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Texas senator Ted Cruz rushed to Sydney Sweeney's defense after her recent American Eagle jeans campaign caused controversy online. Sweeney and American Eagle were accused of promoting "white supremacy" and "fascism" with the ad, prompting Republicans to fire back online.

"Wow. Now the crazy Left has come out against beautiful women. I'm sure that will poll well," Cruz wrote on X.

In the commercial, Sweeney uses word play to mix up "genes" and "jeans." American Eagle was seen as promoting a racialized beauty standard due to the actress' slim physique, blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color," she says while pulling on a pair of blue jeans.

After the advertisement hit the internet, critics rushed to social media to share their thoughts and concerns about the language used.

"Nothing is ever a coincidence, this is eugenics," one critic wrote.

"The 'Sydney Sweeney great jeans/genes' commercial IS that deep. Do you KNOW how many meetings that ad was pitched for and then approved before we saw it? do be complicit. Don't be compliant. Speak OUT [about] eugenics messaging," another critic said.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, meanwhile, slammed the blowback while simultaneously shifting the subject to Donald Trump's 2024 presidential win. "Cancel culture run amok. This warped, moronic, and dense liberal thinking is a big reason why Americans voted the way they did in 2024," Cheung wrote on X. "They're tired of this b*******."

Sweeney has yet to address the social media uproar, which overshadowed the fact that her partnership with American Eagle will also include a limited edition jean meant to raise funds for domestic violence victims.

Kash Patel claims he made a major discovery regarding the Donald Trump-Russia collusion probe.

According to a new report, the FBI director found "burn bags" filled with thousands of documents pertaining to the investigation into the president's alleged ties to the country during the 2016 election.

Mattie Neretin – CNP / MEGA

Per insiders, one of the papers found was a classified annex to the 2023 report by former special counsel John Durham. The document scrutinized the original investigation that was called "Crossfire Hurricane."

Included in these papers is alleged information that foreign influences warned the American intelligence community that the FBI would help curate the narrative that the former star of The Apprentice and his campaign illegally colluded with the Kremlin to win the presidency.

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Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley will be handling the documents until they are made public.

When asked about the news during a recent press briefing, Trump made it clear he wants the contents of the documents released to the world. "I want everything to be shown," he said. "You know, as long as it's fair and reasonable, I think it will be shown."

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Patel previously hinted during an appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast that there may be more information revealed about the Russia probe. "When I first got to the bureau, [I] found a room that [former FBI Director James] Comey and others hid from the world in the Hoover Building, full of documents and computer hard drives that no one had ever seen or heard of," he alleged. "They locked the key and hid access and just said, 'No one's ever going to find this place.'"

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Former Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the rumors that she will run for Governor of California. She confirmed she won't be looking to take Gavin Newsom's job anytime soon.

"I love this state, its people and its promise," Harris said in a statement. "It is my home. But after deep reflection, I've decided that I will not run for governor in this election."

"For now, my leadership — and public service — will not be in elected office. I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans," Harris continued.

Despite not winning the presidency, the Howard alum continued to preach a message of hope, as many Americans continue to worry about the ramifications of Donald Trump's presidency.

"We must recognize that our politics, our government, and our institutions have too often failed the American people, culminating in this moment of crisis. As we look ahead, we must be willing to pursue change through new methods and fresh thinking — committed to our same values and principles, but not bound by the same playbook," she said. 

"In the United States of America, power must lie with the people," she continued. "And We, the People, must use our power to fight for freedom, opportunity, fairness, and the dignity of all. I will remain in that fight."

After losing the 2024 presidential election, both fans and critics have been wondering what the former senator is going to do next. While she isn't set to become the next governor of California, Harris did announce that she wrote a book about her 107-day-long campaign for president.

"Just over a year ago, I launched my campaign for President of the United States," Harris said in her book announcement. "107 days traveling the country, fighting for our future — the shortest presidential campaign in modern history. Since leaving office, I've spent a lot of time reflecting on those days, and with candor and reflection, I've written a behind-the-scenes account of that journey. I believe there's value in sharing what I saw, what I learned, and what it will take to move forward."

Harris stepped in for Joe Biden after he pulled out of the 2024 election following a concerning debate performance. As voters questioned Biden's cognitive health, Harris took over for the president. While she wasn't able to secure the White House for the Democrats, she is expected to share her experiences in her new book.

South Park returned with a bang, ruthlessly mocking Donald Trump and his administration in its season 27 premiere. According to Nielsen data, the episode attracted 5.9 million viewers on Comedy Central and Paramount+ in three days.

Comedy Central

TheWrap reported the "Sermon on the 'Mount" episode was South Park's most significant season premiere since season 3 in 1999. The outlet shared that the divisive season debut prompted a 68% increase in viewership for the series.

South Park fans took to X to discuss the episode, which spoofed Trump's litigious behavior, his settlement with Paramount and CBS' decision to cancel The Late Show and sack Stephen Colbert.

"South Park still making people mad after like 25 years," one person observed.

"Ah yes, South Park is so irrelevant that it warranted a response from *checks notes* the White House," another chimed in.

"If you ever feel stupid, remember that MAGA thinks South Park is on their side and not constantly making fun of them," a third person wrote.

While fans saw the humor in South Park's season premiere, the White House was not amused.

"The Left's hypocrisy truly has no end – for years they have come after South Park for what they labeled as 'offensive' content, but suddenly they are praising the show," White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Variety. "Just like the creators of South Park, the Left has no authentic or original content, which is why their popularity continues to hit record lows."

"This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention," Rogers continued. "President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history – and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak."

South Park is set to air their next episode on Wednesday, August 6, on Comedy Central.

Donald Trump unleashed on Missouri Senator Josh Hawley and his new legislation proposal.

The president took to his Truth Social account to slam his fellow Republican for trying to get his Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments (PELOSI) Act passed after it cleared the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in an eight to seven vote. The legislation seeks to restricts lawmakers from owning individual stocks or trading them.

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"Very much like SABOTAGE! The Democrats, because of our tremendous ACHIEVEMENTS and SUCCESS, have been trying to 'target' me for a long period of time, and they're using Josh Hawley, who I got elected TWICE, as a pawn to help them," Trump wrote. "I don't think real Republicans want to see their president, who has had unprecedented success, TARGETED, because of the 'whims' of a second-tier senator named Josh Hawley!"

During the committee hearing, Florida Senator Rick Scott condemned Hawley over the potential legislation. "This idea that we are going to attack people because they make money is absolutely wrong," the Navy veteran said. "I think it's disgusting what's going on here. But I completely agree with you, we've got to stop people from trading stocks but this [bill] is way different."

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The proposal is named after a powerful Democrat: former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who was accused of insider trading. Yet the former star of The Apprentice is claiming that Hawley's legislation will further her agenda.

"I wonder why Hawley would pass a bill that Nancy Pelosi is in absolute love with — He is playing right into the dirty hands of the Democrats. It's a great bill for her and her 'husband,' but so bad for our country!" the president griped on social media. "Why would one 'Republican,' Senator Josh Hawley from the great state of Missouri, join with all of the Democrats to block a review, sponsored by Senator Rick Scott and with the support of almost all other Republicans, of Nancy Pelosi's stock trading over the last 25 years."

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Trump previously said there should be an investigation into the 85-year-old's trading activity. When asked earlier about the PELOSI Act, he said, "I like it conceptually. And you know Nancy Pelosi became rich by having inside information. She made a fortune with her husband, and I think that's disgraceful. I study these things really carefully and this just happened. So I'll take a look at it. What I do think is Nancy Pelosi should be investigated."

Hawley actually went further, insisting to Fox News that "Pelosi should not just be investigated but prosecuted" and that her trading activity "needs to be illegal." Insisted the senator, "You shouldn't be able to get rich by trading on information that only you have."

A representative for Pelosi responded, telling the New York Post, "Speaker Pelosi does not own any stocks, and she has no prior knowledge or subsequent involvement in any transactions."

Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson are sure to heat up the summer box office!

The newly confirmed real-life couple stars in The Naked Gun, the latest action-packed installment in the long-running comedy franchise. Luckily, critics seem to be loving the dynamic duo in the police romp, which opens in theaters on August 1.

Courtesy of Paramount

In a glowing review from TheWrap, critic William Bibbiani praised Neeson for his comedic chops as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. while also giving Anderson, who portrays Beth, her flowers. "Matching Neeson joke for joke is Pamela Anderson, in the middle of a well-deserved career renaissance after her haunting, award-winning performance in Gia Coppola's The Last Showgirl. She already proved she can handle drama. Now she's reminding us that she is and always was, a skilled comedian," he wrote.

Johnny Oleksinski for the New York Post called the flick "the biggest surprise of the year" in his rave review. "[Anderson] and Neeson have great chemistry … which comes as less of a shock after recent news reports that they're an item. Most vital, both play their parts without winks or self-awareness," he wrote.

