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Outgoing president Donald Trump clearly doesn’t want to go anywhere. He’s spent the last six weeks desperately contesting the election he clearly lost to Joe Biden, filling the courts and his once-easily hacked Twitter feed with baseless claims of voter fraud. None of it has worked, and a new report from CNN paints a chaotic picture of the about-to-be-reshuffled White House, with sources claiming the former reality star has even floated the idea of just not leaving.

Mind you, the report claims that, when he speaks about refusing to vacate 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., he’s been “walked down from that ledge.” How often this happens and how permanently he’s been “walked down” go unmentioned. One adviser seems to be cautiously optimistic. “He’s throwing a f*cking temper tantrum,” they said. “He’s going to leave. He’s just lashing out.”

Of course, after four years it’s abundantly clear that Trump doesn’t joke, that he hates losing, and that he will try anything to get his way, including eroding faith in the electoral process. (A staggering number of Republicans still believe the 2020 election was rigged, despite the repeated and repeated lack of evidence.) He’s also possibly going to come under a lot of financial and legal duress once he’s no longer shielded by the office of the presidency.

In other words, there’s a chance Trump could bolt himself to his tiny desk on January 20 and not leave. Thing is, him being forcibly dragged out of the White House is something a number of his critics would love to see.

Many said the Secret Service — who he’s repeatedly put in harm’s way, sometimes for nothing more than a drive-by photo op — would gladly do it, too.

Others wonedered if it could be televised.

Trump has shown no public signs of conceding, and in fact has raised a jaw-dropping amount of money from supporters for his efforts to challenge the election — a tiny fraction of which has actually gone to, well, challenging the election. (Again, he owes a ton of money once he’s no longer President of the United States.) Still, maybe that TV channel will wind up being the thing that belatedly gets him to hand over the reins. Clearly, though, many would prefer a spectacle.

(Via CNN)

Mulatto is one of the names on a long list of female rappers — among them Chika and Flo Milli — who’ve made a big splash this year. The Atlanta native made her mainstream entrance with “Muwop,” her collaboration with Gucci Mane. Her rise continued with Queen Of Da Souf, her official debut album. She added another accomplishment to a prolific year, recording a verse on YFN Lucci’s “Wet,” which now has a video.

It finds YFN Lucci and Mulatto in a pool, with Lucci leading the way with a verse of his own. After spending a few intimate moments with a woman in a sauna, he hands the mic off to Mulatto, who brings things inside to a massage room, rapping her verse as she gets a few knots loosened in her back. In addition to YFN Lucci and Mulatto’s appearance in the video, comedian Desi Banks also shows up, appearing alongside a group of women for what looks like a meditation session before he joining Mulatto to get his own massage.

You can watch the “Wet” remix video above.

Queen of Da Souf (Extended Version) is out now via Streamcut/RCA. Get it here.

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

On Wednesday, actor Leonard Roberts penned a lengthy and disturbing article on Variety, in which he detailed alleged friction while acting in the mid-aughts superhero show Heroes, resulting in his role being greatly reduced and his character unceremoniously killed off. Among those who made his experiences unpleasant, he said, was co-star Ali Larter, who played his character’s wife and who, he claimed, treated him differently than she did other screen partners. Mere hours later, Larter has responded, saying Roberts’ account left her “heartbroken.”

Roberts wrote that Larter was distant and cold with him, and that she made dramatic changes in what was supposed to be an intimate scene between their characters. He later learned that she had no such concerns with such scenes with another actor, who’s white, leading him to wonder if race had been a factor. He implied that she was partly responsible for his character being written off the show in the beginning of Season 2.

Larter began trending soon after the Variety article went live, and she soon issued a statement to TVLine, expressing horror at what Roberts had gone through though claiming that none of what she is accused of doing was intentional:

“I am deeply saddened to hear about Leonard Roberts’ experience on Heroes and I am heartbroken reading his perception of our relationship, which absolutely doesn’t match my memory nor experience on the show. I respect Leonard as an artist and I applaud him or anyone using their voice and platform. I am truly sorry for any role I may have played in his painful experience during that time and I wish him and his family the very best.”

Roberts’ Variety piece was corroborated by 10 other people either involved with Heroes or who had knowledge of the experiences in question. Larter had also been contacted, but she wouldn’t make any on-the-record statements. Heroes ran for four seasons starting in 2006, and its creator, Tim Kring, said his goal was to “cast the most diverse show on television.”

(Via TVLine)

It’s been a particularly tough year for small businesses. Because of the ongoing pandemic, local businesses around the country are struggling to make ends meet, and thousands have been forced to shut their doors for good. But with the COVID-19 vaccine now entering wide distribution, the hope is that life will get back to normal in the coming year and boost an economy that has suffered major setbacks.

The NBA and its players, of course, have been active as usual in supporting local causes in their hometowns and elsewhere through the NBA Cares program, as well as individual efforts from players who donate their time and money to help boost business in their community via various outreach programs and initiatives.

Cavs center Larry Nance Jr., who is as committed as anyone to using his platform for positive change, is helping prop up Cleveland-area businesses through a creative new idea to spotlight their goods and services by wearing their apparel to home games this season and giving them a shout-out on social media.

pic.twitter.com/FNOpEYcLVE

— Larry Nance Jr (@Larrydn22) December 16, 2020

Nance is asking fans to send him clothing from local businesses that he will wear to games and then donate to local homeless shelters. He will also auction off his game-worn jersey and match the sale price, with the proceeds going to local businesses. It’s an innovative way to get fans involved and keep money funneling into local restaurants, retailers, and manufacturers, particularly during when it’s become so much more convenient to rely on big-box stores for so many of our everyday needs.

The ‘80s sitcom Night Court is beloved that 30 Rock dedicated an entire episode to stage an episode that never aired because it had been cancelled. Somehow it’s taken another 12 years for this to happen: According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show is being revived. It’s not being remade, mind you. It’s getting a sequel, following the next generation (or is it the one after that?) of employees at, well, a night court, located in eccentric-heavy Manhattan.

The third season 30 Rock episode in question only brought back three cast members: Harry Anderson, Markie Post, and Charlie Robinson, who played judge, public defender, and court clerk over the show’s nine seasons. Anderson passed away in 2018, but the revival will — so far, anyway — only bring back John Larroquette, whose turn as pompous prosecutor Dan Fielding made him a star. Larroquette wouldn’t be the lead, mind you. The revival’s plot, as per THR:

The sequel would center on Abby Stone, daughter of the original’s central character, Judge Harry Stone (played by the late Harry Anderson). She has followed in her father’s footsteps and presides over the night shift of an arraignment court in Manhattan and the assorted characters who populate it, including former prosecutor Dan Fielding.

Night Court ran from 1984 to 1992, and its creator, Reinhold Weege, had previously been a writer on the classic ’70s police precinct comedy Barney Miller, which too focused on the day-to-day of New York City law enforcement. (Barney Miller has been cited as the most realistic police show ever made, depicting the job as unsexy and often dull. Same with Night Court, though it was far more willing to go full-tilt wacky.) As of this writing, the show isn’t available on any of the major streamers — not even Peacock, the one for NBC, where it aired. But trust us, it was funny.

(Via THR)

Dave Grohl and Greg Kurstin’s Hanukkah Sessions reached the one-week mark on Wednesday and for the seventh installment in the series, the duo decided to take on The Knack’s song “Frustrated.” The track comes from the Los Angeles-based band’s 1979 debut album, Get The Knack, which was one of that year’s best-selling releases and even held down the No. 1 spot on the albums chart for five straight weeks.

The duo spoke wrote the song in the YouTube description. “Tonight we’re featuring 4 nice Jewish boys whose biggest hit was a song about a nice Jewish girl… “My Shalom-a” or something like that,” the description read, referencing the band’s lone No. 1 single. “We’re huge fans of New Wave (as well as the “old wave” that came after Moses parted the Red Sea)…so we were psyched to get to cover one of our favorites…The Knack!”

