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Ever since the Ms. Marvel trailer blasted online with a first look at the new Disney+ series in action, fans have been sounding off about the very noticeable change to the hero’s powers. In the comics, Kamala Khan (a.k.a. Ms. Marvel) is able to shape-shift and stretch thanks to being exposed to Terrigen mist that activated her latent Inhuman genes. Considering Marvel’s first crack at a live-action Inhumans flopped pretty badly, it’s understandable why Ms. Marvel would want to lean away from the source material. Not to mention, it saves the show from having to explain what the heck an Inhuman even is, and how they’re different from Eternals and mutants. It’d be a whole thing.

As for Kamala’s new powers, they seem to be more “cosmic” in origin and similar to Captain Marvel‘s, who Kamala idolizes in the series. As Entertainment Weekly notes, there’s also a touch of Doctor Strange in there, which is also a deviation from the comics:

Instead of stretching and shape-changing, the Ms. Marvel trailer shows Kamala manipulating energy into blasts, forcefields, and the kind of mid-air stepping stones that we’ve seen Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) use in past MCU films. There are a couple shots where energy envelops Kamala’s hands, which could give her the same kind of powerful punches she wields in the comics, but clearly it all works a bit differently.

Considering the Ms. Marvel comics were a breakout success for Marvel — which is not an easy accomplishment in a extremely crowded landscape dominated by heavy-hitters like Batman, The Avengers, etc. — it’s understandable that fans of the comics have concerns about the change to Kamala’s powers. There was a thematic resonance to her abilities in the books, and so far, fans are not seeing that come through in the trailer.

And there are also Internet theories that Kamala’s powers were changed so she wouldn’t steal Mr. Fantastic’s thunder (he stretches, too) when the Fantastic Four finally make their MCU debut.

You can see some of the reactions below:

Ms. Marvel premieres June 8 on Disney+.

A couple weeks ago, Japanese Breakfast (aka Michelle Zauner) announced she had to change her international touring plans for this year “due to lingering uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 travel protocols.” UK and European dates were rescheduled from March to October, although shows in some cities (Cologne, Hamburg, Antwerp, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, and Copenhagen) were unable to be rescheduled and were therefore canceled. Zauner also noted, “I am truly devastated we can not make it work at this time but I promise we will be back as soon as possible.”

Now, instead of going overseas this month, Zauner has a full schedule of South By Southwest (SXSW) appearances lined up between March 16 and 19, a rundown of which she shared on social media today. This upset at least one fan on Twitter, as they accused Zauner of canceling/rescheduling the UK/Europe shows so she could go to SXSW. Zauner then took the time to address their tweets, which shed light on what it’s like for her to tour overseas and reschedule or cancel concerts.

The fan wrote, “so this is why you didn’t come to europe,” so Zauner replied over the course of multiple tweets:

“there are so many reasons that we weren’t able to come to Europe and this was not one of them. It’s mostly we are a band/crew of 10 people and if one of us got sick over there we would just not be able to afford the financial risk of properly taking care of our team.

It’s been really upsetting to see comments like this because I want nothing more than to travel to Europe and get to play over there but the reality is we lose thousands of dollars when we tour there because the overhead of backline/flights/visas is so high. Even pre covid building our fan base there has always been a labor of love. But now the the risk is even higher and so we are just hoping for the best that the path is clearer for all of us in October.”

That same fan replied, “we understand all these things, what bothers us is how you hid this information from us until only a week and a half before the start of the tour, after you had announced dates in the US, I love the band, I have been listening for years and i really hope i can see you someday but hope you can understand our point as well.”

Zauner responded, “I do and I’m sorry! But please know we do try our best and touring is just so hard rn. We’ve been given no protocol or guidance this whole time and just have to use our best judgment. I really hope we can make it to Madrid soon I’ve never been and want to go so bad [crying emoji].”

