The rapper announced over the weekend that he is expecting his first child with hairstylist Jackilyn Martinez.
He posted a video on Instagram of the gender reveal, showing him dropping a ball on the ground that exploded into blue powder at the same time Martinez shot off a popper that dispersed blue confetti. The couple then hugged and kissed as the crowd cheered.
“It’s a boy!!” Soulja captioned the video. He later posted the news on his Instagram Stories, writing, “THANK YOU GOD. SUCH A BLESSING. DEAR SON I WILL LOVE U FOREVER.”
The 31-year-old said back in 2021 that he was hoping for a child. “I have everything I want in life except for a son,” he posted on his Instagram Story in September. “God please bless me I’ve been patient.”
On Twitter, The Daily Show host Trevor Noah seemingly responded to the Grammy Awards’ decision to remove Kanye West from its list of performers for the April 3 show.
“I said counsel Kanye not cancel Kanye,” said the comedian, who returns as host this year.
West’s rep confirmed to People that the awards show banned the Donda rapper over his “concerning online behavior,” despite his five nominations this year.
The defense of West from Noah is significant, not only because he’s hosting again this year, but because at least one example of Ye’s “concerning online behavior” targeted Noah. Last Wednesday, Kanye was suspended from Instagram for 24 hours for violating the platform’s policies on hate speech and bullying and harassment for posting an apparently racist dig at Noah, after he voiced concern on The Daily Show about West’s constant posts about his ex-wife Kim Kardashian and her relationship with Pete Davidson.
Noah, who grew up with an abusive father, said in part on his show,”What [Kim is] going through is terrifying to watch, and it shines a spotlight on what so many women go through when they choose to leave.”
The Daily Show host later said in an Instagram story that Kanye’s recent behavior “breaks my heart,” adding, “I don’t care if you support Trump and I don’t care if you roast Pete. I do however care when I see you on a path that’s dangerously close to peril and pain.”
Noah said West remains an “indelible” part of his life, but commented, “I’ve woken up too many times and read headlines about men who’ve killed their exes, their kids and then themselves. I never want to read that headline about you.”
Incidentally, West may have deleted all of his Instagram content: His feed showed zero posts as of Monday morning.
(NEW YORK) — With rising costs and inflation impacting everything from food to gas, it’s no surprise that home prices for buyers and renters are also up.
Housing prices have soared, especially for renters. According to an analysis from Realtor.com, median rents spiked upward by approximately 20% year-over-year in January, and it’s not just large cities that are being affected.
Mid-size cities like Tampa, Florida, and Chandler, Arizona, southeast of Phoenix, are growing rapidly and residents are seeing rents shoot up as well. The two fastest-growing rental markets are currently in Miami and New Orleans.
Why is rent so high?
There are several factors that have contributed to higher rents, including a nationwide housing shortage, significantly higher housing costs and more young people entering an already crowded housing market.
How much should you spend on rent?
The 30% rule is a common one, where 30% of your gross income or your money after taxes is spent on housing. It’s a rule Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary recommends.
“The rule’s very simple, do not spend more than a third of your income, after-tax income, on where you’re renting or the mortgage you’re paying,” O’Leary previously told GMA.
If you can swing it, the 30% rule is a great guideline but for many in big cities, this might not be feasible or realistic.
A better method may be a 50/30/20 budget, where 50% is spent on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on debt and savings. Rent would fall under the 50% category.
Consider both budgeting rules to determine what you can afford — and you should definitely figure it all out before you jump into a new lease or renew your current one.
What can you do to lower your rent?
Remember that rent is negotiable.
Do your homework and compare similar listings. Take note of listings that cost the same and find out what they have and don’t have.
Compare yourself to a vacancy. Landlords need to spend money to advertise open apartments and it may help them save time and money if you decide to move in or stay.
Sell yourself and highlight the pros of renting to you. Do you always pay your rent on time? Do you keep a clean and tidy apartment? Do you have skills you can barter for a lower price? A property manager or owner may reconsider if you’re a more desirable renter than others.
If you plan on staying in one location for a longer period of time, ask for a discount for signing a longer-term lease.
Inquire about concessions like an earlier move-in date or a free month.
Over the weekend, Shawn Mendes gave fans a preview of his upcoming Wonder tour with a special showcase at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, TX.
According to Billboard, Shawn performed a brand-new song during the showcase: “When You’re Gone.” He also posted a video of himself on Instagram talking about the track and playing it. He says the song is about breaking up with someone and not realizing that now you don’t have anyone to call when you’re “in a panic attack” or “on the edge.”
“It’s like, ‘I’m actually on my own, and I hate that,'” Shawn says. “That’s my reality.”
Shawn also performed another song about a breakup, “It’ll Be Okay,” which he released last year as a standalone single after he split with Camila Cabello.
“I was completely not expecting the amount of love and support for this one,” Shawn told the audience, according to Billboard. “I truly believe that songs can be a true form of healing and come at moments for me when I need to hear them most. This is one of those songs for me and I’m just so happy that people have connected so much.”
Shawn kicks off his long-awaited Wonder tour later this year.
