• Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey had a really, really bad week
• A federal judge has blocked Donald Trump’s ban on transgender service members in the U.S. military
• Don’t miss the marriage equality documentary, “The Freedom To Marry,” now on Netflix
• The first openly gay winner of “The Voice Australia” released his latest single, a marriage equality anthem as the mail-in same-sex marriage survey comes to a close
All that and more on this episode of The Randy Report p.s. I want to thank all the folks who’ve hit “Play” on the podcast. I’m humbled by the support.
If you like the podcast, I’d appreciate it muchly if you would post a review on iTunes. Not for my ego, but it helps the podcast be found more easily on iTunes.
Former Democratic National Committee head Donna Brazile writes in a new book that she seriously contemplated replacing Hillary Clinton as the party’s 2016 presidential nominee with then-Vice President Biden in the aftermath of Clinton’s fainting spell, in part because Clinton’s campaign was “anemic” and had taken on “the odor of failure.”
In an explosive new memoir, Brazile details widespread dysfunction and dissension throughout the Democratic Party, including secret deliberations over using her powers as interim DNC chair to initiate the process of removing Clinton and running mate Sen. Tim Kaine (Va.) from the ticket after Clinton’s Sept. 11, 2016, collapse in New York City.
Brazile writes that she considered a dozen combinations to replace the nominees and settled on Biden and Sen. Cory Booker (N.J.), the duo she felt most certain would win over enough working-class voters to defeat Republican Donald Trump. But then, she writes, “I thought of Hillary, and all the women in the country who were so proud of and excited about her. I could not do this to them.”
Brazile paints a scathing portrait of Clinton as a well-intentioned, historic candidate whose campaign was badly mismanaged, took minority constituencies for granted and made blunders with “stiff” and “stupid” messages. The campaign was so lacking in passion for the candidate, she writes, that its New York headquarters felt like a sterile hospital ward where “someone had died.”
What the article nor Brazile seem to mention is that before the DNC head can replace a presidential candidate, the current candidate has to choose to step aside. And when it comes to picking new nominees, it’s the entire DNC – some 350 people.
The WaPo piece makes Brazile’s book seem very much like a hatchet piece on the Clinton campaign.
Airing her dirty laundry (and right before important elections in New Jersey and Virginia) seems petty and selfish.
I hope I never want to sell a book so badly that I’m willing to burn down the house I’ve lived in for years and years.
.@donnabrazile respect your right to tell your story. Your timing, days before the 2017 election, could not be more selfish and worse.
I of all people know how hard you have to hustle to sell books these days but this is nuts @donnabrazile – are you gunning for Fox News gig? https://t.co/kWHEsMPwU9
That means Donna Brazile would’ve been cool not only ignoring SEVENTEEN million Clinton voters…but THIRTEEN million Sanders voters too. pic.twitter.com/3yQZ1aGSJm
Singer/songwriter MILCK has released an empowering new studio recording of her anthem “Quiet,” the unofficial anthem of January’s historic Women’s March On Washington.
Since January, the song has gone on to become a cathartic pop anthem for people of all races, creeds, and colors who have suffered and survived in the face of trauma, trial, and tribulation.
The new version, which was inspired by the song’s impact on survivors around the globe since its initial release in January, is available now at all digital download sites.
In a touching letter to her fans, MILCK writes:
“In light of the Harvey Weinstein scandals sparking a massive movement of women and survivors speaking out against sexual assault, I find myself in awe and moved to my core. I have teamed up with Atlantic Records to create a hopeful, new version that incorporates survivors singing with me.
“I’ve seen this song help survivors speak out after the Women’s March, and I believe that the new version has the power to encourage and empower all those thinking of coming forward at this time. It’s my gesture of support and encouragement to all the survivors rising. It’s my musical #METOO.”
Last week MILCK also launched the #ICantKeepQuiet Fund, an extension of her activism and philanthropic work aimed at supporting the self-proclaimed misfits, survivors, and dreamers of the world.
The Fund is supported by donations from the #ICantKeepQuiet global community, portions of MILCK’s ticket sales, proceeds from special merchandise items, and more.
Lots of excitement in Hillary Hater Land this week as it seemed like former Democratic National Committee head Donna Brazile cracked open a “terrible secret” – that the Hillary Clinton campaign had somehow hijacked the DNC for her own purposes before she was even the nominee for the party.
This all came to light as an excerpt from Brazile’s upcoming book was published earlier this week.
Cries of “Rigged!” rang out among “Bernie Bros” and Republicans alike.
“See! She was dishonest. Lock her up!”
Turns out the memo Donna Brazile referenced applied only to the general election. This kind of memo/agreement has been standard operating procedure for the DNC for 15 years.
