A self-proclaimed alpha male influencer, Nick Adams is President Donald Trump’s new special presidential envoy for American tourism, exceptionalism and values. The gig came Adams’ way after his nomination to be the U.S. ambassador to Malaysia did not work out. His appointment is the latest example of Trump’s penchant for out-of-the-box personnel decisions. 

Provocative like Trump
Adams surged to MAGA prominence as one of the leading lights of the online “manosphere,” said The New York Times. He posted frequently about “stereotypical symbols of masculinity,” advised men to dominate their relationships with women and lamented Hooters’ 2025 bankruptcy filing by volunteering to lead a “presidential task force” to save the chain. 

He did not backtrack after Trump nominated him for the Malaysia ambassadorship last year. “I am an alpha male. Yes, I eat rare steaks. Yes, I visit Hooters frequently,” he said on social media after the nomination. He would “not be apologizing” for his posts.

Adams began a career in his native Australia as a “staunch nationalist” who regularly gave speeches about the “dangers of multiculturalism,” said The Washington Post. He resigned from Australian politics in 2012, gained American citizenship in 2021 and moved quickly into Trump’s circle. 

The provocations provoke. Adams’ “shtick” targets insecure young men with the “false promise that embracing aggressive misogyny is the key to achieving your dreams,” said Amanda Marcotte at Salon. Adams and other manosphere denizens may play the pose as a joke, but his followers are “sincerely misogynistic.”

Failed nomination
The ambassadorial nomination “came under fire in Malaysia” because Adams had a history of pro-Israel and anti-Islam posts that did not sit well in the largely Islamic nation, said The Diplomat. Adams is a “right-wing agitator and partisan provocateur,” said former law minister Zaid Ibrahim to the outlet. Malaysians cheered when he was quietly withdrawn from consideration, said The South China Morning Post.

The newly created tourism position is a “much better fit” for Adams because it does not involve a “grueling Senate confirmation process,” said The Bulwark. The job’s duties include involvement with the forthcoming World Cup and 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. 

Valued at approximately $3 trillion, the private credit industry is showing signs of distress as investors rush to withdraw their money from their funds. Much of this shift is attributed to outside stressors like geopolitical issues and the rise of AI technology. While many are concerned about what this uncertainty means for the economy, others view it as a way for the industry to reset.

What’s going on?
Private credit firms “essentially act as banks but without all the regulations that force actual banks to mitigate risk and make their balance sheets public,” said CNN. When these “shadow banks issue loans, the terms are known only to the parties involved.” The uncertainty has led to an “investor exodus and heightened scrutiny of its risky practices,” said The New York Times.

During the past few weeks, business development companies, which are “funds with stakes in the alternative asset,” have been “gripped by a widespread sell-off,” said the Financial Times. Banks also invest in private credit, which could spell disaster. If private credit “sours,” big banks could be “forced to tighten lending across the board, including to everyday consumers and small businesses,” said CNN, in a similar pattern to what happened in 2008.

What does this indicate?
Investors have become concerned about whether the firms have been “valuing their loans appropriately,” especially without the strict regulations banks have, said the Times. A big reason for this is that a “large chunk of private credit loans have been made to software companies,” including those building AI. If AI is as “apocalyptic” as many say, a “lot of companies could end up going out of business and defaulting on loans,” said CNN.

The withdrawal requests show that the market “cannot be sustained on the promise of higher yields alone,” said the Financial Times. Unfortunately, while there’s hope that private credit will rise from the ashes, the industry is “so interconnected with the economics of everything," said Laks Ganapathi, the CEO and founder of Unicus Research, to Axios. People must be prepared, said CNN, in case “tremors go from rattling your cupboard to swallowing your house.”

A French winegrower lights anti-frost candles in a vineyard near Chablis, Burgundy, as overnight temperatures fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (freezing). Experts warn that a sudden cold snap sweeping across France may cause “irreversible” damage to crops.
Arnaud Finistre / AFP / Getty Images

Initially the food of immigrants, the humble combination of a frank wrapped in a bun became part of the country’s cultural fabric. Regional styles vary, but they all honor traditions while showcasing local flavors.

Detroit-style Coney dog
What is it? A beef frankfurter in a steamed bun, topped with meat chili, diced white onions and yellow mustard

Where to try it: There’s “no better spot to indulge” in a Detroit-style Coney than Duly’s Place in the Motor City, said Eater. The diner remains a “go-to” thanks to its “consistency” and “greasy-spoon environment.” 

New York System hot wiener
What is it? A wiener made of pork, beef and veal in a steamed bun topped with celery salt, mustard, chopped onions and spiced meat sauce

Where to try it: Olneyville New York System in Providence has been serving hot wieners in the same spot since the early 1950s. The operation is still family-run, and as such there’s a “‘Cheers’-style vibe where everybody knows your name,” said Tasting Table. Pair your dog with a coffee milk, Rhode Island’s state drink.

Puka dog 
What is it? A Polish sausage (or veggie dog) stuffed inside a Hawaiian sweet bread bun, topped with garlic lemon sauce, tropical fruit relish and Hawaiian mustard

Where to try it: The place where it all began: the Puka Dog hut on Kauai. Ordering is a four-step process, but the “patient” Puka Dog crew will help you “tweak” things if you have “any questions at crunch time,” said SF Gate.