Today is Friday, November 8, 2024.
It is the 313th day of the year.
53 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
ELON MUSK reveals details about Starship and an inside look at an iconic Christmas tree. Details in HIT LIST.
LIAM PAYNE’s body returns home to the UK and MARK WAHLBERG’s restaurant suffers fire damage. More in SHOWBIZ
BILL MAHER announces a new special and EMINEM tries out his golf swing in CASTING CALL.
A new famous family models this year’s SKIMS Holiday Collection. Find out who in KARDASH.
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE appear in a video message for a charity cause. Details in ROYALS.
###
HIT LIST
As the dust settles on Tuesday’s historic election, resulting in a decisive, blowout victory for President-Elect DONALD TRUMP and the MAGA movement, here’s where things stand with the transition:
– Well before the election, Trump installed his own transition team, intentionally without any resources or funds from the General Services Administration, in order to minimize any impact of deep state actors.
– Rep. THOMAS MASSIE, a stalwart fiscal conservative with a Master’s degree from MIT, has been rumored to head up the Department of Agriculture. While not doing legislative work, he actually owns and runs a small family farm.
– President JOE BIDEN gave a brief speech at the White House Thursday promising an orderly transition of power. He and Trump spoke by phone on Wednesday. Trump is expected to meet with Biden at the White House in the coming days.
– Trump campaign manager SUSIE WILES will be his White House Chief of Staff, making her the first woman to ever hold the job. She’s been credited with reigning in some of Trump’s more bombastic rhetorical instincts over the last few years on the campaign trail. Trump burned through four Chiefs of Staff in his chaotic first term.
FUN FACT: Wiles is the daughter of sports legend PAT SUMMERALL.
– The KAMALA HARRIS campaign is reportedly $20 MILLION in debt despite raising $1.4 BILLION.
– In Wednesday’s press briefing, White House Press Secretary KARINE JEAN-PIERRE said that Biden still does not plan to pardon his son HUNTER BIDEN or commute his sentences. The son of the president was convicted earlier this year of gun and tax crimes in two separate cases.
– Trump announced plans to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. “We will make it the best of all time,” he said. This will include a “Salute to America 250” task force to coordinate a year of festivities across the country, beginning on Memorial Day next year, through July 4, 2026. He will work with all 50 governors to create the “Great American State Fair,” at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, showcasing each state.
###
ELON MUSK posted on Thursday that the Starship rocket developed by SPACEX is now twice as powerful than the Saturn V rocket, which took American astronauts to the Moon.
Within the next year, he says it will be three times as powerful, delivering 10,000 metric tons of thrust, all while being fully reusable and using lower-cost liquid oxygen and methane propellants.
As a result, sending the rocket into space will cost ten thousand times less than the Saturn V did – government inefficiencies notwithstanding.
“Starship is the difference between being a multiplanet or single planet civilization,” Musk said. “Building a new role on Mars is now possible.” [via Elon Musk]
###
Up to 43 Rhesus Macaque monkeys escaped from a biological research facility in Yemassee, South Carolina on Wednesday afternoon. Animal control and law enforcement officials have set traps around the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center to try to contain the escape.
Reps for the company say a new employee left the door to an outside enclosure open.
Police officers have deployed thermal imaging technology to track down those who have escaped. While the monkeys could pose a violent threat to the public, company reps say the animals, which are “young females,” are too small to carry any infectious diseases.
In the meantime, locals are encouraged to keep windows and doors shut and locked and to call 911 if they spot any of the escapees. [via ABC News, Morning Martini]
###
Q: What’s worse than finding a python in your toilet?
Ans: Finding a python in your toilet twice in one week.
Such terror befell an Australian man, who had to call a company that specializes in snake capture. They removed the snake. Three days later, the same guy called with the same problem.
The company says one was a female, and the second was a male, likely following the trace of a potential mate.
Fortunately the coastal carpet pythons are non-venomous and harmless to humans. [via People]
###
Standing at 74-feet-tall, this year's Rockefeller Christmas Tree comes from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
It was donated by the Albert family, and is the first Rockefeller Tree to come from the state since 1959.
The tree will be erected in New York City on Saturday, decorated with 50,000 multi-colored lights and topped with a Swarovski star crown. [via AP News]
###
DEATHS
ELWOOD EDWARDS has died.
He’s the guy who recorded the famous “You’ve Got Mail” line for AOL.
Edwards passed away Tuesday -- just one day shy of his 75th birthday. No further details were shared.
###
BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW was flat on the day, closing at 43,729. The S&P gained 44 points (0.74%) to close at 5,973 and the NASDAQ increased 285 points (1.5%) to close at 19,269.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $71; BRENT CRUDE at $75.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.10 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN gained again Thursday, up 1.3% and trading around $76,600.
