6/28/2022: Hunter’s Hooker Problem
PLUS: Johnny’s Back as Jack, Kate’s Olive Branch, and Champs Dent the Stanley Cup
Today is Tuesday, June 28, 2022.
It is the 179th day of the year.
186 days remain.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: There will be no Morning Martini on Monday, July 4th in honor of the holiday. Enjoy the day!
TRENDING
Brittney Griner was trending after making an appearance in a Russian court on Monday. More on the WNBA star’s case in Court Cases.
In honor of PTSD Awareness Day, several mental health organizations tweeted out resources for those seeking help. Others used the day to bring attention to the fact that PTSD is the main cause of veteran suicide.
Rudy was trending after a grocery store worker hit Rudy Giuliani on the back Sunday. The former mayor was campaigning for his son, Andrew at the time. The man who hit him was arrested.
Establishment Clause landed in Twitter’s Top 10 Trends on Monday after the Supreme Court ruled in Kennedy v. Bremerton. More in The Swamp.
###
HIT LIST
Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY has asked G7 leaders to give his country the resources to push back Russia’s offensive by the end of the year.
He reportedly said that winter’s cold weather will make it easier for Russia’s military to solidify its advance later this year, when frozen ground makes it easier to transport heavy equipment.
###
It’s a good time to be a landlord.
Real estate site Redfin reports that in May, the median rent in the U.S. exceeded $2,000 a month for the first time in history, reflecting a 15% increase over the last year.
A Wall Street Journal analysis suggests it’s because there are an increased number of high-earners in the market who don’t want to, or can’t afford to, buy a house of their own.
###
Amazon held its MARS conference in Las Vegas last week, where it shows off products and technology in development for future public release.
One such innovation would allow Alexa users to customize the artificial intelligence’s voice. One Amazon exec said that using only one minute of audio of someone’s speaking, their technology could allow just about anything to be said in that voice.
No word on when this feature will hit the market – if ever.
###
An Amtrak train derailed near Mendon, Missouri, on Monday, leaving at least one passenger dead.
The train reportedly hit a dump truck at a street crossing in the early afternoon. There were 243 passengers on board and a dozen crew.
###
Undersea explorers believe they’ve discovered the deepest shipwreck ever.
The researchers found the remains of the USS Samuel B. Roberts at a depth of 22,916 feet, off the coast of the Philippines.
It was a part of the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, which has been called by some historians the biggest naval battle in history.
The “Sammy B” sank after sustaining damage by the Japanese battleship Yamato. Of the 224-man crew, only 120 survived.
###
BY THE NUMBERS
The Dow lost 62.42 points (0.2%) on Tuesday, while the S&P 500 shed 11.63 (0.3%) and Nasdaq lost 83 (.72%).
West Texas Intermediate closed at $109, while Brent Crude ticked back up to $111.17.
The national average price of a gallon of gas ticked down to $4.897.
Bitcoin lost $139.30 in value (0.66%), to $20,902.90.
###
CHARTS
Top 5 Songs on iTunes:
Charlie Puth & Jung Kook, “Left and Right”
Kate Bush, “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)”
Beyonce, “Break My Soul”
Taylor Swift, “Carolina”
Luke Combs, “The Kind of Love We Make”
Top 5 Songs on Spotify:
Beyonce, “Break My Soul”
Post Malone & Doja Cat, “I Like You (A Happier Song)”
Joji, “Glimpse of Us”
Harry Styles, “As It Was”
Charlie Puth & Jung Kook, “Left and Right”
###
DEATHS
KENNETH “Ken” WILLIAMS has died.
The legendary song-writer passed away on June 17 after a non-Covid illness at a hospital in New York.
He was 83.
###
BABY NEWS
“Shahs of Sunset” alum LILLY GHALICHI, 39, and her husband DARA MIR, 41, have welcomed their second child, a baby boy named Kashton.
The couple are already parents to daughter Alara, 3.
###
SICK BAY
SLOANE SMITH, the youngest daughter of former NFL QB ALEX SMITH, underwent brain surgery for a large brain tumor last month.
Alex posted about the health scare on Instagram, detailing how they rushed Sloane to the hospital after she started exhibiting “stroke-like symptoms.” An MRI showed a large brain tumor, which led to her needing an emergency craniotomy.
