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Since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, it’s been hit with untold sanctions that have all but isolated them from much of the world. Their exports are not being exported. Businesses that were once all over the country have pulled out. That includes McDonald’s, which shuttered hundreds of outposts nationwide. But Russia has found ways to deal with the crippling of their economy. In the case of their long-gone McDonald’s outposts, they simply rebranded.

On Sunday, as per Reuters, 200 of the 850 former McDonald’s locations had reopened, this time with a new name: Vkusno & Tochka, which roughly translates to “Tasty & That’s It.” (“Tochka” means “period,” as in the end of a sentence.) The menu, though smaller, is largely the same. The Golden Arches are gone, replaced by a new logo that looks like two fries and a little burger patty. Also MIA are the Big Mac and McFlurry. The Filet o’ Fish is now simply a fish sandwich. There’s also a new slogan: “The name changes, love stays.”

But the composition of the food offerings largely remains the same. According to The New York Times, the Russian McDonald’s are more or less self-sufficient, minus the name and key menu items:

When McDonald’s opened in the Soviet Union in 1990, the Americans had to bring in everything. Soviet potatoes were too small to make fries, so they had to acquire their own russet potato seeds; Soviet apples did not work for the pie, so the company imported them from Bulgaria.

But by the time McDonald’s pulled out this year, its Russian stores were getting almost all of their ingredients from Russian suppliers.

Reuters talked to a teenager who weighed on in how Vkunso & Tochka compares to McD’s. “The taste has stayed the same,” he remarked. “The cola is different, but there really is no change to the burger.”

It’s rare mostly good news for Russia, which has struggled to pull off an invasion that they once thought would be over in a flash. Morale is reportedly so low that soldiers have been trying to set up sham marriages to get out of duty, while President Vladimir Putin himself is reportedly losing what’s left of his sanity. Maybe he can refuel by recreating one of those disastrous menu hacks.

(Via Reuters and NYT)

One of the most popular racing franchises is Microsoft’s series of Forza games. The most recent Forza Horizon was extremely well regarded and even managed to earn some discussion in Game of the Year discussions around the industry.

On Sunday, during the Xbox and Bethesda showcase, another entry into the acclaimed racing series was announced. A new trailer for the Forza Motorsport franchise was shown off and a heavy emphasis was placed on the game’s day and night cycle.

Between Horizon and Motorsport, the preference really comes down to the player. Horizon is a more arcade-like racing game compared to the more simulation-like experience in Motorsport.

So with all that in mind, how did this look into the next entry of Motorsport look? Not bad! It featured a lot of really nice landscapes to look at while driving, and we already know the technical aspect of the game is going to work well. We do want to see a little bit more from the game before it launches in 2023, but there’s still plenty of time for more information to come out.

What’s really great though is that, no matter how you feel about the game, you’re gonna get the opportunity to play it on launch day thanks to Game Pass.

Last fall, before Netflix fell on some hard times, they had a new sensation. Squid Game became the streamer’s biggest-ever hit, outdoing even Bridgerton. The dystopian show about desperate people competing in deadly games for cash inspired Halloween costumes and SNL sketches. It was inevitable that there would be more, but only now, some eight months after its premiere, has Season 2 been officially announced.

On Sunday, Netflix dropped a very short teaser, featuring animation of the animatronic doll that figured heavily in the show’s maiden season. “Red light… GREENLIGHT!” the caption read, with the doll’s one eye flashing the number two.

Along with the teaser, Hwang Dong-hyuk, the show’s writer, director, and executive producer, penned a brief letter ringing in the occasion. “It took 12 years to bring the first season of ‘Squid Game’ to life last year. But it took 12 days for ‘Squid Game to become the most popular Netflix series ever,” Hwang wrote. He thanks the fans and teased what lay in store:

And now, Gi-hun returns.
The Front Man returns.
Season 2 is coming.
The man in the suit with ddakji might be back.
You’ll also be introduced to Young-hee’s boyfriend, Cheol-su.

Join us once more for a whole new round.

Thing is, fans will have to be patient. Last month, Hwang said the show likely won’t be ready for public consumption until late 2023, maybe even 2024. Till then, they’ll have to subsist on that brief, creepy teaser.

Taylor Swift stepped out into the public eye this past weekend to make an appearance at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. She was invited to the festival to speak about the 15-minute short film she released for “All Too Well,” a record that topped the charts to become the longest No. 1 song of all time. There was a screening of the film for those in attendance, but Swift also took a moment to discuss her approach to filmmaking during a conversation with Mike Mills. During the sit-down, Swift was asked if she would consider making more films in the future.

“It would be so fantastic to write and direct a feature,” she replied. “I don’t see it being bigger in terms of scale. I loved making a film that was so intimate with a crew that was relatively small. Just a really solid crew of people that I trusted.” Elsewhere in the conversation, Swift discussed how different shots in the “All Too Well” film were used to capture the ups and downs of the characters’ relationship.

