“Plot twist! Amazon’s Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power isn’t getting the universal critical praise we were expecting it to. In fact, several prominent media outlets are dunking on the show, while others offer lukewarm praise of the visuals… but not much else. Will normie audiences watch this Tolkien-lite version of Middle-Earth, or just binge House of the Dragon and call it a day?”
“MOSCOW, Sept 1 (Reuters) – Ravil Maganov, the chairman of Russia’s second-largest oil producer Lukoil (LKOH.MM), died on Thursday after falling from a hospital window in Moscow, two sources familiar with the situation said, becoming the latest in a series of businessmen to meet with sudden unexplained deaths.
The sources confirmed reports by several Russian media that the 67-year-old had plunged to his death, but the circumstances surrounding his fall were unclear.
Russian state news agency TASS reported the death as a suicide, citing a law enforcement source. It quoted the source as saying Maganov had been admitted to hospital after suffering a heart attack, and was also taking anti-depressants.
Reuters was unable to confirm those details. Three sources told Reuters that, based on their close acquaintance with Maganov, they did not believe he would have killed himself.
…
At least six other Russian businessmen, most with ties to the energy industry, have died suddenly in unclear circumstances in the past few months.
…
Unusually among Russian companies, Lukoil took a public stand over Moscow’s intervention in Ukraine. In a March 3 statement, the company’s board of directors expressed its concern over the “tragic events” in Ukraine and called for the “soonest possible end to armed conflict” via negotiations.”
“Emmy-winning writer and comedian Kurt Metzger, who wrote for Who is America? and Inside Amy Schumer, stops by to talk comedy with the Useful Idiots.
We figured since August is wrapped, it’s probably time we all had a Summer Friday. So instead of talking death in Ukraine and poverty in the US, Kurt shares stories of running from Chinese cops, illegal standup comedy in Shanghai, joining (and then ditching) the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and, most importantly, how he’d look with Katie’s hair.
When the Useful Idiots decide to go silly, we’re no-nonsense about it. So we also enroll in the new college major Lesbian Dance Theory, chat about stoned (and dry-diapered) President Brandon in a fighter jet, and announce a watch party for the new off-the-wall Hunter Biden movie (watch the trailer with us in the four food groups).
And subscribe for the full episode, including the extended interview with Kurt Metzger on call-out culture, Youtube suppression, and whatever the hell is going on with that “robot with salmon eyes” Mark Zuckerberg.
It’s all this, and more, on this week’s episode of Useful Idiots. Check it out.
0:00 Intro
1:58 Four basic food groups of news
15:57 New report: US stopped peace talks between Ukraine and Russia
22:37 Biden stoned moment
24:09 Kurt Metzger interview”
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