The family is now awaiting more tests in order to create a clear path forward.
###
WEDDINGS
NBA star KEVIN LOVE, 33, and model KATE BOCK, 34, tied the knot Saturday at the New York City Public Library.
The pair met in 2016 and got engaged last year.
###
Country duo JENNA WALKER, 31, and RYAN WATSON, 33, are married!
The pair tied the knot in a beachfront ceremony in Southampton, Ontario on Friday.
Walker and Watson got engaged last July after six years of dating.
###
“Bachelor” alum SYDNEY HIGHTOWER, 25, married NFL star FRED WARNER, 27, over the weekend.
The two tied the knot on Saturday in Vista, California in a ceremony attended by several of Hightower’s “Bachelor” co-stars and some of Warner’s teammates.
The pair got engaged in May 2021.
###
THE SWAMP
GET A LOAD OF THIS:
President JOE BIDEN has said for years now that he has never discussed his son HUNTER BIDEN’s business affairs with him.
A voicemail recording on Hunter’s laptop proves that this is not the case.
According to the DailyMail, on December 12, 2018, Joe left a voicemail message for Hunter asking to call him back, because he wanted to talk about a New York Times article that connected Hunter to Chinese spy chief Patrick Ho.
Joe said in the message, “I thought the article released online, it's going to be printed tomorrow in the Times, was good. I think you're clear.”
WORTH NOTING: Everyone knows Joe’s assertion that he didn’t discuss his son’s business with him has been a lie. Now there’s proof.
WORTH ASKING: Will the media hold him accountable for these lies?
IT GETS WORSE: Early on Monday, the Washington Examiner connected the dots between Joe wiring money to Hunter, and Hunter spending money on prostitutes.
From December 2018 through January 2019, Joe wired Hunter $100,000 to help Hunter pay his bills.
One of these wire transfers came through while Hunter was “actively engaged” with an escort, the Examiner reports.
In another instance, Joe wired $20,000 for Hunter to enter a drug rehab program. Hunter never checked into it.
The receipts of these payments and the timing have been corroborated by the Washington Examiner’s copy of Hunter’s surrendered laptop.
IT GETS EVEN WORSE: Text messages between Hunter and one escort reveal that he was well-versed in paying for sex. In their back-and-forth exchange, Hunter explains how to wire money in a way that doesn’t get flagged by banks. Exasperated, he eventually tells his Madam “Send me Julia and I will give her the cash.”
WORTH NOTING: This is concrete evidence that the son of the President of the United States used his father’s money for human trafficking.
WORTH ASKING: If Joe Biden lied about his knowledge of his son’s business dealings, would he also lie about giving his son money to pay for sex?
BY THE WAY: Shortly after the Washington Examiner released its findings, Hunter reportedly emailed the reporter, “What’s wrong with you?”
###
An analysis by the Associated Press shows that more than one million Americans have formally switched their party affiliation to Republican in the last year.
In a dire warning to Democrats, the AP reports, “nowhere is the shift more pronounced — and dangerous for Democrats — than in the suburbs, where well-educated swing voters who turned against Trump’s Republican Party in recent years appear to be swinging back.”
WORTH NOTING: Former President DONALD TRUMP “lost” a handful of swing states by a fraction of a percent. This shift is seismic.
###
The Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favor of a high school football coach from Washington State who was fired for praying after games.
The coach was initially reprimanded for leading an optional team prayer after the game.
So for the subsequent games, following the end of the games, he privately, silently prayed at midfield. This got him fired.
The Court ruled the school didn’t have the grounds to ax him.
It’s a major win for religious freedom and liberty.
MEANWHILE: A New York judge has struck down New York City’s measure that allows non-citizens to vote in local elections. Turns out, that’s not legal.
###
LOTTERY
No winner for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $328 million jackpot or a $186.3 million cash payout.
###
SHOWBIZ NEWS
BEN AFFLECK’s 10-year-old son accidentally backed a Lamborghini into a BMW at a dealership in Los Angeles.
SAMUEL GARNER AFFLECK was at the dealership with his dad and his dad’s fiancee JENNIFER LOPEZ when he got into the driver seat of a yellow Lambo.
