Entertainment
Star Trek’s Coolest Political Analogy Was Ruined By Its Greatest Failure
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

Regardless of what reactionaries on YouTube might tell you, Star Trek has always been full of political commentary. Original Series episodes like “A Private Little War” served as a commentary on Vietnam, for example, while Deep Space Nine’s “Paradise Lost” demonstrated the dangers of trading national freedom for security. Furthermore, the entire Maquis storyline that set up Voyager is a scathing allegory for the ethical quandaries of colonization.
Every now and then, though, Star Trek shoots itself in the foot with a clunky metaphor that doesn’t quite land. For example, the writer of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Defector,” Ronald D. Moore, previously insisted that his story was a metaphor for real-life events. According to him, this story presents “the Cuban missile crisis at the Neutral Zone.” Unfortunately, this political analogy doesn’t land because it relies on a deep understanding of the Romulan War, which the franchise has always inexplicably refused to flesh out.
The Gang Stops A Romulan War

In “The Defector,” the Enterprise offers sanctuary to a Romulan who is fleeing out of the Neutral Zone, away from his own people. He provides intel to Captain Picard about the Romulans building a secret base inside the Neutral Zone, where they can make and hide starships. Picard is skeptical of these claims and hesitant to enter the Neutral Zone, but he does so after the Romulan is revealed to be a high-ranking admiral. Unfortunately, he is being played by his own people, and the Romulans try to ambush the Enterprise. However, Picard brought some cloaked Klingon ships to even the odds, and the stalemate was resolved without bloodshed.
The episode was written by Ronald D. Moore, the rockstar Star Trek writer who later became showrunner of the highly acclaimed Battlestar Galactica reboot. As recorded in Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, he once described the events of this episode as “the Cuban missile crisis at the Neutral Zone.” This makes sense, of course, because America’s discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba nearly led to all-out nuclear war. The seemingly unprovoked presence of the Enterprise in the Neutral Zone, meanwhile, would have given the Romulans a chance to righteously strike back at the invading Federation.
The Man With The Plan

Why, then, do I think the key political analogy of “The Defector” falls apart? Mostly, because the franchise never gave us a detailed rundown of what happened during the Earth-Romulan War. This conflict is first mentioned in The Original Series, but without much detail. We got a handful of details in the later series Enterprise, which retroactively revealed that the “humiliating defeat at the Battle of Cheron” mentioned in “The Defector” is actually a reference to the final battle of this interstellar conflict. However, Enterprise ended without getting to show the Earth-Romulan War, which, to this day, still remains largely shrouded in mystery.
Why does the confusion about the Earth-Romulan War ruin the political analogy of “The Defector?” Without knowing much about this conflict or that the defecting Romulan is referencing its most decisive battle, everything falls apart. All we really see in this Next Generation episode is Romulans trying to set a trap for our heroes. It’s not really clear that this was an attempt to justify a second major conflict between these empires or that Picard’s quick thinking might very well have saved the Federation from the futuristic equivalent of a nuclear war.

Like America and the USSR, there is plenty of complex and bitter history between the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire. Ronald D. Moore’s comparison to the Cuban Missile Crisis is quite apt. The discovery of the Enterprise in the Neutral Zone, like the discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba, would have been enough to trigger a destructive war between the two biggest powers in the galaxy. The story is complex and nuanced, but the payoff is far from satisfying, all because Star Trek has refused to give us details of the Earth-Romulan War for the last 60 years!
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Entertainment
Oscar Isaac Joined ‘Beef’ Because Of This One Scene
Actor Oscar Isaac has starred in many franchise roles. After playing the pilot Poe Dameron in “Star Wars” and the titular Moon Knight on the Disney+ Marvel series, he starred in Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 “Frankenstein,” which was a huge hit for Netflix. Isaac appeared on the streamer again in the second season of “Beef,” along with Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, and Cailee Spaeny. Isaac recently revealed that he was only convinced to join the show after watching a pivotal scene from the show’s first season.
Oscar Isaac Reveals Why He Joined The Netflix Anthology ‘Beef’
Following the success of season 1 of “Beef,” the Netflix anthology series created by Lee Sung Jin continued with a whole new cast of characters. When asked by Entertainment Weekly what made him sign up for the show, Isaac revealed that there was a pivotal scene from the show’s first season that stood out to him.
“I remember I was really intrigued by the first couple of episodes,” Isaac recalled. “But it was episode 3, when [Steven Yeun’s] character goes to the church, and the singing starts happening, and he starts sobbing. It was both so moving and so hilarious at the same time.”
In episode 3, titled “I Am Inhabited by a Cry,” Yeun’s character, Danny Cho, breaks down crying during a Korean evangelical church service. But, in the previous scene, he almost set Amy’s car on fire until he noticed that her daughter was sitting inside. The feud between Danny and Amy, played by Ali Wong, takes dark, and sometimes comedic, twists throughout the show’s first season.
Isaac Praises ‘Beef’ For ‘Embracing The Cringe’

