Latest news with #CharlesBlow
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Man Who Came Out as Gay at 90, Once-Closeted 29-Year Military Vet Share Their Stories in New 'Late to the Party' Doc
ABC News Studio's upcoming documentary special Late to the Party: Coming Out Later in Life showcases people in the LGBTQ+ community who came out as older adults Interview subjects include a man who came out as gay when he was 90 years old, a retired Baptist priest and a military veteran The documentary premieres June 6 on ABC and streams the following day on HuluIt's never too late to live your truth. ABC News Studio's upcoming documentary special Late to the Party: Coming Out Later in Life showcases people in the LGBTQ+ community who came out as older adults, and PEOPLE can exclusively reveal the trailer. Late to the Party will air on June 6. The release date is timed to Pride Month, which is celebrated throughout June in the United States to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall uprising. The special will first debut on ABC before streaming on Hulu the following day. The documentary follows writer Charles Blow, 54, who came out as bisexual in his 40s, as he speaks with an array of individuals about their coming-out journeys and current lives. One of the subjects is a man who came out as gay when he was 90 years old. "Well, let me tell you," he begins to say in the trailer before the scene cuts. Others include a retired Baptist priest and a military veteran. "All around the country, people in mid-to-late life are coming out of the closet," Blow says at the beginning of the trailer, followed by snippets of people's personal accounts. "I was in the military for 29 years. For me, being gay wasn't an option," one man says. Another recalls "hiding so many things" prior to coming out. "I was the only openly African American Baptist acknowledging my sexuality," a third man reveals. "It was just like, 'Oh, did he just serve us some tea?' " More emotional stories are teased as a young woman tearfully embraces her father after he calls her "brave," and snapshots of an intimate gathering attended by people in same-sex relationships fill the screen. Blow concludes the trailer with a sweet message to viewers: "Coming out late in life, you are not alone. And you are fine, just the way you are." The documentary is produced by World of Wonder — the Emmy Award-winning team behind RuPaul's Drag Race, with Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, Jeremy Simmons and Melia Patria serving as executive producers. David Sloan is a senior executive producer, and Blow is a consulting producer. "We're so proud to celebrate not only the resilience and strength of our community, but also the incredible progress that has been made over the decades," Bailey and Barbato say in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE. "We are honored to partner with ABC News Studios and have Charles at the forefront of this project, sharing his transformative story of self-love and acceptance that can inspire us all." Sloan adds in an exclusive statement that the show "is a deeply moving exploration of identity, courage and authenticity that reminds us it's never too late to live your truth." He continues, "Highlighting the journeys of those who come out later in life is not only important — it's profoundly inspiring." "Through highly intimate, emotional stories, viewers will learn about the challenges that kept older generations in the closet and celebrate with them as they experience the joy of being out and proud for the first time later in life, ultimately learning it's never too late to find acceptance, community and true self-love," the synopsis teases. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. Last June, Blow spoke to several individuals who came out later in life for The New York Times. "I came out when I was about 40 years old," he said, reflecting on his own journey. "And it was a strange experience because it felt a little bit like you were a person out of time — that people around you had done what you were doing much earlier; they experienced the same feelings that you were experiencing as an older person, earlier." Late to the Party: Coming Out Later in Life airs June 6 at 8/7c on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu. Read the original article on People
Al Jazeera
11-05-2025
- Business
- Al Jazeera
What percentage of US toys and Christmas goods are imported from China?
