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  • Duchess Meghan shares photos of weekend fun with kids Lilibet, Archie

    Duchess Meghan shares photos of weekend fun with kids Lilibet, Archie

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    Duchess Meghan is a businesswoman through and through, but motherhood remains the No. 1 job.

    The Duchess of Sussex, who shares son Prince Archie and daughter Princess Lilibet with husband Prince Harry, gave a glimpse into her weekend leisure with the children in a series of posts published on her Instagram page.

    In an April 27 photo carousel, Meghan, 43, shared adorable snaps of Lilibet, 3, and Archie, 5, frolicking in a garden area. Just like her father, Harry, Lilibet’s ginger mane shone in the sun as she and Meghan admired a pink flower.

    Another photo showed Archie posing with a white and pink blossom that covered the young royal’s face.

    “Sunday kind of love….with my little loves,” Meghan captioned the post.

    On her April 26 Instagram Stories, Meghan gave fans a peek at her “cozy” weekend activities with Lilibet and Archie, according to Elle, Today.com and InStyle magazine.

    The Duchess of Sussex shared a video of herself and Lilibet cooking jam in the kitchen. The As Ever founder sells raspberry spread as part of her lifestyle brand’s offerings.

    “What do we think, Lili?” Meghan asked the princess, according to the outlets. Lilibet replied: “I think it’s beautiful!”

    Duchess Meghan revisits need to ‘detach’ during 2020 miscarriage on new podcast

    Another clip reportedly showed Meghan and the children visiting a pond filled with fish. Off camera, one of the royal kiddos could be heard exclaiming, “Momma, watch this!”, per Elle.

    Meghan opened up about how her family life has inspired her approach to work during an April 23 appearance at the TIME100 summit in New York City. The duchess addressed criticism of her choice not to film her Netflix series “With Love” at her and Harry’s Montecito, California, mansion.

    Duchess Meghan talks children: Royal explains why she didn’t film Netflix show at California mansion

    “When people say, ‘Why didn’t you (film in) your house?’ Well, I have kids coming home for their nap, and 80 people in the kitchen isn’t really the childhood memory I’d want for them to have,” Meghan said, in reference to the show’s crew, which she compared to over 200 people who worked on her previous TV drama “Suits.”

    Contributing: Jay Stahl, USA TODAY

  • 'The Legend of Ochi': Girl meets cute creature in fantasy filmMovies

    'The Legend of Ochi': Girl meets cute creature in fantasy filmMovies

    ‘The Legend of Ochi’: Girl meets cute creature in fantasy filmMovies

  • See when the new episode comes out

    See when the new episode comes out

    New episodes of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 6 drop every Tuesday on Hulu.

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    Editor’s note: This post contains spoilers about Season 6 of “The Handmaid’s Tale.“

    As Season 6 of “The Handmaid’s Tale” inches towards its conclusion, June (Elisabeth Moss), her husband Luke (O-T Fagbenle), and best friend Moira (Samira Wiley) have finally put their plans to take down Gilead into action.

    While the trio successfully managed to infiltrate Jezebel and meet up with Janine (Madeline Brewer), whose help they need to destroy Gilead, Episode 5 ended on a cliffhanger, as it is unknown if they managed to make it out with the intel safely. Meanwhile, Serena (Yvonne Strahovski) and Commander Wharton (Josh Charles) got engaged after he proposed to her.

    In the final season of the Emmy-winning drama series, June will fight to take down Gilead with Luke and Moira joining the resistance, per Hulu. Serena, meanwhile, “tries to reform Gilead while Commander Lawrence and Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) reckon with what they have wrought, and Nick (Max Minghella) faces challenging tests of character.”

    ‘The Testaments’: Will ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ return for another season?

    “This final chapter of June’s journey highlights the importance of hope, courage, solidarity, and resilience in the pursuit of justice and freedom,” this season’s synopsis says.

    Adapted from Canadian author Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel of the same name, “The Handmaid’s Tale” is about “the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was formerly the United States,” according to the series synopsis.

    June/Offred, one of the few fertile women in the oppressive Republic of Gilead, known as Handmaids, “struggles to survive as a reproductive surrogate for a powerful Commander and his resentful wife.”

    Here’s what to know about Season 6 of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” including full episode schedule and cast.

    We’ve got room on the couch! Sign up for USA TODAY’s Watch Party newsletter for more recaps of your favorite shows.

    When do new episodes of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ come out?

    New episodes of “The Handmaid’s Tale” Season 6 drop every Tuesday on Hulu at midnight ET / 9 p.m. PT (previous day).

    ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: Stream on Hulu | Watch on Sling

    Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle

    ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 6 episode schedule

    The final season of “The Handmaid’s Tale” will have 10 episodes. Here’s what the upcoming schedule looks like:

    • Episode 6 “Surprise”: April 29
    • Episode 7 “Shattered”: May 6
    • Episode 8 “Exodus”: May 13
    • Episode 9 “Execution”: May 20
    • Episode 10 “The Handmaid’s Tale”: May 27

    The first five episodes of Season 6 are already available to stream on Hulu.

    How to watch ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 6

    “The Handmaid’s Tale” is available to stream on Hulu.

    Hulu offers membership options ranging from $7.99 a month to $17.99 a month for normal streaming services, and $75.99 a month to $89.99 a month for plans with streaming and live TV. New users can also sign up for a free trial.

    Watch every season of The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu

    ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 6 cast

    Cast members for “The Handmaid’s Tale” Season 6, as per Hulu, include:

    • Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne / Offred
    • Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford
    • Bradley Whitford as Commander Joseph Lawrence
    • Max Minghella as Commander Nick Blaine
    • Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia Clements
    • O-T Fagbenle as Luke Bankole
    • Samira Wiley as Moira Strand
    • Madeline Brewer as Janine Lindo / Ofwarren / Ofdaniel / Ofhoward
    • Amanda Brugel as Rita Blue
    • Ever Carradine as Naomi Putnam
    • Sam Jaeger as Mark Tuello
    • Josh Charles as High Commander Wharton

    Watch ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 6 trailer

    We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

    Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

  • JoJo Siwa ex Kath Ebbs ‘humiliated’ after ‘Celebrity Big Brother’

    JoJo Siwa ex Kath Ebbs ‘humiliated’ after ‘Celebrity Big Brother’

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    JoJo Siwa’s ex-partner is in a “state of shock” about the end of their relationship.

    In a video shared April 26 on social media, Australian influencer Kath Ebbs said they felt “humiliated” after the “Dance Moms” star allegedly “dumped” them at a “Celebrity Big Brother” after-party.

    USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Siwa for comment.

    Siwa, 21, a contestant on the British reality series where stars live together, became close with “Love Island” star Chris Hughes on the show, raising eyebrows among viewers who speculated they were more than friends, despite Siwa’s relationship status.

    In a longer version of Ebbs’ video that has since been deleted from TikTok, Siwa’s ex accused her of “emotional cheating” and said that “everything we saw unfold on what I thought was a fake reality show, where I didn’t need to worry about the validity of my relationship, was, in fact, laced in a lot of truth.”

    Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY’s movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox

    Siwa and Hughes, who were seen cuddling on “Celebrity Big Brother,” shared a tearful goodbye after becoming close on the reality series, with Hughes kissing Siwa on the cheek and with Siwa telling him that she loves him. After Hughes said Siwa is “one of my favorite people I’ve ever come across,” Siwa echoed the sentiment and joked she “never thought I would say that to a straight man.” She confided that she felt “confused” and “guilty for how happy I’ve been.”

    JoJo Siwa shares sexuality update: She made her comments in a candid ‘Big Brother’ moment

    Ebbs told followers they were in a “complete state of shock” and that watching the show was “very unsettling and very hurtful, and I did feel betrayed by the things that I saw conspire.” Ebbs said they wanted to “address my feelings of hurt and work through them” but felt “further humiliated” after Siwa ended the relationship.

    “I was told that there are confused feelings there − do with that what you will − and that they had realized in the house that I wasn’t the person that they wanted to spend the foreseeable future with,” Ebbs said. They added that this has been “so shocking that I feel kind of subhuman right now.”

    Siwa previously revealed her experience on the show made her come to a realization about her sexuality.

    “I’ve always told myself I’m a lesbian, and I think being here I’ve realized: ‘Oh, I’m not a lesbian, I’m queer.’ And I think that’s really cool,” she said.

