Watch Anderson Cooper react to Taylor Swift's 'Wood' during NYE event

Taylor SwifthadAnderson Coopergiggling like a teenage girl on New Year's Eve as he read the lyrics to the singer-songwriter's spicy song "Wood" from her recent album "The Life of a Showgirl."

During CNN's annual "New Year's Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen,"Cooper, 58, could be seen raising his eyebrows and expressing his astonishment over the song's lyrics as his co-hostCohen, 57, sipped his drink, chuckled at the camera and encouraged the popular broadcaster to keep reading.

"You're probably familiar with this song, I was not," Cooper said about the song, to which Cohen responded, "Sweetie, yeah."

As Cooper read the song's lyrics, which include "Redwood tree his love was the key that opened my thighs" and "New Heights of manhood," he continued to giggle with Cohen, leaving no chance to tease his pal.

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What haveTaylor Swiftand Travis Kelce said about 'Wood'?

"Wood," which is part of Swift's 12th studio album, is clearly about Swift's fiancé,Travis Kelce, with mentions of hispodcast "New Heights"and getting a "hard rock," presumably herengagement ring.

While discussing the song on"The Tonight Show,"Swift joked that her writing process for the song started "in a very innocent place," but that she doesn't know "what happened, man."

"I got in there, we started vibing, and I don't know how we got here," the singer told "The Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon.

Swift turns superstitions on their head in "Wood" with the line, "Seems to me that / you and me, we / make our own luck," before rounding out the bumping beat with "his love was the key that opened my thighs."

When asked onSiriusXM's "Morning Mash Up" what it was like to play "Wood" for her mom, Swift joked: "I think that she thinks that that song is about superstitions, which it absolutely is."

"That's the joy of the double entendre," she continued. "You can play that song for people, and it just goes right over their head. You see in that song what you want to see in that song."

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<p style=Pop star Taylor Swift and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce announced their engagement on Aug. 26, 2025. The couple began dating in the summer of 2023. Look back at their time together, including here, at the game between Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers during the Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 12, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Swift and Kelce react after the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Jan. 26, 2025 in Kansas City.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=(Top Row L-R) Swift and Travis Kelce attend the men's final match between Italy's Jannik Sinner and USA's Taylor Fritz on day fourteen of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on Sept. 8, 2024.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Swift and Kelce watch game one of the ALCS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 14, 2024 in Bronx, N.Y.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Swift watches the action during the first half between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Nov. 29, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Swift and Donna Kelce arrive prior to a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Nov. 29, 2024 in Kansas City, Mo.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Kelce celebrates with Swift after a 17-10 victory against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC championship game at M&T Bank Stadium on Jan. 28, 2024, in Baltimore, Md.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Swift reacts after Kelce (not pictured) scores a touchdown against the Bills during an AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Jan. 22, 2024.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Swift and Jerrod Carmichael watch the 2024 AFC divisional round game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on Jan. 21, 2024.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Swift reacts during the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 10, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Lyndsay Bell, from left, Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes react in a suite during the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Green Bay, Wis.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Swift and Brittany Mahomes cheer during the second half of the game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 22, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Swift and Donna Kelce look on before the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 12, 2023.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Swift and Donna Kelce look on before the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 12, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Swift and actor Blake Lively cheer prior to the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 1, 2023 in East Rutherford, N.J.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Swift cheers prior to the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 1, 2023 in East Rutherford, N.J.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Swift reacts while sitting next to Donna Kelce watching the Kansas City Chiefs play the Chicago Bears at Arrowhead Stadium on Sep 24, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Swift and Kelce (87) react after the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Jan. 26, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged! See the couple's love story in photos

Pop star Taylor Swift and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelceannounced their engagement on Aug. 26, 2025. The couple began dating in the summer of 2023. Look back at their time together, including here, at the game between Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers during the Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 12, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla.

Kelce also spoke about the viral song on his own "New Heights" podcast.

In a playful exchange, when Kelce's brother, Jason, asked him for his thoughts on the song, theKansas City Chiefstight end responded that "Wood" is a "great song." When his older brother pressed him further and alluded to the fact that the lyrics are presumably referencing the NFL tight end's manhood, Travis feigned innocence.

"Any song that she references me in…" Travis began before Jason interrupted, "That's not just any song. This is a very specific you." He added, "It's not just you, though. It's an appendage."

"What?" Travis replied, pretending not to get the double meaning of the lyrics. "I think you're not understanding the song."

Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen attend the Times Square New Year's Eve 2026 celebration on Dec. 31, 2025 in New York City.

Internet loves CNN's NYE duo

Besides blushing over Swift's new song, Cooper and Cohen appeared to be having great fun during the NYE special, taking multiple shots on air, playing with puppets made in their likeness and FaceTiming TV host Stephen Colbert. Social media users, meanwhile, could not get enough of the two getting tipsy on-air and giggling through the night.

Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper need to be in a Christmas Hallmark movie.The best energy.#NYE2026#CNNNYEpic.twitter.com/a2bvAVHnIQ

— CHRIS TORELLO 𝕏 (@TorelloSports)January 1, 2026

The world could be actively burning, but Anderson Cooper cackling while drunk on NYE will forever heal every wound 🥹#CNNNYE

— liv (@sophaaachi)January 1, 2026

From January 1st, I count the days until I get to see Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen drunk again!And that Anderson giggle and Andy while drunk out of his mind still so protective of Anderson.Andy and Anderson friendship goals!#CNNNYEpic.twitter.com/P3TEqTZxdx

— Carmella (@Sussex5525)January 1, 2026

The real New Year's Eve tradition is watching Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper get drunk on live television.@andy#CNNNYE#HappyNewYearpic.twitter.com/U53XUZsfS5

— Erika (@erikaxtc)January 1, 2026

I will never get tired of watching Anderson Cooper take a shot#CNNNYE#NewYearsEvepic.twitter.com/hupLFRH7GC

— Christine Galea (@chrisgalea)January 1, 2026

Cooper, during the show, also delivered a heartfelt message about grief, reminding people they are not alone and encouraging them to end the year with hope.

'Wherever you are in the world, or in your grief, you are not alone," Cooper said. "You are here with us, and I am grateful that we are together."

Contributing: Bryan West, USA TODAY NETWORK

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Anderson Cooper in awe after reading lyrics to Taylor Swift's 'Wood'

Watch Anderson Cooper react to Taylor Swift's 'Wood' during NYE event

Taylor SwifthadAnderson Coopergiggling like a teenage girl on New Year's Eve as he read the lyrics to the singer-song...
Hiroko Tanaka/NurPhoto via Getty Tommy Lee Jones and Victoria Jones in 2017

Hiroko Tanaka/NurPhoto via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

  • Victoria Jones, daughter of actor Tommy Lee Jones, was found dead at age 34 on Jan. 1

  • "We appreciate all of the kind words, thoughts, and prayers," the family in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Friday, Jan. 2

  • Victoria died of a suspected overdose, according to dispatch audio obtained by PEOPLE

Tommy Lee Jones' family is speaking out after the tragiclossof hisdaughterVictoria.

