Maren Morris is back on the road and turning personal pain into powerful music.On Monday, August 25, the Grammy-winning singer and songwriter performed an intimate set at the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, New York. The one-night show was part of the exclusive Soho Sessions series, typically held in New York City, and benefited Music Will, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting music education in U.S. public schools.Speaking to People before the performance, Morris, 35, explained why this cause is close to her heart.I have always worked with giving back to music education, especially in public schools, because there is not a ton of funding, she said. I know personallyour choir and theater in high school never had proper costumes or instruments that were even of this century. It is a good way to give back, and it is a very intimate setting, which we do not really get to do much anymore. It feels like I am at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville.The 250-capacity show offered a rare, stripped-back performance for the country-pop artist, whose Dreamsicle Tour is currently sweeping across the country. That tour is in support of her critically acclaimed new album, Dreamsicle, which she wrote in the aftermath of her divorce from fellow singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd and her decision to step back from the country music establishment.It is a very intimate record, very vulnerablenot the easiest to make, Morris said. The fact that people are receiving it this well and healing from my healing is really special. A ton of new fans have discovered me through this record, and the OG fans from ten years ago are still here, so it is a really cool mix.The album is deeply personal, featuring lyrics that reflect on heartbreak, growth, and even sexual identity. Songs like Cry in the Car and This Is How a Woman Leaves tackle the emotional fallout of her divorce, while Push Me Over explores themes of queer identity. The title track, Dreamsicle, stands out for its emotional resonance.That lyricI overthink a moment right down to the minute / Will I ever enjoy anything while I am standing in it?really hits, she said. It centered the whole record in my brain and encapsulated not just the album, but my life over the past few years. Personal changes, professional shifts, and finally coming out on the other side.Despite fan questions about the absence of songs from her previous album Humble Quest on the current tour setlist, Morris said it came down to time.I love Humble Quest, but I wanted to be able to play the entire new record, she explained. By the end of it, I was like, This is going to be a two-hour show, and I do not have the stamina of Taylor Swift! But someday we will bring it back.The Talkhouse show also featured a powerful opening set from British artist Yola, who debuted her new song Amazing. The performance marked a return to the rock meets soul sound she is known for. Yola later joined Morris on stage for a show-stopping duet of My Church, the breakthrough hit that catapulted Morris to stardom.Morriss set also included fan favorites like 80s Mercedes and The Bones, as well as a moving cover of John Prines Angel from Montgomery.Before introducing Too Good, a twangy track from Dreamsicle, Morris addressed the heartbreak that inspired it.It is a gift, I have learnednot just a tragedy, she told the crowd. I never really wanted to write about those things, but I am so glad I did because I learned what I actually love writing aboutjust being very unfiltered.The song, she said, came from dating experiences post-divorce.I met some total bums who could not even pay the tab, she laughed. I told my cowriters, I want it to feel like Delta Dawn plus an Irish drinking song. And this is what we made.The audience, which included celebrities like Howard Stern, Jason Biggs, Don Lemon, and Bobby Flay, soaked up every moment. Actor Jason Biggs even took the stage to introduce Morris before her set.Soho Sessions, founded by Greg Williamson and Nicole Rechter, has become a sought-after experience in New York nightlife, having hosted artists like Paul Simon, Gary Clark Jr., and Kate Hudson. The series has raised more than $60 million for various charitable causes.We love bringing the show out to the Hamptons, Rechter said before the performance. We are excited to have Maren Morris, and to be working with Music Will again. It is always a powerful and intimate eveningthat is what the Soho Sessions are all about.Music Will is the largest nonprofit music program in the U.S. public school system. It has served more than 1.8 million students across 6,000 schools and donated more than 1,000 musical instruments and equipment nationwide.As Morris continues on the road with Dreamsicle, her message is clear: heartbreak may be in the rearview, but healing and honesty are in the drivers seat.Source

