WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26
NATIONAL HEADLINES:
SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN VOTING RIGHTS ACT PROVISION
The Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 yesterday. The court left standing Section 5 of the law, which requires states with a history of voter discrimination, mainly in the South, to get federal approval before making any changes to voting rules. But in a 5-4 decision, it struck down the formula used by the government to determine which states should be covered under that provision. "Our country has changed, and while any racial discrimination in voting is too much, Congress must ensure that the legislation it passes to remedy that problem speaks to current conditions," wrote Chief Justice John Roberts. The court’s decision essentially puts the future of the law into question, until lawmakers can come to an agreement on revising it. Civil rights activists called the decision devastating and President Obama said in a statement that he was “deeply disappointed” by the decision.
PUTIN SAYS HE WON’T TURN OVER SNOWDEN
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed yesterday that NSA leaker Edward Snowden was in aMoscow airport, but said he would not stop Snowden from leaving the country. "In the territory of Russia, Mr. Snowden committed no crimes," Putin said. "Mr. Snowden is a free person. The sooner he chooses his final destination, the better it is for us and for him." He said Snowden was in the transit zone of a Moscow airport and has not technically crossed the border in Russia, but even if he had, Russia and the U.S. don't have a relevant extradition treaty. Just hours before Putin’s comments, the U.S. warned Russia to turn Snowden over so that he may face charges for his crimes. Secretary of State John Kerry said that even though the U.S. and Russia don’t have an extradition treaty, there were still "standards of behavior" between sovereign nations and the request for Snowden was "normal and basic." Snowden has been on the run since leaking classified information about the NSA’s surveillance programs.
OBAMA LAYS OUT NEW CLIMATE CHANGE PROPOSAL
In a speech at Georgetown University yesterday, President Obama laid out new proposals for combating climate change. He called for limiting carbon emissions for new and existing coal-fired power plants, and setting higher environmental standards for the approval of the controversial Keystone pipeline. The president said it’s time to act now, before it’s too late. He also addressed climate change skeptics, saying, “We don’t have time for a meeting of the flat-earth society.” Obama intends to advance his proposals through executive action, which will allow him to sidestep Congress.
WITNESS TESTIFIES ON ZIMMERMAN’S NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH SERVICE
A civilian employee for the Sanford, Florida police department took the stand yesterday at the trial of neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman. Wendy Dorival said that as part of her job, she assisted neighborhood watch programs, and she described Zimmerman as “meek” but civic-minded and professional. Dorival said she met with Zimmerman in September 2011 to help him launch a neighborhood watch, and later tried to recruit him for the more intensive volunteer squad, Citizens on Patrol. She said he declined, but that he did seem to want to make changes to better his community. Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Prosecutors contend Zimmerman “profiled” Martin as the unarmed teen walked through the neighborhood and then shot him during a confrontation. But the defense says Martin was the aggressor and Zimmerman, 29, reacted in self-defense.
CARNIVAL CEO GETS REPLACED AFTER SERIES OF MISHAPS
After a series of very public mishaps, cruise ship company Carnival Corp. announced yesterday that it is replacing its CEO. Micky Arison, who has been head of the company since 1979 and is the son of Carnival co-founder Ted Arison, is being replaced by Arnold W. Donald, a company board member for the past 12 years. Arison will continue to serve as chairman of the board. He was criticized earlier in the year, following a string of cruise ship problems. In one incident, the Carnival Triumph was stranded at sea for five days with overflowing toilets and no air conditioning. That nightmare was followed up with mechanical problems on three other Carnival ships: The Elation, Dream and Legend. All the incidents made headlines and hurt bookings.
ROCK NEWS:
REZNOR REACTS TO BELEW, AVERY EXITS
The new Nine Inch Nails album, Hesitation Marks, will arrive September 3, but in a new interview with Rolling Stone, frontman Trent Reznor addressed the recent departures of guitarist Adrian Belew and bassist Eric Avery. Without addressing either defection specifically, Reznor said the shifts in the band’s lineup have been “disruptive,” adding, “It’s felt like a wrench in the works at times, but…I think where we’re ending up at is a place much truer to what Nine Inch Nails should be…and better in the long run."
