Latest news with #TheInsider
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pro-Kremlin bots announce "execution" of Moldovan president on social media within smear campaign
Matryoshka, a pro-Kremlin bot network, has launched a campaign on Twitter and BlueSky against Moldovan President Maia Sandu. Source: The Insider, a Russian news outlet, as reported by European Pravda Details: Since 16 April, bots have been posting fake graffiti depicting Sandu's "execution" – by hanging, shooting or electric chair – and promising to "end" her on 1 June. It was not clear from the numerous posts what exactly was supposed to happen on that day. On 30 May, the website of the Fund for Combating Repression, founded by the late Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, published a fake investigation about Sandu's alleged involvement in the trafficking of Ukrainian children, supposedly to the West and for paedophile networks. The fake story claimed that Sandu, through the mediation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's wife, was supposedly organising the sale of Ukrainian refugee children. The authors cited an anonymous Polish activist and an article from the website A disinformation researcher and founder of the X-account Bot Blocker (antibot4navalny) noticed the fake campaign. They compared its scale to the information operation carried out by the Storm-1516 group before the 2025 Bundestag elections, in which more than a hundred pseudo-news sites took part. Analysts have no direct evidence that Storm-1516 is behind the attack on Sandu, but they note similarities in the tools used: fake sources, "witnesses", disinformation via English-language resources, the use of AI, and the Fund for Combating Repression platform. According to The Insider, the fund has no legal status, and its head, Mira Terada, is linked to other pro-Kremlin structures. Background: Earlier, AFP, citing data collected by antibot4navalny, reported on the Matryoshka bot network, which spreads anti-Ukrainian propaganda on social media: they not only spread disinformation, like other pro-Kremlin bots, but also directly contacted Western journalists asking them to verify some of these fakes. French services believed that Russia was behind the operation. Recently, the administration of the President of Moldova had to refute a fake news story about expensive clothes from Sandu's wardrobe that was spread on Telegram channels. Also in Moldova, unknown individuals sent out a mass mailing purportedly on behalf of the tax service, urging recipients to support President Sandu's party and donate 2% of their income tax to it. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Newsweek
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
The 1600: Habemus Biden
The Insider's Track Good morning, 🎶 Friday listening: Sufjan Stevens - Chicago in honor of Chi-town's own, Robert Prevost aka Father Bob aka Pope Leo XIV. An American pope, a Villanova grad no less, how cool is that?! I've become a crank in my old age, but there are certain things that still make me watch with the wide-eyed awe of youth, and a papal conclave is one of them. The smoke, the bells ringing in unison across Rome. The people streaming into St. Peter's. The new pope being introduced to the entire world at the same time, using his first words to call for peace. I also just love that some version of the following phone call probably took place multiple times around the US yesterday: "Hey! Remember Bobby from sophomore calculus? Did you hear about his new job? Yeah, he's the pope now." The whole spectacle yesterday at the Vatican was really special, and particularly well-timed for a certain Catholic former president whose first TV interview since the election was, thankfully for him, immediately followed by the white smoke and thus buried by the news that would follow. I speak of course of Joe Biden, who went on The View yesterday, looking and sounding worse than ever, where he delivered one of the most shameful, delusion, insulting and all-around sad public displays from an ex-president I can remember. Some of you get mad when I am hard on Joe, but I really have no—zero—compunction about it given his behavior throughout 2024 and now continuing into 2025. He is personally responsible for Trump's return. And yet, I do feel sorry for him at the same time, and direct my real disgust at the people around him, like Jill Biden. This man should be sitting on his favorite rocking chair on his porch in Rehoboth, regaling his grandkids with stories from his 50 years in politics and working on his memoirs. Why is he being wheeled out on a media tour? If you didn't catch The View appearance, Biden managed to