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Trump Administration Passed On Purchasing Additional Pfizer Vaccine

From the New York Times:

Trump administration officials passed when Pfizer offered in late summer to sell the U.S. government additional doses of its Covid-19 vaccine, according to people familiar with the matter.

Now Pfizer may not be able to provide more of its vaccine to the United States until next June because of its commitments to other countries, they said.

As the administration scrambles to try to purchase more doses of the vaccine, President Trump plans on Tuesday to sign an executive order “to ensure that United States government prioritizes getting the vaccine to American citizens before sending it to other nations,” according to a draft statement and a White House official, though it was not immediately clear what force the president’s executive order would carry.

As I understand it, Pfizer has a contract with the U.S. to deliver 100 million doses. Any more would be a new order. And, as Pfizer wasn’t part of Operation Warp Speed and received no federal funds for research and development, the company isn’t beholden to the U.S. In related news, the CEOs of vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna have declined an invitation to attend a “vaccine summit” (read that as “photo opp – victory lap”) at the White House tomorrow.

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Who Will Win The Epic ‘Bad Boy’ Lap Dance-Off?

Artie O’Daly and Drew Canan in ‘Bad Go-Go- Boy’
In the latest installment of Artie O’Daly’s ‘Bad Boy’ web series, Scott (played by O’Daly) takes a trip to his writing agent’s office to discuss the plot for a proposed movie. Jim (Drew Canan) tags along since, due to forces out of Scott’s control, the upcoming film is supposed to be about Jim’s life (“One of the first real people to have a movie made about their lives. Like Forrest Gump…”). But with the agent fired, and a temp worker moved up to full-fledged decision-maker, Scott pitches some new ideas like the next prison story blockbuster (or Mamma Mia 3…if need be) instead of Jim’s life story but the agent, Jamila (Julia Pace Mitchell), is smitten with the bad boy’s charms. But Jim’s nemesis BJ (Braden Davis) uncloaks from his invisibility (don’t ask) and pitches his own story for movie stardom. Everyone wants to pitch a story! But who’ll catch?
Drew Canan throws down in the go-go competition
Ultimately, things come down to an epic lap dance-off between the two ‘bad boys’ (as happens so often in life) where the winner takes all. Making sense so far? As we’ve come to expect in O’Daly’s wild and wacky world, the dialogue takes some fast and furious turns leaving ‘Daddy Scott’ with some mental whiplash. You can check out my previous coverage of the ‘Bad Boy’ web series here.

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Kohl’s Holiday Ad Lands With Viewers

An analysis by Ace Metrix found Kohl’s 2020 holiday ad titled “Give With All Your Heart” scored high across several metrics and it’s easy to see why. From PopSugar:

Set to the song “Rainbow Connection,” viewers see a girl attempt to get to know her elderly neighbor by posting signs in her window. Seemingly set amid COVID-19, the pair enjoys some wholesome back and forth before the neighbor disappears without explanation.

After what appears to be weeks of waiting, the girl begins to lose hope. However, on Christmas morning, the woman returns.

She is wearing a hospital bracelet, likely having experienced a significant health scare or contracted COVID-19. We see them reunite, and once the woman holds up a sign saying, “Did you get what you wished for?” it’s hard not to tear up.

I love it when a message is clear without hitting you over the head. This is quite lovely.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

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10th Annual ‘Home For The Holidays’ Concert Benefiting Homeless LGBTQ Teens

Cyndi Lauper has announced that her 10th annual 'Home for the Holidays' benefit concert will premiere on December 11 on her TikTok at 8PM EST. Cyndi Lauper – the Grammy, Emmy and Tony-winning icon and advocate – has announced that her 10th annual Home for the Holidays benefit concert will premiere on Friday, December 11 exclusively on her TikTok at 8PM EST, with an additional stream Sunday, December 13 on Lauper’s YouTube and Facebook handles at 8PM EST. Continue reading “10th Annual ‘Home For The Holidays’ Concert Benefiting Homeless LGBTQ Teens”

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SCOTUS Declines To Review Transgender High School Policy

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review a court ruling regarding public school policies allowing transgender students to use bathroom facilities that align with their gender identity. The case was brought by Oregon parents who objected to a trans student being allowed to use the boys’ bathrooms and locker rooms in 2017. From The Hill:

By declining to hear the case, the justices preserved a federal appeals court’s decision to permit transgender students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms associated with their gender identity instead of their sex assigned at birth.

Parents brought the case against the Dallas School District in Oregon in 2017 after a transgender student was permitted to use the boys’ bathrooms and locker room at the high school.

The parents alleged that the district’s permission for transgender students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms aligned with their gender identity violated the privacy and constitutional rights of other students.

A lower court initially refused to strike down the school district’s policy, prompting the parents to appeal to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which affirmed the lower court ruling.

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InstaHunk Round-Up: Weekend Edition

Ignacio Pérez Rey (via Instagram)
Checking in with the hunks of Insta… First up, Ignacio Pérez Rey (above) continues to prove Madrid, Spain, is a beautiful place we all need to visit (as long as the views look like this). Ramses Principe proved that you can look like he does AND eat pancakes (or at least pose in front of them).

