Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might face consequences from Donald Trump, after the royal couple issued a statement criticizing Meta’s decision to eliminate fact-checking.

The pair’s statement came in the wake of news that the Mark Zuckerberg-owned social media company — at the helm of platforms like Facebook and Instagram — to do away with its use of third-party fact-checkers for its various sites. The enactment of the new fact-checking policy sparked concerns given its conspicuous closeness to Trump’s second presidential inauguration, which Harry and Meghan’s statement vaguely alludes to. 

Published on their website, The Sussexes statement outright declares that the changes to Meta’s fact-checking policies are “undoubtedly responding to political winds,” like an oncoming Trump presidency, and said they will contribute to an “intentionally disruptive information environment” on social media. In another veiled reference to Trump, Harry and Meghan wrote that “the politics of one country should never determine” the blanket rules and protections of a company that is “clearly shaping or destroying democracy.”

More broadly, the statement accused Meta of making policy changes that contradict its stated values, and expressed concern that it was “prioritiz[ing] those using the platforms to spread hate, lies and division at the expense of everyone else.” While the statement doesn’t outright mention him, one insider has claimed that the Sussexes should be prepared for reaction from Trump, saying the royal couple should predict “a repercussion from” their statement. 

Speaking with Newsweek, PR guru Nick Ede compared Harry and Meghan’s references to Trump in the statement to “poking this ginormous bear,” and warned them that they should be “expecting something back from it.” Ede went on to claim that the president-elect might even enact a vendetta against the royal couple during his second term, saying Trump will see the war of words “as a battle that he wants to win,” and will potentially take steps to “target them in whatever way he does it.” Adding to concerns is Trump’s history with Harry, who he once name-dropped while speaking of his plans for mass deportation. 

This interaction — which saw the former president float the idea of deporting Harry on the grounds of his previous drug use and its effect on his visa — does little to cool the temperature between Harry and Trump, and is now amplified by the Sussexes recent statement. “This is quite incendiary in that respect because we know Trump is not a fan of theirs,” Ede said, “and this could be a way to negatively affect them.” He concluded that this won’t be the last time we will hear of this story because “I don’t think it will stop.” 

On the Meghan front, the Duchess has in the past called Trump “divisive,” and received a response from the former president after she seemed to show support for Joe Biden back in 2020. However, Trump’s relations with the royal family aren’t all as tenuous, with the president-elect last month praising Prince William and expressing gratitude for the reign of his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth. Trump also described King Charles as a “really good person” and his wife, Queen Camilla, as “fantastic.”  

In any case, the Sussexes recent statement aligns with the goals of The Parents Network, a principal program about internet safety that forms part of their philanthropic efforts with the Archwell Foundation.

President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration is taking place soon, and the hosts of the talk show The View shared their reactions to Carrie Underwood’s announcement that she will perform “America the Beautiful” at the ceremony.

Host Whoopi Goldberg, who has been a vocal critic of Trump and his policies, had a surprising reaction to the announcement. On Jan. 13, Underwood said, “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event.” While the decision sparked controversy, Goldberg said she supports the country singer’s decision.

“I stand behind her. If I believe I have the right to make up my mind to go perform someplace, I believe they have the same right. So I have to support,” Goldberg stated. However, that doesn’t mean that she will be watching the inauguration. “I won’t be watching. But that’s me,” she added.

Underwood has been private when it comes to politics, choosing not to air her opinions in public. In an interview with The Guardian in 2019, the singer said that people sometimes assume which side of the political spectrum she leans toward. “I try to stay as far out of politics if possible, at least in public, because nobody wins,” she explained, adding that issues aren’t simply a matter of “black and white.”

The other hosts’ opinions on the matter

In her statement regarding the inauguration, Underwood added, “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.” Joy Behar questioned Underwood’s decision, asking how the singer could say she loved the country when she had chosen to perform for someone who “wants to destroy the country.” However, Behar also noted that she wasn’t the type of person who would tell someone not to do something, as she believes in free speech.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, on the other hand, said that people who have a problem with Underwood should just boycott her shows and stop downloading her songs. She understands that from a business standpoint, accepting the invitation to perform was smart, as she will be making money and will be an “icon of MAGA and the American right.”

