Good morning. It's Saturday, April 26, and in this weekend edition, we're covering a former congressman's federal sentencing, why waistlines expand in middle age, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4 million intellectually curious readers. Sign up here.
Don’t keep us a secret: Share the email with friends (copy URL here).
And, as always, send us feedback at [email protected]. |
|
|
|
Former US Rep. George Santos was sentenced to over seven years in prison for federal fraud and identity theft yesterday after admitting to deceiving donors and misusing the identities of nearly a dozen people, including family members, to fund his campaign.
The New York Republican—expelled from Congress in 2023 after less than a year in office—pleaded guilty to charges last summer and agreed to pay roughly $580K in fines and serve prison time. The 36-year-old Santos was sentenced to 87 months in prison. His lawyers had sought a sentence of two years, citing Santos' cooperation and acceptance of responsibility; prosecutors had sought at least seven years, arguing Santos had not shown genuine remorse based on his social media activity.
In December 2023, Santos became the sixth House member to be expelled in US history and the first to be removed without being convicted of a crime or supporting the Confederacy. See a timeline of events, including Santos' fabrications, here. |
|
|
|
|
In partnership with Dollar Flight Club |
For $1 Now, Save Up to $2k on Summer Flights |
Please support our sponsors! |
|
|
|
Russian general killed by car bomb outside Moscow.
A senior Russian military leader, Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, was killed by a car bomb containing a homemade explosive device while in a Moscow suburb Friday. The explosion occurred as Moskalik approached a parked vehicle (see footage here; warning—sensitive) and as a US envoy arrived in Moscow for peace talks amid ongoing negotiations over the Russia-Ukraine war.
Pope Francis' funeral to be held today in Vatican City.
The funeral begins at 10 am local time (4 am ET) in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, after three days of lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, where tens of thousands of mourners paid their respects. Unlike his predecessors, who were buried in three nested coffins made of cypress, lead, and elm (symbolizing humility, protection, and dignity), Pope Francis chose to be buried in a wooden coffin. Francis died Monday at the age of 88 of a stroke and irreversible heart failure. See how the next pope is elected here.
FBI arrests Wisconsin judge over obstructing immigration enforcement.
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by the FBI on obstruction charges for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant evade arrest during an immigration operation at her courthouse. The arrest marks the latest enforcement action under the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on undocumented immigrants.
New study sheds light on why our waistlines expand in middle age.
Researchers, in a preclinical study, found that as humans grow older, a specific type of adult stem cell in belly fat becomes highly active, rapidly producing new fat cells and driving the expansion of waistlines in middle age. The process is triggered naturally and occurs in mice and humans, suggesting that targeting these cells could help prevent age-related obesity.
Court ruling opens door to FDA action against Ozempic copycats.
A federal judge in Texas sided with Novo Nordisk in upholding FDA restrictions that now bar pharmacies from making or distributing compounded versions of weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic after the FDA determined the active ingredient, semaglutide, is no longer in shortage in the US. Compounded versions are custom-made drugs prepared by pharmacists when approved medications are unavailable or unsuitable but lack FDA approval. |
|
|
|
Want to learn more about particular topic areas? Sign up for our weekly subject-focused emails, bringing deeply researched overviews paired with the internet's best resources straight to your inbox. Here's what's on tap this week:
Country Music: From its roots in Colonial America to the Grand Ole Opry, explore the genre in this week's 1440 Society & Culture newsletter.
Editor's note: The newsletter comes out at 8:30 am ET this morning; sign up before then to get it in your inbox! Our next newsletter will cover the longform novel, coinciding with the Pulitzer Prizes (join here).
College Tuition: We're taking a hard look at the drivers behind the ever-spiraling costs of higher education in this week's 1440 Business & Finance newsletter.
... and stay tuned for Science & Technology in the coming months! |
|
|
|
Mom plans "Law & Order" themed first birthday party for her daughter, featuring fingerprint cookies and "Ice-T" drinks. (More)
Inside Los Angeles' centuries-old breakfast club, where attendees meet for fun and friendship. (More)
Tennessee brothers save their home from flood with homemade levee. (More)
A young boy, who befriended his sanitation worker for four years, gives a heartfelt goodbye when a change in city contracts ends their weekly visits. (More, w/video)
Teacher recognizes all 19 of her students just by their voices. (More, w/video)
An 83-year-old race car superfan finally gets her chance behind the wheel. (More) |
|
|
In partnership with Legion M |
|
|
|
Today, we're sharing a story from reader Nancy M. in Gilroy, California.
"The other day, my mailman stopped me and told me he liked the sunflower sign in my yard. His daughter passed away last year, and she loved sunflowers. Her favorite flower. When he sees my sign, he thinks of her. I offered him my sign. He said no ... He likes to see it when he delivers my mail. So, naturally, I had to get a sunflower mailbox cover. I am also getting neighbors to do something similar, so when he drives our street, he will see more sunflowers."
What act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here. |
|
|
|
"The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age." |
|
Why 1440? The printing press was invented around the year 1440, spreading knowledge to the masses and changing the course of history. More facts: In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. We’re here to make each one count.
Send us your feedback at [email protected] and help us stay as unbiased as humanly possible. We’re ready to listen.
Interested in reaching intellectually curious readers like you? To become a 1440 partner, apply here. |
*Disclosure: This is a paid advertisement for Legion M’s Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.legionm.com. |
1440 Media 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212 Chicago, IL 60654
Copyright © 2025, 1440 Media, All rights reserved.
J |
|
|
|
|
|
