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New attention on Bankhead claim she was offered job to leave Senate race, DNC denies allegation
Montana’s U.S. Senate race was at the center of political controversy again this week, over an allegation from the Democratic nominee that she had been offered a job if she would drop out of the race.
The Politics Hour: On the road in Prince George's County with U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks and Council Chair Krystal Oriadha
U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks on what's at stake in the upcoming midterm elections and Prince George's County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha on the widening controversy over county grant money.
Political experts weigh in on Ramaswamy-Acton ad controversy
A controversial new ad from Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign is drawing backlash for featuring the mother of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton and calling
News 6 is being sued over a political ad. Here's why it matters to you
The Republican Party of Florida has sued News 6 and multiple Orlando and Tampa Bay television stations over a political ad about the Hope Florida controversy, arguing broadcasting the “gist” of an erased grand jury report is a crime.
Natasha Lyonne sparks controversy with 'prefer Trump' social media post
Natasha Lyonne's recent social media activity has upset some fans, who are accusing her of supporting President Donald Trump.
‘The Simpsons’ revives Apu following years of controversy
Across 38 seasons of “The Simpsons,” the Halloween-themed “Treehouse of Horror” episodes have always been a treat of spooky stand-alone storylines. On Sunday, the show surprised viewers with a majo…
How a controversial lift on 'Dancing With the Stars' and a reference to Will Smith's Oscars slap led to pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy's suspension
The controversy began when judge Carrie Ann Inaba told Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson that their routine included a move that is not allowed in traditional samba.
“DWTS”’ Emma Slater defends boyfriend Alan Bersten as Val Chmerkovskiy’s Dedication Night replacement
Chmerkovskiy is benched for week 6 amid an ongoing controversy.
Controversial Adobe clones prove desktop Googlebook apps are closer than I thought
If you have spent any time following tech news or developer forums over the past couple of weeks, you have likely run into the massive controversy surrounding ArtCraft. Created by developer Brandon...
Data Centers Are Skewing Political Party Lines in Texas
Data centers have emerged as a hot-button issue this election season. Could the controversy lead to big wins for Democratic hopefuls?
'The Simpsons' shocks with return of Apu after controversy
Apu is back on "The Simpsons." In the animated series' latest episode, the character spoke for the first time in almost 10 years.
Jenna Dewan’s fiancé shows support after Val Chmerkovskiy “DWTS ”controversy: ‘We got you!’
After Chmerkovskiy was benched for online comments about judge Carrie Ann Inaba, Dewan will dance with eliminated pro Alan Bersten on Tuesday.
Jenna Dewan’s fiancé shows support after Val Chmerkovskiy ‘DWTS’ controversy: ‘We got you!’
Jenna Dewan’s fiancé, stage actor Steve Kazee, is sticking up for the ‘Rookie’ star after her ‘DWTS’ partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, was benched for online comments about judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
Jenna Dewan’s new ‘DWTS’ dance partner revealed amid Val Chmerkovskiy controversy
Alan Bersten and Jenna Dewan will dance together on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ this week as Val Chmerkovskiy takes a step back from the ballroom following his comments directed toward judge Carrie Ann Inaba.
Inside Hegseth’s political ambitions — and the risks threatening them
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has rarely shied away from controversy, but his latest spectacle — announcing that the convicted Fort Hood mass shooter’s execution would be livestreamed — proved a bridge too far even for President Donald Trump.
Controversy over Musk military system in Ukraine pitches relations with US into deeper crisis
The worst crisis in US-Ukraine relations since last year’s Oval Office meltdown is deteriorating further over a dispute about who ordered a disruption to a critical Ukrainian military system running on Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service.
Controversy over Musk military system in Ukraine pitches relations with US into deeper crisis
The worst crisis in US-Ukraine relations since last year’s Oval Office meltdown is deteriorating further over a dispute about who ordered a disruption to a critical Ukrainian military system running on Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service.
