Hollywood strikes again, rebranding George Orwell’s book as pro-communist.
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Opinion | Painting ‘Animal Farm’ Red
Source: Yankees, Paul DeJong agree to minor league deal
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Jorge Castillo
The New York Yankees and infielder Paul DeJong have agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, a source confirmed to ESPN on Sunday.
DeJong, 32, would earn $1 million if he makes the team.
A nine-year veteran, DeJong broke into the majors as the St. Louis Cardinals‘ every-day shortstop in 2017 and finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting. He was an All-Star two years later when he finished with 30 home runs and 5.2 bWAR, but he has since been unable to replicate that production.
He batted .228 with six home runs and a .642 OPS in 57 games with the Washington Nationals last season. He started 32 games at third base, 11 at second base, seven at shortstop and one at first base.
DeJong’s addition comes shortly after the Yankees re-signed Amed Rosario, another veteran right-handed-hitting utility man, to a one-year, $2.5 million major league deal to seemingly platoon with the left-handed-hitting Ryan McMahon at third base.
The Yankees are expected to be without shortstop Anthony Volpe for the start of the season after he underwent shoulder surgery in October. Other infield options include Jose Caballero and Oswaldo Cabrera, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last May.
The Yankees’ deal with DeJong was first reported by The New York Post.
Drinking coffee may add up to 5 years to lifespan
Scientists find drinking this much coffee a day slows biological aging by up to 5 years
You officially have an excuse to pour that third cup of coffee that you’ve been internally debating. New research connects drinking three to four cups of coffee a day to slower biological aging, increasing lifespan up to five years.Study participants were people with severe mental illnesses, but experts say the findings could be applicable to the general public. This isn’t the first study to connect drinking coffee to lifespan.Below, experts explain exactly how this one differs, and how a daily pleasure as simple as a cup of coffee has the potential to be so impactful. What did the study find?The study, published in BMJ Mental Health, followed 436 people with SMIs and found that participants who drank three to four cups of coffee a day had a lower average biological age by up to five years, compared to non-coffee drinkers. Therefore, the coffee drinkers could potentially live up to five years longer. The benefits plateaued and declined once the amount consumed reached five cups daily. The study also did not disclose how participants drank their coffee (i.e. black or with cream and sugar). Biological age was measured by telomere length, which was collected via blood samples. “Telomere length is the span of the DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes that protect genetic material during cell division,” explains Gary Small, M.D., psychiatrist and director of behavioral health breakthrough therapies at Hackensack Meridian Health. “Shorter telomeres are associated with both psychiatric vulnerability and mortality. They are likely not a cause, but a mediator or biological marker of disease or life expectancy.”The study followed people with SMIs such as schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar disorder. “Telomeres are highly sensitive to oxidative stress and inflammation, which are common in patients with SMIs and likely contribute to telomere shortening,” says David J. Fein, M.D., assistant professor of clinical psychiatry LSUHSC School of Medicine in New Orleans. “The longer the telomere, the less degradation of the chromosome, and the less cellular aging.”How coffee may improve lifespan The life-extending potential in a morning cup of java comes down to antioxidants, experts ntoe. Coffee is rich with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory plant compounds, “which help to minimize the effects of oxidative stress and inflammation, thus preserving telomere length,” explains Dr. Fein.Dr. Small adds: “Oxidative stress is a key driver of accelerated aging, and heightened inflammation contributes to many age-related diseases that reduce life expectancy, including cancer, dementia, and heart disease. Coffee consumption also improves metabolic health, reducing the risk for type 2 diabetes.” Coffee contains caffeine, “which itself has been associated with longer telomere length by increasing certain enzymes that are involved in telomere length and maintenance, namely the enzyme TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase),” Dr. Fein explains.The bottom line“It’s possible that these findings are relevant to a general population, but it is a leap to make such a generalization,” says Dr. Small. “The caffeine from coffee increases mental alertness, which can have positive effects on mood and behavior. However, too much coffee will lead to uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous side effects, such as anxiety, elevated stress hormones, insomnia, heart palpitations, and increased heart rate.”Because of that, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends not exceeding 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, which is equivalent to about two to three 12-ounce cups of coffee. That recommendation is slightly less than the intake of study participants. Also, it’s worth noting that the majority of coffee’s researched benefits apply to black coffee without cream or sugar, which tends to limit the beverage’s health benefits and may even contribute to metabolic health problems.
