Category: News

The day before her “Weekends With Adele” Residency in Las Vegas was set to begin, Adele delivered an emotional announcement in an Instagram video. Fighting back tears, the “Easy On Me” singer told her fans that half her crew is currently dealing with COVID and that “it’s been impossible.” Here’s what she said in the video:

“I’m so sorry, but my show ain’t ready. We’ve tried absolutely everything that we can to put it together in time and for it to be good enough for you, but we’ve been absolutely destroyed by delivery delays and COVID. Half my crew and team are down with COVID…they still are, and it’s been impossible to finish the show. And…I can’t give you what I have right now. And I’m gutted, I’m gutted — I’m sorry it’s so last minute, we’ve been awake for over 30 hours now trying to figure it out and we’ve run out of time. I’m so upset and I’m really embarrassed and so sorry to everyone that traveled to get [to the show]. I’m really, really sorry.

“We’re on it. We’re going to reschedule all of the dates, we’re on it right now,” she concluded, “and I’m gonna finish my show and get it to where it’s supposed to be. I’m so sorry it’s been impossible. We’ve been up against so much and it just ain’t ready. I’m really sorry. I’m sorry.”

She really did appear to be genuinely gutted and it’s a shame that this residency won’t go on as planned. The plan was for a show every sand Saturday night at the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace from January 21 until April 16 (except for one weekend in February.) Earlier today, Rage Against The Machine also announced that they’d be postponing the first half of their “Public Service Announcement Tour” with Run The Jewels due to safety concerns. You can watch Adele’s emotional video on her Instagram page below.

Dak Prescott has had quite the week, starting with a Sunday performance from he and the Cowboys that was maddeningly frustrating for fans and the players themselves, in a 23-17 loss to the 49ers at home.

After the game, Prescott expressed frustration with the referees for the 14 penalties Dallas was assessed in the game, including some crucial ones, as well as the critical failure of the Cowboys and officials to get the ball spotted after their QB draw with 14 seconds to play. At one point in his presser, Prescott was ripping fans for throwing stuff onto the field at players when he was informed that fans were actually throwing things at the officials walking off the field, and said “credit to them.” That, unsurprisingly, became a dominant story, as advocating for fans to throw bottles at anyone is not a good look, and unsurprisingly, Prescott took to Twitter earlier this week to walk back his comments and apologize.

While it was good on Prescott to issue an apology of his on volition, it won’t save him from an unsurprising fine from the league, which was reportedly levied on Thursday to the tune of $25,000.

It was a lock that the league would issue that fine, as they, like every other pro sports league, don’t take well to calling out the officiating publicly. Hopefully now all parties involved can move on, but unfortunately for Prescott, it’ll be another eight months before he and the Cowboys can start trying to right the wrongs of another early playoff exit.

Helping young people understand the causes and effects of historical events is a formidable task for any educator. History isn’t just “what happened and when.” There’s also a “why,” “how” and “who” in every historical happening, and quality history education helps students explore those questions.

Sometimes, however, that exploration can go off the rails.

Most people would agree that understanding different perspectives is an important part of learning history, but there are more and less problematic ways of helping students gain that understanding. We’ve seen some of the more problematic methods pop up in school assignments before, from asking students to pick cotton like slaves to listing the pros and cons of slavery.

Now an assignment from a school in Georgia is making the rounds, with people calling out issues with the perspective it asked students to take.

Jennifer C. Martin shared a photo of a computer screen from her friend’s kid’s school with an assignment about the Trail of Tears, telling students to write letters from the points of view listed in the questions and to use facts to support their point of view. (The Trail of Tears sometimes refers to the forced removal of several Native nations from their ancestral homelands in the Southeast in the 1830s, but also refers more specifically to the forced relocation of the Cherokee nation to Oklahoma in 1838. Thousands died of disease, exposure and starvation during the removals.)

The writing prompt on the screen reads:

“Write a letter to President Jackson from the perspective of an American settler. Explain why you think removing the Cherokee will help the United States grow and prosper.”

my friend’s kid’s school in Georgia sent homework with this questionpic.twitter.com/pSFhJ0Ucvz

— Jennifer C. Martin (@Jennifer C. Martin)
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Having written about problematic history lessons before, I know there will be people saying, “But this is just asking students to understand different perspectives! We have to be able to understand perspectives we don’t agree with.”

That may sound reasonable—or even desirable—but there are some problems with that line of thinking when it comes to teaching kids.

