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2/22/2022: Putin Steps into Ukraine
PLUS: Trudeau goes Full Palpatine, Britney's new book, and Ghislane's house on the market
Today is Tuesday, February 22, 2022
It is the 53rd day of the year.
312 days remain.
TRENDING
Derby fans reacted to the news that Medina Spirit has been disqualified as the winner of the 147th Kentucky Derby. More info in Sports.
#TruthSocial was trending after the launch of former president Donald Trump’s new app.
Social media users reacted to a New York Times piece about a 500-pound bear named Hank the Tank, who has been ransacking a California community in search of food. He has reportedly broken into more than two dozen homes since July.
#WeirdestThingsIveSeen circulated on Twitter Monday. Tweets included, “Packaged, pre-sliced peanut butter,” “a wearable sleeping bag,” “an axolotl,” “SPAM Oreos,” “crazy cat lady action figure” and “Singing sushi.”
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HIT LIST
Canadian Parliament on Monday night approved a request by Prime Minister and aspiring tyrant Justin Trudeau to extend the emergency powers he gave himself last week to round up participants in the ongoing Freedom Convoy.
Trudeau said that Members of Parliament who vote against extending the powers “don’t trust the government to make incredibly momentous and important decisions.”
The Canadian Civil Liberties Union decried the measure: “The broad powers the government has granted to police curtail Charter rights across the country. The risk of abuse is high. The emergency declaration should be immediately revoked.”
WORTH NOTING: Accurate.
Only an aspiring tyrant like Trudeau cannot fathom The People not putting total faith in the State.
ALSO WORTH NOTING: At least he asked for legislative authorization this time, which was practically guaranteed by the Liberal Party’s influence.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Even after the Wisconsin Supreme Court said Governor Tony Evers’ emergency covid powers were illegal, he renewed them every 60 days anyway, and the Republican legislature there did zero to stop him.
MEANWHILE: Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister says that those with frozen bank accounts will regain access to their money once they denounce their support for the Freedom Convoy. In other words, you’re a totally free Canadian citizen as long as you believe everything we tell you and don’t question government, ever. Stupid peasant.
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An explosion at a petroleum refinery in Southern Louisiana has injured at least one worker.
Locals report the blast was heard around 9:30 am Monday, echoing for miles. The site is about halfway between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. No word yet on a cause.
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BUILD A WALL! The Dominican Republic has begun construction along its border with Haiti to ebb the flow of illegal immigration.
While the D.R. is a thriving tourist destination, Haiti remains one of the most destitute nations in the world.
The wall will be about 8 inches thick and 13 feet high. It will cover at least half of the border, which spans 244 miles. The first phase is expected to span 101 miles.
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Mount Etna erupted on Monday, after a few months of quiet. No major damage or injuries have been reported.
It’s located on the east coast of Sicily. It’s a relatively active volcano, but not an active danger to the area.
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A kangaroo is on the loose in Denmark. A man in a car spotted the animal, and took a video that he sent to authorities.
No zoos have reported a missing ‘roo yet.
Locals are encouraged to contact local authorities to help round it up.
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A young man named Adonis Lattimore has won Virginia’s high school wrestling state championship in his weight class — despite being born without a right leg and a partial left leg.
Lattimore says he plans to continue wrestling in college.
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CHARTS
Top 5 Songs on iTunes:
Elton John & Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)”
Dr. Dre, “The Next Episode (ft. Snoop Dogg)”
“Encanto” Soundtrack, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”
Dr. Dre, “Still D.R.E. (ft. Snoop Dogg)”
Eminem, “Lose Yourself”
Top 5 Songs on Spotify:
Justin Bieber, “Ghost”
Lil Nas X, “THATS WHAT I WANT”
Ed Sheeran, “Shivers”
Glass Animals, “Heat Waves”
GAYLE, “abcdefu”
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DEATHS
JAMAL EDWARDS has died.
The English music entrepreneur passed away Sunday. No other details about his death were shared.
He was 31.
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DR. PAUL FARMER has died.
The renowned infectious disease specialist and co-founder of Partners In Health unexpectedly passed away in Rwanda. No other details were shared.
He was 62.
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ZOE SOZO has died.
The conservative commentator, who was Miss Alabama 2021, passed away Friday morning after sustaining serious head injuries in an undisclosed accident, according to a post her parents wrote on Instagram.
