During the Biden administration, I can go weeks, even months, without watching the news. I read about what’s happening, of course, but I don’t keep up with the daily punditry or the Republican talking points of the week. It’s peaceful, honestly. But I have been watching MSNBC and CNN a lot this week because of Donald Trump’s latest indictment, the big one for his treasonous actions against the American democracy on January 6, 2021. I’ve been left with a big “????” even when I’m watching liberal commentators. I get that Trump still has a lot of support within the Republican Party, but it’s shocking to see so many people pussyfoot around the fact that Trump was and is a one-man wrecking-ball to America, and that his supporters are cult members and that all of these f–king people need to be in prison forever. Anyway, Trump will be arraigned this afternoon.

Former President Donald J. Trump is expected to appear at 4 p.m. on Thursday in the U.S. federal courthouse at the foot of Capitol Hill, the site of a yearslong government effort to hold accountable those who tried to subvert democracy. Mr. Trump’s appearance before Moxila A. Upadhyaya, a federal magistrate judge, comes about six weeks after his arraignment in Miami on charges of mishandling government documents after he left the White House and seeking to block investigators.

The former president will fly down on his private jet from his golf club in Bedminster, N.J. He is expected to arrive between 3 and 4 p.m., at the E. Barrett Prettyman courthouse, the venue for dozens of trials stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

The U.S. Marshals Service, which is responsible for security inside federal courthouses, will escort him to an area where he will be booked for a third time this year. (He was arraigned in New York in the spring in connection with a hush-money payment to a pornographic actress before the 2016 election.)

The sheriff in Fulton County, Ga., where another potential indictment connected to Mr. Trump’s efforts to undermine the 2020 election looms, has suggested that if Mr. Trump is charged, he will be processed like anybody else, mug shot and all. That will not happen on Thursday: The marshals did not photograph Mr. Trump in Miami, and they will not take his picture in Washington, according to a law enforcement official involved in the planning.

But federal rules dictate that an accused person be reprocessed in each jurisdiction in which he or she faces charges, so Mr. Trump will have to be fingerprinted for a second time using an electronic scanning device. He is also expected to answer a series of intake questions that include personal details, such as his age.

[From The NY Times]

“He is also expected to answer a series of intake questions that include personal details, such as his age.” They should weigh him, delouse him, hose down his toupee and make him enter the court in f–king handcuffs and an orange jumpsuit. Maybe that’s what will happen in Georgia when he’s indicted. Anyway, this no-mugshot, no-frog-marched-in-handcuffs thing is a real bummer. There’s also talk that the Washington trial won’t be televised without the Supreme Court intervening? Jesus.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Cover Images, Time Magazine cover.

The Duchess of Sussex’s 42nd birthday is tomorrow, August 4. Predictably, the British media is very, very focused on what Meghan might do and whether they’ll get some precious content. Granted, I also hope we get some new announcement, but I’m hoping for that because I enjoy the Sussexes and I want good things for them. The British media is desperate for the Sussexes to do or say anything so that they can run twenty million negative, nasty stories. So, lovers and haters are in agreement: please give us a New Sussex Era! That royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams is practically begging Meghan to announce something for her birthday:

Meghan Markle could make an announcement on her 42nd birthday this week, according to a royal commentator, who teased that she may surprise fans with her career plans. There’s been speculation about what’s next for Meghan, 41, following updates in her career. This includes her and Prince Harry, 38, having parted ways with Spotify after releasing the Archetypes podcast through the platform.

It has now been suggested that the former actor could announce her next venture in the coming days. This has been speculated by commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, who said she could unveil her plans on her birthday on Friday.

As reported by the Express, Richard told OK! magazine: “[Meghan] might well announce her next move on her birthday”. He also said: “But otherwise we’ll have to wait and see what her new agent comes up with.” Richard teased: “Don’t forget the Sussexes do have a habit of surprising us.”

[From The Daily Mirror]

He doesn’t know anything and the only reason why anyone thinks that an announcement could be packaged with Meghan’s birthday is because Meghan did that mentorship video for her 40th, in 2021. Remember how they cried about that? Remember how they said mentorship is bad and that Meghan was harming people???