She also noted in other replies, “My agents and managers had to completely rebook the tour. We waited so long because we were working with so many different venues and promoters with constantly shifting schedules to get ticket links up so we would be able to ticket sales to transfer. I checked in on them every day wanting to go up with the news so as not to disrupt people’s travel plans as much as possible but it just takes time. The reason we leave it vague is because so many people argue with us without knowing everything that goes into it.”

Find Zauner’s tweets below.

On Tuesday evening, PBS will premiere Putin’s Road to War, a new FRONTLINE documentary that will “examine the events that shaped Russian leader [Vladimir Putin], the grievances that drive him, and how a growing conflict with the West exploded into war in Europe.” Ahead of its official debut, Frontline shared an in-depth conversation with Julia Ioffe, a founding partner and Washington correspondent for Puck News, and veteran of The Atlantic, The New Yorker, and Politico.

In it, Ioffe—an American journalist who was born in Russia—shares some fascinating insights into Putin’s state of mind, including why she believes that he, right now, is “more dangerous than he’s ever been at any point in the last 22 years.”

“What he has opened up with this invasion is unthinkable,” Ioffe told FRONTLINE. “And because he is losing and because the sanctions and the Ukrainians are humiliating him, because he is backed into a corner, he is the most dangerous he has ever been, because it is now existential for him.”

While many people seem to be downplaying Putin’s threats of nuclear war, Ioffe is sending up a warning signal that this is something we should all be taking very seriously:

“[W]hen Putin threatens the use of nuclear weapons—he threatened it the first time he declared war… He threatened again three days into the war when he saw it wasn’t going well. He threatened it in 2018, when he went to that air show and he gave that crazy presentation about all the new nuclear weapons he had that could strike the U.S. If people think that he won’t use them, I think they’re mistaken.

Everything Putin has showed us at every step of the last 22 years is that every time we think he won’t go that far, he does. We think he won’t come back for a third term, he did. He won’t annex Crimea; he did. He won’t invade Ukraine; he did. He won’t try to kill [Alexei] Navalny; he did. He won’t try to subvert an American election; he did. And so why would we believe that this time he won’t do what he says he’ll do?”

You can watch Ioffe’s full interview above (the referenced Putin conversation begins toward the end, around the 45:00 mark).

Putin’s Road to War premieres tonight on PBS.

“Silk Chiffon” singers and Phoebe Bridgers-approved group Muna are back with the announcement of their self-titled album coming this summer, on June 24. The snarky lead single “Anything But Me” is out now, opening with the sharp quip: “You’re gonna say that I’m on a high horse / I think that my horse is regular-sized / Did you ever think maybe / You’re on a pony / Going in circles on a carousel ride,” Katie Gravin drawls over a snappy beat and thumping synths.

The album, according to Rolling Stone, watches the band explore an array of sounds and genres. “The sound of this record explodes in a ton of different directions,” Gravin said.

It helped that their friend and rising star Mitski sometimes joined their writing sessions to give insight. Aside from the support of Bridgers and Mitski, Muna also have Tegan And Sara and Demi Lovato as fans.

Watch the video for “Anything But Me” above. Check out the album art and tracklist for Muna below.

1. “Silk Chiffon” Feat. Phoebe Bridgers
2. “What I Want”
3. “Runner’s High”
4. “Home By Now”
5. “Kind Of Girl”
6. “Handle Me”
7. “No Idea”
8. “Solid”
9. “Anything But Me”
10. “Loose Garment”
11. “Shooting Star”

Muna is out 6/24 via Saddest Factory Records. Pre-order it here.

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

Ahead of his upcoming tour, New York City-based rapper MIKE has dropped a new single. On “Makeda,” MIKE is hot off the release of his 2021 album Disco!, but can’t help from “writing, trying to have fun again,” while brushing off his haters. “They don’t like me, never had love for them,” he continues.