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey issued a heartfelt plea for compassion and unity Wednesday, following a devastating shooting at Annunciation Catholic School that took the lives of two young children and injured 17 others. Among his remarks, Frey strongly rejected attempts to weaponize the tragedy to stigmatize the transgender community.The tranquil start of the school year turned into nightmare when the shooter, a 23-year-old transgender individual with longstanding ties to the school, opened fire through stained-glass windows during mass. Investigators are treating the attack as both domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting the parish community.I have heard about a whole lot of hate thats being directed at our trans community, Frey said during an afternoon press conference. Anybody who is using this as an opportunity to villainize our trans community or any other community out there has lost their sense of common humanity. Kids died. This needs to be about them.A Community in ShockAt around 8:30 a.m., the gunman, armed with multiple legal firearms, fired into a veiled congregation of students and parishioners. Two young children, ages 8 and 10, were killed instantly. Fourteen other students and three elderly worshippers were wounded; several remain in critical condition. The shooter later died by suicide at the scene.Authorities revealed disturbing background details: the suspect legally changed their name in 2020 and had familial connections to the school. In the aftermath, videos and writings surfaced online, some bearing trans pride symbols, adding complexity to the investigation into motive.Refusing Hate in a Time of GriefAlready, online commentators have twisted the attack into transphobic fodder, an effort Frey described as deeply disturbing. He called out those seeking to distort the narrative.His steadfast defense of trans lives was echoed by the Human Rights Campaign. HRC National Press Secretary Brandon Wolf, who survived the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, pointed out the nearly 60 shootings at schools in 2025 alone and argued that lawmakers have blocked gun reforms.While we still dont know all the facts about what happened in Minneapolis, we must be clear on one key element: to scapegoat an entire marginalized community in a moment of such intense national grief is wrong, dangerous, and dehumanizing, Wolf stated.AGLAADspokesperson went on to state, Families and an entire community are in shock and pain. Our focus must be on them and on taking steps to comfort them and prevent another tragedy, the spokesperson toldThe Advocate. Focusing on the shooter or on misinformation before facts are confirmed does a severe injustice to all impacted. We do know this: gun violence is an epidemic, and the number one killer of children in the U.S.The spokesperson went on to say This marks the fifth school shooting of 2025,as per NBC News. Shootings in Tennessee, Texas, Florida, and California, and countless more in every possible venue. The common thread in all mass shootings is guns and access to guns.A Pattern of ViolenceThis horror comes amid an alarming school safety crisis. With this tragedy, 2025 has seen dozens of shootings in K12 settings and houses of worship, driven by inadequate gun policies and a failure to address the scourge of firearm access.Local leaders, including Governor Tim Walz, urged people to transform grief into action. Flags were lowered in state and federal offices, and the community convened in vigil and prayer.Source

Lionel Messi is set to play his final World Cup qualifier at home in Argentina when Venezuela visit Buenos Aires next week.

Several teams have spoken to the Cowboys about a potential Micah Parsons trade and for the first time Dallas appears willing to at least listen, according to multiple sources.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love said that he has "no concerns" ahead of the Sept. 7 opener against the Lions but that his repaired thumb will have to be protected using a brace similar to what he has worn in practice.

Iga Swiatek, the No. 2 seed, eked past Suzan Lamens at the US Open to again reach the third round, which she has done at every Slam event since the start of 2020.

The Champions League is back! So let's unpack all the must-see games, winners and losers, and talking points from Thursday's draw for the 2025-26 League Phase.

The order, which affects buildings like federal courthouses and agency headquarters, encourages classical styles rather than modernist aesthetics.

Students and staff members shielded the youngest children, police officers stopped victims bleeding, and a nurse abandoned protocol to hold a scared childs hand.

With the decades-old peacekeeping mission set to expire, the U.N. Security Council chose to extend it through 2026, then gradually withdraw the forces the following year.

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City, has nearly four times more campaign funds than Andrew M. Cuomo, thought to be his closest rival.

Robert E. Primus received an email from the White House terminating his position, but he said he would continue his duties.

