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GenZs Shopped More than Other Age Groups Over the Holidays

The holiday season showed a massive increase in GenZs purchasing across US shops, despite rising costs and increased inflation.

According to analysts, the GenZs, born between 1997 and 2012, make up a sizable share of the country’s population. Cowen Equity Research predicted that by 2028, Generation Z and Millenials would account for 70% of the country’s population. But, according to Kristen Classi-Zummo, an expert, the quantity of GenZs inside malls during the holiday surprised her.

“One standout this Black Friday was the high turnout of Gen Z in stores. Younger consumers flooded the mall, treating Black Friday as a social event. They came early, they came with friends, and they came to shop,” said Classi-Zummo.

“Over Black Friday weekend, we saw shoppers of all ages but certainly saw a strong showing from a youthful crowd, and some of our strongest anecdotal sales reports came from top Gen Z brands and fashion department stores,” said Joe Coradino, CEO of PREIT, a mall operator.

According to the National Retail Federation, around 123 million consumers visited retailers on Black Friday. Consumers’ strong turnout inside commercial facilities resulted in more outstanding retail sales. As a consequence, Christmas sales this year surpassed those of previous years.

“For Gen Z, it wasn’t just about shopping. It was about hanging out and having fun together as a group,” added Classi-Zummo.

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Brand matters for GenZs

According to researchers, GenZs want to buy brand apparel and accessories. They also stated that social media platforms such as TikTok determine which businesses are “in the moment” of pop culture. So, regardless matter how much a product costs, GenZs will buy it if the brand is well-known.

“Promotions aren’t the draw for these shoppers. Instead, one in three shoppers aged 18 to 24 looks at social media first to do their shopping research,” added Classi Zummo.

“At the same time, this generation is also open to finding inspiration in other channels, including browsing in stores. And we saw that over Black Friday. So they will get the must-haves on their wish list, regardless of price, and maybe put back the nice-to-have items.”

“Mostly beauty items and electronics. Their top retailers were Best Buy, Sephora, Ulta and TJ Maxx. Gen Z and their spending, by and large, are all discretionary. They aren’t burdened as much by bills, so they’re not thinking as much about inflation and prices,” said Brian Mandelbaum, CEO of a consumer data company.

Read Also: Stores Run Short of Flu Meds as ‘Tripledemic’ Affects Children

A spike in holiday sales

Many businesses and organizations projected that Black Friday would experience a surge in sales before the holidays began. And their forecast came true. According to estimates, Black Friday sales were $9.12 billion, surpassing the modest pace of 2021.

“While there is much speculation about inflation’s impact on consumer behavior, our data tells us that this Thanksgiving holiday weekend will see robust store traffic with a record number of shoppers taking advantage of value pricing,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay.

“We are optimistic that retail sales will remain strong in the weeks ahead, and retailers are ready to meet consumers however they want to shop with great products at prices they want to pay,” he added.

Stores Run Short of Flu Meds as ‘Tripledemic’ Affects Children

As consumers try to stop the illness from affecting children, cold and flu medications dry up. Scientists refer to this phenomenon as a “tripledemic.”

Pharmaceutical companies claim that there has been an increase in demand for drugs like Tylenol, Motrin, and Advil. However, over the holidays, something took place. Because so many people travel around during the holidays, scientists expected that this would occur. In addition, due to the large number of people congregating in public areas and homes, experts predicted that three flu strains would undoubtedly spread.

“Consumer demand for pediatric pain relievers in the U.S. is high, but there are no supply chain issues, and we do not have an overall shortage in the U.S.,” said Melissa Witt, Johnson & Johnson spokesperson.

“(The company experiences) high consumer demand and are doing everything we can to ensure people have access to the products they need,” she added.

“We’re facing an onslaught of three viruses — COVID, RSV and influenza. All simultaneously. We’re calling this a tripledemic,” said Vanderbilt University infectious disease specialist Dr. William Schaffner before the holidays.

“Intensive care units are at or above capacity in every children’s hospital in the United States. So it’s very, very scary for parents,” reported Amy Knight, the Children’s Hospital Association president.

