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Tom Waddington, who is rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, filmed an hours-long encounter with what he believes were long-finned pilot whales. He enjoyed their visit — until one smacked into his small boat.

Tom Waddington, who is rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, filmed an hours-long encounter with what he believes were long-finned pilot whales. He enjoyed their visit — until one smacked into his small boat. @tomwaddington_skier hide caption

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@tomwaddington_skier

Animals

‘Absolutely incredible’: Man rowing solo across Atlantic is surrounded by whales

The appearance of hundreds of whales was amazing, rower Tom Waddington said. But when one slammed into his boat, "suddenly it turned from David Attenborough into Moby Dick. And I was really scared."

Nikki Giovanni doesn't think about her legacy. But here's a moment she felt proud

Nikki Giovanni on Wild Card Michael Loccisano/Getty hide caption

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Michael Loccisano/Getty

Wild Card with Rachel Martin

Nikki Giovanni doesn't think about her legacy. But here's a moment she felt proud

At 81, Nikki Giovanni isn't afraid of getting older. And the legendary poet also isn't spending any time thinking about her legacy. She's mostly focused on having fun and being able to look back on her life and feel like she did her duty. She talks to Rachel about the myth of a happy family, what she's learned on safaris and why she's fascinated with Mars.

Nikki Giovanni doesn't think about her legacy. But here's a moment she felt proud

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We recommend three great sports documentaries

Lance Armstrong celebrates during the Tour de France in 2004. He is the subject of the documentary The Armstrong Lie. Doug Pensinger/Getty Images hide caption

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Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We recommend three great sports documentaries

Sports aren't just games. They're intertwined with epic stories about struggle, human behavior, historic greatness and grand emotions. In other words, sports make for great documentaries. And if you're looking for some good ones, we've got recommendations: Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks, The Armstrong Lie, and Athlete A.

We recommend three great sports documentaries

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The Paramount logo is displayed at Columbia Square along Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, Calif. on March 9, 2023.

The Paramount logo is displayed at Columbia Square along Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, Calif. on March 9, 2023. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Media

Paramount and Skydance are merging — here are 3 questions we have about the deal

There are a lot of hopes and dreams riding on the $8.4 billion agreement. A successful rescue of Paramount could point the way toward a shiny future for an increasingly uncertain media industry.

Corky (Gina Gershon) and Violet (Jennifer Tilly) in Bound.

Corky (Gina Gershon) and Violet (Jennifer Tilly) in Bound. AJ Pics/Alamy Stock Photo hide caption

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AJ Pics/Alamy Stock Photo

Movies

Before Hollywood handled sex with care, this lesbian neo-noir focused on authenticity

Before making The Matrix, the Wachowskis enlisted a sex educator to help with their 1996 thriller. Bound's place in the queer canon has been redefined, and is now part of the Criterion Collection.

Years before intimacy coordinators on Hollywood sets, there was the 1996 film Bound

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Actor Alec Baldwin leaves a Santa Fe court after jury selection in his involuntary manslaughter trial, on Tuesday, July 9.

Actor Alec Baldwin leaves court after jury selection on Tuesday. Baldwin's wife, Hilaria, and his brother, actor Stephen Baldwin, were with him in the courtroom. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP hide caption

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Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Law

Alec Baldwin is on trial for involuntary manslaughter

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed in 2021 when a prop gun went off on the western film Rust set. Alec Baldwin is charged with involuntary manslaughter and faces up to 18 months behind bars.

Cory Richards

Self-portrait after the avalanche, first winter ascent of Gasherbrum II, Karakorum Himalaya, Pakistan, Feb. 4, 2011. Cory Richards hide caption

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Cory Richards

Author Interviews

This photographer nearly died mountain climbing. His memoir details the mental toll

Former National Geographic photographer details his struggles with mental health while climbing the world’s mountains

In 'The Color of Everything," photographer shares how being bipolar shaped his life

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Within a brown rectangular photo frame is an old black-and-white daguerreotype of Dolley Madison, who appears from the waist up in a dark dress with a shawl over her shoulders. She is wearing a head covering made from a light-colored cloth.

This circa 1846 daguerreotype of Dolley Madison, made by John Plumbe Jr., was purchased for $456,000 at auction in June. Sotheby's hide caption

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Sotheby's

History

This portrait of Dolley Madison might be the first photo of a first lady

The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., acquired the circa 1846 daguerreotype, which depicts Dolley Madison in her later years, at some point in her 70s.

The Smithsonian acquires the earliest known portrait of an American first lady

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Shaboozey performs during the 2024 BET Awards in Los Angeles in June 2024.

Shaboozey performs during the 2024 BET Awards in Los Angeles in June 2024. Michael Tran/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Tran/Getty Images

Music

Shaboozey's slow-burning hybrid of hip-hop and country is finally the biggest song in the land

This week, Shaboozey becomes only the second Black artist ever to top Billboard's pop and country singles charts at the same time. The first, earlier this year, was his collaborator, Beyoncé.

BILLBOARD STORY 5

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'Despicable Me 4' serves up 90 minutes of bankable mayhem

Steve Carell voices Gru in Despicable Me 4. Universal Pictures hide caption

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Universal Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Despicable Me 4' serves up 90 minutes of bankable mayhem

Despicable Me 4 is the latest film in an animation franchise that made household names of reformed supervillain Gru (Steve Carrell) and his army of nattering Minions. The franchise has grossed billions of dollars, and the latest movie topped the weekend box office. But are these films growing up with their audience, or continuing to cater to young kids? And does that matter?

'Despicable Me 4' serves up 90 minutes of bankable mayhem

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Neak, a 43-year-old Ukrainian graffiti artist, mixes green paint at a workshop in Kyiv, Ukraine. His ETC graffiti crew works to camouflage cars to be sent east to the front line of the war with Russia.

Neak, a 43-year-old Ukrainian graffiti artist, mixes green paint at a workshop in Kyiv, Ukraine. His ETC graffiti crew works to camouflage cars to be sent east to the front line of the war with Russia. Natalie Keyssar hide caption

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Natalie Keyssar

The Picture Show

How these Ukrainian artists are using their talents to support the war effort

From graffiti artists painting camo on cars to dancers raising money for the army, this is a look at how young Ukrainians use their creative talents to support the country against Russia's invasion.

Mavis Staples on Prince, MLK and a life onstage

Grammy award-winning soul singer Mavis Staples Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images

It's Been a Minute

Mavis Staples on Prince, MLK and a life onstage

This week, the legendary singer and civil rights figure Mavis Staples is turning 85 and there's no sign of her slowing down: She released a new song, "Worthy," and a children's book, Bridges Instead of Walls: The Story of Mavis Staples.

Mavis Staples on Prince, MLK and a life onstage

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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer shares her leadership philosophy in her new book.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer shares her leadership philosophy in her new book, True Gretch: What I've Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between. Simon and Schuster hide caption

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Simon and Schuster

Politics

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has “complete confidence” in Biden’s candidacy

NPR's Juana Summers talks with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer about her new book True Gretch: What I've Learned About Life, Leadership and Everything in Between.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has 'complete confidence' in Biden’s candidacy

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Jill Ciment met her husband Arnold Mesches when she was his teenage art student.

Jill Ciment met her husband Arnold Mesches when she was his teenage art student. Random House/Random House hide caption

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Random House/Random House

Author Interviews

She was 17. He was 47. #MeToo changed how she thinks of their relationship

Ciment met her husband in the 1970s. At the time of their first kiss, he was a married father of two; she was his art student. In her memoir Consent she reconsiders the origin story of their marriage.

She was 17. He was 47. #MeToo changed how she thinks of their relationship

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Jay Johnston has pleaded guilty to a felony charge related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He's seen here in an image from an FBI affidavit.

Jay Johnston has pleaded guilty to a felony charge related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He's seen here in an image from an FBI affidavit. U.S. Justice Department/Screenshot by NPR hide caption

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U.S. Justice Department/Screenshot by NPR

Law

Actor Jay Johnston of 'Bob's Burgers' and other comedies pleads guilty in Jan. 6 case

In his career, Johnston has repeatedly portrayed police officers and agents, from Arrested Development to The Sarah Silverman Program and Men in Black II. His actions against police cost him a job.

June 24, 2024: 100 life-size elephant sculptures made by artisans in Tamil Nadu, India, arrive in Newport, R.I., via the Port of New York — the first stop on a year-long cross-country journey.

June 24, 2024: 100 life-size elephant sculptures made by artisans in Tamil Nadu, India, arrive in Newport, R.I., via the Port of New York — the first stop on a year-long, cross-country journey. Sebastian Meyer, Courtesy Elephant Family USA and Newport Restoration Foundation.
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Sebastian Meyer, Courtesy Elephant Family USA and Newport Restoration Foundation.

100 elephants are moving across the U.S. — a herd of life-size replicas

Artisans in southern India made sculptures of elephants they personally knew. The Great Elephant Migration traveling art exhibition aims to spread awareness about conservation efforts.

Author Alice Munro in 2009. Her daughter has come forward with allegations her stepfather abused her as a child and that Munro was aware and stayed with him until his death.

Author Alice Munro in 2009. Her daughter, Andrea Skinner, has come forward with allegations her stepfather abused her as a child and that Munro was aware and stayed with him until his death. Peter Muhly/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Peter Muhly/AFP via Getty Images

Book News & Features

Alice Munro's daughter says her mother did nothing to stop abusive stepfather

Alice Munro died in May at the age of 92. Her daughter Andrea Skinner wrote a Toronto Star op-ed revealing her stepfather abused her as a child for years.

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