The biggest applause and longest standing ovation at the 97th Grammy Awards on Sunday went to the members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Nearly two dozen firefighters stepped on stage to present the Album of the Year award as the stars in attendance cheered loudly for them for the incredible work they did while they battled the multiple wildfires that raged in Southern California last month.

Before naming the artists nominated for the night’s biggest honor, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone thanked everyone for their support. The first responders appeared overwhelmed by the reception.

“Wow, thank you,” Marrone told the audience. “Thank you for supporting all of us and recognizing the heroes that are standing behind me and the sheroes.”

“On behalf of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department, I would like to thank the recording academy for having us here this evening,” he added. “This is a tremendous honor and privilege to be in the company of such talented music industry professionals.”

“As fire chief, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank first responders who came from near and far to battle this wildfire siege,” Marrone continued. “In the midst of unprecedented fire conditions, their selfless acts of courage and commitment were nothing short of inspiring. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers remain with all the families who have lost loved ones, friends, and neighbors, along with everyone who has lost homes, businesses, and been displaced.”

“I am confident that we will recover and rebuild together because we are LA Strong.”

Captain Sheila Kelliher Berkoh then listed off the names of the nominees for Album of the Year: André 3000, Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli xcx, Jacob Collier, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, and Taylor Swift. She then pulled the name out of the envelope and announced that Beyonce had won for her “Cowboy Carter” album.

During the ceremony, the fires and communities destroyed in the fires were top of mind as host Trevor Noah announced the academy would accept donations throughout the evening to help with recovery efforts. 

Related: Female Rapper Praises God For Sobriety After Winning First Ever Grammy Award

Female rapper Doechii praised God numerous times during an emotional acceptance speech when she won her first ever Grammy Award for Best Rap Album during the 97th Grammy Awards show held in Los Angeles.

On Sunday night, the 26-year-old rapper — born Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon — took the stage after rapper Cardi B called out her name for Best Rap Album for “Alligator Bites Never Heal.” She held back tears as she promised not to make her speech long before talking about the glory of God.

“But this category was introduced in 1989, and two women have won … three women have won — Lauryn Hill, Cardi B, and Doechii,” the rapper said. “I put my heart and my soul into this mixtape. I’ve bared my life.”

“I went through so much. I dedicated myself to sobriety and God told me that I would be rewarded and that he would show me just how good it can get,” she added as she got emotional. “And I have to thank God. I need to thank my beautiful mother for coaching me.”

She went on to thank her label, her fans, and she said “to the swamp,” before she explained that she’s the Swamp Princess, because it’s where she comes from.

Doechii’s #Grammys acceptance speech for winning Best Rap Album 🤎 pic.twitter.com/N1Hy9Dhx1y

— Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) February 3, 2025

“There’s so many people out there who probably don’t know who I am. I call myself the Swamp Princess because I’m from Tampa, Florida,” the rapper said. “Tampa has so much talent … labels, go to Tampa, there’s talent there.”

“The last thing I want to say is … I know that there is some black girl out there, so many black women out there that are watching me right now and I want to tell you: You can do it. Anything is possible,” Doechii said. “Anything is possible.” 

“Don’t allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you, that tell you that you can’t be here, that you’re too dark or that you’re not smart enough or that you’re too dramatic or you’re too loud,” she added. “You are exactly who you need to be, to be right where you are, and I am a testimony. Praise God!”

The comments definitely moved the crowd as the stars and performers in the room cheered and gave the young rapper a standing ovation.

Related: Country Music Star Talks ‘Dark Days’ Before Career Exploded

Kate Middleton made a “highly unusual move” when she stopped her royal convoy suddenly after she heard a little girl holler “Hello, Princess!” in order to get her attention.

It happened after the Princess of Wales’ trip to a knit wear and sock factory in South Wales on January 30, when 3-year-old Lily-Rose called out, “I want to see the Princess,” so Kate stopped the car and got out to talk to her, the BBC reported.

The Princess of Wales exited the car and jogged over to the little girl to shake her hand and introduce herself.

“Thank you for coming to say hello,” Middleton told the child. “I heard you say ‘Hello’ from all the way back there, and I wanted to come and see you.”

In a video posted on Thursday on Instagram, the little girl asked Princess Kate, “Are you a Princess?” and Middleton replied, “Yeah.”

 

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A post shared by VIDEOS OF THE WALES FAMILY 👑❤️ (@walesvideos)

“I wanted to come see your village and see what’s going on here, see this amazing factory,” she added. “They make socks and jumpers. Very interesting!”

Lily-Rose then attempted to give the princess her yellow plastic banana toy, not once, but twice. The first time, Middleton handed it back to her saying, “I don’t want to take it.” But the little girl took it and threw it to the ground. The princess then walked over to get it, bent down to retrieve it, and handed it to the family.

As Princess Kate walked away, Lily-Rose shouted, “I want the princess!”

The little girl’s mother, Stacey Chorley, later told the outlet, “It was so exciting. We had no idea that was going to happen.”

“I hope this is one of the things Lily-Rose will remember,” she added. “Kate was so lovely. She’s very natural and down-to-earth.”

Middleton recently shared the exciting news that her cancer was in remission, as previously reported.

