reason

Jess Glynne, who has been dating former footballer Alex Scott since the summer of 2023, spoke following her partner’s departure from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here

Jess Glynne has revealed the heartbreaking reason why she didn’t join Alex Scott on the bridge after she left I’m A Celebrity.

She said that her mother suffered “a major stroke and needed urgent brain surgery”. Opening up, Jess said: “My woman might be out far earlier than she ever deserved, but l’m so unbelievably proud of her. She didn’t get the airtime to show how incredible she really is and trust me, this is only the beginning.

“I know people will wonder why I wasn’t there at the end of the bridge, so I wanted to share something personal. Over the last few weeks my mum suffered a major stroke and needed urgent brain surgery. It’s been a really serious, life-altering time for my family, and I’ve had to stay close to home. Alex would always want me to be where l’m needed most. I can’t wait to have her back by my

Alex was the first campmate evicted from I’m A Celebrity, though mystery had initially shrouded why her partner didn’t welcome the TV presenter. Ant and Dec announced the news after a phone vote, which insiders said was “incredibly close.”

Alex said: “It’s like being free. It’s been such an incredible experience. Mentally it’s been tough and I have struggled.” She added: “It’s tough in there – constantly going to get water and firewood.”

READ MORE: Alex Scott’s marriage plans with Jess Glynne as star breaks silence on secret messagesREAD MORE: I’m A Celeb star Alex Scott’s ‘invisible’ health battle she’ll have ‘for life’

During her time on the programme, the football broadcaster spoke openly about their relationship. When asked by campmate Ruby Wax about whether she’d tie the knot with Glynne, Scott replied: “I will get married to her, just waiting for her to ask, Rubes!

Speaking after her eviction, the former footballer also opened up about sneaking banned salt into camp, which she sprinkled onto dinner. Alex continued: “I just grabbed a load of salt and I put them in my sock. My campmates were in on it. And now everyday they wish they had salt.”

She also backed Shona McGarty to win. She said: “It will change her and give the confidence to be brilliant at life.” Millions are expected to have voted – mainly led by fans of popular duo Angry Ginge and Aitch.

The insider added: “It’s been unprecedented…and one of the reasons why people have had issues with the app.”

It comes as weather in camp has hit 30 degrees over the last few days – which has come as a relief after they were battered by storms earlier this week. This is a relief to the celebs as the damp conditions attract leeches, and an influx of biting insects. The insider said: “All the celebs were complaining about being bitten in the last few days…there were very uncomfortable conditions.”

OVER the last 12 months, Kate Brazier has found her life completely turned upside down as a family feud, abusive behaviour, and rows over being a stay-at-home-wife rocked her marriage.

The PR guru, 35, – who took on the role as stepmum to Jeff’s grieving two sons – clung onto her marriage to Jeff Brazier for as long as she could, before finally calling it quits for good a few weeks ago. Here, insiders tell us what finally broke Kate, and reveal the heartbreaking battle she was fighting behind the scenes.

Our insider revealed: “The last year has been incredibly hard on all the family and unfortunately Kate is the one who has really suffered in it all.”

Last night The Sun told how Kate and Jeff, 46, who were together for twelve years, are now living apart after “a year of hell” involving issues with Freddy Brazier, 21 — Jeff’s youngest son from his relationship with tragic Big Brother star Jade Goody.

Amongst those issues was an escalating rift with stepmum Kate. In a cruel post, Freddy listed things he “hates” which included: “Step parents”, which was said to be “like a dagger in the heart” for Kate. 

The insider explained: “It’s no secret that Freddy has been struggling and has a number of issues, which has meant everything else has taken a back seat. 

Kate knows she’ll always come second to the boys.

Insider

“Freddy has been quite vocal about not liking Kate and is said to have been verbally abusive towards her at times. 

“Kate really thinks Jeff could have stuck up for her more in it all but instead she felt pushed out.

“People seem to forget that Kate has been a mother figure to both the boys since they were very young and has really given her all to support them and Jeff.”

Kate was just 24 when she first met the boys, it was five years after their mum had died and she admits she became a part of their life “without a clue what I was doing or how to help”.

From the outside Jeff appeared to have it all under control – Bobby his oldest lad, 22, was on EastEnders and Strictly, he was living the dream hosting on This Morning and Freddy was finding his feet in the world.

But behind the occasional picture perfect instagram posts, the truth was far darker and Freddy was battling his inner demons.

What followed was a devastating and very public family fall out, which saw Jeff launch legal action to block Freddy from seeing his gran, Jade’s mum Jackiey Budden, 68,

He accused Jackiey of being a bad influence on Freddy amid fears for his welfare.

In another bombshell, Freddy announced he was to become a dad for the first time with influencer girlfriend Holly Swinburn.

Jeff immediately stepped up and made it clear that he would do what he could to make sure the baby was safe and happy – which appears to have come at the detriment to other things in his life. 

The insider continued: “Things reached breaking point when Freddy revealed he was having a baby.

“Jeff is incredibly involved and Kate just knows it’s going to be a chaotic nightmare. Jeff is desperate to make the situation OK for his son.

“But it’s meant the issues he had with Kate have been massively amplified by the pregnancy and its caused a lot of stress.

“Kate knows she’ll always come second to the boys – and that’s fine. She gets it. But it’s all become way too much.”

In a new twist, Freddy has since split from Holly after a row over their dog, throwing decisions about the baby into chaos.

‘A RETREAT FOR EXTENDED FAMILY’

Over the weekend Jeff hinted his marriage was over in online posts and made it very clear where his priorities lay – with his soon to be extended family.

