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Dem Rep. Unloads On GOP Colleague In NSFW Rant On House Floor Over Padilla Incident
Jun 13, 2025
New York Democratic Representative John Mannion criticized his Republican colleague Mike Lawler, telling him to "get some f**king balls" during a blowup confrontation on the House floor after California Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's press conference and handcuffed.
Padilla said he had "questions for the secretary" at Noem's press conference addressing President Donald Trump's deployment of members of the National Guard, and later the Marines, to stop protests in Los Angeles against the Trump administration's immigration raids.
Footage of the incident shows that Noem spoke over Padilla; he was then taken into a hallway and pushed face down onto the ground by officers wearing FBI vests, who ordered him to put his hands behind his back before handcuffing him.
You can watch what happened in the video below.
Earlier, Mannion attracted attention outside the U.S. Capitol when he shouted at members of the media to "hold them [the Trump administration] accountable," urging them not to "cover the distractions ... that lead us to authoritarianism." And later, as Lawler, Mannion's fellow New Yorker, spoke to another colleague, Mannion demanded Lawler take action.
He said:
"This is f**kng madness, man. We’ve had enough. You've got to do something. Stand up. F**king get over there and get some f**king balls.'"
“Tell them. Tell them. You know who I am. You know who I am, a New Yorker just like you. The country’s falling apart.”
Lawler was defensive:
"F*** you ... I have no idea what you're talking about."
You can watch what happened in the video below.
Lawler later called Mannion’s conduct “entirely unhinged and unprofessional," saying Mannion had engaged in "a shameful display that exposed his complete lack of temperament."
Mannion’s office issued a statement defending his actions, citing Padilla’s arrest and the recent immigration raids as part of the Trump administration’s push to fulfill its pledge of mass deportations:
“I’m a kid from Tipp Hill that’s fighting for my hometown and my country. I’m giving everything I have to stop the rise of authoritarian government and the destruction of American democracy."
"If making some noise on the House floor and calling out Trump enablers draws attention to what’s happening to our country right before our eyes — good. Today it’s roughing up and handcuffing a United States Senator and a politicized military patrolling the streets of American cities.”
Many have come to Mannion's defense and criticized Lawler in response.
A senior House Democrat who spoke to Axios said the House is "on edge" and that "this floor is raw ... People think they are going to come in and arrest people on the floor."
Speaker Mike Johnson was heckled by Democrats when he made remarks in support of censuring Padilla. Johnson declined to respond when asked about the outbursts; he had been accused of lying and making the "absurd" suggestion that Padilla's manhandling was justified.
Johnson told reporters that "the American people can draw their own conclusions" and claimed Padilla had been "wildly inappropriate."
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Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions; Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
Cole Escola Shuts Down Speculation Around Their Joke About Nicole Scherzinger's Tony Win
Jun 13, 2025
Actor Cole Escola has spoken out about the controversy that was sparked when they made a silly, innocent political joke at the Tonys on Sunday.
Escola, the genius behind the Broadway hit Oh, Mary!, made history Sunday when they became the first nonbinary actor to win the award for Leading Actor in a Play.
While speaking in the press room, it was announced that Nicole Scherzinger had just won a Tony for her headlining performance in Sunset Boulevard, and Escola, ever the quick wit, quipped, "Wow, four more years."
It was a silly reference to presidential elections that made light of the Tonys as if they were a weightier matter than they are, and got quite a laugh from the press room.
But because we live in such politically volatile times, many immediately jumped to conclusions and assumed Escola was dragging Scherzinger for her political views following an earlier incident online that many construed as her supporting Donald Trump.
But in a social media video, Escola confirmed that their joke was not a jab at Scherzinger or anyone else's politics, and that everyone should lighten up.
Escola explained the joke in the video:
“When I made that joke ... when I said, ‘Four more years, four more years,’ I meant it like, ‘Well, she won, she’s who we’ve got for the next four years,’ as if I think winning Best Lead Actress in a Musical is the same as winning a presidential election."
They went on to say:
"But you know, people just want to pit us Broadway gals against each other, and I think it’s sad. I really think it’s sad.”
On social media, people had lots to say about Escola's response—and especially people's inability to take a joke these days.
The controversy seems to be related to one last fall in which Scherzinger seemed to comment in support of a bizarre post by far-right conspiracy theorist and comedian Russell Brand in which he wore a MAGA-style hat reading "Make Jesus First Again."
People quickly jumped to the frankly obvious conclusion that Scherzinger was coming out as a Trump supporter, an assumption she was quick to clarify had not occurred to her and did not reflect who she is.
She wrote at the time:
“Many presumptions are being drawn, which do not reflect who I am, what I stand for, or who I voted for."
"Many of the marginalized communities feeling hurt and concerned by the results of the presidential election are people I care about most."