Sunny Hostin also joined the discussion, saying that “art is art” and she believes artists have the right to choose where they want to perform. With that said, she would have given a “hard no” if she was asked to perform, to which the other hosts agreed.

Underwood isn’t the only one performing for Trump. The disco group The Village People will also be at two events — one at a rally a day before the inauguration and another at an inaugural ball. The group released a statement saying that they are aware the decision wouldn’t please some of their fans, but they should be able to perform their music “without regard to politics.” The Village People added that despite their candidate losing, they could bring the country together through their global anthem “Y.M.C.A.” Trump’s inauguration, which will reportedly be tech billionaires and former presidents, will take place on Jan. 20 but will be preceded by four days of events and celebrations.

In a rare social media announcement, Catherine, Princess of Wales has confirmed that her cancer is in remission and she is now “focussed on recovery.”

It comes just under a year after the Royal family member shared in a much-discussed video message that she was receiving treatment for cancer, after earlier stepping back from royal duties to undergo an unspecified abdominal surgery. Months later, in September, Middleton shared an update that her chemotherapy had ended and that she was “cancer-free,” but this marks the first time she has confirmed her official in-remission status. 

“It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery,” Middleton wrote. She went on to explain that it will “take time to adjust to a new normal,” but that she is “looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead.” More broadly, the princess took time to thank The Royal Marsden Hospital in London where she received treatment, expressing gratitude “for looking after me so well during the past year.” 

She also thanked all those “who have quietly walked alongside” both herself and her husband, Prince William, as they “navigated everything.” In another update, Middleton used to post to announce her new role as Joint Patron of The Royal Marsden, which will see her support  groundbreaking research and clinical excellence, as well as promote patient and family wellbeing. “My hope is that… we might save many more lives, and transform the experiences of those impacted by cancer,” she wrote of the new role. 

It marks a welcome update in Middleton’s months-long cancer journey, which attracted intense scrutiny last year as the royal delayed publicizing her health struggles to give her three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, some time to process the news in private. The delay led to a firestorm of conspiracy theories, not helped by an edited image of the princess and her family and the earlier revelation that her father-in-law, King Charles III, was diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer. 

On that front, Buckingham Palace revealed last month that Charles’ cancer treatment is “moving in a positive direction,” but that his “treatment cycle will continue into the new year.” Confirmation of the King’s health issues came after a hospital visit for the unrelated issue of a benign prostate enlargement. Amid the double-blow to the royal family, Prince William has remained relatively tight-lipped about the ordeal, but did say in November that 2024 had been “brutal” and “the hardest year in my life.”  

Middleton’s remission status comes amid reports that she and William are preparing to take the reins from Charles, with rumors swirling that they are poised to break some traditions, rule with an iron fist, and make major changes to their public image. “[Middleton] has shown that she is very much in charge of her own agenda and that’s to be admired,” a royal observer said earlier this month. concluded. “Both Charles and William believe she has all it takes to be Queen when the time comes.”

In other royal news, Meghan Markle made the decision to postpone the release of her new lifestyle Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, to allow time to “focus on the needs of those impacted” by the LA wildfires, the Duchess said in a statement last week.

SZA is growing into her own as one of the most talented R&B artists in a generation, and her piercing lyrics always feel relatable because she never fears to show us her insecurities and flaws. These aforementioned qualities were apparent when she released her debut album CTRL in 2017, and SZA bore her essence into several songs therein, such as the track “Drew Barrymore.”

For a long time, though, fans have wondered why exactly the song is named after the famous actress and talk show host. Taken at face value, “Drew Barrymore” is a quintessential SZA record, where the singer tackles her insecurity and ponders whether that means she’s unlovable. The song became a sleeper hit from her illustrious debut album and when it came time to finally shoot the video, Drew Barrymore was gracious enough to make a cameo in it.

