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George Clooney, Joe Rogan Ridicule Backlash to Jimmy Kimmel’s Trump Joke  - Newsweek featured image
Lead signal
US politics/Newsweek

George Clooney, Joe Rogan Ridicule Backlash to Jimmy Kimmel’s Trump Joke

Actor George Clooney and podcaster Joe Rogan are among the high-profile figures defending Jimmy Kimmel after President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump called for ABC to fire the late-night talk show host over a joke he made days before the April shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) Dinner. On the Thursday before the shooting, Kimmel joked on his show the first lady had “a glow like an expectant widow,” a remark he later said was aimed at the couple’s age gap and her public demeanor, not a call for violence. The first lady called the comment “hateful and violent rhetoric,” while the president urged ABC to fire Kimmel. Kimmel, a staunch Trump critic, defended the joke and said it was "not, by any stretch of the definition, a call to assassination." Last Saturday, 31-year-old Cole Allen allegedly attempted to assassinate Trump during the WHCA Dinner at the Washington Hilton, where prosecutors say he rushed a security checkpoint and fired a shotgun while moving toward a ballroom, one floor below, filled with senior government officials. Investigators say the attack was methodically planned in advance, including cross-country travel, online research and scheduled emails outlining his intentions. ...What To

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Maher/Trump
Fast moving
US politics/Newsweek

Trump Tears Into Bill Maher After Gavin Newsom Interview

President Donald Trump has reignited his long-running feud with comedian Bill Maher, launching a scathing attack after Maher’s interview on HBO with California Governor Gavin Newsom.Posting on Truth Social, Trump accused Maher of appearing “defenseless” and “totally deficient” during the exchange, and also said the segment made Fox News “look weak, stupid, and ineffective” after it discussed the interview on The Big Weekend Show. The remarks comes amid a broader clash between Trump and late-night figures, including his ongoing feud with Jimmy Kimmel, and follows renewed scrutiny of how political interviews on entertainment platforms shape public perception ahead of the 2026 election cycle.Newsweek contacted a representative for Maher, and Fox News via email on Sunday for comment.The ContextAs reported by Newsweek, the California governor appeared on HBO’s Real Time With Bill Maher on Friday to promote his memoir Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery. During the interview, Maher likened Newsom’s "trolling" style approach on social media to Trump’s. He also questioned Newsom on California’s challenges, including housing issues and public perception. Newsom responded at length, defending the state’s performance and pushing back against criticism. While some viewers saw the exchange as a balanced discussion, Trump characterized it

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Trump Returns To Rally Stage, Touts Wins For Seniors
Context
US Politics/The Daily Wire

Trump Returns To Rally Stage, Touts Wins For Seniors

President Donald Trump returned to the campaign-style stage Friday, delivering a wide-ranging, 90-minute address to a packed crowd in The Villages, Florida, where he leaned heavily into a message tailored to one of his most reliable constituencies: American seniors.At an event billed as “Golden Age for the Golden Years,” Trump framed his administration’s economic agenda around a centerpiece promise, eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits, while tying it to a broader claim of national resurgence. “Our country is hot again,” Trump told the crowd. “These are your golden years … but this is really the golden age of America.”Trump opened with a nod to the recent assassination attempt last weekend, brushing aside security concerns in a line that drew applause from the audience. “They want me to be in a secure place, I said, ‘What’s more secure than The Villages?’”He quickly pivoted to policy, emphasizing what he described as historic tax relief for retirees. “No tax on Social Security — it’s done,” he declared, adding that more than 51 million seniors now effectively pay no federal income tax. He also cited an average deduction of over $7,500, arguing the policy is already translating into tangible benefits for retirees.Trump illustrated the

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More in Us Politics

George Clooney, Joe Rogan Ridicule Backlash to Jimmy Kimmel’s Trump Joke  - Newsweek featured image
US politics/Newsweek

