3/17/2023: Who Blew Up Nord Stream?
PLUS: Biden Family Bombshell; Taylor’s New Tracks; and Kim & Saint Visit London
Today is Friday, March 17, 2023.
It is the 76th day of the year.
289 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
More bad news for SAM BANKMAN-FRIED and a new theory about what happened to the Nord Stream pipeline last year. More in HIT LIST.
New bank records show a direct line between shady companies and members of the Biden family. Now questions remain about what the president’s son, brother, and daughter-in-law did to earn this money – and why so many efforts were taken to hide the source of these funds. More in THE SWAMP.
“Vanderpump Rules” star ARIANA MADIX has broken her silence on her boyfriend’s affair and BEN AFFLECK explains his grumpy expression at the Grammys. More in SHOWBIZ.
BILLIE EILISH makes her acting debut and DREW BARRYMORE will host the MTV Movie & TV Awards. More in CASTING CALL.
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HIT LIST
A new filing by FTX reveals that SAM BANKMAN-FRIED and five other executives received over $2 BILLION in compensation in the weeks before the company imploded under the weight of its own fraud. The money came in the form of both cash and loans, providing the most significant evidence yet that customer deposits were used illegally.
THE WORST PART: No one seems to know where that money went, save for the millions of dollars spent on political causes and charitable giving that have been disclosed by law, plus some of the properties bought by the executives and the company for which detailed records exist. [via Gizmodo]
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While the space race heats up between billionaires ELON MUSK and JEFF BEZOS, and NASA and China compete to achieve new milestones in space exploration, one company is pausing its efforts: Virgin Orbit, RICHARD BRANSON’s space company.
Employees found out on Wednesday they were getting furloughed and operations would be significantly scaled back for a week as it seeks more outside funding. Company leadership expects an update some time next week.
While other companies have focused on human space travel, Virgin Orbit has using a system that launches rockets from airplanes to get into orbit – though the operations generate millions revenue, the company has been operating in the red. [via CNBC]
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Weeks after an independent journalist published a sensational story about the United States blowing up the Nord Stream pipeline last year, an alternative theory has begun to take shape: The Wall Street Journal suggests a group of six people rented a yacht in Rostock, Germany last September, returned it two weeks later, and totally disappeared days before a section of the pipeline exploded on September 26.
Members of the group allegedly had Ukrainian and forged Bulgarian passports.
A German investigation shows traces of explosives on the rented yacht. GPS records show the boat sailing near the site of the explosions.
Skeptics say it would have taken skilled military divers to not just reach the depths required to plant explosives, but also have the knowledge to implement the explosives themselves – which refutes the global intelligence community consensus that the explosion was not state sponsored.
The whole thing is an interesting read; get it here > [via WSJ]
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After a winter full of heavy snowfall, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Water Center says the country is in for a flood-filled spring season when it all melts. The organization says 44% of the nation’s land area could see flooding.
But not all of it is bad news. A season of floods could benefit California, where drought has tormented farmers in recent years. [via ABC News]
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Good luck runs in one Maryland family, where both a father and his daughter took home lottery winnings in recent weeks.
The woman said she stopped in at the convenience store for a snack, when she remembered her father had recently won a few bucks playing the lottery at the same shop. She bought a scratch-off, and ended up pocketing $50,000.
She said she’s putting the windfall to pay down her student loans. [via UPI]
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CHARTS
What’s Streaming?
New to Amazon Prime:
Boy and the World (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%)
New to Hulu:
Boston Strangler (Score: 63%)
Rubikon (Score: 31%)
Summit Fever (Score: 38%)
New to Netflix:
In His Shadow (No Score)
Noise (No Score)
The Magician’s Elephant (Score: 71%)
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DEATHS
Musician JIM GORDON has died.
He passed away Monday from natural causes at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville after serving a lengthy incarceration and lifelong battle with mental illness, his publicist told People.
Gordon, who drummed for ERIC CLAPTON and GEORGE HARRISON, was convicted of murdering his mother in 1983. A year later he was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison.
He was 77.
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THE SWAMP
The Republican-led House Oversight and Accountability Committee’s subpoenas to obtain Biden Family Crime Syndicate bank records have already revealed curious findings. Here’s what these bank records verify:
Two months after President JOE BIDEN left office as Vice President in 2017, a company called Robinson Walker, LLC received $3 million for a Chinese energy company. That company is owned by John Robinson Walker, who is a known associate of the Biden family.
A company owned by one of HUNTER BIDEN’s business partners received over $1,065,000 the next day.
Over the next few months, nearly the exact same amount – $1,065,692 – was distributed from Robinson Walker, LLC to members of the Biden family.
HALLIE BIDEN received $35,000 of these funds; it’s odd for her to be paid at all, since she’s a school guidance counselor. She’s the widow of the late BEAU BIDEN and the former lover of alleged human trafficker, influence peddler, and drug addict HUNTER BIDEN. The president’s brother, JIM BIDEN, and Hunter, also received direct wire transfers. An unidentified bank account belonging to a “Biden” – but no other details – also received wires over the ensuing months.
It appears the tranches of money were divided into equal thirds.
IT GETS WORSE: In 2015, an unidentified company wired John Robinson Walker’s company just under $180,000. The next day, Walker transferred $59,900 of that money to a personal checking account, then wired that exact amount to a bank account belonging to a “Robert Biden” – “Robert” is Hunter Biden’s legal first name. A company owned by Hunter Biden’s business partner received the exact same amount – once again suggesting the funds were being divided up into thirds.
WORTH NOTING: This 2015 money-moving happened while Biden was vice president.
WORTH ASKING: Who owns the unidentified, Biden-affiliated account that received chunks of these funds? Why so many steps to hide where money is coming from and who it’s going to? And what work did these Biden family members do to earn this money? Who paid it, and why?
WORTH REMEMBERING: Emails have revealed that Hunter Biden was on the hook to pay for property improvements and various bills belonging to his father. Was some of this money divided up and arranged so he could pay these bills?
[bank record info via House Oversight]
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 371 points (1.17%) to close at 32,246. The S&P added 68 points (1.76%) to close at 3,960 and the NASDAQ added 283 points (2.48%) to close at 11,717.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $68; BRENT CRUDE at $74.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.46.
₿ BITCOIN was up 2.4% Thursday, trading just under $25,000.
🛩 There were more than 3,110 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 280 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $254 million jackpot or a $133.7 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $78 million jackpot or a $41.1 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
These albums drop today:
Ailbhe Reddy, “Endless Affair”
All Time Low, “Tell Me I’m Alive”
The Answer, “Sundowners”
The Band of Heathens, “Simple Things”
Billy Valentine, “Billy Valentine & The Universal Truth”
Daddy Long Legs, “Street Sermons”
Doug Paisley, “Say What You Like”
Genevieve Artadi, “Forever Forever”
Gideon, “More Power. More Pain.”
Julian Lage, “The Layers”
The Lost Days, “In the Store”
Moon Boots, “Ride Away”
Now More Than Ever, “Creatrix”
T-Pain, “On Top of the Covers”
Theory of a Deadman, “Dinosaur”
U2, “Songs of Surrender”
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ARIANA MADIX returned to Instagram early Thursday morning to post her feelings regarding her longtime boyfriend TOM SANDOVAL’s affair with her friend and “Vanderpump Rules” co-star RAQUEL LEVISS.
After thanking her friends, family and fans for the outpouring of love and support, Madix shared how “devastated and broken” she feels.
She ended her post with a clear message to those who have wronged her -- “What doesn’t kill me better run.” [via TMZ]
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LEBRON JAMES signed a copy of his children’s book “I Promise” for a young girl who was wearing his jersey during the Lakers recent game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
“Dear Parker, Nice meeting you! You’re a beautiful Young Black Queen! Don’t let nothing stop u from being whatever your mind and heart desires!” he captioned an Instagram post about the interaction.
James was able to sign the book during the game as he watched from the bench, where he has been since getting injured late last month. [via People]
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CONOR MCGREGOR dropped an F-bomb during his appearance on “Hannity” on Wednesday night.
While speaking to Frank Siller, the CEO of Tunnel to Towers, a charity benefiting families of emergency responders who died in the line of duty during the 9/11 tragedy, the UFC star got a bit too animated.
“Frank, I’m honored to support you. I wanted to say, your brother Stephen is a [f-bomb] -- excuse me, is a hero.” [via TMZ]
WORTH NOTING: Firefighter Stephen Miller lost his life while trying to rescue people in the World Trade Center attack.
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BEN AFFLECK told The Hollywood Reporter why he looked so glum at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
“I saw [Noah approach] and I was like ‘Oh God,’” the actor said, referring to host TREVOR NOAH who caught him off guard for a skit during the show.
“They were framing us in this shot, but I didn't know they were rolling,” he continued.
Affleck’s sorrowful looking face went viral, with many weighing in on his and wife JENNIFER LOPEZ’s body language in the moment. Though after the show, JLo tried to ease everyone’s thoughts, by posting on social media that she had “the best time” with her “love.” [via Hollywood Reporter]
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TAYLOR SWIFT does what she does best -- dropping new music at midnight.
In celebration of her “The Eras Tour” kicking off tonight in Glendale, Arizona, the singer decided to drop four previously unreleased songs at the stroke of 12.
The tracks are: “Eyes Open (Taylor’s Version),” “Safe & Sound (ft. Joy William and John Boy Music) (Taylor’s Version),” “If This Was a Movie (Taylor’s Version),” and “All of the Girls You Loved Before.” [via Deadline]
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PARIS HILTON details in her new memoir how she felt after PINK paradied her infamous sex tape with then-boyfriend RICK SALOMAN in the music video for her song “Stupid Girls.”
In “Paris: The Memoir,” the heiress writes that she felt pressured by Saloman to film “One Night in Paris;” he was 33 at the time while she was only 19. Not only that, but Paris says she had no idea the tape would be made public.
Looking back, she says there is no ill-will toward Pink, but wants people to be aware of how they perceive and react to others' situations. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
BILLIE EILISH is making her acting debut in “Swarm,” a horror series created by DONALD GLOVER.
The 21-year-old plays a therapist that manipulates her patients into dangerous behaviors through hypnosis.
The rest of the cast includes DAMSON IDRIS, BRYON BOWERS, KIERSEY CLEMONS, PARIS JACKSON, RICKEY THOMPSON, RORY CULKIN and X MAYO.
The entire first season premieres today on Amazon Prime. [via Daily Mail]
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DEMI LOVATO is making her directorial debut with a documentary for Hulu.
“Child Star” will “deconstruct the highs and lows of growing up in the spotlight through the lens of some of the world’s most famous former child stars, including Lovato,” and how “their rise to fame, fortune and power affects their future,” an insider told Deadline.
Other participants in the documentary will be announced on a later date. [via Deadline]
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DREW BARRYMORE will host the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards.
The show will air live from the Barker Hanger in Los Angeles on May 7. [via Deadline]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN and her son SAINT WEST were spotted at the Emirates Stadium in north London this week to watch Arsenal’s match against Sporting.
The appearance comes months after Saint was spotted wearing an Arsenal jersey at his birthday party, suggesting he is a fan of the Premier League soccer team.
According to eyewitnesses the reality star had a camera crew in tow and appeared to be filming a documentary. [via The Sun]
WORTH NOTING: At the end of last year, Sky Documentaries announced they would soon start filming a documentary about Kim and her famous family’s rise to fame.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE ANDREW’s only means to generate some income may be to write a book.
A friend of the disgraced royal told The Daily Beast that after being left out of his mother’s will, Andrew has no other options. When asked if writing a book is something the prince is seriously considering, the source said “it’s being talked about regularly.”
