WATCH: Kellyanne Conway finally starting to crack as CNN anchor corners her on live TV

Trump spin doctor Kellyanne Conway has one of the toughest jobs in America, and for that reason we feel obliged to afford her a bit of absolutely zero sympathy whatsoever. She gives complacency a whole new name.

But is the thick shell she’s constructed between herself and reality finally beginning to crumble? By the looks of this chat with CNN’s Jake Tapper, all signs point to ‘yes.’ And it’s about time.

Even by her standards, defending the President’s attack on the “dishonest press” for not covering terror attacks was a particularly Sisyphean task. And for Tapper it was clearly personal. He has colleagues still risking their lives every day to report on terror-stricken regions, and that’s to say nothing of the fact that terror attacks are widely covered over a vast range of media outlets the world over.

“It’s offensive,” Tapper tells Conway at one point.

And for once Conway, always ready with a fresh new dump truck of “alternative facts,” seemed deflated.

Related: This candid nine second video will actually make your heart break for Melania Trump

“Saying that we don’t cover terrorism, that’s just false,” Tapper said.

Conway did try to spin it around to complain about the inordinate amount of coverage candidate Trump received during the brutal election season (arguably the only reason her guy won), but that spark we’re used to seeing from her appears to be well on its way towards extinguished.

“That’s a lovely spin, but that’s not what he was saying Kellyanne,” Tapper immediately responds, turning the conversation to Trump’s explicit accusation that the media has some “ulterior motive” for brushing terror attacks under the proverbial rug.

Then he brings up the recent deadly  terror attack last month at a mosque in Quebec City, carried out by a white nationalist supporter of Trump.

“President Trump has not said or tweeted one public word about this,” Tapper said, asking, “You want to talk about ignoring terrorism, why hasn’t the president offered his sympathy to our neighbors in the north?”

No human being can continue on Kellyanne’s path without losing steam (hello Bowling Green massacre), and this ship looks like it’s about to go down.

Interview Part 2:

www.queerty.com/watch-kellyanne-conway-finally-starting-crack-cnn-anchor-corners-live-tv-20170208?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Nordstrom, Judy Garland, Steve Bannon, Richard Hatch, Pietro Boselli, Annette Bening: HOT LINKS

NORDSTROM. Trump attacks retailer for treating his daughter’s company unfairly: “There are all sorts of areas for concern about conflict of interest and self-dealing between Trump’s public duties and his family’s business interests. But this is the first time during his presidency that Trump has actually scolded a company for failing to do business with his family. You can expect to see this thrown back in Trump’s face the next time he pulls his Corporate Avenger bit — exactly whose interests is he looking out for when he slaps around corporate America?”

My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person — always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017

BANNON VS POPE FRANCIS. Trump’s chief advisor wants to bring down the Vatican: “Just as Mr. Bannon has connected with far-right parties threatening to topple governments throughout Western Europe, he has also made common cause with elements in the Roman Catholic Church who oppose the direction Francis is taking them. Many share Mr. Bannon’s suspicion of Pope Francis as a dangerously misguided, and probably socialist, pontiff.”

NERD PROM. Trump’s war with press is affecting White House Correspondents Dinner: “President Trump is expected to attend the April 29 event at the Washington Hilton. But others are bailing on the festivities this year. Sources tell THR the casts of the D.C.-set House of Cards, Veep and Scandal likely will not attend (all have had a presence during the Obama years), while the WHCA has yet to secure a comedian headliner, as is customary by February. Many media organizations are waffling on their usual plans for the weekend.”

FRIDAY THE 13TH UPDATE. Jason gets killed.

UNHAPPY SPICE. Trump disappointed with Sean Spicer’s performance, searches for someone new: “A longtime Republican operative, Spicer is a close ally of White House chief of staff Reince Priebus. According to the source close to the hiring process, Trump is upset with Priebus over the selection of Spicer for arguably the administration’s most visible position, next to the President.”

FORTUNE. Why gay men should talk about their partners at work.

DEATHS. Battlestar Galactica star Richard Hatch dead at 71: “His death was confirmed by his son, Paul, who said in a statement that Mr. Hatch had pancreatic cancer and died in Los Angeles.”

