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Mueller has almost 3 times as much evidence for Manafort's 2nd trial as he did for his first

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Robert Mueller

  • The special counsel Robert Mueller's team is preparing to introduce 2.5 times as much evidence in Paul Manafort's second trial as it did in his first.
  • In Manafort's first trial, prosecutors showed the jury around 400 documents, emails, and financial records to make their case.
  • In his second, they plan to put forth "well over" 1,000 pieces of evidence, and they expect to take 10 to 12 days to make their case.
  • Manafort is charged with illegal lobbying, conspiracy, money laundering, and obstruction of justice in the second trial.
  • His lawyers are reportedly currently in talks with Mueller about a possible plea deal.

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The special counsel Robert Mueller's team plans to introduce nearly three times as much evidence in Paul Manafort's upcoming trial in Washington, DC, as it did in Manafort's first trial in Virginia.

In the latter, they showed the jury around 400 documents, emails, and financial records to make their case. Manafort, the former chairman of President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, was convicted on eight out of 18 counts related to tax fraud, bank fraud, and failure to report foreign bank accounts. The judge declared a mistrial on the other 10 counts after 11 jurors voted to convict him and one held out.

According to a court filing from Manafort's defense team last month, Mueller's team plans to put forth "well over" 1,000 pieces of evidence in the Washington, DC, trial. Prosecutors also said they expect to take 10 to 12 days to make their case in the second trial.

Mueller's office charged Manafort in two separate indictments as part of its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Manafort pleaded not guilty in both, and he faces a possible decade in prison after being convicted in the Virginia trial.

In the second case, Manafort has been charged with illegal lobbying, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and money laundering.

His lawyers have reportedly been in talks with Mueller's team about a possible plea deal to prevent the second trial from going forward.

But it's unlikely that Mueller's team would agree to a plea deal at this point.

Jury selection is set to start on Monday, and opening arguments are scheduled for September 24. That means prosecutors have already spent all the time and money they were going to in order to prepare for the case.

"If the government agrees to a plea deal without cooperation now, they save nothing in terms of time, money, or resources," former federal prosecutor Patrick Cotter said. "The only way they'd agree to a deal that involves dismissing some charges and asking for a lesser sentence is if it involves a cooperation agreement."

SEE ALSO: 'There are no good choices': Paul Manafort faces a risky gamble ahead of his second trial

DON'T MISS: Paul Manafort's lawyers have reportedly resumed talks of a possible plea deal ahead of his second trial

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I hung out at the secluded mountain hideaway in Ibiza that's hosted celebs like Rihanna and Kate Hudson, and it feels worlds away from the hard-partying coast

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Rihanna KateHudson Ibiza Spain Atzaro (36 of 36)

  • While Ibiza is known as a party capital of the world, many wealthy and famous head to the lesser-known pastoral north of the island to relax.
  • One of the most luxurious and secluded resorts on the island is Atzaró Hotel and Spa, an agrotourism resort where Rihanna, Shakira, and other celebs have stayed.
  • I recently spent the day at Atzaró to see what it's like to live like a popstar. The food was good, the drinks were strong, and the grounds were stunning.

The Spanish island of Ibiza is world-famous as a vacation and partying hotspot for the wealthy and the famous.

Every summer sees the usual influx of actors, billionaires, and models and their entourages flooding in for wild parties at the island's bumping clubs and beautiful beaches.

But what if you are looking for something a bit more secluded, classy, and chic? Ibiza has that, too.

Enter the Atzaró Hotel and Spa, an agrotourism resort hidden in the northern countryside of the island. Considered one of the more prestigious hotels on the island, the resort opened in 2004 after being converted from a 300-year-old traditional farmhouse into the lavish 10-acre estate and gardens it is now.

The hotel's hidden, serene location has made it a favorite of celebrities ranging from popstars Rihanna and Shakira to actress Kate Hudson, among others. 

I recently visited Atzaró Hotel and Spa on a recent trip to Spain. Keep reading to see what it's like:

SEE ALSO: I stayed at Robert De Niro's ridiculously swanky new hotel in Ibiza — and it makes you feel like a celebrity, if you can afford it

DON'T MISS: I went on an epic road trip to find the best beach in 2018's hottest travel destination — and it did not disappoint

Getting to Atzaró is a bit of a schlep. Located near Santa Eularia des Riu in the north of the island, it was a 30-minute ride from Sant Antoni de Portmany, one of the major towns on the island. It's about the same distance from Ibiza Town.



The drive there was gorgeous. The ride revealed a lush, green countryside that I didn't even know existed on Ibiza. Located down a small country road, Atzaró is named after the mountain behind the property.



The property was originally a finca, or Spanish farmhouse, built some 300 years ago, that served as the family home of owner and CEO Victor Guasch.



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Bill de Blasio is reportedly looking for a way to tear up the city's contracts with the Trump Organization after Michael Cohen's guilty plea

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Donald Trump

  • Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration is again looking into whether the city can cancel its contracts with the Trump Organization.
  • This time around, de Blasio is zeroing in on President Donald Trump's former longtime lawyer Michael Cohen's recent guilty plea in federal court as possible grounds for termination.
  • In 2015, de Blasio looked into the possibility after Trump, in announcing his presidential bid, said the Mexican government was sending "rapists" across the US southern border.

Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration is again looking into whether the city can cancel its contracts with the Trump Organization, this time as a result of President Donald Trump's former longtime lawyer Michael Cohen's legal troubles, The New York Times reported.

The Trump Organization has licenses to run four city-owned facilities, such as the Trump Ferry Point golf course in the Bronx, The Times reported Wednesday, adding that in some instances the Trump Organization pays rent to the city while in other instances the president's namesake company and the city are in a revenue-sharing agreement.

After Cohen, who was formerly employed by the Trump Organization, entered a guilty plea in federal court last month on charges related to campaign-finance violations, tax evasion, and making a false statement to a bank, de Blasio asked city lawyers to figure out whether Cohen's conviction allowed the city to void its contracts with the Trump Organization.

"We are monitoring these events to determine whether or not they provide grounds to take action," Natalie Grybauskas, a de Blasio spokeswoman, told The Times.

Ronald Lieberman, a Trump Organization executive vice president, told The Times that the de Blasio administration's latest effort was "rather absurd."

"We are and have been in complete compliance with all our contracts with New York City, in fact we view that as rather absurd," he said. "We have been a terrific partner for New York City, we have been very proud to be associated with these incredible, iconic properties, and we look forward to continuing our relationship."

Both the Trump Organization and the mayor's office did not immediately return requests for comment from Business Insider.

The mayor last sought to void the agreements in 2015 after Trump, in announcing his presidential bid, said the Mexican government was sending "rapists" across the southern border of the US. But at the time, lawyers told him the First Amendment protected Trump's speech and made it so that the contracts could not be canceled, The Times reported.