The Tucson Music Hall in Tucson, Arizona will be named after one of the city’s most famous daughters: Linda Ronstadt.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romeroannounced the news on Twitter, calling Ronstadt “one of Tucson’s most iconic women.” The official renaming will take place on May 7, during the city’s 40th annual International Mariachi Conference. Linda saluted that musical genre in her hugely successful 1987 album, Canciones de Mi Padre.
According to The Arizona Republic, Mayor Romero said in a statement, “Linda Ronstadt is a beloved daughter of Tucson. It is time to honor her legacy and her ability to tell the story of our culture through music.” The legendary 75-year-old singer will be on hand to unveil the music hall’s new sign.
The Republic shared a statement from the mayor’s office in which Ronstadt said, “I am fortunate to be a member of a large musical family that has been associated with the City of Tucson since the 1800s. My entire career was informed and nurtured by the music we made as I was growing up here.”
Ronstadt, a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, retired from singing in 2011 due to vocal problems. In 2013, she revealed she had Parkinson’s disease, but her diagnosis was later changed to progressive supranuclear palsy (PCP), a late-onset degenerative disease that is often mistaken for Parkinson’s.
Maury Povich‘s long-running daytime syndicated talk show, Maury, will end with the current season. “Maury and I decided two years ago that this season would be the farewell season for the show, and while his retirement is bittersweet, we are so happy for him to be able to spend more time on the golf course,” Tracie Wilson, EVP, NBCUniversal Syndication Studios, said in a statement obtained by Deadline. Povich, 83, says his decision to end the show came much earlier. “Six years ago when I was ready to retire, my the NBCUniversal family asked me to continue the show,” he said. “Even though I told them I was ready for assisted living, out of loyalty to NBCUniversal and my more than 100 staff and crew members, Tracie Wilson and I agreed to one more deal. The Maury Povich Show, later shortened to Maury, premiered in 1991…
A fourth season of HBO’s True Detective is in the works, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. The premium cable network has reportedly recruited Tigers Are Not Afraid writer Issa Lopez to pen the script for a new cycle to be titled True Detective: Night Country. Additionally, Barry Jenkins is attached to executive produce the anthology. Season one stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are expected to return as executive producers, as they have been on all three previous seasons. Season four is currently in development…
The Writers Guild Awards weren’t the only awards ceremony this weekend. The Producers Guild handed out awards to CODA, which took home best picture honors. Elsewhere, Succession took home the award for outstanding episodic drama, Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso added to its trophy collection by taking home the trophy for outstanding television comedy, and HBO’s Mare of Easttown won for outstanding producer of a limited series. The PGA Lifetime Achievement Award went to Lucasfilm founder George Lucas and present leader Kathleen Kennedy. Rita Moreno was awarded the Stanley Kramer prize for her trailblazing career and off-screen life advocating for social justice…
(WASHINGTON) — As Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson — President Joe Biden’s pick for the Supreme Court — is set to face her Senate confirmation hearings beginning Monday, here are some key takeaways about the current process.
After the Senate Judiciary Committee concludes its hearings this week, Republicans can try to slow down Jackson’s nomination by boycotting a committee vote before her nomination heads to the full Senate, but Democrats could try to go forward, anyway.
Republicans did that when Democrats attempted to boycott a committee vote on Amy Coney Barrett.
At that time, Republicans controlled a majority of seats on the panel, so the chairman at the time — GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina — went ahead without minority Democrats. They, instead, left pictures in their places of Americans who, they said, would be negatively affected should Barrett support striking down the Affordable Care Act.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., says he wants to run a fair process, so he is doing everything he can to get GOP buy-in moving forward. The goal is for Republicans to support the process, regardless of whether they support the nominee.
If Republicans were to boycott the vote, Durbin would have a decision to make: attempt to change the rules, or have her nomination taken directly to the floor by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Should every Republican in committee vote against Jackson, thereby deadlocking the panel, Schumer would have to move to discharge her nomination. That would take a bit more time, potentially endangering Democrats’ goal of having Jackson confirmed to the high court before April 8, when the Senate begins a two-week recess in observance of the Easter holiday.
Filibuster of full Senate vote not allowed
Filibustering a full Senate vote on Supreme Court nomination is no longer allowed. Republicans lowered the vote threshold to a simple majority for Supreme Court confirmations in 2017 when then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., nuked the filibuster rule to get Justice Neil Gorsuch confirmed. Democrats made this move in 2013 for all lower-court nominations.
Hearings and confirmation can happen quickly
Democrats are eyeing a swift confirmation after what happened with Amy Coney Barrett, who out of the nine justices currently serving on the court waited the fewest days (27), according to Congressional Research Service. Justice Stephen Breyer said he will retire at the end of the current term, but a confirmation vote can take place while a retiring justice is still on the bench. That’s what happened when Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was being replaced with Samuel Alito.
The Congressional Research Service found the average amount of time for a nomination to be voted on in the Senate is 68.2 days, just over two months. The median is 69 days. Clarence Thomas waited the longest time — 99 days.
The vice president can break a Senate tie
Although Harvard Law School Professor Emeritus Laurence Tribe has said a vice president, in the role as president of the Senate, cannot cast a tie-breaking vote on a Supreme Court nominee, he appears to be virtually alone in that opinion.
