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Published by Reuters By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) – Montana statehouse Republicans on Wednesday silenced Democratic transgender legislator Zooey Zephyr from floor debates for breaking decorum after she said lawmakers who backed a ban on gender-affirming healthcare for minors would have “blood on your hands.” Under the motion that passed with a vote of 68-32, Zephyr will be allowed to vote but is barred from the House floor, anteroom or gallery for the remainder of the legislative session, scheduled to end on May 10. The discord in Montana – which has garnered national attention amid an escalating culture war in the U.S. over issues like transgender rights – has brewed since an April 18 debate over Senate Bill 99. The state measure seeks to ban transgender healthcare treatments for minors, including puberty blockers and hormones. Zephyr, a first-term representative from Missoula, said in the debate that denying such care was “tantamount to torture,” and that a ban would lead to more suicides. “If you vote yes on this bill and yes on these amendments, I hope the next time there’s an invocation when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands,” Zephyr said. In response, the Republican supermajority silenced her within the chamber until she apologized, prompting a large protest by Zephyr supporters at the statehouse on Monday. When protesters in the gallery disrupted that session by chanting “Let her speak!,” the House speaker ordered representatives to abandon the floor, but Zephyr stayed in place, pointing a microphone toward her supporters. Seven demonstrators were arrested, and Republicans increased their attention on Zephyr, with the ultraconservative Montana Freedom Caucus on Monday urging she be punished. Majority Leader Sue Vinton, who presented the motion, stressed the need for decorum so that the rights of all representatives were protected. “Monday, this body witnessed one of its members participating in conduct that disrupted and disturbed the orderly proceedings,” Vinton said. “This member (Zephyr) did not accede to the order of the speaker.” Zephyr remained defiant on Wednesday, telling the chamber that her “blood on your hands” comment was “not being hyperbolic.” “When the speaker asks me to apologize on behalf of decorum, what he is really asking me to do is be silent when my community is facing bills that get us killed,” Zephyr said. “He is asking me to be complicit in this legislature’s eradication of our community. And I refuse to do so.” The Democratic Party, the American Civil Liberties Union and LGBTQ advocates criticized the censure as undemocratic. Republican legislators across the country have sought to ban certain healthcare for transgender youth. One tracker by a group of independent journalists says more than 500 bills have been introduced that they say would infringe on the rights of gender non-conforming people. Such bills were once mostly limited to regulating changing rooms and women’s sports but now also include limiting healthcare access for transgender adults and in some cases seek to charge parents and doctors with child abuse if they provide treatment. Opponents of such treatment are skeptical of the major medical associations that support gender-affirming care, raising concerns that minors are too easily allowed to make such life-changing decisions. A similar break in decorum at a statehouse in Tennessee earlier this month led the Republican supermajority to expel two Democratic lawmakers who had protested in support of gun control, drawing national attention. They were promptly reappointed to their seats by their county legislatures and earned a trip to the White House. (This story has been refiled to say ‘your’, not ‘their’, in paragraph 1) (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Rosalba O’Brien) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Tom Hals WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) -When attorneys for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appear in court to defend against Walt Disney Co’s lawsuit that accuses the Republican official of weaponizing state government, they will see a familiar face, if not always a welcome one. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker in Tallahassee has struck down several laws that defined DeSantis’ conservative political agenda, including statutes that sought to limit the speech of college professors, curtailed protests and restricted voting access. Walker was nominated to the federal court by former President Barack Obama, a Democrat. Disney sued DeSantis on Wednesday to block a state law that created an oversight board that Disney said will interfere with billions of dollars of planned development. The feud between the global entertainment giant and a likely candidate for the 2024 presidential election started last year, when Disney criticized a law signed by DeSantis that banned classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation for younger children. Disney alleges a law that imposed an oversight board was punishment for voicing opposition to DeSantis’ classroom instruction law known as the Parental Rights in Education Act. The company called the state’s actions “particularly offensive here due to the clear retaliatory and punitive intent.” The gender-education statute, derided by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, survived challenges in federal court before a