Russia warns Ukraine: Surrender or perish
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A Russian official dropped a dire warning as the Ukraine war drags on. And why everyone is buzzing about a certain blond superstar at a football game Sunday.
👋 Oh, my, God, Becky ... Laura Davis here! From Sir Mix-a-Lot to Chumbawumba, we're celebrating National One-Hit Wonder Day with some songs we can't forget. And now, how about some news?
But first: They're making it rain COVID tests again. 😷 Starting today, people can once again get four free coronavirus home tests per household. Here's how to get yours.
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A dire warning from a Russian official
As the Ukraine war drags into its 20th month with no resolution in sight, a top Russian official had some ominous words for Ukraine, warning that it must surrender on Moscow's terms – or the country will "cease to exist." Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, said President Joe Biden, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and other Western leaders have poured time, effort, money and military might into the war but have made little headway. Ukraine and Western leaders claim steady progress in a counteroffensive, and Biden has been all-in behind Ukraine. But some Republicans in Congress have waffled on spending plans for the war, and Americans' public support has softened. 👉 Here's the latest.
Fact check: Nope, that video about a “drunken brawl” tied to Ukraine wasn’t from USA TODAY.
The show must go on, eventually!
Hollywood could be getting back to work. Late Sunday, the Writers Guild of America reached a tentative deal with studios to end the monthslong screenwriters strike. CEOs of Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCUniversal's studios stepped in last week, holding meetings with the writers union through the weekend to settle thorny questions of pay, benefits and guaranteed work. But the strikes aren't quite over yet. The writers walkout was followed by another one by actors on July 14. Writers could resume work on scripts if the deal is approved by a vote from the full WGA membership, but the actors union has to negotiate its own settlement. 🍿 When will things get back to normal? We explain.
What everyone's talking about
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A big catch for Travis Kelce?
Who cares if Taylor Swift is dating NFL star Travis Kelce? Ummm, after Sunday's game? Everyone! When it comes to Swift, what people really seem to obsess over is whom she's dating. And her latest rumored romance is a perfect media storm, combining two things people can’t get enough of: Taylor Swift, duh, and NFL football. Signs suggest Swift is now dating Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs' tight end, after the pop superstar showed up Sunday at his game wearing Chiefs gear and sitting in a suite with Kelce's mother, cheering him on. 📣 Here's everything we know.
What Bill Belichick had to say about the Swift-Kelce relationship.
In case you need it: A Swiftie's guide to Travis Kelce.
Jimmy Carter makes stop at Plains Peanut Festival in Georgia
What a lovely surprise! Despite their health challenges, former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter made a surprise trip Saturday to the Plains Peanut Festival in Plains, Georgia. The Carters, both of whom were born in Plains, rode in a black SUV through the festival while crowds took photos and waved at them. “Beautiful day for President & Mrs. Carter to enjoy a ride through the Plains Peanut Festival! And just a week before he turns 99,” the Carter Center wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Jimmy Carter entered hospice care at age 98 in February after a series of short hospital stays. 🥜 Here’s how you can contribute to his birthday card.
A break from the news
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Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hello: laura@usatoday.com. This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift, Jimmy Carter, COVID tests: Monday's news
