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The View isn’t exactly the most Donald Trump-friendly program on TV these days, but co-host Ana Navarro truly tore into the former president on this morning’s show when she called him a racist countless times during an impassioned tirade against him.

While Navarro has had plenty of excuses to bash Trump on past shows, her comments today were brought on by a discussion about right wing conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, the woman who is suddenly everywhere Trump has been during his campaign.

Although Trump isn’t an uncontroversial figure himself, Loomer apparently has even his allies “alarmed” because her influence could mean he is “moving deeper into a world of conspiracies and racism,” per Axios.

Navarro told The View panel that Loomer’s proximity to Trump is no surprise, though.

“She may not be officially working for the campaign, but make no mistake: This woman is a racist, and she has access to Donald Trump,” she said. “And the reason he’s got racists around him is because Donald Trump is a racist, OK? If you are not a racist, you do not surround yourself with them.

“He was a racist when he discriminated against African Americans in the ’70s in his buildings in New York,” Navarro continued. “He was a racist when he took out a full-page ad against the Central Park Five, now Exonerated Five. He was a racist when he called Mexicans rapists and criminals, and he is a racist traveling with another racist now.”
Photo: ABC

Navarro also explained that Loomer’s presence and proximity to the Trump campaign is no coincidence.

“This woman, Laura Looney [laughter] is, she’s traveling on campaign plane. I’ve been on campaign planes,” she said. “They don’t just pluck any stranger off the street and put them on a campaign plane … the people who travel with the principle are people who have access, are people who have influence, are people who are part of the inner circle, are people who spend time and talk to them, are people who they want on that plane.”

Adele’s Bold Defense of Taylor Swift and Her Influence on the NFL

In the world of celebrity, where public opinions and alliances often shift with the wind, few moments stand out as distinctly as Adele’s recent defense of Taylor Swift amidst the swirling maelstrom of NFL fandom. Adele, known for her powerhouse vocals and unflinching honesty, has once again demonstrated her commitment to her friends and her unyielding stance against unnecessary criticism. This time, her focus is on Taylor Swift, who has recently attracted significant attention for her support of the Kansas City Chiefs—a situation that has sparked controversy among some football enthusiasts.

Taylor Swift’s foray into the NFL spotlight began as a relatively innocuous event: a series of appearances at Kansas City Chiefs games, where she was seen cheering for her rumored beau, NFL star Travis Kelce. Swift’s presence quickly became a major talking point, generating substantial media coverage and social media buzz. While many fans welcomed the added excitement, some traditional football enthusiasts grumbled about the intrusion of pop culture into the sport they cherish.

Enter Adele, a global music icon whose friendship with Swift is well-documented. Known for her straightforward and candid nature, Adele did not hesitate to voice her support when she felt it was needed. In a recent public statement, Adele criticized the negative reactions to Swift’s involvement, asserting that Swift’s presence at the games has, in fact, enhanced the viewing experience for many fans.

In her impassioned defense, Adele rebuked the critics with a message that was both blunt and heartfelt. “All of you complaining about Taylor being at the games, get a f**king life,” Adele stated. “She’s actually made it a bit more enjoyable to watch!” This statement, though marked by its explicit language, underscores a deeper sentiment that Adele is conveying: that the intersection of pop culture and sports can be mutually beneficial and should be embraced rather than resisted.

Adele’s comments reflect a broader shift in how celebrities are perceived in the context of sports and entertainment. Traditionally, athletes and celebrities operated in somewhat separate spheres, with minimal crossover. However, in today’s interconnected world, the lines between these worlds have blurred. Celebrities like Swift bring a unique flair and added excitement to events, which can enhance the overall experience for fans. Adele’s support highlights an evolving perspective that values the positive impact celebrities can have on traditionally insular domains.

To understand Adele’s defense fully, it’s essential to consider the nature of the criticism directed at Swift. Some football fans view Swift’s presence as a distraction, an intrusion into a space they believe should be reserved for pure athleticism and traditional fan engagement. This resistance is emblematic of a broader tendency to resist change and external influences that challenge established norms.