Now it was time for SZA to return the favor. When the song first came out, SZA was just breaking through the mainstream, but now she’s one of the biggest artists outright, going on stadium tours, breaking streaming records, and working on a budding movie career. She finally appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show to talk about the song and why she named it after the host, even though Barrymore isn’t mention by name on the hook or anywhere else in the song.

For SZA, Barrymore has always been an inspiration. SZA told the host that she even wrote Barrymore a letter to share just how much she meant to the singer when she was still growing up, but she never sent it. SZA said, ““[The song] was inspired by you; it wasn’t just titled after you. You were so yourself — you were quirky, your smile wasn’t perfect. I had a slight speech impediment, and people still laugh all the time. They’re like, ‘What is SZA saying?’ It’s a running joke, but I love the way you talk… it gave me permission to be myself.”

Knowing Barrymore and how emotional she can get on her show, the tears started welling up. It’s heartwarming to see someone getting their flowers while they’re still here. With their busy schedules and the meteoric rise of SZA’s career, the two have never really had the opportunity to discuss the reason why SZA named the song after Barrymore, but we’re more than glad that it finally happened for all of us to see.

For some social media users, the heart-to-heart between the two icons was too overwhelming, and it just ended up in them crying.

SZA is a megastar, and with that comes public scrutiny of her body, her every word, and sometimes even just unmitigated nastiness. But every so often, we get to see her true self, and we’re glad she hasn’t lost that spark that made us fall in love with her talent in the first place. Knowing that the courage with which she’s held on to that charm with ushered along by Barrymore herself makes it all the more endearing. It also sparks hope that, somewhere in the world, SZA is inspiring another young girl to also stay true to herself.

SZA is set to make her feature film debut in One of Them Days, starring alongside Keke Palmer and Katt Williams. The movie is scheduled to premiere on Jan. 17, 2025, in theaters nationwide.

As longtime viewers are already well aware, one resounding truth about The View is that it’s gonna spark some serious debates.

With a panel of outspoken co-hosts including the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Ana Navarro-Cárdenas, and Alyssa Farah Griffin, it’s not unusual for their conversations to ruffle feathers. Over the years, the ladies have weighed in on plenty of public figures, and Melania Trump ⏤ the former and future First Lady ⏤ has been no exception. Recently, however, rumors have started swirling that Melania is taking things to the next level by suing The View for $100 million. Talk about a Hot Topic!

Where did the rumor come from?

It all started in early Jan. 2025 when the gossip-heavy YouTube account Uncensored Insight claimed Melania Trump was suing The View. Unsurprisingly, this alleged news quickly went viral. The video was then shared on Facebook, where it spread like wildfire. The video even included a dramatic headline: “Melania Trump SUES ‘The View’ Hosts For $100 Million After They Said This About Her LIVE ON SET.”

According to the claims, Melania was allegedly suing the show for disparaging comments made about her during a live broadcast. Supporters of the former First Lady were quick to rally behind her, while critics questioned whether the lawsuit was actually real. Another rumor claimed she was suing Sunny Hostin specifically for comments made about her and Donald Trump’s son, Barron. To understand the context, we need to rewind a few months.

During a Sept. 2024 episode of The View, the co-hosts discussed Melania’s first interview in two years, which she gave to Fox News. In the interview, Melania talked about her husband’s sense of humor, their shared love of music, and how much she admires his determination. Needless to say, the hosts didn’t hold back with their opinions. Whoopi mocked the idea of Trump having a sense of humor while Sunny suggested that Melania and Donald weren’t as different as they might seem. The segment was sharp-tongued as usual, but did it really cross a line that could lead to a lawsuit?

Is Melania Trump suing The View?

