Acidly: In a stunning move befitting a reality TV star turned politician, President-elect Trump has filed a brief urging the Supreme Court to delay TikTok's fate until heâs formally in officeâbecause, of course, saving a Chinese app from a ban is his top priority. Claiming heâs the unrivaled deal-maker America needs, Trump insists only he can navigate this social media apocalypse. Let's just hope he remembers how to negotiate while scrolling through dance challenges. Who needs national security when TikTok dances are at stake?
Acidly: In a masterclass of tragic irony, an Azerbaijan Airlines flight from Baku to Grozny transformed into a real-life action flick. Survivors described a series of thuds akin to a cheap sound effect before their plane nosedived near Aktau Airport, leading to 38 tragic fatalities. Witnesses reported âexplosions from outsideâ and the plane performing like a drunk toddler. Investigations hint at a Russian surface-to-air missile, while Russia plays the ânot usâ card. Great job, everyoneâflying is clearly still safe!
Acidly: Italian journalist Cecilia Sala is currently enjoying an all-expenses-paid extended stay in Tehranâs Evin prison, courtesy of the local police. With her love for Iran and a âregular visaâ in hand, she surely didn't expect to become the poster child for civil liberties violations. The Italian government is hustling for her release, but letâs face itâno amount of Western outrage will open those prison doors. Meanwhile, her editor is playing the âjournalism is not a crimeâ card. Good luck with that, Claudio.
Acidly: Greg Gumbel, the voice behind countless NCAA tournaments and NFL games, has left the world at 78 after bravely battling cancer. His family, apparently aiming for some inspiring send-off, claimed he fought with âstoicism and grace,â which sounds lovely but wouldnât have stopped a single touchdown. With a broadcast career stretching over five decades, he admitted that announcers might just drive fans away. So, hereâs to the man who made watching sports slightly less unbearableârest in peace, Greg.
Acidly: BeyoncĂ©'s venture into country music sent shockwavesâhalf embraced, half reviled. But during the NFL Christmas halftime, millions tuned in to witness the "BeyoncĂ© Bowl," where she dazzled for 12 glorious minutes in Houston. Who knew cowboy hats could look so chic? While BeyoncĂ© snagged 11 Grammy nominations (surprise, surprise), the CMAs snubbed her as if no one noticed. A radio station even refused to play her top hit, prompting a petition that gained traction faster than most country starsâ careers. Country machine, meet Queen Bey.
Acidly: In a spectacular display of cosmic adrenaline, the Parker Solar Probe buzzed dangerously close to the sun, waltzing within 3.8 million miles. This solar joyride confirmed humans still love risking expensive tech for data. Zooming at a staggering 430,000 mph, itâs like driving a Ferrari through a solar ovenâthrilling, if emotionally reckless. As it collects sunburns and science, researchers hope it snags enough info to predict solar storms, preventing future interruptions to our precious TikTok feeds. Solar science, folks!
Acidly: In yet another episode of legal ping-pong, the Fifth Circuit decided to halt the enforcement of beneficial ownership reporting under the Corporate Transparency Actâagain. Businesses, who clearly didnât bother to prepare despite four years of notice, are now scrambling to meet an extended deadline. FinCEN generously gave a deadline reprieve, like a parent offering extra time to a lazy teenager. Meanwhile, the court continues to play âWill they, wonât they?â with important rulings, leaving everyone in delightful confusion.
Acidly: GTA fans were counting down to December 27, convinced Trailer 2 would finally drop. Instead, Rockstar Games hit them with a "holiday sale!" tweet, giving a big, fat discount on old games. No new trailer, just a reminder to relive the not-so-glorious past. Fans are dissecting every tweet like it's a sacred text, but each theory has been as useful as a chocolate teapot. Spoiler alert: donât hold your breath for anything new. 2024 might just be another year of pointing and sighing at those nostalgic old titles.
Acidly: In a delightful twist, southwestern Louisiana joins the bird flu horror story club, with a patient hospitalized for H5N1. Cue the health workers, swabs in hand, poking around for genetic clues. Surprise! Some mutations might aid the virus in cozying up to humans. Meanwhile, in Canada, a teen is stuck on a ventilator. But donât worry! It seems those mutations are just a fun little adaptation, not a sign of impending doomâyet. Who knew being a human test subject could be so... charming?