Month: February 2021

Ted Cruz can’t win, even when he thinks he’s winning. He’s self-owning again after acting like a literature smarty pants on Twitter, and now, his replies are paying the price. This, of course, is only adding to the record week that Cruz is having, given that Republican lawmakers read mean tweets about him on the Senate floor, and Chris Cuomo came for him over breast milk. What a wild 2021 this is turning out to be for the not-Zodiac Killer after beefing with Seth Rogen and Cary Elwes and losing both fights.

Back on the subject of literary madness, Cruz decided to point out to NBC News Chief Washington Correspondent Andrea Mitchell that she erroneously attributed the Shakespeare’s “sound and fury” quote (while discussing Cruz bashing the impeachment hearings) to William Faulkner, who titled a novel after The Bard’s quote.

Sure, Mitchell did get the quote wrong, but Ted’s pointing out of the error was (keeping with his usual style) fairly obnoxious. “Methinks she doth protest too much,” Cruz tapped. “One would think NBC would know the Bard. Andrea, take a look at Macbeth act 5, scene 5.”

Mitchell owned up to the error with a genuine apology.

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Well, people decided to take this opportunity to bag on Cruz, who is unrepentant for all of his own errors, so the floodgates opened with Shakespeare quotes like “a most contagious treason come to light.” Lots of general eye-rolling happened, too.

This one might be the funniest non-quote in history: “I wanna have a beer and quote Shakespeare with Ted Cruz.”

McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish is a cult classic. It’s certainly got its detractors — all fast food fish is going to have detractors (often rightfully so, though McDonald’s actually has a solid record of fish sourcing). But if you love this sandwich, you really love it.

For me, ordering a Filet-O-Fish is a once a year sort of deal. I definitely savor a great fish’wich, but McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish isn’t exactly atop my list. Still, it hits a nostalgic sweet spot and I never regret ordering it, so that’s something.

The sandwich itself is pretty simple. Steamed bun, a slice of American cheese, fried pollock filet, and tartar sauce — that’s it. As with all simple dishes, there’s a lot of room for nuance in those few ingredients. And, in this case, some room for improvement.

So I set out to see if I could make the Filet-O-Fish better at home. Obviously, the response to that question ought to be “of freaking course, you can make it better at home!” But I tried that with McDonald’s fries and they didn’t come close.

Still, as a proud Washington state kid, I know my fried fish. And while McDonald’s has a few million more reps than me, I had time and technique on my side (plus I don’t have to sell mine for $3.79) — leaving me confident that I could improve this classic fish sandwich without changing the construction much.

To take McDonald’s basic elements up a notch, I focused on the Filet-O-Fish’s two main components — the fish patty and the tartar sauce. I’m not a good enough baker to pretend that I’d beat a store-bought potato brioche and I’m not going to change the American cheese — that’s the most McDonald’s-y flourish. Nope, this challenge was just about the fish and the sauce.

After some cursory research on McDonald’s menu for a shopping list and a trip to the fish counter, I was ready to hit the kitchen.

McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish

Ingredients:

You’ll need soft potato rolls or brioche buns, slices of processed American cheddar cheese, plus a neutral oil for frying.

As for the fish, McDonald’s uses pollock. That’s a pretty easy-to-find (and sustainable) fish, either in the frozen fish aisle or at any fishmonger. I got a one-pound fillet, already skinned. I was able to get five “filets” from that. If you’re dealing with a fresh fillet, make sure it is properly de-boned.

To prep the fish, I used a simple milk brine. This is a cool kitchen trick in which the milk proteins tamp down the “fishiness” while adding a subtle sweetness to the flake. It’s a pretty common technique for mellowing fish and provides the wet element of the dredge.

