7/1/2022: Record Royal Spending
PLUS: Ketanji Takes a Seat, Stern-Cooper 2024, and Curry to Host the ESPYS
Today is Friday, July 1, 2022.
It is the 182nd day of the year.
183 days remain.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: There will be no Morning Martini on Monday, July 4th in honor of the holiday. Enjoy the day!
TRENDING
#KetanjiBrownJackson landed in Twitter’s Top 10 Trends on Thursday after being sworn in as the newest member of the Supreme Court.
Remain in Mexico was trending after SCOTUS ended former president Trump’s policy.
Twitter users celebrated Social Media Day yesterday by posting on social media…just like every other day of the year.
###
HIT LIST
Russia is doing its best to be a benevolent invasionary force.
Its defense ministry has announced they are abanadoning their presence on Ukraine’s Snake Island. It’s a small plot of land but is a key facility for Ukraine’s robust grain export industry.
Russia says returning control demonstrates “to the world community that the Russian Federation does not hinder the efforts of the UN to organize a humanitarian corridor for the export of agricultural products from the territory of Ukraine.”
BUT WAIT: Ukraine’s official position is that their troops drove Russia from the island.
MEANWHILE: At the G7 gathering, British Prime Minister BORIS JOHNSON joked that the world leaders should take their shirts off to show they’re tougher than VLADIMIR PUTIN, who routinely stages shirtless photos doing macho activities, like punching crocodiles and wrestling bears.
Putin fired right back, telling reporters, “I don’t know how they wanted to get undressed, above or below the waist. But I think it would be a disgusting sight in any case.” He also encouraged his counterparts “to stop abusing alcohol and other bad habits, do physical exercise and take part in sports.”
WORTH NOTING: Maybe Putin can show President JOE BIDEN how to ride a bike.
###
Quadruple-jabbed, triple-masker ANTHONY FAUCI says he’s experienced a rebound of covid symptoms even after finishing Pfizer’s Paxlovid treatment course. He’s reportedly begun another round of such treatment.
MEANWHILE: Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer reports that a plurality of hospitalized people directly from covid have been triple-jabbed, at 46%, while 19% had two shots and 35% had only one. Nearly half of people in Ireland hospitalized with covid only discovered their diagnosis after getting tested following admission for another reason.
###
The 4th of July is the most common day for household pets to go missing, according to research by Pet Amber Alert.
They chalk it up to fireworks spooking the animals and causing them to run away.
Here are their tips to prevent this from happening to your pets:
Stay inside and ensure pets are leashed if you take them for a walk.
Go out of your way to help pets feel safe with petting and treats.
Try to drown out firework explosions with TV noise or music.
Act normal yourself, especially for pets who take their cues from you.
Be proactive – get your pet chipped and put a GPS collar on.
###
There were 19% more houses on the market in June 2022 over the previous year – but it’s still half the pre-covid levels. CNBC reports that the median listing price in June hit a record high of $450,000.
###
China’s space agency has reported it has completed a mission to fully photograph the surface of Mars.
The Tianwen probe completed 1,344 orbits of the red planet since arriving in May last year. It also deployed a rover to the surface, making it the third country to successfully put a spacecraft on the planet, after the former Soviet Union and United States.
###
BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The Dow lost 253 points (0.82%) on Thursday, closing at 30,775. The S&P 500 lost 33.45 points (0.88%), closing at 3,785, and marked its worst first-half since 1962 in terms of percentage lost. The Nasdaq lost 149 points (1.33%).
🛢Both Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate traded under $110 a barrel Thursday.
⛽ The national average price of a gallon of gas slipped down to $4.86 a gallon.
₿ Bitcoin took a beating Thursday, losing $1,237.70 (6.16%) to close at $18,855.80.
🛩 On Thursday, there were 3,165 delayed flights within, into, or out of the United States, and 438 such cancellations.
