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Taylor Swift Endorses Kamala Harris After Debate

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Pop celebrity Taylor Swift took to Instagram Tuesday night time to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris‘ presidential bid, doubtlessly activating her military of Swifties to move to the polls in November.

“Like lots of you, I watched the controversy tonight,” she wrote in a prolonged put up to her 283 million followers after the Harris vs. Donald Trump presidential debate. “For those who haven’t already, now is a superb time to do your analysis on the problems at hand and the stances these candidates tackle the subjects that matter to you essentially the most. As a voter, I make sure that to look at and skim every thing I can about their proposed insurance policies and plans for this nation.”

The extremely influential artist continued, “Not too long ago I used to be made conscious that AI of ‘me’ falsely endorsing Donald Trump’s presidential run was posted to his website. It actually conjured up my fears round AI, and the risks of spreading misinformation. It introduced me to the conclusion that I must be very clear about my precise plans for this election as a voter. The best option to fight misinformation is with the reality.”

Swift proceeded to proudly share that she will probably be “casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz within the 2024 Presidential Election,” within the put up that additionally featured a photograph of the celebrity holding her cat.

“I’m voting for @kamalaharris as a result of she fights for the rights and causes I imagine want a warrior to champion them,” the Grammy-winning singer wrote. “I believe she is a steady-handed, gifted chief and I imagine we are able to accomplish a lot extra on this nation if we’re led by calm and never chaos. I used to be so heartened and impressed by her number of operating mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a lady’s proper to her personal physique for many years.”

Swift concluded by urging her followers to register to vote: “I’ve achieved my analysis, and I’ve made my selection. Your analysis is all yours to do, and the selection is yours to make. I additionally wish to say, particularly to first time voters: Keep in mind that so as to vote, it’s important to be registered! I additionally discover it’s a lot simpler to vote early. I’ll hyperlink the place to register and discover early voting dates and information in my story.”

“With love and hope, Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Girl,” she signed off her message, seemingly referencing Trump’s operating mate J. D. Vance’s previous feedback about girls who don’t have kids.

Swift was identified for steadfastly staying away from politics in her early profession — lengthy earlier than she pivoted to pop songs and was hurled into her present uncharted territory of mega fame. Two years into the Trump administration, Swift determined to let her politics be identified. In an Instagram put up, Swift endorsed the Democratic candidates Phil Bredesen and Jim Cooper within the 2018 U.S. midterm elections in her residence state Tennessee. In 2020, she endorsed Joe Biden for president.

After Swift introduced her endorsement, Rachel Maddow broke the information reside on air to a delighted Walz. “I’m extremely grateful, to begin with, to Taylor Swift, and I say that as a fellow cat proprietor,” he stated in response. “That was eloquent, and it was clear. And that’s the kind of braveness that we want in America to face up. We’ve seen it out of these Republicans who had been on the DNC, we’ve seen it out of girls who wish to have their very own private lives saved private, however are pressured to go on the market as a result of they almost died as a result of they will’t get abortion providers in a being pregnant, and now you’ve any individual like Taylor Swift popping out and making that very clear. It is a huge alternative!”

Forward of the Democratic Nationwide Conference final month, hypothesis had beforehand swirled round if Swift would publicly endorse Harris, with solely President Barack Obama’s official nod to the Harris marketing campaign receiving extra consideration. A petition from MoveOn.org even sought signatures to compel each Swift and pop celebrity Beyoncé to endorse Harris.

Beyoncé, for her half, was fast to lend the Harris marketing campaign its theme tune. Two days into Harris’ marketing campaign, the pop star okay’d the usage of her 2016 observe “Freedom,” from her hit album Lemonade. Not solely is the tune a range for Harris to play at her occasions, it has a central position in her first marketing campaign advert.

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Kamala Harris Goads Donald Trump Into a Frenzy at Presidential Debate

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The ABC Information-hosted presidential debate held in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening noticed Republican hopeful Donald Trump needled and goaded right into a frenzy of shouting by Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, who over almost two hours took the previous president to job on a number of points as he was repeatedly fact-checked by the community’s anchors, who referred to as out a number of false claims he constituted of the stage. 

The previous president and vice chairman’s face-off virtually instantly grew to become testy when the candidates traded accusations over financial and immigration points, with Harris pummeling the previous president on proposed tariffs as he accused her and the Biden administration of lax border insurance policies that he claims have allowed too many immigrants to pour into the nation and take jobs and commit crimes. 

The 2 candidates confronted off for the primary time on Tuesday evening to debate the nation’s high points in entrance of a nationwide viewers, with ABC Information anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis refereeing what could also be their solely assembly forward of the election. The talk blew previous a deliberate 90-minute runtime, as back-and-forth responses and cross-talk dominated the stage throughout a number of tense moments.

“My opponent has a plan that I name the ‘Trump gross sales tax,’ which might be a 20 % tax on on a regular basis items that you simply depend on to get by means of the month,” Harris mentioned, stumbling barely in her opening reply. “Economists have mentioned that Trump’s gross sales tax would truly value middle-class households about $4,000 extra a 12 months, due to his insurance policies and his concepts about what must be the backs of middle-class individuals paying for tax cuts for billionaires.” 

Trump, seemingly fuming from the highest of the controversy, went on the assault, correcting Harris’ characterization of the “Trump gross sales tax” as tariffs on different nations. He later countered Harris’ assertion that Wharton College of Economics students poo-pooed his financial plan by claiming with out proof that professors on the elite Penn faculty, Trump’s alma mater, championed his plan for the financial system. 