    Hughes defended his bond with Siwa on the “Celebrity Big Brother” finale, according to E! News, maintaining, “It was just a friendship, which is only going to get stronger.” He also said on the show that he was “really sad” that “people have made me feel like I can’t have a friendship with” Siwa.

    Siwa and Ebbs went public with their relationship in January. In March, Siwa told People that she was “so happy” in a “very mature relationship, and it’s beautiful.”

  • Actress shares positive health update

    Actress shares positive health update

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    Selma Blair has great news to share about her health.

    As the “Cruel Intentions” star stepped out at The Daily Front Row’s 9th annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards on April 24, she told People she’s “doing amazingly well” and is “truly relapse-free” from symptoms of multiple sclerosis, more than six years after she shared her diagnosis with fans.

    “I’ve been feeling great for about a year,” said Blair, 52, adding that she’s “really, genuinely” feeling well. “I always try and feel my best, but now I actually have stamina and energy, and getting out and going out isn’t so scary.”

    Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY’s movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox

    Blair also shared that the improvement in her health has allowed her to think about the future in a way that she wasn’t able to before.

    “I spent so much of my life so tired from being unwell that I think I just was trying to get through the day,” she said. “And now it’s like, wait, I realize I don’t know what my goals are.”

    Selma Blair opens up: She talks about her ‘cathartic’ MS discussions, service dog ‘boyfriend’ Scout

    Blair announced she was battling multiple sclerosis on Instagram in 2018, saying at the time that she was diagnosed in August of that year. “I am disabled,” she wrote. “I fall sometimes. I drop things. My memory is foggy. And my left side is asking for directions from a broken gps. But we are doing it.”

    According to the Mayo Clinic, multiple sclerosis occurs when “the immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers, known as myelin,” which “interrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body.” Symptoms can include numbness or tingling, lack of coordination and difficulty walking. There is no cure for MS, though treatments are available to manage symptoms.

    “Symptoms of MS depend on the person, the location of damage in the nervous system and how bad the damage is to the nerve fibers,” the Mayo Clinic notes. “Some people lose the ability to walk on their own or move at all. Others may have long periods between attacks without any new symptoms, called remission.”

    In 2019, Blair underwent a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, a process that “attempts to ‘reboot’ the immune system, which is responsible for damaging the brain and spinal cord in MS,” according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. After this treatment, Blair revealed she was in remission.

    “It took about a year after stem cell for the inflammation and lesions to really go down,” she said in 2021. “While I am in remission, there’s still maintenance and treatments and glitches and wonderful things and wonderful things I’ve learned. But I am in remission, I guess they call it. I don’t have any new lesions forming.”

    In a prior health update in January 2024, Blair told fans that she was “doing well” but still experiencing pain and stiffness. “I hurt all the time,” she shared. “I say that only for you people that hurt also. I get it.”

    ‘Legally Blonde 3’: Is Selma Blair for reprising the icy Vivian?

    In March, the “Legally Blonde” actress stepped out at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party and walked the red carpet with her service dog, Scout.

    “When I have to kneel down to be able to talk more clearly or to just kind of get my circulation on track, it made a lot more sense to have a dog by my side,” she told USA TODAY. “He helps me just move forward, past it because once I start getting nervous or self-conscious, it all kind of devolves.”

    Contributing: Erin Jensen

  • Jiggly Caliente, ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ star, dies at 44

    Jiggly Caliente, ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ star, dies at 44

    Jiggly Caliente, a Filipino-American TV personality and drag performer, died April 27 after fighting a severe infection and an amputation of “most of her right leg,” according to an announcement posted to her social media.

    The 44-year-old performer, whose real name is Bianca Castro, died on April 27 at 4:42 a.m., “surrounded by her loving family and close friends,” her family wrote in a post on her Instagram.

    “Her legacy is one of love, courage, and light,” her family’s statement reads. “Though her physical presence is gone, the joy she shared and the space she helped create for so many will remain forever.”

    Castro was known for her appearance on Season 4 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” where she claimed eighth place.

    The drag queen, whose stage name takes inspiration from the Pokémon character Jigglypuff, also starred in Season 6 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” in 2021.

    She was also a judge on “Drag Race Philippines,” and had a recurring role in the drama series “Pose.”

    ‘Most of her right leg’ amputated after a severe infection

    Castro’s death comes after she battled a severe infection and was hospitalized and had “most of her right leg”. amputated, her family said in an Instagram post on April 24.