###
CHARTS
New to Amazon Prime:
The Terminal List (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 70%)
A Very Brady Sequel (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 56%)
Betrayed (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%)
Cedar Rapids (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%)
Clueless (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%)
New to Disney+:
The Good, The Bad, The Hungry (No Score)
New to HBO:
A Kind of Murder (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 33%)
Baggage Claim (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 15%)
Code of Silence (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 70%)
Godzilla (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 76%)
Hollow Man (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 26%)
New to Hulu:
The Princess (No Score)
Any Given Sunday (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 52%)
Black Knight (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 15%)
Bohemian Rhapsody (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 60%)
Bride Wars (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 11%)
New to Netflix:
Big Daddy (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 39%)
Boogie Nights (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%)
Catch Me If You Can (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%)
Deliverance (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%)
GoodFellas (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%)
###
DEATHS
SONNY BARGER has died.
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club founder, former convict and “Sons of Anarchy” star passed away Wednesday after a battle with cancer.
He was 83.
###
BABY NEWS
Actors TOM HIDDLESTON, 41, and ZAWE ASHTON, 37, are expecting their first child.
Ashton debuted her baby bump at a special screening of her new film “Mr. Malcolm’s List” on Wednesday night.
The couple, who met in 2019, revealed their engagement in March of this year.
###
RELATIONSHIPS
“Halloweentown” co-stars KIMBERLY J. BROWN, 37, and DANIEL KOUNTZ, 43, are engaged!
Brown shared the news on Instagram yesterday, posting a selfie with Kountz, while showing off her new bling.
After working together on the Disney films, and being friends for years, the couple finally started dating in 2017.
###
SICK BAY
Senator PATRICK LEAHY of Vermont will undergo surgery after falling and breaking his hip.
The 82-year-old reportedly fell at his home Wednesday night, and after a thorough examination, doctors decided the best course of action would be to repair the hip.
He is expected to make a full recovery.
BY THE WAY: Leahy was born blind in one eye, which causes reduced depth perception, and leads to some of his falling incidents, per a statement regarding his latest injury.
###
WEDDINGS
Actress ALEXANDRA DADDARIO, 36, and producer ANDREW FORM, 55, are married!
Vogue published photos from the nuptials on Thursday, revealing that the couple tied the knot in New Orleans. An exact date was not shared.
The pair, who met by chance in 2019, got engaged in April 2021.
It is Daddario’s first marriage, while Form was previously married to actress JORDANA BREWSTER, whom he shares two sons with.
###
THE SWAMP
President JOE BIDEN apparently has no plans to ease the cost of gasoline.
When asked Thursday how long drivers should pay higher prices for gas, Biden said, “as long as it takes” – suggesting there’s some sort of nobility in forcing Americans to pay more at the pump.
WORTH ASKING: Why is he unwilling to take proven short-term economic steps to lower the cost of gas by removing leasing restrictions to increase output and deregulate the refining process in order to boost supply into the market?
MEANWHILE: The Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency has overstepped its authorization in issuing regulations to combat climate change.
BUT WAIT: In another ruling, Justices BRETT KAVANAUGH and JOHN ROBERTS joined the Court’s liberal wing to side with the Biden administration in a case over the “Remain in Mexico” policy instituted under former President DONALD TRUMP.
WORTH ASKING: When does the liberal wing of the Court ever peel off a Justice to vote with the conservatives?
ANYWAY: The “Remain in Mexico” decision was not enough for Rep. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ, who on Thursday called to “do away with the whole thing,” referring to the Supreme Court.
So much for respecting the Constitution.
RELATED: While in Europe, Biden accused the Court of “outrageous behavior” over its recent decisions.
BUT WAIT: Here’s what Biden said about Roe v. Wade in 1982: “I don’t think that a woman has the sole right to say what should happen to her body.”
In The Washingtonian magazine in 1974, Biden said, “I don’t like the Supreme Court decision on abortion. I think it went too far.”
WORTH ASKING: What changed, other than his political aspirations in the Democrat Party?
WORTH NOTING: It sure seems like Democrats have twisted the meaning of “democracy” to mean “everything we like” – like drag queens in schools, incessant lockdowns, and intimidating Supreme Court justices – and anyone who disagrees should be unpersoned and thrown into the Gulag.
