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Purported Rich Guy Trump Spent An Obscene Amount Of Donor Money On His Ever-Mounting Legal Bills

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Over the last year alone, Donald Trump has amassed a mountain of legal woes, along with it a mountain of legal debt. That revolving door cast of increasingly bumbling lawyers ain’t going to pay for themselves (unless he simply doesn’t pay them). But he’s going to be fine, right? He’s a self-purported rich guy, and a self-purported great businessman. He just had to dip a little into his donor money to pay his legal bills last year. Or maybe not just a little.

Per a New York Times report, last year the former president spent “approximately” $50 million of money given to his various PACs — money given by sometimes cash-strapped supporters — to pay for legal bills and other trial-related expenses, such as lawyers for witnesses.

Here’s some of the breakdown:

Mr. Trump has paid legal expenses through both Save America and a second account, called the Make America Great Again PAC, which is an outgrowth of his 2020 re-election committee. In the first half of 2023, Save America transferred $5.85 million to the Make America Great Again PAC, which spent almost all of that sum on legal and investigation-related costs. The roughly $50 million figure is a combination of such costs through both groups.

A fuller story will be more available on Wednesday, when filings made to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) will be made public, so it could be more, could be less (but could be more).

Does the prospective frontrunner for the GOP’s 2024 nomination actually have any money? Or is his entire existence a paper tiger, comprised of money constantly coming and going from his various accounts and businesses? Is it really wise for the Republican Party, its politicians and its voters, to keep sticking by a magnets understanding wannabe dictator whose big mouth just cost him another $83.3 million? Or will this charade continue in perpetuity?

(Via NYT)

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Hovvdy Announced Their Self-Titled Fifth Album And Shared Their Cozy New Video For ‘Forever’

Fans of Hovvdy can look forward to a double dose of the musical indie duo. Today (January 30), the band, comprised of members Charlie Martin and Will Taylor, announced their upcoming self-titled fifth album. In tandem with the album announcement, Hovvdy has shared their new song, “Forever.”

The breezy single describes the feeling of unconditional and perpetual love, even in the midst of difficulty.

“Baby, take a breather / You know you’ve been freaking out / How I wanna cool you off / Like your favorite season with the windows down,” sings Martin on the song’s opening verse.

In the song’s accompanying music video, directed by Michael Rees, Martin and Taylor are seen among friends — comedians Veronika Slowikowska and Kyle Chase — vibing to music at a house party, and basking in the joy of everyone’s company.

Hovvdy was produced primarily by Martin and Taylor, with additional production by Andrew Sarlo and Bennett Littlejohn. According to a press release accompanied by the album announcement, the album, described as a “double album,” finds Martin and Taylor “at the height of their powers, broadening the scope of their songwriting and adding new wrinkles to their sound, creating something wholly unique and exhilarating.”

You can watch the video for “Forever” above, and see the Hovvdy cover art and tracklist below.

Hovvdy cover art
Arts & Crafts

1. “Intro”
2. “Bubba”
3. “Jean”
4. “Big Blue”
5. “Shell”
6. “Forever Piano”
7. “Forever”
8. “Heartstring”
9. “Clean”
10. “Make Ya Proud”
11. “Til I Let You Know”
12. “Meant”
13. “Song For Pete”
14. “Every Exchange”
15. “Give It Up”
16. “Portrait”
17. “Angel”
18. “Bad News”
19. “A Little”

Hovvdy is out 4/26 via Arts & Crafts. Find more information here.

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Parents are opting for this sleepover alternative when kids aren’t ready for the real thing

Sleepovers are a subject that parents and even experts can’t seem to agree on.

On the one hand, they are seen as opportunities for children to develop independence away from home and create core memories with friends—all the while giving parents some possible quiet time.

On the other hand, the “no sleepover rule” is becoming increasingly popular, as the boundary helps to avoid separation anxiety or thrusting kids into potentially risky, even dangerous environments.

But for parents who want the best of both worlds…the “sleepunder” might be the perfect solution.


