Category: News

Former president Donald J. Trump only had three White House press secretaries over the four years of his administration, but they were all about the same: They each held the press with obvious contempt, they each offered spin and distortions, even lies, over truth, and they were each generally perceived as wishing to protect their boss more than keep their fellow Americans informed. So when former Obama staffer Jen Psaki — successor to Trump’s final press secretary, the notorious Kayleigh McEnany — held her first press conference mere hours after her boss, Joe Biden, was elected, her professionalism and obvious kindness just seemed…kind of weird, to be honest.

Even the way Psaki started things couldn’t help but feel disarmingly decent. “It’s an honor to be here with all of you,” Psaki said. She then laid out her main goal as McEnany’s replacement. “When the president asked me to serve in this role, we talked about the importance of bringing truth and transparency back to the briefing room.”

She then took questions, and she proceeded to not treat reporters respectfully, not try to puff up her chief employer with exaggerations, and was even honest that she might not always see eye-to-eye.

“I have deep respect for the role of a free and independent press in our democracy and for the role all of you play,” she told reporters. “There will be moments when we disagree and there will certainly be days when we disagree, for extensive parts of the briefing, perhaps. But we have a common goal, which is sharing accurate information with the American people.”

It stood in stark contrast with the first press conference held by Sean Spicer, Trump’s initial press secretary, who started off by scolding shellshocked journalists and lying about Trump’s inauguration crowd size. She wasn’t withering, like Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and she wasn’t snippy and sarcastic, like McEnany.

In other words, Psaki was off to a great start, thought many on social media.

She was even overtly welcoming to the press.

She seemed professional and nice.

In fact, to many, having this feeling again, after four long years, felt kind of strange!

So there you have it! It wasn’t a terribly exciting press conference. But that, of course, is what made it feel so good.

There are a lot of reasons why James Harden has become such a polarizing figure over the years. One of the central gripes about him has to do with the clever and innovative techniques he’s developed for initiating contact with his defenders and goading them into fouls.

Harden certainly isn’t the only player in the NBA who has worked that into his repertoire, and now a whole new generation of players have taken that cue and run with it. Hawks guard Trae Young has been a big proponent, developing his own signature technique to draw shooting fouls on opponents who get caught trailing him around screens or reaching in as he works through the paint and is quick to flip up floaters to draw contact.

During the Hawks game against the Nets last month, he caught the attention of head coach Steve Nash — one of the craftiest point guards in history — who could be seen pleading his case to the officials and saying “That’s not basketball.” All Young could do was smile.

“That’s not basketball” – Steve Nash

Trae Young was drawing cheap fouls and Steve Nash was tired of seeing it, not being able to do anything about it. Coach Nash had to have a word with this ref. Talk heavy coach. #WeGoHard – @Keith_McPherson pic.twitter.com/tMEbkSD6Ga

— Talkin’ Nets (@TalkinNets) December 31, 2020

Now, Young has offered a more in-depth response to Nash’s comments, saying that he grew up idolizing the two-time MVP and that Nash was guilty of similar tactics during his playing days. Via Chris Kirschner of The Athletic:

“I saw that it blew up and everyone was talking about it,” Young said of Nash’s comments. “I bet if I was playing for Steve, he’d be happy. It’s something in the midst of competition that he was wanting to win, and I was wanting to win, and I’m gonna do whatever it takes. I think him wanting to get in the refs’ ears a little bit was just trying to help him. I learned a lot about drawing fouls from him. If he says it’s not basketball, he must’ve been saying it about himself because he’s done it a couple of times throughout his career and was so successful.”

Still, Young’s strategy has curried attention, and it appears the league will reportedly look into instituting a rule to curtail the practice. Young is one of the NBA’s best at getting to the line at 9.7 free throw attempts per game, although he’s struggled with his shot so far this season, and the Hawks have won just three out of their last seven games.

The NBA has tried to alter rules like this in the past, promising to crack down on shooters who throw themselves into defenders to attempt to draw fouls, but it’s a rule whose application has been spotty, to say the least. As such, it remains to be seen whether they can effectively adjudicate efforts in foul drawing, particularly given they so often do get actual contact and are fouled.