do the following: take responsibility for Trump's win, while also saying he "wasn't surprised" that Kamala Harris lost, while also claiming he would have won, while also blaming her loss on—wait for it—sexism. Where to even begin with that. Harris lost because she was both a bad candidate and handed a total shit sandwich by Biden, who waited too long to drop out and then had the gall to demand she remain loyal to him while his own approval was -20 by the time he left office. Not even a politician as talented as Bill Clinton could have threaded that needle, while also fending off attacks from Trump. And Kamala Harris ain't exactly Slick Willie. Also, can the Dems please dispense with blaming everything on sexism or racism? Michelle Obama would have crushed Trump in a head-to-head matchup. It also absolves them for ignoring the proximate causes of Trump's return, which is their dereliction of duty on the core issues of inflation, immigration and crime. And it begs the question, if Kamala could never have won because of sexism, why the hell did Biden endorse her to succeed him?! Matt Yglesias, the center-left pundit, is calling for Dems to "throw Biden under the bus" after what he said on The View, and I agree. His post-election gracelessness, and the behavior of the people around him—specifically Jill—is grotesque. Harris should hold a presser today where she answers every question about just how much her boss had deteriorated, when, and who specifically was covering for him. We deserve at least that. And please, Democrats, I am begging you: stop defaulting to the sexism thing. It's so insulting to the American people and it comes across as you just shifting the blame for your own failures. On that lovely note, have a great weekend. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms reading, including my own. May your ungrateful children honor you for all the hard and overlooked work you put in every day. And LGK!!! The Rundown President Donald Trump's hardline clampdown on immigration has exacerbated fears over a labor shortage, according to a new survey. Employment law firm Littler polling found that a majority of U.S. business executives view immigration policy as a key area of concern. Seventy-five percent of respondents identified the current administration's immigration policies as one of their top concerns, second only to DEI. Read more. Also happening: US-China trade talks: President Donald Trump said that an 80 percent tariff on China—currently 145 percent—"seems right," but is leaving it up to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ahead of this weekend's trade talks in Switzerland. Read more. President Donald Trump said that an 80 percent tariff on China—currently 145 percent—"seems right," but is leaving it up to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent ahead of this weekend's trade talks in Switzerland. Read more. Exclusive: Rep. Haley Stevens, a Democrat from Michigan's 11th District, believes she is the best "champion" to fight back against Trump's "chaos" in the Senate, citing her track record of serving the state in Congress and the Obama administration. "It's a frustrating time... but nothing's gonna stop Michigan," Stevens told Newsweek. Read the story. This is a preview of The 1600—Tap here to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Peter Bart: Having Survived Decades Of Enemy Attacks, ‘60 Minutes' Must Now Defy A New Phalanx Of Powerful Legal & Political Foes
Don Hewitt, the brilliantly contentious founder of 60 Minutes, saw to it that the most impactful characters in key segments turned out to be the 'heavies.' Hewitt wanted his audience to understand the threat posed by 'bad guys' — hence an ambush interview or some other dramatic confrontation. During his 37-year reign, Hewitt never would have imagined the list of alleged 'bad guys' presently casting a shadow over his show. They include the principal stockholder of CBS, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and a major sector of the legal establishment. Welcome to the Trump media universe, Don. More from Deadline Paramount Global In Discussions With Donald Trump To Settle Lawsuit Over Kamala Harris' '60 Minutes' Interview — Update Trump 101: Why POTUS' Lawsuit Against CBS Over '60 Minutes' Is Seen As Dubious – Analysis Paramount Ad Sales Chief Stands By Lower-Key Upfront Plan: "It's Not Bombastic, It Allows Us To Actually Listen To Our Customers" Last weekend 60 Minutes sent a defiant signal to the prospective 'heavies,' who include Shari Redstone and FCC chairman Brendan Cox as well as The President. The nation's highest rated TV news show announced it would not back off its coverage nor support financial appeasement of its adversaries. The show's boss, Bill Owens, promptly resigned. His predecessor, Hewitt, who died in 2009, relished combat and made headlines with his 1996 battle against the tobacco industry. At stake was suppression of news coverage about the damage caused by smoking, the intrigues forming the basis for The Insider, Michael Mann's 1999 whistle blower movie. Hewitt had formidable ammunition in waging his wars. His ratings were strong, the network's leadership divided. Besides, Hewitt had previously produced the revered Walter Cronkite news show as well as the riveting Kennedy-Nixon debate. His lethal interview squad included Mike Wallace, Harry Reasoner and, later, the famously resilient Lesley Stahl, who is still on the show. They would all have laughed at Trump's charge that the relatively mild-mannered Kamala Harris interview on 60 Minutes had been 'deceptively edited' to help her campaign. Demands in new legal filings have now reached $20 billion in reparations. Complicating the dispute, of course, is that other elephant in the room — Shari Redstone's desire to facilitate the sale of Paramount to Skydance, David Ellison's company. That $8 billion deal has been moldering for ten months with a mediator now involved. Meanwhile, CBS is trying to draw attention to its gains in the stolid network business, announcing eight new series including a new Taylor Sheridan western drama. And further hovering over the battle is the Trump strategy of targeting those law firms that represent litigants opposing White House programs. Trump's actions are akin to 'a mob boss extracting protection money,' observed Mark Elias, a top attorney who appeared on last week's defiant 60 Minutes. Long time viewers of 60 Minutes are understandably startled by these high level fireworks. During the show's earlier years, the 'bad guys' often consisted of neighborhood hustlers who overcharged for mythical auto parts, only to be shocked by a fast-moving TV crew. I remember one small time offender complaining on camera: 'Why do you guys always put the 'bad guys' in ominous dark lighting while your 'good guys' seem to shine brightly?' Mindful of this, I once asked for improved lighting when I was an invited guest on an in-house segment. The 60 Minutes producer winced and replied, 'OK, we'll re-light you as a good guy.' Production note: I was invited to talk brightly about theater critics, not auto parts. I doubt if today's guests would fare as well. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About Celine Song's 'Materialists' So Far 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Peter Bart: Having Survived Decades Of Enemy Attacks, ‘60 Minutes' Must Now Defy A New Phalanx Of Powerful Legal & Political Foes
Don Hewitt, the brilliantly contentious founder of 60 Minutes, saw to it that the most impactful characters in key segments turned out to be the 'heavies.' Hewitt wanted his audience to understand the threat posed by 'bad guys' — hence an ambush interview or some other dramatic confrontation. During his 37-year reign, Hewitt never would have imagined the list of alleged 'bad guys' presently casting a shadow over his show. They include the principal stockholder of CBS, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and a major sector of the legal establishment. Welcome to the Trump media universe, Don. More from Deadline Paramount Global In Discussions With Donald Trump To Settle Lawsuit Over Kamala Harris' '60 Minutes' Interview — Update Trump 101: Why POTUS' Lawsuit Against CBS Over '60 Minutes' Is Seen As Dubious – Analysis Paramount Ad Sales Chief Stands By Lower-Key Upfront Plan: "It's Not Bombastic, It Allows Us To Actually Listen To Our Customers" Last weekend 60 Minutes sent a defiant signal to the prospective 'heavies,' who include Shari Redstone and FCC chairman Brendan Cox as well as The President. The nation's highest rated TV news show announced it would not back off its coverage nor support financial appeasement of its adversaries. The show's boss, Bill Owens, promptly resigned. His predecessor, Hewitt, who died in 2009, relished combat and made headlines with his 1996 battle against the tobacco industry. At stake was suppression of news coverage about the damage caused by smoking, the intrigues forming the basis for The Insider, Michael Mann's 1999 whistle blower movie. Hewitt had formidable ammunition in waging his wars. His ratings were strong, the network's leadership divided. Besides, Hewitt had previously produced the revered Walter Cronkite news show as well as the riveting Kennedy-Nixon debate. His lethal interview squad included Mike Wallace, Harry Reasoner and, later, the famously resilient Lesley