“Thomas Roberts has decided to leave MSNBC for other endeavors. He’s been a valued member of the NBC News and MSNBC family since 2010, and we’re thankful for his contributions and Emmy Award-winning coverage for the news division. We wish him success in his new adventure.”
I’ve been surprised at Roberts’ journey at MSNBC as it seems he just couldn’t find the right fit in the network’s range of programming.
In December of 2016, “Live with Thomas Robert” which aired weekdays at 2PM was canceled. He then took on anchor duties for MSNBC Live on weekends from 5-7 PM.
Prior to that he had hosted “Out There with Thomas Roberts,” a weekly program which focused on LGBT topics for MSNBC’s online digital platform.
Roberts and his team won the network an Emmy in September 2016 for their extensive coverage of the Obergefell decision at the U.S. Supreme Court which made same-sex marriage the law of the land.
On Sunday, North Korea’s state-run Minju Joson newspaper issued a scathing commentary on Donald Trump saying, in part, “A load of rubbish spouted by the old lunatic Trump during his recent visit to South Korea was a total of all nonsense and paradox so far.”
The editorial went on to state that the U.S. would regret “letting such a depraved and stupid guy occupy the Oval Office.”
In retaliation, Donald Trump announced today he has placed North Korea back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Trump announced the move Monday during a public meeting with his Cabinet at the White House and said the Treasury Department will announce new sanctions against North Korea on Tuesday.
“Today the United States is designating the North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. Should have happened a long time ago. Should have happened years ago,” Trump said.
North Korea was removed from the list by President George W. Bush in 2008.
Trump said that North Korea has “repeatedly” sponsored acts of terrorism, including “assassinations on foreign soil.”
“This designation will impose further sanctions and penalties on North Korea … and supports our maximum pressure campaign to isolate the murderous regime,” Trump said.
Wow. This story just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Caleb Hull, writing for the Independent Journal Review, has interviewed dozens of men who say disgraced Ohio state Rep. Wes Goodman had approached them with inappropriate sexual overtures and/or sent sexually suggestive photos via Snapchat.
Goodman resigned from office last week after he was caught having consensual sex in his Ohio state office. But it seems that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Hull points out that the approach for the vast majority of men Goodman engaged was similar across the board.
Goodman has a reputation of reaching out to those involved in politics via Facebook messenger — but things tend to quickly turn south as he has been known to flirt with men, solicit sex, and even send pictures of his genitals, according to dozens of sources. The majority of the people he targets are between the ages of 18 and 24 and have had very little interaction with him personally.
In many instances of his alleged sexual misconduct, Goodman apparently offered to be a “mentor” for those looking to get into politics. Because of the power he had, his victims say they were afraid to report instances of abuse for fear of damaging their own political careers.
[snip]
The sources informed IJR that many more photos of extremely explicit behavior — including Goodman in his underwear drinking beer, him showing his legs, and pictures of his penis — exist. Goodman always sent these on Snapchat to avoid the photos being saved, which is likely part of the reason why it has taken so long for his behavior to be exposed.
The source who received pictures of his legs and him drinking beer in his underwear told IJR that he thought about tweeting about the incident to call him out “for being a perverted weirdo,” but decided not to. He ultimately described Goodman as “a major creep.”
From one source: “Goodman asked me personal questions such as if I have a girlfriend or I was single and ‘how big I was down there.’ He also asked if I was the big or small spoon and the catcher or the pitcher. He would snap me late at night around 2 and 3 a.m. saying his wife was sleeping and he was bored and lonely.”
Goodman told one of the men he needed help “alpha to alpha” and that “it wouldn’t be gay if it’s just two alphas.”
Remember, this was all happening as Goodman maintained a public image that portrayed him as seriously homophobic.
Many of the men Goodman approached took pics of their phone screens to capture the interactions.
Here’s just some of the screen captures. There’s much more at the Independent Review Journal. I highly recommend reading the full article.
A producer for Fox News‘ Sean Hannity program reached out to one of Roy Moore’s accusers to invite the woman on his show to discuss the many allegations of sexual misconduct by Moore.
As many of you know, Hannity has had Moore himself on his show wherein he gave Moore the most softball interview of his life.
The lawyer for Gloria Deason totally called the booker at Fox News out for the ridiculous invite.
This is how it’s done, kids.
“Thank you for the invite. Please tell Sean Hannity that I would never submit a survivor of abuse to the inevitable on-camera bullying and persecution by him. Mr. Hannity chose to believe and support Roy Moore immediately after learning about the numerous accusations against him describing sexual assault, child molestation and harassment.
“Mr. Hannity has belittled, defamed and engaged in an on-air campaign against the victims of Mr. Moore. He is totally uninterested in discovering the truth. He gave Mr. Moore a lazy, softball interview which his own panel did not find credible. In fact, the panel mocked Mr. Moore over his inconsistencies and lies.
“It is laughable to assume that Mr. Hannity is capable of conducting a fair and balanced interview. He is not known for journalistic integrity. He is merely seeking an opportunity to publicly attack and further defame Mr. Moore’s vulnerable victims.
“Well that’s not happening. Not on my watch.
“Respectfully, Paula Cobia – Attorney for Gloria Deason”
The year 2017 is already the deadliest year on record for transgender people with at least 25 trans homicides reported so far.
Transgender Day of Remembrance began in 1999 thanks to as a way to honor Rita Hester, a trans woman murdered inside her Boston apartment in 1998.
A vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Rita Hester’s death, and began an important tradition that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Observed every November 20, the day is meant to honor the memory of those whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.
Click here for a list of those trans people we’ve lost to violence this year.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson issued this statement in observance of Transgender Day of Remembrance:
On Transgender Day of Remembrance, the United States honors the memory of the many transgender individuals who have lost their lives to acts of violence.