One, there’s a difference between understanding someone’s perspective and taking on their perspective, even as an exercise. The latter can be useful; putting yourself into someone else’s shoes through “Imagine if” exercises is a good way to build empathy, helping us understand the impact of an event on a person or people. But is it desirable to build empathy with people who committed or perpetuated atrocities? I would argue it’s not.

u201cWrite a letter to Chancellor Hitler from the perspective of a German merchant. Explain why you think removing the Jews will help the Reich grow and prosper.u201dnnDonu2019t u201cGodwinu201d me. Thatu2019s precisely what this is: Write a letter justifying genocide.https://twitter.com/notreallyjcm/status/1483987339206705152u00a0u2026

— President Dawg (@President Dawg)
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Second, the Trail of Tears is an objectively oppressive historical event. Asking students to explain the benefits of it from the perspective of the oppressors is gross. We don’t need to “both sides” an oppressive event, as if there is some legitimate justification for why it happened and what the impact was. There is an explanation, of course, but when we take on a perspective and make arguments in favor of it as a personal exercise, we risk legitimizing and justifying it. This is totally unnecessary and potentially harmful.

Third, what if you were a student whose ancestors were the ones who suffered and/or died during the Trail of Tears? How would this assignment assist in your understanding of that event? It’s not like you wouldn’t already know that the settlers cared more about the growth and prosperity of the United States than about your people’s lives, so what would be the point of this assignment for you?

If we want students to think critically about these events and look at the different perspectives that led to the tragedy of the Trail of Tears, we can ask questions that get them to think critically without making them argue the benefits from a colonizing perspective, such as:

“Why did some American settlers support the removal of the Cherokee people? What do you think about their reasoning?”

“What were the motivations behind forcing the Cherokee people off their land? How did American settlers benefit from the tragedy?”

“Were the settlers’ arguments for relocating the Cherokee aligned with the American ideals of liberty and justice? Explain.”

None of those writing prompts require a student to put themselves into the mindset of people who committed or supported violent injustice, but they still accomplish the goal of understanding different perspectives and getting students to think.

We need to acknowledge that history is not neutral and history lessons are not benign. There are ways to teach history that are objectively inappropriate, no matter what the intention behind them. Asking students to take the perspective of a Nazi during the Holocaust would be inappropriate. Asking students to take the perspective of a racist white person in the South during the civil rights movement would be inappropriate. It’s not appropriate to ask students to think like a colonizer during the Trail of Tears. Understanding that perspectives differ does not require taking on an oppressive perspective, even as an academic exercise, and we do students a disservice by asking them to do so.

Everyone in America wants the country to be a place where they’re safe from violence. But there’s a big difference in how people think we should achieve that goal. Some Americans think that tougher gun laws make it more difficult for people to commit heinous acts of violence. While others believe that people are safer when they have easy access to firearms to protect themselves.

A new study released by the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund has found a very strong connection between a state’s gun laws and its rate of gun deaths.

The analysis concludes that states with strong gun safety policies have lower rates of fatal shootings while states with weaker gun laws have higher rates of gun deaths, including homicides, suicides and accidental killings. Everytown for Gun Safety makes a pretty clear point by ranking states from strongest gun laws to weakest.

California has the strongest gun laws and some of the lowest rates of gun deaths per 100,000 residents, at 8.5. The national average is 13.6. Conversely, Mississippi has the weakest gun laws and the highest rate of gun deaths per 100,000 residents, 28.6.

California

Mississippi

“States with strong gun safety policies, such as background checks on all gun sales and extreme risk laws, have lower rates of gun violence while states with weaker gun laws, such as permitless gun carry and Stand Your Ground, have higher rates of gun violence,” Nick Suplina, senior vice president of law and policy at Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, told Upworthy.

Here are the top eight states when it comes to the strength of gun laws.

Top 8 states with strong gun laws

The 8 states with the weakest gun laws

You can see the entire list of all 50 states at the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund’s website.

“Everytown’s Gun Law Rankings shows what we have been saying for years: gun laws save lives. There is a clear and direct tie between a state’s gun laws and its rate of gun deaths,” Suplina told Upworthy.

The evidence for strong gun safety laws appears to be overwhelming based on Everytown’s graph. But as any statistician will tell you, correlation doesn’t imply causation. In other words, just because states with tougher gun laws are safer doesn’t necessarily mean that strong gun laws are the sole reason that gun violence is lower.

The rankings also get a bit blurrier when one takes into account the fact that guns can move from state to state. Therefore, strong gun laws in one state can be affected by weaker laws in a neighboring state.

There is a whole host of factors that can influence the rate of gun violence in a given state, including socioeconomics, access to mental healthcare, education, social mobility and its citizens’ trust in institutions.

However, states with weaker gun laws make it easier to access firearms, and studies show that access to a firearm triples the likelihood of suicide, and a gun in the home is associated with more gun homicide.

