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Although Barack Obama was the first Black person to become the President of the United States, he likely won’t be the last. There are plenty of qualified candidates who have the brains and skills to become the next leader of the nation. So we decided to come up with a list.
Some of the names generated by The Root staff might be expected; others may surprise you. Tell us what you think—and who we might have missed.
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20
Sony’s “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” the fourth installment in the popular buddy cop series led by Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, has made a triumphant debut, earning $56 million from 3,885 theaters in its domestic opening weekend. The latest film follows the 1995 original “Bad Boys,” 2003’s “Bad Boys II,” and 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life,” and marks Smith’s significant return to the big screen since the controversial incident at the 2022 Oscars.
Despite not setting a new franchise record — that title remains with “Bad Boys for Life,” which opened to $62 million — the latest “Bad Boys” entry is a much-needed boost for theater owners. May and June had seen disappointing performances from other major releases, including Universal’s “The Fall Guy” and Warner Bros.’ “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.” As such, Hollywood is hopeful that the success of “Bad Boys 4” will reignite audience enthusiasm and drive momentum through the summer months.
Audiences have shown more appreciation for “Bad Boys 4” than critics, awarding it a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to critics 64% rating on the platform. Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the film sees detectives Mike and Marcus delving into corruption within the Miami Police Department, only to become fugitives themselves. With a production budget of $100 million, the film is positioned for a profitable run, although it may struggle to surpass the domestic and global earnings of “Bad Boys for Life,” which grossed $206 million domestically and $426 million worldwide.
Sony also celebrated a strong performance from “The Garfield Movie,” which secured the No. 2 spot with $10 million. The animated family film has amassed $68.6 million in North America and $155 million globally over three weekends, a solid return on its $60 million budget.
In contrast, the weekend’s other new release, “The Watchers,” starring Dakota Fanning, faltered with just $7 million from 3,351 venues. With a dismal “C-” CinemaScore and a 29% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the Warner Bros. supernatural horror film directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan has failed to resonate with audiences.
Meanwhile, Paramount’s family-friendly “IF,” directed by John Krasinski and starring Ryan Reynolds, earned $8 million from 3,582 locations in its fourth weekend, bringing its domestic total to $93.5 million and $145 million worldwide. Despite its steady climb, the film’s $110 million production cost means it still has ground to cover to break even.
Rounding out the top five, Disney and 20th Century’s “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” brought in $5.5 million from 3,155 theaters. After five weekends, the latest “Apes” installment has grossed $149 million domestically and $337 million globally, making it the fourth-highest-grossing movie of the year. However, it has yet to reach the box office heights of its predecessors and, given its $160 million production budget, will need continued strong performance to turn a profit.
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ST. LOUIS (AP) — A judge has expunged the misdemeanor convictions of a St. Louis couple who waved guns at racial injustice protesters outside their mansion in 2020. Now they want their guns back.
Attorneys Mark and Patricia McCloskey filed a request in January to have the convictions wiped away. Judge Joseph P. Whyte wrote in an order Wednesday that the purpose of an expungement is to give people who have rehabilitated themselves a second chance, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. City prosecutors and police opposed the expungements.
Immediately after the judge’s ruling, Mark McCloskey demanded that the city return the two guns seized as part of his 2021 guilty plea to misdemeanor assault. Republican Gov. Mike Parson pardoned the couple weeks after the plea.
“It’s time for the city to cough up my guns,” he told the Post-Dispatch.
If it doesn’t, he said, he’ll file a lawsuit.
The McCloskeys said they felt threatened by the protesters, who were passing their home in June 2020 on their way to demonstrate in front of the mayor’s house nearby. It was one of hundreds of demonstrations around the country after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The couple also said the group was trespassing on a private street.
Mark McCloskey emerged from his home with an AR-15-style rifle, and Patricia McCloskey waved a semi-automatic pistol.
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Will Smith is about to remind everyone why he’s the King of the box office as Bad Boys: Ride or Die—the fourth installment of the popular Bad Boys franchise hits theaters.
