Music icon Madonna is once again voicing her strong opposition to the policies of former President Donald Trump, condemning his executive orders targeting the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those affecting transgender individuals. In a passionate statement shared via Instagram on March 7, Madonna expressed her heartbreak over the ongoing discrimination faced by trans people under TrumpsSource

Actor Gene Hackman arrives with his wife, Betsy Arakawa, for the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)2025-03-08T02:25:56Z SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimers disease, authorities revealed Friday. Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were found dead Feb. 26. In the days that followed, mystery swirled around the deaths as authorities ruled out foul play, and immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative.Then authorities in New Mexico released the causes, proposing a simple but tragic theory for the deaths: Shortly after Arakawas death from a rare infection, Hackman died of the nations leading killer heart disease apparently unable to seek help after his wife died.I believe they really discovered what truly happened in this case, said forensic pathologist Dr. Victor Weedn, who was not involved in the investigation. It seemed such a great mystery to the entire nation. Heres a timeline of events surrounding the couples deaths: Feb. 11Arakawas last known activities happened this day. She emailed with a massage therapist in the late morning, visited a grocery store in Santa Fe in the afternoon, then went to a pharmacy and a pet food store, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said. At 5:15 p.m., Arakawa entered the gated community to the home she shared with Hackman. Mendoza said investigators found no other communication or activity by Arakawa after Feb. 11, which they believe to be the day of her death. The medical examiner said she may have been experiencing symptoms of hantavirus before her death. Feb. 17-18Hackmans initial pacemaker data revealed cardiac activity Feb. 17. Subsequent pacemaker investigation showed an abnormal rhythm of atrial fibrillation Feb. 18, the last record of heart activity.Based on this information, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said it is reasonable to conclude that Hackman probably died around Feb. 18. Feb. 26 A maintenance worker who showed up to do routine work at the house could not get inside and called a security worker, who spotted two people on the ground inside the home, Mendoza said. The worker called 911 and told an operator he did not know if they were breathing. He and another worker later told authorities that they rarely saw the homeowners and that their last contact with them had been about two weeks prior.Police found Hackman in an entryway and Arakawa in a bathroom, as well as a deceased dog in a closet. Arakawa had picked up the kelpie mix named Zinna from Gruda Veterinary Hospital on Feb. 9 after a procedure was done, according to the sheriff. He said the hospital visit might help explain why the dog was found dead. A necropsy is being done on Zinna to determine the cause of death, he said.Two healthy dogs were found on the property one inside and one outside.Feb. 27 Autopsies were done on Hackman and Arakawa. Detectives wrote in a search warrant that the couple and the dog had been dead for some time when the maintenance worker discovered their bodies. Feb. 28Preliminary autopsy results didnt reveal causes of death but showed Hackman and Arakawa were not killed by carbon monoxide poisoning, the sheriff said. The initial autopsies also found no external trauma to either body. March 7 Authorities reveal causes of death for Hackman and Arakawa. Jarrell said both deaths were from natural causes. Hackmans death was tied to heart disease with Alzheimers disease contributing. Authorities linked Betsy Arakawas death to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease spread by infected rodent droppings.

The Fifth Ward Elementary School and residential neighborhoods sit near the Denka Performance Elastomer Plant, back, in Reserve, La., Sept. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)2025-03-08T00:37:01Z WASHINGTON (AP) The Justice Department on Friday celebrated its decision to drop a federal lawsuit against a Louisiana petrochemical plant accused of worsening cancer risks for residents in a majority-Black community, saying the dismissal showed that officials are delivering on President (Donald) Trumps promise to dismantle radical DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs and restore integrity to federal enforcement efforts.The dismissal Wednesday of the two-year-old case underscored the Trump administrations commitment to eliminate ideological overreach and restore impartial enforcement of federal laws,' Justice said in a statement. At the same time, the Environmental Protection Agency withdrew its formal referral of the case to the Justice Department. The agency said the action aligns with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldins pledge to end the use of environmental justice as an enforcement tool that Zeldin was too often used to advance liberal ideological priorities. Dismissal of the case unraveled one of former President Joe Bidens highest-profile targets for an environmental justice effort aimed at improving conditions in places disproportionately harmed by decades of industrial pollution. Bidens EPA sued the Denka Performance Elastomer plant in early 2023, alleging it posed an unacceptable cancer risk and demanding cuts in toxic emissions of cancer-causing chloroprene. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana and was formally withdrawn Wednesday. The action is one of a series the Trump administration has taken as it moves quickly to reverse the environmental justice focus of Bidens administration, placing roughly 170 environmental justice-focused staffers on administrative leave. Dropping the Denka case relieves pressure on a company that has spent years fighting federal lawsuits and investigations over its impact on public health. Denka, based in Japan, bought the former DuPont plant in LaPlace, Louisiana, a decade ago. Its located near an elementary school in a community about 30 miles outside New Orleans. The site produces neoprene, a synthetic rubber that is found in products such as wetsuits and laptop sleeves. The Justice Department sued the company in early 2023, accusing it of emitting unacceptable levels of chloroprene, a chemical that may be especially harmful to children. A judge had scheduled a bench trial for April.Dismissal of the case reflects the Justice Departments renewed commitment to enforce environmental laws as Congress intended consistently, fairly and without regard to race, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson, who oversees the departments Environment and Natural Resources Division.Zeldin, a former Republican congressman who took over the EPA in late January, said the dismissal was a step toward ensuring that environmental enforcement is consistent with the law. While EPAs core mission includes securing clean air for all Americans, we can fulfill that mission within well-established legal frameworks, without stretching the bounds of the law or improperly implementing so-called environmental justice. Denka said the dismissal was long-overdue and ends litigation that it said lacked scientific and legal merit. The lawsuit was a draining attack on our business, the company said. The focus should be on the real-world data that shows no adverse health effects, even at substantially higher emission levels, the company said in a statement.The governments lawsuit said air monitoring showed that long-term concentrations near the Denka plant are as high as 15 times the amount recommended for long-term exposure to chloroprene.The EPA under Biden issued a related rule aimed at reducing industrial pollution that gave Denka a fast deadline to lower its emissions. The company said it was being singled out and other manufacturers were given far more time to comply. The company also said the plant has significantly reduced its emissions in recent years, since the sale was completed in 2015. The company won an extension of its deadline. The Denka plant is located in an industrial stretch of Louisiana from New Orleans to Baton Rouge that is officially called the Mississippi River Chemical Corridor. Its known informally as Cancer Alley for the high incidence of cancer among residents who live near the industrial corridor, which has about 200 fossil fuel and petrochemical operations. The area accounts for about 25% of the petrochemical production in the United States. MATTHEW DALY Daly covers climate, environment and energy policy for The Associated Press. He is based in Washington, D.C. twitter mailto MICHAEL PHILLIS Phillis is an Associated Press reporter covering the environment with a focus on water. He is based in St. Louis. mailto

This week we start with Jason's article on how a Facebook group for Cybertruck owners is completely overrun with people flipping them off. Then Joseph explains how U.S. crypto traders are buying IDs from the tropical nation of Palau to skirt the law. Then in the subscribers-only section (with a content warning), we talk about Jason's story on a big Instagram bug that pushed really horrible stuff into ordinary peoples' feeds.Listen to the weekly podcast onApple Podcasts,Spotify, orYouTube. Become a paid subscriber for access to this episode's bonus content and to power our journalism.If you become a paid subscriber, check your inbox for an email from our podcast host Transistor for a link to the subscribers-only version! You can also add that subscribers feed to your podcast app of choice and never miss an episode that way. The email should also contain the subscribers-only unlisted YouTube link for the extended video version too. It will also be in the show notes in your podcast player. SXSW afterparty event informationFacebook Cybertruck Owners Group Copes With Relentless MockeryBuying a $250 Residency Card From a Tropical Island Let Me Bypass U.S. Crypto LawsInstagram 'Error' Turned Reels Into Neverending Scroll of Murder, Gore, and Violence

Cellebrite, the company which makes near ubiquitous phone hacking and forensics technology used by police officers around the world, has introduced artificial intelligence capabilities into its products, including summarizing chat logs or audio messages from seized mobile phones, according to an announcement from the company last month.The introduction of AI into a tool that essentially governs how evidence against criminal defendants is analyzed already has civil liberties experts concerned.When you have results from an AI, they are not transparent. Often you cannot trace back where a conclusion came from, or what information it is based on. AIs hallucinate. If you always train it on data from cases where there are convictions, it will never understand cases where indictments should not be brought, Jennifer Granick, surveillance and cybersecurity counsel at the American Civil Liberties Unions (ACLU) Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, told 404 Media in an email.

Current proposals in the US that prohibit transgender people from being able to use public restrooms that align with who they are (e.g. proposals forcing transgender men to use womens bathrooms, and trans women to use the mens room) are constructed on intentional falsehoods. This trend of inflammatory fearmongering and demonization is a threat to [...]The post Fact Sheet: Misleading Narratives About Transgender People and Restrooms, Locker Rooms, and Other Single-Sex Spaces first appeared on GLAAD.

Among President Trumps first executive orders were those targeting transgender peoples identity, military service, access to health care, access to education, and access to sports. GLAAD analyzed 35 first day stories from six of the largest media outlets. Only 13 of 35 stories included at least one quote by a transgender person. Day one stories [...]The post Mixed Results in Media Survey of Trumps Anti-Transgender Executive Orders first appeared on GLAAD.

Warning: Spoilers for The Traitors finale ahead.Gabby Windey made headlines Wednesday after revealing on social media and in a Cosmopolitan interview that she had her partner, comedian Robby Hoffman, had secretly married in Las Vegas earlier this year.The star of The Bachelorette and The Traitors posted adorable photos of she and Hoffman tying the knot and dancing down the aisle to Chappell Roan's "Hot to Go." She captioned the happy occasion with the wedding date: "1/11/2025," along with a ring and champagne emojis. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gabby (@gabby.windey) Windey shared that evacuating from the Los Angeles fires played a role in getting hitched, telling Cosmopolitan, "if the world is ending, we want to be with each other." But Windey also revealed another reason for the nuptials during a sit-down with Traitors host Alan Cumming during the hit Peacock reality competition's finale, which aired Thursday."What would winning mean to you?" the Out cover star asked Windey."It does make me emotional just because I think of my girlfriend. And I feel like she'll be so proud," Windey replied.When asked by the stylish host to elaborate on the significance of taking the cash prize home, Windey added, "It would mean so much. Maybe we could get married."Windey ended up triumphing in the competition in a win that made reality TV history. Four Faithfuls Windey, Dylan Efron, Dolores Catania, Lord Ivar Mountbatten each threw a packet into the fire emitting green smoke, signifying they all believed that the Traitors had been eliminated. Their trust paid off. For the first time, four Faithfuls two of them, Mountbatten and Windey, are LGBTQ+ split the prize pot of $204,300, which undoubtedly helped Windey's wedding winnings.Congratulations to Windey and the other Faithful winners. As Mountbatten declared in the finale, "Good triumphs evil every time."And in Out's cover story, Cumming had also hinted at the happy ending. For people who love drama, theres a lot coming, he teased in the January/February issue currently on newsstands. But for people who love seeing that theres good in the world reflected in reality competition TV then theyll be happy too. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gabby (@gabby.windey)

These women are serving!Paris Fashion Week draws celebrities, press, and fashionistas from all over the world, but this year, its your favorite Sapphic celebs who are rocking the hottest looks.From Doechii and Chappell Roan, who are hot off their Grammy wins, to stunning queer actresses like Lily-Rose Depp and Dove Cameron to stars like Paris Jackson and Laufey, who sported risqu sheer numbers, there is so much eye candy and interesting fashion on display.So check out the queer celebrities who made Paris Fashion Week a dream come true for Sapphics everywhere.Chappell Roan (@) Chappell Roan said goodbye to her blue eyeshadow and yellow to black and white butterfly-inspired makeup and a futuristic silver gown at the Rick Owens show on March 6.Chappell Roan (@) Chappell Roan ditched her signature red hair for a new brunette style and sat front row at the Rabanne runway show where she wore a backless cream and silver Rabanne dress.Doechii (@) Bi rapper Doechii was interviewed on the street during Paris Fashion Week, where she was dressed in head-to-toe Louis Vuitton, including a page boy-inspired suit with shorts and a hat.Doechii (@) Doechii wore a plunging v-neck gown with fitted corset and giant hold earrings to the Schiaparelli show. Doechii (@) Doechii made her fans swoon when she stepped out in a plunging black thong bodysuit, cropped faux-fur jacket, and chic new step haircut with bangs.Doja Cat (@) Doja Cat wore a black-and-white leopard print matching set, chunky earring and gold-framed sunglass to the Schiaparelli show.Doja Cat (@) Doja Cat joined Jade Thirlwell at the Off-White show where she sported a black hooded dress with a dangerously-plunging neckline. Ice Spice (@) Ice Spice sported a bright orange Fifth Element-inspired bob to the Off-White show where she wore a print dress from the collection.Ice Spice (@) Ice Spice wore a sheer black lace catsuit to the Stella McCartney show, where the rapper sat next to Kate Moss and Cameron Diaz.Lily-Rose Depp (@) Actress Lily-Rose Depp, who is currently dating 070 Shake, went for head-to-toe Chanel when she wore one of the brands suits to the Chanel Haute Couture show. Dove Cameron (@) Queer singer and actress Dove Cameron may have attended fashion week with boyfriend Damiano David, but she was spotted playfully locking lips with actress Madelyn Cline at Paris Fashion Week.Rosala (@) Queer Spanish singer Rosala was spotted with Jason from the K-pop girl group Blackpink at Paris Fashion Week.Sasha Calle (@) Queer singer-songwriter Sasha Calle wore an all-black suit with cutouts for one event and donned a masc-coded navy blue jacket and pants combo when she sat next to Chappell Roan in the front row at the Rabanne show.Paris Jackson (@) Paris Jackson embraced this years sheer trend by wearing a black off-the-shoulder sheer Stella McCartney dress to sit front row at the McCartney show.Madeline ArgyBisexual TikToker Madeline Argy was all legs when she attended the Acne Studios Womenswear show at Paris Fashion Week wearing a white T-shirt mini dress. Louise JacobsonLesbian actress Louisa Jacobson (Meryl Streeps daughter) wore a long-sleeved drapes beige dress to this years Paris Fashion Week.Laufey (@) Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey wore a sheer babydoll dress to the Chloe show.Lucy Hale (@) Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale attended the Dior show wearing a sleeveless little black dress with a plunging neckline from the brand, shoulder-length opera gloves, and sleek sunglasses.

