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Rudy Giuliani Sued By Voting Machines Manufacturer For Election Lies

Rudy Giuliani sued by voting machines manufacturer for election lies
Rudy Giuliani at Trump press conference (screen capture)
From the New York Times:

Dominion Voting Systems filed a defamation lawsuit on Monday against Rudolph W. Giuliani, the lawyer for Donald J. Trump and former mayor of New York City who played a key role in the former president’s months long effort to subvert the 2020 election.

The 107-page lawsuit, filed in the Federal District Court in Washington, accuses Mr. Giuliani of carrying out “a viral disinformation campaign about Dominion” made up of “demonstrably false” allegations, in part to enrich himself through legal fees and his podcast.

The suit seeks damages of more than $1.3 billion and is based on more than 50 statements Mr. Giuliani made at legislative hearings, on Twitter, on his podcast and in the conservative news media, where he spun a fictitious narrative of a plot by one of the biggest voting machine manufacturers in the country to flip votes to President Biden.

Giuliani told the Times he’s not intimidated and is considering his own counter-suit. The former New York City mayor has received a lot of pushback to his efforts to overturn the election results. The chairman of the New York State Senate’s judiciary committee formally requested that the state court system revoke Giuliani’s law license. By the end of Trump’s time in office, even the Donald had turned on Giuliani as reports indicate he instructed aides to not to pay Giuliani’s $20K-a-day legal fees. Earlier this month, Dominion filed a similar lawsuit against Giuliani’s colleague on Trump’s conspiracy pushing legal team, Sidney Powell.

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Trump Considered Firing Acting AG, Using Justice Dept To Overturn Georgia Election Results

Donald Trump

Donald Trump
Donald Trump (photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr – CC License)
According to a new report, Jeffrey Clark, the acting head of the civil division at the end of the Trump administration, supported Donald Trump’s plans of undermining the 2020 presidential election and using the Department of Justice to pressure Georgia officials to change the state’s election results. From the New York Times:

The department’s senior leaders were shocked when Mr. Clark’s machinations came to light. They have spent recent weeks debating how he came to betray Mr. Rosen, his biggest champion at the department, and what blend of ambition and conviction led him to reject the results of the election and embrace Mr. Trump’s claims, despite all evidence to the contrary, including inside the department itself.

The plot devised by Mr. Clark and Mr. Trump would have ousted Mr. Rosen and used the Justice Department to pressure lawmakers in Georgia to overturn the state’s election results. But Mr. Trump ultimately decided against firing Mr. Rosen after top department leaders pledged to resign en masse.

Senior Justice department officials, including Rosen, former Attorney General William Barr and former acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall repeatedly refused to file a case with the Supreme Court case since there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud. The Times goes on to quote colleagues of Clark who were stunned to find out about the plan. “The story kind of shocked me because this is not the Jeff that I know,” said Theodore H. Frank, a friend and former co-worker. A Justice Department watchdog is now apparently investigating the matter. Read the full report at the New York Times.

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UPDATE: Biden Repeals Transgender Military Ban

Transgender troops

Joe Biden plans to reverse the ban on transgender military service members UPDATE: President Joe Biden has signed an executive order repealing Donald Trump’s ban on transgender Americans serving in the U.S. military.

“President Biden believes that gender identity should not be a bar to military service, and that America’s strength is found in its diversity,” read a statement from the White House.

“Allowing all qualified Americans to serve their country in uniform is better for the military and better for the country because an inclusive force is a more effective force,”

“Simply put, it’s the right thing to do and is in our national interest.”

In addition to reversing Trump’s ban on transgender service members, Biden’s executive order requires corrections to the record of any soldier affected by the ban. A Gallup poll conducted in June 2019 showed 71% of Americans support allowing transgender Americans to openly serve in the military.

CBS News reports that the Biden administration is expected to repeal the ban on transgender military servicemembers as soon as Monday.

The senior Defense official told CBS News the repeal will be through executive order signed by President Joe Biden.

The announcement is expected to take place at a ceremony with newly-confirmed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who will order the Pentagon to go back to the policy enacted in 2016 by former Defense Secretary Ash Carter that allowed transgender Americans to serve openly.

Biden mentioned his plan to reverse the trans ban often on the campaign trail. “I truly believe, Senator, that as I said in my opening statement, that if you’re fit and you’re qualified to serve and you can maintain the standards, you should be allowed to serve,” Secretary Austin said during his Senate confirmation hearing. “And, you can expect that I will support that throughout.” Donald Trump instituted the transgender military ban in July 2017 as part of a deal with a group of House Republicans. The GOPers threatened to block funding of Trump’s Mexico wall if he didn’t prohibit the U.S. military from paying for or supplying healthcare for trans service members. Trump took the request further and banned any new transgender applicants from serving. Over 20 retired generals and admirals denounced the policy saying the ban was “a troubling move backward.”

