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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry: Really Asking Trump for Free Security?
Late last week, it was reported that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are officially Los Angeles residents after months of residing in Vancouver.
Now, Trump is implying that they asked for government-funded security and were turned down. What is the truth?
As we reported just a few days ago, Meghan and Harry opted to move to Los Angeles.
Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, lives there, making it a great spot for them to live.
Additionally, Meghan is an actress and Harry himself could potentially have many opportunities to appear on film in the future.
Meghan may have been hated in the UK, but most people in North America love her. She'll be a perfect fit in L.A.
On Sunday, March 29, an infamously deranged lunatic took to Twitter with a bizarre announcement.
"I am a great friend and admirer of the Queen & the United Kingdom," Donald Trump's tweet began.
"It was reported that Harry and Meghan, who left the Kingdom, would reside permanently in Canada," he noted.
"Now they have left Canada for the U.S.," Trump's tweet continued. "However, the U.S. will not pay for their security protection. They must pay!"
While it's nice to hear Trump shout "they must pay" about anything that's not a minority group or his political opponents, it was a strange tweet.
First of all, it's been known for months that Harry and Meghan were interested in living in Los Angeles.
They were spotted house-hunting in L.A., as we reported much earlier this year.
But we suppose that a guy who can't be bothered to read his own security briefings isn't going to keep abreast of any news that isn't about him.
As Entertainment Tonight is now reporting, Trump's tweet is also strange because Meghan and Harry never asked for government-funded security.
"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have no plans to ask the U.S. Government for security resources," an insider reports.
The source confirms that "privately funded security arrangements have been made."
That is not actually much of a surprise.
Prince Harry is part of the royal family -- as his grandmother has affirmed multiple times. So are his wife and son.
He, Meghan, and Archie could easily become targets for extremists or opportunists who want to make a point or take a nation hostage.
The Queen may not be the head of government, but she is still the head of state -- which makes her and her entire family a symbol.
Plus, Harry and Meghan are worth tens of millions of dollars. Of course they need security.
But the same wealth that compounds their need for private security also gives them the means to hire it themselves.
Yes, there was chatter about Canada offering them security if they resided there.
But a huge part of Meghan and Harry's priorities involves not leeching off of public money when they are themselves wealthy.
So no reasonable person really thought that they were asking for free handouts.
If they never asked the US government to offer them gratis protection, why did Trump make that tweet?
Trump has a tell when he's lying, and that tell is "whenever he is speaking or writing."
It may be that he wished to appear "tough" on celebrities, particularly while he is being excoriated for his abysmal failures during this pandemic.
But he may also just personally dislike and resent Meghan and Harry because they are good people and therefore opposed to him and his policies.
Deavan Clegg: I Support Trump! He's Not Racist!!
Last week, we reported that Deavan Clegg moved to South Korea because her life was in danger if she remained in the US.
Deavan is now speaking out about one single line of that coverage, a line that acknowledged the harsh reality of current immigration policies.
Taking to Instagram Live, Deavan is declaring that she hasn't seen much racism in America and doesn't think that Trump is at all racist.
"Um, I just read the article and it says somethings about Trump and the administration not liking people of color," Deavan said on Instagram Live.
Big shoutout to 90 Day Fiance blogger John Yates who captured Deavan's videos, which we have combined and trimmed down for your viewing.
"I'm actually quite pissed off about it," Deavan complains. "We might get hate for this, but Jihoon actually supports Trump."
"I won't talk about my political views," she adds. "But that's something we don't believe at all."
"We don't believe that just because someone is of color they can't come to America," Deavan says. "So I'm extremely pissed off about this article."
"We have nothing against the President of the United States," she insists. "We live in Korea, and Jihoon can easily go to America whenever he wants."
"And," Deavan claims. "It's not an issue for a lot of people."
"So for this article to say some f--ked up s--t about the President really pisses me off," she complains. We'll quote exactly what the article said in a bit.
"I don't care if I lose some followers," Deavan continues. "No matter who my President is, I'm gonna support it. I don't care who wins."
"Me and Jihoon support whoever the President is at the time," she adds. "Whoever they are."
Bringing up the article again, Deavan adds: "I'm super angry about it."
"I'm super pissed off that this article said ... this white nationalist that runs the country," she gripes. "And that makes me mad."
Deavan explains that she's angry because "first of all, I'm f--kin' white. And I'm not racist at all."
"I don't believe that America is racist," she adds. "I think that people say this s--t to start fights and to start wars and s--t."
"And it's stupid!" Deavan declares. "I'm so angry about this. And I honestly don't think that America is racist. I've seen very little racism in America."
"... Utah, where I'm from, I see very little racism," she says. "And for this article ... calling out Trump supporters, saying Trump supporters are racist."
That was definitely a lot, and it's clear that Deavan feels passionately about this. So what is all of this about?
Well, as we previously reported, Deavan's safety and that of her children was in danger within the US.
Within our reporting, we quoted Deavan extensively and also expressed our fervent desire that Deavan and her children remain safe.
Deavan (or rather, her social media management) shared a link to the post within her Instagram Stories.
However, one line in particular stood out to a handful of readers, and then to Deavan herself.
When Deavan revealed that her life was in danger from a crazed relative (her aunt), she mentioned Jihoon.
"Jihoon can realistically move to America at any time," she admitted in her Instagram Stories, just as she noted in the video.
The article noted that "the majority of the white nationalists in the Trump administration pushing against immigrants of color" were not focusing upon South Koreans.
The focus of these white nationalists has been primarily upon brown-skinned individuals from Central America, South America, nations in the Middle East and Africa.
As a number of Deavan's castmates in the 90 Day Fiance franchise have lamented, it is simply impossible to begin the K-1 visa process for some.
While the one-sentence explanation was not attributed to Deavan and was a single line from a larger article, some of Deavan's fans ... flipped out.
Commenting with that quote, a few fumed on Deavan's Instagram, declaring that they were "done" following her.
Some, perhaps lacking reading comprehension skills, assumed that Deavan herself had made the observation about current immigration policies.
While we understand Deavan's desire to clarify that she hadn't made a political statement, it's clear that she went beyond that.
Some fans are delighted to hear that she's all but come out as a Trump supporter.
Others are horrified about her statements about racism, noting that a white woman not noticing racism doesn't mean that it doesn't exist ... obviously.
She may not see racism in America or in immigration policies, but her 90 Day Fiance castmates beg to differ.
Avery did not mention Deavan by name in her Instagram Story, but nonetheless addressed the racism that she has witnessed as an American.
Among other things, she notes that people have said hateful things about Omar.
Recognizing that racism exists sometimes means acknowledging that one's own experiences are not universal.
And, for the record, the article that so incensed Deavan did not actually say that Trump or his supporters were racist.
Instead, it acknowledged that a white nationalist agenda at work within the administraton is severely curbing legal immigration, which is true.
E. Jean Carroll: Journalist Accuses Donald Trump of Sexual Assault
Back in the simpler world of 2015, many believed that sexual misconduct allegations against Donald Trump would prevent the reality-star-turned-demagogue from being elected president.
Obviously, that turned out not to be the case, and the current climate in the United States is about what one would expect from a country that's presided over by an accused rapist.
As a longtime denizen of the New York literary scene who once cohabited with Hunter S. Thompson, journalist and author E. Jean Carroll is certainly no stranger to bad behavior from powerful men.
She details several traumatic encounters with toxic male behavior in an excerpt from her upcoming memoir that was published on Friday on New York Magazine's website.
One account has attracted far more attention than the other, as the alleged assailant went on to become the President of the United States.
Carroll says she met Trump while shopping at Manhattan's Bergdorf Goodman department store in "the fall of 1995 or the spring of 1996."
Both she and Trump were in their fifties at the time, and he was married to his second wife, Marla Maples.
Carroll writes that Trump told her he was shopping for a present "for a girl" and asked for her help.
He suggested lingerie and convinced her to try it on for him.
Once she was in the dressing room, Carroll claims, Trump assaulted her.
"The next moment, still wearing correct business attire, shirt, tie, suit jacket, overcoat, he opens the overcoat, unzips his pants, and, forcing his fingers around my private area, thrusts his penis halfway — or completely, I'm not certain — inside me," Carroll writes.
"It turns into a colossal struggle."
Obviously, there's nothing funny about this horrific allegation.
But Carroll deserves credit for hitting Trump where it hurts and understanding that he's more likely to be upset by the suggestion that he might be sporting a half-wang than by yet another allegation of sexual assault.
After all, she is now the sixteenth woman to accuse the president of some form of sexual misconduct, and thus far, Trump hasn't even come close to suffering any sort of repercussions.
No criminal investigation, no impeachment, not even a formal censure.
It's always an act of bravery to come forward against a sexual predator, but when said predator is the most powerful man in the world and has been getting away with this sort of thing his entire life, calling him out publicly requires unfathomable courage.
We applaud Carroll for coming forward and encourage anyone who might be in her position to do the same.
After all, it's becoming increasingly evident that our future relies on fearless individuals willing to defend the ideals and values that were once protected by law and order.
Emily Ratajkowski Gets Naked, Logan Paul Draws Dicks to Protest Alabama Abortion Law
Alabama's state government recent passed an extremely draconian law outlawing abortion in the state, despite the fact that as worded it has almost no chance of surviving a constitutional challenge in the Supreme Court. This has served to draw a lot of attention to the state from even the most apolitical celebrities, so it's no surprise that someone as politically active as Emily Ratajkowski would have a strong opinion to express.
Thankfully, the way Emily Ratajkowski protests is by getting pretty much all the way naked on Instagram.
This is really the form all political action should take. If nothing else, people would never stop begging Chelsea Clinton and Meghan McCain to get out of politics.
Logan Paul, who is normally just the biggest bumblefuck on the planet used his particular brand of brain-dead sophomoric humor for good, as well.
i took the liberty of drawing tiny dicks on the 25 male senators who voted to ban abortion in Alabama pic.twitter.com/ns0x02MzY1
— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) May 16, 2019
Drawing dicks on politicians isn't the most mature thing in the world, but I'll take it. It's absolutely the best thing Logan Paul has done in his entire life.
