Taylor Swift's 2 a.m. surprise

Parents rebel against the scourge of birthday goody bags.   THIS IS TODAY April 19, 2024 [VIEW IN BROWSER]( THIS IS TODAY Everything to know about Taylor Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department" and the twist she dropped at 2 a.m. Plus, a parent says goodbye to the scourge of goody bags at kids' parties, and a man who dropped 200 pounds and then ran 63 marathons shares how he did it.   The Latest   Trump's historic hush money trial seated 12 jurors plus one alternate]([.]( The [12 jurors who will judge former President Donald Trump]( in his historic hush money trial in New York City have been selected, with five alternates still needing to be picked. Meanwhile, two others who had been sworn in earlier in the week were [dismissed on Thursday morning]( for different reasons. Opening statements could begin as early as Monday. [Here's a recap of what went down this week](. [Here's everything to know about Taylor Swift's new album, 'The Tortured Poets Department.']( Taylor Swift had something up her sleeve for fans when she announced early this morning that "The Tortured Poets Department" is "a [secret double album](" with 15 extra songs. We have everything you need to know about Swift's 11th studio album, including the track listing, [lyrics explainers](, a track [potentially about ex Joe Alywn](, references to [Patti Smith and Dylan Thomas](, and a connection to Hollywood silent film star [Clara Bow](. Plus, we got a look at the [special vinyl version]( available only at Target. [Catch up on everything from the overnight release here](. [🎉 Parents rebel against the tyranny of birthday party goody bags.]( TODAY Parents writer and mom Rosie Colosi felt blessed relief when the parent of one of her child's second-grade classmates wrote in a birthday party invitation that [no goody bags]( would be given out. After years of watching her kids come home with bags of junk (and putting them together herself), the spell was now broken. "Fun fact: The girls were fine," she wrote. She also spoke with experts about [how to reduce waste]( if you're going to make goody bags, and how one parent came up with a [smart alternative](. [😴 How many times can you wear your pajamas without washing them? Here’s what experts say.]( Are your PJs losing a little freshness? While experts say there's no set washing schedule, there are[3 factors to consider]( including the temperature of the room where you sleep. We also have [5 laundry tips for pajamas](, plus[comfy options you can shop right now](.       Start TODAY   Achieve your life and health goals with easy tips. Michael Hearn's weight reached 450 pounds in 2019 before he took his doctor's advice and made serious changes. He's since run 63 marathons after [dropping 200 pounds]( with a combination of bariatric surgery and a commitment to exercise. He shared the changes he made to his diet, how simple daily walks helped him overcome a food addiction and the non-scale victories that impoved his life. [See his advice here](.   What's for dinner?   Allow us to do the meal-planning for you Add a punch of flavor to your protein with these [pork chops with vinegar peppers]( from Mario Carbone, the chef behind the famed New York City restaurant Carbone. Tangy pickled red onion and agrodolce (a sweet-and-sour sauce) combine with the brine of the pork chops for a mouth-watering bite. [Get the recipe](.   Daily Delight   A little pick-me-up before you go. Happy 'Hinty-eth' Birthday! Massachusetts man John Ellis wanted a custom birthday cake for his [wife Chanda's 30th birthday](, but when he wrote "thirty" on the request form in slightly illegible cursive, the [bakery interpreted it as "hinty"]( — a word that doesn't exist. "Someone named Hinty must have a cake that says 'Thirty' on it," Chanda joked to TODAY.com. "My friends have already put me in their phones as Hinty." The mix-up could be the gift that keeps on giving. “Next year get her one that says ‘Hinty-One,’” one Reddit user commented.   Thanks for letting us in your inbox! See you tomorrow. Written by Scott Stump | Edited by Philip Caulfield Enjoying This is TODAY? Invite a friend to[subscribe here.]( Send us Feedback Follow us on Facebook More TODAY Newsletters 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Unsubscribe](listvar=sub_today) | [Privacy]( | [Contact]( [MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE](listvar=sub_today) | [PRIVACY]( | [CONTACT](