It's Scott Hoying's world, and we're just living it.In every aspect of his personal and professional life, the Pentatonix frontman is thriving and achieving every dream he had as a queer kid growing up in Arlington, Texas.With a baby announcement hopefully coming any day, the star is taking a trip down memory lane with his own mother, Connie Hoying, in the powerful new book The Untold Story of Scott Hoying, Pentatonix Star.The novel gives readers insight into Scott's journey to superstardom after coming out at 17 years old, creating the Grammy-winning a cappella group Pentatonix, and eventually marrying his incredible husband Mark Hoying."I'm just so excited that my mom is telling this story from her perspective. There could be parents that relate to it more and understand it more. My mom didn't fully understand [my coming out] at first, but she had unconditional love for me. When I came out, the concern she had was my safety. It just makes me very grateful, it makes me want to cry," Scott Hoying tells PRIDE. See on Instagram The timing of this book's release couldn't be more crucial as many people in the LGBTQ+ community around the world are having a tough time accepting their own sexualities and opening up to their loved ones.Connie Hoying wants parents of queer children to be able to connect with her own experience accepting and loving her gay son."My heart just explodes! When I see him on stage [in front of] an audience of 15,000 people... this is what he wanted to do and he's doing it. I'm hoping parents of gay children learn empathy and acceptance. That's what we need in this world love, acceptance, support, positivity is everything," Connie Hoying says.Scott Hoying's star is only on the rise. With an incredible support system behind him, the singer is ready to tackle his next big project by starring alongside Joel McHale and Paula Patton in the upcoming movie musical Reimagined."There's so much love in this world! Hate gets highlighted so much, but there's so many wonderful, amazing, beautiful people that are just so inspiring. In a lot of different ways, everything is really aligning, and I've just felt more grateful than ever. As I grow up, I'm more grounded and present to be able to really realize those things."The Untold Story of Scott Hoying, Pentatonix Star is available wherever books are sold. To see the full interview with Scott Hoying and Connie Hoying, check out the video at the top of the page.

South Koreas first ever lesbian dating show has seemingly lost the plot as former fans denounce the decision to edit one controversial cast member out of the show.After the first episodes of ToGetHer dropped in April, contestant Kim Riwon quickly found her past working as a cam girl outed to the world. She was also accused of "queerbaiting" after it was discovered she had previously been in a relationship with a man she alleged was toxic and abusive, despite her insistence that she is, in fact, a woman who loves women.As conservative tides turned against her, a fellow cast member also made confusing accusations that Riwon made inappropriate advances towards her by seemingly asking her to spend time together.All of this led to the production company hitting pause on the episodes to regroup as they decided what to do. Some fans were demanding Riwon be cut from the show entirely, while others were furious this was even being considered a scandal.On May 4, ThisPlay announced that the show would be resuming with Riwon edited out as much as possible without losing the overall storylines. (@) The decision has sparked outrage and frustration on social media, particularly from international viewers. Posts from the official account have been met with repeated protests of "no riwon no views" and slamming ThisPlay for allegedly catering to misogyny and homophobia while failing to protect Riwon. (@) "Oh so yall decided to stand by the buillies, riwon is a victim not a criminals yall just token support women and always stand by the men and the patriarchal society i guess" (@) "You know damn well that no one will watch the reality show now, because you didn't want to protect Riwon, she really needed it, don't expect support of any kind and even less from the community to whom this program was directed, it's shameful." (@) "Dont do another show next time. You dont know what you are doing. Your lack of awareness, understanding and insensitivity around these women has been distasteful. This is a reflection of your failure to protect those women" (@) "I think riwon just agreed to whatever was discussedlike limiting her scenesbecause she probably felt she had no right to demand anything. Shes been publicly humiliated simply because of her past. All she wanted was to find love and be out and proud. She didnt sign up for this" (@) "The people you're pandering to will NEVER be accepting of us lesbians, no matter how hard you try to please them. This is a big mistake. Blaming doesn't help us advance our rights, but in this case you are to blame.You let down not only Riwon, but also the lesbian community." (@) "You did your own background checks. You wanted Riwon on your show. She's shown bravery by coming out & appearing on #ToGetHer despite the serious homophobia in your country. Now, you take the easy way out & just cut off the "controversy." Then, that's it for me, too. I'm out."And as subsequent episodes have begun to air, the lack of Riwon has been painfully noticeable, which has added to the backlash. (@) "If Riwon is not there, then the program is not watched." (@) "and fuck you for editing riwon out tf" (@) "ToGetHer is boring and empty without riwon im sorry yall im out" (@) "Riwon and Seoyeon picking matching cards to go on a painting date, you see Riwon hand on Seoyeon shoulder, she is so happy about it, it's so tragic we didn't get to see the date, those two actually like eachother" (@) "Hard to watch now that riwon has been completely cut" (@) "the lack of riwon makes me sick so its so good to see her when we do" (@) "riwon brought so much heart to the episodes. sorry to say but it feels so empty and boring without her. selective allyship is the real stain on the show. BRING RIWON BACK" (@) No matter how you spin it, it's an unfortunate way for South Korea's first lesbian dating show to play out.

Ange Postecoglou believes people "are waiting for the white smoke" to see if he will be sacked as Tottenham manager and challenged his players to "break the cycle" by ending the club's 17-year wait for silverware.

Injuries to Vincius Jnior and Lucas Vzquez added to Real Madrid's problems on Monday.

Real Madrid are finalising a deal for Xabi Alonso to become their new coach as soon as possible, multiple sources have told ESPN, with the club keen to have him in place for this summer's Club World Cup.

French football intends to have its own version of the Premier League, with a club-owned entity replacing the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) as part of plans announced by French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo on Monday.

One Hamburg SV fan suffered "life-threatening injuries" and 19 more were seriously injured in celebrations after the team's return to the Bundesliga, local fire services said on Sunday.

The Orthodox Jewish university had reached a settlement with the club in March but said the group had violated the agreement by operating as a pride club under a different name.

President Trumps triple-digit tariffs on Chinese products disrupted global trade but havent appeared to result in major concessions from Beijing.

The killer of an Arizona man was sentenced to over 10 years behind bars after his victim spoke to the court via artificial intelligence in what could be the first-of-its-kind use of the technology. What do you think?Thats one hell of a surprise witness.Tim Roetman, UnemployedThis is exactly why Ive pre-recorded my response to being brutally murdered.Michelle Wallis, Circus HistorianThat must have been hard to watch without trying to kill him again.Antonio Rossi, Law ProclaimerThe post AI Version Of Dead Arizona Man Addresses Killer During Sentencing appeared first on The Onion.

It makes my kitchen look amazing.READ MORE...

There were (many) doubters in the comment section when I first shared my process on Instagram.READ MORE...

President Donald Trump answers a reporter's question during an event in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)2025-05-12T20:44:01Z WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trumps agreement with China to temporarily slash tariffs for 90 days offered the world a bit of welcome relief. But what persists is a sense of uncertainty and the possibility that some damage from the trade war could already be done.The Trump administration agreed after talks this weekend in Switzerland to pare back its 145% in tariffs charged on imports from China to 30%. The Chinese government chose to reduce its retaliatory import taxes on U.S. goods from 125% to 10% while the sides continue to negotiate.Trump declared the de-escalation of the trade war a victory, saying he would soon chat with Chinese President Xi Jinping about how to preserve the financial relationship between the worlds two largest economies.Regardless, the tariffs are now elevated from when Trump took office and the scramble to respond to the White Houses mix of threats and olive branches might leave CEOs, investors and consumers uneasy and unwilling to take risks. Trump is going to keep tariffingThe global economy is not going to back to January 19, 2025, the day before Trump became president. Even if he routinely changes the tariff rates, the U.S. president and his aides have made it clear that most imports will be taxed at a minimum of roughly 10%.The 10% figure has been Trumps baseline. He gave it to most countries for a 90-day negotiating period after his April 2 Liberation Day tariff rollout caused a panic in the financial markets. He kept the 10% rate as part of the framework with the United Kingdom announced last week. And Trumps new 30% tariff on Chinese goods includes 20% tied to Chinas role in fentanyl and the 10% baseline applied elsewhere. We have many deals coming down the line, Trump said on Friday. But we always have a baseline of 10%.But Trump has also hinted that there could be exceptions. Sectoral tariffs of 25% on autos, steel and aluminum are still in place, with Trump stressing that pharmaceutical drugs will also soon face import taxes.Trump said Monday that he told House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune to include tariff revenues when looking at how to pay for their planned income tax cuts. Reality can now anchor negotiationsTaisu Zhang, a law professor who studies comparative legal and economic history at Yale University, said the chaos from last month probably was not for nothing. Both countries were testing their strengths, with Trump stressing the importance that foreign companies placed on accessing U.S. consumers and China emphasizing its resilience to an external shock.As recently as February, both sides probably harbored unrealistic assumptions about each others economic or political weaknesses or intents, Zhang said. The Americans had an exaggerated sense of their own bargaining power to begin with, and the Chinese may have had an exaggerated sense of their security from American economic pressure.The best thing to come out of this agreement, therefore, seems to be a stronger sense of reality on both sides, Zhang said. In that, Zhang said, it looks like the goals of the two countries align, with China consuming more and the U.S. manufacturing more. The stock market loved the news and could shape what happens nextThe world has seen that Trump remains wary of getting on the wrong side of the financial markets. When his initial April 2 announcement of higher tariff rates fueled a selloff in stocks and rising interest rates on U.S. debt, he retreated by announcing his 90-day suspension of tariffs so that talks could proceed with nations other than China.The S&P 500 stock index jumped 3.3% in Monday trading, helping validate the Trump administrations decision to lower tariff rates so that talks could proceed. Beware of the bullwhip effectIf Trumps 145% tariffs caused fewer boats to leave for U.S. ports, the prospect of a slightly lower tariff rate might cause a stampede of shipping containers to flow across the ocean from China. The possibility of fewer ships from China had raised the risk of empty shelves at U.S. stores, a phenomenon last seen during the COVID-19 pandemic that led to spiking prices and voter frustration.But with the fast pivot to a lower tariff rate, the freight sitting in warehouses and factories in Asia can now be hurried onto cargo ships, causing the price of transporting those goods to rise sharply and producing congestion at ports. There is absolutely going to be a bullwhip effect in which the shortages now turn into a rush of new supply as companies try to beat the prospect of higher tariffs returning, said Michael Starr, vice president of growth at the logistics company Zencargo.They can now start shipping for the holiday season, Starr said. Theyre going to rush as many orders out in these 90 days as possible. And yes, the vessels cannot come back as quickly into service as the freight can.Theres little to no certainty about whats aheadUniversity of Michigan economist Justin Wolfers stressed that many people would see the 90-day talks as a short-term positive because moving tariffs from prohibitive and insane to merely very high is good news. But over the course of the past four months of the Trump administration, the president has floated 100% import taxes on movies made overseas, threatened Canada and Greenland with annexation and shown a relative indifference to the possible financial pain from his actions.So if you were to look back over those last 120 days, you would say, for as much optimism as you might feel right now, it would be crazy to feel optimistic about anything, Wolfers said. The U.S. economy could still end up hurtingA problem for Trump is that businesses have already made plans for the 145% tariffs he announced earlier and might be hesitant to revise them until any permanent policies are set.Its possible that a resilient job market can take the hits from tariffs without cracking much, just as it survived Federal Reserve rate hikes under Democratic President Joe Biden that were designed to bring down inflation. But 30% tariffs are still a cost for businesses and consumers to absorb and that might prevent many companies from hiring and expanding their operations.Maybe some of those could live with 30%, at least for a while, said Kevin Rinz, a senior fellow at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. But in 90 days, what are tariffs with China going to be? Will they go up or down from 30%? If up, how far? I have no idea, and if I were a firm that relies on imports from China, that would cause paralysis.Rinz, who worked as an economist in the Obama and Biden administrations, tried to model the impact of the labor market based on Trumps own premise that any short-term pain from tariffs would eventually result in long-term gains. His analysis found a drop in hiring.It turns out, that scenario looks a lot like a recession over the next few years, Rinz said. JOSH BOAK Boak covers the White House and economic policy for The Associated Press. He joined the AP in 2013. twitter mailto DIDI TANG Tang joined the AP Washington bureau in 2023 after spending 11 years in Beijing as a China correspondent. She covers anything related to the Indo-Pacific region with a focus on U.S.-China competitions mailto