The notion that celebrities might dilute the purity of sports is not new. Throughout history, there have been instances where external factors—be they celebrities, political figures, or media personalities—have been seen as unwelcome intrusions into the sanctum of sports. Yet, history also shows that these elements often contribute to the evolution and expansion of the sports culture.

Adele’s defense points to an essential truth: celebrity engagement can significantly enrich the sports experience. Swift’s attendance at games has brought renewed attention and a fresh audience to the NFL. Her enthusiastic presence has not only bolstered viewership but has also created a buzz that traditional sports coverage might not have achieved on its own.

Moreover, Swift’s involvement in the NFL is part of a larger trend where celebrities leverage their influence to support various causes and entertain their followers in new ways. Whether it’s through cross-promotion, charitable efforts, or simply sharing their personal lives, celebrities play a crucial role in shaping public interest and engagement. By embracing these new dynamics, sports organizations can tap into a broader and more diverse audience.

Adele’s bold stance in defense of Taylor Swift serves as a reminder of the evolving landscape of entertainment and sports. It challenges the notion that celebrity influence is inherently negative and instead suggests that such influence can be a positive force for change. As fans and critics navigate this new terrain, it is crucial to recognize that the blending of pop culture and sports can lead to enriching experiences and broader engagement.

In celebrating Adele’s defense of Swift, we acknowledge a shift in how we perceive the interaction between celebrity and sport. It is a testament to the power of public figures to influence and enhance various facets of our lives, encouraging us to embrace rather than resist these changes. As the lines between different spheres continue to blur, it is clear that the future of entertainment and sports will be marked by an exciting fusion of traditional and contemporary influences.

While discussing former President Donald Trump’s mental acuity on Friday, the co-hosts of ABC’s The View inadvertently took an X-rated turn.

Co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump staffer who has become an outspoken opponent, was explaining how Trump’s judgment could not be trusted if he was associating himself with people like right-wing conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer. She went on to say that these kinds of lapses in judgment could be seen as evidence that Trump was going through a mental decline. But co-host Joy Behar wanted to know if Griffin was implying that there was something more severe afoot concerning Trump’s cognitive health:

Griffin: I have a bit of a theory which, I was very critical of Biden and what I saw as sort of the decline that came with age with him. I have said this, and I’m ringing this bell — there is a decline with Donald Trump. He’s never been the most eloquent person, that’s an overstatement.

But the judgment he’s exercising right now, when it’s not for him just about winning the White House, it’s also about staying out of jail. His criminal cases do not go away if he loses. And that he doesn’t have the judgment eight weeks out from an election to not have this fringe person who should be nowhere near the White House or mainstream politics advising him.

Or he’s espousing with 67 million people watching that “they’re eating the pets,” something is off. And I just feel like it’s not getting nearly enough attention. But the count —

Behar: Are you saying he has the “Big D”?

Griffin: I think he’s in decline.

Griffin continued, but co-host Ana Navarro had to back it up. And the studio audience knew why, as evidenced by their laughter.

Navarro: Wait, wait, wait, you got to clarify that.

Sunny Hostin: She means “dementia.”

Behar: Dementia. What are you talking about? Oh, “D,” I see. Never mind.

Watch the video above via ABC.

Joy Behar once again threw her cohosts on “The View” for a loop on Friday, when she asked if Trump might have “The big D.” And for once, she wasn’t trying to make a sexual joke.

The slip came during the first segment of the day as the ABC hosts questioned why Trump is sticking so closely with Laura Loomer, even bringing her to 9/11 memorial ceremonies on Wednesday when she’s previously touted 9/11 conspiracy theories.

Host Alyssa Farah Griffin was particularly bothered by this, reiterating her belief that Trump is in mental decline, especially given the choices he’s making this week.

