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Category: Culture
January 26, 2024
Wake Up Right
Culture
News

Bud Light Tries to Salvage Brand with Super Bowl Ad Campaign.

Bud Light is using an expensive Super Bowl ad campaign to resurrect its image and win back beer drinkers. The brand hopes customers will forget its affair with a transgender TikToker Dylan Mulvaney.

The details: Bud Light’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch (AB), is forking out big bucks for a 60-second ad that will reportedly introduce a new brand character. And according to Kyle Norrington, AB’s chief commercial officer, you can expect “some really funny advertising.”

The price tag: We don’t know the exact figure, but it’s estimated that advertisers fork out about $7 million for thirty seconds.

Back up: Bud Light customers abandoned the beer by the caseload after an ill-advised marketing deal with transgender TikToker Dylan Mulvaney last April.

Sales plunge: Since going trans, Bud Light lost its title as the nation’s top-selling domestic beer to Modello Especial. In the first two weeks of 2024, Bud Light’s retail-store sales are down 28.9 percent compared to the same time last year. Modelo is up 15.1 percent.

More about the ad: AB released a 12-second teaser online featuring a man wearing metallic sunglasses with a handlebar mustache. One fan in the ad is wearing a Peyton Manning jersey, leading to speculation that the Hall of Fame quarterback might be the man behind the glasses. Someone is then heard to scream, “LET’S GO!!!” – which is widely recognized as the “Allahu Akbar” for white guys.

This article is adapted from the free ‘Wake Up Right’ newsletter, which you can subscribe to here.

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Bud Light is using an expensive Super Bowl ad campaign to resurrect its image and win back beer drinkers. The brand hopes customers will forget its affair with a transgender TikToker Dylan Mulvaney. show more
January 26, 2024
Ed Kozak
Culture

Planned Parenthood Releases Groomer Sex Vid In Case You Had That Baby They Tried to Murder.

Abortion industry advocates ‘Planned Parenthood’ released a video this week denying the concept of virginity and encouraging children to embark on a “sexual journey.” The video features a woman in what appears to be an elementary school classroom, replete with bright, child-friendly colors.

After claiming virginity “isn’t real” and a “made-up concept” invented to “control and shame people,” the woman then goes on to criticize the notion of virginity further because it excludes sexual deviants: “Where does that definition leave queer people? Or folks who can’t, or don’t, have penis-in-vagina sex and choose to have oral, anal, or another type of sex instead?”

Things then take a sinister turn as the woman encourages children to engage in sexual practices and assures them that there is no shame in doing so: “Shame has no place in someone’s personal decisions about sex. It’s time to throw away the notion of losing your virginity! What if instead of ‘losing’ something, we reframe it as ‘gaining’? Because the truth is, when we make our own decision to become sexually active, we aren’t setting ourselves up to lose anything at all!”

She then encourages children to define their own version of sex. She graphically lists sexual terms and concepts and suggests kids “enthusiastically consent” to having sex: “You get to decide and define what sex — and virginity — mean for you. Maybe that’s being fingered for the first time. Maybe it’s having anal sex. Maybe it’s having your first orgasm. Maybe it’s masturbating for the first time. Maybe it’s when you enthusiastically consent to sex. That’s the beauty of your sexual journey.”

The video comes as parents across the country are increasingly resisting the LGBTQ movement’s efforts to sexualize children and expose them to inappropriate content.

WATCH:

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Abortion industry advocates 'Planned Parenthood’ released a video this week denying the concept of virginity and encouraging children to embark on a “sexual journey.” The video features a woman in what appears to be an elementary school classroom, replete with bright, child-friendly colors. show more
January 26, 2024
Culture
News
Politics
TECH

Florida Moves to Ban Under-16s from Social Media.

Republican lawmakers in the Florida House of Representatives advanced legislation aimed at protecting minors from harmful content on social media. House Bill 1 requires a ban on social media platforms for users under 16. It also mandates age verification services by a third party.

State Rep. Fiona McFarland, a Republican cosponsor of the bill, compared social media to “a digital fentanyl.” The legislation would allow parents to sue social media companies that do not remove their child’s account.

Florida Republicans say the legislation is part of an effort to reduce bullying, depression, and suicide linked to social media use. The bill allows exemptions for websites primarily used for emails, texts, and streaming services. However, it has drawn criticism for its vague language and potential infringements on First Amendment rights.

