I know a lot of people who suffer from a chronic malady that gets worse each time there’s news out of Washington. Supporters of the current president of the United States might refer to this condition as a side effect of Trump derangement syndrome, but it’s more like Trump fatigue syndrome.
Symptoms can include a desire to tune out for a spell, stick your head in an ice bucket, or find another way to numb the senses.
But some brave souls, instead of looking away, step into the fray.
Bert Voorhees, for instance.
I came upon his name while reading coverage of the Monday evening demonstration at City Hall in downtown L.A., where protesters railed against the bombing of Iran — the latest example of Trump acting as if he’s king of the world and answerable to nobody, including Congress, the courts or the American people.
On the steps of L.A. City Hall, people attend the March 2 Answer Coalition rally protesting the attack on Iran by the U.S. and Israel.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
With missiles flying, civilians dying and chaos spreading, Voorhees told USA Today that the Iranian ayatollah’s violence against his own people did not justify a U.S. military assault. In Voorhees’ mind, it’s American democracy that is under attack.
“If people don’t stand up and get loud about this, all together right now, we’re not going to have a country,” the northeast San Fernando Valley resident said. “So, it’s time for people to get serious, get in the streets.”
I called Voorhees, a retired lawyer and teacher, and we had a long chat that continued the next day over lunch in Montrose. We’re both in our 70s, and we both have trouble aligning the country we’re living in with the vision we had for it as younger men. Who could have anticipated years of bullying and name-calling, pathological lying about a “stolen” election or the routing of congressional and judicial opposition?
I confessed to Voorhees that I completely misread the direction this country was heading back when the first Black president in history termed out in 2016. I would have bet that as a more diverse and tolerant population came of voting age, old divisions would fade slowly into history and the U.S. would keep pushing toward higher elevations.
Silly me.
Voorhees says he’s demonstrated hundreds of times, but with immigration raids and now the war in Iran, President Trump is keeping him extra busy. “If people don’t stand up and get loud about this, all together right now, we’re not going to have a country,” said Voorhees. “So, it’s time for people to get serious, get in the streets.”
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Maybe it was the naively wishful thinking of a parent wanting his kids to live in a more evolved country rather than one filled with Neanderthal notions about science, medicine, climate, and non-white immigrants.
To Voorhees, these are reasons to raise hell rather than to lose faith, and he’s not alone. The No Kings rallies in greater L.A. were massive. Home Depot civilian patrols have looked out for hard-working neighbors because “silence is violence.” The whistle brigades are defending their communities.
Denise Giardina, a Huntington Beach book seller and friend of Voorhees’, has been on Home Depot patrols in her community and said planning various political actions is practically a full-time job.
“I have daughters and wanted them to have more rights than me, and I’m not sure that’s going to happen,” Giardina said.
When Giardina needs a break, she goes for a hike, which serves as a reminder that a single protest doesn’t change the world, but small steps matter.
“Sometimes you can’t think about the end,” she said. “It’s just one foot in front of the other. It’s not government that’s going to save us. It’s going to be the people.”
A crowd gathered at Los Angeles City Hall on March 2 to protest the bombing of Iran by the United States and Israel.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
Roseanne Constantino, a Silver Lake graphic designer whose activism includes knocking on doors during election cycles, sending postcards and making phone calls, has been on the front lines with Voorhees and shares his sense of duty.
“I mean, for people to say, ‘I can’t watch the news, I’m numb, I’m overwhelmed, I have to tune out,’ is so much privilege talking, because they can tune out, because they’re safe,” Constantino said.
“I find it’s like a gateway drug,” she added, “because even people who have never done anything activist in their life eventually find themselves at a protest and are buoyed by the community and the sense of purpose and expression of opposition, but also of the love of democracy.”
To Voorhees, “democracy is a privilege,” and your participation does not end with voting. “You’ve got to make sure they do the right things,” he said, “and that requires paying attention and supervising them, if you will. Politicians are supposed to work for us.”
Voorhees told me that under President Obama, when drones were used in targeted overseas killings, he took to the streets in protest.
“I’m an equal opportunity activist, but we just haven’t had in my lifetime a person so determined to destroy democracy,” Voorhees said. “I called Reagan a fascist, and Reagan felt like a fascist until I met this man, who is the head of a fascist movement in this country.”
