Tag: Donald Trump

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News Round-Up: May 5, 2021

LGBTQ streaming platform is launching a new queer-centric news show Culture Q

LGBTQ streaming platform is launching a new queer-centric news show Culture Q
LGBTQ streaming platform Revry is launching a queer-centric news show ‘Culture Q’
Some news items you might have missed: • Revry: On May 6th, global LGBTQ TV network, Revry, will premiere it’s first original weekly news program CULTURE Q, an innovative entertainment, pop culture, lifestyle and politics news series. Emphasizing the queer milieu, CULTURE Q stands to be the leading, weekly forum for boundary-pushing LGBTQ discussions and commentary. • OUT: A gay man in Latvia was reportedly set on fire by a homophobic neighbor and died from the burn wounds that covered over 85% of his body. The man and his roommate had reported the numerous threats they received from their neighbor to police, but to no avail. • Pink News: Patrick O’Connell, a venerable AIDS activist who sought to smash stigma by creating awareness campaigns including the iconic red ribbon, has died. According to his brother, Barry, O’Connell passed away at age 67 of AIDS-related causes. RIP Patrick O’Connell.

• Billboard Music Awards: P!nk will be honored with Billboard’s ICON Award at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards on May 23. The pop star will join the pantheon of previous honorees Garth Brooks, Cher, Neil Diamond, Céline Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey. • New York Daily News: Baseball fans can get free tickets to a Yankees or Mets game if they get vaccinated against COVID at either of the team’s facilities, Gov. Cuomo announced on Wednesday. The doses available outside Citi Field and Yankee Stadium will be the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. • Fox News: After months of being banned from social media services like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, ‘former guy’ Donald Trump has launched a “communications platform,” which will eventually give him the ability to communicate directly with his followers. The platform, “From the Desk of Donald J. Trump” is part of Trump’s official website. Folks, it’s a blog.

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Facebook Oversight Board Says Trump Ban Will Remain (For Now)

Donald Trump

Donald Trump (image: public domain)
The Facebook Oversight Board (made up of lawyers, activists and journalists) announced its decision this morning to uphold the ban of ‘former guy’ Donald Trump from the social media platform. From the New York Times:

Facebook’s Oversight Board, which acts as a quasi-court over the company’s content decisions, said the social network was right to bar Mr. Trump after the insurrection in Washington in January, saying he “created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible.” The panel said the ongoing risk of violence “justified” the move.

But the board also said that an indefinite suspension was “not appropriate,” and that the company should apply a “defined penalty.” The board gave Facebook six months to make its final decision on Mr. Trump’s account status.

Sifting through Twitter, it seems most folks were very surprised Facebook’s Oversight Board upheld the decision. Trump released a statement calling the decision a “total disgrace.” “What Facebook, Twitter, and Google have done is a total disgrace and an embarrassment to our Country,” read Trump’s statement. “Free Speech has been taken away from the President of the United States because the Radical Left Lunatics are afraid of the truth, but the truth will come out anyway, bigger and stronger than ever before.”

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News Round-Up: March 30, 2021

Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) speaks to reporters (screen capture)
Some news items you might have missed: • New York Times: GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida (above) is being investigated by the Justice Department over whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid for her to travel with him. Investigators are examining whether Gaetz violated federal sex trafficking laws. Gaetz told Axios today that he has been “generous as a partner.” • Kenneth-in-the-212: The ‘Morning Wood’ series on KIT212 is always worth the click. Eye-candy is good for the soul 🙂 • American Greatness: The right wing site calls out Donald Trump’s post-election fund raising which continues to rake in huge piles of cash, but very little of that money has gone toward the causes for which donors believe they are giving. • Instagram: BMX pro Corey Walsh has become one of the few professional bikers to come out as gay. In a touching post, he shared how he’s struggled for years with his sexuality. p.s. his family and friends have apparently been awesome.  https://www.instagram.com/p/CNAkMW2hw0a/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link • CNN: Major Biden, the first rescue dog to live in the White House, has had another small ‘nipping’ incident while out on the White House South Lawn. #PoorDoggie • BroadwayWorld: The Drama League has announced the 2021 Nominees for The 87th Annual Drama League Awards. This year the organization has established five unique categories to honor the extraordinary achievements of artists across the nation who created digital and socially-distanced theatrical productions during this challenging year of suspension for live arts. • Logo: Emmy-winning actor and activist Billy Porter has returned for the third year in a row to deliver Logo’s 2021 LGBTQ State of the Union, a rousing speech assessing the status of LGBTQ acceptance and equality in the United States. Needless to say, a lot has changed in the past year. Between the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and the nation’s new presidential administration, Porter had plenty of ground to cover.