Growing up, Mike lived in various parts of the world, including New Jersey, Philly, and England. The regional influences of all of these places are evident on this dreamy, tranquil track.

Mike is set to kick off a tour next month, supported by Freddie Gibbs, Na-Kel Smith, and Mercury.

Check out “Makeda” above and the full list of tour dates below.

04/14 — San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom *
04/17 — Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s $
04/18 — Portland, OR @ Polaris $
04/20 — Phoenix, AZ @ The Pressroom *
04/20 — Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress $
04/22 — San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar $
04/24 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy $
04/26 — Las Vegas, NV @ The Space $
04/27 — Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex *
04/29 — Boulder, CO @ Fox Theater *
04/30 — Denver, CO @ Cervantes Masterpiece *
05/04 — Oklahoma City, OK @ Tower Theatre *
05/05 — Dallas, TX @ The Echo Lounge *
05/07 — Atlanta, GA @ Heaven Stage *
05/08 — Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre *
05/11 — New York, NY @ Irving Plaza *
05/12 — Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore *
05/13 — New York, NY @ Irving Plaza *
05/14 — Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom *
05/15 — New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place *
06/05 — Madrid, Spain @ Siroco
06/06 — Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Sound
06/08 — Rotterdam, Netherlands @ BIRD
06/09 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso
06/10 — Brussels, Belgium @ Botanique
06/11 — Paris, France @ La Place
06/12 — Zürich, Switzerland @ Exil
06/14 — Budapest, Hungary @ Akvarium
06/15 — Prague, Czech Republic @ Chapeau Rouge
06/16 — Berlin, Germany @ Cassiopeia
06/18 — Warsaw, Poland @ Pardon, To Tu
06/21 — London, UK @ Scala
08/04 — Katowice, Poland @ OFF Festival

* with Freddie Gibbs
$ with Na-Kel Smith and Mercury

Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels, but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.

Every week, Uproxx is rounding up the best new indie music from the past seven days. This week, we’ve got new tracks by The Black Keys, Rex Orange County, and Florence + The Machine.

While we’re at it, sign up for our newsletter to get the best new indie music delivered directly to your inbox, every Monday.

Rex Orange County — Who Cares?

Rex Orange County returned following the breakout success of his 2019 album Pony with the new LP Who Cares?. The 11-track release features a number of inspired tracks, including the Tyler The Creator collaboration “Open A Window.” Rex credited Tyler’s belief in him to jump-starting his career, saying: “He’s taught me a lot, but also just him giving me a mirror to look at what I did — that I had made it out there and done it on my own.”

Orville Peck — Bronco Chapters 1&2

The famed masked country singer Orville Peck has been taking after Beach House and releasing his new project Bronco in four-song installations. Chapters 1&2 are officially here, continuing Peck’s signature atmospheric and forlorn ballads that flip the script on the media’s archetype of a lonesome cowboy.

Orion Sun — Gateway

After dropping a pair of albums in 2020, Mom+Pop signee Orion Sun stuns on her new EP Gateway. Produced by Rostam, Nascent, and Rodaidh McDonald, Gateway showcases Orion Sun’s striking R&B-influenced songs that speak to self-healing and discovery. Written during a time when she saw her community plagued by COVID-19 and police brutality in 2020, Orion Sun said: “The Getaway EP was written during my time in quarantine and served as a form of escapism – not just from where I was physically in the world, but from some of my emotions I was feeling as well.”

Bodega — Broken Equipment

Brooklyn-based post-punk group Bodega shared their anticipated sophomore album Broken Equipment this week, which they recently told Uproxx in an interview was inspired by French new wave films. The album is a collection of propulsive and heady songs featuring ripping instrumentals that are sure to make you dance.

Florence + The Machine — “My Love“

Florence + The Machine continue rolling out a new era of music with the snappy track “My Love” this week. The upbeat tune is the most danceable single of the band’s upcoming Dance Fever LP so far, which was heavily inspired by choreomania, a Renaissance phenomenon in which groups of people — sometimes thousands — danced wildly to the point of exhaustion, collapse and death.

