Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen is turning his prison stint into profit, teaming up with a company called ArtGrails to auction off some NFTs of his time behind bars.
The non-fungible tokens will be on display this week at Art Basel and are said to include portions of the handwritten manuscript that Cohen penned while locked up, plus video of him writing his memoir and his prison ID badge. Cohen called the NFTs “documents which people will claim are of a historical nature.”
“The goal is to create a political NFT scenario that is obviously historically relevant,” he told Page Six about the project.
Along with parts of Disloyal, the memoir he wrote while serving time in New York’s Otisville federal prison on tax fraud charges, ArtGrails will also be hosting a VIP party and Q&A event where Cohen is scheduled to make a live video appearance to read from his book and take questions from the audience. (He’s currently under supervised release at his Park Avenue apartment in NYC after serving out the rest of his time under house arrest due to COVID-19 concerns.)
We’re not really sure who would want to buy a disgraced Washington fixer’s prison badge or who told Cohen what an NFT is, but our money’s on Kanye West as a possible suspect. Apparently, the two have been lunching together on the Upper East Side.
Congress has devolved into a dangerous high school bullying session following Lauren Boebert’s targeting of Ilhan Omar, who the far-right representative has subjected to a string of “jihad squad” remarks and a suicide bomber “joke.” Marjorie Taylor has defended Boebert because (presumably) she wants to be on the wrong side of history, and Omar has since called for Boebert to face punishment of some sort, though that hasn’t happened as of yet.
Omar has since revealed death threats, including a voicemail (received following Boebert’s attacks) from someone threatening to “take you off the face of this f*cking Earth”), which she says represents hundreds of similar messages she’s received since being elected to Congress in 2020. Given that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy hasn’t even reprimanded Boebert yet, AOC stepped up to support her fellow Democrat, aaaand she has a nickname for McCarthy.
“People truly don’t understand the scale, intensity, & volume of threats targeting @IlhanMN,” AOC tweeted. “Kevin McCarthy is so desperate to be speaker that he is working with his Ku Klux Klan caucus to look aside & allow violent targeting of woc members of Congress. This cannot be ignored.”
People truly don’t understand the scale, intensity, & volume of threats targeting @IlhanMN.
Kevin McCarthy is so desperate to be speaker that he is working with his Ku Klux Klan caucus to look aside & allow violent targeting of woc members of Congress.
Granted, she’s responding to racially-charged labels with more racially-charged labels. However, AOC further called out the GOP for being “given freedom to incite without consequence,” and “targeting those least likely to be institutionally protected first.”
While people toss out clichés like “we condemn all forms of racism & bigotry,” the fact is Islamophobia is far too often tolerated and ignored.
Bigotry is not made unacceptable by what one says about it, it’s made acceptable based on whether there are consequences for it or not.
For her part, Boebert only half-apologized publicly before making a tense call to Omar, to whom Boebert refused to acknowledge her Islamophobic remarks or show true remorse.
While K-pop may have had some of YouTube’s most-watched videos in 2020, rappers definitely dominated in 2021. It may seem given that the top-trending music video on the platform would be by an established artist. But this year, the top slot was actually taken by a relatively new act: 22-year-old Memphis rapper Pooh Shiesty had the top YouTube music video of 2021 with bigger artists following behind him.
Shiesty’s video for his Lil Durk collaboration “Back In Blood” was No. 1 for 2021 with 211.5 million views. While it wasn’t the most-viewed content of the year, it did stay trending on the platform for a while. Other rappers like Polo G, Rod Wave, and Cardi B made the list while Olivia Rodrigo’s buzzworthy video to her debut single “Drivers License” landed at No. 9.
Check out the full list below, as well as YouTube’s other top-trending lists.
If you could stop what you’re doing and travel the world full-time, would you do it? Taking that leap of faith is something many people — avid travelers even — don’t ever truly consider. But Esther Susag did it. She’s devoted her life to travel and capturing her unique experiences along the way.
Originally from Minnesota, Susag is a photographer and content creator who’s spent the past six years living completely abroad. Her adventures began in 2015, when she traveled to 12 countries in a single term with Semester at Sea. After graduating college the following year, she found the perfect opportunity for more exploration — a seasonal job in Guam.
In the years since, there’s been no slowing Susag down. After Guam, she moved to Germany — her home base for further voyages around Europe.
“Living in Europe has been the perfect gateway for so much more than I ever expected,” she says. “It’s also led me to do what I do best, which is intermingle my journeying and content marketing skills.”
Of all the places Susag has lived and visited, Santorini, Greece ranks at the top of her list. Home to breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea, beautiful Cycladic architecture, and just-from-the-ocean seafood, the island is a feast for the senses.
To help you plan your own Agean adventure, we asked the budding travel star to share her favorite spots with us.
WHY SANTORINI?
There are certain places that I’ve gone to that have this magical quality about them that makes me want to return. Santorini is definitely one of those places. I’ve visited this spectacular Greek island four times now, and each time I’ve gotten to experience it a different way, either due to where I’ve gone or who I’ve gone with.
My first time in Santorini my mind was absolutely blown. When I arrived it was exactly how it was described to me while also being a wonderful surprise with the unique landscape and beauty all around me.
One of the most pleasantly shocking things was probably how kind the locals were for how “touristy” of a location Santorini is! It felt like they wanted me to be able to share in the magical place they were living in.
Probably one of the things I appreciate most about Santorini is the ability for anyone to have a worthwhile time there; from the luxury seeker to the budget traveler — Santorini is extremely accessible for whatever you’re looking for!
What’s one thing that every first-time visitor should see or do in Santorini?
Narrowing it down to just one thing is practically impossible. So I think I’ll give you five (but they’re all easily doable in one trip!):
Touring the island via ATV. Riding an ATV lets you fully explore the cities at your own pace without having to rely on public transportation. Plus, once you see Fira or Oia you’re going to have a tough time wanting to leave.
Hiking from Oia to Fira. Like with the ATVs, you get to experience seeing the actual land of the island, but this way you’re much closer to nature and will have more opportunities to take in your beautiful surroundings. It’s only about two to three hours and you don’t even have to do the whole thing to gain a new appreciation for where you are.
Boat tour! I’m a huge proponent of spending a day on the sea whenever I go to a new place with ocean access. You can go for a full day or just the sunset and you won’t regret it.
Visit some wineries. Santorini wine is famous for a reason. Not only is it well priced and has a rich history but it also tastes delicious! Hitting a few wineries with friends and learning about the wine culture is something I could never say no to.
The famous Santorini Sunset. You have to set at least one day aside to experience the sunset in all of its glory. It’s a truly breathtaking experience that I could never be able to fully describe the pure majesty of.
Esther Susag
Favorite place to enjoy a glass of wine in Santorini?
Like I mentioned, wineries are an absolute must in Santorini. There are two wineries I find myself returning to every time I travel there: Venetsanos Winery and Santos Winery. They’re both located in the southern half of the island and the breathtaking views, which pair very nicely with some friends to cheers with, and some memories to be had!
If you’re looking to stay more Northern, my top pick is Ambrosia in the city of Oia. The view of the caldera is unbeatable! Then, if you’re not done yet and looking for a nightcap, you can find a great drink at Sphinx or at Karma.
Best spot to indulge in saganaki and fava?
I don’t know if you’ve noticed in my previous answers, but a huge aspect of a good experience for me includes being able to take in the views! So if you’re looking for great food alongside jaw-dropping sights, you have to go out and eat on the terrace at Argo. Reservations are definitely recommended because you want to make sure you get to enjoy a nice romantic evening outside with amazing classic Greek food.
Most fun thing to do on a sunny day in Santorini?
Let’s be honest, if you’re going to an island and you don’t go on a boat at least once you’re missing out. Boat tours are a personal favorite activity for me and Santorini has so many different opportunities on the water: you can go from something shorter like a sunset cruise to an all-day volcano hopping tour!
The most authentic tours I’ve had are when I’ve booked through Airbnb Experiences since you usually get a local guide who truly loves sharing their island with you.
Esther Susag
Coolest hotel or place to stay in Santorini?