In a post on X by the official account for the Prince and Princess of Wales, the royal said she wanted to “take the opportunity to say thank you to The Royal Marsden [Hospital] for looking after me so well during the past year.”

“My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside [Prince] William and me as we have navigated everything,” the message read. “We couldn’t have asked for more. The care and advice we have received throughout my time as a patient has been exceptional.”

“It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery,” the Princess of Wales added. “As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.”

Related: Kate Middleton Gives Incredible Update On Her Cancer Battle

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed that a staggering number of influencers, podcasters, and independent media have applied for White House press access after inviting new media to the briefing room.

During the White House press briefing on Friday, Leavitt said that “after announcing our briefing room changes on Wednesday, this White House has received more than 10,000 submissions from individuals across the country who are eager to join all of you.”

“We might have to make this room a little bit bigger to do that, who want to participate in our new media seat at a future briefing,” she added, before she revealed that the open seat on Friday was given to one of the members of the “Ruthless” podcast.

Earlier this week, the White House announced that it would be making room for “new media” in the press room, allowing nontraditional, news-related content producers to directly question the press secretary and other administration officials, as previously reported. The Daily Wire’s Mary Margaret Olohan noted first that in the 24 hours following the announcement, approximately 7,400 applications came in.

Leavitt, who called on the press to focus on sharing the truth about President Donald Trump’s administration, gave her first press briefing on Tuesday, during which she announced a “new media seat” for nontraditional media, as well as a link for bloggers, podcasters, social media influencers, and others to apply to for White House press access.

“We welcome independent journalists, podcasters, social media influencers, and content creators to apply for credentials to cover this White House,” the press secretary said.

“The Trump White House will speak to all media outlets and personalities, not just the legacy media who are seated in this room, because according to recent polling from Gallup, Americans’ trust in mass media has fallen to a record low,” she added.

“Millions of Americans, especially young people, have turned from traditional television outlets and newspapers to consume their news from podcasts, blogs, social media, and other independent outlets,” Leavitt continued. “It’s essential to our team that we share President Trump’s message everywhere and adapt this White House to the new media landscape in 2025.”

One of those new media members in the briefing room is The Daily Wire’s Mary Margaret Olohan, who was recently named The Daily Wire’s first White House Correspondent.

On Thursday, Trump answered a question from Olohan about the increased importance of getting his nominees quickly confirmed after a helicopter collided midair with a passenger jet in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night.

Mary Margaret Olohan contributed to this piece.

Related: ‘We Will Call You Out’: Karoline Leavitt Issues Warning To Reporters At WH Press Briefing

NBC News chief political analyst and former moderator of “Meet The Press” Chuck Todd has announced that he’s leaving the network after nearly two decades.

“Today is my last day… at NBC,” Todd told his audience on Friday on his “Chuck Toddcast” podcast. “I am leaving a bit earlier than we had all originally planned, but there is a reason for it.”

“I’m pretty excited by a few new projects that are on the cusp,” he added, but gave no details. “The podcast is coming with me, and it’s not going away.”

The former NBC News host said there would be a “little hiatus” for his podcast, until he finds a new home for it.

Chuck Todd tells colleagues he’s leaving NBC News — taking his ‘Chuck Toddcast’ with him https://t.co/2gjUNd6aoM pic.twitter.com/4LLKSGoW9c

— New York Post (@nypost) January 31, 2025

Todd sent a letter to his colleagues before his announcement on the podcast that his last day at NBC News was Friday, the Associated Press reported.

“The reason why I am ready to move, I think the media has a lot of work to do to win back the trust and I think, frankly, national media isn’t the place that’s going to be able to do it,” Todd said.

“People trust local media more than they trust national media. And I’m convinced the best place to start is from the bottom up,” he added. “National media can’t win trust back without having a robust partner locally, and trying to game algorithms is no way to inform and report.”

“People are craving community and that’s something national media or the major social media companies can’t do as well as local media,” Todd continued, noting that reporting is how you win back support. “If you do this job seeking popularity, or to simply be an activist, you are doing this job incorrectly.”

In a statement to Variety about Todd’s departure, NBC News said “We’re grateful for Chuck’s many contributions to our political coverage during his nearly two-decade career at NBC News and for his deep commitment to ‘Meet the Press’ and its enduring legacy. We wish him all the best in his next endeavors.”

Todd joined the network in 2007 as a political director and took over as moderator of “Meet the Press” from 2014-2023 from David Gregory, who was picked to run the popular show following the sudden death in June 2008 of the hugely successful “MTP” moderator Tim Russert. The current “MTP” moderator is Kristen Welker.

Related: Chuck Todd Rips The Bidens: They ‘Put The Entire Democratic Party…In The Position It’s In Now’

Meryl Streep’s nephew Abe Streep shared the Hollywood star’s harrowing escape from her home, which was in the line of fire following multiple wildfires in the Los Angeles area earlier this month.

In a New York Magazine article about the devastating fires, Abe wrote that the evacuations came so fast that his 75-year-old aunt almost ended up being trapped inside her home due to a fallen tree.

“Evacuation mandates were sent across the city,” Streep wrote. “My aunt Meryl Streep received an order to evacuate on January 8, but when she tried to leave, she discovered that a large tree had fallen over in her driveway, blocking her only exit.”