But another factor that could come into play this time around is Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg's immunity deal with federal investigators probing Cohen. Weisselberg's name, The Times reported, is contained within contract documents between the city and the Trump Organization.

One expert, however, told The Times de Blasio's latest effort was unlikely to be fruitful.

"It doesn't sound like it's really related to anything other than 'We don't like Donald Trump.'" Ross Sandler, director of the Center for New York City Law at New York Law School, told The Times.

SEE ALSO: Insiders are buzzing that Northern Virginia could soon be awarded Amazon's HQ2 as Jeff Bezos makes high-profile visit to Washington, DC

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I went inside the NYC napping lounge where people are paying up to $250 a month to nap in dark, private pods at any time of day — here's what they look like

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Nap York

  • A wellness center in New York City aims to "recharge the people who power the world" by giving them a space for an important activity: napping
  • Nap York is a 24-hour facility in midtown Manhattan that lets people drop in to sleep in pods, from a 30-minute power nap to a multiple-hour slumber session designed for travelers who have layovers at one of the nearby airports.
  • Visitors can pay $15 for a 30-minute nap or up to $250 a month for a membership that includes five naps per week. 
  • Studies have shown that naps improve immune healthenergycognitive function, and emotional control.

 

A few blocks from Times Square, in the middle of one of New York City's busiest neighborhoods, sits an urban oasis where sleep-deprived New Yorkers can swap their shoes for slippers, drink a cup of tea— and take a nap. 

That's the idea behind Nap York, which opened in February, offering 30-minute naps in sleep pods for $10. Seven months later, prices have risen slightly to $15 for half an hour, and there are additional options for monthly memberships. 

For $35 a month, you can pop into Nap York for one 30-minute nap per week. The priciest membership is the $250 a month Gold Premium, which includes five naps — up to 90 minutes each — per week. You can also book a longer nap that starts at 3 hours for $50 with each additional hour for $7. The pods are strictly single occupancy.  Visitors can also take a shower, get a massage, or relax in one of the hammocks on the roof. 

Reza Moreno, community director for Nap York, told Business Insider that a large chunk of their visitors are travelers who need a place to sleep for a few hours during their layover at a nearby airport.

But Nap York is not a hotel, she stressed. Visitors can't book multiple long sleep sessions in a row.

"We just give the convenience for those who literally just need a place to bonk out for the night," Moreno said.

During the day, Nap York sees office workers who pop in for a half-hour power nap on their lunch breaks. In the summertime, some sweaty New Yorkers even dropped by just to take a shower before a business meeting.

Here's what it's like inside Nap York. 

SEE ALSO: A productivity expert says coffee naps — 'nappuccinos' — changed his life. Here's how.

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Located in Manhattan's bustling Midtown neighborhood, Nap York calls itself "your 24/7 oasis in the middle of the Concrete Jungle." When I got there, I tried to peer in the windows but they were obscured by dark curtains.

Source: Nap York



Nap York has had about 8,000 people come in for naps since it opened in February, according to Moreno.

Source: Nap York



When you step inside, you're greeted by screens that display the various nap and membership options available. There are also several large plants, which instantly hooked me as a stereotypically plant-loving millennial.

Source: Nap York



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'My own grandfather died': Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slams Trump's tweets on Puerto Rico

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Ocasio Cortez

  • Democratic House of Representatives candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Thursday slammed President Donald Trump's tweets about Puerto Rico.
  • Trump claimed 3,000 people "did not die" following Hurricane Maria and said her grandfather "died in the aftermath of the storm."
  • Ocasio-Cortez said "thousands of Puerto Ricans have similar stories" to hers and have lost loved ones. 
  • She also called on Trump to stop "finger-pointing" and invest in the so-called Marshall Plan for Puerto Rico to rebuild the storm-ravaged island. 

Democratic House of Representatives candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Thursday slammed President Donald Trump's tweets that claimed 3,000 people "did not die" in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, pointing to her own grandfather's death in the aftermath of the storm.

Trump on Thursday rejected a recent government-funded study that concluded 2,975 people died on the island following the storm. 

"My own grandfather died in the aftermath of the storm. Uncounted," Ocasio-Cortez said in a tweet. "Thousands of Puerto Ricans have similar stories. They have lost children, friends, & family members."

This is not the first time Ocasio-Cortez has referenced her grandfather's death publicly. Last November, she tweeted, that her grandfather "died in PR along with over 900 others. The US government will not recognize the lives lost."

Ocasio-Cortez, who won a stunning victory over longtime Rep. Joe Crowley in the New York Democratic Party congressional primary in June, also called on Trump to embrace a so-called Marshall Plan for Puerto Rico and stop "finger-pointing."

In his tweets, Trump also claimed Democrats inflated the death toll to cause him political damage.

"Instead of finger-pointing, INVEST in the Marshall Plan for Puerto Rico + just transition to renewable energy," she said in her tweet on Thursday. 

Ocasio-Cortez has been calling for a Marshall Plan to rebuild Puerto Rico and has offered her support to a $146 billion relief package for the storm-ravaged island proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The plan, which also received the backing of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, would see Puerto Rico get the major of its energy needs from renewable sources within a decade. 

Ocasio-Cortez's platform calls for a "New Green Deal," a federal plan to invest trillions in infrastructure to combat climate change. She believes Puerto Rico could be good place to test this policy. 

"The Green New Deal we are proposing will be similar in scale to the mobilization efforts seen in World War II or the Marshall Plan," she told HuffPost in June. "We must again invest in the development, manufacturing, deployment, and distribution of energy, but this time green energy."

SEE ALSO: Trump disputes Puerto Rico's death toll from Hurricane Maria, accuses Democrats of inflating the number to make him 'look as bad as possible'

DON'T MISS: This is the platform that launched Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old Democratic socialist, to the biggest political upset of the year

Join the conversation about this story »

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Nicki Minaj, Amy Schumer, and Cardi B wade into the heated New York governor's race between Andrew Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon at the last minute

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Cynthia Nixon Andrew Cuomo

  • Two last-minute celebrity endorsements of Gov. Andrew Cuomo in Thursday's Democratic primary in New York and one for Cynthia Nixon have garnered a fair amount of attention. 
  • Actress Amy Schumer and rapper Nicki Minaj on Wednesday both announced they're endorsing Cuomo. Rapper Cardi B stepped in to endorse Nixon just a few hours before the polls in New York close. 
  • Nixon is considered a long-shot, but her unapologetically progressive platform has gained a fair amount of attention in the media.

Two last-minute celebrity endorsements of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and one for challenger Cynthia Nixon in New York's Democratic primary have garnered a fair amount of attention. 

Actress Amy Schumer on Wednesday endorsed Cuomo over progressive candidate Cynthia Nixon in the heated contest. She originally supported Nixon, who first came into the public eye as one of the stars of the hit HBO series "Sex and the City," but then said she changed her mind. 