One of the best parts of Santorini is that you can make it a budget experience or luxury travel and you’ll still have an amazing time. If you’re willing to splurge then you have to stay in Oia, specifically in Canaves Oía Suites and Spa or in Katikies. Staying there will make you feel as spoiled as a Greek Goddess.
Well, let’s be honest, where isn’t there an amazing view? There’s the classic and iconic view at the Oia Castle during sunset but that is also the most crowded and popular spot by far to go see the sunset. Depending on the season, you will be crammed trying to get there. So definitely go early, if you do decide to go.
My personal favorite views are from the Blue Dome Churches, another place that is very popular but if you go early, around sunrise, you will miss the majority of the crowds. Another favorite of mine is going to Ammoudi Bay and enjoying the views there. So many picturesque spots there and a lot of great restaurant choices as well!
Esther Susag
Best time of year to visit Santorini?
Typically, travelers enjoy the most from June to September. This is when the weather is the sunniest and warmest. If you love the beach and relaxing, these months are the absolute best time to go. But unfortunately, the downfall is that this is when prices are the highest and the most crowded. I personally like going during the shoulder seasons in May, June, September, and October.
While artists still aren’t playing Tiny Desk shows behind *the* actual tiny desk at NPR’s Washington DC offices, the pandemic pivot of the “At Home” Tiny Desk Concert variety is still pretty awesome. Acts from Little Simz to Dinosaur Jr. to Ed Sheeran are keeping the flow going strong, and the latest installment comes from Wet Leg, the buzzy British post-punk group that just announced their debut album this week.
Coming straight outta their hometown Isle Of Wight (one of the British Isles along the English Channel), Wet Leg’s performance is a dispatch from The Ventnor Exchange, a creative hub, venue, bar, and record shop. In the tightly packed space, the band course through all four of the singles that they’ve released so far. Bassist Ellis Durand and guitar/synths player Josh Mobaraki are sitting comfortably on the ground as lead singer Rhian Teasdale is a towering figure in the front of the frame. Lead guitarist Hester Chambers is chillin’ in the cuts, totally dominating on opening tracks “Chaise Lounge” and “Too Late Now.” It’s a simple recording that flashes into a sepia tone-soaked video at times.
“Everybody hold on to your buttholes,” Teasdale jokes before they jump into a song, a rare crack in their typically dead-panned overall disposition. This performance might be the best primer yet on the band who is poised to be the next big thing in indie.
Watch Wet Leg’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert above.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Even if the aspiring artist in your life already has all the gear they need, there are still some goodies and novelties that will surely be appreciated. So, we’ve rounded up some of our favorites and the list includes things like a terrific DIY recording kit, accessories that bring convenience to the life of a nomadic artist, and a few fun things that are are more low-key but surprisingly useful. So, if you’re looking for inspiration ahead of the end-of-year holidays, keep reading.
Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio Pack
Guitar Center
If there’s an aspiring artist in your life who has the talent to create amazing music but doesn’t have the resources to make some decent-sounding recordings, this kit could be a perfect start for them. There’s a large diaphragm condenser mic to capture their performance, a pair of headphones so they can really hear what they’re doing, and a USB audio interface to manage all the inputs and outputs. Pair this with a laptop that has even a simple digital audio workstation program and your up-and-comer has a chance to create something great.
That previous kit is great, but if you’re looking for something more compact or your budget is a bit tighter, this little Fender device could be a perfect alternative. What we have here is a guitar headphone amplifier and a recording interface that can be used to record over USB, stream Bluetooth audio to make it easy to play along to a backing track, and mess with amp, effect, and EQ settings. That’s quite a bit considering it all comes in a pocket-sized package.
Buy a guitar and it’ll usually come with some dinky strap that is good enough, but if you want to treat yourself with something more reliable, getting something of a higher quality is a justifiable expense. Fender has a great model that’s made with the same leather they use in baseball gloves, perhaps the piece of sporting gear most famous for lasting for years. Between the heavy-duty contrast stitching and the strap’s adjustability, you can’t go wrong here.
Similar story here: Guitars can come with a case, but it’s usually flimsy and should really be considered a temporary solution. If you want something less ephemeral, this gig bag is a fine way to protect and transport your acoustic six-string. It has 10.5 mm padding throughout, a weather-resistant exterior, and a bottom rubber guard, so this case offers fantastic protection whether you’re out and about or just storing your guitar at home.
Getting to play music on stage on a regular basis is the dream for a lot of performers, but the nightmare that often comes later on is hearing loss. Fortunately, that is easily preventable with a simple-but-effective pair of ear plugs. This pair from Hearos promises to deliver “flat attenuation,” which allows you to “hear the music just as it was intended, but with the elimination of up to 12 decibels of potentially damaging noise.” If you find yourself in an overly loud environment, music-related or not, these are a must-have.
If you’re shopping for somebody who already has all the gear they can handle, a fun novelty isn’t a bad idea for a stocking-stuffer. These audio jack key-holders are better than most novelties in that they actually serve a useful purpose, both by keeping keys organized and letting guests in your home know in a fun way where your passion is.
Cheap microphones can get the job done in a pinch, especially if you’ve adopted a DIY aesthetic. For those who want something cleaner and more professional-sounding, though, something like this Shure mic, which has nearly 300 5-star ratings on Guitar Center’s website, is sure to be an upgrade. This model boasts “internal ‘air suspension’ shock isolation” and a built-in pop filter, getting rid of audio distractions and letting whatever it is you’re recording shine, whether it’s music, podcasts, or whatever you can think of.
There’s some quality recording equipment on this list, but fancy gear can only do so much of the acoustics of the room you’re playing in are trash. This set of acoustic panels take care of that issue really quickly, as they can cover your walls and take care of errant reverb and other acoustic issues for relatively cheap. Considering how drastically acoustic panels can improve the quality of your recordings, these are beyond a worthwhile pick-up.
A sturdy stool is a versatile tool for pretty much everybody in the band and PDP makes a great one for under $100. This one ought to come through when it counts, too, thanks to features like its double-braced legs and slip-resistant feet. For just a few bucks, this is a rock-solid gift that will see a bunch of use and hold up for years to come.
Orange Amplifiers Crush Mini 3W 1×4 Guitar Combo Amp
Guitar Center
A quality primary amp is an essential investment, but having a smaller secondary one is an excellent accessory to keep handy, too. This one is a mini version of the classic Orange amp, which makes it perfect for situations when portability and convenience are paramount, whether you’re busking on the street, practicing on the road, or working on your next great musical idea in your bedroom.
The world was not shocked to learn today that Donald Trump waited to reveal that he tested positive for COVID-19 after until after his debate with Joe Biden. The former-president’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, writes in his new book that on September 26, 2020, three days before the debate, a White House doctor alerted Trump about the diagnosis. His response rhymed with, “Oh spit, you’ve gotta be trucking lidding me.”
The positive test was done with an “old model kit,” so Trump was tested again and it came back negative. “Meadows says Trump took that call as ‘full permission to press on as if nothing had happened.’ His chief of staff, however, ‘instructed everyone in his immediate circle to treat him as if he was positive’ throughout the trip,” the Guardian reports. Trump has since denied the claim, calling it [groan] “Fake News” in a statement.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Joe Biden was asked for his thoughts on Trump putting him, a then-77-year-old who hadn’t been vaccinated yet, at risk by not canceling the debate while he secretly had COVID. The president replied, “I don’t think about the former president.” He then walked off stage to complete the mic drop moment.
President Biden is asked if he thinks Trump’s positive test before the first presidential debate put him at risk.
It’s not unusual for the best moments during an Inside the NBA broadcast to have nothing to do with basketball. That was the case on Tuesday evening, as the quartet were split in half and went head-to-head in the whisper challenge. This comes on the heels of a video involving a pair of Orlando Magic players, Cole Anthony and Mo Bamba, playing it and doing horrifically.
As you can see, real bad. Bamba tried but Anthony really struggled reading lips, which, it’s not easy so that is totally fine. Having said that, everyone on the Inside crew — which was broken up into a team of Shaquille O’Neal and Ernie Johnson going against Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith — is quite good at this. As a result, we had a pretty competitive game, with Ernie and Kenny reading out the clues to Shaq and Chuck. There were lists of 10 phrases and 60 seconds on the clock, here’s how it went:
A whole lot of credit goes to Ernie, who stayed laser-focused on reading out his messages while Kenny took a little time to celebrate in between these, thereby costing his team valuable time. Of course, it did not help that there was no way on God’s green earth that Chuck was going to say the phrase “Roll Tide,” so his team had something of a ceiling on how well they could do the entire time. Anyway, congrats to the winners.
While discussing Dr. Oz getting in bed with Republicans to run for an open Senate seat in Pennsylvania, the ladies of The View tried to wrap their heads around what happened to their fellow daytime brethren, who they personally know as a nice person. Naturally, Joy Behar got in the first jab by quipping that Dr. Oz has “gone over to the dark side” after watching him say his politics “matches” that of Sean Hannity. However, Behar was quick to point Dr. Oz has always been lovely to her.
“I’ve been to his house for dinner,” Behar said. “Somebody that we know was having a medical issue, I picked up the phone, I asked him ‘What should we do?’ He told you exactly who to call. He’s very, very, personally, a doll.
But despite his nice personality, Sunny Hostin couldn’t get past Oz pushing for schools to reopen in the early days of the pandemic and even going so far as to say that the move “may only cost us 2-3% in terms of total mortality.” That is 2-3% too many dead kids for Whoopi Goldberg, who absolutely unloaded on Oz once she got a chance to speak.
DR. OZ JOINS PENNSYLVANIA SENATE RACE: Following weeks of speculation, Dr. Mehmet Oz officially declared his candidacy for Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat – the co-hosts react. https://t.co/3RQsOvYXs5pic.twitter.com/ZbqPmFFRpd
“Listen, you either get that this is about other people’s health — this is not whether you like the idea of a mandate, or getting a shot. That has nothing to do with it,” Whoopi said. “Kids going back to school deserve to be safe and if you, as a doctor, and a physician, can’t see that, then you’re not somebody I want to vote for, no matter how much I like you!”
Whoopi didn’t stop there. She also blasted Oz for his odd remarks about “elites with yards” telling people to stay inside during the pandemic.
“Talkin’ about elites and who is an elite,” Whoopi said. “Dude, we live in a similar area! I got a yard. I didn’t tell people not to come, I told people to come walk in the yard, and I would stay in the house. What did you do?”
If you’ve been on social media today, you’re probably well aware that Spotify unveiled the annual Spotify Wrapped feature today, where music fans see lists of the songs, artists, genres, and more that they most engaged with on the streaming platform over the past year. While it’s an opportunity for fans to look back on 2021, it’s also a neat chance for artists to see just how music their work was appreciated. So, as Wrapped started making the rounds today, artists shared their reactions.
Bad Bunny’s reaction wasn’t on social media, but in real life. As he was told in-person that he was the year’s most-streamed artist worldwide, he was all smiles. He was asked what fans can look forward to in 2022 and he said, “The same! I don’t go into it to be the No. 1 most streamed artist. I just make music. I just enjoy my ‘work.’ I hope 2022 is going to be great.”
millions of you opened up the floodgates of your hearts to my art this year. This year I learnt to embrace myself, my sensitivities, my inner fractures, my arms, my instinctive softness – the vision remains the same – to stay true. Thank you for embracing me as I am@Spotifypic.twitter.com/s0T7NZ0XY3
Our fans are amazing! Thank you for all of the streams / shares / playlists and helping us get our music around the world! How about some more new music in 2022?! @spotifypic.twitter.com/D8PeMQHg2s
Thanks to all 23.2 million of you listening across 174 countries on @SpotifyUK this year. This is wild. We’re at https://t.co/xX9kYDv5h2 if you’ve not found us there yet.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
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(@LilNasX) 
wow y’all. Thank you so much for listening. I am so honored. Cheers to another great year! 
Thanks to all 23.2 million of you listening across 174 countries on 
WORLDWIDE!
Her music has been streamed to over 177 countries this year and streamed 452.5M times! Muchas Gracias!