Steve Pond's Blog, page 12
September 21, 2025
Where to Watch ‘A Grammy Salute to Earth, Wind & Fire’ Live: Is It Streaming?
There’s really only one proper way to celebrate September 21, and this year, CBS and the Recording Academy are making it happen. Fans will be able to mark the occasion with a special dedicated to the music of Earth, Wind & Fire.
This Sunday, “A Grammy Salute to Earth, Wind & Fire: The 21st Night of September” will bring together not only the band themselves, but other performers to celebrate some of their greatest hits of all time. The special marks one of two set for this year, with the second honoring Cyndi Lauper in October.
Here are all the details you need.
When is the special?Fittingly, the “Grammy Salute to Earth, Wind & Fire” will be available for fans to watch on Sunday, September 21. You get it, right? It’ll run from 8-10 p.m., ET/PT.
Is it streaming?It is! But you can also watch it on broadcast television. “A Grammy Salute to Earth, Wind & Fire” will on the CBS Television Network and also stream on Paramount+.
Who’s performing?Obviously, Earth, Wind & Fire themselves will be performing, hitting the Hollywood Bowl stage alongside the LA Philharmonic. Stevie Wonder, the Jonas Brothers, Jon Batiste and Janelle Monáe are all expected to appear as well.
Watch the trailerThe post Where to Watch ‘A Grammy Salute to Earth, Wind & Fire’ Live: Is It Streaming? appeared first on TheWrap.
Tom Holland Suffers Concussion on ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Set
Tom Holland has suffered a concussion on the set of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” leading Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios to call for a pause on production.
An individual with knowledge of the accident said the lead star’s concussion was mild and that filming is being paused for at least the next few days. Sony and Marvel are set to meet on Monday to discuss their next course of action.
While details of how Holland was injured were not available, sources say that no one else was injured on set. Production on the film began in Scotland in August.
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” will be the fourth “Spider-Man” film starring Holland as Peter Parker and his first appearance in the role since “Spider-Man: No Way Home” in 2021. Fueled by the movie’s crossover with past Spider-Men Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as well as past actors like Alfred Molina and Willem Dafoe, “No Way Home” became one of the highest grossing films in movie history with $1.9 billion worldwide.
Holland’s longtime co-stars Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are also set to return in the film, alongside Marvel stalwart Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner and Jon Bernthal as The Punisher. The film hits theaters July 31.
The post Tom Holland Suffers Concussion on ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Set appeared first on TheWrap.
James Van Der Beek Dips Out of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Reunion With Stomach Virus: ‘Gutted … But I DO Have an Understudy’
James Van Der Beek will not take part in the “Dawson’s Creek” reunion set for Monday due to a stomach virus, but he’s pretty happy about who’ll be playing Dawson Leery in his place.
Van Der Beek posted the news Sunday night on Instagram.
“This is the evening I’d been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together, way back in January,” he captioned the post. “So you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment. Despite every effort … I won’t get to be there.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames)
There was to be a silver lining, however:
“But I DO have an understudy,” Van Der Beek added. “A ridiculously overqualified replacement who would have been #1 on my wishlist (had I ever dreamed he’d be available). Someone my kids would definitely consider an upgrade over me … Plus, he already knows how to get to the theater. So that’s convenient. The role of ‘Dawson,’ usually played by James Van Der Beek …Will be played by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Can’t believe I just got to type that.”
“Dawson’s Creek” aired from 1998, to 2003 on The WB, a relatively new broadcast network at the time. The show — along with others like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Felicity,” helped build its teen-drama brand.
Van Der Beek revealed in late 2024 that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer the previous year. The 48-year-old said he initially ignored symptoms before a colonoscopy confirmed the disease in August 2023, though he has no family history of the cancer.
Van Der Beek has described his treatment and recovery as a “full-time job,” incorporating both medical care and lifestyle changes, but has not publicly disclosed the specifics of his or prognosis.
