Today’s Big Story

Olympic Hot Takes

Proposals and boycotts, glasses and gender wars keep the Games interesting

You can never predict what’s going to rise above the fray of Olympic news and make waves. But each Olympic cycle, there are tons of suprises and delights, controversies and hot takes to consider.

As we head into the tail end of the Games’ final week, let’s explore some, shall we? Like, how about all the talk of glasses? It’s like all you can see are athletes who can’t see. From the Matrix-styled South Korean shooter Kim Yeji to France table tennis player Félix Lebrun and let’s not forget everyone’s favorite pommel horse hero, Stephen Nedoroscik, who clinched the first Olympic medal in 16 years for the American men’s gymnastics team. The U.S. once tried to raise the profile of its athletes by flaunting their toned abs and broad shoulders. It turns out what they really needed to sell the sport to a wider public wasn’t sex—it was specs.

Of course, some of the talk is less celebratory and enthusiastic. Romania’s Prime Minister said Tuesday that he will boycott the closing ceremony due to a “scandalous situation” that cost a Romanian gymnast a bronze medal. Then there’s Algerian boxer, Imane Khelif, who’s faced intense scrutiny about her gender and online abuse after reports surfaced that a Russian-led sports association disqualified her from a 2023 event. But she’s pushing forward—she won her semifinal match Tuesday, advancing to the gold medal fight.

And today brings skateboarding’s park event. The 22-man field has seven teenagers competing, along with one man who will skate for Great Britain … at the age of 51. Hey, you’re never too old to chase an Olympic dream, right? That also means that I’ve still got time to make the team for some sport, right? Perhaps one thing that should wait is the surprise proposals for medal winners. There have been a few, but viewers have had mixed reactions to the grand gestures that some feel pull focus from the Olympic achievement.

Meanwhile, a group of scientists, activists and ordinary petitioners want the Olympics to break with Coca-Cola. The all-American beverage brand is the longest-standing sponsor of the Olympic Games—a relationship “dating so far back that Coke still had cocaine in it when it started,” reports Wired. Today, Coca-Cola spends an estimated $20 million every year to support the Games, but calls to end the partnership have grown louder. Increasingly, they’re reminiscent of successful campaigns to ban Olympic tobacco sponsorships in the 1980s.

Harris Names Her Running Mate

The VP introduced her VP pick, 'Coach Walz,' at an energetic Philly rally

Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate, opting for a former high school teacher and Midwestern Democrat to complete a newly assembled presidential ticket. "In 91 days,” Harris said, “the nation will know Coach Walz by another name: vice president of the United States.”

According to the Washington Post, speculation about vice-presidential selections “often focuses too much on winning a specific swing state. And that was surely the case here.” Harris had an unusual array of seemingly good options with strong electoral records in more important states, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. “She instead went with someone from a somewhat competitive state who will ideally appeal more broadly to middle America, White working-class voters and even rural voters.”

Despite the viral cable hits that catapulted him onto the campaign, Walz is a relative unknown for most Americans. Around 70% of registered voters have no opinion or have never heard of him, according to new NPR/Marist poll. (By contrast, GOP VP nominee Sen. JD Vance was at 41% when he was introduced in July.) But as governor, Walz’s track record reads like a progressive’s wishlist: He enshrined 20 weeks of paid family and medical leave, protected abortion rights and signed a pair of “shield” laws for people who travel to Minnesota to receive gender affirming care and abortions.

New Car Prices Remain High

Next year, there may be only one car left under $20K

Remember that cyberattack that slowed down dealership sales and reporting for several weeks earlier this summer? Well, it didn’t stop car buyers from purchasing new vehicles, according to data from Kelley Blue Book. However, even as new car prices fell slightly in recent months, they now appear stuck in neutral and remain stubbornly high. Some experts say signs point to car prices dropping in the months ahead, but it depends on many factors.

Car shoppers have become accustomed to paying more than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price lately. They watched prices on new cars rise with no apparent end in sight. And the question dealers hear most now is, “When will new car prices drop?” KBB data shows that the average transaction price for new cars held steady at $48,644 in July, compared with a month earlier. And that was $266 higher than May.

They smartest move right now would be to purchase a pre-owned car, according to Consumer Reports. Prices have dropped 10 percent over the past year, although high interest rates remain a challenge for buyers who finance. It won’t be long until we can use the following anecdote as shorthand for how old we are: “I remember when you could buy a new car for under $20,000.” Because Gear Patrol says that by next year, the death of several afforable cars will leave just one—the Hyundai Venue—as the only new car you can still buy for under $20,000.

Chromecast Is Dead

Meet Google’s new streaming device with AI technology

Along with a long-awaited update to the Nest Thermostat, Google on Tuesday unveiled its latest set-top streaming box ahead of the company’s Made by Google 2024 event next week. Google TV Streamer’s arrival marks the end of the Chromecast line. With more than 100 million sold over an 11-year life, it certainly was a good run.

The Verge says the $100 set-top box improves upon the old Chromecast with substantially better performance, Thread and Matter integration, along with useful new features like a remote finder. “Yes, there are some Gemini AI tricks thrown in, and with other hardware upgrades like a built-in ethernet jack, the Google TV Streamer seems poised to be a much better entertainment hub than its predecessor.” The only downside? Since it’s not a dongle anymore, you’ll have to provide your own HDMI cable when it ships on September 24th.

The world of Google TV is clearly changing. While you’ll still be able to “cast” video from one device to another, the Chromecast brand is basically being taken to a scenic farm in Silicon Valley and being put to rest. If the Google TV Streamer’s performance is as good as we hope it is, the company has a chance to restore the feeling when it comes to its own streaming devices. Oh, and if you own an existing Chromecast, know that a Google representative told CNN the company intends to “continue to support all existing Chromecast devices with ongoing updates.”

Your Skin Care Secret Weapon

It’s time to incorporate a serum into your routine

Serums can be easy to overlook. They come in a small bottle and they seem to promise a lot of the same things our moisturizers or masks do. But applying serums beneath your moisturizer is the most impactful way to get results—and get them fast. They allow you to customize your regimen to suit your specific skin care need.

Like high-proof liquor, serums pack a ton of potency into every drop. For example, most facial lotions typically contain about 5 to 10 percent of active ingredients. By contrast, serums can pack up to 70%. Plus, your daily lotion has larger molecules than a serum, so it typically sits on the surface of the skin. Serums are able to penetrate deeper.

Don’t waste a week.