From there, you’ll need…

For the fish:

• 1-lb. fresh pollock (skinned and deboned)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 heaping spoon of cornmeal
• 1 heaping spoon of corn starch
• 1 tbsp. MSG
• 1 tbsp. turmeric (this is where the color of the outer coating comes from)
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. white pepper

For the Tartar Sauce:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp. minced pickle
• 1 tbsp. minced capers
• 1 tbsp. minced fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp. white vinegar
• A squeeze of lemon juice
• Dash of salt to taste

What You’ll Need:

• Wok or cast-iron for frying
• Sealable bowl/Tupperware for brining fish
• Slotted spoon
• Small bowl for mixing tartar sauce
• Measuring spoons and cups
• Kitchen knife
• Cutting board
• Small pot or microwave
• Cooling rack or paper towels
• Spoon

Method:

• Dust the fish with salt and pepper, put it in a bowl with the milk, seal, and refrigerate for about an hour.
• Prepare the tartar sauce by adding all ingredients into a small bowl and stirring until well emulsified. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a wok or cast-iron skillet to 350F.
• Prepare the dredge by combining the flour, cornmeal, starch, spices, and MSG.
• Take the fish from the milk brine and dredge it in the flour, making sure to coat all slides as evenly as possible. Set on cutting board or plate to rest while the oil comes up to temp.
• Once the oil is hot, gently lay the fish filet away from you in the oil (you can do two or three pieces at a time). Allow to fry on one side for around two minutes. Use the slotted spoon to gently flip the filet (away from you). Fry for another two minutes, or until golden brown.
• Remove fish from the oil and place on a cooling rack or plate with a paper towel. Hit the filets with a pinch of salt.
• Steam a bun by placing a rack over a small pan of boiling water for about one minute. Or use a microwave to warm the bun.
• Build the sandwich with a slice of cheese on the bottom, the fish next, and a good dollop of tartar sauce on top.
• Top with top bun and serve immediately.

Bottom Line:

Was this better than McDonald’s version?

Yes. And it wasn’t even close. There was just so much more flavor and texture while still adhering to the classic notes you want from a McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish.

The bun was super soft — a perfect counterpoint to the ultra-crispy coating around the flaky fish, which had a deep umami fishiness, a touch of spice, and an ever-so-slight sweetness. The tartar was a flavor bomb. You got the tartness, the bright flavor of the pickle, and smooth mayo-y goodness. That melted slice of American cheddar cheese really added an x-factor to take this from good to great, especially once it melted into the crevices of the fish’s coating.

Was it worth making at home?

100%. This was fast, easy, and a crowd-pleaser. You can build any number of fish sandwiches with that fish and tartar combo. Next time, I’m going to make a Nashville hot chicken dip and dredge the fish in that while keeping the rest exactly the same. And while there’s a temptation to fully turn this into a whole new sandwich, I have to say that I’d stick with the softest buns possible and wouldn’t lose the cheese — McDonald’s definitely got those elements right when creating this enduring entry.

Morgan Wallen is facing backlash after a video leaked of him using a racial slur during a druken night out in Nashville. The singer has since had his contract suspended by his record label and had his actions reprimanded by some of his country music contemporaries. Diplo was also briefly swept up in the controversy after he played his Wallen collaboration “Heartless” during a Super Bowl afterparty in Florida, so the producer is doing what he can to make amends.

While members of the music industry were distancing themselves from Wallen following the singer’s racist comment, many of his fans doubled-down on their support by buying up a lot of his albums. Some of that money went to Jason Isbell after Wallen covered one of his songs. But instead of keeping the money, Isbell announced that he was donating his earnings from the song to the Nashville chapter of the NAACP.

After seeing Isbell’s generous act, Diplo decided to follow suit after apologizing for playing “Heartless” during his DJ set. “‘Heartless’ is a old song of mine thats been in my live set for years,” Diplo wrote. “Im sorry, I didn’t mean to make anyone mad or offended by playing a song featuring Morgan. It was by no means a Political statement or a message.”

Diplo then noted that he also plans to donate the money he made from “Heartless” to the NAACP legal fund.

Just ahead of Diplo’s apology, Wallen similarly tried to hold himself accountable for his actions in a lengthy video. “Since that video was taken, I’ve been sober for nine days,” Wallen said. “It’s not all that long of time, but it’s enough to know the man in that video is not the man that I’m trying to be.”

See Diplo’s apology above.

Fallen A Tribe Called Quest member Phife Dawg’s long-awaited posthumous solo album will finally see its release this year, according to Rolling Stone. First announced in 2015, just months before his death at the age of 45 in March 2016, the album has seen numerous false starts and delays. Today, though, the first Forever single, “Nutshell Part 2” featuring Busta Rhymes and Redman, was announced. “Nutshell Part 2” is due for release this Friday, February 12. It’s a sequel to the J Dilla-produced “Nutshell” from April 2016. The album release date is still unknown.

Skeptical fans have a right to be wary of the release announcement; the album was originally set for release in 2017, although the group did follow up in November 2020 after three years of radio silence to announce that it would release this year. The group also celebrated what would have been Phife’s 50th birthday with the release of a limited edition “Phife Forever” T-shirt.

However, this is the first time an announcement has been accompanied by new music, which can only bode well for the album’s release plans. In a statement, Phife’s family shared their excitement for the upcoming release. “We are excited about the partnership with [indie distributor] AWAL for Malik’s posthumous album release. We give all glory to God for allowing Malik to accomplish everything his heart desired, including his solo music. He worked really hard to complete his album before he transitioned, and he was ready to share an album that was near and dear to his heart with his fans. His fans meant the world to him.”

Forever is due sometime in 2021 through Smokin’ Needles Records.

Disney’s Star Wars-centric subsidiary Lucasfilm announced on Wednesday that Gina Carano is “not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future” after The Mandalorian star continued to share hateful memes on social media. “Her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable,” a statement read. Carano’s exit has reportedly been in the works for months, but now it’s official (and the far-right is fuming).

Lucasfilm has yet to announce whether Carano’s character, Mando’s warrior sidekick Cara Dune, will be written off the show or replaced by another actress, but fans of the Disney+ series have already weighed on what they want to happen.

“Lucy Lawless as Cara Dune” makes almost too much sense. She’s got the ass-kicking background and science-fiction show experience. Plus, it’s not like Disney properties haven’t swapped actors before. James Rhodes/War Machine was originally played by Terrence Howard in Iron Man, but then Don Cheadle took over role for Iron Man 2. He continues to portray the character to this day — no explanation given, no explanation needed. Best of all, unlike Gina Carano, Lucy Lawless isn’t a hateful person.

The campaign for Xena to meet Baby Yoda begins now.

Another idea:

The Mandalorian season three will likely premiere in 2022.

The Biden administration’s efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic just took an optimistic turn. Dr. Fauci stopped by TODAY on Thursday where he delivered some much-needed positive news on COVID vaccine distribution. According to Fauci, all Americans should be eligible for the vaccine in early Spring. “By the time we get to April, that will be what I would call open season,” Fauci told Samantha Guthrie. “Virtually everybody and anybody, in any category, could start to get vaccinated.”

While the news should come as a relief as the pandemic has drastically affected the country for almost an entire year, the always even-handed Fauci made sure to temper expectations, which was something he was not encouraged to do during the previous administration. In fact, Fauci’s demeanor noticeably changed once Joe Biden took office, and the trusted physician was no longer facing death threats for telling the American public the truth about the coronavirus. Via PEOPLE:

“It would likely take several more months, just logistically, to get vaccine into people’s arms,” he clarified. “Hopefully, as we get into the middle and end of the summer, we can have accomplished the goal of what we’re talking about — namely, the overwhelming majority of people in this country having gotten vaccinated.”

Thanks to his tireless efforts during the pandemic, along with his over 50 years of work fighting infectious diseases, National Geographic will release a documentary on Fauci later this year. “This film will be an unprecedented, intimate portrait of our nation’s greatest public servant, whose relentless pursuit of truth and devotion to science has never been more important,” the Fauci writers said in a statement.

You can watch Fauci’s interview with TODAY below:

(Via TODAY on Twitter)

The 2021 NBA All-Star Game, despite objections from a handful of players, is scheduled to take place next month in Atlanta. As we barrel towards the full rosters being announced, the league is continuing with its tradition of doing frequent updates of how voting stands among fans, whose vote counts for 50 percent of the weighting to determine which players will participate in the game.

Much like the first round of voting, LeBron James and Kevin Durant are the leading vote-getters in their respective conferences — James, with 4.37 million, is ahead of Durant’s 4.23 million. They, along with Steph Curry, were the only players to eclipse 2 million votes, and this time around, that trio has continued to have a leg-up on the competition in their respective conferences/positions by being the only players to eclipse 4 million. Three other players — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic — have hit the 3 million vote mark, and while he hasn’t gotten to that point, Bradley Beal leads all Eastern Conference guards with a tick over 2.5 million.