I’m also curious to see if the royal social media managers acknowledge Meghan’s birthday this year. Last year, Kensington Palace acknowledged it, as did then-Prince Charles’s social media. My guess is that none of the royal accounts will acknowledge her this year. They’ve “phased out” that part after QEII’s passing.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

This rarely happens these days: Us Weekly and People Magazine have basically the same cover story. This week, their cover stories are about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their business. Again, I think the Sussexes have been incredibly successful since they moved to America in March 2020. They’ve accomplished a lot so far, and they’ve done it all with an entire hate industry breathing down their necks and screaming about every single thing they do. But we can also acknowledge that it hasn’t been all smooth sailing, right? I hope even the Sussexes can acknowledge that everything about their Spotify deal was mishandled, especially in the aftermath of Spotify firing them. Again, I still say that their biggest issue is their comms: they need a seasoned and competent communications team with a real plan for how to push back on the wall-to-wall professional and personal negativity. Speaking of, Us Weekly’s story is mainly about how Harry & Meghan will not address the British media’s attempts to make “a Sussex divorce” into a thing.

A challenging time: It’s been a rough few months for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. In May, the couple were embroiled in what their spokesperson described as a “near-catastrophic” car chase with paparazzi in NYC. In June, their multimillion-dollar Spotify deal came to an abrupt end. And on July 27, Harry faced a setback in his ongoing lawsuit against a British tabloid, as a U.K. judge threw out the prince’s claims that the outlet had hacked his voicemails. “It’s been a challenging time,” says one source in Us Weekly’s latest cover story.

United front: Still, despite rumors that all the stress is putting a strain on their relationship — including whispers across the pond of a possible divorce in the works — multiple insiders tell Us the Sussexes’ five-year marriage is weathering the storm. “They’re a united front,” says a second source of the spouses. “As far as they’re concerned, it’s Harry and Meghan against the world.”

They think they’re rising about it: According to the first source, continued public criticism has been the hardest pill for the couple to swallow. They were accused of exaggerating their May car chase, and when the Spotify announcement was made in June, Bill Simmons, the company’s head of podcast innovation and monetization, called the couple “grifters.” Soon after, United Talent Agency CEO Jeremy Zimmer said in an interview that Meghan “was not a great audio talent, or necessarily any kind of talent.” Notes the first source: “Harry and Meghan can’t keep track of the negative things people say about them. It’s relentless. They do their best to rise above it, but of course it gets to them — how could it not?”

They’ve managed not to turn on each other. “So much of Harry and Meghan’s time together has felt like overcoming strife from all sides,” says the second source. “They just do it together. They rely on each other for strength and always have.” When there’s tension at home, it’s over little things. “There’s not too much work right now for either of them, so that does cause some issues of feeling isolated,” shares the source, adding that Harry misses his friends in the U.K. “Back home, his summers were full of travel and weddings and exploring. Harry’s made friends in California, but they’re not like his London crew.” These days, continues the source, Harry and Meghan “are together 24/7.”

Harry remains estranged from Prince William & King Charles III. “They do not communicate often,” says the second source. And Harry’s current court battle — in that late-July ruling, the judge allowed Harry’s suit against News Group Newspapers for several other forms of illegal information-gathering to move forward — threatens to expose more dirty laundry from the palace. Adds the source: “William and Charles want Harry to stop unveiling family secrets.”

They’ve been keeping a low profile. “They go on hikes with the dogs, work out together and [hang out] in the garden with the kids,” says the first source, adding that the couple enjoys “regular” date nights at members-only spots like San Vicente Bungalows (where they were spotted in March) and Soho House.

They’re also busy plotting their next move. “Harry and Meghan are regrouping,” says the second source. “They want to figure out how they can best expand the entertainment side of things.” Meghan is thinking about reviving her lifestyle site, The Tig, which she shut down after getting engaged to Harry, and Harry will head to Africa soon for a Netflix documentary. They’re both set to travel to Germany for Harry’s Invictus Games in September, and they’re thinking about relocating again, this time to Malibu. (“They’re looking for a house there,” says the second source.)

They won’t address the divorce rumors. “Harry and Meghan believe that feeding into that false narrative only gives it more attention,” says the first source. “Sure, their relationship has challenges, but they are 100 percent committed to making their marriage work.”

[From Us Weekly]

“Harry and Meghan can’t keep track of the negative things people say about them. It’s relentless. They do their best to rise above it, but of course it gets to them — how could it not?” Again, they don’t have to keep track of the negativity if they would only hire a proper communications team and come to the table with a real strategy for how they will respond to things in real time. From the New York paparazzi chase to the Spotify mess, “rising above it” should not be the strategy. I’m not saying they need to respond to every little thing, especially when the British media is a constant farce of lies, smears and horses-t – but the problem is that they’re still playing by royal rules, like they think they’re taking the longer view and “never complaining, never explaining.” When you’ve got American media outlets, trade papers and American producers criticizing them, they need to do something other than “rise above it.”