    In the statement, Castro’s family said they were “heartbroken to share that over the last month, Bianca has experienced a serious health setback.”

  • Everything to know about dates, streaming, fashion

    Everything to know about dates, streaming, fashion

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    • Beyoncé is launching her Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit Tour with the first show on April 28 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
    • The tour includes 32 stadium shows across nine cities in the U.S. and Europe, concluding in Las Vegas on July 26.
    • The album’s creation was inspired by Beyoncé’s feeling unwelcome in the country music genre, leading her to explore its history.

    She coming!

    Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is set to ignite the stage as she debuts her highly anticipated Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit Tour on April 28 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The night will officially kick off at 7 p.m. PT.

    The show will mark Beyoncé’s first of 32 stadium shows on her nine-city tour that will span the U.S. and Europe with the grand finale taking place in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium on July 26. She’s set to make history with her scheduled tour dates, including in Los Angeles.

    Here’s everything to know about the history-making album, and the upcoming spectacle.

    Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour dates and cities

    • Los Angeles: April 28, May 1, May 4, May 7, May 9 at SoFi Stadium 
    • Chicago: May 15, May 17, May 18 at Soldier Field  
    • New Jersey: May 22, May 24, May 25, May 28, May 29 at MetLife Stadium
    • London: June 5, June 7, June 10, June 12, June 14, June 16 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
    • Paris: June 19, June 21, June 22 at Stade de France
    • Houston: June 28, June 29 at NRG Stadium 
    • Atlanta: July 10, July 11, July 13, July 14 at Mercedes Benz Stadium
    • Washington, D.C.: July 4, July 7 at Northwest Stadium 
    • Las Vegas: July 25, July 26 at Allegiant Stadium

    What to know about ticket sales and prices in different cities

    Tickets initially went on sale for Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter and Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit Tour in February. While ticket prices have varied by city and date of purchase, a ticket expert suggests a number of factors may contribute to the price each concertgoer will pay for the concert.

    Fans are still able to purchase tickets for the opening show on Beyonce.com or Ticketmaster.com directly, along with resale markets. As of April 25, the lowest ticket starts at $58.65 for level 500 seating, and prices increase depending on seating assignment inside the stadium.

    Ahead of the Los Angeles shows, fans should confirm their seats to ensure they have not been changed on Ticketmaster.

    What to know ahead of her opening show at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles

    There is a strict bag policy at SoFi Stadium. Fans are only allowed to bring one-gallon clear plastic freezer bags (Ziploc or similar) and small clutch bags that cannot exceed 4 by 6 inches with or without a handle or strap. Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC totes that do not exceed 12 by 6 by 12 inches are also approved.

    Beyoncé fans can save money by paying for parking online before arriving to the stadium. Prices range from $44 to $60.50 and will increase on site the day of the show.

    What are fans planning to wear?

    As much as a Beyoncé concert is a musical spectacle, it is also a fashion showcase for the singer and her fans alike. Most fans are preparing to wear their individual cowboy core looks. From cowboy hats to handheld fans, there are some must-have accessories that are sure to be staples at the shows.

    What are fans hoping to see at the ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour?

    Beyoncé’s first live performance of songs from her “Cowboy Carter” album took place on Christmas Day during the Texans-Ravens NFL game. The halftime performance was dubbed the “Beyoncé Bowl and drew in nearly 27 million U.S. viewers on Netflix.

    While the performance may have been a precursor to the singer’s upcoming tour, most fans are expecting it to only have scratched the surface of what Beyoncé will deliver at her concerts. Fans have voiced their wishes and predictions for the upcoming rodeo, and it’s clear they are putting no limits on Beyoncé. Some cities are expected to be especially epic.

    Will the concerts be live streamed?

    Fans who can’t attend the show in person will have the opportunity to witness the performance thanks to fans like Matthew Serafin, who turned live streaming her shows into a passion and an act of service. He plans to attend and stream the opening show and a number of others from his personal social media accounts.

    Many other fans plan to do the same.

    When did Beyoncé first announce her tour?

    Beyoncé first announced the tour the night before the 2025 Grammy Awards, where she took home the award for best country album and the top prize — album of the year — for her eighth studio album “Cowboy Carter.” She became the fist Black woman to take home the award for best country album.

    Prior to her three “Cowboy Carter” wins, no Black female solo artist had ever won a Grammy for country music. Four years ago, Mickey Guyton became the first Black female solo artist to be recognized in a country music category when she received a nomination for her song “Black Like Me.” This year also marked the first time a Black woman has been nominated for the top prize of album of the year for a country album. Ray Charles was nominated for album of the year for “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music” in 1962.

    The Grammy recognition was especially significant considering Beyoncé was snubbed, receiving zero nominations, at the Country Music Association Awards just months prior.

    Beyoncé last toured in 2023 for her record-breaking Renaissance World Tour. It began May 10 in Stockholm, Sweden, and concluded Oct. 1 in Kansas City, Missouri, with Beyoncé performing a total of 56 shows.

    Releasing ‘Cowboy Carter’ and its larger impact

    She first released the 27-track project March 29, 2024. It has since made history and broken multiple records. As Beyoncé’s first country album, she deliberately featured country legends and emerging Black country artists alike.

    Prior to releasing “Cowboy Carter” Beyoncé opened up about creating the project and her struggles within the country music genre, referencing her 2016 CMA Awards performance.

    “This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t,” she wrote. “But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive.”

    The album is the second part of a three-act project. Her seventh studio album, “Renaissance” is considered Act 1. The 2022 project earned her four Grammys, including best dance/electronic music album, making her the most decorated artist in the awards’ history.

    Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network’s Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.

  • When does ‘The Last of Us’ come out? Date, time, cast, where to watch

    When does ‘The Last of Us’ come out? Date, time, cast, where to watch

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    Spoiler alert: This story includes details from “The Last of Us” Season 2 Episode 2.

    Can “The Last of Us” top last week’s shocking episode?

    America will find out Sunday night, April 26 as the third episode of Season 2 releases.

    Fans are still reacting after the jarring death of Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) in the latest episode of the HBO series. Pascal himself acknowledged it would shake fans.

    “I have nothing but respect for the level of investment that people have in a video game or a television show or a movie or a book,” Pascal said. “I’ve flung books across the room because its impact is so profound on me in experiencing a story. If it is incredibly painful for people, that’s obviously a brilliant achievement of the storytelling.”

    With or without Joel Miller, Season 2 marches on. Here’s how to watch the next episode.

    Review: ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 finds its horrors but loses the plot

    Watch the Last of Us on Sling + Max

    When does the next episode of the ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 come out? Release date, time

    The next episode of “The Last of Us” Season 2 will drop on Sunday, April 27 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on HBO and its streaming service Max.

    New episodes will release every Sunday, with the season finale dropping on Sunday, May 25.

    ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 episode schedule

    Season 2 of “The Last of Us” premiered on April 13 and will have 7 episodes. Here’s what the upcoming schedule looks like:

    • Episode 3: Sunday, April 27
    • Episode 4: Sunday, May 4
    • Episode 5: Sunday, May 11
    • Episode 6: Sunday, May 18
    • Episode 7 (season finale): Sunday, May 25

    How to watch ‘The Last of Us’

    New episodes of “The Last of Us” will air on HBO and be available to stream weekly on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Max. Season 1 of the series is also available to stream on Max.

    Max subscription plans begin at $9.99 a month with ads while ad-free subscriptions cost $16.99 a month.

    The highest tier, which is $20.99 a month, includes the ability to stream on four devices and offers 4K Ultra HD video quality and 100 downloads. HBO also offers bundles with Hulu and Disney+.

    Watch ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 with Sling + Max

    ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 cast

    Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey returned to reprise their leading roles as Joel and Ellie in “The Last of Us” Season 2. The remaining Season 2 cast also includes the following:

    • Gabriel Luna as Tommy Miller
    • Rutina Wesley as Maria Miller
    • Catherine O’Hara as Gail
    • Kaitlyn Dever as Abby Anderson
    • Isabela Merced as Dina
    • Young Mazino as Jesse
    • Ezra Benedict Agbonkhese as Benjamin
    • Tati Gabrielle as Nora
    • Ariela Barer as Mel
    • Spencer Lord as Owen
    • Danny Ramirez
    • Jeffrey Wright

    Watch the ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 trailer

    Will there be a ‘The Last of Us’ Season 3?