“Influenza has hit the southeastern United States. Then, it moved into the Southwest. Then, it’s going up the East Coast and into the Midwest with some ferocity,” Schaffner added.

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Flu affecting children

According to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, sales of pediatric analgesics increased in October. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are examples of such medications. The group also stated that western New York had the most significant demand for flu medications. Manufacturers claim a sufficient supply of flu medications nationwide, but certain regions still have trouble getting them.

“The supply chain is strong,” said Anita Brikman, CHPA spokesperson.

“These medicines are not curative. They don’t alter the duration of the illness or anything like that. They are essentially purely for comfort. Fevers from common respiratory viruses in and of themselves are not harmful,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary, a pediatrics professor from the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

“If [a child’s] temp is 103, but he’s running around the room having a good time playing, you don’t need to do anything with that. That’s not going to hurt him. Fever represents our body’s immune response to an infection. But, on the other hand, if he doesn’t have a fever, but his throat is hurting, something is bothering him, he’s pretty fussy — that’s where things like ibuprofen or Tylenol, acetaminophen can be helpful,” Dr. O’Leary explained.

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Choosing the right medicine

In addition, O’Leary advised parents to use caution when picking the appropriate medication for a kid who was ill and clarified that children with the flu could not benefit as much from adult medications. Finally, O’Leary clarified that parents must visit a doctor to ensure proper care.

“For acetaminophen and ibuprofen, there are potential toxicities from taking too much — some of which can be quite severe, particularly for acetaminophen. So you have to be careful when you do that,” he said.

“It’s best to talk to the doctor or pharmacist. (If a parent or caregiver) can weigh [the child] at home, tell us what they weigh on their scale at home, we can figure out what an appropriate dose would be for them to take,” added Wendy Mobley-Bukstein, pharmacy practice professor from Drake University.

Poultry Farms Lose Millions as Deadly Virus Infects Birds

Unexpectedly, a deadly, spreading bird flu virus emerged in the United States, threatening poultry farms and businesses all around the nation.

The tragedy killed more than 52.7 million animals nationwide. In addition, avian influenza, often known as HPAI, affects a lot of poultry. The virus has affected farms and poultry yards in 46 states since February.

Experts claim that the tragedy eclipses all prior records. This includes the high number of deaths reported in 2014–2015, which totaled 50 million. Over the winter, there was an increase in cases.

However, it waned for a while before resurfacing in the summer. Then, the World Health Organization discovered that wild birds are the leading cause of the virus’s spread.

“I’m hopeful that this is not the new normal for us. We don’t know what it is about it. But it does seem to be able to grow and transmit better in wild birds. Wild birds are the perfect mechanism to spread a virus. Because they fly everywhere,” said Dr. Richard Webby, the director of the WHOS’s Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals.

Over a million birds succumbed in each of the 11 states the United States Department of Agriculture was keeping track of. From Delaware to the Midwest, these states are included.

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A novice poultry virus

Webby stated that the virus is a novel strain impacting poultry animals nationwide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus only sometimes impacts people. But in Colorado, a case was reported back in April.

Though after a few days, the patient made a full recovery. Although some people may be concerned, the CDC assured the populace that, if the government managed adequately, it would not substantially impact the nation’s food supply.

“The bird populations haven’t seen viruses like this before. So in terms of their immune response, they’re all immunologically naïve. Right now, it’s like a kid in a candy store racing around,” added Webby.

“When the virus came into the Americas, it started to interact with the viruses we have in our wild birds here. So from the outside looking in, they look very similar. But when you go on the inside and look, the viruses we have here are quite different now from what was in Europe.”

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Choosing infected birds

Oklahoma State University associate professor Amy Hagerman said she remains perplexed about why the influenza virus exclusively strikes a few bird species. To stop the virus from spreading and damaging other food items, she urged chicken owners to begin immunizations as soon as possible.

“For whatever reason, turkeys and layer birds tend to be more susceptible. The chicken that most people think of, their chicken tenders, their chicken sandwiches. All those things haven’t tended to have the same impact,” she said.

