Month: February 2024

Cobra Kai‘s sixth season is currently filming, and Billy Zabka has the fighting moves to prove it. Whenever show time arrives, we might see some slight surprises from returning cast members, but speaking of which, will the originating dojo baddie be back as well?

As devotees remember, the fifth season ended with ultimate karate villain Terry Silver being carted off by law enforcement. Almost simultaneously, John Kreese (who had been framed by Silver) had decided that he had enough and busted out of prison after faking a grievous injury. He couldn’t wait another moment for possible exoneration, but that wouldn’t be as dramatic, so yes, Kreese stole a doctor’s uniform and headed outta there.

Is Kreese going to be in the wind, or will we see him back in the Valley again?

Wait, should Kreese return? Hell yeah:

This week, the show released a video montage-message from the cast, and yup, actor Martin Kove is practicing his moves again. Also, he has a sword. Uh oh. “A message to the most badass fans out there: We’re thrilled to be back in production, filming the biggest, baddest and final season of Cobra Kai!” read a Netflix tweet. “See you in the dojo.”

Now, it’s time to wonder whether Jacob Bertrand will receive his wish of Hawk going to the dark side again with his old sensei. Be honest: you wouldn’t be mad if that happened.

Cobra Kai will return for its final season, ideally in 2024.

Prince Harry is rushing back to the UK to be with his father after news of King Charles’ cancer diagnosis broke on Monday.

According to The Telegraph, the Duke of Sussex will board a flight tonight to be with his family as the royals decide next steps regarding the king’s treatment and fitness to rule. While Charles’ health scare came as a shock to the public, The Guardian reports that he “personally informed both of his sons” as well as his three siblings before alerting the press. Just one month earlier, King Charles shared he’d undergone a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate which resulted in a short hospital stay. Sources say the cancer diagnosis is not related to that resolved health problem which has led some to worry that his cancer diagnosis is even more serious than first suspected.

According to a statement from Buckingham Palace, Charles’ doctors have advised him to “postpone public-facing duties” while he undergoes outpatient treatment from his country home in Sandringham.

“The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure,” the statement read. “He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”

While Harry will be flying in to support his father’s recovery, Meghan and their two children will be staying home. The couple has been estranged from the British Royals for the past few years, with tensions between Harry and his brother, Prince William, reaching a boiling point after the release of Harry’s memoir, Spare. While the siblings are rumored to no longer be on speaking terms, Harry’s made efforts to rekindle his relationship with his father recently and there’s hope amongst close some that his readiness to be by the king’s side during such a difficult time will mend some rifts between the two.

(Via Cosmo)

As we inch nearer to $100 per bottle in the Scotch whisky aisle, we also inch nearer to the magnificent bottles. At this point in the journey, we’re talking about whiskies that cost between $70 and $80. We’re entering a true sweet spot where great whiskies abound. Peated malt bombs, unique finishes, cask strength eye-openers, and subtle unpeated malts are all over this price point.

Below, I’m calling out 10 Scotch whiskies that all fall under $80 per bottle and all rock. These whiskies are very varied and offer a wide range of profiles. As mixed as the group is, I did rank these — as some are just a little deeper than others. To be clear, they’re all still winners.

When it comes to price, Scotch whisky can vary pretty dramatically depending on which part of the country you’re in. These prices are set for Louisville, Kentucky via local retailers. Let’s dive in!

• The Best Scotch Whiskies Of 2023, Ranked
• The Absolute Best Whiskeys To Chase Down This October
• The Best Whiskeys Of 2023, According To The John Barleycorn Awards
• Every Bottle Of Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky, Power Ranked For 2023
• One Of The World’s Biggest Whiskey Influencers Shares His Favorite Pours Of 2023

10. Port Charlotte Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Aged 10 Years

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $75

The Whisky:

Bruichladdich has a lot of fun with peated whisky. This expression keeps the peat phenols in the mid-range, leaning high. The casking is a mix of first and second-fill bourbon barrels and second-fill French wine barrels. That utilization of second-fill oak means there’s a very light touch of wood on this peated whisky.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Imagine a dark chocolate orange drizzled in salted caramel and served on a wet leaf of seaweed on the nose.

