LOADING ERROR LOADING“Saturday Night Live” clowned President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance over their fixation on respect and gratitude during a contentious White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the show’s cold open, Trump (played by James Austin Johnson) thanked Zelenskyy (played by Mikey Day) for dressing like “casual Star Trek” to the Oval Office before pushing the Ukrainian president to say sorry to Russian President Vladimir Putin. As Zelenskyy tried to calmly respond to Trump, Vance (played by Bowen Yang) had an over-the-top reaction to the lack of thanks from the Ukrainian president. Later in the cold open, Trump began to lecture Zelenskyy about not wearing a suit to the meeting, reflecting a real-life ask by pro-Trump reporter Brian Glenn. Who shows up to the White House in a T-shirt and jeans like a garbage person?” asked Johnson’s Trump.

Under Trump’s executive order, agencies won’t be able to fill most vacancies for 90 days, though military, national security and immigration enforcement roles are exempted. The freeze won’t be lifted at the government’s tax-collecting agency until the Treasury secretary and White House officials agree it’s “in the national interest” to do so. An immediate hiring freeze is a flashy way to signal that you’re serious about cutting the size of the federal government, which Trump claims to want to do. AdvertisementOne of the biggest problems, the GAO found, was that government-wide hiring freezes are “arbitrary” and “not based on sound analyses” of the workforce. Matt Rourke via Associated PressAdvertisementThe GAO’s estimation of hiring freezes hadn’t changed much by the time of Trump’s first presidency.

Director Brady Corbet is defending The Brutalist after it was revealed that artificial intelligence had been used to make some of the Hungarian dialogue delivered by its English-speaking cast sound more authentic. AdvertisementEarlier this month, Adrien won a Golden Globe for his performance, and is widely expected to receive an Academy Award nomination. Corbet also snagged a Golden Globe for best director. Advertisement“Hearing Brody used AI to change aspects of his voice sort of reminds me of when my favourite baseball player would get busted for steroids. “Innovative Respeecher technology was used in Hungarian language dialogue editing only, specifically to refine certain vowels and letters for accuracy.

Donald Trump Inauguration Blunder Has Stephen Colbert Asking: 'Is He Really President?' President Donald Trump’s second inauguration provided plenty of comic fodder for “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert on Monday. “Now when the ceremony was going to be outside, he was going to put his hand on the Bible. “If he doesn’t touch the Bible, is he really president?”“I mean, who did touch the Bible?” Colbert asked. It clearly believes in a strong border.”ADVERTISEMENTWatch the first part of Colbert’s monologue here:And the second part here:Related...

Glenn Close on Drew Barrymore's talk show NBCGlenn Close has opened up about how she reacted when told the ending to Fatal Attraction was being changed. AdvertisementReflecting on making the film during an interview on Drew Barrymore’s US talk show, Glenn explained: “I did a lot of research with psychiatrists for [Fatal Attraction]. In the original ending, they have that terrible fight, and then she takes that same knife, and as Madame Butterfly is playing, she [kills herself with the knife], and she dies. And let go.”The original ending for Fatal Attraction was included in the film’s initial Japanese release, and was later featured as bonus content when it came out on DVD. AdvertisementScreenwriter James Dearden said in The Guardian in 2014 that talking Glenn Close into reshooting the new ending is “one of my most shame-inducing recollections”.

SNL's current Weekend Update hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che NBCSaturday Night Live comic Colin Jost has admitted he got himself in a spot of trouble with a rather graphic joke at his wife Scarlett Johansson’s expense last month. For SNL’s annual Christmas episode, Colin and his Weekend Update co-host Michael Che prepared near-the-knuckle jokes for one another to read out live on air, which they were not allowed to see ahead of time. AdvertisementDuring Colin’s section, he was given jokes about his Oscar nominee wife to read out – all while she watched on stunned from backstage. “I want to dedicate this next joke to my boo Scarlett Johnasson,” he read from the prompter, while a “genuinely worried” Scarlett was seen watching on the monitor. Scarlett Johansson backstage at SNL NBCDuring an interview on Monday’s edition of The Tonight Show, host Jimmy Fallon asked Colin if the quip had landed him “in trouble with Scarlett”, to which he responded: “I’m in trouble, I think, with a lot of people.”Advertisement“Scarlett was genuinely so shocked,” he revealed.