The reunion event at the Richard Rodgers Theater on Broadway – which first hosted “Hamilton” – doubles as a charity event to support F Cancer, as well as Van Der Beek’s treatment. The “Class Reunion” will be a live reading of the “Dawson’s Creek” pilot directed by Jason Moore, who helmed three episodes of the show in the early Aughts.
The post James Van Der Beek Dips Out of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ Reunion With Stomach Virus: ‘Gutted … But I DO Have an Understudy’ appeared first on TheWrap.
Erika Kirk Says She Forgives Tyler Robinson, Husband’s Alleged Killer: ‘What Charlie Would Do’ | Video
Erika Kirk’s emotional speech at Sunday’s memorial service for her husband Charlie Kirk included a poignant and unexpected moment when she told a packed State Farm Arena that she forgives Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of shooting and killing the conservative activist on September 10.
“That young man, that young man,” Erika said through tears. “On the cross, our savior said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'”
“That man, that young man,” she said again. “I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do.”
“The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us,” Erika said.
Trump, who took a markedly different approach to his own speech, told the crowd Charlie was “violently killed” and that he “was assassinated because he lived bravely, he lived boldly and he argued brilliantly.”
He also insisted one of Charlie’s final requests was that he “save Chicago” and announced his administration has “found the answer to autism,” with a press conference scheduled for this week.
Trump did not share Erika Kirk’s message of forgiveness or “love for our enemies,” however.
“That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent. And I don’t want the best for them,” Trump commented toward the end of his speech. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry Erika.”
The president did seem to have some grace for one of his “opponents,” however – the memorial service served as a reunion of sorts for Trump and Elon Musk, who were photographed shaking hands ahead of the president’s speech.
Erika Kirk joined Trump onstage at the end of his speech and the pair embraced before leaving the stage together.
The post Erika Kirk Says She Forgives Tyler Robinson, Husband’s Alleged Killer: ‘What Charlie Would Do’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Simon Wiesenthal Center Decries Recognition of Palestinian State by the UK, Canada and Others: ‘Rewarding the Terrorists’
The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading international Jewish human rights organization, on Sunday denounced the recognition of Palestinian statehood by the U.K., Canada, Australia, Portugal and France, calling it an act of appeasement that “normalizes terror and makes democracies everywhere more vulnerable.”
Those nations jointly announced that they had made the official diplomatic decision to treat Palestine as a sovereign state, a signal that they view it as a legitimate state alongside Israel – not merely as a future possibility dependent on negotiations.
Several board members and officers from the SWC have Hollywood connections, including CEO Jim Berk, Jeffrey Katzenberg an Rabbi Marvin Hier.
The entire statement from SWC is below:
Two weeks ahead of the second anniversary of Hamas’ savage October 7 massacre and on the eve of the most solemn Jewish holidays, Britain, Canada, Australia, Portugal, and France are rewarding the terrorists who carried out the bloodiest attack on Jews since the Holocaust by recognizing Palestinian statehood.
With 48 hostages still in the tunnels of Gaza, these governments have handed Hamas the greatest possible diplomatic gift — proving that mass murder, the slaughter of children, rape, and abduction pay.
Just yesterday, Hamas broadcast its cruelty to the world yet again, releasing a poster of the hostages designed to inflict maximum psychological torment on the families of the captives. This is not the behavior of a society ready for statehood. It is the sadism of a death cult flaunting its inhumanity.
“If these governments truly cared about humanitarian crises, they would demand the immediate release of every last hostage before Hamas kills them all. Instead, they have abandoned the innocent men, women and children in Hamas’ brutal hands,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Director of Global Social Action at the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
Diplomatic recognition under these circumstances is not diplomacy; it is appeasement. It does not bring peace one step closer; it normalizes terror and makes democracies everywhere more vulnerable.
The post Simon Wiesenthal Center Decries Recognition of Palestinian State by the UK, Canada and Others: ‘Rewarding the Terrorists’ appeared first on TheWrap.
Calls Mount in Hollywood to Cancel Disney+, Hulu in Defense of Jimmy Kimmel
Actors are joining in on social media calling for a boycott of Disney’s streaming services in response to ABC’s decision to indefinitely suspend Jimmy Kimmel over comments he made about the suspected killer of Charlie Kirk.
