Latest news with #WhatNow?
IOL News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
'He is supremely talented at finding the right lever to pull': Trevor Noah on Elon Musk's disinformation regarding South Africa
Award-winning comedian Trevor Noah has opened up about the claims that Elon Musk has been making about South Africa. In his podcast, What Now? Noah raised questions about the tech billionaire, his business tactics, and even questioned whether he is a con artist. Noah pointed to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBEE) as being at the core of Musk's discontent with the country. "If you look at Elon's plight with South Africa, I saw it start when he was not able to launch Starlink in the country because of government laws," he said. Musk has repeatedly said that the satellite internet service is not available in the country due to his race and the supposed 142 anti-white race laws. "Starlink is not allowed to operate in South Africa, because I'm not black," said the X owner.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Why Are You Buying Up So Much Farmland?' — Bill Gates Owns 275,000 Acres Across The U.S. But Says: 'There Isn't Some Grand Scheme Involved'
If you've ever joked that Bill Gates might be behind your fries, it turns out that punchline isn't too far off. While conspiracy theories swirl around burgers and billionaires, one thing's confirmed: Gates really does have a stake in America's food supply—by way of the dirt it grows from. A 2025 Land Report named him the largest private farmland owner in the U.S., with 275,000 acres under his name—248,000 acres of it active farmland across at least 17 states. That makes him No. 1 in farmland and the 43rd largest landowner overall when factoring in non-agricultural holdings. Don't Miss: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. Much of that land was acquired in just a few massive transactions. As first detailed in the 2021 Land Report, Gates made major purchases between 2017 and 2018, including a $520 million deal with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and a separate $171 million acquisition of the 100 Circles Acreage in Washington's Horse Heaven Hills. Together, those deals topped $690 million and formed the foundation of his national portfolio. Other notable acquisitions include 20,000 acres across 19 Nebraska counties for $113 million, 14,828 acres in Florida, 16,097 acres in Washington, and even a lone acre in New Mexico. That same report broke down his largest state-by-state farmland holdings at the time: Louisiana – 69,071 acres Arkansas – 47,927 acres Nebraska – 20,588 acres So when a Reddit user asked him during a 2023 Reddit Ask Me Anything: "Why are you buying up so much farmland? Do you think this is a problem with billionaire wealth and how much you can disproportionately acquire?" Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Gates didn't hedge. "I own less than 1/4000 of the farmland in the US," he responded. "I have invested in these farms to make them more productive and create more jobs. There isn't some grand scheme involved—in fact, all these decisions are made by a professional investment team." His share may sound small, but with total farmland shrinking by roughly 2 million acres a year, Gates' footprint now equates to about 0.0283% of the national total. A report from Investigate Midwest revealed that Gates used more than 20 limited liability companies to acquire these properties. The same investigation also found that at least $700 million in loans were secured against the farmland—an estate planning strategy often used by ultra-wealthy individuals to access capital while deferring an appearance on the "What Now? with Trevor Noah" podcast in November 2023, Gates echoed the same message when asked why someone known for building digital empires would buy so much physical land. "Yeah, it's amazing how diversified the ownership is. I own about 1/4000 of the farmland," he said. "There's basically no big individual landowner—I own a lot, you know, it's maybe 10% of my assets. The decision to buy this land was made by people who help manage my money so that we get a good return, so that the foundation can buy more vaccines." But for someone with a known love of McDonald's, it's probably not helping that he now owns enough farmland to grow the potatoes, the wheat—and maybe even raise the cattle. Whether you see it as smart investing or eyebrow-raising consolidation, Gates' land portfolio continues to grow—one acre, one crop, one headline at a time. Read Next: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: . Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article 'Why Are You Buying Up So Much Farmland?' — Bill Gates Owns 275,000 Acres Across The U.S. But Says: 'There Isn't Some Grand Scheme Involved' originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The National
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Kevin Hart review: Why new show Acting My Age is his best material yet
