The founder of a controversial kratom-based drink that Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin holds a large stake in admitted he knew customers would abuse it. J.W. Ross, 63, started Botanic Tonics in May 2020 and turned Feel Free, its kava-and-kratom shot, into a brand with sales topping $250 million across 24,000-plus stores. Critics dub it “gas station heroin” because it hits the same brain receptors as opioids. Ross began life as Jerry Dale Cash and was imprisoned for diverting $10 million out of the Oklahoma oil and gas firm he ran, according to the Daily Beast’s investigative Substack PunchUp. He renamed himself in January 2014. On a 2023 podcast, Ross said he dosed himself heavily for months and tracked his own blood work “because I knew that some people would abuse it.” Mullin, 48, put as much as $1 million into the company and has not divested. He then backed a federal crackdown in July 2025 that hit rivals selling 7-OH concentrates but left whole-leaf kratom, the type in Feel Free, alone. A DHS spokesperson said Mullin “follows all ethics and conflict of interest standards and has not lobbied for any individual or company. As a Senator, Markwayne Mullin fought alongside Secretary Kennedy to regulate 7-OH, which is a synthetic drug marketed to kids at convenience stores via deceptive packaging.” Ross did not respond to multiple requests for comment from PunchUp.

Tom Latchem exposes the secrets, scandals, and stories that powerful people and institutions want to keep under wraps. Follow all of his reporting at PunchUp on Substack.

A California man who went missing in the Pacific Ocean for more than a month has been found alive after surviving on scraps of food, fish, and even condensation collected from seawater while drifting far from help. Kai Sato, 39, set sail alone from Catalina Island on June 7 bound for Hawaii, but disaster struck two weeks into the voyage when the mast on his sailboat snapped. Stranded outside major shipping lanes with no fuel and a dead phone, Sato said he spent days overwhelmed by despair as the current carried him farther into the open ocean. “I cried for a whole week, just drifting south, like miserable,” he told Hawaii News Now. “I felt like I was going to just try to turn my motor on and just suffocate, to kill myself.” After several days, Sato began fashioning makeshift repairs with PVC pipes and kayak paddles. He survived on leftover oatmeal, fish and squid that landed aboard, and condensation collected in a bucket. “I was just licking that to survive,” he said. Nearly a month later, Sato drifted back into the California-Hawaii shipping route, where the crew of the container ship Pasha Hawaii spotted and rescued him after two attempts to lower a rope ladder.

America just turned 250—but we don’t look backward. We’re already thinking about the next 250 years of innovation. Want to share your thoughts about the country’s future and have a chance to be featured on The Daily Beast Podcast? Pull out your red-white-and-blue soapbox and share your thoughts, predictions, and questions here.

In a four-part series, Joanna Coles is sitting down with experts to discuss the future of America, exploring topics like manufacturing, sports, and technology. This series is produced in partnership with PMI U.S., US Businesses of Philip Morris International and its America250 initiative, a yearlong push to celebrate and accelerate American innovation and reinvention.

This week, Joanna sits down with Vivek Ranadivé, owner of the Sacramento Kings and longtime tech investor, to discuss the future of sports and technology. Sports have always been a backbone and mirror of American identity and culture, with baseball serving as a national pastime, football cemented as a Sunday tradition, and millions of fans finding community through the teams they love and the games they play. As innovation reshapes athletics both on and off the court, what new trends and breakthroughs will emerge? Share your thoughts for a chance to have Vivek and Joanna respond on air.

Your opinions fuel the conversation. Don’t miss your chance to weigh in—submit your thoughts here.

A 79-year-old man from Nevada has died while visiting one of the busiest hiking trails in California’s Sequoia National Park. Park rangers rushed to the General Sherman Tree Trail on Thursday after receiving reports of a medical emergency, according to the National Park Service. Emergency responders arrived at the scene to provide medical treatment, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The Park Service said it is not providing further information “out of respect for the family.” A cause of death has not yet been determined. The one-mile General Sherman Tree Trail leads visitors to the General Sherman sequoia, the largest living tree on Earth. The death came as the region was under an extreme heat warning issued by the National Weather Service. It is the second fatal incident in Sequoia National Park in just over a month. In June, 17-year-old Andrea Diaz Mondragon drowned after slipping into a river during her first visit to the park with her older brother and a group of friends. Her family described the teen as someone who loved “bringing joy to those around her.”

Roxette, the Swedish pop duo that rose to fame in the late 1980s and early ‘90s, canceled its 40th anniversary North American tour due to “logistics and hugely increased touring costs.” The band’s official Instagram account posted: “This decision was made by Live Nation USA, which they probably based on their own calculations. I hope we can play for our fab fans in the USA and Canada at some point in the near future.” The band’s biggest hit, “It Must Have Been Love,” was released in 1987 but became wildly popular in 1990 after it was featured in the iconic romantic comedy Pretty Woman. Roxette was originally made up of Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson. Fredriksson died of a brain tumor in 2019 and Swedish singer Lena Philipsson joined the duo in 2024. Fourteen shows slated for September and October were pulled in cities including Toronto, Philadelphia, Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles.

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Finding the right bronzer can be surprisingly tricky… especially if you have mature, dry, or fair skin. Many powder formulas are too matte, settling into (and even emphasizing) fine lines, texture, and pores, while creams and liquids tend to lack the staying power to make them worth applying in the first place. Even if your goal isn’t to look more tan, the right bronzer can make a huge difference in your complexion. A good formula adds warmth back into the skin, creates subtle definition without the harshness of contour, and gives you a healthy, well-rested glow (even if you definitely did not get eight hours of sleep).

Summer Fridays’ skincare-powered Bronzer Butter Balm hits the sweet spot between a cream and a powder bronzer, delivering an ultra-forgiving, endlessly buildable wash of color that nourishes the skin while softly blurring texture. In other words, if bronzer has always intimidated you (or you’ve been burned by chalky powders, muddy shades, or creams that disappear before noon), this buttery formula will make you rethink the category.

Summer Fridays Bronzer Butter Balm

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Unlike most balms, creams, and liquids, Bronzer Butter Balm stays put for up to 12 hours, which is a rarity outside the world of powders and long-wearing matte formulas. It’s made with an innovative emulsion technology that melts effortlessly into the skin before self-setting for all-day wear. You get plenty of time to blend and perfect, but when it’s set, it truly stays put, which is a huge plus for summer heat waves and humidity.

Available in six shades, the Bronzer Butter Balm is infused with a cocktail of skincare ingredients, including ceramides, peptides, and essential fatty acids, to help plump the appearance of fine lines, smooth the appearance of skin texture, and lock in moisture. It’s also packed with shea, mango seed, and illipe butters, giving it a velvety, second-skin finish that never feels greasy or heavy. If you’re into low-maintenance makeup that’s basically impossible to mess up, this is the fuss-free bronzer of your dreams. There’s no streaking, no patchiness, and no orange surprises that require an instant double cleanse to correct. ​

A former NFL player has been deported from the United States. Daniel Ogama Adongo, 37, was removed from the country on June 20 after ICE alleged he had overstayed a visa that expired in 2016, NBC News reported Sunday. The athlete had retired from the league a year earlier, according to the outlet. DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Adongo made history as the first Kenyan to play in the NFL after signing with the Indianapolis Colts in 2013. In March, an immigration judge ordered his removal. Before that, Adongo had amassed a string of criminal offenses, according to ICE, including a 2020 conviction for misdemeanor criminal mischief resulting in property damage. He was sentenced to 364 days in jail, NBC News reported. The Indianapolis Star reported that Adongo’s attorneys and others have suggested the former athlete may have sustained a traumatic brain injury during his football—and earlier rugby—career.

A circus performer was airlifted to the hospital after a terrifying mishap sent an arrow into his neck during a live performance. The freak accident occurred around 9:30 p.m. Friday during a crossbow sharp-shooting act performed by Ana Daza Tavera, 42, and Edwin Cuervo Rangel, 38, at the Orange County Fair in Wallkill, New York, state police said in a statement. Daza Tavera fired an arrow at a foam target held by Cuervo Rangel, but the shot missed its mark and struck him instead. The audience was ushered out of the tent as paramedics rushed to the performer’s aid, News 12 reported. “Well, last night, unfortunately, when she shot the crossbow, it caught him in his neck,” Circus Murcia ringmaster Benjamin Jackson told News 12. “The good news is, she caught him right at the very corner of the neck. There was no blood, nothing.” Cuervo Rangel was flown to Westchester Medical Center and is now in stable condition, according to police. “Our performer is safe and in stable condition following surgery at the hospital and will make a full recovery,” Circus Murcia owner and operator Alexander Murcia said in a statement, according to the Hudson Valley Post.

TikTok creator Rebecca Luna ended her life after a battle with early onset dementia. She was 49. The single mom from British Columbia, Canada, passed away on Saturday afternoon, choosing to die via medically assisted suicide. Luna shared her diagnosis with debilitating early onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2025, when she was just 48-years-old. She gained a following on the short-form video platform sharing information about the condition, her doctors appointments, treatment and options, including deciding to die on her own terms at a time of her choosing. Alzheimer’s disease is especially tough on the families and loved ones of those diagnosed, as their mind deteriorates and they no longer remember their own lives and relationships. Just days before her death, Luna told followers she had moved up her Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) date from early August to July 25, explaining that the decision was ultimately about taking control of her own life. On TikTok, a notice was posted announcing her passing. “Rebecca passed away July 25th at approximately 1:15 p.m. surrounded by her loved ones. Thank you for your support and privacy,” it reads.

