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Donald J. Trump’s Scandals Captivate the Court, but Hush-Money Case Hangs on Dry Details

Prosecutors started their criminal case against Donald J. Trump with eye-catching and lurid stories, but the heart of the matter is invoices and ledger entries.
Read full article on: nytimes.com
  1. Biden’s plan to admit Gazans to US could backfire: 'Brainwashed by Hamas,' expert warns Amid the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza because of Hamas’ war against Israel, President Biden weighs allowing a new wave of immigration. Local Gazans gave their take.
    foxnews.com
  2. How Hollywood Fell Short for the Fall Guys On-screen, during an early scene in The Fall Guy, the stunt driver Logan Holladay pulls off a move that looks utterly chaotic. He steers an SUV that soars across a beach, parts of it breaking off as it tumbles over and over until landing upside down, in a mess of smoke and debris. But Holladay could feel, even before he was told, that he’d completed the stunt as planned. He’d spent months helping design and rehearse the sequence—called a “cannon roll”—in which he hits a high speed, deliberately triggering a device underneath the car that propels it into the air. During one attempt, he’d sent the car flying too high; during another, the car over-rotated and rolled vertically, end over end. This time, everything felt right. “I 100 percent will not throw myself into a situation that I don’t know every detail about,” Holladay told me. “I’m not going to just go for it and see what happens.”The Fall Guy, which is now in theaters, is about that careful work. The film, loosely based on the campy 1980s television series about a stuntman who moonlights as a bounty hunter, is an action comedy with an endearing love story at its center—but it’s also a not-so-stealthy celebration of the stunt community. Directed by David Leitch, a former stunt performer himself, the film takes place on the set of a big-budget production, underlining just how much these professionals contribute to action filmmaking beyond their physical exploits.Stunt performers exist in a uniquely tough position in today’s franchise-heavy Hollywood: They’re not household names, but the stunts they do have become a primary selling point for many action-thriller sequels. Their work is often flashy, which has contributed over time to the misconception of them as daredevils, making it hard for them to be taken seriously. And they’re often in the spotlight only when something goes wrong. They’re otherwise supposed to remain invisible—a goal seemingly at odds with long-running efforts to seek industry recognition at the Oscars, which doesn’t have a category awarding stunt work. “It’s our job as stunt performers to be in the shadows, and it’s our job to uphold the illusion of one character … I think we all want to keep that illusion alive for the audience,” Leitch told me. “We’re supposed to be hidden, so how do we celebrate?”Making that campaign part of a mainstream, feel-good summer movie is one way. The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, is the most visible and notable push in the stunt community’s decades-long effort to be included at the Academy Awards. In February, the Academy announced that casting directors would be honored starting in 2026, the first time a new category has been added since 2001. In March, the ceremony itself aired a montage about stunt work. To many stunt performers I spoke with over the past month, these moves hinted at a turning point and provided far more encouragement than many of them have been used to.[Read: The Hollywood pros finally getting their due]Jack Gill, who has worked in stunts since the 1970s and was the coordinator behind several Fast and Furious films, began the campaign for Oscar inclusion in 1991. Since then, he told me, he’s been given a litany of reasons stunts can’t be a part of the show: the ceremony is already too long, an award might pressure stunt performers to strive for extra-dangerous acts, and, most of all, stunt work isn’t a creative endeavor. “Just trying to get even one award has been daunting,” he said, adding that when he began his campaign, he was told the process would take five years at most to complete. “I fought three to five years thinking, This is going to happen. And here we are, 30 years later.”When the stunt coordinator Chris O’Hara tells people what he does for a living, he’s usually asked one of three questions: Have you ever been hurt? What movies have you been in? What’s the biggest stunt you’ve ever done?They’re harmless questions, and O’Hara has answered them plenty of times, but they also convey a narrow understanding of what he does. His work isn’t really about getting hurt, or about being in movies, or about taking part in the biggest set pieces possible. The job is, he told me, “to create the illusion of danger by minimizing the risks.” In other words, his work requires intense, careful planning and rehearsing to get right.The Fall Guy shows off the labor that goes into building a stunt by staging several giddy, over-the-top sequences that, one of the film’s producers, Kelly