It's time to watch Peacemaker on HBO Max!In the latest episode of the hit show, Freddie Stroma strips down to just his tight white briefs and gets drenched in champagne. Naturally, the clip went viral on social media the next day, and fans began thirsting over the actor's sexy physique.In the series, Stroma plays Adrian Chase, aka Vigilante, Peacemaker's hilarious if a bit psychopathic sidekick and wannabe best friend. The second episode sees the gang gathering for a rooftop reunion, where they end up getting drunk and pouring drinks all over a nearly naked Vigilante. One thing you've got to love about series creator James Gunn whether it's bisexual orgies, cameltoes, and plenty of Jon Cena's skin, he really does know what the girlies and the gays are here for!Check out some of the feral reactions below, and don't forget to stream new episodes of Peacemaker on Thursday nights on HBO Max. (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@)

In 2017, a then-11-year-old Luke Chacko stepped onstage at Idina Menzels Dallas concert and belted out Frozens Let It Go with fearless charm. What started as a spontaneous invitation quickly became a viral sensation, earning Luke a spot on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and a flood of media attention.Gayety was actually the news outlet that made me go mega viral, Luke remembers. I always knew what I was meant to do in life so when I started going viral I was so excited. It was my confirmation of my dreams.Now 19, Luke is no longer just the kid who wowed a Broadway legend, hes a performer, songwriter, and visionary artist carving out a path on his own terms. In this exclusive Q&A, Luke opens up about that viral night, the lessons of early fame, his Texas roots, and the music that defines who he is today.The Viral Moment That Started It AllWhen asked about the night Menzel pulled him onstage, Luke vividly recalls the chaos and magic.I remember running to the stage as soon as she called the kids up and I found myself sitting in the corner right behind a curtain actually, very hidden away, he says. I didnt think Idina was going to even start talking to me, but as soon she did, thats when everything got sort of blurry. I knew this wasnt just a once in a lifetime opportunity, it was my moment to shine, so I knew I had to do my best high note.The sudden spotlight opened doors everywhere, from Today and GMA to Broadway and Americas Got Talent. But even as a kid, Luke says he knew exactly what he wanted: It was a struggle to choose the correct opportunitybut I knew what I wanted to do.Learning From Early FameAppearing on Ellen came next, though Luke remembers the experience more like a dream.I can only remember taking a Snapchat picture right before running out, looking at Twitch while singing Let It Go, and then the business conversation in the dressing room, he says. The Ellen team wanted to sign me under their company, but my parents vetoed that decision due to the contract negotiation.Looking back now, Luke says hes grateful for that balance between visibility and privacy. I am blessed to have had an opportunity of fame at such a young age, while still being able to be a kid. My young virality taught me the importance of being a good businessman and unique artist. It taught me that I can do anything and everything is possible.Growing Into His Own SoundToday, Luke is shaping a career rooted in bold music and performance. His early ignorance of genres gave way to exploration.At a young age, all I knew was Pop stardom but there are so many ways to be a star, and theres not many ways to be a legend, he says. People dont know they need you until you show them why they do.Fort Worth, Texas has also played an unlikely role in that growth. In the beginning, performing in Fort Worth felt like a curse. I always thought this town wasnt serving my dreams, he says. The more opportunities I got, the more I realized Fort Worth actually has so many niche communities. This is when I discovered the Fort Worth drag scene and was quickly adopted by my drag mother, Sapphire E-laine Tailar. The scene is a community of family that sticks together always.Drag artistry, Luke adds, continues to inspire his stage persona: Drag Queens are some of the greatest performers ever but its also so unserious. I love the irony of this performance style. The stage is my opportunity to show my artistic side in a different way with music. I get to become the most realized version of Luke.The Music: Personal, Raw, and Dance-DrivenLukes recent projects, a manifestation of truth and S of E of X, reveal his evolution as a songwriter.Manifestation was a deep and personal project for me. It was dedicated to my mother, my sister, and my brother after leaving a house of abuse. I was also going through a breakup after being cheated on, he says. S of E of X is a record about every definition of sex. Sex is Gender, Sex is intimate, Sex is Queer, Sex is Personal. It was my chance to be an example of the masculine, while advocating for the feminine.Dance music, he explains, has become both healing and liberating. Unfortunately, last year I was sexually assaulted and while it was a really big moment for me, I did not want my body, freedom, and artistry to become compromised. The best ways for me to cope were going to dance clubs alone, sober. Being in control of my body on the dance floor was the most empowering feeling. Dance music is a savior in my life.Looking AheadLukes recent live performances highlight a renewed focus on presence and vision. In my opinion, my performance is really what influences people the most. I completely flip a switch when I am on stage, and suddenly people feel like theyre witnessing history.As for being remembered for that viral video, Luke embraces it without letting it define him. Every year since 2017, that video has gone viral at least once. I love it! Its not who I am at all anymore, but that kid created who I am today. I am forever proud of the balls I had to perform Idinas song to her sold-out crowd of 5000 people.And if Menzel were to attend one of his shows now? Luke already has the perfect pick: I would love Idina to hear a song I wrote called I Forgive You. Its unreleased, but its so melodically complex and has this beautiful Broadway ballad feel. I think she would be so proud of me.Big things are coming next: an album deal, new music across genres, and the hope of a tour. For Luke, its just the beginning.Little 11-year-old Luke Chacko, thank you for having the integrity and strength to always do what you love, he reflects. I am so proud of you and I am so glad we went on this journey together. Keep your head high and heart big. Always be ready to share your joy with the world.Source

