Author: Randy Slovacek

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1,100 Former Justice Department Officials Call On AG Barr To Resign

Attorney General Bill Barr (image via Flickr/WhiteHouse – public domain)
From The Hill:

More than 1,100 former Department of Justice (DOJ) officials are calling for Attorney General William Barr to resign in the wake of the DOJ’s decision to ask for a shorter prison sentence for Roger Stone, a longtime ally and friend of President Trump.

“Barr’s actions in doing the President’s personal bidding unfortunately speak louder than his words,” the group of ex-officials wrote in a letter shared on Sunday by Protect Democracy, a nonprofit watchdog group. “Those actions, and the damage they have done to the Department of Justice’s reputation for integrity and the rule of law, require Mr. Barr to resign.”

The public statement arrived as Barr and the Justice Department face increased scrutiny over their actions in the Stone case. Four prosecutors resigned from the case last week, and one left the job altogether after Barr and other DOJ leaders asked for a lighter prison sentence than the one the front-line prosecutors initially recommended.

Stone’s trial was born out of evidence found during former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference. A jury found Stone guilty of all seven charges brought against him.

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Start Your Week With New Music From Bridesmen “The Times”

Kenton Chen is Bridesmen
Start your week with this terrific new music video from LGBTQ artist Bridesmen. Bridesmen is Kenton Chen who recently starred in Perfect Harmony on NBC. He is also known for his work on NBC’s Sing-Off, as well as his performances with Postmodern Jukebox. The video, titled “The Times,” recently premiered on Billboard. “I want to be very real about just how I’m feeling in my emotions and the things I personally deal with often,” Chen told Billboard. “I don’t necessarily push for just queer messaging, really. I would hope that any of my music is not so niche that people can’t see past what I’m trying to say. The message, especially of ‘The Times,’ should be very universal.” As a gay Asian second-generation immigrant, Chen says he grew up feeling isolated, constantly hiding behind masks to protect himself. In Bridesmen, Chen aspires to uncover these masks in an effort to live a boundless and truthful life.
(image via Instagram)
“I want people to know that as I have grown and matured as an artist and a human being, I’ve come to realize that my specific experiences of being gay and Asian are not particular to me. My life story reverberates far beyond my specificities, and anyone from any race or sexuality can empathize with the need to belong and be understood”, says Chen. Chen has toured with artists such as Katy Perry, Kesha, Sara Bareilles, Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Hudson. His work with Postmodern Jukebox has reached over 8.6 million views on YouTube, garnering attention from across the globe. The neo-soul/R&B singer has also been featured on Fader and Pride. Check out the new music video “The Times” below. Happy Monday!

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Elton John Cancels Concert Mid-Show After Losing His Voice

Elton John cancels show after losing his voice due to walking pneumonia (photo: Ben Gibson)
7News in Australia reports international pop star Elton John had to cancel a performance mid-show Sunday night in Auckland when he abruptly lost his voice. Experiencing difficulties in the middle of the show, he left the stage to be examined by a medic. He returned, but after two songs he told the audience in a raspy voice, “I can’t sing. I’ve just completely lost my voice. I’ve got to go, I’m so sorry.” The ‘I’m Still Standing’ singer became emotional and paused to lean on his piano before he was escorted offstage. John later tweeted his apologies to his fans: “I want to thank everyone who attended the #EltonFarewellTour gig in Auckland tonight. I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia earlier today, but I was determined to give you the best show humanly possible.” “I played and sang my heart out until my voice could sing no more,” he added in follow-up tweets. “I’m disappointed, deeply upset and sorry. I gave it all I had.” “Thank you so much for your extraordinary support and all the love you showed me during tonight’s performance. I am eternally grateful.” John is currently in the middle of his multi-year ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour.

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Video: Olivia Newton-John, Adam Lambert, KD Lang And More At #FireFightAustralia

L-R Olivia Newton-John, Adam Lambert, kd lang
Tens of thousands of Australians filled the ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Sunday for the Fire Fight Australia concert to celebrate national spirit and coming together after the recent brushfires. The ten-hour event was a fundraiser for organizations providing rescue, relief, recovery and rehabilitation assistance to areas ravaged by the brutal brushfires. The line-up included 5 Seconds of Summer, Olivia Newton-John, John Farnham, Michael Buble, Alice Cooper, Amy Shark, Tina Arena, Baker Boy, Conrad Sewell, Daryl Braithwaite, Delta Goodrem, Illy, Grinspoon, Guy Sebastian and Queen with Adam Lambert. According to reports, the event raised just over $9 million. For those interested, you can still donate by clicking here. Check out some of the highlights including k.d. lang’s haunting “Hallelujah;” a spectacular, take-no-prisoners performance of “We Are The Champions” by Adam Lambert and Queen; Australian music royalty Olivia Newton-John and John Farnham on “Two Strong Hearts;” and Australia’s unofficial national anthem, “You’re The Voice” closing out the event with Farnham being joined on stage by Queen’s Brian May and Mitch Tambo.

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Sanders Passes Biden In Average Of National Polls

L-R Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders
With the latest round of national polling, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has taken the lead from former Vice President Joe Biden in the RealClearPolitics average of polls. Over the past 30 days, with dismal showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, Biden’s polling numbers have cratered while Sanders has seen a four-point increase in his standing. Sanders currently leads Biden by 4.4 points in the RCP poll average with 23.6 percent support versus Biden’s 19.2 percent support. Former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg has quickly rocketed into 3rd place with 14.2 percent support and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), like Biden, has seen her fortunes fall following disappointing results in Iowa and New Hampshire. Former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg garners 10.6 percent support and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is at 4.6 percent support.

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Houston Chronicle Endorses ‘Electable’ and ‘Pragmatic’ Amy Klobuchar

The editorial board of the Houston Chronicle endorses Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in the upcoming March 3 Democratic primary in Texas:

From supporting a $15 federal minimum wage to her very personal pledge to invest in research, prevention and treatment of addiction and mental illness, Klobuchar seems driven to improve Americans’ daily lives.

She eschews “Medicare for All” for a pragmatic public option. She has a strong record on combatting gun violence, and has prioritized universal background checks, funding research and closing the ‘boyfriend loophole’ — all commonsense reforms that she says won’t hurt responsible gun owners such as the oft-mentioned “Uncle Dick in his deer stand.”

She supports California-style mileage standards and opposes a fracking ban, instead seeing natural gas as a “transition fuel,” but her goals on climate change are aggressive: 45 percent reduction of carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon neutral by 2050.

Above all, Klobuchar has the secret sauce many Democrats prize most: electability.

A candidate whose presidential election would make history, her crossover appeal in and of itself packs a powerful punch. Democrats need someone who can stare down a bully while keeping an eye out for the little guy, someone who can grow the ranks, not divide them. Klobuchar is the woman for the job.

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Buttigieg: ‘I’m Not Going To Be Lectured On Family Values From The Likes Of Rush Limbaugh’

During appearances on Sunday morning talk shows, Democratic White House hopeful Pete Buttigieg was asked about comments made this week by conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh asked listeners if they could see Donald Trump having homophobic “fun” with Buttigieg kissing his husband on stage. He also wondered aloud how parents would explain Buttigieg kissing his husband to their children. Buttigieg responded to Chris Wallace on FOX News Sunday: “I’m in a faithful, loving, committed marriage. I’m proud of my marriage. I’m proud of my husband. I’m not going to be lectured on family values from the likes of Rush Limbaugh or anybody who supports Donald J. Trump as the moral as well as political leader of the United States. America has moved on and we should have politics of belonging that welcomes everybody. That’s what the American people are for. I’m saddened for what the GOP has become if they embrace that kind of homophobic rhetoric.”

The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, expressed similar sentiments when speaking to CNN’s Dana Bash on State of the Nation: “I love my husband, I am faithful to my husband. On stage, we usually just go for a hug, but I love him very much. And I am not going to take lectures on family values from the likes of Rush Limbaugh.”

