1/5/2023: Still No Speaker
PLUS: Joy Talks Football; Walter White Returns; and Praying For Hamlin
Today is Thursday, January 5, 2023.
It is the 5th day of the year.
360 days remain.
TRENDING
Kevin McCarthy once again landed in Twitter’s Top 10 Trends. More on his failed attempts to win Speaker of the House in Swamp.
#NationalTriviaDay was trending Wednesday. Tweets containing trivia included, “Toilets are flushed more during (what event) than any other time of the year?” Answer: Super Bowl; “True or False: No 2 teeth are exactly the same shape and size.” Answer: True; “What is a group of giraffes called?” Answer: Tower.
#PrayersForDamar circulated yesterday as fans anxiously awaited any update on Damar Hamlin’s condition. Update in Sick Bay.
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HIT LIST
Just a day after losing 12% of its valuation, Tesla stock swung back 5% on Wednesday on news the electric carmaker has filed a trademark extending its brand to cover electric motors “not for land vehicles, EV trade website electrek reports.
The filing notes it intends to use these categories in the future, despite not having any products on the market currently.
WORTH NOTING: Companies file such trademarks all the time and don’t necessarily have to have concrete plans to use them in the future.
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North Korean state media recently referred to one of KIM JONG JUNIOR’s daughters as the autocrat’s “most beloved daughter” – leading analysts to wonder if she’s next in the line of succession for the Hermit Kingdom.
Last November, the girl first appeared in state-sponsored propaganda, apparently joining her father for a missile test.
She’s believed to be the same child who NBA star and occasional Kim-family friend DENNIS RODMAN said he was allowed to hold when he was invited to Pyongyang a decade ago. Her recent appearance in state newspapers marked the first time one of Junior’s kids appeared in public.
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In more evidence the American economy has been hyperinflated after years of extravagant spending, software company Salesforce announced it is laying off 10% of its workforce – and its CEO admitted they brought on too many in the first place.
"As our revenue accelerated through the pandemic, we hired too many people leading into this economic downturn we’re now facing, and I take responsibility for that,” he said in an email to employees, according to reporting by Yahoo! Finance.
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On Monday, news broke that a Tesla fell off a 250-foot cliff in California on a perilous stretch of road. It turns out it was likely no accident.
GET A LOAD OF THIS: On Wednesday, authorities charged the driver, 40-year-old Dharmesh Arvind Patel, with attempted murder. He and his three passengers remarkably survived the crash.
The California Highway Patrol says they do not believe the car’s self-driving feature caused the crash.
Patel is headed to San Mateo County Jail once he’s discharged. No word yet on motive.
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Following its mass cancellations heading into Christmas, Southwest Airlines has announced it’s hiring a Public Relations Adviser. The job appears to be focused on spinning news cycles, with one job duty including to “monitor media sentiment to inform responses and potential shift in approach.”
The opening was first spotted on LinkedIn.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The Dow added 133 points (0.4%) during a volatile day Wednesday, closing at 33,269. The S&P added 28 points (0.75%) to close at 3,852 and the Nasdaq added 72 (0.69%) to close at 10,458.
🛢 West Texas Intermediate slipped to $73. Brent Crude closed at $77.
⛽ The national average price of a gallon of gas increased to $3.26 on Wednesday.
₿ Bitcoin had modest gains Wednesday, trading over $16,800.
🛩 There were more than 5,200 flights delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday and 807 such cancellations.
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CHARTS
Trying to make light of the chaos going on right now in Washington, the people behind the Bad Lip Reading Twitter account had some fun with a video of AOC and Matt Gaetz chatting.
The clip has been viewed nearly 2.5 million times.
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SICK BAY
UPDATE: The Buffalo Bills updated fans on DAMAR HAMILIN’s condition Wednesday, tweeting that doctors stated he is “showing signs of improvement,” though he still remains in critical condition. Hamlin’s uncle tweeted that his nephew has lung damage and can’t breathe on his own, though he had been receiving 100% oxygen from a ventilator and is now down to 50%.