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Televangelist: God Says Trump Won & We’ll Find Out In April

Televangelist Nathan French

Televangelist Nathan French
Televangelist Nathan French (image via official FB)
Televangelist Nathan French announced on Elijah Steam’s YouTube show Friday that he’s certain Donald Trump really won ‘in a landslide’ and we’re all going to know it soon because ‘God’s about to lay it bare. Via Right Wing Watch:

“I said he was gonna win big, and he didn’t win, and the Lord says, ‘Yes, he did.’ He actually won with a landslide victory, and a lot of people don’t get that. They tried to steal the election, and it’s not gonna work. God’s about to lay it bare.

“I think we’re gonna find out in April. I think everything’s gonna change. I see a shift coming. People are waiting to see when is the God of justice gonna step in.

“You’re already seeing some of the things on the news, and I don’t want to get into too much of that because there’s certain things I can’t really say. There’s a lot of stuff that I know that certain things are timed, but I do know that there’s a lot more to come. I’m really excited because I know not only is Trump coming back, but it’s gonna be incredible how God finishes what he began.”

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Trudeau To Biden: ‘US Leadership Has Been Sorely Missed’

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President Joe Biden

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President Joe Biden
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President Joe Biden
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau didn’t hold back during his first virtual meeting with President Joe Biden today. From the Washington Post:

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greeted Biden like an old friend, took a tacit swipe at former president Donald Trump and said he was glad to have a partner on climate change again during the leaders’ first virtual bilateral meeting.

“U.S. leadership has been sorely missed over the past years,” Trudeau said, referring to his strained relationship with Trump.

This was Biden’s first bilateral meeting with a foreign leader, signaling the importance of America’s relationship with its neighbor to the north. “I look forward to seeing you in person in the future,” Biden told Trudeau. “The United States has no closer friend than Canada.”

Read more at the Post.

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Supreme Court Refuses To Shield Trump Tax Returns

Donald Trump (image via Flickr/WhiteHouse – public domain)
The U.S. Supreme Court denied Donald Trump’s request to delay handing over his tax returns to a New York City prosecutor investigating the Donald for possible criminal charges. From Reuters:

The justices without comment rebuffed Trump’s request to put on hold an Oct. 7 lower court ruling directing the Republican businessman-turned-politician’s longtime accounting firm, Mazars USA, to comply with a subpoena to turn over the materials to a grand jury convened by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, a Democrat.

“The work continues,” Vance said in a statement issued after the court’s action.

Trump issued a statement describing Vance’s investigation as part of “the greatest political witch hunt in the history of our country,” accusing New York Democrats of expending their energy on taking down a political opponent instead of tackling violent crimes.

Read more at Reuters.

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Trump On McConnell: ‘Mitch Is A Dour, Sullen, Unsmiling Political Hack’

Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell

Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell
L-R Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell
File this under ‘Infighting is funny.’ In case you missed it, immediately AFTER voting to acquit Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell gave a speech throwing the Donald under the bus. At the time, McConnell said, among other things, that Trump was “practically and morally responsible” for provoking the Capitol riot.

Today, Trump finally clapped back in a public statement calling McConnell “a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack.” From CNN:

“Mitch is a dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack, and if Republican Senators are going to stay with him, they will not win again,” Trump said in the statement.