Oct. 15: Why Feds Are Investigating Rep. Ilhan Omar and Why Science Journalist Cleo Abram is Optimistic about AI
Just weeks before the midterm elections, federal agents searched the home of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., seizing her phone and issuing around a dozen subpoenas, two people familiar with the DOJ investigation told NBC News. NBC News senior justice reporter Ryan J. Reilly explains how the move fits into a broader trend of the DOJ going after President Trump’s perceived political enemies and why it’s so unusual to launch this kind of probe right before an election. Then, Cleo Abram is a video journalist and the host of the widely popular YouTube series “HUGE* if true” and “HUGE* conversations,” where she looks at the potential and the solutions offered by science and technology. Cleo talks about why she’s still a tech optimist in light of growing AI doomerism and how her interviews with industry leaders have shaped her perspective on security and regulation. Lastly, we wade into the internet’s favorite controversy this week: singer and TV personality Kelly Clarkson’s social media fight with a Brooklyn shop over a mechanical bird. NBC News entertainment correspondent Chloe Melas spills the tea on the back-and-forth – and why the bird is now going for $15 million.
Kid Rock talks political controversy, AI music, new haircut and more
On the eve of his Christian album, Kid Rock addresses his remarks about Islam, celebrates his friendship with Pope Leo's brother, and more.
Rafael Jodar Embroiled in Yet Another Ball Kid Controversy
Jodar told a ball boy to “give me the fucking towel.”
SEC opposes LSU bid to end lawsuit - Dispute remains 'live'
The SEC is opposing LSU's request to dismiss the conference's lawsuit against the university and its officials, saying a live controversy still exists between the parties.
‘Why Isn’t He Suspended?’ ‘He’s Getting Reckless on an Everyday Basis’ — NFL Legend Tears Into Stephen A. Smith’s ‘Despicable’ Comments on Mental Health
Stephen A. Smith has been a very popular voice in the sports industry, and he is not new to controversy for his unfiltered takes.
Bears Release Frustrating News Amid Quasi-QB Controversy
Chicago Bears fans don't have a clear picture of where the team is heading at quarterback, and the Bears aren't helping matters. The post Bears Release Frustrating News Amid Quasi-QB Controversy appeared first on HEAVY.
What Happened When Kelly Clarkson Publicly Trashed a Small Brooklyn Toy Shop Should Scare Every Business Owner
When Kelly Clarkson publicly criticized a small Brooklyn toy shop, it sparked controversy. Why it's terrifying for entrepreneurs.
Animosity in North Carolina, and MA shooting stars
In this edition of Health Care Inc., we examine the controversy around the health plan covering North Carolina's public workers and retirees, and more.
"That was not received well at Nintendo" - as GTA 6 and Zelda are lampooned by Saturday Night Live, former employees recall Elon Musk Wario skit controversy
As American comedy series Saturday Night Live airs a sketch lampooning the November showdown between Grand Theft Auto 6…
Jay Bothroyd disagrees with Dermot Gallagher after latest Everton controversy
David Moyes in Everton gear and Jay Bothroyd on Sky Sports
How Ownership and Politics Might Force the Braves to Trade This Star
The Atlanta Braves might have a much bigger problem on their hands than another disappointing postseason exit. Franchise superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. is suddenly at the center of controversy, and the possibility of Atlanta trading its former MVP is becoming a legitimate offseason talking point. During a recent episode of Acuña’s podcast La Bestia ,…
Broncos Take a Step Sideways After Play-Calling Controversy
The Denver Broncos changed play-callers, but most of the offensive results were similar.
Interra Credit Union completes acquisition of Ohio bank
Interra Credit Union said Saturday it has completed its acquisition of The Hicksville Bank in Ohio, a deal that raised controversy when announced in April.
California high school football team forfeits game amid controversy
California's Piner High School forfeited a football game due to a shortage of healthy linemen, a day after students walked out over a captain's post.
🗞️ Today's front pages: Madrid scrape through, Barça unstoppable
After a Saturday packed with news and controversy, let's take a look at the front pages of the sports newspapers. MARCAASMundo DeportivoSPORTSuperdeporteL'EquipeLa Gazzetta dello SportCorriere dello S...
New Ed Sheeran tour openers revealed after Macklemore controversy
NEW YORK — Ed Sheeran has found a couple of new opening acts for the United States leg of his Loop Tour amid controversy sparked by his ex-opener, Macklemore, who
🚨 Bombshell in Portugal: Federation confirms Ronaldo's suspension!
This afternoon, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) officially broke its silence on the controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo. In a statement published by the Portuguese newspaper ‘A Bola��...
Maresca: Man City players can shut out controversy against Liverpool
Enzo Maresca has no concerns about his players' mentality as Manchester City brace themselves for a hostile reception at Liverpool. City travel to Anfield on Sunday for their first match since it was announced the club had been found guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial regulations.
New Atrium Health program causing controversy
The State Treasurer's Office is asking a judge to put a hold on a new Atrium Health program.
