Month: December 2024

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News Daypop

White House defends President Biden’s decision to pardon son Hunter amid backlash

President Biden and son Hunter^ boards Marine One for a weekend at Camp David. Washington DC USA - July 26^ 2024

The White House is defending President Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, after the President had repeatedly insisted that he had no plans to grant such executive clemency. Biden issued the sweeping pardon on Sunday evening before heading off on an official trip to Africa, and it covers any potential federal crimes that 54-year-old Hunter may have committed over the course of a decade.

Hunter Biden became the first child of a sitting US president to be criminally convicted in June, after a jury in Delaware found him guilty of three charges for lying about his drug use on a form when buying a handgun. He also pleaded guilty to federal tax charges that included failure to file and pay his taxes, tax evasion and filing a false return just this past September. The pardon covers any potential federal crimes that Hunter Biden may have committed between January 2014 and December 2024, spanning a period beyond the tax and gun offenses.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday that Biden had “wrestled” over the decision during the family’s Thanksgiving break on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, at the weekend. Jean-Pierre said that Biden had pardoned his son, who was facing sentencing later this month in two federal cases, to shield him from potential persecution by the outgoing president’s political foes.

As recently as last month, Jean-Pierre was still telling reporters that Biden would not pardon his son; however, she told reporters on Air Force One en route to Angola: “He said he came to this decision this weekend, and he said he wrestled with this and, because he believes in the justice system, but he also believes that the raw politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice  .. Hunter was singled out, and because his last name was Biden, because he was the president’s son. That’s what we saw. And so the president believed enough is enough, and the president took action, and he also believes that they tried to break his son in order to break him.”

President-elect Donald Trump and other Republicans have lambasted the move, with Trump calling it “an abuse and miscarriage of justice”, and House Speaker Mike Johnson saying that “trust in our justice system has almost been irreparably damaged by the Bidens and abuse of it”.  

Editorial credit: Andrew Leyden / Shutterstock.com

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Sports Daypop

Chicago Cubs sign free-agent pitcher Matthew Boyd to two-year, $29M deal

A colorful new look for classic Wrigley Field highlights the famous welcome sign on April 26^ 2010 in Chicago^ Illinois. CHICAGO - APRIL 26.

ESPN reported on Monday that free-agent pitcher Matthew Boyd has agreed to a two-year, $29 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. The 33-year-old veteran, who has never pitched in the National League, can earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses, with the agreement pending the results of a physical.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, the left-handed pitcher went 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA over eight starts last season for the Cleveland Guardians. Boyd has a 46-69 career record with a 4.85 ERA over 10 seasons, going 2-0 with a career-best 1.35 ERA over 10 starts in 2022 for the Seattle Mariners.

Boyd owns a career record of 46-69 with a 4.85 ERA in 182 games (168 starts) with the Toronto Blue Jays (2015), Detroit Tigers (2015-21, 2023), Seattle Mariners (2022) and Guardians.

The Cubs (83-79) finished second in the National League Central in 2024, 10 games behind the division-winning Milwaukee Brewers (93-69).

Editorial credit: Frank Romeo / Shutterstock.com

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Sports Daypop

NY Jets commit to Aaron Rodgers as starting QB for remainder of season

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) before the 2023 Pro Hall of Fame Game against the Cleveland Browns on August 3^ 2023 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

New York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich announced Monday that the team plans to keep Aaron Rodgers as their starting quarterback, despite his struggles, and the Jets disappointing 3-9 record this season.

Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said during a video call that he still believes Rodgers, who turned 41 on Monday, allows the Jets their best chance to win. When asked if Rodgers’ role as starter is on a week-to-week basis, Ulbrich said: “No, he’s our quarterback. We have great belief in Aaron, we really do. I’ve seen enough evidence on tape of him still being capable of playing high level football for us.”

Ulbrich added: “We think he gives us the best opportunity to win. After assessing yesterday’s game, I thought there were moments in the first half where you saw Aaron Rodgers. I thought there were moments even in the second half when you saw Aaron Rodgers, and then there were moments where he didn’t play to his standard, and he’d tell you the same. We think he gives us, we believe that he gives us the best opportunity to win, so he’s our quarterback.”

Rodgers completed just 21 of 39 passes for 185 yards, with two scores and an interception against the Seahawks on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.  Through 12 starts this season, he’s completed 62.5% of his throws for 2,627 yards, 19 scores and eight interceptions.