"We appreciate all of the kind words, thoughts, and prayers," the family shared in a statement with PEOPLE on Friday, Jan. 2. "Please respect our privacy during this difficult time. Thank you."

Victoria was 34 when she was found unresponsive early on Thursday, Jan. 1 at the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel and pronounced dead,PEOPLEpreviously reported. She was the daughter of theMen in Blackstar and his ex-wife Kimberlea Cloughley, who also share son Austin Jones, 43.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic Victoria Jones and Tommy Lee Jones in 2017

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In dispatch audio obtained by PEOPLE, the call for the incident involving Victoria was classified as a "code 3 for the overdose, color change." In drug overdose cases, "color change" refers to cyanosis — low oxygen levels in the blood, often linked to heart or lung issues, perCleveland Clinic— which causes a blue or purple discoloration of skin, lips, and nails.

Victoria followed in her father's acting footsteps in his 2002 filmMen in Black II, plusThe Three Burials of Meliquiades Estradain 2005 and an appearance in an episode ofOne Tree Hillin 2003.

At least two times in the past year she was arrested, according to court dockets reviewed by PEOPLE, including an arrest for drug possession.

A police source toldNBC Bay Areathat they do not suspect foul play in relation to Victoria's death. The official cause of her death has not yet been determined.

"We are deeply saddened by an incident that occurred at the hotel on January 1, 2026. Our heartfelt condolences are with the family and loved ones during this very difficult time," Fairmont San Francisco press director Michelle Hestontold PEOPLEin a statement. "The hotel team is actively cooperating and supporting police authorities within the framework of the ongoing investigation."

Read the original article onPeople

Family of Tommy Lee Jones’ Daughter Victoria Speaks Out After Her Death at 34

Hiroko Tanaka/NurPhoto via Getty NEED TO KNOW Victoria Jones, daughter of actor Tommy Lee Jones, was found dead at age 34 on Jan. 1 ...
Colleen Hayes/HBO; ABC/Gilles Mingasson; John P. Johnson/HBO  Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer on 'Veep'; Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard on 'Abbott Elementary'; Larry David as himself on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'

Colleen Hayes/HBO; ABC/Gilles Mingasson; John P. Johnson/HBO

Showrunners will tell you there's no one path to television success, and the comedies on this list all boast interesting backstories. From former hit podcasts and web series, to imports from Great Britain and New Zealand, to long-running network favorites and the cult classics that were taken from us too soon, the series here share one commonality: We can't stop laughing at and talking about them.

Get in on the joke. Here are the 30 best comedy shows to stream on HBO Max.

2 Dope Queens(2018–2019)

Mindy Tucker/HBO Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson as themselves on '2 Dope Queens'

Based on the popular podcast hosted by comediansJessica Williamsand Phoebe Robinson, HBO's2 Dope Queensisn't so much a traditional television show as it is a series of comedy specials, each boasting a distinct theme. Consisting of four episodes in season 1 (centered around the topics of black nerdery, hook-ups, hair, and living in New York City), and four episodes in season 2 (exploring themes of luxury, music, fashion, and nostalgia),2 Dope Queensinvites comedians and celebrities alike to sit with its hysterical hosts and kibitz for each of the show's hour-long episodes.

Directed by comedianTig Notaro,2 Dope Queens— like the podcast on which the show is based — seeks to explore representation, while still exposing audiences to some of the best established and up-and-coming comics circa the late-2010s.

Where to watch2 Dope Queens: HBO Max

Cast:Jessica Williams, Phoebe Robinson

Abbott Elementary(2021–present)

Gilles Mingasson/ABC via Getty Images Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie and Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues on 'Abbott Elementary'

Gilles Mingasson/ABC via Getty Images

If you're loving ourTed Lasso-era of feel-good comedies, then you need to hop aboard the school bus headed forAbbott Elementary. Created by and starringQuinta Brunson, the sitcom returns to the mockumentary format made famous by shows likeThe OfficeandParks and Recreation, but manages to distinguish itself through its impeccable writing, performances, and armory of adorable child actors.

Set in an underfunded Philadelphia elementary school,Abbott Elementarychronicles the lives of the school's young idealistic teachers, its established burnt-out educators, and the school's self-involved, TikTok-loving principal. A critical and commercial hit from the jump, the first season saw Brunson andSheryl Lee Ralphtaking home Emmys, and with education becoming an increasing subject of cultural and political discussion, the show's satirical possibilities are infinite.

Where to watchAbbott Elementary: HBO Max

EW grade:A–

Cast:Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Chris Perfetti, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter

Barry(2018–2023)

HBO Bill Hader as Barry Berkman on 'Barry'

Those who like a little action with their comedy need look no further than the 10-time Emmy-winning seriesBarry, created byBill Hader. The show follows Barry Berkman (Hader), a hitman from Cleveland who travels to Los Angeles on assignment to kill his next victim, but who ends up finding a new career path in the City of Angels: acting. As Barry tries to pursue his new passion onstage in Gene Cousineau's (Henry Winkler) acting class, he must figure out how to cut ties to his criminal past so he can take on more enticing roles.

The final season takes on a bleaker tone while still maintaining the show's brilliance, and continues to interrogate the thematic premise of redemption and whether or not people can really change.

Where to watchBarry: HBO Max

EW grade:B+

Cast:Bill Hader, Stephen Root, Sarah Goldberg, Glenn Fleshler, Anthony Carrigan

The Chair Company(2025–present)

Sarah Shatz/HBO Tim Robinson as Ron on 'The Chair Company'

Sarah Shatz/HBO

Looking for a low-stakes rabbit hole to venture down? Welcome to HBO'sThe Chair Company.Tim Robinson stars as Ron, a middle manager in middle America, who — after experiencing an embarrassing run-in with a chair at work — stumbles upon what he believes to be a criminal conspiracy.

The comedy thriller generated strong buzz when it premiered in the fall of 2025, with EW's critic impressed with what they saw in early episodes,assuring viewersthat "Fans ofI Think You Should Leave,Robinson and [collaborator Zach] Kanin's cheerfully bizarre sketch-comedy series, will findThe Chair Companysuitably weird."

Where to watchThe Chair Company: HBO Max

EW grade:B+

Cast:Tim Robinson, Lake Bell, Sophia Lillis, Will Price, Joseph Tudisco

Chewing Gum(2015–2017)

E4/Channel 4/Courtesy Everett Collection Michaela Coel as Tracey Gordon on 'Chewing Gum'

E4/Channel 4/Courtesy Everett Collection

British sitcoms don't get much better thanMichaela Coel'sChewing Gum.Based on her one-woman show,Chewing Gum Dreams, the TV version centers around Tracey Gordon (Coel), a sheltered and religious shop assistant who very much wants to lose her virginity. Unfortunately, her upbringing and similarly religious long-term boyfriend make doing the deed a little more complicated than Tracey might have hoped.

This comedy series examines sex, relationships, identity, and religion with Coel's unique brand of observational humor and some physical comedy that takes sexual intimacy into farcical territory.Wickedfans will be thrilled to seeJonathan BaileyandCynthia Erivoshowing up in guest star roles at different points throughout the show's two seasons.

