American.”
* Ended long-standing protections for migratory birds. Every year, millions of migratory birds are killed when they fly into power lines, oil waste pits and other energy development hazards, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says. Since the 1970s, the service has promoted industrial safety practices to protect birds from accidental harm—and has prosecuted and fined energy companies responsible for the deaths of these birds.
IPAA complained it was unfair to prosecute energy companies engaged in legal activities that unintentionally harmed birds. In 2017, Trump’s Interior Department called a halt to prosecuting companies for the “incidental” deaths of birdlife. Bernhardt played an important role in crafting the legal opinion that gutted these protections, emails obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show.
“The IPAA’s wish list was granted as asked, in the executive order, and in the actions taken by the Department of the Interior,” said Nada Culver, senior counsel for the Wilderness Society environmental group, who reviewed the document for Reveal. “It pains me to say it.”
***
Bernhardt’s began his career in government as an aide to then-Rep. Scott McInnis, a Colorado Republican elected in 1992. In 1998, he quit to work at the powerhouse Washington lobbying firm of Brownstein, Hyatt.
After President George W. Bush took office, Bernhardt returned to government as a political aide to Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, a fellow Coloradan. He worked on the administration’s push to reverse a congressional ban on drilling for oil in Alaska’s Arctic Wildlife Refuge. In 2006, he was promoted to solicitor, the department’s top lawyer.
In 2009, he rejoined the Brownstein firm and became head of its natural resources department. Over the years, he lobbied or provided legal advice to about 40 clients, many of them companies seeking to block the force of environmental regulations administered by Interior. Among his clients were 18 energy concerns, including offshore oil drillers, frackers and operators of coal-fired power plants. His federal ethics report showed he had worked for IPAA since at least 2015.
After Trump was elected, Bernhardt served on the new administration’s transition team, then was named Zinke’s deputy. A coalition of 150 environmental groups opposed Bernhardt’s appointment, calling him a “walking conflict of interest” because so many of his former clients were subject to Interior Department regulations.
Bernhardt’s Senate confirmation hearings were roiled when a collection of his emails, reported by Reveal, showed he had continued to give political advice to the Westlands Water District, a California agribusiness concern, for months after he told Congress he had quit lobbying.
Bernhardt promised to follow Interior’s ethics rules, which call for him to recuse himself for up to two years on matters involving former clients.
“I believe that public trust is a public responsibility and that maintaining an ethical culture is important,” he told senators, and the Senate confirmed his appointment. At Interior, to remind himself of conflict of interest concerns, Bernhardt carries a wallet-sized card listing former clients covered by his ethics recusals, the Washington Post reported.
Interior Department lawyers say Bernhardt is permitted to work on matters affecting his former clients, such as the petroleum association, as long as the issues affect a broad group of players, not just the one client. But the watchdog group Campaign Legal Center has filed a complaint accusing Bernhardt of ethics violations for working on California water issues favored by Westlands, his former lobbying client.
Bernhardt’s recusal concerning the petroleum association expires in August and his official calendars do not reflect any meetings to datewith IPAA officials.
The oil lobby has had ready access to top administration officials, both inside the Interior and out, according to public records and the lobby leaders themselves. Since Bernhardt began work at the department, the IPAA has spent more than $1.3 million lobbying the department and other federal agencies, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics.
In April 2018, an IPAA contingent led by Naatz, the political director, met with Bernhardt’s top aide, Todd Willens, concerning two issues from the wish list: migratory birds and mitigation. Hours later, Willens met with Bernhardt, but a copy of Willens’ calendardoesn’t state the topic of their meeting.
***
It was the kind of access the group had begun to marvel at the year before in the plush confines of their Southern California resort. On the recording, Russell, the IPAA’s CEO,described an extended meeting he had already had with Pruitt, a former Oklahoma attorney general and climate-change doubter whose tenure at EPA would be cut short by ethics scandals. What started as a simple meet-and-greet became an invitation to critique the EPA’s air pollution regulations, the oil executive said.
“Scott Pruitt, he came from Oklahoma, and we have a lot of friends in common and I thought that’s what we were going to talk about, we did that for about three minutes,” Russell said. “And then he started asking very technical questions about methane, about ozone … andif Scott Pruitt thought he was going to go deep nerd …”
The audience began laughing.
