Exclusive: Kamala Clobbers Caruso in CA Gov Poll

Rick Caruso Wants to Be Governor. Who Might Stop Him?

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but notice that, just like Rick Caruso’s mall miraculously escaped the Palisades Fire, his political aspirations seem to be thriving amidst the ashes too. Post-wildfire, he’s seized the opportunity to critique L.A. Mayor Karen Bass for her handling of the disaster, while boasting about his foresight regarding the blaze. In fact, whispers are circulating that Caruso might challenge Gavin Newsom when his term ends in 2026, vying for the gubernatorial seat. Interestingly, insiders have hinted that unofficial polls suggest Caruso is holding his ground against potential contenders like former mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and current lieutenant governor Eleni Kounalakis. However, there’s a significant obstacle on the horizon – an opponent who has been outperforming everyone else, including Caruso himself.

According to a political strategist following the ex-vice president’s moves, if Kamala Harris decides to join the race, it seems she would be the one most likely to lose. While her national performance might not be impressive, her success in California speaks for itself, where she has excelled significantly.”

“A political analyst who has been keeping tabs on the former vice president suggests that if Kamala Harris enters the competition, it would appear that she’s the one most at risk of losing. Although her national standing may not be strong, her California record shows exceptional performance.

If Kamala Harris enters the race, George Caruso would undeniably have the financial means to compete; he invested an astonishing $110 million of his personal wealth in his unsuccessful bid for mayor, and a gubernatorial campaign could potentially demand even more. Yet, such a move would be fraught with risk. With two consecutive defeats – one three years ago as mayor contender – another loss could severely dampen Caruso’s political prospects moving forward. However, Harris faces equally elevated stakes. The last vice president who pursued the California governorship following a presidential race was Richard Nixon, who lost to Pat Brown in 1962, promising at a post-election press conference that “the media won’t have Nixon to blame anymore.” On a positive note for Harris, history shows that Nixon went on to secure the presidency six years later. – AS A FAN

Sundance’s Biggest Winner? The Guy Who Looks Like Luigi Mangione

At Sundance in January, Dave Franco had plenty to discuss, with one intriguing topic being the massive $17 million check written for the film “Together“, a horror movie where his real-life wife, Alison Brie, plays his onscreen love interest. It’s interesting to know how Franco managed to persuade debut director Michael Shanks into casting his spouse for the role; their shared relationship, he believes, could bring an authentic touch to the dynamic between them, as he shares with THR.

However, unfortunately, all that people at Sundance, or anywhere else for that matter, seem to want to discuss with Franco these days is his striking resemblance to the suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione. “I’ve never received more messages about anything in my life,” Franco states. “Anyone who has my contact number has reached out about it.” At present, there are several documentaries in production about Mangione – one even by Oscar winner Alex Gibney – but as of now, no scripted dramas have been announced, and Franco hasn’t received any formal offers. “No,” he says, “no formal offers have been made.” – MIA GALUPPO

Conservatives Accuse Captain America of Being … Un-American?

It appears that Anthony Mackie, who took over the role of Captain America from Chris Evans following Avengers: Endgame, is facing criticism due to comments he made during a recent interview promoting their upcoming film, “Captain America: Brave New World“. In Rome, Mackie stated that the character “America” should not be one of the things that Captain America represents. Instead, he emphasized that Captain America symbolizes trustworthiness, honor, dignity, and integrity.

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It seems that Anthony Mackie, who succeeded Chris Evans as Captain America in Avengers: Endgame, is currently under fire for remarks made during an interview promoting their upcoming movie, “Captain America: Brave New World“. In Rome, Mackie shared his view that Captain America should not symbolize “America” but rather represent qualities such as trustworthiness, honor, dignity, and integrity.

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Anthony Mackie, who took over the Captain America role from Chris Evans post-Avengers: Endgame, is currently facing backlash due to comments he made while promoting their upcoming film “Captain America: Brave New World“. During an interview in Rome ahead of its Feb. 14 release, Mackie expressed that Captain America should not represent “America” but instead embody traits like trustworthiness, honor, dignity, and integrity.

Mackie, who is 46 years old, was promoting the movie in Europe to an international audience. Therefore, it was a smart marketing decision to play down Captain America’s nationality. In fact, as the superhero genre has expanded globally, many characters have started to lose their distinctly American accents. For instance, DC abandoned Superman’s motto “Truth, Justice, and the American Way” a couple of years ago (it is now “Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow”). Similarly, when Israeli actress Gal Gadot took over as Wonder Woman in 2017, she stopped wearing the traditional stars-and-stripes American flag costume.

Despite Mackie’s statement being shared widely, sparking outrage among conservative critics who labeled it as “Woke garbage”, they are now advocating for a boycott of the film. In response, Mackie has attempted to clarify his comments, stating on Instagram on January 25th that he is proudly American. However, he may require additional strength or resilience to navigate the upcoming weeks of public appearances amidst this controversy.

The article you’re reading was published in The Hollywood Reporter’s February 5th edition. If you’d like to stay updated, consider subscribing.

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2025-02-05 21:26