John Wright
Verified
(He/Him)
As seen in:
MSN,
Yahoo Life,
Substack,
Salon,
RawStory,
AlterNet,
NewsBreak,
The Texas Observer,
The New Civil Rights Movement,
Chief Executive Magazine
and
Covers:
News, politics, COVID-19, crime, national affairs
Articles by John Wright
Kountry Wayne Built the Micro-Drama Blueprint Hollywood Is Buying
The micro-drama industry has finally made its way to the U.S., with micro-dramas premiering through TikTok’s PineDrama app racking up views. Those who’ve been tapped into the trend know micro-drama originally picked up steam in China as a preferred mode of social storytelling. It had already been a multi-billion dollar industry over there. To that end, in the U.S., full-length movies often float around on TikTok in chapter-like form, making micro-dramas a perfect fit for audiences here.
What Happens to the Brain After Death? Science Reveals 7 Key Insights
What Happens to the Brain After Death?
Severe Turbulence on the Rise Could Make Flying More Dangerous, Scientists Warn
Severe Turbulence on the Rise Could Make Flying More Dangerous, Scientists Warn Scientists are saying that incidents of severe turbulence are becoming more common during airline flights, potentially making flying less safe overall. In a new study, British researchers from the University of Reading found that severe turbulence has increased 55% since 1979 and is likely to become even more frequent as climate change causes the planet to warm, the Daily Mail reported this week.
5 Species Thought to Be Extinct in the US Are Staging Incredible Comebacks
5 Species Thought to Be Extinct in the US Are Staging Incredible Comebacks There hasn't been a wealth of good environmental news of late, but this week, scientists reported on the sighting of an animal in the Pacific Northwest that was thought to be extinct—a discovery that's good news for the environmental health of the region. And as it turns out, this animal isn't the only endangered or believed-extinct species in the U.S. that has managed to stage a comeback against the odds in recent years.
5 Key Steps Prince Harry Must Take to "Restore His Reputation" and Gain Back the Trust of Royal Family, Says Expert
The Scottish Labour party has been criticised for putting a former MSP who made “deeply sexualised and racist remarks” about a 15-year-old girl on to its shortlist for a parliamentary seat in Glasgow. Frank McAveety, the former MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, was recorded calling a 15-year-old girl “dark”... 50 MINUTES AGO
Kevin McCarthy Was an Inspiration For Kevin Spacey on "House of Cards." "He Stole My Quote!"
Pro-Trump social media personality Lynette "Diamond" Hardaway of the right-wing political commentary sister duo Diamond and Silk wasn't sick before she died this week and "just collapsed" suddenly "out of the blue," her friend MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell said on Wednesday. "It's very tragic because it's one of the saddest... 1 DAY AGO
Kevin McCarthy Was an Inspiration For Kevin Spacey on "House of Cards." "He Stole My Quote!"
As he assumes the office of Speaker of the House, more elements of Rep. 's biography will become familiar to the nation at large. But there's one fact that might be surprising even to members of the California Republican's district. McCarthy says he provided inspiration for a famously controversial—some might even say ruthless and villainous—TV character by allowing the actor who portrayed that character to follow him around for research during the show's development.
Mysterious Human Heart Found in Salt Stockpile. Police: "Most Bizarre."
The festive calendar of celebrations with family and friends is now a meticulous dance around the daily schedule of power cuts. Holiday baking and video streaming are planned for when there will be power. Most South African households now have a ready supply of solar lights, kerosene lamps and candles to keep from being in total darkness. Confessed serial killer Charles Sobhraj arrived in France Saturday after being released from a life sentence in a Nepal prison.
'I believe he's afraid': Trump attacks his own SCOTUS appointee Brett Kavanaugh after Jan. 6 decision
Former president Donald Trump ripped into his own Supreme Court justices on Saturday after they declined to block the House Select Committee investigating Jan. 6 from obtaining his White House records. Trump was particularly hard on Justice Brett Kavanaugh — suggesting that he's afraid to do the right thing because Democrats might impeach him over sexual assault allegations. The former president said that "at any cost," Supreme Court justices "don't want to be impeached." "Please don't impeach me.