Ulbrich also pointed to Rodgers’ health issues as being a key reason for why he hasn’t played well. Rodgers has dealt with a variety of injury issues, from his hamstring, to his ankle, to his knee, despite having missed a game: “You go back to the second Patriots game, and then this game, I thought you started to see his mobility come back. Obviously, I think injury has a lot to do with what his numbers are this season. He’s battled through a lot of things, regardless of (his) age. What he’s had is something that some guys in this league might not play with. He’s a tough guy and he feels a high level of accountability to his teammates, and that’s why he’s out there every week for us. And we believe as he gets healthier and his mobility starts to improve, you’re going to see a better and better version of him.”

The Jets (3-9) will face the Miami Dolphins (5-7) at 1 p.m. EST Sunday in Miami Gardens, Fla., hoping to break a three-game losing streak.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

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Country Daypop

Jon Pardi adds five Christmas concerts in December

Jon Pardi performs onstage during the "All Time High" tour at the Paramount on January 16^ 2016 in Huntington^ New York.

Jon Pardi has just wrapped his extensive “Mr. Saturday Night Tour,” and now he has announced a string of five Christmas shows, appropriately titled “The Christmas Show.”

The casino tour will kick off in Brooks, CA on Dec. 14, before heading to Highland, CA, Tulsa, OK, and Norman, OK, before closing out in Mescalero, NM on Dec. 21.  A portion of ticket sales will benefit the newly established Starlight Fund, founded by Jon and his wife Summer Pardi. The Starlight Fund supports organizations dedicated to providing opportunities and resources specific to young people in need that are pursuing a path in the trades, agriculture, and construction.

Pardi shared: “I think our Christmas album is fantastic, it’s so fun. When we do the live shows we have a big 14 piece band with a 5 piece horn orchestra. We also not only play Christmas songs but we’ll throw in some of the hits and some covers too… You get the best of both worlds when you come to the Christmas shows, I look forward to those.”

Ticket information can be found on Pardi’s website – HERE.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones star in the trailer for ‘The Brutalist’

Adrien Brody at the 2nd Annual Academy Museum Gala held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles^ USA on October 15^ 2022

A24 has shared the first trailer for the new film The Brutalist, a historical drama co-written by Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold and directed by Corbet.

Described as “a staggering American epic,” The Brutalist follows László Toth (Adrien Brody), a visionary Jewish Hungarian architect who escapes post-World War II Europe and arrives in America “to rebuild his life, his work, and his marriage to his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) after being forced apart during wartime by shifting borders and regimes. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce) recognizes his talent for building. But power and legacy come at a heavy cost…”

The Brutalist premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in September, and also stars Joe Alwyn, Stacy Martin, Emma Laird, Isaach de Bankolé and Alessandro Nivola.

The Brutalist will open in theaters Dec. 20.; see the trailer: HERE.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

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Entertainment Daypop

See first-look photos of Leo Woodall, Quintessa Swindell in Apple TV+ series ‘Prime Target’

Quintessa Swindell attends the UK Premiere of "Black Adam" at Cineworld Leicester Square on October 18^ 2022 in London^ England.

Apple TV+ is teasing the new series Prime Target, sharing first-look photos and revealed a premiere date of January 22, 2025.

The conspiracy thriller is created and executive produced by ‘Sherlock’ and ‘Doctor Who’ writer Steve Thompson, with Leo Woodall starring as Edward Brooks, a brilliant young math postgraduate on the verge of a major breakthrough. The cast also includes Stephen Rea, David Morrissey, Martha Plimpton, Sidse Babett Knudson, Jason Flemyng, Harry Lloyd, Ali Suliman, Fra Fee and Joseph Mydell.

An official synopsis reads:  “If he succeeds in finding a pattern in prime numbers, he will hold the key to every computer in the world. Soon, he begins to realize an unseen enemy is trying to destroy his idea before it’s even born, which throws him into the orbit of Taylah Sanders (Quintessa Swindell), a female NSA agent who’s been tasked with watching and reporting on mathematicians’ behavior. Together, they start to unravel the troubling conspiracy Edward is at the heart of.”  

The eight episode series will launch with the first two episodes on Jan. 22, followed by one episode weekly, every Wednesday through March 5.

Editorial credit: Fred Duval / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

LL Cool J’s MTV Unplugged ‘Rock the Bells’ special to premiere on Dec. 5

LL Cool J performs during "We Love NYC: The Homecoming Concert" at the Great Lawn in Central Park on August 21^ 2021 in New York City.

MTV announced they will globally premiere ‘MTV Unplugged Presents: LL Cool J From the Rock the Bells Festival’ on Thursday, December 5th at 10 pm ET/PT on MTV.  A short clip teased: “MTV’s gonna knock you out with a special performance from the one and only LL Cool J.”

The hour-long special will feature the timeless tracks “Going Back to Cali,” “Mama Said Knock You Out,” “Rock the Bells,” and“All I Have” featuring Jennifer Lopez from his 2022 ‘Rock The Bells Festival’ set. A press release stated: “As the CEO and founder of Rock the Bells, he leads a global movement dedicated to celebrating Hip-Hop’s legacy while creating groundbreaking, modern experiences.”

LL Cool J most recently released The Force, his first album in more than a decade; and also recently performed at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Editorial credit: Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

Heart reveals special guests for 2025 Tour including Squeeze, Cheap Trick

Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart perform in Toronto at the Molson Ampitheatre^ July 23^ 2013.

Heart has announced the opening acts for its Royal Flush Tour 2025, including Squeeze, Cheap Trick and Lucinda Williams as special guests for select shows. Squeeze and Cheap Trick had previously opened for Heart on European dates of the Royal Flush tour before shows were canceled due to singer Ann Wilson’s medical issues.

Ann Wilson said in a press release announcing the special guests: “Each of these acts can totally bring it all on their own. It’s an honor for us to be hitting the road with them next year. I’m especially thrilled to be doing a few gigs with my dear friend Lucinda. We’ve wanted to tour together for years.”

Guitarist Nancy Wilson added: “This tour promises to be super fun. We are super stoked to get back out there and bring the big 100% live rawk!”

Heart also added more concerts to their tour itinerary for next year, bringing the total number of dates for 2025 to two dozen. The tour commences in February with a pair of shows at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, where the band will perform solo shows, and continued on to include stops in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Vancouver, Milwaukee, Knoxville and Buffalo, with the final date is a stop at New York’s Radio City Music Hall with Williams opening on April 16.

You can find more information on the tour at Heart’s website.

Editorial credit: Brian Patterson Photos / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

2025 Sick New World Festival in Las Vegas is canceled

Mike Shionda of Linkin Park perform in concert at Download Festival on June 22^ 2017 in Madrid^ Spain.

The 2025 Sick New World Festival in Las Vegas has been canceled due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

A post on social media read: “It is with great disappointment that we announce that Sick New World will no longer take place in Las Vegas on April 12, 2025. Despite our best efforts, we’ve encountered unforeseen circumstances that we were unable to overcome for next year’s show. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the dedicated SNW fans who had made plans to join us for another cultural celebration of hard rock, both, alternative and heavy music. Please stay tuned for further and future information regarding Sick New World. Tickets purchased directly from Front Gate Tickets will be automatically refunded to the original method of payment in as little as 30 days.”

Linkin Park, Metallica, Queens of the Stone Age, Evanescence, and many more were set to perform at the 2025 Sick New World Festival in Las Vegas, taking place on Saturday, April 12th at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds. AFI, Gojira, Sisters of Mercy, Acid Bath, Refused, and Mudvayne, were also on the bill of performers.

Editorial credit: Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song” ties Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” for longest-running #1 song of all time

Shaboozey at Sprint Race for the F1 United States Grand Prix 2024. AUSTIN^ TEXAS^ UNITED STATES - October 19^ 2024:

Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has tied the Billboard record set by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cryus’ “Old Town Road,” spending its 19th week on top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart to become the longest-running No. 1 song in the chart’s 66-year history.  Lil Nas X and Cyrus achieve the feat in 2019, winning two Grammys for their collaboration.

Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” (which samples J-Kwon’s 2004 hit “Tipsy”) also spent its 23rd week on top of Billboard’s Hot country songs chart. The song is nominated for three Grammys, including song of the year, best country song and best country solo performance. Shaboozey also earned Grammy nominations for best new artist and best melodic rap performance for “Spaghetti,” one of his two collaborations on Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter.’

Shaboozey is also set to perform on Saturday Night Live as the musical guest on Dec. 7.

Editorial credit: Michael Potts F1 / Shutterstock.com