LGBTQ news and entertainment
In this week’s episode of The Randy Report podcast: WICKED star Jonathan Bailey is the first out gay man to be named PEOPLE Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive.” Plus… Continue reading “Podcast: ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ Jonathan Bailey + Marriage Equality At SCOTUS + More”
Documents released by Democrats in the House of Representatives show Donald Trump’s businesses received at least $7.8 million from 20 foreign governments during his time in the White House. The largest amount by far – $5.5 million – came from China, which Trump has been highly critical of. Continue reading “Trump Businesses Received Millions From Foreign Governments During His Presidency”
The U.S. military has shot down the suspected Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic Ocean after it drifted off the East Coast near the Carolinas. Continue reading “U.S. Military Shoots Down Chinese Spy Balloon”
China’s coronavirus situation continues to worsen each day with local governments reporting hundreds of thousands of new infections. In response, the Biden administration has announced that travelers to the U.S. from China will be required to show a negative COVID-19 test beginning January 5. Continue reading “US To Require Neg COVID Test For Travelers From China”
(image via JoeMyGod)
Some news items you might have missed: • Instinct Magazine: Johnny Sibilly (Pose, Hacks), Candace Grace (Acts of Crime), Devin Way (Grey’s Anatomy), Ryan O’Connell (Special), and Fin Argus (Clouds) will join the cast of the upcoming reboot of Queer As Folk as series regulars. Continue reading “News Round-Up: September 2, 2021”
L-R Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg
Why it matters: The 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, whom Biden has compared to his late son, Beau, played a key role in Biden’s nomination. Letting him deepen his foreign policy chops could boost Buttigieg’s future, since many inside the Democratic Party believe his return as a presidential candidate is a matter of when, not if.
Buttigieg electrified donors and rocketed to the top of the party, winning the most delegates in the Iowa caucuses earlier this year before dropping out to consolidate moderates’ support around Biden.
But finding a Cabinet position for him has been a challenge as the former VP focuses on nominating women and people of color to high-level posts.
China isn’t the only foreign post where Buttigieg, a polyglot, could end up — and his name remains under discussion for some domestic leadership positions as well.
Axios goes on to note that the China ambassadorship is general a post given to politicians in the mid-to-late point of their careers as an indication of respect to China. If confirmed for the spot, Buttigieg would only be 39-years-old. Mayor Pete is very smart, and has a broad perspective on foreign affairs. But, as a fan, my concern is that the China post would take him out of the public eye here in the U.S. According to Axios, Buttigieg apparently was hoping to be ambassador to the United Nations which sounds like the perfect spot for him. Others think it’s a good move for Mayor Pete.
A huge role that would give Mayor Pete the kind of standing that sets him up for a national role. A future Harris-Buttigieg ticket one day would not surprise me at all. https://t.co/d5CsvfOx0G
— Joy WE VOTED!! WEAR A MASK!! Reid 😷) (@JoyAnnReid) December 9, 2020
Grand strategy aside, think about what Pete Buttigieg as U.S. ambassador could mean for LGBTQ+ people in China who still live in the shadows
His impact could disruptive, in a similar but also different way, from Gary Locke's when he was ambassador https://t.co/cnpX9lhroF https://t.co/LM6AmYlN6p pic.twitter.com/IyqnZ6aFYe
— Katerina Ang (@katerinareports) December 9, 2020
I think this would be a good landing for Pete.
VA is career death. Transportation and Commerce are meh.
Getting a top ambassadorship puts him on a George HW Bush-esque globe-trotting elder statesman path.
And Pete would be going China 11 years before Bush did. https://t.co/PvvL7qbpMQ
— Bill Scher (@billscher) December 9, 2020
(image via Facebook)
• Out: A federal judge in Boise has temporarily blocked a controversial law in Idaho that banned trans athletes from participation in school sports. The bill, which Governor Brad Little signed into law this past March, allowed for internal and external verification of a disputed athlete’s reproductive system. • Washington Blade: A gay former assistant superintendent and contracting liaison for the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington has been charged with fraudulently obtaining more than $2.1 million in funds for personal use from two federal coronavirus relief programs. Kenneth P. Gaughan, 41, reportedly used the funds to purchase a $300,000 yacht, a $1.13 million townhouse in D.C., and a $46,000 luxury sports car. • Democratic National Convention: I meant to get around to sharing my thoughts on the first night of the convention, but…the day got away from me. As the second night is about to begin, I have to share this one-two knockout punch from Night One – Michelle Obama’s pitch-perfect keynote speech, followed by Billy Porter and Stephen Stills performing the iconic anti-war protest song, “For What It’s Worth.” #Bam
Donald Trump at White House press conference (image via White House)
Since Chinese officials disclosed the outbreak of a mysterious pneumonialike illness to international health officials on New Year’s Eve, at least 430,000 people have arrived in the United States on direct flights from China, including nearly 40,000 in the two months after President Trump imposed restrictions on such travel, according to an analysis of data collected in both countries.
The bulk of the passengers, who were of multiple nationalities, arrived in January, at airports in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Newark and Detroit. Thousands of them flew directly from Wuhan, the center of the coronavirus outbreak, as American public health officials were only beginning to assess the risks to the United States.
Mr. Trump has repeatedly suggested that his travel measures impeded the virus’s spread in the United States.
“I do think we were very early, but I also think that we were very smart, because we stopped China,” he said at a briefing on Tuesday, adding, “That was probably the biggest decision we made so far.” Last month, he said, “We’re the ones that kept China out of here.”
Since the ‘travel ban’ (which exempts Americans) took effect on February 2, 279 flights from China have landed in the U.S. I’m just guessing but I doubt the coronavirus cares if you are a Chinese native or an American when hitching a ride across the Pacific Ocean. Forty thousand people coming here from China certainly didn’t “stop” the virus. The Times also notes that screening procedures during these past two months have been “uneven.”
The U.S. trade deficit widened in August for the first time in three months. From The Hill: The U.S. trade deficit grew to $54.9 billion in August, a 1.6 percent increase from July, and a spike over last year. When compared to the same period last year, the overall trade deficit was up $28.3 billion, or 7.1 percent, as exports dropped slightly and imports spiked. Analysts point to President Trump’s trade war as a factor in the increased deficit, though the strong dollar and the growing budget deficit are major factors as well. Donald Trump, somehow, found a strange, circuitous route to blame Hunter Biden for the trade deficit with China:
Coming soon to Infowars — the president suggests the US trade deficit with China is somehow linked to Hunter Biden’s business dealings in the country. pic.twitter.com/9uJqzqmkiP
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 3, 2019