“That he doesn’t have the judgment, eight weeks out from an election, to not have this fringe person who should be nowhere near the White House or mainstream politics advising him, where he’s espousing with 67 million people watching that they’re eating the pets, something is off,” she said. “And I just feel like it’s not getting nearly enough attention.”

“Wait, so you’re saying he has the big D?” Behar shot back.

Farah Griffin tried her best to carry on, but host Ana Navarro quickly cut her off, with Farah Griffin agreeing that Behar needed to immediately clarify that she was not referring to the size of any appendage on Trump.

“She means dementia!” Sara Haines chimed in.

Behar is often known for making lewd jokes on “The View,” even making several within the rest of the episode. But this particular moment, she really wasn’t aware of what she had implied.

“Dementia! What are you talking about?” she genuinely asked. “Oh, D, I see. Nevermind!”

You can watch the moment in the video, above.

Following a hot start coming out of the Olympic break, the Indiana Fever have now lost two of their last three games after an 86-75 defeat against the Las Vegas Aces on Wednesday night.

Caitlin Clark did not have her best performance, notching 16 points on 6-of-22 shooting and 1-of-10 from three and six assists. A’ja Wilson showed why she is the MVP frontrunner, scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

In a postgame press conference, Clark revealed that she was not happy with the officiating throughout the game, mentioning a few calls that surprised her.

“The offensive fouls are definitely surprising at times,” Clark said. “I feel like I do get held and get quite a bit of contact throughout the games, and then you get hit with some of those when you take some contact and give contact back. It is what it is. I don’t know. Apparently, they [WNBA refs] see something different.”

Indiana Fever guardsCaitlin Clark and Lexie Hull © Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Fever finished the game with 19 team fouls, five more than the Aces’ 14. Clark went on to discuss her teammate Aliyah Boston getting into foul trouble in the third quarter.

“And then, we have to use our challenge to try to let [Aliyah Boston] not have a fifth foul in the third quarter that basically takes her out of the game,” Clark added. “We lose a challenge, we lose a timeout. So that’s tough as well.”

Boston did not finish the game after picking up her sixth foul with just one minute remaining. She missed eight minutes of game time between the third and fourth quarters due to her foul trouble.

Clark has seen a lot of physical defense during her rookie season, and that continued against a veteran-filled Aces squad. But the physicality will only get more intense come playoff time.

ABC moderator Linsey Davis, who was slammed by conservatives for going easier on Kamala Harris than Donald Trump during the presidential debate, was a member of the same historically black sorority as the Democratic presidential nominee.

Davis, 46, sparked backlash when she fought back against the former president’s false claims that doctors were discussing aborting babies after birth, with Republicans arguing that the ABC moderator was not nearly as tough on Harris’ erroneous assertions.

Now, it has come to light that the two were both members of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Harris became a member of the sisterhood when she was an undergraduate student at Howard University in Washington.

ABC News moderator Linsey Davis was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha at the University of Virginia. ABC

Vice president Kamala Harris was a member of the sorority at Howard University. AFP via Getty Images

The Democratic presidential nominee graduated from the private, historically black university in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts.
Lewis, meanwhile, became an Alpha Kappa Alpha sister when she was an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, where she graduated in 1999 with a bachelor’s in psychology.

The two sorority sisters, however, had no known meeting prior to Tuesday night’s debate.

Still, the link unsettled some conservatives, who expressed concern online.

“The fact that Kamala Harris and Linsey Davis are members of the same sorority (Alpha Kappa Alpha – Howard and UVA respectively) is relevant with respect to potential bias,” one commentator wrote on X.

“Alpha Kappa Alpha is one of the most storied legacy standing sororities in this country. Membership is by invitation only and regarded with the highest of honors by it’s members. @LinseyDavis and @KamalaHarris are both alumni sisters,” another pointed out.

Scrutiny has surrounded Davis after she corrected Trump’s abortion claim live during the debate as he appeared to be referencing former Virginia Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam’s 2019 remarks about aborting babies after birth.