Transgender individuals and their advocates, along with lesbian, gay, bisexual and intersex persons, are facing increasing physical attacks and arbitrary arrests in many parts of the world. Often these attacks are perpetrated by government officials, undermining the rule of law.
Transgender persons should not be subjected to violence or discrimination, and the human rights they share with all persons should be respected.
On this Transgender Day of Remembrance, the United States remains committed to advancing the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons. These principles are inherent in our own Constitution and drive the diplomacy of the United States.
Today, on Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor the memories of those who were killed by acts of anti-trans violence #TDORpic.twitter.com/45NFoVflSi
Over the past several days, many in Alabama’s evangelical community have stood by embattled GOP Senate nominee Roy Moore.
Some have even said they would support him even if the allegations of sexual misconduct were proved to be true.
Now, Southern Evangelical Seminary president Richard Land has penned an open letter to Roy Moore in the Christian Post, imploring Moore to take a lie detector test to prove his innocence.
I hope and pray that these allegations against you are false and I know in the American justice system you are “innocent until proven guilty.” However, this is not the legal system, but the court of public opinion.
Judge Moore, as a brother in Christ, I implore you, for the sake of your family and your supporters, but even more importantly, for the sake of our Savior and His reputation, to arrange as quickly as possible to take a polygraph test concerning these accusations. I know the results of such a test are not admissible in court, but this is the court of public judgment. I can only tell you if I were in your position and I were innocent of these allegations, I would insist on having a polygraph test administered as soon as possible.
Passing such a test would cause this metastasizing cancer on your candidacy and the damage it is doing to the Christian witness to evaporate instantaneously. There is no defense quite as effective as the truth, especially when it is accompanied by the demonstrable proof of the type a successful polygraph test would irrefutably provide.
Considering the gravity of the allegations against Moore, and the fact that a seat in the U.S. Senate is in play, I think Moore would be wise to do so.
If he’s as innocent as he claims, he should submit for a lie detector test immediately.
Jeffrey Tambor, an Emmy and Golden Globe winner for Amazon’s Transparent has announced he will leave the show amid allegations of sexual harassment on the set of the show.
Facing two accusations of sexual harassment by members of the Transparent team that he has strongly denied, Jeffrey Tambor today has decided not to return to the Amazon series.
“Playing Maura Pfefferman on Transparent has been one of the greatest privileges and creative experiences of my life,” the Emmy winning actor told Deadline on Sunday. “What has become clear over the past weeks, however, is that this is no longer the job I signed up for four years ago,” Tambor added of his role as the lead on the Jill Soloway created show.
“I’ve already made clear my deep regret if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being aggressive, but the idea that I would deliberately harass anyone is simply and utterly untrue,” Tambor asserted as well. “Given the politicized atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don’t see how I can return to Transparent.”
While a stunner on one level, this move by Golden Globe winner Tambor comes as the show itself was seemingly gearing up to shuffle him off the show.
As Deadline was first to report on November 14, since the first allegation against Tambor was made by his former assistant and transgender actress Van Barnes earlier this month, there have been discussions about writing the actor’s transgender Maura character out of the show for the upcoming fifth season. With a tiny bit of wiggle room for what may be legal reasons, it seems today that Jeffrey Tambor just made those talks a reality for the writers’ room.
The fourth season of Transparent premiered on September 21.
• For the comic book geeks (like me): Justice League had a disappointing showing at the box office as the super-hero flick only grossed $96 million domestically in its opening weekend. Compare that to rival Marvel Studios The Avengers which debuted in 2012 raking in a then-record $204.7 million domestically. Justice League earned $185.5 million from 65 markets internationally.
• A British woman who attempted to renege on her agreement to serve as a surrogate mother for a gay couple, wanting to keep the now-18-month-old child, has lost in court. The mother had no biological connection to the child — both men donated sperm paired with an egg from a Spanish donor.
• How about one more from photographer/model Alfred Liebl?
Donald Trump is now miffed he isn’t getting the gratitude he feels he deserves from LaVar Ball, the father of UCLA basketball player LiAngelo Ball, one of three athletes released last week by the Chinese government after being jailed for shoplifting in the country.
Trump reportedly reached out on the three students behalf after they were accused of shoplifting a pair of high-end sunglasses while in China.
Before the students could even make a statement upon returning to the U.S., Trump wondered on Twitter if the players would thank him for helping them.
Do you think the three UCLA Basketball Players will say thank you President Trump? They were headed for 10 years in jail!
The three players did thank Trump by name at a press conference earlier this week.
But today, Trump is mad the father of one of the players isn’t properly grateful. In fact, Trump is so mad, he says he should have left the three Americans in jail in Chine.
Tweeted Trump: “Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!”
Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!
The President would have left American students in a foreign jail because their families didn’t lavish sufficient praise on him. How can someone in such a big office be so small? https://t.co/g3oa0o9aBU
The President of the United States says he should have left three US citizens imprisoned by an autocratic country. https://t.co/zWdGg2XXct— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) November 19, 2017
November 19, 1863: President Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address, widely considered to be one of the most important speeches in American history
November 19, 2017: President Trump fights with LaVar Ball, expresses regret about not leaving American citizens in China
Trump is using his criticism of LaVar Ball as a dog whistle to trigger his white supremacist base. Trump has to show that he can put “uppity negroes” in their place
LaVar Ball was able to brilliantly troll the President of the United States into mentioning him by name, likely leading to tens of millions in Big Baller Brand sales.
Now I can understand how easy it was for Putin to manipulate this man-child.
what does what lavar ball said have to do with liangelo, much less the other two players? so they should all suffer because lavar ball said something you didn’t like? https://t.co/lCZq8co7Aw
