Large Language Models change their judgment depending on who they think wrote a text, even when the content stays identical, researchers report. The AI systems are strongly biased against Chinese authorship but generally trust humans more than other AIs, according to a new study. Large Language Models (LLMs) are increasingly used not only to generate content but also to evaluate it. They are asked to grade essays, moderate social media content, summarize reports, screen job applications, and much more. However, there are heated discussions-in the media as well as in academia-whether such evaluations are consistent and unbiased. Some LLMs are under suspicion to promote certain political agendas: For example, Deepseek is often characterized as having a pro-Chinese perspective and Open AI as being “woke”. Although these beliefs are widely discussed, they are so far unsubstantiated. University of Zurich researchers Federico Germani and Giovanni Spitale have now investigated whether LLMs really exhibit systematic biases when evaluating texts. The results show that LLMs deliver indeed biased judgements-but only when information about the source or author of the evaluated message is revealed. The researchers included four widely used LLMs in their study: OpenAI o3-mini, Deepseek Reasoner, xAI Grok 2, and Mistral. First, they tasked each of the LLMs to create fifty narrative statements about 24 controversial topics, such as vaccination mandates, geopolitics, or climate change policies. Then they asked the LLMs to evaluate all the texts under different conditions: Sometimes no source for the statement was provided, sometimes it was attributed to a human of a certain nationality or another LLM. This resulted in a total of 192’000 assessments that were then analysed for bias and agreement between the different (or the same) LLMs. The good news: When no information about the source of the text was provided, the evaluations of all four LLMs showed a high level of agreement, over 90%. This was true across all topics. “There is no LLM war of ideologies,” concludes Spitale. “The danger of AI nationalism is currently overhyped in the media.” However, the picture changed completely when fictional sources of the texts were provided to the LLMs. Then suddenly a deep, hidden bias was revealed. The agreement between the LLM systems was substantially reduced and sometimes disappeared completely, even if the text stayed exactly the same. Most striking was a strong anti-Chinese bias across all models, including China’s own Deepseek. The agreement with the content of the text dropped sharply when “a person from China” was (falsely) revealed as the author. “This less favourable judgement emerged even when the argument was logical and well-written,” says Germani. For example: In geopolitical topics like Taiwan’s sovereignty, Deepseek reduced agreement by up to 75% simply because it expected a Chinese person to hold a different view. Also surprising: It turned out that LLMs trusted humans more than other LLMs. Most models scored their agreements with arguments slightly lower when they believed the texts were written by another AI. “This suggests a built-in distrust of machine-generated content,” says Spitale. Altogether, the findings show that AI doesn’t just process content if asked to evaluate a text. It also reacts strongly to the identity of the author or the source. Even small cues like the nationality of the author can push the LLMs toward biased reasoning. Germani and Spitale argue that this could lead to serious problems if AI is used for content moderation, hiring, academic reviewing, or journalism. The danger of LLMs isn’t that they are trained to promote political ideology; it is this hidden bias. “AI will replicate such harmful assumptions unless we build transparency and governance into how it evaluates information,” says Spitale. This has to be done before AI is used in sensitive social or political contexts. The results don’t mean people should avoid AI, but they should not trust it blindly. “LLMs are safest when they are used to assist reasoning, rather than to replace it: useful assistants, but never judges.” The research appears in Sciences Advances.
