Stephen Colbert on New York mayor Eric Adams: ‘Trump has Adams by the old Turkish delights’

The Late Show host delves into the too-cozy relationship with Donald Trump and the embattled New York City mayor, Eric Adams.It’s a bleak time in the news, Stephen Colbert conceded on Tuesday’s Late Show. “You want to know how messed up things are? The lightest story in the news is a plane crash,” he said, referring to the Delta airlines flight from Minneapolis that landed upside down at Toronto’s Pearson airport, injuring several passengers. “Everyone survived, though – that’s why it’s light,” said Colbert.“Remember the good old days when it was just doors flying off the thing? I miss that,” he added next to footage of the upside-down plane

Perth festival’s most powerful show was 12 hours long, had no actors and will never happen again

12 Last Songs gives a stage to everyday workers: wallpaperers, florists, hairdressers. It asks them big questions – and stirs big feelingsCan you answer these questions? How are you? What did you have for breakfast? Do you have a good memory? Did you share your bed with anyone last night? Are you comfortable talking about money? What’s the best age to be? Do you pray? Have you ever had a part of your body removed? Are you rich? Do your friends think you are rich?I am an arts journalist, so I have trained the muscle that helps you sit through even the most turgid and indulgent performances – but a 12-hour unscripted show seemed ridiculous, even to me. The description for 12 Last Songs reassures that you can come and go at any time, to which I thought: thank God. But then I ended up spending six hours watching it, and the other six desperately wishing I was there.12 Last Songs has been performed eight times in eight cities around the world: Leeds being the first in 2021 and Perth being the latest this past Saturday

Why are Americans toasting their fairy bread, and can the New York Times stop them?

Rafqa, I saw you making fairy bread in the office kitchen … Love that for you, but why?I was overwhelmed with a wave of inspiration, brought on by a strong sense of nostalgia! And also a recipe for fairy bread showing up in the New York Times a few days ago.Beginning with rather eyebrow-raising claim that that you may not get cake at a kid’s birthday party in Australia, the Times goes on to recite the sacred recipe with, quote, “fairly murky origins”.Lather white bread in unsalted butter and add 100s and 1,000s (which it calls “round rainbow sprinkles”), it said, before slicing it into neat triangles (very important step). I was hungry. The Wonder White was just sitting there

Amy Hetherington: the 10 funniest things I have ever seen (on the internet)

Hello internet!I’ve pulled over on the side of the Nullarbor to think about what I love about you. I’m in the middle of a two-month outback Australia comedy tour, so it’s nice to have a break from long drives and servo snacks (TBH there’s been a lot of dodgy bacon and egg toasties).This task is made tricky given I have no reception. But let’s crack on.What I love about you, internet, is that you are so honest and raw and flawed

Rick Buckler, drummer of The Jam, dies aged 69 after short illness

Rick Buckler, the drummer of the rock group The Jam, has died aged 69 after a short illness.In a statement, his management company said Buckler “passed away peacefully on Monday evening in Woking after a short illness with family by his side”.The statement described him as a “loving husband, father and grandfather” who was “devoted to many” and will be “greatly missed”.Buckler was part of the band’s classic lineup alongside bass player Bruce Foxton and lead singer and guitarist Paul Weller in the punk and new wave era of the late 1970s.The band, who achieved 18 consecutive UK top 40 singles, are best known for tracks such as Town Called Malice, Going Underground and Down in the Tube Station at Midnight

Arts Council England to shelve new funding plan after outcry from producers

Arts Council England has shelved its controversial plan to stop producers from applying for new funding before their current project is over after it was dubbed “the worst idea in the world”.Figures from the sector told the Guardian that the significant change to the way artists and companies access grants would have plunged organisations into “crisis” if they were enacted. Many of them warned that their firms might fold because they would not have been able to adapt.Under the proposals, any organisation that had a National Lottery Project Grant (NLPG) would need to wait until that project was completed before being able to apply for a new one. Another change would have limited applications to two a year