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UPDATE: More details have been revealed about actor JEREMY RENNER’s terrifying accident with his snow plow over the weekend. According to the 911 emergency log, obtained by TMZ, Renner had heavy bleeding from his head, the right side of his chest had collapsed and his upper torso was crushed.
He shared a selfie from his hospital bed this week, showing off his gruesome facial injuries.
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WEDDINGS
Actress-turned-fashion designer ASHLEY OLSEN, 36, has married her longtime boyfriend, artist LOUIS EISNER, 33.
The intimate ceremony was held last week at a private Bel-Air home.
The couple have been together since 2017
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THE SWAMP
The House of Representatives remains without a leader – and an ability to do business – after a second day of voting. After a midday break, the body reconvened in the evening and voted to try again starting at 11:00 am Central today.
Going into the vote, Speaker-hopeful KEVIN MCCARTHY said a formal vote would be unproductive.
MEANWHILE: Former President DONALD TRUMP has reportedly gotten involved in the ongoing showdown to elect the next Speaker of the House.
Colorado Rep. LAUREN BOEBERT – one of KEVIN MCCARTHY’s conservative detractors – says Trump was calling the 20-some Republican holdouts to “tell us we needed to knock this off,” she said.
The New York Post reports that an aide to one of the holdouts says the plan is to keep gumming up the works until McCarthy and his Number Two, Louisiana Rep. STEVE SCALISE, bow out of contention for the job.
BUT WAIT: A source close to McCarthy tells The Post he’s not going anywhere, either.
WORTH NOTING: The House can’t conduct business until it elects a Speaker.
WORTH ASKING: Would it be the worst thing if this body of government – whose inaction permits the unchecked flow of fentanyl into the country and artificially inflated the American economy through massive Big Government spending programs – took a session off?
MEANWHILE: Democrats are floating the idea of a parliamentary-style “coalition government” that would require Republicans to make massive concessions, including shared control of committees and subpoena power.
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President Flag-Handshake was back with some new poetry at a speech Wednesday in Kentucky.
When talking about foreign policy, President JOE BIDEN said, “The rest of the countries, the world is not a patch in our jeans, if we do what we wanna do, we need to do.”
WATCH:
WORTH ASKING: Will not one single Democrat really not primary this doofus?
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LOTTERY
No winner for Tuesday night’s Mega Millions. Friday night’s drawing will be for a $940 million jackpot or a $483.5 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
JOY BEHAR wants people to give up playing and watching football for less intense sports like tennis or golf.
While discussing DAMAR HAMLIN’s terrifying injury on Wednesday’s episode of “The View,” Behar went off on a tangent about how heterosexual men and conservatives are the ones supporting tackle football.
Her co-host SONNY HOSTIN chimed in saying her son once pulled his hamstring while playing football and that was enough for him to quit the sport.
Meanwhile, fellow co-host SARA HAINES tried to explain to the ladies that people won’t turn away from football “because it’s tradition.”
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EDWARD NORTON took a deep dive into his family’s ancestry on this week’s premiere episode of “Finding Your Roots.”
During the episode, host HENRY LOUIS GATES JR revealed that Norton’s family tree can be traced all the way back to early colonial times, when Pocahontas married English settler John Rolfe in 1614, making her his 12th great-grandmother.
Also, it was revealed that Norton shares a similar enough sequence of DNA with JULIA ROBERTS that they have a common ancestor somewhere along the line.
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MILEY CYRUS appears to be throwing some shade at her ex-husband, actor LIAM HEMSWORTH in the form of a new song.
Cyrus announced on Instagram that she will be dropping her new track “Flowers” on January 13, which is also Liam’s birthday.
Many may recall, the two have a lengthy history filled with multiple breakups. They did tie the knot in 2018, but it only lasted a year.
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MARILEE FIEBIG says she wants to finalize her divorce from “GMA” anchor TJ HOLMES as soon as possible.
Speaking through her lawyer, Fiebig said that her sole focus right now is on their nine-year-old daughter.