You officially have an excuse to pour that third cup of coffee that you’ve been internally debating. New research connects drinking three to four cups of coffee a day to slower biological aging, increasing lifespan up to five years.
Study participants were people with severe mental illnesses, but experts say the findings could be applicable to the general public. This isn’t the first study to connect drinking coffee to lifespan.
Below, experts explain exactly how this one differs, and how a daily pleasure as simple as a cup of coffee has the potential to be so impactful.
What did the study find?
The study, published in BMJ Mental Health, followed 436 people with SMIs and found that participants who drank three to four cups of coffee a day had a lower average biological age by up to five years, compared to non-coffee drinkers. Therefore, the coffee drinkers could potentially live up to five years longer. The benefits plateaued and declined once the amount consumed reached five cups daily. The study also did not disclose how participants drank their coffee (i.e. black or with cream and sugar).
Biological age was measured by telomere length, which was collected via blood samples. “Telomere length is the span of the DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes that protect genetic material during cell division,” explains Gary Small, M.D., psychiatrist and director of behavioral health breakthrough therapies at Hackensack Meridian Health. “Shorter telomeres are associated with both psychiatric vulnerability and mortality. They are likely not a cause, but a mediator or biological marker of disease or life expectancy.”
The study followed people with SMIs such as schizophrenia, major depression, and bipolar disorder. “Telomeres are highly sensitive to oxidative stress and inflammation, which are common in patients with SMIs and likely contribute to telomere shortening,” says David J. Fein, M.D., assistant professor of clinical psychiatry LSUHSC School of Medicine in New Orleans. “The longer the telomere, the less degradation of the chromosome, and the less cellular aging.”
How coffee may improve lifespan
The life-extending potential in a morning cup of java comes down to antioxidants, experts ntoe. Coffee is rich with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory plant compounds, “which help to minimize the effects of oxidative stress and inflammation, thus preserving telomere length,” explains Dr. Fein.
Dr. Small adds: “Oxidative stress is a key driver of accelerated aging, and heightened inflammation contributes to many age-related diseases that reduce life expectancy, including cancer, dementia, and heart disease. Coffee consumption also improves metabolic health, reducing the risk for type 2 diabetes.”
Coffee contains caffeine, “which itself has been associated with longer telomere length by increasing certain enzymes that are involved in telomere length and maintenance, namely the enzyme TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase),” Dr. Fein explains.
The bottom line
“It’s possible that these findings are relevant to a general population, but it is a leap to make such a generalization,” says Dr. Small. “The caffeine from coffee increases mental alertness, which can have positive effects on mood and behavior. However, too much coffee will lead to uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous side effects, such as anxiety, elevated stress hormones, insomnia, heart palpitations, and increased heart rate.”
Because of that, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends not exceeding 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, which is equivalent to about two to three 12-ounce cups of coffee. That recommendation is slightly less than the intake of study participants. Also, it’s worth noting that the majority of coffee’s researched benefits apply to black coffee without cream or sugar, which tends to limit the beverage’s health benefits and may even contribute to metabolic health problems.
Gunmen raid village in Nigeria, killing at least 30 people and abducting others
MINNA, Nigeria — At least 30 villagers have been killed while several others were abducted by gunmen who raided a village in northern Nigeria’s Niger state, police said Sunday, the latest in a cycle of deadly violence in the conflict-hit region.
The gunmen stormed the Kasuwan-Daji village in Niger state’s Borgu local government area on Saturday evening and opened fire on residents. They also razed down the local market and several houses, Niger state police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun said in a statement.
At least two residents put the death toll at 37 and said it could be much higher as some people remained missing as of Sunday. Residents also said security forces are yet to arrive in the area, contradicting the police’ claim that they have deployed officers to search for those kidnapped.
Rev. Fr. Stephen Kabirat, spokesman for the Catholic Church of Kontagora Diocese where the attack happened, told local media that the gunmen killed more than 40 people and that some of those abducted were children.
The gunmen had been lurking around nearby communities for about a week before the attack, according to a resident who asked not to be named for fear of his safety. Now survivors are too afraid to go recover the bodies.
