Politics

Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty Images/Everett CollectionTaylor Swift has a new album, One Direction fever is back, and, in the most 2010s twist of all, we’re all arguing over who is the better boyfriend between two fictional guys. Team Edward or Team Jacob? Team Gale or Team Peeta? Now, in light of Challengers premiering in theaters, the debate tearing apart the internet is: Team Art or Team Patrick?Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor) are two racket-wielding love interests to tennis superstar Tashi (Zendaya) in Luca Guadagnino’s hot new movie. In the film, Tashi bounces between the two studs—not all that dissimilar to a fuzzy green ball—over the course of their young careers. What the internet can’t seem to agree on is who, at the end, Tashi should spend the rest of her life with.(Warning: Slight spoilers for Challengers to follow.)Read more at The Daily Beast.

Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty/Lucasfilm/DisneyOn April 17, 1973, George Lucas began writing the story treatment for a project known as “The Star Wars,” a passion project of science-fiction and fantasy, with a nuanced critique of American imperialism. That treatment morphed into what we now know as Star Wars, a cultural phenomenon the likes of which we’d never seen, and one that endures until this day. (And it happens that today is Star Wars Day. May the Fourth be with you.)The Star Wars franchise has a rich history, from the original trilogy and the Star Wars Expanded Universe to the Prequel Trilogy, and later, the new canon established after the Disney acquisition of Lucasfilm. One constant throughout is a fanbase that is devoted (sometimes too much) to the galaxy far, far away and the stories that occupy it. Whatever era of Star Wars is your favorite, there are bound to be countless moments for you that spring to mind that you cherish, that define your love for the saga.Whether it’s a lightsaber duel that pulled you into the universe, the love story between a princess and a scoundrel, or something as simple as the beeps and boops of a little blue droid, Star Wars has something for everyone. Crafting a list of the 101 Greatest Moments across the entire saga is no easy feat, simply because everyone has different ideas and different tastes about what makes Star Wars, well… Star Wars.Read more at The Daily Beast.

Courtesy of Taralê WulffI was in my apartment last Thursday morning when I received a text message. “Thinking of you today. Sending love. Let me know if you need to talk.”I thought, “What a sweet message to receive first thing in the morning. I have the best friends.”He replied, “I’m seeing the headlines and immediately thought of you.”Read more at The Daily Beast.

Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty Images/Everett CollectionAn off-hand remark—or a terribly misconstrued one—by a federal prosecutor at a private meeting with a defense attorney in Donald Trump’s classified documents case may add yet another delay to the former president’s already severely delayed trial.U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon has already earned a reputation for making bizarre rulings that favor the man who appointed her to the bench, pushing back a trial that could have started long ago.Now comes another potential opportunity for Cannon to side against Department of Justice Special Counsel Jack Smith—this time over a wild story about possible prosecutorial misconduct by a key member of his team.Read more at The Daily Beast.

Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / GettyMaya Hawke might play the famous novelist and essayist Flannery O’Connor in her new movie, Wildcat, but during the film’s press tour, she’s also taken on another, even rarer role: the chill nepo baby.It’s a known fact that 90 percent of famous Hollywood progeny break out into hives, literally or figuratively, when asked about how their parents’ status helped their career. Many of them—like Lily-Rose Depp and O’Shea Jackson Jr.—sputter out some nonsense about how all their famous DNA did was get their foot in the door (which, yes, is the entire idea of nepotism). More intense nepo babies, like Ben Platt, might get yanked out of an interview by their team just a couple questions after you ask them about the dreaded discourse. Why so shy?Compare that to Maya Hawke, who has spent years gracefully fielding these questions. In fairness, when you’re starring in a film your father happened to direct, you kind of have to. Still, both Maya and Ethan Hawke have been pretty open about Hollywood’s devotion to creating famous bloodlines.Read more at The Daily Beast.

Reuters Former White House aide Hope Hicks ended up in an unenviable position on Friday: testifying against her ex-boss in the hush-money trial of Donald Trump.Here’s how the former teen model turned MAGA maven wound up as a star witness in the historic case, year by year:2014Read more at The Daily Beast.