&#8220;Law &amp; Order: Special Victims Unit&#8221; star Mariska Hargitay revealed the huge gamble she took at her auditions for the gritty police procedural — and the fact that the whole scenario unfolded directly in front of series creator Dick Wolf.
During an appearance on the &#8220;Call Her Daddy&#8221; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AejC6m3w6PM">podcast</a> with host Alex Cooper, the 61-year-old actress confessed that she marched into her first interview and instructed Wolf to send another actress home: &#8220;This is my part.&#8221;
Hargitay explained that, at the time, she hadn&#8217;t really grasped just how big Wolf was in the television industry — but she knew the risk was worth it after she read the script for the first time.
&#8220;So I read it and I said, and I never had this experience, ‘I&#8217;ve never loved anything more. This is my show. This is the most progressive show I&#8217;ve ever seen. I love it. I need it. I have to do the show,’&#8221; she said, and with that in mind, she went for her second callback audition in front of Wolf — who had already earned a slew of nominations and one Emmy for the original &#8220;Law &amp; Order&#8221; series between 1992 and 1998.
&#8220;And then I had the audition and then I got a call back and on the second callback, Dick Wolf was there,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I see another girl in the waiting room and I&#8217;m like, &#8216;Oh no, this is not happening.&#8217; So I walked in there and I said, &#8216;Listen to me.&#8217; I didn&#8217;t know that Dick Wolf was like, king of television. And I go, &#8216;I don’t know who that is out there, but let me tell you something. This is my part.'&#8221;
Wolf, she said, seemed more amused than anything else. &#8220;He&#8217;s like, &#8216;Oh, is it?&#8217; And I said, &#8216;Yeah. So you tell her to go home.'&#8221;
Once the audition was over, Wolf gave Hargitay his notes on her performance. &#8220;I&#8217;m like, &#8216;Those are good notes. Thank you.&#8217; And he&#8217;s like, &#8216;Oh, are they, are they good notes?'&#8221;
Hargitay landed the role of Olivia Benson on the long-running drama, which explores sex crimes in Manhattan — but she admitted that no one actually sent the other actress home that day, mainly because she wasn&#8217;t there to read for the same part.
&#8220;Then it turns out that the beautiful, talented actress that was in the waiting room was there for another part. And she was in the pilot, and she&#8217;s a fantastic actor, actress. I was like, &#8216;Get her out of here.&#8217; And of course, you know, we&#8217;re friends now for life,&#8221; Hargitay said, although she did not reveal the name of the actress in question.

“My Mom Jayne: A Film By Mariska Hargitay” Photocall – The 78th Annual Cannes Film Festival

‘Law & Order: SVU’ Star Reveals Huge Gamble She Took During Auditions

'Law & Order: SVU' Star Reveals Huge Gamble She Took During Auditions

Celebrities

Television

U.S.

The cause of death for beloved “Cheers” actor George Wendt has been revealed as cardiac arrest, according to a death certificate obtained by <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2025/06/05/george-wendt-cause-of-death/#continued">TMZ</a>.
The outlet noted that the certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health lists cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and hypertension as underlying causes. Other contributing conditions listed include end-stage renal disease or kidney failure, and hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol).
Wendt died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 76 on May 20, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/beloved-cheers-actor-george-wendt-dies-at-76">reported</a>. 
“Beloved actor and comedian, George Wendt, best known for starring in the NBC hit comedy ‘Cheers,’ has passed away,” a statement from his rep said. 
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“George’s family confirmed the news of his death early Tuesday morning, announcing he died peacefully in his sleep while at home,” it continued. “George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him. He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.”
The actor hailed from Chicago and got his start with the famed improv comedy troupe Second City, also the launchpad for famous names like Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, John Candy, Steve Carell, Bill Murray, Chris Farley, and a host of others.
Wendt also appeared on “Saturday Night Live,” including his recurring role as Bob Swerski in the “Chicago Superfans” sketches. 
His movie acting credits include “Dreamscape” (1984), “House” (1985), “Fletch” (1985), “Gung Ho” (1986), “Plain Clothes” (1987), “Never Say Die” (1988), “Guilty by Suspicion” (1991), “Forever Young” (1992), and “Spice World” (1997).
Besides “Cheers,” Wendt’s TV appearances include “Seinfeld,” “The Simpsons,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Hot in Cleveland,” “Portlandia,” and “Fresh Off the Boat.” He had a self-titled show in 1995 that was canceled after one season. 
Wendt received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for six consecutive years for “Cheers,” and though he never won, the role is beloved by fans to this day.