Back at it again with his costar Martin Lawrence, the “Hitch” star is primed and ready to bring smiles to fan’s faces just in time for summer and hopefully silence critics by smashing records. In fact, his summer blockbuster reign has already started as early numbers from the previews have cemented the film as the highest opening for an R-rated film since last summer’s awards season darling, Oppenheimer.
Of course, Smith’s success at the box office should come as no surprise to anyone as he’s one of the very few actors to consistently and consecutively release films that crossed the $100 million mark on opening weekend. The third film of the franchise, Bad Boys For Life remains the higest grossing one in the seires, coming in at a whopping $426.5 million. I have no doubts Bad Boys: Ride or Die will do just the same if not more.
So as you gear up to see the Bad Boys take to the streets for one more ride (with hopefully one more to come), check out Big Willy’s long history of movie millions!
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19
The Chicago Sky faced a tough battle on their home court, falling to the Atlanta Dream 89-80. Despite the loss, rookie sensation Angel Reese continued to impress with a standout performance that showcased her versatility and tenacity.
Reese was a dominant force, filling the stat sheet with 13 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 steals. She shot efficiently from the field, hitting 5 of her 10 attempts, and was reliable from the free-throw line, making 3 of 4 shots. Her efforts have not only been a bright spot for the Sky but have also placed her in the spotlight as one of the league’s most promising newcomers.
This game marks the second consecutive outing where Reese has recorded 10+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ steals, making her the only player in the WNBA to achieve this feat this season. Her remarkable performance underscores her ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor.
In her rookie campaign, Reese has consistently ranked among the league’s best. She is the only rookie currently in the top 5 in two major statistical categories, ranking 4th in rebounds and tied-5th in steals among all WNBA players. Her relentless effort on the boards and defensive prowess have been critical to her team’s competitiveness.
With today’s double-double, Reese has now recorded her fourth of the young season, tying her for sixth place among all WNBA players. Her ability to consistently produce at such a high level is turning heads and earning respect across the league.
Moreover, Reese’s advanced metrics further illustrate her impact. She ranks in the top 2 in Win Shares, Player Offensive Rating, Player Defensive Rating, and Player Efficiency Rating (PER), making her the only rookie to achieve such elite status in multiple categories.
Although the Sky couldn’t secure a victory against the Dream, Angel Reese’s performance continues to be a beacon of hope and excitement for Chicago fans. Her growth and contributions are vital as the team looks to navigate the season and build for the future.
The Sky will aim to bounce back in their next game, and with Reese leading the charge, they remain a formidable opponent for any team in the league.
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NEW YORK (AP) — Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed Friday to testify before what’s likely to be a hostile, Republican-controlled congressional subcommittee, but likely not until after former President Donald Trump is sentenced in July.
The House Judiciary Committee chairman, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, wrote Bragg in late May after Trump’s conviction in his hush money trial, accusing him of having conducted a “political prosecution” and requesting his testimony at a hearing June 13.
In a reply letter, the Manhattan district attorney’s general counsel, Leslie Dubeck, said the prosecutor’s office was “committed to voluntary cooperation.”
That cooperation, it added, included making Bragg, a Democrat, available to testify “at an agreed-upon date.” But the letter said the date picked by Jordan presented “presents various scheduling conflicts.”
It noted that the Trump prosecution is not yet finished. Trump, who was convicted of falsifying records to cover up hush money paid to a porn actor during the 2016 presidential campaign, is scheduled to be sentenced July 11. Before then, prosecutors will be making recommendations to a judge about what kind of punishment Trump deserves.
“The trial court and reviewing appellate courts have issued numerous orders for the purpose of protecting the fair administration of justice in People v. Trump, and to participate in a public hearing at this time would be potentially detrimental to those efforts,” the letter said.
Bragg’s office asked for an opportunity to discuss an alternative date with the subcommittee and get more information about “the scope and purpose of the proposed hearing.”
Jordan has also asked for testimony from Matthew Colangelo, one of the lead prosecutors in the Trump case. Bragg’s office didn’t rule that out, but said in the letter that it would “evaluate the propriety” of allowing an assistant district attorney to testify publicly about an active prosecution.
