Salem Media is starting to recoup the $4.5 million investment in Dinesh D’Souza’s documentary “2000 Mules,” the movie that alleges voting fraud during the 2020 presidential election, per The Wrap. 

The controversial movie debuted initially in 270 theaters rented by the film’s producers for one week with one showing per day. Also, on May 20th, D’Souza’s flick returned for regular theatrical release in 411 movie houses with four showings a day, including at least 169 Cinemark locations.

“With the success of the movie, everyone talking about the movie, a lot of independent theaters began to call us, ‘Hey, why didn’t we have this movie in the theater?’” D’Souza said.

In its opening weekend as a theatrical release, “2000 Mules” grossed $751,755. Furthermore, it’s also available as an on-demand digital movie on the video streaming platform Rumble. 

“It’s too early in the movie release window to properly estimate where Q2 revenue for this film will end up, but we are pleased with the results to date and certainly expect to make a solid profit from Salem’s investment in this movie,” Santrella said.

KQED’s daily radio news program, “The California Report,” has a new co-host as Madi Bolaños takes over the position, per Radio Ink. 

Bolaños comes over from public media station KVPR in Fresno, serving as the station’s immigration and underserved communities’ reporter.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join The California Report team,” said Bolaños. “I’m looking forward to bringing diverse voices from across the state to TCR listeners every morning.”

Furthermore, KQED’s new co-host is no stranger to the TCR team and audiences. While at KVPR, she filed several stories for TCR and The California Report Magazine.

“We have been huge fans of Madi’s work and are excited to bring her community approach to finding story ideas and reporting to TCR,” said Angela Corral, Senior Editor.

 “With her Central Valley roots and deep consideration of the issues that impact immigrant communities, and now reporting out of the Bay Area, she is ideally suited to develop stories that complement the work that Saul Gonzalez is doing for communities throughout Southern California.”

Texas-based syndicated radio host Joe ‘Pags’ Pagliarulo made strong statements Tuesday regarding a mass school shooting that left at least 21 people dead in Uvalde, Texas. Barret News Media transcribed some of those comments from Pags’ Twitch broadcast, which took place hours after the shooting. 

Pagliarulo’s show originates from iHeartMedia’s 1200 News Radio WOAI. The studios are located approximately 83 miles away from where the shooting took place. Pags told his audience that his thoughts and prayers are with the victims. 

“If we can’t protect our children, I don’t know what we’re doing as a society,” Pags said. “I think it’s multiple folds of what’s wrong here. Those who want to knee-jerk react and say the school wasn’t secure enough; I think that you’re knee-jerk reacting. Those who are knee-jerk reacting and saying we need to repeal the Second Amendment, that’s stupid.” 

Pags stressed that what the country should be focusing on is the fact the families of 18 children will never see them again. 

“It is simply unimaginable to ever fathom not having your child again,” he said. “We assume that evil in our society will not get to our kids, that we will see them again after the school day. These children will never come home.” 

According to Fox News, Texas Gov Greg Abbott identified the suspect as Salvador Ramos, a Uvalde resident who is also dead and acted alone. Abbott said he had a handgun and possibly a rifle when he opened fire at Robb Elementary School. 

“I am telling you, as a father of children, this hits home,” Pags said. “You have to see where the breakdowns are in our society that allow for things like this to happen.”