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Media Matters To CNN: Cut Ties With Corey Lewandowski

How is it possible that former Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski is still receiving pay from the Trump campaign while currently on payroll at CNN as “political analyst?”

From Media Matters:

CNN hired Corey Lewandowski in late June after Donald Trump relieved him of duties as campaign manager. What looked at first like an indefensible hire has mushroomed into perhaps the worst conflict-of-interest problem in the history of cable news. It’s time to send a message to Jeff Zucker and CNN: Cut ties with Corey Lewandowski at once.

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Out Music: Jonathan Allen “Amen”

Jonathan Allen, openly gay semifinalist from Season 8 of “America’s Got Talent” Season 8, has released his first single since his appearances on AGT, “Amen.”

During his initial audition for AGT, Allen shared that he was thrown out of his house at the age of 18 when his parents told him being gay was “sinful” and that living openly as a gay man meant he would have to leave. The resulting eviction left him homeless.

He made it to the semi-finals of AGT during the summer of 2013 with powerful yet emotionally vulnerable performances of pop/classical crossover material (“Time To Say Goodbye”) and stirring Broadway ballads  (“The Impossible Dream,” “Bring Him Home”).

Via press release:

For the last year, Jonathan has based himself out of Albuquerque, NM where he has established his business and worked on his music. Since his appearance on the show he has matured in his musical endeavors. Combined with strikingly original music and euphoric live performances; he has become recognized as one of the most captivating artists around.

“AMEN was primarily arranged and produced in my home and speaks to the many trials and tribulations that we all face, but is an LGBT liberation song at its heart, said Allen.

“The song touches on several issues that surround the community in day-to-day life, and in the political realm. The song attempts to chip away at many issues by starting a dialogue that shows people we all can believe the same things, deal with the same things, and be torn apart by the very same things that should bring us together,” continued Allen.

“Despite the title, AMEN is a song that transcends any one belief system. It is not so much about Christianity as it is about breaking free from hatred and celebrating love on this Earth in the highest form possible,” concluded Allen.

Allen’s already impressive voice sounds even more reassured since his AGT days. The slightly religious bent isn’t my thing, but there’s no denying the power and depth of his voice.

You can listen to “Amen” below, along with his impressive debut on AGT.

Find the track on iTunes here.

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“Young Frankenstein/Willy Wonka” Star Gene Wilder Dead At 83

Gene Wilder

Is it possible that when you’ve inspired countless belly laughs through decades of sterling film work,  that the impact of passing away registers even more acutely?

That’s how I feel upon hearing the news that comic genius Gene Wilder passed away today at his home in Connecticut due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

Via USA Today:

Wilder was unforgettably funny in such classics as The Producers, Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles, his frizzy hair enveloping his head like a halo, his voice rising to a shriek when the role called for panic. And his roles usually did.

He was a specialist at playing panicked characters caught up in schemes that only a madman such as Brooks could devise, whether reviving a monster in Young Frankenstein or bilking Broadway in The Producers.

But he also knew how to keep it cool as the boozy sheriff in Blazing Saddles and as the charming candy man in the children’s favorite Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

Wilder was twice nominated for the Academy Award: first for his performance in The Producers, second for co-authoring the screenplay for Young Frankenstein.

His last acting assignment was on the hit TV show “Will & Grace” during the 2003-04 season. He won an Emmy Award for that performance.

Wilder’s family issued a statement which read in part:

“We understand for all the emotional and physical challenges this situation presented we have been among the lucky ones — this illness-pirate, unlike in so many cases, never stole his ability to recognize those that were closest to him, nor took command of his central-gentle-life affirming core personality. The decision to wait until this time to disclose his condition wasn’t vanity, but more so that the countless young children that would smile or call out to him “there’s Willy Wonka,” would not have to be then exposed to an adult referencing illness or trouble and causing delight to travel to worry, disappointment or confusion. He simply couldn’t bear the idea of one less smile in the world.”

