Category: News

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News Round-Up: January 21, 2021

Dozens of Broadway performers took part in 'Seasons of Love' at the Biden Inaugural Concert

No presidential pardon for the Tiger King plus dozens of Broadway performers took part in 'Seasons of Love' at the Biden Inaugural Concert
Broadway at the Biden Inaugural Concert
Some news items you might have missed: • CNN: Out news anchor Shep Smith has broken his silence about his departure from Fox News. Now at CNBC, Smith says he stayed as long as he did in order to try and counterbalance the misinformation coming out of the right-leaning network. • Broadway at the Inaugural: I was thrilled to see this beautiful collaboration debut during last night’s Biden Inaugural Concert (above). I know several folks in this but five I have longtime ties with: Tony Award winners Betty Buckley, Chita Rivera, and Leslie Uggams, as well as Tony Award nominees Vanessa Williams and Charlotte d’Amboise. Charlotte gives you LIFE dancing in the center during the last minute. #LovedIt

• Outsports: 39 current NFL players on 22 teams say they have already had an out gay teammate, including six players with the Arizona Cardinals. • Instinct Magazine: Tiger King star Joe Maldonado-Passage (a.k.a Joe Exotic) truly believed Donald Trump would issue him a presidential pardon on his last day in office. The Tiger King was so sure the pardon was coming he had a limo standing by to pick him up at the prison.

• HuffPost: An 18-year veteran police officer, most recently with the Houston Police Department, stormed the U.S. Capitol and then tried to cover his tracks by deleting photos from inside the rotunda and lying about his conduct. • Twitter: First Lady Dr. Jill Biden shares her first video message thanking service members, first responders, civil servants.

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Out Music: Kisos ‘He Didn’t Want Me’

Out singer/songwriter Kisos releases new single 'He Didn't Want Me'

Out singer/songwriter Kisos releases new single 'He Didn't Want Me'
Kisos in ‘He Didn’t Want Me’
Out singer/songwriter Kisos drops his new music video, the guitar-driven ‘He Didn’t Want Me.’ For Kisos, the video is as much cinema as it is real life – a rebirth after a difficult few years dealing with heartbreak, self-hatred, and loneliness. In an ethereal ritual of communal love, Kisos transforms physically and spiritually right before our eyes in order to truly come to the acceptance the song is about. “‘He Didn’t Want Me’ is about the acceptance stage of grief, and because it’s lyrically so depressing, I wanted to balance that with an uplifting, ethereal ritual of rebirth,” says Kisos. “It was important for me to also honor the symbolic hands of friends and family who cared for me at my lowest points. People who helped me shed my self-hatred, allow love and beauty back in, and re-internalize that I am worthy.” Cinematographer Adam Ouellette and Kisos filmed 100% by candlelight, staying up all night for the sunrise scenes that close the metamorphosis out. The music video is the final release from his sophomore EP, sweet nothings, where each song corresponds to a different stage of grief. Atwood Magazine described Kisos’s work as “suave pop that comes to life…in a dizzying array of musical color.” And Billboard calls the new music video “another beautiful layer to the star’s already heart-rending song.” The single is available on all digital download sites now. Check out the new music video below.

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McConnell Asks To Delay Trump’s 2nd Impeachment Trial

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (image via Facebook)
From the New York Times:

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, told senators on Thursday that he planned to ask Democrats to delay the start of former President Donald J. Trump’s impeachment trial until early February to allow Mr. Trump’s legal team time to prepare a defense, according to a person familiar with his remarks.

The proposal emerged as Mr. McConnell and Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the incoming majority leader, haggled privately behind the scenes over the timing and structure of the proceeding and Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused again to say when she would transmit the impeachment charge to the Senate, thus prompting the start of the trial.