MORELLO CALLS ALLEGEDLY TREASONOUS SNOWDEN ‘A HERO’
He’s a longtime activist and guitarist for bands that include Rage Against the Machine, so you knew at some point Tom Morello was going to chime in on the biggest current news story concerning fugitive whistleblower Edward Snowden, who is reportedly seeking asylum in Ecuador. Morello told TMZ, “I think he should live a happy life in Ecuador. I think he’s a hero. He exposed the crimes of the government…the Obama administration.” Morello added, “Today I got an email from the Obama campaign asking for money…So…I’m going to take whatever amount…I might have donated…and…donate to whatever airplane flight is going to get Snowden to Ecuador… I’d be happy to do that.”
MGMT SET SEPTEMBER 17 RELEASE DATE FOR THIRD ALBUM
Brooklyn-bred rockers MGMT will release their third studio album, the cleverly-titled MGMT, on September 17, band principals Andrew VanWyngarden and Benjamin Goldwasser revealed yesterday. Frequent collaborator Dave Fridmann will once again co-produce and mix the forthcoming albums, tasks he also handled on the band’s 2008 debut, Oracular Spectacular, and 2010’s and 2010’s Congratulations.
OUTSIDE LANDS FEST SINGLE-DAY LINEUPS REVEALED, TICKETS FOR SALE
Organizers of the Outside Lands festival taking place August 9-11 in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park have announced the single-day lineups, while trumpeting the fact that a limited amount of single-day tickets are going on sale today at 10a Pacific. The day-one lineup will feature the legendary Paul McCartney as headliner, day-two’s festivities will come to a close with a performance by Nine Inch Nails, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers will bring the festival to a rousing finish on Sunday, August 11. Visit sfoutsidelands.com for a complete rundown of artists and more details.
ROLLING STONES WRAP TOUR; JAGGER JABS OBAMA ON NSA SCANDAL
The Rolling Stones wrapped the North American leg of their 50 and Counting tour Monday in Washington, DC, where Mick Jagger took the opportunity to hurl a sharp-tongued remark at the White House and President Barack Obama’s defense of the controversial National Security Agency’s recently uncovered surveillance program. At one point in the show, Jagger lamented that the President was not in attendance, telling the audience, “I don’t think President Obama is here tonight… But I’m sure he’s listening in.” The remark sparked a sometime ugly Twitter discussion regarding the President and the NSA.
JAGGER OFFERED FIRST-CLASS ACCOMMODATIONS FOR UK FEST SET
The Rolling Stones will be making their long-awaited debut at the legendary UK Glastonbury festival this Saturday, and while most concertgoers will have to make a go of it sleeping in makeshift tents or under the stars while braving anticipated rain, Mick Jagger will spend his time onsite living large. Festival organizers have provided the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer with a nearly $5000 yurt, described as “a circular tent of felt or skins, on a collapsible framework, used by Nomads…” Sir Mick will kick back in the lavish 20-foot tall “tent” that comes equipped with a king-size bed, dressers and candles galore.
CRACKER SINGER SHARES PALTRY PANDORA PAYCHECK
The members of Pink Floyd may have awoken a sleeping giant and opened a Pandora’s Box of complaints from musicians after penning an op-ed in USA Today scolding Pandora for its attempt to reduce its already measly radio royalty payments. Now, Cracker singer and principal songwriterDavid Lowery posted the following to a blog: “As a songwriter Pandora paid me $16.89 for 1,159,000 plays of ‘Low’ last quarter. Less than I make for a single T-shirt sale. Okay that’s a slight exaggeration. That’s only the premium multi-color long sleeve shirts and that’s only at venues that don’t take commission. But still.”