“Generally speaking, these complexes are over a million birds, easily. So it takes fewer egg-laying operations being affected by HPAI to drive up the price of eggs and egg products,” she added.

“One of the big complications is the timing of a vaccine. Generally, you need two doses of a vaccine and then a length of time to achieve full effectiveness. If you have a bird that has a very short feeding window before it’s ready for harvest, that can be a lot more challenging. Because you also need to allow the withdrawal period after the vaccine before the bird is harvested.”

NASA’s Artemis I Mission to the Moon Almost in its Goal

After the Orion spacecraft successfully sailed by the Moon and currently travels towards Earth, NASA’s Artemis 1 mission nearly accomplished its objective.

After many cancellations months earlier, NASA finally launched the first Artemis mission to the Moon last month. The mission’s planned route from the Earth to the Moon’s orbit and the return took the spacecraft 15 days to complete. On Thursday, it abruptly left the Moon’s orbit. Lava beds and unstable regions are among the sites on the Moon that NASA aims to photograph. During the Apollo missions, astronauts previously investigated several places.

On December 11, if all goes according to plan, the Orion spacecraft will touch down on the Pacific Ocean miles off the coast of San Diego. The most powerful rocket to launch a capsule outside the Earth’s atmosphere, NASA’s newest Space Launch System, fueled the Artemis rocket. NASA scientists stated their optimism that the initial Artemis mission would provide them with additional information that would be crucial for the succeeding Artemis missions.

“The biggest test after the launch is the reentry because we want to know that that heat shield works at about 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius), almost half as hot as the sun, coming in at 32 times the speed of sound (nearly 40,000 kilometers per hour),” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

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Artemis I’s importance

According to NASA, a living human was not allowed to travel on the first Artemis mission. However, the organization declared that it would continue researching how the environment affects the human body. A modified mannequin that can gather crucial data to support life inside the vessel is aboard the Orion spacecraft. Additionally, NASA made sure that their rocket system and capsule were safe to use to avoid potential tragedies on later trips.

“The biggest test after the launch is the reentry because we want to know that that heat shield works at about 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2,760 degrees Celsius), almost half as hot as the sun, coming in at 32 times the speed of sound (nearly 40,000 kilometers per hour),” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson

“The team performing the recovery operations is at sea right now performing just-in-time training,” added Michael Sarafin, the mission’s manager.

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The possibilites

The future of the following human expedition to the Moon will depend on how well the present Artemis mission performs. NASA claims that Artemis II will take people to the Moon along the same trajectory as Artemis I, but they won’t get out. NASA has also made it known that Artemis III will attempt to send people to the Moon and land them there.

“Well, for once, I might be speechless. I have talked a lot about appreciating the moment that you’re in. And we have worked hard as a team. You guys have worked hard as a team to this moment. This is your moment,” said Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, the launch director of the mission.

“As we embark on the first Artemis test flight, we recall this agency’s storied past. But our eyes are focused not on the immediate future but out there,” Nelson said months ago.

“It’s a future where NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon. And on these increasingly complex missions, astronauts will live and work in deep space. And we’ll develop the science and technology to send the first humans to Mars.”

‘The White Lotus’ Actors Shares Details on Episode 5 WTF Moment

The White Lotus continues to prove that a perfect image is not so perfect after all. But you didn’t expect that twist in the fifth episode, did you?

After Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) and Portia (Haley Lu Richardson) visit Quentin (Tom Hollander) and Jack (Leo Woodall) – Quentin’s nephew – in Palermo, Tanya hears something suspicious in an area of the villa. 

And after investigating what it was, she found Jack and Quentin in a very awkward position for an uncle and nephew. The episode ends with this OMG event. Tanya’s face was smeared with shock after seeing the two sleeping together.

This isn’t the first time HBO has depicted incest in a [Game of Thrones] drama. However, this shocking development raised questions in the minds of viewers: Are Quentin and Jack actually related? Is Jack a hired companion for Quentin? And were they lying to Tanya and Portia the whole time? 

Portia also dumped Albie (Adam DiMarco) for an intense vacation with Jack. And she doesn’t know that he sleeps with Quentin all the time.

