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Thursday, June 18th, 2026
Good morning! Welcome to The Tradesman, a 5-minute newsletter tailored just for America’s tradesmen.
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Shrek Is Love, Shrek Is… Looking Different
The day finally came: Universal released the trailer for Shrek 5, and it certainly is… something.
It's been over 16 years since the last Shrek movie came out, and fans have long anticipated the next installment of the franchise. Set to hit theaters in the summer of 2027, the film has been hotly anticipated.
There's just one problem: Shrek doesn't look like Shrek.
Even though the franchise's crude, almost realistic animation, a counter to Disney's sparkling image at the time, was a big part of its appeal, the new movie completely redesigns the characters with new, hyper-polished versions.
The internet is completely divided on whether the redesign is a good thing. Why don't you decide for yourself? Watch the trailer, then let us know your thoughts in today's poll.
THIS IS NOT A DRILL. The Best McDonald's Product Is Back!
Today, we are like Paul Revere, because boy, do we have some news for you.
In honor of America's 250th birthday, McDonald's has announced the return of its famous fried apple pies for the first time in more than three decades.
Yes, you read that correctly. The one dessert we, like every other American, have been on our hands and knees begging the golden arches to bring back is finally coming home.
We used to pray for times like these.
Find out when this heaven-sent dessert will grace us with its presence here. Or you can just do what we're doing and wait in line at our local McDonald's until they finally give us one.
Morning Meme

Father's Day Is Sunday. You Forgot, Didn't You?
Can we be honest with you? Father's Day might be the hardest holiday to buy gifts for.
If your dad is anything like ours, he never has a list of things he wants, because when he wants something, he does the smart thing and just buys it himself.
And that's IF he actually wants something. On the rare occasion you do ask if there's anything he wants, the answer is "I don't know, ask your mother."
You can't just not buy him anything, as our wives and moms have so graciously reminded us. So what do we buy our dad?
Thankfully, YouTuber Chase Reeves is here to save the day. Watch his video of 15 actually good gift ideas.
Also, if you want to splurge on your dad (or yourself), Lowe's is having a Father's Day sale on Blackstone grills. See the details on the sale.
Ohio Man and Four Others Arrested for Alleged Terror Plot
The FBI arrested five people last week, one a 19-year-old from Cincinnati, for allegedly plotting a terror attack during the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House on Sunday.
The FBI infiltrated a Signal group chat titled "Hunters," where agents found individuals planning to have explosive drones strike the South Lawn during the fight, which would send attendees fleeing toward a team of snipers ready to fire on the crowd.
A major reason the FBI caught the individuals, who were allegedly planning to target the president, vice president, and other government officials, was a tip from an Ohio mom who had grown concerned about her son's recent behavior.
POLL
Do you like the new animation style for the Shrek 5 movie?
Previous Results
What's your favorite part about living in America?
The food - 20%
The scenery - 10%
The culture (Sports, holidays, traditions, etc.) - 50%
Something else - 20%
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