Latest news with #NelkBoys
CBC
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Why did the Nelk Boys talk to Benjamin Netanyahu?
Two members of the Nelk Boys, a famous group of Canadian-American YouTubers known for their prank videos, recently released an interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The interview aired on the Full Send podcast. Hosted by Kyle Forgeard and Aaron Steinberg, the conversation ran for more than an hour, and it has earned almost two million views as well as more than 36,000 comments on YouTube alone. In this podcast-exclusive episode of Commotion, political commentator and streamer Hasan Piker, as well as political journalists Justin Ling and Alyssa Mercante join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to react to the interview, and unpack what it reveals about the current media landscape.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ilia Topuria faces ultimatum from rival ahead of potential UFC title clash
The Georgian-Spanish fighter won the lightweight title in June but has since faced calls to give up the title after brutally dismissing a top contender Ilia Topuria has been savagely told by Arman Tsarukyan to "give up the belt" after the lightweight champion snubbed the top contender. 'El Matador' stepped up to lightweight earlier this year and was instantly granted a crack at the vacant title after Islam Makhachev chose to relinquish the strap. The 28-year-old faced Charles Oliveira in the main event at UFC 317 back in June. The Georgian-Spanish fighter would go on to become a two-division champion after he flattened Oliveira inside the opening round. The drama didn't end there as Topuria's rival Paddy Pimblett was ringside for the event and instantly charged into the octagon. The pair then traded verbal blows before Topuria then pushed the Liverpudlian. It appeared like a bout between the two bitter enemies would be next, but UFC legend Chael Sonnen claimed that the promotion has different plans - and that Tsarukyan would be next for the champion, reports All Out Fighting. Nevertheless, Sonnen's remarks came just days after Topuria dismissed Tsarukyan and insists he would surrender the title if compelled to fight the Armenian. "If I'm the world champion, I'm never going to give him a chance," Topuria said on the Nelk Boys YouTube channel. "I will be like, 'Listen if that's the case, take my belt. I don't do it.'" The Armenian has been left furious by the champion's remarks and has since demanded the former featherweight king to surrender the title. During a press conference in Los Angeles, Tsarukyan responded to Topuria's recent comments. "If he feels he's going to lose that fight, it's better to give up the belt and go up, or wait for what happens with me," he retorted. "He knows I'm a big problem for him, and I'm going to get his title. He knows that, and he wants to get an easy fight with Paddy, Gaethje, or somebody [else]. Just make money and don't defend. But with me? It's going to be hard for him. "I already told them I'm ready in September, October, I train twice a day and I'm healthy now," Tsarukyan added. "But if they told me October with somebody [else], and then December with Ilia, sure! I'll fight [Dan Hooker], but my goal is a title fight, because I know I deserve it and I'm the number one contender." UFC legend Michael Bisping didn't hold back in his critique of lightweight champion Topuria, following the latter's recent comments. Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Bisping questioned: "Is Ilia Topuria pulling a Jon Jones? Because Arman Tsarukyan is a real threat to anybody, he is a tremendous fighter." He went on to commend Tsarukyan's abilities, stating: "I know a lot of people discredit him for pulling out at the last minute, and rightly so, that's not a good look. However, he's a really, really good fighter, simple as that. He can do it all. He's got the striking, the wrestling, the cardio, the strength. He's very young, he's in his prime. The man's an absolute monster. Ilia Topuria said if the UFC made him fight Arman Tsarukyan, he would vacate the belt." Bisping continued: "He wants nothing to do with Arman Tsarukyan. So now Arman Tsarukyan's out there, he's making videos of little ducks. He's doing a Tom Aspinall, taking a duck wherever he went with him. Remember that whole saga with Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall? But now we've got a new version. Now it's Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan. Arman Tsarukyan's even making a bet, offering him $500,000, half a million bucks if he beats him. Doing whatever he can to get the fight." When is Ilia Topuria's next fight? With Makhachev expected to compete at welterweight before potentially dropping back down to lightweight, it seems highly probable that Topuria will have one more bout before facing the Dagestani fighter. Supporters could witness 'El Matador' enter the octagon once more this year - with December being a realistic timeframe. Regarding who's next in line, that remains uncertain. Justin Gaethje appears to be a potential opponent and Topuria's manager Lukasz Orzel recently told Kanał Sportowy that the former interim champion is the "closest" to securing the bout. "Third belt is a matter of time. For now, we've given our word to the UFC that we will stay at lightweight," Orzel said. "We're waiting to see who comes up as the natural contender. We'd like to fight again this year. Gaethje is the closest, time will tell if it's him."
Al Jazeera
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al Jazeera
Beat the press – Why Netanyahu sat down with the Nelk Boys
Tel Aviv nightlife and the Burger King order of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were among the talking points of a viral podcast interview with the Nelk Boys. Influencer-driven podcasts are seeing a broader trend of interest in friendly interviews from world leaders and politicians, from Donald Trump to Kamala Harris. What happens when the powerful speak to massive new audiences without journalism?
