New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman responded to President Donald Trump’s personal insults over the upcoming ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 — dismissing the White House’s denial that he was skipping the New York City event because he wouldn’t be allowed to make a speech.

Haberman joined MS NOW’s The Weekend where Jacqueline Alemany brought up Trump’s Truth Social post this week blasting Haberman. Alemany would not repeat the president’s insults, saying she refused to “dignify” them.

Haberman said she and the Times were “transparent” about their reporting on Trump skipping a 9/11 ceremony in New York in part due to his desire to give a speech. Speeches are barred at the annual event.

She said:

Look, we stand by the reporting and the Times put out a statement explaining that this is based on multiple sources. We went to the White House. We were quite transparent with them about what we were reporting, including the part about that part of the reason why he was not going to New York was because he did want to speak, and the White House did not say anything, pushing back on what we were reporting. And then 24 hours later, the president started attacking the piece. You know, so readers can make their own assessment about a denial that comes a day later.

The White House claimed in a statement to MS NOW that Trump was only skipping the ceremony because Vice President JD Vance is attending, and they cannot be in the same place at the same time. Trump will mark the somber occasion instead at the Pentagon.

Haberman, author of Regime Change, a behind the scenes look at the start Trump’s second administration, dismissed the statement and argued Trump skipping the event on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks is “objectively news.” She also noted he attended the event in 2024 shortly after he was shot during an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Haberman said:

It’s not because, Jacqui, Vance is going to New York. That plan changed. Vance was not — you know, Trump was going to New York. That was everybody’s understanding. And then he wasn’t. And there may be multiple reasons why. Obviously, they’re all very security-minded right now. I know that the White House, amid all the threats from Iran and its proxies, the White House is very, very rattled, understandably, by the video about Barron Trump and the threats against him. And so I do understand all of that.

Trump blasted Haberman as a “fake reporter” in his Truth Social tirade.

“Maggot Hagerman, the Fake Reporter from The Failing New York Times, an unattractive person both inside and out, and who knows less about me than most reporters on the beat (She’s a SCAMMER!), made up a story that on September 11th, I’m not going to the World Trade Center, in New York City, because they won’t let me make a speech, and I’m going to the Pentagon in D.C., because I’m a featured speaker,” he wrote. “This is more Corrupt News, I’ve been to New York many times over the years, and no one ever speaks, it’s a ‘solemn ceremony!”

Watch above via MS NOW.

The post Maggie Haberman Hits Back at Trump’s Personal Insults By Tearing Apart WH Claim About Her 9/11 Report first appeared on Mediaite.

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You can’t turn off Strava’s AI summaries anymore. Sometime in July or August, the feature, called “Athlete Intelligence,” became a built-in part of premium subscriptions. If you have a free account, you still won’t see it, but if you subscribe to Strava Premium, you’ll now have the summaries stuck onto all of your workouts. 

What is Strava's "Athlete Intelligence"?

Athlete Intelligence, conveniently abbreviated AI, is a Strava feature that gives text responses to your workouts. It’s only available for premium subscribers. Strava refers to “insights” in these responses, but as far as I can tell, they just seem to regurgitate the information from the workout description, sometimes with added errors. 

I used the feature briefly, around the time it launched (I was a premium subscriber then), but quickly turned it off when I realized it wasn’t telling me anything interesting. I asked my colleague Meredith Dietz, who has a premium subscription, whether she had seen anything useful in her Athlete Intelligence. She said, “They’re usually positive, so that’s nice. But ultimately: useless.” 

Meredith has written more about why AI fitness summaries are mostly useless, and Strava’s AI checks every box: it doesn’t use enough context to understand what’s going on, it presents generic advice as if it were personal, and it’s overconfident in its incomplete data. She showed me a recent Athlete Intelligence summary that said a run was both a “recovery run” and included her “fastest pace in two weeks.” Those are simply not compatible statements. Another message complimented her “solid half-marathon effort” on a run that Meredith says was “not even close to a half-marathon effort.” 

What happened behind the scenes? 

You used to be able to turn off the AI. When Strava launched Athlete Intelligence in October 2024, it was a “beta” feature available to premium users only. Since then—as far as I can remember—Strava’s support page had instructions for opting out of Athlete Intelligence. 

But that changed recently. The last Wayback Machine snapshot that included those instructions is from June 30, 2026. A snapshot from Aug. 4 removed both the question and answer about opting out. On Aug. 26, I noticed a Reddit thread where users were wondering where the opt-out feature went. The support page currently says, “There isn’t an option to opt out of Athlete Intelligence.” 

I asked what happened, and received an answer from a Strava spokesperson: “As was standard practice for experimental features, Athlete Intelligence launched with a "turn off" mechanism scoped to its initial beta period. Given the feature’s formal exit from beta, that mechanism is no longer available. We invite all subscribers to tap Give Feedback to help us improve the insights they see.”

Athlete Intelligence officially left beta in February of last year. If the support page was kept up to date over the subsequent year and a half, then it seems the opt-out was removed much later. (The instructions used to say to click “leave beta” and then changed to “leave Athlete Intelligence” sometime before June 21 this year.) I asked Strava for clarification on the timeline, and got the answer: “Thanks for the follow up, we're not able to provide additional information.”

Why “Athlete Intelligence” has been such a disappointment

Strava claimed in its February 2025 announcement that over 80% of users found Athlete Intelligence useful. That seems hard to believe, given the weaknesses that both Meredith and I noticed in our own AI summaries. For all my browsing of Strava user forums, I’ve often seen people complaining about the AI’s tone or pointing out its mistakes; I’m really not seeing anyone praising it for being insightful or for helping to analyze or plan training. 

Meredith finds the summaries easy to ignore. I found they annoyed me, so I hid them while it was still possible to do so. So far I’m not seeing anybody who opted out complaining that the summaries are back; it’s possible they will remain hidden. But the option to turn them off is no longer available. You can still “leave feedback” on a given response, but there used to be an option to leave Athlete Intelligence altogether. That option is no longer there, and given Strava’s statement, it doesn’t seem likely it will come back.

X screenshot

Lyons, Illinois Township Clerk Elyse Hoffenberg shared a surveillance video that shows her being kissed by Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek — an act she insists was a “lighthearted, friendly and non-romantic moment among colleagues.”

Hoffenberg is currently running for Cook County Commissioner.

The kiss between the pair has been the subject of what she told the Daily Mail was an “extortion attempt” by “political opponents.

Hoffenberg also told Patch the liplock was “inappropriate and unprofessional.”

Elyse is married to Jeff Hoffenberg, “a managing partner at Chicago-based law firm Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC and a commissioner on the Village of La Grange Plan Commission,” the Daily Mail reported, adding that “the pair are understood to have multiple children together.”

She’s accused Republican Liz Gorman of being the culprit behind the video leak, and said that Lyons Township supervisor Chris Getty was part of the plan.

Elyse also told the Mail she was told the pair would “drop their threats to release [the video] if I end my campaign.”

She added:

My political opponents attempted to extort me regarding this video, saying they would drop their threats to release it if I end my campaign. I am certain that our community will find this kind of old-school politics of harassment abhorrent, and I won’t be bullied. While the video lacks proper context to make it clear what is happening, what it shows is a lighthearted, friendly and non-romantic moment among colleagues. I am staying focused on my campaign to bring strong leadership to this community, and I look forward to continuing this work.

Gorman denied the allegations and told the Mail, “I categorically deny that I extorted Elyse Hoffenberg. I have never spoken with Elyse or anyone from her campaign about this matter, and I have never demanded anything from her in exchange for not releasing or doing anything with the video.”

The post Illinois Lawmaker Released Clip of Her Smooching Mayor in the Face of ‘Extortion’ Attempts: ‘Non-Romantic Moment’ first appeared on Mediaite.

AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

We are looking at the case of insistence taking over from reporting. As we are closing the second full week of Natalie Harp coverage, one prevailing reality looms over the reporting: What is the story?

Since the day that John Ossoff dropped her name in a speech filled with innuendo, Natalie has been on the minds and the lips of the media. Yet the quotidian utterance of her name has never delivered anything substantive to justify the energy.

That lack of substance continues with one of CNN’s White House correspondents. Alejandra Jaramillo shared a photograph she took from inside the Oval Office. In it, we can see Harp positioned at the wall. Sort of.

Spotted Trump aide Natalie Harp in the back of the Oval Office today: pic.twitter.com/jL2HtUbUqs

— Alejandra Jaramillo (@AlejandraJMillo) August 27, 2026

That…is breaking news?! We see her head, barely, above a lampshade. Apparently, Ms. Jaramillo felt it was trenchant news coverage to let the public know that a White House aide had been spotted inside the White House, apparently doing her job.

Why this woman has grown into the near-obsessive focus of the press defies explanation. She has been working alongside the president since his 2020 reelection campaign, with no pertinent interest to be seen. But Ossoff’s throwaway line in a speech has set the media on fire, yet they cannot get this story to ignite.

It has become a case of the press “harping” on the woman in President Trump’s cabinet with the confidence that something will turn up if they keep turning up the volume. We still await that success.

CNN in particular has been supremely focused on the staffer, even after Ossoff softened his words following the hysteria he himself ignited. There was the report of Natalie “jumping into the trunk of a motorcade SUV”; no indication was given why this was even a story.

Erin Burnett brought on Natalie Harp’s brother for a “scathing” interview, as her sibling managed to deliver nothing of substance. He was so bereft of content that when asked about her SUV dash, he was surprised by the question, as he had never heard that story. Good thing they brought him on the air!

At The U.K.’s Daily Mirror, they obtained what was said to be an EXCLUSIVE: They had a photograph of Harp running alongside golf carts in Scotland during a golf outing. From three years ago.

EXCLUSIVE

THE HUMAN SPRINTER

First known pictures of NATALIE HARP chasing after Donald Trump’s golf cart in Scotland pic.twitter.com/vfQ6xk3hbD

— Mikey Smith (@mikeysmith) August 21, 2026

And now we get the latest breaking news, that she was standing against a wall during a press event.

This is the level of detail the all-consuming press has about Natalie Harp. They insist the coverage of this White House staffer is due to all of the interest in her. One of these days they might actually come up with some content that is actually interesting.

The post CNN Is Still Harping on Natalie, With No Clear Reason for Trump Aide Crusade first appeared on Mediaite.

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If, like me, you let some of your fitness goals fall by the wayside this summer, Labor Day is the perfect time to build out your home gym and revitalize your exercise routine. And you don't even have to wait for the long weekend to start seeking out some excellent Labor Day deals, because Amazon's sale has already started. Below, I've collected my favorite fitness deals so far from Amazon's early Labor Day sale—and I'll keep adding more as the holiday weekend gets closer.

The best early Labor Day sales on cardio equipment

• All of the NordicTrack T Series is all on sale, with the T10 in particular catching my eye: Normally $1,299, it's currently discounted to $999. For cardio, your options get trickier in an apartment setting or a home without a ton of extra space, but foldable equipment like this is a nice solution.

• The YOSUDA Friction 1.0 bike is $178.99, down from $249.99.

• This MERACH exercise bike is $399.98, down from $599.99.

• This walking pad is $79.98, normally $106.80. This is a simple, straightforward option if you've been looking to get your steps in while working at a standing desk.

• If you're looking for more than just a bare-bones option, this fancier walking pad reaches speeds of up to 6.2 mph and a 5% incline, and it's also foldable for storage. It's currently on sale for $119.98 (normally $199.99).

(A word of caution: When you're browsing walking pads, remember you really cannot trust those product pictures.)

NordicTrack T10 Treadmill

$999.00 at Amazon

$1,299.00 Save $300.00

Get Deal

Get Deal

$999.00 at Amazon

$1,299.00 Save $300.00

The best early Labor Day sales on dumbbells

• This CAP ADJUSTABELL adjustable dumbbell set is $249.99, normally $299.99. These can adjust from 10 to 55 pounds in 5-pound increments with a simple twist of the handle (no knobs, pins, or levers are involved).

• This CAP rubber-coated dumbbell weight set is $159.99, normally $189.99. While I'm a big proponent of adjustable dumbbells, you can't go wrong with a traditional vertical rack like this. It includes a pair of 5-pound, 10-pound, 15-pound, 20-pound, and 25-pound rubber hex dumbbells with a vertical dumbbell rack.

• These Feierdun adjustable dumbbells are $161.98 for the 90-pound set, down from $219.99. I'm especially drawn to how this system can configure the weights as fixed barbells, kettlebells, traditional dumbbells, or individual weight plates. Incorporating kettlebell swings and goblet squats without purchasing separate equipment? That's a steal.

CAP ADJUSTABELL set (55 lbs)

$249.99 at Amazon

$299.99 Save $50.00

Get Deal

Get Deal

$249.99 at Amazon

$299.99 Save $50.00

The best early Labor Day sales on other home gym staples

• These resistance bands are $18.99, normally $24.99. A solid pair of resistance bands like these will be the perfect addition to your home gym, and great for travel workouts, whether in the poolside gym or your hotel rooms.

• This FLYBIRD adjustable weight bench is $125.99, normally $139.99.

• This Yes4All kettlebell is $69.16 for the 45-pound option, normally $91.35. It's got a wide-grip handle and neoprene coating over the cast iron to reduce noise and protect your flooring.

FLYBIRD WB3 Adjustable Weight Bench

$125.99 at Amazon

$139.99 Save $14.00

Get Deal

Get Deal

$125.99 at Amazon

$139.99 Save $14.00

Donald Trump has vowed to help Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) in his contentious U.S. Senate race against James Talarico (D).

Trump made the comments during an Oval Office executive order signing on Thursday, during which he proclaimed Lake Ontario was now “Lake America.”

“We’re going to Texas, and we’re working very hard, we wanna win that race. He’s running against a man who should not, never be — we have a very good candidate, Ken Paxton. And he’s running against ‘Tala-freako,’ they call him. because he is a little freaky,” Trump said.

“And that’s not a man that represents the value of Texas. So, I’m going to help Ken Paxton and I’m gonna spend a lot of time in Texas. I have the all-time highest vote in the history of Texas, also. And I’m going to spend some time there. We’re going tonight, some of you are going with me.”

Trump is heading to Texas Thursday evening for a private fundraising dinner in Houston, and to speak at the GOP Midterm Convention in Dallas .

Paxton became the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate after Trump backed him, and Paxton beat out Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in the Republican primary.

“Ken is a true MAGA Warrior who has ALWAYS delivered for Texas, and will continue to do so in the United States Senate,” Trump wrote on social media at the time.

Paxton has been the target of ethical and political scandals throughout his political career, including a 2023 impeachment trial on abuse of office and bribery charges. Although the Texas House voted to impeach Paxton, he was acquitted of all charges in the Texas Senate.

GOP donors slammed Trump for choosing the scandal-ridden Paxton over Cornyn, but have since pressured the president to “rescue” Paxton’s struggling campaign.

“The message to Trump world is, ‘You broke it, now you own it. You gotta spend some of your money to defend him because we’ve got bigger fish to fry,’ ” one GOP donor told Politico.

A new Texas Southern University poll revealed Talarico had a solid lead over Paxton in three congressional districts that Trump carried by double digits.

The post Trump Pledges to Help Ken Paxton in Senate Race Against James Talarico first appeared on Mediaite.

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Iowa Gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand (D) isn’t eager for help from former President Joe Biden or former Vice President Kamala Harris, he told POLITICO in an interview published Wednesday.

Sand said that’s true even if Harris runs for president in 2028.

POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin said on X that Sand is the “first high-profile Dem to answer this question directly.”

He asked, “Would you want to have Joe Biden here campaign for you?” and followed that up with “How about Kamala Harris?”

Sand declined both, saying of Harris: “No, thanks. Let’s move on. We need some new leadership.”

After he was asked if Harris should run in 2028, Sand answered, “No.”

Martin also asked, “What is your view as to what the best option is for Democrats in 2020? You don’t have to name names. You can if you want. But should there be a governor, somebody not from D.C. as your nominee?”

“I just… you got my gut reaction on a couple,” Sand replied. “I don’t know what the answer to that is. I mean, I got an election in 75 days.”

Sand’s campaign in Iowa has grown contentious in recent weeks.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch reported the candidate was followed and booed by “activists with the conservative organization Turning Point USA” last week. While speaking to reporters at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox Saturday, he said those who followed him were “kids.”

“I mean, I don’t know why they’re doing what they’re doing, or how they think that’s effective,” Sand added. “I felt bad for all the people around us who were trying to enjoy the fair and having their experience disrupted. So that’s all I had to say about that.”

He also said his message for his supporters at the event and beyond is, “Don’t behave like the kids from Turning Point USA.”

Sand is running against Republican Zach Lahn, whose opponents have described him as a “part-time Iowan” because he frequently visits Kansas to see “some” of his children.

Watch the above via POLITICO/X.

The post ‘Move On!’ Iowa Democrat Goes After Biden and Harris — Bluntly Rejects Their Help in His Campaign first appeared on Mediaite.