“The bodies are there (in Kasuwan-Daji village). If we don’t see any security, how can we go there?” the resident said, adding that the attack lasted for up to three hours.
Such attacks are common in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, where dozens of rogue gangs seeking control often target remote communities with limited security and government presence.
Saturday’s attack in Kasuwan-Daji village happened near the Papiri community, where more than 300 schoolchildren and their teachers were kidnapped from a Catholic school in November.
The attackers who raided Kasuwan-Daji arrived from the National Park Forest along Kabe district, according to the police, pointing to a usual trend where abandoned expansive forest reserves act as hideouts for armed gangs.
Zach Bryan’s Wife Shares Gorgeous Wedding Photos
Zach Bryan‘s wedding may have come as a surprise to fans, but details show that this was no spur-of-the-moment affair.
The first photos of the ceremony posted by Bryan’s bride, Samantha Leonard, reveal a dazzling church wedding in San Sebastián, Spain, decked out to the nines with beautiful floral arrangements and a traditional, custom-made wedding dress.
See Photos of Zach Bryan’s Wedding to Samantha Leonard
Captioning the spread “forever xx,” Leonard shared a series of photos of her and Bryan saying “I do.”
Read More: Zach Bryan Marries Samantha Leonard in Spain
The couple exchanged vows in front of a stunning alter, spotlighting a series of religious paintings and beautiful architectural designs. A massive floral arrangement was arranged on each side of the couple, featuring peach, pink and white flowers.
It doesn’t appear that Bryan and Leonard had a traditional wedding party at the alter with them when they said their vows, but one photo shows someone — perhaps her father — escorting the bride up to meet Bryan at the front of the church.
More flowers and votive-style candles adorned the aisle leading through the church. It also looks like Bryan and Leonard’s wedding was well-attended, with a crowd of family and friends sitting in the pews to watch the couple become husband and wife.
What Wedding Dress Did Zach Bryan’s Wife Wear For Their Wedding Ceremony?
Leonard’s gown was custom-designed and made for her in New York City.
Designer Cavanagh Baker shared photos and details about the dress, saying that it was made with “over 30 yards of French Chantilly lace and 600 lace-colored buttons.”
A close-up photo shows that the dress included details like lace sleeves and a lace collar, as well as a traditional bridal veil.
Bryan wore a black suit with a bowtie for the occasion.
When Did Zach Bryan + Samantha Leonard Get Married?
Bryan and Leonard tied the knot on New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31). That same night, TMZ shared video of the bride and groom jumping into a convertible after their wedding.
Who is Zach Bryan’s Wife, Samantha Leonard?
According to social media posts, Leonard splits her time between Newport Beach, Calif. and New York, N.Y. Her posts often showcase travel or thrill-seeking adventures. She is not a public figure.
Read More: Meet Zach Bryan’s Wife, Samantha Leonard
Bryan took his new love interest Instagram-official in October 2025, when he shared a post celebrating Leonard’s 28th birthday.
“From bull runs to all the bulls–t, today is your birthday and I love you Samantha Marie,” the singer wrote.
“To the only woman who can hike six miles in Chanel flats, skydive over the alps and catch a bigger fish than me all in the same day,” he continued. “Hope your day was as graceful as you are.”
How Long Have Zach Bryan + His Wife Been Together?
Fans only knew about their relationship for a couple of months before their wedding, but it seems that Bryan and Leonard have been together for at least a little while now.
He had plenty of photos to choose from when he put together a carousel post to celebrate her birthday in October. One of those was a clip of them kissing before he took the stage for a concert in Ann Arbor, Mich., which took place on Sept. 27.
Samantha shared a photo of herself and Bryan on Instagram on Aug. 21, to which he commented, “Spanish eyes.”
It would make sense if the pair kept their relationship under wraps for a while before announcing it.
Bryan has been cagey about his personal life in recent history, presumably because his relationship and breakup with Barstool Sports personality Brianna Chickenfry turned into one of the genre’s biggest and most public feuds of 2024 and 2025.
Read More: A Full Timeline of Zach Bryan + Brianna Chickenfry’s Messy Breakup
After they split last November, Chickenfry accused Bryan of emotional abuse and claimed that he offered her $12 million to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) promising not to talk about the breakup.
Since then, they’ve been locked in a heated feud that has involved diss tracks, screenshots, podcast episodes, song lyrics and much more.
What Did Brianna Chickenfry Say About Zach Bryan’s Wedding?
Chickenfry hasn’t commented directly on Bryan’s New Year’s Eve wedding, but she did share some particularly thorny Taylor Swift lyrics on TikTok, and fans read between the lines.
“Checkmate, I couldn’t lose,” Chickenfry lip-syncs along, to Swift’s song “Mastermind.”
@ihatebriannachickenfry♬ Mastermind – Taylor Swift
“All I have to say is THANK GOD that wasn’t you,” one fan replied.
“Said a lot without saying nothing my queen,” another added.
After Bryan’s new relationship went public, Chickenfry did respond to some fans who thought Leonard looks quite a bit like Chickenfry.
“I think this is narcissism textbook 101 — that’s what narcissists do, they just go out and find a new version of you to date,” Chickenfry said in an Oct. 12 episode of her Plan Bri Uncut podcast.
She also said she dyed her hair to mitigate how many people were sending her photos of Leonard, to point out how similar the two women look.
See Country Music’s 15 Shortest Marriages
See country music’s shortest marriages, including one that only last four days!
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
Deion Sanders, Colorado land FBS receiving leader Danny Scudero in transfer portal
Deion Sanders took a key step in rebuilding his offense Sunday when he secured a commitment from the reigning FBS receiving champion. Wide receiver Danny Scudero committed to Colorado, according to ESPN, after entering the transfer portal on the heels of a remarkable 2025 season at San Jose State.
Scudero opened his career at Sacramento State, jumped up to the FBS level in 2025 and is now set to make his Power Four debut with the Buffaloes. The fast-rising receiver has been a standout at both of his stops and took a major step forward in his lone season at San Jose State, catching a Mountain West-best 88 catches and racking up 1,291 yards to pace all FBS receivers. He also amassed 10 touchdowns for the Spartans.
Scudero was one of just five players to pick up at least 1,200 receiving yards this season, and his 88 catches were good for fifth-most in the country. The stellar campaign earned him three-star billing in the transfer portal, per 247Sports, and made him the No. 39 wide receiver in the 2026 cycle. Scudero is the No. 163 overall prospect in the portal.
The wide receiver position is one of particular importance for Colorado this offseason on the recruiting trail. Sanders and his staff are tasked with replacing their top target from the 2025 campaign in Omarion Miller, who hit the portal after pacing the Buffaloes with 45 catches, 808 yards and eight touchdowns.
Colorado addressed the positional need not only with the Scudero addition but also through the high school recruiting route. Three-star prospect Christian Ward signed last month with the Buffaloes, and another three-star incoming freshman in Xavier McDonald is expected to sign in February.
The receiving corps represents the supporting cast for presumptive starting quarterback Julian Lewis — one of just two holdovers from the 2025 group. Kaidon Salter and Colton Allen exhausted their eligibility and Ryan Staub entered the transfer portal. Lewis appeared in just four games as a true freshman and thus maintained his redshirt option, and while he lacked efficiency in his few opportunities, he displayed upside with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Scudero’s arrival as a potential go-to weapon for Lewis gives Colorado a much-needed building block for the offense as a whole. The unit took a major step backward in 2025 as the 116th-ranked scoring unit in the nation at just 20.9 points per game, marking significant regression from the previous two years in which the Buffaloes boasted an eventual NFL quarterback in Shedeur Sanders and a Heisman Trophy winner in Travis Hunter.
Gen Z picks its own 'Karen' name: Sorry, 'Jessica.'
Sorry to these Gen X and Millennial ladies.
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MTG says Maduro’s capture isn’t ‘America First’
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ADRIAN SMITH Confirms He Auditioned For DEF LEPPARD After Leaving IRON MAIDEN
Guitarist Adrian Smith has a long history with Iron Maiden. Smith joined the band in 1980, left in 1990, and then rejoined in 1999 where he remains to this day.
While Smith was out of Iron Maiden, he kept himself plenty busy. Smith had a band called Psycho Motel that put out two records in 1995 and 1997, and even played on then-former Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson‘s Accident Of Birth and The Chemical Wedding records in 1997 and 1998, respectively. Oh, and he totally tried out to be in Def Leppard.
