“Saturday Night”: Jason Reitman captures the chaos and comedy of a TV revolution

With “Saturday Night,” director Jason Reitman deftly captures the magic and madness that went into creating the first episode of the beloved and long-running late-night series, “Saturday Night Live” — which kicks off its 50th season on Sept. 28.

Reitman, who co-wrote the film with Gil Kenan, knows the adrenaline rush of getting a sketch (not a skit) to air on the show firsthand; he once spent a week as a writer on “SNL.” This may be why his film anxiously and lovingly depicts the process of a group of unknown young comics — led by the fearless, visionary and beleaguered producer Lorne Michaels (Gabriel LaBelle) — to go live on October 11, 1975.

“Saturday Night” recounts the tensions of bringing the first episode to air by counting down the 90 minutes leading up to the broadcast. Reitman shot the film in 16mm and uses long tracking shots that convey the backstage antics. The approach allows much of the large ensemble cast to shine. It is practically Altmanesque, with overlapping dialogue and witty one-liners — like one about the show’s budget being akin to a random note — and sight gags, including one about a llama, that seamlessly integrate into the fluid chaos that is unfolding.

"Saturday Night Live" is "a bad thing for comedians," says journalist Seth Simons. He has a point

Reitman focuses largely on Michaels, who is under pressure to deliver a 90-minute live show even though he has three hours of content for his “new variety spectacular,” and an unclear response when asked repeatedly to describe what his show is. He is arguably more nervous than the wary NBC executives — Dick Ebersol (Cooper Hoffman), David Tebet (Willem Dafoe) and the dozens of network affiliates gathered to judge the show and determine its fate.

There are other troubles aplenty. A lighting fixture falls during the rehearsal, prompting the lighting director to quit on the spot. Joan (Catherine Curtin), an uptight woman from Standards and Practices, is questioning the script and the meaning of “clam diver” and “golden showers.” And the actors are all having crises of their own. John Belushi (Matt Wood) has not signed his contract yet — in part because he “thinks he’s Brando” and wearing a bee costume is beneath him. Belushi also fights with Chevy Chase (Cory Michael Smith) in the makeup room, causing more friction. It’s not explained why they hate each other, but viewers can assume it’s an ego thing. Garrett Morris (Lamorne Morris) wonders what he is doing on the show and bemoans, as the sole actor of color, the likelihood of having to play butlers and pimps. And the temperamental host George Carlin (Matthew Rhys) questions the show’s humor — when he is not locked in his dressing room doing drugs.

Saturday Night (Hopper Stone/Sony Pictures Entertainment)“Saturday Night” balances these and many other storylines well, even if the film is overstuffed and shortchanges some of the characters. The women are particularly underdeveloped. Jane Curtin (Kim Matula) gets only a brief scene where she shows off her crackerjack comic timing, and Gilda Radner (Ella Hunt) does little more than take a ride with a cameraman on his crane or cheerlead for Belushi. The potential to showcase these funny women goes, sadly, unexplored. But both are treated better than Laraine Newman (Emily Fairn), who seems to only be there to flirt with her co-star, Dan Ackroyd (Dylan O’Brien). The strongest woman in the film’s ensemble is Rosie (Rachel Sennott) — Lorne's wife, and a writer on the show — who keeps Lorne in check. She has a terrific speech about dating him, which fleshes out her character, while the other women are denied such an opportunity, which is a drawback. Rosie also gets a storyline about how her credit should read, which further establishes her independence. All the cast and crew names are credited with the middle name “Bud,” one of the show’s great absurdist gags.

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Reitman embraces the humor of “SNL” that viewers of a certain age will remember fondly. Among the sketches performed throughout the film include “Weekend Update,” and a bit where women construction workers (played by Curtain, Newman and Radner) harass Ackroyd in hot pants. There is also an inspired sight gag involving the development of the Julia Child severing her arm sketch that the show later made famous. And this is what makes “Saturday Night” so infectious. The humor is rebellious, and it challenges the status quo. One of the best moments features Garret Morris doing a sound check by belting out “Gonna Get Me a Shotgun,” a hilariously race-baiting showstopper. Moreover, a land shark is seen in the hallway and Candygram is mentioned in callouts to other choice “SNL” bits.

Reitman’s film emphasizes how the cast and crew of “SNL” were the first generation raised on TV

“Saturday Night” also includes a clever subplot about Milton Berle (J.K. Simmons) visiting the set to wish folks well but also show the old comic guard in contrast to these young whippersnappers. A battle of wits between Berle and Chase becomes a darkly funny game of one-upmanship — even if Uncle Milty literally resorts to swinging his d**k around to show Chase who is boss.

Reitman’s film emphasizes how the cast and crew of “SNL” were the first generation raised on TV. As such, they were disrupters for their peers in the age where late-night television was ruled by Johnny Carson. That Michaels and his “Not Ready for Prime Time Players” bend the rules and think differently is a message Reitman delivers without overkill. When Michaels receives a call from Carson himself, it provides a sense of what is at stake if the producer doesn’t get his show ready to go live by 11:30 pm — a Carson rerun will be broadcast instead. (Spoiler alert: the show goes on).

The can-Michaels-pull-it-off question forms the film’s dramatic backbone, but the sly humor is why “Saturday Night” is so enjoyable. It is not just Andy Kaufman (Nicholas Braun) wandering around the set as if he is lost, or Billy Crystal (Nicholas Podany) worrying about how much time he has for a sketch to air, or even Jim Henson (Braun in a double role) and his Muppets being mocked by the “SNL” writers, including Michael O’Donoghue (Tommy Dewey). There is a throwaway quote from Hitler, and visual jokes such as Morris igniting a cigarette with a burning light that provide the film with its irreverent verve.

The music by Jon Batiste — who appears as musician Billy Preston and does a killer version of “Nothing from Nothing" — also contributes to the film’s nimbleness, providing a jazzy, jaunty backdrop for all of the enveloping action.

“Saturday Night” features too many vignettes, but only one involving Michaels’ cousin/executive assistant Neil (Andrew Barth Feldman) getting stoned while searching for Belushi — who has gone missing — seems unnecessary. Reitman nicely shoehorns appearances by Paul Schaffer (Paul Rust), Don Pardo (Brian Welch), Al Franken (Taylor Gray) and even Janis Ian (Naomi McPherson) into the film, and they all look and feel authentic.

As Michaels, Gabriel LaBelle plays unflappably well, letting his arrogance and confidence come to the surface. It informs, but never overwhelms his performance. As the escalating pressure mounts, he has a cathartic meltdown and several epiphanies that are fun to watch.

In support, Rachel Sennott delights as Rosie; her calm demeanor is appealing. Lamorne Morris is also superb as Garrett Morris, whose wry observations and existential crises are amusing but also poignant. And Cory Michael Smith is a standout as Chevy Chase. A scene of him reacting to being dressed down by the old guard (Tracy Letts) is as admirable as his comic performance for the affiliates. In contrast, Mike Wood’s John Belushi and Dylan O’Brien’s Dan Ackroyd feel underused, but their great comedy pairing was yet to come.

“Saturday Night” brims with tremendous affection for “SNL,” and those feelings feed viewers’ nostalgia. They may not speak to younger generations, but Reitman’s film is a sweet and goofy Valentine, even if it does feel a bit slight.

“Saturday Night” is scheduled for a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on September 27, before its wide release by Sony Pictures Releasing on October 11.

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Harris outlines plan for the rich to pay their “fair share” in taxes but is light on details

Vice President Kamala Harris sat down with MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle on Wednesday to discuss her economic agenda, choosing relatively friendly terrain (much like former President Donald Trump on Fox News) to deliver the case for a Harris-Walz administration and neutralize criticism that she hasn't made enough unscripted media appearances.

Presenting herself as a champion of the middle class and Trump as a friend of moneyed interests, Harris provided the broad strokes of what she would do to level the playing field and help Americans not only "get by" but also "get ahead." In doing so, she chose to stay firmly on message rather than indulge in the grievance-filled tangents preferred by her Republican rival. At the same time, she also refrained from making any deep forays into policy details or explanations for how she would pass her agenda through Congress if the GOP controls the House or Senate.

At the centerpiece of Harris' agenda, as laid out Wednesday night, is a proposal to pay for increased social spending by raising taxes on the country's wealthiest earners and corporations — many of whom pay a lower rate than the working class — while cutting taxes or offering tax credits to 100 million people who earn less than $400,000 a year. Far from driving big business and jobs away, Harris told Ruhle, she would work closely with private sector leaders "who are actually part of the engine of America's economy" and "agree that people should pay their fair share."

Kamala Harris rolls out agenda: $6K tax credit for newborns, $25K subsidy for first-time homebuyers

"They also agree that, when we look at a plan such as mine, that is about investing in the middle class, investing in new industries, investing in bringing down costs, investing in entrepreneurs like small businesses, that the overall economy is stronger and everyone benefits," Harris said.

Indeed, analysts at Goldman Sachs and Moody's, a bond credit ratings business, have concluded that Harris' plans would grow the economy while Trump would exacerbate inflation and invite a recession. To ensure that most Americans are benefiting from a revived economy, Harris reiterated proposals she's made on the campaign trail to go after price-gouging companies, boost small businesses and struggling families with tax credits and create three million new housing units by the end of her first term.

But while Harris promised to cut bureaucratic red tape to build more housing, she hasn't explained how she would use federal power to overcome local governments who jealously guard their privileges to regulate zoning laws and maintain the sanctity of wealthy suburban neighborhoods. Nor did she specify how she would support union labor or protect unions against GOP proposals, beyond a broad promise to "stand by the importance of being able to join a union."

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On other issues like tax rates and manufacturing policy, she referenced plans that have been written out in more detail by her campaign or endorsed policies pursued by President Joe Biden, who has given officials like Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan free rein to pursue antitrust lawsuits against exploitative corporations. While Ruhle pointed out that both Biden and Trump have implemented tariffs that have been criticized for stunting economic growth, Harris drew a distinction between Biden's "limited tariffs" to protect American jobs and Trump's "not very serious" idea of "tariffs across the board."

On the campaign trail, Harris has mocked Trump for using "concepts of a plan" on healthcare as a way of admitting he doesn't have a plan at all. Nevertheless, a slightly larger share of voters perceive Trump as stronger on the economy than Harris, who like Biden has appeared to struggle with reconciling the message that the economy is recovering under Democratic leadership with the imperative to empower and raise the living standards of working Americans who feel left behind.

Harris declined to directly answer Ruhle's question about the possibility that Republicans, should they control one or both houses of Congress in 2025, might stymie many of her proposals. Democratic worries have become especially acute in recent weeks as Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., falls behind his GOP challenger in the polls. Unless Democrats can pick up a seat in red-shaded territory like Texas or Florida to offset potential losses in Montana and West Virginia, the Senate will almost certainly fall to a GOP majority.

Ruhle did not press Harris further on Congress, but come January 2025, the now-vice president might have more hostile faces across the table from her when it comes time to selling her agenda.

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Eric Adams says he “expected” indictment, refuses to step down as DOJ reveals bribery allegations

In a press conference outside Gracie Mansion, which was raided just hours earlier, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he wasn’t fazed by a five-count indictment that outlined detailed allegations that he accepted foreign bribes and broke campaign finance laws

“We are not surprised. We expected this,” a surprisingly chipper Adams said. “I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before they make any judgments.”

Adams also revealed he didn’t plan to step down, as calls from top city elected officials mount for his ouster.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams indicted by federal grand jury

“I look forward to defending myself and defending the people of this city as I've done throughout my entire professional career,” Adams said, alongside religious leaders and other allies who came to his defense. “Everyone who knows me knows that I follow campaign rules and I follow the law.”

“When they removed my phones ten months ago, people said the city was gonna collapse,” Adams said, referring to an earlier FBI seizure of his devices, before suggesting that prosecutors could have political motives for investigating him. “I think we should ask federal investigators and prosecutors if they were directed to take the actions that we are witnessing right now.”

The presser, which was interrupted several times by protestors calling for Adams to quit, came just minutes before federal prosecutors laid out their case.

"You are a disgrace for all Black people in this city!"– Eric Adams's news conference is not going well pic.twitter.com/Gq0Ui8Yeyh

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 26, 2024

In a DOJ press conference a few miles downtown, investigators laid out the sprawling case against Adams and revealed the extent of luxury that a Turkish airline allegedly afforded to Adams, as a Turkish official sought his help in expediting city business.

Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for Manhattan, called a Turkish official and a Turkish airline’s alleged pampering of Adams over nearly a decade a “multi-year scheme to buy favor with a single New York City politician on the rise,” per the New York Times.

Williams alleged that Adams accepted “over $100,000 in luxury travel benefits,” including first-class airfare and five-star hotel accommodations, ultimately taking “corrupt official action” on behalf of those who bribed him.

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Despite Trump’s flip-flops, anti-choice activists think he’ll sign “any” new abortion restrictions

Former President Donald Trump has accused Vice President Kamala Harris of flip-flopping on her policies this electoral cycle. But the Republican nominee has himself publicly shifted his positions on a woman's right to choose, opposing and then supporting Florida's six-week abortion ban while coming out in favor of state-funded fertility treatments. Believing that it's a losing issue, he's also tried to change the topic, preferring to demonize Haitian immigrants rather than discuss his shifting stances on reproductive freedom.

The former president boasts about his role in overturning Roe v. Wade, claiming that abortion bans are best sorted by the states instead of at a federal level. He's also expressed support for the morning-after pill and promised, without providing details, that he'd make the government and insurance companies pick up the costs of in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

Despite all his attempts at striking a moderate pose, many in the anti-abortion movement believe Trump's just playing politics and that he will do as the movement wishes when back in power, deriving comfort from his refusal at this month's debate to say that he would veto a national abortion ban. An ardent anti-abortion activist told Salon that “of course” Trump will sign “any” restrictions that Republicans send his way when he wins the White House.