Influencer and social media personality Bruno, known for his popular Garrett Travels account with 61,000 followers, has passed away following a series of accidents and legal challenges. The 33-year-old influencer was involved in a serious crash earlier this year, but only days after his release from the hospital, he suffered a second accident while riding a scooter. On October 19Source

Lady Gaga has consistently reshaped the pop landscape with each album, from the glitzy rise of The Fame to the emotional depth of Joanne and the sci-fi fantasy of Chromatica. Now, with her highly anticipated seventh studio album, Mayhem, the superstar turns the focus inward, reflecting on the shape of her own stardom and embracing her true artistry. In an interview with OutSource

Liberal Party of Canada leadership candidate Mark Carney addresses supporters in Calgary, Alberta, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)2025-03-07T19:38:02Z TORONTO (AP) Canada looks set to pick a measured former central banker to deal with the threats President Donald Trumps tariffs pose against a pillar of Western free trade.Mark Carney, 59, could become the next prime minister when the governing Liberal Party of Canada announces a replacement for Justin Trudeau in a leadership vote Sunday. Liberal Party of Canada leadership candidate Mark Carney arrives to address supporters in Calgary, Alberta, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP) Liberal Party of Canada leadership candidate Mark Carney arrives to address supporters in Calgary, Alberta, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More The opposition Conservatives hoped to make the election about Trudeau, whose popularity declined as food and housing prices rose and immigration surged. Trudeau announced his resignation in January but remains prime minister until a successor is chosen. Election laws mandate a vote before October but one is expected sooner. Trumps trade war and his talk of making Canada the 51st state have infuriated Canadians, who are booing the American anthem at NHL and NBA games. Some are cancelling trips south and many are avoiding buying American goods when they can. The surge in Canadian nationalism has bolstered the Liberal Partys chances in Parliamentary elections that are expected within days or weeks, and Liberal showings have been improving steadily in opinion polls.After decades of bilateral stability, the vote on Canadas next leader now is expected to focus on who is best equipped to deal with the United States. Mark Carney, candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada, is surrounded by journalists outside a campaign event in Ottawa, Ontario, Jan. 23, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP, File) /The Canadian Press via AP) Mark Carney, candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada, is surrounded by journalists outside a campaign event in Ottawa, Ontario, Jan. 23, 2025. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP, File) /The Canadian Press via AP) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Who is Mark Carney? Carney navigated crises when he was the head of Canadas central bank and when he became the first non-citizen to run the Bank of England since it was founded in 1694. His appointment won bipartisan praise in Britain after Canada recovered from the 2008 financial crisis faster than many other countries.Carney is credited with keeping money flowing through the Canadian economy by acting quickly in cutting interest rates to their lowest level ever of 1%, working with bankers to sustain lending through the crisis and, critically, letting the public know rates would remain low so they would keep borrowing. And it wasnt just that he had good policies he sold them to the public in a way everyone could understand. He was the first central banker to commit to keep them at a historic low for a definite time, a step the U.S. Federal Reserve would follow.Carney has picked up one endorsement after another from Cabinet ministers and members of Parliament since declaring his candidacy in January.The other top Liberal leadership candidate is former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. Trudeau told Freeland in December he no longer wanted her as finance minister, but that she could remain deputy prime minister and the point person for U.S.-Canada relations. Freeland resigned shortly after, releasing a scathing letter about the government that proved to be the last straw for Trudeau. Liberal Party of Canada leadership candidates Karina Gould, Frank Baylis, Chrystia Freeland and Mark Carney greet one another prior to the English-language Liberal Leadership debate in Montreal on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) Liberal Party of Canada leadership candidates Karina Gould, Frank Baylis, Chrystia Freeland and Mark Carney greet one another prior to the English-language Liberal Leadership debate in Montreal on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Three points turned the leadership race into a runaway for Carney. Freeland had a long association with the unpopular Trudeau. Carney worked hard to gather support from Liberal members of Parliament members. And Trumps tariff fixation was also pivotal, said Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. Liberal backbenchers feared losing their seats and knew that Carney was more electable as their leader than Freeland, Wiseman said. Whats next for Canada?The Liberal Party members will pick a new leader in a secret vote by about 140,000 members that will be announced on Sunday. The new leader is expected to trigger an election shortly afterward. Either the new Liberal party leader will call one, or the opposition parties in Parliament could force one with a no-confidence vote this month. Daniel Bland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, said Carneys calm demeanor and outstanding resume make him a reassuring figure to many Canadians at a time when Trump is going after their countrys economy and sovereignty.Bland said that style and profile stands in strong contrast to the Conservative Partys Pierre Poilievre, whom he called a true career politician who has embraced a populist rhetoric not unlike Trumps. Canada Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre holds a news conference in Ottawa, Dec. 1, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP, File) Canada Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre holds a news conference in Ottawa, Dec. 1, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP, File) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Poilievre, 45, for years the partys go-to attack dog, is a firebrand populist who says he will to put Canada first. He attacks the mainstream media and vows to defund Canadas public broadcaster and cut taxes. That works with his base but that is not welcomed by other Canadians, especially considering what the U.S. president is now saying about, and doing to, their country, Bland said. Poilievre urged Trump on Friday stop the attacks on Canada and the monthly melodrama that is hurting our economies on both side of the border.

(AP Illustration / Peter Hamlin)2025-03-07T18:57:36Z A growing number of prominent companies have scaled back or set aside the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that much of corporate America endorsed following the protests that accompanied the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, a Black man, in 2020.The changes have come in response to a campaign by conservative activists to target workplace programs in the courts and social media, and more recently, President Donald Trumps executive orders aimed at upending DEI policies in both the federal government and private sector. DEI policies typically are intended to root out systemic barriers to the advancement of historically marginalized groups in certain fields or roles. Critics argue that some education, government and business programs are discriminatory because they single out participants based on factors such as race, gender and sexual orientation. They have targeted corporate sponsorships, employee-led affinity groups, programs aimed at steering contracts to minority or women-owned businesses, and goals that some companies established for increasing minority representation in leadership ranks. While hiring or promotion decisions based on race or gender is illegal under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in most circumstances, companies say they are not doing that. Instead, they say they aspire to diversify their workforce over time through policies like widening candidate pools for job openings.These are some of the companies that have retreated from DEI: UberAfter an conducting an internal investigation that found rampant sexual harassment issues within its corporate office under its founder and former CEO Travis Kalanick, Uber has been focused on overhauling its corporate culture since its current CEO Dara Khosrowshahi took over in 2017.Those changes had included a ramped-up commitment to diversity and inclusion as part of a commitment that the ride-hailing service highlighted in a section of its annual report for 2023.But Uber dropped its diversity and inclusion section from its 2024 annual report filed last month. And the word diversity doesnt appear anywhere in its 135 pages.Uber didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.SalesforceSalesforce CEO Marc Benioff once was on a crusade to inspire other corporate leaders to become social activists in a drive to fix a train wreck of inequality, but he has since toned down that message while pledging to work with President Donald Trump to drive American success and prosperity for all.Although Benioff personally has remained an outspoken supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, Salesforce is no longer touting its diversity program. After carving out a section of its annual report filed last year to declare, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Equality is a core value at Salesforce, the San Francisco excluded any discussion of diversity programs in its latest annual report filed March 5.While we dont have representation goals, we remain committed to our value of equality, Salesforce said in a statement. PepsiPepsiCo confirmed that its ending some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, even as rival Coca-Cola voiced support for its own inclusion efforts.In a memo sent to employees, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company will no longer set goals for minority representation in its managerial roles or supplier base. The company will also align its sponsorships to events and groups that promote business growth, he said.Laguarta wrote that inclusion remains important to PepsiCo, whose brands include Gatorade, Lays potato chips, Doritos, Mountain Dew as well as Pepsi. The Purchase, New York-based companys chief diversity officer will transition to a broader role focused on employee engagement, leadership development and ensuring an inclusive culture, he said.Goldman SachsInvestment firm Goldman Sachs confirmed that it was dropping a requirement that forced IPO clients to include women and members of minority groups on their board of directors. As a result of legal developments related to board diversity requirements, we ended our formal board diversity policy, said a Goldman Sachs spokesman in an email to The Associated Press. We continue to believe that successful boards benefit from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and we will encourage them to take this approach. Goldman Sachs said that it will still have a placement service that connects its clients with diverse candidates to serve on their boards. GoogleGoogle rescinded a goal it had set in 2020 to increase representation of underrepresented groups among the companys leadership team by 30% within five years. In a memo to employees, the company also said it was considering other changes in response to Trumps executive order aimed at prohibiting federal contractors from conducting DEI practices that constitute illegal discrimination. Googles parent company Alphabet also signaled things were changing in its annual 10-K report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The report dropped a boilerplate sentence it has used since 2020 declaring that the company is committed to making diversity, equity, and inclusion part of everything we do and to growing a workforce that is representative of the users we serve. TargetThe retailer said that changes to its Belonging at the Bullseye strategy would include ending a program it established to help Black employees build meaningful careers, improve the experience of Black shoppers and to promote Black-owned businesses following Floyds death in Minneapolis, where Target has its headquarters.Target, which operates nearly 2,000 stores nationwide and employs more than 400,000 people, said it also would conclude the diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, goals it previously set in three-year cycles.The goals included hiring and promoting more women and members of racial minority groups, and recruiting more diverse suppliers, including businesses owned by people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, veterans and people with disabilities.Target also will no longer participate in surveys designed to gauge the effectiveness of its actions, including an annual index compiled by the Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBTQ+ rights organization. Target also said it would further evaluate corporate partnerships to ensure theyre connected directly to business objectives, but declined to share details.Meta PlatformsThe parent company of Facebook and Instagram said it was getting rid of its diversity, equity and inclusion program, which featured policies for hiring, training and picking vendors.Like other companies that announced similar changes before Meta, the social media giant said it had been reviewing the program since the Supreme Courts July 2023 ruling upending affirmative action in higher education.Citing an internal memo sent to employees, news website Axios reported the Menlo Park, California-based tech giant said it would no longer have a team focused on diversity and inclusion and will instead focus on how to apply fair and consistent practices that mitigate bias for all, no matter your background. The change means the company will also end its diverse slate approach to hiring, which involved considering a diverse pool of candidates for every open position.AmazonAmazon said it was halting some of its DEI programs, although it did not specify which ones. In a Dec. 16 memo to employees, Candi Castleberry, a senior human resources executive, said the company has been winding down outdated programs and materials, and were aiming to complete that by the end of 2024.We also know there will always be individuals or teams who continue to do well-intentioned things that dont align with our company-wide approach, and we might not always see those right away. But well keep at it, she wrote.Rather than have individual groups build programs, Castleberry said, Amazon is focusing on programs with proven outcomes and we also aim to foster a more truly inclusive culture.McDonaldsMcDonalds said on Jan. 6 that it would retire specific goals for achieving diversity at senior leadership levels. It also planned to end a program that encouraged its suppliers to develop diversity training and to increase the number of minority group members represented within their own leadership ranks.McDonalds later said it was changing but not eliminating a scholarship program for Latino students after it was sued by a group that opposes affirmative action. The program will now be open to any student who can demonstrate an impact on the Latino community, the fast-food giant said. Applicants no longer need to have at least one Latino parent.In an open letter to employees and franchisees, McDonalds senior leadership team said it remained committed to inclusion and believes that having a diverse workforce is a competitive advantage. The company said it would continue to publicly report its demographic information and spending on diverse-owned suppliers.WalmartThe worlds largest retailer confirmed in November that it would not be renewing a five-year commitment to a racial equity center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd, and that it would stop participating in the HRCs Corporate Equality Index.Walmart also said it will better monitor its third-party marketplace to make sure items sold there do not include products aimed at LGBTQ+ minors, including chest binders intended for transgender youth.Additionally, the company will no longer consider race and gender as a litmus test to improve diversity when it offers supplier contracts and it wont be gathering demographic data when determining financing eligibility for those grants.FordCEO Jim Farley sent a memo to the automakers employees in August outlining changes to the companys DEI policies, including a decision to stop taking part in HRCs Corporate Equality Index.Ford, he wrote, had been looking at its policies for a year. The company doesnt use hiring quotas or tie compensation to specific diversity goals but remains committed to fostering a safe and inclusive workplace, Farley said.We will continue to put our effort and resources into taking care of our customers, our team, and our communities versus publicly commenting on the many polarizing issues of the day, the memo said.LowesIn August, Lowes executive leadership said the company began reviewing its programs following the Supreme Courts affirmative action ruling and decided to combine its employee resource groups into one umbrella organization. Previously, the company had individual groups representing diverse sections of our associate population.The retailer also will no longer participate in the HRC index, and will stop sponsoring and participating in events, such as festivals and parades, that are outside of its business areas.Harley-DavidsonIn a post on X in August, Harley-Davidson said the company would review all sponsorships and organizations it was affiliated with, and that all would have to be centrally approved. It said the company would focus exclusively on growing the sport of motorcycling and retaining its loyal riding community, in addition to supporting first responders, active military members and veterans.The motorcycle maker said it would no longer participate in the ranking of workplace equality compiled by the HRC, and that its trainings would be related to the needs of the business and absent of socially motivated content.Harley-Davidson also said it does not have hiring quotas and would no longer have supplier diversity spending goals.Brown-FormanThe parent company of Jack Daniels also pulled out from participating in the HRCs Corporate Equality Index, among other changes. Its leaders sent an email to employees in August saying the company launched its diversity and inclusion strategy in 2019, but since then the world has evolved, our business has changed, and the legal and external landscape has shifted dramatically.The company said it would remove its quantitative workforce and supplier diversity ambitions, ensure incentives and employee goals were tied to business performance, and review training programs for consistency with a revised strategy.Brown-Forman continues to foster an inclusive work environment where everyone is welcomed, respected, and able to bring their best self to work, spokeswoman Elizabeth Conway said in an email.John DeereThe farm equipment maker said in July that it would no longer sponsor social or cultural awareness events, and that it would audit all training materials to ensure the absence of socially-motivated messages in compliance with federal and local laws.Moline, Illinois-based John Deere added the existence of diversity quotas and pronoun identification have never been and are not company policy. But it noted that it would still continue to track and advance the diversity of the company.Tractor SupplyThe retailer in June said it was ending an array of corporate diversity and climate efforts, a move that came after weeks of online conservative backlash against the rural retailer.Tractor Supply said it would be eliminating all of its DEI roles while retiring current DEI goals. The company added that it would stop sponsoring non-business activities such as Pride festivals or voting campaigns and no longer submit data for the HRC index.The Brentwood, Tennessee-based company, which sells products ranging from farming equipment to pet supplies, also said that it would withdraw from its carbon emission goals to instead focus on our land and water conservation efforts.The National Black Farmers Association called on Tractor Supplys president and CEO to step down shortly after the companys announcement. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

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. A Facebook group for Cybertruck owners is full of videos and photos of passersby and other drivers flicking them off, leaving notes that say WHATS ELONS CUM TASTE LIKE?, and NAZI CAR, and people kicking their cars, throwing slices of cheese at it, etc.This genre of post is being made nearly daily in a group called Cybertruck Owners Only, a development that shows two things. The wider protests and backlash against Elon Musk at Tesla dealerships is, at the very least, making it uncomfortable for some people to own a Cybertruck. The protests also highlight that Cybertrucks are outfitted with many cameras that are always recording in Sentry Mode, and that a community of Cybertruck owners are sometimes trying to identify people using this footage.In a video taken from a Cybertruck of a man throwing American cheese slices at the windshield of a Cybertruck, many comments suggest filing a police report and attempting to dox the man by posting a screengrab of his face to social media: Freeze frame and blow up his face. Go on all the social media platforms and post your video. I would file a police report stating that if he is willing to do this in public, then he obviously has some type of vendetta against me, and therefore, I feel threatened and fearful for my life the only way these people will learn [is] if they are shamed, one comment reads. Can you make an 8 x 11 print out of his face with a QR code that leads to the video so everybody in your city will know who this guy is and what he did?? cant we just make him famous? 0:00 /0:10 1

This article was produced in collaboration with Court Watch, an independent outlet that unearths overlooked court records. Subscribe to them here.After a group of attorneys were caught using AI to cite cases that didnt actually exist in court documents last month, another lawyer was told to pay $15,000 for his own AI hallucinations that showed up in several briefs.Attorney Rafael Ramirez, who represented a company called HoosierVac in an ongoing case where the Mid Central Operating Engineers Health and Welfare Fund claims the company is failing to allow the union a full audit of its books and records, filed a brief in October 2024 that cited a case the judge wasnt able to locate. Ramirez "acknowledge[d] that the referenced citation was in error, withdrew the citation, and apologized to the court and opposing counsel for the confusion, according to Judge Mark Dinsmore, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Indiana. But that wasnt the end of it. An exhaustive review of Ramirez's other filings in the case showed that hed included made-up cases in two other briefs, too.Mr. Ramirez explained that he had used AI before to assist with legal matters, such as drafting agreements, and did not know that AI was capable of generating fictitious cases and citations, Judge Dinsmore wrote in court documents filed last week. These hallucination cites, Mr. Ramirez asserted, included text excerpts which appeared to be credible. As such, Mr. Ramirez did not conduct any further research, nor did he make any attempt to verify the existence of the generated citations. Mr. Ramirez reported that he has since taken continuing legal education courses on the topic of AI use and continues to use AI products which he has been assured will not produce hallucination cites.But the explanation and Ramirezs promise to educate himself on the use of AI wasnt enough, and the judge chided him for not doing his research before filing. It is abundantly clear that Mr. Ramirez did not make the requisite reasonable inquiry into the law. Had he expended even minimal effort to do so, he would have discovered that the AI-generated cases do not exist. That the AI-generated excerpts appeared valid to Mr. Ramirez does not relieve him of his duty to conduct a reasonable inquiry, Judge Dinsmore continued, before recommending that Ramirez be sanctioned for $15,000.Lawyers Caught Citing AI-Hallucinated Cases Call It a Cautionary TaleThe attorneys filed court documents referencing eight non-existent cases, then admitted it was a hallucination by an AI tool.404 MediaSamantha ColeThe judge wrote that he does not aim to suggest that AI is inherently bad or that its use by lawyers should be forbidden, and noted that hes a vocal advocate for the use of technology in the legal profession. Nevertheless, much like a chain saw or other useful [but] potentially dangerous tools, one must understand the tools they are using and use those tools with caution, he wrote. It should go without saying that any use of artificial intelligence must be consistent with counsel's ethical and professional obligations. In other words, the use of artificial intelligence must be accompanied by the application of actual intelligence in its execution.In January, as part of a separate case against a hoverboard manufacturer and Walmart seeking damages for an allegedly faulty lithium battery, attorneys filed court documents that cited a series of cases that dont exist. In February, U.S. District Judge Kelly demanded they explain why they shouldnt be sanctioned for referencing eight non-existent cases. The attorneys contritely admitted to using AI to generate the cases without catching the errors, and called it a cautionary tale for the rest of the legal world.Last week, Judge Rankin issued sanctions on those attorneys, according to new records, including revoking one of the attorneys pro hac vice admission (a legal term meaning a lawyer can temporarily practice in a jurisdiction where they're not licensed) and removed him from the case, and the three other attorneys on the case were fined between $1,000 and $3,000 each.

Throughout history, Black queer and trans women have played a pivotal role in shaping politics, governance, and advocacy. Often facing the dual challenges of racism and homophobia, these women have pushed boundaries, broken barriers, and led with resilience. Their contributions have not only transformed policies but have also redefined what leadership looks like, ensuring that [...]The post Black Queer and Trans Women in Politics: From Then to Now first appeared on GLAAD.

