News Round-Up: July 30, 2019

Michael Caprio

Some news items you might have missed:

• Hottie of the Day: Prior to last week's red carpet at Chippendales in Las Vegas when 'Jersey Shore' star Vinny Guadagnino returned as celebrity guest host, my hubby Michael (longtime publicist for Chipps) helped photographers get their light settings right standing in for the reality star. This was his 'back of the dress' pose.

• Tennessee: A group of over 300 lawyers says Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcutt should have his law license suspended after admitting he doesn't prosecute domestic violence crimes involving married same-sex couples. "I don’t prosecute them because I don’t recognize it as marriage. There’s no marriage to protect."

• Sun Sentinel: The South Florida newspaper had an 'oopsie' when it tweeted out a headline about moving a 100-year-old house, but instead featured a hot guy and a link to a story about an 'adult-themed' party in Key West.

How a nearly 100-year-old house will be saved by moving it across town https://t.co/F1vqJgJTEv pic.twitter.com/K9VZ876Vnt

— South Florida Sun Sentinel (@SunSentinel) July 28, 2019

• Lambda Legal: Military leaders, medical associations, public health groups, and HIV advocates joined three friend-of-the-court briefs which argue the Pentagon’s exclusion and discharge of HIV-service members is outdated, irrational and discriminatory given the advancements made in HIV medicine.

• Newsweek: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell got his panties in a wad when #MoscowMitch began trending on Twitter after he refused to allow a vote on new election security measures to stop interference in U.S. elections. What he's not keen on admitting is he received campaign donations from voting machine lobbyists before blocking the vote.

• Out Music: Earlier this month, I interviewed out singer/songwriter Tom Goss about his latest single, "Quayside," from his upcoming album, Territories.

The song is born out of Goss's own experience exploring a polyamorous relationship after his husband asked to open their marriage. It was a journey he'd not previously considered.

“I really wanted the video to reflect the uncomfortableness of my situation,” Goss recently told Parade. “I want the viewer to feel the uncertainty and fear that I did visiting the Quayside for the first time."

"That said, we were very conscious to make sure that my actions were still my own," he added. "Nobody ever forced me through the door, I was, and am, a person who chooses his own path. The final decision, to walk into the Quayside and to completely submerge, represents the most complicated and uncharted path of them all — polyamory.”

McConnell - Mueller Probe "Finally Over," Pelosi - "Not So Fast"

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced from the floor of the U.S. Senate that the Special Counsel's Russian probe is "finally over."

The Republican from Kentucky called Mueller’s findings “bad news for the outrage industrial complex but good news for the rest of the country.”

With a stern "case closed," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declares Robert Mueller's Russia probe is over. https://t.co/jzlRcY6mtU pic.twitter.com/BxvqoQ5qJe

— USA TODAY Video (@usatodayvideo) May 7, 2019

But Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi disagreed saying “that’s just not a fact — the case is not closed.”

.@SenateMajLdr McConnell’s declaration of “case closed” is a stunning act of political cynicism and a brazen violation of the oath we all take.

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 7, 2019

McConnell: End "Groundhog Day" of Trump investigations. "Case closed," declared the man who declined to warn American voters of Russian interference https://t.co/Lk7d6RmbAD

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) May 7, 2019

News Round-Up: March 25, 2019

Gus Kenworthy

Some news items you might have missed:

• Out Olympic medalist Gus Kenworthy recently debuted his new hair style he jokingly dubs "petty in pink." #PinkIsSassy

• Only 55 percent of Americans believe that gay and lesbian people face a lot of discrimination in the U.S., down from 68 percent in 2013.

• Lawyer Michael Avenatti has been arrested on charges related to an alleged $20 million extortion of the athletic apparel company Nike. His famous client, porn star Stormy Daniels, says said Monday that she is “saddened but not shocked” at the charges.

• Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has blocked a move by Senate Democrats to call on Attorney General William Barr to release special counsel Robert Mueller’s full report on the Russia investigation. It's 'too soon' says McConnell.

