Discover more from Morning Martini
4/12/2022: CMT Music Awards
PLUS: Lord Pickles, Britney Spears is Pregnant, and Meghan’s Morals are Questioned
Today is Tuesday, April 12, 2022
It is the 102nd day of the year.
263 days remain.
TRENDING
In honor of National Pet Day Twitter users posted about their beloved companions. Many shared photos and others wrote about what their furry, feathered, and/or scaly pets mean to them.
#EtsyStrike was trending yesterday as more than 14,000 Etsy sellers went on strike to protest increased transaction fees from 5% to 6.5%.
Lord Pickles landed in Twitter’s Top 10 Trends on Monday. The British conservative made headlines after apologizing for getting the number of people who died in the Grenfell Tower fire wrong. He started trending as social media users reacted to the fact that there is in fact a Lord Pickles.
Britney (as in Britney Spears) was trending after she revealed on Instagram that she is pregnant. More details in Baby News.
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HIT LIST
The city of Philadelphia is taking a big leap backward while the rest of the country moves on from covid.
A mask mandate for all public spaces has been reinstated effective immediately, with a one-week grace period for private companies to institute their own starting again on Monday. The formal announcement also included a phone number snitches could call to report violations.
MEANWHILE: Disturbing images continue to pour out of China, where the Chinese Communist Party remains committed to its zero-covid policy. One viral video shows state operatives rounding up the pets of families with a positive test and killing them in the street before shoveling them into a cart with other dog corpses. (It’s a lot like that scene in the HBO show “Chernobyl” where they’re hunting down animals infected with poisonous radiation.) Millions more remain in total lockdown and are not allowed to travel.
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The international coalition of sanctions on Russia don’t appear to be hurting their economy.
They’re making more money on energy production – namely oil, natural gas, and coal exports – than they were last year.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Germany in particular has actively taken its nuclear energy program offline in recent years.
MEANWHILE: American border officials report at least 10,000 Ukrainian refugees have been intercepted trying to enter the country illegally since the start of the conflict. This means foreigners have entirely abandoned trying to enter America the legal way. Maybe instead of hiring tens of thousands of new IRS agents, President Joe Biden would be better off hiring that many immigration agents who could more quickly process legitimate asylum requests.
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Elon Musk won’t join Twitter’s board after all.
Lots of speculation as to why, though the public message is that Musk ultimately declined the formal invitation.
BUT WAIT: The terms of Musk joining the board would have limited the amount of stock in the company he could buy. Without sitting on the board, he could still go about buying up outstanding shares and continue to fortify his position in the company.
MEANWHILE: Remember Juanita Broaddrick? She’s been suspended from Twitter because she posted her annoyances with ongoing covid mitigation measures.
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New research published in “Planetary Science Journal” definitively shows global warming happening at an alarming rate – on Neptune.
The study shows that between 2003 and 2018, the planet’s average temperature dropped 14 degrees.
One researcher remarked, “"Since we have been observing Neptune during its early southern summer, we expected temperatures to be slowly growing warmer, not colder."
WORTH ASKING: Are all the Neptunian cars and coal power plants causing it, or …. ?
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A Kmart store is slated for closure this weekend – and once it locks its doors, only three Kmarts in the country will remain.
At its peak, there were 2,000 locations nationally.
The chain first filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2002, and closed 250 stores. Since then it failed to compete with the rapid expansion of e-commerce and the growth of megachains like Walmart.
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CHARTS
Top 5 Songs on iTunes:
Jack Harlow, “First Class”
Pink Floyd, “Hey, Hey, Rise Up (ft. Andriy Khlyvnyuk or Boombox)”
Harry Styles, “As It Was”
Camila Cabello, “Bam Bam (ft. Ed Sheeran)”
Walker Hayes, “AA”
Top 5 Songs on Spotify:
Harry Styles, “As It Was”
Camila Cabello, “Bam Bam (ft. Ed Sheeran)”
Jack Harlow, “First Class”
Justin Bieber, “Ghost”
Lil Nas X, “THATS WHAT I WANT”
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BABY NEWS
BRITNEY SPEARS is pregnant.
The 40-year-old took to Instagram to share a photo of pink flowers and a lengthy caption revealing that she is expecting a baby with her fiancé SAM ASGHARI.
She also joked in the post that her bump is so big it could be twins.
This will be Asghari’s first child, while Spears shares two sons Jayden, 15, and Sean, 16, with her ex, KEVIN FEDERLINE.