No, despite the viral YouTube video saying otherwise, Melania Trump is not suing The View. A thorough search of court records by Distractify shows that no lawsuits have been filed by Melania against the show or its co-hosts. This means there’s zero proof to back this rumor up and it should be taken as such ⏤ a rumor. (Eagle-eyed View-ers will know and appreciate that the show comes armed with many a legal note, often delivered by Sunny directly to the camera, in an attempt to avoid this exact scenario.)

Political onlookers largely agree that Melania Trump has always been a bit of a mystery. Unlike her husband, who thrives being the center of attention, Melania tends to keep a low profile. This reserved nature, combined with her high-profile role as First Lady, made her a frequent target for gossip and speculation the first time her husband became president. While her supporters often come to her defense, her critics are equally vocal about how different she is from First Ladies past.

This dynamic creates fertile ground for exaggerated or outright false stories to spread, especially on platforms like YouTube and Facebook, where sensational headlines get clicks (not helped by the latter’s creator recently ending fact-checking on the platform). As of this writing, the claim that Melania Trump is suing The View for $100 million is baseless and just another example of how quickly rumors can catch fire, especially when they involve polarizing public figures.

With just five days to go until Donald Trump assumes his second presidency during his upcoming inauguration, a cauldron of super-sized questions are being asked ahead of the much-discussed event — including a possible performance by Snoop Dogg, and what dazzling ensemble Melania Trump will wear.

Sure, focusing on the fashion choices of the wife of the president-elect seems pointless, but with all eyes set to be locked onto the television screen during the inauguration, it’s hardly a surprise why a plethora of Americans are intrigued to learn what the First Lady will be donning as the Don enters office for an head-turning sequel.

While questions have recently risen in regards to the list of performers for the inauguration, it’s clear that Melania and Donald’s choice of clothes is a topic of discussion that many enthusiasts are already speculating about.

Let’s be honest, though — fashion is one of the biggest controversies when high-profile celebrities and politicians attend particular events. If superstars such as Beyoncé and Taylor Swift aren’t safe from fashion ridicule while walking a red carpet, then Melania certainly isn’t safe from the same fashionistas pinpointing her stylish decisions.

So, what will Melania choose to wear to the inauguration?

Ahead of Trump’s controversial inauguration, Melania has received a multitude of suitors interested in her donning their apparel for the upcoming event — including fashion designers such as Christian Dior and Versace reaching out to the First Lady in preparation for Trump’s moment in the political spotlight.

And while this news might seem obvious and the situation would not make anybody feel otherwise at first glance, designers energetically reaching out to Melania is actually a major shock — especially when you consider the fact that fashion enthusiasts and designers “shunned” Melania back in 2017, ahead of Trump’s first official inauguration into the White House. Melania eventually made contact with designer Ralph Lauren, who created a stunning sky-blue gown for the 2017 swearing-in of her husband.

Flash forward to now, however, and opinions have apparently changed in regards to fashion labels rallying about Melania and hoping that she’ll choose their attire to boast at the event on Jan. 20. Unsurprisingly, the lack of fashion suitors back in 2017 was due to the overwhelming dismay of Trump’s political agenda and policies, although it now seems that a plethora of fashion experts now believe that Melania wearing their brand will only help their respective fashion companies in the long run.

In short, it appears that everybody is clamoring to dress Melania, but the decision ultimately comes down to her and her trusted advisors. One report has already suggested that she might choose a U.S. designer to wear, so that puts several fashion companies in the running while simultaneously eliminating others. In the past, Melania has typically been denied by U.S. designers, but her collaboration with French designer and friend Hervé Pierre allows her to maintain fashion contacts and inspires her to work with more U.S. designers.

When all is said and done, Melania will have chosen a fashion designer and an eye-catching outfit that she can be most pleased with. Until then, we’ll simply have to sit back and await to see which fashion designer company wins this turtle race. Either way, all eyes will surely be on Trump as he embarks on his second time as president of the U.S. of A.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may well have to join the tens of thousands evacuating their homes amid the ongoing Los Angeles fires, thanks to the arrival of high-power winds leaving their own neighborhood on the brink of threat and officially being dubbed an “extreme danger zone.”

