Protein Powder Tests, Instagram Controls, and a Giant Pumpkin

News without the noise

Adam Rogers
October 15, 2025

Good Morning! Today’s edition is 929 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap:

First-time reader? Sign up here!

More than two-thirds of protein powders tested by Consumer Reports contain unsafe lead levels, according to an investigation published Tuesday. The organization tested 23 products and found that most exceeded the safe level of 0.5 micrograms per day. Contamination has worsened since the last test 15 years ago.
Plant-based powders contained the most lead, about nine times more than dairy-based products. Naked Nutrition's Vegan Mass Gainer and Huel's Black Edition had the highest lead levels. Huel's Black Edition and Vega's Premium Sport also exceeded safe cadmium levels, while Optimum Nutrition's Serious Mass contained twice the safe limit of inorganic arsenic. Both cadmium and arsenic are carcinogens.
The FDA doesn't review supplements before sale, prompting Consumer Reports to launch a petition calling on the agency to set lead limits. Companies responded that their products meet international safety standards and undergo rigorous testing.

Instagram is implementing PG-13 movie ratings for all users under 18, automatically placing teens into a '13+' content setting this week. The update blocks posts showing alcohol, marijuana, extreme stunts, and suggestive material from teens' feeds and Explore pages. Teens cannot opt out without parental permission.
Parents can also choose a stricter 'Limited Content' mode that filters more material and removes commenting abilities, or report inappropriate content directly to Meta. An Ipsos survey found 95% of US parents believe the new settings will help them understand what their teens see on Instagram.
The updates roll out this week in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, with global implementation in 2026. Several states, including California and Utah, have already enacted legislation limiting tech companies' engagement with minors.

Major airports are refusing to show a DHS video from Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the government shutdown. The video tells TSA checkpoint travelers that 'Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government' and TSA employees are working without pay because of this.
Airports in Seattle, Portland, Charlotte, Phoenix, Philadelphia, and Buffalo confirmed they will not display the message, citing the Hatch Act, which prohibits using federal programs for partisan purposes. Officials also referenced airport policies against political content. Some noted that TSA does not own the monitors at checkpoints.
DHS did not respond to airports declining the video. The refusals come as staffing shortages plague airports amid the shutdown, while thousands of TSA workers and air traffic controllers work without pay.

President Trump awarded the Medal of Freedom to conservative activist Charlie Kirk posthumously on Tuesday, five weeks after the 31-year-old was shot and killed while speaking at a Utah university. (More)

Dallin H. Oaks, a 93-year-old former Utah Supreme Court justice, became president of the Mormon church Tuesday following the death of Russell M. Nelson. (More)

The Supreme Court rejected Alex Jones' appeal to block a $1.5 billion defamation judgment for falsely claiming the Sandy Hook shooting was fake, clearing the way for The Onion to acquire his Infowars website. (More)

Madagascar's army took control Tuesday after Gen Z protests over water and power shortages drove President Andry Rajoelina into hiding and parliament voted to impeach him. (More)

NATO's boss mocked Russia after its submarine surfaced off France with a fuel leak and limped home escorted by the Dutch navy through the North Sea. (More)

Israel cut Gaza aid trucks by half to 300 daily and delayed opening the Rafah border crossing, accusing Hamas of stalling the return of 20 deceased hostages still unaccounted for after four bodies were handed over Tuesday. (More)

US stock markets closed mixed on Tuesday (S&P -0.16%, Nasdaq -0.76%, Dow +0.44%). The S&P 500 bounced back from lows on Tuesday but fell into the red after Trump criticized China for skipping soybean purchases. (More)

The Justice Department seized $15 billion in bitcoin from a man who ran “pig butchering” scams in Cambodia using trafficked workers to trick victims into fake cryptocurrency investments. (More)

China banned business with five US subsidiaries of South Korean shipmaker Hanwha Ocean, hitting back at new American fees on Chinese ships that started Tuesday. (More)

Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw a complete game with three hits allowed as the Dodgers beat the Brewers 5-1 for a 2-0 NLCS lead. It was the first postseason complete game by any pitcher since 2017. (More)

Defending champion UConn topped the preseason women's basketball poll with 27 first-place votes, ahead of South Carolina, which lost senior forward Chloe Kitts to a torn ACL for the season. (More)

D'Angelo, the Grammy-winning neo-soul pioneer whose albums Brown Sugar and Voodoo shaped R&B music, died at 51 after a private battle with cancer. (More)

Scientists found genes that predict cannabis addiction risk after studying 132,000 people's DNA, discovering two key genes that could help identify who's likely to develop substance use disorders. (More)

Japanese researchers built a hydrogen battery that runs at 194 degrees instead of 572-752 degrees, potentially replacing lithium-ion batteries in electric cars with ten times better energy storage. (More)

SpaceX completed the final test of its second Starship model after several failures. It will now develop the next-generation rocket for orbital missions. (More)

Six factors needed for happiness at work.

California man wins pumpkin contest with a 2,346-pound gourd.

Canadian airline charges to recline seats on some planes.

Your feedback helps us provide the best newsletter possible.