It’s pretty easy to shop to your heart’s content without thinking about the dark side of where and/or how your coveted garments are made. Sure you love to secure great bargains at your favorite retailers and brands, but have you ever thought that they were made under slave labor conditions? It’s definitely not a pleasant […]
As Americans are still trying to come to terms with the outcome of the 2016 presidential election tensions are still at an all-time high, especially when not only the President-elect himself continues to fan the flames, but also his batch of extremist conservative supporters. One of the most vocal Trump supporters is Tomi Lahren, who […]
As Americans are still trying to come to terms with the outcome of the 2016 presidential election tensions are still at an all-time high, especially when not only the President-elect himself continues to fan the flames, but also his batch of extremist conservative supporters. One of the most vocal Trump supporters is Tomi Lahren, who […]
Will Michelle Obama Run For President In 2020? Michelle Obama already has a head start if she decides to take a run for the presidency after four years of Trump. Apparently there are three brand new Federal Election Commission filings for organizations committed specifically to funding Michelle Obama’s Presidential campaign … if she actually decides to run. BUT…is she actually planning to throw her hat in the ring? As Michelle herself said back in March at South by Southwest…she’s got no plans of running for any office. “No, nope, not going to do it.” But just in case you thought she might be playing a little coy with her answers to throw people off her plans…her hubby, President Barack Obama, reiterated what she had to say in his brand new Rolling Stone interview. “Michelle will never run for office.” WELP, there goes that. Michelle seems pretty serious about not swerving into the political lane. But wouldn’t’ you LOVE to see her give it a shot? AP
U.S. Army To Shut Down Standing Rock Site Where Protesters Gather Against Oil Pipe For months now, Native American tribes have been vigilantly guarding a sacred land that some rich white folks wanna make a lot of money off of. There have been violent conflicts between protesters and police, including civil-rights recalls like water hoses and dogs. Yesterday, the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it would be closing access to the land where the tribes have been holding it down according to NYTimes . In response, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe chairman, Dave Archambault II, released the following statement Our Tribe is deeply disappointed in this decision by the United States, but our resolve to protect our water is stronger than ever. We ask that all everyone who can appeal to President Obama and the Army Corps of Engineers to consider the future of our people and rescind all permits and deny the easement to cross the Missouri River just north of our Reservation and straight through our treaty lands… Acharmbault went on to say… It is both unfortunate and ironic that this announcement comes the day after this country celebrates Thanksgiving – a historic exchange of goodwill between Native Americans and the first immigrants from Europe. Although the news is saddening, it is not at all surprising given the last 500 years of the treatment of our people. We have suffered much, but we still have hope that the President will act on his commitment to close the chapter of broken promises to our people and especially our children.” As much as these butt-hurt white people like to retort “all lives matter” they sure don’t give a good cotdamn about Native Americans. SMH. Image via Twitter
Fidel Castro, the controversial Cuban revolutionary turned head of state, has passed away at the age of 90. Castro brought Communism to Cuba and led the island nation through a tumultuous five decades, partially retiring from public service and handing the reins to his brother Raul in 2008. Raul’s administration issued an official statement confirming Fidel’s death just moments ago. One of the few Marxist-Leninist leaders of the Western world, Castro was a widely distrusted figure in the US. He remained ideologically at odds with the American government throughout his time in office, first Prime Minister of Cuba (from 1959 to 1976), then as the nation’s president (from 1976 to 2008). Castro remained in power as First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba until 2011. Throughout the majority of Castro’s reign, the United States government enforced a trade embargo with Cuba, a result of both anti-Communist sentiment in the States and lingering wariness over the Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Both incidents served as defining events of President John F. Kennedy’s brief time in office and helped to characterize Castro as a dangerous military presence operating just off the coast of Florida in the mind’s of America’s populace. However, the reality of Castro’s reign was very