Author: Randy Slovacek

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40 Years Later, Gloria Gaynor Honored With 2nd Grammy Award

Gloria Gaynor (photo: Flickr/TJStamp – CC License)
Forty years after receiving the only Grammy Award ever issued in the category for Best Disco Recording (the iconic “I Will Survive”), legendary diva Gloria Gaynor was honored with her second GRAMMY® Award win on Sunday night. Gaynor received a Best Roots Gospel Album GRAMMY for Testimony, her powerful new gospel album, as well as a Best Gospel Performance/Song Nomination for “Talkin’ ‘Bout Jesus,” a stirring gospel track featuring Yolanda Adams. Since its release last summer, Testimony has been drawing praise for its collection of original inspirational songs and soulful hymns – from Gaynor’s powerful take on “Amazing Grace” to “Man of Peace,” her cover of the Bob Dylan classic. “I am ecstatic and truly grateful to God for gifts and favor, to the Academy for this recognition and honor and to the Gaithers, Primary Wave and ‘Team Gaynor’ for their love, support, and expertise,” said Gaynor. “We are honored to represent this gospel release from Gloria,” stated Paul Sizelove, president of the label. “Not only did she make a stellar recording, she created a work of art that celebrated her journey of faith through trials and triumphs. It has been a joy to partner with her and her team to share these songs with the world.” In 2015, Gaynor was nominated for a Best Spoken Word Album Award for the audio recording of her motivational book We Will Survive: True Stories of Encouragement. (source: press release)

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Fox News Poll Shows 50% Support Removing Trump From Office

A new poll by Fox News shows 55% of those polled approve of the current economy (44% say it’s only ‘fair’), but 50% say the Senate should vote to remove Donald Trump from the Oval Office. Even with the strong economy, the new survey says 56% are not satisfied with the direction of the country versus 43% who approve. And by a 50-44 percent margin, respondents say the Senate should vote to convict Trump and remove him from office. Remember, this a Fox News poll, folks. While the majority of responses fall on partisan lines – 81% of Democrats say remove and 84% of Republicans disagree – among independents, the results are starker as 53% of those say Trump should be removed versus 34% who disagree. This is now the third major national poll released this week to show support for removing Trump from office at 50% or higher – 51% in CNN’s poll and Pew’s polling, 50% in the Fox poll.

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NBA Superstar Kobe Bryant Killed In Helicopter Crash

Kobe Bryant (screen capture)
Local 10 News reports former NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, 41, has died in a helicopter crash in California. Five people were reportedly on board the helicopter when a fire apparenlty broke out causing the aircraft to go down down near Calabasas this morning. From Local 10 News:

He played his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers and finished his career as one of the best to ever play the game.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was drafted into the NBA straight out of high school at the age of 17.

He retired in 2016 a five-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP and the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history.

Bryant was selected to an NBA record 18 consecutive NBA All-Star Games. He also won two gold medals while representing the USA in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics.

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SNL Cold Open: Trump Lawyer Alan Dershowitz Goes To Hell

L-R Jon Lovitz, Kate McKinnon
When Donald Trump’s attorney Alan Dershowitz (Jon Lovitz) gives Senator Mitch McConnell (Beck Bennett) and Senator Susan Collins (Cecily Strong) a preview of his impeachment defense, he ends up having a heart attack and going to hell where he encounters the Devil (Kate McKinnon) along with Jeffrey Epstein (guest host Adam Driver), Flo from the Progressive commercials, the guy who wrote the “Baby Shark” song, and Mr. Peanut, who was recently killed off for a Super Bowl ad.

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Trump Threatens Schiff: ‘He Has Not Paid The Price, Yet’

Prior to House Intelligence Committee Chairman and lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff’s appearance on NBC News’ Meet The Press this morning, Donald Trump took to Twitter to rant (and threaten?) Schiff. From NBC News:

President Donald Trump on Sunday suggested House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., will pay a “price” for his role in the impeachment saga. “Shifty Adam Schiff is a CORRUPT POLITICIAN, and probably a very sick man,” Trump tweeted. “He has not paid the price, yet, for what he has done to our Country!”

The president posted those comments after writing earlier Sunday that his impeachment “is a massive election interference the likes of which has never been seen before.”

Speaking with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Schiff, the lead House impeachment manager, said he thought Trump’s tweet is “intended to be” a threat to him. Trump responded later Sunday by calling Schiff a “conman.”

