Month: December 2021

Ex-President Trump’s constant claims of voter fraud have been sort-of confirmed, but don’t tell MyPillow guy Mike Lindell yet because the call’s allegedly coming from the house (or rather, coming from within Trump’s own ride-or-die base). All of this is happening while, in come states, Trump supporters are going door to door in an attempt to find evidence of “voter fraud,” and well, it ain’t happening, unless one counts what’s going down in Florida.

Click Orlando is reporting that three Trump supporters (Jay Ketcik, Joan Halstead and John Rider, who all live in the census-designated area of “The Villages,” a retirement community) have been arrested and charged with voter fraud after they allegedly cast multiple ballots in the 2020 presidential election. And it seems as though the voter fraud in question took the form of absentee ballots in states other than Florida:

Ketcik, 63, is accused of voting by mail in Florida in October 2020 while also casting an absentee ballot in his original home state of Michigan, court records show. Halstead, 71, voted in-person in Florida but also cast an absentee ballot in New York, prosecutors allege. Ketcik and Halstead turned themselves in to the Sumter County jail on outstanding warrants, court records show.

Rider, 61, was arrested by Brevard County deputies at the Royal Caribbean cruise ship terminal at Port Canaveral on Dec. 3, according to court records. Details of the accusations against him were not immediately available, but prosecutors indicated he also cast ballots both out-of-state and in Florida.

Via the relevant Florida statute, voter fraud in Florida is considered a third-degree felony, which carries up to five years behind bars. It’s worth pointing out that it’s unclear exactly who these Trump supporters voted for, but they’re, uh, Trump supporters, so there’s that.

Here’s the Click Orlando News 6 news clip (including mug shots), as tweeted by Ron Filipkowski.

Although this story is far from over with more details to come (including whether Gov. DeSantis will take action), people are pointing out the irony on Twitter with jokes (including one about Trump’s Village People dancing) and more.

Also, what is going on at The Villages?

(Via Click Orlando)

Burna Boy and Wizkid are, at this point, probably indisputably the most prominent and recognizable Afro-fusion artists in the US. If you ask any music fan to name a Nigerian artist, the odds are pretty high that one of the two (or Davido) will be the first names mentioned. While Burna became the first Nigerian artist to headline Madison Square Garden, Wizkid’s “Essence” is widely regarded as one of the biggest songs of 2021. So, when the two decide to collaborate, it’s always special.

Picking up where they left off with their January collaboration “Ginger,” Burna and Wizkid reunite for the upbeat “B. d’Or,” which is named for the Ballon d’Or (“Golden Ball”) soccer trophy for extraordinary male players. Produced by P2J, the same name behind the dominant “Essence,” the track incorporates beatboxing within its propulsive, tropical sounds as the two artists compare themselves to past winners of the prestigious trophy like Lionel Messi, asserting that they’ve earned similar levels of recognition.

Wizkid and Burna are set to headline Afro Nation, the biggest afrobeats festival in the world, in Portugal next July along with Megan Thee Stallion, solidifying their claim as the biggest afrobeats artists in the world — and when there’s a trophy for that, you can bet they’ll be the ones taking it home.

Listen to “B. d’Or” above.

It’s a big year for movies made about recent NFL events, as the movie about Kurt Warner, American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story, comes out this week and on Tuesday the first trailer dropped for Home Team, an upcoming Netflix film about the year Sean Payton was suspended from the New Orleans Saints for the bounty scandal (which I’m sure will not be exactly touched on strongly in the movie) and coached his son’s middle school football team.

Starring as Sean Payton is Kevin James, which is certainly an interesting casting choice, but since this is a Happy Madison production there were only so many choices for a leading man and Adam Sandler and David Spade must’ve been busy — have no fear, though, Rob Schneider makes his contractually obligated appearance as a weirdo. The trailer shows Payton learning he’s being suspended for the year and then showing up at his son’s practice to see a team of misfits and goofballs in desperate need of some leadership, with coach Taylor Lautner at the helm desperately trying to create a functional football team.

It’s just a two-minute trailer, but you can see that this is going to play the hits for a Happy Madison movie, with kids getting hit in the butt by footballs and an entire team projectile vomiting because of Rob Schneider’s homemade energy bars. It also will apparently try to tell a touching story of a father and son who don’t spend much time together getting to know each other in between slapstick routines. You can see it for yourself on January 28 on Netflix.

Prolific indie four-piece Big Thief are no strangers to an album roll out seeing as they dropped two full albums in 2019 alone. But for their 2022 release, which has the mouth-full of a title Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You, Big Thief are combining two albums into one with a 20-track double LP. Giving another preview of the release, the band share two new singles.

After announcing Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You with the tracks “Time Escaping,” “Change,” “Certainty,” “Sparrow,” and “Little Things,” Big Thief share two more songs, “No Reason” and “Spud Infinity.” Both songs are joyous in their own way. “Spud Infinity” features some funky percussion and was a family affair as lead singer Adrianne Lenker’s younger brother, Noah Lenker, playing the jaw harp. The former single, “No Reason” opens with the triumphant cacophony of shimmering acoustic chords and the tender melodies of a lofty flute.

The flute heard on “No Reason” was actually a happy accident. The band was in a recording session in the Colorado Rockies when they heard the lovely sound of someone playing the flute from a nearby lookout tour. Upon inspection, the flutist in question was Richard Hardy, who has been credited on countless records over the past 30 years, including some of Carole King’s music. Big Thief invited Hardy to sit in on some of their sessions, which resulted in the wistful flute heard on “No Reason.”

Listen to “No Reason” and “Spud Infinity” above.

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You is out 2/11 via 4AD. Pre-order it here.

Santa Claus may be content with a sleigh and a gaggle of reindeer, but only a PJ will do for Tom Cruise—Hollywood’s very own Kris Kringle. (Well, when he’s not berating his colleagues.) For years, Cruise has celebrated the holidays by handing out what is supposed to be a decidedly decadent and delicious white chocolate coconut cake to the people who have made it onto the actor’s “nice” list. And this year that apparently included 300 members of the Mission: Impossible 7 crew.

According to Page Six, the three-time Oscar nominee one-upped Santa by personally flying his private jet, stuffed with 300 cakes, from Los Angeles to London and gifting them to the crew of the upcoming seventh installment in the Mission: Impossible franchise.

“Tom wanted to give the team on Mission: Impossible a treat for Christmas and decided that only cakes from his favorite bakery in LA would do,” someone with inside knowledge of Cruise’s random act of cake kindness told The Sun.

“He organized for the shop to make 300 cakes especially and they were then flown back to the UK on his jet,” the sourced continued. “It is extravagant, but Tom is an incredibly generous person and he wanted to do something special for everyone who has worked on the movie with him.”

The dessert—a now-famous coconut Bundt cake with bits of white chocolate, cream cheese frosting, and a dusting of toasted coconut—is the culinary brainchild of Doan’s Bakery in Woodland Hills, California. It’s beloved by Cruise, who Page Six claims personally flew the confections across the Atlantic. And while it was surely a treat for all those who received them, one can’t help but think that a cake is the least Cruise could have done.

As was widely reported, the making of the upcoming Mission: Impossible movie was no easy feat. Filming on the longtime Cruise-fronted franchise originally kicked off in Venice in February 2020, but was soon waylaid due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production on the film continued to start up then stop again throughout the rest of the year. In December 2020, the world heard the audio of a fed-up Cruise—who was tired of people not adhering to the strict COVID regulations they were filming under—losing his sh*t on the movie’s crew because he believed that they were “the gold standard,” and were not living up to that when not following all on-set coronavirus protocols.

“I’m on the phone with every f*cking studio at night, insurance companies, producers and they’re looking at us and using us to make their movies,” Cruise bellowed. “We are creating thousands of jobs, you motherf*ckers. I don’t ever want to see it again. Ever!”

After news of Cruise’s rant leaked, the actor reportedly ranted again, with one insider noting that “Tom just can’t take any more after all the lengths they have gone to just to keep filming at all. He’s upset others aren’t taking it as seriously as him. In the end, he’s the one who carries the can.”

While it was reported that amidst all the growing tension and Cruise’s outbursts, some crew members did walk off the set. No word on whether those individuals are regretting the decision after learning of Santa Cruise’s totally Hollywood-style dessert delivery.

(Via Page Six)

It’s been over a year since Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, but his supporters are still convinced voter fraud is to blame. So convinced, in fact, that some MAGA followers are now harassing their neighbors in order to prove their theories of election tampering.

According to a new report from Buzzfeed, a volunteer grassroots organization called the New Hampshire Voter Integrity Group, has been knocking on the doors of residents in small towns, hoping to find evidence of voter fraud. The group is led by a woman named Marylyn Todd, who took a leave of absence from her job to organize the canvassing project, which uses an app and the voter identification information that’s free to the public to track down suspected election fraud. Though the group refused to explain why certain towns and citizens were targeted, it’s pretty clear that none of the residents who’ve been contacted by these Trump supporters are happy about it, especially when volunteers began asking questions about their political affiliations and who they voted for the 2020 election.

“One Waterville Valley resident said that’s exactly what two people at his doorway asked him — at which point he gave them five seconds to leave,” the article says. “The canvassers did clear out, but the man said he was furious that ‘two dumbasses’ had come calling asking about personal information: ‘I was enraged. I am to this day offended at the whole notion that there was any widescale election fraud. … I was like, sputtering mad. I called the police dispatch.’”

Another resident reportedly told a canvasser to get the hell off his property, to which the volunteer replied, “That’ll be a nice trip, thank you. I’ll see you there.”

Multiple police reports have been filed though Republican officials claim no laws are being broken at this time. Unfortunately, New Hampshire isn’t the only state where Trump supporters (joined by QAnon members) are harassing voters looking for evidence of election fraud that just doesn’t exist. In Colorado, members of the far-right militia the Three Percenters, have discussed carrying firearms to protect canvassers as they knock on doors. In Utah, Trump supporters volunteering to canvas must sign NDAs and record their interactions with residents.

This very public display of what it means to be a sore loser would be sad if it wasn’t so bizarre and if it didn’t make regular Americans so damn uncomfortable in their own homes.

“I just assumed by the end of the conversation they were looking to prove voter fraud in favor of Trump,” one New Hampshire resident said of her interaction with canvassing Trump supporters. “Primarily because who else is talking about an election that’s way over?”

(Via Buzzfeed)

The trials and tribulations of the pandemic have forced many to put off their personal growth goals because life has been far too overwhelming. But it looks like things are slowly turning around and people are beginning to feel hopeful about the new year.

Many are looking forward to January 2022 as a time they can once again focus on self-improvement. Joanna Dickerson, Associate Professor of Psychology at Edith Cowan University, says that more than half of people’s annual resolutions are focused on either “diet” (29%) or “exercise” (24%).

Dickerson also says that our goals will “more likely endure” when “linked to higher personal values.” So if you’re looking to set a health-related resulution for 2022, why not give yourself a better chance at success by committing to the loftier goal of making wellness a way of life?

Dickerson adds that one of the most important things to do to achieve your wellness goal is to “set yourself up for success.”

“Set resolutions are specific plans,” Dickerson writes. “These should account for factors such as time, place, and people. Specific plans provide the mental cues needed to stick to our goals.”

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This week in pop music saw an eclectic mix of soulful and pumped up tracks. Alicia Keys dropped a new album featuring some talented collaborators, Monsta X shared their dreamy LP, and MAX teamed up with Fletcher for a new version of his hit tune.

Each week, Uproxx rounds up the best new pop releases. Listen up.

Alicia Keys — “Come For Me” Feat. Lucky Daye, Khalid

After dropping her 2020 album Alicia, Alicia Keys is back with yet another LP — this time titled Keys (see what she did there?). The two-disc album is a collection of soaring ballads including the stand out track “Come For Me” with Khalid and Lucky Daye. The track is R&B at its best, featuring loved up lyrics and a sizzling beat. “This album is gonna F*CK your head up,” Keys said about the release. “I hope it becomes an instant classic for you! It’s Gonna take you somewhere so special.”

Monsta X — “You Problem”

This week marked the release of K-pop group Monsta X’s English-language album The Dreaming. The 10-track release is jam-packed with hits and their song “You Problem” is no different. The effortlessly fun tune is Monsta X’s latest dance-ready release. With a snapping beat and far-reaching vocals, Monsta X proves they’re a pop force to be reckoned with.

MAX — “Butterflies” Feat. Fletcher

MAX’s hit track “Butterflies” has been heard everywhere from radio airwaves to an episode of The Bachelorette. It was originally written as a love letter to his wife and now, the singer has tapped fellow pop songwriter Fletcher to hop on a new version of the song. Fletcher’s verse adds to the romantic nature of the track while also showcasing her captivating voice.

Rauw Alejandro, Chencho Corleone — “Desesperados”

Puerto Rican musician Rauw Alejandro released his wildly popular 2021 album Vice Versa last June but he’s now sharing even more music from that era. His new track “Desesperados” with Chencho Corleone is Alejandro at his best. The upbeat track features rapid-fire verses about falling in love for a night draped over a classic reggaeton beat.

Julia Wolf — “Bottle Of Advil”

Up-and-coming pop sensation Julia Wolf returned with a deluxe edition of her breakout EP Girls In Purgatory this week and it featured the heart-tugging track “Bottle Of Advil.” The song shows Wolf’s ability to pen cutting love songs while a gentle acoustic guitar accompanies her resonating voice.

Sam Feldt, Rita Ora — “Follow Me”

Rita Ora and Dutch producer Sam Feldt teamed up for the radio-ready track “Follow Me.” The pumped-up song not only features a dance-y beat, but it also carries an important message about loyalty. “This song serves as a reminder for us to surround ourselves with people who build us up and stay by our side, especially in times when we feel things are falling apart,” Ora said about the track.

Marc E. Bassy — “Crash For A Couple”

It’s been a few months since Marc E. Bassy dropped his anticipated album Little Men, and he’s already sharing even more music. He added a few new songs to the release this week, including the vibe-heavy number “Crash For A Couple.” The sizzling song features a slow-burning beat that offers the perfect atmospheric landscape for Bassy’s soulful vocals to melt over.

Galantis — “Alien” Feat. Lucas & Steve, Ilira

Swedish EDM producers Galantis teamed up with some of their fellow electronic musicians for the energetic single “Alien” this week, a song that’s sure to get everyone up and moving. Dutch powerhouse duo Lucas & Steve and Swiss singer/songwriter Ilira join Galantis for the thumping track, offering fans the perfect way to dance into the new year.

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

Ever since it became possible to listen to music on portable players, people have worked out while listening to music. But what kind of music is the most effective to work out to? I suppose that depends on what you define as “effective,” but according to a new study, if that means “running faster,” we now know exactly what you shouldn’t run to: Drake’s music.

Analyzing a group of joggers, sportswear retailer Pour Moi produced the study as part of a promotional campaign to see which music made people run the fastest over the course of 60 completed three-mile runs. Unfortunately, it turned out that those who bump Drake actually ran the slowest, with a six percent increase in run-time — almost 15 minutes on average.

Doja Cat and Nicki Minaj also added time with Doja adding 25 seconds and Nicki Minaj adding up to a minute and 24 seconds to the average run time. However, the most motivating musician might not come as much of a surprise; Beyonce‘s high-energy tunes like “Put A Ring On It” and “Run The World (Girls)”averaged a reduction in two minutes and 45 seconds.

While the study itself doesn’t sound incredibly scientific, it is kind of fun to look at the data and learn that listening to more pop-centric artists like Harry Styles, Olivia Rodrigo, and Britney Spears produces lower run times. Oddly enough, though, the incredibly upbeat BTS also caused runners to drag. Maybe an expanded, more airtight version of this study could be done in the future to determine just why that is.

You can read the full article on Pour Moi’s website.