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Published by Raw Story Donald Trump in 2012 allowed a non-binary beauty queen to compete in his Miss Universe competition, a move that comes in stark contrast to the rhetoric he now routinely uses and the current attitude of the Republican party. Trump in 2012 overturned a decision by the Miss Universe organization disqualifying 23-year-old Jenna Talackova, a Canadian model who the group wanted to ban from the competition, saying she isn’t a “naturally born” female, Fox News reports. Trump in an announcement that he was allowing Talackova to compete for Miss Canada said the decision brought his group in compliance w… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Washington (AFP) – Incendiary host Tucker Carlson, who exited Fox News Monday, repeatedly aired falsehoods on his top-rated show, from anti-vaccine to anti-immigrant propaganda — and even his departure was wrapped up in conspiracy theories. Night after night, Carlson launched into what American media pundits and researchers described as divisive, racist and conspiracy-laden monologues to millions of viewers of his 8 p.m. prime-time show on Fox News. “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” a program he described as a “sworn enemy of lying,” amplified debunked claims about the safety of Covid-19 vaccines, immigration and the transgender community. “Tucker Carlson is a dangerous misinformer,” said Angelo Carusone, president of the advocacy group Media Matters for America. “Tucker served as the bridge between Fox News and the most extreme parts of the right-wing base — laundering anti-trans paranoia, election lies, and venomous rhetoric including the great replacement conspiracy theory nightly.” Last year, Media Matters declared Carlson the “Misinformer of the Year,” a designation reserved for the most influential purveyor of misinformation in the American media. The nonprofit also released what it called a noncomprehensive research file that included more than 350 examples of falsehoods spread by the star anchor. Carlson sprang to the defense of the rioters who stormed the US Capitol two years ago — in support of Donald Trump’s false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Downplaying the episode, he insisted that it was not an “insurrection.” In a claim debunked by AFP last month, Carlson said police officers “helped” and acted as “tour guides” for a rioter dubbed “QAnon Shaman” for his infamous horned headdress. That was false — the rioter, Jacob Chansley, pleaded guilty to a felony crime after videos showed him disobeying police orders. Carlson also called Ray Epps, a former Trump supporter who participated in the Capitol attack, an FBI informant, according to CBS’s 60 Minutes. The FBI denied he ever worked for them and Epps said he received death threats as a result of the false claim. ‘Dangerous stuff’ Last year, AFP also reported that Carlson misrepresented government data on Covid-19 vaccines and offered misleading claims on vaccine mandates for schoolchildren. In 2021, the Anti-Defamation League called for Carlson’s firing after he presented an impassioned defense of the “great replacement theory,” a hateful notion that white people would be replaced by immigrants and people of color. “Make no mistake: this is dangerous stuff,” ADL wrote in an open letter to Fox News chief executive, warning that the theory had helped fuel a string of mass shootings. “Carlson’s full-on embrace of the white supremacist replacement theory… and his repeated allusions to racist themes in past segments are a bridge too far.” News of Carlson’s departure on Monday sparked a string of supportive reactions from right-wing politicians, media figures and conspiracy theorists. Anti-vaccine propagandist Robert F. Kennedy Jr called Carlson “breathtakingly courageous,” linking his ouster to a recent monologue decrying Covid-19 jabs. He offered no evidence to support the claim. Fox News did not explain Carlson’s abrupt exit from the network. US media linked his departure to a lawsuit filed by former Fox News producer Abby Grossberg, who claimed that Carlson presided over a hostile and discriminatory workplace culture. Last week, the influential broadcaster agreed to a $787.5 million settlement in a lawsuit by voting technology company Dominion over its coverage of false rigging claims in the 2020 election that Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden. “Tucker’s departure from Fox is mostly remarkable for what he was able to get away with and how long he was able to get away with it,” Carusone said. “If anything, that reign illustrates how committed Fox is to lies and extremism.” burs-ac/jh View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Donald Trump Jr. isn’t happy over Tucker Carlson‘s departure from Fox News. Like many, the father-of-five was shocked by the announcement on Monday, April 24, with Trump Jr. tweeting in response, “Confirmed: Tucker Carlson out at Fox News. OMG.” mega Trump Jr. gave a more detailed reaction while appearing on The Kirk Charlie Show. “I think it changes things permanently. That’s one of the few voices in the Republican party that would call out the nonsense,” he explained. “An actual thought leader in conservatism. It’s actually mind-blowing to me.” mega Donald Trump Jr. Condemns His Father’s Campaign