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InstaHunk Round-Up: Weekend Edition

Rodiney Santiago got his selfie on at the beach

Instahunk Ródiney Santiago got his selfie on at the beach
Instahunk Ródiney Santiago (via Instagram)
Checking in with some of our favorite Hunks of Insta this weekend. First up, Instahunk Ródiney Santiago (above) got his selfie on at the beach. The latest Instinct Hottie Basit Eniafe took on his Drag Race UK pit crew duties:  

 

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Joel Green dropped wise words while flexing – “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to look for the excellent.”

 

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The Rock shows he’s still a beast in the gym:

 

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Chicago Realtor Greg Bloomer shows he knows how to strike a pose:

 

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Social media model Bolu Okupe, the son of a former Nigerian presidential advisor, came out via an Instagram photo: “Yes I’m Gay AF.”

Dato Foland simply ‘was’ and it was more than enough:

 

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Professional wrestler Anthony Bowens had to work:

 

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TRR favorite Matt Zarley was in the studio for a Sunday Showtune:

 

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Dan Tai got his workout on with run:

 

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Rep. Cawthorn Had Nothing When Asked For ‘Concrete Evidence’ Of Voter Fraud

CNN anchor Pamela Brown and Rep. Madison Cawthorn

CNN anchor Pamela Brown and Rep. Madison Cawthorn
CNN anchor Pamela Brown and Rep. Madison Cawthorn (screen capture)
Hours after riling up Trump supporters at the now-infamous January 6 rally that led to the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, freshman Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) joined fellow House Republicans in contesting election results during the certification of the Electoral College. Cawthorn was a bit flummoxed during an appearance on CNN last night when he tried to explain his rationale for questioning the results. “The things that I was not objecting to the election on behalf of was things like Dominion voting machines changing ballots, or these U-Haul trucks pulling up filled with ballots for Joe Biden as president,” said Cawthorn. “The thing I was objecting for is things like, like I said in the state of Wisconsin, particularly in the town of Madison … there was an appointed official in that town who actually went against the will of the state legislature and created ballot drop boxes, which is basically ballot harvesting that was happening in the parks.” CNN anchor Pamela Brown pointed out that the Wisconsin issue Cawthorn brought up had been litigated in court and rejected by Trump-appointed judges. And that’s where Cawthorn found himself tossing word salads right and left. “Indeed, I believe specifically, and this is the one that I debated on behalf of on the House floor, in Wisconsin that was never heard because they dismissed it because of standing,” he added. “Now I don’t believe that is a concrete enough of a way to dismiss it.” Well, you have to have standing in order to bring a legal argument to court. That’s pretty much established…

Brown followed up asking Cawthorn for examples of ‘concrete evidence’ he’d seen of voter fraud. The 25-year-old found himself unable to cite any evidence that led him to believe there was widespread fraud. “Like I said, that’s not the reason I contested the election,” he told Brown. “So you wanted to throw out millions of votes without actually seeing any concrete evidence of fraud?” Brown asked. “Cause that’s what you were doing when you were contesting the election.” Pause, pause, pause… “I disagree with you on that point,” and again asserted his only goal had been to “hold up the Constitution.” Brown then shifted to Cawthorn’s own state of North Carolina which had also amended election laws due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But for some reason he appeared to be unaware that his own state legislators had done the same thing Wisconsin elected official had done. “I’m actually not aware of the laws that were changed inside of North Carolina,” Cawthorn replied. “I believe we had a very safe and very secure election here.” In Texas we have a saying, “All hat, no cattle.” You can watch the full exchange above or a few clips below.

