politics: Last News

Fontaines D.C., IDLES, Nova Twins and Nadine Shah have signed a Love Music Hate Racism statement condemning this month’s far-right riots.Rioting was sparked on July 30 following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-inspired dance class in Southport, Merseyside. Soon after the incident, misinformation appeared online, falsely claiming that the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker.Shortly afterwards, huge groups including far-right and anti-immigration extremists took to the streets around the country to riot and cause violence and disorder.

Isaac Hayes have threatened to sue Donald Trump for $3million to prevent him from using his song ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’ at rallies.According to a letter sent to Trump and his team, which was shared by Hayes’ son on social media, they will file a lawsuit for 134 counts of copyright infringement. They are also demanding $3million (£2.4million) in licensing fees for the campaign’s repeated uses of the song between 2022 and 2024.‘Hold On, I’m Coming’ is usually played at rallies before and after Trump’s speeches.In their letter, Hayes’ family claim they’ve “asked repeatedly” for Trump to stop using the song, citing 134 alleged occasions when he did so regardless.Their lawyer, James Walker, alleged that the Trump campaign has “wilfully and brazenly engaged in copyright infringement” and demanded that the campaign remove any videos featuring the song.

today’s Republican Party is nothing like the one in “The West Wing.”Sorkin, who created the ’90s political drama series, spoke at a Los Angeles event for his upcoming book on Saturday and addressed what he thinks the show would look like if made in the present day.“What would be different would be this, and I don’t want to get a rumble started over anything. I’m afraid to say that right now — and maybe things will be different a year from now or two years from now, but right now — it would be implausible that the opposition party, that the Republican Party, was reasonable,” the 63-year-old TV writer said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.“People would watch that and it would be unfamiliar to them as the country that they live in,” added Sorkin.

Celine Dion’s team have stated that Donald Trump used ‘My Heart Will Go On’ without authorisation at a rally and that she “does not endorse this”.At the political campaign event in Bozeman, Montana on Friday (August 9), a video clip of Dion singing the 1997 song was played on the big screen.At the time, it was unclear whether Trump’s people had followed the proper routes to clear the usage of the track, but in a social media post to Dion’s accounts on Saturday, the answer became clear.“Today, Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., became aware of the unauthorized usage of the video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion singing “My Heart Will Go On” at a Donald Trump / JD Vance campaign rally in Montana,” it read.A post shared by Céline Dion (@celinedion)“In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use.”“…And really, THAT song?” the statement concluded, possibly referencing the song’s synonymous links with Titanic, the world’s most famous sinking ship.Dion had been invited to perform at Trump’s inauguration in January 2017, but once again, she refused to be associated with the former president.The Canadian singer gave a showstopping performance of Edith Piaf’s ‘L’Hymne a L’Amour’ at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics on July 26, her first public performance since she revealed her stiff person syndrome diagnosis in 2022.Dion is far from the first artist to speak out after their music was used at a Trump rally.

Banksy has offered an explanation for this week’s string of surprise new artworks, as a sixth piece popped up in London.Over the course of the week, six different animal-based images have popped up across the capital, each one claimed by the enigmatic Bristol-based artist via his Instagram.It began on Monday (August 5) with a stencilled goat mural perching precariously on a ledge in Richmond, followed on Tuesday by two elephants almost touching trunks outside windows in Chelsea.A post shared by Banksy (@banksy)A post shared by Banksy (@banksy)Wednesday saw the arrival of three monkeys swinging from a bridge in Shoreditch, while on Thursday a wolf howling at the moon from a satellite dish in Peckham was almost immediately stolen.On Friday, a fish and chip show in Walthamstow found itself with two pelicans eating fish outside it, and now today, a stretching cat has appeared on a wooden advertising hoarding on Edgware Road.A post shared by Banksy (@banksy)A post shared by Banksy (@banksy)The black silhouettes have been inspiring discussions all week about their potential political resonance at a time when the country has been subjected to far-right riots, but now the artist has reportedly provided his own explanation for his work.The Observer report via Banksy’s support organisation Pest Control Office that his intention with the project is to bring cheer to the public mood with uplifting and surprising moments of joy or amusement, with an emphasis on humans’ capacity for creativity rather than destruction.The report adds that the public can expect more new works in the series “for a few days more”.A post shared by Banksy (@banksy)A post shared by Banksy (@banksy)It follows on from a more definitely politically-motivated

