What's Happening

Politics

Is a Constitutional Crisis Waiting in the Wings?

What's going on: As federal courts block key parts of President Donald Trump's agenda, some administration officials are openly questioning judicial authority. Allies like Elon Musk are calling for the impeachment of judges, while Vice President JD Vance wrote on X, “Judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power.” That defiance has raised concerns about a constitutional crisis, as experts warn legal norms are being tested in real time. The American Bar Association, the world’s largest voluntary lawyers' group, condemned these actions as “wide-scale affronts to the rule of law,” citing Trump’s orders on birthright citizenship, dismantling USAID, and mass firings of DEI employees.

What it means: Historically, the courts have been the strongest check on presidential power — especially when Congress is weak or sidelined. So far, the Trump administration hasn't openly defied any legal rulings, but the sheer flood of legal challenges threatens to overwhelm the judicial system. Meaning: some things could slip through the cracks. Cases could reach the Supreme Court within weeks, but the bigger question is whether SCOTUS will curb Trump’s power — or help expand it. Some experts say the Court may issue an early ruling against Trump to assert authority, but it could come too late — the steps taken to dismantle agencies like the Department of Education or USAID may be difficult to reverse. Ultimately, the constitutional system relies on voluntary respect for the rule of law. If that breaks down, no court ruling may be enough to stop it.

Related: Domestic Violence Programs Are Worried They'll Have Their Budgets Cut (The 19th)

US News

Ye Used a Super Bowl Ad to Sell Swastika Shirts

What's going on: Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) secured a coveted Super Bowl ad in some local markets to air a bizarre, low-budget video filmed in a dentist’s office — but what followed was far more disturbing. The commercial directed viewers to his clothing site, Yeezy.com, which, shortly after airing, removed all its previous merchandise and displayed only a $20 T-shirt emblazoned with a large swastika — the symbol of Nazi Germany and a chilling emblem of antisemitic hate. Shopify, the e-commerce platform hosting the site, took nearly 48 hours to shut it down. The Anti-Defamation League, a civil rights group that fights antisemitism, condemned the move, stating, “There’s no excuse for this kind of behavior.”

Tell me more: In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, Ye posted antisemitic, homophobic, and misogynistic hate speech on his X account, including calling himself a Nazi. After calls from Jewish groups and anti-hate organizations for Elon Musk’s X platform to step in, Ye's account was deactivated, though it's unclear if Musk was the one who intervened. The rapper was also dropped by his talent agency yesterday. This incident is just the latest example of his repeated antisemitic and hateful rhetoric. In 2022, Adidas cut off its business relationship with him over similar remarks. Given his history, many also questioned how the ad made it onto one of the biggest stages in the world and called out the NFL and its broadcast partners for allowing it to air.

Related: Hilary Duff’s Husband Responded to Ye With a T-Shirt of His Own (US Weekly)

Entertainment

Women Finally Hit Box Office Parity — But, of Course, There’s a But

What's going on: At times, 2024 felt like a never-ending scene from Inception. But here’s a welcome plot twist: Two studies released yesterday found that in 2024, women-led films achieved parity with male-led movies. (It only took like 13 decades.) According to the University of Southern California Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, more than half of last year’s box office hits featured a female lead — up from 30% the year before. Standouts like Challengers, The Substance, and Wicked helped drive the shift. Universal Studios led the charge and proved it was for the girls, with nearly 70% of its 2024 releases centering on women and girls. Unsurprisingly, a woman is in charge there.

What it means: Hollywood has long treated women-led films as a financial risk — but they’re not just making money, they’re dominating. Though, whether they’ll get the same recognition this awards season remains to be seen. (Demi Moore's got some choice words for Hollywood.) But even though films are gaining more female leads, the number of lead roles featuring a person of color substantially dropped from 37% in 2023 to 25% in 2024. And behind the cameras, women made up less than 15% of directors in 2024’s top 100 films. Research has repeatedly shown that when a woman is the one yelling “cut,” more women get hired.

Related: The Popcorn Actresses Are Getting Their Revenge (Glamour)