Grohl and Kurstin’s cover of “Frustrated” comes the day after they took on Elastica’s “Connection.” Past covers have included The Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” Drake’s “Hotline Bling,” Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen,” Peaches’ “F*ck The Pain Away,” and Bob Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35.” Thursday’s cover will also be the duo’s last Hanukkah session as it is the final day of the Jewish holiday.

In addition to The Knack cover, Grohl also reconnected with his Foo Fighters band to cover Chuck Berry’s classic Christmas record, “Run Rudolph Run.”

You can listen to the cover in the video above.

When it comes to the most iconic duos in recent NBA history, a lot of names come to mind. There’s Jordan and Pippen, Stockton and Malone, Shaq and Kobe, Steph and Klay. But one pairing that arguably doesn’t get enough attention these days is the Sonics’ one-two punch of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp.

Long before there was Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, Payton and Kemp were connecting for highlight-reel jams on a nightly basis up in the original Lob City of the Pacific Northwest during the mid-90s. Though their championship hopes were dashed by the Bulls juggernaut of that era, like so many other greats, they left an indelible mark on the league.

They connected once again on Wednesday night for a sit-down special on NBA TV, “Reign Man & the Glove,” during which they took a trip down memory lane, but also spent some quality time looking at some of today’s rising stars, particularly the stark similarities between Kemp’s game and sophomore sensation Zion Williamson.

“I think a guy that reminds me more of you is Zion Williamson.” @GaryPayton looks at the similarities of @Zionwilliamson and @sk40_reignman. pic.twitter.com/nQti3YRfap

— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 17, 2020

It turns out to be a pretty apt comparison, given their explosiveness around the room and a quick first step to blow by defenders when operating out of the high post. Zion, of course, is just starting to scratch the surface of his abilities, and his second season is going to be fascinating to watch with all the changes around the Pelicans organization in the offseason.

For nearly two decades Tom Rinaldi has handled some of ESPN’s biggest interviews and feature stories, having joined the network in 2002 from CNN/SI. However, he will reportedly be departing ESPN for Fox Sports in the near future, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post.

Tom Rinaldi, one of ESPN’s top on-air reporters, is leaving for Fox, where he is expected to be featured across all of its major events from the Super Bowl to the World Series to the World Cup and college football, according to sources.

Rinaldi’s probably best known for his feature stories on College Gameday, as well as his golf coverage — Marchand notes he got the first sitdown interview with Tiger Woods following his infamous car crash in 2010 — and will apparently spread his wings at Fox to their biggest events, adding the NFL, MLB, and soccer to his repertoire.

The legendary reporter is maybe best known for his incredible ability to get interview subjects emotional, as tears are a regular reaction to watching a Rinaldi interview, but he is just generally a spectacular reporter and interviewer. Per Marchand, Rinaldi’s departure is not part of ESPN’s recent layoffs but a move he’s making on his own, and Fox Sports is certainly getting one of the biggest names in the reporting business to add to their big event coverage.

As we barrel towards the holidays, you’re probably planning on stocking up on bourbon, Scotch, rye, and other styles of whiskey. And while we’d never tell you not to do that (we love whiskey!), we would urge you not to forget about rum. Especially dark rum.

Dark rums — with all of their caramelized sugar, sweet tropical, and vanilla-spice-inflected flavor notes — are actually perfect for this time of year. And like whiskey, the well-aged stuff is ideal for sipping over a single ice cube. Jeremy Duffy, bar manager at Arvada Tavern in Arvada, Colorado has simple parameters when looking for a winter rum.

“When I’m looking for a rum to sip on this time of year,” he says, “I just look for something unique and flavorful. Same as any time of year, really.”

That seems straightforward enough. But which “unique and flavorful” rums are worth your money right now? We asked 10 of our favorite bartenders to shout out their picks for the best dark rums to drink neat as winter settles in.