Chappell Roan has reacted to fans pointing out similarities between her merchandise and that of the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign.This week, the Democratic candidate and her new running mate unveiled a cap in hunting camouflage colours, with the names ‘Harris’ and ‘Walz’ emblazoned in orange all caps.Fans of Roan were quick to point out the apparent similarity to a merch item that was made available alongside her debut album ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess’ last year. See the two side-by-side below.Chappell mentioned pic.twitter.com/Xv4FODVUvg— YungDagger (@YungDagger808) August 6, 2024Roan herself had her say on the subject, writing on X on Wednesday (August 7): “Is this real”.

Paloma Faith has hit out at “right-wing idiots” amid the UK’s ongoing riots.The singer penned a heartfelt message on social media in which she mentioned her children, who are of North African heritage through her former partner Leyman Lahcine.Faith, who was born in Hackney, London, to an English mother and Spanish father, wrote the caption: “My message to the right-wing idiots ruining our country.”“As the mother of two half Muslim North African children and as a born and raised resident and proud member of the Hackney community. I stand vehemently against racism of any kind.”She went on to say that she is “proud” of the UK, which she describes as “diverse, integrated and accepting of all cultures.” She continued: “We cannot scapegoat minorities for this country’s problems when in my experience all they have done is contribute to the rich diverse culture I grew up in that has shaped the best parts of me and the people I love and adore.”She finished by saying, simply, “With all due respect to the right-wing fascists, f**k off.”A post shared by Paloma Faith (@palomafaith)Faith, who released her sixth album ‘The Glorification of Sadness’ on February 16, is one of a number of artists to have spoken out about the riots, which began last week after being sparked by fake news reports that the suspect involved in the Southport stabbing on July 29 was an asylum seeker.Massive Attack posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter) written by race equality think tank the Runnymede Trust, which read: “This violent racism has long been simmering under the surface.

George The Poet has condemned the “broad daylight terrorism” of “race riots” led by the far-right that have been raging across the UK.In the wake of the Southport mass stabbings – which left three children dead and a further 10 injured – a wave of protests and riots have broken out across the UK in cities such as Rothertham, Sunderland and Liverpool.The artist, poet, rapper, and podcast host took to his official Instagram account to share a video of him reciting a spoken word poem about the current situation in the UK. The caption of the post read: “These riots were started by the political and media establishment.”“So Britain’s descended into race riots. I don’t know how any journalist sees this and stays quiet,” he began.He continued: “We just had an election soaked in racism and most of the media wasn’t fazed by it.

Southport mass stabbings – which has left three children dead and a further ten injured as of today (August 4) – a wave of protests and riots have broken out across the UK in cities such as Rothertham, Sunderland and Liverpool.Massive Attack posted a statement on X/Twitter, writing: “This violent racism has long been simmering under the surface. What is happening is the direct result of years of normalised racism and Islamophobia, enabled by politicians and the British media.“As far-right mobs threaten mosques, intimidate and harass people, and throw Nazi salutes, we offer our utmost solidarity to people of colour, and Muslim communities in particular.”The band also pointed out that Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper “fail to centre Muslim people, or call out racism for what it is”, adding: “What we are seeing unfold is more than “thuggery”, it is violent racism.“This is an inevitable outcome of years of state sponsored Islamophobia and racism, where Muslims, people of colour and migrants are scapegoated as a distraction from decades of economic hardship and political failings.”Massive Attack then demanded that politicial leadership “recognises that challenging the far right is not simply a question of tackling online misinformation, or increased police surveillance.

Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ into a Donald Trump diss outside his appearance at the NABJ conference this week.The former president was speaking at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago on Wednesday (July 31), and a brass band took the chance to mount a mini-protest.The group played the Drake diss, but co-opted its message to direct it at the 2024 Republican nominee for president instead. Where Kendrick sang “They not like us”, this band sang, “Trump’s not like us”.Watch the clip below:Not the White men outside the convention having more sense than the National Association of Black Journalists.They changed the lyrics to 'They Not Like Us' to 'Trump's Not Like Us.'#NABJ #NABJ24 #NABJ2024 pic.twitter.com/2hNZ43cS0O— Dana Abercrombie (@sagesurge) July 31, 2024“Not the White men outside the convention having more sense than the National Association of Black Journalists,” wrote the X user who posted the original clip.Drake himself recently quoted the song, which became a US BIllboard Hot 100 chart-topper and became the most streamed hip-hop song in one day, in response to an impersonator dancing along to ‘Hotline Bling’.