The debate over guns has been one of the most heated fights in America’s culture wars and it won’t be solved anytime soon. But we all want what’s best for the country and to come to some effective agreement on how to do so we have to start with the facts. Everytown for Gun Safety has made a very compelling argument for stronger gun control laws across the country; it’ll be interesting to see if its opponents can muster any counterarguments that come close.

The world can never have too many monsters on TV or in movies. Last year, Godzilla vs. Kong scored surprisingly big box-office numbers, and hey, there’s a good reason for this: people like to watch monsters punching each other. It’s fun! Don’t be a downer.

Apple TV+ knows what’s up, and that’s why they’re launching a Godzilla spinoff series that’s part of Legendary’s Monsterverse. The story will follow up on that punch-filled showdown and other franchise films including Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Kong: Skull Island. There aren’t too many firm details on what shall happen next (there’s not even a title yet), other than we’ll definitely see Godzilla (licensed to Legendary by Godzilla owner Toho), along with other Titans in the Monsterverse, and that this will be a live-action series. From a press release:

Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco and the shocking new reality that monsters are real, the series explores one family’s journey to uncover its buried secrets and a legacy linking them to the secret organization known as Monarch.

In addition, Apple TV+ pointed toward other upcoming projects, including Wool, an adaptation of Hugh Howey’s excellent trilogy about humanity living in silos after the apocalypse (it’s better than the description sounds, I promise). There’s also the recently released Foundation and Invasion in the sci-fi realm, and second seasons of See and Ted Lasso that kept those successes going. Oh, and The Morning Show will crank out a third season, so Apple’s swiftly becoming a major contender in the streaming realm.

Well this is getting tiresome. Last April, Rage Against The Machine announced that they were finally feeling like it was safe enough to re-set tour dates for their “Public Service Announcement” Tour with Run The Jewels that they had already postponed from 2020 to 2021. They set the tour to begin in May of 2022 thinking that surely the worst days of the pandemic would be behind us, right? Wrong.

The band announced today that they have postponed the first part of the 2022 Public Service Announcement tour dates, which include the entire West Coast swing. The band tweeted out a statement that read:

“The Rage Against The Machine “Public Service Announcement” North American Tour with Run The Jewels will now start on July 9, 2022 in East Troy, Wisconsin.

Headline shows scheduled for March 31, 2022 through May 23, 2022 will be postponed and rescheduled. All tickets for the moved dates will be honored.

For fans wishing to obtain a refund for the postponed dates, refunds are available for a 30-fay window from the point of purchase only, starting today.

We will be back to you soon with the rerouted dates.

Brad, Tim, Tom & Zack”

Tough, but fair. Regardless, the tour, which now begins on July 9th in East Troy, Wisconsin, is still one of our most anticipated tours of 2022. Stay tuned for the rescheduled dates and check out Rage Against The Machine’s remaining tour dates with Run The Jewels below.

07/09/2022 — East Troy, WI @ Alpine Valley Music Theatre
07/11/2022 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
07/12/2022 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
07/15/2022 — Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Bluesfest
07/16/2022 — Quebec City, QC @ Festival D’ete de Quebec *
07/19/2022 — Hamilton, ON @ FirstOntario Centre
07/21/2022 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
07/23/2022 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
07/25/2022 — Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center
07/27/2022 — Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
07/29/2022 — Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
07/31/2022 — Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena
08/02/2022 — Washington DC @ Capital One Arena
08/03/2022 — Washington DC @ Capital One Arena
08/08/2022 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
08/09/2022 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
08/11/2022 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
08/12/2022 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
08/14/2022 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

Fancying itself a hip-hop and cannabis festival, The Smoker’s Club Fest is returning on April 30th for the first time since 2018. This year’s affair is going down at the Live Nation-operated Glen Helen Amphitheater in San Bernardino, CA and has Kid Cudi, ASAP Rocky, and Playboi Carti atop the bill. But it’s the rest of the lineup for the all-ages festival that’s really unbelievable, especially when you consider that it’s all going down in a single day.

Directly below the headliners are Schoolboy Q performing Oxymoron and Wiz Khalifa playing Kush & Orange Juice. They’re followed by 2 Chainz and Ferg, and a bit further down is Lupe Fiasco playing Food & Liquor. Again, this is all in one day?? There’s also Joey Badass, Flatbush Zombies, Danny Brown, Dom Kennedy, Larry June, Uproxx cover stars Wale and Rico Nasty, Earl Sweatshirt, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and we can go on, but check out the poster that the festival posted to their Instagram account today:

This is a pretty insane hip-hop lineup that could easily be spread apart across two or even three days. It’ll be interesting to see how they pull it off.

For many a fast food lover out there, nothing trumps spice. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about chicken sandwiches, a cheeseburger, or simply a side dish — if you tell us it’s spicy, we’re probably going to order it. Spicy dishes add some much-needed excitement into the often bland world of fast food flavors, and a strong kick of heat goes a long way toward making your meal something to remember.