Rival Ron DeSantis For Traveling As Florida Floods Wreak Havoc Donald Trump Jr. Ridiculed For Calling Transgender Individuals ‘Terrorists’: ‘This Is Deplorable’ Donald Trump Jr. Labels President Joe Biden A ‘Moron’ After Former Senator Hints At Reelection Campaign “I hope whatever he does, he continues to be that voice for conservatism, because he’s one of the few people pushing those boundaries. One of the few people actually speaking to Independents and across the aisle and winning them over with facts, logic and reason,” Trump Jr. continued. “I think he’s probably a once in a generation type talent. To see him go is mind-boggling.” Kirk noted Fox has lost $1 billion in market cap and added that he thinks Carlson would be great on Rumble, the same platform Trump Jr. airs his show. mega The businessman agreed with that notion, admitting he’d love to see the conspiracy theorist “speak his mind with even fewer restraints.” As OK! reported, the news was announced on April 24 via a statement from the company. “FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways,” the message read. “We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor.” Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! The controversial TV star didn’t receive any type of special sendoff, as it was revealed that his Friday, April 21, episode was his very last — however, he was clearly unaware of that fact, as he signed off by telling fans he’d see them that upcoming Monday. The star’s 8 p.m. time slot is being filled by FOX News Tonight, which will feature rotating guest hosts for the moment. The broadcasting world also received another shakeup on April 24, as it was revealed embattled CNN star Don Lemon was axed from the network after 17 years. View the full article

Published by Reuters UK (This April 23 story has been corrected to say ‘unions,’ not ‘marriage,’ as G7 member Italy recognises the former and not the latter, in paragraph 2) By Elaine Lies TOKYO (Reuters) – Cheering, flag-waving crowds gathered in Tokyo on Sunday for the first full Pride parade in four years, celebrating advances in LGBTQ rights but demanding Japan join other advanced nations in legally recognising same-sex marriage. Change is slow in Japan, which hosts a summit next month of the Group of Seven industrial powers as the only member of the G7 that does not recognise same-sex unions. But growing support… Read More View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel We all know how much Disney loves sequels. But here’s a safe prediction: “Ron DeSantis and The Multiverse of Madness” is going to be a flop, for everyone involved. Because while the governor’s attempts to retaliate against the magic kingdom of the Mouse started out as popcorn-worthy entertainment, they are spinning off into real threats to the stability of Florida’s economy. Tale as old as .. 2022Our story so far: Way back in January 2022, everything was satisfactual, at least by Florida standards. Disney gave politicians lots of money and swag, and got special privileges in return. That inclu… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Steve Holland, Jarrett Renshaw and Heather Timmons WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Joe Biden said on Tuesday he will seek a second White House term in 2024, a decision that will test whether Americans are ready to give the 80-year-old Democrat, already the oldest U.S. president ever, another four years in office. Biden made his announcement in a slickly produced video released by his new campaign team, in which he declares it is his job to defend American democracy. It opens with imagery from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. “When I ran for president four years ago, I said we’re in a battle for the soul of America, and we still are,” Biden said. “This is not a time to be complacent. That’s why I’m running for re-election.” “Let’s finish this job. I know we can,” he said. Biden described Republican platforms as threats to American freedom, vowing to fight efforts to limit women’s healthcare, cut Social Security and ban books, while blasting “MAGA extremists.” MAGA is the acronym for the “Make America Great Again” political slogan of Trump, who may well be Biden’s Republican opponent in the November 2024 election. In the two years since he took over from Trump, Biden won Congress’ approval for billions of dollars in federal funds to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and for new infrastructure, and oversaw the lowest levels of unemployment since 1969, although a 40-year high in inflation has marred his economic record. Biden’s age makes his re-election bid a historic and risky gamble for the Democratic Party, which faces a tough election map to hold the Senate in 2024 and is the minority in the House of Representatives now. Biden’s approval ratings were stuck at just 39% in a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on April 19 and there are steep concerns about his age among some Americans. He would be 86 by the end of a prospective second term, almost a decade higher than the average U.S. male’s life expectancy. Doctors declared Biden, who does not drink alcohol and exercises five times a week, “fit for duty” after an examination in February. The White House says his record shows that he is mentally sharp enough for the rigors of