“There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born,” Davis said, drawing howls from conservatives who noted that six states and the District of Columbia currently do not place any limits on the procedure.

“Biased ABC anchor Linsey Davis teams up with Vice President Kamala Harris to attack former President Donald Trump on abortion,” Tom Olohan, a writer for the conservative Media Research Center, wrote on X following the incident.

Conservatives says Trump was repeatedly grilled on the debate stage, and more than VP Harris was. AP
While Davis and her fellow moderator, David Muir, were fact-checking Trump’s claims on stage, they have been accused of keeping mum when Harris stretched the truth.

Trump allies and Republican commentators were left fuming and compiling a long list of missed opportunities for Muir and Davis to fact-check Harris, such as when she said that police had died during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, and that Trump had imperiled access to IVF treatments.

“ABC is making a huge mistake trying to fact check this live. They’re only proving how biased they are. Harris fabricated an attack on Trump over IVF. ABC sat there and said nothing,” Ari Fleischer, a White House press secretary under President George W. Bush, wrote on X.
Other alleged falsehoods by Harris that went unchallenged included her comment that Trump had threatened a “bloodbath” if he lost the election, a misquote from his remarks about the state of the US auto industry.

ABC News moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis repeatedly challenged Trump’s false claims during Tuesday night’s debate. ABC
Fox News host and former Trump press secretary Kayleight McEnany said ABC should be “ashamed of themselves” over the alleged lack of fairness during the debate.

“Linsey Davis completely interjects herself into the debate to help Kamala. No surprise at all there,” OutKick founder Clay Travis wrote on X.

“David Muir is out of control,” added Tom Fitton, president of the conservative Judicial Watch, writing, “It isn’t ‘fact-checking,’ it is attacking.”

Following the heated debate, Harris reps immediately pitched a second debate next month, to which the Trump camp responded by noting that the former president is still interested in more faceoffs with the VP.

Skip Bayless opened up about his reservations over publicly supporting women’s basketball sensation Caitlin Clark in an episode of his podcast on Thursday.

Bayless revealed that he was actually in awe of Clark’s ability, and it was the main thing that got him to start watching the WNBA this year. However, he revealed that the reason he did not buy into the Clark excitement early on was because of “guilt,” and not wanting to stir racial division.

“I started to think, deep down in my psyche, ‘Wait a second, she’s really good.’ But I’ll be the first to admit, I felt guilty saying so on TV or on social media. I did not want to look like this red state white guy cheering for this red state white girl. Our country feels split enough racially already. I didn’t want to pour gasoline on that fire,” Bayless said on the show.

Diamond DeShields of the Chicago Sky, left, runs into and is charged with a flagrant foul against Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena on Aug. 30, 2024 in Chicago. Getty Images© Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Bayless was a vocal opponent of Clark earlier this year, and he even questioned her potential during a broadcast on FS1 back in June.

“Caitlin, I don’t know if she has that dog in her,” Bayless previously said. “I know she’s got talent, I know she’s got distant shooting talent and I know she definitely has a gift for passing the basketball. But I don’t know if she has that dog in her because I start to wonder — I know it’s extremely early, but I’m just saying, I start to wonder when I see what I saw (Sunday).”

Bayless went so far as to say that one of the reasons he took stances like these against Clark was because he believed the Iowa native was a “right-wing symbol” due to the fact that she is a White player excelling at the game of basketball.

“Maybe I was wrong about this, but Caitlin Clark started to feel like some sort of new right-wing symbol. ‘White woman dominating game dominated by Black men and women for years and years.’ I could almost hear some people thinking, ‘White power baby!’ And please, I’m not saying Caitlin Clark is far-right in her politics or beliefs. I have no idea what her politics or religion are because she has carefully, and I say smartly, avoided taking any rookie year stance because she is already such a lightning rod.

“I know what a powerful point of pride basketball has been to the Black community in this country. Black men and women obviously have been routinely and consistently better at basketball.”