Alexa, play Slut Pop by Kim Petras.Chris Olsen has never been shy to talk about his love life online and this year is proving to be no different.While attending the 33rd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party in Los Angeles, the influencer spilled all of the tea on his current relationship status."I'm going with the flow! It's whoever excites me down there and up here. You gotta have both. I'm focused on myself and if the right person comes along, then we keep going with that," Olsen tells PRIDE. See on Instagram With summer right around the corner, Olsen is looking to spice up his sex life by potentially hooking up with multiple people."I tried a slut era, but it didn't work out for me. We're going to get back to it one day! I'll date someone when I'm 30. I'm having fun out here! I'm having relationships left and right. Who knows how many? I'm juggling the boyfriends at once."Dating is not a priority for the popular TikToker at the moment, so he's ready to enjoy some quality time on himself."What is single? At the end of the day, we're all solo people. We're all going through this life on our own and whoever we bring into it is who enhances it. If I'm having a good time, that's what matters. I'm usually just trying to make people laugh a little bit online. Maybe it doesn't work sometimes, but my God, I'm trying."Fans can keep up with Chris Olsen by following him on Instagram. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.

Dylan Efron is spilling on his experience on The Traitors, and were all ears!Efron, younger brother of actor Zac Efron, has been steadily gaining popularity on the reality competition show for his personality and willingness to be eye candy and show off his abs for the viewers at home. I'm all for that, Efron told USA Today. If you see my Instagram, I have my shirt off 90% of the time.Tonights episode of The Traitors is sure to be exciting as we finally find out who will walk home with $250,000, but Efron says its the union that will air afterward where he and the rest of the cast be spilling the tea on this season.See on InstagramThe 33-year-old producer and stuntman was dubbed Miss Guided by fellow competitor Bob the Drag Queen, who also said Efron isnt a good actor during a deliberation, and while the two reality TV stars havent discussed the fallout, Efron says it will be addressed at the reunion.Hes just an entertainer, Efron said of Bob. I dont think he meant it.Efron also teased that his big brother Zac had a response to the bad actor comment that hes keeping quiet about until tonight. I'm saving for the reunion what he told me, Efron said.The Traitors finalist said he thinks his success on the show can be attributed to leaning into his role as a naive rookie and making friends with the cast, and he is open to competing on more reality TV shows in the future.Efron also shared that acting used to freak him out, but now hes ready to take on the job.As a kid, I was a little shy to step into those [roles] and said, No, my brother is the actor; I couldnt act, Efron recalls. But as I gain more confidence, I think I can do a lot of things, and it's fun to constantly prove to myself what I can do.

Mavis Beaumonts journey continues to take unexpected turns in the upcoming season of Survival of the Thickest, with the new trailer offering a glimpse into her evolving life and relationships. Played by Michelle Buteau, who co-created the series alongside Danielle Sanchez-Witzel, Buteau returns as the bold, confident, and unapologetically plus-size woman navigating her career, love lifeSource

Several U.S. retailers that publicly scaled back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs including Target, Amazon, and Tractor Supply continue to support certain DEI initiatives behind the scenes, raising questions about the tension between public and private commitments to diversity. Although companies like Target and Amazon have ended or restructured certain DEI programs onSource

The first envelope looked innocuous enough. A sticker on the white cardboard sleeve said it came from Hangzhou City in the east of China. Opening it up revealed something more ostentatious: a second blue envelope with a regal gold stamp.Welcome to the Metaverse on Earth! the letter inside read. Attached was my new identity card for the Republic of Palau, a tropical island nation in Micronesia near Indonesia and the Philippines. I was now officially a digital resident of Palau, despite never stepping foot in the country. According to the website I bought the ID from, run by a company called RNS.ID, I could use it to check-in to rental accommodation and could extend a tourist visa for Palau by 180 days if I wished. Most importantly, I could use it as my identity document on cryptocurrency exchanges.That is exactly what traders in the U.S. are doing in order to bypass restrictions on the amount of cryptocurrency they can withdraw and the exchanges they can use, according to interviews with users, a review of Discord messages and YouTube tutorials, and my own successful tests. Many exchanges dont allow signups from the U.S. because of the countrys still strict regulations around cryptocurrency. But with a Palau ID, U.S. traders can skirt that issue, and claim they come from Palau. The ID is so ripe for abuse that major cryptocurrency exchanges such as Binance and Kraken have already banned use of the ID from their platforms.

The trailer for the ill-fated live-action take on The Powerpuff Girls unexpectedly leaked online late Wednesday night and no matter what you hear anybody else say, its perfect.A pilot was ordered by The CW back in 2021, with Maggie Kiley (Riverdale, Scream Queens) brought on to direct. Scripted by Diablo Cody and Heather Regnier, the story begins after the popular superheroes left their lives of fighting crime behind. Blossom (Chloe Bennet) suffers from panic attacks brought about by her former life, Bubbles (Dove Cameron) is still seeking the fame and attention she lost, and Buttercup (Yana Perrault) is pursuing a career fighting fires (and shes queer).After their "father," Professor X (Donald Faison), asks them to return to Townsville, something inevitably goes terribly wrong, leaving them to decide whether theyre willing and able to pick up the mantle of becoming the Powerpuff Girls once again.When images from the set and the pilot script itself leaked online, people were merciless absolutely ripping it apart. And now that the trailer has hit the internet, the same thing is happening all over again."And once again the day is saved," the top comment on YouTube read before the video was struck down with a copyright claim. "Thanks to whoever decided to cancel this."In the words of a wise friend who texted me about the trailer this morning: "Youre all just too stupid to recognize camp."Because thats exactly what the Powerpuff trailer is absolutely perfect camp. Its giving D.E.B.S., its giving Josie and the Pussycats, its giving low budget Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). It has the exact kind of vibe that sparks articles calling it an "misunderstood" and "an enduring cult classic" a decade after it flops."I didnt want to bring this up yet, but I have reason to believe the darkness may be returning," Professor X casually announces over a family dinner, right before the trailer cuts to a small child plotting chaos and destruction.The jokes are goofy and over the top, with some serious undertones (all of which was equally obvious in the script). It mimics the cartoon in ways that look so silly in live-action, and my god, people, thats the point. Have we gotten so accustomed to gritty reboots that we dont even recognize satire when it smacks us upside the head with Chemical X? In this world, the Powerpuff Girls are wildly famous, even to the point of having their own cartoon series and merchandise lines. It looks as though its marrying the tone of the original kids show with the reality of what being a childhood superhero would be, and anyone who thinks Diablo Cody of all people would not have been able to pull that off in a long-running series clearly learned nothing from Jennifers Body.The era of streaming has resulted in series that are essentially long movies with little room for the exploration or growth that gave us so many beloved characters, spin-offs, and shows that needed a bit of time to find their footing. The CW was arguably the last bastion of network TV aimed at teens and 20somethings before it was bought by Nextstar and underwent a programming shift, around the same time Powerpuff was yanked to be "reworked" before quietly disappearing altogether. And quite frankly, its an absolute tragedy that well never get to see what this show could have become. Because it sure looks like it would have been a whole lot of fun and sometimes, thats all a show needs to be.

Elon Musk might wish he was going viral on his own social media platform because of his work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but right now everyone is too focused on his Hitler haircut.Photos of Musk sporting hair that is closely shaved on the sides with an oddly shaped mass of hair on top are being circulated on X (formerly Twitter), with people comparing his new haircut to that of fascist dictators like Adolph Hitler and Kim Jong-un.The comparisons make sense considering that Musk did a Nazi salute at Trumps inauguration celebration, but the photos were actually originally from December 2021, long before he made the Hitler-esque hand gesture and started taking over the U.S. government, the Daily Dot reports.The photos may have inspired derision back in 2021, but now people on X are reading Musk for filth. From someone joking that the Tesla billionaire asked his barber for the sieg heil and tight to someone quipping that Musk is showing off his Hitler youth style to people laughing that his barber hates him too, the reads will have you cracking up.Keep scrolling to see the funniest reactions to Elon Musks terrible haircut! (@) "Elon Musk went to his barber and said 'sieg heil and tight.'" (@) "Elon to the barber 'People already know Im a c**t, but I feel like my hair could do more to accentuate that fact. Really hammer it home so theres no mistaking it.'" (@) "People surprised about Elon Musk tweeting about Hitler when he has a haircut that screams 1980's German synth-pop" (@) "Elon Musk debuts 2016 OG MAGA Hitler youth haircut" (@) "Musk told the barber to only shave his real hair. They left the toupe part alone." (@) "His barber hates him too" (@) "HITLER: [shaking his head] no no NO, you made it look GAY!!!" (@) "this motherf-cker got a low hitler fade you cannot be serious" (@) "i looked up 'elon musk haircut' to see if his shitler hack job was actually his hair and much to my delight i saw this" (@) "this is how elon looks with his dumbass haircut" (@) "Elon Musk obviously has hair plugs. These is a surgical procedure. Many cis men get these because a hairline affirms their identity and sense of masculinity. Cis people get gender confirmation procedures regularly. For themselves. Not others. Because they experience dysphoria" (@) "Musk got his hair cut like a Wehrmacht soldier" (@) "Many people are saying Elon Musk doesn't really love that toddler he keeps using as a prop, but if that were true he wouldn't let that kid cut his hair." (@) "Elon's new hair style reminds me a young man on the other side of the world... " (@) "Elon unveiled his new hair style today called the Himmler." (@) "@elonmusk got himself an Adolf Hitler haircut. If you didn't think he was ugly before, certainly you must now. He has an ugly soul." (@) "Elon: I want my hair to look like a toupee Barber: Say no more!" (@) "Thank you to the barber who fucked @elonmusk up GOOD hahahahaha" (@) "Whatcha thinking? Q-Elon: Something that really screams 1930s Germany. Barber: Say no more, fam"

Drag Race season 17 is proving to have one of the most dynamic casts in the shows lauded herstory, which means every exit feels like a loss. But perhaps this weeks shantay hit the hardest as walking charisma bomb and talking head extraordinaire Kori King sashayed out of the Werk Room and signed her name on the mirror. But of course, this Boston-based queen went out with a bang. Or rather with a smooch. All season long, fans have watched as Kori and Lydia Butthole Kollins struck up a Werk Room romance that culminated with a kiss as the two lovers and rivals faced off in a lip sync for your life. It was all very dramatic. But it was also in keeping with a queen who stomped into the Werk Room in her tacky drag and immediately began snatching focus. While she might not have walked away with the crown, one things for certain: shes a winner, baby. Kori left the competition not only with a boyfriend (yes, theyre still together) but with a devoted fan base who lived for her antics on the show and are living even more for her presence online. As of this writing, Kori is number one on Cameo, where shes pumping out the most delightful deranged messages, sometimes dressed as her season 17 sister Suzie Toot, at other times as Michael Jackson. What a time to be alive. PRIDE caught up with Kori to talk about her time on Drag Race, the tension with Hormona Lisa, being called out by Mama Ru over her shoes, and, of course, that kiss on the main stage. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kori King (@koriking)PRIDE: Congratulations on season 17! Youve been serving the charisma like you are the C of this season. Youve made me laugh, your shade has been incredible, and I dont know what were gonna do without your talking heads! KORI KING: I mean me too. I cant wait to watch the rest of the season. Im curious, as youre watching it back, how are you feeling about your time on the show?I feel great. I like every single thing I said, everything I did. I dont think I would take much back. I love it. Maybe Im just a narcissist. I love watching this season. Im obsessed.We love a queen that stands on business! But you say you wouldnt take much back. Is there a moment you would?I have bad taste. Thats obvious. I love tacky, tacky drag. So I was buying stuff that I like, and looking back, gosh darn it, I should have just got drag that I dont like, that they would have loved and I would have been fine. Everyones like, Oh my god, I loved your black crow look. I was like, I fucking hated that. I felt so ugly in it. I felt hideous. But I should have just bought my whole package that looked like that, and that would have been so much better. Thats the only thing I regret. But other than that, no, I dont regret anything. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kori King (@koriking)Im glad you were yourself. I want to meet the real you from day one!Thats how I feel! Im gonna wear this on the show because thats why I wear it on tour. There are some girls, in seasons now and past, that will wear these huge, elaborate outfits, and then when they get to the club, they never wearing that again. Theyre wearing the same shit Im wearing. So Im like, You just lied. You lied for 16 episodes. You played us. Its a facade, because all these runways you have, you aint wearing them when we see you. So I didnt want to be that girl. Whatever, maybe I coulda.I personally lived, because what I want is the real Kori King experience, and thats what we got! But one thing I dont know if we totally got on the show was an understanding of your sense of humor, which really has been shining on your social media. Do you feel like Drag Race just wasnt the right platform for your kind of humor? I feel like this happens with any show. It doesnt truly capture everyones nuances. [Its] not just me, just everyone in the cast. Maybe thats the design or time of the episode, or we cant fit everything in. Like Sam [Star], for instance, I feel like just now in the season, people are realizing how funny Sam is, because Sam is so funny Now that the competition is dwindling, youre just able to see it. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kori King (@koriking)You also have such a big personality, which initially intimidated the girls when you walked into the Werk Room. How did that feel? Correct?If you do have a huge, big, loud personality, people are gonna immediately look at you as competition. Youre walking in and being big and loud with this huge wig and this crazy huge clown body. Thats a drag queen, drag queen.Speaking of walking into the Werk Room, you reallywerent featuring Miss Hormona Lisa right away, and I didnt really understand what happened there, and why you had that instant tension. I didnt truly hate her. Hate is crazy. Everybody in the comments were always acting like I was over here wanting to, like, hit her with a stick or something, but no. When she first walked in it was just a vibe that I just did not like. It was like a, You guys are lucky Im here type of vibe. But you have to get to know her to understand thats kind of her schtick. Thats her sense of humor. Once you get that, its fine. But the first minute, I was like, Oh, now, girl, were done. Uh-uh, chuck it in the bucket. Im done. Now. Im like, Oh yeah, shes cool.Fair! Obviously, I love this entire cast. This cast is just so incredible Really?Yeah!Even Suzie? Im playing. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kori King (@koriking)[Laughs] This is why I love you. Im gonna miss you on my TV for moments just like this. Speaking of Miss Suzie Toot, what did she think of your homage to her in your Cameos? Suzie is one of my closest friends in the season. So I was like, Oh, this would be so funny if I get into Suzie Toot drag. I got into it, and I FaceTimed her right when I was done, and she gagged. It was so funny. Then doing the cameos, at first I was trying to earnestly do Suzie Toots voice. I was trying to talk like her, and then as the Cameos went on, it slowly just turned into Mickey Mouse. I dont know why.Thats so funny. Speaking of funny, can we talk about Ru with the shoes? Whats the tea with the shoes? Have they reached out to you? Are you getting a deserved collab with them? How did you feel at that moment?Okay, so they actually have reached out. Yeah, the magic is happening. I got them because you can only bring so much stuff to Drag Race. I have a dainty size 15 shoe. So I was like, how many shoes can I truly pack? Not only find, but pack and fit in these suitcases. So I brought three or four pairs of the same exact shoe but in different colors. Then I brought other shoes too, but I was like, what if I have to lip sync? I cant lip-sync in these shoes, so I just kept wearing the same shoe over and over again. In my head, I was like, I want to have this shoe on because if I have to lip sync, I want to be ready.When Ru called me out I was like, Oh, my God! So then the next week, I changed them, but I was like, I was like these, theyre funny!Honestly, when moments like that happen you just gotta lean in!Oh, thats what I did. When he called me out on it for the Rusical. I was like, You know what would be funny? If I fucking wear them again. So I wore them again, and then everybodys lookin at me like I cant believe that bitch fucking wore those shoes again. I was like, Its a bit, bitch. I know he doesnt want me to wear them. Thats why Im wearing them.Ok, we have to talk about the lip sync and the kiss. Was it spontaneous? Was it planned? Do you hope it might result in a double shantay? It was not planned. It was very much feel the vibe. Its called Kiss Me Deadly. Hello, it was common sense. [At] the end of the song, we looked at each other, like, okay... this is what it needs to give. Im glad that everybody lives for it.Did I feel like it was going to be a double shantay? No, no, no. They were saving bitches all season. There have been, like, 1,800 saves. Enough. If another double save happens, bitch, please end the season at that point. Were at like episode 37, ok? We could have filmed like five All Stars by now. So, no, I did not feel like it was going to be a double save. My casket was closed. I fully knew I was going home. I did not want to send Lydia home either. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kori King (@koriking)I understand you guys are still together, yeah?Yes, we are. Yeah, yeah, yeah.The Drag Race fandom is pretty intense. How are you guys protecting relationships from everybody wanting to have an opinion? I really dont read comments. I really dont. I dont typically care. Also, I follow a whole bunch of fans on Twitter. So my feed is just all stan accounts. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sticki Honey (@stickihoneyy)To be honest, with Plane Jane in your life, what could a stranger possibly say that could hurt more?Do you know how I was raised? This is how we talk to each other. If you think I care what some random person says about me me and Plane bicker every day, so, yeah, I could care less.