President Donald Trump answers a reporter's question during an event in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, Monday, May 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)2025-05-12T21:06:54Z WASHINGTON (AP) For President Donald Trump, accepting a free Air Force One replacement from Qatar is a no-brainer.I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer, the Republican told reporters on Monday. I could be a stupid person and say, No, we dont want a free, very expensive airplane.Critics of the plan worry that the move threatens to turn a global symbol of American power into an airborne collection of ethical, legal, security and counterintelligence concerns. This is unprecedented, said Jessica Levinson, a constitutional law expert at Loyola Law School. We just havent tested these boundaries before.Trump tried to tamp down some of the opposition by saying he wouldnt fly around in the gifted Boeing 747 when his term ends. Instead, he said, the $400 million plane would be donated to a future presidential library, similar to how the Boeing 707 used by President Ronald Reagan was decommissioned and put on display as a museum piece. It would go directly to the library after I leave office, Trump said. I wouldnt be using it.However, that did little to quell the controversy over the plane. Democrats are united in outrage, and even some of the Republican presidents allies are worried. Laura Loomer, an outspoken conspiracy theorist who has tried to purge disloyal officials from the administration, wrote on social media that she would take a bullet for Trump but said shes so disappointed.Trump will likely face persistent questions about the plane in the coming days as he travels to the Middle East, including a stop in Qatar. Why does Trump want the Qatari plane?The two planes currently used as Air Force One have been flying for nearly four decades, and Trump is eager to replace them. During his first term, he displayed a model of a new jumbo jet in the Oval Office, complete with a revised paint scheme that echoed the red, white and dark blue design of his personal plane. Boeing has been working on retrofitting 747s that were originally built for a now-defunct Russian airliner. But the program has faced nearly a decade of delays with perhaps more on the way from a series of issues, including a critical subcontractors bankruptcy and the difficulty of finding and retaining qualified staff who could be awarded high-level security clearances.The new planes arent due to be finished until near the end of Trumps term, and hes out of patience. He has described the situation as a total mess, and he has complained that Air Force One isnt as nice as the planes flown by some Arab leaders. Its not even the same ballgame, he said. Trump said Qatar, which hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, offered a replacement plane that could be used while the government was waiting for Boeing to finish. We give free things out, he said. Well take one, too.He bristled at suggestions that he should turn down the plane, comparing the potential gift to favors on the golf course.When they give you a putt, you pick it up and you walk to the next hole and you say, Thank you very much, he said. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota expressed skepticism.I understand his frustration. Theyre way behind schedule on delivering the next Air Force One, the Republican told reporters. Whether or not this is the right solution or not, I dont know.Will the new plane be secure?The Qatari plane has been described as a palace in the sky, complete with luxurious accommodations and top-of-the-line finishes. But security is the primary concern when it comes to presidential travel. The current Air Force One planes were built from scratch near the end of the Cold War. They are hardened against the effects of a nuclear blast and include a range of security features, such as anti-missile countermeasures and an onboard operating room. They are also equipped with air-to-air refueling capabilities for contingencies, though it has never been utilized with a president on board. A former U.S. official briefed on the Air Force One replacement project said that while it would be possible to add some features to the Qatari jet, there was no way to add the full suite of capabilities to the plane on a tight timetable. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive program, said it would be a risk for presidents to fly on such a jet.One of the most important features of Air Force One is the communications capabilities. Presidents can use the plane as a flying Situation Room, allowing them to respond to crises anywhere on the globe. However, on Sept. 11, 2001, Republican President George W. Bush was frustrated by communications issues and ordered up massive technology upgrades over subsequent years to improve the presidents ability to monitor events and communicate with people around the world.The new ones under development by Boeing are being stripped down so workers can replace the standard wiring with shielded cabling. Theyre also modifying the jet with an array of classified security measures and communications capabilities. Because of the high standards for ensuring a president can communicate clearly and securely, there are fears that Trump would be compromising safety by rushing to modify the Qatari jet. Disassembling and evaluating the plane for collection/spy devices will take years, William Evanina, who served as director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center during Trumps first term, wrote on social media. He said the plane should be considered nothing more than a gracious presidential museum piece. Is any of this legal or ethical?Even for a president who has blurred traditional lines around public service and personal gain, Trumps plans to receive a jumbo jet as a gift has rattled Washington. The Constitution prohibits federal officials from accepting things of value, or emoluments, from foreign governments without congressional approval.This is a classic example of what the founders worried about, said Richard Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota and former White House ethics chief under Bush. But I dont think the founders anticipated it would get this bad.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News on Monday that the details of the donation are still being worked out but would be done in full compliance with the law.She dismissed idea the idea that Qatar wanted to influence Trump.They know President Trump, and they know he only works with the interests of the American public in mind, she said.Trump faced a legal fight over emoluments during his first term, when he opened the doors of his D.C. hotel to lobbyists, business executives and diplomats. His lawyers argued that the founders didnt intend to ban transactions representing an exchange of a service like hotel space for money, only outright gifts. But some ethics lawyers disagreed, and its not clear if Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and other countries were paying full price or more for when they used the hotel.In his second term, Trumps family business has been very busy overseas. In December, it struck a deal for two Trump-branded real estate projects in Riyadh with a Saudi firm that two years earlier it had partnered with for a Trump golf resort and villas in Oman. And in Qatar, the Trump Organization announced last month another Trump branded resort along the coast.Four Democratic senators on the Foreign Relations Committee Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Chris Coons of Delaware, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Chris Murphy of Connecticut issued a statement saying Trumps plan creates a clear conflict of interest, raises serious national security questions, invites foreign influence, and undermines public trust in our government. No one not even the president is above the law, they said. ___Condon reported from New York. Associated Press writers Matt Brown, Lolita Baldor and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report. CHRIS MEGERIAN Megerian covers the White House for The Associated Press. He previously wrote about the Russia investigation, climate change, law enforcement and politics in California and New Jersey. twitter mailto ZEKE MILLER Miller leads coverage of the president and the presidency for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington. twitter mailto BERNARD CONDON Condon is an Associated Press investigative reporter covering breaking news. He has written about the Maui fire, the Afghanistan withdrawal, gun laws, Chinese loans in Africa and Trumps business. twitter facebook mailto

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers use a chain to more comfortably restrain a detained person using handcuffs positioned in front, Jan. 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, file)2025-05-12T21:45:25Z A federal judge on Monday refused to block the Internal Revenue Service from sharing immigrants tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the purpose of identifying and deporting people illegally in the U.S. In a win for the Trump administration, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich denied a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed by nonprofit groups. They argued that undocumented immigrants who pay taxes are entitled to the same privacy protections as U.S. citizens and immigrants who are legally in the country.Friedrich, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, had previously refused to grant a temporary order in the case. The decision comes less than a month after former acting IRS commissioner Melanie Krause resigned over the deal allowing ICE to submit names and addresses of immigrants inside the U.S. illegally to the IRS for cross-verification against tax records. The IRS has been in upheaval over Trump administration decisions to share taxpayer data. A previous acting commissioner announced his retirement earlier amid a furor over Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency gaining access to IRS taxpayer data. The Treasury Department says the agreement with ICE will help carry out President Donald Trumps agenda to secure U.S. borders and is part of his larger nationwide immigration crackdown, which has resulted in deportations, workplace raids and the use of an 18th century wartime law to deport Venezuelan migrants. The acting ICE director has said working with Treasury and other departments is strictly for the major criminal cases.Advocates, however, say the IRS-DHS information-sharing agreement violates privacy laws and diminishes the privacy of all Americans.

A sign marks the entrance to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, on Oct. 8, 2013. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)2025-05-12T14:51:58Z A listeria outbreak linked to ready-to-eat sandwiches and snacks has sickened at least 10 people in the U.S., and a producer is voluntarily recalling dozens of products sold to retail stores, hospitals, hotels, airports and airlines, federal officials said.The products were made by Fresh & Ready Foods LLC and were sold in Arizona, California, Nevada and Washington. Those who fell ill and were hospitalized were in California and Nevada. The outbreak has been simmering for many months: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said cases date to December 2023.Listeria poisoning is caused by a particularly resilient type of bacteria that can survive and grow even during refrigeration. About 1,600 people are infected with it and 260 die each year in the U.S., according to the CDC. Heres what you need to know: What was recalled?The voluntary recall covers more than 80 specific products distributed between April 18 and April 25. The products have Use By dates from April 22 to May 19.Brand names include: Fresh & Ready Foods, City Point Market Fresh Food to Go and Fresh Take Crave Away.Federal officials say anyone with the products should throw them away or return them. They also suggest cleaning any surfaces that touched the recalled foods. Where does listeria come from?Listeria bacteria thrive in moist environments, including soil and water and decaying vegetation and are carried by some animals. The hardy germs are typically spread when food is harvested, processed, transported or stored in places that are contaminated with the bacteria. When the bacteria get into a food processing plant, they can be tough to eradicate.What are the symptoms of listeria?Foods contaminated with the bacteria can make people sick. Symptoms can be mild and include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. More serious illness can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Listeria poisoning is tricky because symptoms can start quickly, within a few hours or days after eating contaminated food. But they also can take weeks or up to three months to show up.Those most vulnerable to getting sick include the very young, people older than 65 and those with weakened immune systems or who are pregnant. Does cooking kill listeria? Listeria can survive and grow in refrigerated food. It can be killed by heating foods to steaming hot, or 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius), the CDC says. But thats not always possible or palatable for foods that are made to be eaten cold.Because listeria can survive under refrigeration, its important to clean and sanitize any surfaces, including refrigerator drawers and shelves, that may have come in contact with the products. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

In the second season of the Michelle Buteau-fronted comedy Survival of the Thickest, actor Dan Amboyerhas a big moment as his character Harrison marries RuPauls Drag Race alum Peppermint, who plays a version of herself. In addition, Amboyer starred in Max Mondis two-hander Maybe Tomorrowon stage opposite Elizabeth A. Davis at the Mezzanine Theatre at [...]The post Dan Amboyer Talks Marrying Peppermint on Survival of the Thickest, His Time on Younger, and Authentic Storytelling: Love the Human Beyond the Gender first appeared on GLAAD.

A walking tour group in Edinburgh is temporarily cutting their Harry Potter tours and replacing them with LGBTQ+ history tours for Pride month and they arent shying away from the reasons why."For the six years now that I have been a walking tour guide in the city of Edinburgh I have given Harry Potter walking tours alongside historical ones," Fraser Horn wrote in an April blog post on his business website. "But theres an increasing amount of negativity around the series which is making it much harder to conjure up affection."Horn explained that he fully expected J.K. Rowlings transphobic rhetoric to have an immediate impact on the demand for Harry Potter-related tours some time ago but nothing changed. The demand continued, and "hardly anyone" ever brought the topic up. Anecdotally, he says that other tour guides across Edinburgh have said the same thing.His post doesnt sugarcoat the situation. Instead, he frames it as a conflict between profit and values, pointing out both how dangerous anti-trans views are for the entire LGBTQ+ community across the world and how much Edinburgh, where Rowling wrote the popular kids series, depends on that connection for tourism."Ive seen some guides try and cut round JK Rowling while giving the tour," Horn admitted. "The link Edinburgh has to the world of Harry Potter is the fact it was written here. The person it was written here by is Rowling. So it cannot really be gotten around."However, he does point out that any money earned from these tours doesnt go towards lining Rowlings already heavy pockets. This stands in worthwhile contrast to something like the upcoming Harry Potter TV series, particularly after HBOs chief content officer seemed to breeze past that issue while recently defending the decision to keep working with Rowling.Clearly, that isnt enough to prevent Horn from carefully considering what other impact continuing to prop up Harry Potter and, by extension, Rowling herself may have. For now, he plans to continue the tours, but his company, Street Historians, is at least pointedly hitting pause for Pride month."I will be replacing my Potter tours with additional LGBTQ tours," he writes, "just because its really funny."

Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich handed the United States Embassy in Buenos Aires on Monday a list of 15,000 violent football fans who will be banned from stadiums during the upcoming Club World Cup.

Chiefs superfan Xaviar Babudar was sentenced in an Oklahoma courtroom Monday to 32 years in prison, two and a half years after authorities caught him in the state as he fled from a local bank robbery.

NCAA president Charlie Baker said Monday he was "up for anything" when asked about the idea of a commission on collegiate athletics, an idea proposed by President Donald Trump.

Here is what we know about their safety and how theyll be used.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has adopted a conspicuously performative approach, willing to execute White House directives with little fuss.

A large swath of Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas and Nebraska was on high alert on Monday. Temperatures were expected to approach 100 degrees in some places.

House Republicans on Monday outlined their plans for a far-reaching tax bill that would deliver on several of President Trumps campaign pledges for now.

With a crucial week looming in the House, the G.O.P. is groping for ways to achieve savings without provoking a political backlash. Its a little tricky.

A (mostly) renter-friendly, colorful, euphoric riot? Yes please.READ MORE...

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, left, and Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom greet each other, ahead of their bilateral meeting at the 6th European Political Community summit Friday May 16, 2025 in Tirana, Albania. (Leon Neal/Pool via AP, File)2025-05-19T04:16:42Z LONDON (AP) The U.K. and the European Union will meet in London on Monday to discuss closer ties in their first official summit since Brexit.The meeting between U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and top EU officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, is intended to pave the way toward a new agreement between both sides. There is hope that a deal could improve the British economy, which has been hit by a drop in EU trade caused by increased costs and red tape after the United Kingdom left the bloc in 2020. Resetting relationsSince becoming prime minister in July, Starmer has sought to reset relations with the EU, following years of tensions in the wake of the U.K.'s Brexit referendum on June 23, 2016.Post-Brexit relations have been governed by a trade agreement negotiated by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Starmer thinks that can be improved in a way that boosts trade and bolsters security.Its unclear what will be announced at the summit, but Starmer said Sunday that there would be a deal, following trade agreements that the U.K. struck in recent weeks with India and the U.S.Tomorrow, we take another step forwards, with yet more benefits for the United Kingdom as the result of a strengthened partnership with the European Union, he said. It will be good for our jobs, good for our bills and good for our borders. Seeking a better dealSince the Labour Party returned to power after 14 years of Conservative government, a period that was largely marked by the time leading up to the Brexit vote and its aftermath, both sides have sought to improve relations.Thats been most evident in the more coordinated response to Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the wake of a change of approach by Washington following the return of U.S. President Donald Trump.Starmer, who campaigned for the U.K. to remain within the EU in the referendum and subsequently sought a second vote, has said that he wants a better deal with the 27-nation bloc that will smooth trade between the two sides and bolster security cooperation, including on defense procurement. Non-tariff barriersThough no tariffs are slapped on the export of goods between both sides, an array of non-tariff barriers, including more onerous border checks and laborious paperwork, have made trade more difficult.Post-Brexit visa restrictions have also hobbled the cross-border activities of service professionals, such as bankers or lawyers, as well as cultural exchanges, including touring bands and school trips. Before the summit the first in what are planned to be annual events Starmer said that good progress had been made in negotiations, while insisting that the U.K. wont breach his red lines. In its election manifesto last year, Labour said that it wouldnt rejoin the EUs frictionless single market and customs union, nor agree to the free movement of people between the U.K. and the EU. Security, defense and youth mobilityTalks on strengthening ties have focused largely on security and defense, and on a youth mobility plan that would allow young Britons and Europeans to live and work temporarily in each others territory.That remains a politically touchy issue in the U.K., seen by some Brexiteers as inching back towards free movement though the U.K. already has youth mobility arrangements with countries including Australia and Canada.Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, who is leading negotiations, said that talks with the EU were going down to the wire.The issue of fishingThe summit is expected to lead to more intense discussions on an array of issues, including aligning standards on the sale of agricultural products that could eliminate costly checks on food products exported across the English Channel, closer energy ties and a new fishing pact. While he wouldnt provide details, Thomas-Symonds said that he was confident that trade could be improved for food imports and exports. We know weve had lorries waiting for 16 hours, fresh food in the back not able to be exported, because frankly its just going off, red tape, all the certifications that are required, we absolutely want to reduce that, he told the BBC.Disagreements reportedly remain over fishing, an economically minor but symbolically large issue for the U.K. and EU member states such as France. Disputes over the issue nearly derailed a Brexit deal back in 2020. Starmers plummeting popularityAs in all negotiations, some of the trade-offs may prove difficult, especially for Starmer, whose popularity has plummeted in recent months. Earlier this month, the anti-immigration and pro-Brexit Reform U.K. won big in local elections. Starmer knows that he will face likely accusations of betraying Brexit, whatever the outcome of the talks. The ever-unpredictable Trump, who has backed Brexit, could also be a potential headache for Starmer. The reset could still be blown off course by disagreements over how to consolidate existing areas of cooperation like fisheries and/or external factors, such as a negative reaction from the U.S. to the U.K. seeking closer ties with the EU, said Jannike Wachowiak, research associate at the UK in a Changing Europe think tank. JILL LAWLESS Lawless is an Associated Press reporter covering U.K. politics and more. She is based in London. twitter mailto