Trump dismisses impacts of climate change as 'slightly more seafront property'
Donald Trump appears at briefing for Hurricane Dorian (Fox News/screen grab) Former president Donald Trump on Saturday dismissed the impacts of climate change as "slightly more seafront property." "Unbelievably, Biden is now claiming that you must sacrifice through higher energy prices to foot the cost of his failed foreign policy in Europe," Trump said during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando.
Trump claims Biden could end Ukraine crisis 'quickly' but refuses to say how - mentions Space Force
Composite image of US Space Force uniforms (DOD) and Donald Trump on CNN (screengrab) Former president Donald Trump invoked the U.S. Space Force on Saturday in response to a question about what he would do to in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. During a news conference before his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump was asked, "If you were president right now, and the situation is what it is right now ...
Trump again praises Putin as ‘smart’ - says the problem is 'our leaders are so dumb'
Former president Donald Trump on Saturday again praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as "smart." But during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Trump claimed the real problem is that NATO and other world leaders are "dumb." "Yesterday reporters asked me if I though President Putin was smart," Trump said. "I said, 'Of course he's smart,' to which I was greeted with, 'Oh, that's such a terrible thing to say.' Yes, he's smart.
'I don’t know what messages you’re talking about': Trump denies knowledge of Hannity's Jan. 6 texts
Former president Donald Trump on Saturday denied any knowledge of Fox News hosts Sean Hannity's frantic text messages to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and others that were recently released by the House Select committee investigating Jan. 6. During a news conference prior to his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, a reporter said to Trump, "I have a question for you about one of your pals, one of your friends.
'Human garbage': J.D. Vance blasted for saying he's 'sick' of being told to care about Ukrainian suffering
Ohio Republican Senate candidate J.D. Vance came under fire Saturday after saying he's "sick" of being told to care about Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "I've gotten a lot of flak in the last week because I had the audacity to suggest that before our leaders obsess over a Ukrainian and Russian border 6,000 miles away, maybe they ought to guarantee the sovereignty of their own country and their own border first," Vance said during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando.
Matt Gaetz suggests Congress should block DOJ from investigating him for alleged sex-trafficking
Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday, Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz suggested that the House Judiciary Committee should put an end to the Department of Justice's ongoing investigation into whether he sex-trafficked a minor. "The Judiciary Committee should stop the DOJ from targeting political opponents whether they are parents, whether they are falsely labeled as extremists, or whether they are lawmakers engaged in the oversight of the DOJ," Gaetz said.
'Traitor! Traitor!' Mike Lindell melts down when asked about 'martial law' meeting with Trump
More than a year after he was photographed carrying papers saying "martial law if necessary" to a meeting with former president Donald Trump at the White House, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell still refuses to say where he got them. On Saturday, CBS News' Robert Acosta tried to ask Lindell where he got the papers at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando.
'Only one reason a person speaks at a white nationalist conference': Marjorie Taylor Greene blasted for speaking at far-right conference
Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene sparked outrage on Friday night when she appeared as a "surprise guest" at a white nationalist event being held in conjunction with the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando.
Bill Maher calls for 'graciousness' toward former Trump supporters as MAGA 'fever' starts to break
Donald Trump's declining popularity among Republicans presents a "rare opportunity," according to comedian Bill Maher, and Democrats should take advantage by showing "graciousness" toward former MAGA fans. "Finally, there are signs that the Trump fever is starting to break," Maher said during the New Rules segment of his HBO Real Time show on Friday. "Attendance is down at his rallies, and his press release brain farts don't make news like they once did with the tweets.
'Madge is officially a Nazi!': Marjorie Taylor Greene blasted for speaking at white nationalist event
Georgia Republican Congressman Marjorie Taylor Greene sparked outrage on Friday night when she appeared as a "surprise guest" at a white nationalist event being held in conjunction with the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando.
Trump ‘fawning over Putin’ viewed by Dems as ‘manna from heaven for Biden’: report
Former president Donald Trump's praise for Russian president Vladimir Putin leading up to the Ukraine invasion is like "manna from heaven for (President Joe) Biden," according to one expert. "Democrats decried Trump's praise this week for Putin's 'savvy' and his 'genius' tactics in Ukraine as 'undermining national security' and 'near treasonous,'" Insider reported Friday.
Trump’s ‘supreme reign’ reflected in golden statue at CPAC conference: report
A golden statue of Donald Trump at this week's Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando reflected the former president's "supreme reign" over the event — despite "auditions for the MAGA mantle" by other 2024 GOP hopefuls. "Trump’s presence loomed large throughout the confab even before he was scheduled to deliver Saturday evening’s keynote address," the site reported Friday.
Steve Bannon claims he's not guilty of contempt because his attorney told him to defy Jan. 6 subpoenas
Trump adviser Steve Bannon claims he's not guilty of contempt for defying Jan. 6 subpoenas because he was acting on an attorney's advice. "His lawyers advised him not to show up for his interview with congressional staff or turn over the requested material because former President Trump wanted to claim executive privilege," CBS News reported Friday, noting that Trump's claims of executive privilege have since been rejected by multiple courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
'That is fraud': Report gives new details into Florida GOP scheme to trick voters into switching parties
Republican Party canvassers tricked more than 100 South Florida voters — many of them elderly and/or immigrants — into switching their party affiliation to the GOP last year, according to a bombshell investigative report published Friday by the Miami Herald. The newspaper sent a team of reporters to eight low-income housing projects in Hialeah and Little Havana, where voter registration data showed unusually high numbers of switching from one party to another.
'I'm already being censored!' Right-wingers slam Trump’s Truth Social for banning accounts
It's been a rough inaugural week for former President Donald Trump's Truth Social app. First, the platform was plagued by major technical glitches following its launch on Sunday, including a 13-hour outage and a 300,000-person waitlist. Experts also raised serious privacy concerns about the app.
MAGA rioter accused of threatening kids says he's 'willing to die' in defiant pre-trial statement
‘Traitors get shot’: Capitol rioter accused of threatening kids could become first to stand trial An alleged Capitol rioter who is set to be the first Jan. 6 defendant to stand trial beginning Monday issued a defiant jailhouse statement this week. “The beginning of the 1/6 Political Prisoner trials,” Guy Reffitt of Texas said in the statement, which was posted on a Telegram channel dedicated to sharing messages from Jan. 6 defendants.
Trump’s bid to get back on Twitter is 'on thin ice' after judge cites 'mountain of law' against him
An angry Donald Trump screams during one of his speeches (Photo: Screen capture) Donald Trump's bid to get back on Twitter suffered an apparent setback in court on Thursday, with a federal judge questioning how the former president is going to get around a "mountain of law" against him.
‘He’s never gonna date you, dude!’ Jimmy Kimmel mocks Trump for sucking up to his 'KGBFF' Putin
Jimmy Kimmel ripped into "the great divider" Donald Trump over his recent praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I don't remember anything like this in that some of us seem OK with it," Kimmel said of Russia's invasion of Ukraine during his monologue on Thursday night. "Typically, we would band together in this situation, we would be united, but that was before the great divider chopped us in half.
Trump’s ‘startled’ advisers are begging him to ‘keep his mouth shut’ about Putin: report
US President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7, 2017 (AFP). Even some of Donald Trump's closest and most loyal advisers have been taken aback by his recent comments about Vladimir Putin — including calling the Russian dictator "genius" and "pretty smart," the Daily Beast reported Thursday.
Slur-spewing suspect arrested after attacking Black woman - and threatening to hang her
A suspect has been arrested after he was caught on video earlier this month attacking a Black woman who was waiting in line at a Philadelphia-area convenience store. "The woman said she was standing in line inside of the store when a man stormed in, bumped into her, and then attacked her, an act that was caught through video on her cellphone," Patch.com reports.
Trump is Putin's 'most valuable useful idiot' - and the GOP will soon 'fall into line': MSNBC analyst
President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin (Screen cap). Former president Donald Trump is Russian President Vladimir Putin's "most valuable useful idiot," according to MSNBC analyst Charlie Sykes. During a discussion on Thursday night about American conservatives who've praised Putin recently, host Joy Reid played a clip from one of Fox News host Tucker Carlson's rants. "I don't think Russia is inducing them to do it," Sykes said.
