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Is Kimmel’s Pratt Assault Start of New Late-Night War?

Jimmy Kimmel honored longtime friend Adam Carolla this week, telling the world that their political differences mean nothing in the big picture.

That matters. And, sadly, it’s increasingly rare in our culture.

Good on Jimmy! (And, of course, he teared up in the process)

Kimmel then went out and used his broadcast TV pulpit to slam the man trying to bring sanity back to the City of Angels – Spencer Pratt.

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” became the first late-night show to take on the upstart candidate head on. It’s surprising that Kimmel and co. have mostly held their fire up until this point.

RELATED: THE FREE SPEECH FIGHT KIMMEL IGNORED

Pratt isn’t a traditional Republican. Nor does he mention ideology when promoting his efforts to replace L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. He still seeks to upend California’s Democratic dominance, and that’s a bridge too far for a progressive activist like Kimmel.

“Then you get a guy who is on a reality show, who’s on a lot of reality shows. His profession is to be the screaming jerk on reality shows, and his house burns down, and even though he had no private insurance on his house and doesn’t believe in climate change, he is understandably upset about his house burning down.”

What does his belief, or lack thereof, in climate change have to do with anything? Climate change didn’t start the fire.

This guy allegedly did.

“And since he’s a moderately famous person, he gets attention. He’s on the news, he’s on social media, and for the first time in his life, people are agreeing with what he has to say. It’s hard not to agree with what he has to say. He’s angry about the same problems a lot of people here are angry about.”

RELATED: JOHNNY CARSON WARNED US ABOUT JIMMY KIMMEL

OK. So did Mr. Truth to Power say anything about why Pratt is angry, or how local politicians let Angelenos down?

The answer would be, “no.”

“Does he have solutions to those problems? No. But at least he’s acknowledging that they are problems. So, then this angry reality show star, who grew up wealthy and popular and is not very wealthy or popular anymore, really starts to enjoy the attention. He starts to think, ‘You know, I should be mayor.’ Which is a statement that should make everyone laugh. But not everyone is laughing.”

It’s all misdirection and personal attacks. 

There’s a simple way to clear things up. Invite Pratt on your program. Except Kimmel would never do that. He doesn’t air opposing views, let alone engage in fair debate.

Why? He’d be creamed if he did. And, mid-creaming, his audience would say, “hey, Kimmel’s guest has a point.” And Kimmel doesn’t play that way.

Will other talk show hosts follow Kimmel’s lead? Likely.

“The Tonight Show” may hold off, for now. Host Jimmy Fallon is the least partisan liberal on late-night TV, and he may not see a benefit to defending an indefensible politician like Bass.

Expect Seth Meyers, John Oliver and “The Daily Show” to attack Pratt sooner rather than later.

Jon Stewart recently mocked Pratt from a stand-up comedy stage, but he did so without his “Daily Show” team. 

“One fire, one mudslide and you’re like, OK, just let the guy from ‘The Hills’ take over.”

Stewart may have given his late-night peers permission with that remark. Kimmel just took the bait.

Meanwhile, the same late-night hosts let Bass and co. off the hook for more than a year. They ignored her staying in Ghana when the California wildfires broke out and looked the other way as she allegedly downplayed a damning post-action report on the deadly blaze.

Kimmel might even cry, again, should Pratt stun the state and become L.A.’s next mayor. If so, he might want to ask someone, perhaps Carolla himself, why the results surprised him.

He might get closer to the truth than he’s been in some time.

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Is Music Industry’s Blacklist Worst than Hollywood’s Version?

Bruce Springsteen has built an entire tour around one topic.

President Donald Trump.

The Boss is traveling the country to lecture fans on his far-left politics. He insists the president is leading America to ruin, and if you buy his “No Kings” merch it could save the country.

Sadly, he sometimes needs a teleprompter to remind him exactly why he’s so angry.

It’s Springsteen’s right, of course. America allows him to say whatever he’d like to share about the current political scene.

What a country!

Except the music industry doesn’t like free speech, assuming it’s speech that doesn’t align with its collective worldview. Neither does the Modern Left. Both will do whatever it takes to make sure the other side of the political argument isn’t heard.

