Author: Randy Slovacek

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Trump: Special Counsel Investigation Ordered By Trump Dept Of Justice “Not Allowed Under The Law!”

Donald Trump took to Twitter this morning to repeat his claims of "witch hunt" about the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller which now includes guilty pleas from 5 former Trump associates.
Donald Trump

Donald Trump took to Twitter this morning to repeat his claims of “witch hunt” about the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller which now includes guilty pleas from 5 former Trump associates.

“The illegal Mueller Witch Hunt continues in search of a crime,” Trump whined Sunday morning. “There was never Collusion with Russia, except by the Clinton campaign, so the 17 Angry Democrats are looking at anything they can find.”

“ALSO, not allowed under the LAW!” Trump added, which is perplexing since the investigation was ordered by Trump’s Department of Justice.

Folks continue to speculate that the Trumpster may pardon former campaign chair Paul Manafort or fire Attorney General Jeff Sessions or Special Counsel Robert Mueller in an attempt to end the scandal.

Of course, doing so would only exacerbate the issue.

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Daily Dance: Michael Dameski Is A Champion In My Book

Michael Dameski

Aussie dance phenom Michael Dameski may not have won the big prize on the finals of NBC’s World of Dance this week, but he is a champ in my book.

Dameski’s technique, artistry and fearlessness makes him a force of nature on the dance floor.

I don’t need to convince you – his dancing will.

Watch below.

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Manafort Plea Deal Single-Handedly Pays For Special Counsel Investigation

Manafort will forfeit many of his assets as part of the deal, including money in several bank accounts, an apartment in Trump Tower, and one in downtown Manhattan; worth about $46 million, these assets single-handedly cover the cost of the Mueller investigation.
Donald Trump

For over a year, Donald Trump has ranted that the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller is a “witch hunt” and an expensive waste of taxpayer money.

Actually, that “witch hunt” has now seen FIVE Trump associates plead guilty to felony charges.

A lot of witches out there, huh?

This week, former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort joined that elite group of Trumpers who have copped to felony charges.

The previous four are: Michael D. Cohen, the president’s longtime personal lawyer; Michael T. Flynn, the former national security adviser; Rick Gates, the former deputy campaign chairman; and George Papadopoulos, a former campaign adviser.

And about that “waste of money” charge?

Check this from NY Magazine – a little nugget that was slightly overlooked by many in the heat of the news of Paul Manafort’s plea deal this week.

Manafort will forfeit many of his assets as part of the deal, including money in several bank accounts, an apartment in Trump Tower, and one in downtown Manhattan; worth about $46 million, these assets single-handedly cover the cost of the Mueller investigation.

Keep in mind, at last count, Trump’s excessive golf habit has cost the American taxpayers $77 million in less than two years.

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Nike Stock Hits All-Time High 10 Days After Kaepernick Ad

Ten days after Nike’s new Colin Kaepernick ad provoked calls for boycotts, shares hit an all-time high, closing at $83.47 Thursday.

From Bloomberg:

Ten days after Nike’s new Colin Kaepernick ad provoked calls for boycotts, shares hit an all-time high, closing at $83.47 Thursday.

It will likely be months, if not longer, until anyone can fully measure the business impact of Nike Inc.’s controversial partnership with quarterback-turned-activist Colin Kaepernick, but early data from Edison Trends show sales tracking well above last year.

Edison scanned receipts from more than 200 online retailers (including Nike.com) and found that that Tuesday after Labor Day, for example, the first full day after Kaepernick’s ad went viral, Nike purchases were 22 percent higher than the same day in 2017. On Wednesday they were 42 percent higher, and Thursday they were 23 percent higher. They remained above 2017 levels through the end of the week.

I guess this answers Donald Trump’s question, “What was Nike thinking?”

On September 5, Donald Trump told the media, “Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts. I wonder if they had any idea that it would be this way?”

Looks like Nike had more than “an idea.”

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Lady Gaga Plays A Speed-Round Of ’73 Questions’

In advance of her highly-anticipated feature film debut in A Star is Born, Lady Gaga sat down with Vogue for a round of ’73 Questions.’
Lady Gaga

In advance of her highly-anticipated feature film debut in A Star is Born, Lady Gaga sat down with Vogue for a round of ’73 Questions.’

It’s a rapid-fire sort of affair outside her home in Los Angeles.

