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August 15, 2026 Your first month is free in The New York Times app. Download now → Good morning. There are good reasons to abandon books we’re not enjoying, but our attenuated attention might lead us to tap out too early. María Jesús Contreras Quit lit By Melissa Kirsch The book-tracking app Goodreads added a “Did Not Finish” (DNF) designation this spring so that readers can log books that they’ve put down or abandoned. The change, Erik Piepenburg reported in The Times, provoked an online debate: Is it a cop-out to DNF? As a reader who has been known to graze on books as if at a grand buffet, tasting a little bit of everything, I enter this discourse bashfully. I feel strongly that life’s too short to spend time on books one doesn’t like. But sometimes I wonder if the problem isn’t with the books but with me: impatient, seduced by novelty, impossible to satisfy. When I told my friend Leigh that some people refuse to forsake books, she responded with outrage. “Why would you bother with a book you’re not enjoying? There are a million books,” she told me, as if I hadn’t sampled the first chapter of most of them. “This sounds like vestigial Puritanism.” Indeed, but one needs to give a book a fair shake before deciding it would be punishing to continue. It takes a minute to engage with a book, to get a sense of the author’s voice and style, to understand what the book is doing. We like when books “grab” us, when they are “impossible to put down.” We’ve gotten used to the grabbiness of the internet, the posts and memes and videos that seize our attention and hold it hostage. I know I’m guilty of tapping out too early. I do it with books, but also with shows and movies. My attention struggles to distinguish between a novel and a TikTok video, between art and content, between being grabbed and being beckoned. The most compelling reason to see a book through to the end is also the simplest: “It feels good to finish stuff,” one of the people Erik interviewed said. This is no small thing. Adding a book to my Completed list is incredibly satisfying. Even if I didn’t love the book, I’ve accomplished something. I’ve taken the journey the author intended. I’ve allocated my attention to something for a significant duration — a tiny modern miracle. My friend Alice is one of the healthiest readers I know. She reads quickly and widely and is always ready with a recommendation. I figured she was a closer, a never-DNFer, the type to finish a book by hook or by crook. “I could be 90 percent of the way through and I’ll dump it,” she told me, to my surprise. “I’ll dump anything! I’d let the fork fall from my mouth if I’m halfway through a dinner I don’t like.” And yet Alice finishes more books than anyone I know. I never hear about the ones she abandons, because she does it quickly and without fanfare, without self-excoriation. She’s not keeping a public record of her DNFs, as Goodreads’s new feature encourages her to. Not finishing a book isn’t the same as never finishing a book. There’s no shame in putting aside a book that you don’t like, but finding a book that you do like takes commitment. You might try a few bites from the carving station or the chafing dishes, but eventually you sit down and eat a proper meal. THE LATEST NEWS Politics Construction of the new ballroom at the White House in July. Andrew Leyden for The New York Times The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to approve the construction of the White House ballroom. President Trump dismissed concerns about the dire conditions reported aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed for months as part of the war in Iran. The deployment, Trump said, was “not nearly long enough.” Federal officials spied on protesters, infiltrated group chats and obtained financial records as part of an unusual investigation into left-leaning organizations during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota. Luigi Mangione Luigi Mangione at a pretrial hearing on Monday. Pool photo by David Dee Delgado Luigi Mangione admitted that he shot and killed Brian Thompson, a health care executive, as he pleaded guilty to two federal charges of stalking resulting in death. Mangione still faces a murder charge in state court. But his lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss it, saying it violates his legal protection against double jeopardy. He faces the possibility of life in prison when he is sentenced in December on the federal charges. Other Big Stories Jason Arday, the former Cambridge University scholar whose remarkable career fell apart in recent weeks amid accusations of plagiarism, was found dead in London. He was 41. Nigel Farage, the leader of Britain’s populist right-wing party, easily won a special election to reclaim his seat in Parliament. His main rival, a novelty candidate known as Count Binface, received 27 percent of the vote. Google has enabled its A.I. chatbot for K-12 students using its popular Classroom app for schools. Previously, it had only turned the feature on for students 18 and over. THE WEEK IN CULTURE Film and TV Aaron Pierre, left, and Kyle Chandler in “Lanterns.” Philip Cheung for The New York Times “Lanterns,” HBO’s next big bet in the DC universe, premieres tomorrow. Fans have been obsessing over star Kyle Chandler’s green ring. Mary Heilmann, who achieved wide acclaim for her ebulliently colored, loose-limbed, often lopsided abstract paintings, died at 86. In the sci-fi action film “The End of Oak Street,” dinosaurs invade a pleasant suburban neighborhood. It has “a sui generis oddness that’s rare in summer popcorn productions,” our critic writes. Read the review. Christy Knowings, who starred on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series “All That,” has died at 46. In the video below, the director Jane Schoenbrun explains how the new film “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma” uses conventions of the horror genre to have some fun. Click to watch. The New York Times Heists The police in Brazil recovered eight works by Henri Matisse stolen from a library last year in a brazen daytime robbery. The Italian police recovered another painting by Matisse, as well as works by Paul Cézanne and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, stolen in a separate heist this year. Theater The Edinburgh Fringe is at theater’s bleeding edge, where its next great productions and stars often emerge. Here are eight shows from this year’s festival that have audiences buzzing. Streaming has made theater a more accessible, more universal art form. Our critic highlighted some great performances and cast albums that you can enjoy from home. More Culture “A lot of stand-up comics happened, in the last couple years, to have some of the dumbest opinions on earth.” Ryan Lowry for The New York Times The stand-up Stavros Halkias has emerged as a counterweight to comedy’s rightward shift, while still remaining joyously lewd. He’s the guest on this week’s “Popcast.” Watch the interview. RM, the leader of the K-pop group BTS, is contributing 145 pieces by Korean artists to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art this fall. He says collecting Korean art has helped him find his roots. Phoebe Bridgers released her third album, “Lost Weekend.” It’s an emotional odyssey that shows off her songwriting powers, our critic Lindsay Zoladz writes. Deeply reported journalism needs your support. The Times relies on subscribers to help fund our mission. Become a subscriber today. RECIPE OF THE WEEK Linda Xiao for The New York Times By Melissa Clark Melon Salad With Nectarines, Tomatoes and Basil Embodying the “do very little to perfect ingredients” philosophy of cooking, this lovely melon salad with nectarines, tomatoes and basil from Hannah Shizgal-Paris of Roman’s restaurant in Brooklyn (as adapted by Ligaya Mishan) showcases the season’s best produce. The genius here is seasoning each component separately and building flavors gradually. Capers and pecorino provide bursts of intensity against the sweet fruit, while a squeeze of lemon ties it all together. REAL ESTATE Katherine Marks for The New York Times We’ve made these links free for you. The Hunt: A pair of former dancers looking to put down roots in New York wanted a two-bedroom in Manhattan. Which would you choose? Play our game. What you get for $480,000: A circa 1805 log cabin in Lexington, Ky.; a 1920 American Foursquare house in Pittsford, N.Y.; a Classical Revival house in Bradford, Vt. Pick your favorite summer house in Iceland: Three two-story cottages offer scenic views and close access to mountains, glaciers and waterfalls. Working with the landscape: On a hillside outside Birmingham, Ala., an architect saw a chance to create his dream house, which cascades down an incline. LIVING The free Tuesday evening water-skiing show on Lake Muskoka. Brendan George Ko for The New York Times Cottage country: Our writer was drawn to Muskoka, a Hamptons-like region of Ontario, because of its connection to the hockey romance “Heated Rivalry.” But it was the glistening lakes and weep-worthy sunsets that won her over. Basket case: The must-have accessory of the summer? A Nantucket friendship basket. Down the shore: A beach day should be carefree, so long as you pack everything you need. Here’s a roundup of the gear that five seasoned regulars never regret toting onto the sand. ADVICE FROM WIRECUTTER Hacks for keeping small spaces organized If you live in a small space, you probably need to get creative to find enough storage for all your stuff. Don’t discount underutilized places: The backs of doors, for example, can be great places for miscellaneous items that fit into hanging organizers, like craft supplies, scarves or shoes. In the kitchen, use the backs of cabinet doors to hold lightweight items like aluminum foil or sponges. Hooks or magnets on the sides of the fridge can hold knives, paper towels or other small supplies. Finally, don’t overlook the forgotten areas of your home. The little nook between the toilet and the vanity, or the awkward upper corner of your kitchen, could be the perfect spot for random bits and bobs. — Caroline Mullen NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangrams were admitting, intimidating and mandating. Take the news quiz to see how well you followed this week’s headlines. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Crossplay, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. — Melissa Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Host: Sam Sifton Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Brent Lewis, Lara McCoy, Karl Russell Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Editorial Director, Newsletters: Jodi Rudoren Deputy Editorial Director: Lauren Jackson