We’re seeing this in real time. And, to no one’s surprise, Springsteen hasn’t spared a syllable about the problem. Nor will he.

The Great American State Fair, slated to run from June 25 to July 10, promised music from Martina McBride, Young MC, C+C Music Factory, Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, The Commodores, Morris Day & The Time, Flo Rida, Bret Michaels.

The gala promised a grand day of music on the National Mall July 4.

Yet some of the artists teased to appear quickly backtracked once the list went public.

Editor’s Note: It’s a brutal time to be an independent journalist, but it’s never been more necessary given the sorry state of the corporate press. If you’re enjoying Hollywood in Toto, I hope you’ll consider leaving a coin (or two) in our Tip Jar.

A few claimed the event was too political and divisive, citing vague statements to allegedly back up the claim. Others, like Bret Michaels, said violent threats made them quit the tour.

“Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable.”

Look past the prepared statements.

This is a pro-America tour designed to honor the country’s 250th birthday. The team behind the event insists it has no formal connection to the Trump White House and isn’t political.

Freedom 250, the nonprofit organizing a bevy of nationwide events to commemorate the U.S. semi-quincentennial, has maintained that the state fair is not affiliated with the White House despite the blowback.

“Freedom 250 is focused on our signature celebrations and events that honor our history and engage all Americans — welcoming all who share our goal of commemorating this milestone in a way that uplifts and unites America,” spokesperson Rachel Reisner told The Hill in a statement.

That’s not 100 percent true. President Trump fueled Freedom 250’s creation to honor the nation’s milestone birthday. A quick glimpse at the group’s web site shows uplifting messaging, tributes to the nation’s founding and other pro-America content.

Is that MAGA, or just patriotism 101?

For the Left, patriotism is coded Right. And anything that could be construed as pro Trump, facts be darned, is beyond the pale.

What if the event did tie back to President Trump, even directly? Would it be a problem if President Barack Obama assembled a concert lineup to honor the nation’s birth?

Would a single artist back out, citing its “divisive” nature or possible security threats?

Of course not. It would never be framed as divisive, and the Right doesn’t do violent threats quite like the modern Left.

Why can’t a sitting U.S. president honor the nation’s birthday? He’s the president of all of us, even if many voted for the other party.

The music industry is decidedly Leftist, a groupthink that’s undeniable. Count the number of artists who raged against Israel over the last two-plus years versus those who spoke out about the ghastly Oct. 7 terror attacks against Israel.

It’s not even close.

Or, consider how most Grammy awards ceremonies hawk DNC talking points and rarely, if ever, support right-leaning causes.

Today, a singer like Springsteen can weaponize his tour to promote Democrats. Yet if M.I.A. shares right-leaning views from a concert stage, she’s sacked in short order.

Hollywood has been discriminating against conservative actors for years. The evidence is everywhere, and no A-list star will dare speak out against it.

It seems that ideological blacklist extends to the music industry. And it’s far, far worse.

UPDATE: Springsteen, Dave Matthew Band, The Foo Fighters and more just announced a new anti-Trump concert timed to the midterm elections.

You won’t see violent threats meant to stop the gala. Nor will the media ask tough but fair questions to the performers about their far-Left views.

The show will go on, as planned, and that’s good. If only it worked in reverse.

READERS: What artists should join the Freedom 250 gala? Which current superstars represent the country, its fighting spirit and sense of independence?

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‘Breadwinner’ Broadsided by YouTube Horror Sleepers

Nate Bargatze can do no wrong on a comedy stage.

The squeaky-clean comic sells out arenas with impunity. He’s the top-selling stand-up in the country, and it isn’t close. So, naturally, a Hollywood studio gave him a PG-rated comedy to call his own.

Enter “The Breadwinner.”

The Sony release casts Bargazte in an oh, so familiar role. He’s a put-upon Dad forced to play Mr. Mom when his wife (Mandy Moore) snags a huge deal on “Shark Tank.”

Laundry? School pick-ups? Cooking? Uh, oh.

It’s a perfect vehicle for Bargatze, on paper, but so far movie goers are opting for something different. The film is looking at a $7-8 million opening, a far cry from the numbers some expected given his outsized fame.

It doesn’t help that the box office competition is nasty at the moment.