• Police are looking for a man who opened fire at the gay bar, Toucan's Tiki Lounge, in Palm Springs, California, this weekend. Two gun shot victims were taken to the hospital where they were reported to be in stable condition.

• Randy Report favorite Marina dropped her new music video last week, "Orange Trees."

While we've only just passed the spring solstice, clearly Marina has her head in the summertime as she takes us to the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with the upbeat electro-pop track and video.

Her upcoming album, LOVE + FEAR, is available April 26.

Mitch McConnell Shades Failed WV Senate Candidate Don Blankenship

Last night was the first big night of mid-term election action as Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia held their primaries.

Republicans were highly tense over the possibility that coal baron, Don Blankenship, might prevail in the West Virginia race for the GOP nod.

Blankenship, who had gone to prison for his part in the accidental deaths of 29 coal miners, was surging in the polls in the final days before last night's voting.

Along the way, Blankenship trolled Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell saying he would not support McConnell if elected and referred to the Majority Leader as "'Cocaine' Mitch."

To the Republicans' relief, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey prevailed.

But McConnell couldn't resist trolling Blankenship with a rather sassy image of himself seemingly covered in a white powdery substance with the caption, "Thanks for playing, Don."

Via the Chicago Tribune:

The image appears to be a doctored promotional image from the Netflix drug lord series "Narcos." The campaign's meme superimposed McConnell's face onto the figure of Pablo Escobar covered in white powder. The Hill's Will Sommer found the relevant promo.

The campaign's meme was apparently a reference to "Cocaine Mitch," the nickname Blankenship tossed at McConnell in a bizarre attack ad released in the final days of the campaign. The Blankenship spot also took swipes at the "China people" behind the senator, a reference to McConnell's wife's family.

#shade

Thanks for playing, @DonBlankenship. #WVSen pic.twitter.com/TV1ETgQdmu

— Team Mitch (@Team_Mitch) May 9, 2018

News Round-Up: December 3, 2017

(via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Fitness guy Dominick makes for all kinds of sexy Santa. Looks like he's got a nicely wrapped package to deliver, too ;)

• The Human Rights Campaign has wisely chosen to endorse Nevada Congresswoman Jacky Rosen as she begins her campaign to challenge GOP Sen. Dean Heller in next year's election. The HRC writes, in part, "She has been an outspoken critic of the Trump-Pence Administration's assault on LGBTQ equality, from revoking discrimination protections for transgender children in public schools, to attempting to render the LGBTQ community invisible in the U.S. census."

• A gay man standing outside a McDonalds in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was viciously attacked by seven men. The man had to be treated in the hospital for a broken cheekbone and damage to his eye.

• Last month, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Alabama Republican Roy Moore wasn't fit to serve in the U.S. Senate. Today, McConnell flip-flopped saying the people of Alabama should make that call. #SaveThatMajorityAtAnyCost

• MSNBC's Joy Reid has apologized after blog posts from ten years ago surfaced wherein she often referred to former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist as "Miss." Crist has long been rumored to be a closet-case.

• A male model named Jason Boyce has filed suit against renowned photographer Bruce Weber alleging that the lensman sexually harassed him during a photo shoot.

• InstaCouple Justin and Nick share the afterglow of seeing an NYC screening of soon-to-be-in-wide-release Call Me By Your Name.

Simultaneously emotionally recovering from Call Me By Your Name and Coco. Help.

A post shared by Justin & Nick (@justinickpgh) on Dec 3, 2017 at 8:15am PST

Roy Moore Feels "Harassed," Mitch McConnell Promises Expulsion, Sean Hannity Backtracks After Losing Advertisers

Roy Moore

The twisted, sordid tale of Roy Moore, twice removed from office as Alabama Supreme Court Justice and currently the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate, has not been a smooth ride of late.

After several women have come forward accusing Moore of sexual misconduct in the late 70s/early 80s, over a dozen folks in Alabama have spoken out saying they remember him being "banned" from the local mall for allegedly trolling for teen girls to date.

The attention is hurting Moore's poll numbers and he's now complaining that he's being "harassed" by the media.