To the 35,000 people taking time out of their days to write HBO to tell them to reshoot Game of Thrones u don't like the arc of the lady riding a dragon, how about you use some of that energy to write officials to tell them to stop forcing women to have a rapists' baby
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) May 15, 2019
Josh Gad wins, though, taking a swipe at all people upset that Game of Thrones made them feel emotions while bringing attention to the issue. Good for him.
The post Emily Ratajkowski Gets Naked, Logan Paul Draws Dicks to Protest Alabama Abortion Law appeared first on The Blemish.
Pull the Lever For Me: Danish Politician Advertises His Campaign on PornHub
You know, it's pretty hard to have a decent experience on the Internet. Imagine you're just minding your own business watching some porn and boom! Some guy pops up with a political ad. That's disgusting, I don't want my hypothetical children exposed to that kind of filth when they're surreptitiously looking at pornography on the family computer while I'm asleep after a hard day in the hot take mines.
But that's just the kind of filth that Danish politician Joachim B Olsen thinks is appropriate to show on a wholesome website like PornHub. According to the Copenhagen Post, the former Olympic silver medal shot put thrower is running this ad on the adult website.
"Når du er færdig med at gokke, så stem på Jokke" (when you finish wanking, vote for Jokke' [a nickname for Joachim]) it reads.
He even confirmed his campaign ran the ad on his Facebook page in the least-interesting social media post to ever start "Yes, that's me on PornHub."
His reasoning is actually pretty sound.
"You need to get out everywhere, so we thought it could be amusing with an ad on Pornhub. Half the internet is porn and you need to be where the voters are – including a porn site," Olsen told DR Nyheder.
That's a good point, plus all the free advertising he gets from websites covering his ads as if it were actually newsworth… oh son of a bitch. Damn you, Olsen, I'm sending you a bill for this prime internet real estate here.
The post Pull the Lever For Me: Danish Politician Advertises His Campaign on PornHub appeared first on The Blemish.
Laura Ingraham Tries to Mock Nipsey Hussle, Uses Pic of Wrong Dude
At the end of March, beloved rapper Nipsey Hussle was shot dead, murdered by an acquaintance following a verbal disagreement.
Nipsey's funeral included tributes from singers and politicians. He was mourned by thousands -- he is mourned by thousands.
Fox News villain Laura Ingraham decided to mock those mourners. To smear Nipsey for her viewers, she played a video of a different black man.
"Yesterday in L.A.," Laura Ingraham says in a now viral Fox News clip. "Thousands lined the streets to say goodbye to rapper Nipsey Hussle."
"Now this dear artist," she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Recently released a song called 'FDT.'"
Ingraham then explains that the song's title stands for: "Eff Donald Trump"
We don't say this often because it is rarely true, but Ingraham is right about the meaning of that title.
She then immediately squanders that brief moment of not being wrong by playing a clip from the music video.
As you will see when you watch the clip, the video focuses on an L.A. rapper by the name of YG.
That's because it's his song, from his 2016 album, Still Brazy.
Nipsey is featured in the song, but it's not his song and he didn't release it.
It's also not "recent" in music terms.
The song is three years old.
Why did Laura Ingraham use her show and platform to play the wrong music video in an attempt to disparage Nipsey?
Maybe she just wanted to address hot topics and give her core demographic -- ageing white supremacists -- a target for their ire.
A rapper who doesn't like Trump would certainly make an inviting target.
Fox News' whole brand is about distracting people from real stories by drumming up pointless outrage.
And maybe Ingraham and her entire staff really didn't know YG from Nipsey.
They look like different people to us.
But maybe all "Trump critics" look the same to them.
Ingraham's latest bad move comes on the heels of months of controversy, including her verbal attacks on children who survive school shootings.
The accused white nationalist's remarks have been praised by members of the KKK.
In the mean time, rappers and black celebrities have called for a boycott of Ingraham's show.
The goal is to deprive her of the platform that she uses to sow misinformation and hatred.
Absolutely anyone would mistake one face for another, especially if one spends all day staring at faces.
One would hope that someone with the infinite resource of Fox News behind them would be able to do some basic fact-checking.
Of course, that's doesn't seem to be a priority for them.
The fact that Laura Ingraham continues to have a job shows that the network doesn't take her white nationalist rants seriously.
Or worse -- that they're pleased with her hateful words.
We're sorry to say that mocking the lyrics of an associate of a dead black man is far from the worst thing that Ingraham has said.
A man named Eric Holder was arrested for Nipsey's murder and for the shooting of the two men who were with Nipsey but survived.
The 29-year-old was brought in following a manhunt and has entered a plea of Not Guilty.
His defense attorney is Chris Darden -- yes, the very same attorney who rose to fame as a prosecutor on the O.J. Simpson trial.
If Holder is convicted, he may face life behind bars.
Derry Girls protest
brightondj posted a photo:
TV show's stars protest against Northern Irelands anti abortion laws
Colin Kaepernick Settles Lawsuit Against NFL; How Much Did He Get?
Colin Kaepernick has earned both praise and outrage for his bold, silent protest against the killing of unarmed black men.
His protest also ended his NFL career. He has been a free agent since 2016.
He sued the NFL for conspiring to keep him off of the field. And now that lawsuit has been settled.
Attorneys Mark Geragos and Ben Meiselas released a joint statement on Friday, February 15.
"For the past several months, counsel for Mr. Kaepernick and [Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid]," the statement begins.
It continues: "have engaged in an ongoing dialogue with representatives of the NFL."
"As a result of those discussions," the statement reads. "The parties have decided to resolve the pending grievances."
"The resolution of this matter is subject to a confidentiality agreement," the statement concludes. "So there will be no further comment by any party."
This settlement is a long time coming.
As you may recall, Kaepernick filed a grievance agains tthe NFL and its owners in late 2017.
He accused them of colluding to keep him off of the field.
Kaepernick became "controversial" in 2016 for peacefully kneeling during the anthem as a form of silent protest.
But though he was protesting the murders of unarmed black men by police, who then go unpunished, some political forces made him a target.
They present him and his protest as anti-American.
He accuses the NFL of responding to this controversy by conspiring to sabotage his career.
Eric Reid was the first to join Kaepernick's silent protest.
The NFL Player's Association filed a similar grievance against the NFL in 2018 on Reid's behalf.
"We continuously supported Colin and Eric from the start of their protests," the NFLPA said Friday in a statement to ESPN.
The NFLPA "participated with their lawyers throughout their legal proceedings and were prepared to participate in the upcoming trial."
They did all of this "in pursuit of both truth and justice for what we believe the NFL and its clubs did to them."
"We are glad that Eric has earned a job and a new contract," the statement concludes. "And we continue to hope that Colin gets his opportunity as well."
Fortunately, Colin Kaepernick's misfortunes were alleyed.
Nike decided to go all in, placing Kaepernick front and center on their campaign in 2018.
The controversial move had avowed racists throwing away or destroying their Nike shoes.
Just days ago, a store that had removed all Nike products from its shelves closed because of sales losses. Womp womp.
Nike, on the other hand, saw massive sales in 2018.
Their move not only supported Kaepernick when he needed it, but signaled something very affirming.
Ultimately, being progressive was the more profitable move than capitulating to racists. That should be encouragement for all of us.
Kaepernick has been a controversial figure for multiple reasons.
To racists and others in Donald Trump's base, he was a target because he's a black man taking a stand for what he believes in.
It's interesting to note that the people who complain about louder, less convenient protests tend to say "protest like Dr. King would!"
Their attempt to weaponize Dr. Martin Luther King is clearly empty words, since Kaepernick's protest is as silent and peaceful as a living human can be.
On the Left, Kaepernick was controversial because he did not vote in the 2016 election.
Many find it difficult to imagine how someone could risk (and lose) his career for a political cause, yet refuse to do his civic duty and vote for a better world.
Ultimately, though, Kaepernick is a politically significant and widely loved figure.
And no, it's not just because he's really, really, ridiculously good-looking.
It's also not just because of his skill on the field.
Kaepernick and Reid took a stand against white supremacy, against Trump, and against the NFL, which has been characterized as one of the world's most predatory businesses.
It is widely assumed that Kaepernick and Reid have made a substantial amount of money in this secret settlement.
If so, good for them.
However, it is unlikely that we will ever see confirmation of how much of a payout they received.
We Got Her: Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Promising Political Future Cut Short by Revelation She Once Danced While in College
If you don't follow politics, one of the biggest stories of the moment is the ascent of barista Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to become the youngest woman to ever serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. A Bernie Sanders organizer in 2016, Ocasio-Cortez defeated the number three Democrat in the House on a platform of unabashed socialism. This caused the Republicans to immediately starting peeing their pants and corporate Democrats to try and find a way to convince people she won for any reason other than people liked her policies.
Ocasio-Cortez has been in Congress for about a day, but she's already been the victim of a number of devastatingly effective attacks from the right. I mean, in the way Wile E. Coyote's products from the Acme Corporation were devastatingly effective in catching the Roadrunner.
The first brain genius to try to bring down Ocasio-Cortez was John Cardillo, a Newsmax and Rebel TV host who slammed her for having the temerity to want to help poor people despite having grown up in this palatial 1500 square foot mansion.
This is the Yorktown Heights (very nice area) home @Ocasio2018 grew up in before going off to Ivy League Brown University.
A far cry from the Bronx hood upbringing she's selling. pic.twitter.com/xyOtZzVJII
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) July 1, 2018
He also got the college she went to wrong, but remember it was Boston University, it'll be important later. By the way, this tweet became a pretty funny meme for a minute.
This is the Yorktown Heights (very nice area) home @Ocasio2018 grew up in before going off to Ivy League Brown University.
A far cry from the Bronx hood upbringing she's selling. pic.twitter.com/BazU1DjOK2
— Michelle Perez (@mperezwritesirl) July 3, 2018
This is the Yorktown Heights (very nice area) home @Ocasio2018 grew up in before going off to Ivy League Brown University.
A far cry from the Bronx hood upbringing she's selling. pic.twitter.com/vjB4AljxnH
— santi (@santipanti) July 3, 2018
This is the Yorktown Heights (very nice area) home @Ocasio2018 grew up in before going off to Ivy League Brown University.