“And what was really great is there was about four or five EPA staffers there, who were all like, ‘Write that down, write that down,’ all the way through this,’’ Russell continued. “And when we left, I said that was just our overview.”
The audience laughed again.
“So it’s really a new world for us and very, very helpful.”
There was about four or five EPA staffers there, who were all like, ‘Write that down, write that down,’ all the way through this,’’ Russell continued. “And when we left, I said that was just our overview.”
Naatz predicted Bernhardt would actually run the department while Zinke would play a ceremonial role.
“What secretaries of Interior do is go out to Yellowstone, go out to Tetons … have big vision for what they’re going to do,” he said. “David is going to be the COO. David’s going to move the pieces. David’s going to be part of that, and we know him well.”
He also warned of what could go wrong in the Trump era.
Trump was slow to make middle-level appointments at the regulatory agencies to carry out the pro-industry policies he ordered, Naatz contended. Without supervision, career federal employees might well slow-walk, or resist the sweeping regulatory changes the industry favors, he said.
“If you don’t have the politicals pushing down, bureaucracy is going to take over and push up,” Naatz said.
Another problem was what he called “the gorilla in the room.” The investigation into Trump’s ties to Russia was “hampering everything that is going on,” he said. He groused about Trump’s “inane tweets that come out after midnight,” and faulted the entire White House for lack of focus.
“They have got to be better on message because they are going to lose the opportunity. It’s an unbelievable opportunity, you have Republicans controlling both houses of Congress, and the administration and so they need to get their act together and start to move,” he said.
When “you are talking about issues that are important to you, the Republicans win,” he continued. “If you are talking about Michael Flynn and Russia, you are going to lose. And so it’s really important to carry that narrative on energy, on infrastructure, on all these issues.”
Reveal reporter Elizabeth Shogren contributed reporting for this story.
Teens don’t need to read the headlines to know that they and too many of their peers are feeling lonely, sad, anxious, and suicidal. Recent headlines, however, confirm what’s happening in their lives.
This week, a Pediatricsstudy documented a 28 percent increase in psychiatric visits to the emergency room for American youth. The research, which looked at survey data collected between 2011 and 2015, found even higher rates of increased visits for adolescents and African American and Hispanic youth. The rate of suicide-related visits more than doubled.
“This study unmistakably reveals that adolescents are a population with urgent mental health needs,” the study’s authors wrote.
Meanwhile, new research also published this week used survey data to reveal a “steady rise” in youth rates of mood disorders and suicidal thoughts and behaviors between 2005 and 2017.
Yet many young people grappling with psychological distress or mental illness are hesitant to tell someone who could help them. Instead, they may look for answers online, where Google searches can lead them to both information about effective treatment and therapy and to misleading or bad advice.
Teens looking for hope amidst a sea of online resources can arm themselves with the following tips:
1. Take a reputable mental health screening.
There are countless online quizzes designed to tell a user whether they’re experiencing a mental health condition. These tools can help verify that something is wrong, but only some of them are based on science. You’ll want to look for scientifically validated screening tools, which you can often find through mental health organizations or government websites.
“Sometimes taking the screening is the first step before having a conversation with someone.”
Mental Health America, a nonprofit organization, offers 9 screening tools that focus on mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and disordered eating. One screening is specifically for youth 17 and younger, and many users arrive at the site by Googling phrases like “Am I depressed?” and “depression test.” Once they’ve received the results, users can print or email them to share with others.
“Sometimes taking the screening is the first step before having a conversation with someone,” says Theresa Nguyen, Mental Health America’s vice president of policy and programs. “People think, ‘Now I have something tangible that I can give to my parents or someone I trust.’”
2. Educate yourself with accurate information.
If you’ve taken a screening indicating you should seek help, or received a diagnosis from a pediatrician or mental health professional, Nguyen recommends telling a trusted adult as well as learning more about your symptoms or condition. While it can be helpful to hear from friends or seek insight from social media, it’s important to remember that everyone’s mental health experiences are different. (MHA offers a tip sheet for vetting online mental health resources.)
“The most powerful thing we can give young people first is education, so they have more of a sense of what they’re going through,” says Nguyen.
That education, she adds, can help them push back when a parent, adult, or healthcare provider minimizes a child’s concerns about their mental health.
“It’s really empowering for young people to feel strong,” she says.
3. Find treatment and recovery resources.
There are science-backed treatment options for mental health conditions, but finding such information online can be difficult unless you know where to look.