THIS DAY IN HISTORY August 15 1969 Woodstock festival opens in Bethel, New York The Woodstock music festival opens on a patch of farmland in the upstate New York town of Bethel. The festival became legendary, and many people see it as an example of America’s 1960s youth counterculture at its best. read more Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT 21st Century 2021 Kabul falls to the Taliban after U.S. withdrawal Arts & Entertainment 1979 “Apocalypse Now” released in theaters Crime 2006 Wife of slain minister released from jail European History 1057 King Macbeth is killed by Malcolm Canmore Inventions & Science 1899 Henry Ford leaves Edison to start automobile company Landmarks 1914 Panama Canal open to traffic Middle Eastern History 1947 India and Pakistan win independence Mysteries & Folklore 1977 The mysterious “Wow!” signal is detected Vietnam War 1968 Heavy fighting erupts in and around the DMZ World War I 1914 Japan gives ultimatum to Germany

A Chicago father inspires other middle-aged parents to join him in a triathlon to raise $100K for epilepsy research, in honor of his 14-year-old son. (More) Cleveland teens develop and deliver 3D-printed prosthetic hands to pediatric patients in Ecuador. (More) Soldier husband surprises his unsuspecting wife and children after a nine-month deployment. (More) Clinical chaplain throws an in-hospital metal concert for a patient who is too fragile to leave the hospital. (More) Mom tattoos a keyboard on her arm to help her nonverbal son communicate with her. (More)

The Statue of Liberty's funding was split: France paid for the statue itself, while the United States paid for the pedestal. The French funding came from public fees, a lottery, and a gala, not boxing matches or auctions. The statue cost about 250,000 francs (roughly $50,000 at the time) James

US Rep. Russell Fry endorses Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina Republican Senate runoff U.S. Rep. Russell Fry endorsed Sen. Darline Graham in South Carolina's Republican Senate primary runoff, saying on Friday that she should replace her late brother on general election ballots because of her ability to advance President Donald Trump's agenda and her understanding of everyday people's struggles. Read More.