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1359910560821874691

Along with fan voting, players and media members will also have a role in determining who will participate in the festivities in Atlanta on March 7. Both players and media will make up 25 percent of the vote. Should these voting trends continue, this would mark the first year since 2018 that someone other than Antetokounmpo would serve as the captain of the team that takes on James’ side.

Ever since his production work on his sister Billie Eilish’s debut album, Finneas is also sharing the spotlight. The duo’s success recently earned them the opportunity to write and record the theme song for the next James Bond movie No Time To Die. Now, Finneas is working on music for another feature-length film, but this time, he’s playing a larger role.

Finneas was chosen to score the upcoming film The Fallout.

Speaking about Finneas’ work in a statement, the film’s music supervisor Peymon Maskan said:

“Finneas brought a level of empathy to the characters that could only come from a composer who is from the same generation. He’s young, so he can relate to the story in a personal way, which was a big reason we considered him. But in order to tell this story with insight, it takes artistic maturity. Finneas is a singular artist who could offer both. Once he and the director Megan Park had their first conversation about the movie, I think we all knew he was the perfect composer for the film. His score is very much inspired by the hope and willingness to overcome such trauma, and it’s quite memorable.”

The Fallout is a teen drama centered around three high schoolers coping with the aftermath of a traumatic event and stars Jenna Ortega, Maddie Ziegler, Shailene Woodley, Julie Bowen, and John Ortiz.

Drakeo The Ruler’s hot streak remains unabated. After making his comeback with “Fights Don’t Matter” and releasing a string of cutting singles including “Mr. Mosley Claps Back,” “Captions,” and “Too Icey,” the absurdist Watts-bred wordsmith drops his “For Real” video, this time bringing guest rappers OhGeesy of Shoreline Mafia and Stinc Team wildcard Ketchy The Great along for the ride.

Back in 2018, Uproxx called Drakeo, Shoreline, and 03 Greedo the Los Angeles new wave of homegrown, street-life-oriented party rap. Since then, the movement was temporarily derailed by the arrests of both Greedo and Drakeo in separate incidents while Shoreline experienced some roster shakeups. However, all three groups — and their affiliates — somehow managed to remain every bit as prolific through various means including Greedo’s ridiculous archive of projects recorded before turning himself in for his sentence and Drakeo recording Thank You For Using GTL over the Men’s Central jail phones.

Now that Drakeo’s back out, it looks like they’re picking up right where they left off and doing so without missing a beat. The chemistry remains intact and the swag, if anything, has increased. The New New West remains intact and set on completing their takeover mission.

Watch Drakeo The Ruler’s “For Real” video with OhGeesy and Ketchy The Great above.

We Know the Truth (Deluxe) is out now on Interstreet Recordings. Get it here.

A lot of eyes have been focused on the UCLA gymnastics team lately and over the past few years. Earlier this year, Nia Dennis went viral for a floor routine that was set to songs by Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce, Missy Elliott, and Megan Thee Stallion. Fellow UCLA gymnast Margzetta Frazier has also made an impact since her freshman year, first with a 2019 voguing-inspired routine, then with a 2020 soul-inspired routine. Now Frazier, who is now a junior, is back with another display that’s making the rounds online.

This time, she drew inspiration from Janet Jackson. Not only does the new routine feature the legends music, but there are even nods to the choreography from Jackson videos like “Nasty” and “If.” All in all, it’s a confident display of Frazier’s skill and charisma that serves as a fitting tribute to Jackson.

Jackson, by the way, caught wind of the routine and it turns out she’s a big fan of it. Jackson shared the video on Twitter, added the hashtag #iLuvIT, and tagged Frazier in her post. Frazier offered an over-the-moon response, replying, “WOKE UP SCREAMING [crying emojis] I LOVE YOU. I AM SO HAPPY THAT YOU LIKE IT!!! YOU ARE WHY I LOVE TO DANCE.”

Check out Frazier’s full Jackson-inspired floor routine above.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.