Trump’s odd relationship with truthfulness and details quickly got here up once more when he claimed that Harris is a Marxist and dragged her father into the controversy, shouting at one level, “Her father’s a Marxist professor in economics.” The previous president additionally repeated the falsehood that Democrats needed Roe v. Wade ended after which advised a whopper, stating that some states enable for the killing of a child after delivery. In a uncommon second of correction, Davis interjected to state that no states enable such a heinous crime. 

The 2 candidates are locked in a neck-to-neck lifeless warmth, in response to the newest polling. As Harris’ honeymoon interval begins to fade after the joy round her entrance because the substitute on the high of the Democrats’ ticket, the vice chairman is seeking to outline her insurance policies in entrance of the nation. Abortion has been a key space for Harris as vice chairman for the reason that Supreme Courtroom, tipped by three Trump appointees, struck down the Roe v Wade determination. 

Abortion rights and IVF quickly took heart stage as the controversy spiraled into speedy back-and-forth accusations of lies. Harris says now that she would restore the rights of Roe v. Wade however dodged a query on her assist of some bans on abortion care; Trump stumbled when requested if he would veto a nationwide abortion ban then punted, stating it will by no means get by means of Congress; he then requested Harris to reply how late right into a being pregnant ought to abortion be allowed, a difficulty on which Democrats haven’t come to a consensus.

A Harris marketing campaign official advised The Hollywood Reporter that at 9 p.m., 71 % of their grassroots donors on Tuesday evening have been girls.

Trump’s assault on Harris in citing her father gave the impression to be handed proper again to him by his opponent when she supplied to take viewers to a Trump rally, jabbing her opponent by saying that crowd sizes, a significant level of pleasure for the previous president, have been dwindling as he speaks at size about odd matters.

“He talks about fictional characters like Hannibal Lecter,” Harris mentioned. “He’ll speak about windmills inflicting most cancers. And what additionally, you will discover is that individuals begin leaving his rallies early out of exhaustion and tedium.” 

This definitely bought to Trump, who couldn’t assist however ask for a rebuttal, to which he responded that “individuals don’t go to her rallies. There’s no cause to go.” Quickly after, he appeared to go off the rails when he started to talk about a weird on-line conspiracy idea about Haitian immigrants consuming canine in Springfield, Ohio. Harris laughed into her muted mic, saying, “What?” and when it was her flip to talk mentioned, “Discuss extremes!” 

For the second time, one of many ABC Information moderators — Muir, this time — interjected with a stay reality examine, saying Springfield’s metropolis supervisor advised ABC Information there was no credible allegation that any pets had been harmed within the metropolis.

Harris appears to have efficiently needled and goaded Trump within the first half of the controversy, itemizing among the longtime Republicans who’ve endorsed her over Trump, together with former Vice President Dick Cheney and Congresswoman Liz Cheney; bought him ranting about immigrants consuming canine; tying him to the controversial Undertaking 2025 plan; and usually egging him into shouting his factors fairly than stating them clearly. 

Forward of the controversy, controversy over the muting of Harris and Trump’s microphones because the opposing candidate is talking grabbed loads of headlines. Harris’ camp lastly agreed to the muting of mics on Tuesday. However in a letter to ABC Information, her marketing campaign officers mentioned that the lack to straight handle one another would go away Harris “basically deprived” within the debate. Regardless of this, she appears to be silently conveying her ideas and emotions with physique language and facial expressions; a number of instances, she’s demurely positioned her hand on her chin as Trump carried on with at all times loud and regularly questionable solutions. Later within the debate, ABC Information started turning their microphone again on in moments when a candidate formally asks for time to reply; crosstalk has inevitably ensued and albeit, each audio system have been inscrutable. 

At almost the midway level of the controversy, Trump was requested concerning the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol and if there may be something he regrets about what he did on that day. Trump answered by stating once more that “nobody on the opposite aspect was killed” and claiming that these prosecuted for his or her function within the violent assault on our elected officers are being handled “so badly.” Trump additionally mentioned that he requested the gang on the rally he held that day to behave “peacefully and patriotically.”

Muir additionally requested Trump if he now accepts the outcomes of the 2020 election and the truth that he did lose to Joe Biden. Trump once more denied his loss and within the technique of answering, made an out-of-left-fiend declare that Biden has a damaging view of Harris. 

“And you understand what? I’ll provide you with a little bit secret,’ Trump mentioned whereas talking concerning the 2020 election outcomes. “He hates her. He can’t stand her.”

Whereas Trump invited his son, Eric Trump, and his daughter-in-law and Eric’s spouse, Lara Trump, together with high brass of his reelection marketing campaign workforce, Harris gave a clue to her debate tactic of getting underneath her opponent’s pores and skin. The vice chairman determined to convey two former members of Trump’s administration along with her to town of cohesion: Former White Home Director of Communications Anthony Scaramucci and former nationwide safety official Olivia Troye are there to be in Harris’ courtroom as she takes on the previous president. Each Scaramucci and Troye have defected to the blue aspect of the aisle since leaving the Trump White Home and are vocal opponents of their ex-boss.

An hour into the controversy, the primary break lastly got here. Earlier than this, Harris was requested concerning the Israel-Hamas warfare and clarified her temporary feedback on the subject made in her acceptance speech on the Democratic Nationwide Conference final month. 