Isaac went on to praise Jin’s ability to craft a “razor-thin tone that I thought was really fascinating — between embracing the cringe of the moment, but also the compassion for that character and the situation. That was it.”
Isaac said that he had “these very long sessions” with the showrunner to explore the themes of the show. “Sunny and I, it felt like a men’s group of two, like a therapy session. We would talk about all sorts of subjects that kind of related, even sometimes very loosely, to the script,” he recalled. “That felt like, ‘Oh, this is a real investigation of something. This is not just showing up to deliver some idea.’ That became really exciting.”
In season 2, Isaac plays a country club manager named Joshua Martin. He and his wife, played by Carey Mulligan, get caught in a sticky situation when a younger couple, played by Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny, witness them having an intense fight.
Oscar Isaac Stars In Julian Schnabel’s Historical Epic
This isn’t the only Netflix project that Isaac is involved in. His film “In The Hand of Dante” made a splash at last year’s Venice Film Festival. The movie boasts an A-list cast that includes Gal Gadot, Gerard Butler, John Malkovich, Martin Scorsese, Al Pacino, and Jason Momoa.
Isaac plays two roles: an author named Nick Tosches in the 21st century and Dante Alighieri in the 14th century. Netflix has scheduled the film for a theatrical release on June 12, followed by a streaming release on June 24.
What’s Next For Oscar Isaac: Inside ‘The Roman’

According to Deadline, Isaac and his production company are working on developing a creative partnership with the streamer that will give them first-look rights to any film or series projects. One of those projects is a Vegas series from Brian Koppelman and David Levien.
The eight-episode casino drama puts Isaac into the role of Robert “Bobby Red” Redman. He’s president of the hottest hotel casino in town, but he’s going to try to make some long odds moves to try to secure his position and take even more ground.
According to Variety, the series is called “The Roman” and will also star Betty Gilpin, Alec Baldwin, and David Costabile. Gilpin will star as Marla Blake, who is described as “Bobby’s formidable wife and a brilliant, highly connected lawyer.”
Baldwin will play Paul “Primo” Clark, said to be “A legendary and flint-eyed business technician, Primo is the longtime chairman of the organization and a surrogate father figure to Bobby.” Baldwin previously played a casino boss in the critically-acclaimed film “The Cooler.”
At this time, “The Roman” does not have a release date.
Entertainment
Kendra Wilkinson Slams People Body Shaming Her Breasts
Kendra Wilkinson is firing back after body-shamers suggested she ‘downsize’ her breast implants.
The former Playboy model, 40, posted about her weight-loss journey via an Instagram post on Tuesday, May 26, prompting some of her followers to offer up unsolicited advice about the size of her bust.
“Month two on my GLP-1 journey and I’m still being really intentional about how I approach this. For me, it was never just about the number on the scale,” Wilkinson captioned the post. “It’s about feeling like myself again, having real energy, and actually learning to trust the process without trying to fast forward it. I wanted this to feel honest, sustainable, and actually work for MY life.”
According to screenshots taken of Wilkinson’s Instagram Story and published by The Looker on Wednesday, May 27, some followers criticized her shape.
“The boobs make you look heavier. Bring it down a few sizes. You’ll look smaller,” read one comment.
In response, Wilkinson wrote, “Who’s paying?! “You want my Venmo to support this?”
Another comment read, “Kendra, you’re not overweight. I think your implants make you look heavier than you are. Consider a reduction in your augmentation?”
Wilkinson, who got her breast implants at 18, reacted to this remark by sharing a selfie and hitting back in text overlaid on the image.
“Until I get my GoFundMe breast reduction money, I’m going to love my boobs the way they are,” she wrote.