Where to watchChewing Gum: HBO Max

Cast:Michaela Coel, Robert Lonsdale

The Comeback(2005, 2014, 2026)

John P. Johnson/HBO Lisa Kudrow as Valerie Cherish on 'The Comeback'

Almost exactly a year afterFriendswent off the air,Lisa Kudrowwas back on TV, starring in HBO'sThe Comeback.Created by Kudrow andSex and the CityshowrunnerMichael Patrick King,the show is a unique fusion of sitcom and reality show, chronicling the comeback of fictional sitcom star Valerie Cherish (Kudrow) as she returns to TV. Shot using found footage, the show was stylistically ahead of its time, which is maybe why — despite developing a cult following — it was initially canceled after one season.

Hindsight is everything, however, and in 2014, the show returned for a second season, this time following Cherish as she attempts to pitch a pilot to Bravo personality and producerAndy Cohen. A third (final) season was announced in June 2025, teasing a 2026 comeback.

Where to watchThe Comeback: HBO Max

Cast:Lisa Kudrow, Malin Åkerman, Robert Bagnell, Lance Barber, Robert Michael Morris

Common Side Effects(2025–present)

Warner Bros. Discovery Marshall Cuso (voice: Dave King) and Frances Applewhite (voice: Emily Pendergast) on 'Common Side Effects'

Warner Bros. Discovery

Common Side Effectsmight look like your standard adult cartoon series, but the show's thoughtful dialogue, ambitious themes, and exquisite visuals have established it as a critical and audience darling. Developed as part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block, which is available to stream on HBO Max, there's only one season ofCommon Side Effectsso far, but it's s a doozy.

A comedy mystery thriller concoction, the show follows two former high school friends and science lab partners as they discover the Blue Angel Mushroom, a fungus capable of healing all the world's diseases — and learn that Big Pharma and the government already know about it and will do anything to keep the public from finding out. A meditation on sickness, healing, corporate greed, and government overreach,Common Side Effectsis a special show.

Where to watchCommon Side Effects: HBO Max

Cast:Dave King, Emily Pendergast, Mike Judge, Martha Kelly, Joseph Lee Anderson

Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000–2024)

John P. Johnson/HBO Larry David as himself on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'

John P. Johnson/HBO

In the sitcomSeinfeld, George Costanza's character serves as a stand-in for show creatorLarry David, possessing the best and worst of David's neuroticisms, anxieties, and questionable belief systems. InCurb Your Enthusiasm, David ditches the character and goes straight to the source: himself.

Over the course of 12 seasons, David stacks the cast with friends and celebrities, most of whom play fictionalized versions of themselves. Poking fun at L.A. culture, the entertainment industry, and most of all, himself, David spends the series reminding us why he's one of the funniest, most prolific, and most self-aware comedy writers of all time.

Where to watchCurb Your Enthusiasm: HBO Max

Cast:Larry David, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, J.B. Smoove

The Flight Attendant(2020–2022)

Lara Solanki/HBO Max Kaley Cuoco as Cassie Bowden on 'The Flight Attendant'

Lara Solanki/HBO Max

TV starKaley Cuocojumps from strength to strength, leaving her long-running gig on the sitcomThe Big Bang Theoryin 2019, only to star in the HBO Max Original comedy drama thrillerThe Flight Attendanta year later. Cassie Bowden (Cuoco) is a flight attendant whose reckless drinking and proclivity for casual sex with passengers lands her a spot as a person of interest in an FBI investigation into the Bangkok murder of one of her former passengers — and sexual partners.

Possessing no memory of what took place the night of the murder and haunted by hallucinations, Cassie attempts to clear her name and solve the crime, but finds her efforts compromised by her frequent drinking and self-destructive tendencies.

Where to watchThe Flight Attendant: HBO Max

Cast:Kayley Cuoco, Michiel Huisman, Zosia Mamet, T. R. Knight, Michelle Gomez

Flight of the Conchords(2007–2010)

Craig Blankenhorn/HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection Jermaine Clement as Jermaine and Bret McKenzie as Bret on 'The Flight of the Conchords'

Craig Blankenhorn/HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection

The New Zealand comedy duo Flight of the Conchords takes New York City in their self-titled, two season sitcom. The comedians play former shepherds now moonlighting as folk musicians and struggling to make it in America's biggest city. With frequent appearances from the band's manager, the band's only fan, and a pawn shop employee,Flight of the Conchordsis beloved for its musical comedy, with a song featured in every episode.

Where to watchFlight of the Conchords: HBO Max

Cast:Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie, Rhys Darby, Kristen Schaal, Arj Barker

Hacks(2021–present)

Karen Ballard/HBO Max Jean Smart as Deborah Vance as and Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels on 'Hacks'

An odd couple comedy,Hacksis the story of two women — both on the outs in the entertainment industry — who are forced to work together, only to find that in spite of their generational and personality differences, they have more in common than either would care to admit. Ava (Hannah Einbinder) is a millennial comedy writer who has recently been "canceled," and Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) is a seasoned Las Vegas stand-up comedian entering the twilight phase of her career, but unwilling to accept it.

An excellent option for those looking to fill theBroad City-sized hole in their hearts,Hacksis a witty, relevant examination of the entertainment industry, the evolution of feminism, and the pros and cons of dating while working in comedy.

Where to watchHacks: HBO Max

EW grade:A–

Cast:Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Kaitlin Olson, Christopher McDonald

High Maintenance(2016–2020)

David Russell/HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection Ben Sinclair as the Guy on 'High Maintenance'

One of the most unique comedies on this list,High Maintenancehad an unconventional path to broadcast. A former Vimeo web series, the show follows a New York City-based weed dealer — known to his many customers as "the Guy" — as he bikes around the boroughs delivering weed and interacting with his eccentric clients. Debuting in 2012 as short episodes clocking in between five and 20 minutes, the show made the leap to HBO in 2016 where it expanded its content to a consistent half-hour format.

An intimate anthology series that feels specific to the 2010s, the show features different clients each week and uses their specific points of view and living situations as jumping-off points to explore and parody themes like loneliness, connection, politics, and so much more.

Where to watchHigh Maintenance: HBO Max

EW grade:A–

Cast:Ben Sinclair

Insecure(2016–2021)

HBO Yvonne Orji as Molly Carter and Issa Rae as Issa Dee on 'Insecure'

Two years afterBroad Citywent from web series to Comedy Central, HBO responded with its own digital-to-broadcast success story. Partially based onIssa Rae's hit YouTube showThe Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl,Insecurewas codeveloped by Rae and comedianLarry Wilmore, and stars Rae oppositeYvonne Orjias Issa and Molly, two college best friends trying to navigate the real world as adults living in South Los Angeles.

Simple in its premise but refined and hysterical in its execution, the show examines the relatable issues that plague every generation of twentysomethings: uninspired relationships, complicated friendships, career difficulties, and the journey to independence and self-acceptance. A show that created a cult-like fan base and launched Rae into stardom,Insecureis,as EW's critic writes, "smart, funny, and unfailingly real."