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The Hollywood Reporter critic David Rooney highlighted Neeson's stellar performance but added how the jokes weren't as funny as they could be. "The actor's dead serious delivery provides a subtle meta underlay as Frank Jr. takes down bad guys and tackles a master criminal, starting with a bank robbery prologue whose funniest jokes are given away in the trailer," he wrote. "Luckily, Neeson and Anderson have enough spark to carry the film, not to mention great chemistry."

In Variety's evaluation of the movie, Owen Gleiberman noted that he enjoyed the film but not as much as the original iteration from 1988. "The original Naked Gun was hilarious. It was a film that practically had audiences wetting their pants. The new Naked Gun, by contrast, is amusing. What it won't do the way these movies once used to is shock you into laughter," he wrote.

Paramount Pictures

Indiewire's David Ehrlich, meanwhile, thought the film was "the funniest American movie in years." He gave it a solid B+.

"Inviting people to laugh their heads off together in public is one of the greatest and most galvanizing things the movies have the power to do and watching this one in a packed multiplex just a few days after sitting through Happy Gilmore 2 in silence on the couch at home should be enough to convince anyone that it's a crime for studios to let comedies go straight to streaming. Lucky for us, Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. is extremely on the case," he wrote.

Netflix has a seemingly endless supply of television and films, but that library is shrinking: The streaming platform is saying goodbye to several beloved series in August. We rounded up the top six you'll want to watch before they disappear from the streamer in the coming days, starting with a beloved ABC dramedy…

ABC

1. Ugly Betty

Ugly Betty — which is based on the Colombian telenovela Yo Soy Betty, la Fea — debuted in 2006 and ran for four seasons on ABC. America Ferrera's Betty Suarez juggles family life in Queens while entering the fashion industry at a glamorous magazine in Manhattan.

2. Ballers

The sports drama Ballers documents the post-NFL life of Dwayne Johnson's Spencer Strasmore, who embarks on a new career as a financial manager as his vices and secret financial struggles threaten to overshadow his glory days as a professional athlete. John David Washington, who enjoyed a brief career as a professional football player in real life, portrays a rising star in the league, leaning on Strasmore for mentorship and financial guidance. The series debuted in 2015 and ran for five seasons.

3. Gangs of London

Gangs of London follows London's underground criminal empire after a prominent leader is assassinated. His son, played by Joe Cole, and widow, portrayed by Michelle Fairley, work to protect his legacy and avenge him. The first two seasons of the British show — which debuted in 2020 on Sky Atlantic in the U.K. and on AMC+ in the U.S. — is available to stream on Netflix until August 19. A fourth season of the action thriller is currently in the works.

4. Into the Badlands

Post-apocalyptic martial arts drama Into the Badlands debuted in 2015 and ran for three seasons on AMC. The action-packed series centers around the powerful land barons and their enforcers. It's leaving Netflix on August 19.

5. Preacher

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg adapted Garth Ennis' comic book series Preacher for a TV show of the same name that debuted in 2016 and ran for four seasons on AMC. Dominic Cooper stars as Jesse Custer, a preacher with superhuman powers and questionable morals on a quest to literally find God.

6. The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live

The Walking Dead spin-off The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live follows Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) as they reunite after years apart following his purported death. While the long-running The Walking Dead franchise lives on, this particular chapter is coming to a close on Netflix.

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British singer Jess Glynne slammed Donald Trump's administration — which has taken a strong stance against illegal immigration — after they used the trending "Jet 2 Holiday" social media sound, which uses the performer's "Hold My Hand" track.

The White House used the audio to make fun of mass deportations, which didn't sit well with the star.

"When ICE books you a one-way Jet2 holiday to deportation," the White House said in an X post. "Nothing beats it!"

"This honestly makes me sick," Glynne fired back via an Instagram Story. "My music is about love, unity and spreading positivity — never about division or hate." 

This wouldn't be the first time the Trump administration used a musical artist's work without their consent, as the band Semisonic responded to the White House using their song "Closing Time" with a man in handcuffs.

"We did not authorize or condone the White House's use of our song in any way. And no, they didn't ask," Semisonic told Associated Press. "The song is about joy and possibilities and hope, and they have missed the point entirely."

Before endorsing Kamala Harris, Trump used a Taylor Swift song during his presidential campaign without her consent. Shortly after the news broke, Trump said on social media, "I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!"