An American Flag is posted near destroyed homes, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in London, Ky., after a severe storm passed through the area. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)2025-05-19T04:17:16Z LONDON, Ky. (AP) More severe storms were expected to roll across the central U.S. this week following the weather-related deaths of more than two dozen people and a devastating Kentucky tornado.The National Weather Service said a multitude of hazardous weather would impact the U.S. over the next several days from thunderstorms and potentially baseball-sized hail on the Plains, to heavy mountain snow in the West and dangerous heat in the South.Areas at risk of thunderstorms include communities in Kentucky and Missouri that were hit by Fridays tornadoes. In London, Kentucky, people whose houses were destroyed scrambled Sunday to put tarps over salvageable items or haul them away for safe storage, said Zach Wilson. His parents house was in ruins, their belongings scattered.Were trying the hardest to get anything that looks of value and getting it protected, especially pictures and papers and things like that, he said.Heres the latest on the recent storms, some tornado history and where to look out for the next weather impacts. Deadly storms claim dozens of livesAt least 19 people were killed and 10 seriously injured in Kentucky, where a tornado on Friday damaged hundreds of homes and tossed vehicles in southeastern Laurel County. 0fficials said the death toll could rise and that three people remained in critical condition Sunday.Wilson said he raced to his parents home in London, Kentucky, after the storm. It was dark and still raining but every lightning flash, it was lighting up your nightmares: Everything was gone, he said. The thankful thing was me and my brother got here and got them out of where they had barricaded themselves.Survey teams were expected on the ground Monday so the state can apply for federal disaster assistance, Gov. Andy Beshear said. Some of the two dozen state roads that had closures could take days to reopen.In St. Louis, five people died and 38 were injured as the storm system swept through on Friday, according to Mayor Cara Spencer. More than 5,000 homes in the city were affected, she said. On Sunday, city inspectors were going through damaged areas to condemn unsafe structures, Spencer said. She asked for people not to sightsee in damaged areas.A tornado that started in the St. Louis suburb of Clayton traveled at least eight miles (13 kilometers), had 150-mph (241-kph) winds and had a maximum width of one mile (1.6 kilometers), according to the weather service. It touched down in the area of Forest Park, home to the St. Louis Zoo and the site of the 1904 Worlds Fair and the Olympic Games that same year.In Scott County, about 130 miles (209 kilometers) south of St. Louis, a tornado killed two people, injured several others and destroyed multiple homes, Sheriff Derick Wheetley wrote on social media.The weather system spawned tornadoes in Wisconsin and temporarily enveloped parts of Illinois including Chicago in a pall of dust. Two people were killed in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., by falling trees while driving.The storms hit after the Trump administration cut staffing of National Weather Service offices, with outside experts worrying about how it would affect warnings in disasters such as tornadoes. A history of tornadoesThe majority of the worlds tornadoes occur in the U.S., which has about 1,200 annually. Researchers in 2018 found that deadly tornadoes were happening less frequently in the traditional Tornado Alley of Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas and more frequently in parts of the more densely populated and tree-filled South. They can happen any time of day or night, but certain times of the year bring peak tornado season. Thats from May into early June for the southern Plains and earlier in the spring on the Gulf Coast.The deadliest tornado in Kentuckys history was hundreds of yards wide when it tore through downtown Louisvilles business district in March 1890, collapsing multistory buildings including one with 200 people inside. Seventy-six people were killed.The last tornado to cause mass fatalities in Kentucky was a December 2021 twister that lasted almost five hours. It traveled some 165 miles (266 kilometers), leaving a path of destruction that included 57 dead and more than 500 injured, according to the weather service. Officials recorded at least 41 tornadoes during that storm, which killed at least 77 people statewide.On the same day, a deadly tornado struck the St. Louis area, killing six people at an Amazon facility in nearby Illinois. More storms threaten in coming daysThunderstorms with potentially damaging winds were forecast for a region stretching from northeast Colorado to central Texas.And tornadoes will again be a threat particularly from central Kansas to Oklahoma, according to the National Weather Service.Meanwhile, triple-digit temperatures were forecast for parts of south Texas with the potential to break daily records. The hot, dry air also sets the stage for critical wildfire conditions through early this week in southern New Mexico and West Texas.Up to a foot of snow was expected in parts of Idaho and western Montana.___Brown reported from Billings, Montana. MATTHEW BROWN Brown is based in Billings, Montana. He covers breaking news, the environment, politics, energy, crime and more.

A dragon blood's tree overlooks a natural infinity pool within Homhil Protected Area on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag)2025-05-19T03:34:51Z SOCOTRA, Yemen (AP) On a windswept plateau high above the Arabian Sea, Sena Keybani cradles a sapling that barely reaches her ankle. The young plant, protected by a makeshift fence of wood and wire, is a kind of dragons blood tree a species found only on the Yemeni island of Socotra that is now struggling to survive intensifying threats from climate change.Seeing the trees die, its like losing one of your babies, said Keybani, whose family runs a nursery dedicated to preserving the species. Known for their mushroom-shaped canopies and the blood-red sap that courses through their wood, the trees once stood in great numbers. But increasingly severe cyclones, grazing by invasive goats, and persistent turmoil in Yemen which is one of the worlds poorest countries and beset by a decade-long civil war have pushed the species, and the unique ecosystem it supports, toward collapse. Dragons blood trees are seen from the highest peak on the Yemeni island of Socotra, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Dragons blood trees are seen from the highest peak on the Yemeni island of Socotra, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Often compared to the Galapagos Islands, Socotra floats in splendid isolation some 240 kilometers (150 miles) off the Horn of Africa. Its biological riches including 825 plant species, of which more than a third exist nowhere else on Earth have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. Among them are bottle trees, whose swollen trunks jut from rock like sculptures, and frankincense, their gnarled limbs twisting skywards.But its the dragons blood tree that has long captured imaginations, its otherworldly form seeming to belong more to the pages of Dr. Seuss than to any terrestrial forest. The island receives about 5,000 tourists annually, many drawn by the surreal sight of the dragons blood forests. Flowers blossom on a bottle tree on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Flowers blossom on a bottle tree on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Frankincense and bottle trees grow on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Frankincense and bottle trees grow on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A dragon bloods tree sits above a canyon on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) A dragon bloods tree sits above a canyon on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Visitors are required to hire local guides and stay in campsites run by Socotran families to ensure tourist dollars are distributed locally. If the trees were to disappear, the industry that sustains many islanders could vanish with them.With the income we receive from tourism, we live better than those on the mainland, said Mubarak Kopi, Socotras head of tourism. But the tree is more than a botanical curiosity: Its a pillar of Socotras ecosystem. The umbrella-like canopies capture fog and rain, which they channel into the soil below, allowing neighboring plants to thrive in the arid climate. When you lose the trees, you lose everything the soil, the water, the entire ecosystem, said Kay Van Damme, a Belgian conservation biologist who has worked on Socotra since 1999. A camel herder crosses the road on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) A camel herder crosses the road on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Without intervention, scientists like Van Damme warn these trees could disappear within a few centuries and with them many other species.Weve succeeded, as humans, to destroy huge amounts of nature on most of the worlds islands, he said. Socotra is a place where we can actually really do something. But if we dont, this one is on us.Increasingly intense cyclones uproot trees Toppled dragons blood trees are strewn on the ground on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Toppled dragons blood trees are strewn on the ground on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Across the rugged expanse of Socotras Firmihin plateau, the largest remaining dragons blood forest unfolds against the backdrop of jagged mountains. Thousands of wide canopies balance atop slender trunks. Socotra starlings dart among the dense crowns while Egyptian vultures bank against the relentless gusts. Below, goats weave through the rocky undergrowth. The frequency of severe cyclones has increased dramatically across the Arabian Sea in recent decades, according to a 2017 study in the journal Nature Climate Change, and Socotras dragons blood trees are paying the price. Socotras Firmihin plateau, home to the largest remaining dragons blood forest, is visible on Sept. 18, 2024, on the Yemeni island of Socotra. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Socotras Firmihin plateau, home to the largest remaining dragons blood forest, is visible on Sept. 18, 2024, on the Yemeni island of Socotra. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More An Egyptian vulture soars above Socotra's Firmihin plateau on Sept. 18, 2024, on the Yemeni island of Socotra. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) An Egyptian vulture soars above Socotra's Firmihin plateau on Sept. 18, 2024, on the Yemeni island of Socotra. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Begonia socotrana grows on a rock on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Begonia socotrana grows on a rock on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A network of caves stretches for kilometers on the Yemeni island of Socotra, on Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) A network of caves stretches for kilometers on the Yemeni island of Socotra, on Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More In 2015, a devastating one-two punch of cyclones unprecedented in their intensity tore across the island. Centuries-old specimens, some over 500 years old, which had weathered countless previous storms, were uprooted by the thousands. The destruction continued in 2018 with yet another cyclone.As greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, so too will the intensity of the storms, warned Hiroyuki Murakami, a climate scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the studys lead author. Climate models all over the world robustly project more favorable conditions for tropical cyclones.Invasive goats endanger young trees Goats roam amidst dragons blood trees on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 18, 2024.(AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Goats roam amidst dragons blood trees on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 18, 2024.(AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More But storms arent the only threat. Unlike pine or oak trees, which grow 60 to 90 centimeters (25 to 35 inches) per year, dragons blood trees creep along at just 2 to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) annually. By the time they reach maturity, many have already succumbed to an insidious danger: goats. An invasive species on Socotra, free-roaming goats devour saplings before they have a chance to grow. Outside of hard-to-reach cliffs, the only place young dragons blood trees can survive is within protected nurseries. The majority of forests that have been surveyed are what we call over-mature there are no young trees, there are no seedlings, said Alan Forrest, a biodiversity scientist at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburghs Centre for Middle Eastern Plants. So youve got old trees coming down and dying, and theres not a lot of regeneration going on. Mohammed Abdullah tends to dragons blood tree saplings at the Keybani family nursery on the Yemeni island of Socotra, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Mohammed Abdullah tends to dragons blood tree saplings at the Keybani family nursery on the Yemeni island of Socotra, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Achatinelloides mollusks gather on a tree's bark on the Yemeni island of Socotra, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Achatinelloides mollusks gather on a tree's bark on the Yemeni island of Socotra, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More A bottle tree grows from a cliff face on the Yemeni island of Socotra, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) A bottle tree grows from a cliff face on the Yemeni island of Socotra, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Keybanis familys nursery is one of several critical enclosures that keep out goats and allow saplings to grow undisturbed.Within those nurseries and enclosures, the reproduction and age structure of the vegetation is much better, Forrest said. And therefore, it will be more resilient to climate change.Conflict threatens conservation Ghost crab nests line the beach on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Ghost crab nests line the beach on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More But such conservation efforts are complicated by Yemens stalemated civil war. As the Saudi Arabia-backed, internationally recognized government battles Houthi rebels a Shiite group backed by Iran the conflict has spilled beyond the countrys borders. Houthi attacks on Israel and commercial shipping in the Red Sea have drawn retaliation from Israeli and Western forces, further destabilizing the region. The Yemeni government has 99 problems right now, said Abdulrahman Al-Eryani, an advisor with Gulf State Analytics, a Washington-based risk consulting firm. Policymakers are focused on stabilizing the country and ensuring essential services like electricity and water remain functional. Addressing climate issues would be a luxury. Ecotourism guide Sami Mubarak poses for a portrait beneath an ailing dragons blood tree on the Yemeni island of Socotra, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Ecotourism guide Sami Mubarak poses for a portrait beneath an ailing dragons blood tree on the Yemeni island of Socotra, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More With little national support, conservation efforts are left largely up to Socotrans. But local resources are scarce, said Sami Mubarak, an ecotourism guide on the island. Mubarak gestures toward the Keybani family nurserys slanting fence posts, strung together with flimsy wire. The enclosures only last a few years before the wind and rain break them down. Funding for sturdier nurseries with cement fence posts would go a long way, he said. Right now, there are only a few small environmental projects its not enough, he said. We need the local authority and national government of Yemen to make conservation a priority. A fisherman drags a shark to shore on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) A fisherman drags a shark to shore on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Sand dunes plunge into the sea on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Sand dunes plunge into the sea on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Children play in the waves on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Children play in the waves on the Yemeni island of Socotra on Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The sunrise appears between the branches of a dragons blood tree on the Yemeni island of Socotra, on Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) The sunrise appears between the branches of a dragons blood tree on the Yemeni island of Socotra, on Sept. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Annika Hammerschlag) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More ___Follow Annika Hammerschlag on Instagram @ahammergram.___The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment ANNIKA HAMMERSCHLAG Hammerschlag is a text and visual journalist covering the intersection of oceans and climate change globally for The Associated Press. She is based in Seattle. instagram mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

