• Justice Department: The FBI’s office in Puerto Rico has arrested Robinson De La Cruz Hilario (above) following an investigation that uncovered repeated online threats of mass violence targeting the LGBTQ community, as well as the receipt and possession of illegal child porn.
• Broadway World: The pro-shot of the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Merrily We Roll Along (above) will be released in movie theaters worldwide December 5, 2025.
• JoeMyGod: Fact-challenged Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) says we should stop funding HIV/AIDS prevention in Africa because “If people don’t understand what’s causing AIDS, then they’re on their own.”
Donald Trump closed his Madison Square Garden rally on Sunday with his usual weaving through his hate list: denouncing his political rivals, attacking immigrants, “the enemy within,” and promising mass deportations. But it was the speakers earlier in the evening who stole the spotlight with vulgar, racist remarks including one, Tony Hinchcliffe, who called Americans “garbage.” Continue reading “Trump’s NYC Rally: ‘Puerto Rico Is An Island Of Garbage’”
(image via Depositphotos) Some news items you might have missed: • The Advocate: A new study out of Stanford has found that while men’s average sperm counts and testosterone levels have decreased over the past 30 years, their penises have gotten 24% longer. Continue reading “Study Shares Good & Bad News For Men + More”
Taylor Frey and Kyle Dean Massey (image via Lifetime) Some news items you might have missed: • Pride: Real-life married couple Taylor Frey & Kyle Dean Massey chat with my friend Ricky Cornish about their new Lifetime holiday movie premiering tonight, “A Christmas To Treasure.” Continue reading “‘A Christmas To Treasure’ From Lifetime + More News”
Zander Murray (image via Instagram) Some news items you might have missed: • Instinct Magazine: Scottish soccer player Zander Murray came out as gay over the weekend. The 30-year-old says being in the closet really wrecked havoc on his mental health. But after attending a Pride event in Spain he noted, “The vibe was brilliant, and everyone was just being free and happy, and it was great to just be me.” Congratulations, Zander! Continue reading “Scottish Soccer Player Zander Murray Comes Out + More LGBTQ News”
Catching up on some of the day’s headlines: • Instinct Magazine: Dr. Rachel Levine, the nation’s most senior transgender official, once again made history by becoming the first openly transgender four-star officer across any of the country’s eight uniformed services. Continue reading “News Round-Up: October 19, 2021”
In this week’s podcast: • Two Supreme Court Justices made it clear they’d like to overturn marriage equality in the US • A transgender woman was found shot to death in Puerto Rico making her the 6th trans person to die by violence in the territorty • Charlie Carver, currently starring in Netflix’s The Boys in the Band says he came out as gay after a coworker slapped him for appearing gay in public • Don’t miss the all-star benefit performance of The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels in America • Drag Out the Vote has now unveiled a new voter initiative: Divas for Democracy: United We Slay, a digital variety show bringing together some of the biggest names in theater and drag All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report
(photo: public domain – Flickr/WhiteHouse) Forty-six days before the presidential election, and with a very tight race in battleground state Florida (I’ll get to that), the Trump administration has suddenly announced a new $13 billion aid package to help rebuild Puerto Rico which was decimated by Hurricane Maria in 2017. The Hill reports the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will award $9.6 billion in grants to help rebuild the Puerto Rico Electrical Power Authority addressing repairs to electrical substations, power generation systems and transmission lines. Additionally, $2 billion will be targeted to rebuilding the U.S. territory’s school buildings and educational facilities. During a press briefing today, Donald Trump told reporters, “I have to say in a very nice way, very respectful way, I’m the best thing that ever happened to Puerto Rico. Nobody even close.” Hold the phone… You may recall this is the same man who, in November 2018, told congressional leaders he didn’t want anymore relief funds going to Puerto Rico. He also claimed officials in Puerto Rico inflated Hurrican Maria’s death toll in an effort to make him look bad. In June 2019, when Congress was finally able to pass additional relief funds for Puerto Rico, Trump attempted to take credit for the move even though he’d worked to block such funding. At the press event today, Trump tried to say “Democrats don’t want to see” aid to Puerto Rico passed, but the Democratic-led House passed billions in aid to Puerto Rico in February amid Republican objections. Now, I’d sooner bite my tongue than be cynical, but it’s a fact that thousands of Puerto Ricans migrated to Florida after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. And in a race where every vote counts, the timing of this new funding certainly is convenient. Real Clear Politics average of polls in Florida shows Democrat Joe Biden just 1.6 points ahead of the Donald. If Trump loses the Sunshine State’s 29 electoral votes, his path to winning becomes VERY tight.
After botching the response to Hurricane Maria and repeatedly neglecting and insulting the Americans there, Trump now claims, “I’m the best thing that ever happened to Puerto Rico.” pic.twitter.com/sAFKb1xdEp
Trump: “Democrats don’t want to see” aid to Puerto Rico passed Reality: In February the Democratic-led House passed billions in aid to Puerto Rico over the objection of Republicans pic.twitter.com/VbeBc4shec
Trump claims: “I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to Puerto Rico.” Trump personally blocked disaster aid to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.
Trump, touting his admin sending additional federal assistance to Puerto Rico: “I’m the best thing to happen to Puerto Rico.” (he talked about trading the island for Greenland)
Recall that Trump had wanted to trade Puerto Rico for Greenland — in part, according to former DHS official @MilesTaylorUSA, because the president believed Puerto Rico was “dirty” and the people who lived there were “poor” https://t.co/pgAXx6Jdck
