Latest news with #Moore

2 hours ago
- Business
Maryland's Wes Moore says he's not running for president but high-profile stops keep chatter alive
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, often mentioned among Democrats as a potential presidential candidate, has been saying for months that he isn't running for the White House in 2028. That hasn't stopped persistent talk about his future political plans, especially when he continues to make appearances outside Maryland that raise his national profile. On Friday, he's traveling to speak at the Blue Palmetto Dinner in the early presidential primary state of South Carolina. When asked about 2028, though, the governor is clear. 'I'm not running,' Moore told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday. He also said, when asked, that he isn't trying to get his name in the conversation for a potential vice presidential candidacy, either. The trip to South Carolina includes meetings with business prospects, Moore said. 'And people should get very used to me going all over the country bringing business back to Maryland, because that's exactly what I plan on doing as long as I'm the governor of the state,' Moore said after a dedication in Annapolis for a memorial to former Rep. Parren Mitchell, the state's first Black congressman. In the third year of his first term, Moore plans to run for reelection next year in heavily Democratic Maryland. He says being the state's governor during a challenging time has his full attention. That includes working to navigate the difficulties of dramatic federal downsizing under the Trump administration, which poses an outsized economic impact on Maryland. The state is home to a large number of federal workers toiling in the shadow of the nation's capital — about 256,000 Marylanders received a federal W-2 in 2021, representing about 8% of taxpayers, according to an analysis by the state's comptroller. Earlier this month, Maryland lost its triple-A bond rating from the Moody's economic rating agency. State officials had cited the rating for more than 50 years as a sign of strong fiscal stewardship that enabled the state to pay the lowest rates when it sells bonds to pay for infrastructure. Two other rating agencies, Standard & Poor's and Fitch, have recently affirmed the state's triple-A bond rating. Moore and other leading Democrats in the state blamed the Trump administration's downsizing for the Moody's downgrade. The governor just had the most challenging legislative session of his tenure. Facing a $3.3 billion budget deficit, he worked with the legislature, which is controlled by Democrats, to reach a balanced budget that included about $2 billion in spending cuts throughout state government and about $1.6 billion in new revenues through tax and fee increases. Most of the tax increases were imposed on high-income residents, including two new higher tax brackets for people who make more than $500,000 and a new 2% tax on capital gains for people with income over $350,000. The governor has said most Marylanders won't see a tax increase, and some will receive a modest tax cut. Still, Maryland Republicans have been pouncing on the tax increases — an issue sure to be raised often by the GOP's next nominee for governor. Moore, 46, is the state's first Black governor, and the only Black governor currently serving. He is the former CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, an anti-poverty nonprofit. He also is a Rhodes scholar and a combat veteran who served in Afghanistan. The buzz around Moore has persisted since the bestselling author won Maryland's governorship in his first bid for public office in a landslide in 2022, after prevailing in a crowded Democratic primary that included former national party chairman and former U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez. In a state that is about 30% Black, Moore was recently criticized by the state's Legislative Black Caucus for vetoing a bill to study potential reparations for slavery. Moore said the idea has been studied enough and now is the time to 'focus on the work itself' of building a better economy for all. That includes narrowing the racial wealth gap, expanding homeownership, uplifting entrepreneurs of color and closing the foundational disparities that lead to inequality — from food insecurity to education. Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1 in Maryland, making the state largely safe for Democratic incumbents. Still, former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan won the first of his two terms by campaigning heavily against tax increases approved during the tenure of his Democratic predecessor, prompting some to wonder if the popular Hogan might run for governor again. Maryland limits a governor to two consecutive terms, but a former two-term governor could seek another term after sitting out one.


Boston Globe
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
There's always new material for Lane Moore's ‘Tinder Live!'
