Steve Pond's Blog, page 13

Van Jones Shares DMs With Charlie Kirk From Day Before Killing: ‘Turn Down the Heat, Seek Common Ground’

CNN analyst Van Jones says received a DM from Charlie Kirk one day before the conservative activist and influencer was shot and killed – and the day after they were feuding on social media.

Jones published the message from Kirk alongside a caution against violence. He explained Kirk’s message, sent on X on September 9, came after the pair “had been sparring publicly over the killing of a Ukrainian refugee and its relationship to race.”

Kirk had commented that “the gruesome killing of a White woman by a Black man was motivated solely by anti-White hatred,” something Jones rejected. “I denounced those comments on CNN as unfounded. He went on TV and denounced MY denunciation. Then he unleashed a firehose of tweets, challenging my argument,” Jones explained.

Jones added that he received “an online torrent of racist death threats against me, the likes of which I have rarely seen” following Kirk’s replies.

Then Kirk sent a DM.

“Hey, Van, I mean it, I’d love to have you on my show to have a respectful conversation about crime and race,” he wrote. “I would be a gentleman as I know you would be as well. We can disagree about the issues agreeably.”

Jones did not have a chance to reply before Kirk was killed September 10.

“Today’s attack on Charlie Kirk is absolutely horrifying and heartbreaking. He fought with words not weapons,” he wrote that day. “There is no place for political violence in our society and those responsible must be swiftly brought to justice. My prayers are with Charlie’s loved ones, the traumatized students at Utah Valley University and all who have been impacted by this senseless act.”

Elsewhere, Jones insisted political violence in all forms is “wrong.” He explained: “Political murder is wrong, period. I was born in 1968 — into a country being torn apart by riots and assassinations. I don’t want to go back to that. None of us should.”

“In fact: Kirk’s murder gives us all reason to come back to the table for dialogue. There is a rising tide of political violence that has already swept away his life and many others’ lives, from both the Left and the Right,” Jones continued.

“Violence like this should compel people in both parties to turn down the heat, seek common ground and look for off-ramps from the vitriol — as Kirk was doing with me, the day before he died.”

The post Van Jones Shares DMs With Charlie Kirk From Day Before Killing: ‘Turn Down the Heat, Seek Common Ground’ appeared first on TheWrap.

‘Coyotes’ Review: Gnarly Killer-Canine Thriller Is All Bite, No Bark

I’ve lived in Los Angeles for nearly half a century, which means I know a lot about this town. I know where to get the best coffee. I know where to find the best used bookstores. And I know that you never, ever leave your pets out at night, because when the sun goes down this place belongs to the coyotes.

In their defense, the coyotes were here first. Like a lot of bustling metropolises, humans made a home in Southern California by kicking all the other predators out of their rent-controlled dens. Coyotes fled to the hills because they had nowhere else to go, and they come out at night because they gotta eat something, just like the rest of us. When the wildfires ravage our hills they’ve got to go roaming. It’s their only option. And they’re not alone. After the fires last January the neighborhood I grew up in was besieged by bobcats, for crying out loud.

Colin Minihan’s new horror thriller “Coyotes” takes place after a windstorm and a wildfire, so the coyotes are out in full force. They’re also killing people, which almost never happens. There’s only one confirmed fatal coyote attack in the United States. Ever. These are dangerous animals but movies like “Coyotes” overemphasize their threat — to humans at least — because otherwise the movie can’t happen.

I’m making a point of this because while watching “Coyotes” — a scary, thrilling and fun horror flick, no doubt about it — I couldn’t help but feel bad for the critters. Nobody in this film is acting as their advocate. When “Jaws” came out there was a huge surge in shark hunting, even though statistically speaking, sharks also pose very little threat to humanity. Lots of sharks died because one movie made them out to be monsters. Even Peter Benchley and Steven Spielberg felt bad about that.

This is unlikely to be the case with “Coyotes.” It’s a vicious and exciting horror film but it probably won’t join the ranks of the highest grossing productions in history. It’s just about a family — Scott (Justin Long), Liv (Kate Bosworth), and their teenage daughter Chloe (Mila) — who get trapped in their fancy house and have to fight off killer coyotes. And frankly, for a low-budget genre effort, it’s an impressive achievement. The coyotes in “Coyotes” are convincing as hell.