“He is just getting started": Another Trump presidency could totally destroy reproductive freedom

In fact, Lila Rose — who started the anti-choice group Live Action when she was 15 years old — believes that voters like her shouldn’t lose too much sleep over the claims Trump makes when he's in campaign mode.

"One of the things that's been so compelling for so many people about President Trump is that he's a fighter," she said in an interview.

Rose acknowledged that her “fighter” and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, have shown a “softening on life." The Republican ticket has balked at explicitly endorsing a national abortion ban, preferring strategic ambiguity, and even suggested that IVF should be funded by taxpayers.

But she believes that Trump and Vance just need some critical support; she's not too concerned that their campaign proposals will be reflected in actual policy.

“Minds are still being made up and, policies are actively changing. President Trump seems to be actively introducing policy proposals and changing stances,” Rose told Salon. “So I think now's the time for pro-life Americans to say, 'Listen, if you want the pro-life votes, fight for life.'"

While anti-choice activists may not like everything Trump says on the trail and believe there should be some pushback, they see a wide gulf between him and his Democratic opponent. Harris, in their view, is a non-starter, the vice president having pledged to restore the national right to an abortion. Trump, by contrast, is just trying to win an election — and will have to lean on a base, and Republicans in Congress, who are adamantly opposed to moderation on questions of "life."

“It's a very difficult election cycle because we're dealing with one party, the Democratic Party, whose nominee is passionately pro-abortion,” Rose told Salon, calling Harris and Walz “the most pro-abortion ticket in American history.”

That leaves anti-choice campaigners with the Republican Party, which in turn cannot afford to alienate a key constituency. That could portend a rollback of rights that the Trump-Vance ticket is today claiming it will protect as it seeks to maintain the GOP coalition.

Rose, like other anti-choice activists, has extreme views on when life begins that are out of step with scientific understanding of human development. These activists claim to not see any difference between an embryo, a fetus and a live baby. And they are not alone: such extreme views are reflected in Republican-led states such as Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Oklahoma, where laws assert that life begins from the moment of fertilization.

However, medical experts are clear that an embryo is not a fetus and a fetus is not a child.

“It’s not until about 10 weeks that there is an actual structure that has four tubes and connects to the lungs and major vascular system like we would think of as a heart,” Dr. Sarah Prager, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington Medicine, told NBC.

Additionally, it is only at about 10 weeks of pregnancy that an embryo becomes a fetus, which is the state it remains in until birth. The debate over when "life" begins impacts not just abortion policy, but efforts to produce a child via IVF, which activists like Rose see as tantamount to murder.

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IVF refers to a process wherein mature eggs are collected from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab, as explained by the Mayo Clinic. Often this fertility treatment is sought out by individuals who have trouble conceiving children on their own.

“Every child created using IVF is a precious, irreplaceable human being and deserves every protection and has all the dignity of every other human being, and these lives are incredibly precious,” Rose told Salon. “That's why IVF is so problematic, because according to the research, it's about 93% of all children created through IVF, but don't make it to birth. They're killed via embryo destruction, or they are miscarried, or they're in deep freeze. They're frozen indefinitely, or they end up being donated for human experiments, and, in laboratories."

According to the national and clinic-specific data from the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), an association of America’s fertility clinics dedicated to the practice of assisted reproductive technologies (ART), released in April of this year, 2.5% of all births in the country are a result of successful ART cycles. In 2022, the number of babies born from IVF increased from 89,208 the year before to 91,771.

Among the GOP base, the Live Action president is not alone in her belief that IVF effectively kills more "children" than it creates.

“We believe human embryos should not be destroyed,” Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, told Salon in a statement. “All too often, proposals on this issue go too far by giving blanket immunity to IVF clinics — even for rogue practitioners who switch human embryos, fail to follow basic safety standards, or negligently destroy human embryos desired by infertile couples.”

“IVF is an industry that needs strong oversight and regulation, especially considering its standard operating procedure of force fertilizing young life and then destroying them when no longer desired,” Kristi Hamrick, vice president of media and policy at Students for Life Action, told Salon in a statement. “Such callous disregard for the humanity of the preborn isn't part of every nation's practices. This emphasis on IVF among the Democratic Party is the very definition of cognitive dissonance, as the party both celebrates the destruction of human life in abortion while trying to embrace families who would welcome those children.”

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Asked to comment on Trump’s own stated support for IVF, including state funding for the procedure, Hamrick told Salon: “J.D. Vance went on Fox & Friends shortly after Trump's remarks to media and said that the conscience rights of Americans would not be violated with a new mandate, but we need the details to know that.”

And therein lies the crux of the issue. Although Trump has tried to distance himself from the more extreme views in the anti-choice movement, those views are widespread among the GOP's core voters —and those voters think Trump is one of them. At the very least, foes of abortion and IVF are reasonably convinced that Trump will sign any restrictions sent his way by a Republican Congress.

What's more, despite the former president's more moderate claims as of late, few in his party have lent those claims their support.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., speaking on a recent press call hosted by the Harris-Walz campaign, said that Democrats want to work with Republicans to protect IVF. On Sept. 17, however, all nine Republican senators running for reelection voted against the Right to IVF Act, which would create a federal, statutory right to fertility treatment. Vance did not show up (a spokesperson said he was busy campaigning).

"If he was on the phone last night urging people [to vote] 'yes,' then I'll take him seriously," Stabenow said. "This is just excuse after excuse after excuse because they don't believe women and their families should have their own freedom to make decisions using IVF," she concluded.

Steven Miller, a father from Wisconsin who used IVF to start a family, said that was no shock.

"It's no surprise to me that JD Vance couldn't be bothered to show up for it for today's vote. We know he voted against IVF access the last time he had a chance. Just like Donald Trump appointed an anti-IVF judge to the federal bench as president," Miller, who noted that he is a Christian, said on the press call.

"Vance loves to talk about family values and has plenty of time to degrade childless people in the press, but when it comes to real action to support families' access to IVF, he's not just missing action he's working with his Project 2025 allies to undermine our families rights to make their own health care decisions," the father of twins who are now starting kindergarten said.

Anti-choice activists and Democrats do seem to converge on one point: Trump and the GOP are anti-choice, and despite their campaign rhetoric, their actions — overturning the federal right to an abortion and failing to protect IVF — reflect their dim view of reproductive freedom.

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WIC at 50: A nutrition lifeline looks to expand reach and modernize services

For 50 years, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has been a vital pillar of public health in the United States, supporting millions of nutritionally at-risk mothers, infants and children. Right now, the program reaches about 6.7 million mothers and children each month.

As the nation’s first "Food as Medicine" program, WIC has a proven track record of improving pregnancy outcomes, increasing breastfeeding rates and enhancing child nutrition. However, as WIC celebrates its half-century of success, the organization is also looking to evolve and address modern challenges, including conservative lawmakers becoming increasingly intent on cutting the funding of federal nutrition programs.

Republicans fought WIC — and WIC won

The group’s new “2024 State of WIC Report: Celebrating 50 Years of Impact,” released this week, outlines an ambitious roadmap for future success, highlighting key areas for improvement, including the modernization of technology, increased outreach to eligible families and sustained program funding.

Georgia Machell, the president of the National WIC Association, spoke with Salon Food about some of the most pressing recommendations from the report, such as the push to make remote services and online ordering a permanent feature. She also discussed the challenges of expanding access to underrepresented communities and the crucial policy actions needed to ensure WIC’s future.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

One of the most interesting recommendations in the report — and one that might surprise people — is this push to modernize the technology associated with WIC, like making online orders and virtual enrollment options permanent. I was hoping you could talk a bit about why that recommendation was made, as well as some of the promises and challenges of modernizing the program?

Yes, absolutely. I think that’s a great question to start with, and I think we have to take a few steps back and look at the past few years and everything that’s happened within the WIC program, and then also just within society generally. I think the pandemic really lit a fire under the WIC program to think about how WIC services were being provided to participants, and what participants needed to enhance that experience.

I think one of the ways we think about improving the WIC participant experience at any point in the WIC participant journey is by increasing choice and flexibility. I think for any person — anywhere, doing anything — if you have more choice and flexibility in an experience, it’s more likely to be a positive one. Our ultimate goal here is to make sure that folks who are eligible for WIC are participating and continue to participate as long as they are eligible.

So, with technology, there are lots of opportunities to think about increasing access to the program. A couple of the things that have come up in the last few years are really around remote certifications during the pandemic, when flexibilities were put in place to allow WIC agencies to do remote certifications. What we found through survey work that we’ve done with almost 40,000 WIC participants is that [they] really like having the option to basically join the program virtually and do other aspects of the program virtually, as well.

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For example, one of the amazing services WIC provides is nutrition education, so we’ve seen a lot more innovation in that space in the way folks can engage with that program, also with breastfeeding support, as well.

You mentioned online ordering and I think, for us, this is something where we’ve known for a while that the WIC shopping experience can be really hard. It can be one of the pain points of participating in the program. So, it seems reasonable that folks who are participating in WIC can shop in the way that a lot of other folks shop, generally, for their foods.

Right now, there’s a number of pilots in the field that are looking at ways to make WIC online shopping a reality for participants across the country, so we’re really excited to see where those pilots lead.

That makes a lot of sense. On the note of accessibility, could you expand on some of the strategies WIC is using to increase enrollment, specifically among communities where there might feel like there are barriers to access programming?

It's important to kind of recognize that despite there being 50 years of evidence on the impact of WIC, only 53% of eligible people are actually currently participating in the program. So, there is definitely a need to drive that participation.

A number of things are happening to support that. From a National WIC Association perspective, first and foremost, we want to make sure the program has the funding it needs to be able to reach all eligible people. We want to ensure that funding is available, that Congress appropriates the right amount, and that states can operate their programs as needed to provide WIC services. From a funding perspective, there is always a need to ensure WIC has the resources necessary to serve eligible families.

I think there's also a lot of innovation in that space, in terms of outreach and how it's being conducted. It really comes back to focusing on WIC access and meeting participants where they are. This means considering how people in the demographic that participates in WIC receive other information. For example, we run a recruitment and retention campaign, and we've found it really effective to use platforms like TikTok and other forms of social media to reach participants. It’s also important to ensure that the information being provided about WIC is accurate.

"It's important to kind of recognize that despite there being 50 years of evidence on the impact of WIC, only 53% of eligible people are actually currently participating in the program. So, there is definitely a need to drive that participation."

I would also say that, again from survey work we've done, the WIC food package is a huge incentive for participation. The final rule changes to the WIC food package that came out earlier this year will be really valuable in drawing eligible people to the program. Participants highly value the increased amount of fruits and vegetables they can access through WIC, and we're pleased to see these changes made permanent.

Ultimately, it's about how we communicate the services WIC provides in a way that is appealing to participants and reflects the full range of services the program offers.

You bring up funding. In talking with food security advocates, that’s always one of the key elements to making a program work, right? So I was curious, in your mind, what are the most critical funding or policy actions our legislators could take to ensure the program’s stability and future?

Yeah, I think there are three key things here. The first is to ensure that the program is fully funded. That is critical.

Second, it's important to make sure that modernizations, like the ones implemented during the pandemic, get passed and remain in place. These flexibilities have been crucial, and we don't want to take a step backwards when it comes to modernization. It's worth noting that most of the people currently participating in WIC have only known the program with these changes in effect, so we need to focus on maintaining those enhancements to the WIC participant experience.

The third key point is that, along with ensuring proper funding, we must keep an eye on any legislative riders that could delay the implementation of the final rule for the food package. The states we represent, and the people working in the WIC program at both the state and local levels, are already in the process of implementing these changes. We don't want to see this process slow down any more than it already has. The last review of the food package concluded in 2017, and now it's 2024, so we finally have the opportunity to start making these changes. We don't have time to waste when it comes to implementing them.

I tend to forget it’s been that long because there was a bit of a “time hole” during the pandemic.

Yeah! There was.

It's really critical that we move forward with making changes that will significantly enhance the experience for WIC participants. One of the things we were so grateful to see was the expansion of options for whole grains, for example, and the inclusion of more culturally specific foods that weren't previously available in the food package.

We want people to be able to tailor the food package to their needs, rather than having to fit into a pre-designed package, if that makes sense?

It does. Related to funding, I think there is often some harmful rhetoric swirling about the efficacy of federal nutrition programs like WIC and SNAP. I was curious, from your point of view, what misconceptions you think still exist about WIC as a program and what you might say to counter those?

Yeah, I think there are a lot of misconceptions about the services WIC provides. For example, I would love for everyone in America to know that WIC offers some of the highest-quality breastfeeding support available to all eligible participants. There's a real lack of understanding about the breadth of services that WIC provides.

In addition to breastfeeding support, there's also nutrition education. I’ve been reviewing some focus group data, and participants shared that this education was critical in helping them feel comfortable and confident in preparing the foods they were purchasing with their WIC benefits.

So, when it comes to misconceptions about WIC, it’s really about the wide range of services the program offers. Beyond the specific services, there’s also the profound impact WIC has on families. We're hearing more and more that WIC helps families feel supported during difficult times in their lives, and I think that’s an incredibly important aspect of the program that shouldn't be underestimated.

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Criminal investigation opens into Wisconsin mayor who moved ballot drop box

Disguised in a hard hat, work gloves, and a Department of Public Works jacket, the mayor of a central Wisconsin city this week carted away a ballot drop box outside City Hall that the city clerk had planned to make available to voters, The Washington Post reported.

A criminal investigation into Wausau Mayor Doug Diny has now been launched, the Post reported, after complaints that his action amounts to illegal election interference. A conservative, Diny was elected to the nonpartisan position earlier this year with backing from the state Republican Party.

