Michelle Obama reveals why she didn’t show up to Trump’s inauguration

By
Monica Pop
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Trump took office for a second term and his inauguration was attended by key political figures.

Among those in attendance was former President Barack Obama. However, his wife, Michelle Obama, was not by his side, which only fueled rumors of an alleged divorce.

Also, Michelle missed Jimmy Carter’s funeral, which raised eyebrows at the time.

The former first lady was a guest on Sophia Bush’s podcast, Work in Progress, where she discussed life after her daughters have moved out.

“[Life] is whatever I want, Sophia, It’s whatever I want,” she said, adding that life of an “empty nester” is liberating.

“It’s the first time in my life all of my choices are for me.”

Getty Images

She then spoke of the position of women in society.

“They couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing.”

On the podcast IMO, which she co-hosts with her brother, Michelle Obama revealed the real reason why she didn’t attend Trump’s inauguration.

“It started with not having anything to wear,” she said. However, being someone who owns a wardrobe for any occasion, it was as though she subconsciously stopped herself from attending the inauguration.

On the podcast IMO Michelle Obama revealed the real reason why she didn’t attend Trump’s inauguration and put a stop to the speculations.
Entertainment Tonight/Youtube

“I mean, cause I’m always prepared for any funeral, anything. I walk around with the right dress, I travel with clothes just in case something pops off.

“So I was like – if I’m not going to do this thing, I got to tell my team. I don’t even want to have a dress ready?”

She, however, wasn’t aware how her decision to say “no” could spark so many rumors about her marriage.

On the podcast IMO Michelle Obama revealed the real reason why she didn’t attend Trump’s inauguration and put a stop to the speculations.
Entertainment Tonight/Youtube

“My decision to skip the inauguration… Or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me were met with such ridicule and criticism,” she said. 

“People couldn’t believe that I was saying no for any other reason, they had to assume that my marriage was falling apart,” the former First Lady told actress Taraji P. Henson. “It took everything in my power to not do the thing that was perceived as right, but do the things that was right for me, that was a hard thing for me to do.”

Days after the episode of the podcast premiered, Michelle and Barak had dinner in Washington D.C. at the Italian restaurant Osteria Mozza in Georgetown. 

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Inside Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s relationship with Pope Francis

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Monica Pop
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Pope Francis’ funeral was attended by more than 250,000 people. The Italian government confirmed the presence of over 100 foreign delegations.

Among the world leaders who attended the funeral of the first pope from Latin-America was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena.

The two sat in the front row following an exception from the strict rules and traditions regarding seating. Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, told The Telegraph that Zelenskyy and his wife filled a “vacant place.”

The outfit Zelenskyy wore for Pope Francis’ funeral wasn’t a dark suit accompanied by a long black tie and a black button on the left side of the jacket, as advised. Instead, he wore a tailored military-style field jacket.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s relationship with Pope Francis.
Nathan Howard/Reuters

The Ukrainian leader hasn’t worn a suit since Russia went into war with his country three years ago. He also didn’t wear a suit during his meeting with Donald Trump at the Oval Office, a topic touched by reporter who criticized Zelenskyy for wearing a military outfit for such a formal meeting.

“I will wear costume after this war will finish,” he replied.

Zelenskyy paid his tributes to Pope Francis despite Ukrainian officials feeling that the Vatican had not done enough to support Ukraine.

In March 2024, Pope Francis triggered criticism when he said Ukraine should negotiate and end the war by showing the courage “the courage to raise the white flag.”

“The strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people, and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates,” Pope Francis said. “When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate.”

Wikipedia

Ukraine firmly rejected the pope’s proposal, with the country’s Vatican ambassador comparing it to appeasing Hitler, and Zelenskyy later addressed the issue without naming the pope.

“They are on the frontline, protecting life and humanity, supporting with prayer, conversation, and deeds,” Zelenskyy said. “This is what the church is – it is together with people, not two-and-a-half thousand kilometres away somewhere, virtually mediating between someone who wants to live and someone who wants to destroy you.”

Vatican then said that when he spoke of a “white flag,” Pope Francis indicated “a truce reached with the courage of negotiation.”

In December, during a mass, Pope Francis received backlash once again when he called Ukraine and Russia “brother.”

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s relationship with Pope Francis.
© Handout / VATICAN MEDIA/AFP

Two months before his passing, the pontiff called the war between the two countries “painful and shameful.”

“As I renew my solidarity with the martyred Ukrainian people, I invite you to remember the victims of all armed conflicts and to pray for the gift of peace in Palestine, Israel, and throughout the Middle East, in Myanmar, in Kivu, and in Sudan,” Pope Francis said.

Ukraine has accused the pope of not doing enough to support their country. They also claimed he hadn’t condemned Russia for the invasion.