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

I missed the fact that Alice Evans and Ioan Gruffudd’s divorce was finalized one month ago. The last time I dipped my toe into covering this catastrophic situation was back in June, when one of Alice and Ioan’s daughters claimed that Ioan’s girlfriend Bianca Wallace assaulted her, then Ioan went to court to basically say that Alice is still a f–king psycho and she’s done a crazy amount of damage to their daughters. While much of Alice and Ioan’s two-and-a-half year divorce battle was waged in public and in court, there’s not much detail in the reporting of their divorce coming through. I don’t believe they’ve actually settled the most pressing concern, custody of their daughters. Well, after all of that drama, guess who is moving on?

Alice Evans has found love again, weeks after her divorced from Ioan Gruffudd was made official. Following a bitter split from Ioan after 14 years of marriage, Alice, 55, revealed she has fallen madly in love with a mystery suitor. Alice took to Instagram to share a number of pictures of herself with daughters Ella, 13, and Elsie, nine, as they celebrated her 55th birthday, and teased fans with information about her new partner.

She wrote: “We had the BEST TIME EVER. Instagram won’t let me put in all the pics in one go. ( wisely, probably!) I am SO in love right now and cannot believe I only felt this level of intense love at 55. More info coming. Love you all for being so kind to me. I will never forget. I may sound cryptic but life has taught me ( at least on small measures) to be cautious. All will become clear. Love love love love you all.”

Alice did not share any pictures of her new love. Meanwhile, Alice and Ioan’s marriage was officially dissolved on July 3 after he filed for bifurcation and termination of marital status on May 18, to allow them to be declared legally divorced even as they continue settlement and custody negotiations in their split.

[From The Daily Mirror]

My guess is that Alice’s mystery suitor lives in the attic of her profoundly disordered mind. Then again, there’s a lid for every pot, and I’m sure there’s someone out there who wants to be with an abusive narcissist who terrorized her ex-husband for three years. Good luck to him. Incidentally, this is what it will take for Alice to stop focusing all of her rage on Ioan and Bianca: she needs someone else to focus on, she’ll need a new man. And again, good luck to that guy. But god, her poor daughters. Those poor children.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Instagram.

From Rosie: Last week, someone requested a recommendation for a face wash. I really like Neutrogena’s Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser. It’s affordable and my face feels soft and clean after I use it. Reviewers have had similarly great results using it. “My face was reacting in different ways to every different face wash I used. This works really well for my face. I haven’t reacted to it at all and my sensitive skin is happy with me!” “Smells fresh and clean. Does not dry out my skin like the glycerine bar soap I was using.” Here are some of the things that CB and I are looking at on Amazon this week.

An air fryer currently priced at 50% off

From Rosie: If anyone is looking for a new air fryer, the Ninja Mini Air Fryer is currently half-off on Amazon. The limited time deal has the 2-quarts version at only $40 right now. It has a 4.7 star rating, more than 17,000 reviews, and a B on Fakespot. People say getting an air fryer was a game changer for them. “I bought one of these with the idea of replacing a deep fryer, but found much greater value than I expected. [T]he quality of the cooking is very good, well beyond what I get with my existing toaster oven.” “I had waited to purchase an air fryer because I do not have room for another huge appliance. This air fryer fits perfectly on our counter top in a corner. The size is perfect!”

A comfortable racerback tank top for working out

From Rosie: I have this workout tank in several different colors. It’s loose and flowy, which is great for both air flow and personal comfort. This racerback tank comes in 16 different colors and right now, Amazon is offering a 10% off coupon. It has a 4.5 star rating and more than 15,000 reviews on ReviewMeta. People in reviews really like how well they wear in the heat. “I wear for morning walks in the Florida summer. Prefer loose tops that don’t cling in the heat and humidity. I really like how this tank top fits and looks.” “Good fit and very comfortable and sweat absorbing. They wash and wear very well.”