Nadine Shah has described scenes of violent riots on the streets of her hometown of Sunderland on Friday night (August 2) as “rancid”.The Mayor of the North East, Kim McGuinness, has called rioters “appalling” and “far-right”, and some of those in the streets could be heard shouting Islamophobic slurs and chanting support for the founder of the English Defence League, Tommy Robinson (via The Guardian).Shah, who was born in nearby Whitburn and grew up in the area, posted on her social media accounts on Saturday morning (August 3) to give her view on the events of the previous night.“The scenes from Sunderland last night are rancid,” she wrote. “Love and solidarity to all my brothers and sisters feeling scared and targeted right now.”The scenes from Sunderland last night are rancid.

Saturday Night Live.Rudolph first portrayed the Vice President on the show during an appearance in 2019, where she went head-to-head with Woody Harrelson’s Joe Biden, referencing their Democratic primary debates.She later revived the impression throughout the 2021 season, and now, after Biden endorsed Harris to replace him in the 2024 presidential election, Rudolph will be back on screen again to play her.Deadline reports that she will be a recurring presence on the 50th season, which kicks off on September 28 and will run through the final weeks of the presidential campaign.SNL is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a special three-hour primetime special on NBC. To be aired live on February 16, 2025, it will be part of a “celebratory weekend” for the show.“We’re doing the 50th anniversary show in February of ’25, so I will definitely be there for that, and definitely be there until that, and sometime before that we’ll figure out what we’re gonna do,” the show’s creator Lorne Michaels said.NBC ran a similar tribute for the show’s 40th birthday in 2015, featuring appearances from countless alumni from SNL history, including Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin, Billy Crystal, Will Ferrell, Norm MacDonald and Tina Fey.A feature film about the show’s premiere episode on October 11, 1975 is also in the works.

Ted Nugent and his son Rocco have released a song about the attempted Donald Trump assassination, ‘Who Shot Trump’.The American musician – who is a high profile supporter of Donald Trump – has now dropped a song with his son, with its chorus warning that whoever shot the former US President “fucked up / When they shot Trump / They fucked up”Rocco continues to sing: “But now you got problems when you fuck with us / He’s our guy / Here’s the reason why / You had your shot but he ain’t die / Inside job / I don’t care / Y’all just protect that man right there / It’s time to fight / Stand your ground / Let them know how freedom sounds.”Nugent has previously attracted criticism for his far-right political views, including repeating baseless claims that Antifa and BLM activists were behind the Capitol riot, claiming systemic racism has been “fixed” in the US, and that America doesn’t have a gun problem.A Nugent Alabama show was cancelled over his politics last year, with one commenter reacting to the news of his proposed show at the Avondale Brewing Co. venue in Birmingham, Alabama: “I will never spend another dollar in your establishment.”“Grotesque that you would book such trash.

John Riley is Metro Weekly’s Senior Editor. Follow him on X at @jrileymw.Keep up with the latest LGBTQ political news. Sign up for our newsletter at www.metroweekly.com/subscribe.

Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong held up a Donald Trump mask at the band’s recent show in Washington, DC. Watch the videos below.The trio performed at the city’s Nationals Park stadium on Monday (July 29), marking the first stop on their North American ‘Saviors’ tour.

Kamala Harris showing off a haul of vinyl records has been given the meme treatment — and now you can get involved.Last year, Harris shared a clip on social media where she talked through her purchases from Home Rule Records in Washington, D.C. Among her recommendations was a Charlie Mingus record, who she said was “really one of the greatest jazz performers ever”, as well as Roy Ayers’ ‘Everybody Loves the Sunshine’, which Harris described as one of her “favourite albums of all time” and a “classic”.Finally, she showed off Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald’s “beautiful” collaborative 1959 album, ‘Porgy and Bess’.The video was shared as part of Small Business Week in May 2023, but it’s been recirculating since Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race earlier this month, and confirmed his support for Harris as the Democratic party’s representative in the upcoming election.

