6/18/2025: Cord Cutters Unite!

PLUS: Middle East Roundup; Papal Relations; and As Ever Restocks

Today is Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

It is the 169th day of the year.

196 days remain.

Photo by Matt Artz on Unsplash

WHAT’S ON TAP

NOTABLE & NOTEWORTHY: How to fly in the highest of styles.

Updates on DIDDY and R. KELLY in SHOWBIZ.

Could CNN’s golden boy be making an exit plan? Find out more in CASTING CALL.

AS EVER promises restocked store shelves sooner than later. Details in ROYALS.

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Here’s the state of things in the Middle East:

– Iran’s Crown Prince REZA PAHLAVI, whose father was deposed as Shah of Iran in the 1979 Iranian revolution, published a video message on Tuesday calling on the people of Iran to rise up against the Islamic Republic regime. “We have a plan for Iran’s future and its flourishing,” he said in the video and called for a democratic government. WATCH >

– PRESIDENT TRUMP announced that American and Israeli intelligence know the current location of “the so-called ‘Supreme Leader,’” who is reportedly in hiding, and that he’s choosing not to kill him, “at least for now,” adding, “Our patience is wearing thin.” He followed up the post with a characteristically ambiguous message: “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”

– Israel’s ongoing strikes have reportedly crippled Iran’s central bank, effectively freezing the regime’s funds, but also creating problems for Iranians trying to withdraw money and flee.

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For the first time in its history, NIELSEN ratings measured a plurality of Americans watching television through streaming services instead of through cable and broadcast networks last month – by a hair.

Streaming beat traditional viewing, 45-to-44%.

In another ding to the traditional media apparatus, the Reuters Institute reports that a majority of Americans get their news through social media and individual personalities instead of through news networks. More than half of the respondents, at 54%, turn to accounts on the likes of Facebook, X, and YouTube, compared to 50% who turn to official news sites and their apps (like NBCNews.com or the New York Times).

More than 1 in 5 respondents say they’ve gotten information from podcaster JOE ROGAN in the last week.

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ELON MUSK’s social media platform X has filed suit in New York State to block the implementation of a law that would require the company to report to the state on its efforts to censor speech and content deemed “hateful” or “harmful.” Last year, X won a similar suit in California, which was the framework for the New York law.

MEANWHILE: Over at xAI, the artificial intelligence company founded by Musk that powers X’s “Grok” chatbot, they’re looking to raise $4.3 BILLION in equity funding to continue developing complicated A.I. models, Bloomberg reports. The cash infusion comes as it burns through $1 BILLION a month in infrastructure costs.

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Police in Virginia responded to a motel in the early hours Monday after a caller reported a six foot alligator prowling outside one of the rooms.

Fortunately, authorities were somehow able to track down the owner with the help of animal protection services. The gator was reportedly being transported to North Carolina from a zoo in New York.

The reptile and its owner were escorted by police out of the area, and warned that possession of such an animal is illegal in the state. [via WJLA]

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Qatar Airways takes the crown for the World’s Best Airline for the ninth year in a row. It also received the award for world’s best business class.

Falling just a tad short of the top spot is Singapore Airlines, which has previously won the title five times. Rounding out the top five were Cathay Pacific, Emirates, and ANA All Nippon Airways.

Qatar Airways’ “Q Suite” Business Class amenities include not just lie-flat seats but turndown service with pajamas and slippers and doors that close for enhanced privacy. Meals are provided upon the passenger’s request from an a la carte menu, too.

The airlines were ranked by international air transport ranker Skytrax, which looked at a global passenger satisfaction taken between September 2024 and May 2025. Over 325 airlines were included in the survey.

Full List >

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