While sitting in the car -- which apparently was running -- Sam put it in reverse, backing into a white BMW parked nearby.
A rep for Ben told PEOPLE magazine that “there was no damage” to either vehicle and “everyone is okay.”
###
BAM MARGERA has gone missing again.
For the second time in two weeks, the “Jackass” star has left a rehab facility in Florida.
Margera is at the treatment center per a court order.
His last time on the run lasted two days.
###
A video showing “Full House” star JODIE SWEETIN being shoved to the ground by LAPD officers has gone viral.
The incident went down on what appears to be a freeway exit that pro-choice protestors were blocking over the weekend.
Sweetin released a statement to the press about her efforts, while thanking those who took the time to fight for women’s rights. She did not mention the push.
The LAPD responded to the video, saying officers were trying to stop protestors from entering the freeway.
###
SUNNY HOSTIN shocked her co-hosts on “The View” Monday when she shared that she “does not believe in abortions” or “any exception” to abortion, including incest.
On the same note, Hostin also said that she didn’t agree with the Supreme Court being able to overturn Roe v. Wade while allowing Americans to still carry guns.
HERE’S THE DIFFERENCE: One is a constitutional matter and one is not. The one that isn’t (abortion) has been given back to the states where it belongs, while the other (guns) is decided upon by the group of people whose job it is to rule on constitutional matters.
SUGGESTION: Maybe instead of erasing the parts of history that make people sad, there should be MORE time spent learning about the foundation our country was built on.
###
CASTING CALL
JOHNNY DEPP is rumored to be making a return as the infamous Jack Sparrow to the tune of $300 million.
After getting dumped from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise in 2018 over allegations of abuse, the actor is set to return, a Disney source told Aussie outlet Poptopic.
Depp has played Sparrow in five “Pirates” movies over the last 15 years.
While not confirmed, the source says the new deal would see Depp return in a sixth film and a Disney+ spinoff series about the early life of Sparrow.
###
EMMA ROBERTS has joined the cast of Sony Pictures’ “Madame Web.”
She will star alongside DAKOTA JOHNSON, who stars as Webb, as well as, SYDNEY SWEENEY, CELESTE O’CONNOR, ISABELA MERCED and TAHAR RAHIM.
Roberts’ role is unknown.
In the comics, Madame Webb is an elderly woman with myasthenia gravis. Due to her condition, she is hooked up to a life-support system that resembles a spider web. With her age and illness, she never fought any villains. Sources have hinted that the film could “turn into something else” and maybe follow a new storyline.
###
CHRISTIAN BALE is open to playing the Caped Crusader again.
During a recent interview with ScreenRant, the actor said that he would take on the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne under one condition: “CHRISTOPHER NOLAN must direct.”
Nolan and Bale worked on three Batman films together.
IN CASE YOU’RE WONDERING: Bale told the outlet that he has not yet seen “The Batman” starring ROBERT PATTINSON.
###
CAROL BURNETT is set to guest star in the second half of the final season of “Better Call Saul.”
The comedy legend will play a character named Marion. Her storyline is unknown.
The series finale will air on August 15.
###
“Jeopardy!” will make a “hosting announcement very, very soon,” according to executive producer MICHAEL DAVIS.
While chatting with Variety, Davis also shared that they are seeking “multiple hosts.”
MAYIM BIALIK and KEN JENNINGS have filled in as co-hosts on a rotating basis as the search for permanent hosts continues.
###
MAYA VANDER is leaving the cast of Netflix series “Selling Sunset.”
A source told PEOPLE magazine that the show “is having some changes and cast cuts” ahead of Season 6.
CHRISTINE QUINN’s future is also up in the air, per the source.
###
COURT CASES
Four months after being arrested at a Moscow airport for cannabis possession, WNBA star BRITTNEY GRINER has been given a trial start date.
During a brief appearance in a Russian courtroom yesterday, Griner was told her trial will begin this Friday. She was also informed that she will remain in custody for the duration of the trial.
Griner faces 10 years in prison if convicted.
###
THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Kardashian fans are confused over KANYE WEST referring to KIM as his “wife” while presenting SEAN “Diddy” COMBS with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards.