So, what exactly is a sleepunder?

sleepunder

Essentially, a sleepunder, aka “lateover,” is a sleepover, minus actually sleeping over. Kids can still show up in their pajamas, eat snacks, watch movies and play games, all those fun sleepover activities…only when it’s time to go to sleep, parents will pick the kids up so that they can sleep in their own bed at home.

Have to admit—hearing this option immediately puts 10-year-old me, an introverted only child who considered sleeping in a bed that wasn’t my own to be torture, at ease.

According to Erica Komisar, a New York-based psychoanalyst, parenting expert and author, this feeling that I had is certainly not unique.

“Some kids can do sleepovers without any hesitation, while others are less comfortable changing their routine,” she told Fox News, saying that sleepunders are a great way of addressing this very real sensitivity that some kids experience in a way that doesn’t compromise having fun or bonding in groups.

kids, parenting

While interviewing with Good Morning America, parenting expert Erika Souter added that sleepunders could be a “great option for parents who don’t culturally understand or agree with the idea of a sleepover.”

“For a lot of people it’s something that they never did or their parents didn’t let them do so this is a really good compromise,” she said.

So, in essence, sleepunders could be a great solution to easing both a kid’s and their parent’s potential anxiety.

So, in essence, sleepunders could be a great solution to easing both a kid’s and their parent’s potential anxiety.

As for how to establish a sleepunder routine, Pattie Fitzgerald, founder of Safely Ever After, Inc., has some tips that she provided to Motherly, and a lot of her advice boils down to being firm and clear in your plan, both to other parents, and your child.

Perhaps most importantly, Fitzgerald encourages parents to create a family “safe word,” just in case their child might feel uncomfortable and want to leave early. This is a way to clearly communicate without potentially causing embarrassment.

Parenting is a constant balancing act between protecting kids and allowing them freedom to explore. Sleepunders might not work for everyone, but it’s a great example of creative solutions to striking that balance.

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America the beautiful: Here are 15 places in the U.S. that people say are the prettiest

The one thing that all Americans and folks worldwide can agree on is that the United States is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. When tourists trek across the states, they are always blown away by how vast the country is and the number of different climates and bioregions encompassing all 50 states.

There are the deserts of the southwest, the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii, the tundra of Alaska and the grasslands of the midwest. Not to mention the beautiful coasts of California and the picturesque bays of New England.

America has many wonders, but which place is the most beautiful? A Redditor named DriedKitten posed the question to the AskReddit subforum and received over 1,100 replies.

To rank the responses on the Reddit post, we looked at the number of upvotes each suggestion received and then ranked them. It’s not the most scientific way of doing things, but it gives us a pretty good idea about the places in America that people think are most beautiful.

Here are the top 15 most beautiful places in America ranked.


1. Glacier National Park (523)

“That whole place is surreal. Going to the Sun Road is a national treasure.” — Andrunlc.

“The vistas of this road, on a motorcycle, were beyond breathtaking to experience. Would 100% do it again. Being on a bike allowed for stops at the waterfalls where there was no room for vehicles to pull over, and the views from the tunnels under the road were supernatural.” — Tastygrrrl

2. Grand Tetons (Wyoming)

“My vote would be for the Tetons. Holy sh**. The way they just rise up right in front of you when you exit the airport even.” — Bqzs

“Also early in the morning during the winter when the sun is reflecting off the snow along the side of the mountains. I think it’s called alpenglow.” — Fred Foreskin

3. Crater Lake (Oregon)

“On a clear, sunny day, there is no more beautiful place on earth than Crater Lake. Stunning blue water. Mountains all around.” — Commercial-Lawyer1629

“It’s a shade of blue I haven’t seen before or since. Can’t be captured in photographs. Something about it being incredibly clear and deep.” — Cutely Aware

4. Na Pali Coast (Kauai)

“Ludicrous I had to scroll this far to find Na Pali coast. I’ve been to around forty states – there is a LOT of incredibly scenic stuff in the US, but Na Pali is next level.” — BD401

