Month: April 2023

Anthony Edwards did everything he could to carry the Timberwolves to a Game 5 win on Tuesday night in Denver, as the 21-year-old star had 29 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in a 112-109 loss to the Nuggets.

The loss ended the Wolves season after a 4-1 series defeat to Denver, and the final shot of the night was an Edwards three that hit the back rim with a chance to force overtime. Edwards, furious with the shot not falling, sprinted off the floor and into the tunnel as the final buzzer sounded. Apparently, as he left the floor, he picked up a folding chair and swung it, throwing it to the side as he ran to the back.

You can briefly see the chair in Edwards hands as he tosses it aside when the camera cuts back to him in the NBA TV footage. When he did that, he apparently struck two women working at the arena who were injured, but not seriously, and filed charges with police, per Denver Sports.

A law enforcement source said Edwards picked up a chair and swung it, striking a security guard in the back. Then the thrown chair also hit a second worker. A source confirmed the incident and said both employees were injured and asked to file charges.

Denver Police Department’s Jay Casillas told Denver Sports on Wednesday that Edwards swung a folding chair and struck two women who were working at the time. Police say both women were injured, neither seriously.

Edwards was cited for third-degree misdemeanor assault, which carries up to 18 months in jail and/or up to a $1,000 fine. The Timberwolves released a brief statement on Wednesday night acknowledging they were aware of the incident and gathering information.

“We are aware of the alleged incident regarding Anthony Edwards following Game 5 in Denver and are in the process of gathering more information. We have no further comment at this moment.”

While Edwards’ frustration is understandable in the moment, that’s certainly not the right way to let it out, particularly with arena workers in the area.

Last year, Fugees canceled their reunion tour due to legal troubles. It was reported that Pras — also known as Prakazrel “Pras” Michel — was facing a trial after being indicted in 2019 on charges of conspiracy, making a false statement, and two counts of falsifying records after making contributions to Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign on behalf of Malaysian businessman Jho Low.

Michel was accused of setting up bank accounts to help Low move money into the States, and Low was infamous for stealing $4.5 billion from Malaysia’s 1Malaysia Development Berhad sovereign wealth fund.

On Wednesday, April 26, Michel was found guilty on all 10 counts. According to the Justice Department, he faces up to 20 years in prison for the most severe counts in the case.

Michel has been charged with money laundering, campaign finance violations, acting as an unregistered agent for China, concealment and false record keeping, witness tampering, and false statements, according to Barron’s.

Leonardo DiCaprio testified for the prosecution of Low, saying, “I understood him to be a huge businessman with many different connections in Abu Dhabi, Malaysia… a sort of prodigy in the business world, incredibly successful.” Low used stolen money to fund The Wolf Of Wall Street, as well as other projects.

The world hasn’t seen Stefon, the chronicler of obscure NYC nightlife Bill Hader used to play on SNL’s Weekend Update, for a good five years, and with good reason: His portrayer hasn’t wanted to play him. Last year the Barry maven revealed that he had turned down an opportunity to dust him off again, mostly due to the political climate. (More on that in a sec.) But now, about a year later, he’s changed his mind,

In a new interview with The Independent (as caught by The AV Club), Hader was asked about his comments, which he made to The Guardian in April of 2020. “I was like, ‘I don’t think that’s really a good thing to do now,’” Hader said back then. “I mean, we had an openly racist, homophobic and misogynistic president, and half the country voted for him – twice! So [those attitudes] are really prevalent.”

Hader also acknowledged that Stefon could be seen as a gay stereotype, which left him upset. “I really love Stefon and it never occurred to me that he would be seen as a stereotype,” he said, adding that that charge “really hurt.”

A year later and he’s walking that one back a bit.

“Honestly, I don’t know why I said that,” Hader told The Independent. “I probably would play him. I think just being asked the question at that point in time kind of made me anxious.”

He also said that, despite his anxiety about Stefon being seen as a negative caricature, he’s “never had any gay man come up to me and be offended” about him.