TYLER EXPANDS ON POTENTIALLY EXPERIMENTAL SOLO ALBUM
Recently, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler confessed “I’ve got this itch in me to do a solo record.” But what his solo album will sound like is something his bandmates and longtime fans of the blues-based rock band may not be excited to hear, according to Tyler himself, who explained, “I’ve got an itch to do something that’s different than Aerosmith. My heart is in stuff like that weirder, off-the-cuff stuff that I’m not sure Aerosmith would like. I’m into electronica. I want to…explore things. I really want to take a little risk…”
SHOWBIZ NEWS:
DEEN DEFENDED BY SONS
Paula Deen’s sons were interviewed by CNN’s Chris Cuomo yesterday and defended their mother against charges of racism. “Neither one of our parents ever taught us to be bigoted towards any other person for any reason,” said Bobby Deen. "Our mother is one of the most compassionate, good-hearted, empathetic people that you'd ever meet. These accusations are very hurtful to her, and it's very sad." He added that he's "disgusted by the entire thing, because it began as extortion and it has become character assassination." The controversy started after it came out Deen admitted to using the N-word in the past during a deposition for a sexual harassment case brought against her brother Bubba. Jamie Deen says when he was seven his parents told him the story of Hank Aaron who was his hero. They told Jamie, “the challenges (Aaron) had to overcome because of his color was unacceptable." He adds, “this is a lesson my mom and dad taught me when I was seven years old and it’s a lesson that I’ve carried throughout my life.”
KIM LEAKS FAKE BABY PICTURE
That Kim Kardashian is one sneaky reality star. According to TMZ, the new mom was convinced someone in her camp would try to hawk a baby photo of little North West so she hatched a plan to catch the mole in the act. According to sources, Kim sent a half-dozen “friends” a picture she claimed was her daughter, but really was an imposter baby. And apparently Kim was right about the leak, because TMZ says someone did try to sell a picture to them, and insiders confirm it’s a fake. The site also got a hold of another picture sent by Kim to friends, and she’s reportedly waiting to see if someone tries to sell that one, too. Meanwhile, grandma Kris Jenner was on the Todayshow yesterday, where she gave an update about the newest edition to the family. "Everyone's doing really well at home," she said. "The baby's doing great and happy and healthy and it's a really joyful time."
KATY & JOHN BACK ON
Looks like Katy Perry and John Mayer are back on yet again. The on-again-off-again couple was spotted together in New York Monday night attending the Friars Foundation gala honoring Don Rickles. The couple sat at a table with Joan Rivers and sources tell Us Weekly, “They were very much together.” “During dinner, Katy and John looked at each other like they were the only people in the room," said a witness "Katy didn't stop smiling and John kept whispering in her ear. A few times, their faces were so close it looked like they were about to kiss, but they didn't. They were very intimate and seemed very much in love."
BROWN CHARGED WITH HIT AND RUN
Chris Brown was charged yesterday with hit and run in connection with a minor accident that occurred last month in Los Angeles. Chris rear-ended a Mercedes and the other driver claims he refused to give her his driver’s license number and gave her fake insurance info. The City Attorney charged him with hit and run because he left the scene without exchanging information. He has also been charged with driving without a valid license. But Chris is disputing the claim. “It's not a hit and run if u get out the car, exchange information (who has NO DAMAGE to either cars). This is really ridiculous,” he tweeted. He also insists he gave her a valid driver’s license, and says she’s only making a stink in order to get a payday from him.
FRIEND CONFIRMS RUMORS ABOUT JACKO KIDS’ PATERNITY
Over the years there have been rumors that Michael Jackson’s friend, British actor Mark Lester,fathered the singer’s children Paris and Prince, and now another friend is confirming the story.Jason Pfeiffer told The Mirror the King of Pop confessed that Lester was the kids’ dad just a few months before he died. “One day as we talked about his children and Debbie Rowe, he just came out and said that his children were actually fathered by Mark,” said Pfeiffer. “Michael felt Mark was one of his closest friends. He said he was a great actor and a very good man. He mentioned that he had taken several people’s sperm and decided on Mark.” Pfeiffer claims the discussion happened at Dr. Arnold Klein’s office (Jacko’s dermatologist), just four months before the singer’s tragic death. He believes Jackson would have wanted Mark to be involved in his children’s life, and claimed the singer did not want Rowe to have anything to do with the kids.