George Clooney, Joe Rogan Ridicule Backlash to Jimmy Kimmel’s Trump Joke

Actor George Clooney and podcaster Joe Rogan are among the high-profile figures defending Jimmy Kimmel after President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump called for ABC to fire the late-night talk show host over a joke he made days before the April shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) Dinner. On the Thursday before the shooting, Kimmel joked on his show the first lady had “a glow like an expectant widow,” a remark he later said was aimed at the couple’s age gap and her public demeanor, not a call for violence. The first lady called the comment “hateful and violent rhetoric,” while the president urged ABC to fire Kimmel. Kimmel, a staunch Trump critic, defended the joke and said it was "not, by any stretch of the definition, a call to assassination." Last Saturday, 31-year-old Cole Allen allegedly attempted to assassinate Trump during the WHCA Dinner at the Washington Hilton, where prosecutors say he rushed a security checkpoint and fired a shotgun while moving toward a ballroom, one floor below, filled with senior government officials. Investigators say the attack was methodically planned in advance, including cross-country travel, online research and scheduled emails outlining his intentions. ...What To

8 hr ago
Maher/Trump
US politics/Newsweek

Trump Tears Into Bill Maher After Gavin Newsom Interview

President Donald Trump has reignited his long-running feud with comedian Bill Maher, launching a scathing attack after Maher’s interview on HBO with California Governor Gavin Newsom.Posting on Truth Social, Trump accused Maher of appearing “defenseless” and “totally deficient” during the exchange, and also said the segment made Fox News “look weak, stupid, and ineffective” after it discussed the interview on The Big Weekend Show. The remarks comes amid a broader clash between Trump and late-night figures, including his ongoing feud with Jimmy Kimmel, and follows renewed scrutiny of how political interviews on entertainment platforms shape public perception ahead of the 2026 election cycle.Newsweek contacted a representative for Maher, and Fox News via email on Sunday for comment.The ContextAs reported by Newsweek, the California governor appeared on HBO’s Real Time With Bill Maher on Friday to promote his memoir Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery. During the interview, Maher likened Newsom’s "trolling" style approach on social media to Trump’s. He also questioned Newsom on California’s challenges, including housing issues and public perception. Newsom responded at length, defending the state’s performance and pushing back against criticism. While some viewers saw the exchange as a balanced discussion, Trump characterized it

17 hr ago
Trump Returns To Rally Stage, Touts Wins For Seniors
US Politics/The Daily Wire

Trump Returns To Rally Stage, Touts Wins For Seniors

President Donald Trump returned to the campaign-style stage Friday, delivering a wide-ranging, 90-minute address to a packed crowd in The Villages, Florida, where he leaned heavily into a message tailored to one of his most reliable constituencies: American seniors.At an event billed as “Golden Age for the Golden Years,” Trump framed his administration’s economic agenda around a centerpiece promise, eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits, while tying it to a broader claim of national resurgence. “Our country is hot again,” Trump told the crowd. “These are your golden years … but this is really the golden age of America.”Trump opened with a nod to the recent assassination attempt last weekend, brushing aside security concerns in a line that drew applause from the audience. “They want me to be in a secure place, I said, ‘What’s more secure than The Villages?’”He quickly pivoted to policy, emphasizing what he described as historic tax relief for retirees. “No tax on Social Security — it’s done,” he declared, adding that more than 51 million seniors now effectively pay no federal income tax. He also cited an average deduction of over $7,500, arguing the policy is already translating into tangible benefits for retirees.Trump illustrated the

7 hr ago
California Gov. Newsom calls WHCD shooting 'evil,' blames Trump for political climate
US politics/The Washington Times

California Gov. Newsom calls WHCD shooting 'evil,' blames Trump for political climate

California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the April 25 shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner “evil” during a Friday appearance on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” while arguing that President Trump bears responsibility for the country’s political tone. “You’ve got to condemn it, you’ve got to call it out,” Mr. Newsom said when host Bill Maher asked about the attack. “I don’t like the rhetoric on either side. We all have to be held to a higher level of accountability.” The Democratic governor went on to draw a distinction, however, arguing that the president holds a unique responsibility. “There’s also an asymmetry here,” he said. “You have the president of the United States that sets the tone and tenor for this country. And that’s not a partisan statement, that’s an institutional statement.” Mr. Newsom criticized Mr. Trump’s response in the days following the shooting, pointing to the president’s social media activity. “What did he do the day after? He talked about a beach photo and the indictment of one of his enemies. He talked about his ballroom, his Kremlin ballroom. He’s not doing anything to try to unite this country in any way, shape, or form.” The governor concluded

8 hr ago
Trump viewed negatively on every issue measured in poll
US Politics/USA Today