These diamonds are bringing their A-game.The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is in the home stretch on their fourteenth season. Although fans are currently watching the ladies as they gear up for their cast trip to St. Lucia in the Caribbean, the cast just filmed their reunion a few days ago.While attending the 33rd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party in Los Angeles, Jennifer Tilly spilled all the tea on what's to come at the dramatic reunion."There were fireworks! We only had a cocktail at the end. I guess it's a long day and they don't want us all falling off the sofa. I think some differences were being resolved and some sh** was being stirred, so [it's] everything you want in a good reunion," Tilly tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Tilly is the freshest face alongside Bozoma Saint John to join RHOBH this season, so this upcoming reunion serves as the first time these ladies will be in the hot seat."I was a little bit nervous, but I don't have any beefs with anybody. I knew that I'd maybe get a little bit of flack, but I was more nervous for my friends. I wasn't quite sure how it was going to go down, but I think people are going to be very pleased. The girls look gorgeous."The iconic actress is not only enjoying her time on Bravo, but Tilly's longstanding career certainly speaks for itself and she's undeniably built a passionate LGBTQ+ fanbase. Even Tiffany, her iconic character from the Chucky movies, has a cult following."I love my gay audience! It's really fabulous to have that support from the community. Tiffany is a nightmare! She annoys people. She's going to spend the night in jail, so I leave her at home."The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs Tuesday nights on Bravo. To see the full interview with Jennifer Tilly, check out the video at the top of the page.

Mother Monster has arrived!At a time the girls and gays need her most, Lady Gaga has come to the rescue.The legendary singer is about to drop her highly-anticipated new album Mayhem and it's already gaining critical acclaim from her first two singles "Disease" and "Abracadabra."Queer celebrities and allies who attended the 33rd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party in Los Angeles all spilled on just how excited they are for Gaga's grand comeback. Scroll below to see what they had to say!Dylan MulvaneySee on InstagramDylan Mulvaney is friendly with Mother Monster and even got a tease of the album at Gaga's home."Abracadabra! I'm a magician now. I love her. She is the ally of allies. I was at her house and she told me this was the year of chaos. I saw the little Mayhem logo on the album and it's the perfect name for a 2025 music drop! She takes care of us."Mont X ChangeSee on InstagramThe RuPaul's Drag Race winner is ready to dance the night away to Gaga's new music."Abracadabra! It's going to be so good. She's leaning into that old 2008 Gaga. She's not playing. I'm going to pull my wig off! I'm going to pull what little hairs I have on my head out of my head. I'm so excited about Mayhem."Kevin McHaleSee on InstagramKevin McHale performed "Applause" as Artie Abrams on Glee, so it's no surprise that he's excited for new Gaga."I'm so ready. The world was ready. 'Abracadabra' was exactly what we needed. We're all Little Monsters! We want to celebrate her any chance we get."Regan AliyahSee on InstagramThe XO, Kitty actress is staying on trend when it comes to Mayhem's release."I'm prepared! I'm so excited. She's reheating her nachos. That's what I wanted from her! I need Gaga back and she's doing it the way I need it. Those are new nachos! That's a new batch... just the same recipe."Scott & Mark HoyingSee on InstagramThe adorable husbands are huge Lady Gaga stans and have high hopes for the queen's latest project."I can't wait! Lady Gags is my favorite artist. Mayhem is going to be the best album of the century. I can already feel it," Mark Hoying says."I already know all of the choreography [to 'Abracadabra']. The melodies are fire. It's a lightning in a bottle, perfect piece of art," Scott Hoying adds.Heidi N ClosetSee on Instagram"Back when I was in middle school and high school, she started her career! I just aged myself a lot right now, but I'm really excited. Did you see that she said the 'to be continued' on 'Telephone' [is coming]? There will be a continuous one day! We're locking in for that too."Manila LuzonSee on Instagram"I'm so happy. It is a return to form. It's giving me The Fame Monster. It's bringing me back, but it's all brand new. I love everything that Gaga does. Enough time has passed where she can start referencing her original stuff. I'm old and I love nostalgia!"Jennifer TillySee on Instagram"I cannot wait. I love Lady Gaga. 'Poker Face' is the poker anthem and 'Paparazzi' is my anthem! Two things I love. They both start with 'P:' paparazzi and poker."ValentinaSee on Instagram"Gaga is dear to my heart. She's the queen. I really appreciate her for using her [Grammys] speech to speak about the trans community."LaufeySee on Instagram"The first couple of singles I've loved. I love a soaring melody. I'm a huge Lady Gaga fan. She crosses between all of my favorite genres and still just stays completely true to herself. She's always been a huge inspiration to me for that."Dexter MayfieldSee on Instagram"Abracadabra! I'm so happy she's back. She's back in full force. She's working with Parris Goebel, one of my favorites! Dream team. I'm so excited for the Mayhem era."Chris ColferSee on Instagram"I'm just so excited! My elliptical is ready. I'm like a full magician now!"Justin TranterSee on Instagram"Any time Gaga drops an album, it is a moment for the whole music business. It's going to be amazing as always."

Republicans on social media are riding a high after President Donald Trumps presidential address despite it being filled with outright lies, gross exaggerations, anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, and a bizarre slip-up about transgender mice," but Pete Buttigieg was quick to cut him down to size.The gay former secretary of transportation made a comment about how small Trump is while on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert after the speech ended on March 4 that will have even the most stoic political ones junky laughing.Lets remember, despite what you heard tonight, [Trump] came in with just under 50 per cent of the vote, Buttigieg said in his interview with Colbert. He won, Im not disputing that. But the smallest popular vote margin since Nixon.Then he added, I wonder how he feels about something that important being that small in his case. (@) And just to drive the point home, Colbert responded, To be smaller than Tricky Dick gives one pause, I would say.Being made fun of for hissize deficiencies is nothing new for Trump. Marco Rubio dunked on how small his hands are in comparison to his height by saying, I wonder how he feels about something that important being that small in his case, which led to a hilarious bit on Saturday Night Live that made fun of his tiny hands.Just last year at the Democratic National Convention, former President Barack Obama joked about Trumps obsession with crowd sizes, while making a hand gesture that made it clear that he thought Trump was really obsessed with the size of something else. And don't forget the time Stormy Daniels said his package looked like a diminutive video game character. I lay there, annoyed that I was getting fked by a guy with Yeti pubes and a dick like the mushroom character in Mario Kart, she wrote in her memoir, comparing Trumps sad member to the video game character Toad. It may have been the least impressive sex Id ever had, but clearly, she continued, he didnt share that opinion. She really went scorched earth with that one, and we love it!Buttigieg, who made history in 2020 as the first openly LGBTQ+ person to ever hold a full-time cabinet position, also critiqued Trumps speech for focusing on all of the wrong things. The State of the Union, I think, is really confused about why our leaders are talking about renaming things on a map instead of getting the price of eggs down, he said. Classic Trump, right?

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum walks to the House Chamber before of President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)2025-03-08T03:17:12Z NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Three tribal nations and five Native American students filed a lawsuit Friday against the Trump administration, accusing it of failing its legal obligations to tribes when it cut jobs at Bureau of Indian Education schools last month.Firings at two colleges as part of the administrations cuts to federal agencies, with the help of Elon Musk, have left students and staff with unsafe conditions, cancelled classes, and delayed financial aid, according to the lawsuit.Lawyers at the Native American Rights Fund filed the suit against the heads of the Interior Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Office of Indian Education Programs on behalf of the Pueblo of Isleta, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, and the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. The tribes allege in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that they were not consulted when the federal government laid off several employees at the two colleges under the purview of the BIE. Nearly a quarter of the staff at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico, including nine instructors, were fired or forced to resign in February. The lawsuit alleges that security and maintenance firings have left the campus unsafe, including two power outages in the last few weeks that went unresolved due to the lack of staff. One SIPI student named in the lawsuit, Kaiya Brown, said in the filing that her dorm was without power for 13 hours. Ms. Brown was forced to leave her dorm residence and drive to a second location to be able to complete her school assignments. Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas lost over a quarter of its staff, including the Dean of Students, instructors, property management specialists, coaches, tutors, residential advisors, academic advisors, custodians, and food services employees as well as its only bus driver, the lawsuit states. It also notes that Haskells student center has been shuttered and students reported their financial aid has either been delayed or has not been disbursed. Students also reported reduced meal sizes, bathrooms without toilet paper, and classes that are now being taught by deans who do not have the same expertise as the professors who were fired.Both institutions report that some staff and faculty have been rehired, but BIE notified those individuals that this might be temporary and they may be laid off again, according to the lawsuit.When reached for comment, the BIA said, It is Department policy to not comment on pending litigation.The BIE is responsible for providing educational opportunities for Native Americans and Alaska Natives across the country, part of the U.S. governments trust responsibilities the legal and moral obligations the U.S. has to protect and uphold treaties, laws and congressional acts dealing with tribes. There are 183 Bureau-funded elementary and secondary schools, located on 64 reservations in 23 states, serving approximately 42,000 Indian students, according to the BIEs website. Of these, 55 are BIE-operated, and 128 are tribally operated. The U.S. Government Accountability Office has highlighted for several years significant understaffing at the BIE that has impacted its ability to monitor and assist schools. One of the federal governments obligations to tribal nations is to provide meaningful consultation before it takes any action that could possibly harm tribes or their services, said Hershel Gorham, Lt. Governor of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, which has 35 students at Haskell. In this case there is no consultation that was done, not only from the BIA and BIE, but the federal government in general.Recent cuts to the Departments of the Interior and Health and Human Services that affect tribal citizens and were later rescinded might illustrate that Secretaries Doug Burgum and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. understand those trust responsibilities, Gorham said, but they also might suggest they dont have the autonomy to prevent the violation of those rights for Native Americans. Right now it seems like theyre not being given that full autonomy, if you look at the cuts that were made to Haskell, SIPI and the BIE schools, he said. GRAHAM LEE BREWER Brewer reports for the APs Race and Ethnicity team, focusing on Indigenous communities and tribal nations. He is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and is based in Oklahoma. twitter mailto

A worker transfers steel cables at a steel factory in Qingdao in east China's Shandong province, on June 8, 2018. (Chinatopix via AP, File)2025-03-08T03:17:13Z BEIJING (AP) China on Saturday announced retaliatory tariffs on some Canadian farm and food imports, after Canada imposed duties in October on Chinese-made electric vehicles and steel and aluminum products.The new duties become effective March 20, according to a statement by the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council. Additional 100% tariffs will be imposed on Canadian rapeseed oil, oil cakes and peas, and additional 25% tariffs will apply to pork and aquatic products.The tariffs add to global trade tensions already high, with rounds of tariff announcements by the United States, China, Canada and Mexico.The duties come in retaliation for Ottawa imposing tariffs against Chinese imports in October, including a 100% surtax on all Chinese-made EVs and 25% on steel and aluminum imports.Despite Chinas repeated opposition and dissuasion, Canada has taken unilateral restrictive measures on electric vehicles, steel, aluminum and other products imported from China without investigation, undermining China-Canada economic and trade relations, read the statement by the customs authorities. The decision to impose retaliatory duties comes after an anti-discrimination probe, which found out that Canadas restrictive measures against some Chinese products have disrupted normal trade order and harmed the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, it added.Canada announced tariffs on Chinese goods last August following similar duties being imposed by the U.S. and the European Union against Chinese-made EVs and other products. The Western governments say Chinas subsidies give its industry an unfair advantage. SIMINA MISTREANU Mistreanu is a Greater China reporter for The Associated Press, based in Taipei, Taiwan. She has reported on China since 2015. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

For some reason, I chose to tune in to (the first half of) President Trumps Address to Congress just to see the chaos unfold for myself.I fell asleep about halfway through before I realized he was playing on my subconscious, and when I woke up, I realized he'd already gone 30 minutes over the hour I had dedicated anyway, with apparently another 30 to go.At the start of the speech, as he walked down the aisle to his legion of MAGA sycophants, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-New Mexico, stood behind him holding up a sign that read, This is not normal. This prompted Trump loyalist Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, to rip it out of her hands.Rep. Melanie Stansbury holds a sign reading "This Is Not Normal" before another member rips it out of her hand.[image or embed] Jordan Uhl (@jordanuhl.com) March 4, 2025 at 6:17 PMSoon after, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, was removed and may now face GOP censure for calling Trump out about his Medicaid cuts.US Rep Al Green removed by Trump's Nazi while others sat and watched or jeer at him. He stood up to Trump and told him he had no mandate to disrupt Medicaid for millions of people. Make a list of which politicians you are going to keep. So far it's a short list. #3E #SOTU[image or embed] Anonymous (@youranoncentral.bsky.social) March 4, 2025 at 6:42 PMI could go on, but my blood pressure is already high enough as it is, and we have to talk about one of the stupidest, and inadvertently most hateful, things Trump said: That the Democrats spent $8 million for making mice transgender, and falsely affirming, this is real."8 million dollars for making mice transgender" is the new "they're eating the dogs"[image or embed] CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) March 4, 2025 at 6:47 PMApart from the fact this statistic was among the laundry list of false statements released by DOGE leader Elon Musk, Trump has also confused transgender mice with transgenic mice, which the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) defines as an organism or cell whose genome has been altered by the introduction of one or more foreign DNA sequences from another species by artificial means. Transgenic organisms are generated in the laboratory for research purposes.Apart from this, transgenic studies have been used for a long time, including to demonstrate that DNA is the molecule that carries the genetic code and that oncogenes can cause cancer.While were on the topic of cancer, Trump also used DJ Daniel, a 13-year-old child cancer survivor as a prop to deflect from the fact hes defunded pediatric cancer research, but once again, I digress.Trump just told this kid, DJ Daniel, who has cancer, that acting Secret Service director Sean Curran is going to make him a Secret Service agent tonight.[image or embed] Jen Bendery (@jbendery.bsky.social) March 4, 2025 at 7:34 PMThe NHGRI also says that transgenic animals have been used to model human diseases and to develop new treatments. Well, the now-popular Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) crowd doesnt want you to have those, as has been made evident by the recent death from measles for the first time in over a decade after an outbreak in Texas.Anyway, the internet has done what they do best and collectively come together to call out Trump and his absurdly statement.Check out some of the best reactions, and do the only thing we really can do to keep sane these days: laugh.No transgender mice *that we know of*. The mice have yet to share their pronouns. (@bjdr.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 4:59 AM"No transgender mice *that we know of*. The mice have yet to share their pronouns." (@) "$8M to make mice transgender. This is real! I hate stupid people. I dont say that meaning Im brilliant. I say it meaning I trust the experts and listen to them like other intelligent human beings should."Transgender mice after they passed through their case study research[image or embed] Taryn T, Duchess of the Blue Sea (@tarynt.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 9:18 AM"Transgender mice after they passed through their case study research" (@) "Its Trans Rodent Day of Visibility; a time to celebrate our queer friends from the rat, mouse, guinea pig & capybara questioning community. 1 in 7 hamsters identify as Trans & 14% of mice are gender fluid. Youre never more than 6 metres from a non binary rat; fact. #TransAnimals #TransRodentDayofVisibility They're eating the transgender mice on Arab Sesame Street. Tim Onion (@bencollins.bsky.social) March 4, 2025 at 6:46 PM"They're eating the transgender mice on Arab Sesame Street." (@) "omg the transgender illegal aliens in prison and the transgender mice theyre both real #SOTU #StateOfTheUnion" (@) "I didn't watch the felon speak tonight, but I hear a highlight was his fixation on "transgender mice"? Someone please tell me I accidentally clicked into The Onion?"Transgenic mice are not transgender mice.Thanks for coming to my TED talk BK. Titanji (@boghuma.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 4:57 AM"Transgenic mice are not transgender mice. Thanks for coming to my TED talk" (@) "what did he just say about transgender mice? #StateOfTheUnion"The transgender mice shit because they are illiterate and dont know what transgenic meanswhat a great time to be dumb and horrible for everyone else Ryan Hebert (@ryanhebert.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 9:50 AM"The transgender mice shit because they are illiterate and dont know what transgenic meanswhat a great time to be dumb and horrible for everyone else" (@) "making mice transgender #StateOfTheUnion"It's the same book every time for transgender mice story hour.[image or embed] Voiceover Vegan (@vovegan.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 9:43 AM"It's the same book every time for transgender mice story hour." (@) "Imagine not researching the difference between transgenic mice and transgender mice and then making it a focal point of government waste."Trump heard transgenic mice and thought transgender mice. Just like he heard immigrants were seeking asylum and thought it meant they were coming from insane asylums. Troy Matthews (@keeptroyblue.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 4:17 AM"Trump heard transgenic mice and thought transgender mice. Just like he heard immigrants were seeking asylum and thought it meant they were coming from insane asylums." (@) "Move over million dollar man 2025 We have 8 million dollar transgender mice"Felon 47 is out here ranting about 'trans mice' like a senile grandpa who just discovered the internet.Spoiler alert: He confused transgenic with transgenderbecause, of course, he did.[image or embed] jrph1.bsky.social (@jrph1.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 9:41 AM"Felon 47 is out here ranting about 'trans mice' like a senile grandpa who just discovered the internet. Spoiler alert: He confused transgenic with transgenderbecause, of course, he did." (@) "My transgender mouse. By Grok. Courtesy of the US Government."I am glad SOMEONE is finally handling the issue of TransGENDERED MICE! This problem has plagued each and every american since the dawn of time. Chris, i hope you sleep better tonight knowing his 'effective' speech combats Transgender Mice! The Ghost of Groucho (@ghostofgroucho.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 9:28 AM"I am glad SOMEONE is finally handling the issue of TransGENDERED MICE! This problem has plagued each and every american since the dawn of time. Chris, i hope you sleep better tonight knowing his 'effective' speech combats Transgender Mice!" (@) "Either @POTUS cant read or doesnt know that its not transgender mice (which dont exist!) but transgenic mice. What an embarrassment"i think $8M is a bargain to make transgender mice, i hope they make them woolly too[image or embed] t0ussaint (@t0ussaint.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 9:12 AM"i think $8M is a bargain to make transgender mice, i hope they make them woolly too" (@) "Transgender mice? Or transgenic??"Have you seen the video of the so called 'transgender mice'?Everyone laughed at him. Ooof, laughter is a balm. That gotta hurt the thin skinned tangerine Un-Ness-assary (@nessevely.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 8:52 AM"Have you seen the video of the so called 'transgender mice'? Everyone laughed at him. Ooof, laughter is a balm. That gotta hurt the thin skinned tangerine " (@) "Actual footage of the transgender mice studies."So no one is doing any interviews without asking any white house official how the president misunderstood transgenic mice as transgender mice and spent minutes talking about it in the state of the union and how anything they say is trustworthy because of that one giant lie. Right?[image or embed] Kombiz Lavasany (@kombiz.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 8:42 AM"So no one is doing any interviews without asking any white house official how the president misunderstood transgenic mice as transgender mice and spent minutes talking about it in the state of the union and how anything they say is trustworthy because of that one giant lie. Right?" (@) "Transgender mice? Well damn. They done turned Mickeys outie into a Minnie."

