Latest news with #Authoritarianism
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Lithuania's defense chief praises Philippine campaign exposing China's aggression
MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine campaign aimed at exposing China's aggression in the disputed South China Sea has shattered 'the illusion of China being peaceful and friendly,' Lithuania's defense chief said Wednesday, urging democratic countries to stand united against an emerging axis of authoritarian countries led by China and Russia.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Michael Steele Issues Ominous Alert For ALL Republicans: ‘Trust Me, Baby'
Michael Steele, a former chair of the Republican National Committee, issued a stark warning Tuesday about Donald Trump's agenda, cautioning that even the president's supporters aren't safe. Speaking on MSNBC, where he is now a host, Steele urged all Americans to take Trump at his word, particularly following his remarks that some U.S. citizens could be stripped of their nationality and deported for certain crimes, including those actually born in the country. 'I don't even know why people at this point act like this is not the plan,' said Steele, who led the RNC from 2009 to 2011 and has since become one of Trump's most outspoken conservative critics. 'I mean, it's a slow ― and it's not that slow, actually ― process to get to where we are. It's been step by step. It's been layered. It has been articulated very clearly. It is Project 2025. We told y'all that. We directed you to the document. So there's no surprise here,' he continued. 'America, you're next. Citizens in neighborhoods and communities ― you're next,' Steele cautioned. And he had a further warning for 'all you little Republicans who think you're not on the list.' 'Trust me, baby, you're on the list,' he said. 'You're on the list. Because that's the way this authoritarian thing happens.' 'They use you, they punk you. They get you to do their bidding. And as we've just seen play out with Elon Musk, they flip the script,' he said, referring to the spectacular fall from grace in Trumpworld of his onetime ally and donor, the world's richest person. Trump this week has talked about looking at deporting Musk. 'I mean, come on, guys. I don't know what people expect here. The blinders—this is coming at us,' Steele added. 'It's at me. It's coming. It's everybody in this country. Babies that have not been born yet. Babies that have not been born yet, whose mothers don't know whether or not, if their child is born in state X, that child is a U.S. citizen.' Watch the full analysis here: Trump Asks DeSantis The Weirdest Question About Marjorie Taylor Greene, In Front Of Her BF Wall Street Journal Warns Trump May Have Just Sabotaged His Own Presidency Ex-GOP Strategist Warns How A Lara Trump Run Could Backfire Badly On Republicans
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Animal Farm' Review: Andy Serkis Directs Seth Rogen And All-Star Voice Cast In Clever And Chilling Take On Orwell's Classic Novella
George Orwell had a unique talent for predicting the future in his books, notably 1984, but now seeing director Andy Serkis' new animated take on Orwell's 1945 all-too-predictive allegory and satirical story, Animal Farm, he seems more like a Nostradamas than ever. With a screenplay, alternately funny and frighteningly perceptive by Nicholas Stoller, this gorgeously animated version is not outwardly trying to be political but nevertheless is uncannily meeting its time and proving to be a little too close for comfort to America's drift toward authoritarianism. How did Orwell know this little parable he meant to mirror the 1917 Russian revolution, read by school kids for decades, could become so relevant in 2025, and for that matter how did these filmmakers and Serkis know? He started his quest to bring this new version to the screen at least as far back to 2013, three years before Donald Trump was elected for his first term, and fully eleven years before he returned to finish the job he started. But actually, the scenario Animal Farm paints has relevance for countries around the world who are experiencing these kinds of dictator-wannabes. Beware this is a 'toon with much to think about – and to fear. And oh yeah, it is also wildly entertaining. Animal Farm had its World Premiere today at the Annecy Animation Festival in France. More from Deadline Chinese AI Video Generator Vidu Strikes IP Deal For Animated Series 'Journey To The West: Legends Of The Monkey King' Tom Clancy's 'Splinter Cell: Deathwatch': Fans Go Wild For Clips Of Netflix Animated Series At Annecy As Creative Team Detail Inspirations Ranging From Michael Mann To Satoshi Kon To Tom Cruise Marvel Animation Unveils First Episode Of 'Eyes Of Wakanda' Opening In Ancient Crete & Setting Up 3,000-Year Search For Stolen Vibranium Artefacts You invariably know the story. A farm run by Farmer Jones is basically going under, debitors coming to collect and no way to keep it solvent. A big truck comes to pick up the animals and cart them off to oblivion when one of them, Snowball (nicely voiced by Laverne Cox) figures out what is happening and turns the tide creating an animal rebellion and leading to this motley four legged crew actually taking over and running the farm themselves. Man, as the opening narration suggests, had not treated them well. Now it is their turn. Joined by well-meaning piglet Lucky (Stranger Thing's Gaten Matarazzo) they lead the others into some mischievous adventures with their new found freedom, learning how to run what only humans had done before, particularly milking the cows – no easy task. But what seems like a good idea in taking over the farm begins to show its seams, especially with the self-centered and manipulative other leading pig, Napoleon (unmistakably Seth Rogen) trying to pull the strings in the background. He makes his big move after the discovery that Snowball and Lucky have secretly been working on a windmill to generate electricity in order to solve the milking problem, a turn of events that doesn't go down well and leads to the banishment of Snowball when Napoleon rallies the others against her. Now it is free reign for Napoleon to try to seize power, and in concert with the dogs he does just that. But this is an authoritarian personality who is out only for himself and his actions are all in that quest. He starts to figuratively burn the place down, break every previous rule, and urge the animals to eat all the stored grain, not worrying about having enough in the future. When the farm is again threatened, Napoleon and the pigs come up with a marketing idea and it goes over big as they all go to the mall and start indulging in human-like luxuries like never before. Enter Frieda Pilkington (Glenn Close in her best Cruella mode), a billionaire rival farm owner who sees an opportunity and a naive foil in Napoleon, who she butters up big time, him being oblivious to her real motivation: the building of a massive dam that will ultimately destroy the farm, even as Napoleon's dark side is willing to take what he sees as true glory at the cost of everyone else with the dam plan. When one pig, Puff (Iman Vellani) starts to sense trouble it puts Lucky between a rock and a hard place. Which way does he go and how will they all survive? Each character is so drawn and voiced so specifically this Animal Farm really does become a microcosm of society with Rogen's duplicitous Napoleon the classic case of someone consumed with power and his own narcissism (remind you of anyone?). Matarazzo's Lucky is the protagonist but one increasingly confused by events. Along the way there are others like the free-thinking Carl The Sheep (Jim Parsons), cranky Benjamin (Kathleen Turner), squirrely Squealer (Kieran Culkin), and more, including Boxer (beautifully voiced by Woody Harrelson) the dedicated hard working and morally upstanding horse who heartbreakingly will ultimately become a victim of this new pig-led government. Serkis, of course, can't resist playing a couple of parts himself and takes on the affable Rooster and Farmer Jones. You also can't watch this movie and the dynamics between animals and humans and not think of what Serkis, as an actor, brought to the Planet Of The Apes series as Caesar. The visuals of the film are meticulously thought out , and though not photo real have that look and design of authenticity in CGI animated form. The score by Brazilian composer Hector Pereira is right on point and the use of the Propellerheads and Shirley Bassey's collaboration on 'History Repeating' is a not-so-subtle comment , but perfectly-used song to reinforce what sadly happens as this animal brigade replaces the farm's previous human operation and start falling into the same traps. History repeating itself indeed. Although this may not quite sound like safe fare for the kiddies, this is that rare animated feature that works on many levels and thus will find favor with the whole family for different reasons. Animation or not, it looks to me to be one of the most important films of the year. Heed what Orwell is talking about before it all comes tumbling down. Producers of the Aniventure, Cinesite, Imaginarium production are Serkis, Adam Nagle, David Rosenbaum, Peter Nagle, Jonathan Cavendish. Eamonn Butler is Associate Director for Animation and Alex Parkinson is Associate Director for CGI. Title: Animal FarmFestival: AnnecyDirector: Andy SerkisScreenplay: Nicholas StollerCast: Seth Rogen, Gaten Matarazzo, Laverne Cox, Iman Vellani, Kieran Culkin, Jim Parsons, Woody Harrelson, Steve Buscemi, Glenn Close, Andy Serkis, Kathleen TurnerRunning Time: 1 hour and 36 minutes Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media Where To Watch All The 'John Wick' Movies: Streamers That Have All Four Films
CBS News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
After Bruce Springsteen calls Trump "treasonous," the president responds by criticizing the rock star's skin
Bruce Springsteen gave his latest stinging criticism of President Trump and his administration, calling them "treasonous" and "incompetent" to kick off the first show of his British tour this week. The president responded in a Truth Social post that included criticism of the rocker's skin and telling him to "keep his mouth shut" until returning to the U.S. Springsteen, a long and prominent supporter of Democratic presidential candidates, made his remarks at a concert in Manchester, England, on Wednesday during the first of his "Land of Hope and Dreams" tour. "The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock 'n' roll in dangerous times," he said. "In my home, the America I love, the America I've written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration." Bruce Springsteen performs during the first night of his 'The Land of Hopes and Dreams' tour at Co-op Live on May 14, 2025, in Manchester, England. Shirlaine Forrest/ Getty Images The 75-year-old rocker, who later shared a transcript and video of his remarks on his website and YouTube channel, asked supporters of democracy to "raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring!" Throughout the concert, Springsteen accused Mr. Trump and his administration of authoritarianism, rolling back civil rights, blocking free speech and "taking sadistic pleasure in the pain that they inflict on loyal American workers." "They're rolling back historic civil rights legislation that led to a more just and plural society," Springsteen said. "They're abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators against those struggling for their freedom." On Friday, Mr. Trump responded on his social media platform, saying that the rocker is "just a pushy, obnoxious JERK, who fervently supported Crooked Joe Biden, a mentally incompetent FOOL, and our WORST EVER President, who came close to destroying our Country." He added: "Springsteen is 'dumb as a rock,' and couldn't see what was going on, or could he (which is even worse!)? This dried out 'prune' of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied!) ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that's just 'standard fare.' Then we'll all see how it goes for him!" This is not the first time Springsteen has aimed at Mr. Trump and his policies. When he endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election, Springsteen called Mr. Trump "the most dangerous candidate for president in my lifetime." "Perhaps not since the Civil War has this great country felt as politically, spiritually and emotionally divided as it does than at this moment. It doesn't have to be this way," the rock star said in a short video shared on social media. In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone, Springsteen called Mr. Trump a "moron." When Mr. Trump was running for reelection in 2020, Springsteen told The Atlantic he didn't know "if our democracy could stand another four years of his custodianship." Later this summer, Springsteen will also release a new album collection that will include dozens of "never-before-heard" songs from previously unreleased records.
