Netflix’s smash Stranger Things was on the minds — and in the living rooms — of American audiences, according to the latest ranking of streaming service aggregator app Reelgood.
Based on data from the app’s five million users in the U.S., the series topped the competition for the period of June 30 through July 6, besting #2-ranked series The Terminal List, starring Chris Pratt, on Amazon Prime.
Coming in third was Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which hit Disney+ on June 22; Jeff Bridges‘ FX series The Old Man came up in fourth place, thanks to its streaming on Hulu.
In fifth place was another Hulu hit, The Only Murders in the Building.
(WASHINGTON) — Two weeks after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, President Joe Biden signed an executive order aimed at protecting access to abortion nationwide despite efforts by some states to outlaw or severely restrict it.
Speaking from the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Friday, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Biden decried the court’s decision as “extreme” and “totally wrong.”
“This isn’t some imagined horror,” Biden said. “It is already happening. Just last week, it was reported that a 10-year-old girl was a rape victim — 10 years old — and she was forced to have to travel out of state to Indiana to seek to terminate the pregnancy and maybe save her life.”
“Imagine being that little girl,” he continued. “I’m serious, just imagine being that little girl.”
The executive action comes as Biden faces pressure from his fellow Democrats to take more forceful action, especially since the decision handed down by the high court on June 24 was leaked in early May.
His executive order largely finalizes what has already been announced by the administration — including instructions to the Justice Department to make sure women can travel out-of-state for abortion care.
The order addresses the elevated risks for patients, providers and clinics, which includes efforts to protect mobile clinics that have been deployed to state borders to offer care for out-of-state patients.
Biden’s action, the White House said, directs Attorney General Merrick Garland and the White House counsel to convene volunteer lawyers and organizations to “encourage robust legal representation of patients, providers, and third parties lawfully seeking or offering reproductive health care services throughout the country.”
Biden has also said he’ll provide leave for federal workers traveling for medical care, which could set an example for private companies to do the same.
Amazon, Starbucks and other corporations have already announced expanded health benefits to pay for their employees’ travel fees if they are seeking an abortion and the procedure is unavailable near where they live.
Biden is also ordering the Department of Health and Human Services to take “additional action to protect and expand” access to medication abortion, emergency contraception and IUDs.
The agency is instructed to increase outreach and public education efforts regarding access to reproductive health care services — abortion included — to get reliable information to the public.
Patient privacy is another part of Biden’s order, which takes additional measures to address the transfer and sale of sensitive health-related data, combat digital surveillance related to reproductive health care services and protects people from fraudulent and deceptive practices.
Last week, Democratic governors urged Biden to use federal facilities and land for abortion services.
“What am I talking about? Veterans hospitals, military bases and other places where the federal government controls the jurisdiction in some of the states that are hostile to women’s rights, and make sure that those services can be available to other women,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul suggested.
The White House didn’t seem too enthusiastic about the idea, stating it could have “dangerous ramifications.” The suggestion will not be included in Biden’s executive order.
Also not included in Biden’s action are several proposals by advocates, including Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s recommendation this week that the administration make clear Americans can legally transport the abortion pill across the U.S.-Canadian border.
Biden says it’s ultimately up to Congress to codify Roe into law, calling it “the fastest way to restore” rights. But any effort by Democrats to do so would likely fail in the Senate, where they would need 10 Republican votes.
Biden suggested a filibuster carveout to enshrine abortion rights in federal law, but two Democratic senators — Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema — are opposed to changing the longstanding Senate rule.
The president called on women to turn out in record numbers this November to elect more pro-choice Democrats.
“You, the women of America, you determine the outcome of this issue,” Biden said.
Jhené Aiko and singer-songwriter August 08 have teamed up for the new single “Water Sign,” which dropped Friday as part of August’s six-song EP Towards the Moon.
August can be most notably traced to DJ Khaled‘s hit “I’m the One,” where he’s credited as a co-writer.
According to Variety, the LA-based artist recently signed with Allel Sound, Aiko’s joint label with Def Jam Records.
“August is an incredible writer, singer and artist whose music speaks to me on so many levels,” Aiko said, per Variety. “As a fellow Los Angeles native, I am so proud of him. August’s talent, love for songwriting and hands on approach with his art is something I can relate to and have a great amount of respect for. It was a natural evolution of our friendship and musical collaboration to have him become the first artist signed to Allel Sound. I couldn’t be more excited to work with August.”
Towards the Moon is the second installment of August’s two-part debut album titled Seasick. The South LA native released Towards the Sun via Def Jam in April.
The Hu has announced a new album called Rumble of Thunder.
The sophomore effort from the Mongolian rockers will arrive September 2. It includes the previously released song “This Is Mongol” as well as a newly premiered track called “Black Thunder,” which is available now via digital outlets.
“‘Black Thunder’ is the crown jewel of our second album,” says vocalist Gala. “The music video is split into two parts and conveys the core values of men through visuals…We hope that our pride in our culture shines through, as we aimed to bring viewers joy and a piece of our culture through this video.”
Rumble of Thunder follows The Hu’s 2019 debut, The Gereg. The 2020 deluxe version of the project includes collaborations with Papa Roach‘s Jacoby Shaddix, Halestorm‘s Lzzy Hale and From Ashes to New.
The Hu will hit the road ahead of Rumble of Thunder‘s arrival on a U.S. tour with Five Finger Death Punch, Megadeth and Fire from the Gods, kicking off in August.
The Killers have announced a new single called “Boy.”
The track is available to presave now. You can watch Brandon Flowers and company’s debut performance of the song at Spain’s Mad Cool festival via The Killers’ Instagram.
Speaking about “Boy” in an interview with NME, Flowers explains, “There’s an optimism to it. It’s in the dust, it’s in the gutter, and it’s looking at the stars. It’s writing in more of a new wave vehicle.”