The best spicy food hits you with a rush of heat that then lingers on the palate. If the Scovilles are high enough, spice can actually cover for other culinary shortcomings or convince you to tamp the heat down with a cold vanilla shake — both of which benefit the fast food brands. And since the Popeye’s spicy chicken mayhem led to a full-on deluge of spicy options crowding fast food menu boards, we decided to separate the hot trash from the good stuff.

Methodology

To help keep this list focused we limited each fast food chain to only one spicy entry each. Naturally, we went with the spiciest option currently available on that particular menu. We also disqualified any dishes that weren’t inherently spicy, meaning if they required additional self-applied hot sauce or seasoning they wouldn’t be considered. Each dish was ordered as is and then given a rating of one to five for both the dish’s heat and overall flavor.

The numbers were then added up for a final score and a few parting words on the experience. Let’s start ranking!

10. Taco Bell — Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Tacos

Heat: 1

Flavor: 2.5

Tasting Notes:

What the hell is going on here Taco Bell? How is the Mexican-inspired fast food restaurant the place with the least amount of inherently spicy food? To be fair to Taco Bell, yes, you can instantly turn anything on the menu into something spicy with the use of Taco Bell’s variety of hot sauces, but even still — this menu leaves a lot to be desired in the spice department.

Throw some fresh jalapeños into a burrito, or slices of Serrano chilis in a taco for God’s sake, Taco Bell! When your spiciest dish is Doritos branded, you’ve got a problem. This taco isn’t spicy, it has that tongue-tingling aftertaste that is distinct to Doritos, but overall we would classify it as more stale than spicy.

The Finale Score 3.5

A truly sad effort from Taco Bell. Taco Bell has jalapeños on the menu and they can be added to any order but they’re pickled, which weakens the heat and gives them a sort of off-putting tang — so this is the spiciest it’s going to get at Taco Bell without the use of hot sauce. It’s a real shame.

Find your nearest Taco Bell here.

9. KFC — Nashville Hot Tenders

Heat: 2
Flavor: 2

Tasting Notes:

I love Nashville-style hot chicken, and while I don’t think you need to go all the way to Nashville to find a great spicy bird, turns out you can’t go to Kentucky. KFC’s Nashville Hot Tenders are a disgrace to the very concept of Nashville hot chicken. Where it should be spicy and smokey, it’s just… wet.

Each tender drips with sauce and the overwhelming flavor of vinegar dominates each bite. It’s not in the least bit spicy it’s just awful.

The Finale Score: 4

Unless you like wet tenders that taste like vinegar and artificial smoke, don’t order these.

Find your nearest KFC here.

8. McDonald’s — Spicy Chicken Sandwich

Heat: 4
Flavor: 1

Tasting Notes:

Last year McDonald’s unleashed three new chicken sandwiches and while the spicy is by far the best tasting of the trio, overall this sandwich leaves a lot to be desired.

In the heat department, it delivers – McDonald’s sandwich features a spicy pepper sauce brushed on each bun that packs a distinct spicy kick. The heat is immediate and a black pepper flavor dominates the aftertaste which tames the spice in a nice balanced way. The sauce is so good McDonald’s should make it a dipping option!

Unfortunately, the chicken patty here is downright awful. The meat flakes off the filet in this unappetizing way and the texture is akin to rubber. The end result is overly chewy to the point of being a distraction.

The Finale Score: 5

It’s not worth ordering, but if your friend ever gets one ask them if you can dip a fry in that sauce before they take a bite. It’ll be the spiciest and best-tasting experience you can have at McDonald’s. And, for your friend, the saddest.

Find your nearest McDonald’s here.

7. Carl’s Jr. — Hot Honey Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich

Heat: 2
Flavor: 4

Tasting Notes:

Carl’s Jr.’s Hot Honey chicken sandwich is great, the chicken is juicy and hand-breaded in crater-filled batter that soaks up the sweet hot honey sauce perfectly, while bacon adds sumptuous smokiness and extra crunch with a nutty Swiss cheese-induced aftertaste. It’s just not hot enough for us. Honey is a great compliment to spiciness, but the sweetness it imbues into the overall flavor absolutely dominates the burn.

Heat is treated more like a supplement to the sweetness, it balances out the honey and keeps it from tasting overly candied. Overall Carl’s Jr. doesn’t have anything to add to the world of spicy foods, and that’s a huge let down from a place that always delivers on flavor across their sandwiches and sides.

The Finale Score: 6

It tastes good, but if spicy food is what you’re after this majorly misses the mark.

Find your nearest Carl’s Jr. here.

6. Wendy’s — Spicy Nugget

Heat: 4
Flavor: 2.5

Tasting Notes

Wendy’s was the only real casualty of our “One dish from each fast food restaurant” rule as the chain has a host of spicy options. Ultimately we had to go with the hottest, which is the classic Spicy Nugget. Yes, Wendy’s spicy chicken breast filet uses the same hot cayenne-pepper forward breading used on the nuggets, but the more meaty chew of the filet masks some of that spice. With the nugget, the experience is a lot more direct.

The weird processed chicken paste (it is what it is) in this nugget is airy and little more than texture, which puts the focus entirely on the spice from the cayenne pepper. The only thing holding this one back from climbing higher is the spongey overly processed chicken housed inside this perfectly spicy breading.

The Final Score 6.5

They’re hot enough that you’ll want a sip of your Frosty between bites, but we’re dealing with highly processed chicken here, so this isn’t something you want to make your meal. Instead order a four-piece order and eat it as a side, it’ll instantly elevate your experience.

Find your nearest Wendy’s here.

5. Burger King — Spicy Ch’King Sandwich

Heat: 3
Flavor: 4

Tasting Notes:

Burger King’s Spicy Ch’King sandwich is one of the chain’s best menu options… it’s just not very spicy. The dominant flavor of this sandwich is black pepper, and the spicy glaze that is brushed across the filet adds more sweetness to the overall experience than it does heat. Overall it’s a nice compliment, but ultimately Burger King’s glaze just feels a little safe and the sandwich doesn’t come off as very spicy on the palate.

It’s as if BK wanted to make a spicy sandwich, but didn’t want to alienate those who can’t handle the heat. Don’t cater to those weaklings Burger King, that’s what the non-spicy version of the sandwich is for!

The Final Score: 7

It’s a lot like Carl’s Jr’s sandwich but leans more heavily on the savory spectrum of flavors than the sweet side that Carl’s Jr’s Hot Honey sandwich lives in. We have a few suggestions for how to improve this sandwich, Burger King: utilize more of the spicy glaze, and add a slice of habanero pepper jack cheese. Then you’ll have something that truly delivers what the name promises.

Find your nearest Burger King here.

4. Wingstop — Atomic Wings

Heat: 5
Flavor: 2.5

Tasting Notes

If this was a ranking that simply listed the spiciest foods in fast food, Wingstop’s Atomic sauced wings would take the top spot, no contest. But this isn’t that and while these wings are indeed spicy, the flavor of the sauce is straight-up wack. Every spice lover wants a food so spicy it’s almost hallucinogenic, we’re all secretly looking to live out our 15 minutes of Hot Ones fame, but sometimes in the quest for mind breaking heat, we forget about the most important aspect of good food: flavor.

The Atomic sauce has an awful aftertaste that really ruins the experience. There is a slight hint of citrusy habanero in there, but this sauce hits you with too much sweetness at one time and doesn’t deliver the heat until it has completely drenched your palate. Unfortunately, by the time that happens a dirty bitter flavor dominates and stains your tongue. It’s just not enjoyable to eat in any way. Luckily the chicken makes up for it, it’s juicy tender bone-in chicken so it beats a lot of the processed stuff out there.

The Final Score: 7.5

This score still seems too high because, at the end of the day, I’d straight up suggest that you don’t order these. Even if you love extreme heat. If you want the best spicy experience from Wingstop order the slightly less hot Mango Habanero flavor. It’s not as extreme as Atomic, but it tastes worlds better and features a more balanced experience.

Find your nearest Wingstop here.

3. Panda Express — Kung Pao Chicken

Heat: 2.5
Flavor: 5

Tasting Notes

Panda Express’ Kung Pao Chicken is probably the most balanced dish on this ranking. Featuring a mix of bell pepper, zucchini, peanuts, chili peppers, and green onions, this chicken stir fry bounces between tongue-tingling heat and savory sweetness as umami-packed kung pao sauce delivers the spice while the fresh veggies cleanse your palate between bites.

Fresh veggies aren’t the norm in fast food, but they’re a welcome addition here that adds a lot of complexity to this dish. I just wish at the end of the day that it was a bit spicier. It probably doesn’t compare to the spicy kung pao at your favorite Chinese restaurant — there’s people-pleasing tameness here that I think ultimately holds this dish back from really blowing minds.

The Finale Score: 7.5

It’s delicious, adequately spicy, balanced, and one of your only opportunities to eat veggies in the fast food universe. If Panda Express kicks up the heat a bit this might be worthy of the top spot.

Find your nearest Panda Express here.

2. Popeyes — Spicy Chicken Sandwich

Heat: 3
Flavor: 5

Tasting Notes

This is the sandwich that single-handedly changed the fast food landscape. So many chicken sandwiches in the last three years have been inspired by Popeyes’ masterpiece, and not a single one has been able to dethrone the king. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better-tasting chicken sandwich in all of fast food but if you’re looking for fast food’s spiciest sandwich, thiss fails to deliver.

