Earlier today I shared that NBC News had spoken to several folks in the White House that say Chief of Staff John Kelly has referred to Donald Trump as an “idiot” on several occasions and could depart his position as soon as July.
As the story began to dominate the evening news, the Trumpster was clearly disturbed that anyone might view his administration (where people quit or are fired on a weekly basis) as anything but “smooth.”
Calling the story “unhinged,” Trump got in a swipe at the ongoing investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller (“witch hunt”) while bragging about “great Energy and unending Stamina.”
Classic Trump.
And hey – it’s just Monday!
The Fake News is going crazy making up false stories and using only unnamed sources (who don’t exist). They are totally unhinged, and the great success of this Administration is making them do and say things that even they can’t believe they are saying. Truly bad people!
The White House is running very smoothly despite phony Witch Hunts etc. There is great Energy and unending Stamina, both necessary to get things done. We are accomplishing the unthinkable and setting positive records while doing so! Fake News is going “bonkers!”
Jeremiah Brent (L), daughter Poppy and Nate Berkus (R) (Image via Twitter)
Out interior designer Nate Berkus’ and his partner Jeremiah Brent have a new show on TLC called Nate & Jeremiah By Design.
In only three episodes, the telegenic couple has already developed a wide audience.
But after the cable network shared a photo of Nate and Jeremiah with their daughter Poppy, former TLC personality Derick Duggar (remember the Duggars???) had a big problem calling them “a travesty” and lamenting the “perversions” being exposed to their child.
What a travesty of family. It’s sad how blatant the liberal agenda is, such that it both highlights and celebrates a lifestyle so degrading to children on public television as if it should be normal. https://t.co/xicRm1nsW7
They affect this poor child, as well as what perversions are celebrated. If it were adultery, I doubt a network would be so quick to focus on the reality of it as if it were ok.
However, Nate responded on Twitter, taking the high road:
My hope with having a show like #NandJByDesign on @TLC, where we go into people’s homes and welcome viewers into ours, is that we can start to break down barriers & normalize the way our family looks & the way our family loves. @JeremiahBrentpic.twitter.com/NsCAeh1nxb
Nathan Brake (R) asks his bf of 6 years, Mitchell Baines (L) to marry him live on The Voice Australia
The Voice Australia had some romantical excitement when a contestant proposed to his boyfriend during this weekend’s episode.
Marriage equality is newly-legal in the land down-under, having come into effect in January.
Singer Nathan Brake was about to announce his choice of judge after knocking out a killer cover of Nick Jonas’ “Jealous,” but hit pause to announce another decision he’d made.
Brake called for his partner, Mitchell Baines, who was waiting in the wings to come out onstage.
“I just wanted to bring you out here, because we’ve had a beautiful six years together,” said Brake, thrilling the judges and live audience with the impending marriage proposal.
Judge Kelly Rowland offered to sing “When Love Takes Over” at the couple’s nuptials, regardless of which judge he chose.
In the end, Baines said ‘yes’ and Brake joined Delta Goodrem’s team for the talent competition.
NBC Newsreports that Donald Trump and his Chief of Staff, John Kelly, have grown tired of each other and Kelly could make his exit from the White House as early as July.
White House chief of staff John Kelly has eroded morale in the West Wing in recent months with comments to aides that include insulting the president’s intelligence and casting himself as the savior of the country, according to eight current and former White House officials.
The officials said Kelly portrays himself to Trump administration aides as the lone bulwark against catastrophe, curbing the erratic urges of a president who has a questionable grasp on policy issues and the functions of government. He has referred to Trump as “an idiot” multiple times to underscore his point, according to four officials who say they’ve witnessed the comments.
Three White House spokespeople said they don’t believe it’s accurate that Kelly called the president an “idiot,” adding that none of them has ever heard him do that or otherwise use that word.
The last time it became public that one of Trump’s top advisers insulted his intelligence behind his back, it didn’t go over well with the president. White House aides have said Trump never got over former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson calling him a “moron” in front of colleagues, which was first reported by NBC News. Trump later challenged Tillerson to an IQ test and fired him several months after the remark became public.
