Latest news with #Von
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Lewis Capaldi weighs in on viral 'Falkirk Triangle' on US podcast
The Glasgow-born singer joined podcast host Theo Von in New York to talk about his return to touring after taking two years off, give an update on his mental health, and "why so many UFOs are showing up in Scotland". The local sensation – which includes Bonnybridge and Camelon – first began to gain attention in 1992 with the area laying claim to around 300 sightings a year. Reported sightings became so prolific that councillor Billy Buchanan lobbied several UK prime ministers over the years, asking that an investigation be launched. READ MORE: 'This has been my dream': BBC MasterChef star opens new Indian restaurant READ MORE: V£14k of NHS laptops containing patient records stolen from Glasgow hospital A family out for a walk on a March evening in 1992 spoke of witnessing a basketball-sized blue light hovering on the back road from Hallglen to Bonnybridge and claimed to hear a sound similar to a "door opening" followed by a "howl". A video of an orange oval light above Falkirk, changing shape to becoming a white disc – the classic "flying saucer" shape – then disappearing suddenly was captured in October 1996. The clip went viral worldwide. Von was astonished that Capaldi was not aware of the accounts, stating: "The Falkirk Triangle is a region in central Scotland renowned as one of the world's most active UFO hotspots. "You didn't know that?" Von asked. Capaldi responded: "I didn't know that. People haven't like ... it's not become a real ... it's not as famous as ...", while looking lost as to what to say. The Scots star added: "You'd think you'd be able to catch them. If 300 are happening a year in the area, you'd be able to wait out and be like, OK, they're coming at some point, do you know what I mean? That's mad though. I never knew that." The pair went on to theorise on what was drawing the supposed UFOs to the area, with Von saying: "I wonder if there's something in Scotland that leads to it. Is it the diet?" Capaldi laughs, before telling the host about the controversial "Glasgow effect" – a term which refers to the lower life expectancy of residents of Glasgow compared to the rest of the UK – art project. The project, which sparked a row in 2016 when an artist was awarded £15,000 from Creative Scotland to deliberately stay within the confines of the city while monitoring its impact on her art, was at the time described as "a poverty safari", Capaldi states. While many of the eerie accounts in the Falkirk area– which range from seeing "big, black and cigar-shaped" objects to "a bright light criss-crossed by stripes of different colours" – are thought to be misidentifications caused by planes, satellites, weather balloons or planets, some simply can't be explained. One theory posited by ufologists is that the Falkirk Triangle could contain a window into another dimension, other worlds, the past or the future.
The National
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Lewis Capldi weighs in on viral 'Falkirk Triangle' on US podcast
Capaldi joined podcast host Theo Von in New York to talk about his return to touring after taking two years off, give an update on his mental health, and "why so many UFOs are showing up in Scotland". The local sensation – which includes Bonnybridge and Camelon – first began to gain attention in 1992 with the area laying claim to around 300 sightings a year. Reported sightings became so prolific that councillor Billy Buchanan lobbied several UK prime ministers over the years, asking that an investigation be launched. READ MORE: Musician and model Eunice Olumide on living a life full of contradictions A family out for a walk on a March evening in 1992 spoke of witnessing a basketball-sized blue light hovering on the back road from Hallglen to Bonnybridge and claimed to hear a sound similar to a "door opening" followed by a "howl". A video of an orange oval light above Falkirk, changing shape to becoming a white disc – the classic "flying saucer" shape – then disappearing suddenly was captured in October 1996. The clip went viral worldwide. Von was astonished that Capaldi was not aware of the accounts, stating: "The Falkirk Triangle is a region in central Scotland renowned as one of the world's most active UFO hotspots. "You didn't know that?" Von asked. Capaldi responded: "I didn't know that. People haven't like ... it's not become a real ... it's not as famous as ...", while looking lost as to what to say. The Scots star added: "You'd think you'd be able to catch them. If 300 are happening a year in the area, you'd be able to wait out and be like, OK, they're coming at some point, do you know what I mean? That's mad though. I never knew that." The pair went on to theorise on what was drawing the supposed UFOs to the area, with Von saying: "I wonder if there's something in Scotland that leads to it. Is it the diet?" Capaldi laughs, before telling the host about the controversial "Glasgow effect" – a term which refers to the lower life expectancy of residents of Glasgow compared to the rest of the UK – art project. The project, which sparked a row in 2016 when an artist was awarded £15,000 from Creative Scotland to deliberately stay within the confines of the city while monitoring its impact on her art, was at the time described as "a poverty safari", Capaldi states. READ MORE: John Swinney: Why I'm launching a renewed strategy for independence While many of the eerie accounts in the Falkirk area– which range from seeing "big, black and cigar-shaped" objects to "a bright light criss-crossed by stripes of different colours" – are thought to be misidentifications caused by planes, satellites, weather balloons or planets, some simply can't be explained. One theory posited by ufologists is that the Falkirk Triangle could contain a window into another dimension, other worlds, the past or the future.