It’s actually been a while since Hader at least made an appearance on his old show, which he joined in 2005. He did a top shelf Jim Jordan back in 2019, in an episode hosted by his old SNL cohort (and Stefon co-creator) John Mulaney, who is also back in the news. Maybe it’s time for him to swing by for a visit.

(Via The Independent and The AV Club)

Cabo is widely known for its endless pool parties and clubs, which attract bachelor parties, group trips, and spring breakers alike. I, too, spent college spring break double-fisting margaritas at Mango Deck and dancing late into the night at Squid Row. But what I learned on my most recent trip to Baja California’s go-to tourist spot is that there is another, more chill side to Cabo.

Who knew it could also be a destination for relaxation and wellness? (Probably a fair few folks, but I’m glad I know now!)

Earlier this spring, I spent a weekend in San Jose del Cabo, which is about 20 miles northeast of downtown Cabo San Lucas. Away from the crowds and bustle of town, this seaside escape is ideal for couples, solo travelers, or digital nomads who want a few days off the grid but crave the same warm temperatures, good drinks, and luxuries as other Cabo hotspots. There are also still plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures to be had nearby — a definite win in my book.

The result? A weekend defined by balance. Indulgent meals and a few too many cocktails enjoyed with a side of spa treatments, ocean excursions, authentic meals, and plenty of chill beach lounging. Check out my weekend guide to the chill side of Cabo below:

PART I — WHERE TO STAY

Casa Maat

If you want exclusivity with all the perks of a classic resort, consider staying at Casa Maat, a new boutique hotel that’s an extension of the JW Marriott Los Cabos. With only 45 luxury rooms, complete with ocean views and desert-chic design aesthetics, Casa Maat offers an intimate, peaceful escape. You can spend the afternoon sunbathing or relaxing in a cabana by the private pool, play billiards in the game room, watch a movie in the theater room to escape the heat, and then head to the beach for sunset with a spicy margarita in hand.

The property’s spa is also a must during your visit. It features 12 treatment rooms, an outdoor garden and patio, vitality pools, an indoor pool, and private jacuzzis. I had a 50-minute massage there but slept through the majority of it — that’s how you know it’s the real deal. If you get a little too zen and are looking for a more lively scene, you can step right next door to take advantage of the Marriott’s various pools (one with a swim-up bar), delicious restaurants (go to Café des Artistes for a fine dining experience), and other resort amenities.

Book your stay at Casa Maat here.

PART II — WHERE TO PLAY

Whale Watching

Prepare to be in awe. The whale watching in Cabo during the peak whale migration season is spectacular. Make sure to visit between January and March if this is on your Cabo bucket list (and it should be). If you’re lucky, you’ll see adult whales and their baby offspring flapping their massive fins and tails through the Sea of Cortes. I went on my whale-watching excursion with Cabo Adventures, which also offers sailing tours, snorkeling, zip-lining, and more.

On your whale-watching tour, you’ll first pass by the famous landmark, The Arch of Cabo San Lucas. From there, you’ll head out to the sea to search for whales. Be patient and keep your eyes peeled, as it often takes a little while before you spot something. Make sure to have your camera ready because once you get a glimpse of these big beauties (and I mean BIG) — you’ll want to capture the moment. The tour lasts two hours so you’ll have ample time to search for the whales and just enjoy some time on the sea.

Book your whale-watching tour with Cabo Adventures here.

Tiky Cabo

Food aficionados will love learning about organic farming practices and sustainability at Tiky Cabo farm, located in the nearby town of Miraflores. In addition to growing seasonal crops, the multi-generational family-owned business hosts tours of its property, so tourists can better appreciate the area’s intentional agriculture. To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations when I visited the farm, but there’s something particularly serene and cleansing about strolling through lush greenery and produce. It was a relaxing and educational way to spend a couple of hours in the afternoon, and it gave me a glimpse into the local food community and culture.