“Boy” will follow The Killers’ recent one-two punch of albums: 2020’s Imploding the Mirage and 2021’s Pressure Machine. In an interview with NME last year, The Killers shared that yet another record was already in the works.
Following their current trip through Europe, The Killers will launch a U.S. tour in August.
Pentatonix singer Kirstin Maldonado is a mom! The 30-year-old mezzo-soprano welcomed a daughter alongside partner Ben Hausdorff.
Sharing a carousel of photos of the happy parents and their newborn Elliana Violet, Kirstin wrote, “I can’t believe a week ago you were still in my tummy. After a bit of an unexpected and difficult delivery, we finally got to meet our beautiful baby girl 6/28/22 and have been so over the moon in love with her.”
Kirstin didn’t go into further details and instead focused on what it’s like being a first-time mom.
“We are soaking up every beautiful perfectly imperfect newborn moment,” she continued, “every late night cuddle, feed, cry is all worth it with our sweet baby and my perfect partner in crime @hausdo.”
Kirstin said of her daughter, “Elliana Violet, your mommy and daddy feel so lucky to have you and love you SO much, it’s insane!! We had no idea our hearts could expand this much. You are worth everything and more. Welcome to the family, sweet Evie baby.”
Hausdorff shared the same photos to his personal Instagram and expressed, “Welcome to the world and to our fur family Elliana Violet. You are already so loved and so tiny!”
He called Kirstin “an absolute warrior” and praised, “Thank you for giving life to our gorgeous, precious, sweet baby Evie.” Hausdorff said he is excited to start his new “forever journey.”
Pentatonix has also shared the couple’s photos and accompanying announcement on their page. “We are SO excited about the announcement of your new baby girl Elliana Violet,” they wrote. “The two of you are going to be incredible parents!! We can’t wait to meet her!”
Kirstin and Hausdorff have been dating since 2018. They revealed in March that they were expecting their first child together.
Keith Urban is back with new music this week. On Friday, he dropped his newest song, “Brown Eyes Baby,” a mid-tempo burner that follows a girl who’s still hurting from a breakup, but just might be able to patch up her heartbreak with a little help from someone new.
“I can put the sun right back in your sunshine / Bring a little love into your late night / Ain’t gotta be nothin’ but one more drink and maybe / I can take the blue out of your brown eyes, baby,” Keith sings in the song’s chorus.
The song’s subject matter has some common DNA with one of Keith’s previous hits, “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” but its melody features a smooth, sway-a-long groove that’s a perfect fit for a live show. Keith’s already been trying it out at some of the stops on his The Speed of Now Tour, and now that it’s officially out, the singer says he can’t wait to keep performing it live.
“We’ll be bringing this one to life every single night with all of YOU out on tour!” the singer said on social media when he announced his song’s release.
“Brown Eyes Baby” is Keith’s new single. It doesn’t appear on the track list of his latest album, The Speed of Now Part I, meaning that a new batch of music just might be on the way.
“Robocop” – Orion Pictures Corporation/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images
The seminal sci-fi action movie Robocop turns 35 on July 17, and to help celebrate, video game developer Nacon has released a trailer for its upcoming release Robocop: Rogue City.
The film’s original star, Peter Weller, returns to voice his titular character, who was a cop named Alex Murphy until he was “killed” in the line of duty and reborn as the cyborg cop.
The trailer shows the city of Detroit as the crime-infested hellscape it was in the beloved 1987 film and lets players step into the alloy boots of the cybernetic hero to clean up the town.
The footage teases classic Robocop touches like his heads-up-display targeting system and, of course, a tangle with the monstrous ED-209 urban pacification robot.
The trailer ends with Robo approaching the screen and uttering Weller’s classic line, “Dead or alive, you’re coming with me.”
The game will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox and for download on Steam.
Five Finger Death Punch has dropped a new song called “Times Like These,” a track off the band’s upcoming album, AfterLife.
The track presents a softer side of FFDP’s usual aggressive sound as frontman Ivan Moody confesses, “Times like these/I wanna fade away.”
You can listen to “Times Like These” now via digital outlets.
“Times Like These” is the fourth AfterLife cut to be released, following “IOU,” “Welcome to the Circus” and the title track.
AfterLive will arrive in full on August 19. That same day, Five Finger Death Punch will kick off a U.S. tour; Megadeth, The Hu and Fire from the Gods will also be on the bill.
(NEW YORK) — Monkeypox cases around the world have increased 77% in seven days, the World Health Organization said Thursday.
There have been 6,027 laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox in 59 countries as of Monday, up 2,614 cases from June 27, the last time the WHO issued its report.
Three deaths have been reported in Africa, where monkeypox is considered an endemic. There have been no deaths from the virus in the U.S and in other parts of the world.
There are 4,920 confirmed cases in Europe, the region with the most cases.
People who identify as gay, bisexual or men who sleep with men make up most of the cases, according to the WHO’s report.
Health experts have warned that despite those groups making up the majority of cases, anyone can test positive for the virus.
Brian Thomas, a 32-year-old Baltimore man who recently tested positive for monkeypox, opened up about his experience with the virus to ABC News, saying he pushes back against people thinking it’s a gay disease.
“Even though this community is the one that’s most affected now, it’s not going to stay like that forever if the numbers increase,” Thomas said.
The incubation period from the time a person is exposed to when symptoms first appear can be anywhere from five to 21 days, according to the WHO.
The disease begins with a fever, headache, fatigue, chills and muscle aches. Monkeypox also causes swollen lymph nodes.
The Department of Health and Human Services said it’s sending nearly 300,000 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine for prevention of the disease for people who have been exposed.
