Current Events
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President Donald Trump has cut protections for thousands of Haitians in the country, placing them on a path for deportation months away.
On Thursday (Feb. 20), President Donald Trump took another step in furthering his immigration crackdown by removing the Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in the United States. The number of those affected by the move amounts to over 500,000. An 18-month extension that had been signed by former President Joe Biden before he left office was revoked by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, meaning that those Haitians are subject to deportation in August instead of next February.
“For decades the TPS system has been exploited and abused,” the DHS said in a memo announcing the move and echoing Trump’s sentiments about the system. The move comes as Haiti is dealing with continued instability, as gangs currently control 85% of the capital city of Port-au-Prince in addition to sexual violence incidents inflicted on children increasing by 1000% during the past year, according to the United Nations. Some have had TPS since 2010 when it was first invoked by then President Barack Obama. It follows the decision on Feb. 1 to end TPS for Venezuelans living in the United States, who number 600,000 currently in the country. Trump has badmouthed Haitians in the past and made it a campaign pledge to revoke protections.
“T.P.S. has served as a crucial lifeline for many members of the Haitian community, allowing them to live and work in the United States at a time when Haiti is experiencing tremendous political, social and economic instability,” Ahilan Arulanantham, the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at the U.C.L.A. School of Law head said. Massachusetts Representative Ayanna Pressley decried the decision as “shameful,” adding: “Haitians who have lived in the U.S. for 15 years are at risk of deportation for “no reason other than being Haitian.”
Attorneys are currently fighting the Trump administration in court on behalf of an advocacy group for Venezuelans, filing a lawsuit on Wednesday (Feb. 19). Haiti’s migration director, Jean Negot Bonheur Delva, said to AP News that only 21 Haitians have been deported back to the country so far, but worries about what the others would come back to. “It’s very sad that people who left Haiti to look for a better life elsewhere … will come back,” Delva said. “With the insecurity problem, the lack of resources, they will be miserable.”
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Source: Netflix / Netflix
Ever since it was announced that Charlie Cox would be reprising his role as Daredevil in the current Marvel Cinematic Universe, many fans have been clamoring for the return of Luke Cage and Jessica Jones (Iron Fist not so much) and we get a glimmer of hope as it seems like Marvel Studios might actually bring said characters back.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Marvel Studios’ streaming and TV boss Brad Winderbaum and his team have been brainstorming on how to bring back Mike Colter’s Luke Cage, Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones and even Finn Jone’s Iron Fist for another run at some point in the future now that Daredevil: Born Again is just a few weeks from premiering on Disney+. While we wouldn’t be heartbroken if we never see Iron Fist again (no shots), fans would very much love to see Luke Cage and Jessica Jones standing side-by-side some of your favorite Marvel superheroes at some point.
Whether or not that will come to pass remains to be seen, but it just might as Winderbaum wouldn’t let something like this slip if they didn’t intend on making it happen.
Per Variety:
“I can’t say much, but I’ll tell you that it’s so exciting to be able to play in that sandbox,” Winderbaum says. “Obviously we don’t have the unlimited storytelling resources like a comic book. If you can draw it, you can do it. It’s dealing with actors and time and the massive scale of production in order to build a cinematic universe, especially on television. But I can just say that all those variables taken into account, it is certainly something that is creatively extremely exciting and that we are very much exploring.”
Keep in mind, there was word that the Russo Brothers were planning on adding Luke Cage to Avengers: Infinity War and having him save Iron Man’s butt when he was getting his ass handed to him during his fight with Black Dwarf in the beginning of the film. Ultimately, they decided against it as they felt Luke wouldn’t fit into the overall story and had Spider-Man get involved in that fight. So we understand why they might feel the need to give them more backstory before having them appear in big budget Marvel movies. Still, that would’ve been dope.
Now that it seems like Luke Cage and company might be joining the main MCU at some point, that leaves questions about additional side characters that have appeared in Marvel’s Netflix series as well and whether or not there’s hope for them too.