Mariners outfielder Victor Robles will now miss seven games following his appeal of a suspension for throwing a bat toward an opposing player during a minor league rehab assignment.

An illegal bookmaker who took thousands of bets from the former interpreter of Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani was sentenced Friday to just over a year in prison.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released new documents relating to baseball great Pete Rose, his former bookie and the gambling scandal that led to Rose's previous ban from the sport and entry into the Hall of Fame.

Miami linebacker Adarius Hayes has been charged with three counts of vehicular homicide and one count of reckless driving with serious bodily injury following an investigation into a May crash that killed three people.

Xu Chao, 33, could face a lengthy prison sentence, the judge said. Most of his victims have not been identified.

Democrats still face an uphill fight to win in Iowa and retake the majority in the closely divided Senate.

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South Carolina has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reject one transgender students ability to use the boys bathroom while a challenge to the states anti-trans bathroom law makes its way through the courts.South Carolina wants the Supreme Court to take the extraordinary remedy of intervening in an ongoing lower court appeal all because the state wants to stop one ninth grader from using boys restrooms while that appeal proceeds, said Alexandra Brodsky, litigation director for Public Justices Students Civil Rights Project, in a statement. This case does not present the sort of emergency that would justify such intervention. Related Gavin Grimm settles years-long legal battle with school for $1.3 million in attorney fees In summer 2024, South Carolina enacted an anti-trans bathroom ban as part of a broader wave of transphobic legislation advancing across the country, despite the Fourth Circuit Courts 2020 holding in Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board that trans students are entitled to use restrooms aligned with their gender identity.The laws impact was immediately harmful to trans youth in the state. A 13-year-old boy in Berkeley County was suspended for using the boys restroom. When he returned, school staff were instructed to police his bathroom use, and teachers began dividing students into boys and girls lines before restroom breaks to enforce the policy. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Even though none of his peers objected to his use of the boys restroom, teachers repeatedly yelled at him and blocked him from using the boys bathroom altogether. The constant harassment and threat of potential expulsion if he continued to use the boys bathroom forced his parents to withdraw him from the school and enroll him in an online program.In November 2024, the boy, along with his family and the Alliance for Full Acceptance, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, filed a class action challenging the states bathroom ban. On August 12, the Fourth Circuit issued an injunction in the boys favor, preventing the state, the school district, and other defendants from enforcing the law against him while the appeal proceeded through the court system. [T]heres zero evidence that [the transgender boys] use of boys restrooms presents even a remote possibility of harm to anyone. But the evidence of state hostility toward him overwhelms, the Chief Judge of the Fourth Circuit wrote in the courts recent order.Although the Supreme Court has declined to consider the constitutionality of anti-trans bathroom bans so far, South Carolina argued in its emergency relief application that the Fourth Circuit should have considered the Supreme Courts recent decision in United States v. Skrmetti which upheld Tennessees restrictions on gender-affirming care for trans youth as controlling precedent, rather than relying on the Fourth Circuits earlier decision in Grimm.The boys attorneys have emphasized that it is highly unusual for a state to appeal a temporary injunction affecting a single student. South Carolina is rushing to the Supreme Court to get a permission slip to subject him to state-mandated discrimination at school, including the school discipline that drove him out of middle school last year, Brodsky said. The Supreme Court should deny South Carolinas unusual request.Raquel Willis, founder of the advocacy organization Gender Liberation Movement, has said that bathroom bills wrongly vilify trans people as a threat to peoples safety and privacy when, in reality, trans people are disproportionately impacted by violence in public spaces.