Advertisement The premise of 'Tinder Live!' is simple. Moore puts her Tinder profile up on a screen, and the audience helps her decide who to swipe left on and reject, or swipe right on and engage. On her home turf in New York, she has a panel to help her, but on the road, it's the crowd. Moore created the show after stumbling upon the delights of a poorly-constructed profile on the emerging app with her roommates in 2014. 'Immediately I was like, this is such a great comedy show,' she said. 'This would be amazing. We would put this on a projector. We're all looking at these crazy profiles together. We're all experiencing it together.' A lot of the most egregious problems have been chronic from the beginning of the app, like people who demand their match 'not be fat' or ugly. 'Who's swiping right on that?' said Moore. 'This man I don't even know is already yelling at me. We see that all night.' Advertisement Part of the reason Moore sees so many bad profiles is that she avoids the nice guys on the show. She will often interact with someone live during the show if they respond, and the nice guys don't make for good comedy. 'The big thing that I tell people at the beginning is that if we see a guy who seems like really nice and incredible and really normal and warm and funny, swipe left,' she said. 'We don't want him. We're not into that. It's not what the show is. You know, we're not trying to take some really nice guy and mess with them.' The idea is to swipe on the weirdest profiles. 'I saw one recently that the profile photo was just a condom, a bottle of hand sanitizer, and a gun,' said Moore. 'That, we swipe right on in 'Tinder Live!'' What also won't get a swipe right is anyone who seems deeply hateful. 'If you see a profile that's just, like, really, really vicious,' said Moore, 'I'll make a joke about it, and we'll move on, because I don't want to talk to that guy. That's not going to be fun.' Moore also realizes that a bad profile doesn't necessarily represent a bad person. She notes she is available for hire, if someone wants to improve their profile. And it can be rewarding to interact with someone on Advertisement The show also isn't about finding a villain and trashing them. Moore is a comedian, musician, former sex and relationships editor at ' At its core, a lot of her work is about helping people to communicate better. 'Comedy and music are just these ways,' she said, 'for me, as somebody who's always felt very much like an outsider, to connect with other people and have them feel seen.' She is also quick on her feet and able to come up with jokes for a profile on 'Tinder Live!' that don't rely on cruelty. Moore is proud of the fact that the press on 'Tinder Live!' has reflected how gentle the show can be. 'It's something that people always highlight,' she said, 'how surprisingly kind it is, because it doesn't necessarily have to be, but it's just more interesting to me, and I think it's better comedy for it.' That doesn't mean she won't take on a profile that seems troubling. 'Don't get me wrong,' she said. 'I absolutely also do want to call out all of the really, really crappy stuff that we have to deal with on dating apps. I do want to call out this guy who's saying he doesn't want to match with a feminist. Why would you not want to match with somebody who believes in equality? I think comedy takes the sting out of a lot of painful things, and that's [one of] my favorite things about it.' Advertisement One such poster wrote that they didn't want to match with anyone who was a 'ferminist.' Seeing someone so angry they couldn't even spell 'feminist,' Moore swiped right and cued up a character who was alarmed because she didn't know what a 'ferminist' was, and asked the poster to define it. 'On stage, he writes back, 'ferminists are people who believe in equality among the genres,'' said Moore. 'I kid you not. And we have a room full of people just dying laughing.' No, Moore does not use Tinder outside of the show. She has had to create a profile specifically for the show so no one on the app suspects they are talking to a comedian. And yes, the company that makes the app is aware of her title of the 'Mayor of Tinder.' But they haven't thought to hire her for anything. 'Mistake!' said Moore. 'They haven't yet. And I'm just like, that's so silly. You're missing out.' Moore is happy to hear the feedback when her audiences say 'Tinder Live!' makes them feel a little less alone in their dating lives. Because she can't control which profiles come up, every show is different, and as long as Tinder exists and dating is awkward, she will always have a wealth of material. 'It's gotta be one of the fastest comedy shows, just in terms of, like, joke, joke, joke,' she said. 'And that's rare. It's also like anything can happen and the audience is involved. It's just a very special thing.' Advertisement TINDER LIVE! WITH LANE MOORE June 5, 7 p.m. at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville. Tickets: $30. 617-718-2191,
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Did Shemar Moore Receive Backlash for ‘S.W.A.T.' Spinoff? Surprising Cast Drama Explained
S.W.A.T. receiving a spinoff after multiple cancellations should have been good news, but why has the decision — and specifically Shemar Moore — faced backlash for it? The procedural faced its fair share of battles to remain on the air since it premiered in 2017. Six seasons were put out on CBS before S.W.A.T. was picked up for a seventh and final season. CBS ultimately reversed that decision and S.W.A.T. returned for season 8. But the celebration didn't last long — the network canceled the show for a second time in March 2025. S.W.A.T seemingly came to an end two months later when the series finale aired on CBS. Days later, Sony Pictures Television picked up a spinoff titled S.W.A.T. Exiles which is set to star Moore and a new SWAT unit. The decision to revamp the cast didn't sit well with viewers who tuned in week after week because of their favorite characters. Moore, however, defended the decision to only keep his character Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson. Which 'S.W.A.T.' Stars Are — And Aren't — Returning for Surprise Spinoff After Multiple Cancellations? 'Nobody likes change. I understand that. I get it 100 percent. But without change, you can't grow. You can't win without taking your lumps," Moore explained in an Instagram video that same month. "It ain't easy making it in the game of Hollywood. It ain't. TV shows don't last eight years anymore. The game has changed. But S.W.A.T. Exiles, baby! S.W.A.T. Exiles. Bigger, bolder. S.W.A.T. on steroids." Moore compared the creative shakeup to playing football. 'I'm not saying I'm Tom Brady, but I'm the Tom Brady of S.W.A.T. That's not arrogant. That's not ego. It's a fact. I'm the quarterback. I'm Shemar Moore a.k.a Hondo," he continued. "But I had a squad. A strong squad. A family. A team. And I would be remiss If I didn't say out loud to the world and to them — because I know they're watching this — I love you. I respect you. I appreciate you.' Despite the controversy, Moore remained hopeful about S.W.A.T. Exiles. 'I'm excited that S.W.A.T. gets to keep playing ball. I'm excited that the crew gets to put food on their table and money in their accounts, and go to soccer practice and put their kids through the right schools. Saving jobs, working here in L.A., keeping Hollywood in L.A. This is a big deal," he continued on Tuesday. "Yeah, a little bit bittersweet in some ways — but man, at the end of the day, we got to be so proud. We got to be so proud because we did the damn thing. The world took notice. And the industry took notice." Moore concluded: "Shows get cancelled all the time, but S.W.A.T. just won't die because y'all love S.W.A.T. You all love that crazy action. You love the stories. You love the brotherhood, the sisterhood, all of that. That's who we are. That's who S.W.A.T. is. Thrill ride with heart. So, on this day, we celebrate, but we pay homage to what got us there and to the people that got us there, and I will never forget. Always appreciate, and always show love.' Keep scrolling for a breakdown of the drama: Which TV Shows Were Canceled Multiple Times Before the Decision Stuck? From 'S.W.A.T.' to '7th Heaven' Based on the 1975 TV show and 2003 film adaptation of the same name, S.W.A.T. centered around the Los Angeles Police Department. Moore has led the series since it premiered on CBS in 2017 but the rest of the cast has evolved and changed over the years. The last season of S.W.A.T., which wrapped onscreen two days before the spinoff was announced, also starred Jay Harrington, David Lim, Patrick St. Esprit, Anna Enger Ritch, Annie Ilonzeh and Niko Pepaj. Despite everyone's efforts to bring the show back, Moore was the only one announced as a main cast member in the upcoming spinoff. S.W.A.T. Exiles will pick up after "a high-profile mission goes sideways, Daniel 'Hondo' Harrelson is pulled out of forced retirement to lead a last-chance experimental SWAT unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits." Moore's character