"I stand with them, as I always have, throughout my life and career. If you know me, you know that.”
She and Escola were also photographed together at the TonyS, indicating no bad blood between these "Broadway gals."
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Dem Senator Speaks Out After He Was Thrown To Ground And Handcuffed For Questioning Kristi Noem At LA Press Conference
Jun 13, 2025
California Democratic Senator Alex Padilla spoke out after disturbing footage showed him getting dragged out of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's press conference in Los Angeles yesterday for trying to ask a question—only for law enforcement to shove him to the ground and handcuff him.
Padilla introduced himself and merely said he had "questions for the secretary" at Noem's press conference addressing President Donald Trump's deployment of members of the National Guard, and later the Marines, in response to protests in Los Angeles against the Trump administration's immigration raids.
At the time, Noem said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), its agencies, and the military "will continue to sustain and increase our operations in this city" in order to "liberate" it "from the socialist and the burdensome leadership that this governor [Gavin Newsom] and that this mayor [Karen Bass] have placed on this country."
The video shows that Noem spoke over Padilla when he tried to question her and that he was taken into a hallway and pushed face down onto the ground by officers wearing FBI vests, who ordered him to put his hands behind his back before handcuffing him.
You can watch the footage of the incident below.
Speaking to reporters after the incident, Padilla affirmed the right of people to "protest peacefully" and said, in part:
"I was there peacefully. At one point, I had a question, and so I began to ask a question. I was almost immediately forcibly removed from the room, I was forced to the ground, and I was handcuffed. I was not arrested. I was not detained."
"If this is how this administration responds to a senator with a question, if this is how the Department of Homeland Security responds to a senator with a question, you can only imagine what they're doing to farm workers, to cooks, and day laborers in the Los Angeles community, throughout California, and throughout the country."
"We will hold this administration accountable."
You can hear what he said in the video below.
According to the Secret Service, agents spoke with Padilla following the incident and concluded he had no intention of harming Noem. They also arranged a brief interaction between the two. But in a subsequent interview on Fox News, Noem gave a different version of events, inaccurately claiming that Padilla never identified himself before his removal.
She said:
"We were conducting a press conference to update everyone on the enforcement actions that are ongoing to bring people, bring peace, to the city of Los Angeles, and this man burst into the room, started lunging towards the podium, interrupting me and elevating his voice, and was stopped, did not identify himself, and was removed from the room."
Padilla was openly emotional during a subsequent interview with NBC correspondent Jacob Soboroff, lamenting the actions of the Trump administration that have directly targeted immigrants—undocumented and legal ones alike:
"I understand their plight. I understand their struggle. I understand their sacrifice to just find the American dream, a good opportunity, maybe a good job, the ability to raise a family, and have the next generation have it a little bit better than you did."
“All the talk about immigration, you know, the — the misinformation, disinformation about, you know, invasions and insurrections, it’s all B.S. coming from Trump. ... If all they were going to do is target violent, dangerous criminals, true threats to our national security, that’d be one thing. Nobody has a disagreement there."
"What’s happening in practice is so many — yes, undocumented — immigrants, but who are otherwise law-abiding, peaceful and hardworking, to think this administration changed policy for federal agents to enter schools, houses of worship, let alone workplaces? If immigrants are that bad, why is that where you’re looking for them?”
Padilla also called Noem's claims that he "lunged" at her "ridiculous," saying it's a "lie ... that's par for the course for this administration" before adding:
“At one point, it was just too much to take. This notion that Donald Trump and Kristi Noem have to come in and rescue the people of Los Angeles from Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass? It was too much. And so I spoke up. I introduced myself and said I had a question.”
“If this can happen to a United States senator for having the audacity to ask a question of the Secretary of Homeland Security, then just imagine what can happen to anybody in the country.”
You can hear what he said in the video below.
- YouTubewww.youtube.com
Many have condemned the Trump administration in response.
The administration's response to Padilla comes amid a wave of arrests targeting Democratic officials over immigration-related disputes.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested last month for alleged trespassing at a New Jersey ICE facility, though the charges were later dropped. Baraka has since filed a lawsuit against interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba and Homeland Security Investigations official Ricky J. Patel.
Meanwhile, New Jersey Representative LaMonica McIver was indicted this week on federal charges connected to the same encounter with law enforcement.
Former Trump immigration official Tom Homan, now serving as the administration’s “border czar,” has also floated the possibility of arresting California leaders Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass if they obstruct federal agents.
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Carnie Wilson Shares Heartbreaking Tribute To Dad Brian Wilson After His Death At 82
Jun 13, 2025
Beach Boys founding member Brian Wilson died on Wednesday at the age of 82. Tributes from friends, fellow musicians, and fans referred to him as a musical genius for his songwriting, musical composition style and innovative recording techniques.
