Month: August 2023

Unless you’ve taken AP Government and Politics or AP Comparative Government—or unless you’ve binged-watched “Designated Survivor”—you may not know the full order of succession if a U.S. president dies in office. You may not care, either, but we live in an unpredictable world and the question of who runs the United States in the event of an unprecedented tragedy is a legitimate one.

We all know that the vice president takes over if the president kicks it, but after that, the order seems somewhat arbitrary. The speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives followed by the president pro tempore of the Senate and then all the Cabinet secretaries? And who decided what order the secretaries would go in?

One might assume that there was a solid, well-thought-out reason for the specific order of succession, but…well…no, not really. The order has been built over time through various incomplete acts and the 25th amendment, and as video creator CPG Grey points out, it’s mostly been a result of “historical happenstance.”

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The entertaining-yet-informative video begins by explaining how the US presidency is the deadliest job in America, with eight out of 45 presidents so far dying while in office. (Four of natural causes and four via assassination, in case you’re wondering.) Then it explains the circumstances under which the office and/or the duties and powers of the presidency (which aren’t exactly the same thing) might be transferred from the president to another person.

Then we get into the nitty-gritty of who takes over in what order and the surprising lack of clarity about how the full succession system would work if it ever got tested. Ever heard of “bumping”? It’s a wild what-if scenario that turns the American presidency into a makeshift game of musical chairs, which is a little goofy and a little terrifying to think about.

The whole thing is quite a fascinating journey through American history. Watch CPG Grey’s explainer in “The Most Deadly Job in America”:

After deciding to delay his solo sophomore album to “run some more tests,” Quavo’s follow-up, Rocket Power, is nearly here. Although he didn’t have plans to drop a new solo work following the tragic death of his late nephew and frequent collaborator Takeoff, Quavo decided to use his music as an emotional outlet.

On social media, Quavo shared that creating the album helped him in the darkest moments he faced after Takeoff’s passing. “This album is for the Rocket, our true fans, and also, this is my therapy,” he wrote. “This album is a true reflection of how I feel right now. Sometimes I’m good, sometimes I’m down, sometimes I’m disappointed, sometimes I fall apart, but then I always find my strength again. I know everything might not be alright right now, but the Rocket showed me a way to make it right! Rocket Power keeps me going. Rocket Power gives me fuel. ‘Rocket Power’ will help us all overcome whatever we’re going through.”

Here’s everything we know so far about Quavo’s Rocket Power album.

Release Date

Rocket Power is out 8/18 via Quality Control/Capitol. Find more information here.

Tracklist

The official tracklist has not yet been shared.

Features

Based on Quavo’s past singles, it appears that the album will Future and 21 Savage will appear on Rocket Power.

Artwork

You can see the artwork for Rocket Power below.

Singles

Ahead of Rocket Power’s release, Quavo has released a series of singles, including “Turn Yo Clic Up” with Future, “Honey Bun” featuring 21 Savage, and “Greatness,” which fans believe will all appear on the project.

Tour

Quavo hasn’t announced a tour to support the album yet. However, he revealed that he would host a ticketed listening party on August 17 in New York City.

On Monday Donald Trump got his wish: a fourth indictment. A Georgia grand jury spent the day hearing the findings of a long investigation by Fulton County DA Fani Willis. They concurred with her every wish, handing down 10 indictments and 41 charges. Among those were the big guy, of course, but also some of his more prominent cronies, including Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, even lawyer Jenna Ellis.

Among the 13 charges awarded to Trump himself were violation of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (or RICO) and multiple forgery charges. The indictment effectively paints him as the leader of a criminal enterprise to remain in office despite losing re-election.

Meadows, Trump’s former chief of staff, was a surprise inclusion among the indictees, as he was not named as one of the co-conspirators in the federal indictment involving Jan. 6. Ditto Ellis, who had to endure such indignities as being exposed to Giuliani farts.

Speaking of, the already otherwise screwed former “America’s Mayor”‘s name was not a surprise, although he has until now been able to avoid criminal liability. The fact that he may be convicted over RICO charges — after using RICO to put away so many mobsters in his early days — was not lost on some.

Also on the list were John Eastman and Kenneth Cheesebro, the key architects of Trump’s plan to use fake electors in Georgia and other states that went to Joe Biden.

You can read the full indictment over at The New York Times.

Even before the indictment went live, the Trump campaign was slamming Willis, calling her a “radical partisan” targeting him through “bogus indictments.” They also accused her of having “strategically stalled” the investigation to try and “maximally interfere” with Trump’s third campaign, which they bragged was “successful.”

When the indictments were first unsealed, though long before their details were made public, people were already making jokes about Trump’s inevitable-seeming indictment.

Others thanked Georgia for once again helping save democracy for another day.

(Via NYT)

With each stop, the It’s All A Blur Tour reveals more about Drake’s future musical plans. First, the rapepr confessed in Montreal that he’d love to secure a feature from J. Cole after bringing him out for a surprise performance in July. On Sunday, August 13, for his second show at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, Drake announced that he was able to finish one song with another music superstar.

Last night, Bad Bunny was the special guest for the evening. But do Drake and Bad Bunny have a new song coming soon? According to Drake, the answer is yes. During his obligatory chat with the sold-out crowd, he shared the news.

“It’s been six years,” Drake told to the crowd before adding, “Imma let y’all cheer. Go ahead and make some noise for Bunny real quick.”

As the hype began to calm down, Drake went on to say, “Look, I want to tell y’all something. Because y’all are in LA, and we love you. It’s been like six years since me and Benito released a song. So, we have a song coming for y’all.

Drake did not specify if the track will appear on his upcoming album, For All The Dogs, or Bad Bunny’s next project. Either way, fans are excited to get a follow-up to their 2018 song, “Mia,” which appeared on Bad Bunny’s album X 100pre.

No music festival is complete without a special announcement from one of the top-billed acts or a special guest cameo during a scheduled set. For Lorde, it was the latter. On Monday, August 14, during her stage time at Sziget Festival 2023, she reunited with Caroline Polachek for a surprise performance of her 2017 song “Green Light.”

Given that Lorde has teased her musical comeback and shared two unreleased songs quickly after the performance, fans on social media began to speculate that this could mark the pair reuniting on Lorde’s next album.

The hype even flooded Lorde’s comment section on Instagram as she shared a gallery of images of her enjoying a dip in the pool with her collaborator, with the caption, “After the show, we went swimming. These times are beautiful, and they freak me out, and there’s so much to tell you.”

However, Lorde was sure to let followers know that neither the photos nor their performance was any indication the pair had any new music on the way. In the caption, she wrote, “No, this is not the start of anything out there, just want you to know there’s a light on inside me. Show it to you soon.”

Despite Lorde’s disclaimer, fans weren’t buying that she doesn’t have something up her sleeve. “This is not the start of anything. Sure,” jokingly mocked one.

“No f*cking way, it’s actually happening,” wrote another.

The skepticism continued, as another wrote, “This is not the start of anything. Me when I lie.”

Others pointed out that the link-up and the photo were reminiscent of her sophomore album, which featured “Green Light.” “These are such ‘Melodrama’ vibes,” wrote one.

Only time will tell whether or not Lorde and Caroline Polachek will hit the studio together.

Donald Trump could probably use a hug — or at least someone to confiscate his phone. The former president keeps making his already febrile legal woes even worse. On Monday he took to his rinky dink Twitter clone to engage in what effectively amounted to jury tampering. But that was for his Georgia case. There’s also his Jan. 6 case, and his social media antics may lead him to a very specific kind of humiliation.