A far cry from the Bronx hood upbringing she's selling. pic.twitter.com/AztnoeAAth
— Eggnognomicon (@necrofamicom) July 1, 2018
This is the Yorktown Heights (very nice area) home @Ocasio2018 grew up in before going off to Ivy League Brown University.
A far cry from the Bronx hood upbringing she's selling pic.twitter.com/RiZ231W3OL
— bsc (@HawksSB48Champ) July 3, 2018
This is the Yorktown Heights (very nice area) home @Ocasio2018 grew up in before going off to Ivy League Brown University.
A far cry from the Bronx hood upbringing she's selling pic.twitter.com/rJ9V5voF0S
— Nick Vucic (@npv708) July 3, 2018
This is the Yorktown Heights (very nice area) home @Ocasio2018 grew up in before going off to Ivy League Brown University.
A far cry from the Bronx hood upbringing she's selling. pic.twitter.com/m8zG84Tjwe
— Black Sailor Moon (@AshantiMutinta) July 2, 2018
The next batter was Eddie Scarry who decided to go down swinging away with "She claims to be poor but can afford clothing. Clearly she's a communist spy."
That's also kind of a creepy picture. Why are you posting pictures of a congresswoman's ass, bro? He got so blown out that he deleted the tweet.
Which brings us to today. One of those QAnon morons who thinks there's a child prostitution ring for the rich and powerful and Donald Trump was elected president to secretly bring it down posted a clip from this video that Ocasio-Cortez appeared in as a college junior to promote Boston University.
Yes, it's a parody of the dance montage from The Breakfast Club and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez does Ally Sheedy's dance. Would the revelation that the sort of 29-year-old who gets elected to Congress might be a dork finally be enough to bring down this communist menace? Let's check the scoreboard.
The 3 stages of every single MAGA/QAnon/pepe/Proud Boy/alt-right Twitter account. EVERY SINGLE ONE: pic.twitter.com/ievIN0FQEl
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) January 4, 2019
Yup, owned so hard he deleted his account. I'm not even sure what this guy thought he was going to accomplish here. Did he think that we live in the town from Footloose?
I'm sure these attacks are going to continue until she's Speaker of the House or President or something. "Ocasio-Cortez pretends to be from a humble background, but we found out that she had both Pokemon Gold AND Pokemon Silver when she was 10. Clearly another one of those champagne socialists who will decide racism and homophobia are good when she finally gets out into the real world!"
The post We Got Her: Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Promising Political Future Cut Short by Revelation She Once Danced While in College appeared first on The Blemish.
Pharrell Williams Sends Donald Trump Cease and Desist After Rally Plays 'Happy' Following Shooting
Pharrell Williams does not want his music played at President Donald Trump's rallies.
On Saturday, after the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that killed 11 people and injured six others, a rally that Trump spoke at played Williams' upbeat hit "Happy." The musician and producer sent him a cease and desist letter as a result, USA Today reported.
"On the day of the mass murder of 11 human beings at the hands of a deranged 'nationalist,' you played his song 'Happy' to a crowd at a political event in Indiana," wrote Howard King, Williams' lawyer, according to USA Today.
"There was nothing 'happy' about the tragedy inflicted upon our country on Saturday and no permission was granted for your use of this song for this purpose," the letter continued. "Demand is hereby made that you cease and desist from any further unauthorized use of Pharrell Williams' music."
RELATED: Pharrell Williams Is 'Enjoying' Time with His Triplets as He Raises Money for Young Artists
In August, Steven Tyler sent Trump his own cease and desist letter after Trump used Aerosmith's "Livin' on the Edge" at a campaign event in Charleston, West Virginia. "I do not let anyone use my songs without my permission," Tyler said in a statement. "My music is for causes not political campaigns or rallies."
Adele, the Rolling Stones, Neil Young and REM's Michael Stipe are among the musicians who have also told Trump not to use their music.
At the Future Farmers of America convention on Saturday, Trump joked that he had considered canceling that appearance because of his hair.
RELATED VIDEO: PEOPLE Writer Natasha Stoynoff Breaks Silence, Accuses Donald Trump of Sexual Attack
"By the way, somebody just said, 'Your hair looks different today,'" Trump said. "I said, 'Well, I was standing under the wing of Air Force One doing a news conference early this morning, a very unfortunate news conference. And the wind was blowing and the rain, and I was soaking wet, and that's what I ended up with today.'"
"I said, 'Maybe I should cancel this arrangement because I have a bad hair day,'" Trump continued.
PEOPLE Now: All the Latest Details on the Suspicious Package Delivered to Robert De Niro — Watch the Full Episode
Your latest celebrity news and top headlines for October 25th on PEOPLE Now.
PEOPLE Now airs live, Monday through Friday, from the Meredith offices in New York City.
Catch PEOPLE Now every weekday at 12:00 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT on People.com or on the PeopleTV app on your favorite streaming device. Want even more? Check out clips from previous episodes of PEOPLE Now.
Everything to Know About the Pipe Bombs Targeting Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, CNN and More
The country has been left on high alert after numerous bombs and suspicious objects were sent to political and high profile figures as well as media outlets across the country.
On Wednesday afternoon, explosive devices were targeted at former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Attorney General Eric Holder. The device addressed to former CIA chief John Brennan was delivered to CNN's New York headquarters and prompted an evacuation.
Officials said the devices addressed to Obama, Clinton and CNN appear to have been sent by the same person, The Washington Post reported.
In addition, PEOPLE confirms the Los Angeles Times building in Southern California received a suspicious box of envelopes on Wednesday. The El Segundo Police Department said there was no threat of a bomb and the building was not evacuated.
Days earlier, an explosive device was found in the mailbox of liberal philanthropist George Soros.
Motives of the would-be bombers remain unclear and there has been no claim of responsibility. No injuries have been reported as a result of any of the attempted bombings.
Here are all the things to know about the bomb threats across the country:
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama's Offices
One device was found on Wednesday morning by a technician who screens mail at Clinton's office and a similar device was sent to Obama's office.
In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, the Secret Service said it had "intercepted two suspicious packages addressed to Secret Service protectees.
"Late on October 23, 2018, the Secret Service recovered a single package addressed to former First Lady Hillary Clinton in Westchester County, New York. Early this morning, October 24, 2018, a second package addressed to former President Barack Obama was intercepted by Secret Service personnel in Washington, D.C.," the statement said.
"The packages were immediately identified during routine mail screening procedures as potential explosive devices and were appropriately handled as such. The protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them. The Secret Service has initiated a full scope criminal investigation that will leverage all available federal, state, and local resources to determine the source of the packages and identify those responsible," the statement said.
Clinton, 70, addressed the bomb threats made against her. "It is a troubling time, isn't it? And it's a time of deep divisions, and we have to do everything we can do to bring our country together," she said, according to The Hill.
George Soros
An official told the New York Times that the devices sent to Clinton and Obama were similar to one found on Monday at the New York suburb home of Soros, who was not home at the time. A caretaker called police about the suspicious package.
The device, which was likely hand-delivered and not sent by the Postal Service, was constructed from a length of pipe about six inches long filled with explosive powder. It was "proactively detonated" by bomb squad technicians, according to another law enforcement official who was also briefed on the investigation.
Soros' home is north of Manhattan and is located near the residences of Martha Stewart, Glenn Close and Ralph Lauren.
The moment when CNN's fire alarm went off while Poppy Harlow and Jim Sciutto were on the air. (via CNN) pic.twitter.com/6JUqzxFeRE
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 24, 2018
On Wednesday morning, the New York Police Department responded to a suspicious device discovered in Time Warner Center, where CNN is based, the outlet reported, citing a law enforcement source.
The device, which was reportedly made from a pipe and wires, was discovered in the mailroom of Time Warner Center, according to CNN, which also reported that law enforcement authorities are treating the device as a real explosive.
CNN hosts Poppy Harlow and Jim Sciutto were forced to abruptly end their live broadcast due to the discovery of a possible explosive device. The exact moment was caught on camera and showed how the lights began to blare and a loud sound filled the offices. Sciutto appeared caught off guard by the sudden alarm as people in the background can be seen evacuating.
The Time Warner Center offices reopened around 3:30 p.m. ET and employees were returning to the building, NY1's Van Tieu reported.
Eric Holder
Another suspicious package arrived at the Sunrise, Florida, offices of Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Democratic rep for Florida's 23 congressional district. According to a local NBC affiliate, a Broward Sheriff's Office bomb squad unit and firefighters responded to the threat and FBI agents also investigated the scene.
The package in question was actually intended for Holder, but the address was incorrect so it was sent to Wasserman Schultz. Her Florida office address was the return address on all the packages, NBC News reported.
Andrew Cuomo
New York Gov. Cuomo's Manhattan offices were also targeted.
"This is the world we live in. Terrorism, the attempt to spread fear is the world that we live in," he stated during a press conference. "In some ways, this is nothing new. We have lived with this for a long time. … Terrorism only works if you let it work. What they are trying to do is scare us and destabilize us. We will not allow that to happen… We will not allow these terrorist thugs to change the way we live our lives."
Cuomo added, "There's a number of devices and there's a pattern, apparently, to the number of devices. We wouldn't be at all surprised if more devices show up."
The package turned out not to be related to the series of bombs sent to Obama, Clinton and CNN. Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi said it was a computer thumb drive on the right wing radical group the Proud Boys.
"A preliminary investigation on the package at @NYGovCuomo's office shows it is computer files on the hate group, The Proud Boys, who recently appeared in New York," Azzopardi tweeted.
Maxine Waters
The Congresswoman, 80, said she was told by police her "office was the target of a suspicious package" that was intercepted and then referred to the FBI, according to the Washington Post.
It was unclear if the package contained an explosive device, and it was not among the packages listed by the FBI in a statement regarding the investigation.
Trump's Reaction
After asserting that "the safety of the American people is my highest and absolute priority," and that "the full weight of our government is being deployed" to investigate the "despicable acts," the president called for togetherness.
"I just want to tell you that in these times we have to unify," he said during an opioids event at the White House on Wednesday. "We have to come together and send one very clear, strong, unmistakable message that acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America."
Trump continued, "This egregious conduct is abhorrent to everything we hold dear and sacred as Americans… We are extremely angry upset… We will get to the bottom of it."