George Wendt

Cause Of Death Revealed For ‘Cheers’ Star George Wendt

Cause Of Death Revealed For 'Cheers' Star George Wendt

Death

Entertainment

Voice actor Jonathan Joss, best known for portraying the voice of John Redcorn on the long-running animated comedy “King of the Hill,” died from a fatal gunshot wound in San Antonio on Sunday night. He was 59 at the time of his death.
According to early reports, Joss died after getting into a fight with his neighbor, who allegedly then pulled out a gun and shot him several times, per <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2025/06/02/king-of-the-hill-jonathan-joss-dead-shot-san-antonio-texas-voice-actor/">TMZ</a>. The gunman is then reported to have gotten into a vehicle and fled the scene.
San Antonio police confirmed that the suspect was captured a block from the scene of the accident. Officers detained 56-year-old Sigfredo Alvarez Cejam, who has been booked for murder. The investigation is ongoing.
The paramedics responded and tried to revive Joss, but they were ultimately unsuccessful, the outlet noted.
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The actor’s death occurred just two days after he attended the 2025 ATX TV Festival in Austin, Texas, with other “King of the Hill” cast members. Joss last shared an Instagram post of himself walking around Austin and noting how the show’s “reboot is up and moving,” as People <a href="https://people.com/king-of-the-hill-voice-actor-jonathan-joss-dies-at-59-after-being-fatally-shot-police-11746467">noted</a>.
Joss took over for the original actor, Victor Arron, for season 3 of the series after Arron died in a car accident in 1996.
The “King of the Hill” reboot is slated to premiere on Hulu in August and had already started recording, the outlet noted.
Joss also appeared in other popular shows such as “Parks and Recreation,” “Tulsa King,” “Ray Donovan,” “True Grit,” “The Magnificent Seven,” and others.

Johnathan Joss

‘King Of The Hill’ Voice Actor Shot, Killed Following Dispute With Neighbor

'King Of The Hill' Voice Actor Shot, Killed Following Dispute With Neighbor

Animation

Murder

Texas

The “Sex and the City” spinoff Max series “And Just Like That” is getting some negative reactions from a storyline it added featuring Rosie O’Donnell playing a nun named Mary who loses her virginity to Miranda (Cynthia Nixon).
The episode “Outlook Good,” which premiered on Thursday, included the story of Miranda meeting a tourist named Mary (O’Donnell) at a lesbian bar in New York City. The women decide to head to Mary’s hotel room to engage in sexual activities, per <a href="https://people.com/and-just-like-that-rosie-odonnell-plays-a-virgin-nun-season-3-premiere-11743506">People</a>. 
Mary told Miranda she’s &#8220;amazing.&#8221; 
&#8220;I&#8217;ve never experienced anything like that,&#8221; Mary said. &#8220;Oh, you are really, really something. It felt so, I don&#8217;t know, electric, and yet, still so natural,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;I never dreamed my first time could be both those things.&#8221; 
&#8220;First time?&#8221; Miranda asked. &#8220;So then, this was your first time with a woman?&#8221;
&#8220;This is my first time with anyone. I&#8217;m a virgin. Well, I was a virgin,&#8221; Mary said before revealing that she’s a nun.
Later, Miranda recalls what happened while discussing the incident with her friend Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker). 
&#8220;In my defense, Mary never mentioned she was a nun. And she was dressed like a regular lesbian… In fact, she didn&#8217;t mention it until right after she told me she was a virgin,&#8221; Miranda said. 
&#8220;So, you deflowered the Virgin Mary?&#8221; Carrie joked.
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Miranda spent the rest of the episode trying to avoid Mary, who kept trying to contact her. Finally, she said, &#8220;So, I gather you&#8217;re at the beginning of a new journey, and I know how that is because I just got off a crazy chapter myself. But don&#8217;t do anything solely based on what you&#8217;re feeling right now.&#8221; 
&#8220;Don&#8217;t leave God for me,&#8221; Miranda said, to which Mary replied, &#8220;Miranda, I would never leave God. We&#8217;re married.”
Reactions to the episode focused on O’Donnell’s involvement and the cringeworthy factor of the storyline.
“OK, my wife and I made it 23 minutes, 39 seconds into episode 1 of season 3 of #AndJustLikeThat,” one person <a href="https://x.com/KEVIN_FREE1971/status/1928263838173921542">wrote</a>. “The big hat! The Virgin Rosie O’Donnell nun! Charlotte’s bratty daughters who can’t give Anthony a hug! I’m done! This is a hollow, unwatchable, pretentious bore.”
“I am… disgusted,” another person <a href="https://x.com/baddiesbaketoo/status/1928312440145465819">posted</a> via meme, referencing the O’Donnell/Miranda scenes. 
“Ridiculous!” another commenter echoed, while another person said “they’ve outdone themselves” after featuring Miranda in a relationship with Che (Sara Ramirez), a non-binary character from last season.

Rosie O’Donnell and Cynthia Nixon

Rosie O’Donnell Plays Nun Named Mary Losing Her Virginity To A Woman In ‘Sex And The City’ Spinoff

Rosie O'Donnell Plays Nun Named Mary Losing Her Virginity To A Woman In 'Sex And The City' Spinoff