'If you're lucky enough to make it to 50, 60, 70 or 80 – then you won.' Kevin Hart's reflection on age, shared during one of the show's unexpectedly poignant moments at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena on Friday, spoke not just to the quiet wisdom that comes with growing older, but to his endurance in a brutally competitive art form – where raw talent doesn't necessarily translate to longevity, and where the trajectory from sensation to staple is never guaranteed by endurance alone. Hart, 45, always had the talent. From his 2009 debut, I'm a Grown Little Man and 2010's hit follow-up Seriously Funny, the gifts were there to see: the underrated physicality, the timing, the cartoonish characters, and the endearing ability to inflect a charming vulnerability into all the brashness. But over time, Hart also became prey to the pitfalls that face many rising stars – namely, whether that winning material could evolve with age, and whether the sharpness might dull under the incessant demands that come with being a Hollywood commodity. Indeed, as the films racked up at the box office, subsequent stand-ups specials like 2013's Let Me Explain and 2016's What Now? felt bloated – the finer moments padded with long set-ups and unnecessary digressions. His last special, released in 2020 on Netflix and delivered from his living room during the pandemic, saw him adopt a more combative, defiant tone in response to cancel culture. It didn't suit him. The warmth central to his appeal was missing, and Hart seemed to veer out of his own lane and reaching for a version of Dave Chappelle. The irony here being that Chappelle admires Hart precisely for his personal material – a quality that felt absent here. Hart's latest show, Acting My Age and part of Abu Dhabi Comedy Season, feels like the course correction he needed. It is not a reinvention, but a refinement of what audiences have always loved, shaped by years of stage-earned experience. The 70-minute set is lean, well-structured, and packed with anecdotes – from the personal to the outright outlandish – delivered with fresh awareness and the confidence of an artist who knows what he wants to say. Hart has always been more comfortable focusing on life inside his own backyard, sketching a portrait of domesticity that feels relatable – from dysfunctional family members to the absurdities of middle age, and the creeping physical and mental wear and tear that comes with the clock ticking past 40. It's a canvas that suits him naturally, allowing him not only to sharply set the scene, but to inhabit his characters – from a combative elderly man in a wheelchair to a zany animal guide – with the kind of deftness that comes from years spent on the big screen. Where before these anecdotes could feel superfluous and eat up large chunks of his set, they're now often laced with reflections on growing up – from the brashness of youth and the confidence of being a Hollywood superstar to the physical decline, epitomised in a true story about severely injuring his legs during an impromptu race with a retired football player. Perhaps because these incidents feel more timely – both in terms of the material and Hart's age – he's never felt more present onstage, allowing some of the jokes to land with an unexpectedly poignancy. That's why Acting My Age is such a pleasure to watch. By not purely chasing laughs, Hart has never sounded more effortlessly funny. And when he's backed by an airtight concept, his craftsmanship and storytelling shine through. It also proves that, despite middle age and relatively creaky legs, Hart is still hitting his stride.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spotify takes on YouTube by paying podcasters for video views
So far in 2025, Spotify has paid podcasters more than $100 million, a big payout for creators. Spotify first shared that figure with The New York Times Deal Book, which says the funds have two purposes: to give podcasters a new way to monetize content and to lure both creators and audiences away from YouTube, which dominates video podcasting. The company first announced its new Spotify Partner Program in November 2024, promising creators "audience-driven payouts" from ads and premium subscribers. At the same time, Spotify also revealed that some subscribers would be able to watch video content "uninterrupted by ads." Now, we know how much more some popular podcasters are earning. In a press release, Spotify said "total earnings for participating creators [increased] 23% month-over-month from January to February, and 29% month-over-month from February to March." "Ultimately, Spotify is committed to building a sustainable ecosystem where creators can thrive. This $100 million payout is just one step in that journey. We'll continue to invest in new tools, resources, and programs to support creators in all formats, and we're excited to see what the future holds for podcasting on Spotify," the company said in its press release. It makes sense that Spotify is paying up. Increasingly, people are more interested in watching their podcasts than they are in listening to them, which has a lot of users gravitating toward YouTube rather than Spotify. According to data from Edison Podcast Metrics, weekly podcast listeners are more likely to watch podcasts on YouTube (31 percent) than listen to them on Spotify (27 percent). The New York Times also reports that YouTube's podcasting audience (1 billion) dwarfs Spotify's (170 million). As podcasts shift to video, Spotify has somehow lost its grip on podcast listeners. However, it still hosts some of the most popular podcasts, including The Joe Rogan Experience, What Now? With Trevor Noah, and The Comment Section with Drew Afualo.
