Author: Randy Slovacek

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Coronavirus: 193K New Cases On Friday, 82K Hospitalizations

The first confirmed case of the omicron variant in the U.S. has been discovered in California.

The United States recorded more than 192,805 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday. More than 82,000 people were hospitalized, according to the COVID Tracking Project, topping Thursday’s record. From the New York Times:

As the nation reconsiders the usual winter holiday travel and cozy indoor gatherings, new cases are being reported at an unrelenting clip. The seven-day average has exceeded 100,000 cases a day every day for the last two weeks, according to a New York Times database.

Deaths are higher than normal in all 50 states.

The latest virus surge began accelerating across much of the country in mid-October. It took just over two weeks for the nation to go from eight million cases to nine million on Oct. 30; going from nine to 10 million took only 10 days. From 10 million to 11 million took just under seven days.

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Brian Williams Throws Deadpan Shade Geraldo’s Way

MSNBC’s Brian Williams (screen capture)
MSNBC’s Brian Williams threw down some masterful deadpan shade last night at the end of his 11th Hour program after former newsman Geraldo Rivera suggested on Fox News that the upcoming coronavirus vaccines should be named after Donald Trump. Giving props to Trump as the ‘prime architect of Operation WarpSpeed,’ Rivera seems to think Trump the humanitarian scientist created the vaccine all by his little self. “You know, for my money, Geraldo raises a good point there,” begins Williams. “You know it’s possible we just don’t give the president enough credit for his FDR-like devotion to tackling this virus. His laser-like focus, his daily devotion, the sympathy he’s forever expressing to the families of the quarter-million dead.” Williams says all of this and more during a montage of Trump out on a golf course. Hit the play button.

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News Round-Up: November 20, 2020

Jim Newman (via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Let’s hear it for Broadway’s Jim Newman (above) who definitely knows how to find his light. Follow him on Instagram here. • CNN: Donald Trump told an ally that he knows he lost, but that he is delaying the transition process and is aggressively trying to sow doubt about the election results in order to get back at Democrats for questioning the legitimacy of his own election in 2016, especially with the Russia investigation. • HBO Max: The original series EQUAL pays tribute to the epic origin stories of the LGBTQ+ movement. The four-part docu-series captures the true backstories of the leaders and unsung heroes, pre-Stonewall, who changed the course of American history through their tireless activism. Each hour-long episode in the series plays like a thriller, bringing to life the high stakes and hard deadlines of historical events that have not yet been given their due. In honor of Transgender Day of Awareness, I want to highlight Episode 2 which focuses on the courageous pioneers of the trans movement. Check out the trailer for the series below.

• Out: Two Trump-appointed judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit today overturned a lower court ruling and struck down local ordinances prohibiting licensed therapists from practicing the debunked “conversion therapy” on minors. • Bloomberg: Donald Trump’s oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., tested positive for coronavirus earlier this week and is isolating. Junior recently downplayed the extent of the coronavirus outbreak that deaths are “almost nothing.” I guess this makes Junior “almost nothing.” • AP: Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger certified results reported by the state’s 159 counties that show Biden won the state by a margin of 12,670 votes.

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Transgender Day Of Remembrance 2020

Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed every year on November 20

Today we observe Transgender Day of Remembrance, which began in 1999 as a way to honor Rita Hester, a trans woman murdered inside her Boston apartment in 1998. A vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Rita Hester’s death and began an important tradition that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. Observed every November 20, the day is meant to honor the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.

(graphic via NBC Out)
The Human Rights Campaign reports that in 2020, at least 37 transgender and gender non-conforming people were victims of violent homicides — more than the HRC has recorded in any other year. Last year, the American Medical Association categorized these losses as an “epidemic” – and it is one that has only continued to spread. While each case is unique in its circumstances, what is clear is the epidemic disproportionately impacts Black transgender women, who comprise 66% of all victims of fatal violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people. President-elect Joe Biden issued a statement today recognizing Transgender Day of Remembrance, which reads, in part, “2020 has been a year of tremendous suffering and loss” for the transgender community. Biden describes the rising death toll of transgender and gender-nonconforming people “intolerable.” “Transgender rights are human rights,” affirms Biden. “To transgender and gender-nonconforming people across America and around the world: from the moment I am sworn in as president of the United States, know that my administration will see you, listen to you, and fight for not only your safety but also the dignity and justice you have been denied.”

Honoring the Transgender Day of Remembrance, NMAC (formerly known as the National Minority AIDS Council) has released a powerful tribute – “But…I Survived” – directed and choreographed by John Alix and dedicated to transgender women of color. Peppermint, Mila Jam, and Deja “The Lady Deja Davenport” Smith are featured in the new video set to Sia’s song “Alive.”

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Rep. Omar Ilhan Claps Back At Sen. Kelly Loeffler In Epic Style

L-R Rep. Ilhan Omar, Sen. Kelly Loeffler (images via Twitter)
When Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) attempted to troll Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) on Twitter, Omar threw some next level shade Loeffler’s way and kept moving. Loeffler: “Ilhan, We saw the video of you smiling and laughing while talking about al-Qaeda & 9/11. We know that you funneled MILLIONS of dollars to your new husband’s “consulting” firm. And we know that you’re an unabashed anti-Semite. You should be expelled from Congress.” Omar: “Sorry Kelly, if you need help writing real clap back, I am here to help. This ain’t it, try harder.” #micdrop

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Kayleigh McEnany To Press: ‘I Don’t Call On Activists’

Kayleigh McEnany (screen capture)
Wow. When was ‘responding like a brat’ added to the job description of White House press secretary? Holding her first press briefing since October 2 today, Kayleigh McEnany took only a handful of questions before bringing the briefing to an end. When CNN’s Caitlin Collins asked why she wouldn’t take more questions McEnany sniped, “I don’t call on activists.” As McEnany exited the room, Collins responded, “That’s not doing your job. Your taxpayer-funded job.” Collins followed up her initial tweet writing, “It’s understandable why someone who hasn’t done their job — taking questions from reporters — in weeks would confuse someone else doing theirs with activism.” McEnany also told the press corps today, regarding Trump’s fighting the results of the election that “it’s worth remembering, [Trump] was never given an orderly transition of power …” Actually, President Obama hosted Trump at the White House two days after the election. It’s worth noting that McEnany has recently been acting as White House press secretary AND the spokesperson for Donald Trump’s reelection campaign which is highly unusual.