The directive about WHO was part of a flurry of executive orders that Trump issued on the day of his inauguration. AdvertisementIn 2020, as COVID-19 was first spreading across the U.S., Trump accused WHO of showing too much deference to China, where the pandemic started. “World health ripped us off,” Trump said at a news conference announcing the day’s executive orders. We Won't Back Down Donald Trump has reclaimed the most powerful seat in our nation's government. AdvertisementOn Monday, public health experts warned that withdrawing from the agency could actually mean China has even more influence over global health policy.

Billy Ray Cyrus performing during the Liberty Inaugural Ball Joe Raedle via Getty ImagesCountry music star Billy Ray Cyrus had a rough night on the stage as he performed at the Liberty Ball commemorating the inauguration of US leader Donald Trump on Monday night. Billy Ray appeared to be plagued by a mix of technical difficulties and a hoarse voice as he performed without a band. He also attempted an a cappella version of the song where he called on the crowd to clap and sing along. “They had technical difficulties, too. And in life, when you have technical difficulties, you just gotta keep going.

LOADING ERROR LOADINGIn issuing preemptive pardons for members of the Jan. 6 committee, former military leaders and government officials, and family members, now ex-President Joe Biden made one final terrible decision. He also pardoned his brother James Biden and his wife, as well as his sister Valerie Biden Owens and her husband. In the statement announcing the preemptive pardons, Biden notes that they should not be seen as an admission that any crime was committed, nor should their acceptance be seen as an admission of guilt. Former President Joe Biden's final act as president included issuing preemptive pardons to people targeted for revenge by President Donald Trump. And yet Biden set just such a precedent in the plain self-interest of pardoning his family members.

The decision lays the groundwork for an even more expansive use of pardons by Trump and future presidents. It’s unclear whether those pardoned by Biden would need to apply for the clemency or even accept the offer at all. He later called Trump a fascist and detailed Trump’s conduct around the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. AdvertisementThe committee spent 18 months investigating Trump and the violent insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. But Trump’s pardons never materialized before he left office four years ago.

LOADING ERROR LOADINGWASHINGTON — Donald Trump made twofold history Monday, becoming the first to take the oath of office despite having tried to end American democracy, as well as becoming the first presidential convicted felon. In his 30-minute inaugural speech, Trump wasted little time in lashing out at the criminal prosecutions that flowed from his actions that day. “The vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of the department and our government will end,” he said just 90 seconds in. Instead, he is again commander in chief of the United States armed forces and putative leader of the free world. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

She was placed on medication and enrolled in our Senior Center’s Adult Day “Lunch Bunch” program, which provided transportation, lunch, activities and nursing care. Mom thought for a minute. When my granddaughter arrived to say goodbye, she reminded my mother of a fun day they’d shared. When Mom lived with us, I practiced Tonglen, and even now, I include my mother, breathing in her suffering, breathing out loving kindness. Carole Brodsky has been a freelance reporter and writer since 2006, when her mother was diagnosed with dementia.

Donald Trump has reclaimed the most powerful seat in our nation's government. HuffPost will continue to fearlessly report on the new administration — but we need your help. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again. We won't back down from our mission of providing free, fair news during this critical moment. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

AdvertisementDavid Kochel, a Republican consultant who has never been a fan of Trump, said Biden’s refusal to admit he wasn’t up to a second term is ultimately why Trump is back. By the time he officially announced he was running for a second term, many voters could not believe he was serious. While Trump is only four years younger than Biden, voters haven’t held Trump’s age against him to the same extent. AdvertisementFour decades earlier, Reagan, the consummate performer, in his second term was exhibiting signs of the Alzheimer’s diagnosis he shared with the nation six years after he left Washington. Biden did, and stubbornly insisted on pushing ahead, at times arguing that he was best positioned to defeat Trump a second time.

Trump announced the decision in a post on his Truth Social account as millions of TikTok users in the U.S. awoke to discover they could no longer access the TikTok app or platform. Advertisement“By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up,” Trump wrote. Millions of TikTok users in the U.S. were no longer able to watch or post videos on the platform as of Saturday night. Advertisement“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S.,” a pop-up message informed users who opened the TikTok app and tried to scroll through videos. “Unfortunately that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”A message reading "Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now" is displayed from the TikTok app on a cell phone screen on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Los Angeles.