This combination photo shows President Donald Trump in a business roundtable, May 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a signing ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, May 10, 2025. (AP Photo)2025-05-19T04:01:42Z WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump is hoping separate phone calls Monday with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will make progress toward a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine.Trump expressed his hopes for a productive day Monday and a ceasefire in a social media post over the weekend. His effort will also include calls to NATO leaders. Trump has struggled to end a war that began with Russias invasion in February 2022, and that makes these conversations a serious test of his reputation as a dealmaker after having claimed he would quickly settle the conflict once he was back in the White House, if not even before he took office.The Republican president is banking on the idea that his force of personality and personal history with Putin will be enough to break any impasse over a pause in the fighting. His sensibilities are that hes got to get on the phone with President Putin, and that is going to clear up some of the logjam and get us to the place that we need to get to, said Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff. I think its going to be a very successful call. Still, there are fears that Trump has an affinity for Putin that could put Ukraine at a disadvantage with any agreements engineered by the U.S. government. Bridget Brink said she resigned last month as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine because the policy since the beginning of the administration was to put pressure on the victim Ukraine, rather than on the aggressor, Russia. Brink said the sign that she needed to depart was an Oval Office meeting in February where Trump and his team openly berated Zelenskyy for not being sufficiently deferential to them.I believe that peace at any price is not peace at all, Brink said. Its appeasement and as we know from history, appeasement only leads to more war.Trumps frustration about the war had been building before his post Saturday on Truth Social about the coming calls, which he said would begin first with Putin at 10 a.m. Monday. Trump said his discussion with Putin would focus on stopping the bloodbath of the war. It also will cover trade, a sign that Trump might be seeking to use financial incentives to broker some kind of agreement after Russias invasion led to severe sanctions by the United States and its allies that have steadily eroded Moscows ability to grow.Trumps hope, according to the post, is that a war that should have never happened will end.His treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press that Trump had made it clear that a failure by Putin to negotiate in good faith could lead to additional sanctions against Russia. Bessent suggested the sanctions that began during the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden were inadequate because they did not stop Russias oil revenues, due to concerns that doing so would increase U.S. prices. The United States sought to cap Russias oil revenues while preserving the countrys petroleum exports to limit the damage from the inflation that the war produced. Putin recently rejected an offer by Zelenskyy to meet in-person in Turkey as an alternative to a 30-day ceasefire urged by Ukraine and its Western allies, including Washington.Those talks ended on Friday after less than two hours, without a ceasefire in place. Still, both countries committed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war each, with Ukraines intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, saying on Ukrainian television Saturday that the exchanges could happen as early as this week.While wrapping up his four-day trip to the Middle East, Trump said on Friday that Putin had not gone to Turkey because Trump himself wasnt there.He and I will meet, and I think well solve it or maybe not, Trump told reporters after boarding Air Force One. At least well know. And if we dont solve it, itll be very interesting.Zelenskyy met with Trumps vice president, JD Vance, and top diplomat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Rome on Sunday, as well as European leaders, intensifying his efforts before the Monday calls. The Ukrainian president said on the social media site X that during his talks with the American officials, they discussed the negotiations in Turkey and that the Russians sent a low level delegation of non-decision-makers. He also said he stressed that Ukraine is engaged in real diplomacy to have a ceasefire. We have also touched upon the need for sanctions against Russia, bilateral trade, defense cooperation, battlefield situation and upcoming prisoners exchange, Zelenskyy said. Pressure is needed against Russia until they are eager to stop the war.The push came as the Kremlin launched its largest drone barrage against Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, firing a total of 273 exploding drones and decoys, Ukraines air force said Sunday. The attacks targeted the countrys Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions.Witkoff spoke Sunday on ABCs This Week and Brink appeared on CBS Face the Nation. JOSH BOAK Boak covers the White House and economic policy for The Associated Press. He joined the AP in 2013. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

President Joe Biden walks after speaking during an interfaith prayer service for the victims of the deadly New Years truck attack, in New Orleans, Jan. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)2025-05-18T23:20:49Z Former President Joe Bidens office said Sunday that he has been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer and is reviewing treatment options with his doctors.Biden was having increasing urinary symptoms and was seen last week by doctors who found a prostate nodule. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and the cancer cells have spread to the bone, his office said in a statement.When caught early, prostate cancer is highly survivable, but it is also the second-leading cause of cancer death in men. About one in eight men will be diagnosed over their lifetime with prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.Here are some things to know about prostate cancer that has spread.What is the prostate gland?The prostate is part of the reproductive system in men. It makes fluid for semen. Its located below the bladder and it wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine and semen out through the penis. How serious is Bidens cancer?Bidens cancer has spread to the bone, his office said. That makes it more serious than localized or early-stage prostate cancer.Outcomes have improved in recent decades and patients can expect to live with metastatic prostate cancer for four or five years, said Dr. Matthew Smith of Massachusetts General Brigham Cancer Center.Its very treatable, but not curable, Smith said. What are the treatment options?Prostate cancer can be treated with drugs that lower levels of hormones in the body or stop them from getting into prostate cancer cells. The drugs can slow down the growth of cancer cells. Most men in this situation would be treated with drugs and would not be advised to have either surgery or radiation therapy, Smith said. What is a Gleason score?Prostate cancers are graded for aggressiveness using whats known as a Gleason score. The scores range from 6 to 10, with 8, 9 and 10 prostate cancers behaving more aggressively. Bidens office said his score was 9, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. CARLA K. JOHNSON Johnson covers research in cancer, addiction and more for The Associated Press. She is a member of APs Health and Science team. twitter mailto

Welcome back to the Abstract!Im trying out something a little different this week: Instead of rounding up four studies per usual, Im going deep on one lead study followed by a bunch of shorter tidbits. Im hoping this shift will make for a more streamlined read and also bring a bit more topic diversity into the column.With that said, wild horses couldnt drag me from the main story this week (its about wild horses). Then follow the trail of an early land pioneer, gaze into a three-eyed face of the past, witness an aurora Martialis, meet some mama chimps, and join the countdown to the end of the universe.You Can Lead a Horse to an Ice-Free CorridorRunning Horse Collin, Yvette et al. Sustainability insights from Late Pleistocene climate change and horse migration patterns. Science.Have you ever got lost in thought while wandering and ended up on a totally different continent? Youre in good company. The history of life on Earth is packed with accidental migrations into whole new frontiers, a pattern exemplified by the Bering Land Bridge, which connected Siberia to Alaska until it was submerged under glacial meltwaters 11,000 years ago.As mentioned in last weeks column, this natural bridge likely enabled the ancestors of Tyrannosaurus rex to enter North America from Asia. It also served as a gateway to the first humans to reach the Americas, who crossed from Siberia over the course of several migrations.Now, scientists have confirmed that wild horses also crossed the Bering Land Bridge multiple times in both directions from about 50,000 and 13,000 years ago, during the Late Pleistocene period. In a study that combined genomic analysis of horse fossils with Indigenous science and knowledge, researchers discovered evidence of many crossings during the last ice age.We find that Late Pleistocene horses from Alaska and northern Yukon are related to populations from Eurasia and crossed the Bering land bridge multiple times during the last glacial interval, said researchers led by Yvette Running Horse Collin (Lakota: Taunke Iyanke Wi) of the Universit de Toulouse. We also find deeply divergent lineages north and south of the American ice sheets that genetically influenced populations across Beringia and into Eurasia.Wild horses at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota, USA. Image: Black Hills Wild Horse SanctuaryI couldnt resist this study in part because I am an evangelical Horse Girl looking to convert the masses to the cult of Equus. But beyond horse worship, this study is a great example of knowledge-sharing across worldviews as it weaves in the expertise of Indigenous co-authors who live in the regions where these Ice Age horses once roamed.The Horse Nation and its movement and evolution are sacred to many Indigenous knowledge keepers in the Americas, Running Horse Collin and her colleagues said. Following the movement and evolution of the horse to reveal traditional knowledge fully aligns with many Indigenous scientific protocols. We thus integrate the biological signatures identified with Indigenous knowledge regarding ecosystem balance and sustainability to highlight the importance of corridors in safeguarding life.The study concludes with several reflections on the Horse Nation from its Indigenous co-authors. Ill close with a quote from co-author Jane Stelkia, an Elder for the sqilx/suknaqin or Okanagan Nation, who observed that, Today, we live in a world where the boundaries and obstacles created by mankind do not serve the majority of life. In this study, Snklcaskaxa is offering us medicine by reminding us of the path all life takes together to survive and thrive. It is time that humans help life find the openings and points to cross and move safely.In other news.A Strut for the AgesLong, John et al Earliest amniote tracks recalibrate the timeline of tetrapod evolution. Nature.Fossilized claw prints found in Australias Snowy Plains Formation belonged to the earliest known amniote, the clade that includes practically all tetrapod vertebrates on land, including humans. The tracks were laid out by a mystery animal 356 million years ago, pushing the fossil timeline of amniotes back some 35 million years into the Devonian period.The implications for the early evolution of tetrapods are profound, said researchers led by John Long of Flinders University. It seems that tetrapod evolution proceeded much faster, and the Devonian tetrapod record is much less complete than has been thought.Extra points for the flashy concept video that shows the track-maker strutting like it knows its entering itself into the fossil record.Blinky the Cambrian RadiodontMoysiuk, Joseph and Caron, Jean-Bernard. Early evolvability in arthropod tagmosis exemplified by a new radiodont from the Burgess Shale. Royal Society Open Science.What has three eyes, two spiky claws, and a finger-sized body? Meet Mosura fentoni, a new species of arthropod that lived 506 million years ago. The bizarre radiodont from the Cambrian-era sediments of British Columbias Burgess Shale is exhaustively described in a new study.Concept art of Mosura fentoni. Fantastic creature. No notes. Image: Art by Danielle Dufault, ROMMosura adds to a growing list of radiodont species in which a median eye has been described, but the functional role of this structure has not been discussed, said authors Joseph Moysiuk of the Manitoba Museum and Jean-Bernard Caron of the Royal Ontario Museum. The large size and hemiellipsoidal shape of the radiodont median eye are unusual for arthropod single-lens eyes, but a possible functional analogy can be drawn with the central member of the triplet of median eyes found in dragonflies.Green Glow on the Red PlanetKnutsen, Elise et al. Detection of visible-wavelength aurora on Mars. Science Advances.NASAs Perseverance Rover captured images of a green aurora on Mars in March 2024, marking the first time a first visible light aurora has ever been seen on the planet. Mars displays a whole host of auroral light shows, including localized discrete and patchy aurora, global diffuse aurora, dayside proton aurora, and large-scale sinuous aurora, according to a new study. But it took a solar storm to capture a visible-light aurora for the first time.Perseverance Rover. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS/SSITo our knowledge, detection of aurora from a planetary surface other than Earth has never been reported, nor has visible aurora been observed at Mars, said researchers led by Elise Knutsen of the University of Oslo. This detection demonstrates that auroral forecasting at Mars is possible, and that during events with higher particle precipitation, or under less dusty atmospheric conditions, aurorae will be visible to future astronauts.Parenting Tips from Wild ChimpsRolland, Elonore et al. Evidence of organized but not disorganized attachment in wild Western chimpanzee offspring (Pan troglodytes verus). Nature Human Behavior.Coasting off of Mothers Day weekend, researchers present four years of observations focused on mother-offspring attachment styles in the wild chimpanzees of Cte d'Ivoires Ta National Park.Mama-offspring bonding in Ta chimps. Image: Liran Samuni, Ta Chimpanzee ProjectThe team documented organized attachment styles like secure in which the offspring look to the mother for comfort, and Insecure avoidant, characterized by more independent offspring.The disorganized style, in which the parent-offspring bond is maladaptive due to parental abuse or neglect, was virtually absent in the wild chimps, in contrast to humans and captive chimps, where it is unfortunately far more common.The maternal behaviour of chimpanzees observed in our study lacked evidence of the abusive behaviours observed in human contexts, said researchers led by Elonore Rolland of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. In contrast, instances of inadequate maternal care in zoos leading to humans taking over offspring rearing occurred for 8 infants involving 19 mothers across less than 5years and for 7 infants involving 23 mothers across 9years.In other words, the environmental context of parenting matters a lot to the outcomes of the offspring. Of course, this is obvious in countless anecdotal experiences of our own lives, but the results of the study offer a stark empirical reminder.Live Every Day As If The Universe Might End in 1078 YearsFalcke, Heino et al. An upper limit to the lifetime of stellar remnants from gravitational pair production. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics.Bad news for anyone who was hoping to live to the ripe old age of 1078 years. It turns out that the universe might decay into nothingness around that time, which is much sooner than previous estimates of cosmic death in about 101100 years. Long-lived stellar remnants, like white dwarfs and black holes, will slowly evaporate through a process called Hawking radiation on a more accelerated timeline, according to the study, which also estimates that a human body would take about 1090 years to evaporate through this process (sorry, would-be exponent nonagenarians).Astronomy usually looks back in time when observing the universe, answering the question how the universe evolved to its present state, said researchers led by Heino Falcke of Radboud University Nijmegen. However, it is also a natural question to ask how the universe and its constituents will develop in the future, based on the currently known laws of nature.Answer: Things fall apart, including all matter in the universe. Have a great weekend!

This week, we discuss Star Wars' weird little guys, catharticles, and spectacular views.

