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Star Wars franchise in serious trouble as 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' disappoints in opening box office

Sun, 24 May 2026 18:54:07 -0400

Well, it's official, the Star Wars franchise is in serious trouble.

When The Walt Disney Company bought Lucasfilm in 2012 and kept Kathleen Kennedy in charge, expectations for the future of the franchise were high. Disney would bring a new trilogy to movie theaters, immediately set out plans for separate trilogies, stand-alone films based on beloved characters, and Disney+ streaming television shows.

Then the rebooted franchise hit theaters. While "The Force Awakens" was a gigantic hit, each successive film brought in fewer ticket sales and a smaller audience than the one before it. Culminating in the disastrous "The Rise of Skywalker," which, while profitable, was widely panned by audiences and many critics.

Some streaming shows like "The Acolyte" were so laughably "woke" that they were canceled after one season for low viewership. Films like "Solo" flopped, canceling plans for a future trilogy based on the adventures of a young Han Solo.

DISNEY'S BIG MISTAKE WITH "STAR WARS" WAS TURNING LUKE SKYWALKER INTO MARK HAMILL: MISERABLE, PATHETIC AND SAD

Mixed in were a few seeming successes like "Rogue One" and "Andor," and at first, "The Mandalorian." That show's initial popularity set in motion plans for a feature film. But the second and third seasons of the show lost much of that early momentum. Still, Disney decided to press on by also focusing on the "Baby Yoda" character, Grogu.

Pre-release tracking was not particularly positive, however, and with the first box office from the long Memorial Day weekend now available, it's confirmed what many have long suspected: Hollywood's most valuable film property is in major trouble.

While the Memorial Day holiday will help the four-day gross look better, the Friday-Sunday opening box office for "The Mandalorian and Grogu" was just $81.9 million. That's hardly a "flop," but when compared to previous Star Wars films, it shows how poorly things are going for Disney.

'THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU' REVIEW: AN ENTERTAINING BUT FORGETFUL RETURN TO THE 'STAR WARS' UNIVERSE

"Solo," a film that was widely viewed as a tremendous disappointment, grossed $84.4 million in its opening three-day weekend, also around Memorial Day, in 2018. Doesn't sound too bad for "The Mandalorian," right?

Except, after adjusting for inflation, that $84.4 million in 2018 is roughly $112 million in today's dollars. Which means "The Mandalorian" made $30 million less in its opening weekend than the biggest flop in franchise history. A flop so bad it ended plans for an entire series.

Similarly, "Solo's" Memorial Day weekend gross was $103 million, with "Mandalorian" expected to make $102 million this year. That's even worse; adjusted for inflation, $103 million today is $139 million. $37 million behind over the long weekend. Not good.

The production budget for the film was estimated at roughly $166 million, though tax credits reportedly lowered the cost somewhat. Marketing efforts were widespread, adding another $100 million, at least. With $266 million in costs and the 50/50 revenue split for studios and theaters, the film likely needs to reach somewhere near $500 million to break even.

International grosses aren't exactly cause for optimism there either. "Solo" had an international opening weekend of $65 million, along with the $84.4 million domestic total. That's $149.4 million. "The Mandalorian and Grogu" has brought in $63 million internationally, for a $145 million first weekend. But again, adjusted for inflation, "Solo" made $198 million. That's a $53 million gap.

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There's still time, and maybe "The Mandalorian" has the legs to outpace its predecessor. Based on early reviews though, that doesn't seem likely. "Solo" finished with under $400 million internationally. If this film doesn't cross that barrier either, it would almost certainly lose Disney money at the theatrical box office. For a film set in the Star Wars universe.

It's a stunning outcome on the one hand, and completely unsurprising on the other. Instead of focusing on quality storytelling and planning, Kennedy spent her time making "The Force is female" T-shirts and checking specific casting boxes. And after years of telling the core Star Wars fanbase that they no longer matter, they listened.

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Kathleen Kennedy is now out at Lucasfilm, but her successor, Dave Filoni, was heavily involved in this film. And it's tracking to be yet another critical and commercial disappointment. Not long ago, it seemed impossible for Disney to mess up Star Wars. Boy was that ever wrong.

There's sure to be more films on the way, and a return to form could steady the ship. But they've now lost the benefit of the doubt and introduced the most dangerous emotion in fandom: apathy.

Jemele Hill tries using the race card to defend Abdul Carter for criticizing Jaxson Dart and Trump

Sat, 23 May 2026 20:53:45 -0400

One would be hard-pressed to find a more intellectually lazy response to the Jaxson Dart-President Trump-Abdul Carter "controversy" than the one former television host Jemele Hill just offered.

First, the background:

Dart, the New York Giants' starting quarterback, introduced President Donald Trump before a speech in Suffern, New York, on Friday.

LIMOUSINE LIBERAL MAX KELLERMAN APOLOGIZES TO JAMES HARDEN FOR COMPARING HIM TO TRUMP

"Big Blue Nation, it’s a pleasure to be here. I got to start this off with a ‘Go Big Blue,’" Dart said.

"What an honor, what a privilege it is to be here, and without further ado, I’m grateful, I’m honored, I’m pleased to introduce the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America, President Donald J. Trump."

Dart's teammate, Abdul Carter, reposted the video and appeared to criticize the introduction.

"Thought this s—t was AI, what we doing man," Carter wrote.

Any honest observer can see the situation for what it is: A player introduced the president at an event in the city where he plays, and one of his teammates publicly criticized him for it.

Yet Jemele Hill somehow turned the episode into something else entirely.

On Saturday, Hill defended Carter after former Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes explained why publicly targeting a teammate is frowned upon inside an NFL locker room.

"The locker room is a sacred place because it brings together everyone from all walks of life and beliefs for one common goal," Tynes posted on X. "Calling a teammate out publicly for his political views and to get attention is nasty work."

Hill responded by framing Tynes' comment as an attempt to silence Carter.

"So Jaxson Dart gets to publicly express his political beliefs, but Abdul Carter doesn’t? If this is about locker room sanctity and leadership, is it a good idea for the face of the franchise to attend a political rally for a president that is considered to be hugely divisive?" Hill asked.

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Of course, Hill then worked the race card into her argument:

"Let’s not do that thing where we’re trying to pretend this isn’t what it looks like," Hill added. "Abdul Carter is a black man and a Muslim and given the things that Trump has said about/done when it comes to both groups, it’s fair and also not surprising that he has a problem with it."

Uh, what?

First, describing this as two teammates merely "expressing political beliefs" is not accurate.

Dart did not make a political statement. He introduced the sitting President of the United States at an event. He didn't endorse Trump or advocate for legislation. His actions were neither political nor partisan, but patriotic. There's a difference.

By Hill's logic, every athlete who shook hands with Barack Obama at the NBA All-Star Game in February also made a political declaration. Note: She had no issue with that.

More importantly, the criticism of Carter has little to do with his apparent dislike of Trump. As Tynes noted, the issue is that Carter chose to embarrass a teammate publicly rather than handle the matter privately.

WNBA GRAPHIC OMITTING CAITLIN CLARK SHOWS IDENTITY POLITICS STILL COME FIRST

He could have texted Dart. Called him. Spoken to him face-to-face. Instead, he posted about it on social media, creating an avoidable distraction for the Giants heading into offseason activities and forcing the organization to deal with internal division over a holiday weekend.

Hill should understand that distinction better than most. She has worked at several major media companies. If employee X appears alongside a political figure, employee Y does not suddenly receive a license to condemn that colleague online.

Of course, Hill's views of employees X and Y would likely depend entirely on their skin colors and political affiliations.

That brings us to her second argument.

Hill tried to justify Carter's behavior by emphasizing that he is black and Muslim, two groups she claims Trump has targeted through his rhetoric and policies.

At this point, you likely wonder what exactly Trump has done or said negatively toward Black people and Muslims. We wondered the same thing and asked Hill that question on X. Unsurprisingly, she didn't bother to explain.

Take skin color and politics out of it. Jaxson Dart did nothing wrong. He introduced the president on his own time. He didn't make a political statement on the field, as Colin Kaepernick did. He didn't spread incendiary propaganda on social media, as other NFL players have. He simply welcomed the president onto a stage.

For all we know, Dart would have done the same if a Democrat were in office.

It was Abdul Carter who allowed his political beliefs to influence his decision-making. He is the one who turned this into a problem for the team.

As OutKick founder Clay Travis pointed out, the hypocrisy surrounding the outrage is also amusing.

"In the NFL no one Tweets if you beat a woman, but don’t you DARE speak at an event when you’re invited by the president of the United States," Travis wrote.

Indeed.

No one in the NFL tweets about the players who commit violent crimes or are arrested for reckless driving incidents, either.

Finally, Hill and Carter may want to direct some of that outrage toward another figure closely tied to the Giants organization.

Carter has openly described Giants legend Lawrence Taylor as his idol. He even requested Taylor's retired number after being drafted. What Carter may not realize is that Taylor endorsed Trump in 2024 and now serves on Trump's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.

Awkward, no?

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But seriously, how great was Jemele Hill defaulting to race once her original argument fell apart? It seems to happen every time she engages in a viral debate.

Beyond her racial idolatry, Hill has nothing of substance to add to the conversation. We saw that again, this time in her defense of Abdul Carter.

Stop comparing Jaxson Dart's New York Trump rally speech to Colin Kaepernick's activism

Sat, 23 May 2026 17:47:23 -0400

New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart committed the grave sin of supporting President Donald Trump by simply introducing him at his rally in the Empire State on Friday.

Many liberal sports fans and media members lost their minds over it, and even Dart’s teammate and fellow first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Abdul Carter, tried to shame him, saying, "Thought this s—t was AI, what we doing man?"

GIANTS STAR ABDUL CARTER TAKES ISSUE WITH TEAMMATE JAXSON DART INTRODUCING TRUMP AT NEW YORK RALLY

One of the dumbest responses to Dart’s appearance at the rally was comparing the star quarterback to disgraced former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick is, of course, famous for kneeling during the national anthem while playing for the San Francisco 49ers after he lost his starting job to Blaine Gabbert because of injury and poor performance. He has since become one of, if not the biggest, activist athletes of our lifetime.

One player made a scene on the field, vilified police, downplayed crime, wore a Fidel Castro T-shirt in the locker room, disrespected law enforcement and the military, and wore socks depicting cops as pigs during practice. The other introduced a sitting president at a rally in the state where he plays football. These two men are not even in the same stratosphere. Comparing them is not even like comparing apples to oranges. It’s like comparing apples to manure.

An X user stated, "I'm old enough to remember Colin Kaepernick being run out of the NFL by a bunch of colluding owners for calling out police brutality."

First off, that is verifiably untrue. Second, let’s take a trip down memory lane and remind people why Kaepernick was benched, how he squandered every opportunity he had to play after his on-field activism and what inspired him to kneel in the first place:

Kaepernick wasn’t blackballed by the NFL. He tanked his own career. He was benched after an abysmal 2-6 start in which he barely completed half of his passes. It was only after becoming a backup that he first decided to kneel during the national anthem. His play had regressed significantly as both a passer and a running threat. Then, after injuries, a demotion, and increasingly divisive activism, he opted out of his contract with San Francisco in 2017. In the process, he made himself unappealing to other teams by becoming a constant political distraction.

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In 2017, the Baltimore Ravens, with help from Ray Lewis, were reportedly prepared to take a chance on Kaepernick and sign him. But that changed after Kaepernick’s then-girlfriend, TV and radio host Nessa Diab, posted a tweet that Lewis himself described as "racist." The post compared Lewis and Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti to characters from the movie "Django Unchained."

In November 2019, the NFL arranged a highly unusual league-wide workout for Kaepernick in Atlanta. All 32 teams were invited. But hours before it began, Kaepernick moved the workout from the NFL’s chosen facility to a nearby high school. As former NBC NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya said, "He doesn’t really want to play football." He was more interested in cashing massive checks as a political activist than returning to the league.