🛩 There were more than 3,550 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 70 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $334 million jackpot or a $155.7 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $92 million jackpot or a $43.4 million cash payout.
###
SHOWBIZ NEWS
New Music Friday
Aziya, “BAMBI”
Bad Astronaut, “Untethered”
Capitol, “Sounds Like a Place”
Finneas, “Disclaimer”
Skillet, “Revolution”
Steve Perry, “The Season 3”
XG, “AWE”
###
These are some of the celebs who vowed to leave the U.S. if DONALD TRUMP won the election:
America Ferrera (actress)
Cher (musician)
Sophie Turner (actress)
Sharon Stone (actress)
Barbra Streisand (singer-actress)
Amy Schumer (comedian)
Cardi B (rapper)
Minnie Driver (actress)
Whoopi Goldberg (actress)
MEANWHILE: On Thursday, SUNNY HOSTIN (sort of) walked back a comment she made following Tuesday night’s election about those who voted for the former president. In an attempt to defend the “uneducated white women” comment she made, Hostin later said that what she meant was “non-college-educated white women.”
Tomato, Tomato. Both are very demeaning and divisive descriptors. [via Decider, NY Post]
###
LIAM PAYNE’s body was flown home to the UK yesterday.
Fans tracked the flight all the way, making it the most tracked aircraft in the world.
Details regarding his funeral are being kept mum for the time being, but insiders say it will not be a private event. [via The Mirror]
UPDATE: Three people believed to have played a role in his death have been arrested and charged. One of them is an alleged drug supplier, one is a hotel housekeeper and the other is a friend of Payne’s. [via TMZ]
###
MARK WAHLBERG’s Vegas restaurant caught fire Wednesday night due to a faulty fire pit on the patio.
Thankfully no one was injured and the place only remained closed for about an hour.
Wahlberg opened Fletcha Cantina in September. He also opened one in Huntington Beach, California around the same time. [via TMZ]
###
Ahead of his highly-anticipated bout with MIKE TYSON, YouTuber-turned-boxer JAKE PAUL has designed a deal with Fanatics to produce limited-edition trading cards.
In addition to Paul, other fighters featured on cards include AMANDA SERRANO, ASHTON “H2O” SYLVE, SHADASIA GREEN, JAVON “WANNA” WALTON, and NEERAJ GOYAT.
Taking it one step further, Paul announced that he will also be signing “relic cards,” which will include pieces of his socks, shoes and hand wraps he wears while taking on Tyson.
The fight is set to go down on November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. [via Essentially Sports]
###
ARIANA GRANDE’s mom wants her ashes to be spread at Disney World, specifically at Cinderella’s Castle.
Speaking on the “Las Culturistas” podcast, Grande said her mom reminds her and brother, FRANKIE GRANDE, of her wishes every time they visit the most Magical Place on Earth.
Disney, however, doesn’t allow ashes to be scattered at their parks. [via Page Six]
###
No one wants to buy SEAN COMBS’ Beverly Hills mansion.
Two months on the market and real estate agents say there have been “only a few” walk throughs. The home is one of two that were raided by Homeland Security in March.
The price isn’t great either; Diddy is asking $61.5 million. [via TMZ]
###
CASTING CALL
A new “Star Wars” trilogy is in the works.
Simon Kinberg, who helped relaunch the franchise after Disney bought Lucasfilm, is creating a new universe, with new characters.
“The intent here is to have brand new characters and a new story, and not have it be a continuation of the Skywalker Saga,” an insider told The Hollywood Reporter. [via THR]
###
BILL MAHER’s new comedy special “Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This?” is heading to HBO.
“This one is for the 80% of Americans who want to see crazy called out no matter where it comes from. And the last twenty minutes on my sex life, that’s for everybody,” Maher said in the announcement.
It is his 13th HBO comedy special and will premiere sometime in January. [via The Wrap]
###
EMINEM flew to New Jersey to film a cameo in ADAM SANDLER’s “Happy Gilmore 2.”
As for what he will do, a source told The Sun the rapper is playing “a comedic role.”
Another insider said the cameo casting was a sure thing as “Em is a big fan of the original movie.” [via The Sun]
###
THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
GOLDIE HAWN and her kids, KATE HUDSON and OLIVER HUDSON showed off some SKIMS in a new holiday campaign for KIM KARDASHIAN’s clothing line.
In the shoot, which also features their significant others and children, the family wore matching flannel pajamas and onesies -- one of 150 styles from the SKIMS Holiday Shop.