Schumer announced she's voting for Cuomo via an Instagram post in which she encouraged people to head to the polls. She said Cuomo "isn't my fav dude" but contended he's a good governor.

"I wanted to vote Nixon, but sadly, i don't believe she would know what the heck to do," Schumer added. "She needs to be able to pressure the state legislature in stuff but I don't believe she has enough connections upstate. But I love her and think if anyone is inclined voting Nixon is cool."

Schumer is the cousin of Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer, who also endorsed Cuomo. 

But later on Instagram, Schumer revealed that she had, in fact, ended up voting for Nixon. "Thanks to the women who took their time to talk to me about it," she said. 

Meanwhile, rapper Nicki Minaj on Wednesday also endorsed Cuomo and his running mate, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, in a post on Twitter. Additionally, Minaj offered her support to Letitia James, who is running for New York attorney general. 

Minaj tweeted, "New Yorkers & all NYCHA residents its time to get JUSTICE. VOTE Thur. Sept. 13 for Gov. Cuomo, Lt. Gov. Hochul & Tish James. They know how to work for the people to make NY even GREATER. Spread the word. See you at the Polls!" 

The two primary races then seemed to become a proxy for the ongoing feud between Minaj and rival rapper Cardi B, who initiated a physical fight with Minaj at a New York Fashion Week party over the weekend.

Teachout posted, but later deleted, a tweet expressing her admiration of Cardi B for preforming while seven months pregnant at Coachella, which some took to be a slight at Minaj. Teachout is eight months pregnant herself.

Cardi B then posted an ultra last-minute endorsement of Nixon and progressive Lt. Gov candidate Jumaane Williams at around 5 p.m. on Thursday, just four hours before the polls close. She did not, however, endorse Teachout. 

Some of Nixon's former "Sex and the City" co-stars have endorsed her, including Sarah Jessica Parker.

Back in April, Parker explained why she supports Nixon, saying, "She's a born and raised New Yorker. She's a product of our public-school system — Hunter College. She was raised by a mother that cared enormously about her community and the larger community that surrounded them. She's been an activist her whole life."

Nixon is considered a long-shot, but her unapologetically progressive platform has gained a fair amount of attention in the media. She's hoping to pull a major upset akin to the victory of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has campaigned alongside Nixon. 

SEE ALSO: 'Sex and the City' star Cynthia Nixon just made legal marijuana a key part of her campaign for governor in New York

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Insiders are buzzing that northern Virginia could soon be awarded Amazon's HQ2 as Jeff Bezos makes a high-profile visit to Washington, DC (AMZN)

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Jeff Bezos

  • The Washington, DC, area is buzzing with speculation that northern Virginia could soon land Amazon's second headquarters, known as HQ2.
  • Two sources said as much to Business Insider.
  • Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is on a high-profile trip to Washington, DC.

The Washington, DC, area is buzzing with speculation that Amazon could soon select northern Virginia as the location for its highly sought-after second headquarters, two sources told Business Insider.

Amazon has sought to tamp down on that speculation as the company's CEO, Jeff Bezos, makes a high-profile visit to the region. On Tuesday, ahead of a major event on Thursday night where Bezos will be interviewed by the Carlyle Group cofounder David Rubenstein at the DC Economic Club, Amazon told The Washington Post that no announcement would be forthcoming during Bezos' visit to the city. Reached by Business Insider on Thursday, an Amazon representative said they had nothing to add on top of what was reported by The Post.

One person who spoke with Business Insider, a lobbyist, said that the Thursday-night event was a likely time for the announcement to be made. There has for months been speculation about what, if anything, Bezos will say about HQ2 during the event.

The Post reported that roughly 1,550 people registered to attend Bezos' discussion, or more than double what the club typically attracts for similar events. The newspaper added that Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland, and DC's Democratic mayor, Muriel Bowser, were all expected to attend.

(Have any information on Amazon's plans for HQ2? Reach out to this reporter at asmith@businessinsider.com.)

david RubensteinThe event's top sponsorship, by the Washington Housing Initiative, was paid for by JBG Smith, a local developer and key backer of a plan to bring HQ2 to Crystal City in northern Virginia.

The second person who spoke with Business Insider, a senior staffer for a Virginia politician, said Amazon was zeroing in on Crystal City.

JBG Smith declined to comment to Business Insider.

Meanwhile, a source close to Rubenstein told Business Insider they were unaware of any plans for Bezos to make the announcement during the interview.

Business Insider reached out to multiple local developers, county officials, and would-be stakeholders in an HQ2 based in northern Virginia; all either declined to comment, did not respond, or said they had not heard of any imminent announcement.

Joseph Parilla, a fellow at the Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program, said the Thursday-night event had for a while been targeted by observers as one where some HQ2 action could take place. Parilla, who said he had no knowledge of any imminent announcement, added that the northern Virginia bid has long been viewed as the frontrunner.

Though Amazon said no announcement would be made on Bezos' trip this week, four people close to the company's board of directors told The Post that board members were making the trek to Washington, DC. The Post reported that it was unclear whether any formal meeting of the board was being held. Amazon had booked the Renwick Gallery for a 40-person dinner on Tuesday night, a museum spokesman told the newspaper, declining to offer any additional details.

Northern Virginia is already considered the top contender

There are already plenty of signs pointing to the northern Virginia bid as the one that will ultimately prove victorious.

Oddsmakers have given northern Virginia the best chances of pulling in HQ2, and GeekWire found last week that Virginia had the highest average number of open Amazon job postings from May through July of any of the HQ2 finalists.

Amazon told Business Insider it remains committed to announcing the winner before the end of 2018.

In March, Business Insider reported on mounting evidence that HQ2 would ultimately be awarded to northern Virginia and be built on a 26-acre plot of largely undeveloped land near Dulles International Airport.

Business Insider's Hayley Peterson wrote that the company was quietly expanding its presence near that site on the border of Loudoun and Fairfax counties.

Less than 3 miles from that site is a new headquarters for Amazon Web Services, and the company plans to build a 600,000-square-foot data-center campus on a 44-acre plot of land within a 10-minute drive of the possible HQ2 location.

In addition to the plot's location next to the airport, an under-construction Metro station will provide direct access to Washington, DC, and its suburbs.

The site is also at the center of Data Center Alley, described as "the bull's-eye of America's internet" through which much of the world's internet traffic travels.

Additionally, a site adjacent to the proposed HQ2 location is being developed into a 5.5 million-square-foot mixed-use project called The Hub. That project is expected to house office and retail space, residential units, and hotel rooms, and its developers were involved in the northern Virginia HQ2 bid.

Olivia Oran contributed reporting.

