Culture

New Music Friday: Rick Ross, Steve Lacy & Syd — July 17, 2026

Rick Ross returns with Set In Stone, his first album in five years, alongside Steve Lacy's Oh yeah?, Syd's Beard, Larry June's Who Coppin and LADIPOE's REVIVAL. A Friday built on long-delayed returns — and one heavily announced album that never showed up.

Technology

Neko Health Raises $700M Series C Led by Lightspeed Ahead of New York Launch

Daniel Ek's body-scanning company raised $700 million led by Lightspeed, reportedly at a $7 billion valuation, and is opening its first US clinic in New York. Three of four members prepay for next year's scan.

Culture

Iron Maiden Members Sell Pophouse 50% of Their Catalog and Likeness Rights

Pophouse Entertainment, the ABBA Voyage firm co-founded by Björn Ulvaeus, bought 50% of Iron Maiden members' stake in their publishing, masters and likeness rights — including Eddie, the mascot who has fronted the band's artwork since 1980.

Sports

NBA Opens Investigation Into Gary Trent Jr.'s $64 Million Bucks Contract

The NBA will review the four-year, $64 million contract Gary Trent Jr. signed with the Bucks, examining whether Milwaukee promised the money years in advance. Trent averaged 8.1 points in 21.2 minutes last season.

Sneakers

New Balance 1954R Releases Globally July 17 for $190 in Three Neutral Colorways

New Balance releases the 1954R globally on July 17 for $190 in three neutral colorways — Sea Salt/Linen, Slate Grey/Castlerock and Black — after an early run at SOMEWHERE in Washington, D.C. The name is arithmetic: the 1906 and 2002 averaged together.

Sports

Games to Watch — Thursday, July 16: MLB's second half opens with one game, WNBA plays two

Baseball returns from the All-Star break with exactly one game: Mets at Phillies at 7 ET on ESPN, with Philadelphia listed at -131. The WNBA fills the rest of the night with a four-overtime rematch in Washington and the 16-8 Wings hosting the Liberty at 9.

Daily Roundup

The Daily Roundup: Air Jordan 41 "Metallic Silver" Drops at $205, Spain vs. Argentina Set for the World Cup Final, the WGA Sues to Block the Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger, and Neko Health Raises $700M — July 16, 2026

The Air Jordan 41 “Metallic Silver” drops today at $205, Spain and Argentina meet Sunday at MetLife in the World Cup final, and Daniel Ek’s Neko Health raised $700M ahead of its first New York clinic.

Culture

Writers Guild and 12 States File Suits to Block Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger

The Writers Guild of America and a coalition of 12 state attorneys general filed separate lawsuits to block Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, a month after the DOJ cleared it.

Sports

American League Shuts Out National League 4-0 in 2026 MLB All-Star Game

The American League blanked the National League 4-0 in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game on July 14 in Philadelphia, behind Cody Bellinger's two-run single and 15 strikeouts from AL pitching.

Sports

Argentina Rallies Past England 2-1 to Book World Cup Final Spot

Argentina scored twice in the final minutes to beat England 2-1 on July 15 in Atlanta, with Lautaro Martinez heading home the stoppage-time winner to reach a second straight World Cup final against Spain.

Technology

Taktile Raises $110M Series C Led by Goldman Sachs for AI Bank Decisions

Taktile raised a $110 million Series C led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives, lifting total funding to $184 million to automate lending, claims, and fraud decisions for banks and insurers.

Sports

Spain Beats France 2-0, Advances to 2026 World Cup Final

Spain beat France 2-0 at AT&T Stadium on July 14 behind goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro, reaching the July 19 World Cup final against Argentina.