In a press release, Hawn raved about the “cozy and soft holiday collection,” which she said she will be “living in all season long.”
Previous years’ ads have featured SNOOP DOGG, and the MAHOMES family. [via People]
###
WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE appeared in a video message for the Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children in Colombia on Thursday, just three months after the pair visited the country.
In the clip, Harry and Meg spoke about the importance of keeping children safe online, which is a pet cause of their Archewell Foundation. [via People]
MEANWHILE: Royal correspondent Richard Eden tells the Daily Mail that Harry is sweating possible deportation after DONALD TRUMP retakes office in January. A think tank has been suing to get its hands on Harry’s immigration paperwork, after he admitted to drug use in his memoir. For most visa holders, drug use is immediately disqualifying. So far the Biden administration has held up the release of these documents, but things could go differently in a Trump administration. [via DailyMail]
###
DAY OF THE YEAR
National Ample Time
National Cappuccino Day
World Town Planning Day
World Pianist Day
Pertussis Awareness Day
World Radiography Day
National Harvey Wallbanger Day
Shot Day
National Dunce Day
###
ON THIS DATE
1793 - The Louvre opens in Paris.
The historic French museum began as an archive and private gallery of royal art. After the French Revolution, it opened to a wider audience.
Today it displays artifacts from more than 11,000 years of human history.
###
1887 - Gunslinger Doc Holliday dies in Glenwood Springs, California, from tuberculosis.
The friend of Wyatt Earp was only 36-years-old at the time of his death. He was NOT in his prime.
He famously fought in the 1881 shootout at the OK Corral.
###
1917 - Vladimir Lenin takes control of the brand-new All-Russian Congress of Soviets, one day after the Bolsheviks took over the Russian government.
Lenin called for an end to fighting in World War I.
His Bolshevik party held a 60 percent majority in the legislature. They approved a formal ceasefire between the Soviets and the Central Powers, effective December 2nd.
###
1939 - Adolf Hitler escapes an assassination attempt following a speech commemorating the anniversary of his Beer Hall Putsch.
Hitler famously gave speeches to commemorate his first attempted power grab--1939 was no different.
The bomb went off 12 minutes after Der Fuhrer left the hall. Seven died and 63 were wounded.
Though the Nazis publicly denounced British intelligence for making the attempt, inner circles suggested it came from homegrown German anti-Nazi rebels.
###
1994 - The Republican Party takes control of Congress in Bill Clinton's first midterm election.
Georgia Representative Newt Gingrich became Speaker. He famously touted his 10-point Contract with America to jump-start the economy.
The entire package of legislation was passed in the first 100 days of that Congress' session — accepting a constitutional amendment that would enforce Congressional term limits.
###
2002 - The United Nations enforces its final and most powerful wrist-slap on Iraqi despot Saddam Hussein.
He had just days to give up his weapons programs or face military actions. The Security Council voted unanimously to support the resolution. A week later, Iraq complied, but inspectors found no evidence of WMD.
Since then, however, al Qaeda has carried out at least 100 chemical attacks on coalition forces in Iraq, using repurposed chemical warheads from what was once Saddam Hussein's arsenal. That's according to Chuck Pfarrer, in his book, “Seal Target Geronimo.”
###
2016 - Donald Trump is elected President of the United States of America, defeating democrat Hillary Clinton.
While he won the Electoral College, Clinton won the popular vote.
###
2020 - Global cases of COVID-19 pass 50 million.
The death toll is more than 1.2 million, according to John Hopkins data.
###
BIRTHDAYS
Jade Pettyjohn - actress, “United States of Tara” - 24
Benjamin Wadsworth - actor, “Deadly Class” - 25
Lauren Alaina - country singer - 30
Riker Lynch - bassist, R5 - 33
Giancarlo Stanton - baseball player - 35
SZA - R&B singer - 35
Erica Mena - model - 37
Tara Reid - actress, “American Pie” films - 49
David Muir - journalist - 51
Tech N9ne - rapper - 53
Parker Posey - actress, “Dazed and Confused” - 56
Gordon Ramsay - chef - 58
Alfre Woodard - actress, “Primal Fear” - 72
Born On This Date
Minnie Riperton - soul singer - 1947 (d. 1979)
Alain Delon - actor, “The Leopard” - 1935 (d. 2024)
Margaret Mitchell - author, “Gone With The Wind” - 1900 (d. 1949)
Bram Stoker - author, “Dracula” - 1847 (d. 1912)
Milton Bradley - game manufacturer, The Game of Life - 1836 (d. 1911)
Edmond Halley - astronomer, Halley’s comet - 1656 (d. 1742)
###