different judge. Free speech has been central to several rulings by Walker against DeSantis, although the judge has also at times sided with the governor. Walker blocked the Individual Freedom Act or Stop Woke Act, which limited the speech of college professors, calling it “positively dystopian” in an opinion that began with a quote from George Orwell’s anti-totalitarian novel “1984.” In 2021, Walker blocked the Combating Public Disorder Act, which DeSantis signed into law after the 2020 protests over the murder of George Floyd, a Black man, at the hands of police. Walker ruled the law’s expansion of the definition of “riot” infringed on protesters’ right to free speech. The judge last year enjoined a law signed by DeSantis that banned ballot drop boxes and prevented groups from offering food and water to voters waiting in long lines, causes championed by Democrats as a way to support voter turnout. The judge also sided with plaintiffs in a second lawsuit challenging a different aspect of the Stop Woke Act, which defined as “unlawful employment practices” workplace training around issues of race and sex. Walker said Florida had become a place where the First Amendment allowed, rather than prevented, the state to limit speech. Or as he put it, “in the popular television series Stranger Things, the ‘upside down’ describes a parallel dimension containing a distorted version of our world. Recently, Florida has seemed like a First Amendment upside down.” The judge has also ruled with DeSantis and declined to block the execution of a death row inmate and dismissed some claims against the governor over the Individual Freedom Act. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, DelawareAdditional reporting by Lisa Richwine in Los AngelesEditing by Amy Stevens and Matthew Lewis) View the full article

Published by City AM By Steve Dinneen Throughout history, those who created great movements are rarely the ones who enjoyed the benefits. Little Richard: I Am Everything is a stunning documentary about a singer, but also a meditation about how cultural history is manicured. Told through archive footage and talking head interviews, it’s about the life of Richard Wayne Penniman, the singer from Maycomb, Georgia who would find success in the 1950s as Little Richard. Overcoming racial segregation to break through to America’s white youth, the film is a testament to how hits such as Long Tall Sally and Tutti Frutti ins… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story “The View” co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg joined former Donald Trump aide Alyssa Farah Griffin on Thursday in mutual anger over the Republican Party working to restrict the freedoms of Americans and their families. The conversation began with a clip of Montana Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a Democrat who has fought the state’s bill attempting to block all transgender medical care for anyone under 18. She’s given impassioned speeches over the past several days, but the Speaker blocked her from talking, claiming that she was inciting violence. Goldberg looked at the incident within the context of the Republican … Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Howard Stern had some thoughts about Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon‘s recent firings, which both occurred on Monday, April 24. “The other big headline was this guy Tucker Carlson, who’s like the biggest thing on Fox News. He got fired, essentially, the speculation is that… not for what he said on air, but someone was– I don’t know, I don’t know what’s going on over there,” Stern said on the Tuesday, April 25, episode of his SiriusXM show, The Howard Stern Show. “Don Lemon got fired over at CNN and then some other guy at NBC, Jeff Shell, who’s an executive, got fired. And I’m like, Jeff Shell’s so lucky and so is Don Lemon because Tucker Carlson getting fired on the same day you get fired, you barely make news, like no one will even notice,” Stern added. The radio star’s co-host Robin Quivers also weighed in, noting that Carlson’s exit was the most newsworthy. “You’re having the same thought I was. I thought when they heard that Tucker Carlson was fired, they said, ‘Quickly get those firings out there in the public, because it’ll be dwarfed by the Tucker Carlson,’” she said. mega “I’ll tell you what happened. Tucker Carlson got fired and CNN called a quick meeting, said, ‘Hey listen, let’s go fire Don Lemon and let’s get rid of Jeff Shell too because now is the time to get rid of everybody cause no one’s gonna really make a big deal about it,” Stern replied. Bachelor No More! Jon Hamm & Former Costar Anna Osceola Engaged After 2 Years Of Dating Pink Reveals Madonna ‘Doesn’t Like’ Her Because Of Awkward Misunderstanding 20 Years Ago: ‘She Tried To Kind Of Play Me’ Howard Stern Yearns For Comedian Jon Stewart To Run For President: ‘The Most Trusted Newsman In The Country’ As OK! previously reported, Carlson was ousted by Fox News rather abruptly. “We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor,” Fox said in a statement, adding that his Friday, April 21, broadcast was his last one. Meanwhile, Lemon took to Twitter to share the news. “After 17 years at CNN I would have thought someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly,” he said of the situation via Twitter. “At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network. It is clear that there are some larger issues at play,” he declared. “With that said, I want to thank my colleagues and the many teams I have worked with for an incredible run. They are the most talented journalist in the business, and I wish them all the best.” Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! mega CNN later refuted Lemon’s claims with a message of their own. “Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter,” they wrote. “Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.” View the full article