A dry body brush for exfoliating and improving circulation

From Rosie: A fitness instructor I like and respect posted about this brush on her Instagram page the other day. I had never heard of dry body brushing but I really want to try it now. This brush reportedly helps with exfoliating the skin, improving circulation, lymphatic draining, and diminishing the appearance of cellulite. It has a 4.4 star rating, more than 28,000 reviews, and a B on Fakespot. Reviewers say that they’ve had positive results from using it. “I bought this on a whim looking to start dry brushing. I like the additional divots as they help after a long workout to ease muscles.” “It’s very rough [at] first, the brush has to be broken in. I love this- I just ordered a 5 pack for the year. It has helped so much against in-growns.” “I was hesitant but I’m glad I purchased. I dry brush right before shower and I come out with the smoothest legs ever!”

A hardcover notebook for writing and journaling

From Rosie: A former coworker introduced me to bullet journals about six years ago, and I’ve been buying the Leuchtturm brand ones a few times a year ever since. There are 30 different color options and four styles: dotted, plain, ruled, or squared. They have a 4.7 star rating, more than 34,000 reviews, and a B on Fakespot. People love the colors and quality. “I have over a half dozen of these that I have bought over the years in various colors. Quality is always the same: excellent. I no longer bother to look for any other brand. I just buy a different color each time.” “[I]f you’re looking for a good quality notebook with thin paper… numbered, with an index and pocket, this could be the right journal for you. I like all the colors, especially the berry pink which is so, so pretty.”

A light foundation for natural, flawless coverage

From CB: I had a 25% off coupon at CVS and got a discount on this L’oreal True Match Nude serum with hyaluronic acid. It’s priced at $20.49 at my local CVS but is under $15 on Amazon, with some shades even cheaper. I love it and wonder why I didn’t buy it sooner. My skin looks gorgeous and when I add Elf Halo Glow on top it looks even better. This listing has 11,800 ratings and 4.4 stars on ReviewMeta. It comes in 14 shades and most reviewers like it as much as I do. “I love this foundation! I’ve gotten several people asking me what makeup I use since switching to it. It’s light, luminous, and decent coverage.” “I was looking for a make up for mature skin. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy this was to apply. It glides over your skin, adds just the right amount of moisture and it has light to medium buildable coverage.”

A rechargeable cordless LED touch lamp you can use indoors or out

From CB: This cordless rechargeable LED touch lamp can be used bedside or on the patio or camping. It’s under $29 with a coupon. It emits a bright, natural light and can change to six different colors. This listing has over 420 ratings, 4.6 stars an a B on Fakespot. People say the charge lasts a long time and that it’s bright and adds ambiance too. “I’m using this lamp on my boat, I needed something to hold a charge for a long time and this is perfect, all of the colours are amazing. I will be ordering another one.” “This is a fantastic lamp. I now own three of them and they are in constant use around the house. We also intend to take them camping with us as the charge lasts for a few hours. I have bought various versions of this type of lamp in the past (LED, rotating colours), but the Sympa product is by far the best I’ve found.”

A set of faux flowers in a matching vase to upgrade your decor

From CB: I bought these faux hydrangeas in blue last week and they look so pretty on my mantle! You do have to fluff them up but that’s typical of shipped artificial flowers. They come with a matching vase and in several other varieties including pink, white and blue roses. These have 4.3 stars, 1,900 ratings and a B on Fakespot. Most reviewers say they’re very pretty and a good deal for the under $30 price. “I honestly love everything about this faux flower set. The colors,the quality and style are amazing.” “ Decided to buy it and I’m SO glad I did. It’s beautiful and completes my coffee table perfectly.”

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There were so many people shocked by the Lizzo news this week. Three of Lizzo’s former dancers sued her in California for sexual harassment, hostile work environment and more. In the lawsuit, they detailed all of her ridiculous, abusive and toxic behavior during her tours and they also cited her dance coordinator as an aggressive proselytizer. In addition to the lawsuit, documentary filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison added her voice to the accusations against Lizzo. Allison came on tour with Lizzo in an attempt to make a documentary about her and the tour. Allison left after two weeks because of the extremely toxic and hostile work environment Lizzo created. Allison has made two posts about Lizzo, and she points out that after she let the documentary, Lizzo got a “cis white man” who didn’t show Lizzo as the “narcissistic bully” she apparently is.

Documentary filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allison, an Oscar nominee for her 2019 documentary short, A Love for Latasha, alleged on social media today that she was “treated with such disrespect” by Lizzo that it caused her to walk away from the project.

