Current Events
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Amazon was thought to be one of the major companies aligned with the policies and practices of President Donald Trump. However, the major online retailer is now in the crosshairs of the White House after Amazon decided to highlight new pricing plans based on Trump tariffs, which angered White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Punchbowl News first broke the news that Amazon is going ahead with a plan to show tariff pricing on a portion of items sold on its platform, as it was largely expected that prices would rise under Trump’s economic plan. Experts have long warned that tariffs, which are a normal part of global trade, eventually pass on costs to consumers.
Leavitt framed the pricing listing as “a hostile and political act” and then questioned why company leadership never listed the pricing jump in previous years.
“Why didn’t Amazon do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level in 40 years?” Leavitt said during a press briefing with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. According to the report, Amazon will share how much the tariffs will add to the cost of the items. However, it isn’t meant to be used across the entire site.
While remaining on the attack, Leavitt cited a Reuters article that said the company Jeff Bezos founded had “partnered with a Chinese propaganda arm,” doing so while holding up a printed page of the article referenced that was first published in December 2021. The Reuters report pointed out that Amazon removed public reviews and ratings from President Xi Jinping’s book of speeches.
On X, many are reacting to Amazon’s tariff price listing announcement, noting that the company is already releasing statements countering the original slate of reports that pricing would be shown on all goods affected by tariffs. Those responses can be viewed below.
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Photo: MANDEL NGAN / Getty
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Source: Piaras Ó Mídheach / Getty
On Sunday night (April 27), 60 Minutes was coming to a close with its “Last Minute” segment. Host and correspondent Scott Pelley began, “A note on Bill Owens, the executive producer of 60 Minutes and until last week, our boss.” Owens resigned in a memo to the staff last week, citing a lack of journalistic freedom as the show’s parent company Paramount is cozying up to President Donald Trump while attempting a high-profile corporate merger.
As a montage of photos of Owens played, Pelley spoke about how much Owens’ presence and work was valued by the staff and correspondents at 60 Minutes before calling out Paramount. “Paramount began to supervise our content in new ways. None of our stories has been blocked, but Bill felt he lost the independence that honest journalism requires,” Pelley said. “No one here is happy about it.”Owens’ decision to leave 60 Minutes as just the third producer in the 60-year history due to not being able “to make independent decisions based on what was right for ’60 Minutes,’ right for the audience” in the wake of Paramount Global attempting to placate Trump as he sued CBS News last November claiming that the news program tried to influence voters by airing two different edits of Vice President Kamala Harris’ remarks on the show. In January, CBS put in a new layer of editorial supervision presumably to vet standards. That and other changes prompted Owens’ decision to resign. “Bill resigned on Tuesday. It was hard on him and it was hard on us,” Pelley said. “But he did it for us.”The move by Pelley reflects the mood of others working on 60 Minutes. Correspondent Lesley Stahl voiced her displeasure last week in an interview with Variety. “I have been made aware of interference in our news processes, and calling into question our judgement,” she said, adding: “That is not the way that companies that own news organizations should be acting.” Pelley has spoken out against CBS’ mismanagement before, alleging that he was removed from their evening news coverage due to questioning the workplace culture of the newsroom. It also falls in line with MSNBC anchors such as Rachel Maddow and Nicole Wallace to publicly question the network’s attempt at hiring former Republican Party chair Ronna McDaniel as an analyst.
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President Donald Trump will mark 100 days in office this Wednesday (April 30), and it is typically a gauge of the performance and actions of the nation’s sitting leader and their administration. A new poll from CNN highlighted that President Donald Trump has the lowest approval numbers of any sitting president over the past 80 years.
CNN released its poll findings on Sunday and revealed that President Trump has a 41% approval rating, which is lower than the first 100 days of his first time in office. Since last month, Trump has lost 4 points and is down 7 points dating back to February.
The poll numbers also show a tumble in approval ratings from both women and Hispanic voters, and show that Trump is down 7 points with both, with women clocking in at 36% and 28% with Hispanics. Across party lines, Trump still sits strong with Republican respondents of the poll at 86%, with 93% of Democrats showing disapproval. Independent voters revealed 31% approval numbers, which matches his lowest numbers with that group dating back to January 2021.
Respondents also gave the president lower marks on how his reduction in force for the federal government has been handled, with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leading efforts that was purported to cut costs and help lower the nation’s debt. Trump has a 42% approval rating on this front.
Regarding foreign affairs, namely Trump’s cozying up to Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his posture on the world stage regarding the annexing of Canada and Greenland, showed a 60% disapproval rate.
Trump has called for investigations into The New York Times, ABC News/The Washington Post, and Fox News regarding his polling numbers, connecting the reports to “election fraud.”
The full poll results can be seen here.
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Photo: ANNABELLE GORDON / Getty
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Source: Derek White / Getty
It looks like Love & Hip Hop Atlanta star, Karlie Redd got herself caught in quite the pickle, as she was just pinched in Dekalb County on some felony charges.
According to 11 Alive, Benzino’s ex-boo was booked on a burglary charge last week in Georgia as authorities say this past January she entered a private home without permission where she caught a case of sticky fingers and began lifting personal items that did not belong to her. An arrest warrant for Karlie Lewis (Redd) was approved by a judge on April 4 along with $15,000 bail bond in the matter.
11 Alive reports:
The documents state the incident happened between Jan. 13 and Jan. 15 at a residential property. Prosecutors allege that Lewis entered the home through the rear master bedroom door and took items, including a birth certificate, a watch, and a card belonging to the resident. A video cited in the affidavit reportedly shows Lewis in the garage, looking through a window and entering the property.
While police have not released the name of the person listed as the victim, Lewis’ attorney confirmed it was her estranged husband, Teleau Belton.
Karlie must’ve thought her ex-husband wouldn’t call the law to handle the situation. She thought wrong. Karlie Redd turned herself in on April 24 and was released on consent bond.
“The warrant taken out on April 4 alleges Karlie’s husband is the claimed “victim.” As everyone knows, Karlie and her husband are in the midst of a divorce proceeding, and her husband has previously been charged in Fulton County with family violence battery against her. I am very confident Karlie’s case will be resolved favorably,” Sadow said in a statement.
No court date has been set, but we’re sure it’ll serve as a storyline to a future season of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta. Heck, they could use a ratings boost.
What do y’all think about Karlie Redd getting pinched for robbing her ex-husband? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: ANDREW THOMAS / Getty
On Monday (April 28), President Donald Trump issued an attack via his Truth Social media platform. This time, it was directed at polls from The New York Times, ABC News/The Washington Post, and Fox News who reported underwater approval ratings for him. “They are negative criminals who apologize to their subscribers and readers after I win elections big, much bigger than their polls showed I would win, loose a lot of credibility, and then go on cheating and lying for the next cycle, only worse,” he wrote.The approval numbers were at 42 percent, 39 percent, and 44 percent respectively. The data comes as Trump is close to marking 100 days in office for his second term. In a poll by CNN, his approval rating was at 41%. The decline is historic – Trump’s current numbers are the worst for any president at the end of their first 100 days, even beating his own numbers in his first term.“They suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome, and there is nothing that anyone, or anything, can do about it,” Trump concluded. “THEY ARE SICK, almost only write negative stories about me no matter how well I am doing (99.9 percent at the Border, BEST NUMBER EVER!), AND ARE TRULY THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE! I wish them well, but will continue to fight to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”Trump’s allegations come in the face of striking data from all the polls. In the ABC News poll, 6 percent of Trump’s own voters stated their regrets in voting for him. Concerning political independents, his approval rate has dropped to 31%, matching the low set in January 2021. Those polled also were disapproving of his handling of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and even disagreeing with his handling of immigration, with 45% approving now, down 6 points from March.“It’s not only that he’s in the short term in bad shape, there’s also evidence in the poll that…even if he gets his way on certain things like tariffs, that he’s not good in the long run,” said conservative pundit and former Trump adviser Karl Rove in an interview with The Independent. Rove also declared that “Trump fatigue” has set in among the public in a recent op-ed with The Wall Street Journal.
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Source: Pacific Press / Getty / Candace Owens
Donald Trump must be doing something wrong when his biggest fans are now regretting their support for him following his administration’s attack on Harvard University.
Speaking on a recent episode of her podcast, Candace, the far-right conservative, expressed her distaste for Trump and his administration’s attacks on colleges and universities as part of their ongoing campaign to get rid of DEI, calling it a blatant attack on free speech.
“I never thought that I would see a day where I would be rooting for a university above Donald J. Trump and his administration,” Owens said. “But I don’t recognize this administration right now. I don’t recognize what’s happening. I have a theory. I do.”
Hell, we never thought we would see the day either, mainly because Owens has been a staunch supporter of Trump and attacked other organizations like Black Lives Matter, other civil rights movements, plus other liberal ideologies.
Owens also called out people in Trump’s inner circle for continuing to suck up to Felon 47 because they are “are still trying to grift.”
“Which is ridiculous, because when you are out of office, we are going to have to live with these consequences,” Owens said, adding, “Our children are going to have to grow up in this America.”
Ownes Has Her Theories
The edgless conservative feels these attacks are “not worth it” and are only being implemented to make Trump and his supporters feel like they are accomplishing something.
She also feels loudmouths like herself and Tucker Carlson could face serious consequences for the things they say. “Everyone can see what’s happening left and right,” she continued.
Her comments come after Trump’s battle with Harvard, in which the university stood up to his administration, telling them it would not comply with Trump administration’s demands.
The historic institution filed a lawsuit last week after the administration’s threat to freeze research unless they comply.
Social Media Is Not Buying Candace Owens Flipping On Trump
Despite Owens turning on Trump, social media is giving her and those who happily pulled the lever for Trump the ultimate side eye.
“Candace Owens and Joe Rogan spent years hyping up Trump, and now that they’re criticizing him, suddenly they’re the voices of reason? They’re not principled, they’re just riding the wave. They see that Trump’s loyalists aren’t trending anymore, so they’re pivoting,” one person on X, formerly Twitter, wrote.
Another user on X wrote, “Maaan, don’t let Candace Owens rebrand herself to ingratiate a black audience and be anti-Trump, saying she didn’t know he would be like this. She was throwing us and our “culture” under the bus for years. Leave her where she at – let MAGA care for her lol.”
Beware of the jig.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
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Source: Wirestock / Getty / Gorilla
Who would win between 100 men and one gorilla? Only on social media could this spark a national discussion.
Over the weekend, one user on X, formerly Twitter, who goes by the handle @DreamChasnMike, asked his followers, “i think 100 n***** could beat 1 gorilla everybody just gotta be dedicated to the s***.”
Like with any ridiculous question on the app that is allegedly no longer owned by Elon Musk, a serious debate on the topic broke out, sparking some hilarious reactions, of course, memes.
Some users dropped jokes about what they would do if they found themselves to be one of the 100 men involved in the hypothetical situation with the great ape.
One user joked on X, “me and the homies going to fight the gorilla but wearing suits to make the funerals easier.”
Another post read, “The 100 niggas vs 1 gorilla conversation has me weak cause once he snap the first nigga in half who tf gone wanna go next????”
The debate even found its way onto Shannon Sharpe and Ocho Cinco’s podcast, Nightcap.
Most Folks On X Think 100 Men Stand No Chance Against The Gorilla
The general consensus on social media is that the gorilla would easily beat 100 men.
So, could 100 men beat a gorilla? Well, Newsweek took things a step further and asked ChatGPT what would happen if this situation occurred, with the AI chatbot concluding that victory is possible for the men, but with certain conditions.
Per Newsweek:
Yes, 100 unarmed men could defeat a single adult male gorilla, but:
It would come at extreme cost (likely dozens of deaths or catastrophic injuries).
It would require incredible coordination, courage, and strategic sacrifice.
Without careful planning, the gorilla could very well win or cause immense devastation before being overcome.
“Victory is possible only through overwhelming numbers, sheer courage, and sacrifice.”
Well, we highly suggest you don’t mess with a gorilla because they are an endangered species, and they are strong as hell, just saying.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
9. Brilliant
10. RIP To Sean Price
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Theo Wargo / Billy McFarland
Billy McFarland, for whatever reason, thought he could revive Fyre Fest, but now claims he is canceling the struggling music festival before attempting to make it happen.
Shortly after announcing that he is transforming Fyre Fest into a music streaming video-on-demand service, McFarland is now saying that he is officially canceling the festival.
The news comes after word of the Fyre Fest 2 postponement, with no new date of the festival’s return in sight. McFarland also announced that he is planning to sell the brand that is now synonymous with Ja Rule and struggle after poor festivalgoers found themselves stranded on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma.
McFarland announced the news via a statement he shared on Instagram:
“A new chapter begins. After two years of rebuilding FYRE with honesty, creativity, and relentless effort, it’s time to pass the torch. We’re officially putting the FYRE brand up for sale. To the right buyer: the platform is yours. Execute the vision. Make history.” On why he is selling the brand, McFarland shares that he the festival is becoming “bigger than any one person and bigger than what I’m able to lead on my own.” He added in the statement, “When my team and I launched FYRE Festival 2, it was about two things: finishing what I started and making things right. Over the past two years, we’ve poured everything into bringing Fyre back with honesty, transparency, relentless effort, and creativity. We’ve taken the long road to rebuilding trust. We rebuilt momentum. And we proved one thing without a doubt: FYRE is one of the most powerful attention engines in the world.”
Welp.
Billy McFarland Came Up With The Idea of Fyre Fest 2 While In Prison
McFarland claimed he got the idea to try again with Fyre Fest during a stint in solitary confinement while he was in prison serving out his term after being found guilty of financial crimes related to the festival.
It’s clear he didn’t learn his lesson if he was planning to do it all over again. Our question is who would be dumb enough to bankroll this idea, or even consider purchasing tickets after the last fiasco.
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Theo Wargo / Billy McFarland
Billy McFarland, for whatever reason, thought he could revive Fyre Fest, but now claims he is canceling the struggling music festival before attempting to make it happen.
Shortly after announcing that he is transforming Fyre Fest into a music streaming video-on-demand service, McFarland is now saying that he is officially canceling the festival.
The news comes after word of the Fyre Fest 2 postponement, with no new date of the festival’s return in sight. McFarland also announced that he is planning to sell the brand that is now synonymous with Ja Rule and struggle after poor festivalgoers found themselves stranded on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma.
McFarland announced the news via a statement he shared on Instagram:
“A new chapter begins. After two years of rebuilding FYRE with honesty, creativity, and relentless effort, it’s time to pass the torch. We’re officially putting the FYRE brand up for sale. To the right buyer: the platform is yours. Execute the vision. Make history.” On why he is selling the brand, McFarland shares that he the festival is becoming “bigger than any one person and bigger than what I’m able to lead on my own.” He added in the statement, “When my team and I launched FYRE Festival 2, it was about two things: finishing what I started and making things right. Over the past two years, we’ve poured everything into bringing Fyre back with honesty, transparency, relentless effort, and creativity. We’ve taken the long road to rebuilding trust. We rebuilt momentum. And we proved one thing without a doubt: FYRE is one of the most powerful attention engines in the world.”
Welp.
Billy McFarland Came Up With The Idea of Fyre Fest 2 While In Prison
McFarland claimed he got the idea to try again with Fyre Fest during a stint in solitary confinement while he was in prison serving out his term after being found guilty of financial crimes related to the festival.
It’s clear he didn’t learn his lesson if he was planning to do it all over again. Our question is who would be dumb enough to bankroll this idea, or even consider purchasing tickets after the last fiasco.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Theo Wargo / Billy McFarland
Billy McFarland, for whatever reason, thought he could revive Fyre Fest, but now claims he is canceling the struggling music festival before attempting to make it happen.
Shortly after announcing that he is transforming Fyre Fest into a music streaming video-on-demand service, McFarland is now saying that he is officially canceling the festival.
The news comes after word of the Fyre Fest 2 postponement, with no new date of the festival’s return in sight. McFarland also announced that he is planning to sell the brand that is now synonymous with Ja Rule and struggle after poor festivalgoers found themselves stranded on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma.
McFarland announced the news via a statement he shared on Instagram:
“A new chapter begins. After two years of rebuilding FYRE with honesty, creativity, and relentless effort, it’s time to pass the torch. We’re officially putting the FYRE brand up for sale. To the right buyer: the platform is yours. Execute the vision. Make history.” On why he is selling the brand, McFarland shares that he the festival is becoming “bigger than any one person and bigger than what I’m able to lead on my own.” He added in the statement, “When my team and I launched FYRE Festival 2, it was about two things: finishing what I started and making things right. Over the past two years, we’ve poured everything into bringing Fyre back with honesty, transparency, relentless effort, and creativity. We’ve taken the long road to rebuilding trust. We rebuilt momentum. And we proved one thing without a doubt: FYRE is one of the most powerful attention engines in the world.”
Welp.
Billy McFarland Came Up With The Idea of Fyre Fest 2 While In Prison
McFarland claimed he got the idea to try again with Fyre Fest during a stint in solitary confinement while he was in prison serving out his term after being found guilty of financial crimes related to the festival.
It’s clear he didn’t learn his lesson if he was planning to do it all over again. Our question is who would be dumb enough to bankroll this idea, or even consider purchasing tickets after the last fiasco.