Published by AlterNet Throughout most of his career, Dr. Anthony Fauci, now 82, was hardly an object of hatred among Republicans. Fauci, who began working for the United States’ federal government in the late 1960s, served under several conservative GOP presidents without any problem: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. The younger President Bush, in fact, praised Fauci when he gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award in 2008. George W. Bush’s exact words: “As a physician, medical researcher, author, and public servant, Dr. Anthony Fauci has dedicated his life to … Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine MEGA Madonna isn’t Madonna without a little risquè moment every once in a while — or all the time! On Tuesday, April 25, the Queen of Pop took to Instagram to wish her good friend Jean Paul Gaultier a happy birthday, and decided to share some blasts from the past in the process. MEGA “Happy Birthday JPG!” Madonna wrote alongside a stunning black and white throwback shot of the duo softly smiling side by side. The “Material Girl” signer proceeded to upload a series of other snaps of the pair from years ago on her Instagram Story. One photo portrayed a young Madonna lounging across Gaultier’s lap as he pretended to lift his arm in the air in the motion of slapping her behind. MEGA Another image featured the the French fashion designer kissing the pop star’s cheek as she chowed down on a piece of strawberry shortcake. Madonna then shared a picture from her infamous 1992 runway moment, when she shocked the crowd by wearing a striped form-fitting dress that revealed her chest at an amfAR fashion show, while Gaultier proudly stood by her side to show of his alluring design. Madonna Flaunts Her Fit Legs In Fishnet Tights As Backup Dancers Grind On Singer During Tour Rehearsal: Photos Madonna Haters Tear Apart Her ‘Unrecognizable’ Face After Singer Announces New Tour Dates: ‘Surgeon Did Her So Dirty’ Madonna Recalls Her Late Mom ‘Shivering’ During Her Childhood Because She Couldn’t Afford a Coat: ‘I Hope She’s Warm’ Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! The 64-year-old concluded her birthday stroll down memory lane with her designer bestie by uploading three additional paparazzi pics of the iconic duo throughout the years. Ahead of Gaultier’s birthday, the pair went to Madonna’s storage warehouse together to explore costume designs from the “Like a Virgin” vocalist’s past, as she prepares to kick off her world tour — which will celebrate four decades of the award-winning artist’s best-selling music. MEGA “A trip to Madonna’s archives where iconic @jeanpaulgaultier custom designs are brought back to life ,” Gaultier captioned an Instagram post on Tuesday about the exciting experience. Madonna also took to her social media profile to express her emotions after the special day, as she shared the same photos as Gaultier to Instagram on Monday, April 24. “A trip to my archives is always a nostalgic trip down memory lane!If I think about my journey through music over the last 4 decades — how could I not think about all the incredible clothes I got to wear and all the amazing designers I was lucky enough to work with!!” the “Hung Up” performer wrote. Madonna then informed her followers about transforming her life from rags to riches and expressed immense gratitude for her success today. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Karma seems to be real for Maren Morris! The “I Could Use a Love Song” vocalist took to her Instagram Story on Monday, April 24, to slam former Fox News host Tucker Carlson after he criticized her for her left-leaning politics. Shutterstock “Happy Monday, MotherTucker,” Morris wrote alongside a shot of a 2022 episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight — which has now been canceled — where the controversial anchor labeled the 33-year-old a “lunatic country music person.” In the second slide, the CMA winner shared a graphic that read, “The only tuckers allowed are the drag queens.” Morris and Carlson’s beef stems back to September 2022 when Brittany Aldean appeared on the Republican journalist’s show while she and Morris were involved in a social media fight over their differing views over transgender rights. During the segment, Carlson also called Morris a “fake country music singer.” MEGA 2023 Grammys Red Carpet: See Photos Of Lizzo, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles & More! Maren Morris May Sit Out CMAs Amid Brittany Aldean Feud Singer Maren Morris Slams Meghan Markle Haters Following Netflix Docuseries Backlash: ‘It’s Unfathomable To Me’ The Texas native’s dig at the right-wing pundit came the same day it was announced Carlson exited Fox News after four years fronting his namesake show. “We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor,” the network said in a statement. The last broadcast of Carlson’s show was Friday, April 21. mega Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! While some rejoiced over the news, conservatives were outraged. “I