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Jared Leto's Bizarre Behavior Leaves Bartender Shocked New

Jared Leto's Bizarre Behavior Leaves Bartender Shocked

Oscar winner Jared Leto followed a young bartender out to her car after she declined his “handsy” advances — before bombarding her with texts and a near-naked selfie, Page Six can reveal.Gracelisa Akers was 25 and working behind the bar at The Orbit Room in Grand Rapids, Michigan, back in April 2011 when Leto’s band, 30 Seconds to Mars, performed.After spotting the attractive brunette, Leto sent over a flunky to say he wanted to meet her, inviting her to a party in his dressing room. Jared Leto sent a near-naked selfie like this one to Gracelisa Akers, after bombarding her with texts. jaredleto/InstagramSuch behavior echoes that of four women who came forward this week to accuse the star of criminal sexual conduct saying he had made advances — and in some cases slept with them — while they were still teenagers and he was in his 30s and 40s. In Gracelisa’s case, her evening with the actor and singer soon became fraught.“I can tell immediately, just from being around the industry, when men are trying to use their status symbol as a power play,” she told Page Six.Gracelisa Akers told Page Six Leto made it clear he wanted to hook up. Gracelisa AkersAkers – at right, sitting on the bar at The Orbit Room, Michigan – was working at the venue in April 2011 when 30 Seconds to Mars performed. Gracelisa AkersLeto, now 54,  had first greeted Gracelisa with an elbow bump, claiming to be a germaphobe and refusing to shake hands with others — although she noted his later behavior contradicted this.They swapped numbers and he invited her to his dressing room, which was full of his band members and bar staff.“When I got up there, he immediately beelined for me,” Gracelisa told us. “I could tell that he was looking for a hook up, but that’s not what I was offering.Leto performing with his band at The Orbit Room on April 19, 2011. Rick Z/ YouTubeAkers said Leto sent a flunky over to introduce them – before inviting her up to his dressing room for a ‘party’. Rick Z/ YouTube“He offered me a drink and I said no. That was the first red flag – he seemed to be irritated, but I said ‘I have to drive home’“And he was certainly not a germaphobe, he was grabbing at me, playing with my hair, his hands were around my waist and on my hips and he was trying to hold my hand,” she told us. “But it was very one sided, I thought ‘hey buddy, I’m not into you’. “I thought ‘take no for an answer dude, you’re not getting laid tonight.’ “Akers is seen with her hands up, behind the bar The Orbit Room, as 30 Seconds to Mars played. Gracelisa AkersWhen his camp headed out to Denny’s, she went to leave.“His hands were all over me, and he got more irritated,” she recalled. “He was trying to pull me towards him and he was so close I could smell his breath. I made it clear that I was not into this and I said goodbye and grabbed my stuff.“He followed me out and cornered me as I’m trying to get into my car.Leto won an Oscar for best supporting actor for ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ in March 2014. Getty ImagesLeto’s co-star Matthew McConaughey won the best actor Oscar. Getty Images“He said ‘you’re never going to see me again, let’s just f–k Denny’s and go eat on the tour bus’. He told me, ‘We don’t need to do anything’ and had me positioned in a way that I couldn’t move.”Gracelisa is just 5ft tall, while Leto stands around 5ft 9ins, although she made it clear that he was not violent.“I said ‘no I am leaving, I feel uncomfortable’, I got in my car and went home.Leto played Rayon in ‘Dallas Buyers Club’. He lost around 30 pounds to play the character, a HIV-positive transgender person. ANNE MARIE FOX“Then he bombarded with all these texts, more and more texts, asking me to come back.”By now it was like 3 or 4am. “I even woke up to a text from him about going to breakfast the next morning,” she said.Gracelisa deleted the texts and photos — but still has Leto’s phone number, which we have verified belongs to the actor.Leto went on to play the Joker in “Suicide Squad.” ©Warner Bros/courtesy Everett Collection / Everett CollectionTwo months later, she revealed, “I got another text – it was a selfie in the mirror, he had a towel over his waist, as if he had just showered, and it was just covering his junk.“The caption was just a room number, NYC, the name of a hotel and the message ‘hurry up, I’m waiting’.“I replied, I’m in Grand Rapids, Michigan, you sent this to the wrong Grace.’The actor – seen at the London premiere of “Suicide Squad” in August 2016 – made headlines when he revealed he had sent used condoms and sex toys to his co-stars, including Margot Robbie. David M. Benett“I hope whoever she is, she did not show up, but he was really persistent, it’s just an ick.”Gracelisa, now 41, and a mom-of-two and the owner of her own salon in Michigan, added, “I know he didn’t physically hurt me, but I think the unwillingness to take no for an answer shows a pattern of aggressive behavior and entitlement when he didn’t get his way.”Gracelisa’s claim comes as Page Six can reveal Leto has hired bulldog attorney Alex Spiro, with a top legal source saying, “You don’t hire Alex Spiro unless you think have got some exposure.Vain Leto posted this selfie of himself from Thailand in 2024. jaredleto/Instagram“I know that many women have made claims against Leto,” the source added. “There is no doubt in my mind he has settled with some of them,” so they wouldn’t talk about him.”We have reached out to Sprio for comment, as well as a rep for Leto.In a 2013 interview with Rolling Stone Leto said he preferred to be single. “I was never very proficient with the ladies when I was younger, but I started making up for lost time,” he said.Leto went on to win an Oscar for his role as a transgender person in “Dallas Buyers Club” in 2014 and still performs with his band.Cameron Diaz was one of Leto’s high-profile girlfriends. They dated from 1999 to 2003. GC ImagesBut over the past few years, long percolating rumors about his private life and behavior with young women have come to the surface.One of the women who came forward this week claimed in a BBC documentary she was sexually assaulted in a motel bathroom by Leto when she was 17. Another said the “Tron” star threatened her with sexual assault when she was 19. A third told how she had under-age sex with the star in California when she was 17, classified as statutory rape in the state. Leto “shrugged off” a conversation about the age of consent being 18 in the US state, she alleged.The fourth woman described being groomed by Leto, saying he abused his celebrity status by making repeated sexually explicit phone calls to her when she was 16. On at least one occasion, she says he suggested they should have sex.Leto’s last lengthy romance was with Russian model Valery Kaufman. They were together until 2022. LESE / BACKGRIDLeto was spotted with model Thet Thinn in the stands at the French Open in Paris in June 2023. Best Image / BACKGRIDLeto furiously denied the allegations, saying in a statement, “I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my entire life. These claims are absolutely and categorically false.”30 Seconds to Mars are due to start a 17-date European and UK next April, kicking off in Lisbon. We have reached out to promoters Live Nation to see whether they are investigating the most recent claims on Leto.We have also reached out to the band’s record label, Concord Records, to ask if they are launching an investigation.Leto joked that his fans were in a cult and threw a ‘retreat’ for his 30 Seconds to Mars followers in Croatia in 2019. Thirty Seconds to Mars/XLeto, speaking at his retreat, calls their fans “The Echelon.” Jared Leto/InstagramLeto found fame and became a schoolgirl crush as the brooding Jordan Catalano opposite Claire Danes in ’90s TV show “My So Called Life.”The star is the frontman of 30 Seconds to Mars while his older brother, Shannon, is the drummer. The brothers have thrown bizarre “retreats” for superfans, whom they dub The Echelon, including a weekend trip to Croatia in 2019, which Leto joked about being a “cult.”The boys had a remarkable rise, growing up raised by a single mom, Constance, and were “food stamp poor,” Leto once said.The actor last appeared on screen as Skeleton in “Masters of the Universe.” Amazon MGM“It was the 1970s, the age of the artist and the hippy, and my exposure to that shaped me in a really deep way,” he told Mr. Porter in 2013. “I had no concept of the word ‘fame’. He starred in films including “Morbius,” “Requiem for a Dream,” and “Blade Runner 2049,” finding infamy through his method acting and pranks he played on his fellow actors.Indeed, he admitted to sending used condoms and sex toys to his “Suicide Squad” co-stars, including Margot Robbie and Will Smith.Last year, Leto appeared in Disney’s “Tron: Ares.” ©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett CollectionIn 2016, he told E! News that explained that it was all part of his character, The Joker.“I did a lot of things to create a dynamic,” he revealed, “to create an element of surprise, spontaneity.”Leto, who has dated stars including Cameron Diaz and been linked with others including Scarlett Johansson, was most recently in a relationship with Russian model Valery Kaufman up until 2022, and has since been linked with model Thet Thinn.“Alex” is one of the women accusing Jared Leto of sexual misconduct in a new BBC documentary. BBC“Taylor” is another woman who spoke out on the BBC doc. BBC“Isabel” is a third woman who accused Leto of misconduct. BBCHe was last seen playing Skeletor in “Masters of the Universe,” released in theaters on June 5, and before that he appeared in Disney’s ‘Tron: Ares’ last year.“Had I given in against my wishes because of his fame, I could have been in the same shoes as those poor girls [who made claims this week],” said Gracelisa. “And I’m certain there’s many more that he struggled hearing “no” from as well. “Bringing to light this type of behavior and validating victims is something everyone should get behind.”

