T(abel) Reads 30

Friday October 31st, 2025 - Edition 030

EVERYONE'S FAVORITE BI-WEEKLY NEWS SOURCE... UNLESS YOU'RE NOT EVERYONE

THE ROOT OF ALL FEAR

Before the Loser's Club, Before the Red Balloon, Discover How the Nightmare Began

TV AND FILM

The HBO prequel series It: Welcome to Derry plunges viewers back to Derry in 1962, as the town’s sinister past takes shape and Pennywise returns, once again played by Bill Skarsgård. Critics are largely positive, praising its atmosphere, strong performances, and sharp expansion of Stephen King’s universe, while noting the show occasionally leans on familiar horror tropes. Sitting at 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s shaping up to be one of HBO’s stronger fall debuts. Meanwhile, theaters have turned their attention to The Black Phone 2, the long-awaited sequel to the 2022 horror hit. Reviews highlight its unnerving tension and Ethan Hawke’s chilling return as “The Grabber,” with some critics calling it a rare sequel that equals the original. Together, these releases mark a major resurgence for psychological horror, proving audiences are once again showing up for grounded scares, dark nostalgia, and stories that linger long after the credits roll.

ART AND FASHION

In one of the boldest art heists in recent history, the Louvre Museum in Paris was robbed of over $100 million in jewelry on October 19. Around 9:30 a.m., four suspects arrived using a vehicle lift to access a first-floor window into the Galerie d’Apollon. Two entered while the others waited outside on scooters for a quick getaway. The entire job took less than ten minutes. In a twist of either genius or pure luck, the thieves targeted one of the few rooms without CCTV coverage. Officials have since arrested five suspects believed to be connected, though only one is thought to be among the actual robbers. None of the stolen pieces have been recovered, and frustration within the museum community is growing. As for us, we’re simply saying: if you notice any suspicious new studio décor, don’t ask too many questions; we may or may not have been in Paris that weekend.

MUSIC

For the first time since February 1990, there are no rap songs on the Billboard Top 40. While some view this as a red flag for hip-hop, it’s more a reflection of how streaming has changed music consumption. A full quarter of the current chart belongs to Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, showing how fanbases and algorithms can dominate single-artist momentum. Back in the ’90s and 2000s, charts saw more variety, rarely featuring multiple tracks from the same record. While it’s fair to raise an eyebrow at rap’s absence, it’s far from a funeral for the genre; rather, it’s a temporary shift in listener trends. Meanwhile, keep an eye on The Abel Studio Instagram, where our team posts occasional album reviews, breaking down new releases track by track and assigning overall scores. Whether we introduce you to a gem or save you from a skip, we’ve got your playlists covered.

SPORTS

Five games into the 2026 World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays lead the Los Angeles Dodgers 3–2, needing one more win to capture their third championship. The defending champs now face elimination, hoping to win two straight on the road. Game 3 was an instant classic—an 18-inning marathon lasting six and a half hours, ending with Freddie Freeman’s dramatic walk-off homer. Catch Game 6 on Fox at 7 p.m. CT to see if Toronto seals the series or if L.A. forces a Game 7. Beyond the diamond, the NFL world continues to mourn the loss of Nick Mangold, the former Ohio State and New York Jets legend who passed away at 41 after a long battle with kidney disease. A seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, Mangold’s legacy as a leader and teammate will endure long after his playing days. Moments like these remind us why sports matter: the thrill of victory and the shared grief of loss.

DOMESTIC

A bizarre accident in Mississippi made headlines after a truck allegedly carrying lab monkeys infected with COVID-19, hepatitis C, and herpes crashed on Interstate 59. Early reports from local law enforcement fueled panic, but Tulane University later confirmed the animals had not been exposed to infectious diseases. Most were recaptured or euthanized, although several remain missing, reigniting debate over biohazard transport safety and public communication. Meanwhile, a separate crisis looms nationwide: the federal government’s shutdown threatens to delay November 1 SNAP disbursements, meaning millions could temporarily lose access to food benefits. Viral social media posts are warning of possible unrest and organized theft around November 3 if the funds don’t resume. With roughly 41 million Americans relying on EBT assistance, states and retailers are quietly preparing contingency plans to prevent large-scale shortages, underscoring how fragile both the nation’s public health safeguards and food security systems have become in recent weeks.