Good morning. It's Friday, Nov. 21, and we're covering NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's White House visit, the premiere of "Wicked" part 2, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.5 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.
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A funeral service for former Vice President Dick Cheney was held yesterday at Washington National Cathedral. The invitation-only event included former presidents George W. Bush and Joe Biden, along with four of the five living vice presidents. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance were not invited and did not issue statements.
Cheney died Nov. 3 at age 84 from complications related to pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease. He served as the 46th vice president (2001-09), secretary of defense (1989-93), Wyoming’s at-large congressman (1979-89), and White House chief of staff (1975-77). He played a central role in US foreign policy, spearheading Operation Desert Storm and advocating for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1991.
Bush joined Cheney’s daughter, former Rep. Liz Cheney, in delivering tributes. The service was just the second of its kind for a vice president at the cathedral. See photos here. |
President Donald Trump meets with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (D) at the White House today. It comes after the Nov. 4 mayoral election drew more than 2 million ballots—the city’s largest turnout in over 50 years.
As the leader of the US’ most populous city, it is customary for NYC mayors to meet with the US president. The city relies heavily on federal funding; for fiscal year 2025, NYC receives $9.7B from the federal government, covering 8.3% of its total spending. While the two leaders have openly criticized each other, Mamdani said he hopes to align with Trump on the affordability crisis. Both campaigned on the cost of living; one in 10 New Yorkers who voted for Trump last year went on to vote for Mamdani.
Before being sworn in, Mamdani also requires top-level security clearance. Trump has previously threatened to deport Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and became a US citizen in 2018. |
“Wicked: For Good,” the second and final installment of the Broadway musical’s film adaptation, premieres exclusively in theaters today. Watch the trailer here.
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande return as Elphaba and Glinda in the sequel aligned with the stage musical’s second act, with a few reported tweaks (spoiler alert). “Wicked: For Good” is projected to earn upward of $200M at the global box office this weekend, shattering the $162.5M opening weekend record for a Broadway-to-screen adaptation set by the first film. The strong forecast follows a nearly three-decade box office low last month, excluding pandemic-affected 2020 data. “Wicked: Part I” earned two Oscars, a Golden Globe, and ultimately grossed roughly $756M globally—making it the highest-earning Broadway adaptation ever.
The original production of “Wicked” premiered on Broadway in October 2003, securing three Tonys and a Grammy. It was adapted from a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, intended as a prequel to L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”
🧙♀️ What we learned about "The Wizard of Oz": To go along with the release, tomorrow's 1440 Society & Culture newsletter dives into the world of the original 1939 classic. Click here to subscribe! |
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