Telegraph
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
The Joe Rogan Right is winning because the Left has become boring
The Right increasingly dominates the online media landscape. An analysis of the top 320 online shows by Media Matters reveals a striking disparity: Right-leaning commentators command a vastly larger audience compared to their Left-leaning counterparts. According to the study, What Now? with Trevor Noah, the most popular Left-leaning show, has 21 million followers and subscribers across platforms. Yet even that show is performing less well than heavyweights like Joe Rogan (40 million), Jordan Peterson (23 million), and Ben Shapiro (25 million). Not only do Right-leaning shows attract bigger audiences, but there are way more of them. To understand why the Right is winning, ask yourself the following question: when was the last time you heard a Left-leaning commentator ask anything interesting? The Left is floundering because they lack curiosity. So certain has the contemporary Left become, on everything from climate change and crime to the virtue of their own position, they use questions not to examine ideas, but to hector those who hold the 'wrong' ones instead. Back in 2018 in the UK, Channel 4's Cathy Newman interviewed the then somewhat obscure Canadian psychologist, Jordan Peterson, about his new book. Instead of engaging with what he had written, she opted for a lazy attempt to browbeat him. That interview, now viewed over 50 million times on YouTube alone, became infamous not just for how Peterson turned the tables — leaving Newman looking foolish — but for her seeming lack of interest in what Peterson's book had to say. The problem for the Left is that they have carried on much the same ever since, both online and off. As a consequence, Jordan Peterson's online show now commands an audience many times larger than anything Cathy Newman is ever likely to appear on. Sure, there's a largish niche for Britain's Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell's The Rest Is Politics, where they give their 'hot takes' on Donald Trump (they are against) or action on climate change (they are in favour). But compared to the new Right media titans, they're a blip, despite their attempts to break into the US market. Without curiosity, they will remain a blip. Contrast how the BBC's hapless James Clayton interviewed Elon Musk about X (questions seemingly designed to reproach not inquire) with the way Joe Rogan handled Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg (allowing him to elaborate at length on what he actually thought). I came across the Left's lack of curiosity on a much smaller scale the other week. I asked online why it was that Western societies are more technologically successful than non-Western ones, and – judging by the number of non-Westerners wanting to live here – offer a better way of life. Within a few minutes, a leading Leftist intellectual was suggesting I must be on the same side as the Nazis. End of discussion. The Left's unwillingness to grapple with questions that challenge their world view leaves them blinkered. It will also leave them with little to say on some of the great topics of our time. This is going to become increasingly important as new research and the democratisation of opinion-forming start to shift the intellectual tectonic plates on which many of our policy assumptions have been built. Thanks to conversations on Substack, X and YouTube, the Left aren't going to be able to stop these new debates from taking place. 'No platforming' might once have worked on university campuses. Today, the Left's refusal to engage in new ideas online merely means that they are the ones without a platform. We've long been told that mass immigration boosts our economy, for example. But evidence from Europe increasingly suggests that immigration from some societies can be a social and cultural disaster. Once again, the Left sidesteps the debate, ignoring what anyone online can see are among the most pressing questions of our time. What is so striking about Media Matters' list of so-called Right-wing shows is how many of them were not until recently regarded as Right wing at all. Rogan used to align with various progressive positions a decade or so ago. Jordan Peterson started out on the Left. What has moved them to the Right is a willingness to ask questions, or rather the Left's censorious refusal to even consider alternative points of view. Perhaps a willingness to engage with the world doesn't so much make you Right politically. It also makes you more likely to be right, as in correct.