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Just days before Congress reconvenes in Washington D.C. after a fractious summer recess for Republicans, out Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) is leading the charge on an unlikely and winning issue for Democrats: the infamous Epstein files that is, unreleased government documents on now-deceased millionaire child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.[Rep. James Comer (R-KY)] and Republican leadership understand that we are picking off Republicans to join Democrats in assuring that we get as much disclosure and transparency as possible, Garcia said Monday, referring to Comer, who is chair of the House Oversight Committee, where Garcia serves as a ranking member. Related Marjorie Taylor Greene celebrates child sex traffickers testimony: Trump has been vindicated! We are going to raise hell, Garcia added.Garcia and the Democrats have used the fury from Trumps MAGA base over the Epstein case to their advantage. The strategy is already paying dividends: Republican congressional leaders have relented in a series of demands by the unlikely alliance of Democrats and conspiracy-addled followers of the presidents base who are obsessed with the Epstein sex-trafficking case. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today On this issue, the Dems are finally on offense.Following Attorney General Pam Bondis declaration in July that the Department of Justices (DOJ) review of the case didnt turn up a much-anticipated client list and Trumps own advice to supporters to get over it Democrats played an instrumental role in getting the files released to the Oversight Committee.Despite Comers assurance that Were going to be transparent. Were doing what we said we would do. Were getting the documents, the first batch of Epstein-related documents, released by the Trumps DOJ on Friday, was wholly inadequate, Garcia said, as he ratcheted up the pressure on his Republican colleagues.What we got was complete bulls**t, Garcia told Meidas Touch the following day. We demanded the full Epstein files, and thats not what was sent over. The White House cover-up clearly continues. What they sent us was 33,000 pages of documents that have already been in the public domain.Handpicked, partial productions are wholly insufficient and potentially misleading, Garcia added in a statement. Garcia: What we got was complete bullshit. We demanded the full Epstein files, and thats not what was sent over. The White House cover-up clearly continues. What they sent us was 33,000 pages of documents that have already been in the public domain. Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) 2025-08-23T22:09:20.386ZGarcia also hit administration officials in their effort to recruit convicted Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell to whitewash Trumps well-documented and close friendship with the sex-trafficker. Deputy DOJ attorney general and Trumps personal attorney, Todd Blanche, interviewed Maxwell for just that purpose before moving her to a minimum-security prison earlier this month.They are now trying to claim somehow that Ghislaine Maxwell was claiming that President Trump wasnt involved? Give me a break. Shes a sex trafficker and known liar. She should not be trusted. Once again, Donald Trump, Pam Bondi, [Republican House Speaker] Mike Johnson, theyre all involved in a massive cover-up, Garcia said Tuesday, borrowing rhetoric straight from Trumps own base.Earlier this month, Oversight Chair Comer issued 11 subpoenas seeking the DOJ files, as well as testimony from Democratic targets, including former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former FBI Directors James Comey and Robert Mueller, as well as former Attorneys General Merrick Garland and Bill Barr.Not on the list: Donald Trump.After Garcias raise hell warning, Comer relented on other subpoenas contrary to Trumps wishes. Among them, one for the birthday book reportedly containing best wishes and a drawing by Trump for Epstein. That evidence is in possession of the Epstein estate; Trump denies its existence.The committee has also relented to subpoena Alex Acosta, Trumps former Labor Secretary and the U.S. Attorney in Miami who brokered Epsteins plea agreement, which largely let Epstein off the hook for an earlier indictment on sex-trafficking charges. The release of grand jury testimony from both Epsteins New York and Florida indictments have been denied by the judges in those cases.I think what James Comer and the Republicans finally know is that Democrats on the Oversight Committee are not messing around, Garcia told MSNBC on Tuesday. Were gonna force votes, just like we forced the Epstein files to get released. Were gonna force them to take votes they dont wanna take, and we are not going to stop until we get justice for all the victims.Garcia will meet with some of those victims next Tuesday, when his Democratic colleague and fellow Oversight member Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), and Comers fellow Kentucky colleague Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), host a news conference with Epstein victims on Congresss first day back in session.Its a move straight out of Trumps own playbook.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