Asghari seemed to confirm the news on his own Instagram page, writing that fatherhood will be the most important job he ever does.
WORTH NOTING: In several posts, Spears has referred to Asghari as her husband, rather than fiancé, though no news of a wedding has been confirmed.
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BREAKUPS
TISH CYRUS has filed for divorce from BILLY RAY CYRUS after nearly 30 years of marriage.
According to court records obtained by TMZ, Tish filed docs in Tennessee last week, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason. She also asked the court to distribute all marital assets equally.
Tish and Billy Ray are parents to five kids, including musicians MILEY CYRUS and NOAH CYRUS.
WORTH NOTING: This is the third time the couple has filed for divorce. Billy Ray filed in 2010, but later called it off. Tish filed in 2013 before calling it off a short time later as well.
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THE SWAMP
Now that the media can’t hide from the legitimacy of HUNTER BIDEN’s several missing laptops, they’re starting to connect dots that shed light on the entire Biden Family Crime Syndicate.
SO GET A LOAD OF THIS: According to a Yahoo News investigation, in the Fall of 2017, a Chinese businessman named Patrick Ho – whose nickname, seriously, was “Fat Ping” – was arrested in New York on charges he was bribing African leaders to help secure Chinese energy contracts.
IN OTHER WORDS: This guy’s whole job was greasing the skids with people of influence to achieve goals of the Chinese Communist Party.
MEANWHILE: Remember reporting last week about Hunter and James Biden receiving millions of dollars from a Chinese company?
Patrick “Fat Ping” Ho is one of the partners in the company that facilitated those transactions, which – as you may recall – included agreements for which the scope of services was never detailed.
IN OTHER WORDS: A Chinese business man busted by the FBI for making a career out of shoveling money to corrupt people in power facilitated the payment of millions of dollars to the son and brother of a former Vice President and future President.
IT GETS WORSE: Patrick Ho retained Hunter Biden as his attorney two months after his arrest and paid him a $1 million retainer – and as Yahoo News reports, “it is not clear what work, if any, [Hunter] did for [Patrick Ho].”
WORTH ASKING TO BIDEN VOTERS: Would you have voted for President JOE BIDEN in November 2020 if this information had come to light? And why do you think the media worked so hard to ignore so much compelling evidence that there’s lots to this story?
NOT FOR NOTHING: “Yahoo News” would also be a great name for whatever show JEN PSAKI ends up hosting on MSNBC.
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An ABC News/Ipsos poll shows that a majority of Republicans – 55% – are enthusiastic about voting in this year’s midterms, while only 35% of Democrats feel the same way. Independents are equally dejected, with a 34% enthusiasm score.
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LOTTERY
No winner for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $106 million jackpot or a $65.3 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
The 2022 CMT Music Awards were held Monday night in Music City. The show was hosted by actor ANTHONY MACKIE and singer KELSEA BALLERINI, who tuned in from home after testing positive for COVID-19.
KANE BROWN, the night’s most-nominated artist, joined Mackie on stage to help host the show.
And the winners are…
Video — Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood, “If I Didn’t Love You”
Female Video — Miranda Lambert, “If I Was A Cowboy”
Male Video — Cody Johnson, “‘Til You Can’t”
Group/Duo Video — Maddie & Tae, "Woman You Got"
Breakthrough Video — Parker McCollum, “To Be Loved By You”
Collaborative Video — Jason Aldean & Carrie Underwood, “If I Didn’t Love You”
CMT Performance — George Strait, "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone (from CMT GIANTS: Charley Pride)”
CMT Digital-First Performance — Cody Johnson, “Dear Rodeo” (from CMT Campfire Sessions)
Trending Comeback Song — Taylor Swift, "Love Story"
WORTH NOTING: CARRIE UNDERWOOD continued her streak of being the most awarded artist in CMT history when she won her 24th and 25th award for Collaborative Video of The Year and Video of The Year, respectively.
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SIMON COWELL says he is done with face fillers.
The “America’s Got Talent” co-host has sworn off the anti-aging treatment because he says it made him look “like something out of a horror film.”
Also, his son, Eric, was in “hysterics” over his filled-in appearance.
Cowell will not however, give up his facials.
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Prior to multiple outlets reporting JENNIFER LOPEZ and BEN AFFLECK got engaged…again, JLo tried to throw them off the scent.
The couple were spotted out Friday and she was without her green engagement ring.
Jen, who revealed the news in a video posted to her website on Friday, likely wanted to share the exciting news on her own terms.