Here’s part of the memo that no one really took time to read:
“Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to violate the DNC’s obligation of impartiality and neutrality through the Nominating process. All activities performed under this agreement will be focused exclusively on preparations for the General Election and not the Democratic Primary.”
You will note that the entire agreement pertains only to the General Election, not the primary season.
The cash-strapped DNC needed Hillary Clinton’s impressive fundraising powers in 2015. And so, they agreed to give her campaign input on some party hiring and spending decisions but related only to preparations for the general election, not the primary season.
It turns out Bernie Sanders signed the exact same agreement.
So, move along folks. Yet another example of “nothing to see here.”
Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon shared this on Twitter:
The reality is, the reason Bernie never raised into a joint general election fund w/ the DNC is because he never expected to win the primary— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) November 4, 2017
Incredibly photogenic Indiana teacher Tell Williams dresses up for Halloween every year. In past years, he’s donned Peter Pan and Robin costumes to amuse his students.
The cool thing is he lets his students pick the costume each year.
This year, Spiderman was the choice of the kids – and the internet.
As you can see above, Williams carried off the Peter Parker persona like a champ. He certainly gets my “Spidey-senses” tingling.
Not only is he a superhero on Halloween, he is every day living his life authentically as an openly gay man at school.
Williams told Gay Star News, “They’re young so they don’t really understand different marriage dynamics. I just say “In my family, there are two Dads.” It’s about normalizing it. I want my students to know all families are built differently. It helps build tolerance and understanding.”
One more thing: just to cover bases, Williams added that he wore sweats at school so as not to make any parents uncomfortable. See below.
“Netflix will not be involved with any further production of House of Cards that includes Kevin Spacey,” a spokesman for Netflix said in a statement. “We will continue to work with MRC during this hiatus time to evaluate our path forward as it relates to the show.”
Production on the sixth season of “House of Cards” was suspended Tuesday following a Buzzfeed report that accused Spacey of assaulting actor Anthony Rapp in 1986 when the “Star Trek: Discovery” actor was 14 years old.
On Thursday, Spacey was dropped by CAA and his longtime publicist, Staci Wolfe. On Friday, Scotland Yard opened an investigation into the veteran actor in response to an allegation that he sexually assaulted a male thesp in London.
As Variety exclusively reported, Netflix is mulling a “House of Cards” spinoff in an attempt to save its flagship series.
Additionally, the Gore Vidal biopic planned by Netflix to star Spacey may very well be canned.
• Woofy Steve Raider (above) wants to know “Who’s your daddy wolf?”
• 40% of America’s homeless youth are LGBT. And to help, AT&T recently launched its Live Proud Holidays campaign to support Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund in their work to end LGBT youth homelessness. Click here to find out how you can support and participate.
• After two appearances on Will & Grace during the show’s initial run, might Cher willingly grace the NBC series one more time?
• 8 House of Cards employees accuse Kevin Spacey of sexual harassment/assault.
• CNN is now looking at putting up a subscription paywall like several major newspapers have done. The New York Times and Washington Post allow ten free articles to be read before being blocked. Wall Street Journal gives you nothing free. Thoughts? Post below.
• Out professional athletes Robbie Rogers (MLS) and Jason Collins (former NBA) share their coming out stories as part of the “One Stride, Many Journeys” series by Barefoot Wine + Out. Watch below.
With the original stars of Kinky Boots back in the Broadway company of the hit musical for a limited 15-week engagement, it’s no wonder the Tony Award-winning composer of the show Cyndi Lauper would take time to reflect and reimagine one of the most impactful songs in the show.
Via press release:
Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award winning artist and activist Cyndi Lauper today released the poignant music video for “Not My Father’s Son,” the heartbreaking and inspiring song from her smash hit, Tony Award winning musical, Kinky Boots.
Lauper re-imagined the song, producing and arranging a new, acoustic version of the track, which features original cast members Billy Porter and Stark Sands, released today by Sony Masterworks Broadway.
The music video, which Lauper conceived and directed herself, features gives visual to one of the most important songs from the hit show – telling the story of two very different people from wildly different backgrounds who find common ground through their shared trauma. Exploring the pressure of growing up with a parent’s very narrow expectations, the song celebrates finding peace in your own skin. The video, shot in stark black and white on New York City streets, only leaps into color as the two men, who are on a physical as well as metaphorical journey, are reunited in their safe space.
“Now felt like the right time to do this,” Lauper explained. “I wanted to tell the story of two totally different men, from different walks of life, that come together to realize that it’s our differences that should bring us together. That’s inspiring. And I think we could all use some of that these days… It’s also a great way to welcome Billy and Stark back to Broadway!”
Porter and Sand continue in Kinky Boots on Broadway through January 7, 2018.