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Trans Actress Alexandra Billings Joins ABC’s ‘The Connors’

Alexandra Billings joins ‘The Connors’ (photo: ABC)

Trans actress Alexandra Billings (Transparent) has been announced to join the cast of ABC’s The Connors for a multi-episode arc in the current season.

Billings will play Robin, a transgender woman who works as a supervisor at Wellman Plastics where Darlene (Sara Gilbert) and Becky (Lecy Goranson) are employed.

Fans of the original Roseanne will remember Wellman Plastics was where both Roseanne (Roseanne Barr) and sister Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) worked in the early days of the series. It was at Wellman Plastics that Jackie had a romantic relationship with her supervisor played by George Clooney.

Alexandra Billings (r) with the cast of The Connors

According to Deadline, Robin – described as no-nonsense but fair – becomes a friend and mentor to Darlene. The official synopsis reveals Darlene’s friendship with Robin “lands [Darlene] in an awkward situation between the boss and her sister, Becky.”

Billings is best known for starring as Davina in the acclaimed Amazon series Transparent. She’s also had recurring roles on Never Have I Ever, Goliath, and Diary of a Female President. On Broadway, the veteran actress appeared in the mega-hit musical Wicked as ‘Madame Morrible.’

Billings will make her debut in the November 25 episode.

The Conners recently made its Season 3 premiere drawing 4.8 million viewers. The sitcom, which has continued without Roseanne Barr following an ugly racist incident, chronicles the daily struggles of the Connor family – Dan, Jackie, Darlene, Becky and D.J. – as they face financial pressures, parenthood, dating, and life as working-class Americans.

 

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Hand Recount Confirms Joe Biden’s Win In Georgia

(graphic via ABC News)
The results of a week-long hand recount of ballots in Georgia show President-elect Joe Biden did win the Peach State. Via CNN:

Georgia has finished its statewide audit of the razor-thin presidential race and President-elect Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump, according to a news release from the Secretary of State’s office.

Biden beat Trump by 12,284 votes, according to the final results from the audit. This is a slight drop for Biden compared to the pre-audit results.

Officials have said repeatedly that the audit confirmed there was no widespread fraud or irregularities in the election.

Per state law, the Trump campaign will have two business days to request a machine recount once these results are certified which is expected to occur on Friday.

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News Round-Up: November 19, 2020

Billy Reilich (via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Ellen DeGeneres’s former “gardener,” Billy Reilich (above), is masked up for COVID-19 safety telling his followers, “Here we go again.” • KCCI: A lawsuit filed this week claims managers at a Tyson’s meatpacking plant “organized a cash buy-in, winner-take-all betting pool for supervisors and managers to wager how many employees would test positive for COVID-19.” • Out Music: Peppermint, Mila Jam, and LaFemmeBear team up for a remake of the Sounds of Blackness “Optimistic.” The anthem aims to unite the country and rally around black Trans lives to celebrate Transgender Awareness Week this week. Peppermint says: “The number of transgender people who’ve been murdered is higher than ever recorded. In the midst of senseless murders of black folks, in the midst of the division and the pandemic. After seeing everything that has happened in our country and our world lately and coming up on the holidays, I wanted to gather black Trans women to put out a message of solidarity and love while simultaneously shedding light on the important road ahead.”

• Reuters: New claims for unemployment jobless benefits rose to a seasonally adjusted 742,000 last week, up from the 711,000 filed a week earlier, the Labor Department said Thursday. The spike in claims indicates continued challenges for the U.S. economic recovery as COVID-19 infections continue to surge across the U.S. • AP: Two Republican canvassers in Wayne County, Michigan, initially balked at certifying the vote, and then reversed course after widespread condemnation. But after a call from Donald Trump, the two Republicans reversed AGAIN signing affidavits on Wednesday saying they believe the county vote “should not be certified.” • Pink News: Karine Jean-Pierre could become the first out lesbian and first Black woman to be named White House press secretary. NBC’s Geoff Bennett tweeted multiple sources say Jean-Pierre is a leading contender for the high profile job.

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Trump Invites Michigan GOP Leaders To WH Over Election Results

From CNN:

President Donald Trump has invited Republican state lawmakers from Michigan to the White House on Friday, according to a person familiar with the matter, as the President and his legal team are mounting an effort to overturn the results of the election he lost to President-elect Joe Biden.

Trump also called two Republican canvass board members from Wayne County, to Tuesday to offer his support, the person said, after they went back and forth on voting to certify the election results from the state’s largest county, which includes Detroit. The board members filed affidavits Wednesday seeking to “rescind” their votes to certify the election result.

Michigan law requires the election results to be certified by Monday, November 23. With no credible reports of fraud, observers are concerned state lawmakers could use the legislature to substitute Trump-supporting Electoral College electors in an effort to swing the state back to Trump. President-elect Joe Biden won the state by 3 percentage points and over 157,000 votes.