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Long Lines Of Patient Dems On Day One Of Nevada Caucus

I’ve been a bit slow to post today as I took part in the early caucusing here in Las Vegas. I thought, since it was an early day, it would be a quick ‘in and out’ kind of thing. Boy, was I wrong. The line was out the door of my local YMCA where I caucused. It eventually took nearly two hours to cast my vote. Speaking to a volunteer, the process that had been planned for months was scrapped after the Iowa caucus debacle. So, folks in charge were scrambling a bit to come up with a workable solution. Adding to that were the longer than anticipated lines. There’s definitely enthusiasm on the ground here in Nevada. Once I finally got up to the front, I was given my ballot and told I was required to list my top three choices in order, just in case my top choice didn’t get enough votes come caucus day. You had the option of listing your top five if you felt like it. As you passed people calmly standing in line, you heard the same thing over and over again: ‘Just as long as HE’s not in the White House after this election.’ Standing in line, I can say the conversations I had with the friendly folks around me tended to lean to Biden and Buttigieg. The latest poll by the Las Vegas Review-Journal shows Sen. Bernie Sanders in the lead with 25 percent support followed by former Vice President Joe Biden at 18 percent support. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts pulled 13 percent support, businessman Tom Steyer drew 11 percent, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg got 10 percent support and Sen. Amy Klobuchar garnered 10 percent support.

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Review: ‘Happy Birthday Doug’ The Funniest Party In Town

Guest post by Lawrence Pfeil, Jr. If Pete Buttigieg thought people were talking about his donor party in a wine cave, just wait till bitches start talking about Doug’s 41st birthday party in a Silverlake wine bar. Crashers, exes, and a ghost, Girl, please! This is only the beginning in Drew Droege’s hilarious one-manic, tour de toast, Happy Birthday Doug now playing at the Soho Playhouse through March 1st. Last seen in his critically acclaimed run of Bright Colors and Bold Patterns, Drew Droege returns to the stage and flips the script.  Before he was one queen holding court poolside; this time he’s a gaggle of gays bestowing birthday wishes on Doug. With only five bar stools crowned by a different beverage, Droege sips um… slips from totally *sober* crasher, to dim-witted woke cater waiter, party whore, ex from Hell (why was she invited???), a couple of insufferable husbands, and the guest list goes on.  The side-splitting, ten-minute opening monologue launching the party is worth the ticket price alone. Drew Droege’s multiple personality writing and performance disorder are on colorful display for 70 brilliant minutes.  His characters are strikingly familiar yet so insanely detailed as to never feel clichéd. One has to wonder: how many other voices is he hearing and are they all this hysterical? Happy Birthday Doug is the party you hope isn’t yours because no one will ever forget, but you shouldn’t miss for the world. Michael Urie presents Happy Birthday Doug A New Comedy Written and Performed by Drew Droege Directed by Tom DeTrinis Limited Engagement through March 1st Soho Playhouse 15 Vandam Street, New York City Thursday through Saturday at 9:00, Sunday at 3:00 PM 70 minutes, no intermission. All tickets available at happybirthdaydoug.com Happy Birthday Doug is a follow up to Bright Colors and Bold Patterns, Droege’s hit hailed as “scorchingly funny” by The New York Times, which enjoyed a celebrated five-month off-Broadway run at the SoHo Playhouse in 2018 and is also available from BroadwayHD. https://www.broadwayhd.com/   Lawrence Pfeil, Jr., is a freelance writer/playwright who has reviewed film and theatre, both on and off-Broadway, for media outlets including The Randy Report, the New York Blade, and Edge Publications.  

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Funny: ‘Bad Boy’ Takes Care Of ‘Daddy Scott’

Drew Canan nurses Artie O’Daly (screen capture)
Artie O’Daly is back with a new episode of his popular ‘Bad Boy’ web series. This is the 11th installment of O’Daly’s off-beat, wild and wacky world of ‘Bad Boys’ where no one really seems to be following anyone else’s conversation. The short film opens ‘Bad Boy’ Jim (Drew Canan) explaining a faux robbery he attempted naked and armed with just his hot dog. Cue the series of weiner jokes peppered throughout the clip. Scott (‘Daddy Scott’) played by O’Daly isn’t feeling great, so he shuts down work early. Jim immediately jumps into action to take care of Scott providing tissues, furry cuddle buddy, and some pills. What kind of pills? Who knows? Jim also offers to rub Scott’s chest with VapoRub, which somehow leads to pouring baby oil on his own chest and rubbing things around. Cue the 70s porn music. Along the way there’s a worker at the door who wants to work on Scott’s ‘crack,’ and Aunt Whitney may (or may not) have a dead paramour upstairs. Props to O’Daly for his consistently off-kilter dialogue that keeps the ‘Bad Boys’ universe so quirky and entertaining. You can check out my previous coverage of the ‘Bad Boy’ series here.