Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn star in this classic 2005 comedy
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Two chancers bluff their way into weddings to meet women
Oliver Tree’s mom pays tribute with throwback photo showing singer looking wildly different
Oliver Tree’s mom has paid a moving tribute days after her son was killed in a helicopter crash — while sharing a throwback photo of the “Alien Boy” singer looking dramatically different.
“Our dear son Oliver, you made this world a better place,” Christine Begin Nickell wrote on Facebook Thursday, after Tree was killed in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“We are so proud of you. RIP,” she wrote along with three heart emojis, the middle one broken.
The proud mom shared the post along with a photo of the singer — best known for his quirky bowl-cut mullet hairstyle — as a fresh-faced youngster with a Justin Bieber-style haircut under a baseball cap, while holding a small dog.
The 32-year-old singer was one of six people killed Sunday when a Bell 206B JetRanger III helicopter collided with another aircraft about 300 feet above the Rio neighborhood of Recreio dos Bandeirantes.
Also killed were YouTube star Gaspar “Gaspi” Prim, 23, director and screenwriter Lucas Vignale, 29, music producer Lucas Brito Chaves, 21, and pilots Charles Marsillac and Alexandre Souza.
The crash sparked a fire at an electric vehicle dealership below, setting about 20 cars ablaze.
Tree’s girlfriend, fashion photographer Fiona Chernavskaya, also paid tribute this week while asking fans to stop speculating about their relationship.
“Right now im mourning my partner and best friend, anything else is unimportant. please have some respect,” she wrote on Instagram Wednesday.
“I don’t want to see gossip about other women that Oliver may have been seeing. We were monogamous,” she added.
The singer’s death also renewed attention on a recent interview in which he said he wouldn’t leave his family “a f–king penny” if he died.
“I don’t believe that any of the wealth, or the things that get made from it, is mine. So when I die, my will is set up that when I pass, my family, no one’s going to get a penny,” Tree said on the April 24 episode of “The Zach Sang Show.”
“If I have a wife or kids or anything, they’re not getting a f–king penny,” he added.
“I’ll get my kids through college. That’s the agreement. But there’s not going to be a silver spoon.”
“The idea is, when I die, all the money is going to go back to artists.”
Tree, who had more than 11 million monthly Spotify listeners, had completed four dates on his global “World’s First World Tour” before the fatal crash.
The one growing gap between Dems and Republicans that shouldn’t ever exist — patriotism
Democrats take great offense at being accused of being unpatriotic — but the data doesn’t lie.
A new NBC News poll captured the partisan gap over pride in America.
Overall, 56% of Americans are extremely or very proud of the country, but only 29% of Democrats, compared to 90% of Republicans.
That’s a yawning gap, and about a matter that really shouldn’t be controversial.
We aren’t talking about abortion, or Donald Trump’s White House ballroom, but an elemental thing — pride in country — that in most times and places has been taken for granted.
Once upon a time, that was the case here. The Gallup poll found in January 2001 that nearly 90 percent of Americans were extremely or very proud of the country.
In 2017, according to Gallup, 75% of the public said that they extremely or very proud of America — a low at the time — and it’s been down since.
The decline has been driven largely by Democrats.
Their disdain for President Trump clearly is responsible for some of the drop, but not all of it.
Democrats were less proud of the country than Republicans even when Barack Obama and Joe Biden were president.
Obviously, pride in country shouldn’t depend on who the president is; the country is so much more than its politics.
Mark Twain said, aptly, that “the only rational patriotism is loyalty to the nation all the time, loyalty to the government when it deserves it.”
Even if you have contempt for the party in power, there’s the country’s founding, its constitutional system, its stupendous wealth, its great heroes, its victories in two world wars, its natural beauty and its endlessly interesting, fair-minded and inventive people to feel proud of.
Many Democrats are unmoved by these things, or consider them sources of embarrassment.
The founding? Tainted by racism.
The constitutional system? An antiquated obstacle to progress.
The economy? Rigged by and for billionaires.
Our heroes? Feet of clay or worse.
A key word here is “systemic,” as in “systemic racism,” which suggests that racism is not a product of historical circumstance, but endemic to the American project itself.
Why feel pride in a country that is not yet redeemed, indeed may be unredeemable?
The left — especially in the academy — has long advanced the view that America’s role in the world is predatory and imperialistic.
Over time this radical critique of US foreign policy has gained more traction within the Democratic mainstream.
Then there’s the attitude toward small-scale expressions of patriotism — American flag imagery, lapel pins, fly-overs, Lee Greenwood songs and the like — that progressives tend to consider crude or jingoistic.
James Talarico, the Democratic US Senate candidate in Texas, once called the American flag “a complicated symbol.”
If the national banner doesn’t elicit an instinctive feeling of devotion, one’s attachment to the country is likely attenuated as well.
Many progressives would counter that America is a set of ideals, and we should feel fealty to it only to the extent we realize those ideals.
But the country and its people are also a concrete reality, and you either like them or not, feel connected to them or not, and — this is close to the crux of the matter — feel grateful for them or not.
Nearly everyone who isn’t particularly proud of America is still incredibly indebted to it, benefiting from its liberty and prosperity.
It’s a profound act of ingratitude not to return the debt with a sense of reverence and obligation.
It’s not enough to say, in effect, you’ll feel proud of the country at some future point when it has meet certain social and political benchmarks.
This amounts to a version of St. Augustine’s famous prayer: “Lord, make me patriotic, but not yet.”
In short, patriotism shouldn’t be a partisan issue, rather a foundational commitment of both parties and all factions.
These days, though, we can’t even agree to feel proud of the nation we share — and to which we all owe so much.
X: @RichLowry
3-year-old was thrown into crocodile pit by man with learning disability
The suspect accused of hurling a 3-year-old boy into a crocodile pit at a UK zoo was a man with learning disabilities on a day trip with his caretaker — as it emerged the zoo owner’s fearless wife had jumped in to save the child, according to reports.
The 30-year-old man appears to have grabbed the young child — a stranger — while his caretaker took his eye off him Thursday at the popular Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Cambridgeshire, England, according to the Sun.
He then hurled the terrified kid over a 4-foot fence into the crocodile enclosure, leaving him in critical but stable condition, the Cambridgeshire Constabulary said Friday.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder — but released on bail after being “assessed as not being fit for interview,” the police department said.
The update came as it emerged that the zoo owner’s wife, Tracey Johnson, had immediately jumped into the enclosure and rescued the toddler before the crocodiles could get to him.
The 3-year-old was rushed to a hospital with a broken pelvis and arm, according to the outlet. He remains in critical but stable condition, officials said.
Police said that the investigation was “ongoing as we continue to understand the circumstances surrounding this distressing incident.
“Our thoughts remain with the boy, and his family and specialist officers continue to support them through this difficult time.”
The zoo, which opened its reptile section in 2019, offers a “crocodile feeding experience” for roughly $100.
Johnson and her husband, Andy, said in a statement their “thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family.”
“Out of respect, our tropical house will remain closed until further notice. The rest of the site will remain open,” they said.
World Cup 2026: Harry Kane says singing Wonderwall one of ‘favourite ever’ England moments
England manager Thomas Tuchel has spoken about wanting to continue the work former boss Gareth Southgate did in building a connection between fans and the squad after years of dismal tournaments.
Under Southgate, England reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 as well as the European Championship finals in 2021 and 2024 as fans rallied behind the squad.
Kane is one of three players, alongside goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and defender John Stones, to remain in the side from 2018.
The 32-year-old, whose two strikes against Croatia saw him equal Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals, says he is enjoying the “freshness” of Tuchel’s squad.
“This one feels a little bit different. Our roles have changed a little bit obviously, being the more experienced guys, the older guys,” said Kane.
“There’s a freshness about it, where you can really see a hunger, a desire and excitement from the players in the team just to kind of be part of what could be obviously a special summer.
“You see us around the place, everyone getting on, everyone being with each other, spending time together, but also you see it in training – the way we train, the intensity we train at the competition for places, but there’s no anger towards your competition.