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official Dr. Demetre Daskalakis was defiant on Thursday over his use of the term pregnant people in his resignation letter from the health agency this week, even as the presidential administration and its surrogates used the language to distract from a mass exodus of career scientists from the CDC.For my entire career, I have been an advocate for the LGBTQ community, through my work for HIV, through my work in Mpox. I find it outrageous that this administration is trying to erase transgender people, Daskalakis said on CNN Thursday night. Related Gay vaccine chief resigns in protest of administrations manipulation of data 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 I very specifically used the term pregnant people, and very specifically added my pronouns at the end of my resignation letter, to make the point that I am defying this terrible strategy at trying to erase people and not allowing them to express their identities.Daskalakis: I very specifically use the term pregnant people, and very specifically added my pronouns at the end of my resignation letter to make the point that I am defying this terrible strategy at trying to erase people and not allowing them to express their identities. So I pic.twitter.com/DxN1aCtBgg Acyn (@Acyn) August 29, 2025Earlier in the day, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt signaled the administrations strategy addressing the mass resignations at CDC and the firing of CDC Director SusanMonarez the previous day by highlighting Daskalakis use of the term.I understand there were a few other people that resigned after the firing of Miss Monerez, Leavitt told reporters at the White House daily briefing Thursday. One of those individuals wrote in his departure statement that he identifies pregnant women as pregnant people, so that is not someone who we want in this administration anyway. So if people are not aligned with the presidents vision and the secretarys vision to make our country healthy again, then we will gladly show them the door. Karoline Leavitt on the CDC: "One of those individuals wrote in his departure statement that he identifies pregnant women as 'pregnant people,' so that is not someone who we want in this administration anyway." pic.twitter.com/uvGzepOkR1 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 28, 2025Daskalakis used the term pregnant people in his scathing denunciation of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the administration, citing radical non-transparency, unskilled manipulation of data, and people of dubious intent and more dubious scientific rigor onboarded to the department on Kennedys watch.Among his criticisms, Daskalakis wrote, The recent change in the adult and childrens immunization schedule threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people.Of Leavitts comments, Daskalakis told CNNs Kaitlyn Collins, I accept the note from the press secretary and counter that with, I dont care.'The people installed by Secretary Kennedy are full of ideology and bias that will actually contaminate the science, he said. The direction that the nations public health is going is not one that is evidence-based or science-based, which is why our resignations together are trying to raise a red flag for everyone. Judging by the right-wing reaction to Daskalakis use of the inclusive term that recognizes that trans men and nonbinary people can also get pregnant, it was a gift thats distracting people from his and his colleagues red flag message addressing the corruption of science at the CDC.In an appearance on CNN after Leavitt called attention to the term, Scott Jennings, a former senior aide to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), ignored the charges Daskalakis made earlier on the network and mocked him.I just have to say, he didnt use the term pregnant people in his response, Jennings said.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Netflix has dropped our first behind-the-scenes look at The Mosquito Bowl, a new WWII sports drama that puts some of our favorite actors in uniform and on the football field.Whats The Mosquito Bowl about? (@) The Mosquito Bowl is based on a nonfiction book of the same name from Buzz Bissinger, detailing a football game between some of the top U.S. college football players in the Marine Corps on Christmas Eve in 1944. The film centers on four of those young men as they take a brief respite from preparing for the invasion of Okinawa so that two regiments can face off against one another in a game."I think it was the last time these guys were allowed to be boys, allowed to do something they loved," Bissinger said upon the book's release in 2022. "For three hours not that long they got away from training and combat and what might happen at Okinawa. It was joy, pure joy, then back to training."Who's starring in The Mosquito Bowl? (@) The adaptation will star Bill Skarsgrd, Ray Nicholson, Nicholas Galitzine, and Tom Francis as the four Marines/former college football players upon whom the story centers. Brent Comer and former NFL player Pat McAfee are also set to star.What else is there to know about The Mosquito Bowl? (@) Production is currently underway in Queensland, Australia, with Friday Night Lights director Peter Berg at the helm. Berg also co-wrote the script with Mark L. Smith."Im thrilled to be in Queensland filming The Mosquito Bowl with some of the best crews in the world. The landscapes here are cinematic gold perfect for bringing this story to life," Berg said. "So far, Ive crossed paths with two kangaroos and a couple of pythons, and Im seriously considering casting them! Huge thanks to Screen Queensland for their incredible support in helping make this production possible."When will The Mosquito Bowl be released? (@) No time frame for The Mosquito Bowl's release has been announced yet, but it's a safe bet it won't be out until late 2026 at the earliest, if not 2027.