Allison claimed that she left the documentary project after two weeks of shadowing the singer because of “arrogant, self-centered, and unkind” behavior from Lizzo. Allison added she was “thrown into a sh*tty situation with little support.”

“I usually do not comment on anything pop culture related,” Allison wrote on Instagram and Twitter. “But, in 2019, I traveled a bit with Lizzo to be the director of her documentary. I walked away after about two weeks. I was treated with such disrespect by her. I witnessed how arrogant, unkind, and cruel she is. I was not protected and thrown into a sh*tty situation with little support. My spirit said to run as fast as you f*cking can, and I’m grateful I trusted my gut. I felt gaslit and deeply hurt, but I’ve healed.

“Reading these reports make me realize how dangerous of a situation it was. This kind of abuse of power happens far too often. Much love and support to the dancers.”

A documentary titled Love, Lizzo was released on HBO Max in November 2022. It was directed by Doug Pray, whose other projects include 2009 film Art & Copy and 2008 film Surfwise. Allison also said on social media that she has heard from others who went through similar experiences with Lizzo. She said the star “creates an extremely toxic and hostile working environment and undermines the work, labor, and authority of other black and brown womxn in the process. Notice how the film ended up being directed by a cis white man,” Allison wrote, before further calling Lizzo “a narcissistic bully and has built her brand off lies… I was excited to support and protect a Black woman through the documentary process, but quickly learned her image and ‘message’ was a curated facade.”

[From Deadline]

Sometimes, all it takes is one person stepping up or filing a lawsuit for the dam to break. I think that’s what happened here – so many people wanted to believe in Lizzo’s message, her aura of positivity, and when the reality of Lizzo’s actual personality chipped away at the fantasy, no one wanted to be the first one to break Lizzo’s facade/public persona. But yeah, Lizzo sounds like a monstrous boss and a terrible person.

Update: Lizzo has made a statement on her social media. This… does not seem like her lawyers really vetted it. It’s not just the dancers suing her either – Sophia Nahli Allison is calling her out, and apparently there are many more people with similar stories.

pic.twitter.com/5FHUy20BjM

— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo) August 3, 2023

Sharing this because validating other Black women’s experiences is deeply important to me. pic.twitter.com/gd2xEK6szq

— Sophia Nahli Allison (@SophiaNAllison) August 1, 2023

to be clear… pic.twitter.com/JU2ZuDoZ9b

— Sophia Nahli Allison (@SophiaNAllison) August 2, 2023

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

Following Ariana Grande’s appearance at the Wimbledon men’s final, she served up two full weeks of homewrecker drama. She announced her split from her first husband Dalton Gomez, then within days, Team Grande leaked the news of her relationship with Ethan Slater, her Wicked costar and a man with a wife and baby at home. Last week was a full-on briefing war between Ariana’s team and Ethan’s estranged wife Lilly Jay, who was seemingly calling up every outlet to get her side out there, and even going on the record with Page Six about how Ariana isn’t a “girl’s girl” and the real drama was between Ari and Dalton. While it was messy as hell, I didn’t blame Lilly for wanting her side out there, and she really did some damage to Ethan and Ariana. She refused to go away quietly or let Ariana’s team bulldoze her into submission.

Then, last Saturday, TMZ got the tip from Team Grande that Ariana is giving Ethan some space to figure out his divorce drama with Lilly. That came out around the same time that People Magazine reported that Ethan had returned home to New York and was “seen” FaceTimeing Ariana as he walked down the street. Many people are wondering if Ariana and Ethan are already over, especially since their affair blew up so spectacularly and Ari’s image really took a hit. There hasn’t been any briefing war this week – Ari has been silent since she flew back to LA, and I assume Ethan is still in New York. While we wait for Team Grande to leak the situation to TMZ or People (or both), enjoy this piece from Us Weekly:

Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are still an item — but don’t expect to see them hitting the red carpet together anytime soon.

“Ariana’s been told it’s too soon to go public with him and to take things slower,” an insider exclusively told Us Weekly of Grande, 30. “She’s very aware of how she’s perceived by her fans, and she’s trying to be mature. [But] if it were up to her, she’d be seen with him tomorrow.”

Grande and her husband, Dalton Gomez, split in January after nearly two years of marriage. Last month, a source told Us that Slater, 31, and wife Lilly Jay were already separated when he began dating Grande. While some sources insist that there was no overlap between the relationships, the first insider tells Us that Grande and Slater’s inner circles advised them to “be respectful” because there is a family involved. Slater and Jay, 31, welcomed a son in August 2022.