Getting the right help early on can be critical to recovery, says Amanda Jensen-Doss, director of the child and family division in the department of psychology at the University of Miami and a member of the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.
She encourages young people and their parents to ask psychologists and psychiatrists more about the treatments they offer, how patient progress is tracked, and why a certain approach is the right one to use. That information can help young patients make informed decisions about their care versus trying to handle the situation on their own.
“So often the problems linger for a long time before they come to someone’s attention.”
“So often the problems linger for a long time before they come to someone’s attention,” says Jensen-Doss. “Kids are suffering until the point where they need to be in the ER.”
MHA’s research does suggest that the majority of young people who use their resources don’t want to see a therapist. That’s why Nguyen often recommends the organization’s resources, including “DIY tools” comprising worksheets, fact sheets, and activities that help explain, address, and manage your symptoms.
Whether you decide to seek help for your mental health or not, it’s key to know that the right online research and resources can put you on a path toward healing and recovery.
Beirut, Lebanon – A seven-minute media address by United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday was dominated from start to end by his country’s preoccupation with Hezbollah and, in effect, its patron Iran.
Pompeo read out his statement during his visit to Beirut as his Lebanese counterpart Gebran Bassil watched with an unwavering gaze.
The US’ top diplomat minced no words while declaring the intentions of US President Donald Trump’s administration to take on Hezbollah for its “criminal activities and terrorist network” albeit by “peaceful means”.
Referring to a recent televised speech by Hezbollah’s chief Hassan Nasrallah, Pompeo claimed success of US sanctions against the group, saying “Nasrallah begged for contributions”.
Trump has reversed his predecessor Barack Obama’s Middle East policy, abandoning the much-hailed 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and re-imposing sanctions. The US has since imposed additional sanctions on Hezbollah as well.
Bassil’s address took on a different tone to Pompeo’s however, with the foreign minister reaffirming that Hezbollah is not a terrorist organisation, has a large popular support base and is part of Lebanon’s national unity government.
Political and military growth
In October, the US designated Hezbollah as a transnational crime threat, alleging that the group’s network spans across West Africa and South America and is involved in money-laundering, drug trafficking and terrorism.
However, Thanassis Cambanis, a fellow with The Century Foundation and author of a book on Hezbollah, said that while the sanctions made life harder for Hezbollah, they have done nothing to stop its political or military growth.
“American efforts to weaken and isolate Hezbollah have created myriad practical problems for the organisation but do nothing to accomplish the fundamental United States goal of containing Hezbollah politically and militarily,” Cambanis told Al Jazeera.
“Terror-listing and sanctions make it difficult for Hezbollah’s non-military operations. They do nothing, however, to reduce Hezbollah’s reach as a military power,” he added.
Hezbollah has grown from being an Iranian proxy inside Lebanon to a regional armed force over the last decade. It has sent fighters in the thousands to the Syrian war. Those who survived have returned battle-hardened.
The group has also aided Shia militias in Iraq and backed the Houthis in Yemen. Hezbollah has been forming a bloc against Israel in South Lebanon but now it is also present in southern Syria in the part of Golan Heights still under Syrian control.
The group has also gained power politically and dominates the Lebanese parliament. Along with its allies, Hezbollah has over 70 of the 128 parliamentary seats and three ministers in the cabinet.
Preserving unity
Lebanese politicians, including President Michelle Aoun, base their support for Hezbollah on the need to preserve unity among the different factions represented in Lebanon’s sectarian divisions of power.
Alain Aoun, an MP with President Aoun and Gebran Basil’s Free Patriotic Movement, told Al Jazeera that while the US was free to limit whatever it deemed to be Hezbollah’s external acts, within Lebanon, Hezbollah was a legitimate part of the society.
“The US must not take punitive measures against Lebanese people,” said Aoun. “We are Hezbollah’s political allies, as it represents a major Lebanese community, but this does not mean that we know what is happening outside.”
Although many had feared Pompeo would announce further sanctions, he promised that the US would continue to support Lebanese state institutions, including financially. His words were underlaid with veiled warnings that continued reliance on Hezbollah would risk Lebanon’s economic prospects.
“Lebanon faces a choice; bravely move forward as an independent and proud nation or allow the dark ambitions of Iran and Hezbollah to dictate your future,” Pompeo said in his address.