Rosie O'Donnell

Sex And The City

The three main characters for the HBO television adaptation of “Harry Potter” have been announced, and comments were shut off on social media, presumably to protect the young actors.
Per <a href="https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/harry-potter-hbo-series-casts-harry-ron-hermione-1236410755/">Variety</a>, Dominic McLaughlin was cast in the lead role of Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton will play Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout will play Ron Weasley. The outlet noted that more than 30,000 actors auditioned for the three parts.
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“After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione and Ron. The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen. We would like to thank all the tens of thousands of children who auditioned. It’s been a real pleasure to discover the plethora of young talent out there,” showrunner Francesca Gardiner and executive producer and director Mark Mylod said in a joint statement.
The actors are relatively unknown in the industry, but if their trajectory is anything like the original stars from the “Harry Potter” film series, these roles could turn them into household names. Daniel Radcliffe, who played the original Harry, along with Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, who played Ron and Hermione respectively, went on to have successful post-&#8220;Potter&#8221; careers.
McLaughlin is credited with appearing in “Grow,” an upcoming comedy. Stanton starred as Matilda in “Matilda: The Musical” for one year on the London theater circuit. Stout, meanwhile, has not had a major role yet.
Other confirmed stars for the highly anticipated TV series include John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. Luke Thallon will also take on the recurring role of Quirinus Quirrell, while Paul Whitehouse is set to play the recurring role of Argus Filch, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hbo-confirms-harry-potter-tv-series-casting-for-dumbledore-snape-and-hagrid">reported</a>.
According to the show’s logline, the series will be “a faithful adaptation of the beloved ‘Harry Potter’ book series by author and executive producer J.K. Rowling.”
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“The series will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom, full of the fantastic detail and much-loved characters ‘Harry Potter’ fans have loved for over twenty-five years,” it says. “Each season will bring ‘Harry Potter’ and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and cherished films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally.”
HBO execs previously voiced support for “Harry Potter” author Rowling and defended their decision to keep her on as executive producer despite the backlash she’s received from leftists. The billionaire author has been labeled a “TERF” (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) for rejecting radical gender theory.
“J.K. is an executive producer, and her insights will be helpful,” Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, previously said. “We are in the Harry Potter business.”
“J.K. is a very online conversation … It’s very nuanced and complicated and not something we’re going to get into,” he added. “Our priority is what’s onscreen. The Harry Potter story is incredibly affirmative and positive about love and acceptance, and that’s our priority, what’s on the screen.”
Filming for the TV series is slated for later this summer.

Harry Potter cast

‘Harry Potter’ TV Series Casts Three Main Characters

'Harry Potter' TV Series Casts Three Main Characters

Harry Potter

Actor George Wendt, best known for his portrayal as bar regular Norm Peterson for all 11 seasons of the legendary NBC sitcom “Cheers,” has died at the age of 76, his family announced on Tuesday.
“Beloved actor and comedian, George Wendt, best known for starring in the NBC hit comedy &#8216;Cheers,&#8217; has passed away,” a statement from his rep said, per <a href="https://people.com/george-wendt-cheers-star-dead-at-76-8610776">People</a>. 
“George’s family confirmed the news of his death early Tuesday morning, announcing he died peacefully in his sleep while at home,” the statement continued. “George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him. He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.”
Wendt is one of nine children. His sister Kathryn is the mother of actor and comedian Jason Sudeikis, according to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/george-wendt-dead-cheers-norm-obit-1236222950/">The Hollywood Reporter</a>.
The actor hailed from Chicago and got his start with the famed improv comedy troupe Second City, also the launchpad for famous names like Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, John Candy, Steve Carell, Bill Murray, Chris Farley, and a host of others.
Wendt also appeared on “Saturday Night Live,&#8221; including his recurring role as Bob Swerski in the &#8220;Chicago Superfans&#8221; sketches. 
His movie acting credits include “Dreamscape” (1984), “House” (1985), “Fletch” (1985), “Gung Ho” (1986), “Plains Clothes” (1987), “Never Say Die” (1988), “Guilty by Suspicion” (1991), “Forever Young” (1992), and “Spice World” (1997).
Besides &#8220;Cheers,&#8221; Wendt’s TV appearances include “Seinfeld,” “The Simpsons,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Hot in Cleveland,” “Portlandia,” and “Fresh Off the Boat.” He had a self-titled show in 1995 that was canceled after one season. 
Wendt received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for six consecutive years for “Cheers,” and though he never won, the role was beloved by fans. He became very close to castmates Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammer, and Woody Harrelson.
When the series ended in 1993, Wendt’s wife told <a href="https://people.com/archive/cover-story-lights-out-at-sams-place-vol-39-no-20/">People</a> that the “Cheers” cast really were friends in real life. “They get along like siblings. To somebody peeking in from the outside, they look like they’re having the greatest time in the world,” she said at the time.