different from the way his regime was portrayed in the American press. Derided as an autocrat who trampled civil rights throughout his reign by some, Castro is still hailed as a hero by many who have lived under his power for the bulk of the past 60 years. He cut a larger-than-life figure with his military fatigues and ubiquitous cigar and for many, his image is inextricably linked with the caricature of authoritarian strongmen. Tensions between Cuba and the US ran so high in the decades after Castro assumed power that was only when the Obama administration began to lift regulations in 2015 that Americans were once again permitted to freely travel to and from Cuba. Several embargo restrictions remain in place, and the future of relations between the two nations remains very much in question. Castro’s legacy will no doubt be debated among historians and political scientists for many years to come. But regardless of one’s feelings on the iconic leader’s politics, he was, and will no doubt remain, one of the recognizable political figures of the 20th Century. View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Passed Away in 2016: Gone, But Not Forgotten
It doesn’t seem possible, but this weekend, America is loving Hamilton just a little bit more than it already did. And that’s because, on Friday night, Hamilton told Vice President-elect and notoriously terrible human being Mike Pence. They expressed their fears that he wouldn’t protect all the people in this country, but they expressed those concerns with respect and kindness. Donald Trump, Pence’s bestie, was deeply offended, and he called for an apology , but Pence himself? He was pretty cool with it. Mike Pence on Hamilton: I’m Not Offended! Pence went on Fox News Sunday, and towards the end of the interview he was asked about the Hamilton fiasco. He said that he and his family “really enjoyed” the show, and that it was an “incredible production,” and that it was “a real joy to be there.” With tickets sold out for pretty much the rest of eternity, yeah, we imagine it’s be a joy to be there. Then, as hilarious yet embarrassing as it is, Pence said that he did hear some boos as he took his seat, but “I nudged my kids and reminded them that’s what freedom sounds like.” He said that he did hear the speech, and “I wasn’t offended by what was said.” He added that “I’ll leave to others whether that was the appropriate venue to say it.” Pence went on to give a mini-speech, in which he said “I know this is a very disappointing time for people that did not see their candidate win in this national election.” “I just want to assure people that what President-elect Donald Trump said on election night, he absolutely meant from the bottom of his heart.” “He is preparing to be the president of all of the people of the United States of America, and to watch him bringing together people of diverse views, bringing together people that differed with him strongly, seeing him talk to leaders around the world …” “I just want to reassure every American that in the days head, I’m very confident,” he said. “They’re going to see President-elect Donald Trump be a president for all of the people, and we embrace that principle and we’re going to work hard to make that principle every day that we serve.” Nobody wanted to hear all that nonsense, so he was asked if he wanted to hear an apology from the Hamilton cast and crew. “As I said, I would leave that to others whether that was the appropriate venue for that,” he answered. So all this sounds pretty coached, right? Or at least like he coached himself to play it cool. If theatre-goers booing at him was “what freedom sounds like,” then wouldn’t the actual speech also be what freedom sounds like? Hamilton Cast Delivers Speech to Mike Pence Why not just stick with that instead of the whole “I’m not going to say that it hurt my feelings, but if other people think it was really mean of them, then that’s cool” bit? But hey, at least he said that he wasn’t offended, right? And he very willingly admitted that Hamilton is an absolutely amazing show. It’s more than what Donald Trump did. Yesterday, after the news of what happened began circulating, Trump tweeted “Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing. This should not happen!” “The Theater must always be a safe and special place,” he wrote. “The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!” He must have really been torn up about it all, because this morning at 6:22 AM, he tweeted “The cast and producers of Hamilton, which I hear is highly overrated, should immediately apologize to Mike Pence for this terrible behavior.” “Highly overrated”? Oh, Donald, everybody knows you’re a fool , but this is a little much, don’t you think? Electoral college, come get your boys. They’re not doing so hot. View Slideshow: 17 Celebrities Who Actually Support Donald Trump