Kendra Wilkinson. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
In the past, Wilkinson has been candid about aging in the spotlight and the criticism that comes with it.
In March, she took to Instagram to speak about “embracing herself” and rejecting any negatively thrown her way about her looks.
“I used to use a light filter on myself but now I’m just embracing myself as it is,” she captioned a selfie. “I’ve seen many people comment saying I’ve aged ‘poorly’ and that is ok. I’m ok with aging ‘poorly.’”
The Girls Next Door star went on to say that she’s the happiest she’s ever been at age 40.
“For some reason I’m happier than I’ve ever been lately, even with a little weight gain and wrinkles,” she wrote. “I’m not going to tie my happiness again into the negative energy.”
Wilkinson gave herself credit for being a “balanced, single, positive, fun woman who loves life” in the social media post.
Wilkinson found fame in the Playboy Mansion as one of Hugh Hefner’s main girlfriends in 2004 (alongside Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt), after she met the Playboy founder when she was 18 at his 78th birthday party.
Entertainment
Which Sheriff Country Stars Are, Aren’t Returning for Season 2?
Sheriff Country is returning for season 2 — but is everyone from the cast coming back?
The town of Edgewater was originally introduced when Fire Country premiered in 2022 with inmate Bode (Max Thieriot) returning home and volunteering for the California Conservation Camp Program during season 1 of the hit show. By season 2, a backdoor pilot set up the world of Sheriff Country, which is centered around Sharon’s (Diane Farr) estranged sister Mickey (Morena Baccarin) as she solves crimes in town.
CBS was quick to renew Sheriff Country in December 2025 after its success on the network. According to a press release, Sheriff Country has averaged 7.6 million viewers and is “consistently a time period winner” for Friday nights at 8 P.M.
The first season wrapped up in May 2026 with a shocking episode that revealed Deputy Director of the DEA — Eva (Rachel Ticotin) — as Mickey’s mother who was presumed dead.
“We’re told in the pilot of season 1 that Mickey’s mother is dead and it’s quite clear she’s dead. She’s not part of the picture. One of the writers pitched it to me relatively early in season 1 [that she was secretly alive], and I dismissed it,” showrunner Matt Lopez exclusively told Us Weekly. “Over the course of the season, more and more writers started to get on board. I was a fairly late convert because I don’t want to just turn over a card to turn over a card. If it gives us really good story and reveals something about the characters we care about and it’s grounded in real human emotion then I’m interested.”
Lopez is excited to unpack that in season 2.
“It resets our family dynamic that’s at the heart of this show,” he teased. “And it addresses all the interesting character wrinkles that it gave us to play. We’ll see in the early episodes, Wes thinks he and Mickey are on the same page that they were both betrayed by this woman. Mickey isn’t as on board and in some ways you can make the case that Wes’ betrayal was worse. We’ll unpack all of this.”
He continued: “She hasn’t been part of the picture since Mickey was like 5 or 6 years old and who owes Mickey a bigger debt of gratitude? Wes believed she was dead and we will unspool that whole story of what went into that decision to essentially stage her death. It’s really fun and it’s got a lot of delicious turns to it.”
Looking ahead at the show’s future, Lopez said the return will “subvert expectations,” adding, “There is a time jump but then we will fill in like what happened in the scene that we didn’t see. The emotional aftershocks are going to last much more than an episode and we’ve set up this incredible dynamic where Mickey’s essentially barely speaking to her father and now their handler is the woman who Mickey has thought was dead for the last 30 years. It’s got a great sort of engine out the gate.”
Keep scrolling to see who is — and isn’t — returning in season 2:
Morena Baccarin

Maren Morris as Hazel and Morena Baccarin as Sheriff Mickey Fox. Darren Goldstein/CBS
There would be no Sheriff Country without Baccarin and her character, Mickey.
Christopher Gorham

Gorham’s character Travis will be in season 2 as the character balances Sheriff Country and Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage.
Michele Weaver

Weaver was missing from several episodes in season 1 amid her pregnancy. She has since returned and Cassie will remain a large part of the show.
Matt Lauria

Lauria is returning as Boone in season 2 as fans continue to root for him and Mickey as a couple.
W. Earl Brown

Season 2 will continue to explore Mickey’s difficult relationship with her dad, Wes (Brown).
Amanda Arcuri
After playing Mickey’s daughter, Skye, in season 1, Arcuri will have a larger role in the sophomore season.
Ian Quinlan
Quinlan is also being promoted from recurring to main cast for season 2.
Rachel Ticotin
Ticotin’s character Eva is presumably returning after revealing that she is actually Mickey’s mother.
Entertainment
13 celebrities who have saved lives
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Celebrities like Tom Cruise and Harrison Ford have shown that heroism isn’t limited to the big screen.
Entertainment
Hayden Panettiere Praises Paris Jackson After Addiction
Hayden Panettiere is throwing her support behind Paris Jackson after both women got candid about their respective addiction struggles.
Appearing on The Morning Show on Thursday, May 28, Panettiere, 36, was asked whether she related to some of the issues Paris had recently been open about dealing with.
Paris, who is the daughter of late pop star Michael Jackson, spoke about the “ugly behavior” she typically engaged in when she hit the bottle.
“The behavior is really ugly. It’s really ugly behavior in a moral way, because I was raised to be kind — and not nice,” Paris, 28, said during a Tuesday, May 26, appearance on Jack Osbourne’s “Trying Not to Die” podcast. “I could give a s**t about being nice — but being kind and looking people in the eye and asking the waiter their name so you can write it down on the receipt later, just little things of, just like, how do you treat people?”
Paris added, “What happens when I drink is that goes away. That goes right out the window and I become a very vindictive person.”
The Heroes alum praised Paris for her comments as well as the way she has navigated her personal difficulties so far.
“I actually just saw Paris and she’s an incredible person, incredibly strong. To see somebody who’s also battled addiction and made it through — she’s such a powerful, beautiful person,” Panettiere said on The Morning Show.
She added, “And you would think… I mean growing up with a family the way that she has and now that she’s you know, putting her music out there, it’s just… I’m really proud of her.”

Hayden Panettiere. (Photo by Trae Patton/NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
The Nashville star has fought her own demons. In her new memoir, This Is Me: The Reckoning, Panettiere shared details of her addiction battle and her experience in rehab.
Speaking to Us Weekly to promote the book earlier this month, Panettiere explained how eight months in rehab – her third stint – helped her find herself again.
“It was time. I finally had the time to stay in treatment and let my brain re-heal and rewire itself and a lot of that is just simply time. I had never stayed in treatment that long,” she told Us. I would make these small leaps and little by little. And I remember getting to about eight months and going, ‘Oh my gosh, now I know what they mean when they say “gotten over the hump.”’”
She continued, “Even though it takes patience and you hit walls, and there’s nothing about it that’s easy, it is so worth it. There’s no drug in the world that can recreate the feeling of genuine health and happiness and contentment, being content.”
Entertainment
One of the Greatest Sitcoms of All Time Shoots Up Apple TV’s Charts 11 Years Later
There are tons of classic sitcoms that you probably count yourself a fan of. Whether it’s something vintage like I Love Lucy or a modern fan favorite like Friends, television comedies have always offered something for everyone. Now, in the stressful times we’re living in, we’re in need of a comfort comedy more than ever. One NBC sitcom that premiered in 2009 is still burning up streaming charts 11 years later, proving that truly great television can have a long shelf-life. If you’re looking for a show that blends a fun mockumentary format, the silly workplace hijinks of The Office, and a sweet, inspirational hero, this seven-season series is for you.
What Is ‘Parks and Recreation’ About?
It’s likely that you’ve seen Parks and Recreation already since it was a pretty big hit about a decade ago. But if you haven’t managed to catch it yet, there are countless reasons why it should be your next binge-watch. The series is set in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, and the story follows a rag-tag bunch of employees who work at the Parks and Recreation Department. Comedy legend Amy Poehler stars as Leslie Knope, a cheery, optimist who truly believes that she can turn Pawnee into the best city ever. Her first order of business in Season 1 is to turn a giant pit behind her best friend, Ann’s (Rashida Jones) house into a park that the whole city can enjoy.
Of course, there is plenty of political red tape and bureaucracy, but Leslie enlists her dysfunctional co-workers to help with her lofty goals. Her colleagues include the gruff, anti-social parks director Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), who tries to resist Leslie’s sunshiny nature, and Leslie’s subordinates, Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari), and intern April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza), who are just generally sort of inept at their jobs. Somehow, Leslie never lets any roadblocks deter her, and throughout seven seasons she remains one of the best protagonists ever seen on television.
You’ll Fall in Love With ‘Parks and Recreation’s Zany Storylines and Incredible Cast
It’s easy to get joyfully sucked into Leslie’s world, and every season is better than the last. The show consists of a fantastic blend of dry humor, mixed with a hopeful electricity that will mean you’ll want to spend time with all of these characters. The setting of Pawnee also feels instantly relatable. Even if you’ve never lived in a small town, you’ve probably had to interact with local government, making these scenes feel familiar, yet always hilarious. Whether Leslie is getting sidelined by a city councilperson who acts as her nemesis or falling in love with the city’s miniature horse mascot named Li’l Sebastian, Parks and Recreation will never fail to keep you laughing. The series also has the benefit of developing its characters over the course of many seasons. Chris Pratt, in his breakthrough role, becomes even more lovable as Andy Dwyer, April’s goofy boyfriend, and Retta joins the cast later in the series as Donna Meagle, a no-nonsense employee that joins the department with amazing deadpan timing.
The 10 Best ‘Parks and Rec’ Quotes, Ranked
‘Parks and Rec’ is known for its hilariously memorable quotes.
Parks and Recreation would have been a good-enough sitcom based merely on the hysterical writing of Greg Daniels and Michael Schur. But the series has stood the test of time because of its incredible cast. Poehler grounds the entire cast with her unflappable positivity, and Offerman offers much hilarity by being the total opposite of her. The supporting cast is boosted to even greater heights with later appearances by Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, and Billy Eichner. The series also became well-known for cameos from comedy icons, with performances by everyone from Megan Mullally (Offerman’s real-life wife) and Fred Armison to Paul Rudd and Kathryn Hahn. Several real-life politicians even popped up, including then-Vice President Joe Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Leslie’s personal hero, Madeleine Albright. A binge-watch makes it easy to see how all of these talented humans came together to produce a laugh-a-minute sitcom.
Throughout its seven-season run, Parks and Recreation was nominated for 14 Emmys, but would, shockingly, never take home any wins. That makes it all the more sweet that the series is still climbing the charts and finding new audiences more than a decade after it went off the air. In 2020, about one month into the COVID-19 pandemic, Parks and Recreation came back with a special reunion episode to help lift everyone’s spirits. This just proves that the show continues to be a comfort to everyone who watches it. So, as Tom and Donna would say, you should “treat yo’ self” to a binge-watch today.
Parks and Recreation
- Release Date
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2009 – 2015
- Directors
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Dean Holland, Ken Whittingham, Troy Miller, Craig Zisk, Morgan Sackett, Randall Einhorn, Michael Trim, Nicole Holofcener, Tristram Shapeero, Wendey Stanzler, Beth McCarthy-Miller, Jason Woliner, Charles McDougall, Daniel J. Goor, Nick Offerman, Tucker Gates, Alan Yang, Alex Hardcastle, Jorma Taccone, Seth Gordon, Adam Scott, David Rogers, Jaime Eliezer Karas, Jeffrey Blitz
Entertainment
Mindy Kaling ‘Looks Amazing’ In NYC After 40lb Weight Loss
Mindy Kaling had all eyes on her when she stepped out for the premiere of her new Hulu comedy “Not Suitable For Work,” and fans could not stop talking about her dramatic transformation. The actress, writer, and producer looked slimmer than ever while walking the red carpet in a shimmering gold gown, sparking a fresh wave of reactions online. While some fans once questioned whether Ozempic-like medications played a role in her transformation, others were simply focused on praising Mindy Kaling’s stunning appearance.

