• Diane Keaton, Oscar-winning actor who rose to fame…
  • AI data centers boom out West
  • Savewith a NBCUniversal ProfileCreate your free profile or…
  • Oct. 11, 2025, 8:00 AM EDTBy Alicia Victoria…

Be that!

contact@bethat.ne.com

 

Be That ! Menu   ≡ ╳
  • Home
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Contact Us
  • Politics Politics
☰

Be that!

Critical Senate vote fails as shutdown deadline looms

admin - Latest News - October 1, 2025
admin
13 views 17 secs 0 Comments



Republicans made a last ditch effort to secure Democratic votes to avoid a government shutdown. Both sides are blaming each other as a midnight deadline approaches. NBC News’ Ryan Nobles reports. 



Source link

TAGS:
PREVIOUS
Sept. 30, 2025, 1:42 PM EDT / Updated Sept. 30, 2025, 3:12 PM EDTBy Matt Lavietes and Saba HamedyA major Hollywood actors’ union condemned reports that talent agents are looking to sign AI “actor” Tilly Norwood for representation. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA, said in a statement Tuesday that Tilly Norwood “is not an actor, it’s a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers.””It has no life experience to draw from, no emotion and, from what we’ve seen, audiences aren’t interested in watching computer-generated content untethered from the human experience,” the union said. The union blasted the AI creation for “using stolen performances to put actors out of work, jeopardizing performer livelihoods and devaluing human artistry.”SAG-AFTRA added that Hollywood producers “should be aware that they may not use synthetic performers without complying with our contractual obligations, which generally require notice and bargaining whenever a synthetic performer is going to be used,” it added.Tilly Norwood was made by the AI company Particle6 Productions, led by comedian and writer Eline Van der Velden, who announced on Saturday at the Zurich Film Festival that several talent agencies were looking to cast the AI creation in various films and shows, prompting a wave of outrage in Hollywood. Actors, including Emily Blunt, Lukas Gage, Melissa Barrera and Kiersey Clemons, have slammed the AI creation. On Monday, EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg opened an episode of “The View” slamming it.”It’s a little bit of an unfair advantage. But you know what? Bring it on,” she said. “Because you can always tell them from us.”Meet Tilly Norwood, an AI Actress Causing a Stir in Hollywood03:06Van der Velden pushed back on the criticism on Sunday, writing in a statement on Instagram that she sees “AI not as a replacement for people, but as a tool — a new paintbrush.””AI characters should be judged as part of their own genre, on their own merits, rather than compared directly with human actors,” she wrote. “Each form of art has its place, and each can be valued for what it uniquely brings.”Van der Velden’s company, Particle6, did not immediately return a request for comment on the union’s statement. As part of a landmark deal between SAG-AFTRA and major Hollywood studios in 2023 — following a strike that lasted more than 100 days — the union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers meet twice a year to make sure they are complying with federal regulations of AI as it continues to evolve.At The Grill, an entertainment conference in Los Angeles hosted by The Wrap on Tuesday, speakers on AI-focused panels were asked about Tilly Norwood and whether the notion of a digital actor should be taken seriously.Yves Bergquist, director of AI in media at USC’s Entertainment Technology Center, said it was “nonsense.”“AI music has been a possibility for years and years and years, and we don’t have any major AI artists out there,” he said during a panel titled “From Ideation to Innovation: AI In the Studio Pipeline.” “I think it’s a gimmick … are there going to be digital characters in certain films down the road? Yeah of course,” Bergquist said. “Are there actually going to be talent that’s digital? … No, and boo.”Matt LavietesMatt Lavietes is a reporter for NBC News.Saba HamedySaba Hamedy is the trends and culture editor for NBC News.Lindsay Good contributed.
NEXT
At least 20 people killed in Philippines earthquake
Related Post
September 24, 2025