New Atrium Health program causing controversy
The State Treasurer's Office is asking a judge to put a hold on a new Atrium Health program.
Group uses Governor Pillen contract controversy to launch business grant program
As early voting gets underway in Nebraska, a government contract that has dogged Gov. Jim Pillen's administration for months is once again drawing attention in the governor's race.
River respond! Production firm blames CARP for Messi farewell errors
The problems at Messi's farewell to the Argentina national team remain at the center of controversy, as production company Marketing Sports issued a statement this Thursday blaming River for all the i...
Vance, Rubio brush off questions about claim that Guilfoyle asked donor to pay $100K Amex bill
Allegations by former congressional candidate Eric Deters are the latest controversy to swirl around the U.S. ambassador to Greece.
Schumer, Jeffries dodge Mamdani controversy as fellow New York Dem unloads
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Oct. 7 anniversary statement drew sharp criticism, but Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries have stayed notably silent.
Did AI find a new gene-editing tool? Why Anthropic’s ‘autonomous discovery’ is sparking controversy
Anthropic’s claim its AI agents discovered an unusual pattern in viral DNA similar to what’s seen in the gene-editing tool CRISPR Cas-9 has set off a wave of skepticism and controversy. Here’s what to know.
🥐 Unstoppable Spain, farewell to Leo: Wednesday’s 5️⃣ stories
The football action on October 7 brought qualification for Spain's senior and Under-21 teams, Leo Messi's emotional farewell to Argentina, controversy surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo, and the battle for...
‘The Science Doesn’t Back It Up’ — Controversy Erupts As Chris Nowinski’s Guardian Cap Critique Divides Fans
Chris Nowinski is not sold on the Guardian Cap. On Pablo Torre Finds Out, Pablo Torre’s podcast, posted Tuesday, the co-founder of Boston University’s CTE Center told Torre the story behind the padded helmet cover looks like something of a scam.
Susan Collins, a political survivor, tries to outrun Trump
In her bid for a sixth term representing Maine, Susan Collins has been beset by President Donald Trump weighing her down with constant controversy.
"Is it a real Harold's?" Controversy surrounds Robbins business after shooting
A popular chicken shack in Robbins has been ordered to stop doing business under the Harold’s Chicken name.
Ms. Rachel stirs controversy with 'genocide' post amid Gaza war
Ms. Rachel may be a star, but she has bigger priorities than Hollywood.
Why I Don’t Think Ride Or Die Should Have Been Cancelled (And What Company Should Save It...)
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) So…I recently came across a Reddit thread, talking about films on streaming, wondering why there are no reliable sources out there for streaming ratings data. Sigh. Honestly, as annoyed as I am that so many still don’t realize that we have streaming ratings, I somewhat get it. Until now, there was such a long delay between when a show or film came to streaming and when we got its viewership data; I understand why people were confused. (But, as you know, this just changed.) Also, even back in the day, how many people knew how well films did on television? Luckily, as a reader, you’re in the know. Okay, on to this week’s issue. I want to take a look at Prime Video cancelling Ride or Die and whether I agree with that decision. Overall, we didn’t have any breakout hits (no TV shows landed over 20 million hours according to Nielsen) but we have a lot of steady performers on the streaming charts. Plus, we’ll look at where $50 million in missing box office dollars went. (Spoiler: straight-to-streaming.) All that, plus new episodes of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Supergirl heads to streaming, a new YA show does well on Netflix, the viewership for the Daily Wire’s $50 million fantasy show, what TV show hit-maker can’t make streaming hits, CD sales, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of September 7th to September 13th, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Television - Ride or Die Is a Hit…But It Got Cancelled? What The Data “Says” I hate the phrase “here’s what the data says”, even though sometimes I find myself using it. If data just told us everything, we data folks would be out of a job! Data is often messy, complicated and nuanced. When it comes to strategy, many of the best decisions can’t actually use “data”, since it’s vastly too complicated to model. Anyways, I’ve been singing the praises of Prime Video’s Ride Or Die this summer, a show that did very well for them. And yet…it got cancelled. Now, usually when a show gets cancelled, a bunch of websites say “a hit show got cancelled”... Here’s the thing, though: in this case, they’re right! The data “says” that this show was a hit. Specifically, out of 522 first seasons to make a week on the Nielsen charts since 2020, it’s the 75th biggest. On Amazon, Ride or Die is eighth out of 41 first seasons: That’s top 15th percentile all time, almost exactly, which is my definition of a “hit”! I mean, outside of Reacher, Amazon needed a hit this summer! (Admittedly, Off Campus did well for Amazon in the spring, but Ride or Die performed even better.) So what