Idiocracy

The Daily Beast reports: A conservative water brand that claims to offer right-wingers an anti-woke protest in a bottle made its pitch to attendees at Turning Point USA’s People’s Conference this weekend. “Freedom 2.0,” which makes disposable water bottles with labels like, “This water isn’t free, but your speech is,” ran a spot at the conservative conference attended by GOP …

NBC News reports: The world’s greatest eater won’t be able to compete in the world’s greatest eating event. Joey Chestnut, a 16-time champion of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, is unable to participate in the July 4 event after signing with another hot dog brand, according to Major League Eating. “We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has …

The Associated Press reports: A rodeo bull hopped a fence surrounding an Oregon arena and ran through a concession area into a parking lot, injuring at least three people before wranglers caught up with it, officials said. The crowd at the 84th Sisters Rodeo in the city of Sisters was singing along with Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” on …

NBC News reports: An Idaho bar has drawn national attention for celebrating “Heterosexual Awesomeness Month” in response to LGBTQ Pride month, which has been celebrated during June for decades. The Old State Saloon in Eagle, a suburb of Boise, announced its “inaugural Heterosexual Awesomeness Month” on social media last month. “Each Monday will be Hetero Male Monday and any heterosexual …

The Daily Beast reports: Judge Juan Merchan on Friday notified both the prosecution and defense in Donald Trump’s historic hush-money trial about a bizarre comment posted to the New York Courts Facebook page claiming to have insight from a “juror” prior to Trump’s conviction. In a brief letter addressed to both defense attorney Todd Blanche and Manhattan ADA Joshua Steinglass, …

The Hill reports: Integrating Texas’ self-contained electrical grid with the broader national grid could prevent mass power outages like those suffered in the Lone Star state during a 2021 cold snap, according to research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In the study, from MIT’s Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, the researchers modeled the effects of a bill …

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports: The Republican National Convention’s website included a background picture of Ho Chi Minh City, rather than Milwaukee, an error that was quickly fixed after a screenshot went viral on Tuesday. Each section on the website now includes a photo of the host city and state. But a background picture for a section labeled “News and Updates” …

NBC News reports: A Michigan man with a suspended driver’s license joined a digital court hearing about his case from behind the wheel of a vehicle he was driving. Corey Harris did not physically appear in court for his hearing on May 15. Instead, he dialed into the Zoom call — while he was driving, according to video of the …

TMZ reports: Kanye West is saying sayonara to Yeezy’s longtime Chief of Staff in what appears to be a mass exodus at the company … and in this case, it’s all about porn tainting the spirit. Milo Yiannopoulos — who’s been the point man on all things Yeezy for nearly two years now — confirms his split from Ye’s enterprise …

The New York Post reports: Surprising absolutely no one, the voyeuristic new “Portal” street exhibit in the Flatiron District connecting New York City and Dublin with a 24/7 live video feed has already caused chaos — with mischief-makers on Ireland’s side flashing everything from their bare bums to swastikas and a photo of the Twin Towers in flames on 9/11. …

The Hill reports: The House on Tuesday passed a bill aimed at making it more difficult for the Energy Department to enact energy efficiency rules for household appliances — the latest in Republicans’ efforts related to such appliances. The vote was 212-195, with seven Democrats voting with Republicans in favor of the measure. The bill would both add hurdles to …

Media Matters reports: The Daily Wire announced the launch of a new “men’s lifestyle” company named Responsible Man on May 1, promoting its only current product — a men’s dietary supplement that it says is “designed to help … sharpen brain cognition” and that it suggests will help address what the outlet calls the “increasing health risk” of declining “sperm …

The Daily Beast reports: At the start of the same week a damning docuseries about his alleged sexual abuse is set to premiere, actor Kevin Spacey decided to offer up his endorsement for “loyal friend” Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s long-shot 2024 presidential bid. While Spacey was acquitted on sexual assault charges in the U.K. last year, he continues to face …

Tampa’s NBC affiliate reports: A Florida judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Joseph Maldonado, also known as Joe Exotic, after Maldonado claimed copyright infringement over songs feature in the Netflix documentary Tiger King. Maldonado claimed many of the songs that became popular on the hit documentary were written and performed by himself, and sued Vince Johnson in efforts to …

The Hill reports: Republican Reps. Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Byron Donalds (Fla.), Anna Paulina Luna (Fla.), James Comer (Ky.) and others were seen facing down hecklers as they addressed a crowd at George Washington University and moved through the packed protests. Boebert particularly took issue with the Palestinian flag that was draped across a statue of George Washington near the encampment, …

Florida Politics reports: Florida will soon be the only state in America where cultivated meat cannot be sold. But only two restaurants in America sell the lab-grown product now, and neither operates in the state. At a press conference in Wauchula, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a legislative package (SB 1084) that includes a number of Florida Department of Agriculture and …

Miami’s ABC affiliate reports: Two individuals have been taken into custody following an incident at a Southwest Miami-Dade day care, where they allegedly caused a panic by brandishing rifles in the vicinity of the day care center. Miguel Ruiz and Estrella Pereira are accused of removing two rifles from the trunk of a Corvette in the Devon Aire Kiddy College’s …

Ars Technica reports: The Thermonator, what Throwflame bills as “the first-ever flamethrower-wielding robot dog” is now available for purchase. The price? $9,420. It features a one-hour battery, a 30-foot flame-throwing range, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for remote control through a smartphone. It also includes a LIDAR sensor for mapping and obstacle avoidance, laser sighting, and first-person view (FPV) navigation …

The Louisiana Illuminator reports: The Louisiana House voted 55-46 this week to ban the use of the word “free” when referring to government benefits, products or services, though similar descriptions such as “provided at no cost” or “complimentary” would still be permissible. “It’s a bill that I’ve nicknamed my ‘Don’t Say Free’ bill,” said Rep. Beryl Amedée, R-Schriever, sponsor of …

Mediaite reports: A woman on an autograph line shouted to former President Donald Trump to “Sign my baby’s forehead!” as others in the crowd similarly encouraged him to “Sign the baby!” Fans gathered for at least an hour before Trump landed in Atlanta, Georgia. Microphones caught bits and pieces of what Trump said and some of the crowd responding. At …