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The Return Of Kevin Spacey: “You Wouldn’t Believe The Worst Without Evidence, Would You?”

Kevin Spacey

Kevin Spacey briefly returned to his House of Cards role of “Frank Underwood” in a video posted to his YouTube channel that has lots of folks scratching their heads.

The actor, who was fired from the hit Netflix series amid several allegations of sexual impropriety, speaks to the camera in the same style utilized by ‘Frank’ with language that could apply both to his character’s sudden death and his own personal legal challenges.

According to The Boston Globe, Spacey is scheduled to be arraigned on January 7 in Nantucket regarding a criminal complaint of indecent assault and battery that allegedly happened in July 2016.

A link to the video was tweeted out by Spacey (his first tweet in a year) minutes after the Globe’s story was published.

In the video, titled “Let Me Be Frank,” the 59-year-old begins by staring at the viewer saying, “Oh, I know what you want.”

“Oh sure, they may have tried to separate us, but what we have is too strong, too powerful,” he continues.

Is he talking about himself and the audience? Or himself and ‘Frank?’

Referencing his “deepest, darkest secrets,” the Academy Award winner says, “I showed you exactly what people are capable of.”

He also says he knows what his audience wants – “You want me back.”

He then takes a turn, sharing, “Of course, some believed everything and they’ve been waiting with bated breath to hear me confess it all.”

“They’re just dying to have me declare that everything said was ‘true’ and that I got what I deserved,” Spacey laments without directly mentioning the real-world allegations. “Wouldn’t that be easy, if it were all so simple?”

“You wouldn’t believe the worst without evidence, would you?”

“You wouldn’t rush to judgements without facts, would you?”

“Despite all the poppycock, the animosity, the headlines, the impeachment without a trial, despite everything, despite even my own death, I feel surprisingly good,” Spacey says referencing Frank’s death. “And my confidence grows each day that soon enough you will know the full truth.”

Clearly, Spacey is attempting to offer his own House of Cards finale, but there’s a wink of the eye in his choice of words and timing of the video.

Interestingly, most commenters on the YouTube page are raving, saying the ‘scene’ was much better than the actual final season of House of Cards.

Watch the three-minute video below and let me know what you think in the comments section.

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“Ex-Gay” App Dropped From Apple’s Online Store After Petition Protest

So-called ‘ex-gay therapy’ can lead to anxiety, depression & suicide
(stock photo via Depositphotos)

An app promoting so-called “conversion therapy” has been removed from Apple’s App Store one day after LGBTQ advocacy group Truth Wins Out (TWO) launched a campaign in protest.

Non-profit Christian organization Living Hope Ministries had developed and promoted the free app for over three years, according to The Dallas Morning News.

But once the folks at TWO, which fights the ‘ex-gay’ myth, discovered the app, it was time for action.

A Change.org petition was launched asking Apple to remove the app from its store citing the many organizations (American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association to name a few) that oppose the practice as multiple studies show it can lead to anxiety, depression, and self-destructive behavior, including suicide.

In their petition, TWO asked, “Why would Apple allow its online store to be used as a platform to promote such dangerous, homophobic garbage?”

The app was dropped from Apple’s App Store the next day.

Apparently, the deletion occurred without notifying Living Hope Ministries.

Executive Director Ricky Chelette told The Dallas Morning News they plan to appeal the decision, adding, “I don’t know why they would have taken it down.”

On their website, Living Hope Ministries says its mission is “to proclaim God’s truth as we journey with those seeking sexual and relational wholeness through a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.”

In a statement, Truth Wins Out executive director Wayne Besen thanked Apple for “exemplifying corporate responsibility and taking swift action to remove a dangerous app that stigmatizes and demeans LGBT people.”

“Ex-gay programs are consumer fraud and cause significant harm to the people they purport to help,” he added.

The app is still available, though, on other digital platforms like Google and Amazon, and Besen is addressing those tech giants as well.