Vote counting suspended then restarted in Zambia election after attacks at polling stations Vote counting in Zambia’s presidential election was suspended Friday and then restarted hours later under heightened security after the electoral commission said there had been attacks against some polling station officials and some ballot papers had been stolen. Read More.

Collins vs. Jackson We're zooming in on battleground races ahead of the midterms. This week: Maine. For 2026, the Maine Senate race has it all: a Democratic establishment-vs.-progressives fight, a nominee swap after explosive allegations, and a rare Republican who dares to buck Trump. Why it matters: It's hard to see Democrats winning the Senate if they don't take Maine. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is fighting to remain the only Republican senator representing a blue state in a tough year for the GOP across the board. 🖼️ The big picture: It is a terrible political environment for Republicans, and Maine has not voted for the GOP presidential nominee since 1988. 📝 On paper, it should be Democrats' easiest pickup opportunity of the cycle. But Collins has defied the odds before. Her longevity, powerful role as Appropriations chair and reputation for breaking with Trump give her a boost. 🫟 A messy primary and last-minute nominee swap didn't help Democrats' effort either. 🚗 Driving the news: Collins said yesterday that all ICE agents in Maine are now equipped with body cameras at her insistence. Protests have popped up across the state targeting Collins' role in approving funding for ICE. The body camera issue is an example of Collins' pitch to Democratic and swing voters: Her clout produces tangible wins for Maine, and she isn't afraid to push back on Trump. 👀 What to watch: Democrats are still trying to move past the Graham Platner roller coaster. The new nominee, Troy Jackson, has kept a relatively low profile, though he launched his first general-election ad this week. It comes after months of national coverage of Platner's fall from progressive darling to scandal-ridden outcast. Jackson has the backing of progressive kingmaker Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). He came in third in June's Democratic gubernatorial primary and backs Medicare for all, ending funding for Israel's military and abolishing ICE. Democrats argue that Collins gets attention for occasionally breaking with Trump, even while overwhelmingly voting with Republicans. 🧮 By the numbers: The RealClearPolitics polling average has Jackson leading Collins by 2.3 points. Republicans are quick to point out that Collins faced similar margins at this stage in 2020 — and went on to win. 💵 The money: Roughly $193 million in ad spending and reservations has poured into the race, according to AdImpact estimates. The GOP leadership super PAC, Senate Leadership Fund, launched the first ad of a $42 million campaign this week, as Semafor reported. Its affiliated nonprofit One Nation is planning to spend an additional $30 million. Democrats' Senate Majority PAC has booked $33 million in ads. — Stef W. Kight

💰 Money's diminishing returns Data: KPI; Chart: Danielle Alberti/Axios The 2026 midterm election is on track to be the most expensive in history. Why it matters: So far, the money hasn't always mattered. 🍺 Pour one out for your favorite political consultant. Polling has gotten noisier, and money can't compete with momentum. In three of the most expensive Democratic primaries, the winner was dramatically outspent on TV and radio, according to Kinetiq Political Insights. 💸 "Dollars don't vote — people do," said Adam Wise, a strategic consultant for KPI. "The pattern is hard to miss: The winners didn't outspend anyone, they got more voter for their dollar." By the numbers: In Michigan, Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and her allies outspent Abdul El-Sayed and his allies nearly 10 to 1 on cable, broadcast and radio — $52 million to $5.2 million. El-Sayed won 48.5%–47.5%. In Minnesota, Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) and outside groups backing her put $13.8 million into TV and radio, compared with $3.3 million for Peggy Flanagan. Flanagan won by 20 points. In Illinois, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) unleashed $21.8 million in advertising, compared with $12.4 million from Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and a super PAC supporting her. Stratton won 40%–33%. Go deeper: The same pattern played out in the three most competitive Republican Senate primaries: The losers had the bigger advertising budgets. 🤠 In Texas, Sen. John Cornyn and his allies had a $58.8 million advertising operation — seven times the $8.2 million behind Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton won the runoff 64%–36%. In Louisiana, Sen. Bill Cassidy and his allies put $13.6 million into advertising, versus $9.5 million from Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) and outside groups backing her. Letlow won the runoff 57%–43%. In Georgia, Rep. Buddy Carter had $4.4 million behind him, compared with $925,000 for Rep. Mike Collins and his allies. Collins won the runoff 55%–45%. Between the lines: President Trump endorsed the winner in all three, showing that in congressional races, his endorsement is still the most valuable currency in the Republican Party. The other side: Money did prevail in three other Democratic primaries, but in all three it was paired with momentum. In Texas, state Rep. James Talarico and affiliated groups put $14.7 million into advertising — five times Rep. Jasmine Crockett's $2.8 million. Talarico won 52%–46%. 🦞 In Maine, Graham Platner put $5.4 million into TV and radio, compared with $700,000 from Gov. Janet Mills. Platner was also the target of $2.8 million in ads from GOP super PACs. Mills dropped out — and Platner later did as well — but both remained on the ballot. Platner beat Mills 78%–17%. 🌽 In Iowa, state Rep. Josh Turek and his allies had a $7.2 million advertising advantage, compared with $600,000 for Zach Wahls. Turek won 63%–37%. 🌎 Zoom out: Republican committees ended the second quarter with a cash advantage over their Democratic counterparts, even as many Democratic House candidates have outraised their GOP opponents in individual races. And Elon Musk is waiting in the wings. But if the environment is as bad as some GOP strategists privately fear, money won't be able to save all of their candidates. The bottom line: Candidates can spend a lot of money to lose an election. — Hans Nichols