Alleged murderer Luigi Mangione captured the internets collective imagination when the first security footage images of him went viral, but now social media is melting down about unsubstantiated rumors of his sex tapes.Mangione, who is accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a hotel in Manhattan in December 2024, has had people thirsting over him since the first image of him flashing a devil-may-care smile in a hoodie went viral. The publics obsession only grew as a shirtless photo of him popped up online, and people noticed how photogenic he was, even while wearing cuffs and an orange jumpsuit.Now, gossip website Radar Online is claiming an unnamed source revealed that the 26-year-old made at least 20 videos of him having sex and that they havent come to light because girls are too afraid to come forward or tell anyone for fear they might get dragged into his case somehow."I saw one (of the videos), and I wish I never had," the source supposedly said. "And it wasn't just some grainy, late-night mistake. It was perfect lighting, everything. The anonymous sources also claim that Mangione is different than everyone imagines. "People thought he was this misunderstood genius, but no he was filming everything like he was starring in his own private porno empire," the source said. "He wasn't just reckless he was putting on a show. And now, the show is overAlthough the rumor hasn't been substantiated by any reputable news source, the story went viral after the tabloid website Daily Mail ran its own story. The internet has run wild with the tale, and people are going feral over the idea that there might be Luigi sex tapes out there. From people joking that theyve been searching high and low for the tapes to someone quipping that "Luigi Mangione may have made up to 20 sex tapes according to the daily mail. Hey if theres one thing we know about the guy he knows how to reload and shoot again, the responses will keep you laughing.Keep scrolling to see the funniest reactions to the rumor that Luigi Mangione made sex tapes! (@) "me searching for the Luigi Mangione sex tapes" (@) "me downloading all the luigi mangione sex tapes once they leak" (@) "me walking out of prison with all of the 20 luigi mangione sex tapes up my ass" (@) "The streets are saying there are Luigi sex tapes and Im still over here like.." (@) "to anyone who got that luigi mangiones sex tape:" (@) "watching the whole timeline begging and trying to find luigis sex tapes" (@) "Luigi Mangione may have made up to 20 sex tapes according to the daily mail. Hey if theres one thing we know about the guy he knows how to reload and shoot again" (@) "trying to focus at work meetings knowing that there's 20 luigi sext tapes out there" (@) "The gays after hearing about the alleged Luigi sex tapes" (@) "Luigi Mangione has sex tapes??!?" (@) "Luigi Mangione has at least 20 cinema style sex tapes" (@) "Cinema-style porn videos" (@) "me searching for the Luigi Mangione sex tapes" (@) "watching luigi mangione's sex tapes here" (@) "streets saying luigi mangione filmed 20+ sex tapes send it to me rachel" (@) "Los gaysTM apenas supieron de la existencia de los sex tapes de Luigi Mangione" (@) "Luigi Mangiones sex tapes leaked and its real" (@) "me when i find those 20 luigi mangione sex tapes" (@) "everyones posting that one picture of luigi mangione but i want the 20+ sex tapes leak him nowwwwwwwww" (@) "theyre claiming luigi mangione recorded 50 sex tapes and he wanted people to see them then why am i not seeing them" (@) "The concept of 20+ professionally shot Luigi Mangione sex tapes being real..SHOW ME TO ME RACHEL" (@) "send me the luigi mangione leak the SEX TAPES..please" (@) "Just watched one of the Luigi Mangione sex tapes" (@) "if yall thought luigi was packing when those pics leaked. these tapes are confirmation" (@) "24 hours and still havent seen luigi sex tapes"

Tetyana Bobina and her daughter Aleksandra receive humanitarian aid provided by UN World Food Program and ADRA charity organisation for the residents of the region and internally displaced persons at the distribution center in Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)2025-03-08T06:59:09Z GENEVA (AP) Trump administration freezes on U.S. foreign aid have led many United Nations organizations to cut staff, budgets and services in places as diverse as Afghanistan, Sudan, Ukraine and far beyond.Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has lamented the severe cuts and cited some fallout last week: Over 9 million people in Afghanistan will miss out on health and protection services; cash allocations that helped 1 million people in Ukraine last year have been suspended; funding for programs for people fleeing Sudan have run out, among other things.Many independent NGOs some that work with the United Nations have cited many project closures because of the U.S. administrations decision to eliminate more than 90% of foreign aid contracts, cut some $60 billion in funding, and terminate some 10,000 contracts worldwide involving the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID. For their part, U.N. agencies have been scrambling to revise their operations, make strategic cuts, seek funding elsewhere, and appeal to the administration to restore U.S. support. Some hope federal court rulings will salvage some U.S. foreign aid outlays.Heres what some U.N. organizations say about the impact of the U.S. funding freezes and their response to them so far. Less UN help for people on the move: Refugees and MigrantsUNHCR : The U.N. refugee agency, which got over 40% of its nearly $5 billion budget last year from the United States, told The Associated Press on Wednesday the pause in U.S. funding allocations have affected operations and its first cost saving efforts will involve cutting $300 million in planned activities.Some partners U.N. organizations often rely on and fund outside groups have pulled back or halted some activities that, for example, have led to suspended services for nearly 180,000 forcibly displaced women in girls in Central African Republic, Uganda and South Sudan. In Ethiopia, 200,000 forcibly displaced women and girls will be affected by the closure of services, it said. If new funding is not forthcoming soon, more cuts in direct life-saving assistance will be inevitable, spokesman Matthew Saltmarsh said. IOM: The International Organization for Migration, which is run by Amy Pope of the United States and got more than 40% of its $3.4 billion budget in 2023 from the U.S., said it was acting accordingly in response to the U.S. order to pause foreign assistance funding that was affecting staff, operations and beneficiaries. Devex, a news organization focusing on global development, reported last month that IOM sent dismissal notices to some 3,000 employees who had been working on a U.S. resettlement program following the funding freezes. The agency declined to comment to the AP.UN health agencies sound the alarmWHO: The Trump administration has been especially tough with the World Health Organization. One of his earliest executive orders announced a U.S. pullout from the U.N. health agency, which cant take full effect until next January, as well as a recall of U.S. staff working with WHO and funding pauses. WHO says a global measles and rubella lab network is at risk of collapse because its cost of about $8 million a year is entirely funded by the U.S. The funding cuts have affected the global response to mpox, and WHO has tapped its own emergency funds to fill gaps left in the response to Ebola in Uganda. On Wednesday, WHO said U.S. cuts in bilateral funding to fight tuberculosis will have a devastating response on TB programs which the United States has generally contributed $200-$250 million to every year over the last decade.UNAIDS : The AIDS-fighting agency said Wednesday that U.S. funding has served as the backbone for HIV prevention in many countries hit hard by the virus. U.S. funding amounts to 55% of the total AIDS budget in Uganda, and the funding freeze has led to the closure of drop-in centers and service points that provide antiretroviral therapy.It said a rapid assessment estimated that 750,000 people in Haiti are affected by the U.S. freeze, and 70% of the 181 total sites funded through the U.S. Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, had closed: Patients have flooded the remaining sites, which are unable to meet the increased demand. A large portion of PEPFAR-funded staff working on HIV response in South Africa will be affected because dozens of USAID implementing partners received termination letters last week, UNAIDS said.At a regular briefing Thursday, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric highlighted the impact of funding cuts on Afghanistan alone, saying more than 200 health facilities have closed -- depriving 1.8 million people from essential health services in the country. Unlocking aid from UN coffersOCHA: The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Thursday it was releasing $110 million from its emergency response fund to help address underfunded crises in Africa, Asia and Latin America.Tom Fletcher, the U.N. humanitarian chief who heads the office, told the Security Council on Thursday the U.S. funding cuts to foreign aid amounted to body blow to our work to save lives.He said he had asked partners to provide lists of areas where they have to cut back.It is of course for individual countries to decide how to spend their money. But it is the pace at which so much vital work has been shut down that adds to the perfect storm that we face, Fletcher said.___Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri at the United Nations in New York contributed to this report. JAMEY KEATEN Keaten is the chief Associated Press reporter in Geneva. He previously was posted in Paris and has reported from Afghanistan, the Middle East, North Africa and across Europe. twitter

President Donald Trump walks up the stairs of Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)2025-03-08T05:01:44Z WASHINGTON (AP) With his flurry of tariffs, government layoffs and spending freezes, there are growing worries President Donald Trump may be doing more to harm the U.S. economy than to fix it.The labor market remains healthy with a 4.1% unemployment rate and 151,000 jobs added in February, and Trump likes to point to investment commitments by Apple and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to show that hes delivering results.But Fridays employment report also found that the number of people stuck working part-time because of economic circumstances jumped by 460,000 last month. In the leisure and hospitality sectors that reflect consumers having extra money to spend, 16,000 jobs were lost. And the federal government reduced its payrolls by 10,000 in a potential harbinger of the alarm being sounded by the stock market, consumer confidence and other measures of where the economy is headed. Since January, the economic policy uncertainty index has spiked 41% to a level, 334.5, that in the past signaled a recession. Nicholas Bloom, a Stanford University economist and co-developer of the uncertainty index, said its unclear how this will play out, but hes worried. I have an increasing fear we will enter into what may become known as the Trump recession, he said. Ongoing policy turbulence and a tariff war could tip the U.S. economy into its first recession in five years. That last recession occurred under Trump because of the coronavirus pandemic. For his part, Trump seems comfortable with the uncertainty that hes generating, saying that any financial pain from import taxes is a mere disruption that will eventually lead to more factories relocating to the United States and stronger growth.If Trumps gambit succeeds, the Republican would cement his reputation as an unconventional leader who proved doubters wrong. But if Trumps tariffs backfire, much of the price would be paid by everyday Americans who could suffer from job losses, lower wages, higher inflation and, possibly, an injured sense of national pride. In an interview to air Sunday on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, Trump was pressed to provide some clarity on his tariffs agenda that has caused uncertainty to fester. The president largely hedged his answer and blamed the 6% drop in the stock market over the past two weeks on big globalists.You know, the tariffs could go up as time goes by, and they may go up and, you know, I dont know if its predictability, the president said.The White House maintains that Fridays jobs report showed the administrations strategy is working because manufacturers added 10,000 jobs. Of the manufacturing gains, 8,900 jobs came from the auto sector, recovering some of the industrys job losses in January. The White House also suggested that the loss of leisure and hospitality jobs was the result of flu season and people having depleted savings and credit card debt because of President Joe Bidens term.I thought it was a really, really impressive jobs report, Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, said of Fridays numbers. Hassett said the additional factory jobs were the result of companies on-shoring work because of the coming tariffs.This is the first of many reports that are going to look like this, Hassett said with regard to the hiring in the industrial sector.The stock market selloff raises doubts about whether tariffs will create the promised jobs.Markets anticipate, said John Silvia, CEO of Dynamic Economic Strategy. The turn down the dark alley of tariffs signals higher inflation, slower economic growth and a weaker U.S. dollar. It is an economic horror movie in slow motion.Trump has instigated a trade war in the last week with Canada, Mexico and China, only to then hit a monthlong pause on some of his import taxes because of the threat to U.S. auto factory jobs and because of Mexicos latest efforts to curb fentanyl smuggling.More tariffs are coming on April 2 for Europe, Trump says, possibly putting the United States into open conflict with a continent it helped rebuild after World War II. South Korea, India and Brazil could also face new tariffs, Trump said in his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. Silvia said Trumps tariffs need to be more targeted with regard to products and nations and set at lower rates, adding that doing so would provide an assurance that there is solid research backing the measures.There were multiple signs of uncertainty and concerns about the tariffs in the Federal Reserves beige book, a collection of anecdotes from hundreds of businesses that the Fed releases eight times a year.Published Wednesday, the beige book included 47 references to uncertainty, up from just 17 in the previous edition in January.Many businesses noted heightened economic uncertainty and expressed concern about tariffs, the Feds New York branch reported. Looking ahead, businesses were notably less optimistic. This is the perfect storm for businesses, said Brian Bethune, an economist at Boston College. How can you possibly plan anything in this environment?Still, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday on CNBC that he sees positive momentum in combating inflation. He said crude oil prices have fallen since Trumps inauguration, as have the interest rates on 10-year U.S. Treasury notes and mortgages. Still, interest rates on government debt are higher than they were last year in September, and the recent decline could reflect a slowdown in economic demand.Bessent suggested a core problem is that the U.S. economy has become overly reliant on government deficits and that the Trump administration would be fostering stronger growth in the private sector.Weve become addicted to this government spending, and theres going to be a detox period, he said.This particular form of economic rehab is coming from Trumps Department of Government Efficiency, which is led by T-shirted tech mogul Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla, X and SpaceX, among other companies.The alleged savings by DOGE are still too paltry to bend the troubling trajectory of the national debt that is largely being driven by tax revenues that are insufficient to cover the rising costs of Social Security and Medicare.But the initiative has started to downsize the federal workforce in ways that could surface in future jobs reports. Roughly 75,000 employees took the deferred resignation plan. There are also thousands of probationary federal workers who were fired and tens of thousands of layoffs to come based on the administrations plans. Asked Friday in the Oval Office if the government layoffs could hurt the overall labor market, Trump said the economy would be great.I think the labor market is going to be fantastic, but its going to have high-paying manufacturing jobs, he said. We had too many people in government. You cant just do that.___AP economics writer Christopher Rugaber contributed to this report. JOSH BOAK Boak covers the White House and economic policy for The Associated Press. He joined the AP in 2013. twitter mailto