I wagered that the bombing of Iran by the America-first president — who promised to end rather than start wars — was Trump’s way of projecting strength at a time of weakness. Many of the president’s true believers are applauding, but it seems that nothing was learned from past Middle East meddling that ended badly, and with no thoughtful consideration of what comes next, Epic Fury could be followed by Epic Quagmire.
Voorhees insists this wasn’t just a show of might, but an act of distraction.
From the Epstein files, for instance. From the empty promises about lower prices for groceries and consumer goods, the droopy favorability ratings, midterm election fears and the mess created by tariffs that cost American merchants millions of dollars and were declared illegal.
Voorhees is mad about all of that, but made a point of clarification.
He’s not demoralized.
More than 200 people protest the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran in front of City Hall in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday. Protesters carried Mexican, Palestinian and Iranian flags at the rally organized by the Answer Coalition.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
“The arc of the universe bends toward justice,” Voorhees said, “but it doesn’t do it steadily. There are retreats. Two steps forward, one back. One step forward, three back. We’re in one of those periods. … But we can overcome, and I believe in the long run we probably will.”
Minneapolis is the model, he said. When two innocent people were killed in immigration raids, the community came together and rose in protest, forcing a retreat of Trump’s forces and sparking a national conversation about the brutal tactics.
“Minneapolis pushed back against that with humanity, and that’s the future we want to build,” Voorhees said. “That’s the future Martin Luther King Jr. always wanted. That’s the beloved community. That’s the ticket.”
Things will change only if “we get up off the couch,” said Voorhees, who attended another antiwar protest Saturday on the steps of City Hall with a sign that asked, “Who Would Jesus Bomb?”
“You can march ahead with a heavy heart and a downcast head, or dance ahead with a smile and a tune on your lips, hand in hand with people you care about. Why not do that? All empires fall. All kings and tyrants fail in the end. Sometimes it’s fast. Sometimes it’s slow. But that day is coming and, as the Twin Cities proved, love is stronger than hate, if only just.”
Britain’s Got Talent viewers were ‘disgusted’ after Saturday night’s show when ‘marmite” performer, Baron, flew through the air – hooked up by his nipples
15:35, 04 Mar 2026Updated 15:35, 04 Mar 2026
Britain’s Got Talent has been hit with a number of Ofcom complaints(Image: DIGITAL/EROTEME.CO.UK)
Britain’s Got Talent has been hit with a number of Ofcom complaints after Saturday night’s show. Thousands of viewers had tuned in to see the latest instalment of the ITV talent programme, which is celebrating its 19th series. There was plenty to enjoy with a whole host of acts getting the judge’s approval, but when performing duo, Baron and Vesper, appeared on stage, things took a turn.
Flying through the air, hooked up by his nipples, earlobes and various other body parts, Baron’s performance needed to be seen to be believed. Off stage, co-host Declan Donnelly could be heard saying: “Obviously don’t try this at home, it’s very dangerous,” as a warning flashed up on-screen urging viewers not to copy what they were about to see.
However, despite the warning, some viewers complained they were physically sick after the stunt, with several phoning up Ofcom to make their feelings known.
The broadcasting regulator received a total of 89 complaints following the show after the performance was so extreme even the judges looked uncomfortable while some audience members shielded their eyes. Turning to YouTube star, KSI, fellow judge Alesha Dixon exclaimed: “Even you’re shocked” as Baron exposed a nipple.
As the performer, still with the hooks through him, started to approach the judges’ desk with his partner still airborne, judge, Amanda Holden, ran away, screaming: “Oh my God he’s coming, he’s coming,” barely able to watch the act unfold. “I don’t know what to look at,” KSI added.
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Viewers at home also struggled to watch the act, with many left divided by what they had just seen. One viewer fumed: “This needs to stop in the bedroom, not on TV.” Another wrote: “Don’t know whether to clap or cry or to gag or to do all three?” A third said simply: “I feel physically sick.”
Another said: “That’s not talent, that’s just stupidity.” before one other viewer chipped in: “Well I’ll not try that at home” and simply: “MAKE IT STOP!”
Despite the squeamish nature of the act, the duo won a standing ovation from the live audience. Co-host Ant McPartlin, watching from the side of the stage, commented: “That’s something we haven’t seen before and we’ve seen almost everything on this show.”