https://www.futurity.org/ai-models-large-language-models-text-bias-3307722/
Tag: controversial
Recently Departed WWE Star Undergoes Major Surgery
Former WWE Superstar Ridge Holland, who now goes by his real name Luke Menzies, recently provided a significant update on his health after a long period of pain and frustration. Holland confirmed the extensive nature of the procedure he received. He told the WWE fans that he had an artificial disc replacement spanning from C5 to C7. The wrestler immediately gave credit to the staff at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan for taking excellent care of him. He also shared his complete gratitude for the outpouring of support he has received from people online. View this post on Instagram A post shared by “Steam Pig” Ridge Holland. Luke Menzies/ Online coach (@ridgewwe) Holland shared the post along with a confirmation of the procedure. He posted: “Surgery went well. C5 to C7 artificial disc replacement. Thank you to the amazing care at @hspecialsurgery Manhattan. And thank you for all the messages of support. I’ll get back to you all over the next few days. #therebuild”. This surgery marks a major step forward for the former member of the Brawling Brutes. Holland has been dealing with various neck issues for a considerable amount of time. The procedure also comes on the heels of a messy and controversial exit from WWE earlier this year. The former NXT star had previously claimed that he was released from his contract while he was injured. This sudden move left him struggling to manage his family’s finances, including paying his mortgage. Despite the controversy surrounding his release, reports confirmed that WWE decided to cover the entire cost of the essential surgery. For the present time, Ridge Holland is rightly focused completely on his intensive recovery period. Whether or not he will ever return to the wrestling ring remains an entirely separate question. However, his overall health is clearly the most important priority, a fact that has relieved his fans. More news: Nikki Bella Reunites With Ex-Boyfriend At WWE Raw Ridge Holland’s contract was terminated early in November 2025, just nine days before its scheduled expiration. This action by the company was reported to be a direct response to his public posts detailing his financial struggles. Holland had suffered a severe Lisfranc foot injury while performing at a TNA taping for WWE’s benefit, an injury the company was originally only covering rehab costs for. Holland later clarified that despite his controversial early termination, WWE agreed to pay for the neck fusion surgery because the situation was considered an “open case”. This expensive surgery is expected to sideline Holland from physical activity until at least May 2026. The star continues to maintain a respectful relationship with Big E, who showed him immense grace after the in-ring injury that ultimately ended Big E’s full-time career. More WWE News: Former WWE Champion is Preparing for In-Ring Return Ringside Tickets for WWE PLE Reach Shocking Price AJ Lee Calls Out WWE Fan for Bizarre AI Video.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/wrestling/recently-departed-wwe-star-undergoes-major-surgery-11105777
England Star Tom Curry Branded a ‘Bully’ After Argentina Coach Says He Was Shoved Post-Match
England’s nail-biting 27-23 victory over Argentina on Sunday, 23 November, was thrown into turmoil after flanker Tom Curry was sensationally accused of being a ‘bully’ following a nasty clash that left Juan Cruz Mallia with a serious knee injury. Curry, whose late and high-impact tackle on Mallia triggered an on-field scuffle and forced the Argentina full-back off with a suspected ACL tear, then allegedly confronted and shoved Pumas head coach Felipe Contepomi in the tunnel after the match. Contepomi relayed the explosive encounter during a fiery post-match media scrum, sending shockwaves through the rugby community. Contepomi Calls Curry a ‘Bully’ According to Contepomi, Curry tried to approach one of Argentina’s staff members after the final whistle, only to be blocked by the coaching team who were still furious about the Mallia incident. ‘I was standing there and (Curry) was coming and wanted to say hi to one of our coaches, but we said no because we were upset,’ Contepomi recalled. ‘We said “mate, you broke his knee”, and he said “f*** off” and pushed me like that.’ The Argentina boss claimed Curry’s behaviour was ‘bullyish’, insisting that a player responsible for such a dangerous hit should have shown at least a degree of remorse. ‘After breaking someone’s knee, I think you need to be humble enough to say “sorry, I did something wrong” but he went the opposite way,’ Contepomi said. ‘Maybe it is his way of being a bully.’ Fans Weigh In: ‘Not a Rugby Incident’, ‘Pathetic Whinging’, ‘Returning the Favour?’ Social media erupted as fans clashed over whether Curry was a reckless aggressor or the target of an overblown post-match rant. Rugby page SCRUMMA argued that Curry may have been paying Argentina back for earlier rough play. @SCRUMMA22: ‘Would be nice if he addressed his own team’s actions before blaming someone else. Bear in mind Curry was watching on the bench for most of the game, he saw the numerous late shots on Ford. He was returning the favour?’ Others felt Contepomi’s remarks were embarrassing. @RugbyEng: ‘Oh no, no, no Felipe. Embarrassing yourself with this post-game whinging. As the esteemed referee Nigel Owens once said, “this isn’t soccer”. A hugely competitive game and this rather pathetic name-calling about an opponent after the game is a sad reflection on him, not Curry.’ But not all England fans backed Curry. User @charl32647 posted: ‘As an England supporter it wasn’t great that Curry’s foul play resulted in injury to a player that may put him out for a few months. It was not a rugby incident but a very late hit.’ The debate highlighted just how divisive Curry has become, with some defending his physical approach and others accusing him of recklessness. Curry’s Tackle That Incensed Argentina The controversial late tackle on Mallia sparked a confrontation between both teams shortly before the final whistle. Mallia was forced off five minutes before full-time with a suspected torn ACL. Curry was penalised for the hit, but the incident was not reviewed by the television match official (TMO), Eric Gauzins. Contepomi condemned the lack of review and labelled the challenge ‘reckless’. ‘He was reckless and broke our player’s knee. I know it is rugby, but if we do not look after each other it becomes dangerous,’ he told reporters. England Coach Defends Curry: ‘His Character Is Unquestionable’ England head coach Steve Borthwick said he was aware of the tunnel confrontation involving Curry and Argentina’s staff. ‘I did not see it, I was not there, I was in the changing room at the time. I am aware of it,’ he said. Borthwick defended Curry’s reputation and called him a model professional. ‘I think anybody who has had any contact with Tom Curry knows his character is impeccable. He is a fantastic team man and a very respectful guy,’ he said. ‘I think Tom Curry’s character is unquestionable.’ He added that he did not want the incident to overshadow what he described as a fiercely contested Test match. Curry’s Past Incidents With Mallia This is not the first time Curry and Mallia have been involved in a high-profile collision. During the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the pair clashed heads within minutes of kick-off, leaving both players needing medical attention. Curry was sent off just two minutes into that match and later received a two-game suspension.
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/england-star-tom-curry-branded-bully-after-argentina-coach-says-he-was-shoved-post-match-1757453
What Congress Has Left to Do This Year
The restarted Senate is moving forward with certain crypto initiatives, but how much time is left compared to how much work is left, really? You’re reading State of Crypto, a CoinDesk newsletter looking at the intersection of cryptocurrency and government. Click here to sign up for future editions. The narrative Now that Congress is back from the government shutdown, all eyes are on how it will proceed on crypto issues. There are a few components to this: Mike Selig’s nomination to run the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, market structure legislation and other crypto matters. Why it matters Time is starting to run out for the crypto industry to lock in its wins from the 2024 election. While the GENIUS Act was a strong start for crypto businesses, and the Securities and Exchange Commission and CFTC are continuing their efforts to create new rules for the industry, the market structure bill is still far from completion. Congress has less than 40 days left this year and just a handful of months next year before it disperses for the midterm elections. Breaking it down The Senate Agriculture Committee voted 13-11 to advance CFTC Chair nominee Mike Selig’s name to the full Senate for a floor vote; if he secures a majority of votes, he should get sworn in shortly after. This may happen in the coming weeks. Selig said crypto is an important issue for the CFTC to look into, speaking to specific issues like onchain markets and the role of intermediaries, among other things. “The CFTC has a critical mission to protect these markets,” he said at his hearing on Wednesday. “This is a real opportunity to develop a framework that can allow for software developers to thrive, for new exchanges to crop up that are going to protect investors and have the types of controls that you would expect in an exchange and make sure that we have the right disclosure requirements that we have typically in our financial markets.” The Senate Banking Committee also advanced the nomination of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Acting Chair Travis Hill to be the regulator’s fully confirmed chair to the Senate, among other nominees. But the main event market structure legislation remains largely in the same public position it was in last week. As noted last week, the Agriculture Committee’s new draft includes a few provisions that may prove controversial, including one touching on conflicts of interest. This discussion draft will clearly see updates before the committee can hold a markup and vote. The Trump family’s various crypto businesses are unlikely to leave Democrats’ focus either Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jack Reed asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General for information about allegations that the Trump-linked World Liberty Financial sold some of its tokens to “illicit actors,” including in sanctioned regions. The Banking Committee may be closer to a markup while the committee hasn’t published a revised draft bill in a while, negotiations do appear to be ongoing between Republicans and Democrats. Sen. Tim Scott, who chairs the Banking Committee, said Democrats had been “stalling” the bill’s progress in an interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo earlier this week. “The Democrats have been stalling and stalling and stalling because they don’t want President Trump to make America the crypto capital of the world,” he said. “They don’t want to give them the win. It’s not just for President Trump. It’s for the American people, single moms like the one that raised me.” Still, he said the bill might still get to the Senate floor in early 2026. “Next month, we believe we can mark up in both committees and get this to the floor of the Senate early next year, so that President Trump will sign the legislation making America the crypto capital of the World, protecting consumers while increasing the likelihood of America being the most dominant economic power for the next 100 years,” Scott said. Congress has a limited amount of time left in the year to get anything done lawmakers will be out of session next week for Thanksgiving, and will have just a few weeks in December before Christmas and New Year’s. It’s the Thanksgiving holiday in the U. S. Congress will be back next week. If you’ve got thoughts or questions on what I should discuss next week or any other feedback you’d like to share, feel free to email me at [email protected] or find me on Bluesky @nikhileshde. bsky. social. You can also join the group conversation on Telegram. See ya’ll next week!.