“Oh boy, Portia. Sweet Portia. Poor Portia,” Richardson said in an interview with EW. 

“Oh man, she was finally getting what she wanted, on paper, just to find out that he’s f—ing his uncle. And it’s not what it seems. You never want to find out that the guy that you’re dating and who has whisked you away is f—ing his uncle! You don’t want to find that out.” 

DiMarco jests: “I honestly hate when that happens.” 

“I hate it. It’s too often. Like, again?! From Portia’s perspective, it’s a very extreme example of how you can’t really rely on this external excitement or male-centered validation. Because he’s going to end up f—ing his uncle,” Richardson laughs. 

Read also: ‘Bruce Almighty’ Writers Shares Satanic Pitch of Turning Bruce into the Devil

HBO’s The White Lotus Twist

Additionally, DiMarco says: “Yeah, you have to find true happiness and peace from within – because someone might be f—ing their uncle.” 

Again, both actors laugh at the situation and how Portia learns this huge life lesson.

“That’s the moral of season 2. You’ve got to look inward, you’ve got to go to therapy, or else whoever you’re f—ing is also going to be f—ing their uncle,” Richardson states. 

“I mean, people love Game of Thrones for this very reason,” DiMarco jokes. 

Richardson adds another statement they laughed off. 

“Oh my god, HBO loves something about uncle f—ing.” 

DiMarco then reveals she hasn’t watched the Thrones spin-off yet. So, Richardson instantly filled her in. 

“It’s hot! I’m sorry, but on that show, House of the Dragon, it is,” she said. “And I’m sure Tom and Leo are also hot in [The White Lotus] scene.” 

So, now that Tanya knows about Quentin and Jack’s controversial affair, Richardson cautions that the last two season 2 episodes will get “way crazier, believe it or not.” 

“Yeah, it’s a slow burn that gets kicked into high gear,” DiMarco continued. 

“[Creator] Mike [White] is so great at crafting these slow burns, and then at a certain point it just explodes, and we’re at that point now. It’s just explosions everywhere, explosions at the fireworks factory.” 

The White Lotus premieres every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and HBO Max.

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Sam Bankman-Fried Says He ‘Didn’t Ever Try to Commit Fraud’

Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX, offered a defense on a new development to the investigation into the crypto empire.

He said he “didn’t ever try to commit fraud on anyone.” 

“Clearly, I made a lot of mistakes,” Bankman-Fried stated in virtual attendance at the New York Times’ DealBook Summit. “There are things I would do anything to do over again. I was shocked by what happened this month.” 

In November, Bankman-Fried stepped down as CEO of FTX. This was after FTX and other affiliates filed for bankruptcy. Bankman-Fried’s multi-billion dollar fortune was quickly gone.

After that, the crypto companies affiliated with the FTX began to collapse.

There are currently a lot of questions about Bankman-Fried. It includes whether FTX misused clients’ money when it lent money to its hedge fund, Alameda.

“I didn’t knowingly co-mingle funds,” he stated. “I was frankly surprised by how big Alameda’s position was.” 

In an interview, Bankman-Fried admitted his responsibility for the FTX demise.

“Look, I screwed up,” he stated. “I was CEO of FTX. I had a responsibility.” 

The young entrepreneur admitted that corporate control and risk management at the company he oversaw had not been given sufficient focus. Notably, FTX’s new CEO mentioned it in the bankruptcy court filings as a “complete failure.” 

“There was no person who was chiefly in charge of positional risk of customers on FTX,” Bankman-Fried said in the interview with DealBook. “And that feels pretty embarrassing in retrospect.” 

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Bankman-Fried Collapse

But the company didn’t announce further details about whether FTX’s customers could get back on their feet in the restructuring. Bankman-Fried said it is able to unify US and Japanese customers. However, he didn’t provide specific details on how to do this.

Federal prosecutors for the Southern District of New York are looking into FTX’s collapse, per a source familiar with the issue. Furthermore, authorities in the Bahamas – headquarters of the companies’ location – looks into the case. 