Where to watchInsecure: HBO Max

EW grade:A–

Cast:Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Jay Ellis, Lisa Joyce, Natasha Rothwell

Last Week Tonight(2014–present)

Paula Lobo/HBO John Oliver as himself on 'Last Week Tonight With John Oliver'

The Daily Showtook a hit when Senior British CorrespondentJohn Oliverdeparted after a seven-year run to host his own late-night series on HBO. A weekly, half-hour talk show that explores topical events through monologues, short satirical segments, and one targeted deep dive per episode, the series instantly charmed viewers and critics while simultaneously evoking ire from many politicians and big businesses who were on the receiving end of its coverage.

One of the few television series whose content has contributed to real legislative and cultural change, the show has no problem biting the hand that feeds it, inviting more than a few enemies and at least one defamation lawsuit (which ended poorly for the plaintiff).

Where to watchLast Week Tonight With John Oliver: HBO Max

EW grade:A–

Cast:John Oliver

Los Espookys(2019–2022)

HBO Ana Fabrega as Tati, Bernardo Velasco as Renaldo, and Julio Torres as Andrés on 'Los Espookys'

A Spanish-language comedy series created by and starringJulio Torres,Ana Fabrega, andFred Armisen,Los Espookysfollows a group of friends — and one of their uncles, an esteemed parking attendant, played by Armisen — who form a business aimed at designing and executing fake horror experiences. From faux exorcisms for competitive priests to creating sea monsters and faking abductions, the staff at Los Espookys is happy to serve as the local purveyors of made-up terror. A perfect balance of scary and silly, the first season offers six bingeable episodes (the seventh was delayed by COVID-19), but asan EW critic warns, "If you're not comfortable laughing out loud to yourself at unpredictable intervals,Los Espookysmay not be the show for you."

Where to watchLos Espookys: HBO Max

EW grade:A–

Cast:Bernardo Velasco, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Ana Fabrega, Julio Torres, Fred Armisen

Mr. Show With Bob and David(1995–1998)

Brillstein-Grey Entertainment/Everett Jack Black and Bob Odenkirk in a sketch on 'Mr. Show With Bob and David'

The best sketch series from the late '90s that nobody knew about wasMr. Show With Bob and David.Broadcast on HBO between 1995 and 1998, the show amassed a cult-like following of writers, comedians, and in-the-know comedy fans who saw it as the heir apparent to smart, absurdist variety series likeMonty Python, SCTV,andKids in the Hall. Boasting a slew of celebrity admirers — among themConan O'Brien,Janeane Garofalo,Jordan Peele, andKeegan-Michael Key—Mr. Showwas created, written, and executive produced by David Cross and Bob Odenkirk, who somehow also found time to star in the series.

Although it never received the network support it needed or found the following it deserved during its four-season cable run,Mr. Showremains must-see TV for comedy lovers and fans of irreverent, satirical humor.

Where to watchMr. Show With Bob and David: HBO Max

Cast:Bob Odenkirk, David Cross

The Other Two(2019–2023)

HBO Max Molly Shannon as Pat Dubek on 'The Other Two'

For every prepubescent YouTube singer that makes it big, there are two adult siblings failing at life. Or at least that's the case inThe Other Two,a comedy following the less successful older brother and sister of 13-year-old Chase Dubeck (Case Walker) as the family deals with his overnight success. Chase's viral acclaim comes as something of a shock to Cary Dubeck (Drew Tarver), a gay actor looking to make it big by any means necessary, and his sister, Brooke (Heléne Yorke), a former professional dancer who is now working as a real estate agent, and squatting in the beautiful New York City apartments she shows. While Brooke and Cary struggle to find their way out of Chase's shadow, their mother Pat Dubeck (Molly Shannon) discovers she was made for Hollywood.

Where to watchThe Other Two: HBO Max

EW grade:A–

Cast:Heléne Yorke, Drew Tarver, Case Walker, Ken Marino, Molly Shannon

Our Flag Means Death(2022–2023)

Aaron Epstein/HBO Max Rhys Darby as Stede Bonnet on 'Our Flag Means Death'

Travel back in time to the 1700s withOur Flag Means Death,HBO Max's pirate rom-com that captured viewers' attention thanks to its hilarious characters and significant LGBTQ+ representation. The energetic comedy is loosely based on the real life of Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) who left his lavish home in Barbados to prove himself as a pirate aboard a ship namedRevenge.

A cheeky farce featuringTaika Waititias Blackbeard andJoel Fryas Frenchie,Our Flag Means Deathalso offers a softer side, and doesn't shy away from creating heartfelt queer romantic arcs for its leading characters. The series has also received praise for including a nonbinary pirate, played by Vico Ortiz.

Where to watchOur Flag Means Death: HBO Max

Cast:Rhys Darby, Ewen Bremner, Joel Fry, Samson Kayo, Con O'Neill

PAUSE With Sam Jay(2021–2022)

Macall Polay/HBO Sam Jay as herself on 'PAUSE With Sam Jay'

Stand-up comedian andSNLwriterSam Jaybrings a unique talk show experience to the network with her seriesPAUSE With Sam Jay.The show, co-created by the comedian, turns late night into a party — literally. Every week, Sam cohosts a soiree at her apartment and invites her guests to delve into cultural issues ranging from race relations and politics to sexual identity and celebrity. Also featuring interviews, sketches, and animation,PAUSEtakes late night out of the studio and into the real world, creating an authenticity and ease that is not generally associated with the genre. With party guests that include some of comedy's most established and up-and-coming talents,PAUSEis a talk show for comedy fans, cultural critics, and anyone who is down for some good conversation.

Where to watchPAUSE With Sam Jay: HBO Max

Cast:Sam Jay

Pushing Daisies(2007–2009)

Adam Taylor/ABC Anna Friel as Chuck and Lee Pace as Ned on 'Pushing Daisies'

Adam Taylor/ABC

The facts were these: The 2007/2008 Writers Guild strike was responsible for many television deaths, but one of the saddest was the cancellation ofPushing Daisies, an hour-long comedy-drama that aired on ABC for only two seasons, in spite of its seven Emmy wins. The show follows professional pie maker Ned (Lee Pace), who possesses a supernatural, albeit slightly inconvenient, gift: He can bring anyone back to life with just one touch, but if he touches the person more than once, they'll die again. This proves to be something of a catch-22 when Ned brings his childhood crush, Chuck (Anna Friel), back to life, only to realize that a physical relationship with her is now out of the question.

Where to watchPushing Daisies: HBO Max

EW grade:A–

Cast:Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Chi McBride, Field Cate, Kristin Chenoweth

Rap Sh!t(2022–2023)

Alicia Vera/HBO Max KaMillion as Mia Knight on 'Rap Sh!t'

When Mia Knight (KaMillion) reaches out to her old high school friend Shawna (Aida Osman), all she's looking for is a babysitter. What she gets instead is a rap group and a viral single. Based on the real-life rap duo City Girls (both of whom are co-executive producers on this series),Rap Sh!tisn't just a show about music — it's a show about friendship, motherhood, and chasing a dream. Mia and Shawna are both musicians, but they have different artistic sensibilities and priorities. Shawna, a college dropout, wants to use her music to advocate for social issues, while Mia believes true female empowerment in music is being able to rap about whatever you want (with an emphasis on sex and partying).

Where to watchRap Sh!t: HBO Max

Cast:Aida Osman, KaMillion, Jonica Booth, Devon Terrell, RJ Cyler

The Rehearsal(2022–present)

HBO Nathan Fielder as himself on 'The Rehearsal'

ComedianNathan Fielderhas elevated cringe comedy to an art form, and nowhere is this illustrated more clearly than onThe Rehearsal, a docu-comedy series created, written, directed by, and starring Fielder. The show's premise is simple: What if you could make all of life's difficult moments easier by rehearsing for them first? The show's execution (and budget), however, are out of this world, taking each rehearsal and heightening it to the extreme through the use of sets, costuming, casting, and — in a few cases — questionable ethics.

The production value is impressive, but it's Fielder's singular logic, deadpan style of delivery, and willingness to turn the camera on himself and examine his own life that takes the series from high-concept sketch comedy to emotionally investing performance art.

Where to watchThe Rehearsal: HBO Max

Cast:Nathan Fielder

Rick and Morty(2013–present)

Adult Swim Summer (voice: Spencer Grammer), Rick (voice: Justin Roiland), and Morty (voice: Justin Roiland) on 'Rick and Morty'

There's no relationship quite like the one between a grandfather and his grandson — especially when it exists across multiple dimensions. At 14, Morty is an anxious kid whose attempts to lay low and survive puberty are frequently upended by the erratic experiments of his grandfather Rick, a mad scientist whose drunken misanthropy and hijinks find the two embarking on travels across time and space.

An Adult Swim original animated sci-fi comedy from the minds of voice actorJustin Roilandand writerDan Harmon(Community),Rick and Mortytakes the concept of the traditional sitcom family and blows it up — sometimes literally, much to the delight of one of the most devoted fanbases on television. The show has been renewed through season 12, and the first eight are available to stream.

Where to watchRick and Morty: HBO Max

Cast:Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke

The Righteous Gemstones(2019–2025)

Connie Chornuk/HBO Danny McBride as Jesse Gemstone on 'The Righteous Gemstones'

Connie Chornuk/HBO

Mega-churches get a comedic makeover inThe Righteous Gemstones. The series follows the Gemstones, a wealthy family of televangelists from South Carolina, including patriarch Eli Gemstone (John Goodman) and his three spoiled adult children as they sell Jesus to the masses and keep the profits for themselves.

The series was created byDanny McBride, who also stars as Jesse Gemstone,and he tells EWthat the show is not intended as a takedown of anyone's religious beliefs. "For us it's about lampooning a hypocrite, lampooning somebody who presents themselves one way and is not that way," he explains. With a phenomenal cast, some unforgettable musical numbers, and a never-ending fountain of material to parody,The Righteous Gemstonesis one of HBO's most praiseworthy shows.

Where to watchThe Righteous Gemstones: HBO Max

Cast:Danny McBride, John Goodman, Adam DeVine, Edi Patterson, Tim Baltz

Silicon Valley(2014–2019)

Ali Paige Goldstein/HBO Zach Woods as Donald 'Jared' Dunn, Kumail Nanjiani as Dinesh Chugtai, Martin Starr as Bertram Gilfoyle and Thomas Middleditch as Richard Hendricks on 'Silicon Valley'

In the 2010s, startup culture demanded to be made fun of — and HBO'sSilicon Valleyobliged. The six-season comedy series chronicles the story of coder Richard Hendricks (Thomas Middleditch) as he attempts to launch his startup Pied Piper and keep the company relevant in the face of competitors, investors with ill intentions, and the general chaos that governs the tech industry. A show written by nerds, for nerds, and about nerds,Silicon Valleyoffers some of the best satire of Bay Area geek culture that exists today, parodying the cycle of success and failure that powers the startup community, and humanizing the people who keep it running.

Where to watchSilicon Valley: HBO Max

EW grade:A–

Cast:Thomas Middleditch, T.J. Miller, Josh Brener, Martin Starr, Kumail Nanjiani

Somebody Somewhere(2022–2024)

HBO Bridget Everett as Sam on 'Somebody Somewhere'

This little-known but much beloved dramedy feels like hanging out with a group of friends or crawling under a warm blanket.Somebody Somewheretells the story of Sam (Bridget Everett), who returns to her hometown of Manhattan, Kan., after the death of her sister.

A Midwestern comfort show about family and finding community in a familiar environment at an unfamiliar point in life,Somebody Somewhereunfolds over three seasons, all of which are available to stream on HBO Max. The show leans heavily on Everett's real life for inspiration, and even though the series is small in scope, it's big in heart, with an ensemble full of charming and eccentric characters. If you've ever wondered what a MidwesternGilmore Girlsmight look like, consider checking outSomebody Somewhere.

Where to watchSomebody Somewhere: HBO Max

Cast:Bridget Everett, Jeff Hiller, Mary Catherine Garrison, Danny McCarthy, Mike Hagerty

South Side(2019–2021)

Jean Whiteside/HBO Max Nefetari Spencer as Keisha, Chandra Russell as Officer Turner, and Alisha Cowan as Brenda Cole on 'South Side'

Chicago is one of America's most beloved metropolises, as evidenced by the number of recent TV projects set within its city limits (we're looking at you,Chicago Fire,Chicago P.D.,Chicago Med,Shameless,Empire, andThe Bear).South Side, which aired for one season on Comedy Central before being scooped up by HBO Max, tells the story of two furniture repo men — Simon (Sultan Salahuddin) and K (Kareme Young) — who live and grind in the city's Englewood neighborhood.

Intended to serve as a showcase for the area's racial diversity and variety of experiences,the creators once told EWthat they saw the show as a "BlackGame of Thrones," explaining, "We have so many different characters that start off in the background and they come to the foreground."

Where to watchSouth Side: HBO Max

Cast:Sultan Salahuddin, Kareme Young, Quincy Young, Chandra Russell, Bashir Salahuddin

Tuca & Bertie(2019–2022)

HBO Max Bertie (voice: Ali Wong), Tuca (voice: Tiffany Haddish ), and Speckle (voice: Steven Yeun) on 'Tuca & Bertie'

Netflix may have canceledTuca & Bertiein 2019 after the show's first go-round, but the beloved animated comedy found a new home on Adult Swim (and HBO Max) for the next two seasons — before being canceled again in November 2022. From the mind ofBoJack Horsemanproducer and production designer Lisa Hanawalt, this resilient three-season series presents in a similar animated and comedic style, only now the protagonists take on the form of human-sized birds and anthropomorphic plants.

Hanawalttells EWthat she wanted to create a show for adults that reflects the honest, yet comedic lives of women, and interrogates the nuances of substance abuse and assault.

Where to watchTuca & Bertie: HBO Max

Cast:Tiffany Haddish, Ali Wong, Steven Yeun, John Early, Richard E. Grant

Veep(2012–2019)

Colleen Hayes/HBO Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer on 'Veep'

Julia Louis-Dreyfuswon nine Emmys for her acting and producing work on the political comedyVeep, and if the show hadn't ended in the spring of 2019, she would probably still be racking up the trophies. Created by Scottish writer Armando Iannucci, the show offers a satirical look at America's political system through the eyes of Vice President Selina Meyer, whose political ambitions far exceed her moral capacities.

Surrounded by a team of equally cutthroat D.C. staffers and featuring seven years of some of the best cameo casting comedy has to offer, the show benefited deeply from good timing, airing during the steady polarization of America's political system. (Although, towards the end of the series, it becomes difficult to determine where real-life politics end and the show's heightened, satirical version of them begins.)

Where to watchVeep: HBO Max

EW grade:B+

Cast:Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tony Hale, Anna Chlumsky, Matt Walsh, Reid Scott

The White Lotus(2021–present)

Fabio Lovino/HBO Meghann Fahy as Daphne Sullivan in season 2 of 'The White Lotus'

With three seasons under its belt, creatorMike White'sThe White Lotusis a black comedy with a murder problem — but not one severe enough to keep you from daydreaming about booking your own vacation. Set at a fictional chain of luxury resorts called the White Lotus (so far, characters have been in Hawaii, Italy, and Thailand), the series follows the management that keeps the hotels running and the wealthy guests who are lucky enough to score a room there. An anthology with a mostly rotating cast (a few folks have popped up over multiple seasons),The White Lotusis a fascinating and laugh-out-loud funny look at privilege, class, family, and so much more.

Where to watchThe White Lotus: HBO Max

EW grade:B+

Cast:Jennifer Coolidge, Jon Gries, Natasha Rothwell

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

The 30 best comedy series on HBO Max to watch for a hearty chuckle

Colleen Hayes/HBO; ABC/Gilles Mingasson; John P. Johnson/HBO Showrunners will tell you there's no one path to television success, and ...
What we know about a US strike that captured Venezuela's Maduro

The United States carried out alightning military strikeon Venezuela early Saturday, capturing PresidentNicolás Maduroand his wife, Cilia Flores, and spiriting them out of the country. American officials say the pair will face narco-terrorism charges in U.S. courts.

The overnight operation left Venezuela reeling, with its leadership uncertain and details of casualties and the impact on its military still to emerge. Countries across the region and the wider world were absorbing the destabilizing implications of the apparently unilateral U.S. action.

Here's what we know — and what we don't.

Rising US pressure, then an overnight attack

Explosions rang out and low-flying aircraft swept through Venezuela's capital, Caracas, early Saturday. At least seven blasts were heard in an attack that lasted less than 30 minutes. The targets appeared to include military infrastructure. Smoke was seen rising from the hangar of a military base in Caracas and another military installation in the capital was without power.

Venezuelan officials said people had been killed, but the scale of casualties was unclear.

Trump said in a social media post that Maduro "has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country."

The attack followedmonths of escalating pressureby the Trump administration, which has built up naval forces in the waters off South America and since early September has carried out deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean. Last week the U.S. struck Venezuelan soil with a CIAdrone strikeat a docking area alleged to have been used by drug cartels.

Maduro facing US terrorism charges

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on social network X that Maduro and Flores had both been indicted in the Southern District of New York and "will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts."

She said Maduro faced charges of "Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States."

Maduro was indicted in March 2020, during Trump's first term, but the indictment against Flores was not previously made public.

Questions over legality

The U.S. does not recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, and the legal implications of the strike under U.S. law were not immediately clear.

The Trump administration maintains that Maduro is not the legitimate leader of Venezuela and claims he has effectively turned Venezuela into a criminal enterprise at the service of drug traffickers and terrorist groups.

Mike Lee, a U.S. senator from Utah, said on X that the action "likely falls within the president's inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution to protect U.S. personnel from an actual or imminent attack."

Venezuela's future uncertain

Maduro's government accused the United States of an "imperialist attack" on civilian and military installations and urged citizens to take to the streets.

Armed individuals and uniformed members of a civilian militia took to the streets of a Caracas neighborhood long considered a stronghold of the ruling party. But in other areas of the city, the streets remained empty hours after the attack. Parts of the city remained without power, but vehicles moved freely.

By law, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez should take power, but there was no confirmation that had happened.

There was no immediate comment from Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. She was in hiding for almost a year before traveling to Norway last month to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Other countries scramble to respond

Venezuela's neighbor Colombia sent troops to the border and anticipated an influx of refugees from Venezuela.

Cuba, a supporter of the Maduro government and a longtime adversary of the United States, urged the international community to respond to what President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez called "the criminal attack."

Russia's Foreign Ministry said the attack and capture of Maduro would be "an unacceptable infringement on the sovereignty of an independent state."

U.S. allies in Europe — critical of Maduro but mindful of international law — offered muted responses as they scrambled to understand the scale and implications of the attack.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc "has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the U.N. Charter must be respected. We call for restraint."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had not spoken to Trump about the attack and stressed that "the U.K. was not involved in any way." Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain was "conducting a thorough monitoring of the events in Venezuela" and called for "de-escalation and responsibility."

What we know about a US strike that captured Venezuela's Maduro

The United States carried out alightning military strikeon Venezuela early Saturday, capturing PresidentNicolás Maduroand...
Maria Snider, director of the Rainbow Child Development Center, speaks at a news conference in St. Paul, Minnesota, this week. - Giovanna Dell'Orto/AP

In the days since the Trump administration announced it would freeze federal child care payments to Minnesota amid an allegedfraud investigation, fear and confusion have spread almost as fast as theviral videothat launched the scandal.

Minnesota receives about$185 millionannually in federal child care funding, supporting care for 19,000 children, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. The state says the money helps cover the cost of routine child care forthousands of low-income familieseach month, allowing parents to work or attend school.

But HHS announced Tuesday it would freeze that funding – and it's not clear if there are any alternate plans for families affected by the freeze.

"Funds will be released only when states prove they are being spent legitimately," Deputy Secretary of HHS Jim O'Neillsaid Tuesday.

Now, families and child care providers are grappling with the cascade of consequences that may soon come if federal funding dries up.

"I'm a parent who receives federal funding for child care for my kiddo," Deko Nor told reporters at a news conference at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul on Wednesday.

"I'm currently a medical student, I rely on child care, I work," she said. "If child care is cut, I'm unable to go to work, or go to school."

A pause stretched on as Nor, who had to skip school to attend the news conference, grew too emotional to continue her remarks.

The child care providers who spoke at the capitol Wednesday said they adamantly opposed fraud and supported efforts to investigate and address any claims of wrongdoing.

But they also said they felt compelled to stand in support of the Somali providers who may be too afraid to speak up after Nick Shirley'svideoclaiming to find widespread fraud at Somali-run child care centers went viral.

The child care centers featured in the video were operating as expected when visited by investigators, the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families said in a news release Friday.

The agency gathered evidence and initiated further review, noting the investigation into four of the centers was ongoing, the report stated.

Minnesota's Twin Cities are home to thenation's largest populationof Somalis, a community that has recently experiencedheightened tensionsover increased immigration enforcement and disparaging remarks from President Donald Trump.