Palate: The smoke kicks in on the palate with those wet seaweed leaves thrown on a smoldering pile of pine to create a massive billow of smoke everywhere, as hints of buttery white wine and strawberry jam-covered scones linger in the background.

Finish: The finish leans into the bready nature of the scones with a dry straw edge that’s followed by a mouthful of seaweed-heavy grey smoke.

Bottom Line:

This is not for the faint of heart. There’s some serious peat here. That said, if you can get beyond the peatiness (add some ice), you’ll be in for a subtle and dessert-forward treat as a sipper.

9. Scapa Skiren Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $74

The Whisky:

This unpeated malt from Orkney starts its life on a barrel-shaped Lomond wash still. This still from the 1950s is super rare and only a few are left in operation. The whisky then spends an undisclosed amount of years mellowing in barrels from Tennessee and Kentucky. Those barrels are then vatted and proofed all the way down to 40% before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Old apple skins and floral honey lead the way on the nose with a hint of sour cream and roasted almond with a thin line of salt.

Palate: The taste has a slight damp straw funk to it as more honey smooths out the mid-palate with notes of dry anise and licorice leading to a touch of lemon pepper spice.

Finish: The finish has a note of old oak stave next to a lemon creaminess and that honey sweetness with a fair amount of that proofing water calming everything down.

Bottom Line:

This is a spicy and citrus-forward sipper that also works wonders in citrus-forward cocktails. If you’re into the dark and dank spice funk with an acidic vibe, this is going to be your jam.

8. Dalwhinnie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 15 Years

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $74

The Whisky:

This entry-point bottle to the wider world of Dalwhinnie is a hell of an easy drinker. The whisky is aged in Scotland’s oldest distillery, making the maturation process a severe one. The juice spends 15 years hiding in those barrels as the temperatures dip well below freezing across all those winters, which stops the maturation process, well, cold.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Imagine a bowl of pear and apple peels sitting next to an open jar of floral summer honey on the nose.

Palate: Dots of citrus oils mingle with that honey as a smooth vanilla character arrives on the back of sweet brown bread bespeckled with smoked walnuts.

Finish: The nuts, sweet bread, and floral honey all converge on the finish as they slowly fade towards a final billow of sweet smoke at the back of your mouth.

Bottom Line:

This is the subtlest peated malt on the list. Hell, you might not even notice those soft phenols at first glance/sip. This is soft and honeyed with even softer fruits, creating a supple sip of delicate whisky for the senses.

7. Compass Box Peat Monster Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $72

The Whisky:

Compass Box is one of the most interesting blenders/bottlers working today. This expression is the perfect example of the craft of whisky blending with six masterfully married peaty barrels coming together, focusing on Caol Ila and Laphroaig. A touch of Highland malt is added to bring in hints of dark spice to balance all that Islay peat.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This is peaty but not ridiculously so, thanks to the subtlety of the Caol Ila in the mix.

Palate: There’s a really rich and sweet apple/pear vibe that cuts through the earthy peat while a vanilla cream brings about a velvet mouthfeel.

Finish: The smoke returns but is tied to the fruit — like a bushel of smoked apples, pears, and apricots next to a touch of ashy smoke — on the finish.

Bottom Line:

This delivers what it promises when it comes to peat. You have to ease into this one if you’re not initiated into the peat world yet. Use water or ice to slowly build your palate with this whisky. You’ll be rewarded with a great sipper or cocktail base if you do.

6. Bruichladdich Bere Barley 2013 Aged 10 Years Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $72

The Whiskey:

This year’s Bere Barley 2013 is a 10-year-old malt made from very specific Scottish grains. The ancient varietal of barley is grown specifically for this whisky and is long fermented to highlight fruity and floral notes in the end whisky, which is aged in ex-bourbon barrels right on the sea in Islay.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Candied oranges and peach pie drive the nose toward a sense of malted pound cake with plenty of vanilla, poppies, and streusel next to creamed lemon curd, old fudge, and a whisper of marzipan with some pear brandy.

Palate: Malty barley biscuits greet you on the plate with plenty of wet brown sugar, Cream of Wheat cut with butter and pancake syrup, and apricot jam next to soft honeydew, more candied orange, and a sense of toasted coconut next to brandy-soaked marzipan with a hint of rose water.