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Fox News trolls Michael Avenatti during on-camera interview

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das

  • Michael Avenatti, the attorney representing the adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, traded verbal blows with the Fox News host Tucker Carlson during an interview on Thursday night.
  • Carlson took jabs at Avenatti's rumored presidential run and scrutinized public statements Avenatti had made about Russia's interference in the 2016 US presidential election.
  • Fox News trolled Avenatti during the interview with the screen graphics known as chyrons. Those graphics labeled Avenatti a "CPL," or "creepy porn lawyer."
  • Carlson pointed to Avenatti's "thousand-dollar suit" and accused him of exploiting Daniels.

Michael Avenatti, the attorney representing the adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, traded verbal blows with the Fox News host Tucker Carlson during an interview on Thursday night.

The interview got off to a heated start. Shortly after he was introduced, Avenatti came out swinging.

"Tucker, I understood that I was coming on your show tonight to talk about the case involving my client," Avenatti said after Carlson played a clip of a speech Avenatti had given on a potential presidential run in 2020.

"I didn't tell you that, and I'm happy to talk about the case," Carlson replied.

"Tucker, you got to stop interrupting me, OK?" Avenatti said. "Because one of the conditions of me coming on tonight was that you are not going to do what you do routinely to guests, which is to talk over them and interrupt them."

mike avenatti stormy daniels

Avenatti makes regular appearances on CNN to discuss his client's case and peripheral matters concerning President Donald Trump, but he is rarely seen on Fox News. Last month, he cajoled the Fox News personality Sean Hannity to invite him on his show.

Carlson took jabs at Avenatti's rumored presidential run by scrutinizing public statements Avenatti had made about Russia's interference in the 2016 US presidential election. Avenatti has criticized Trump's foreign-policy decisions and has suggested Trump was "choosing Russia over the hardworking men and women of the intelligence community that risk their lives for this country."

"You're using reckless rhetoric on a subject you don't really understand that increases the temperature between the United States and a nuclear-armed adversary," Carlson said. "Is that a responsible thing to do?"

"I think under the circumstances I stand by my words," Avenatti said. "And I think for you to lecture me about reckless rhetoric is ironic."

Carlson continued to press Avenatti on his fledgling political aspirations, but the attorney sought a different direction for the interview.

"Let me ask you a question: Why is it that you don't call Donald Trump the 'creepy porn president'?" Avenatti asked, apparently referring to the Fox News on-screen graphic, known as a chyron, that said "CREEPY PORN LAWYER TOYING WITH 2020 RUN."

tucker carlson

"He's the one that had sex with a 4-month-old son at home with my client, without a condom," Avenatti added, "but you don't want to acknowledge that."

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, was paid $130,000 to sign a nondisclosure agreement with Michael Cohen, then Trump's personal attorney, to keep quiet about her claims of having an affair with Trump in 2006, shortly after the birth of his son Barron. Trump has denied having the affair. Earlier this month, Essential Consultants, a shell company set up by Cohen, agreed to cancel the nondisclosure agreement.

Carlson, who said he believed that Trump had the affair, accused Avenatti of exploiting Daniels' case. Taking another personal shot at Avenatti, Carlson accused Avenatti of wearing a "thousand-dollar suit" even as his client continued to work at what Carlson called "seedy strip clubs."

"This is America," Avenatti rebutted. "And guess what? If a woman wants to perform in a strip club, she does so, even though people like you demean her."

"When's the last time you saw porn?" Avenatti asked.

"You busted me. Actually, maybe humiliation porn," Carlson quipped. "That's why I watch you on CNN."

Tucker had one more jab before he ended the interview and cut to commercial break: "Creepy porn lawyer, great to see you."

SEE ALSO: 'Come on, don't play cheap': Trump's reaction to John McCain's death sparks a heated CNN debate

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Weather Channel video illustrates the horrifying reality of towering floodwater in North Carolina

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Hurricane Florence Weather Channel

  • Hurricane Florence has arrived in North Carolina and is expected to bring massive floods and damage caused by heavy rain and an enormous storm surge.
  • The storm has sustained wind speeds of 90 mph, and 40 inches of rain could fall over the next few days, according to the National Hurricane Center.
  • The Weather Channel on Thursday produced a forecast showing virtual water rising above the forecaster, creating a terrifying visualization of what 9 feet of water could do to a town.
  • "This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation, so if you find yourself here, please get out," the meteorologist Erika Navarro pleaded as the virtual water rose above her head.

The Weather Channel on Thursday produced a terrifying Hurricane Florence weather forecast using a visualization to simulate what 9 feet of floodwater might look like in North Carolina.

The effects of Hurricane Florence have already arrived to the US East Coast, where the National Hurricane Center forecasts as much as 40 inches of rain and 11 feet of flooding from storm surge in some places.

The Weather Channel's video from Thursday evening started like a regular weather forecast, with the meteorologist Erika Navarro explaining the "reasonable worst-case scenario" of water levels.

But the background then changed to a street corner, where the virtual water level began rising around Navarro.

The water was seen rising as high as 9 feet, lifting a car on the simulated street beside her and floating it above her head as a street sign was submerged.

"This is an absolute life-threatening scenario," Navarro said. "This water is through the first floor of your home, into the second."

Even as the simulated water approached 6 feet, rising over her head, Navarro said that she would not be able to stand and that there would most likely be hazards such as chemicals or exposed power lines in the water.

"You can see there's fish floating around in here," she said. "This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation, so if you find yourself here, please get out. If you're called to go, you need to go."

Read the latest on Hurricane Florence here.

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Photos and videos show the flooding and devastation as Hurricane Florence hits North Carolina

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Florence scenes graphic

 

Hurricane Florence has arrived in the US, lashing the East Coast with torrential rain, high winds, and massive floods.

Almost 300,000 people in North Carolina and South Carolina have lost power, with power companies expecting millions more to do so.

One hundred and fifty people in New Bern, North Carolina, are also trapped and awaiting government assistance.

Scroll down to see what the hurricane's impact looks like on the ground.

This was Wilmington, North Carolina, as the most ferocious part of the storm passed over on Friday morning.

 



The canopy of this BP petrol station in Topsail Beach, NC, was completely blown away.

 



This video, taken in Belhaven, NC on Thursday, shows water levels from the Pungo River reaching as high as people's windows.

 



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The best photos from every single year of Prince Harry's remarkable life

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prince harry age 3

Prince Harry turns 34 on Saturday, September 15, just a few months after marrying 37-year-old actress Meghan Markle in a highly anticipated royal wedding in Windsor on Saturday, May 19.

While His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales is certainly still young, he's already had a pretty incredible life, which is only set to continue into his and Markle's married life as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Aside from his high-profile relationship, Prince Harry travels the world — both with the royal family and as part of this charity efforts — and often competes in Champagne-filled sporting tournaments.

His life hasn't been without hardships, either. He and brother Prince William both struggled with their mental health after the death of their mother, Princess Diana, in 1997.

To commemorate his birthday, we've found the best photos from every single year of Prince Harry's remarkable life. Scroll down to take a look.

SEE ALSO: This is why Harry is called Prince of Wales, not England

Harry was born on September 15, 1984. Here he is with his mother, Princess Diana, and brother, Prince William.



AGE 1: Harry with Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos of Spain, Prince William, Diana, and his father, Prince Charles, at the Marivent Palace in Palma de Mallorca on July 9, 1986.



AGE 2: The Princess of Wales holds Prince Harry at the Royal Palace, Majorca, Spain on August 9, 1987.



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Kristen Stewart and Chloë Sevigny are terrifying in the murder thriller 'Lizzie,' which is now playing in theaters

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Lizzie Sundance Institute

  • Kristen Stewart and Chloë Sevigny star in this thriller that looks back on the infamous Borden family murders.
  • Both actresses give chilling performances.

 

Every weekend we pick an indie movie currently playing in theaters we think is definitely worth your time and money, and this week's is "Lizzie."

If you are looking for a creepy psychological thriller, this weekend has a good one. 

"Lizzie" is the latest dive into the infamous murders of Fall River, Massachusetts' wealthiest family, the Bordens, in 1892. Chloë Sevigny stars as Lizzie Borden, the main suspect of the axe murders of her father and step-mother. She was later tried and acquitted of the murders.

Centuries since there have been songs, shows, books, and movies focused on the murders. This latest delves into the theory that Lizzie didn't work alone.

Alongside Sevigny in the movie is Kristen Stewart, who plays Bridget Sullivan, the maid who was the only other person at home of the time of the murders. 

Director Craig William Macneill delivers a creepy tale in which the the social outcast Lizzie finds comfort in the arms of Bridget and the two begin a heated secret love affair. But under the roof of her controlling father, Lizzie will never be truly happy. This leads to the axe murders, which are extremely graphic and with no score to accompany them feel very realistic. 

Stewart and Sevigny give strong performances and if period pieces are your thing, this one has fantastic production design of the era. 

See where "Lizzie" is playing near you.

Our indie movie picks from previous weekends:

SEE ALSO: The 50 actors who have made the most money at the US box office

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NOW WATCH: How actors fake fight in movies

Volkswagen is killing off its iconic Beetle, but the car is getting a new look before it disappears

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Beetle

  • Volkswagen announced on Thursday that it will be ending production of the iconic VW Beetle in 2019.
  • The company will celebrate the car by adding two new models, Final Edition SE and Final Edition SEL, that give the car a whole new look. 
  • All Final Edition models will offer driver-assistance technology, Bluetooth technology, SiriusXM radio, Voice Control, and the exclusive Volkswagen Car-Net App-Connect smartphone integration system. 
  • The Final Edition Beetles will range from $23,045 to $29,995 depending on the model unit. 

Volkswagen announced on September 13 that it will be ending production of the iconic VW Beetle in 2019, but the company will celebrate the car by adding two new models, Final Edition SE and Final Edition SEL, that give the car a whole new look. 

"The loss of the Beetle after three generations, over nearly seven decades, will evoke a host of emotions from the Beetle’s many devoted fans," said Hinrich J. Woebcken, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, in a public statement. 

"I would also say, ‘Never say never.’ We’re excited to kick off a year of celebrating one of the true icons of the automotive world, with a series of events that will culminate in the end of production in Puebla in July 2019," Woebcken said. 

The Final Edition models will be available in both coupe and convertible body styles. Consumers will have the choice of two new colors: Safari Ui, a harvest beige, and Stonewashed Blue, a blue-jeans hue that was recently featured on the 2016 Beetle Denim. 

These upcoming Beetles are not the ones your grandmother once drove. All Final Edition models will offer driver-assistance technology, featuring a Composition Media infotainment unit with a 6.3-inch capacitive touchscreen display. They will also have Bluetooth technology, SiriusXM radio, voice control, and the exclusive Volkswagen Car-Net App-Connect smartphone integration system. 

The cars will feature keyless access with push-button start, stainless steel pedal caps, and draw their power from a 2.0 liter TSI engine that uses 174 horsepower. 

The 2019 Beetle Final Edition coupe is priced at $23,045 for SE models and $25,995 for SEL models. The convertible models will sell at $27,295 for SE and $29,995 for SEL models.  

2019_Beetle_Final_Edition Large 8693

SEE ALSO: VW Group was reportedly an investor lined up to help Elon Musk take Tesla private

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Report: Paul Manafort has reached a tentative plea deal with Mueller

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Paul Manafort

  • Paul Manafort has reached a tentative plea deal with the special counsel Robert Mueller, according to reports from ABC and Fox News.
  • It's unclear whether the deal, which is likely to be announced Friday morning, involves a cooperation agreement.
  • Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's personal defense attorney, said Thursday that he was not worried about Manafort cutting a plea deal because Trump's team was convinced he wouldn't say anything damaging about the president.

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Paul Manafort is expected to plead guilty as part of a deal with the special counsel Robert Mueller, Fox News reported on Friday morning following a Thursday ABC News report claiming Manafort had reached a "tentative" plea deal. 

Manafort, the former chairman of the Trump campaign, was convicted on eight of 18 counts related to tax and bank fraud last month, and he was set to face a second trial in Washington, DC, beginning next week.

The second indictment charged him with conspiracy, obstruction of justice, money laundering, and failure to register as a foreign agent.

ABC News reported that the plea deal was expected to be announced in court Friday and that it was unclear whether it involved a cooperation agreement.

Manafort's lawyers have been in talks with Mueller's team about a plea deal for at least the past few weeks. Jury selection for his second trial is set to begin Monday, and opening arguments are scheduled for September 24.

Legal experts say that given the timeline of the trial, it's unlikely prosecutors would agree to a plea deal that doesn't involve an agreement to cooperate with the government.

"If the government agrees to a plea deal without cooperation now, they save nothing in terms of time, money, or resources," said Patrick Cotter, a former federal prosecutor who was part of the team that convicted the Gambino family boss John Gotti.

"The only way they'd agree to a deal that involves dismissing some charges and asking for a lesser sentence is if it involves a cooperation agreement," he said.

That said, it's not inconceivable for the special counsel to agree to a plea deal without a cooperation agreement, and that scenario presents multiple upsides for the former Trump campaign chairman.

Perhaps most significant, a guilty plea without cooperation leaves the door wide open for Manafort to receive a presidential pardon or commutation in the future.

Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's lead defense attorney, told Politico on Thursday that the president's legal team was not concerned about the possibility of a plea deal in Manafort's case because they were convinced he wouldn't say anything damaging about Trump.

Giuliani added that Manafort's striking a plea deal would not shut the door to his getting a presidential pardon, and he said Manafort's team had been in regular contact with Trump's as part of a joint defense agreement, which allows the two sides to share evidence and other information. Because of their agreement, it's likely that Manafort's lawyers would have spoken with Trump's lawyers before reportedly agreeing to any deal with Mueller.

One potential downside for the president is that if Manafort pleads guilty, Mueller can subpoena him to testify before a grand jury after he is sentenced. At that point, Manafort would not be able to assert his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination as it relates to the two cases against him.

Manafort is a significant figure in several threads of the Russia investigation. He led the Trump campaign from March to August of 2016, during one of the most pivotal periods in the election season.

During that time he exchanged emails with a former Russian intelligence operative, Konstantin Kilimnik, offering the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska "private briefings" about the campaign in what might have been an attempt to resolve a long-standing financial dispute with Deripaska.

He spearheaded the campaign when WikiLeaks published thousands of emails that Russia had stolen from the Democratic National Committee. He was also one of three top campaign officials who attended a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower with two Russian lobbyists offering dirt on Hillary Clinton as part of the Russian government's support for Trump's candidacy.

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NOW WATCH: Apple might introduce three new iPhones this year — here’s what we know

China angered by Apple's big iPhone event mentioning Taiwan, says it could hurt sales

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  • Apple mentioned Taiwan and Hong Kong without using China's prefered terms at its annual iPhone event on Wednesday.
  • Chinese state media and citizens lashed out at the tech giant for not acknowledging Chinese sovereignty over those two regions.
  • The state-run China Central Television suggested that Apple could lose its market demand in China, and that its actions could "cause unnecessary political and legal troubles."
  • Taiwan has for decades operated as a separate country from China, but Beijing insists that Taiwan belongs to it.
  • Hong Kong is a special administrative region that belongs to China.
  • Apple has a lot to lose from alienating China.

China is lashing out at Apple after the tech giant mentioned Taiwan without using Beijing's preferred term for it at its annual iPhone event on Wednesday.

While introducing the launch date for the new iPhone XS and XS Max, Apple listed China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan separately alongside the three regions' national flags.

Multiple news outlets run by the Chinese state have since published posts demanding explanations from Apple, with China Central Television (CCTV) suggesting that Apple's actions could "hurt" its market demand in China and "cause unnecessary legal and political troubles."

Xi Jinping

CCTV wrote on Thursday: "People with a little bit of common sense will list 'Hong Kong, China,' and 'Taiwan, China,' on official occasions. How can such a serious and professional occasion like the Apple keynote not do this?"

"A company known for its rigor and service excellence must be very sophisticated in every detail. Details about a country's territorial sovereignty must go through rigorous verification before they can be released to the public," it added.

"If this kind of sloppiness is allowed to continue, it will not only hurt the company's reputation and market demand, but also cause unnecessary political and legal troubles."

CCTV also noted that although Apple separately listed the US and US Virgin Islands separately, the company made clear the US' sovereignty over the region. However "US Virgin Islands" is the official name of the US-administered island chain, used to differentiate from Britain's Virgin Islands holdings.

Additionally, Apple listed Puerto Rico, a US territory, without describing it as belonging to the US. 

Tim Cook China

The state-run Beijing Daily also wrote on popular microblogging site Weibo: "How difficult is it to add a 'China' in front of 'Taiwan'?"

The state-run tabloid Global Times added: "Apple, what do you mean by this?"

Apple's official Weibo page was also flooded with comments demanding explanations and saying the company was "ill."

Other commentators on Weibo accused Apple of disrespecting China and threatened to return all their Apple products.

Apple china

Apple has a lot to lose in China

Apple has a lot to lose if CCTV's threats become a reality. China is one of Apple's largest markets, as well as home to its main production base.

Chinese consumers are also starting to prefer domestic tech brands, like Huawei, over Apple, Bloomberg reported this week.

Earlier this year Apple deleted thousands of gambling apps in China after the country's state media targeted the firm for encouraging gambling, which is banned in mainland China.

Last year, Apple also removed hundreds of virtual private network (VPN) apps, which helped users bypass China's Great Firewall and let them access foreign media, which is also banned in China.

Shawn Zhang, a law student and Chinese human rights expert, tweeted immediately after the event: "I think Apple will soon issue an apology for hurting the feelings of Chinese people." The Chinese Communist Party regularly says that references to Taiwan that do not acknowledge its claim of ownership hurts the feelings of Chinese citizens.

Business Insider has contacted Apple for comment.

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Taiwan and Hong Kong are a sore subject for China

Taiwan, also known as the Republic of China, describes itself as an independent nation and has for decades maintained diplomatic relations with other countries without China's involvement.

China, on the other hand, claims that Taiwan belongs to it.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, which means it belongs to China but operates under a different government and separate legal system.

Earlier this year China pressured dozens of internatioanl airlines and companies to stop referring to Taiwan as a separate country on their flight listings. Many have complied.

The White House in May stood up for US companies' right to recognize or ignore China's claim to Taiwan by calling China's pressure campaign "Orwellian nonsense and part of a growing trend by the Chinese Communist party to impose its political views on American citizens and private companies."

Multiple countries also cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan over recent months, which Taiwan has blamed on China. The latest break came last month when El Salvador broke diplomatic ties with Taiwan, leaving the island nation with just 17 allies left.

Taipei has blamed the trend on China's "dollar diplomacy" — using foreign aid and investment to pressure economic allies to cut ties.

SEE ALSO: China is waging war against a cafe because it served coffee to Taiwan's president

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NOW WATCH: Apple's entire iPhone XS event in 8 minutes


Paul Manafort will plead guilty to conspiracy and obstruction, new court filing shows

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Paul Manafort

  • Paul Manafort has struck a plea deal with the special counsel Robert Mueller, according to a new court filing.
  • Manafort will plead guilty to two counts: conspiracy to obstruct justice and conspiracy against the US.
  • Manafort has not withdrawn from his joint defense agreement with President Donald Trump, indicating that his plea deal does not include an agreement to cooperate.

Paul Manafort has struck a plea deal with the special counsel Robert Mueller, new court filings show.

Prosecutors filed a criminal information against Manafort in court early Friday, shortly before a pretrial hearing during which lawyers for both sides are expected to announce the terms of Manafort's guilty plea.

According to the document, Manafort will plead to two counts: conspiracy to obstruct justice and conspiracy against the US. It is unclear whether Manafort's plea includes an agreement to cooperate with prosecutors in the Russia investigation, which is probing Russia's interference in the 2016 election and whether members of President Donald Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow to tilt the race in his favor.

However, a source close to Trump's legal team with direct knowledge of the matter told Business Insider that Manafort has not withdrawn from his joint defense agreement with Trump. That indicates that he likely will not flip and cooperate with prosecutors.

Manafort is the former chairman of Trump's campaign. He was the subject of two indictments from Mueller's office and was convicted on eight counts of tax and bank fraud last month after his first trial in Virginia. The second indictment, brought in Washington, DC, charged him with conspiracy, obstruction, money laundering, false statements, and illegal lobbying.

