T(abel) Reads 12

Friday February 21st, 2025 - Edition 012

EVERYONE'S FAVORITE BI-WEEKLY NEWS SOURCE... UNLESS YOU'RE NOT EVERYONE

BATTLE OF THE NATIONS

After Hard Fought Victories, Sometimes Literally, Team Canada Takes Home the Cup

SPORTS

With league ratings declining year over year, the NHL knew it needed to shake up its All-Star Game to keep fans engaged. After experimenting with different formats, the league introduced the 4 Nations Tournament, featuring the best NHL players from Canada, the USA, Sweden, and Finland—bringing international pride into the mix. That intensity was on full display last weekend when USA vs. Canada opened with three fights in the first nine seconds, proving this new format is must-see TV. In the highly anticipated rematch, Canada seized their revenge with a win in the final, securing the first-ever 4 Nations Tournament championship. Meanwhile, the NBA attempted its own All-Star revamp, ditching the fantasy draft format for a faster-paced four-team tournament. However, the change failed to generate the same buzz, with much of NBA All-Star Weekend being overshadowed by the NHL’s new-look event. The league may need to rethink its strategy to reignite excitement among fans.

TV AND FILM

Recent film and television premieres have garnered significant attention at the box office and among audiences. “Captain America: Brave New World” debuted with an impressive $88.8 million, leading the weekend box office. “Paddington in Peru” followed with $12.8 million, while “Heart Eyes” secured $9.9 million. In television, “A Thousand Blows,” a new series from “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight, premiered on Hulu. Set in 1880s London, the show has received a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Additionally, “High Potential,” starring Kaitlin Olson, debuted on ABC. The series achieved a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and saw a 220% increase in viewership within three days, reaching 11.5 million viewers across platforms. These releases reflect a dynamic entertainment landscape, with audiences showing strong interest in both cinematic and television offerings.

MUSIC

A$AP Rocky FREE! Fans are celebrating after the New York rapper was found not guilty in a high-profile gun assault trial. The case dates back to 2021 when former A$AP Mob member A$AP Relli accused Rocky of firing a semiautomatic gun at him. Facing up to 24 years in prison, Rocky was released on bail in 2022, and after years of legal battles, he has now been acquitted. In other major music industry news, Universal Music Group (UMG) has launched the Music Industry Mental Health Fund, a direct response to Chappell Roan’s Grammy night criticism of record labels’ lack of artist support. The initiative has already gained traction, with donations from Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Noah Kahan, and Sabrina Carpenter. While this marks a significant step in prioritizing artist well-being, many believe the industry still has a long way to go in providing proper support.

ART AND FASHION

Despite Punxsutawney Phil predicting six more weeks of winter, fashion brands like Supreme, Palace, and Stone Island are already rolling out their Spring/Summer collections. This past weekend, on Valentine’s Day, Palace kicked off the season with a highly anticipated collaboration with the creators of the anime Death Note. Meanwhile, Supreme officially launched its first drop of the season this morning at 10 AM, unveiling a diverse lineup of garments and accessories—including everything from a pool table to an E.T. stuffed animal. Shifting from fashion to timepieces, German watchmaker Tissot has extended its partnership with the NBA and WNBA, continuing a collaboration that has already led to innovations like a state-of-the-art shot clock and a 2025 special edition watch. Expect to see the new shot clock in action next basketball season, further cementing Tissot’s presence in the league.

DOMESTIC

President Donald Trump has praised Elon Musk’s efforts through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), highlighting the initiative’s early success in reducing federal expenditures. To date, DOGE reports approximately $55 billion in savings, though some analyses suggest the actual figure may be closer to $8.5 billion. In light of these savings, Trump is considering a proposal to return 20% of the reduced spending to American taxpayers, a concept dubbed the “DOGE Dividend.” If DOGE achieves its ambitious goal of $2 trillion in cuts, this could equate to $5,000 per household. However, experts express skepticism about reaching such a target and caution that distributing these funds could exacerbate inflation, as previous stimulus measures have been linked to rising prices. While the DOGE Dividend aims to reward taxpayers, its implementation would require legislative approval and faces scrutiny from both political parties. Some lawmakers advocate using any savings to reduce the national debt rather than direct payments to citizens.