McCormick, told me, “were making dreams come true” for the team. The stunt performers broke personal and world records; Holladay told me that his eight and a half cannon rolls, which set a Guinness World Record, “still doesn’t even feel like it’s a real thing.” But their scenes dazzled not only because of, say, the height of a free fall or the length of a car jump; they also displayed how even minor adjustments to a stunt can deepen the story being told, making them an essential—and, yes, creative—part of the process.Consider a climactic chase scene in The Fall Guy, when Gosling’s protagonist, Colt Seavers, executes a boat jump that ends in an explosion. The stunt involves steering a boat fast enough onto a ramp so that it’ll soar in midair before landing back in the water. In Colt’s case, however, he directs his boat toward explosives so he can attempt an escape. Shortly before filming the scene, Gosling received a vintage jacket promoting the Miami Vice live-stunt show—an actual tourist attraction, involving stunt performances inspired by the series, that ran in the 1980s and ’90s at the Universal Studios theme park.The gift gave him the idea to incorporate one of the show’s tricks into his character’s extensive résumé. Gosling suggested that Colt steer the boat while facing backwards, with his hands tied behind his back, barely maneuvering the wheel. Leitch liked the idea; Colt’s narrative arc explores how, in his quest to impress his ex (Blunt) and prove his worth, he regains the self-confidence he lost after an on-set injury. Making the stunt appear just a little harder—a hidden stunt driver inside the boat meant Gosling’s double wasn’t actually driving it blind—fulfilled the actor’s creative inclinations and underscored the film’s themes. “It could have just been a boat jump, but now we’re defining this character moment for Colt,” Leitch explained.A good stunt doesn’t have to be elaborate. Wade Eastwood, the stunt coordinator for several Mission: Impossible films, told me that work can start years before a film goes into production, and involve simply noting throughout a script where action might be required. If a story, he explained, has an ensemble traveling from one continent to another but little detail about how, he’ll design and pitch sequences to keep the audience’s adrenaline pumping. For instance, if the characters are in Buenos Aires but head to London, he said, “I will then write how they get to London. That’s a car chase into a motorbike chase into a skydive sequence into an aerial sequence … All that creativity is not the writer or the director. That’s actually the stunt coordinator.”[Read: The sincerity and absurdity of Hollywood’s best action franchise]For all of the stunt performers I spoke with, the work has been rewarding, even if Oscar trophies haven’t come along yet. Eastwood in particular emphasized how much he’d rather do his job than attend a single award show. He said he’s been told that he deserves an Oscar for what he’s done for the Mission: Impossible franchise, but he bristles at the idea. “I’m not thinking about if I’m going to get an award for the last Mission,” he said. “I’m thinking, What the hell am I going to do for the next Mission?”Even so, stunt performers being overlooked by the most prestigious industry award has only gotten more baffling as their work has become more multifaceted, the sophistication of the action seen on-screen proving the complexity of their jobs. “Back in the day, it was a bit of a live rodeo … You would just show up and have your bag of pads and athletic ability and willingness to do whatever it is that was asked of you,” said Melissa Stubbs, a stunt coordinator who has doubled for actors such as Margot Robbie and Angelina Jolie, referring to when her career began in the 1980s. “Now we are action designers.” An Oscar category honoring the head of a stunt department would signal that the craft is seen as equal in importance to every other creative element of production. “It’s not to say that our egos need to be stroked,” Jack Gill said. “It’s just that, around your peers, you’d like to be able to say, ‘I did something special.’”After all, stunt performers typically downplay their work on set. Throughout The Fall Guy, Colt gives a thumbs-up at the end of his stunts, a gesture often used to underline how such performers are “stoics,” as McCormick put it: “They give the thumbs-up because a lot of times they can’t speak, let alone barely breathe, but they don’t want to stop production, because they know they’ll eventually be okay.”Perhaps The Fall Guy will too. The film’s earnings underperformed at the box office compared with its reported $130 million budget, marking a muted start to the summer movie season, but its release has been meaningful for the stunt community. At the Los Angeles premiere of The Fall Guy, Stubbs, who had been invited to see the film along with many other members of the tight-knit stunt community, saw a colleague cry as the film played. Stunt workers are as emotionally invested in a movie as anyone else who made it. “Hopefully,” O’Hara said, “people will see us as more than those three questions.”
