Latest news with #Newscorp
Politico
2 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
‘This is a much better place': WSJ bombshell unites a frayed MAGA
Another MAGA world ally of the White House, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said the story allowed the president's base to 'make sense of things' and provided 'everyone a lifeline.' 'We're not done yet, but this is a much better place than we were yesterday,' the person added. 'And it feels right to be bashing the media again — it has extra oomph because [Wall Street Journal owner] Rupert Murdoch is involved.' A spokesperson for Newscorp did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The report and MAGA world's response marked the latest chapter in the Epstein firestorm, which erupted into a political mess for the White House this month after the Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation released a long-awaited memo concluding there was no evidence that Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender, was murdered in his jail cell or that a 'client list' ever existed — unleashing accusations from far-right influencers that Trump administration officials, chiefly Attorney General Pam Bondi, were aiding a cover-up. It left Trump in unfamiliar territory, criticizing some of his supporters as 'weaklings' and unable to change the conversation in Washington as he ran up against a fractured MAGA movement that appeared unwilling to let up the pressure. That changed Thursday night when the Journal story dropped and the president announced his intention to sue, allowing him to steer the conversation to a place familiar to him and his allies — the media's treatment, or mistreatment, of him. It has, so far, created a rally-around-the-flag effect for the president, and allies hope that the loudest critics learned a 'lesson.' 'You're playing with fire when you do the bidding of the left and pick up their strategy. I know they were doing it because they felt like it would pressure more disclosure,' said Matt Schlapp, Trump confidant and chair of the American Conservative Union. 'But President Trump has exercised more political power than any politician I've ever seen at any time in a democracy, and his supporters need to be careful and understand that the left is looking for every opportunity to split apart this coalition.' White House spokesperson Liz Huston said 'Democrats and Fake News media desperately tried to coordinate a despicable hoax to smear' the president, adding that Trump is the 'proud leader of the MAGA movement' and has 'record-high support among Republicans.'
The Journal
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Debunked: Amid reports of a cryptic Trump-Epstein letter, misinformation muddies the waters
FAKE IMAGES AND explanations have already spread in the wake of a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article that says Donald Trump sent a raunchy 50th birthday letter to sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein. Donald Trump has said he will sue the WSJ and media giant owner Newscorp over their reporting of a letter allegedly signed by him and filled with cryptic and sexual references. The letter — found in a leather-bound book — was compiled by Epstein's accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, in 2003. According the WSJ, Trump's letter is framed by the outline of a naked woman hand-drawn in heavy marker. 'A pair of small arcs denotes the woman's breasts, and the future president's signature is a squiggly 'Donald' below her waist, mimicking pubic hair,' the WSJ reported. The note, written as a scripted dialogue, reads: 'Voice Over: There must be more to life than having everything 'Donald: Yes, there is, but I won't tell you what it is. 'Jeffrey: Nor will I, since I also know what it is. 'Donald: We have certain things in common, Jeffrey. 'Jeffrey: Yes, we do, come to think of it. 'Donald: Enigmas never age, have you noticed that? 'Jeffrey: As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you. 'Donald: A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Advertisement Epstein died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019 after being charged with sex trafficking. Ahead of his election, Trump said he would have 'no problem' releasing files related to the case. That position has been rolled back in recent weeks, with the President saying the files were a hoax written by previous Democrat administrations. Misinformation Images that do fit the description of the letter given in the WSJ have spread online, in one case said to be 'an artist's recreation'. Others appear to be purposely sloppy, often posted alongside claims that the WSJ's reporting cannot be trusted. Misinformation has also been spread on the subject by Trump himself. Speaking to the WSJ, Trump defended himself, saying that the picture was a fake and 'I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women.' He would later reiterate this claim on Truth Social, writing 'The Wall Street Journal printed a FAKE letter, supposedly to Epstein. These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures.' This is false. Trump has been auctioning off multiple sketches for decades. 'Each year I donate an autographed doodle to the Doodle for Hunger auction at Tavern on the Green,' Trump wrote in his 2008 book Trump: Never Give Up. 