Cheat Sheet
Top 10 Right Now
1
Mel Gibson Threatens ‘to Kill Someone’ While Fearmongering at Mar-a-Lago
MAGA MAX
Updated 12.11.24 6:13AM EST 
Published 12.11.24 6:12AM EST 
Mel Gibson speaks at Mar-a-Lago on December 10, 2024.
@savvydachshunds/X

A cavalcade of supporting characters in the MAGA universe, and President-elect Donald Trump, showed up at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday to attend a soirée for the conspiratorial, QAnon-adjacent conservative non-profit America’s Future. Mel Gibson, the traditionalist Catholic actor/director, told the crowd, “I got nine kids, if one of them got stolen or trafficked, I’d have to kill someone.” That chimes with the kind of themes promoted by the group’s chairman, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who has remade America’s Future in his own image. Since his appointment in 2021, the formerly meat-and-potatoes conservative group has shifted to promoting QAnon-adjacent conspiracy theories about a clandestine cabal of pedophiles controlling media and government. Last year, Gibson executive produced Sound of Freedom, a Christian thriller starring QAnon conspiracist Jim Caviezel that stoked QAnon paranoia. He praised Flynn for exposing “wolves in sheep’s clothing that prey upon our young,” during Tuesday night’s speech at Trump’s club. In addition to Gibson—who arrived in a polo shirt, shorts and Crocs before changing into a more appropriate suit and tie—other attendees included British comedian turned conspiracy theorist Russell Brand, car dealership fortune heir turned working-class poseur Kid Rock, Fox News outcast Tucker Carlson, and former Trump advisor Roger Stone. Trump was listed as an “invited honored guest” and was seen alongside Flynn before he briefly addressed attendees outside.

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2

Donald Trump Jr. Is Thrilled About Dad Sending His Fiancée to Greece

OUT OF SIGHT
Updated 12.11.24 7:02AM EST 
Published 12.11.24 4:54AM EST 
Donald Trump Jr. said he was proud of his fiancée Kimberly Guilfoyle after she was nominated as his father's ambassador to Greece
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Donald Trump Jr. is apparently thrilled that his dad found a way for him to avoid awkward run-ins with his fiancée as rumours of a break-up swirl. After Trump Sr. announced Tuesday that he was nominating Kimberly Guilfoyle to serve as his ambassador to Greece—just hours after the Daily Mail published pictures of Don Jr. holding hands with another woman—the president-elect’s eldest son took to the social media platform X to congratulate her. “I am so proud of Kimberly,” Trump Jr. wrote. “She loves America and she always has wanted to serve the country as an Ambassador. She will be an amazing leader for America First.” Guilfoyle began dating Don Jr. in 2018 after he separated from his ex-wife Vanessa, with whom he has five children. Neither Guilfoyle nor Don Jr. have said anything publicly about a possible split, but a Page Six report on Tuesday claimed they’ve broken up and that Don Jr. is moving on with Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson—the woman with whom he’s been photographed recently. Nepotism concerns notwithstanding, shipping someone overseas to live in a taxpayer-funded villa is an admittedly elegant solution for getting a potential ex out of sight and out of mind. The Greek ambassador’s residence even has a pool.

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Your Fur Baby Deserves One of These Last-Minute Holiday Gifts
PAW-FECT
Updated 12.10.24 11:17AM EST 
Published 12.10.24 10:51AM EST 
Best Gifts for Pets and Pet Parents | Scouted
Scouted/The Daily Beast/Retailers.

Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.

The holidays are for family, and we know that your pet is absolutely part of the family. Make sure your fluff gets their stocking stuffed with these gifts (and check out even more of our pet picks here).

When it comes to stylish dog accessories, Wild One’s colorful harnesses, poop bags, leashes, and other essentials take the cake. You can’t go wrong with any of their fun colorways, and the Harness Walk Kit comes with everything you need for daily walks.

Wild One Dog Walking Kit

These catnip-infused joints are the perfect gag gift or stocking stuffer for cat owners who love a good laugh—seriously, just check out the customer review photos. They’re the perfect photo prop, and your kitties will love the (safe) buzz they give them.

Meowijuana Catnip Joints
Buy At Amazon$12

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Check out even more gifts for your beloved fur baby (or for fellow pet parents).

