Monthly Archives: May 2018

Cardinal Timothy Dolan Hails Pope Francis For His “God Made You Gay” Comment: Jesus Would Have Said That

From the Catholic site Crux Now: Pope Francis’s reported comment to a Chilean sexual abuse survivor, “That you are gay doesn’t matter,” has made major headlines in recent days – and on Tuesday, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York affirmed Francis’s comments, saying “Jesus would have said that.” “Juan Carlos, that you are gay doesn’t matter,” Francis reportedly told clerical …

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James Comey: Trump Will Lie About Anything

Politico reports: Former FBI Director James Comey on Wednesday pushed back against allegations by President Donald Trump and his allies that the bureau may have been “spying” on his campaign through an informant during the 2016 elections, warning that attacks on the U.S. law enforcement agency “will do lasting damage to our country.” “Facts matter. The FBI’s use of Confidential …

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Sarah Sanders: Being Called A Liar “Bothers Me”

The New York Times has published a longread on what it’s like to speak for Glorious Leader. This bit with Aunt Lydia jumps out: Like many of her White House colleagues, Sanders is quick to suggest that some of the criticism the Trump White House has received is a product of a biased press. I replied that a lot of …

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Grocery Censors “Cum” From Homeschooler’s Cake

Publix can’t catch a break lately: A Christian homeschool grad was “humiliated” when a cake for his big day turned up with the phrase “Summa — Laude Class of 2018” thanks to a computer system that deemed “cum” a vulgar word. Cara Koscinski didn’t think twice after placing the online order for the $70 cake from her local Publix supermarket. …

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KENTUCKY: Gay Man Loses Bid To Challenge Kim Davis

The Lexington Courier Journal reports: A gay man in eastern Kentucky has lost his bid to challenge Republican county clerk Kim Davis, who went to jail three years ago for denying him and others marriage licenses in the aftermath of an historic U.S. Supreme Court decision. David Ermold sought the Democratic nomination in Tuesday’s primary in Rowan County, Kentucky. He …

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Robert De Niro Bans Trump From His Restaurants

The Daily Mail reports: While he is one of Hollywood’s greatest actors, Robert De Niro also prides himself on being a co-founder of the Nobu restaurant and hotel chain. The Taxi Driver legend, 74, spoke exclusively to MailOnline about life as a superstar, restaurateur and hotelier when he joined fellow founders Nobu Matsuhisa and Meir Teper in launching the new …

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Rep. Jared Polis To Intro Bill To Repeal GOP Tax Cut

Business Insider reports: As the new tax cuts ushered in solely by Republicans begin to take effect, one Democratic congressman is unveiling a repeal plan, signaling that President Donald Trump’s primary opposition is serious about reversing his signature legislative achievement. Rep. Jared Polis of Colorado will introduce the Students Over Special Interests Act next Tuesday. The legislation, according to a …

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BELARUS: Government Slams Same-Sex Relationships As “Fake” After UK Embassy Flies Rainbow Flag In Minsk

Reuters reports: Leading rights groups praised the British embassy in Minsk on Tuesday for flying a rainbow flag to support sexual minorities in one of Europe’s most homophobic states, after Belarus condemned the UK for challenging its “traditional values”. Britain came under fire from the eastern European country’s interior ministry on Sunday, which said on its website that the UK …

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Arizona Seeks To Strike Evolution From Textbooks

The Arizona Republic reports: The Arizona Department of Education hopes to make changes to science standards, which will affect K-12 districts and charter schools. The changes include removing the word “evolution” in some areas and describing it as a “theory” in others. Some educators and scientists are outraged by the change. In the draft, the word “evolution” is crossed out …

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NYC Council To Consider Banning Plastic Straws

The New York Daily News reports: Suck on this — plastic drinking straws could be banned in New York. Businesses in the city would be barred from using disposable plastic straws under a bill set to be introduced Wednesday in the City Council. Plastic coffee stirrers would be forbidden, too. Restaurants and take out spots would either have to forgo …

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2020 Poll: Trump Trails Generic Dem By Eight Points

Politico reports: The 2020 presidential election is still two and a half years away, but President Donald Trump’s path to a second term is littered with roadblocks, according to a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll. Just 36 percent of voters say they would vote for Trump over a generic Democratic candidate in 2020, compared with 44 percent who would pick the …

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TEXAS: GOP Judge Who Will Disinherit His Kids For Not Marrying White People Loses Narrowly, Recount Possible

The Dallas Morning News reports: Dallas attorney J.J. Koch eked out a win for the Republican nomination for Dallas County commissioner, beating Vickers “Vic” Cunningham, a former judge who drew national headlines over alleged racist behavior and language. Twenty-five votes decided the race for northern Dallas County’s District 2 seat. Because the race was so close, Cunningham could have the …

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GEORGIA: Stacey Abrams Wins Dem Gov Primary

NBC News reports: Stacey Abrams easily defeated Stacey Evans in the Georgia Democratic gubernatorial primary Tuesday that attracted national attention. Now, Abrams will attempt to make history by becoming the nation’s first black female governor — and Georgia’s first woman governor — by winning the general election in November in a state that Republicans still dominate. “We are writing the …

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Trump Rages About Criminal “Spy Scandal”

Raw Story reports: President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued an angry rant against his enemies in America’s law enforcement agencies by referring to them as the “Criminal Deep State.” Despite the president’s assertions, however, there is no evidence that the FBI implanted a spy in his presidential campaign in 2016. Rather, the FBI had a confidential informant who met with …

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CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

Playbill reports: Matt Bomer makes his Broadway debut with the 50th anniversary revival of Mart Crowley’s The Boys in the Band, now in previews at the Booth Theatre before an official opening May 31. As the actor told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, he feels like this play is one of importance. “It’s about a group of gay men …

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House Votes To Rollback Dodd-Frank Banking Regs

USA Today reports: The House sent a major revision of banking regulations to President Trump’s desk on Tuesday after conservatives who wanted a more sweeping rollback decided to accept a bipartisan deal crafted by the Senate. Supporters said the bill would give businesses more access to loans for homes and cars that they cannot get now because of government regulations. …

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Trump Seeks To Narrow Scope Of Mueller Interview

CNN reports: Donald Trump’s legal team is trying to narrow the scope of the President’s potential interview with special counsel Robert Mueller to questions on Russia-related matters that occurred before Trump’s election, multiple sources familiar with the matter told CNN. Trump’s lawyers, who are urging Mueller to wrap up his investigation, are looking for a way to get him to …

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BREAKING: Cohen’s Business Partner Has Flipped

The New York Times reports: A significant business partner of Michael D. Cohen, President Trump’s personal lawyer, has quietly agreed to cooperate with the government as a potential witness, a development that could be used as leverage to pressure Mr. Cohen to work with the special counsel examining Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Under the agreement, the partner, …

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Journalist Lesley Stahl: Trump Told Me He Bashes The Press So Nobody Will Believe The Negative Stories

CNBC reports: President Donald Trump told the veteran journalist Lesley Stahl of the CBS program 60 Minutes that he bashes the press to “demean” and “discredit” reporters so that the public will not believe “negative stories” about him, Stahl said. Stahl said she and her boss met with Trump at his office in Trump Tower in Manhattan after the 2016 …

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Federal Court Affirms Rights Of Transgender Students

Via press release from the ACLU: A federal court today denied the Gloucester County School Board’s motion to dismiss a case brought by former student Gavin Grimm, holding that Title IX and the Constitution protect transgender students from being excluded from the common restrooms that align with their gender identity. The court directed the parties to schedule a settlement conference …

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