03/04/25 - The News

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Democratic Rep. Al Green removed after disrupting Trump's speech

March 04, 2025 0

Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, was removed from the House chamber Tuesday night after he disrupted President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress.

Green, who has long pushed to impeach Trump dating to his previous term in office, stood and shook his cane toward the president in the opening minutes of his speech.

Other lawmakers cheered and booed Green, causing further chaos on the House floor as Trump paused. The uproar prompted House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to read aloud from House rules.

“Members are directed to uphold and maintain decorum in the House and to cease any further disruptions,” Johnson said, an admonishment aimed at Green.

After Green refused to sit and allow Trump to continue, Johnson called for the House sergeant at arms to remove him from the chamber.

“Nah nah nah nah, goodbye,” Republicans chanted as Green was escorted from the room.

Outside the chamber, Green told NBC News that as "a person of conscience," he believes Trump "has done things that I think we cannot allow to continue."

"This whole budget that he has is one that is going to cause Medicaid to be cut, and when he said he had a mandate, it triggered something. It really did. Because he doesn’t have a mandate, and he doesn’t have a mandate to cut health care from poor people," Green said.

The chamber was filled with other signs of protest and pushback.

Recommendedut of the chamber during Trump's joint address to Congress.Members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus wore pink to protest Trump’s policies on women and families. Other Democrats wore blue and yellow ties in support of Ukraine, days after Trump and Vice President JD Vance tangled with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an unexpectedly hostile Oval Office meeting.

Also visible on some Democratic members: stickers accusing Elon Musk of “stealing Social Security.” Musk, a billionaire whose government efficiency initiative is scrutinizing Social Security finances, has called the program a “Ponzi scheme.”

Some Democrats also held black paddles that read “SAVE MEDICAID,” “PROTECT VETERANS” and “MUSK STEALS.” Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., held a white board that read “THAT’S A LIE.”

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A group of House Democrats also took off their jackets and revealed black shirts with writing on the back. Reps. Jasmine Crockett of Texas and Andrea Salinas of Oregon had shirts reading "Resist," and Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida had one saying, "No more kings."

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., posted on X that she walked out of the speech because she found the president's remarks "shameful."

"There’s only so much bulls--- a person can tolerate," she wrote.

House Democratic leaders had urged members during a closed-door party meeting earlier Tuesday to show proper decorum ahead of Trump’s joint address, according to three House Democrats who attended the meeting. 

Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., specifically asked members not to use “props” to protest the speech, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., encouraged members to stay on message and keep the spotlight focused on the people affected by Trump’s policies — not make the story about themselves

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Kieran Culkin wins best supporting actor at the Oscars, completing his sweep

March 04, 2025 0

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kieran Culkin won the Oscar for best supporting actor Sunday at the 97th Academy Awards, completing a sweep of the category that followed his dominance in television awards last season.

The award, for portraying the chaotic but endearing Benji in Jesse Eisenberg’s “A Real Pain,” marked his first win and nomination.

Culkin thanked his manager, his mom, Eisenberg and his wife, Jazz Charton — taking the moment to remind his wife that he wants more kids.

“About a year ago, I was on a stage like this, and I very stupidly, publicly, said that I want a third kid from her because she said if I won the award, I would, she would give me the kid,” he said, recalling his speech at the Emmys last January. After the show, “She goes, ‘Oh, God, I did say that. I guess I owe you a third kid.’ And I turned to her and I said, ‘Really? I want four“She said, ‘I will give you four when you win an Oscar,’” Culkin, who has two kids with Charton, said to a chorus of laughs from the audience. “Jazz, love of my life, ye of little faith. No pressure. I love you.”

Culkin triumphed over nominees Guy Pearce for “The Brutalist,” Edward Norton for “A Complete Unknown,” Yura Borisov for “Anora” and his fellow “Succession” alum Jeremy Strong for “The Apprentice.” The category was one of few with a clear favorite ahead of this year’s ceremony, after Culkin picked up the Golden GlobeBAFTAIndependent Spirit AwardSAG Award and a slew of critics awards earlier this month.Written and directed by Eisenberg, “A Real Pain” follows cousins — played by Culkin and Eisenberg — on a trip through Poland for a Holocaust tour to honor their late grandmother. Culkin’s Benji is introduced as unfiltered but quick to connect. Eisenberg’s David is his rule-following, guarded foil. Oscillating between serious reflections on Jewish identity, generational trauma and mourning and the inherent comedy of mismatched relatives, Eisenberg’s script deftly navigates heavy themes with humor that lands because of Culkin’s ability to deliver it earnestly.

“Jesse Eisenberg, thank you for this movie. You’re a genius,” Culkin said on stage. “I would never say that to your face. I’m never saying it again. So soak it up.”

Kieran Culkin accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a supporting role for "A Real Pain" during the Oscars on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Robert Downey Jr. looks on from right.(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
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