Questions about the ethical nature of a Supreme Court Justice taking part in what could be seen as a partisan event, as the court is expected to deliberate a related case in the near future, as was pointed out during an interview on Fox News.
After appearing in a Broadway spinoff of "Romeo and Juliet," critics question Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's impartiality in a landmark case regarding minors' transgender surgical procedures.
Justice served. pic.twitter.com/DeeYRvxQum
— & Juliet Broadway (@AndJulietBway) December 16, 2024
"I think it's a huge mistake for federal judges, especially Supreme Court justices, to engage in activities that clearly put the stamp of approval on an ideological position regarding issues that could come before the court, which is practically the definition of a threat to their impartiality, the appearance of impropriety," Heritage Foundation senior legal counsel Thomas Jipping told Fox News Digital in an interview.
"The expert went on to lay out why this was outside of the rhelm of the approrpiate "It's unusual for judges to do this sort of thing under any circumstances. But I suppose if this was ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ if this was some recognized, established classic or something, it might be different.
"But this is obviously an advocacy production, so for a Supreme Court justice to participate in advocacy on an issue that is currently in the courts, and at least broadly speaking, before her, I think it's a huge mistake," he said.
The musical, which is called "& Juliet," includes strong LGBTQ+ themes as well as characters who do not hold a binary gender. In the same place where Shakespeare's original finishes, the musical begins.
It is said on the website of the company that "& Juliet" is a "hilarious new musical" that "flips the script on the greatest love story ever told."
Instead of taking her own life out of love, Juliet decides to make her own path, which is a shown as a risky move because it challenges the conventional gender roles.
In the musical, the character May, who is Juliet's best friend, is a character whose LGBTQ relationship is heavily portrayed and explored throughout the whole production.
Jackson became the first Supreme Court justice to play on Broadway when he joined the Broadway company for a one-time performance at New York's Stephen Sondheim Theatre on Saturday night.
Other Broadway artists, including TikTok sensation Charli D'Amelio, were also a part of the Broadway cast.
David West Read, who is best known for his work as a writer and producer on the television show "Schitt's Creek," is the author of the song "& Juliet."
While Justice Amy Coney Barrett has attracted attention for her ties to religious groups and their potential influence on cases involving LGBTQ+ issues, Justice Samuel Alito has come under fire for failing to disclose luxury trips funded by wealthy donors with business before the court.
There has been intense scrutiny directed toward Justice Clarence Thomas because of his wife's political activism. Additionally, Justice Brett Kavanaugh has encountered criticism regarding his confirmation process and prior financial disclosures.
"For two, three years now, liberals have been complaining about actions by Supreme Court justices that they say undermine the public's confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary," Jipping said. "Liberals in Congress want an enforceable code of conduct. I wonder what they say about this."
"Participating in an advocacy, in an exercise of advocacy, for a position on issues that come before the Supreme Court is an egregious violation of that principle in the code of conduct regarding impartiality. I don't think there's any question about that," he said.
On Monday, TikTok submitted a request to the Supreme Court, requesting that it intervene on an urgent basis in order to block the federal statute that would prohibit the popular platform from operating in the United States unless its parent company, which is based in China, agreed to sell it.
Attorneys for the corporation and ByteDance, which is based in China, begged the justices to intervene before the deadline of January 19th, which was set by the law, as NBC News reported.
TikTok has more than 170 million users and content creators in the United States, and many of them have signed a similar petition. These individuals rely on the network for their revenue.
“A modest delay in enforcing the Act will create breathing room for this Court to conduct an orderly review and the new Administration to evaluate this matter — before this vital channel for Americans to communicate with their fellow citizens and the world is closed,” lawyers for the companies told the Supreme Court.
Even though he campaigned on a promise to "save TikTok," then-President-elect Donald Trump said his administration would review the matter. Trump also previously supported a ban.
“As you know, I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok,” Trump said during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. His campaign saw the platform as a way to reach younger, less politically engaged voters.
According to two individuals who were not authorized to speak publicly about the president-elect's plans Trump was meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at Mar-a-Lago on Monday.
According to the companies, a suspension that lasts for only one month would result in TikTok losing approximately one-third of its daily users in the United States and substantial advertising revenue.
The case has the potential to pique the court's interest due to its unique nature, which juxtaposes the government's stated objectives of safeguarding national security with the right to free speech. Additionally, it raises novel concerns regarding social media platforms.
