Culture
The culture and entertainment takes people can't agree on.
- South Park rebranded itself South America for its season premiere, mocking Trump's executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America, and closed its new intro with a nude, flag-wiping caricature of the president. Sharp political satire, or comedy that's more shock value than substance?
- Alex Gibney's documentary "Musk" premiered at Venice to strong reviews, and Elon Musk is calling it a "boring hit piece" while his lawyer sends legal letters over its claims. Serious accountability journalism, or a one-sided takedown?
- The 2026 VMA nominations are led by Madonna, Taylor Swift, and Sabrina Carpenter, with critics noting Black artists were mostly confined to genre-specific categories like Hip-Hop rather than the top awards. Real bias, or just how the year's biggest hits shook out?
- Adidas is facing boycott calls after featuring a former Israeli soldier who lost his leg in Gaza in an ad for its shoe-fitting service, with activists calling it 'an affront to Palestinians.' Fair criticism of tone-deaf marketing, or unfairly politicizing an amputee's story?
- Trump is demanding a 30-foot George Washington statue and a Constitution Day deadline at the Smithsonian's American history museum, blasting its 'overwhelming focus on oppression' — days after the museum's secretary announced his retirement following months of pressure from the administration. Restoring patriotic history, or the White House dictating what a museum can say?
- The Emmys cut 5 award categories from the live broadcast, including writing and supporting-actor awards. Smart TV, or disrespecting the work?
- A US Open spectator went viral for disrupting play to get content for social media. Fair game, or ban phones at courtside?