This sandwich just isn’t that spicy — its only source of heat is a thin mayo-based spicy sauce that is brushed on both buns. This is puzzling to us considering Popeyes makes a delicious spicy chicken batter for its bone-in and chicken tenders, they just for some reason have decided that they don’t want to bread their chicken breast filet in it. Why, Popeyes? Why?!

The Final Score: 8

It pains us to rank Popeyes delicious chicken sandwich this low, but that’s just how the math works out and until this sandwich gets the spicy breading it deserves, it’s just going to have to be comfortable not being the spiciest dish in all of fast food.

You can’t win them all, Popeyes! Well, you could, but you just don’t seem to want to for some reason.

Find your nearest Popeyes here.

TIED FOR 1st: Arby’s — Diablo Dare Chicken Sandwich

Heat: 5
Flavor: 4

Tasting Notes:

Arby’s doesn’t really do spicy all that well. Let me correct that, Arby’s didn’t do spice that well until they hit us with the Diablo Dare sandwich. Available in both chicken and brisket form, the Diablo Dare is hands-down, fast food’s spiciest sandwich. The sandwich is built with multiple layers of spice, ghost pepper jack cheese, a generous shake of cayenne pepper seasoning, spicy habanero barbecue sauce, and roasted diced jalapeños peppers, giving each bite a wince-inducing hit of heat that will produce sweat on your brow and double your mealtime as you struggle to get through it.

There isn’t another fast food dish that delivers on heat this well anywhere out there. Unfortunately, the sandwich’s protein holds it back from truly being perfect. The chicken here isn’t that great, it’s more breading than meat while the brisket is too dry and overly sweet. If Arby’s could figure out how to make a better fried chicken filet, they wouldn’t just have the spiciest sandwich in the fast food universe, they’d have the best tasting one.

Step up your game, Popeyes, because Arby’s is coming for you.

The Final Score: 9

It’s the spiciest fast food sandwich you’ll ever have the pleasure of eating but you’ll have to move fast, it’s only available on Arby’s menu until February 6th, 2022. Here is to hoping it earns a permanent spot.

Find your nearest Arby’s here.

TIED FOR 1st: Chick-fil-A — Spicy Deluxe Chicken Sandwich

Heat: 4
Flavor: 5

Tasting Notes:

Chick-fil-A’s Spicy Deluxe Chicken Sandwich used to be fast food’s best tasting and spiciest chicken sandwich, but it’s been knocked off its throne in each respective category. Popeyes famous chicken sandwich is nowhere near as spicy as this, but it has a way better flavor, and Arby’s Diablo Dare chicken sandwich is several levels hotter than this, but nowhere near as delicious. That leaves Chick-fil-A’s delicious Spicy Deluxe with what feels like a stolen win as it hovers in a weird sort of limbo. Before we talk about why it doesn’t deserve the top spot, let’s talk about what it does right.

Chick-fil-A marinates its chicken in pickle brine, and it leaves each piece from the nuggets, to the tenders, to the chicken sandwich filets bursting with flavor. It’s slightly tangy, tender, and juicy with a complexity and distinct flavor that no other fast food chain even comes close to replicating. This chicken breast filet is one of fast food’s best tasting. The spicy breading is full of cayenne and black pepper with notes of smokey paprika that together combine to deliver a journey of flavors. But alas… it could be spicier. Even with the inclusion of pepper jack cheese to this sandwich, it just doesn’t taste dangerously spicy enough to deserve the top spot in a ranking of fast food’s best tasting spicy dishes.

If Arby’s Diablo Dare didn’t exist, maybe we could give this sandwich the top spot, but until the first week of February, the Diablo Dare does exist.

The Final Score: 9

If you’re looking for a spicy sandwich that delivers on heat while tasting delicious, Chick-fil-A’s Spicy Deluxe won’t let you down. But if you’re looking for a sandwich so spicy eating it feels like a challenge, this won’t get you there. It’s much more balanced in its approach and it’s better for it, even at the cost of being hotter.

Find your nearest Chick-fil-A here.

The Bottom Line — So What Is Fast Food’s Best Spicy Dish?

After February 6th, I guess we’re going to have to give it to Chick-fil-A’s Spicy Deluxe Sandwich. It might not deliver the spiciest experience per bite, but it’s the best tasting inherently spicy dish in all of fast food. But ending our ranking with a tie just won’t do, so we’re going to bend the rules just a bit for a tiebreaker that will deliver everything we wish the Diablo Dare and Spicy Deluxe could: that perfect balance of heat and flavor.

