In 'HIM,' football greatness comes with a price. Tyriq Withers is its rising star In HIM, Withers plays a rising quarterback. His on-screen mentor, Marlon Wayans, had some real-life advice — and a reading list — for the young actor. Neda Ulaby
Understanding cringe — and how it can help or hurt us It's Been a Minute's Brittany Luse on the rise of cringe culture: where it comes from, how it's hurting us, and how leaning into cringe is good for art. Brittany Luse
Democrats and Hollywood stars decry Kimmel's suspension as government censorship High-profile politicians and performers are criticizing the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's show as an attack on free speech. They are calling for the Trump administration and ABC to be held accountable. Rachel Treisman
The demons in 'The Conjuring' movies may not be real -- but the family tragedies are The lucrative franchise is based on real stories — and the professional ghostbusters who saved the day. But critics say the real-life couple profited off of people's pain. Neda Ulaby
2025 Pokémon World Championships show how competitive the game still is The annual event pits some of the trading card and video game's most seasoned players against each other — and it demonstrates how Pokémon has maintained its grip on pop culture. Jamal Michel
Taylor Swift is engaged to Travis Kelce. That's a business opportunity in Kansas City NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Ryan Fortney, VP of sales for Charlie Hustle -- a company that sells Kansas City-themed apparel, about the merch opportunities from the Swift-Kelce engagement. Ailsa Chang
Brands are loving Taylor Swift's engagement. Do they need to calm down? Companies from Pillsbury to Invisalign to Olipop are cheering — and trying to cash in on — the couple's engagement. Experts spoke to NPR about how brands can strike a better balance. Rachel Treisman
The controversy around Serena Williams' weight loss is more nuanced than you may think The tennis legend is back in the news - but not for her prowess on the court. Why the controversy around her weight loss is more nuanced than you think. Jeanette Woods
Main character of the week: Swifties Sometimes online, there's a character everyone's talking about: someone or something the internet has decided they're obsessed with. This week it has to be Taylor Swift and her fanbase – the Swifties. Mia Venkat
Takeaways from Taylor Swift's podcast appearance: her new album, romance and more Swift revealed the release date, cover art and track list for The Life of a Showgirl. She also discussed her romance with Travis Kelce, buying back her masters and recovering from the Eras Tour. Rachel Treisman