This weekend SXSW kicks off its annual festival, and yet again, some of the most exciting movies being screened this year are LGBTQ+ films. Every year the festival boasts a bevy of exciting entries that go on to be some of the best and buzziest films of the year. So what will be this years Sing Sing, I Saw the TV Glow, or Cuckoo? We cant wait to find out, but in the meantime, these 15 are our most anticipated this year.All film descriptions courtesy of SXSWAnother Simple FavorStephanie Smothers and Emily Nelson are back for even more glamour, murder and betrayal as they head to Italy for Emilys surprise wedding.Director: Paul FeigCast: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Alex Newell, Henry Golding, Allison Janney (World Premiere)Touch MeTouch Me is a story about two codependent best friends who become addicted to the heroin-like touch of an alien narcissist who may or may not be trying to take over the world.Director/Screenwriter: Addison HeimannCast: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jordan Gavaris, Marlene Forte, Paget Brewster, JJ Philips, Yumarie Morales, Ashley Lauren Nedd, Eli Lucas (Texas Premiere)On Swift HorsesMuriel and her husband Lee are about to begin a bright new life, which is upended by the arrival of Lee's brother. Muriel embarks on a secret life, gambling on racehorses and discovering a love she never thought possible. Director: Daniel MinahanCast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter, Diego Calva, Sasha Calle (U.S. Premiere)SallySally Ride became the first American woman to blast off into space, but beneath her unflappable composure was a secret. Sallys life partner, Tam OShaughnessy, reveals their hidden romance and the sacrifices that accompanied their 27 years together. (Texas Premiere)Director/Screenwriter: Cristina CostantiniHollandIn this unpredictable thriller, Nancy is a teacher whose life with her husband in Holland, Michigan, tumbles into a twisted tale when she and her colleague become suspicious of a secret. Director: Mimi CaveCast: Nicole Kidman, Matthew Macfadyen, Jude Hill, Gael Garca Bernal (World Premiere)FucktoysJoin AP on a bubblegum grindhouse adventure through sunny and romantic Trashtown, USA. In this raucous odyssey, a wanton minx quests hard across a dreamy landscape of smut, filth and psychics, hustling to lift a curse that has been f-cking her sh-t up.Director/Screenwriter: Annapurna SriramCast: Annapurna Sriram, Sadie Scott, Francois Arnaud, Damian Young, Big Freedia, Brandon Flynn, Lorrie Odom, Jowin Batoon, Tamika Lawrence, Arianna Ortiz (World Premiere)OuterlandsWhen Cass (they/them) is asked by an alluring woman to watch her 11-year-old daughter while she goes out of town, Cass is forced to confront the truth of their own tumultuous childhood.Director/Screenwriter: Elena OxmanCast: Asia Kate Dillon, Louisa Krause, Ridley Asha Bateman, Lea DeLaria, Daniel K. Isaac, Melinda Meeng, Allie Heng, Winter Dewitt, Safia Fredericks, Sedrick Cabrera (World Premiere)Clown in a CornfieldA fading midwestern town in which Frendo the clown, a symbol of bygone success, reemerges as a terrifying scourge.Director: Eli CraigCast: Katie Douglas, Will Sasso, Cassandra Potenza, Aaron Abrams, Carson MacCormac, Verity Marks, Dylan McEwan, Daina Leitold, Vincent Muller, Kaitlyn Bacon (World Premiere)AssemblyVisionary artist Rashaad Newsome merges art, AI, and performance to transform a former military facility into a Black queer utopia. Through immersive storytelling and visuals, the film explores how creativity can heal, unite, and spark liberation. (World Premiere)Directors/Producers/Screenwriters: Rashaad Newsome, Johnny SymonsIdiotkaIn West Hollywoods Russian district, Margarita lives out the American Dream: competing on a reality show. Will she slay, serve, or survive? Director/Screenwriter: Nastasya PopovCast: Anna Baryshnikov, Camila Mendes, Julia Fox, Benito Skinner, Saweetie, Owen Thiele, Galina Jovovich, Mark Ivanir, Nerses Stamos, Ilia Volok (World Premiere)I Really Love My HusbandWhen a woman grows disillusioned with her golden-boy husband during their tropical honeymoon, she recruits an enigmatic expat to spice things upfor better or worse.Director/Screenwriter: GG HawkinsCast: Madison Lanesey, Travis Quentin Young, Arta Gee, Lisa Jacqueline Starrett, Elizabeth de Robbins, Armodio Sophia, Meggan Taylor, Mitch Bisschop, Amberlin Morse (World Premiere)SatisfactionSet against the Greek isles, British composers Lola and Philips relationship lingers in silence as she struggles to reclaim her voice. When she meets magnetic Elena and brings her into the fold, tensions rise, forcing Lola to confront her dark past.Director/Screenwriter: Alex BurunovaCast: Emma Laird, Fionn Whitehead, Zar Amir, Adwoa Aboah (World Premiere)Shes the HeJust before graduation, Alex and Ethan pretend to be trans women to get into the girls lockers. Its all a joke until Ethan realizes: she really is trans. Alex and Ethan must reckon with their changing friendship and the process of coming out.Director/Screenwriter: Siobhan McCarthyCast: Misha Osherovich, Nico Carney, Suzanne Cryer, Mark Indelicato, Malia Pyles, Emmett Preciado, Tatiana Ringsby, Aparna Nancherla, Kyle Butenhoff, Emma Orr (World Premiere)Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky HorrorA wild journey into the origins of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the biggest cult film of all time, its impact on popular culture and socio-political resonance to this day.Director: Linus O'BrienFeaturing Richard O'Brien, Tim Curry, Lou Adler, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick (World Premiere)Trans MemoriaIn an exploration of self-discovery, Victoria, Athena and Aamina navigate womanhood through loss and introspection, weaving past regrets and future aspirations in a poetic documentation of embracing true selves. (U.S. Premiere)Director/Screenwriter: Victoria Verseau

Sapphic love is in the air!The Traitors star Gabby Windey just announced that she married comedian and TV writer Robby Hoffman in a secret Las Vegas wedding.Husband and wife!! 1/11/2025, Windey captioned the carousel of photos she posted to Instagram on Wednesday morning. Windey, who first rose to fame on The Bachelor and Bachelorette, walked down the aisle to Chappell Roans Hot To Go, which the couple danced to before getting hitched.The queer couple started dating in the summer of 2023 and decided to get married after being forced to relocate to Las Vegas amid the Los Angeles wildfires.We had just evacuated from the fires. Literally cue Rihanna, We found love in a hopeless place, Gabby joked in an interview with Cosmopolitan. What better time to get married than right now? Because if the world is ending, we want to be with each other.See on InstagramThey got the idea for their last-minute wedding after being put up in a penthouse suite. It looked like a wedding suite, Hoffman said. Gabby turned to me and she went, Should we get married?The 35-year-old writer and comedian continued by admitting that shes been angling to marry her girlfriend for a long time. Ive been proposing since the day I met her, Hoffman revealed.Robby was literally ready to propose three weeks in and Im always the one pumping the breaks, but when something feels right, it just feels right, Windey explained. I think it was better for the both of us that it was my idea. She kept checking in like, Are you serious?The couple was planning to show up at a Las Vegas chapel and get married, but Windey wanted a real proposal before they tied the knot.Luckily, Hoffman already had a plan that included the crossword puzzles they love to do together.We do the New York Times crossword, Wordle, and Connections every morning together over a cup of coffee, Windey said. Thats our thing.Hoffman was excited to propose because it felt like her dream of marrying Windey was finally coming true. I had a friend make a crossword, Hoffman revealed. I gave him the clues and the answers, and I said it had to say, WILL YOU MARRY ME, GABBY.Hoffman pretended it was an Atlantic crossword puzzle so that Windey wouldnt catch on, so when the first clue was a document signed when someone dies, Windey guessed it was deed before Hoffman suggested it might be will.Windey got stuck because the downs didnt make sense, so Hoffman ultimately had to jump in before they finished the last word, which was Gabby.The reality TV and TikTok star explained, We were side by side in bed, and she was like, Will you marry me, Gabby?The newlyweds celebrated their engagement over crab legs at the Wynn buffet before shopping for chapels together and then splitting up so that Windey could pick out a dress and Hoffman could find a ring she picked out a beautiful Cartier diamond ring.Windey got lucky when she shopping, picking up an off-the-rack long-sleeved lace dress. The first dress I saw on the mannequin was off-white lace, and I was like, This is gonna be it,' she said. It was the only one they had in stock. It was a little tight and made my butt look huge, but it was perfect.Everything just fell into place so naturally. It felt so serendipitous and so precious and so meant to be.Their intimate Vegas wedding it was just the two of them, and they kept it secret from the public until announcing their nuptials on March 5 only cost them $799, including the limousine, photos, minister, and wedding package, Page Six reports.It was the best wedding Ive ever been to, Hoffman said. We got to spend our wedding truly together. We love to be together.

This image provided by Travis Bond shows Amy Gleason, the acting administrator of the DOGE Service, pictured in 2014 at a health care technology conference in San Francisco, (Travis Bond via AP)2025-03-08T05:00:51Z When her daughter was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease in 2010, Amy Gleason attacked the challenge.She carried binders of medical records to doctors appointments across six health systems seeking the best care for juvenile dermatomyositis. She volunteered at a nonprofit searching for a cure. She also started a health care company to create record-sharing software that would make life easier for chronically ill patients and families.Within five years, President Barack Obamas White House recognized Gleason as a Champion of Change in the industry. When the coronavirus struck in 2020, she was a health care technologist in the first Trump White House who worked grueling hours building data systems to guide the federal response. (And her daughter was a thriving college student.)Now, her journey has improbably led to President Donald Trump naming her the acting administrator of the U.S. DOGE Service, a position that seems to convey extraordinary power. Except almost no one has heard of her and everyone knows the man the president says is actually leading the unparalleled effort to gut the federal workforce and shutter agencies: Elon Musk. Gleasons role at DOGE is unclearWhile Musk has claimed his Department of Government Efficiency is fully transparent, until last week the White House press secretary would not even say Gleasons name which does not appear on the DOGE website.In his address to Congress Tuesday, Trump made clear that Musk is in charge, saluting him as the head of DOGE, with Musk smiling down on the president from the visitors gallery. Yet government lawyers have argued in court that Gleason and not Musk is the agencys leader.The confusion has added to the mystery around the role of Gleason, who did not respond to a phone call or text message for comment. I dont think anyone really knows for sure what her role is and whether she actually has any oversight of any of the people doing the work, or is she just there as a punching bag and a distraction to keep their actual activities shielded from the public, said Brett Hartl, government affairs director for the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group that sued the DOGE Service and Gleason seeking access to records that would shed light on their operations.DOGE claims credit for saving more than $100 billion through mass firings, cancellations of contracts and grants, office closures and other cuts that have paralyzed entire agencies. Many of those claimed savings have turned out to be overstated or unproven. Gleason is known as a behind-the-scenes operatorOn one level, Gleason fits the mold of a Musk employee, one willing to work arduous hours to meet his goals. Former colleagues say she is an effective behind-the-scenes operator and say her rise is the story of a former nurse who got into health care technology to help patients and doctors and climbed through merit.From my perspective, I cant imagine somebody Id rather have there, said Jamie Grant, a former Republican lawmaker in Florida who worked with Gleason to start a health care company. Somebody saying yes to that job right now better believe in the mission and better have a spine and be talented and shes that in spades. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Gleason had served as the acting administrator at DOGE for weeks. But that was not the widely held understanding of her position internally, according to three people with knowledge of the offices operation who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution.While the exact nature of Gleasons portfolio was not well defined, what was clear is that she was working closely with DOGE leaders. She attempted to push civil service staffers in the office to hire at least two people who failed screening reviews for prospective hires; both were later hired by DOGE, according to two of the people who spoke to The Associated Press.The uncertainty over her role and when she was appointed to it could have far-reaching implications in a series of ongoing lawsuits filed to blunt the impact of Musks radical paring of the government workforce. Under questioning from U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly recently, government attorneys struggled to explain who was in charge of DOGE or Musks precise role. That led Kollar-Kotelly to wonder if the office was running afoul of the Constitutions appointments clause because Musk had not been nominated to lead the office, or received confirmation from the Senate.The Trump administration announced the following day that Gleason was DOGEs acting administrator, a question they had previously refused to answer. Gleason has ties to Trump worldUnlike many DOGE workers, Gleason has no prior ties to Musk. She recently worked as chief products officer at Nashville-based health care firms founded by Brad Smith, who worked in the prior Trump administration on health care and is also a DOGE adviser.Smith and Gleason began working on Trumps transition after the November election, and her role in Trumps orbit has grown. In December, she rejoined the United States Digital Service, where she had previously worked from 2018 through 2021 on high-level government health care technology initiatives.On his first day back in office, Trump signed an executive order rebranding USDS as the US DOGE Service and giving it a mandate to help Musks cost-cutting initiative. Soon, dozens of Musk acolytes associated with DOGE began arriving at agencies across the government demanding access to sensitive data systems and pushing for drastic changes.While 21 others in the office resigned in protest rather than carry out Musks initiatives, Gleason accepted a position that thrust her into an unfamiliar spotlight.Health care entrepreneur Travis Bond, Gleasons colleague over two decades at companies in Florida, said Gleason will hate the public attention but excel in her new role.Im not sure they could have picked a better person. She just thinks, eats and breathes this stuff, he said. Gleason helped build CareSync, which later collapsedBond, Gleason and Grant in 2011 launched CareSync Inc., which developed an app to allow patients suffering from chronic disease to keep their medical records in one place. After benefiting from a $7.25 million grant from one Florida county, CareSync found it hard to attract buyers for subscriptions that cost up to $199 annually.CareSync pivoted in 2015, taking advantage of a new federal rule that allowed Medicare providers to bill for chronic care management services delivered remotely. The company raised millions of dollars from investors and began rapidly adding staff and serving more than 20,000 patients nationwide. By summer 2018, CareSync ran out of cash and closed without notice, firing 300 workers and leaving creditors owed millions.Gleason recalled later that she was trying to figure out what in the world to do in life after that experience and applied for the USDS with encouragement from Aneesh Chopra, U.S. chief technology officer under Obama. Chopra declined comment.She focused on improving technology systems at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. During the pandemic, she worked under White House response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx to develop laboratory and hospital data reporting systems. Birx praised Gleason last week in an interview with CNN as a really competent, hardworking, focused woman who understands the value of data.Near the end of her three-year stint in 2021, Gleason reflected on her work in a podcast interview, saying the digital service sought to empower the civil servants and to bring new approaches in technology to the government and to help modernize their efforts.Our mission is really to do the greatest good, for the greatest number of people, in the greatest need, she said. RYAN J. FOLEY Foley covers state and national news for The Associated Press and is based in Iowa City, Iowa. A 20-year AP veteran, hes known for investigative reporting and using open records laws to obtain information. twitter mailto BRIAN SLODYSKO Slodysko is an investigative reporter for the Associated Press based in Washington, D.C. mailto