Beloved ‘Cheers’ Actor George Wendt Dies At 76

Beloved 'Cheers' Actor George Wendt Dies At 76

Two years after a major rebrand, the streaming service “Max” will revert back to being called “HBO Max,” reflecting what many customers were still calling it informally.
This announcement comes less than two months after Max debuted a logo tweak with a black and white design similar to the classic HBO logo with that same color scheme, per <a href="https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/max-changes-name-hbo-max-1236397399/">Variety</a>.
Parent company Warner Bros. Discovery announced the name change in a press release, the outlet noted, saying they are “returning the HBO brand into HBO Max will further drive the service forward and amplify the uniqueness that subscribers can expect from the offering. It is also a testament to WBD’s willingness to keep boldly iterating its strategy and approach — leaning heavily on consumer data and insights — to best position itself for success.”
“The powerful growth we have seen in our global streaming service is built around the quality of our programming,” WBD president and CEO David Zaslav told ad execs during a presentation on Wednesday. “Today, we are bringing back HBO, the brand that represents the highest quality in media, to further accelerate that growth in the years ahead.”
The outlet noted that the Max/HBO branding was originally changed in an effort to reflect the large variety of content, which was meant to make the service comparable to Netflix. Another speaker assured the crowd that the diversity of options would remain even though the name is changing back.
“We will continue to focus on what makes us unique — not everything for everyone in a household, but something distinct and great for adults and families. It’s really not subjective, not even controversial — our programming just hits different,” said JB Perrette, president and CEO of streaming.
The Max social media account changed its X bio to say, “These rebrands are trying to murder me.” 
The person in charge of social media also posted multiple memes about the switch, including the classic image of multiple identical Superman characters encountering one another.
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V2 approved by legal. <a href="https://t.co/uUhH3RU4T6">pic.twitter.com/uUhH3RU4T6</a>
&mdash; Max (@StreamOnMax) <a href="https://twitter.com/StreamOnMax/status/1922665329332748347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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There was also a papal conclave joke showing an image of a chimney spewing white smoke.
“BREAKING: White smoke was seen coming from the Warner Bros. water tower. A new brand has been chosen,” the caption said. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
BREAKING: White smoke was seen coming from the Warner Bros. water tower. A new brand has been chosen. <a href="https://t.co/DOC8LIWR4x">pic.twitter.com/DOC8LIWR4x</a>
&mdash; Max (@StreamOnMax) <a href="https://twitter.com/StreamOnMax/status/1922662280367333410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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One user summed up what most everyone was saying, posting a comment that <a href="https://x.com/Anna_Niezgodzka/status/1922713229534363973">said</a>, “Seriously, just make up your mind. We still call it HBO no matter what.”

HBO Max

‘Max’ Streaming Service Adds ‘HBO’ Back To Its Name 2 Years After Rebranding

'Max' Streaming Service Adds 'HBO' Back To Its Name 2 Years After Rebranding

The popular HBO drama “The Last of Us” has been getting a lot of negative attention since Sunday night’s episode, in which one of the main female characters announced she was going to be a “dad.”
In the fourth episode of the second season, Ellie (Bella Ramsey) learns that her love interest Dina (Isabella Merced), who is portrayed as bisexual, is three months pregnant. After Dina reveals the news, Bella responds,  “So we’re having a baby… I mean, we and also I guess Jesse — it was Jesse, right?”
“So we’re all having a baby,” Ellie continued. “Holy sh**. I’m gonna be a dad.”
At another point in the episode, the two characters arrive in Seattle and ponder remnants of gay pride amongst the post-apocalyptic background, including pride flags and a giant rainbow mural. 
The reviews for this season, which saw the death of main character Joel (Pedro Pascal), have been mixed, and not just because of woke moments. Some have accused viewers of “review bombing” the show on various websites, but many critics are just underwhelmed by the pacing, character development, and straying from the storyline of the video game upon which the series is based.
&#8220;It&#8217;s the usual bait and switch. Season 1 was fantastic. Season 2 was all over within the first 10 mins. Woke bs from the start with Pascal going to therapy, females being more male than any of the men and the push for refugee rights. When are they going to stop pushing political agendas and write decent stories again?&#8221; one person <a href="https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-last-of-us/season-2/">observed</a> on Metacritic. 
&#8220;The first season was good, and I can&#8217;t say the same for this season,” a second person agreed. “This is all teen drama with revenge plot, it&#8217;s so boring that I can&#8217;t turn off my brain to try to watch another episode. Killing off a beloved character for cheap reason is the final nail. This could be a good series but they clearly ruined it with bad writing. And don&#8217;t get me start on the agenda they try so hard to push but fail miserably.&#8221;
While fans say it made sense to make Ellie gay in the show to match the game, they say the showrunners&#8217; approach to the character is off the mark.
“I think people are missing that the way the show is going about this is not normal. At least in the game? Ellie being a lesbian wasn’t shoved in your face. It was natural. Like, ‘oh, she’s a lesbian? Okay. She’s still cool.’ But the show has Ellie being played by someone who looks nothing like her, even though they had options of actresses who did,” one X user <a href="https://x.com/BumpyBeatz/status/1920269455189516556">wrote</a>. 
“They consistently show Ellie being a judo bad*** when that’s not what she is? She’s a survivor. Even in the game? The melee animations show that she struggles and fights desperately. And now this? ‘Ima be a dad.’ This ain’t it. Just more ammo to be used against woke culture.”
Ramsey, 21, identifies as &#8220;non-binary&#8221; in real life, but has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/non-binary-actress-bella-ramsey-said-its-important-to-keep-gendered-awards-categories">said</a> she supports gendered categories for awards shows despite feeling it’s “not quite” right for her to be nominated for Best Actress.