As per Mediaite, MSNBC legal analyst Joyce Vance spent a segment on Monday postulating about how Judge Tanya Chutkan, who’s already annoyed by him, may act after he made “inflammatory statements” seen as pertaining to the case on Truth Social. Vance said one thing Judge Chutkan may do is haul him into court to read him the riot act.

“She may admonish him,” Vance postulated. “It will be professional. It will not be personal. But judges believe in progressive discipline – if we’re talking about her and the way one might interact with a small child. And she will be very explicit with him before she goes to the next level of disciplining him in order to ensure that everyone involved can get a fair trial.”

Alas, news cameras may not be allowed in the courtroom for the case, which is slated to be held in D.C. However, not only are there no rules against cameras in Georgia courts, but they’re actually commonplace. So even if the world misses out on Trump being scolded by a judge, they’ll probably get to see him being arraigned — yet another first for U.S. presidents.

(Via Mediaite)

In January, Maluma let fans know that he would be leaving his Papi Juancho era behind for greener musical pastures. But supporters were quickly relieved once they learned the departure was just a transition into his next studio album, Don Juan.

After dropping a string of singles, including “La Fórmula” with Marc Anthony, as well as linking up for a collaboration with Yandel on his album Resistencia album, the day is nearly here for Maluma’s sixth full-length studio album.

Here’s everything we know so far about Maluma’s Don Juan album.

Release Date

Don Juan is out 8/25 via Sony Records. Find more information here.

Tracklist

So far, Maluma has not released the entire tracklist for Don Juan. Instead, he shared eight of the songs that will appear on the project, along with the order in which they will appear. It is rumored that Don Juan will include 25 songs in total.

2. “Coco Loco”
11. “Parcera” With Gordo
20. “Sobrio”
21. “Mama Tetema” Feat. Rayvanny
22. “Junio”
23. “La Fórmula” With Marc Anthony
24. “La Reina”
25. “Diablo, Qué Chimba”

Features

The confirmed musicians set to make a guest appearance on Don Juan include Marc Anthony, Gordo, Rayvanny, and Anuel AA.

Artwork

You can see the artwork for Don Juan below.

Singles

Maluma has released a flurry of singles ahead of Don Juan‘s release, including “La Fórmula” with Marc Anthony, “La Reina,” “Diablo, Que Chimba” alongside Anuel AA, and “Coco Loco.”

Tour

To support the release of Don Juan, Maluma will embark on a full tour across the US beginning at the end of August. View the full tour dates for the Don Juan World Tour below. Find more information here.

08/31 — Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
09/02 — Portland, OR @ Moda Center
09/03 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
09/06 — San Jose, CA @ SAP Center
0/09 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Kia Forum
09/10 — Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center
09/13 — Las Vegas, NV @ Grand Garden Arena
09/15 — Ontario, CA @ Toyota Arena
09/16 — San Diego, CA @ Pechanga Arena
09/21st — San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
09/22 — Hidalgo, TX @ Payne Arena
09/24 — El Paso, TX @ UTEP
09/29 — Austin, TX @ H-E-B Center
09/30 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
10/01 — Houston, TX @ Smart Financial Centre
10/05 — Belmont Park, NY @ UBS Arena
10/06 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
10/07 — Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
10/08 — Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
10/12 — Chicago, IL @ Allstate Arena
10/14 — Reading, PA @ Santander Arena
10/15 — Boston, MA @ Agganis Arena
10/19 — Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena
10/21 — Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
10/22 — Atlanta, GA @ StateFarm Arena
10/26 — New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
10/28 — Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
10/29 — Fort Myers, FL @ Hertz Arena
11/03 — Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
11/04 — Miami, FL @ Kaseya Center

Remember Tucker Carlson? As Fox News’ biggest star, he used to cause all manner of ruckus on a regular basis. Then he got fired and he’s learned what happens to fired Fox News stars: They’re no longer as famous without the biggest rightwing platform in America. Views of his Twitter “show” plummeted after a big start. A new book about him didn’t even get that honor.