But it’s also a film with very little to say about, well, anything. By setting a film like “Coyotes” in a wealthy neighborhood in Los Angeles, Colin Minihan had an opportunity to say something — and again, I do mean anything — about this city. It’s a weird place in a lot of ways, and it’s full of people who deserve to be poked in the ribs. But except for a pre-credits kill with a shallow influencer, and one other brutal death of a mean lady celebrity, “Coyotes” avoids anything topical or even specific about our eccentric community. Which only makes the death of those two women come across as extra mean-spirited. Men die in the movie as well, and two of them are jerks, but their deaths are nowhere near as judgmental.

So instead of a film about Los Angeles, we’re treated to a bog standard film about a family unit, in which an emasculated dad spends all his time working, then has to prove himself when monsters threaten his family.

“Coyotes” spends a lot of time making fun of Justin Long’s character and giving Kate Bosworth the biggest hero moments, and that helps balance the cruelty of some of the other deaths. A little. But their storyline could have been told in any other context, and might have made more sense in any other context. There’s just no conceivable way this family could afford that enormous house on a comic book illustrator’s salary. It’s a nice thought but we all know how tough the entertainment industry is right now. (Dear god, do we ever.)

Still, Colin Minihan knows how to make a gnarly horror film. I’ve seen more gory movies than the average bear — probably more than most film critics too, but WAY more than a bear — and there are moments in “Coyotes” which made even my gag reflex act up a smidge. The goofy humor in “Coyotes” doesn’t subtract from the impact of that violence, a complex achievement in tonal alchemy, for which everyone involved deserves praise. But pet owners, please beware: The cuddlier animals in this movie are not safe. Poor little guys.

“Coyotes” is, in some ways, a missed opportunity. There’s an explanation for the sudden, otherwise inconceivable coyote attacks, and it makes some sense, but the film would have been much stronger if there was also a thematic connection that didn’t feel tacked on and arbitrary. Oh well. It’s hard to make a convincing “when animals attack” movie, even under the ideal circumstances, and whatever other problems “Coyotes” may have, its animals sure do attack, and they attack hard.

The post ‘Coyotes’ Review: Gnarly Killer-Canine Thriller Is All Bite, No Bark appeared first on TheWrap.

Louis CK Looks Back on ‘True’ Sexual Misconduct Allegations: ‘I Was Hurting Other People’ | Video

Several years after admitting allegations of sexual misconduct against him were true, Louis CK looked back on the time period while in conversation with “This Past Weekend” host Theo Von Friday. As Louis put it, “I was hurting other people and trying to tell myself I wasn’t.”

The comedian said the allegations surfacing was oddly freeing. “You’re trying to piece together that broken mirror and cutting your fingers, that’s beautiful. It’s true, and when life f–ks it up for you, when it gets torn up, it’s a relief,” he explained.

“That’s why I felt free, you know? Because I had tried to manage these problems I had inside of me for so many years, and I tried to feel like I was like a normal person, or that I was what I thought of as a good person. But I was doing s–t in the background of my life that I was ashamed of. I was hurting other people and trying to tell myself I wasn’t.”

Despite admitting the allegations were true in 2017, CK also said it took him many years to come to terms with his own behavior.

“You’re trying to piece together that broken mirror and cutting your fingers, that’s beautiful. It’s true, and when life fucks it up for you, when it gets torn up, it’s a relief. That’s why I felt free, you know? Because I had tried to manage these problems I had inside of me for so many years, and I tried to feel like I was like a normal person, or that I was what I thought of as a good person,” he said. “But I was doing shit in the background of my life that I was ashamed of. I was hurting other people and trying to tell myself I wasn’t.”

CK was accused by sexual misconduct by five women in 2017.

“These stories are true,” he said in a statement. “At the time, I said to myself that what I did was okay because I never showed a woman my d— without asking first, which is also true. But what I learned later in life, too late, is that when you have power over another person, asking them to look at your d— isn’t a question. It’s a predicament for them. The power I had over these women is that they admired me. And I wielded that power irresponsibly.”

The post Louis CK Looks Back on ‘True’ Sexual Misconduct Allegations: ‘I Was Hurting Other People’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

Man Arrested After Shots Fired at ABC Affiliate Station in Sacramento

Sacramento police have arrested Anibal Hernandez-Santana, 64, in connection to a drive-by shooting at an ABC affiliate in the city.

Hernandez-Santanta was taken into custody Saturday morning and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, negligent discharge of a firearm and shooting into an occupied building.

“Thanks to the prompt and diligent work of our responding officers and investigators, the suspect vehicle was identified, leading officers to a residence in the 5400 block of Carlson Drive,” the Sacramento Police Department said in a statement shared on social media.