must "bridge a generational divide, navigate clashing personalities, and turn a squad of outsiders into a team capable of protecting the city and saving the program that made him who he is." Moore initially reacted to the 10-episode continuation of S.W.A.T., saying in a statement, "My eight seasons on S.W.A.T. have been epic and memorable. We entertained the world, defied the odds, came back from the dead twice, and continued to woo fans and families worldwide." He continued: "I am excited for this next generation and iteration of S.W.A.T. with Sony. Katherine Pope, Neal H. Moritz, Jason Ning, and I will keep the franchise, thrill ride action, heartfelt drama, and storytelling of S.W.A.T. alive. WE DON'T LOSE!!!! ROLL SWAT!!!' Social media users, however, pointed out that only Pepaj acknowledged Moore's video about the news. Everyone else shared behind-the-scenes photos while celebrating the S.W.A.T series finale at CBS. Since then, it has been largely silent from the rest of the cast as Moore celebrated his new project. Lim broke his silence later that month, writing via Instagram, "I'd be lying if I said the rollout of the new spinoff didn't sting. It was tough to see it announced just two days after our finale — with no mention of the cast who helped build S.W.A.T. from day one. After 8 incredible seasons, it felt like we were brushed aside when there could've been a moment of reflection and recognition — for the people who built this show, and for the impact it had on so many." He continued: "I've seen the comments, the messages, the support — and it truly means a lot. I may not know what the future holds for Tan, but I couldn't be more proud of what we created together — our cast, writers, producers, crew ... our SWAT family. No version of this story can take that away. Thanks for riding with us. Always. Roll SWAT. 🖤." Moore's comments section was flooded with questions about why no one else was announced for the spinoff. Moore broke his silence by defending the decision, saying, 'That's my family for life, OK? But just like in sports, Tom Brady might be the quarterback, but people get traded. Tight ends get traded, the running back gets traded, the receivers get traded." According to Moore, the priority was bringing S.W.A.T. back — with him at the helm after he originated the series. "But the team keeps on pushing with their quarterback, and I'm that guy," he said. "So proud, so grateful. I'm not going to apologize for nothing. Busted my ass for 31 years to do what I do, and I'm excited about the future." Most Memorable TV Spinoffs Over the Years S.W.A.T. fans were quick to point out in the comments section of Moore's post that the rest of the cast from the CBS series made the show what it was. Most of Moore's costars have yet to publicly acknowledge him expanding the S.W.A.T universe solo. Before news of S.W.A.T. Exiles broke, Ilonzeh spoke with Us Weekly about their attempts as a group to revive the series. "We are crossing our fingers. So there is a particular discussion being had. I hope I can say [soon] that we really did it. We rallied for a third time," she shared in April 2025 while reflecting on her time playing Gamble. "But we're making noise. They do see it — producers and streamers that are interested — they are like, 'OK, this is something.' So if we can plug and play, we're all geared up to go. We don't want this ride to be over." Ilonzeh acknowledged that if S.W.A.T. was brought back again, it would be the show's last battle to stay on the air. "I was just talking to [my costar] Shemar [Moore] yesterday and he was like, 'If we do this for a third time — whenever we do get canceled again — I will be OK with it. I'm not fighting for a fourth [time] because we really did it and we end on that,'" she noted. "We will end on the fight and the win and relish in all of this and squeeze the life out of it. We will know that we did it, we did our job and we can walk away happy campers." Sony Pictures Television picked up S.W.A.T. Exiles for a 10-episode order but there is no official premiere planned yet. According to the press release, Sony is "focusing on finding the right homes and partners for these new stories to reach the passionate S.W.A.T. fanbase and attract new viewers." Development is currently underway and production is scheduled to begin in summer 2025 in Los Angeles and once the spinoff is filmed, it will be shopped around.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Which ‘S.W.A.T.' Stars Are — And Aren't — Returning for Surprise Spinoff After Multiple Cancellations?