That wave has even included actors who have recently worked with Disney such as Tatiana Maslany, who starred in Marvel’s Disney+ series “She-Hulk” in 2022. On Instagram, she put up a post calling for people to shut down their subscriptions to Disney+, Hulu and ESPN, the latter of which was recently relaunched to include all of the sports network’s programming.
“Please cancel your @DisneyPlus subscription. I did. Let’s show the Mouse that their customers are more formidable than Trump,” added “Supernatural” star Misha Collins in his own tweet. Rosie O’Donnell and “Star Trek” alum Wil Wheaton are also among those calling for boycotts.
It's pretty easy to cancel your Disney+ subscription, and a coordinated, national day of cancellations would send a very clear message about our values as Americans.
— Wil Wheaton (@wilwheaton.net) 2025-09-18T16:47:35.154Z
Please cancel your @DisneyPlus subscription. I did. Let’s show the Mouse that their customers are more formidable than Trump. @Disney pic.twitter.com/tXhCNcCi7i
— Misha Collins (@mishacollins) September 20, 2025
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) September 20, 2025
BREAKING: Hollywood actress Cynthia Nixon is demanding that Americans boycott Disney by cancelling subscriptions to Disney+ and Hulu.
“I just cancelled my Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions…because I believe in the First Amendment. Reinstate Jimmy Kimmel now!” pic.twitter.com/qPwQD41M2e
Beyond Hollywood, former Republican Congressman and CNN contributor Adam Kizinger joined in on the boycott calls.
When government intimidation and corporate cowardice meet, free speech dies. Boycott ABC and Disney until they stand up to Brendan Carr’s censorship. (link in reply)
— Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini)(@AdamKinzinger) September 18, 2025
This past Wednesday, FCC chairman Brendan Carr threatened ABC and Disney during a podcast appearance, demanding that Kimmel be suspended over comments he made about Charlie Kirk’s killer. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr said, suggesting that the government had “rememdies” if the network did not act.
This was in response to a comment Kimmel gave on his show regarding the arrest of Tyler Robinson in connection to the killing of Charlie Kirk at a speaking event in Utah: “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
Hours after Carr’s podcast appearance, Nexstar said it would preempt the broadcast of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely on its ABC affiliate networks, calling Kimmel’s remarks “offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse.” Sinclair made a similar announcement soon after with ABC also announcing that all production of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” would be suspended.
Since the suspension, protesters have gathered outside of the “Jimmy Kimmel Live” set at the Masonic Temple on Hollywood Blvd., with another protest staged on Thursday at Disney’s Burbank lot by members of the Writers Guild of America and other guilds.
Whether the outrage over Kimmel’s suspension leads to substantial loss in streaming revenue for Disney remains to be seen, and it likely won’t come in a straightforward way from the company. Prior to Kirk’s shooting, Disney announced in its latest earnings report in August that it would no longer report subscriber numbers or average revenue per unit for Disney+, Hulu and ESPN.
“We are focused on managing our businesses to deliver growth in a sustained way, and to align our financial reporting with how we operate,” Disney CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston wrote in the report. “Since we began reporting the number of paid subscribers and ARPU, our DTC strategy and the operating environment have evolved. Given this evolution, we plan to implement changes to our Entertainment and Sports financial disclosures.”
However, the company will continue to report profitability numbers for its direct-to-consumer sector, which includes the streaming services. TheWrap has reached out to Disney for comment.
The post Calls Mount in Hollywood to Cancel Disney+, Hulu in Defense of Jimmy Kimmel appeared first on TheWrap.
The 7 Best New Movies Streaming on HBO Max Right Now
HBO Max added a new slate of films to its service in September, bringing something for everyone hoping for a movie night. This wide variety of features included 2025 new releases and a cinematic classic celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Here are the seven best new movies streaming on HBO Max in September.