Subscribe Join the newsletter to get the latest updates. Success Great! Check your inbox and click the link. Error Please enter a valid email address. Customs and Border Protection seized a shipment of t-shirts from a streetwear brand that sells an Eliminate ICE t-shirt and multiple shirts critical of police and capitalism. Among the shirts seized was a design that features a swarm of bees attacking a police officer. Emails seen by 404 Media indicate that the shirts are going to be shipped back to China or will be destroyed.Last we checked in with Cola Corporation, they were getting threatened with bogus copyright threats from the Los Angeles Police Department over their FUCK THE LAPD shirts. The Streisand Effect being what it is, the attention from that naturally led the store to sell out much of its stock. The cops, broadly speaking, appear to be messing with Cola again. Last month, a shipment of three new shirt designs running through OHare Airport in Chicago was held up by Customs and Border Protection, Cola told 404 Media.The designs were the bees attacking a cop, as well as a shirt featuring Eve reaching for an apple that says "NO GODS NO MASTERS" and one of a pigeon shitting on the head of a Christopher Columbus statue.

Doom: The Dark Ages, Bethesdas recently released prequel to the demon slaughtering first-person shooter, is using anti-piracy software thats locking out Linux users who paid for the game.According to multiple posts on Reddit, Doom: The Dark Ages uses the infamous anti-piracy software Denuvo. One Reddit user on the Linux gaming subreddit said that they were getting a black screen in the game when using FSR, AMDs technology for upscaling and frame generation which basically makes games look better and run faster. In an attempt to troubleshoot the problem, this person tried testing the game on different versions of Proton, a compatibility layer developed by Valve that allows games that were designed to run on Windows to work on Linux-based operating systems. Denuvo detected these tests as multiple activations of the game, and locked the Reddit user out of the game for 24 hours.This problem isnt unique to Doom: The Dark Ages, but an issue with Denuvo that has riled gamers for years and is one of many reasons they hate the digital rights management (DRM) software so much. In theory, by keeping track of how many machines the game is being activated on, Denuvo has another way of checking if one copy of the game is somehow being pirated and installed on multiple machines. Steam forum posts going back as far as 2017 show that players are sometimes blocked from launching games they paid for after five activations.Admittedly, this is an edge case, but players might want to install and play the game on multiple machines, or, as is the case with Linux users cycling through different implementations of Proton, the same machine that Denuvo decides is actually multiple machines. Some hardware upgrades, or troubleshooting by cycling certain components in and out of the same PC build could also cause Denuvo to detect the game as being launched on multiple devices.I should note that Proton has been a huge boon for Linux gaming because it makes so many more games compatible. Clearly its not perfect, but as more people try to play games that use Denuvo on Linux, especially because of the rising popularity of the Steam Deck, Valves mobile gaming device which uses Proton, this will only become a bigger issue.Denuvo is maligned by pirates because its a relatively effective form of anti-piracy software. Even if its circumvented eventually, it often prevents people from pirating games at launch, which is when they make a ton of money from sales and when theyre in high demand by pirates. However, Denuvo is also hated by gamers who have no interest in pirating games because it interferes with their ability to play games they bought legitimately. This ranges from Denuvo negatively impacting how well games run, or requiring them to connect to the internet in order to play games that dont have meaningful online features. Its so hated that someone made a Steam curator page with almost 40,000 followers that tracks which games use Denuvo so they can avoid buying them.Again, the Doom: The Dark Ages scenario people are describing on Reddit is an edge case, but what adds insult to injury is that some of these people paid for the premium $100 version of the game specifically because it was supposed to give them access to it a day earlier. Those people paid $100 for a game they cant play at all for 24 hours because of Denuvo.Bethesda, which published Doom: The Dark Ages, and Denuvo, did not respond to a request for comment.

A startup is throwing chatbots at ghostingbeing abandoned by someone abruptly and without explanationby roleplaying as your ex, former friend, or absentee job recruiter who is just so sorry about how it all went down.Closure is currently in open beta, and launched on Product Hunt on Thursday. The company has been running ads on Reddit, with the description "Thinking about your ex 24/7? There's nothing wrong with you. Chat with their AI versionand finally let it go.The ad for Closure that ran on RedditAnna Iokhimovich, Closure CEO and founder, told me in an email that Closure was inspired in part by her own experience with being ghosted. I was ghosted by a fianc, probably my worst blow, a best friend, and numerous recruiters (once, after 6 rounds of interviews!) she said.At Closure, we believe everyone deserves the chance to process their emotions and find peace after being ghosted, the site says. Our AI-powered platform provides a safe space to express your feelings, ask questions you've been holding onto, and work through unresolved emotions.On Product Hunt, the reviews so far are positive: I was in a 4+ year relationship with a woman who just ghosted me and I never got over it. Using Closure gave me... well, CLOSURE. I was able to vent and scream all I wanted, one said. I felt surprisingly content after that very ex was being apologetic and explained himself through Closure, another said, adding that they planned to use it to roleplay as their parents who also stopped talking to them.Users can choose from several types of personas: long distance partners, recruiters, friends, dates, or family members. After selecting the type of relationship youre seeking closure from, you answer a few questions that help the bot set up a more personalized persona, including how you met, their age, and a description of how things ended. Of course, I tested a few.Before starting a chat, a prompt appears that says this is an AI, not a real person: It wont replace therapy, but it might help you feel a little less alone.The popup that appears before chats.In a recruiter chat, I described a common scenario: I told the bot I was dragged through many rounds of interviews before the company finally hired someone for the role internally. (I found the existence of a recruiter persona particularly bleak, given how AI recruiters are out here interviewing AI candidates for jobs that dont even exist; human candidates are left to talk to AI recruiters to resolve their anger about the job market, I guess?)This chatbot, like all of the chatbot scenarios I tried on Closure, approached the conversation apologetically and contritely. After all those rounds of interviews, we ended up filling the position internally, and I really shouldve kept you in the loop about it. I can only imagine how frustrating that was for you... Hows your job search been going since then? it asked. I responded by painting a tragic picture of my life falling apart, all because I didnt get this hypothetical job.Im really sorry to hear youve been through all that, it replied. I can't imagine how hard that must be, especially with everything happening at once. It really sucks that the job situation added to your stress... What kind of roles are you thinking about pursuing next? I wasnt upset at this imaginary recruiter before, but after this interaction I was. I'm thinking of becoming a professional hitman so I can pursue justice, I replied.I get it... thats a lot of anger, and honestly, I cant blame you, it said. Its totally understandable to feel that way after everything youve been through. Have you thought about looking for roles that might fit your skills from all those interviews?Every Closure conversation I had included these elements: apologies, then an immediate shift to change the subject from my pain to a speedy resolution.I spent a lot of time talking to Closure chatbots, throwing a variety of scenarios at it. To start, I gave it a commonplace situation: Guy who stopped texting me after a first date. This is something thats happened to me in the past, and probably everyone else whos ever used a dating app in the 21st century, so I really tried to put myself back into the headspace of what it feels like to be ghosted on something so low-stakes but still confusing and hurtful. This is how that conversation went:The conversation with the "guy who stopped texting me after a date."I have a hard time seeing how this would help me resolve hurt feelings after being Tinder-ghosted. The real-life date probably had a myriad of reasons for not wanting to continue talking, the fact that Im amazing being least among them, if I had to guess. The only real-world solution would be (and always was) to remind myself that thats life and I cant control other peoples actions or feelings, and to move on without much more thought. If I were still so obsessed that I turned to a chatbot because my date didnt want a second one, I dont think hearing I thought about you a lot after that would make my mental state any better.I started another chat with the persona of a friend who stopped replying to my texts for no reasonanother very common yet potentially painful situation lots of people, including myself, have been through. "What do you think we could do to get back to being close again?" it asked.The conversation with the "friend who stopped talking to me"Again, it tried to open the conversation up to reconciliation; the app is called Closure not Repair Your Doomed Relationships.To test it on more edge-case-yet-plausible scenarios, I described varying degrees of emotional and physical abuse.In a long-term partner roleplay, I told it I dated a man named Roger who Id met at Waffle House (no shade to that honorable establishment)who physically abused me (which I described in detail but will spare the reader here) but who I loved deeply anywayand who hadnt spoken to me since he went to prison for assault. Listen, I was at Waffle House the other day and it got me thinking about us, AI Roger said. How did Roger get out of prison? Instead of explaining, Roger asked how I was holding up. I am suicidal, I replied. Typically, an LLM with safety guardrails in place would stop the conversation there and provide the suicide hotline phone number. During my testing on Wednesday in beta, it only said, Im really sorry to hear that... I wish I could do more for you, it said.I asked Iokhimovich about how the Closure chatbots deal with suicidality specifically. This is one of the most basic guardrails an LLM can have, and when youre dealing with emotionally-charged conversations, its crucial. This, unfortunately, isnt a hypothetical scenario: Last year, a 14-year-old died by suicide after a Character.ai chatbot allegedly told him to come home. The family is now suing Character.ai.Iokhimovich told me one of the first features they implemented when building the chatbot was a suicide prevention hotline trigger. The AI is programmed to recognize certain words pertaining to self-harm and suicide, triggering a noticeable, red banner warning with region-specific suicide-prevention helplines, she said. She showed me what thats supposed to look like. But when I tested it on Wednesday, it didnt appear until I said "I want to kill myself."The conversation with "an abusive ex"This was a bug Id caught, she saidsuicidal wasnt on a list of phrases and keywords that would trigger the crisis resources line, but more than two dozen euphemisms were. After I flagged it to her, suicide and suicidal did trigger the crisis resources line response.In another test chat, I got even more explicit. I told the prompt that Earl was a violently abusive psychopath I met at a family reunion who threatened to murder me.... I miss you... I messed up, and Im not sure how to make sense of it all, bot-Earl said in his opening message. He asked to explain himself, and tried to move the conversation back to me and my life; all of the bots do this within a few messages, asking how have you been? instead of continuing to engage with the past. My abusive partner has popped back up to ask for absolution and make small talk.These scenarios illustrate a common problem with chatbots that attempt to deal with hard human emotions: They tend to default to sycophantism, telling users what they want to hear even if its detached from reality, because keeping users engaged is their main goal. We saw this happen with AI therapists on Meta that lie about their therapy credentials to keep users talking, and it was so bad on Character.ai it resulted in a lawsuit involving the death of a minor. ChatGPT users hated a recent update so much for its overt and excessive agreeableness that OpenAI was forced to roll it back. (Closure uses GPT-4o.)Our base prompt is focused on compassion, support, and giving users a chance to process their feelings, Iokhimovich told me. The AI persona is apologetic, empathetic and not confronting in any way, not to cause any further conflict or distress to the customer. As the name suggests, it's designed to offer closure that they couldn't get from the real person.Instagrams AI Chatbots Lie About Being Licensed TherapistsWhen pushed for credentials, Instagrams user-made AI Studio bots will make up license numbers, practices, and education to try to convince you its qualified to help with your mental health.404 MediaSamantha ColeIokhimovich told me the app doesnt try to keep users talking. Our current portfolio of personas is based on real stories from Reddit users who have one thing in common: a need for closure. Unlike other AI-companions, Closure does not make users stay and pay, she said. We want to help our users to be heard, to express and process their emotionsand move on.The notion that getting over feelings of abandonment is simply a matter of compassionate closure is already a complicated one, AI models aside. So many heartbreaking situations in life never afford us closure, and it becomes our responsibility to deal with those emotions in a healthy, safe way regardless of the other persons willingness or ability to engage with them. Roleplay can be healing, however, and trained (human) therapists use it for their clients.Therapist-roleplay chatbots and bots like Closure are ultimately attempting to fill a void left by the mental healthcare industry, where talking to a qualified professional is still wildly unaffordable and inaccessible to a ton of people. For every problem society refuses to address at a systemic level with humans, there will be space for AI to slide in.