FUN FACT: Gulag is synonymous with the Soviet Union’s brutal prison system, but it’s actually an acronym in Russian for “Glavnoye Upravlohnia Lagerei (Гла́вное управле́ние лагере́й)” which means “Main Camp Administration.”
###
Justice KETANJI BROWN JACKSON took her oath to serve on the Supreme Court on Thursday, making her the first Black woman to sit on the Bench.
###
For the first time, Florida Governor RON DESANTIS is within single-digits of former President DONALD TRUMP in a hypothetical head-to-head primary matchup from a national survey.
The Yahoo News/YouGov poll puts DeSantis at 36% and Trump at 45%.
Neither Trump nor DeSantis have made a formal announcement about their 2024 intentions. DeSantis is up for re-election in Florida this November.
###
LOTTERY
No winner for Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $360 million jackpot or a $199.3 million cash payout.
###
A Vermont resident matched all six Powerball numbers in Wednesday night’s drawing. The winner has the option of the $366.7 million jackpot or the $208.4 million cash payout.
Saturday night’s drawing will be for a $20 million jackpot or a $11.4 million cash payout.
###
SHOWBIZ NEWS
These albums drop today:
Bino Rideaux, “Sorry 4 Tha Wait II”
Burna Boy, “Love, Damani”
Carlos Truly, “Not Mine”
Frank Meadows, “Dead Weight”
G Perico, “111th East”
Moor Mother, “Jazz Codes”
Municipal Waste, “Electrified Brain”
Nick Zinner, “41 Strings”
Page Kennedy, “Front Page”
###
HOWARD STERN already knows who he would want to be his VP if he decides to run for President in 2024.
“This guy is gonna bring in the female vote like you wouldn’t believe. My vice president: BRADLEY COOPER,” Stern told his SiriusXM listeners on Thursday.
He explained that he had already discussed the plan with the actor and both agreed it would be a “winning ticket.”
Stern’s desire to run stems from his hatred (and fear?) of former president DONALD TRUMP running again.
###
RICKY MARTIN is being sued by his former talent manager for unpaid commissions.
REBECCA DRUCKER claims the singer owes her $3 million after she “saved his career.”
Drucker, who worked for Martin from 2014-2018 and 2020-2022, says that he “maliciously” refuses to pay her what he owes per their management agreement.
No details have been revealed about the scandal Drucker claims to have saved Martin from.
Reps for Martin declined to comment on the suit.
###
[[EDITORIAL NOTE: Be careful below with some profanity.]]
DEMI LOVATO (who uses they/them pronouns) teased a few seconds of their upcoming single “Substance” on Instagram Thursday.
The track will be featured on their eighth studio album, (note the slight lettering difference here) “HOLY FVCK,” which is set to drop on July 15.
The teaser follows the release of the album’s first single, “Skin of My Teeth.”
###
OJ SIMPSON does not agree with the vote to cut funding for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
“Trust me, we need police, we need the sherrffs’ department,” Simpson said in a video posted to social media.
This must be a real issue if OJ is speaking out on it.
###
CASTING CALL
ZELDA WILLIAMS, the daughter of the late ROBIN WILLIAMS, is set to make her directing debut in the new zombie flick “Lisa Frankenstein.”
The movie, starring COLE SPROUSE and KATHRYN NEWTON, follows a high schooler who accidentally brings back a Victorian corpse during a lightning storm and molds him into the man of her dreams, according to Deadline.
###
WILLIAM SHATNER will be the focus of a new documentary, directed by ALEXANDRE O. PHILIPPE.
The doc will “reveal the man behind one of the most recognizable faces in the world,” per a press release.
The 91-year-old is best known for his role as Captain Kirk on “Star Trek,” though he has an extensive resume of film and TV roles.
No word on when production will begin or what sort of format the doc will take.
###
“Modern Family” alum SARAH HYLAND will host Peacock’s new spin on “Love Island USA.”
She replaces ARIELLE VANDENBURG, who hosted the first three seasons of the show on CBS.
British comedian IAIN STIRLING will act as narrator of the series.
###
MYLES BULLOCK and VINCE STAPLES have joined the cast of the “White Men Can’t Jump” reboot.