📚 1 fun thing: Dorm decor Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Stock: Getty Images College dorms are becoming customized, social-media-ready micro-apartments, Axios' Josephine Walker writes. Why it matters: Dorm rooms are tiny. The decor economy is not. 💵 The "designer dorm" industry — which includes decked-out rooms worth thousands — has grown alongside viral TikTok dorm tours and hauls. Parents are also trying to make their child's transition to college easier. 🥊 Reality check: The market looks wildly different depending on which side of the Mason-Dixon line your campus sits. ⭐ In SEC country, dorm rooms are often personalized with monograms and items reflecting school spirit. 🚚 In the Northeast, dorm design can be couture, but the biggest luxury is having someone else wrestle with a U-Haul on a cramped city street. Go deeper.

🌀 A hurricane warning was issued this morning for the Big Island of Hawai'i as Tropical Storm Lala approaches, with predictions of 8-inch rainfall and potential life-threatening floods. Go deeper.

Americans jetting overseas Data: International Trade Administration. Chart: Sara Wise/Axios ✈️ Americans' craving for travel overseas is soaring to new heights, Axios' Avery Lotz writes. Why it matters: Much like the resilient consumer, the American tourist keeps on riding the post-COVID travel wave. 🔢 By the numbers: More than 56 million U.S. residents traveled overseas last year, according to estimates from the International Trade Administration. That's up from roughly 53.7 million in 2024 and around 32.7 million a decade prior. 🌍 Nearly 24 million traveled to Europe, a record high, according to Survey of International Air Travelers (SIAT) data going back to 2012. 🇬🇧 Where did most people visit? The U.K., Italy or France. 🇵🇹 Portugal and Greece also saw the biggest growth in U.S. visits between 2015 and 2025, The Wall Street Journal reported. 🔬 Zoom in: The wealthiest income bracket is driving overseas travel — followed by those with a combined household income of $100,000 to $119,000. Older travelers, in the 55-64 age range and above, led the pack, followed by the youngest jet-setters, aged 18-24. 💡 Zoom out: This is all happening as debt delays life milestones, affordability concerns sour sentiment and global perceptions of the U.S. slip. Still, people feel the need to hit the road and see the world. Rich Harrill, the director of the University of South Carolina's International Tourism Research Institute, tells Axios: "Among my students, travel's a must-have. You're not cool unless you go somewhere." Explore the data ...

Sailors’ Families Expose Horror Conditions Inside Trump’s Warship “I don’t think it’s the ship that’s the issue. I think it’s our president, it’s our government.” The families of sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are not mincing their words when it comes to who they blame for the atrocious conditions aboard the ship. “I don’t think it’s the ship that’s the issue. I think it’s our president, it’s our government,” one family member of a sailor told MS NOW, describing how the sailor was eating “half a cup of rice and two tortillas” a day. Conditions aboard the aircraft carrier have reportedly deteriorated as the 5,000 sailors and Marines on board enter the ninth month of their deployment, with no end in sight to the president’s war on Iran.Sailors aboard the carrier and their families have described deteriorating conditions, with MS NOW reporting moldy showers, food shortages, sailors running out of toothpaste, deodorant and soap, and worsening mental health issues. “They want our support,” another family member said, describing how sailors need to have the “tools” to do their jobs, which, he went on to say, means they need “the fuel, that means the food, that means the toothpaste and the deodorant, that means all of it.” The sailors on board the Lincoln went out to sea thinking their deployment would last for seven months before they were sent to fight in the Iran war, which Donald Trump initially said would last four to six weeks but is now approaching its 24th week. Since leaving San Diego on Nov. 21, the crew have reportedly had only two days on land, in December and July, as conditions aboard the carrier continued to deteriorate. Family members have raised the alarm that several sailors went or attempted to go overboard in apparent suicide attempts. One sailor who went overboard was in the water for an hour before he was rescued and eventually medically evaluated. His wife, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to MS NOW, described her husband’s mental state just before he went overboard, as he divulged in a text message to her that the poor conditions were finally getting to him. “I think the boat is finally getting to me and I really don’t think I can keep up my peace act anymore,” the message read. He continued, saying, “You are right about it all not being OK. We were supposed to leave 5th Fleet on July 15th, but then something had to come up, and my last hope of being home soon was gone.” The sailor’s wife went on to describe how, when he raised concerns about his mental health with his chain of command and the ship’s medical team, they allegedly brushed him off and yelled at him when he made mistakes on the job after being unable to obtain a prescription for his poor eyesight. Speaking to the Military Times, another sailor’s wife, Annabelle Loma, disclosed that the ship’s ombudsman had informed her that her husband had attempted to jump overboard, and she has only been able to speak to him a handful of times since. “He’s scared,” she said. “He thinks he’ll get a dishonorable discharge, and just because he was burnt out, his 13-year career is ruined, just like that. That’s not fair, that’s not right. That’s not what he should be worrying about right now.” As family members raise concerns about the well-being of sailors and conditions aboard the Lincoln, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has continued to dismiss reports about the ship, saying they have “completely misrepresented” the situation. On Thursday, U.S. Central Command released a statement branding various media reports and families’ concerns about conditions aboard the Lincoln as “false claims.” The command acknowledged that one sailor went overboard on Aug. 3, but said he “fell” and was “quickly and safely recovered.” The Daily Beast has reached out to the Defense Department and the White House for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/sailors-families-expose-horror-conditions-inside-trumps-warship/? ps:It's the president and his pathetic administration for sure!!