As for why he originally kneeled, Kaepernick was inspired by a knife-wielding criminal, Mario Woods, who stabbed someone in San Francisco and then was shot by police because he refused to comply with police, while in possession of a deadly weapon.

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Do you really want to compare Jaxson Dart speaking at a rally to this guy? Seriously? The former quarterback turned race-baiter, who shamed his White parents who adopted him. The man who claimed that NFL Combine is like the slave trade. Come on now. Stop this nonsense.

Another post in response to Dart’s appearance stated, "Kaep kneeled for police brutality against black people and was blackballed because they wanted him to just 'focus on sports.' But Dart is allowed to be 'political.'"

Again, Kaepernick was not blackballed. The league did not conspire against him. He is no hero and he is no victim.

THE CULTURE OF SPORTS VS THE CULTURE OF THE ELITE LEFT

Athletes are allowed to support and even campaign for their preferred political candidates. It’s a free country. But speaking at a rally in your free time is entirely different from becoming a divisive distraction on the field and in the locker room.

This is just another clear indication of the intolerance and hypocritical nature of the left. They can’t accept Dart speaking at a Trump rally, but they will either stay silent or applaud the fact that LeBron James spoke at a Hillary Clinton rally and Stephen Curry spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2023 in support of Kamala Harris. They applaud Steve Kerr and Doc Rivers spewing lies about ICE kidnapping kids and murdering American citizens. The list is endless and nauseating.

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Yes, keep politics out of sports. Sports are what should bring us together, regardless of political affiliation, and it should be a unifying outlet away from the heavy political climate we are immersed in on a daily basis. Speaking at a rally on your own free time as an athlete is fine by me. Will it garner backlash from the other side? Undoubtedly. Is it better than doing it in uniform? I believe so.

Trying to shame and even crucify Dart for being honored and privileged to introduce the sitting President of the United States is your First Amendment right. Go for it. But it is ludicrous to compare Dart to Kaepernick.

The worst and most cringe-worthy moments from Stephen Colbert's now-canceled 'Late Show'

Fri, 22 May 2026 19:03:28 -0400

Stephen Colbert’s run as host of CBS' "The Late Show" is done, and to that I say, "Good riddance!" Colbert took over a gold mine. A golden ticket. A wealth in terms of platform in late night television that he squandered due to his obsession on politically dividing the audience and eventually turning much of America away from tuning in to his show.

As ӣ��Ƶ contributor Joe Concha pointed out, CBS reportedly was operating "The Late Show" at a $40 million loss under Colbert. The show also employed 22 writers to craft Colbert’s liberal-leaning monologues, while featuring just one Republican guest over the past six years — and even that appearance came from former Rep. Liz Cheney.

The Media Research Center examined every "Late Show" joke since the start of 2023 and found that 87% targeted conservatives, while nearly every guest leaned liberal. According to the study, Colbert made 3,639 jokes about President Donald Trump from Jan. 3, 2023, through the eve of his final episode. By comparison, former President Joe Biden was the subject of 339 jokes, while former Vice President Kamala Harris was mentioned in just 21 jokes during that same span, according to the study.

If there is any question as to whether Colbert was just another left-wing political news outlet, just look at the farewell messages from The Democrats and many liberal politicians following his last night, which aired Thursday night.

STEPHEN COLBERT'S 'LATE SHOW' JOKES TARGETED CONSERVATIVES 87% OF TIME IN FINAL YEARS, STUDY SAYS

Colbert’s time as host of "The Late Show" was undoubtedly full of political activism, leftist propaganda, and many cringe-inducing and eye roll moments, as Joseph Wulfson also pointed out in his piece.

Here are some of the worst:

Vulgar Trump and Putin Gay Lover Joke

In May of 2017, Colbert’s opening monologue was focused on President Trump. I know, shocker. He mentioned, "It is day 102 of the Trump presidency, 1,358 days to go. But who’s counting?" He also joked about him lotioning up Miss USA Pageant participants, claimed he "attracts more skinheads than free Rogaine," and made a sexually explicit joke about Trump having gay oral sex with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

If you can stomach the ability to watch this 12 minutes of vitriol, cloaked as "comedy," you’ll probably leave thinking about this quote from Billy Madison:

"What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

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Vax-Scene

For many, this clip is what led to the complete and utter ruin of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." After previously trying to comically tell his audience to be wary about Big Pharma potentially taking advantage of American citizens during a global pandemic, Colbert changed his tune (pun intended) and rolled out the cringiest piece of late night television propaganda many of us will ever see.

During COVID-19 vaccine rollouts, Colbert introduced a recurring segment called "The Vax-Scene," a broadway musical-esque dance number that included dancers dressed as syringes while parodying the 1958 smash hit "Tequila" by The Champs. Instead of saying "Tequila!" they shouted "Vaccine!"

As Joe Rogan once said about the bit, "Where’s the joke?" Just another unfunny piece of political propaganda devoid of any laughs whatsoever.

Bless your heart if you can get through this 80-second video. It’s time you’ll never get back, unfortunately.

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Pedro Pascal Kiss

Colbert frequently kissed guests on his show, male and female. It was awkward and at times seemed like a humiliation ritual more than some sort of comedy bit. One of those awkward smooches was in May when Pedro Pascal stopped by the show to promote the now abysmally rated Star Wars movie, "The Mandalorian and Grogu."

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After Colbert introduced Pascal, the actor pointed to his lips, signaling that he wanted Colbert to kiss him. Colbert hesitated and then leaned in to kiss Pascal. Afterward Colbert shuffled around, unable to look at Pascal, and the crowd cheering, Pascal said, "I got jealous." Colbert responded, "No need. Any time."

Another wildly cringe moment that didn’t garner any real laughter.

Hunter Biden’s Laptop

In a cold open in October of 2020 titled "Rudy, the Russians, and Hunter’s Lappy Top," Colbert satirizes the Hunter Biden laptop story as a "laptop conspiracy" with a parody of "Rocky Top" by the Osborne Brothers. The song poked fun at Trump, his "lappy dog" Rudy Giuliani and musically claimed the whole story was "debunked claims of made-up kompromat."

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Once again, Colbert claimed a Russian connection between Trump and the Russian government, calling it disinformation, aligning with narratives from multiple liberal media outlets ahead of the 2020 election between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

And of course, as explained in the Twitter Files, Twitter prevented users from sharing links to the New York Post article about Hunter Biden's laptop. Meta, which includes Facebook, also throttled the story's reach on their platforms, leading to many conservatives rightfully calling it election interference.

Sorry I wasted your time with another unfunny video, but if I have to relive these awful moments of Colbert’s tenure, I need people to suffer with me.

Colbert tenure wasn’t just disappointing for ratings and revenue, it was a disaster. A complete liberal dumpster fire that exchanged laughs for insults. Comedy for compromise. Satire for political snickering. It was simply left-wing political theater and a liberal vent session rather than late night comedy.

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When Johnny Carson left, he was genuinely missed. It was actually an emotional last show, unlike Colbert’s exit. Johnny Carson repeatedly expressed that he believed late-night hosts should primarily entertain people, not preach politics to them. "Why do they think just because you have a 'Tonight Show' that you must deal in serious issues? It’s a danger. It’s a real danger once you start that… You could sway people, and I don’t think you should as an entertainer," Carson said in a 1979 interview on "60 Minutes" with Mike Wallace.

Carson also intentionally avoided publicly revealing many of his own political views because he thought it would alienate half the audience. Seems prophetic, doesn’t it? According to his longtime friend Howard Smith, "He felt that his job was to entertain people… That’s why he never got into talking about politics at all."

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If Colbert took the Carson route, he’d probably still be on air and the majority of America wouldn’t view him with the disdain they have for him now.

So long Colbert, and don’t you dare bring your political propaganda into your scriptwriting for your new "Lord of the Rings" movie. If you aren’t going to respect conservatives, at least respect J.R.R. Tolkien and his source material.

Limousine Liberal Max Kellerman apologizes to James Harden for comparing him to Trump

Fri, 22 May 2026 14:33:05 -0400

Former ESPN host Max Kellerman made headlines this week after criticizing Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden for another disappointing playoff performance by comparing him to President Donald Trump.

"Bringing in James Harden to win a championship is like electing Donald Trump to fix your country," Kellerman said Wednesday on his "Game Over" podcast.

Kellerman is now apologizing for the remark. According to him, comparing any athlete to Trump crosses the line.

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"I shouldn’t have said that because it’s not fair to James Harden. I did not mean to insult him publicly in a way that was going to go viral. It was too severe," Kellerman said Friday on his Netflix podcast.

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"I don’t think it’s as bad as all that. I don’t think it’s as bad as electing Trump to fix your country, but that’s the idea. That’s the opposite of what you’d do if you’re trying to get a certain result."

Notably, Kellerman never compared a disappointing athlete to Joe Biden during his disastrous presidency.

As we argued earlier this week, whatever one thinks of Trump politically, he has won the presidency twice. Harden, meanwhile, has never led a team to a championship or even reached the NBA Finals as the primary star. The Thunder reached the Finals in 2012, but Harden came off the bench.

If Kellerman wanted a more fitting analogy, comparing Harden to Kamala Harris, another figure who has never won the big one, would have made far more sense.

More than anything, Kellerman’s Trump comparison served as a reminder of why he became so unpopular during his run alongside Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s "First Take." Kellerman routinely used the platform to lecture viewers about politics while belittling Trump and his supporters.

In 2020, Kellerman claimed Trump voters in the South were "susceptible to very low-quality information, easy to propagandize, and almost immune to facts."

Kellerman, while undeniably talented, has long embodied the image of a limousine liberal. With homes in New York and Los Angeles, he often comes across as someone who views Americans outside elite coastal circles as intellectually inferior simply because they do not share his politics.

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According to reports and comments from Stephen A. Smith himself, Kellerman’s increasingly left-wing commentary contributed to his eventual exit from "First Take." Put simply, even Stephen A. appeared to grow tired of the constant political grandstanding.

Kellerman now hosts a Netflix podcast alongside LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul. Judging by the tone and content of the show, it seems aimed less at everyday sports fans and more at the cocktail-party elite crowd Kellerman has spent much of his career trying to impress.

Dan Le Batard, who previously avoided Doug Emhoff abuse allegation, declares journalism 'dead'

Wed, 20 May 2026 14:52:45 -0400

Podcast host Dan Le Batard declared sports journalism "dead" this week during a segment about Amazon’s studio crew criticizing ESPN insider Shams Charania for breaking the league’s MVP award before the official announcement.

"I’d like that time to live forever. [Sports journalism] is dead. It’s not dying, it’s dead," Le Batard said. "These streamers have no interest, none of them, none of them, have any interest in doing journalism and that’s why I’m telling you this war, the journalists have already lost it."

Whether sports journalism is actually dead is one topic. Hearing Dan Le Batard make the declaration is another entirely.

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Le Batard was once a respected columnist and investigative reporter at the Miami Herald. He built a reputation as a sharp, witty voice in sports media. He deserves credit for that work. But few people have done more to undermine the integrity of the industry in recent years than he has. Few have blurred the lines between journalism, activism, performance, and selective outrage more aggressively.

Consider his coverage of women and domestic violence.

In recent years, Le Batard has publicly framed himself as someone with zero tolerance for the mistreatment of women. He forcefully condemned UFC President Dana White after White was filmed slapping his wife, and he repeatedly weighed in on allegations against former Ravens kicker Justin Tucker.

"From the franchise that gave you the Ray Rice elevator video, we get this flailing bulls--- making it sound like Justin Tucker was the victim," Le Batard wrote on X after Baltimore released Tucker. "‘We’ve released Justin Tucker’ would have sufficed. Football players don’t respect kickers. But the Ravens respect this one, who was bad last year, more than they do women."

On the surface, those comments sound like the words of a journalist taking allegations seriously and holding powerful people accountable.

The issue is the hypocrisy.

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A month before the 2024 presidential election, the Daily Mail published allegations from an ex-girlfriend of Doug Emhoff, husband of then-Vice President Kamala Harris. The woman, who claimed witnesses could corroborate her account, accused Emhoff of "forcefully slapping" her during an incident in 2012.