“Things are heating up behind the scenes,” the insider says. “Publicly, they’re backing off, but [in reality], they’re not.”

[From Us Weekly]

Do you think this is for real? Do you think Ariana is still interested, even though she blew up his life and got him to file for divorce from Lilly? Like, what looks worse? Ariana dumping Ethan right after he filed for divorce, or Ariana staying with Ethan for eight months and then dumping him when his divorce comes through?

Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Instagram.

People Magazine’s cover story this week is all about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and “what’s next” for them after they lost their Spotify contract, basically. Like, there’s enough evidence that the Sussexes have taken some professional hits this year, but I maintain that the biggest issue facing Harry and Meghan is not about their finances or fictitious marriage drama or anything like that, it’s a simple issue of the lack of a communications strategy. They’re really bungling their comms and they have been for years. Fix the comms and we won’t have to constantly hear the sole media narrative that the Sussexes are “struggling” or in need of a “comeback.” Anyway, beyond the conversation about their business, People Mag is also reporting on what their life is like in Montecito:

Family relationships: Although Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, is a frequent guest at the couple’s Montecito home, Harry’s family remains estranged. He is still not on speaking terms with his brother, Prince William, nor did he spend any meaningful time with the Prince of Wales or King Charles at their father’s coronation in May. Since telling Oprah Winfrey during their 2021 sit-down that she felt unwelcomed and unsupported by some members of the royal family, Meghan has taken a “much softer approach about Harry’s family,” a California source tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week’s cover story.

Meghan wants to move on from the Windsors: “The situation with his father and brother is still very difficult for him,” the source says. “Meghan is always supportive of it though. She used to be negative about it. It seems she has kind of moved on now.” Another insider adds, “They have moved continents. They have set up a new life with their kids.” The source says Meghan “just wants to focus on their kids and their life in Montecito.”

Child-rearing: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex “are very united when it comes to family values and how to raise their kids. They are both great parents,” the source adds. “Their kids are their world.” The couple’s “goal,” says a source, is for Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lili, 2, to “have a normal life as much as possible.” The children’s upbringing is “very play-based. They have several play areas, including a climbing gym on their property.”

School pickups: The source adds that Archie and Lili have playdates, they spend time with their parents at the beach and Archie attends school. And Meghan is just one of the moms at school pickup, a longtime Montecito resident says: “She talks to everyone; there is no pretense.”

The Sussexes mostly keep to themselves. “They’re not into a big scene. They prefer smaller group hangouts at home, karaoke, that sort of thing,” says a friend. “Harry’s a beer and steak-and-potatoes kind of dude. They’re playful and flirty when they’re hanging out.”

Harry is embracing his American life: A family insider tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week’s cover story that for Prince Harry, it’s a “very different” life, and one he “seems to be embracing.”

Harry is a regular at the beach with Pula. A resident tells PEOPLE that during a beach visit, “The cutest dog dropped his ball by me, and I looked up to ask the owner if I could throw it, and it was Prince Harry. He said, ‘Of course,’ and made small talk while I played and pet the dog. It was so cute.” The resident added that the Duke of Sussex “didn’t wear a hat; I could see his red hair.”

[From People Magazine]

There’s also a quote from a Montecito person about how the community feels very protective of them but some people complain about the paparazzi. The vibe is absolutely that Harry and Meghan mostly keep to themselves around town, that they’re private and low-key. I find these quotes curious though: “Meghan is always supportive of it though. She used to be negative about it. It seems she has kind of moved on now”… Meghan “just wants to focus on their kids and their life in Montecito.” I do believe that Meghan is the one who is more like “let’s look ahead, let’s move on from all of the Salt Island drama,” which also explains their utter non-engagement when it comes to the hate machine churning away for years. I’ve always thought that Meghan was more well-suited for royal life than anyone gave her credit for – much like the Windsors, Meghan is an ostrich syndrome champion. Ignoring the negativity doesn’t make it go away.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Photos courtesy of Getty, Backgrid.