In a new interview with MetalJournal.net, Smith confirmed long-standing rumors that he tried out for Def Leppard following the death of guitarist Steve Clark in 1991: “I went over to L.A. for a couple of days. Phil [Collen, Def Leppard guitarist] phoned me up — him and Ross Halfin phoned me up and said, ‘Would you be interested in coming over?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’
“So I went to L.A. I played with him for a couple of days. I sat down with Phil. We went through some songs. It sounded good, it sounded good. And they’re a great bunch of guys. But it didn’t work out. Plus I had — my Psycho Motel album was just about to come out, so I was kind of, you know… But who knows? It was worth pursuing. They did okay without me.”
Smith’s recollection lines up with comments previously made by Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen, who confirmed that Smith was indeed one of several high-profile musicians considered to replace Clarke. Speaking to Eonmusic at a pre-show press conference at Hellfest in Clisson, France on June 16, Collen explained the band’s mindset during the audition process and why Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell got the gig.
“[Vivian] just fit in straight away; it was just like [it was] meant to be. [But] Adrian is great — he’s a great singer. That was one of the other things [we were looking for], if you can sing. And there was some other people. We played with John Sykes — also an amazing player, amazing singer.
“With Adrian, he played in context with what we were doing when we were rehearsing. I mean, we were doing Def Leppard songs — we weren’t doing Iron Maiden songs, we weren’t doing Dio songs; we were doing Def Leppard. So, whoever comes into our house has to kind of play by the same rules.
“So that was the thing. And Viv fit straight in. And like I said, there was only five people. We didn’t do, like, cattle calls or anything like that, because it was still a bit painful after losing Steve, to be quite honest. So we wanted someone who emotionally would work with us as a family member. And Viv did straight off the bat. It was just wonderful.”
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Wisconsin adds ODU dual-threat QB Colton Joseph, sources say
More than a month after vowing to invest more in football, Wisconsin landed the program’s top quarterback target for 2026.
The Badgers have signed Old Dominion transfer Colton Joseph, sources told ESPN. He projects as Wisconsin’s starting quarterback for next season, after a dominating season at ODU that saw him finish No. 8 in the country in total offense at 302.6 yards per game.
Joseph will bring Wisconsin a true dual-threat quarterback, as he rushed for 1,007 yards and threw for 2,624. He threw for 21 touchdowns and rushed for 13 more. Joseph will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
In 2024, Joseph accounted for 22 touchdowns in nine games — 11 rushing touchdowns and 11 passing touchdowns.
The arrival of Joseph projects as a potential answer for what has been the most vexing problem during Luke Fickell’s three seasons at Wisconsin — consistent quarterback play. Much of that is rooted in injury, as the projected starter at Wisconsin has been hurt in all three of Fickell’s seasons there.
Last year, Billy Edwards Jr. got hurt in the opener and played just two games for the Badgers. In 2023, Tanner Mordecai missed 3½ games with a broken hand. In 2024, Tyler Van Dyke tore his ACL in Wisconsin’s third game and was out for the year.
The collective injury toll has hamstrung Wisconsin’s offense, as the team finished No. 133 of 134 teams in FBS last year in scoring offense at 12.8 points per game.
Amid that, the Badgers did forge some optimism late in the season with upset wins over Washington and Illinois in November.
Enter Joseph, a dynamic player who earned the Sun Belt’s offensive player of the year award. He led ODU to the program’s second winning season in program history.
Old Dominion finished No. 29 nationally in scoring offense with 32.0 points per game. The Monarchs were No. 16 in total offense with 454.7 points per game.
Joseph, in his second year as a starter, proved the engine behind that. He finished fifth in the Sun Belt in rushing yards and fifth in the league in passing yards.
His signature game of the year came against Virginia Tech in ODU’s 45-26 win that led to Brent Pry’s firing. Joseph threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in a game ODU led 31-0 in third quarter. He finished the game with 276 yards passing and 63 rushing yards.
The signing of Joseph, who had strong interest in the portal, aligns with what athletic director Chris McIntosh told ESPN in November when he said Luke Fickell would be back as head coach in 2026.
“[We] are aligned on significantly elevating investment in our program to compete at the highest level,” McIntosh told ESPN. “We are willing to make an investment in infrastructure and staff. As important is our ability to retain and recruit players in a revenue share and NIL era.”