“Determined to make it out, she borrowed wire cutters from a neighbor, cut a car-size hole in the fence she shared with the neighbors on the other side, and drove through their yard to escape,” he added.

 

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A post shared by People Magazine (@people)

Streep’s nephew also spoke with pals Martin Short and actor Haley Joel Osment for the piece, whom he said were forced to evacuate due to the raging fires. The two actors were part of the massive evacuations in the area, unsure of whether their homes would be there when they returned.

Short moved to the southern California area in 1984 and bought a house three years later in the Palisades, the article noted.

“Right away I knew this is where I wanted to live,” the actor told Abe. “You’re five minutes from the ocean or five minutes from the greatest hiking in the mountains imaginable.”

“Beyond that, he said, the Palisades offered a sense of safety: ‘There was only one way in and one way out.'”

Five years ago, Osment moved to an area near Eaton Canyon. The 36-year-old actor said he had just returned home from shooting a film when he spotted the rising black smoke coming from the canyon, the piece noted.

“He went for a walk in his yard and looked back at his house, a 1951 post-and-beam structure with large glass windows and skylights,” Streep’s nephew wrote. “Bears sometimes rambled through the yard, and he often heard owls at night; it felt like he lived in the forest.”

“After he let his dogs out into the yard, he saw a large plume of black smoke and a glow coming from the canyon,” he added.” So he loaded up his dogs, passport, and family photos and went to his parents’ house, which was nearby.”

Short’s home miraculously managed to survive the blaze. However, Osment wasn’t so lucky and he lost his home, as did his parents, and so many others in southern California, the outlet noted.

Related: LA Reporter’s Aerial Video Shows Near-Entire Town Destroyed In SoCal Fires

Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan broke down in tears over the tragic plane crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport involving an Army helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 on Wednesday night.

Speaking to reporters outside the Skating Club of Boston, as an alumna member of the club, Kerrigan joined with fellow members and opened up about trying to process the loss following news that six of the victims — two teenage figure skaters, two coaches, and their mothers — who were killed in the plane crash, were from the Boston club, WCVB reported.

“Not sure how to process it,” Kerrigan said through the tears. “Which is why I’m here. I just wanted to be here and be part of our community.”

“And then when you find out you know some of the people on the plane, it’s an even bigger blow,” she added. “We just wish them well, the families, the courage and the strength to make the next steps.”

“I just feel for the athletes, the skaters and their families … anyone that was on that plane, not just the skaters, because it’s just such a tragic event and we’ve been through tragedies before as Americans, as people, and we are strong,” Kerrigan continued. “Even when it’s hard, you get back up. Even when you’re crying, hurt, pain, you get back up and move forward. It’s not easy. But that’s what we all have to do now together.”

U.S. Figure Skating announced that there were “several” athletes and coaches aboard the passenger flight when it crashed into the Potomac River after colliding with the helicopter on Wednesday night, as previously reported. The organization provided a statement to news outlet WUSA9 on Thursday morning.

“U.S. Figure Skating can confirm that several members of our skating community were sadly aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a helicopter yesterday evening in Washington, D.C.,” the statement read. “These athletes, coaches and family members were returning home from National Development Camp held in conjunction with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas.”

On Thursday morning, D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly said that rescue efforts were now switching to recovery efforts with no survivors expected in Wednesday night’s crash, as previously reported. He said first responders had already recovered the bodies of 27 of the 64 people onboard the passenger plane and one body from the Black Hawk helicopter.

“We wish we were gathering for different purposes today,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at a press conference. “We will not rest until we have answers for the families and for the flying public. You should be assured that when you fly you are safe.” 

Amanda Harding contributed to this piece.

Related: First Lady Melania Trump Issues Statement Following Tragic Plane Crash

CNN analyst Bakari Sellers admitted he “f***ed up” when he blamed President Donald Trump for the plane crash outside Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport involving an Army helicopter and American Airlines plane before he deleted the post on Wednesday night.

Sellers initially took to X after the crash and posted a screenshot of a partial headline from a statement from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Democrats.

His post read, “8 days ago,” and he included only part of the statement, which read, “Trump’s Dangerous Freeze of Air Traffic Control Hiring.”

The entire head read, “Ranking Members Larsen, Cohen Statements on Trump’s Dangerous Freeze of Air Traffic Control Hiring,” the Free Beacon noted.

You deleted the post because dozens of Americans are currently being fished out of the Potomac, and rather than have reverence for the victims, you chose to dishonestly (and despicably) blame @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/djduf7OqE3

— Chet Cannon (@Chet_Cannon) January 30, 2025

A short time later, Sellers deleted the post and explained why.

“I deleted the post because timing matters,” the CNN analyst wrote. “Politics at this point does not. I f***ed up, I own that.”

“I am very prayerful but I’m also very frustrated, upset, and disturbed with where we are as a country,” he added. “I recognize, and I will do better.”

“The only thing that matters is rescuing the survivors, and ensuring this never happens again,” Sellers continued.

The reaction was swift on social media, with one person after another blasting the CNN analyst for the “despicable” and “horrid” original post he had made.