Thanks to the prompt and diligent work of our responding officers and investigators, the suspect vehicle was identified, leading officers to a residence in the 5400 block of Carlson Drive. The suspect, 64-year-old Anibal Hernandezsantana of Sacramento, was arrested on charges of… https://t.co/49OSEEM95k

— Sacramento Police Department (@SacPolice) September 20, 2025

“The motive remains under investigation, and we would like to thank the FBI for providing resources in support of this investigation,” the department added.

Multiple news reports indicate Hernandez-Santanta is currently being held on $200,000 bail. The Sacramento Police Department did not immediately reply to TheWrap’s request for commment.

Hernandez-Santana is accused of firing shots at the station’s headquarters around 1:30 p.m. Friday. Though the building was occupied, no one was hurt.

Sacramento news station KCR3 shared a statement from Tegna, the parent company of ABC10: “We can confirm that shots were fired into our station at KXTV earlier today. While details are still limited, importantly all of our employees are safe and unharmed. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and have taken additional measures to ensure the continued safety of our employees.”

The Governor has been briefed on reports of a shooting at a local ABC affiliate in Sacramento. While no injuries have been reported, any act of violence toward journalists is an attack on our democracy itself and must be condemned in the strongest terms. We stand with reporters… https://t.co/DbqRv5dUYV

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) September 20, 2025

The office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom also issued a statement on social media: “The Governor has been briefed on reports of a shooting at a local ABC affiliate in Sacramento. While no injuries have been reported, any act of violence toward journalists is an attack on our democracy itself and must be condemned in the strongest terms. We stand with reporters and staff who work every day to keep communities informed and safe!”

The post Man Arrested After Shots Fired at ABC Affiliate Station in Sacramento appeared first on TheWrap.

Charlie Kirk Spokesman Says Kimmel’s Monologue Carried a Veiled ‘Message’: ‘Jimmy Kimmel Is Not a Victim. He’s a Liar’

Charlie Kirk spokesman Andrew Kolvet, who served as executive producer of “The Charlie Kirk Show” and confirmed the news of his boss’ death on Sept. 10, says Jimmy Kimmel’s comments weren’t only a fireable offense – they carried an “implicit message.”

Kolvet has remained as the spokesman for Turning Point USA, the organization that Kirk founded and ran before his assassination. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was indefinitely suspended after his monologue last Monday night.

“We hit some new lows over the weekend,” Kimmel said, “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.”

Something important that’s being missed with the Jimmy Kimmel saga…

By spreading the vile lie that Charlie was assassinated by MAGA, the implicit message from Kimmel was clear: If you kill a conservative, we will cover for you. We will whitewash the murder because we don’t…

— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) September 20, 2025

“Something important that’s being missed with the Jimmy Kimmel saga,” Kolvet wrote on Saturday. “By spreading the vile lie that Charlie was assassinated by MAGA, the implicit message from Kimmel was clear: If you kill a conservative, we will cover for you. We will whitewash the murder because we don’t think conservatives deserve to live. Kill more. Assassinate more. We have your back. This is evil.”

Kimmel’s show was taken off the air shortly after FCC chairman Brendan Carr made vague threats against ABC, causing outcry over what was perceived by many as state-sponsored censorship. Kolvet saw it differently:

“Executives at ABC rightly received a deluge of complaints from affiliates,” he continued. “They asked Kimmel to apologize for lying and he refused, instead vowing to double down. Only then did he get canned. Networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS enjoy massive taxpayer supported privileges and advantages because they are supposed to contribute to the ‘public good.’ Those privileges come with a responsibility to not knowingly spread harmful lies like the one Kimmel was spreading. Jimmy Kimmel is not a victim. He’s a liar. Jimmy Kimmel is not a martyr. Charlie is. Let’s keep that straight.”

The post Charlie Kirk Spokesman Says Kimmel’s Monologue Carried a Veiled ‘Message’: ‘Jimmy Kimmel Is Not a Victim. He’s a Liar’ appeared first on TheWrap.

How to Watch Wrestlepalooza: Start Time, Streaming Details and More

The WWE’s first big event on ESPN’s streaming service – Wrestlepalooza – is right around the corner.

The event marks the shift of WWE live events from airing on Peacock to ESPN. It features a number of high profile wrestlers including Cody Rhodes, Brock Lesnar, Becky Lynch, CM Punk, and more. Wrestlepalooza also marks another stop on John Cena’s retirement tour.