As for Holmes’ relationship with co-anchor AMY ROBACH, Fiebig said she is disappointed by his “lack of discretion, respect and sensitivity” toward her and their daughter.
Holmes and Robach’s affair broke in November, though the two claim they had already separated from their respective spouses prior to getting romantic.
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Hollywood moms, they’re just like us!
Actress MICHELLE WILLIAMS recently opened up to People Magazine about trying to find a balance between acting and being there for her three kids.
“I’m continuously searching because balance isn’t a stable place. Balance means that you’re always adjusting,” she explained.
Williams is mom to 17-year-old daughter Matilda, whom she had with the late HEATH LEDGER. She is also mom to son Hart, 2, and a baby who arrived last November, with husband THOMAS KAIL. (Not much is known about her third child, other than when he/she was born).
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An intimate, family-only funeral was held yesterday for former DJ STEPHEN “tWitch” BOSS.
He died last month after taking his own life, leaving behind a suicide note about past struggles.
Sources close to the family told TMZ that a larger celebration of life will be held at a future date.
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CASTING CALL
AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON has been thrown into the mix of names in the running to be the next James Bond.
The British actor, known for his role in “Bullet Train,” reportedly met with producer BARBARA BROCCOLI toward the end of last year, and did a screen test, according to The Daily Mail.
Several names have been rumored to be on the list for the gig, but so far, Taylor-Johnson is the only one who has gotten time in front of the camera.
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BRYAN CRANSTON is reviving his “Breaking Bad” character Walter White for a new Super Bowl ad.
The promo photo features Cranston holding a bag of Frito Lays’ PopCorners’ white cheddar flavor, an ode to his character’s favorite snack.
The snacks description says “it’s never fried,” meaning no cooking for WW.
WORTH NOTING: While it is unknown when the ad will air during the big game on February 12, Frito Lay hinted that other characters from “Breaking Bad” may show up.
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JAMES CAMERON’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” has officially crossed the $1 BILLION mark at the international box office.
By today, it is projected to have reached the $1.5 billion threshold, making it the No. 1 worldwide release of 2022, surpassing “Top Gun: Maverick’s” $1.489 billion.
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“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” will land on Disney+ on February 1.
The Marvel flick became the sixth highest-grossing film of 2022 after earning $821 million at the worldwide box office.
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COURT CASES
WILLIAM “Rick” SINGER, the man behind the college admissions scandal, has been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison.
He was also given three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $10 million.
Prior to his sentencing, Singer told the judge that he “lost [his] ethical values” and “has so much regret.”
WORTH REMEMBERING: Singer cooperated with the FBI, snitching on more than 50 affluent parents -- including celebrities, like LORI LOUGHLIN and FELICITY HUFFMAN -- to get their kids into some of the nation’s top schools.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
LAMAR ODOM says he would be open to reconnecting with ex-wife KHLOE KARDASHIAN.
“I would love to take Khloe out for dinner. [To] be a friend. That’s it,” Odom recently told TMZ’s Harvey Levin.
RELATIONSHIP REFRESHER: Odom and Kardashian started dating in 2009, tying the knot just 30 days into their courtship. They soon became stars of their own reality show -- a spinoff of her famous family’s show. Their marriage fell apart when Odom began abusing drugs and cheating. Kardashian filed for divorce in 2013, but in 2015, Odom overdosed at a brothel in Nevada and the couple called off their divorce while he recovered. A year later the documents were refiled and their divorce was finalized.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY says he does not see himself ever returning to life as a full-time member of the Royal Family.
He made the revelation in a preview of his sit down with ANDERSON COOPER for “60 Minutes.”
Anderson asked if he would ever return to his past life, and without hesitating, Harry replied, “No.”
On the topic, royal expert Jonathan Sacerdoti told Us Weekly that Harry knows “there’s no way back” even if he wanted to rejoin The Firm, adding that he and MEGHAN MARKLE have done “everything they could to alienate themselves from [the] family.”