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/tech/what-congress-has-left-to-do-this-year/
No NFL Punishment For Dolphins Star Over Josh Allen ‘Disrespect’
The Buffalo Bills will attempt to recover from a demoralizing defeat last week to the 3-7 Miami Dolphins, a game in which they were never competitive, failing to score at all through three quarters on their way to a 30-13 loss. The 6-3 Bills now prepare to host the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who also hold a 6-3 record, in what is certainly Buffalo’s most important game of the season so far. This matchup will be televised to most of the country by CBS Sports on Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern time.
As if the final score were not humiliating enough, Bills three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Josh Allen, the reigning NFL MVP, suffered what officials during the game deemed an outburst of disrespect from a Dolphins defensive end during a five-yard sack late in the fourth quarter.
### Chubb Hit With Penalty After Allen Sack
Officials threw a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct on Miami two-time Pro Bowler, defensive end Bradley Chubb. Specifically, the 15-yard penalty on Chubb was called for taunting. The call was controversial because at no point did Chubb appear to say anything to Allen or gesture toward him.
Perhaps as a result of this, the NFL determined that Chubb’s conduct—while meriting the penalty that set the stage for Allen’s 26-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Jackson Hawes on the very next play—did not also deserve a financial punishment. This spared Chubb from what could have been an $11,593 fine, an amount determined by the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement.
The NFL’s decision to let Chubb keep his money does not necessarily mean league officials disagreed with the call made on the field. The NFL Operations Office reviews all plays, whether flagged or not, and independently decides which deserve disciplinary action in the form of fines.
### Officials Demand Players Respect Opponents
So, what was Chubb’s offense? Rather than rolling to the side and off of Allen after the sack, the seven-year veteran crawled forward, moving his body directly over Allen’s face.
“He crawled spread-eagle over Allen, dragging his crotch across Allen, including his face. If his crotch didn’t touch Allen, Chubb certainly gave Allen a good look at it,” wrote NFL rules expert Mark Schultz, explaining the penalty call for the site Football Zebras.
“Officials always tell players to ‘roll off’ other players and then ‘use the ground’ to get back on their feet. This didn’t happen,” Schultz continued, adding that the NFL requires players to refrain from “acts that disrespect an opponent.” In this case, officials deemed Chubb’s actions disrespectful, and the flag flew.
### Chubb Avoids 6th Fine of Career
The NFL has not always been as merciful with Chubb. The former North Carolina State Wolfpack All-American has been fined five times in his career, with total fines amounting to $72,015.
Allen and Chubb have long been linked in another way as well. In the 2018 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected Chubb with the No. 5 overall pick. Just two picks later, the Bills drafted Allen out of Wyoming, where in 2016 he threw the most touchdown passes in the Mountain West Conference with 28, but also the most interceptions with 15.
### Bills’ Division Title Streak at Risk
The Broncos’ then-general manager and Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway later said that drafting Chubb over Allen was “probably my biggest mistake of my GM days, was not taking Josh.”