Aug 01, 2026
Neil Patrick Harris's Latest Family Photo Leaves Fans Shocked for This Reason New

Neil Patrick Harris's Latest Family Photo Leaves Fans Shocked for This Reason

How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris has sparked an online conversation following a recent Instagram post with his family. While many may best recognise the star for his role as Barney Stinson in the long-running CBS sitcom, Harris lives a far different life to his on-screen character. The 53-year-old entertainer is a well-known LGBTQ+ rights activist, and is himself married to fellow actor David Burtka, as they tied the knot in 2014 after 10 years together. Harris and Burtka also share two children , son Gideon and daughter Harper, who are twins, born in 2010. The couple has even shared snaps of their kids on the day of their birth in the past, which led to many fans being shocked at the latest snaps. In the wholesome image, the kids can be seen standing between their dads, bringing fans to the exact same conclusion. Fans have been saying the same think about Neil Patrick Harris' children. Credit: Instagram/@nph Fans notice one thing about the kid The children were born in 2010, meaning that they are 16 this year, and it seems like fans can't handle the fact that they are nearing adulthood. Social media users posted about how grown up the teens looked, as one fan wrote: “Beautiful family! They’re not babies anymore. Time sure does fly by.” Another added: “Aw, they’re adults now, I knew. Gideon would look like you, but wow. Beautiful preteen adults.” “Wait a minute now, how are they that grown up already??” a third said. A different fan pointed out how both children look like both parents, despite only being biologically related to one of them, saying: “The way both kids manage to look like both parents when they’re biologically one of each is just amazing.” The couple have spoken about their desire to raise children, as Burtka told Out magazine that "if he hadn’t wanted kids, I don’t think we’d be together." In order to have children, they used an IVF process which involved both of them contributing their own sperm, meaning either twin could be biologically linked to either dad. Harris explained to Barbara Walters in 2024: “We inserted one of my sp*rm and one of David’s sp*rm into two eggs with the hope that they would both take, just because we both wanted to be dads biologically. Both took, miraculously.” He previously explained that he doesn't care to find out which twin is his, saying that "we are their parents and I love them implicitly.” Neil Patrick Harris, Gideon Scott Burtka-Harris, David Burtka, and Harper Grace Burtka-Harris. Credit: Dia Dipasupil / Getty Twins roast their dads during awards speech Back on May 11, the family attended Family Equality’s gala in New York City, where Harris and Burtka were honored with the Luminary Award. The couple were presented with the award by Elton John and David Furnish, celebrated both men's "visibility, advocacy and enduring commitment to LGBTQ+ families," according to PEOPLE . According to Entertainment Tonight , the 15-year-old siblings, Harper and Gideon, delivered an emotional tribute filled with jokes aimed directly at their dads. Gideon joked: "We had twice the dad jokes, and zero the improvement." Harper added: "Whenever I’m confused or doubting myself, papa just turns to me and repeats the family motto: 'What would Doogie do?'" The joke referenced Harris’ breakout role as teenage doctor Doogie Howser in Doogie Howser, M.D. Featured image credit: Instagram/@nph

Aug 01, 2026
Mother's Heart-Wrenching Decision: Why She Let Her Daughter Be Euthanized New