Speaking of the media, Fox News' Sean Hannity learned the hard way that folks don't like to see alleged child molesters defended.

After standing up for Moore last week, which was perceived as attacking the women who came forward, Hannity's advertisers began jumping ship in a big way. So much so that last night, Hannity reversed course regarding Moore saying the Alabama judge has "24 hours to prove he didn't sexually assault teenage girls."

Hannity gives Roy Moore 24 hours to prove he didn't sexually assault teenage girls. pic.twitter.com/39RHPDmNcy

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) November 15, 2017

And finally, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not only called for Moore to "step aside" in his race for the Senate, he's now promised to begin expulsion proceedings should Moore win his Senate race.

From Politico:

It’s an outcome that senior Republicans say privately is all but unavoidable after the embattled Senate hopeful was accused of sexual misconduct, including with a 14-year-old girl. The former Alabama Supreme Court justice is refusing to leave the race.

McConnell initially outlined his thinking at his weekly leadership meeting earlier this week. The Kentucky Republican said if Moore is elected, he expects a senator to file an ethics complaint against Moore, according to multiple sources. That process would eventually lead to a vote on expelling him.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell On Roy Moore Sexual Misconduct Allegations: "I Believe The Women"

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters today, "I believe the women," when it comes to the allegations of sexual misconduct by Roy Moore in his 30s.

McConnell also said he thinks Moore should "step aside" when it comes to the Alabama race for U.S. Senate. The Senate Majority leader says Republicans are exploring the possibility of an effective "write-in" candidate for the Alabama seat.

Mitch McConnell says he believes Roy Moore's accusers and that Moore should "step aside" https://t.co/paefOKdgQ4 pic.twitter.com/0q6QPnuycb

— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) November 13, 2017

In related news, attorney Gloria Allred has announced a press conference for later today where she says she will appear with a woman who has new claims of sexual misconduct by Roy Moore.

CBO: Repeal Of Obamacare Would Result In 32 Million Fewer Americans With Health Insurance

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has scored the "Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell plans to bring up to a vote next week and the news is not good.

According to the CBO, the legislation would lead to 32 million fewer people with health coverage over the next 10 years.

From the Huffington Post:

This isn’t the Better Care Reconciliation Act, the measure to repeal and “replace” the Affordable Care Act that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) shelved Monday because it lacked enough support to pass ― and that President Donald Trump and some Republican senators are trying to revive.

Instead, McConnell said he plans to bring up legislation bluntly entitled the Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act, which is based on a bill Congress passed in 2015 and that President Barack Obama vetoed last year.

Both the House-passed American Health Care Act and the Better Care Reconciliation Act sought to erect new health insurance systems and new, less generous forms of financial assistance as well as eliminate many of the Affordable Care Act’s regulations and consumer protections.

The Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act, by contrast, would merely eliminate the Affordable Care Act’s tax credits for private insurance, funding for its Medicaid expansion, the individual mandate that most Americans obtain health coverage or face tax penalties, the mandate that large employers offer health benefits to workers, and the taxes on wealthy people and health care corporations.

The result of those policies, the Congressional Budget Office projected in its report Wednesday, would be vastly more uninsured people and an unsustainable health insurance market.

Taking away financial assistance for private insurance and funding for states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act would cause millions to lose coverage, including 17 million next year alone.

But the damage to the health care system would go deeper. Absent the individual mandate ― which encourages low-cost healthy people to enroll in coverage ― and the tax credits for insurance policies sold on the exchanges, insurers would be forced to increase premiums to cover the expense of treating those customers who are sick enough that they are motivated to buy coverage.

The CBO report also predicts premiums in the individual marketplace (which is how I buy my own health insurance) would double over the next 10 years.

Senate Majority Leader Admits Repubs May Not Pass "Repeal/Replace" Healthcare Bill

Sen. Mitch McConnell

Speaking at a Rotary Club event today in Kentucky, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) acknowledged that Senate Republicans may not be able to pass their ObamaCare repeal legislation.

In doing so, McConnell signaled what might be interpreted as a sign that he's open to bipartisan stabilizing of insurance markets.