“Dog Day Afternoon” (Warner Bros.)“Dog Day Afternoon”In 2025, Sidney Lumet’s “Dog Day Afternoon” celebrates its 50th anniversary. It’s one of the signature films in a beyond exceptional career for Lumet, a tense hostage drama written by Frank Pierson and based on an early 70s Life magazine article by P.F. Kluge and Thomas Moore. The film was released hot on the heels of “The Godfather” and “The Godfather Part II,” seeing Al Pacino reunite with Lumet (who directed “Serpico”). Here, Pacino was also once again joined by John Cazale, whose only five cinematic credits before his untimely passing were “Dog Day Afternoon,” “The Godfather,” “The Godfather Part II,” “The Conversation” and “The Deer Hunter” — masterpieces all.
“Dog Day Afternoon” holds its own against what is quite possibly the strongest Best Picture lineup of all time, nominated alongside “Jaws,” “Nashville,” “Barry Lyndon” and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (one of three films to sweep Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay at the Oscars). Lumet’s tense, timely, lasting story about a desperate bank robber trying to escape an unintended hostage crisis certainly belongs among these giants.
Renaissance Pictures“Evil Dead II”In “Evil Dead II,” Sam Raimi finds a perfect outlet for his talents. Here, he and co-writer Scott Spiegel blend their comic abilities (seen more heavily in time-traveling follow-up “Army of Darkness”) with Raimi’s mean streak as a horror filmmaker (more concentrated in precursor “The Evil Dead”). The result is a horror-comedy classic that would forever influence the genre, anchored by a committed performance from Bruce Campbell and wonderful visual effects throughout. This playfully cruel cabin in the woods feature (which heavily inspired “The Cabin in the Woods,” also on HBO Max this month) remains a gold standard for what the horror-comedy genre has to offer. “Evil Dead II” may recycle the plot of “The Evil Dead,” but it’s far from a mere retread.
Tim Robinson, Paul Rudd in “Friendship” (SXSW)“Friendship”2025’s “Friendship” won’t be everyone’s flavor of comedy. Writer/director Andrew DeYoung steers hard into the comic stylings of lead actor Tim Robinson, creating an uncomfortable and irreverent film that at times feels like a series of “I Think You Should Leave” sketches playing on end. For some, this will feel more akin to an exercise in torture than one in comedy.
To others, it will be one of the funniest movies of the decade.
“Friendship” places Robinson against Paul Rudd in a marathon of awkwardness and regret. The two bounce off of each other nicely — one a charmer putting on an eternal act, the other a buffoon who couldn’t act normal to save his life. Through this relationship, the movie makes glancing commentary on the so-called “male loneliness epidemic” and its potential roots. Any drama, however, fails to live up to the brilliance of “Friendship’s” comedy. Between a self-inflicted soap bar punishment, a disappointingly uneventful drug trip, a meal too big for one man and a show-stopping Conner O’Malley appearance, “Friendship” is, laugh for laugh, among the funniest comedies of the decade so far.
“Goodfellas” (Warner Bros.)“Goodfellas”In 1990, Martin Scorsese turned his eye on the mafia once again with “Goodfellas,” still arguably the crowning achievement of the filmmaker’s career. Detailing the rise and fall of Henry Hill as he lives out his boyhood dream of being a gangster, “Goodfellas” is a sampler pack of Scorsese’s best traits as a filmmaker. It moves like magic, perfectly edited by longtime Scorsese collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker and featuring astonishing performances from the likes of Ray Liotta, Lorraine Bracco, Robert De Niro and an Oscar-winning Joe Pesci.
While “Goodfellas” is unimpeachable in its own right, it’s only gotten that much more effective in the broader scope of Scorsese’s career. At the time of release, “Goodfellas” already followed up on ideas established in the filmmaker’s earlier entries like “Mean Streets” and “Raging Bull.” Yet “Goodfellas” has become even more poignant with time, with later Scorsese films — “Casino,” “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “The Irishman,” to name a few — further displaying the futility of greed and the hollow endings it leads to down the road.