Kelly, a retired four-star general, is Trump’s second chief of staff.
Former RNC head Reince Priebus previously held the position. His tenure was the shortest of any non-interim Chief of Staff in American history.
UPDATE – But wait, there’s more:
New: WH Chief of Staff John Kelly referred to the President as “unhinged” during meeting with Def Secretary Mattis, Jt Chiefs Chairman Dunford & other senior NSC officials – Sr. Admin. Official tells CNN
UPDATE II – Kelly has released a statement denying the report by NBC News.
The statement reads, in part, “I spend more time with the President than anyone else and we have an incredibly candid and strong relationship. He always knows where I stand and he and I both know this story is total BS.”
I’ve not commented on the now-infamous Michelle Wolf performance at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner on Saturday night because I wanted to take a bit to understand the “outrage.”
I’ve read the text of Wolf’s performance and seen the video, and to be honest I don’t see the “cringeworthy” or “embarrassing” content folks seem to be up in arms about.
The performance was a roast. That, by definition, means folks are going to be joked about.
Initially, I heard about the terrible “attack” on White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. That Wolf’s comments went after her “appearance.”
I assumed Wolf did a riff on Sanders’ weight or attractiveness. But no – Wolf made a joke about Sanders’ “smoky eye” makeup.
Every time Sarah steps up to the podium, I get excited because I’m not really sure what we’re going to get: you know, a press briefing, a bunch of lies or divided into softball teams. “It’s shirts and skins, and this time, don’t be such a little b—-, Jim Acosta.”
I actually really like Sarah. I think she’s very resourceful. Like, she burns facts, and then she uses the ash to create a perfect smoky eye. Like, maybe she’s born with it; maybe it’s lies.
It’s probably lies.
And I’m never really sure what to call Sarah Huckabee Sanders. You know, is it Sarah Sanders? Is Sarah Huckabee Sanders? Is it Cousin Huckabee? Is it Auntie Huckabee Sanders? Like, what’s Uncle Tom but for white women who disappoint other white women? Oh, I know: Aunt Coulter.
The comment about “smoky eye” was a riff on Sanders’ lying to the press on a daily basis. It wasn’t an “attack” on her appearance.
Writing for HuffPost, Michelangelo Signorile had this take:
The performance has everyone talking, and many are expressing outrage that she “went too far” ― outrage that seems phony and forced. Some journalists who cover the White House and, unsurprisingly, many conservatives and Trump supporters are up in arms about Wolf’s barbs.
In both cases, the reactions are troublingly hypocritical.
The response of many Washington journalists is a particularly bad sign. It shows us some prominent sectors of the fourth estate are acquiescing to the Trump administration ― normalizing it ― rather than taking up the challenge of dealing with an authoritarian presidency.
Frankly, the reactions reek of an attempt to protect access by brown-nosing members of the administration ― but at the cost of legitimizing a president and an administration that has attacked the free press and called just about everyone in it a purveyor of “fake news.”
Where I was sitting, people were laughing generously in response to many jokes, and, as with any comedian, less so to others.
Beltway reporters for larger news organizations who’ve been viciously attacked themselves by the most vulgar, insulting, offensive president in U.S. history suddenly seemed shocked ― shocked! ― by what they perceived as vulgarity and insults coming from a female comedian.
I highly encourage you to read the full piece by Michelangelo. I think he’s spot on.
Here’s some of the response from the world of journalists:
Couldn’t agree more. So much important and amazing journalism this year — that should be the focus, when truth matters and is needed more than ever. It was an embarrassment in the room and surely to the audience at home. https://t.co/vhbnG6tn55
That @PressSec sat and absorbed intense criticism of her physical appearance, her job performance, and so forth, instead of walking out, on national television, was impressive.
Lies turning into ash turning into a smokey eye is a joke about lies. Calling her Aunt Lydia is a joke about standing for the oppression of women under the guise of folksy warmth. These aren’t jokes about her physical appearance. They’re intense criticisms of her character.
And Donald Trump, who refused to show up for a second year in a row due to his thin skin and inability to handle any criticism, chimed in thusly:
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner was a failure last year, but this year was an embarrassment to everyone associated with it. The filthy “comedian” totally bombed (couldn’t even deliver her lines-much like the Seth Meyers weak performance). Put Dinner to rest, or start over!
“Disney Night” on American Idol did not prove to be a magical event for contestant Ada Vox, the drag persona of Adam Sanders, who has been wowing the judges all the way into the talent competition’s Top 10.
Although her rendition of “Circle of Life” from the hit animated musical The Lion King was one of the best performances of the night, she couldn’t garner enough support from the voting public to move on to the top seven.
“How special it is to have you on this show,” said judge Lionel Richie. “You are a movement unto yourself.”
Vox was the first drag queen to ever get this far in the competition.
“Although America might not be ready for people like those of us who are a little bit different,” Vox told HuffPost in advance of Sunday’s show, “I think it’s very important that our talents be recognized.”
In the previous round, Vox was one of the judges’ “saves” from being eliminated. But in Sunday night’s show, the viewers were in charge of the competition and the San Antonio-native apparently didn’t inspire enough votes to advance to the next round.
I’m not an expert on drag but I do think I know talent, which Vox has served up in large portions.
I’m hoping this journey on AI helps propel the queen to a fabulous next chapter.
Disappointed but not shocked that Ada Vox was eliminated from Idol. If we weren’t ready for a woman president, there was absolutely no way we were getting a drag queen Idol.
WTH American Idol! I’m pissed @AdaVox didn’t go through….The best singer on the show is gone now. Thanks America for ruining my show. Bring Ada Back!#adavox#AmericanIdol#bringadaback#vox
This is pure talent. @AdaVox was voted off American Idol because we’re living in a Trump society. If she was a little, white, blonde girl, America would love her. Someone give Ada Vox a record deal already!! She’ll sell out arenas!! pic.twitter.com/ZgTn5Xjy4u
There is still an out musician in the running to win the AI crown this year.
Jurnee Siani, an 18-year-old from Littleton, Colorado, has been open about her sexuality and her wife military veteran Ashley Weathers, since the beginning of the show.
Her performance of “How Far I’ll Go” From Moana earned her a ticket into the top seven. It’s worth noting that an out singer has never won the talent competition.
Politico is reporting Dr. Ronny Jackson will not return to his position as the White House physician after his nomination to head up the Department of Veterans Affairs was derailed by a series of negative reports.
Jackson bowed out last week after Montana Sen. Jon Tester, the top Democrat on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released a document summarizing allegations by current and former colleagues that Jackson overprescribed pills, drank on the job and created a hostile work environment. Jackson has denied the allegations and has returned to work in the White House Medical Unit.
The revelations about Jackson, who served as physician for both George W. Bush and Barack Obama, caught many in the West Wing by surprise.
Even before the Tester allegations surfaced, Republican and Democratic senators had voiced concern about the nomination because Jackson had no experience running an organization as complex as the VA — the second-largest federal agency, behind the military.
Trump had sent mixed signals about Jackson’s nomination when the allegations initially surfaced, telling reporters that he “personally” wouldn’t keep seeking confirmation in the same situation but that the decision was up to the doctor.
Montana’s @jontester put veterans above politics. If Trump is confident in Jackson, re-nominate him and let the truth come out at the hearings. Otherwise, let’s thank @jontester for standing up to the WH bully.
Lawmakers in Hawaii approved a bill on Friday that bans the practice of so-called “conversion therapy” on LGBT minors.
“This has been a priority of the caucus for years,” said Michael Golojuch, chair of the LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, told Hawaii News Now. “(The measure) ensures that LGQTB youth will not be tortured by mental health professionals.”
Governor David Ige is expected to sign the bill into lawl
Hawaii joins similar bans in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, the District of Columbia, and several local municipalities.