The No. 1 overall pick in 2018 went to the Cleveland Browns, who took Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield—now the quarterback for Tampa Bay. Mayfield and the Buccaneers will be trying to put a damper on Buffalo’s hopes of winning the AFC East this season.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/buffalo-bills/bradley-chubb-josh-allen-taunting-punishment/
Actress Dasha Nekrasova Fired By Gersh, Dropped From Movie Amid Backlash Over Podcast Interview With Far-Right Political Commentator Nick Fuentes
Dasha Nekrasova, an actress known for her work in projects like HBO’s *Succession* and A24’s *Materialists*, has been fired by Gersh following a recent podcast interview with far-right political commentator Nick Fuentes, Deadline has confirmed with a spokesperson for the agency. Deadline has reached out to Nekrasova for comment and will update the story if and when a statement from the actress is issued.
The interview in question was posted on YouTube a month ago and was part of *Red Scare*, a cultural commentary podcast that Nekrasova has co-hosted with Anna Khachiyan since 2018. The video is titled “Fuentanyl OD Nick Fuentes x Red Scare (Dasha Nekrasova and Anna Khachiyan)” and runs for over two and a half hours.
Due to what Nekrasova describes as “technical problems” in the text under the video, the interview is essentially audio-only, alternating repeatedly between a few images of Nekrasova, Khachiyan, and Fuentes together.
The conversation, which has been viewed over 220,000 times to date, touches on numerous controversial topics. The trio discusses “international jewery” multiple times, perpetuating offensive stereotypes about Jews, Italians, Asians, and others. The dialogue also includes troubling remarks about immigrants from developing countries, particularly non-white ones.
Nekrasova and Khachiyan’s guest, Nick Fuentes, is known as the leader of the “Groypers,” a movement of young right-wing activists who critique mainstream conservatism and advocate for more extreme positions.
Fuentes is widely regarded as holding more extreme views than figures like Charlie Kirk—the Trump-allied media personality who was assassinated on September 10 during a Utah debate event. Kirk himself was controversial due to his stances on immigration, race, the January 6th insurrection, and Covid-19.
According to CNN, Fuentes is a “well-known White nationalist and Holocaust denier.” Publicly, the livestreamer has identified as a Christian nationalist, promoting anti-LGBTQ, anti-feminist, and misogynist views. He has also criticized Kirk’s conservative organization, Turning Point USA, for not adopting a sufficiently hardline approach.
This development marks a significant fallout for Nekrasova amid ongoing debates surrounding free speech and accountability in the entertainment industry.
https://deadline.com/2025/11/dasha-nekrasova-fired-gersh-nick-fuentes-podcast-interview-1236617927/
Pro-Life, Anti-Death Penalty
National support for the death penalty is at an all-time low, with younger adults from both major political parties increasingly opposing capital punishment. Yet in Texas’ execution chamber, the pace of lethal injections continues unabated. This persistence comes even as some condemned Texans—including Melissa Lucio and Robert Roberson—have had their high-profile executions halted with only days or hours to spare.
Recent outcry against the state’s death penalty has emerged from both sides of the political aisle. On the day of Roberson’s scheduled execution last year, a bipartisan group of legislators made the unprecedented move to subpoena him for a public hearing scheduled after he was supposed to have died. This successful effort helped forestall the execution so courts could review his claims of innocence. (On October 9 this year, Roberson’s execution was stayed by the state’s top criminal court, a week before his scheduled death.)
Nan Tolson, former chief spokesperson for Governor Greg Abbott, now leads the Texas chapter of the national network Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty. She sees the punishment as rife with problems—from political and faith perspectives to its ineffectiveness as a public safety tool.
Since founding Texas’ Lone Star State affiliate in 2023 as part of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Tolson and her organization have engaged with thousands of Republicans statewide. She describes creating a “safe space for conservatives to talk to like-minded people about the death penalty,” which has brought hundreds into the movement against capital punishment.
Tolson, 30, was recognized in 2024 with a “40 Under 40” fellowship by the Texas Federation of Republican Women for her activism. In mid-September, the Texas Observer spoke with her about the conservative argument against the death penalty, how Texas’ top Republicans think about the issue, and the powerful idea of redemption.
**Texas Observer (TO): You’re a notable young voice in Texas conservatism. Have you gotten pushback from other Republicans for your views on the death penalty?**
**Nan Tolson (NT):** I would say so. There’s pushback on all sides when it comes to the death penalty, which is something I was prepared for. It’s a controversial and emotional topic. But I’ve actually received more positive reception and curiosity from Republicans than opposition. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the number of people who are genuinely interested in what we’re doing and want to learn more, even if they don’t fully agree. The death penalty is an issue many people across political parties are on the fence about.
**TO: What made you realize you were firmly against it?**
**NT:** When I was a freshman at Baylor, we had a guest speaker named Shane Claiborne who came to chapel one morning and essentially laid out an elevator pitch on why Christians should oppose the death penalty. I had never heard that argument before. It totally changed my mind in that moment.
**TO: Have you noticed any change when high-profile cases like Melissa Lucio’s and Robert Roberson’s are in the news?**
**NT:** Definitely. We’ve seen a large number of Republicans supporting Robert Roberson. The Texas Young Republicans Federation signed onto a letter asking for a new trial. There are very prominent Republicans in the Legislature who support him. And when we speak to different conservative groups across Texas, often before we even mention his case, people ask, “What’s the status with Robert Roberson’s case? I can’t believe this is happening. This has made me question the death penalty.”
**TO: Would you say the execution of innocent people is a significant problem in Texas?**
**NT:** Absolutely. When we talk to conservatives who oppose or question the death penalty, the most common concern is wrongful executions. The data backs this up—there is strong evidence that Texas has executed at least seven innocent people. As conservatives, we recognize that the government will not get it right every time.
**TO: Why do you think opposition to the death penalty can be bipartisan, especially given the political divides on many criminal justice issues?**
**NT:** The death penalty is extremely fiscally irresponsible. It costs more to sentence someone to death and carry out the execution than to sentence them to life in prison without parole. It’s also an ineffective deterrent to violent crime—the evidence is inconclusive at best regarding whether it prevents homicides.
There’s also a strong pro-life argument. As a society, we can keep people safe while honoring the inherent dignity and worth of every life, including those on death row who have committed unspeakable acts.
**TO: Are there cases of Texans who have been executed, exonerated, or remain on death row that you think more people should know about?**
**NT:** Two come to mind that I’ve worked on over the last couple of years. One is Ramiro Gonzales. He was 100% guilty of the crime he committed as essentially a teenager and was on death row for several years. He was executed last year, but the person Texas executed was not the same person who committed the crime, because Gonzales had changed.
This is something we often see—people who commit crimes at a young age come into prison broken and messed up. But with structure, resources, and time, many transform. They express genuine remorse, apologize to victims’ families, and often embrace faith. It’s hard to see the State of Texas provide those tools but still say, “Your life is expendable; we’re going to execute you anyway.”
Another man, Ivan Cantu, executed last year out of the Dallas area, is believed by some to have been wrongfully executed.
**TO: You’ve worked at the Capitol with some of Texas’s highest-level Republicans. What did you learn about how the Republican Party thinks about these issues?**
**NT:** Republicans and conservatives, especially in Texas, pride themselves on being tough on crime. But we need to be willing to think outside the box, recognize what works, and acknowledge what doesn’t.
What stood out to me is the nuance in political beliefs—there is no single way to be a Republican or a conservative. That’s something positive that should be encouraged. Half of our work is showing conservatives that opposing the death penalty doesn’t mean you’re not a Republican or a conservative, or that you’re betraying your values. It means you’ve critically thought about an important issue and realized it doesn’t align with your principles.
**TO: Most Republicans nationwide support the death penalty, and former President Donald Trump has publicly pushed prosecutors to seek it. Do you feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle?**
**NT:** I do think it’s an uphill battle, but it’s not impossible. We’re not going to end the death penalty overnight—that’s never been the goal, nor would it be realistic. But educating conservatives and giving them a space to question the death penalty is realistic and impactful.
