Latest news with #BlueDog
Wall Street Journal
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
‘BLUE: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue' Review: A Louisianian Painter on PBS
During an interview for 'BLUE: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue,' the artist's son Jacques says that if you had called his grandmother a 'Cajun,' she might have slapped your face. But the 'derogatory term' that would have ticked off grandma was something his father—best known for his 'Blue Dog' paintings (see the Absolut vodka ads)—made into a brand. And a cause. Rodrigue, who died in 2013, was a repository of influences both ethnic and artistic, much like current-day Cajuns themselves. Descended from the French-speaking Canadians exiled by the British after the invasion of Nova Scotia in 1755, the people who would eventually be called 'Cajun' found refuge in southern Louisiana and created a culture that food and music—and some say Rodrigue himself—channeled into mainstream America during the late 20th century.
Axios
16-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Clock ticking on Minnesota budget talks
Legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz are scheduled to return to the negotiating table today after ending the weekend without announcing a budget deal. Threat level: Just one week remains until the narrowly divided Legislature's May 19 adjournment deadline. If they can't pass a budget by then, they'll need a special session to avert a summer shutdown. What we're watching: Tensions between progressive and moderate wings of the DFL spilled into public view last week, after six " Blue Dog" Senate Democrats joined Republicans to approve an amendment exempting some small businesses and farms from state's new Earned Sick and Safe Time law. One of those moderates, Assistant Majority Leader Nick Frentz (DFL-North Mankato), is also carrying legislation to scale back the state's new Paid Family and Medical Leave program. Frentz told reporters for Axios and MPR last week that he expects the "Blue Dog" coalition will continue to push for "a little more bipartisanship, a little more fiscal responsibility" through the "finish line." But he said it's up to caucus leaders to decide whether proposed changes to paid family leave and other landmark policies passed during the DFL trifecta make it into a budget deal.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Overcompensating' Sets Trailer; Lukas Gage, Megan Fox and Bowen Yang to Guest Star (TV News Roundup)
Benito Skinner's new series 'Overcompensating' has an official trailer, with Lukas Gage, Megan Fox, Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers added as guest stars. Produced by A24, Strong Baby and Amazon MGM Studios, the college-set ensemble comedy follows a closeted former football player (Skinner) as he quickly befriends a high school outsider (Wally Baram) to fit in. The cast also includes Kyle MacLachlan, Charli XCX, Connie Britton, Mary Beth Barone, Adam DiMarco and Rish Shah. More from Variety 'Conan O'Brien Must Go' Trailer: Season 2 Brings Taika Waititi and Javier Bardem (TV News Roundup) 'The Librarians: The Next Chapter' Sets Two-Night Premiere in May (TV News Roundup) Shane Gillis' Netflix Comedy 'Tires' Sets Season 2 Premiere Date (TV News Roundup) Additional guest stars include James Van Der Beek, Didi Conn, Rachel Matthews, Danielle Perez and Yasmine Sahid. The series is created, written and executive produced by Skinner with Jonah Hill, Matt Dines and Ali Goodwin executive producing for Strong Baby. Charli XCX is executive producer and executive music producer. All eight episodes of 'Overcompensating' premiere May 15 on Prime Video. Watch the official trailer below. In other TV Roundup news: Hulu has debuted the official trailer and new key art for season two of 'Nine Perfect Strangers,' which returns May 21 with a two-episode premiere. Nicole Kidman returns as Masha Dmitrichenko, with Season 2 newcomers including Henry Golding, Lena Olin, Annie Murphy, Christine Baranski, Lucas Englander, King Princess, Murray Bartlett, Dolly de Leon, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Mark Strong and Aras Aydin. The official Season 2 synopsis reads: 'Nine new strangers connected in ways they could never imagine are invited by mysterious guru Masha Dmitrichenko to join a transformational wellness retreat in the Austrian Alps. Over the course of a week, she takes them to the brink. Will they make it? Will she? Masha is willing to try anything in the interest of healing everyone involved, including herself.' 'Nine Perfect Strangers' is based on the book of the same name by Liane Moriarty. New episodes stream Wednesdays leading up to the season finale on July 2. 'Blue: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue,' a new documentary about the artist known for the 'Blue Dog' paintings, will premiere May 29 on public television stations as well as through streaming on Rodrigue, a Louisiana native, was recognized for incorporating Cajun culture in his art. 'I hope audiences see 'Blue' as a tribute to George Rodrigue's enduring impact on art and culture in Louisiana and around the world. His story as an artist is layered and deeply inspiring. From his majestic oak trees and evocative Cajun portraits to the iconic Blue Dog, his masterworks weave an extraordinary narrative and serve as a powerful testament to his perseverance and the deep impact he and his art have had on so many lives,' director Sean O'Malley said in a statement. The one-hour documentary, presented by WLAE in New Orleans and distributed by American Public Television, features clips from Rodrigue's final interview as well as interviews with Rodrigue's family members and figures like former New Orleans mayor Marc Morial and the artist James Michalopoulos. ''Blue' is an up-close and personal portrait of my dad and his groundbreaking work,' Jacques Rodrigue, Rodrigue's son and the executive director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, said in a statement. 