Cardi B has criticised former US President Donald Trump for promising police immunity.The Republican nominee recently gave a speech at a rally in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he made the controversial comments.However, the Bronx rapper was not pleased with his remarks, pointing to the tragic death of Sonya Massey. Bodycam footage revealed the 36-year-old was shot in the face by a white deputy police officer, Sean Grayson, on July 6 in Springfield, Illinois. Massey called the police over worries someone was intruding her home.Grayson has since been arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

Jennifer Aniston has hit out at Donald Trump’s vice-presidential candidate JD Vance for resurfaced comments calling Democrat women a “bunch of childless cat ladies with miserable lives”.On Wednesday (July 25), the Friends star shared a clip of Vance making the comments on her Instagram story, writing: “I truly can’t believe that this is coming from a potential VP of the United States.”Aniston also took the opportunity to address Vance directly and criticise his stance on IVF.“All I can say is… Mr Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day. I hope she will not need to turn to IVF as a second option,” she wrote.

Olivia Rodrigo has thrown her support behind Kamala Harris for the next US President over her stance on reproductive rights.Rodrigo posted a video on her Instagram stories today (July 24) from @thenewsmovement showing Harris criticising opponent and former President Donald Trump for his stance on abortion.In the clip, Harris says: “And we who believe in reproductive freedom will stop Donald Trump’s extreme abortion bans because we trust women to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do.“And when Congress passes a law to restore reproductive freedoms as president of the United States, I will sign it into law.” Rodrigo went on to caption the clip with a praising hands emoji. Watch the original clip down below:A post shared by The News Movement (@thenewsmovement)Over the course of her career, Rodrigo has been a staunch supporter of reproductive rights, with the singer saying she was “heartbroken” over the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade back in 2022.“Our bodies should never be in the hands of politicians.

TikTok star Harry Daniels has caught Kamala Harris off-guard by serenading her with a rendition of Beyoncé’s ‘Formation’. Check out the moment below.The moment took place less than one day after President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race over the weekend (July 21), and it was confirmed that vice president Kamala Harris would be representing the Democratic party in the upcoming election.In a clip shared online, Daniels – a TikTok star who frequently goes viral for singing to celebrities at random run-ins – is seen meeting the Democratic candidate in a hallway, and proceeding to serenade her with the opening lines of the 2016 song.“Y’all haters corny with that Illuminati mess / Paparazzi, catch my fly, and my cocky fresh / I’m so reckless when I rock my Givenchy dress,” he belted to Harris, as she looked back in disbelief.It was a fitting choice of song too, as the Vice President had just made her first public appearance since Biden’s announcement, and arrived at her first campaign staff meeting in Delaware by walking out to another Queen Bey track: ‘Freedom’.“Uh, hi?” she is seen saying to the influencer following the singing coming to an end.

Cardi B has weighed in her thoughts on the upcoming US Presidential election, and reminded fans that she has endorsed Kamala Harris long before Joe Biden withdrew from the race.The comments from the rapper come following Joe Biden announcing his exit from the presidential race this past weekend (July 21), and it later being confirmed that Vice President Kamala Harris would be representing the Democratic party in the upcoming election.The 81-year-old plans to serve out the remainder of his term in office, which ends at noon on January 20, 2025. He immediately endorsed Harris to be the next president of the US, and explained that the decision was made “in the best interest of my party and the country”.A host of stars soon came out to respond to his departure, including Ariana Grande, Lizzo and Barbra Streisand, and a plethora of famous faces came forward to back Harris, including John Legend, George Takei, Jamie Lee Curtis and Charli XCX.Now, Cardi B has come forward to remind her listeners that she has been supporting the idea of having Harris as president long before Biden pulled out of the 2024 race.Taking to her social media pages on Sunday (July 21), the ‘WAP’ singer reflected on the updates, and shared clips from a past livestream which saw her reflect on the political landscape at the time.A post shared by Cardi B (@iamcardib)“I feel like it was very selfish of Biden [to] continue to run for President,” she is heard saying in the old clips, which were posted last month.