Latest news with #MAGA-leaning
Press and Journal
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Press and Journal
Review: Do The Waterboys still have it? I went to Aberdeen Music Hall gig to find out
The Waterboys seem to be one of these bands that have been around since the dawn of time – despite having a habit of chopping and changing its line-up. And apart from a seven-year break in the 90s, it seems like they've never stopped touring – which for some groups can be a hinderance. I'm sure we've all had that thought at least once when leaving a gig of someone who has been around the block for decades: 'Nah, they've not got it anymore'. So with Mikey Scott and The Waterboys playing The Music Hall in Aberdeen this past Wednesday, I thought I would go along and see if the folk rockers still 'had it'. Having only gotten into their music recently, my cousin Joshua and I certainly felt like the youngest people at the iconic Granite Mile venue on Wednesday night (the band were on to their eighth album by the time I was born). But 66-year-old Mikey was on hand to help the crowd roll back the years – with his presence and dynamism bringing the packed hall back to the glory days. Kicking off with Be My Enemy, the crowd were right up for it thanks to the whine of Scott's guitar riffs and unrivalled wall of sound coming from the whole band. A special shoutout must go to piano player Famous James and Brother Paul on the keyboard, who kept the energy going all night long flanking Scott on either side. Their near five minute solo towards the end of the gig was a personal highlight for me, with James joining Paul on his instrument to almost hammer the keys out of their block, as they wowed the sold-out Music Hall. After the first whirlwind of songs, Scott began to reminisce about his first visit to Aberdeen all the way back in 1972 as a 13-year-old when his mother worked at the university. 'We would walk up and down Union Street all day,' he quipped, as the rocker ran through tales of spending days (and all his pocket money) at Codona's Arcade. And it wasn't long before Trump International Links got a mention too, which Scott branded as being 'owned by the biggest liar in the world'. And after a verbal exchange with what seemed a more MAGA-leaning Aberdonian (including some words which can't be printed) The Waterboys were back underway… As the band walked off for the encore, everyone waited in anticipation… It was time for the big one. Many people won't have heard of The Waterboys, but they would have certainly heard the timeless classic The Whole of The Moon. And seeing it live did not disappoint, as the crowd joined in on every word with Scott playing musical chairs and taking over piano duty. Once the band walked off stage following Fisherman's Blues, it felt as though the two hours had flown by – a testament to the group's ability to still be able to put on a show all these years later. So I would be more than happy to go back to see The Waterboys play The Music Hall again – which wouldn't be too far away considering this was their seventh outing here.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Walmart's Post About Grilling Flooded With Negative Comments
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. A recent Walmart social media post has been flooded with negative comments, following boycott calls from Trump supporters after Walmart heiress Christy Walton placed a full-page ad in The New York Times, urging Americans to engage in civic discourse. Newsweek has reached out to Walmart outside of regular working hours via an online contact form for comment. Why It Matters Walmart has faced mounting criticism over the past year and has been one of multiple companies targeted by an "economic blackout" movement, including Amazon and Target. One reason for the blackout was that companies were perceived to be rolling back on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives (DEI), following President Donald Trump's opposition to the initiatives. In an aerial view, the logo of a Walmart Supercenter is seen on May 15, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Walmart surpassed first-quarter earnings estimate, while falling short of quarterly sales. In an aerial view, the logo of a Walmart Supercenter is seen on May 15, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Walmart surpassed first-quarter earnings estimate, while falling short of quarterly To Know In a post on X shared on Wednesday, Walmart shared a lighthearted post, writing "tfw u [that feeling when you] buy a grill and have no idea how to use it." Social media users were quick to flood the comments section with negative comments. "Seriously? This c*** when the country hates you right now???" @Gumbly responded, while @DeeAnn13761 wrote "Boycott Walmart!" A number of the negative comments referenced the fallout over the No Kings ad. @maga2024cosmo wrote on X, "This post makes no sense. Oh and you lost a customer for life over this no king nonsense." The backlash to Walmart about the No Kings ad stems mostly from MAGA, something which could cause MAGA-leaning American consumers to step back from the retailer. The chain has faced criticism from left-leaning consumers already this year over DEI. The overall effect of this potential double impact on sales remains