Vogue: “How do you prefer I call you – Lady? Lady Gaga?”

Lady Gaga: “Call me Lady.”

V: “What’s something you’re now proud to say is behind you?”

LG: “You know, all the negative stuff that happens to you in your 20s.”

V: “How do you start your day?”

LG: “I start my day with a nice workout, and then I take a shower or a long hot bath.”

V: “What’s the strangest rumor you’ve ever heard about yourself?”

LG: “That I have a penis.”

You get the picture.

The moment that perked up my ears, though, was when the 6-time Grammy Award winner was asked what she’d like to be remembered for?

“I would like to be remembered for the message behind ‘Born This Way,’” says the 32-year-old artist, referencing her acclaimed hit that’s been widely viewed as an LGBTQ anthem for acceptance.
“I would like to be remembered for believing that people are equal,” she adds.

And in nod to her well-known love of individuality, she finishes, “I would like to be remembered for being courageous and different.”

The LGBTQ ally has been a “walk the walk” kind of friend to the community for a long time, not only in embracing her gay fans but starting the Born This Way Foundation in 2012, which is committed to supporting the wellness of young people and empowering them to create a kinder and braver world.

There’s an interesting vibe to the video chat in that the camera stays back to keep her framed in full on her patio.

And after the interviewer hands her a gift of a book about David Bowie, she flips through the pages absentmindedly while answering questions.

But then, being ‘interesting’ has been a Gaga trait for some time now, hasn’t it?

She also shares that when it comes to collaborations, she’d love to do “more Tony (Bennett), more Elton (John), and Stevie Wonder.”

When it comes to fashion, the 32-year-old says she loves it because it “can be a form of expression and a form of hiding.”

And one last response that I loved:

V: “Do you prefer a crowd of 300 people or 30,000?”

LG: “Both.”

Cherish that instinct, Lady 🙂

You can watch the chat with Mother Monster below. A Star is Born hits theaters October 5.

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Eminem Expresses Regret For Using “Faggot” On New Album

After getting slammed for using homophobic language (again) on his latest album, rapper Eminem has now addressed the debacle expressing regret over his choice of words.
Eminem

 After getting slammed for using homophobic language (again) on his latest album, rapper Eminem has now addressed the debacle expressing regret over his choice of words.

First, let’s recap – on the track “Fall” from the new release Kamikaze, Eminem took a verse to swipe at rapper/producer Tyler the Creator.

It seems the 15-time Grammy Award-winner was angry over criticism leveled his way by Tyler who had publicly criticized his Beyoncé collaboration, “Walk on Water,” from Eminem’s 2017 release, Revival.

With that in mind, Eminem dropped this in “Fall:”

Tyler create nothing, I see why you called yourself a faggot, bitch

It’s not just ’cause you lack attention

It’s ’cause you worship D12’s balls, you’re sacrilegious
If you’re gonna critique me, you better at least be as good or better

Immediately, the music industry and the LGBTQ community clapped back at the 45-year-old rapper.

“It’s never ok to say a word that is filled with hate,” said Imagine Dragons frontman (and LGBTQ ally) Dan Reynolds.

Even Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, who appears on the track, took pains to distance himself tweeting, “Was not in the studio for the Eminem track… came from a session with BJ Burton and Mike Will. Not a fan of the message, it’s tired. Asked them to change the track, wouldn’t do it. Thanks for listening to BRM.”

“This is not the time to criticize youth, it’s the time to listen, to act” added Vernon. “It is certainly not the time for slurs. Wish they would have listened when we asked them to change it.”

Which brings us to yesterday as Eminem sat down for a lengthy video interview with rapper/reporter Sway about the new project.

During the chat (which has already garnered over 2.2 million views in a day), Sway asked about using the word “faggot” on the track.

“With the Tyler the Creator thing, man, I realize now, I realize I wasn’t, in the mind frame of – I realize I was angry when I said the sh*t about Tyler,” says the Slim Shady rapper.

“The word that I called him on the album, on that song, was one of the things where I felt like, this might be too far. Because in my quest to hurt him, I realized that I was hurting a lot of other people by saying it.”

This isn’t the Oscar winner’s first trip to the homophobic rodeo, though.

His sophomore album, Marshall Mathers LP, received similar criticism for his repeated use of the word ‘fag’.