Foursquare 12-Year-Old

Brandon “Habi” Habenstein, beverage director at The Kitchen & Bar at Bardstown Bourbon Company in Bardstown, Kentucky

The world of rums is akin to the wild west, with little to no oversight or regulation. One brand changing that and bringing the best rums available to the market is Foursquare Rum Distillery. With no additives, this is how rum was meant to be produced. No color, no sugar, no filtration, these rums are outstanding.

If you see Foursquare on the label you can feel safe buying any expression, but their dated single blends are a good place to start. One of the best bottlings is Foursquare 12, finished in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd use bourbon barrels.

Santa Teresa 1796

Chelsea Napper, bar manager at Yūgen in Chicago, Illinois

I love Santa Teresa 1796 for sipping. It feels like a warm hug on a chilly Chicago morning. Santa Teresa uses the Solera method, blending rums aging four to 35 years. On the palate, there are always notes of warm vanilla and fudge: the perfect combo for winter in my opinion.

Zacapa 23

Felipe Muñoz, head bartender at Sweetleaf Cocktails in Long Island City, New York

Zacapa 23 is a dark rum that we have in an amazing cocktail right now at Sweetleaf. I like this neat as well, since it is sweet and heavy on the fruit notes, but also quite dry with hints of leather and baking spice.

Zaya Gran Reserva

Mike Renzulli, bartender at City Works Eatery & Pour House in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

Zaya Gran Reserva. This barrel-aged rum has vibrant notes of caramel and brown sugar — one of the best!

Goslings Family Reserve Old Rum

Matteo Frazzoni, head bartender at Bonefish Bar & Grill in Bermuda

Goslings Family Reserve Old Rum is crafted from the same blend as the original Goslings Black Seal Rum, a staple in Bermudian culture and diet. Aged longer in oak barrels, the flavor is perfect for fall, reminiscent of a fine cognac. Being a millennial and a bartender for the best part of a decade, I undoubtedly recommend enjoying this Family Reserve Old Rum neat.

Who says you can’t teach a new dog old tricks?

Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still Black

Andy Printy, beverage director at Chao Baan in St. Louis

Hamilton Jamaican Pot Still by Ministry of Rum is the most complex dark rum I’ve ever had. Tons of dark molasses and light baking spice combine with the open fermentation’s wild yeast for all the funk you can handle. It startles your palate with rich molasses and cocoa nib, then graduates into light allspice and masterful funkiness.

It’s best neat, as when you drop the temperature on this one, you lose a lot of what makes it so magical.

Bayou Select

Seth Falvo, bartender at The Hotel Zamora in St. Pete Beach, Florida

Bayou Select is an ideal rum for fall. This rum has plenty of apple and oak on the nose, with a flavor profile that practically screams “winter desserts” — cinnamon, maple, vanilla, and blackberry are all prevalent. The mouthfeel is full yet surprisingly dry, thanks to the bourbon barrels that this rum has been aged in.

Havana Club 7

Hayden Miller, head bartender at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila in Miami

Havana Club 7 is a simple, well-done rum and it will never disappoint. Tastes like sweet inebriation just one pour away. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also aged for seven years and has hints of tobacco, brown sugar, and vanilla.

Hamilton Saint Lucia Pot Still Rum

Gavin Humes, bartender at Scratch|Bar & Kitchen in Encino, California

Almost anything from Hamilton is going to be worth drinking, but I’ve been enjoying the Hamilton Saint Lucia Pot Still Rum — 10 years. It’s got a good amount of age on it and offers the complexity that you need if you’re drinking it straight. It has the deep caramel notes, and a bit of spice, as well as a healthy touch of the funk that some of the best rums out there have.

It’s delicious, and perfect for drinking neat.

Denizen Merchant’s Reserve

Jeremy Duffy, bar manager at Arvada Tavern in Arvada, Colorado

Denizen Merchant’s Reserve is just that rum. When we have two different styles of rum blended together, it truly stands out from the crowd. You get the funkiness from the Jamaican pot style rum, yet still get that punch of earthy grass notes from the Martinique Rhum Grande Arome.