think it changes things permanently. That’s one of the few voices in the Republican party that would call out the nonsense,” Donald Trump Jr. said during an appearance on The Kirk Charlie Show. “An actual thought leader in conservatism. It’s actually mind-blowing to me.” “I hope whatever he does, he continues to be that voice for conservatism, because he’s one of the few people pushing those boundaries,” he continued to gush over Carlson. “One of the few people actually speaking to Independents and across the aisle and winning them over with facts, logic and reason,” Trump Jr. concluded. “I think he’s probably a once in a generation type talent. To see him go is mind-boggling.” View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Resplendent in matching scarlet T-shirts, and mauve, chartreuse and fuchsia wigs, platform heels and outrageous makeup, several hundred drag queens marched on the state Capitol on Tuesday to protest legislation targeting their livelihood and transgendercommunity. With over 400 performers, their families, friends, and children from all around the state, it was billed as the largest drag queen march in Florida. “It tells us drag queens are fierce, fabulous and furious. And they are fighting back,” said former Orlando state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, now a Democratic candida… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ battles with Walt Disney Co over a state law banning public school lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity could boost his support among U.S. Republican voters as he mulls a possible White House bid, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found. DeSantis has been tussling with Disney for over a year since the company’s former chief executive spoke out against a bill that Florida Republicans named the Parental Rights in Education bill, which critics labeled the “Don’t Say Gay” law. Forty-four percent of Republican respondents in the two-day poll ended Tuesday said they had a more favorable view of DeSantis because of the fight with Disney, which led him to sign a retaliatory law in February that aims to strip the company of its self-governing authority at its Orlando-area parks. But it was unclear whether the conflict would help DeSantis gain support among the wider electorate should he formally enter and win the 2024 Republican presidential primary, becoming the party’s challenger to Democratic President Joe Biden. Seventy-three percent of respondents – including 82% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans – said they were less likely to support a political candidate who backs laws designed to punish a company for its political or cultural stances. Americans are divided along party lines on teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity in schools, with three-quarters of Republicans opposed to it and a similar proportion of Democrats in favor. Independents were evenly divided in the Reuters/Ipsos poll. Polling shows DeSantis trailing former President Donald Trump among Republican voters. DeSantis has argued that his actions against Disney were rightfully rolling back special treatment for the company. Some 64% of Republicans in the Reuters/Ipsos poll agreed, with 37% of them siding with the vast majority of Democrats, who said DeSantis was punishing Disney for exercising free speech. Independents also leaned toward viewing DeSantis’ actions as punitive. Prior Reuters/Ipsos polling has shown DeSantis’ hard-right positions on abortion and guns could help win support of Republican primary voters in the early months of 2024, but may hurt him with independent and more moderate voters that he would need to be elected. The fight with Disney could be helping DeSantis raise his national profile, with 54% of respondents in the new survey saying they were following the story. Fifty-five percent of Democrats said they were less likely to visit Florida because of DeSantis’ actions, while 31% of Republicans said they were more likely to do so. DeSantis last week pledged more legislative action to reign in the entertainment company following revelations Disney pushed through changes in its special tax district agreement that could preserve its self-governing authority. The new Reuters/Ipsos poll gathered responses from 1,005 adults across the United States, including 450 self-described Democrats and 366 Republicans. It had a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of about four percentage points. (Reporting by Jason Lange; Editing by Scott Malone and Cynthia Osterman) View the full article

Published by Chicago Tribune CHICAGO — Mark Niehaus-Rincon, 67, has lived in Omaha, Nebraska, for 12 years but says “life is too short” to stay there. He and his husband, Alex, a native of Omaha, have faced the silent treatment from others at their gym for 10 years. They’ve also dealt with uncomfortable and hostile workplace environments and homophobic slurs. That treatment, combined with Nebraska’s current legislative agenda — which includes restricting women’s access to reproductive health care and limiting the rights of the LGBTQ community — helped push Niehaus-Rincon and his husband to relocate to Chicago. He said the… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story Writing for the Arkansas Times, Austin Bailey and Lindsey Millar trashed the state’s new “MAGA” governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, once former President Donald Trump’s press secretary, and the GOP-dominated state legislature, saying that they “stomped on the poor” and disadvantaged groups without solving any real problems for their constituents. “Supercharged by a mountain of MAGA money and an even bigger ego, Gov. Sarah Sanders called all the shots,” they wrote. “The supermajority Republican legislature raced to do her bidding. Their rubber stamp on all of Sanders’ priorities (vouchers, prison … Read More View the full article