“Israel has a proper to defend itself…,” Harris mentioned. “It’s also true that far too many harmless Palestinians, youngsters, moms, what we all know is that this warfare should finish. We’d like a ceasefire deal, and we want the hostages out, and we should chart a course for a two-state answer, and in that, there be safety and Israel and an equal measure for the Palestinians. However the one factor I’ll guarantee you at all times, I’ll at all times give Israel the flexibility to defend itself.”

In response, Trump claimed that Harris skipped Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s go to to Congress to attend a “sorority get together;” he then made the daring declare that Harris “hates Israel.” 

Trump was then pressured to reply for the controversial feedback he made in July on the Nationwide Affiliation of Black Journalists convention in Chicago concerning Harris’ race, claiming that she was as soon as of Indian-American descent then all of a sudden “turned Black.” On the time, Trump was sitting for a Q&A on the occasion and Harris had simply launched her marketing campaign, following Biden’s exit from the race; the occasion in Chicago was ended early by his handlers after Trump started to lose the gang.

“I don’t care,” Trump mentioned when requested by Muir to deal with the controversy. “I don’t care what she is. No matter she desires to be is okay with me, however these have been your phrases. So I don’t know…I imply, all I can say is, I learn the place she was not Black, that she put out, after which I learn that she was Black, and that’s okay. That’s as much as her.”

From the controversy stage, Harris responded in the identical method as her marketing campaign publicly replied on the time, saying she believed it was a tragedy to see that somebody working to steer the nation would attempt to divide individuals alongside racial traces; she then launched into Trump’s documented historical past of racism all through his profession, together with the authorized woes he confronted within the Nineteen Eighties for refusing to lease to Black individuals and the advert he took out in newspapers calling for the execution of the later-exonerated “Central Park 5,” who at the moment are dubbed “The Exonerated 5.”

“I feel the American individuals need higher than that, need higher than this,” Harris mentioned.

As the controversy closed, the 2 sparred on overseas relations and local weather change, with Trump falsely claiming of Harris that the Biden administration “despatched her in to barter with [Volodymyr] Zelensky and [Vladimir] Putin, and she or he did, and the warfare began three days later.” Harris attended a convention in Munich within the days earlier than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; Whereas Ukrainian President Zelensky was current on the occasion, Putin was not. Trump additionally repeated a second conspiracy idea from the stage, this time swapping a lie about dog-eating immigrants for a falsehood concerning Biden supposedly taking cash from China and the “mayor of Moscow’s spouse.”

The candidates’ official dropping arguments basically outlined the campaigns that the 2 presidential hopefuls have been working. They started with Harris, who used the second to be forward-looking and focus on America’s potential future. This notion was heard from Harris all through the night and has been the theme throughout her abbreviated marketing campaign; “Aren’t you uninterested in this man and his antics?” she is actually saying. Trump’s closing remarks had him telling voters that he’ll “rebuild” the nation, as he did within the again half of the final decade. However he then went damaging — each on Harris, as he did all through the evening, after which on the nation that he’s preventing laborious to as soon as once more lead. 

“We’re a failing nation,” Trump advised the viewers and the voters. “We’re a nation in critical decline.”

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Jessica Alba on the Urgency of Climate Crisis Ahead of 2024 Election

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Jessica Alba is continuous her local weather advocacy — this time with a internet hosting gig on the Latino Victory Undertaking’s second annual Brunch Like a Madre rally to launch its 2024 Vote Like a Madre marketing campaign.

Vote Like a Madre is a nonpartisan program that works to teach the general public on local weather points and enhance Latina voter turnout. It’ll make investments greater than $2 million in voter turnout this 12 months. The occasion featured panels on the local weather disaster and the affect of unnatural disasters and excessive climate on Latin communities throughout america.

“This can be a main, main 12 months… Voting like a Madre is channeling that Latina vitality of somebody who’s the middle of the family,” the actress stated in her speech on Monday. “You don’t should be a girl both to channel that madre vitality, both. All of us want to guard this planet, in order that we will defend one another. Actually defending the planet is defending the human beings that stay on this planet.”

She continued, “For too lengthy we really feel prefer it’s out of our fingers, for too lengthy we’ve believed the lie that we will’t do something about it. What’s one vote? What’s one individual? Nevertheless it really makes an enormous distinction… I’ve been working since I used to be 12 years previous. I discovered learn how to be an entrepreneur. I discovered learn how to create a enterprise that had by no means been created earlier than. As a result of I needed to guard my kids and all kids. One individual could make that distinction.”

In her shifting speech, Alba inspired everybody within the viewers on the Gracias Madre restaurant in Los Angeles to make use of their platforms and speak to their households to make sure they’re registered to vote as a result of after they all stand collectively, they’ll transfer mountains.

“I imagine in us. I do know this election 12 months is a pivotal second,” she stated. “There are such a lot of issues on the poll, from local weather change, to gun management, to — identify the problem — reproductive rights, the economic system, all of it. And we will make a distinction. We are able to really create the long run that we wish to see.”

Attendees on the kick-off brunch included Eva Longoria, who co-founded the Latino Victory Undertaking, America Ferrera, Camila Cabello, Gloria Calderón Kellet, Karla Souza, Lin-Manuel Miranda and his mom Dr. Luz Cities-Miranda, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Rosario Dawson, Rosie Perez and Stephanie Beatriz.

In keeping with Latino Victory Undertaking’s govt director, Katharine Pichardo-Erskine, the 2024 marketing campaign partnered with celebrities who most resonated with Vote Like a Madre’s target market: Latina mothers, who’re obsessed with defending their households and the setting.