An unnamed official told AFP that Vatican and Pope Francis showed an “absolute ignorance of this part of the world.”

Despite the criticism, the Ukrainian official showed gratitude for Vatican’s efforts in mediating the return of Ukrainian children, taken from occupied parts of the country to Russia, as well as in prisoner exchanges.

Following Pope Francis’ passing, Zelenskyy paid tribute on his and on the behalf of the Ukrainian people.

“I met with members of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations. Yesterday, we all received the sorrowful news of the passing of Pope Francis. My condolences. We remember his prayers for peace in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy wrote.

“Our state will be represented in Rome at the farewell ceremony this coming Saturday. This is now the week following Easter, yet every day brings Russian shelling and strikes. We all believe that this Easter season can provide an opportunity to take the necessary steps toward silence and peace. A real ceasefire is needed, as is a lasting and solid peace. Ukraine needs the support of religious communities — spiritual diplomacy, the diplomacy of values, always helps. This was the central focus of our meeting. It is important to continue engaging with our international partners”.

The President of Ukraine concluded, “I thank the churches and religious organizations for every achievement in advocating for Ukraine, for their prayers, and for the support they have given to our people throughout the entire war.”

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Robert De Niro’s reaction after his child comes out as transgender

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Monica Pop
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Actor Robert De Niro is a proud father of seven children whom he shares with four different women. He and Tiffany Chen welcomed the newest addition to the family in April 2023, when the actor was 79.

Recently, one of his children came out as transgender at 29, and his heartwarming response shows the depth of his love and support as a father.

Airyn, born in 1995 while De Niro was in a relationship with Toukie Smith, came out as transgender in an April interview with Them magazine.

Instagram/voiceofairyn

Speaking of her transition to a woman, De Niro’s transgender child said, “It just felt right. I feel like I’m meant to be doing this.”

Despite being a child of a Hollywood icon, Airyn has spent most of her life out of the spotlight. She only opened up of her transition after media outlets spotted her with long pink hair and made headlines.

“Obviously no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight. They wanted it very private,” she told Them. “They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible.”

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Airyn De Negro (@voiceofairyn)

Airyn further revealed that she had started hormonal therapy back in November.

“Trans women being honest and open, especially [in] public spaces like social media and getting to see them in their success… I’m like, you know what? Maybe it’s not too late for me. Maybe I can start,” she said.

Her dad was clear about his feelings for her after her revelation and said he didn’t know why anyone would question his feelings for her.

“I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter. I don’t know what the big deal is,” he told People in a statement.

The actor added: “I love all my children.”

Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

De Niro’s child came out as transgender during a time when Trump’s administration is banning expression of “gender ideology.”

“I’d want to hopefully be an inspiration for at least one other person like me who is Black, who is queer, who’s not a size extra small,” she told Them.

“I’d want to see more trans women, more Black women who are maybe bigger-bodied or don’t fit the mold of super thin or heroin chic.”

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Oncologist reveals the first sign they notice in most cancer patients

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Monica Pop
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Receiving a cancer diagnosis comes with fear and uncertainty. It is the moment when the person diagnosed with this complex disease feels like their entire world has turned upside down. Depending on how advanced the cancer is, patients face treatments and often extended hospital stays.

Dr Leigh Erin Connealy, MD, the founder of the Center For New Medicine in Irvine, California, shared some insights from the lives of patients diagnosed with cancer.

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Dr Connealy, who is also the author of the book The Cancer Revolution, which focuses on a “ground-breaking program to reverse and prevent cancer,” shared on TikTok the one thing she noticed in more cancer patients.

“A common theme I find in cancer patients regularly is that they have usually suffered some very stressful event,” she explained. “It could be extreme work conditions, it may be a child, might be a parent, might be a divorce.

“But they usually have gone under some extreme stress, which we know affects the whole hypothalamic pituitary axis (HPA) and the cortisol production.” 

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HPA is a communication system between three organs and crucial for your body’s stress management, My Cleveland Clinic explains. “It consists of cells that release hormones into your blood (via your endocrine system) in response to nervous system stimulation.”

Cortisol is the body’s main stress hormone that works with certain parts of your brain to control your mood, motivation, and fear.

“Extreme cortisol production contributes to the rate cancer grows and proliferates,” Dr Connealy said in her video seen by over 2 million people.

Shutterstock

In the caption, she wrote, “New research suggests that high cortisol and stress hormones play a key role in the development of cancer, metastasis, and increase the risk of recurrence.

“An excess of these hormones may be directly carcinogenic by suppressing immune function, promoting inflammation, and inhibiting normal cell function. Treating and mitigating stress should be a top priority when treating cancer.

