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Let’s put a finger on the pulse of the publishing industry and check in with The Hot List, our monthly look at the books everyone is talking about, whether they’ve read them or not.

Tongues are wagging about Lindy West’s new memoir Adult Braces, and they’ve been wagging about Jeanette McCurdy’s Half His Age since the former Nickelodeon star announced her debut novel last year. Headstrong women who know what they want are often controversial, and readers can’t get enough of these two.

Abby Jimenez’s latest contemporary romance, The Night We Met, is also climbing charts, and the ceiling is extra high in a season without a new Emily Henry book.

Also on the April Hot List:

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Hear our conversation about these and more trending titles on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

The post The Books Everyone is Talking About in April appeared first on Our Story Insight.

“This is sexualizing infancy,” Kelly said on Tuesday’s episode of SiriusXM’s “The Megyn Kelly Show.”

The conservative commentator reacted to a newly released preview for Season 3 of HBO’s hit drama “Euphoria,” which appears to show Sweeney’s character embarking on an OnlyFans-style storyline.

Sydney Sweeney appears in a controversial “Euphoria” teaser that sparked backlash. HBO Max

Kelly described the clip in graphic terms, saying Sweeney is shown “dressed as a baby … sucking on a binky pacifier” with her “legs … completely spread.”

“I can’t believe she agreed to this frankly and was in this,” Kelly said.

The backlash comes as Season 3 of “Euphoria,” which premiered on Sunday, has already sparked controversy over the kink-coded imagery depicted by Sweeney’s character that critics have described as degrading and fetishistic.

Kelly called Sweeney’s pacifier scene “sick” and accused the show of pushing boundaries for shock value.

The former Fox News host also took direct aim at the show’s creator, Sam Levinson.

“I think this guy’s sick … Sam Levinson,” she said.

Megyn Kelly blasted Sydney Sweeney’s “Euphoria” scene as “sexualizing infancy.” The Megyn Kelly Show

She cited reports that Sweeney and other actors who have worked with Levinson on the set of “Euphoria” have pushed back on his suggestions for more nudity in scenes.

Several “Euphoria” actresses, including Sweeney, have spoken out about feeling uncomfortable with the amount of nudity written into the show.

“He constantly wants the women to take their clothes off for, like, scenes that don’t require them to be nude at all,” Kelly said of Levinson.

The HBO drama’s latest teaser suggests a shift in Sydney Sweeney’s character arc. HBO

She framed the controversy as part of a broader cultural problem in Hollywood.

“I think this is another example of Hollywood not understanding at all where the line is,” Kelly said.

“And how most normal people are going to recoil … in response to what’s essentially the sexualization of a child, of a baby.”

The backlash comes as anticipation builds for the next season of “Euphoria,” the HBO drama that helped launch Sweeney to stardom.

The teaser suggests her character, Cassie, may pivot to a social media influencer persona, potentially involving adult content platforms.

Sweeney has addressed concerns about nudity in the series, saying in past interviews that she has pushed back on scenes she felt were unnecessary.

Kelly’s criticism marks a sharp turn from her earlier, more favorable commentary on the actress.

Last year, the podcaster praised Sweeney as a “real” and “natural” beauty while defending her during the backlash over an American Eagle ad campaign in which the actress touted her “great jeans,” punning on “genes.”

Kelly took aim at both Sydney Sweeney and creator Sam Levinson over the themes depicted in the show. HBO

The campaign quickly became a culture-war flashpoint, but American Eagle stood by it — and Sweeney — as the controversy drove massive attention. The company reported surging sales, sold-out denim and a spike in brand awareness.

Kelly applauded Sweeney for largely staying out of the fray at the time, saying she handled the moment “like a boss.”

But Kelly later suggested Sweeney had “caved” to industry pressure after speaking out more directly about the backlash.

The journalist has also criticized some of Sweeney’s wardrobe choices on the red carpet.

Sweeney told People she did the American Eagle ad because she loves the brand and emphasized that she is “against hate and divisiveness,” pushing back on negative interpretations of the campaign.

The Post has sought comment from HBO and reps for Sweeney and Levinson.

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According to an official Facebook post, officers served a search warrant in the 1400 block of 17th Avenue, working alongside federal and local partners. Investigators say the location had been on their radar for some time, citing a recent shooting along with ongoing concerns raised by neighbors and earlier violent incidents linked to the same address.

OPD, in coordination with federal and local law enforcement partners, executed a search warrant at a suspected illegal gambling operation on 4/9/26, in the 1400 block of 17th Avenue.

The investigation began following a recent shooting.

More in the link:https://t.co/twUxnWhxz2 pic.twitter.com/gyCcPoicrn

— Oakland Police Dept. (@oaklandpoliceca) April 13, 2026

When officers entered the property, they detained 10 people. Three of them were arrested because they had outstanding felony warrants, according to police.

Authorities say the search turned up a mix of evidence they believe supports the illegal gambling case. Officers recovered narcotics, a firearm, cash, and equipment associated with gambling operations.

Police have not released the names of those arrested, and they have shared few details about the shooting that helped drive the investigation. They say the case is still active and developing.

Oakland Police illegal gambling raid part of a wider crackdown

Investigators say the operation reflects a general push to respond to community concerns and crack down on locations tied to recurring crime. In this case, police point to neighborhood complaints as a key factor that helped bring attention to the suspected activity.

The department is urging residents to keep reporting suspected illegal gambling or other dangerous activity, saying those tips can help officers step in before situations escalate further.

That enforcement effort comes as authorities pursue related cases tied to underground gambling in Oakland. In a separate case reported by ReadWrite, an alleged illegal casino operator in the city is now facing multiple felony charges.

Police say community reporting plays a critical role in identifying these sites and building cases against those involved.

The April 9 raid was part of a coordinated effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies, though officials have not said how long the investigation had been underway or whether more arrests are expected.

For now, detectives are continuing to review the evidence collected at the scene while they look into whether additional charges could follow. Authorities say the investigation remains open as they track down leads and work to determine the full scope of the suspected operation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oakland Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division.

Featured image: Oakland Police via Facebook

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The chain — which was founded in 1858 — is coming off a 2025 where they shuttered 66 stores, including one in Los Angeles.

The company announced in 2024 that they would close 150 underperforming stores by the end of 2026, coming off the heels of Tony Spring being named the company’s new CEO.

Department store chain Macy’s is set to shutter 14 store locations around the country, two of which are in California. Getty Images

The company announced in 2024 that they would close 150 underperforming stores by the end of 2026, coming off the heels of Tony Spring being named the company’s new CEO. Getty Images

Two of the 14 stores to be closed are in California – one in La Mesa at the Grossmont Center and another in Tracy at the West Valley Mall, according to the Desert Sun.

One of the stores at the Pittsburgh Mills Mall in Tarentum, Penn. will close on April 26, according to TribLive and WTAE.

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The other stores listed below are set to close sometime in the first half of this year, though no specific closing dates have not been confirmed.

• 4880 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia
• 7900 Ritchie Hwy., Glen Burnie, Maryland
• 3850 Rivertown Parkway SW, Michigan
• 4101 W Division St., Saint Cloud, Minnesota
• 50 Fox Run Rd., Newington, New Hampshire
• 112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston, New Jersey
• 225 Interstate Shopping Center, Ramsey, New Jersey
• 1255 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst, New York
• 3801 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, North Carolina
• 5488 South Padre Island Dr., Corpus Christi, Texas
• 17855 Southcenter Parkway, Tukwila, Washington

It’s unclear when the company plans to announce the final wave of store closures before the end of this calendar year.

The company revealed that the closures would be announced on a rolling basis, as they continue to evaluate regional store performances.

The closures will help the company cut costs and also focus on high-performing stores along with luxury brands and digital shopping experiences for their customers.

The post Macy’s stores set to close in California appeared first on Our Story Insight.

For the past hundred years, the coveted Guggenheim fellowship has granted funds “to exceptional individuals in pursuit of scholarship in any field of knowledge and creation in any art form.” Today, the Guggenheim Foundation announced its class of 2026.

Given resources to work under the “freest possible conditions,” the Guggenheim fellow is typically at the top of their field. This being Lit Hub, here are all the fellows recognized this year for their significant contributions to the literary arts.

Prose (Fiction, Nonfiction, Criticism)

Andre Alexis

Jessica Anthony

Elisa Gabbert

Amitav Ghosh

Elizabeth Goodstein

Donovan Hohn

Christoph Irmscher

Lucy Ives

Marlon James

Bret Anthony Johnston

John J. Lennon

Joseph Luzzi

Megha Majumdar

Anders Nilsen

Emily Ogden

Pamela Petro

Maurice Ruffin

Namwali Serpell

Madeleine Thien

Poetry

Raymond Antrobus

Paula Bohince

Heather Christle

Myronn Hardy

Christopher Kempf

Suji Kwock Kim

Edgar Kunz

Rickey Laurentiis

Vivek Narayanan

V. Penelope Pelizzon

Drama & Performance Art

Penny Arcade

Stephanie Fleischmann

Haruna Lee

Ralph B. Peña

Alva Rogers

Elaine Romero

You can find the full list of fellows—including the academics, researchers, scientists, musicians, filmmakers, and fine artists who fall out of our jurisdiction—here.

Congratulations, class of 2026!

The post » Meet this year’s literary Guggenheim fellows. appeared first on Our Story Insight.

The stock dropped roughly 2% intraday after initially plunging more than 4% at the open — even as the bank reported earnings and revenue that topped expectations.

Investors also weighed the potential impact of the Iran conflict on dealmaking and market activity.

Goldman posted net income of $5.63 billion on revenue of $17.23 billion for the quarter, with earnings per share of $17.55 — topping analyst estimates of $16.49 per share on revenue of about $16.97 billion.

Goldman Sachs boss David Solomon warned that geopolitical tensions could weigh on dealmaking and market activity if they persist. REUTERS

But the strong headline results were overshadowed by a sharp miss in a key business line: fixed-income trading.

Revenue from fixed income, currencies and commodities — known as FICC — came in at roughly $4 billion, falling short of expectations by as much as $900 million, according to estimates cited by analysts.

The shortfall in FICC, a core driver of institutional trading revenue, weighed heavily on investor sentiment and sparked concerns about whether trading conditions are beginning to soften.

Weakness wasn’t limited to trading. The firm’s asset and wealth management division generated $4.08 billion in revenue, falling roughly $140 million short of analyst expectations.

At the same time, Goldman reported a larger-than-expected provision for credit losses, booking about $315 million — more than double the roughly $150 million analysts had anticipated.

Goldman Sachs shares fell Monday despite strong earnings, as investors focused on weak spots in trading and rising credit costs. Google Market

The higher provision raised questions about potential stress in the bank’s lending portfolio and exposure to private credit markets.

It was the bank’s largest increase in loan loss provisions since 2020, Wells Fargo analyst Mike Mayo said in a note cited by CNBC.

Nonetheless, the company offered to a positive take on the first-quarter results.

“Goldman Sachs delivered very strong performance for our shareholders this quarter, even as market conditions became more volatile,” CEO David Solomon said.

“Our clients continue to depend on us for high quality execution and insights amid the broader uncertainty, and we remain confident in how we’ve positioned our businesses.”

Speaking on a conference call later Monday, Solomon said dealmaking activity has remained resilient but warned he is closely tracking developments in Iran and the broader Middle East region.

“If the resolution of the conflict drags, that probably will be a headwind in some of these areas, particularly inflation trends as we get further into the second and the third quarter,” Solomon said. “So we’ll have to watch that.”

Shares of Goldman Sachs declined after a key trading division underperformed expectations. REUTERS

Solomon also struck an optimistic tone on dealmaking, saying executives he has spoken with “believe they have an opportunity to drive scale and consolidation” that wasn’t possible under the Biden administration.

Some analysts warned that the outlook for dealmaking remains uncertain.

“The absence of a material increase in [investment banking] activity over a sustained period and/or a cool-down in market performance could lead to disappointment and a sharp correction,” Saul Martinez, head of US financials research at HSBC, told the Wall Street Journal.

Investors appeared to look past the firm’s strong performance in other areas.

Equities trading revenue surged to a record level during the quarter, while investment banking fees rebounded sharply amid a pickup in dealmaking activity.

Shares of JPMorgan Chase rose about 0.8%, while Bank of America gained roughly 0.7%, reflecting a modestly positive tone across large-cap lenders.

The broader KBW Bank Index was little changed, pointing to a flat-to-slightly-positive session for the sector, while the Invesco KBW Bank ETF hovered in the mid-$80s range.

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Ashley Morgan, a debt and bankruptcy attorney in Virginia, sees the gaps up close. She questions whether limiting a single payment option can do much when people can shift funds in minutes.

“Not being able to use credit cards on gambling apps may help reduce credit card debt for a few people,” she told ReadWrite, “but many people will just use their credit cards for their other expenses.” In everyday life, that can mean using a debit card to place bets while quietly leaning on credit for rent, groceries, or utilities.

Not being able to use credit cards on gambling apps may help reduce credit card debt for a few people, but many people will just use their credit cards for their other expenses. Once the debt is in cash form, it is easy to use those funds to gamble.

Ashley Morgan,

Morgan says some people go a step further. They take out personal loans or pull cash advances, turning credit into spendable cash before they ever open a betting app. “Once the debt is in cash form, it is easy to use those funds to gamble,” Morgan adds.

She also points to a lesser-discussed pressure point, i.e. taxes. Recent changes to federal rules mean gamblers can no longer fully offset winnings with losses, which can leave people owing more than they expect. “The tax issues with gambling are likely to keep getting worse,” she says. “Previously, you could zero out any winnings by your losses… but now winnings are only offset by up to 90%.” For frequent bettors, that can translate into taxes on money they didn’t actually keep, adding another layer of financial strain even as access to credit tightens.

Credit card bans create workarounds as gambling rules tighten

What Morgan describes shows how quickly behavior adjusts. When one door closes, another often opens, especially in a system where money moves instantly between accounts.

Restrictions still have an effect, just not always the one lawmakers expect. Instead of stopping gambling, they often change how people organize their finances around it.

When players are restricted to debit or bank-based methods, their spending becomes better aligned with available cash, which thus adds a natural restraint.

E.J. Simonsen, EIDLexit Founder and Business FInance Advisor

Adding to the conversation, E.J. Simonsen, a business finance advisor and founder of EIDLexit, says those changes can still matter. Even small barriers can influence decisions in the moment.

“Restricting credit cards is one way to mitigate a particular risk of gambling with borrowed money,” he explains. He points to a simple difference. Paying with a debit card or bank transfer forces people to look at what they actually have.

That awareness can slow things down. “Their spending becomes better aligned with available cash, which thus adds a natural restraint.”

For some users, that pause is enough to rethink a bet. For others, it just shifts where the money comes from.

States set new limits on borrowing for bets

Lawmakers are starting to act on the idea that limiting access to borrowed funds can reduce the most damaging behavior.

Maine has already adopted a strict rule. Under House Bill 2080, bettors cannot use credit cards for sports wagering or online casino play. Operators must enforce the ban across mobile apps and physical locations.

Illinois is considering a similar move. House Bill 4149 would block credit card deposits and also stop cash advances at casino ATMs, closing a common path people use to get around restrictions. Even Ohio has announced equivalent measures.

NOW: Ohio Republican lawmakers are introducing two different bills to overhaul the sports gaming/gambling system:

– No online bets
– Ban on in-game, prop and parlay bets
– Limits wagers to $100
– No ads during games
– No using credit cards to bet
@WEWS @WCPO @OhioCapJournal pic.twitter.com/HwGbqnR89a

— Morgan Trau (@MorganTrau) April 8, 2026

These initiatives reflect a shared concern. Easy access to high-interest credit at the moment of betting can deepen losses quickly. Removing that option may not stop gambling, but it can limit how fast debt builds.

The industry has already begun to adjust. DraftKings and FanDuel have scaled back credit card deposits in several markets. BetMGM has taken similar steps in certain states.

Credit card payments carry risks for operators, including fraud and chargebacks. Disputed transactions can create headaches for companies and customers alike.

Last week, I asked sports betting companies about Americans getting scammed by credit card companies when placing sports bets — to the tune of a $10 junk fee just to fund a $20 bet.

Glad to see Fanduel take action to protect consumers from these junk fees, joining DraftKings.… https://t.co/0Qmum9YpeK

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 11, 2026

As a result, the funding mix is shifting. Debit cards, ACH transfers, and digital wallets now handle most deposits, nudging users toward spending money they already have access to, rather than money they owe.

Behavior shifts more than outcomes change

So do these bans actually reduce harm? The answer depends on what you measure.

If the goal is to eliminate problem gambling or erase debt tied to betting, the evidence suggests that’s unlikely. People who want to gamble often find another way to fund it.

If the goal is narrower, the picture looks different. Blocking credit cards at the point of play removes a fast, easy way to gamble with borrowed money, often at steep interest rates.

That can alter how decisions are made. A bettor who has to move money from a bank account or think about a balance may hesitate, even briefly. Sometimes that hesitation matters.

As Simonsen puts it, the goal is not to eliminate risk entirely, but to reintroduce limits into a fast-moving digital market: “When players are restricted to debit or bank-based methods, their spending becomes better aligned with available cash.”

Morgan keeps her focus on the bigger issue. As long as financial stress and gambling habits remain in place, she expects people to keep finding workarounds.

Featured image: Canva

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