Finish: A hint of milk chocolate arrives late with vanilla custard over fresh mago, more toasted coconut, rose water, and candied orange marzipan dipped in creamed honey with a whisper of lavender.

Bottom Line:

This is a modern classic malt with a deep sense of fruit, nuts, and creamed honey. There’s so much more going on than that though. So take your time, add water, retrace your steps, and really dive into the depths here.

5. Torabhaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky Allt Gleann

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $71

The Whisky:

The Torabhaig Distillery is the new kid on the block on the Isle of Skye. This whisky is made from heavily peated malts and blended to highlight the seaside vibe of that northern island. The whisky was made back in 2018 from two bespoke barley varieties. It then went into first-fill and re-fill ex-bourbon casks before a touch of water for proofing and bottling as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose on this one is subtly maritime with a hint of sea spray on cold grey rocks mingling with soft nutmeg, lemon and vanilla-laced shortbread, oyster shells, and a hint of burnt ends from a slow-smoked pork butt.

Palate: The palate leans into smoked salmon skins with a thick line of belly fat still attached as woody spices and dried apple skins lead to a sweet fruit throughline.

Finish: The finish has a hint of fennel and rye next to more sea spray, pepperiness, and a minor note of red fruit.

Bottom Line:

This is a great whisky to break out when you fire up the backyard smoker. It’ll pair perfectly with slow-smoked ribs, pork butt, and brisket.

4. Talisker Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 10 Years

ABV: 45.8%

Average Price: $74

The Whisky:

This is one of the most awarded single malts ever. The juice is matured in ex-bourbon casks in Talisker’s warehouse which is literally feet away from the sea. The subtly peated malts take on a real seaside feel as those years tick past, creating a whisky that will not disappoint.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with this soft sense of pitted orchard fruits next to a thin line of beach campfire smoke far off in the distance with a hint of minerality and bright spiced malts.

Palate: The palate has a hint of an oyster shell that leads to dried pears and apricots with a hint of warmth and spice malt next to dry sweetgrass.

Finish: The end is full of lightly smoked plums with a touch of cardamom and cinnamon next to sea salt and a final whiff of that beach campfire way down the beach somewhere.

Bottom Line:

This is an excellent gateway pour into the world of subtly peated malt. It’s the perfect pairing whisky for seafood feasts and mixing great Scotch cocktails. You cannot miss when pouring this one into your glass.

3. Oban West Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 14 Years

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $75

The Whisky:

This is a great gateway to both Oban and Scotch, in general, to have on hand. The whisky is classically made and then matured in the Oban storehouses for 14 long years — all within a stone’s throw of the sea. The whisky barrels are then blended and proofed by Oban’s tiny distillery team (only seven people work there) before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Citrus, salt, and a whisper of briny peat smoke open this one up on the nose as this sense of dry orchard fruits at the end of fall mingle with soft honey drizzled over spiced malted crackers with a hint of smoked orange saltwater taffy lurking in the background.

Palate: That smoked citrus carries on as a foundation for mild winter spices as a note of honeycomb, hints of fresh pears, and plummy dried fruits with a fatty nuttiness mingle on the palate.

Finish: The oaky spice and extremely mild peat smoke meet at the end with a slight malty sweetness, old pear, and the faintest whisper of dried seaweed.

Bottom Line:

This is another pretty much perfect pour of subtly peated malt. This is the peated whisky that might get you hooked once and for all on the softly peated stuff from Scotland … it’s that good.

2. The GlenDronach Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Cask Strength Batch no. 12

ABV: 58.2%

Average Price: $75

The Whisky:

Last year’s batch from Dr. Rachel Barrie at The GlenDronach is all about long aging. The whisky is left to mellow in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from Andalucía, Spain. The age statement is on the bottle, but the blends tend to lean over a decade. The final mix is then bottled at cask strength to really highlight that Spanish oak.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Scoops of decadent dark chocolate powder draw you in with a hint of espresso cream, burnt orange, and marzipan with a moist sticky toffee pudding vibe next to a faint whisper of dried rose.