PS: Casa Maat sources many of its restaurant ingredients from Tiky Cabo. Approximately 40 to 50% of its ingredients come from the farm, so you know you’re getting especially fresh meals at the on-site restaurants.

Learn more about Tiky Cabo here.

PART III — WHERE TO EAT

A Tiny Tamale Stand

For some truly authentic Mexican food, stop at the Ultramos El Pitufo on the side of Highway 1 on your way back from Tiky Cabo. It’s so legit that you can’t even find a website for it online, but this place is definitely worth a stop. Located on Carretera Transpeninsular (the highway) just south of Caduaño and Northeast of the airport, this little convenience store sells all of the classic Mexican candies, snacks, and baked treats you could ask for. I’m talking Choco Roles, Sponch, Mexican marzipan, and more.

The best part, though, is the tamale stand attached to the side of it. You can get fresh tamales made from scratch and freshly steamed. I’m not sure exactly what kind of meat was in the tamale I ate, but I really didn’t care because it was that good.

San José Del Cabo Food Truck Park

If you’re someone who likes to have options — or if you just want a taste of a plethora of delicious, authentic food — head to the San Jose Del Cabo Food Truck Park. Tucked away from the busy resort areas, you’ll find a range of vendors offering unique dishes — from ranchero rolls, chicken pesto baguettes, taquitos, burgers, and fresh sushi to strawberry waffles, milkshakes, and colorful cocktails garnished with gummy worms. The bottom line is if you’re looking for a diverse selection of mouth-watering delicacies, the San Jose Del Cabo Food Truck Park is where you’ll find it.

Learn more and check out the grub here.

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Uproxx was hosted for this story by the Cabo San Lucas Tourism Board. However, they did not review this story. You can learn more about the Uproxx Press Trip policy here.

It’s no secret that Fruit Bats’ Eric D. Johnson is an insanely prolific songwriter. On top of being a core member of the Grammy-nominated group Bonny Light Horseman, Johnson has released six full-length projects as Fruit Bats since 2019. His latest, the folksy A River Running To Your Heart, shows that Johnson is perhaps at this best when he’s his busiest.

Released and produced by Johnson himself, A River Running To Your Heart is a breezy and twangy 11-track effort evoking comfort of returning home. With songs like “See The World By Night” and “Waking Up in Los Angeles,” Johnson learns the pleasure in letting go. To celebrate the release of A River Running To Your Heart, Johnson sat down with Uproxx to talk Neil Young, Will Ferrell, and being the third best musician of all time in our latest Q&A.

What are four words you would use to describe your music?

Emotional make out music.

It’s 2050 and the world hasn’t ended and people are still listening to your music. How would you like it to be remembered?

Third best to Beatles and Mozart.

What’s your favorite city in the world to perform?

Don’t make me choose! Gothenburg & Glasgow. Too many North American cities to name.

Who’s the person who has most inspired your work, and why?

Creatively speaking, lots of musical underdogs like Alex Chilton, Judee Sill, Michael Hurley. Some lifers, some didn’t make it. Always beautiful. Outside of the realm of music I always think about Steve Martin, who relentlessly did his own thing and changed everything. Also The Grateful Dead.

Where did you eat the best meal of your life?

Fort Stockton in West Texas. Barbecue joint in a gas station in the middle of nowhere. Very long van drive day between Austin and Albuquerque. Like a beacon in the dark. Tried to go there on a subsequent tour and it was boarded up and wind-beaten. May have just been a dream.

What album do you know every word to?

Neil Young’s After The Gold Rush.

What was the best concert you’ve ever attended?

My first concert was Def Leppard at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in Wisconsin. Still the highest production value I’ve ever witnessed. My favorite show was probably Yo La Tengo at Lounge Ax in Chicago, maybe 1997?

What is the best outfit for performing and why?

I wear Wrangler “dress jeans” which look cool and breathe. Nice shirt, a jacket and bolo. Which are hot (temperature wise) but I’m a slave to fashion. I want to look like I’m playing a rock show up there.

Who’s your favorite person to follow on Twitter and/or Instagram?

I do not like either of those places. But Fruit Bats’ guitarist Josh Mease is a fun follow on IG. Lots of beautiful ambient music plus surreal comedy / animation. Plus I love him.

What’s your most frequently played song in the van on tour?

Really depends on who’s DJing. We mix it up like crazy. Lately been a bit obsessed with a song from 1970 called “Morning” by a rather obscure folk duo called Lambert and Nuttycombe.

What’s the last thing you Googled?

“Pesos to Dollars”

What album makes for the perfect gift?

Any comp or release by Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou.

Where’s the weirdest place you’ve ever crashed while on tour?

I was by myself. In an art gallery in Denver, which was a storefront on a big city street. I was sleeping more or less in the window for anyone walking by to see. Like a man on display. It was disconcerting.

What’s the story behind your first or favorite tattoo?

I am unmarked!

What artists keep you from flipping the channel on the radio?

Joe Walsh. Led Zeppelin. Fleetwood Mac. Joni Mitchell.

What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

Listened to my songs.

What’s one piece of advice you’d go back in time to give to your 18-year-old self?

Pace yourself. And also try a little harder. And also you have a long way to go.

What’s the last show you went to?

Fruit Bats. Last night.

What movie can you not resist watching when it’s on TV?

Any early 00’s Will Ferrell adjacent comedy.

What’s one of your hidden talents?

No hidden talents. They’re all out front.

A River Running To Your Heart is out on Merge Records. Find more information here.

We’ve all been there: you’ve got the digital coupon ready, you know what topping combinations will make the best pie, you know how many pizzas are fit for the party, and then you’re hit with the crust option question: hand-tossed, pan-style, thin, cheesy crust… What to do? Should you get one of each?

What’s the best option? What’ll please the most people? What will make you happy?

Pizza is a canvas. It’s bread, sauce, cheese, and whatever the hell else you want it to be. Various topping options already give you enough freedom to be creative so I’m not sure why every big fast food pizza brand decided we need wide-ranging crust choices as an additional variable, but they have. Yay, a whole new layer of options to select!

While we’re not convinced crust permutability is something anyone really wants in the first place, admittedly, it is what sets big national pizza chains apart from your local pizzeria (that plus cheap delivery). Your local spot probably has better ingredient sourcing than the big chains but you probably only have two crust options at best. So which crusts are actually worth your time and money?

We’re going to find out. Starting with Domino’s!

The Crusts:

Domino’s has five different crust options, and none of those options are filled with cheese, meaning there must be some substantial difference between the five crusts to justify their existence right? Let’s hope so, because we purchased all five in one sitting in search of the very best. Our roster of crusts includes:

• Hand-tossed
• Crunchy Thin
• Gluten-Free
• Handmade Pan
• Brooklyn Style

I ordered each of the five pizzas topped with Pepperoni for the most consistent experience. You could argue that maybe I should’ve gone with cheese to minimize distraction, but come on, I’m about to have a week’s worth of leftover pizza — let me live, dammit!

Here is our ranking of Domino’s crusts from worst to best.

The Ranking:

5. Gluten Free Crust

It feels mean to rank Domino’s Gluten Free Crust dead last because I’m not under some sort of dietary restriction that requires that I don’t eat gluten, so this pizza is explicitly not for me. But also, f*ck that — this pizza kinda fails at being for people who have a sensitivity to gluten too.

Domino’s warns that its Gluten Free Crust is made in the same kitchen as the rest of their pizzas, which means there is some risk of gluten exposure in this crust, meaning it’s not recommended for customers with celiac disease. In short, it exists so that Dominos can say it exists.

The National Library of Medicine warns that a gluten-free diet is not really an appropriate choice for those without a medical diagnosis, and there are detrimental effects of going gluten-free including “loss of dietary fiber, deficiencies in dietary minerals and vitamins, and potential heavy metal exposure.” I mean by all means, if you for some reason don’t want to eat gluten but don’t really have a medical reason for doing so, do you, but I think it’s safe to assume if you’re avoiding gluten for non-medical dietary reasons, you’re probably not eating pizza either.