The film offers a new take on RON SHELTON’s 1992 basketball comedy, starring WOODY HARRELSON, WESLEY SNIPES and ROSIE PEREZ.
Previously announced stars for the reboot include, JACK HARLOW, SINQUA WALLS, LANCE RIDDICK, TEYANA TAYLOR, and more.
###
“Cake Boss” star BUDDY VALASTRO has signed a multi-platform deal with A+E Networks.
As part of the deal, Valastro and his family will star in an upcoming Lifetime Holiday Movie.
The cake creator extraordinaire will also act as executive producer on all related projects for the network.
Valastro rose to fame on TLC’s “Cake Boss,” which featured his family-owned bakery, Carlo’s Bakery.
No financial details were shared.
###
COURT CASES
After serving her 20 years in the klink, GHISLAINE MAXWELL will be on five years of supervised release.
During that time (and possibly extending beyond) she will not be allowed to be in the company of minors.
Specifically, she cannot “deliberately contact anyone under the age of 18,” “loiter within 100 feet of places regularly frequented by minors” and cannot access “web profiles of users under the age of 18,” unless getting prior permission from her probation officer.
Upon her release, Maxwell will also enter a sex-offender treatment program.
WORTH ASKING: Shouldn’t Epstein’s pedophile pals also be given prison time, restrictions and be made to enter treatment? And why do we still not know who’s in Maxwell’s little black book?
###
THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM is once again being sued by a Brooklyn-based beauty business over the moniker SKKN.
Beauty Concepts’ founder CYDNIE LUNSFORD first sent a cease and desist letter to Kim’s corporation over a year ago when both companies went to trademark “SKKN.” Lunsford has used SKKN+ for salon services since 2018.
IN RESPONSE: Kim’s lawyer said he was hopeful both sides could “smooth things over.”
Well…it seems like that did not happen as Lunsford has filed suit alleging that Kim’s new line is confusing her customers. In her filing, Lunsford emphasizes her woman-of-color-owned business that survived the pandemic.
IN RESPONSE: Kim’s lawyer says Lunsford has no right to claim Kim has done something wrong, while noting that the salon does not sell products under the SKKN+ name.
###
WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
While many are still struggling to climb out of the financial hole they fell in during the pandemic, royal spending hit a record high.
According to the Sovereign Grant report, released by Buckingham Palace this week, the Royal Family’s spending shot up over 14 million euros this past year -- to 100 million euros. That equates to a 17% increase from the previous fiscal year.
PRINCE WILLIAM and KATE’s trip to the Caribbean, on-going rehab to the Palace, and QUEEN ELIZABETH’s Platinum Jubilee were the biggest contributors to the increased spending.
The cost to residents did not go up, however -- the Royal Family continues to cost 1.29 euros per British taxpayer.
WORTH NOTING: Not mentioned in the report was the Palace’s investigation into bullying claims made against MEGHAN MARKLE by her former staff. The findings were set to be made public, but will now remain private as no money from the Sovereign Grant was spent on the inquiry, per the report.
###
SPORTS
STEPH CURRY will host this year’s ESPYS.
The annual event celebrates major achievements, unforgettable moments and leading performers and performances in the world of sports.
The ESPYS will air live from Los Angeles on July 20.
WORTH ASKING: How many trophies will Curry present to himself?
###
LIST OF THE WEEK
15 Best TV Shows of 2022 (so far), courtesy of Variety.
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
The Andy Warhol Diaries (Netflix)
Barry (HBO)
The Bear (FX)
The Dropout (Hulu)
Euphoria (HBO)
Hacks (HBO Max)
Irma Vep (HBO)
The Girl From Plainville (Hulu)
Ms. Marvel (Disney+)
The Real World Homecoming: New Orleans (Paramount+)
Rothaniel (HBO)
Russian Doll (Netflix)
Severance (Apple TV+)
WeCrashed (Apple TV+)
*The shows were selected by Variety’s chief TV critics.