The LA fires have already left untold devastation in their wake — destroying 40,000 acres and claiming the lives of 24 people at last count — but Tuesday, Jan. 14 is being discussed as the most dangerous day of the wildfires yet. This is due to the arrival of fierce Santa Ana winds — dubbed “The Devil’s Winds” — which are predicted to cause “explosive fire growth.” With the powerful hurricane-force winds forecast to reach 70mph, the fires are expecting to spread further than ever.

This has led to the duke and duchess’ affluent neighborhood of Montecito to fall under a red flag warning, along with most of Santa Barbara County. As per official guidelines shared by the @montecitofire Instagram account, residents should “be vigilant,” “prepare now,” and “be ready to evacuate” at any time. Power shortages are at risk of occurring, so locals have been advised to “keep your phones and important electronic charged.” A warning reads, “Under these conditions, fires will grow rapidly and behave erratically. Be ready to evacuate in the event of a vegetation fire.”

While Harry and Meghan have been able to remain safe in their home to date, the Sussexes haven’t been idle. The pair have been actively involved in their relief effort, throwing open the doors of their $29 million mansion to those in need of shelter as well as offering donations through their Archewell Foundation. The couple were also spotted helping serve meals to local victims of the fire alongside Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of beleaguered governor Gavin Newsom.

The Sussxes are hyper-aware of the dangers bearing down on them, then, and the duo are known to have already entered “crisis mode.” Luckily for Harry and Meghan, they have an expert security team on their payroll and reports have claimed that their people are prepped and ready to go on an evacuation plan, with packs filled with emergency items for their kids, Prince Archie (5) and Princes Lilibet (3).

This is definitely not how Harry and Meghan had expected this week to go. Markle’s latest Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, was all set to land on streaming this Wednesday, but it was wisely decided that releasing a breezy cookery show set against the sunny, unburning backdrop of Southern California from last year was maybe not what people wanted to watch right now. With Love, Meghan has instead been moved back to March 4.

The good news for the Sussexes, and the whole of SoCal, is that the strong winds are only due to last until Wednesday, after which the containment of the fires can perhaps finally begin to grow more effective. If they are lucky, the family won’t have to evacuate their home and they can continue to help doing their bit for all of those who have suffered the worst start to a new year imaginable.

As the Los Angeles fires rage on, it’s becoming harder and harder to spot an end to this devastation. At the time of writing, the death toll has climbed to 25, and roughly 60 square miles of land containing over 12,000 structures have succumbed to the flames. To make matters worse, extreme wind warnings threaten to carry the wildfire even further. Indeed, this is a time of gutting tragedy.

The thing about the human experience, however, is that it’s defined by how we can create beauty out of the worst possible circumstances. And while it’s going to be quite some time until we can manifest a proper bright future with rebuilding and reimbursing, Prince Harry was happy to provide a spark of humanity for one evacuee.

Per Pasadena Star-News, Harry and his wife Meghan recently made a visit to Pasadena in hopes of assisting civilians whose lives have been ravaged by the wildfires. Their visit included a meeting with Pasadena mayor Victor Gordo, assisting with the distribution of meals, and meeting with the evacuees. Harry, however, wasn’t done yet.

According to Gordo — per the same Pasadena Star-News piece — Harry met an elderly gentleman during this time, and this elderly gentleman found himself struck with a craving for a donut. There were no donuts on-site, and so Harry — without revealing who he was — ventured off in search of a donut, and then brought it to him.

Those partial to Harry’s celebrity were quick to praise his selflessness, while others continued to bang the “disaster tourist” drum and alleging that he and Markle only showed up in Pasadena to enhance their public image.

To both parties, I suggest the following: rather than using this story to jump to the conclusion of “Harry is good” or “Harry is bad,” why not read this event as a human being going out of their way to gift another human being a donut in the wake of an unthinkable catastrophe that we need all the positivity/humanity in the world to counteract?