Mother's Heart-Wrenching Decision: Why She Let Her Daughter Be Euthanized

A mother has broken her silence on why she allowed a prominent psychiatrist to end her teenage daughter’s life in her childhood bedroom. Dr. Menno Oosterhoff, who specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry, has assisted patients with terminating their lives for several years, The Atlantic reports . While the procedure is legal under specific guidelines in the Netherlands, his actions have sparked a fierce debate across Europe regarding the ethics of psychiatric euthanasia. The legal framework for medically assisted suicide in the Netherlands was established by lawmakers in 2002. Under this law, physicians are permitted to grant euthanasia requests provided they are voluntary, well-considered, and stem from unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement or reasonable alternative solutions. Dr. Oosterhoff primarily handles individuals who do not possess physical disabilities, operating under the belief that providing an authorized path for those with terminal mental diagnoses helps prevent unassisted suicide and shortens prolonged suffering. Public opinion on the matter remains deeply divided. While some supporters view the psychiatrist as a compassionate figure who helps individuals facing desperate circumstances, critics have raised significant alarms. The conversation intensified nationwide following a public television broadcast titled "Milou's Battle Continues," which detailed the experience of a 17-year-old girl who sought out Dr. Oosterhoff to end her life. Milou Verhoof died by euthanasia at the age of 17. Credit: NPO The doctor's last words to the teen The teenager, Milou Verhoof, sought assistance after experiencing years of severe trauma, including a sexual assault at age 13 and a near-fatal illness affecting her brother. Following multiple suicide attempts and lengthy delays from other medical professionals, she met with Dr. Oosterhoff. On October 2, 2023, the procedure was carried out in her childhood bedroom. Before administering the injection, Dr. Oosterhoff said (per The Manchester Evening News ) to Milou, "Girl, have a good trip," in front of her parents. At her funeral, he later noted, "You've been through so much," to express sympathy for her long struggles. Her mother, Mireille Verhoof, defended the decision in an email correspondence, stating, "Because of Dr. Oosterhoff's extremely careful and cautious approach, we as parents trusted that his conclusion-that Milou truly could not go on and that the days were unliveable for her-was the only correct one and confirmed what we as parents had long seen in our child." This case highlights a broader statistical shift in the country of 18 million people. Though the vast majority of the 9,958 euthanasia cases in 2024 involved terminal physical ailments, psychiatric euthanasia instances grew from 88 in 2020 to 219 in 2024. Legal challenges and debate in Spain The discussion surrounding medically assisted death has also intensified in other parts of Europe, notably following a high-profile case in Spain involving a 25-year-old woman named Noelia Castillo Ramos. She became quadriplegic in 2024 after jumping from a building following a gang rape. Before her scheduled procedure, she gave a final television interview, declaring, "I have four days left because on the 26 they will perform euthanasia on me," which brought widespread attention to the legal battle over her choice. Her father strongly fought the decision in court, arguing that his daughter suffered from a personality disorder and was dependent on the state mental healthcare system prior to her assault. Castillo Ramos expressed that the legal opposition from her family increased her emotional pain, noting that none of her relatives supported her path. She defended her autonomy by asking, "None of my family is in favour of euthanasia. I am a pillar of the family. I leave them suffering. But what about my suffering?" She further argued that "The happiness of a father, a mother, or a sister should not be more important than that of a daughter or the life of a daughter," before her legal termination was ultimately carried out. Featured image credit: David Sacks/Getty Images

Aug 01, 2026
Vincent Pastore Found Dead: What Happened to 'The Sopranos' Star? New

Vincent Pastore Found Dead: What Happened to 'The Sopranos' Star?

Vincent Pastore, best known for his role in HBO’s “The Sopranos” and for playing mobster characters in a slew of film and TV roles, has died, Page Six can confirm. He was 80.Sources told Page Six that Pastore was found dead in his Bronx residence Saturday by a neighbor after he’d not been heard from for several days. Another source told us the actor died at home on City Island in the Bronx.Vincent Pastore, seen above in “The Sopranos” with Dominic Chianese, Tony Sirico, Steve Van Zandt and James Gandolfini, has died at the age of 80. Getty ImagesThe actor, seen here in 2019, was found dead in his Bronx home by a neighbor. Getty Images“I had the privilege of representing Vinny for more than 30 years, long before ‘The Sopranos’ made him a household name. To the world, he will always be remembered as the unforgettable ‘Big Pussy,’ but to those of us who knew him, he was so much more,” Pastore’s rep, Robert Attermann, told Page Six on Saturday, noting that the actor died “today.” “Vinny was one of the kindest, most generous people I have ever known,” the statement continued. “He treated everyone with warmth and respect, never turning down a fan who wanted a photograph or an autograph.” Attermann continued, writing that Pastore “genuinely appreciated the people who supported him and always made them feel valued. He loved being an actor. He was passionate about his craft and was always encouraging, respectful, and generous with young actors, taking the time to offer guidance and support whenever he could.” A rep for Pastore, seen here in 2002 mourned the actor in a statement to Page Six. WireImageRobert Attermann told. us Pastore, pictured here in a throwback photo, was “one of the kindest, most generous people I have ever known.” / SplashNews.comAtterman wrote that losing “Vinny” is “deeply personal.” “Over more than three decades, I had the honor of watching not only his remarkable career but also the incredible person he was,” he went on. “I will miss his friendship, his loyalty, his humor, and his heart.” “My deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and the countless fans whose lives he touched,” he concluded. “He leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond his memorable performances. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten.” This is a developing story… Community GuidelinesWelcome to the Page Six Community!Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas in a safe space.In order to do so, we've created a simple set of rules that will improve your experience.Simply put, keep it civil.Your post will/might be rejected if it contains: Spam Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language and threats of any kind Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author User accounts will/might be blocked if we notice: Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected Racist, sexist, or homophobic comments Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk So, how can you be a power user? Stay on topic and share your passion. Feel free to elaborate to get your point across. 'Like' or 'Dislike' when you are filled with emotions! Protect your community. Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules. Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Don't forget, freedom of speech is not the freedom of reach!

