Post Malone ends Stagecoach 2026 set with fiery pro-war anthem

This certainly wasn’t Post Malone’s first Indio rodeo.

The rapper-turned-country-star has been no stranger to our fair valley’s mega music festivals in (very) recent years. He first played a popular cover- (and guest-) filled set that served as his country coming out party at Stagecoach 2024, only to return for Coachella to play a set of headlining gigs that felt less unanimously well-received.

So, when this year’s Stagecoach lineup dropped with Post Malone’s name prominently displayed as the Sunday headliner, there was more than a little grumbling from some who seem to have grown tired of our heavily-tattooed frequent house guest and would’ve preferred to have spent the last evening of festival season with anyone else.

But while I still can’t necessarily endorse what I believe was an unprecedented decision to have Malone headline both festivals in back-to-back years , I can say this: I think old Posty finally found a festival groove that really works for him during his fourth weekend as a festival performer at the polo grounds.

While Malone’s Coachella show provoked criticism for everything from the country fried twang with which he delivered some of his rap hits to a stage presence that sometimes felt over-the-top in its aw shucks humbleness, the musician packaged his schtick Sunday, April 26, in a way that seemed perfectly pitched to Stagecoach’s country loving crowd.

That crowd, in turn, seemed to eat up a show that seemed to fully embrace much of what worked about Malone’s beloved first Stagecoach show — the casual, even intimate vibe and Post’s inability to resist covering his favorite country tunes — while dispensing with some of the aspects that made the Coachella show less successful.

Among the latter was that show’s comparatively elaborate set and truck stop theme, which, for Stagecoach 2026, were jettisoned in favor of a simple setup that used pyrotechnics and occasional fireworks to generate a more old-fashioned spectacle that felt appropriately Stagecoach.

Then there was the music itself. The Coachella crowd seemed more interested in the bangers like “White Iverson” and “Circles” that made Malone one of America’s most streamed artists — and are part of the reason many became uninterested, even annoyed by, Malone’s country evolution.

Somehow, Malone seems to have found a way to effectively merge all sides of the Post experience here — or at least an audience that was more sufficiently open to them. I felt this was particularly illustrated by one section near the end of the set that saw Malone play three songs in succession that felt like an ideal sampling of his many sides and earlier polo ground shows (and that delivered an experience that was uniquely Post Malone, of course).

First up was the cover of a modern country classic, Kenny Chesney’s “How Forever Feels.” Then came the immortal Post Malone rap banger “Sunflower,” and finally, the country anthem that feels so perfectly Stagecoach, “I Had Some Help,” which he memorably debuted with Morgan Wallen during the latter’s headlining set in 2024.

There was no Wallen this time — let’s not forget that Ella Langley told us during her Friday Mane Stage set that he was on “dad duty” this weekend and couldn’t come — but it was no matter, the crowd seemed plenty happy to belt out the words along with Post.

In a way, even Malone’s choice to mainly highlight lower-billed Stagecoach artists (Jake Worthington and Braxton Keith) as special guests rather than one of the many superstar collaborators from his country album “F-1 Trillion” felt oh-so-Stagecoach given that the festival more typically eschews eye-popping guest surprises in favor of having the billed artists join one another on stage.

There did seem to be one attempt at adding some higher star wattage when Shaboozey suddenly joined Malone on stage and danced around (but didn’t appear to sing much or at all) during “I Had Some Help.” But even that brief appearance felt highly casual (perhaps too much so) — though Malone did seem to mutter something about him and Shaboozey working on something together.

Heck, even Malone’s rather aggressive product placement of his Post-branded mini Bud Light cans (which have been heavily marketed at the festival, from plane banners overhead to a mini pop-up bar only selling that one item) seemed to land well enough with the Bud Light loving crowd.

But if Malone’s Stagecoach debut in 2024 marked the start of his transformation into a country artist, this seemed to be the one where he fully assumed all the trappings of a country star.

Those would include the symbolic and political ones, as Malone pointedly ended his show with a cover of Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.”

That fist-pumping, unapologetically militant anthem was famously released by Keith in the wake of 9/11, and has become among the more polarizing country songs in recent memory because of its vengeful, jingoistic message. The song’s notoriety only seemed to grow during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars that would follow, when some would come to see it as the ultimate patriotic anthem while others came to regard it as summarizing everything that was wrong with the thinking that led the US into those wars in the first place.