Bella Ramsey

HBO’s ‘The Last Of Us’ Trashed For Going Woke, Female Character Says She’s ‘Gonna Be A Dad’

HBO's 'The Last Of Us' Trashed For Going Woke, Female Character Says She's 'Going To Be A Dad'

Wokeness

Attacks between India and Pakistan move the two nuclear powers closer to war, President Donald Trump and Republicans sue Democrat-led states over restrictive energy laws, and live sports programming dominates viewing trends.
It’s Thursday, May 8, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
 
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If you’d rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
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<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/india-and-pakistan-conflict-trump-fights-climate/id1576594336?i=1000706779457" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2>India Strikes Pakistan, World Holds Breath For Response</h2>
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Topline: Attacks between India and Pakistan continue to escalate, causing fears of an all-out nuclear war.
In late April, a group of Islamic militants crossed from Pakistan to Indian-controlled Kashmir and slaughtered 26 tourists. India accused the Pakistani government of being involved in the attack, and responded Wednesday with military strikes on Pakistan’s heavily populated Punjab region, killing more than two dozen and injuring 46 others. India says it targeted “terror camps,” while Pakistan says civilians were killed, including worshippers at two mosques. 
Pakistan has said it is mounting a military response to the strikes, but it remains to be seen if that’s saber rattling or a declaration of war.
The Trump administration has largely avoided picking a side, despite their long-running mutual enmity, and both countries are considered U.S. allies.  The White House said it would engage the two in finding a “peaceful solution.” 
Meanwhile, President Trump is preparing for a highly anticipated visit to the Middle East as tensions rise. For security reasons, the White House has yet to release Trump&#8217;s full itinerary, but from what we’ve been told, this trip will emphasize economics. Trump is reportedly focused on securing financial deals and solidifying his relationship with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates — three of America&#8217;s most important allies in the region who often serve as middlemen to the rest of the Middle East, at times helping broker negotiations with U.S. adversaries.
This week, the president also announced that the Houthis “don’t want to fight anymore” and have agreed to a deal to end hostilities. The Houthis, the terror group backed by Iran, have disrupted international shipping in the Red Sea, with missile and drone attacks on countless vessels — some of them American. In response, the Trump administration launched hundreds of airstrikes on Houthi facilities in Yemen. Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has been holding negotiations with Iran on a potential nuclear deal — this ceasefire with the Houthis could be a part of that larger process. 
<h2>DOJ Files Climate Lawsuits Against Blue States</h2>
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-917521" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_01_37_02.Still002.jpeg" alt="" width="640" height="360" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_01_37_02.Still002.jpeg 640w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/SEGMENT-HEADERS.00_01_37_02.Still002-300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></div>
Topline: President Trump and Republicans in Congress are making moves against state climate rules that they say infringe on federal authority. The fight has sparked political and legal battles between Republicans in Washington, D.C., and Democrat-led states.
Last week, the Department of Justice filed multiple lawsuits against state governments over their climate and energy policies. Two complaints against Hawaii and Michigan aim to block lawsuits those states filed against oil and gas companies. On Thursday, the federal government filed two more lawsuits against Michigan and New York over changes to state “climate superfund” laws. Each DOJ lawsuit focuses on the Clean Air Act, which the Trump administration says the states have violated with their attempts to punish emissions.
“These burdensome and ideologically motivated laws and lawsuits threaten American energy independence and our country’s economic and national security.” Attorney General Pam Bondi said.
“The Constitution specifically solely delegates the power to regulate interstate commerce to the Congress of the United States of America,” H. Sterling Burnett, the director of the Arthur B. Robinson Center on Climate and Environmental Policy at The Heartland Institute, told The Daily Wire. “Not to California, not to New York, only to Congress…California, New York, Hawaii. Some other states…think Congress should regulate interstate commerce differently than they&#8217;ve done, and so they&#8217;re trying to use the courts to ignore the interstate commerce clause.”
Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez said in a statement that the federal lawsuit filed by the DOJ “attempts to block Hawaiʻi from holding the fossil fuel industry responsible for deceptive conduct that caused climate change damage.” Hawaii Democratic Governor Josh Green went a step further and suggested that climate change, exacerbated by fossil fuel companies, is responsible for the 2023 Lahaina wildfire that killed 102 people. For context, Hawaii’s utility company <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/28/maui-wildfires-hawaiian-electric-company">said</a> that electrical equipment damaged by high winds caused the fire, but officials have all made accusations against fossil fuel companies.
<h2>Sports Dominate New Nielsen Ratings</h2>
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Topline: The next evolution of TV ratings has arrived, and sports is the overwhelming winner. We break down the data on viewing trends.
Nielsen ratings have long been a guide to help gauge TV viewership, but new technology is delivering more accurate information. It shows that sports programming absolutely dominates the market. The rise of streaming and an increasingly fragmented media market has made it harder than ever to track how many people are actually watching programming, but a new method – Big Data + Panel – is able to synthesize and analyze disparate viewership data more quickly and accurately.
Nielsen’s CEO, Karthik Roa, announced that the Big Data + Panel tech will be used for all its clients starting this year, calling it “a massive change in measurement, at scale.”
Sports programming already dominates much of America’s media landscape. For instance, the NFL<a href="https://frontofficesports.com/the-nfl-had-70-of-top-100-live-tv-events-in-2024-down-from-93/"> delivered 70 of the top 100 broadcasts</a> across all genres in 2024, 70% for just that one league. This new analysis tool is already signaling even higher audience totals going forward. And that’s, of course, very good for sports leagues. The NFL knows it’s poised to benefit – and has publicly cheered the introduction of Big Data + Panel, calling it a move to “modernize measurement.”
The domination of sports is changing how many platforms think about programming. Amazon Prime and Netflix have spent <a href="https://www.mediaplaynews.com/ampere-streaming-services-spending-on-live-sports-rights-in-2025/">billions</a> of dollars on streaming rights for live sports. Amazon has been among the early adopters of Big Data + Panel, and said its 2024 audience for Thursday Night Football reached an average viewership of 14.2 million, 8% higher than the <a href="https://frontofficesports.com/amazons-nfl-ratings-rose-13-in-2024-a-playoff-game-is-next/">traditional, panel-based audience count of 13.2 million</a>. The tool was also the basis for Super Bowl LIX, reaching a total of 182.8 million viewers.
One of the issues Nielsen is working through is reducing the turnaround time for reporting results. The enhanced numbers typically take several days to tabulate for each broadcast. Nielsen is working to reduce that turnaround to one day, similar to how quickly traditional viewership totals now arrive.