When asked about characters like Elektra (played by Elodie Young across the Netflix run) and ninja clan the Hand, Winderbaum says, “Who knows what the future brings? Once we arc out here, there’s obviously any number of stories that we’d want to revisit or pull from the comics that involve Elektra or the Hand or any part of the Daredevil mythos.”
“100 percent it’s in the back of our heads,” Sana Amanat, another executive producer on Daredevil: Born Again, comments to EW separately of Elektra and the Hand. “Eventually we’ll try to figure out a bit more with that.”
Never give up hope, y’all.
What do y’all think? Should Marvel bring back Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and Iron Fist? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Source: Jacob Kupferman / Getty / Steve Smith Sr.
When former NFL wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. woke up on Saturday morning, we are positive he didn’t think he would be one of the top trending topics on X, formerly Twitter.
Things got interesting for the former Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens wide receiver, now an NFL Network analyst, when the husband of a woman on X responded to his post featuring a video of himself playing golf, accusing him of sleeping with his wife. He came bearing receipts in the form of text messages.
Smith has been married since 2000 and has four children.
Man just found out that former NFL receiver and current NFL Network analyst Steve Smith Sr. has been sleeping with his wife. He posted the texts and a phone call with Smith on X after finding out.
“I’m sorry”
pic.twitter.com/Q6FckGDXy8
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) February 22, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The accuser shared a screengrab of the alleged sexts between Smith and his wife while tagging multiple news outlets, Smith’s sponsors, Yeti Coolers and TaylorMade, his former team, the Panthers, Ravens, and, for some strange reason, Antonio Brown.
He also shared a video of an alleged phone call between himself and Smith where you can hear the former pro football player saying, “I’m sorry,” and a photo of a bare-chested Smith with a unicorn graphic over his midsection.
The man claims his wife met Smith while working for the Ravens marching band.
Social Media Had Jokes About The Situation
Following the revelation of social media has been on one, of course, it was nothing but pure jokes, especially regarding the explicit nature of the sexts.
“White man crashing out on Twitter cause his wife’s fucking Steve Smith Sr….and yall think I’ll leave this app? Tuh. NEVER. Can’t pay for this kind of live entertainment,” one user on X wrote.
Another user was too tickled by the accuser’s wife telling Smith he almost shifted her contraceptive device. “Rearrange my IUD…..I am dead,” the user said.
Bruh, moments like these make the dumpster fire that is X bearable.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
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Source: Grant Lamos IV / Getty / Hooters
Welp, it looks like your going to have to get your fill of beer, boobs, and wings elsewhere pretty soon because it might be a wrap for your local Hooters establishment.
According to Bloomberg News, the restaurant franchise best known for dressing its servers in skimpy orange shorts and tiny tops that give patrons beer, wings, and a side of boobs is on the verge of going belly-up.
According to the website, the casual dining chain has engaged in talks with law firm Ropes & Gray to begin the bankruptcy process, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News.
No final decision has been made regarding seeking Chapter 11 protection, but according to sources, it could all happen within the next two months.
Hooters’ financial problems aren’t new; they have been going on for some time, with the company actively seeking a way to become profitable again.
Per The New York Post:
Hooters — which has about 300 locations nationwide — has faced increasing financial strain as traffic declines at its kitschy restaurants, leading to the closure of several outposts.
The Atlanta-based company has been working alongside turnaround consultants from Accordion Partners to address its financial difficulties, particularly its debt burden.
Several of its creditors have also sought guidance from investment bank Houlihan Lokey, Bloomberg reported.
The Post has sought comment from Hooters, Accordion Partners, Ropes & Gray and Houlihan Lokey.
The company had previously raised approximately $300 million through asset-backed bonds in 2021, a financing structure that allows businesses to use franchise fees and other assets as collateral.