Lawmakers have not specified which social media platforms might be impacted. If it becomes law, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube could be exposed to potential legal liabilities. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, believes its social media platforms fall outside the scope of House Bill 1. Before passage, language was added to the legislation limiting its applicability to social media apps that feature “addictive, harmful, or deceptive design features.”

The Florida State Senate will take up the legislation next. If adopted, it will be sent to Republican Governor Ron DeSantis to sign into law.

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Republican lawmakers in the Florida House of Representatives advanced legislation aimed at protecting minors from harmful content on social media. House Bill 1 requires a ban on social media platforms for users under 16. It also mandates age verification services by a third party. show more
January 24, 2024
William Upton
Culture

‘Wag the Dog’ Writer Says Trump the Best Prez Since Honest Abe.

Famed playwright and filmmaker David Mamet believes Donald Trump is the best president since Abraham Lincoln. Speaking with UnHerd, Mamet lauded the border stability, strong economy, and global peace the Trump presidency achieved.

“He brought peace to the Middle East. He closed the border. He made us an energy exporter,” Mamet said in an interview with the British website, continuing: “He had the best rating among African Americans of any president ever. And the country was at peace and prosperous in the world.”

Mamet defended Trump from critics who claim his brash New York style alienates voters. “He’s got a big mouth, so do I. The question is, who do you like in a fair fight with your back to the wall?” Mamet argued, adding: “Who would you rather have? Joe Biden, who’s a senile old bag-man, or Donald Trump, who’s a scrapper and loves his country?”

Modern Theater ‘Stinks’.

Once a staunch liberal, Mamet penned an essay in 2008 in The Village Voice entitled, “Why I Am No Longer a ‘Brain-Dead Liberal” — coming out as a political conservative. Mamet, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his play Glengarry Glen Ross, panned the modern theater industry. “The theatre is not only dead, it stinks,” he told UnHerd, blaming the political left’s embrace of censorship and ‘diversity and inclusion‘ for stifling creativity.

“Now we have political commissars who say, in addition to the Artistic Director, in addition to the Managing Director, we have to have a Director of Diversity, who’s on top of everything,” Mamet lamented, before adding: “And we’re all going to pay attention to this person who tells us, you don’t have enough black women in the play, or you don’t have enough trans people… If somebody’s not telling you a story, then that theatre stinks.”

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Famed playwright and filmmaker David Mamet believes Donald Trump is the best president since Abraham Lincoln. Speaking with UnHerd, Mamet lauded the border stability, strong economy, and global peace the Trump presidency achieved. show more
January 23, 2024
Wake Up Right
Culture
News

Hollywood Working to Remake, ‘Diversify’ It’s a Wonderful Life & The Wizard of Oz.

Two of Hollywood’s most classic films — ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ and ‘Wizard of Oz’ are slated for modern reboots with “diverse characters.”

The details: Writer and director Kenya Barris recently told Variety magazine and late-night host Jimmy Fallon that he’s currently working on scripts for both modern adaptations that will re-tell the stories from a “different point of view.”

 It’s A Wonderful Life: Harris’ plans for the 1946 classic include replacing Jimmy Stewart’s character with an actor who has “black or brown” skin. He added that the movie was “the perfect vehicle to tell that story from.”

The Wizard of Oz: The original movie takes place in Kansas, but Barris imagines his remake in Inglewood, California, adding: “and I want to do it with diverse characters.”

Who is Kenya Barris: He’s famous for many race-centric movies like, ‘Black-ish,’ ‘#BlackAF, and ‘You People.’

  • Barris has a track record of ruining classics. Last year, he released a remake of the classic 90s film White Men Can’t Jump. It has a 26 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Roger Ebert called it “as unimaginative as it is corny.”

My two cents: I hear a lot about so-called cultural appropriation from the left. If you were to concede to such a notion, would this not be a perfect example of it?

This article is from the free ‘Wake Up Right’ newsletter, which you can subscribe to here.

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Two of Hollywood’s most classic films — ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ and ‘Wizard of Oz’ are slated for modern reboots with “diverse characters.” show more

Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
I hear so many of you are subscribing to the free Wake Up Right newsletter! Good for you! And let me know in the Discord how you enjoy it!
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I hear so many of you are subscribing to the free Wake Up Right newsletter! Good for you! And let me know in the Discord how you enjoy it! show more
for exclusive members-only insights
Baldwin
January 19, 2024
Crime
Culture

Alec Baldwin Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter. Again.