Aug 01, 2026
This Childhood Diet Secret Could Change Your Brain's Future New

This Childhood Diet Secret Could Change Your Brain's Future

People who consumed less sugar during the first 1,000 days after conception may be significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease later in life, according to a new study published in the journal npj Aging. Researchers found that individuals exposed to sugar restriction from pregnancy through roughly age 2 had a 46 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared with those who were not exposed to those restrictions. They also showed lower risks of dementia, anxiety and depression in later life. The findings come from an analysis of more than 60,000 people enrolled in the UK Biobank and suggest that nutrition during the earliest stages of life may have lasting effects on brain health decades later. How Wartime Sugar Rationing Created a Natural ExperimentScientists were able to investigate the question using a unique historical circumstance. During World War II and for several years afterward, sugar was heavily rationed in the United Kingdom. Children younger than 2 did not receive a sugar ration. When rationing ended in September 1953, adult sugar consumption nearly doubled. Because it would be unethical to deliberately restrict a baby's diet for research purposes, the period of rationing created a natural experiment that allowed researchers to compare people exposed to lower sugar levels early in life with those who were not. A team of researchers in China examined the health records of 60,394 people born between 1951 and 1956. Participants were divided into groups based on whether sugar rationing covered their time in the womb only, their time in the womb and early childhood, or neither period, which served as the control group. The researchers then analyzed medical records and self-reported health conditions recorded in the UK Biobank to determine how participants' health changed as they aged. A stock image shows shows a doctor examining MRI images of patients' brains. | Getty ImagesCompared with the non-rationed control group, people who experienced sugar restriction during the first 1,000 days after conception had a 27 percent lower risk of developing dementia from any cause. Their risk of anxiety was 20 percent lower, while their risk of depression was reduced by 11 percent. The study found no association between early-life sugar restriction and the risk of Parkinson's disease. To understand whether the differences extended to the brain itself, the researchers also examined MRI scans from a subset of 9,053 participants. After accounting for other factors that could influence brain health, including genetics and family history, they found that people who were exposed to sugar rationing had brains that appeared younger than expected for their age. On average, the difference was about 0.39 years. The scans also revealed larger volumes in certain brain regions, including the hippocampus and thalamus, areas involved in memory and other cognitive functions. Summarizing their findings, the researchers wrote: "These quasi-experimental findings suggest that early-life sugar restriction is associated with attenuated neurobiological aging and lower risks of dementia and psychiatric disorders." What the Findings Mean—and Their LimitsProfessor Fahad Hanna, associate professor of public health at Torrens University Australia, told Newsweek that the findings are broadly consistent with current understanding of how early-life conditions can influence long-term health. "The first 1,000 days represent a critical period of brain development during which nutrition can influence metabolism, immune function, the gut microbiome, and even epigenetic pathways that may have lifelong consequences," Hanna said. "Excessive sugar intake early in life could contribute to metabolic dysregulation and chronic inflammation, and these are recognized as risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia." However, he cautioned that Alzheimer's disease has many contributing factors and that early-life nutrition should not be viewed as the sole determinant of future brain health. "Alzheimer's disease is a complex condition influenced by genetics, cardiovascular health, education, lifestyle, and many environmental factors accumulated across the lifespan. Early-life nutrition is likely to represent one piece of a much larger puzzle," Hanna said. The study authors also urged caution in interpreting the findings. While the researchers adjusted their analyses for a range of factors that could influence brain health, they emphasized that the results do not prove that lower sugar consumption directly prevents Alzheimer's disease or other neurological conditions. Hanna echoed that limitation. "The study provides an important association but does not establish direct causation," Hanna said. He noted that people exposed to lower sugar intake early in life "may also have differed in many other ways that influence dementia risk decades later, including socioeconomic circumstances, health consciousness in general (including physical activity) healthcare access, education, and broader dietary patterns throughout childhood and adulthood." He also noted that the findings were based on a unique period of sugar rationing that may not reflect modern dietary environments, highlighting the need for further research in other populations and settings. The authors made a similar point in their paper, writing: "These findings require replication in contemporary cohorts with detailed early-life dietary assessments before informing clinical or public health recommendations." While Hanna said the findings support existing public health guidance to limit excessive added sugar during pregnancy and early childhood, he warned against drawing conclusions about Alzheimer's prevention at this stage. "Parents should not interpret these findings as suggesting that occasional sugar exposure determines a child's future cognitive health," Hanna said. "Rather than viewing this as a story solely about sugar, I see it as further evidence that the first 1,000 days may be one of the most important windows for lifelong health. We have long recognized this for cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. Studies like this raise the intriguing possibility that brain health and dementia risk may also begin much earlier in life than we once thought." Reference: Xingji Lian et al, Early-life sugar rationing, brain aging, and long-term neurodegenerative and psychiatric health outcomes: a population-based natural experiment study, npj Aging (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41514-026-00452-z Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Kara Dolman and Emma Lee-Sang

Aug 01, 2026
Parole Board Scandal: Why Was a Commissioner Fired After Warning of a Killer's Threat? New

Parole Board Scandal: Why Was a Commissioner Fired After Warning of a Killer's Threat?

A former New York State Parole Board commissioner was given the boot after objecting to the release of a convicted killer who allegedly vowed to torture and murder her in a racist tirade after she voted to keep him behind bars, she told The Post.Tyece Drake said she repeatedly warned state officials about threats allegedly made by murderer Matthew Svanberg, 53, before he was granted parole in 2024. Svanberg spent 25 years behind bars for fatally shooting 26-year-old gas station attendant Dennis Folk in the face during a robbery at a Long Island service station in 1993.Matthew Svanberg went on the run for five years before he was captured and found guilty of murdering a gas station attendant. News 12Svanberg, who was 20 at the time, fled to Las Vegas after the murder and evaded capture for five years until he was nabbed by police and extradited to New York.The inmate flew into a rage when Drake, 53, denied him parole in 2023, according to a letter obtained by The Post a fellow inmate sent to the state Parole Board the following year.“He when (sic) on a racist rant about how he will kill that ‘Black B—h Drake, that F—ing N—-r B—h,’ if he ever gets his change (sic),” according to the letter from an inmate in prison with Svanberg at Woodbourne Correctional Facility in Sullivan County.“‘How dare that f—–g black b—h think that she is above a white man like me,'” the letter said. “‘She is beneath us. How dare she gets above her station.'”Svanberg said that one day, “He will teach her to respect a white man like him. That when she beg (sic) for her life, he will torture her then kill her,” according to the letter.Svanberg was “extremely angry” at Drake and “he felt that she was emotionally torturing him,” according to the letter.Dennis John Folk, 26, was shot in the face during a robbery while he worked the night shift at a Getty gas station in Ridge, NY. Change.orgDrake, a mental health professional appointed to the parole board in 2017, said she took her responsibility to protect the public seriously.“He was angry because I asked him so many questions,” said Drake, one of three board members who interviewed Svanberg. “It’s a murder case. I have to be thorough so that I am sure that if I’m releasing someone that the public is going to be safe.”During the hearing, Svanberg didn’t seem to be taking responsibility for his victim’s death, and he bragged about the killing while he was on the run, Drake said.Drake wrote the decision denying Svanberg parole, but he appealed in a Dutchess County Court and won a new hearing after a judge decided the killer couldn’t be denied parole based on the seriousness of his crime. At Svanberg’s second parole hearing, far-left board member Tana Agostini was on the panel, and was among three board members who interviewed him. Agostini was the lead interviewer on the case and wrote the decision to release him, citing the judge’s court decision.Matthew Svanberg allegedly threatened to kill a state parole board member who denied his parole and was later sprung in a second hearing. News 12Agostini was a pro-inmate commissioner who married a felon she helped to get out of prison before she was appointed to the board by then-Gov. Cuomo. She has since been replaced, and didn’t return a call seeking comment.Svanberg was released in May 2024.“I have been afraid for my life for two years,” Drake told The Post. “When I complained, I was fired. It has impacted me psychologically.”Drake insisted Svanberg should be sent back to prison because the board didn’t follow state law that requires members to adhere to the “deprecate standard” and determine whether releasing an inmate would minimize the seriousness of their crime and undermine respect for the law.“We have a parole board being so careless that they’re not following their own law,” said Drake, who was told she was being replaced in June 2025 after complaining about Svanberg’s release. Former parole board member Tyece Drake wrote letters to the board’s leaders and politicians complaining about Svanberg’s release after the alleged death threats. Department of Corrections and Community SupervisionThe state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, which oversees the parole board, said they investigated the threats against Drake but couldn’t prove it.“Subsequently, after a thorough investigation, the threats were determined to be unsubstantiated,” a statement from the agency read.As far as her employment, the agency said Drake was replaced because her appointment term ended. “We do not comment further on personnel matters,” a spokesperson said.Drake fired back that her term actually ended six years before she was replaced.The inmate who wrote the letter stated in it that he would deny writing it if he was asked because “I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder the rest of my life.”When investigators questioned him, the convict denied writing the letter as promised, according to an internal DOCCS email exchange between Drake and an investigator at the agency’s Office of Special Investigations, provided to The Post.And Svanberg, who is living with his brother in Wainscott, LI, denied making the threats when he was questioned, according to the exchange.“It should be noted that unsubstantiated does not mean it didn’t happen,” the investigator wrote in the email.Svanberg was working for his brother’s surf and kayak business in the Hamptons after his release. A working phone number for him coudn’t be found.Drake considers herself a “whistleblower” and wants to see change at the parole board.“I think leadership needs to be removed and have people in there who know what they’re doing,” she said.Drake also would like to see Svanberg go back to prison.“If they can reverse that decision, then they should reverse it,” she said. “He got out illegally.”

