Author: Randy Slovacek

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Country Radio Host Interviews Mayor Pete, Bosses Say Chat Can’t Be Aired

Radio host Blair Garner interviewed Mayor Pete Buttigieg for his syndicated radio show, but bosses later told him the segment couldn't be aired
Country radio host Blair Garner interviews Mayor Pete Buttigieg (image via Twitter)

Blair Garner, whose syndicated country music radio show is heard in nearly 200 cities, was recently contacted by the presidential campaign of Mayor Pete Buttigieg requesting an interview.

Garner openly admits he was “stunned” by the request considering his radio show isn’t political, and most country music fans tend to be on the conservative end of the political spectrum.

But the veteran radio host also says he was “extremely flattered” by the approach.

“One of the few truly viable candidates in the race raised his hand and asked for a place at the table,” says Garner. “I was willing to give him that seat.”

Garner shares, via social media, that his only condition was that the Buttigieg campaign “value and appreciate our listeners, and never treat them as pawns.”

You’ve got to give it to Mayor Pete – he’s not leaving a single vote on the floor.

But after recording the 20 minute chat, Garner was told by his bosses at Cumulus Media he couldn’t share the interview on air.

“I was proud of it,” says the National Radio Hall of Famer. “But in the end, I was told I couldn’t air it.”

Cumulus issued a statement explaining their decision was based on the “large number of political candidates” currently running and the FCC’s Equal Time Rule, which requires media companies to provide equal airtime to all candidates.

Cumulus Nashville’s programming managers made the decision not to air Blair Garner’s pre-recorded interview with Mayor Pete Buttigieg because of the large number of political candidates currently in this race. The decision was made by local programming management based solely on concerns related to the application of the FCC’s Equal Time Rule. The effects of the FCC’s Equal Time Rule are widely understood and considered whenever these types of issues arise.

Garner says he would “GLADLY” welcome other serious candidates as a guest but “nobody else reached out.”

Garner did ask for, and received, permission to post the interview on his Soundcloud account.

You can listen to the chat between Blair Garner and Mayor Pete below.

As I was writing this post, I realized the third man in the photo below is Garner’s husband, Eric.

I’m not a political guy. My radio show isn’t political, nor does it aspire to be. I’m just the host of a syndicated Country music program who loves his country – both the amazing land in which we live, and the outstanding music from today’s Country artists. The phrase, “I love my Country” is one that I state proudly and without reservation. I mean it to my core. I was stunned when we were contacted by Mayor Pete’s team requesting an interview. Absolutely stunned. Since Country music tends to lean in a conservative direction, I was surprised. But more than surprised, I was EXTREMELY flattered. One of the few truly viable candidates in the race raised his hand and asked for a place at the table. I was willing to give him that seat. I would have also given a seat to any other viable candidate, from both sides. The only condition? They must also value and appreciate our listeners, and never treat them as pawns. Nobody else reached out. I assume nobody else even thought to reach out. The interview is twenty minutes in total length. I was proud of it. But in the end, I was told that I couldn’t air it. Again, I would have GLADLY welcomed any other viable candidates to be a guest, especially President Trump. To my thinking, the best way to a reasoned, thoughtful position on any topic, is to hear from both sides. Regardless, the interview was killed. I did, however, ask for permission to post the interview on my own personal SoundCloud account. I was given that blessing, and I am happy to share it with you there. (Link in Bio) #buttigieg #petebuttigieg #mayorpete #pete #peteforamerica #presidentpete #chastenbuttigieg #warren #democraticprimary #firstgent #biden #peteforprez #bootedgeedge #harris #election #beto #iowa #joe #sanders #bernie #runningforpresident #nextgeneration #policies #democracy #hope #youthvote #democrats #partywithpete #mayorpetebuttigieg
A post shared by blairgarner (@blairgarner) on Jul 19, 2019 at 12:30pm PDT

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Video: Just A Few Of The Times Trump Called Americans “Stupid”

Video montage of Donald Trump calling Americans 'stupid'

Donald Trump says the four freshmen congresswomen known as ‘the squad’ should leave the country for criticizing specific policies in the U.S.

Trump frames the discussion by saying Americans shouldn’t say negative things about the country. The Donald feels that is just plain ‘unpatriotic.’

But then – what about candidate Donald Trump on the 2016 presidential campaign trail?

Oh yes, there just happens to be video of his many critical statements about ‘how stupid’ the people of the United States were.

Funny how it was ok then, huh?

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Shawn Mendes Catches Flack For Declining To Help Young Fan Come Out To Parents

Shawn Mendes (image via Instagram)

Pop star Shawn Mendes is catching some flack on the interwebs after a fan asks him to help here come out to her parents.

During a July 14 Q&A in Oakland, California, a fan asked if Mendes would record a ‘coming out’ video to her parents as she wanted to share with them that she identifies as bisexual.

“I’m bisexual and I haven’t told anybody, but my parents are very strict and I don’t know how to tell them so I was wondering if you could do a little video,” said the fan.

Mendes declined, but for a very good reason.

“This is what I want to tell you, your parents are your parents,” said Mendes. “They’re going to love you no matter what you say, no matter how you say it, no matter how you look when you say it, any time of the day.” 

Unfortunately, that’s not quite true as we know many young people come out as LGBTQ and are often rejected by their families. Many studies show that up to 40% of homeless youth are LGBTQ who were kicked out of their homes after coming out.

“Nothing I say is going to mean anything that is even close to what you saying it means to them,” continued Mendes. “You’re their world. I cannot possibly come close to the amount of joy and happiness that they’re going to feel when they find out that you’re telling them your truth and your honesty.” 

He added, “I would if I thought that it was a better thing to do, but I know in my heart that it’s not. I know your parents are going to love you even more for being honest with them.”
Some folks felt Mendes appears out of touch for his complete confidence that all will be well for the young girl. But that’s what comes from a straight person who’s never had to face the reality of coming out.

But at the end of the day, coming out really is one of the most personal and empowering acts an LGBTQ person will ever do for themselves. Asking a young pop star to put a ‘seal of approval’ on the girl’s coming out isn’t likely to impact the parents.

“Hey – your kid is bisexual! Have a great day!”

I appreciate that Mendes seemed genuine and sincere in his response, and recognized the personal nature of coming out. 

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Randy Rainbow Skewers Trump Via Jonas Bros “Suckers”

Political satirist Randy Rainbow offers his riff on the Jonas Brothers recent #1 hit, "Suckers," as he skewers Trump supporters for their blind allegiance.

Political satirist Randy Rainbow offers his riff on the Jonas Brothers recent #1 hit, “Suckers,” as he skewers Trump supporters for their blind allegiance.

The segment with dueling Lindsey Grahams is cute, but my favorite moment is incorporating Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s now famous ‘clapping’ at one of the Donald’s State of the Union addressed.

Cute way to start the week. By the way, did I mention Randy is nominated for an Emmy Award in the short form category? Congrats to Randy!

Hit play below.

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Trump Once Pitched A Whites Vs. Blacks Version Of ‘The Apprentice’

Donald Trump

Donald Trump’s recent racist tweets are nothing new for the Donald.

The New York Times reports that in 2005, he pitched to NBC a season of The Apprentice that would have pitted an all-white team against an all-black team.

From the New York Times:

For the fourth season of “The Apprentice,” Donald J. Trump searched for a gimmick to bolster ratings. His idea was simple if explosive — pit an all-white team against an all-black team.

“Do you like it?” he asked, previewing the concept on Howard Stern’s radio show in April 2005.

“Yes,” Mr. Stern said.

“Do you like it?” Mr. Trump asked Robin Quivers, the African-American co-host.

“Well,” she said, “I think you’re going to have a riot.”

That gave Mr. Trump no pause. “It would be the highest-rated show on television,” he exulted.

During the Stern interview, Trump reportedly said his idea would be to have an “assortment” of light and dark skinned black contestants, but the white team would be “all blond.”

The New York Times goes on to note that NBC executives quickly squashed the idea.

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Fox News Anchor Smacks Down Trump Advisor Stephen Miller Trying To Defend Racist Tweets

Stephen Miller

In an interview on Fox News, host Chris Wallace asked White House adviser Stephen Miller to explain Donald Trump’s “go back where they came from” remark and the “send her back” chant at a recent campaign rally.

From Raw Story:

“That is not protecting the American people, that is playing the race card,” Wallace said. “Let’s take the Obama birther — you don’t think that questioning whether the first black president is [a citizen]…”

“That’s not a race question!” Miller interrupted.

“I fundamentally disagree with the view that if you criticize someone and they happen to be a different color skin that that makes it a racial criticism,” Miller complained. “If you want to have a colorblind society, it means you can criticize immigration policy, you can criticize people’s views, you can ask questions about where they’re born and not have it be seen as racial.”

“And can you also say ‘go back’ where you came from?” Wallace wondered.

Miller argued that “the president was clear” that he disagreed with the “send her back” chant at his rally.

“He let it go on for 13 seconds and it was only when the chant diminished that he started talking again,” Wallace noted. “He said nothing there or in his tweet after the rally that indicated any concern about the chant.”

According to Miller, the audience chanted the racist phrase because they are tired of being “beat up” by liberals.