He's also patriarch to a musical dynasty, with his daughters, Carnie and Wendy, and granddaughter, Lola, following in his footsteps. Carnie and Wendy Wilson formed Wilson Phillips with their childhood friend Chynna Phillips—whose own parents are Michelle and John Phillips of '60s super group The Mamas And The Papas.
On Thursday, Carnie Wilson posted a photo of herself, her sister Wendy, and their father Brian with a tribute to her dad.
She wrote:
"I have no words to express the sadness I feel right now. My Father [Brian Wilson] was every fiber of my body."
"He will be remembered by millions and millions until the world ends. I am lucky to have been his daughter and had a soul connection with him that will live on always.
"I've never felt this kind of pain before, but I know he's resting up there in heaven ... or maybe playing the piano for Grandma Audree his Mom. I will post something else soon but this is all my hands will let me type."
"I love you Daddy....I miss you so much already."
Chynna Phillips responded:
"He was one of the greats to millions, but to you he was dad. I love you Carnie."
Chynna's husband of 30 years, actor Billy Baldwin, also shared a message of support.
As did many other famous friends and fans, like Heart co-founder and guitarist Nancy Wilson (no relation).
Carnie later added a second post, a poem shared by the Instagram account @allontheboard, captioned:
"This is so beautiful. I've been seeing and reading all your posts about my Father. Today it really sank in. My Daddy is not on this earth anymore and it rips through my soul."
"I've always known how spiritual he was—he's always talked about divinity. I feel as though he was put on this earth to show us love. To show us that we are all one and can live in harmony. His pureness, honesty, humor, talent, curious nature made him that special person."
"If there is a music God—he had a big strong line to that force. I just cannot believe the outpouring of love from around the world. My family is totally blown away ( another expression he loved) and I know I just know he's sees it. If anyone would be able to look down and see all this happening for him—it's my Daddy."
"I'm praying he visits me in my dreams so I can feel his presence close to me. In the meantime... keep it all coming because it's helping me heal."
Singer Lola Bonfiglio—Carnie Wilson's eldest daughter with her husband of over 25 years, musician and producer Rob Bonfiglio—posted her own heartfelt tribute to her grandfather. It included a photo of her with Brian Wilson at the piano when she was an infant.
She wrote:
"i love you grandpa. your music has changed the world. you have left an invaluable mark on me and so many others and i am blessed to have had you in my life. i will forever do music in your honor. rest in music paradise"
Brian Wilson was a musician, songwriter, singer, and record producer in addition to cofounding the Beach Boys in 1961 when he was only 19.
The band's original lineup included his brothers, guitarist Carl who was 17 and drummer Dennis who was 14, their 20-year-old cousin Mike Love who was the lead singer, and 19-year-old friend, guitarist Al Jardine. Brian Wilson played keyboard and bass guitar.
The band was credited with popularizing the California Sound that focused on cars, girls, and surfing.
Brian Wilson was preceded in death by his younger brothers.
Dennis Wilson drowned in 1983. After his death, actor, singer, and musician John Stamos frequently appeared in concerts with the Beach Boys as their drummer.
Carl Wilson died of cancer in 1998.
Our thoughts are with the entire Wilson family at this time.
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Vance Tried To Make A Joke About Seeing 'Les Misérables' At The Kennedy Center—And It's Peak Cringe
Jun 13, 2025
Vice President JD Vance had people groaning after he made a bad joke about the production of Les Misérables he and his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, attended at the Kennedy Center with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
The musical, set in 19th century France, tells the story of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who is released from prison for stealing a loaf of bread. The story touches on timeless themes such as justice and mercy—and also happens to be about people resisting an authoritarian takeover, which many find ironic given the Trump administration's response to protests in Los Angeles.
It's one of the most famous stories in the West, and Vance thought the time was right to, as he shared, ask his wife:
"So what's this about? A barber who kills people?"
Apparently his wife burst into "hysterical laughter," which Vance later followed up with:
"That's apparently a different thing called 'Sweeney Todd.'"
(And yes, that is a very rough description of what Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is about.)
You can see his post below.
People were not impressed though... the cringe was real.
In March, Vance was booed loudly by audience members at the Kennedy Center as he took his seat in the mezzanine.
Audience members reported that added security measures delayed the concert by 20 minutes and that despite the poor reception, the Vances stayed for the entire performance of Shostakovich’s "Violin Concerto No. 2" and Stravinsky’s "Petrushka."
The Kennedy Center has been at the center of controversy since Trump overhauled the institution's traditionally bipartisan board and installed himself as chairman. The newly appointed board of loyalists has made clear that they intend to revise the Kennedy Center's performance schedule to Trump's liking; the president previously claimed the Center's programming was "wokey."
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