His lungs turned fibrotic and what followed was, in Olson’s words, “a long, slow, miserable event.” Doctors intubated and sedated him for two weeks while Olson stayed by his side with her mother and brother. When it became clear he’d be in the ICU indefinitely, she began flying back and forth between Oregon and her Los Angeles sets. Olson says she couldn’t stop apologizing to a Hacks production that kept rearranging its schedule around an actor who wasn’t exactly the lead character. “Everyone over at Hacks was so incredibly flexible and kind and understanding,” she says. “This is a gigantic nuisance, and I’m a guest star on their show.”

Eventually, the first day on the Hacks set arrived, and she arrived on set at 5 a.m. for hair and makeup. Then, her phone rang. Her dad had lost consciousness. “Honestly, at this point, it’s a blur,” Olson says. “I collapsed in the line producer’s arms. I said, ‘I have to go.’ And he said, ‘Go.’”

Don, who had moved to a rehab center, had contracted pneumonia, slipped into a coma, and was in an ambulance headed to the emergency room. “Shutting down a production like that is devastating,” says Olson. “I’ll forever be grateful to them for their grace around that.”

Eventually, he stabilized. The doctors told her there would be no real recovery, and that his lungs would never again work on their own. But her parents encouraged her to go back to work. “I’m trying to digest that information and shoot a comedy,” she says. “I’d have to stop and take phone calls and wipe away tears and come back and then try and be funny. And it felt so weird. I felt guilty, because I was legitimately having fun. That was confusing.”

Downs describes Olson as “completely fearless,” and says for the episode she had to get into a pen with untrained goats. “When a goat would knock her over she would use it—she’d incorporate it into the scene seamlessly, never breaking character,” he says. “She is so committed to comedy she will do anything for the work, no matter how punishing or how insane and it’s a marvel to watch. She’s like a modern day Lucille Ball.”

Olson and Smart texted Don, a big fan of Hacks, videos from set throughout the shoot. “He especially loved me screaming at people—we’re just not yellers in real life,” she says. “So every scene I was doing, I was like, ‘Oh God, he is going to think this is so funny.’”

That episode of Hacks—which includes DJ refusing to accept failure in learning a clown routine—would end up being the last episode of anything Olson made that Don watched before he died. “And he loved it,” she says. “It’s just always going to be very special to me, because he got to see it.”

Olson and Smart performing a mother-daughter clown dance in the “D’Amazing Race” episode of Hacks. “It felt like a perfect send off and a testament to how far they both have come,” says Downs.

HBO Max/Everett Collection

Mark Cuban told Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., that he doesn’t “understand business” during a heated clash over California’s proposed 5% billionaire wealth tax, warning it could drive startup founders and investors out of the state.

The exchange centered on California’s Proposition 40, a controversial ballot measure that would impose a one-time 5% wealth tax on residents with more than $1 billion in assets.

The measure has been endorsed by the California Democratic Party, while some notable leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, have expressed opposition.

In a video posted on X on Saturday, Khanna made the case for the tax, arguing that it would help preserve healthcare for working-class Californians. He said the “Sacramento establishment” and lobbyists opposing the measure were “blatantly out of touch.”

STEVE HILTON WARNS CALIFORNIA ECONOMY WILL ‘ABSOLUTELY COLLAPSE’ UNDER ‘INSANE’ BILLIONAIRE TAX

Mark Cuban, left, and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., clashed on social media over California’s proposed 5% wealth tax on billionaires. (Leah Millis/Reuters; Nathan Laine/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Cuban responded by arguing that founders of rapidly appreciating startups can become billionaires on paper without having hundreds of millions of dollars in liquid assets available to pay the proposed tax.

“They are the definition of cash poor, stock rich,” Cuban wrote on X.

He warned that the measure could cause startup founders and investors to leave California.

“If this passes, only idiot startup founders stay in Cali,” Cuban wrote.

TRUMP WARNS NEW HOCHUL, MAMDANI PIED-À-TERRE TAX COULD ACCELERATE NYC WEALTH EXODUS

Billionaire investor Mark Cuban warned that California’s proposed 5% wealth tax could drive startup founders and investors out of the state. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Cuban went further, warning that the measure could also influence where he invests.

“I will make NOT being in California a pre requisite for an investment,” he continued.

“Ideology is not a strategy Ro,” he added.

Khanna then proposed a workaround for founders whose wealth is largely tied up in private-company stock.

“Why not a non recourse loan for pledged stock as collateral for this situation?” Khanna wrote.

KEN GRIFFIN’S NYC SKYSCRAPER MOVES FORWARD DESPITE FEUD WITH MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., defended a proposed one-time 5% wealth tax on California residents with more than $1 billion in assets. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Khanna proposed addressing the concerns surrounding illiquid founders by allowing them to pledge shares in their companies as collateral for a government loan that could then be used to pay the wealth tax.

The loan could remain outstanding for roughly 10 years, after which the founder would either repay the government in cash or the government would take possession of the pledged shares. Because the loan would be nonrecourse, the founder would not be personally liable if the company failed.

Cuban blasted the proposal.

“Ro, that’s insane,” he wrote.

Cuban argued that California would effectively lend founders money that would immediately be returned to the state as payment of the tax, meaning the arrangement would initially generate no additional cash revenue from those taxpayers.

“What’s the point of that?” he wrote.

BOB IGER, JOSH KUSHNER SHOCKINGLY PURCHASE LAKERS MONTHS AFTER MARK WALTER BECAME MAJORITY OWNER

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has expressed opposition to the proposed one-time wealth tax on the state’s billionaires. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Cuban also argued that California could eventually wind up owning shares in private companies if founders were unable to repay the loans.

“Cali, You make it. We take it!” Cuban wrote.

Khanna pushed back on Cuban’s criticism, arguing that the government would still collect the tax from billionaires with liquid assets.

“The government would still collect from the vast majority of billionaires who are not illiquid,” Khanna wrote.

Khanna claimed that 72% of billionaire wealth is held in public stock and said the proposed financing mechanism would be aimed at true “paper billionaires” whose fortunes are tied to illiquid assets. He argued that if a private company succeeds, California would ultimately collect on the loan, while founders would not be personally liable if the company failed.

CALIFORNIA VOTERS TO CONSIDER BALLOT MEASURE TO INCREASE TAXES ON BILLIONAIRES

Mark Cuban warned that if California’s proposed billionaire wealth tax passes, he would make not being based in the state a prerequisite for certain startup investments. (Tim Heitman/Getty Images)

Khanna then broadened his argument, telling Cuban that ordinary Americans support higher taxes on billionaires.

“Mark, come on a road trip with me around California, Pennsylvania and the country and ask ordinary Americans how they feel about a billionaire tax,” Khanna wrote. “Most say, I promise you, why only 5 percent?”

Cuban shot back: “You don’t understand business Ro.”

He argued that even a successful founder could spend 10 years growing a company, create thousands of jobs and pay hundreds of millions of dollars in federal and state taxes without ever having $250 million in liquid assets available to repay the proposed state loan.

CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., argued that California’s proposed billionaire tax would help protect health care for working-class and middle-class residents. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

“Is that what you want your state to be?” Cuban wrote.

Khanna continued to push back, arguing that most of the roughly 250 California billionaires who could be affected by the tax do not face the liquidity problem Cuban described.

Cuban responded with his sharpest criticism yet, arguing that forcing startup founders to sell shares to satisfy the tax would punish entrepreneurs who reinvest their wealth into growing their companies, creating jobs and paying employees rather than taking cash out for themselves.

“Ro, this is the biggest f— you in the history of entrepreneurship. Ever,” Cuban wrote.

Taylor Farms can’t catch a break this summer—and neither can we. Hot on the heels of the ongoing Cyclospora outbreak that’s impacted leafy greens, another recall is affecting numerous products containing jalapeños, also sold by Taylor Fresh Foods (which operates under the name Taylor Farms).

Earlier this month, it was reported that 110 people became sick after consuming jalapeños sold at Chipotle locations in Minnesota. As a result, Qdoba restaurants pulled the product from their stores out of an abundance of caution. As of now, the FDA does not consider there to be an ongoing risk from these establishments due to their actions to remove the affected product from their stores.

According to government agencies, the affected jalapeños, which were grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, were contaminated with Salmonella and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors to retailers in 27 states. Coast Citrus Distributors is a supplier of Taylor Farms.

What Products Are Being Recalled?

Now, the recall has expanded after 345 confirmed illnesses and 36 hospitalizations. Numerous products containing the contaminated jalapeños have been recalled and were distributed to retailers including Hannaford, Kroger, Stop and Shop, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and Whole Foods. The affected product list is vast and includes the following:

• Diced Jalapeños sold at Hannaford locations in Maine and New York with the UPC code 030223082712 and best if used by dates of 8/7/2026-8/14/2026.