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3
Judge Stops The Onion From Purchasing Alex Jones’ InfoWars
IN THE CRIB
Updated 12.11.24 3:31AM EST 
Published 12.11.24 12:17AM EST 
Infowars founder Alex Jones speaks to the media after appearing at his Sandy Hook defamation trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S., October 4, 2022.
Infowars founder Alex Jones speaks to the media after appearing at his Sandy Hook defamation trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S., October 4, 2022. MIKE SEGAR/Mike Segar/Reuters

A bankruptcy judge has ruled in favor of an appeal by Alex Jones and prevented a bid by the parent company of The Onion to buy the beleaguered website Infowars and the rest of Jones’ media empire. The late ruling on Tuesday by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez agreed that the auction process was fraught with problems after a two-day hearing featuring The Onion’s parent company, Global Tetrahedron. Lopez claimed Global Tetrahedron, which offered $1.75 million in cash, still claimed the win Nov. 14 despite a $3.5 million bid by First United American Companies, a company that promotes Jones’ nutritional supplements. “I don’t think it’s enough money,” Lopez said in the Houston court, according to NBC News. “I’m going to not approve the sale.” The future of the empire remains unclear, though Lopez handed control over next steps to the same trustee who oversaw the first auction, Christopher Murray. “Only two people showed up to bid and… one was just better than the other,” Murray testified, according to the Associated Press, referring to The Onion. Though The Onion’s cash bid was smaller, it also included an agreement from Sandy Hook families to waive the $750,000 they would have received from the sale.

Read it at NBC News

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4
‘Delay, Deny, Defend’ Book Climbs Amazon Bestseller List
ON THE RISE
Updated 12.11.24 3:32AM EST 
Published 12.10.24 11:48PM EST 
Suspected shooter Luigi Mangione is led from the Blair County Courthouse after an extradition hearing December 10, 2024 in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.
Suspected shooter Luigi Mangione is led from the Blair County Courthouse after an extradition hearing December 10, 2024 in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Jeff Swensen/Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It, the 14-year-old book about health insurance that appears similar to words written on bullet casings fired at UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, last week has skyrocketed to the top of Amazon’s nonfiction bestseller list. The book, written by Rutgers Law School professor emeritus Jay Feinman and published in 2010, examines tactics used by health insurers to deny claims. “To improve their profits, insurance companies delay payment of justified claims, deny payment altogether, and defend their actions by forcing claimants to enter litigation,” an excerpt of the book published on the author’s website reads. Feinman’s book was sitting at #4 on the nonfiction bestseller list as of Tuesday night, but reached as high as the second place on the list earlier that day, CNN reported. Investigators have not determined a clear link between the suspected shooter, Luigi Mangione, and the book, but accounts linked to the 26-year-old previously chronicled his struggles with spinal surgery and the medical system on social media. His presumed Goodreads account also included reviews of books about health care, including Back in Control: A Spinal Surgeon’s Roadmap Out of Chronic Pain and Crooked: Outwitting the Back Pain Industry and Getting on the Road to Recovery. Feinman previously told the Daily Beast “no comment” when asked about a possible connection to the book, and hasn’t publicly addressed the shooting since.

Read it at CNN

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Partner update

Make This Tomato-Scented Candle Your Go-to Holiday Gift
OFF THE VINE
AD BY Flamingo Estate
Updated 11.25.24 3:09PM EST 
Published 11.25.24 12:00AM EST 
A curated gift box from Flamingo Estate, featuring a selection of luxury body care products, including hand soap, body oil, and a candle, elegantly arranged with green tissue paper. The box is surrounded by softly glowing candles, creating a warm, inviting ambiance.
Flamingo Estate

With the holidays around the corner, Flamingo Estate has everything you need to surprise friends and family with the gift of handmade everyday essentials for the home. Flamingo Estate partners with over 120 farms to source clean, traceable, and sustainable ingredients for all its products. It believes in doing things the slow and proper way, whether that’s carefully pouring candles or harvesting ingredients by hand.

Flamingo Estate’s best-selling candle may surprise you with its scent: tomato. The fragrance captures the evocative aroma of freshly watered tomato vines and leaves at their most fragrant.

Roma Heirloom Tomato Candle

Every ingredient in this hand soap—rosemary, sage, lavender, and eucalyptus—is handpicked from regions like Australia, Italy, and Brazil. The result? A luxuriously smooth, all-natural soap with an unforgettable fragrance.

Rosemary & Clary Sage Hand Soap

This extra-virgin olive oil is made with olives grown on centuries-old trees. The olives are immediately pressed after handpicking to ensure peak freshness. In the end, you get a high-smoke point oil with vibrant, peppery notes.

Heritage Extra Virgin Olive Oil

If you buy something from this post, we may earn a small commission.

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5
Mitch McConnell, 82, Suffers Fall While on Cusp of Top Committee Job
I KEEP ON FALLIN’
Updated 12.11.24 3:57AM EST 
Published 12.10.24 9:51PM EST 
Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell TIERNEY L. CROSS/REUTERS

Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell fell after a lunch with colleagues at the Capitol on Tuesday and received medical attention. A spokesperson said the Senate minority leader tripped. “He sustained a minor cut to the face and sprained his wrist. He has been cleared to resume his schedule,” the aide said in a statement. The 82-year-old Republican, who has said he intends on serving out the remainder of his term, which expires in early 2027, was asked by reporters later in the day about his condition. “Good,” he could be heard saying. In March 2023 McConnell fell at a Washington, D.C., hotel and was treated for a concussion. Later that year, there were two occasions where McConnell appeared to freeze up while talking to members of the press; one took place at the Capitol and the other in his home state. McConnell has stepped down as the GOP’s top Senate Republican, with South Dakota’s John Thune taking over as majority leader next month.

Read it at CNN

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6
Luigi Mangione’s Lawyer: ‘We’ve Made a Strong Bond’
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Published 12.10.24 10:59PM EST 
Attorney Tom Dickey
Attorney Tom Dickey Fox News

Defense lawyer Tom Dickey, who had only met Luigi Mangione for the first time Tuesday, said afterward that the two have “made a strong bond.” Speaking to reporters at his law offices in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Dickey opted not to describe any specific interactions he has had with the suspected shooter of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City last week. When asked what his impression was of Mangione after speaking with him, Dickey declined to answer. “I wasn’t looking for impressions. What I was trying to do was form a bond with my client. I want him to trust me, and I want him to be confident that I’m here for him. And I feel that I’m very pleased how that went,” he said. Dickey took issue with the judge in the case not offering bail. “I think he was entitled to bail, and if the judge makes it $100 million or $10 billion or $100,000, he’s entitled to bail,” Dickey said. “But to simply say no bail, with all due respect to the judge, I think bail should have been set.” Mangione, who faces charges in New York and Pennsylvania, has opposed being extradited to New York.

WATCH LIVE: Accused CEO killer’s attorney holds press conference

Tom Dickey, attorney for Luigi Mangione, holds his first press conference about the case.

Posted by Fox News on Tuesday, December 10, 2024

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7
Altoona Police Says They’re Being Threatened by Luigi Mangione Fans
INVESTIGATING
Updated 12.11.24 3:59AM EST 
Published 12.10.24 9:47PM EST 
Luigi Mangione is led into the Blair County Courthouse for an extradition hearing Dec. 10, 2024 in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.
Luigi Mangione is led into the Blair County Courthouse for an extradition hearing Dec. 10, 2024 in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Jeff Swensen/Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

The Altoona Police Department has stated that they’ve been receiving threats following the arrest of Luigi Mangione at a local McDonald’s on Monday. In an impromptu news conference on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Derek Swope said that they are currently investigating threats made against police officers and local people involved in Mangione’s arrest. “This is clearly a very polarized case. We have received some threats against our officers and building here,” Swope shared, referring to the police’s department building. “We’ve started investigating some threats here against some citizens in our community. We’re taking all those threats seriously and doing all the follow-up we can with those.” Shortly after Mangione’s arrest on Monday, the McDonald’s at which police discovered the 26-year-old was review-bombed by seeming supporters who were upset that one of its workers “snitched” on him. The suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder, Mangione is currently in police custody and is contesting extradition to New York where he’s charged with murder.

Read it at WTAJ

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8
Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly Call it Quits Weeks After Announcing Pregnancy
SPLITSVILLE
Published 12.10.24 8:59PM EST 
Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly attend the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly attend the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly have broken up just months before the arrival of their baby together, TMZ reports. Sources told the outlet that the pair called it quits over Thanksgiving weekend—just a few weeks after Fox announced her pregnancy in early November. She reportedly found something on the musician’s phone that upset her, and ultimately prompted the breakup. The couple first made their relationship public in 2020 and got engaged two years later. A source told People Tuesday that their relationship has “always been bumpy.” “They love each other but don’t have compatible personalities,” they added. “They’re both hot-heads, dramatic and stubborn. When they’re good together, they’re great.” The source proceeded to share that it’s “very likely” they’ll get back together, saying “they’ve split in the past and then worked things out.” Reps for both stars have not responded to People or TMZ’s requests for comment.

Read it at TMZ

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HP’s Premium Photo Printer Is $70 Off for a Limited Time
DEAL ALERT
Published 12.02.24 4:12PM EST 
HP Envy Inspire 7955e All-in-One Printer
HP.

Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.

It’s not every day that you can score a deal on a high-quality printer at a lower cost. Investing in a quality printer for your home or office is a game-changer, and while it’s not the most fun purchase, it’ll pay for itself in a couple of months. Fortunately, you don’t have to pay full price for a solid printer, thanks to HP’s current sale. Right now, you can score the HP Envy Inspire 7955e, the brand’s premium at-home photo printer for $70 off. If you’re looking for a solid holiday gift that they’ll actually use, the deluxe multi-purpose printer is a great choice—especially for photographers and anyone who works from home.

HP Envy Inspire 7955e All-in-One Printer
$70 Off

The all-in-one printer is also designed with HP’s Wolf Essential Security system to keep your information secure and keep hackers out. Plus, unlike other printers that require you to get your hands dirty to replenish the ink, this one offers a 15-second mess-free ink refill experience with bottles that can be plugged into the tank. Say goodbye to messes and hello to your new printer. Best of all? For a limited time, score three months of Instant Ink with HP+.

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9
Jim Carrey Admits He Did New Movie Because He ‘Needs’ Money
FRANKLY
Published 12.10.24 4:26PM EST 
Carrey attends the "Sonic The Hedgehog 3" UK Premiere, smiles for a photo
Jim Carrey Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Jim Carrey “needs” that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 money, he told AP. Carrey will reprise his role in the film adaptation of the classic Sonic the Hedgehog video game in the third film, set for release Dec. 20, despite telling People he was “retiring” from acting in 2022 to enjoy a “quiet life.” Carrey told AP, “I came back to this universe because, first of all, I get to play a genius, which is a bit of a stretch. And it’s just—I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, frankly.” He’s rumored to have been paid $12 million for playing both older and younger versions of Dr. Robotnik in the film, which, depending on what he bought—may mean he can go back to his “quiet life” for a while. In another recent video, the actor joked, “When they told me I was going to play two Robotniks, I was delighted. Until I realized I was doing twice the work for the same pay.” Explaining his reasons for retiring to People two years ago, Carry said “I have enough [and] I’ve done enough,” so he felt “fairly serious” about retiring, unless “the angels bring some sort of script that’s written in gold ink, that says to me that it’s going to be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road. But I’m taking a break.” Carey joked to AP that “that might have been hyperbole.”

Read it at AP

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10
Suspected CEO Killer Luigi Mangione Spent First Night in Jail Held Alone
ON LOCKDOWN
Updated 12.10.24 3:14PM EST 
Published 12.10.24 12:29PM EST 
Luis Mangione used to play a video game in college that involved killing characters.
Anadolu via Getty Images

It appears Luigi Mangione won’t have a cellmate to chat up as he’s held in a rural central Pennsylvania detention center. Authorities at the State Correctional Institution Huntingdon told the Daily Beast on Tuesday that the now-infamous murder suspect—who evaded authorities for five days after the cold-blooded slaying of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson—is being “single-celled” and is “under maximum security.” The facility, which sits on the Juniata River in the heart of the sparsely populated Huntingdon County, did not specify if he’s been placed under suicide watch or not. Mangione isn’t expected to call SCI Huntingdon home for too long, however. He’s slated to attend an extradition hearing on Monday afternoon that may soon see him headed back to New York City, where the 50-year-old Thompson was gunned down on a busy Manhattan sidewalk last week. Mangione, a Maryland native who graduated from the Ivy League’s University of Pennsylvania, has been charged with second-degree murder. He also faces related gun and forgery charges in New York City and in Pennsylvania.

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