The initial recipient of the request is Chief Justice John Roberts, who is responsible for emergency appeals from courts in the nation's capital. It is almost certain that he will solicit input from all nine justices.
A procedural ruling that permitted the case to proceed to the Supreme Court was issued on Friday by a panel of federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, who denied an emergency petition to block the law.
The same panel had previously unanimously sustained the law in response to a First Amendment challenge that alleged it violated free speech rights.
App stores that provide TikTok and internet hosting services that facilitate it would be subject to potential penalties if the law were to take effect on January 19th without a court-ordered freeze.
The Justice Department would be responsible for enforcing the law by conducting investigations into potential violations and pursuing sanctions.
However, attorneys for ByteDance and TikTok have contended that the Justice Department under Trump may suspend enforcement or otherwise attempt to alleviate the most grievous repercussions of the law. Trump takes office a day after the law goes into effect.
One possible solution would allow the justices may conduct a more thorough examination of the First Amendment and other matters, which would be the Supreme Court moving to create a provisionally suspension the law. Additionally, they could expedite the scheduling of arguments and endeavor to reach a decision by January 19.
The Daily Mail pointed out that soon-to-be First Lady Melania Trump changed up part of her distinctive style for a recent formal dinner in which she and President-Elect Donald Trump hosted Akie Abe, the widow of the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on Sunday.
Trump was known for always having a white-on-white French manicure, but at this dinner, she sported long, talon-like nails that come to a point.
The nails were painted a metallic white.
Maybe they were meant to signify a new Melania Trump. No more Mrs. Nice Girl if the media attacks her.
French manicures became popular in the 1970s for their simplicity and classic elegance, which befit Trump during her first stint as First Lady between 2016 and 2020.
Trump was always understated in her appearance as she supported her husband on the campaign trail and as president.
Her new style still looks polished and elegant, but may have been updated for the 2020s by her stylist.
Speaking of stylists, Trump was also apparently spotted wearing hair extensions to fill out her look.
'You can spot the telltale signs where the natural hair meets the extension pieces, particularly visible in the mid-sections,' hairstylist Julia North said.
At 54, Trump may be experiencing thinning hair that she is augmenting with extensions. She may also just have wanted to change her hairstyle faster than she could grow it.
"It was a privilege to host Mrs. Akie Abe at Mar-a-Lago once again," Melania said about the dinner.
"We fondly remembered her late husband, former Prime Minister Abe, and honored his remarkable legacy," she added.
The Trumps are getting ready to transition into another four years at the White House, and the dinner may have been seen as an attempt at diplomacy in that vein.
While the First Lady's fingernails or hairstyle may not be the most important aspect of the dinner, she has obviously put time and effort into looking good as well as bieng a kind and gracious person.
Trump campaign adviser Alex Bruesewitz ignited panic after suddenly fainting and collapsing over his lectern during an address to the New York Young Republican Club on Saturday.
Bruesewitz was introducing White House senior aide Dan Scavino during the address when he suddenly collapsed.
Attendees at the event reported that Bruesewitz began slurring his words before he collapsed in front of the crowd of hundreds at the Manhattan event.
Many attendees sprang into action immediately to aid Bruesewitz as he had fallen hard and taken the lectern with him.
The situation was terrifying for onlookers but thankfully Raheem Kassam, a former aide of British conservative politician Nigel Farage, quickly came out and told the audience that Bruesewitz had recovered and was ok backstage.
Kassam told the crowd, "I talked to our friend Alex Bruesewitz and you know what he said to me? He goes, ‘Did I at least look cool?’ I said, ‘Alex, you used gravity like I’ve seen nobody use gravity before in their lives.' But he’s recuperating back there, so give him a big cheer so he’ll hear you."
President-elect Donald Trump also issued a statement saying, “I know that Alex is going to be fine because he’s a tough son of a gun. There’s no doubt about that. So I want to say hello to Alex, because he’s a very special guy.”
Bruesewitz is the CEO of X Strategies LLC which is an organization dedicated to helping elect America First candidates and played a big role in Trump's triumph in the 2024 presidential election.
A statement from X Strategies LLC's page reads, "Bruesewitz has been the driving force behind the efforts to defeat Republicans who fight against Trump and the MAGA movement and works to replace them with Republicans who fight for values we hold dear."