While I’ve grown to love President Biden, there is part of me which still yearns for a third term for Barack Obama. It felt like Obama was really getting the hang of it in his final White House years. Of course, for all of the complaining about Beltway Biden’s fifty years in public office, Biden has turned out to be one of the most shrewdest operators to ever hold the office of the presidency. What I love is that the two men still get along really well, and there’s just so much genuine affection between the current and former presidents. So much so that Obama is a regular in the Biden White House, and he often has a monthly visit to talk to President Biden and his staff. In late June, Obama was in the White House for his monthly meeting when he apparently had some straight talk for the current president:

Former president Barack Obama, at a private lunch with President Biden earlier this summer, voiced concern about Donald Trump’s political strengths — including an intensely loyal following, a Trump-friendly conservative media ecosystem and a polarized country — underlining his worry that Trump could be a more formidable candidate than many Democrats realize.

At the lunch, held in late June at the White House residence, Obama promised to do all he could to help the president get reelected, according to two people familiar with the meeting, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversation.

That commitment was a welcome gesture for the White House at a time when Biden is eager to lock down promises of help from top Democrats, among whom Obama is easily the biggest star, for what is likely to be a hard-fought reelection race. The contents of the private conversation have not been previously reported.

Obama was visiting the White House for what Biden aides described as a regular catch-up between the two men who served in the White House together for eight years. During their lunch, Obama made it clear his concerns were not about Biden’s political abilities, but rather a recognition of Trump’s iron grip on the Republican Party, according to the people.

The White House said there was no specific agenda for the June 27 meeting, and people briefed on the conversation said the two presidents discussed a range of political, policy and personal matters, including updates about their families. Obama, who remains highly popular among Democrats, is his party’s most sought-after surrogate, although his exact role in the 2024 cycle has not yet been determined. Obama aides say the former president is likely to reprise his playbook from recent elections.

[From WaPo]

There are two big “what ifs” which haunt me from the 2016 election – what if Biden had been the Democratic candidate and what if Obama had been the candidate, as opposed to Hillary Clinton. I love Hillary, I voted for Hillary, I think Hillary would have been a great president. But I do think Biden or Obama would have had different results against Trump in that election. It’s one of the great unknowns, except we did get to find out what would happen when Biden ran against Trump: Democrats reclaiming the Rust Belt, Democrats winning Georgia and Democrats performing really well in the Southwest. Anyway, we’re fifteen f–king months away from the next presidential election – I appreciate that Obama is concerned and I appreciate the fact that he’s already making plans to barnstorm around the country for Biden. I think Obama is like most Democrats: still traumatized by what happened in 2016 and hellbent on making sure it never happens again.

For no reason at all, here’s the video of Obama surprising Biden with the Medal of Freedom in January 2017.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.

I was today years old when I learned that Canadian prime ministers don’t have term limits. Basically, Justin Trudeau will be prime minister until he loses an election or his party throws him out. I have no idea about Canadian politics (sorry, Canadians), so I have no idea if this news will truly affect Prime Minister Trudeau’s popularity, his government or his image. The news? Justin Trudeau has separated from his wife of eighteen years, Sophie Gregoire. They have three minor children together: Xavier, 15, Hadrien, 9, and 14-year-old Ella-Grace. Single and ready to mingle Justin Trudeau, anyone?

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife of 18 years, Sophie Grégoire, are separating. Trudeau, 52, shared the news on Wednesday in a post published in both English and French on Instagram, writing: “Hi everyone, Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversation, we have made the decision to separate.”

Trudeau continued: “As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and will continue to build. For the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our and their privacy. Thank you.”

The Canadian Prime Minister’s office confirmed the news to PEOPLE, saying in a statement that the couple have “signed a legal separation agreement.”

“They have worked to ensure that all legal and ethical steps with regards to their decision to separate have been taken, and will continue to do so moving forward,” the statement said.

The statement continued: “They remain a close family and Sophie and the Prime Minister are focused on raising their kids in a safe, loving and collaborative environment. Both parents will be a constant presence in their children’s lives and Canadians can expect to often see the family together.”

Trudeau’s office added that the family “will be together on vacation, beginning next week.”

Trudeau has been in office since 2015.

[From People]

If you’re going to do all of the child-rearing together and vacation together, why even separate? I mean… I get it though. I suspect that there is a reason why they can’t just live separate lives and stay together technically. I suspect that we’ll find out “the reason” at some point. But yeah, even if there’s not some big reason, like an affair, I get why Sophie was probably done with all of it. Her husband has been prime minister for eight years, the kids have been in the spotlight all that time and she’s probably very tired of all of it. Who shoots their shot first, Ivanka or Melania?

PS… Justin and Sophie were just together at King Charles’s coronation. I really disliked her dress.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.