    theatlantic.com
  3. IndyCar driver gets airborne in scary crash at Indianapolis 500 practice IndyCar rookie Nolan Siegel, 19, spun out, caught air and flipped over in a scary crash during Indianapolis 500 practice on Friday afternoon.
    foxnews.com
  4. What to pack in your backpack for a trip to the amusement park When visiting a theme park, carrying a heavy backpack in the hot summer sun can quickly cause exhaustion. To avoid this, follow this guide of essentials to bring with you.
    foxnews.com
  5. WNBA star Diana Taurasi expresses optimism for Caitlin Clark's game despite 'reality' warning Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi believes Caitlin Clark's game will translate and that she will figure out how to navigate the WNBA after struggling in her first two games.
    foxnews.com
  6. Scottie Scheffler supporters flock to PGA Championship after arrest: 'Best guy out there right now' Scottie Scheffler supporters wore T-shirts in his honor to cheer him on at the PGA Championship following his arrest before the start of the second round.
    foxnews.com
  7. Calls to remove Harrison Butker from Chiefs after speech 'totally un-American,' ESPN's Sam Ponder says ESPN NFL broadcaster Sam Ponder came out in support of Harrison Butker's right to espouse his views freely in a post on her Instagram Stories.
    foxnews.com
  8. Bill Maher Defends NFL Kicker Harrison Butker On ‘Real Time’ The HBO host says “I don’t see what the big crime is.”
    nypost.com
  9. Kristi Noem Hits Back at Tribal Reservation Bans As a result of previous comments she made, the South Dakota governor has been banned by seven Native American reservations in her state.
    newsweek.com
  10. Florida's growing seabird population impacts local wildlife and a rescue org tries to help In Florida, the growing seabird population has been impacting local wildlife and one rescue organization is on a mission to correct the balance.
    cbsnews.com
  11. Brooklyn influencer part of bad girls club of NYC-Dublin ‘portal’ flashers A 26-year-old content creator from Brooklyn who goes by Clover claims she beat model Ava Louise to the chase by baring it all for spectators across the pond on Saturday.
    nypost.com
  12. Trucks carrying desperately needed aid are rolling across a newly U.S. built pier into Gaza Trucks carrying desperately needed aid are rolling across a U.S.-built pier into Gaza. U.S. officials say this could mean up to 150 truckloads a day will get to the besieged Palestinian territory.
    cbsnews.com
  13. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito faces scrutiny over upside down U.S. flag outside his home Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito faces mounting scrutiny over an upside down U.S. flag outside his home. The flag upside down became a symbol of the stop the steal movement used by rioters and election deniers after the 2020 election.
    cbsnews.com
  14. Two Chiefs offensive linemen arrested on marijuana possession charges Kansas City Chiefs offensive linemen Wanya Morris and Chukwuebuka Godrick were arrested late Thursday night for misdemeanor marijuana possession.
    foxnews.com
  15. New Hampshire Senate passes bill that would prohibit trans athletes' inclusion with gender identity The New Hampshire Senate passed a bill earlier this week that would ban trans athletes from playing for teams that align with their gender identity.
    foxnews.com
  16. Explore the best of the West with these extraordinary experiences There’s something for everybody on the West Coast, but only if you know where to look. Our list of 101 best West Coast experiences can help you make the most of this coast.
    latimes.com
  17. Valerie Bertinelli announces social media break amid mental exhaustion, urges fans not to 'worry' Valerie Bertinelli announced her plans to take a social media break due to mental and emotional exhaustion.
    foxnews.com
  18. Top 5 fastest Preakness Stakes times in the history of the Triple Crown race The Preakness Stakes is the second race in the Triple Crown series, held in Baltimore annually in May. Secretariat has the fastest Preakness Stakes time in the history of the race.
    foxnews.com
  19. 2024 Preakness Stakes: Your guide to attending the second horse race of the Triple Crown The Preakness Stakes is not as popular of an event as the Kentucky Derby, but offers a similar atmosphere for a lower cost. This guide contains all you need to know before attending.
    foxnews.com
  20. NYPD ‘headcount’ faces record lows not seen in decades — 200 cops leaving each month : data A total of 566 police officers have hung up their holsters through April, compared to 508 over the first four months of last year, NYPD pension data shows.
    nypost.com
  21. Mother and son DOE employees scammed NYC school for kids with disabilities: probe A mother and son duo employed by the city Department of Education scammed a Manhattan public school for kids with disabilities out of nearly $8,500, investigators found.
    nypost.com
  22. Family of little girl killed by illegal immigrant shares emotional story, aims to take action in Congress Stewart Jones, a South Carolina Republican and godfather of a little girl killed by an illegal immigrant, is being backed by the child's mother in his run for Congress.
    foxnews.com
  23. Ukraine And Allies Rue Costly Mistakes As Russia Pounces Can delays in U.S. aid and issues with Ukrainian mobilization be rectified in time?
    newsweek.com
  24. Just how long should a Supreme Court justice stay around? The decision about when Supreme Court justices should step down is a complex stew of personal ambition, court dynamics and, of course, politics.
    latimes.com
  25. Boyfriend Shares 5 Ways He Supports Girlfriend With PCOS in Sweet Video The woman said her partner's support has "helped me navigate the challenges of PCOS with a bit more grace and a lot less insecurity."
    newsweek.com
  26. Cynthia Nixon remembers early ‘Sex and the City’ hate: ‘These are gay men in disguise’ "They kept saying over and over, 'These aren't really women, these are gay men in disguise, women don't talk like this,'" the actress told Page Six.
    nypost.com
  27. The true story of a Staten Island hero soldier, whose spirit lives on in the ‘SSG Michael H. Ollis’ ferry After eight months, the 24-year-old Staten Islander was about to fly out to Bagram, Afghanistan, as Tom Sileo details in ‘I Have Your Back – How An American Soldier Became an International Hero’.
    nypost.com
  28. UFC Vegas 92 Fight Night predictions and picks: Barboza vs. Murphy You'll notice many more long shots this week and fewer outright sides on this weekend's betting card.
    nypost.com
  29. Sorry President Biden, those inflation numbers totally suck New inflation data may suggest the economy is strong, but a closer look reveals major weaknesses.
    nypost.com
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  31. Father of NYC menace ‘Ice Pick Nick’ grateful son is behind bars: ‘Saving his life’ The frustrated father said that people like his son will keep terrorizing NYC “unless the government does something about the homeless and mentally ill people.” 
    nypost.com
  32. Opinion: Disturbing Video Shows Diddy Was Right: ‘Time Tells Truth’ Jason LaVeris“Time tells truth.”That was the cryptic Instagram post left by disgraced hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs just days before surveillance video would reveal the truth that he physically attacked his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016.The disturbing footage–that was originally obtained by CNN–shows Ventura trying to leave a hotel room with her belongings before being assaulted by Combs. Diddy, who was only wearing a bath towel wrapped around his waist, is seen in the triggering video grabbing, shoving, dragging and kicking Ventura on the floor. Such filmed abuse corroborates with the formal complaint Ventura filed last year against Combs in which she cited the attack as taking place “around March 2016” as her ex “followed her into the hallway of the hotel while yelling at her.”Read more at The Daily Beast.
