Podcast: Netanyahu Says No, Don Lemon Says Yes, Chasten Buttigieg Makes A Splash, And Don't Miss 'Fosse/Verdon'

In this week's podcast:

• Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says 'no' to LGBTQ activists

• The Mormon Church reverses on LGBTQ parents & children

• Chasten Buttigieg makes a splash in Texas

• Sean Hayes is production a new animated series about a gay super spy

• CNN's Don Lemon gets engaged

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.

Hit the play button below. And if you enjoy the podcast, please share the link with your friends!

Happy Sunday, everyone!

Israel's Netanyahu Says No To LGBTQ Leaders Ahead Of Elections

(photo: 24x7photo.com/Flickr - CC license)

LGBTQ activists in Israel are angry after meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his residence Sunday where he reportedly told them he could not promise to promote LGBTQ equality after the upcoming elections on Tuesday.

It was Netanyahu’s first meeting with LGBTQ leaders in ten years.

According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu said “opposition from religious and ultra-Orthodox parties blocked him from meeting their demands.”

In a statement from the group following the meeting, the representatives said, "The prime minister refused to commit himself to promoting equality of rights as a condition for the establishment of the coalition and expressed concern about the opposition of the religious factions in any coalition that will be established.”

Netanyahu meets with LGBT leaders for first time in 10 years https://t.co/DHJtkkD4Mp

— The Times of Israel (@TimesofIsrael) April 7, 2019

With the final polls showing Netanyahu’s Likud party neck and neck with his opponent’s Blue and White party, some political pundits say the Prime Minister took the meeting for the photo op knowing he wouldn't act on behalf of Israel’s LGBTQ community.

With that in mind, it’s no wonder the estimated 500,000 LGBTQ voters in Israel aren’t leaning in Netanyahu’s direction.

A recent poll showed only 6% of LGBTQ voters in Israel plan to cast their ballot for Likud, in the upcoming election on April 9, while 31% say they favor the Blue and White party.

LGBTQ leaders in Israel are concerned as anti-gay rhetoric has grown more intense in recent years.

In February, the Association for LGBTQ Equality sent a report to Israel’s President Rivlin which documented a 54% jump from 2017 to 2018 in homophobic incidents.

(h/t Times of Israel)

Israel Prime Minister Includes Trump Children In Twitter Thanks To President-Elect Trump

Well, this is unusual to say the least.

After the United States chose to not utilize it's veto power in a vote at the United Nations last Friday to prevent the passage of a United Nations Security Council resolution criticizing Israeli settlements, President-elect Donald Trump tweeted his outrage over the US position.

We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. They used to have a great friend in the U.S., but.......

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016

not anymore. The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (U.N.)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016

Today, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted: “President-elect Trump, thank you for your warm friendship and your clear-cut support for Israel!” Netanyahu included in the tweet Israeli and U.S. flags, plus he tagged two of Trump’s children, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr.

Note: This all comes as a criminal probe has been launched in Israel against Netanyahu.

It's odd that a head of state would include the children in that they are supposedly not officially involved in the upcoming Trump administration, and Don Jr. in particular is slated to run The Trump Organization. #conflictofinterest

Others in the Twitterverse took note as well:

Most notable part of this tweet is that he tags Donald Trump Jr., who is supposed to be operating the Trump Organization https://t.co/1MpHml9nXT

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) December 28, 2016

Eric must have major FOMO right about now https://t.co/kIKK1SXcrY

— Yasmeen Serhan (@YasmeenSerhan) December 28, 2016

You have to wonder if Eric Trump feels a bit left out...

Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu Glares At U.N. For 45 Seconds Of Silence

Clip description: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu glares silently at the United Nations for 45 seconds after berating the organization for their silence in the wake of Iran's continued threats against the Jewish state.