“You deleted the post because dozens of Americans are currently being fished out of the Potomac, and rather than have reverence for the victims, you chose to dishonestly (and despicably) blame @realDonaldTrump,” one person wrote.

Another added, “Unreal. @Bakari_Sellers is a pathetic example of what happens when your religion is politics. A plane crash & your first response is to blame your political enemy. This is pagan neo-Gnosticism. A hiring freeze 8 days ago isn’t why a Black Hawk pilot failed to visually separate.”

While a third person wrote, “They are fishing corpses out of the Potomac, families are praying their loved ones miraculously survived, we haven’t the faintest clue yet what caused the crash, and Bakari is already frantically (and publicly!) looking for a way to blame it on Trump. What a broken human being.”

Related: Transportation Sec Says American Airlines, Helicopter Crash Was ‘Absolutely’ Preventable

First lady Melania Trump issued a statement on Thursday following the tragic plane crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport involving an Army helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 on Wednesday night.

“My heart goes out to those impacted by last night’s terrible tragedy,” the post on X from the first lady’s official account read. “I pray for those who so sadly lost their lives, their families [and] loved ones, [and] the first responders who have worked tirelessly through the night.”

“May they find strength and solace in this difficult time,” she added.

My heart goes out to those impacted by last night’s terrible tragedy. I pray for those who so sadly lost their lives, their families & loved ones, & the first responders who have worked tirelessly through the night. May they find strength and solace in this difficult time.

— First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) January 30, 2025

Authorities said Thursday morning they believe there are no survivors after a military helicopter collided with the passenger plane that was about to land. Both aircraft crashed into the Potomac River. 

D.C. Fire Chief John Donnelly said Thursday morning that rescue efforts were now switching to recovery efforts with no survivors expected. He said first responders had already recovered the bodies of 27 of the 64 people onboard the passenger plane and one body from the Black Hawk helicopter. 

“We wish we were gathering for different purposes today,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at a press conference. “We will not rest until we have answers for the families and for the flying public. You should be assured that when you fly you are safe.” 

The crash, reported around 8:48 p.m., prompted a 300-person emergency response from local fire departments, police departments, the Department of Defense, the Coast Guard, and the FBI.

Duffy added that the two aircraft had been located and that the fuselages of the airplanes had been found in about three different locations. He said that the National Transportation Safety Board and the FA were conducting an investigation. 

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said he was “absolutely heartbroken” and that “we are all hurting incredibly.” He said the helicopter appeared to have veered into the flight path of an American Eagle regional jet that had departed from Wichita, Kansas. 

President Donald Trump released a statement on Wednesday night following the crash. He wrote on social media that he had “been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God Bless their souls.”

“Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders,” he added. “I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise.”

Related: U.S. Figure Skating Confirms ‘Several’ Skaters And Coaches Were In American Airlines Crash

Daily Wire host Michael Knowles talked about the “out of touch” comments made by Democratic Senators at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation hearing for Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary under President Donald Trump.

Speaking to “The Megyn Kelly Show” podcast on Wednesday, Knowles and Kelly discussed questions by Democratic Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). Knowles said they appeared to be “shilling for the big pharmaceutical companies” that didn’t want Kennedy selected.

“The Democrats and the squish Republicans have not caught up with the tectonic shift that has happened in politics,” Knowles said. “They’re still considering politics from 10 or 15 years ago, but after this election, issues like mass deportations, that is now the mainstream position of most Americans, issues like questioning the over-prescription of vaccines, the regulatory capture by big pharmaceutical companies, that is now the mainstream position for most Americans.”

“I think that these senators who haven’t gotten the message, they’re just so profoundly out of touch, and if they continue to remain out of touch, it will be at their own electoral peril,” he added.

Knowles said that what he witnessed at the hearing wasn’t a case of “Democrats versus Republicans or leftists versus conservatives.”

“It’s not over some ideological issue,” the DW host said. “The sole pushback that Kennedy is getting … is from the pharmaceutical companies operating through the politicians they have bought off and control.”

“That’s it,” Knowles added. “So, the question that remains to be seen is can Bobby Kennedy, with the backing of Donald Trump who just won a landslide election with the popular vote for the first time for a Republican in 20 years, can he overcome one single lobby in the country, and that is the pharmaceutical lobby. We are about to get a measure of their relative power in the U.S. Senate.”

“All these Democrats are opposed to me for partisan issues, they used to be my friends,” Kennedy said at one point in the hearing. “They agreed with all the issues I’ve been working on my whole career. Now, they’re against me because anything President Trump does has to be discredited, derided, and vilified.”

Related: ‘Blood In The Water’: Michael Knowles Talks Pete Hegseth And Trump Picks With Megyn Kelly

“When Harry Met Sally” stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan reunited to recreate one of the most unforgettable scenes in movie history from their 1989 romantic comedy for a Super Bowl LIX ad.

In the clip posted on Wednesday on X, the two movie stars headed back to the famous deli in New York City to reprise their roles in the film as Harry Burns and Sally Albright to shoot the ad for Hellman’s mayonnaise that will air during the upcoming Super Bowl in New Orleans on February 9.