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News Round-Up: January 23, 2021

Backstage at CHICAGO with Broadway legend Chita Rivera who turns 88 today
Some news items you might have missed: • Happy Birthday: Sending the biggest birthday wishes to Broadway legend Chita Rivera (above) who turns 88 years young today. I was thrilled to work with the singular sensation during one of my many chapters with CHICAGO the Musical. #HappyBirthdayToYouuuuuuuuuuuuu • BosGuy: It’s Furry Friday every week on the veteran LGBTQ blogger’s site and we’re always so much the better for it. Hit the link 🙂 • Instinct Magazine: President Biden’s new Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin III, announced during his confirmation hearing that he is definitely in favor of Biden’s plan to reverse the woeful ban on transgender military service members. “I support the president’s plan to overturn the ban.”
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (screen capture)
• The Advocate: President Biden’s nominee for secretary of State, Antony Blinken, says he will appoint an envoy for LGBTQ+ rights and allow U.S. embassies around the world display the LGBTQ+ Pride flag without restrictions. • Washington Post: Federal law enforcement officials are privately debating whether they should decline to charge some of the individuals who stormed the U.S. Capitol out of concern that hundreds of such cases could swamp the courts. Some federal officials have argued internally that those people who are known only to have committed unlawful entry — and were not engaged in violent, threatening or destructive behavior — should not be charged. • Edge Media: Watch this mom take credit for her OnlyFans star son’s ‘biggest asset.’ “Of course I’m proud. I’m your #1 fan. I’m always upbeat, you know that. I made that dick, I want a percentage.”

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New LGBTQ Series ‘It’s A Sin’ Debuts To Rave Reviews

Promo photo for the new 5-part drama series 'It's A Sin'

The new 5-part drama series 'It's A Sin' debuts to rave reviews from the LGBTQ community The new 5-part drama series ‘It’s A Sin’ debuted last night on Channel 4 in the UK and the reaction from the LGBTQ community is overwhelmingly positive. The series – from Queer As Folk creator Russell T. Davies – chronicles the journey of four friends in London during a decade in which everything changed, including the rise of AIDS. Via Metro:

In episode one, Ritchie (Olly Alexander) moves to London to study law, during which time he embarks on sexual relationships with several individuals, including Ash (Nathaniel Curtis) and Roscoe (Omari Douglas).

But while there is plenty of fun, levity and hilarity in the story, this is juxtaposed with moments of tragedy, as Neil Patrick Harris’ character Henry, a mentor to Colin (Callum Scott Howells), is depicted dying of AIDs in hospital.

Russell, who also created Queer of Folk and was responsible for the 2005 revival of Doctor Who, has been lauded for his ‘astonishing writing’, with one person saying that in their opinion, he is ‘one of our finest TV writers.’

‘It’s A Sin’ debuts in the US February 18 on HBO Max. Check out the first look clip below.

The reaction on the Twitterverse was off the charts

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Seeing The Sights Of Sydney, Australia

A brief video celebrating the men of Australia

A brief video seeing the sights of Sydney, Australia I was reminded of this travelogue video I shot 9 years ago seeing the sights during my first visit to Australia. I start out trying my best to inform folks about the ins and outs of Sydney as I really enjoyed the scenery and ‘local flavor’ of the city. But, things go a bit awry along the way 😉 You’ll see what I mean. Hit the play button below. In addition to time spent in Sydney, Michael and I got to spend some time at Olivia Newton-John’s gorgeous Gaia Retreat & Spa near Australia’s Gold Coast.

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New Music: Olivia Newton-John & Chloe Lattanzi ‘Window In The Wall’

Window in the Wall is the new single from four-time Grammy Award winner Olivia Newton-John
Chloe Lattanzi & Olivia Newton-John (photo: Michelle Day)
Four-time Grammy Award winner and international pop star Dame Olivia Newton-John released her latest single and music video, “Window in the Wall,” today. The track, a duet with her daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, is an uplifting piano-driven ballad. The optimistic lyrics address the distance and divides felt by many in these turbulent times:

Looking for a window in the wall / Maybe we can see the other side And find we’re not so different after all  / Looking for a window in the wall

The new ballad opens with Lattanzi’s pensive, sensitive vocals. She’s quickly joined by Newton-John whose rich artistry underscores (again) her rightful place in the pantheon of great pop singers. Check out the music video below. https://youtu.be/VmW-wumdBV4?si=og6SYRUwxvd4xc09 Produced by six-time Grammy Award-winner Dave Cobb, “Window in the Wall” is a breath of fresh air in these stormy, unsettled times. The music video clearly resonated with fans as it quickly hit #1 on the iTunes Music Video chart and stayed at the top spot for hours. You can follow Dame Olivia Newton-John on Facebook here, and follow Chloe Lattanzi on Instagram here. “Window in the Wall” is available now on Amazon and other digital download sites. This marks the second musical collaboration for the mother/daughter duo. In 2015, the two singers hit number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club chart with “You Have To Believe,” their reworking of Newton-John’s 1980 single “Magic” from the soundtrack to the film Xanadu. At the time, I interviewed Chloe about the collaboration and the achievement. Hit the play button below to hear our chat.