Published by PsyPost Whether a man is circumcised or not does not appear to have a significant impact his sexual functioning, according to new research published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior. However, the study indicates that those who are happier with their circumcision status tend to have a more positive view of their genitals and are less likely to feel anxious about exposing their body. This suggests that a person’s attitude towards their circumcision status can play an important role in how they feel about their body during sexual experiences. Circumcision, a common practice that affects the penis, has … Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story A new report shows an “unmistakable pattern” of hate crimes reported during presidential election seasons. FBI data going back to 2008 reveals an increase in crimes targeting racial groups around general elections, according to the report by the civil rights group Leadership Conference Education Fund. Those attacks have spiked more than 80 percent since 2015, reported USA Today. “What it shows is an extremely disturbing and sadly not so surprising trend,” said fund CEO Maya Wiley. Most hate crimes are targeted against Black people, but religious groups such as Jews and Muslims are frequently h… Read More View the full article

Published by The Kansas City Star TOPEKA, Kansas — When Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly was reelected in November, she told supporters that Kansans had voted to keep the state moving forward, embracing strong schools, economic growth and abortion rights. “We will not go backward,” Kelly said on election night. Nearly six months later, Kelly has vetoed 15 bills this year – the most of any Kansas governor in 29 years. The Republican-controlled Legislature reconvenes Wednesday and GOP leaders have promised to try to override many of them, as well as numerous other budget line-item vetoes. Even as Kelly won promising a “middle of the … Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Disney upset Florida Governor Ron DeSantis with its opposition to the so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law Miami (AFP) – Disney on Wednesday filed suit in federal court against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, alleging his administration’s takeover of its theme park district in the state is part of “a targeted campaign of government retaliation.” The move is the latest salvo in an increasingly bitter fight between the entertainment giant and DeSantis, a Republican presidential hopeful for the 2024 election. The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Florida, names DeSantis and other members of the conservative governor’s administration. “A targeted campaign of government retaliation — orchestrated at every step by Governor DeSantis as punishment for Disney’s protected speech — now threatens Disney’s business operations, jeopardizes its economic future in the region, and violates its constitutional rights,” it says. Disney attracted the governor’s ire last year after it criticized a law banning school lessons on sexual orientation — the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law. DeSantis, who has used the fight to burnish his populist right-wing credentials against what he says is a “woke” corporation, seized control of Walt Disney World’s self-governing district in February. On Wednesday, a DeSantis-appointed panel voted to vacate agreements that gave Disney effective powers of self-governance at its huge complex in Florida, which employs 75,000 people and attracts 50 million visitors annually. Moments later, the company hit back. “The company is left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to protect its cast members, guests, and local development partners from a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint unpopular with certain State officials,” it said in the complaint. “This is as clear a case of retaliation as this Court is ever likely to see.” View the full article

Published by AlterNet Tucker Carlson’s termination from Fox News may have been a result of his recent, intense “prayer talk,” according to a new report published by Vanity Fair. Per the news outlet, an inside source with details about Fox Corp. chair Rupert Murdoch’s executive decision claims the conservative primetime host was axed after making comments during his speech delivered on Friday, April 21. “According to the source, Fox Corp. chair Rupert Murdoch removed Carlson over remarks Carlson made during a speech at the Heritage Foundation’s 50th Anniversary gala on Friday night,” the news outlet reports. “Carlso… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Anna Tong, Alexandra Ulmer and Jeffrey Dastin SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Tech billionaire and Republican megadonor Peter Thiel, an early backer of former President Donald Trump who later broke with him, has told associates he is not planning to donate to any political candidates in 2024, according to two people close to the businessman. Thiel is