It has been four years since Kyrie Irving last played a game in Cleveland, as the former Cavaliers star had yet to play against his former team in their home arena since he left in 2017. However, that all changed on Wednesday when Irving suited up for the first time in seven games for the Nets after taking what he called a “needed” personal leave as Brooklyn visited Cleveland for a doubleheader.

During the first timeout of the first quarter, the Cavs finally got to play a tribute video to Irving for the first time since his departure, and the 2,000 fans in attendance greeted him with a standing ovation. Irving waved to the crowd and showed his gratitude to them and the organization by pointing to his ring finger, symbolizing the championship he helped bring them — with his shot over Stephen Curry and the parade featuring heavily in the tribute video.

It’s nice to see the positive response Irving got, as his departure from Cleveland wasn’t particularly smooth, but time heals wounds and as the Cavs have begun emerging in their rebuild, their fans can look back a bit more fondly on Irving’s time and the ultimate high he helped them reach with the 2016 championship.

Our quest to find the best bourbon at every price point marches on. This week, we’re talking about bottles of bourbon whiskey that cost between $20 and $30. This is one of the sweet spots in bourbon — as we’re starting to get into quality expressions that aren’t just workhorse mixers and shooters.

After a little debate in the comments last week about prices, we’ve decided to give you more of a range this go around. But remember, prices are determined by the stores themselves — so it’s possible to walk into two stores across a street from one another and pay two (sometimes drastically) different prices for the same bottle. Also, a few of the bottles on this list are blowing up right now, so don’t expect them to be this cheap much longer.

As of now, the ten bottles below are all easy enough to find nationwide and should cost you less than $30 each. They’re also all very drinkable, which is really the whole point of this endeavor.

Let’s get into it!

Wild Turkey 101

ABV: 50.5%

Average Price: $22 to $29

The Whiskey:

Wild Turkey 101 (Campari) uses a deep “alligator” char in their barrels to add more depth and flavor over the six-or-so years the juice spends with the wood. The iconic whiskey is also lightened with that soft Kentucky limestone water, bringing the proof down to a still strong 101.

Tasting Notes:

Buttery toffee, rich vanilla, and a note of citrus pull you in. The palate amps up the vanilla while adding in dark spices that lead towards a sharp, fresh tobacco leaf chew. The end is long and leads back to that toffee sweetness with a touch of butterscotch as the oak, vanilla, and spice linger on your senses with a warming embrace.

Bottom Line:

This bold with a capital “B.” It really works best as a cocktail base given that the high ABVs can standup to mixing. Try it in your next old fashioned.

Buffalo Trace

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $24 to $30

The Whiskey:

This is the whiskey that heralded a new era of bourbon in 1999. Famed Master Distiller Elmer T. Lee came out of retirement to create this bourbon to celebrate the renaming of the George T. Stagg distillery to Buffalo Trace when Sazerac bought the joint. The rest, as they say, is history, especially since this has become a touchstone bourbon for the brand. (And a much-beloved “value bottle.”)

Tasting Notes:

Classic notes of vanilla come through next to a dark syrup sweetness and a flourish of fresh mint. The palate cuts through the sweeter notes with plenty of spices — like clove and star anise — next to a hint of tart berries underneath it all. The end is long, velvety, and really delivers on the vanilla and spice.

Bottom Line:

This is tipping into solid sipper territory, especially over ice. It’s also a really nice bottle to have on hand for mixing up subtler cocktails, like a Manhattan.

Two Stars Bourbon

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $20 to $22

The Whiskey:

This juice hails from one of Sazerac’s many other distilleries. In this case, Clear Spring Distilling Co. is behind the brand (they’re also rumored to be behind Costco’s Kirkland Signature bourbons). This juice is pretty straightforward bourbon that’s aged around two years before blending, proofing, and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

This does taste a lot like the Kirkland Signature stuff. There’s a clear sense of vanilla, caramel, and oak that’s neither bold nor muted but … there. The sip has a moment of fruit next to the caramel that then leads back towards the vanilla. The end is short, a bit hot, and sweet-ish with a cherry edge.

Bottom Line:

This really works best as a mixer and will likely remind you of Jim Beam thanks to that note of cherry. Still, at around $20 per bottle, it’s a great bottle to use while you’re practice mixing drinks.

