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The Texas-born singer’s Middle of Nowhere tour kickoff in Chicago last week was the perfect case study in how artfully she’s able to thrill, piss off, and offend the far right in one fell swoop. First, she delights them (warming up the crowd with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ theme song “Thunderstruck,” covering George Strait, wearing a giant belt buckle and an even larger Stetson). Then, she hath taketh away: descending from the heavens to play “Rhinestoned” on a giant pair of disco balls (or, to be more precise, disco truck nutz) and asking for fans to donate to the local organization Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights in honor of her birthday. (She turned 38 on Friday.)

“It’s a wonderful organization, and they help give aid, legal aid, and money to children whose parents have been deported unfairly,” Musgraves said from the stage. “It’s not a political thing. It’s just, these kids need help.”

Predictably, Fox News’ Tomi Lahren wasn’t having it, posting on X “what is an unfair deportation?” Newsmax’s Rob Schmitt was oh so elegant in his response, remarking that “nowhere is safe from libtards. Not even country music.” MAGA influencer Vince Langman bemoaned “what happened to the country music industry?” For context, the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights advocates for children who are separated for their parents or placed alone in government custody: not exactly something that should, on the surface, be glaringly offensive. Country music is a genre of family values, and what’s more supportive of the family than making sure children are cared for, regardless of who their parents are?

Musgraves, for her part, has previously supported the Young Center and, back in May, asked a trio of brothers — mariachi musicians — who had been detained by ICE in Texas for two weeks to open for her intimate concerts at Gruene Hall in New Braunfels. Aside from giving the spotlight to a family that had just been put through a terrifying experience, Musgraves has been forcefully and repeatedly connecting the dots between how closely related — and indebted — country music is to Mexican traditional sounds and the people that MAGA is constantly demonizing and targeting.  

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Musgraves knows well that poking the MAGA bear only ends up in raising more money for the causes she believes in, even if it means a few days of relentless bashing on Fox News. In 2021, she raised money for unhoused immigrants and Texans affected by a historic winter storm by ragging on Senator Ted Cruz, who hopped a plane to, yes, Mexico while his own constituents were suffering. Her “Cruzin for a bruzin’” shirt raised thousands for select charities.

The songwriter, who just released a line of branded lube, has been one of Fox News’ most beloved targets for years. After she urged for gun control during Lollapalooza in 2019 (yelling “somebody fucking do something” from the stage), Fox anchor Ainsley Earhardt called her “the modern day Dixie Chick.” But 2019 was the year that Musgraves won the Grammy for Album of the Year for Golden Hour, so if “modern day Dixie Chick” was meant to mean “wins awards while making MAGA miserable” then, well, yeah, point taken. %!s()

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When US presidents aren't flying on Air Force One or taking helicopter trips in Marine One, they're driven around in a presidential limousine nicknamed "The Beast."

Weighing 20,000 pounds and outfitted with advanced security and communications systems, the newest model of "The Beast" debuted during the first Trump administration in 2018. The custom Cadillac reportedly cost around $1.5 million to build.

The vehicle made headlines in August 2025, when Russian President Vladimir Putin rode in the limousine alongside President Donald Trump as the two met in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine.

The president and first lady also rode in it through Washington, DC, on Sunday as part of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.

Take a look inside the famous vehicle.

US presidents travel in a secure limousine nicknamed "The Beast."

US presidents rode Lincoln limousines for most of the 20th century until the 1980s, when the Reagan administration switched to General Motors Cadillacs.

The latest model of the presidential limousine was commissioned by the US Secret Service in 2014 and used for the first time in 2018 by President Donald Trump.

Designed to look like a longer version of the Cadillac CT6, the car's chassis is actually that of a General Motors heavy-duty Chevrolet Kodiak truck, NBC News reported.

The heavily armored vehicle is bulletproof, blast-resistant, and sealed to withstand biochemical attacks.

While details about the limousine's security measures remain classified, NBC News reported that the vehicle features a night-vision system, tear-gas firing capabilities, and door handles that can be electrified to deter intruders.