Santa Fe County Sheriff, Adan Mendoza, second from left, Dr. Heather Jarrell, chief medical investigator for the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, center, and Dr. Erin Phipps, New Mexico State Veterinarian with the New Mexico Department of Health, hold a news conference to talk about the cause of death for Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa in Santa Fe, N.M. (Eddie Moore/The Albuquerque Journal via AP)2025-03-08T06:12:45Z SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) A towering figure in cinema for decades, retired actor Gene Hackman spent his final years in seclusion with his wife, living with heart disease and Alzheimers, authorities said Friday.An investigation into the deaths of Hackman and his wife, 65-year-old Betsy Arakawa, paint a tragic picture of the 95-year-old Oscar-winners last days before he succumbed to heart disease, one week after Arakawa died from a rare disease called hantavirus.Here are some takeaways:Hackman may not have realized his wife died a week earlierMr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimers disease, New Mexico chief medical investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell said. He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately thats what resulted in his death. All signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said, adding, Its quite possible he was not aware she was deceased.Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired because of Alzheimers disease and unable to deal with his wifes death in the last week of his life. Couple lived a secluded life and were not found for daysWhen Hackman and Arakawa were found, the bodies were decomposing with some mummification, a consequence of body type and climate in Santa Fes especially dry air at an elevation of nearly 7,200 feet (2,200 meters).Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza described the couple as a very private family, which presented difficulties in determining a timeline in their deaths. Hackman had no food in his stomach when he died, meaning he hadnt eaten recently, but he wasnt dehydrated, Jarrell said.Investigators have not found any indication Hackman tried to contact anyone after Arakawa died, Mendoza said.All of us that knew him should have been checking on him, said Stuart Ashman, co-owner of Artes de Cuba gallery. He cherished his encounters with Hackman at a local Pilates exercise studio, where they used to swap stories. I had no idea. ... Its just really sad, Ashman said. And that she died a week before him. My God. Hantavirus believed to be the cause of Arakawas deathArakawa likely died Feb. 11 from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease spread by infected rodent droppings. She had gone out that day to run errands and stopped at a grocery store, pharmacy and pet store before returning to their home in a gated neighborhood. How Arakawa contacted hantavirus is unknown, but signs of rodents were found by investigators in some of the buildings on the couples property, authorities said. Jarrell said its possible Arakawa was showing symptoms of the virus, similar to flu symptoms, before she died. The virus can cause a severe and sometimes deadly lung infection. While hantavirus is found throughout the world, most cases in the U.S. have been found in western states. Hackman had retired from a celebrated acting careerHackmans long career included roles as villains, heroes and antiheroes in dozens of dramas, comedies and action films. Aside from appearances at awards shows, he was rarely seen on the Hollywood social circuit. Hackman and Arakawa eschewed fame and made Santa Fe their home decades ago, like many other artists. He met Arakawa, a classical pianist, at a California gym in the mid-1980s. They moved to Santa Fe by the end of the decade. Their Pueblo revival home sits on a hill with views of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.In his first decades in New Mexico, Hackman was often seen around the state capital and served on the board of trustees for the Georgia OKeeffe Museum from 1997 to 2004. Hackman kept a tight circle of friends and didnt go out much, but he was sometimes spotted downtown. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Its easy to think about queer history as before Ellen DeGeneres came out and after she came out, but in reality, there were tons of LGBTQ+ celebrities who were living their lives out loud and proud long before the former talk show host announced, Yep, Im Gay the cover of Time magazine on April 14, 1997.Times have changed, and now celebrities are able to live their lives without fear of being blacklisted if anyone found out about their sexuality, but these queer stars were living lives outside of the closet decades before it became a little safe and more socially acceptable to do so. From drag icons like RuPaul and Divine to actors like Angelina Jolie and Alan Cumming, these celebs have been out since before 1997.Ione SkyeSee on InstagramBisexual Say Anything actress Ione Skye may have been married to Beastie Boy Adam Horowitz in the 90s, but while their marriage was on the rocks, Skye had an affair with model and actress Jenny Shimizu, who she met on the set of Four Rooms in 1994. "[Shimizu was a] masterful lover, sometimes a dominant one," she said according to Page Six. "She didnt use whips or handcuff me to the bed, she just held this vibe."Angelina JolieSee on InstagramBisexual queen Angelina Jolie started a much-talked about relationship with model and actress Jenny Shimizu on the set of Foxfire in 1996. "I would probably have married Jenny if I hadn't married my husband, Jolie said of the relationship in 1997 in an interview with Girlfriend.Lily TomlinSee on InstagramQueer icon Lily Tomlin was already speaking openly about her relationship with June Wagner in 1998 when she gave an interview to People. "We share similar feelings about people and about the world. She's able to verbalize it, and I'm able to physicalize it, Tomlin said about her relationship with Wagner, who she married on New Years Eve in 2013.DivineSee on InstagramDivine, the iconic drag queen and frequent John Waters collaborator, lived her life as an out queer drag queen before sadly passing away in 1988. From starring in influential Waters movies like Pink Flamingo and Hairspray to inspiring the design of Ursula from The Little Mermaid, Divine left an indelible mark behind. Ian McKellenSee on InstagramBritish actor Ian McKellen who famously played Gandalf and Magneto came out as gay in 1988 in a live radio interview in the U.K. in order to argue against proposed laws in England that would have made it illegal for local authorities to "promote homosexuality.RuPaulLong before RuPauls Drag Race became an international sensation, RuPaul spent the 80s and 90s as a fixture in the New York City club scene. Mama Ru hit it big in 1995 with the single Supermodel (You Better Work)" and quickly became the most recognizable and commercially successful drag queen in the U.S.Brad DavisSee on InstagramActor Brad Davis, famous for his roles in Midnight Express, Chariots of Fire and Roots, never publicly came out as gay but acknowledged having sex with men and played a gay sailor in the 1982 film Querelle. Amanda BearseSee on InstagramMarried with Children star Amanda Bearse came out publican as a lesbian way back in 1993 as a way to get in front of the tabloids who had been sniffing around during a time when she was expecting a child via adoption, Page Six reports.Lea DeLaria (@) Its hard to remember a time when comedian and Orange is the New Black star Lea DeLaria wasnt openly gay, and thats likely because the butch lesbian came out way back in 1982.k.d. langSee on InstagramWhile most queer people would probably say theyve always known k.d. lang was queer, the singer stunned the world by coming out in a 1992 issue of The Advocate.Cheryl DunyeSee on InstagramCheryl Dunye is best known for her 1996 debut lesbian film The Watermelon Woman, which is considered the first feature-length film written and directed by a Black lesbian.Guinevere TurnerSee on InstagramGuinevere Turner, who co-wrote the script for pioneering lesbian rom-com Go Fish, wrote and starred in The L Word, and played opposite Cheryl Dunye in The Watermelon Woman, has been out and creating queer cinema since the early 90s.Craig ChesterActor Craig Chester, best known for his roles in Kiss Me Guido, Circuit, and I Shot Andy Warhol, has been openly gay since the very start of his career in 1992 when he played Nathan Leopold Jr. in the Leopold and Loeb movie Swoon.David BowieSee on InstagramThe man who brought us the androgynous space alien of Ziggy Stardust made conflicting statements about his sexuality over the course of his career, but he first talked about being bisexual in a 1976 interview with Playboy magazine, but then backtracked and claimed to be straight in a 1983 Rolling Stone article, written during a more conservative time. Alan CummingSee on InstagramAlthough The Traitors host Alan Cumming didnt come out publicly as bisexual until 1998, the Cabaret star, who once dated fellow bisexual Saffron Burrows and has been legally married to husband Grant Shaffer since 2012, told Entertainment Weekly that hes always felt very bi-visible, even coming-out to his first wife when he was only 21. Cherry JonesTony Award-winning Broadway actress and Succession and Transparent star Cherry Jones began living her life as an out lesbian in the 1980s and once called Lily Tomlin as her guiding light when she was growing up because even though the 9 to 5 actress wasnt out, we all knew she was gay, she told Page Six.

Gay celebs are just like us.Colton Underwood is living his best life by embracing his fully daddy status alongside his handsome husband Jordan C. Brown.While attending the 33rd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party in Los Angeles, Underwood revealed just how much fun he's having raising his five-month-old son Bishop Colton."I was born to be a dad and daddy, whatever you want to call it. We're figuring out our titles still! Dad, daddy, pops... all of the labels. Hopefully there's more little ones in our future. It's been the best thing that's ever happened to us. It's a dream come true," Underwood tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Although parenthood is certainly looking good on Underwood, the reality star is still prioritizing his own health and dished on his favorite pastimes that are helping him feel sexy."I have an incredible partner who loves and supports me and makes me feel good. Then, I just find random times to take care of myself whether if it's a hot tub, a coffee, a Barry's bootcamp workout class, or an Equinox steam room... we'll figure it out."Many gay men frequent the Equinox steam room to cool off in many ways and Underwood's no stranger to frequenting the popular hot spot."I should have known saying that to this publication! Sorry," he laughs.Fans can keep up with Colton Underwood by following him on Instagram. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol greets his supporters after he came out of a detention center in Uiwang, South Korea, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Kim Do-hun/Yonhap via AP)2025-03-08T08:58:35Z SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Koreas impeached conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol was released from prison on Saturday, a day after a Seoul court canceled his arrest to allow him to stand trial for rebellion without being detained.TV footage showed Yoon waving his hand, clenching his fists and bowing deeply to his supporters who were shouting his name and waving South Korean and U.S. national flags. He climbed into a black van to travel to his presidential residence in Seoul. Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waves to his supporters after he came out of a detention center in Uiwang, South Korea, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Kim Do-hun/Yonhap via AP) Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waves to his supporters after he came out of a detention center in Uiwang, South Korea, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Kim Do-hun/Yonhap via AP) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More In a statement distributed by his lawyers, Yoon said that he appreciates the courage and decision by the Seoul Central District Court to correct illegality, in an apparent reference to questions over his arrest. He said he also thanks his supporters and asked those who are on hunger strike against his impeachment to end it.Yoon was arrested and indicted by prosecutors in January over his Dec. 3 martial law decree that plunged the country into huge political turmoil. The liberal opposition-controlled National Assembly separately voted to impeach him, leading to his suspension from office. The Constitutional Court has been deliberating whether to formally dismiss or reinstate Yoon. If the court upholds his impeachment, a national election will be held to find his successor within two months. Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally to oppose his impeachment in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) Supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a rally to oppose his impeachment in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol greets to his supporters after he came out of a detention center in Uiwang, South Korea, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Hong Hyo-shik/Newsis via AP) Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol greets to his supporters after he came out of a detention center in Uiwang, South Korea, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Hong Hyo-shik/Newsis via AP) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More The Seoul Central District Court said Friday it accepted Yoons request to be released from prison, citing the need to address questions over the legality of the investigations on the president. Yoons lawyers have accused the investigative agency that detained him before his formal arrest of lacking legal authority to probe rebellion charges. The Seoul court also said the legal period of his formal arrest expired before he was indicted. Yoons release came after prosecutors decided not to appeal the decision by the Seoul court. South Korean law allows prosecutors to continue to hold a suspect while pursuing an appeal, even after his or her arrest is canceled by a court. The main liberal opposition Democratic Party, which led Yoons Dec. 14 impeachment, lashed out at the prosecutors decision, calling them henchmen of Yoon, a former prosecutor general. Party spokesperson Cho Seung-rae urged the Constitutional Court to dismiss Yoon as soon as possible to avoid further public unrest and anxiety.At the heart of public criticism of Yoon over his martial law decree was his dispatch of hundreds of troops and police officers to the National Assembly after placing the country under military rule. Some senior military and police officials sent to the assembly have testified that Yoon ordered them to pull out lawmakers to thwart a parliamentary vote on the decree. Yoon has countered that he aimed to maintain order.Enough lawmakers eventually managed to enter an assembly hall and voted unanimously to overturn Yoons decree. Investigators have alleged Yoons martial-law decree amounted to rebellion. If hes convicted of that offense, he would face the death penalty or life imprisonment. Yoon has presidential immunity from most criminal prosecutions but that doesnt cover grave charges like rebellion and treason. Yoon has said he didnt intend to maintain martial law for long as he only attempted to inform the public of the danger of the Democratic Party, which obstructed his agenda and impeached many senior officials and prosecutors. In his martial law announcement, Yoon called the assembly a den of criminals and anti-state forces.South Koreas conservative-liberal divide is severe, and rallies either supporting or denouncing Yoons impeachment have divided Seoul streets. Experts say whatever decision the Constitutional Court makes, the division is certain to worsen. HYUNG-JIN KIM Hyung-jin is an Associated Press reporter in Seoul, South Korea. He reports on security, political and other general news on the Korean Peninsula. twitter mailto

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters put out the fire following a Russian rocket attack in Dobropillya, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)2025-03-08T09:31:27Z KYIV, Ukraine (AP) A Russian strike on a town in Ukraines embattled Donetsk region killed at least 11 people, officials said Saturday, as a wave of heavy aerial attacks continued into the second night following a U.S. decision to stop sharing satellite images with Ukraine.Thirty people were also reported injured in multiple strikes late Friday that damaged eight apartment blocks in the town of Dobropillya, which is close to the front where Russian troops have been making steady advances. Ukraines State Emergency Service said a Russian drone damaged a Ukrainian fire truck while rescuers fought to extinguish the burning buildings.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at least five children were among the injured. Last night, the Russian army fired two ballistic missiles at the center of Dobropillya, he said. After emergency services arrived at the scene, they launched another strike, deliberately targeting rescuers. It is a vile and inhumane intimidation tactic to which the Russians often resort. The attack took place just 24 hours after Russia hit Ukrainian energy facilities with dozens of missiles and drones, hobbling its ability to deliver heat and light to its citizens and to power weapons factories vital to its defenses. The barrage came after the U.S. suspended military aid and intelligence to Ukraine to pressure it into accepting a peace deal being pushed by the Trump administration. When asked Friday by a reporter during an Oval Office exchange if Russian President Vladimir Putin was taking advantage of the U.S. pause on intelligence-sharing to attack Ukraine, Trump responded: I think hes doing what anybody else would.Zelenskyy did not reference the intelligence-sharing deal, but did seem to appeal to other statements Trump made Friday related to financial sanctions against Moscow. Writing on social media, the U.S. president proposed imposing large-scale banking sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a cease-fire and final peace settlement was reached. Zelenskyy welcomed the prospect of additional sanctions on Moscow, saying, Everything that helps Putin finance the war must be broken.Ukraines air force reported Saturday that Russian troops launched three Iskander missiles and 145 drones over the country overnight. The bombardment contained a mix of attack and decoy drones intended to confuse air defenses. One missile and 79 drones were shot down, while 54 more drones were lost without causing damage, the Ukrainian air force said.Among the targeted areas was Ukraines northeastern region of Kharkiv, where three people died after a Russian drone hit a civilian workshop, emergency services said.Meanwhile, Russian troops shot down 31 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 26 over the countrys Krasnodar region, Russias Defense Ministry said Saturday.Falling debris from one drone sparked a blaze at the KINEF oil refinery in Russias northern Leningrad region, local Gov. Aleksandr Drozdenko said in a statement. No casualties were reported. ___Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Sapphics and straight women alike are currently melting down over a hot masc from an unusual source.While you normally think of true crime documentaries as being equal parts fascinating and heartbreaking, last month Netflix released American Murder: Gabby Petito, and women on TikTok focused on one thing: the hot butch FBI agent featured in the doc. Netflixs latest true crime documentary explores the life and death of 22-year-old Gabby Petito, an aspiring travel influencer who was killed by her fianc, Brian Laundrie, while on a cross-country van trip. The three-part documentary series digs deeper into the story beyond the headlines with interviews from family, friends, and law enforcement, including FBI agent Loretta Bush, who has caught the eye of women across social media.As a Tampa bureau agent, Bush appears toward the end of the second episode, and from her very first moment on screen, Sapphics and straight women started lusting after her big masc energy.When Bush first appears on screen, she walks into the frame with a confident stride and sporting short hair, sunglasses, visible tattoos, and an FBI badge hooked to her hip.@kristin_bucchi_napoliConfirmation #wlw #lorettabush #gabbypetito #lesbiansoftiktok #wifeBottom line? Shes so hot that even straight, married women are rethinking their life choices.The thirsty TikTok videos tend to fall into two camps, queer women lusting after the hot masc and straight women posting videos using George Michaels song Father Figure, who are shocked that theyre attracted to another woman.@mama.courtneyy_if I ever go missing please make sure Loretta Bush finds me #fypviral #wlw #girlcrush #lgbt #lorettabush #gabbypetito #netflixseriesPOV youre a 35 y.o straight, married mother of six until you see Loretta Bush on the Gabby Petito documentary and your life no longer makes any sense, @mama.courtenyy_ captioned her TikTok video that shows her drooling over Bush.@haileyscomet32If youre my man, keep scrolling #fyp #Meme #MemeCut #gabbypetito #documentary #netflix #truecrime #missingpersons #lorettabushShe is just for preventing heterosexual behavior in women, @kate_righter wrote on X (formerly Twitter). (@) Sapphics are also having a hard time staying sane while watching the hot masc law enforcement officer.Special Agent Loretta Bush (Tampa Division). FBI's finest. ACAB doesn't apply to her, one person posted on X. (@) @laperrin10Or should I say Lorettas Bush? #wlw #lesbian #gabbypetito #netflixIn TikToker @laperrin10s video, she implores Netflix to give Bush her own show, and her suggested titles are hilarious. Examples include Finding Lorettas Bush, The Woman Behind the Bush, Bush Whacked, and You Cant Out Run the Bush. Wed watch that!If you havent gotten enough of Bush yet (we dont blame you!), go watch American Murder: Gabby Petito and keep scrolling for more funny videos and posts about the hottest masc to ever wear a badge! (@) @kristin_bucchi_napoliConfirmation #wlw #lorettabush #gabbypetito #lesbiansoftiktok #wife@pya_and_pien more masc FBI agents please #lorettabush #gabbypetito #truecrime #crime #documentary #gabby #masc #lesbiansoftiktok #lgbt #fbi #fbiagent #CapCut@its.alex.bian#gabbypetito #netflixdocumentary #lesbiansoftiktok #thirst #lorettabush (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) @laperrin10You can cuff me anyday #gabbypetito #wlw #lesbian@bethanythegnomeagainI just can't help it #married #straight #gabbypetito #gabbypetitodocumentary #lorettabush #shefine #relatable #humor@thegothdollyUmmm who is this woman?! Anyone else loose their mind #lgbtq #lesbian #lesbiansoftiktok #gabbypetito #gabbypetitoupdate #netflix #netflixdocumentary #gay #lesbiantiktoks #lgbtqia ##lorettabush #iseered

Say Anything star Ione Skye is opening up about a lifetime of famous flings including one with model Jenny Shimizu.The 1989 Cameron Crowe classic was Skyes big break after appearing in several smaller films with burgeoning stars. Within three years, shed gotten married to Adam Horowitz of the Beastie Boys at age 21.In her memoir, Say Everything, Skye admits that her various affairs led to the dissolution of the marriage within just seven years. One of those affairs was with Shimizu."[Shimizu was a] masterful lover, sometimes a dominant one," she recalls, per Page Six. "She didnt use whips or handcuff me to the bed, she just held this vibe."Anyone well-versed in '90s pop culture knows that this was the same decade in which Shimizu dated both Madonna and Angelina Jolie."I probably would have married Jenny Shimizu if I hadnt married my husband [Jonny Lee Miller]," Jolie reportedly told Girlfriends magazine back in 1997. "I fell in love with her the first second I saw her."Skye says her entanglement with the model came to an end after she became too "needy and devoted.""Jenny didnt want me to be her dog," she writes. "She left shortly thereafter for a modeling job and never came back to me, except as a good friend."A number of other flings with celebrities are touched upon in the memoir, including with Ingrid Casares and musician Alice Temple although The New York Times reassures that "it doesnt come across as meanspirited or salacious." "I think as you get older, you feel freer just taking chances creatively and not worrying so much about everybody being happy," Skye told People. "I definitely don't want to hurt anyone. But some people I named in the book have read it, and luckily everyone has loved it."

