Celebrated director Rob Reiner is worried about the rise of Christian nationalism—the use of Christian values to push a political agenda—and its impact on democracy. “A lot of people are unwittingly being drawn into this movement,” Reiner told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. To highlight this, Reiner teamed up with director Dan Partland to produce the documentary God & Country (February 16). “We have to make a distinction between Christianity and Christian nationalism, because you’ll see that we have conservative Christian evangelicals who talk specifically about how not only is Christian nationalism hurting the country and democracy, but it’s hurting Christianity.” Reiner is direct about laying some blame for Christian nationalism’s rise. “I can criticize [Donald] Trump because he’s the one who’s roping these people into this thinking,” citing January 6 as a prime example. “Trump is a cult, and people who follow the cult are vulnerable.” But he sympathizes with those impacted. “They’re looking for meaning, they’re looking for a direction, and you can get swept up in something [like that].” 

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It’s Super Bowl weekend, which, if you’re not into sports, what are you supposed to do? Well, Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott offers his tips on how to survive the game during your Super Bowl party. He also breaks down what to watch this weekend if you want to avoid the Super Bowl, and honestly, the one thing you should watch is ‘Love... Reconsidered’ starring Sophie Von Haselberg. Sophie joins H. Alan to talk about the film, their shared love of rom coms and how Sophie carves out her own path when journalists like H. Alan ask about her famous mom (Bette Midler).  

You can rent and stream ‘Love... Reconsidered’ on multiple platforms and see it in select theaters.  

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Finding that next great character after a blockbuster series like This Is Us isn’t easy, but Justin Hartley figured it out with his new CBS drama Tracker (February 11). “As an actor, to get to play someone so different right after playing someone I thought was so special, it’s the time of my life,” told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. Hartley plays Colter Shaw, a survivalist who travels the country in his Airstream looking to help people who have posted rewards. “Colter’s environment doesn’t really happen to him, he happens to his environment.” Considering the series is an action drama, the physicality required of Hartley is much bigger than This Is Us. “You definitely get your steps in. [laughs] I have realized that if something is scripted like, Colter arrives and knocks on the door, something’s gonna happen where he’s gonna have to be running. So, a lot of stretching. It’s a very active show.” But he knows he owes all of this to This Is Us. “I’m executive producing and starring in a show on CBS that airs right after the Superbowl because of the opportunities This Is Us afforded me. I owe so much to that show.” 

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Dan Gheesling from ‘The Traitors’ talks exclusively with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott about his shocking elimination from the show, his showdown with Phaedra Parks, and his alliance with Parvati Shallow. Stick with Newsweek for more coverage of this amazing season of Peacock’s ‘The Traitors.’

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With the Grammys coming up, Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott is joined by Sirius XM’s John Arthur Hill to discuss likely winners like Taylor Swift and SZA, and just to go over the general state of pop music. Spoiler alert: it’s bleak. You can listen to John Monday through Thursday on Sirius XM’s Radio Andy.  

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This week Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott is breaking down the Barbie snub and other Oscar nomination surprises with Izzy Custodio of YouTube’s Be Kind Rewind. (Also discussed, the Barbie snub connection to Barbra Streisand’s snubs for Yentl and The Prince of Tides.)  

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When you’re as fit as hip-hop artist Common, people are naturally going to wonder about your secret to health and wellness. Fortunately for us, Common is sharing his secrets in his new book And Then We Rise. “The thing that I’m talking about is reaching a state of happiness and joy. Joy comes by taking care of self.” He breaks down his message into four key pillars of wellness: food, body, mind and soul. “It’s not like every day I’m just soaring on the clouds and everything is perfect. But these are tools for when I’m not feeling good about something.” He actively uses these tools himself. “Before I get onto that stage, I’m doing my practices so that I can be at my best and be present.” But he’s clear that everybody should do what’s right for them. “What I’m doing is just sharing things that have worked for me. I think each individual has to find what works for them.” As for the latest Hollywood craze of using medications like Ozempic to get thin, he admits he’s “not familiar with it,” but that “it doesn’t sit right” with him. “I believe part of the victory, if you want to be thinner, is the work you put into it. Like the natural things you do to get there, it will have more value.” 

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The wait is finally over, we know who the nominees are for the 96th annual Academy Awards. Of course, there were surprises, but overall, the nominees turned out the way Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott predicted, thank you very much. But let's ask the most important question: Who got snubbed? Spoiler: Barbie is FURIOUS! But Oppenheimer is very happy!

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It’s been 25 years since ‘The Sopranos’ premiered on HBO. After that night, television changed forever. James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli and the rest of the cast and crew won 21 Emmy Awards over the course of the run of the David Chase drama. Today we’re remembering ‘The Sopranos’ with comic Paul Palmeri. It’s fun chat about the show, Italian and culture, and why Italians are so darn hot.  

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Now that we’re years into reality television being a mainstay, the question begs to be asked, what impact has it had on society? That’s a question Jake Johnson sets out to answer in his new film Self Reliance (Hulu). Johnson, who wrote and directed the film, also stars as Tommy, a man who gets embroiled in a life-or-death reality game show. “It is a glimpse inside my head, inside a feeling, a tone. I wanted to make something that felt like you went [on] a ride. And sometimes the ride is scary and sometimes it's funny.” Johnson, a fan of reality TV, says you can see the impact it’s had in the work of creatives like him. “When stories turn quicker, and characters are more manic and the story is at the pace of reality TV, then it's been affected, and I am part of the group.” But no matter if you’re a fan of reality TV or not, the film ultimately is a statement on life. “When you watch the movie, even if you're stoned off your a** and you're not a movie person or you're a reality person, you're gonna see some beauty in a great way.” 

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