Aug 01, 2026
Why Did Bryan Kohberger Choose That House? The Disturbing Theory New

Why Did Bryan Kohberger Choose That House? The Disturbing Theory

Bryan Kohberger took the motive for the Idaho murders to his prison cell. One filmmaker believes the answer may lie in why he chose the house he attacked.“The fact that [this] was the house that he chose. This was a house that had five women living in it. The night that the murders happened, Xana Kernodle’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, was over, but really, this was a house full of women, and it seems quite clear that he targeted it,” Skye Borgman, director of the Netflix docuseries “The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare,” told Fox News Digital.“He watched the house; he was around the house in the days, weeks and months leading up to the murders,” Borgman said. “So, it seems pretty likely that he had a very low regard, if not hatred, for women.”“It’s all conjecture, but he seemed to struggle with his relationships with women,” Borgman explained. “And we look at this incel movement and the question of whether or not he was an incel, and whether or not he didn’t like women.”“It seems to me that there was a hatred of women there,” Borgman added.Kohberger, 31, is serving four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to the 2022 stabbing murders of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen at an off-campus rental home in Moscow, Idaho.Bryan Kohberger is is seen in the Ada County Courthouse after his sentencing hearing, Wednesday, July 23, 2025. APBefore his arrest, former classmate Lilly Karaban recalled him as someone with a “his way or the highway” attitude who seemed to exist “in his own world.”Interviews, court records and accounts featured in the documentary described a series of troubling interactions involving Kohberger.According to the documentary, classmates described him as “not particularly well liked,” saying he frequently spoke down to women, engaged in “mansplaining” and became argumentative or aggressive during interactions. Several students said they found him “creepy” and that he made them feel uncomfortable.“There were just strange incidents and strange behavior,” Moscow Police Chief Anthony Dahlinger said in the documentary.Former Washington State University Police Chief Gary Jenkins recalled another student’s account of feeling cornered by Kohberger during an aggressive encounter. She also believed he occasionally followed her to her car. Kohberger was ultimately terminated from his teaching assistant position.Final photo of the victims, pictured just hours before their untimely deaths. Instagram/Xana KernodleJenkins said none of the reported incidents were referred to police because “nothing that occurred rose to the level of a crime.”Ed Jacobson, an FBI special agent involved in the investigation, said in the documentary that “we never saw evidence that shows Bryan Kohberger is part of the incel movement,” an online community of mostly men who say they can’t find romantic or sexual partners and often direct their frustration toward women.“But Bryan Kohberger was very good at hiding his online activity,” he noted.For Borgman, the biggest question surrounding the Idaho murders remains the one Kohberger has never answered: why?“I would love to, I think, along with the rest of the world, know why he did what he did,” she told Fox News Digital. “But it is one of those things that I don’t think any of us will ever know. That’s a frustrating thing for myself … and I know especially for the families. They wish so truly that he had been forced through the terms of his plea deal to give us more information about the why of it all.”In the documentary, Karaban said she believed Kohberger “has a thing against women based on the description of what he did to those poor three girls.”“People who brutalize women the way Kohberger did dislike them, find them threatening,” she said. “So they take all that anger out on them.”Award-winning author James Patterson, who wrote a book on the case, previously told Fox News Digital his reporting uncovered multiple accounts of Kohberger engaging in unwanted interactions with women before his arrest.At Seven Sirens Brewing Company in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Kohberger would push his way into unwanted conversations with female bartenders and patrons. He went as far as asking for their addresses. Some women, according to the book, complained to the brewery’s owner about “the creepy guy with the bulging eyes.”“Pretty much everybody we talked to just said, ‘This is a strange man with a strange look — couldn’t look people in the eye,'” Patterson said. “If he did look you in the eye, sometimes people wished that he hadn’t. And his impression of himself was totally out of whack with the way other people perceived him.”In a police report obtained by Fox News Digital, an exotic dancer said a man she now believes was Kohberger visited the club where she worked in 2019, about two hours from his family’s Pennsylvania home. She told investigators that while she was performing, the man remarked that he wanted to kill people. When she jokingly asked who, she said he replied, “Whoever I want.”Dried blood stains the foundation under the bedroom where Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were found stabbed to death. Kai Eiselein for NY PostBelieving he was trying to get her attention, she alerted bouncers to keep an eye on him. She said the encounter didn’t stand out again until she saw Kohberger’s photo on television after his arrest and became fairly certain he was the man she had encountered.Borgman believes Kohberger was trying “to commit the perfect crime.”“He failed in doing that,” she said. “But I think his silence is a way of attempting to keep the spotlight focused on him.”Borgman said police are also “grappling with the why.”“We spoke to one of the FBI agents who worked the case, and he essentially says, ‘You’ve got to be OK with not knowing,'” Borgman said. “And that’s really hard for humans to do: be OK with not knowing. And to crawl inside somebody’s mind and figure out the whys … it’s impossible. And I think that’s one of the reasons people followed this case for so long. … That question of the why still lingers with just about everybody.”After years of searching for answers, the victims’ families are no longer waiting for them, Borgman said. Instead, they’re focused on honoring their loved ones’ legacies.“I don’t think they expect the perpetrator to talk,” she said. ” … The families now are looking forward, not backward. … Every one of them is committed to trying to help families who may be going through something like this.”“So while I don’t want to say they’re hopeful, every one of them is taking this tragedy and trying to make something good out of it because that’s the only thing they can do,” she said. “They can’t carry around the hatred in their lives, or else it’ll just consume them. So they carry the love forward. And the love is really with Ethan, Maddie, Kaylee and Xana.”Kohberger recently tried to withdraw his guilty plea for the Moscow, Idaho murders, alleging coercion. James Keivom for NY PostJust two days before the documentary premiered on July 29, Kohberger made a dramatic bid to withdraw his guilty plea. He asked a judge to let him stand trial instead, alleging his attorneys pressured him into accepting a plea deal by promising better prison conditions and warning him about life on death row.In his request, Kohberger said his attorneys didn’t adequately represent him and that his guilty plea wasn’t knowingly or voluntarily entered because it “was induced by unkept promises” and threats, The Associated Press reported.In 2025, Kohberger said he was pleading guilty “freely and voluntarily.” In doing so, he agreed to waive his rights to appeal, confirm that he understood the penalties for the crimes and assure the court that he wasn’t coerced by his attorneys or anyone else to enter the plea. In exchange, prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty.Borgman said some investigators involved with the case were so shaken by the crime and its impact on Moscow that “they don’t work in law enforcement anymore.”“It’s something that was too much, and they ended up leaving the police force,” she said. “So it’s important, I think, to really factor into what happened, the incredible toll it takes on law enforcement and the incredible toll it takes on the community.”“So many people felt fear,” she said. “The fear was so deep that they weren’t leaving their homes. And that fear, along with the arrest of the perpetrator, also led to this amazing feeling of community. It brought people together.”