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., walks through the Capitol, Monday, March 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)2025-03-08T05:02:15Z WASHINGTON (AP) House Republicans are looking to do what, for them, is almost unheard of - approving government funding on their terms with little help from Democrats.Speaker Mike Johnson is teeing up a bill that would generally fund federal agencies at current levels for the remainder of the budget year ending Sept. 30. That would mean defense and non-defense programs would be funded at 2024 levels. Congress must act by midnight March 14.Its a risky approach. Normally, when it comes to keeping the government fully open for business, Republicans have had to work with Democrats to craft a bipartisan measure that both sides can support. Thats because Republicans almost always lack the votes to pass spending bills on their own. This time, Republicans have hopes of going it alone. They plan to muscle the funding bill, known as a continuing resolution, though the House, and then dare Senate Democrats to oppose it and risk being blamed for a government shutdown. Crucially, the strategy has the backing of President Donald Trump, who has shown an ability so far in his term to hold Republicans in line. Lets get this Bill done! Trump said on social media.Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., says he has never voted for a continuing resolution, what lawmakers often call a CR, but he is on board with Johnsons effort. He says he has confidence in Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, to make a difference on the nations debt. I dont like CRs, Norman said. But whats the alternative? Negotiate with Democrats? No.I freeze spending for six month to go identify more cuts? Somebody tell me how thats not a win in Washington, added Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, another lawmaker who has often frequently voted against spending bills but supports the six-month continuing resolution.Republicans are also hoping that resolving this years spending will allow them to devote their full attention to extending the individual tax cuts passed during Trumps first term and raising the nations debt ceiling to avoid a catastrophic federal default. But Democratic leaders are warning that the decision to move ahead without consulting them increases the prospects for a shutdown. One of their biggest concerns is the flexibility the legislation would give the Trump administration on spending.We cannot stand by and accept a yearlong power grab CR that would help Elon take a chainsaw to programs that families rely on and agencies that keep our communities safe, said Sen. Patty Murray, the lead Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.Democratic leadership in both chambers has stressed that Republicans have the majority and are responsible for funding the government. But they also have been wary of saying how Democrats would vote on a continuing resolution.We have to wait to see what their plan is, Schumer said. Weve always believed the only solution is a bipartisan solution, no matter what.House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said earlier this week that the Democratic caucus would meet and discuss the legislation at the appropriate moment. But he struck a more forceful tone Friday. Jeffries said Democrats are ready to negotiate a meaningful, bipartisan spending agreement that puts working people first. But he said the partisan continuing resolution threatens to cut funding for key programs, such as veterans benefits and nutritional assistance for low-income families. That is not acceptable, Jeffries said.While continuing resolutions generally keep spending flat, many lawmakers say that failing to keep pace with inflation actually leads to a cut in services. Trump has been meeting with House Republicans in an effort to win their votes on the legislation. Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee, along with more than a dozen other lawmakers, met with Trump on Wednesday.Im open to it, Burchett said. But I want to see whats in it.Republicans have a 218-214 majority in the House, so if all lawmakers vote, they can afford only one defection if Democrats unite in opposition. The math gets even harder in the Senate, where at least seven Democrats would have to vote for the legislation to overcome a filibuster and thats assuming all 53 Republicans vote for it. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., has said that passage of the measure covering the remainder of the fiscal year doesnt preclude further negotiations to pass the regular appropriations bills for the budget year. A Democratic aide speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed that such talks have reopened as the two sides try to reach agreement on topline spending levels. The talks could amount to a Plan B should the continuing resolution falter.

In this undated photo provided on March 8, 2025, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, bottom right, visits a shipyard to construct warships at an undisclosed place in North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)2025-03-08T07:10:22Z SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea unveiled for the first time a nuclear-powered submarine under construction, a weapons system that can pose a major security threat to South Korea and the U.S.State media on Saturday released photos showing what it called a nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine, as it reported leader Kim Jong Uns visits to major shipyards where warships are built. In this undated photo provided on March 8, 2025, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, visits a shipyard to construct warships at an undisclosed place in North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: KCNA which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) In this undated photo provided on March 8, 2025, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, visits a shipyard to construct warships at an undisclosed place in North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: KCNA which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More The Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, didnt provide details on the submarine, but said Kim was briefed on its construction.The naval vessel appears to be a 6,000-ton-class or 7,000-ton-class one which can carry about 10 missiles, said Moon Keun-sik, a South Korean submarine expert who teaches at Seouls Hanyang University. He said the use of the term the strategic guided missiles meant it would carry nuclear-capable weapons.It would be absolutely threatening to us and the U.S., Moon said. A nuclear-powered submarine was among a long wishlist of sophisticated weaponry that Kim vowed to introduce during a major political conference in 2021 to cope with what he called escalating U.S.-led military threats. Other weapons were solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, spy satellites and multi-warhead missiles. North Korea has since performed a run of testing activities to acquire them. North Korea obtaining a greater ability to fire missiles from underwater is a worrying development because its difficult for its rivals to detect such launches in advance. Questions about how North Korea, a heavily sanctioned and impoverished country, could get resources and technology to build nuclear-powered submarines have surfaced. Moon, the submarine expert, said North Korea may have received Russian technological assistance to build a nuclear reactor to be used in the submarine in return for supplying conventional weapons and troops to support Russias war efforts against Ukraine. He also said North Korea could launch the submarine in one or two years to test its capability before its actual deployment. In this undated photo provided on March 8, 2025, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, bottom right, visits a shipyard to construct warships at an undisclosed place in North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) In this undated photo provided on March 8, 2025, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, bottom right, visits a shipyard to construct warships at an undisclosed place in North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) Share Share Copy Link copied Email Facebook X Reddit LinkedIn Pinterest Flipboard Print Read More North Korea has an estimated 70-90 diesel-powered submarines in one of the worlds largest fleets. However, they are mostly aging ones capable of launching only torpedoes and mines, not missiles.In 2023, North Korea said it had launched what it called its first tactical nuclear attack submarine, but foreign experts doubted the Norths announcement and speculated it was likely a diesel-powered submarine disclosed in 2019. Moon said there has been no confirmation that it has been deployed. North Korea has conducted a slew of underwater-launched ballistic missile tests since 2016, but all launches were made from the same 2,000-ton-class submarine which has a single launch tube. Many experts call it a test platform, rather than an operational submarine in active service.In recent days, North Korea has been dialing up its fiery rhetoric against the U.S. and South Korea ahead of their upcoming annual military drills set to start Monday. During his visits to the shipyards, Kim said North Korea aims to modernize water-surface and underwater warships simultaneously. He stressed the need to make the incomparably overwhelming warships fulfill their mission to contain the inveterate gunboat diplomacy of the hostile forces, KCNA reported Saturday. HYUNG-JIN KIM Hyung-jin is an Associated Press reporter in Seoul, South Korea. He reports on security, political and other general news on the Korean Peninsula. twitter mailto

Are you looking for a reason to be hyped for season two of Survival of the Thickest? Let us give you five!For those unfamiliar, the series which stars Michelle Buteau and is based off her acclaimed book of essays, follows the exploits of Mavis Beaumont (Buteau) a beautiful, vibrant, plus-size Black woman who is fighting to make her dream career as a plus-size stylist to the stars come true and perhaps finding love along the way. She is supported by her chosen family, Marley (Tasha Smith), Khalil (Tone Bell), and Peppermint (Peppermint). While season one saw Mavis breaking into the world of celebrity styling, season two sees her taking her business to the next level by starting her own brand. We live to see it, but also the trailer teases several, many queer cameos and even a lesbian love story. Here are five moments from the trailer that have guaranteed we will be seated when season two drops on March 27 on Netflix. 1. Leather harness alert!Sure this is a seemingly straight hookup but the site of that leather harness has our hearts beating a little faster.2. Hello Jerrie JohnsonLast season Marley had her queer awakening, but this season she's poised to make all our Sapphic dreams come true with a new lesbian romance, with a character played by our forever crush, Harlems, Jerrie Johnson.3. Peppermint is backPeppermint is back and beautiful, and posed for a very exciting new plotline this season that we cant give away yet!4. Monet X Change is in the buildingDid the exchange rate just go up? Monet is in the building and looking fabulous. Is this a wedding? Whomst could it be?5. 10s across the board!Is it even gay and NYC if ball culture doesnt make an appearance? Honey Balenciaga guest stars this season and she brings it to every ball! In an era when queer folks and representation feel greatly under threat and some companies are complying with that kind of erasure it just feels especially poignant to see Survival of the Thickest leaning into its queerness in its sophomore season.Survival of the Thickest returns on March 27. Watch the trailer below.

Political commentator and Twitch streamer Hasan Piker has amassed a huge gay fanbase thanks to his outspoken left-wing politics and tendency to show off his well-built arms. See on Instagram Today today it was the former that lead to the outspoken Piker facing backlash and resulted in Twitch issuing a temporary ban on the streamer following his incendiary comments about Republican Governor Rick Scott. During his stream on Monday Piker was reacting to statements made by House Speaker Mike Johnson to CNNs Kaitlan Collins on The Source last week, regarding his partys proposed budget. Sign up for the PRIDE.com Newsletter to get a candid take on whats fresh and fun in LGBTQ+ culture this week!The White House has committed. The president said over and over and over, Were not going to touch Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid. Weve made the same commitment. Now that said, what we are going to do is go into those programs and carve out the fraud, waste, and abuse, and find efficiencies, Speaker Johnson said. (@) Piker disputed Johnson's comments in the clip explaining That fraud is not coming from individuals it's coming from providers. They're not tackling providers. They are not actually going after false billing. They are trying to cut recipients. Ok. It is not coming at the point of recipients." "If you cared about Medicare fraud or Medicaid fraud you would kill Rick Scott, Piker continued. You wouldnt make Rick Scott, former Governor of Florida Rick Scott, you wouldnt make him...the fucking head of the Senate Committee or something like the Republican fundraising initiatives.Why Scott? Because the former Governor of Florida turned Senator once oversaw one of the largest medical frauds in U.S. history, perpetrated by his company Columbia/HCA and HCA - The Healthcare Company. (@) Twitch has yet to officially confirm if these comments led to Piker's ban, nor have they made it clear for how long the ban will be imposed. Following the news of Pikers temporary removal from the platform the streamer took to X to respond. im sorry! ill choose my words carefully next time & say if mike johnson cares abt medicare fraud (since he wants to cut 800m from medicaid/medicare) hed call for MAX PUNISHMENT for current fl gop senator/former gov rick scott- who has done the most medicare fraud in us history! he wrote. (@) Later adding, big shout out to the right wing free speech lovers who took time out of their day screaming about dei & immigrants, to cry abt this!

A boy looks over a newly established tent camp for displaced Palestinians whose homes were damaged by Israeli army strikes in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City on Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)2025-03-08T11:53:24Z DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) Foreign ministers from Muslim nations on Saturday rejected calls by U.S. President Donald Trump to empty the Gaza Strip of its Palestinian population and backed a plan for an administrative committee of Palestinians to govern the territory to allow reconstruction to go ahead.The foreign ministers gathered in the Saudi city of Jeddah for a special session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to address the situation in Gaza, at a time when the 7-week-old ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been thrown into doubt.In a statement put out Saturday, the gathering threw its support behind a plan to rebuild Gaza put forward by Egypt and backed by Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and Jordan, aimed at countering Trumps call. The OIC groups 57 nations with largely Muslim populations.Without specifically mentioning Trump, the ministers said they rejected plans aimed at displacing the Palestinian people individually or collectively as ethnic cleansing, a grave violation of international law and a crime against humanity. They also condemned policies of starvation that they said aim to push Palestinians to leave. The OIC also reinstated Syria as a member of the grouping. Syria was removed from the OIC in 2012 over then-President Bashar Assads brutal crackdown on opposition protests. After some 14 years of civil war, Assad was ousted in December by Islamist-led insurgents who since have created a transitional government. The ceasefire that began in mid-January brought a pause in Israels campaign of bombardment and ground offensives in Gaza aimed at destroying Hamas after its Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel. The ceasefires first phase saw the release of 25 Israeli hostages held by militants in Gaza and the bodies of eight others in exchange for the freeing of nearly 2,000 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. But an intended second phase of the deal meant to bring the release of remaining hostages and a lasting truce and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza has been thrown into doubt. Israel has balked at entering negotiations over the terms of the second phase. Instead, it has called for Hamas to release half its remaining hostages in return for an extension of the ceasefire and a promise to negotiate a lasting truce. Since Sunday, Israel has barred all food, fuel, medicine and other supplies from entering Gaza for some 2 million people, demanding Hamas accept the revised deal.At the same time, Trump has called for Gazas population to be resettled elsewhere permanently so that the United States can take over the territory and develop it for others. Palestinians have rejected calls to leave.The ministers at the OIC gathering supported an Egyptian-backed proposal that an administrative committee replace Hamas in governing Gaza. The committee would work under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank. Israel has rejected the PA having any role in the Gaza Strip, but has not put forward an alternative for post-war rule in the territory. Under the ceasefire, Israeli forces have pulled back to a zone along Gazas edges. Early Saturday, an Israeli strike killed two Palestinians in Gazas southernmost city of Rafah, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said it struck several men who appeared to have been flying a drone that entered Israel from Gaza.Israels military offensive has killed over 48,000 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were militants. The campaign was triggered by Hamas October 2023 attack, in which militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, inside Israel and took a total of 251 people hostage. Most have been released in ceasefire agreements or other arrangements. Hamas is believed to still have 24 living hostages and the bodies of 34 others.

A car prepares to tow a stuck vehicle as cars sit in traffic backed up for more than 15 miles on a westbound stretch of Interstate 40 between Flagstaff and Williams, Ariz., Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Felicia Fonseca)2025-03-08T02:53:14Z PARKS, Ariz. (AP) A winter storm dumped heavy snow across northern Arizona on Friday, playing a major factor in a more than 15-mile (24-kilometer) backup on a major interstate.Semitrucks and other vehicles were stalled on Interstate 40 westbound between Flagstaff and Williams late Friday as the sun set. The standstill dragged on for hours. The snow, along with a two-vehicle crash contributed to the backup, Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesperson Bart Graves said. We could not clear it quick enough to get traffic moving again because of the adverse snow conditions, he said.An injury was reported in the crash but no deaths were reported around the region as a result of the storm, Graves said.One driver got out of a vehicle and threw snowballs, while others nearby hooked a tow strap to a four-wheel drive vehicle to pull another vehicle out of deep snow. The storm was the biggest of the winter season so far and followed a dry stretch that left Flagstaff and numerous other cities across the West well below normal for precipitation to date. Theyll likely stay there despite the snow and rain. The snowfall ranged from a few inches in lower elevations to more than a foot (30 centimeters) in places like Flagstaff and Munds Park. Williams, west of Flagstaff, got more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow, according to the National Weather Service.The Arizona Snowbowl ski resort joked on X that Miracle March was in full effect. This weekend is bound to be epic, it wrote in a post.Parts of other roadways were closed at times during the storm, including Interstate 17 between Flagstaff and Phoenix. Traffic was clogged on U.S. 89 north of Flagstaff, with multiple slide-offs and motorists parked over the icy road.The storm was expected to move east out of the state on Saturday, the weather service said. RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Theres a lot to be said about Emilia Prez about the film itself, its numerous award nominations, and certainly the controversy and criticism it has drummed up on multiple fronts over the past months. But at the Academy Awards, the people who made the film had nothing to say about trans people at all.Although Emilia Prez lost out on the majority of its nominations, it did snag two wins Sunday night: Zoe Saldaa for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and "El Mal" for Original Song. "We hope ['El Mal'] speaks to the role music and art can continue to play as a force of the good and progress in the world," Camille Ducol said as she accepted the award alongside co-writers Clment Ducol and Jacques Audiard. The Ducols also scored Emilia Prez, while Audiard received both directing and screenwriting credits.Despite a trans character (played by trans actress Karla Sofa Gascn) taking a central role in the film, none of the three made mention of trans people or the contentious battle for trans rights currently happening throughout the world. Saldaa, who previously dedicated a BAFTA win for Emilia Prez to her trans nephew, was similarly mum on the topic while accepting her Oscar. (@) Perhaps even more notably, when directly asked if he would like to take a moment to speak to the press about trans issues afterwards, Audiard declined."Since I didnt win Best Film or Best Director, I didnt have the opportunity to speak," he said through an interpreter. "But had I had that opportunity, I would have spoken up."(Its worth reiterating at this point that Audiard was, in fact, on stage for the Best Original Song win.)Its a disappointing albeit not wholly surprising end to the exhausting saga of Emilia Prez. Any modicum of goodwill that could have been won back after everything has evaporated. More importantly, these people were given a platform to speak out in support of a community that has been relentlessly under attack, and they opted to stay silent instead. And it has not gone unnoticed. (@) "notice how none of the winning speeches for emilia perez ever mentions mexican culture, the missing people, their families, trans folk. like we said, a performative movie made for a western audience" (@) "emilia perezs award campaign just ended without any of them actually saying the word 'trans' on stage" (@) "however you personally feel about the winners from emilia prez last night, i do think it was objectively incredibly disappointing - and borderline irresponsible in this current social climate - for them to not use this massive platform to speak out in support of trans rights." (@) "I practice speeches for the trans youth in my life; speeches of empowerment and compassion, of holding on and standing up," trans actress Alexandra Billings wrote in an emotional Instagram post about the snub. "I am blessed and grateful and filled with rage and pain and joy and I am sick and tired of being ignored. We are here and we are a godamm [sic] sparkly miracle. Let Trans People Tell Trans Stories."