The windows are believed to be 3 inches thick, and the vehicle's armor is around 8 inches thick.

"The Beast" is also equipped with medical supplies, including a refrigerator stocked with the president's blood type.

NBC News also reported that the limousine's secure communications system can dispatch the launch codes for nuclear weapons.

The presidential seal appears throughout the car's design.

The seal, featuring an eagle holding an olive branch and 13 arrows in its talons below a banner reading "E Pluribus Unum" ("Out of many, one"), appears on both the interior and exterior of the passenger door.

The limousine can seat up to seven people.

The interior features water bottle holders and plush leather seats. Previous presidential limousines have also included a fold-out desk, according to the US Secret Service.

"The Beast" travels with the president.

Presidential limousines are transported by military cargo aircraft, such as US Air Force C-17s, for use during the president's travels, according to the US Secret Service.

When abroad, the presidential limousine flies the American flag and the flag of the host country.

When Biden visited the UK in June 2021, the presidential limousine flew both the American flag and the Union flag.

On Inauguration Day, Secret Service agents change the car's license plates as a new president takes power.

Some presidents have used the Washington, DC, "End Taxation Without Representation" license plates, while others have removed the slogan.

On President Donald Trump's second Inauguration Day, Secret Service agents gave "The Beast" a good shine.

Biden and Trump rode to the 2025 inauguration ceremony together in the presidential limousine. Jill Biden and Melania Trump followed in a separate car.

In her White House memoir, "View from the East Wing," Jill Biden described their shared ride as "frosty" and said that Melania Trump "kept trying to switch the topic to the weather."

Russian President Vladimir Putin rode in "The Beast" with Trump in August 2025.

Ahead of a meeting on August 15, 2025, to discuss the war in Ukraine, Trump and Putin unexpectedly rode in the car together. The ride lasted fewer than 10 minutes and offered the leaders the opportunity to talk privately. Putin was seen smiling from within the vehicle.

On Sunday, the president and first lady rode in "The Beast" during a Freedom 250 Grand Prix event in Washington, DC.

One of many events held in honor of America's 250th anniversary, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix transformed downtown Washington, DC, into a 1.7-mile racecar track.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump took a ceremonial lap in "The Beast," accompanied by the presidential motorcade, before the race began.

Trump told Fox Sports that IndyCar owner Roger Penske had been trying to host a race in DC for 20 years, and that the event "turned out to be much bigger than we ever even thought possible."

Accompanied by the presidential motorcade, "The Beast" remains an instantly recognizable symbol of the power of the presidency.

The latest presidential limousine succeeded a custom DTS Cadillac that was unveiled at former President Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration.

"It is safe to say that this car's security and coded communications systems make it the most technologically advanced protection vehicle in the world," the assistant director for the US Secret Service's Office of Protective Operations said in a 2009 statement on the organization's official website.

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Alice Tecotzky

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Alice Tecotzky is a reporter on the Finance desk, based in New York City. She writes about JPMorgan and what it's like to work on Wall Street. Have a tip? Email her at [email protected], reach her on Signal at alicetecotzky.05, or follow her on X @atecotzky.Alice graduated from Columbia University in May 2024 with a degree in English. Before she joined Business Insider, she covered breaking news at the Daily Beast and education at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

• Cars

A deal is still believed to be some way off, even if Emery revealed last week the striker could leave.

Al-Hilal, who signed Crysensio Summerville from West Ham in July, are likely to need to move one of their overseas players to make room for Watkins, despite loaning Darwin Nunez to Diriyah last week, so there are other moving parts in the deal.

Watkins has been training on his own, having returned from an extended break following the World Cup and is understood to have made his feelings clear to the Villa hierarchy about moving.

There have been no public comments from Watkins or his representatives but he is understood to be open to the move.

They have also kept quiet about Emery's response - particularly his enigmatic "silence" answer to Sky Sports' question on why his striker was not involved at Brighton, which appeared to lay the blame at Watkins' door.

Another unanswered question is whether Villa see the Saudi money for a striker turning 31 in December - and who had been in and out of Emery's team last season - as a good deal.

Perhaps the very real pain at this potential break-up is the reason for the difficulties.

The 30-year-old has 108 goals in 278 games for Villa after joining from Brentford for a then-record £28m and has been synonymous with Villa's rise of the past six years.

The triumphant night in Istanbul, when Watkins helped Villa end their 30-year wait for a trophy as they beat Freiburg to win the Europa League, currently stands to be his last game for the club.

His departure would be the most emotional of this summer's big exits - as while Ezri Konsa's influence was crucial, Watkins' goals, work-rate and nature made him one of Villa's poster boys.

He is a grounded and family-orientated individual who enjoys the occasional game of golf but always focuses on his football.

But he has been in this position before, although at a lower level.

Having initially been left out by Paul Tisdale at Exeter amid interest from Derby in 2017, he pleaded with the manager to play and came off the bench to score in a win against Wycombe.

Given he has that attitude and desire, those at Villa are surprised at how the relationship with Watkins is ending. It was not expected to be like this.

Had it been someone different, a player who had previously not been a manager's dream to work with, Emery's response might have been more indifferent.

Along with Watkins, Villa must resolve Martinez's future after a second summer of discontent from the Argentina international.

A move to Juventus fell through earlier this month, as they were unwilling to meet Villa's financial demands, and a solution must be found for the 33-year-old after the signing of Zion Suzuki to become the club's number one.

Signing a striker to replace Watkins will be harder than sourcing Konsa's replacement - on which Villa are already working, having had two bids rejected by Southampton for Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Brian Madjo's availability, after VIlla won their battle against Fifa to register him, gives Emery an additional option, although at 17 the striker cannot be expected to carry the burden.

Villa have been open to letting Tammy Abraham leave but Watkins' increasingly likely departure will have an impact on that thinking.

Striker Abraham, who joined from Besiktas in January, has not been looking for any Villa Park exit and remains happy at the club.

Nicolas Jackson remains a top target for Emery, who worked with the Chelsea forward at Villarreal, while there has been no direct contact with Manchester United over Joshua Zirkzee.

Emery needs to find new heroes after the exits of Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans - two Istanbul goalscorers - along with Lucas Digne and Konsa.

But if Watkins goes, his departure will cut the deepest. %!s()

Witcher fans are used to waiting, as it's been over a decade since the last game in the main series, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, was released. They'll have to wait just a bit longer for The Witcher 4, but now they have an idea of when that wait might end.

On Monday, CD Projekt Red joint-CEO Michał Nowakowski confirmed the studio is targeting a 2028 release window for The Witcher 4. "I know it's a bit of a wait, and you'd love to play it sooner, but let the team cook," he said in a video posted on X. Though CD Projekt Red will make announcements during Gamescom this week, Nowakowski said The WItcher 4 will not be showcased at the event.

The 2028 release window comes after CD Projekt Red previously said it did not plan to release The Witcher 4 by the end of 2026, but didn't offer a window beyond that. The studio is ambitious with its next set of The Witcher games, hoping to release a trilogy within a six-year window. If that holds true and The Witcher 4 is released in 2028, we'll be playing The Witcher 6 in 2034.

It's a bold plan, especially when you consider that the previous The Witcher trilogy was released over the course of eight years (2007 to 2015) and video game development timelines have only gotten longer industry-wide. There's also the possibility of unexpected delays to The Witcher 4 and future entries that could throw a wrench into CDPR's plans.

Up next for The Witcher game series is Songs of the Past, an expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It'll be showcased at Gamescom this week, and Nowakowski even teased "a surprise or two" for the studio's livestreams throughout the event. Songs of the Past was announced in May and will be an all-new adventure for Geralt, who will take a backseat to Ciri in The Witcher 4. It's expected to be released sometime next year for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. %!s()