unhappy with the Republican Party’s focus on hot-button U.S. cultural issues, said one of the sources, a business associate, citing abortion and restrictions on which bathrooms transgender students can use in schools as two examples. Thiel came to this conclusion by late 2022, the sources said. He believes Republicans are making a mistake in focusing on cultural flashpoints and should be more concerned with spurring U.S. innovation – a major issue for him – and competing with China, the business associate said. Thiel’s plans for the Republican primary and general election have not been previously reported. Online news site Puck previously reported Thiel was most likely either to support Trump or sit out the primary. Thiel declined a Reuters request for an interview. When Thiel spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention, he had more hope that the party would concentrate on economic issues, his business associate said. “I am proud to be gay,” Thiel said on stage. “But most of all I am proud to be an American. I don’t pretend to agree with every plank in our party’s platform, but fake culture wars only distract us from our economic decline, and nobody in this race is being honest about it except Donald Trump.” Four political sources also told Reuters that Thiel is taking a step back from U.S. politics. Thiel, who diverged from his Silicon Valley peers with his embrace of conservative causes, identifies as a supporter of libertarianism, a political philosophy that stresses the importance of individual freedoms. DONORS HESITATE The German-born entrepreneur has a fortune estimated at around $4.2 billion after co-founding PayPal and Palantir and investing early in Facebook. He has contributed around $50 million to state and federal political candidates and campaigns since 2000, and he was the 10th largest individual donor to either party in the 2022 midterm congressional elections, according to the non-profit OpenSecrets. Thiel’s decision underlines how the Republican Party’s swing to the right on social issues is alienating some prominent, business-minded donors. Several top donors have said they are hesitant to support Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is expected to announce a run for the White House soon, after he signed a bill into law that bans most abortions after six weeks in Florida. None said they intended to sit out the entire 2024 election cycle as a consequence. In 2012, Thiel backed libertarian lawmaker Ron Paul, and in 2016 he donated some $1.25 million to the campaign efforts of Trump, who is the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination. In 2020, Thiel did not financially back Trump’s re-election efforts, according to OpenSecrets. Thiel liked some of Trump’s policies while in office but disapproved of the chaos surrounding the former reality TV star’s presidency, said one of the sources, who is close to Thiel personally. In the 2022 election cycle, however, Thiel emerged as a potential Republican kingmaker, contributing more than $35 million to 16 federal-level Republican candidates, according to OpenSecrets. Twelve of those candidates won. To be sure, Thiel could yet change his mind on political contributions for the 2024 cycle, although both sources familiar with his donation plans said they had heard Thiel declare on multiple recent occasions that he had withdrawn from U.S. politics. The source who knows Thiel personally said he had cautioned that he could still support candidates who have worked for him, as he did in 2022, when the bulk of his $35 million in donations went to two former colleagues running for the Senate as Republicans: J.D. Vance, who won, and Blake Masters, who lost a race pundits considered winnable even though he received some $20 million from Thiel. The business associate said he was not aware of any special proviso for former employees. Thiel is married to businessman Matt Danzeisen, with whom he has two toddlers. Concerns about his family’s safety have weighed in Thiel’s decision to step back as well, the source who knows him personally told Reuters. (Reporting by Anna Tong, Alexandra Ulmer and Jeffrey Dastin, Editing by Ross Colvin and Alistair Bell) View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Writer E. Jean Carroll took the witness stand Wednesday in her civil rape case against former President Donald Trump. “I’m here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen. He lied and shattered my reputation, and I’m here to get my life back,” Carroll told jurors within minutes of taking her seat. Carroll walked the jury through her upbringing as the firstborn of four who grew up in a Republican household in rural Indiana. The 79-year-old has accused Trump of sexually assaulting and raping her inside a changing room at the department store in … Read More View the full article

Published by The Spun By Andrew Holleran Anheuser-Busch has placed two executives on leave following a controversy with a March Madness promotion. The popular brewing company came under fire when they did a brand deal with transgender activist and influencer Dylan Mulvaney as part of a March Madness contest. Mulvaney’s promotion went viral, though not everyone was happy with it. Now, two executives are on leave. The Wall Street Journal had more: Ms. Heinerscheid and her boss Daniel Blake, who oversees marketing for Anheuser-Busch’s mainstream brands, took leaves of absence, the company said on Sunday. “Given the ci… Read More View the full article