Trump’s Secret MAGA Loyalty Test to Allies Is Leaked Allies have balked at the private questionnaire. The Trump administration is quietly trying to force international partners to pass an ideological fealty test before deciding whether to pull back vital military protection. A leaked document sent to alliance members and reviewed by Bloomberg News lays out a high-stakes questionnaire probing whether individual countries have “been publicly supportive” of President Donald Trump’s foreign policy and whether they have placed “restrictions” on U.S. military bases. The assessment even asks point-blank if allies align with “the US approach to ‘strong, clear, and quiet,’” lifting a phrase directly from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Allies have balked at the private questionnaire, viewing it as a blatant attempt to pressure sovereign nations into political alignment in exchange for basic security guarantees. Tying long-standing security commitments to that kind of personal loyalty upends a transatlantic relationship built since World War II on military guarantees that traditionally superseded political disagreements. Trump’s team has already worked to boost right-wing political forces in countries like Germany and Hungary, while offering extra troops to Poland after a preferred candidate, conservative Karol Nawrocki, won that country’s presidency. The questionnaire arrives partway through an administration review of its military presence in Europe, expected to wrap by December. That review process has left NATO allies bracing for deep cuts to U.S. troop levels and the military assets the U.S. would deploy in the event of an attack. The document touches on several major flashpoints that have divided Washington from its partners, including the U.S. war with Iran and the raid that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. After countries like Spain barred Washington from using their bases to strike Iran, the questionnaire asks whether each country has imposed such restrictions, followed by a pointed question: “Are they willing to reduce or eliminate any such restrictions?” Similarly, the U.S. startled NATO allies when it seized Maduro as part of a broader push to reassert influence over the Western Hemisphere, an operation many European countries viewed as a violation of international law. The questionnaire also digs into long-running disputes over defense spending, asking allies for evidence they are meeting higher spending targets and replacing U.S. military assets with their own. It specifically asks whether countries are buying from American defense firms and whether they have spoken out against new “made in Europe” procurement policies, adding, “If not, would they be willing to do so?” First circulated in Washington before making the rounds at NATO headquarters in Brussels, the assessment is expected to further shrink the American military footprint in Europe. The Pentagon has already said it will withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany and redeploy other forces without replacement. The review is also expected to reduce military assets earmarked for defending allies from attack, potentially including strategic bombers, drones, and naval vessels. Despite the escalating pressure, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte attempted to downplay the rift. Calling a regular review “only wise,” Rutte told reporters last month, “It is, I think, bringing NATO closer together.” The White House, Pentagon and NATO have been approached for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-secret-maga-loyalty-test-to-allies-is-leaked/? ps:Absolutely pathetic!!

US retail sales slump unexpectedly and sharply after a summer tax-refund boost fades NEW YORK (AP) — After splurging on the World Cup and Amazon Prime Day sales, Americans unexpectedly cut their spending in July by the biggest amount in more than a year. https://apnews.com/article/retail-inflation-consumer-sentiment-economy-3e2bc5807d7396b8e6c5f599941cb2a9? 🛍️ Retail sales hit an air pocket last month, falling 0.6% in July in what was the weakest performance in more than a year and well below the gain analysts expected, Axios' Neil Irwin reports.