Multiple financial regulators met with the company’s new management. Restructuring specialists are leading the task of guiding FTX through bankruptcy. 

His DealBook Summit appearance comes following weeks of issuing multiple public apologies and statements to the press. It surprised legal experts, though. 

“What SBF is doing is a form of litigation suicide,” former SEC lawyer, Howard Fisher, stated. 

“Everything he says that turns out to be contradicted by admissible evidence will be taken as evidence of deceit. I don’t know if this is a sign of unrepentant arrogance, youthful overconfidence, or simply sheer stupidity.” 

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Press Statements

In an interview Wednesday, the press asked Bankman-Fried if his lawyers prompted him to issue these public apologies and statements.

“They’re very much not,” he stated. “And I mean, you know the classic advice, right? ‘Don’t say anything, you know, recede into a hole.’” 

He continued: “I have a duty to explain what happened. I don’t see what good is accomplished by me just sitting locked in a room pretending the outside world doesn’t exist.” 

Furthermore, the media queried his riches. The industry estimated his fortune at approximately $26 billion during its peak this past spring. 

In response, Bankman-Fried stated that he’d put everything to FTX. In addition, he believes he only has $100,000 “or something like that” in his bank account.

Kanye West Shares He Also Loves the Nazis

In another controversial case, Kanye West took it a step further: After making anti-Semitic remarks, West praised dictator Adolf Hitler.

In a lengthy interview Thursday, the rapper shared his feelings with outrageous conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Jones recently received a court order to pay $965 million in damages for spreading false statements about the 2012 Sandy Hook mass shooting.

Kanye’s comments after Jones provided him an opportunity to distance himself from anti-Semitic remarks on social media.

“You’re not Hitler; you’re not a Nazi, you don’t deserve to be called that and demonized,” he said. 

“I see good things about Hitler also,” he added. 

“This guy that invented highways invented the very microphone that I use every day as a musician. You can’t say out loud that this person ever did anything good, and I’m done with that. I’m done with the classifications. Every human being has something of value that they brought to the table, especially Hitler.” 

But Hitler didn’t develop the highways or the microphone. So perhaps the description of the highways is a confusing reference to the Autobahn, a road project that began in Germany before the Nazis came to power.

We can’t decipher where the microphone statement is coming from. But, as many know, Emile Berliner invented that technology when he partnered with Thomas Edison in the 19th century.

At one point in the interview, Jones stated that he doesn’t like Nazis. Kanye then replied, “I like Hitler.” 

“I don’t like the word ‘evil’ next to Nazis,” he stated. It came after Jones said, “CNN says white people are evil Nazis,” stirring up laughter from the host. 

“I love Jewish people, but I also love Nazis,” Kanye added. 

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Kanye Controversy

During the interview, Kanye wore a black hood over his face.He also talked mostly about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, mocking the newly re-elected politician. Netanyahu is a long-time ally of former President Donald Trump.

However, in recent times, the prime minister slammed Trump for meeting with Kanye and his white supremacist ally Nick Fuentes. 

Kanye carried a net and a Yoo-Hoo chocolate milk can to try and ridicule Netanyahu. 

“I just heard about this guy two weeks ago, and I thought he had a funny name,” he stated. 

Although Kanye’s remarks sent a bombshell to the crowd and made Jones uncomfortable, it’s not the first time the mogul’s name has been linked to Hitler. In October, CNN reported that the Fuhrer fascinated the rapper. He even contemplated naming an album after him. 

“He would praise Hitler by saying how incredible it was that he was able to accumulate so much power and would talk about all the great things he and the Nazi Party achieved for the German people,” an anonymous business exec who partnered with the mogul said. 

According to the exec, Kanye didn’t hide his reading of Hitler’s 1925 manifesto Mein Kampf. Moreover, he openly talked about his “admiration” for the Nazis’ propaganda use. 

Additionally, the source said Kanye’s closest friends know his fascination with Nazism. Another four unidentified sources stated that he intended to name his 2018 album Hitler ahead of changing it to Ye.

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Gentle Parenting Includes Telling Kids Santa Isn’t Real, Says Gen Z Parents

Is this another indication of how messed up our society is or that this generation is open-minded?

Some Gen Z parents didn’t let their kids imagine the idea of ​​Santa Claus. What’s behind it? They believe that children will be “traumatized” when they face the reality that he is not real.

The hashtag “SantaIsntReal” became a trend on TikTok, with millions of views. 

One person even made a video announcing that she told her 3-year-old that Santa was fake. It garnered tens of thousands of views.

“Telling kids that Santa is real is a lie. And I don’t believe in building my kids up on a lie,” Sierra McKenzie shared with the New York Post. 

Another parent left a comment, saying: “I don’t want to scare my children into thinking that they have to behave a certain way or that they were more ‘naughty to nice’ than another child based on Christmas gifts.” 

According to Gen Z parents, it’s very traumatic when kids finally realize that Santa doesn’t exist.

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New Gentle Parenting

Other parents said they didn’t want to scare their kids about the all-knowing Santa Claus. They didn’t want their children to think that Santa Claus would punish those who were naughty and not nice.

On the other hand, they would want their children to grow up with “gentle parenting.” This kind of parenting introduces a way of raising kids by instilling kindness and respect instead of threats. 

Recently, Gen Z claims that this parenting technique induces a positive environment for children. Parents executing this gentle parenting provide a safe space for children to open up and talk about what they actually feel rather than lying about it. 

Some say an open parent raises honest and compassionate children. 

In the end, they desire their kids to be good individuals for the sake of being good. 

Hopefully, these parents who’re preaching about not lying to their children about Santa won’t lie to these same kids about anything at all. 

Read also: 3 Hacks to More Delicious Turkey, Per Thanksgiving Chef

Gen Z Ideals

Childcare expert and author Sarah Ockwell-Smith says it’s important not to use Santa as a threatening parenting technique.

“The idea of an all-seeing, judgmental mythical being spying on children is quite trauma-inducing,” Smith stated. “There’s no surprise that so many kids cry when they meet Santa.” 

However, according to Fox News, it’s not. 

“They cry because they are in an unfamiliar situation, and that’s what children do – they cry.” 

But isn’t that why Christmas is no longer exciting as we grow up? Because everything magical about Christmas turns out to be untrue? So, are the Gen Z up to something?

Republicans Have Divided Opinion on Trump’s New Campaign

Former President Donald Trump held talks with the powerful Republican Jewish Coalition on Saturday. It comes days after he was announced as the GOP front-runner in the 2024 presidential race.

But the ballroom at the Venetian Resort Hotel in Las Vegas has embraced its rivals as some of the party’s most powerful contributors, seen to replace rival former presidents. It included Governor Ron DeSantis, his main rival. 

Trump still has a “following” within the party. Florida real estate developer and GOP donor Mel Sembler said so in an interview with CNN last week.

However, he stated, “I think people are getting tired of his controversies all the time.” 

“What concerns me is if he wins the primary and loses the general,” Sembler added. The developer has yet to endorse a 2024 runner. 

The annual leadership conference by influential Jewish conservatives is considered the first major GOP gathering. This comes after a mid-month disappointment for the party, which also maintains a majority in the Senate.

Republicans have a chance in the House. But after the “red wave” her party had envisioned for the whole year didn’t materialize, the party won a slight majority in January.

Washington’s prominent Republican figures blame Trump for his influence in amplifying far-right Senate candidates who stumbled in the general election. Furthermore, they believe he continues to publicly endorse his grudges about the 2020 election and his legal difficulties. 

Last Tuesday, at the start of his campaign, he referred to himself as a “victim” of a federal law imposition system that he has attempted to politicize. 

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Legal Challenges

Trump’s legal troubles appeared to worsen further when Attorney General Merrick Garland formed a special council to handle the criminal investigation. This is in response to the retention of national defense information at his Mar-a-Largo resort and the January 6, 2021 insurrection. 

Instead of unity from the party on his third presidential run, Trump received a setback. Not long following his announcement, daughter and former senior White House adviser, Ivanka Trump detached herself from her father’s campaign. 

She said she does “not plan to be involved in politics.” 

Possibly the most enormous hit to Trump’s campaign structure was the rapid and public desertion of multiple billionaire GOP donors. It includes a dear ally, Steve Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone. 

Schwarzman stated that the country required leaders “rooted in today and tomorrow, not today and yesterday.” 

Others are edging on their odds. 

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Republicans Split

One of those hedging their bets is Miriam Adelson – billionaire widow of Las Vegas casino tycoon and RJC benefactor Sheldon Adelson. 

Notably, the Adelsons gave away almost half a billion dollars to Republican groups and candidates during the past four elections. It also includes tens of millions to swell Trump’s presidential bids. 

In 2018, Trump gave the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Miriam Adelson, referencing her philanthropic works. The award is the country’s highest civilian honor. 

Even though they had history, Adelson wants to be neutral in the GOP presidential primaries, a source shared with CNN last week. 

According to RJC exec director Matt Brooks, Trump bagged approvals from coalition members for his support of Israel during his time as president. Furthermore, they cited his unilateral withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement in 2015. 

Brooks said: “People are window-shopping right now. There are people who are asking if we need a new direction and a new face.”

‘Bruce Almighty’ Writers Shares Satanic Pitch of Turning Bruce into the Devil

Check out the comedy like no other.

Bruce Almighty screenwriters Steve Koren and Mark O’Keefe recently shared that they came up with a really great idea for a sequel to Jim Carrey’s 2003 film. However, that was never seen.

This idea, tentatively titled Brucifer, covers the opposite of the concept of the Almighty. It also starred the character of Carrie, who made a deal with the devil.

Korena and O’Keefe said in an interview with Syfy Wire that they tried to convince Universal Pictures to nod on the pitch in 2010. However, Carrey approved the idea, but the studio didn’t back down.

“It would have been another giant movie. And I don’t think they wanted to do it,” Koren stated. “It just didn’t work out for some reason, but a lot of people loved it, including Jim.” 

The alleged sequel followed Bruce approaching the dark side following the death of his wife Grace. Remarkably, he fell in love with Grace in the first part.

“You tend to lose your faith when the world seems unfair. And that’s what got him,” Koren stated. 

“It came from a serious place, but we were gonna write it in a very friendly way. We certainly didn’t want to depress people. So, I think that scared [the studio] a little bit. But to Jim’s credit, he totally understood that we were going to make a big comedy and thought everybody would connect with it.” 

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Bruce Almighty Turned Satanic

And Bruce humorously used his newfound diabolical side hustle to bring Grace back from the dead. At Carey’s suggestion, Aniston’s character initially appeared to be a terrifyingly deformed zombie.

“We had her come back as Jennifer Aniston,” Koren recounted the original pitch. “[Carrey] said, ‘No, she has to look like a zombie first and then we’ll make her beautiful again.’ We thought that was brilliant.” 

O’Keefe elaborated that the Book of Job would’ve inspired Bruce’s character progress in the Old Testament. 

“The world had not gone his way since he was God,” he stated. “Everything was great for a while. He was married, and it all fell apart. He was once again questioning everything and then got a different way to solve things.” 

Brucifer might’ve also witnessed the comeback of one very loved actor. O’Keefe stated that they thought Carrey or Morgan Freeman would come back to play Satan this time. Freeman famously portrayed God in the first film. 

“Totally different themes, of course, but the beats every enjoys,” O’Keefe said. 

Bruce Almighty’s critical and commercial acclaim did birth a spin-off in 2007 titled Evan Almighty. It saw Steve Carell get involved in a few biblical high spells. 

However, it would be a chilly day in hell before Brucifer can make its way to the big screen. 

Jim

Carrey, a Canadian-American actor and comedian, is famous for his hilarious performances on screen. 

After starring in the American sketch comedy In Living Color, he first drew recognition in 1990. 

Then, he gained higher stardom status with 1994’s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber. Furthermore, films like 1995’s Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Batman Forever, and 1997’s Liar Liar came. 

It became the start of a career everybody grew to love and laugh about.’

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