If you spent the week doomscrolling #RaptureTok and wondering whether to leave your houseplants a goodbye note, good news: the end times did not arrive on Tuesday. What did show up, however, were a bunch of very earthly headlines.
One very famous network host is back (though not on every station—because why make anything simple in 2025?). Housing kept playing hot-and-cold depending on your ZIP code, retail nostalgia made a crafty comeback, and beverage brands learned that promising better guts requires better evidence.
Michaels brings back Joann with new shop-in-shop rollout
Months after acquiring Joann’s intellectual property, Michaels is reviving the beloved crafts brand via two in-store experiences. “The Knit & Sew Shop” is rolling out across U.S. and Canadian locations, bringing back favorites like Big Twist yarn plus fabric-cutting tables and new sewing machines. A second concept, “The Party Shop,” expands into party goods—balloon bars included—as Michaels positions itself as a one-stop destination for creativity and celebrations. Not everyone’s cheering; some Joann loyalists see it as Michaels trying to become Joann (and maybe Party City) in all but name.
TikTok goes apocalyptic with #RaptureTok
Just in case your week wasn’t already stressful, TikTok briefly convinced millions that the Rapture was scheduled for Tuesday. The viral “RaptureTok” trend started after a South African pastor predicted Jesus’s return for September 23 or 24. Some former Evangelicals chimed in with stories of lingering “Rapture trauma,” while creators like @sonj779 leaned into parody with “Rapture Trip Tips.” In the end, doomsday didn’t arrive—but the algorithm still delivered plenty of end-times content
Zillow maps the hottest and coldest housing markets
Zillow’s Market Heat Index pegs the national market at a neutral 52, but the map is anything but uniform. Sellers hold the upper hand in several Northeast and Midwest metros (think Rochester, Buffalo, Hartford), while buyers have leverage in parts of the Gulf and Southwest Florida, plus pockets of Texas and the Midwest. Inventory build-ups and days-on-market trends are driving these splits. The takeaway: pricing power is hyperlocal—your negotiating stance changes fast once you cross county lines.
Jimmy Kimmel returns to late night after Disney suspension
After nearly a week off the air following controversy over on-air remarks, Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned to ABC this week. Most affiliates aired the show, but station groups Nexstar and Sinclair say they’ll keep preempting it for now. Viewers who can’t catch it locally still have streaming and clip options.
Amazon settles Prime case; $1.5B set aside for user refunds
Amazon reached a $2.5 billion settlement with the FTC this week over allegations it used deceptive tactics to enroll customers in Prime and then made it too hard to cancel. The deal includes a record $1 billion civil penalty and a $1.5 billion fund for affected users, plus UI changes to simplify canceling.
Poppi agrees to $8.9 million settlement over ‘gut healthy’ claims
Prebiotic soda Poppi will pay $8.9 million to settle a class action alleging its “gut healthy” marketing outpaced the science. Shoppers who bought between January 23, 2020, and July 18, 2025, can file claims (without receipts up to $16 per household; more with proof). Final approval is slated for November, with payments after court sign-off. It’s a reminder that functional-health branding draws both customers and lawyers—bring receipts, and preferably peer-reviewed ones.
Trump promotes unproven Tylenol-autism and vaccine links
At a White House presser, the president suggested ties between acetaminophen, vaccine timing, and autism. The claims are widely rejected by medical experts. Major medical organizations reiterated Tylenol’s appropriateness during pregnancy and emphasized decades of evidence against a vaccine-autism link. The administration framed new efforts as a broader push to study autism’s causes. Health pros warn that mixed messages risk real-world harms if patients avoid needed care.
Senate report flags DOGE cloud risks to Social Security data
A Senate report this week alleges that Elon Musk’s DOGE moved sensitive Social Security and employment data to an inadequately secured cloud environment. Whistleblowers and internal risk assessments cited a high likelihood of a catastrophic breach. Lawmakers are calling for an immediate halt and tighter oversight.
Costco ahi tuna poke recalled over potential listeria
An FDA-announced recall covers more than 3,300 pounds of Kirkland Signature Ahi Tuna Wasabi Poke tied to contaminated green onions. Sold in 33 states with pack date 9/18/25 and sell-by 9/22/25, the product should be discarded or returned; no illnesses have been reported. Listeria can be serious for vulnerable groups and during pregnancy. It’s the latest in a string of quality-control headaches for big-box private labels—check your fridge before your next sushi-night shortcut.
