Now that movie-theater crowds barely exist, how do we know what it means to make a crowdpleaser? Even if we no longer have the usual metrics, Craig Brewer’s delightfully unapologetic melodrama Song Sung Blue is a crowdpleaser in the best way. In this based-on-real-life story, Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson play a duo of Milwaukee […]
About: nikki
Posts by nikki:
No Other Choice Falls Short of Capturing the Drawbacks of Downsizing
Right now is the ideal moment for an adaptation of Donald E. Westlake’s unflinching 1997 novel The Ax, a sharply perceptive book that frames downsizing as a form of dehumanization. The downside? No Other Choice—the Ax adaptation the Korean master filmmaker has been waiting years to bring to life—doesn’t do justice to Westlake’s icy, incisive […]
Behind ‘Song Sung Blue’: An Inspiring True Story
Song Sung Blue, releasing Dec. 25, features and as a married couple who perform in a tribute band. The roles are based on Mike and Claire Sardina, an actual couple who performed Diamond hits in Wisconsin as the act “Lightning and Thunder.” Craig Brewer’s film depicts their romance, rise to popularity in Milwaukee, survival of […]
The James Webb Space Telescope Has Revolutionized Our View of Space
Fourth anniversaries usually aren’t reasons for celebration. However, in the case of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which launched on December 25, 2021, this anniversary represents an important transition. Up until now, JWST has been in discovery mode. It took a generation to develop and cost a significant amount. It is the most powerful […]
Trump Administration to Scrap Random H-1B Visa Lottery in Major Overhaul
The Trump Administration has announced a major overhaul of the H-1B visa program that will replace the long-standing lottery system for granting visas to foreign workers with specialized qualifications, introducing a new weighted system that favors higher-skilled and higher-paid workers. The new rule, scheduled to take effect on Feb. 26, 2026, will govern tens of […]
The Two Words to Say When You Receive a Gift You Dislike
Unwrapping a gift during holiday gatherings with an audience can evoke excitement—or anxiety. The gift-giver has probably invested considerable time, money, and careful consideration into choosing it. While you might adore it, there’s also a chance you’ll feel puzzled, insulted, slightly appalled, or let down. What comes next? An uncomfortable stretch of time spent attempting […]
Season 1 Finale of Pluribus Is a Heartbreaking Allegory About Love’s Dark Side
Vince Gilligan’s Apple TV sci-fi epic wraps up its debut season with a heart-wrenching allegory about the emotion that defines our humanity
How K-Drama Dynamite Kiss Emerged As The Year’s Rom-Com Breakout Hit
The global reputation of the Korean TV industry rests on violent thrillers, historical epics like Mr. Sunshine, character-driven procedurals such as Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and slice-of-life dramas like —but straightforward romantic comedies remain the backbone of this cultural export. Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, has long been fueled by rom-coms like Full House, Coffee Prince, […]
Why Dry January Isn’t the Answer
Year after year, people repeat the same error: they pledge to give up alcohol during the first month of the year as part of Dry January. But when February arrives, their previous habits return as well. If you’re aiming for improved health rather than a month-long display of discipline, a wiser approach is to restructure […]
The 5 Biggest Questions We’re Left With After Pluribus Season 1’s Finale
Warning: This post contains spoilers for the finale. While it briefly appeared Carol (Rhea Seehorn) was succumbing to the Others’ efforts to draw her into the hive mind’s collective existence, the conclusion of Pluribus Season 1’s finale offered a contrasting narrative. In the final moments of the ninth and last episode (which premiered on Apple […]
Former Sen. Ben Sasse Discloses He Has Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer
Former GOP Sen. Ben Sasse—who gained recognition for breaking with his party to criticize former President Donald Trump and voted to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial—announced on Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. “This is a hard message to write, but since many of you have started to […]
False Video Claiming to Show Epstein’s Suicide Released by DOJ Then Removed
On Monday, the Department of Justice published a fabricated video claiming to depict the suicide of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The footage was included in the most recent Epstein-related materials released by the Trump Administration, but was subsequently removed without any statement from the department. The fraudulent video apparently entered the FBI’s Epstein files […]
In Remembrance: Notable People Who Passed Away in 2025
A moment to pause and reflect on some of the notable individuals who passed away this year.
Wegovy, the Weight-Loss Drug, Now Comes in a Pill
Individuals using injectable GLP-1 therapies—a class of drugs that imitates the hormone to manage diabetes and aid weight loss—now have an alternative way to take the medication. On Dec. 22, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Wegovy pill from Novo Nordisk. The tablet will contain 25 mg of semaglutide—the same compound in […]
Lawmakers Threaten Action Against Bondi, DOJ Over Incomplete Release of Epstein Files
Lawmakers are vowing to respond to the Trump Administration’s partial disclosure of government documents concerning the deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, even though a new statute mandated full publication of all such records by last Friday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday that he will propose a resolution instructing the Senate to commence […]
Bondi Beach Attackers Planned for Months, Threw Unexploded Bombs, Police Say
Monday’s release of court documents includes new particulars about the deadly attack and the two men believed to be responsible.
Erdogan’s S-400 Difficulties Are Self-Brought About
The president of Turkey is coming to realize through hard experience that nationalist posturing results in poor foreign policy.
36 Books to Look Forward to in 2026
Readers can look forward to upcoming books from George Saunders, Colson Whitehead, Ann Patchett, Ruth Ozeki, Jesmyn Ward, and others in the year ahead.
Car Bomb Assassination Claims Russian General in Moscow
A Russian general was killed on Monday morning when a bomb planted under his car exploded in Moscow, an attack for which Ukraine is suspected to be responsible. The high-ranking officer who died in the blast was identified as Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, who leads the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General […]
DOJ Reinstates Trump’s Image on Epstein Files Website After Backlash
The Justice Department has reinstated a photograph featuring President Donald Trump to the Epstein files website following backlash over its decision to remove several images from the trove of files released over the weekend. The showed a desk with multiple framed photographs and an open drawer holding more photos and photo albums. One of the […]