Ted Cruz confronted with list of corporate donors after proclaiming, 'Big business sucks!' at CPAC
Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday, Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz proclaimed that, "Big is bad, across the board." "Big government sucks!" Cruz railed from the stage in Orlando.
Manhattan DA denies report he's not pursuing Trump case - taps new prosecutor to lead probe
President Donald Trump during a press conference in Trump Tower (Screenshot) Following the resignation of two prosecutors leading a criminal investigation of former president Donald Trump and his company, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has tapped his investigations chief to replace them.
MAGA rioter who waved on mob before Ashli Babbitt's shooting sentenced to 75 days in prison
A Capitol rioter who waved on the pro-Trump mob toward the Speaker's Lobby immediately before the shooting of Ashli Babbitt was sentenced to 75 days in prison on Thursday. Federal prosecutors had requested a sentence of five months behind bars for 39-year-old Jeffery Register of Florida, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of parading, picketing or demonstrating in the Capitol. During Thursday's sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Timothy J.
Trump is ‘off the hook’ for allegedly misusing $2.8M donated to veterans for political purposes
Former president Donald Trump won't be investigated by the Federal Elections Commission for an alleged campaign finance violation in which he used $2.8 million in charitable donations to veterans for political purposes. Last month, the FEC "let Trump off the hook" by voting to close the case — despite an opinion from the commission's legal counsel saying Trump broke the law, Insider reported Thursday.
Trump’s Texas endorsements show he’s ‘risk-averse but vindictive’: report
Former president Donald Trump and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Former president Donald Trump's Texas endorsements show he's "still nursing a grudge" — but he appears mainly concerned about his "batting average," according to a report from the Dallas Morning News. Trump snubbed four GOP congressional incumbents from Texas -- who all voted to certify President Joe Biden's victory -- by declining to endorse them, but he also hasn't backed any of their challengers.
Trump's praise for Putin will look 'atrocious' when tens of thousands die: former ambassador
Former president Donald Trump's recent praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin will look "atrocious" if, as U.S. intelligence predicts, tens of thousands of people die during an invasion of Ukraine, according to Michael McFaul, the former U.S. ambassador to Russia. "There's going to come a moment of truth very soon," McFaul said on MSNBC on Wednesday.
‘This stinks!’ MSNBC analyst calls out Manhattan DA for not addressing Trump probe before election
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg should have fully revealed his views about an investigation into former president Donald Trump and his company before Bragg was elected in November, according to MSNBC analyst Elie Mystal. Two prosecutors who were leading Bragg's office's criminal probe into the Trump Organization, Carey Dunne and Mark Pomerantz, abruptly resigned Wednesday.
Steve Bannon suggests Americans should support 'anti-woke' Putin because Russia 'doesn't have Pride flags'
Rawstory.tvThe TikTok FilesUS NEWSOpinionvideoFAQsget the newsletter Trump adviser Steve Bannon suggested Wednesday that Americans should support Russian President Vladimir Putin because he's anti-LGBTQ. "Putin ain't woke. He is anti-woke," Bannon said on his War Room show during an interview with private military contractor Erik Prince. "The Russians ... still know which bathroom to use," Prince responded. "They know how many — how many genders are there in Russia?" Bannon said.
Former right-wing insider explains some American conservatives' love affair with Putin
US President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7, 2017 (AFP). Fox News host Tucker Carlson and other prominent conservatives who support Russian President Vladimir Putin "hate America and want it to burn," according to former right-wing media creator Matthew Sheffield.
Trump Org prosecutors' resignations suggest 'something rotten' in the legal process: MSNBC analyst
President Donald Trump during a press conference in Trump Tower (Screenshot) The resignations of two Manhattan prosecutors investigating the Trump Organization signal "a serious disagreement" about how the case should proceed, according to MSNBC analyst Daniel Goldman. Goldman, a former federal prosecutor who served as lead counsel during former president Donald Trump's first impeachment trial, said potential criminal charges against Trump in Manhattan were always going to be difficult to prove.