News of her death came four days after her family confirmed she had been in an accident.
Her exact age is unknown, but multiple outlets reported that she was believed to be in her early 20s.
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BOB BECKEL has died.
Beckel was a Democrat strategist and TV commentator for decades. No cause of death was immediately shared.
He was 73.
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BABY NEWS
MICHAEL BUBLE, 46, and his wife, actress LUISANA LOPILATO 34, are expecting their fourth child.
The baby bump was revealed in a sneak peek of Buble’s new music video for his song “I’ll Never Not Love You.”
The couple are already parents to two sons and a daughter.
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BREAKUPS
HANNAH LEE FOWLER, 30, has filed for divorce from her husband, country singer SAM HUNT, 37.
In the legal docs, obtained by Page Six, Fowler claims that Hunt is “guilty of inappropriate marital conduct” and “guilty of adultery.”
What makes the split even more heartbreaking is that the couple are expecting their first child this May -- an announcement they had not made publicly yet.
The pair tied the knot in 2017, but have been together a total of 14 years.
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RELATIONSHIPS
Reality star CHLOE TRAUTMAN, 25, married entrepreneur CHRIS LONG on Sunday in a beachside ceremony.
In attendance were fellow “Siesta Key” stars, including JULIETTE PORTER and AMANDA MILLER.
The nuptials came less than four months after the couple got engaged.
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THE SWAMP
Just minutes after delivering an address on Russian State TV declaring two regions of eastern Ukraine independent nations, Russian President VLADIMIR PUTIN ordered troops into those areas.
The official order called the military invasion “peacekeeping operations” — because as Orwell taught us about communists, War is Peace.
Between the speech and the mobilization of forces, President JOE BIDEN signed executive orders forbidding economic activity with the two separatist regions of Ukraine.
In the long speech, Putin lamented the dissolution of the Soviet Union and said Ukraine is an illegitimate nation. He also said it’s become a puppet of Western powers.
On cue following the speech, celebrations began in the two regions – called Donetsk and Luhansk. Russian forces have had a presence there for eight years.
BY THE WAY: You’ll see these regions abbreviated as LPR and DPR for Luhansk People’s Republic and Donetsk People’s Republic, respectively.
MEANWHILE: Bloomberg reports that the White House has ordered all State Department officials to evacuate Ukraine and move operations to Poland.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Exactly two years prior, Biden tweeted, “Vladimir Putin doesn’t want me to be President. He doesn’t want me to be our nominee. If you’re wondering why – it’s because I’m the only person in this field who’s ever gone toe-to-toe with him.”
THIS IS STUPID: The UN Security Council met late into the evening. It’s currently chaired … by Russia.
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The Wall Street Journal reports that President JOE BIDEN has begun the interview process for Supreme Court nominees in recent days. Making good on his campaign promise, all are Black women.
He’s expected to announce his pick soon, just before the March 1 State of the Union.
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KYLE RITTENHOUSE announced Monday he is launching The Media Accountability Project, after public figures relentlessly slandered his name before his acquittal for murder late last year.
The group will take legal action against vocal members of the Woke Mob. Rittenhouse says he is preparing lawsuits against a handful of people, including “politicians, celebrities, and athletes.” In particular, he mentioned WHOOPI GOLDBERG who publicly called him a murderer after his acquittal.
Per its website, the group will also “promote fair and accurate reporting across all journalistic mediums.”
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LOTTERY
No winner for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $75 million jackpot or a $50.1 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
BRITNEY SPEARS is ready to share her story.
The pop princess has landed a book deal with publishing giant Simon & Schuster worth $15 million, according to Page Six.
Other details are not known, such as a title or when the book is expected to drop.
The news comes on the heels of Brit’s estranged sister, JAMIE LYNN’s memoir hitting shelves.
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CHRIS NOTH has returned to social media after taking a break following allegations of sexual assault.
The 67-year-old made his return by posting two photos of his sons with wife TARA WILSON, 42.
The actor was accused by four women last year of sexual abuse. He has denied the claims.
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CHRISSY TEIGEN is undergoing IVF.
The 36-year-old revealed the news on Instagram, telling fans she is doing another round of treatment to preserve as many eggs as possible.