Offering her feedback on the act, Alesha said: “I found it difficult to watch, and weird and brilliant,” while Amanda said: “It looked awful in the best way,” saving herself from the crowd’s boos by swiftly adding: “It was horrifically brilliant.”
The pair won a yes from both Amanda and Alesha, while KSI said no. Meanwhile , head honcho, Simon Cowell had the deciding vote, throwing it to the audience, who cheered enthusiastically, earning the peculiar pair a place in the next round.
THE Brit Awards have always been known for controversial moments and risky jokes – especially when you have Jack Whitehall as host.
But it seems this year’s glitzy bash may have gone too far as horrified viewers slammed ITV with complaints to Ofcom following Saturday’s ceremony.
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This year’s Brit Awards has had a slew of complaints from viewers – with host Jack Whitehall’s jokes called into questionCredit: AlamySome fans were also furious that parts of the Brits were edited out by a static noise – including Angry Ginge’s moment on stageCredit: AlamyParts of Max Bassin of Geese acceptance speech was edited out by ITV bossesCredit: Getty
At the weekend, the Brits was broadcast on ITV with a slight time delay from Manchester‘s Co-Op Arena.
Ofcom have confirmed to The Sun there were almost 150 complaints in total and the majority related to elements of the show being edited out, including acceptance speeches.
While other complaints related to jokes made by presenter Jack.
The comedian, who has hosted the Brits for five years now, is known for his close to the mark humour.
Salford native Ginge – real name Morgan Burtwistle – told the audience that he was glad that “people are realising that London is a s**thole”, which was also muted from the air.
Noel Gallagher’s acceptance speech was also censoredCredit: Reuters
After that, any insulting or risky language or jokes were taken out of the broadcast.
When Geese picked up their award for International Group, the New Yorker also suffered the static noise when the band’s drummer Max Bessin took to the stage, thanked the crowd before the award, before declaring: “Free Palestine, F**k ICE”.
Shaun Ryder and Bez also got in trouble when talking to Jack about their famously-hedonistic and drug-fuelled youth, some of which was also cut from broadcast.
Noel Gallagher also got muzzed towards the end of his appearance on stage as he was awarded Songwriter of the Year for his 35-year career with Oasis and the music that has influenced the generations since.
The comment clearly divided the audience, with cheers and boos alike, but we can confirm it was actually “Up The Blues” as a nod to football team, Manchester City.
Trixie responds: “She thinks you’re old because you’re bald, Woody!”
The moment didn’t go unnoticed as one viewer commented: “If he is getting old, what does that mean about me?”
Another person said on X: “There was absolutely no reason to give Woody a bald spot.”
Somebody else commented: “Sad to see Woody is going bald.”
Yet another penned: “Woody having a lil bald spot is making me sad.”
While a fifth added: “It’s okay Woody. We all understand and sympathise. I too have a bald spot back there that is slowly turning into a tropical hurricane.”
The synopsis of the film reads: “The toys are back and this time, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang’s jobs are challenged when they come face-to-face with Lilypad (voice of Greta Lee), a brand-new tablet device that arrives with her own disruptive ideas about what is best for their kid, Bonnie. Will playtime ever be the same?”
The fifth film was first announced back in 2023 along with sequels for Frozen and Zootopia.
Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger expressed: “I’m so pleased to announce that we have sequels in the works from our animation studios to some of our most popular franchises – Toy Story, Frozen and Zootopia.
“We’ll have more to share about these productions soon, but this is a great example of how we’re leaning into our unrivalled brands and franchises.”
Several stars from the first films are back, including Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz, John Ratzenberger as Hamm, Wallace Shawn as Rex, Blake Clark as Slinky Dog, Annie Potts as Bo Peep and Joan Cusack as Jessie.
Among the newcomers are Scarlett Spears as the new voice of Bonnie, Craig Robinson as GPS hippo toy Atlas, Shelby Rabara as excitable camera toy Snappy, Mykal-Michelle Harris as Blaze, Conan O’Brien as Smarty Pants, and Matty Matheson as tech-fearing toy Dr Nutcase.
The first Pixar film released back in 1995, followed by Toy Story 2 in 1999 and Toy Story 3 in 2010.
The fourth instalment came out in 2010 and a spin-off of Buzz Lightyear’s character was released in 2022.
Toy Story 5 releases in cinemas on June 19
The gang are back yet again for even more mischiefCredit: Alamy