Truck convoy backers tied to Capitol riot - including MAGA lawyer who called for hangings on Jan. 5: report
A new report claims that groups who are backing the so-called "Freedom Convoy" that was scheduled to leave from California on Wednesday include a political action committee that has focused on defending Florida GOP Congressman Matt Gaetz, as well as a group led by former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Trump should face these two federal charges based solely on public information: former prosecutor
Donald Trump at a campaign rally at the Giant Center in 2019. (Evan El-Amin / Shutterstock.com) Former president Donald Trump should be charged with two federal crimes based solely on publicly available information, according to former federal prosecutor Barbara McQuade. McQuade, a University of Michigan law professor, appeared on MSNBC on Tuesday night to discuss her 26-page "model prosecution memo" for Trump published by Just Security. McQuade said that based on public reporting and Jan.
Two MAGA rioters are still serving in the National Guard - director says he's powerless to boot them
Pro-Trump protesters trying to enter Capitol building. (lev radin / Shutterstock.com) Two people who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 are still serving in the Army National Guard. The director of the National Guard, Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, says he's powerless to kick out the insurrectionists because the decision rests with the adjutants general of the states where they serve, Military.com reports. "It's obvious that extremism does not match the Army Values," Jensen said Tuesday.
Infamous 'coup memo' author reveals how he started working for Trump's campaign
Trump lawyer John Eastman, author of an infamous "coup memo," says he began advising the former president in September 2020 after being recruited to join an "election integrity working group." Eastman says he was recruited to join the group by Trump ally and conservative attorney Cleta Mitchell, who had been deputized by the former president in late August to lead the working group.
MAGA fans are getting duped by ‘shady’ copycats of Trump’s Truth Social app: report
An investment vehicle linked to former President Trump's social media startup has soared the last two days on Wall Street (AFP/Chris DELMAS) More than 100,000 people — mostly MAGA fans who didn't realize the difference — reportedly have downloaded a ripoff of former president Donald Trump's Truth Social app.
'How do I get my fan mail?' Prosecutors say 'homicidal maniac' Ethan Crumbley is reveling in his fame
Accused Oxford High School gunman Ethan Crumbley on a video conference in the 52-3 District Courtroom of Judge Nancy Carniak in Rochester, Michigan, on Dec. 13, 2021, for a probable cause hearing in his case. - Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press/TNS Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley admired German dictator Adolf Hitler and serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, prosecutors said in court on Tuesday.
'We want justice for Ashli!': Trucker convoy invokes deceased Capitol rioter as they head to D.C.
A group of Pennsylvania truckers is calling for justice for deceased Capitol rioter Ashli Babbitt as they prepare to head to Washington, D.C. as part of a convoy protest modeled after the recent one in Canada. "On Wednesday, a convoy of an undetermined number of truckers is set to leave Scranton and head for the nation’s capital by way of Harrisburg, where the first of many grievances will be aired," PennLive.com reports.
Trump’s Truth Social shouldn't be trusted with users' info after disastrous launch: privacy expert
The "disastrous launch" of former president Donald Trump's social media app — Truth Social — shows it shouldn't be trusted with people's private information, according to one expert. “The basic thing they needed to actually get right to get someone in the door, they couldn’t get right,” privacy researcher Bill Fitzgerald told the Washington Post, adding the “ineptitude of the rollout" could be a warning of future issues ahead.
‘Nazis, where are you?’ MAGA rioter arrested after ‘very creepy video’ showed him rifling through Capitol offices
An accused Capitol rioter was arrested this week after allegedly posting "a very creepy video" on his Facebook page, which showed him saying "Nazis, where are you?" as he rifled through congressional offices during the Jan. 6 insurrection. Athanasios Zoyganeles, who reportedly moved from Chicago to Florida since storming the Capitol, is charged with four misdemeanor counts.
Trump’s Truth Social app to launch Monday - even though it's 'laggy' and 'has a lot of issues': report
Former president Donald Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, is set to launch on Monday, which is Presidents Day, according to reports. "In a series of posts late on Friday, a verified account for the network's chief product officer, listed as Billy B., answered questions on the app from people invited to use it during its test phase," Reuters reported Saturday night.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with John
Contact John, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack