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Int'l Business Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
Florida GOP Drops 'Sick' Alligator Alcatraz Merch to Flood of Backlash: 'Disgusting and Inexcusable'
As Florida officials rush to open a massive migrant detention camp deep in the Everglades, the state's Republican Party premiered a line of branded merchandise celebrating the controversial facility — drawing outrage across social media. The new shirts, hats, and beverage coolers feature the detention center nickname "Alligator Alcatraz," complete with claw marks and an alligator looming over a stylized image of the prison. Gov. Ron DeSantis confirmed Friday that the center will hold thousands of undocumented immigrants, surrounded by miles of swampland infested with pythons and alligators. The White House celebrated the concept as an "efficient and low cost way to help carry out the largest mass deportation campaign in American history," confirming this morning that President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend an inauguration ceremony at the site tomorrow. Online, the Florida GOP's efforts to cash in on the prison with merchandise was met with immediate fury. Critics called it "evil," "fascist," "vile," and a "new low," with some comparing it to Nazis selling memorabilia for concentration camps. "Grifting off the suffering of human beings," wrote Democratic strategist Cynthia Busch. "Another new low for the Trump GOP." "This is absolutely disgusting and inexcusable," condemned one user. "You guys would be selling shirts promoting the Holocaust if you were alive then," one user accused, with another pointing out, "Not even the Nazis sold Auschwitz merch." "You sick pieces of human garbage," commented another. "'Buy our concentration camp merch.' Y'all are becoming as bad as Hitler and you aren't even hiding it anymore." "So THAT's what Hitler was read one sardonic reply. "Selling merch for concentration camps is peak late stage capitalism I didn't think we'd reach," lamented one user. Others called out perceived hypocrisy in the Republican party, contrasting the promotion of merchandise celebrating a "concentration camp" with Christian values. "You are sick, and most of you say 'proud Christian' in your bios," alleged one. "If you buy this stuff, you are one lost soul," said another. "It's like an Onion article... can't believe the GOP are real and actually this evil," another commented, describing the party as "truly disgusting," and "Anti-Christian." "Jesus says you are the bad guys," one wrote, with another warning, "If there is a hell, you are definitely ending up in it." Even users claiming to be generally supportive of the administration's aggressive deportation goals had objections. "Thought they were to be sent back," said one. "Instead, destroy more of the Everglades to indefinitely hold them at taxpayer expense." Environmental groups and tribal leaders have also condemned the facility, which sits near ancestral Miccosukee and Seminole lands and threatens delicate Everglades ecosystems, gathering to protest construction over the weekend. Gov. DeSantis argued that the 5,000-bed camp would have "zero impact" on the environment. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem praised the plan as "cost-effective and innovative." $625 million in FEMA funds previously allocated to programs supporting asylum-seekers and migrants has been earmarked for the initiative. Roughly 100 Florida National Guard troops will be deployed to assist with security while private companies work to erect tents and supply trailers and portable restrooms. Despite the backlash, the Florida GOP is continuing to promote the merch online, urging supporters to "grab yours before the gators do." Originally published on Latin Times
Politico
5 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Why Zohran Mamdani's win matters — and why it doesn't
NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — Depending on whom you listen to, Zohran Mamdani is either 'the feeling of dawn after a long night' or 'a 100% Communist Lunatic.' But no matter one's opinion of his politics, a narrative has begun to firm up in the days since the 33-year-old democratic socialist's surprise romp in the New York City mayoral primary: His election represents a watershed moment in national politics. It's not an idea that's entirely based in reality. It's not even a notion that Mamdani himself seems to foster. Rather, it's an assumption that is largely emanating from outside New York City. The hyperventilation surrounding Mamdani's victory is the provenance of those with only a glancing knowledge of the inner-workings of New York government and politics. The glow of a victory in a New York City mayoral primary can be intoxicating for election watchers and the pundit class. In a mirror image of our current moment, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams was hailed as a potential national Democratic star after his 2021 election and a repudiation of left-wing politics at the beginning of the Biden era. By March of this year, Adams' star had burned out: His approval rating had dropped to 20%. It's a familiar story. Before Adams, the last New York mayor to not launch a disastrous and short-lived campaign for president was David Dinkins, whose term ended in 1993 at the hands of an ambitious crime fighter named Rudy Giuliani. The job, often described as the 'second toughest' in America (after that of president), tarnishes the shine of every occupant of City Hall. The mayor