 

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A post shared by Ramses Principe (@mia_fitness)

Dr. Marco explained something deeply inspiring about “discipline” and “delaying gratification” and…I forget, where was I?

Actor/singer Jim Newman reminds us that “it’s not cold and rainy…somewhere.”

 

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A post shared by Jim Newman (@jimnewmannyc)

Presenting his “hairy wolf daddy” bod, DJ Thiago Oliveira wants to know who likes a furry bod?

Joel Green wants to know “what’s next?”

 

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A post shared by Joel Green (@green.joel)

Rodiney Santiago took a dive into the difference between physical and mental beauty. ” Instagram is full of beautiful hopeless romantics who’ve spent all their time on their appearance and not enough time on the mind.”

 

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A post shared by Ródiney Santiago (@rodineysantiago)

And Jeff Ferreira sends greetings from Parque Cachoeira das Andorinhas in Brazil:

 

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A post shared by Jefferson Ferreira (@jeffferreira22)

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California AG Xavier Becerra To Be Tapped For Health & Human Services Secretary

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (image via Twitter)

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (image via Twitter)
President-elect Joe Biden has named California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to be Secretary of Health and Human Services for the incoming administration. The inclusion of Becerra, a former congressman, to such a high-level post will likely help to quell some concerns that Biden hadn’t named more Latinos to the Biden cabinet. From the New York Times:

Mr. Becerra became Mr. Biden’s clear choice only over the last few days, according to people familiar with the transition’s deliberations, and was a surprise. He has carved out a profile more on the issues of criminal justice, immigration and tax policy, and he was long thought to be a candidate for attorney general.

But as attorney general in California, he led legal efforts on health care, including seeking to protect the Affordable Care Act from being dismantled by Republican attorneys general. He has also been a leading voice in the Democratic Party for women’s health.

If confirmed, he will immediately face a daunting task in leading the department at a critical moment during a pandemic that has killed more than 281,000 people in the United States — and one that has taken a particularly devastating toll on people of color.

If confirmed, Becerra would be the first Latino to lead the department. He’ll also be the first person ever with a name beginning with the letter X to hold a cabinet position. I like Becerra. I’ve watched him for many years – from his time in Congress to becoming Attorney General of the Golden State. Some reports suggested Becerra might have been in the running to take Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’s U.S. Senate seat.

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Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized After Testing Positive For COVID

Rudy Giuliani at Trump press conference (screen capture)
Donald Trump announced today via Twitter that his lawyer, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, has tested positive for COVID-19. From the New York Times:

Mr. Giuliani was at Georgetown University Medical Center, according to a person who was aware of his condition but not authorized to speak publicly. Mr. Giuliani, at age 76, is in the high-risk category for the virus.

Mr. Giuliani has repeatedly been exposed to the virus through contact with infected people, including during Mr. Trump’s preparation for his first debate against President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. in September, just before the president tested positive, as well as when he appeared with his son, Andrew, at a news conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters about two weeks ago.

Andrew Giuliani, who works as an aide in the White House, said on Nov. 20 that he had tested positive, days after Donald Trump Jr. did.

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SNL Cold Open Takes On Giuliani’s ‘Star Witness’

The SNL cold open couldn’t resist taking on the media moment of the week: Rudy Giuliani’s seemingly drunk ‘star witness’ during a Michigan State Senate hearing. In the skit, Rudy Giuliani (Kate McKinnon) is trying to make an argument to prove widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. He presents former Dominion Systems staffer Melissa Carone (Cecily Strong): “I swear to tell my whole story, and nothing but my story so help me Gob.” Asked to present what she witnessed, Strong’s Carone replied, “Excuse me, maybe try losing the attitude first. Just like you lost all those Trump ballots.” “Did you check every poll? Did you talk to all the dead people? Excuse me. I have been threatened. My kids have been threatened. My kids have threatened me, and I’ve threatened them right back. … I’m not lying. I signed an After David.” After other ‘witnesses,’ Carone returns: “Excuse me we are all here under oath. If you want to talk about random. I voted for Trump yet Biden won? Hmm? Maybe a little bit too random. You aren’t even going to admit that Dominion cheated.” Asked how the voting machine company ‘cheated,’ Strong’s Carone answers, “Well, for starters they cheated me out of my cheesy bread.” “I think you’re confusing Dominion with Dominos,” says a lawmaker. “Either way, my vote took longer than 30 minutes so it’s supposed to be free,” Strong’s Carone snaps back.

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Kayleigh Demands GA Governor ‘Threaten’ Secretary of State

Trump flack Kayleigh McEneny
Kayleigh McEneny, who is employed by taxpayers as the White House press secretary and at the same time Donald Trump’s failed reelection campaign, called out Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp while inadvertently acknowledging that President-elect Joe Biden won the election. “You have the power to call in a special legislative session because right now if we lose these two Senate seats, guess who’s casting the deciding vote in this country for our government? It will be Kamala Harris. Call for the special legislative session. Governor Kemp can also threaten the budget of the secretary of state – there’s plenty he can do.”