It is official: queer country icon Orville Peck has stepped onto the bright marquee of Hollywood with his first behind the scenes look at the upcoming Street Fighter reboot, playing the flamboyant and deadly Vega.A High Wattage Reveal for a Cult IconFans are buzzing after Peck, best known for performing masked, shared a behind the scenes photo via actress Callina Liangs Instagram Story, later reshared on his own account. The snapshot reveals his long blonde hair and snake tattoo, a signature look for Vega, the Spanish Ninja first introduced as a boss in Street Fighter II. Whether his signature mask will appear in the final cut remains a tantalizing mystery. Noah Centineo just even showed off his look behind the scenes. Packed with swagger and threat, Vega is the kind of aesthetic driven presence perfectly aligned with Pecks artistic persona. As a queer artist known for adopting a mask as identity armor, the role feels like a natural, campy, and fierce fit.The Cast Rolls OutThe Street Fighter film is embracing full ensemble chaos, with a lineup as colorful as it is unexpected:Noah Centineo as Ken MastersAndrew Koji as RyuCallina Liang as Chun LiCurtis 50 Cent Jackson as BalrogJason Momoa as BlankaRoman Reigns as AkumaDavid Dastmalchian as M. BisonCody Rhodes as GuileHirooki Goto as E. HondaVidyut Jammwal as DhalsimAndrew Schulz as Dan HibikiAnd Orville Peck as VegaFilming began in Australia in mid August under director Kitao Sakurai, known for The Eric Andre Show and episodes of Butterfly and Twisted Metal.Why Peck as Vega Hits DifferentFor LGBTQ and queer audiences, Pecks casting carries significance beyond novelty. His masked mystique and stylized performance echo Vegas theatricality and offer a rare moment of queer coded representation in a mainstream action film. This is not background visibility; it is a spotlight. A fandom is not just seeing a rebel with a clawit is seeing one fully permitted to exist in blockbuster frames.Whether he keeps the mask or not, Peck brings both physicality and aesthetic rebellion to the role. Vega is a paradox: graceful yet lethal, unmasked beauty yet hidden identity. That speaks directly to the duality of queer visibilitybold expression fused with protective anonymity.A Storied Franchise, a Risky RebootThe Street Fighter video game franchise has long stood as a cultural colossus, but its live action legacy has been rocky. The 1994 Van Damme and Kylie Minogue version earned cult status for camp over acclaim, while 2009s Legend of Chun Li was both a critical and commercial misfire.This reboot dials up both ambition and eccentric casting. With Momoa electrifying as a green brute, 50 Cent punching his way into nostalgia, and Peck poised to scissor eye his way through iconic boss battles, the film may finally strike that high voltage balance between homage and grit.The Queer Subtext That MattersIn a genre that rarely centers queer energy beyond subtle coding, Street Fighter risks and rewards converge. Vegas poison and prance become queer in performance, not written or rationalized, simply enacted. And Orville Peck, performer and queer dream weaver, brings more than homage. He delivers presence. In a rainbow of bodies and names, he offers a different kind of reflection: one of masked strength and velvet reckoning.The film still holds tight to mystery, release dates, plot arcs, even Vegas final look. But one thing is clear: this reboot is not just another game to film gamble. With Peck as Vega, it could very well become queer camp canon.Source

The Cowboys are trading three-time All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons to the Packers, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Guardians released first baseman Carlos Santana on Thursday, making the 39-year-old veteran available on the open market.

Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, who has a team-high 21 home runs this season, had an appendectomy after experiencing abdominal pain during Wednesday's game.

Lonnie G. Bunch III met with the president at the White House as the cultural institution faces a push by the administration to review the content of its exhibitions.

The firing of the C.D.C. director is the latest in a series of questionable decisions.

The capsule was opened early because of a construction project. It revealed a Kylie Minogue CD, a pocket television and other ephemera from its time.

Both parties appear to be weighing gatherings that would gin up excitement for candidates in 2026 and give a major platform for ambitious politicians hoping to lead the parties in 2028.