He also reminded the Lebanese people of the $800m the US provided to Lebanon in pecuniary support just last year. “How much has Hezbollah or Iran provided,” asked Pompeo, adding that Iran gives Hezbollah $700m a year.
Interestingly, and perhaps not coincidentally, he visited Lebanon after Israel, just as President Trump recognised Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights.
The Trump administration has already moved its embassy to disputed Jerusalem and is preparing a deal to resolve the conflict with Palestine that will reportedly mirror many of Israel’s demands.
The lasting impact of US policy is yet to be seen. However, Cambanis of The Century Foundation believes the US should adopt a more nuanced approach towards Hezbollah.
“Sanctions against Hezbollah have already ensued a siege mentality among its followers. This is unlikely to weaken the group and instead give it more control, more supporters.”
The fidget spinner craze may be dead, but the idea behind them isn’t. Here are some of the best new energy-channeling toys that’ll keep your hands busy.
Disclosure
Every product here is independently selected by Mashable journalists. If you buy something featured, we may earn an affiliate commission which helps support our work.
March Mindfulness is our new series that examines the explosive growth in mindfulness and meditation technology — culminating in Mashable’s groundbreaking competitive meditation bracket contest. Because March shouldn’t be all madness.
Reaching for your phone as a distraction from uncomfortable situations has become a reflex at this point. It’s a handy tactic to avoid eye contact in public, but bolting to social media or even self-care apps when you’re stressed or anxious could subconsciously be making you feel worse.
It’s time we find something to focus our energy that’s more productive than listening for Twitter’s refresh “pop” sound every five minutes.
Mindfulness and the focus on focus aren’t new by any means, but have increasingly been in the spotlight due to a mass fixation on self care. Sure, being open and curious about the present without judging other ideas rattling your brain sounds great, but here’s the thing: It doesn’t come easy for everyone. Mastering mindfulness can take time — and the right level of expectations. For those who aren’t ready to hop on the meditation train, there are other options to help you chill out.
Enter: stress toys. When social media has become a dumpster fire and self-care apps just aren’t cutting it, something as simple as a physical toy can help you decompress. And while the fidget spinner is now just a memory rolling around on the floor of your car, its short life had a bigger impact than making Toys R Us airfreight tens of thousands of them to meet demand: It opened up the conversation about stress, nervous energy, and how seemingly useless little toys can affect how we focus.
There hasn’t been a lot of peer-reviewed scientific research done on the science of fidgeting, but the mass obsession with the fidget spinner leads us to believe that stress toys are something people really want — and is hopefully opening the door for more research on the benefits. Forbes journalist Bruce Y. Lee dove into the idea of fidgeting:
“One thought is that fidgeting may occupy parts of your brain that otherwise would distract the rest of your brain with random thoughts. […] Fidgeting may prevent your mind from being occupied by obsessive and unhealthy thoughts such as what is the meaning of life, what do other people think of you, why aren’t you more attractive, why do others seem more successful on Facebook than you, and why isn’t Justin Beiber [SIC] returning your phone call?”
The modern stress toy market has expanded past fidget spinners and long beloved stress balls in an attempt to satisfy all the different ways we can work through this excess energy: Whether that’s squeezing, squishing, spinning, rolling, molding, building, or a mix. Similar to the way meditation apps guide you through breathing or have you stare at bubbles, these toys provide a way to regather yourself during an overwhelming situation or to simply channel some nervous energy.
A few seconds of focusing your energy on a stress toy — or simply giving your fingers something to do that’s not nervously biting your nails or picking at your skin — can help you slow down. Toys may not free you of other thoughts like meditation aims to, but they’re something that can help you pause when everything else is spinning. Plus, they’re perfect for daily use.
TL;DR: Everyone needs an outlet for stress sometimes, and it’s totally fine if yours is a stress toy. Here are eight of the best new stress toys you can buy on the internet.
Stimulates multiple senses at once • Nine scent options
Reviews mention receiving the wrong size
Knead your worries away with this pliable dough that feels great on your hands and smells good, too.
It doesn’t matter if you haven’t touched Play-Doh in 20 years. The satisfaction you get from rolling, molding, and kneading something squishy doesn’t go away with age.
comes packed in perfectly portable jars and is designed to release tension via kneading, squishing, and rolling. Available in nine colors and scents, like lavender, spice, and melon, you’ll be able to squish your way to inner peace and enjoy some calming aromatherapy in the process. Aromatherapy’s whole thing is about using scents to promote relaxation and general wellbeing,
but
we can’t prove that it actually works. However, getting a whiff of something pleasant while sitting at your mundane office job could definitely be comforting.
