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'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' nets second best North American opening ever with $355 million

"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" made box office history in its first weekend in theaters. The Sony-released superhero movie became the second-biggest North American opening ever with an astonishing $355 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. It was just a few million shy of "Avengers: Endgame," which debuted to $357 million in 2019.

The film also made $572 million from over 73,500 screens internationally, with China contributing $121 million alone, adding up to a $927 million worldwide debut that is second only to "Endgame" ($1.2 billion).

Tom Holland's run as the comic book webslinger has been a mighty one. "No Way Home," his third standalone Spider-Man movie, made over $1.9 billion worldwide to become the eighth-highest earning movie of all time, not accounting for inflation. It was also the first movie since the beginning of the pandemic to cross the $1 billion mark.

But the triumph of "Brand New Day" also comes on the heels of another major movie featuring Holland and Zendaya: Christopher Nolan's"The Odyssey," which slid to second place in its third weekend in theaters with $51 million. Their combined might helped propel the biggest weekend of all time for North American movie theaters, with an estimated $430 million in total ticket sales, according to Rentrak.

"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" started strong, with a record $168 million opening day from 4,487 theaters in the U.S. and Canada, besting "Avenger: Endgame's" $157 million Friday. The studio predicted it would lead to a $325 million opening weekend, which would still have beaten the second-place record. It takes the place of "Spider-Man: No Way Home" which opened to $260 million in December 2021. In the realm of best opening weekends in North America, they're followed by "Avengers: Infinity War" ($257 million in 2018) and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" ($247 million in 2015).

Expectations were always high for "Brand New Day," which was directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and cost a reported $225 million to produce, not including marketing expenses. But there were worries it wouldn't attract the same level of mass audience enthusiasm as its predecessor which integrated past Peter Parker actors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield into the mix. In reality, interest was higher than ever. "Brand New Day" also received strong reviews from critics and audiences. It currently has a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes; Audiences gave it an "A" CinemaScore and a five-star rating on PostTrak.

Ticket buyers were predominately male (about 61%) and many were on the younger side, with slightly more than half the audience under the age of 25, according to PostTrak exit polls. The biggest group was between the ages of 18 and 24, which made up 36% of the audience; 27% were between the ages of 25 and 34. The box office analytics company EntTelligence estimates that about 24.1 million people attended "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" this weekend.

It's also the biggest ever opening for Sony Pictures.

Senate leaders reach funding deal to avoid shutdown during campaign season

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Key senators unveiled a short-term spending bill on Sunday that would keep federal agencies funded past the midterm elections and into early December as they look to avoid a government shutdown during the middle of campaign season.

The Senate is likely to vote on the measure before leaving Washington at week's end for its traditional August recess, a period that many lawmakers want to spend shoring up their reelection prospects rather than working in the nation's capital.

The bill generally funds the federal government at current levels though Dec. 11. The House has passed a similar measure, but it did not include various exceptions sought by the White House. Senators have been spending recent days negotiating which of those exceptions to include.

One exception that did not make it into the bill, Democrats noted, was the administration's request to include $1 billion to build "Trump-class" battleships.

In another major difference with the House bill, Democrats say they also were able to include language that will ensure the administration cannot transfer funds from other programs to the Border Patrol.

The late-summer action on a funding fix is unusual. Normally, Congress waits until the final days or hours of a funding deadline to pass short-term funding extensions, but this time senators are acting two months before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said passing the measure was his top priority going into the August recess. He noted that the American people have already experienced two record-breaking government shutdowns in the past 10 months.

"We need to ensure that they do not face a third," Thune said.

A short-term funding extension is needed because Congress has struggled to get the dozen annual appropriations bills negotiated and approved before the Sept. 30 deadline. By extending government funding now, lawmakers can use the ensuing months to work out their differences on full-year funding.

It won't be an easy lift as Republicans seek a dramatic increase in defense spending while cutting non-defense spending. Trump proposed a 10% cut in non-defense programs overall. Meanwhile, he called for boosting defense spending by some 44%.