050725 MorningWire Thumbnail V1

Morning Brief: India-Pakistan Conflict Escalates & Trump DOJ Sues Blue States

Department of Justice

India

Media

Middle East

Morning Wire

Pakistan

Politics

“Harry Potter” author JK Rowling said that even if she had the authority to have an actor removed from the upcoming HBO television series based on her best-selling books, she would not do it over ideological differences.
“I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did,” the billionaire author <a href="https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/1919358232629297559">wrote</a> on X in response to an article about Paapa Essiedu supporting rights for people who identify as transgender. “I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I don’t have the power to sack an actor from the series and I wouldn’t exercise it if I did. I don’t believe in taking away people’s jobs or livelihoods because they hold legally protected beliefs that differ from mine. <a href="https://t.co/nKcAl3gcvO">pic.twitter.com/nKcAl3gcvO</a>
&mdash; J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1919358232629297559?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Several celebrities from “Harry Potter” projects, both past and present, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/harry-potter-stars-sign-letter-supporting-trans-rights-as-jk-rowling-celebrates-u-k-court-ruling">signed</a> an open letter declaring their belief that the historic Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ruling that the definition of a woman is determined by biological sex was wrong.
Eddie Redmayne, star of the spin-off prequel franchise “Fantastic Beasts,” signed the letter, as did Essiedu, who will portray Severus Snape in the upcoming HBO series. Katie Leung, an actress from the original films, also added her name.
“We the undersigned film and television professionals stand in solidarity with the trans, nonbinary and intersex communities who have been impacted by the Supreme Court ruling on April 16,” the open letter says.
“We believe the ruling undermines the lived reality and threatens the safety of trans, non-binary and intersex people living in the UK,” it said. “Film and television are powerful tools for empathy and education, and we believe passionately in the ability of the screen to change hearts and minds. This is our opportunity to be on the right side of history.”
On Saturday, Rowling had reacted to the open letter with another X <a href="https://x.com/jk_rowling/status/1918747065460420745">post</a>. “In light of recent open letters from academia and the arts criticising the UK’s Supreme Court ruling on sex-based rights, it’s possibly worth remembering that nobody sane believes, or has ever believed, that humans can change sex, or that binary sex isn’t a material fact,” the author wrote.
&#8220;History is littered with the debris of irrational and harmful belief systems that once seemed unassailable,&#8221; she continued in the lengthy post. &#8220;As Orwell said, &#8216;Some ideas are so stupid that only intellectuals believe them.&#8217; Gender ideology may have embedded itself deeply into our institutions, where it&#8217;s been imposed, top-down, on the supposedly unenlightened, but it is not invulnerable.&#8221;
&#8220;I wonder if they ever ask themselves how they got here, and I wonder whether any of them will ever feel shame,&#8221; she concluded.
Rowling has been an outspoken critic of radical left-wing gender theory for years. She has refused to back down even as critics came after her, and she’s lost fans because of it.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
In light of recent open letters from academia and the arts criticising the UK&#39;s Supreme Court ruling on sex-based rights, it&#39;s possibly worth remembering that nobody sane believes, or has ever believed, that humans can change sex, or that binary sex isn&#39;t a material fact. These…
&mdash; J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1918747065460420745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

JK Rowling

JK Rowling Said She ‘Wouldn’t Fire’ Actor From ‘Harry Potter’ Series For Being Pro-Trans

JK Rowling Said She 'Wouldn't Fire' Actor From 'Harry Potter' Show For Being Pro-Trans