Kaling stepped onto the red carpet Thursday, looking radiant in a gleaming gold gown that perfectly highlighted her slimmed-down figure. The former “Office” star, who created “Not Suitable For Work” and serves as the Hulu comedy’s showrunner, stunned in the sparkling ensemble, which featured rhinestone detailing across the bust and shoulder straps.
She paired the look with shimmering gold Louboutins, a matching clutch, and dangling diamond earrings for even more glam. Kaling completed the look by wearing her dark hair parted to the side.
Fans Couldn’t Stop Talking About Kaling’s Transformation
Unsurprisingly, fans quickly flooded social media with compliments over Kaling’s appearance. “Congratulations on the weight loss. You look amazing,” one person wrote. “Mindy = classy,” another fan shared, while someone else simply added, “Mindy Kaling looks beautiful.”
The glowing reactions come after Kaling’s noticeable weight loss sparked major online conversation over the past few years, with some fans previously urging her to “admit” whether Ozempic-like medications played a role. However, the actress has never confirmed using weight-loss drugs.
Mindy Kaling Opened Up About The Motivation Behind Her Weight Loss

Although Kaling has stayed relatively private about her transformation, she recently revealed that her motivation for losing weight has shifted over the years. “When I was younger, I would want to lose weight because of vanity reasons,” she explained in an interview with Bustle. “Now I want to lose weight or have lost weight because I want to stave off things like diabetes.”
The actress said avoiding the disease became increasingly important because diabetes runs in both sides of her family. “Do I wake up every day being like, ‘I look amazing, and I’m so gorgeous?” No, unsurprisingly, but I truly feel so healthy,” she added.
Kaling also acknowledged why some fans struggle to embrace celebrity weight loss. “It’s sometimes no fun when one of your favorite actors loses weight,” she said. “You have an idea of what they were like when you grew attached to them, and it made them endear themselves to you.”
Kaling Previously Revealed How She Lost More Than 40 Pounds

The “Office” actress first opened up about her health journey in 2023 after shedding more than 40 pounds. At the time, she told PEOPLE she had embraced weight training while mixing in cardio workouts like hiking and running to stay active.
“I’m feeling really confident in my body these days, which is not something that I’ve been able to say for my whole life, unfortunately,” she admitted. “I know people are really interested in my body and the changes in my body, and I think it’s flattering, and sometimes it’s just a little much, so I don’t try to tune it in too much. The truth is that I spend so much time and energy trying to be healthy.”
Kaling also explained that balancing fitness with motherhood meant squeezing in workouts whenever possible. “It’s hard with two kids that I wake up really early, and I fit it in, and I basically live in workout clothes so I can get it in, get an extra mile in,” she said.
Since then, Kaling welcomed her third child, daughter Anne, in February 2024.
Mindy Kaling’s New Hulu Comedy Is Finally Here

While fans were focused on her red carpet transformation, Kaling was actually celebrating the premiere of her newest project, “Not Suitable For Work.”
According to the show’s official logline, the comedy follows “five work-obsessed twenty-somethings striving for professional success and, if they have time, personal happiness in Manhattan’s most glamorous neighborhood, Murray Hill.”
The series stars Will Angus, Avantika, Ella Hunt, Jack Martin, Nicholas Duvernay, and Jay Ellis, with Victor Garber, Ego Nwodim, and Constance Wu appearing in recurring roles.
Entertainment
Jen Affleck Appears To Make Subtle Dig At ‘SLOMW’ Cast
“SLOMW” star Jen Affleck appeared to take a subtle jab at her Hulu co-stars on social media. After all the fighting that’s gone on among people like Taylor Frankie Paul, Jessi Draper, and Mikayla Matthews, Affleck made an Instagram post urging her co-workers to reel it in for their children’s sake.

A Reddit user shared a screenshot of Affleck’s latest Instagram Stories post. In it, she said she’s been MIA on social media for the last few weeks, choosing to spend more time with her children.
Her post also included a statement many believe was aimed at her “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” co-stars. “Ladies, maybe we stop fighting on the internet for minute. We’ve got kids to raise.”
Social Media Users Respond To Affleck’s Post About Her ‘SLMOW’ Castmates