The ad opens with a shot of the busy New York deli where Ryan once again is seated at the same table across from Crystal where the memorable comedy scene was shot 35 years ago, when the two discuss the idea of “women faking orgasms” and Ryan’s character proves how one could possibly accomplish such task.

Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan joined forces for an upcoming #SuperBowl spot for Hellmann’s returning to Katz’s Deli on New York’s Lower East Side for the first time since their 1989 romantic comedy #WhenHarryMetSally was released #THRNews pic.twitter.com/CeIw6zEhIy

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 29, 2025

In the new video, Harry tells Sally, “I can’t believe they let us back in this place.”

“Why?” Sally asks, to which he replies, “Hello …”

“Nobody remembers that,” Sally then insists.

Sally then takes a bite of her sandwich and said, “it’s not doing it, nothing,” before she picks up the Hellmann’s mayo on the table and spreads it on the bread. She then takes another bite.

“What’s happening?” Harry asks. “Here we go,” he adds as Sally continues to enjoy her sandwich, resulting at one point, in her slapping the table and yelling, “Yes.”

Crystal’s character then quips, “So, this one’s real.”

The scene closes with a recreation of a cameo featuring actress Sydney Sweeney giving the famous line, originally spoken by director Rob Reiner’s mom, Estelle Reiner, in the deli scene in the 1989 movie.

“I’ll have what she’s having,” Sweeney said.

Speaking to People magazine about working on the project with Ryan, Crystal said, “It was a really fun idea, and the approach was right. It was our 35th anniversary of the film, and it’s the first time that we’ve been offered something like that.”

Ryan agreed and said, “They [Hellman’s] were so respectful of the movie and of the scene too. They came to us with just an enormous amount of respect for that, for the source material and for the characters.”

Related: Meg Ryan Talks About Why She Took A ‘Giant Break’ From Hollywood

Matthew McConaughey dropped a star-studded advertisement calling on the Texas legislature to take on Hollywood and become the new film and TV hub for all productions.

In the clip “True to Texas” on Wednesday on X, McConaughey recreated a scene from “True Detectives” with actors Woody Harrelson, Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton, and Renee Zellweger, who join in the fight to bring top film and TV productions home to Texas.

“Hollywood is flat circle, Wood,” McConaughey said as his character from the hit HBO series. “Round and round, like a record with the sound off … I want to change the tune. This industry is like somebody’s memory of an industry. And the memory’s fading.”

“I’m talking about a whole new hub for film and television,” he added. “A renaissance. A rebirth.”

“A small fraction of Texas’ budget surplus could turn this state into the new Hollywood,” Harrelson added.

Texas stories deserve a Texas backdrop. That’s why I teamed up with Dennis Quaid, Woody Harrelson, Billy Bob Thornton, and Renée Zellweger for True to Texas. It’s time to bring film and TV productions home! pic.twitter.com/iMpRMRx2Hj

— Matthew McConaughey (@McConaughey) January 29, 2025

“If all these other states are going to offer incentives, then that’s where we’re going to keep going. I just wish we could bring some of these productions home to Texas,” Zellweger continued.

Harrelson then asked, “Why should all these other states take advantage of this investment, but not Texas. … Ain’t all that money like corporate welfare for big Hollywood studios?”

“No, Wood, it’s not,” McConaughey replied. “Real Texas business owners and citizens see every dollar spent from this incentive put $4 back into the state of Texas.”

“It’s time for Texas to become the home for telling stories that people want to see and hear,” he added. “So, what do you say, Texas legislature? You don’t like what Hollywood’s been dishing, let’s take it up with the kitchen.”

He captioned his post, “Texas stories deserve a Texas backdrop. That’s why I teamed up with Dennis Quaid, Woody Harrelson, Billy Bob Thornton, and Renée Zellweger for True to Texas. It’s time to bring film and TV productions home!”

Last week, the Texas senate filed a budget that included $498 million to revamp the Texas Film Incentive, in order to make “Texas the movie capital of the world,” The Hollywood Reporter noted.

“My budget team and I have worked alongside Chair Huffman and the Senate Finance Committee to ensure the Senate’s state budget reflects the conservative priorities of Texans,” Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said of the budget proposal. “[Texas] SB [Senate Bill] 1 maintains our promise to Texans by keeping our state on a conservative path to greater prosperity.”

Related: Matthew McConaughey Says He Considered Quitting Hollywood To Teach

Laken Riley’s mother Allyson Phillips wept as she thanked President Donald Trump for keeping his promises and honoring the memory of her daughter with the passage of the “Laken Riley Act.”

During a ceremony at the White House on Wednesday, Trump signed into law the bipartisan bill, written after Laken, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student, was killed in February of 2024 by an illegal alien. The bill requires federal officials to arrest non-citizens accused of violent and theft-related crimes in the United States, as previously reported.

Phillips and President Trump shared an embrace before she took to the podium and spoke emotionally about the passage of the act and her daughter’s legacy.

Laken Riley’s mother weeps as she thanks President Trump for keeping his promises and honoring the memory of her daughter: pic.twitter.com/HhxPIpmhzq

— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) January 29, 2025

“Our family will forever be grateful for the prayers of the people across our nation and for helping to get this legislation into law,” Phillips’ said. “We also want to thank President Trump for the promises he made to us. He said he would secure our borders and that he would never forget about Laken.”