happened? Why did Amazon cancel one of their rare 2026 bright spots? Well, Deadline reported a reason—which I’ll get to—but I’d break it down into three relevant questions: What is a given streamer’s reasoning? Is that reasoning sound? Could the stated reason not be the real reason? According to Deadline, Amazon felt the show “over-indexed” in middle-aged women. (This was based on leaks from within Amazon.) The logic is this: Amazon already reaches this demographic because of unlimited two-day shipping bundled with Prime, so they don’t really need more shows like this. Now, it’s my job to ask if that’s a good reason, and I’ll be honest, in this case, I don’t think it is. Sure, this show may “over-index” in middle-aged women—I’ll just assume that’s the case here—but I think folks often oversell how important over-indexing actually is. When a show is a “hit”, it isn’t a bit bigger than its rivals; it’s usually multiples bigger. For example, Elle only made the charts for two weeks at 8.3 million hours each. So Ride or Die was 80% bigger in its first two weeks, and likely had a much stronger hold, with its terrific 13 million hours in week three. Ride or Die was nearly three times bigger than Sterling Point through three weeks too. And that means that _Elle, Sterling Point a_nd other Amazon YA shows need to not just over-index a little with younger women (assuming that’s who Amazon prefers over middle-aged women), but massively over-index. Otherwise, more people in that demo (and a bunch more besides) likely watched Ride or Die. (I’ll try to explore this concept more in a future article.) And don’t get me started on how Ride or Die did compared to a certain (very, very popular, possibly the world’s most popular) YouTuber’s reality show…which didn’t make the charts after its first week and likely cost much, much more than Ride or Die. All to say, Amazon-MGM Studios/Prime Video can tell reporters that this show didn’t reach the right audience, but that excuse feels weak to me. So this leads to the third question: could other reasons have come into play? Yes! Renewal or cancellation decisions rarely (I’m tempted to say “never”) boil down to one variable. At its simplest, it’s two things: budget versus viewership. But often factors like critical acclaim, ownership and, yes, personal opinion come into play. In this case, Amazon has a new executive running things, and this show isn’t owned by Amazon-MGM Studios (unlike Elle). And yes, it may not have indexed with the right target viewers, too. Likely all of those factors came into play.1 My guess is ownership ended up mattering most. Amazon doesn’t own Ride or Die. It’s actually produced by another major studio. Fortunately/allegedly, this show is being shopped around. I can think of one brand new CEO who should consider it for one of his two major streamers…especially if he wants to rebuild goodwill in Hollywood. His name is on this list of exec producers of Ride or Die… If David Ellison needs some goodwill—and he does—rescue this female-led show tomorrow and grab some good headlines for a day. The data justifies it. Quick Notes on TV We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… How The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives latest season did on Hulu, post-controversy... Whether Supergirl soared on HBO Max... Why the box office is losing money due to the streamers... The viewership for the Daily Wire’s $50 million fantasy show... Updates on The Gentlemen, Lanterns, Outer Banks, King of the Hill and more... What former hit-maker has three streaming flops in a row... Whether The Mandalorian and Grogu popped in week two... All the flops, bombs and misses... And a whole lot more... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. If you want an idea of just how much content you’d get in a full issue, check out this older issue. Coming Soon! Oh man, we’re almost caught up! We just have two more issues, then the streaming Ratings Report will be coming out just two weeks after a TV show premieres! Next issue, I’ll be looking at the first two weeks of the NFL Thursday night games on streaming, a huge new spinoff, Reacher’s Neagly on Prime Video, and the latest edition of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story on Netflix, the return of Slow Horses on Apple and MobLand (quietly one of their biggest shows) on Paramount+, and Dancing with the Stars on both ABC and Disney+. Plus I’ll take a look at animation for adults in 2026. The week after, a ton of movies are coming to streaming: Toy Story 5 on Disney+, Backrooms on HBO Max, Jackass: Best and Last on Paramount+ and The Breadwinner on Netflix, plus a Unabomber film on Netflix and a romcom on Prime Video. Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey have a show on Apple, along with a game show inspired by Willy Wonka that everyone seems to hate. Long term, some crazy (but hopefully crazy like a fox) IP news. FX ordered a new Sons of Anarchy show from Charlie Hunnam, but it’s not about the biker gang. No, it features the show’s cast playing themselves in a new “meta-thriller”. Huh. And a lot of the cast is coming back. Next, Ryan Gosling is producing a Flintstones movie about a “grown-up Bamm-Bamm Rubble”. Also, huh. This one is in “early development” so we’ll see what happens. Both projects are based on IP, but also seem to have crazy takes on the IP, which I like.