We don’t come out saying, “You’re wrong, and we need to end it tomorrow.” We approach this strategically, with empathy and understanding. There are victims of horrible crimes, and it’s natural to want justice or even revenge. We embrace that, but also recognize that the death penalty is not the right way to seek justice in a practical sense.
—
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.*
https://www.texasobserver.org/pro-life-anti-death-penalty/
Bigg Boss 19 Twist: Gaurav Khanna LOSES captaincy to Shehbaz Badesha? Here’s what we know
The Bigg Boss 19 house witnessed tremendous drama this week, as the show took a major turn with a surprising change in captaincy. Gaurav Khanna’s captaincy lasted only an hour before Shahbaz Badesha was announced as the new captain. This unexpected twist completely altered the atmosphere in the house, leaving many contestants upset and creating new tensions among them.
The controversy stemmed from a critical decision made by Gaurav Khanna. He was presented with two options in Bigg Boss’s APP Room. The first option was to become captain himself but take only 30% of the house’s rations, which would put all other members at risk of nomination. The second option was to allow Shahbaz to become captain, ensuring the house received full rations and security.
Many expected Gaurav to choose the latter to benefit the team, but he decided to keep the captaincy despite the personal cost. Emphasizing his role as captain, Gaurav’s choice was seen as selfish by the housemates, who were infuriated by his move. This decision sparked debate and factionalism within the house, making the game even more interesting and dynamic.
The house was buzzing with energy following Gaurav’s choice. Several contestants united against him and started plotting their own tactics to counter his move. Meanwhile, Shahbaz Badesha became the new captain by winning the Assembly Voting Task. Now, everyone is curious to see how Shahbaz will manage the situation and maintain balance among the contestants during his captaincy.
Fans are eagerly looking forward to the new drama and twists that may arise in the house under Shahbaz’s leadership.
Amidst all this chaos, Bigg Boss 19 also witnessed a stunning mid-week eviction. Mridul Tiwari was evicted without any prior warning, leaving both housemates and the audience utterly astonished. This unexpected eviction added another layer of unpredictability to an already intense week in the Bigg Boss house.
https://www.bollywoodlife.com/bigg-boss/bigg-boss-19-twist-gaurav-khanna-loses-captaincy-to-shehbaz-badesha-heres-what-we-know-3280081/
46-year-old star responds to claim she got fired from AEW for trying to poach talent to WWE
A 46-year-old wrestling personality, Sarah Stock, was recently accused by a social media user of attempting to convince AEW performers to jump ship to WWE. The Canadian star has since disputed the claim.
Stock began her journey inside the squared circle back in 2002. Over the next several years, she performed across a variety of promotions including AAA, Shimmer, CMLL, and TNA. She also wrestled for JDStar and World Wonder Ring Stardom in Japan.
In 2023, Sarah was introduced as one of AEW’s new coaches and producers. However, she was released by the Tony Khan-led promotion this past April.
Sarah recently made headlines when she voiced her criticism of a brutal spot from Jon Moxley’s “I Quit” match against Darby Allin at WrestleDream 2025. The former AEW World Champion forcefully dipped the face-painted star’s head into an aquarium full of water in a bid to weaken him. Following this, Stock found herself embroiled in a series of quarrels with dissenting voices on social media. At one point, she even defended former WWE chairman Vince McMahon despite the numerous allegations against him.
In response to a social media claim that she was fired by AEW for encouraging its talent to cross over to WWE, Sarah took to X/Twitter to clarify her past job title and dispute the accusation. She wrote:
“If you haven’t learned that you’re replicating the pattern of conformity, you may find yourself stuck in the loop forever.”
Meanwhile, WWE legend Matt Hardy also reacted to Jon Moxley’s spot at AEW WrestleDream. While Sarah Stock explicitly expressed her disapproval of Moxley dunking Darby Allin’s head under water during their match, Hardy offered a less severe assessment.
On a recent edition of his Extreme Life podcast, Matt insisted that while the spot was not the best he had seen on television, it was no more problematic than many other similarly violent spots performed across wrestling promotions.
“I saw the spot and by no means do I think that this is the worst thing that [All Elite Wrestling] has ever done. Sure, it’s not the greatest thing I’ve seen on TV but I mean you can say that from TNA, you can say that from WWE. There’ve been incidents that have happened across all these places where there’ve been controversial things that kids should not try at home,” said Matt.
