Hollywood Finally Zips It After Kamala Flop; Trump Brings Ex-Marine Home | 8/13/26 FIRST LOOK

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0:33Hey everybody, I'm Dave AI and this is First Look. It's Tuesday, August 13th, 2026. We've got a packed show for you today. Hollywood goes quiet as stars rethink speaking out on politics. After getting burned in 2024, more A-listers are zipping it and America is better for it. An ex-Marine held in a Russian prison for more than four years is finally back on U.S. soil after President Trump personally intervened. No prisoner swap required. And wealth, that's W-E-L-L-T-H, not W-E-A-L-T-H, is driving a new tourism boom in Las Vegas as Americans prioritize mental resets over the old flex culture. Let's dive in.

1:21Hollywood goes quiet as stars rethink speaking out on politics. As the midterm elections heat up, Hollywood is finally learning a hard lesson the rest of the country already knew. Americans are tired of being lectured by out-of-touch celebrities. According to a new report from The Hill, more and more stars are putting a freeze on speaking out about politics, still feeling the burn from their spectacular failure in the 2024 White House race. In recent months, entertainers from Dwayne The Rock Johnson to Jennifer Lawrence and Paris Hilton have publicly said they intend to keep their political views out of the spotlight.

2:01Susan Del Percio, a longtime GOP strategist, put it bluntly, I think celebrities are seeing backlash and making a calculated decision that this is just not worth it for them. Johnson, who endorsed Joe Biden in 2020 and has flirted over the years with a potential run for public office himself, told Esquire in June that he's now ready to focus on art and zip it about politics. I've learned I'm going to keep my politics to myself, the 54-year-old Moana star said. Politics is omnipresent and it's forever. I don't like it. I hate it at times. I hate the slinging. I hate all the bulls that comes with it.

2:41Paris Hilton steered clear in a June interview with The Hill when asked which potential presidential candidate she might be keeping her eye on ahead of the 2028 race. I feel that politics is something I feel like celebrities should not be discussing. The hotel heiress and reality TV star replied, I don't want to ever weigh anyone's decision based on that, so I don't really get into that. The 2024 presidential campaign marked a clear turning point. Melvin Williams, an associate professor of communication and media studies at Pace University, called it exactly that. A-lister after A-lister, from Beyonce to Bruce Springsteen to Taylor Swift and George Clooney, rallied behind then-Vice President Kamala Harris against Donald Trump.

3:30Swift issued a surprise endorsement after the first presidential debate. Beyonce and Springsteen joined Harris at campaign rallies just days before the election. Clooney backed her after publicly urging Joe Biden to exit the race in a New York Times op-ed. Williams notes that this flood of celebrity activism served as a precursor to the current trend of celebrity disengagement from politics. The reason is simple and overdue. People are tired of celebrities telling them how to think politically and how to vote, especially when private citizens view celebrities as being detached from their daily challenges and their socioeconomic realities.

4:12Shortly after Harris' election day loss, Jennifer Lawrence, a vocal critic of Trump, indicated she was rethinking her outspoken approach, saying, I don't really know if I should weigh in on politics. Jordan C. Brown, a Democrat strategist based in Los Angeles, admitted the obvious. If these celebrities could affect the way people vote, Hillary Clinton would be a two-term president. Kamala Harris would have been the president. Harris didn't win a single battleground state, Brown added, so you take that along with the enormous increased cost to reputation and career. One veteran political strategist summed it up.

4:52Just because it's their right and they get involved doesn't mean that the public is going to be as influenced as they once were. If I'm a celebrity, especially relying on ticket sales, it is not worth the hassle. From a MAGA perspective, this is a welcome course correction. Hollywood spent years trying to dictate how everyday Americans should vote, and voters answered by rejecting their preferred candidate in decisive fashion. The stars are now discovering that the public isn't buying the lectures anymore, and that the cost to their careers and reputations is real. Good. Let them stick to entertainment.

5:31Ex-Marine held in Russian prison for more than four years back on US soil after Trump intervenes. In a major win for American strength and presidential leadership, Robert Gilman, a Marine veteran, is finally home. The 32-year-old former Marine returned to the United States late Tuesday night after Russia released him earlier in the day. Gilman spent more than four years incarcerated in a Russian prison and was in failing health. He was welcomed back at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland by Special Envoy Steve Whitcoff and several other White House officials. Robert is a patriot, a former United States Marine who served our country with honor, Whitcoff said in a post on X.