“I wanted to show their closeness with handheld shots, I wanted to be so close we could count freckles,” Swift said. “As things fell apart, I wanted to reflect the remoteness she feels, this desperation she feels, because her world opened up to this big passionate intense love and all of the sudden, overnight, it boiled down to nothing, and the floor fell through.”

Swift also gifted attendees with a live performance of “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version),” making for a truly fulfilling and enjoyable moment for those who watched the conversation at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival.

You can watch some moments from Taylor’s Tribeca Film Festival appearance above.

The Jan. 6 hearings back last week, and they were ratings gold, all while revealing things that hadn’t previously been made public. Details of behind-the-scenes chicanery continue to surface. Among them is this: The day after the Capitol riot, Sean Hannity had an idea how on how to atone for the violent attack that left five dead. His pitch: Pardon Hunter Biden.

This comes from The Daily Beast, who dwelled on one of the many text messages made public by the House select committee. The Fox News host was communicating with then-White house press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, telling her about a meeting he’d had with the outgoing president about ways to “smooth things over,” not only with the incoming Biden administration but also with the general public. At one point Hannity wrote, “He was intrigued by the pardon idea!! (Hunter)”

A source told the Beast that Hannity — one of a number of Fox News pundits frantically trying to get Trump to call off his violent supporters — was indeed referring to Joe Biden’s son. That, obviously, didn’t happen, along with other ideas Hannity had floated, such as “no more stolen election talk” and “attending inauguration.”

Hunter Biden has long been a target of rightwing politicians and pundits, who’ve alleged financial crimes, spread sordid sex gossip, even dwelled on his issues with drug addiction. Former Bond villain Robert Davi is directing a conservative biopic about him featuring Gina Carano, while Don Jr., of all people, has accused him of being a product of nepotism.

What Hunter hasn’t done is be convicted of a crime. So it’s not clear what Hannity thought he should be pardoned for. Nevertheless, in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 riot, whose flames Trump at least helped stoke, with two weeks left in office and close allies fleeing (before later returning to his side), pardoning was about the only real power he had left.

(Via The Daily Beast)

A song from 1985 being one of the most popular records in 2022 is not something that most people had on their bingo card. However, that’s exactly what’s going on with Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill.” Thanks to a spot in the fourth season of Stranger Things, the record has made its way towards the top of several charts including the Billboard Hot 100 (No. 8) and the Official UK Singles Chart (No. 2). Many artists have shared their love for the song, like Big Boi who did so in a throwback video, and the latest person to do so was Halsey.

On Saturday night, during their set at Governors Ball, Halsey stepped out of their discography to perform a cover of “Running Up That Hill.” The moment came towards the end of their time at Governors Ball, and after they delivered the faithful rendition of the song, Halsey took to Twitter to share their love for the 1985 song. “I’m soooo happy it’s having this resurgence,” they said. “I knew immediately I wanted to do this.”

Halsey’s performance comes after Bush shared a statement about the success of “Running Up That Hill” on the UK charts. “Running Up That Hill has just gone to No 2 in the UK charts and No. 1 in Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Sweden….,” Bush wrote in a post on her website. “How utterly brilliant!”

You can watch Halsey’s “Running Up That” cover in the video above.

Things aren’t so hot for the Trump family right now. The Jan. 6 hearings began late last week, and they were a ratings bonanza, with plenty of bombshells. Then there’s the New York State investigation, which will find the big guy himself actually sitting down for a deposition. His oldest son, Don Jr., is also partaking in that, but in the meantime, he’s out there doing something his old man used to do, and not well: try and sell some steaks.

A video recently made the rounds of Don Jr. standing in front of a grill, rhapsodizing about Good Ranchers, a MAGA-friendly mail-order meat company. “They’re one of the only companies out there selling 100% American meat to your door 100% of the time,” he said — whatever that means. For Father’s Day, the prolific video ranter was offering supporters a Father’s Day deal, in which you can score two 18 oz. ribeyes with a special code, which of course is “MAGAKING.”

Don Jr. isn’t the only one in the family hawking Good Ranchers steaks. As caught by Salon, his fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle released a similar video last month.

The Good Ranchers site features endorsements from conservative outlets like The Daily Wire, Blaze Media, as well as Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens. One small matter: Late last year, the company’s accreditation with the Better Business Bureau, the non-profit that focuses on marketing trust, was revoked, citing failures to, among other things, address complaints “quickly and in good faith.”

Was it wise for Don Jr. to get into the steak business? After all, it can only serve to remind people that his father not only prefers his steaks in the most gross way possible, but about one of many, many failed business ventures. That would be Trump Steaks, which was sold “exclusively” through Sharper Image and QVC. It lasted two months, quite a bit shorter than Tour de Trump (two years), Trump Shuttle (about three) and Trump University (about seven). Maybe Don Jr.’s next trick can be re-re-releasing Trump: The Game.