Something you can wear every day • Unique gear design
Keep your fingers busy without whipping out a toy with this mesmerizing spinning gear ring.
keeps your fingers busy thanks to its gratifying turns and silent clicks. Its main selling point is the unique working gear design — but for anyone who cares about style, the stainless steel and intricate details make it a stellar accessory to boot.
Unlike other spinning rings that work with a smaller band inside a larger one, these micro-precision gears actually turn in unison like the gears in a bike.
. One of the pioneers in this new wave of stress toys, Speks has found a way to make magnetic balls squish-able. If you’re worried that dough will look too much like playtime when your boss walks by, these are a fun alternative that won’t get your fingers sticky. (It’s such a cool concept that about 15 imposters have popped up on Amazon alone, but Speks is the OG.)
Described as “the original mashable, smashable fun,” these colorful metal sheets are composed of 512 tiny, shiny magnetic balls. (We love anything described as “mashable” for obvious reasons, but these are seriously awesome.) The rare neodymium magnets are strong enough to hold your creations, but can be pulled apart and molded in whatever way that you need. It’s also nice that your creations can be destroyed without making a mess.
Be warned: 2.5 mm is smaller than you realize. This toy should definitely be kept away from children, and maybe people with not-so-nimble fingers.
Looks like decor when not in use
Balls only come in one color
Build, roll mindlessly, or store paperclips —whatever it is, Speks Super offers a variety of methods to distract and decompress.
These supersized magnetic balls can help release tension, then act as decor when it’s time to be professional.
Stress-relief method:
Rolling, building
Options:
Green base, blue base
Good things may come in small packages, but we’re here to make a case for this oversized stress toy. If the tiny magnetic balls just didn’t look like something you’d use,
is the supersized version that fits (just barely) in the palm of your hand.
At 33 mm each, these balls come in packs of five and
magnify
the fun of playing with magnets (pun very much intended). Mindlessly roll two in your hand when you’re on a boring phone call, see how well other magnetic objects stick, or build a museum-worthy sculpture with the included base.
like a toy — and doesn’t always have to be. When they’re not being used, the balls can hold your paperclips, house your business cards, or simply be disguised as modern industrial desk decor. No one has to know.
Doubles as an everyday object • Shock-resistant hardshell case
No hole for the pairing button
Air Vinyl Design takes an iPhone accessory you’ll already be carrying and makes it an outlet for stress relief.
has now found a home in the cheap toy graveyard of Amazon, the attraction to that mindless movement is alive and well. When you need something to spin but aren’t about to carry around an actual toy,
The case itself is pretty standard: a polycarbonate frame, impact-resistant lining, and classy leather exterior take it a step past the white Apple case. Though the anodized aluminum spinner is a seemingly small addition, it turns something that AirPods owners already carry into an outlet for nervous energy.
Sure, it won’t charge your AirPods or connect your AirPods to your phone when opened, but a fidget-friendly iPhone accessory is just plain neat, and it looks great, too.
Multiple outlets in one toy • Comes with a carrying case • Fun color options
Sound effects can be annoying • Looks childish
Why be locked into one way of fidgeting? This cube has up to 12 different stress relievers including buttons, sliders, and massagers.
. Once you get past the fact that it kind of resembles a dog’s chew toy, the attention to detail in this thing is awesome. Buttons, joysticks, gears, and squishy silicone balls are just a few of the stress relievers this toy has to offer.
PILPOC offers two variations of the Fube, both of which are available in two different colors. The first has a total of six sides and a few less knobs and buttons than the other, but offers some serious distraction methods nonetheless.
The 12-sided cube is where things really get interesting. Here, you’ll find a joystick, buttons, silicone balls, gears, sliders, a switch, a finger massager, a rope to pull, a rotating disc, and a worry stone. (Not sure about that last one, but moving on.) It’s easy for fingers to get tired of a single motion when done for too long, so the variety here is key. On a shitty day, this is the ultimate toy for taking out some stress.
Just plain adorable • Simple method that can be taken anywhere
The simplicity of popping a pea out of its pod has made these keychains one of the internet’s favorite stress toys.