The cast of S.W.A.T. has weathered multiple cancellations while continuing to advocate for more seasons of the show — but that doesn't mean everyone is returning for the surprise spinoff. Based on the 1975 TV show and 2003 film adaptation of the same name, S.W.A.T. centered around the Los Angeles Police Department. The CBS series premiered in 2017 and aired six seasons before it was picked up for a seventh and final season. CBS ultimately reversed that decision and S.W.A.T. returned for season 8. But the celebration didn't last long — the network canceled the show for a second time in March 2025. S.W.A.T. seemingly came to an end two months later when the series finale aired on CBS. In the final episode, the team survived yet another mission and the last scene showed 20 Squad leaving headquarters to take on their next crisis. Just two days after the finale aired, Sony Pictures Television picked up a spinoff titled S.W.A.T. Exiles, which will pick up after "a high-profile mission goes sideways, Daniel 'Hondo' Harrelson is pulled out of forced retirement to lead a last-chance experimental SWAT unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits." Shemar Moore's character must "bridge a generational divide, navigate clashing personalities, and turn a squad of outsiders into a team capable of protecting the city and saving the program that made him who he is." Which TV Shows Were Canceled Multiple Times Before the Decision Stuck? From 'S.W.A.T.' to '7th Heaven' Moore reacted to the 10-episode continuation of S.W.A.T., saying in a statement, "My eight seasons on S.W.A.T. have been epic and memorable. We entertained the world, defied the odds, came back from the dead twice, and continued to woo fans and families worldwide." He continued: "I am excited for this next generation and iteration of S.W.A.T. with Sony. Katherine Pope, Neal H. Moritz, Jason Ning, and I will keep the franchise, thrill ride action, heartfelt drama, and storytelling of S.W.A.T. alive. WE DON'T LOSE!!!! ROLL SWAT!!!' While Moore's return was announced, fans couldn't help but notice that the rest of the cast wasn't confirmed. The last season of S.W.A.T also starred Jay Harrington, David Lim, Patrick St. Esprit, Anna Enger Ritch, Annie Ilonzeh and Niko Pepaj. Keep scrolling for what each cast member has said about whether they would reprise their character — and whether they have officially been offered the chance to return: 'To all my homies, fans and baby girls… to everybody out there around the world who have supported us for eight years, first of all, thank you," the actor, who plays Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson, said in a video shared by Sony Pictures Television. "We couldn't have done this without you,' he said. 'I know the sad news is we got cancelled, but the good news is we don't stop fighting. And guess what happens when you don't stop fighting? We won! S.W.A.T. ain't going nowhere! Hondo ain't going nowhere!" Before the series finale, Harrington reflected on his character Deacon's conclusion, telling TV Insider in May, "The way the writers crafted this entire 13 episodes was really, really interesting because they didn't want it to be — not just because there's a chance we could come back, but sometimes in shows when they just end and they tie it all into this bow and it's perfect, yeah, you want to do that in some way, but these guys, SWAT officers, they're special." He continued: "So they really wanted the idea of, the show must go on and it's a job that doesn't go away and we don't lose them. They crafted it very, very smartly, I think." Despite showing interest in a return, Harrington hasn't publicly reacted yet to the spinoff news and his name wasn't listed in the press release. When viewers last saw Tan, he accepted a liaison position but remained in the field with the rest of 20 Squad. Lim, meanwhile, has yet to address the surprise spinoff but has expressed interest in remaining in the universe. 'It might not be just over for S.W.A.T. just yet,' he said on KTLA 5 Morning News in April 2025. 'We believe in the show. We believe in what we've built. We're passionate. We want to continue. We're actively trying to find a new home for S.W.A.T., and there's been an outpouring of love and support from our fans.' Ritch, who plays Zoe Powell, has pitched ideas for what other stories there are still left to tell, sharing with Collider in March 2023, 'I think it would be interesting to see the women go through trying to juggle what it would be like to have a family and also maintain a SWAT tactical officer career. I don't think that's anything I've ever dove into on this show particularly, but hopefully, as we continue, should we continue, that would be an interesting exploration.' The actress, however, hasn't sounded off on the spinoff — or whether Powell will appear — yet. Every TV Spinoff to (Hopefully) Look Forward to in 2025: From 'The Testaments' to 'The Madison' After being promoted to main cast, Pepaj has continued to show support for his character Alfaro's journey. Pepaj documented the days leading up to the series finale but hasn't weighed in on S.W.A.T.'s spinoff. Before news of S.W.A.T. Exiles broke, Ilonzeh spoke with Us Weekly about attempts to revive the series. "We are crossing our fingers. So there is a particular discussion being had. I hope I can say [soon] that we really did it. We rallied for a third time," she shared in April 2025 while reflecting on her time playing Gamble. "But we're making noise. They do see it — producers and streamers that are interested — they are like, 'OK, this is something.' So if we can plug and play, we're all geared up to go. We don't want this ride to be over." Despite fighting for S.W.A.T. to get a new home, it would be the show's last battle to stay on the air. "I was just talking to [my costar] Shemar [Moore] yesterday and he was like, 'If we do this for a third time — whenever we do get canceled again — I will be OK with it. I'm not fighting for a fourth [time] because we really did it and we end on that,'" she noted. "We will end on the fight and the win and relish in all of this and squeeze the life out of it. We will know that we did it, we did our job and we can walk away happy campers." Ilonzeh has also not acknowledged the spinoff news yet.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘S.W.A.T.' Receives Spinoff After Multiple Cancellations — But Who From the Cast Is Returning?
