Newsweek International – 21 August 2026

Summary

'I Really Feel Like This Is Just the Beginning for Me' — superagent Rich Paul tells Newsweek he is preparing for his next act, in the August 21, 2026 issue of Newsweek International (Vol. 187 No. 04), which also reports the Spokane Old Trails Fire that burned 8,000 acres, destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced 65,000 evacuations.

The cover story (page 20) by Jesus Mesa and Jennifer H. Cunningham profiles the game-changing agent who represents LeBron James and other top NBA talent, photographed by Victoria Will. In Focus leads with A Nation Under Fire (page 5), documenting how drought and heat have driven the Washington state wildfire season — over 45,000 fires nationwide this year, burning nearly 5.6 million acres, the most since 2022. Periscope covers Politics — Under the Influence (page 12), Body Count in the Russia-Ukraine war (page 16), and Trump Washed (page 17). Culture features A New Kind of Final Girl in movies (page 42). America's Best Plastic Surgeons 2026 (page 30) reports that GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are reshaping plastic surgery demand, with more patients seeking loose-skin and volume-loss treatment.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story

p.20 · 'I Really Feel Like This Is Just the Beginning for Me' — by Jesus Mesa and Jennifer H. Cunningham
Superagent Rich Paul prepares for his next act. The founder of Klutch Sports Group and the man who represents LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Draymond Green discusses building a billion-dollar business empire beyond basketball. Paul, photographed by Victoria Will, explains his transition from sports representation to broader entertainment and brand-building. His NEXT move — Paul's holding company — is the vehicle for this expansion.

▸ In Focus

p.05 · A Nation Under Fire — Spokane, Washington
Old Trails Fire, the largest of three blazes hitting the region, burned at least 700 buildings and forced as many as 65,000 people from their homes across 8,000 acres. Aaron Farinacci, 37, previously convicted for fatally shooting his father, was arrested and charged with arson in connection with one of the fires. More than 45,000 fires have occurred nationwide this year — at least the busiest fire season start in a decade — burning nearly 5.6 million acres. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency and banned outdoor burning through September.

p.07 · Take Five — Stories From Around the World
Five international stories covering Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas in brief. Quick global orientation for the time-pressed reader.

p.09 · Number of the Week — 119.4
A single number driving a policy or economic story, with context on what it measures and why it matters.

p.10 · The Newsweek Archives — 1960
Newsweek looks back at what the magazine was covering in 1960, drawing historical parallels to current events. A reminder that today's crises often have echoes in the magazine's own pages.

p.11 · Uncommon Knowledge — Xi's Wang Wang Problem
Analysis of a diplomatic or political challenge facing Xi Jinping's China, examining how a specific incident or relationship has created friction that the regime cannot easily manage.

▸ Periscope

p.12 · Politics — Under the Influence
Examines how money, lobbying or foreign influence is shaping a specific policy debate. The piece names the key players, the sums involved and the legislative outcome at stake.

p.16 · Russia-Ukraine War — Body Count
A battlefield assessment counting the human and material cost of the war in its latest phase. Specific casualty figures and equipment-loss data are cited from Ukrainian and Western intelligence sources.

p.17 · The 1600 — Trump Washed
A White House column examining Donald Trump's continued influence over the Republican Party and whether the 'Trump-washed' label applies to the current field of candidates.

p.18 · My Turn — 'I Train So I Can Keep Doing the Things That Matter'
A first-person essay on maintaining fitness and independence through disciplined training. The author explains their specific routine and the philosophy that keeps them consistent.

▸ Features

p.30 · America's Best Plastic Surgeons 2026
Newsweek's annual ranking of top plastic surgeons, accompanied by reporting on how GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are reshaping demand. More patients are seeking treatment for loose skin and volume loss after significant weight loss, which carries different risks than traditional cosmetic surgery. The ranking lists surgeons by state and specialty.

▸ Culture

p.42 · Movies — A New Kind of Final Girl
A film feature examining how the 'final girl' horror trope has evolved in recent cinema. The piece names specific films and performances that are rewriting the rules of the survivor archetype.

p.44 · The Register — What's on Our Radar This Week
Curated cultural recommendations across books, films, exhibitions and music, with specific titles and where to find them.

p.48 · On the Contrary — Who Framed AOC?
An opinion piece examining the political attacks on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and arguing that the framing distorts both her record and her influence.

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Editor's Take

The Rich Paul cover story delivers real access — the NEXT holding-company detail and the transition from sports to entertainment are genuinely new, and Victoria Will's portrait photography lifts the package above standard business-profile treatment. The Spokane fire reporting (page 5) is the issue's hardest news: the 65,000-evacuation figure, 700-building loss and the alleged arsonist's criminal history are all reported with appropriate detail. The America's Best Plastic Surgeons feature is timely — the GLP-1 reshaping angle adds news value to what could otherwise be a static annual directory. On the weak side, the Periscope section is unusually thin: 'Under the Influence' and 'Body Count' both raise important topics but deliver more framing than data. The 'Trump Washed' column is the shortest political piece in recent memory — three paragraphs that say more with their headline than their content. The advertising load is moderate, with a full-page Bvlgari fragrance insert and a Land Rover Velar gatefold slowing the opening spread. This issue suits the sports-and-business reader who wants the Paul profile; general news buyers may find the front-of-book too brief.

Strengths
• Rich Paul cover with access to NEXT holding-company plans
• Spokane fire reporting with 65,000 evacuated, 700 buildings lost
• GLP-1 reshaping angle on plastic surgeons ranking

Weaknesses
• Periscope section is thinner than typical Newsweek standard
• 'Trump Washed' column is too short to land its argument

Verdict: Recommended — The Rich Paul profile and Spokane fire piece both deliver original reporting; the Periscope section could be stronger but does not sink the issue.