05/11/23
Good morning! It’s Thursday, May 11th. Hostess Cupcake Day.
Dude. When I tell you… I mean, it’s been years. YEARS. But how good does a Hostess cupcake sound? They used to come in tinfoil and my best friend Nikki and I would have them after school at her house. It was the factual best.
And now, the news.
Trump Townhall
-via CNN
Let’s start with a story that might… I don’t know… I guess could be a story? Possibly? But unless actual news breaks from it, this will be the last you’ll hear about it here.
Donald Trump is set to do, and by the time you hear this will have already done, his first townhall since 2016. He will do it on CNN.
And listen, here’s the thing… if this was a normal candidate I’d be like – eh. Not for me but whatever. Not the end of the world, even if I don’t like it. But he is not a normal candidate. And since that last townhall in 2016, he’s gone on to be an incredibly hateful president, the leader of an insurrection, a beacon of hope to the hate filled white supremacists who now run the party, a convicted sexual assaulter, a convicted money crimes-er, and the star focus of additional federal and statewide prosecutions regarding election stealing, insurrection planning, and confidential paperwork dibs calling.
And still, given all that, CNN was like… I don’t know. No one’s watching us. Maybe this’ll help? Eh, bring him on.
So yeah. That happened Wednesday night. As of this recording, it’s yet to air. By the time you hear this, it will have already aired. (Time, man…). But don’t expect to hear about it here, unless he breaks news.
Because this show won’t carry his water. I don’t know what in the world CNN is thinking, doing the opposite.
Feinstein Returns to Senate
-via NPR
After more than two months out of the Senate due to shingles and its side effects, Dianne Feinstein returned to the Senate on Wednesday.
There’s… not much more news to add to that. The Senate is full and uh… that’s great.
MLK’s Criticism of Malcolm X Was a Fraudulent
-via Washington Post
In a bombshell piece of research that should have us all re-evaluating the past, as well as the reporting of the present… Duke’s Jonathan Eig has found, after combing through old transcripts, that Martin Luther King Jr’s criticism of Malcolm X was fabricated.
The quotes, including the famous quote where MLK appeared to accuse Malcom X of “fiery, demagogic oratory,” came from a 1965 Playboy interview with Alex Haley. It now appears that Haley, who died in 1992, may have fabricated parts of the interview.
While at least the “fiery, demagogic oratory,” quote was wildly out of context, others, like MLK’s belief that, “Malcolm has done himself and our people a great disservice,” does not appear in the transcript of the interview that caused the deep rift between the two civil rights leaders.
Though the unedited transcript does show MLK saying,” I totally disagree with many of his political and philosophical views, as I understand them,” he starts that section with this: “I have met Malcolm X, but circumstances didn’t enable me to talk with him for more than a minute.”
FDA Panels Back Making Birth Control Available OTC
-via NBC News
In a 17-0 vote, two FDA panels voted on Wednesday to make the birth control pill Opill available over the counter. While the FDA is not required to go with the findings of the panels, this does mean we have taken a very large step forward in making the pill available without a prescription.
The next step will likely come late this summer, when the FDA will take a vote on their final decision.
George Santos Pleads Not Guilty (lol)
-via Washington Post
And finally – hey. It’s Thursday. Let’s have a little fun.
George Santos has plead not guilty to all charges, which include allegations that Santos directed a TBD political consultant to solicit contributions to a company that he claimed was a political fund. It was not. Instead, prosecutors say he used the money for personal expenses, including fancy clothes and credit card payments.
He’s also accused of claiming $24,000 in unemployment benefits during Covid, despite making $120,000 a year at a Florida-based investment firm. And, of course, he is also accused of lying on financial disclosure forms in both his 2020 and 2022 congressional campaigns.
Santos, how literally lies about everything, stole a line from Trump and called the whole thing a witch hunt.
If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in jail. For the time being, he has been released on a $500,000 bond.
And! And he would like you to know that this will not stop him from running for office. Because, above all else, he is here to do the good work of national service. The man’s a hero.
Jkjk lol
He is also still possibly facing a criminal charge in Brazil for check fraud after he stole a checkbook and spent about $700 in a clothing store under a fake name. A hearing is scheduled for today.
And I think that’s nice. Not the crimes but… you know… we love consequences for actions, in this family. So it’s lovely.
And that’s it. That’s the news.
I’m proud of… hostess cupcakes! They’re delicious! And again, it’s been years but… I have to assumed they’d be really good cold. Like, maybe you toss them in the freezer for a little bit, then take it out and let it be more chilly than frozen, and take a bite? I bet it’s an A+
I’m also proud of my cousin Dan. It’s his birthday! He’s a solid guy and he’s the president of the We Are Voters board. Which is cool.
But more than… more than hostess cupcakes… because you are also sweet and have a fun little design… I’m proud of you.