'It takes me a few minutes to draw something, in my case, it's usually a building or a cityscape of skyscrapers, and then sign my name, but it raises thousands of dollars to help the hungry in New York through the Capuchin Food Pantries Ministry.' He concludes: 'Art may not be my strong point, but the end result is help for people who need it. One such sketch, of a city skyline, was signed by Trump in 2004 and described by him as being made in 2003 , the same year Maxwell compiled the book of letters. A 2003 sketch by Trump, featured on Another sketch, featuring a crude drawing of a bridge along with Trump's signature, was sold with a description that it was drawn 'circa 2006' , the same year that the Epstein was first arrested for sexual abuse. Trump's ' original artwork ', in the form of a sketch of a 'money tree', has been auctioned off as recently as 2020. Want to be your own fact-checker? Visit our brand-new FactCheck Knowledge Bank for guides and toolkits The Journal's FactCheck is a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network's Code of Principles. You can read it here . For information on how FactCheck works, what the verdicts mean, and how you can take part, check out our Reader's Guide here . You can read about the team of editors and reporters who work on the factchecks here . Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... It is vital that we surface facts from noise. Articles like this one brings you clarity, transparency and balance so you can make well-informed decisions. We set up FactCheck in 2016 to proactively expose false or misleading information, but to continue to deliver on this mission we need your support. Over 5,000 readers like you support us. If you can, please consider setting up a monthly payment or making a once-off donation to keep news free to everyone. Learn More Support The Journal
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Sky News AU
'I wish he left something': Peter Falconio's dad speaks on heartbreak after outback killer Bradley John Murdoch dies without revealing location of slain body
Peter Falconio's father Luciano Falconio has expressed remorse over still not knowing the location of his son, after outback killer Bradley John Murdoch died overnight without ever revealing what happened to his victim's body. Just hours after finding out Murdoch died from throat cancer on Tuesday overnight, Mr Falconio told Newscorp: 'He has died, oh dear." 'You heard I said, 'oh dear', that's my goodwill towards anybody. 'I don't wish anybody dead because you have only got one life and I think if you've been given that gift of life...I don't even know what to say'. On the same day, a couple hours prior to Murdoch's death, Mr Falconio told Newscorp he wishes something was left behind for him to help find his backpacker son's body. However, Murdoch died having taken that secret to the grave, by maintaining his innocence on the murder till the very last day. 'I tell you what I think, I wish he (Murdoch) left something for me to find him,' Mr Falconio said. 'I wish he left something. 'My vocabulary is not that good, what can I do, I'm only a human being'. Mr Falconio, 28 at the time, and Ms Lees, then 27, were exploring the Northern Territory outback– about 300km north of Alice Springs – on February 14, 2001, when Murdoch approached the young couple and tricked them. He waved the pair down by falsely convincing them there were sparks coming from their van. After Mr Falconio stopped the car, he walked to the rear of the van where he met his deadly fate. Ms Lees last saw him alive when he approached the driver's door and asked his girlfriend to rev the engine. Shortly after returning to the rear, Mr Falconio was shot in the head by Murdoch. Murdoch then approached the driver's door, pointed a gun at Ms Lees and abducted her into his four-wheel drive, but she managed to escape when Murdoch momentarily stepped away from the vehicle. Murdoch was found guilty of the murder of Mr Falconio and assault of Ms Lees on December 13, 2005, and was sentenced to life in jail, with a non-parole period of 28 years. He unsuccessfully appealed his conviction twice and was never eligible for parole due to the "No body, no parole'' legislation. Colleen Gwynne, who led the investigation that caught Murdoch, told Sky News Murdoch was definitely the killer. "You get a lot of people saying you don't have a body so you don't have a case,' she told Laura Jayes on AM Agenda. 'Bradley Murdoch was convicted by a jury after extensive evidence, both circumstantial and forensic evidence, and there are a whole range of things in that complex case that says that Bradley Murdoch absolutely committed this crime." 'There was a well-known journalist, Paul Toohey, who wasn't a believer and he said to me 'I think you've got the wrong man' so I said 'well sit in on the trial', which he did, and he wrote a book as a result of that and it's a pretty comprehensive perspective of the evidence and who Bradley Murdoch was.' Ms Gwynne said on the day news broke of Murdoch's death it was hard to listen to claims he was innocent. Mr Falconio's father previously made an emotional plea to find his young son's body just days before his killer died, adding he dosen't know if him and his wife will 'live long enough' to ever find out where he is. 'Today is an important day,' he told News Corp. 'It is very significant, I wish I could find him and make an end to it, bury him. (I want to) find where he is buried and what happened to him, even me, I don't know. 'I know what happened, but I don't know where he is."
7NEWS
04-07-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
Humble ham sandwich back on the menu amid South Australia's junk food advertising ban
Claims that 'healthy' foods would be included in a state government's ban on junk food advertising have been dismissed. The South Australian Government said its advertising ban — which came into force on government-owned public transport on Tuesday — targeted processed meats, chocolate, lollies, desserts, ice creams, soft drinks and chips in a bid to curb childhood obesity. However, there were claims that 'healthy' foods — such as rice crackers, soy milk and even the humble ham sandwich — would fall victim to the advertising ban, according to a report by Newscorp. Australian Association of National Advertisers CEO Josh Faulks told the outlet the ban was confusing. 'The government has not been able to clearly articulate what is in and what is out of their banned list and has told businesses to submit their ads to an expert panel for assessment if they are unsure,' Faulks said. SA Health and Wellbeing Minister Chris Picton has said the ban only targeted highly processed foods containing high fat, high salt and high sugar. 'South Australia has become the second place in the country to no longer put junk food ads on our public transport,' Picton told 'We need to take action against junk food because the obesity crisis has overtaken smoking as the leading cause of preventable disease.' Picton accused the AANA of trying to undermine the advertising ban. 'Unfortunately the advertising industry lobbyists have opposed these junk food restrictions from the beginning,' he said. 'Because they can't win the actual argument about junk food advertising they are concocting spurious click-bait hypotheticals instead. 'The SA Government will continue to take public health advice from the Cancer Council and Heart Foundation and not advertising industry lobbyists.' SA Health said the foods targeted by the advertising ban are set out by Council of Australian Governments Health Council's National interim guide to reduce children's exposure to unhealthy food and drink promotion, and based on Australian dietary guidelines. It includes sweetened drinks such as fruit and vegetable juice with added sugars along with soft drinks, confectionery; fatty, sugary or salted snack foods; and prepackaged unhealthy meals including many fast foods. understands products such as soy milk and rice crackers can still be advertised as long as they do not contain additives such as sugars. Preventive Health SA data reveals 66 per cent of South Australian adults and 37.1 per cent of children are overweight or living with obesity, which can put people at greater risk of many diseases and health problems, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. South Australia has the nation's highest rate of diabetes. The AANA had told the government's ban was confusing and claimed it was 'effectively discouraging people from consuming what are widely considered to be nutritious core foods'. 'We fully support measures that encourage healthier choices but the implementation of these policies must be based on credible, evidence-based criteria,' Faulks told the outlet. 'The government has not been able to clearly articulate what is in and what is out of their banned list and has told businesses to submit their ads to an expert panel for assessment if they are unsure. This list should be science-based, objective and create certainty for business, not create more confusion.'
News.com.au
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Cirque du Soleil Corteo: Australian fans get 25 more chances to see renowned show
Thousands more Australians will have the chance to see Cirque du Soleil up close and personal, with 25 additional shows announced around the country for later this year. Following overwhelming demand, audiences in five Aussie cities will be greeted with a mix of 'comedy and never-seen-before acrobatics' when their newest show, Corteo, arrives on our shores in August. Directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, the show — which features 120 members from 27 different countries — first premiered in Montreal, and features a double-sided stage where audiences face each other. Since its creation, Corteo has had more than 12 million spectators across in 30 countries — with a total of 53 shows slated for Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide before the show heads to New Zealand. And in a Cirque du Soleil first, the stage is central in the arena, giving a unique perspective not only of the show, but also a performer's eye view of the audience. 'Corteo is a real celebration of life that blends comedy and never-seen-before acrobatics into a unique staging arrangement,' Cirque du Soleil's Mike Newquist previously told News Corp Australia. 'Australians who fell in love with the breathtaking artistry and storytelling of Luzia will be equally captivated by Corteo.' Pre-sale tickets will be available to Newscorp Plus Rewards members on Wednesday May 28, with general public on sale Thursday May 29. Corteo's updated Australian tour dates Perth Arena: 11 shows betweeen 8-17 August Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena: 12 shows between 22-31 August