“On September 20, WWE and ESPN are coming together for a can’t-miss event to kick off our new partnership,” said WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. “The biggest Superstars in WWE. The biggest brand in sports media. Are you ready?”

Here is where and when to tune in for WWE Wrestlepalooza.

What time does Wrestlepalooza start?

WWE Wrestlepalooza begins on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT.

How can you watch Wrestlepalooza?

WWE Wrestlepalooza will be streaming on the ESPN app in the United States and through Netflix everywhere else.

Who is partaking in WWE Wrestlepalooza?

The event will feature John Cena, as well as Undisputed WWE Champion “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch, CM Punk and Drew McIntyre in major matches.

“Wrestlepalooza” will be the final time Cena wrestles in Indianapolis as he continues his 2025 retirement tour.

The post How to Watch Wrestlepalooza: Start Time, Streaming Details and More appeared first on TheWrap.

Sonny Curtis, Crickets Frontman and ‘I Fought the Law’ Songwriter, Dies at 88

Sonny Curtis, the rock pioneer who wrote “I Fought the Law” and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Crickets in 2012, has died. He was 88.

Curtis died Friday after suddenly falling ill, his family confirmed Saturday on Facebook.

“I’m heartbroken to tell you that my dad Sonny passed away yesterday after a sudden illness. I’m so grateful that I was with him at the end, along with my mom. It was peaceful and he didn’t suffer,” wrote his son, also named Sonny.

“He was 88 and he lived a more exceptional life than anyone I’d ever met. He made a mark on this world, and he made a mark on the hearts of all who knew him. It’s a sad day, but what a life. May we look at his life with joy rather than sadness. He would have wanted that.”

Curtis penned hundreds of songs in his lifetime, including the theme for the “Mary Tyler Moore Show” and the Everly Brothers’ hit “Walk Right Back.”

He grew up with Buddy Holly in Texas, where the pair took up music and formed a rock group together. Curtis began writing songs early, and by age 20 had penned Holly’s “Rock Around With Ollie Vee.”

Curtis departed the Crickets before the band found major success, but came back to the band after Holly’s unexpected death in 1959.

“Buddy had black hair, but he had dyed it blonde, and it was growing out. And he reminded me of a black-and-tan coon hound. We sorta skipped all the niceties and got our guitars and started playing,” he told CBS News of his friend in 2022.

Of Holly’s death at 22, Curtis added, “Can you imagine the amount of music he pumped into the system in a short period of, like, 18 months? No telling how much he would’ve contributed had he been around.”

Curtis also said he wrote “I Fought the Law” in 20 minutes, though it took several years for he song to achieve major success, when The Clash covered the tune in 1966.

Four years later Curtis received a phone call from a friend who had heard about a new show being put together for Mary Tyler Moore. He penned the show’s now-iconic theme based on a four-page show synopsis.

His career also included solo releases and he enjoyed a top 20 country hit with 1981’s “Good Ol’ Girls.”

Sonny Curtis was born on May 9, 1937, in Meadow Texas. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in the 1970s with his family. Curtis was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1991 with the Crickets and into Nashville’s Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2007.

He is survived by his wife, Louise.

The post Sonny Curtis, Crickets Frontman and ‘I Fought the Law’ Songwriter, Dies at 88 appeared first on TheWrap.

‘No Conversation’ About Moving Women’s Journalism Nonprofit Event From Home of Bob Iger, Willow Bay | Exclusive

There has been “no conversation” about relocating an annual fundraiser for the International Women’s Media Foundation from the Brentwood home of Willow Bay and Bob Iger, despite a media report speculating that the Disney CEO’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel may force the November event to be moved, the group’s executive director told TheWrap on Saturday.

“There was no conversation about moving the venue,” Elisa Munoz, executive director of IWMF, told TheWrap. “Willow is a leader in academics and journalism world, and we are surprised that there would be an assumption that a spouse bears a responsibility for the job of their partner.”

Bay, a former “Good Morning America” and “Today Show” correspondent and news anchor and current dean of the USC Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism, the recurring host of an annual celebration of the “Courage Awards,” which recognizes bravery of female and nonbinary journalists around the world.

The Hollywood Reporter on Friday reported that fallout from ABC’s decision to indefinitely suspend “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” over his comments about the assassination of Charlie Kirk prompted the nonprofit IWMF “to consider distancing themselves from the westside power couple,” citing “several sources” who were not identified who suggested a move was on the table.

