Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington recently spoke out about American politics and how people need to be aware of the ongoing manipulative tactics used by both parties. 

In an interview with The Sunday Times, editor Jonathan Dean quoted a line from “Gladiator II,” the upcoming Ridley Scott sequel that Washington stars in: “Empires fall, so do emperors.” Dean noted that the phrase felt relevant to the current political landscape after the election. “You know, it’s so easy to stand outside America and say this and that,” Washington said in response. “Turn around, you know? Pick a country. Any one.”

Washington continued, “It’s all politics. All promises unkept. And now with the information age the way it is — if anything — left, right, whatever had better learn how to use those tools to manipulate the people. There was a great line in the first movie I did, [1981’s] ‘Carbon Copy’: ‘Power to the people? Yeah, they had it once — it was called the Stone Age.’”

He added, “We’re all slaves to information now. We really are. We’re all slaves. So whatever you feel about the leaders, like this guy’s crazy or the other one is sane, you’d better realize you’re being manipulated by both sides. Period.” Washington ended the thought by saying, “Yeah. So go to the movies.”

Elsewhere in his interview with The Sunday Times, Washington reflected on his career and the failures and successes that came with it.

“After [1992’s] ‘Malcolm X’ I made some real clunkers. Look them up — I won’t say their names,” Washington said. “They are all in the 1990s. But I was earning. I had responsibilities.”

He also reflected on his acting career in the 2000s, when he worked films like 2000’s “The Hurricane” and 2001’s “Training Day” — the latter of which earned him his second Academy Award.

“So, 2000 …” he pondered. “Well, in life, you learn, earn and then you return — as in give back. So if your life is 90 years long, up until 30 you learn and from 30 to 60 you earn. So in that era I was earning. With a great agent, my career built into making money and so the earning kicked in and then life also kicked in, with bills, four kids and a house.”

President Biden is in Latin America for a farewell tour to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru and the G-20 summit in Brazil.

The Biden administration can do little about the future agenda of these institutions, Ariel González Levaggi, Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Fox News Digital.

Levaggi said much of what Biden will highlight at these summits will not be on the table for the incoming Trump administration. Because of the change of power, the G-20 will be “less politically relevant,” limiting Biden’s ability to make any commitments.

The president’s first stop is in Lima, Peru, where he will meet world leaders at the APEC summit, placing a heavy focus on the Indo-Pacific region. Biden’s next stop on Sunday will be in Brazil’s capital, Rio de Janeiro, where he will meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the margins of the G-20 summit.

BIDEN, XI MEETING WILL BE FORUM FOR ‘INTENSE DIPLOMACY’ AMID TENSIONS BETWEEN US, CHINA: OFFICIALS

Biden is also expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC summit on Saturday as China has expanded its economic footprint in Latin America, particularly in APEC host Peru. Xi watched along with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the opening of the new Peruvian megaport of Chancay, a project financed by China to the tune of over $1 billion. The megaport’s symbolism highlights China’s growing investment and influence in Latin America.

China has become South America’s top trading partner, and trade between China and Latin America grew significantly between 2000 and 2020, increasing from $12 billion to $315 billion. Two-way trade is expected to double by 2035, reaching more than $700 billion, according to figures from the World Economic Forum.

President Biden waves as he walks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Filoli estate on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Woodside, California, on Nov. 15, 2023. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo)

Biden’s visits to APEC and the G-20, which will likely be his last appearances on the international stage in his 50-year political career, come in the shadow of former President Trump’s election victory and his return to the White House. The summits will focus on trade, security and global alliances, but there are unlikely to be any deliverables at the conclusion of each.

“Biden is playing a weak hand that just got weaker,” Mark Montgomery, retired Rear Admiral and Senior Fellow at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.

XI JINPING WARNS TRUMP US WOULD ‘LOSE FROM CONFRONTATION’ WITH CHINA AS RENEWED TRADE WAR LOOMS

“Biden has to contend with both Trump’s victory but also with Chinese President Xi’s ascendency in Latin America, especially given China’s predominant role as an economic partner of choice,” Montgomery added.