Revealing he had bought a new home, he wrote in a thinly-veiled dig: “After three years in the commuter belt to make things easy for everyone else, it was when I ultimately became a storage facility that I realised it was time to suit myself and open fields make me happy.”

He went on: “I wanted to be in a home that felt like a calm retreat for my soon-extended family.

“I realised some time ago that success equals peace and I’ve found the perfect environment for what feels like a transitional time in all our lives.”

But it seems Kate feels like the right decision has been made, she is back living in her apartment in Hackney and jetted to Vegas for the weekend for the US Grand Prix.

In her selfie from the trip, Kate wrote: “Possibly one of the best days of my life.”

Her words will no doubt be a crushing blow to Jeff, who is said to have been desperate to make things work after everything they have been through.

But yesterday he was not wearing his wedding ring as he reported for ITV’s Good Morning Britain from Reykjavik in Iceland.

A MOTHER FIGURE IN THEIR DARKEST TIMES

The couple first got together in 2013 before tying the knot in 2018, where the boys played a big part. 

The wedding was a huge milestone for Bobby and Kate because it was the first time he told he loved her.

She recalled:  “Fred says it to me every day, but Bobby is more reserved, so for me that was truly amazing and shows how far we have come.”

Bobby joked in his speech about how he struggled with their relationship initially, saying: “This is a bit awkward, but to cut a long story short, I didn’t really rate you to begin with,”

“But now I’m so glad I can genuinely tell you I love you. You being around has made things a lot easier for us boys, and we appreciate you a lot.”

Fast forward to this year though and there has been a huge shift in relationships.

Freddy, who lost mum Jade, then 27, to cervical cancer in 2009, when he was just four, heartbreakingly told his followers: “I don’t know how to love because I’ve never been loved.”

But Jeff and Kate briefly split at the end of 2022, partly due to clashes over their lifestyles — Jeff is a homebird while Kate enjoys socialising.

Back then Kate told pals she did not want to be a “stay-at-home wife”. But the couple agreed to give their marriage another go after Jeff revealed he was the loneliest he had ever been.

And things certainly looked rosy for some time – but as Freddy’s personal crisis escalated, Bobby also made a surprising decision to quit EastEnders and the spiritual lad moved to India to join a Hare Krishna commune

He said Freddy “needs to grow up” after images emerged of his younger brother and his nan Jackiey smoking a suspicious-looking cigarette next to the Thames in London.

Jeff reluctantly backed down from his legal action in August, and while he started communicating with Freddy again sources said his relationship with him remains strained.

And it seems despite his best efforts, drama continues to follow Freddy and whether he will be back with the mother of his child by the time they are born remains to be seen. Kate for one isn’t prepared to wait around to find out. 

Jeff and Kate have been contacted for comment.

The price of olive oil has been soaring.

Strolling through an olive grove in southern Italy, surrounded by trees, many of which were more than 200 years old, I was bathed in sunshine and calm with only the warm breeze floating through to branches to break the idyllic silence.

Frantoio Mafrica is a family-owned olive mill, which has been handed down from generation to generation. While it looks like little more than olive trees in a sunlight dappled grove to us visitors, to the owner they’re his family heritage. When he looks at them he sees his grandfather, who also worked the land.

The mill also uses donkeys to help transport the olives after picking, which is done in the traditional way by shaking the tree when they’ve 50 percent green and 50 percent black. And meeting the baby donkey who wanted nothing more than cuddles was one of the highlights of my entire trip to Calabria with Great Rail Journeys.

The family secret to processing the olives into the highest quality extra virgin olive oil was also unexpected. Rather than pressing the olives, they’re washed with water as they’re pulped to make sure every bit of Italian goodness goes into the oil. The process is all completed 24 hours after harvesting.

After trying the oil with bruschetta I can confirm it was like nothing available in your local Tesco: utterly delicious. Calabria is one of Italy’s major olive producing regions, with more than 50 types grown there including the only white olive. However, you would have had to have been hiding under a rock to be unaware of the soaring cost of olive oil.

Frantoio Mafrica explained the heart-breaking reason behind this alarming rise, and it’s not the market forces behind the soaring costs of other food. In fact, it’s because huge swathes of Italian olive groves have been hit by a terrible disease, which has killed the trees, many of them hundreds of years old.

As olive trees take so long to grow, the devastation of burning huge numbers of the diseased and dead trees has been a terrible price to pay for a country and region so fiercely proud of its ‘liquid gold’.

Knowing the passion, work and care that goes into making the best olive oil – and the devastation this blight has caused – I’ll complain much more quietly at the price next time.

SHE was known for late-night partying with showbiz pals during her ladette days and Sara Cox admits that behind doors she was full of energy too.

The DJ says “no surface was safe” when she was at home with her advertising executive husband Ben Cyzer, who she has been with for two decades.

But flash forward to today and the 50-year-old mum of three says that “every surface is safe” and they often sleep in separate rooms because she can’t stand his snoring.

Sara said: “When I sometimes get on my little stool in the kitchen to reach for some Tupperware, I do think, ‘Oh, look, my fun area is really parallel with his face right at the moment’.

“But as the kids get older, you just can’t be doing that — they’d never get past it.

“I mean, when you’re in your early 30s and stuff, no surface is safe in the kitchen or the bathroom, is it? But now pretty much everywhere is safe.”

Sara, who has just completed the equivalent of five marathons in five days to raise an astonishing £10million for Children In Need, opened up about their sleeping habits at home in North London.

Just days before the epic fundraiser, she told The Teen Commandments Podcast: “This is my issue that I’ve got with Ben in the night.

“Just general breathing — just him breathing is annoying. Not during the day, I have to point that out. I just mean any slight noises.

“You know on a wildlife documentary where they have a shot of an animal that’s on high alert for a predator? I think I’ve got that kind of feeling in the middle of the night.

“Like, if I just hear the tiniest sound, it’s so magnified in the middle of the night — I think there’s a bit of anxiety in there.

“Because I remember in my 20s, if I woke up at 1.30am — well, I probably wouldn’t be in bed at half one — but if I woke in the middle of the night and it was like 3am in my 20s, I’d be, like, ‘Yeah, I’ve got loads of time to sleep, amazing’.

“And now I’m 50, I just go, ‘F**k, it’s three, I’m not going to sleep’. I nudge him and he’s really patient — he’s great about it. But we keep sleeping in ­separate rooms, which is a bit depressing.”

Bolton-born Sara doubtless needs plenty of rest after running a total of 135 miles from Kielder Forest in Northumberland to ­Pudsey in Leeds earlier this month — carrying the annual Beeb telethon’s mascot ­Pudsey Bear on her back.

During her Great Northern Marathon Challenge, the star was sent a message of encouragement by Prince William, who said: “Keep going — you’ve done fantastically well and the nation’s so proud of you.”

Sara says she was inspired to raise money for vulnerable kids after recalling the bullying she suffered at school from “two girls who made my life hell”.

This week she revealed she battled through the challenge by listening to tracks by rapper Stormzy and said it was a lot tougher than she ever expected.

Behind-the-scenes footage shown on Sara Cox: Every Step Of The Way For Children In Need, on BBC One on Wednesday, revealed the heartbreaking reason she decided to take on the challenge.

And now I’m 50, I just go, ‘F**k, it’s three, I’m not going to sleep’

Sara said: “My brother David died suddenly in 2019 and it completely destroyed the family — like, it came out of nowhere and he was a real athlete who ran countless Ironman competitions.

“I don’t think he’d believe I’m doing this, I think he’d be super-proud. I’m hoping that I’ve just got a bit of strength from him today.”

Sara’s children are now nearly the age she was when she found fame. Her eldest, Lola — from her first marriage — is 21, while Isaac and Renee are 17 and 15 respectively.

Sara had been working as a model when, at the age of 22 she landed her first TV job hosting The Girlie Show on Channel 4.

Two years later she became a presenter on The Big Breakfast and a year on, in 1999, it was announced she would take over the Radio 1 Breakfast show.

Known as “Coxy” back then, she worked — and partied — hard. Her pals included fellow broadcaster Zoe Ball, model Gail Porter, actress Donna Air and TV host Jayne ­Middlemiss.

They became notorious for their wild nights and were dubbed ladettes — a term Sara has always hated, saying it suggested they were “just trying to be like the boys . . . and we were never trying to be like the boys”.

Her lifestyle changed dramatically when she became mum to Lola in 2004, a year before she separated from her first husband DJ Jon Carter, who she had married in 2001.

Sara began dating Ben, now 50, in 2005 and they married in 2013 a year after she signalled another shift by quitting BBC Radio 1 to host the breakfast show on its more mature sister ­station, Radio 2. ‘Mind-boggling behaviour’.

She has admitted: “Yes, I used to drink loads. I thought nothing of ­having wine with lunch then going to the pub later, but they were ­different times. It all stops when you have children, to be replaced with other things that are just as pleasurable.

“The first ten years of my career I was out a lot more and the second decade I was explaining my ­behaviour in the first decade and apologising for it.”

And she said she never felt pressure to bring back her “Coxy” alter ego, because she had “buried her with some vodka and Marlboro Lights”.

The first ten years of my career I was out a lot more and the second decade I was explaining my ­behaviour in the first decade and apologising for it

Now her work has changed too. The BBC Radio 2 presenter has been hosting the station’s Drivetime show since January 2019 and next up is a new BBC One series, starting on December 1, about professional model-makers, called The Marvellous ­Miniatures Workshop.

When she’s not on the TV or the radio, Sara is busy hosting The Teen Commandments podcast with her best friend Clare Hamilton, who she has known since they were ­children.

The pair launched the podcast in January, having raised five teenagers between them.

The show casts light on the “mind-boggling behaviour” of their ­youngsters and how they tackled it with “wisdom that only comes from being rule-breakers themselves”.

On this week’s episode, Sara reveal­ed she has been trying to break her family’s addiction to mobile phones.

She confided: “I just feel like a st mum because I am not stopping it, and I feel completely powerless.

My brother David died suddenly in 2019. He was a real athlete. I don’t think he’d believe I’m doing this, I think
he’d be super proud

“I did suggest something, but it was immediately . . .  I mean, the faces I was met with . . .

“I should have really got Ben more on side because what can happen sometimes is that I will suggest something for us to do as a family, and Ben will immediately side with the teenagers and undermine me.

“I told him that I wanted to do something where we start having more time together as a family and we put the phones away.

“So over dinner, I was like, ‘Right, this weekend, can we do it where we just have four hours without our phones or our laptops or anything?’

“Immediately, Ben piped up, ‘That’s too long’. I’m giving him daggers when the youngest pipes up that she’s got to revise. She needs her phone. Fair enough.

“But I’m really worried that we’re not living our lives together as a family, where we look at each other and where we chat and where we do things and hang out.

“So I’m just, like, ‘Whether we go out on a big dog walk or we just do something as a family, let’s put the phones away for four hours’.”

Sara is unlikely to be popping out for a stroll any time soon as she complains she cannot walk following her fundraising efforts.

But she still feels like she is in the best shape of her life, explaining on her podcast: “It’s good on this side of 50, I’ve got to say.

“I think — especially when you’re a woman — it’s always like, ‘How do you feel about turning 50? What are you going to do?’ But this age seems better than the alternative, babe.”

IT’S been an incredibly choppy lead up to his big day – and this week Adam Peaty and his wife-to-be Holly Ramsay felt they had no choice but to speak out, saying they felt “targeted” and “hurt” by the drama.

But there was one part of the couple’s statement that struck me the most – Adam’s repeated mentions of his sister Bethany, seemingly the one family member he is still talking to – who he mentioned even before his future wife. Now, I can reveal the truth behind their close bond, the real reason they are sticking together and how Bethany is also now estranged from their mum.

The statement was the latest twist in the ongoing drama surrounding the Olympian, 30, and his family – making it very clear just how divided camp Peaty really is. 

Interestingly, it was Bethany, 32, that Adam mentioned first when discussing the pain his family were suffering.

Behavioural psychologist Jo Hemmings tells us: “The mention of his sister Bethany in a positive light is a small lighthouse of loyalty in a storm of familial conflict.”

His sister has had her head turned by all the glitz and glamour.

family friend

At this point, Bethany is the only family member who is still going to Adam and Holly’s upcoming nuptials next month – after they disinvited his mother and others in the group took a stand. 

In fact, she’s so close to Adam and Holly that she has been asked to be a bridesmaid and was front and centre at the hen do – rubbing shoulders with Victoria Beckham.

A friend close to the family told us: “Bethany has always been very close to Adam and she is really taken with the celebrity lifestyle.

“She’s had her head turned by all the glitz and glamour. She was over the moon to be at the hen party, hanging out with Victoria Beckham and couldn’t wait to tell all her friends about it.

“She really fits in with the glam world – she’s blonde and very pretty.

“She got on with Holly straight away and has been asked to be a bridesmaid.”

The siblings grew up in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, but Adam now spends much of his time travelling or in London. Bethany, who now lives in Derby, is thought to spend time with both him and Holly whenever they are back in the UK.

It’s no secret just how much Adam’s life has changed since he became such an acclaimed swimmer – and is now set to marry a woman whose dad is worth £200million.

In contrast, Adam’s working-class family are living the same lives they always have – while he is said to have become “seduced by the fame and glamour of the Ramsays”, which those close to the star tell me Bethany has also now fallen for. 

In his 2021 autobiography The Gladiator Mindset, he openly addressed how it’s all impacted his relationships.

He wrote: “Some of the closest people to me take it personally and despite my reassurances that I really do care, they think that I’ve changed through success and as a result I am ashamed of them and that I should spend more time with them.”

But as well as enjoying the flashiness of Adam and Holly’s life, Bethany and Adam have something else in common – being young parents.

Our insider said: “She’s also a young mum so has really bonded with Adam since he became a dad. It’s made them closer than ever.”

News of the Peaty family rift has sent shockwaves through the showbiz world, but we can reveal it’s not the first time they have all fallen out.

We are told that like in all families they have had ups and downs over the years, but there was one huge row years ago that started it all. 

ADAM’S TOUGH LOVE

They continued: “Adam was always close to his two brothers as well, particularly James, 34, but something happened a number of years ago, which sparked the first fallout.

“Their mum Caroline sides with James, because he has his struggles – his ADHD and mental health problems – and she felt he needed support.

“Caroline feels James is the weaker one and is looking after him right now.

“She felt that Adam was being too tough on his older brother, he can be a real sportsman at times and gives tough love.”

Adam himself admitted in the past that he can lack ’empathy’ and branded himself a ‘selfish athlete’.

The family friend said: “There have been a number of fallouts over the years, and they often fall in and out with each other, but this time feels different.”

And things are now so bad that mum-of-two Bethany is in the same boat as Adam and has been ostracised from the rest of the family – which explains why he has taken her under his wing so much. 

They added: “Caroline is now not talking to Bethany. It’s very sad because it means she’s not seeing the children either. 

“They all feel it’s gone too far now, and they won’t be able to make things up any time soon – let alone within time for the wedding.”

In Adam’s statement he accused his family of “encouraging” false claims about him and his fiancée.

It reads: “Over the past few days, a lot has been reported and comments posted about the private life of Holly and myself.

“My sister Bethany, has also been targeted. This has been almost entirely one-sided and, in many cases, excessive and intrusive. It has been deeply hurtful and upsetting to read, especially given the false basis upon which we have been targeted.

“What makes it worse is that it has been encouraged by members of my family.”

The swimming champion assured fans there were two sides to the story and insisted he only has good intentions.

He continued: “Bethany, Holly and myself cannot go into detail given an ongoing police investigation into serious matters that arose long before recent events.

“For those who know me personally, you know that I work so hard on trying to improve myself as a person who wants to contribute to making the world a better place. I am continuing to learn about myself and how I can be the man I want to be; a worthy partner, father, businessman, friend and athlete; even through these challenging times.

“Bethany, Holly and I will get through this – we do not ask for sympathy. We just need people to be aware that there are always two sides to every story. To those of you who have reached out and shown kindness and understanding – thank you. It is deeply appreciated.”

‘STABILISING THE NARRATIVE’

Behavioural/media psychologist Jo has analysed the statement and believes he is making a clear point with his choice of words.

She explained: “By calling out Bethany positively, Adam is signalling that she occupies a safe harbour in a turbulent sea. He’s saying: ‘Here is someone I still trust, someone on my side, someone whose presence matters to me.’

“In the turmoil of exclusion, perceived betrayal and hurt feelings, naming one person as being on his side helps to stabilise the narrative for him – and for us as observers.

“The fact that only Bethany appears singled out for praise suggests a selective boundary-setting. It appears he is differentiating between ‘us’ and ‘them’ in his family sphere – Bethany is part of his chosen ‘us’ whereas others are very much in the ‘them’ category, including his outspoken mother and aunt.

“In publicly acknowledging Bethany, Adam may also be signalling a hope (or at least an intention) for reconciliation, but on his terms. He may be saying: ‘We will – at least – stay connected at this sibling level, even if other layers of the family relationship are fractured’. It shows that despite the rift, there is at least one relationship bridge he is keeping intact.”

She went on to discuss the impacts of weddings on family dynamics, saying: “Weddings, especially high-profile ones, often precipitate identity shifts: you take on your partner’s family, you step into new social circles, you leave things behind. 

“By praising his sister and by positioning her as part of his inner circle, Adam is implicitly affirming: ‘I’m still anchored in my roots.’ In doing so, he signals to himself and to others that even as his life changes (new partner, new family-in-law, maybe new social position), he hasn’t entirely left behind who he is or where he comes from.

“The mention of Bethany is a soft way of acknowledging that there is hurt, that there is estrangement, that there is a dividing line being drawn. By choosing to publicly show gratitude to one family member, he implicitly reveals that others are excluded or wounded – without naming them or going into all the gritty detail. It’s a controlled way of saying ‘this family situation is fractured’ but with focus on who remains.”

Adam’s aunt Louise previously branded his fiancée Holly “divisive and hurtful” in a bitter online rant after her sister Caroline wasn’t invited to her hen do at Soho Farmhouse, which of course Bethany attended.

Caroline was later banned from the couple’s wedding at Bath Abbey next month.

NO WAY BACK

In a heartbreaking interview, Caroline said she has reached rock bottom over the family feud, which has seen Adam pull closer to the Ramsays.

Worried Holly called the police last weekend while Adam was on his stag do in Budapest over concerns he could be assaulted by his brother James when he got back to the UK.

Adam was escorted by five police officers through passport control upon touching down in the UK. His brother was later arrested at his Staffordshire home.

His father Mark previously told The Sun that the feud had spiralled out of control.

He said: “They’re brothers.

“They’ve always been close but like any normal family, brothers fight, argue, fall out, make-up and start all over again. But it’s got out of hand.

“There’s been very little empathy towards Jamie’s genuine mental health difficulties.”

Over the years Adam, who is heavily religious, has written extensively about his alcoholism and mental health problems, so knows more than anyone what it’s like to go through a hard time.

He has certainly changed a lot from the boy who first hit headlines all those years ago – and as his statement suggests – his sister, his partner and their future are his priority. And at the moment there is no room for anyone else. 

President Trump’s tight grip on the GOP, long assumed to be an inevitable feature of American life (like gravity or the McRib’s seasonal return), has started to loosen.

Republicans are now openly defying him. The man who once ruled the GOP like a casino boss can’t even strong-arm Indiana Republicans into gerrymandering themselves properly.

This sort of resistance didn’t emerge overnight. It fermented like prison wine or bad ideas in a faculty lounge. First came the Iran bombing: an early shock that suggested “America First” might also mean “Israel First,” at least to the populist-nationalist camp inside the GOP.

Then came the effort to muffle the Jeffrey Epstein files, a notion so foreign to MAGA’s ethos that the subsequent drama, according to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), “ripped MAGA apart.”

Greene also expressed concern that the Affordable Care Act’s subsidies are set to lapse, and that Republicans have no plan to fix the imminent premium spikes — an occurrence that threatens to alienate the very working-class voters that MAGA now insists it represents.

All the while, another MAGA soap opera was churning. Tucker Carlson decided to “platform” white nationalist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, leading to an outcry of criticism that prompted the Heritage Foundation’s president to defend them (sparking another Republican “civil war” subplot).

The common thread in these stories is the sense that Trump’s days are numbered. The question of “Who gets MAGA when Dad can no longer operate the remote?” has become unavoidable.

True, pundits have been prematurely writing Trump’s political obituary since he first came down that escalator. But it feels different this time. The question is why.

There are likely numerous reasons, but I’ve zeroed in on the five that I think are the most important.

The first, and most obvious, reason is that Trump is now a lame duck, and everyone knows it.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) made the logic explicit when, during the Epstein-file fight, he warned his colleagues: “Donald Trump can protect you in red districts right now … but by 2030, he’s not going to be president, and you will have voted to protect pedophiles if you don’t vote to release those files.”

Once politicians and influencers start imagining their post-Trump resumes, his spell over them shatters. This probably explains why Trump has dangled the idea of an unconstitutional third term.

The second reason we are seeing Trump’s grip weaken is that, frankly, Trump’s not popular. In fact, according to a new Reuters poll, his approval rating is just 38%.

This rating plummets when it comes to the issues that divide Republicans. For example, according to that same survey, a mere 20% of American adults — including just 44% of Republicans — approve of Trump’s handling of the Epstein files.

The third reason is that Trump is increasingly isolated from the constituency that once fine-tuned his political instincts.

The Trump of 2016-2020 essentially crowdsourced his political instincts at rallies, where he learned to read the room like a comedian. Now he’s physically isolated and increasingly out of touch with his base. His inner circle consists of ideologues and billionaires — people who don’t worry about the price of milk.

So when Trump insists the economy is thriving, as he hosts Gatsby-themed soirees and tears down the East Wing of the White House to build a new ballroom, populists look up from their grocery bills, spy Trump on TV meeting with the Saudi crown prince, and are suddenly flooded with buyer’s remorse. This creates an opening, and the movement’s would-be heirs can sense it.

Of course, Trump could conceivably adjust his policies and rhetoric in an effort to restore his populist appeal.

But the fourth reason for Trump’s loss of power within the GOP concerns his mortality: Trump is the oldest person to win the presidency in U.S. history. He has had two “annual” physicals this calendar year — including an MRI no one will adequately explain (this is not part of a routine physical).

This brings us to the fifth and final reason the cracks are starting to show: Trump’s 2024 coalition was always like a game of Jenga.

It was a convenient alliance of disparate factions and individuals whose interests converged because Trump’s charisma (and lack of a coherent political worldview) was like the glue holding incompatible pieces together. But as that binding force weakens, the contradictions become clear, and open warfare is inevitable.

For years now, Trump imposed peace the way an aging rock frontman keeps peace within a band. But once that star starts forgetting lyrics or showing up late, his bandmates start imagining solo careers.

We’re watching MAGA realize that the Trump era is ending, and that the next battle is about what — or who — will fill the vacuum when he’s gone.

Matt K. Lewis is the author of “Filthy Rich Politicians” and “Too Dumb to Fail.”

Vogue Williams has reportedly signed up for I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! ten years after husband Spencer Matthews was removed from camp three days into the 2015 contest

Spencer Matthews will not be able to fly to Australia to support wife Vogue Williams during her time on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!, it is reported.

The TV personality, 37, is instead in Cape Town, South Africa, where he is gearing up for his third full Ironman triathlon, part of a challenge of seven in seven continents in just 21 days. This would secure Spencer, who was in Made in Chelsea for four years, a Guinness World Record.

The timing, though, is so unfortunate that Spencer won’t even be able to watch Vogue, 40, take on Bush Tucker Trials as she navigates the jungle’s challenges and she won’t know if he completes his “Project Seven”. A source said it was extremely unlikely the couple could avoid the diary clash, as Spencer has just finished his second triathlon — taken in Arizona — and must complete the set within the 21-day deadline.

And Vogue, meanwhile, has been tipped as “one of the most glam signings” I’m a Celebrity has had in years. A source said: “It has been a hard decision to go on the show, because it will mean so much time away from her kids, but she wants to fight her fears and go for it.”

READ MORE: I’m A Celeb star Aitch reveals campmate has broken huge show rule alreadyREAD MORE: Lisa Riley makes shock I’m A Celebrity admission – revealing which host is ‘juicy’

Spencer himself was in the jungle — for a mere three days in 2015 until he was booted out for taking steroids and failing to tell producers beforehand. In an interview since, he said “vanity” was the reason for his misdemeanour.

Now he can’t even get there to support his wife of seven years. Vogue, the Irish presenter and model, faces the creepy crawlies in the Australian jungle as one of the show’s late arrivals.

A source told the Daily Mail: “The timing isn’t ideal at all, but sometimes these things happen, and Vogue and Spencer’s diaries just clash. Of course, Spencer would want nothing more than to support Vogue in Australia and be there waiting for her when she leaves the jungle but both committed to their own projects, and unfortunately, the schedules overlap.

“They’ll both be missing their children, who will stay in London, continue attending school, and no doubt support their parents from afar – catching Vogue on TV whenever they can.”

READ MORE: Celebrity MasterChef fans say same thing minutes into show as new judge makes debut

Spencer’s latest extreme challenge has seen him embark on a global mission to complete seven triathlons, each involving swimming, cycling and running, across seven continents in just 21 days.

The father of three, originally from Grantham, Lincolnshire, has already ticked off Europe and Arizona, and is now flying to Cape Town for race number three, all while documenting the journey on his podcast, Untapped.

And in the summer, the TV personality completed 30 desert marathons in 30 days, earning a Guinness World Record, a feat he now hopes to replicate with his triathlon mission.

EXCLUSIVE: Daniel Bubb, a former airline pilot for Air Vegas Airlines, opened up about his experience as a commercial pilot and disclosed the surprising reason why window shades on planes must be lifted up

A former airline pilot has revealed the chilling reason why aircraft window blinds must be raised during take-off and landing. In an exclusive chat, Daniel Bubb, a Professor in Residence in the Honours College at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a former airline pilot for Air Vegas Airlines, offered insights into his career as a commercial pilot.

Professor Bubb served as a First-Officer who predominantly flew Beech 99s from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, as well as flying from Ontario Airport to other cities in Southern California.

The 51-year-old, who now lives in Henderson, Nevada, also served as a ground school instructor for Air Vegas Airlines. So, with this extensive experience, it’s reasonable to say that he understands aviation safety.

When questioned about crucial safety advice that passengers might not know, Professor Bubb highlighted one common aspect of air travel that may puzzle travellers.

He explained: “One safety tip I highly recommend is putting the window shade up during take off and landing. This is something I see very frequently that is concerning.

“The reason why the window shades should be up during take off and landing is, if there is an emergency, the flight attendants need to be able to see which side of the aircraft has the emergency.

“Also, if passengers are flying at night, their eyes take time to adjust. If the window shade is up, their eyes already are adjusting, which will save time when they have to evacuate the plane.”

Professor Bubb also revealed some guidance to help travellers enjoy a more pleasant journey when they take flight. According to the expert, it all boils down to remaining “patient and positive”.

He pointed out that, with packed terminals, travelling can sometimes be “frustrating and exhausting”, but also offered a series of tips to help people get the most out of the airport experience and, of course, ensure they’re comfortable.

Professor Bubb advised: “Before they get on the plane, I would recommend passengers walk around the terminal to get some exercise, especially if they are going to be sitting in a plane for several hours.

“Also, some airports have interesting amenities such as museums, local artwork, gift stores, and fitness gyms. Additionally, to make their trip more enjoyable, I highly recommend passengers be nice to flight attendants and each other.”

Acknowledging that air travel can prove “stressful”, he proposed that making flights “more enjoyable” could be accomplished through small gestures, such as showing courtesy, maintaining low volume on your devices, and assisting fellow passengers.

He emphasised that cabin crew are there for passenger safety, and a “little kindness can go a long way”. He also revealed his own habit of buying Starbucks gift cards for them, saying it can “brighten” up their day.

One Reddit user said they had visited markets in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, and Estonia last winter, and the experience soon began to lose its sheen.

Visiting a Christmas market is a delightful festive tradition for many. The ambience and festivity make them a great way to get into the seasonal spirit, and there’s a chance of finding some unique Christmas gifts you wouldn’t spot elsewhere.

But there can be too much of a good thing, as one Reddit user discovered when they visited eight different markets across Europe last winter. Posting on the social media site, the user said they had visited markets in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, and Estonia, and the experience soon began to lose its sheen.

They wrote: “When I visited more than two or three markets in a short time (weekend) they all started to blur together really quickly. Each market had its own things, like different themes, food, and decorations, but after a few markets, it became hard to remember what things were in which city.

“All the markets started to feel repetitive, like a general ‘winter/Christmas market’ packed with people rather than something new and interesting in each location.”

They added they were disappointed to see local, handmade products were often drowned out by mass-produced goods. Concluding, they said they would still be visiting some Christmas markets this year, but would spread out their visits, and wouldn’t go to as many.

“I don’t regret my travel decisions – mainly because the markets were not the main point of my travels,” they said. “But if they were, I would be, just because it turns into one big blur so easily.

“So I will definitely recommend checking out some Christmas market or two if they’re your thing, just spend a little bit more time there to actually translate and understand all the cool local products they have.”

Commenters were mixed in their reactions, with some agreeing, but others saying they loved visiting Christmas markets in the lead-up to the big day.

One wrote: “I think going to one Christmas market – either here at home or somewhere else – per year can be charming, but to be honest, the whole thing has become so industrialised that I’m pretty done even after one. But I see it as more of an experience and usually don’t want to buy much.

“Like part of the charm is being outside, getting rosy cheeks, dipping in somewhere for a cappuccino or hot chocolate, or having eiswein, being with friends and not having structure or plans. Goes honestly for outdoor markets not at Christmas time, also, but there is something unique and charming at Christmas. It is sad about the squeezing out of real artisans.”

Another said: “Visiting too many Christmas markets quickly can really drain the experience and make them blur together tbh. It is actually smart to focus on one or two. I’d also support local artisans over mass produced souvenirs to keep the culture and quality alive.”

But a third said: “I’ve been to lots of Christmas markets with nice local food, crafts and arts that you can’t easily find elsewhere. And even if it is stuff you can find elsewhere, often the ambience is often quite nice. Talking about the real deal, German markets, and the best of Dutch markets; many other countries have markets which are fake touristy imitations of the real deal.”

And another said: “I love the markets, and go to several for the vibe and the food and the gluhwein. German village markets are fantastic.”

Foreigners seeking visas to live in the U.S. might be rejected if they have certain medical conditions, including diabetes or obesity, under a Thursday directive from the Trump administration.

The guidance, issued in a cable the State Department sent to embassy and consular officials and examined by KFF Health News, directs visa officers to deem applicants ineligible to enter the U.S. for several new reasons, including age or the likelihood they might rely on public benefits. The guidance says that such people could become a “public charge” — a potential drain on U.S. resources — because of their health issues or age.

While assessing the health of potential immigrants has been part of the visa application process for years, including screening for communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and obtaining vaccine history, experts said the new guidelines greatly expand the list of medical conditions to be considered and give visa officers more power to make decisions about immigration based on an applicant’s health status.

The directive is part of the Trump administration’s divisive and aggressive campaign to deport immigrants living without authorization in the U.S. and dissuade others from immigrating into the country. The White House’s crusade to push out immigrants has included daily mass arrests, bans on refugees from certain countries, and plans to severely restrict the total number permitted into the U.S.

The new guidelines mandate that immigrants’ health be a focus in the application process. The guidance applies to nearly all visa applicants but is likely to be used only in cases in which people seek to permanently reside in the U.S., said Charles Wheeler, a senior attorney for the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, a nonprofit legal aid group.

“You must consider an applicant’s health,” the cable reads. “Certain medical conditions — including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health conditions — can require hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of care.”

About 10% of the world’s population have diabetes. Cardiovascular diseases are also common; they are the globe’s leading killer.

The cable also encourages visa officers to consider other conditions, such as obesity, which it notes can cause asthma, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure, in their assessment of whether an immigrant could become a public charge and therefore should be denied entry into the U.S.

“All of these can require expensive, long-term care,” the cable reads. Spokespeople for the State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the cable.

Visa officers were also directed to determine whether applicants have the means to pay for medical treatment without help from the U.S. government.

“Does the applicant have adequate financial resources to cover the costs of such care over his entire expected lifespan without seeking public cash assistance or long-term institutionalization at government expense?” the cable reads.

The cable’s language appears at odds with the Foreign Affairs Manual, the State Department’s own handbook, which says that visa officers cannot reject an application based on “what if” scenarios, Wheeler said.