So, for Malone to not only end the set by playing the song, but to pause for dramatic effect in the middle to loudly bellow its most contentious and memorable lyric, “and you’ll be sorry you messed with the US of A ‘cause we’ll put a boot in your ass, it’s the American way” — in a moment that felt like an exclamation point — was an unmistakably pointed choice at a time when the US finds itself in another war in the Middle East.

It was an unsubtle choice that felt especially notable given that Post Malone had never, until now, struck me as a very political artist. But I don’t think anyone would say that now, as Malone beamed from ear to ear and, with the US again in a controversial war, declared “and the eagle will fly and it’s gonna be hell when you hear mother freedom start ringin’ her bell and it’ll feel like the whole world is raining down on you.”

If nothing else, it was definitely the kind of message you won’t usually get at Coachella, delivered by a star who now seems fully at home both in the world of country music and its biggest festival.

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Fact-checking the White House statement of facts about Canada

The White House issued a statement on Tuesday that lists “facts” about how Canada has abused its trading relationship with the United State “for decades.”

It was another move in the deepening trade war between the two countries. Talks over tariffs collapsed on Friday night when Prime Minister Mark Carney pulled out, saying the U.S. “asked too much and offered too little.”

Some of the claims the White House makes about Canada are true. Others are opinions that U.S. President Donald Trump has long held or claims that are open to debate. Here’s a look at what the White House said.

Are we alone with China in retaliating against U.S. tariffs?

The first point in the White House statement says: “Canada is joined only by the People’s Republic of China in choosing retaliation over negotiation.”

Although Canada has been negotiating with the U.S. for the past month, this statement appears to be true. Many trading partners have threatened to retaliate against Trump’s tariffs but have yet to do so.

With the trade war back in full swing, are you trying to buy Canadian again? We want to hear from you — email us at [email protected].

Mexico is in negotiations to reduce similar tariffs Canada faces on steel, aluminum and cars, but it has not threatened specific countermeasures.

Brazil is threatening action in response to U.S. duties. Both the U.K. and the European Union considered counter-tariffs after “Liberation Day” in 2025, but they decided to hold off.

Canada tariffs vehicles imported from the U.S.

The statement accuses Canada of imposing “discriminatory” tariffs of 25 per cent on imports of vehicles from the U.S. It characterizes the move as unfair, as it says the measures were “applied to no other country.”

This is strictly true — but the reason Canada imposed the tariff on April 9, 2025, is because the U.S. did the same days earlier. The tariff applies to non-CUSMA-compliant vehicles imported into Canada from the U.S., which is the equivalent of what the U.S. did to Canada.

The negotiations that fell apart on Friday were, in part, about eliminating or at least reducing that tariff.

Canada has banned most U.S. alcohol from shelves

One of the most high-profile actions Canadian provinces took after new tariffs were imposed by Trump in 2025 was to pull U.S. alcohol from the shelves of government liquor stores.

The White House statement says: “Canada banned American wine, beer, and spirits in nearly every province and territory — while other countries have faced no such restrictions. As a result, U.S. alcohol exports to Canada collapsed 81% in a single year.”

Bottles are lined up on a shelf in a brick building. — Bottles of Canadian liquor are shown at a B.C. Liquor store in Vancouver on Tuesday. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

It’s true that all provinces except Saskatchewan and Alberta have taken this step. Premiers have said in recent days that they would lift the bans only if Trump’s tariffs are substantially lowered or eliminated. Since trade talks collapsed, they say U.S. alcohol will not return to shelves any time soon.

In recent months, politicians in California have pleaded with Canada to lift the ban, saying it has hurt wineries in their state. In Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear acknowledged last week that the bourbon industry is hurting, as Canada is his state’s No. 1 trading partner.

Does Canada impose a 300% tariff on U.S. dairy?

Trump has repeatedly attacked Canada’s dairy industry, and the White House went there again.

“Canada locks out U.S. dairy with tariff-rate quotas far more restrictive than those given to Europe, plus over-quota tariffs of nearly 300% — rates so extreme they function as a near-total ban and rank among the highest agricultural tariffs in the developed world,” its statement claimed.