This form of structured debt, known as whole-business securitization, is commonly used by restaurant chains, fitness centers and other franchise-heavy enterprises.
X Reacts To Hooters Possibly Being Shuttered
Social media, of course, has thoughts on the possibility of Hooters going away for good.
“How bad is the economy when strippers are complaining about empty clubs & low/no tips, and Hooters is filing for bankruptcy? This is all the proof you need something needs to change,” one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter, which honestly puts some much needed perspective on the current state of things.
Another user celebrated the chain’s apparent downfall and pointed out racism she experienced as an employee writing on X, “good, when i was 20 y/o i quit hooters because corporate emailed our manager and said it was too many black girls working there.”
Welp.
Hooters is not the only restaurant chain experiencing hard times lately. TGI Fridays had to cede control of some assets due to failing to fulfill debt obligations, and everyone’s favorite seafood restaurant, Red Lobster, also filed for bankruptcy in May. Flavor Flav did his part to prevent Red Lobster from further sinking into the bankruptcy abyss by becoming a pitchman and purchasing the entire menu.
We don’t think Hooters will have the same luck, but who knows, maybe somebody loves seeing boobies and eating wings as much as Flavor Flav loved cheddar bay biscuits.
More reactions to Hooters mulling Chapter 11 bankruptcy are in the gallery below.
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Source: Andrew Harnik / Getty / Elon Musk
The world’s richest clown, Elon Musk, made an appearance at the right-wing Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) yesterday, and many people were left wondering if the Tesla chief was high as hell or if there was something else going on with him.
Elon Musk once again made a complete a** out of himself as he stormed onto the CPAC stage, wielding a custom chainsaw while rocking a black MAGA hat and wearing shades.
When he eventually settled down, Musk told the crowd, “My mind is a storm.”
Clearly.
What proceeded was a very incoherent interview that left everyone on X, formerly Twitter, scratching their heads because you could barely understand a word he was saying.
“Elon can barely form a sentence right now,” journalist Aaron Rupar, who we rely on to recap all of the Trump/GOP madness, said while sharing a Newsmax of Musk making a fool of himself.
Legal analyst Ken White said in response to Rupar’s post on BlueSky, “Hard to argue with him.”
In another post, Rupar wrote, “Wearing sunglasses inside and following an event where he at times had a hard time speaking coherently, Elon Musk walks off the CPAC stage waving around a chain saw. This is the guy currently running our government. Congrats, America!”
Other comments about Musk’s appearance didn’t hold back.
“Kleptocratic ketamine addict,” wrote legal analyst Jennifer Taub.
“The same guy running around the stage with a chainsaw and unable to complete a sentence wants to put his microchips in people’s brains,” Melanie D’Arrigo, New York Health Campaign director, said on X.
This is truly going to be a very long four years.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
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Source: Noam Galai / Getty
A federal judge held off ruling on the Justice Department’s motion to dismiss corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams after a hearing.
On Wednesday (Feb. 19), U.S. District Court Judge Dale E. Ho held off on issuing a ruling on whether the Department of Justice’s motion to dismiss federal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Adams and his legal team along with acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove were present for the hearing, which lasted a shade under 90 minutes. Attorneys who had prosecuted Adams in the past were not present.
“I’m going to take everything you said under careful consideration,” Judge Ho told Bove after hearing arguments from him and Adams’ lawyers. “It’s not in anyone’s interest here for this to drag on. I understand that.” Judge Ho would add, “To exercise my discretion properly, I’m not going to shoot from the hip here on the bench.” He promised to provide a ruling in writing, but asked for “patience as I consider these issues carefully.” The prior arguments from Bove denied that there was a “quid pro quo,” calling it a fabrication. “We offered nothing and the department asked nothing of us,” Bove claimed. When asked if the dismissal meant there would be no further investigations against Adams, Bove replied, “No.”
Mayor Adams has been under intense scrutiny since the Justice Department’s recommendations to drop the case against him, allegedly so that Adams can aid President Donald Trump further in his immigration agenda of deportations. The directive led to the resignation of a half-dozen attorneys from the DOJ, including Danielle C. Sassoon, the acting U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of New York who penned a stern letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, saying she was “baffled” by Bove’s decision.
While Adams seemed unfazed by the proceedings, even smiling and cracking a joke at one point, the situation has added more trouble to his future. New York Governor Kathy Hochul is weighing whether to remove Adams from his position. “In the 235 years of New York State history, these powers have never been utilized to remove a duly-elected mayor; overturning the will of the voters is a serious step that should not be taken lightly,” she said in a statement, adding: “That said, the alleged conduct at City Hall that has been reported over the past two weeks is troubling and cannot be ignored.”
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Source: JIM WATSON / Getty / White House
Donald Trump and his lame administration are working hard to set the advancement of Black culture back years with the removal of DEI programs, but that’s not stopping these Black celebrities from joining him at the White House to celebrate Black History Month.
The Associated Press reports that Donald Trump’s White House will host a Black History Month event on Thursday, and the who’s who of sellouts will be in attendance to celebrate the jig.
According to the website, Trump’s heada** pick to be ambassador to t Herschel Walker, Trump’s favorite African American, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Republican Rep. John James of Michigan, prison reform advocate and recipient of a Trump pardon in 2020 thanks to Kim Kardashian Alice Johnson, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s niece, Alveda King will join Felon 47 in the East Room for the event.
Other notable sellouts in attendance will be former ESPN host Sage Steele, Kodak Black, Lil Boosie, who recently begged Trump for a pardon on X, formerly Twitter, and Rod Wave, fresh off from performing at the Crypto Ball alongside Snoop Dogg.
The event was scheduled for last week but was postponed due to inclement weather.
Social media has been responding accordingly to the list of names who will be at the event.
“Sorry but ever single attendee (including that fuck ass president) is a cte having criminal degenerate,” one person on X wrote, adding a long rap sheet of problematic behavior from Rod Wave.
Luke Cage showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker added, “Glad to hear our best and brightest will represent us….and if you don’t hear the sarcasm in my voice, you clearly don’t follow me on here.
The list of Black Trumpers continues to grow. Never forget these people were on the wrong side of history.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
4. Exactly
7. “Jigaboo Jubilee” HOWLING
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Mixed martial arts, widely referred to as MMA, has its fair share of fans in the States and around the globe, and some viewers are reacting in shock over a recent bout in Romania. In this particular MMA match, two male fighters took on a trio of Instagram models and savagely unleashed blows upon them, prompting many fight fans to share their disgust at the display.
As seen via The Daily Mail, an MMA fight put on by the Real Xtreme Fighting organization, also known as RXF, featured two male fighters, Costica Prisecaru and Sebastian Rechinu. They were up against models Alicia Bonita, who also provides content on OnlyFans, Denisa Costea, and Maria Adriana. The models donned protective headgear and danced suggestively for the fans in attendance while the men came to the ring dressed in traditional MMA wear for male participants sans headgear.
Prisecaru, who is a content creator known for posting zany videos of himself in varying stages of undress, and Rechinu, an actual fighter, easily won their bout by unleashing heavy blows upon the women. According to the outlet, one approving voice among the negative chatter was media personality Andrew Tate, a former combat sports fighter himself.
RXF has put on an intergender bout previously featuring a man fighting two women and made its rounds on social media when it first aired. With this latest stunt from RXF, MMA fans are wondering aloud how the match was allowed to go forward at the great risk of injury for its participants.
We’re sharing a link to the video and electing not to share it in the body of the post. We do urge caution as the images may be disturbing to some.
Check out those reactions below.
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Photo: Screengrab/RXF
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Source: The Washington Post / Getty
President Donald Trump has sat just over a month in his second term. but already has transformed the fabric of the White House rapidly via several controversial moves and alignments with unelected officials. Taking to his Truth Social platform, President Donald Trump celebrated his move to end congestion pricing in New York and ended his salvo by framing himself a king which sparked some responses on X.
On Wednesday (Feb. 20), President Donald Trump wrote, “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” via Truth Social, sparking immediate backlash on the X platform and other social media spaces. Adding to this, the official Instagram account for the White House shared an AI-generated image of President Trump with a crown affixed to his head.
Trump continued to praise his plans to end the pricing hike for commuters while aboard Air Force 1.
“Congestion pricing is not a good situation. They’re treating the people of New York very badly,” Trump said. “Supposing you worked at a shoe shop or you worked in a restaurant as a waiter, and you have to come into Manhattan and they’re taking, you know, many, many dollars out of your pocket. You can’t afford to do it.”
Congestion pricing, also known as the Central Business District Tolling Program or CBDTP, was approved early last month ahead of Trump’s inauguration and was approved to slow the crush of traffic that slammed the Manhattan business district while promising an impressive influx of cash for the city and state. Further, it incentivized drivers to find alternate and often environmentally safer routes into the city.
New York’s Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Authority (MTA) dug their heels in with a pair of responses decrying Trump’s plans to end congestion pricing.
From Gov. Hochul:
“Since this first-in-the-nation program took effect last month, congestion has dropped dramatically and commuters are getting to work faster than ever. Broadway shows are selling out and foot traffic to local businesses is spiking. School buses are getting kids to class on time, and yellow cab trips increased by 10 percent. Transit ridership is up, drivers are having a better experience, and support for this program is growing every day.
“We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king. The MTA has initiated legal proceedings in the Southern District of New York to preserve this critical program. We’ll see you in court.”
On X, many are reacting to President Donald Trump declaring himself a king for the move. We’ve got reactions to the moment below.
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Photo: Getty
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Source: The Washington Post / Getty
President Donald Trump has sat just over a month in his second term. but already has transformed the fabric of the White House rapidly via several controversial moves and alignments with unelected officials. Taking to his Truth Social platform, President Donald Trump celebrated his move to end congestion pricing in New York and ended his salvo by framing himself a king which sparked some responses on X.
On Wednesday (Feb. 20), President Donald Trump wrote, “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!” via Truth Social, sparking immediate backlash on the X platform and other social media spaces. Adding to this, the official Instagram account for the White House shared an AI-generated image of President Trump with a crown affixed to his head.
Trump continued to praise his plans to end the pricing hike for commuters while aboard Air Force 1.
“Congestion pricing is not a good situation. They’re treating the people of New York very badly,” Trump said. “Supposing you worked at a shoe shop or you worked in a restaurant as a waiter, and you have to come into Manhattan and they’re taking, you know, many, many dollars out of your pocket. You can’t afford to do it.”
Congestion pricing, also known as the Central Business District Tolling Program or CBDTP, was approved early last month ahead of Trump’s inauguration and was approved to slow the crush of traffic that slammed the Manhattan business district while promising an impressive influx of cash for the city and state. Further, it incentivized drivers to find alternate and often environmentally safer routes into the city.
New York’s Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Authority (MTA) dug their heels in with a pair of responses decrying Trump’s plans to end congestion pricing.
From Gov. Hochul:
“Since this first-in-the-nation program took effect last month, congestion has dropped dramatically and commuters are getting to work faster than ever. Broadway shows are selling out and foot traffic to local businesses is spiking. School buses are getting kids to class on time, and yellow cab trips increased by 10 percent. Transit ridership is up, drivers are having a better experience, and support for this program is growing every day.
“We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king. The MTA has initiated legal proceedings in the Southern District of New York to preserve this critical program. We’ll see you in court.”
On X, many are reacting to President Donald Trump declaring himself a king for the move. We’ve got reactions to the moment below.
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Photo: Getty