🎉 Yahoo! It's Friday! You made it. In today's edition: Schwarbombs in Iowa, Shelton repeats in Canada, NFL valuations, MLS midseason snapshot, Weekend Watchlist, Guess the Logo, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports...   🌽 FIELD OF DREAMS A RETURN TO THE CORN (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) The Phillies crushed the Twins, 7-1, on Thursday in MLB's first Field of Dreams Game since 2022 behind a gem from Aaron Nola (5 IP, 1 ER, 9 K) and Kyle Schwarber's MLB-leading 36th and 37th home runs. Jake Mintz, Yahoo Sports: It's not easy to get to Dyersville, Iowa. For those not within driving distance, the most common route involves a flight to Chicago, a three-hour drive across Illinois and a hotel in the quaint riverside city of Dubuque. From there, Dyersville is a 45-minute jaunt down Route 20. Convenient it is not. And yet, 7,163 ballfans, 54 active ballplayers and 26 Hall of Famers made the journey on Thursday, congregating beneath the cornstalks and the rolling hills for a night of pomp and circumstance and nostalgia laid on as thick as butter. The vignettes, the images, the emotions of this game make the immense cost worth it. See you next season? Fans won't have to wait another four years to descend on the iconic Iowa cornfield. The Des Moines Register reported Thursday that MLB will return next season (assuming there is one) in what appears to be a game between the Red Sox and Royals.   🏈 NFL VALUATIONS BIG GAINS ON THE GRIDIRON (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports, Data: Sportico) The average NFL franchise is worth a whopping $9.34 billion, per Sportico's annual valuations. That's a 31% increase over last year, marking the largest jump since Sportico's first valuations in 2020. The Cowboys ($15.5B) lead the way as always, followed by the Rams ($12.7B), Giants ($12B), Patriots ($10.4B) and Jets ($10.35B). Football is king: The Bengals are the NFL's least valuable team ($7.4B). Yet there are only six teams outside the NFL worth more than them: the Lakers, Knicks, Warriors, Dodgers, Yankees and Real Madrid.   🌍 SNAPSHOTS THE WORLD IN PHOTOS (Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) 🇨🇦 Montreal, Canada — Ben Shelton successfully defended his Canadian Open title on Thursday, defeating fellow American Brandon Nakashima to become just the third man since 1990 to win this event without dropping a set. Meanwhile, in Toronto: Iga Świątek dominated Elena Rybakina, 6-2, 6-3, for her first title of the year and her 12th career WTA 1000 title, passing Aryna Sabalenka for the second-most since the format's introduction in 2009. Only Serena Williams (13) has more. (Ian Maule/Getty Images) 🇺🇸 Las Vegas, Nevada — No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza made some nice plays in his preseason debut for the Raiders. Kirk Cousins remains the starter, but don't be surprised if Mendoza is nipping at his heels once the regular season gets underway. Preseason storylines: Mendoza's debut, Packers RB intrigue, Browns QB battle and more The women's triple jump medalists celebrate together on Thursday. (Julian Finney/Getty Images) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Birmingham, England — The 27th European Athletics Championships are underway, with 1,600+ athletes from 49 nations competing in the first-ever edition held in the United Kingdom. Host nation bump: Halfway through the weeklong event, Great Britain and Northern Ireland lead all nations with four gold medals, already matching their haul from two years ago in Rome.   ⚽️ STANDINGS MLS SNAPSHOT: MIDWAY POINT (Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports) The MLS regular season has reached its midpoint, with every team having played at least 17 of their 34 matches. Here's a quick look at where things stand as the action picks back up after largely pausing for Leagues Cup these past two weeks. Dynamic duo: Nashville SC and Inter Miami are in a league of their own, sitting atop the East by a sizable margin and leading all teams in the West by at least four points, too. As fate would have it, they square off against each other tomorrow in Music City (8:30pm ET, Apple). Nashville (12-2-4) have allowed the fewest goals in the league (14) on the strength of Brian Schwake's eight clean sheets. They're also tied with the West's top team, Vancouver, for the best goal differential (21), and are the only club still unbeaten at home. Miami (11-2-5) are dominating on the other side of the ball, scoring an MLS-best 45 goals (tied with Cincinnati). Lionel Messi (12 goals), Luis Suárez (10) and Germán Berterame (7) have combined to score more goals than 15 entire teams. Elsewhere: Vancouver (10-3-4) sits atop the West, though they've won just two of their last eight games. Outside of Nashville and Miami, the hottest teams are second-place LAFC (unbeaten in five straight), fourth-place Houston (six straight), and seventh-place St. Louis (eight straight). Looking ahead: Prepare for an exciting playoff race, as the East's 5-11 seeds and the West's 5-13 seeds are separated by just six games. (As a reminder: the top nine teams per conference make the playoffs.)   📺 VIEWING GUIDE WEEKEND WATCHLIST Ledecky stands on the podium after winning gold in the 1500m. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) 🏊 Pan Pacific Championships There are two days left in the Pan Pacs (Fri-Sat, Peacock), the quadrennial meet for swimmers from non-European nations that is being held for the first time since 2018 due to COVID disrupting the calendar. Ledecky watch: Katie Ledecky dominated her first individual event (1500m free), and the most decorated female swimmer of all time still has two tantalizing matchups left: the 400m free against Canadian phenom Summer McIntosh (Fri. 10pm), and the 800m free (Sat. 11:50pm). ⛳️ FedEx St. Jude Championship The first playoff event continues in Memphis (Fri-Sun, Golf/ESPN/CBS), where five golfers are tied for the lead at 5-under after the opening round as the 69-player field fights for one of the 50 spots in next week's BMW Championship. Skating by no more: One of those co-leaders is Jordan Spieth, who's the only golfer that qualified for the playoffs without a single top-10 finish this season. Will this be the week he breaks the spell? 🏈 NFL Preseason The first weekend slate delivers three games tonight and seven more tomorrow, including Broncos at Falcons (Fri. 7pm, ESPN+), Rams at Chiefs (Sat. 4pm, NFL) and Cowboys at Seahawks (Sat. 8pm, NFL). Finding an edge: Betting on preseason football might sound like a fool's errand, but there's real value in these games if you know how to find it, writes Yahoo Sports' Corbie Craig. More to watch: 🏈 IFL Championship: Green Bay Blizzard vs. Arizona Rattlers (Sun. 7:30pm, Yahoo Sports) … A champion will be crowned, live on Yahoo Sports Network (free to watch). ⚾️ MLB: Cardinals at Cubs (Fri. 2:20pm, Apple); Yankees at Blue Jays (Fri. 7:15pm, Apple); Orioles at Rays (Sun. 12:15pm, Peacock); Mariners at Astros (Sun. 7:20pm, NBC) 🏀 WNBA: Lynx at Aces (Sat. 8pm, CBS); Fever at Dream (Sun. 5pm, ESPN) … Four of the league's top five teams. ⚽️ MLS: Nashville vs. Miami (Sat. 8:30pm, Apple) … The league's top two teams battle in Music City. ⚽️ Community Shield: Arsenal vs. Manchester City (Sun. 10am, ESPN) … Annual match between the reigning Premier League and FA Cup winners. ⚽️ NWSL: Gotham FC vs. KC Current (Fri. 8pm, Prime); Angel City vs. Washington Spirit (Sun. 9pm, ESPN) … Gotham (12-3-4) and Washington (11-5-3) sit atop the standings. 👊 UFC 330: Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry (Sat. 9pm, Paramount+) … The welterweight title bout headlines the card in Philadelphia. Plus: ⛳️ U.S. Amateur (Fri-Sun, NBC/Peacock); 🏁 NASCAR in Richmond (Sat. 7pm, USA); 🏁 IndyCar in Ontario (Sun. 12pm, Fox); 🥍 PLL in Philadelphia (Sat-Sun, ESPN/ABC); ⚾️ WPBL (Fri-Sun, ESPN+)   🔎 ZOOMED IN GUESS THE LOGO Question: Can you guess this zoomed in NFL logo? Hint: AFC. Answer at the bottom.   🏈 NEW FEATURES 29 DAYS OF FANTASY It's Yahoo Fantasy Football's 29th year. To celebrate, we're dropping a brand-new fantasy feature every day for 29 days straight. That's 29 days, 29 features, all built to help you dominate your league. Week in review: Here's what's been announced so far. Custom Recipes: A simple way for leagues to play with unique scoring formats curated by celebrities, creators and Yahoo Sports experts. Tight End Premium: One of the most-requested formats is finally here, boosting the score for TE receptions from 0.5 to 1.0 (or whatever you want). Cameo: Book a celebrity to announce and reveal your draft order, without ever leaving the app. Fantasy Ultra: Our newest subscription tier offers exclusive benefits, including an upgraded draft kit, fewer ads and up to $1,600 in partner perks. Day 5: The next feature will be announced today at 9am ET.   Logo reveal: Baltimore Ravens

