Trump finds himself on the wrong side of a conspiracy theory
This isn't to say Trump hasn't generated or amplified any conspiracy theories. He obviously has. It is simply meant to note that he emerged as a political figure a decade ago from an existing culture in which such claims were common currency. The central advantage Trump possessed in the 2016 Republican presidential primary was that he was willing to agree with false theories in a way that the established politicians against whom he was running were not. His most identifiable issue, immigration, was and is rooted in false claims about foreign powers shipping criminals to the U.S. where they are subverting traditional America. It's conspiracies all the way down.
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USA Today
7 minutes ago
- USA Today
Is 'South Park' new tonight on Wednesday, August 13, 2025?
We've had two episodes of South Park in Season 27 of the legendary Comedy Central show that have lit the world on fire. There was the first episode that had NSFW depictions of Donald Trump. The second ep had Mr. Mackey joining ICE and a lampooning of DHS secretary Kristi Noem. So when is the third episode coming? And is it new tonight on August 13, 2025? We have answers for you. The answer is: There's no new episode on this Wednesday night. So if you're wondering when the next one is coming, we have answers for you. Let's dive in: Is there a new South Park on tonight? Nope. Not tonight, at least. When is the next new South Park episode? That would be Aug. 30, with Episode 3 of Season 27, at 10 p.m. Is today South Park Day on Comedy Central? Yup. You can see lots of South Park episodes on Wednesday that are some all-time favorites.
New York Post
7 minutes ago
- New York Post
Trump will be present at Kennedy Center as honorees are announced today
President Donald Trump, embracing his new role as chairman of the Kennedy Center, was set to be on hand Wednesday as the recipients of its annual award are announced, and both he and the performing arts venue hint at coming renovations to its building. Trump avoided the Kennedy Center Honors awards program during his first term after artists said they would not attend out of protest. This year, the Republican president has taken over as the Kennedy Center's new chairman and fired the board of trustees, which he replaced with loyalists. 3 President Trump, embracing his new role as chairman of the Kennedy Center, was set to be on hand Wednesday as the recipients of its annual award are announced. AP In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump teased a name change for the center, formally the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and said it would be restored to its past glory. 'GREAT Nominees for the TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER, whoops, I mean, KENNEDY CENTER, AWARDS,' Trump wrote. He said work was being done on the site that would be 'bringing it back to the absolute TOP LEVEL of luxury, glamour, and entertainment.' 'It had fallen on hard times, physically, BUT WILL SOON BE MAKING A MAJOR COMEBACK!!!' he wrote. In a statement on its social media feed, the Kennedy Center said it is 'honored' to host Trump, who will be visiting for the third time since January, and hinted that he would announce a construction project. 'Thanks to his advocacy, our beautiful building will undergo renovations to restore its prestige and grandeur,' the venue said. 'We are also excited to be announcing this year's INCREDIBLE slate of Kennedy Center Honorees.' Trump complained during a March visit that the building is in a state of 'tremendous disrepair.' 3 Donald Trump and Melania Trump attend 'Les Misérables' opening night at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 11, 2025. REUTERS It is unclear how this year's honorees were chosen, though Trump had indicated he wanted a more active role. Historically, a bipartisan advisory committee selects the recipients, who over the years have ranged from George Balanchine and Tom Hanks to Aretha Franklin and Stephen Sondheim. A message sent to the Kennedy Center press office asking how this year's honorees were selected wasn't returned on Tuesday. The Kennedy Center did post this on social media, however: 'Coming Soon … A country music icon, an Englishman, a New York City Rock band, a dance Queen and a multi-billion dollar Actor walk into the Kennedy Center Opera House …' In the past, Trump has floated the idea of granting Kennedy Center Honors status to singer-songwriter Paul Anka and Sylvester Stallone, one of three actors Trump named as Hollywood ambassadors earlier this year. Anka was supposed to perform 'My Way' at Trump's first inaugural and backed out at the last moment. The Kennedy Center Honors were established in 1978 and have been given to a broad range of artists. Until Trump's first term, presidents of both major political parties traditionally attended the annual ceremony, even when they disagreed politically with a given recipient. Prominent liberals such as Barbra Streisand and Warren Beatty were honored during the administration of Republican George W. Bush, and a leading conservative, Charlton Heston, was feted during the administration of Democrat Bill Clinton. In 2017, after honoree Norman Lear declared that he would not attend a White House celebration in protest of Trump's proposed cuts to federal arts funding, Trump and first lady Melania Trump decided to skip the Kennedy Center event and remained away throughout his first term. Honorees during that time included such Trump critics as Cher, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Sally Field. Since taking office for a second time, Trump has taken a much more forceful stance on the Kennedy Center and inserted himself into its governance. Besides naming himself chairman and remaking the board, he also has indicated he would take over decisions regarding programming at the center and vowed to end events featuring performers in drag. 3 Trump took over as the Kennedy Center's new chairman and fired the board of trustees, replacing them with loyalists. AFP via Getty Images The steps have drawn further criticism from some artists. In March, the producers of 'Hamilton' pulled out of staging the Broadway hit musical in 2026, citing Trump's aggressive takeover of the institution's leadership. Other artists who canceled events include actor Issa Rae, singer Rhiannon Giddens, and author Louise Penny. House Republicans added an amendment to a spending bill that Trump signed into law in July to rename the Kennedy Center's Opera House after Melania Trump, but that venue has yet to be renamed. Maria Shriver, a niece of the late President Kennedy, a Democrat, has criticized as 'insane' a separate House proposal to rename the entire center after Trump. Recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors are given a medallion on a rainbow ribbon, a nod to the range of skills that fall under the performing arts. In April, the center changed the lights on the exterior from the long-standing rainbow to a permanent red, white, and blue display.
Newsweek
9 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Green Card Update: Immigration Officials Issue Warning Over Applications
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released its September 2025 visa bulletin, providing key updates for applicants across family-based, employment-based, and diversity visa categories. The bulletin notes that employment-based (EB) categories, particularly EB-2 and EB-3 for applicants from India, could reach their annual limits by the end of September, potentially causing final action dates to retrogress or freeze. Why It Matters The monthly visa bulletin serves as an important reference for individuals and families navigating the complex and often lengthy process of obtaining permanent residency in the United States. For green card applicants, monitoring the visa bulletin is critical. It provides guidance on when they may be eligible to adjust their immigration status, typically based on the priority date established when an employer or family member filed a sponsorship petition. This priority date differs from the date of the permanent residence application itself, as the visa bulletin determines when applicants can move forward with their green card applications. The release of the new bulletin comes amid a significant backlog at USCIS, which currently has 11.3 million pending applications. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization ceremony held at the New York Public Library, in New York City. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization ceremony held at the New York Public Library, in New York City. Dennis Van Tine/Sipa via AP Images What To Know This situation reflects typical fiscal-year-end pressures, during which visa categories may retrogress or temporarily freeze, potentially delaying eligibility until the start of the new fiscal year in October, when new visa allocations are released. For applicants in employment-based categories, this means careful attention to filing deadlines and readiness to submit documentation promptly to avoid potential delays. Family-based applicants also saw some movement in the September bulletin. The F2A category, which includes spouses and unmarried children of permanent residents, remains open for filing as of June 1, 2025, and final action dates remain static. This stability allows eligible applicants to continue submitting petitions, though they should remain attentive to future updates, as changes in one category can sometimes influence movement in related categories. The Diversity Visa (DV) program is nearing its deadline for the 2025 cycle, with the final month of eligibility in September. Applicants who have not yet submitted or completed their entries must act quickly, as the program officially ends on September 30, 2025. Final action dates for the DV program continue to progress, but the approaching deadline emphasizes the urgency for eligible participants to complete their submissions before the September 30 deadline. What People Are Saying Morgan Bailey, a partner at Mayer Brown and a former senior official at DHS, told Newsweek: "For the DV lottery, anyone who was part of that group really needs to submit their paperwork, attend the interview and obtain the visa before September 30th or they won't be eligible after October 1." Bailey added, "There is the benefit of knowing that October 1, the new fiscal year will begin. And so fiscal year 2026 will have a new set of allocation. And so we will likely see significant movement in October, opening up options for employment, as well as for family." What Happens Next The September 2025 visa bulletin offers essential guidance for navigating the U.S. immigration process. Staying informed and tracking official updates can help applicants avoid last-minute complications.