The Black Keys — “Wild Child”

The last we heard from The Black Keys, they had dropped an album of blues covers titled Delta Kream. But they’re now ready to go back to their rock roots on their newly announced LP Dropout Boogie, which they previewed with the lead single “Wild Child.” The song is OG Black Keys, pulling on influences of soul and classic rock complete with a ripping guitar solo.

Father John Misty — “Goodbye Mr. Blue”

Father John Misty is back with another ballad ahead of his upcoming Chloë And The Next 20th Century album slated for a release next month. The new twangy track is inspired by an old cat of his, apparently named Mr. Blue, who was the only thing keeping his relationship together with a partner at the time.

Aldous Harding — “Fever”

New Zealand-native singer-songwriter Aldous Harding announced her upcoming album, Warm Chris, back in January. The LP drops at the end of March and so far, Harding had only shared one single. But this week, the singer returned with the toned-down track “Fever,” a whimsy tune with an enchanting array of wind and string instruments.

Horsegirl — “Anti-Glory”

Teenage trio Horsegirl are gearing up for the release of their debut album Versions Of Modern Performance on Matador, which is heavily inspired by the sounds of ’90s shoegaze like Sonic Youth. Their new single “Anti-Glory” is a deliciously hazy anthem complete with dead-pan drums, gauzy guitars, and an endlessly catchy hook.

Automatic — “New Beginning”

LA-based post-punk trio Automatic started a “New Beginning ” this week with an album announcement and a new single. The song translates themes of alienation and escapism into a mesmerizing song that carries an edge ’70s-inspired extravagance and ’80s-inspired synths.

Pillow Queens — “No Good Woman”

Dublin indie rockers Pillow Queens delivered the reflective number “No Good Woman” off their upcoming album Leave the Light On. The song marks a departure from some of their previous noisy tracks, trading in disruptive guitars for cascading melodies and room-filling arrangements. In a statement about the new single, vocalist Pam Connolly said: “It’s written more from the perspective of someone looking upon the scenarios of those around them. It tries to convey the perpetual hopelessness of debt and striving for an ideal that can never be achieved.”

Oliver Sim — “Romance With A Memory”

You may recognize the name Oliver Sim from the 2010s group The xx, but he’s now releasing his first music under his own name. “Romance With Memory” is a groovy and synth-infused tune that comes complete with a fittingly bizarre video and marks the beginning of Sim’s solo career.

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

In a now deleted post, actress Amanda Bynes returned to social media to speak out about the petition to terminate her conservatorship, which was put into place in 2013 after several public incidents.

Her mother Lynn was named as the temporary conservator of Bynes’ personal life and finances before being appointed permanently. Bynes had been arrested several times for misdemeanor offenses and her struggles with substance use. At the time the conservatorship was petitioned, Bynes was involuntarily hospitalized after lighting a fire in her neighbor’s driveway in July 2013. Bynes confirmed in a 2014 tweet that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after her hospitalization.

Since being placed under a conservatorship, Bynes has stayed mostly out of the public eye. She enrolled in the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in 2014 following her release from the hospital and subsequent conservatorship. She graduated from in 2019 while on a day pass from her inpatient treatment facility at the time. Bynes has reportedly continued to do well since graduating and opened up about her past substance abuse in an interview after graduation.

FIDM graduate 2019 #fidmgraduationpic.twitter.com/KdFI5dPOdK

— amanda bynes (@amanda bynes)
1561435166

Bynes parents are reported to be in agreement that her conservatorship should end, though a judge had ordered the arrangement to be extended until 2023. If that sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve all learned a lot more about celebrity conservatorships after the much popularized end to Britney Spears’ conservatorship last year. The length of these conservatorships raises some questions, including at what point do we question the law on how these conservatorships are carried out, and to what length of time.

In both these cases, the legal reach of the conservatorship has been extensive. They lasted years and left the women with little say in controlling their lives. While it seems that Amanda’s parents truly had her best interests at heart and are now fully on board to have her conservatorship terminated, it begs the question as to where the line is drawn when it comes to mental health conservatorships and how extensive or limited they should be. It is not unheard of for someone to be placed under a guardianship for life, especially if the person is intellectually or developmentally delayed and they cannot make appropriate decisions for themselves without extensive help. But in cases where mental health is concerned, it feels different.

Hey guys! I’m on instagram now ! nCheck me out http://instagram.com/amandabynesrealu00a0pic.twitter.com/N1lA6NhJLb

— amanda bynes (@amanda bynes)
1568139764

People who suffer with mental health conditions, even severe ones like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or other disorders that can include psychosis, are entitled to live their lives with some degree of autonomy. Having a severe mental health condition does not make someone permanently incapable of caring for themselves or others, particularly if they’re able to commit to a regimen of doctor recommended medication and therapy.

Conservatorship is something that is typically used as a last resort for people experiencing severe mental illness. It is oftentimes short-lived until the person is stabilized and set up with some sort of intensive mental health therapy, but it can be difficult to be released from a conservatorship if the person doesn’t have a strong network of support. When conservatorships stretch out to decades, it makes you wonder whether the support being received is adequate, whether the mental health system is failing that person in some way, whether there needs to be a holistic re-evaluation of the law surrounding conservatorships. It also shines a spotlight on a person’s own ability to commit to ongoing treatment and the associated results.

Amanda Bynes feeling well enough to advocate for the termination of her conservatorship is something to celebrate. Mental illness does not have to hold the level of stigma that it does, and people who are experiencing conditions severe enough to result in hospitalization or guardianship still deserve autonomy over their lives and people rooting for their success.

This article originally appeared on 11.27.19

No matter how big, burly, and badass you become, sometimes you just want to see your mama’s face.

A video of Miami Dolphins player Jerome Baker Jr. looking for his mom in the stands has gone viral because it’s just so dang wholesome. The 22-year-old linebacker was mic’d during the game, and as he sat with his teammates on the bench, he kept scanning the crowd, asking aloud where his mama was. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Baker had sent his mom, Theodora, a ticket to the game, but he wasn’t sure if she was going to make it.

The video alternates between Baker pumping up his teammates on the field, making tackles, and hanging with his teammates on the sidelines and asking,”Bro, where is my mama?” Just after a play, he was caught on the field looking up to the stands, asking himself, “Where is she AT?” At one point, Baker was singing along to the Miami Dolphins fight song, only to interject another “Where is my mama?” in the middle of it.

The contrast between Baker’s game-on intensity and his innocent searching between plays creates a touching montage that could melt any mom’s heart.

Mic’d Up: Dolphins LB Jerome Baker looking for his mama in Week 9 win

www.youtube.com

Baker himself found the video hilarious, and said he was “dying laughing” when he saw it making the rounds on Twitter.

“It was just funny. You don’t realize how many times I was saying it, but I was saying it so much. The video made it funnier,” he said in a video with the Sun-Sentinel.

“If you look at the video, I was clean at one point. Then later on, I had a little bit of dirt on me. Then later on, I was full of dirt. It was like the whole game, I was saying, ‘Where’s my mom? Where’s my mom?’,” he said. “It was just a funny moment I didn’t realize, but I was definitely looking for my mom a lot.”

Even people who aren’t fans of football can appreciate the sweetness of a tough young man wanting to see his mama. Whoever you are, wherever you live, whatever you do, there’s just something comforting in knowing mom is cheering you on.

When the bracket was revealed in advance of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, many analytical observers pointed to the relatively soft nature of the Midwest Region, at least beyond the top two seeds in Kansas and Auburn. However, that is not the case from the standpoint of the 2022 NBA Draft, and many professional observers will be taking their deepest look yet at the upcoming class. The Midwest Region is full of intriguing prospects, including at least one top-five guy, and that makes for appetizing basketball consumption in the coming days and weeks.

As part of DIME’s pre-tournament look at the best prospects in the class, we’ll roll through the top five players in the Midwest, headlined by Auburn’s Jabari Smith.

Jabari Smith – F, Auburn

Smith is a fantastic prospect. The 6’10 forward is an unbelievable shooter, burying 43 percent of three-pointers on big volume, and no one can block Smith’s shot at his size. Comparisons to Kevin Durant are too aggressive (for anyone), but Smith does have the potential to be a thoroughly dynamic scorer. He doesn’t have a ton of juice as a ball-handler, and Smith is just a solid defender rather than a spectacular one, but he’s a top-four guy to be sure and some see him as a potential No. 1 overall pick.

Keegan Murray – F, Iowa

Iowa zoomed through the Big Ten Tournament, and Murray is the team’s centerpiece. The 6’8 forward is averaging 23.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game on high-end efficiency (56 percent from the field and 41 percent from three), and Murray is doing it against elite competition. Some of the questions about his early-season breakout have already been answered, and he could conceivably climb into the top five or six of June’s Draft with a big tournament. He’s been that good.

Johnny Davis – G, Wisconsin

Unfortunately, Davis has been a little bit banged-up down the stretch, missing some time and suffering a bit on the floor when he plays through injury. In zooming out, though, Davis has been a fantastic player this season, and he is on track for a top-10 selection. Davis has been the sun, moon, and stars for an otherwise limited Wisconsin offense, and he is capable of putting the Badgers on his back. Even if he doesn’t, Davis has the tools to be a quality scorer in the NBA and the mentality to shift into a lesser role, with plus defense, if he needs to.

Ochai Agbaji – G/F, Kansas

In some ways, Agbaji is a conventional choice in that he averaged 20 points per game for a No. 1 seed. At the next level, he may not be a primary option, but Agbaji is making 40 percent of his three-pointers this season and he’s a willing defender. He is more of a 2 in terms of size, but Agbaji’s 3-and-D projection is undeniable and he has more juice with the ball in his hands than a typical player with that label.

Tari Eason – F, LSU

Eason and Auburn’s Walker Kessler are neck-and-neck for No. 5 here but, in an effort to diversify the viewing guide, Eason gets the nod. LSU is a giant question mark after firing their head coach on the eve of the tournament, but Eason should be able to shine as a defensive monster. He’s 6’8 with athleticism and length, and Eason profiles as a switchable piece at the next level. The big change has been his offense and, even with some growth needed on that end of the floor, Eason could sneak into the late lottery with a big month.

In a very weird flex, Russia has announced its intention to impose sanctions on President Joe Biden and select members of his administration.

The Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement (today) blacklisting a number of key officials within the White House including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, White House press secretary Jen Psaki, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The “stop list” also includes names who have no official ties to Biden’s current administration — people like his son, Hunter Biden, and, weirdly enough, Hillary Clinton.

This latest stunt sounds like a poor attempt at retaliation on Vladimir Putin’s part. While the U.S. has already begun restricting its imports and exports to the country, with U.S. companies like Starbucks and McDonald’s halting operations until the war with Ukraine ends, Putin seems to think that hitting back with a public “you can’t sit with us” list is going to convince world leaders that standing up to his regime is a bad idea. And it might be, if you’re one of the people on this list who, for some odd reason, was planning a vacation to Moscow in the coming months. For everyone else, these sanctions are basically garbage.

Sadly, Putin ally Donald Trump (among other Kremlin-supporting Republicans) was left off the list, which seems like something he’ll take offense to since, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the people included are considered “prominent US figures.”

Someone please go to the woods and let Hillary know that the tantrum-throwing Putin has cancelled her.