Knob Creek Small Batch 100 Proof

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $23 to $30

The Whiskey:

This higher-end whiskey from Jim Beam is a nine-year-old bourbon that’s bottled at nice, high proof. It was a no-age-statement bourbon between 2016 and April of 2020. Then Beam brought the age-statement back, likely to get a higher price for “older” bourbon — though that hasn’t happened yet.

Tasting Notes:

Buttered kettle corn with caramel meets mild notes of vanilla and a hint of orange zest up top. The sip delivers a very mild peppery spice that never overpowers the caramel corn, vanilla, or slightly musty oak. That wood leads towards an end that retouches on the orange, spice, and vanilla while fading away fairly quickly.

Bottom Line:

This is a fine sipper on the rocks. It’s a little warm for neat, so at least one or two rocks are needed to cool it down while opening up those flavor profiles. Don’t sleep on this in cocktails, either.

Old Tub

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $22 to $24

The Whiskey:

Last year, Jim Beam released their “distillery-only” Old Tub expression on the national market. The juice is an unfiltered and higher ABV version of classic Beam, giving you more of the brand’s depth in each sip of whiskey.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a sense of cornmeal next to sawdust, oily vanilla, and a hint of fresh honey sweetness that entices your senses. The sip takes on a caramel corn sweetness vibe as the vanilla carries you towards sweeter woods and cherry fruits. The end is short and sweet (like most Beam) with a distant wisp of orange oils next to a slight minerality.

Bottom Line:

This is an interesting Jim Beam to try on the rocks. We’ve also been experimenting with it in cocktails and it really holds up nicely, even in overly sweet ones like a Horse’s Neck.

Elijah Craig Small Batch

ABV: 47%

Average Price: $24 to $29

The Whiskey:

Heaven Hill’s Elijah Craig Small Batch is batched from fewer than 200 barrels. The blend is comprised of whiskeys aged eight to 12 years before blending. The juice is then proofed with limestone water before bottling.

This is another popular “value pick.”

Tasting Notes:

The sweetness of this dram bridges fresh honey and a nuttiness that leans towards marzipan with a hint of rosewater in the background. That sweetness is counterpointed by Christmas spice next to black pepper and red fruit as the wood lingers underneath with a slight bitterness. The wood turns a bit leathery on the end as the spices, sweetness, and fruit fade out at a medium pace.

Bottom Line:

This is going to be hard to find at this price much longer. Elijah Craig’s Barrel Proof is burning up the awards circuit and that luster shines on this bottle too. Still, if you can try it for under $30, give it a shot as a sipper with a little water or ice before moving onto mixing.

Larceny Small Batch

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $20 to $25 to ???

The Whiskey:

This brand was devised by Heaven Hill to be the accessible wheated bourbon of the world — Old Fitzgerald and Pappy having long left mass-accessibility behind. The juice is wheated, of course, and small batched with no age statement.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a note of freshly baked biscuits with butter and toffee dripping from the batch. That butter really becomes creamy as the toffee leads towards rich vanilla, sweet oak, and very slight fruitiness. The real star of the show is the buttery toffee, biscuits, and hint of sweet wood that lingers the most through the short fade.

Bottom Line:

With Larceny Barrel Proof being named whiskey of the year by Whisky Advocate, Larceny may not be that accessible a brand for much longer, thereby taking another wheated bourbon off the mainstream market. In the meantime, plenty of regions still have this bottle at affordable prices.

Give it a shot on the rocks or in a cocktail.

Old Grand-Dad 114

ABV: 57%

Average Price: $28 to $30

The Whiskey:

This is the mountaintop of Beam’s Old Grand-Dad series. This is a true high-rye bourbon with 27 percent of the mash bill (recipe) comprised of the grain. The juice is then aged for an undisclosed amount of years before it’s blended, barely brought down to 114 proof, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

There’s spice on the nose. But that spice leans more towards fresh chewing tobacco, worn leather, and musty oak. The palate skews into the tobacco but it almost becomes a vanilla pipe tobacco as a slight cream soda note arrives next to more leather, oak, and a hint of tart apples. The end is that warm Kentucky hug bourbon drinkers talk about, with plenty of the tobacco spice, sweet vanilla soda, leather, and oak lingering the longest as a very distant wisp of charcoal smoke arrives at the very end.