Savewith a NBCUniversal ProfileCreate your free profile or log in to save this articleSept. 24, 2025, 8:52 AM EDT / Updated Sept. 24, 2025, 8:54 AM EDTBy Patrick SmithLONDON — The mayor of London has labeled Donald Trump “racist, sexist and Islamophobic” after the president used a United Nations General Assembly address to call him a “terrible mayor” and falsely claim the city wanted to be governed by Islamic law.”I think Donald Trump has shown he is racist, he is sexist, he is misogynistic and he’s Islamophobic,” Sadiq Khan told reporters Wednesday.The pair have traded many barbed comments since Khan was elected to lead London in 2016 — Khan strongly criticized the president the same year for pledging a travel ban on a number of majority-Muslim countries, which was enacted in 2017. Trump called the Londoner and former member of Parliament “a nasty person” in a July news conference.”I think people are wondering what it is about this Muslim mayor who leads a liberal, multicultural, progressive, successful city that means I appear to be living in Donald Trump’s head, rent free,” Khan said.Trump used a section of his speech to the U.N on Tuesday to take swipes at various member states and the institution itself. “I look at London, where you have a terrible mayor, terrible, terrible mayor, and it’s been changed, it’s been so changed,” he said. “Now they want to go to Sharia law. But you are in a different country, you can’t do that.”Initially, Khan’s team at City Hall released a statement saying: “We are not going to dignify his appalling and bigoted comments with a response.”But Wednesday, speaking from the top deck of a London bus, Khan said he was thankful for the “record numbers of Americans” coming to live in London, which he said was the highest since records began. “There must be a reason for that,” he said.Khan’s pointed criticism was in contrast to the approach taken by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.Last week saw King Charles III and Starmer welcome Trump and first lady Melania Trump for a lavish state visit — an unprecedented second official trip to Britain for a sitting president.Particularly after Trump launched a global trade war, with tariffs impacting scores of close allies including the United Kingdom, very few world officials have seemed willing to so openly criticize the president or his policies.Asked whether Britain should be extending such friendship to Trump, Khan said: “If you have a best friend, you should expect more from them — it’s very different to an acquaintance or somebody who’s a distant friend.”While he said the U.K. and the U.S. have important economic and military ties, Khan said such a relationship should mean one side has the confidence to call out the other. “I think that President Trump is wrong in many, many ways,” he said.The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News. Khan, who represents Britain’s Labour Party and is characterized as being on the center-left, social democratic wing of the party, won a third third term in office in 2024.The prevalence of Sharia law in the U.K. features in many right-wing conspiracy theories about the role of Muslims in the country, often partnered with the similarly false assertion that parts of big cities are dangerous “no-go areas” for non-Muslims.In reality, there are Sharia councils, which base decisions on traditional Muslim beliefs and religious texts, but they have no legal jurisdiction — as a government review found in 2018.Anger persists over the president’s comments about London: Rosena Allin-Khan, the Labour lawmaker who now represents Khan’s old constituency in south London, has called for the U.S. ambassador to the U.K. to be summoned over the remarks.Patrick SmithPatrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.
October 3, 2025
Texas megachurch pastor pleads guilty to sexually abusing a child
October 7, 2025
Oct. 6, 2025, 5:00 AM EDT / Updated Oct. 6, 2025, 8:02 PM EDTBy Sahil Kapur, Julie Tsirkin and Frank Thorp VWASHINGTON — The U.S. government shutdown entered its sixth day Monday with no end in sight after the Senate yet again rejected competing bills proposed by Republicans and Democrats to reopen the government.The vote on the Democratic bill was 45-50, while the final tally on the GOP measure was 52-42, with neither reaching the 60-vote threshold to break a filibuster and advance for final passage.One hour before the vote, President Donald Trump left senators flummoxed after he claimed that there were negotiations taking place on health care. The central Democratic demand in the standoff is to extend expiring Obamacare funds.”We have a negotiation going on right now with the Democrats that could lead to very good things. And I’m talking about good things with regard to health care,” Trump told reporters.Asked specifically whether he’s speaking to Democratic leaders, Trump replied: “I don’t want to say that. But we are speaking with the Democrats. But some very good things could happen with respect to health care.”But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., quickly shot down Trump’s claim that negotiations are happening.