20th Century“Prometheus”As Hulu and FX air their own “Alien” prequel, HBO Max has added the sci-fi origin that comes straight from the Ridley Scott source. “Prometheus” may not be as universally beloved as other entries in his space-set horror franchise, but it avoids the traditional pitfalls of many modern prequels by expanding upon the “Alien” mythos in radical, complex ways. The proper introduction of concepts like the Engineers and Michael Fassbender’s malevolent android David (a franchise-best character) does wonders for the world Scott, Dan O’Bannon, Ronald Shusett and others created.
History has largely been kind to “Prometheus,” as the film written by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof continues to gain affection among “Alien” fans. Many prequels have an unfortunate habit of making the films they derive from feel smaller, more limited. “Prometheus” makes the world of “Alien” feel much, much bigger.
“Se7en” (Credit: New Line Cinema)“Seven”“Seven” (or “Se7en,” if you want to do that) is certainly a beloved detective thriller, but it’s also a film that often gets reduced to a handful of moments — the kills, the John Doe introduction and, of course, the “What’s in the box?!” exclamations. Around these key scenes, however, David Fincher and Andrew Kevin Walker created a tense, emotional, complex thriller that influenced crime films (recently, “The Batman”) for decades to come.
The central conceit of “Seven” is a powerful one — an insane killer takes out his frustrations with society by killing people that disgust him in a manner evoking the Biblical seven deadly sins. Around this, Fincher and Walker build a compelling personal story about the lives of their central characters. Somerset (Morgan Freeman) is a longtime detective in a dark, dreary city who wants to retire while he can still see the sun. Mills (Brad Pitt) is a newcomer hotshot desperate to prove himself as more unshakable than he really is — or should be. His wife, Tracy (Gwyneth Paltrow), finds herself adrift in a new, gloomy life with nobody but her danger-seeking husband to occasionally keep her company. “Seven” is remembered for its scenes of action and horror, and these scenes deserve to be remembered. But even more powerful are the moments when the film slows down to focus on these three characters and the humanity they’re at risk of losing.
David Corenswet and Krypto the Dog in ‘Superman’ (Warner Bros.)“Superman” (2025)A surprise release, HBO Max added James Gunn’s “Superman” to its service on Sept. 19 — possibly to get it on the service before the heavily secretive final episodes of “Peacemaker” Season 2. It took more than a decade for the Last Son of Krypton to get another solo feature after Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel” flew into theaters in 2013.
This new vision of the Man of Tomorrow was worth the wait.
In “Superman,” Gunn and his crew — led by a stellar ensemble of David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult — perfectly locate what makes Clark Kent such an enduring comic book hero. Corenswet captures both the purity and the inherent isolation of his trunks-wearing protagonist, portraying Kal-El as a man who unwaveringly believes in truth, justice and a better tomorrow, even as fear and insecurity knock on his own door. Corenswet and Brosnahan show audiences exactly why the hard-edged Lois and the open-hearted Clark are perfect for each other, delivering some of the swooniest moments in superhero movies to date. Hoult, meanwhile, plays Lex Luthor as sniveling and menacing in equal measures, a perfect depiction of the villain who thinks himself the true “super man.” It will be a thrill to see these actors return to these characters and this world in “Man of Tomorrow” — and the wider DCU to come.
The post The 7 Best New Movies Streaming on HBO Max Right Now appeared first on TheWrap.
Charlie Kirk Memorial Packed With Messages of Faith, Resolve and Forgiveness at Arizona Stadium: ‘Old-Time Revival’
The Charlie Kirk memorial service got underway early Sunday in Glendale, Arizona, where thousands of attendees began lining up in the predawn hours to attend an hours-long service whose speakers included President Trump, Vice President Vance, Tucker Carlson and dozens more.
“Charlie Kirk loved America, and as we can see today, America loved Charlie Kirk,” Trump said during his remarks, which came late in the service, noting the size of the crowd size and “tens of thousands of people” watching on screens. “This is like an old-time revival, isn’t it? An old-time revival.”