As per Mediaite, earlier this month saw the release of Tucker, Chadwick Moore’s biography of the possibly already irrelevant rightwing titan. If book sales are any indication, Carlson’s star may have already waned. In its first week of release, the tome sold a mere 3,227 hardcover copies, landing it at number 15 on Publisher’s Weekly list of book sales.

The book is doing even worse at Amazon. On its list of best-selling biographies, it currently ranks at 58. What are some of the bios doing better than Tucker? For one, Walter Isaacson’s book about Elon Musk, owner of the social media service he’s not quite conquering, which sits at 46. The top seller? American Prometheus, the Pulitzer Prize-winning bio of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb who’s back in the news.

Carlson’s Tucker on Twitter videos got off to a stunning start, with its first installment amassing some 25 million views. They declined from there. A look at his feed shows that the episodes in which he interviews someone — such as Andrew Tate — can still get rock star numbers, sometimes. But his solo ones, which try to replicate what his old Fox News show was like but in shorter, less flashy form, hover around the 10 million mark. It appears he’s on the path to becoming the next Megyn Kelly: still around but heard from not often, and then usually for the dumbest reasons.

(Via Mediaite)

Homelessness has been on the increase in America since 2016 and the numbers exploded in 2020. On a single night in January 2020, there were more than 580,000 individuals who were without a home.

There are many reasons for the increase in homelessness and one of the leading causes is a lack of affordable housing across the country. Housing prices have been on a steady increase and, according to PBS, we are about 7 million units short of affordable housing in the country.

So what can the average person do about this human tragedy taking place in America’s streets? Some people who would like to help don’t feel comfortable giving money to homeless people, although experts in the field say that most of the time it is OK.

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“If you don’t have money or time, or capacity to donate, I still think it’s nice to be respectful and say hello,” Diane O’Connell, a community lawyer for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, told the Chicago Tribune.

Actress Jennifer Garner, 49, shared a great idea on Instagram for those who would like to help homeless people but aren’t sure how to do so.

The actress posted a video where she filled zip-up plastic bags with everyday items that homeless people need.

See on Instagram

“Random act of kindness: gather these essentials in a quart sized ziploc bag and keep them in your car to give away when you see someone in need,” she captioned the post. “A pair of thick socks. Kleenex. Hand wipes. Disposable toothbrushes. Chapstick. A couple of granola bars. I forgot this time, but like to add feminine hygiene products, too. Add $5, $10, $20 and a smile.”

For those not comfortable giving money, they can put a gift card in the bag for a local restaurant. O’Connell says that one thing most homeless people desperately need is a hot meal.

“Simple, cheap foods like bagels and doughnuts aren’t that helpful,” O’Connell said. “People who are homeless can usually buy things like that for themselves.” Often what people experiencing homelessness need is a hot meal, she said, because that’s more difficult for them to buy.

Greendrop says that the items most commonly requested by homeless people are socks and undergarments. Homeless people are always walking and have a hard time accessing laundry facilities so their socks and undergarments are often dirty or falling apart.

Here are some other items that will help make homeless people more comfortable:

Shampoo and conditioner

Toothpaste

Hair brushes and toothbrushes

Soap

Lotions

Nail clippers

Feminine hygiene products

Reusable containers

Garner’s Ziploc bag tip is a great idea because it’s a simple way for people to lend a hand when they encounter someone on the streets. How many times have you been driving around, saw someone in need, but didn’t have any way to help? This way you can easily brighten someone’s day when you see them at a freeway on-ramp or in a parking lot without having to ask yourself whether you feel comfortable giving them money.

This article originally appeared on 3.12.22

“The Blindside” was a movie that brought football lovers and drama lovers to tears with all the touching moments, triumphs and unconditional love. When the movie came out in 2009, Michael Oher, 37, the person who made the story possible had just been drafted to the NFL by the Baltimore Ravens. That helped curious fans tie the movie up with a nice little bow, seeing Sean and Leigh Ann Tuohy by his side through it all.