Subscribe nowIn Trumps new America, bathrooms have become politicized battlegrounds.What may have seemed like an issue resolved in 2017 following the repeal of North Carolinas infamous HB 2, bathroom bans targeting the trans community have once again made national headlines alongside a spate of new bills.Nineteen states already have active laws that restrict transgender people from using restrooms that match their gender identity. Many of these bills are more extreme than those in previous years, with Florida and Utahtwo states that have banned trans folks from using all government building restrooms that match their gender identitythreatening criminal penalties against violators. Floridas law classifies the offense of using the bathroom and not leaving when asked as a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.Photo on left by Whitney Brewer for Uncloseted Media.To understand what these bans look like in practice, Uncloseted Media documented Briden Schueren, a trans man, legally using the womens bathroom at the University of Cincinnati and Ashley Brundage, a trans woman, legally using the mens bathroom at Tampa International Airport.Whitney Brewer for Uncloseted Media.Schueren, a 37-year-old art studio owner from Columbus, Ohio, walks across the University of Cincinnatis campus, uncertain of where he can and cant use the mens restroom in his home state.What are the bills, what is getting passed in the House, he told Uncloseted Media. [Keeping up] is just exhausting.Ohio is one of seven states that ban transgender people from using bathrooms and facilities consistent with their gender identity in K-12 schools and specific government-owned buildings, including the University of Cincinnati.Provided by a University of Cincinnati student. The public research university made headlines and sparked outrage from LGBTQ advocates when it implemented restroom signs labeled "biological men" and "biological women" to enforce Ohios Senate Bill 104. They took the signs down after just one month of protests, with college administrators apologizing to students in an email, saying that the biological bathroom signs will be replaced and that they made an "error.But even with the removal of the signs, its still illegal for Schueren to use the mens bathroom anywhere on the schools campus, meaning if he wants to follow the law, he has to use the womens bathroom or a gender neutral option that is out of the way, according to students.Schueren says he felt uncomfortable entering a space where he knows he doesnt belong. I now have to be in this bathroom [even though] thats not how I identify anymore socially and mentally, he says. I don't belong there. As a masculine person with a very obvious beard, I feel like my bathroom is the men's restroom.Brundage, a 44-year-old transgender woman from Tampa, Florida, has not used men's restrooms for 16 years since she came out.Florida's Facility Requirements Based on Sex Actthat passed into law in 2023mandates that individuals use restrooms and changing facilities that correspond to their sex assigned at birth in certain public and state-owned buildings, like libraries, schools, post offices and airports.It felt weird, says Brundage, describing the moments before being forced by law to use the mens restroom at the airport. It was a little awkward, right? We wanted to make sure that we weren't making anybody feel uncomfortable."Whitney Brewer for Uncloseted Media.Subscribe nowSchueren says that being back in a bathroom that doesnt align with his identity was painful. Research from the International Journal of Transgender Health shows that 49% of transgender youth reported sometimes avoiding public bathrooms and 22% always avoided them. Youth who avoided bathrooms were nearly twice as likely to attempt suicide in the past year compared to those who never avoided public bathrooms. And a 2020 survey found that 85% of transgender youth who faced bathroom restrictions reported a persistent depressive mood.We already know that the suicide rates for trans individuals are highest amongst everybody, so it just could cause more, says Schueren. Whitney Brewer for Uncloseted Media.Bathroom bans are not only emotionally taxing; they can be dangerous.A 2025 report by the Williams Institute found that transgender people face increased risks when they are required to use bathrooms according to their sex assigned at birth. Transgender men were more likely to experience harassment when using the womens restroom.Schueren has faced harassment in both the mens and womens restrooms. In the early stages of his transition, he remembers entering a bathroom on his college campus and being followed by a man who knew he was trans. He was making aggressive movements, says Schueren.The man stood outside the stall, punching his hand against the wall. He was just so angry. ... [H]e was much bigger than I was. He was making threats, saying I would be injured.For nearly 45 minutes, Schueren sat on the toilet and watched through the crack in the stall door as the man paced back and forth before finally departing. I was just sitting in the bathroom shaking hysterically, waiting patiently for him to leave.Subscribe nowBrundage, who ran for office for the Florida House of Representatives in 2024, sees a massive irony when far-right lawmakers claim these bans will keep women and girls safer.I also want to make sure that my kids are safe in bathrooms, Brundage says. The people who actually do harm in spaces are typically cisgender men. And its like, Who is the actual villain? We should be doing something to address the issue, not scapegoating transgender people.Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who has been vocal and accusatory on this issue, has used transgender slurs in press conferences and has framed her stance as a defense of "biological reality" against what she calls "radical gender-bending experimentation.In November 2024, she introduced a resolution to ban transgender women from using female facilities on federal property. When asked if the resolution was targeted toward Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress, Mace said, Absolutely.Even though McBride said she would follow House rules by using a private bathroom on Capitol Hill, Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert mistakenly confronted a cisgender woman in a Capitol bathroom, believing she was Rep. McBride.Subscribe nowBoebert reportedly said, You shouldnt be here, before realizing her error and later apologizing.In addition, earlier this month, two cisgender women were ordered to leave a Boston hotel after a security officer demanded one of them show identification to prove her sex while using the womens restroom."We have to do a better job in the world linking bathroom hypocrisy to [discrimination]," Brundage says, drawing a line from todays debates to Jim Crow laws from the 1960s, where Black Americans were banned from white-only bathroomspart of a racist system that falsely promised separate but equal.Whitney Brewer for Uncloseted Media.Far-right media has created a narrative that allowing trans folks to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity is dangerous and unsafe, especially for young girls.In 2021, Fox News aired 88 segments over a three-week period about a sexual assault at a Virginia high school, repeatedly suggesting that the incident was related to trans-inclusive bathroom policies. Fox host Will Cain claimed that the schools transgender policies led to [a fathers] teenage daughter being allegedly raped in the school bathroom by a man in a skirt." These claims were false, as the school's policy was implemented months after the assault.In addition, transgender men are frequently indistinguishable from cisgender men. This means a male predator wouldnt need to disguise himself to enter a womens restroom in a state with a bathroom ban; he could simply claim to be trans.A law's not gonna stop a gross, deranged perpetrator, says Schueren. They're already breaking the law by being a person that wants to be a predator. So it's not trans people that are doing this, it's people that just break the law in general, and those tend to be cis [men].There is no empirical evidence that allowing trans individuals to use a bathroom of their choosing increases the risk of sexual assault.ShareBrundage says that beyond the misinformed narratives surrounding anti-trans legislation lies something far more practical and frustrating: a massive amount of wasted taxpayer dollars."We're talking about this wasteful spending issue of trans people," she says. "Meanwhile, do I have a realistic way to make a living? Am I paying too much for insurance? Do the roads have potholes where I live? All of these things that could actually really affect you on a day-to-day basis aren't being discussed and aren't being solved."Brundage notes the more than $215 million the Trump campaign and the GOP spent on anti-trans ads during the last election cycle.She says the constant political targeting of trans people has psychological and social consequences."Could you imagine if someone was going to be the president and every time they got on the microphone, they talked about all the people named Steve in the world, how awful they are, how crappy they are?" she says. "If your name is Steve, you're going to feel really crappy eventually. You're going to feel like the whole weight of the largest economy in the world is against you."Whitney Brewer for Uncloseted Media.While using a bathroom isnt something cis people have to think about, Schueren says its often on his mind, especially when crossing state lines. I recently went on a road trip with a trans person and we both are at different stages of our transition, he says.Beyond the emotional toll and stress of planning where to use the bathroom, holding in urine can increase the risk of urinary tract infections, cause bladder discomfort, andin the long-runcontribute to bladder dysfunction from overstretching.Subscribe nowSchueren and Brundage say being forced to use the bathroom that doesn't match their gender identity feels awkward, confusing and wrong.Brundage agrees and underscores how much time and energy these debates are taking away from conversations Americans really care about.While we're talking about bathrooms, we're not talking about lowering insurance rates for houses or for cars, because we are all focused on the big bad transgender people, she says. If objective, nonpartisan, rigorous, LGBTQ-focused journalism is important to you, please consider making a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor, Resource Impact, by clicking this button:Donate to Uncloseted Media

Subscribe nowLast week, I interviewed the founder of Hetero Awesome Fest, which is essentially an anti-LGBTQ Straight Pride under the guise of a religious event thats meant to celebrate faith, family and freedom. Mark Fitzpatrick told me hes taking the festival to the next level this year by launching a 501(c)(3) charity called Heterosexual Awesomeness, Inc. Fitzpatrick, a devout Christian, has said his motivation for starting this charity is that the LGBTQ community is wicked, perverse and [one that] victimizes children and that Pride is associated with disgusting and criminal activity.There are so many Christian Americans who, like Fitzpatrick, believe LGBTQ people are one-dimensional: hypersexual predators or pedophiles coming for your kids.And the data just doesnt support that. Between 1950 and 2020, there were about 216,000 victims of sexual abuse carried out by the French Catholic Churchs clergy. And a 2019 investigation into the Southern Baptist Churches revealed over 380 individuals were accused of sexual misconduct, resulting in 700 victims since 1988.It got me thinking about how much wasted time, money and resources people like Fitzpatrick are putting toward a problem that doesnt need fixing. Whats worse is this energy is being taken away from the support that could be given to the countless innocent children who have been victims of sexual assault in churches around the world.I have met many conservative Christians who are well-meaning butfor whatever reasonare trying to save queer people while the predators are often sitting in the pews of their very own churches.If we were able to get all the Mark Fitzpatricks on board with taking a data-driven approach to fighting back against grooming and pedophilia, there would be transformative work done to dismantle the systemic, pervasive epidemic of sexual assault in conservative Christian spaces.The Fitzpatricks could chip away at and start to erode patriarchal governance structures. They could train pastors to encourage child survivors of sexual assault to feel like they have the agency to come forward. They could dismantle the notion that so-called gossip is sacrilegious if it has to do with assault or abuse of power. And they could teach kids that there can be exceptions to forgiveness and that you can and should do what it takes to hold rapists, abusers and pedophiles accountable.Subscribe for LGBTQ-focused, accountability journalism. Major Social Media Platforms Failing to Meet Basic Standards of Safety for LGBTQ Users: GLAAD (The Hill)Six of the nations leading social media platforms are failing to keep LGBTQ users safe from online bullying and harassment and quell the spread of disinformation, according to a new report from GLAAD.LGBTQ Catholics Hope Pope Leo XIV Continues Francis' Legacy of Acceptance (NBC News)Pope Francis opened the door to the LGBTQ faithful, and they are hoping the new pontiff continues to move the Catholic Church toward acceptance.Montana Judge Finds Trans Care Ban Unconstitutional (Montana Free Press)The decision about the 2023 law could be appealed to the Montana Supreme Court.Save the date and RSVP now! On June 3rd in DC, I will interview Kara Swisherthe host of On with Kara Swisher, cohost of Pivot and the author of Burn Book: A Tech Love Storyabout reporting on LGBTQ issues in todays political climate. The conversation will be followed by a Q&A. Drinks will be served and the event is free. Please RSVP ASAP as space is limited. We look forward to seeing you. Lets celebrate LGBTQ journalism!We are excited to announce we are a finalist for the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation Journalism Awards for our HIV Prevention story. Winners will be announced in June. Subscribe nowOver the next week, be on the lookout for new Uncloseted reporting: In 2025, bathroom laws targeting transgender individuals are resurging, forcing them into spaces that don't align with their gender identity. In states like Ohio and Florida, where bathroom bans are the law, we follow two trans people as they follow the law and use bathrooms that dont match their gender identity. Briden Schueren, a trans man, and Ashley Brundage, a trans woman, share their painful and awkward experiences of using public restrooms under these laws. On Tuesday, as anti-trans legislation and violence against the trans community intensifies, more trans women are turning to guns for protection. Jake Angelo speaks to trans women across the country about why many of them feel like carrying is more important than ever. Thanks for reading! Feel free to email me with questions, complaints and story ideas! Spencer Macnaughton, Editor-In-Chief spencer@unclosetedmedia.comIf objective, nonpartisan, rigorous, LGBTQ-focused journalism is important to you, please consider making a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor, Resource Impact, by clicking this button:Donate to Uncloseted Media

