How Andrew Tate, Accused Of Rape and Trafficking, Was Freed

An investigation of who is helping the Manosphere star. PLUS: Body image worries related to ‘Wicked: For Good’

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In this edition:

• How a Manosphere Star Accused of Rape and Trafficking Was Freed

• ‘Wicked: For Good’ Revives An Uncomfortable Debate About Bodies And Images

• Three Years After Dobbs, ‘the Reality Is People Are Getting Abortions’

• Touched for the Very First Time

• How Women Can Have At Least Some Of it

• The Real “Digital Divide”

• Technology Is Supposed To Decrease Teacher Burnout – But We Found It Can Sometimes Make It Worse

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How a Manosphere Star Accused of Rape and Trafficking Was Freed (New York Times)

By Megan Twohey and Isabella Kwai: Days before Donald J. Trump’s return to the White House, Andrew Tate got some good news.

Mr. Tate and his brother, Tristan, swaggering influencers in the so-called manosphere, had been under criminal investigation in Romania since 2022, accused of coercing women into pornography. Andrew was also accused of rape and of having sex with and beating a 15-year-old. The brothers, American and British citizens, had been barred from leaving Romania while prosecutors built their case.

Now, in a Jan. 14 text message, Mr. Tate indicated that help was on the way.

“I had word from The Trump admin that theyre on top of things,” Mr. Tate wrote to someone close to him, in a message reviewed by The New York Times. “Ive been told ill be free soon but Trump needs to see me in Miami,” he added. READ MORE

From Christopher - WHY DID I CHOOSE THIS STORY? Andrew Tate has had a tremendous amount of influence of teen boys in recent years, almost none of it good. It’s important to know the facts about what he does and the charges he’s facing. I’m very troubled by the idea that the government of my country might be helping him avoid justice.

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‘Wicked: For Good’ Revives An Uncomfortable Debate About Bodies And Images (CNN)

By Leah Asmelash: As “Wicked: For Good” has filled theaters and its publicity tour has circled the world, though, some fans have focused on a different matter of appearances: the women starring in the movie are really, really, really skinny — enough to draw attention and enthusiasm in the circles of the internet where users celebrate and promote eating disorders. Pictures of the “Wicked” leads, in strapless or backless red-carpet outfits that showcase their thinness, are shared as motivation for people to starve themselves or restrict eating.

Oona Hanson, a parent coach specializing in eating disorders, has had parents reach out over concern about the images, even if they or their kids are excited about the movie.