“THIS. Kauai is absolutely beautiful. Taking a helicopter ride over the island is also an amazing sight. You see all the beautiful waterfalls that are a days hike away.” — PamelaThornton13

5. Redwoods (California)

“Drive up 101, and then detour towards Petrolia. There is absolutely nothing like it. Roll down your windows and drive 35mph. Smell the old growth. Stop at the pull out. Take a small hike. It’s worth it.” — Altril2010

6. Big Sur (California)

“Heaven on Earth, in my opinion.” — DriedKitten

“I felt like I was in some computer generated fantasy when I was there. It was just so beautiful and perfect.” — [Deleted]

7. Sequoia National Park (California)

“Paradise Valley in Sequoia NP is a favorite place of mine.” — Driedkitten

8. Mount Rainier (Washington)

“It is so odd and elusive. You come around a corner and BAM, there it is. But from a block away, you wouldn’t know it was there. It takes my breath away. Sitting on the Canyon Road East overpass on 512, you get a great view. I never want the light to change.” — Botryoid2000

Mt. Rainier, washington, mountains

​9. Yosemite National Park (California)

“Did a hike in Yosemite on January 1 last year. A spectacular way to start the year. I had seen photos of it, seen it in movies, and watched countless videos on YouTube about it, but -nothing- prepares you for the sight of El Cap as you turn that corner. I was very nearly moved to tears.” — ThrustersToFull

“It’s surreal in person, isn’t it? Just majestic.” — SocalRDB

​10. New England

“I think it depends on what you like. In my opinion, I like the New England states because I’ve seen pictures of the autumn that they have there. It’s the perfect place for Halloween. I love everything related to horror. And Maine is the state where lots of horror stories from Stephen King books take place.” — Midnight_Wolf89

​11. Glacier Bay (Alaska)

“Took a week-long camping trip there one year for the Perseids meteor shower. It’s unreal.” — badatboujie

12. Pictured Rocks (Michigan)

“Unexpectedly incredibly breathtakingly beautiful.” — Immoveablebeast

“Yes! Highly recommend renting a pontoon boat for the day!” — idekmanijustworkhere

13. Badlands (South Dakota)

“There’s never anyone there, and you can hike pretty much the whole place. It’s so peaceful.” — Mayo_Man

badlands, south dakota, america landmark

14. Lake Tahoe (Nevada)

“Gorgeous.” — Driedkitten

lake tahoe, american landmarks, natural beauty

15. Utah’s National Parks

“Zion would be my pick for OP’s question.” — ljg1986

“Utah is so beautiful that they even have the most beautiful license plates. And I say this sitting in coastal California.” — Adin-CA

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Lil Pump Continued To Show His Support For Trump With A Cringey Thigh Tattoo Of His Mugshot Photo

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Rapper Lil Pump is continuing to demonstrate his support for former US president Donald Trump. And it looks like it’s permanent. Today (January 30), the “Gucci Gang” rapper took to Instagram to share a photo featuring a new tattoo.

In the picture, Pump is seen in the mirror, revealing a tattoo of Trump on his thigh. Specifically, the likeness of Trump was recreated from his mugshot photo, which was taken last year after he was indicted on racketeering charges.

This new mirror selfie doesn’t appear to be a troll from the controversial rapper. Another photo on Pump’s page, shared six weeks ago, but pinned to Pump’s profile, features Pump standing next to Trump. In the post’s caption, Pump refers to Trump as the “Greatest president of all time.”

Pump first vocalized his support for Trump back in October of 2020, when he shared a video to social media slamming Biden’s tax policy. He verbalized his stance, saying “Trump 2020, b*tch.”

Shortly after the 2020 presidential election, Pump released a pro-Trump track called “Lil Pimp Big MAGA Steppin.”

But despite his outspokenness in his support for Trump, Pump actually reportedly hadn’t registered to vote in the 2020 election.

You can see Pump’s new tattoo above.

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When Does The New Season Of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Come Out?

Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 12 Trailer
HBO

It was 1999 when the world first saw Larry David — not the guy who co-created Seinfeld, but “Larry David,” the fictional character who’s basically the same guy as the real Larry David. It began with a one-off special, that followed his doppelgänger around in his needlessly chaotic life. By the following year it was a full-blown HBO series. Twenty-four years later Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s coming to an end (probably). But when — to borrow a clumsy phrase from the Fast X promotional campaign — does the end of the road begin?

The answer: Curb Your Enthusiasm’s 12th and final season kicks off on February 4 at 10pm on HBO.

So what kind of antics is Larry up to for his final roundelay? Well, for one thing, he has new, weird glasses, at least in some scenes. Judging from the trailer, at various points he insults: some exec played by Sharlto Copley; a gay couple, one half of whom is played by Dan Levy; a bunch of women who chase his car; Susie Essman’s Susie Green (of course); and his ex-wife Cheryl, played by Cheryl Hines.

Speaking of, hopefully (or not?) the show finished principal photography by the time Hines’ husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., kickstarted his presidential campaign. The real-life David is not thrilled about that guy, who he introduced to his current wife and David’s onscreen ex, and surely things have been awkward between he and Hines ever since. Maybe “Larry David” should come back for one more round, in which he’s appalled “Cheryl” got hitched to a conspiracy theorist so out-there he makes most conspiracy theorists seem sane.

Again, Curb returns on February 4 on HBO at 10pm. You can watch the trailer below.

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Ice Spice Revealed Her Upcoming Debut Album Is Called ‘Y2K’ And That It Arrives ‘This Year’

ice spice 2023
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Last week, Ice Spice ended her brief musical hiatus with her new single, “Think U The Sh*t (Fart).” The song came just over a year after the New York City rapper‘s debut EP, Like…?. With a new single out, Ice’s fans, known as the munchkins, are anticipating her full-length debut album.

Today (January 30), during an interview on Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager’s hour of Today, Ice shared a few details of her upcoming album.

When asked if she had an album on the way, Ice responded “Yes, there’s gonna be an album.” She continued, revealing that the album would arrive “this year.”

“I’m so excited,” Ice said. “It’s called Y2K.”

The album’s title seemingly alludes to her birthday — January 1, 2000, which was also the New Year’s Day that coincided with the theory of a Y2K virus crashing all computers and electronic devices at the time.

Though Ice didn’t reveal an exact release date for Y2K, she shared that the album is “almost finished.” She also held back details of the album’s collaborators, but teased one that she is very happy about.

“I have a crazy collaboration that just got locked in, like two days ago,” Ice said.

You can watch a clip from the interview above.

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Live Nation Was Reportedly Ready To Offer Talking Heads $80 Million For A Reunion Of ‘6 To 8’ Headlining Slots

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It’s festival season. Which means some of your favorite bands are gearing up for epic reunions. Fans of No Doubt can look forward to a special reunion of the band’s classic line-up at Coachella 2024 in April. While this season is a magical time for music, not even the magic of money could get a certain band back together. Today (January 30), Billboard reported that Talking Heads were reportedly in talks to reunite at Coachella, and several other festivals this year.

This tidbit of information reportedly came from festival curator and Goldenvoice president Paul Tollett, who had traveled to the Toronto International Film Festival last year for the 40th anniversary of the band’s concert film, Stop Making Sense. Tollett told Billboard that while he was interested in booking Talking Heads for Coachella, he “sensed there were no shows happening, so [he] didn’t make an offer.” Though, sources familiar with the festival say the band could’ve earned $10 million from a headlining appearance.

According to the publication, Live Nation also reportedly “told the Talking Heads it was willing to pay the band $80 million to headline six to eight festival gigs and headlining slots, sources close to the group say. The Talking Heads ultimately rejected that offer as well.”

At the time of writing, neither Live Nation nor Talking Heads have commented on the matter.