Both Democrats and Republicans, including a former GOP Senate floor manager, have told ABC News — in no uncertain terms — that Vice President Kamala Harris can break any potential tie — and numerous other legal experts agree.
The 2022 Writers Guild Awards announced their winners during a virtual ceremony on Sunday.
Hosted by comedian-writer-producer Ashley Nicole Black, the event, honored outstanding achievement in writing for film, television, new media, news, radio/audio, and promotional categories.
Don’t Look Up took home the award for Best Screenplay and CODA for Best Adapted Screenplay.
On the TV side, Succession won for Best Drama Series and Hacks for Best Comedy Series and Best New Series. Mare of Easttown was voted Best Original Long Form and Maid Best Short Form series.
Humorist, author and former talk show host Dick Cavett, 85, received WGA East’s Evelyn F. Burkey Award, awarded to a person or organization whose contributions have brought honor and dignity to writers everywhere.
Barry Jenkins received WGA West’s Paul Selvin Award for the episode “Chapter 9: Indiana Winter” of the series The Underground Railroad. The Selvin Award is given to the script that best embodies the spirit of the constitutional and civil rights and liberties that are indispensable to the survival of free writers everywhere.
Here the complete winners list:
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Don’t Look Up
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY CODA
DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY Exposing Muybridge
DRAMA SERIES Succession
COMEDY SERIES Hacks
NEW SERIES Hacks
ORIGINAL LONG FORM Mare of Easttown
ADAPTED LONG FORM Maid
ORIGINAL & ADAPTED SHORT FORM NEW MEDIA Debunking Borat
ANIMATION
“Planteau” (Tuca & Bertie)
EPISODIC DRAMA
“Retired Janitors of Idaho” (Succession)
EPISODIC COMEDY
“Alone At Last” (The Great)
COMEDY/VARIETY TALK SERIES Conan
COMEDY/VARIETY SKETCH SERIES I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson
COMEDY/VARIETY SPECIALS Full Frontal Wants to Take Your Guns
QUIZ AND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION Baking It
DAYTIME DRAMA Days of Our Lives
CHILDREN’S EPISODIC, LONG FORM AND SPECIALS
“The Tale of the Midnight Magic” (Are You Afraid of the Dark?)
DOCUMENTARY SCRIPT – CURRENT EVENTS
“The Healthcare Divide” (Frontline)
DOCUMENTARY SCRIPT – OTHER THAN CURRENT EVENTS
“Citizen Hearst, Part One” (American Experience)
NEWS SCRIPT – REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BULLETIN, OR BREAKING REPORT
“The Unequal Recession” (60 Minutes)
NEWS SCRIPT – ANALYSIS, FEATURE, OR COMMENTARY
“Handcuffed to the Truth” (60 Minutes)
DIGITAL NEWS
“‘Men’s Rights Asians’ Think This Is Their Moment,” Slate.com
The Batman topped the box office for the third straight week, delivering an estimated $38.6 million. That brings the total domestic take for the gritty superhero action-drama to $300 million. It’s now second only to Spider-Man: No Way Home in pandemic-era North American earnings.
Internationally, The Batman has taken in $298 million to date, bringing its worldwide tally to $598.1 million.
FUNimation’s Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie shocked the U.S. box office, bowing in second place with an estimated $14.8 million. It has pulled in $17.7 million stateside so far. Overseas, JujutsuKaisen 0: The Movie has taken in an estimated $112.1 million, bringing the film’s combined global haul at $129.8 million.
Uncharted landed in third place, earning an estimated $8 million in its fifth weekend. Thus far, the film has collected $125.9 million domestically to go along with $211.4 million overseas. Its worldwide tally now sits at $337.3 million.
Another new release, Ti West’s indie horror film X, opened in fourth place with an estimated $4.4 million.
Rounding out the top five was Dog, which pulled in an estimated $4.1 million in its fifth week of release.
(WASHINGTON) — Justice Clarence Thomas has been hospitalized with an infection, the Supreme Court announced in a statement.
Thomas was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., on Friday evening after experiencing flu-like symptoms, Supreme Court spokesperson Patricia McCabe said in a statement.
He was diagnosed with an infection after undergoing tests and is being treated with intravenous antibiotics, McCabe said. She did not provide more details on the nature of the infection.
“His symptoms are abating, he is resting comfortably, and he expects to be released from the hospital in a day or two,” McCabe said. “Justice Thomas will participate in the consideration and discussion of any cases for which he is not present on the basis of the briefs, transcripts and audio of the oral arguments.”
After Justice Stephen Breyer, Thomas is the second-oldest justice on the Supreme Court at 73 years old. He is the most senior conservative.
Thomas does not have a known history of health issues and has been a vibrant participant in Court arguments over the past two years. He, along with the other eight justices, has been vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, according to the Court.
The Court is reconvening Monday at 10 a.m. for two weeks of oral arguments. According to McCabe’s statement, it appears Thomas will not be participating in the arguments remotely but will still vote in the cases.
On Monday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin a week of high-profile confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court in its 233-year history.