Amanda Schillinger, director of Pumpkin Patch Childcare & Learning Center in Burnsville, Minnesota, said she feels the community is being "unfairly vilified."

Amanda Schillinger, director of Pumpkin Patch Childcare & Learning Center, speaks at a news conference in St. Paul. - WCCO

"The truth is Minnesota has guardrails in place to make defrauding the child care system extremely difficult," she said. "Fraud is never acceptable; but cutting off child care funding to everyone in the state is not the answer, and it's not acceptable."

The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families doubled down on their commitment to preventing fraud and continuing to support families in the statement on Friday.

But, the agency warned, the distribution of "unvetted or deceptive claims and misuse of tip lines can interfere with investigations, create safety risks for families, providers, and employers, and has contributed to harmful discourse about Minnesota's immigrant communities."

Schillinger said 75% of the children who attend her program qualify for child care funding through the state.

"We can't afford to continue to operate if we lose 75% of our enrollment," she said at the news conference.

Child care workers 'did what they should have'

Mary Solheim comes from a family of educators, and told CNN she's spent the better part of the last 40 years working at a child care facility in Maplewood, just outside St. Paul.

She said she felt compelled to speak out after watching Shirley's video, which has amassed over100 million viewsonline after it was shared by conservative figures.

In the video, Shirley, a 23-year-old content creator who has shared anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim videos in the past, approaches multiple child care centers that he claims are owned by Somalis and demands that they prove children are enrolled in the facilities.

Solheim said her first reaction upon seeing the video was to question why men with a microphone and camera were demanding to see children.

Then later, when two Somali women appear to be barricading the door to prevent Shirley and his team from gaining access, Solheim said she started to feel sick.

"They did what they should have done, which is to protect the children and keep the door shut," she said of the day care workers.

Now, as the administration threatens to pull federal funding from the state, Solheim told CNN she's worried her facility – which has operated for more than 40 years – may not be able to keep its doors open for the children and families who depend on it.

"We run on razor-thin budgets," she said. "If that money is late, which sometimes it is, it may be a four-week wait after we've provided care (until we're paid)."

Last month, the child care center's furnace suddenly went out amid frigid temperatures, and needed to be replaced, she said, wiping out the last of the money in their reserves.

"If all funds are cut off, we are at about two to four weeks before we have to close."

Cutting a 'crucial piece of survival'

Maria Snider, director of the Rainbow Child Development Center in St. Paul, told reporters Wednesday that for many of the center's families, federal child care assistance is a "crucial piece of survival."

Snider said her mother opened the center in 1998 because she saw a need for affordable full-time child care, and they have since remained proud to welcome families who might require child care funding assistance.

"We believe that every child deserves access to high-quality early learning," Snider said. "Many of the families at my center are one paycheck away from becoming homeless – I'm not exaggerating.

"I'm generally scared for what happens next if funding is stopped, and I can't help but think that this is part of a larger designed plan and strategy to cut public funding."

"This is Trump's long game," Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said in asocial media poston Tuesday. "We've spent years cracking down on fraudsters. It's a serious issue - but this has been his plan all along. He's politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans."

Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O'Neill. - Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg/Getty Images/File

State officials convened Wednesday to assess the potential impacts and timing of the funding freeze, Clare Sanford, chair of government relations for the Minnesota Child Care Association, told CNN.

Families typically qualify for child care assistance after providing job information such as tax records, pay stubs and work schedules, showing they meet the income requirements, Sanford said.

Once qualified, parents can enroll their children with licensed providers who participate in the program. Those providers then bill the county on a two-week cycle, providing attendance records for the eligible children, she said.

The federal government foots roughly half of those costs on a sliding scale of payments to county and state officials; in the 2025 fiscal year, the Health and Human Services Department provided about $185 million to Minnesota's child care assistance program.

O'Neill said all future payments to any states "will require a justification and a receipt or photo evidence before we send money."

Snider told reporters her mom called her after seeing O'Neill's posts about receipts.

"We're a family-owned business so my mom called me and said, 'Well, write to them and tell them whatever they want we'll send!' And we will!" Snider said. "We want kids to be able to come to our centers."

"I have no problem complying with anything that they want."

A DOGE-era policy returns

HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon told CNN the requirements O'Neill referenced include "administrative data" for centers not suspected of committing fraud.

The child care centers under scrutiny must provide additional documentation including attendance records, inspection records, internal state discrepancies and any complaints the center received, Nixon said.

"These requirements help ensure the integrity of the program and protect both families and providers," Nixon said. "The onus is on the state to provide additional verification, and until they do so, HHS will not allow the state to draw down their matching funds."

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said his office is "exploring all our legal options to ensure that critical childcare services do not get abruptly slashed based on pretext and grandstanding."

"This hasty, scorched earth-attack is not just wrong, it may well be illegal, and my team and I remain committed to protecting the people of Minnesota to the fullest extent of the law," Ellison said in astatementon Wednesday.

The HHS announcement revives a "Defend the Spend" initiativelaunched by the US Department of Government Efficiency Servicein early 2025. The bid to slash federal funding required HHS grantees, including certain child care programs funded through the Administration for Children and Families, to justify each transaction.

For Head Start, for instance, the requirements meant "short summaries outlining the purpose of the funds" for each request, pera webinarabout the changes. The webinar instructs providers to "allow for extra time between when payments are due and when the request is submitted."

Those requirements have been expanded across ACF programs including child care assistance, HHS said Tuesday through its DOGEaccount on X. The agency will expand its systems to allow "itemized receipts and photographic evidence" and work to make the receipts available to the public, it said.

Somali American community pleads for change

As state leaders and administration officials sparred over the intricacies of federal funding, the manager of a Somali-run day care in Minneapolis said he received a concerning phone call earlier this week.

Nasrulah Mohamed said Nokomis Daycare Center in Minneapolis experienced a break-in. The day care center was not featured in the viral video, according to theMinnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"As we walked around the day care, we saw that our office door was broken into as well," he said at a news conference streamed by local news stationKMSPon Wednesday,

"Unfortunately, we saw that there was important documentation, enrollment of the children and also employee documentation that was gone."

A hole in the utility room at Nokomis Daycare Center in Minneapolis is seen Wednesday. - KARE

CNN has reached out to the day care for comment and additional information, but did not immediately hear back.

Mohamed said the break-in was "devastating," as is the influx of "hateful messages" they've received since Shirley's video.

"This is frightening and exhausting," he said.

"I want to say that there are hundreds of Somali day cares that are out there, and we all help our children and everyone in our community," Mohamed said. "I want to say no intimidation is going to stop us."

But a parent whose children attend the day care center said she is scared.

"Being a Somali American, I was always told that it is safe here and that you are welcome here, and this is no longer the story that I feel and my kids feel," the mom said through an interpreter.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

Minnesota families and child care providers scramble as federal funds hang in balance

In the days since the Trump administration announced it would freeze federal child care payments to Minnesota amid an allegedfraud investig...
Image: Arizona helicopter crash (Pinal County Sheriff's Office)

Four people died in an Arizona helicopter crash Friday after the aircraft appeared to strike a more than half-mile long "recreational slackline" strung across a mountain rage, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.