to be seen. The No Kings ad was paid for by Christy Walton, who is the billionaire philanthropist and widow of John T. Walton, son of Walmart founder Sam Walton. The ad read: "The honor, dignity and integrity of our country is not for sale. Show up, attend your town halls, be civil." The ad did not mention President Donald Trump by name, but statements including "WE honor our commitments and stand by our allies," "WE defend against aggression by dictators," "WE respect our neighbors and trading partners," indicated criticism of the Trump administration. A spokesperson for Walmart previously told Newsweek: "The advertisements from Christy Walton are in no way connected to or endorsed by Walmart. She does not serve on the board or play any role in decision-making at Walmart." The ad was shared by the account Libs of Chicago on X, who wrote "One of the ppl funding the socialist movement is Christy Ruth Walton who is a stake holder of @Walmart. Sort of ironic isn't it? A Walton married a socialist. If there was ever a time to boycott Walmart, it's now," in a post which has been viewed over 23,000 times as of reporting. What People Are Saying @davis33540 wrote on X: "I won't be back in any Walmart or Sam's. I am a Trump supporter as well as a supporter of the rule of law! Mr. Sam Walton would be ashamed of you." @GalleryStClair wrote on X: "Yeah, take your NO KINGS and shove it up your tailpipe. Do you even know who your customers are? Won't be shopping here anymore." What's Next The full affect of boycotts on and backlash against Walmart may be minimal, given its prevalence in American retail.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Social media was convinced Marvel star Wyatt Russell was in viral clip ripping National Guard in LA. It wasn't him
A clip of a protester accusing the National Guard of being 'on the wrong side of history' over the ongoing LA protests went viral - it turns out for the wrong reason. Social media users on left and right were convinced the footage of a man railing against authority in a baseball cap was Hollywood actor Wyatt Russell. Russell, the son of Hollywood legends Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, most recently starred in the new Marvel movie Thunderbolts*. But despite the passing resemblance with the protester, a spokesperson for the actor has confirmed it was definitely not him. The video, first shared by The Tennessee Holler account on X, shows a bearded man in a baseball cap and hoodie berating the officers. 'Your assault rifles and your sticks? You should be standing here with us,' he says, in front of grafitti saying ICE = KKK. 'We know you got a job to do, but you took an oath to the Constitution, not to the fascists in the White House. Think about what you're doing now. Think about what this means. 'Coming into our community, peaceful f***ing community – people working their jobs. They're sending men in military fatigues, weapons of war. And you stand here and you allow it. 'Do you think any of these people in the White House sending you these commands give a f*** about you?' The video was subsequently picked up by a number of accounts erroneously identifying the speaker as Russell. A spokesperson for the actor has since told The Independent: 'This is indeed NOT Wyatt Russell, and we have been working to try and correct the mis-identification.' The video has since been amended on X to include a note that states: 'Though he has a passing resemblance, this is not Wyatt Russell.'The protester is in fact Aaron Fisher, a former Ohio House Democratic Caucus staffer and now partner at Statecraft Media, a company that produces digital media campaigns for progressive political candidates. Bizarrely, the Marvel universe does include a character named Aaron Fischer (albeit spelled slightly differently), who, like Russell's John Walker, aspires to succeed Captain America. Asked about the case of mistaken identity by Entertainment Weekly, Fisher - the protester - said: 'I found the mixup to be pretty humorous, and glad it helped to amplify the message. The proliferation of the words themselves, and the movement behind it, is what matters most. 'The deployment of the National Guard against the wishes of our governor is dangerously un-American, and I will continue to peacefully protest in my community.' Fisher has since posted screenshots of some of the personal abuse he has received from MAGA-leaning X users since being identified, one of whom baselessly alleged the video in which he starred was 'pre-planned and set-up' while another called him an 'embarrassment' and a 'skinny f****.' 'I'll continue to work for a Democracy that serves everyone so that you can continue to use your free speech against guys like,' Fisher told the first person. 'Thank you for sharing your thoughtful insights.' He politely corrected the spelling of the second. The unrest in the California, sparked by the ICE raids on undocumented migrants that began on Friday, is now entering its fifth day, with President Donald Trump ordering a further 2,000 members of the National Guard to support the LAPD in maintaining order and the Pentagon readying 700 active-duty Marines to enter the fray if needed. So far there have been angry clashes, vandalism, multiple arrests and several vehicles set on fire but no fatalities.
