Burning Man's blowout, Cracker Barrel's cavein, Taylor Swift's big reveal: Week in review Robert Abitbol, USA TODAYAugust 30, 2025 at 3:02 AM Mission accomplished, finally, for SpaceX's Starship Starship finally flew to space and back, and it was superheavy.
- - Burning Man's blowout, Cracker Barrel's cave-in, Taylor Swift's big reveal: Week in review
Robert Abitbol, USA TODAYAugust 30, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Mission accomplished, finally, for SpaceX's Starship
Starship finally flew to space and back, and it was super-heavy. After a series of failures this year and a couple of scrubbed launches for the latest mission, the world's largest rocket blasted off in Texas to a cheering crowd of SpaceX employees before its two stages − the booster known as the Super Heavy and the vehicle Starship − returned to Earth in spectacular controlled vertical splashdowns. The test flight, designed to push the spacecraft to its limits, was an important step for the ship that SpaceX and NASA hope will return astronauts to the moon and one day carry humans to Mars.
Starship's flight in photos: World's largest rocket finally makes it to space and back
Tumult at the top: Are they fired or aren't they?
The White House declared the head of the CDC was fired. She responded: Not so fast. Susan Monarez was ousted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Aug. 27 because of policy clashes with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a dismissal later confirmed by Kennedy's Department of Health and Human Services. Monarez's lawyers, however, countered that only President Donald Trump himself can fire her, so "she remains as CDC director." Meanwhile, three other top CDC officials resigned in protest over the dispute. And in other high-profile-firing news: A day after the CDC shake-up, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook officially sued Trump over her own high-profile ouster, setting up another legal showdown.
After customer backlash, Cracker Barrel buckles
"Old Timer" is staying where he belongs: Kicking back in his old-timey chair. More than two weeks after announcing it was ditching its time-honored logo in favor of a simplified, more contemporary look, Cracker Barrel caved and reversed course. It turns out customers didn't appreciate anyone messing with Cracker Barrel's country-store comfort-food charm, and they didn't hold back. "We thank our guests for sharing your voices," the company told USA TODAY. "We said we would listen, and we have." As one customer had complained to the Victorville (California) Daily Press: "Cracker Barrel always stood out for its uniqueness, but now it's nothing more than a Denny's with a gift shop."
Taylor and Travis' blockbuster reveal
"Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married." With that bombshell on Instagram, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce sent fans over the moon with news that the couple were engaged. The couple shared photos of Swift and Kelce surrounded by flowers, with the NFL star on one knee and a rock the size of a walnut on the superstar singer's finger. Social media, of course, exploded with well-wishes from A-listers and ordinary folks alike, including some Swifties who wondered how they possibly could be expected to go about their daily lives after hearing the news. Said one X poster, "I should be allowed to take the day off work for this."
End of the 'childless cat lady'? Taylor Swift and why her engagement is such a big deal
Tune in👀Logo collection coming soon. Signature product dropping 2026. pic.twitter.com/56zcH9WsPg
— Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) August 25, 2025
Caitlin Clark and Nike are playing ball
It may not have generated the excitement of Taylor Swift's big reveal, but WNBA star Caitlin Clark has been introduced as Nike's next "it" athlete, with her own swoopy logo, signature apparel collection and, of course, her own shoe. The logo features interlocking C's, representing Clark's "magnetic connection with fans around the globe," Nike said. Fans will have to wait till 2026 for the shoe, but a collection of Caitlin Clark sportswear − T-shirts, hoodies, shorts, pants − arrives this fall. As Clark, 23, herself said in her announcement on social media, "Stay tuned" for more gear. − Compiled and written by Robert Abitbol
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Burning Man's big blowout, Taylor Swift's big reveal: Week in review
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