Affleck’s post didn’t garner the reaction she may have been hoping for, as several Redditors slammed the reality star for being “passive-aggressive.”
“But isn’t this a passive aggressive stab at the rest of the cast… And therefore isn’t she now getting involved in the pettiness of the online fighting?” someone wrote.
Another chimed in, adding, “They are all so insufferable LMAO,” and a third said, “She’s correct, but because it’s coming from her, the pick me vibes are distracting.”
And the negative comments didn’t stop there. Someone else posted, “Yeah, [she’s right], but this just reads as patronizing. … Typical Jen and gross in my opinion.”
“Ugh this is sanctimonious af. She did always come across smug, this expression on her face doesn’t helped. As others have said, she owned herself by saying anything at all. Just has to be part of the drama,” another posted, to which someone replied, “There was really no need for that second paragraph. She ruined it with that.”
Taylor Frankie Paul Used Mother’s Day To Slam Mikayla Matthews

Affleck’s social media post comes weeks after Paul used her Mother’s Day post to slam her co-star, Matthews, whom she alleged was waiting for her downfall.
“I STILL have ‘friends’ kicking me while I’m already down and calling it ‘setting a boundary’ and then [BLAMING] ME for being upset and responding,” she wrote, according to PEOPLE. “What a snake friend just did to me in the public eye after everything she just witnessed…the lack of empathy and silence was loud enough.”
Prior to this, Paul had been in the center of controversy after a video of her appearing to assault her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, was shared online. The backlash halted production on season 5 of “SLOMW” and also forced ABC and Disney to cancel Paul’s season of “The Bachelorette.”
“In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette, [starring Paul], at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” the statement from Disney read.
What Can Fans Expect To See On The Next Season Of ‘Mormon Wives’?

According to a previous report from The Blast, the drama between Paul and Mortensen had a massive effect on the show. Season 5 was halted for weeks, and according to a source, they will not resume as planned.
Instead, the women are filming confessionals for the five episodes already done and will head straight into season 6 instead. “Right now, they’re just filming confessionals for season 5,” the insider claimed. “They’ve decided they’re not going to film the rest of season 5, but apparently they’re still going to film season 6.”
Jessi Draper Tells The Blast What She Wants Fans To Know About Her ‘SLOMW’ Co-Stars

