LGBTQ news and entertainment
President Trump took to the Twitter battlefield today to rant at the “failing” New York Times regarding his communication (or not) with the President of China.
The failing @nytimes does major FAKE NEWS China story saying “Mr.Xi has not spoken to Mr. Trump since Nov.14.” We spoke at length yesterday!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 10, 2017
When, in fact, the acknowledgment is in the first sentence of the article…
Is this a reading comprehension issue?
#winning
The day after Merriam-Webster officially added “throw shade” to the dictionary, Hillary Clinton trolls Donald Trump with classic “shade” regarding the 3-0 thumping he received from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
One week after the Boy Scouts of America announced the organization would now accept transgender boys to be scouts, 9 year old Joe Maldonado put on his Cub Scout uniform and joined Pack 20 in Maplewood, NJ.
From NorthJersey.com:
Scouting’s decision to change its longtime policy came about a month after The Record reported that Joe had been thrown out of a Cub Scout pack in Secaucus last year because he was born a girl. The decision was at least in part a response to the national debate generated by that story.
“This is fun; I’m so proud,” Joe, 9, said during the meeting. He said that the best part of the night was that “I am accepted, and I’m actually in Boy Scouts.”
The leader of Joe’s new Scouting pack, which serves Maplewood and South Orange, said after the meeting that Joe’s presence was “historic” because he had become Scouting’s first openly transgender member. He praised Joe for showing “an immense amount of courage.”
Kyle Hackler, the leader of his new pack, helped him put on his uniform and kerchief, and taught him the Cub Scout salute and oath. The meeting was held at the Clinton Elementary school in Maplewood.
“This means you’re the same as Scouts all over the world,” Hackler said to Joe.
Watch Joe’s happy face as he wears his Cub Scout uniform for the first time here.
Bad news as the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rules against the Trump administration’s immigration policy.
From the Washington Post:
A federal appeals court has maintained the freeze on President Trump’s controversial immigration order, meaning previously barred refugees and citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries can continue entering the U.S.
A panel with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit upheld the ruling of U.S. District Judge James Robart, who had decided Friday that Trump’s temporary travel ban should be put on hold. The Department of Homeland Security soon suspended all enforcement of Trump’s controversial directive.
The Justice Department, representing the Trump administration, could now ask the Supreme Court — which often defers to the president on matters of immigration and national security — to intervene. The Supreme Court, though, remains one justice short, and many see it as ideologically split 4-4. A tie would keep in place whatever the appeals court decides.
Judge Michelle Taryn Friedland, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, asked a Justice Department lawyer if the government had “pointed to any evidence connecting these countries with terrorism.”
Judge Richard Clifton, a President George W. Bush appointee, noted that the government already had processes in place to screen people coming from those countries and asked, “Is there any reason for us to think that there’s a real risk or that circumstances have changed such that there’s a real risk?”
While most expect Trump to head to the Supreme Court (his ego couldn’t handled anything less), lots of legal experts say Trump should take the time to rewrite the policy in a way that passes legal muster.
I should add that the ban was intended to be temporary – only 90 and 120 days. So, while this takes time to be worked out, I’m assuming Team Trump is still going about the business of evaluating immigration processes, yes? If the point was to hit ‘pause’ temporarily to figure out how to vet immigrants more precisely, then that work should still be going on.
UPDATE – Trump took little time rushing to Twitter:
SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2017
Alec Baldwin heads back to hosting duties at Saturday Night Live for the 17th time – more than any other guest host.
And in this promo, Baldwin promises this week’s show will be “a big deal.”
What can we expect? Perhaps more Melissa McCarthy as White House press secretary Sean Spicer? Or – even better – the rumored Rosie O’Donnell characterization of Trump strategist Steve Bannon?
Whatever SNL serves up, one thing is for sure: I know a certain orange-skinned politician who’ll be watching…
.@NBCNews is bad but Saturday Night Live is the worst of NBC. Not funny, cast is terrible, always a complete hit job. Really bad television!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2017
Watch the promo below, and don’t miss SNL this weekend with Baldwin and musical guest Ed Sheeran:
During today’s White House press briefing, Trump spokesman Sean Spicer was asked about Kellyanne Conway’s “free commercial” for Ivanka Trump’s Nordstrom fashion line (which is being dropped) on FOX News.
According to Sparky Spicer, “She’s been counseled on that subject.” And then he quickly moved on.
Ethics experts weighed in all morning saying Conway clearly violated federal law which prohibits federal employees from “endorsement of any product, service or enterprise, or for the private gain of friends, relatives, or persons with whom the employee is affiliated in a nongovernmental capacity.”
Watch Spicer below:
“She’s been counseled on that subject and that’s it,” Spicer says on Kellyanne Conway’s Ivanka Trump plug https://t.co/OTUmlnUM6u pic.twitter.com/3YWblvtlSC— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 9, 2017
Uber-talented out singer/songwriter shares his latest single, “Castles.”
From Eli:
Lately I have been very inspired to write songs that will help people feel empowered. Right now there are so many of us that feel broken down and lost and I hope this song helps people feel like they can build their strength up again, never lose hope, take the hard times and use them as a tool to build your own Castle!
Eli’s songs (like “Young Love,” “Lightning In A Bottle,” “Zeppelin”) have a permanent place on my play lists. I’ve featured Eli’s music on The Randy Report many times – here, here, here and here.
Eli has been sharing covers songs on his Youtube channel of late. On his Facebook page, Lieb promises “Castles” is just a taste of more original music to come this year 🙂
Breitbart, President Trump’s favorite white nationalist media outlet, flexed it’s muscles yesterday supporting a boycott of Nordstrom department store after reports that Ivanka Trump’s fashion line was being dropped.
Please note:
Nordstrom stock yesterday: $42.33
Nordstrom stock right now: $45.42
Nordstrom stock continued to rally Thursday, powering up 4.1% in midday trade, after senior White House advisor Kellyanne Conway shilled on Fox News, “Go buy Ivanka’s stuff.”
Nordstrom stock are now up nearly 5% on the week, compared to the S&P 500 which has gained only 0.5%.
#BoycottNordstomMyAss
Ethics experts are amazed at a promotional shout out from White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway today on FOX News.
Kellyanne Conway used an interview from the White House this morning to officially endorse the Ivanka Trump product line at Nordstrom department store, a clear violation of federal law.
A federal employee (that would be Ms. Conway) may not “use his public office for his own private gain [or] for the endorsement of any product, service or enterprise, or for the private gain of friends, relatives, or persons with whom the employee is affiliated…”
And this was clearly an endorsement. Conway said, “This is just wonderful line. I own some of it. I fully — I’m going to give a free commercial here. Go buy it today, everybody. You can find it online.”
UPDATE – Congressman Elijah Cummings has sent a formal request for potential disciplinary action regarding Conway’s “free commercial.” See below – click on image to enlarge.