So again… who is this for?

We’re not sure, and although we’ve gone on a mini rant my final conclusion on this gluten-free crust is… it’s really not that bad. If I didn’t know it was gluten-free pizza, I’m not sure that I’d be able to identify it as being gluten-free. It’s a bit dense, and a bit laborious to chew, but it tastes like pizza crust without any noticeable compromise.

It’s only in a side-by-side comparison with the other crusts that it became obvious that this crust was lacking something.

The Bottom Line:

Domino’s gluten-free crust is not safe for those with celiac disease, so if that’s you, you can’t really order this with confidence that it’ll be right for you. Having said that, it still tastes a million times better than a cauliflower crust, so that’s something!

4. Handmade Pan

Domino’s Handmade Pan is the chain’s answer to Pizza Hut’s OG pan-style crust. It’s thick, incredibly fluffy, and chewy, and has sauce and cheese spread from end to end, leaving no room for any plain crust. The way the toppings are distributed is this pizza’s best feature.

Unfortunately, it is a bit lacking. The bottom of the pizza doesn’t have that same crispy almost fried crust that is characteristic of good pan pizza — this one is a bit too soft. The chewy exterior is enjoyable from a textural standpoint, but Domino’s sauce doesn’t really permeate through the surface level, leaving all the flavor of each slice on the top layer.

That means after the initial burst of sweet sauce and salty cheese you’re left with the taste of moist flour. It almost tastes raw. This might be remedied by a few more seconds in the oven, but as it comes it’s just a bit too undercooked to be enjoyable.

The Bottom Line:

A bit too soft and chewy for its own good. Domino’s handmade pan pizza comes across as just a bit undercooked. The thickness of the crust messes with the toppings-to-bread ratio in a way that makes the pizza come across as a bit bland.

3. Crunchy Thin

This was the most difficult crust option to place on this list. On one hand, I like the flavors this form factor presents, on the other… I’m not sure I love the crust. Let me explain — Domino’s Crunchy Thin crust is so thin that the entire focus of this pizza is on the sauce and cheese.

Domino’s sauce is pretty good for a national pizza chain, it’s not too sweet like Pizza Hut, offering a blend of Italian herbs and rich, stewed-tomato flavors. The cheese is also good — part-skim mozzarella that presents as equal parts creamy and salty. This is also the only crust that is served with a heavy sprinkling of earthy, fragrant oregano, which really helps complement the sauce and elevate the cheese and pepperoni.

Sounds great right? But the crust itself… is flavorless.

It’s all texture, it has a nice snap and it’s cut in rectangles probably because the weight of the ingredients would cause it to crack if it were cut like a traditional slice, but it just doesn’t have any flavor itself. That’s not a problem because we’re not just eating the crust, but it does making it hard to place it in a ranking of crusts considering it barely registers as a flavor.

The Bottom Line:

It’s a great showcase for the sauce, cheese, and whatever blend of toppings you add with a nice oregano finish. But if you like the bread component of pizza as much as the stuff that’s on top of it, this doesn’t deliver much.

2. Hand-Tossed

Hand-Tossed is Domino’s default crust option so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that this one has ranked this high. Of all the big national pizza chains, Domino’s has some of the best crust in the game.

It’s slapped and hand-stretched in-house to order, and that makes the texture pretty incredible for a national chain. It’s chewy in the best way and has the right amount of air in it to land in that perfect toppings-to-bread ratio. Before each pie is hand-stretched Domino’s dusts the crust with cornmeal, which gives each slice a texture and sweet and earthy flavor that the competition just can’t match.

This pizza tastes unique and has a distinguishable character that says “Dominos,” which most of the other chains just don’t have. That in and of itself, makes this a great crust option.

Domino’s could’ve stopped there, but they didn’t, they’ve also buttered the crust and sprinkled a mix of garlic salt and herbs on the crust. This might split people, you could argue you don’t need all that flavor on the crust, a pizza crust serves as a sort of palate cleanser, but are you going to fault Domino’s for offering more flavor? We’re not.