Tie Breaker: Five Guys — Cheeseburger

Heat: 5
Flavor: 5

Tasting Notes:

If you want the spiciest dish in all of fast food, you’re unfortunately going to have to take things into your own hands. Five Guys’ menu is fully customizable (which is why it was disqualified from this ranking), which makes creating the perfect spicy burger incredibly easy. Let’s build it:

• Start with the Five Guys cheeseburger, that’ll give you two patties of beef and two slices of American cheese.
• Ask for fresh and grilled jalapeño peppers, grilled onions, grilled green peppers, and your choice of mayo, ketchup and mustard, or A1 steak sauce. You’d think hot sauce would be the most obvious choice (which Five Guys has), but it can throw your burger off balance, so it’s important to balance out the heat with savory steak sauce, sweet ketchup, earthy mustard or the neutral flavor of mayo.
• Or feel free to go nuts and add all of them together, plus the hot sauce.

The Finale Score: A perfect 10.

It doesn’t get spicier than this. The heat from this sandwich will come courtesy of the jalapeños, which aren’t pickled so they retain the maximum level of heat. Five Guys also makes no attempt to remove the fleshy spine or the seeds of the pepper. It’s everything that the Arby’s Diablo Dare sandwich is, plus a juicy, perfectly salted, and flavorful meat patty.

Find your nearest Five Guys here.

An Arkansas law (the first of its kind in the U.S.) will soon limit healthcare for transgender youth (including a ban on doctors performing procedures related to gender-affirming care or even recommending gender-affirming care). The Huffington Post has detailed how 50 prominent trans Americans have signed an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief in support of a lawsuit filed by doctors and families of transgender youth (several documents related to the lawsuit are hosted by the ACLU). Supporters of the lawsuit include The Umbrella Academy star Elliot Page and director Lilly Wachowski, who came out as transgender in December 2020 and March 2021, respectively.

Both Page and Wachowski provided statements in the legal filing to support how much better they felt after coming out as their true selves and receiving necessary medical care. Page affirmed that he felt freer and more creative “because the constant discomfort and pain around that aspect of my body was gone,” and Wachowski “would sometimes catch short sharp glimpses of my reflection in windows and cars as I’d walk along or ride my bike,” and this “would make my heart skip a beat.” Lilly added, “The silhouette of my shadow on the ground cast by the afternoon sun was exhilarating and life affirming.”

Another signatory of the amicus brief, trans athlete Chris Mosier, is calling attention to the cause and expressing gratitude for how the community is coming together to rally against this Arkansas law.

As the ACLU details, the plaintiffs in this lawsuit claim that House Bill 1570 is unconstitutional and discriminatory, given that it allows private insurance companies to deny medical care to trans youth. The families involved in the lawsuit are all considering leaving Arkansas in order to access this care, given that this law’s set to take effect in July 2022.

(Via Huffington Post & ACLU)

If you’ve ever dreamed about living out the (budget-friendly) authentic California lifestyle — sandy beaches, surfable waves, endless sunshine, saltwater hair, laidback attitudes, huge burritos… — it’s hard to think of a better property to do it at than Surfhouse. Located on the historic Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas, California, one of the most renowned surf towns in a state full of surf towns, the property is basically a physical representation of “SoCal summer vibes” (as someone who grew up in Los Angeles, I’d say I’m a pretty good judge of this). And while turning a mood into a hotel can often feel cheesy, it comes together here thanks to the design, recreation options, and location.

If you’re ready to hit the waves, live like a local, and soak in all the sunshine California has to offer, it might be time to book your stay at Surfhouse. For a more in-depth review of the property and why it’s worth a visit, check out my full rundown below!

WHY IT’S AWESOME:

As the name hints, Surfhouse is centered around all things surf culture, from the room decor to the amenities. The property is a refurbished motel or motorlodge, meaning you drive right up to your room — adding to the retro-cruisy aesthetic of it all. And the Encinitas location means you’ll get all of the beach culture without nearby San Diego’s issues with parking and crowds.

Whereas many boutique hotels that rely on surf culture to inspire their design feel generic, Surfhouse has a true sense of place. The hotel founders are Encinitas-natives and worked hard to show the best the town has to offer. The property partners with a variety of Encinitas businesses — from restaurants to artists to tour companies — to give a truly local, small-town feel to everything.

NEARBY FOOD & DRINK:

You can’t go to Southern California without eating and drinking the essentials — a California burrito bigger than your head, bomb seafood, and craft beers to wash it down. Fortunately, you don’t need to go far (like, at all) when you stay at Surfhouse. The property is literally within steps of delicious restaurants, coffee shops, and bars, as well as art galleries and shops.