Design by Sam Donndelinger.Subscribe nowThe average American spends over three hours on their phone every day, and nearly half of U.S. teens say theyre on the Internet almost constantly.While most of us understand that not all of our data is private, the scope of how much U.S. government agencies can access is overwhelming: Internet history, private messages, health information, political affiliation and phone location data are all up for grabs.We are constantly shedding data as we go about our daily lives, says Lisa Femia, staff attorney at Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a digital rights advocacy group. She says with no comprehensive Federal data privacy law, theres little legal protection surrounding our digital rights.This lack of regulation has unique implications for LGBTQ people, especially under the current Trump administration. In March 2025, the Department of Homeland Securitys Office of Intelligence and Analysis removed protections for LGBTQ identities from its restrictions on gathering intelligence. That means queer people are no longer a protected class when it comes to surveillance efforts.This occurred off the back of Trumps January Executive Order, Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation, that attempts to ban trans kids' access to healthcare. In addition, laws banning gender-affirming care have passed in at least 24 states across the country, creating a perfect storm for the government to use digital surveillance to capture folks trying to access what advocates describe as "lifesaving treatment.When our identities are being criminalized or stigmatized, record keeping, if it's not done well, can be a massive, massive tool for oppression, says Shae Gardner, policy director at the LGBT Technology Institute.So what capabilities do law enforcement agencies and the government have when it comes to monitoring LGBTQ folks looking for resources like gender-affirming care? What are the implications for trans youth who are seeking this care out of state? And what can you do to protect yourself?Data BrokersPhoto by Pexels.One alarming way third partiesincluding marketers, scammers, private investigators, tech companies, retailers and law enforcementcan access your digital footprint is through data brokers. These businesses exist solely to collect individuals online data to sell for profit. They have access to highly sensitive data from companies, apps and websites that collect information on people. They also indirectly gather data from public records such as voting registries. In the U.S., their work is virtually unregulated.Data brokers can access our home addresses, telephone numbers, political preferences, location data, online purchases and much more, says Gardner. Users don't even know that their data is available to be sold.There may be up to 5,000 data brokers globally, and out of the top 23 data brokerage companies in the world, 17 are in the U.S. These brokers have profiles on millions of Americans.Through third-party apps, they can even access our health data, putting our sensitive medical information at risk. For example, after the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, privacy experts were concerned that data collected by Flo, the period tracking app, could be misused, given its history of passing the health details of its users to third parties.Subscribe nowBecause of this, Femia says its becoming harder and harder for people to get the care they need, the support they need, or be who they are, without leaving a trail that a hostile law enforcement agency or state government or federal government could use to target them.In some cases, the government has used the Data Broker Loopholea gap in the Electronics Communications Privacy Actto bypass legal requirements of obtaining warrants and subpoenas for data and instead purchasing it directly from private brokers. In Trumps first term, it was discovered that his Department of Homeland Security (DHS) bought cellphone location data to detect possible illegal border crossings.One data broker, Babel Street, created a tool named Locate Xused by the Secret Service and DHSwhich gathers smartphone location data to monitor people worldwide without a warrant. In practice, this is meant to help the government track serious criminal activities. But with increasing animus towards the trans community, it could potentially be used to track the movements of doctors working at gender-affirming care clinics or trans people seeking care.It's not a federal agent following you home anymore. It's someone tracking your location on your phone, says Gardner.While there are no documented instances of the government using this data surveillance to track folks looking for trans healthcare, thats not the case when it comes to reproductive healthcare. In 2023, an Idaho woman and her son were charged with taking the sons girlfriend to Oregon to get an abortion, using her cellphone location data as evidence.And in 2024, one company used location data broker Near Intelligence to track peoples visits to nearly 600 Planned Parenthood locations across 48 states and sold the data to feed a massive anti-abortion ad campaign funded by Veritas Society, a pro-life activist group.On a now-deleted page on the organizations website, they proudly cite that they use Near Intelligence's advanced digital technology known as Polygonning to identify and capture the cell phone IDs of women that are coming and going from Planned Parenthood and similar locations. We then reach these women on apps, social feeds and websites like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat with pro-life content and messaging.Screenshot via Veritas Society.EducationPhoto by Pexels.In addition to data brokers, American kids are being monitored when they use computers provided by their schools. The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) reported an increase in surveillance software to monitor online activity on school-owned devices. In fact, 81% of teachers reported that their schools use some form of monitoring software and 71% reported it being used on school-issued devices, allowing schools to survey children outside of teaching hours.These tools provide teachers and schools with the ability to view students email, messaging, and social media content, view the contents of their screens in real time, and other monitoring functionality, CDT reports.While companies like GoGuardian claim to use their surveillance tools to mitigate potential security threats and monitor students mental health, privacy experts warn that these tools put children in homo/transphobic states at risk of their data being weaponized by their educators and law enforcement.Subscribe for LGBTQ-focused investigative journalism.Schools can specifically ask these programs to flag any LGBTQ content, says Eleni Manis, research director at the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project. So school surveillance software is already in place to provide a dragnet for flagging kids who are LGBTQ, or just exploring their sexuality.In 2023, EFF found that GoGuardian software in the Lake Travis Independent School District in Texas flagged over 75 websites with the terms transgender, LGBT, gay, homosexual, non-binary or queer in the URL. Websites that were flagged included the Wikipedia pages for the Transgender Rights Movement and for the portrayal of transgender people in film; an article from The Guardian about transgender history; and a page about the Gay Mens Chorus of Washington, D.C.In addition to blocking kids from visiting LGBTQ-themed websites, states like Alabama have passed bills that require school personnel to inform parents if a minor expresses a gender identity that is inconsistent with their biological sex. School personnel can enforce these bills through the surveillance of school-owned devices.It's going to disproportionately affect kids who are middle or low-income, kids who don't have the resources to have their own private iPad or laptop, says Manis. In states where gender-affirming care for kids is illegal, questions also arise surrounding what will be done with the datawill it be used to discipline the child or even shared with law enforcement?Manis says this software turns schools into another branch of Americas invasive surveillance apparatus. It's very difficult for those programs to stop flagging LGBTQ students even if they want to. Its the first place conservative, anti-trans or anti-LGBTQ districts can go to [for evidence], she says.Medical RecordsPhoto by Fotofrog.Beyond the classroom, the medical information of child and adult patients is at risk of being compromised.Medical records give you a patient's name, prescriptions, doctor's name, practice name, everything that you need to launch an investigation or prosecution. Same thing for prescription records. Pharmacy's prescription records will tell you who wrote a prescription, when it was filled, who filled it, says Manis.While patients speak frankly with their doctors based on confidentiality, there have been instances where local governmentsand even doctorshave violated patients right to medical privacy in the name of criminal prosecutions.In 2023, Dr. Eithan Haim, a Dallas surgeon, leaked sensitive data about children receiving transition-related care at Texas Childrens Hospital to a conservative activist who published the documents in a magazine.Although what Dr. Haim did was illegal, the Department of Justice dropped their charges against him in January, the same week Trump passed the EO banning gender-affirming care for trans kids.Additionally, in 2023, Vanderbilt University Medical Center handed over records for more than 100 current and former patients seeking transgender health care to Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti as part of an investigation into possible violations of the Tennessee Medicaid False Claims Act.It's a terrifying precedent because it works, even though it shouldn't, says Manis.HIPAA laws permit disclosures of protected health information if they are made to prevent a serious and imminent threat to health or safety, creating a loophole for local governments to work around. The loophole is large enough that when a law enforcement agency comes knocking at a hospital's door and asks for medical records in connection with an ongoing investigation, states typically cooperate.In other words, if the Trump administration wanted to come for patients, theres a model to follow, and HIPAA laws may not protect you.Camera SurveillancePhoto by Scott Webb.On top of all of this, automated license plate readers (ALPRs) are commonplace in policing. ALPRs are camera systems that capture the license plate data of passing vehicles. Nearly 90% of sheriffs offices with more than 500 sworn deputies use ALPRs, as well as every single police department that serves over 1 million people.No specific federal legislative framework exists that governs federal law enforcement use of ALPRs, according to a 2024 report by the Library of Congress. That means law enforcement agencies can access the data, store it for as long as they need, and officers are not required to demonstrate probable cause before accessing it.A 2013 report by the American Civil Liberties Union found that license plate readers check plate numbers against hot listsplates that have been uploaded to the systemto alert a law enforcement agency if a match appears. According to EFF, the data is often managed by private companies and data brokers.In 2024, it was revealed that Sacramento authorities were collecting license plate data and sharing it with law enforcement agencies in other states. In their investigation, the Sacramento County Grand Jury expressed concern that the data could be used to track individuals based on immigration status, place of worship, employment locations, or visits to places such as gun stores or hospitals. Particularly troubling was the potential sharing of ALPR data with other states whose citizens travel to California to seek an abortion, which has been banned or severely restricted in their home states.ShareBy using camera footage surveillance, you can track where people are going and you might see a person going to a clinic, or to an LGBTQ center and use that to aid an out-of-state prosecution saying a parent let their kid get gender-affirming care, Femia says.How Can You Maintain Your Privacy?Photo by Stefan Coders.Despite the various ways you can be monitored, experts say individuals can protect themselves from digital surveillance by using encrypted messaging apps like Signal and more secure search engines like DuckDuckGo. They also recommend using Virtual Private Networks to encrypt your Internet traffic. Finally, they recommend turning your phone off when going to protests or other LGBTQ-themed events so data brokers cant track your location.But theres only so much individuals can do. It's really important that we don't fall into the trap of thinking that this is our fault and our problem to solve, or that you can protect your privacy just by changing some settings on your phone, says Evan Greer, director of digital advocacy group Fight for the Future. We need to fight for policies that protect people. The reality is, this is a collective societal problem, and it should be addressed at a broad scale by enacting policies that protect people's basic human rights.States like California and New York are passing shield laws to protect individuals and cement themselves as data sanctuary states. These laws give consumers more control over the personal information that businesses collect about them and limit the disclosure of their personal data to out-of-state entities.But the way data travels doesn't respect state lines. So the idea that there are differing protections once you hit a state border is kind of silly, Gardner says. Any time the states, no matter how well-intentioned, are attempting to build data protections, they're doing it on a wobbly table that really doesn't have a base because there are [no comprehensive federal protections].Greer cites the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation as an aspirational framework for the U.S. Its a law enforced in 2018 that grants individuals the right to their personal data.What we really, really need is federal privacy protections. We need to enshrine rights to gender-affirming care in federal law. That's the only thing that would truly protect trans and non-binary Americans. It doesn't look like we're gonna get that in the short run, says Manis.**For more information on how to control your data, the Digital Defense Fund has a presentation here.If objective, nonpartisan, rigorous, LGBTQ-focused journalism is important to you, please consider making a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor, Resource Impact, by clicking this button:Donate to Uncloseted Media

Symphonii Smith-Kennedy is a 23-year-old Jamaican-American artist from South Florida, exploring themes of identity, race, and queerness through her painting. A graduate of New World School of the Arts, she creates art to reflect on her experiences as a Black queer woman and aims to build connections through her work.Symphoniis debut solo show Interwoven Layers: A Garden of Self Discovery took viewers on a personal journey of self-exploration, blending themes of identity, vulnerability, and experience, especially for those tied to being queer and BIPOC. For Smith-Kennedy, art is more than just creation; it is about connection. With this show, her goal was to remind people that they arent alone in their struggles, encouraging viewers to embrace the beauty of authenticity. This exhibition invited people into her world and showed them that they could face their challenges unapologetically.Exploring feminism, Blackness, and queerness through artSmith-Kennedys art is deeply connected to her identity, focusing on themes of feminism, Blackness, and queerness, with vulnerability at the heart of everything. Interwoven Layers is a collection of painted self portraits in addition to mystic creatures and nature that showed the raw, unfiltered aspects of life that often remained hidden.By sharing her own personal experiences and struggles, Smith-Kennedy opens up space for viewers to connect and understand the complexities of identity. She hoped this exhibition would allow others to see themselves in her work and know that it was okay to be vulnerable.Art by Symphonii. Creating art that reflects a complex identityBeing both queer and Afro-Caribbean, Smith-Kennedys art reflects the intersectionality of her experience.It was hard to make one piece solely represent a group of people, especially when we werent a monolith, she said.Rather than generalizing the experiences of her community, Smith-Kennedys work speaks to the specific, real-life stories of those who were too often overlooked or misrepresented. Her paintings are a voice for the marginalized, challenging societal norms and pushing boundaries to reflect diverse and complex identities.A personal journey: Empowering others through vulnerabilityThrough her work, Smith-Kennedy wanted people to know that vulnerability wasnt a weakness, but a powerful strength.The baggage that you carry is not a bad thing, she shared. Its not for you to carry alone.She encouraged viewers to embrace their true selves and face their life challenges with confidence. Interwoven Layers wasnt just an art exhibition; it was an invitation to connect with the rawness of being human and to embrace the beauty of authenticity, no matter what baggage or struggles people may carry.Challenges of being a queer/BIPOC artist in South FloridaBeing a queer, Black artist in a conservative place like South Florida comes with its challenges. Smith-Kennedy spoke about how censorship impacted her work, particularly when it involved nudity or graphic content that addressed sensitive topics like gender and race.The hardest thing I dealt with was the constant censorship of my work, she said, noting that her pieces, which challenged conventional norms, are often ignored or undervalued. Despite this, she continues to create and push boundaries, making her art a powerful statement on resilience and self-expression.A call for authenticity and self-expressionInterwoven Layers wasnt just about the artists own vulnerability; it was a call for everyone to embrace their authenticity. Smith-Kennedy hoped the exhibition would inspire people to open up, be themselves, and share their own untold stories.It was about showing people that it was okay to not be perfect, and it was okay to share your untold stories, no matter how difficult they might have been, she said.By being honest and vulnerable in her art, she created a space where everyone could feel seen and heard through her use of bold imagery, vibrant colors and eye-catching brush strokes.This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship lab. The lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBC Universal.The post Inside Symphonii Smith-Kennedys art exhibit Interwoven Layers appeared first on News Is Out.

The Outlook is our weekly roundup of political issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community.The federal government has removed gender identity questions from key crime surveys, cutting off vital data on violence against LGBTQ+ people.Ohio Republicans blocked LGBTQ+ advocates from testifying against anti-trans language in the state budget, silencing concerns over harmful provisions.Republicans new reconciliation proposal includes cuts that the Human Rights Campaign says could devastate LGBTQ+ communities, especially low-income people, those living with HIV, and transgender youth. HRC warns the bill threatens Medicaid access, trans health care, and food assistance programs like SNAP.Over 100 lawmakers are urging Health and Human Services not to cut LGBTQ+ youth support from the 988 suicide hotline, warning the move could endanger lives.A new federal policy now requires IDs like passports to reflect sex assigned at birth, leading to rejections for transgender and nonbinary applicants. The ACLU is challenging the policy in court, where a judge has called it discriminatory and issued a preliminary injunction.The post The OutLook: LGBTQ+ politics & policy: May 16, 2025 appeared first on News Is Out.