Bottom Line:

At this ABV, this bottle is a great cocktail base. You really won’t lose this one in a boulevardier. Still, it’s not so hot that you can’t enjoy it over the rocks.

Fistful of Bourbon

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $25 to $29

The Whiskey:

This is one of the more interesting sourced whiskeys on the shelf in the U.S. The juice is the design of Scottish Master Blender (for William Grant & Sons) Kelsey McKechnie. McKechnie left Scotland for the U.S. to work in bourbon in the same ways she worked in blended scotch. Fistful of Bourbon is the fruits of that effort and blends five straight bourbons (from undisclosed distilleries) into one bottle.

Tasting Notes:

This is whiskey by design and hits classic and deep notes starting with bespoke but not too sweet Red Hots, vanilla pods, and a touch of mint on the end of the nose. The palate refines the spices and broadens to a clear Christmas spice feel next to a touch of dried fruit, leather, and oak. The end sharpens the spiciness while holding onto the bold vanilla as the oak and fruit fade completely out.

Bottom Line:

This is a really solid cocktail bourbon to have on hand. We’d argue that you need a little water to really let it open up, which also makes it a fine candidate for on the rocks or in a highball.

1792 Small Batch

ABV: 46.85%

Average Price: $26 to $30

The Whiskey:

Hailing from the classic Barton Distillery (Sazerac), this bourbon aims to hit classic notes. The juice is small-batched with no age-statement — though, its previous iteration was aged eight years. The mash bill is a high-rye bourbon that helps this one stand out from the pack for its boldness.

Tasting Notes:

“Classic” really carries through this whole bourbon — as vanilla, caramel, sweetcorn, and oak marry with rye spice on the nose. The sip delivers on those notes as the rye almost edges towards a crusty European bread as notes of bitter espresso beans counterpoint that caramel and vanilla. A slight nuttiness arrives late as the cinnamon-forward spice, oak, and vanilla slowly fade away.

Bottom Line:

We’d argue this works best as a sipper on the list, especially with some water or ice to let it bloom in the glass.

On Wednesday, after months of turmoil involving election-related conspiracy theories and even a failed MAGA coup, Joe Biden was finally inaugurated as America’s 45th president. It was a big day, with big milestones (the nation’s first female/black/Asian vice president!), lots of big stars (Lady Gaga! The New Radicals!), to say nothing of the big “malarkey” guy himself. But if you followed it all on social media, you came away with one major conclusion: the day was stolen by Bernie Sanders. And all he did was sit in a fold-out chair with tiny mittens looking vaguely grumpy and cold.

Sanders — who was the last presidential candidate to drop out before Biden nabbed the ticket — joined the throngs in D.C., which was big on fellow politicians and celebrities but short on regular citizens, for obvious reasons. The Vermont senator, whose policies lean towards the socialist side of things, may not be president but he does have a sweet new gig: He’s the new chair of the Senate Budget Committee, meaning he’ll be overseeing how much money goes to Americans struggling during the pandemic.

But for now, his job is being a meme celebrity. Soon Sanders was being Photoshopped into movies.

And TV shows.

And album covers.

And other miscellaneous things.

Will Bernie see any of this? Does he know he’s being memed? Probably not! He’s a busy and serious man, and he probably won’t enjoy some young aide explaining to him that he’s been photoshopped into Uncut Gems or the cover for Steely Dan’s Pretzel Logic. But everyone else enjoyed it, and that’s what counts.

Welcome to another edition of SNX DLX!

This go around Nike, Adidas, and New Balance snagged all the spots in our top five. But the week had a considerable number of drops and it was a bit hard to narrow it down, so we’d like to take this time to mention a few more notable sneakers that we couldn’t fit in. First up, Dr. Martens is launching a collection of 1460 and 1461 boots featuring the art of Keith Haring. TITAN will release more stock from their Air Jordan 23 and 35s. And SBTG and Limited EDT are linking up with ASICS for a monsoon-inspired take on the GEL-Lyte III.

On the apparel end, we’ve got fresh looks from RHUDE, Wood Wood, and LaRayia’s Bodega. So let’s stop talking about it and just be about it.

Nike SB Dunk Low Street Hawker

We’re still in the first month of the year and Nike is already getting weird with the Dunk by dropping this asymmetrical pair inspired by Chinese street food. Yup, you read that right, the upper of this sneaker features watercolor graphics of over half a dozen different Chinese dishes, and while that sounds a little out there, it really doesn’t look that bad.

I want to say I can clearly see what appears to be a noodle but from what I can tell, the food is pretty indistinguishable. regardless, the Dunk is solidifying itself as Nike’s favorite playground for their most bizarre ideas. We’re with it.

The Nike SNKRS app is set to drop this one on January 22nd for a retail price of $110. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or select Nike retailers.

Air Jordan 4 Starfish

Easily the best WMNS-exclusive Air Jordan 4 since Abloh’s last Off-White rendition, the Starfish looks to the great beyond for inspiration, delivering a spacesuit-inspired upper of black metallic mesh adorned with grey and black TPU heel tabs and wings for an extra futuristic vibe. Beneath the mesh lurks a vibrant shade of Starfish orange, which is complemented by matching accenting work and the jump man logo on the tongue.

Unlike Abloh’s Off-White AJ4, the Starfish will drop in an extended size run, widening the audience of who will be able to cop this pair.

The Nike Air Jordan 4 Starfish is set to drop on January 22nd via the Nike SNKRS app or select Nike retailers.

Adidas Yeezy BOOST 700 Sun

The announcement of this sneaker straight up made us triple-take. Could this colorful sneaker before our eyes actually be an official pair of Yeezys? Triple black, sure, BRED, definitely, a bunch of indistinguishable earth-toned colors that sort of resemble vomit? All the time.

But teal, yellow, and orange? We’ve never seen a Yeezy this colorful.

I gotta say, this is probably going to be my release of the week. If this is an indication of what we can expect from Yeezy Brand in 2021, Ye is about to have a hell of a year in footwear. Although, I’d be lying if I said another part of my brain says this colorway looks kind of like mustard and special sauce, which still sort of looks like vomit so maybe this isn’t as new as I think.

I’m torn.

The Adidas Yeezy BOOST 700 Sun is set to drop on January 23rd for a retail price of $240. Pick up a pair at the Adidas webstore or via Yeezy Supply.

Nike Dunk High x Notre Midnight Navy

This sick pair of Midnight Navy high-top Dunks sees Nike tapping Chicago-based retailer Notre for a special makeup that reps the Windy City proudly. Featuring a mix of shaggy suede and leather in shades of midnight navy and sky grey, this Dunk utilizes triple stitching, asymmetrical color blocking, and uses a natural finishing process that gives each pair its own unique color variance.

Notre branding is proudly displayed on the left sneaker’s tongue, giving the presentation an appealing skewed look.

The Nike Dunk High x Notre in Midnight Navy is set to drop on January 23rd for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or select Nike retailers.

Patta x New Balance 991

New Balance has linked up with Dutch streetwear brand Patta once again for a new dusty pink take on the 991 silhouette. Featuring a breathable mesh upper with pig suede and leather overlays, the Patta 991 sports dual branding on the lateral heel and sits atop an ABZORB sole for added comfort.

The sneaker will see a wider release next week but is dropping initially via Patta along with an apparel collection.

The Patta x New Balance 991 is set to drop on January 22nd for a retail price of $220. Pick up a pair exclusively via the Patta webstore.

RHUDE Autumn Winter 2021

It feels like the Los Angeles-based label RHUDE is always evolving. What started as a t-shirt brand, blossomed into a full menswear collection that rode the line between luxury and streetwear, creating something altogether new, made a surprising pivot to furniture, and is now kicking off 2021 with a ‘90s inspired men and womenswear collection made in partnership with McLaren Racing.

The expansive collection features winter-ready shearling jackets, varsity jackets, cardigans, double-breasted blazers, rugby shirts, and some road-ready jumpsuits and racing jackets. The aesthetic of the collection is one part collegiate, one part McLaren-inspired, the two looks seem to exist in their own worlds without ever intersecting, offering a bit of something for everyone.

The collection is also RHUDE’s first attempt at a womenswear line and it’s looking like the brand is off to a great start.

The RHUDE Autumn Winter 2021 collection is available now at the RHUDE website.