Palate: The palate is lush with a roasted and rich espresso bean vibe with salted dark chocolate, chinotto orange, and more rich and moist marzipan with a dash of ginger candy dipped in clove and allspice tea.

Finish: There’s a rich vanilla underbelly that smooths everything out on the end with a sense of rum raisin and faint bourbon cherry tobacco layered with soft cedar and mocha lattes.

Bottom Line:

This is a phenomenal whisky. It’s a wonderful bridge between the bold worlds of Kentucky bourbon, sweet and spicy Spanish sherry, and unpeated Highland malts. Pour it neat, taste it, add water, and do it all over again. You’ll always find something new and delicious to enjoy. Or use this to make an amazing cocktail.

1. Johnnie Walker Green Label Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 15 Years

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $79

The Whisky:

Johnnie Walker’s Green Label is a solidly crafted whisky that highlights Diageo’s fine stable of distilleries across Scotland. The whisky is a pure malt or blended malt, meaning that only single malt whisky is in the mix (no grain whisky). In this case, the primary whiskies are a minimum of 15 years old, from Talisker, Caol Ila, Cragganmore, and Linkwood.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Soft notes of cedar dance with hints of black pepper, vanilla pods, and bright fruit — think red berries, fresh pear, and nectarines — with a wisp of singed green grass in the background.

Palate: The palate delivers on that soft cedar woodiness while edging towards a spice-laden tropical fruit brightness with grilled peaches covered in salted caramel, honey malt biscuits, and bitter yet sweet marmalade with a dash of winter spiciness.

Finish: The finish is dialed in with hints of soft cedar bark, singed wild sage, bark-forward winter spice, and stewed stonefruit leading toward a briny billow of smoke at the very end.

Bottom Line:

This is the best sipper and cocktail base on the list kind of by far. This whisky is excellent, varied, and delicious from top to bottom. This is a “just buy a case” whisky.

Mike Vrabel won’t coach in the NFL next season. A little less than a month ago, the Tennessee Titans fired Vrabel after six seasons, and it was assumed that he’d be one of the hottest names on the coaching market. And then, jobs started getting filled left and right, with Vrabel repeatedly getting passed up for someone else.

It was a bit of a surprise, as the consensus seemed to be that Vrabel helped the Titans punch above their weight for years before missing out on the playoffs the last two seasons. But ultimately, the dominoes fell in such a way that he’s going to spend the 2024 season either chilling at home or picking up a coordinator role, and according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, there’s at least one NFL executive who believes Vrabel being a big fella cost him a job.

“You know, I had a GM at the Senior Bowl who mentioned to me Vrabel’s physical build,” Russini said on the latest edition of The Athletic Football Show. “That he’s a very large human being and can be very intimidating to people in an organization that are going to be part of these decisions. And that is a factor. Which, I laughed, I said, ‘Stop, that’s not something that’s real. Who cares what someone physically looks like?’ And he said, ‘I’m just telling you, I’ve been in rooms and somebody’s physical presence can make a presence.’”

Russini did float the possibility of Vrabel spending this year as a defensive coordinator somewhere, and mentioned there might be interest there. Vrabel, of course, was an All-Pro linebacker with the New England Patriots, and Wikipedia tells me that he comes in at about 6’4 and 261 points, which is objectively a huge person. However, football is a sport filled with gigantic people, so if you want someone who played the game to coach your team, in all likelihood they are going to be a physically imposing human being. As such, if you’re a football team that believes in having a coach who is gigantic, I have very good news about a coach who is available.

Music’s biggest night took place Sunday, February 4 with the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Now, fans have the opportunity to take home a piece of the famed event.

Longtime GRAMMY Awards partner Mastercard is using this year’s campaign to shine a light on the environment and the Priceless Planet Coalition (PPC), a forest restoration program with the goal of restoring 100 million trees. Music fans are 1.5 times more likely to take action to help the environment, making the GRAMMY Awards the perfect opportunity to raise awareness.

“Through our GRAMMY Awards campaign, we’ve created an opportunity for our brand, our partners and consumers to come together over shared values, to participate during a moment when we can celebrate our passion for music and our commitment to make meaningful investments to preserve the environment,” says Rustom Dastoor, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Communications, North America at Mastercard.

The campaign kicked off with an inspired self-guided multi-sensory tour at the GRAMMY House presented by Mastercard, where people journeyed through their passion of music and educational experience about Mastercard’s longstanding commitment to tree restoration. Then, this year’s most-nominated GRAMMY artist and a passionate voice for the environment, SZA, led the charge with the debut performance of her new song, Saturn.

Mastercard’s partners are also joining the mission by encouraging people all over the country to participate; Lyft and Sirius XM are both offering ways for consumers to get involved in the Priceless Planet Coalition. To learn more about how you can support these efforts, visit
mastercard.com/forceofnature.

While fashion is always a highlight of any GRAMMY Awards event, SZA’s outfit worn during her performance of Saturn was designed to make a statement; made of tree seeds to help spread awareness. Fans can even comment ‘🌱’ and tag a friend on
Mastercard’s designated post of SZA’s GRAMMY House performance for a chance to win a tree seed from the performance outfit*.

“SZA has a personal passion for sustainability – not just in forest restoration but in the clothes she wears and the platforms and partners she aligns herself with. It was important to us to partner with someone who is not only showing up big at the GRAMMY Awards – as the most GRAMMY-nominated artist this year – but also showing up big for the environment,” says Dastoor.

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Due to factors like factory farming, logging, and urban growth, the Earth is losing trees at an alarming rate. According to
Earth.org, approximately 10 million hectares of trees are lost each year.

Forests regulate the air we breathe and are highly effective in moderating greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, tropical forests provide up to 30% of the global action needed to stop climate change.

“Planting trees can help improve everything – from air quality to economic opportunity to mental health – and everybody deserves these benefits,” SZA said in a
press release about her previous environmental activism.

Guided by Conservation International and World Resources Institute, the PPC employs science-based best practices for the selection, implementation, and long-term monitoring of their restoration efforts.

In addition to their goal to restore 100 million trees, the PPC also works to regrow forests in geographies that represent the greatest global need. This includes areas with the greatest potential for positive impacts on climate, with community and biodiversity goals being prioritized as they set out to restore forestland across the globe.

To learn more about the Priceless Planet Coalition or how you could get involved in forest restoration, visit mastercard.com/forceofnature.

* Additional Sweepstakes Details: No Purch. Nec. Void in Quebec and where prohibited. Mastercard cardholders before 2/4/24, who are U.S. & Canada res 18+ at time/date of entry. Ends 2/10/24. Winners/ARV: $30 USD each. Entry must include a “seedling” emoji and tag a friend. Canadian winners must answer a time-limited skill-testing math question. Odds of winning depend on the total number of entries received. Rules: priceless.com/forceofnature

It had been rumored that Tracy Chapman might be making an appearance at the Grammys this year, after Luke Combs’ country version of her iconic song “Fast Car” earned a grammy nomination.

Combs’ rendition of the late 80s classic, which won him Song of the Year at 2023 Country Music Awards, has been met with both great praise and great criticism.

Many applauded Combs for giving the tune a major resurgence and even bringing it to a whole new audience. At the same time, some took umbrage with the fact that Combs’ version had placed higher on the Billboard Hot 100 charts than Chapman’s original and argued that it was a symptom of long-endured racism within the country music genre.

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Chapman eventually came out of her private life to endorse Combs’ cover, saying, “I’m happy for Luke and his success and grateful that new fans have found and embraced ‘Fast Car.’”

Which brings us to the opening half hour of the Grammy 2024 Awards, where both Chapman and Combs appeared on stage in matching all-black outfits to perform a moving duet. This made for a landmark appearance for Chapman, who hadn’t performed publicly in several years.

As they sang, audiences mouthed the words and clapped along. Some songs really do have the power to bring folks of all walks of life together.

Watch:

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“Fast Car” has struck a chord with listeners since that seemingly fateful night at Wembley Stadium in 1988, when a few technical difficulties led Chapman to performing it as a backup plan, unwittingly stepping into musical history. Fans love the folk anthem for its raw simplicity and vivid depiction of yearning, brought to life by Chapman’s one-of-a-kind voice.