Multiple people familiar with the matter who spoke to TheWrap about the matter echoed Munoz’ statement, saying there have been no conversations about relocating the event. They acknowledged that concerns were raised internally, with one adding that a majority of board members who spoke up “think Willow should be responsible for what Willow does.”

Another said it was “way to soon to think about any action” around the event, which was two months away as of Saturday. Each noted that there was no outreach from THR to the IWMF or its primary membership, and that their attempts to reach the reporter who wrote the story were not answered.

Others still said it was inappropriate and sexist to make such a suggestion. Though Iger has attended past fundraisers hosted at his home, leaders at the women-focused organization say they have made appropriate efforts to leave him out of its events and affairs.

Any discussion to the contrary – or about a potential relocation – the individuals said, were prompted only by the THR article. Two of the individuals expressed that since its publication, they would advocate for the entire board to meet for a conversation.

Bay, whose involvement in the IMWF goes back years, is chair of its Los Angeles advisory committee and a major donor.

Iger and Disney Entertainment chairman Dana Walden were reportedly responsible for the decision to pull “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely after his on-air comments which some say implied that Tyler Robinson was a MAGA supporter. The decision has been widely decried in the media as an attack on free speech by the federal government, as FCC chairman Brendan Carr had just suggested that his agency would take action against ABC for the monologue.

Editor’s note: Sharon Waxman, theWrap editor-in-chief and CEO, is a member of the IWMF’s advisory board.

The post ‘No Conversation’ About Moving Women’s Journalism Nonprofit Event From Home of Bob Iger, Willow Bay | Exclusive appeared first on TheWrap.

CNN’s Abby Phillip Says Liberals Should ‘Actively Acknowledge’ Role in Cancel Culture: ‘Not Just in Passing’ | Video

Liberals must “actively acknowledge” their role in cancel culture, CNN’s Abby Phillip said on CNN’s “Table for Five” Saturday during a conversation about Jimmy Kimmel and comments the late night host made following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The suggestion was made after cohost Kmele Foster insisted the left has been “censorious” — a word Phillip agreed with.

“I think that’s something more liberals should say. I think it would help. They should acknowledge, not just in passing, but actively acknowledge where things went wrong. That’s the only way to move forward, I think, in a way,” she said.

This prompted skepticism from CNN’s Ashley Allison, who asked what should be acknowledged in the first place.

“Well, I think you have to acknowledge that there is a, listen, cancel culture was a thing. It was actually a thing, and it’s not just enough to say, well, my cancel culture was fine, but yours is wrong,” Phillip said. “There has to be an acknowledgement that, yeah, now I think everybody understands what free speech really looks like and what it means, and then you have to apply that thinking to what was happening four, five, six years ago in this country and say something about it.”

Allison then noted that there is a “difference” between Donald Trump playing a role in the cancellation of Kimmel’s show and “individual citizens” having “the ability to say, I don’t like it and let their dollars, let their viewership, let their subscriptions [decide].”

The post CNN’s Abby Phillip Says Liberals Should ‘Actively Acknowledge’ Role in Cancel Culture: ‘Not Just in Passing’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

New York Times Rebukes Pentagon’s Reporter Restrictions: ‘At Stark Odds With the Constitutional Protections’ | Video

The New York Times will not abide by new restrictions on reporters set by the Pentagon, which require pre-approval before reporting can be published, the paper announced Saturday morning. A spokesperson for the Times insisted such restrictions are “at stock odds with the constitutional protections of a free press in a democracy.”

The Times’ statement reads in full: “Asking independent journalists to submit to these kinds of restrictions is at stock 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.”

https://t.co/uyByLHSfu3 pic.twitter.com/AxFAMB7YzT

— NYTimes Communications (@NYTimesPR) September 20, 2025

“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,” the statement concluded.

In a 17-page memorandum dated September 18, 2025, the Pentagon issued new documents in support of the May 23 “Updated Physical Control Measures for Press/Media Access Within the Pentagon.”

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.”

In addition to requiring approval before reporting is released to the public, the document also removes access to swaths of the Pentagon unless a reporter is accompanied by an approved escort. This is a stark change to previous policy, which allowed unescorted access throughout the building (apart from offices and meeting rooms).

The update comes days after Trump filed a $15 billion lawsuit against the Times. That lawsuit was later dismissed.

The post New York Times Rebukes Pentagon’s Reporter Restrictions: ‘At Stark Odds With the Constitutional Protections’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.