Aug 01, 2026
The Surprising Last Meal Item Death Row Inmates Can't Have New

The Surprising Last Meal Item Death Row Inmates Can't Have

A hot topic for average Joes when it comes to the death penalty is what an inmate chooses to have for their final meal. It's a common party question too, so most people have an idea of what they would have in front of them if they were to eat for the final time . But many won't associate the question with death, or the deaths of some of the world's most evil people. Without a doubt, death row meal requests have piqued the interest of the general public, but they aren't as common as you'd think. This is because several US states have banned death row inmates from having a choice at all , with the move coming around 2011, when Lawrence Russell Brewer requested an obscene amount of food. The convict was on death row after committing a racially motivated murder, and for his final meal, he requested a selection of foods such as two chicken-fried steaks, a triple-meat bacon cheeseburger, and a Pizza Hut meat lover's pizza. But when the food arrived, he claimed he was not hungry and did not eat any of it, which led to Texas prison officials ending special last meal requests for good. Death row inmates were given more of a choice for their final meals in the past. Credit: Mike Simons / Getty What is the banned item in death row final meals? While prison officials have more say on what can and can't be included in death row inmates' final meals, there is one item that is prohibited. Prisoners are not allowed to ask for alcohol - it is considered contraband behind bars, so it isn't allowed in the facility under any circumstance, and this includes a final meal request. Tobacco also isn't permitted, so when a prison allows a final meal, the request must fit within its parameters. It has long been believed that the final prisoner who was granted a prohibited item was Manuel Fernandez back in 1835, as he was granted a "nip of brandy," while smoking a cigar in his final moments. Different era, it must be said. Which states allow final meals? Approximately 12 US states allow inmates on death row to request a final meal, but there are different rules in place depending on the state. Florida, for example, allows the meal to cost up to $40, while Oklahoma sets the cap at $25. However, the majority of states serve inmates regular prison cafeteria food with no special requests granted. Dominick Occhicone recently had a final meal request granted in Florida. Credit: Florida Department of Corrections A recent death row inmate's final meal Dominick Occhicone, who spent four decades behind bars after he was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend's parents in 1986, would be part of the US's first double execution in nine years. The inmate was pronounced dead at 6:13 PM at the prison, just five hours after ex-cop James Duckett was given the lethal injection too. But hours before the deed, the murderer requested that he have eggplant parmesan, a salad, garlic bread, and a Pepsi as his final meal, as per the Tampa Bay Times . Duckett, 68, who was convicted of raping and drowning an 11-year-old girl in 1987, instead asked for eggs, grits, bacon, biscuits, and chocolate milk for his last meal. The last state to hold executions on the same day was Arkansas in April 2017, with 1964 being the last time two inmates were executed on the same day in Florida. Duckett and Occhicone became the 11th and 12th inmates executed in The Sunshine State this year, after the US Supreme Court denied appeals on Tuesday. Featured image credit: Mike Simons / Getty

Aug 01, 2026
Ariana Grande's New Video Sparks Heated Debate Over Her Appearance New

Ariana Grande's New Video Sparks Heated Debate Over Her Appearance

Pop star Ariana Grande released her new music video for the song 'Petal' on Friday, generating widespread discussion across social media platforms regarding her physical appearance. The audition-themed video features the 33-year-old Grammy winner wearing a retro look heavily influenced by the aesthetic of the movie Grease. In specific scenes, she dances alongside other hopeful actresses while wearing tight black leggings, an off-the-shoulder top, a matching neck scarf, and her signature ponytail styled in tight ringlets. The visual presentation quickly caught the attention of fans and online observers after Grande shared a snippet on her social media accounts with the caption, “petal ꕤ 。˚ music video out now.” While many viewers focused on the creative concepts behind the release, a substantial number of comments shifted toward speculation about the singer’s weight and overall well-being. The resulting digital debate has highlighted the ongoing friction between celebrity public platforms and audience commentary. Social media users express physical concern Following the debut of the video, several fans voiced immediate anxieties regarding Grande’s slighter frame. On various social networks, individuals openly debated whether the pop star appeared healthy. “She is extremely thin and it’s concerning,” remarked one person, while another user chimed in, “I think people are allowed to be concerned for her health.” Another viewer pointed out that Grande’s “bones are literally popping out” and visible in the footage. The conversation extended to platform comment sections, including YouTube, where users attempted to balance praise for the artistry with direct appeals regarding her health. Someone on YouTube wrote, “as an Ari fan, the song and video are absolutely incredible concepts and incredibly executed but honestly all I can think about is how I hope she’s okay because she literally looks ill. She needs to get help.” Viewers defend the singer against public scrutiny Conversely, a large portion of Grande's fan base quickly moved to push back against the intense focus on her body, arguing that public evaluation of an individual's weight is inherently invasive and counterproductive. One defender on X wrote, “If y’all actually cared about her you wouldn’t be publicly making comments about her body,” while another user bluntly urged commenters to “mind your own f–kin business.” Other supporters insisted that an artist's physical appearance should not be treated as a topic for open forum critique, reminding audiences to appreciate the work itself rather than projecting assumptions. Another wrote, “Leave her body alone. Ariana doesn’t exist for your commentary. She’s out here meeting fans, dropping Petal, and living her life her weight is not a public discussion. Body-shaming a woman for being thin is still body-shaming. Full stop. Protect her energy and keep the focus where it belongs: the music.” One person ranted, “CLOCK THEM, ARIANA GRANDE. THEY BETTER STOP COMMENTING ON HER BODY, HER WEIGHT, OR HER LOOKS. It’s weird, it’s unnecessary, and she doesn’t owe anyone an explanation for how she looks.” Previous statements on body commentary This is not the first instance where Grande has been the subject of public scrutiny regarding her health and size. In 2024, the performer addressed the emotional toll of these discussions during an interview where she was asked how she navigates the intense social expectations placed upon women to maintain a flawless appearance. At the time, she stated, “I think that it’s something that is uncomfortable no matter what scale you’re experiencing it on,” adding that observations about weight are frequently “uncomfortable” and “horrible.” During that same discussion, Grande emphasized how casual remarks from acquaintances or strangers can cross boundaries, noting, “Even if you go to Thanksgiving dinner, and someone’s granny says, ‘Oh my God, you look skinnier! What happened?’ or ‘You look heavier! What happened?’” She further explained, “I think in today’s society, there is a comfortability that we shouldn’t have at all - commenting on others’ looks, appearance, what they think is going on behind the scenes or health or how they present themselves.” She warned that this widespread habit is “really dangerous.” Grande later re-shared a clip of the interview on her Instagram Stories, adding the caption, “resharing this from last year ♡ as a loving reminder to all,” while noting that “it’s hard to protect yourself from that noise.” Featured image credit: BabyDoll Music