And even though there’s no replacing her original hit, the collaboration with Combs has led to some amazing genre-busting breakthroughs. Back in November of 2023, Chapman also reached No. 1 on Billboard‘s Country Songwriters chart and won song of the year for “Fast Car,” making her the first Black woman to win a Country Music Association award.

Then a mere moments after Chapman’s Grammy performance with Combs, “Fast Car” shot to No. 1 on iTunes Top Songs. Her debut album from 1988, titled “Tracy Chapman,” also shot to No. 1.

Art is subjective, but it stands to reason that a work of art can be considered great if it continues moving people time and time again. Chapman’s art certainly has this kind of staying power, and it’s wonderful anytime that achievement gets recognition.

If you were to look at Megan Montgomery’s Instagram account, you’d see a beautiful, smiling woman in the prime of her life, her youth and fitness the envy of women the world over. You’d even see some photos of her with her husband (#datenight), with comments saying things like “Aww, gorgeous couple!”

But beneath her picture-perfect feed was the story of a woman in an abusive relationship with her husband—one that would start with his arrest shortly after they got married, and end 10 months later with him shooting her to death in a parking lot.

In a Facebook post, one of the people who was out with Megan the night of her murder detailed how her estranged husband had come to their table, put his hand on her neck and shoulder, and escorted her out of the building.

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She went with him willingly, but anyone familiar with abusive relationships knows that “willingly” is a subjective term. He had reportedly threatened mass violence before. Perhaps she was trying to protect the people she was with. Perhaps staying felt more dangerous to her than going with him.

The couple reportedly had a volatile relationship from the start, and at one point both had restraining orders against the other. Regardless, she was killed by the man who had claimed to love her, an ex-cop who had been arrested for domestic violence and had been bailed out multiple times prior to that evening.

Feminist News wrote the gist of Megan’s story on Facebook, sharing photos from the couple’s wedding to illustrate how invisible domestic violence can be to those outside of it. “THIS is the face of domestic violence,” they wrote.

But what was perhaps most striking about the post was the deluge of comments from women describing their own experiences with domestic violence. Comment after comment explaining how a partner always made them think the abuse was their fault, how restraining orders were repeatedly violated, how they were charmed and loved into questioning whether the verbal abuse or physical violence was really that bad. Story after story of how they didn’t see it coming, how slowly and insidiously it escalated, how terrifying it was to try to leave.

Those of us who have not been in abusive relationships don’t always understand why people don’t leave them. But the dynamics of abuse—the emotional manipulation, the gaslighting, the self-esteem destruction, the fear and shame—are well documented.

Unfortunately, those dynamics can prove deadly. Domestic violence murders have been on the rise in recent years, going up 19% between 2014 and 2017. And sadly, our justice system does not protect domestic violence survivors as well as it should.

Part of the challenge of prosecuting in domestic violence cases is that victims are not always willing to cooperate, either out of fear or shame or embarrassment, or unhealthy loyalty. According to some estimates, domestic violence victims recant their testimony up to 70% of the time. That’s why some are pushing for evidence-based prosecution without requiring victim testimony, much like we try murder cases.

But some, like University of Maryland law professor Leah Goodmark, argue that pushing for more law enforcement hasn’t proven to reduce domestic violence rates. Addressing issues of poverty, childhood trauma, attitudes toward gender equality, and other risk factors for domestic violence may be more effective by stopping violence before it starts.

While abuse happens to both men and women, women are more likely to be victims and much more likely to be murdered by a partner. Thankfully, there are many resources for domestic violence survivors to seek help, whether you’re trying to determine if your relationship is abusive or trying to figure out if, when, and how to leave. The National Domestic Violence Hotline (www.thehotline.org or call 1−800−799−7233) has a wealth of information on domestic violence and what to do about it. The website even has a live chat where you can get your questions answered and receive assistance making a safety plan for you and your family.

If you are afraid of your partner or other loved one, there’s something wrong. No one should live in fear of the people who are supposed to love them the most.

