Politicizing entertainment - Inquirer.net

Laura Ligouri is founder and chief external strategy officer of Mindbridge, a Maine-based nonprofit organization that uses psychology and neuroscience to support work on human rights and democratic resilience. Democracy is more than a system for electing leaders. At its core, it is a system designed to protect human dignity and freedom by distributing power, safeguarding fundamental rights and holding those in authority accountable to the people they serve.

The sweeping federal financial assistance rule proposed by the Office of Management and Budget is on hold. The reprieve may be an opportunity for the rule to fizzle. Once the world’s envy, American science faces what looks to many like a dystopian future. Political appointees, not peer reviewers, could have the last word on awarding research grants. Once-independent investigators could need explicit government approval to use federal money to collaborate with colleagues abroad, attend conferences, or publish papers. That scenario may become reality in the US if the Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance, proposed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), goes into force. The proposal goes far beyond science; it would affect all entities that receive federal money—children’s programs like Head Start, towns and municipalities, Medicaid, food stamps, hospitals, and more. Scientists and scientific societies have been vocal in opposing the proposed rule. Originally set to go into effect on 1 October, the rule is on hold. The stopgap federal budget bill passed in early September by Congress has delayed its implementation through at least 11 December.

Marvel Studios’ release of Avengers: Endgame: Encore was a shrewd gambit for a few reasons: It put the studio’s most successful film back in conversation right after the juggernaut success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day; it tided die-hards over with new footage ahead of December’s Avengers: Doomsday; and, perhaps most importantly, it raked in an additional $138 million for the film, reinstating its position as the worldwide box office champion over James Cameron’s Avatar. Cameron, who certainly doesn’t spend his precious time fretting about such matters as lifetime financial grosses and being the best in the world at stuff, recently expressed his congratulations to Marvel for once again overtaking his 2009 sci-fi film. “You are one of the people,” the director wrote (per The Wrap) in a composite image from Avatar, with Iron Man at the center of a welcoming Na’vi tribe. “Congratulations to Marvel and the #1 Avengers: Endgame: Encore for bringing moviegoers to the cinemas! – Jim Cameron.”

John Alexander Greer III, age 44, passed away suddenly on October 12, 2026. Born in Fredericton, New Brunswick to John Alexander Greer II, Shelley Ann Greer, ( Stewart Allan), John lived his life devoted to caring for those he loved. Above all, John’s greatest joy was being a father to his sons, Jonathan and Nathaniel. He was a hero to his brothers, Jobi James and Jermey Dale Greer, and a loving partner to his fiancée, Samantha Vernon. Possessing a heart of gold, John brought warmth to everyone around him and found his ultimate freedom riding his motorcycles on the open road. He is reunited in rest with his late grandparents, Fred and Gladys Ramsey, and John Greer I and Shirley Gould

TikTok has banned the entire Musk film account, citing political content that violates its policies. The move, which comes just as the Alex Gibney’s investigation into Elon Musk expands to more than 470 screens across North America, raises concerns about Big Tech suppression that the very film seeks to expose. Distributor Bleecker Street was informed Friday afternoon a “permanent suspension” was coming. The entire page disappeared from TikTok’s platform shortly after. The film company had been planning to spend ad money to boost certain posts; that will no longer happen. A spokesperson for the distributor confirmed that TikTok reps had informed them of the suspension and noted “disappointment” in the timing. After grossing $70,000 in four theaters in New York and Los Angeles in its first weekend of release, Musk is now playing in dozens of cities this weekend. The spokesperson said the company is in the process of appealing the move; even a reversal, however, could still prove costly if it doesn’t come during a weekend window when many people are likely to see the film.