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Tyrese Haliburton, Who Could Lose Out On $40 Million Because Of It, Called The NBA’s 65-Game Award Rule ‘Stupid’

tyrese haliburton
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Tyrese Haliburton has had a tremendous season for the Indiana Pacers this far, averaging 23.6 points and 12.6 assists per game this season. However, a hamstring injury cost him nearly a few weeks of action, and as the All-Star break approaches, the Eastern Conference starter is dangerously close to being eliminated from awards contention already. Haliburton has missed 13 games this year and if he misses 18, he will fall short of the new 65-game threshold to be under consideration for awards and this year’s All-NBA teams.

That’s a particularly big deal for Haliburton, who would see his contract extension signed last summer currently worth $207 million be worth more than $40 million more if he made an All-NBA team this year. If he continues on the pace he’s played at through the first half of the season, especially if he continues leading the league in assists by a wide margin, he’d be a near-lock to land on one of the three All-NBA squads (even in a crowded guard race).

As Haliburton said to The Athletic’s James Boyd when asked about it, he and many other players view it as a “stupid rule,” noting it’s what the owners want and, a bit tongue in cheek, said the most important thing is that “the owners are happy.”

“I think it’s a stupid rule, like plenty of the guys in the league, but this is what the owners want, so as players, we gotta do our job and play in 65 games if we’re able to,” Haliburton said after practice Monday. “So, that’s what I gotta do, take care of my body to be able to play in those games, and I think you’re seeing other players in the league kind of face the same thing. As long as the owners are happy.”

It’s hard to blame Haliburton for his frustration here. The idea with the rule was to provide another performative attempt at limiting load management by the NBA to please TV networks in the midst of broadcast rights negotiations — hence the “as long as the owners are happy” bit from Haliburton. The problem this would cause was easy to see, because it was a lock that someone would get legitimately hurt and miss somewhere between 18-21 games while putting together one of the league’s best seasons.

In this case, Haliburton is now one more minor injury away from being that player, and his annoyance with being caught in this position this season when he needs All-NBA to maximize his contract (and is playing at that level) is more than understandable. Some, like Joel Embiid, have made clear that they won’t worry about the 65-game threshold when it comes to the awards debate, even though he’d be an MVP frontrunner. However, that’s not messing with his earning potential nearly as much as it is Haliburton’s, and the truth is, voters have always factored in games played when voting on awards.

The MVP of the league has almost always played more games than this threshold, because voters factor it into their calculus unless it’s a year where every top player misses chunks of time. The same goes for the other awards, but All-NBA is, in particular, a unique set of circumstances because you might be able to argue for a few guys having put together more complete seasons than someone, but if someone leads the league in assists and plays in 60 games like Haliburton might, that guy has earned a third-team selection probably more than someone that played 66 games with a considerably lesser resume. The league won’t care because they look like they are being hard on load management and the players did agree to it in negotiations, but the potential issues that were always obvious certainly seem like they are going to come to fruition this season.

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Nicki Minaj Fans Have Reportedly Been Threatening The Cemetery Where Megan Thee Stallion’s Mother Is Interred

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The ongoing feud between Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Though Meg herself hasn’t directly commented on the matter, nor called Minaj out by name, Minaj and her fans believed certain parts of Meg’s latest single, “Hiss” were aimed at her. Over the weekend, Minaj responded to “Hiss” with a Megan-aimed diss track called “Big Foot.” All the while, the Barbz have reportedly been trolling Twitter users decrying Minaj, and have been said to be doxxing fans and collaborators of Meg.

As a result, the Houston police department and local authorities have reportedly gotten involved in the matter. Over the weekend, the address of the gravesite of Megan’s mother, Holly Thomas — who died of brain cancer in 2019 — was shared online. TMZ reported that Houston authorities have amped up security after Barbz had reportedly threatened to deface the gravesite.

The publication notes that security “will continue to monitor the situation as they take all matters regarding safety and security seriously.”

At the time of writing, no incidents have been reported at the gravesite, however, the cemetery reportedly remains on “high alert.”

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.