This article originally appeared on 12.16.19

Matthew McConaughey’s upcoming Yellowstone spinoff seems to have hit a little bump in the road, and even though he is still attached to the project, we might be waiting a while to see him on the ranch. So, in the meantime, McConaughey is going back to his humble beginnings by lending his acting talents to a country music video. Maybe you didn’t know that McConaughey starred as the titular Walkaway Joe in Trisha Yearwood’s 1992 depressing country ballad “Walkaway Joe,” but now you do! Context is important here. This has been a long time coming, and he’s ready for it.

McConaughey stars in Zach Bryan’s video for “Nine Ball” as a father who teaches his son how to play pool in a local dive bar in between shotgunning beers. The son grows up, but the father still spends his nights starting bar fights with the locals. Maybe he is just getting ready for his Yellowstone debut by taking on such a complex family role!

The actor has been in limbo ever since it was announced he would lead a new Yellowstone spinoff, but behind-the-scenes drama seems to have halted the momentum. Just last month, Life and Style reported that the actor was getting frustrated at the process. “Matthew can’t book movie work that is going to potentially overlap with the show,” an insider said. “But he still doesn’t have clarity on when exactly this job would even start. He wants to make the deal — it’s become this incredibly drawn-out process.” They added, “No deal has ever taken this long for Matthew. Especially after he won his Oscar, getting folks to meet his asking price has been a breeze.” All that fame and power and he still wasn’t asked to appear in Magic Mike’s Last Dance. It’s interesting.

For now, it looks like we might have to settle for McConaughey starring in a string of random music videos until he gets some answers. Or he can hop on a T-Mobile campaign. Whatever keeps him busy…except for his cult-adjacent seminars. We haven’t forgotten about those.

Taylor Swift‘s record-breaking The Eras Tour has been on a break since late November. Too bad nothing interesting has happened to her since then… other than winning the Grammy for Album of the Year for a record fourth time and her boyfriend Travis Kelce going to the Super Bowl (also for the fourth time — it was karmically meant to be). Oh yeah, and she’s releasing a new album.

Swift announced that her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, is coming out on April 19. That comes during a gap in her schedule: after finishing up a multi-night residency at the National Stadium in Kallang, Singapore, on March 9, Swift doesn’t have another show until May 9 in Paris, France.

We’ll find out then whether The Tortured Poets Department gets an “era” set like all of her other albums, except for her self-titled debut.

Swift shared the cover of The Tortured Poets Department (Full House fans should be happy) after wining Best Pop Vocal Album during Sunday’s Grammys. She also posted a photo of a handwritten note that reads, “And so I enter into evidence / My tarnished coat of arms / My muses, acquired like bruises / My talismans and charms / The tick, tick, tick of love bombs / My veins of pitch-black ink / All’s fair in love and poetry…” She signed it with, “Sincerely, The Chairman of the Tortured Poets Department.”

You can see the complete dates for The Eras Tour here.

Nikki Haley made a random appearance on Saturday Night Live over the weekend where the Republican presidential candidate was bizarrely given a chance to paper over her problematic comments about the civil war while appearing in the opening sketch with host Ayo Edebiri. Haley’s cameo sparked strong reactions on social media, and now, at least one SNL cast member is making it known that the former South Carolina governor wasn’t entirely welcomed even if she is trying to take down Trump.

In a new Instagram post shared on Monday morning, SNL cast member Bowen Yang shared a photo of the flowers and note that was left for Haley in the SNL green room. The note read, “Amb. Haley, Welcome to Studio 8H! From, Lorne + Everyone at SNL.” In the caption of the photo, Yang wrote “everyone! :)” which seemingly implied that the sentiment wasn’t entirely true.

While the Instagram post is still up, Yang has disabled comments and the embed feature. The pushback marks a seemingly rough patch for the SNL star. Last week, Yang visibly stood far away from Dave Chappelle after the comedian randomly crashed the closing of Dakota Johnson’s episode. This week, the Haley incident not only happened, but SNL made an even more controversial move by announcing Shane Gillis as the next host.

Gillis was hired in the same incoming group as Yang, but never made it to his first episode. The comedian was fired after a series of homophobic and anti-Asian remarks were brought to light ending his SNL career before it even began. Inexplicably, Gillis is now returning as host, and no one seems to know why it’s happening.

As Twitter user LoLo Vanz noted, it almost seems like SNL is trying to force Yang out.

(Via The Daily Beast)