Both indictments center around Manafort's political consulting work from 2006 to 2015 for pro-Russian interests like Ukraine's Party of Regions and former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

In the Washington, DC, case, prosecutors allege that Manafort did not register as a foreign agent while lobbying on behalf of Yanukovych and the Party of Regions. They also accused him of making misleading statements about his overseas work, conspiring to launder money, and attempting to tamper with witness testimony.

Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's lead defense attorney, told Politico on Thursday that the president's legal team was not concerned about the possibility of a plea deal in Manafort's case because they were convinced he wouldn't say anything damaging about Trump.

One potential hazard for the president is that if Manafort pleads guilty, Mueller can subpoena him to testify before a grand jury after he is sentenced. At that point, Manafort would not be able to assert his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination as it relates to the two cases against him.

Manafort is a significant figure in several threads of the Russia investigation. He led the Trump campaign from March to August of 2016, during one of the most pivotal periods in the election season.

During that time he exchanged emails with a former Russian intelligence operative, Konstantin Kilimnik, offering the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska "private briefings" about the campaign in what might have been an attempt to resolve a long-standing financial dispute with Deripaska.

He spearheaded the campaign when WikiLeaks published thousands of emails that Russia had stolen from the Democratic National Committee. He was also one of three top campaign officials who attended a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower with two Russian lobbyists offering dirt on Hillary Clinton as part of the Russian government's support for Trump's candidacy.

This story is developing. Check back for updates. 

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Nicolas Cage gives a wild and unhinged performance in his new movie, 'Mandy,' and the dark past of its director was the inspiration

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Mandy RLJE Films

  • Nicolas Cage gives one of his most insane performances in "Mandy."
  • But it's the director of the movie, Panos Cosmatos, and coping with the passing of his parents, that led to Cage's wild role.

 

There aren’t many who can top Nicolas Cage in the crazy department, but the actor met his match with director Panos Cosmatos.

The filmmaker has built a fan base thanks to his beautifully demented storytelling, and that’s only with one feature film under his belt.

2010’s “Beyond the Black Rainbow,” Cosmatos’ feature debut, gave audiences a twisted and visually stunning sci-fi movie about one young woman’s journey to escape a weird institute run by an even weirder doctor. With the beautiful sets and costumes matched with the trippy music and cinematography, it was evident that Cosmatos was a new original voice to genre filmmaking.

Eight years later, Cosmatos has finally returned with a new movie, “Mandy” (opening in theaters on Friday). And though this one continues his love of strange characters, gorgeous visuals, and thrilling soundtrack (this time using rock and roll versus the electronica sound of “Black Rainbow”), it will get a bigger profile with the casting of Cage as the star of the movie.

Beyond the Black Rainbow Magnet ReleasingHere Cage plays Red Miller, a quiet man who lives in California’s Shadow Mountains where he cuts down trees with a chainsaw all day, and every night he comes home to Mandy (Andrea Riseborough), his true love. However, when a religious cult kills Mandy, Red goes into a psychotic rage, killing everyone (human and supernatural) that was involved in her death. That includes battling bad guys with an axe he built himself and having a chainsaw duel.

But behind the insanity in both “Beyond the Black Rainbow” and “Mandy” is a lot of pain. Cosmatos channeled the depression of losing both of his parents in the last decade into writing the scripts for the movies.

The loss of his father was particularly tough, seeing his connection to movies. George P. Cosmatos died in 2005 and was the director of such classic Hollywood titles as “Rambo: First Blood Part II,” “Cobra,” “Leviathan,” and “Tombstone.”

“My love of movies comes from him,” Cosmatos said of his father to Business Insider. “He loved movies more than anything. He was obsessed with them. We watched them together up until the end.”

He said blackout drinking binges with friends was how he dealt with the loss of his mother, but after his father died he turned to storytelling, writing “Black Rainbow” and “Mandy” simultaneously.

“I wasn’t aware of the therapeutic aspect of it at the time, but it helped me get through in a big way,” Cosmatos said of the scriptwriting.

“Black Rainbow” got off the ground quicker financially, so it was made first. When Cosmatos went back to the “Mandy” script, he realized he couldn’t finish it.

“Me writing ‘Black Rainbow’ was me alone in a windowless room going insane,” he said. For "Mandy" he needed to be collaborative.

He brought on his friend, filmmaker Aaron Stewart-Ahn, to finish the script with him. And Cosmatos also felt that once he cast the Red Miller part there would also be a collaboration there.

Though it would take years, the money to make “Mandy” finally came when Cage signed on. Cosmatos said at first the two had an impasse as Cage wanted to play Red, though he wanted Cage to play the cult leader Jeremiah. But Cosmatos said it was a dream one night where he saw Cage as Red that sold him that he needed him to play the role.

Panos Cosmatos Mandy RLJE Films finalThe two got together and fleshed out the rest of the Red character. And though some of the most bizarre parts of the movie seem like classic Cage, in fact, they came from Cosmatos.

The scene when Red goes into the bathroom to take a bottle of vodka he’s hid away and beings to chug it, pour it all over his wounds, and scream throughout was all Cosmatos’ idea.

“I always wanted to have a scene that felt like that lost decade of mine and evokes me drinking with my friends in a desperate attempt to black out my consciousness,” he said.

And there’s the first line Cage delivers in the movie. He walks into the house, sees Mandy, and does a knock-knock joke:

Red: Knock-knock.

Mandy: Who’s there?

Red: Erik Estrada.

Mandy: Erik Estrada who?

Red: Erik Estrada from “CHiPs.”

That was not improvised but from the script.

“When he came on the movie I went through the script and rewrote some of the dialogue,” Cosmatos said, pointing out that the knock-knock joke was something his friend said that he never forgot. “Some of the things I just wanted to hear Nicolas Cage deliver."

Cosmatos doesn’t know what movie he will do next. In many ways his first two movies have gotten him over the dark times in his life. But one thing he knows for sure is he won’t be doing anything for a Hollywood studio. That’s one of his biggest memories from watching his father work when he was a kid.

“What I learned about the industry was listening to him argue with people on the phone,” he said. “Battling with producers and executives for creative freedom. That’s very important to me.”

 

SEE ALSO: Inside how "The Front Runner" starring Hugh Jackman captured the tabloid affair scandal that changed politics forever

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New details are emerging about a woman's allegation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in a secret letter

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WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 06: Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh (L) testifies during the third day of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee as White House Counsel Don McGahn listens on Capitol Hill September 6, 2018 in Washington, DC. Kavanaugh was nominated by President Donald Trump to fill the vacancy on the court left by retiring Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

  • California Sen. Dianne Feinstein referred a letter about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh to the FBI.
  • The letter reportedly details an incident when Kavanaugh was in high school.
  • A woman alleges that in the early 1980s, when Kavanaugh was in high school, he attempted to force himself on her.
  • Kavanaugh denied the allegation.
  • The FBI added the letter to Kavanaugh's background file.