    thedailybeast.com
  33. She finished chemo then got a medical degree: ‘The dream is real now’ Keri Cronin has her sights on her next goal: becoming an oncologist to help other cancer patients like herself.
    washingtonpost.com
  34. New York Squatting Reform Backed Exclusive polling for Newsweek has revealed the level of support for new anti-squatting legislation.
    newsweek.com
  35. Private tour inside St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City Join Norah O'Donnell for a rare, private tour inside St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the largest church in the world. Watch Sunday's 60 Minutes for a wide-ranging conversation with Pope Francis and tune in Monday, May 20, for a Primetime special, "Pope Francis: The First", on CBS.
    cbsnews.com
  36. Climate activists glue themselves at Munich airport to protest flying The activists from the German-based group Last Generation, which has carried out similar protests in the past, were protesting flying, the most polluting form of transportation.
    cbsnews.com
  37. Farmer commutes 6 hours a day to bring Pa. products to his Amish-owned NYC store Millport Dairy, the first truly authentic, Amish-owned brick-and-mortar store in the five boroughs, opened May 1 on Broadway between 97th and 98th Streets.
    nypost.com
  38. Bill Maher defends Harrison Butker amid speech uproar: 'I don't see what the big crime is' HBO's Bill Maher offered a defense for Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who sparked outrage over comments he made during a commencement ceremony at a private Catholic college.
    foxnews.com
  39. Ukraine's Controversial Military Mobilization Law Comes Into Effect Amid Russian Advances A divisive mobilization law in Ukraine came into force Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers amid the Russian offensive. The post Ukraine’s Controversial Military Mobilization Law Comes Into Effect Amid Russian Advances appeared first on Breitbart.
    breitbart.com
  40. Houston faces triple-digit heat index after violent storms Texas and Louisiana were affected by violent storms that have left hundreds of thousands still without power as temperatures rise. CNN meteorologist Elise Raffa shares what to expect in the coming days.
    edition.cnn.com
  41. NYC Council’s secret ‘woke’ wish list for Albany politicians revealed — including bill that could free killers when they reach 55 The New York City Council’s far-left majority plans to push Albany pols to pass a slew of super-woke measures– including bills to help parole murderers over 55.
    nypost.com
  42. Dynamic Duo Rescue Dogs Win Pet of the Week "Scout is quick and proud to show off his skills," the owner told Newsweek.
    newsweek.com
  43. Yankees vs. White Sox prediction: MLB odds, picks, bets for Saturday The reeling White Sox are making a change to their pitching rotation by plugging Brad Keller into the mix for Saturday’s matinee against the Yankees.
    nypost.com
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  45. The Gouda, bad and ugly: NYC law student addicted to cheese went to nearly $6K-per-week rehab Adela Cojab said cravings began during her junior year at NYU, in spring 2018, when she binged almost daily on the “cheapest” bricks cheese she could find.
    nypost.com
  46. Marjorie Taylor Greene's 'Congress Clown Show' Condemned The Georgia Republican's House committee clash with rivals is not a good look for U.S. democracy, say experts
    newsweek.com
  47. London Mayor Khan Says Trump Is Homophobic, Racist, and Sexist, Demands Labour Party 'Call Him Out' Donald Trump is a homophobe, sexist, and racist declared far-left Mayor of London Sadiq Khan while urging his party to "call him out". The post London Mayor Khan Says Trump Is Homophobic, Racist, and Sexist, Demands Labour Party ‘Call Him Out’ appeared first on Breitbart.
    breitbart.com
  48. Why the Nets need to strike quickly if Donovan Mitchell opens door to a New York return Donovan Mitchell has been in the Nets’ plans. It remains to be seen if they’re in his.
    nypost.com