“During his 2016 campaign and even as president Mr. Trump has been as critical of this country as anything The Squad [of Democratic congresswomen] has said,” Wallace observed. “He said President Obama was the most ignorant president in our history. But about [Russian President Vladimir Putin], he says, ‘You think our country is so innocent?’”

“You don’t think the president ran on ‘lock her up?’” Wallace pressed. “Nobody has any problem with what the president’s policies have been, it’s when he goes into stoking racial fears. I’ve never called any of his tweets racist, but there’s no question that he is stoking racial divisions.”

Watch clips from the segment below.

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Out Music: Charli XCX’s Latest Music Video “Gone” Is A Wet & Wild Affair

I really don't know what's going on in the new music video, "Gone," from out singer/songwriter Charli XCX and Christine and the Queens, but it's a wet and wild affair to be sure.
Charli XCX & Christine in “Gone”

I really don’t know what’s going on in the new music video, “Gone,” from out singer/songwriter Charli XCX and Christine and the Queens, but it’s a wet and wild affair to be sure.

Towleroad called the video “an automotive bondage fantasy empowerment anthem,” which pretty much sums it all up.

That said, I do like the track. Mixing 90s synths with some fat 80s beats with the ladies’ on-point pop vocals results in a bouncy bop I’ll be including on my pool-time playlist.

Check it out below.

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WaPo: Trump Was ‘Obsessed’ With GOP House Votes Against Him In Resolution

Donald Trump

From the size of the outrage in response to Donald Trump’s racist tweets telling four freshman congresswomen to “go back” to the “totally broken and crime infested places from which they came,” many expected dozens of Republicans to break from Trump and vote with House Democrats in their resolution condemning his words.

But that didn’t really happen.

Today, the Washington Post reports on how the White House kept those numbers low as Trump was apparently “obsessed” with the vote tally.

From the Washington Post:

The White House vote-counters initially feared as many as 50 Republicans might defect to support the resolution, and Trump ordered an all-hands White House effort to keep the GOP caucus together. White House aides told allies on the Hill that it was okay to criticize Trump, as long as they didn’t vote with Democrats.

Trump was obsessed with the vote tally and received regular briefings. Aides fed him a constant stream of lawmaker reactions and put him on the phone with several lawmakers. He told his team to tell any wafflers that he loves America and that they needed to pick sides. Trump called McCarthy to cancel an immigration meeting planned at the White House on Tuesday.

“Stay there and fight,” he told McCarthy.

Vice President Pence also worked the phones, telling Republican members not to fall for a Democratic trap.

In the end, only four Republicans broke ranks.

The Donald predictably tweeted this morning that the Post’s article is, of course, ‘Fake News.’

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Trump’s Golf Habit Has Cost Taxpayers Over $106,000,000

Donald Trump, who endlessly mocked President Obama for taking time to play golf while in office, has now cost the American taxpayers more than $106,000,000 in support of his golf hobby.
Donald Trump

Donald Trump, who endlessly mocked President Obama for taking time to play golf while in office, has now cost the American taxpayers more than $106,000,000 in support of his golf hobby.

Note – Trump initially announced his ban of transgender military service members because their healthcare was too costly at a price of around $8 million.

His golf habit has cost 13 times that in only two and a half years. Follow the costs to the American taxpayer at TrumpGolfCount.com.

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Woofy Raph Solo Drops New Album ‘LIFE’

Raph Solo

Hunky out singer/songwriter Raph Solo shares the first single from his fifth studio album, LIFE.

The single, titled “Jasmine Petals,” looks to nature for inspiration in how we look back at lost loves and knowing when to let go.

“Trees release their buds after the loveliness decays and that’s when real growth to the tree occurs,” says Solo. “Such should be the case with people and love.”

“We live and love and it’s ok to lose sometimes,” he adds. “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”

The contemporary euro-pop track begins with a haunting, melancholy introduction before a heavy bass beat kicks in along with piano and violin.

Shot in a cemetery and in a French period mansion in North London, the music video is full of symbolism.

In one scene, Raph is seen playing a violin, blindfolded. The artist says the visual is his way of questioning whether we really see what is happening in our lives, or if we simply go through life blinded.

In several scenes, Solo brandishes a gun. In that guns can end life, Solo includes the weapon as a metaphor for choosing or ending life. Choose to put the gun down and you choose life. Regardless of circumstance, Solo says the decision between life and death is ultimately our own.

“Jasmine Petals” and LIFE are currently available on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon and other digital music sites.

You can check out my previous coverage of Solo’s music on The Randy Report here.

Check out the video below, and you can find more info on Solo at his official website here.