The 22-year-old Clark was actually pressed about her political beliefs during a press conference on Wednesday after liking Taylor Swift’s Instagram post that announced her endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. Clark did not give an endorsement or even a mention of either candidate, but simply said she believed in using her platform to encourage people to vote.

Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter, #7, guards Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, #22, on June 1, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Getty Images© Getty Images

Clark was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and played at Iowa before she turned pro and was drafted by the Fever. Her parents, Anne and Brent, have three children, as Caitlin is the middle child between her two brothers, Blake and Colin. Her parents are life-long Iowa natives. Former President Donald Trump won six electoral votes in Iowa in the 2020 election. However, most of the votes in Polk County, where Des Moines is located, went to Biden.

Conversations over the role Clark’s race plays in her popularity have been rampant since the end of her junior season at Iowa, when she led the Hawkeyes to the national championship game against Angel Reese and LSU, but lost.

Those conversations escalated in her first WNBA season, non-coincidentally against Reese’s team, the Chicago Sky. Clark took several hard fouls from opponents early in her rookie year, but an infamous one by the Sky’s Chennedy Carter in March ignited a strong backlash from many of Clark’s loyal fans.

Reese herself suggested many of Clark’s fans are racist in the first episode of her podcast last week.

“I think it’s really just the fans, her fans, the Iowa fans, now the Indiana fans, that are really just, they ride for her, and I respect that, respectfully. But sometimes it’s very disrespectful. I think there’s a lot of racism when it comes to it,” Reese said.

Bayless is not the first major controversial sports talk show host to speak about Clark’s race within the context of her reputation in the WNBA.

Angel Reese, right, and Caitlin Clark look on during the second half against the Chicago Sky on June 23, 2024 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Getty Images© Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

ESPN host Pat McAfee had to issue an apology over social media in June after referring to Clark as a “White b—-” during a live television broadcast. However, in the apology, McAfee doubled down on his original argument that Clark’s race has contributed to her reception by the WNBA and treatment from opposing players.

“Is there a chance people just enjoy watching her play basketball because of how electrifying she is, what she did, what she stood for, how she went about going what she went for?” McAfee said originally. “Maybe. But instead, we have to hear people say we only like her because she’s White, and she’s only popular because the rest of the rookie class is doing what they’re doing. Well, that’s a bunch of bulls— and we think the WNBA — more specifically their refs — need to stop trying to screw her over at every single turn. What you have is somebody special, and we’re lucky she’s here in Indiana.”

Jim Trotter, a columnist for The Athletic and the New York Times, has penned a series of columns focused on the aspect of Clark’s race, criticizing both her fans and Clark herself for not taking a stronger stance against some of her fans’ prejudices when asked about it.

Screenshot

A viral clip has been making the rounds on the Right — purporting to show music superstar Usher, during an appearance on The View, declining to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris. But the full video tells a very different story.

Turning Points USA founder Charlie Kirk posted the clip on X (formerly Twitter) Wednesday afternoon, writing, “Here’s Joy Behar trying to get Usher to say he’s voting for Kamala, and he basically says ‘no thanks.’”

Here’s Joy Behar trying to get Usher to say he’s voting for Kamala, and he basically says “no thanks.”

Her disappointed shrug at the end 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/KgTHsCQehu

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 11, 2024

In the clip, Behar is shown asking Usher his opinion on whether entertainers should publicly take a stand on the 2024 election.

“This emergency that we’re in, I think it behooves artists to come out and speak for Kamala against Donald Trump because he is an existential threat to the country,” Behar said. “What do you say to that?”

“You know what? I don’t get too deep into politics,” Usher replied. “I didn’t get a chance to watch the debate last night. I obviously have been watching like everybody else. I think voting is an individual choice. And I think that you’re right. You have to look at the reality of the country that we are, and the country that we want to be, and find the candidate that you feel both are who fits the category of where we want to be. And that’s it. And that’s what you vote based off of. Who you highlight and how you choose to highlight on whatever platform you have is your prerogative.”

