Friday, July 17, 2026 • 3 min read

Wake up with The Yodel

by Natasha Frost with Harriet Sinclair

Happy Friday, everyone. Making a cooked breakfast this weekend? Let’s settle the debate once and for all: Should you flour your bacon for extra crunch? Now, the news.

Need to know

Zendaya attends the New York premiere of ‘The Odyssey’ at AMC Lincoln Square Theater in New York City. | Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Epic cast, epic story, epic movie: Christopher Nolan's star-studded new blockbuster, The Odyssey, is now in theaters. Here’s your cheat sheet.

What to know: The movie adaptation of Homer’s ancient poem runs almost three hours, cost a reported $250 million to make and stars Hollywood heavyweights like Matt Damon and Zendaya. But there’s a catch: Only 25 U.S. theaters can show it in Nolan’s preferred format. Here’s where to find them. [Yahoo Entertainment]
What the critics say: The Odyssey is pulling a near-perfect 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Variety praised its “genuinely grand, gutsy vision”; The New York Times called it “monumental”; and Forbes deemed it a “masterpiece.” See what the critics (and Tom Cruise) thought. [Today/Hollywood Reporter]
Before you go: Need a refresher on the 8th-century B.C. source material? Before the war hero Odysseus could make it home from Troy, he had to survive a 10-year gauntlet of shipwrecks, monsters, vengeful gods and some very shady ladies. Here’s a primer, and what may have inspired the story. [USA Today/Entertainment Weekly]

In case you missed it

Jackson Suber during the first day of the British Open Golf championships at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, in Southport, England. | Peter Morrison/AP

British Open update

Making his European debut, 26-year-old American Jackson Suber holds a surprise lead at The Open. Scottie Scheffler remains the betting favorite, while Rory McIlroy faces an uphill battle after a grueling +2 afternoon. See how yesterday's action unfolded. [Yahoo Sports]

Trump’s primetime address

In a televised speech, President Trump again falsely insisted that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him, alleging voting machine vulnerabilities and that China accessed U.S. voter data and tried to influence the 2020 election. [CBS News]

Cyclospora outbreak

An investigation linked shredded lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms and sold at some Taco Bell outlets with the cyclosporiasis outbreak sweeping multiple states, an insider said. As of Tuesday, nearly 7,000 cases of the intestinal illness had been reported or confirmed. [CNN]

Wildfire smoke

A thick blanket of smoke across the U.S. has triggered air quality alerts across parts of Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, as more than 800 wildfires burn across Canada. Officials urged residents to wear masks and stay inside. [BBC News/AP]

Cholesterol pill approved

The FDA has approved Merck’s cholesterol pill Lipfrendra, the drugmaker announced. The medication treats patients with hypercholesterolemia, which can be identified by elevated levels of "bad" cholesterol. Here’s how much it will cost. [Reuters/Yahoo Finance]

What’s happening today

Samuel Dore/Netflix

Now streaming

Heartstopper Forever, the final chapter of Netflix’s coming-of-age Heartstopper series, is out now. One question remains: Can first loves really last forever? [USA Today]

On the diamond

In a 2024 World Series rematch, the Dodgers open a three-game series against the Yankees at 7:05 p.m. ET on Fubo. With an 11.5-game lead in the National League West, is Los Angeles at risk of becoming complacent? [NY Post Sports]

In the WNBA

After a tough loss to the Valkyries, the Fever, led by Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, host the Storm at 7:30 p.m. ET on WNBA League Pass. [Yahoo Sports/AP]

In the night sky

The annual Perseid meteor shower is expected to rain up to 100 meteors per hour at its peak, rewarding stargazers with one of the best celestial displays in years. Here’s how to see it. [Weather Channel]

And don't forget to...

Read your daily horoscope. Play the crossword (or the mini). Check the forecast in your area.

Today in history

Illustration: Yahoo News; photo: Gene Lester/Getty Images

In 1955, Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California, welcoming thousands of guests for the first time. The cost per entry? A dollar each, plus another 10 to 30 cents per ride. See pictures of how it first looked. [Fortune]

Feel-good moment

Astoria Fire Department/Facebook

Firefighters in Astoria, Oregon, expect cats in trees, but a baby deer stuck on a roof is a new one. After a high-wire rescue, the fawn squeaked for backup, bringing its mom running for a sweet stroll together back into the woods. [People]

Your daily advice

If you’re planning to drink this weekend, take care. Extreme heat and humidity can intensify the effects of alcohol. Here’s what to know. [Food & Wine]