Diny's unilateral decision to remove the ballot box came after the Wisconsin Supreme Court earlier this summer ruled that they were legal, the Associated Press reported. The investigation was opened after Marathon County District Attorney Theresa Wetzsteon who announced Wednesday she was investigating the mayor's move after a city clerk, Kaitlyn Bernarde, filed a report about the missing drop box on Monday.

"Unlawful": Experts say Trump-backed Georgia election board rules threaten to "disrupt" count

Diny defended his actions in remarks on Wednesday.

“This is no different than the maintenance guy moving it out there,” he said. “I’m a member of staff. There’s nothing nefarious going on here. I’m hoping for a good result.”

The mayor, who moved the ballot box to his office, insisted that the public location was "not secure."

As the AP noted, it is a felony in Wisconsin to impede "the free exercise of the franchise at an election."

“This is the kind of action that’s designed to stir the pot,” one city resident said at a council meeting this week, the news service reported. “It does not tamp down the rhetoric that we’re all facing in this election cycle. It accomplishes nothing positive and amounts to, in my estimation, voting interference and intimidation.”

about ballot drop boxes

Diddy’s kids speak out about growing conspiracies surrounding mom Kim Porter’s death

The children of the late actress and model Kim Porter and Sean "Diddy" Combs are coming to their mother's defense amidst speculation from a new book questioning her cause of death.

The siblings — Quincy Brown, 33, Christian, 26 and 17-year-old twins Jessie and D’Lila Combs — posted a statement on Instagram in response to a self-published book falsely positioned as being Porter's memoir, titled, "Kim's Lost Words: A journey for justice, from the other side,” which has become a bestseller on Amazon in the wake of Diddy's arrest.

In the statement, Porter's children write, “We have seen so many hurtful and false rumors circulating about our parents, Kim Porter and Sean Combs’ relationship, as well as about our mom’s tragic passing, that we feel the need to speak out . . . Claims that our mom wrote a book are simply untrue. She did not. And anyone claiming to have a manuscript is misrepresenting themselves.”

Sean "Diddy" Combs indicted for sex trafficking and racketeering

Porter, who died from pneumonia in 2018 at the age of 48, has been at the center of an unfortunate buzz of headlines these days, grouped in with Diddy's mounting legal issues.

While the children did not mention their father's recent sex trafficking arrest and indictment, they alluded to the tragedy that has surrounded their family after losing their mother so unexpectedly.

“We are deeply saddened that the world has made a spectacle of what has been the most tragic event of our lives,” they write. “Our mother should be remembered for the beautiful, strong, kind, and loving woman she was. Her memory should not be tainted by horrific conspiracy theories.”

Combs and Porter's children won't be leaving the public eye anytime soon, as their father awaits trial in jail. Also, rapper 50 Cent is partnering with Netflix to create a docuseries that will cover the alleged decades-long abuse surrounding Diddy.

In a statement to Variety, 50 Cent and director Alexandria Stapleton said, “We remain steadfast in our commitment to give a voice to the voiceless and to present authentic and nuanced perspectives."

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Israel rejects US proposal for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a proposal for a temporary ceasefire with Hezbollah on Thursday — which was offered by the U.S. and several allies earlier this week — promising instead to continue waging a war against the Lebanese militant group, Reuters reported.

Lebanon has been bombarded by Israeli warplanes this week, with strikes targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut, shaking the capital. The attacks targeting Hezbollah, including the assassinations of several senior commanders, have raised concerns that a wider war might engulf the region.

Netanyahu’s office issued a statement Thursday saying the prime minister has “not even responded to” the proposal, arguing “the purported directive to ease up on the fighting in the north is the opposite of the truth.”

Former CIA chief Leon Panetta accuses Israel of "terrorism" over Hezbollah pager attack

“The Prime Minister has directed the IDF to continue fighting with full force, according to the plan that was presented to him,” the statement continued, The Hill reported. “The fighting in Gaza will also continue until all the objectives of the war have been achieved.”

Citing the need to return 60,000 displaced Israeli residents who have fled Hezbollah rocket fire in the north of the country, Israel has ignored the push for a peaceful settlement, saying it will not stop before ensuring those residents can return to their homes.

On Wednesday night, a senior Biden administration office said that the U.S. hoped Lebanon and Israel accepted the ceasefire proposal.

The U.S. and French-led proposal was released Wednesday and called for a 21-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah. The proposal was also signed by Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

about Israel and the wars in the Middle East

Rudy Giuliani disbarred in DC over his efforts to throw out millions of votes in 2020

It’s a bad day to be a New York City mayor.

Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor and Trump attorney, was disbarred in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, adding to the list of jurisdictions where the once-venerated figure cannot practice law.

In a one-page order citing New York state’s disbarment, the three-judge D.C. Appeals Court panel affirmed a D.C. bar disciplinary committee’s July 2023 finding that Giuliani attempted “unjustifiably and without precedent to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania voters, and ultimately sought to undermine the results of the 2020 presidential election.”

“Mr. Giuliani's misconduct was calculated to undermine the basic premise of our democratic form of government: that elections are determined by the voters,” the committee said.

Rudy Giuliani disbarred "effective immediately": His misconduct "cannot be overstated," court says

Giuliani, a chief legal architect of the Trump campaign’s efforts to subvert the 2020 election in numerous states, has been criminally charged in Arizona and Georgia. The ex-Trump advisor is also an unindicted co-conspirator in Jack Smith’s federal election probe, per The Hill.

The disbarment comes as Giuliani faces a bruising bankruptcy case, stemming in part from a massive judgment awarded to two Georgia election workers that Giuliani defamed in 2020. The pair, who Giuliani owes $148 million, won a fight to kick the ex-mayor out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July, paving the way for the court to liquidate his assets.

While Giuliani has yet to address his own disciplinary woes, he did take a moment Thursday morning to defend New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday night, in a post to X, writing that Adams “is entitled to the presumption of innocence.”

about Trump's lawyers

Republican Clay Higgins deletes racist post attacking Haitian immigrants after pushback in Congress

Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., has removed a racist post against Haitian immigrants after widespread criticism, even though House Republicans successfully shielded him from an effort to censure him over the remarks.

Higgins, a Louisiana representative who once admitted to voting for former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, previously told colleagues that he’d pray over whether to delete the remarks. His racist post came in response to a Haitian advocacy group filing criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, for their lie-filled anti-Haitian rhetoric, which authorities say has endangered the community.

“Lol. These Haitians are wild. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters,” Higgins wrote on X, ending the now-deleted post with a threat that “these thugs better get their mind right and their ass out of our country before January 20th.”

Haitian-American congresswoman says community is receiving "death threats" over Trump's lies

The Congressional Black Caucus moved on Wednesday to censure Higgins for the remarks. But Republicans, who control the House, pushed the vote to after a legislative recess that will last until November.

Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, D-N.Y., co-chair of the House Haiti Caucus, called Higgins' comments “vile and reprehensible."

“His remarks are cruel, dehumanizing, and have been proven time and again as untrue,” Clarke said in a statement. “Just when you think these MAGA extremists' xenophobic ideologies can’t get any worse, they continue to spread dangerous falsehoods and threats.”

But Higgins was defended by House Speaker Mike Johnson, also from Louisiana,, who said that Higgins was “a dear friend” and a “very frank and outspoken person.”

“He pulled the post down. That’s what you want a gentleman to do,” Johnson said. “We believe in redemption around here.”

about right-wing attacks on immigrants

New York City Mayor Eric Adams indicted by federal grand jury

New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on five federal charges by a grand jury on Wednesday night, a move that comes after a series of FBI raids targeting key members of his administration led to multiple resignations last week.

The indictment, unsealed on Thursday, alleges Adams has engaged in a decade-long string of corrupt practices, including seeking "straw donations" to abuse a public campaign donation matching program, accepting improper gifts and luxury travel from Turkish businesses and officials, and acting on behalf of a Turkish official.

Adams proclaimed his innocence in a Wednesday night video statement, insisting he will fight the charges even as calls grow for his resignation. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who called for Adams to step down before news of the indictment broke, was joined in those calls Wednesday by numerous city council members, statewide representatives and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, a progressive running to replace Adams.

“The hardworking people of New York City deserve a city government and leadership they can trust,” Lander wrote on X. “Right now, they don’t have it.”

FBI raids homes of NYC mayor's top deputies amid growing legal probes

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who could remove Adams from office once he is criminally charged, has yet to weigh in on whether the mayor should step down.

The wide-reaching investigation into Adams led to raids on a grip of key allies of the mayor, prompting the resignations of NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks and NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban.

Federal investigators also raided the mayor’s home, Gracie Mansion, early Thursday morning. Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, who previously represented Alec Baldwin and Elon Musk, accused federal authorities of trying “to create a spectacle.”

“They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in,” Spiro said in a statement.

about Eric Adams

Trump fatigue has set: Post-election disruption plans suggest the pressure is getting to MAGA

Donald Trump can be defeated.

He was in 2020, although he’ll never admit it. He was defeated by E. Jean Carroll in court when a New York jury in a civil case found him liable for sexual abuse. He was defeated in a Manhattan criminal court earlier this year and found guilty of 34 felony counts. And I defeated him in federal court three times when his administration tried to take away my White House press pass.

Donald Trump is a stone cold loser.

He knows it, and his minions know it. So they are, like they did four years ago, trying to manipulate the political machinery in the United States in the very likely event he loses again. These machinations include but are not limited to, trying to steal, suppress, discount, and refuse votes, as well as potentially encouraging armed resistance to congressional certification of the election.

January 6, 2021, in many ways, is just past prologue. With Trump, there remains the threat of violence. Fortunately, the country is run by Joe Biden this time. The Chief of the Capitol Police, Tom Manger, is a veteran who knows how to handle riots. A repeat of the seditious activities of Jan. 6, at least, does not appear in the offing, no matter how much Trump would like it to be so.

Other than a private plane trip to Russia or Venezuela, after another election loss, Donald Trump knows he’s basically, as Martha and the Vandellas sang, left with; “nowhere to run to baby, nowhere to hide.”

"The evidence will be powerful": Legal experts say Jack Smith about to drop a bomb in Trump case

To be blunt, under no circumstances will Donald Trump accept a defeat because to do so means that he will ultimately have to go to prison – and that’s the one thing Trump simply can’t accept. As one former Trump associate explains, Trump would rather go out in a blaze of inglorious violence.

“But he’s got to face that fact,” Michael Cohen, his ex-fixer who served time in federal prison for tax fraud and perjury in a separate Trump election interference case, reminded me Wednesday. “He’s still looking at prison.”

On MSNBC on Wednesday, Cohen admitted he’s also considering leaving the country should Trump win. “I’m working on a foreign passport with a different name,” he told host Nicole Wallace and recommended she and other journalists (including myself) who are on “the list” do the same. “How many people has he turned around and said ‘these are people I intend to go after?’” Cohen asked. As he noted, the Supreme Court recently gave Trump a get-out-of-jail-free card so that any “official” action he takes is protected by immunity. “This is serious,” Cohen reminded me.

He doesn’t have to remind me. But, it is worth noting that Cohen believes Trump’s chances for winning the election are fading. “The Vice President is right,” Cohen reminded me. “One of the things we’ve seen is that his rallies aren’t like they used to be. He’s demented and it’s showing more often. Somehow he tries to keep the narrative going about how he’s a better candidate, but come on. It’s Donald. He’s a loser.” And, it appears that “Trump fatigue,” is a very real condition.

And at the end of the day, Cohen has an increasing amount of hope for what happens after the election as well. While the threat of violence is real, and some of the voting guidelines have changed in some of the swing states, Cohen believes Trump will lose by such a wide margin, that it won’t matter. “I really don’t see him being able to do anything about it,” Cohen said.

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I am left wondering how anyone could be undecided in the current presidential election. It’s like being offered a shelter in a blizzard and hesitating because you want to know how many bathrooms the shelter has. It isn’t a fight between Harris and Trump. It remains a fight to restore our democracy; not save it – but restore it. The Supreme Court has already destroyed it.

Recently I found a few people who understand that point. Interestingly enough it was among a group of comedians. Tom Arnold introduced me to David Rosenberg, a fellow native Louisvillian who is part of the creative force behind “Comics for Kamala.” Arnold performed Friday night at the famous Los Angeles Comedy Store along with Mark Maron, Caroline Rhea and several other comedians who donated their time to tell jokes – some of them political, and some of them – like a story Arnold told about Peter Criss of “Kiss” fame – not so political, but very funny.

Rosenberg said his wife came up with the line “Comics for Kamala” but it was California Congressman Eric Swalwell who inspired the effort. “He just wanted us to do something. So we debuted at the Democratic National Convention and now we’re out on the road with it.”

The event is unique among all of the political events I’ve covered in the last 40 years. Comics are notorious for poking fun at politicians, but rarely joining hands to support a cause, much less a politician. “It’s been interesting,” Rosenberg explained. “Unique forum. We have local politicians coming out to venues they wouldn’t normally visit.” No kidding. Politicians are usually fuel for the comic fire – and still are. It just appears Trump is the fuel of the moment. “In Boise,” Rosenberg said, “We had the mayor come out. It’s cool to rally around joy. We’re bringing some levity to this and politicians – especially local politicians – are getting a chance to meet people they normally don’t see.”

Who knows, maybe it’s the beginning of a trend. Open mic night with local politicians vying for the opportunity to serve based on whether they can sell their B.S. and get an audience at a comedy club. There are worse ways to go.

Rosenberg said the “Comics for Kamala” tour has stops planned in Phoenix, Michigan, Boston, Cleveland, Atlanta, New Hampshire, Austin TX, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Baltimore, Portland and Dallas in October. “It’s a unique experience,” he added.