Aug 01, 2026
OnlyFans Model's Stunning Plea Deal: What Could It Mean for Her Murder Trial? New

OnlyFans Model's Stunning Plea Deal: What Could It Mean for Her Murder Trial?

The OnlyFans model accused of knifing her boyfriend to death in their ritzy Miami high-rise has reached a plea agreement ahead of the second-degree murder trial that was scheduled to start next month.The terms of the undisclosed agreement reached by Courtney Clenney, 30, will not be final unless the court accepts them, according to a statement Fox News Digital obtained from the model’s attorneys, Prieto Law Firm and Puglisi Carames Law.The agreement is expected to be presented in the Miami-Dade County court on Aug. 10. OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney, 30, reached a plea deal in her boyfriend’s murder case. Instagram“We will reserve further comment on the specific terms until they are placed on the record before the Court,” Clenney’s attorneys said Friday. “The firm asks that the public and the media allow the legal process to conclude and refrain from speculation.”The 30-year-old model has remained behind bars since August 2022 after being charged with second-degree murder in connection to the death of her estranged boyfriend, Christian Obumseli in April of that year.One of Clenney’s attorneys, Frank Prieto, previously claimed she acted in self-defense after Obumseil grabbed her by the throat. The X-rated star claimed self-defense following the fatal stabbing of her beau, Christian Obumseli. City of Miami PDClenney has been behind bars since her arrest in August 2022. APClenney’s attorneys alleged that Obumseli was abusive and argued their client was a battered partner. Obumseli’s family, however, claim that he was the victim of domestic violence. The influencer, who went by Courtney Tailor on social media, was arrested in Hawaii after prosecutors reopened a probe into the fatal stabbing.Clenney was doing a stint in rehab for substance abuse and post traumatic disorder at the time police picked her up. The now-30-year-old was arrested in Hawaii where she had traveled to for rehab. APThe toxic pair began a relationship in November 2020 but were reportedly estranged at the time of Obumseli’s death. Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle described Obumseli’s death as the culmination of a “tempestuous and combative relationship,” at the time of the model’s arrest. According to a heavily redacted police report, officers arrived at the couple’s luxe apartment around 5 p.m. on April 3, 2022 in response to a battery call, the outlet reported. The toxic couple were in a relationship for less than 2 years before Obumseli was stabbed to death. InstagramWhen police arrived, Obumseli was found with a single stab wound to the torso and Clenney was drenched in her boyfriend’s blood, according to police bodycam footage. Clenney told investigators that her boyfriend pushed and threw her to the floor before she grabbed a knife and threw it at him from several feet away.A medical examiner determined that the knife wound Obumseli sustained in his chest was three inches deep.

Aug 01, 2026
Social Security Crisis Looms: Are Benefit Cuts Inevitable? New

Social Security Crisis Looms: Are Benefit Cuts Inevitable?