Al Jazeera
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Jazeera
The Take: Beat the press – Why Netanyahu sat down with the Nelk Boys
Tel Aviv nightlife and the Burger King order of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were among the talking points of a viral podcast interview with the Nelk Boys. Influencer-driven podcasts are seeing a broader trend of interest in friendly interviews from world leaders and politicians, from Donald Trump to Kamala Harris. What happens when the powerful speak to massive new audiences without journalism? In this episode: Nathan Robinson (@NathanJRobinson) – Editor-in-Chief, Current Affairs Episode credits: This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Chloe K. Li, and Noor Wazwaz, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Melanie Marich, Kisaa Zehra, Marya Khan, and our guest host Manuel Rapalo. It was edited by Kylene Kiang. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take's executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
ABC News
30-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Even Benjamin Netanyahu's biggest backer, Donald Trump, doesn't believe him on claims of 'no starvation' in Gaza
For a man who is in the media each and every day, Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't give many interviews. But we now know his burger preferences. The Israeli prime minister has only done two press conferences in Israel since late last year, working the local press into a state of exasperation. His preferred method of messaging is through his office distributing pre-recorded video missives. It's this pattern of behaviour that made his appearance on a podcast late last week all the more jarring, not least because of how the discussion turned from military manoeuvring to the more mundane. When he sat down with the Nelk Boys, social media pranksters turned right-wing podcasters, Mr Netanyahu was asked what his "go-to" at McDonald's was. The Israeli prime minister shot back that Burger King was his fast-food purveyor of choice. "You know, the double …" he said, gesturing to suggest the thickness of the meat patty. "I like Burger King." One of the hosts retorted, "that was your worst take" — clearly, a fan of the golden arches. To be discussing such issues at a time when hundreds of thousands of Gazans were starving, many having not consumed a meal in days, can be seen as evidence of how detached Mr Netanyahu is from the realities in Gaza, and how such attitudes are commonplace in Israel, at least among the nation's politicians. Imagine the uproar in Australia if there was famine on its doorstep, and a prime minister was fielding questions about his Uber Eats order. But in Israel, the comments have barely caused a ripple. Benjamin Netanyahu is becoming more and more isolated on the world stage, as his rhetoric on the conditions in Gaza becomes more and more fanciful. While announcing an easing of restrictions on aid deliveries in the strip, following a total humanitarian blockade of Gaza in March and the establishment of private aid distribution in mid-May, the prime minister made a startling claim. "Israel is presented as though we are applying a campaign of starvation in Gaza," he told a Christian conference in Jerusalem on Sunday. "What a bold-faced lie. "There is no policy of starvation in Gaza, and there is no starvation in Gaza." The reason that is startling is because of what is happening on the ground, less than 100 kilometres from Jerusalem. Babies, barely skin and bone, have been dying in their mothers' arms. Adults have been fainting in the street, unable to continue. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza have reported more than 140 deaths from starvation, and among them, more than 80 children. They make up a proportion of the more than 60,000 who have been killed during the war — a figure Israel disputes without providing its own data, but which experts believe is likely an under-reporting of the deaths. On Tuesday, the United Nations-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) issued an alert that corroborated almost everything humanitarian agencies had been saying for months. "The worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip," it said. Earlier that day, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Labor's caucus Israeli "claims that there's no starvation in Gaza are beyond comprehension." While Mr Netanyahu is unlikely to listen to the resident of The Lodge in Canberra, comments from the current occupant of the White House in Washington would be cause for concern. "Some of those kids are — that's real starvation stuff," US President Donald Trump said on Monday. "I see it, and you can't fake that." For Mr Trump, image is everything. The property mogul turned reality TV star turned politician understands the power of such scenes from a public relations perspective, if not from a humanitarian perspective, too. His statement suggested the ties binding the US administration and the Netanyahu government may be fraying, ever so slightly, even as the Israeli foreign minister tried to downplay it. "I believe it will be very hard to try to find gaps between Israel and the US in terms of policies, including with regards to Gaza Strip," Gideon Sa'ar said. The comments from the president won't carry much weight, however, unless he pressures his friend "Bibi" to change course — something not publicly clear at this stage, even as the pair differ on the state of suffering in Gaza. Benjamin Netanyahu's language is not that surprising when you listen to how others in Israel's political ranks talk. His comments play into the justified public anger directed at Hamas for its deadly attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the fact that the group still holds 50 Israelis captive. But it also appeals to his political base in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. Mr Netanyahu's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir — a member of his coalition, from a smaller party propping up his government — has said far more incendiary things during 22 months of war. The firebrand, who has criminal convictions for supporting a terrorist organisation, has spoken in the past of bombing Hamas's food stores and has recently also denied that hunger is present across Gaza. He was furious with the decision of Mr Netanyahu to partially ease aid restrictions, saying he was cut out of the decision-making process. "Prime minister, stop the spitting in the face of our fighters!" he posted on social media platform X. Mr Ben-Gvir has repeatedly threatened to quit the government, and followed through on it when the last ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas was agreed to in mid-January. This time around, while venting his fury, he hasn't drafted his resignation letter. Mr Netanyahu is hoping that people like Mr Ben-Gvir and fellow right-winger Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, will consume his insistence that there's no starvation in Gaza with enthusiasm. His eagerness to please them, while yielding to international pressure to ease the crisis in Gaza, has become even more apparent as Israeli media starts reporting on his new plans for the future of the strip. The newspaper Haaretz said the prime minister wanted to present a plan to his cabinet to use the threat of annexation of Gaza as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Hamas. If Hamas doesn't agree to terms within days, Israel would start illegally seizing territory in the strip, bit by bit. The prime minister has faced accusations of prolonging the war to save his political career, pandering to that hard-line rump of his coalition. And while tens of thousands are taking to the streets of Israel every week to demand he agree to a ceasefire and hostage deal, there is also a large part of the Israeli community who agree. Even those wanting an end to the war have nothing but anger for Hamas over the situation the group has fuelled, and the suffering it has inflicted. Many Israelis do not see pictures of starvation in Gaza. The front page of some right-wing papers will feature photos of soldiers, without mention of emaciated babies. This is what Mr Netanyahu is banking on, as he makes such outlandish statements, hoping to find more Israeli friends in the Burger King camp than an international community demanding his scalp.