State Farm Stadium was filled to the rafters in the early goings after doors opened at opening at 8 a.m. A sea of red, white and blue-clad mourners took seats that were prestocked with placards to honor the slain conservative activist, who was shot and killed 11 days ago while speaking with a throng of students at Utah Valley University.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 21: U.S. President Donald Trump walks onstage during the memorial service for political activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on September 10th while speaking at an event during his “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)The home of the Arizona Cardinals was already filled as the event got underway with a Sunday worship service that included extensive music performances and biblical messages before scheduled speakers took the stage. One by one they took the stage to speak loftily of Kirk, each highlighting his bold Christian faith, with traditional hymns and contemporary church songs playing them on and off.
“I can’t help but think but that they tried to silence my friend … and today, tonight, we speak with Charlie and for Charlie louder than ever,” Vance began during his turn midway through the program. “The evil murderer who took Charlie from us expected us to have a funeral and instead today, we had a revival.”
Attendees pray during the public memorial service for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)Vance said before he met Kirk, whom he claimed as a close personal friend, he was afraid to publicly discuss his religious beliefs. That all changed after Kirk was assassinated, the vice president said.
“I have talked more about my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in the last two weeks than I have in my entire life,” Vance said. “And that is the undeniable legacy of the great Charlie Kirk. … We love you. We’ve got it from here.”
Early speakers included Benny Johnson, Ben Carson, Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and longtime Kirk spokesman Andrew Kolvet. Kirk’s widow Erika, who is set to lead his organization Turning Point USA, spoke late, saying “we saw revival” after her husband’s death, not rioting or violence. She said in even on Oct. 10, she realized that his life and manner of death were meant to be.
Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, wipes away tears as she speaks at the public memorial service for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on September 21, 2025. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP)“Eleven days ago, God accepted that total surrender from my husband, and then called him to his side,” she said. “Over these past 11 days, through all the pain, never before have I found as much comfort as I now do in the words of the Lord’s prayer, ‘Thy will be done. God’s love was revealed to me on the day he was murdered.”
She also described the horrifying moments that followed:
“I saw the wound that ended his life, I felt everything you expected to feel,” she said. “I felt shock, I felt horror, I felt a level of heartache I didn’t even know existed. But even in death, I could see the man that I love. I saw the one single gray hair on the side of his head, which I never told him about. Now he knows … I also saw this: I also saw on his lips the faintest smile. And that told me something important – it revealed to me a great mercy from God in this tragedy. When I saw that, it told me Charlie didn’t suffer.”
In an intense moment, speaking about suspected shooter Tyler Robinson, she said through tears: “That young man … I forgive him.”
Conservative activist Jack Posobiec holds up a rosary as he speaks during the public memorial service for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)While the event often looked and sounded like a Sunday church service throughout, there were also moments it resembled a political rally.
“Charles Kirk was the turning point,” conservative activist Jack Posobiec said from the dais, to thundering cheers. “We will never forget the left forget the name Charlie Kirk … we will never forget Charlie Kirk.”
During his speech, Trump noted that one of the last things Kirk said to him was “please sir, save Chicago. Save Chicago. And we’re going to, from horrible crime.” He also used the pulpit to reiterate his belief that the 2020 election was fraudulent, saying, “They stole it like dogs.”
In a moment of levity, Trump noted Erika Kirk’s message of forgiveness, but admitted he did not share her gracious view: “I hate my opponents. I’m sorry Erika … I think Charlie is mad at me … but I don’t like ’em. Maybe you can change my mind.”
Trump brought Erika Kirk out for a final time as the six-plus hour long event, gave her a hug and faced the crowd to say finally, “Thank you very much everbody, thank you very much. And good luck. God be with you, thank you.”
Tucker Carlson, Stephen Miller, Tulsi Gabbard, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump Jr. also joined the voices from the dais.
Tucker Carlson speaks during the public memorial service for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)In the crowd was Elon Musk, who posted a video to his X platform, writing: “Every seat in this giant arena that isn’t roped off for security is packed to the ceiling. Honored to be here. All for Charlie Kirk.”