Combatting establishment Republicans was a key aspect of Trump's return to power as establishment Republicans, or RINOs, have been a thorn in Trump's side for years.
Thanks to figures like Bruesewitz, many America First Republicans toppled their establishment opponents and ensured that Trump will have less opposition from the GOP as he takes on Democrats over the next four years.
Bruesewitz was just one of many different important Trump campaign figures who appeared at the event which included former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, and senior Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski.
Bruesewitz and the others will have their hands full especially as Trump's key nominees go before a GOP-majority Senate.
There have already been rumblings of centrist Republicans not supporting key Trump nominees and that is where Bruesewitz and others come in.
Bruesewitz and others will have the monumental task of getting often heavily entrenched Senators removed via primary in upcoming elections should they dare stand in the way of Trump's agenda.
The split between Donald Trump Jr. and his fiancee, former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle, has attracted attention from the public and now it appears that Kai Trump, Trump Jr.'s eldest daughter, has chosen sides.
Trump Jr. and Guilfoyle appeared to have split prior to the election but it appears the two kept things quiet so as to not create a distraction for the Trump campaign.
While there isn't a solid confirmation of what caused the split, it appears that Guilfoyle didn't properly fit in with the notoriously close Trump family.
Rumors and leaks have come out pointing to Guilfoyle not meshing with the family, but these need to be taken with a grain of salt.
The professional relationship between Guilfoyle and the Trump family is intact as President-elect Donald Trump tapped her to be the U.S. Ambassador to Greece.
17-year-old Kai Trump's Instagram follows seem to indicate who she is siding with in this family drama. Kai is not following Guilfoyle but instead is following Bettina Anderson, the model that her dad appears to be dating following his split with Guilfoyle.
Kai Trump's other social media posts, notably pictures of the family, omitted Guilfoyle further suggesting that she is completely out of the picture.
However, it wasn't just Kai Trump who was done with Guilfoyle as sources close to the family suggested that Donald Trump Jr. ended his relationship with Guilfoyle because she didn't meet the standards of the family patriarch, Donald Trump.
One source told People that "Don Jr. has always wanted to look good in his father’s eyes," and that means his partner needs to boost him in his father's eyes, something Guilfoyle apparently failed to do.
That same source added that “Kim is not a nice person and always wants the limelight," which is a mindset that is asking for trouble when trying to fit in at Mar-a-Lago.
Nonetheless, it appears that despite her desire for power and the limelight, Guilfoyle hasn't burned her bridges with the Trump family and has been rewarded for her loyalty over the past years.
Guilfoyle has been an important figure in the Trump political machine for years and instead of completely throwing her out, she is being rewarded with an ambassadorship, pending Senate approval which isn't expected to be an issue with the GOP holding a majority.
Donald Trump Jr. issued a statement on Guilfoyle's nomination saying, "I am so proud of Kimberly. She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First."
Going forward, all eyes will be on Bettina Anderson as she and Trump Jr. appear to be launching a serious relationship that will hopefully work out with the rest of the family.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suffered an injury and has been admitted to a military hospital in Luxembourg to undergo emergency surgery.
Pelosi was traveling to Luxembourg to attend ceremonies remembering the Battle of the Bulge and was reportedly taking photos with other officials and lawmakers when she tripped and fell.
Pelosi was rushed to the hospital after falling down marble stairs and reportedly underwent hip replacement surgery at a U.S. military hospital in Germany.
Ian Krager, Pelosi's spokesman, issued a statement saying that the 84-year-old “is well on the mend,” despite the severity of her injury.
Pelosi was in Luxembourg with a bipartisan congressional delegation to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.
Pelosi's advanced age has become more apparent in recent months and this latest incident has put a spotlight on the need for Pelosi and other elderly Congressional members to retire.
An earlier statement prior to Pelosi's surgery from Krager read, "While traveling with a bipartisan Congressional delegation in Luxembourg to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi sustained an injury during an official engagement and was admitted to the hospital for evaluation."
Krager's statement ended, "Speaker Emerita Pelosi conveys her thanks and praise to our veterans and gratitude to people of Luxembourg and Bastogne for their service in World War II and their role in bringing peace to Europe."
What is worth noting is that Krager's statement was very conservative with any details and it is clear that Pelosi's camp wanted news of her undergoing surgery to be hidden as long as possible.