Trump viewed negatively on every issue measured in poll

Updated May 3, 2026, 1:25 p.m. ETPresident Donald Trump's disapproval numbers hit a record high in a new poll, the latest in a series of surveys painting a gloomy picture for the president six months out from the November midterm elections.In the latest Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll, Trump's disapproval rating hit 62%, an all-time high from the survey's history throughout both terms in office.The high disapproval rate came alongside souring opinions on Trump's handling of the Iran war, the economy and cost of living, issues that the president has consistently been polling poorly on over the last few months.Trump’s overall approval rating in the new survey is 37%, dropping two points from the pollster's February figures. It's a few points higher from a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll released April 28, which put the president at a dismal 34% approval rating − a record low in that survey's history. The New York Times' daily average of Trump's approval numbers is slightly higher, tracking a 39% approval and 58% disapproval as of May 3.The most recent survey was conducted among 2,560 U.S. adults, Apr. 24-28. The margin of error is ±2.2 percentage points.On the Iran war, 66% of Americans disapprove of Trump's actions,

3 hr ago
Liberal Megadonors Plan To Dump Tens Of Millions Into Astroturfing New Media
US politics/The Daily Wire

Liberal Megadonors Plan To Dump Tens Of Millions Into Astroturfing New Media

A massive liberal donor network is planning to spend “ten of millions” of dollars on new media to counter conservatives.Democracy Alliance, founded in 2005 to pool liberal funds, spent most of 2024 trying to flip House seats in New York and California. The group has spent $2 billion on electoral campaigns, media outlets, and think tanks since its creation. But following the new media success of conservatives, the group is shifting its strategy to developing alternative media, Semafor first reported.“It became crystal clear after 2024 that we collectively had relied too much on forms of media that were not reaching people,” Pamela Shifman, president of Democracy Alliance, told Semafor. “Too much focus on paid advertisements, too much focus on broadcast television, and that is simply not where the majority of people consume their news.”The 2024 election cycle – during which President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance made huge gains through appearances on podcasts — convinced liberal donors to change their strategy.“Donors are more fired up, are more clear about the stakes, and more ready to go all in to defeat authoritarianism,” Shifman said. “Because it is more than just about one election, right? It is about defeating authoritarianism.”An

7 hr ago
Bill Maher Corners Gavin Newsom Over High-Speed Rail Disaster: ‘Let The Train Go’
US politics/The Daily Wire

Bill Maher Corners Gavin Newsom Over High-Speed Rail Disaster: ‘Let The Train Go’

Comedian and HBO host Bill Maher pulled no punches in an interview with Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA), grilling him about his recent Trump-like behavior and the billion-dollar black hole that is California’s proposed high-speed rail system.Maher spoke to the California politician — who is term-limited out of his current office and widely expected to run for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination — and pressed him on his record in The Golden State.WATCH:🚨 NEW: Bill Maher GRILLS Gavin Newsom over his biggest failures in blistering interview:MAHER: “The other side, what they are going to say though is, but have you seen the stats from California?”NEWSOM: “Good! One of the largest economies. Let’s go!”MAHER: “Well… are they… pic.twitter.com/hS0fr3IFe7— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) May 2, 2026Maher began by warning Newsom that as soon as he officially threw his hat into the presidential ring, Republicans would be begging to discuss his tenure as California governor.“The other side, what they are going to say though is, but have you seen the stats from California?” Maher pointed out.Newsom did not appear to be bothered by the prospect, firing back, “Good! Fourth largest economy. Let’s go!”“Well … are they going to say good about gas prices?” he

7 hr ago
MAGA crackup? Influencers pan Iran war, but base backs Trump – for now.
US politics/Christian Science Monitor

MAGA crackup? Influencers pan Iran war, but base backs Trump – for now.

For a hot minute, it appeared that President Donald Trump’s bold decision to go to war with Iran would fracture his MAGA base.Outside criticism was immediately fierce, as movement influencers, including Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Candace Owens, made clear their opposition in the name of “America First.”This week, top Trump counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigned over the war and is now under investigation by the FBI. Speculation was rampant that his boss and ally, Tulsi Gabbard – the director of national intelligence and a longtime opponent of U.S. interventionism – might also quit or be fired. Vice President JD Vance, another anti-interventionist, is also out of sync with the president on foreign wars. Why We Wrote This Polls show that President Donald Trump’s war against Iran has strong support among self-identified MAGA voters, despite strident criticism from some conservative commentators. How long the president can maintain that support, as war costs rise and gas prices mount at home, is unclear. But a funny thing has happened on the way to the MAGA crackup: It hasn’t actually materialized – at least, not yet.Polls show that President Trump, who launched the movement with his 2016 campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again,”