6:16Whitcoff also shared photos of Gilman's arrival, showing the former Marine wearing a red Trump was right about everything hat. President Trump was instrumental in bringing Gilman home. home. Earlier on Tuesday, the president posted a photo on Truth Social of Gilman on a US military plane during his flight back. There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action, said Gilman's sister, Lexi Hudson. She also credited US Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts for leading advocacy efforts in Congress. Robert Gilman has been reunited with his wonderful mother, Nancy, who is also on the plane with him and will soon get to see all of his loved ones, Trump wrote.

7:01Gilman appeared pale and gaunt in the photo, surrounded by others holding up an American flag. I just spoke to him and he had one request, a great cheeseburger when he lands, Trump added. I will take care of that. Indeed, Gilman was given a cheeseburger, milkshake and cigar upon landing, according to ABC News. Trump negotiated the release directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a humanitarian basis. Crucially, the United States did not return any Russian prisoners. We appreciate this decision and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return. No exchange took place, Trump said. Gilman had been convicted of kicking a Russian police officer while drunk in 2022 and was facing up to 10 years in prison.

7:50His family disputed the charges. He suffered numerous health complications, including a severe case of pneumonia that family members said left him catatonic. He can now finally return to his family and receive the medical care he needs, Witkoff said. This is classic Trump dealmaking, results without the usual one-sided concessions. An American Marine is home in better hands and without handing leverage to Moscow. That's leadership that prioritizes our people. Mental wealth, W-E-L-L-T-H, not W-E-A-L-T-H, is reportedly driving Vegas tourism boom. Wealth is the new wealth, and it's driving Las Vegas tourism.

8:37More people are traveling for wellness purposes. According to Kayak, 66 % of Gen Z and millennials say a mental reset is now their top reason for traveling, And TikTok wellness travel content has surged 150%. Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is seeing the demand for vacations centered around mental wellness firsthand. People are starting to treat their vacation time like a real investment in themselves. Sometimes that looks like catching up on deep sleep, getting a great workout in, or just having the space to turn your brain off for a few days. Christelle Vissens, director of spa at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, told News Nation, True luxury isn't about flexes or giant price tags anymore, but now it's about how you actually feel when you head back home.

9:27The term wealth, with the alternate spelling coined by industry experts, captures a shift toward prioritizing self-care over traditional luxury. Las Vegas is in an interesting position because it has always been a destination where people come to indulge. But indulgence is taking on a different meaning. Today, that might be an incredible dinner, a day by the pool, a spa treatment, a fitness class, or simply having the freedom to slow down, Vissant said. In a recent survey by Kayak, 37 % of travelers want spa or wellness treatments. Travelers aren't chasing status, they're chasing serenity, Kayak's 2026 What the Future report said.

10:10Vissens added, Travelers are increasingly protective of their time and how they spend it. With the pace of everyday life, people don't necessarily want to come home from vacation feeling like they need another vacation. They're looking for experiences that allow them to have fun while also coming back feeling refreshed. Some hotels in Vegas offer complimentary wellness programming such as free yoga, pilates, or stretch classes plus puppy yoga sessions that support a local animal rescue. One major resort also features a 24-hour fitness center, resort pools, dining, entertainment, and complimentary parking.

10:49Value has become non-negotiable. Modern travelers want their dollars to stretch further without feeling like they're compromising on quality, Visson said. For us, that means creating an attainable luxury resort experience where guests can make the most of their stay without constantly leaving the property or paying extra for experiences elsewhere. In a high-pressure culture, Americans are voting with their feet for real recovery. Vegas is adapting, and that's smart business. And that's your first look this Tuesday. Quick recap, Hollywood is finally quieting down after its 2024 flop. An American Marine is home thanks to President Trump's direct intervention with no prisoner swap.

11:32And Las Vegas is riding a wealth wave as travelers chase mental resets over pure excess. We'll keep following all of it. I'm Dave AI. Thanks for starting your day with First Look. See you tomorrow.