The Resurrection of Gio Reyna
Once a promising prodigy, 23-year-old Gio Reyna has turned a turbulent USMNT career marked by controversy into an opportunity for mentorship. No player has benefited more from the start of the 2030 cy...
COMMENTARY: Should MacIntyre or Brandon be QB1 this week?
Tennessee football has a legitimate quarterback controversy. Hope it doesn't ruin Faizon Brandon.
A familiar figure, a new voice: Meryl Streep’s Aslan stirs gender debate over Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’
Director Greta Gerwig's film adaptation from "The Chronicles of Narnia" is sparking controversy over casting of Meryl Streep to voice Aslan the divine lion in "Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew.".
A familiar figure, a new voice: Meryl Streep's Aslan stirs gender debate over Gerwig's ‘Narnia’
Director Greta Gerwig's film adaptation from "The Chronicles of Narnia" is sparking controversy over casting of Meryl Streep to voice Aslan the divine lion in "Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew." Some...
A familiar figure, a new voice: Meryl Streep's Aslan stirs gender debate over Gerwig's ‘Narnia’
Director Greta Gerwig's film adaptation from "The Chronicles of Narnia" is sparking controversy over casting of Meryl Streep to voice Aslan the divine lion in "Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew." | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM
Latter-day Saints women turn away from scandal-plagued Republican candidate in Arizona
Arizona Republican candidate for Congress Mark Lamb has been accused of sexual misconduct while sheriff. His controversy is turning many voters away as Democrats see an opportunity in the red seat.
Latter-day Saints women turn away from scandal-plagued Republican candidate in Arizona
Arizona Republican candidate for Congress Mark Lamb has been accused of sexual misconduct while sheriff. His controversy is turning many voters away as Democrats see an opportunity in the red seat.
Demi Moore reflects on controversial ‘Striptease’ pay: ‘Why should I not get equal to what I deserve?’
Demi Moore is looking back on the controversy that flared up after she became the highest-paid woman in Hollywood for ‘Striptease,’ which left her wondering, ‘Why should I not get equal to what I deserve?’
Ed Sheeran, Macklemore fallout shouldn't be personalized, Bono says
U2 frontman Bono has weighed in on the ongoing controversy involving Ed Sheeran after Macklemore was removed from the singer's tour when venues objected to the rapper's pro-Palestinian remarks.
🛫Real Madrid ease fears after Mbappé’s trip to Paris
Real Madrid has moved to dispel any hint of controversy, stating that Kylian Mbappé’s trip to the French capital was fully agreed upon between the player and the club. Unable to train or receive tr...
Real Madrid boss Mourinho labels Cristiano Ronaldo comments ‘fake’
Real Madrid head coach José Mourinho has moved to distance himself from any and all comments regarding the situation of Cristiano Ronaldo at present.This of course comes amid a controversy-filled las...
Ms. Rachel mixes politics with preschool fame as toy expert weighs whether controversy could impact sales
James Zahn, editor-in-chief of "The Toy Book," weighs in on Ms. Rachel’s political statements and explains why controversy may not have much impact on her booming children’s brand.
👀Jorge Jesus gets major backing after Cristiano scandal
Portugal are facing Denmark, and a group of fans have publicly expressed their firm support for coach Jorge Jesus following the huge controversy sparked by Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from the tra...
Ace Combat 8 developer apologises for Belkan War pre-order backlash, explains why it happened and vows to explore possible solutions
The team behind Ace Combat 8 has issued a statement in response to the controversy surrounding the game's pre-order bonus game, The Belkan War.
Ed Sheeran performs in Atlanta: What to know about the controversy
Ed Sheeran's tour stops at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium Saturday. We answer some questions about his upcoming concert and controversy.
Jared Goff clears up ‘controversy’ about Ben Johnson’s mobility comment
Ben Johnson made another comment about Jared Goff’s mobility, but the Lions QB brushed it off.