the job. Biden will be joined in his 2024 quest by his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris. TRUMP MATCHUP AGAIN? Biden’s entry into the race follows Trump’s announcement in November that he would seek a second term after losing the 2020 contest to Biden. In a statement about Biden’s candidacy, Trump criticized the president over his record on immigration, inflation, and the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan. “American families are being decimated by the worst inflation in half a century. Banks are failing,” Trump said on his social media platform. “We have surrendered our energy independence, just like we surrendered in Afghanistan,” he said. Biden, running as an incumbent, is unlikely to face much competition from inside his party. No senior Democrats have shown signs of challenging him and he has compiled a board of rising-star Democrats to advise his campaign, including governors J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania. Potential and declared Republican presidential candidates have begun framing the 2024 election around cutting back government spending amid still-high inflation, restricting abortion, crime in Democratic-run cities and illegal immigration. The two leading Republican contenders, Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, want to limit the access of trans children to sports teams and gender-affirming medical care, and restrict how schools teach LGBTQ+ issues and America’s history of slavery and racial disparities. Trump goes on trial in a civil lawsuit on Tuesday over writer E.Jean Carroll’s accusation that he raped her in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. The former president, who is not required to attend the trial, has denied raping Carroll in an October 2022 post on his Truth Social platform. NOT A 2020 RECAP Biden ran a mostly virtual campaign to defeat Trump in the 2020 election as COVID raged, saying he sought to unify the country, rebuild the economy, and better control the virus. With pandemic restrictions mostly over in the United States, the 2024 race is likely to be a much different, more physical affair. After losing by 7 million votes to Biden in 2020, Trump refused to concede defeat, falsely claiming that there had been widespread electoral fraud. His supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, in support of his claims but they failed to halt certification by Congress of Biden’s win. Biden’s campaign video suggests he plans to remind voters of these actions, while lauding his handling of the economic recovery from the pandemic slump, especially the strength of the labor market. Other Biden themes may include strong U.S. support for Ukraine in its war against Russia and what the White House says are Republican plans to unravel federal healthcare and programs popular with older voters. This summer, Biden is challenging Republicans to find common ground on raising the U.S. debt ceiling before the country goes into default in a matter of months. Fifty-nine percent of Democrats polled by Reuters/Ipsos in February said the phrase “Joe Biden is too old to work in government” describes the president. (Reporting by Steve Holland and Jarrett Renshaw; additional reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Alistair Bell, Heather Timmons and Chizu Nomiyama) View the full article

Published by Sports Illustrated By Franz Lidz In April 2013, Jason Collins and I collaborated on his deeply personal essay for Sports Illustrated in which he became the first active male athlete in any of the four major American pro leagues—NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL—to announce he is gay. It was hoped the NBA center’s declaration would encourage other gay athletes to go public. But 10 years later only one other active player in those leagues, Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Carl Nassib, has come out. He did so while playing for the Las Vegas Raiders in ’21. By disclosing his orientation, Collins, then a 34-year-old free agent, b… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine @kimkardashian/Instagram Kim Kardashian busted a move to “Burn” by Usher this weekend! On Saturday, April 22, the Skims founder partied hard at the Usher concert with newly engaged couple, Chris Appleton and Lukas Gage. @kimkardashian/Instagram The Kardashians star uploaded a series of videos to her Instagram Story gushing over how amazing the performance was and showing off her dance moves along with her pals. One of the stories showed the famous R&B singer onstage in a black leather jacket with a bedazzled skeleton on the back as he sang to the audience, to which Kardashian penned, “Seriously one of the best concerts!!!” In another clip, she danced in between her two friends as the three of them sang their hearts out to the camera. At one point during the song “Burn”, Kardashian filmed the trio swaying back and forth as Appleton and Gage share a kiss behind the brunette beauty. The reality TV personality also shared the moment Usher grinded on his mic stand against the floor with the saucy caption, “.” @kimkardashian/Instagram The musician later came up to where Kardashian was sitting to serenade her, then stopped singing and asked her, “What up Kim?” with a smile. To end the night, she posted a video of Usher as he thanked the