Your weekend must reads🗞️
President-elect Donald Trump's talk of tariffs has consumers scrambling to know what that might mean for their wallet. A national push to test rape kits has failed to free those wrongfully convicted of sex crimes. And the world's first full-time Taylor Swift reporter dishes on the crazy year he spent following the globe-spanning Eras Tour.
Welcome to the weekend! John Riley here. I realize that many of you are just killing time until the college football conference championship games. I get it. But still, do take a moment beforehand to soak in some great of these stories from Paste BN. Or read them during the commercials!
But first: Buying a Christmas tree? Keep it real. 🎄 If you're getting a real Christmas tree this weekend, here's how to choose one and care for it.
How will Trump's tariffs affect you?
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to impose import tariffs on products entering the United States from Mexico, Canada and China. A tariff is a tax, and most economists believe consumers will eventually foot at least part of the bill. Naturally, consumers have questions: Which products will cost more? When will prices rise? Should I rush out and buy stuff now? 👉 Here are some answers.
Untested rape kits may leave the innocent in prison
Federal officials who pledged millions of dollars to test backlogged rape kits promised sexual predators would be brought to justice – and wrongfully convicted prisoners would be exonerated. But after nine years of the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, Paste BN has been able to confirm just one exoneration as a result of the grant program. 🕵️ Why thousands of kits are still untested.
What's like to spend a year covering Taylor Swift
Last year, Paste BN made a media splash (well ... maybe a ripple) by making Bryan West the world's first full-time, dedicated Taylor Swift reporter. Over 13 months, West has posted 501 articles, made 42 television appearances, published 974 photos, edited 38 videos, filmed a documentary and written a book. "It's been the adventure of a lifetime," he says. 🎶 Here's what it was like.
- Perfect gift for Swifties: Celebrate her Eras Tour with Paste BN's enchanting book
Happy holidays
- White Christmas? Map shows probability of snow this holiday season ❄️
- Top Christmas movies ranked: You've got your favorites; here are ours.
- European-style Christmas markets: Get Old World charm without leaving the States
- Letters to Santa: How to send a letter to the North Pole 🎅
Keep scrolling: There are more great stories below.👇 Thanks for reading.