I went to Kai Olda Sushi, a locally-owned sushi spot influenced by Japanese and Hawaiian roots. The Black Cod appetizer was pricey, but I let out an audible “mmm” when I tasted it, so… splurge. You also can’t go wrong with the specialty “Sunset” roll, made with spicy tuna, tempura shrimp, cucumber, avocado, seared scallops, ponzu, and truffle oil. It’s a seafood flavor explosion in your mouth.

I also loved the local, hipster-ish coffee shop across the street, Coffee Coffee, where I started every morning of my stay with an oat milk latte. Take a walk both ways down the street and you’ll come across a ton of cool spots for dining and drinking, such as Solterra Winery & Kitchen and Saint Archer Brewing Co.

AMENITIES:

• Complimentary beach cruiser bikes
• Surfboard and surf gear rentals
• Surf lessons (additional cost)
• Access to local adventures like stand-up paddleboarding, yoga classes, kayaking, or local beer tours
• Guest discount rates for local businesses
• Nearby beach access
• Outdoor cabana
• Outdoor shower
• Free WiFi

ROOM TYPES:

The cool thing about Surfhouse’s accommodations is that every room is slightly unique. With eight rooms total on the property, each one is carefully crafted to represent local surf breaks and beaches. What’s more, every room is decorated using artwork designed by local artists, artisans, and craftspeople.

Six out of the eight rooms offer a queen bed, while the “Seaside” room includes two extra-long twin beds. If you’re on a couples vacation or traveling with a group of friends, the “Pipes” room is a great option (although it’s best for close-knit friends, considering it’s a bit cozy). It sleeps four in custom extra large twin bunk beds.

Click here for everything you need to know about each of the one-of-a-kind rooms.

THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 10-MINUTE WALK:

This one is kind of a no-brainer. The best thing to do while staying at Surfhouse is, of course, hitting the beach. It’s less than a five-minute walk to Leucadia State Beach where you’ll find a gorgeous cliffside view (a great spot to watch the sunset!), a long stretch of golden sand, and a slew of local groms reaping the benefits of their hometown.

Whether you decide to surf, partake in watersports, or spend the day tanning and enjoying the chilly Pacific Ocean from afar, Leucadia is worth visiting at least once every day of your stay.

THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 10-MINUTE DRIVE:

If you’ve had enough of the beach, take a short drive to the Downtown Shopping District. The historic district is more than 100 years old and full of sidewalk cafés, trendy clothing boutiques, souvenir shops, and locally-owned restaurants. It’s also a great spot to check out the local art scene — the murals and street art throughout the area are sure to catch your eye (and, who are we kidding, your camera lens) while you shop.

BED GAME:

If you like to spread out, definitely book one of the queen rooms for your stay. I’m a 5’2″ woman and was perfectly comfortable and cozy in my extra-long twin bed, but I can’t imagine that being the best option for someone with a larger overall frame. With that being said, the actual mattress, pillows, and comforter were like a gentle cloud at the end of a long day in the sun.

It was hard not to pass out as soon as my head hit the pillow, and I slept like a baby every night.

Rating: 7/10

SEXINESS RATING:

Beachside sunset views are the epitome of romance. Not to mention, there’s something about doing fun and adventurous activities together — surfing, biking, exploring the local hotspots — that makes you want to head straight back to the hotel room as soon as the sun goes down.

Rating: 7/10

THE VIEWS AND PHOTO SPOTS:

You’re next to the beach in California. Does it really get better than that when it comes to snapping an artsy palm tree photo or posting that thirst-trap of a bikini pic? Not only does the beach backdrop make for Insta-worthy photos, but the hotel property itself offers a plethora of worthy photo opportunities.

Between the blue hues of the building and rooms, the outdoor shower and wooden, palm tree-lined deck, and the giant mutual painted on the backside of the hotel, it’s safe to say you’ll find plenty of places to strike a pose.

Rating: 10/10

BEST SEASON TO VISIT:

Being that Southern California is sunny pretty much year-round, there’s really not a bad time to go. However, if you want to make the most out of your time at the beach and leave 10 shades tanner than when you arrived, then you’ll want to book your stay during summer. The UV index during June and July will do wonders for your bronze. Fortunately, the icy chill of the Pacific Ocean will cool you off when you get too hot lounging in the sand.

IF I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE THING:

There’s not much to complain about at Surfhouse, but I’d say that the property could use more rental bikes. I loved riding the streets of Encinitas and exploring the nearby neighborhoods. However, there were only a few bikes available, which means I had to wake up early and snag my ride before other guests got to them first.

BOOK HERE:

Surfhouse offers eight thoughtfully designed rooms, each one uniquely inspired by a different legendary surf break or beach. Expect to pay around $195 to $250 per night depending on your room choice. Of course, prices range on the higher side during weekends.

Click here to check availability.

INSTAGRAM IMAGES TAKEN AT SURFHOUSE: