Some great motivation for those who think they won't be able to follow through. via Karen X


President Donald Trump is facing criticism now that officials are scrambling to explain why the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is coated with what they've referred to as "residual algae," creating an eyesore at one of Washington, D.C.'s most cherished attractions.
Although the Trump administration praised the project and said the nation's capital looked "better than ever" after the reservoir reopened, signs of algae growth were visible along the water's edge just one day after it was refilled.
CNN observed a worker removing algae from the bottom of the pool during a visit on Wednesday.
In response to questions about the issue, Interior Department communications director Kate Martin said the algae was a normal byproduct of restarting the Reflecting Pool's operations and described it as leftover, or "residual," growth from the renovation process.
She added:
“President Donald J. Trump is an expert builder who has fixed the Reflecting Pool for good unlike the failed and extremely costly attempt by Obama and Biden."
But CNN's footage doesn't back her up, and liberal activist Brian Krassenstein shared it, remarking:
"HOLY CRAP: Trump’s $10 million renovation of the reflecting pool is already filled with algae just days after it opened. Is this what you all voted for?"
You can see the footage below.
Similarly, strategist and influencer Christopher Webb remarked that he'd "been saying" that the Reflecting Pool "was going to end up looking like a green swamp, not blue," adding:
"I just didn’t expect it to happen this fast. One day after it was filled, there’s already a ton of algae. And let’s be clear: this dude vacuuming the bottom is only part of the process. Without filtration and chemical treatment, the algae is here to stay."
You can see his post below.
The sight of the Reflecting Pool in its current state looks even worse when you consider that Trump often criticized the condition of the pool, describing it as unsanitary and poorly maintained. He argued, just as Martin did in her statement, that earlier administrations had neglected necessary repairs, allowing leaks and other infrastructure problems to persist.
The renovation's price tag also stings: Trump initially estimated the project would cost about $1.8 million, but subsequent figures climbed to $13.1 million before ultimately reaching roughly $14.2 million.
This is the result—and people aren't happy about it.
Earlier this month, Trump was mocked after sharing a chart with reporters that compared the length of the Reflecting Pool to the heights of several skyscrapers.
Trump praised the “very special material” being used in the overhaul of the Reflecting Pool—we saw how that worked out—and displayed a chart labeled “Our Pool is Bigger than Skyscrapers,” using it to compare the pool’s dimensions with the heights of several well-known landmarks, including New York’s Empire State Building.
As much as Trump bragged he didn't seem to get that while the raw measurements may be numerically accurate, the comparison creates a distorted impression of scale because people intuitively experience skyscrapers as height, not length.
A video, shared on X by @Suzierizzo1, of an incredibly racist woman at a ShopRite market in Stamford, Connecticut, recently went viral after the inflammatory things she said to a fellow customer.
In the shared video, the woman was standing at a customer service station, demanding to pay for a handful of items while other customers were there to return products.
Though it was unclear from the short video why she behaved this way, she told the customer who was recording to "go back to your f**king country" and to "eat your bacon," obviously body-shaming her in addition to racially profiling her.
You can watch the video here:
Viewers were infuriated by the woman's comments and began to do what the internet does best: research.
It was soon uncovered that the video was originally posted by TikToker Sarina Gupta, who was the woman recording the video as well as who that the other woman was insulting.
The other woman has also been identified as Victoria L. Mason, a nurse at Nathaniel Witherell Nursing Home in Greenwich, Connecticut.
On Gupta's TikTok page, she shared the original, full-length video, clocked at four and a half minutes long and with even more derogatory language about Gupta's race, appearance, beauty, clothing, skin, and rudeness.
According to a storytime video that Gupta later posted, it was her birthday that day, and after celebrating with her family, she had a few items to return and exchange, prompting her to stop at the ShopRite on her way home. She went to the customer service desk, which was a little slower to process returns than usual, when Mason approached, demanding to make her purchases there rather than at a standard checkout line.
Trying to be friendly, Gupta turned to her and pointed out that it seemed to be taking longer than usual, and that Mason might want to go to a different line, just so she didn't waste too much of her time.
Gupta's kindness was lost on Mason, who went on a tirade about her "needing to return her items before she returned to her own country" and a lengthy tirade about her "disgusting purchases" and comments about her body, weight, and appearance.
The portion of the video that became a viral clip appeared toward the end of the video, right after Mason also recorded Gupta and said she'd "see her on Instagram" and threatened to doxx her.
You can watch the storytime video here:
@guptasarina Replying to @Jadzia Nerys Storytime of Victoria Mason’s racist attacks on me, telling me to go back to my country #stamford #greenwich #nurse #hate #fyp
Fellow TikTokers were supportive of Sarina Gupta and fully disagreed with Mason's comments.