nonbinary

Social Issues

Transgender

World

The Hollywood Resistance wasn’t ready for its close-up following the 2024 presidential election.
We didn’t even see starlets donning hats resembling a certain female body part. Trade publications like <a href="https://variety.com/2024/film/news/hollywood-fears-trump-president-devastating-1236209319/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Variety</a> and <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/hollywood-trump-resistance-the-sequel-1236076420/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hollywood Reporter</a> fretted that we might not endure a repeat of Hollywood’s posturing during the first Trump term.
Remember the first Trump term? Death wishes. Clunky documentaries. Comedy shows throwing satire to the side to smite the 45th president. And one ISIS-style photography shoot which pummeled a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/election-night-kathy-griffin-retweets-infamous-pic-of-her-with-trumps-severed-head" target="_blank" rel="noopener">D-list star’s career.</a>
Those fears have melted away in President Trump’s first 100 days in office. The Resistance is back and the worst is (likely) yet to come.
Late-night TV never stopped attacking President Trump. Most programs would consider President Joe Biden and his gaffe-tastic Vice President Kamala Harris fodder during the leader’s one term in office.
The jokes could write themselves. Instead, Colbert and co. pretended as if Trump had never left the Oval Office.
<div id="attachment_825621" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-825621" class="size-large wp-image-825621" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2182289102-864x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK CITY - OCTOBER 17: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest during Thursday's October 17, 2024 show. (Photo by Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2182289102-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2182289102-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2182289102-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/11/GettyImages-2182289102.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images</div>
ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel greeted Trump’s re-election with literal tears, and it’s been the same ol’, same ol’ ever since. He referred to Trump administration officials as “animals” in an <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/jimmy-kimmel-trump-late-night-future-interview-1235315906/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unhinged Rolling Stone interview</a>. He also described his comedy platform as a place liberals can go to “scream” in Trump 2.0.
NBC’s Seth Meyers is openly advising the Democrats on how to win back the general public, <a href="https://x.com/alexchristy17/status/1917210840106680431" target="_blank" rel="noopener">throwing caution</a> (and comedy) to the wind:
<blockquote>Now is not the time to nitpick the messaging of other Democrats. Instead of critiquing someone else&#8217;s message, go out there and do your own thing and give voters the choice they were deprived of this last election. Take a cue from the ones who are actually going out there doing [bleep] and getting attention for it.</blockquote>
Amber Ruffin no longer has a late-night show to call her own. So she talked herself out of a gig hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association gala by <a href="https://variety.com/2025/politics/news/whca-drops-amber-ruffin-performance-dinner-1236351795/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sharing what she planned to say</a> on the dais. 
When asked if she would hit both sides of the political aisle, she said doing so would make Team Trump “feel like human beings … ‘cause they’re not.”
“Saturday Night Live” continues to hammer all things Trump while aggressively ignoring Democratic blunders, from throwing support to alleged gang members to goofy stunts like Sen. Cory Booker’s 25-hour filibuster.
<div id="attachment_914075" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-914075" class="size-large wp-image-914075" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209610052-864x576.jpg" alt="SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- Episode 1881 -- Pictured: (l-r) Special guest Beck Bennett as Vladimir Putin and James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump during the &quot;White Lotus&quot; sketch on Saturday, April 12, 2025 -- (Photo by: Holland Rainwater/NBC via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209610052-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209610052-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209610052-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2209610052.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Holland Rainwater/NBC via Getty Images</div>
Comedian Bill Burr isn’t a political stand-up, but in recent years he’s called out both sides as he sees fit. Now, Burr is targeting Elon Musk, Trump’s right hand DOGE man across multiple platforms. Burr has blasted Musk as a Nazi and raged against billionaires, part of a new Democratic talking point that ignores their deep Soros family ties.
Other stars keep spreading fake Trump stories without fear of repercussion. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/01/amber-ruffin-comedian-white-house-correspondents-dinner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Both Ruffin</a> and “Hacks” star <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/hannah-einbinder-israel-massacre-palestinians-hrc-1236170941/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hannah Einbinder</a> pushed the “very fine people” hoax against Trump in recent weeks, earning zero pushback from Legacy Media outlets or so-called fact checkers.
Celebrities may seem a little less vocal in their anti-Trump posturing for one sober reason. Some decamped from X to Bluesky, the platform of choice for the modern Leftist. Now, when stars like “Two and a Half Men” alum Jon Cryer rage against Trump few people actually hear it.
That’s probably why some liberal stars like Stephen King left X only to come back to it weeks later. They were tired of screaming into the void, apparently.
Others use every available podium to decry President Trump.
Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar (“Bad Education”) used his speech at the 50th annual Chaplin award gala earlier this month to says Trump will, “<a href="https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2025/04/29/spanish-filmmaker-pedro-almodovar-trump-will-go-down-in-history-as-the-greatest-mistake-of-our-time/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Go down in history as the greatest mistake of our time.”</a> Director Steven Soderberg (“Black Bag”) only called the president a <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/entertainment/director-of-che-guevara-biopic-worries-trump-popularity-proves-audiences-have-been-rooting-for-movie-bad-guys-all-along/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“villain”</a> by comparison during a press opportunity.
It’s still a sin in Hollywood to treat President Trump as normal, let alone human. Comedian Bill Maher, one of the president’s loudest critics, made more enemies on the Left by breaking bread with the Commander-in-Chief.
Maher hasn’t pulled any punches since the sit down, but he also saw Trump as, gasp, human and said as much. That was too much for fellow comedian Larry David. The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star’s New York Times op-ed calling both <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/larry-david-whines-about-bill-maher-giving-donald-trump-a-chance-with-trite-hitler-comparison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trump and Maher Nazis</a> spoke for many of the industry’s dwellers.
<div id="attachment_914179" style="width: 825px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-914179" class="size-large wp-image-914179" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-30-Apr-2025-01-51-PM-1677-815x576.jpg" alt="Credit: Randy Holmes/BILL MAHER. Steve Granitz/FilmMagic/Larry David." width="815" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-30-Apr-2025-01-51-PM-1677-815x576.jpg 815w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-30-Apr-2025-01-51-PM-1677-300x212.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-30-Apr-2025-01-51-PM-1677-768x543.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-30-Apr-2025-01-51-PM-1677-1536x1086.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/MixCollage-30-Apr-2025-01-51-PM-1677-2048x1448.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 815px) 100vw, 815px" />Credit: Randy Holmes/BILL MAHER. Steve Granitz/FilmMagic/Larry David.</div>
Some celebrities insist President Trump will either lock them up or prevent them from returning to America. Rocker Neil Young, who famously tried to get Joe Rogan fired from Spotify during the pandemic, openly worries he won&#8217;t be able to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/apr/02/neil-young-fears-us-ban-donald-trump-criticism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tour the U.S</a>. if he temporarily leaves the country during Trump 2.0.
Stand-up comic Nikki Glaser, who rarely gets political, <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/24/entertainment/nikki-glaser-worried-that-she-could-not-be-let-back-into-the-country-for-trump-jokes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared a similar fear</a>.
Others, like Patti LuPone, embrace big-picture worries, like <a href="https://variety.com/2025/legit/news/george-clooney-patti-lupone-surviving-trump-broadway-pay-1236374131/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">America won’t survive</a> a second Trump term.
What’s missing? Overtly anti-Trump project announcements. They may be in the works, but we’ve yet to hear of any major film or TV show dedicated to tackling Trump.
Screenwriters may work around the edges as part of their Resistance sequel. Take “Mountainhead,” a new satire from the creator of “Succession.” The Max original film, debuting May 31, follows four billionaires on vacation as they react to a global crisis from their posh retreat.
Will the movie be a “Smash the Oligarchy” event targeting the Elon Musks of the world? Perhaps. The film’s rush from production — which began in March — to release date teases just that.
Hollywood has nearly four more years to lash out at President Trump in all manner of forms. Chances are we’ll see new films or TV show tackling the 47th president directly. And, if past is prologue, the eye rolling will be epic.
* * *
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://www.hollywoodintoto.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HollywoodInToto.com</a>.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Saturday Night Live – Season 50

