Author: Randy Slovacek

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Postal Worker Admits He Lied About Mail-In Ballot Tampering

(stock image of a mail-in ballot)
A postal worker in Pennsylvania who claimed that a postmaster in Erie told post office employees to backdate ballots received after Election Day has reportedly admitted he lied. His claims have been spread by high ranking Republicans as evidence of “widespread voter fraud.” This was supposed to be the Republicans big “gotcha.” From the Washington Post:

A Pennsylvania postal worker whose claims have been cited by top Republicans as potential evidence of widespread voting irregularities admitted to U.S. Postal Service investigators that he fabricated the allegations, according to three officials briefed on the investigation and a statement from a House congressional committee.

Richard Hopkins’s claim that a postmaster in Erie, Pa., instructed postal workers to backdate ballots mailed after Election Day was cited by Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) in a letter to the Justice Department calling for a federal investigation.

Attorney General William P. Barr subsequently authorized federal prosecutors to open probes into credible allegations of voting irregularities and fraud, a reversal of long-standing Justice Department policy.

But on Monday, Hopkins, 32, told investigators from the U.S. Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General that the allegations were not true, and he signed an affidavit recanting his claims, according to officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe an ongoing investigation.

The original allegations were reported last week by Project Veritas, an organization that has been caught spinning fiction into made-up ‘facts’ trying to demonize the mainstream media. After being hailed as a hero among Trump supporters, a GoFundMe campaign was launched that raised over $135K for Hopkins – until the campaign was yanked down today in light of his reversal. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee tweeted the revelations late Tuesday.

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Michael Cohen Endorses Matthew Camp’s OnlyFans Page

L-R Matthew Camp, Michael Cohen (images via Instagram/screen capture)
For those who may not know, Cameo is a website where you can pay to have a famous (or infamous) person record a personal greeting for a birthday or celebration of whatever sort complete with negotiated script. Matthew Camp, the woofy go-go boy turned adult performer turned entrepreneur, recently tweeted a video clip of Donald Trump’s former lawyer and “fixer,” Michael Cohen, extolling the fabulousness of Camp’s OnlyFans account. The clip was reportedly ordered through Cameo.

“I just want to say how amazing Matthew Camp is on OnlyFans. Having a blast enjoying every minute with you guys. Good luck. Love it. Stay safe. Stay COVID-free. And again, OnlyFans, having a blast with him.”

Cohen apparently charges $100 per message on Cameo. I’m going to guess that Cohen has no idea what kind of content is on Camp’s OnlyFans page. As I’m sure my readers know, OnlyFans is a website where subscribers can pay – usually between $5 to $15 a month – to access photo and video content uploaded by models and porn stars. Back in February 2019, Camp told the New York Times that he was clearing more than $10,000 a month on his OnlyFans page which he described as “online go-go dancing.”

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Supreme Court Appears Inclined To Uphold Obamacare After Oral Arguments

(stock image via Depositphotos)
Several news outlets report that at least 5 Supreme Court justices appear to lean against striking down the Affordable Care Act after oral arguments today in a case brought by the Trump administration. From the New York Times:

It was not clear whether the court would strike down the so-called individual mandate, which was rendered toothless in 2017 after Congress zeroed out the penalty for failing to obtain insurance. But the bulk of the sprawling 2010 health care law, which is President Barack Obama’s defining domestic legacy, appeared likely to survive its latest encounter with the Supreme Court.

In legal terms, the key justices said the mandate could be severed from the rest of the law.

“It does seem fairly clear that the proper remedy would be to sever the mandate provision and leave the rest of the act in place — the provisions regarding pre-existing conditions and the rest,” said Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. made a similar point. “Congress left the rest of the law intact when it lowered the penalty to zero,” he said.

The three justices who make up the court’s more liberal wing – Justices Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan – all seem inclined to uphold the ACA. According to a study by the Urban Institute, more than 21 million Americans would become uninsured if the law were to be struck down. A ruling in the case is expected by next spring.

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Hulu Makes The Holidays Super-Gay With ‘Happiest Season’

L-R Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis (image via Hulu)
The new trailer for the Hulu Original Christmas romantic comedy, Happiest Season, is here and it’s adorbs. Directed by Clea DuVall, the film stars Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Victor Garber, Academy Award-winner Mary Steenburgen, plus a scene-stealing performance by Schitt’s Creek creator/star, Dan Levy. From the official synopsis:

Meeting your girlfriend’s family for the first time can be tough. Planning to propose at her family’s annual Christmas dinner — until you realize that they don’t even know she’s gay — is even harder. When Abby (Kristen Stewart) learns that Harper (Mackenzie Davis) has kept their relationship a secret from her family, she begins to question the girlfriend she thought she knew.