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History Made As Buttigieg Begins Transportation Secretary Confirmation

Pete Buttigieg

Transportation Secretary nominee Pete Buttigieg
Pete Buttigieg during his Senate confirmation hearing
In a moment of quiet history making, Pete Buttigieg – the first out gay nominee for a Cabinet secretary position – began his confirmation hearing with the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee by thanking his husband for his support. “I’d like to take a moment to introduce my husband Chasten Buttigieg, who is here with me today,” said the Transportation Secretary nominee with Chasten sitting nearby. “I’m really proud to have him by my side.” “I also want to take this chance to thank him for his many sacrifices and his support in making it possible for me to pursue public service.” Many on social media noted how seeing a gay Cabinet nominee introduce his husband would have meant a lot to them growing up. By the way – for those wondering, Buttigieg’s committee appearance went VERY well. #Forward

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Obama, Bush & Clinton Come Together For Message Of Unity

Three previous presidents came together for a message of unity as Joe Biden became the 46th president
L-R Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama (screen capture)
Three past presidents – Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush – came together to celebrate the inauguration of Joe Biden and delivered a message of unity. Via CNN:

“We have got to not just listen to folks we agree with, but listen to folks we don’t,” said Obama. “One of my fondest memories of the inauguration, was the grace and generosity that President Bush showed me, and Laura Bush showed Michelle.”

“I’m glad you’re there. And I wish you well,” Clinton said in his message to Biden. “You have spoken for us today. Now you will lead for us. And we’re ready to march with you. Good luck, God bless you.”

“I think the fact that the three of us are standing here talking about a peaceful transfer of power, speaks to the institutional integrity of our country,” Bush said during the taped message. “America’s a generous country, people of great hearts. All three of us were lucky to be the president of this country.”

Bush added: “Mr. President, I’m pulling for your success. Your success is our country’s success. God bless you.”

Sad to know that Donald Trump couldn’t bring himself to part of this message of unity. At several turns he could have chosen to take a high road. But he did not. For years we’ve heard how Trump grew up in Queens wanting desperately to be accepted by the folks in Manhattan. Then he wanted to be accepted by Hollywood. Had he accepted the true results of the election and honored tradition, he could have been a part of this very exclusive presidents club. Now? It will never happen.

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News Round-Up: January 20, 2021

lawn boy with no Donald Trump yelling

A photo of the meme lawn boy with no Donald Trump yelling (but the Proud Boys are turning on Trump) Some news items you might have missed: • New Day: I thought a lot about the right image to lead this news round-up today. After years of the popular meme of the lawn boy being yelled at by Donald Trump, today – no yelling. #AndExhale #PoofHesGone • LGBTQ Nation: Antony J. Blinken, Joe Biden’s nominee for Secretary of State, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in his confirmation hearing that he will enact policies that will allow American embassies to support and protect LGBTQ rights around the world by flying the rainbow flag. • LA Times: The FBI raided the Huntington Beach apartment of openly-gay far-right extremist Kristopher Dreww, who boasted on social media about attending the invasion of the U.S. Capitol. No arrest took place but undisclosed items were removed from the residence. • Meidas Touch: Bette Midler has a message for Donald Trump. I’m so happy to wave ‘so long dearie’ to the Trump years in the White House, but how could I not post this?

• Washington Post: Donald Trump had imagined a showy military send-off, however only a modest crowd of a few hundred loyalists showed up at Joint Base Andrews to see him off. The event had more of a feel of a county fair than a big-budget extravaganza. In a Trumpian twist, the music that played as he ended his remarks was the Village People’s “YMCA,” a singalong staple from his boisterous political rallies. • New York Times: The Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group who were staunch supporters of Donald Trump, have begun to turn on the Trumpster calling him “weak” and “a total failure.” • The Daily Beast: As it became clear that Trump was not, in fact, going to suddenly appear and order the arrest of all the Democrats, QAnon believers – like the Proud Boys – also began to wonder if they had been tricked.

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Chris Wallace On Fox News: ‘The Best Inaugural Address I Ever Heard’

Fox News anchor Chris Wallace

Fox News anchor Chris Wallace calls Biden speech the best inaugural address
Fox News anchor Chris Wallace
Following President Biden’s inaugural speech, I’m sure it shook the Fox News audience to hear anchor Chris Wallace declare, “I thought it was a great speech. I have been listening to these inaugural addresses since 1961. John F. Kennedy’s ‘ask not’. I thought this was the best inaugural address I ever heard.” I don’t know about “the best,” as Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are all excellent orators. But I thought Biden’s speech was perfect in tone and balance. Many on Twitter think his comments today could foreshadow Wallace’s departure from Fox News. Wallace also noted a passage in Biden’s speech that seemed to address the power of truth and lies in the media. “He said that there is truth and there are lies, lies that are told for power and lies that are told for profit. And I think it was a call to all of us, whether it’s us on the air, on cable or broadcast, whether it’s us in social media, on our Twitter accounts, understanding that we have to deal from facts, from the truth, to hear each other out, as he said.”