Countless tributes will undoubtedly pour in. The Twitterverse is already acknowledging the loss:

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Trump Campaign Spot Features New World Trade Center

Check out Donald Trump’s latest campaign ad – which will run in nine swing states – Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, New Hampshire, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and Nevada – to the tune of $10 million.

While the 30 second clip depicts two different future “Americas” – one failing under Hillary Clinton, the other bright and shiny under the Trumpster – the folks over at Right Wing Watch noticed near the end of the spot the inclusion of the new 1 World Trade Center.

The tower’s inclusion in the ad is curious because Trump himself was a vocal opponent of the One World Trade Center project, claiming in 2005 that design of the tower let “the terrorists win.”

“I don’t want to have the terrorists win … and that’s what’s going to happen if we build this pile of junk,” he said.

Trump had proposed instead building a taller version of the Twin Towers, calling the design that was ultimately chosen “disgusting,” “just terrible,” “a catastrophe” and “the worst pile of crap architecture I have ever seen in my life.”

The spot also makes a point to include an African-American family next to the U.S. flag.

So subtle.

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Monmouth University Poll: Hillary Clinton Holds 7 Point Lead Over Donald Trump

Monmouth University poll shows Democrat Hillary Clinton currently leads Republican Donald Trump by 7 points in the survey’s latest results.

Clinton snagged 46% support versus Trump’s 39%.

Third party candidates remain in the single digits with Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson at 7% and Green Party’s Jill Stein at 2%.

Those numbers make it unlikely that they will make the presidential debate stage. The debate commission rules state that candidates have to average at least 15% across five major polls to qualify for the debate stage.

While the two major candidates both have low “favorable” scores and high “unfavorables,” Clinton does better than Trump in both categories.

In the current poll, 34% of voters have a favorable opinion of Clinton and 51% have an unfavorable view of her.

Even fewer (26%) have a favorable opinion of Trump and 57% have an unfavorable view of him.

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Streisand Visits Her Funny Girl Dressing Room On Broadway

Very sweet moment as Barbra Streisand visits her Funny Girl dressing room on Broadway for the first time in 50 years.

I visited that very dressing room 30 years ago when I was rehearsing for the national touring company of CATS and the Broadway production was playing at the Winter Garden Theater.

Via CBS’ “Sunday Morning:”

In this web exclusive, the singer who became a superstar in the 1960s Broadway musical “Funny Girl” visited her old haunts at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City, including the dressing room now occupied by “School of Rock” star Sierra Boggess.

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Huma Abedin Announces Separation From Husband Anthony Weiner

Anthony Weiner and wife Huma Abedin

Disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner has done it again.

After being caught in a sexting scandal back in 2011, Weiner was forced to resign from Congress.

Some folks never learn nothing.

From the New York Post:

While his wife, Huma Abedin, travels the country campaigning for Hillary Clinton, the disgraced ex-congressman has been sexting with a busty brunette out West — and even sent her a lurid crotch shot with his toddler son in the picture, The Post has learned.

The stay-at-home cad shot the revealing photo while discussing massage parlors “near my old apartment” shortly after 3 a.m. on July 31, 2015, a screen shot of the exchange shows. Weiner was clearly aroused by his conversation with the 40-something divorcee when he abruptly changed the subject.

“Someone just climbed into my bed,” Weiner wrote. “Really?” she responded. Weiner then hit “send” on the cringe-inducing image, which shows a bulge in his white, Jockey-brand boxer briefs and his son cuddled up to his left, wrapped in a light-green blanket.

The object of Weiner’s affections is his polar opposite politically: a self-avowed supporter of Donald Trump and the National Rifle Association who’s used Twitter to bash both President Obama and Clinton.

The exchanges between Weiner and this woman have apparently been going on since February 2015.

Moments ago, Abedin announced she is separating from Weiner:

“After long and painful consideration and work on my marriage, I have made the decision to separate from my husband. Anthony and I remain devoted to doing what is best for our son, who is the light of our life. During this difficult time, I ask for respect for our privacy.”

As many know, Abedin is a long-time aide to Hillary Clinton. Wait for Donald Trump to politicize this indiscretion for his own gain in 3, 2, 1…