As Trump prepares for his second term, some leaders will have to contend with a more aggressive U.S. posture, including in the economic realm and international trade.

“China and the EU should expect higher U.S. tariffs in 2025,” Derek Scissors, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, told Fox News Digital. He also said the tariffs could provide leverage for Trump in his second term.

GERMANY BRACES UNDER COLLAPSING GOVERNMENT AND LOOMING TRUMP TRADE WAR

China and other members of the G-20 will likely brace for a reboot of Trump’s “America First” policy, placing a heavy emphasis on higher tariffs. Trump famously launched a trade war with China in his first term in 2018, raising tariffs up to 25% on steel, aluminum and other Chinese-made products. China responded with reciprocal tariffs against the U.S. Trump promised to raise tariffs up to 60% on Chinese imports while running for president, although it’s unclear if he would actually go that high.

Leaders from the U.S., China, Brazil and elsewhere in Asia and the Americas are gathering at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, Peru. (Manuel Orbegozo/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Traditional U.S. allies might not be exempt, either, from a second Trump administration tariff policy, where some nations could see up to a 20% increase in tariffs.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chris Boswell tied a franchise record with six field goals and the Pittsburgh Steelers limited Lamar Jackson and the NFL’s top-ranked offense in an 18-16 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

The Steelers (8-2) won their fifth straight behind Boswell and a defense that never let Jackson, Derrick Henry or the rest of the offense get into a rhythm, opening up a little breathing room atop the AFC North.

Baltimore (7-4) was held to season lows in points and yards (329) while committing 12 penalties and turning the ball over three times — each miscue leading to a Boswell field goal — as Pittsburgh won for the seventh time in its last eight meetings in a rivalry that remains as chippy as ever.

Jackson completed just 16 of 33 for 207 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He hit Zay Flowers for a 16-yard score with 1:06 left to get the Ravens within two but the 2-point conversion attempt was a mess. Jackson rolled to his left, tried to run then pulled up and threw a prayer to no one in particular that fell incomplete.

The Steelers — with backup quarterback Justin Fields subbing in for Russell Wilson on a couple of snaps — picked up a first down on the ensuing drive as Pittsburgh ran out the clock to drop Jackson’s record to 1-4 against his team’s biggest rival.

Henry tied a franchise record by scoring his 15th rushing touchdown of the season, but was limited to just 65 yards and wasn’t even on the field for the ill-fated 2-point attempt.

Wilson and the Steelers weren’t much better, but Pittsburgh largely avoided the self-inflicted wounds that cost Baltimore so dearly. Wilson threw for 205 yards and an ill-advised pick in the end zone midway through the fourth quarter. Najee Harris ran for 63 yards — including a 2-yard churn for the clinching first down — and George Pickens caught eight passes for 89 yards for the Steelers.

The game marked the second time this season Pittsburgh won without reaching the end zone. Boswell also booted six field goals in the opener in Atlanta.

Back then Fields was the starter while Wilson dealt with a calf injury and Pittsburgh’s season remained a bit of a mystery. Not so much as Thanksgiving approaches.

While the offense is better — even on a day it seemed to take a bit of a step back against Baltimore’s 27th-ranked defense — the Steelers will go as far as their defense will take them.

Though head coach Mike Tomlin insists there is nothing “mystical” about Pittsburgh’s success against Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP, the Steelers have consistently succeeded where so many others have failed.

The Ravens had only one truly sustained drive. Otherwise, the unit that made it look so easy for much of the first two-plus months of the season kept backfiring as mistakes, miscues and Pittsburgh’s disciplined approach that never let Jackson truly get comfortable sent the Ravens to another frustrating loss at Acrisure Stadium.

Injuries

Ravens: LB Roquan Smith left in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return.

Steelers: DT Keeanu Benton was shaken up in the fourth quarter.

Up next

Ravens: Head west to play the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 25.

Steelers: Travel to Cleveland to face the Browns on Thursday night.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl