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Workers removed more than 500 trees at a Washington, D.C., golf course over the weekend that President Donald Trump is working to remodel, and it happened like many of his other design projects in town: suddenly and without permission. Preservationists asked a judge Sunday to halt the Trump administration after it removed 529 trees Saturday at East Potomac Park, a golf course managed by the National Park Service, and on Monday, a judge called the removal “inexcusable.” The course is home to elms, oaks, pines, and willows, as well as some of the 3,000 Japanese flowering cherry trees gifted by the government of Japan in 1912. Together they told the story of golf’s rise in America from a mostly treeless game on the U.S. coasts to a sport known for its big, lush vegetation. Now, just like that, a century’s worth of landscape design history has been torn up. [Photo: Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images] The removal happened “faster than anticipated,” according to the lawsuit, and the Trump administration didn’t meet its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act, attorneys representing the D.C. Preservation League and a pair of local golfers said in a filing seeking an emergency action to pause further tree removal. “‘Pulling a fast one’ has become the model this administration uses to circumvent the laws intended to protect the environment and D.C. landmarks,” Abbe D. Lowell, a founding member of Lowell & Associates, which is representing the plaintiffs along with Democracy Forward and Democracy Defenders Fund, said in a statement. “It did so with the East Wing and the Kennedy Center and we are continuing our effort to stop them before they succeed in destroying D.C.s historic public golf course.” A brief history of parkland courses The land that’s now East Potomac Park sits on a small island in the Potomac River south of the National Mall. The earliest known vegetation there was tall grass and willow trees, most of which were cleared to design the first course in 1917, but through the years, more trees were added to adapt to changing tastes. That’s according to a 2017 cultural landscape inventory of the course conducted by the Urban Heritage Project from the University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design that tracked the park’s evolution. The first course at East Potomac Park was designed by golf course architect Walter J. Travis who cleared the fairways of most willows but kept some existing trees along the course’s perimeter to separate the front and back nine. A new style of golf course design in the 1920s called parkland style, however, meant more trees would eventually be planted over the years. [Photo: Historic American Landscapes Survey/Library of Congress] As golf grew more popular and moved inland, parkland courses came to be known for their big, mature trees. The popularity of televised golf tournaments beginning in the 1950s and ’60s only made lush, green, gorgeous park-like backdrops that more appealing, according to the inventory, like the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, with its trees and plants imported from around the world in bloom. At East Potomac Park, the Civilian Conservation Corps planted cedar trees in 1939 and additional trees in the 1960s and ’70s, including crabapple trees. The 2017 inventory also counted large wolf trees, large willow oaks, and a large American Elm. Some trees were planted for reasons of gameplay, not just aesthetics. The park’s miniature golf course, for example, was designed around a limited number of trees that function as hazards, and the park’s White Course has few trees and open fairways and thus became popular with less competitive players. The 2017 inventory noted that the park needed some care, including invasive vines and trees it said were damaging some cherry trees, and it said that a “piecemeal nature of planting” had resulted in “a variety of mature trees and shrubs scattered throughout the landscape” that had no overall harmony. A “surprise demolition” But those suing Trump’s Interior Department and National Park Service say the administration’s tree razing went far above routine maintenance or a thoughtful pruning and that the administration had even removed healthy, mature oaks and maple trees. p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Unleashing a surprise demolition razing over 500 historic trees in this public park and claiming it is part of maintenance from a dated, years old landscaping plan is yet another brazen, lawless power grab that has become routine for the Trump administration,” Democracy Defenders Fund executive chair Norm Eisen said in a statement. Trump’s planned makeover of the park (he had rubble from the White House East Wing taken after demolishing it), is part of a larger takeover of the federal government golf course system. Trump is reportedly offering his Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach in Florida as an official U.S. government golf course for presidents that his family’s company would continue to operate. Like the rings of a tree tell its story, the landscape design of East Potomac Park told a story of a game that grew up to appreciate the value of mature trees and ample vegetation as it became more popular. With the Trump administration’s sudden tree removal, a part of that history is now gone.
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E-Commerce
In the era of streaming music and satellite radio, traditional broadcast stations are easy to overlook. AM radio, in particular, has fallen out of favor with younger drivers. So it’s perhaps no surprise that some automakers have begun dropping it from new vehicles. Congress, however, wants to put a stop to that. Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 979, the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025.” The bill is now on the Senate’s legislative calendar and has broad bipartisan support. The Senate also has a companion bill, S. 315, which cleared committee last year and is awaiting a floor vote. While AM radio is dominated by political talk shows, religious programming, and sports, it still draws a sizable audience. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), which supports the congressional effort, says more than 80 million Americans listen to AM each month. The group describes AM radio as “a platform for locally produced content that is relevant to their audience and speaks to their unique cultural and linguistic needs.” It also notes that AM stations have historically provided an entry point into radio ownership for racial and ethnic minorities. Automakers, meanwhile, are grappling with tariffs and rising component costs, and looking for ways to trim expenses. Removing AM radio wouldn’t shave hundreds or thousands of dollars off a vehicle’s price, but it could offer modest savings. Electric vehicle makers face another challenge: The technology that powers EVs can interfere with AM radio reception. “The high-voltage electrical systems in EVs generate electromagnetic interference that, according to the Center for Automotive Research, ‘distorts AM radio signals, affecting the listening experience for drivers and passengers.’ In other words: really staticky,” said John Bozzella, president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, in 2024 congressional testimony. “Its not possible to eliminate that interference, and techniques to reduce interference add weight and mess with battery range and would cost an estimated $3.8 billion.” Bozzella also argued that requiring AM radio amounted to a government mandate with no public safety justification. Supporters of the legislation dispute that argument. AM stations play a significant role in the nation’s emergency alert infrastructure, including a FEMA-supported network of radio stations equipped to continue broadcasting during disasters. Bozzella’s position was echoed by the then-president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, who wrote in a letter to the editor of The Washington Post that “a federal mandate that every car comes equipped with an AM radio in 2024 and beyond is like mandating that they come equipped with ashtrays or 8-track players.” Still, traditional radio may have more life left in it than skeptics think, even as music streaming subscriptions approach 1 billion worldwide. As more Americans return to the office, radio has benefited from renewed interest. Edison Research’s “Share of Ear” report, released in July, found that AM/FM radio accounted for 62% of ad-supported audio listening among adults, compared with just 6% for Spotifys ad-supported service. In cars, AM/FM commanded an even larger share of ad-supported audio listening: 82% among adults 18 and older. Whether the Senate will vote on the AM radio bill before November’s midterm elections remains unclear. And despite its bipartisan support, its prospects at the White House are uncertain. The auto industry may oppose the measure, but it has some influential backers beyond the broadcasting industry, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, AARP, and a coalition of public safety organizations.
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E-Commerce
Elon Musk, the world’s only trillionaire, has quietly become the biggest known donor in this year’s midterm elections, doling out more than $276 million since July to try to save Republican majorities in Congress. The numbers, first reported by The New York Times ahead of this week’s federal filing deadline, were confirmed by Andrew Romeo, a spokesperson for Musk’s super PAC. The money includes $158 million given to the Senate Leadership Fund, the main super PAC supporting Republican Senate candidates, one of the largest known political donations in American history, according to the Times. Another $76 million went to America PAC, a Musk super PAC, which has once again built out a major turnout operation like the one it used to help elect President Donald Trump by knocking on doors in 2024. Musk also provided $10 million to Lone Star Liberty PAC, a group that supports the Republican nominee for Senate in Texas, Ken Paxton. The race has been a major focus of Musk’s efforts. It’s a dramatic turnaround since last May, when Musk said he intended to cut back on future political spending. I think Ive done enough,” he said at the time. Despite the cash infusion, Musk has generally kept a lower profile than in 2024, when he appeared onstage next to Trump at rallies, and in the early days of the president’s second term, when he led the Department of Government Efficiency. He had a falling out with Trump while leaving his government post, but the two have since reconciled. Trump presented Musk with the National Medal of Science last week. Musk’s net worth has fluctuated around the trillion-dollar line this year based on changes in stock prices, but he topped $1 trillion again last week according to Forbes magazine. Republicans have a gaping financial advantage over their Democratic counterpartsa disparity that has been a rare bright spot for a party that is bracing for major potential losses amid deep voter frustration over the president’s performance, stubbornly high prices, and the unpopular war with Iran. They have been using the money to blanket the airwaves in the race’s final stretch. These robust investments have allowed the GOP apparatus to get its message out so Republicans can have a fighting chance to defy history,” Romeo told the Times. Democrats responded to the news by accusing Republicans of using vast amounts of cash to mask their shortcomings. Republicans are hoping to buy these elections, injecting tens of millions into races to try and outrun their unpopular candidates, unpopular president, and unpopular economy, said Lauren French, a spokesperson for Democrats’ Senate Majority PAC. By Jill Colvin, Associated Press
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E-Commerce
Kelly Clarkson just thrust a small Brooklyn boutique into the limelight, and not in a good way. Art of Play, a high-end novelty shop offering playing cards, puzzles, games, and playful decor, apparently caught the singers attention. In a social media post thats since been viewed 44 million times, Clarkson said she thought the store looked really rad, but upon entering Art of Play in hopes of buying a certain item, she claims she literally was looked at as if I couldnt afford it. Wow, dude. Youre an idiot and just lost a huge sale, Clarkson wrote. But yall should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts character in Pretty Woman. For sure, check it out Clarksons Pretty Woman reference implies that Art of Play made a big mistake (big, huge) by losing her patronage. But as her ensuing online back-and-forth with the shop proves, the situation isnt so simple. Just drove all the way to Brooklyn to check out this store I thought looked really rad and had a few things in mind to buy and literally was looked at as if I couldnt afford it and was told he could find something comparable for me. Wow, dude. Youre an idiot and just lost a— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) October 10, 2026 A singing bird, a price tag, and a social media battle The day after Clarksons post went viral, Art of Play responded on its Instagram page, saying that the item she wanted to purchase is a singing and dancing bird automaton named Molly. Art of Play claimed Molly is permanently attached to the wall and isnt for sale, which is why Clarkson was denied buying it. Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store. Its been a surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity, the post continued. Were going to keep our heads down and hopefully, we can clear things up with Kelly someday, it concluded. As a talented popular singer once said what doesnt kill you makes you stronger. Despite the stores apparent intention to clear things up, they only got more muddled when Clarkson took to social media once again. In a follow-up post, she shared an image of a price tag posted on the wall next to Molly, which listed the automaton for $15,000. Cool, cool. Sure, it wasnt for sale. Thats the narrative Art of Play is gonna go with, Clarkson wrote, claiming that the salesperson she interacted with didnt say the bird wasnt for sale, but told her it was too expensive for her. So youre not only rude, youre also a liar, she wrote. By the way, I obviously support small businesses because I was literally at a small business trying to purchase things. I love small businesses and know they are important and I always support them, but you dont get a free pass to treat people less than in your store just because you are a small business, Clarkson continued. Its not that hard to be kind. I never blast people but you my friend were an exception. Your store is really cool. Unfortunately, you arent. Cool, cool. Sure, it wasnt for sale. Thats the narrative Art of Play is gonna go with so the whole conversation we had when I asked you if it was for sale whilst pointing to the price tag hanging on the wall with the title Singing Bird didnt happen as you elevator eyed me pic.twitter.com/9PEhUWnIOt— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) October 11, 2026 Art of Play again responded on Instagram with the final update so far, insisting that Molly isnt for sale, but that they explained to Clarkson during her visit that she could purchase a nearly identical model for $15,000, or they could show her similar automaton for $2,000. According to the store, She did not stick around long enough to see it. Weve reached out to Kelly directly to try and clear the air, the post concluded. We really do wish her the best and hope that someday we can all laugh about this misunderstanding. The power of celebrity Regardless of if youre Team Kelly or Team Art of Play, the feud has kickstarted discourse across social media and earned the store increased attention on review sites like Yelp. Not all that attention is for the best, though, as Clarksons fans are flooding the site with negative reviews, bringing its star rating down to 2.9. Why does the bird have a price tag if it wasn’t for sale????????? reads one one-star review. I smell LIES from ur business establishment. Be nice to EVERYONE. Don’t make assumptions on what someone can afford, scolds another reviewer. Big mistake treating Kelly Clarkson like a street person. Other reviewers came to the shops defense, leaving five-star reviews and admonishments of the review-bombers. Not everything there is for sale, regardless of how famous you are, one reviewer wrote. Go write a song about it. Stop using your online influence to sh*t on a brick and mortar shop that’s as dope as Art of Play. So a celebrity walks in to a small privately owned business. She doesn’t get exactly what she wants so she cops an attitude and trashes said small business, reads another. Even if you weren’t lying, you still did the morally wrong thing. Art of Plays Yelp page currently displays a disclaimer that the business is being monitored by Yelp’s Support team for content relted to media reports.
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E-Commerce
Shane Gillis hosted Saturday Night Live over the weekend, and the response to the comedian’s opening monologue has been fast and mostly furious. On Saturday, Gillis took the stage and almost immediately insulted women with a joke that pretty indisputably did not land. In what first sounded like self-deprecating humor, the comedian vented about needing to lose weight and his awkward trips to the gym. Quickly, it turned into a misogynistic jab about women’s outfits. “I haven’t been to the gym in so long, I didn’t know women just dress like whores now,” Gillis quipped.When awkward laughter trickled in, he followed up with, “I’m sorrythere’s no other way to describehave you seen the shorts?” Gillis then went into detail about women’s gym clothing and how men aren’t “allowed to look.” Gillis even added that, given so many women now film their workouts, he’s likely in the background of a handful of TikTok videos staring at them with his jaw on the floor. Timing that’s hard to ignore Immediately, much of the internet had a scathing response to what many seemed to consider not only unfunny, but misogynistic and problematic. That was especially true given that much of the country is incensed over new details that have come to light in the case of the “Cornell 7″the fraternity brothers who allegedly drugged and raped a young woman in 2024 and talked about the situation in a massive group text. The lawsuit sparked a social media movement in which women have been sharing their stories of sexual assault and, in many cases, naming their alleged assaulters. Jessica Valenti, a gender and politics writer who writes the Abortion, Every Day newsletter, had a searing response to Gillis’s monologue, in which she asserted that Gillis didn’t make a mistake or simply go too far, but knew exactly what he was doing. “Shane Gillis knows there’s a national conversation about sexual assault,” Valenti said, adding, “This is his contribution to that conversation.” Valenti continued, pressing that the normalizing of misogyny is a straight line to a culture that allows rape. “This is what turns young men into rapists. When you demean and denigrate and dehumanize women . . . what do you think rape culture is?” she argued. Fast Company reached out to a rep for Gillis for comment. “Could not be more tone deaf” Valenti then pointed the finger at not just Gillis, but the show that gave him a stage. “Saturday Night Live platformed rape culture in maybe the country’s biggest reckoning on sexual assault and they should be f***ing ashamed,” she said. Actor and comedian Dan Levy weighed in, too, with a video post on Instagram. “Women wearing short shorts to the gym does not make them whores. It makes the men calling them ‘whores’ misogynists. “There’s a difference there,” Levy said. He went on to assert that men show their bodies equally at the gym, and said he was “speechless” that the monologue was allowed to be made on live TV. Other celebrities added their two cents on Levy’s post. Elizabeth Banks wrote, “Nailed it” in the comments, while Hacks actor Hannah Einbinder simply wrote, “Thank you dan.” While much of the internet is unapologetically roasting Gillis over the monologue, SNL has, so far, been silent. In a move that appears to support Gillis’s choice of words, SNL shared the clip of Gillis’s monologue on Instagram after the controversy was well underway. While some commenters on the post said they enjoyed the set, most viewers aired their disappointment.“SNL, I love you, but this could not be more tone deaf in light of recent events,” one comment reads. “This is so hard to watch,” another reads. Fast Company reached out to NBC for a comment on the incident and the growing backlash, but we haven’t heard back. This is not the first time that Gillis has been at the center of a controversy at the iconic comedy sketch show. Back in 2019, he was fired as an SNL cast member just days after being hired. His firing came after a 2018 clip of his “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast” resurfaced, where the star had used a racial slur against Asians. Gillis apologized following the massive backlash at the time. Meanwhile, producer Lorne Michaels said the show had been unaware of the comedian’s comments. Gillis has hosted the show three times since his firing. In spite of the fact that so many view Gillis’s humor as racist and misogynistic, the star has a massive fanbase. So much so that he just broke a world record for the size of his crowd. In July, the comedian performed at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field and drew a record-smashing crowd, selling the most-ever tickets for a solo comedy show. So while the world continues to wonder how rape culture persists, it keeps giving the stage to misogyny again and again.
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E-Commerce
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