She then began to break down, tearing up as she described the president as a “man of his word” and said, “We trust that he will fight for the American people.”

“Most importantly, I want to thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ because, without his sacrifices, Laken’s story would’ve ended on that horrific day that she was taken from us,” Allyson said through tears. “But because of Him, we can continue living knowing that we will see Laken again.”

“There is no amount of change that will ever bring back our precious Laken,” she added while trying to hold back tears. “Our hope, moving forward, is that her life saves lives.”

“We are so thankful that her passion for helping others and her legacy for doing good in the name of Jesus Christ will carry on,” Phillips continued. “Thank you.”

The immigration legislation was passed through both the GOP-led House and Senate with bipartisan support. It is the first bill that Trump has signed into law during his nascent second term in the White House. Under the law, federal officials are directed to detain non-citizens charged with, convicted of, or who admit to theft-related or violent offenses. It also authorizes states to sue over federal immigration actions.

During the signing, Trump promised the family that “we will keep Laken’s memory alive in our hearts forever.”

“Everyone’s hearts,” he added. “With today’s action, her name will also live forever in the laws of our country. And this is a very important law. This is something that has brought Democrats and Republicans together — that’s not easy to do. Laken did it. Laken did it. America will never, ever forget Laken Hope Riley.”

Daniel Chaitin contributed to this piece.

Related: House Passes Revamped Laken Riley Act, Sends Bill To Trump

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith admitted he voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democrat nominee for president in 2024, and said he now feels foolish for doing so.

During Smith’s appearance on “Real Time with Bill Maher,” he compared former President Barack Obama’s popularity to that of Harris and said, “Obama resonated more because the people chose him to be the Democratic nominee for the presidency of the United States of America as opposed to somebody backdooring their way into the position.”

Smith then called out the other guest on the show, California Democrat Representative Ro Khanna, for being one of the many Democrats who had touted former President Joe Biden’s mental sharpness, the Daily Caller noted.

“I know that you supported Biden, obviously you spoke about his mental acuity and all of that other stuff. But we all saw what we saw,” Smith told Khanna, referencing the disastrous debate over the summer between President Trump and then-President Biden.

Stephen A Smith stuns the Bill Maher crowd into silence as he articulates how Democrats have no one left fighting for the American people:
SAS: “The man was impeached twice, he was convicted on 34 felony counts. The American people still said ‘He’s closer to normal than what… pic.twitter.com/BTHt6ZKIqa

— Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) January 25, 2025

“Kamala Harris, who didn’t resonate during the primaries in 2020 — couldn’t even get to Iowa — suddenly is the Democratic nominee,” he added. “And then you all go, and then you roll up at the [Democratic National] Convention in Chicago, and everybody’s like, ‘She’s a rockstar!’ So, it was like, wait a minute, how’d that happen? How’d that happen? I don’t know how that happened.”

“So, you are looking at all those things and you are saying, Yes, I voted for her. A lot of people voted for her. But in the end, we end up feeling like damn fools,” Smith continued, per the New York Post. “Because we supported it. We fell for the okiedokie as they say. You know she did. If you had a primary, the likelihood is that she would have not been the Democrat nominee and you can’t say that about Trump. You can’t.”

The ESPN host then pointed out that, in the end, the “American people still said ‘He’s [Trump] closer to normal than what we’re seeing on the Left,” despite the fact that he’s been impeached by Congress and convicted in the court system. 

“Why? Because something pertains, when you talk about the transgender community for example, and you talk about issues that pertain to less than one percent of the population, the Democratic party came across as if that was more important than the other issues,” Smith said.

“Then you turn around and look at the Left and you say ‘What promises did you keep?’ What resonated with the voter out there?” he added. “What voter can look at the Democrat party and say ‘there’s a voice for us, somebody who speaks for us, that goes up on Capitol Hill and fights the fights that we want them fighting on our behalf.”

“They [Democrats] didn’t do that. That’s why their behinds are home, and that man is back in the White House,” Smith continued, noting that in week one Trump’s already fulfilling campaign promises. “He’s doing what he said he was going to do.”

Singer Jewel defended her performance at one of the many inauguration balls for President Donald Trump following a flurry of criticism for her appearance.

In a video posted on Friday on Instagram, the 50-year-old singer told fans she decided to sing at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” ball because she’s been a longtime advocate for mental health in America and said the situation in our country is “bleak.”

“As many of you know, I am a mental health advocate,” the singer — born Jewel Kilcher — said. “If there’s anything I’ve learned in the past 20 years, it’s that mental health affects everybody’s lives across party lines. I reached out to the last administration, spoke with the surgeon general about the mental health crisis that’s facing our nation. I don’t know if you guys know the stats, but it is bleak.”

“I believe there’s things we can do. I believe I can save lives and help,” she added. “And if I believe I can help, I have to try. And if I wait to try until I agree 100% with the people that might be willing to help me, I’d never get off the bench. I don’t think that’s how activism works, waiting until everything’s perfect enough to participate. It’s actually because things are so imperfect that we have to find ways to engage and to participate. And we have to act now. We cannot wait another four years.”