The announcement comes after Teigen and her husband JOHN LEGEND lost their son Jack over a year ago to preterm labor.
Their other two children Luna, 5, and Miles, 3, were conceived with the help of IVF treatments.
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SCOTT EASTWOOD and SHIA LABEOUF got into a tense exchange on the set of the 2016 film “Fury,” forcing co-star BRAD PITT to intervene.
Eastwood spoke about the incident in a recent interview, saying LeBeouf became upset after a scene they shot together. The moment quickly turned hostile, which is when Pitt stepped in.
Pitt has mentioned the incident in previous interviews, saying it was “very intense.”
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NEIL CAVUTO returned to his Fox show “Cavuto Coast to Coast” on Monday after having been out since the beginning of January, battling Covid pneumonia.
Cavuto told viewers that his second round with the virus was so serious that he landed in the ICU. He explained that his previous battle with cancer and his current battle with Multiple Sclerosis puts him in a very high risk category when it comes to the virus.
He is vaccinated.
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CHANNING TATUM joked that he would like to do another installment of “Magic Mike” when he’s 70-years-old.
The 41-years-old actor laughed about a “Grumpy Old Men” version when discussing the upcoming, highly-anticipated third film, “Magic Mike’s Last Dance,” with IndieWire.
The film will be exclusively on HBO Max. A premiere date has not yet been announced.
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AARON RODGERS, 38, shared an inspirational message about love on his Instagram story — less than a week after calling it quits with his fiancée, actress SHAILENE WOODLEY, 30.
The QB shared a quote from motivational speaker AUBREY MARCUS that talks about giving the gift of love to others, but also making sure to give the gift of love to yourself first.
As previously reported Rodgers and Woodley split a year after getting engaged. An insider called the split “amicable.”
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CASTING CALL
ASHLEY REYES has been tapped to star opposite JARED PADALECKI in the CW’s “Walker.”
Reyes, who will take on the role of Walker’s new partner, Cassie, will first appear in the episode slated to premiere on March 3.
She succeeds LINDSAY MORGAN, who exited the series earlier this season for personal reasons.
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THE WEEKND will headline a music special on Prime Video.
The special, an expansion of his album “Dawn FM,” creates a “theatrical performance event that will envelope audiences in its unnerving and moody world,” according to a statement from Amazon.
“The Weeknd x The Dawn FM Experience” will premiere on February 26.
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Pop group BIG TIME RUSH is heading on tour for the first time in over eight years.
The boy band has reunited for their Forever Tour, with special guest DIXIE D’AMELIO.
The 41-show tour will kick off June 23.
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CRIB NOTES
GHISLAINE MAXWELL’s estranged husband is selling the $7.3 million Massachusetts mansion that the couple once lived in together.
SCOTT BORGERSON told The Wall Street Journal that he listed the five-bedroom waterfront property because it is linked to “ugly memories,” referring to Maxwell.
The mansion was purchased by Borgerson’s company in 2016. Maxwell has no ownership stake in the property.
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A Florida mansion, nicknamed the “Jumanji” house because of its jungle vibes, has hit the market.
The 14,700 square foot home, which features 12 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms, has been listed for $25 million.
It is currently the most expensive mansion in Orlando.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KANYE WEST’s social media rants are “fair game” and could be used against him in his divorce from KIM KARDASHIAN, according to legal experts.
Katherine Miller, founder of New York City-based Miller Law Group, told Fox News that social media posts are often used in divorce proceedings, and Ye’s rants could hurt his arguments on any custody or parenting issues.
WORTH NOTING: Miller is not involved in the couple’s divorce in any way.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
QUEEN ELIZABETH’s Platinum Jubilee will include a giant slide at the Tower of London and a floral display with 20 million flowers filling in the moat around the tower.
The slide will offer a “fun, family-friendly way to enter the moat,” according to a Palace spokesperson.
Also on the docket for the early June celebration is, the Trooping the Colour, lighting of the Platinum Jubilee beacons, a service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Derby at Epsom Downs and a live concert called “Platinum Party at the Palace,” the Big Jubilee Lunch and Platinum Jubilee Pageant.
Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee is set for June 2-5.
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SPORTS
Race horse Medina Spirit was stripped of the 2021 Kentucky Derby title Monday over a positive drug test, according to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
Trainer BOB BAFFERT, who tried to explain away the doping last May, has been suspended for 90 days and ordered to pay a fine of $7,500.
Mandaloun has been declared the new winner.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Medina Spirit passed away in December after a workout at Santa Anita Park in California. It is believed the horse suffered a heart attack.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Supermarket Employee Day
National California Day
National Cook a Sweet Potato Day
National Margarita Day
World Spay Day
International World Thinking Day
Be Humble Day
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ON THIS DATE
1819 - Secretary of State John Quincy Adams agrees to the purchase of Florida from the Spanish.
The Spanish had been colonizing the New World since 1565.
In the 1700s, Florida flipped between Spanish and British rule, but with the outcome of the American Revolution, it fell back into the hands of the Spanish.
The US didn’t pay Spain for Florida, but instead agreed to pay the legal claims of American citizens against Spain — a maximum of $5 million.
Andrew Jackson became the first governor of the territory in 1822. Florida became a state in 1845.
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1946 - An American diplomat in Moscow sends a lengthy memo back to Washington, outlining his views on the relationship between America and the Soviets.
George Kennan had been observing and analyzing the effectiveness of America's containment policy in the Cold War.
He famously wrote that peaceful coexistence between the Soviets and the West would not last. The Reds were very suspicious of all other nations, and Kennan foresaw the strategy that would win the Cold War, which was to be very aggressive and resistant to Soviet policies.
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1959 - Lee Petty beats Johnny Beauchamp by a hair in the first Daytona 500.
The photo finish was so close, that at first Beauchamp was named the winner by William France, the owner of NASCAR. But after 3 days of review and analysis of news photographs, Petty was named the winner.
Lee is the father of legendary racer Richard Petty.
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1980 - The American hockey team beats the Soviets at the 13th Olympic Winter Games.
More than 10,000 were on hand to watch the victory, which was in Lake Placid, New York.
For all the legend and fanfare behind the win, it was not even for the Gold medal. But the victory did come in the midst of the Cold War, and saluted the work of America's amateur team -- the average age was 22.
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1990 - Milli Vanilli wins a Best New Artist Grammy.
It is the only Grammy to have been rescinded.
Misters Milli and Vanilli were just good-looking faces who lip-synced over the electric pop singles. In fact, musicians with at least marginal talent were behind the music.
The two frontmen would spiral into drugs and oblivion, never mounting a successful comeback.
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1997 - Dolly the Sheep is introduced to the world.
Dolly is the first successfully cloned mammal.
She was cloned at the Roslin Institute in Scotland.
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2017 - Jay-Z is the first rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside Max Martin, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
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2019 - Robert Kraft is charged with soliciting prostitution.
The New England Patriots owner was caught in a human-trafficking sting operation at massage parlors in Jupiter, Florida.
A spokesperson for Kraft did not deny that he participated in a sex act at the parlor, only that he did not engage “in illegal activity.”
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2019 - Jussie Smollett is suspended from the TV show “Empire.”
The move came after the actor lied about being attacked by two homophobic and racist individuals in Chicago.
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2021 - The COVID-19 death toll passes 500,000 in the US.
That is more than the number of lives lost in WWI, WWII and the Vietnam War combined.
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BIRTHDAYS
Cole Pendery - pop singer - 26
Khalil Mack - football player - 31
Rajon Rondo - basketball player - 36
Zach Roerig - actor, “Vampire Diaries” - 37
Drew Barrymore - actress, “Scream” & “Never Been Kissed” - 47
James Blunt - pop singer - 48
Kimberly Davies - actress, “Baywatch” - 49
Pebbles Flinstone - daughter of Fred & Wilma - 59
Julie Walters - actress, “Mamma Mia!” & “Paddington” - 72
Julius Irving - basketball player - 72
Born On This Date
Steve Irwin - crocodile hunter - 1962 (d. 2006)
Niki Lauda - race car driver - 1949 (d. 2019)
Robert Kardashian - lawyer & dad of Kardashian brood - 1944 (d. 2003)
Bruce Forsyth - game show host - 1928 (d. 2017)
Robert Wadlow - nicknamed the Giant of Illinois for his 8’ 11” stature - 1918 (d. 1940)
George Washington, 1st President of the United States & Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army - 1732 (d. 1799)
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