Here’s Schiff’s full appearance on Meet The Press this morning:

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Highlights: Ramin Karimloo & Samantha Barks in CHESS

Ramin Karimloo and Samantha Barks in CHESS
Ramin Karimloo and Samantha Barks star in CHESS in Osaka. #perfection
Samantha Barks sings ‘Nobody’s Side’ in CHESS
I loved working with Samantha in CHICAGO in LA at the Hollywood Bowl. What a knockout talent! And the most down-to-earth person you’d ever want to meet. And Ramin is, well, Ramin. It’s a proven impossibility for me to listen to him sing anything just once. The cast also features Luke Walsh and Takanori Sato.
Ramin Karimloo sings ‘Anthem’ in CHESS
I have a slight obsession with this musical. I saw the original production in London starring Elaine Paige and Tommy Körberg, both of whom delivered gorgeous performances. That production ran three years. The Broadway production fared less well as Trevor Nunn attempted to ‘fix’ the show. And he fixed it into a flop. But the gorgeous score remained including a new song for the leadling lady Florence in the form of “Someone Else’s Story.” Tony Award nominee John Herrera starred in the first U.S. national touring company along with Carolee Carmello and Stephen Bogardus (I can’t believe I know them all) which attempted to re-fix the show again. Part of the problem with the show was it was written during the Cold War with Russia. As the world moved past that political impasse, it’s now hard to make that aspect of the story play. If you head over to Wikipedia, there’s an extensive breakdown of the history of the show and the many attempts to bring it to the level of success so many of us want to see. In any case, the score (by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus) remains a glorious thing. Lucky Osaka… For now, we have this:

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Des Moines Register Endorses Elizabeth Warren For President

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
With just over a week before the ‘first in the nation’ votes are cast in the Democratic primary for president, the Des Moines Register has endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) for president.

Each of the remaining candidates campaigning across Iowa ahead of the caucuses could make a fine president. Each would be more inclusive and thoughtful than the current occupant of the White House. Each would treat truth as something that matters. Each would conduct foreign policy by coalition building rather than by whim and tweet.

The outstanding caliber of Democratic candidates makes it difficult to choose just one.

The Des Moines Register editorial board endorses Elizabeth Warren in the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses as the best leader for these times.

[snip]

Warren’s competence, respect for others and status as the nation’s first female president would be a fitting response to the ignorance, sexism and xenophobia of the Trump Oval Office.

She is a thinker, a policy wonk and a hard worker. She remembers her own family’s struggles to make ends meet and her own desperation as a working mother needing child care.

She cares about people, and she will use her seemingly endless energy and passion to fight for them.

At this moment, when the very fabric of American life is at stake, Elizabeth Warren is the president this nation needs.

The editorial board also shared their thoughts on the rest of the field. RealClearPolitics’ average of polls shows Warren currently in 4th position in Iowa at 16.3 percent. Former Vice President Joe Biden leads with 20 percent, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) just behind him at 19.3 percent, and former Mayor Pete Buttigieg in third place at 16.8 percent. So, it’s a horse race, folks. Just about anyone could win the Iowa contest, but remember delegates are assigned proportionately to how well candidates do in Iowa. It’s not ‘winner take all,’ so we’ll have to see how it all shakes out.

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Tennessee Gov. Signs Anti-Gay Adoption Bill Into Law

Gov. Bill Lee of Tennessee (image via campaign website)
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) signed a measure on Friday that legalizes the rejection of same-sex parents from adopting. Specifically, the law allows the argument that adoption agencies have a legitimate fear that same-sex households would “violate written religious or moral convictions or policies.” “The governor believes that protection of rights is important, especially religious liberty,” Gillum Ferguson, a spokesman for Gov. Lee, told the Tennessean. “This bill is centered around protecting the religious liberty of Tennesseans and that’s why he signed it.” According to The Hill, the bill not only allows a “religious exemption” in discriminating against same-sex couples but also prohibits the state from denying an agency’s licenses or grant applications for public funds based on its child placement refusals. Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign, denounced the new law. “It’s disturbing that Governor Bill Lee signed legislation that will harm children in Tennessee,” said David. “Elected officials should protect all of their constituents, not just some.” “This bill does nothing to improve the outcomes for children in care, shrinks the pool of prospective parents and is a blatant attempt to discriminate against LGBTQ Tennesseans,” he added. “With many months ahead in the Tennessee legislative session, Tennesseans should make their voices heard — loudly — to ensure that the legislature and Gov. Lee do not continue to target LGBTQ Tennesseans.” With the governor’s signature, Tennessee has the dubious distinction of being the first state to pass an anti-LGBTQ bill into law in 2020.

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Audio Of Trump Ordering Ukraine Ambassador To Be ‘Taken Out’ Given To Investigators

L-R Lev Parnas, Donald Trump
ABC News reports it has reviewed an audio recording of what appears to be Donald Trump having a conversation with former Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas regarding then-U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch. In the recording, a voice said to be Trump’s can be heard saying, “Get rid of her! Get her out tomorrow. I don’t care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. OK? Do it.” Parnas’ lawyer  Joseph Bondy told the press the recording has been furnished to the House Intelligence Committee: “We do believe that contents of the conversation as portrayed by ABC News are of critical importance in the impeachment trial of the President. And would urge that it be produced to Congress.” Bondy also gave the full recording to the press for full transparency:

Trump has repeatedly announced he “doesn’t know” Parnas and “hasn’t ever spoken” to Parnas. If you listen to the full recording, it’s clear this was a lengthy dinner meeting that Trump had with Parnas and others. And he tells the public he “hasn’t ever spoken” to Parnas??? The White House has not defended the tape other than Vice President Mike Pence saying the recording “confirms what people already know.” Check out ABC News’ report below.