    Yes. Ahead of Season 2’s premiere, HBO announced “The Last of Us” would be returning for a third season.

    However, it is unclear if Season 3 will be the show’s final season. Deadline reported that Druckmann and Mazin said they were previously contemplating making up to four seasons.

    We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

    Contributing: Saman Shafiq, Bryan Alexander and Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY

  • See who attended, what happened

    See who attended, what happened

    President Donald Trump did not attend the event. He has not been to the dinner since 2015, and never attended during his years in office.

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    From “The White Lotus” to “Breaking Bad,” a handful of actors, entertainers and other notable figures turned up for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, an event that President Donald Trump and his administration opted to skip.

    The annual dinner, which raises funds to support the journalists who cover the president, was held at the Hilton in Washington. The event is famous for being an inside-the-Beltway opportunity to poke fun at U.S. presidents and unite celebrities, media executives and luminaries under one roof.

    Trump, who has not attended the dinner since 2015, indicated he would not attend the gala. He did not attend it during his first term as president. He and first lady Melania Trump attended the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome on April 26. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said previously that she would not attend either.

    Last year Colin Jost, a “Saturday Night Live” standout known for cohosting the sketch show’s “Weekend Update” segment, headlined the affair.

    That’s usually how these evenings go. But unlike at previous dinners, a comedian did not headline the April 26 dinner. The White House Correspondents’ Association disinvited Amber Ruffin after she was booked to appear. The decision came after White House staffers criticized comments made by Ruffin that were critical of the Trump administration.

    Association President Eugene Daniels explained the thinking in a note to press colleagues in March, saying: “At this consequential moment for journalism, I want to ensure the focus is not on the politics of division but entirely on awarding our colleagues for their outstanding work and providing scholarship and mentorship to the next generation of journalists.”

    Here is a roundup of what happened at the 2025 White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

    Jason Isaacs, Dean Norris and other celebs walk the red carpet

    The red carpet at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner featured a smattering of celebrities, including Jason Isaacs, who starred on Season 3 of “The White Lotus,” Dean Norris, who played Walter White’s DEA agent and brother-in-law in “Breaking Bad,” and Tim Daly, who played Henry McCord on “Madam Secretary.”

    Lynda Carter, known for her portrayal of Wonder Woman in the 1970s TV series of the same name, actress Alex Borstein from “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Family Guy,” and “Shark Tank” personality Kevin O’Leary, also appeared at the event.

    ‘What we are not is the enemy of the people’

    After awards were bestowed upon an array of journalists, Daniels, president of the WHCA, discussed threats to journalism. He paused to thank previous U.S. presidents who attended the dinner in years prior.

    “We don’t invite presidents of the United States to this because it’s for them, we don’t invite them because we want to cozy up to them or curry favor (and) we don’t only extend invites to the presidents who say they love journalists or who say they’re defenders of the First Amendment and a free press,” Daniels said. “We invite them to remind them that they should be.”

    Daniels acknowledged Trump’s absence before screening a video compilation of previous presidents at the event, including clips of Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan.

    Daniels defended journalism, a profession he said is under attack nationally and globally: “What we are not is the opposition. What we are not is the enemy of the people. And what we are not is the enemy of the state.”

  • Crossword Blog & Answers for April 27, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher

    Crossword Blog & Answers for April 27, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher

    There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further! That Stinks!

    Constructor: Rafael Musa

    Editor: Amanda Rafkin

    What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

    • ANA (7D: ___ Carolina (Brazilian singer)) ANA Carolina released her self-titled debut album in 1999. The album was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Pop Album. I enjoyed listening to this duet ANA Carolina did with John Legend in 2015.

    Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

    • SPLENDA (21A: Sugar substitute brand) SPLENDA manufactures a number of sugar substitute products. Original SPLENDA, introduced in 1999, contains the artificial sweetener sucralose. SPLENDA also has products containing stevia, monk fruit, and allulose.
    • ACUTE (26A: Like a 30-degree angle) It’s time for some geometry review. A right angle measures 90 degrees. Angles measuring less than 90 degrees (such as a 30-degree angle) are ACUTE. Angles measuring more than 90 degrees are obtuse.
    • BEAR CLAW (28A: Paw-shaped pastry) BEAR CLAW pastries are made with yeasted sweet dough, shaped in a semi-circle with slices along the curved edge. As the dough rises, the sections separate, giving the pastry a claw-like shape. A BEAR CLAW is usually filled with almond paste.
    • AVA (38A: “Sweet but Psycho” singer Max) “Sweet but Psycho” is the lead single from AVA Max’s 2018 debut studio album Heaven and Hell. The song reached number 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. 
    • SOS (47A: “Help me!”) and BOAT (50A: Yacht or catamaran) It seems fitting for these two answers / clues to appear consecutively.
    • EOS (60A: Skin care company named after a goddess) In Greek mythology, EOS is the goddess and personification of the dawn. The beauty and skincare company EOS (Evolution of Smooth) was founded in 2006. EOS lip balms are known for their colorful, egg-shaped packaging.
    • BRAIN TEASER (5D: Tricky mental challenge) In addition to solving crosswords, I do a number of other BRAIN TEASER puzzles every day. I tell myself it’s good for my BRAIN; that’s how I justify the time spent “playing.” One BRAIN TEASER I have been enjoying is the game Order Up, created by Adam Wagner, which gives a list of seven things that need to be put in order based on a theme (that you have to figure out).
    • FRONTLINE (11D: ___ Health Care Workers (group in the Time 2020 Person of the Year shortlist)) Remembering that the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020 (and how could we forget…) makes it understandable why FRONTLINE Health Care Workers made the shortlist for Time magazine’s Person of the Year in 2020. Ultimately, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, who were elected President and Vice-President of the United States in November 2020 were selected as the 2020 Persons of the Year.
    • MEAT PIES (36D: Savory pastries featured in “Sweeney Todd”) Sweeney TODD is a 1979 Stephen Sondheim musical based on a 1970 play of the same name by Christopher Bond. The musical’s full title is Sweeney TODD: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Yes, MEAT PIES are indeed featured in the musical. Sweeney Todd’s barber shop is located above a MEAT PIE shop run by Mrs. Lovett. In case you haven’t seen Sweeney Todd, I’ll just leave it at that to prevent spoilers.
    • GATOS (42D: Cats, in Spanish) My cat, Willow, is happy to see a mention of cats in the puzzle, whether it’s in English or Spanish. Here’s a photo of Willow sitting on my lap while I’m working. Although you can’t read it clearly, the shirt I’m wearing says, “MY CAT’S FAVORITE PERSON.”

    • E! NEWS (46D: Celebrity gossip show) E! NEWS is a program on the cable network E!. E! NEWS reports celebrity gossip as well as news about upcoming movies and TV shows.
    • BABE (50D: Titular pig in a 1995 film) The 1995 movie BABE is an adaptation of Dick King-Smith’s 1983 book, The Sheep-Pig. In the movie, BABE is a pig who learns how to herd sheep. In addition to its titular pig, BABE features a number of other animals. Real animals and animatronic puppets were used to play the animal characters.
    • OSLO (51D: Nordic capital by a fjord) A fjord is a long, deep inlet. Fjords are often situated in valleys with cliffs on either side of the water. OSLO, the capital of Norway, is located on the appropriately named OSLO Fjord. Many places in Norway are near fjords, as the over 17,000 miles of coastline is made up mainly of fjords. For comparison, the baseline coastline (drawn in a straight line without following the fjords) is just over 1,500 miles.
    • PARR (54D: Catherine ___ (last wife of Henry VIII)) Catherine PARR (1512-1548) was the sixth wife of Henry VIII (1491-1547). She was married to Henry VIII at the time of his death. Ever since I saw the musical Six, any mention of Henry VIII and his wives reminds me of it. This is a good thing, as I thoroughly enjoyed Six and its modern retelling by Henry VIII’s wives, whose fates were “divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived.”

    Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

    THAT STINKS! (Freestyle): There’s no theme today, because this is a freestyle, or themeless, puzzle. The title is a nod to HOT GARBAGE (17A: Terrible thing, colloquially).

    No matter what this puzzle’s title claims, this puzzle does not stink! And it is not HOT GARBAGE! There’s oh so much to like here. In addition to the answers I’ve highlighted above, I also really enjoyed ABOUT THAT, BAGEL CHIPS, ELEPHANT, and SOLAR PANEL. Thank you, Rafa, for this splendid puzzle.

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