It remains to be seen what lies next in Darby Allin’s ongoing blood feud with Jon Moxley on All Elite programming.
[H/T WrestleTalk]
https://www.sportskeeda.com/aew/news-46-year-old-star-responds-claim-got-fired-aew-trying-poach-talent-to-wwe
Wallets Tied to Melania Trump Meme Coin Airdropped $1.2 Million in Meteora Tokens
Meteora Debuts Token with Controversial Airdrops to Melania and President Trump Meme Coin Wallets
On Thursday, Meteora officially launched its token, MET, distributing it through an airdrop to various users. The project emphasized its efforts to blacklist “malicious bad actors” from receiving tokens. However, the airdrop raised eyebrows within the crypto community when two wallets linked to the controversial Melania Trump meme coin received $1.2 million worth of MET tokens.
According to SolScan data, the wallets named melania-liquidity1.sol and melania-liquidity2.sol were credited with $784,200 and $454,724 of MET, respectively, totaling approximately $1.23 million. Both wallets are identified as part of the Official Melania Meme entity on the blockchain analytics platform Arkham Intelligence. Shortly after receiving the tokens, these wallets transferred the funds to various other addresses, sparking concern among observers.
In addition, three wallets connected to the President Trump meme coin were airdropped MET tokens totaling $4.2 million. These wallets were among the top five recipients of the airdrop and subsequently deposited their tokens to the exchange OKX, making it difficult to track their on-chain activity.
The episode drew criticism on social media. A user on X questioned, “Why is Hayden Davis getting a MET airdrop? You have to be kidding me,” referring to the CEO of Kelsier Ventures, the company that helped launch MELANIA. Meteora co-lead, Soju, responded by pointing out that the LIBRA launch wallets were excluded from receiving tokens, just an hour before the MELANIA-linked wallets received MET.
The timing of these controversial airdrops comes shortly after Meteora co-founder Benjamin Chow was named in a class action lawsuit filed by investors who allege he masterminded a “scam coin” operation involving at least 15 tokens. These tokens included well-known meme coins such as MELANIA, LIBRA, and ENRON, all of which experienced significant crashes soon after launch.
Court filings state that the operation, conducted under the Meteora name, was separate from the company’s legitimate automated market maker business. Benjamin Chow has since stepped down from his leadership role at Meteora. The company’s co-founder, Meow, cited “a lack of judgment and care” as reasons for his resignation.
The MELANIA token itself gained rapid attention after its launch. Just two days after President Trump introduced his meme coin in January 2024, former First Lady Melania Trump promoted a Solana-based meme coin using her name as its ticker. The token surged to nearly a $7 billion market cap before crashing by 99% to approximately $80 million in the following months.
Further scrutiny emerged after Argentinian President Javier Milei promoted a similar failed meme coin in February. On-chain analytics firm Bubblemaps linked this token back to MELANIA, which led to a fraud and racketeering class action lawsuit against the involved parties.
Meteora has worked with on-chain forensic teams, including sleuth Dethective and anti-scam tool Rugcheck, to prevent tokens from reaching malicious actors. Despite these efforts, it appears the Melania-linked wallets slipped through the cracks. None of the mentioned parties—Soju, Meteora, Dethective, or Rugcheck—immediately responded to requests for comment from Decrypt.
Despite the controversy, many airdrop recipients praised the MET token launch, noting a smooth claim process and sizable token allocations. Currently, MET ranks as the 269th largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, valued at $263.2 million, according to CoinGecko.
However, criticisms have grown regarding the airdrops sent to wallets tied to the President Trump meme coin team. Although this meme coin has not yet been subject to fraud lawsuits, it has become embroiled in political debates, including allegations of conflicts of interest and potential foreign influence.
As Meteora moves forward with its token launch, the community and investors remain watchful of further developments, particularly concerning the project’s past leadership and connections to controversial meme coin endeavors.
https://decrypt.co/345768/wallets-melania-trump-meme-coin-airdropped-1-2-million-meteora-tokens