AILING. Charlie Rose to undergo heart surgery. “I can’t wait to be back completely rested with my heart recharged, my passion for the work ahead purposeful and my joy at life’s pleasures high.”

INSTAUPDATE. Pietro Boselli, Anderson Cooper, Joe Jonas, Cristiano Ronaldo, James van der Beek HERE.

MILO VENTIMIGLIA. Actor surprises fan watching This Is Us at home.

When your filming #ThisIsUs & the neighbors are watching…#ThisIsUs while you’re filming #ThisIsUs!!! TONIGHT we’re back!! 9/8c on @nbc MV pic.twitter.com/XPixJS1j8J

— Milo Ventimiglia (@MiloVentimiglia) February 7, 2017

SPINOFFS. Saturday Night Live turning Weekend Update into a weekly series, according to reports.

ANNETTE BENING. Actress talks about her transgender son Stephen Ira: “I’m super proud of him,” she says. “I leave it to him to say what he wants about his life. I don’t think it’s fair for me to speak for any of my kids, quite frankly. Not that I wouldn’t like to, ha!” she laughs.

HARASSED. Sid Luft’s posthumous book claims Judy Garland was sexually harassed by munchkins. “The men were 40 or more years old. They thought they could get away with anything because they were so small.”

DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA. The White Trash Washing Machine Cover.

HUMP DAY HOTTIE. Rayan Baghdadi.

The post Nordstrom, Judy Garland, Steve Bannon, Richard Hatch, Pietro Boselli, Annette Bening: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.

Nordstrom, Judy Garland, Steve Bannon, Richard Hatch, Pietro Boselli, Annette Bening: HOT LINKS

Kamala Harris, Liz Warren Embolden Women With #ShePersists

After majority leader Mitch McConnell rebuked Senator Elizabeth Warren for reading a letter from Coretta Scott King, a rallying cry is born. 

www.advocate.com/women/2017/2/08/kamala-harris-liz-warren-embolden-women-shepersists

Someone dumped a dead cow in this woman’s yard after she hung rainbow flags from her porch

A woman found herself the target of a suspected hate crime in the sleepy town of Johnson City, Tennessee, the Johnson City Press reports.

Gaelyn Porter says she awoke early Monday morning when she heard someone shouting outside her house.

“Throw it out!” the person yelled.

When she looked out the window, a white truck sped off down the street. Thinking nothing of it, she went back to bed.

Related: Paintball Perp To Be Charged With Hate Crime For Gay Bar Attack

When she stepped outside later that morning, she discovered a rotting cow carcass had been dumped in front of her fence and nails scattered all around her car.

“I don’t know what motivation they would have for doing something like this,” she tells the Johnson City Press. “No one here has any enemies. Why would they be so hateful?”

However, Porter suspects it may have something to do with the rainbow flags she had hanging around her front porch. She has a total of ten colorful flags flying on her property.

Related: “Take Your Pants Off”: Cops Investigate Bizarre Hate Crime Video

Porter filed a police report and an animal control officer came to dispose of the carcass.

According to Porter, the officer told her he had never seen anything like it in his nearly 15 years of working for animal control.

Porter’s neighbors quickly rallied around her in support. A neighborhood group has begun selling rainbow flags for $5 a pop and is encouraging people to hang them in their yards, with proceeds going to the Tennessee Human Rights Campaign.

As for Porter, she says she’s not going to let the bizarre incident intimate her.

“I refuse to let something like this make me live in fear,” she tells the Johnson City Press. “I’m not going to take my flags down. In fact, I’m going to put up more, and I hope everyone else does, too.”

Related: WATCH: Insane Hate Crime Reported in Small-Town Tennessee

h/t: Johnson City Press

www.queerty.com/someone-dumped-dead-cow-womans-yard-hung-rainbow-flags-porch-20170208?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

North Carolina On The Brink Of Losing All NCAA Games for 6 Years Unless Anti-LGBT HB2 Is Repealed

North Carolina could lose up to $250 million after the NCAA said it will not hold events in the state until the anti-transgender HB2 “bathroom bill” is repealed

In a letter sent to the state assembly on Monday, Scott Dupree (right), the executive director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance wrote:

“North Carolina is on the brink of losing all NCAA Championship events for six consecutive years, through the spring of 2022. This includes the NCAA Basketball Tournament (“March Madness”) in cities like Greensboro, Raleigh and Charlotte.

“Our contacts at the NCAA tell us that, due to their stance on HB2, all North Carolina bids will be pulled from the review process and removed from consideration.”

RELATED: NC Republicans Break Promise to Fully Repeal Anti-LGBT HB2 Law

In the midst of a shambolic few months, North Carolina lawmakers – including Republicans – have been calling for repeal because of the economic cost to the state. The Guardian notes that HB2 has already cost the state an estimated $630m.

On Monday, the newly elected Democratic Governor Roy Cooper (above) – who had his powers severely restricted by Republican lawmakers before entering office – said in a statement “there is no time to waste” to repeal HB2 in order to keep college championship sports in the state.

He added that “the bipartisan votes of both Democrats and Republicans are there for repeal if the Republican legislative leadership will just put it to a vote.”

Future NCAA games have been moved from Greensboro, North Carolina, and will be played in Greenville, South Carolina.

North Carolina Sports Association letter to NCGA: NCAA will remove all NC bids from consideration for 2018-22 without #HB2 repeal. pic.twitter.com/m78L8UMo8z

— Luke DeCock (@LukeDeCock) February 6, 2017

Dupree said the review process for sports bids would take place in the next seven to 10 days.

On Sunday, Roy Williams, the basketball coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, publicly slammed “that stupid rule that we have in our state.”

(Scott Dupree image via Twitter)

The post North Carolina On The Brink Of Losing All NCAA Games for 6 Years Unless Anti-LGBT HB2 Is Repealed appeared first on Towleroad.

North Carolina On The Brink Of Losing All NCAA Games for 6 Years Unless Anti-LGBT HB2 Is Repealed

Pietro Boselli tops himself in Bench/Body underwear shoot

If you happen to have an underwear brand to promote, possibly the best way to get the word out is by sticking Pietro Boselli in a pair and taking a few pictures.

Related: Did Pietro Boselli accidentally show his wares during this photoshoot?

While we’ve never herd of Bench/Body before today, the brand is forever emblazoned on our minds after checking out a few stills from their collaboration with everyone’s favorite mathematician-turned-model.

“So pleased to be part of the @benchtm and @benchbodyph family,” he writes on Instagram. “Great people make a well-loved homegrown brand! Manila, see you soon!”

So pleased to be part of the @benchtm and @benchbodyph family. Great people make a well-loved homegrown brand! Manila, see you soon!

A photo posted by Pietro Boselli (@pietroboselli) on Feb 7, 2017 at 3:58am PST

www.queerty.com/pietro-boselli-tops-benchbody-underwear-shoot-20170208?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Iowa State Rep Uses Gay Slur Against Out Democrat Opponent During Public Meeting: WATCH

Iowa State Representative Ralph Watts (right) – locally known as Ralph Worst – has been taken to task for repeatedly using a gay slur in reference to Bryce Smith (above left), his opponent in the 2016 election.

During the public forum in Adel, Iowa on Saturday, Watts approached Smith’s husband Kale (above right) and repeatedly referred to Bryce as “red rider.”

Bryce Smith later shared video of the exchange on Facebook. The video may be found here and the exchange begins around the 1:09:30 mark.

The exchange began when Watts’ daughter ReNae Watts Arnold challenged Smith for recording the meeting.

Provided by Bleeding Heartland, details of the exchange follow:

Watts: [Watts walks over to Kale Smith, leans forward onto desk.] By the way, where is red rider today?

Kale Smith: He is running his business right up the street.

Watts: He is? He complained that I didn’t go to Urbandale. This forum is four blocks from his business.

Kale Smith: He’s not an elected official. He’s not an elected official.

Watts: But he’s been chirping and sniping ever since the election.

Kale Smith: It’s your duty as the elected official to go to public forums for your constituents.

Watts: Where is red rider?

Kale Smith: He’s not an elected official. This isn’t his–this is not his duty. This is your duty.

Watts: It wasn’t his duty in Urbandale either.

Kale Smith: Yeah, he can attend.

Watts: Where is red rider?

Smith: OK.

Watts: OK. You got that? (points at Kale Smith)

Kale Smith: Yeah, you bet. Have fun.

Watts: All right.

In a Facebook post which has since been removed, Bryce Smith wrote:

After seeing, watching and hearing Mr. Watts during his forum, I am disturbed. I am at a loss for words really. A person who has held public office for nearly 14 years lowered himself to levels of name calling, bait and hook questioning and a total lack of facts and knowledge of what is going on in our state government and what is going on in our communities day in and day out. Mr. Watts said many false statements, could not supply evidence or citations when asked and lacked the humility to admit when he did not know something.

I want to send a message to Mr. Watts regarding his actions and words at his forum:

I will continue to be a thorn in your side. I will continue to hold you to extremely high standards as I take the integrity of our government very seriously. I will continue to make sure every Iowan knows what you are doing, when you are doing it and how you are doing it. This includes voting, sponsoring, legislation proposals, forums, and public appearances. No one likes a know-it-all and no one likes a person who thinks they are better than others because of their position of power.

I also want to say that how you treated my husband was totally unacceptable and very disrespectful, especially an elected official who is suppose to represent all people. The acts of intimidation, lack of respect, and the derogatory slur/name calling was live streamed and recorded. Be careful Mr. Watts, the people are watching and listening…

One Iowa Executive Director Daniel Hoffman-Zinnel issued a statement condemning Rep. Watts’ repeated use of the term.

“Homophobic slurs should never be used, especially by an elected official,” Hoffman-Zinnel said. “We must continue dialogue on inclusion and civility with an understanding of how slurs like this impact real Iowans. Respect is a non-partisan Iowa value, and leaders in our communities must model civil discourse. Bryce Smith deserves an apology from Rep. Watts.”

On Monday, Watts denied that his use of the term “red rider” was meant as a gay slur:

“Red Ryder BB gun is the thing that falls in the category of a kid’s first gun, and it’s used to teach kids how to use a weapon and shows them responsibility and shows they’re capable of using something more powerful,” Watts said. “With some of the things that have happened, the constant sniping and constant obscure criticism shows me that he hasn’t progressed past the Red Ryder stage… I hadn’t heard about the slur until he brought it up. “

He added that he knows “several LGBT folks in my district, and they can live their lives and chose their lifestyle and that’s fine with me. I don’t really care. They don’t throw it in my face at all,” he added “and I don’t raise anything with them.”

Watch the video below.

(Ralph Watts image via Wikipedia. Bryce and Kale Smith image via Facebook)

The post Iowa State Rep Uses Gay Slur Against Out Democrat Opponent During Public Meeting: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

Iowa State Rep Uses Gay Slur Against Out Democrat Opponent During Public Meeting: WATCH

WATCH: The only case for marriage equality anyone should need

Australia still — somehow! — does not have marriage equality. This is mostly due to a lack of backbone by their politicians, since an overwhelming majority of Australian voters supports the freedom to marry but there is still enough vocal resistance to make elected officials nervous about taking a stand.

As a result, the country’s seen a humiliating series of suggested solutions, but no actual solutions. Some politicians have tried to duck the issue altogether by proposing a nationwide vote — which would be unbelievably expensive, incite violence against LGBT people, and ultimately be pointless and non-binding.

Related: Australia’s First Gay Aboriginal Politician Makes Impassioned Case For Marriage Equality

So while much of the world moves at a brisk pace towards marriage equality, Australia has remained stationary. Amidst this frustrating failure of leadership, Australia’s queer citizens are continuing to push their useless elected officials to do something, anything, to enact full federal equality.

Australian LGBTQ website SameSame.com.au recently put out a lovely video compiling same-sex proposals, and anyone with a heart will note the mind-boggling juxtaposition of the federal ban with this outpouring of love.

Say ‘I do’ and watch below:

Related video:

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