Who doesnt love a hot cowboy?!Netflix coming-of-age drama My Life With the Walter Boys is currently having a moment on social media after the second season dropped on the streaming behemoth yesterday, and promotional images of the hunky stars started making the rounds.The second season of the show focuses on the love triangle between main character Jackie (Nikki Rodriguez), who is torn between brothers Cole (Noah LaLonde) and Alex (Ashbry Gentry). In season one, Jackie moved from Manhattan to rural Colorado, where she was taken in by the large Walter family, who have a family of seven sons and one daughter. Promo photos of LaLonde in an open black leather vest and cowboy hat with his abs on display, and Gentry showing off his biceps in a black tank, have fans of the show salivating. (@) The actors may play straight characters on the YA series, but the promotional images seemed designed for fans of twinks. And in case the plot seems way too hetero for your tastes, dont worry, there are gay characters too, and a very gay clip from the first season is currently going viral. In it, Nathan Walter (Corey Fogelmanis) is seen being pushed up against his locker while Zach (Carson MacCormac) kisses him in front of other students in their high school. Its so steamy that people in the comments who have never even seen the show are now running to Netflix. (@) In the first season of the show, Nathan has a romantic relationship with Skylar Summerhill (Jaylan Evans), and in season two, a love triangle develops between Nathan, Skylar, and Skylars ex-boyfriend Zach. The entire second season of My Life With the Walter Boys is currently streaming on Netflix. And for those of you worried about the second season ending on a cliff-hanger, the show has already been renewed for a third season, which is slated to premiere in 2026.

Sabrina Carpenter is no stranger to pop cultural references in her music videos, and the latest one for her new single, "Tears," is no different. The playful new visualizer is an obvious reference to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo playing the lead role in drag. In the video, which pays homage to the timeless cult classic (which is celebrating it's 50th anniversary in September), audiences see Carpenter waking up in the middle of nowhere and wander over to a random house, very Janet-coded. She's welcomed in by Domingo as he portrays a Dr. Frank-N-Furter-esque character.Then, as she makes her way through the house, she is taunted by this new version's take on the movie's characers: Columbia, Magenta, and the Transylvanians. Throughout the video, there are moments where Carpenter does her best Janet impression and the character in this video mirrors the cult-classic's character. There is also a synchronized dance break towards the end, which also happens in Rocky Horror when the cast does the "Time Warp."The video then ends with her waking up outside and the boyfriend she left starts walking towards the house, dressed in an Eddie-inspired outfit, but instead of a saxophone, he has a guitar. Carpenter seems annoyed that the boyfriend is still alive and says, "No, it's a thing, someone has to die in every music video," right as she throws her stiletto heel that pierces the man's heart, and adds, "He was a nice one too but you have to give the people what they want."The music video was directed by Bardia Zeinali, who also worked with the burgeoning pop princess on the music video for "Please Please Please," featuring her seemingly ex-boyfriend Barry Keoghan.

Cracker Barrel has quietly scrubbed mentions of LGBTQ+ Pride and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) from its website, days after reversing a rebranding effort that triggered intense backlash from right-wing influencers.Until recently, the Tennessee-based restaurant chain featured a dedicated Pride page. According to archived versions, it read: On behalf of Cracker Barrels LGBTQ+ Alliance &DEIB Team, we want to celebrate YOU for being YOU. It is our greatest mission to ensure that pleasing people means all people. That page, along with references to employee resource groups, including LGBTQ+ Alliance and DEIB, has been removed. The link now redirects to a broader Culture and Belonging page, which no longer lists those groups.A company spokesperson told CNN that the updates reflect removal of outdated content during ongoing brand work. Previously, the company had reorganized its Business Resource Groups to focus on community initiatives like addressing food insecurity and reducing food waste.Backstory: Logo Rebrand Ignites Culture WarCracker Barrel ignited controversy last week by unveiling a minimalist logo, jettisoning its iconic Old Timer character sitting by a barrel. The modernized redesign triggered a wave of criticism from figures including Robby Starbuck and Chris Rufo, who framed it as a sign of the chain becoming woke. The backlash peaked when former President Trump weighed in, urging Cracker Barrel to revert to the original design.On the same day, the company announced it would abandon the new logo and return to the familiar old branding. Shortly after, the Pride and DEI content vanished.Right-Wing Activism Meets Corporate RetreatAnti-DEI influencer Robby Starbuck posted a screenshot of the Pride page online, denouncing the companys continued support for LGBTQ+ and DEI initiatives even amid the rebrand. After Cracker Barrel removed the page, Starbuck crowed about a total victory, posting on social media that they dont deserve your money for fixing the logo.Meanwhile, legal pressure is mounting from America First Legal, a conservative nonprofit. The group alleges the companys DEI programs violate civil rights laws, citing references to LGBTQ+ and ethnic inclusion programs on the website. Theyve filed complaints with state and federal authorities.Cracker Barrels Shifting Public PersonaThe chains abrupt erasure of inclusivity content comes amid mounting concern over its public identity and internal culture. Cracker Barrels DEI journey has been rockyfrom firing gay employees under a heterosexual-only policy in the early 1990s to later earning an 80-point rating on the Human Rights Campaigns Corporate Equality Index.Company leadership has emphasized a strategy of broad-based cultural outreach. Its revised Culture and Belonging page introduces The Hershel Waya reference to the Old Timer mascot, as the guiding principle of hospitality, warmth, and belonging.Broader Implications for the LGBTQ+ CommunityFor queer diners and employees, Cracker Barrels retreat represents a palpable loss. The Pride page and LGBTQ+ Alliance group served as public symbols of welcome and workplace inclusion. Their removal suggests a retreat from that visibility, only reinforcing fears that political controversy can derail progress.At a time when LGBTQ+ representation in retail spaces remains limited, the decision to remove these affirmations carries outsized weight. It echoes recent moves by other corporations to quietly downplay identity-based connections following backlash.Financial Fallout and Legacy ChallengesSince the pandemic, Cracker Barrel has grappled with financial strain, its stock value has lost more than half its worth. Shares showed a brief bump following the logo reversal, but also flagging again once the web content changes became public.Branding experts warn that the cycle of rapid shifts, from removing the brand icon to wiping out inclusion pages, signals volatility to consumers. It risks alienating both conservative and progressive patrons by sending mixed messages about the companys values.The Bottom LineCracker Barrels silent removal of Pride and DEI references shows how rapidly belonging can slip from a brand when ideology and optics collide. What began as a rebranding decision morphed into a moment of political performance, with marginalized communities feeling the ripples. For those who found refuge in the Pride page, its deletion is more than a website update, its a removal of a message that said they were seen.In a volatile culture war, Cracker Barrels decisions are reminders that corporate inclusion remains precarious, and visibility may depend as much on political tides as compassionate intent.Source