Folks, I cannot spare even the most marginal iota of a hoot about whether or not Harry is a good person. What we ought to care about instead is that someone’s day was, in all likelihood, ever-so-slightly brightened by a donut. Why debate how worthy someone is of praise, rather than celebrate this instance of shared humanity?

Focusing on trivial nonsense rather than the fact that some good is being done in the world has been a running theme of Harry and Meghan’s response to the Los Angeles fires. Last week, the pair put out a statement urging those in the community to contribute to relief efforts in any way they can — Harry and Meghan, for their part, have since opened their mansion to evacuees and made many donations — only for their haters to swoop in on them for releasing the statement on Kate Middleton‘s birthday.

In other words, Harry and Meghan are being accused of using this entire campaign of compassion was to snub Middleton’s big 43rd. There’s a lot of work to be done indeed, folks.

While Prince Harry waits for his next court date in his legal battle against the Home Office to be granted special security when visiting the U.K., he still has to attend to a different ongoing judicial case — the one against News Group Newspapers. His trips to his home country for that, however, will remain solo for the time being, and his father is choosing to stay out of it.

Harry will get a chance to appeal the High Court’s decision in April

Although Harry’s lawsuit against NGN is advancing to trial at the end of January, he’ll have to wait a while still to resolve the case against the Home Office. Per The Daily Mail, the duke was granted a two-day hearing by the Court of Appeal after challenging the High Court’s decision to deny him tax­payer-funded round-the-clock security while visiting the U.K.. That hearing will happen in April, but until then, he’ll have to fend for himself.

As a result, the 40-year-old remains adamant that his family will not be safe if they make the trip to their homeland. Harry and his wife, Suits actress Meghan Markle, moved to the U.S. in 2020, a little over a year after their oldest child, Archie, was born. They settled in Montecito, California, well away from the fierce media scrutiny and threats of all kinds from the British public.

A year after that, they welcomed their youngest child, a daughter named Lilibet after the late Queen Elizabeth II’s childhood nickname, who is believed to have visited her dad’s country only once, in 2022. That is also reportedly the only time she has been with her grandfather, King Charles III.

Nevertheless, according to Hello!, the king will not intervene in the security court case despite pleas from his son. Friends of Harry’s who spoke to the magazine say his calls “go unanswered” as Charles is determined that influencing a legal decision in any way would be “wholly inappropriate.”

Lack of a relationship with grandchildren is a source of “great sadness” for the king

Last week, a royal insider told The Mirror that the distance from his two America-based grandchildren “must remain a great sadness” for the monarch, who “hardly knows them.” King Charles is apparently invested in developing a close relationship with all of his grandchildren, regardless of how things are going with Harry.

The separation has also weighed on the duke for the last five years. In a 2020 statement, he said the U.K. was “central to the heritage of [his] children and a place [he wants] them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the U.S..” Still, moving back to the other side of the Atlantic permanently is reportedly not in his plans, whether or not the hearing in April goes his way, said a BBC royal correspondent.

For now, it seems Prince Harry is giving the Crown the cold shoulder for not helping him get the security he so desperately wants. For a second time, he has opted to stay at a hotel when he visits the U.K. for his NGN hearing later this month, despite an invitation to stay at the Buckingham Palace.

Although father and son want the same thing — for visits to be facilitated so Archie and Lilibet can be more present in their paternal family’s lives — neither is willing to budge. For now, and until April, that is likely to continue to be the case.

Jan. 20, 2025 is fast approaching, and while for many it will be another dreary winter day that leaves them wishing summer would get here already, it’s also Donald Trump‘s inauguration day. People are finding out which singers are performing… and confused that some, like Carrie Underwood, have agreed.

Snoop Dogg is one name who is being floated around as a potential performer. But is that true? How does Martha Stewart’s BFF feel about Trump, and is he going to appear at this anticipated event?

Is Snoop Dogg performing at Donald Trump’s inauguration?