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This combination of images provided by the Memphis, Tenn., Police Department shows, from left top, Police Officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, bottom row from left, Desmond Mills, Jr. and Justin Smith. (Memphis Police Department via AP, File)2025-08-28T21:41:05Z MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) A judge ordered a new trial Thursday for three former Memphis police officers who were convicted of federal charges in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, after defense lawyers argued that another judge who presided over their trial was biased against the men.U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman issued the order for a new trial for Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, who were found guilty in October 2024 of obstruction of justice through witness tampering in the beating death of Nichols after he fled a traffic stop.Two other officers, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., also were charged, but they pleaded guilty before the federal trial.Lipman took over the case in June after U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris, who presided over the case and the trial, recused himself days before the sentencings for the five officers. On Jan. 7, 2023, officers yanked Nichols from his car and then pepper-sprayed and hit the 29-year-old Black man with a Taser. Nichols fled, and when the five officers, who also are Black, caught up with him, they punched, kicked and hit him with a police baton. Nichols called out for his mother during the beating, which took place steps from his home. He died three days later. Stay up to date with the latest U.S. news by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. Video of the beating captured by a police pole camera also showed the officers milling about, talking and laughing as Nichols struggled with his injuries. It prompted intense scrutiny of police in Memphis, nationwide protests and renewed calls for police reform. Norris was confirmed as a U.S. district judge in West Tennessee in October 2018 after being nominated by President Donald Trump. The Collierville Republican had served as the Tennessee Senate majority leader since 2007. He was first elected to the body in 2000, and his district included Tipton County and part of Shelby County.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons walks onto the field after the team's preseason NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)2025-08-28T21:24:58Z Micah Parsons is headed to the Green Bay Packers after a blockbuster trade, leaving the Dallas Cowboys following a lengthy contract dispute.A person with knowledge of the details said Parsons and the Packers have agreed on a record-setting $188 million, four-year contract that includes $136 million guaranteed. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the trade hasnt been announced.Parsons, a two-time All-Pro edge rusher, becomes the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.I never wanted this chapter to end, but not everything was in my control, Parsons wrote in a statement he posted on X. My heart has always been here, and still is. Through it all, I never made any demands. I never asked for anything more than fairness. I only asked that the person I trust to negotiate my contract be part of the process. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones declined to discuss Parsons deal with agent David Mulugheta. Instead, Jones spoke directly to Parsons and insisted they had agreed on the parameters of a new contract.The Cowboys are receiving two first-round picks and veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark for Parsons, a person with knowledge of the trade told the AP. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams havent released the terms. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl ROB MAADDI Maaddi is senior NFL writer for The Associated Press. Hes covered the league for 24 years, including the first two decades as the Eagles beat writer. mailto

Montana state Rep. Lukas Schubert (R) has said, [The] LGBTQ movement needs to be classified as a terrorist organization, in an X post referencing yesterdays mass shooter, a now-deceased individual who may have been transgender.While Schuberts extremist statement is in line with his anti-LGBTQ+ views, its worth noting that Republicans and social conservatives have praised Russia for designating the LGBTQ+ rights movement as an extremist organization. Related Rightwing pundit celebrates an unbelievable victory in wake of Minnesota shooting Schubert made his comment on an X post from Libs of TikTok, an anti-LGBTQ+ account run by Chaya Raichik. Raichiks post noted that the person who killed two people in a Catholic school shooting on Tuesday was reportedly trans. Additional reporting on the shooters diary suggests that they may have de-transitioned, making their exact gender identity unclear.But while right-wingers have rushed to blame the shooters gender identity for the shooting even though the vast majority of mass shootings are carried out by cisgender men Minneapolis Police Chief Brian OHara said on Thursday that investigators have not identified a specific explanation for why the shooter targeted the church. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today [The shooter] harbored a whole lot of hate towards a wide variety of people and groups of people, OHara said, [and] had a deranged obsession with previous mass shooters.Alluding to reports on the shooters gender identity, Minneapolis Mayor Frey said, I have heard about a whole lot of hate thats being directed at our trans community. Anybody who is using this as an opportunity to villainize our trans community or any other community out there has lost their sense of common humanity. Kids died. This needs to be about them. Schuberts anti-LGBTQ+ animus is well documented on his social media account. He has previously said that schools should teach about Sodom and Gomorroah, a Biblical story that anti-LGBTQ+ Christians cite as proof of queer peoples wickedness. He has also repeated false claims that trans politicians wish to imprison parents who oppose gender-affirming care for their trans kids.But his call for the LGBTQ+ movement to be designated as terrorists is both dangerous and possible. In November 2023, Russias Supreme Court declared the international gay rights movement as an extremist organization. The declaration paved the way for the countrys increased persecution of LGBTQ+ activists throughout the country and abroad. Anti-LGBTQ+ conservatives in the U.S. have praised the countrys anti-LGBTQ+ crackdown. Furthermore, the current U.S. president has designated people with different political views as national security threats. The current administration has illegally arrested, detained, and tried to deport student activists and journalists who have made public statements supporting Palestinians.In February, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security changed language in its internal documents, allowing intelligence agents to spy on LGBTQ+ people & groups as threats to U.S. safety.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Signs of change in Green Bay include paying up to trade for Parsons after finally taking a WR in the first round.

Tennessee gave basketball coach Rick Barnes a contract extension Thursday that automatically extends a year every April 15 after his current contract expires in 2028.

Venus Williams, who won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with sister Serena, teamed with Leylah Fernandez to win her first doubles match at the US Open since 2014.

