Category: Uncategorized

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Nancy Pelosi On Steve Bannon: A White Supremacist In The White House

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi issued this statement via press release:

“After winning the presidency but losing the popular vote, President-elect Trump must try to bring Americans together – not continue to fan the flames of division and bigotry.

“Bringing Steve Bannon into the White House is an alarming signal that President-elect Trump remains committed to the hateful and divisive vision that defined his campaign. There must be no sugarcoating the reality that a white nationalist has been named chief strategist for the Trump Administration.

“Democrats are committed to finding common ground for hard-working families. But we will stand our ground and strongly oppose attempts by this Administration to scapegoat and persecute Americans because of who they are, how they worship, or who they love.”

On the other side of politics, former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke said of Bannon joining Trump’s team, “I think that’s excellent.”

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Donald Trump “Saddened” To Hear Minorities Being Targeted After Election

During his interview with Lesley Stahl of CBS’ 60 Minutes last night, President-elect Donald Trump was “saddened” and surprised to learn of the harassment of minorities in the wake of his election.

And – “if it helps” – he asked his followers to stop it.

#IfItHelps

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Trailer: Disney’s “Beauty And The Beast”

Now seems a good time to take a mid-day brain break and check out the new trailer for the upcoming live-action incarnation of Beauty and the Beast from Disney, starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens.

The clip also includes our first peek at many of the talking objects that inhabit the castle, from Lumiere (Ewan McGregor) to Cogsworth (Ian McKellen).

The film hits theaters March 17.

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Team Trump: It’s Divisive To Point Out Our Senior Counselor Is A White Supremacist

Yesterday, the Trump transition team announced that Steve Bannon, of the “alt-right” website Breitbart will serve in the Trump administration as senior counselor and chief West Wing strategist.

The Bannon appointment raised many eyebrows in that Breibart is considered the “far right fringe” of conservative politics, and the website generally posts inflammatory white supremacist theories and worse.

Donald Trump communications director told CNN’s New Day host Chris Cuomo that pointing out Steve Bannon’s headlines and stories by white supremacists on his Breitbart website is “divisive.”

From Raw Story:

Miller attempted to parrot the new message from the Trump transition, claiming that he’s beyond attacking Mexicans, Muslims, women and all of the other groups targeted during the election. Instead, they want to move forward and bring the country together. “New Day” host Chris Cuomo couldn’t understand how that was possible with Bannon as Trump’s right-hand man.

Miller was bothered Cuomo would bring up something so divisive. “Again, I think that your focus on trying to divide people…”

Cuomo cut him off, “Not fair, Jason. Not fair. You put Bannon in position. Not me. I don’t put out the headlines on Breitbart. He does. He is seen as the architect of a very effective strategy that Donald Trump used during the election, which you guys now say needs to be left behind. But you’re bringing the architect of it with you. That’s not on me.”

And I predict that Donald Trump will “be under audit” by the IRS for at least the next four years, and thus unable to release his taxes. Ever.

Just saying…

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Team Trump “Surprised” At The Scope Of The Presidency

Apparently, folks in the Trump camp weren’t quite informed as to the “scope” of the presidency?

From The Week:

Donald Trump will be getting more help from the White House during the next several months than incoming presidents typically receive, The Wall Street Journal reports.

People with knowledge of Trump’s meeting on Thursday with President Obama told the Journal Obama realized that Trump, who has no experience in government or the military, will need more guidance, and he will spend more time with him than previously expected.

As Obama explained the duties that come along with running the country, “Trump seemed surprised by the scope,” the Journal reports, and Trump’s aides were also “unaware that the entire presidential staff working in the West Wing had to be replaced at the end of Mr. Obama’s term.”

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Breitbart Rumored To Be Courting Billy Bush

Billy Bush (L) with Donald Trump (R)

Billy Bush could be going from radioactive to hot again after President-elect Donald Trump’s surprise upset on Election Day. A source tells Page Six that Breitbart News — the conservative Web site that’s headed by Trump’s top adviser Steve Bannon — is interested in luring Bush for its coverage of Hollywood.

“They are trying to recruit Billy Bush,” said a media insider of Breitbart. “They want to expand covering Hollywood in a big way — and think Billy would be perfect for the job.”

As part of his settlement, Bush is not under any “noncompete clause,” so he can go to a “Today” competitor. But while Breitbart currently includes its Big Hollywood blog about the entertainment industry, it lacks a TV network. With Trump’s victory, Bush could be embraced by alt-conservatives, although he’s likely still toxic to traditional Hollywood liberal outlets so soon after the election.

Either way, “Billy’s ego is big,” said a media insider. “He likes to be a TV star, and would want to go to a rival like ABC or CBS.” (Since his firing, the only gig that’s even been rumored for Bush was an appearance on “Dancing With the Stars,” which sources shot down.)

(from PageSix)

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Trump: Marriage Equality Is ‘Settled Law,’ Roe V. Wade Is Not

President-elect Donald Trump continues to send mixed signals about his policy positions.

During the campaign, he said he would appoint judges to the Supreme Court who would overrule the Obergefell v. Hodges decision last year which brought marriage equality to the entire nation. “I would strongly consider that, yes,” he said in a January Fox News interview.

In his 60 Minutes interview last night, he told Lesley Stahl he’s “fine” with same-sex marriage.

“It’s law. It was settled in the Supreme Court. I mean it’s done.”

“These cases have gone to the Supreme Court. They’ve been settled. And I’m – I’m fine with that,” he added.

The Republican Party’s official platform, ratified by the party in July, opposes same-sex marriage, condemns the Supreme Court’s rulings in Obergefell v. Hodges and United States v. Windsor, and supports proposed “religious freedom” legislation that critics say would allow businesses to deny services to gay people.

During the very same interview, when asked if he would appoint a Supreme Court justice who would overturn Roe v. Wade, Trump said his judges will be “pro-life,” and suggested that decision could be overturned.

“If it ever were overturned, it would go back to the states,” Trump said.

Women seeking abortions would have to go “go to another state” for the procedure.

So, Obergefell is “settled law” but Roe v. Wade isn’t?

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Paul Ryan: I Hate That People Feel Afraid Of Our President-Elect

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on CNN’s State of the Nation today, addressing the fears of millions of Americans who have felt attacked and marginalized throughout the president-elect’s campaign.

“First of all, I hate that people feel this way, and second of all, they should not. America is a pluralistic, inclusive country. I really think that people should put their minds at ease.”

Regarding the reports of hate crimes and harassment against minorities since the election Ryan denounced the acts saying, “We are the party of Lincoln. People who espouse those views, we don’t want them in our party.”

Now if only Donald Trump would be as direct and forthcoming with a statement like that…

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SNL’s Brilliant Cold Open: “Hillary” Sings “Hallelujah”

Stone-cold brilliant.

One secret to great theatre is to take your audience on a ride, and then make a left turn that changes tone but keeps you on the same ride.

In a sober (not somber) tribute to the end of the election and the passing of legendary songwriter Leonard Cohen, Saturday Night Live’s cold opening featured Kate McKinnon in her “Hillary Clinton” wig and pantsuit seated at a piano singing Cohen’s iconic “Hallelujah.”

The pairing of the song with what many in the nation are feeling (including Hillary) about the election is quietly stunning.

Catch that last set of lyrics, unaltered:

I did my best, it wasn’t much
I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I’ll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah