Plus: What we're watching/eating/reading this weekend and Oscars preview

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TGIF!

Before we get to the news, here’s a taste of what’s ahead for all of us this weekend from our weekly ‘Cheers to the Freakin’ Weekend’ section:

What We’re Watching:

Mosh: September 5 ~ Paramount Plus
Jill: The 97th Academy Awards ~ ABC Sunday at 7 p.m. ET (more on it below)
Lauren: Mosh says I have to watch The Royal Tenenbaums — the 2001 Wes Anderson film featuring the late Gene Hackman.

What We’re Reading:

Mosh: Growing Up Murdoch: James Murdoch on mind games, sibling rivalry, and the war for the family media empire ~ The Atlantic’s McKay Coppins
Jill: What Does the Constitution Say?: A Kid's Guide to How Our Democracy Works ~ Ben Sheehan
Sari: The Lion Women of Tehran ~ Marjan Kamali

What We’re Eating:

Mosh: RiseWell mints
Jill: Matteo's for my mom’s 75th
Sari: CULTURE froyo (since it’s 40 degrees in NYC!)

The Mo News Team

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🚨 ONE HUGE THING

Trump Kicks Zelenskyy Out Of White House After Shouting Match

After a heated shouting match in the Oval Office Friday, President Donald Trump kicked President Volodymyr Zelenskyy out of the White House – canceling a lunch, press conference, and much-anticipated signing ceremony for a minerals deal. Trump said Zelenskyy “disrespected the United States” and would be invited to return when he’s ready for peace.

Bottom line: The scenes that played out are like nothing that has ever been seen publicly in modern American diplomatic history.

The meeting was derailed after Trump and Vice President JD Vance publicly berated Zelenskyy in front of the press – amid weeks of rising tensions between the two administrations.
- Trump called Zelenskyy disrespectful, while Vance reprimanded him for being ungrateful.
Trump decided — after consulting Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other top advisers — that Zelensky was “not in a place to negotiate” after the exchange.
- Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz delivered the news to the Ukrainians, who protested to stay and work things out. Trump refused and the group left shortly after.

WHAT HAPPENED?
The fight broke out over U.S. security guarantees in Ukraine post-war. Vance suggested the countries try something new in this round of peace talks, urging diplomacy instead of armed troops. Zelenskyy responded by saying Russian President Vladimir Putin has broken previously negotiated ceasefires: “He killed our people and he didn’t exchange prisoners.” He asked Vance what kind of diplomacy he thought might actually work with Putin.

With voices raised, Vance told Zelenskyy that it was “disrespectful” for him to come to the Oval Office and make his case in front of the news media, while Trump told the Ukrainian leader, “You’re not really in a good position right now.” Trump added, “You’re gambling with World War III.” At one point, Trump said, “You either make a deal or we are out.”
- Just trust us, it’s worth watching the whole thing.

Zelenskyy was at the White House to sign a much-anticipated mineral revenue sharing deal between the two countries. The exchange ended any hope of a deal today. Here’s what Trump said shortly after:

To which Zelenskyy responded:

HOW WE GOT HERE
The meeting comes after Trump’s team met with Russian officials earlier this month about ending their three-year war against Ukraine. Ukrainian leaders were not invited.

It also follows a public spat, where Trump called Zelenskyy a dictator, and Zelenskyy fired back that Trump is spreading Russian disinformation. It appeared prior to the meeting that the two sides were ready to put those words behind them.
Today’s meeting underscores Trump’s very different diplomatic approach from the Biden administration. While Biden backed Ukraine with $180 billion in aid and condemned Russia’s invasion at the U.N., Trump has embraced parts of Putin’s justification for the war and blocked a U.N. resolution calling Russia the aggressor.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
Leaders abroad weighed in on both sides:

Apology time? Zelenskyy has not yet backed out of a previously-scheduled interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier today, set to air at 6 p.m. ET Friday. We’ll see what the Ukrainian leader has to say about today’s events, and if he’s willing to change his tune given how things unfolded.