At the same event, First Lady Melania Trump told the crowd: "We cannot tolerate these cowardly attacks, and I strongly condemn all who choose violence. I'm grateful to the Secret Service as well as the local and federal law enforcement for all they do on a daily basis to keep us safe and encourage people across the country to choose kindness over hatred."
Earlier that day, Vice President Mike Pence tweeted about the bomb threats, calling them "cowardly" and despicable." The president retweeted Pence's remarks and simply responded, "I agree wholeheartedly!"
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders also spoke out the attacks. "These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," she said in a statement. "The United States Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies are investigating and will take all appropriate actions to protect anyone threatened by these cowards."
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Trump Tells Reporter 'Don't Be a Baby' When She Asked About 'Hardened Criminals' Entering the U.S.
President Donald Trump is back to making baby references.
On Friday, the president, 72, sat down for a roundtable discussion in Arizona, where he claimed that a group of migrants that were headed towards the United States border were "hardened criminals."
"Some of these people are hard criminals. Hardened criminals — not good people," Trump said. "These are some bad people coming through. These aren't babies, these aren't little angels coming into our country."
However, when Trump was asked by a reporter to defend why those migrants were considered to be so dangerous, he brushed off the question. Instead, he told New York Times reporter Emily Cochrane: "Oh, please. Please. Don't be a baby. Okay?"
Trump added, "Take a look, just take a look at what's happened. Look at the Mexican soldiers that are laying on the ground."
Reporter: "What evidence do you have that these are hardened criminals that are coming to the United States?"
President Trump: "Oh, please. Please. Don't be a baby. Okay? Take a look…I didn't say in all cases. But in many cases, these are hardened criminals." pic.twitter.com/KyycWvQj7f
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 20, 2018
"I didn't say in all cases. But in many cases, these are hardened criminals," he continued. "These are tough, tough people, and I don't want them in our country and neither does our country."
The group of migrants were traveling in a caravan towards the U.S. when they were stopped and allegedly attacked with tear gas by Mexican authorities, USA Today reported.
Trump has been using the issue as a tactic to threaten to cut off aid to countries in Central America, including Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.
RELATED: Amal Clooney Slams Trump for Mocking Christine Blasey Ford: 'A President Shouldn't Ridicule' Her
This is not the first time that Trump has referenced a baby.
On Sunday, during a 60 Minutes interview— which marked his first time on the program since taking office — the president addressed claims that there were people in the White House he did and did not trust, noting that he was "not a baby."
"I don't trust everybody in the White House, I'll be honest with you," Trump said. "I'm usually guarded. And I think I'm guarded anyway. But I'm not saying I trust everybody in the White House. I'm not a baby."
He continued: "This is a tough business. This is a vicious place. Washington, D.C. is a vicious place. The attacks, the bad-mouthing, the speaking behind your back. But you know, in my way I feel very comfortable here."
And the connection extends well into the summer too. A 20-foot balloon of an angry, orange, diaper-clad baby resembling him soared over the British Parliament Square on July 13 — the same day as the U.S. president's visit to the U.K.'s capital.
The blimp, dubbed "Trump Baby," was approved by none other than London Mayor Sadiq Khan himself after a crowdsourcing campaign amassed over $20,000 and 10,000 signatures in favor of the stunt.
RELATED VIDEO: Melania and Ivanka Tried to Stop President Trump from Tweeting But 'No One Could Do It'
After causing a sensation overseas, it was announced that the Trump Baby blimp would be making an appearance in the States. It has since made stops in California and Florida, with plans to fly outside of the president's golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Following Trump's roundtable comment on Friday — and Cochrane's subsequent tweet — the Internet couldn't resist posting memes, gifs, and tweets dedicated to the one and only Trump Baby.
— ᑕᕼᑌᑎK (@chunkled) October 20, 2018
@realDonaldTrump Speaking of babies. pic.twitter.com/OtbJnmH37V
— Jskorn (@Jskorn) October 20, 2018
#trumpisababy pic.twitter.com/raUOxEYLLB
— HSetzler (@HeatherSetzler) October 20, 2018
Some tweeted their support to Cochrane, writing: "What the hell does that mean? Did you press him on it. Can't you say, 'Answer the question, Sir!'"
"He's the baby. He has absolutely no evidence," added another user.
"Thank you for asking this question. We can only hope your reporting can make a difference. Don't give up, don't get discouraged!" one person wrote.
RELATED: Donald Trump Criticized as 'Sexist' for Telling a Female Reporter She 'Never' Thinks
Meanwhile, others accused him of being sexist towards a female reporter — which he was previously criticized for earlier this month.
"Heard it. Saw it. Completely sexist and patronizing," one user tweeted. "Thought he was the one who wasnt the baby?"
"He has such a way with women, Doesn't he?" joked another user.
Melania Trump's Spokesperson Calls for Boycott Against T.I. Over 'Disgusting' Stripper Video
A spokesperson for the first lady is firing back after rapper T.I. posted a video of himself watching a Melania Trump lookalike strip in the Oval Office.
Stephanie Grisham, Mrs. Trump's director of communications, posted on Twitter Saturday calling the video "disgusting." She added, "How is this acceptable? … #BoycottT.I." and tagged the rapper, 38, in the tweet.
RELATED: Did Tiny Cheat on T.I. with Floyd Mayweather? Singer Addresses Rumors: 'I Didn't Have Any Sex'
Asked for further comment, Grisham told PEOPLE on Tuesday: "Like it or not, she is the first lady and this is the White House. It's disrespectful and disgusting to portray her this way simply because of politics. These kinds of vulgar attacks only further the divisiveness and bias in our country — it needs to stop."
T.I., who is an outspoken critic of Melania's husband, President Donald Trump, dropped an NSFW clip on Friday on his social media accounts, which mocks Kanye West's meeting last week with the commander in chief, 72.
How is this acceptable? #disgusting #boycottT.I. @Tip https://t.co/HvnFahfsVK
— Stephanie Grisham (@StephGrisham45) October 13, 2018
After watching the president fly away on his helicopter, T.I. then stands behind POTUS' desk watching a woman enter the room.
RELATED: Tiny and T.I. Exchange Barbed Instagram Posts as Rapper Allegedly Seen on Video Slapping Another Woman's Butt
Soon she strips off her green jacket — a replica of the real Mrs. Trump's "I Really Don't Care, Do U?" trench — and stands naked on the desk, stroking T.I.'s tie. They later leave together and are seen spray painting over Trump's portrait and trashing the White House.
Dear 45,
I ain't Kanye. pic.twitter.com/BCS8nkbn1M
— T.I. (@Tip) October 13, 2018
"Dear 45, I ain't Kanye," T.I. captioned the minute-long video, which is a promo for his new album, Dime Trap.
Friday's post came a day after T.I. shared a long rant against West following the 41-year-old Yeezy owner's bizarre meeting with the president.
"All I can say is… I've reached my limits," T.I. wrote. "This is my stop, I'm officially DONE!!!! Trump & his Lil Cookie Boy."
RELATED VIDEO: Kanye West Meets with President Trump in the Oval Office
"At one time it was a pleasure to work alongside you…" T.I. added of his former collaborator, who is a vocal Trump supporter. "Now, I'm ashamed to have ever been associated with you."
"Don't follow this puppet," T.I. continued. "Because as long as I've lived I've learned that it benefits a man nothing at all to gain the world, if to do so he must lose his soul. We just saw Mr. West's Soul on auction. If you listen closely you can hear the tears of our ancestors hit the floor."
Since West's visit with Trump, other celebrities have spoken out about West — including Diddy, 50 Cent, Ava DuVernay, and Jeffrey Wright.
Stormy Daniels Loses Her Defamation Suit Against Trump — and Has to Pay His Legal Fees
Donald Trump has defeated the defamation suit brought against him by Stormy Daniels.
The adult film actress, whose birth name is Stephanie Clifford, sued him in April for suggesting on Twitter that she lied about a man allegedly threatening her to keep her quiet about a sexual encounter she claims to have had with the president.
At the time, Trump tweeted about Daniels' claims, calling the allegation "a total con job" and "playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they know it)!"
On Monday, Federal District Judge S. James Otero in Los Angeles dismissed Daniels' lawsuit against Trump, calling his tweet "rhetorical hyperbole normally associated with politics and public discourse in the United States," according to the ruling obtained by CNN.
"Mr. Trump's tweet is a non-actionable opinion that cannot be the subject of a defamation claim," the ruling states, later explaining, "The First Amendment protects this type of rhetorical statement." (Judge Otero previously indicated in September during arguments that he believed the tweet by Trump that named her appeared to be protected by the First Amendment.)
RELATED VIDEO: PEOPLE Writer Natasha Stoynoff Breaks Silence, Accuses Donald Trump of Sexual Attack
RELATED: Stormy Daniels' New Tell-All Details Alleged Tryst with Trump: 'Least Impressive Sex I Ever Had'
Otero also wrote that Daniels "sought to publicly present herself as a political adversary" to Trump.
In addition, Monday's ruling ordered Daniels to pay Trump's legal fees.
"No amount of spin or commentary by Stormy Daniels or her lawyer, Mr. Avenatti, can truthfully characterize today's ruling in any way other than total victory for President Trump and total defeat for Stormy Daniels," Trump attorney Charles Harder said in an emailed statement as reported by multiple outlets.
RELATED: Stormy Daniels Regrets 'Body Shaming' Donald Trump: 'I Actually Feel Pretty Terrible About It'
Meanwhile, Daniels' attorney Michael Avenatti filed an appeal to the dismissal, according to USA Today.
"Re Judge's limited ruling: Daniels' other claims against Trump and Cohen proceed unaffected. Trump's contrary claims are as deceptive as his claims about the inauguration attendance," Avenatti tweeted following news of the ruling. "We are confident in a reversal."
Daniels filed a separate suit against the president and former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, seeking to invalidate a non-disclosure agreement in which Cohen paid her $130,000 to remain silent about the alleged affair between Daniels and Trump before the 2016 presidential election.
Trump and a White House spokesperson have denied having an affair with Daniels.
See Barbara Bush and Husband Craig Coyne on the Cringey Blind Date Where They First Met
Sometimes an awkward blind date is just the beginning of a beautiful love story!