Stahl, who is still on the show. They would all have laughed at Trump's charge that the relatively mild-mannered Kamala Harris interview on 60 Minutes had been 'deceptively edited' to help her campaign. Demands in new legal filings have now reached $20 billion in reparations. Complicating the dispute, of course, is that other elephant in the room — Shari Redstone's desire to facilitate the sale of Paramount to Skydance, David Ellison's company. That $8 billion deal has been moldering for ten months with a mediator now involved. Meanwhile, CBS is trying to draw attention to its gains in the stolid network business, announcing eight new series including a new Taylor Sheridan western drama. And further hovering over the battle is the Trump strategy of targeting those law firms that represent litigants opposing White House programs. Trump's actions are akin to 'a mob boss extracting protection money,' observed Mark Elias, a top attorney who appeared on last week's defiant 60 Minutes. Long time viewers of 60 Minutes are understandably startled by these high level fireworks. During the show's earlier years, the 'bad guys' often consisted of neighborhood hustlers who overcharged for mythical auto parts, only to be shocked by a fast-moving TV crew. I remember one small time offender complaining on camera: 'Why do you guys always put the 'bad guys' in ominous dark lighting while your 'good guys' seem to shine brightly?' Mindful of this, I once asked for improved lighting when I was an invited guest on an in-house segment. The 60 Minutes producer winced and replied, 'OK, we'll re-light you as a good guy.' Production note: I was invited to talk brightly about theater critics, not auto parts. I doubt if today's guests would fare as well. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About Celine Song's 'Materialists' So Far 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
Tom's Guide
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
7 best new to Hulu movies with 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes
Hulu continues to deliver when it comes to curating a solid lineup of high-quality movies. Each month, the streaming service adds a batch of critically praised titles to its library, making it a go-to destination for movie fans looking for something that's both fresh and acclaimed. It's part of why we consistently rank Hulu as one of the best streaming services available. May 2025 is no exception. We've scanned the incoming titles and zeroed in on the ones that have earned serious praise — specifically those with a 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes. You may like From a Korean crime thriller that deserves more attention to one of the highest-rated 'Mission: Impossible' flicks (and a couple of genre gems you might've missed), here are seven movies new to Hulu in May 2025 that are absolutely worth your time. The Wailing Official Trailer 1 (2016) - Korean Thriller HD - YouTube Watch On Critically acclaimed for its atmospheric storytelling and intricate plot, 'The Wailing' stands out as a compelling exploration of human vulnerability in the face of incomprehensible forces. This Korean dark thriller set takes place in a remote village where a series of mysterious murders and illnesses begin to plague the community. The events coincide with the arrival of a suspicious Japanese man, leading to growing fear and suspicion among the villagers. Police officer Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won) investigates the incidents and soon discovers that his own daughter is exhibiting strange behavior. In desperation, he turns to a local shaman for help, but as the situation escalates, Jong-goo is forced to confront the possibility that something far more sinister is at play. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Rotten Tomatoes score: 99% Watch it now on Hulu The Insider (1999) Trailer #1 - YouTube Watch On 'The Insider' is a gripping drama based on real events, directed by Michael Mann and starring Russell Crowe and Al Pacino. Jeffrey Wigand (Crowe) is a former tobacco executive who becomes a whistleblower. After being fired from his high-paying job at a major tobacco company, Wigand reveals to the world the industry's knowledge of the harmful effects of smoking and its deliberate efforts to manipulate nicotine levels in cigarettes to make them more addictive. Wigand's decision to speak out puts him and his family in serious danger. Lowell Bergman (Pacino), a producer for the investigative news program 60 Minutes, convinces Wigand to go public with his story, despite the immense personal and professional risks involved. Rotten Tomatoes score: 96% Watch it now on Hulu 