A potential shutdown before voters go to the polls is a scenario that both parties are looking to avoid, as polling indicated that neither party evaded blame for last fall's record 43-day shutdown. Democrats sought to extend an expiring health insurance tax credit and refused to go along with a short-term spending bill that did not include that priority. But Republicans said that was a separate policy fight to be held at another time.

A second spending battle over funding for the Department of Homeland Security took 76 days to resolve when Democrats refused to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol without changes to those operations.

Ken Martin hunkers down at the Democratic National Committee as a storm gathers around party leader

NEW YORK (AP) -- Ken Martin is in survival mode.

Desperate to save his job as chair of the Democratic National Committee, he is avoiding media appearances, monitoring his critics' social media posts and refusing -- at least so far -- to make any substantive changes at his troubled organization.

A half dozen state leaders and other committee members, most of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal conversations, described Martin as defensive and extremely distrustful of others, even some people on his own team, as calls for his resignation grow louder among Democratic operatives who lament his leadership decisions, lackluster fundraising and even his tendency to lash out in anger.

But there is no sign that the organization's membership plans to replace Martin before the midterm elections in November, even as some wonder how much longer he can hold on. The drama threatens to undermine the party's momentum in the battle to retake control of Congress from President Donald Trump's Republican Party.

"I sense no movement from the DNC to make a change, and so that decision's up to Ken. And he's told me he's in it, so I trust him on making that decision," said Colorado Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib, a DNC member and strong Martin supporter. "What we're seeing right now is a whole group of folks who live on Twitter and consultants fighting harder against Ken Martin than they've ever fought against Donald Trump."

Martin did not grant an interview request. In a recent Substack post, Martin defended himself this way: "If the question is whether the Democratic Party will be ready to win -- everywhere, at every level, in this election and for the decade ahead -- the answer is a resounding yes."

As one of its most important responsibilities, the DNC is tasked with building out the party's national infrastructure, including fundraising, to support the Democrats' next presidential nominee. Yet few members of the next class of White House prospects are willing to speak out on Martin's behalf.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who has traveled to key states in recent weeks before a potential presidential bid, praised the DNC for embracing a new primary calendar that promotes more diverse states such as South Carolina and Nevada.

But Moore declined three separate times to answer directly when asked whether he has confidence in Martin heading into 2028.

"My confidence is in the people," Moore told The Associated Press. "My confidence is in making sure that we have a system in place that actually allows the people's voices to be heard."

He said he is not looking for "wins on behalf of a political structure or party bosses."

Others have been explicitly critical of Martin.

Shannon Watts, the former leader of Moms Demand Action and a member of the DNC's finance committee in 2024, criticized Martin's lack of communication with donors and key stakeholders. She said she was ready and willing to help Martin after he took over last year, but he never called.

She did, however, get a call from a DNC staffer urging her to delete a social media post that was critical of Martin. Such calls have become common occurrences in recent months.

"Ken needs to step aside. I think Ken knows he needs to step aside," Watts said. "There's a reason he's worried he's going to be fired and it's because he's not up to the job."

Sen. Bernie Moreno says former son-in-law Max Miller should not serve in the House

WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno said his former son-in-law, U.S. Rep. Max Miller, should not be serving in the House and should "seek professional help" as Miller defended himself against allegations of domestic abuse in a live video on X on Sunday.

Moreno, who has been publicly restrained in recent months as the bitter custody dispute has played out between Miller and his daughter Emily, said in a lengthy post: "If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them. He should not serve in the House of Representatives."

Moreno wrote that Miller "needs serious psychological help. He is a danger to my daughter, and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter."

Miller, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, said Sunday that he will remain in his race for reelection before a Wednesday deadline to replace him. Democrats have seen a new opportunity in the northeast Ohio congressional seat as the Republican incumbent has faced mounting pressure over the domestic abuse allegations in a bitter and drawn-out custody battle with his ex-wife.

"I'm not dropping out of this race and I'll win in November," said Miller, who denied abusing his former wife and his daughter.