“He will never do what needs to be done, or what is right for our Country. Where necessary and appropriate, I will back primary rivals who espouse Making America Great Again and our policy of America First. We want brilliant, strong, thoughtful, and compassionate leadership.”

Trump concluded, “This is a big moment for our country, and we cannot let it pass by using third rate ‘leaders’ to dictate our future!”

At this writing, the U.S. has suffered 487,656 coronavirus deaths. But in his statement, Trump says his only regret was backing Mitch for reelection in 2020.

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Poll: Obama Named Best President, Trump Named Worst

Barack Obama was recently named the best president in US history while Donald Trump was named the worst
L-R Former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump
Gee, what a surprise… Happy Presidents Day, folks! From The Hill:

A poll from YouGov and The Economist has found that former President Obama was named the best U.S. president while former President Trump was named the worst.

Obama barely beat Abraham Lincoln as best U.S. president with 18 percent. Trump was at 13 percent with people naming him the best president.

Among the worst, Trump got the highest percentage at 46 percent while Obama got the second highest at 24 percent.

Trump ended his presidency on what some would call a disastrous note as his approval rating leaving office was at its lowest point.

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Senate Votes 57-43 Against Trump Falling Short Of Two-Thirds Majority To Convict

The US Senate voted 57-43 to convict Donald Trump falling 10 votes short of the 2/3s majority needed to prevent him from holding office again.
The US Senate voted 57-43 to convict Donald Trump falling 10 votes short of the 2/3s majority needed to prevent him from holding office again.
The US Senate falls short of the 2/3s majority needed to find Donald Trump guilty

And…that’s a wrap. The U.S. Senate voted 57-43 against Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial.

The final tally was 10 votes short of the two-thirds majority required to find Trump guilty. Seven Republicans voted with all 50 Democrats to convict, the most bipartisan support for conviction in any of the four impeachments in U.S. history according to the New York Times.

The 7 Republicans were: Richard Burr (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Ben Sasse (R-NE), and Pat Toomey (R-PA).

This was the first time a U.S. president was impeached twice, the first Senate impeachment trial of a former president and the shortest impeachment trial in U.S. history.

One of the most bizarre moments of the day came when Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell gave his closing remarks. McConnell hinted that he would’ve considered a guilty vote but is resting on the constitutional argument that Trump is a private citizen. “The question is moot because former President Donald Trump is not eligible”

But the fact of the matter is Trump was in office when the House voted to impeach him, but it was McConnell (while still Majority Leader) who refused to allow the trial to begin until Trump was no longer president.

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Trump & McCarthy Had Expletive-Laden Shouting Match During Capitol Invasion

(screen capture via CNN)
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, a Republican from Washington state, has told CNN that Donald Trump got into a heated conversation with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy while the U.S. Capitol building was being invaded on January 6. Herrea Beutler and other House Republicans have confirmed the details of the call wherein McCarthy begged Trump to call off his mob. From CNN:

“Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are,” Trump said, according to lawmakers who were briefed on the call afterward by McCarthy.

McCarthy insisted that the rioters were Trump’s supporters and begged Trump to call them off.

Trump’s comment set off what Republican lawmakers familiar with the call described as a shouting match between the two men.

A furious McCarthy told the President the rioters were breaking into his office through the windows, and asked Trump, “Who the f–k do you think you are talking to?” according to a Republican lawmaker familiar with the call.

Multiple House Republicans say the call demonstrates Trump had no intention of calling off the rioters even as lawmakers were under siege. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), who voted last month to impeach Trump, said, “I think it speaks to the former President’s mindset. He was not sorry to see his unyieldingly loyal vice president or the Congress under attack by the mob he inspired. In fact, it seems he was happy about it or at the least enjoyed the scenes that were horrifying to most Americans across the country.” This news broke after the impeachment proceedings had ended for the day. As Dan Rather asks, how do you not call McCarthy as a witness at this point?