‘Mutual Interest' carries echoes of Edith Wharton
In her introduction to 'The House of Mirth' (1905), Edith Wharton explained that she was determined to expose New York high society in the late 1800s as a 'hot-house of tradition and conventions.' Olivia Wolfgang-Smith, in her sharp and lively second novel, 'Mutual Interest,' is after much the same thing. The plot, though, turns on matters that Wharton would have blushed to consider.
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Newsweek
26 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Woman Asked to Dog Sit—but There's a Problem: 'Not Safe'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A woman's first day of dog sitting took an unexpected turn when her furry companion strongly resisted having a leash put on. In a TikTok video, the creator captured the confusing facial expression—somewhere between a scowl and a growl—that the dog made every time she tried to come close to her with her leash. Newsweek spoke to professional dog trainer Ali Smith about the dog's behavior and how the new sitter can take on the challenge. "Dog sitting day one and she won't let me put her leash on," the creator captioned the video. "That collar took me abt 2 hours to put on I sat on the couch and she finally came up to me and let me put it on." A dog growls on the couch with its owner. A dog growls on the couch with its video shows the dog making a threatening face each time the sitter approaches, making it clear she was not thrilled about the process. The clip resonated with many TikTok users, who offered varied perspectives on the dog's behavior. "Call the owners," a top-liked comment read. "This is not safe behavior!" But another commenter noted the importance of distinguishing between genuine aggression and a dog's quirky expressions. "For me, it depends on whether they're growling or are showing physical signs that they don't want to," they wrote. "I have a dog that I dog-sit and she looks terrifying, but that's just her grinning 'hello.'" Another user jokingly wished their dog had similar self-preservation instincts: "I wish my dog had boundaries like this. She would literally let anybody take her." An Expert Weighs In Newsweek spoke to Smith, CEO and founder at Rebarkable, a puppy-training platform, about the different perspectives on the situation and why the dog might be resistant to the leash. She offered expert insight into why a dog might react negatively to a collar or leash—even with someone familiar. "There are two core reasons that a dog can be weird about a collar, or any piece of equipment," Smith explained. "That's, one, a lack of familiarity [and] two, poor associations with the collar." She added that the lack of familiarity is usually addressed in puppyhood through the process of socialization. Poor association, on the other hand, is simply learned over time. The pup in the video's aversion could have to do with anything related to the collar—even the sound of the buckle, she said. Smith elaborated on how negative experiences can shape a dog's perception: "Similar to how our dogs often learn vets means bad things happen, if a dog gets 'corrected' via a collar, or physically moved with a collar or similar, they can swiftly build negative associations." For those facing similar challenges to the creator, she offered practical advice to ease the process. "Don't always aim for getting the collar on," she advised. "Even showing pup the collar and them not running away can be a good thing. Reward heavily with tasty treats or play, and you'll start seeing your dog's uncertainty of their collar disappear." Newsweek reached out to @m6069884 for comment via TikTok.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Black Woman Left Stunned by Genetics of Both Children: 'Came Out Blonde'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A mom from Colorado was left stunned by her two children who have defied genetics. Nadiyah Luwan Smith (@nadiismiith) posted a clip on TikTok of her two children—both born with blue eyes and blonde hair, despite having predominantly Black and Puerto Rican heritage. In the video, Smith captures her son, Kuhvari X'Xivion Simmons-Smith, who is three-quarters Black and one-quarter white, and her daughter, Malaïa Louwella Smith, who is half Black and half Puerto Rican. Nadiyah Luwan Smith's 6-month-old baby who is one-quarter white and three-quarters black with blonde hair and blue eyes. Nadiyah Luwan Smith's 6-month-old baby who is one-quarter white and three-quarters black with blonde hair and blue eyes. @nadiismiith Both children, however, have inherited features commonly associated with European ancestry: fair skin, blonde hair and blue eyes. Smith's mind was blown by genetics in her multiracial babies. "My son's father is half Black and half white, I'm full Black, so my son is a quarter white and three quarters Black," the 26-year-old told Newsweek. "My daughter's father is Puerto Rican, so she's half Puerto Rican and Black." She and her husband Charles Robert Simmons, 28, were expecting more brown features, since Black is the most dominant race in both cases. Both Smith's parents are Black, with brown hair and brown eyes—traits she inherited as well. Simmons, though adopted, knows his biological father is also Black with brown hair and brown eyes. His mother, however, is white with blonde hair and blue eyes—a genetic detail that turned out to play a key role in their children's appearance. When their son, was born with blonde hair and blue eyes, "we were honestly stunned," Smith said. "The whole pregnancy we were just picturing a more brown baby considering Black is our most dominant race between us," she continued. "So when he came out blonde hair, blue eyes we had to ask ourselves who he inherited his features from. Sure enough it was grandma!" Smith's clip went viral within a few days of posting. Pinned to her profile, the 20-second clip has been viewed over 312,000 times. Dozens of users commented, many of whom shared their own stories of how genetics have played out in their children. "Mine are opposite! One-quarter Black, three-quarters white. They're all 4 different, but you can tell they're all siblings," one user wrote. "My daughter is half Black, one-quarter Mexican, one-quarter white. She has natural blonde 4a hair," another shared. "My kids are one-quarter Black and three-quarters white and they both didn't get my blue eyes. But my daughter did get light brown straight hair and their dad and I both have dark curly hair. You just never know!"
Politico
16 hours ago
- Politico
‘Not just a party:' World Pride celebrations end with defiant politics on display
After the raucous rainbow-hued festivities of Saturday's parade, the final day of World Pride 2025 in the nation's capital kicked off on a more downbeat note. Thousands gathered under gray skies Sunday morning at the Lincoln Memorial for a rally and protest march, as the community gathers its strength for a looming fight under President Donald Trump's second administration. 'This is not just a party,' Ashley Smith, board president of Capital Pride Alliance. 'This is a rally for our lives.' Smith acknowledged that international attendance numbers for the bi-annual World Pride were measurably down, with many potential attendees avoiding travel to the U.S. due to either fear of harassment or in protest of Trump's policies. 'That should disturb us and mobilize us,' Smith said. Protesters cheered on LGBTQ+ activists taking the stage while waving both traditional Pride flags and flags representing transgender, bisexual, intersex and other communities. Many had rainbow glitter and rhinestones adorning their faces. They held signs declaring 'Fight back,' 'Gay is good,' 'Ban bombs not bathrooms' and 'We will not be erased.' Trump's campaign against transgender protections and oft-stated antipathy for drag shows have set the community on edge, with some hoping to see a renewed wave of street politics in response. 'Trans people just want to be loved. Everybody wants to live their own lives and I don't understand the problem with it all,' said Tyler Cargill, who came wearing an elaborate costume with a hat topped by a replica of the U.S. Capitol building. Wes Kincaid drove roughly 6 hours from Charlotte, North Carolina to attend this year. Sitting on a park bench near the reflecting pond, Kincaid said he made a point of attending this year, 'because it's more important than ever to show up for our community.' Reminders of the cuts to federal government programs were on full display, Sunday. One attendee waved a pole bearing a massive rainbow flag along with a large USAID flag; another held a 'Proud gay federal worker' sign; and a third held an umbrella with the logos of various federal program facing cuts — including the PBS logo. Trump's anti-trans rhetoric had fueled fears of violence or protests targeting World Pride participants; at one point earlier this spring, rumors circulated that the Proud Boys were planning to disrupt this weekend's celebrations. Those concerns prompted organizers to install security fencing around the entire two-day street party on a multi-block stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue. But so far, the only clear act of aggression has been the vandalizing of a queer bar last week. Late Saturday night, there was a pair of violent incidents near Dupont Circle — one of the epicenters of the World Pride celebrations. Two juveniles were stabbed and a man was shot in the foot in separate incidents. The Metropolitan Police Department says it is not clear if either incident was directly related to World Pride. A cold rain began falling around noon Sunday as the rally speakers cut short their comments and prepared to march. Some attendees filtered away while others huddled under umbrellas and ponchos. 'Rain will not stop us, and after rain comes rainbows,' said one speaker from the stage. The speeches didn't just target the Trump administration or the Republican Party. Some turned their ire on Democratic politicians, who they say have wilted under the pressure of Republican control of the White House and both houses of Congress. 'We have to call out people who have abandoned our movement,' said Tyler Hack of the Christopher Street Project. 'Being a Democrat is more than carrying the party affiliation,' Hack added. 'It's about unapologetic support for the trans community.' While the main march headed toward the U.S. Capitol, a separate group splintered off and headed toward the White House, unfurling a large 'TRUMP MUST GO NOW' banner. Those who stayed to brave the weather said their presence amid less-than-ideal circumstances was vital. 'People are still out here, despite the rain, despite their exhaustion,' said Gillian Brewer, a university student studying physics from Silver Spring, Maryland. 'We're not going anywhere.' Brewer expressed some frustration that the turnout for Sunday's protest march was lower than for the World Pride parade the day before, which she decided to skip. 'This is more important,' Brewer added. 'You can party all you want but at the end of the day, the protest is why we can party.' Natalie Farmer, who traveled from San Diego with her wife, attributed the difference in numbers between the march and Saturday's parade to people being tired from celebrating the previous night. 'Some of us have to do the rallying to keep the party going,' Farmer said. 'We all fight in different ways.'