A senior Republican lawmaker is warning that millions of Americans could face automatic double-digit Social Security benefit cuts within the next several years unless Congress acts to fix the program's finances.In a Senate floor speech Wednesday, Senate President Pro Tempore and Finance Committee member Chuck Grassley said the Social Security retirement trust fund is projected to be depleted in 2032.At that point, payroll tax revenue would only cover about 78 percent of scheduled benefits, translating to an automatic benefit cut of roughly 22 percent for retirees.“Unfortunately, Congress has a tendency to put off action until too late and at the last moment,” Grassley said.“This is never the best approach. But, with respect to addressing Social Security’s funding shortfall, it poses [a] serious risk not only to the tens of millions of retirees, but also a risk to the national economy.”While Republicans and Democrats disagree sharply on how to fix Social Security's long-term funding gap, both the right and left broadly agree that the program faces a serious problem that should be addressed before the automatic cuts.Why It MattersMore than 69 million Americans receive Social Security benefits, and the program remains the largest source of retirement income for millions of older Americans. Recent surveys also show growing anxiety about its future. An AARP poll found only 36 percent of Americans are confident in the program's future, while a Bipartisan Policy Center survey found that 74 percent of Americans worry Social Security could run out before they retire and 80 percent are concerned Congress could cut benefits....What To KnowGrassley said that allowing automatic cuts to occur would be unacceptable for retirees who depend on these monthly checks. But beyond that, it could also create broader economic and fiscal risks.“The longer Congress waits to act, the more likely it is that any solution to Social Security will lean heavily on debt financing to bridge the funding gap, and that’s how it’s tied to the entire national economy,” Grassley said.“So, come 2032, the nation will already have outstanding debt larger than at any time in the nation’s history relative to the size of our economy. Flooding the bond market with trillions of dollars in new debt in short order then risks setting off a chain of events leading to a fiscal crisis.”More broadly, Social Security’s finances have been squeezed by recent demographic changes. There are far fewer workers paying payroll taxes for every beneficiary than there were decades ago. And as Americans live longer and baby boomers continue to enter retirement, benefit payments are growing faster than the taxes flowing into the system. Grassley said that neither party's current preferred talking points offer a complete solution.“A bigger problem faces us today, and we should have a bipartisan agreement in this town, including a president who wants to get us Social Security on a financially sound basis,” Grassley said.He also said the scope of Social Security's funding shortfall is too large to be solved solely by taxing high earners, a proposal favored by many Democrats, or exclusively through reducing waste, fraud and abuse, a common Republican argument.That means meaningful reform will likely require some combination of revenue increases and benefit changes rather than a single easy fix, experts say.“Every year Congress waits, the same bill gets handed to a smaller group of people,” Michael Ryan, finance expert and founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek.“What happens? Congress waits. In 1983 they were months from depletion, not six years out. Grassley's on the floor because he's watched this movie. Watch who pays. The 1983 deal shielded people near retirement and raised the retirement age on workers then in their forties and younger. Same template means today's 45 year old carries it and today's 72 year old doesn't.”What Proposals Are on the Table?Numerous ideas have been floated to fix Social Security’s finances, but many of them have been debated for decades.Raise or Eliminate the Payroll Tax CapOne of the most popular proposals among Democrats would mandate higher earners to pay Social Security taxes on a larger share of their income.At the moment, earnings above a specified threshold are not subject to Social Security payroll taxes. Still, this could prove unpopular with America’s workforce.“All of the options to address Social Security are politically unpopular. Increasing the Social Security wage cap, means-testing benefits, or raising payroll taxes all require individuals to contribute more to fund current and future benefits,” Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group and host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek.Increase Payroll Tax RatesAnother possible fix is to gradually increase the payroll tax paid by workers and employers. Small increases phased in over time could generate significant additional revenue while spreading the burden across future workers. Raise the Full Retirement AgeFiscal conservatives have also suggested gradually increasing the age at which workers qualify for full retirement benefits.The argument generally goes that because Americans are living longer than when Social Security was created, it’s a necessary change to the program.However, many remain against this, as it would effectively cut benefits, particularly for blue-collar workers and lower-income Americans who may be unable to delay retirement. “The reality is that no one wants to step on this political hand grenade, so it will continue to be kicked down the road,” Thompson said. “Congress loves to spend, and anything that is not budget neutral will be viewed as an expansion of the debt that ultimately has to be offset by stronger economic growth.”Slow Future Benefit GrowthSome proposals would alter benefit formulas or reduce future cost-of-living increases.While this would not necessarily reduce current checks, it could slow the growth of benefits for future retirees. Means TestingAnother periodically discussed option would reduce benefits for wealthier retirees while preserving them for lower-income Americans.The idea is that this would target resources toward those who need them most. The main criticism, however, is that this could transform Social Security from an earned-benefit system into a welfare-style program. “The most likely result will be not one dramatic fix but a bipartisan package that gradually combines additional revenue with measured benefit or eligibility changes,” Alex Beene, financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek.Are There Any Simple Fixes?Grassley said the shortfall is too large to be solved through a single policy change, and other retirement researchers generally agree that no standalone proposal can fully close the projected financing gap without creating significant trade-offs.“To ensure this cut never happens, the entire nation needs to have an honest discussion about Social Security,” Grassley said. “This will require the president, members of Congress, political candidates and leaders of senior advocacy organizations to come clean about the facts with the American people.”What Reagan Did in the 1980sDuring his Senate remarks, Grassley pointed to the landmark bipartisan Social Security reforms enacted in 1983 under President Ronald Reagan and Democratic House Speaker Tip O'Neill. Facing a similar looming funding crisis, Reagan and O'Neill agreed to create the National Commission on Social Security Reform. Subsequently, the commission's recommendations became the basis for major bipartisan legislation. The reforms included a package of revenue increases and benefit adjustments, including gradually raising the retirement age for future beneficiaries, increasing payroll tax collections and bringing additional income into the system. Ultimately, that helped restore solvency and generated a surplus that helped support benefits for decades. After extending the program's viability for more than 40 years, Congress faces the challenge once again on how to preserve Social Security for future generations.“All of our politicians seem to see the issue, but none of them are proposing concrete action,” Drew Powers, founder of Illinois-based Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek. “There are a lot of ideas around commissions and blue-ribbon panels, even a committee that will urge Congress to act, but I have yet to see a proposal that starts to solve the problem directly.”What Happens NextAccording to the latest Social Security trustees' projections, the retirement trust fund is expected to be able to pay full benefits until late 2032. After that, incoming payroll taxes would cover only about 78 percent of scheduled benefits if nothing changes.“With every new proclamation, I am further convinced this issue will be tabled until the proverbial 11th hour,” Powers said. “Everyone in Congress seems to be more concerned with their re-election bid than they are solving the issues in Social Security.”

Aug 01, 2026
Why Is Oprah Closing Her Iconic School in South Africa? New

Why Is Oprah Closing Her Iconic School in South Africa?

Oprah Winfrey says she will close the school for underprivileged girls she set up in South Africa two decades ago at the end of next year.Winfrey opened the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in 2007 after being inspired by conversations with former South African President Nelson Mandela about the transformative power of educating girls.He was among the guests at the school’s opening ceremony.Oprah Winfrey poses for photos with students at her Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, on Jan. 13, 2012. AP Photo/Denis FarrellWinfrey’s charitable foundation ran and funded the school, but it was always part of the agreement that the academy campus near Johannesburg be ultimately handed over to the provincial education department, the academy said.“The dream was never simply to build a school,” Winfrey said in a statement issued by the academy on Wednesday. “It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women. That mission doesn’t end with one campus. It continues in every girl whose future can be transformed through education.”The academy said Winfrey’s commitment to educating South African girls would continue through an expanded national scholarship program supporting academically talented girls at leading schools across the country.More than 500 girls have graduated from the academy and some have attended top universities in South Africa, the United States and Europe, according to the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation.Oprah Winfrey attends the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Henley-on-Klip, South Africa, on Jan. 2, 2007. ASSOCIATED PRESSThe Gauteng provincial government will take over the 52-acre academy campus, which has 21 classrooms, six science and computer laboratories, a 10,000-volume library and a 600-seat theater.It did not immediately say what the plans for the property were.Gauteng Provincial Minister for Education Lebogang Maile said those currently enrolled in the school will be able to complete their education with uninterrupted financial support.Oprah Winfrey embraces former South African President Nelson Mandela during the ground-breaking ceremony for the girls’ school on Dec. 6, 2002. APThe academy drew international attention shortly after opening in 2007 when several students accused a dormitory matron of physically and sexually abusing them.Winfrey traveled to South Africa to meet with students and parents, publicly apologized, and commissioned an independent investigation.The matron was acquitted of criminal charges in 2010.

Aug 01, 2026