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SPORTS
The Houston Texans donated $10,003 to the GoFundMe for Buffalo Bills safety DAMAR HAMLIN.
As previously reported, the fund was initially established to support a toy drive for Hamlin’s community.
By mid week there was more than $5 million raised. Far exceeding the $2500 goal.
WORTH NOTING: The $3 is in honor of Hamlin’s jersey number.
SPEAKING OF #3: Fanatics reported this week that Hamlin’s No. 3 Bills jersey is the highest selling jersey on their site since Monday night -- in any sport. The company said all proceeds from the sales will be donated to his toy drive.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Keto Day
National Screenwriters Day
National Bird Day
National Whipped Cream Day
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ON THIS DATE
1709 - The Great Frost begins in France.
The cold snap arrived during the night, killing thousands across the country.
It remains one of Europe’s coldest winters ever, reaching temps of 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
To this day, climatologists have been unable to explain away the phenomenon.
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1846 - The U.S. declares sole occupation and control of the Oregon Territory.
Until that point, it was shared with the British, primarily through the Hudson Bay Company, a trading company.
While President Polk supported grabbing the territory, even by war, he was distracted with fighting in Mexico. But British delegates agreed to move north of the 49th parallel, into what is today Washington state.
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1920 - The New York Yankees purchase George Herman “Babe” Ruth from the Boston Red Sox for $125,000.
Ruth's contract with the Yankees called for about $10,000 a year, but Ruth negotiated a slightly higher price.
That season Ruth would smash his own home run record, slugging 54 in 1920. He hit 59 the following year.
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1933 - Excavation at the site of what would become the Golden Gate Bridge begins.
It was the brainchild of engineer Joseph Strauss.
The bridge would open to cars four years later.
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1972 - President Nixon signs a bill that authorizes $5.5 million for the development of a reusable space shuttle.
The new technology would also permit longer-term missions in space.
The first shuttle launched in 1981. It was called Columbia.
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1998 - Former crooner Sonny Bono dies in a skiing accident.
He was on vacation in South Lake Tahoe, California. He went off skiing alone for the afternoon, and hours later still had not returned. Searchers were able to recover his body.
Bono was at the time married to his fourth wife. His most famous spouse, though, was Cher.
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2007 - Bill Cowher resigns as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In his 15 seasons as head coach, he led his team to 8 division titles and 10 playoff appearances which led to 2 Super Bowl runs and one victory.
He is the second coach in NFL history to reach the playoffs in each of his first six seasons as head coach.
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2020 - “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” wins Best Comedy/Musical and “1917” wins Best Drama at the 77th Golden Globes.
Renee Zellweger, Joaquin Phoenix, Awkwafina and Taron Edgerton also took home the night’s big awards.
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BIRTHDAYS
Griffin Santopietro - actor, “Cobra Kai” - 17
Suki Waterhouse - model - 31
Kristin Cavallari - reality star, “The Hills” - 36
Jason Mitchell - actor, “Eazy-E” & “The Chi” - 36
January Jones - actress, “Mad Men” & “American Wedding” - 45
Bradley Cooper - actor, “Hangover” films - 48
Marilyn Manson - rock singer - 54
Heather Dubrow - reality star, “Real Housewives” franchise - 54
Carrie Ann Inaba - dancer & judge on “Dancing With the Stars” - 55
Miguel Angel Jimenez - golfer - 59
Clancy Brown - actor, “The Shawshank Redemption” & “Highlander” - 64
Diane Keaton - actress, “The Godfather” & “Something’s Gotta Give” - 77
Juan Carlos I - King of Spain - 86
Robert Duvall - actor, “The Godfather” & “The Apostle” - 92
Born On This Date
Chuck Noll - NFL coach - 1932 (d. 2014)
George Reeves - actor, “Adventures of Superman” & “Gone With The Wind” - 1914 (d. 1959)
King C. Gillette - inventor of disposable safety razor blades - 1855 (d. 1932) *born in Fond du Lac, WI
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