Sweet Diplomacy and the Dollhouse of Our Childhood Dreams
Amid some big headlines this week, we found a tiny one out of Windsor Castle ...👇🏽
“This is a miniature mansion such as the King & Queen might live in.”
Sir Edwin Lutyens in a 1923 letter to Lord Haig, describing Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House.
First Lady Melania Trump toured Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and Royal Library with Queen Camilla this week during a State Visit. The dollhouse was completed in 1924 for Queen Mary, with more than 1,500 artists contributing. Even more amazing? “The House was intended to be as true to life as possible. It even includes electricity, running water, and working lifts.”
P.S. We heard from many of you this week that you love the pomp and pageantry of Great Britain’s traditions. This week’s State Visit by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump offered plenty of both – here’s the royal family’s full recap with photos.
🗣️ Your Conversation Starters:
Indefinite Suspension: ABC announced Wednesday it’s pulling late-night host Jimmy Kimmel off the air following controversial comments about the murder of Charlie Kirk. Whether the show will return remains TBD. In her latest podcast, Jenna takes you behind the scenes of life as a broadcaster and untangles this swirling story.
WATCH ABOVE OR BY CLICKING HERE. You can also listen on podcasting platforms everywhere (Apple, Spotify).
Ground Offensive: Israel launched its occupation of Gaza City earlier this week, saying control of the city is necessary to root out Hamas. The terrorist group says this ends all hopes for a hostage deal. Meanwhile, independent experts appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council concluded in a report this week that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Read the full report here.
Interest Rates: The Fed announced their decision to cut the federal funds rate (the rate banks lend to each other) by a quarter percentage point to about 4.1%, down from 4.3%. But what does that mean for mortgage rates?
Suing Starbucks: Starbucks employees in three states sue the company over out-of-pocket costs tied to its new dress code. The lawsuit comes as the Department of War cracks down on grooming standards for service members.
“Pattern, Not a Coincidence”: As more details on the Evergreen High School shooting emerge, one expert notices a “disturbing” trend in online subcultures.
“3 Trillion Club”: Alphabet, Google's parent company, joined Nvidia, Apple and Microsoft in crossing the $3 trillion market cap, just over 20 years after its stock debut. Not a bad birthday gift.
Life on Mars: NASA announced a “groundbreaking discovery” - a potential biosignature in a Martian mudstone sample. But does that mean aliens? Too soon to tell.
ChatGPT ID: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced age verification for ChatGPT, introducing a system to sort users into adult and adolescent groups. The move comes as AI companies face heightened scrutiny over how their tools interact with young users.
Latchkey Kids: While some states have laws regarding when kids can be left home alone, many experts say it should depend on the kid. This helpful article breaks down factors to consider.
“Moral Responsibility”: How Shaquille O’Neal described his decision to help a dad after a house fire took the lives of four of his five daughters.
End of a (Horse-Drawn) Era? NYC Mayor Eric Adams supports a bill to end horse-drawn carriages, which have a 150-year history in the city, citing safety concerns and recent incidents.
🎙️ This Week From Jenna:
WATCH ABOVE OR BY CLICKING HERE. You can also listen on podcasting platforms everywhere (Apple, Spotify).
🎙️ SCOOP (approx. 71 minutes) Why Charlie Kirk’s Murder Matters. Listen. (SCOOP Insiders can attend this live broadcast once a week and get their news questions answered; they also receive the special video report EXCLUSIVELY delivered to their inbox along with a "cheat sheet" for the week ahead — learn more HERE).
🙌🏽 What We Found SmartHER This Week:
🍁 The SmartHER Fall Essential: Inspired by FLOTUS' recent look, we did a roundup of the best trench coats – from the iconic Burberry splurge (because hey, a girl can dream) to smart, budget-friendly picks we can actually add to our closets. Our favorite? This Banana Republic Factory trench features a timeless look, top-quality and is on MAJOR SALE. Now that's our kind of buy. 👇🏽
“It was a great morning for all involved, particularly for the young people involved.”
Chief Scout Dwayne Fields, commenting on the morning Catherine, Princess of Wales, and First Lady Melania Trump spent with 20 Squirrel Scouts.
Princess Catherine and First Lady Melania watched the Squirrel Scouts as they earned their “Go Wild” badges and participated in the badge ceremony. The outing was especially sweet for the scouts, who received honey from Princess Catherine’s hives and a jar of White House honey from First Lady Melania.
Credit: The Prince and Princess of Wales
And that's The Weekend Digest!
❤️,
Jenna and the SHN Team
Daily news, interviews, our latest podcasts and more at www.SmartHERNews.com.