🚨 ONE THING WE ARE WATCHING

The 2025 Oscars: What to Know Before Hollywood’s Biggest Night

After an eventful awards season, it’s finally time for the 97th Academy Awards. This Sunday, Hollywood’s biggest stars will gather at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles for the main event.

When & Where to Watch: Sunday, 7 p.m. ET on ABC. Streaming will also be available on Hulu.

PREVIEW OF THE NIGHT
This year’s show will be hosted by Conan O'Brien and will feature performances from Wicked co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, plus other major nominees.

Emilia Pérez leads with 13 nominations, though its awards campaign has been clouded by controversy surrounding lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón’s social media posts.
- Gascón, the first openly trans actress to be nominated for an Oscar, has apologized for past racist and anti-Muslim tweets from 2016 to early 2020 that resurfaced after her nomination. She did not withdraw her nomination as some critics pushed her to do.
- Early on, Emilia Pérez snagged some major award season wins, but has fallen behind in recent weeks.

The Best Picture race is between Anora, The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune: Part Two, Emilia Pérez, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, and Wicked.

Recent award shows — known to be litmus tests for Oscar nominees — are sending mixed signals. And as The Wrap put it: Is the winner going to be strippers or priests?
- Anora won big at the Critics Choice, Directors Guild, and Producers Guild Awards; while Conclave won the BAFTA Film and SAG Awards.
  - NPR, The Atlantic, and the NY Times say Anora is going to pull ahead.
- Demi Moore is expected to win Best Actress for her role in The Substance.
- The Brutalist lead, Adrien Brody, is most likely to win Best Actor; but Timothée Chalamet has been waging an aggressive campaign to secure a win for his A Complete Unknown performance.

OUR FAVS
Mo News Senior Producer Sari has thoughts:

If you’re asking me my favorite movie of the season, like most, I’m going with Anora or Conclave (leaning Conclave for the golden statue). But if you really want to know my favorite movie of the season… it’s Wicked, hands down.

And while I don’t think this was the best year for Oscar-nominated movies, I do think it was the best year for Oscar-nomination campaigns. Starting with that absurdly earnest, yet somehow moving (?) interview moment where Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo gently touched fingers in honor of fans “holding space” for the lyrics of Wicked’s “Defying Gravity.”

Then, there was the even more earnest – and very “online” – campaign by Timothée Chalamet: showing up to his own look-a-like contest in NYC, the “I rip milk duds” moment, and of course his SNL monologue half-complaining, half-drooling for the award this year. I say, get after it, Timothée – show Leo DiCaprio how it’s done.

⏳ SPEED READ

🚨NATION

📌 Trump fires hundreds working on weather forecasts, satellite data and radar systems (NPR)

📌 Trump to make English the official language of the U.S. (MO NEWS)

📌 White House restrictions on media signal ‘worrying’ precedent, Fox News’ Baier says (SEMAFOR)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

📌 Israeli team returning from Cairo as result of Hamas rejecting proposal to extend 1st phase of deal (TIMES OF ISRAEL)

📌 Hundreds of thousands protest across Greece over deadly train crash (MO NEWS)

📌 Pope Francis on breathing machine after suffering sudden respiratory episode (CNN)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

📌 TONIGHT: Seven planets to be visible Friday night in rare cosmic alignment (SEMAFOR)

📌 Citi mistakenly credits $81 trillion to customer account (CBS)

📌 Bezos' changes at 'Washington Post' lead to mass subscription cancellations — again (NPR)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

📌 Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa's body had signs of 'Mummification' when discovered (PEOPLE)

📌 Blake Lively claims “tailored” win in Justin Baldoni telecom subpoenas skirmish; hires crisis PR vet (DEADLINE)

ICYMI FROM THE 📲

In case you missed it… check out this viral clip of reality television star Gabby Windey outlining her vision of appropriate “business hours.” We agree… if only the news cycle would cooperate.