As for any potential fallout from Andrew putting pen to paper, an insider said he has already been pushed into the shadows, is being pressured to vacate his 30-room home, Royal Lodge, and is limited in other money-making avenues. [via Daily Beast]
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LIST OF THE WEEK
In honor of today’s holiday, here are some St. Patty’s Day jokes.
Q: What kind of spells do leprechauns use?
A: Lucky Charms
Q: Why did the leprechaun go outside?
A: To sit on his paddy-o.
Q: What do you call a leprechaun with a sore throat?
A: A streprechaun.
Q: When does a leprechaun cross the road?
A: When the light turns green.
Q: How does a leprechaun work out?
A: By pushing his luck.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Saint Patrick’s Day
Red Nose Day
National Corned Beef and Cabbage Day
World Sleep Day
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ON THIS DATE
461 – St. Patrick dies after 28 years of preaching and evangelizing in Ireland.
The myths and legends around the man include that he once baptized a crowd of hundreds in a single day and that he used the three-leaf clover to explain the Holy Trinity.
It’s also legend he drove all the snakes out of Ireland.
It wasn’t until well after he died that the anniversary of his death turned into a wild celebration. In 1762, Irish soldiers serving in New York City organized a parade through the city. Since then, it’s exploded into a worldwide party full of passing out and cursing.
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1905 – Fifth cousins once removed Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt get married.
She was the niece of President Teddy Roosevelt, who was fond of both of them.
Eleanor would reportedly tolerate years of infidelity from Franklin, in the interest of maintaining their public image.
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1992 – South African voters vote to end apartheid through a national referendum.
Before the referendum, political pressures had been moving the government toward abolishing its racist laws.
Following the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990, the movement gained tremendous support in South Africa and internationally.
Mandela would be elected president of South Africa in 1994.
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2000 – With the release of “Erin Brockovich,” Julia Roberts becomes the first actress to take home $20 million for a leading role at the movies.
It put her ahead of Meg Ryan and Jodie Foster, who at the time were the highest-paid actresses.
The role also helped her win an Oscar that year.
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2013 – Kentucky Senator Rand Paul wins the straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington DC.
The results of the poll often have little bearing on who gets the Republican Party nomination, except when a clear front-runner has been established.
Earlier this month Paul won the straw poll again, but the results also showed Senator Marco Rubio’s support implode.
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2020 - In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on this day:
The European Union announces a 30-day ban on entering its 26 countries.
UEFA postpones its flagship national team football competition.
The French Open is the first Grand Slam tennis tournament to be postponed.
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BIRTHDAYS
Katie Ledecky - Olympic swimmer - 26
John Boyega - actor, “Star Wars” & “Attack the Block” - 31
Hozier - rock singer - 33
Rob Kardashian - reality star - 36
Edin Dzeko - soccer player - 37
Miles Kane - guitarist, The Last Shadow Puppets - 37
Martin Shkreli - hedge fund manager, Pharma - 40
Kyle Korver - basketball player - 42
Nicky Jam - reggaeton singer - 42
Samoa Joe - wrestler - 44
Coco Austin - model - 44
Stormy Daniels - adult film star - 44
Tamar Braxton - R&B singer - 46
Mia Hamm - soccer player - 51
Billy Coogan - rock singer, Smashing Pumpkins - 56
Rob Lowe - actor, “St. Elmo’s Fire” & “Brothers & Sisters” - 59
Gary Sinise - actor, “Apollo 13” & “CSI: NY” & “Forrest Gump” - 68
Kurt Russell - actor, “Vanilla Sky” & “The Christmas Chronicles” - 72
Pattie Boyd - model - 79
Born On This Date
Andrew Martin - wrestler - 1975 (d. 2009)
Alexander McQueen - fashion designer - 1969 (d. 2010)
John Wayne Gacy - serial killer - 1942 (d. 1994)
Nat King Cole - jazz singer - 1919 (d. 1965)
Gottlieb Daimler - engineer, designed first motorcycle - 1834 (d. 1900)
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