Canada has not locked out U.S. dairy. The rules are complex, but U.S. dairy producers can export to Canada tariff-free, up to a limit — which they have never reached. Beyond that limit, tariffs would be imposed that can reach 250 per cent. But that has never happened.

What particularly irritates the U.S. is that its retailers are not allowed to sell dairy directly in Canada. That’s why you can’t buy American milk in the grocery store.

But Canada’s agreement with the EU does allow some retail brands from there to sell their products here, particularly cheese. The U.S. says that’s unfair.

It should be noted that the current tariff rules on U.S. dairy entering Canada were negotiated and agreed to by Trump in his first term.

White jugs are lined up on a shelf. — American retailers are not allowed to sell dairy directly in Canada. That’s why you can’t buy milk from the U.S. in the grocery store. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

The U.S. trade deficit with Canada

Trump spends a lot of time focused on trade deficits, and he interprets them as a form of weakness.

The White House says, “Canada has extracted a persistent average annual goods trade deficit of roughly $50 billion from the U.S. over the last decade — while refusing reciprocal access.”

The overall number is correct (it was $48.5 billion in 2025, according to the U.S. Trade Representative). But as premiers and others have repeatedly noted, the only reason for that is because Canada exported 3.9 million barrels of oil per day to the U.S. last year.

States near Canada’s border need the oil, and it’s sold at below-market prices, a significant economic advantage for the U.S.

If that oil were removed from the calculation, the U.S. would have a goods surplus with Canada. In other words, excluding energy, it exports more stuff to Canada than Canada exports to the U.S.

WATCH | Feds announce ‘dollar-for-dollar’ counter-tariffs on billions in U.S. imports:

Feds announce ‘dollar-for-dollar’ counter-tariffs on billions in U.S. imports

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne says Canada will match the latest round of U.S. tariffs in a ‘proportionate, targeted and strategic’ way. Champagne says the tariffs, which will impact more than $27 billion in U.S. goods, are ‘all about fairness.’

Some White House claims can’t be fact-checked

The statement includes a series of “facts” that are actually opinions or claims that are open to debate.

For example, it says: “Without the United States, Canada could not survive. Canada sends roughly three-quarters of all its goods exports to America.” The figure here is correct, and although no Canadian officials deny the importance of the U.S. market, Canada’s survivability without the U.S. is a hypothetical that no one is seriously contemplating.

“The statement also says: “Canada’s failed trade policies are driving its own manufacturers south. A recent survey found 42% of Canadian manufacturers have already moved or are planning to move production to the U.S.”

The survey, by KPMG, says companies are moving or planning to move “due to economic uncertainty and trade and tariff threats,” not because of “Canada’s failed trade policies.”

The White House statement ends with a claim that the U.S. “has the clear leverage” since its economy is far larger. Although no one disputes the size advantage, the debate over who has the upper hand in this trade war is not settled.

Do you support Canada’s new retaliatory tariffs on the U.S., set for Sept. 8? Click “Join the Conversation” below. On the app? Tap here.

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Khadijah Haqq Files for Child and Spousal Support from Estranged Husband Bobby McCray, Claims She’s Had to Take Loans from Family

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NEED TO KNOW

Khadijah Haqq filed for spousal and child support from her estranged husband, Bobby McCray
She is requesting $2,033 monthly in spousal support and $100,000 for attorney fees from the former NFL player

The former couple shares three kids: Christina, Celine and Kapri

Khadijah Haqq is requesting child and spousal support from her estranged husband Bobby McCray.

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, The Girls star, 43, is seeking child and spousal support from McCray for their three kids — Christian, 15, Celine, 12, and Kapri, 5. She is asking for $2,033 monthly in spousal support and a one-time payment of $100,000 to cover her attorney fees. Haqq is also asking the court to determine how much the former Philadelphia Eagles defensive end, 45, should pay in child support.

Haqq claims that her family “primarily relied” on McCray’s income, although she earned “minimal residuals” and was occasionally paid for small projects because she worked in the entertainment industry.

Khadijah Haqq and her kids.Credit: Khadijah Haqq/Instagram — *Khadijah Haqq and her kids.*
*Credit: Khadijah Haqq/Instagram*

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Reps for both Haqq and McCray did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

In the documents, the mom of three explains that their family had always lived in a single-family residence and grew up having two cars. They would take their kids on at least one domestic or international vacation per year, and would often go to restaurants for meals or order in. The former couple’s kids went to private school, and Haqq says they “paid significant amounts” for each kid to participate in extracurricular activities.

“We had minimal to no debt and did not need to live off of credit card, which I have to rely upon now to make ends meet,” writes Haqq. She explains that she now is “unable to earn enough money to maintain the marital standard of living.”

Haqq says she has been “primarily responsible” for the care of their kids and claimed that McCray is “neither consistently in California” — where they live — “nor does he have a set schedule to see the children.”

She claims in the filing that with “little to no help” from McCray, she’s been unable to dedicate time to finding work since she’s been working as a full-time parent. Haqq also says she’s had to take loans from friends and family to make ends meet.

“For example, my sister deposited approximately $8,000 into my bank account,” says Haqq, “in 2025 so that I could pay for our living expenses. I have also had to borrow monies [sic] from friends to pay for same. I am greatly [appreciative] for the support I have received in our time of need, and intend to repay these financial loans.”

Haqq adds in the filing that her ex is “more than capable” of both meeting his own monthly expenses while also contributing to her and the children’s monthly expenses. McCray, who receives “significant income” from the NFL every month due to his disability and annuity payments, also gets monthly SSA derivative payments “for the benefit of the children,” but Haqq has not received them for their youngest child. Haqq says that McCray has an “obligation to support his children” and that he has “failed to do so.”

McCray filed for divorce from Haqq in August 2024, nearly one year after the two first announced their split. The former couple, who tied the knot in 2010 and were married for 13 years.

Read the original article on People

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Large apartment fire burns in Fort Worth, 1 firefighter injured

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Firefighter hospitalized as Fort Worth apartment burns

FORT WORTH, Texas – Fort Worth firefighters battled a large fire at an apartment complex on the west side of the city on Tuesday morning. About 100 people were displaced.

What we know:

The fire broke out around 6 a.m. at a two-story apartment building in the 6700 block of Calmont Avenue, which is near Interstate 30 and Green Oaks Boulevard.

Images from nearby traffic cameras and FOX 4 crews at the scene showed the building fully engulfed in flames. Residents said the flames then jumped from one building to another.

Three alarms were sounded, meaning dozens of firefighters were called to the scene.

At least one firefighter was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, but he is already back on the job.

Four residents were also treated after breathing in the thick, black smoke. Two of them were taken to the hospital as a precaution.

What they’re saying:

Firefighters estimate that roughly 50 apartments were impacted, with more than 100 people out of their homes.

“A lot of pain. Our faith and hope has been destroyed today. Our only material things we have can be replaced,” said Billy Johnson, who lives at the complex.

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“It’s just crazy because everybody just lost everything,” added another resident. “And we just moved in two weeks ago so we just lost everything. We literally just put all of our eggs in this basket.”

Some residents expressed concerns about an electrical overload causing the fire due to too many people trying to stay cool during this summer’s intense heat.

“The units they gave us did not receive no kind of break because the units are so small to where they couldn’t really cool us off. We kept them going 24-7,” Johnson said.

Guadalupe Jamarillo, another resident displaced by the fires, says the apartment gave out portable air conditioning units.

“They kept saying, ‘it’s getting fixed, getting fixed’. But nothing,” Jamarillo said. “This weekend, Friday, you’d turn on the lights in the restroom, and you’d smell something like a short circuit.”

Trinity Metro buses will reportedly take the residents to a temporary shelter set up by the American Red Cross.

Large fire destroys Fort Worth apartments

An aggressive fire destroyed an apartment complex in west Fort Worth early Tuesday morning. The fire also displaced multiple families and sent at least one firefighter to the hospital.

What we don’t know:

It’s going to be quite a while before investigators can determine the cause of the fire. They are still focused on controlling the hot spots.

“Sometimes you’ll see that dark smoke come back a little bit. We’re trying to figure out in some of these areas if there may be a double roof. And so we’re still working on all of that right now,” said Craig Trojacek, a spokesman for the Fort Worth Fire Department.

Big picture view:

Thick black smoke was visible on Interstate 30 near Green Oaks Road. Traffic reporter Chip Waggoner said the smoke was leading to some backups and traffic delays.