To celebrate the recent marriage of her friend Barbara Bush, 36, author Emily Giffin decided to share a photo from Barbara's first date last year with now-husband Craig Coyne, 36.
"Congratulations to @barbaritabush and Craig!!!! So giddy that I have a photo from the night they met!!!" Giffin wrote on Instagram, before noting that she was the one who thought it'd be a good idea to document the moment.
"I told them they needed to get a quick snapshot 'just in case you end up getting married.' And they DID!!! Ahhhh!!!" she added. "Here's to forever!!!!"
While there's often a discomfort factor to blind dates, the photo hinted at just how awkward Barbara and Coyne's first meeting really was, as the now-couple were joined in the snapshot by Giffin and the bride's twin sister, Jenna Bush Hager, 36.
View this post on Instagram
Congratulations to @barbaritabush and Craig!!!! So giddy that I have a photo from the night they met!!! I told them they needed to get a quick snapshot "just in case you end up getting married." And they DID!!! Ahhhh!!! Here's to forever!!!!
A post shared by Emily Giffin (@emilygiffinauthor) on Oct 8, 2018 at 6:23am PDT
RELATED: Barbara Bush Thought She'd Never Hear from Now-Husband Again After 'Hilarious' Blind First Date
In an interview for the latest issue of PEOPLE, the former first daughter opened up about how their blind date went "hilariously" awry.
At first, Barbara, who lives in New York, and Coyne, who was based in Los Angeles at the time, had trouble connecting, in part because Barbara was busy promoting her book with Jenna, Sisters First.
However, as luck would have it, Coyne happened to be in town visiting family when their book tour stopped in Atlanta, so Barbara invited him to the hotel where she was staying for drinks — and they were joined by her sister, her publicist, and two other friends.
"It was a group first date, and they tried to give us our space but we were all seated at the same table," Barbara said, adding that before the date even began, she actually approached two different men in the lobby to ask if they were Coyne, as she had no idea what he looked like.
"Luckily, a really handsome guy walked in, and I thought, 'Please, maybe this one will be him.' And it was him," she said. "And so that was our first date, and he rolled with it."
RELATED: They Jumped Into the Ocean! All the Not-Yet-Seen Special Photos in Barbara Bush's Wedding Album
Then, at the last minute, Jenna ended up inviting Coyne to the book event, where she and Giffin, who was moderating the event, proceeded to tell the crowd that Barbara wasn't just there promoting her book that night, she was also on a blind date.
"I thought it was hilarious," Barbara said of the unusual date, adding that while she and Coyne ended the night with a hug, she was convinced they weren't going to see each other again.
"I said to Jenna in the car, I was like, 'I'm never going to hear from him again, but regardless, that's a fun story to tell,' " she remarked.
RELATED VIDEO: 5 Things You Need to Know About Craig Coyne, Who Just Married George W. Bush's Daughter Barbara
Of course, that wasn't the end to the couple's romance. The two ended up going on a "real date" a couple weeks later, when Coyne traveled to New York for work, and the rest is history.
Though the couple had just five short weeks to plan their wedding — they rushed to wed so Barbara's 94-year-old grandfather, George H.W. Bush, could be there "while he's still feeling good" — Jenna told her colleagues at the Today show that the ceremony was "beautiful."
She described the intimate wedding, which took place at Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, as "just family in a place that means family love."
"It was beautiful," she continued. "I'm crying 24 hours later…there were so many happy tears."
Grey's Anatomy and HTGAWM Stars Debunk 'Common Excuses Not to Vote' in Campaign with theSkimm
Taylor Swift isn't the only major celebrity encouraging people to vote!
On Tuesday, Shondaland and theSkimm will release the first video of their 'No Excuses' campaign, designed at inspiring millennial women to vote.
The 60-second videos — to be released every Tuesday until the election — will feature Grey's Anatomy and How to Get Away with Murder actors Justin Chambers, Kelly McCreary, Karla Souza, Conrad Ricamora, Kevin McKidd and Aja Naomi King debunking "common excuses'" people use to not vote.
RELATED: How I Met Your Mother's Josh Radnor Joins Grey's Anatomy as Meredith Grey's New Love Interest
"Millennial women are the demographic most unhappy with the state of our government but, compared to all other demographic groups, they're also telling us they're least certain to vote this November," the companies say in a statement.
Shondaland is the television production company founded by Scandal creator Shonda Rhimes. In May, Rhimes invested in theSkimm, a media company designed to "make it easier" to "live smarter."
RELATED: What Does Shonda Rhimes' Move to Netflix Mean for Grey's Anatomy's Future?
No Excuses, a campaign launched by theSkimm in 2016, hopes to inspire 100K people to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. The first episode of this campaign will feature Conrad Ricamora and Kevin McKidd discussing absentee ballots.
For the excuse, I'll be out of town, McKidd notes that absentee ballots are "the voting equivalent of working from home."
"Vote while on a conference call with The Price Is Right on mute," Ricamora adds.
The first episode will be available tomorrow on Shondaland.com and delivered in theSkimm's daily newsletter.
Donald Trump Says He 'Doesn't Trust' Everyone in the White House: 'I'm Not a Baby'
President Donald Trump appeared on 60 Minutes on Sunday, marking his first time on the program since taking office.
Trump, 72, taped the interview with Lesley Stahl on Thursday at the White House, according to CNN's Reliable Sources, which cited people familiar with the matter.
During their discussion, Stahl asked Trump about comments First Lady Melania Trump made in her recent interview with ABC News. "Melania has said that there are still people in the White House that she doesn't trust, and that you shouldn't trust either," said Stahl.
"I don't trust everybody in the White House, I'll be honest with you," Trump responded. "I'm usually guarded. And I think I'm guarded anyway. But I'm not saying I trust everybody in the White House. I'm not a baby."
He continued: "This is a tough business. This is a vicious place. Washington, D.C. is a vicious place. The attacks, the bad-mouthing, the speaking behind your back. But you know, in my way I feel very comfortable here."
The president revealed he wasn't happy with everyone in his cabinet and departures could be coming, but he did not name names.
RELATED VIDEO: PEOPLE Writer Natasha Stoynoff Breaks Silence, Accuses Donald Trump of Sexual Attack
Trump had previously turned down requests to appear on 60 Minutes, the most-watched news program in the country, CNN reported.
The interview comes as Trump faces criticism for failing to confront Saudi Arabia over the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi, a dissident Saudi journalist who had been living in the United States. "We are going to get to the bottom of it and there will be severe punishment," he told Stahl.
Trump has said that U.S. investigators are looking into how Khashoggi disappeared at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul but made clear that he does not plan to cut off arms sales to Saudi Arabia because of the incident, according to The Guardian.
"At this moment they deny it. Could it be them? Yes. In the not to distant future I think we'll know."
RELATED: Melania Trump Confirms 'I Really Don't Care' Jacket Was a Message to Media
The 60 Minutes sit-down comes on the heels of Melania Trump's interview with ABC on Friday night.
Among other topics, the first lady discussed her influence with her husband.
Asked about rumors that she has "100 percent" control over President Trump, she said: "I wish! I give him my honest advice and honest opinions and then he does what he wants to do."
Barbara Bush Celebrates Nuptials to Craig Coyne with Glitzy Post-Wedding Party in New York City
Party time!
Less than a week after tying the knot with screenwriter Craig Coyne during a private family ceremony in Maine, Barbara Bush invited some of her closest friends to celebrate her nuptials in New York City.
"Most amazing couple in all the land," wrote one of her friends on Instagram Stories, alongside an image of the pair cuddled up close during the festive bash.
"Congrats @barbaritabush and Craig!!! Xoxoxo" she added.
Alongside another image, which appeared to be taken while Barbara was giving a speech that night, another one of her friend's wrote, "Congratulations @barbaritabush + #CRAIG."
In the image, the newlyweds are standing together while gazing into each other's eyes. Sweetly, her pal also added a giant heart around the couple's bodies.
RELATED: See Barbara Bush's Stunning Wedding Photos from Her Surprise Celebration in Maine
In addition to featuring a pair of indoor swings and two fortune-telling oracles, the swinging soiree featured plenty of dancing underneath a giant disco ball.
In one video from the night, Barbara, 36, can be seen grooving with her pals on the dance floor.
"Sweden reunion to celebrate our favorite bride @barbaritabush," one of her friends wrote alongside the short clip.
RELATED VIDEO: 5 Things You Need to Know About Craig Coyne, Who Just Married George W. Bush's Daughter Barbara
Following the celebration, Barbara's twin sister Jenna Bush Hager went on to share a sweet shot of the duo getting photobombed by their father, former President George W. Bush.
"Thought this was just a simple picture of a sisterly hug," she wrote alongside the image, adding the hashtag "popsiclephotobomb."
View this post on Instagram
Thought this was just a simple picture of a sisterly hug. #popsiclephotobomb
A post shared by jennabhager (@jennabhager) on Oct 13, 2018 at 10:48am PDT
RELATED: George W. Bush's Daughter Barbara Wears Vera Wang Wedding Dress & Late Grandmother's Bracelet
The bride chose a custom ivory silk crepe Vera Wang gown featuring a spaghetti strap detail and a cowl draped neckline. She paired it with a nude sandal, an elegant, translucent shawl, which draped over her shoulders and grazed the ground, and a sentimental reminder of her grandmother (and namesake), who died at age 92 in April.
"It's really sweet. The 'something borrowed' that I'm wearing is this bracelet that my grandfather gave to my grandmother on their 70th anniversary," Barbara told PEOPLE. Her "something blue" was a pair of earrings from Jenna.
During a phone call to her colleagues at the Today show, Jenna also revealed that she ended her wedding speech by reading a love letter her grandfather wrote to the former first lady.
RELATED: How George W. Bush Almost Spoiled His Daughter Barbara's Proposal
Barbara told PEOPLE that her father "got so excited" when Coyne asked for her hand in marriage that he almost ended up ruining the proposal!
"Craig asked my dad for my hand in marriage, and my dad got so excited that he told everybody we were engaged, but we actually had not gotten engaged yet," the former first daughter explained.
"They had a really long, wonderful talk for 45 minutes," she added. "I started receiving text messages from people congratulating me on the engagement. Then, in slow motion, 20 minutes later, I would receive a text message from that person saying, 'Oops, sorry! I meant to send that to somebody else.' And so I had a suspicion we would get engaged."
Coyne ended up popping the question in the exact spot — on oceanside rocks behind the Bush family's Maine house — where her grandfather proposed to an 18-year-old Barbara Pierce 75 years earlier.
"I didn't know Craig had found out the history. Of course, I cried — and our cousins were spying from the windows taking pictures," Barbara remarked.
T.I. Takes Aim at Trump and Kanye West in New Music Video Featuring Melania Lookalike Stripper
T.I. has made his feelings about President Donald Trump and Kanye West well known, but in case there was any doubt, the Atlanta-based rapper's latest video made things very clear.
On Friday, T.I. dropped an NSFW clip on his social media accounts that showed him posing as a secret service agent hanging in the Oval Office. After watching the president fly away on his helicopter, T.I. then stands behind POTUS' desk watching a woman seemingly meant to be First Lady Melania Trump enter the room.
Soon she strips off her green jacket — a mock of FLOTUS' "I Really Don't Care, Do U?" trench — and stands naked on the desk, stroking T.I.'s tie. They later leave together and are seen wrecking the White House, spray painting over Mr. Trump's portrait and more.
"Dear 45, I ain't Kanye," T.I. wrote of the minute-long video acting as a promo for his new album, Dime Trap.
RELATED: T.I. 'Ashamed to Be Associated' with Kanye West After Bizarre White House Meeting: 'I'm Done'
Dear 45,
I ain't Kanye. pic.twitter.com/BCS8nkbn1M
— T.I. (@Tip) October 13, 2018
RELATED: Kanye West Explains Calling George W. Bush Racist in 2005: 'I Was Caught Up in a Victim Mentality'
Friday's clip came a day after T.I. posted a long rant against West following the 41-year-old Yeezy owner's bizarre meeting with the president.
"All I can say is… I've reached my limits," T.I., 38, wrote. "This is my stop, I'm officially DONE!!!! Trump & his Lil Cookie Boy."
"At one time it was a pleasure to work alongside you…" T.I. added of his former collaborator. "Now, I'm ashamed to have ever been associated with you."
RELATED: Kanye West Meets with President Trump in the Oval Office
Coming to the decision wasn't easy for T.I. (né Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.). But West's meeting with Trump — and the rapper's controversial statements there about racism — pushed him over the edge.
"This is the most repulsive, disgraceful, embarrassing act of desperation & auctioning off of one's soul to gain power I've ever seen," T.I. wrote. "You ass kissing and boot licking on a whole new level & I refuse to associate myself with something so vile, weak, & inconsiderate to the effect this has on the greater good of ALL OUR PEOPLE!!!!"
"Don't follow this puppet," T.I. continued. "Because as long as I've lived I've learned that it benefits a man nothing at all to gain the world, if to do so he must lose his soul. We just saw Mr. West's Soul on auction. If you listen closely you can hear the tears of our ancestors hit the floor."
Since West's visit with Trump, other celebrities have spoken out about West — including Diddy, 50 Cent, Ava DuVernay, and Jeffrey Wright.
Amal Clooney Slams Trump for Mocking Christine Blasey Ford: 'A President Shouldn't Ridicule' Her
Amal Clooney had a good reason for not attending Princess Eugenie's wedding on Friday.
Serving as one of the keynote speakers at the 2018 Pennsylvania Conference for Women that morning, the renowned human rights lawyer, 40, spoke out against President Donald Trump for mocking Christine Blasey Ford's testimony that Brett Kavanaugh allegedly sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers — which Kavanaugh has denied.
"A president shouldn't ridicule a woman who courageously comes forward to allege abuse," Clooney said during the conference, according to Philadelphia Magazine.
Earlier this month, Trump sarcastically mimicked Ford's testimony against Kavanaugh at a rally in Mississippi, riling a crowd that applauded and laughed along.
"How did you get home? 'I don't remember.' How did you get there? 'I don't remember.' Where is the place? 'I don't remember.' How many years ago was it? 'I don't know. I don't know. I don't know,' " Trump said, acting out a misrepresentation of Ford's testimony during the hearing.
"Survivors in any country deserve the chance to look their abusers in the eye and for history to record what has happened to them," Clooney added during the speech, reported the Daily Mail.
"For too long women have suffered without speaking out or without being believed. In the US, a woman is assaulted every 9 seconds." Amal Clooney #PennWomen
— PA Conf for Women (@PennWomen) October 12, 2018
RELATED: Trump's Attack on Christine Blasey Ford Recalls How He's Mocked His Own Sexual Assault Accusers
The mother of two also opened up about the importance of the #MeToo movement during her speech.
"We are living through a moment of reckoning and a rebalancing of power," she said, according to Philadelphia Magazine, calling the movement "a defining moment in the struggle for women's rights."
"There is still much for us to do. Still, I am optimistic," she added.
Following her speech, Clooney received a standing ovation.
Clooney previously spoke out against Trump in 2016, arguing that his public beliefs didn't represent true "U.S. values."
"I'm probably as perplexed as you are as somebody viewing these things," she told the BBC. "There's an ad on the TV in the U.S. where they went through all these statements he made against women and you watch that and you think 'Gosh.' "
Clooney, whose parents are Muslim, also said Trump should be more challenged about his views on Muslims.
"When you listen to what the leading candidate on the Republican side has been saying about building walls, about excluding Mexicans and a complete shutdown of all Muslims entering in, and if you actually look at what he specifically said in that now infamous speech about Muslims, he kept saying, 'They only want jihad. They don't believe in our way of life. They don't respect our system.'
"And when he says 'they' and you watch the media coverage afterwards, people, I think, should have been saying 'Do you mean the 1.5 billion people around the world who fit that description? Do you mean the people who are U.S. citizens who are members of your military who are, the vast majority of whom are not violent or extremists in any way?' "
RELATED VIDEO: Amal Clooney Is Helping Meghan Markle Settle into London Life: They Have a 'Natural Friendship'
Amal's husband, actor George Clooney, also wasn't in attendance at the royal wedding on Friday, but luckily his tequila did make it to the celebration.
George, who co-founded the tequila company Casamigos (and sold it last year), has a surprising connection to the newlyweds: Eugenie's husband Jack Brooksbank is the U.K. brand ambassador for the business.
According to Business Insider, Jack will be "in charge of choosing drinks" throughout the weekend, which will includes a selection of Casamigos cocktails.
The Clooneys made an appearance at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in May.
Nikki Haley Reportedly Resigns as UN Ambassador
Nikki Haley has reportedly resigned as UN Ambassador.
President Donald Trump accepted her resignation after the controversial former governor of South Carolina, 46, visited him at the White House last week, Axios reported Tuesday morning, citing two sources briefed on their conversation.
CNN is also reporting that Haley has resigned, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
Haley told her staff this morning, CNN said, citing a senior State Department official.
The reason for Haley's reported resignation was not immediately clear. The White House did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
According to a pool report, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, "President Trump and Ambassador Nikki Haley will meet in the Oval Office at 10:30 a.m. this morning. This event will be open to the pool."
Trump tweeted that he would be making a "big announcement" with his "friend" Haley at that time.
Big announcement with my friend Ambassador Nikki Haley in the Oval Office at 10:30am.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2018
The reported move was a shock to many senior foreign policy officials in the Trump administration, according to Axios.
The news comes as a watchdog organization, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington ("CREW"), is calling for the State Department's inspector general to open an investigation into Haley over private flights she took that were paid for by South Carolina business executives, Huffington Post reports. CREW said the flights, which Haley listed on her public financial disclosure report this year, were likely worth about $24,000.
RELATED VIDEO: U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley Blasts Russia in Emotional Speech After Syrian Chemical Attack
"By accepting gifts of luxury private flights, Ambassador Haley seems to be falling in line with other Trump administration officials who are reaping personal benefits from their public positions," Noah Bookbinder, executive director of the group, said in a statement to Huffington Post. "Our ethics laws are clearly written to prevent even the appearance of corruption and improper influence."
5 Things You Need to Know About Craig Coyne, Who Just Married George W. Bush's Daughter Barbara
Craig Coyne just married into one of America's most famous political dynasties, and now everybody wants to know a little more about him.
Barbara Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, tied the knot with the screenwriter on Sunday during an intimate ceremony held at the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Describing the event, which occurred in the backyard overlooking the ocean, Baraba, 36, told PEOPLE it was "a very short, sweet ceremony."
Also present for the happy day was former President Bush, 72, Mrs. Bush, 71, Barbara's twin sister Jenna Bush Hager, as well as Barbara's grandfather, former President George H.W. Bush, 94.
Here's everything you need to know about the newest member of the Bush family.
RELATED: George W. Bush's Daughter Barbara Ties the Knot in Secret, Sentimental Wedding Ceremony
Lights, Camera, Action!
Throughout his career, Coyne — who hails from Atlanta, Georgia — has acted in several films, such as the 2005 hit Jarhead, as well as independent films such as Look at Me and The Showtown Murders
Coyner, who now focuses more on writing, has sold a live-action half-hour program to Comedy Central called Doin' Good, according to his agent's website. He also created, wrote and directed an original Funny or Die series, Ask Play, that's in post-production.
However, in a nod to his future wife, before moving to Los Angeles, Coyne briefly worked in politics.
After graduating from Vanderbilt University, Coyne served as a Page in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to his agent's website.
Blind Date Beginnings
The duo was set up by friends on a blind date last November.
About a month after being set up by friends, the pair decided to make things official in time for New Year's Eve.
RELATED: Jenna Bush Hager Gushes About Twin Sister Barbara's Secret Wedding: 'I'm Crying 24 Hours Later'
Long distance Lovers
Up until very recently, the couple lived on opposite sides of the country!
"It's just been a very sweet romance," Barbara told PEOPLE. "And we've been long-distance for most of it — he's been in LA and I've been in New York — but we've gotten to spend a lot of time together."
Although the pair clearly found a way to make things work, on the same week the couple tied the knot, Coyne moved to Manhattan to begin his new life with Barbara.