The sheriff's office said that around 11 a.m. it received reports of a helicopter that crashed in the mountains near Telegraph Canyon, south of the town of Superior.

Four family members were killed in the crash, including the 59-year-old pilot, a 22-year-old woman and two 21-year-old women, the sheriff's office said.

"Preliminary evidence indicates a recreational slackline more than one kilometer long had been strung across the mountain range," the sheriff's officesaid in an updateFriday afternoon.

"An eyewitness who called 911 reported seeing the helicopter strike a portion of the line before falling to the bottom of the canyon," the office said.

Recreational slacklining can refer to balancing atop or doing tricks on a narrow webbing that is strung between two points, such as trees, according to theInternational Slackline Association.

The sheriff's office did not provide additional information in its post about the purpose of the line and it was not immediately clear whether it had been set up with authorization.

A spokesperson for the Pinal County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to an emailed request for more details late Friday.

The helicopter had taken off from Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek, around 30 miles west of Superior, the sheriff's office said.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the helicopter was an MD 369FF. The National Transportation Safety Board said it will investigate the crash.

Superior is a town of around 2,400 located in a mountainous area a little more than 55 miles east of Phoenix.

4 dead after helicopter appears to strike recreational slackline in Arizona

Four people died in an Arizona helicopter crash Friday after the aircraft appeared to strike a more than half-mile long "recreational ...
/ Credit: W.W. Norton

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In his new book,"Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules For a Long and Healthy Life"(to be published Tuesday by W.W. Norton & Co.), Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, an oncologist and health policy expert, discusses longevity, and how to best differentiate valid and effective health and wellness advice from "the speculative, deceptive, and just plain stupid."

Read an excerpt below, and don't miss Norah O'Donnell's interview with Emanuel on "CBS Sunday Morning" January 4!

"Eat Your Ice Cream" by Ezekiel J. Emanuel, M.D.

Prefer to listen?Audiblehas a 30-day free trial available right now.

Anyone looking for advice on wellness and longevity confronts a tsunami of books, newspaper articles, podcasts, newsletters, and videos from an enormous range of sources: scientific experts, medical practitioners, health systems, journalists, patients, influencers, gurus, quacks. Traditional media offer loads of good advice, often in responsibly edited and well-sourced sections dedicated to "wellness." But the sheer amount of it can be difficult to keep up with, and sometimes the guidance can be downright contradictory.

For anyone wading through the torrent of health and longevity advice online, it can be difficult to know who to trust. The so-called "must dos" online range from the medically unproven to the wildly impractical to suggestions so absurd they leave doctors like me baffled—testicle tanning, teen blood transfusions, vaginal steaming, "rucking" hikes with a backpack full of weights. Information is coming at us from a firehose, increasingly spewed by hucksters and self-proclaimed sages who have amassed millions of social media followers (and dollars) by promising supposed miracle treatments using medical-sounding language. It's no wonder so many people are confused and frustrated.

Shouting to be heard over it all are real physicians and health experts offering sound but sometimes conflicting advice. All of it together can swamp even those who are most assiduous about their health. Dozens of books on health and longevity have appeared in just the last few years, filled with well-intentioned and scientifically accurate information. But too often they fall into the trap of chasing novelty instead of efficacy and end up touting treatments and regimens that are unproven or with marginal returns at best.

Then there is the steady stream of profiles on tech billionaires joylessly devoting themselves to maximizing their lifespan. One of my business school students told me how her "wellness coach" recommended all sorts of questionable prescriptions, like eating 200 grams of meat a day. (Don't ask me why a perfectly healthy twentysomething student who isn't training for a marathon or Ironman needs a wellness coach.) And then there is the entrepreneur attempting to defy death with his daily regimen of 100 pills, cold plunges, infrared lights, and a daily serving of "nutty pudding"—a mix of chia seeds, macadamia nuts, and berries. Nutty is right.

With so much health and wellness advice out there, it can be nearly impossible to differentiate the valid, reliable, and effective from the speculative, deceptive, and just plain stupid. Even when the advice is scientifically sound, it's often extraneous, misrepresented, or misused. For example, one wellness book ventures into the basic biology of molecular pathways, like the mTOR pathway for cell survival, to explain why you should take rapamycin to improve longevity. Indeed, studies have shown rapamycin extends the lifespan of mice, worms, flies, and yeast. But you are not a mouse, worm, fly, or yeast. While some studies have suggested that rapamycin for humans may mitigate the impact of aging-related immune and cardiovascular diseases, there is no evidence that it impacts human lifespans.

This extrapolation of laboratory findings parallels the story of resveratrol, the "magic" compound in grapes and red wine that was supposed to explain the French paradox. Yes, resveratrol improved longevity in mice. But, do you have a tail and whiskers? Scientists have been experimenting on mice since the early 20th century, and while this work has led to many breakthroughs, findings in mice often fail to extend to humans. As an oncologist, I know that researchers have cured hundreds of thousands of mice with cancer using experimental chemotherapy agents, only to have the drugs fail when administered to people with cancer. Unfortunately, there's no evidence that resveratrol or rapamycin improves human lifespans. Ultimately, the biology lesson and the "health advice" is a waste of people's time.

What so many of these talking heads have in common—legitimate experts, well-meaning journalists, and kooks alike—is how costly their recommendations are. Financially, for sure, but also costs in mental energy and time that steal from activities which give life meaning. With the mountain of advice out there, it is practically a full-time job to determine whether the information on rapamycin isaccurate, not to mention if it isworth taking.

Overall, the wellness industrial complex promises us more time to enjoy in the future—but sure is demanding a lot of time right now. It takes atonof time and attention to pore through a 400-page book, much less a whole library of them. And what about the zillions of posts, videos, and articles about the latest new supplement, superfood, or exercise that supposedly can lengthen your life? Add that to the time spent trying to figure out what is real versus what is a fad. Or based on some microbes in a petri dish or a study of worms. Or worse yet, based on no evidence at all. Then budget more time to methodically organize your schedule to incorporate the latest exercise tweak or diet advice. . . . Congratulations: You have nowlostthat added time the gurus promised you. And you've lost it in the prime of your life.

Of course, if your whole focus is on quantity of years rather than quality, this work could be worth it. Some "longevity experts" seem to see things that way. As one popular author says, "Our only goal is to live longer and live better—to outlive." Ouronlygoal? Life is not a competition where the gold medal goes to the oldest! Our goal shouldnotbe to "outlive" as many people as possible. Instead, the goal should be to live a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness is just a means to that end, not the end in itself.

From "Eat Your Ice Cream" by Ezekiel J. Emanuel, M.D., published by W.W. Norton & Company. Copyright 2025 by Ezekiel J. Emanuel, M.D. All rights reserved.

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"Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life"by Ezekiel J. Emanuel, M.D. (W.W. Norton & Co.), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats, available January 6Ezekiel Emanuel, M.D.

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Book excerpt: "Eat Your Ice Cream" by Ezekiel J. Emanuel, M.D.

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