20 hr ago
Trump says he's not afraid to appear in public after latest assassination attempt
US Politics/The Washington Times

Trump says he's not afraid to appear in public after latest assassination attempt

President Trump reveled in a crowd of seniors in Florida in his first major public appearance since a gunman allegedly tried to kill him at White House Correspondents Association dinner last weekend. “I shouldn’t be here,” Mr. Trump said Friday, noting the attempt on his life. “I should be indoors in a secure facility, where I can quietly, beautifully and safely play out my term, destroying everything that comes in our way, like bad countries that want to get nuclear weapons.” Mr. Trump said others in his team would have preferred him to be in a more protected environment than the school gym in The Villages, where he gave his speech, ostensibly in support of tax policies in the One Big Beautiful Bill. “They want me to be in a secure place,” he said. “I said, ’What’s more secure than the Villages?’” Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, was arraigned in federal court after attempting to rush the dinner at the Washington Hilton on Saturday. Police say he was armed with a shotgun, a handgun and knives, and that he shot a law enforcement officer whose ballistic vest stopped the bullet. Mr. Trump faced previous attempts on his life,

11 hr ago
GOP Senator Slams Trump Admin’s ‘Vindictive Prosecution’ of James Comey - Newsweek featured image
US politics/Newsweek

GOP Senator Slams Trump Admin’s ‘Vindictive Prosecution’ of James Comey

A senior Republican senator has sharply criticized the Justice Department’s prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey, breaking with the Trump administration and raising fresh questions about whether the case amounts to political retaliation.Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina said Sunday that he does not support what he called a “vindictive prosecution” of Comey, even as he reiterated harsh criticism of the former FBI chief. Tillis made the remarks during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union, pushing back against the administration’s handling of the case.Newsweek reached out to the White House on Sunday.Why It MattersTillis’ comments mark one of the most prominent instances of a Republican lawmaker publicly distancing himself from the Trump administration’s legal strategy against one of the president’s longtime adversaries. As a senior GOP senator, Tillis’ intervention underscores unease within parts of the president’s own party about the appearance of politicized prosecutions.The case against Comey has become a flashpoint in a broader debate over whether the Justice Department is being used to target Trump’s critics. President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that his opponents have weaponized the legal system against him, while critics say the administration is now doing the same in return.What to KnowComey

9 hr ago
Comey indictment is 'not just about a single Instagram post,' acting attorney general says
US politics/The Washington Times

Comey indictment is 'not just about a single Instagram post,' acting attorney general says

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday the government has more evidence than an Instagram post supporting charges that former FBI Director James Comey threatened President Trump. Last year Mr. Comey posted a photo on Instagram depicting seashells on the beach arranged to read “86 47,” which many took as support for killing Mr. Trump. “This is not just about a single Instagram post,” Mr. Blanche said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “This is about a body of evidence that the grand jury collected over the series of about 11 months,” he said. “We will necessarily have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, at trial, every element of this crime, which we’re prepared to do.” A grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, where Mr. Comey took the seashell photo, indicted the former FBI director on two counts, threatening the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A redacted version of the indictment — the unredacted version is under seal — only references the Instagram post as evidence, saying “a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret [the

8 hr ago
Todd Blanche says case against Comey based on more than just Instagram post
US politics/NBC News

Todd Blanche says case against Comey based on more than just Instagram post

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday that the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey goes beyond the Instagram post central to his case.“This is not just about a single Instagram post,” Blanche told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “This is about a body of evidence that [prosecutors] collected over the series of about 11 months. That evidence was presented to the grand jury.”Blanche said he was not “permitted” to share the other evidence against Comey that was collected, but added: “At the trial — a public trial that will be open to the public — everybody in this country will know exactly what evidence the government has against Mr. Comey.”Comey was indicted last week on charges alleging he threatened the life of the president after he posted a photo on Instagram of seashells forming the numbers “86 47.”When asked Wednesday whether he actually felt that his life was threatened by Comey’s post, President Donald Trump said, “Probably.”“Well, if anybody knows anything about crime, they know 86 — you know what 86 — it’s a mob term for kill him,” Trump added.Restaurant workers told NBC News the term is “everyday lingo,” noting is has nothing to do

9 hr ago