Latest news with #BamaRush
The Hill
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump seizes control of DC Police
It's Monday. Who else is glued to TikTok for ' Bama Rush ' this week? Do you think social media star Izzy Darnell will get a bid? In today's issue: Trump deploys National Guard to DC DC police now under Bondi's control FBI patrolling Washington Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury files sealed Trump's upcoming Putin meeting Inside the Oreo-Reese's collab Should we change the name to 'Fort District of Columbia'?: President Trump is ramping up military presence in Washington to combat violence and crime in the city, announcing this morning that he will activate the National Guard in the nation's capital. 'Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people, and we're not going to let it happen anymore. We're not going to take it,' Trump said. The Metropolitan Police Department will now be under direct federal control, Trump said. That means Attorney General Pam Bondi will oversee the DC police department. 🔎 Check out this list of administration officials with multiple titles ^ Keep in mind about this police takeover: 'Trump must provide written notification to Congress within 48 hours outlining his rationale for taking control of the Metropolitan Police Department. The president can unilaterally control the department for up to 30 days, but Congress must approve any extension.' (The Hill) It's another Liberation Day: Trump declared today as 'Liberation Day D.C.,' not to be confused with his tariff 'Liberation Day' in April. What are the crime stats in DC?: 'Crime in D.C. was down 35 percent in 2024 from the previous year, marking a 30-year low. Data from the district shows violent crime is also down so far in 2025 compared with the previous year.' (The Hill) He turned to the journalists at the press conference: 'You people are victims of it, too. You're reporters and I understand a lot of you tend to be on the liberal side, but you don't want to get mugged and raped and shot and killed. And you all know people and friends of yours that that happened.' 💻 Watch Trump's press conference Timing: Last week, Trump mobilized federal law enforcement, including the FBI on night patrol in D.C., according to several news reports. The Washington Post reports that roughly 120 FBI agents have been deployed for overnight shifts to crack down on carjackings and violent crime in the capital. Trump's vision: Trump said his plan 'will not only involve ending the Crime, Murder, and Death in our Nation's Capital, but will also be about Cleanliness and the General Physical Renovation and Condition of our once beautiful and well maintained Capital,' he posted on Truth Social. 🔎 Read Trump's full post 📹 DEA officers patrolling the National Mall Tidbit: The briefing room was *packed* this morning. The Hill's Niall Stanage 📹 posted a video of reporters crowding the standing room. And in classic Trump press conference fashion, he veered off into other topics: He mentioned transgender people playing in sports: 'Nobody's ever come up to me. 'Sir, you have to let men play in women's sports.' … Nobody's ever approached me. I don't even know where this issue even comes from.' And touted his immigration policies: 'Nobody comes to our southern border anymore. Three months in a row, we've had zero. I don't know if that's right,' Trump said, arguing 'the people who do the work' estimated that figure. And bashed Democrats: 'They just got walloped in an election in a landslide and they haven't changed one thing.' Oops, I think he misspoke: Trump mentioned that he's 'going to Russia on Friday.' He is planning to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, but that meeting is in Alaska. Keep scrolling for more on that meeting. ⚖️ THE EPSTEIN CONTROVERSY We won't see the Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury files: 'A federal judge on Monday refused the Justice Department's request to unseal grand jury materials used to charge Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime accomplice of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein,' reports The Hill's Zach Schonfeld. Backstory: 'The Trump administration looked to break the normal secrecy of grand jury proceedings amid mounting public pressure, including from much of the president's political base, to release more files on the case.' Does this apply to Epstein's case?: No, that's a separate request. 'The administration has made a similar request in Epstein's case, which remains pending and will be handled by a different federal judge.' I bet Alaska is beautiful in August: President Trump is traveling to Alaska later this week to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending its war with Ukraine. What will be discussed?: Trump confirmed they would discuss a plan to swap territories as part of potential peace talks. Backstory: Trump has given Putin a short deadline to end its fighting with Ukraine. Putin reportedly presented the administration with a ceasefire proposal last week that would include Ukraine giving up territory. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the idea. Some insight into the administration's thinking: Vice President Vance said over the weekend that 'we're done with the funding of the Ukraine war business.' ➤ QUICK HITS: COMING UP The House and Senate are out. 🌴 President Trump is in Washington. (All times EST) 🐝 INTERNET BUZZ 🥪 Celebrate: Today is National Panini Day. 🚪 *Cue the AOL door-close sound *: AOL is discontinuing its dial-up internet service at the end of September. Who else is surprised that it's still around in 2025?! LINK 🍬 This is so intense, and I'm SO here for it: Oreo and Reese's announced a big collaboration. The Wall Street Journal's Jesse Newman reports on the massive, secret undertaking to merge the two powerhouse snacks. Excerpt: 'In theory, the idea behind the products was simple. In practice, merging two of America's most iconic snacks, while maintaining their individual identities, was a deeply complex undertaking, requiring cloak-and-dagger tactics reminiscent of the Manhattan Project. Executives and food scientists met in secret and spoke in code, keeping knowledge of the effort to a tight circle to prevent leaks. Experimental cookies and candy under development were hidden in foil wrapping while company officials shuttled to and from corporate offices and the research-and-development labs where recipes were being tweaked.' Read:
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Eye-watering cost of sorority hopeful's rush outfit sparks fierce backlash: 'Four months of my rent'
It's that time of the year again - rush week at the University of Alabama. Back in 2021, a series of women who were trying to join the University of Alabama's Panhellenic community documented their road to being accepted into one of the 18 different sororities at the school, and uploaded it all to TikTok. Their videos quickly exploded, and many people on the web became enthralled with watching the lengthy process play out. Since then, every time August rolls around, #BamaRush goes viral once again, as a whole new set of freshmen hopefuls at University of Alabama and other Southern schools put their best foot forward to vie for the chance to get accepted into sororities on campus. And many of them figure that the best way to do this is to make sure that foot is covered in a designer shoe. Tons of the women rushing this year have been showcasing their daily outfits throughout the process on TikTok and Instagram - and some of them have donned ensembles worth thousands of dollars. And while their stacks of expensive jewelry and name brand skirts used to elicit awe from their audiences, now it seems as though they only stir disbelief and anger. One Instagram creator recently broke down some of the sky-high prices of these girls' rush looks, and it sparked immense backlash for the students. Destinee Wilson, who calls herself 'your favorite price breakdown analyst,' has been reposting videos of girls rushing sororities in the South and detailing the prices of each article of clothing they wear. Tons of the women rushing this year have been showcasing their daily outfits throughout the process on TikTok and Instagram - and the ensembles worth thousands of dollars. The outfit featured Shila Fijal earrings, a Tiffany necklace, a Tory Burch watch, a Hermes bangle, and a Farm Rio skirt, amongst other things. After finding all of the individual products and their prices, Destinee revealed that the outfit costs a whopping $4,776. And viewers were shocked to say the least. 'She spent four months of my rent on that outfit,' one Instagram user pointed out. 'How much money does she HAVE?!' another commented, incredulous. Some users even had choice words for the parents of the student. She also donned a Tiffany T white gold bracelet, which is priced at $1,350, and the $350 Tory Burch Small Eleanor Watch She sported a $135 Farm Rio skirt, amongst other things. And after finding all of the individual products and their prices, Destinee revealed that the outfit cost a whopping $4,776 'Unless these girls are making their money on social media… their parents are failing them by buying them all this shit that's so damn expensive,' one outraged person said. 'They will never understand the true value of a dollar.' Others even made fun of the outfit, claiming it looked cheap despite its high cost. 'Meanwhile the whole outfit looks like it came from Old Navy,' another user added. Destinee herself did not mock the outfit or its price. In fact, in one of her other videos, she captions her price breakdown: 'The GSU girls were absolutely rocking rush week.'
Axios
4 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Exclusive: Vice Media raises $75M credit facility
Vice Media has raised $75 million in the form of a credit facility with Western Alliance Bank to support the growth of Vice Studios, its scripted and unscripted production arm, Vice Media executive chairman Michael Lang told Axios. Why it matters: Lang hopes the investment will supercharge Vice Studio's production output, while giving the company more distribution control over its content projects. Before Vice Media emerged from a bankruptcy buyout in 2023, it mostly relied on its third-party distribution partners — such as streamers and TV networks — to fund its content slate, limiting its distribution power, Lang said. Zoom out: Lang, who is also president of a separate media investment company called Lang Media Group, hopes the new money will help Vice Studios jumpstart $500 million worth of content projects over the next three to five years. Some of that capital will come from the new cash raised, and the rest will come from third-party distribution partners that collaborate on projects Vice can now help fund. Between the lines: In addition to the credit facility, Vice co-owner Fortress Investment Group is contributing an equity investment to help fund the broader Vice Studios production slate. A spokesperson declined to disclose how much Fortress contributed. Lang said the commitment from Fortress speaks to the investment firm's belief in Vice Media's new strategy. State of play: With its own capital, Lang also hopes to be able to produce more content related to the intellectual property Vice Studios already owns. Vice Studios' popular series include the U.K. hit "Gangs of London," as well as the streaming and cable documentary feature "Bama Rush." Catch up quick: Lang was named interim executive chairman of Vice Media in 2023 after an investment group led by Fortress bought the company out of bankruptcy. A few months later, it unveiled a new creative structure for Vice Studios. Vice hired Adam Stotsky, a former NBCUniversal executive, as its new CEO in June. It added Amy Powell, an Amazon veteran, in May. In the past few months, the company has been on a deal spree. It struck a significant distribution deal with ITV Studios in February. It acquired Cuba Pictures — known for producing dramas in the U.K. — from United Talent Agency's Curtis Brown in May. It purchased London Alley Entertainment to bolster its commercial production division in March. What to watch: Leading up to and following its bankruptcy, Vice Media sold or spun out several assets and consolidated departments to streamline its focus on content production and marketing services. Lang hopes the two sides can build synergies.
Fast Company
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
RushTok is back. TikTok still can't get enough of sorority recruitment
The internet's favorite programming is back on: #RushTok season is officially upon us. If this is your first time tuning in, 'rush' is the informal name for the recruitment process in which college students in the U.S. vie for a spot in a Greek organization at their campus. On #RushTok, potential new members (PNMs) document their experience rushing different sororities, typically those affiliated with the National Panhellenic Conference. The phenomenon first went viral in 2021, thanks to the University of Alabama. The hashtag #BamaRush now has more than 1.3 million posts, setting the blueprint for how pledge week plays out on TikTok. Since then, #RushTok has evolved into a full-blown internet subculture, with more than 67 million posts at the time of writing. Across the world, people tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at the recruitment process. Current pledges are building excitement, while viral personalities return for their fourth and final year. RushTok has essentially become its own reality TV show (think Dance Moms or Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders but in bite-size content). Young women try to get into their dream sorority, and the internet comes along for the ride. 'Bama rush tok is my superbowl,' one TikTok user posted. 'Guys who are we rooting for?' another asked. With 2025 recruitment well underway, content ranges from simple OOTD videos to high-energy choreographed dances. Brands are swarming the comments to get in on the action (as are plenty of confused Europeans). Peripheral content ramps up during this time, too, including parodies that highlight the homogeneity of the content. One creator, DestineeMoreh, returns each year to break down the costs behind the flood of 'outfit of the day' posts on the For You Page. The phenomenon has even inspired its own Lifetime documentary, set to premiere later this month. A number of schools are involved, but ask anyone—Bama Rush is the main event. While major players are already warming up, recruitment events at the University of Alabama don't officially begin for a few more days. According to UA's Panhellenic Association, recruitment runs from August 9 through 17. If last year's content is anything to go by, it'll be over-the-top, chaotic, and very American.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bama Rush moms' extreme lengths to get daughters into sororities as they declare 'budget is non-existent'
The moms of Bama Rush and their desperate measures to ensure their daughters get into their dream sorority are front and center of a new 10–part documentary series – and it seems there's no expense they're willing to spare. It's almost rush season at the University of Alabama, and thousands of newcomers will soon be vying for a spot in one of the colleges coveted alliances. Behind them are their mothers, who are sometimes more hellbent at getting their children in than they are. New Lifetime series A Sorority Mom's Guide to Rush! is set to shine a light on the moms who are so eager to make sure their daughters get a spot that there's nothing they won't do. 'If I have to bake cakes and slap her face on the front and deliver them to every single sorority house, I'm doing it,' one declares in the first look trailer while another laughs as she says, 'maybe I need counseling or something.' Parents are known to splash thousands of dollars on Bama Rush to ensure their daughters are decked out with designer goods such as Gucci purses, Dior bags, and Cartier jewelry. 'You've got to pay if you want to play on sorority row,' says one mother. 'A rush budget to me is non–existent,' one mom proudly boasts, while one dad leaps up to grab his check book. 'These parents are willing to drop thousands of dollars on clothes, jewelry, even Rush consultants,' Brandis Bradley, who is known as the Queen of #RushTok, reveals. Each episode of A Sorority Mom's Guide to Rush! will follow two mother–daughter duos as they prepare for Bama Rush, which is the process where sororities recruit new members. Bringing guidance, glam and a lot of honesty to the journey are two breakout names from the world of Rush: New York Times profiled consultant Bill Alverson and The Queen of #RushTok, Brandis. 'With their expertise, they help these families prepare their daughters to make a lasting impression to land a spot in their top–tier house,' the synopsis teases. 'These moms, daughters and even grandmothers and siblings will do anything it takes to help get them accepted into their legacy sororities, making them sisters in every sense.' While viewers will have to wait to see the coaches' invaluable advice, it's clear that social they hold a no–holds–barred approach. 'I am the ultimate authority when it comes to Rush on TikTok,' Brandis says in the trailer. 'If you're going through Rush, you're going to want to get on my radar.' The University of Alabama figures are not for the faint-hearted. For those joining a sorority for the first time a lump payment of $4,750 is charged on average in the fall semester for new member fees, plus another sum the following semester. Living in-house is much more expensive and costs on average $8,400 per semester, which includes room, chapter meal plan, local chapter fees, and inter/national fees, while living out of house costs on average $4,100 per semester. Last year, Daily Mail spoke to former pageant queen Kylan Darnell, who revealed she had spent close to an eye-watering $100,000 to be in an elite sorority at the University of Alabama. 'It is pretty expensive to be in a sorority,' she said, 'but at the end of the day I feel like it's more of a networking experience,. 'And I love that I found my future bridesmaids doing it. I could not imagine what my college experience would have been like without Greek life, it has definitely changed my life for the better.'