“Stress hormones are absolutely necessary. They enable the body to respond effectively to stressful situations and ensure our survival.”

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Common household chemical linked to over 350,000 deaths

By
Monica Pop
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An alarming new study showed a link between a common household chemical used to make plastic more pliable and heart disease fatalities — more than 350,000 a year.

This chemical, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), is found in a huge selection of household items, including detergents, shampoo bottles, garden hoses, wallpapers, plastic toys, and various food packaging. Also, in most cleaning products, wire and cable coatings, and even in medical products such as IV bags and tubing, blood bags, and catheters. The truth is, the list is so long, it can take a day to read.

Alarming new study showed a link between a common household chemical used to make plastic more pliable and heart disease fatalities.
Pexels

The 2018 study by the NYU Langone Health in New York, US, examined the deaths of men and women aged between 55 and 64 — age group most at-risk of heart disease — and discovered that 13% of them were linked to exposure to this common household chemical.

“The past decade has presented a new and previously unrecognised risk for cardiovascular disease: exposure to plastic polymers and their chemical additives,” the researchers wrote in the journal eBiomedicine.

“Of particular concern are phthalates, particularly one class of DEHP, which are used to soften polyvinylchloride (PVC) plastics.”

Alarming new study showed a link between a common household chemical used to make plastic more pliable and heart disease fatalities.
Pexels

Study lead author Sara Hyman, an associate research scientist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine said, “By highlighting the connection between phthalates and a leading cause of death across the world, our findings add to the vast body of evidence that these chemicals present a tremendous danger to human health.”

In fact, DEHP and other phthalates have long been associated with a range of health issues, including cancer, obesity, diabetes, and reproductive problems.

Pexels

The research in question now links DEPH to inflammation of the arteries, which increases the risk of heart disease and heart attack.

Researchers also discovered that Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific face higher exposures to this so called “everywhere chemical,” due to weaker manufacturing restrictions than in the West.

They urge for regulations that would limit the usage of DEPH globally.

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Missing Missouri teen located hundreds of miles from home

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Monica Pop
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A Missouri teen who went missing in December was located hiding in the closet of a registered s*x offender in Colorado, 700 miles away from home.

The teen managed to help police locate her after she was able to send a message on Instagram. From the moment of her disappearance until her rescue, her social media accounts had been inactive.

She was reported missing by her father when the school called him on December 6 to inform him she missed classes that day.

When she was able to access her Instagram account four months after vanishing, investigators were able to track down the IP address where the account was logged into.

Pexels

When they arrived at the door of 44-year-old registered sex offender Maximilian Bondrescu, in Fort Collins, just outside Denver, on April 15, he denied ever meeting the girl. However, given his status on the sex offender registry, police returned with a warrant three days later. They searched his house and found the teen hiding inside a closet.

According to the Daily Mail, Bondrescu has been “charged with child abuse, harboring a minor, obstructing a peace officer, second-degree assault, and false imprisonment after allegedly locking the girl in a room for extended periods and using threats to keep her compliant.”

Larimer County Sheriff’s Office

Upon her rescue, the teen reported that she and Bondrescu started communicating in November 2024. They first used the app called Boo, but later switched to SnapChat.

They agreed for him to help her run away from home.

Bondrescu rented a car and picked her up from her Missouri home. He then drove her to Colorado, avoiding toll roads.

The missing Missouri teen was found in the 800 block of Warren Landing in Fort Collins, Colorado. KUSA

According to the police, the girl wore and mask and sunglasses on the rare occasions she was let outside. She also revealed that Bondrescu forced her to work for his snow plowing company FoCo Sno GO.

She didn’t have any access to her social media account because he smashed her phone the moment he took her to his house. However, he then gave her one of his old phones, unaware the Instagram app was still installed. It was then that the teen was able to send a message, hoping someone would see it.

Bondrescu is being held on $500,000 bond. His court date is scheduled for Monday, May 5, according to Larimer County Jail records.

Fort Collins Police Assistant Chief Kristy Volesky said, “The importance of the work done by the Fort Collins Police Cyber Crime Unit, and similar units across the nation play a vital role in helping to keep our children safe.”

“Had it not been for the diligent work of these detectives, the juvenile could have continued to be victimized. Our investigators will now work closely with the District Attorney’s Office to ensure justice for this child.”

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Poll shows majority of Maine voters against re-electing Collins

By
Monica Pop
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Susan Collins, serving as the senior United States senator from Maine as a member of the Republican party, has held her seat since 1997, and according to a recent poll, people from Maine believe she shouldn’t be running again in 2026.

The survey, which shows that 71 percent of potential voters do not believe she deserves yet another term, was published by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center Thursday.

Additionally, 21 percent of the survey responders said they would likely support Senator Collins’ attempt to run for the Senate.

Senator Susan Collins/ Wikipedia

Collins has frequently opposed President Trump’s policies. She has voted against his nominees, including Kash Patel for FBI Director and Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, and has strongly criticized his tariff decisions.

While most Republicans oppose Collins’ push to return to Congress, they are not certain who should run for her seat.

A number of Trump supporters criticized Collins for not supporting the president’s political strategies and decisions fully. Instead, she sometimes sided with the Democrats which made it harder for Trump to push through his planned reforms. Among the rest, Collins voted against Trump’s tax overhaul and the changes to the Affordable Care Act during his first term in office.

Senator Susan Collins has held her seat since 1997, and according to a recent poll, people from Maine believe she shouldn't be running again.

Despite Maine’s overall Democratic lean in national politics, Senator Collins has managed to remain the state’s longest-serving member of Congress because of her influence over federal spending decisions, particularly those affecting her home state.  

Without Senator Collins on the ballot, Republicans may experience a hard time winning the seat.

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Donald Trump under fire for telling huge lie about ‘one of most disprovable data points’ during first 100 days interview

By
Monica Pop
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President Donald Trump spoke about the progress the country has made under his leadership during an interview with an ABC marking his first 100 days in office.

He made some bald statements, some of which dubious.

Despite receiving criticism regarding many of his decisions, especially those related to immigration, the controversial tariffs, and overhauling the federal government, Trump claimed he made America “a respected country again.”

Sitting down with ABC news anchor and senior national correspondent Terry Moran, Trump claimed the country is doing great. “Prices are down, gasoline is down, energy is down. Tourism is going to be way up—wait until you see the numbers. Tourism is way up,” he said from the Oval Office.

Donald Trump under fire for telling huge lie about ‘one of most disprovable data points’ during first 100 days interview.
ABC News

Moran was quick to point out that federal data contradicted Trump’s claim about tourism, showing that tourism is actually down, not up. However, the president doubled down, stating once again that the tourism is doing great and that the real numbers would be out in the months to come.

The National Travel and Tourism Office, a federal agency within Trump’s administration, showed a significant decline in the number of foreign visitors to the US since he has taken office for a second term.

Their data shows a decline of 11.6% of international arrivals compared to the same period last year, with the number of Western visitors going down for 17.2% year-over-year.

Donald Trump under fire for telling huge lie about ‘one of most disprovable data points’ during first 100 days interview.
ABC News

Dr. Heather Thompson, director of the Tourism Economics Research Center at Cornell University, explains: “What makes these numbers particularly concerning is that they represent a deviation from the recovery trajectory we were seeing. International tourism to the U.S. had been steadily rebuilding since the pandemic, but we’re now seeing a clear reversal of that trend in the first quarter of 2025.”

Not only Moran, but others also questioned why Trump would lie about something easily proven not true during the interview marking his first 100 days in office.

Among them was the founder of hedge fund Tolou Capital Management, Spencer Hakimian, wondered, “Why lie about the most easily disprovable data points?”

One person commented: “In a few weeks, the data will be too overwhelming to lie about.”

Another added: “He literally cannot deal with reality when the reality makes him look bad.”

A third suggested: “Believes his own rhetoric it seems!”

Moran challenged Trump on immigration, tariffs, and gang crime, and the exchange grew heated at times, with Trump telling Moran, “I’ve never even heard of you.”

Trump and Moran clashed over the widely discussed case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia who was deported to the world’s worst prison in El Salvador along with other 238 supposed criminals – American immigrants.

Garcia was deported due to an error made by Trump’s administration, but he still has not returned home, and as it seems, he won’t any time soon.

The president of El Salvador said of Garcia, after Trump’s administration claimed it is up to him to return the wrongly convicted man, “I hope you’re not suggesting that I smuggle a terrorist into the United States. How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? Of course I’m not going to do it. The question is preposterous.

“We just turned the murder capital of the world to the safest country the western hemisphere. And you want us to go back into the releasing criminals, so we can go back to the murder capital of the world, and that’s not going to happen.”

Later in the interview marking the first 100 days of Trump in office, Moran presented evidence suggesting that Garcia wasn’t a member of the MS-13 gang.

Trump, however, pointed to a photo of Garcia having the gang’s name, “MS-13,” tattooed on his knuckles. When Moran said it was photoshopped, Trump replied, “Wait a minute. Wait a minute. He had MS-13 on his knuckles.

“They’re giving you the big break of a lifetime, you know — you’re doing the interview. I picked you because, frankly, I never heard of you, but that’s OK. But you’re not being very nice.”

Throughout the interview, Moran and Trump also clashed over the tariffs, especially those imposed on China, the Ukrainian-Russian war, and over the leaked chat by the Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth among the rest.

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