BERRY TESTIFIES IN FAVOR OF ANTI-PAPARAZZI BILL
Halle Berry testified yesterday about the dangerous impact paparazzi have on the children of celebrities. The pregnant actress told California legislators that her daughter Nahla fears the photographers that follow her. “My daughter doesn’t want to go to school because she knows ‘the men’ are watching for her,” Berry told the Assembly Committee on Public Safety, who are considering a new bill that would limit paparazzi from photographing children of public figures. “They jump out of the bushes and from behind cars and who knows where else, besieging these children just to get a photo.” After a particularly nasty incident at LAX in April, Halle says her daughter actually asked “Mommy are they going to kills us?” “She didn’t get to sleep until 3 a.m. because she can’t get this out of her mind,” said Berry, “and she doesn’t understand what just happened to her.” The bill has been passed on to the Assembly Judiciary Committee, but it faces opposition from news and movie organizations, as well as First Amendment advocates.
McCARTHY HAPPY WITH HER SIZE
Melissa McCarthy has no intention of slimming down like most actresses in Hollywood. In fact, theMike & Molly star, whose new film The Heat opens Friday, says she was once thin, but it didn’t make her any happier. “I've been every size in the world. Parts of my twenties, I was in great shape, but I didn't appreciate it,” she tells More magazine. “If I was a 6 or an 8, I thought, ‘Why aren't I a 2 or a 4?’ Now I feel like I have two great kids and the dreamiest husband on the planet, and everything else is just a work in progress.” Melissa says now that she’s older, she realizes focusing on her weight is just a waste of energy. “At 20 you don't have any responsibilities, so of course you're a shallow narcissist. You can't appreciate anything, you're so self-absorbed,” she says. “I bought into it — I should be taller, thinner, have better hair. But I think that's part of being young.” She adds, “Now, especially with kids, you lose any sense of time or energy to worry about all the little stuff. It's like the chip was taken out.”
HOLLY MADISON ENGAGED
Holly Madison is officially engaged. The former Girls Next Door star announced that she and boyfriend Pasquale Rotella, who welcomed daughter Rainbow Aurora in March, became “officially engaged” on Sunday. Pasquale popped the question on a Ferris Wheel in Las Vegas, with an 18-carat yellow diamond. “Thank you pasqualerotella for the most special night of my life!,” Holly wrote on Twitter. “I can't wait to be your wife.”
HUNGER GAMES STAR’S NEW GAL
Josh Hutcherson has a new girlfriend. Us Weekly reports The Hunger Games star is dating actress Claudia Traisac, whom he met while filming the movie Paradise Lost in Panama. The couple was spotted kissing in LA Saturday, and taking an afternoon ride on the actor’s motorcycle.
WRITER’S STRANGE ENCOUNTER WITH BYNES
A writer on Gawker.com had a very strange encounter with everyone’s favorite trainwreckAmanda Bynes over the weekend. Caity Weaver writes that she was leaving her friend’s apartment in Manhattan at 1:30 am Sunday, when she realized someone was walking behind her. Worried that the person, who was wearing a long blonde wig, might be a mugger in drag, she slowed down to let him/her pass in front of her, when the thought crossed Caity’s mind that it could be Bynes. Sure enough it was, and out of the blue, the actress said to her “can you not take my photo.” Caity, who was holding her phone, simply replied “I wasn’t.” Caity writes that Amanda, who was carrying a small dog, seemed lucid and was polite, then mumbled something to herself and walked to her hotel.
MILEY CYRUS THREATENS DAD ON TWITTER
Miley Cyrus called out her dad on Twitter earlier this week. On Monday, Cyrus tweeted a picture of herself with a mystery woman along with a threat to her father Billy Ray Cyrus, "Since you won't reply to my texts I'm giving you an hour to tell the truth or ill tell it for you." There’s no word on whether Billy Ray ever contacted his daughter, but Miley mysteriously deleted the picture and post, writing, “Wtf? My twitter was just actin all types of cray!” The woman was later identified as stage actress Dylis Croman, who starred with Billy Ray in the Broadway musical Chicago last year.
BREAKING BAD BEER
Breaking Bad is coming to an end, and to mark the occasion, one Albuquerque-based brewery is getting ready to sell a beer inspired by the AMC show. “Heisenberg’s Dark” is an India Black Ale from Marble Brewery, and will be on sale during the run of Bad’s final episodes. The final season ofBreaking Bad premieres August 11th on AMC.
KRISTEN STEWART REMEMBERS GANDOLFINI
Twilight’s Kristen Stewart starred opposite James Gandolfini in the 2010 indie Welcome to the Rileys, and is speaking out about last week’s loss of The Sopranos star. “When I heard of James’ passing I was in New Orleans, where we met shooting, and every memory flooded back and gutted me,” she told EW in a statement. “I’ll hold that time near to me forever. He was immeasurably great. My heart goes out to his beloved family.”
GOSSELIN EXPLAINS CONTROVERSIAL PHOTO
Kate Gosselin is speaking out about the photo that appeared on Twitter over the weekend which seemed to show her mocking Asians. The former reality star wrote on her blog that the photo was a “happy memory” from her marriage to Jon, and was taken after a fan sent her an “Asian dress up wig.” “I married an Asian. I have eight biracial children therefore I’m quite certain that I’m the last person that could be called a racist,” she writes. “I couldn’t be more proud of my eight beautiful children and wouldn’t change anything about them or their heritage. They are absolutely perfect just the way they are.” She adds, “The blaring fact that remains is that a personal photo that left a warm and happy memory, was taken and misused without my permission and opportunistically turned into something that it never was intended to be.”
TATUM OPENS UP ABOUT FATHERHOOD
Earlier this month, Channing Tatum and his wife Jenna released a photo of their newborn daughter Everly, and he tells ET they did it in order to have more control over her image. “We didn't want to go through a tabloid — we just wanted to let it out so paparazzi would stop trying to hound us," Tatum explained. "You know, 'Here it is, that's it. Now, let us be.'" Tatum, whose new movieWhite House Down opens Friday, says his wife is understandably “tired,” but he is doing all he can to help. “Those first few months, it’s just ridiculous,” he says. “All I can really do is just sit there and change diapers…and get them food. Whatever they want.” And Channing is already thinking about adding to his family. He joked, “We could possibly have some Irish twins. I don’t know.”
NYC SAYS NO TO NIK WALLENDA
Over 13 million people tuned in to watch Nik Wallenda walk over the Grand Canyon Sunday, but it sounds like he’s going to have to go back to the drawing board for his next feat. During an interview with Today, Wallenda said he’d love to walk between the Chrysler Building and the Empire State building in New York, but that isn’t likely to happen. On Monday, New York police commissioner Ray Kelly said the city wouldn’t give the daredevil permission. "I would say no," said Kelly. "I think it's dangerous." He added, “Here, there's thousands of New Yorkers who certainly could be put at risk. So I don't think it would be wise in this city.”
MARGULIES CASE HEADED TO TRIAL
Looks like The Good Wife’s Julianna Margulies will be spending her off time in a courtroom too. The actress attempted to get a lawsuit filed by her former management company thrown out yesterday but was denied. D/F Management claims it’s owed more than $420,000 in commissions thanks to an agreement in which they were entitled to 10% of her earnings for shows and product deals they negotiated while representing her. Margulies is arguing the deal wasn’t in writing, and asked for the case to be thrown out, but a judge denied her request. Instead, Margulies is looking at a potential trial in October. She has countersued the company claiming they failed to perform their job adequately.
LIAM TO MAKE $20 MIL FOR TAKEN 3
Liam Neeson is going to get Taken again, and for a very good price. According to Deadline.com, the actor has been offered $20 million to reprise his role of CIA agent Bryan Mills in Taken 3. The first film was a surprise hit in 2009, and its sequel did even better, making $140 million.
TV TIDBITS
● The CW yesterday announced their fall premiere dates, kicking things off October 7th with the season premieres of Hart of Dixie and Beauty and the Beast. Click here to find out when your favorite show is coming back.
● CBS’s limited run series Under the Dome got off to a good start Monday, attracting 13.1 million viewers, making it the most-watched summer debut on any network since NBC’s The Singing Beein 2007.