During his tribute to Diddy, Ye said “He inspires so many of my choices, so many of my life choices. My wife's choices. And here we are, thanks for that Puff.”
WORTH REMEMBERING: Kim filed for divorce in February 2021. She was declared legally single in March of this year.
###
WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
KATE MIDDLETON desperately wants PRINCE WILLIAM and PRINCE HARRY to reconcile.
Royal insiders told The Daily Express that Kate is eager to invite Harry to her joint 40th birthday party with William in hopes that the celebration will allow the brothers to repair their relationship.
Royal followers are well aware of the unique bond Kate and Harry shared prior to his marriage to MEGHAN MARKLE.
No word on whether Kate plans to extend the invite to Meg and the couple’s two kids.
###
SPORTS
After beating the Tampa Bay Lightning to become NHL Champs on Sunday night, the Colorado Avalanche didn’t even make it off the ice before denting the Stanley Cup.
In what many are calling a new record, the team dented their championship trophy five minutes into taking ownership of it.
Unlike other pro sports trophies -- such as the NFL’s Lombardi trophy -- which are made new each year, the Stanley Cup is the same one that has been given to the top hockey team since 1892.
While it has a history of being banged up, it has never occurred this fast.
###
DAY OF THE YEAR
National Paul Bunyan Day
National Insurance Awareness Day
Tau Day
Tapioca Day
International Body Piercing Day
###
ON THIS DATE
1776 - The final draft of the Declaration of Independence is submitted to Continental Congress.
Less than a week later, Congress would proclaim independence from Great Britain.
###
1838 - Queen Victoria is crowned at Westminster Abbey.
Her coronation takes place a year after she succeeded William IV to the British throne at age 18.
The day is remembered for the procession from Buckingham Palace to the Abbey, with about 400,000 spectators lining the streets.
###
1950 - The Korean War begins in earnest, when the communist North rolls into the free south.
With the rise of communism after the end of World War II, the US was quick to defend the South.
But as the American military stormed the small Asian peninsula, the communist Chinese also supported the North.
After three years of fighting, the war would end in a stalemate, with both countries just as divided as ever.
###
1966 - The US Senate unanimously approves a bill that standardizes federal highway regulations.
The chief lobbyist who created momentum for the bill was Ralph Nader. Alongside the regulations was of course spending, to the tune of a relatively paltry $465 million.
Standards that went into place following the bill included standardized bumper heights, rearview mirrors, seat belts, windshield wipers and more.
###
1982 - The name of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s first born is revealed.
A week after the birth of their son, the couple share that they have chosen the name William.
###
2015 - Escaped convict David Sweat is shot and captured near the Canadian border.
He is one of two prisoners who broke out of the maximum-security Clinton Correctional Facility on June 6.
The other man, Richard Matt, was shot and killed by authorities three days prior.
###
2018 - Lone gunman, Jarrod Ramos, shows up at the offices of Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland.
He shot and killed five employees. Two others were injured while trying to escape. Ramos was arrested shortly after the shooting began.
He would receive more than five life sentences without the possibility of parole in 2021.
###
2020 - The global death toll from COVID-19 passes 500,000.
###
BIRTHDAYS
Kevin De Bruyne - soccer player - 31
Jasmine Richards - actress, “Camp Rock” - 32
Kellie Pickler - country singer - 36
Savage - rapper - 41
Jon Watts - filmmaker - 41
Felicia Day - actress, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” - 43
Mark Stoermer - bass player, The Killers - 45
Rob Dyrdrek - skateboarder & TV personality - 48
Aileen Quinn - actress, “Annie” - 51
Elon Musk - entrepreneur, SpaceX, Tesla - 51
Tichina Arnold - actress, “Martin” - 53
Jay Schroeder - football player - 61
John Elway - football player - 62
Kathy Bates - actress, “The Blind Side” & “Titanic” - 74
Mel Brooks - director - 96
Born On This Date
David “Frankie” Toler - drummer, Allman Brothers - 1951 (d. 2011)
Noriyuki “Pat” Morita - actor, Mr. Miyagi in “Karate Kid” - 1932 (d. 2005)
Richard Rogers - composer (1st EGOT) - 1902 (d. 1979)
Henry VIII of England - King - 1491 (d. 1547)
###