And the issue reared its head again when he used the term on the track “Rap God” in 2013.

At the time, he said he didn’t think of it as a slur, just a word he’d grown up using as a put-down in rap battles.

However – at the age of 45-years-old, in the year 2018, is it too much to ask that he leave the homophobic language behind?

You can watch Eminem explain below.

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Cynthia Nixon Falls Short In Bid For Dem Nomination For NY Governor

Actress Cynthia Nixon (L) Gov. Andrew Cuomo (R)

 Last night marked the end of one of 2018’s most high-profile political campaigns by an LGBT candidate as Sex in the City star Cynthia Nixon came up short in her attempt to become the Democratic nominee for governor in New York.

With 99% of the votes counted, incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo trounced Nixon by more than 30 points winning the Democratic primary 65.6% to Nixon’s 34.4%.

Nixon, a political novice who’s never held public office, had an uphill race pitted against Cuomo, who now heads into the general election seeking his third term as governor.

Nixon took to Twitter to thank her supporters and also take credit for pushing Gov. Cuomo further to the left on some issues.

“While the result tonight wasn’t what we had hoped for, I’m not discouraged. I’m inspired. I hope you are too. We have fundamentally changed the political landscape in this state.”

“This isn’t just a symbolic victory. This campaign forced the Governor to make concrete commitments that will change the lives of people across this state.”

Nixon went on to list several issues like legalizing marijuana, fixing the New York City subway system and banning plastic bags as issues her campaign helped to move the governor into making promises to address.

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Trump Campaign Chair Paul Manafort To Plead Guilty To Reduced Charges

Donald Trump's former campaign chair, Paul Manafort, will plead guilty to reduced charges today in an effort to avoid a second high-profile, costly trial.
Former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort

UPDATE – Looks like I spoke too soon.

Talking Points Memo reports that the plea deal between Manafort and Special Counsel Robert Mueller includes an agreement to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

That will not sit well with the Trumpster.

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Donald Trump’s former campaign chair, Paul Manafort, will plead guilty to reduced charges today in an effort to avoid a second high-profile, costly trial.

According to reports, he will cop to one count of conspiracy against the U.S. and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

This would make Manafort the fifth Trump campaign team member to plead guilty to criminal charges.

The charges stem from his work as a political consultant in Ukraine.

From The New York Times:

In documents filed with the United States District Court in Washington, prosecutors from Mr. Mueller’s office charged Mr. Manafort with one count of conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. The prosecutors dropped five other charges encompassing money laundering and violations of a lobbying disclosure law.

So far, four former Trump aides have pleaded guilty to charges related to the special counsel investigation: Michael D. Cohen, the president’s longtime personal lawyer; Michael T. Flynn, the former national security adviser; Rick Gates, the former deputy campaign chairman; and George Papadopoulos, a former campaign adviser.

Mr. Manafort, who has repeatedly insisted that he would not cooperate with the special counsel, has been reassessing his legal risks after last month’s trial. He was found guilty in that case of eight counts of tax fraud, bank fraud and failure to report a foreign bank account, crimes that legal experts predicted were likely to result in a prison term of six to 12 years.

The Times goes on to say the agreement will include government seizure of four of Manafort’s homes as well as the funds in several bank accounts.

A document filed by federal prosecutors indicates Manafort will admit to funneling millions of dollars in payments into offshore accounts to conceal his income from the Internal Revenue Service which resulted in “cheating the United States out of over $15 million in taxes.”

There have been no reports that Manafort plans to cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing-investigation.

I maintain that Manafort is “keeping his nose clean” in regard to his relationship with Donald Trump with the expectation that the president will step in and pardon Manafort.

Mark my words.

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ABC News Reports Manafort Reaches Plea Deal With Special Counsel Robert Mueller

Paul Manafort

ABC News is reporting former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort may have come to a plea deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller just before his second trial is to begin.

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has tentatively agreed to a plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller that will head off his upcoming trial, sources familiar with the negotiations tell ABC News.

The deal is expected to be announced in court Friday, but it remains unclear whether Manafort has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors or is simply conceding to a guilty plea, which would allow him to avoid the stress and expense of trial, according to three sources with knowledge of the discussions.

Manafort was found guilty of 8 felony charges last month.

I still say Manafort is counting on a pardon from Donald Trump.