 

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A post shared by Jewel (@jewel)

The Grammy-nominated singer said she believes there are people in the new administration who are “willing to help on this issue,” making it clear she doesn’t believe in “all the politics” of the Trump administration.

She added that if she can “make sure mental health is in the conversation when it comes to American health” and “help put resources or mental health tools into the hands of the most vulnerable who need it, I’m going to try and I’m going to fight.”

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“And I understand that my words were overly simplistic. Half of our country feels hope right now, and I honor that. And half of our country feels disenfranchised and scared and vulnerable, and that is unacceptable,” Jewel explained.

The singer also said she’s “so sorry” that she “caused pain” to her LGBTQ+ followers, whom she called “treasures,” the New York Post noted.

“And I will not stop fighting. None of us can afford to stop fighting, and I really believe that the only way we can change is in relationship,” she added. “It isn’t in isolation or by isolating, it’s by being in relationship, by reaching out, by having hard conversations, and I really hope that we can push through our hurt and move toward understanding on both sides.”

Related: ‘This Isn’t Politics’: Rapper Nelly Defends Decision To Perform At Trump’s Inaugural Ball

Comedian Michael Rapaport blasted “Saturday Night Live” for remaining silent about the Israeli hostages who remain in captivity nearly 500 days after the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack.

In a video posted to X on Friday, the 54-year-old actor pointed out how “SNL” hasn’t been afraid to tackle things like the accusations of physical abuse by women against Sean “Diddy” Combs, but have yet to mention the words “Jews,” “hostages,” “Israel,” or “kidnapped.”

Rapaport talked about how Dave Chappelle hosted the show the weekend ahead of President Donald Trump’s inauguration and called on Trump to “not forget your humanity, and please have empathy for displaced people, whether they’re in the Palisades or Palestine.”

“And I was thinking, Dave Chappelle, you did not mention, ‘or if they are being held hostage in Palestine,'” Rapaport said. “But ‘Saturday Night Live’ you pride yourself on being this anti-establishment, punk rock, cutting edge, rock and roll, against the man, establishment of comedy.”

“This is the second time in 470-plus days you’ve had one of your hosts mention or say something about free Palestine … but not one time in 470-plus days, not one of you motherf***ers says Israel, Jewish or the word hostages,” he added.

I’m gonna predict now that weak ass @nbcsnl will spoof Elon as a N-Word,
but won’t mention the word Jews,Israel,Hostages or Kidnapped.#davechappelle #SNL50 pic.twitter.com/0cROxWWLbD

— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) January 24, 2025

He captioned the clip, “I’m gonna predict now that weak ass [nbcsnl] will spoof Elon [Musk]as a N [Nazi]-word, but won’t mention the word Jews,Israel,Hostages or Kidnapped.”

In a later clip, Rapaport went on a profanity-laced rant where he called out New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who took to social media after Trump’s inauguration to falsely claim Musk did some kind of Nazi salute during one of the inauguration events.

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“You are upset about Elon Musk, [but] you’re not upset about the fact that seven Americans are still being held hostage,” the actor blasted, pointing out how AOC went to Columbia University “yucking it up” with protestors who called to “globalize the Intifada.”

“And you’re worried about Elon Musk, you f***ing clown…” he added, telling AOC if she’s really worried about Jews, she should go back to Columbia university and “chastise the motherf***ers who are saying ‘globalize the Intifada,’ which means kill f***ing Jews. Start violence against f***ing Jews.”

“You’re yucking it up up there, AOC, and you got nothing to say. You’re freaked out about Elon Musk,” Rapaport continued, telling AOC if she’s really worried about Jewish people, she should say things like, “Free the hostages,” or she should “condemn Hamas.”

The comments come following the release of the first three hostages under Israel and Hamas’ hostage and ceasefire deal. Three Israeli women — Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari — arrived home on Sunday safely after 471 days in captivity, as previously reported.

Related: ‘Real Housewives’ Star Slams Hollywood’s Response To Hostages, Says She Can’t ‘Understand It’

Jenna Bush Hager reacted to her father, former President George W. Bush, going viral again, this time for the numerous expressions he made during President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Speaking on the “Today” show, the morning host said the images of Bush making silly faces and giggling during the swearing-in of the 47th President of the United States on Monday has caused the family’s group chat to explode, the New York Post reported.

“You all already guessed what moment has been blowing up our family group chat,” Hager said, pointing out how her dad went viral for smiling, winking, looking surprised, and more.

“Yeah, my dad went viral for these cutaway shots during yesterday’s broadcast,” she added. “The internet’s obsessed with this little smile and goofy expression.”

In a later part of the show, Jenna admitted inaugurations in her family are kind of like going to your kid’s holiday concert and said “you don’t really care about the whole scene. You’re just zooming in right on your kid.”

Jenna Bush Hager reacts to her father, George W. Bush, going viral during the inauguration on ‘Today With Jenna and Friends.’https://t.co/y9AFmGWXAD

— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) January 21, 2025

“That’s a little bit about how we watch an inauguration in my family. I’m like, ‘What’s happening with the parents,’” she added, pointing out that her dad seems to go viral for “basically anything.”

“He didn’t do anything, I mean, that’s what his face looks like,” Hager continued. “I mean that’s his face. He was actually very well-behaved.”

During the show, Jenna also reminded everyone how her father went viral eight years ago during Trump’s first inauguration, when Bush had a bit of a battle with a poncho at the ceremony. The hilarious video of him tussling with that poncho can be seen here.

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“Eight years ago there was a poncho,” Hager said. “He [Bush] couldn’t figure out a poncho and it became sort of a thing. This time evidently there was this video…where he and [former] President [Barack] Obama had this exchange.”

Jenna’s comment was in reference to when Obama leaned over and whispered something to Bush before the ceremony that made her father start laughing.

“You guys, you can’t just blame him because it looks like my dad was also seated next to a bad influence,” Hager said. “I just love how when they’re together, they become unusual friends.”

Related: ‘Loved It’: Jenna Bush Says Her Father Didn’t Mind When ‘SNL’ ‘Made Fun Of Him’

Hollywood star Andie MacDowell opened up about leaving Hollywood for South Carolina to fill what she called the “huge void” left by becoming an empty nester.

During the 66-year-old actress’ appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” she talked about life after her three grown children moved out of her home in Los Angeles. MacDowell became a mom when she and her ex-husband Paul Qualley welcomed a son, Justin (39), and two daughters, Rainey (35) and Margaret (30), during their marriage between 1986 and 1999.

“I’m happier now than I have been in a long time,” MacDowell said. “I moved to South Carolina. I really am taking good care of myself. It took me forever, because once my kids left, I felt this huge void in my life. Because they were so important to me.”

“Margaret really was kind of telling me I was supposed to be having the time of my life, but I wasn’t,” she added. “But now I am. I’m having the time of my life now. It’s really good.”

The “Groundhog Day” star also reassured the host that she would be there to walk her through the challenges of having an empty nest, when Barrymore’s daughters, Olive, 12, and Frankie, 10, leave the home one day.

Andie MacDowell discussed her decision to leave Hollywood for South Carolina after her kids, including “The Substance” star Margaret Qualley, grew up and left homehttps://t.co/pc3lD7z5ul

— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) January 24, 2025

“I’ll tell you what not to do,” MacDowell told the host who admitted she’s scared for that day to come when they move away from home. “Come to me, because I have all the information on how not to waste your time, how to get on with it and have a good time. I’ll tell you what to do.”

The actress also opened up about being diagnosed with piriformis syndrome, described by the Cleveland Clinic as “muscle spasms compressing the sciatic nerve and causing pain and numbness,” Page Six noted.

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MacDowell said until she found a “miracle,” she feared she would have to have a hip replacement to deal with her health condition, People magazine reported.

“I have to work my tiny little bottom and my hips [with a personal trainer]. I do it every day,” the star said, calling working out the “miracle” that has made her not “hurt anymore.”

“I do love to work out,” she added. “That is my great fortune, because I have had friends that are frustrated because they don’t enjoy it, but I really do enjoy it.”

Related: Eva Mendes, Ryan Gosling Leave Hollywood Because They Don’t Want Their Kids Around ‘Celebrity Kids’: Report

The series “Foundations of the West” from DailyWire+, in which Dr. Jordan B. Peterson explores ancient Western cities, has been nominated for a 2025 Movieguide Award.

The awards show, which honors faith and family films and television shows, announced the nominations for its 32nd ceremony via Deadline. Among them was “Foundations of the West: Episode III: Christ, the Center of the World,” which was nominated for the “Best Documentary Award.”

“Jonathan Pageau joins Jordan in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spent his last night before being arrested,” a description of the episode reads. “Then, Jonathan and Jordan walk down the Via Dolorosa, the road on which Jesus walked to his crucifixion. While visiting these sites, the two discuss Jesus’ journey to willing sacrifice and why remembering these places help hold the West together.”

Throughout the series, Peterson speaks with experts as they explore these ancient places while uncovering their impact on the modern world. Interviewees have included Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro (Jerusalem), Spencer Klavan (Athens), and Bishop Robert Barron (Rome).

Other notable movies nominated this year are the Lionsgate hit “Unsung Hero,” the true inspirational story about the Smallbones, the family behind the hugely successful Christian band, For King & Country.

It is up for multiple awards, including “Best Movie for Mature Audiences,” “Epiphany Prize for Movies,” along with Daisy Betts and Joel David Smallbone being nominated for “Grace Prize for Movie Performance.”

Angel Studios’ “Cabrini” has also been nominated for three Movieguide Awards: “Faith and Freedom Award for Movies” and “Epiphany Prize for Movies,” while actress Cristiana Dell’Anna was nominated for “Grace Prize for Movie Performance.”

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The awards show is scheduled to take place Friday, February 7, at the Avalon Theater in Hollywood.

Movieguide CEO Robby Baehr said in a statement, “There has been so much devastation to our city, we feel there is no better time to come together for strength and hope.”

“We want to celebrate those who bring joy and entertainment to the big screen and provide a space where families come together to escape from the world around them,” he added. “We also want to honor the First Responders who risked their lives to save Los Angeles. We must continue to lean on each other and help find the light in the darkness.”

The full list of nominations can be found here.

Related: Foundations Of The West: Jordan Peterson And Ben Shapiro Explore Jerusalem