Lady Gaga knows how to make an entrance, and this time, she did it from beyond the grave. The pop icon surprised 300 guests at Netflixs Wednesday Graveyard Gala in New York City with the first listen of her new single, The Dead Dance. The track, which will be featured in the second half of Wednesday Season 2, officially drops Sept. 3.A Spooky CelebrationThe Graveyard Gala turned Guastavinos into a surreal playground for fans of Tim Burtons universe. Heavy fog rolled across the floor as gothic lanterns flickered above, casting shadows on moss-covered gravestones engraved with cheeky Wednesday-themed messages. Ravens perched on tombs, iron fences gleamed under fake cobwebs, and the entire space buzzed with anticipation.Guests werent just standing around with cocktails, they were fully immersed. Attendees lined up for epitaph-worthy haikus banged out on vintage typewriters, while aura readers matched people with their inner Addams character. Wednesday-inspired bites and cocktails circulated throughout the room, keeping the eerie energy alive as fans and influencers explored every detail.Enter Lady GagaJust when it seemed like the night had already peaked, Lady Gaga emerged, immediately commanding the crowd. Known for making surprise moments feel like cultural events, she staged a perfect moment to announce her new song for the show. A row of sleek black coffins was unveiled, each one offering fans the chance to climb inside and hear an exclusive snippet of The Dead Dance in total darkness.The single features Gagas theatrical edge layered over a driving, infectious beat. Later in the evening, she explained the inspiration came from heartbreak. Its about what happens when a relationship ends, Gaga said. How it can feel like it kills the part of you that still believes in love. But then, underneath that pain, theres a beat that makes you dance through it with your friends.Gaga Joins the CastHer surprise appearance didnt end with the music. Gaga is also stepping directly into the world of Wednesday for Season 2, playing Rosaline Rotwood, a legendary Nevermore Academy teacher with secrets of her own.Jenna Ortega, who stars as Wednesday and now serves as a producer, said Gagas performance felt seamless. If youre into Wednesday, if youre into Lady Gaga, youre going to love her in Part 2. She fits into Nevermore like shes always belonged there, Ortega said.Director Tim Burton echoed that sentiment. Shes a real artist, he said. Ive admired her work for a long time, and watching her bring that energy to this show has been incredible.From TikTok Dance to Screen TimeGagas road to Nevermore began long before this season. Her 2011 track Bloody Mary became the unofficial anthem of Season 1 thanks to fans who paired it with Ortegas viral dance scene on TikTok. The unexpected revival gave the track new life on streaming charts and introduced a younger generation to Gagas catalog.That cultural moment convinced creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar that bringing her into the story was the next natural step. We wanted to celebrate what fans already made happen, the showrunners said. Having Gaga join the cast felt like honoring that energy.Source