Prominent Right-wing accounts shared Kirk’s clip — and applauded Usher for his comments.

“Usher declined to endorse Kamala on ‘The View’ today too despite Joy Behar trying to get him to do so,” Outkick’s Clay Travis said. “Also told people to do their own research and register to vote. Again, it feels like a big change going on here.”

Others shared the video as well:

Joyless Behar just assumed Usher, being a black artist, must be all in for Kamala. Kudos to him for staying publicly neutral—because, of course, we’re all dying to hear political wisdom from entertainers. pic.twitter.com/JRxD6thX0k

— Virgil L. Walker (@VirgilWalkerOMA) September 12, 2024

Only, the full video shows that Usher actually made his preference in the 2024 election very clear.

“So you’re supporting Kamala Harris in this election, I understand?” Behar asked Usher.

“Yes!” Usher replied, enthusiastically.

Behar went on to ask Usher if he “felt sorry” after the “assault on the old guy” — referring to Trump’s performance in the debate. Usher replied that he was unable to watch the debate due to a concert.

But the star musician was hardly apolitical — contrary to what the edited clip suggested.

Taylor Swift winks as she poses on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards in Elmont, New York, on Wednesday. The night before, she posted on Instagram, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president.

Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Taylor Swift is entering her 2024 election era.

The mega pop star has thrown her support behind Vice President Harris, just under two months out from the election.

“I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos,” she wrote in a post to her more than 280 million followers on Instagram.

Swift said she was alarmed by former President Donald Trump posting recent AI pictures on social media, falsely showing her endorsing him, and wanted to combat misinformation with the truth.

The pop star, who began publicly weighing in on politics ahead of the 2018 midterms, has a record of boosting civic participation by discussing politics online. Her past endorsements and statements, though infrequent, have prompted tens of thousands of people to register to vote.

Impact of endorsement

It’s unclear how big of an impact Swift’s support this year could have on Harris. But with the presidential race expected to be extremely close, an endorsement from Swift could boost enthusiasm from Democrats, especially as Harris’ campaign works to gain back support among young Americans.

Voters under 30 were a powerful voting bloc for President Biden in 2020, siding with him by a 24-point margin. But over the past year, they’ve soured on the outgoing president. Harris’ candidacy has prompted a renewed interest in voting among Gen Z and younger millennial voters, according to the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, but Harris has yet to mirror 2020 numbers.

This target generation has known the country-turned-pop star for most of their lives. Her debut album, from fall 2006, is nearly the same age as an 18-year-old eligible voter today.

Few celebrity endorsements have made noticeable impacts in modern campaigns — with the potential exception of Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement of former President Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential primary. Political experts have argued that celebrities can rally existing supporters but have minimal impact on persuading new voters. Winfrey endorsed Harris at the Democratic National Convention this year, but it’s unclear what impact her support will have on the general election.

Swift first weighed in on elections in 2018. The singer has since called out Trump during his presidency and endorsed Biden in 2020.

Trump responded in a Fox News interview Wednesday morning, declaring he is “not a Taylor Swift fan” and that “it was just a question of time” before she backed Harris because of her endorsement track record.

“You couldn’t possibly endorse [Joe] Biden, you look at Biden, you couldn’t possibly endorse him, but she’s a very liberal person, she seems to always endorse a Democrat,” Trump said. “And she’ll probably pay a price for it in the marketplace.”

Voter registrations

Swift’s political statements often accompany exhortations to vote. She again repeated her plea to supporters in her Harris endorsement on Tuesday: “Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered!”

In a separate Instagram story, Swift shared a link to Vote.gov, where individuals can find information on where to register to vote and update their voter registration. The website is an official government website and is run by the U.S. General Services Administration, GSA, an independent government agency.

In the 24-hour window that Swift’s story was live on Instagram, a GSA spokesperson told NPR that there had been 405,999 visitors to the Vote.gov website via her unique link. That’s more than 13 times more visitors than a typical day on the site, compared to the week leading up to Swift’s post.