USA Today
7 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Popular podcaster criticizes JD Vance over past Epstein comments: 'What changed?'
A popular podcast host and comedian who interviewed Donald Trump on the 2024 presidential campaign and attended his inauguration is criticizing Vice President JD Vance over the Jeffrey Epstein case. In a social media post July 16, Theo Von, whose podcast and social media channels have millions of subscribers, recirculated a clip of a former interview with Vance in which the then-candidate appeared to agree to release alleged files about the criminal investigation into Epstein. Von's comments join a growing chorus of online MAGA figures pushing back against the Trump administration after a July 7 announcement claiming the FBI and Department of Justice investigation found no evidence of a supposed client list, thought to contain names of individuals who were associated with Epstein's alleged sex trafficking. The financier and convicted sex offender died while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking in 2019. Maurene Comey fired: Daughter of ex-FBI director and prosecutor against Jeffrey Epstein Von reshared the 7-second video clip of his October 2024 interview with Vance in which the then-senator said "seriously, we need to release the Epstein list, that is an important thing," after another user, self-described as a progressive activist, posted it a day prior. The user's original post included the text: "A video is going viral showing JD Vance calling for the full Epstein list to be released − on Theo Von's podcast. Hey JD, what changed?" Von republished the post on his own page, adding: 'Yeah, what changed?' Von's podcast, "This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von," is the fourth most popular podcast on Spotify, as of mid-July, and is among the more popular conservative-leaning podcasting shows. It is often lumped in with Joe Rogan's within the so-called 'manosphere,' of media channels catering to predominantly male audiences. Von's show often features interviews with celebrities, political figures and influencers, including a nearly hour-long sit-down with Trump a few months before the November 2024 presidential election. The alleged Epstein "client list" and surrounding controversies have created division within the Republican party and among some of MAGA's most vocal online personalities. Trump has long suggested he would be open to releasing the so-called list of Epstein clients, and Vance had also been vocal in making similar statements during the 2024 campaign. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in March she had a "truckload" of Epstein files to review and potentially release, further stoking expectations and conspiracies, especially among Trump's base. Yet furor erupted on July 7 when Bondi's Justice Department announced there was no "client list" and no further disclosure was needed. More about the Epstein 'list': Jeffrey Epstein is sowing division among MAGA. What to know about the late sex offender While Trump has since directed Bondi to release "whatever she thinks is credible," he has attempted to distance himself from the uproar, claiming it to be a "Democratic hoax." Yet long-time Trump loyalists, including daughter-in-law Lara Trump and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, have called for more transparency. Democrats have also pushed for legislative action to release some of the documents. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a hardline MAGA supporter, weighed in on X on July 15, writing: "We deserve the truth about the Epstein files. I'm ready for a Special Counsel to handle this." Charlie Kirk, a key MAGA influencer who had spoke often about his doubts over the Epstein probe, abruptly reversed course on his vocal criticism this week, saying in his podcast: "I'm done talking about Epstein for the time being. I'm gonna trust my friends in the administration ." Contributing: Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY; Reuters. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
Politico
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Popular podcaster lobs barb at JD Vance over Epstein files
Von reshared the post and added his own message: 'Yeah, what changed?' he asked. The president's biggest MAGA supporters have been steaming since the White House announcement on July 7 that an FBI and Department of Justice investigation found no evidence of an incriminating client list connected to the disgraced financier, who authorities say died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019. Trump's attempts to declare the matter closed have escalated interest in the case, especially among some of his conspiracy-minded supporters with large followings on social media. Calling it the 'Jeffrey Epstein Hoax' perpetrated by Democrats in a social media post on Wednesday, the president angered voters who supported him in part due to his embrace of conspiracy theories while on the campaign trail last year. Vance, in particular, long publicly pushed for answers in Epstein's case before entering the White House. 'If you're a journalist and you're not asking questions about this case you should be ashamed of yourself,' he wrote in a December 2021 post on X. 'What purpose do you even serve?'
Egypt Independent
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Independent
Why Donald Trump is facing doubts in the ‘manosphere'
Detroit CNN — Justin Centers fits the profile of many younger men who Justin Centers fits the profile of many younger men who helped power Donald Trump's political comeback last fall. He's a 21-year-old autoworker from the Detroit suburbs and was newly eligible to vote in presidential elections — a cross-section of traits Trump aggressively targeted in his bid to reclaim battlegrounds like Michigan. He's also a longtime fan of Theo Von, the shaggy-haired, free-wheeling comedian and podcast host whose viral interview with Trump last August signaled an emerging political shift among millennial and Gen Z men. Centers ultimately voted for Trump, and Von had a VIP seat at the inauguration. But in recent months, Von has expressed growing dissatisfaction with Trump's second stint in the White House — sentiments that were echoed by Centers outside Detroit's Fox Theatre as he waited to catch Von's stand-up tour. 'Completely being honest, I'm a little iffy now,' Centers said of the president. 'One of the things I primarily voted for was 'No new wars,' and unfortunately, that has been a big lie to my face. So, it's extremely disappointing to see that.' After losing men under 50 by double digits in 2020, Trump's campaign made a concerted push to reverse that trend. His outreach included appearances on podcasts and YouTube shows hosted by a growing universe of male comedians, pranksters, streamers and other right-leaning influencers who had cultivated large, loyal followings. The approach paid off and has already spawned copycats in both parties. Lately some of the most influential voices within the so-called manosphere have begun expressing concerns, if not outright regret, with Trump's return to Washington. Joe Rogan, who interviewed Trump on his top-rated podcast last October before endorsing him, recently called the new administration's immigration crackdown 'insane.' Von criticized Trump's bombing of Iran as a 'horrible idea,' saying it made the US look like it's 'working for Israel.' Billionaire X owner Elon Musk, once a prominent Trump ally and a key figure in reshaping the online media ecosystem, is now publicly warring with the president over the cost of his legislative agenda and promising to bankroll a third party. And comedian Andrew Schulz, a Trump supporter last year, told listeners of his 'Flagrant' podcast that the president was 'doing the exact opposite of everything I voted for.' Even unexpected corners of the manosphere have begun to show signs of revolt. Professional poker players, for example, have lashed out at Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' for changes in tax law that will require them to pay the government even when they lose money. 'You just really start to feel very disillusioned pretty quickly,' Von said in a recent podcast. Theo Von performs during Clusterfest in San Francisco on June 2, 2018. FilmMagic/Getty Images Warning signs At Von's recent Detroit show, Carhartt logos, camo and mullets mixed easily with A-frame hats, golf polos and tins of nicotine pouches. Plumes of vape periodically hovered over the audience. The crowd's overwhelmingly White complexion was a reoccurring source of material for the comedian. During a rollicking 90-minute set, Von didn't directly broach politics or Trump. But the conflicting feelings he has shared on his podcast were voiced by his fans, too. Steven Deuby, a 34-year-old mail carrier from Wayne County, scoffed at the price tag of Trump's massive tax cuts and spending package. 'Five trillion dollars? That's insane,' he said. But Deuby, an Army veteran, said he backed Trump's military moves to date and remained supportive of the president overall. 'There's stuff to criticize about Trump, but for the most part, I think he's doing much more important (stuff) than Joe Biden,' Deuby said. Walking up to the Fox Theatre in a Von T-shirt, Tyler Goldsmith said he understood the complaints from Von and others, but would give Trump the benefit of the doubt for now. 'When you go into your first year, you're not going to do what everybody wanted you to at the beginning, because there are going to be things that you have to retract on, that you have to take care of,' Goldsmith, a 32-year-old lawn-care business owner from Constantine in southwest Michigan. Polls midway through Trump's first year back in office suggest growing disapproval with his administration — and there are signs the shift is hitting these younger voters, too. A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds that among men younger than 35, 40% approve of the way Trump is handling his job now and 60% disapprove, significantly worse than Trump's ratings with older men. In February, 44% of men under 35 approved and 54% disapproved. But whether this disenchantment presents trouble for Republicans or creates an opening for Democrats remains to be seen. While the concerns that are animating Von and other online influencers may produce compelling podcast content, they are less likely to dictate how young men vote in future elections, said David Winston, a veteran Republican pollster. Economic factors like wages and inflation weighed heavily on the minds of many voters last fall and likely will moving forward, he said. 