Of that, there is no doubt. Watching Maron do a 15-minute set lambasting Trump, followed by Arnold telling us how he saved Peter Criss’ life (You have to watch the bit to understand) made for a unique night covering politics. I was left wondering if comics should cover all politics, and whether or not we should have comics moderate presidential debates. I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing Arnold, Maron or perhaps Jerry Seinfeld moderating a debate between presidential candidates. Admit it; part of you would like that too.

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The next time Donald Trump talks about how he needs to “protect” women would certainly be more interesting if Catherine Rhea, Kathy Griffin, or a host of other female comics were present to push back. Certainly anyone could do better than the reporters I’ve seen moderating the current debates.

What we’ve seen during nearly a decade of Trump in politics, is that Harris is right – he is an unserious man and he is bringing about serious results. Why are we taking him seriously? He only managed to win one election in his entire life – and that was a fluke brought about because of a convergence of strange events; The Bernie Bros left Philadelphia angry and ready to either not vote or to vote for Trump because Bernie Sanders didn’t get the nod over Hillary Clinton. Clinton didn’t campaign well in the swing states. And, yes, the Comey surprise hurt her too.

Despite the scatological intentions of Trump’s people in 2020, their fecal responses to Joe Biden didn’t work. Trump had so angered the public because of his response to COVID, his continuous lying about rebuilding infrastructure, his horrible economic decisions, tax breaks to the rich and a host of other real concerns, that he could not overcome his negative press. He lost.

Four years later he’s hoping that people have forgotten and will give him another “Get out of Jail Free” card by electing him to another term.

It ain’t looking good for him.

The other side is having too much fun. At a recent Trump rally, I saw, people left angry, bitter and bored. A Harris event resulted in cheers. The Harris team has an army of former Republicans, union officials and now comics on her side.

I don’t see how Trump overcomes it. The Trump faithful may be saying, “I know you’re not good for me, but you’ve become a part of me,” as Martha and the Vandellas sang. But truth be told, at this point I think Trump’s tired old tropes are too tired to hustle a majority of Americans into voting for him – and more importantly, I don’t think his demented disinformation can effectively win the electoral college.

Still, Cohen is hedging his bets talking about getting a new passport and a new name.

Me, I’m tempted, but I’m too damn stubborn. I’ll stay and fight because I firmly believe that this time next year, I’ll see Trump in orange, behind bars and screaming like a toddler before they shove him into solitary confinement.

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The evolution of phishing: How AI is reshaping digital deception in 2024

Protecting personal data online is vital. As our digital footprints grow, so do cybercriminals' methods to exploit them. Phishing used to be a simple trick to get sensitive information. In 2024, it has become a complex and sophisticated threat. Adding artificial intelligence to these deceptive tactics has made phishing harder to detect and more convincing.

“With cybercriminals using AI more often, we have had to adapt our cybersecurity awareness campaigns," says Wendy Betts, information security officer at Rotary International. "Phishing emails now appear so realistic that it is no longer enough to rely on spotting a fake logo or misspelled words. Instead, you need to ask yourself: Is this something someone would genuinely send to me?”

The AI-powered phishing arsenal

Phishing has evolved beyond misspelled emails and dubious URLs. The Nigerian Prince has been dethroned by something far more insidious.

“It’s dumbfounding how often major breaches costing organizations millions of dollars can be traced back to phishing and social engineering. These methods have been around for decades but they’re still the most common way breaches begin,” says Jim McDonald, co-host of the Identity at the Center Podcast

Today, cybercriminals use AI to craft personalized attacks that are harder to spot. Below are some of the most common AI-driven phishing methods in 2024:

Hack-proof your finances: How to protect your personal data like a cybersecurity expert

Spear phishing: Precision targeting

Spear phishing targets specific individuals or organizations. AI has enhanced this technique, allowing hackers to employ data analytics to create detailed profiles of potential victims. AI then scrapes public information from social media, professional sites and other accounts. The end result: messages virtually identical to those from trusted sources.

AI can now:

1. Tailor messages to individual recipients. Mimic the tone, style and phrasing of the victim's contacts.

2. Predict the best attack times based on the target's online activity patterns.

3. Make attacks relevant and genuine, fooling even savvy users.

Vishing: Voice-based deception

Vishing (voice phishing) has also become more dangerous with AI-enhanced voice cloning technology. This technology lets scammers mimic known people's voices, like family or colleagues. Natural language processing enables attackers to have complex, context-aware chats, making the interaction seem natural and more challenging to discern.

In 2024, AI-enhanced vishing exploits include:

1. Realistic voice cloning makes it challenging for victims to tell legitimate calls from scams.

2. Emotional analysis, where AI gauges the victim's emotions and exploits vulnerabilities by adjusting its approach.

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Quishing: QR code trickery

QR codes are now ubiquitous and cybercriminals have noticed. A new type of phishing, "quishing," uses these codes to deceive users. After scanning malicious QR codes, the victim is sent to a fake landing page that looks authentic, with the objective of stealing sensitive information.

AI's contribution to quishing includes:

1. Generating realistic and convincing QR codes.

2. Using machine learning to optimize the design and placement of these codes to maximize engagement.

Smishing: SMS-based scams

Text messaging, or SMS, has long been a phishing staple. In 2024, AI has made smishing attacks much more effective and personal. Scammers can craft hyper-specific messages aligning with the recipient's recent activities. They use AI to track and analyze patterns in communication.

The AI advantage in smishing includes:

1. Hyper-personalized messages that resonate with the target based on recent behaviors.

2. Timing attacks to coincide with anticipated legitimate messages.

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Why AI-enhanced phishing is so effective

AI has changed the game in terms of phishing attacks. They are more challenging to detect and more convincing. AI-driven phishing campaigns evolve as fast as security measures improve.

Here are key reasons AI makes phishing more dangerous in 2024:

1. Data processing: AI can quickly analyze data, creating authentic, personalized messages.

2. Improved timing: Machine learning finds the best moment to get a response from the target, increasing chances of success.

3. Natural imitation: Advanced language models mimic the tone and style of actual messages, making fake ones harder to spot.

4. Emotional manipulation: AI can analyze emotional cues and manipulate victims’ emotions.

Protecting yourself in the age of AI-driven phishing

Phishing attacks are getting more advances but the bespoke advice on maintaining vigilance still holds true today.

1. Stay Informed: Stay current on the latest phishing techniques and AI technologies and how they work. Understanding the nature of these attacks makes it easier to spot suspicious behavior.

2. Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). It adds security. It requires a second verification step beyond a password. If someone compromises your credentials, this can help prevent unauthorized access.

3. Authenticate unexpected requests for sensitive information. Contact the sender through known channels, not the suspicious message.

4. Beware of urgency: Phishing often relies on creating a sense of urgency. If the message feels abrupt, pause to scrutinize its legitimacy and accuracy.

5. Use updated security software: Invest in top antivirus and anti-phishing tools such as McAfee and Norton. These tools detect and block malicious activity in real-time.

7. Scrutinize URLs: Before clicking on links, hover over them to check the full URL. Be cautious of slight misspellings or unexpected domains.

8. Keep software updated: Update your devices, apps and operating systems to the latest versions.

9. Use a password manager: These products create and store unique passwords for each account, adding extra security.

10. Heed your intuition: Suspicions often signal a genuine concern. Trust your gut and verify any suspicious communication before taking action.

"Human intuition is still one of the strongest defenses"

The phishing landscape underwent a seismic shift in 2024, driven by AI innovation. Cybercriminals are better at tricking people into revealing sensitive information. But cybersecurity is advancing, providing new tools and strategies to combat this threat.

“While cybercriminals are using AI to their advantage, cybersecurity professionals are also using these tools to fight back," Betts said. "Yet, human intuition is still one of the strongest defenses. It's crucial to slow down, evaluate unexpected messages, and ask whether they truly make sense before clicking or responding."

Use awareness, technology and critical thinking to stay safe in this changing digital world.

about cybersecurity

RFK Jr.’s tour with Jordan Peterson: “Make America Healthy Again” shows why “alt medicine” went MAGA

In his endorsement of Donald Trump, Robert Kennedy Jr. continued to insist he remains "independent" and not a full-blown MAGA crank, laughably claiming that he has meaningful political disagreements with Trump. Kennedy argued that he was making a strategic alliance with the GOP against the Democratic Party, which he accused of being "the party of war, corruption, censorship, [and] big pharma." All nonsense, of course. Trump doesn't hide his support for Russia's war on Ukraine, routinely calls for the imprisonment of his critics, and wishes to repeal legislation that has allowed Democrats to lower drug prices. Mere days before endorsing Trump, Kennedy showcased his opposition to corruption by begging Vice President Kamala Harris for a job in exchange for not backing Trump. The "corrupt" Democratic candidate refused to bribe Kennedy.

The far-right has learned how to leverage the woo-woo world's tendency to romanticize the past and demonize the present for the MAGA culture war agenda.

On Monday, Kennedy offered another example of how his claims to "independence" are nonsense when he joined a Capitol roundtable hosted by the far-right Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc. titled — don't laugh! — "American Health and Nutrition: A Second Opinion." As Elaine Godfrey of the Atlantic wrote, "The alliance was the natural culmination of a broader trend in American politics that has seen the Trumpian right meld with the vax-skeptical, anti-establishment left: Woo-woo meets MAGA, you could call it, or, perhaps, the crunch-ificiation of conservatism." Funny but Godfrey is missing the mark by invoking the "left." The panel was replete with reactionaries whose alleged "liberal" pasts are asserted or assumed, yet not in evidence.

There's Jordan Peterson, a psychologist whose very public history of transphobia and misogyny had led to court battles over losing his license to practice. Peterson's last conversation with Kennedy was yanked off YouTube for promoting vaccine misinformation. The two are also scheduled to appear later this week alongside Johnson at a right-wing gathering in Washington, D.C.

Next Sunday. pic.twitter.com/b941kcXAIb

— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) September 23, 2024

Then there is Jillian Michaels, a reality TV "fitness" host whose efforts to hide her MAGA leanings fall flat when she hints at beliefs in far-right conspiracy theories. Or Tucker Carlson-favorite "alternative medicine" peddlers Casey and Calley Means. This roundtable was less an illustration of "horseshoe theory" and more evidence that the anti-science and anti-progress woo-woo peddlers are settling into their natural home: the MAGA movement.

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In her deep dive into the weird world of the alt-right, "Doppelganger," journalist Naomi Klein documented how the Republican rejection of COVID-19 vaccines cemented a marriage of what she called "the far-right" and "the far-out." In the process, she discovered that the left-leaning credentials of so many in the so-called wellness world were a centimeter deep, more about aesthetics than values. The pandemic didn't convert people to the right, so much as it revealed the reactionary and even fascistic leaning of so many people who insisted they offer "natural" alternatives to "medicalized" health care.

As readers will no doubt remember, much of the anti-vaccine rhetoric was centered on the notion that "fit" people don't "need" vaccines, because their exercise and diet routines were medicine enough. This built on years, even decades of "wellness" rhetoric that is openly hostile to the idea that health is a communal concern, instead framing good health as a status symbol signaling one's superiority to the hoi polloi. As Klein discovered, a lot of self-proclaimed advocates of "wellness" saw health as strictly an individual concern, often to the point of employing genocidal rhetoric implying the pandemic was cleansing the human race of the less worthy. Despite surface rhetoric decrying "Big Pharma," the alt-medicine industry is, if anything, a bigger fan of predatory capitalism. The whole world is awash in scammy supplements and overpriced, ineffective diet plans, none of which is subject to the regulation or research requirements that hem in, however imperfectly, the pharmaceutical industry.

Klein doesn't touch on this much in her book but it's worth also noting another commonality between the alt-medicine world and fascism: a shared reliance on a fantasy of a glorious past that is allegedly being stolen from us by modern progress. In both tellings, the past was better — utopian, even — because people stuck to the "natural" order. For a fascist, this rhetoric is about justifying injustices and hierarchical social orders, arguing that people were better off under white supremacy, monarchy, or male domination. For the reactionary wellness crowd, it's about rejecting the scientific advances of modern medicine for their imagined past when people used "natural" remedies and were, in their dream world, healthier and happier for it.

Republicans are following JD Vance off the gender gap cliff

In both cases, of course, they're objectively wrong. Modern life has drawbacks, but on the whole, people in the U.S. are healthier, freer, and safer than they have been throughout most of history. And what problems we do have aren't ignored by science at all. Kennedy and his fellow panelists are flat-out lying when they claim the modern medical establishment doesn't promote exercise and good nutrition. Front page articles at the Centers for Disease Control are full of standard-issue language about how "a healthy, balanced diet" and "regular exercise" are key to preventing chronic illness. Yet Trump's former CDC Director Robert Redfield endorsed Kennedy's pro-Trump plan. "Kennedy is right," Redfield wrote in an op-ed this week. "All three of the principal health agencies suffer from agency capture."

The pandemic didn't convert people to the right, so much as it revealed the reactionary and even fascistic leaning of so many people who insisted they offer "natural" alternatives to "medicalized" health care.

Pushing paranoia is quite profitable for the alt-medicine folks that Kennedy and Sen. Johnson brought together. Most of them run businesses selling expensive supplements, diet plans, and other "wellness" products that range from useless to actively dangerous. For instance, Peterson and his daughter hype an all-meat diet, which would sicken any person who actually tried to follow it.