Jessica Simpson’s ex-NFL-star boyfriend and current CBS Sports analyst Tony Romo has dropped out of an upcoming golf tournament after he was arrested on suspicion of operating while under the influence on Thursday night. Romo, 46, withdrew from the 56th M&P Group Texas State Open golf tournament, KETK first reported on Sunday. “Although we’re disappointed he won’t be joining us, we’re still looking forward to an exciting week of competitive golf,” the Cascades Country Club, which is hosting the tournament, said in an email, according to the outlet. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback was arrested in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Thursday night after he had participated in the Wisconsin State Amateur Golf Championship earlier in the day. Romo was stopped by police along the I-43 highway around 6 p.m. before failing multiple sobriety tests and being taken into custody. The CBS Sports NFL analyst had played poorly at the Wisconsin tournament, scoring 35-over par and tying for 74th place. His court date is scheduled for Sept. 21. Romo joined CBS as an NFL analyst in April 2017, one year after he retired from professional football. Romo has not spoken publicly about the arrest. CBS had no comment when approached by the Associated Press for comment. Romo dated Jessica Simpson from 2007 to 2009. Simpson spilled on the breakup in her 2020 memoir, Open Book, claiming Romo ended the romance after discovering text messages between the pop star and her ex-boyfriend, John Mayer. She denies any infidelity.

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There are plenty of purchases I’ve justified over the years in the name of “self-care,” but few have delivered quite as much immediate gratification as my Lola Blanket. Whether you’re settling in for a TV marathon, reading in bed, cuddling with your partner (or, more realistically in my case, your pet), or just trying to survive an overzealous air conditioner in the middle of summer, a great throw blanket is one of those everyday luxuries we often overlook. Lola Blankets have very much earned their reputation as the internet’s favorite blanket, and after wrapping yourself in one, it’s not exactly hard to understand why.

Dubbed the “softest blanket ever,” the brand’s premium faux-fur throws have amassed more than 30,000 five-star reviews, making them among the most beloved blankets online. Available in an impressive range of colors, patterns, and four different sizes (along with weighted and pet-friendly versions), there’s a Lola Blanket for just about every sofa, bed, and perpetually chilly person. The ultra-soft blankets strike that rare balance of looking elevated enough to leave draped over your couch while still being the blanket everyone instinctively reaches for the second they sit down.

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Of course, softness is only part of their appeal. Unlike many faux-fur throws that require delicate care (or immediately look worse after one wash), Lola Blankets are machine washable, stain-resistant, and built to withstand everyday life. That makes them especially ideal for homes with kids, pets, or anyone who’s been known to enjoy dinner, wine, or an entire sleeve of cookies on the couch (*shamefully raising my hand*).

Each blanket is crafted with OEKO-TEX Standard 100-certified faux fur, therapeutic four-way stretch that makes sharing with a partner (or a pet) a little easier, and reinforced double-hemmed edges for added durability. Best of all, they’re shed-proof, so your furniture, clothes, and floors won’t end up looking like you’ve adopted a very fluffy new pet.

Two men climbed over the glass wall of Seattle’s iconic Space Needle, flipped over the edge, and parachuted down from the structure on Friday. The BASE jumpers, described as white and in their late 20s, face trespassing charges. According to police, they purchased tickets and entered the Space Needle around 8:50 p.m. Camera footage shows them entering a restroom on the top level of the needle and coming out with helmets on. The pair then climbed over the observation deck’s glass wall before parachuting off the 605-foot tower. “The two guys burst out and they sprinted up to the window. I’m talking like 10 seconds, sprint all the way up to the top, climb over, run and do a backflip off. I mean, it was, it was so crazy because everybody was scared at first when they ran out,” Jacob Jarreau, who was near the observation deck, told KING 5 News. Authorities are unsure where the men landed and have not been able to locate them.

Audiences can’t get enough of Christopher Nolan’s take on Homer’s epic, The Odyssey. After an opening weekend that exceeded all expectations, box office receipts for the film’s second weekend were impressively robust. The film pulled in $87 million in its second showing, which is remarkable for any movie, let alone an R-rated one. Ticket sales for the film declined just 30 percent from its $123.5 million debut weekend. According to Variety, most tentpoles that open above $100 million decline by 50 percent or more on subsequent weekends. Next weekend is expected to be a real test of the film’s durability as the next installment in Marvel’s Spiderman franchise, Brand New Day, premieres. The movie also stars two of The Odyssey’s biggest stars, married couple Tom Holland and Zendaya. The box office success of Nolan’s epic will no doubt frustrate Elon Musk and the online armchair critics who cannot stand award-winning A-list actors they don’t like playing fictional characters that include gods and monsters. Musk pledged this week to make his own AI slop version of Homer’s tale, but audiences seem to have decided they’re just fine with the one they already have.