Emhoff’s first major interview after the report was not with CNN or MSNBC. It was with Dan Le Batard. And yet, Le Batard never asked about the allegations. Not once.

Instead, he opened the interview with a question about love.

"Tell me what you've learned about love from your wife," Le Batard asked.

"Communication," Emhoff responded.

To be clear, no one expected Le Batard to conduct a hostile interrogation. The interview was clearly intended to humanize Emhoff and help rehabilitate the public perception of the Harris campaign. Fine. That happens in media.

However, refusing to acknowledge the allegations represented an embarrassing abandonment of basic journalistic standards.

Even openly partisan networks would almost certainly have asked Emhoff for a response, if only to satisfy the minimum obligation of addressing a major allegation involving a national political figure.

OutKick asked Le Batard on Tuesday about declaring journalism "dead" while simultaneously conducting interviews like the one with Emhoff. He did not respond. We will update the story if he does.

The hypocrisy of the Emhoff interview was not an isolated contradiction.

Years earlier, Le Batard hired Howard Bryant to work for Meadowlark Media. Bryant had previously been arrested after allegedly assaulting his wife in public in front of their 6-year-old son. According to reports, witnesses told police Bryant was seen choking his wife. Bryant was also charged with assaulting a responding police officer.

Given Le Batard’s repeated public declarations about violence against women, his decision to employ Bryant raised obvious questions. Questions he has never seriously addressed, despite our repeated inquiries.

It’s also worth noting that Le Batard’s executive producer, Mike Ryan, defended the Emhoff interview earlier this year by dismissing critics as "pedos" for supporting Donald Trump. In other words, he had no defense at all.

And when it comes to the kind of journalism Le Batard appears to value, he was the only notable media figure to defend Deadspin after the outlet falsely framed a 9-year-old Chiefs fan as wearing blackface. The family later filed a defamation lawsuit against Deadspin, after which The Dan Le Batard Show’s official X account quietly deleted the clip.

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This history makes Le Batard’s eulogy for sports journalism difficult to take seriously.

If sports journalism is dying, it’s because figures like Dan Le Batard abandoned the core principles in favor of partisan politics and hackneyed culture war theater.

The fact that he now casts himself as the ombudsman of the industry is insulting to the few people left trying to practice sports.

We now await Le Batard to land the first interview with Diddy after he is released from prison, only to ask him about "love."

USA Today calls Stephen Colbert, America's least funny comedian, a 'gallant comic avenger'

Wed, 20 May 2026 06:10:37 -0400

After innumerable tortuous years of dismal, predictable, political commentary, "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" is finally being put out of its misery.

"The Late Show" was reportedly losing CBS around $40 million per year, an extraordinary number that somehow feels low given the abhorrent "quality" of nightly programming it provided. How could it lose CBS that much money? An astronomical salary for Colbert to perform "Hey guys, you ever hear that Donald Trump is bad?" jokes night after night and presumably more astronomical salaries for a team of writers to come up with such brilliant comedic wit.

Few, outside of employees at the show and those in Hollywood who will watch anything that portrays Trump as the bad guy, will miss it. There are no recurring skits that will last in the collective memory. No classic episodes that went "viral." Unless you count one of the worst episodes of television in the history of the United States, the infamous "Vax-scene" performance, as "classic."

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But don't tell that to USA Today. In a vomit-inducing piece of hagiography, the paper published a farewell to Colbert, entitled: "A farewell to 'Late Show's Stephen Colbert, TV's gallant comic avenger"

Seriously.

The author praises Colbert, saying his 83-year-old mother was devastated that Colbert was leaving, describing her face as "darkening" when mentioning it.

"Colbert is the consummate interviewer," he says, "able to talk intelligently and find humor on any topic. When things go way off semi-script, he has the nimbleness to make the fresh moment even more memorable."

COLBERT'S MOST PARTISAN MOMENTS AS 'LATE SHOW' HOST, FROM LEADING BIDEN FUNDRAISER TO DANCING WITH SCHUMER

Truly incomprehensible. As is his praise for Colbert's political commentary, which, along with his partners in comedy crime Jimmy Kimmel and beyond, has almost assuredly permanently ended late night talk shows on legacy media.

"And, yes, Colbert wades into politics most every night," he writes. "In his near-decade of 'The Late Show,' it has been a godsend for viewers, like my mom, trying to process the onslaught of sometimes surreal events unfolding around the clock on CNN."

Well, at least he's honest about why Colbert exists: to provide incompetent political commentary and therapy for elderly members of the Democratic Party.

"When Colbert goes on a riff on the state of affairs, Mom gets positively giddy," he writes, confirming that exact dynamic. "It's like he's personally facing and voicing her battles."

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Perhaps even more remarkable, the writer describes Colbert's unwatchable show as "must-watch," and blames the exit on "politically intolerant times" first and "struggling economics" second. "Each of this final week's shows will be absolutely compulsory live viewing as well in [sic] the increasingly viral grand goodbye," he explains without a hint of awareness.

This article, absurd as it is, is quite illuminating. Colbert isn't about comedy, jokes, or even entertainment. He's there to tell senior citizen left-wing viewers what to think. A comforting blanket of unthinking, unblinking compliance with whatever the institutional left thinks about a given topic.

Jokes about Eric Swalwell's spectacular implosion after a series of allegations of improper behavior? No interest whatsoever. Mindless, cringeworthy slop about Donald Trump being like Hitler? Come on down.

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Colbert is an "avenger" all right. To avenge means to inflict punishment or harm. For years, he's punished any thinking person who's ever been unwittingly exposed to his "comedy." And in doing so, indefinitely discredited what used to be a valuable profession.

Critics reviews for 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' are out, and it's yet another bad sign for Disney, Star Wars

Tue, 19 May 2026 20:18:02 -0400

There are arguments to be had over which film franchise would be considered the most "successful" in Hollywood history. But virtually everyone would agree that the "Star Wars" property is squarely in the top few on that list. And the franchise's latest release, "The Mandalorian and Grogu," is hitting theaters this weekend.

Some of the most legendary films in the entertainment industry came from Star Wars. Stories from George Lucas that organically created iconic characters. Characters that remain immensely popular and revered nearly 50 years after their inception. And as box-office returns for "The Force Awakens" demonstrated, there remains, or remained, widespread public interest in the "Star Wars" universe.

To this day, nearly 11 years after "The Force Awakens" hit theaters, it remains the highest-grossing film in the United States of all time, unadjusted for inflation. That film brought home a whopping $936 million in domestic grosses alone. For perspective, that's more than 2015's "Furious 7" and 2019's "Frozen II" made in the US...combined. In fact, it's more than $100 million more than those two franchise films combined.

People love Star Wars. Or loved. And therein lies the problem.

DISNEY'S BIG MISTAKE WITH "STAR WARS" WAS TURNING LUKE SKYWALKER INTO MARK HAMILL: MISERABLE, PATHETIC AND SAD

Each successive film in the most recent Star Wars trilogy grossed less at the box office than its predecessor. Interest in Lucasfilm and Disney's streaming shows set in the Star Wars universe has also waned. "Andor" has been popular and well regarded, yes, but the Obi-Wan show was widely panned, and "The Acolyte" was so comically "woke" that each episode became a running joke.

Outgoing Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy had no cohesive plan for the franchise, no vision for where it was heading. Instead of deeply thought-out stories for the legacy characters that emphasized heroism or gave them a fitting end to their arc, Kennedy focused on checking the correct boxes. Years later, most casual Star Wars fans, or film fans in general, are greeting "The Mandalorian and Grogu" with the most dangerous emotion possible: apathy.

If this upcoming release were to finally undo some of the damage, inject energy and life back into the franchise, and demonstrate that Disney and Lucasfilm had learned their lessons, it would need to demonstrate a bare minimum level of quality.

Well, the first set of critics reviews for "The Mandalorian" have hit the internet, and it turns out they haven't learned a thing.

The Independent summarized their review thusly: "Stick a fork in Star Wars. It's done." Their subheading reads, "With just five minutes of Pedro Pascal and a completely dispirited voice performance from Jeremy Allen White as Jabba the Hutt’s son, this is the dullest and most inconsequential ‘Star Wars’ ever made."

Several reviews frame the film as a collection of episodic television stitched together. And The Independent's review wonders how "many nails can we realistically drive into Star Wars’s coffin before it’s time to give up hope of resuscitation?"

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Among all critics, the Rotten Tomatoes score is a mediocre 60%, but these are critics who are often highly incentivized to celebrate major studio releases and increase their access.

Variety did their best to salvage it, writing "'Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu' Review: An Efficient Adventure That Only Pretends to Be a Real 'Star Wars' Movie. Maybe That's a Good Thing."

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And sure enough, they found a way to inject a preferred political ideology into the movie. Right-leaning film critic Christian Toto said in a post about the movie, "One late scene is a DEI highlight reel." Toto's full review even wondered why the film was even made, other than to provide some content for Disney+ down the road.

These are critics, and audiences may or may not find the film more interesting and enjoyable. But this is the bed Disney and Kennedy's Lucasfilm have made for the franchise. They undermined the characters' legacies, had no plan or goal for the stories they wanted to tell, and put politics ahead of creativity. Now they're looking at the least successful entry in the history of the franchise. Both commercially, and in some reviewers' minds, creatively too.

Can Victor Wembanyama be the true face of the NBA as a European? | Bobby Burack

Tue, 19 May 2026 16:35:31 -0400

Of the NBA's many struggles in recent years, the lack of a true face-of-the-league player for the next decade ranks near the top.

By every meaningful metric, LeBron James remains the NBA’s most popular (and polarizing) player. The problem is that James turns 42 this year, has not seriously competed for a championship in more than five seasons, and is likely entering the final season of his career. At this stage, he is no longer a top-10 player in the league.

While the NBA has continued to cling to stars from the previous era, other major sports leagues have transitioned seamlessly to a new generation of superstars. The NFL has Patrick Mahomes. MLB has Shohei Ohtani. The WNBA, despite its efforts to bury her, has Caitlin Clark. Even golf has Scottie Scheffler.

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The NBA, meanwhile, has struggled to turn its best current players into true mainstream cultural attractions, whether it be Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Anthony Edwards.

The league may have finally found its answer.

On Monday night, Victor Wembanyama showcased his audition as the best player in basketball at just 22-years-old. He led the Spurs to an upset Game 1 victory over the defending champion Thunder with a historic 41-point, 24-rebound performance. Defensively, he completely warped the game with his length, timing, and shot-blocking instincts.

At 7-foot-4, Wembanyama is perhaps best described as Wilt Chamberlain meeting Bill Russell, except with a jump shot. He can score in the paint and from 28 feet away.

No, seriously:

It is hardly hyperbolic to say Wembanyama is still an unfinished product with the talent to become one of the more dominant players in basketball history. No player has ever looked like this or played this way, statements previously reserved only for the likes of Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James.

The question is whether he can eventually reach that same level of stardom as James and Shaq on and off the court.

The challenge is that he is from France. As OutKick recently documented, NBA fans and players alike have been reluctant to embrace European stars. Former players Kendrick Perkins and Gilbert Arenas have openly admitted that American-born athletes are territorial about European players encroaching on their space.

National identity matters especially in the NBA, where superstardom is driven as much by commercials, social media influence and cultural relevance as it is by on-court production.

Sports media reporter Ryan Glasspiegel observed after Game 2 that "Wemby is going to test the two obstacles for NBA superstardom at once: whether America can actually get behind a foreigner and a behemoth."

I think the answer is yes.

For one, Wembanyama is Black.

Jokic and Doncic did not just have to overcome resistance toward European players. They also faced an undeniable racial component in how they were discussed and perceived. That is not conjecture.

SPORTS MEDIA RACE-BAITERS ARE ALREADY TAKING NIKOLA JOKIC CRITICISM TOO FAR

Consider the animosity Caitlin Clark has faced solely because of her skin color. In 2023, Kendrick Perkins attempted to convince ESPN viewers that Jokic was viewed as an MVP candidate only because White players are graded on a curve. ESPN also published a highly misleading article referring to Jokic as the "latest great white hope" after he won his first championship. Opposing players have referred to Doncic on the court as a "b---- ass white boy."