“Every minute this heinous product is available on these platforms, the potential exists for it to harm LGBT youth,” says Besen. “We demand that Google and Amazon immediately stop selling and promoting this app, which dehumanizes LGBT people.”

While Texas allows the harmful practice, conversion therapy has been banned for use on young people in 14 states as well as the District of Columbia.

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Brian Sims Calls Out GOP Lawmaker “Stop Lying. It’s Gross.”

Brian Sims calls out Senator-elect Marsha Blackburn for "lying" about the government shutdown and 'spinning' fake facts
Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims

Woofy Brian Sims of Pennsylvania does not suffer fools gladly.

It all began when Marsha Blackburn, the Tennessee Republican who was recently elected to the U.S. Senate, took to Twitter to blame Democrats for the shutdown of several federal departments and agencies.

“I am disappointed to see that the Senate Democrats chose to shut down our government instead of secure our southern border,” wrote Blackburn on Saturday. “The American people deserve to be protected against drug cartels and human traffickers.”

As has been widely reported, the current government shutdown occurred because Donald Trump reneged on an agreed upon bipartisan plan to fund the government until February.

But when far-right political pundits like Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter criticized Trump for not getting $5 billion to fund the beginning of his infamous wall along the Mexican border, it was more than Trump could take. And so, he reversed course demanding his ‘wall money.’

In a meeting ten days before the shutdown, Trump even told Democratic leaders Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer that he would be “proud” to shut down the government.

“I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck,” Trump told the Democrats in a televised meeting in the Oval Office. “Because the people of this country don’t want criminals and people who have lots of problems — and drugs — pouring into our country. I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. I’m not going to blame you for it.”

Sims, the hunky gay Democratic state lawmaker in Pennsylvania, called out Blackburn on Twitter for her “outright lie.”

“Marsha, all spin aside, this post is just an outright lie,” Sims clarified on Twitter. “It’s no a play on what really happened. It’s a complete fabrication. This is the kind of bold-faced lie that makes people hate politics and politicians. From one elected official to another: Stop Lying. It’s gross.”

Blackburn, who has been a Trump toadie for a long time, was merely repeating what her idol has been tweeting since the funding debacle bubbled up last week.

According to The New York Times, the Trump shutdown will likely last into the new year when a new Congress is sworn in and the Democrats take control of the House.

The shutdown has shuttered the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Housing and more. Some 400,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed as we head into Christmas.

My man Brian has never shied away from calling out GOP politicians for lying.

When anti-LGBTQ Vice President Mike Pence was heading into Philadelphia (Sims’ district) for a visit this past June, Sims ‘welcomed’ the veep with a controversial image giving Pence the finger.

“To be clear, we’re a City of soaring diversity. We believe in the power of all people to live and to contribute: Black, Brown, Queer, Trans, Atheist, Immigrant, we want you and we’ll respect you,” Sims wrote on Facebook. “So keep that in mind while you’re here raising money to attack more families, spread more lies, blaspheme with your bible, and maybe even talk to a woman without your wife in the room.”

I’ve been a fan of the woofy Sims for years. Let’s take a stroll through his Instagram, shall we?

A post shared by Brian Sims (@briansimspa) on Nov 5, 2018 at 4:05pm PST

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‘Will & Grace’ Serves Up Guest-Star Mashup Video

Patti LuPone guest starring on ‘Will & Grace’

Over the 8 years of its original run (plus the two reboot/revival seasons), Will & Grace has given us not only lots of laughs from the ‘fearsome foursome,’ but tons of great guest stars.

Patti LuPone, Rosie O’Donnell, Blythe Danner, Ellen DeGeneres, David Schwimmer, Matt Bomer and Adam Rippon have all dropped by the hit NBC series to take part in the hilarity.

Plus, we’ve gotten cameo spots by music icons like Elton John, Janet Jackson, Madonna, JLo, Britney Spears and the one-and-only Cher.