A New Mexico grand jury indicted actor Alec Baldwin on Friday for involuntary manslaughter over the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the Rust film set two years ago. The indictment comes a year after the original case against Baldwin fell through.

Baldwin, who was both the star and producer of the film, maintains his innocence, asserting that he did not know the firearm he held contained live rounds and that he did not pull the trigger. However, an analysis performed in August of last year found he must have pulled the trigger for the firearm to discharge. In October, special prosecutors Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis indicated Baldwin would likely be charged again.

“We look forward to our day in court,” Baldwin attorneys Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro said in a statement responding to the indictment.

The indictment came from a grand jury of twelve who met at the First Judicial District Court of New Mexico in Santa Fe beginning Thursday. At least eight of the jurors agreed that there was probable cause to indict. The fatal incident happened on October 21, 2021, during a rehearsal scene when the gun Baldwin was handling discharged, fatally injuring Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza.

Baldwin has continuously suggested that responsibility for the incident lies elsewhere, stating after the incident, “Someone put a live bullet in a gun, a bullet that wasn’t even supposed to be on the property…I can’t say who that is, but I know it’s not me.” Earlier this week, it was revealed that the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was offered leniency if she disclosed how live rounds made it onto the set.

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A New Mexico grand jury indicted actor Alec Baldwin on Friday for involuntary manslaughter over the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the Rust film set two years ago. The indictment comes a year after the original case against Baldwin fell through. show more
January 19, 2024
Culture

Award-Winning Novelist Admits to Using ChatGPT.

Rie Kudan, the 2023 winner of Japan’s prestigious Akutagawa Prize, revealed in her acceptance speech on Wednesday that she used artificial intelligence (AI), including ChatGPT, to write parts of her award-winning novel.

The novelist admitted that she “made active use of generative AI like ChatGPT in writing this book” and that “about five percent of the book quoted verbatim the sentences generated by AI.” Kudan’s novel, The Tokyo Tower of Sympathy, was hailed as “flawless” by one of the judges and is set in a future where AI is integral to human existence.

The revelation comes amidst an intensifying debate on using advanced AI technologies in the art and literary worlds. The 2023 Sony World Photography Awards winner, German artist Boris Eldagsen, refused to accept his prize and revealed his “photo” was an AI-generated fake. Eldagsen said he submitted the AI-generated fake to increase debate about the issue. The winner of the 2022 Colorado State Fair prize for digital art was also revealed to be an AI-generated.

AI and its implications for the future of society are becoming an increasingly important issue, often dominating debate in the worlds of politics, economics, and business. IBM CEO Arvind Krishna told attendees at the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos that those who don’t embrace AI will “find that you may not have a job,” while Donald Trump warned recently that AI poses a “very dangerous” threat to the United States.

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Rie Kudan, the 2023 winner of Japan's prestigious Akutagawa Prize, revealed in her acceptance speech on Wednesday that she used artificial intelligence (AI), including ChatGPT, to write parts of her award-winning novel. show more
January 17, 2024
Crime
Culture

‘Rust’ Movie Set Armorer Offered Leniency for Explanation of Live Rounds in Alec Baldwin Gun.

The armorer at the center of the “Rust” film shooting case, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was reportedly sent an ultimatum via email by special prosecutor Kari Morrissey in September, offering her leniency if she disclosed how live rounds made it on to the set — and promising additional felony charges if she didn’t.

“I feel very strongly [Gutierrez-Reed] has some notion of how the live rounds came on set,” Morrissey wrote in an email published by Variety. “I certainly respect her right not to come forward with that information and to stay silent, however if she were to come forward and answer some of these questions that plague the victims in this case that would go a long way toward getting her a favorable resolution,” Morrissey’s email continued. “If she chooses not to, while I respect her decision, I will proceed with the additional felony charges we spoke of.”

Gutierrez-Reed did not take that prosecutor’s “deal.” Her lawyer, Jason Bowles, took the letter as a threat to “either falsely confess to bringing the live rounds on set, or face additional charges,” reports Variety. In response, Morrissey kept her word and leveled more charges against Gutierrez-Reed, including a 4th-degree felony charge for allegedly carrying a gun into a liquor store.