Los Angeles Times
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Voters who don't vote? This is one way democracy can die, by 20 million cuts
During China's imperial age, those deemed guilty of the worst offenses were sometimes sentenced to death in a public square by a brutal form of execution known as lingchi. Soldiers — using sharp blades — would slice away pieces of flesh from the accused until they died. Translated, lingchi means 'death by a thousand cuts.' Maybe democracy does die in darkness, as journalist Bob Woodward often suggests. Or maybe democracy's demise comes in the light of day, in a public forum, where everyone can bear witness. Sometimes those holding the knives are the oligarchs or elected officials drenched in corruption. And sometimes there's blood on the hands of the people. On Saturday, voters in San Antonio — the seventh-largest city in the country — are headed to the polls to decide the first open mayoral race since President Obama's first term. Or at least some voters will be. In November 2024, nearly 60% of the 1.3 million registered voters in the county cast a ballot in the general election. However, in the local election held last month, barely 10% showed up to the polls. Before anyone starts throwing shade at San Antonio, in Dallas the turnout was even lower. Lackluster participation in an 'off year' election is not new. However, the mayoral race in San Antonio has increased national interest because the outcome is being viewed as a litmus test for both the strength of the Democrats' resistance and the public's appetite for the White House's policies. Like other big blue cities nestled in legislatively red states, San Antonio's progressive policies have been under constant assault from the governor's mansion. And with neither the progressive candidate, Gina Ortiz Jones, or her MAGA-leaning opponent, Rolando Pablos, eclipsing 50% of the vote in May, the runoff has drawn more than $1 million in campaign spending from outside conservative groups looking to flip the traditionally blue stronghold. The outcome could provide a possible glimpse into the 2026 mayoral race in Los Angeles, should the formerly Republican Rick Caruso decide to run against Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat. When the two faced off in 2022, around 44% of the city's registered voters went to the polls. Caruso lost by less than 90,000 votes in a city with 2.1 million registered voters — most of whom didn't submit a ballot. It is rather astonishing how little we actually participate in democracy, given the amount of tax dollars we have spent trying to convince other nations that our government system is the best on the planet. Capitulating to President Trump's unsubstantiated claims of mass voter fraud, many local conservative elected officials have tried to ram through a litany of 'voter integrity' policies under the guise of protecting democracy. However, democracy is not a delicate flower in need of protection. It's a muscle in need of exercise. 'Some people find voting to be a chore,' Michele Carew, the elections administrator for Bexar County — which includes San Antonio — told me. 'We need to make voting easier and quite frankly, fun. And we need to get those who don't feel like their vote counts to see that it does. That means getting out and talking to people in our neighborhood, in our churches, in our grocery stores … about when elections are coming up and what's at stake locally.' Carew said that the added outside interest in the city's election has driven up early voting a tick and that she expects to see roughly a 15% turnout, which is an increase over previous years. It could be worse. The city once elected a mayor with 7% turnout back in 2013. Carew also expressed concern about outside influence on local governing. 'One of the first times I saw these nonpartisan races become more political was in 2020, and so as time goes by it's gotten even more so. I would like to think once the candidate is elected mayor they remain nonpartisan and do what's best for the city and not their party.' In 2024, a presidential election year when you'd expect the highest turnout, 1 in 3 registered voters across this country — roughly 20 million people — took a look around and said, 'Nah, I'm good.' Or something like that. The highest turnout was in Washington, D.C., where nearly 80% showed up. Too bad it's not a state. Among the lowest turnout rates? Texas — which has the second-greatest number of voters, behind only California. And therein lies the problem with trying to extrapolate national trends from local elections. Maybe Ortiz Jones will win in San Antonio this weekend. Maybe Caruso will win in L.A. next year. None of this tells us how the vast majority of Americans are really feeling. Sure, it's good fodder to debate around the table or on cable news shows, but ultimately the sample size of a mayoral election belies any claims about a result's meaning. Turnout during an off year is just too low. One thing we know for certain is most voters in America exercise their right to vote only once every four years. Oligarchs and corrupt officials are not great, but it's hard for democracy to stay healthy and strong if that's all the exercise it's getting. @LZGranderson
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Donald Trump's Inspiration for Victory Is a Literal F.U.