“Trump’s claim isn’t true — but if he’s finally ready to work with Democrats, we’ll be at the table,” Schumer said in a statement. “For months, Democrats have been calling on Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans to come to the table and work with us to deliver lower costs and better health care for the American people.”We’d like to hear from you about how you’re experiencing the government shutdown, whether you’re a federal employee who can’t work right now or someone who is feeling the effects of shuttered services in your everyday life. Please contact us at tips@nbcuni.com or reach out to us here.Republicans similarly said they’re unaware of any bipartisan negotiations taking place on health care.”I’m not aware of any,” Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, the chair of the Finance Committee, which oversees health care, told NBC News. “I think Sen. Thune made it very clear: We’ll talk about it if we get out of the government shutdown.”Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said that it’s “good” if Trump is open to extending Obamacare money, but no such talks were happening yet.”But that’s still not going to happen until we actually get this government open,” Rounds said.Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has not committed to extending the Obamacare money, saying it’s a discussion he’s open to having — but only if Democrats relent and reopen the government.“Release the hostage. We’ll have that conversation,” Thune said on Fox News. “That is a program, by the way, that is desperately in need of reform. You cannot just extend it, flat extend it. It is too flawed.”Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said the president’s comments show that “Donald Trump is feeling the heat.”“People across this country do not want to see their insurance premiums double or even triple,” she said.Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said he was “delighted” to hear Trump’s comments, “and I hope that can lead to some fruitful discussion.” And Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the lead author of the bill to extend Obamacare funding, said she hasn’t spoken to the president.Again, King was one of just three Democratic caucus members who voted for the GOP bill, along with Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.Trump is declining to take a clear position on whether to extend Obamacare subsidies, the main Democratic demand and a central sticking point in the standoff. The subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year, which would result in major health insurance premium increases for people on the Affordable Care Act.“We want to fix it so it works,” Trump said Sunday when NBC News asked him whether he’s open to extending the funding. “It’s not working. Obamacare has been a disaster for the people, so we want to have it fixed so it works.”House members were supposed to return to Washington this week, but Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., canceled votes for the entire week, saying the chamber had already done its job and passed a funding bill back on Sept. 19.Democratic House Leader Jeffries speaks out on shutdown, health care03:47Some members of both parties, however, say that’s an attempt by Johnson to avoid a vote to require the Justice Department to release the Jeffrey Epstein files. A bipartisan House duo is expected to have the signatures they need to force a vote on the Epstein issue when the House returns to Washington and Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., is sworn in.Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said on X: “Why are we in recess? Because the day we go back into session, I have 218 votes for the discharge petition to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files. @SpeakerJohnson doesn’t want that to be the news.”Johnson denied that’s the reason.“This has nothing to do with that,” he said Sunday on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” “It’s another red herring. The reason the government is closed is because Chuck Schumer and 43 of his Democratic colleagues in the Senate have decided now to vote multiple times to keep the government closed.”In the battle of public opinion, the White House and the GOP are taking more of the blame for the shutdown than Democrats. A new CBS News poll shows that trend continuing, with 39% saying they mostly blame Trump and Republicans, while 30% blame Democrats in Congress and 31% blame both equally.Asked Monday on NBC’s “TODAY” show to react to Trump’s comments on ACA funding over the weekend, Jeffries was unimpressed.“He also mentioned that in the White House meeting that we had last Monday,” Jeffries said. “Unfortunately, the White House and Republican leaders have gone radio silent ever since then.”Sahil KapurSahil Kapur is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.Julie TsirkinJulie Tsirkin is a correspondent covering Capitol Hill.Frank Thorp VFrank Thorp V is a producer and off-air reporter covering Congress for NBC News, managing coverage of the Senate.
October 2, 2025
No end in sight after first day of federal government shutdown
Comments are closed.
Scroll To Top
  • Home
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Contact Us
  • Politics
© Copyright 2025 - Be That ! . All Rights Reserved