###
DAY OF THE YEAR
National Postal Worker Day
National U.S. Postage Stamp Day
National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day
National Gingersnap Day
Zip Code Day
Second Half Of The Year Day
International Reggae Day
International Joke Day
###
ON THIS DATE
1863 – The first shots at the Battle of Gettysburg are fired.
The violent and deadly clash marks the largest military conflict to ever take place in North America.
Strategically it was the beginning of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s final attempt to invade the North.
On the first day of fighting, Lee pushed thousands of his troops against Union fortifications in an attempt to break through and destroy their lines. While Union forces suffered defeats and withdrew from their defense positions, it was not enough to punch through into the North.
###
1934 – The first full-body X-Ray image is taken using technology that would be accessible in hospital and clinical conditions.
It was developed in part by the Kodak company. The film was nearly 3’ by 6’
###
1979 – Sony introduces the Walkman for about $150.
The personal music player was revolutionary — taking a cassette on the go was unimaginable for the mass market.
The product’s development came after Sony Chairman Masaru Ibuka wanted to be able to listen to tapes on long flights and tasked the team with creating a viable solution.
The first models were based largely on the Pressman, a tool commonly used by journalists to record interviews and conversations. But the development team thought it was a silly idea that anyone would want a device that played tapes, but not record onto them.
They were wrong. It did take some aggressive marketing to show the masses the Walkman’s utility, but once people tried it, they were hooked. It sold out the following month.
###
1984 – The Motion Picture Association of America debuts the PG-13 Rating.
Originally, there were 4 ratings:
G - appropriate for all ages
M - for mature audiences, but there were no age recommendations
R - had to be with an adult if under 16 years old
X - no one under 17
PG-13 was designed to be a middle-ground between the Mature and Restricted ratings. M became PG and the age limit for R movies was upped to 17.
The first movie with a PG-13 rating was “Red Dawn.”
The MPAA hires parents in Los Angeles to review and screen movies and, by a jury decision, conclude on its rating.
###
1987 – WFAN Radio premieres in New York City, the nation’s first all-sports station.
Suzyn Waldman kicked off programming with a sports update.
The first scheduled show was hosted by Jim Lampley. The station would also carry games played by the New York Mets.
###
1997 – Mike Tyson is suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission.
The move comes after he bit Evander Holyfield’s ear during their heavyweight title fight, three days prior.
Tyson was also fined $20 million.
###
2017 – Canada celebrates 150 years since its formation.
On this date the colonies of Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia linked to form the sovereign dominion of Canada.
The new confederation was comprised of four provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario.
###
2021 - Prince William and Prince Harry unveil a statue of their late mother Princess Diana on what would have been her 60th birthday.
The brothers commissioned the statue in 2017.
It is displayed in the redesigned Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace.
###
BIRTHDAYS
Tate McRae - pop singer - 19
Storm Reid - actress, “A Wrinkle in Time” - 19
Chloe Bailey - R&B singer - 24
Raini Rodriguez - actress, “Austin and Ally” - 29
Luca Vazquez - soccer player - 31
Daniel Ricciardo - race car driver - 33
Lea Seydoux - actress, “Blue is the Warmest Color” - 37
Hilarie Burton - actress, “One Tree Hill” - 40
Forrest Griffin - MMA fighter - 43
Liv Tyler - actress, “Armageddon” & “Stealing Beauty” - 45
Missy Elliott - rapper - 51
Pamela Anderson - model & actress, “ Baywatch” & “Home Improvement” - 55
Carl Lewis - Olympic sprinter - 61
Alan Ruck - actor, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” & “Spin City” - 66
Dan Aykroyd - actor, “SNL” & “Ghostbusters” - 70
Debbie Harry - rock singer, Blondie - 77
Jamie Farr - actor, “M*A*S*H” - 88
Born On This Date
Princess Diana - royal - 1961 (d. 1997)
Dave Prowse - actor, played Darth Vader - 1935 (d. 2020)
Sydney Pollack - director & actor, “Tootsie” - 1934 (d. 2008)
Olivia de Havilland - actress, “Gone with the Wind” - 1916 (d. 2020)
Estee Lauder - entrepreneur, Estee Lauder cosmetics - 1906 (d. 2004)
###