The far-right has learned how to leverage the woo-woo world's tendency to romanticize the past and demonize the present for the MAGA culture war agenda. The anti-feminist movement, for instance, borrows paranoid language about "chemicals" to portray both birth control and abortion as dangerous, while implying that pregnancy, because it's "natural," is perfectly safe. The reality is the inverse. Birth control and competently performed abortion are both exponentially safer than pregnancy, a condition that requires regular medical monitoring even under the healthiest conditions. It also shows the level of self-delusion that informs the "glorious past" fantasies of MAGA and their alt-med collaborators, as the high death rate in childbirth before the modern era isn't exactly a hidden part of history.

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It's surprising there wasn't a "tradwife" at Kennedy's Senate stop of his so-called "Make American Healthy Again" tour, as these online influencers may be the purest manifestation yet of how the rhetoric of "natural" and "wellness" has been wholly cannibalized by a far-right movement that longs to return to an era of white supremacy and overt patriarchy. Most of the discourse about tradwives has focused on how their content is both sexist and unrealistic, selling a false story that domestic bliss is achievable if women give up ambitions to bake bread all day. What's less discussed is how this lie is constructed on top of decades of "wellness" content making similarly false promises of having elite health status through expensive "natural" products. Most of these tradwife accounts are rife with scientific disinformation and paranoia. Tradwives often argue that the only escape from a world supposedly drowning in toxic chemicals is to retreat to a homestead where a woman devotes her entire life to the unpaid labor of making food from scratch. Most offer this argument while wearing a full face of make-up, no doubt purchased from Sephora instead of being handmade in their kitchens.

People like Kennedy and his compatriots in the alt-medicine world often invoke words or phrases like "pollution" or "Big Pharma," which allow people to assume a progressive, if misguided, motive for their anti-science delusions. These things should be understood more as fig leaves covering up a reactionary agenda. First, using leftist-sounding language helps them rope in gullible people, both to take their money and, in many cases, to radicalize them. But it also helps reactionaries hide in plain sight. Sadly, a few progressive-sounding terms are enough to distract and confuse journalists, who credulously report that they're witnessing "horseshoe theory" or a "left-right alliance." What they're seeing rather is a predatory, anti-science movement flowering into its final form, the face that was always lurking underneath: MAGA.

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The mission creep of hate: Trump’s dehumanization targets beyond immigrants

Donald Trump and his surrogates are continuing to channel and amplify Nazism and Adolf Hitler. This is not random or happenstance. It is part of a strategy. “Feral politics” made even more explosive and toxic by adding blatant white supremacy, racism, and antisemitism. Occam’s razor, as it often does, provides the most simple and compelling proof of how Trump and his campaign’s feral hate politics strategy is very intentional: He and they have increased their antisemitism, racism, and white supremacy (and misogyny and hostile sexism) greatly in the last few weeks as the polls and other metrics show him tied with if not behind Kamala Harris, a Black South Asian woman, in the presidential election.

Adolf Hitler is one of the most evil leaders in recorded human history. Hitler and his Nazi regime are responsible for the systematic, industrial-scale mass murder of six million Jewish people and millions of others (including Black Germans). World War II, the deadliest in human history, resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of people around the world (estimates range from 50 million to 70 million or more). Almost 80 years after the end of World War II, Nazism and the various forms of racial fascism, and the other antidemocratic and illiberal political belief systems and ideologies in its orbit have not been fully vanquished. They are resurgent in the form of Trumpism, American fascism, and the larger global antidemocracy movement.

This very brief history lesson about the evils of Hitler and Nazi Germany is necessary given the broken state of America’s schools and a society where amnesia and organized forgetting are the norm. For many Americans of a certain age (and older,) Hitler and the Nazis have been reduced to the stuff of internet and social media memes from the movie “Downfall,” generic characters to kill in video games, or perhaps in their most real and frightening form as outliers in American society who rampaged in Charlottesville or commit hate crimes.

There are many examples of Donald Trump’s embrace and channeling of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis as part of his chorus of hate and plans to turn America into a type of Fourth Reich. In the most recent escalation in their campaign of racism and white supremacy, Trump and his agents, most notably his running mate JD Vance, are now telling the lie that Black Haitian immigrants in Springfield are stealing and eating white people’s dogs and cats. Attacks on some type of “racial” Other and demands that they be deported (and worse) to “purify” the nation are core beliefs of Nazism and Hitler. Trump has explicitly used such language, describing nonwhite migrants, refugees, and “illegal” aliens as human vermin and “poison” in the “blood” of the nation that needs to be removed. Part of Trump’s “purification” plan involves the creation of a concentration camp system and the “bloody story” that will be the largest deportation plan in American history.

Republicans are following JD Vance off the gender gap cliff

In a post last Monday on his Truth Social disinformation site, Trump issued the following statement. It reads like something written in the early 20th century by American eugenicists and “race scientists” such as Madison Grant, whose work heavily influenced the Nazis:

OUR BORDERS MUST BE CLOSED, AND THE TERRORISTS, CRIMINALS AND MENTALLY INSANE, IMMEDIATELY REMOVED FROM AMERICAN CITIES AND TOWNS, DEPORTED BACK TO THEIR COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN. …THE WORLD IS LAUGHING AT US AS FOOLS, THEY ARE STEALING OUR JOBS AND OUR WEALTH. WE CANNOT LET THEM LAUGH ANY LONGER. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

Donald Trump’s ethnic cleansing plan and purges will not stop here. They will expand to include any people who Trump and his MAGA movement and the other neofascists designate as the “enemy.”

Historian Richard Frankel, author of “States of Exclusion: A New Wave of Fascism” issued this warning:

Trump and Vance and their MAGA allies and other neofascists are erasing the distinction between the idea of deporting undocumented immigrants and those who are here legally. In their hysterical stories about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio stealing and eating household pets, they were talking about a group of people who came to this country legally with temporary protected status. But neither Trump nor Vance made any effort to note that. In fact, JD Vance went even further. After reporters informed him that the Haitians in Springfield were here legally, he responded by telling them, “I’m still gonna call them an illegal alien,” unconsciously echoing Karl Lueger, the notorious antisemitic Mayor of Vienna around the turn of the twentieth century, who famously declared, “I decide who’s a Jew.”

All this is to say that the idea that Trump is focused solely on deporting undocumented immigrants is absurd. His stormtroopers will round up anyone they decide does not belong in this country, whether they’re citizens or not. This is also something the Nazis did even before the 1935 Nuremberg Laws stripped German Jews of their citizenship. Only months after coming to power, the Interior Ministry stopped naturalizing Jews arriving from Eastern Europe and soon after that, they began removing the citizenship of Eastern European Jews who were granted citizenship between 1918 and 1933. Whatever their status, Trump means to remove anyone who does not fit within his particular vision of the American national/racial community.

During a recent rally in Tucson, Arizona, Trump wallowed in a disgusting story about “young (white) American girls being raped and sodomized and murdered by savage criminal aliens.” Trump’s language is evocative of that used to justify the lynchings and other extrajudicial murders of the thousands of Black men who were falsely accused of raping white women (or more generally of being “uppity” and “not knowing their place”) during the Jim and Jane Crow terror regime in the South and other parts of the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Trump is also promising to make it illegal for undocumented immigrants to own homes in America. Historian Timothy Ryback, who is one of the world’s leading experts on the rise of Hitler and Nazi Germany, highlights the historical precedent of such threats by Trump:

All this anti-foreigner, anti-immigrant foment by Trump and Vance, the doubling down on hate speech and outright lies, reminds me of Hitler’s election campaign rhetoric leading up to the November 6, 1932, Reichstag elections, inflammatory rhetoric that had already resulted in a foreign worker being bludgeoned to death by a group of rightwing vigilantes in the village of Potempa that August.

The sheer brutality of the Potempa murder stunned a nation already reeling from a summer of Nazi street violence that saw newspapers publishing “casualty lists” from the country’s ongoing “civil war.” When the “Potempa Five” were sentenced to death for "political murder," Hitler sent the killers a telegram of support. He called them heroes. He vowed that once in office, no foreign life would ever be placed above that of a blood German. Indeed, one of Hitler’s early acts as chancellor was to pardon the five killers.

Most troubling to my mind are Trump’s repeated references to immigrants as “rapists” and “vermin” who are allegedly “poisoning the blood of our country.” Hitler had a shorthand term for such vile rhetoric: Rassenschande, or “bastardization” of the German race. He also had solutions: successive acts of legislation that curtailed their rights to employment, education, marriage, etc., and ultimately the creation of a vast government-funded infrastructure of homicidal machinery that led to the extermination of millions of human lives.

In a literal textbook example of antisemitism and white supremacy, Trump operates from the assumption that Jewish people constitute a type of inherently untrustworthy hive mind — one that must prove its loyalty to him.

In keeping with that pattern of behavior, Trump said the following during a series of speeches last week: “The Jewish people would have a lot to do with a loss….It’s only because of the Democrat hold, or curse, on you.”

The Nazis tattooed serial numbers on Jewish people and members of other targeted groups during the Holocaust. In an interview last Sunday, Trump channeled such horrors:

But we're getting the criminals out, and we're going to do that fast, and we know who they are, and the local police know their names, and they know their serial numbers. They know everything about them. We're not a dumping ground. We're going to get all of those people out, and we're going to get them out fast.

Trump: Do you think Springfield will ever be the same? You have to get them the hell out. You have to get them out.

Crowd: *chants send them back* pic.twitter.com/0QVkXCQ9si

— Acyn (@Acyn) September 24, 2024

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Frankel, who is not sure exactly what Trump meant by his reference to “serial numbers,” shares his broader concerns about the corrupt ex-president’s cruelty, nativism, racism, and violence:

If any comparison is to be made with Germany, it seems to me it’s the fundamental dehumanization of his targets. In this case, he sees them as “things,” “units,” and “pieces” (so much of his “business” involves selling things). Products have serial numbers. People do not. But he doesn’t see immigrants as human. Trump talks about them in the language of business, of accounting. The Nazis used similar language. As Primo Levi described it in his classic autobiography, "Survival in Auschwitz," they spoke of “pieces.” As the Germans held roll call while Levi and his fellow Italian Jews waited for deportation to Auschwitz in 1944, he wrote how the German officer asked, “Wieviel Stück?” How many pieces? That’s the similarity that strikes me here.

In the 40 or so days until Election Day, Donald Trump and his surrogates are only going to increase their channeling and amplification of the Nazis and Hitler. The stakes of the 2024 election are truly existential for American democracy and freedom.

Sharon Nazarian, who is a board member and former senior vice president of the Anti-Defamation League, implores the American people and their leaders to defeat Donald Trump, the MAGA movement, and the larger neofascist movement:

Over the past two weeks, Trump has given into his darkest and most dangerous tendencies showing everyone in America his intentions to dehumanize, bully, and endanger anyone and everyone who stands between him and the Presidency. His trafficking in conspiracy theories against the Haitian community in Springfield, his dehumanizing and terrifying allusion to the Holocaust by threatening immigrants with serial numbers and using terms like ‘hunt them down’, and his threatening words to the Jewish community last week, where he made it clear to his most extreme supporters that he intends to blame the Jewish community if he were to lose, all point to a man who is telling us outright that he intends to remake America in a dark and disturbing way.

When someone tells us who they are, we are supposed to listen. This is a man who urged on a violent insurrection against America and the peaceful transition of power just three years ago. Between his words, the words of his running mate, the words of his supporters, and the policies contained in Project 2025, we are witnessing a movement that needs to be stopped in its tracks, or we may not ever be able to stop a slide toward authoritarianism and threats to our democracy that we’ve never known in this country.

Although their country’s democracy is ailing, the American people still have the ability to choose their destiny in the upcoming presidential election. Learned helplessness and preemptive surrender will almost guarantee that Donald Trump and the MAGA movement and the larger antidemocracy movement will win.

John Roth, who is a leading scholar on antisemitism and the Holocaust, counsels that resistance is not futile:

Trump has said he plans to visit Springfield “soon.” Like so much that Trump trumpets, might that claim be a lie? Trump knows he won’t be welcome in Springfield. The crowds enjoying the Rose Goute Creole Restaurant’s Haitian cuisine testify to that, and Mayor Rob Rue stresses that a Trump visit would put “an extreme strain” on the city’s resources. Cowardly bully that he is, Trump probably won’t show up in Springfield. But either way, Trump and Vance dangerously exploit the city as a prop to amplify their fundamental campaign falsehood, one emblematic of Nazi Germany and today’s neo-Nazis and others of their ilk: a flood of undocumented immigrants invades the United States and poisons American blood.

Trump and Vance think it’s a winning card to support racial fascism and authoritarianism. But the better bet is that American pushback will defeat their gamble.

The 2024 election is a referendum on democracy and a test of the American people’s character, morality, intelligence, and courage. As I often ask here at Salon, who are we, “the Americans?” I hope that Roth is correct and that the American people rise to the challenge of vanquishing Trumpism. Unfortunately, I have a deep and foreboding fear that he will be proven wrong.

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“Unlawful”: Experts say Trump-backed Georgia election board rules threaten to “disrupt” count

The Georgia Election Board's approval of another new rule fewer than 45 days before the general election ignited concerns over its potential to disrupt the state's election administration and certification in November. But election law experts argue that while the new rule would create doubt in the election process if it takes effect, it likely wouldn't hold up against legal challenges.

The board on Friday passed a new rule 3-2 requiring one poll manager and two poll workers at each precinct to sort and hand-count all paper ballots cast the night of the election until they agree on the total. The measure was approved by three board members who have been praised by former President Donald Trump and have billed it as a necessary step toward instilling confidence in the state's election results and reducing the potential for ballot tallying errors, according to NBC News.

But Georgia law already has a "well-defined statutory structure" for collecting and counting votes, and for the certification of the tabulation by the county boards of election, the Secretary of State, and in presidential elections, the governor, according to Julie Houk, the managing counsel for Election Protection at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

"A hand count by three poll officials of every vote cast in person at the polls is outside of this structure and stands to disrupt the canvass and tabulation of the votes and raises concerns about the security of the ballots and transparency of the canvass and tabulation," Houk said in an email.