But after the movie came out, there was a little rumble brewing about how Oher was portrayed. In 2013 while preparing for the Super Bowl in New Orleans, the offensive tackle said he was tired of talking about the movie.

“Football is what got me here and the movie, it wasn’t me. I always knew how to play football growing up. It was different personalities, stuff like that. Playing football is what got me to this point,” Oher says according to the LA Times.

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At that point, Oher was still close with the Tuohy family and they were expected to be at the Super Bowl to support him. It wasn’t until February 2023 that the retired NFL player found out that his adoption into the Tuohy family never actually happened. Instead of adopting the then-high school senior, in 2004, the Tuohy’s had Oher sign conservatorship paperwork giving them full control over any business dealings for the football star.

“They explained to me that it means pretty much the exact same thing as ‘adoptive parents,’ but that the laws were just written in a way that took my age into account,” Oher revealed in his best selling book, “I Beat the Odds.”

Recently, Oher filed a petition in Shelby County, Tennessee claiming that Sean and Leigh Ann Tuohy deceived him into signing a conservatorship under his belief it was adoption papers. The filings, which are 14 pages, also allege that Oher never made any money off of the Oscar winning move about his own life. Instead, he claims the Tuohy’s, including their two biological children, Collins and Sean Jr. (SJ), did and continue to receive royalties.

The retired offensive tackle is seeking to not only end his secret conservatorship but to end the use of his name and likeness by the Tuohy’s, as well as an accurate accounting of the funds made off of his name. Oher is requesting to be paid his share of what was earned and damages.

In the filings, Oher’s lawyer makes clear the emotional toll this situation has had on his client, explaining, “Mike didn’t grow up with a stable family life,” Stranch said. “When the Tuohy family told Mike they loved him and wanted to adopt him, it filled a void that had been with him his entire life. Discovering that he wasn’t actually adopted devastated Mike and wounded him deeply.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Leigh Anne Tuohy (@leighannetuohy)

The once couch surfing, impoverished teen turned NFL player signed what he thought was his adoption papers just a few months after turning 18. As shocking as this revelation is, it seems more shocking that he was somehow cut out of the profits of a movie that made over $300 million dollars about his life. In fact, looking back on the entire buzz around the movie, very little of it had to do with him, though it’s his life story. The Tuohy’s, and what a good deed they did, was the focus, when it should’ve been on him.

The amount of devastation Oher must’ve felt and likely continues to feel after discovering the people he’s called Mom and Dad since he was a teen aren’t legally his parents is unfathomable.

“Michael was obviously living with us for a long time, and the NCAA didn’t like that. They said the only way Michael could go to Ole Miss was if he was actually part of the family.” Sean Tuohy told the Daily Memphian. “We contacted lawyers who had told us that we couldn’t adopt over the age of 18; the only thing we could do was to have a conservatorship.”

Though there’s no mention of why the Tuohy’s didn’t inform Oher of the legality of the conservatorship or end it after he graduated Ole Miss. The Daily Memphian mentions that Tennessee does currently allow for adult adoptions.

Its not clear if Oher will ever be able to forgive the people he called his parents or how this new information impacts the relationship he had with the Tuohy’s two biological children. Though his lawyer wrote that Oher’s relationship with the Tuohy’s is permanently fractured after finding out he’s not adopted and legally part of their family.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sean Tuohy (@sjtuohy)

This will be a hard situation to overcome for Oher, and possibly the biological children of the Tuohy’s since Collins was barely 18 herself and SJ was only 11, when Oher was “adopted.” The three often talked about how close their bond was, so the fall out of these allegations will likely have an unfortunate impact their relationship as well.

In the end, let’s hope the former NFL player is able to regain the use of his name, likeness and ability to make his own business deals, while wishing him all the healing needed to get through this situation.