Survival window closes Emergency rescue teams in Colombia are still searching for survivors after Monday’s earthquake, which killed at least 281 people. Colombia’s president said nearly 400 others remain missing. Aid agencies have warned that the chances of finding survivors drop sharply after 72 hours. But amid the frantic rescue efforts, the government is accepting help from only a handful of countries. Colombian officials say rescue teams from the US, El Salvador, Ecuador and Israel are the only ones with the international and national certifications required for the job. A group from Mexico is ready to help but has not been approved. + Read more: Colombia says it will only accept rescue teams from four countries + Video: Satellite images show devastation of Colombia earthquake (0:25) Magnitude 7.7 earthquake strikes off Indonesia’s coast, killing at least 47 and toppling buildings MAUMERE, Indonesia (AP) — A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia early Saturday, killing at least 47 people, collapsing buildings and causing panic in a region prone to deadly quakes. Authorities said dozens more residents were injured and warned that the death toll would almost certainly rise. https://apnews.com/article/indonesia-earthquake-magnitude-77-c31ad3cf07fa83d2d443e8d85e5c9d84?

More pressure on Iran. And more strain on US forces. The US is planning measures against Iran that have “never been seen,” including further economic isolation and a continued blockade aimed at preventing goods from moving in or out of Iranian ports, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday. He said more announcements are expected next week. Meanwhile, the US is sending another carrier group to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln amid reports of low morale and deteriorating living conditions aboard the ship, which is carrying more than 5,000 US service members. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the reports were “completely misrepresented,” though he did not specify his concerns with the reporting. However, multiple families have raised concerns about sailors’ mental health after more than 200 days without a port call during operations against Iran. The USS Abraham Lincoln at the Naval Base in Guam in 2025. (Valerie Lynn Maigue/US Navy) + Read more: Sailor rescued after going overboard from USS Abraham Lincoln following reported mental health episode + Video: Military reporter shuts down Hegseth’s denial of sailors jumping overboard (2:00) + Interactive: How traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is adapting to war

“Olympic” Pool Found in Western Turkey A monumental open-air pool, discovered at the ancient city of Tralleis in western Turkey, looks remarkably like a modern pool. Yet, this familiar setting belonged to a very different world. Dated to around 2,000 years ago, and located within a bath-gymnasium complex, the pool was part of an architectural and social environment in which bathing, exercise, recreation, and social interaction were closely intertwined. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/daily-life-and-practice/olympic-pool-western-turkey/?