With so many guest stars, the series has shared this awesome mash-up of celeb visitors over the years.

The comedy champ is still going strong having already been confirmed for a third revival season for fall of 2019.

The current second revival season returns on January 31, 2019.

Who is your favorite W&G guest star? I’ll go first – the fabulous Blythe Danner (as Will’s mother) always made us giggle. Totally brilliant.

A post shared by Will & Grace (@nbcwillandgrace) on Nov 29, 2018 at 6:09pm PST

A post shared by Will & Grace (@nbcwillandgrace) on May 7, 2018 at 3:49pm PDT

A post shared by Will & Grace (@nbcwillandgrace) on Jun 5, 2018 at 10:19am PDT

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Stock Market Drops 400 Points After Treasury Secretary Checks On Banks Liquidity

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin

The U.S. stock market plummeted 400 points on opening this morning after it was revealed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin called the CEO’s of the nation’s largest bank to make sure they had enough cash in their vaults.

Economic experts were dumbfounded by the move.

So. Much. Winning.

From The Washington Post:

The Dow fell more than 400 points, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq slid deeper into bear territory.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had called the leaders of the nation’s six largest banks and later issued a statement declaring that the institutions had ample credit to extend to U.S. businesses and households. Analysts said the outreach and statement could backfire.

Stocks are on pace for their worst December since the Great Depression. On Friday, the Dow ended its worst week since 2008. The Nasdaq is in a bear market.

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Trump On Who Should Be Fired For Government Shutdown? “The President!”

As the Trump shutdown continues (and most likely will into the new year), let’s check in to see what Donald Trump once said about bearing the responsibility of a government shutdown:

Fox News – “If there is a shutdown, who should get fired?”

 Trump – “The President!”

There you go, Donald.

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Trump Complains Of “Presidential Harassment”

Donald Trump

Donald Trump retweeted praise for himself by homocon Tammy Bruce this morning, and in doing so repeated his new catch phrase, “presidential harassment.”

It’s funny – Trump was never shy about tweeting his own ‘presidential harassment’ of President Obama, was he?

Earlier this month, Trump used the same phrase to explain why his approval ratings aren’t better.

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Indonesia: Over 373 Killed After Deadly Tsunami

At least 373 people (figure updated since the above report) were killed after a tsunami struck Indonesia over the weekend, and fears are high that more massive waves could be on the way.

That’s because the volcano that triggered the tsunami is still erupting.

Survivors described fleeing for their lives from the wave that crashed — without warning — through beach resorts, homes and businesses. It washed away a pop band that was performing near the beach.

Hundreds were injured and more than two dozen people are missing.

Indonesia’s President ordered the country to buy tsunami early warning detectors. Despite a history of deadly tsunamis, Indonesia hasn’t had an effective early warning system for years.

(source)

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Podcast: Neighborhood Stands By Gay Family; Trump Administration Boots HIV+ Soldiers; High School Asst Principal Harasses Trans Student In Bathroom

In this week’s podcast:

• A neighborhood stands by their gay neighbors after the theft of a rainbow flag

• The Trump administration has begun kicking HIV+ soldiers out of the US military

• Ohio Gov. John Kasich did something no other Republican governor has done

• The world celebrates the 200th anniversary of ‘Silent Night’

All that and more on this episode of The Randy Report

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Daily Dance: New York City Ballet Hosts Workshops For Children With Disabilities

I love that the sheer joy of dance, of movement – something I spent my life enjoying – is celebrated and shared in workshops for children with disabilities hosted by the New York City Ballet.

In these bright afternoons, children with physical challenges can wear tutus and top hats, and experience the magic that is dance alongside principal dancers from the famed ballet company.

Sunday Morning’s Lesley Stahl talks with Dr. Joseph Dutkowsky, a specialist in cerebral palsy, and with parents of children sharing movement in a studio with live music and other dancers.