'The documentary beautifully captures the visual evolution of his art, his deep love for Cajun culture, the rise of the Blue Dog as a pop icon, and his unique place in the story of American art. Dad was — and still is — an icon, not just for Louisiana, but for the entire country.' Watch the official trailer below. Jackie Hayes, Philippe Maigret and Cindy Mori have been named to the Television Academy Foundation's board of directors. Mori, known as Oprah Winfrey's longtime talent relations executive, was elected to a three-year term. Hayes and Maigret, known for their roles at Netflix and ITV Studios America, respectively, have been appointed for one year. 'We are thrilled to welcome these outstanding individuals to the Foundation's board of directors,' Television Academy Foundation chair Tina Perry said in a statement. 'Their diverse expertise, passion for education and commitment to fostering the next generation of television leaders will be invaluable as we continue to expand our impact and provide unparalleled opportunities for aspiring professionals in the industry.' Hayes serves as vice president of studio affairs legal at Netflix, while Maigret leads U.S. scripted TV operations at ITV Studios America. LiveNow, from Fox Television Stations, achieved its best quarter so far according to the service — garnering 502 million views on YouTube during Q1. LiveNow says it beat out national outlets like CBS News (158 million views), ABC News (322 million) and NBC News (353 million). 'There are many options for mainstream scripted packaged news. LiveNow takes a different path. It is locally powered coverage that is unscripted and intentionally raw,' Jeff Zellmer, FTS digital head, said in a statement. 'It's no surprise that this unique, live, event-driven approach works best on YouTube's fast-growing platform. ' Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in May 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in May 2025
The Guardian
04-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
She's a waitress raised on a farm – can Rebecca Cooke win a key Wisconsin seat?
Wisconsin's third congressional district has voted for Donald Trump every time he's been on the ballot, but the moderate Democrat Rebecca Cooke, a waitress who grew up on a dairy farm, thinks she can flip the state's most competitive seat next year. Last year, Cooke outperformed other Democrats when she tried to unseat incumbent Derrick Van Orden, a retired US Navy Seal who attended the January 6 'Stop the Steal ' rally at the Capitol and shouted 'lies' during Joe Biden's 2024 state of the union address. She lost the race by less than three points. She's trying again. She launched her 2026 campaign in March, amid constituent anger at Van Orden for refusing to face questions at in-person town halls. She is doubling down on the campaigning that worked for in November, hitting the pavement across the western Wisconsin district. In the soul-searching among Democrats over the future of their party, Cooke aligns with the moderate Blue Dog coalition led by Washington state representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who told Mother Jones that after she endorsed Cooke, Van Orden 'shoulder-checked me on the floor'. But Cooke rejects a label within the party, calling them 'somewhat harmful' and polarizing in her district. She tells voters that she thinks lawmakers in DC are either too far left or too far right, and that there need to be more regular folks willing to work across the aisle to get things done. The idea resonates with people, who tell her they're over the polarization and chaos. She needs votes from people across the political spectrum to win in the moderately right-leaning district. Cooke's resumé is the kind often cobbled together in small towns across the US: she works as a waitress, she ran a retail business and an Airbnb business, she worked on Democratic campaigns, and she started a nonprofit to support women entrepreneurs. She first ran for the congressional seat in 2022, losing in the Democratic primary, then again in 2024, beating out two other Democrats to take on Van Orden. She has been waitressing since she was a teenager, she said. 'I love that work. I love the hospitality industry. I think there's so much dignity in hospitality work, and it's something that allows me being able to work at night, to be able to campaign all day.' She said her 'more working-class' background aligns with the district but upsets her opponents, who have brought up her work on Democratic campaigns. The National Republican Campaign Committee has repeatedly called her a 'sleazy political activist' and said she is lying about her background. 'I'd love them to see the car that I drive around, and the place that I live,' she said. 'Anybody that knows me knows that I'm not rolling in dough by any means.' Cooke grew up on a dairy farm, but her family had to sell their cows because of how competition affected the price of milk. Losing the farm wasn't just losing a business, she said. 'It's just very much a part of our way of life, and we've lost thousands of dairy farms in Wisconsin.' In June, farmers around the state will host breakfasts to promote dairy farming. She said she'll be at every dairy breakfast she can get to in the district, shaking hands and introducing herself. 'I don't know what people's political background is, but when I'm shaking their hand, I'll say, I'm Rebecca Cooke, I grew up on a dairy farm, and I tell them a little bit about my background,' she said. 'By the end of the conversation, they go, so, what party are you from? And I would rather that question if they're agreeing with me on similar values.' Cooke said she thinks Democrats need to bring people back into a big tent through pragmatism and detailing how their agenda would help Americans afford their housing and groceries. The party needs to create its own 'prosperity gospel instead of just demonizing the right', she said. 'What are we going to do better? And how are we going to help people find their path to the middle class?' Democrats need to be bold, fresh and and willing to be 'more uninhibited'. 'I really think the change that we want to see has to come from the inside out and not from the outside in,' she said. 'We need to look to our communities to solve these gaps and this vacuum and work to recruit people to be those strong voices and to run for office. 'It shouldn't be like, this is coming from the national party, and this is what you should think or do. It should be, this is what's coming from our communities, and this is what we want the party to do.'