S.W.A.T. has been picked up for a spinoff after multiple cancellations — and days after CBS aired the show's series finale — but which cast members are returning for the new iteration? Sony announced on Sunday, May 18, that a new spinoff series starring Shemar Moore as Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson has been picked up. Sony Pictures Television will produce and distribute S.W.A.T. Exiles globally with development currently underway and production scheduled to start in Los Angeles this summer. According to the official press release, the 10-episode series picks up after "a high-profile mission goes sideways, Daniel 'Hondo' Harrelson is pulled out of forced retirement to lead a last-chance experimental SWAT unit made up of untested, unpredictable young recruits." Moore's character must "bridge a generational divide, navigate clashing personalities, and turn a squad of outsiders into a team capable of protecting the city and saving the program that made him who he is." Moore, 55, reflected on the decision to reprise his role, which comes two days after CBS aired the S.W.A.T. series finale. Every TV Spinoff to (Hopefully) Look Forward to in 2025: From 'The Testaments' to 'The Madison' 'My eight seasons on S.W.A.T. have been epic and memorable. We entertained the world, defied the odds, came back from the dead twice, and continued to woo fans and families worldwide," the actor said. "I am excited for this next generation and iteration of S.W.A.T. with Sony. Katherine Pope, Neal H. Moritz, Jason Ning, and I will keep the franchise, thrill ride action, heartfelt drama, and storytelling of S.W.A.T. alive. WE DON'T LOSE!!!! ROLL SWAT!!!.' Based on the 1975 TV show and 2003 film adaptation of the same name, S.W.A.T. centered around the Los Angeles Police Department. The CBS series premiered in 2017 and aired six seasons before it was picked up for a seventh and final run. CBS ultimately reversed that decision and S.W.A.T. returned for season 8. But the celebration didn't last long — the network canceled the show for a second time in March. The last season of S.W.A.T. also starred Jay Harrington, David Lim, Patrick St. Esprit, Anna Enger Ritch, Annie Ilonzeh and Niko Pepaj, but there's no word yet on who could return for the spinoff. Before news of S.W.A.T. Exiles broke, Ilonzeh spoke with Us Weekly about attempts to revive the series. Which TV Shows Are Canceled in 2025-2026? Get the Status of Your Favorite Series "We are crossing our fingers. So there is a particular discussion being had. I hope I can say [soon] that we really did it. We rallied for a third time," she shared in April. "But we're making noise. They do see it — producers and streamers that are interested — they are like, 'OK, this is something.' So if we can plug and play, we're all geared up to go. We don't want this ride to be over." Despite fighting for S.W.A.T. to get a new home, it would be the show's last battle to stay on the air. "I was just talking to [my costar] Shemar [Moore] yesterday and he was like, 'If we do this for a third time — whenever we do get canceled again — I will be OK with it. I'm not fighting for a fourth [time] because we really did it and we end on that,'" she noted. "We will end on the fight and the win and relish in all of this and squeeze the life out of it. We will know that we did it, we did our job and we can walk away happy campers."