There were also spikes in individuals registering to vote, part of a greater upward trend voting experts have pointed out since Harris took over the Democratic ticket.

Vote.org, a separate voter group that provides registration information and guidance, told NPR that more than 52,000 people registered to vote from its platform, and more than 144,00 checked their registration status in the period shortly after Swift’s endorsement on Tuesday night through midday Thursday.

That said, it’s unclear how much of this engagement and online traction will translate to votes this fall.

Back in 2018, Vote.org reported 65,000 new voter registrations in 24 hours, when Swift endorsed two Democratic congressional candidates in her home state of Tennessee. That’s almost twice as many as the group saw on national voter registration day last year.

Despite that bump in registrations, both Tennessee candidates lost their races in the Republican state.

Some polling indicates a Swift endorsement could help people make up their minds. In a poll reported by Newsweek in May, a third of voters under 25 said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate Swift has endorsed.

Even before Swift made her endorsement, factions of her fanbase latched on to Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance’s comments about “childless cat ladies,” rebranding them as a celebration of Swift, who is known for her love of cats.

Swift leaned into that perception by signing Tuesday’s Instagram post “Childless Cat Lady.”

Harris, meanwhile, appeared to cheekily nod to the endorsement as she walked off a debate watch party stage to Swift’s hit “The Man” in Philadelphia Tuesday night — queued up to begin at the anthemic chorus:

“I’m so sick of running as fast as I can
Wondering if I’d get there quicker
If I was a man
And I’m so sick of them coming at me again
‘Cause if I was a man
Then I’d be the man
I’d be the man
I’d be the man”

Also, within 20 minutes after Swift’s endorsement, the campaign began selling Harris-Walz-themed friendship bracelets — a nod at the viral trend happening at the musician’s concerts around the world.

The bracelets have since sold out.

Timberlake reached a plea deal in his case that will see him plead guilty to a less serious offense

Justin Timberlake onstage in April 2024 in Vancouver. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty

Justin Timberlake is focused on the future after a difficult summer.

PEOPLE confirmed Timberlake, 43, recently reached a plea deal in his DWI case — and now a source tells PEOPLE that he’s ready to put the legal drama behind him.

“He’s a family man, and this is his focus. He accepted a plea deal because he wants to move on,” the source says. “The court case has been a distraction. He doesn’t want his family to be affected by it.”

The “Selfish” singer — who is married to actress Jessica Biel, 42, with whom he shares sons Silas, 9, and Phineas, 4 — was arrested in Sag Harbor, N.Y., on June 18 and charged with driving while intoxicated.

Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake at his album release party in March 2024 in Los Angeles.Jerritt Clark/Getty Images

He’s due in court for a hearing in New York on Friday, Sept. 13, and TMZ and the Associated Press reported that he has agreed to plead guilty to a less serious offense. His attorney Edward Burke Jr. has maintained that the star was “not intoxicated” when he was arrested. Still, Timberlake had his license suspended for a year in the state of New York at a hearing in August, something Burke said was “standard.”

“It’s not like he’s getting off completely — his license is still suspended,” the source adds. “Jess has not been happy about it. She’s encouraged him to accept the plea deal.”

The 10-time Grammy winner is currently on his Forget Tomorrow World Tour, which the source says is “his priority as well.” He is next scheduled to play on Sept. 28 in Newark, N.J. and will be on the road through June 2025. The tour is on track to land in the top 10 of the year-end tours list per Billboard.

Justin Timberlake at the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas.JB Lacroix/WireImage

At a Chicago concert in June shortly after his arrest, Timberlake told fans he’d had a “tough week,” but that he appreciated their support.

“I know sometimes I’m hard to love but you keep on loving me and I love you right back,” he said to cheers.

A source told PEOPLE at the time that Timberlake and Biel had “moved on from the arrest,” and were focused on work, with him on tour and her shooting the upcoming Prime Video series The Better Sister.