Vice President JD Vance says he’s optimistic about the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as the U.S. pushes for the next phase of the deal. It’s week four of the government shutdown, and the White House is ramping up pressure with cuts and layoffs. And the demolition of the East Wing raises legal and ethical questions about President Trump’s ballroom project.
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p class=”readrate” data-rr=”18″ data-pm-slice=”1 1 []”>Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Padmananda Rama, Miguel Macias, Dana Farrington, Mohamad ElBardicy and Martha Ann Overland.
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p class=”readrate” data-rr=”18″>It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Christopher Thomas
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p class=”readrate” data-rr=”18″>We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
Reba McEntire revealed her bond with former stepson Brandon Blackstock won’t soon be forgotten following his death earlier this year.
“My relationship with my stepson, Brandon Blackstock, was precious,” McEntire, 70, told People on Tuesday, October 21, following Blackstock’s death in August at the age of 48. “I absolutely loved that child.”
McEntire recalled Brandon coming into her life when he was 4 years old after she started dating his father, Narvel Blackstock, whom she wed in 1989. (Brandon followed in his father’s footsteps and became a music manager prior to his untimely death.)
“Then when Narvel and I got married, he was 13, 14,” the Voice coach remembered, noting that because Brandon was just a kid when they met, she was an active part of his upbringing.
“Along with his mom and dad, I helped raise him, along with [Narvel’s other kids] Shawna and Chassidy,” McEntire said. “They were my kids.” (McEntire and Narvel, 69, share one son, Shelby, 35.)
The country singer, who divorced Narvel in 1995, still has fond memories of Brandon, remembering him as the “funny” young child who loved to “pull pranks.”
“He loved to scare people,” McEntire revealed, noting Narvel’s employees at Starstruck Entertainment were some of his favorite targets. “We’d be at the office there at Starstruck in Nashville and I’d be sitting at my desk and I’d see Penny Chubb [a Starstruck Entertainment employee] walk by going to the lady’s room, and then here comes Brandon. He’d hide behind the pillar.”
Courtesy of Reba McEntire/Instagram
McEntire laughed when thinking about Brandon as a kid standing for 10 minutes just “waiting to scare somebody.”
“If you ever parked your car in front of the house at a family dinner you better take your keys,” McEntire said of another one of Brandon’s go-to moves. “Or he would take that car and drive it all the way around to the greenhouse and you’d have to walk in the dark and go get your car.”
McEntire confessed, “I love to pull a good prank but he came by that naturally.”
She added that everyone in the family appreciated his “sense of humor,” adding that their lives are forever changed without him.
“Brandon is sorely missed, truly missed with his mischievousness and his love of life,” McEntire concluded. “He brought joy to everybody that met him, and we’ll never forget him.”
Courtesy of Reba McEntire/Instagram
McEntire was married to Narvel for 26 years — and was the stepmother to his three children before welcoming their son Shelby in 1990 — before calling it quits in 1995. Narvel was also McEntire’s manager prior to their divorce.
When Brandon married Kelly Clarkson, McEntire’s bond with him and his then-wife only seemed to grow stronger. While Clarkson, 43, filed for divorce from Brandon in 2020 after seven years of marriage, she remained close to McEntire — as did her and Brandon’s children, River, 11, and Remy, 9. (Brandon was also the father of Savannah, 23, and Seth, 18, from his marriage to Melissa Ashworth.)
Us Weekly confirmed in August that Brandon died following a private battle with cancer.
Narvel Blackstock, Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock.Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” a rep for the family shared in a statement to Us. “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
The following month, McEntire gave an update on how Brandon’s kids were holding up.
“The kids are doing well, they’re all bonding together and hanging out with each other, and taking it one day at a time,” McEntire told Entertainment Tonight in September. “We know God’s got this.”
During the family’s heartbreak, McEntire has leaned on her fiancé, Rex Linn, whom she began dating in 2020. Us confirmed in September that Linn, 68, and McEntire are engaged. The singer later revealed that Linn popped the question in 2024.
“Rex brings out the little girl in me, and I have fun. I’m dorky, I’m goofy. He is too. We love to laugh, and we love each other,” McEntire exclusively told Us in October 2024.
Aaron Goodwin is still processing his estranged wife’s alleged murder-for-hire plot against him as he continues to navigate his new “normal.”
“Thank u for all reaching out & being awesome, but unfortunately, I can’t talk about anything yet,” the Ghost Adventures star, 49, said in a statement shared via his Instagram on Tuesday, October 21. “I could tell you guys I’m doing OK, but I would rather be honest.”
Goodwin confessed that he is still struggling to come to terms with what transpired.
“Just know I’m not doing good at all & everyday is worse with all I’m learning all the time,” he continued. “They say in time everything gets better but I just want the divorce to be over so I can move on with my life.”
Goodwin acknowledged that he has received a lot of requests from the media, giving him the opportunity to share his perspective, but he’s not in the emotional state to say “yes.”
“Honestly, I probably couldn’t make it through an interview without being in tears and I’m just not ready yet,” he penned. “This has been the worst year of my life.”
Earlier this year, Aaron’s estranged wife, Victoria Goodwin, was arrested on charges of soliciting to commit murder and conspiring to commit murder. Victoria, who wed Aaron in August 2022, was accused of making contact with a Florida inmate named Grant Amato for the purpose of hiring someone to murder Aaron in 2024 while he was traveling to film his show, Ghost Adventures. Aaron filed for divorce days after news broke of Victoria’s arrest.
Aaron Goodwin, Victoria GoodwinEthan Miller/Getty Images
Victoria initially denied the allegations, claiming to police that she did not want her husband killed. Victoria later agreed to a plea deal and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in April. Two months later, Victoria was convicted and sentenced to 36 to 90 months in prison. She also apologized to her estranged husband in court.
“I’m so immensely sorry for the pain and anxiety I’ve caused you and the betrayal you undoubtedly and rightfully feel by my actions,” Victoria said during a June court appearance. “I need you to know that I will always hold love for you. I genuinely pray you find your joy and peace again, and I will bow out of your life forever to hopefully ease that process. I’m sorry I broke us, and I’m consumed with regret every day. My absolute promise to you is that you’ll never see or hear from me.”
That same month, Aaron also spoke in court to provide a victim impact statement.
“For seven years I thought I was in the most loving relationship of marriage with my best friend, someone who I trusted in [my] whole heart and laughed with every day,” Aaron said. “Someone who made me feel like I was settled — like I was her one and only. I was loyal to her and [did] whatever I could to make her happy. I thought we were something very special, and so did everyone else.”
Aaron and Victoria’s divorce is ongoing. According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly in August, Victoria responded to Aaron’s petition that stated that the pair “have become incompatible to the extent that it has become impossible for them to live together as husband and wife in marital harmony. That there is no possibility of reconciliation between husband and wife.”
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DODOMA-(MaraviPost)-Amnesty International has issued a strong call to the government of Tanzania to immediately end what it describes as an “unacceptable campaign of repression against dissent” ahead of the country’s upcoming general election.
The human rights organization says it is deeply concerned about the deteriorating political and civic environment as Tanzanians prepare to go to the polls on October 29.
According to Amnesty, the Tanzanian government has intensified its clampdown on the opposition, the media, and human rights defenders in recent months.
The group reports that state authorities have used restrictive laws, intimidation, and politically motivated prosecutions to silence critical voices and suppress open political debate.
Central to Amnesty’s concern is the ongoing treason trial of Tundu Lissu, the outspoken leader of the opposition CHADEMA party.
Lissu, who has long been a vocal critic of government corruption and human rights abuses, faces charges that many observers believe are politically motivated.
The organization also highlighted the disqualification of opposition presidential candidate Luhaga Mpina, which it described as another example of the government’s deliberate efforts to narrow the political space.
Amnesty International believes these actions are not isolated incidents but part of a calculated strategy to instill fear among citizens and prevent meaningful civic participation.
The group warns that this growing repression threatens to erode Tanzania’s democratic foundations and entrench authoritarian rule under the guise of electoral legitimacy.
Amnesty has called on the international community, regional bodies, and human rights organizations to closely monitor developments in Tanzania and pressure the government to uphold democratic principles.
The organization insists that the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association must be respected and that all candidates should be allowed to campaign freely and fairly.
As the October 29 election draws closer, Amnesty International’s warning underscores growing fears that the Tanzanian government’s tightening grip on dissent could compromise the credibility of the entire electoral process.
“I don’t go on the apps. One time, once very pretty recently, Reese Witherspoon wanted to set me up with somebody and I didn’t even look to see who it was,” Kaling, 46, shared during an interview with Bustle, published on Tuesday, October 21. “I didn’t laugh in her face because I love her and I love that she was thinking of me in that way, but I just thought it’s not time.”
Her laughter was more at the idea of “doing my hair and putting on makeup and getting out there,” above anything else.
“I have three kids under the age of 7, so for me to want to leave them, especially when I travel for work a lot,” Kaling continued. “I’m very happy. I work with so many men and I love romance, but it’s interesting how all those things can be true and you can decide that you’re like, ‘I’m fine.’”
“I know on a certain level, as a writer who writes stories for women, that finding someone who is good and has a good heart and is earnest is what one should yearn for, and you should outgrow these immature tendencies to find someone funny and mean,” she added. “I’ve literally written this story for young women and I haven’t learned that lesson myself.”
“It doesn’t bother me,” she told Marie Claire in August 2022 about the rumors. “He’s the godparent to both my kids — and they have such a great relationship.”
She explained that the speculation didn’t impact her happiness.
“It hasn’t affected my kids or B.J.,” Kaling added. “If that’s what is going to be titillating to people, I’ll take it.”
Kaling explained that she’s waiting until her kids are “old enough to talk about it” before discussing her fertility journey publicly.
“I’m the only parent my kids have,” she shared. “I think I err on the side of super cautious so that there’s less things that they can potentially be mad at me about down the line.”
Kaling and Novak, 46, dated for three years before calling it quits in 2007. She’s previously explained that he’s become more like “family than a platonic friend” over the years.
“He’s great with kids,” she told Good Morning America in 2020. “And so it’s been really nice to have his energy in the house.”
Kaling knows, however, that this is not the norm.
“I will freely admit: My relationship with B.J. Novak is weird as hell,” Kaling said in 2015. “He is not my boyfriend, but he is not my best friend. I guess you could describe our relationship as a ‘romantically charged camaraderie with loud arguments,’ but I don’t think Facebook would accept this as a new status.”
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Jessica Alba knows how to enjoy a good beach day in style.
Alba, 44, showed off her toned bikini body while soaking up the sun during a trip to Australia via Instagram on Monday, October 20, including a snap of her lying on the beach and tanning.
In the pic, she smiled and looked off into the distance while relaxing on a colorful cover-up. Her Bananhot bikini featured an orange floral pattern, complete with triangle cups and halter straps. She styled the number with cheeky bottoms finished with string traps.
The actress kept her look casual with a black baseball cap featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers’ logo and dark shades. She added a touch of glamour to her ensemble with a gold necklace featuring diamonds dangling from the chain and huggie hoop earrings.
Alba donned just a touch of makeup, including pink-lined lips and manicured eyebrows. She wore her brunette hair down and let it blow in the wind.
The Trigger Warning star made sure that fans got a good look at her curves by turning around and posing for the camera.
Elsewhere in her social media photo dump, Alba gave a glimpse of another one of her bikinis, snapping a pic of her toned tummy while taking in the ocean views. Her bottoms featured an orange base with brown spots and straps that tied in bows at her hips.
Courtesy of Jessica Alba/Instagram
“Down under 🇦🇺🏝️,” the actress captioned the post. Her celebrity friends and fans were quick to compliment her in the comments section.
“She’s been working on the 🍑 🤭💪🏽,“ trainer Betina Gozo Shimonek wrote, while model Neta Alchimister added, “Sooo gorgeous 🥰❤️🥹.” Influencer Lydia Barakat commented, “Australia never looked better 😍🔥❤️.” More fans commented with fire emojis.
Courtesy of Jessica Alba/Instagram
Alba’s bikini pic comes after she made her red carpet debut with Danny Ramirez at the Mill Valley Film Festival earlier this month. They posed alongside more friends, including Angelique Cabral, Patty Rodriguez, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Elsa Collins, Desi Perkins, Tatti Ribeiro and Carlos Eric Lopez.
Over the summer, a source exclusively told Us Weekly that the couple were “friends before it turned romantic.” The insider added, “They have a lot of mutual friends.”
Alba previously showed off her bikini body while tanning in August. She took a selfie of her chic bikini while enjoying a boat day, showing off the brown strapless Eres design equipped with a sweetheart neckline and a cutout in the center of her cups. She teamed the look with matching bottoms and oversized black shades.
Alba also gave fans a look of her jewelry collection by wearing a dainty gold necklace with a circular pendant and sparkly stud earrings. She completed her look with a beaded bracelet.
That same month, she showed off another one of her bikinis as she sipped from a coconut. Her look featured a dark teal top complete with textured cups and string straps.
“Sunshine,” she captioned the post.
More of Alba’s swimsuit collection includes a brown-and-white floral set, a chocolate two-piece, a strapless leopard-print one-piece, an animal print bikini and more. Alba often teams her swimsuits with straw hats or trucker hats to protect her face. She also has a white bandeau bikini top and low-waisted bottoms, as well as classic black sets.
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