You can’t go wrong with this one.

Up until last week, Dr. Garrett Felber was on track to become a tenured history professor at the University of Mississippi. Dr. Felber studies race and incarceration in the U.S. and is a dedicated advocate for people who are imprisoned. He’s also a published author, having written “Those Who Know Don’t Say: The Nation of Islam, the Black Freedom Movement and the Carceral State” and co-written “The Portable Malcolm X Reader” with Pulitzer Prize-winning Malcolm X biographer Manning Marable.

In August, Felber was awarded a one-year fellowship at Harvard University’s Hutchins Center for African and African American Research and is working there during the 2020-2021 school year. Dr. Noell Wilson, University of Mississippi’s history department chair, praised Felber for the award at the time.

“Garrett is an indefatigable researcher and community builder whose knowledge of the carceral state stems not merely from archival digging, but also from his volunteer engagement with prisons as a teacher,” Wilson said. “We are thrilled with this award because it both recognizes his national profile in the field of African American history and provides critical space for him to advance two pioneering interpretive projects.”

Four months later, Wilson notified Felber of his termination.

In a letter dated December 10, the department chair informed him that his employment with the university would be terminated as of December 31, 2021. Though she cited communication issues between her and Felber in her letter, some believe his termination has more to do with his speaking out about the university kowtowing to racist donors.

Felber has been involved with a project called “Study and Struggle,” which he describes as a political education project on mass incarceration and immigrant detention. Wilson rejected a grant for the project in October, saying it was a political instead of historical project and might jeopardize department funding.

“The real issue is that (UM) prioritizes racist donors over all else,” Felber tweeted. “So it’s not some mythic politics v. history binary, but that this antiracist program threatens racist donor money. And racism is the brand. It’s in the name.”

A statement from the university’s communications office said that the grant refusal “was made after several considerations and in consultation with the relevant campus offices. Dr. Felber did not follow the appropriate process for seeking external funding, a process for which he has been briefed individually by representatives of several administrative offices across campus. Dr. Felber submitted his proposal to a private charitable foundation without the knowledge of his department chair or other officials.”

“If he had followed UM’s process of engaging with external funders,” the statement continued, “his department chair would have had the opportunity to advise him on how best to align his proposal with the Department of History’s research, teaching and service mission as articulated in its mission statement. As a public research institution, the university is committed to supporting the work of all faculty, being good stewards of both public and private grants and ensuring that all work on behalf of UM aligns with the mission of our collective schools and units.”

However, at a time when anti-racism research, education, and academic projects are under attack—not just by society but by the federal government—it’s hard to separate what might be legitimate personnel issues and what might be pressure from funding soruces.

Another UM professor told the Mississippi Free Press: “Feel free to note the increasing levels of paranoia on campus.” Professors from around the country have come to Felber’s defense, with some even having predicted that his anti-racist academic work would lead to Felber being ousted.

While some scold academia for being intolerant of views that don’t align with “liberal” thought, the opposite can be just as true, especially where money is involved. While the University of Mississippi has made some strides in coming to terms with its racist history, the roots of racism run deep.

“I’m just so deeply dismayed by the willingness of faculty and administrators at all levels of the university who acquiesce to the will of these powerful racist, donors,” Felber told the Mississippi Free Press in October. “Individually, these people will continue to tell me they respect the work, and appreciate it, and support it, and will until the push from above comes, and then they willfully misrepresent and do things like what my chair did.”

“It’s all very calculated and it feels—it’s not just structurally racist, it’s also personally betraying to say that you support these things, then when it actually matters they always acquiesce. It just has a profound effect on all of us doing the work to actually continue to do the stuff that matters and not get mired in calling the university out for its lies continually. The people that that harms the most are the people who benefit from these projects. People who are already excluded from the university through structural racism.”

When asked what people can do to support him, Felber has encouraged people to donate to a campaign to buy toiletries for people who are incarcerated in Mississippi.

That’s called putting your money where your mouth is. The world—academic and otherwise—could use a whole lot more of that kind of integrity.