After the video went viral across multiple social platforms, and both Mason's and Gupta's identities were made available, Nathaniel Witherell Nursing Home released a statement regarding certain questionable activity.
A spokesperson wrote:
"Nathaniel Witherell is aware of a video circulating on social media involving an individual identified as one of our employees."
"We are deeply troubled by the comments made in the video."
"These remarks do not reflect the values, policies, or culture of Nathaniel Witherell. We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding hate speech, discrimination, and harassment in any form."
Though Nathaniel Witherell states that they have launched an "internal investigation," it's unclear what the future holds for Victoria L. Mason.
Such hateful commentary shouldn't be welcome in any spaces, and employees should be properly trained to deal with instances like these when they arise.
A woman shared an important reminder to stay alert, trust your gut, and stay safe out there after she was stalked by an unidentified man on her morning run.
The video was cross-posted to X by @LeahRain77, in which the woman explained that her alertness and the slight change to her routine that morning may have saved her life.
The woman explained that she left her house with her dog around 7:30 in the morning and went on her morning run.
While out, a man approached her directly and complimented her on her "cute dog." Though she remembered the interaction, the guy was otherwise pretty unmemorable.
The woman also explained that, usually, she would take the same path with her dog and then go straight home to make breakfast. But that day, she just wanted to do something different and grab breakfast at a cafe that had seating to include her dog.
To her surprise, a man approached her table and greeted her with a bright, "Hello!" She looked at him for a moment, struggling to place him, when she realized it was the same man from earlier that morning who had complimented her dog.
As he sat down in the booth diagonally across from her, she tried to assume it was a coincidence that they had run into each other again for the second time that morning, despite never seeing that man before, and despite there being a considerable difference between where they met and the cafe.
She recalled having a feeling in her body that suggested "danger," especially when it appeared that the man was taking videos and photographs of her from his booth.
Fortunately, before the man arrived, the woman had greeted her waitress and complimented her on her perfume. She called the waitress over, pretending to ask her if she could write down the name of her perfume for her, while she held up a napkin that she'd written a note on, saying that she thought the man was following her and questioning if the waitress could help her leave.
The waitress understood immediately what was going on and got her manager to assist. The manager and the woman pretended to be at the beginning of a job interview, and the manager walked her and her dog to the back.
The waitress approached her and confirmed that the man had been recording her and taking photographs the entire time, prompting her to think that this might have been the early stages of a potential human trafficking situation.
Despite having a dog with her, the manager and the rest of the staff allowed the pair to pass through the kitchen, so they could exit through the back door, while the man remained at his table, unaware. The woman then quickly led her dog home before the man could catch on.
Looking back, she appreciated that she recognized the man and that she'd also led him to a restaurant instead of her home by going out to breakfast. The waitress acting quickly and getting her out surely also made all the difference.
You can watch the video here:
Fellow X users urged women in situations like this to make a scene and call the potential stalkers out.
It's important to note that this woman came out safe because she paid attention to her surroundings and asked for help when she needed it.
While some felt that she should have made a scene to call attention to the man's behavior, hopefully the restaurant did something about him after she and her dog had safely escaped.
Fans have said since the beginning of her career that Taylor Swift is one of us, with the same big heart and interests she would have if she hadn't found stardom.
For those who remain unconvinced, the Toy Story 5 premiere might just do the trick.
Swift was invited along with many other celebrities and influencers to the red carpet premiere of Toy Story 5, which featured its full cast, Disney's costumed characters, and endless nostalgia wound tightly into the franchise.
While at the premiere, Swift tentatively approached the cast, Tom Hanks (Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear), and Joan Cusack (Jesse) all standing together, before showing them the original VHS tape of the first Toy Story film that she's had since she was young.
The cast, especially Hanks, were clearly over the moon at this surprise, but what really made the moment even more touching was when she asked them to sign the cover of the VHS case.
In a photo, Hanks signs the VHS case while Cusack smiles at Swift. Conan O'Brien watches and smiles in the background, and Greta Lee is seen just out of frame.
Fans were touched by Swift's obvious love and nostalgia for the series, despite being famous herself.
This might seem over-the-top to some, but these films were produced during a lot of Millennials' formative years, transforming their outlook on friendship, loyalty, and their connection to stuffed toys and animatronics forever.
Clearly, Taylor Swift also had an excellent time.
Swift probably just fulfilled a lot of Millennials' dreams. Having an original VHS tape of a movie she grew up with, walking that particular red carpet, meeting so many of the core actors from the films, and getting their signatures? Such a full-circle moment!
Toy Story 5 will appear in theaters to general audiences on June 19, 2026, and will also be available to purchase and stream that day on Disney+.
There's nothing quite like going to a location, knowing exactly what to expect, and then being upset that you got exactly what you expected.
But going to a family-friendly hotel and seeing kids at the pool was just what TikToker @jessicajeankava needed to set her off. She was already crying when she hit "record."
According to her rant, she and her boyfriend came into the city for her boyfriend to attend a concert, and they specifically selected a more expensive hotel where she could relax while he was away.
Her big plan was to relax in her room, as well as either by the pool or in the jacuzzi that the hotel offered.
But since the hotel they selected was also family-friendly, the TikToker found multiple families with "40" children enjoying the amenities when she arrived at the pool.
Through tears, the TikToker explained that she did not have a problem with children being there, and she repeatedly stated that children are going to play and be sort of loud, but not being able to sit away from the children obviously upset her, as did the fact that she could still hear the children playing while she was in the jacuzzi.
When a few kids climbed into the jacuzzi, she decided to leave and go back to her room.
However, the drama did not stop there.
The TikToker then recounted how she involved the front desk, describing her disappointment to them at her experience.
While she did not want to get any families in trouble and did not want to see them removed from the pool, she wanted the front desk to accommodate her for the inconvenience of other guests using the amenities that she wanted to use.
She gave examples of free drinks or meals, since she hadn't planned on spending money while at the hotel.
You can watch the video here:
@jessicajeankava I have been putting real effort into be so positive about everything but I am truly so disappointed by this situation. I spent weeks being excited about this (and maybe the kids did too but like AT LEAST GIVE ME THE HOT TUB SPACE)
Fellow TikTokers were appalled by @jessicajeankava's crying.










It's understandable that a person might expect to go somewhere to relax, and then struggle because the space is too loud or busy.
However, going to a kid-friendly space? The answer is in the question: there will be kids there.
Next time, maybe spend the money on an Airbnb that has a pool or jacuzzi instead.