Hollywood Reacts To 100 Days Of Trump

actors

Bill Maher

comedian

Donald Trump

Hollywood

Jimmy Kimmel

Larry David

President Trump

Stephen Colbert

Trump Administration

“Star Wars” fans are reeling from the unexpected rape scene in the new season of the popular series “Andor,” which just released the first three episodes of season two this week on Disney+.
So far, the “Star Wars” franchise has stayed away from sexual content beyond insinuations, but in episode three, that all changed. During the scene in question, an Imperial officer tries to rape the Rebel fugitive Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona) when she’s hiding out in a farming settlement to avoid Imperial troops who are rounding up “undocumented” citizens, per <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/andor-star-wars-season-2-bix-rape-interview-1236191397/">The Hollywood Reporter</a>.
Bix wins out in the life or death battle that ensues, then clarifies what just occurred when she screams, “He tried to rape me!”
“Andor” creator Tony Gilroy explained why he felt it was important to include the scene, saying it helped convey the realities of war.
“I get one shot to tell everything I know — or can discover, or that I’ve learned — about revolution, about battles, with as many incidents and as many colors as I can get in there, without having [the story] tip over,” Gilroy told the outlet. 
“I mean, let’s be honest, man: The history of civilization, there’s a huge arterial component of it that’s rape,” he added. “All of us who are here — we are all the product of rape. I mean armies and power throughout history [have committed rape]. So to not touch on it, in some way … It just was organic and it felt right, coming about as a power trip for this guy. I was really trying to make a path for Bix that would ultimately lead to clarity — but a difficult path to get back to clarity.”
Gilroy also noted that the studio didn’t give him pushback about including the topic. “No one ever ever said anything about it, ever,” the “Andor” creator said. “But I mean, we have limits on what we can do. We are very aware of what we can do sexually and violence wise. Those limits are made very clear.”
Arjona said she felt empowered during the scene. “The fact that I get to speak [the word rape] out [loud] — I felt so much power in that,” she told <a href="https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/andor-adria-arjona-bix-attempted-rape-1236375525/">V</a><a href="https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/andor-adria-arjona-bix-attempted-rape-1236375525/">ariety</a>. “I felt it throughout the day. I felt it when I finished filming, and I went home.”
Fans had mixed reactions to the episode. 
“SA in SW feels unnecessary. You can portray power dynamics and making the audience hate the empire in other ways without taking it to such a disgusting place,” one X user <a href="https://x.com/realswtheory/status/1914896363051212849">wrote</a>. “Vader wouldn&#8217;t tolerate that sh** nor does the Empire condone it. It has no place in Star Wars. Period. Unnecessary.”
“[S]ome of you really do need to grow up because this is exactly what the empire would do, despite it making you uncomfortable. thats the POINT? an imperial officer using his unchecked power to attempt to rape someone he deems illegal is exactly what the empire condones,” another person <a href="https://x.com/kattywumpas_/status/1915027886953681353">argued</a>.

Adria Arjona

‘Andor’ Creator Discusses Rape Scene In ‘Star Wars’ Series: ‘We’re All The Product Of Rape’

'Andor' Creator Discusses  Rape Scene In 'Star Wars' Series: 'We're All The Product Of Rape'

Disney

Rape

Star Wars

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