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - To make lasting changes, Trump should talk to these 6 Democrats
'Deals work best when each side gets something it wants from the other.' That's a quote from President Trump's 1987 book 'The Art of the Deal,' and it's excellent guidance as he seeks to make progress on his campaign promises, including his signature pledge of fixing America's immigration system. Since taking office, Trump has issued immigration executive orders focused on 'enhanced vetting' of visa applicants, ending birthright citizenship, sending National Guard to the border, changing the asylum process, and curbing the refugee program, to name a few. These may be effective in the short term at changing how laws are enforced, but executive actions do not change underlying laws. That requires Congress — and working with Democrats. There is good news and bad news for Trump on that front. The good news is that multiple Democrats have openly expressed a willingness to work with him on areas of shared concern, immigration included. The bad news is that his window to work with these Democrats may be closing as Republican leadership ices them out of congressional negotiations. If Trump cares about permanent, not just performative, changes on immigration, he should pick up the phone and talk to these Democrats. He may be surprised by what he hears. Take Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), who wrote a January op-ed in The New York Times calling on Democrats to ditch their resistance mindset. 'Only by working together to find compromise on parts of the president-elect's agenda can we make progress for Americans who are clearly demanding change in the economy, immigration, crime and other top issues,' he wrote. Another major Democratic advocate for commonsense immigration policy is Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), who represents a border district and voted for the recent Laken Riley Act (the sole immigration bill in Trump's first month). He has called consistently for stronger enforcement at the border. Then there is Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), a proud Blue Dog Democrat who has consistently criticized her party for putting national political objectives over issues that matter to constituents. 'I think 90 percent of Americans agree about 90 percent of the issues,' she said. She's expressed openness to working with Trump on everything from fentanyl and the border to inflation and the budget. Her Blue Dog colleague, Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), is also open to cooperating and has voiced support for Trump's Remain in Mexico policy. Golden is the same Democrat who criticized his party during the election for its constant claims that Trump would bring the end of Democracy. Others like Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Don Davis (D-N.C.) are in a similar boat, consistently showing up to the negotiating room in good faith but rarely getting a seat at the table with Republicans. These Democrats don't agree with Trump on every or even most issues, and they stand up to him often, but their willingness to work together on areas of overlap puts them squarely in line with most Americans. More than three in four voters say they want congressional Democrats to 'find common ground' with the Trump administration. That's hard to do when Trump seems to prefer to go it alone. He has signed 68 executive actions and counting to impose change unilaterally on a host of issues. The courts aren't the only problem with this approach. He should know by now that executive orders are ephemeral; they can and will be reversed by a future president. Legislative action, meanwhile, is durable. The Democrats willing to work with Trump are the very ones who can help him achieve a legacy of lasting reform. If he ignores them now — if he waits until he has no other choice but to ask for their support — he may find that the window of opportunity has passed. When he's ready to put his dealmaking to the test, Trump should start with immigration, but similar opportunities abound on permitting, energy, inflation and even the Department of Government Efficiency's government reform efforts — all areas where bipartisan cooperation is not only possible but necessary for enduring change. Trump won't get everything he wants from these Democrats on any given issue, but that's just how negotiations go — and Trump understands that well. He wrote the book on it. Dan Webb is a No Labels governing board member and former U.S. attorney from Chicago. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