crowd along, captioning the clip: “Finally made it to see @usher but my girls are mad they aren’t here soooo I just have to come back with them ASAP.” Donald Trump Labels Kim Kardashian ‘Disingenuous’ While Outing Himself As An Ice Spice Fan In New Interview Kim Kardashian Trolled For ‘American Horror Story’ Role: ‘Ruining My Favorite Show’ Kim Kardashian Is ‘Putting Herself Out There’ Again Months After Pete Davidson Split, Says Source: ‘She Is Feeling Good’ @kimkardashian/Instagram As OK! previously reported, Appleton works for the 42-year-old, as well as being one of her closest friends. Kardashian reportedly couldn’t be happier for the beauty expert who got engaged to Gage earlier this month. “People that work for Kim Kardashian don’t dare make a move without first consulting her. Let’s just say if Chris didn’t have Kim’s approval, he wouldn’t be dating Lukas,” an insider said about the pair of lovebirds. “Kim runs her inner circle with an iron fist. Before anyone is allowed into the super exclusive club, they need to receive Kim’s blessing.” “Lucas isn’t just dating Chris — he’s also dating Kim. Never forget that Kim is the boss,” the source added. Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! The source also dished that Gage “passed” Kardashian’s tests after he “publicly expressed his love for Chris,” while not saying “a word about Kim, which is exactly as she likes it.” View the full article

Published by City AM By Adam Bloodworth Doctor Who’s first drag queen villain has been revealed in new teaser photos published by the BBC. Jinkx Monsoon, the winner of the 5th series of Drag Race was announced earlier this month to be joining the 14th series of the science-fiction show. It’s not yet clear what role Jinkxwill play, although early photos show her wearing a piano-inspired cape, with keys on her cape and chest lapels. The BBC has said Jinx will play “the Doctor’s most powerful enemy yet,” and in other promotional photos she is seen pouting into the middle distance while positioning her hands as if she… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine @madonna/Instagram Madonna was totally feeling herself during a recent rehearsal for her upcoming tour — titled The Celebration Tour — set to kick off on Saturday, July 15, in Vancouver. The Queen of Pop took to her Instagram Story on Wednesday, April 19, to share some highlights of her behind-the-scenes practices. @madonna/Instagram “No place like home,” Madonna wrote alongside one of the numerous photos she uploaded to the social media app. The semi-blurred image showed off the “Material Girl” singer’s outfit choice, which featured a blue oversized flannel dress, red sparkly gloves, black fishnet tights and black platform combat boots. Madonna also held onto a Starbucks cup that perfectly matched the fabric on her hands. @madonna/Instagram ‘Summer House’ Star Sam Feher Insists Madonna ‘Wants Her Leftovers’ After Singer Goes Public With Josh Popper Romance Madonna Haters Tear Apart Her ‘Unrecognizable’ Face After Singer Announces New Tour Dates: ‘Surgeon Did Her So Dirty’ Madonna & Her Kids Wear Bunny Ears To Celebrate Easter: See Festive Photos! In another picture, the 64-year-old posed perfectly with a microphone, as she showcased her muscular legs and switched her hairstyle from two braids to space buns. At some point, Madonna slipped on a pair of super distressed blue jeans before being joined by her backup dancers for a seductive snap. @madonna/Instagram The two men hovered behind Madonna on either side of her, as one of the dancers with orange-dyed hair grabbed her waist and the other appeared to grind during their dance while the pop star sang. An inside look into the mom-of-six’s tour rehearsals comes just one two days after Madonna excitedly announced the addition of tour dates in Mexico for her worldwide performances celebrating four decades of her award-winning hits. “Family and friends. I’m putting more shows on sale,” Madonna announced during a comedic skit she acted in with her children, which the artist shared to her Instagram account on Monday, April 17, as OK! previously reported. Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! “The Celebration Tour is coming to Mexico!” the “Like a Virgin” vocalist exclaimed, and while many fans were pleased to hear the news, others begged their favorite singer to add their home countries to the lineup of destinations. “Madonna come to Argentina! I need to spend my money before inflation devours it!! ,” one of Madonna’s followers quipped, as another added, “Brazil is waiting for you!!!” and a third asked her to come to Chile, adding, “you owe us 1/3 of the show ten years ago .” View the full article

Published by Grazia USA On Wednesday night, a slew of stars showed up to celebrate the new H&M collaboration with Mugler in an array of head-turning looks. Stars like Pamela Anderson, Dorothy Wang and Charli XCX arrived in sheer, cutout and corseted ensembles — but one star wore a combination of the most eye-catching elements with her barely-there get-up, Lourdes Leon. The 26-year-old daughter of Madonna and Carlos Leon wore a cutout ensemble that left little to the imagination. The singer arrived in a criss-cross halter catsuit with exaggerated cutouts on the bodice, along the obliqués and down the leg of her one-pi… Read More View the full article