'Spy' (2015) Spy Official Trailer #1 (2015) - Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne Comedy HD - YouTube Watch On If you're in the mood for a comedy flick with some explosive action, 'Spy' is the one to watch this month. It follows Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy), a mild-mannered CIA analyst who works behind a desk, providing intel and support to field agents. When her partner, Bradley Fine (Jude Law), is killed during a mission, and another top agent is compromised, Susan volunteers to go undercover and take on a high-stakes mission herself. Her task is to track down a dangerous arms dealer, Rayna Boyanov (Rose Byrne), who has sold a nuclear weapon and threatens global security. Despite being inexperienced in the field, Susan's journey is full of mishaps, unexpected disguises, and hilarious encounters, as she navigates through a world of spies and dangerous criminals. Rotten Tomatoes score: 95% Watch it now on Hulu 'Decision to Leave' (2022) Decision to Leave Trailer #1 (2022) - YouTube Watch On 'Decision to Leave' earned plenty of praise for its storytelling and compelling central performances, earning Park Chan-wook the Best Director award at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. Detective Jang Hae-jun (Park Hae-il) is an insomniac investigator in Busan, who is assigned to the case of a retired immigration officer found dead at the foot of a mountain. His investigation leads him to the deceased's enigmatic wife, Song Seo-rae (Tang Wei), a Chinese immigrant working as a caretaker for the elderly. Despite initial suspicions due to her calm demeanor and suspicious injuries, Hae-jun becomes increasingly captivated by Seo-rae, blurring the lines between professional duty and personal obsession. Rotten Tomatoes score: 94% Watch it now on Hulu 'Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation' (2015) Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015) | Official Trailer | Paramount Pictures UK - YouTube Watch On Hulu has become the ultimate destination for 'Mission: Impossible' fans, as it now has every movie in the franchise (except for 'Dead Reckoning'), making it the perfect time for a marathon before 'The Final Reckoning' hits theaters this month. Among the standout movies in the series is 'Rogue Nation,' widely regarded as one of the best. In this fifth installment, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), a highly skilled IMF (Impossible Mission Force) agent, is on a mission to take down the Syndicate, a network of operatives who are as skilled and ruthless as the IMF itself. When the IMF is disbanded by the U.S. government and labeled as an illegal organization, Hunt is forced to work without official support. He teams up with a British agent, Ilsa Faust (played by Rebecca Ferguson), whose true allegiance remains unclear. Rotten Tomatoes score: 94% Watch it on Hulu starting May 15 'Attack the Block' (2011) 'Attack the Block' is a British sci-fi comedy-horror that's definitely entertaining. Its fast-paced action and social commentary helped it gain cult status over the years, especially for introducing John Boyega to mainstream audiences before his breakout role in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens.' The story kicks off when a group of young offenders, led by the tough Moses (Boyega), mug a woman named Sam (Jodie Whittaker). However, their plans are interrupted when an alien spacecraft crashes nearby, and terrifying, aggressive alien creatures begin attacking the block. Instead of running away, Moses and his gang decide to fight back and protect their home turf from the extraterrestrial threat. They end up banding together with Sam, who becomes an unlikely ally in their fight for survival. Rotten Tomatoes score: 91% Watch it now on Hulu 'The Damned' (2024) THE DAMNED Official Trailer (2024) - YouTube Watch On Looking for something on Hulu with a more serious tone? 'The Damned' is worth checking out. This folk horror movie had a limited theatrical run in early January and received strong praise from critics, with some describing it as 'heavy on mood and existential terror.' The story follows Eva (Odessa Young), a young widow who leads a remote fishing outpost during a harsh winter. When a foreign ship sinks off the coast, Eva and her crew are faced with a moral dilemma: rescue the survivors or ensure their own survival by conserving dwindling resources. Their decision sets off a series of eerie and supernatural events, including the appearance of a draugr — a revenant from Nordic folklore — suggesting that their choice has awakened a malevolent force. Rotten Tomatoes score: 91% Watch it on Hulu starting May 9 More from Tom's Guide