The guidance directs visa officers to develop “their own thoughts about what could lead to some sort of medical emergency or sort of medical costs in the future,” he said. “That’s troubling because they’re not medically trained, they have no experience in this area, and they shouldn’t be making projections based on their own personal knowledge or bias.”

The guidance also directs visa officers to consider the health of family members, including children or older parents.

“Do any of the dependents have disabilities, chronic medical conditions, or other special needs and require care such that the applicant cannot maintain employment?” the cable asks.

Immigrants already undergo a medical exam by a physician who’s been approved by a U.S. embassy.

They are screened for communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis, and asked to fill out a form that asks them to disclose any history of drug or alcohol use, mental health conditions, or violence. They’re also required to have a number of vaccinations to guard against infectious diseases such as measles, polio and hepatitis B.

But the new guidance goes further, emphasizing that chronic diseases should be considered, said Sophia Genovese, an immigration lawyer at Georgetown University. She also noted that the language of the directive encourages visa officers and the doctors who examine people seeking to immigrate to speculate on the cost of applicants’ medical care and their ability to get employment in the U.S. considering their medical history.

“Taking into consideration one’s diabetic history or heart health history — that’s quite expansive,” Genovese said. “There is a degree of this assessment already, just not quite expansive as opining over, ‘What if someone goes into diabetic shock?’ If this change is going to happen immediately, that’s obviously going to cause a myriad of issues when people are going into their consular interviews.”

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

IRON Maiden rocker Bruce Dickinson says he took up fencing to help him fend off sex-hungry groupies. 

The heavy metal star, 67, turned to the sword-fighting sport to keep a clear mind — but ended up as one of Britain’s best competitors. 

Run to the Hills singer Bruce — worth about £100million – was at one point ranked No7 in the UK and an outside contender for the Olympics. 

He tried fencing as a teenager and then took it up as a hobby in 1983 to distract himself from the temptations of sex, booze and drugs after finding fame. 

He spent months training with Team GB and represented a semi-pro club.  

Asked why he picked up the blade, he told Classic Rock mag: “I was busy sh*****g everything that moved and none of it was healthy.  

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“I remember something that (The Who guitarist) Pete Townshend once said about groupies — ‘The moment you realise you can click your finger and manipulate people into having sex with you, that’s the moment you’re going down the slippery slope’. 

“You can’t believe women are throwing themselves at you. You think, ‘Well this is nice’. And it is. It’s f*****g great. But there’s a dark side to this.  

“Where do you stop? When does it become a prop, like alcohol or cocaine?

“So that’s when I started doing extracurricular activities like fencing.  

“I was thinking, ‘I’ve got to do something to keep my brain clean’.”  

Bruce, also a qualified pilot who flies Iron Maiden’s private 747 on tour, still takes part in fencing competitions for his age group.  

The band has sold more than 130million albums since forming in London in 1975. 

Selling Sunset star Emma Hernan reunited with her on-and-off boyfriend Blake Davis after the latest season wrapped filming.

Selling Sunset’s Emma Hernan has revealed the real reason she reunited with her on-and-off boyfriend Blake Davis.

Emma, 33, introduced Blake to her friends Chrishell Stause and Chelsea Lazkani in season nine, and Chrishell had her doubts about the coupling.

Blake, 28, also has a real estate background and seemed completely smitten with the reality star. He even proposed to Emma, but she soon ended the relationship.

Now, the O Group agent has confirmed she is back together with Blake, despite her friends’ concerns.

Opening up to Tudum, she explained: “If I really cared about making myself look good, I would’ve stayed broken up with him or would’ve said, ‘Nope, we’re not together.’

“But ultimately, with relationships, there’s back and forth — and I think that that’s OK to show.”

Diving into why she reunited with her ex, Emma continued: “I had a realization at the reunion that I was [thinking too much] about what other people think.

“If I want to go spend time with this person, why am I so concerned about what everyone else is going to say? After the reunion, I went to go see him, and we’ve been traveling and been together ever since.”

During the reunion, Emma revealed she was back in contact with Blake.

It also came to light that Emma had “lied” to Chrishell about going to the Bahamas for Blake’s birthday, which has played a part in souring their friendship.

The duo were at a Beyoncé concert when Emma abruptly left.

Chrishell revealed: “You [Emma] told me that you were going to Boston to see your family and that’s why you had to leave early. That’s what you told me.”

She went on to add: “The next day she shows up in the Bahamas with Blake.”

The 44-year-old claimed she disliked Blake because the relationship causes Emma to “flake” on their friendship.

But Chrishell’s disappointment didn’t end there, the actress also claims Blake has problematic views.

Back in May, a fan took to Instagram and asked Chrishell: “What’s happening with you and Emma? Hot topic on Reddit.”

She responded: “Ask her about her MAGA bf who told me pronouns are dumb and that he likes to use the N word. I just can’t with that. Too old to allow that in.”

The social media comment sparked online conversation and press coverage which didn’t exactly paint Emma in a favourable light.

During the season nine reunion, Chrishell opened up about the post, claiming Blake revealed his views during a conversation in her kitchen.

“He told me proudly [that] he openly uses the N-word. He thinks that people [who] don’t sing lyrics with all the words, he thinks they are the ones that are too woke,” she explained.

Emma, who was there during the chat, fired back with: “He never said the word woke. He never said that.”

She went on to explain that Blake expressed that “he’s friends with a bunch of rappers and they try and get him to say it [the N-word] and he says no”.

Emma also argued that Chrishell’s post was not an accurate representation of what Blake said, and that he never voiced any political views.

Selling Sunset Season 9 is streaming now on Netflix