Culture

The Grand Opening Ceremony will reflect a spirit of inspiration and joy, with a big boost from the performers who are sharing their talent with us. We hope to inspire people everywhere to believe in their power to bring change home.

— Valerie Jarrett, Obama Foundation CEO, in a statement

Politicians don’t understand it, because it has little to do with their lived experience.

— Güner Balci, Berlin's Commissioner for Integration, said on Markus Lanz.

That could perhaps finally open up a chance for peace.

— Chancellor Friedrich Merz, on the Ukraine situation

and thanks to the rapid action of the FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,

— Director Kash Patel said in a post on X on Tuesday, describing the FBI's multi-state operation that disrupted the plot

we will take legal action against him for his outrageous lies.

— Elon Musk (via X); statement that he would take legal action against the ZDF for outrageous lies

Not if I got any say in it. It’s radical Islam that is my grave concern.

— Pauline Hanson, during her National Press Club speech in Canberra, addressing concerns about Muslim migration

Anyone illegally using that music is gonna have to pay through the nose.

— Stephen Colbert on The Late Show's May 21 finale, commenting on copyright enforcement around the Peanuts song

If they don't behave, we'll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head.

— Donald Trump, at the G7 in Evian, France; commenting on Iran and the memorandum of understanding

Pichai was met with the sight of hundreds of students who showed they could not be allured anymore with the talk of a dollar or rapidly expanding AI. We know about the crimes of Google in collaborating with Israel, ICE, and companies like Palantir.

— Students for Justice in Palestine said on Instagram, alongside clips of the walkout.

It will never happen again.

— Dana White, UFC CEO, said at a news conference after UFC's White House event.

We're grounding all operations at Edwards Air Force Base through at least Tuesday.

— Air Force Colonel James Hayes, speaking at a press conference after the crash near Edwards Air Force Base

Michelle Obama is a man! Am I right, America?

— Josh Hokit, in a post-match interview with Joe Rogan after his win at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House.

Whoever lets themselves be pulled across the table in coalition negotiations by Saskia Esken should not expect a well-considered and consistent foreign policy in dealing with Donald Trump and the United States. To respond to an erratically behaving president with equally erratic signals ranging from admonition to pandering does not strengthen our credibility or our influence in the world.

— Wolfgang Kubicki, newly elected FDP chairman, commenting on Merz's gesture and the foreign-policy approach toward Donald Trump.

The victim engaged in public artistic activities and used, among other things, the pseudonym Semyon Skrepetsky, under which he expressed criticism of the current policies of the Russian Federation authorities.

— Marcin Kozak, spokesperson for the district prosecutor’s office in Lublin, said on Tuesday.

A covert organization operating with secret cells to avoid the detection and prosecution of those using violence to destroy the property of third parties.

— Baroness Carr, Lady Chief Justice, in the Court of Appeal ruling, describing Palestine Action.