8/2/2023: Cold Case
PLUS: Another Trump Indictment; Barbie Bodies; and The Windsors Do Balmoral
Today is Wednesday, August 2, 2023.
It is the 213th day of the year.
152 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
X CORP goes to Court as rival META brings a major executive home. More in HIT LIST.
TAYLOR SWIFT passes out some generous bonuses to her crew and BILLIE EILISH hits diamond status. More in SHOWBIZ.
SETH MACFARLANE helps support striking writers and actors. More in CASTING CALL.
KHLOE KARDASHIAN’s advice about going commando is going viral. More in KARDASH.
As the Windsors gather in Scotland, across the pond their estranged in-law clocks a rare victory. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
X CORP is taking a non-profit group to court over its allegations that the social media platform promotes hate speech.
In a case filed this week, X accuses the Center for Countering Digital Hate of selectively picking posts and illegally accessing data from the site for its analysis. The suit also accuses the group of intentionally scaring away advertisers, costing the company millions. [via FT]
MEANWHILE: The META executive in charge of its X-competitor “Threads” app announced he’s relocating back to company headquarters in California after spending the last year in London.
Adam Mosseri had been working in Europe to help keep an eye on other competitor TikTok’s operations. But after Threads lost half of its active users after an explosive launch earlier this month, it appears he was recalled home. [via NY Post]
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A grand jury has indicted former President DONALD TRUMP on four counts of conspiracy and obstruction related to his response to the November 2020 election.
The official charging document identifies six unnamed co-conspirators, many of whom appear to be members of Trump’s legal team.
The judge assigned to the case is US District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan, who oversaw some of the cases against January 6 protestors.
WORTH NOTING: There is no charge for insurrection, a conviction for which would make Trump Constitutionally ineligible to be elected President again.
Trump is expected to appear in court on Thursday.
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Authorities in Auburn, California, believe the driver of a FedEx truck who crashed into a suburban home passed out from heat exhaustion before the accident.
Fortunately, no one was injured, including the driver; no one was home at the time.
A rep for FedEx said in a statement that the company is cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation unfolds. [via KCRA]
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BED BATH & BEYOND lives on!
The homegoods store had been embroiled in attempts to sell off and restructure its operations since the start of the year, but finally filed bankruptcy and sold off its intellectual property to online retailer Overstock.com.
Now, Overstock has fully rebranded under the Bed Bath and Beyond name. Its newly-merged site includes many of the old BBB offerings plus an expanded inventory of 600,000-plus items. [via CNN Business]
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The remains of a German mountain climber who went missing 37 years ago have been found.
A melting glacier near Switzerland's Matterhorn Mountain revealed the remains of the 38-year-old alpinist, who went missing in September 1986. Some of his gear, such as a single hiking boot with red laces, were also recovered from the site.
DNA comparisons proved the remains belong to the missing man. [via CBS News]
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DEATHS
New Jersey Lt. Gov. SHEILA OLIVER has died.
She passed away Tuesday, one day after being hospitalized for an undisclosed medical emergency.
Oliver was acting as governor while Gov. PHIL MURPHY is out of the country.
She was 71.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 71 points (0.2%) to close at 35,630 on Tuesday. The S&P lost 12 points (0.27%) to close at 4,576 and the NASDAQ lost 62 points (0.43%) to close at 14,283.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $82; BRENT CRUDE at $85.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.78 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN was mostly flat Tuesday, trading around $29,200.
🛩 There were more than 3,250 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 225 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $95 million jackpot or a $48.1 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
TAYLOR SWIFT gifted each of the truck drivers who hauled the gear for her “Eras Tour” $100,000.
There are about 50 truckers working her tour, meaning she gave out about $5 million. She also handed out bonuses to her band members, dancers, sound and lighting technicians, caterers and others.
The U.S. leg of Swift’s tour ends next week. From there she heads south to Mexico. [via The Mirror]
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DRAKE canceled next week’s concert in Memphis after his team said “it is logistically impossible to bring the show [...] to the FedExForum.”
The cancellation is especially hard for fans to accept as the rapper recently received the key to the city; which some are now calling for him to return.
Drake has not publicly commented on the decision. [via TMZ]
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Actress SOFIA VERGARA has responded to JOE MANGANIELLO’s divorce filing with some conditions of her own.
The “Modern Family” star filed her own documents this week, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split. She also stated that all “miscellaneous jewelry, artwork and other personal effects,” plus all earnings she made before, during and after their date of separation, belong to her.
As for other assets, both have asked that their prenuptial agreement be enforced.
The pair were married for seven years. [via Page Six]
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Apparently it is not fun working for LIZZO.
Three of the singer’s former backup dancers have filed a lawsuit against her, claiming they dealt with weight-shaming, sexual harassment and pressure to participate in disturbing sex shows.
The women claim that they were invited out on the town with Lizzo during a trip to Amsterdam. At the end of the night, the group ended up in the city’s red light district, where the women claim they were urged to touch nude performers and “eat bananas protruding from the performers’ [private area].”
One of the women also states that she had no choice but to “soil herself” on stage during an hours-long re-audition, because she feared “the repercussions” of excusing herself to use the restroom.
The three are suing for undisclosed damages. Lizzo has not reacted to the accusations. [via TMZ]
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BILLIE EILISH’s 2019 hit “Bad Guy” has been certified platinum by the Record Industry Association of America.
The honor is given when singles or albums sell a minimum of 10,000,000 units.
What makes the achievement even more special is that Eilish’s brother FINNEAS produced the song. [via People]
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PETE DAVIDSON is back on the road after a brief stint at a Pennsylvania rehab center.
The comedian, who sought in-patient treatment for borderline personality disorder and PTSD, is reportedly in Dania, Florida to perform a couple stand-up shows this week.
Insiders told the Daily Mail that Davidson has always been good about stepping back when he feels his mental health isn’t great, and that he has a lot of people in his corner supporting him; especially girlfriend, actress CHASE SUI WONDERS. [via Daily Mail]
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CASTING CALL
Before his death, ANGUS CLOUD filmed roles for two upcoming movies.
One is an untitled monster thriller for Universal that centers on a group of kidnappers who abduct a band of young people, one of whom is Dracula’s daughter. The movie is set to be released in 2024 -- along with Season 3 of “Euphoria,” in which Cloud plays drug-dealer Fezco.
The other is a thriller, called “Your Lucky Day,” is about a Christmas Eve hostage situation at a small convenience store over a winning lottery ticket. No premiere details are known.
As reported yesterday, Cloud was found unresponsive by his mom in their Oakland home. No official cause of death is yet known. He was only 25. [via Hollywood Reporter]
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The most-hated man in America, “Vanderpump Rules” star TOM SANDOVAL is set to compete in a new season of the survival series, “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.”
He will be joined by singer JOJO SIWA, model BLAC CHYNA, former “Bachelors” NICK VIALL and TYLER CAMERON, reality star SAVANNAH CHRISLEY, actor BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN, and more.
The cast will face challenges ranging from “submerging their bodies in a frozen lake, to climbing the top of a mountain peak, to attempting to escape a helicopter submerged underwater,” according to the press release.
There is no formal elimination process. The only way cast members leave is if they quit, get injured or are forced to leave by the team of ex-special forces operatives who lead the show’s training exercises.
Season 2 of “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” premieres on September 25 on FOX. [via Decider]
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Actor SETH MACFARLANE has donated $1 million to the Entertainment Community Fund to help support those impacted by the ongoing actors’ and writers’ strikes.
So far, the fund has raised more than $6.3 million.
Yesterday marked Day 92 of the Writers Guild strike and Day 19 of the SAG-AFTRA strike. [via Deadline]
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The huge success of “Barbie” has some plastic surgeons, psychologists and dentists concerned about a new wave of patients wanting to look like the doll.
Dr. Payman Danielpour of Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group says he has already had women asking for “Barbie’s waist and breasts,” with one questioning whether or not a rib could be removed to “cinch” her waist like the doll.
Licensed psychologist Stephanie Wright says that while watching the film or playing with the doll are okay, “using the images of Barbie to support the belief that people should look a certain way can be problematic.”
Lastly, cosmetic dentist Dr. Matt Nejad says those looking to achieve Barbie’s “Hollywood Smile” should do their research before taking the plunge. [via Hollywood Reporter]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
Some women are ditching their panties during workouts and it's all because KHLOE KARDASHIAN told them to.
The subject came up as fitness influencers Laura Henshaw and Steph Claire-Smith discussed the controversial topic of going commando while working out on Instagram.
While both of the women said they in fact wear undies to the gym, fellow influencer Ellie Gonsalves said she chooses to go without, saying it is “much more comfortable.” As for where she got the idea, Ellie said “Khloe Kardashian told me not to do it! So I did and haven’t looked back.” [via NY Post]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Members of the House of Windsor are preparing for their first summer retreat to the Balmoral estate in Scotland without QUEEN ELIZABETH.
While the late Queen looked forward to staying in the main castle, KING CHARLES and QUEEN CAMILLA will continue to stay at their private home on the massive compound, called Birkhall. They’ll still show up at the main building for formal events and family gatherings, though.
Insiders say that an open invitation remains for PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE to join the family, but no one expects them to show up while the rest of the world speculates whether there’s any thaw in the frosty relationship. [via DailyMail]
MEANWHILE: Markle’s omnipresence in the tabloid media has bolstered viewership numbers of “Suits,” the procedural law drama she starred in before getting hitched to Harry.
Over the last week of June into July, Americans clocked 3.1 BILLION minutes viewed of the show on Netflix, establishing a new record for the most-viewed acquired title (as opposed to original series) in a single week, ever. [via Newsweek]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
National Coloring Book Day
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ON THIS DATE
1377 – BATTLE ON PYANA RIVER– The Blue Hoard of Arapska defeats Russian forces.
The Russian troops were under the direction of Ivan Dmitriyevich. The army arrived at the river and realized that the enemy forces would not arrive for at least a day.
It was very hot and uncomfortable so the Russians spent the day drinking.
When the Blue Hoard came across, the Russians were too intoxicated to fight and were forced to retreat. Many Russian soldiers, along with their commander, drowned in the river while attempting to escape. The Blue Hoard easily killed the remaining Ruskies.
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1610 - English explorer Henry Hudson enters the bay that would later be named after him — the Hudson Bay.
The voyage was Hudson’s fourth and final.
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1776 - The formal signing of the Declaration of Independence takes place — 56 signatures are added.
This is the date accepted by modern historians.
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1790 – The first US Census is conducted.
The census was performed under Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. In the original census only the head of the household was named and other members of the house were simply recorded as a number. Beginning in 1850, all members in a household were named.
The population of the US according to the first census was 3,929,326.
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1865 - Lewis Carroll publishes “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”
The book, commonly called “Alice in Wonderland,” details the story of a young girl named Alica who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy land filled with human-like creatures.
It is known as one of the best works of Victorian literature.
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1937 – The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 is passed, making marijuana and its by-products illegal.
There was wide speculation that executives in the paper industry were pushing for the act because hemp was beginning to be used as a replacement for paper pulp in newsprint.
Doctors were upset with the measure because they had become accustomed to prescribing marijuana on a regular basis for numerous ailments.
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1989 - NASA confirms Voyager 2’s discovery of three more moons of Neptune.
The moons were tentatively named 1989 N2, 1989 N3 & 1989 N24.
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2017 - Prince Philip, 96, makes his final solo public appearance before retiring.
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2019 - Ed Sheeran’s “Divide” tour becomes the most attended and highest grossing tour of all time.
Sheeran performed in front of more than 8.5 million people across 43 countries, breaking U2’s record of 7.3 million.
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BIRTHDAYS
Devon Dotson - basketball player - 24
Austin Theory - wrestler - 26
Kristaps Porzingis - basketball player - 28
Charlie XCX - pop singer - 31
Hallie Eisenberg - actress, “How to Eat Fried Worms” - 31
Lily Gladstone - actress, “Killers of the Flower Moon” - 37
Famous B - wrestler - 38
Nick Diaz - MMA fighter - 40
Sam Worthington - actor, “Avatar” films - 47
Kevin Smith - director, “Clerks” & “Chasing Amy” - 53
Mary-Louise Parker - actress, “Fried Green Tomatoes” & “Weeds” - 59
Isabel Allende - author, “The House of Spirits” - 81
Born On This Date
Wes Craven - director, “Nightmare on Elm Street” films & “Scream” films - 1939 (d. 2015)
Carroll O’Connor - actor, “All in the Family” - 1924 (d. 2001)
Frederic-Auguste Batholdi - sculptor, designed the Statue of Liberty - 1834 (d. 1904)
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