Not only must “The Breadwinner” battle the newest “Star Wars” film, but it’s up against two indie horror films that are overperforming in dramatic fashion.

“Obsession” keeps growing, weekend after weekend. “Backrooms,” opening now, could make as much as $80 million.

Or more.

Those films don’t directly compete with “The Breadwinner,” a family-friendly comedy that should be able to carve out space for itself.

So far, not so good.

The critical reviews aren’t helping. “The Breadwinner” wasn’t screened for Denver-based critics. The rest of the country isn’t exactly enamored of the film. The Rotten Tomatoes score is currently 29 percent “rotten.” 

It’s not just a problem for Bargatze. Fellow stand-up superstars have struggled to make the leap to the big screen. Sebastian Maniscalco’s “About My Father” crashed and burned two years ago. It opened with $4.3 million and stalled out at $12 million.

Bert Kreischer’s “The Machine” also couldn’t draw traffic, ending up with $10 million US.

The upside for Team Bargatze? It’s summer, and parents will be eager for clean, family-friendly fare with oodles of air conditioning. Plus, that 85 percent “fresh” rating at RottenTomatoes.com from general audiences could spark serious world of mouth.

He may dress like a suburban dad, but Bargatze’s “Breadwinner” could have serious legs.

What’s your favorite Bargatze bit?

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‘Pendragon Cycle’ Lands Shocking Canadian Nomination

Pendragon Cycle Rise of the Merlin review Rose Reid gladiator

Matt Walsh’s Oscar campaign for 2024’s “Am I Racist?” proved a tongue-in-cheek affair.

The Daily Wire pundit knew Hollywood would never consider his documentary for such an award. The Oscars rarely honor movies that share a right-leaning perspective. And “Am I Racist?” delivered a nasty uppercut to the flailing DEI agenda.

A separate Daily Wire original had better luck this week.

“The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin” showed the conservative platform could deliver a smart, soaring fantasy series, the kind we expect from a mainstream platform like Hulu or Netflix. Creator and executive producer Jeremy Boreing’s passion project bowed earlier this year to strong reviews and positive reaction.

The sprawling story blends action, adventure, Christianity and magic in a compelling, seven-part series. Now, co-star Colin Cunningham, who plays Vortigern in the series, has been nominated for Best Lead Performance in a Dramatic Series by the British Columbia group.

“We set out to tell a story told with real ambition and genuine care, and to see it recognized is deeply gratifying. Colin Cunningham brought to Vortigern a gravity and a grief that anchor the entire series, and he deserves this honor and many more. Congratulations to him and to our entire team who believed in it,” said Boreing in a statement exclusive to Hollywood in Toto.

Conservative artists face chronic discrimination in the arts. An unofficial blacklist forces many to keep their right-leaning views private less they face professional recrimination.

Just this week, several musicians were bullied into pulling out of a patriotic concert due to its nebulous ties to President Donald Trump.

Celebrated author and podcaster Andrew Klavan predicted that his conservative beliefs would make it far less likely for him to win literary awards as he had in the past. And he was right.

Any time a right-leaning project snags a nomination, let alone an award, is newsworthy now.



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‘Star Wars’ RIP? ‘Mandalorian’ Plummets, ‘Backrooms’ Soars

The weekend’s box office numbers doubled as a baton-passing moment.

  • Out with the old – a moldy film franchise razed by its corporate overlords
  • In with the new – a generation of storytellers weaned on YouTube 

“The Mandalorian and Grogu” plummeted close to 70 percent in its second frame, falling behind two movies with a combined budget of $11 million.

Maybe less.

The first “Star Wars” film in seven years couldn’t even replicate the box office totals from “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” That film proved the franchise’s creative and commercial nadir.

Now, “The Mandalorian” holds that dishonor.

Meanwhile, a pair of indie horror films dominated this weekend’s release slate. “Obsession” grew another 19 percent from its previous week, according to Deadline.com.

That. Just. Doesn’t. Happen. Yet it happened.

Again.

Those stunning results took a backseat to “Backrooms.” The directorial debut of 20-year-old Kane Parsons was expected to earn a whopping $20 million just a few short weeks ago.

Except the box office predictions kept growing, and growing. Last week, experts envisioned a $25-33 million opening.