WASHINGTON, DC — New information emerged on Friday about the letter Sen. Dianne Feinstein referred to federal investigators regarding Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee.

Feinstein had sent the letter to the FBI on Thursday after having kept its content secret, even from fellow Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee. It detailed an allegation against Kavanaugh while he was a teenager in the Washington, DC, area.

While the letter itself was known of publicly for several days, The New Yorker revealed what it said. The author of the letter, an unidentified woman, claims that while at a high-school party as teenagers, Kavanaugh pinned the woman down and forced himself on her. The woman claims that a male friend of Kavanaugh's turned up music volume in the room to drown out any noise, according to The New Yorker.

Kavanaugh denied the allegation in a statement, and a classmate of his told The New Yorker he had "no recollection" of it occurring.

"I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation," Kavanaugh said. "I did not do this back in high school or at any time."

Feinstein had previously withheld the letter after receiving it from California Rep. Anna Eshoo, concealing its contents from other members of the committee, including Democrats.

After Feinstein briefed Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, she sent the letter to federal investigators and publicly acknowledged doing so in a statement. The FBI then added the letter to Kavanaugh's background file.

The White House condemned the secrecy of the letter as a last ditch attempt to derail Kavanaugh's nomination.

"Throughout 25 years of public service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has thoroughly and repeatedly vetted Judge Kavanaugh, dating back to 1993, for some of the most highly sensitive roles. He has served in the Office of Independent Counsel, the White House, and on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, all before his nomination earlier this year to serve as Associate Justice on the Supreme Court," White House spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said on Thursday.

"Senator Schumer promised to 'oppose Judge Kavanaugh's nomination with everything I have,' and it appears he is delivering with this 11th-hour attempt to delay his confirmation," Kupec said.

Later on Friday, Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley announced that the committee would be holding its procedural vote to advance Kavanaugh out of the committee. A full confirmation vote is expected in October.

SEE ALSO: Democrats in red states have started using guns in campaign ads

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DC Comics has released its streaming service to the public, and it will feature original TV series and other new material

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  • DC Comics has released its new streaming service, DC Universe.
  • The subscription service costs $7.99 per month or $74.99 annually, and will feature original live action and animated series from the world of DC Comics, along with digital comics and classic TV series and films.

 

DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. new streaming service, DC Universe, is now live to the public. 

The subscription service costs $7.99 per month or $74.99 annually, and will feature original live action and animated series from the world of DC Comics. 

The service's first live-action original series, "Titans," will premiere October 12, with each of its 12 episodes released weekly.

Currently, the service features access to classic TV series and films, a curated selection of digital comic books, a DC-centric encyclopedia, and exclusive merchandise, per a release from Warner Bros. 

"DC Universe is not an attempt to be everything to everyone," Jim Lee, CCO of DC Entertainment and a veteran comic book artist, told Business Insider's Travis Clark last month. "It's an attempt to be the most immersive experience for fans of the DC characters and stories."

"We've always been very cognizant that fans want to find our material in a way that's most convenient and find it in the most easily accessible way," Lee continued. "It's always sort of a mandate to look at technology and trends and figure out the best way to deliver content."

Warner Bros. digital networks president Craig Hunegs said in a release on Friday that the service "stands out as a fan-first service in what is quickly becoming a crowded marketplace of consumer choices."

Following "Titans," the service said it will release a number of original series including "Young Justice: Outsiders," "Doom Patrol," "Swamp Thing," "Harley Quinn" and "Stargirl."

Check out the service on its website. 

SEE ALSO: A DC Comics exec gave us a rundown of its upcoming streaming service, and addressed the controversy over the violent 'Titans' trailer

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This Japanese cruise attendant’s job is to help Westerners feel comfortable bathing naked around a bunch of strangers

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  • A Princess Cruises ship allows patrons to enjoy the Japanese ritual of bathing in an onsen, which is a hot spring-heated natural body of water. 
  • It's custom to get naked while in an onsen, which are gender-segregated. 
  • To help non-Asian patrons on the cruise feel comfortable with bathing nude around strangers, ship attendant Hiroki Matsuo uses his psychology degree and training to ease folks into the new idea — and ultimately reap the benefits. 

 

When Princess Cruises introduced the Diamond Princess, its only ship to exclusively sail around Asia, the designers included something that would appeal to its clientele: a Japanese hot spring, or onsen. Guests can take to the baths for a communal rite that's popular in Japan, as well as Korea and Taiwan

And the Princess Cruises' onsen doesn't miss out on one classic part of the hot spring experience: bathing in the nude around a bunch of strangers (of your own gender). 

Communal hot springs are commonplace in much of East Asia, where most of the Diamond Princess' guests are from.

But many of its Westerner guests aren't familiar with the experience. And they're often a bit freaked out by the idea of getting naked in public and jumping in a hot bath with a bunch of other naked strangers.

The Telegraph wrote earlier this month about 26-year old Hiroki Matsuo, an attendant on the Diamond Princess whose job responsibilities include making the ship's non-Asian guests feel comfortable with the idea of bathing naked.

"Even though the indoor baths are segregated into men and women’s, foreigners are usually anxious when they learn that nudity is compulsory," Matsuo, who has a degree in psychology from the University of Arkansas, told The Telegraph.

To ease them into it, he gives the guests a small towel to cover themselves with until they're in the water. He also suggests patrons go earlier in the day, as it's common in Japan to bathe after dinner or before bed. 

onsen

There are a few different ways to enjoy the onsen experience. One common method is switching from the hottest waters to the coldest. It's important to sit and relax rather than swim around. And you should never wring out your towel in the bath. 

Routinely dipping into hot or cold water is becoming popular in certain circles. Life coach Tony Robbins said the final step of his morning routine is a five-minute stay in a super-hot sauna followed by a jump in a cold pool. As Business Insider's Rich Feloni reported, the cold plunge is refreshing, and can kickstart your adrenaline and endorphins.

There's some scientific evidence backing up the health benefits of a hot spring visit. One British study found that an hour in a hot bath can "boost metabolic health and cause an anti-inflammatory response similar to exercise," as Business Insider previously reported.

Matsuo has seen the de-stressing effects himself. "It's not a therapy, a surgery or a treatment, but it still causes some kind of physical and mental change," Matsuo said

"Afterwards, many tell me they feel like a new person," he added. "I've seen some go into the baths looking grumpy and come out smiling. And, surprisingly, a lot of people make friends when they’re naked in the baths!"

Read the entire article on The Telegraph here

SEE ALSO: Take a look inside Carnival Corporation's largest-ever ship, which holds 6,600 passengers, cost nearly $800 million to build, and has 2 private 'islands' and a jungle-themed water park

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