Washington D.C. (photo: Maria Oswalt/Unsplash)NBC News reports House and Senate Democrats introduced legislation Wednesday that would give Washington DC statehood. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat who represents the District of Columbia, reintroduced the bill in the House and says she has 200+ co-sponsors in the chamber. The bill passed in the House last summer. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) introduced the legislation in the Senate. But don’t look for the bill to pass in the upper chamber where the Democrats have the barest of majorities. Currently, the Senate is divided 50-50 with Vice President Kamala Harris able to cast tie-breaking votes. But the Senate Dems would need to overcome a filibuster which requires 60 votes. Finding 10 Republicans to vote with them could be a steep climb. Republicans have long opposed statehood for D.C. (and Puerto Rico as well) because the new states would create two new Senate seats and at least one House seat. That congressional representation would most likely end up Democratic. So, the Senate Republicans will block the effort and deny the more than 700,000+ residents of the District full representation and local self-government. It’s worth noting that the District’s population is greater than that of Vermont or Wyoming. Puerto Rico has a population of over 3 million.
DC statehood re-introduced today after passing in the House over the summer.
Wyoming has 578,000 people, is 92% white and has 2 senators
DC has 705,000 people, is 46% Black and has 0 senators Dems introduced bill today to make DC 51st state — Ari Berman (@AriBerman) January 27, 2021
For far too long, Virginia’s neighbors in D.C. have been denied their civil rights and subject to taxation without proper representation. Statehood is common sense—pleased to join @MarkWarner and @SenatorCarper to make it happen. https://t.co/dlL0w7vbm4
Pete Buttigieg during his Senate confirmation hearing The Senate Commerce Committee today approved the nomination of Pete Buttigieg for Transportation Secretary by a vote of 21-3. The three no votes were Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Rick Scott (R-FL). The nomination now goes to a vote by the full Senate. As I wrote last week, his 2.5 hour confirmation hearing went VERY well. It’s a pretty sure bet Pete will be on Transportation duty very soon. If confirmed, Buttigieg will be the first openly gay man confirmed by the Senate to a Cabinet post. He’ll also be the youngest person to lead the Transportation Department.
Thank you to the members of the @SenateCommerce Committee for their vote of confidence in me today. I look forward to working with @SenatorWicker, @SenatorCantwell, and the rest of the committee as we get to work on infrastructure and building our economy back better.
Transportation Secretary nominee Pete Buttigieg introduces his husband, Chasten, during his opening statement at confirmation hearing: "I want to thank him for his many sacrifices and his support in making it possible for me to pursue public service." https://t.co/nwOs3y6Mqwpic.twitter.com/ZN1qVGy5BN
QAnon/GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (screen capture) A review of hundreds of Facebook posts by freshman Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) reveals repeated support for executing prominent Democratic politicians in 2018 and 2019 before being elected to Congress. From CNN:
In one post, from January 2019, Greene liked a comment that said “a bullet to the head would be quicker” to remove House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In other posts, Greene liked comments about executing FBI agents who, in her eyes, were part of the “deep state” working against Trump.
In one Facebook post from April 2018, Greene wrote conspiratorially about the Iran Deal, one of former President Barack Obama’s signature foreign policy achievements. A commenter asked Greene, “Now do we get to hang them ?? Meaning H & O ???,” referring to Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Greene replied, “Stage is being set. Players are being put in place. We must be patient. This must be done perfectly or liberal judges would let them off.”
There’s much more at the link. I encourage you to read the full article. When asked about the comments, Greene posted a statement to her Twitter account that read, in part, “Over the years I’ve had teams of people manage my pages. Many posts have been liked. Many posts have been shared. Some did not represent my views.” Oh, I see…it’s not her fault. She’s not to be held responsible for what occurs on her own social media accounts. It’s ‘other people’ to blame.
Fake News CNN is writing yet another hit piece on me focused on my time before running for political office.
CNN also found footage of Greene harassing David Hogg, one of the survivors of the deadly Parkland shooting. Greene reportedly spread a conspiracy theory that Hogg was a “bought and paid little pawn” in calling for commonsense gun control measures. She also called the mass shooting a ‘false flag’ event. This is from before her time in Congress, but is this what she did with her time? Follow and harass a high school student? This video was recorded just weeks after the shooting incident.
.@mtgreenee, is this you harassing @davidhogg111 weeks after the Parkland shooting, that my daughter was killed in & he was in? Calling him a coward for ignoring your insanity. I will answer all of your questions in person. Get ready to record again.pic.twitter.com/aQjL74x7kh
Parkland survivors are calling for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to resign for calling the shooting a "false flag" to push gun control https://t.co/eJZ4Zu7f1y
(image via Depositphotos) Some news items you might have missed: • Right Wing Watch: Religious anti-gay loon Scott Lively told his radio audience that God removed Donald Trump from the White House because he was too pro-gay. #srsly • NewNowNext: Montana’s House of Representatives has voted in favor of two vehemently anti-transgender bills. The first is House Bill 112, which would bar trans student athletes from playing on sports teams that correspond with their gender identity. The second is House Bill 113, which would block medical professionals from providing potentially life-saving gender-affirming health care to trans or nonbinary youth. • The Frontier: Last April, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt ordered $2 million worth of hydroxychloroquine based, in part, on Donald Trump’s promotion of the malaria drug for use against the coronavirus. Now, the state is trying to unload nearly the entire shipment.
• Instinct Magazine: Nearly two months after coming out as a transgender male, Elliot Page and wife Emma Portner have filed for divorce. • NBC News: A gay New York City couple say they were harassed and asked to leave a restaurant this month because of their sexuality. Because the incident happened in New York, the men may have legal recourse, but in nearly half the states, they would not. • New York Times: Grindr has been fined 100 million Norwegian kroner, or about $11.7 million, for illegally disclosing private details about its users to advertising companies.
Norway’s Data Protection Authority said it plans to fine dating app Grindr $11.7 million for what the regulator said was illegal disclosure of user data to advertising firms https://t.co/QD5YYjOTJJ
• Justice Department: The Wisconsin pharmacist who intentionally intended to render hundreds of doses of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine ineffective pleaded guilty to two charges filed today in federal court. Steven R. Brandenburg, an admitted skeptic of vaccines in general, now faces up to 10 years for each charge against him. • Reuters: The good news – By a vote of 55-45 the U.S. Senate on Tuesday rejected a Republican effort to stop former President Donald Trump’s upcoming impeachment trial on a charge that he incited the deadly Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol. The bad news – Democrats need more than 5 GOP Senators to vote to convict Trump.
National Guard members laying down in parking garage (image via Twitter)Politico is reporting the deployment for the entire D.C. National Guard has been extended until March 31. With the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump scheduled to begin soon, officials worry about possible civil disturbances in the nation’s capital over the next several weeks.
The memo, signed by D.C. National Guard chief Maj. Gen. William Walker and dated Jan. 25, orders troops to remain on duty at least through the end of March “in continued support of District and Federal civil authorities during anticipated First Amendment demonstrations and Civil Disturbance in the District of Columbia.”
The new orders suggest that law enforcement agencies in the nation’s capital are preparing for potential unrest in the coming days and weeks, as former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial kicks off and his supporters issue threats to lawmakers.
In addition to the D.C. Guard, troops from Maryland have been ordered to remain on duty through at least March 15. The National Guard Bureau initially said the orders will become voluntary after 31 days, but Guard sources said Tuesday that was not the case.
Sadly, the coronavirus pandemic is wrecking havoc with the D.C. National Guard troops as hundreds have tested positive for the virus or are currently quarantining due to exposure. Many of the troops, who have had to sleep on the floor of the Capitol building or an underground parking lot, say the deployment is becoming its own super-spreader event.
Scoop: The DC National Guard is having its deployment extended until March 31 in anticipation of “civil disturbance” throughout the nation’s capital, according to a memo we obtained. Comes as Guard units are seeing Covid positivity rates of 10-15%. https://t.co/SezAbQtJeS
Our troops deserve the utmost honor & respect for securing the Capitol & defending democracy this week.
This is unconscionable & unsafe. Whoever’s decision this was to house our National Guardsmen & women in underground parking lots must be held accountable. pic.twitter.com/mBwpoog6YC — Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) January 22, 2021
Saverio Pescucci’s search for a room to rent in New York City went viral after he attached a few photos to his search ad.
A professional dancer by trade, Pescucci posted his search in the 284,800-member Gypsy Housing group on Facebook.
Describing himself as “super chill, friendly, gay, [and] Covid responsible,” Pescucci included the photos so people could put a face to the ad.
“I saw a lot of people … were posting pictures of themselves, like selfies and casual photos, to show that they’re not sociopaths or what kind of lifestyle they have,” the 29-year-old told the New York Post. “I did the same [but] I was not imagining that it would turn into an episode of ‘The Bachelor.’ “
Pescucci says the pics were a general assortment of vacation selfies and photos of him dancing.
To his surprise, the ad went viral garnering over 600 Likes and 400+ responses.
It’s pretty easy to see why the native of Tuscany, Italy, got such a reaction.
One woman commented on Pescucci’s ad writing, “[The] hot ones are never straight.” Another couldn’t resist chiming in with “You’re cute … that’s all I have to offer you. A compliment.” Gay men were a bit more to the point (as gay men can be don’t you know…) “You won’t be paying rent for too long once you get here … [you’re] f–king hot.” “I don’t have a room but I am single,” wrote Hassan Salazar, a drag performer who resides in Queens. Getting straight to the point, Salazar just put it all out there saying, “I’m just here to snatch myself a good man. He can have my apartment lol.” Salazar told The Post that he liked that Pescucci is a dancer, and his eyebrows – he really liked his eyebrows. “I’m going to consider my marriage proposal as pending,” added Salazar.
Pescucci told The Post that he didn’t intend for the ad to be “a thirst trap.” And while he wasn’t “uncomfortable” with the comments, he admits to being “really overwhelmed” by the responses. He tried to respond to the comments individually but finally gave up by addressing everyone on the post. “Omg, just waking up and what is happening on this post!?!??,” he wrote. “I just wanted a room!!!!” He also thanked his new admirers “for all the sweet and kind words” and promised to read all of the comments as soon as he gets a chance. Originally trained at Milan’s prestigious La Scala ballet academy, Saverio Pescucci has danced around the world with elite companies like the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Finnish National Ballet. In 2017, he made his Broadway debut in The Phantom of the Opera. Unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he’s hung up his dance shoes for a while and will begin a new gig working at an Italian food distributor. And yes – the housing search was successful. Our furry hero did find a room to rent.
Jake Angeli took part in the Capitol invasion (screen capture) After receiving over 100,000 photo and video tips, the FBI has opened about 200 case files in tracking down and arresting the perpetrators of the January 6 invasion of the U.S. Capitol building. The Soufan Center has been tracking the arrests to determine how far the insurrectionists traveled for the incident. From Statista:
Up to January 22, arrests had been made in 35 out of 50 states with one person apprehended as far away as Hawaii. That individual was Nick Ochs who describes himself as “a Proud Boy Elder from Hawaii” who was arrested at Honolulu Airport upon his return from Washington.
So far, Texas has the highest arrest count out of all U.S. states with 14 apprehensions with New York and Florida following with 11 and 10, respectively.
In this week’s podcast: • President Joe Biden goes to work on LGBTQ issues on Day One including reversing the transgender military ban, expanding workplace protections and more • Pete Buttigieg introduced his husband Chasten at his Senate confirmation hearing for Transportation Secretary • Dr. Rachel Levine could become the highest ranking transgender official in the U.S. government • The FDA approved a new once-a-month injectable HIV medication • The new queer mini-series ‘It’s A Sin’ premieres to rave reviews • Out singer/songwriter Kisos releases his gorgeous new music video ‘He Didn’t Want Me’ All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report As mentioned in the episode, you can email me your suggestions at randyslovacek (at) gmail.com
Matthew Camp (image via Instagram) Some news items you might have missed: • NewNowNext: Porn star Matthew Camp speaks out about the recent early morning arson attack that destroyed his home. “I don’t have any enemies that I know of,” Camp says gently. “But I’m a gay sex worker who bought a house that used to be owned by a Satanist. I don’t know who did it, but it’s not hard to guess why they would.” • The Advocate: A group of eight U.S. Catholic Bishops released a statement in support of LGBTQ+ people, saying that, “God created you, God loves you and God is on your side.” A ninth Bishop later signed on as well. • Out Music: Openly gay artist J.R. Price has released a duet featuring his childhood hero, out singer/songwriter Tom Goss titled “Dance with Me”, a bluesy love song about the power dance has to bring a couple together before the world breaks them apart.
“The song chronicles that moment when a couple is fighting, and it doesn’t even make sense for them to stay together a second longer, but with a simple dance, they realize they can’t part because the attachment is too powerful,” explains Price. The track is available now.
• Gothamist: The co-owner of a pub who refused to follow COVID-19 health restrictions has avoided a felony charge of second degree assault on an officer. On December 6, 2020, he drove into a sheriff’s deputy who tried to detain him breaking both the officer’s legs. • NBC News: The Kissimmee Police Department says it verified 30 screenshots of Facebook posts made by Officer Andrew Johnson in support of the Capitol riots, and disparaging the Black Lives Matter movement. And then the department fired him. • CNBC: Funny how ashamed these folks are after getting arrested. Garrett Miller (above) has been charged with invading the Capitol on January 6 and calling for the assassination of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He’s very sorry now and he adds he was just following then-President Donald Trump’s orders.
“I was in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021, because I believed I was following the instructions of former President Trump and he was my president and the commander-in-chief. His statements also had me believing the election was stolen from him.” https://t.co/SgnrB2JWf7
Brandon Straka (via website) Homocon Brandon Straka arrested for taking part in the violent invasion of the U.S. Capitol on January 6. From The Daily Beast:
Brandon Straka, 43, has been charged with several crimes, including impeding a law enforcement officer during civil disorder and engaging in disorderly conduct with the intent to disturb a hearing before Congress, for his role in the Jan. 6 siege.
The ex-New York City hairstylist and self-described “former liberal” is best known for starting the “WalkAway Campaign,” which urged liberal voters to leave the Democratic Party. Earlier this month, Straka announced Facebook had removed the campaign’s page, which had over half a million followers.
Straka apparently made it very easy to gather evidence about his participation in the Capitol attack. Like many of his wacky, violent pals he tweeted videos and statements throughout the incident documenting his involvement. He also made headlines last June when he refused to wear a face mask on an American Airlines flight. He was eventually removed from the plane and banned from any future flights on American. I recently reported on another gay Trump supporter, Kristopher Dreww, who also fears being arrested for taking part in the attack on the Capitol.
Feds quote quite a bit from Straka’s tweets — “Also- be embarrassed & hide if you need to- but I was there. It was not Antifa at the Capitol” — and say there’s video of him urging crowd to take a Capitol police officer’s shield pic.twitter.com/dSVoya13OT