Whether you are gift-wrapping a toy car or hanging Christmas ornaments, there is a strong chance you are handling products made in a Chinese factory. The day after President Donald Trump spoke in an interview about his tariff policies that girls in the United States do not need to 'have 30 dolls', some political commentators discussed China's influence over the US toy market. The US currently has a 145 percent tariff on goods from China. 'China makes 80 percent of all toys sold in this country and 90 percent of all Christmas goods sold in this country,' former New York Times columnist Charles Blow said during a May 5 appearance on CNN's News Night with Abby Phillip. 'We have a lot of leverage with China. The Christmas and the doll industry is not one of them.' Blow told PolitiFact his source was an April 29 report in The New York Times. It said, 'Factories in China produce nearly 80 percent of all toys and 90 percent of Christmas goods sold in America.' Data shows those figures are rounded up, but not far off. Blow's statement is 'directionally accurate but slightly overstated on toys', said Gilberto Garcia-Vazquez, chief economist at Datawheel, which operates an online economic data platform called the Observatory of Economic Complexity. He said out of $41bn worth of imports in toys, games and sports equipment in 2024 by the US, $30bn, or about 73 percent, was manufactured in China. 'If you include domestic production – small but non-negligible – China likely supplies closer to 72 percent of toys actually sold in the US, not 80 percent,' Garcia-Vazquez said. The Observatory of Economic Complexity uses data sources from 'statistical offices, open data portals or custom union websites'. Claire Huber, spokesperson for the US International Trade Commission (USITC), provided PolitiFact with an analysis of 2024 data that showed 78.3 percent of toy imports and 85 percent of Christmas-related imports, such as lights, trees and decorations, are manufactured in China. The toy category includes dolls, wheeled toys and scale models. The data was compiled using the USITC's DataWeb, which cites statistics published by the US Department of Commerce's Census Bureau, accessed on May 9. Garcia-Vazquez also analysed 2024 data for Christmas goods and said 90 percent of US imports in that category came from China. He said Christmas lights are an exception because 'Cambodia has recently overtaken China as the top source'. The New York Times published an April 27 report that showed 76 percent of 'toys and puzzles' and 87 percent of 'Christmas decorations' come from China. Bloomberg, citing the trade organisation Toy Association, said 'roughly 80 percent of toys sold in the US are made in China'. Data shows 73 to 78 percent of toy imports and 85 to 90 percent of Christmas-related imports in 2024 came from China, supporting Blow's point that the vast majority of these goods come from China. We rate his statement True.
Fox News
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Liberal media melts down over Trump's military parade plan, calling it ‘authoritarian'
President Donald Trump's plan to host a large-scale military parade in Washington next month has ignited liberal media outlets, with many critics describing the event as "authoritarian" and unnecessary. The parade, scheduled for June, is intended to honor military veterans and active-duty service members while also marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. The event will notably fall on Trump's 79th birthday, a coincidence that has fueled skepticism among his critics. Media voices on networks like MSNBC, ABC, and CNN have responded with alarm, framing the parade as a symbol of authoritarian leadership rather than patriotic celebration. "We don't need a military parade," said political analyst Charles Blow during an appearance on "CNN Newsnight" Monday. "Strong men do that because they want to make their citizens cower." Conservative analyst Scott Jennings scoffed at the CNN panelists' complaints, arguing the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is trying to boost morale and recruitment. "[It's] a national parade to show off our military and show pride in the veterans who have defended this country and you're all mad about it?" he asked. Similar concerns echoed across daytime television. On "The View," Whoopi Goldberg criticized the idea as being more about ego than honor. "I'm not interested in throwing a parade for you [Trump]," she said. MSNBC's "Rachel Maddow Show" featured Ezra Levin, co-founder of the progressive group Indivisible, who said the plan was "straight out of the authoritarian playbook." Despite the criticism, Trump has defended the event, dismissing concerns over its price tag during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press." Speaking from Mar-a-Lago, he told host Kristen Welker the cost would be "peanuts compared to the value of doing it." "We have the greatest missiles in the world. We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world," Trump said. "And we're going to celebrate it." Estimates from U.S. defense planners suggest the parade could cost between $25 million and $45 million, according to reporting by Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin. The event is set to include more than 6,000 soldiers, military vehicles, helicopters, and multiple marching bands. Kayleigh McEnany, Trump's former press secretary and current "Outnumbered" co-host, said the backlash is part of a broader pattern. "The Democratic Party, they've chosen to be an outrage machine at a time when there is outrage fatigue in this country," she said. "People are fed up with the 'authoritarianism coup' language." "Outnumbered" guest and Independent Women Features editor Kaylee McGhee White echoed that sentiment: "It's not intimidating, at least it's not if you love America. You enjoy watching this country flex its muscles and display its strength." "The Faulkner Focus" host Harris Faulkner expressed concern about the possible price tag, but said her real concerns about the event are making sure the focus remains on celebrating the troops, and their families. "This will make them feel special, and they deserve to feel that way, those who have fought, currently fighting, and their families," Faulkner said. "I also want us to remember the families in that moment, and celebrate them too."