It's a Beast of a time in Washington. Donald Trump's D.C. reality show is full of new characters, plot twists, and cliffhangers, and the Daily Beast will navigate you through it. The 47th president won't need to drain The Swamp. It's all leaking here… Read this exclusive extract from our brilliant newsletter and click here to sign up for more secrets—including a dramatic twist in the are-they-or-aren't-they relationship between two of MAGA's biggest names. Barack Obama read for two hours every night in the White House Treaty Room and George W. Bush learned the art of statesmanship at his father's knee. Bill Clinton read Marcus Aurelius' Meditations between late-night fast food runs. Carter had Brzezinski. Nixon had Kissinger. Jefferson dined alone. But what of Donald John Trump? The 47th president sees politics through the lens of a television producer, so it is not surprising that he should look to a fictional president for inspiration. Not to Martin Sheen's bleeding heart President Josiah Bartlet on The West Wing, but to the infinitely more ruthless Frank Underwood portrayed by Kevin Spacey in Netflix's House of Cards. Some policy wonks close to the White House even go so far as to suggest Trump modeled his presidency on Underwood's hard-ball negotiating tactics. 'I can assure you, the parallels are not total coincidence,' said a MAGA-leaning insider. House of Cards was first broadcast in 2013 and the fifth season—the last featuring Spacey—went on air in May 2017, soon after Trump first moved into the Oval Office. It wasn't until his return this January, armed with a public mandate and a compliant Congress, that Trump revealed his inner Underwood. Disregarding the TV character's penchant for murder, his Democratic affiliations, and his rivalry with his wife—nobody (yet!) is suggesting a Melania run in 2028—Trump could have copied some of his biggest and most controversial policy moves from Beau Willimon's Netflix script. As soon as he gets into office, President Francis Joseph Underwood seeks retribution against all those he thinks undermined him. He has one-to-one meetings with the Russian president (Petrov rather than Putin) to forge a peace deal in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas, he slashes the foreign aid budget, sparks a fake national security scare so he can steal the election from his Republican opponent, starts a trade war with China, destroys all his enemies in Congress, plays on his populist roots to energize a voter fan base and sets out to Make America Great Again by launching a domestic work program. Sound familiar? Interestingly, Spacey, a longtime Democrat who was friends with Clinton and worked on Carter's campaign, endorsed 'loyal friend' RFK Jr. during his short-lived 2024 presidential campaign. The irony of his fall from grace won't be lost on Spacey. His TV presidency was abruptly terminated amid sexual assault charges made against him at the height of the #MeToo movement, of which he was later acquitted. Trump was found guilty of 34 charges relating to a hush money payment to a porn star. And he's the one in the White House. The real one. Daily Beast's The Swamp is written by David Gardner, Mary Ann Akers and Juliegrace Brufke. To learn more secrets from The Swamp every week sign up here.
