In September 2018, our readers were swept into a whirlwind of news from Capitol Hill, tracked secret White House recordings, followed the devastation of Hurricane Florence, and discovered GoFundMe cash that had vanished. You also gained tips on how to live healthier lives, remembered a beloved Hollywood icon, and delighted in the red carpet arrivals at the 2018 Emmy Awards.
Through your readership on MSN, you gathered information, formed opinions, and sparked conversations that will shape our collective future. Here’s a look at the stories that emerged as most captivating for you (and us) in September.
Supreme Court Nomination
During the month of September, you read over 1,400 stories on MSN about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The top story on focused on the Supreme Court nominee and Christine Blasey Ford, who had accused the federal judge of sexual misconduct while both were in high school. Millions of MSN users read a story provided by Quartz after the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing: Brett Kavanaugh’s friend Mark Judge speaks out after Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony.
Although not present at the September 27th Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Mark Judge’s name came up repeatedly during Ford’s testimony. Christine Blasey Ford, a 51-year-old research psychologist and professor at Palo Alto University, claims that Judge was in the same room when Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a high school party in the early ‘80s. You were interested in learning more about Mark Judge’s background (provided by the Washington Post) and why was he holed up in a beach house in Delaware amid a media firestorm (provided by The Washington Post).
On September 27th, a community of over a million MSN users tuned in to live coverage of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, provided by CBS News, during which Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford were questioned by senators on the committee as well as a career prosecutor enlisted by the Republicans.
Omarosa Releases a Tape
Though the official start of autumn hadn’t yet arrived, the release of a White House secret recording by Omarosa Manigault-Newman created a shift in temperature of another sort. The Former Trump aide released a tape of Sarah Huckabee Sanders agreeing with President Trump’s ‘lies’ (provided by The Daily Beast). Manigault-Newman’s recording from October 2017 revealed Trump crashed a White House meeting and proceeded to tell staffers that “the real Russia story is Hillary and collusion.” You followed along from breaking news to the wind-down of coverage, reading over 200 stories with us.
Burt Reynolds
On the afternoon of September 6, we learned of Burt Reynolds’ passing. The charismatic star of such films as Deliverance, Boogie Nights, The Longest Yard and Smokey and the Bandit, passed away at age 82 from cardiopulmonary arrest (provided by The Hollywood Reporter). Following the film legend’s death, celebrities including Mark Wahlberg, Steve Harvey, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Patton Oswalt took to social media to share their thoughts (provided by Billboard). Reynolds was Hollywood’s top-grossing star from 1978 through 1982 and at one point in 1978, had four movies playing in theaters at the same time.
Police Raid NJ Couple’s Home After $400k in GoFundMe Cash Disappears
On the same day of Reynolds’ death, police raided the home of New Jersey couple Katie McClure and Mark D’Amico (provided by Insider). The couple was ordered to appear in court to explain what happened to the $400,000 GoFundMe cash they raised for Johnny Bobbitt in late 2017. The story went viral last year when Bobbitt gave McClure his last $20 for gas when she was stranded, which prompted her to create a GoFundMe page for the homeless man. What started as a feel-good story that everyone loved turned sour: the funds intended for Bobbitt have vanished.
United Takes on Gate Crowding
On September 19, responding to customer complaints about gate crowding, United Airlines responded by testing a new boarding process (provided by CNBC). United reduced the boarding lines to two from five and urged travelers to wait until their boarding group is called. After 12,000 test runs, United is hoping that the new process will create less congestion and angst from customers.
Navigating Modern Life
While you avidly followed the news of the day, you also attended to the needs of today’s modern life, engaging with stories about foods to improve your health, warning signs of heart disease, and tips to effective and healthy weight loss. You learned about the science-backed health benefits of bananas (provided by Prevention), a portable and affordable snack, which bundles a powerful punch with potassium, fiber, and B6. You were also interested in the latest trends and ideas for weight-loss (provided by Reader’s Digest). Did you know that what you eat before you go grocery shopping can influence what and how much you purchase? Since more than 60 million Americans have some form of heart disease, you learned more about unusual warning signs of cardiovascular disease (provided by Indy100) and reasons to consult with your healthcare professional.
The 2018 Emmy Awards
From the red carpet arrivals (provided by Wonderwall) to Glenn Weiss’ proposal (provided by ET) to best and worse moments, this year’s Emmys didn’t disappoint. Delighted by the wispy powder blue Vera Wang original worn by Issa Rae, as well as the hot pink Valentino ballgown worn by Tracee Ellis Ross, you poured through hundreds of stories covering the event’s fashion and beauty unforgettable moments.
Compassion and Action
As Hurricane Florence swept into the eastern coast, we tracked it’s progress (MSN’s hurricane tracker) and grieved as the massive flooding and wind devastated homes, businesses and lives. You followed over 1,300 stories to understand the movement of the storm as well as the impact to families and friends. Then the country reacted with compassion and action: the Cajun Navy responded (provided by WCNC), volunteers converged to rescue people and pets (provided by Fox News), and MSN readers stepped forward with donations to the American Red Cross, North Carolina Community Foundation, Team Rubicon, and Reach Out Worldwide.
To our readers, thanks for taking September’s journey with us, as we learn more about our ever-changing world. Just like you, we’re plugged in, inspired and fascinated by the events of every day – from political news to nutrition trends, celebrity buzz to inspiring stories of good deeds. We look forward to what October will offer.