Wood Wood SS21

Copenhagen-based Wood Wood is dropping a groovy Spring Summer collection that is heavily inspired by the street looks of late ‘60s early ‘70s Nørrebro. Featuring wax jackets, pintuck dresses, long-sleeve polos, cardigans, headwear, and liberal use of corduroy and crochet construction, Wood Wood is delivering a loungey baggy collection that delivers all the comfort of modern streetwear in a retro old world package.

Shop the Wood Wood Spring Summer 2021 collection on January 20th at the Wood Wood webstore.

LaRayia’s Bodega Headwear

Los Angeles’ LaRayia’s Bodega has just dropped a new collection of headwear featuring the organic bodega/online streetwear label’s “Love Without Reason” slogan, as well as a desert sage hoodie. New headwear options include a 6-panel camp hat, a black visor, a ‘90s inspired turmeric and pepper dad hat, as well as a bucket hat featuring a “Ghetto Guru” patch.

Shop the LaRayia’s Bodega goods at the brand’s official webstore.

If Bernie Sanders isn’t the realest dude to ever serve in Congress, I don’t know who is.

We got to witness Bernie’s down-to-earth, let’s-get-to-work, cut-the-crap personality in all its visual glory at Joe Biden’s inauguration today. While pundits fawned over the sharp and colorful stylings of the attendees, Uncle Bernie sauntered looking like he was on his way to run some errands and decided to stop in for a sec to see the new president sworn in.

Clad in what is probably his one winter coat and a pair of hand-knitted mittens, he looked perfectly comfortable, even as he stood out from the crowd of formal, designer coats and gloves. Ah, Bernie. You’re just so…Bernie. It’s a big part of why the guy has such a dedicated fan base. What you see is what you get, and he makes no apologies for being exactly who he is at all times.

But today of all days, as the nation waited with bated breath to witness the transfer of power from President Trump to President Biden, especially in the wake of an attempted violent coup and under the specter of an ongoing pandemic, Bernie’s Bernieness came as a particularly welcome delight. This event could not have been more serious or weighty in its significance, and yet along comes Bernie reminding us that we’re all just human beings here, none of us more or less important than the other.

His look launched a thousand memes that provided some needed comic relief for the day. I mean, how could it not?

“Bernie dressed like the inauguration is on his to-do list today but ain’t his whole day.” That pretty much nails it. “Inauguration? Check. Post office? Check. Do I have time to hit Home Depot? Well, I don’t like to drive in the dark so we’ll see.”

He was undoubtedly happy to be there, but it’s easy to read his body language as “Are we done yet? I don’t have time for this hullabaloo. We’ve got work to do getting healthcare to the people.”

Some got creative with where they imagined Bernie to be, such as showing up early to the movies.

Some started photoshopping him into various places, like the park or the DMV.

An everyman superhero, perhaps?

How about riding the subway, chilling in his headphones? Perfection.

If any of that makes you feel a little jealous, no worries. You too can look like you attended Joe Biden’s inauguration on your way to the post office.

CBS News chatted with Bernie after the inauguration and asked him about the coat and mittens that got everyone talking. Naturally, he explained the practicality of it all. “You know, in Vermont we dress warm. We know something about the cold, and we’re not so concerned about good fashion. We want to keep warm, and that’s what I did today.”

That sentiment was appreciated by other New Englanders who touted the shout out to “our middle class New England tradition of having exactly one heavy winter coat, worn to both formal and casual events.”

The mittens actually have a sweet story behind them. They were given to him by a teacher from his home state when he was on the campaign trail a couple of years ago. And they’re made from repurposed wool sweaters and lined with fleece made from recycled plastic bottles, because of course they are.

You don’t have to agree with all of Bernie Sanders’ policy positions to agree that the man is as authentic and transparent as they come. And you don’t have to agree with the fashion choice of showing up to a presidential inauguration in a parka and knitted mittens to acknowledge that a guy who does just that isn’t trying to prove anything to anybody.

Keep being you, Bernie. The breath of fresh air you bring to our national politics will always be welcome.

While Ken Jennings is in the midst of his spell hosting Jeopardy! on a part-time basis, Alex Trebek’s specter looms large. No one will ever fully replace Trebek, who passed away last year following a bout with pancreatic cancer, but folks like Jennings, Aaron Rodgers, and more will do their best before a full-time host is replaced.

