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Plumber Hooks Up With Closeted Gay Man Then Attempts Blackmail Him

(stock photo – not the guilty perp in the story below)

We all know that well-worn porn scenario of the hunky plumber who shows up to fix a ‘leaky faucet’ and then, badda-bing-badda-boom!

A plumber in the UK took that idea and flipped the script a bit by hooking up with a closeted, married gay man and then tried to extort blackmail to keep his secret.

Benjamin Muskett, a 31-year-old in Chester England, pleaded guilty in court to attempting to blackmail a married man over a sexual tryst in the country.

Muskett apparently spent months corresponding with his victim, who was only identified as ‘Mr. X’ in court papers, via a gay hookup site.

The two finally agreed to meet on Sunday, September 2.

According to the Chester Standard, Muskett got into the victim’s car, and after a brief conversation agreed to head out to the country for privacy.

After parking so that they could see any approaching cars, Muskett allowed Mr. X to perform “a sex act” on him in the car.

Along the way there was apparently a bit of pretending to fix a flat tire. Now, there’s a euphemism for you.

Once the deed was done, they headed back to town and parted company.

But then, Muskett contacted Mr. X and told him he’d recorded the sexcapade and wanted £5,000 in cash to keep the closeted man’s secret.

Frightened his friends and family would find out about the meet up, Mr. X contacted the police.

When the police arrested Muskett he admitted he’d never actually recorded the encounter. Yep, it was just a bluff.

Muskett eventually told police he has a female partner and children and he needed money to support them.

The judge, who called the crime “particularly vicious because it was planned and deliberate,” sentenced Muskett to 3 years in prison.

(h/t Chester Standard)

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The Daily Show: “Trump’s Most Powerful Tool Is That He Knows How To Wield ‘Victimhood'”

“Trump’s most powerful tool is that he knows how to wield victimhood. He knows how to offer victimhood to the people who have the least claim to it.”

The Daily Show host Trevor Noah took time between takes to speak to his studio audience about Donald Trump’s ability and talent to turn victimhood against accusers in this new world.

As Noah wisely notes, “People felt, because of Trump, like they were losing their country. They felt like America was losing. ‘Feeling’ is often times more powerful than what is actually happening.”

“One of the richest men in the world and he’s like, ‘We’re losing folks. The game is rigged.'”

“You’re a billionaire, Trump. You were a billionaire at 8-years-old. How are you losing?”

This is really worth your time.

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Brett Kavanaugh Pens Op-Ed: “I Might Have Been Too Emotional At Times”

Judge Brett Kavanaugh

U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh penned a last-minute op-ed for the conservative Wall Street Journal defending his defensive and pointed Senate Judiciary Committee testimony last week.

From The Wall Street Journal:

My hearing testimony was forceful and passionate. That is because I forcefully and passionately denied the allegation against me.

At times, my testimony—both in my opening statement and in response to questions—reflected my overwhelming frustration at being wrongly accused, without corroboration, of horrible conduct completely contrary to my record and character. My statement and answers also reflected my deep distress at the unfairness of how this allegation has been handled.

I was very emotional last Thursday, more so than I have ever been. I might have been too emotional at times. I know that my tone was sharp, and I said a few things I should not have said.

I hope everyone can understand that I was there as a son, husband and dad. I testified with five people foremost in my mind: my mom, my dad, my wife, and most of all my daughters.

It’s notable that Kavanaugh chose two Murdoch-owned media outlets to make his case: Fox News for his TV interview and Wall Street Journal for his op-ed.

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WATCH: First Senate Vote On Kavanaugh Scheduled For This Morning

Brett Kavanaugh

After rough and tumble political upheaval, the U.S. Senate will begin to vote on the nomination of Judge Brett Kavansugh to the U. S. Supreme Court today.

According to many political reporters, Republicans have 48 of the 50 votes (Vice President Mike Pence would become the 51st in case of a tie) to approve Kavanaugh.

There are four unannounced senators at this time. Three Republicans – Sens. Jeff Flake, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski – and West Virginia Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin.

The GOP needs just two of them.

The first cloture vote is scheduled for 10:30AM ET/7:30AM PT.

Watch the live feed below.

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Brain Break: Adam Rippon Riffs On The Return Of Pumpkin Spice

Ah, October.

When most of the U.S. finally falls into autumn and a whole bunch of folks do a happy dance for all things pumpkin spice.

In fact, the venerable Pumpkin Spice Latte is already back in residency at Starbucks marking the 15th consecutive year of the concoction, which the coffee giant says is its most popular seasonal beverage.

With that in mind, Cosmopolitan asked Olympic bronze medalist Adam Rippon to sample several different pumpkin spice products as part of their ongoing “Adam Rippon Riffs On” series.

Of course, you have to begin with the aforementioned PSL from Starbucks, which Rippon awards a healthy “4 pumpkins.”

Next up, pumpkin spiced Kahlua which clearly takes awesome Adam by surprise. “Shut the video down, this is f**king amazing,” raves Rippon.

He then pours the liquer into the latte, and bam! We have a 5-pumpkin winner!

Rippon moves on to food next tasting a pumpkin spice bagel with pumpkin spice cream cheese. Who wants to guess how that works out?

Annnnd, back to the Kahlua latte.

Pumpkin spice Frosted Flakes with pumpkin spice almond beverage? #seriously?

The cereal acquits itself well, but the almond beverage is apparently some serious version of nasty.

In fact, there’s only one way to salvage this breakfast. Want to take a guess?

Take a four minute brain break and watch our favorite self-declared “America’s sweetheart” take on pumpkin spice below.

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Song Of The Day: Janis Siegel & Fred Hersh “Agua”

Michael Caprio

A bit of #TBT action today as the above pic of hubby Michael came up as a reminder on Facebook today and it totally took me back in time to when we first met.

It was 1994. Michael and I had just begun to date long distance after meeting in Minneapolis at the recording session for the revival of Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing bound for the Great White Way (my first Broadway show).

Michael was the 25-year-old vice president of publicity for the record label that handled the recording.

A couple of weeks into dating I realized I didn’t have a pic of Michael. Remember, this was pre-internet days.

He sent me a test polaroid pic from a photo shoot he’d just overseen for a new album, Slow Hot Wind, by Janis Siegel of the Manhattan Transfer and jazz pianist Fred Hersh.

I still have the polaroid in my office.

And I loved the album when it came out.

p.s. Michael and I celebrate our 24th anniversary this month, which is pretty cool 🙂

Check out “Agua” from Slow Hot Wind below.

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Poll: 68% Of Americans Favor Businesses That Show Support For LGBTQ Equality

Last June, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of anti-LGBTQ baker, Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop, many saw the decision as a symbolic setback for the LGBTQ community.

But a new Harris Poll shows a majority of Americans feels the federal government and private sector should do more to protect LGBTQ rights.

The survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults indicates 70% support a federal law protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations and credit.

Respondents overwhelmingly said businesses should not discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation (81%) or their gender identity (80%).

In fact, 75% of Americans feel that when a business opens it’s doors to the public, everyone should be served equally.

The poll also showed 68% of Americans say they would favor, and be more likely to shop at, businesses that openly support LGBTQ equality.

But its not all sunny news, as 20% of of those polled believe businesses should be able to deny services based on race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or disability.

And 25% say business owners should be allowed to refuse services to certain customers if that would be in opposition to their religious beliefs.

Last November, a campaign known as Open To All was launched in order to boost awareness of discriminatory business practices.

Businesses who support the campaign make public their pledge to treat everyone fairly and can display signs in their windows with the hashtag #OpenToAll.

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FBI Investigation ‘Complete,’ Republicans Say Time To Move On To Kavanaugh Vote

Judge Brett Kavanaugh

Well, that was quick.

The ‘new’ FBI investigation into allegations that Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, sexually assaulted Dr. Christine Blasey Ford when the were teens, is done say Senate Republicans.

The report, which will not be released to the public, is available for all 100 U.S. Senators to review, albeit for only an hour.

And one at a time, as only one copy has been made available in an effort to ensure it’s not leaked to the public.

There are apparently 46 pages of interview summaries in the report, with nine pages devoted to Kavanaugh’s former bestie, Mark Judge, who agreed to cooperate.

Ford says Judge was in the room years ago when the alleged assault took place.

Republicans say there’s nothing new to see.

“There’s nothing in it that we didn’t already know,” Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said in a statement Thursday. “These uncorroborated accusations have been unequivocally and repeatedly rejected by Judge Kavanaugh, and neither the Judiciary Committee nor the F.B.I. could locate any third parties who can attest to any of the allegations.”

But Democrats counter that there’s nothing in the report that makes them believe Ford’s allegations any less.

Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley tweeted, “I read the FBI report. This whole thing is a sham. This stunted, strangled investigation was designed to provide cover, not to provide the truth.”

According to The New York Times, several leads and identified witnesses were not interviewed.

In any case, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already scheduled preliminary votes in the full Senate regarding Kavanaugh’s nomination.

The Times notes that Senators Jeff Flake of Arizona and Susan Collins of Maine, two important Republican swing votes, have indicated they seem satisfied with the report, although neither have announced how they ultimately plan to vote on Kavanaugh’s nomination.

Interestingly, Axios reports that the Kavanaugh debacle seems to have tightened several races in the upcoming midterm elections as the issue seems to have energized Republicans in states like Montana, Indiana, West Virginia, Missouri and Tennessee.

Plus, a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released yesterday found that the “wide Democratic enthusiasm advantage that has defined the 2018 campaign up to this point has disappeared.”

While last month the Democrats appeared to hold a double-digit lead over Republicans in a generic ballot, that lead has now dropped to only 6 points.