'When a voter has just gone a different direction, they're the ones that can go back the other way. They just made a decision and now they're going to see if that worked or it didn't work,' Winston said. 'The idea that they could bounce back to Democrats is certainly very possible. Having said that, they left for a reason.' Centers, for his part, voiced frustrations on several fronts. He's a recent Tesla owner concerned Trump's vendetta against electric vehicles will ultimately hurt his purchase. He's also an expecting father who is worried about having a family in an economic environment he doesn't believe is improving. Still, Centers said he was unlikely to change to vote Democrat. 'A lot of stuff I identify with falls along the conservative agenda,' he said. Anger over Epstein White House advisers have long held concerns that many voters who helped elect Trump in November — including young men — are at risk of skipping a midterm election when he isn't on the ballot. Motivating those voters has been a top priority for Trump's political team as it seeks to maintain control of Congress. Mark Mitchell, the top pollster for the conservative-leaning Rasmussen Reports, has publicly warned that the Trump's coalition could be fractured by his administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, a longtime fixation for Rogan and other right-leaning podcasters favored by men. The Department of Justice concluded last week the accused sex trafficker killed himself in prison and did not keep a list of elite and high-profile clients, sparking outrage from MAGA conspiracists who had long been told otherwise by many in Trump's orbit. The CNN poll found 65 percent of men younger than 35 are dissatisfied with the amount of information the federal government has released about the Epstein case, while just 10% are satisfied. That's higher than the share of dissatisfied among the general population. 'What is enraging people right now is it's insulting our intelligence,' Schulz said on his podcast last week. On Saturday, Trump urged his supporters to move on from their Epstein outrage in a lengthy social media post — a message that landed poorly among some of Von's fans. 'You said you were going to show us (the Epstein files), now you're just being the very thing you said you were going to end,' said Ben, a chemical worker from Battle Creek, Michigan, who asked CNN not to use his last name. 'Not as transparent as what I thought.' He said Trump's posture on Epstein was the final straw. If he could go back, 'maybe I just wouldn't vote,' he said. Democrats wade in Amid the discontent, Democrats have sought to make inroads into the manosphere. Former Transportation Secretary and potential 2028 contender Pete Buttigieg appeared earlier this year on 'Flagrant.' Multiple outlets reported that Rogan recently interviewed Texas state Rep. James Talarico, a rising Democratic star considering a Senate bid. Von recently spoke at length with Rep. Ro Khanna, the progressive Democrat from California, and revealed he planned to chat with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2024, before a scheduling conflict postponed their conversation. (He also released an episode with Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican whom Trump has threatened to help defeat.) Schulz recently suggested democratic socialists like Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders appear to be prioritizing America more than Trump. 'If MAGA wants to take this 'America First' thing back, they got to start looking out for America,' he said. Giving airtime to politicians across the spectrum isn't just a pivot from the Trump-centric content of the previous election cycle. Many of the most prominent male influencers dub themselves as independent thinkers unbeholden to either party. Regardless, Nathan Sheldon, a 35-year-old from Northville, Michigan, sporting a 'Don't Tread on Comedy' shirt at Von's show, told CNN he appreciated hearing from Democrats in full, unfiltered interviews. 'Them going on to platforms like Schulz and Rogan, I can finally hear some ideas,' Sheldon said. 'They're starting to stand out.' CNN's Jennifer Agiesta contributed to this report.