Can the government use taxpayer money for political commercials? New pro-Trump TV ads raise questions
Controversy erupts around Ace Combat 8 on PC as bundled Belkan War re-release remains problematically attached to the new game, whereas it's standalone on console
Early adopters of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve were not happy to find one of the game's most exciting pre-order bonuses isn't quite what was advertised.
Lesbian Bar Project Co-Founder: Purity Politics Could Destroy Our Remaining Spaces
Subscribe As a professional lesbian and Massachusetts native, I’ve recently been asked by a lot of folks what I think about the saga unfolding at Last Ditch. The now-viral story, first reported by The Boston Globe, centers on a Western Massachusetts lesbian bar that lifted its mask requirement for one night a week to help drum up business. The decision ignited an intra-queer controversy that has been feasted on by media outlets across the political spectrum—from the New York Post to LGBTQ Nation—and is even reportedly being eyed for a Hollywood adaptation. Apparently nothing is more entertaining than a bunch of lesbians and queers fighting with each other over KN-95s. What has been lost in all of the chatter and media coverage is the very real possibility that Last Ditch, which just opened in April 2025, will have to close its doors. The venue’s one remaining founder, Jackie Matellian, revealed in a community Zoom meeting that she’s working four jobs, is now solely responsible for the bar’s $50,000 business loan and is struggling to keep up with the bills. So as we laugh about the controversy’s similarity to a “Portlandia” skit and how one of the bar’s founders left to enroll in clown school, we forget that yet another lesbian bar is facing an existential crisis—and this time the call is coming from inside the house. In 2020, my friend Elina Street and I created The Lesbian Bar Project, an Emmy-, Webby- and GLAAD Media Award-winning docuseries and initiative that tells the stories of lesbian queer bars around the world. We were moved to act because at the time there were only an estimated 16 lesbian bars in the United States, and the pandemic threatened to bring that number down even further. There are now more sapphic bars than there were just before the pandemic—about 36 of them in total—but this is down from approximately 200 in 1980. Maybe that doesn’t mean much to you, but for the millions of sapphics living in the U.S., this number is calamitous. As the world laughs at lesbians and sapphics, I want to take a second and tell you what I feel when I walk into one of these bars, which are all unique and irreplaceable in their own way: I feel seen. Sometimes I think Cubbyhole in New York City’s West Village neighborhood knew I was gay before I did. When I walked in there for the first time, before I was even out, I was transfixed by the colorful array of tchotchkes hanging from the ceiling and how the women standing next to me were completely unafraid to express their desire for one another. I knew the minute I was ready to come out, I had a home. I also felt the joy of a new couple falling in love at Seattle’s Wildrose, the quiet confidence of a short king lining up her shot at the pool table at Ginger’s in Brooklyn and the kick of cayenne pepper in Julie Mabry’s crawfish at Houston’s Pearl Bar. Subscribe Lesbian bars don’t just serve lesbians; they serve queer folks across the spectrum, including bisexual, pansexual and trans people. As Elina and I traveled across the U.S. and Europe and to parts of Latin America to document the bar owners, staff and patrons that make up the ecosystems of these spaces, we also became uniquely acquainted with the factors that threaten their existence: gentrification, wage gaps, sexism, environmental disasters, gun violence, rising insurance premiums and political administrations working to annihilate queer people and their families. Lesbian bar owners, like all leaders and entrepreneurs, are imperfect. There have been significant issues over the years at lesbian bars: employee harassment, racism, lack of accessibility, sexual assault and transphobia. All bar owners should be held accountable and should listen to their communities to evolve into safer and more equitable spaces. I also acknowledge my privilege: I am able-bodied, white, cis and from a family system that loves me for who I am. Not everyone has that. Queer people, especially trans and bisexual people, are suffering from disproportionately high levels of depression, and our mental health system isn’t equipped to support them. Immunocompromised people and long COVID are real, and many of my friends are suffering to this day. The people with the least safety net are often the ones for whom a bar closing costs the most. And yet, as we’re seeing with Last Ditch, the queer community often lashes out at each other. It’s also the mainstream media taking the internal conflict and making a mockery out of it, distracting from the real possibility that this bar could close due to financial pressures. A bar that many people loved and needed is facing extinction. Perhaps it’s safer to dissent with one another than with the larger forces trying to eradicate us, but in doing so, we risk destroying the few spaces we have left. Due to the constraints of purity politics—some in good faith, some not so much—lesbian bar owners, almost all of whom are queer women themselves, are forced to be everything for everyone, similarly to how women are forced to be everything for everyone. By