Annunciation Catholic Church and School has been a neighborhood anchor in Minneapolis for more than a century.

The three-time All-Star, who hit more than 400 home runs during his career, says he hopes to fill the seat held by Representative Chip Roy, a Republican.

Lisa Cook, who has not been charged with a crime, sought to retain her position, arguing her firing was unprecedented and illegal.

A report by the nonpartisan Citizens Budget Commission comes at a time when income inequality and affordability have been the most prominent themes in the race for New York City mayor.

Nature, Published online: 28 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02727-zThe creature might have been more than 3.5 meters long, with powerful jaws and serrated, flesh-cutting teeth.

Former Colts owner Jim Irsay suffered setbacks from a longtime addiction to painkillers before his May death and overdosed at least three times since February 2020, according to The Washington Post.

Zhi Alan Cheng, who practiced at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens medical center, had a variety of illicit drugs in his apartment.

Trump officials say the president is within his rights to fire officials who do not share his agenda.

More than a year after a contingent of Kenyan police arrived in Haiti, the United States is proposing to replace the force with something bigger and better financed.

Also, the search for a motive in Minneapolis. Heres the latest at the end of Thursday.

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Two years after Red, White & Royal Blue made history on Prime Video, fans have been eagerly waiting for updates on Alex and Prince Henrys love story. When author Casey McQuiston recently said pencils are kind of down for now about the sequel, the fandom went into full panic mode.But dont worry, McQuiston quickly clarified that its not as dramatic as it sounds.Pencils Down Isnt a Bad ThingHeres what really happened. At a recent event on August 14, McQuiston gave a highly anticipated update on the upcoming second film, which was greenlit last May. As the first book does not have a sequel, both McQuiston and RWRB director Matthew Lpez are said to be writing the films script. I think its safe to say our pencils are down for now & well see what comes next as far as moving forward, they said. Im not at liberty to say more than that but I know that everyone Ive spoken to on the project is really excited. While some fans took this as good news, others could not help but worry what pencils down really meant. I actually dont know how anyone reads this as positive on the sequel. They didnt say the script is done, specifically said pencils are down, to me it means postponed. Many more comments quickly flooded in, leaving fans spiraling and questioning if wed ever get to see where Alex and Henrys love story goes next.Author to Save the DayAccording to DNA, McQuiston caught on to the panic and swooped in to put everyone at ease. On August 19, they took to their Instagram stories to explain the comment: I dont know who needs to hear this, but pencils down is a figure of speech that refers to when youre taking the SAT or something and its time to put your pencil down because the section of the test is done, they wrote. Ive used this expression, like, 100,000 times to describe the feeling of turning in a manuscript, its not that deep!Phew! No word yet on filming, but the sequel is moving forward. Thats enough to keep us fed for now.The Sequel Is Still HappeningAmazon MGM Studios confirmed last year that the sequel is officially in development after the original became the streamers No. 1 movie globally on its opening weekend, holding the top spot for three weeks.McQuiston is also on board as an executive producer, teaming up with Lpez and Berlanti Schechter Films Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Michael McGrath.Whos Coming Back?The sequel will reunite Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex and Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Henry, along with Lpez at the helm. Uma Thurmans President Ellen Claremont charmed fans in the first film, and recently announced she will be reprising her role when the time comes. The first Red, White & Royal Blue wasnt just a rom-com, it was a queer cultural reset. The enemies-to-lovers romance between the First Son of the United States and the Prince of England gave LGBTQ+ audiences a rare happy ending on a mainstream global stage.Now, the only question is: where do Alex and Henry go from here? Will we see wedding bells, political drama, or even royal scandals? With McQuiston and Lpez at the wheel, fans can expect the sequel to honor what made the original such a phenomenon: queer joy, messy romance, and just enough drama to keep us hooked.If youre looking to reminisce, watch our interview with Matthew Lpez below. Source

The Cowboys traded their All-Pro edge rusher to the Packers for picks and DT Kenny Clark.

Cincinnati isn't the only team doing something new for Week 1 -- North Carolina State will be debuting its "City of Oaks" uniform.

The ruling cited concerns about the appearance of bias, pointing to comments that the judge who presided over the trial of three former police officers reportedly made afterward.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra is facing a legal challenge thats seen as an important test of her powerful familys standing with Thailands old guard.