Sabrina Carpenter leaned into camp and chaos with a Rocky Horror Picture Show, inspired music video for her new single Tears, released last Friday alongside her album Mans Best Friend. The dramatic and surreal clip underscores the singer-songwriters bold aesthetic and emotional storytelling, as she strolls into a seductive, twisted world where nothing is as it seems.A Surreal Welcome to Mans Best FriendCarpenter opens Mans Best Friend, her seventh studio album, with a cinematic flourish. The music video for Tears begins in a quiet pasture where Carpenter lies alone, the aftermath of a car crash. Rising, disoriented, she stumbles upon a lone house. One wrong step inside, and the atmosphere transforms, walls pulse with energy, characters appear in drag and glamour, and Carpenter is herself revamped into bizarrely alluring versions of herself.Actress and entertainer Colman Domingo co-stars, dressed in flamboyant drag as he guides Carpenter through the houses unpredictable chambers. The direction and styling echo the cult spirit of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, mixing sexy wildness with tongue-in-cheek theatricality. One standout scene features Carpenter and Domingo breaking into a vivid dance, as if the house itself is pulsating to a shared desire.Death, Healing, and Dramatic FlairThe video ends on a darkly comic note, Carpenter is ejected from the house. Yet outside stands the presumed-dead boyfriend, a twist that tilts the tone toward charming absurdity. Carpenter deadpans, Its a thing. Someone has to die every video, before delivering the final act: she tosses her heel at him, seemingly finishing the job. This blend of macabre humor and emotional intensity is fully in line with Carpenters brand, when she plays with darkness, it never goes unobserved.Album and BackstoryMans Best Friend offers 12 new tracks, lead by Manchild and charting topics like self-exploration, heartbreak, and identity. Though the album debuted amid controversy over its provocative cover art, featuring Carpenter on hands and knees, her hair pulled in a clenched fist, the singer has consistently defended the visuals. On CBS Mornings, she asserted that the cover is less about shock and more about agency:Acknowledging criticisms, Carpenter emphasized that not everyone would understand her creative vision. Yet her most loyal supporters, including her parents, resonated with the covers narrative power and vulnerability.Why Audiences CareCarpenters Tears video doesnt just nod to queer campit revels in it. The aesthetic-full artistry, queer-coded styling, and subversive humor position her as an artist aligned with camp tradition and queer expressive culture. In a musical and visual era that craves authenticity and theatrical flamboyance, Carpenter nails character-driven storytellingwhile leaning into identity, style, and pop sensibility.The casting of Domingo in drag and the houses garish reimagining of reality deliver the kind of unfiltered fantasy queer audiences embrace. Carpenters embrace of theatricality and fragility together renders her work relatable across emotional spectrumfrom heartbreak and healing to cathartic spectacle.What Comes Next for Mans Best FriendCarpenter isnt slowing down. After unpacking the video for Tears and the albums themes of control and vulnerability, shes extending her reach through collaboration. She will appear on the title track of Taylor Swifts upcoming album The Life of a Showgirl, signaling her expanding footprint in pop.For now, Mans Best Friend stands as a vivid, emotionally layered statement. Carpenters escapadescrash landings and allinvite us to confront our own contradictions, to dress up our fears and fancies, and to find beauty in camp. After all, someone has to die every video, and with Carpenter, its never just a tragedy.Source

Nature, Published online: 29 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02770-wSome researchers say that US-agency policies provide opportunities for political interference.

Florida has suspended baseball coach Kevin O'Sullivan for the first three games of the 2026 regular season following his profanity-laced language directed at site administrators during an NCAA regional.

Oklahoma State starting quarterback Hauss Hejny underwent surgery after suffering a broken bone in his left foot during the Cowboys' season opener, sources confirmed to ESPN.

Around 150 people boarded a boat in Gambia that was thought to have been headed for Europe. The boat capsized after traveling about 380 miles.

Activists are pointing to the attackers gender identity to falsely portray all transgender people as prone to mental illness and violence.

Lawyers for the administration told a court it should be highly deferential to the president when it comes to firing a Federal Reserve governor for cause.