Georgia Republicans are pushing election-law changes that could undermine the 2024 vote, critics say

The board's move follows its August approval of other rules that critics have assailed for creating potential to delay the November election certification process. The new rules also come amid a recent spate of obstacles to the election administration process in a number of states, including battlegrounds, that have played to Trump's benefit. A legal battle over former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s removal from the state's ballots delayed North Carolina's delivery of military and absentee ballots, with counties only beginning their distribution last Friday at the 11th hour. Republicans in Nebraska are also considering a last-minute change to how the state divvies up Electoral College votes, seeking a winner-takes-all allocation over the current congressional district-based apportionment.

In the wake of the 2020 election, Republicans have offered up hand-counting ballots as a possible answer to unfounded claims about voting machines being hacked despite evidence showing that such a procedure more expensive, time consuming and less accurate. According to NBC News, officials in Mohave County, Arizona, last year found that staffers took three minutes to count a single ballot and routinely made errors in the process when testing out hand-counting votes.

"Not only is this rule not authorized by existing law and is actually contrary to black letter Georgia law, but it presents very serious security and chain of custody concerns."

"Hand counting ballots is an inherently slow process. Thus, it is deeply ironic that the same folks clamoring for instant results push for hand counts," Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, a Stetson University law professor and election attorney, said in an email. "While perhaps a low population state like Wyoming with 232,222 voters could count all of its ballots quickly, Georgia has a voting population of 7 million people. There is no way hand counting Georgia’s millions of ballots can get done with alacrity."

Though Georgia's new rule only requires poll workers to count the number ballots as opposed to every vote on the ballot, county election officials worry it could stall the counting process.

Charlotte Sosebee, the Clarke County, Georgia elections director, told NBC News that counting ballots late on election night could cause problems, like poll workers disagreeing on the number of ballots.

"If we do this, are they really going to trust the process? I mean, what's next?" said Sosebee, who told the outlet she had already trained her poll workers on the new rule in anticipation of it passing.

Critics have also raised alarms around the door the new rules open for county officials to impede the certification process given previous refusals to certify results in recent elections and the former president and his allies' alleged scheme to subvert the 2020 result in the state.

Election law experts say, however, that the new rule falls outside the bounds of the state election board's authority and contradicts several of Georgia's existing statutes on the ballot tabulation, security and the administration of the election.

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For one, no Georgia law permits poll officials in the states' thousands of polling precincts to break the seals of ballot collection boxes and individually hand-count those ballots in the manner the rule describes, Houk explained. The state election board is also obligated per, Georgia code § 21-2-31(2), to "only formulate proposed rules consistent with existing Georgia law which are conducive to the fair, legal and orderly conduct of primaries and elections."

"Not only is this rule not authorized by existing law and is actually contrary to black letter Georgia law, but it presents very serious security and chain of custody concerns when numerous poll officials across thousands of polling places across Georgia's 159 counties will have individual access to every ballot cast by millions of Georgia voters at the polls," Houk said, arguing that the "rule appears to be designed to delay final certification of the election, unnecessarily interject more questions about the validity of the count."

In an analysis for LawFare, senior editor Anna Bower wrote that a close read of the new rule shows it, along with other contentious rules the state election board passed last month, "will almost certainly not hamstring the certification of Georgia’s electoral votes. And even if certification is delayed for some reason, such delays do not open up a legal loophole for Trump to overturn the election."

The state election board, she writes, does not have the authority to expand any county election board's powers, meaning they can not bypass the counties' election certification deadline — slated for 5 p.m. local time on the Monday following election day — outlined in state law.

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And while hand-counting ballots the night of or day after Election Day could lead to some reporting delays spanning a few hours to a few days depending on the size of the precinct, "nothing in Georgia's hand-count rule would prevent a county board from reporting its machine-counted vote tallies before it finishes the hand count of its ballots," she said, noting that the rule is unlikely to go into effect before the election should it face a legal challenge.

The Georgia State Election board also approved the hand-count rule over the advice of the attorney general's office, which acts as its legal advisor, opening itself up to such a legal challenge.

"Attorney General [Chris] Carr was clear on why these rule changes would not withstand legal challenges, and he provided a roadmap for individuals and organizations prepared to bring a lawsuit," according to Allegra Lawrence-Hardy, an Atlanta attorney and legal counsel and senior advisor for voting rights group Fair Fight. Alongside the slate of other issues, the rule also imposes "duties and obligations on poll officials that the election code does not contemplate or authorize."

Absent the authority granted by Georgia law, "the Board’s adoption of the rule was unlawful," she said in an email.

Lawrence-Hardy, like Houk, argued that the hand-counting rule change "is part of the effort to slow down certification," while adding risk of "lost or misplaced ballots, of tampering, and of introducing a break in the chain of custody" to the election process.

Taken alongside the "reasonable inquiry" rule the board passed in August — which allows county election officials to conduct reasonable inquiries into ballot counts prior to certifying the results and has been legally challenged by the Democratic National Committee, the Georgia Democratic Party and a slate of individuals over the ambiguity in what constitutes a "reasonable inquiry" — the new rule threatens to "inject confusion" into the state's election process, she argued.

"When considered along with the Board’s recently passed 'reasonable inquiry' requirement, which empowers county officials, many of whom are election deniers, to delay certification to undertake a reasonable inquiry, the hand-counting rule could provide yet another reason for an election official to deny timely certification if the hand-count is slow or provides unreliable results," she said. "The combination of new rule-making instills doubt in the election process and could create chaos when it is time to certify Georgia’s election results."

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What happened at the disastrous “Bridgerton Ball” experience in Detroit?

"Bridgerton" is supposed to be an escapist fantasy. It is one filled with wistful romance and heightened drama. The Netflix series makes its audience fall in love with its conventionally attractive leads and pastel-colored 1800s Regency-era fashion and vibes. This is why it was a surprise when a "Bridgerton Ball" experience in Detroit transformed fans' experience with the beloved show into a disaster straight out of a nightmare.

In a now-viral post to X by would-be eventgoer Rachel Eaton, she states that she and others spent $300 on what she deemed a "scam," sharing a photo of a depressed looking few scrolling their phones at the event while lying about in fancy dresses.

Thread about the Bridgerton Ball SCAM in Detroit that I (and hundreds of others) spent $300 on pic.twitter.com/EUgX482w8j

— Rachel Eaton @ Realta (@rayleearts) September 24, 2024

The event was marketed as "a step into the enchanting world of the Regency-era . . . for an evening of sophistication, grace and historical charm." Instead, countless eventgoers described a disorganized mess with a cheap and sparsely decorated venue that left attendees waiting in long lines, sitting on floors and watching a pole dancer — one of two entertainers hired for the "classical, romantic evening."

The evening left people furious and even drew comparisons to the infamous and catastrophic Willy Wonka Experience that stunned the internet earlier this year.

Fyre Festival 2.0: Everything to know about the less than stellar Willy Wonka “immersive experience”

So what happened at the "Bridgerton Ball" experience in Detroit? Salon explains it all:

The "Bridgerton Ball" experience

From the start, the "Bridgerton Ball" experience did not seem very well planned.

Postponed from its initial date in August to Sept. 22, the event had issues with its venue. Originally, the ball was planned to be held at Beacon Park, but was switched over to the Harmonie Club, the event organizers Uncle & Me LLC said in a statement posted to Facebook.

In the statement, organizers explained that the original venue canceled the event due to capacity, saying, "In light of this, we have secured a new, larger venue that can comfortably accommodate all attendees and more."

Ticketholders alleged that after the event was canceled on short notice, the organizers did not provide refunds, nor did they respond to anyone’s email asking for one. At that point, people knew they'd been scammed.

In the viral thread that Eaton posted, which has been viewed over 30 million times, she stated, "For starters, NEVER go to an event that’s being run by Uncle & Me LLC. Disorganized, dishonest, and will take your money guilt-free."

Detroit news station WBCK reported that the ball was not a Netflix-sponsored event. This could be noticed by the event's lack of organization and sparsely detailed website listing ticket prices ranging from $150 to $1,000.

One of the eventgoers interviewed by a local ABC affiliate WXYZ, Amanda Sue Mathis, described her experience, saying, "The way that it was described was this was going to be a Bridgerton evening. We were gonna have classical music and a good dinner. There was gonna be a play and they were gonna pick Diamond of the season. They were gonna give away all of these prizes. And we went in and it was completely empty in there."

She continued, "There is nothing going on. They have a pole in the middle of the dance floor. A stripper pole in the middle of the dance floor."

Another "Bridgerton Ball" goer, Amecia Fuller-Ragland, shared: "It was complete chaos today. They never even scanned our tickets. Then there were random people that we had paid to eat dinner and there were random people all throughout the venue."

Yet another attendee who alleged that Uncle & Me LLC was just trying to make money off of people demanded that they give the eventgoers their money back.

"I think we should absolutely get refunds and honestly I want to see this company never doing business again," Camerin Morey said.

The viral thread

While Eaton bailed on the event, despite paying $300 for a ticket, she documented other people's experiences of the chaos. From WXYZ's reporting, Eaton posted screenshots of people in gowns waiting outside in the rain for the event on a busy first floor. However, when eventgoers were let in — they were met with nothing but bare walls, backdrops and decor that was described as "party city/dollar general level."

There were no prizes, giveaways or naming of the Diamond of the Season, as advertised on the event's website. And most egregious of all, the guests' live music entertainment was a single lone violin player alongside the dance entertainment which ended up being a pole dancer in lingerie.

Outside of the lackluster entertainment performances, allegedly there were food vendors that ran out of food after an hour — food that was undercooked and raw.

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In a statement to WXYZ on Tuesday, the event organizers apologized for the disappointment and outrage caused by the trashy "ball."

"We understand that not everyone had the experience they hoped for at our most recent event Sunday night at The Harmonie Club, and for that, we sincerely apologize," the statement read. "Our intention was to provide a magical evening, but we recognize that organizational challenges affected the enjoyment of some guests. We take full responsibility and accountability for these shortcomings."

"Please know that we are working diligently to address all concerns to ensure that all guests have the enjoyable experience they deserve. Your feedback is invaluable, and we truly appreciate both the positive and constructive comments shared with us," the statement furthered. "We are reviewing resolution options, which will be communicated shortly. Your understanding and loyalty mean the world to us, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to make this right."

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“He’s a loser”: Biden drags Trump on “The View”

President Joe Biden made a special appearance on Wednesday's episode of "The View" — as part of a series of public outings in the final stretch of his tenure in the White House — becoming the first sitting president to appear live on the show.

Chief among Biden's observations during the sit-down was his acknowledgment that “there’s not a lot of redeeming value” to former President Donald Trump, the Republican opponent to Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race. When asked if he felt he could have beaten Trump in the election, Biden said, “Yes. I was confident I would beat Trump. He’s a loser.”

Regarding his decision to bow out of the race, the president shared that he was "at peace" with it, and took the chance to endorse his Veep. “She is smart as hell, No. 1,” he said. "She’s tough, she’s honorable, and the thing I like about her — and one thing to share in common — is that we have an optimistic view of the future.”

"Trump is shaking": The View hosts think Trump is "scared" that JD Vance has become a big liability

Host Whoopi Goldberg followed by stating that she "didn't like the way they did it," regarding Democratic calls for Biden to step down.

"I'm just going to say it out loud because nobody says it out loud. I didn't like the way it was done publicly, I thought they could've done this in a different way. We didn't need to hear all the inner fighting. I didn't like it, I'm saying it to you, you were my ride-or-die," she said. "I was going wherever you were going, that's where I was going. I just wanted to say that because I always felt you were going to probably do four years and then try to figure out where to go with Kamala [Harris.]"

Speaking about Trump, Whoopi said "He was like a bug! He just kept being there, he was like a bug right there, bzzz.” Biden then mimicked swatting at an insect.

Given that a large part of the reason Biden withdrew from the race had to do with his flailing debate performance, it only made sense that he incorporated a few age-related jests in his conversation with "The View"'s hosts. Turning to host Alyssa Farah Griffin, he said, “I know you’re only 30, but it’s hard to think of — it’s hard for me to even say how old I am. No, I’m serious. I give you my word. It’s like, holy God, that can’t be right, this can’t be right … No woman close to me is as old as I am. None.”

“Right now they are!” Goldberg replied.

As noted by the New York Times, during a commercial break, an ABC employee shared that there was a 95-year-old woman in the audience. The president gave her a thumbs-up and said he'd like to meet her after the show concluded.

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Vegan cheese won’t save the world — but this brand hopes you’ll buy it anyway

A woman wearing what can only be described as rags struggles to push something large, round, and yellow up a mountain. She lets out a primal scream. A female comedian's face appears overhead, shimmering through ominous clouds. This is not the cold open for a wacky alt-comedy web series — it's an ad for a plant-based cheese company.

The company in question is called Plonts, and the large yellow thing is, of course, a humongous wheel of (plant-based) cheese. From here, things get weirder: The comedian whose face looms large in the sky is Kate Berlant, a performer known for her screwball and self-referential work. As Berlant quibbles with the woman on the mountain, her wry and goofy presence instantly sets the ad's tone. With this tongue-in-cheek approach, Plonts seems to be saying that this is not a regular plant-based cheese brand — this is a cool plant-based cheese brand, one that doesn't take itself too seriously and doesn't want you, the consumer, to either. This ethos is aptly summarized by the ad's tagline: Buying Plonts "won't save the planet," it reads. "But it probably won't hurt."

In the plant-based protein space, Plonts is zigging where other brands are zagging. Many plant-based brands — whether it's oat milk or fake-beef burgers that really bleed — introduced themselves to consumers by hyping up the environmental benefits of a plant-based diet. But as they've learned that sustainability isn't a deciding factor for most customers, alternative protein brands have pivoted in recent years, putting more emphasis on things like taste and nutritional benefits.

Rather than relying too heavily on any of these messages, Plonts' new ad makes a show of playfully shrugging off its climate advantages — and calling into question whether consumerism can really get us out of the climate crisis.

If nothing else, this tactic makes the company stand out. "The category of plant-based foods, I would say, has had a pretty uniform ethics or party line," says Jason Moran, creative director on the marketing team at Red Antler, a branding agency.

That line has traditionally been hyper-focused on the environmental benefits of eating more plants and less meat. A vegan diet results in 75 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a diet high in meat. Because animal agriculture tends to require both land for grazing and cropland to grow inputs for animal feed, livestock also uses a disproportionate amount of the Earth's agricultural land — about 80 percent.

These statistics once seemed like the key to swaying consumers to eat less meat. A decade ago, plant-based protein companies made an earnest case for the environmental benefits of fake meat. When Beyond Meat launched its "beef-free crumbles" in 2014, CEO Ethan Brown told reporters that addressing "all this doom and gloom about climate change" is "as simple as changing what's at the center of your plate." At times, plant-based companies doubled down on that rhetoric, practically pleading with audiences to see the writing on the wall. In a 2016 TED Talk introducing the world to Impossible Foods' hyper-realistic veggie burgers, company founder Pat Brown (no relation) said that the global appetite for meat "is the main reason behind an ongoing wildlife holocaust." Eliminating animal agriculture might sound like a tall order, Brown said, but it "has to be done." The oat milk brand Oatly once took out a full-page newspaper ad on "how the pursuit of profit without consideration for the planet should be considered a crime," according to the company's creative director.

Now, the same companies are trying different approaches. Market research has shown that consumers are motivated by factors like taste, familiarity, price, and nutrition more than plant-based foods' "altruistic attributes," like sustainability. Earlier this year, Impossible Foods announced "a new brand identity inspired by the craveability of meat." This kind of brand positioning alludes to meat's climate impact without saying the word "climate" directly — and instead by repeating the word "meat." ("[W]hy not solve the meat problem with MORE meat?" reads one page on the Impossible Foods website.) Oatly, meanwhile, has continued to highlight the environmental benefits of a plant-based diet, but in surprising, off-the-wall ways. The brand's cheeky "Help Dad" campaign is aimed at convincing reluctant fathers to make the switch to oat milk, while its recent mock-exposé attacks "the dairy industry's lack of transparency about the climate impact of its products."

Rarely, though, has a plant-based protein brand knowingly leaned into the ambiguity around consumerism as a meaningful lever for climate action, as Plonts is doing. In the ad, Berlant suggests that the woman on the mountain needn't huff and puff on that ragged path upwards — an act meant to symbolize eating a plant-based diet to save the planet. Instead, the woman can buy Plonts. "Fighting climate change is too hard," the company declares on its website. "Just eat some plant-based cheese instead."

Here, Plonts takes an honest stab at having it both ways: The company acknowledges the environmental impact of eschewing dairy without overstating the power of individual choice. "It's really frustrating to be up against this massive problem where, you know, realistically, our individual sacrifices aren't going to move the needle on climate change," said Sophie Moscovici-Troyka, brand manager at Plonts, who previously worked at Impossible Foods. "At the same time, you see a lot of mission-driven companies putting the pressure on consumerism as the answer to climate change, which has all sorts of paradoxes within it. We wanted to poke fun at that tension."

To sidestep the guilt that can come with eating meat or dairy on a warming planet, "We definitely took inspiration from different comedians and brands," said Moscovici-Troyka. On the comedy side, that includes comic and actor Julio Torres, who has joked that the hardest part of being vegan is all of the apologizing. ("People ask me if I miss meat or dairy," the joke goes. "I mean, I miss being liked.") On the brand side, Moscovici-Troyka cites Oatly and the canned water company Liquid Death for their arch, irreverent approaches to marketing.

Plonts also seems to be part of a new wave of plant-based cheese companies promising to compete with dairy milk on taste. Its cheese is made by adding cultures, enzymes, and salt to plant-based milk, in a process similar to making dairy cheese; the resulting product is then aged to enhance its flavor, and additives are introduced to give it the ability to melt. Currently, the vegan cheese is only available to order at restaurants in New York and San Francisco, but the company hopes to break into retail in the future. It may be too soon to tell whether the brand's messaging is resonating with consumers; just a few weeks out from its launch, the company declined to share sales numbers. Right now, the Plonts ad is appearing on social media and video sharing platforms.

One of the best things any brand can do when establishing itself, says Moran, is picking an audience: knowing both who you're trying to sell to, and who you're OK not reaching. He suggests that even if Plonts' approach doesn't resonate with everyone, it's on the right track.

If Plonts is speaking "directly" to the people who are "unsure or who are not actively making food choices to save the environment," said Moran, that may be good business. While only about 4 percent of Americans identify as vegetarian (and even fewer as vegan), a 2020 report found that more than half of Americans would be willing to eat more vegetables and less red meat. A slightly smaller percentage, 46 percent, said they'd be willing to try nondairy alternatives to products like milk and cheese. For many, making environmentally-friendly dietary choices just isn't top of mind: Two-thirds of survey respondents said no one has ever asked them to eat more plant-based foods. Courting those eaters, said Moran, "I think is powerful."

This article originally appeared in Grist at https://grist.org/article/plonts-vegan-cheese-alternative-protein-marketing-impossible-beyond-oatly/.

Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at Grist.org

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Riley Keough is fulfilling her mother Lisa Marie Presley’s dying wish by helping her seem relatable

When Riley Keough was asked by her mother, Lisa Marie Presley, to help write the story of her life for an upcoming memoir titled "From Here to the Great Unknown," neither of them could have anticipated the tragedy that would strike just one month later.

In an interview with People ramping up to the release of the book on Oct. 8, Keough speaks of the sudden death of her mom on January 12, 2023 — due to a bowel obstruction, according to a report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner — and how it was important to pick the task back up after her immediate grief had subsided, as to fulfill her mom's dying wish of making her better known to the world and seem more relatable in a way that had evaded her in her lifetime.

Elvis Presley's granddaughter, Riley Keough, named sole trustee of family estate

In an excerpt from the book shared by People, Keough reveals in the intro that when it came time to listen to the stack of tapes containing hours of interviews with her mom for use in finishing the memoir, she was afraid to hear her voice.

“The tapes are an incredible portrait of the force of nature that she was,” Keough says in her interview with the magazine. “Depending on the day and her mood, she can sound locked-in or distracted, vulnerable and open or annoyed and closed off, hopeful, angry, everything. You hear her in all her complications.”

Further along in the excerpt, Keough writes in her intro that the early part of the book is in her mom's own voice and that she's frank about her relationship with Michael Jackson and her struggles with drug abuse. She holds nothing back.

"I hope that in an extraordinary circumstance, people relate to a very human experience of love, heartbreak, loss, addiction and family,” Keough says to People. “[My mom] wanted to write a book in the hopes that someone could read her story and relate to her, to know that they’re not alone in the world. Her hope with this book was just human connection. So that’s mine."

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Betty Liu, a cookbook author and surgeon-in-training, on “finding solace in making food”

Betty Liu is not a formally-trained chef — but that didn't stop her from writing one of my favorite cookbooks of the year.

Liu, currently in training to be a surgeon, is a two-time cookbook author who also doubles as a photographer. Her first book, "My Shanghai: Recipes and Stories from a City on the Water," was just recently joined by a follow-up, "The Chinese Way: Classic Techniques, Fresh Flavors." And the recipes inside more than live up to the name.

In the book, Liu presents eight different forms of cookery, mixing-and-matching Chinese fundamentals and foundations with ingredients from all over the globe, resulting in some of the most delectable-sounding dishes I've come across in some time (delicata squash cut into rings and glazed with a sweet-and-spicy glaze before being topped with milky, creamy burrata? Genius!)

"This food is the flavor of America”: Author Grace Lin on the power of Chinese-American food

As Liu writes on her website, "The Chinese way of cooking is not about who you are, strict traditional recipes, or even which type of soy sauce you use. Instead, it’s an ethos that builds on a set of eight powerful, adaptable cooking techniques that flex with your pantry and the seasons—and anyone can do it."

Salon Food recently had the opportunity to speak with Liu to get her insight on cooking, Chinese techniques, her balancing between being a surgery resident in training and being a passionate home cook and much more.

Betty Liu (Photo courtesy of Betty Liu)

The following interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

This is a terrific cookbook — one of my favorites this year! How would you differentiate this book from "My Shanghai"?

"My Shanghai" was the book I felt like I needed to write – it’s an homage to my roots: the Shanghainese food I grew up eating. It holds the flavors of home, of nostalgia and I still reference it when I crave comfort and familiarity. There is a taste memory there. When I cook and taste these traditional flavors, I am transported home.

The Chinese Way is the book that I really wanted to write. It reflects how I truly cook. Rarely will you find anyone who
only cooks traditional food at home, especially those in my generation, or Chinese Americans!

Our kitchen and pantry are a reflection of time and place and my kitchen has not only various soy sauces (actually, tamari now that my child is allergic to wheat), but also miso paste, various mustards, vinegars beyond black and rice and more. I cook with not just traditional ingredients, but still in a very Chinese way and thus came the shape of the book.

What would you say you'd love for people to take from this cookbook?

That Chinese food isn’t rigid and it’s not as hard as you think! I think Chinese food is often seen as intimidating, because there’s a perception that it has to taste a certain way (ie, what’s been made mainstream in western media). But Chinese cooking is actually very flexible and you can cook Chinese without cooking traditional Chinese.

How does this book represent your culinary ethos and outlook?

It is a true reflection of how I cook at home! I turn to traditional recipes usually when I am craving a specific dish, but for everyday cooking, I start with what I have in my refrigerator or pantry and then think about what I can do with it (steam? Fry? Braise?).

I rarely cook traditional dishes on a day-to-day basis. A lot of the homestyle dishes are meant to be riffed, not strictly adhered to. Let’s take chow mein – there are endless varieties of this. It doesn’t always have to be mushroom, carrot, or whatever is popular. I’ll make chow mein with what I have in the fridge, it’s a pantry meal! In The Chinese Way, there is a sausage and cauliflower chow mein that is a winning combination and easy to put together – just as an example of a “nontraditional” chow mein dish.

The Chinese Way by Betty Liu (Photo courtesy of Betty Liu)

Do you have a favorite recipe in the book?

This is so hard! Right now, as I’m doing this interview, I’m in the mood for the caramelized shallot da bing, cod with black garlic butter and red braised kabocha.

Is there a particular dish, whether in the dish or not, that you feel best represents you as a true "signature dish?”

Can I choose two? Savory Miso Oats is something I have been cooking for many years and then my pork and shrimp wontons are also always a hit.

There's such an amazing breadth of ingredients and techniques in this book — what would you say is a good recipe from the book that’d be great as a start for a beginner cook? Conversely, is there a more complicated dish in the book that you think would make for a wonderful “project” on a long weekend for a more advanced cook?

Conversely, is there a more complicated dish in the book that you think would make for a wonderful “project” on a long weekend for a more advanced cook? I’m hoping this will be a great resource for the curious cook!

I think to start, dishes in the STEAM chapter are fairly straightforward and the technique is easy to execute. For a weekend project, definitely in the WRAP chapter – such as the baos or mushroom-scallion milk bread rolls!

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What was the development process like?

It was simultaneously fun and excruciating! I started with the technique and then tried to provide a variety of ingredients to use said technique with. I also wanted it to reflect foods I truly cook, so I drew inspiration from meals I’ve made in the past, or just started with my basic pantry staples. I had a lot of scraps and re-developing, because the food not only had to taste good, but also had to illustrate the concept of the technique. Every recipe was also tested externally by a professional recipe developer.

Now, you don’t work in food, right? Can you talk a bit about how your professional life and cooking intertwine?

I don’t. My “day job” is as a surgery resident and that has certainly influenced the way I cook now. I’m often reaching for pantry items or what I have in the fridge – by the time I’m cooking I don’t’ have time to go out and buy new ingredients for a planned recipe!

Cooking has definitely served as a creative outlet and helped prevent professional burnout. I find solace in making food, especially for my family and friends.

I’m intrigued by the way the book is divided, with sections like “sauce” and boil”. The chapter breakdown mixes both technique and methodology (i.e steam and fry), as well as flavor profiles (infuse, pickle, etc.) How do you see the two operating together? What inspired you to set up the book like that?

I consider them all broadly, a type of technique. For sure steam, fry, boil, braise are more clear-cut as cooking techniques, but the others – infuse, sauce, pickle… while perhaps not seen as a culinary technique in western cooking very much are techniques in Chinese cooking.

Infuse in particular is not very well known, but an integral technique to draw out flavor. Sauce also, was difficult for me to translate into an English word, as there are a few Chinese words to describe nuances in this technique, but is very much a Chinese cooking technique. Pickle, too, I use here as a verb, not as a noun – I’m describing not so much the flavor profile, but the method of preserving and pickling, which can then be a powerful tool to use in your kitchen.

I organized it this way because this was how I learned to cook – starting with a technique.

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I believe there are no deserts in the book. Do you generally tend to cook savory when you’re in the kitchen?

There are a few sweeter dishes, such as jiu niang poached pear and hojicha steamed fa gao – but you are right, I don’t have a dedicated dessert chapter, or do sweets make up any significant part of the book. I do usually cook savory!

What stands out for you as a formative moment that got you into cooking or food at large?