• Rice and Bean Burrito sold at Hannaford locations in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont with the UPC code 030223082736 and best if used by dates between 8/7/2026-8/11/2026.

• Private Selection Spicy Roast Beef Sandwich PS sold at Kroger locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas with the UPC code 011110678171 and best if used by dates between 8/7/2026-8/12/2026.

• Spicy Jarlsberg Dip sold at Kroger locations in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas, and West Virginia with the UPC code 030223114826 with best if used by dates between 8/7/2026–8/15/2026.

• Spicy Pimento Cheese Dip sold at Kroger locations in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas, and West Virginia with the UPC code 030223116448 and best if used by dates between 8/7/2026-8/15/2026.

• Pico de Gallo Salsa sold at Stop and Shop and Hannaford locations in Massachusetts, Maine, and New York with the UPC code 688267575778 and best if used by dates between 8/7/2026-8/14/2026.

• Taylor Farms and Unbranded Taco Dip sold at Target locations in Florida, Ohio, and Texas with the UPC code 030223073581 and best if used by dates between 8/12/2026–8/13/2026.

• Taylor Farms and Unbranded Mango Pico de Gallo sold at Target locations in Ohio and Texas with the UPC code 030223073543 and best if used by dates between 8/8/2026–8/13/2026.

• Taylor Farms and Unbranded Spicy Guacamole sold at Target locations in Ohio and Texas with the UPC code 030223073574 and best if used by dates between 8/7/2026–8/13/2026.

• Taylor Farms Pico de Gallo sold at Target locations in Texas with the UPC code 030223073536 and best if used by dates between 8/7/2026-8/14/2026.

• Taylor Farms Authentic Guacamole sold at Target locations in Texas with the UPC code 030223073567 and best if used by dates between 8/7/2026-8/12/2026.

• Trader Joe’s Fiesta Style Salad Shrimp sold at Trader Joe’s locations in Texas with the UPC code 000000818377 and best if used by dates between 8/7/2026-8/12/2026.

• Freshness Guaranteed Hot (or Spicy) Pico de Gallo Spicy sold at Walmart locations in Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin with the UPC code 681131276351 and best if used by dates between 8/8/2026–8/16/2026.

• Freshness Guaranteed Mild Pico De Gallo sold at Walmart locations in Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin with the UPC code 681131276344 and best if used by dates between 8/8/2026-8/16/2026.

• Salsa Fresca Medium sold at Whole Foods locations in Illinois and Texas with the UPC code 030223075080 and best if used by dates between 8/7/2026–8/16/2026.

• Pico de Gallo Mild sold at Whole Foods locations in Illinois and Texas with the UPC code 030223075097 and best if used by dates between 8/7/2026-8/16/2026.

• Pico de Gallo Spicy sold at Whole Foods locations in Illinois and Texas with the UPC code 030223075608 and best if used by dates between 8/7/2026-8/16/2026.

• Salsa Roja Medium sold at Whole Foods locations in Illinois and Texas with the UPC code 030223075639 and best if used by dates between 8/7/2026-8/16/2026.

• Pineapple Mango Salsa Mild sold at Whole Foods locations in Illinois and Texas with the UPC code 030223075653 and best if used by dates between 8/7/2026-8/14/2026.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) also issued a public health alert for meat and poultry products containing FDA-regulated jalapeños that may also be contaminated with Salmonella.

Why Are They Being Recalled?

The recall was initiated following an outbreak investigation into a multistate outbreak of food contaminated with Salmonella, which can cause salmonellosis. The foodborne illness can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever anywhere from six hours to six days after eating contaminated food.

Illnesses began as early as June 19, 2026, and have continued through July 20, 2026. Taylor Fresh Foods is no longer sourcing products from this farmer and will be filling orders from alternative suppliers.

What Should I Do If I Have The Affected Products?

The FDA advises consumers, restaurants, and retailers not to eat, sell, or serve the recalled products. You should contact your health care provider immediately if you think you may have developed symptoms consistent with a Salmonella infection after eating a dish with jalapeños. If you froze recalled jalapeños or are unsure of the company you received them from, you should discard them. Additionally, you should carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that the product touched to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

You Might Also Like