"If my side is unable to agree on an adequate replacement... then some kind of action with regard to private health insurance markets must occur."

From The Hill:

Republicans have campaigned for years on repealing and replacing ObamaCare, arguing the Affordable Care Act is “failing” and in a “death spiral," and insisting the law is not fixable.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) touted McConnell's comments, saying the Kentucky Republican “opened the door to bipartisan solutions.”

"It’s encouraging that Sen. McConnell today acknowledged that the issues with the exchanges are fixable,” Schumer said. “As we’ve said time and time again, Democrats are eager to work with Republicans to stabilize the markets and improve the law. At the top of the list should be ensuring cost-sharing payments are permanent, which will protect health care for millions.”

MCCONNELL: "If my side is unable to agree on an adequate replacement...." (1/2)

— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) July 6, 2017

MCCONNELL: "...then some kind of action with regard to private health insurance markets must occur." (2/2)

— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) July 6, 2017

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Goes "Nuclear" On Judge Gorsuch Vote

Sen. Mitch McConnell

From Huffington Post:

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and his fellow Republicans pulled the nuclear rules trigger Thursday, ending filibusters for Supreme Court nominees after Democrats blocked President Donald Trump’s conservative pick, Neil Gorsuch.

Democrats had argued that Gorsuch, a Colorado federal appeals judge, was simply too conservative, and were nearly united in opposing a cloture vote to end debate on the nominee. Opposing cloture amounts to a formal filibuster, which takes 60 votes to break. With just a few Democrats joining the chamber’s 52 Republicans, McConnell’s only way to confirm Gorsuch was to change the rules.

He began by launching a string of procedural moves to allow a Senate majority to change longstanding rules with a simple majority, or 51 votes.

What this means is, now and moving forward, all Supreme Court nominees will only need 51 votes to be confirmed.

While this serves the Republicans now, at some point in the future the Dems will have the majority. And the shoe will be on the other foot.

Mitch McConnell Gets Trolled On Twitter For Inaction On Guns

 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell got called out on Twitter today by a follower who felt strongly about inaction on the part of Congress for doing nothing in the wake of mass gun shootings across the country, the latest being the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Florida that left 49 victims dead and 53 more hospitalized.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell: No Vote On Any SCOTUS Nominee This Year

In a speech from the floor of the U.S. Senate, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) repeated his stance that Senate Republicans will not allow any nominee put forward by President Obama to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

"Presidents have a right to nominate just as the Senate has its constitutional right to provide or withhold consent. In this case, the Senate will withhold it," McConnell said. "The Senate will appropriately revisit the matter after the American people finish making in November the decision they've already started making today."

The U. S. Constitution tasks the president with the responsibility to appoint judges to the Supreme Court, and charges the Senate to "advise and consent." No where in the Constitution does it say the Senate can "withhold" it's responsibility.

And folks wonder why Congress has such low approval numbers?

Mitch McConnell Takes Credit For US Economy After ONE Day As Senate Majority Leader

Just ONE day into his role as Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY) takes credit for the good news on the American economy saying it's all about the fact that Republican have a brand new majority in Congress:

"After so many years of sluggish growth, we're finally starting to see some economic data that can provide a glimmer of hope; the uptick appears to coincide with the biggest political change of the Obama administration's long tenure in Washington: the expectation of a new Republican Congress," McConnell said on Wednesday. "So this is precisely the right time to advance a positive, pro-growth agenda."

The Democratic National Committee thought the comment was more than hysterical, emailing a statement with the subject line "DNC to McConnell: Hahahahahahahahahahaha."

Here's the statement from DNC Communications Director Mo Elleithee:

Hahahahahahahahahahaha. That Mitch McConnell is one funny guy. He likes to remind people all the time that he’s not a scientist. Now we know he’s not a mathematician or an economist either.

The fact is, under President Obama we’ve had 57 straight months of private sector job growth leading to nearly 11 million jobs added.

All Republicans have given us is a government shutdown that cost the economy $24 billion.

I get why he wants to take credit for the economic recovery. But maybe he should first do something to help contribute to it.