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A New Day Dawns – Highlights From The 2021 Inauguration

Joe Biden is now the 46th President of the United States

At the 2021 Inauguration, Joe Biden was sworn into office as the 46th President of the United States And a new day has dawned. At noon Eastern Standard time, the United States celebrated the 2021 Inauguration as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn into office. Our four year national nightmare is over, the 2020 election is behind us, and the great work begins. Vice President Kamala Harris I’m sure many of you were watching the full ceremony today, but just in case, here are some highlights from the 2021 Inauguration: In addition to Biden and Harris’s swearing in moments, Lady Gaga sang the national anthem; a luminous Amanda Gorman, the nation’s first youth poet laurete called for Americans to “leave behind a country better than the one we were left;” and I smiled to see that Capitol Police hero Eugene Goodman, who led rioters away from the Senate during the Capitol building invasion, has been given a promotion and was given the honor of escorting Kamala Harris as she made her entrance.

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News Round-Up: January 19, 2021

L-R Actor/model Nyle DiMarco and President-elect Joe Biden (image via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • Out: Model, actor, and activist Nyle DiMarco (above) has something in common with President-elect Joe Biden – they both have new gigs. The America’s Next Top Model champ is one of a group of stars to appear in V Magazine’s 2021 calendar. • Mediaite: Turner Classic Movies has scheduled an “All Joe” Inauguration Day lineup of films to celebrate incoming President Joe Biden, while not-so-subtly trolling Trump. The lineup includes: Ode to Billy Joe (1976), Polo Joe (1936), The Fabulous Joe (1947), The Story of G.I. Joe (1945), Joe Smith, American (1942), A Guy Named Joe (1943), Pal Joey (1957) and Mighty Joe Young (1949). • CBS News: Signaling a continued break with President Trump the day before he leaves office, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blamed Mr. Trump in part for the assault on the U.S. Capitol earlier this month, saying the pro-Trump mob that overran the building was “provoked by the president and other powerful people.”

• CNN: Donald Trump has reportedly been talked out of issuing presidential pardons for himself and his family as well as certain Republican lawmakers said to be nervous about their legal vulnerability for their part in the U.S. Capitol insurrection. • The Hill: From Trump’s inauguration day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose from 19,827 to 30,930 on Tuesday, a 56 percent increase. That increase is below the 73.2 percent rise the Dow saw in Obama’s first term, or the 105.8 percent increase under Clinton’s first term. A similar trend was true for the S&P 500, which gained 67.8 percent under Trump. It gained 84.5 percent in Obama’s first term, and 79.2 percent in Clinton’s first term. • LA Times: The 232-bed Vignes Street development has shattered the axiom that homeless housing takes years to build and is exorbitantly expensive. From start to finish in under five months and at a cost of about $200,000 per bed, it has shaved years and hundreds of thousands of dollars off a traditional homeless housing project. • White House: Donald Trump issued a pre-recorded farewell address today. #ByeGurl

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Biden To Announce Major Overhaul Of Immigration Laws

Joe Biden will introduce a massive overhaul of immigration laws on the first day of his administration
President-elect Joe Biden (screen capture)
On Day One of his administration, President-elect Joe Biden will announce an ambitious, extensive overhaul of immigration laws that will aim to provide a path to citizenship for nearly 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal status. From HuffPost:

Under the legislation, those living in the U.S. as of Jan. 1, 2021, without legal status would have a five-year path to temporary legal status, or a green card, if they pass background checks, pay taxes and fulfill other basic requirements. From there, it’s a three-year path to naturalization, if they decide to pursue citizenship.

For some immigrants, the process would be quicker. So-called Dreamers, the young people who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children, as well as agricultural workers and people under temporary protective status could qualify more immediately for green cards if they are working, are in school or meet other requirements.

Under Donald Trump, immigration laws have been curtailed to be harsh and restrictive and included massive deportations.