When I left my home for college – from the Bay Area to the Midwest, I had a bit of a culture shock. I missed the food from home, but I also found myself bereft of even the option of going out to a wide breadth of Asian restaurants. So, I started to cook.

What would you say are your three most used ingredients?

Scallion, soy sauce (or tamari) and garlic.

Pan-Fried Za'atar Flower Buns (Photo courtesy of Betty Liu)

What is your favorite cooking memory?

Wrapping wontons with my mother!

What’s your biggest tip for cutting down on food waste?

You can use a lot of what’s considered waste – save those onion peels, bones, stems for soup! A kitchen sink soup is one of my favorites.

How do you practice sustainability in your cooking?

I try to minimize food waste, and when shopping, minimize plastic.

How do you interpret "classic techniques, fresh flavors"? I love that subtitle.

All of my cooking is based on classic techniques. This is where I start — but, my food, as you can see in the recipes here, is most definitely not traditional.

One of the press releases for the book emphasizes the "enduring adaptability of Shaganiese cuisine" which I felt truly did come through in the book. How do you apply those techniques in your everyday cooking?

Once I get a sense of the ingredients I have in my pantry, I then think about technique – to simply things, it’s “what can I do with this chicken thigh today? I could steam it after a marination, stir fry it (perhaps with some pickles?)” – this is how I run through my meal options!

Sweet and Spicy Delicata Squash with Burrata (Photo courtesy of Betty Liu)

What's next for you? Would you think about expanding into the restaurant space? Your recipes are excellent!

I like where I am, I think. I’m going to finish my surgical training and be a surgeon, but also maintain my love and passion for cooking and share it with the world.

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“The evidence will be powerful”: Legal experts say Jack Smith about to drop a bomb in Trump case

Special counsel Jack Smith is expected to submit an “oversized” brief in former President Donald Trump’s election interference case in Washington D.C. by Thursday. The briefing is, in the view of the judge overseeing the case, needed to respond to the Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling.

Smith requested permission to exceed the normal length limits for briefs, seeking to file up to 200 pages of argumentation in the case, which immediately drew comparisons to past special counsel reports, like those from special counsels Robert Mueller or Robert Hur. This comes as a response to the Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this year, which found the president enjoys broad legal immunity for official “core constitutional acts.”

The Supreme Court ruling threw the prosecution of Trump for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election into chaos and the new filing is an opportunity for Smith to make the case that Trump’s efforts do not qualify as official acts.

Attorney Ty Cobb, a former Trump White House lawyer, told Salon that the filing from Smith was appropriate and necessary in light of the recent Supreme Court ruling but he said that the filing likely won’t be like special counsel reports.

“The Mueller report [was] 400 pages of we ‘didn’t find anything,’ this will be 180 pages of evidence and the evidence will be powerful, undeniable and persuasive,” Cobb said. “The issue for the judge to decide is whether it infringes on official acts assigned to the presidency and whether it could chill any decision-making by the president if the areas involved cross that constitutional line.”

Judge sets stage for "mini, mini trial" in Trump's January 6 case right before the November election

As for the potential that swaths of the filing may be redacted — something suggested by the fact that there will be a private and public version of the document — Cobb said that he thinks “the bulk of the evidence will be out there for public viewing.” He added much of the evidence, like Trump’s call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, is already public.

James Sample, a constitutional law professor at Hofstra University, agreed that the filing was necessary in light of “the Supreme Court’s dramatic expansion of Presidential immunity,” saying that “an oversized, highly detailed legal brief, detailing with as much factual specificity as is possible, is not only appropriate, but necessary.”

“It is precisely because Mr. Trump, along with his nakedly partisan Supreme Court allies, has so stunningly succeeded in thwarting the truth-finding mechanism of an adversarial trial, that Jack Smith’s filing is essential both for the task of categorizing official and non-official acts, but also for the filing’s value in adding to the historical narrative of one of the gravest attacks on democracy in American history,” Sample said.

Sample went on to quote former Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, who once said that “sunlight is the best disinfectant” in reference to the details expected in the filing and the potential for redaction.

“If the special prosecutor’s filing sheds light on the complex, violent, deadly and very-nearly successful effort to overturn the 2020 election, then, even apart from the filing’s legal necessity, the filing is a service to the nation,” Sample said.

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Bennett Gershman, a former prosecutor and a law professor at Pace University, suggested that significant portions of the filing may be redacted “given the closeness to the upcoming election” but that many of the actions Trump took in his attempt to overturn the election results “clearly were not official acts.”

Gershman pointed to Trump’s statements on social media, threats made to former Vice President Mike Pence and his personal interactions with co-conspirators as examples of actions that were, in his opinion, clearly not official acts. He added that “Trump had no constitutional authority with respect to the functioning of the Legislative Branch, and Pence’s official responsibilities with the Legislative Branch,” in reference to Congress’ certification of election results

“The filing will hammer home these points, probably reveal and detail supporting evidence that has not yet been made public, and easily distinguish evidence of official acts,” Gershman said. “For Trump to claim presidential immunity for the actions described above is baseless and absurd.”

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Sarah Krissoff, a former federal prosecutor, predicted that the matter of redactions could be an area where the prosecution and defense might clash, noting that the Supreme Court’s ruling demands that the court engages in a “fact-dependent” inquiry to determine if something was an official act and that “Trump’s team very much does not want all those facts aired (and analyzed) in public.”

“The defense team wants the redactions to be as broad as possible, to protect against the dissemination of information that is damaging to the former President,” Krissoff said. “It is very likely that the judge has to weigh in on the scope of the redactions, given the competing interests of the government, the defense, and the press.”

One of the attorneys who represented Trump during the second impeachment trial, David Schoen, indicated that he thinks the move is politically calculated and that “you can be sure the Harris campaign will borrow allegations from the 180-page filing and use it.” He added that he sees the filing as violating Justice Department policy of not taking legal action against a candidate within 60 days of an election.

“They know the case will not go to trial before the election and they want to have an impact; so now they will lay out the bare accusations and their version of facts, without any meaningful vehicle for cross examination or for rebuttal and with no requirement that they actually be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” Schoen said.

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In “The Old Man,” John Lithgow says he found one of the great challenges of a long, storied career

Days before I sat down for my conversation with John Lithgow, and purely by coincidence, I watched “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension” for the first time in decades. The movie passed its 40th anniversary in August and is mainly noteworthy for the number of superb actors you may have forgotten were in it – Lithgow included.

Mentioning this to the co-star of “The Old Man” made him break into a radiant smile. He hadn’t thought about that title for a long time either, he admitted. “It was hilarious. We didn’t know what we were doing,” he said.

It was also part of what he called “a little cluster of films” that made Lithgow one of Hollywood’s most familiar character actors. That period began in 1982, when he played a transgender woman in “The World According to Garp,” followed by a role in 1983’s “Terms of Endearment” as a temptation for Debra Winger’s frustrated housewife.

"The Old Man" star Jeff Bridges: "I didn't think I was going to work again"

Then came his small-town pastor who imposes a ban on dancing in 1984’s “Footloose,” the same year that “Buckaroo Banzai” hit theaters. “All within two years, it was like this,” he marveled, “Suddenly, this New York theater actor became a movie actor. Boom.”

That level of versatility has enabled Lithgow to avoid being typecast over a decades-long career that’s included many comedy roles, among the biggest being the lead in NBC’s “3rd Rock from the Sun,” along with bringing Winston Churchill to life for “The Crown” and playing Dexter Morgan’s deadliest nemesis on “Dexter.”

That barely scratches the extent of his television and movie filmography or his many theatrical roles. At 78, Lithgow is an Oscar win away from an EGOT designation.

Even so, Lithgow said “The Old Man” challenges him in an entirely new way – although that wasn’t what initially moved him to sign on to the show. “When it first came up as a possibility, one of the huge elements was Jeff Bridges,” he admitted. “I've always thought he was a wonderful actor. I knew he was a wonderful person. That was a big part of it.”

Little did I know I would barely act with him for the first two years of this job,” he added, “but when I finally did, I was absolutely right. It was glorious.”

John Lithgow as Harold Harper and Jeff Bridges as Dan Chase in "The Old Man" (FX)Although the title refers to Bridges’ ex-CIA operative Dan Chase, who quietly comes out of retirement when his adopted daughter Emily (Alia Shawkat) falls into the hands of Farad Hamzad (Navid Negahban), the Afghan warlord from whom he’d been hiding her, FBI Assistant Director for Counterintelligence, Harold Harper (John Lithgow), also lays claim to that identifier in Season 2.

Harper knew Emily as his right-hand Angela Adams, who he cares for as if she were his daughter, making this season as much a story about who she is as it is about the lengths to which fathers might go for their children.

“I just find this to be an extremely unusual story. I can't even think of anything to compare it to except for ‘Grumpy Old Men,’ and that's a total farce with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau: old guys dealing with stuff that they're just no longer prepared to do,” Lithgow said.

That also meant Lithgow joined Bridges in taking on a performance that’s more physically rough and tumble than most actors in their 70s take on. “The part has been a huge challenge, but challenge is what you look for.”

Bridges may be saddled with more hand-to-hand fight choreography, but Lithgow says the emotional anguish Harold carries with him into the wilderness offers another version of stage combat. In part that’s due to Emily/Angela’s decision to embrace the identity she was born with, Parwana Hamzad. To the United States and Dan, her father may be an enemy. But to Shawkat’s character, he’s her blood, as are the aunts, uncles and cousins in her biological father's village threatened by the Taliban.

Harper, therefore, joins Bridges’ Dan Chase in doing whatever they need to do to protect Emily/Angela/ Parwana, which means protecting her extended family.

“One strong element of this series is the fact that it's about two old men with long and complicated backgrounds,” Lithgow said. “When you reach my age and Jeff's age and you look back over your life, there's no way you don't regret certain things, and wish you could do things differently. All those things come into play when you're just trying to do the right thing in the present.”

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Our present is much changed from that of 2019, when the drama went into production, or even 2017, when Thomas Perry's novel, on which the drama is based, was published. As with any show that accidentally ends up resembling current events, Lithgow resisted drawing parallels between the plot of "The Old Man" and emerging news from Afghanistan and Russia.

“As an actor, you concentrate on the characters, and just exactly what you're talking about: the interrelationships that drive an emotional story,” he explained. “ It was equally good long before there was [geopolitical] global chaos for all of us to deal with, and all these deep existential fears that have bubbled up in the meantime.”

Nevertheless, he calls it an “interesting and key question.”

“When we started, Russia had not yet invaded Ukraine. And therefore, Russia was not a bad actor on the international scene, at least not nearly to the degree it is now,” Lithgow said. “Well, look at the plot of ‘The Old Man.’ That means history caught up with us: The story was about a war that took place 30 years ago, the war in Afghanistan, when it was a Soviet war. Now, it's a war against Russian interests in the very present day, at a time when suddenly Russia is a major villain on the international scene.”

“So yes, the series has this incredible unlooked-for resonance, which, I mean, we should be grateful for,” he continued, “but we're certainly not grateful that Russia has become an invading nation.”

Lithgow would rather the audience view the show through the more intimate lens of a group of people, and a makeshift family, swept up in history’s torrent – a thriller about the lingering effects of the choices a few men made in a long-ago war that ultimately boils down to three fathers caring for the daughter they share.

“You go through your life as an actor, just hoping what you do is not only entertaining but also important and meaningful,” Lithgow summarized, “And I've had a few moments where I felt, ‘Oh my god, I'm so lucky to be able to tell these stories.’”

New episodes of "The Old Man" premiere at 10 p.m. Thursdays on FX and stream the next day on Hulu.

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A third of Americans now believe diversity is “threatening,” up from just 11% in 2019

A new CNN poll has found that a third of Americans believe diversity is a threat to the nation's culture, a number that's tripled since 2019.

In a similar poll conducted five years ago, 11% of respondents said diversity was "threatening," compared to 33% who say the same today. Two-thirds of Americans said diversity enriches American culture, which is down from 82% in 2019. Specifically, survey takers were asked: "Overall, do you think having an increasing number of people of many different races, ethnic groups, and nationalities in the U.S. is mostly (threatening) or mostly (enriching) American culture?"

The survey results come amid a volatile political environment in which Republican nominee Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, have taken an increasingly nativist and anti-immigration stance in the final weeks of their campaign.

Springfield's Haitian community stays indoors amidst Trump-led smear campaign

“They’re coming from the Congo. They’re coming from Africa. They’re coming from the Middle East. They’re coming from all over the world- Asia,” Trump said at a rally on Long Island last week. “What’s happening to our country is we’re just destroying the fabric of life in our country. We’re not going to take it any longer. You got to get rid of these people. Give me a shot."

Immigration has been a key issue for both presidential candidates. Some 77% of Americans believe the U.S.-Mexico border is experiencing an ongoing crisis and 55% wish to see less immigration overall, according to a recent Gallup poll. That comes despite the number of people crossing the border having plunged "significantly" in recent months.

Though Trump has taken a more extreme stance on immigration, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris too has promised a crackdown on unauthorized border crossings. She has said she wants to revive a congressional border bill, also backed by President Joe Biden, that would increase executive authority to shut border access, as well as provide resources to hire more immigration judges and Border Patrol agents. The bill failed to get through the Senate in June after Trump announced his opposition, at the time urging Republicans not to hand Democrats a political win.

"We know our immigration system is broken and we know what it takes to fix it: comprehensive reform. That includes strong border security and an earned pathway to citizenship,” Harris said at an Arizona rally in August.

In the new CNN survey, 49% of respondents said they trust Trump over Harris to do a better job on immigration, compared to 35% who said the same of Harris.

With just over a month left until November’s election, the race for president is extremely close. Harris currently leads Trump 48-47, according to a separate CNN poll released Tuesday.

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