Despite the show’s upcoming season having only five episodes, Jessi Draper spoke with The Blast earlier this week and shot down some misconceptions viewers have about her and her co-stars.
The one thing she wants people to know is that although there’s chaos throughout the episodes, they aren’t all about the drama.
“You guys see that part of us online on the show, but we actually have so many light-hearted and fun, funny moments as friends, and I wish you saw more of that,” she said on the red carpet of the American Music Awards.
Well, season 6 may be your time to prove it, Draper!
Entertainment
Amanda Seyfried Wore a Spring-to-Summer Brown Shoulder Bag
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White, pink, yellow — the same colors come around every summer, but this year is different. Amanda Seyfried jumped on the chocolate brown trend that’s taking over 2026, and it transitions seamlessly through seasons. Her year-round bag style screams ‘expensive,’ and we found the luxe look on sale for just $20.
At a recent Tory Burch Foundation event, the actress arrived in a head-to-toe brown outfit that gave off ritzy espresso martini vibes. The crowning piece was a chocolate-colored quilted bag that looked designer from across the room. Like Seyfried’s, this brown shoulder bag reads more polished than a pastel version ever could.
Get the Tutuebobe Quilted Shoulder and Crossbody Bag for $20 (was $26) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
What makes her getup so sleek isn’t just the color, it’s also the texture. The quilted detailing adds dimension to an otherwise sleek silhouette, thanks to its elevated pillowy surface. This puffy lookalike goes the extra mile with two strap options: a chain-wrapped shoulder strap for glam and a removable crossbody strap for errands.
Better yet, the interior is roomy enough for all of your essentials. One reviewer said it fits their on-the-go items, like a phone, wallet, keys and more, making it ideal for everything from work days to date nights.
They’re also big fans of the style. “The design is classy and trendy at the same time — the quilting looks high-end, the stitching is even and the shape holds itself beautifully,” the reviewer wrote. “It has that designer-inspired vibe without the designer price tag.”
Pair the purse with cream trousers and a tank for the dinner reservation you’ve been meaning to make, or sling it over a satin sundress. You can also go full Seyfried and mix caramel, cocoa and espresso shades. Rich brown accessories dress up the basics you already own, so don’t be surprised if that white tee in your drawer suddenly becomes chic.
And although brown is the obvious move to channel Seyfried’s look, this classy silhouette comes in three other colors. At only $20, we’re grabbing two!
Get the Tutuebobe Quilted Shoulder and Crossbody Bag for $20 (was $26) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more chic bags here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
Entertainment
The Eagles Song No One Remembers Is Actually Their Greatest — Not “Hotel California”
Los Angeles in the seventies was a different kind of wild, and no band understood its highs and lows better than The Eagles. Although founding members Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner were technically not Los Angeles natives, they quickly became familiar with the city’s shadier realities, no matter how normalized they seemed at the time. People say dreams come true in Tinseltown, but making those dreams a reality usually demands compromising parts of yourself along the way.
While many accepted this lifestyle as normal, The Eagles recognized it as something far more disturbing: the seedy underbelly hidden beneath California glamour. They immortalized those contradictions in their most important album to date, Hotel California. Although the title track remains the song most listeners still revisit today, one of the album’s more overlooked tracks exposes an even darker perspective on human progress and its consequences.
“The Last Resort” Mourns the Damage Caused by Gentrification
Despite not being intentionally written as a protest song, “The Last Resort” is the most political track on the album, serving as a commentary on environmental gentrification in the States. “The Last Resort” begins by retelling the age-old American story of migration, tracing it back to the English settlers who arrived in Providence, Rhode Island. Like the generations before her who “came across the sea,” the song’s central figure is drawn by stories of opportunity waiting beyond the Great Divide. However, she is far from alone in chasing this dream.
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As more people flock to this supposed “paradise,” the paradise itself begins to deteriorate. The song places the blame on greed and exploitation, accusing how “some rich men came and raped the land.” Yet the cycle does not end there. Once people believe they have exhausted one place, they simply move on to the next place (“sail to Lahaina”), repeating the same destructive behavior in someone else’s homeland. Through this pattern, “The Last Resort” portrays American expansion not as progress, but as a vicious cycle of taking away something that isn’t ours in the first place.
“The Last Resort” Warns Against Humanity’s Need to Conquer
Released as the closing track on Hotel California, no song could end the album more fittingly than “The Last Resort.” While “Hotel California” explores the seductive allure of the state and the disillusionment of the state, and “Life in the Fast Lane” warns against addiction and reckless excess, “The Last Resort” speaks to something far more universal, reflecting humanity’s tendency to destroy good things simply through its presence. Not every untouched place needs to be conquered, developed, or transformed for human consumption. Not all urban progress is necessary, especially when it’s at the cost of destroying nature (“Somebody laid the mountains low / While the town got high.”).
While the first half of “The Last Resort” sings about gentrification from a capitalist and consumerist perspective, the second half gets a lot more provocative. The Eagles suggest that humanity’s urge to expand — specifically “the white man’s reign” — did not emerge out of nowhere. Instead, it is history repeating itself: “Just like the missionaries did / So many years ago.” The song points out that this expansion is often justified through the idea of Manifest Destiny, framed as something sanctioned by both fate and religion: “In the name of destiny / And in the name of God.” However, it is worth noting that “The Last Resort” is not a sole attack on religion itself. Rather, the song shows how people use something as personal and sacred as faith to justify humanity’s insatiable desire to conquer, expand, and claim ownership of people’s lands.
Paul Simon’s Most Controversial Album Became One of the Greatest Records Ever Made
The album sparked outrage among protesters at his Royal Albert Hall concert in 1987.
“Hotel California” Spent Eight Consecutive Weeks on the Billboard 200 Chart
Numbers-wise, many listeners deeply resonated with the Hotel California — so much so that the album was certified 26-times platinum by the RIAA for selling more than 26 million copies in the United States. The album took over Stevie Wonder’s No. 1 position on the charts, surpassing his most successful album, Songs in the Key of Life, and spent a week there before being bumped off by Paul McCartney and Wings’ live album Wings over America.
Despite being a concept album, Hotel California also serves as a realistic warning to those susceptible to the trappings of decadence. As much as people love the light, humans can’t help but be attracted to darkness. The slightest dip into it could instantly pull you into a downward spiral that you can leave from, but never really escape. After all, not all that glitters is gold — sometimes it’s grievance and guilt.
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