RELATED VIDEO: Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush Share The Books That Changed Their Lives
Honoring Tradition
In what might just be the sweetest detail of the couple's love story, Coyne popped the question in the exact same spot where Barbara's grandparents got engaged!
During a family gathering at Kennebunkport this summer, the pair were walking together on the rocks when Coyne got down on one knee.
Family Values
Of course, Barbara wasn't the only one to want her family by her on their big day!
The groom's brother, Edward Coyne III, served as the best man during the wedding. Additionally, his mother, Darlene and his sister Katie each gave a reading during the private ceremony.
While his niece, Emma, 5, joined Bush Hager's daughters, Margaret, 5, and Poppy, 3, as flower girls.
Rage and Tears: Celebrities React to Kavanaugh's Controversial Supreme Court Confirmation
Celebrities are sharing their outrage after the U.S. Senate's 50-48 vote on Saturday to place Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court for a lifetime appointment.
"I've been on a plane all morning. Just landed. Trying to make it home. Feel like I want to scream. And rage. And cry," Ava DuVernay wrote on Twitter before explaining she came across three different people at the airport who shared her same sentiments.
"First was a white man. Early 30s…," DuVernay, 46, continued. "Both reaching for our bags in the overhead he said: 'I'm not usually this guy, but please keep doing what you do. We need to hear voices like yours. And I need to listen.' I could feel his heart. Grappling with the moment in his own skin. We spoke for a bit and then deplaned."
"The second person was Latina," DuVernay added. I'm walking through the terminal. She was young. Early 20s. She just walked right in front of me. And stopped. With tears in her eyes. All I could do was hug her and try to hold in my own. She just whispered thank you. I thanked her too. We parted."
"Last was a white woman with an accent from somewhere far away," she wrote. "Early 40s. She said I'm sorry to disturb you on a day like this. I said something I've never said to a stranger. I said: I want to cry. She looked back at me and said: 'Me too.' Our eyes both welled up. And we did," DuVernay concluded.
Kathy Griffin, 57, also expressed her frustration on Twitter, simply writing, "What a terrible day in American history."
Fellow comedian Chelsea Handler, who has been vocal about pursuing political activism, was equally disturbed by Kavanaugh's confirmation but encouraged her followers to exercise their right to vote.
"Another gross day in the history of our country, but the midterms are coming. We are stronger than this bulls—. We can fight and fight and we may not see the results right away, but we will see them. Our daughters will see them. Don't give up. Fight harder," Handler, 43, tweeted.
I've been on a plane all morning. Just landed. Trying to make it home. Feel like I want to scream. And rage. And cry. I usually slip in and out of airports easily. Today, 3 different people come up to me – and gave me fuel. This just happened. First was a white man. Early 30s…
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) October 6, 2018
What a terrible day in American history.
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) October 6, 2018
Another gross day in the history of our country, but the midterms are coming. We are stronger than this bullshit. We can fight and fight and we may not see the results right away, but we will see them. Our daughters will see them. Don't give up. Fight harder.
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) October 6, 2018
In addition, Lauren Jauregui and Alyssa Milano spoke out against the Senate's decision. "I'm so sick," the former Fifth Harmony singer, 22, wrote.
Meanwhile, Milano — who has helped popularize the #MeToo Movement and supported Kavanaugh accuser Christine Blasey Ford during her emotional testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in late September — tweeted, "People should be f—— terrified and outraged. I sure as hell am."
"We need to take back our power by taking back the Senate and the House in November," wrote Milano, 45. "It is the only way out of this mess."
I'm so sick…
— Lauren Jauregui (@LaurenJauregui) October 6, 2018
Kavanaugh is the 69th judge trump has confirmed. That's an absolutely insane number. This is all happening quietly and no one is realizing it.
We've all seen how important the courts have been in stopping trump's most hateful and harmful policies.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) October 6, 2018
I will only make it through this day reading about strong women's beauty routines and skin regimens. It's all I can imagine being soothed by. Love you all.
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) October 6, 2018
This tweet is for Dr. Ford. You put yourself through so much and I want you to know it wasn't in vain. You started a movement and we'll see it through. If they won't listen to our voices, then they'll listen to our vote.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) October 6, 2018
While several other celebrities flooded social media with their frustrations, President Donald Trump celebrated the news.
"I applaud and congratulate the U.S. Senate for confirming our GREAT NOMINEE, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, to the United States Supreme Court. Later today, I will sign his Commission of Appointment, and he will be officially sworn in. Very exciting!" Trump tweeted.
Kavanaugh's confirmation comes just over a week after he appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee following a three-hour testimony from Ford, the 51-year-old research psychologist and professor at Palo Alto University who claims that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a high school party in the 1980s.
I applaud and congratulate the U.S. Senate for confirming our GREAT NOMINEE, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, to the United States Supreme Court. Later today, I will sign his Commission of Appointment, and he will be officially sworn in. Very exciting!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 6, 2018
RELATED: Brett Kavanaugh Admits 'I Said a Few Things I Should Not Have' During Heated Senate Testimony
Ford claims Kavanaugh, 53, allegedly pinned her down to a bed, groped her and tried to remove her clothes during a high school party in the 1980s. Kavanaugh has also been accused of sexual misconduct by Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick. Kavanaugh has denied all the allegations brought against him.
Following Kavanaugh's hearing, the FBI conducted a week-long investigation into the allegations, which further delayed his vote.
While many Republicans said they were satisfied with the FBI report, critics have pointed out that it's far from a complete investigation.
Democrats say the White House put numerous restrictions on who the FBI could interview, and the agency reportedly did not speak with multiple witnesses who say they could corroborate sexual abuse and other allegations made by Ford, Ramirez and Swetnick.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, said Friday that "the available (FBI) documents contradict statements Mr. Kavanaugh made under oath."
The confirmation vote came as Trump, himself accused by well over a dozen women of sexual assault and misconduct, mocked Ford at a political rally. (Trump has denied the allegations against him.)
"My heart breaks for all those who will continue to live in fear and shame that their stories, their pain, their lives are less important than male privilege and power," a friend of Ford's told PEOPLE. "Justice has not been served, in the service of the latest Justice of the Supreme Court, and all those like him."
Minnesota Reporter Fired for Wearing 'Make America Great Again' Hat While Covering Trump Rally
A Minnesota news station has fired one of its television reporters after he was seen wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat while covering President Donald Trump's rally in Rochester.
James Bunner was let go from his job at KTTC-TV, news director Noel Sederstrom told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, for exhibiting political bias while on the job.
"He violated our policy so he's no longer with us," Sederstrom told BuzzFeed News on Friday. "We don't allow our people to wear campaign clothing while on assignment."
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Bunner first joined KTTC in December 2017, BuzzFeed reported.
The reporter's trouble first started on Thursday when Mark VanCleave, a journalist with the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, tweeted a photo of him standing outside the Mayo Civic Center wearing his KTTC-branded red jacket and matching red MAGA hat.
"Whyyyyy?" he wrote in the photo's caption.
From there, users noticed that Bunner had uploaded many pro-Trump things to his social media pages. Sederstrom told BuzzFeed, however, that none of those uploads had anything to do with KTTC's decision and that the MAGA hat was solely to blame.
"It's not something we allow," he explained of campaign gear.
RELATED VIDEO: PEOPLE Writer Natasha Stoynoff Breaks Silence, Accuses Donald Trump of Sexual Attack
Critics on Twitter have slammed the news station for their decision.
"You fired your reporter James Bunner a journalist for KTTC-TV in Austin?? Really?" one wrote. "He wore the hat Thursday while covering President Donald Trump's appearance in Rochester and images of him wearing the hat began appearing on Twitter. SHAMEFUL!! You should allow pride! Rehire him!"
"This is employment discrimination and if you pick up a book…firing an employee for their political values is illegal," said another. "I hope James Bunner takes you to court."
As BuzzFeed noted, "Prohibiting reporters from wearing campaign clothing or pins, especially while on the job, is standard practice across the news industry. Many news outlets also recommend or warn their staff against making public political displays or statements in order to maintain objectivity."
Melania Trump Slammed for Visiting Kenya Wearing a Hat Commonly Associated with Colonialism
First Lady Melania Trump is catching heat yet again over her clothing choice.
On Friday, while visiting a safari in Nairobi National Park in Kenya — a stop on her first solo trip to Africa — FLOTUS was photographed wearing a white pith helmet, a hat most commonly associated with colonialists.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, European military personnel often wore pith helmets as they sought out colonies in Africa and Asia. The hats remained popular with those who moved to colonized countries and are seen by many as symbolic of the oppression of colonization.
Shortly after the sighting, several people called Melania out on Twitter. "Melania Trump wearing a pith helmet on her trip to 'Africa' is more than a silly sartorial choice. It's a reflection of her outdated understanding of Africa," Kim Yi Dionne, a political-science professor who specializes in African politics at the University of California, Riverside wrote.
"Also, she was photographed in safari attire multiple times on this trip," Dionne added.
Matt Carotenuto, a historian and coordinator of African Studies at St. Lawrence University wrote, "Melania completes the stereotype trifecta– elephants, orphans and even the pith helmet."
FLOTUS' accessory of choice came just one day after she was greeted in Malawi with a crowd of protestors, including two carrying a sign that read: "Welcome to Malawi #NOTAS—HOLE!," according to the Associated Press.
The hashtag was a reference to her husband Donald Trump's remarks in January in which he reportedly referred to some African nations, along with Haiti and El Salvador, as "s—hole countries."
Malawi was the first lady's second stop on her four-nation tour of Africa.
While there, she reportedly toured outdoor classrooms at Chipala Primary School in Lilongwe, before giving remarks as the U.S. ambassador passed out 1.4 million books paid for through a national reading program funded by the U.S.
Melania Trump wearing a pith helmet on her trip to "Africa" is more than a silly sartorial choice. It's a reflection of her outdated understanding of Africa. (Also, she was photographed in safari attire multiple times on this trip.) #FLOTUSinAfricaBingo https://t.co/aCnkOnPBF8
— kim yi dionne (@dadakim) October 5, 2018
Melania completes the stereotype trifecta–elephants, orphans and even the pith helmet…..#FLOTUSinAfrica2018 @africasacountry @AFP @AP pic.twitter.com/TkgFb3w4yY
— Matt Carotenuto (@matt_carotenuto) October 5, 2018
"I wanted to be here to see the successful programs that United States is providing the children and thank you for everything you've done," Melania said.
The first lady arrived in Ghana on Tuesday and stayed in the capital city of Accra, where she met over tea with Ghana's first lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, at the presidential palace.
On Wednesday, she visited Cape Coast Castle, a former slave holding fort on Ghana's coast.
After Kenya, FLOTUS will travel to Egypt before returning to Washington, D.C., on Sunday.
In June, Melania ruffled feathers once more when she visited McAllen, Texas, to visit migrant children who were separated from their parents as they were held at detention centers on the Mexico-U.S. border.
RELATED: First Lady Melania Trump to Speak Out in Rare 'Wide-Ranging' Sit-Down Interview with ABC News
For the trip, FLOTUS wore a green Zara jacket featuring the words "I Really Don't Care, Do U?"
After many slammed the First Lady for being insensitive, her communications director, Stephanie Grisham came to her defense.
"It's a jacket. There was no hidden message," Grisham said in a statement. After today's important visit to Texas, I hope the media isn't going to choose to focus on her wardrobe (Much like her high heels last year)."
Monica Lewinsky Launches Anti-Bullying Campaign — and Reveals Worst Name She's Ever Been Called
When it came time to pick the worst name she'd ever been called, as part of a new anti-bullying campaign, Monica Lewinsky says, "I had a long list of things from which to chose. Where I landed, given the 50 characters you could have for your display name, is 'Monica Chunky Slut Stalker That Woman Lewinsky.' And that just scratches the surface."
It's all part of a new anti-bullying campaign, #DefyTheName, which Lewinsky is spearheading and which is being launched with a new PSA — produced by ad agency BBDO New York and Dini von Mueffling Communications — debuting Friday for National Bullying Prevention Month. The PSA, which Lewinsky helped produce, asks people to change their display names on Twitter and Instagram for the month of October, or part of the month, to a name they've been bullied with.
"Name-calling is one of the most common instances of bullying behavior," says Lewinsky, 45. "The core message is, don't let the names that other people choose to call you, define you. And don't let being bullied define your future either."
"It's scary," she says of her name choice, which includes a reference to then-President Bill Clinton's infamous remarks at a 1998 press event: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Monica Lewinsky."
But, in the end, she says, "I felt very connected to the concept of the campaign." And, she adds, "You've gotta walk the talk."
"I felt comfortable in the idea of what we'd be doing and asking of people," she says. "And then I started to think about my names, and I tried to laugh about them, to make myself feel better, but when I actually had to say them out loud, on the record, and own them in a different way, even though it's about empowering, there was still a small echo of hurt. There's still a pain that's there."
Yet what's important, she stresses, "Is to show people that you can still feel something around the names and reclaim that power and move beyond it, to defy all those names."
The PSA features some other well-known names, such as Lena Dunham, Sarah Silverman, Olivia Munn, Maysoon Zayid and John Oliver, who are changing their display names to insults they were bullied with, often as kids. "For Alan Cumming, who's been a dear friend for over 20 years, his new name comes from being bullied by his father," notes Lewinsky. "It's 'Alan Useless Cumming.' "
Lewinsky hopes the idea will spur an online community of support. "We're hoping the whole campaign will create a counter wave of empathy and community online," she says. "The idea is to take back the power from the name and reclaim that power for ourselves."
For Lewinsky, it's the latest step in retelling her story, her way.
It's been 20 years since prosecutor Kenneth Starr broadened the investigation of Bill Clinton to include their affair, and she became the target of a federal investigation, as well as the target of widespread ridicule and insults online.
As she described in her 2015 TED Talk, now seen over 13 million times, she was "patient zero of losing a personal reputation on a global scale almost instantaneously."
Now a passionate and outspoken anti-bullying activist, she says she was moved by Christine Blasey Ford's testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 27.
Monica Lewinsky on How the #MeToo Movement Has Redefined the Clinton Scandal
"Dr. Blasey was bullied but didn't let that stop her from being brave," says Lewinsky. "I was thrilled to see the huge strides we've made in terms of how we support women."
"What Dr. Blasey Ford did was incredibly brave," she adds. "She also experienced some of the worst name-calling imaginable for doing the right thing."
And that, in a way, is what the new campaign is all about. "You can be called every name under the sun but it doesn't have to break you," says Lewinsky. "It doesn't have to define you forever."
It's something she's learned in the last year, through the power and solidarity of the #MeToo movement, which has given her a "new lens," as she wrote in Vanity Fair earlier this year, through which to see her own story.
"To see the #MeToo movement has been both heartbreaking and heartwarming," says Lewinsky. "To see millions of women from around the world speak out and stand up. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Tarana Burke in starting the movement, and all those who are fighting and sharing their stories. I feel like I was gaslit for many years, and the movement has helped me to continue to emerge from that and see my situation more clearly."
Lewinsky is participating in an upcoming A&E documentary series, The Impeachment of Bill Clinton, produced by Alex Gibney, debuting on Nov. 18. It's the most extensive interview she's given on the subject in 15 years.
There was a "dove tailing," she says, "preparing for the last interview, while we were starting to work on the #DefyTheName campaign and preparing and going through the process."
"It was bad enough to live it the first time," she says. "And reliving it was less than ideal."
It's another step towards her desire to "find a purpose to her past," as she wrote in her 2014 Vanity Fair essay.
Now, it's about reclaiming her story and helping others do the same, this time with #DefyTheName. "My hope is that people will be inspired and emboldened to join," she says, "because the more people who join, the more it's going to help. It will be a collective experience, helping each other."
Sarah Palin's Son Track Will Spend a Year in Custody After Being Charged with Domestic Violence
Track Palin will spend a year in custody regardless of the outcome of his most recent arrest.
On Wednesday, a judge ruled that his domestic violence arrest last month violated the terms of an agreement stemming from a previous case in which he was accused of assaulting his father.
As a result of the most recent arrest, the 29-year-old son of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is no longer eligible to participate in a therapeutic program for veterans, according to the Associated Press. Instead, he will either serve time in a halfway house or in jail.
However, Anchorage District Attorney Richard Allen said he will most likely serve time at halfway house, the Associated Press reported.
On Sept. 28, Track, an Army veteran who served in Iraq, was arrested by the Alaska State Troopers after they responded to a "report of a disturbance," according to an online dispatch report.
After responding to the scene, an "investigation revealed" that Track allegedly assaulted a woman at his home and that "when the acquaintance attempted to call authorities, he prevented her by taking away her phone."
Track was then charged with domestic violence, interfering with a report of domestic violence, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Following his arrest, Track appeared in court on Sept. 29 in Palmer, Alaska, where he pled "not guilty, for sure" to all four charges, reported local news outlet KTUU.
Track "faces three Class A misdemeanors that allow for up to a year behind bars and a $25,000 fine" and a "Class B misdemeanor that allows up to one day in jail and $2,000 fine," according to the outlet.
In June, Track pled guilty to first-degree criminal trespass as part of a plea deal related to an alleged assault of his father Todd Palin last year— the case he violated with his Sept. 28 arrest.
By pleading guilty, Track avoided an assault charge and a year-long jail sentence, as he would be attending the therapeutic program offered in Alaska in Veterans Court— a court in which U.S. veterans are tried if charged with crimes, his attorney Patrick Bergt told PEOPLE at the time.
RELATED: Sarah Palin's Son Track Pleads Guilty to Criminal Trespass After Allegedly Assaulting His Father
Bergt explained the nine-month program is "intensive." If he successfully completes the program, his charge could be changed from first degree to second degree, which would mean only 10 days in jail.
Track was also arrested in December 2017 on charges of domestic violence after an incident at the Wasilla home of his parents.
At the time of his arrest, Track was serving two years of probation on a plea deal stemming from a domestic violence arrest in January 2016, when he allegedly assaulted his then-girlfriend and pointed a gun at her.
A representative for Track did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.


text:
As you may know I have been working with a number of local schools to help with media skills. The School Media Club, as I call it, is developing with an increasing interest in blogging.
Blogging is not new, or course, and there are a number of excellent services which support bogging and news writing functionality, not least Primary Blogger and Webanywhere. But what we are offering is less to do with the technology and more to do with the the dynamics of the content producers (the children).
Once a school decides to run a school web site or a blog, the age old challenge kicks in – what to put on it. This is a significant challenge for any organisation, and most fail. In my opinion, the content on most school websites could do with improving. This is not the failing of the teachers, the children or the technology – it's simply that writing engaging web content requires some effort, and unless it's linked to learning it simply won't happen.
The School Media Club idea is that we implement a co-delivery of six afternoon sessions that cover some of the skills required to produce really engaging stories for the web.
1. What makes a great story.
2. Writing styles and structure
3. How the website works
4. Interviewing and note taking
5. Multimedia – photos, video, audio
6. Launching the online news page
The aim is to move the web space from being a dumping ground for random pieces of content to it becoming a showcase for children's writing skills and experiences. The key to it is that servicing the website is not an isolated activity sucking resources, but is naturally integrated into the curriculum activities.
Another bonus benefit of showcasing really good writing skills is that the stories present a powerful insight into the life of the school. When parents are encouraged to look at the news pages they achieve a much more lively and engaging connection with the school. One primary school girl told me that her parents had seen the story she had written and were very proud of her.
So, I think there is not only an opportunity for learning and encouragement, but in improving school communication and visibility within the local community. email@example.com if you want more information
Other links to take note of
QuadBlogging Linking learning to a global audience
Marketing Cards for Schools specialists in term cards and "well done" communications
Praise Pod an innovative use of media for encouraging positive behaviour

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Document Type
Book Chapter
This item is available under a Creative Commons License for non-commercial use only
5.1 PSYCHOLOGY, Social work.
Publication Details
Book chapter in Council of Europe (2010), 'Protecting children from sexual violence - A comprehensive approach'
Recommended Citation
Lalor, K. & McElvaney, R. (2010). Overview of the nature and extent of child sexual abuse in Europe. In Council of Europe, 'Protecting children from sexual violence - A comprehensive approach'. Strasbourg: Council of Europe.