The 2024 marketing campaign is taking its efforts to the swing state of Arizona and hopes to create behavior-changing narratives that will enhance Latina voter turnout by 15,000 folks by way of focused advertisements that includes Latin moms and mom figures encouraging their neighborhood to get out the vote. It additionally contains social media challenges and collaborations with native Latina leaders for occasions and discussions round local weather justice.

“Our technique is data-driven,” the chief director informed The Hollywood Reporter. “We’re specializing in states the place Latino voter turnout might swing the result of elections. In 2020, Latino voters performed a decisive position in states like Nevada and Arizona, and we goal to copy that affect in 2024.”

Practically one in two Latin folks within the U.S. stay in counties with excessive air pollution ranges, which have worsened bronchial asthma and different respiratory diseases there, the group acknowledged in a press launch. It added that the present excessive climate occasions, like devastating wildfires which were ravaging components of the nation and record-breaking heatwaves, are a direct results of man-made air pollution and unnatural disasters.

“Local weather change just isn’t a distant risk — Latinos are 165 p.c extra possible than non-Hispanic whites to stay in areas affected by environmental disasters,” Pichardo-Erskine added. “Our marketing campaign goals to make this difficulty private, empowering Latina mothers to take motion, not only for themselves however for future generations.”

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Abraham Lincoln Doc Lover of Men Suggests He Was Gay; Trolled by Musk

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The filmmakers behind Lover of Males, the brand new documentary analyzing whether or not former President Abraham Lincoln could have been homosexual, are happy with the movie that they made, whatever the trolling from conservative pundits.

Director Shaun Peterson’s function Lover of Males: The Untold Historical past of Abraham Lincoln is now enjoying in theaters. The film makes use of interviews with distinguished Lincoln students, along with dramatizations and entry to never-before-seen images and letters, to counsel that the revered politician had romantic relationships with males. The movie focuses on 4 males — together with shut buddy Joshua Pace — with whom Lincoln shared a mattress at separate factors in his life, in accordance with this analysis.

“I’ve been researching this for a really very long time, since round 2007,” Peterson tells The Hollywood Reporter. “[There was] fluidity that existed all through human historical past, earlier than the phrases and concepts ‘gay’ and ‘heterosexual’ had been invented round 1870. That’s what actually captivated me, is this concept that these binaries are very new. The binaries had been used towards individuals, whether or not it was the psychological neighborhood within the early days or the church, after which the place we discover ourselves immediately.”

A view of the Lincoln Memorial.

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photographs

Producer Robert Rosenheck has been artistic companions with Peterson for 20 years. Though Rosenheck is a lifelong Lincoln fan, he hadn’t been conscious of the conversations surrounding whether or not the politician was queer till Peterson talked about his plans for the undertaking, at which level the producer jumped on board.

“I stated, ‘We have to make a film that’s not about Abraham Lincoln’s queerness — it’s received to be about one thing bigger,’” Rosenheck remembers. “It tells a common story. So if you happen to’re a queer particular person, you see this movie, and also you expertise a catharsis once you notice that America’s biggest president was queer. However if you happen to’re not a queer particular person, the story is a common one about tolerance and the way we ‘different’ individuals.”

Rosenheck is conscious that social media customers have voiced questions concerning why a movie ought to emphasize obvious hypothesis about somebody like Lincoln, who was non-public with key components of his private life. Lincoln had been married to Mary Todd Lincoln for greater than 20 years on the time of his assassination in 1865.

“We get every kind of reactions to the movie,” the producer says. “Surprisingly, we’ve gotten lots of people on the left who’re skeptical, [and] individuals on the fitting who’ve seen the movie and go, ‘Wow, I didn’t notice all that historical past. That’s fascinating.’ So it’s positively a dialog starter and a mind-opener to see the movie.”

The workforce behind Lover of Males edited the movie with a give attention to getting it completed in time for this November’s presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, and actually, the film hit theaters simply days earlier than Tuesday’s presidential debate. Seeing the undertaking as a rallying cry for People to proceed to encourage various voices and identities, the filmmakers acknowledge that conservative pundits, together with Elon Musk, Ben Shapiro and Alex Jones, posted negatives remarks concerning the film’s idea previous to its launch.

“I’d simply invite them — and anyone that has questions concerning the movie — to look at the movie, give it an opportunity, take a look at the proof and take a look at the attainable message,” says Peterson. “Simply go into the movie with an open thoughts as a result of we’re at a time the place we want some open minds. We live historical past proper now, the whole lot that’s happening, and so it’s necessary to look again at our previous so as to inform our future.”

As for the way the Lover of Males workforce feels about such right-wing figures trolling the film, Rosenheck says, “We’re thrilled when individuals like Elon Musk discover the movie, and the explanation that they discover the movie is as a result of it’s compelling. This story is provocative. There are only a few unique tales. There are only a few tales with a hook, and this film has an enormous hook.”

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WME Agent Brandt Joel at Center of Controversy Over “Screw the Left Kill All” Text

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Brandt Joel, a high agent at WME who represents the likes of Jason Momoa and Matthew McConaughey, has develop into embroiled in a bigotry storm on the firm after sending, after which deleting, an incendiary textual content to a WhatsApp group in response to the killing of six Israeli hostages over the weekend.

On Sunday, Israel’s navy stated it has recovered the our bodies of six hostages killed by Hamas militants in Gaza — together with an Israeli-American captive.

In a bunch chat exhibiting solidarity with Israel that incorporates WME staff, however that isn’t formally affiliated with the corporate, the information of the demise of the hostages was being mentioned after somebody shared President Joe Biden’s official assertion on the incident. In screenshots of the group chat obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, WME’s Nancy Josephson and Katie Slater comment on the tragedy of the killings. Joel then texted in response to the information, “Screw the left kill all.”

A supply instructed THR that Joel deleted the message a couple of minutes later.

Joel, a senior accomplice at WME who additionally represents Idris Elba, Justin Timberlake and Mahershala Ali, had beforehand spent 4 years within the U.S. Navy and served in Iraq earlier than turning into an agent.

A supply tells THR that this isn’t the primary time Joel has despatched divisive messages within the group chat, and shared a earlier textual content the place Joel had stated WME had been “weak” on shoppers who had spoken out concerning the ongoing conflict in Gaza. “We now have been weak each division has shoppers we must always have fired and we didn’t and it reveals we’re weak and we’ve got tolerated abhorrent habits,” Joel texted, though it’s unclear which shoppers he’s straight referring to and what habits he deemed “abhorrent.”

Joel added, “That is all polyanna crap. No one took a stand on this chat that I’m conscious of besides Richard and addressed it. Fortunately there are only a few outliers but we’ve got not fired one and it’s shameful.”

The bloody and brutal conflict in Gaza has created an excessive amount of stress in Hollywood, with controversy following those that have spoken out concerning the battle. In October, just a few weeks after the Oct. 7 Hamas-led terrorist assault on Southern Israel when some 1,200 folks had been killed and greater than 200 taken captive, CAA was engulfed in a firestorm after energy agent Maha Dakhil posted feedback on her private Instagram. On Oct. 18, Dakhil reposted an announcement from an account referred to as Free Palestine that learn, “You’re presently studying who helps genocide.” Dakhil added, “That’s the road for me.” She then posted a photograph captioned, “What’s extra heartbreaking than witnessing genocide? Witnessing the denial that genocide is occurring.”

Dakhil rapidly apologized and stayed with the corporate, however was fired by her consumer Aaron Sorkin over the social media feedback and within the speedy aftermath of the incident needed to step down from her position as CAA’s co-head of movement footage and resigned from the company’s inner board. She has since regained a management position on the firm.

In November, actress Melissa Barrera, a WME consumer, was fired from Scream VII after a sequence of social media posts concerning the scenario in Gaza. “Gaza is presently being handled like a focus camp,” she wrote in a single publish on Instagram tales. “Cornering everybody collectively, with no the place to go, no electrical energy no water.… Individuals have learnt nothing from our histories. And identical to our histories, individuals are nonetheless silently watching all of it occur. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING.”

Experiences on the time steered that WME was additionally contemplating dropping Barrera over her stance, however the actress instructed THR in a March interview that she all the time felt supported by her reps. “It’s undoubtedly onerous, as a result of I used to be simply in such a cloudy mind-set, however I used to be very lucky,” she stated by tears as she recalled the turbulent second. “I had loads of help from the folks round me: my workforce and particularly my publicists — they simply carried me.”

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SAG-AFTRA Praises CA Bill Regulating AI Usage of Dead Performers

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SAG-AFTRA is praising the California state Senate for passing a legislation that restricts the utilization of synthetic intelligence-created digital replicas of useless performers.

The actors union shared in an announcement shortly after the passage of AB 1836 on Saturday, “For individuals who would use the digital replicas of deceased performers in movies, TV reveals, videogames, audiobooks, sound recordings and extra, with out first getting the consent of these performers’ estates, the California Senate simply stated NO. AB 1836 is one other win in SAG-AFTRA’s ongoing technique of enhancing performer protections in a world of generative synthetic intelligence. The passing of this invoice, together with AB 2602 earlier this week, construct on our mosaic of protections in legislation and contract.”

“Each of those payments have been a legislative precedence for the union on behalf of our membership and past, making express consent in California necessary,” the assertion continued. “We stay up for these payments being signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.”

The invoice now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, and he can have till the top of September to resolve whether or not to signal it into legislation, veto it or enable it to change into legislation with out his signature. Earlier this week, the state Senate additionally handed AB 2602, which tightens consent necessities for digital replicas of residing performers.

SAG-AFTRA has lengthy been championing protections over AI utilization on a legislative stage, notably because the union’s 118-day strike final 12 months, which largely trusted provisions surrounding AI in its contracts with Hollywood studios and streamers.

On the federal stage, bipartisan lawmakers have additionally been engaged on payments surrounding AI protections, together with the NO FAKES Act, which is meant to guard actors, singers and others from having AI packages generate their likenesses and voices with out their knowledgeable written consent. The No AI Fraud Act has additionally been launched, which prohibits the publication and distribution of unauthorized digital replicas, together with deepfakes and voice clones.

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Bill Maher Mocks CNN for Harris-Walz Interview and Questions Asked

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Lower than 24 hours after CNN aired the primary joint interview with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, Invoice Maher had some ideas on the questions Dana Bash requested the duo.

The host kicked off the newest episode of Actual Time by requested the viewers in the event that they watched the Thursday night time sit-down interview with the Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, and Tim Walz, “her emotional assist” vice chairman.

“It was a bit odd,” Maher quipped. “He was simply sitting there for a really very long time with out saying something. He was simply nodding whereas she did all of the speaking. The ladies’s focus group mentioned he have to be an exquisite husband. However actually, it simply stored going and he was saying nothing. It was like watching Jeopardy! when one of many gamers can’t work the buzzer.”

The comic famous that previous to the CNN interview, the media had been “livid” that Harris hadn’t achieved any in depth interviews with nationwide retailers since launching her marketing campaign for the White Home after Joe Biden stepped down in July.

Nevertheless, Maher mentioned, “Now she lastly does and never a single query about abortion, Ukraine, the homeless, the Opioid disaster, the nationwide debt.”

“After which they surprise why the children get their information from TikTok,” the host joked.

Maher additionally thinks main information retailers “at all times ask the stupidest query on the earth: ‘What would you do on day one?’ You already know, it’s not that form of a fucking job, OK? It’s simply not that form of a job.”

“I might only one time love to listen to any individual go, ‘You already know what I’d do? I’d unpack some packing containers and I’d dress for the inaugural celebration like anyone else,’” the comic added.

Harris and Walz’s first televised interview collectively on CNN drew 6.31 million viewers, in keeping with remaining same-day rankings from Nielsen. The Democratic presidential did talk about a few of her plans for serving to middle-class Individuals, in addition to dismissed a query about Donald Trump’s race feedback, telling Bash, “Standard, drained playbook.”

On Actual Time, Maher additionally famous that Trump “after all needed to shit tweet whereas he was watching” the CNN interview, calling it “boring.”

Nevertheless, the comic mentioned he “desires some boring,” including, “It’s Harris-Walz, not Deadpool and Wolverine.”

The visitors featured on the newest episode of Maher’s HBO present have been Rep. Nancy Pelosi, John McWhorter and Peter Hamby.

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Kamala Harris Documentary Short Film to Hit Theaters Before Election

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A documentary brief movie centered on Vice President Kamala Harris is ready to hit theaters weeks forward of this 12 months’s presidential election.

Filmmakers Samir Zakir and Gerard Pizarro co-directed Kamala, which goals to share untold tales behind Harris’ journey through the use of anecdotes, animation and interviews with outstanding entertainers, relations, shut associates and key politicians.

The venture doesn’t but have a publicly introduced launch date however will get a theatrical run beginning in October. Kamala will then be out there through PVOD and SVOD previous to the presidential election happening Nov. 5 that sees Harris dealing with off in opposition to Donald Trump.

It’s unclear what number of theaters the brief will play in, and its runtime was not revealed.

Bada Bing Footage is dealing with distribution for the brief movie that hails from Illumin8 Leisure and Pizarro Inventive. Among the many producers is CNN analyst Bakari Sellers, who was as soon as the youngest member of the South Carolina state legislature and is associates with Harris. First-time administrators Zakir and Pizarro are producing the brief with Wendy Pizarro.

“This movie is about greater than Kamala’s political journey — it’s about her humanity. It’s in regards to the joyous warrior she is, preventing for the well-being of all folks,” Gerard Pizarro mentioned in a press release. “As an underdog and new filmmaker myself, I’m honored to inform the story of one other underdog — a Black and Indian lady who has damaged obstacles and impressed thousands and thousands.”

Zakir is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who’s the CEO and co-founder of Illumin8 Leisure, which is behind tasks specializing in psychological well being and holistic wellness. Gerard Pizarro is an advocate for social justice and a former trial lawyer who based Pizarro Inventive partly to give attention to tales from underrepresented communities. Wendy Pizarro has additionally labored as an legal professional and is a pacesetter in well being and wellness innovation.

Harris’ path contains serving as legal professional basic of California earlier than being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016. She grew to become the primary African American and first Asian American vp and accepted the Democratic presidential nomination final week following President Joe Biden ending his bid for reelection in July.

The poster for Kamala.

Illumin8 Leisure & Pizarro Inventive

Entertainment

‘Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989’ Trailer Debut: Venice 2024

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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989, a brand new documentary by Swedish director Göran Hugo Olsson (The Black Energy Mixtape 1967–1975, Regarding Violence) may have its world premiere within the Venice Movie Pageant out-of-competition lineup later this week. Now, the primary trailer for the three-hour archival footage doc has dropped. 

It provides a primary glimpse of tales and voices from either side of the long-running battle. “Hidden within the vaults of Swedish tv for many years, a whole bunch of hours of unseen footage,” the trailer additionally highlights.

“In the course of the years 1958 to 1989, the Swedish public broadcaster SVT’s reporting from Israel and Palestine was distinctive. Their reporters have been always current within the war-affected area, documenting every little thing from on a regular basis life to worldwide crises,” in accordance with a synopsis of the movie. “This intensive treasure of footage makes up the fabric for Göran Hugo Olsson’s new movie, the place footage of the rise of the Israeli state is interwoven with the Palestinian battle for independence. Information protection with Yasser Arafat and interviews with Israeli international minister Abba Eban throughout a go to to Sweden are components of unique archive materials that has not been proven since first broadcast. Mixed, they inform the story of a modified media panorama and provide a instrument to grasp a battle that has affected our time like few others.”

Olsson stated that work on the doc was tough. “That is by far essentially the most painful movie that I – we – have ever executed, and 5 years within the making, it has sadly turn into heartbreakingly well timed,” he stated. “Whereas the fabric has been an absolute delight to work with, stunning pictures with extremely attention-grabbing characters combined with human testimonies and geopolitical occasions – the course of historical past turns into more and more agonizing. We now have actually tried to indicate respect to each the originators of the footage and the contributors, with the maybe outmoded intent to advertise notions, equivalent to peace and understanding.”

The movie was produced by Story AB, with Sweden’s Movie i Väst, Finland’s Tekele Productions, and Denmark’s Ström Photos functioning as co-producers. Worldwide gross sales, excluding North America, are being dealt with by Paris-based Reservoir Docs. 

Producer Tobias Janson of Story AB highlighted that Sweden’s place between the 2 blocs of the Chilly Warfare helped Swedish TV get a “wealth of footage from this era, together with pictures of locations and other people hardly ever seen elsewhere.” He concluded: “Once we started engaged on this movie 5 years in the past, it was tough to generate curiosity; not many individuals have been discussing the subject. Right now, its relevance is simple.”

The world premiere of Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989 is about for Venice this Friday at 3 p.m. native time. 

Watch the trailer under.

Entertainment

Kamala Harris Accepts Nomination, Kerry Washington Hosts

Vice President Kamala Harris strode onto the DNC stage at 10:30 p.m. on the conference’s closing evening, simply after her beloved sister laid a agency basis for her re-introduction to America — someting dozens of essentially the most highly effective within the Democratic celebration have additionally spent the previous 4 nights making certain. Harris offered herself to the celebration and U.S. citizens because the nominee to banish former President Donald Trump from politics for good in November. 

“Our nation with this election has a valuable, fleeting alternative to maneuver previous the bitterness, cynicism, and divisive battles of the previous,” Harris informed her celebration within the speech, the place the previous senator and Califonia lawyer normal formally accepted the celebration’s nomination. “An opportunity to chart a brand new approach ahead. Not as members of anyone celebration or faction, however as People.”

Within the first part of Harris’ roughly 45-minute speech, she shared some particulars with the 25,000 inside Chicago’s United Heart and hundreds of thousands at house about her background. Harris defined how she was raised largely by her mom following a divorce but additionally by a “household by love” in San Francisco’s East Bay. The vice chairman included a quick profession origin story, revealing why she was decided to turn out to be a prosecutor — Wanda, her greatest pal, moved in with Harris’ household after she revealed that she was being abused by her stepfather.

“On behalf of my mom and everybody was ever set out on their very own unlikely journey, on behalf of People just like the individuals I grew up with, individuals who work, chase their desires and look out for each other, on behalf of everybody whose story may solely be written within the best nation on Earth, I settle for your nomination,” she stated to the celebration’s gathered members.

For the rest of Harris’s speech, the VP uncared for to say the historical past being made even together with her nomination, not to mention a win. As an alternative, she spoke of her stance on points — on the economic system, abortion rights, border safety and international coverage — all of that are solely consistent with the Democratic celebration’s platform. A point out of the mass killings and carnage in Gaza was made — to a roar from the gang — however not earlier than a press release confirming unilateral assist for Israel, which is unlikely to assuage any protesting in opposition to the Israel-Hamas warfare at occasions surrounding her candidacy. 

And sure, Harris can assault. She spent period of time going after her opponent, and Trump was handed the blame for the demise of the bipartisan congressional border invoice. She stated that as president, she would signal it.

The notion of Harris as a former lawyer normal “prosecuting” Trump was felt in moments, as she spoke of the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol and used the legalese time period, “his express intent” to explain the GOP candidate’s actions that day. The GOP at giant additionally didn’t escape her derision: “Merely put, they’re out of their minds,” she informed the stadium. 

Themes that have been repeated all through all 4 nights of the 2024 DNC — “we’re not going again” and the notion that the Democrats are the forward-looking celebration for voters to decide on this 12 months — have been embedded into Harris’ closing remarks as she ended her greatest pitch to People. 

“Allow us to write the subsequent nice chapter within the best story ever informed,” Harris stated. The Chicago crowd returned with chants of “U.S.A! U.S.A!”

Just a few hours into the ultimate evening, after possibly two dozen speeches from distinguished Democrats like Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Texas Rep. Colin Allred, who’s campaigning to unseat GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, the United Heart’s stage was commanded by superstar host Kerry Washington, one in every of Hollywood’s extra politically-minded actor-producers (it’s not only a function she performed on TV, in spite of everything).

“Look, I do know that I’m the one standing on this stage, however I’m not the lead character on this story,” Washington stated to rising applause. “I’m right here as a mom, as a daughter, as a proud union member. I’m right here because the granddaughter of immigrants, as a Black girl descended from enslaved individuals. I’m right here tonight as a result of I’m an American and since I’m a voter, and since we the persons are stronger when all our voices are heard.”

“I’m not the lead character on this story. You might be, all of you. You’re the messengers. You’re the fixers. Dare I say you’re the Olivia Pope,” she added, referring to her Scandal political operative character.

Washington later led Harris’ great-nieces in a lesson for the gang and people watching at house: Kamala is pronounced “comma,” then “lah.” Get it proper, people, it’s not laborious! Afterward, Meena Harris, Ella Emhoff and Helena Hudlin — the VP’s niece, step-daughter and goddaughter, respectively, spoke of Harris’ affect on their lives through the years.

Gun management, a key concern for a lot of Democrats, took middle stage when Georgia Rep. Lucy McBath, whose son was killed by a gunman, was joined by the households of youngsters slain in Uvalde, Texas; Newtown, Connecticut; Charleston, South Carolina; and Chicago. The phrases that got here from the moms discussing their grief have been among the most gutting moments of the conference.

Former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was shot within the head in 2010 at an occasion in her district, took to the stage together with her husband, astronaut and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, who was on the shortlist to hitch Harris on the ticket. He spoke a bit afterward international coverage points and the a number of wars and geopolitical conflicts by which the U.S. is entangled. 

“All of us want a staff. I’ve flown into house 4 occasions. I’ve flown into fight almost 40 occasions. Not as soon as did I try this on my own. It took a staff to perform a mission,” Kelly stated. “Vladimir Putin is testing whether or not we’re nonetheless robust — Iran, North Korea and particularly China. Watch intently. Trump… invited Russia to do, and these are his phrases, not mine, ‘Regardless of the hell they need.’”

He continued, “Vice President Harris has at all times championed America’s assist for NATO, for Ukraine and for the Ukrainian individuals. She defends free, truthful elections in all places. You already know the way Trump feels about these. Trump skipped his intelligence briefings. He was too busy sucking as much as dictators and dreaming of 1 himself.“

Earlier than Sen. Kelly’s speech, enduring singer-songwriter Pink took the DNC stage following Giffords’ second, singing “What About Us” from her seventh studio album, Stunning Trauma. Alecia Beth Hart Moore, aka Pink, wrote the monitor as a protest music directed on the U.S. authorities, asking why it has failed so many individuals. Its accompanying music video, launched in 2017, reveals members of minority teams dancing and chased by searchlights helicopters above them. She carried out the music on Thursday together with her daughter, 13-year-old Willow by her aspect harmonizing.

Democratic Social gathering rising star and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer — maybe she’s risen to celebration star standing at this level — hit on kitchen-table financial points, angling on making herself and Harris relatable to the citizens on this entrance. 

“I’ve identified [Harris] greater than a decade, and she or he comes from a household rather a lot like mine, and I’m positive rather a lot like yours,” Whitmer stated. “We have been each raised realizing that nobody was going at hand us something, particularly as ladies.”

As evening 4 of the Democratic Nationwide Conference opened, visitors who had poured in to fill the 25,000 seats within the United Heart discovered an surprising object on the seats — a wristband gentle with the DNC 2024 emblem on its face. With one wristband for everybody, minds ran wild concerning the final goal of the thing. 

Whispers started to be exchanged a couple of hole left within the programming towards the top of the evening, and with Oprah Winfrey’s shock look on the podium within the rearview, which girl could be worthy of such a slot? Many turned their focus to rumors that Beyoncé would carry out, however the singer’s rep informed The Hollywood Reporter that Queen Bey “was by no means scheduled,” and wouldn’t attend.

The ladies delegates current wore white to honor ladies’s suffrage on the evening of Harris’ acceptance of the Democrats’ nomination. It was a triumphant group, and so they danced to Chicago native DJ Metro a number of occasions all through the night’s breaks. The DJ additionally performed Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” and Beyoncé’s “Texas Maintain ‘Em” at occasions.

Celebrities peppered the roster, with Eva Longoria, internet hosting alongside Washington. D.L. Hughley and others joined later, however the first Hollywood superstar to seem was Morgan Freeman, who joined actor Jeffrey Wright as a narrator of one in every of Harris’ new advertisements which have run this week. The 87-year-old Oscar winner, whose narration abilities have been utilized in motion pictures so regularly, it’s nearly a cliche, spoke over a montage of moments from Harris’ life that will look acquainted to savvy viewers who watched the DNC Present final evening.

“After which got here a second that modified Kamala Harris’ future, and lit the hearth inside,” Freeman informed viewers in his trademark air of omniscience.

The audio system on the United Heart within the first hours included California Sen. Alex Padilla, who was appointed to Harris’ seat when she ascended to the vice presidency. Sharing her seat isn’t all Padilla has in frequent with Harris — they’re each the kids of migrant households who rose to the highest of their state’s political enviornment. 

​​“My query to you is that this: This November, who is able to defend the dream?” Padilla requested the gang. “Tim Walz is able to defend the dream. Kamala Harris is able to defend the dream.”

Subsequent, Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin shared particulars of her upbringing that intently mirrored GOP VP candidate J.D. Vance. Just like the junior senator from Ohio, Baldwin had a mom who struggled with dependancy and was raised by her grandparents. Social Safety and Medicare have been technique of survival for her childhood, and Baldwin identified that Trump has urged each applications could possibly be reduce. “We received’t let that occur,” she stated.

“We Democrats, we honor our elders and ask the rich to pay their fair proportion,” she added.

Al Sharpton then appeared on stage to introduce The Exonerated 5 — the brand new title of the 5 males who, as youngsters, have been falsely accused in a New York rape case after which railroaded by the justice system. Donald Trump took it upon himself on the time to pay a reported $89,000 to take out full-page advertisements in 4 newspapers calling for the younger males to be executed by the state. All 5 have been exonerated by way of DNA proof evaluation; collectively, they served 41 years in jail.

Korey Sensible, the one one of many 5 to serve all his time within the grownup jail system, spoke to the gang about his expertise in 1989, saying, “as we walked into the courtroom day by day, individuals screamed at us, threatened us due to Donald Trump….we have been harmless children.”

Yusef Salaam, who now serves as a New York Metropolis Councilman representing a bit of Harlem, spoke subsequent about electing Harris to “lastly say goodbye to that hateful man.”

“That man thinks that hate is the animating drive in America; it’s not. We’ve got the constitutional proper to vote — in reality, it’s a human proper, so allow us to use it,” Salaam stated. “I would like you to stroll with us. I would like you to march with us. I would like you to vote with us. And let me inform you, that is going to be so stunning. And collectively on Nov. 5, we are going to usher in Kamala Harris and Tim Walz into the White Home.”