Snoop Dogg isn’t performing at the inauguration of Trump on Jan. 20. However, he is performing at an event a few days before. According to Politico, sources who are involved with organizing say that Snoop Dogg is going to perform at the Crypto Ball on Friday Jan. 17, 2025.

Anyone familiar with Snoop Dogg and Trump’s history might be surprised that he is performing at any event that has to do with the incoming president. According to USA Today, the rapper included a clown that looked like Trump in his music video “Lavendar (Nightfall Remix)” back in 2017. That would have been telling enough, but then Snoop Dogg aimed a gun at Trump in the video. Trump wasn’t pleased (to say the least) and, instead of keeping his thoughts to himself, shared his reaction on Twitter.

Then, in 2020, Snoop Dogg said, “I ain’t never voted a day in my life, but this year I think I’m going to get out and vote because I can’t stand to see this punk in office one more year.” But now that Trump is about to take office again, Snoop Dogg said of Trump, “He ain’t done nothing wrong to me” and praised Trump for pardoning Death Row label co-founder Michael Harris.

However, if Snoop Dogg’s fans are taking his decision to perform at the Crypto Ball as evidence that he’s a Republican or that he’s fully on board with Trump, he doesn’t want people to think that. In Nov. 2024, he posted online that he chose not to endorse Trump or Kamala Harris and told his fans, “I don’t believe in separating people. I believe in bringing us together.”

Sure, Snoop Dogg isn’t the first person to say that they’re against “division” and taking sides. That argument is getting a bit lame, though. When one party is anything but decent and caring and shows their true colors day in day out, well, isn’t showing even a bit of support for that party taking sides? If Snoop Dogg really had an issue with Trump, it’s hard to believe he would agree to perform at the Crypto Ball. But, hey, Snoop Dogg is super into NFTs and crypto, so maybe that’s the reason he was drawn to this event.

Besides wondering why exactly anyone would want to perform anywhere near Trump, perhaps a better question is why a Crypto Ball needs to happen at all? Each ticket costs $100,000, which is wild when you imagine what that money could be used for. Also, if you want four tickets and have a spare $1 million, you can have dinner with Trump another time. No thanks! Speaking of “separating” people, there are definitely people who are all about crypto and those who want nothing to do with it, and I’m glad to be in the latter camp.

Rumors about a TikTok ban have always been in and out of circulation, and the moment is finally here. Since the app first gained popularity in the U.S., questions about online security due to its affiliations with the Chinese government have plagued it. 

Now, it looks like the investors behind TikTok are considering a last ditch attempt to keep the app operating in the U.S. Unsurprisingly, with his name attached to multiple acquisition rumors, there’s a growing belief that Elon Musk might be the TikTok savior the country needs. But is any of this true?

What’s going on with TikTok anyway?

The pandemic was a hard time for many companies globally, but for a few companies, it was the launching pad to success. One of these was TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. ByteDance created TikTok as an international counterpart to the Chinese video hosting platform Douyin and was launched as a merger with the lip-syncing platform Musical.ly.

Despite the app being a roaring success from the onset, with its popularity skyrocketing during the pandemic, concerns about data privacy violations and online surveillance have always followed in its wake due to its Chinese ownership. 

Last year, this came to a head when President Joe Biden signed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. The bill stated that the social media app must transfer ownership from its China-based parent company within a certain deadline or face a nationwide ban. Well, that deadline has finally arrived. If TikTok doesn’t find a new owner by Jan. 19, the app will be banned in the United States. 

So, is Elon Musk going to save TikTok in the USA?

TikTok has fought passionately against the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act since it was signed. Shou Zi Chew, the company’s CEO, assured users that the app isn’t going anywhere, but things aren’t looking good. 

In December, President-elect Donald Trump appealed to the court to move the ban deadline. Trump, who will be sworn in on January 20, a day after the ban, asked that the court give him and his administration “the opportunity to pursue a political resolution.” Last Friday, the Supreme Court spent nearly three hours hearing arguments to move the ban deadline.