is required to be the leader of a city that at every turn resists caricature and is in a constant state of change. He — and every New York City mayor to date has been a man — must work within an intractable bureaucracy and with state legislators and a governor often intent on stopping his political priorities in their tracks. He has to deal with drivers furious with congestion pricing regulations but also New Yorkers who never bothered to get their driver's license and wake up cursing the MTA. He is forced to represent a city of 8 million on a global stage and host the world's most powerful people while remaining laser focused on solving the deeply diverse and contradictory needs of its shockingly rich and desperately poor residents. The job is perhaps best summed up by a now-famous Onion headline that fictitiously describes former Mayor Bill de Blasio relishing Adams' failures: 'Well, Well, Well, Not So Easy To Find A Mayor That Doesn't Suck Shit, Huh?' Thanks to those extremes, the New York City mayor's office is no natural launching pad for higher office — even if scores of former residents of Gracie Mansion thought otherwise. The timing of Mamdani's primary victory in the heavily Democratic city is also playing a role in distorting political reality. New York's mayoral primary always takes place roughly six months after each presidential election, in the media capital of the world. Thus it's among the earliest and most conspicuous barometers measuring the post-election national environment. In all of Mamdani's national media appearances since the election, he steers questions about the broader implications of his victory back to questions facing city residents. Unlike Andrew Cuomo, the former governor who hinted at his own national ambitions during the primary, Mamdani seems interested in governing the city first, which was part of his appeal. Where he has been willing to engage national media outlets has been on broader questions of strategy — that he won by talking about an affordability crisis. 'I think there's a question of how we return back to what made so many of us proud to be Democrats,' he told ABC News on Wednesday. 'I think it's that focus on an economic agenda, on ensuring that people can do more than just struggle.' That campaign — the message and the messenger, the slick videos that kept going viral and the way he expanded the electorate — is sure to be studied by national Democrats. Mamdani enters the general election with little publicly stated interest in higher office. And the city where he's now in pole position to govern remains a good bet to dim his boy wonder shine. But even if the siren call of the national stage at some point becomes impossible to resist, don't expect another vanity run for president by a New York City mayor — the U.S. Constitution wouldn't allow the Uganda-born Mamdani to hold the office. What'd I Miss? — Supreme Court hands Trump major win, limits judges' ability to block birthright citizenship order nationwide: The Supreme Court has handed President Donald Trump a major victory by narrowing nationwide injunctions that blocked his executive order purporting to end the right to birthright citizenship. In doing so, the court sharply curtailed the power of individual district court judges to issue injunctions blocking federal government policies nationwide. The justices, in a 6-3 vote along ideological lines, said that in most cases, judges can only grant relief to the individuals or groups who brought a particular lawsuit and may not extend those decisions to protect other individuals without going through the process of converting a lawsuit into a class action. — Supreme Court OKs opt-out for LGBTQ+ materials in school: The Supreme Court has sided with a group of parents demanding that their public schools be required to provide notices to opt their children out of certain storybook readings that conflict with their religious beliefs. Today's 6-3 ruling, split along ideological lines, found that Maryland's Montgomery County Public Schools violated parents' First Amendment rights to religious exercise by not giving them advanced notice or an opportunity to opt their children out of certain lessons. The school board had initially allowed parents to opt out of lessons, but the board's policy reversal in the 2023-2024 school year sparked a legal challenge. — Trump backs away from July 4 megabill deadline: President Donald Trump today backed off the July 4 deadline he set for Congress to pass his megabill, acknowledging the timing could slip as Republicans work through a series of political and logistical hurdles. 'It's not the end-all,' Trump said of the self-imposed Independence Day goal. 'It can go longer, but we'd like to get it done by that time if possible.' The remarks represented a clear softening of the White House's position from just a day earlier, when Trump administration officials insisted the GOP lawmakers pass the domestic policy package within a week despite a series of fresh obstacles. Senate Republican leaders are still struggling to lock down the necessary 51 votes for the bill, amid objections from competing factions over the depth of the legislation's Medicaid cuts. — Trump says he's 'terminating' all trade discussions with Canada: President Donald Trump said today he is 'terminating' all trade discussions with Canada, effective immediately, because of its Digital Services Tax, and that he would announce new tariffs on the country within the next seven days. 'We have just been informed that Canada, a very difficult Country to TRADE with … has just announced that they are putting a Digital Services Tax on our American Technology Companies, which is a direct and blatant attack on our Country,' Trump said in a Truth Social post. Canada's Digital Services Tax, which imposes a 3 percent tax on large foreign and domestic digital companies that make over C$20 million in revenue, is expected to come into force on Saturday. The tax applies to certain Canadian profits that companies make from online advertising, social media, online marketplaces and the sale and licensing of user data. — UVA president resigns amid pressure from Trump administration: University of Virginia President James E. Ryan announced his resignation today, a swift response to calls from the Trump administration to step down amid the Justice Department's probe into the school's diversity, equity and inclusion practices. 'To make a long story short, I am inclined to fight for what I believe in, and I believe deeply in this University. But I cannot make a unilateral decision to fight the federal government in order to save my own job,' Ryan said in an email sent to UVA community members, which was shared with POLITICO. Ryan is the latest university leader to come under pressure from the Trump administration, as dozens of other elite universities face scrutiny and pressure from the president to claw back DEI policies. AROUND THE WORLD NEW WORLD ORDER — For six months, Donald Trump has upended the global trading order, threatening and announcing tariffs, then easing them to open negotiations, while warning that punitive levies will be reimposed if the terms are not to his liking. With just 13 days until the Trump-imposed deadline to conclude a EU-U.S. deal, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen decided the time for conventional negotiating tactics was over. She floated the idea that the EU's 27 countries could join forces with 12 members of the Asian-led Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership bloc (CPTPP) — which now includes the U.K. — to form a new world trade initiative. The new grouping would redesign a rules-based global trading order, reforming or perhaps even replacing the now largely defunct World Trade Organization, she said. Crucially, the U.S. would not automatically be invited. SHOWING UP — A who's who of European politicians is descending on Budapest in a battle of wills with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, seeking to defy his government's ban on Saturday's Pride parade. After weeks of silence, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen finally backed the celebrations in a video statement on Wednesday. 'I call on the Hungarian authorities to allow the Budapest Pride to go ahead,' she said. 'To the LGBTIQ+ community in Hungary and beyond: I will always be your ally.' While von der Leyen will not be there in person to defy Orbán, more than 70 members of the European Parliament do plan to attend. Nightly Number RADAR SWEEP FIXER UPPER — New York City's empty churches are getting a chance at rebirth. Developers are eyeing the buildings, some in neighborhoods 'where a square foot costs roughly the same as an ounce of gold,' to develop apartments and condos. By some estimates churches across the city could be repurposed into homes of nearly 100,000 households. Justin Davidson argues in New York Magazine that the right way to renovate must involve preserving the churches' facade and a neighborhood's cultural history. Parting Image Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Jacqueline Munis contributed to this newsletter.
South Wales Guardian
7 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Discontinued Pickled Onion Discos crisps to make UK return
KP Snacks is responsible for various crisp brands including McCoys, Hula Hoops, Tyrrell's and Nik Naks. Discos are also part of the snack giant's range of products. The popular crisps currently come in various flavours including Salt & Vinegar, Prawn Cocktail and Cheese & Onion. Now, KP Snacks is set to bring back a previously discontinued flavour of Discos crisps - pickled onion. Pickled Onion Discos crisps were first launched back in 1979 before being discontinued in 2005, much to the disappointment of fans. Crisp lovers have spent the past 20 years praising the popular flavour and calling for its return. One person, posting on Reddit group r/crisps, said: "These were THEE best crisps to ever exist. Point blank. Period." Another added: "Used to eat 5 packets at a time, they were 20p a pack back then!" A third person commented: "They used to make my tongue bleed but I loved them." While this fan wrote: "Bring back most pickled onion crisps. So rare nowadays. Monster munch don't count." It appears KP Snacks has finally listened, with Pickled Onion Discos crisps to be sold in convenience stores across the UK from August 27, according to The Sun. Customers can expect to pay £1.35 for a 70g bag when they land in shops. KP Snacks has been contacted for comment. Pickled Onion Discos crisps are not the only discontinued product to have made a comeback in 2025. RECOMMENDED READING: Aldi says 'sorry' as it discontinues 'addictive' crisps described as 'the best ever' Sainsbury's discontinues coffee described by shoppers as 'the best' Tesco discontinues 'delicious retro product' as shoppers cry 'bring this back' Other discontinued items that have returned to UK stores this year have included: Are you excited about the return of Pickled Onion Discos crisps? Let us know in our poll above or in the comments below.
AsiaOne
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Orlando Bloom undergoes $17k treatment to remove toxic chemicals from his blood, Entertainment News
Orlando Bloom has undergone a $10,000 pound (S$17,000) treatment to remove toxic chemicals from his blood. The 48-year-old actor shared a photo of himself at Clarify Clinic on Monday (June 9) where he underwent the two-hour procedure, which can reduce inflammation by removing microplastics, chemicals and toxins from your blood. He wrote alongside the Instagram snap: "Thanks for the help @clarifyclinics — a new way of removing microplastics and toxic chemicals from our bodies." The cost of a single session of the procedure — which removes the unwanted elements using CE marked Clari by Marker — starts at 9,750 pounds. On the Clarify Clinics website, the organisation explains: "Your plasma is gently separated from your red and white blood cells in a process called apheresis. "The plasma is then passed through our safe and effective CE marked Clari column. The damaging substances like microplastics, forever chemicals, and inflammatory proteins are captured and removed. "Unlike Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) nothing is added to your plasma during this process. This means your plasma retains your unique and critical immune balance, electrolytes, clotting factors and cell signalling. "After the harmful substances are removed, your clean plasma and blood cells are recombined before being returned to you." Orlando's fiancee Katy Perry recently admitted to her fans in Australia that she'd been struggling with jet lag, particularly because their four-year-old daughter Daisy had been waking her up at 5am. However, she joked any visible signs of tiredness weren't there because she'd had the wrinkle-smoothing injections. She told the crowd: "You can't tell I'm tired because I got fresh Botox for Australia!" It isn't the first time Katy has confessed to having Botox treatments. Last month, a satirical headline by the Onion joked Katy would be releasing a song called Stop Making Fun of Me alongside a photo of Katy taken in Melbourne last year. She quipped on Instagram in response: "This photo is clearly photoshopped I would never let my Botox go that long, do better The Onion!" [[nid:718556]]
Perth Now
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Orlando Bloom undergoes 10k treatment to remove toxic chemicals
Orlando Bloom has undergone a £10k treatment to remove toxic chemicals from his blood. The 48-year-old actor shared a photo of himself at Clarify Clinic on Monday (09.06.25) where he underwent the two-hour procedure, which can reduce inflammation by removing microplastics, chemicals and toxins from your blood. He wrote alongside the Instagram snap: "Thanks for the help @clarifyclinics - a new way of removing microplastics and toxic chemicals from our bodies." The cost of a single session of the procedure - which removes the unwanted elements using CE marked Clari by Marker - starts at £9,750. On the Clarify Clinics website, the organisation explains: "Your plasma is gently separated from your red and white blood cells in a process called apheresis. "The plasma is then passed through our safe and effective CE marked Clari column. The damaging substances like microplastics, forever chemicals, and inflammatory proteins are captured and removed. "Unlike Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) nothing is added to your plasma during this process. "This means your plasma retains your unique and critical immune balance, electrolytes, clotting factors and cell signaling. "After the harmful substances are removed, your clean plasma and blood cells are recombined before being returned to you." Orlando's fiancee Katy Perry recently admitted to her fans in Australia that she'd been struggling with jet lag, particularly because their four-year-old daughter Daisy had been waking her up at 5am. However, she joked any visible signs of tiredness weren't there because she'd had the wrinkle-smoothing injections. She told the crowd: "You can't tell I'm tired because I got fresh Botox for Australia!" It isn't the first time Katy has confessed to having Botox treatments. Last month, a satirical headline by the Onion joked Katy would be releasing a song called Stop Making Fun of Me alongside a photo of Katy taken in Melbourne last year. She quipped on Instagram in response: "This photo is clearly photoshopped I would never let my Botox go that long, do better The Onion!"