Rob Kardashian … well, let’s just say that no one would accuse him of being the most stable person. Less than a year ago, he was a big-time hermit, missing big occasions like Kim Kardashian’s wedding and, you know, life in the outside world. Since he began living his entire life in his house, he’d gained a whole lot of weight, enough to be diagnosed with diabetes last December. His family cried over him, they begged him to go to rehab , to confront his issues, to just take care of himself, just the tiniest bit, so that he could be happy again, or at least not die. But, in the end, the only thing that even budged him in the right direction was Blac Chyna. When he began dating her in January , he finally started going out in public again, and he lost a great deal of weight. Last month, we even learned that he was no longer diabetic . Unfortunately though, Chyna couldn’t completely cure all his issues. He still displayed some mighty erratic behavior, and we could never forget all the many, many bitches he kept texting during their relationship. Basically, Rob was better, but he was still nowhere close to being good. But now it looks like little Dream Kardashian, Rob’s baby girl, is changing everything. He’s seemed so happy since she was born last week , so full of pride and love and good feelings. According to a new report from People, “it’s still all about the baby.” A source close to the couple says that Rob and Chyna “are getting along great. Chyna is recovering and ROb is doing everything to help her.” “Rob is so in love with his daughter,” the source continues. “He doesn’t care about anything else.” Not even texting bitches?! “He really wants to be a family with Chyna and seems very happy,” apparently. “He wants to do everything he can to give his daughter an amazing start in life.” And as for all those fights that he and Chyna got into during her pregnancy, all the times they broke up and stopped talking before getting back together, only to do the whole sad song and dance over again? “He seems to really understand that chaos is very bad for his daughter,” this source explains. “Rob has been on his best behavior and Chyna seems to be very happy with him.” So now, at long last, Rob is finally going to give being a normal, healthy human being a chance?! Small miracles, y’all. View Slideshow: Dream Kardashian Photos: What a Cutie!
The most popular musical in Broadway history feuding with the second-most popular Presidential candidate of 2016. On Friday night, Vice President-Elect Mike Pence attended a showing of Hamilton, getting booed lustily on his way in to the theater and then receiving a speech from actor Brandon Victor Dixon on his way out of the theater. It was pretty remarkable and most definitely in precedented. “We welcome you, and we truly thank you for joining us here at Hamilton: An American Musical – we really do,” Dixon said on stage. He continued: “We are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights, sir. “But we truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values, and work on behalf of all of us . All of us. “We truly thank you for sharing this show, this wonderful American story told by a diverse group of men and women of different colors, creeds and orientations.” What specific beefs do the cast of Hamilton have with Pence? The lead star of the show is gay and Pence has actively supported the concept of gay conversion therapy, in which homosexuals are taken away and essentially tortured until they “convert” to heterosexuality. He has also said that marriage equality would lead to “societal collapse.” In 2013, Pence signed a bill to jail same-sex couples in Indiana for applying for a marriage license. So the cast of the production took this as an opportunity to send a message to Pence. Fairly? Unfairly? It’s clear where the President-Elected stands on that question. Tweeted Donald Trump in light of this incident: “Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing. This should not happen!” And also: “The Theater must always be a safe and special place. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!” It’s unclear how the theater was un safe in this situation and one could easily argue that this type of speech is exactly what makes it special. One could also laugh over Donald Trump telling anyone at all to “apologize” over being “rude.” But we’ll let readers choose a side in this Hamilton vs. Trump feud. We’ll just give Dixon a chance to respond to Trump’s above Tweets. “@realDonaldTrump conversation is not harassment sir,” he wrote online. “And I appreciate @mike_pence for stopping to listen.” Lin-Manuel Miranda – the show’s Pulitzer-Prize winning creator and former star – also stood behind the actions of his cast. “Proud of @HamiltonMusical,” he wrote. “Proud of @BrandonVDixon, for leading with love. And proud to remind you that ALL are welcome at the theater.” Check out Dixon’s public speech to Pence below: Hamilton Cast Delivers Speech to Mike Pence Do you think it was deserved? Sound off now!
President Obama is being urged to make good on his promise to grant clemency to thousands of non-violent drug offenders serving life sentences in prison.