Naturally, the racialization of Jokic and Doncic, and Dirk Nowitzki before them, has influenced how portions of the NBA audience, particularly within the league’s sizable African American fan base, perceive those players.

As a Black player, Wembanyama won't have to deal with the same level of racism from fans, players and analysts as Jokic. Therefore, the conversation surrounding him should be less divisive from the outset.

He also plays a significantly more electrifying brand of basketball than most international stars. Jokic and Doncic rely more on skill, pace and intellect than overwhelming athleticism or raw physical dominance. Wembanyama’s game is visually intoxicating, from his engulfing blocks to offensive moves that pay homage to legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon.

Put simply, Wembanyama is built for the SportsCenter Top 10, assuming that still exists.

Further, he appears to have a genuine edge to him on the court. He clearly took it personally having to defend Chet Holmgren and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Monday night. He outplayed both of them.

However, he does need to stay out of political crosshairs.

Data points show that the NBA and many of its stars lost popularity in 2020 when the league openly embraced far-left political activism. LeBron James, specifically, has never fully regained the broad public support he enjoyed before trying to become an activist figure.

Earlier this year, Wembanyama spoke out against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"PR has tried, but I’m not going to sit here and give some politically correct [answer]," he told reporters in January. "Every day I wake up and see the news, and I’m horrified. I think it’s crazy that some people might make it seem like or sound like the murder of civilians is acceptable."

Notably, there is no evidence that ICE has "murdered" civilians, which carries a specific legal definition.

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For the sake of both the NBA and his own stardom, Wembanyama would be wise to stick to sports and avoid unnecessarily cutting his potential fan base in half.

If he does, he has the potential to become exactly what the NBA has spent years searching for: its next true face of the league.

Amazon announces search for next James Bond is underway, as Hollywood casting choices come under scrutiny

Mon, 18 May 2026 18:44:26 -0400

The James Bond franchise is one of the most popular and iconic film series in entertainment industry history. It's almost unquestionably the most unique franchise in Hollywood.

Starting in 1962, every "official" James Bond film has been produced by one company: Eon Films. And incredibly, Eon has remained under the control of one family, starting with Albert Broccoli. But Broccoli's daughter, Barbara, unexpectedly decided to sell control of the Bond properties, character, and future film developments to Amazon and MGM studios.

After years of creative control and stability from one company, Bond is now under the auspices of a major film studio. Run by a technology company more well known for the speed of its delivery services and web services platform.

Unsurprisingly, this is a major turning point for one of the most important characters and franchises in the business. The latest film in the series, "No Time to Die," had a stunning ending that closed the book on the Daniel Craig-version of the character. That was also five years ago.

'EUPHORIA' STAR SYDNEY SWEENEY GETS MAJOR JAMES BOND ENDORSEMENT FROM TOP HOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR

Amazon's since announced they're working on the next installment, which will be helmed by director Denis Villeneuve. Get this right, and it can set up more than a decade of films. Get it wrong, and the Bond series might follow in the footsteps of mishandled intellectual property like "Star Wars" and be greeted with apathy and disinterest.

Villeneuve was an outstanding choice, with an exceptional resume. "Arrival," "Sicario" and the "Dune" series have been critically and commercially successful. And more importantly, enjoyable to watch. But equally as important as the director is finding the right actor to play the legendary Bond character. That's where there remains considerable uncertainty.

And Amazon/MGM recently addressed it in perhaps the most unusual way possible. By announcing they're searching for a new actor with, well, zero details.

"The search for the next James Bond is underway," their post on X reads. "While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right."

Not exactly dripping with information, though it does align with reports that actor Tom Francis had auditioned for the role. Francis is 26, allowing for a lengthy runway for new movies. Several other rumored candidates include Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jacob Elordi, among others.

Which raises the most important question: will Amazon mess this up?

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Casting decisions have become increasingly contentious recently, as Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" has come in for criticism for several choices he made. Obviously, political pressure and Hollywood's ideological leanings could lead to a total rethink of the character to take it further away from what book author Ian Fleming intended.

Announcing the start of the casting process is exciting, in a way, since the gap between films is already trending toward the largest in franchise history. Even if the character is cast now, a release is years away. Between the time it takes to ramp up production, shoot what will surely be a large scale film, complete post-production and marketing, then target a specific release date in a busy movie-going season, even a 2027 release date seems unlikely.

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More important than dates though, is that Amazon stay true to the character. Stay true to the intention of the series and the author. The last thing the industry needs, as it fights for survival, is yet another "retelling" or "modern update" of a legendary property.

Hopefully Amazon has learned the lesson Disney and other studios taught them. Quite literally, there are billions of dollars and decades of future films at stake.

Ronda Rousey's 17-second win over Gina Carano wasn't a letdown; it was vintage | Bobby Burack

Mon, 18 May 2026 17:39:14 -0400

There was widespread disappointment when Ronda Rousey submitted Gina Carano in just 17 seconds on Saturday.

The bout carried enormous hype. It marked Netflix’s first MMA broadcast in partnership with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. Carano didn’t land a punch, and the fight ended before some viewers had fully settled in.

Critics called the finish cheap, staged and anticlimactic.

And yet, the fight unfolded exactly as it should have. It was a reminder of exactly who Ronda Rousey was at the peak of her prowess.

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The truly disappointing outcome would've been had Rousey struggled to put Carano away.

A quick submission via her trademark arm bar was vintage. During Rousey's prime, arguably the most dominant stretch in women’s MMA history, her fights often looked exactly like that.

She knocked out Alexis Davis in 16 seconds at UFC 175 in 2014. She submitted Cat Zingano with an arm bar in 14 seconds at UFC 184. Both fights ended faster than Saturday’s bout against Carano.

In a bit of an upset, Bethe Correia lasted a full 34 seconds before Rousey knocked her out at UFC 190.

On Saturday, Rousey closed her MMA career the same way she built it, by overwhelming opponents almost immediately.

WNBA GRAPHIC OMITTING CAITLIN CLARK SHOWS IDENTITY POLITICS STILL COME FIRST | BOBBY BURACK

Casual viewers often see quick finishes as unsatisfying. Dedicated fight fans see them as the purest expression of dominance. Boxing fans reacted the same way when Mike Tyson tore through opponents in the first round during the 1980s.

Casual fans wouldn't have enjoyed a slower fight, in which Rousey showed ring rust and needed the judges to escape with a win over Carano. Put simply, the most criticized UFC fights are often the most technical, with little action or damage exchanged.

The only fans with legitimate gripes are Gina Carano supporters, those who believed she could pull off the upset. But at 44 years old and 17 years removed from her last MMA fight, a quick submission was always a realistic possibility.

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It’s also worth remembering the fight streamed on Netflix, not pay-per-view. Rousey’s previous fights often cost fans at least $50.

Ultimately, the fight delivered exactly what it was supposed to deliver. Regardless of the level of competition, seeing Rousey lock in the arm bar one final time before retirement was a fitting ending to her career.

WNBA graphic omitting Caitlin Clark shows identity politics still come first | Bobby Burack

Mon, 18 May 2026 15:50:23 -0400

Before the start of the WNBA season, OutKick argued that the league was in position to establish itself as a viable mainstream attraction. But to do that, the league needed to embrace Caitlin Clark as the transcendent, once-in-a-generation superstar she is.

It turns out the WNBA still isn't ready to do that.

On Sunday, the league posted a social media graphic promoting its doubleheader on NBC/Peacock. The graphic featured A’ja Wilson of the Aces, Angel Reese of the Dream, Zia Cooke of the Storm, and, representing the Fever, Raven Johnson.

That's right. Raven Johnson, who is averaging 1.0 points per game this season.

Johnson is also Black. While we normally wouldn't mention her skin color, it likely played a role in the decision to feature her over Clark. We can't think of another reason the league would do so.

If the WNBA's goal was to spotlight newer or lesser-known players, we could at least understand the logic. But that clearly wasn't the case, considering the graphic also included established stars like Wilson and Reese.

Had the league also promoted Isobel Borlase, who averages 1.0 points per game, over Reese, we might have given it the benefit of the doubt.

This omission of Clark is hardly a new development. Throughout Clark's first two seasons in the league, the WNBA repeatedly excluded her from promos, commercials and graphics.

Imagine the NBA promoting a Bulls game in the 1990s without Michael Jordan. Imagine the league previewing a new season today without LeBron James. If you can find a single ad for the upcoming Texas Longhorns season that doesn't feature Arch Manning, let us know.

Every sport's league promotes its biggest stars. It would be foolish not to. Well, every league except the WNBA.

There remains deep sensitivity around Caitlin Clark's popularity because people in and around the sport insist it exists only because she is a straight White woman from Iowa. ESPN pundits continue to insist that's the reason, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. As a result, people around the league — apparently, including its social media team — seem determined to prove they are either not racist (if White) or not a sellout (if Black).

DOUBLE STANDARD: IT'S ONLY A CONTROVERSY WHEN CAITLIN CLARK WALKS OUT WITH MORGAN WALLEN

Racial tensions surrounding Clark are especially high right now, after a group of racially idolatrous media members fumed outrage over her walking out with Morgan Wallen at his concert last weekend.

For context, there was no backlash when Patrick Mahomes, Myles Garrett and Marshawn Lynch appeared with Wallen. But when the White girl did it, suddenly it became a controversy.

An ESPN guest writer named Jayson Buford accused Clark on Substack of appealing to a "scary" form of "whiteness," whatever that means, by walking out with Wallen.

"Caitlin Clark is beloved by most people despite her proximity to the type of whiteness that is inherently scary," Buford wrote. "So why did she walk out with Morgan Wallen? It's so blatantly corny."

Like the social media team, Buford signaled his virtue. No one can accuse him of being a sellout.

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Meanwhile, the WNBA once again looks bush league, petty and toxic. Burying your biggest star because she is white — and because some people within the league resent that reality — is not just unappealing. It's racist. It sends the message that the WNBA is more concerned with identity politics than appealing to fans.

By now, the playbook is painfully predictable. The WNBA undermines Clark. Her fans notice. And then, her detractors accuse those fans of racism for noticing. Rinse and repeat.

Finally, Clark finished Sunday's game with 21 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds, leading the Fever to an 89-78 win over the Storm. Raven Johnson, who made the graphic over Clark, didn't score a single point.

And that's why the WNBA remains a small-time sports league subject to mockery, despite employing arguably the most popular basketball player in the world.

Audemars Piguet x Swatch 'Royal Pop' release sparks mob scenes, pepper spray and arrests at malls

Mon, 18 May 2026 06:35:14 -0400

In the world of watch collecting, there's a term for three of the most legendary, historic, accomplished and well-respected brands and manufacturers: The Holy Trinity.

The Holy Trinity, otherwise known as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet, and Audemars Piguet, are world-renowned for their heritage, quality, and craftsmanship. And while there are many other high-end companies making exceptionally beautiful watches like A. Lange & Söhne or Breguet, big new releases coming from the Holy Trinity generate more attention than most other brands.

Which is why it was so surprising when news broke recently that Audemars Piguet was collaborating with the Swatch company for a new project. Audemars Piguet, or AP, is best known for their "Royal Oak." A legendary watch, designed by Gerald Genta, that's a favorite of many collectors and nearly impossible to get in stores without a lengthy "relationship" with a boutique. Swatch, though they own high-end brands like Breguet and Omega, is known mostly for making accessible, affordable starter watches.

An independent watch brand at the top of the market selling "timepieces" for $30,000 and up. A massive conglomerate that sells "bioceramic" watches for $350-400. A match made in...heaven?

Surprising though it may be, the "Royal Pop" was announced in early May, a new and unique collaboration between the two companies. Instead of a traditionally understated stainless steel case, the Royal Pop comes in several bright colors. Made in Swatch's bioceramic material, all designed to sit in a type of pocket watch format with a lanyard connected to it.

Retailing for $400-425, the May 16 in-store-only release was expected to draw significant interest. Boy did it ever.

Despite what "experts," politicians and certain media outlets may like to claim about the current state of the U.S. economy, turns out there is tremendous demand for $400 watches. To the point where massive crowds gathered across the country, some days in advance, to get the Royal Pop. Swatch announced on Saturday that a number of stores would stay closed, without selling watches, due to safety concerns.

WATCH: MASKED THIEVES WIELDING HAMMERS HIT JEWELRY STORE IN WHAT EXPERT CALLS 'MOB-STYLE' HEIST

And on Long Island, New York, rowdy crowds that essentially formed a mob rushed the Roosevelt Field Mall, forming an unruly mob that brought in local police. One video from the scene showed a police officer overwhelmed by the crowd, and using pepper spray to control the mob.

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According to the New York Post, four people were arrested on scene. One for a "second-degree assault charge." A whopping 19 Swatch stores were closed on Sunday for safety concerns. The store in SoHo never opened on Saturday as the crowd of several hundred were too rowdy to even start selling watches. It's been a similar story overseas, with locations in London and elsewhere seeing problems with

Many of those camping out intended to resell the Royal Pop, with most going on eBay for around $1,600-$2,000. But again, when we hear every day that the economy is in dire shape, why are there thousands upon thousands of people lining up for $400+ watches? Or many more willing to spend $2,000+ on a watch that retails for $400 and doesn't currently have an option to wear on a wrist?

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Some have listed a full set of the different color options for well over $10,000. What kind of down economy is this?

The AP x Swatch "Royal Pop" brings a unique opportunity for collectors or watch fans to get a watch that's associated with the Holy Trinity for just a few thousand, instead of tens of thousands. By that measure, it's a bargain. But the fact that there are so many out there willing to buy into the product, even at that price, shows that maybe things aren't as bad as they think they are.

Statisticians strangely don't count multiple clear-cut Caitlin Clark assists vs Mystics

Sat, 16 May 2026 13:03:39 -0400

Something strange happened in the Friday night matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Washington Mystics.

No, I’m not talking about the Fever only scoring nine points in the second quarter, or Aliyah Boston being a non-factor in her second straight game. I’m talking about the statisticians refusing to award two assists to Caitlin Clark, which stole a historic achievement from her.

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The two plays in question:

With less than six minutes to go in the Fever’s abysmal second quarter, Clark drove the lane, drawing two defenders, and then darted a wraparound pass to Monique Billings, who cashed a catch-and-shoot corner 3 to cut the Mystics' lead to 2. Some have claimed that the pass was slightly tipped, but even if it was, an assist can still count if the pass was slightly tipped, depending on whether the official scorer believes the original pass directly led to the basket, which it did.
The second questionable omission was with 30 seconds left in regulation, a crucial play in the Fever’s ferocious comeback to send the game to overtime. Clark raced up the floor with the Fever down six, dribbling to the right side of the arc where she, once again, drew a double team, leading to a shovel pass to Kelsey Mitchell, who nailed a three. The pass undoubtedly led to the basket, yet no assist was awarded.]

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The interesting aspect in all of this is that assist decisions are generally handled by official scorers and statisticians using league statistical guidelines and judgment rather than a written gameplay rule in the public rulebook that speaks specifically to slightly deflected passes or hand-offs and shovel passes.

If the pass to the intended target leads to a bucket, without drastically changing direction, or causing the player to make an extra effort to reach the pass, it should be an assist. It’s definitely something the league should take a look at and correct, in my opinion.

If this is indeed corrected by the league, Clark would have only the sixth 30-point, 10-assist game in WNBA history. Plus, Clark would become the first player to ever do it twice. It would have been a historic milestone on top of being the fastest player to reach 1,000+ points, 250+ assists and 250+ rebounds, doing it in just 54 games, breaking Diana Tarausi’s record of 62 games.

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I consider this a huge story from a betting standpoint as well. What about the folks who put money down on Caitlin Clark getting a double-double or over 9.5 assists? Whether you like it or not, betting is a massive part of the sports experience and many are putting bets down on the WNBA’s most exciting player.

This isn’t just about personal milestones for Clark, or integrity in the way the stats are recorded, it affects fans pocketbooks. WNBA, do the right thing here. Acknowledge and award Clark her well-earned assists.

The best outdoor weekend in Northwest Georgia doesn’t require 'roughing it' or sleeping on the ground

Fri, 15 May 2026 11:06:21 -0400

When it comes to hiking in the Southeast, most people immediately think of the Smokies, the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian Trail.

And for good reason. The area is an absolute wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts. You could spend a lifetime exploring these mountains and still not run out of trails, waterfalls, trout streams and scenic overlooks.

But, for my money, the most overlooked pocket of outdoor paradise in the Southeast sits right around Lookout Mountain in northwest Georgia.

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I’ve written before about Cloudland Canyon State Park — one of my favorite underrated spots in this little corner of the world. Just across the state line, Alabama’s DeSoto State Park and Little River Canyon are also wonderful for stunning views, hikes and whatever else tugs your trotline.

In fact, last fall, I laid out for you an itinerary for the perfect camping and hiking weekend, hitting all of these destinations. And while I got a lot of "hell yeahs" in my email inbox, there was also one very common theme.

Amber, that’s cool and all. But after a day in the woods, I need a hot shower and a real bed.

You know what? I don’t even blame you. Taking a sponge bath with water you boiled over an open fire has a way of making a person feel decidedly NOT very on vacation.

Lucky for you, I’ve found a solution. And before you accuse me of going soft, I need you to hear me out.

A few months ago, somebody tipped me off to a resort perched atop Lookout Mountain near Cloudland Canyon — one Golf Digest had honored for having one of the most majestic 18th holes in the country.

"Few anywhere are more memorable or more resplendent than this one." - Golf Digest

Resplendent! Adjective — shining brilliantly; full of splendor and magnificence. There’s a word you don’t hear very often.

Now admittedly, I don’t golf. I’m even a pretty pitiful putt-putter, if we’re being totally honest. But a majestic 18th hole means a majestic view in the rest of the resort. And y’all know I’m a sucker for a scenic overlook.

So my husband and I found ourselves booked for a two-night stay at Cloudland at McLemore.

Now, walking into this place is an experience in itself. Pull open a mammoth wooden door and you get yourself two eyeballs full of McLemore Cove — a valley nestled between Lookout and Pigeon Mountain.

Yeah, this is gonna be just fine.

My husband is a total freak, so his first stop was the hotel gym. Not your average hotel gym, by the way. It’s a zen fitness center complete with weights, cardio equipment, a Peloton room and real water rowing machines.

Have fun, baby, I’m opening a bar tab at the pool.

It’s an infinity pool, by the way. It doesn’t flow off the cliff edge (for obvious safety reasons), but it’s still very cool. I began to wonder, What kind of money do I need to make where lying in a partly submerged lounge chair with a book, a cocktail and a mountain view is a realistic daily occurrence?

Best not to start crunching those numbers.

We had reservations that night at Auld Alliance, the resort’s designated fancy restaurant. Meaning I put on a dress instead of my usual uniform of a T-shirt, muddy pants and boots. Who am I?

Someone who gobbles up a filet mignon and mashed potatoes like a rabid animal, that’s who.

By the way, their mashed potatoes are called "rumbledethumps." It's a Scottish dish, I'm told. But I could not, for the life of me, remember this word. I called them "tweedledees, humpty-dumpties, whoopdie-doos," and God bless our server Nico for deciphering my nonsense. Whatever they’re called, they are full of butter, and they are magnificent.

And I promise that’s not just the Scotch Old Fashioned talking. Which was also magnificent.

Hiking Lula Lake on Lookout Mountain

The next day, we had an adventure planned: "Open Gate Days" at Lula Lake Land Trust.

Lula Lake is a protected 8,000-acre watershed and nature conservation area. You cannot just show up there and take a look around. But on the first and last weekend of the month, you can buy a pre-booked ticket ($16 per vehicle) to explore the grounds.

It’s well worth the price of admission.

Now, my husband and I have been to Cloudland Canyon State Park a handful of times and are working our way through all the trails there. Until this trip, we were unaware Lula Lake even existed. It’s a hidden gem.

Unfortunately, the forecast called for heavy rain all day long. Not ideal hiking weather, obviously, but we had already committed to 7.5 miles, and by golly, we were going to tough it out. Might as well put our expensive rain gear to use.

And boy, did we use it. The sky opened up less than a mile into our trek, and we knew we were in for a long day. Not as long, perhaps, as the woman we saw huddled under a trail map sign wearing a T-shirt, shorts and tie-dyed Crocs. As we say in the South, bless her (highly unprepared) heart.

HERE’S HOW TO DO THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS WITHOUT TRAFFIC AND CROWDS

Fortunately, the rain let up just as we reached the absolute star of the hike: Lula Falls. You catch a glimpse of this 120-foot waterfall from above pretty early in the trail. But trust me when I say you’re going to want to take the maybe half-mile detour loop that goes down to the base of the falls.

The waterfall is stunning. Peaceful. A reminder of why you slog through the woods in the pouring rain in the first place. And totally Instagram-able.

One thing my husband hates is when I ask strangers to take a picture of us.

"Can’t we just take a selfie?" he asks every time.

No. We cannot. Because I don’t want close-up photos of our sweaty faces. I want photos of nature’s splendor. And so I clocked a 20-something female (they take the best photos) and asked her to snap a picture of us in front of the waterfall. We even climbed up on a big rock to make it look cooler.

Friends, never again will I simply assume the photography skills of a Gen-Zer. I’m not kidding when I say this girl zoomed all the way in on my husband and me. By looking at the photo she took, you would never know we were standing in front of a 120-foot majestic waterfall. Just two waterlogged dorks on a rock.

But I’m too nice to hurt anyone’s feelings, so then we had to sit there and wait for her to leave so that I could ask someone else to take our photo. Come to think of it, maybe this is why my husband would rather take selfies.

Worth the wait. The second lady nailed it.

Scroll to see more photos from Lula Lake Land Trust:

We climbed out of the bottom of the waterfall through some particularly cool rock formations, and that’s when the torrential downpour began. And it persisted for about an hour. By the time we reached the bluffs, every thread of every fabric on my clothing was soaked through. Guess it’s time to upgrade that rain gear.

In fact, the only part of my body that was dry was the most important part, my feet. (If you’re a hiker or a runner, you know wet socks are blister city. So shoutout to KEEN for waterproof boots that are, in fact, waterproof.)

Still, it was in this moment I was very happy to have a nice hotel, a hot shower and dry clothes to return to after the hike. This was not the weekend to go camping.

Finally, though, Mother Nature threw us a bone. The rain stopped, the fog cleared and we were treated to a stunning view of the Chattanooga Valley. A sight to behold before the soggy trek back to the trailhead.

Even with the rain, though, Lula Lake Land Trust was a spectacular find, and I’m glad we did the full 7.5 miles. I would have been bummed if I missed those overlooks from the Bluff Trail.

They also have mountain biking trails — if that’s more your speed — and the preserve is dog friendly.

This was a very rare trip where our German Shepherd didn’t come along. We’ll definitely take him next time, though. He needs a photo with that waterfall.

Post-Hike Beers

If you’ve been reading my travel blogs for a while, you know I don’t put in those miles for nothing. So I was thrilled to head back to the resort for a frosty brew.

Here’s a fun surprise: Cloudland at McLemore takes its happy hour seriously. A staff member told us to head to the Pocket Cafe for two free wine, beer or cocktails per guest.

Twist my arm.

As we sat on the terrace with our cocktails enjoying the view, we overheard groups of golfers debriefing from their day on the links. I learned that McLemore has three golf courses: The Highlands, The Keep and a six-hole short course called The Cairn. I guess you can play The Cairn for free as a hotel guest. Which feels like an incredible perk if I were a golfer.

I did hear rave reviews about the 18th hole on The Highlands, though — the same one Golf Digest was all worked up about.

Conveniently enough, the resort has a hiking trail leading right up to the famous finishing hole. I made a mental note to walk out there before we checked out the next day.

The hiking trail on the property was only about a mile, but very peaceful and pretty. It was especially cool (and a little spooky) with the morning fog thick through the trees. The hotel also has bikes for guests to use and is planning to implement some rock climbing and bouldering areas as well. Plenty of ways to scratch your outdoor itch, which I always appreciate.

Look, I’m not giving up camping (or "glamping") anytime soon.

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But after spending a day hiking waterfalls in the pouring rain, then coming back to dry clothes, mountain views, good bourbon and a mattress that didn’t require inflating with my own lungs, I certainly understand the appeal.

Maybe all the "hot shower, real bed" people in my inbox were onto something after all.

NFL’s grossly expanded national schedule is making RedZone and Sunday Ticket less essential

Thu, 14 May 2026 14:56:55 -0400

By continuing to increase the number of national broadcasts, the NFL has diluted the value of both RedZone and Sunday Ticket.

The 2026-27 season will begin on a Wednesday, followed by a Thursday night game from Australia. The league will also debut its first-ever Thanksgiving Eve broadcast this year, leading into three games on Thanksgiving and one on Black Friday. Another game is set for Christmas Eve, with three more scheduled for Christmas Day.

Beyond that, the NFL is extending its late-season Saturday package to four weekends, spanning Weeks 15-18. In total, the league will stage a record nine international games this season, all of which will air nationally.

And all of that comes on top of the league’s usual lineup of three windows on Sunday and one Monday.

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The NFL saw the risks of overloading the national schedule last season. By midseason, there simply were not enough relevant teams to justify the number of standalone broadcasts.

Last Christmas, five of the six participating teams were either already eliminated from playoff contention or ultimately missed the postseason. On Thanksgiving, only one of the six teams in action reached the playoffs.

The Sunday slate used to be elite enough that fans could justify paying for Sunday Ticket to access every out-of-market matchup. This season, YouTube will charge returning subscribers roughly $480 for the package. However, the more games siphoned into standalone broadcasts, the fewer games remain in the traditional 1 p.m. and 4:25 p.m. windows, leaving Sunday Ticket with less to offer.

Take Thanksgiving week as an example. By Sunday morning, 10 teams will have already played. Another six teams will appear in the national Sunday afternoon slot, "Sunday Night Football" or "Monday Night Football." That leaves just eight games for paying Sunday Ticket viewers.

The same dynamic applies to RedZone. The channel was once essential to the Sunday viewing experience. It was the most efficient and thrilling way for viewers to follow every meaningful moment across a crowded Sunday slate. Yet with fewer games in the early and late windows, RedZone has become less of a necessity.

By mid- to late season, any game of substance will likely air nationally. Keeping track of the other, less consequential games may then only appeal to sports bettors and fantasy football players.

At the same time, fans are now required to pay for multiple streaming platforms — including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Peacock — to access the full NFL schedule. That added fragmentation could reduce consumers’ willingness to also pay for premium products such as Sunday Ticket and RedZone.

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More broadly, the NFL is eroding the scarcity that helped turn the sport into America’s dominant television property.

Sundays used to feel distinct. The concentrated schedule created a sense of occasion and urgency that is diluted when games are spread across Thursdays, occasional Wednesdays, Friday holidays, Saturday nights, Sunday mornings and multiple streaming-exclusive windows.

For the first time in decades, NFL games are beginning to feel skippable. There are simply too many of them spread across too many days. The combination of an overloaded schedule, international travel and shortened preparation time increasingly produces mediocre matchups in premium television windows.

The NFL is unlikely to reverse course because of concerns about the quality of play. The league has shown little evidence that competitive aesthetics matter as much as media rights growth and inventory maximization.

However, if the continued expansion of national windows ultimately weakens premium properties such as Sunday Ticket and RedZone, the league may eventually reconsider whether it has stretched the product too far.

Christopher Nolan confirms bizarre 'The Odyssey' casting choices including rapper Travis Scott

Tue, 12 May 2026 22:27:49 -0400

Christopher Nolan is one of the entertainment industry's most celebrated filmmakers. He's responsible for some of the biggest financial and critical successes since the turn of the century.

"The Dark Knight." "Inception." "Dunkirk." "Interstellar." And his most recent release, "Oppenheimer," which won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. Nolan, like few other modern directors, has achieved an "auteur" status, essentially a signature style and control over the creative process and output that's distinctive compared to his peers.

When news broke that Nolan's next project would be "The Odyssey," it seemed like an unexpected, fascinating fit. The 55-year-old director has tackled different subjects with unique, high-quality film-making. "Batman Begins" was credited with redefining the comic book, superhero movie by grounding it in realism with a much darker tone than more cartoonish predecessors. "Dunkirk" featured an exceptional recreation of an aerial battle in World War II, and "Interstellar" was so groundbreaking in its scientific accuracy that it led to an academic research paper on its portrayal of a black hole. "Tenet" was a fascinating and original exploration of time that was fanatical in its commitment to the rules of the film, outlandish though they might have been. Even "Oppenheimer," though it took plenty of historical license, was praised for the depiction of the first test of a nuclear bomb as part of The Manhattan Project.

MOVIE STAR REJECTS CHANGING CHARACTERS TO SATISFY DIVERSITY GOALS, INSTEAD WANTS NEW ORIGINAL CHARACTERS

All of this attention to detail and grounded realism despite remarkable scale, made "The Odyssey" such an interesting choice. An epic story, one of history's oldest, interweaving mythology and the very human story of Odysseus trying to return home to his family. But with mythological elements seemingly a new direction for Nolan to take.

The film is set to release this summer on July 17th, and speculation over its cast started as soon as some of the list hit the internet. Along with Matt Damon was Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron, Elliot Page and many others. Initially, it wasn't clear which characters those actors and actresses would portray.

But a new interview with the director and cast published on Tuesday by Time, confirmed some of the most rumored details. And in doing so, brought him in for some heavy criticism or outright confusion. It starts with Matt Damon, playing Odysseus, saying that Nolan is "...very faithful to Homer because that’s not somebody you rewrite. But thematically, what he looked at was really interesting."

Nolan's attention to detail and commitment to authenticity went as far as building a "genuinely seaworthy" ship for Odysseus and his crew that could sail around the Mediterranean. Which is what makes his casting choices so...well, odd.

The Time article explains that the character of "Helen," famously known in the story as "the most beautiful woman in the world," and described by Homer as having white skin and other historic authors as golden, or having light hair, is played by Kenyan-Mexican actress Lupita Nyong'o.

Then, Nolan reportedly told composer Ludwig Göransson "not to use an orchestra in the score." Göransson added, "It's not like the orchestra existed back then," per the Time story. Nolan also put rapper Travis Scott in the film, saying, "I cast him because I wanted to nod towards the idea that this story has been handed down as oral poetry, which is analogous to rap."

So his dedication to accuracy was so extreme that he had his crew build an actual seaworthy ship for Odysseus, refused to use an orchestra to score the film, and his lead actor praised how "faithful" he was to Homer's text. And yet he cast a Kenyan-Mexican actress to play a Greek woman, and used a modern rapper to nod to oral poetry from 2,700 years ago?

Nolan's earned the benefit of the doubt, and his films are always fascinating, even if there are legitimate, sometimes plentiful criticisms of the writing or plot points. "The Odyssey" will undoubtedly contain his trademark scale and technical quality. But it's odd that he chose to abandon that realism to subvert specific characters. Nyong'o is a very talented and attractive actress who's deserving of being in a Christopher Nolan movie...and also totally miscast as Helen of Troy.

You could make a similar case with Matt Damon, who has a Nordic ethnic background that's looks little like someone born around the Mediterranean. It's made even more bizarre by how Nolan brags about how much "research" went into the movie.

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"Nolan speaks with pride about the level of research that went into the production from all departments," the story says. Then explains soon after, "The oldest depictions of Homeric characters tend to be depicted in the manner of people living in Homer’s time. So there’s a pretty strong case there for portraying things that way because that’s the way the first audience received the story."

Except for the cast? Did the audience who first "received the story" get it by way of Travis Scott?

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Again, none of this means Nyong'o shouldn't be in the movie. Or Scott for that matter, though given his limited acting experience, it's possible he immediately pulls the audience out of the movie. But it's an odd disconnect to focus on historic realism, research, and attention to detail, and then thoroughly discard descriptions of characters in order to meet a modern expectation.

It's unlike Nolan. Or at least, what Nolan seemed to represent, until now.

Anthony Fauci blames Americans for not hitting his COVID vaccine target while ignoring other countries

Thu, 07 May 2026 20:33:34 -0400

It wouldn’t be out of line to expect those setting public health policy and making life-changing medical recommendations to have some awareness of the outcomes of their views and predictions.

For example, it would be reasonable to believe that Anthony Fauci, one of the most important figures in US public health and the head of an organization dedicated to investigating infectious disease response, would be aware of the results of policies he recommended.

But Anthony Fauci is a near-perfect example of the modern public health profession, someone who believes fanatically in his own infallibility.

'FOX & FRIENDS' HOSTS HIT BACK AT FAUCI FOR TELLING UNVACCINATED AMERICANS TO 'GET OVER IT'

Which is how we arrive at some new remarks he made about his disappointment with the United States and our acceptance of COVID vaccines. Remarks that once again demonstrate why he did such poor work during the pandemic: all too often, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

Fauci, in a new discussion called "Why HIV still has no vaccine: Dr. Fauci & Dr. Corey explain the science," held by the "SubSpace at the Museum of Science," explained why he was so upset about the US’ COVID vaccination rate.

"If the vaccine was accepted by society, if we didn't have an anti-vax problem, we would have a much much more effective vaccine distribution in this country," Fauci said. "I mean, if everybody universally accepted that this was a safe and effective vaccine, we were trying to get 72% of the population vaccinated and we never really got there. Whereas other countries got 85-90% vaccinated. So I think it depends on the country."

Fauci then said he believed it was unacceptable for people in the US to be getting a "second and third booster" before people in the developing world got their first dose.

"That's different than the inequity that you have globally, which I think is more of a problem," he said. "We had people getting their second and third booster before people in the developing world were getting their first shot. That's just unconscionable."

That’s an odd thing for him to say, considering he was instrumental in pushing for the second and third booster doses. Though that was a seamless shift from his previous claim that the two-dose series would provide plenty of protection against severe outcomes. Regardless, much of the developing world is made up of much younger countries, with populations in Africa, for example, at much lower risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19 than elderly individuals with comorbidities in the United States or Western Europe. But that’s how "equity" works in the minds of people like Anthony Fauci; we must force equal distribution instead of making rational, common-sense decisions.

Which is also why the CDC initially recommended that COVID vaccines be given to teachers and transit workers before people aged 65-74, because they wanted to mitigate racial and ethnic "health inequities." Sanity takes a back seat to equity.

COVID VACCINE UNDER NEW SCRUTINY AFTER STUDIES REVEAL POSSIBLE HEALTH RISKS

Then there’s the other side of his argument, and the more important one: that getting higher vaccination rates would have fixed our COVID outbreak in the United States. This is where Fauci’s lack of analysis, intellectual curiosity, and humility becomes more obvious and infuriating.

He enviously mentions that other countries achieved much higher vaccination rates because they have less of an "anti-vax" culture. So how much did that matter? Well, we can look at a few prominent examples to get an answer.

Australia achieved one of the highest vaccination rates in the world by late 2021. By late September, early October, more than 90% of everyone over 16 had received at least one vaccination dose. By December 2021, COVID-related hospitalizations in Australia had exploded to record highs.

In early February 2021, Australia reportedly had a mere nine individuals hospitalized with COVID. By early January 2022, that figure had surged to 3,101. In fact, one story in an Australian media outlet in January 2022 described a "Tsunami of COVID," with "grave warnings" about the situation in Australia hospitals.

Doesn’t sound great, does it?

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Then there’s Denmark. Denmark was lauded in the media, particularly by Slate for their vaccine passport system that was credited with ending the spread of COVID in the country. "In Denmark, which rolled out the first EU-based app in April, officials made the ‘Coronapass’ a mandatory requirement for basic societal participation," Slate explained. "Access to hairdressers, tattoo parlors, cinemas, theaters, and gyms was strictly gated, with the threat of fines looming for anyone who dared to ignore the mandate... These results were championed as the country’s official victory over the virus and a decisive win for those advocating for digital vaccination credential systems."

Denmark was even more successful at vaccinations than Australia, getting over 90% of the adult population fully vaccinated by early September 2021. A few short months later, cases in Denmark obliterated previous records. They were praised for the "official victory over the virus" and a "decisive win" for vaccine passports. And a few months later had one of the highest COVID case rates on earth.

How about an example closer to home? After all, the United States is a gigantic country with wildly different policies and populations. Countrywide, the vaccination rate wasn’t nearly as high as some other countries, but plenty of individual locations far exceeded the target Fauci set out.

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In fact, one of those locations was Montgomery County, Maryland. Fauci’s own backyard, just outside Washington, D.C. By late 2021, Montgomery County had nearly 85% of the population fully vaccinated, with over 90% getting at least one dose. They even had another one of Fauci’s favorite policies, a mask mandate. How well did that work for them?

Not well! These are just a handful of examples, and there are plenty more. In Hawaii, COVID deaths hit their highest rate, by far, after more than 90% of seniors in the state had been vaccinated. The group at highest risk of severe outcomes, and the most vaccinated. Maine, too, saw its COVID numbers increase dramatically despite extremely high vaccination uptake. Same with Vermont.

And what makes this all worse is that Fauci made these comments this week. Over six years after the start of the pandemic, five and a half years after the vaccines hit the market, and nearly five years after near-universal vaccination coverage in some states and countries. Yet he either doesn’t know the actual data of what the results of his recommendations were, or is too dishonest to talk publicly about it.

That is why trust in public health is at an all-time low. The data is there, the outcomes are there. And one of the most important voices and figures in public health doesn’t know or doesn’t care about it, because it would prove him wrong.

'White Lotus' meets Stephen King: Apple TV's 'Widow's Bay' is the best show of the year

Thu, 07 May 2026 18:21:30 -0400

Picture "White Lotus" with a horror backdrop, tangled in a mystery. That’s the best way to describe Apple TV’s new series, "Widow’s Bay."

Though Rotten Tomatoes is hardly the final arbiter of quality streaming, the show’s 96% score is justified. The characters are eccentric, devious and mysterious. Together, it all works.

Starring Matthew Rhys and Stephen Root, the series centers on an ambitious mayor, Tom Loftis (Rhys), who tries to capitalize on a surge of tourists visiting the fictional island. His goal is to turn it into the next Martha’s Vineyard.

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There’s one problem. Residents of the northeastern town insist the land is cursed.

Still, the mayor refuses to bow to superstition. But, without getting into spoilers, that becomes harder the deeper he digs into the island’s past.

No character is more convinced of "Widow’s Bay’s" haunted nature than Wyck (Root). In Wyck’s view, Loftis is putting every tourist in grave danger by inviting them to vacation in the town, especially at the local motel.

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Forbes captured the dynamic well:

"Tom is the classic straight man in comedy terms. He doesn’t believe the hocus pocus surrounding the island’s history. He’s irritated by the outrageous Wyck, who wants Tom to shut the town down to outsiders, sound the alarms, and batten down the hatches. The island is waking up, Wyck warns, but even when he sees evidence of the supernatural, Tom refuses to bend."

The show is funny and supernatural, with a premise that feels like something Stephen King might have dreamed up before he suffered from a severe case of Trump derangement syndrome (TDS). (King used to be really, really good.)

For background, Katie Dippold serves as showrunner. She previously wrote for "Parks and Recreation" and penned the film "The Heat." That sharp comedic sensibility is evident throughout the series.

This strong blend of comedy and horror avoids the low-quality, gag-driven humor of something like the "Scary Movie" franchise. Instead, "Widow’s Bay" delivers sharp writing and elevated dialogue. (No knock on "Scary Movie.")

"Mare of Easttown meets Schitt’s Creek in this rich, wonderful, and laugh-out-loud series, in which a put-upon mayor tries to turn a cursed New England island into a tourist hotspot," is how The Guardian described the series.

That's accurate.

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We understand that there’s no shortage of streaming options, so recommendations shouldn’t come lightly. That said, "Widow’s Bay" is worth your time. It’s elite and, so far, the best show of 2026.

New episodes air every Wednesday on Apple TV.

Why Ted Turner's approach to conservation is the mindset America desperately needs right now

Thu, 07 May 2026 13:08:14 -0400

As we say goodbye to Ted Turner, most people will remember him as the media titan who launched CNN and forever changed television news. Or the guy who transformed the Atlanta Braves into "America’s Team" in the late 1970s.

But one of Turner’s most important contributions had nothing to do with cable news or billion-dollar deals. It had to do with bison, trout, and longleaf pines and the idea that if you are fortunate enough to own a piece of this country, you should leave it better than you found it.

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At a time when America’s public lands and wildlife habitats are increasingly threatened by development, shrinking conservation budgets and political battles over land use, Turner stood apart from many ultra-wealthy Americans.

Because he actually put his money where his mouth was. And not in the performative, "I bought carbon offsets for my private jet" kind of way.

Instead, Ted Turner bought massive amounts of land, and he spent decades working to restore it.

Turner ultimately amassed roughly 2 million acres across the United States — making him one of the largest private landowners in America. But unlike plenty of wealthy investors who buy ranches as status symbols or hunting playgrounds, Turner viewed his properties as restoration projects.

I’M A CONSERVATIVE FARMER. WE NEED TO PROTECT CONSERVATION FUNDING

His intent was to keep these places "as natural as possible."

That meant limiting pesticides, rebuilding native habitats and removing invasive species. He also planted more than a million longleaf pines across the South because, as Turner bluntly put it, "historically we cut them all down, and they are a critical part of the environment in this part of the world."

It also meant protecting the animals that call the land home.

Turner helped restore populations of red-cockaded woodpeckers, native trout species, prairie dogs, Mexican gray wolves and Bolson tortoises.

And then, of course, there were the bison. Lots and lots of bison.

Turner became the owner of the world’s largest private bison herd — around 45,000 animals spread across multiple ranches. But even that wasn’t just some eccentric billionaire hobby. He viewed the species as critical to restoring the ecology of the Great Plains because bison graze differently than cattle and naturally help regenerate grassland ecosystems.

And that’s the thing about Turner’s approach to conservation. It was never passive. He didn’t believe "preservation" simply meant locking land away and admiring it from afar. He believed humans had an obligation to actively repair damage that had already been done.

And frankly, that’s a mindset we could use a lot more of right now.

We’ve lost the plot on conservation

Whether you lean right or left, conservation should not be political. Protecting wildlife habitats shouldn’t be controversial. Keeping rivers fishable and forests healthy shouldn’t be controversial.

And conserving America’s natural beauty for future generations absolutely should not be controversial, either.

For decades, conservation was actually one of the most bipartisan ideas in the country. Theodore Roosevelt practically built the modern conservation movement. Hunters and anglers funded wildlife restoration through licenses and excise taxes. Ranchers, outdoorsmen and environmentalists often found common ground in protecting the land they all depended on.

Somewhere along the way, though, conservation became tangled up in broader political culture wars.

Turner, despite his outspoken views on climate issues, approached conservation in a far more grounded and practical way. He talked about restoring habitats, protecting species, managing land responsibly, supporting clean water and fixing ecosystems that humans damaged through overdevelopment and neglect.

Those are ideas most Americans — especially people who actually spend time outdoors — can still rally behind.

Turner also understood that conservation and public enjoyment do not have to be mutually exclusive.

Ted Turner left a lasting legacy on his land

Some of Turner's properties evolved into what he called "vacations with purpose," where tourism revenue helped fund conservation work. Luxury lodges and guest experiences on his reserves helped keep enormous swaths of land intact and undeveloped.

That’s huge. Because one of the biggest threats to wildlife habitat in America today is fragmentation. We see it when ranches become subdivisions. Forests become strip malls. Open land slowly gets chipped away acre by acre until animal migration corridors disappear and ecosystems stop functioning the way they’re supposed to.

Turner understood that once that land is gone, we aren’t getting it back.

And while most of us will never own millions of acres like he did, the broader lesson still applies.

Real conservation doesn’t mean chaining yourself to a tree, throwing soup at paintings or screaming at people on social media.

It means planting native species instead of tearing them out. It means supporting organizations that protect wildlife habitats. And it means teaching your kids to fish, hunt, hike and appreciate the outdoors enough that they’ll want to protect it someday, too.

"If you’re working to help others or make the world better," Turner once said, "you’ll be a lot happier than if all you’re doing is trying to make things better for yourself."

For all the man accomplished in his 87 years of life — and it was a lot — that may end up being the simplest and most enduring part of his legacy.

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Not CNN or the Braves or TBS. But the land he helped restore and the wildlife that still exists because he cared enough to protect it.

The world needs more Ted Turners.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs viewership surges as hockey rides wave from US Olympic gold medal

Wed, 06 May 2026 13:58:00 -0400

In February, we asked whether the NHL could capitalize on America’s renewed interest in hockey in hockey after Team USA’s Olympic gold medal victory. The answer is yes.

The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs averaged 1.2 million viewers across ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS and truTV, up nearly 70% from last year.

While Nielsen’s updated Big Data + Panel methodology has increased live sports averages, estimates put that bump at roughly 5% to 10%. The NHL’s surge goes well beyond any measurement changes. For comparison, that is not the case for the NBA playoffs.

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The NHL has steadily built momentum since the Olympics. The first eight nationally televised games after the break averaged 603,000 viewers across ABC, ESPN and TNT, a 23% increase from the league’s pre-Olympic average.

The Olympic finale reminded Americans how thrilling hockey can be. The playoffs have reinforced it. Few sports match hockey’s pace, chaos, and physicality. In many ways, it is the closest thing to football, America’s true pastime. Its intensity and passion are unmatched.

Distribution matters as well. The Stanley Cup Playoffs remain widely available on traditional television. Fans do not need multiple streaming subscriptions to follow the postseason, unlike in the NBA.

That aligns with audience sentiment. A ӣ��Ƶ national survey in March found that 72% of fans are frustrated with streaming and believe major sporting events should remain on free broadcast television.

NBA PLAYOFFS RATINGS ARE NOT ACTUALLY THE HIGHEST IN 33 YEARS, AS REPORTED

The sport’s culture also works in its favor. The conversation is not dominated by manufactured outrage or endless hot takes and race-baiting. The players are generally more focused on winning than on building personal brands on social media.

That said, hockey likely has a ceiling in the United States. The sport is less accessible than football, baseball or basketball. Ice time is limited, equipment is expensive, and there are far fewer rinks than fields or gyms.

Due to these structural disadvantages, hockey will never surpass football, basketball or baseball in overall popularity in America. However, it can still be bigger than it has been. We are seeing that now.

The next step is building stars.

In a fragmented, algorithm-driven media environment, individual stardom drives interest. The NHL has lagged here for years.

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Fortunately, the league has marketable talent in Connor McDavid, Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes, Connor Hellebuyck and Connor Bedard. It just has to market them properly.

Ultimately, for the first time in nearly a decade, hockey feels like a real factor in the American zeitgeist. It started with the Olympics.

Perez Hilton joins 'Tomi Lahren Is Fearless' and declares cancel culture is now a sport

Tue, 05 May 2026 22:10:37 -0400

In a striking crossover of media personalities, Perez Hilton joined the latest episode of OutKick's "Tomi Lahren is Fearless" to discuss the cutthroat reality of modern cancel culture.

The two found common ground in criticizing digital mobs they say are more interested in destruction than accountability.

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Lahren opened the discussion by contrasting today’s climate with the past, noting that traditional PR cleanup has been replaced by a mass horde looking to end lives over minor mistakes.

"The cancel culture of today and especially of a few years ago is like cutthroat," Lahren said. "There are people that we still don't have in entertainment life because they made a small slip up and there was like this mass horde of people online that are like, cancel them, end their life, make sure they're bankrupt."

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Lahren emphasized that her stance applies even to her critics. "I personally don't like it," she noted. "Even the people I don't like, I don't believe in cancel culture, unless you're violent. It’s a much different environment now."

Hilton, who became a household name for his own brand of celebrity call-outs in the mid-2000s, agreed that the landscape has fundamentally shifted.

"I don't believe in cancel culture either," Hilton said. "Nick Cannon says, counsel culture, not cancel culture. I love looking at it that way. But that's if we're assuming that people are being genuine."

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Hilton argued that most canceling today isn't about social justice but is instead a form of entertainment for the masses.

"What I've noticed over the last five to 10 years is that canceling somebody has really become a form of entertainment and a sport," Hilton explained. "People are not trying to hold others accountable for the right reasons. They're just doing it to get their rocks off."

Hilton noted that while mid-level figures can be wiped out by a single controversy, the industry’s elite often remain untouched.

"There's also a rule that I have, which is, yes, sadly, cancel culture still exists," Hilton asserted. "But if you're an A-lister, you're cancel proof."

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Conan O'Brien, Zach Galifianakis say it's a 'misconception' that comedy shows only target conservatives

Tue, 05 May 2026 20:45:21 -0400

There may never be a less self-aware conversation than the one recently had between comedians Conan O’Brien and Zach Galifianakis.

It’s no secret that many comedy shows and the entertainment industry at large have one specific demographic they prefer to make fun of: the political right. The sheer number of supposedly "funny" shows based on that preference, from "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" to "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," to "Late Night with Seth Meyers," to "The Daily Show," or "Saturday Night Live!" and "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," is staggering.

That’s just a small sample of how many left-wing comics have made politics the center of their shows. And they have just one target for the vast majority of their jokes: the right and more specifically, President Donald Trump.

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Criticizing or joking about Trump has become an entire career for several ostensible "comedians." But if you ask Conan O’Brien and Zach Galianakis, the "media" doesn’t want to just make fun of conservatives.

Seriously.

Zach Galifianakis, Conan O’Brien take turns patting themselves on the back

When discussing Galifianakis’ show "Between Two Ferns," O’Brien brought up his interviews with prominent politicians like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. They both agreed that those interviews showed how comedians are supposed to handle politicians, by making them uncomfortable and poking fun at their vulnerabilities.

"Podcasters that have had the president on now, they don’t do their court jester…they don’t do it. They just suck up to him," Galifianakis said. "So the comedians that are podcasters that have had Trump on, they’re not doing their job.

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"That’s not the job of a comedian, you are to challenge, you are to make uncomfortable. You are not to sit there and fake laugh, that is not the job of the court jester. Period."

He continued by saying he’s more interested in putting comedy above politics.

"People were actually, somebody yesterday was talking to me about that, about political influence through comedy and all that stuff. I’m more interested in the comedy first…"

"Me too," O’Brien echoed.

Galifianakis referenced his Hillary Clinton interview on "Between Two Ferns," saying that when they set it up, Clinton’s camp told him he couldn’t bring up her email scandal. He told them they didn’t need to do the interview then, and they folded. O’Brien connected that exchange to politicians or powerful people needing to laugh at themselves to become more relatable.

"I see this all the time, and I’ve seen it for years and years and years and years, people not understanding that if they go to the supposedly vulnerable place, and have a sense of humor about it, it is magical for them," he said.

"People see they have a sense of humor, they see that they can take a joke. I mean, nobody walked away from your interview with Obama and thought, ‘wow you really showed him.’ He got to be hilarious, he sat there and entered your world of being intentionally ignorant about who he is and what he does, cutting him off, being insanely rude, and gave it back to you in equal measure. This is a great piece of comedy, and I know it reflects well back on the president."

Then, O’Brien related that to Trump, saying that it would be "humanizing" for him to be the target of a joke.

"And our current president, would do well to understand that, to understand that if he let himself be the butt of a joke, it’s humanizing."

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"It’s impossible," Galifianakis shot back. "You wouldn’t do it with him, it wouldn’t work."

"There’s this misconception that the media just wants to go after conservatives," O’Brien said. "And they don’t understand that everyone benefits when they laugh at themselves. Everyone wins. If you laugh at yourself, it humanizes you."

Comedians can't accept what they've become

All of this is completely ridiculous.

Of course the media just wants to go after conservatives, it’s all they’ve done for years, if not decades. It’s an absurd denial of reality to suggest otherwise. Galifianakis himself told the Los Angeles Times in 2016 that he had no interest in hosting Trump on "Between Two Ferns" because he’s "mentally challenged."

"No. That doesn’t interest me," he explained. "He’s the kind of guy who likes attention — bad attention or good attention. So you’re dealing with a psychosis there that’s a little weird. I wouldn’t have somebody on that’s so mentally challenged. I feel like I’d be taking advantage of him. And you can print that."

Ah. So Trump is supposed to humanize himself and become the butt of a joke on a show he’s not allowed to participate in.

Galifianakis also said he puts comedy before politics, but was so politically motivated that he had no interest in interviewing Trump. Then there’s Jimmy Kimmel, who recently described Melania Trump as having the "glow of an expectant widow." Is that the type of joke that’s supposed to encourage the president to come on and laugh at himself? That’s just one example, obviously there are many, even worse examples. Not to mention that Trump has appeared on "Saturday Night Live!" several times. He does have a sense of humor, a much better one than Obama or Hillary Clinton, for that matter. That’s not the issue. The issue is that none of these comedians are telling jokes, they’re giving lectures.

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Additionally, Colbert, Kimmel and the rest of them almost exclusively have Democrats on for interviews. Republicans are not invited to participate, because those shows want to prioritize a specific political ideology. But they don’t just want to target conservatives, right?

What a huge surprise that just a few weeks ago, Galifianakis was laughing and palling around with Kimmel on his show.

And of course, those same "comedians," who had an easy comedic target over the past month, have instead gone curiously quiet. The Eric Swalwell scandal could have provided weeks' worth of material. Just this week, CNN reported that he held meetings at Hooters. Sounds like a perfect setup for a joke, right? You’ll never guess how many jokes Kimmel told about it, but it rhymes with zero. Galifianakis and O’Brien ignore that missed opportunity, while saying comedy is supposed to make powerful people uncomfortable. Just not powerful people who are on the political left.

Kimmel in particular, was remarkably hypocritical, telling Michelle Obama in a recent podcast interview that it would be shameful to ignore political stories…then ignored one that made him, his party and his friend look bad.

Galifianakis and O’Brien are simply incapable of admitting their own biases and admitting that they would never joke about Obama or Clinton the way they would about Trump. Or treat them similarly. They would never joke about Kamala Harris in the same way they would about Trump. That’s because they’re Democrats first and comedians second, no matter how hard they try to pretend otherwise.

NBA playoffs games to overlap next two nights, making the viewing experience even worse

Mon, 04 May 2026 18:46:56 -0400

The first two nights of the second round of the NBA playoffs will feature significant overlap between matchups.

On Monday, NBC and Peacock will carry Game 1 of the 76ers vs. Knicks at 8 p.m. ET. Peacock will stream Timberwolves vs. Spurs at 9:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, NBC and Peacock will air Lakers vs. Thunder at 9:30 p.m.. Peacock will stream Cavaliers vs. Pistons at 7 p.m.

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NBA fans are not pleased with the scheduling quirk. For years, doubleheaders on ESPN and TNT were staggered so the second game started when the first ended, or close to it.

But overlap was the risk the NBA ran when it partnered with NBC this season. Since opening night, NBC has avoided airing games before 8 p.m. ET on weeknights. It also does not want Central Time teams like the Spurs and Thunder tipping off as late as 9:30 pm local time.

Further, fans will not be pleased to learn they still need two streaming services -- Peacock and Amazon -- in addition to NBC, ESPN and ABC to watch the second round.

It just keeps getting harder, more confusing and more expensive to consume live sports at home. That will eventually cause viewers to tune out.

Perhaps it already has.

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Despite the NBA touting a 33-year high for the first round, OutKick explained last week why that is a spin. In fact, playoff viewership is more likely down than up. You can read that column here.

It also does not help that at least two of the second-round series are not expected to be competitive. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Thunder are -1600 to beat the Lakers. The Spurs are -425 to advance past the Timberwolves. The Spurs were even larger favorites earlier Monday before Anthony Edwards was cleared to play.

DraftKings lists the Knicks winning in five games over the 76ers at +320, the most likely outcome for that series. Pistons vs. Cavaliers, likely the least appealing matchup, is projected to be the longest series.

None of this is ideal.

It's worth noting that YouTube TV users may not mind the overlap, at least not as much as the fans with other providers.

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Last week, the service introduced a customizable multiview feature that lets users choose which channels appear on screen. The feature allows users to watch two NBA games at once in a split screen, or expand to a four-box view to include NHL playoff games.

Note: All NBA games streaming on Peacock are available on YouTube TV via the NBC Sports channel.

Alas, just let us watch the games.

Kamala Harris endorses Karen Bass, claims she's fixing homelessness crisis: 'The leader Los Angeles needs'

Mon, 04 May 2026 18:35:26 -0400

Few sane people would argue that Los Angeles is in better shape now than it was several years ago.

LA was decimated by COVID, enacting extreme mask mandates, curfews, business restrictions and capacity limits. They kept schools closed for years, setting an already woeful school district back even further. Many residents, fleeing lockdowns, the ever-expanding homelessness crisis and high cost of living, fled for other parts of the country.

That exodus grew to such an extent that Los Angeles County lost more residents than any other county in the country from 2020-2025.

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Then, arguably the most beautiful part of the city, Pacific Palisades, was destroyed by fire. The Palisades Fire, which proved to be an extension of a fire allegedly started by an arsonist, was a near-perfect example of the failures of Los Angeles governance.

A local reservoir was empty due to scheduled maintenance that, of course, was delayed. Fire department resources weren’t staged ahead of a predicted extreme wind event after a dry wall. There were 13 scheduled, high priority fire flow and water storage projects in the Palisades, and 12 were not finished before January 2025. 20% of hydrants in the area failed during firefighting efforts.

Oh, and the mayor of LA, Karen Bass, was out of the country in Ghana as an entire neighborhood was decimated. You’ll never guess who just endorsed that mayor for reelection.

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Kamala Harris Endorses Karen Bass After Disastrous Failures

Bass, who came under fire for allegedly "watering down" the after-action report on the Palisades fire, has been an unmitigated and predictable disaster as mayor.

So it comes as no surprise that another unmitigated and predictable disaster, former Vice President Kamala Harris, just endorsed her in the race for LA mayor over Spencer Pratt and extreme far-left candidate Nithya Raman.

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"Mayor Karen Bass is the leader Los Angeles needs right now. She has done what so many said couldn’t be done — the first-ever two-year decline in homelessness, reducing crime to levels this city hasn’t seen since the 1960s, and refusing to back down when the federal government came after our neighbors," she said in a statement.

As anyone who’s been in Los Angeles recently can tell you, there is no meaningful decline in homelessness. Some statistics may claim that, but take a drive through downtown LA, Venice, or Hollywood, and those statistics become quickly debunked. Yes, crime has declined, but LA also does an atrocious job reporting it and collecting data. Crime has also declined in most major cities, potentially due in part to stronger actions on part of the federal government. Particularly immigration enforcement.

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Speaking of that immigration enforcement, Bass, as Harris says, fought it. Because making the city safe is not her priority, retaining the support of the far left is.

No surprise then, that Harris, whose administration essentially opened the southern border, creating unimaginable chaos, supports her. There are plenty of ways to tell how bad Bass has been at her job, but the most obvious and direct is to look at the number of people leaving the city.

From 2020-2025, nearly 100,000 people fled the city of Los Angeles alone. A whopping 2.4% of the city left in just five years. That’s an entire city in and of itself moving away in part because Bass has done such a horrendous job. But then again, so did Harris, which makes this endorsement the ideal exemplification of the current state of the Democratic Party.

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