Pelosi is engaged in a serious power struggle in the Democrat Party and this incident could be a major blow to her plans of wielding power in the Democrat Party.
Pelosi was elected to yet another term in Congress in November and shows no sign of relinquishing her influence and hold on the Democrat Party.
While Pelosi may not be the Speaker of the House anymore, she is still holding onto power and is currently engaged in a power struggle with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) who is seeking to be the next Democrat leader on the House Oversight Committee.
Pelosi is actively pushing fellow Democrats to back Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA) over AOC in what is the latest front of the cold war between establishment Democrats and younger more radical Democrats.
Pelosi's fall and subsequent surgery has once again made it clear that Pelosi is old and really should have retired years ago and this will only spur young Democrats as they work to take power in the Democrat Party that has been dominated by the same few figures for decades.
While appealing to the Supreme Court, TikTok is attempting to have a bill that would prohibit the app delayed. On Wednesday, the DOJ requested a federal appeals court to deny this move.
Last Thursday, the rule was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. This means that TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, must divest from the app or face a ban on January 19, as Fox Business reported.
The Department of Justice contended that TikTok had failed to provide a compelling reason to prevent the statute from being implemented as intended by Congress and had instead simply restated arguments that had previously been rejected by the appeals court, and is in defiance of what the former, and soon to be again, president has said he'll support.
Furthermore, it highlighted that the parties had reached a mutually agreeable timeline, which would provide TikTok the opportunity to submit a comparable petition to the Supreme Court.
“Petitioners are entitled to ask the Supreme Court to enjoin the law’s application pending that Court’s review, and they expressly reserved their right to do so and set a schedule that would allow time for it,” the government wrote.
“They are not entitled, however, to an injunction against an Act of Congress when the only court to consider their constitutional challenge has rejected it,” it continued.
“The Supreme Court can decide for itself whether the statute must be enjoined.”
Last Friday, a three-judge panel from the D.C. Circuit found in favor of the government and against TikTok, asserting that the law does not infringe upon the First Amendment.
On Monday, TikTok requested a stay of execution of the statute until its appeal is heard by the Supreme Court. The company claims that the app's 170 million American users will be impacted by the shutdown of the platform on the "eve of a presidential inauguration."
“Before that happens, the Supreme Court should have an opportunity, as the only court with appellate jurisdiction over this action, to decide whether to review this exceptionally important case,” TikTok wrote.
Earlier this year, the divest-or-ban bill swiftly made its way through Congress, passing with huge bipartisan majorities in both houses. President Biden signed it into law in April.
What President-elect Trump does with his new authority next month is, however, anyone's guess. Trump campaigned against the bill, saying it would be good for Facebook and other big platforms, and he promised to "save TikTok."
However, during a weekend interview, the president-elect seemed hesitant to commit to any measures to secure the app.
“I’m going to try and make it so that other companies don’t become an even bigger monopoly,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
According to sources who were present at the internal town hall on Wednesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray announced his resignation to employees.
He stated that he will be resigning at the conclusion of the current Biden administration, as Fox News reported.
"After weeks of careful thought, I've decided the right thing for the Bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current administration in January and then step down.
"My goal is to keep the focus on our mission -- the indispensable work you're doing on behalf of the American people every day. In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the Bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work," he said in his remarks.
Kash Patel has been selected by President-elect Donald Trump to succeed Wray at the FBI, subject to Senate confirmation.
Trump issued a statement shortly thereafter, in which he denounced Wray and lauded Patel, who was on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to bolster the support of Republican senators.
"The resignation of Christopher Wray is a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice," Trump wrote on his social media platform.
"I just don't know what happened to him. We will now restore the Rule of Law for all Americans."
The departing head of one of the nation's premier law enforcement agencies went on to talk about his personal feelings on the bureau: "It should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway -- this is not easy for me. I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people -- but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what's right for the FBI," he said.
"When you look at where the threats are headed, it's clear that the importance of our work -- keeping Americans safe and upholding the Constitution -- will not change. And what absolutely cannot, must not change is our commitment to doing the right thing, the right way, every time. Our adherence to our core values, our dedication to independence and objectivity, and our defense of the rule of law -- those fundamental aspects of who we are must never change," he said.