Following the discouraging Supreme Court hearing, a report from Bloomberg was released on Monday that the app might find its savior in X CEO Elon Musk. The report stated, “Chinese officials are evaluating a potential option that involves Elon Musk acquiring the US operations of TikTok,” claiming its sources as “people familiar with the matter,” who requested to remain anonymous. 

Elon Musk, who is the wealthiest individual in the world, has been an avid supporter of Trump’s re-election campaign, and has spoken publicly against the TikTok ban. The report claimed that one scenario ByteDance is considering is for Musk’s X to take control of Tiktok, merging the two apps. Despite these claims, the report also stated that it is, “unclear whether Musk, TikTok and ByteDance have held any talks about the terms of any possible deal.”

In response to requests for comments on the Bloomberg report, TikTok representatives said to various outlets such as Variety and BBC, “We can’t be expected to comment on pure fiction.” As Bloomberg cannot support its claims, the rumor of Musk purchasing TikTok remains just that — a rumor. 

Kate Middleton has made an impressive return to royal duties since wrapping up her cancer treatment last summer, with the Princess of Wales having a very busy second half of 2024 — a sharp contrast from the first half of the year, which saw her poor health submerged under awkward silence and endless conspiracy theories. Going into 2025, the princess seems to have two goals: to be even more active than she was last year and to be much more open with the public.

Case in point, Kate made an unexpected public appearance this Tuesday, Jan. 14 in what marks her very first solo outing — without her husband, Prince William, or her children — since her announcement last September that she had officially concluded her chemotherapy. Her choice of outing to signify the occasion couldn’t have been more fitting, as Kate returned to the cancer hospital which treated her in the first place.

Princess Kate makes first solo royal visit since illness to thank the hospital staff who treated her

Kate Middleton surprised the staff and patients at London’s Royal Marsden hospital this week when she dropped by to both greet those being treated and thank the doctors and nurses for helping her through her illness.

This was a notable moment for Kate in many ways. For starters, this marks the first time she has publicly confirmed where she underwent her treatment. As per The Times, the princess noted how she appreciated being able to enter through the front doors this time, as opposed to being smuggled in through a back entrance like before. “Actually, it’s quite nice,” she admitted, instead of going through a side door for “so many, quiet, private visits.”

In response to the surprise appearance, a Kensington Palace spokesperson said, “The princess wanted to make the journey to both show her gratitude to the incredible team, but also highlight the world-leading care and treatment the Marsden provides.”

In addition, Kate’s visit coincides with the announcement that both she and Prince William have become joint patrons of the Royal Marsden, no doubt as an expression of gratitude for how well Kate’s treatment was handled. Dame Cally Palmer, the chief executive of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said in a statement:

“We are incredibly fortunate to receive royal patronage — it is inspiring for staff and patients and enables us to shine a light on the outstanding work our staff deliver every day for patients and their families.”

Kate met with various patients during her time in the hospital on Tuesday and opened up about her own experiences. “It’s really tough,” she said to one patient who was undergoing chemotherapy. “It’s such a shock.” The princess went on to share some advice she received from friends ahead of her own treatment. “Everyone said to me ‘please keep a positive mindset, it makes such a difference’,” she recalled, adding “when I came in everyone said ‘make sure you have all your warm things [clothes] on,’” due to the side effects.

At one point, Kate had an emotional encounter with one patient and their relatives, discussing the importance of self-care both for those suffering from cancer and their loved ones, during the process and afterward. “The treatments are really so different and so varied, it impacts families differently,” she opined. Offering some practical advice, Kate told the patient, “I really felt like I needed to get the sun. You need loads of water and loads of sunlight.”

The fact that Kate undertook this visit alone may indicate that she is now back to her regular royal workload. However, palace aides confirmed to The Times that this isn’t strictly the case. Her medical guidance remains the same, and the princess intends to continue only gradually increasing her workload.