Immigrant rights supporters hold a rally in front of the federal courthouse in San Francisco, on Monday, March 24, 2025, ahead of a hearing for a lawsuit against the Trump administration. (AP Photo/Terry Chea, File)2025-08-29T19:43:27Z SAN FRANCISCO (AP) A federal appeals court on Friday blocked President Donald Trumps plans to end protections for 600,000 people from Venezuela who have had permission to live and work in the United States, saying that plaintiffs are likely to win their claim that the Republican administrations actions were unlawful. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld a lower court ruling that maintained temporary protected status for Venezuelans while TPS holders challenge actions by Trumps administration in court. The 9th Circuit judges found that plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their claim that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had no authority to vacate or set aside a prior extension of temporary protected status because the governing statute written by Congress does not permit it. Then-President Joe Bidens Democratic administration had extended temporary protected status for people from Venezuela. In enacting the TPS statute, Congress designed a system of temporary status that was predictable, dependable, and insulated from electoral politics, Judge Kim Wardlaw, who was nominated by President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, wrote for the panel. The other two judges on the panel were also nominated by Democratic presidents. In an email, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security blasted the decision as more obstruction from unelected activist judges. Stay up to date with the latest U.S. news by signing up to our WhatsApp channel. For decades the TPS program has been abused, exploited, and politicized as a de facto amnesty program, the email read. While this injunction delays justice and undermines the integrity of our immigration system, Secretary Noem will use every legal option at the Departments disposal to end this chaos and prioritize the safety of Americans. Congress authorized temporary protected status, or TPS, as part of the Immigration Act of 1990. It allows the secretary of DHS to grant legal immigration status to people fleeing countries experiencing civil strife, environmental disaster or other extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent a safe return to that home country. The terms are for six, 12 and 18 months. The appellate judges said the guaranteed time limitations were critical so people could gain employment, find long-term housing and build stability without fear of shifting political winds. But in ending the protections soon after Trump took office, Noem said conditions in Venezuela had improved and it was not in the U.S. national interest to allow migrants from there to stay on for what is a temporary program. Its part of a broader move by Trumps administration to reduce the number of immigrants who are in the country either without legal documentation or through legal temporary programs. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen of San Francisco found in March that plaintiffs were likely to prevail on their claim that the administration had overstepped its authority in terminating the protections. Chen postponed the terminations, but the Supreme Court reversed him without explanation, which is common in emergency appeals. It is unclear what effect Fridays ruling will have on the estimated 350,000 Venezuelans in the group of 600,000 whose protections expired in April. Their lawyers say some have already been fired from jobs, detained in immigration jails, separated from their U.S. citizen children and even deported. Protections for the remaining 250,000 Venezuelans are set to expire Sept. 10.What is really significant now is that the second court unanimously recognized that the trial court got it right, said Emi MacLean, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU Foundation of Northern California representing plaintiffs.She added that while the decision might not benefit immediately those people who have already lost their status or are about to lose their status, Fridays ruling should provide a path for the administrations illegal actions related to Venezuela and TPS to finally be undone.A court declaration provided by plaintiffs showed the turmoil caused by the Trump administration and Supreme Court decision. A Washington woman who worked in restaurants was deported in June along with her daughters, 10 years and 15 months old, after ICE officers told her to bring her children to an immigration check-in. The father of the baby, who is a U.S. citizen, remains in the U.S. while the woman tries to figure out what to do. Also in June, a FedEx employee appeared in uniform at his required immigration check-in only to be detained, the court declaration states. He slept for about two weeks on a floor, terrified he would be sent to El Salvadors notorious CECOT prison. His wife cannot maintain the household on her earnings. I am not a criminal, he said in the declaration, adding that immigrants like myself come to the United States to work hard and contribute, and instead our families and lives are being torn apart. Millions of Venezuelans have fled political unrest, mass unemployment and hunger. Their country is mired in a prolonged crisis brought on by years of hyperinflation, political corruption, economic mismanagement and an ineffectual government.Attorneys for the U.S. government argued the Homeland Security secretarys clear and broad authority to make determinations related to the TPS program were not subject to judicial review. They also denied that Noems actions were motivated by racial animus.But the appellate judges said courts clearly had jurisdiction in cases where the actions were unlawful. They declined to address whether Noem was motivated by racial animus. JANIE HAR Har covers general news out of San Francisco. That includes homelessness and housing, courts, urban affairs and San Francisco politics. twitter mailto

The queens of the Philippines are making history once again. The August 13 debut of Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale shattered records on WOW Presents Plus, marking the streamers most-watched premiere to date. According to World of Wonder, the episode drew a 50% increase in viewership compared to the third season premiere of Drag Race Philippines.A Global Stage for Filipino DragThe season follows the vs. the World model, pitting returning Filipino fan favorites against Asian queens from across the international franchise. From the very first episode, the show has been praised for its fierce lip syncs, high-energy performances, and deep celebration of Filipino drag artistry.For longtime viewers, this crossover format offers both nostalgia and surprise. Familiar queens are bringing their signature charisma back to the runway, while newcomers from outside the Philippines are adding fresh fire to the competition. The mix has quickly proven to be a winning formula for fans.Meet REYN4: Drag Races Newest Girl GroupThe seasons success has also sparked a major first for World of Wonder. WOW Records announced the launch of REYN4, the companys first girl group created outside of a Drag Race season. The lineup includes:Precious Paula Nicole, winner of Season 1Captivating KatKat, winner of Season 2Maxie, winner of Season 3Marina Summers, finalist from Drag Race UK vs. The World Season 2The queens will debut their single, Slaysian Royale, on September 5, with an EP expected later this year. Their first live appearance as a group will take place during this season of Slaysian Royale.A Celebration Beyond the ScreenThe impact of Slaysian Royale is extending far past the streaming platform. Viewing parties have popped up in bars and queer spaces around the world, turning each episode into a communal event. In Los Angeles, actor and producer Brandon Lim hosts weekly screenings at Akbar, where crowds gather to celebrate Asian drag and queer joy.Its powerful to see people coming together in person for this show, Lim said. Its more than entertainment, its a way to celebrate Asian queerness on a global stage.World of Wonders VisionWorld of Wonder co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato emphasized how the season demonstrates drags unifying power.Seeing fans across the world celebrate Asian drag excellence is inspiring, the pair said in a joint statement. And with REYN4 stepping into the spotlight, this is a double helping of queer joy that has the power to entertain and connect us all.Episodes of Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale drop weekly on Wednesdays, exclusively on WOW Presents Plus.Source