Roddy Ricch was set to bring his talents to this weekend’s Governors Ball in New York City, but unfortunately for him and those who hoped to see him perform, he was arrested before he could take the stage. According to TMZ, the Live Life Fast rapper and his crew were stopped at a security checkpoint at the festival, and according to law enforcement, a loaded firearm was discovered inside the vehicle that he was taking to the festival. Officers said they found nine rounds of ammunition and a large-capacity magazine. As a result, Roddy along with two others in the vehicle were taken into custody.

In total, Roddy faces four charges in the matter including criminal possession of a weapon, possession of a large capacity ammo feeding device, and unlawful possession of that device. Roddy’s arrest occurs just six months after he dropped his long-awaited sophomore album Live Life Fast. More recently, he teamed up again with Post Malone for their “Cooped Up,” a song that received the visual treatment not too long ago. The duo also performed the track together on Saturday Night Live.

As for Governors Ball, this marks the third act that was unable to perform this weekend. It began with Migos dropping out of the lineup for unknown reasons. They were replaced by Lil Wayne, but he also missed his set due to flight issues.

Roddy Ricch is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Jiří Procházka (29-3-1) submitted Glover Teixeira (33-8) to win the light heavyweight belt at UFC 275 from Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.

Teixeira worked to keep Procházka at range with a slew of head kicks to open the fight. Teixeira earned an early takedown and tested Procházka’s ground game with a nonstop attack that led him to nearly earn the challenger’s back. Procházka found his way back to his feet, but it was Teixeira taking the challenger to the ground and taking full mount with more than a minute left in the round before taking his back. With just 20 seconds left in the round, Teixeira got too high on Procházka‘s back, slipped off and was the recipient of haymakers on the ground.

In the second, a confidence boost saw Procházka let his hands fly with big shots that sent Teixeira into panic mode and a desperate takedown attempt. Back on his feet, Teixeira staved off a slew of shots and sent the challenger on his back with a huge counter left hand. The champ moved into full mount again, but Procházka was able to shift the champ into side control. Teixeira moved back into full mount to end the round, dropping bombs with big elbows that cut the challenger open.

Procházka continued to jab Teixiera into oblivion to open the third round, landing shot after shot to the champ. Midway through the round, Teixeira yet again found an opening and earned a takedown. But this time, Procházka more easily got back to his feet and continued to drop haymakers until Teixeira dropped for a takedown, but Procházka flattened him. In half guard, Procházka continued to let his hands fly, but Teixeira reversed into full guard.

To open the championship round, Teixeira brought the fight to Procházka with a much more aggressive start. Teixeira sent Procházka stumbling with a combination before landing a big takedown. From side control, Teixeira moved into full mount ad locked in an arm triangle but couldn’t finish the fight. With a minute left, Procházka flipped, reversed and was suddenly in control with Teixeira on his back taking shots. The two scrambled with reversals over the final minute until the final buzzer.

In the fifth and final round, Teixeira had Procházka rocked and tried to lock in a front choke. Procházka slipped out and earned top control. He allowed Teixeira back to his feet and the two continued to shoot away. Procházka appeared to be out on his feet as Teixeira landed shot after shot. With two minutes left, the champ got a takedown and moved into full mount. With a minute remaining, Procházka took Teixeira’s back and earned the submission.

Valentina Shevchenko (23-3) earned a split decision victory to retain her flyweight belt against Taila Santos (19-2) at UFC 275 at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.

Shevchenko was measured with her strikes to open the fight, attacking Santos and pushing her back against the cage. Santos and Shevchenko scrambled to the ground and the challenger took the champion’s back, attempting to lock in a rear-naked choke, but never quite locking it in before the buzzer signaling the end of the round.

In the second, Shevchenko again tried to push her gameplan, but it was Santos earning the takedown and holding ground control. Late in the round, Shevcheno landed a judo throw takedown, but it was Santos who won the scramble and earned top control through the end of the round.

A bit less aggressive to open the third, Shevchenko avoided the clinch and opted to stand and throw hands. Late in the round, Santos worked Shevchenko into the cage and earned yet another takedown, moving to the champ’s back and trying to lock in a choke for the finish. Santos could never quite get under her chin and again exhausted the round with ground control.

Knowing she likely needed a finish, Shevchenko came out firing to open the championship round. An accidental clash of heads appeared to close Santos’s right eye. Late in the round, it was Santos taking points with yet another big takedown. In the fifth and final round, it was Shevchenko going for takedown after takedown, earning time on the ground and looking for opportunities to finish the fight.

Since earning a unanimous decision victory over Joanna Jedrejczyk back in 2018, Shevchenko had been dominant in the flyweight division, taking out all six challenger that have dared to step foot in the Octagon with her.

Santos had been on a roll heading into her showdown with Shevchenko, losing her only UFC fight by decision in her debut. After that loss, Santos rattled off three decision victories before earning a submission over Joanne Wood and a shot at UFC gold.