Wray also spoke about what he believes is the importance and the power behind the FBI: "That's the real strength of the FBI -- the importance of our mission, the quality of our people, and their dedication to service over self.
"It's an unshakeable foundation that's stood the test of time, and cannot be easily moved. And it -- you, the men and women of the FBI -- are why the bureau will endure and remain successful long into the future," Wray continued.
Trump attacked the probes that special counsel Jack Smith had launched against him on behalf of the Justice Department.
"Under the leadership of Christopher Wray, the FBI illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and has done everything else to interfere with the success and future of America," Trump wrote.
"They have used their vast powers to threaten and destroy many innocent Americans, some of which will never be able to recover from what has been done to them."
Some questions have been answered in a recent retelling of the illness that very nearly took one of an award winning actor.
Oscar winner Jamie Foxx has spoken up about his health crisis from last year, detailing his experience with a brain bleed and subsequent stroke, as PEOPLE reported.
"Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was," a Netflix program that debuted on Tuesday, chronicled the Hollywood star's health battles during the past year.
“It is a mystery,” Foxx said explaining his health issues. “We still don’t know exactly what happened to me.”
“April 11, I was having a bad headache and I asked my boy for an aspirin. And I realized quickly that when you’re in a medical emergency, your boys don’t know what the f**k to do,” he said.
“Before I could get the aspirin I went out,” he said. “I don’t remember 20 days," offering context about the events before and after his almost three weeks of unconscious recovery.
He thanked his sister, “4 foot 11 of nothing but pure love,” for driving him around Atlanta to find a hospital.
They arrived at Piedmont Hospital, where Foxx was informed by a doctor that he was suffering from a brain bleed that had caused a stroke. The actor added that he would not survive without surgery.
Doctors told Foxx he might have a full recovery after the operation, "but it's going to be the worst year of his life," as Foxx said.
Foxx's family chose to keep him out of the spotlight due to his severe vertigo and his daughter's fears that he may become an online meme if people witnessed his condition, he explained.
The actor recalled telling his pal, "Jamie Foxx don't get strokes," in response to his disbelief upon learning he had suffered a stroke on May 4, which left him unable to walk and confined to a wheelchair.
He claims that he was advised to stop acting "arrogant" if he wished to achieve a complete recovery after being sent to Chicago for rehabilitation.
The event took place while filming a Netflix project in Atlanta in April 2023, and the actor's health problems spiraled, tho it was not reported at the time.
His daughter Corinne Foxx posted on social media about her father's "medical complication" while he was in the hospital, but other family members and friends mostly kept quiet about the actor's health, respecting his desire for privacy.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been banned from leaving the country after he was charged with treason for declaring martial law last week.
Yoon made the bizarre decision to declare martial law on Tuesday night, saying that he was doing it to combat “unscrupulous pro-Pyongyang anti-state forces.”
He also blamed the majority leftist-led National Assembly for making it impossible for him to govern by blocking his policy objectives, saying that they were aiding “North Korean communist forces.”
National Assembly members had to climb over gates and walls as well as fight through armed soldiers to get to their chamber to vote against the martial law, which the constitution of South Korea allows them to do.
It seems like some soldiers did not try as hard as they could to prevent the lawmakers from convening, which may be due to the irregularity of the situation.
The assembly voted unanimously against martial law and opened a treason investigation against Yoon. They tried to impeach him but were blocked by factions in the People's Power Party (PPP), to which Yoon belongs.
The travel ban was imposed on Yoon because he was considered a flight risk. The assembly is also considering banning the first lady, Kim Keon-hee, from leaving the country as well.
Some other members of his administration are also banned from traveling due to their involvement in the decision to declare martial law.
The ban could prevent Yoon from engaging in diplomacy, as presidents often need to do.
Yoon is technically still in charge of the military, but the legislature has vowed to ignore any subsequent declarations of martial law from Yoon.
Yoon promised that “there will never be a second martial law” and said that the PPP will decide his fate as president.
“This declaration of martial law was born out of desperation as the president, the ultimate head of state. But it has caused anxiety and discomfort to the people in the process,” Yoon said. “I am deeply sorry for this, and I sincerely apologize to the people who must have been greatly surprised.”
Leftist groups have been calling for Yoon's resignation during daily protests, but there have been conservative rallies in his support.
It's good to see democracy working and squelching this kind of power grab.