The good news is that for as long as Jeopardy! is on the airways, people will associate it with the man who hosted it for decades. And on Wednesday’s episode, one contestant told a story about meeting Trebek in New York City that Jennings joyously called “very on-brand for Alex.”

“I was shocked,” Sarah said. “It was on the platform at 145th street and he was in jeans and a polo, and I’m staring at him, and I’m like, ‘That’s Alex Trebek!’ And on the long subway ride down to 59th street, I asked him to take a selfie. He said he doesn’t take selfies, so we had someone else take the photo for us.”

Jennings loved the story — which included a photo of the pair sitting on a subway car — and as Sarah explained, Trebek’s son, Matt, owns a Mexican restaurant in that part of the city. As far as Jeopardy! contestant stories go, this is certainly up there among the better ones that we’ve heard.

Joe Biden’s inauguration was haunted by the specter of the failed insurrection that occurred just two weeks before at the Capitol building. The Capitol steps may have been adorned with beautiful banners, but it was hard to shake the images of broken windows and rampaging Trump supporters recently burned into the country’s collective subconscious.

The Inauguration wasn’t just the beginning of a new era in American politics, it was a symbol of the resilience of our democracy. One person whose bravery helped preserve the American way of life during the insurrection was honored at the proceedings and his name should never be forgotten: Eugene Goodman.

Officer Goodman’s quick thinking and bravery on January 6 allowed for the narrow escape of countless Congressman and Vice President Mike Pence.

Goodman found himself alone and confronted with a mob forcing him backwards up a stairway in the Capitol. Goodman attempted to hold back the rioters, but he was clearly outnumbered.

The pivotal moment came when the mob reached the floor of the Senate chambers. Goodman appeared to glance down the hall toward the chambers, where no security can be seen, and then shove the frontman of the mob before leading them in the opposite direction.

Goodman used himself as bait to keep the mob away from the Senate chambers, saving countless lives.

“It’s hard to imagine the terror this man must have felt in these moments,” wrote Upworthy’s Anne Reneau. “Completely outnumbered, charged with the duty of protecting the U.S. Capitol as it’s being overrun, knowing that the nation’s lawmakers—including the next three people in line for the presidency—were in the building and relying on the police for protection.”

In the aftermath of the insurrection, Goodman was hailed as a hero. Last week, members of Congress introduced a bill to honor him with the Congressional gold medal for his bravery.

He was also promoted to Acting Deputy House Sergeant-at-Arms.

On Inauguration Day, Goodman was given the honor of escorting Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as she and President-elect Joe Biden arrived for the ceremony.

Goodman was announced when he arrived at the ceremony and received a standing ovation.

The presence of such a beloved national hero at the Inauguration made a lot of people emotional.

Two weeks ago, Goodman fended off a group of angry white men who protested the results of the 2020 election. Today, he escorted the first Black woman to take the oath of office as Vice President of the United States.

This just about sums it up.

The Green Bay Packers are 60 minutes away from sending Aaron Rodgers to the Super Bowl for only the second time in his Hall of Fame career. The team standing in the way in the NFC Championship Game is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and in a fun bit of fate, the guy on the other side of the field is one of the few signal callers who gets mentioned before Rodgers in the greatest of all time conversation, Tom Brady.

For years, people wanted to see Brady and Rodgers go head-to-head in the postseason, and while this won’t happen in the Super Bowl, there will still be huge stakes involved in this matchup. One of them, in the eyes of many who opine on the game, does not particularly matter to Packers receiver Davante Adams.

During a press availability on Wednesday, Adams discussed how he isn’t a fan of Super Bowl wins being viewed as a de facto quarterback stat, because in his eyes, Rodgers is the GOAT regardless of how many more rings a guy like Brady has on his finger. Still, he hears all of that, and wants to win Rodgers a ring with the hopes of quieting that all down.

He is correct that a player as good as Rodgers should be judged on more than how many Super Bowls he has won — ultimately, winning a championship takes a special team, not just an excellent quarterback. Having said that, athletes of Rodgers’ class are always going to be judged on how many championships they end up lifting in their career, especially when their career is happening at the same time as a guy like Brady, who has the record for the most championships for any player in league history. The good news for Rodgers and Adams is that there is a pretty straightforward way for the conversation surrounding the former to change up the narrative around his career, and winning this Sunday would be a major step in making that happen.