How can something so simple be so satisfying? The simplicity is literally the answer: They require no brainpower and are simply there for you to squeeze to your heart’s content. Once a pea is popped out, it immediately goes back into its pod, creating a loop of endless satisfaction.
Instead of brooding in stress or picking at that zit on your nose, popping these peas over and over can be the outlet you need — and at the very least, they’ll keep your fingers busy as a distraction. They come in packs of three, so your most-used bags and keychains can always have one handy.
Acts as a protective phone case • Subtle satisfaction on the go
Some iPhone models are left out • No options for Samsung or Googlee • Could get annoying for people nearby
Popping bubble wrap is no longer a special occasion — this iPhone case lets you do it anywhere.
lets you satisfy that need to pop things — anytime and anywhere. The bubbles can be popped and re-popped as many times as needed to de-stress, and the silicon acts as a relatively impact-resistant shield.
We have a hunch that combining tech and stress toys could
very
well be the future of the market. Not everyone is comfortable whipping out therapy dough on public transportation, but sensory phone cases or other tech accessories with an added stimulus are an easy way to fidget wherever you are.
Warning: Not everyone loves popping bubble wrap as much as you do (surprising, we know). This phone’s popping sound effects may get annoying to people around you, so keep that in mind before you pop in close quarters.
Humanitarian agencies have raised alerts over hygiene and safe drinking water needs eight days after Cyclone Idai lashed central Mozambique as some cholera cases are reported in the devastated port city of Beira.
Henrietta Fore, the chief of UN children’s agency UNICEF, told AFP news agency in Beira that stagnant water, decomposing bodies and lack of good hygiene and sanitation created a risk of outbreaks of malaria and cholera.
“We are running out of time, it is at a critical point here,” Fore said.
The International Federation of Red Cross said in a statement on Friday that some cholera cases have already been reported in Beira along with an increasing number of malaria infections.
Diaz Simango, the mayor of Beira who has been helping clean up the city by driving excavator, told AFP that cases of diarrhoeal infections had already been reported.
Aid group Doctors Without Borders said people were also at risk of respiratory infections such as pneumonia.
World Food Programme declared the flood crisis a level three emergency [Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP]
The death toll in Mozambique rose to 293, with an untold number of people missing and the mortuary at Beira’s central hospital already reported full.
The number of dead were put at 259 in neighbouring Zimbabwe, which Idai tore through after Mozambique before moving to Malawi, which was left with 56 dead.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for stepped up support for victims of Idai saying the UN and its humanitarian partners are scaling up the response but “far greater international support is needed”.
He said in a statement that “with crops destroyed in the breadbasket of Mozambique more people are at risk of food insecurity in all three countries”.
UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) declared the flood crisis a level three emergency, putting it on a par with Yemen, Syria and South Sudan.
The homeless, hungry and injured slowly made their way from devastated inland areas of Mozambique to Beira, which was heavily damaged itself but has emerged as the nerve centre for rescue efforts.
People slowly made their way from devastated inland areas to Beira[Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP]
“Some were wounded. Some were bleeding,” said Julia Castigo, a Beira resident who watched them arrive. “Some had feet white like flour for being in the water for so long.”
Aid workers are seeing many children who have been separated from their parents in the chaos or orphaned.
More than 65,000 people are already in shelters in central Mozambique and other sites are being opened.
Elhadj As Sy, secretary-general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said the relief efforts so far “are nowhere near the scale and magnitude of the problem”, and the humanitarian needs are likely to grow in the coming weeks and months.
“We should brace ourselves,” he said.
Cyclone Idai moved to Zimbabwe after tearing through Mozambique [Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters]
In Zimbabwe, where roads began to open and some basic communications were set up, a fuller picture of the extent of the damage began to emerge.
The victims included a mother buried in the same grave with her child; headmasters missing together with dozens of students; illegal gold and diamond miners swept away by raging rivers; and police officers washed away with their prisoners.
In the city of Mutare, Maina Chisiriirwa said she buried her son-in-law, who had gone to the diamond fields to mine illegally.
“There are no jobs and all he wanted was to feed his family. He was with his colleagues. They thought it would be easier to mine since the rains would keep the guards and the police away from patrolling,” Chisiriirwa said.
His colleagues survived, but her son-in-law was swept away, she said.
Cyclone Idai: Families hunt for missing relatives in Zimbabwe
Daily Trends Hunter 