asking these bars to uphold impossible standards—standards very few other third spaces are asked to consider—we all end up losing. I want to move as a community toward dialogue, compassionate dissent and collaboration to make our spaces better with the goal of keeping them OPEN and thriving, rather than destroying them from the inside with expectations that are arguably unattainable. Subscribe While I have your attention—for this fleeting second of the news cycle—may I urge us to spearhead a way to keep these small businesses afloat without attacking our own community along the way? Bar owners are left with an impasse: They want to be community-centered, but they also have to make money to keep their doors open. Sometimes they might make business decisions that don’t work for everyone—and that’s partly because different patrons have different priorities and want different things—but these owners deserve the opportunity for productive dialogue**.** We have to work with them and with each other to keep our spaces open, to keep them growing. Lesbian bars raised me into the queer woman I am today. One thing I think about as I reflect on the six years of work we’ve done to document these spaces is that shared, unspoken language I have with a stranger the moment we both walk into one of these bars: the nod, the ease, the not having to explain ourselves. I don’t want to lose that, and neither should you. If objective, nonpartisan, rigorous, LGBTQ-focused journalism is important to you, please consider making a tax-deductible donation through our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, Resource Impact, by clicking this button: Donate
GOP senator says buildings shouldn't be named after living politicians
Sen. John Kennedy says politicians should not have buildings named after them while alive. "I think that would settle a lot of this controversy."
GOP senator says buildings shouldn't be named after living politicians
Sen. John Kennedy says politicians should not have buildings named after them while alive. "I think that would settle a lot of this controversy."
Main sponsor? Firm 🔞 offers millions to Corinthians and Flamengo
Amid the controversy over the end of betting companies, the +18 platform Fatal Model offered MILLIONS in an attempt to become the main sponsor of Corinthians and Flamengo.The adult content company off...
Dani Hourani shares journey from prison to impact, mental health, Mayor Mary Sheffield controversy
Jamie Sherrod sits down with Dani Hourani, Director of Team Wellness Center, to discuss his 6 year anniversary of being released from prison 28 years ago, the impact he's had on the community and more.
Ireland's Controversial Nations League Fixtures: The Inescapable Connection Between Sport And Politics
On Sunday, the national men’s European football teams of Israel and the Republic of Ireland will face each other at a stadium in Hungary. A week later, they will meet once more, this time in Serbia. The very existence of these two games has created a lot of controversy, especially among Irish fans. Politics related […] The post Ireland’s Controversial Nations League Fixtures: The Inescapable Connection Between Sport And Politics appeared first on Stadium Rant.
Slime Molds and the Growing Science Controversy Around “Intelligence”
Instead of claiming, like the eliminationist, that neither humans nor slime molds are really intelligent, the panpsychist will claim that they both are — and then minimize the difference between them.
Virginia City businesses adapt after Montana Heritage Commission lease controversy
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Reform and the UAE – a threat to British politics
By Alex Carlen The United Arab Emirates likes to present itself as part of the solution to the climate crisis. The oil-rich Gulf state has committed to Net Zero by 2050, hosted COP 28, and even declared “championing climate action” as one of three strategic objectives for this week’s session of the United Nations General Assembly. But behind the scenes the UAE has quietly built one of its closest political relationships in Europe with the party most hostile to climate action in Britain: Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. There is no evidence that the UAE is funding Reform. But a new FairSquare report, Petro-populism: the UAE–Reform threat, published today, documents a growing political relationship that should concern anyone interested in the integrity of British democracy. Reform’s leaders have embraced the UAE’s political model and promoted positions that align closely with the Emirati government’s priorities, while the UAE has given Farage and his party unusually warm access and public backing. What is emerging is not simply a relationship between British politicians and a wealthy Gulf state, but a channel through which an authoritarian government can cultivate political influence here, and abroad. Democracy for Sale relies on its readers. If you already support us, thanks so much. If you don’t, sign up to support fearless independent investigative journalism. Subscribe Back in January, Nigel Farage appeared at a GB News event in Dubai. On the 50th floor of a tower overlooking the luxury resorts and upscale residences of Palm Jumeirah, the Reform leader declared: “I want Clacton to look like this.” At the event – which Farage never declared on his official register of interests – senior Emirati officials mixed with British expats. Farage was keen to flatter. “We recognise you are our friends”, he said, assuring them that “a Brexit London, a Reform London, will remember you.” Controversy surrounding Reform’s finances and its susceptibility to foreign influence have centred around high-profile donations from billionaire crypto donors, and the jailing of Nathan Gill, Reform’s former leader in Wales, for accepting bribes to give pro-Russia speeches. Far less attention has been paid to Reform’s blossoming new alliance with the UAE, an oil-rich authoritarian state with a track record of ruinous anti-democratic interventions. Farage wasn’t always so fond of the UAE. Back in 2023 he called it an “absolute monarchy with an abysmal human rights record.” Now Reform’s hierarchy calls the UAE home. Deputy leader Richard Tice splits his time between his constituency and Dubai and has called on the UK to learn from the UAE. The party’s treasurer Nick Candy runs a firm which has been in partnership with a UAE-state linked firm since 2024. Nadhim Zahawi sits on the board of an Abu Dhabi think tank alongside an array of the most senior UAE officials and is reportedly close to three brothers of the country’s despotic ruler Mohammed Bin Zayed. Reform’s leading lights have effusively praised the UAE’s governance model, defended it from criticism, and advanced its political agenda in the UK. GB News, whose two major shareholders – the Legatum Foundation and Paul Marshall – have strong links to the UAE, has been more than happy to broadcast UAE propaganda and was forced to pay damages in 2025 after airing a false claim about a UK charity by the UAE “disinfluencer” Amjad Taha. The UAE has responded in kind. When the UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs conducted an official visit to the UK in May, Farage was the only non-government figure granted an audience. UAE state media publicised the meeting, and said that they discussed “the strategic relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them in a manner that serves mutual interests.” For the UAE these ‘mutual interests’ largely concern its paranoia over political Islam, and in this regard the UAE-Reform alliance is part of a broad and troubling pattern. Following a crackdown on dissent at home in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, the UAE has offered material and political support to a range of violent and authoritarian actors willing to oppose the Muslim Brotherhood with no regard for the consequences. Its meddling in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, and most notably Sudan, have been devastating. The UAE’s strategy of seeking out partners on the political fringes who it believes will advance its interests is not unique to Britain – it extends beyond the Middle East to Europe and the US. In France, it has offered clandestine support to Marine Le Pen through secret meetings, as well allegedly funding trips to the region after which Le Pen returned with a renewed focus on the UAE’s perceived enemies – Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood. Left-wing opposition leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has accused the UAE of smearing him and of “encouraging discrimination, hatred or violence”. In the US, the UAE actively supported the rise of Donald Trump, establishing itself as a key ally during both his first and second terms. Around these relationships sits a wider ecosystem of figures willing to amplify UAE narratives, that even extends to Andrew Tate and Tommy Robinson. Subscribe In Britain, the UAE has used a combination of aggressive diplomacy and illicit, disruptive tactics to achieve its policy goal of eliminating any perceived threat from political Islam. In 2012, for instance, it threatened to block billion-pound arms deals with the UK and stop inward investment if David Cameron did not act against the Muslim Brotherhood and rein in the BBC’s coverage of the group – going so far as to suggest, with no supporting evidence, that the group had infiltrated the BBC. It has financed smear campaigns against a high-profile UK charity and funded a mercenary to secretly surveil, and possibly assassinate, a British national on British soil. In Reform UK, the UAE has finally found an ally willing to not only ban the Muslim Brotherhood, but to publicly vilify the group and repeat the UAE’s claims that dangerous Muslims are a fifth column in British society, a narrative that aligns with the Islamophobia and anti-immigration sentiments that underpin Reform’s populist politics. The Rycroft review into foreign interference concluded that “hostile states and non-state actors have a clear incentive to attempt to undermine UK democracy.” The UAE’s network and alliance with Reform must be understood within that framework. It is a powerful, disruptive and deeply authoritarian actor with the resources and networks to intervene in our politics, and a track-record of doing so in a multitude of other countries. The evidence of the threat the UAE poses is overwhelming. The question is whether parliamentarians are willing to call the UAE out and demand action using the tools that the government has to respond. Placing the UAE on the “Enhanced Tier” of the Foreign Registration scheme alongside Russia and Iran would send a powerful signal to the UAE that its meddling will no longer be tolerated, and would place Farage’s next trips to the UAE under the scrutiny they deserve. Alex Carlen is research and advocacy manager at London based human rights organisation FairSquare and author of its new report Petro-populism: the UAE–Reform threat. Subscribe
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