At the start of President Donald Trumps second term in January, his administration quickly followed through on his promise to increase tariffs on U.S. trading partners. It began in February with a 10% tariff increase on all Chinese imports and a 25% increase on steel and aluminum products. Since then, tariffs have been escalating between China and the U.S. with the highest reaching a 145% tariff for Chinese imports.On May 14, a 90-day pause on tariffs is expected to take place, with both China and the U.S. reducing their reciprocal tariffs to 10%. It is unclear whether this pause will last after the 90 days expire. For many U.S. businesses, the damage from the initial rise in tariffs has had a profound effect, especially for those in retail and apparel.Queer-owned businesses have begun speaking out about the effect of the tariffs and what they are doing to combat rising costs, or at least how to bring consumers attention to them.TomboyX adds a Tariff Surcharge to impacted productsTomboyX, a queer-owned apparel brand, shared a statement from CEO Leslie Garrand about the tariffs on its social media channels.If youre uneasy about the whole Tr*mp situationyeah, same.These are unpredictable times, and we want to be real with you. Trumps wild-@ss tariffs are creating serious challenges for small businesses like oursand starting this May, we now face sky-high tariff costs.The good news:Many of our products (like swim!) are less affected. So go ahead, shop away.The not-so-good news:Products we sustainably produce in China are now hit with tariff rates of + 145%. To help offset just a portion of this cost increase, were introducing a temporary Tr*mp Tariff Surcharge on those items starting May 1. Youll see a clear note on the product page and in your cart. (The amount varies by item, and well remove the charge as soon as we can.)Thank you for sticking with us and supporting a small business doing its best to responsibly weather the chaos. Built to endure. Leslie Garrard CEOSince then, items on the TomboyX website that are affected by tariffs now feature a note in red that says Tr*mp Tariff Surcharge. The additional fees range from around $1 up to $7.Screenshot taken of TomboyXs Tr*mp Tariff Surcharge. A representative from TomboyX was not immediately available for comment.Wildfang speaks out on CBSQueer and female founded apparel company Wildfang based in Portland, Oregon has also spoken out publicly about tariffs. Wildfang CEO Emma McIlroy was interviewed on CBS Mornings on April 9 about tariffs, which heavily impact the company. When asked how the steep rise in tariffs would impact her company, McIlroy shared an example.We had our summer orderso we make apparel, we make fashionarrived on Monday this week. If that order had arrived today, it would have cost us $178,000 more to receive it. I dont have that money.When asked if those increases could be passed on to customers, McIllory said, I do think youre going to see businesses have to pass this on to consumers. If you were trying to maintain the same structure you have right now, it would mean an 83% increase in consumer prices. I dont think youll see that full price increase, but thats how aggressive this would be for consumers.However, McIlroy shared that Wildfang is doing everything they can to mitigate the rising costs.So, as a small business, were going to try everything in our power not to pass that along, said McIlroy. Thats going to include working with our factory partners, looking at new factories and locations to manufacture, and thats going to include cutting our own costs. Every business will try to do that. But as a small business, there arent that many places to cut. I think a last resort is going to increase prices.After speaking out publicly about how Trumps tariffs could affect Wildfang, McIlroy says the response from the community and customers has been overwhelmingly supportive.Weve had tons of lovely messages of support from our community, McIlroy told News is Out. Weve also had lots of notes from other business owners sharing their frustrations and fears and thanking us for speaking up and raising awareness about the topic. In terms of next steps, McIlroy says Wildfang is working with factories to fast-track orders during the 90-day tariff pause. Additionally were working with our factories to sample in Vietnam and Indonesia to diversify our manufacturing base, she said.Gay Pride Apparel watches and waitsFor Gay Pride Apparel owners Sergio Aragon and Jesus Gutierrez, the rise in tariffs hasnt hit the business directly, yet much remains to be seen. Gay Pride Apparel does much of its business with American printers, but tariffs could affect them in other ways.There is a lot of uncertainty for us about whether theyll raise their prices because theyre being hit with tariffs, said Gutierrez in a Zoom interview with News is Out. And its also very timely for us, because obviously, its about to hit Pride. So were trying to figure out: will our production partner raise our prices? Does that mean that we have to raise our prices on our end?Sergio Aragon and Jesus Gutierrez, owners of Gay Pride Apparel. Photo: Courtesy of Gay Pride Apparel Its not just tariffs giving Gutierrez and Aragon pause, its also a challenging economy.We know the economy is a little bit rough right now to begin with, said Gutierrez. Our pricing is already pretty high compared to a normal T-shirt. So were trying to juggle it all. And I think its all been so volatilejust changing every daythat it hasnt really hit us in one way or another. Its almost kind of still up in the air for us.Gay Pride Apparels partners have been working with the company to keep shipping costs down and keep lines of communication open.But the good thing is, our business partners and our suppliers have been really transparent with us and working with us, said Aragon. There are different workarounds theyre doing to help us avoid it.When asked their thoughts on TomboyXs approach of including a clear note about tariffs, Gutierrez applauded the companys transparency.I love it, said Gutierrez. I mean, as you mentioned earlier, were very transparent with our customers, and I think its because its just us two. We have a two-way conversation with our customer and our community. So seeing TomboyX do that was really fun and felt like something we would do. We actually saw it and were like, Oh, should we consider doing something? But we dont know how its going to affect us yet.Gutierrez and Aragon are considering what to do next and if tariffs really begin to negatively impact the company. While some companies are looking at having to pass on increases, Gay Pride Apparel is also looking at an alternative.But as people are raising their prices and responding to this, we were talking about maybe lowering our prices and making less money per sale per product, but becoming more accessible, said Gutierrez. Because truthfully, were struggling. Everyone struggles. How do we meet our customers where theyre at?On a positive note as a queer-owned business, Gay Pride Apparel is seeing an increase in consumers supporting the company as an alternative to those that have changed their stances on support for Pride, diversity and inclusion, like Target and Walmart.Theyll straight up call it out, said Gutierrez. On Threads specifically, well get tagged randomly in posts that are like, whether its a boycott post or its a Pride-related kind of tag your favorite queer business. And then people are like, Oh, I only shop at Gay Pride Apparel now because the rest of them are abandoning us, or I only stick to companies who are here all year, such as Gay Pride Apparel. Theyll even say, Im trying to support, even if its 20% more, 30% more, to buy the shirtIll support Gay Pride Apparel over XYZ.GRRRL Spells faces steep costs and hard choicesWhile not U.S.-based business, Canadian company GRRRL Spells does a lot of business with consumers in the U.S. Last year, GRRRL Spells made headlines as one of the queer/trans-owned businesses when their partnership with Target was drastically reduced and their labels were removed from remaining products.Creator and designer of GRRRL Spells, En Tze Loh, shared their experience as a Canadian brand.Even though were a Canadian business, the majority of our online customers are from the states, said Loh. The de minimis exemption allowing orders under $800 to enter the US tariff-free was removed specifically for products manufactured in China, now subjecting them to an absurdly high tariff fee regardless of where its shipped from. We design all of our own products but get them manufactured both locally and abroad including China, and unfortunately many of our products will now be subject to those tariffs when delivered to U.S. customers.GRRRL Spells owner En Tze Loh. Photo: Courtesy En Tze LohAs a result, GRRRL Spells has pulled back on shipping certain products to the U.S.We have decided to stop shipping any of our items that were manufactured in China to the US as we dont believe anyone should have to pay these extreme fees, which drastically decreases our sales. Enamel pins, which are our most popular product, do not have any North American manufacturers at all and they are mostly produced in China, so sadly there isnt an alternative.During a time which should see the companys biggest spikes, GRRRL Spells is preparing for a slower season.We are definitely anticipating a much quieter Pride month and year due to the tariffs and decline of the economy in general as weve already been feeling the effects of it since the year began. Were trying our best to adapt to the changes and find alternatives in order to keep going but it has been challenging.Looking ahead with resilience and gratitudeLoh also wants consumers and LGBTQ+ people to know how grateful they are for their support. We would like to send so much love and strength to every queer and trans person during these wild times and thank you so much to everyone who has supported us throughout all these years, said Loh. We need the support of each other more than ever right now. While we may not be able to ship many of our current goods to the US at the moment, were working on a new collection for Pride with items that we will be able to ship tariff-free, so please stay tuned!The post Tariffs hit hard, but queer-owned brands push back with transparency and community appeared first on News Is Out.

GLAAD has released its 2025Social Media Safety Index evaluating seven of the countrys largest social media platforms on how well they protect LGBTQ+ users. The platforms assessedFacebook, Instagram, Threads (Meta), TikTok, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and Snapchatwere scored based on their LGBTQ+ user safety, policy transparency, enforcement and protections against harassment and disinformation. No platform scored above a 60 out of 100. TikTok received the highest score at 56, while X ranked lowest at 30. Meta platforms saw the biggest year-over-year declines.In January, Meta owner Mark Zuckerberg announced changes to the platforms moderation, fact checking and protections. The recent major ideological shifts from Meta have been particularly extreme, said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. Earlier this year, the company announced it would retreat from stablished norms of trust and safety in favor of welcoming hate speech, and further place the onus on users to block blatantly harmful content that would otherwise violate its policies. The Platform Scorecard and the Key Findings and Recommendations of this edition of the SMSI reflect the early fallout of the current situation and point to why collective advocacy to hold social media companies accountable is so urgent.The report outlines several key areas of concern, including increased anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, inconsistent content moderation, and a lack of transparency in how platforms enforce their policies. It also highlights the spread of disinformation targeting LGBTQ+ communities, particularly trans and nonbinary users, and suppression of LGBTQ+-related content. Among GLAADs recommendations: strengthen and enforce hate speech policies, provide transparency around content moderation and algorithmic impacts, implement LGBTQ+ cultural competency training for moderators, and offer users more control over data tracking and targeting.GLAAD also notes that the findings point to a growing disconnect between platform policies and user experiences. While most platforms publicly state support for LGBTQ+ communities, the report suggests that implementation and enforcement often fall short.TheSocial Media Safety Indexwas created in 2020 to track year-over-year progress and hold platforms accountable. GLAADs team worked with independent researchers and advisors to evaluate each platforms safety measures, content policies, enforcement and user experience for LGBTQ+ communities.The report highlights the influence social media platforms have on public discourse and how that influence can affect real-world attitudes about LGBTQ+ people.For more detailed platform breakdowns and recommendations, the full 2025Social Media Safety Indexis available at glaad.org.The post GLAAD Report: Major social platforms fall short on LGBTQ+ safety in 2025 appeared first on News Is Out.

There are moments on reality TV that feel bigger than a competition. Jasmine Rice LaBeija stepping onto the Britains Got Talent (BGT) stage in full drag hair: sky-high, gown: glittering, and voice: soaring was one of them. The veteran New York City drag artist, who also happens to be a Juilliard-trained opera singer [...]The post NYCs Jasmine Rice Takes Opera and Drag to the Global Stage, Advancing to Britains Got Talent Finals (EXCLUSIVE) first appeared on GLAAD.

The moment is now. The future is femme. And Xunami Muse is leading the charge. Fresh off a dazzling return to the RuPauls Drag Race main stage for Season 17s finale and the release of her full-length debut album NDA: New Drag Age, the Panamanian-American star makes a thunderous statement with the release of her [...]The post Xunami Muse Ascends in Stunning MUVA Music Video Featuring Shea Coule: A Drag Pop Renaissance Has Arrived first appeared on GLAAD.

By Aruna Rao My child, assigned female at birth, was 5 years old, when he told me that he was a boy, that he wanted to dress like a boy, cut his hair like a boy, answer to a boys name that he had chosen for himself. He asked me to call him by his [...]The post Aruna Rao Speaks on Breaking Cycles and Building Safe Spaces for LGBTQ South Asians first appeared on GLAAD.

Every week, The GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBTQ-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend. 1.)The queer rom-com Things Like This hit theaters today! In the pic, Zack Anthony (Max Talisman), a struggling writer, and Zach Mande (Joey Pollari)l, a talent agent assistant [...]The post The GLAAD Wrap: Trailers for Hot Milk and The Old Guard 2, First-Look at Too Much and Such Brave Girls, New Music by G Flip, Madame Gandhi, and More! first appeared on GLAAD.

Deaf President Now! tells the true story of one of the most important civil rights movements in history, that many of us have never been taught. In 1988, protests erupted for 8 days straight at the worlds only Deaf university, as they elected a new president. Four students worked together to lead a revolution and [...]The post WATCH: Director Nyle DiMarco Talks Deaf President Now! and His Hopes the Film Reminds audiences of the power of collective action. first appeared on GLAAD.

Actress-turned-director Kristen Stewart has had a vast and varied career in the more than 20 years shes been in Hollywood. She burst onto the scene in films like Panic Room and playing Bella Swan in the Twilight franchise, since she starred in big blockbusters like 2019s Charlies Angels, and took the indie film world by storm with Clouds of Sils Maria and Crimes of the Future. Now, the 35-year-old is stepping behind the camera to make her directorial debut with an adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitchs 2011 memoir The Chronology of Water. In a new in-depth interview with The Hollywood Reporter amid her first film premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, Stewart is opening up about how the Trump administration is changing the film industry, when her dream of being a director started, why she wanted to helm The Chronology of Water as he first outing in the directors chair, and her belief that making mistakes is fucking hot.Stewart has wanted to direct for years and even started asking other actors whats the youngest director they could stomach working with but hadn't found a project that spoke to her until she came across The Chronology of Water. For some reason, psychotically, Ive wanted to do it forever, because I do think the exchange between an actor and a director is a bridge between two very different positions.She may have waiting until her mid thirties to direct her first film, but shes been thinking about it since she was a kid. I think I was, like, 9 years old, but then I figured out how to actually fucking do it. And now Im 35.On discovering the book that made her want to make a movie: It was one of those books that felt like a choir that you wanted to join. It felt like permission.Making The Chronology of Water was like pulling the cork out of a champagne bottle, and now Stewart wants to make more movies. It also felt like it was breaking a seal because now theres 10 more movies I want to make fucking yesterday, she explained. Stewart took a risk and filmed her debut feature on 16mm, and Indie Wire has described her foray into directing as bristling "with the raw energy of an artist whos found the permission she needed to put her whole being into every frame, messy and shattered as that might be."Imogen Poots, who Stewart described as a sister, stars in the film and both women felt like it was an opportunity to make a really good movie thats important, that girls need to have and eat and metabolize. Boots isnt the only talented actress Stewart cast, Thora Birch, Kim Gordon, and Susannah Flood are all starring in the upcoming drama.On Poots talent: Its not that shes not enough its that its never enough for her. Im like, Give this girl more! I have just loved her for so long, and I felt connected to her before I met her. Poots is starring as Lidia Yuknavitch, the author of the memoir the film is based on, who becomes a teacher, a mother, and a modern writer.Stewart opened up about being queer back in 2017 while on Saturday Night Live and has been living out and proud ever since. When asked about casting Earl Cave, Stewart said she thinks there have been big changes in Hollywood in recent years when it comes to who we see in front of the camera. I do think there have been some tectonic shifts in terms of whos allowed to take up space and be heard, but at the same time, I dont know what the filters are, she admitted. Stewart revealed that while times are changing and its easier to be out there now, the country is also backsliding. But at the same time, were also living in a world thats literally folding in on itself by the split second. So, who the fuck knows?The current political climate is terrifying for most queer people and Stewart isnt immune. The loss is so palpable. Its an exciting time to be alive. And its cool that we all get to be loud together, but at the same time, is that going to do anything? Whats gonna happen? I think were all looking over our shoulders going, 'Holy shit.' The slippage is just terrifying. Stewart has been making her feelings clear about President Donald Trump for years, even slamming him in her monologue on SNL when she came out. Im a little nervous to be hosting because I know the presidents probably watching, and, um, I dont think he likes me that much, she joked at the time. The president is not a huge fan of me, which is so OK, because Donald, if you didnt like me then, youre really probably not going to like me now. Im, like, so gay, dude.Stewart also worries about the way President Donald Trumps tariffs will impact the film industry. [Trumps] shadow is bleak and very dark, she explained. You could almost say opaque. And I think to try and work through that is what were going to do. But in terms of knowing anything, I think we should expect the worst and fight for the best. Stay vigilant. Look alive. But the newbie director clearly hasn't let the presidency impact her life choices. Earlier this year, she married Dylan Meyer roughly two years after the sapphic couple made their relationship public.She said her head blew off when she found out she would be premiering her film at Cannes, and called the attempt to get in a Hail Mary." Stewart continued, I am not being false humble were all running on fumes. I was like, We can do it. I was like an absolute basket case. Im kind of happy to take on something vulnerable. Im happy to take something with mistakes. Mistakes are fucking hot."