The reality? Deadline.com reports the film could land between $85-88 million.

Stunning.

Hollywood has been very afraid of where the theatrical model will go over the next few years. It’s an understandable concern.

Ticket sales have slumped in recent years. Gen Z types seemed cozier watching movies on streaming platforms or their tablets than going to a theater.

The films released of late felt inadequate, either too creatively safe or just plain woke. This year, things are changing. Consider the early list of 2026 blockbusters:

  • “Project Hail Mary”
  • “Hoppers”
  • “Scream 7”
  • “Michael”
  • “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie”
  • “The Devil Wears Prada 2”

Hit after hit after hit. And now, two horror films are crushing the competition. What changed?

It helps that both Curry Barker (“Obsession”) and Parsons (“Backrooms”) were weaned on social media platforms like YouTube. They took full advantage of the video platform to build their storytelling chops and connect with audiences.

They’re young enough to grasp what Gen Z craves while growing a fan base.

Disney’s “Star Wars” represents something different, an older model that may have outlived its usefulness. Its creators mock the fan base, ignore canon and think throwing a few dozen Easter eggs on the screen will build brand loyalty.

To quote Tim Robinson, “Are you sure ’bout that?”

This new Hollywood may not have enough room for movies like “The Mandalorian and Grogu.” It’ll embrace young visionaries eager to lure audiences back to the cineplex.

Just ask Barker, who was offered $10 million for his next film (without a single hint of what it might actually be).

 

 

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Adam Carolla: Hasan Piker is a ‘Luxury Communist’

Hasan Piker is the Left’s Flavor of the Month. Let that sink in.

Never mind his rageful rhetoric, from saying America deserved 9/11 to embracing political violence. That’s just the tip of the hateful iceberg.

Piker has expressed explicit support for U.S-designated terrorist organizations such as Hamas, the Houthis, Hezbollah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) on numerous occasions. He has also falsely claimed that the well-documented sexual violence committed by Hamas and other terrorists on October 7, 2023 did not take place. Piker’s casual and frequent assertions of support for terrorist groups and the violence they commit normalize the use of violence to his millions of followers.

Progressives are looking past that, hoping Piker’s click-worthy shtick will boost their party’s chances in 2026 and beyond.

Ghoulish barely describes it, and we’re sure Stephen Colbert would have skewered Piker’s hateful commentary had his show not been canceled earlier this month.

Yet Adam Carolla and his “crystal brain” see right through Piker’s pose. The podcaster and Dr. Drew Pinsky shredded Piker’s shtick on “The Adam and Dr. Drew Show” podcast.

It wasn’t pretty. Just necessary.

The pair didn’t further expose Piker’s violent musings. They skewered his bogus economic theories with ridicule and facts.

They played audio of Piker slamming Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, one of the world’s wealthiest men. He didn’t earn it nor deserve that kind of wealth, Piker alleges. He simply got “lucky,” was in the right place at the right time and needed all his Amazon employees to make his wealth possible.

It’s dumb on the surface, and insipid upon rudimentary inspection. Yet Democrats like Rep. Ro Khanna, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani flock to Piker’s side to soak in his alleged wisdom.

And, presumably, to curry favor with people who embrace his unabashed hate. The Legacy Media, which is corrupt to the core, has yet to press any of these prominent figures about their Piker adoration.

“Embedded in here is a disdain for and a lack of understanding of ownership and, once you dig further, even property,” Dr. Pinsky said of Piker’s commentary. “You’re not supposed to have property.”

The podcasters noted that while Piker will call out folks like Bezos and Elon Musk, he’s far less vocal about other billionaires, think George Soros, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and wannabe California Gov. Tom Steyer.

Hmmmm.

“How does this reasoning figure into the money that Nancy Pelosi and AOC have … they have hundreds of millions of dollars, some of them,” Dr. Pinsky said. “Did they work hundreds of millions of times harder than the people who paid the taxes?”

“He continually leaves out his heroes,” Carolla answered, noting the partisan games in play.

Dr. Pinsky then called out Piker for his blatant hypocrisy.

“How does he explain the money he’s making, sitting behind a microphone?” Dr. Pinsky asked. Online estimates suggest Piker could be worth as much as $8 million. “Does he work a hundred times harder [than other people]?”

Carolla boiled it all down.

“I knew [Piker] was dangerous and I knew his rhetoric was s***, but I didn’t know he was a dope. This proves he’s a dope,” Carolla said. “These people are Communists who hate this country, that’s about it. They’re luxury Communists … they’re not living the life of a Communist.”

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M.I.A. Sues Kid Cudi, Cites Free Speech Infringement

Picture this.

A 50-something black woman tries to speak her mind from a concert stage. Her boss, the musician behind the tour, swiftly fires her.

He claims that she shared “offensive” views, even though the comments reflected the views of many ordinary Americans. Her monologue contained no profanity, nor did it disparage any group or person.

Cue the progressive outrage … right?

Right?

Not even close.

When Kid Cudi fired M.I.A. last month for espousing conservative views and questioning illegal immigration, the usual suspects went stone cold silent. Legacy Media outlets yawned. So did the ACLU, Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Kimmel and other celebrities who claim free speech is under assault in the Age of Trump.

Some of these artists have spent months slamming President Trump from their concert stages. Imagine if someone fired them for that simple act?

Now, M.I.A. is going on the offensive. She is suing the singer to the tune of $2.8 million. Here’s part of a statement shared by Variety on the matter.

“Kid Cudi’s attempts to silence freedom of artistic expression and speech on his ‘Rebel Rager’s Tour’ cannot go unchallenged … Kid Cudi claimed shock over her comments he now labels as ‘offensive’ and his abrupt and unjustified termination of her performance agreement is a desperate attempt to sell tickets for his tour that was drastically underselling. As a result, his false allegations have fueled a misguided, hive-minded pile-on based on a deliberate misrepresentation of her words.”

RELATED: THE FREE SPEECH FIGHT THAT KIMMEL AND CO. IGNORE

RELATED: WHY LEFT’S SUDDEN FREE SPEECH ENERGY IS A FRAUD

Progressive celebrities have been crying wolf for months over alleged free speech attacks. Liberals, along with Legacy Media outlets, blamed “The Late Show’s” cancellation on President Donald Trump. They claimed he wanted to silence host Stephen Colbert for his chronic attacks on the real estate mogul.

The problem? CBS said “The Late Show” cost the network $40 million a year, and CBS officials decided to go with a more profitable option – Byron Allen’s “Comics Unleashed.”

Plus, the parent company behind CBS recently signed the team behind “South Park,” a show that spent an entire season skewering President Trump, to a billion-plus-dollar deal.

Other stars have claimed President Trump might prevent them from re-entering the country, like Neil Young. We’ve yet to see proof of such a scenario.

Yet when M.I.A. got bounced from the tour in question, the folks rallying behind free speech rights said nothing. Even Jane Fonda, who recently revived a decades-old group sworn to uphold the First Amendment, couldn’t spare a syllable for her fellow artist.

Now, M.I.A. is taking legal action to protect both her brand and her free speech rights.

Rolling Stone has done little to battle back against Cancel Culture in recent years. The far-Left outlet also slammed comedian Dave Chappelle for telling trans jokes at the height of the woke revolution.

To its credit, the site shared a further explanation from Team M.I.A.

“KiD CuDi’s attempts to silence freedom of artistic expression and speech on his ‘Rebel Rager’s Tour’ cannot go unchallenged. Censorship is something M.I.A has fought against her whole career,” a rep for M.I.A. said in a statement shared with Rolling Stone on Sunday.

Will Jimmy Kimmel’s free speech defenders rise up on behalf of M.I.A.? What about groups like the NAACP or Black Lives Matter? Will they honor the singer’s free speech rights, or will they sit this one out?

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Did Bill Maher Just Win L

Bill Maher settled on a curious recurring joke during his interview with Spencer Pratt.

The future Mark Twain Prize winner told Pratt to stop making the L.A. mayor’s race so darn “personal.”

Sure, your house burned to a crisp thanks in part to government incompetence, but isn’t it time we look past that nagging issue?

Maher’s gag fell flat the first time he tried it, while Pratt took it with surprising grace. The host trotted it out a few more times during their hour-plus conversation.

By the end, it seemed obvious that Maher was on Team Pratt. He just couldn’t say it out loud.

He didn’t have to.

The curious exchange found Maher gently pressing Pratt on several key issues, from the city’s current, dysfunctional state to the future of solar panels in the Golden State.

The latter was a rare swing-and-miss for Pratt, but he quickly recovered to say that renewable energy isn’t atop his “to-do” list.

Nor should it be given L.A.’s sizable flaws.

RELATED: BILL MAHER DID WHAT NO OTHER LATE NIGHT COMIC DARED

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RELATED: DID TRUMP CRUSH BILL MAHER’S STAND-UP ACT?

Maher remains a loyal Democratic voter, but he suggested he may not pull the lever for either Mayor Karen Bass or far-Left candidate Nithya Raman.

How?

“You had me at hello,” Maher told Pratt at the end of their conversation. Yes, Maher is liberal and he adores his adopted city of Los Angeles.

He also knows societal decay when he sees it.

“I didn’t know until I talked to you … but you have the exact right impatience with this s***. It’s very authentic,” Maher said.

It’s one thing for Pratt to drop by Fox News’ “Gutfeld!” The right-leaning candidate did just that a few days ago, a venue that let him share his talking points with little blowback.

Visiting with a man renowned for his liberal politics is something else.

The fact that Pratt either won Maher over or the comedian was sold on Pratt’s campaign long before he entered the podcast studio speaks volumes. At times, Maher played the political advisor, suggesting where Pratt should tone down his pitch and where to double down on it.

He’s clearly rooting for him to shake up the status quo, if not win the whole shebang.

It’s also noteworthy that Maher would “platform” Pratt in the first place. The host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” recently savaged Pratt from his ABC pulpit, a blend of partisanship and personal attacks. 

Wouldn’t it be easier to invite Pratt onto the ABC show and settle things in person? Kimmel would never do such a thing. His audience would revolt.

More importantly, he might get his clock cleaned by Pratt, rhetorically speaking.

Maher understands having Pratt on the air is more than just a great talk show “get.” It’s a way to save Los Angeles from its disastrous status quo.

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How Taylor Swift Could Save Freedom 250 Concert

Quick, who have benefited from the U.S. more than Taylor Swift?

Tough question, right?

America has delivered endless dreams to hard-working patriots, immigrants seeking a brighter future and those who never stopped reaching for their stars.

And then there’s Swift. She’s the biggest pop star on the planet, a 30-something artist who has taken full advantage of the freedom and opportunity America offers. To her credit, she’s made the most of every chance her country gave her.

Now, it’s time to return the favor, but it won’t be easy.

Swift should agree to join the flailing Freedom 250 concert lineup, the very one that shed the vast majority of its acts in recent days. Artists like Bret Michaels, Martina McBride, Young MC and more broke their promises to appear because:

  • The event proved more political than they expected (sans proof)
  • The event put their lives in jeopardy (potentially true given the Left’s lust for violence)
  • Everyone else is quitting, so …

Pick your choice. 

Editor’s Note: It’s a brutal time to be an independent journalist, but it’s never been more necessary given the sorry state of the corporate press. If you’re enjoying Hollywood in Toto, I hope you’ll consider leaving a coin (or two) in our Tip Jar.

Either way, the fallout is clear. Even C-list stars aren’t willing to face the professional blowback for aligning with a concert that’s pro America and, potentially, Trump adjacent.

President Donald Trump created the Freedom 250 group to honor the nation’s 250th birthday next month. Toward that end, it designed a massive, state fair-like gathering to celebrate the milestone.

And, once progressive pressure came down on the acts in question, they bailed one by one.

Vanilla Ice may be the last act standing.

“It’s all about enjoying the great times of 250 years. From George Washington to now. All the presidents and everybody in between, this is a magical event that’s gonna happen,” he said in the video. “It’s very rare. I’m honored, man. This is gonna be epic. And that’s it. We don’t take anything too seriously, and we’re gonna bring the ‘90s, that’s how it works.”

Not all heroes wear capes. And it’s well past time for Swift to either try one on or channel her inner Ice.

Why? 

The nation’s birthday shouldn’t be a partisan slugfest. We all know if President Kamala Harris sparked the Freedom 250 group, the concert would be wall-to-wall superstars. Springsteen. Beyonce. Roan. Bunny.

Except Harris couldn’t topple Trump at the ballot box. That means artists would rather do anything except perform for the nation’s big birthday. Their patriotism ends when Democrats don’t hold the levers of power.

See how this works?

If Swift ignored the corrupt Legacy Media and her fellow progressives to anchor the ceremony, she would singlehandedly resurrect the concert.

And it would start with a soul-searching Instagram post.

Y’all know I didn’t pull the lever for Donald Trump. And I disagree with many of his philosophies. But the country’s 250th birthday is bigger than one president. It’s about the American experiment, an evolving dream that has given the world so much.

That’s why I’m putting politics aside to honor my home’s 250th birthday. And I hope you’ll join me in D.C.!

Now, the chances of that happening are even slimmer than Lloyd Christmas landing a date with his dream girl.

Still, Swift is perfectly positioned to do just that and give America the patriotic present it deserves. She’d be crucified in the media, of course. MS NOW-style outlets would burn endless calories attacking her choice.

The op-eds would be legendary, as would the snark from her fellow stars.

Remember how the press turned on her for not immediately backing Hillary Clinton for president? If you don’t, just know that some media outlets suggested she was a White Supremacist.

Really.

Swift is literally too big to cancel. If she stood her ground and sang for her country out of pure gratitude, she’d survive the “scandal.”

She survived that faux controversy. And, chances are, she’d survived this one, too.

And, here’s betting, other musicians would follow her lead. America deserves nothing less.

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‘Matrix’ Co-Director Plays ‘Fascist’ Card, Blasts Film Critics

Lilly Wachowski wants a major movie studio to fund the director’s passion project.

So far, no takers.

Wachowski famously co-directed both “Bound” and, later, “The Matrix.” The latter rocked Hollywood, changing the way we process action movies. The film’s provocative themes and aesthetic gave Wachowski the ability to tell any story, any time.

Except the director’s follow-up projects either disappointed (two “Matrix” sequels) or outright flopped.

Think: “Jupiter Ascending,” “Cloud Atlas” and “Speed Racer.” Three high-profile duds, at least from a box office perspective.

Why would any studio trust Wachowski at this point?

Except the director has an answer for this creative dry spell. It’s fascism, don’t you know.

I feel like the industry is a microcosm of what is happening all around the world: the consolidation of wealth, the corporate consolidation that you’re seeing. It’s creating an ecosphere where fascism can thrive, and so within that ecosphere, queer stories, trans stories, Black and brown stories are all on the chopping block.

Even venerated film directors are struggling to get new projects off the ground. John Waters comes to mind. So does John Sayles. Kathryn Bigelow spent time in Director’s Jail following her 2017 flop “Detroit” before her 2025 Netflix comeback, “A House of Dynamite.”

Wachowski takes big swings, no doubt. Perhaps a better approach moving forward is taking a cue from the next generation of visionaries, directors like Curry Barker and Kane Parsons.

Make more with much, much less. Those filmmakers rocked the box office with projects that cost less than $10 million.

Earlier in the IndieWire chat, Wachowski skewered film critics, a body that leans relentlessly to the Left. Not according to Wachowski. Consider this reflection on the release of “Bound,” a film following a lesbian couple battling with the mob.

I remember the first screening that we had [at Sundance] was hugely tempered because the day of our screening — that morning — a review came out in Variety by Todd McCarthy, and he just trashed the film…The film played well, it won over the crowd, but since then, I was always skeptical of critique and came to understand, much later, the motivation, and why do people write what they write. Sometimes that stuff is seeped-in misogyny; sometimes it’s seeped-in homophobia; sometimes — a lot of the times — it is seeped-in, sort of, anti-socialist tendencies. And so you end up with these reviews, or critique, that has nothing to do with your film, but has to do with ideological differences.

Wachowski is partly right. Modern film critics routinely let their biases, both cultural and political, sway their reviews. It’s often in the service of a left-leaning agenda.

Just ask Jim Gaffigan, who bristled at critics for reviewing elements of his film that didn’t exist.

Wachowski suggested this liberal body is misogynist, homophobic and anti-socialist.

That seems … unlikely, to say the least.

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