Regardless of how it came out, fans appear to be ecstatic for the couple.
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Authorities are looking into an incident involving Manchester United star CRISTIANO RONALDO.
Following his team’s loss over the weekend, Ronaldo allegedly smashed a young fan’s phone as he was exiting the field.
The soccer superstar has since apologized for his actions, but social media is apparently not in a forgiving mood, with many calling the incident “uncalled for” and “rude.”
Insiders told The Sun on Monday that while an investigation has been opened, it is unlikely that Ronaldo will be punished.
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CASTING CALL
LUCIEN LAVISCOUNT is returning to “Emily in Paris.”
The actor, who played Alfie, Emily Cooper’s love interest in Season 2, will be reprising his role for the upcoming third season.
LILY COLLINS stars as the titular character in the Netflix rom-com.
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JAMES HARRIS and DAVID PARNES are leaving “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles” after seven seasons on the show.
The news comes days before filming on Season 14 is set to begin.
The upcoming season will focus on real estate agents JOSH FLAGG and JOSH ALTMAN and TRACY TUTOR.
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WALKER SCOBELL will star in Disney+ series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.”
He will play Percy Jackson.
The series follows 12-year-old Jackson, a modern demigod who’s just coming to terms with his newfound powers when Zeus accuses him of stealing his lightning bolt. Percy must trek across the country to find the lightning bolt and restore order to Olympus, per the official description.
Filming begins this summer.
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“The Batman” has an official premiere date on HBO Max.
The blockbuster will launch on the streaming platform on Monday, April 18.
A technical glitch on the HBO website last month briefly posted a release date of April 19 before it was taken down.
The film has grossed $735 million worldwide and $359 million domestically.
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Long-running HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm” will be back for a 12th season.
Star of the series LARRY DAVID confirmed the news during a TV Academy event over the weekend.
Season 11 wrapped in December.
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Two characters from Netflix’s “Squid Game” will return for the second season of the show.
Creator and director HWANG DONG-HYUK told Deadline that actors LEE JUNG-JAE and LEE BYUNG-HUN will both reprise their roles in the upcoming season.
The thriller was the first non-English-language series and first Korean series to win SAG awards.
A premiere date for Season 2 has not been announced.
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COURT CASES
Jury selection in JOHNNY DEPP’s defamation trial against his ex-wife, actress AMBER HEARD began in Virginia on Monday.
Meanwhile, outside the courthouse, some of Depp’s most diehard fans gathered to rally on his behalf.
Supporters were photographed holding signs that read “Justice for Johnny” and “Wish he never Heard.” Others held small pirate flags, referencing Depp’s role as Jack Sparrow in Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” films.
As previously reported, Depp is seeking $50 million in damages from Heard, who he claims defamed him when she wrote in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed that she was a victim of “sexual violence.”
WORTH NOTING: Judge Penney Azcarate forbade Depp and Heard from signing autographs or posing for pictures inside or outside the courthouse.
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN is advocating for another death row inmate.
Insiders claim the reality star has called on Texas Gov. GREG ABBOTT to halt the execution of inmate MELISSA LUCIO, which is set for April 27. Kim also recently shared a letter on social media to the Governor from Melissa’s 14 children.
Melissa was convicted in 2008 of murdering her 2-year-old daughter. She maintains her innocence.
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BLAC CHYNA’s trial against the Kardashians will begin on Friday.
Chyna’s lawyer told Page Six that her client is “thankful” for the opportunity to finally prove that KRIS JENNER, KIM KARDASHIAN, KHLOE KARDASHIAN and KYLIE JENNER “all played a role” in getting her show “Rob & Chyna” canceled.
As many will remember, the show starred the model, who at the time was engaged to ROB KARDASHIAN. She was also pregnant with their daughter, DREAM KARDASHIAN.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE are being criticized for continuing to work with Netflix even as the streamer continues to release movies and shows that feature the Royal Family in a negative light.
One example of this is, recent release “Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story,” which covers a 50-year period of how a TV star got away with sex crimes, while also being close to PRINCE CHARLES.
Novelist CELIA WALDEN told GB News that when it comes to Harry and Meghan, “where morality and ethics are concerned both of these things tend to fly out the window when there’s dollar signs.”
Walden also slammed Meghan for trying to trademark the word “archetype,” despite it having been part of the English language for 476 years.
WORTH REMEMBERING: Harry and Meghan also signed a lucrative deal with Spotify in late 2020. So far they have only released one show.