Gutierrez-Reed pleaded not guilty to the new charges. Her trial is expected to begin in February. Gutierrez-Reed was in charge of the weapons on set during the filming of “Rust.” On October 21, 2021, Alec Baldwin, star of the film, discharged his “prop” firearm, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.

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The armorer at the center of the "Rust" film shooting case, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was reportedly sent an ultimatum via email by special prosecutor Kari Morrissey in September, offering her leniency if she disclosed how live rounds made it on to the set — and promising additional felony charges if she didn't. show more
January 4, 2024
Crime
Culture

A Hunter Biden Documentary is Being Produced by His So-Called ‘Sugar Brother’.

Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris, also known as Hunter Biden’s ‘sugar brother’, is reportedly working on a documentary about the president’s son. Morris got the bizarre nickname after donating millions to Biden, including a reported $2.8 million payment to cover his tax bill in an attempt to placate prosecutors. According to an IRS whistleblower, Biden received around $4.9 million from Morris in 2020, which was reportedly spent on housing, legal fees, car payments, and advisory fees. The loan reportedly carries interest and is to be repaid in 2025.

The documentary aims to present President Biden’s son as much more than the corrupt, drug- and prostitute-using mess portrayed in tabloid headlines. The narrative will reportedly focus on his artistic work, family life, and his struggle to maintain sobriety amidst serious criminal investigations.

Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Morris insists the infamous Hunter Biden laptop, the discovery of which precipitated Hunter’s current legal woes, was a ploy by a legally blind computer repairman to damage Biden and bolster former President Donald Trump’s campaign. Morris’s dealings with Hunter Biden were highlighted after IRS Agent Joseph Ziegler’s documentation revealing Morris’s monetary gifts to Biden was presented to the House Ways & Means Committee amidst Hunter’s tax evasion charges.

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Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris, also known as Hunter Biden's 'sugar brother', is reportedly working on a documentary about the president's son. Morris got the bizarre nickname after donating millions to Biden, including a reported $2.8 million payment to cover his tax bill in an attempt to placate prosecutors. According to an IRS whistleblower, Biden received around $4.9 million from Morris in 2020, which was reportedly spent on housing, legal fees, car payments, and advisory fees. The loan reportedly carries interest and is to be repaid in 2025. show more
January 4, 2024
William Upton
Culture

Fox Co-Founder Says He Wishes Trump Died in 2023.

Fox News co-founder Barry Diller revealed the 2023 prediction he got wrong was “[t]hat Trump would be figuratively or more hopefully dead.” Diller served as chairman and CEO of Fox from October of 1984 to April of 1992. He now serves as the chairman of the IAC holding company and the Expedia Group.

The Democrat media and business mogul has been a long critic of former President Donald Trump. Throughout the years, Diller has referred to Trump as a “joke” and “evil.” In a 2018 interview with fellow liberal Maureen Dowd, Diller said, “I would so love it if he were being blackmailed by Putin.” He added: “That would make me very happy. This was a man of bad character from the moment he entered adulthood, if not before. Pure, bad character. Ugh, Trump.”

One of Diller’s key points of contention with Trump’s presidency was immigration policy. In 2017, Diller claimed Trump’s efforts to end the globalist mass immigration agenda was causing American workers to leave the country for places like Germany – though this was not born out by emigration data.

Diller isn’t the only former Fox News executive to have a penchant for attacking former President Trump. Rupert Murdoch has made it clear he is no fan of the real-estate mogul turned populist politician. Murdoch went so far as to back – for a time – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s bid against Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Along with Diller’s incorrect 2023 prediction, the Guardian’s U.S. editor-in-chief Betsy Reed laments American voters aren’t as fearful of Trump as she is. “I didn’t anticipate that Trump would be winning, no one would seem to have any answers, while many of those most endangered by a Trump victory don’t seem to particularly care,” Reed said of her 2023 political prediction. Reed has been a long-time figure among left-wing media outlets, having worked at The Intercept and The Nation – a pro-Stalin political magazine.

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Fox News co-founder Barry Diller revealed the 2023 prediction he got wrong was "[t]hat Trump would be figuratively or more hopefully dead." Diller served as chairman and CEO of Fox from October of 1984 to April of 1992. He now serves as the chairman of the IAC holding company and the Expedia Group. show more