Trump’s vaccine plan would require millions of individual shots last used decades ago Public health experts have been quick to condemn an executive order from President Donald Trump aimed at upending childhood vaccinations in the U.S., but the biggest obstacles may be the unprecedented financial and logistical challenges. Read more. Why this matters: Monday’s announcement by the Republican president calls for separating combination shots — including the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR, vaccine — into separate injections. Drugmakers would need to revive a slate of individual vaccines that have not been widely used in the U.S. for decades. They would also have to spend tens of millions of dollars on new studies and manufacturing facilities, capable of producing millions more vaccine doses than the nation currently uses. For parents, it would mean returning to the doctor’s office many more times than is currently needed. Those appointments could also strain pediatricians who typically administer the shots, while driving up costs tied to syringes and other medical supplies. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Blanche seeks to rally a depleted Justice Department workforce in first speech as attorney general Trump White House says it’s losing $19B-$26B a year in revenue as countries dodge tariffs Kennedy Center votes to restore Trump’s name and close for 2 years, challenging a judge’s order In the Reflecting Pool saga, the National Park Service’s mission is tested by Trump’s demands World War II Memorial in Washington vandalized with bubbles and graffiti

Israeli settlers’ siege of Palestinian homes draws a sharp US rebuke For five nights, Israeli settlers surrounded three Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank, including one owned by a Palestinian American. On Thursday, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee referred to the settlers as “terrorists.” Read more. Why this matters: It was an unusually sharp rebuke from the administration of President Donald Trump, who has given unprecedented support to Israeli settlements over the years. “Actions by those who carried out this horrific act of terror meant to intimidate and harass this family are disgusting,” Huckabee said in his post about the events. On Tuesday, Israel’s military condemned the siege and said Thursday that troops dismantled “two illegal outposts.” RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: Palestinian American describes siege of his home Israel’s Christians rely on faith and allies as they fear rising harassment Jared Kushner to visit Israel and Egypt next week with Board of Peace officials to talk Gaza

Trump orders the Navy to return to an older system of launching jets off aircraft carriers The directive issued Thursday comes after years of President Donald Trump railing against the new, magnetically powered catapult system that shoots fighter jets off the deck of the carriers. Trump has long said he prefers the older tech. Read more. Why this matters: The move would likely cost billions of dollars. It would revert the Navy’s most advanced ships to a system that takes more sailors to operate and is more difficult to maintain. It also comes at a time when the U.S. military is trying to find funding from Congress for all its desired equipment and as the Navy is struggling to fill its ships with enough sailors. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ New aircraft carrier heads toward Middle East after reports of issues on long-deployed USS Lincoln 2 UAE tankers attacked while transiting Strait of Hormuz, and other news from the Middle East

THIS DAY IN HISTORY August 14 2003 Blackout hits Northeast United States A major outage knocks out power across the eastern United States and parts of Canada. Beginning at 4:10 p.m. ET, 21 power plants shut down in minutes. Fifty million people were affected. read more Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT Arts & Entertainment 1985 Michael Jackson takes control of the Beatles’ publishing rights Crime 1751 A daughter poisons her father 1994 The terrorist known as Carlos the Jackal is captured Sports 1971 Pitching ace Bob Gibson throws first no-hitter U.S. Presidents 1935 FDR signs Social Security Act 1795 George Washington signs Jay Treaty with Britain World War I 1917 China declares war on Germany World War II 1945 Japan’s surrender made public on V-J Day

AI perception bubble Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios Simon Hernandez-Arthur — the new author of Axios Communicators, our weekly newsletter covering the biggest trends in the comms industry — writes: AI has become an everyday tool for communicators, but many of the audiences they're trying to reach remain deeply skeptical of how it's being used. Why it matters: Communicators risk getting stuck in a pro-AI bubble, where the ubiquity of the technology among colleagues and executives makes it easy to overlook the skepticism — and sometimes outright hostility — it generates. Half of U.S. consumers prefer to give their business to brands that don't use generative AI in consumer-facing messages, advertising and content, according to a Gartner survey from earlier this year. Younger consumers were particularly skeptical: 57% of Gen Z and millennials said generative AI has made content quality worse. Keep reading.

🗳️ AI scrambles political map Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Stock: Getty Images The search for a winning AI message is pushing candidates and lawmakers into unexpected political territory, Axios' Maria Curi writes. Why it matters: AI is redrawing traditional political alliances, pitting factions of both parties against each other and creating surprising new coalitions. Three ways AI is scrambling the political map: Trump world vs. Tea Party on data centers. Tea Party-linked Humans First is pressing Republicans to confront growing opposition to data centers, casting it as a MAGA issue — but Trump world is keeping its distance, with administration sources saying the group has no White House influence. Centrist Democrats vs. progressives on data centers. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and progressive state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez joined forces on the state's first-in-the-nation data center moratorium. But Gonzalez is pushing Hochul to go further with a three-year ban, testing how closely the party's two wings can align. Libertarians and progressives on surveillance. In Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Republicans are joining Democrats in pushing safeguards against government and industry misuse of AI-powered surveillance. Keep reading ...