Gauff knew she needed to make a change to her serve -- and she took a gamble, hiring a new coach just days before the US Open.

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by Renee Dudley ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as theyre published. The Pentagon issued a letter of concern to Microsoft documenting a breach of trust over the companys use of China-based engineers to maintain sensitive government computer systems, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced this week. At the same time, the Defense Department is opening an investigation into whether any of those employees have compromised national security.The actions came in response to a recent ProPublica investigation that exposed Microsofts digital escort system, in which U.S. personnel with security clearances supervise foreign engineers, including those in China. ProPublica found that the escorts often lack the expertise needed to effectively supervise engineers with far more advanced technical skills.The tech giant developed the arrangement as a work-around to a Defense Department requirement that people handling sensitive data be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.The program was designed to comply with contracting rules, but it exposed the department to unacceptable risk, Hegseth said in a video announcement posted on X. If youre thinking America first and common sense, this doesnt pass either of those tests. The letter serves as a warning to Microsoft, which has said in earnings reports that it receives substantial revenue from government contracts. It is less serious than a cure notice, which could lead to termination of Microsoft contracts if problems are not fixed. The department did not release the letter publicly, and it did not reply to ProPublicas request for a copy of it.Experts have said allowing China-based personnel to perform technical support and maintenance on U.S. government computer systems poses major security risks. Laws in China grant the countrys officials broad authority to collect data, and experts say it is difficult for any Chinese citizen or company to meaningfully resist a direct request from security forces or law enforcement.Hegseth said the newly opened Pentagon investigation into the digital escort program would focus on Microsofts China-based employees. The probe will help us determine the impact of this digital escort workaround, he said, including whether they put anything in the code that we didnt know about.Hegseth said in his video announcement that the department is also requiring a new third-party audit of Microsofts digital escort program. It is unclear who will conduct that audit.Microsoft started using digital escorts about a decade ago, ProPublica found, and went on to win federal cloud computing business worth billions of dollars. Through the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations, the system escaped the notice of Pentagon officials. ProPublica reported last week that Microsoft failed to disclose key details of the arrangement in the security plans it submitted to the Defense Department. The company has declined to comment on those omissions.We expect vendors doing business with the Department of Defense to put U.S. national security ahead of profit maximization, Hegseth said in the video.In the wake of ProPublicas reporting, Microsoft announced last month that it had stopped using China-based engineers to support Defense Department cloud computing systems. In a statement provided for this story, the company said that it will continue to collaborate with the US Government to ensure we are meeting their expectations.We remain committed to providing the most secure services possible to the US government, including working with our national security partners to evaluate and adjust our security protocols as needed, the company said in the statement.In addition to China, Microsoft has operations in India, the European Union and elsewhere across the globe, and engineers in those places also work on Defense Department cloud maintenance.Last month, Hegseth said on X that foreign engineers from any country, including of course China should NEVER be allowed to maintain or access DoD systems. But last week, in response to ProPublicas questions, the Defense Department left the door open to the continued use of foreign-based engineers with digital escorts, saying that it may be deemed an acceptable risk, depending on factors that include the country of origin of the foreign national being escorted.In his announcement, Hegseth did not mention whether the escort program would continue or say whether Microsofts reliance on other foreign nationals to maintain the Defense Departments computer systems would also be reviewed. The department did not respond to questions from ProPublica seeking additional information about the new investigations.ProPublica reported last month that Microsoft has also relied on its China-based employees to maintain federal cloud computing systems beyond the Defense Department, including those of the departments of Justice, Treasury and Commerce. In response to the reporting, Microsoft has suggested that it would also discontinue the use of China-based engineers for those departments.In this weeks announcement, Hegseth said the Defense Department was working with our partners in the rest of the federal government to ensure that all U.S. networks are protected.

The NextGen high-speed trains feel more like those in China, Japan or France. But topping out at 160 m.p.h., theyre still relatively slow.

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