Jordan, an Ohio Republican, has proposed withholding federal funding from any entity that attempts to prosecute a former president. He has also railed against what he’s described as the “weaponization of the federal government.”
His committee successfully battled before to get a deposition from one former prosecutor who worked on Trump’s case, Mark Pomerantz, over Bragg’s initial objections. That deposition, however, yielded little, with Pomerantz declining to answer many questions on the grounds that doing so could potentially open him up to a criminal prosecution for disclosing secret grand jury testimony.
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The latest gun violence incident claimed the life of a 14-year-old boy. What’s even more heartbreaking is who the alleged shooter was.
Sunday morning, the preteen was hanging out with his cousin, 14-year-old Jasai Guy, who he was visiting for the weekend at his grandparent’s home in Brownsville, per AMNY. People in the neighborhood knew Jasai as the “popular kid” who played basketball, stayed in his books and stayed out of trouble, per The New York Post. – Kalyn Womack Read More
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25
Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems has reached a significant milestone in her career, achieving her biggest streaming day of all time on Spotify.
On June 7th, Tems garnered an impressive 8.028 million streams following the release of her highly anticipated debut album, Born In the Wild.
The album, which hit streaming platforms on June 6, accumulated 5.33 million streams on its first full day of release, marking it the second-largest debut for a female Nigerian artist on Spotify. Tems now trails only Ayra Starr’s The Year I Turned 21, which holds the top spot with 6.3 million streams.
When asked about the inspiration behind Born In the Wild, Tems explained, “This album is a story of transformation, from a cocoon to a butterfly. It speaks on surviving mental wilderness and coming to a place where one can thrive. It’s about finally accepting oneself and embodying the woman I was born to be. It shows the different dimensions of who I am, from a cub to a lioness.”
The 18-track album features notable collaborations with J. Cole and Asake, adding to its wide appeal. Fans were treated to a preview of the album during Tems’ captivating TINY DESK performance earlier this week, where she debuted two new tracks, “Unfortunate” and “Forever.”
Additionally, Tems recently appeared as a special musical guest on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, delivering an angelic medley of her latest single “Love Me Jeje” and the live debut of the album’s title track, “Born In the Wild.”
Tems is gearing up for her first-ever headlining world tour, aptly named the Born In the Wild World Tour. The global trek will commence on Wednesday, June 12, in London at Eventim Apollo, with subsequent stops across Europe and North America. The tour will then head to Africa before wrapping up in Australia at The Hordern Pavilion in Sydney on November 15.
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Mike Tyson’s fight with Jake Paul is now set for Nov. 15 after the former world heavyweight champion fell ill on a flight last month.
The fight was originally set for July 20 in Arlington, Texas, home to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, and will be aired on Netflix.
Tyson became nauseous and dizzy during the final hour of a flight from Miami to Los Angeles. His plane was met by first responders, while Tyson’s camp attributed the episode to an ulcer problem and said he would need to do light training for several weeks.
Tyson turns 58 on June 30.
“Although we had to postpone the fight, I will resume training shortly. I am thankful to the medical staff that treated me and to MVP, Netflix, and AT&T Stadium for working diligently to find the best reschedule date for all parties,” Tyson said in a statement released by Netflix. “While we have a new date, the result will be the same no matter when we fight. Jake Paul is getting knocked out.”
The fight was originally slated for a Saturday, but will be held on a Friday as the Cowboys prepare to host the Houston Texans on Nov. 18 for Monday Night Football.
“Our team has worked diligently with all parties involved to reschedule this monumental fight to a date that ensures both Jake Paul and Mike Tyson are fully prepared, with equal training time, as well as allowing us to keep the event at AT&T stadium in the midst of the Cowboys season,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions.
Tyson hasn’t fought professionally since June 2005, but he has been training regularly for several years. He fought Roy Jones Jr. in an entertaining exhibition in Los Angeles in November 2020.
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A Georgia state representative is celebrating a victory on her path to reelection. But her judgment is already being called into question after she was caught in a crazy lie about her organizational affiliations. We’ll explain. – Angela Johnson Read More
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