When the couple arrives at Harper’s parent’s house, she’s introduced as that go-to status of ‘orphan roommate.’

Abby calls her bestie, played by Levy, who finds it difficult to believe folks aren’t picking up on the truth:

Levy: So her parents believe she brought home her lesbian friend for Christmas? Stewart: Not exactly. They also think that I’m straight. Levy: Have they ever MET a lesbian?

With fresh and funny performances, Happiest Season combines all too familiar issues like balancing your family’s acceptance, being true to yourself, and trying not to ruin Christmas. Look for Happiest Season to premiere on Hulu on November 25. Plus, the movie features a soundtrack with LGBTQ artists like Tegan and Sara, Shea Diamond, and more. And don’t forget the Lifetime Channel and the Hallmark Channel are also sending us LGBTQ-themed romantic comedies, so expect your holiday to even more merry and bright!

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News Round-Up: November 9, 2020

(image via Andrew Christian)
Some news items you might have missed: • The Advocate: Underwear company Andrew Christian recently has apologized for marketing a harness (above) emblazoned with the word “slave” using a POC to model them. “As you accurately noted in your article our ‘Master’ and ‘Slave’ harnesses and underwear only reference the ‘Master’ and ‘Slave’ terminology of the BDSM culture and has nothing to do with anything else.  We sincerely apologize if anyone finds the image of the model offensive and we will replace it immediately.” • Out Music: Colton Ford releases his first new music in years with the single, “Stronger.” The inspirational ballad features upbeat lyrics that share Ford’s own positive self speak: “We have to stay conscious of what we are telling ourselves, as that impacts and influences everything we experience in this life.” You can stream the full track here.

• NBC News: Georgia plans a recount of votes in its presidential race, but in the past 50 years, few recounts have led to changes in the winners. And in the handful of still-uncalled battleground states, there hasn’t been a flip following a recount in at least the last two decades. • Statista: As the presidential election results unfolded before the American people last week, the stock market saw the writing on the wall. The S&P 500 closed the week up 7.3 percent on Friday marking the best election week rally since 1928. The Nasdaq and Dow Jones saw similar gains.

(graphic via Statista)
• The Independent: Donald Trump’s Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Ben Carson, has become the latest Trump administration official to test positive for Covid-19. Carson attended the election night party at the White House on Tuesday where few in attendance wore masks to prevent the spread of the virus. • Mediaite: Fox News cut away from the White House press secretary this afternoon after she alleged that the Democratic party was “welcoming fraud and you are welcoming illegal voting.” Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto cut in saying, “Unless she has more details to back that up, I can’t in good countenance continue showing this.”  

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Meme Of The Day: Fake But Funny…

A fake Twitter exchange shows Donald Trump tweeting, "If Biden somehow manages to win this election, you won't see me again, I'll simply leave the country." A response from Canada's Twitter account reads, "Our border is closed, Over to you, Mexico... ;)" My favorite meme of the day – and yes, it’s fake but pretty funny. It is, however, based on remarks made by Trump during a campaign rally in Macon, Georgia last month. Trump told the crowd he might have to “leave the country” if he were to lose to now-President-elect Joe Biden. “You know what, running against the worst candidate in the history of presidential politics puts pressure on me. Could you imagine if I lose, my whole life, what am I gonna do? I’m gonna say, I lost to the worst candidate in the history of politics. I’m not gonna feel so good. Maybe I’ll have to leave the country. I don’t know.”

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Who Will Replace Kamala Harris As U.S. Senator?

Sen. Kamala Harris suspends her presidential campaign
Sen. Kamala Harris suspends her presidential campaign
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (via campaign Instagram)

With Joe Biden and Kamala Harris projected to be the next President and Vice President of the U.S., many are looking to who might be tapped by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to take Sen. Harris’s seat in the U.S.Senate.

Politico reports that those inside Newsom’s inner circle say he would like to make a historic choice, and there are multiple contenders being mentioned who could become the first openly LGBTQ senator from the Golden State.

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, viewed as a rising star in the Democratic Party, is reportedly on the shortlist of those being considered for the Senate seat. Garcia would be the first openly gay and first Latino senator from California.

In a recent poll by the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, Garcia received the highest response (57%) when voters were asked about individual possible candidates.

According to that survey, almost half of voters (48%) would prefer someone without experience in Washington, D.C., or in Sacramento. Thirty-one percent said they would like to see Newsom pick the state’s first Latino U.S. senator and 24% hoped for the state’s first LGBTQ U.S. Senator.

The first woman and openly LGBTQ person to lead the state Senate, State Senate pro Tempore Toni Atkins of San Diego, is also among those being floated to be the next senator from California. In the aforementioned survey, Atkins received 40% support.

The Victory Fund, which supports more representation of queer Americans in public office, adds to those possibilities California Assemblymember Evan Low, U.S. Representative Mark Takano, and California Senator Scott Wiener.

Newsom could still make history with a non-LGBTQ choice like Secretary of State Alex Padilla or state Attorney General Xavier Becerra. Either would be the first Latino senator in California history, plus choosing a statewide officer for the seat would allow the governor to name both the next senator and a powerful state officeholder’s replacement as well.

Many in political circles say the replacement should, like Harris, be a woman of color making Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) of Los Angeles a strong contender. Bass was long reported as a possible choice for running mate for Biden and garnered 53% support in the Schwarzenegger Institute poll.

Also in the mix are Rep. Barbara Lee from Oakland who had 51% approval in the Institute’s survey,  and freshman Rep. Katie Porter, who has shown to have strong support among younger voters. One small snag for Porter could be that she’s the first Democrat to represent California’s 45th District. A traditionally red district, if she were to take Harris’s seat, her House seat could possibly flip back to Republican.

Newsom has told the press he won’t begin the formal process of vetting candidates until after the election results were certified.

(source: Politico, Schwarzenegger Institute)

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Trump ‘Terminates’ Defense Secretary Via Tweet

L-R Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Mark Esper (images: Flickr/WhiteHouse – public domain)
Donald Trump took to Twitter this morning to announce the news that he had “terminated” Mark Esper as his Secretary of Defense. From the New York Times:

Mr. Esper’s downfall had been expected for months, after he took the rare step in June of disagreeing publicly with Mr. Trump and saying that active-duty military troops should not be sent to control the wave of protests in American cities. The president, who had threatened to use the Insurrection Act to do exactly that, was furious, officials said.

Mr. Esper, 56, a former secretary of the Army and a former Raytheon executive, became defense secretary last July after Mr. Trump withdrew the nomination of Patrick M. Shanahan, the acting defense secretary, amid an F.B.I. inquiry into allegations from Mr. Shanahan’s former wife that he punched her in the stomach. Mr. Shanahan denied the accusations.

Mr. Shanahan had been standing in for Jim Mattis, who resigned as defense secretary in 2018, citing his own differences with the president.

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News Round-Up: November 8, 2020

(image via Instagram/KarensGoingWild)
Some news items you might have missed: • Instagram: The above image is from the hysterical Karens Going Wild account. I laughed out loud at this. Follow the account here. • Boy Culture: Matt Rettenmund’s venerable LGBTQ blog turns 15! Matt reflects on how ‘blogging’ has changed over the years, what it’s like to be a trailblazer plus his 100 Favorite Posts over the years. Congrats and thanks to Boy Culture! • The Guardian: New diagnoses of HIV among gay and bisexual men in the UK have dropped to their lowest level in 20 years. A PHE report reveals that overall, across all genders and sexualities, the number of people with a new HIV diagnosis dropped by 10% from 4,580 cases in 2018 to 4,139 in 2019. • American Independent: I’ve been receiving money begs from the Trump campaign practically every hour since Joe Biden was projected to be the winner of the 2020 election. The emails say they are looking for help with Trump’s legal defense fund, but the fine print indicates that less than half of each donation will go toward the campaign’s “recount account,” while 60% will go to pay off the Trump campaign’s debt. • Washington Post: More than 107,607 new cases of the coronavirus were reported in the U.S. on Sunday. The country’s seven-day new case average was more than 100,000 and for five of the past seven days, more than 1,000 deaths were recorded. More than half of states reported a new high for their seven-day average of cases • Newsweek: Meanwhile, just a day after hearing the news that he had lost the 2020 election while on a golf course in Virginia, Donald Trump returned for what is believed to be his 300th round of golf since he was inaugurated. • The Advocate: Exit polling of over 15,000+ for the presidential election show LGBTQ support for Donald Trump doubled since 2016 from 14 percent to 28 percent of self-identified LGBTQ people. The so-called #GaysForTrump are not taking it well.