Pupils have begun returning to school as lockdown restrictions were eased across England.
Outdoor markets and car showrooms have also started reopening, while the first horse racing event in months was being staged and pigeons took to the skies for a race over Yorkshire.
GOP Speaker Mike Johnson has been keeping the House of Representatives from voting on the bill to release the files collected by Trump's Department of Justice and the FBI in 2019 to indict and arrest Trump's longtime friend, registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in July of that year.
The files would have been entered into court records during trial if Epstein hadn't died while in federal custody in August 2019. Sealed until 2024 due to pending litigation against Trump friend and Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, Trump campaigned on promises to release the full Epstein files if elected.
MTG was one of the first Republicans to sign the discharge petition, running her afoul of Trump and his MAGA minions in Congress.
On Sunday, Maryland Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin suggested MTG jump ship and join the Democratic Party.
Speaking at the Blue Bash Brunch in Florida, Representative Raskin said:
"We are a big tent. We must be a huge, vast tent. I say this is a party that’s got room for Marjorie Taylor Greene if she wants to come over."
You can watch Raskin's comments here:
People strongly disagreed with Raskin's comment...
@TrinityMustache/X
@AnatoliUkraine/X
@ronsparks.ca/Bluesky
@sycamoressource/X
@Stephen52534304/X
...however, some felt Representative Raskin was being facetious.
Given the event he was speaking at, they claimed he knew MTG wasn't aligned with Democratic Party values nor was she ready to join any sort of liberal or progressive movement.
@plaintanjane/Bluesky
@alycemiller/Bluesky
MTG was labeled a traitor by Trump and has been sparring with Texas Republican Senator Rafael "Ted" Cruz on X over her support of accountability for Epstein's gang of sexual predators, regardless of their political party or level of wealth.
But whether Raskin was joking or not, MTG is unlikely to leave the GOP any time soon. She's still pumping out plenty of the racist, anti-LGBTQ+, xenophobic, ignorant rhetoric the MAGA Christian nationalist, White supremacist base gobbles up.
“Bannon with me,” Jeffrey Epstein wrote in a March 2018 message, referring to White House adviser Steve Bannon, to which Mark Epstein responded:
“Ask him if [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has the photos of Trump blowing Bubba?"
“And I thought I had tsuris,” Jeffrey Epstein shot back, using the Yiddish word for “troubles.” The thread ricocheted across social media, with many noting that “Bubba” appeared several times in the newly released emails and was widely understood as a reference to Clinton. “Bubba” has long been a nickname for the former president.
Mark Epstein replied:
"You and your boy Donnie can make a remake of the movie Get Hard."
You can see the exchange below.
House Oversight Committee
Mark Epstein released the following statement after news of the email exchange went viral:
"Recently, emails from 2018 between my brother and me were made public. They were simply part of a humorous private exchange between two brothers and were never meant for public release or to be interpreted as serious remarks."
"For the avoidance of doubt, the reference to ‘Bubba’ in this correspondence is not, in any way, a reference to former President Bill Clinton. Any attempt to conflate that reference with President Clinton, or to read sweeping implications into them, misrepresents both the purpose and the tone of the original correspondence."
"I want to be absolutely clear on this point so that the public record is not distorted and so that speculation does not unfairly implicate people who are not actually being referenced in these communications."
You can see the statement below.
@JayShamsX
Ali Clark, Mark Epstein's spokesperson, told The Advocate in an email that Bubba is “a private individual who is not a public figure." Another spokesperson added that “misinterpretations of formal language or nicknames in email correspondence” distract from “the serious questions that remain unanswered."
Mark Epstein declined to provide additional context when asked to explain the reference and whether Bubba knows Trump.
And he didn't really do a good job of shutting this all down come to think of it.
His refusal to offer more details did prompt people to note that Jeffrey Epstein's associate and procurer Ghislaine Maxwell actually had a horse with that name... an unfortunate visual.
The exchange has only heightened the scrutiny around Trump—who has thus far been unable to shake off the Epstein scandal.
The release from House Oversight Committee Democrats includes emails such as one Jeffrey Epstein sent Maxwell that reads:
“I want you to realize that the dog that hasn’t barked is Trump. [Victim] spent hours at my house with him. He has never once been mentioned. Police chief, etc. I’m 75% there.”
In another message, dated January 31, 2019, Epstein emailed journalist Michael Wolff:
“[Victim] Mar-a-Lago. [identifier]. Trump said he asked me to resign — never a member, ever. Of course he knew about the girls, as he asked Ghislaine to stop.”
Trump has lashed out at Republicans—including Representatives Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene—for backing efforts to release the files. He also announced the Justice Department would investigate Jeffrey Epstein's ties to Democrats.
In an abrupt about-face, Trump, who has long resisted releasing the Epstein files despite campaigning on a promise to do so, is urging House Republicans to publicize them "because we have nothing to hide." Dozens of Republicans have now signaled they are willing to vote in favor of releasing the files.
There appear to be enough votes for it to pass in the House. The Senate, however, is still up in the air.
So you can understand the confusion.
Reddit user Archie__reddit asked:
"What are secrets of married couples that they don’t tell anyone?"
Based on that question, I—admittedly a happily single person with a questionable sense of humor—expected very different answers, like "we buried the neighbor in our backyard after an unfortunate 4th of July illegal fireworks incident."
That’s a good reason for a married couple not to tell anybody their secret. Blabbing about the dead body buried under the begonias rarely ends well.
I also don't quite understand why marriage advice would be a secret, "they don’t tell anyone." Most people love giving out advice, unsolicited, all the time.
But Redditors assumed the questioner wanted "secrets for success" so...
"Mutual respect and kindness, it doesn’t even have to be big things; a coffee made for you—say thank you and vice versa. Appreciate the little things."
~ Bi5hBa5hBo5h
"I'm going to jump off of this with some anecdotes from my marriage of 11 years. We worked really hard at communication. Not everything came easy for me to talk about because I came from a difficult family background, he always created a safe space for me to open up."
"Over time, I learned that I did not have to keep anxious thoughts in my head; he was always going to create space for me to open up. If we had disagreements, we learned to talk it out because we are a team; it's us against the world."
"On mutual respect and kindness, we had many discussions about how our brains work differently and assume the best intent out of our actions or words. Neither one of us was doing anything towards each other with the intent to harm or hurt each other, and so while it took time, we were able to eliminate defensiveness from our household."
"Gratitude is a huge part of our marriage. The number of times we say thank you in a day for the little things is astounding. We are thankful for big things, too, but we are just thankful to have each other. The type of marriage we have is a true gift that not everyone gets to experience. I don't take it lightly."
~ smp6114
"King-size bed with his and hers blankets."
"Game changer!"
~ beansandcornbread
"When I was younger, people always said never go to bed angry….. my husband and I wholeheartedly disagree."
"I used to insist we talk out a disagreement before sleeping, and that just led to being tired and more emotional and staying up late. Sometimes it’s better to get sleep."
"99% of the time, sleep and space are the answer and help sort out a disagreement."
~ butterloofa
"Compatible weirdnesses is so important. Not the same weirdness but compatible weirdness."
"They need their weirdness, and I need mine, but I also need someone who gets my weird and can riff off of it. We have so much fun together over the smallest dumbest things. I don't think anyone could ever understand our in jokes even if we tried to explain them."
"Together since 2008. Our 10th wedding anniversary is Friday and they are still the weirdest, sexiest (in my opinion they are aging like a fine wine) absolute best partner. I am yet to meet someone who gets my weirdness the way they do, and I don't think I ever will."
~ notahighpriority
"Communicate: take time to talk to each other about your day, when we’re both home from work we spend time telling each other what happened that day. We also talk through problems before they get shifty. Silent treatment is literally the silent killer of relationships."
~ Bi5hBa5hBo5h
"Don’t ever insult your partner in front of your friends. Resolve your private marriage issues in private."
~ orlando_orlando
"How weird we act together. Married people don't tell you how often they talk in funny voices to each other, or roll around together slapping their bellies and pretending to be seals, or any number of weird, silly things they do together that would make them sound childish and nuts to outsiders."
~ AgonistPhD
"Being a good spouse means being a good roommate."
"Clean up without being asked. Go to the grocery store without being asked. Replace the empty toilet paper without being asked."
~ jasonhamrick
"Intimacy: never stop dating each other, flirt, touch, and smooch as often as you did when you were first dating."
~ Bi5hBa5hBo5h
"There's no one else I would rather do anything with than my husband. I still get excited to see him at the end of the day because he is literally my person."
~ sillybanana2012
"Marriage is a lot easier when you are best friends."
~ zamboniman46
"Trust: you are their person and they are yours, your safe space and your best friend."
~ Bi5hBa5hBo5h
"Married people often forget to treat their partner with as much kindness as they'd treat a stranger. There's a saying that, 'familiarity breeds contempt' and it's true in so many cases."
"Don't allow it to happen. Be kind and be as understanding as much as possible. Have patience."
"My in-laws have been married for more than 60 years, and they are still so good to each other."
~ EnchantedFairyDiddle
"Resentment kills love, if you've an issue, sort it ASAP."
~ marcpearson101
"Also, privately! I'll never understand people who insult their partners in front of other people, or have their arguments in public."
"Like, I understand the need to process issues with a friend or your mom, and it's important to do that, but I have lots of friends who just casually insult their partners to other people as a joke."
"I'm all for a little laughter about our spouse's foibles, but I would never use my partner as the butt of a joke, or say something rude to, or about them in public."
"We are a team. I chose to hitch myself to this man for life. Why on earth would I want to give everyone the impression he's an incompetent a$?"
~ siani_lane
What's a secret from a marriage that you'd never tell anyone?
The moment, now viral, shows Australian social media personality Johnson Wen, known online as “Pyjama Man," barreling through photographers and launching himself at Grande, wrapping an arm around her as he bounced up and down. Cynthia Erivo stepped in immediately, helping pull the stunned actress away before security escorted Wen out.
The incident left fans shaken and reignited conversations about celebrity safety, boundaries, and the increasingly unhinged nature of parasocial fandom.
Bode didn’t mince words. Posting several TikTok videos the following day, she pushed back against people defending Wen simply because he called himself a “fan.”
She opens one of the videos with:
“But they're a fan. Okay, then they're a fan and a loser. Because what we're not about to do is make a woman whose space was invaded...”
As one of the breakout newcomers in the Wicked films, Bode has quickly become a fan favorite. She’s the first wheelchair user cast in a major movie musical and brings a grounded, magnetic presence to Nessarose, a character often flattened in earlier interpretations.
Offscreen, she’s earned praise for her thoughtful commentary, her advocacy for disability representation, and the genuine warmth she shows her castmates.
For Bode, the issue wasn’t just inappropriate behavior; it was the normalization of treating public figures like props for social media clout. She pointed to a broader pattern of parasocial entitlement, where online familiarity convinces people they’re owed access to celebrities in real life.
As she put it, this was no quirky meet-cute on the yellow brick road:
“And this is what I mean when I say social media brings out the worst in people. Oh, did you get your views? Did you get your likes? Guess what you also did. You made somebody feel incredibly unsafe… You’re a bad person.”
She further highlighted the double standard many women in the public eye face: the expectation that they respond with warmth even when startled, frightened, or violated.
Bode explained:
“And I don't think women or really anybody should be expected to move with grace or respond with kindness when they've been violated in that way. And to expect that makes you a weirdo also.”
You can watch Bode’s TikTok response here:
Wen later posted his own video, horrifyingly captioned, “Dear Ariana Grande, thank you for letting me jump on the yellow carpet with you.” Which… is certainly a disturbing choice of words. Singapore authorities have since charged him with being a public nuisance.
According to the BBC, he could face a fine of up to S$2,000 ($1,540; £1,170) if convicted. The outlet also reports that Singapore’s police and immigration authorities have been contacted for comment.
Grande herself has yet to comment on the incident, but circulating footage shows Michelle Yeoh and Erivo comforting her after the intrusion. Some commenters expressed concern that this encounter could re-traumatize Grande, who has openly discussed experiencing PTSD after the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
In her follow-up videos, Bode rejected the idea that Wen could be a fan at all if he viewed Grande, or any artist, as an object instead of a person:
“These are people. They are not products. They do not owe you your entire personhood. And to be frank, if you don't agree with that, you are not a fan.”
She also pointed to other women frequently scrutinized online, including Chappell Roan and Olivia Rodrigo, noting how quickly the public turns against women who express justified frustration or set boundaries.
Watch the follow-up TikTok here:
Within hours, Bode’s comment sections were flooded with reactions, with many applauding her clarity and others reflecting on their own behaviors as fans:
@ceoofhoesmad/TikTok
@showmeurmoomoo/TikTok
@cablehoe/TikTok
@samanthagibson46/TikTok
@ikranamoktoyu/TikTok
@hopeyoufindyourdad/TikTok
@lexytheactress/TikTok
@athenasworld95/TikTok
@kelsibell24/TikTok
@sydneywynder/TikTok
@vickbash/TikTok
@xp.etros/TikTok
This wasn’t Wen’s first boundary-crossing stunt; his Instagram is full of clips of him rushing stages at concerts by Katy Perry and The Chainsmokers. According to local media, he plans to plead guilty.
Otherwise, the press tour continued as scheduled, wrapping up in New York City. While Grande quietly protected her own space, Bode’s message was clear and loud: fandom is not a free pass to violate someone’s physical or emotional boundaries. Even in Oz, there are lines you don’t cross, and this cast is more than willing to stand up for each other when those lines are tested.
Wicked: For Good, the final installment of the hit film series, premieres on November 21, 2025, with Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Glinda, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Ethan Slater as Boq, and Marissa Bode as Nessarose.
You can view the final trailer below:
- YouTubeUniversal Pictures
With voices like Marissa Bode reminding audiences that boundaries matter, the Wicked cast continues to demonstrate that the magic of Oz goes far beyond the movie screen. So, here’s to a safe, joyful final stretch of their press tour—and to a film that real fans can’t wait to see.