“It is literally, let’s just compete for the place and whoever plays will play and I’ll be ready to come on and make a difference when I get my turn.”
England’s next match in Group L is against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday at 21:00 BST.
Farage blames Makerfield defeat on anti-Starmer votes
The Reform UK leader says he is “disappointed” with his party’s performance in the key by-election.
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Tories pick themselves up off the floor with unexpected Scottish by-election win
The Conservatives secured a comfortable victory over the SNP in Aberdeen South after throwing everything at the seat.
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London City Lionesses sign ex-England goalkeeper Mary Earps
Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps has joined London City Lionesses on a two-year deal after leaving Paris St-Germain.
The 33-year-old left France after two seasons upon the expiry of her contract, having made 22 appearances in the Premiere Ligue this season.
She kept 12 clean sheets as PSG finished third in the table, 13 points behind champions Lyon.
“I feel the club aligns with what I stand for. I can’t wait to get started and to get down to business,” said Earps
“The club’s values represent what I want to represent and they are passionate about what I want to achieve. All the conversations have been really positive and every time I spoke with the club I wanted to hear more.
“The vision and ambition, including the new training facility, is incredible and I’m looking forward to seeing that develop. It shows what our owner Michele [Kang] and everyone at the club want to do in terms of really going for it.
“It’s about putting a marker down and saying we want to be competitive in a short space of time.”
Two-time Fifa Best Goalkeeper of the Year award-winner Earps played a crucial role in England’s victory at Euro 2022 and their route to the 2023 World Cup final.
She spent five years at Manchester United, making more than 100 appearances, and helped them win their first major trophy in 2024 as they lifted the Women’s FA Cup.
The goalkeeper earned many individual accolades during her successful international career before she announced her retirement in 2025.
She became one of the country’s most recognised and influential players, though her book – released in November – caused controversy and dominated headlines in the media for several weeks.
However, on her return to Old Trafford earlier this season in the Women’s Champions League, Earps was given a warm applause at full-time by home fans.
There is a mural of Earps painted outside Old Trafford celebrating her spell at the club.
London City Lionesses are demonstrating their summer ambition in the Women’s Super League transfer window as they pursue several high-profile players.
As well as Earps’ return to England, they are set to sign Spain defender Mapi Leon and are in ongoing talks with two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas following her exit from Barcelona.
London City Lionesses, who are backed by wealthy American businesswoman Michele Kang, finished sixth in their first season in the WSL in 2025-26.
“I feel I still have so much left to give to the game and that’s exactly why I chose London City,” said Earps.
“It won’t be easy – the WSL is extremely competitive. The team had a brilliant 2025-26 season finishing mid-table in their first season, now it’s about climbing the table and working towards finishing as high as possible.”
Hunter Biden challenges Donald Trump Jr to a cage fight
Hunter Biden has challenged Donald Trump Jr. to a cage fight in an unhinged social media rant attacking the UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn.
Styled as a letter to Joe Rogan – who told anyone offended by the combat-sport spectacle to “shut the f–k up” — the former first son claimed it denigrated the “sacred” public space of the White House.
“The White House does not belong to Donald Trump. It does not belong to any president. It belongs to the people,” he wrote in the lengthy diatribe.
“To treat it as Caesar treated the Colosseum is antithetical to everything our founding fathers fought for.
This is not Rome. Presidents are not emperors doling out bread and circuses for the peasants,” he said, cloaking his critique in a Roman Empire motif.
“By holding the event on the South Lawn, what he was saying to the rest of us is: ‘This is my house. I own it. I will do with it what I please. I’ll build a colosseum and have the gladiators fight under my gaze.”
Though he praised Rogan and UFC founder Dana White’s establishing of the fight brand as a “bona fide American success story,” he lambasted Sunday’s event at the White House as “an exhibition of imperial domination, not a celebration of our 250th anniversary as a democracy.”
He closed the missive with the reminder, “the president is our servant. Not our Caesar,” before proposing the cage match.
“P.S. Cage match between me and Don. Jr? Your call on the venue. Anywhere but the South Lawn.”
Curiously, Biden didn’t mention the times his father was accused of diminishing the White House and American flag, like when a Pride banner was placed at the center of a display that adorned the Truman Balcony in 2023 in violation of US flag code.
He also didn’t mention a controversial event that year in which transgender TikTokkers were invited to pose topless – on the South Lawn no less – to show off their mastectomy scars.
Switzerland just set a great example for America on immigration — we need to have a national conversation
Swiss voters went to the polls Sunday and resoundingly rejected capping the country’s rapidly growing population at 10 million by limiting immigration.
Congratulations to the Swiss for staging a national conversation over immigration — something the United States urgently needs to do.
The Swiss have seen their population soar by more than 25% since 2000. The newcomers are for the most part workers from neighboring European countries, not migrants from the Middle East or Africa.
Even so, the right-leaning Swiss People’s Party pushed for immigration restrictions, arguing that such rapid population growth strains housing, social programs and Swiss identity.
Opponents of the measure, who dubbed it a “Swiss Brexit,” warned stopping the free flow of Europeans into Switzerland would threaten its special relationship with the EU, which buys over half of all Swiss exports.
They also argued Switzerland has grown wealthy over many decades, despite a lack of natural resources, by attracting foreign innovators — including the immigrants who launched giant Swiss companies like Nestle, Swatch and Novartis.
It’s time for Americans to have a national conversation on immigration, as the Swiss just did.
We don’t have to come to the same conclusion: The Swiss wanted to make sure their laws served the best interests of Switzerland; our laws should serve the United States.
But the discussion needs to get to the heart of the matter.
Sadly, our politics has been fixated on one polarizing, fringe issue — ICE and deportations — rather than on the real question: Who should we invite into the United States?
The current law, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, must be replaced with immigration standards that boost our economy and avoid dependence on public handouts.
A staggering 47% of US households headed by a noncitizen collect welfare benefits such as food assistance or Medicaid, per the Center for Immigration Studies. Ouch.
That’s almost double the dependence rate (28%) for households headed by someone born in America.
Americans are fed up with taking in newcomers who need to mooch. It’s not sustainable.
Part of the blame goes to our crazy immigration laws, which give preference to newcomers with family ties — a child or other relative already here — instead of job skills, education, English-speaking ability or interest in American civic life.
Congress needs to scrap those laws, enacted in 1965, and give the nation a merit immigration system that will boost the economy and spare taxpayers.
That’s what smart countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore are doing.
Another part of the blame for the scandalous dependence of immigrants on welfare is the Biden open-border policy.
The 2021-’24 border surge brought in migrants significantly less educated and capable of supporting themselves than those who came before.
The number of newcomers with no education beyond high school more than doubled from 2019 to 2023, CIS reports.
The immigrants using welfare are not lazy; most are working. In fact, they’re more likely to be employed that US-born adults, but their minimal schooling dooms them to earn little and become a permanent dependent class.
Adult male immigrants now earn 52% of what US-born male workers earn, down from 62% in 2019, because of the Biden surge of unskilled, minimally educated migrants.
Ultimately that will force down wages for low-skilled Americans, too.
The Biden administration’s surge was nothing short of treasonous. Like napalming our towns and cities, leaving them with a growing dependent class and public debt.
The border is now closed. President Donald Trump showed it could be done, without any major immigration legislation, despite the Democrats’ pleas that “comprehensive immigration reform” was needed first.
A new Harvard/Harris poll indicates this is the opportune time to fix our immigration mess.
The public regards it as the most pressing issue after affordability (No. 1) and the economy (No. 2).
It far outstrips concerns for health care, the US-Iran conflict, the environment or education.
So let’s get to it. Political polarization seems to be softening.
A slim majority of Democrats (52%) now say their party is “against open borders.”
Republicans, who risk losing control of Congress after the midterm elections, should seize the moment to divert the national conversation from the fringe controversy over ICE to merit-immigration reform.
Who we let in will determine how we prosper.
Betsy McCaughey is a former lieutenant governor of New York.