This crust is pretty near perfect considering the parameters (it’s a budget national chain, fam), and the only reason it’s not number one is that Domino’s delivers a bit more quality with its final crust option.

The Bottom Line:

Not only one of Domino’s best crust options but easily one of the best pizza crusts among all of the big national pizza chains. Domino’s crust has character and a whole lot of flavor.

1. Brooklyn Style

Brooklyn Style is Domino’s attempt to capture the magic of a big slice of New York Pizza. It doesn’t quite get there, part of what makes a great New York by-the-slice pizza joint so special is that each slice is cut from an 18-inch pie, making it perfectly foldable and satisfying enough that one slice is enough.

Domino’s Brooklyn Style might not be that big, this pizza is only 14 inches (the same as a large regular hand-tossed, though there is also a 16-inch option), but because Domino’s cuts this pizza into six big slices rather than eight, you get the illusion that this is a big NY-style slice. It’s not, though we appreciate the effort.

To make a pizza “Brooklyn” style, Domino’s stretches a medium pizza dough ball into a large pie, giving you the same flavor and texture as its stock hand-tossed pizza with a thinner slice. If that sounds like you’re getting less bread, it’s because you are, but the overall result is a better slice that still has all of the great features of the hand-tossed (a chewy bite, the corn meal, and the garlic salt dusting) but has an even better topping-to-crust ratio.

That puts special emphasis on the cheese and sauce the same way the Thin and Crispy crust does but with some actual crust flavor in there. It’s the best of both worlds!

Years ago Domino’s put even more effort into the Brooklyn style. The OG recipe finished the pie with Provolone cheese and used those large pepperoni slices that crisp up nicely in an oven. I wish they’d bring that version of the pizza back, but even without those extra features, this is far and above the best crust option you can order.

The Bottom Line:

No, it won’t get you the same quality slice as something that is actually from Brooklyn, but the Brooklyn Style crust takes everything that’s great about Domino’s Hand-tossed and Crunchy Thin crusts and combines them into one almost perfect slice of delivery. If you’re going to order the Brooklyn-style, we suggest you spring for the XL version which will get you just a bit closer to the true NY slice experience.

It’s been two days since Tucker Carlson was fired from Fox News. How’s he doing? We know he’s lawyering up (with the same attorney representing Don Lemon, who was also canned the same day). We don’t know why he was given the ax (though there are plenty of theories). But how’s he been spending his days now that he doesn’t have to go on air and, say, sing the praises of “testicle tanning”? At least according to him, he couldn’t be happier.

The Daily Mail managed to catch up with the guy who has now been fired from three separate 24-hour news networks, who has apparently retreated to his pricey Florida beach home. There, they found a chuckling Tucker, who told them, “Retirement is going great so far.”

Carlson’s even doing things he couldn’t do when he was busy telling his viewers to attack people wearing masks at the height of a pandemic. “I haven’t eaten dinner with my wife on a weeknight in seven years,” said the defender of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Afghanistan. When asked what his next step was, he “flashed a broad smile” and said, “Appetizers plus entree.”

The British publication even published photos of a maniacally beaming and chortling Tucker puttering around in a golf cart with his wife.

That was all Carlson said. He didn’t respond to questions about him allegedly being blindsided by the news. Nor did he get into what it’s like to no longer have a massive platform to air deceptively edited footage from the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. He also didn’t say if he watches the show that replaced his. After all, someone has to.

You know what? Good for him. It’s better that Tucker is ordering appetizers with his wife instead of disseminating white supremacy conspiracy theories to his millions of viewers. Maybe he’ll enjoy “retirement” so much he’ll keep at it.

Or maybe he’s feigning happiness knowing that Fox News may have a dirt file on him.

(Via The Daily Mail)

Donald Trump may be battling Ron DeSantis (before he even starts his presidential campaign), but DeSantis is a little busy fighting someone else: a company whose mascot is a mouse. The Florida Governor has been duking it out with The Walt Disney Company for over a year now, all because they refuse to discriminate against LGBTQIA+ people. So far Disney has been able to one-up DeSantis, cleverly out-maneuvering his weaker chess moves. But now it seems they just want to get it over with and are getting the law involved.

As per NBC News, Disney filed a lawsuit in federal court on Wednesday accusing DeSantis and his team of a “targeted campaign of government retaliation” for their public opposition to his so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill. They allege that his retaliatory campaign was “orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech” and “now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights.”

The lawsuit also includes this incredible phrase: “Disney regrets that it has come to this.”

But they have no choice, they say, but to take DeSantis to court:

“But having exhausted efforts to seek a resolution, the Company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials.”

The lawsuit went over big on social media. Some found it all very surreal.

Others couldn’t believe that they were siding with Disney, a corporation that’s arguably too large, that owns too much IP, that has long had a questionable effect upon the culture, that was co-founded by a figure both brilliant and devious. Then again, Walter Elias Disney was no Meatball Ron.

Others were more specifically anti-DeSantis.

There were jokes.

The lawsuit even prompted a response from a perhaps surprising person: fellow Republican (and likely 2024 rival) Nikki Haley, who beckoned Disney to South Carolina, where she once governed.

Anyway, good job, Ron DeSantis, bringing together people of all stripes to cheer on one of the largest and hungriest corporations on the planet.

(Via NBC News)

Close your eyes and imagine what comes to mind when thinking of Jonas Brothers fans. For me, it’s gaggles of young girls adorned in sequined tops and brightly colored merch screaming their heads off. But that’s not who showed up to the band’s surprise Los Angeles concert at The Theater at the Ace Hotel on April 25. Both the Jonas Brothers and their fans are all grown up.

The screaming fans weren’t exactly young. In the time since Jonas Brothers graced the covers of teenie bop magazines and went on talk shows to discuss their purity rings, their once young fan base grew up and got a jobs in corporate America — but they never lost sight of their fandom. While the crowd was overwhelmingly comprised of women (the venue even opened the men’s bathroom to women to help curb the lines), the majority of the concertgoers were in their late 20’s and 30’s. Sure, some still rocked sequined tops depicting who their favorite Jonas brother is (Nick was shown the most love out of the three), but most of the people there looked like they had come straight from their office job.

Just like their fans, the Jonas Brothers have come a long way since adolescence, as heard in their new music. Just a few weeks before the release of The Album, the band’s sixth studio album which drops May 12, the brothers took an opportunity to try out new songs in an intimate setting. After opening with their recent single “Waffle House,” Nick took over the mic to explain how the show was about to proceed. The brothers planned to play a “good amount” of new songs in the first half of the show, then return with all their hits after a short intermission.

Nick went on to share the story of how The Album came to be. Jonas Brothers began writing music for this project about a year and a half ago, a time when all three were hitting some major life milestones. Nick and Joe were in their first years of marriage to their partners — Priyanka Chopra and Sophia Turner — and both became first-time fathers. Because of that, their music has changed along with them. Where Happiness Begins was filled with jaunty tunes about relationships and sex, The Album takes a turn inward. Many of the songs they premiered for the crowd are more acoustic-leaning, and have themes of “family, and fatherhood, and love of course,” according to Nick.

Joined on the stage by six backup singers and a full band, they launched into performances of new songs. Songs like “Montana Sky” and “Vacation Eyes” were tender and soulful ballads, the latter Kevin said is about “what it feels like to be in love with a person who makes you feel like you’re on vacation every day.” Others like “Celebrate!” were more upbeat and got the crowd moving. After giving a rendition of The Album‘s lead single “Wings,” the lights dimmed and the boys brought out stools and acoustic guitars to sing “Little Bird,” a soaring lullaby which was dedicated to all the parents and children in the crowd.

Following a brief intermission, Jonas Brothers returned to the stage to fire off back-to-back hits. The crowd screamed along to “Leave Before You Love Me” and “What A Man Gotta Do,” two songs that dropped following their 2019 comeback. Then, both Nick and Joe got to have their solo moment. Nick took center stage for “Close,” his 2016 collab with Tove Lo, and Joe busted out the DNCE numbers “Toothbrush” and “Cake By The Ocean.” Speaking of DNCE, Joe’s side project that dominated radio in the mid-2010s, the band invited DNCE drummer Jack Lawless and guitarist JinJoo Lee to join them on stage. Lee absolutely stole the show with her guitar solos; at one point, she dramatically fell to the ground and continued to play on-beat as she was lying down.

It was clear throughout the concert that this intimate show was designed for the biggest Jonas Brothers fans. The crowd seemed eager to hear unreleased music and they would instantly recognize most songs after only one chord was played. Paying service to their day-ones, the brothers would throw t-shirts into the crowd and let us take over singing choruses. Their closing songs were perhaps the biggest example of how this show was a love letter to their fans. Though there was no encore, Jonas Brothers ended their set with three of their biggest hits back-to-back: “Year 3000,” “Burning Up,” and “Sucker.”

As the crowd filed out of the venue, still amped up on screaming along to their favorite songs, one thing became clear: Jonas Brothers, their fans, and their music have all come a long way. The Album is perhaps their most mature work to date, with songs reflecting their current season of life. It’s a season of life many of their fans are also in, judging by the number 30-year-olds, moms, and soon-to-be moms I saw in the crowd. But no matter how much work or family duties take over, Jonas Brothers fans will always have time to drop everything and show up for their favorite band on a Tuesday night.

The Album is out May 12 via Republic. Find more information here.

It isn’t easy having to explain to a child who is different that they aren’t quite like other children. Most parents would probably prefer to downplay the situation, saying “It’s no big deal. You aren’t quite the same as the other children, but everyone is different.”

However, Tori Roloff, 31, star of the TLC’s long-running “Little People, Big World,” has decided to go the other route. She’s asking her 5-year-old son, Jackson, to lean into his uniqueness and use it to help others.

Tori is married to Zach Roloff, 32, who’s been a star of “Little People, Big World” for 24 seasons. Zach and Tori have three children: Josiah and Lilah, 3, and Jackson, 5. All three of them have achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism.

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In an Instagram post, Tori shared how she is helping her son embrace his uniqueness.

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“I feel like Jackson (and others) are starting to notice that something is different about him,” she wrote. “At Jackson’s first soccer game, the other team was asking why he was so small. Purely out of curiosity I believe—not bullying or being malicious—just curious.”

Jackson told his mother about the questions during the game, and she was quick on her feet with a thoughtful answer.

“It stuck with him enough to tell me on the side line though. I told him ‘that’s how God made you, now show them how fast you are!’ He then proceeded to score a goal, and I can’t tell you how stoked we were,” she wrote.

Tori hopes that Jackson will embrace his size and use it to help others just like his family has done by increasing awareness about the challenges that people with dwarfism face through their TV show. The show also showed how all people, no matter their size, are much more alike than they are different.

“He’s starting to notice that he’s different and that’s hard to cope with—however, I WANT him to know he’s different. But maybe not in the way he thinks he is,” she wrote.

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She then described her innermost hopes for her son.

“Jackson I pray that you notice that you are different,” she wrote. “That God has set you apart from all other people. I pray you’re different in how you see and love others. I pray that you’re different in the choices you make to keep God close to your heart. I pray you’re different in how you solve problems and arguments. I pray that you think differently about how the world works and adaptations that can be made. I pray you see your differences and use them to change the world. You are different, kid. Different than any kid I’ve ever met. You are one of a kind and I am so stinking proud to be your mom.”

There is no one right way to talk to our children about the challenges they face in life. But It’s valuable for people like Tori, who has a very unique parenting situation, to share how she handles difficult topics, because it gives us more tools to use in the oh-so-tough but oh-so-rewarding job of parenting.