Asked on Sunday evening if Miller should resign, Trump said that "so far it's accusations."

"I'll be looking at it," Trump said.

Accusations against Miller, who was a White House adviser during Trump's first term, have been public for years but have recently drawn increased scrutiny as back and forth in the case has escalated.

Emily Moreno has said that Miller scalded, hit and threatened her while they were married. Miller denied those allegations in the video, as he has in the past.

"It's incredibly upsetting," Miller said, as he went through a list of the allegations.

Miller also said he had nothing to do with a broken collarbone on their 2-year-old daughter that led Emily Moreno to contact authorities. The pair, who were married in 2022 and finalized their divorce last year, have presented different theories about how the injury occurred, according to court filings and police reports detailed in an article in July in the magazine Mother Jones that first revealed the child's injury.

Miller accompanied his announcement with the release of a voluminous cache of investigative and court documents, as well as audio and video clips, related to the custody dispute.

'Sopranos' actor Vincent Pastore, known for playing mobsters and tough guys, dead at 80

NEW YORK (AP) -- Vincent Pastore, a veteran actor who played mobsters and tough guys, and was best known for portraying Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on "The Sopranos," has died. He was 80.

Bob McGowan, who managed Pastore since his run on "The Sopranos," told The Associated Press that he learned of his death Saturday from another client and actor on the show, Vincent Curatola.

He said Pastore was found in his home on New York's City Island after not being heard from for a few days.

McGowan said he had been trying to reach Pastore about a possible job.

"He was the most loyal client, and he always gave to charity," McGowan said, "and he was the kind of guy who would help anybody, which is rare in my business."

Robert Attermann represented Pastore for more than 30 years, before his time on "The Sopranos." While Pastore will be remembered as "Big Pussy," he was so much more, Attermann said in an email to the AP.

"Vinny was one of the kindest, most generous people I have ever known," Attermann said. "He treated everyone with warmth and respect, never turning down a fan who wanted a photograph or an autograph. He genuinely appreciated the people who supported him and always made them feel valued."

Attermann said Pastore loved being an actor and was passionate about his craft while always encouraging young actors, "taking the time to offer guidance and support whenever he could."

Michael Imperioli, a longtime friend and collaborator, said on Instagram that it seemed as though he had known pastore forever.

"We did lots of work together and traveled all over the USA as well as Italy and Australia. Lots of good times. Lots of laughs," Imperioli said. "Vinny was a kind-hearted brother who cared deeply about his family and friends. I will miss him always."

Pastore appeared in movies dating back to the 1980s including roles in big films such as "Goodfellas" and "Awakenings," both in 1990.

He often played gangsters. And it was one of those roles he is best known for: his 30-episode run as Bonpensiero, the friend of Tony Soprano who becomes an FBI informant.

Pastore was born in the Bronx and grew up in suburban New Rochelle, New York. He enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam War and later attended Pace University, according to his biography on IMDb.

He is survived by his daughter, Renee Pastore.

Ohio Rep. Kaptur treated for non-life threatening injuries after a car accident in Toledo

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur is being treated for non-life threatening injuries after a car accident in Toledo on Sunday morning, her office said Sunday.

Kaptur, 80, was a passenger in a vehicle headed to a church service "when the car she was traveling in was struck," the statement from her office said. The statement said she is "active, alert" and "looks forward to returning to a full schedule soon."

The House is on its summer recess so she was not expected in Washington this week.

Kaptur, the longest-serving woman in House history, is in a rematch for her closely watched seat against former state Rep. Derek Merrin. In 2024, she won by just more than the 0.5% margin that would have triggered an automatic recount, with a libertarian candidate snagging about 4% of the vote.

Her office said first responders from the Toledo police and fire departments arrived promptly on the scene and had "medical professionals helping to take care of those involved in the crash." The statement said "we look forward to any additional information from Toledo Police as they investigate the accident."

The Toledo Police Department's traffic division did not immediately respond to an AP query.