Every seat in this giant arena that isn’t roped off for security is packed to the ceiling. Honored to be here.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 21, 2025
All for Charlie Kirk. pic.twitter.com/NDK6sDuqLa
The post Charlie Kirk Memorial Packed With Messages of Faith, Resolve and Forgiveness at Arizona Stadium: ‘Old-Time Revival’ appeared first on TheWrap.
Trump Says Pentagon Should Not Restrict What Journalists Publish: ‘Nothing Stops Reporters’ | Video
Donald Trump believes the Pentagon should not dictate what is and isn’t reported by journalists — or so it appears. While speaking to reporters Sunday as he prepared to head to the Arizona memorial for Charlie Kirk, Trump seemed to side with the press.
A reporter asked, “Should the Pentagon be part of deciding what reporters can report on?” to which the president answered, “No, I don’t think so. Nothing stops reporters. You know that.”
Q: "Should the Pentagon be part of deciding what reporters can report on?"@POTUS: "No, I don't think so. Nothing stops reporters. You know that." pic.twitter.com/kctQ9PTGrK
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 21, 2025
It’s unclear if Trump is familiar with the 17-page memorandum issued by the Pentagon this week that lays out new guidelines for reporters with credentials at the headquarters of the Department of Defense.
The New York Times issued a statement addressing the memo soon after it was published.
“Asking independent journalists to submit to these kinds of restrictions is at stark odds with the constitutional protections of a free press in a democracy, and a continued attempt to throttle the public’s right to understand what their government is doing,” the statement began.
“This is yet another step in a concerning pattern of reducing access to what the U.S. military is undertaking at taxpayer expense. Our journalists will continue to report the facts deeply and fairly.”
Though the Department of Defense insists it “remains committed to transparency to promote accountability and public trust,” the document also warned that “information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified.”
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Government Pressure on Media ‘Has Come From Both Parties,’ National Association of Broadcasters President Says
Curtis Leyget, president of the National Association of Broadcasters, is no fan of government pressure on the media to cover stories a certain way – and says it has come “from both parties.”
In a blog post published Sunday on the NAB’s site, LeGeyt, who has led the trade group since 2022, addressed the Jimmy Kimmel controversy for the first time since “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was suspended indefinitely by ABC over his comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassin.
“The controversy surrounding ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!‘ has sparked understandable questions about broadcasters’ First Amendment rights and the influence of those in power. This is an unprecedented time in media history and moments like this demand a direct conversation about what is at stake,” writes LeGeyt, who was senior counsel for Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont before joining NAB in 2011.
“Let me first state affirmatively that broadcasters must be able to make decisions about the content on our airwaves free from government influence,” LeGeyt writes. “The First Amendment affords our stations — and all Americans — this fundamental right, and the mere perception that broadcasters acted because of undue pressure is a problem for our credibility and the trust we have built with our audiences.
Unfortunately, government pressure on media to cover events in a particular way is not new and it has come from both political parties. During the Obama administration, journalists decried the use of the Espionage Act to investigate reporters and demand their confidential sources. Under the Biden administration, reporters faced growing barriers to access, and local affiliate stations were targeted based on the actions of cable news networks. Today, we continue to see veiled threats suggesting broadcasters should be penalized for airing content that is contrary to a particular point of view.”
LeGeyt states that each of those attempts “were wrong then, and they are wrong now.”
“The First Amendment makes clear that broadcasters — not the government — bear the responsibility for editorial decisions,” he writes. “Local radio and television stations take this obligation seriously, working every day to reflect the unique and diverse needs of our communities, especially on sensitive issues. This is what makes local stations the most trusted sources of information. Ultimately, broadcasters are accountable to the viewers and listeners we serve.”
LeGeyt also addressed the market disruption challenges that broadcasters are facing from Big Tech; the efforts NAB is making to “ensure broadcasters have the scale to compete with national and global behemoths”; and its continued investment in local newsrooms and programming.
“But all of that is futile if we cannot fulfill our most sacred responsibility: reporting to our communities without fear of government retribution,” LeGeyt writes in the annual First Amendment Day address. “Because without it, everything else falls away.”
Read the entire blog post here.
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