Trump’s proposal to tax foreign movies receives mixed reactions. A look at the best outfits at the Met Gala. And why some beef-centric fast-food chains are adding more chicken to their menus.
Here’s what to know today.
Trump’s Hollywood tariffs announcement is met with confusion and fear
A day after President Donald Trump proposed tariffs on movies made outside the U.S., he insisted that he was “looking to help” the entertainment industry, not hurt it and he would meet with industry officials to make sure they were happy with his plan.
But industry officials and observers weren’t as optimistic about the initial plan to implement 100% tariffs on movies made outside the U.S. Analysts with Morgan Stanley called the idea “ill-defined” and said the tariff “would lead to fewer films, more expensive films, and lower earnings for all in the business.” In Monday trading, shares in entertainment giants like Netflix, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery fell.
It’s unclear whether the tariffs would also apply to TV productions, what aspect of a production would be taxed, how they would be charged and whether tariffs could be applied retroactively.
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What’s less up for debate is the fact that the tariffs would hit while Hollywood continues to navigate one of the most difficult periods in its history as it deals simultaneously with social media, changing habits among viewers, artificial intelligence and fallout from the writers’ strike. Meanwhile, Hollywood has increasingly opted to take production to countries like Canada, New Zealand and the U.K. Even so, the U.S. entertainment industry has a large trade surplus with the rest of the world, given continued foreign interest in American titles.
Trump’s Sunday night tariff proposal came after he met at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend with Oscar-winning actor John Voight, according to Voight’s manager, Steven Paul. Paul said he and Voight pitched a suite of ideas to the president, including federal tax incentives, changes to various tax codes, co-production treaties with foreign countries and infrastructure subsidies for production companies and theater owners.
White House officials clarified yesterday that “no final decisions” have been made and that it was “exploring all options.”
More politics news:
- As the Trump administration explores ways to increase the country’s birth rate, congressional Democrats and activists say the GOP has long overlooked a huge factor: the growing cost of having and raising children.
- Trump’s call to reopen Alcatraz as a prison to house the most “ruthless and violent offenders” would be incredibly expensive and inefficient, especially given the federal government’s mission to slash spending, experts say.
- The Department of Homeland Security is offering to pay $1,000 to unauthorized immigrants to self-deport.
- The Trump administration has not publicly disclosed who funded his presidential transition effort despite pledging to release the names.
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she won’t seek the top Democratic post on the House Oversight Committee after Rep. Gerry Connolly, who defeated her for the job in December, said he would be stepping back from his day-to-day responsibilities on the panel.
First day of jury selection in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial
Nearly three dozen prospective jurors were questioned yesterday in a Manhattan courtroom about what they knew about Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking case and about more than 100 places and people whose names may come up in the upcoming trial.
Among the names shown to the prospective jurors were Casandra Ventura, Combs’ ex-girlfriend whose lawsuit paved the way for the sex trafficking and racketeering charges. They were also asked about celebrities such as Michael B. Jordan, Mike Myers and Kanye West, none of whom are implicated in the case. In addition, several jurors said they had seen a 2016 video showing Combs attacking and dragging Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway. One woman who referred to the video as “damning” was excused, while another who said she found the video “disturbing” said she could be impartial.
Combs attended the jury selection and told the judge, “I’m a little nervous today,” when his team asked U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian for a bathroom break.
Subramanian said he hoped to seat a jury of 12 people and six alternates in three days. The jurors will ultimately decide whether Combs used his power and influence to sexually exploit women for more than two decades, as federal prosecutors allege in a five-count indictment. Combs has vehemently denied the allegations. Read the full story here.
NBC News will be following the trial closely. Sign up to receive the latest news, including insights and analysis from our team inside the courtroom.
The best looks from the 2025 Met Gala red carpet
Rihanna debuted her bump hours after her partner A$AP Rocky confirmed they’re expecting baby No. 3. André 3000 wore a piano, backpack-style. And several guests paid tribute to designer Virgil Abloh and former Vogue creative director André Leon Talley. This year’s Met Gala theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which paid homage to the fashion of Black dandyism from the early 1900s, gave designers and stylists a chance to showcase their might on fashion’s biggest night.
Kim Kardashian, Zendaya, Colman Domingo and Whoopi Goldberg were just a few of the other celebrities who graced the red carpet. See our gallery of the best looks of the night and watch the highlights in less than 2 minutes.
Read All About It
- At least three people were killed and a search for more possible victims was underway after a suspected migrant smuggling boat overturned near San Diego, officials said.
- A temporary communication loss last week between an aircraft and air traffic controllers at Newark Liberty International Airport has continued to cause headaches at the travel hub.
- An online fundraiser allegedly for a woman who admitted to calling a child the N-word at a public park has drawn over $675,000 in donations and racist comments of support.
- The Baltimore Ravens released kicker Justin Tucker from the team after he was accused of misconduct by massage therapists.
- A man was detained after a vehicle crashed into the front gate at actor Jennifer Aniston’s Los Angeles home while she was there.
Staff Pick: Burger joints are learning to cluck
McDonald’s has McCrispy Strips. Wendy’s launched a Cajun-spiced chicken sandwich. And Taco Bell brought back its chicken nuggets. They’re among the beef-centric fast-food brands that are increasingly serving up chicken. Why? Because customers keep asking for it, NBC News producer Emily Lorber reports. While inflation hasn’t hit chicken as hard as beef and pork, industry experts say costs aren’t the main factor in the shift. Chicken is gaining popularity in Grubhub orders, and foot traffic to chicken chains has surged at a time when other fast-food and fast-casual brands are seeing a slowdown. — Rich Bellis, senior business editor
NBCU Academy: These teens are training to defend against cyberattacks
Cybersecurity jobs are expected to grow 33% by 2033. To help fill those slots, Talladega County Schools in Alabama has launched cybersecurity courses for high schoolers to pursue such careers. The program teaches students how to “think like an adversary” and provides a direct pathway to entry-level positions after graduation.
“We are a rural district with a high poverty rate,” said Brooke Morgan, coordinator of innovative learning at the school district. “This cyber track will make sure that all our students receive equitable education and career opportunities.”
Read more about how Alabama teens are preparing for cyber careers.
NBCU Academy is a free, award-winning education program for developing new skills and advancing careers in journalism, media and tech.
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
Curious about whether weighted vests really help enhance your exercise routine? The NBC Select team spoke to fitness trainers who swear by them and got some helpful tips. Plus, we found rental-friendly upgrades that can greatly improve your living space.
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