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JEFFREY EPSTEIN repeatedly called PRINCE ANDREW “an idiot” behind his back, according to a shocking claim made in a new book.
Journalist TINA BROWN, who previously worked at Vanity Fair, The New Yorker and the Daily Beast, detailed the friendship between the pedophile and royal in her book, “The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsor — the Truth and the Turmoil.”
In an excerpt shared by the Telegraph, Brown writes, “Privately, Epstein told people that Andrew was an idiot, but — to him — a useful one.”
It will hit shelves later this month.
WORTH NOTING: Brown wrote the 2007 biography “The Diana Chronicles,” about the late PRINCESS DIANA. The book became a worldwide sensation, selling millions of copies.
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SPORTS
The Los Angeles Lakers fired head coach FRANK VOGEL on Monday.
His exit comes after an abysmal season for the team, who finished 33-49.
Vogel’s firing comes exactly 18 months after he led the Lakers to the franchise’s 17th title in his first season as head coach.
BY THE WAY: ESPN reported about Vogel’s firing after the Lakers game on Sunday night. When asked about the rumor doing a post-game press conference, Vogel said he had not yet been told about the organization’s decision.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Big Wind Day
National Colorado Day
National for Twelves Day
National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
National Licorice Day
National Only Child Day
National Education and Sharing Day
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ON THIS DATE
1770 - After dangerous uprisings in the American colonies, the British Parliament repeals the Townshend Act.
Beginning in 1767, the legislation put tariffs on British products purchased in America, and spurred the colonial catchphrase "No Taxation Without Representation."
The anger peaked when shots were fired in the Boston Massacre in March 1770.
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1861 - Almost exactly four years before it ends -- the Civil War formally begins.
The army of the Confederate States of America fires the first shots against Union troops in South Carolina.
After a day and a half of fighting, the Union troops would surrender, and soon after Abraham Lincoln began assembling an army to put down what he called the Southern insurrection.
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1945 - During his historic fourth term as President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt dies.
FDR suffered a stroke while vacationing at his home in Warm Springs, Georgia. He had grown sick while at Yalta, where he met with his counterparts Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill to discuss terms of peace, and went to his vacation home to recuperate.
Harry Truman would succeed him, and make the ultimate decision to use nuclear weapons against the Japanese to end World War II.
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1970 - Two days into its mission to the Moon, Apollo 13 suffers its crippling setback.
Jack Swigert was ordered by Mission Control to turn on the hydrogen and oxygen tank stirring fans, which were designed to more accurately display pressure readings on the crew's oxygen supply. 93 seconds later, an explosion rattled the cockpit. The astronauts inside first believed a meteorite had hit the craft.
Over the next three days, the crew would slingshot around the Moon, but never land.
Meanwhile, they famously improvised a device that would convert their Carbon Dioxide to Oxygen using materials on board the ship as rudimentary as plastic bags and duct tape.
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1999 - President Bill Clinton is cited for contempt of court for giving “intentionally false statements” in a sexual harassment civil lawsuit.
The suit, brought against him by Paula Jones, had previously been thrown out, but was reinstated after Clinton admitted to having an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinski.
The lie referenced is a famous one: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.”
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2020 - Pope Francis calls for the world to be “united” in the face of COVID-19 in his Easter message from an empty St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome.
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BIRTHDAYS
Saoirse Ronan - actress, “Atonement” & “Lady Bird” - 28
Jenna Johnson - dancer, “DWTS” - 28
Travis Mills - rapper - 33
Jessie James Decker - country singer - 34
Brandon Urie - rock singer, Panic! At the Disco - 35
Brooklyn Decker - model - 35
Jennifer Morrison - actress, “Once Upon a Time” & “House” - 43
Claire Danes - actress, “Homeland” & “Romeo + Juliet” - 43
Christina Moore - actress, “MADtv” & “Jessie” - 49
Shannon Doherty - actress, “Beverly Hills, 90210” & “Charmed” - 51
Andy Garcia - actor, “Ocean’s Eleven” & “The Godfather Part III” - 66
David Letterman - TV show host, “Late Night” & “The Late Show” - 75
Ed O'Neill - actor, “Married…with Children” & “Modern Family” - 76
Born On This Date
David Cassidy - actor, “The Partridge Family” - 1950 (d. 2017)
Tom Clancy - novelist - 1947 (d. 2013)
Tiny Tim - folk singer - 1932 (d. 1996)
Beverly Cleary - children’s author - 1916 (d. 2021)
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