Beet L. Jooz

Attack similar to past ISIS-inspired truck attacks

An airstrike on a wedding party in northern Yemen killed at least 20 people, including the bride, Houthi rebels said.

Video of the arrest posted to social media shows police approaching a man, who appears to come out of the white van with an object in his hands.

The mayoral candidate, who is also known for paying for sky written messages over New Orleans, will serve a year of probation.

Several eyewitnesses described a scene of carnage as the van left the road and rammed into pedestrians.

What made the organization drop the suit?

Despite three delays and a scaled-back bill, legislation that would authorize increases in hunting and fishing license fees failed Monday in the Louisiana House.

The hashtag #TorontoStrong and #CanadaStrong immediately began appearing all over social media, with people sending messages of love, hope and resilience in the wake of the tragic incident.

‘Her press corps was predominantly female’

'They loved her and she loved them'

Mayor-elect Latoya Cantrell was a no-show at a press conference scheduled Monday to celebrate the third anniversary of the city's smoking ban. 

Mel Brooks has denounced political correctness for its negative impact on comedy. The legendary comedian, known for producing such films as...

LUANDA (Reuters) - Russia's space agency said on Monday that Angola's first national telecoms satellite, AngoSat-1, was inoperative and Russia would build another one for launch in 2020.

'Tell my mom I love her if I die'

Josh Earnest, former press secretary for former President Barack Obama, made an erroneous claim on an on-air panel discussion for MSNBC on Thursday. In a discussion on the brief Nikki Haley-Larry Kudlow disagreement over the Trump administration’s sanctions on Russia, Earnest made the following claim about Kudlow, Trump’s newest economic advisor: “I certainly can’t speak […]

"I absolutely want to throw you in jail," Criminal District Judge Robin Pittman said. "This was a very stupid decision on your part."

Scottish YouTube personality Mark Meechan — also known to fans as 'Count Dankula' — has been given a £800 fine after recording a video of his girlfriend’s dog doing Nazi salutes.

Kanye West blasted the “thought police” after he was criticized for endorsing the ideas of conservative commentator Candace Owe...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Reuters) - Police were hunting on Monday in heavy rain for the suspected gunman who fled a Waffle House restaurant in Nashville naked after shooting four people to death, a few months after police became so concerned by his erratic behavior they canceled his gun license.

Mediaite has obtained a series of homophobic posts from Joy Ann Reid’s old blog that she denies were actually written by her.

In an exclusive statement to Mediaite, the MSNBC host claims these posts from The Reid Report — which include defending homophobia, gay jokes, and the outright mocking of gay people and homosexuality — were somehow put in by an “external party” that “manipulated material from my now-defunct blog.”

While Reid apologized in December for writing homophobic content on a blog she ran long before her days as an icon of the #Resistance movement, she claims these new posts opposing gay marriage and cringing “at the sight of two men kissing” were part of a “fabricated” outside effort to paint her as “offensive and hateful.”

These anti-gay articles from The Reid Report — a site that pre-dated Reid’s former MSNBC show of the same name — were originally shared on Twitter by user Jamie_Maz who found them using the Wayback Machine, an Internet archiving service that takes periodic screenshots of popular web pages to preserve them.

While the amateur sleuth provided Mediaite with legitimate links to all of the posts they tweeted screenshots of, neither the actual defunct site nor its archived pages are currently accessible, as their Wayback Machine links mysteriously disappeared in December after Mediaite‘s initial story on Reid’s homophobic comments about Florida Congressman Charlie Crist. The Wayback Machine did not respond to requests for comment regarding the removal of Reid’s blog.

Reid’s statement to Mediaite claims that these allegedly hacked posts do not “not represent the original entries” on her site:

“In December I learned that an unknown, external party accessed and manipulated material from my now-defunct blog, The Reid Report, to include offensive and hateful references that are fabricated and run counter to my personal beliefs and ideology.

I began working with a cyber-security expert who first identified the unauthorized activity, and we notified federal law enforcement officials of the breach. The manipulated material seems to be part of an effort to taint my character with false information by distorting a blog that ended a decade ago.

Now that the site has been compromised I can state unequivocally that it does not represent the original entries. I hope that whoever corrupted the site recognizes the pain they have caused, not just to me, but to my family and communities that I care deeply about: LGBTQ, immigrants, people of color and other marginalized groups.”

It is worth noting, however, that Reid does admit these posts came from her blog — rather than alleging they are doctored images posted to Twitter — with the caveat that they were added by nefarious hackers after she had the site shut down. It’s unclear when the nefarious hackers would have hacked her site and added the controversial content, since it has been defunct for years and still is. More importantly, NBC could or would not specify exactly which posts Reid is claiming were doctored.

In one of these newly found Reid Report articles, the author defends former NBA star Tim Hardaway’s aggressively anti-gay comments by saying “most straight people cringe at the sight of two men kissing”:

“Keeping it real … most straight men feel exactly the same way, and would have the exact same reaction to the idea of stripping naked in a sweaty locker room in close quarters with a gay teammate. Most straight people cringe at the sight of two men kissing… Most straight people had a hard time being convinced to watch ‘Broke Back Mountain.’ (I admit that I couldn’t go see the movie either, despite my sister’s ringing endorsement, because I didn’t want to watch the two male characters having sex.) Does that make me homophobic? Probably.”

The author continued by saying a part of “straightness” is viewing “homosexual sex” as “gross,” but added that “the nature of political correctness” means straight people can’t say that publicly like Hardaway did.

In a similar post, the author defended Marine General Peter Pace after he condemned “homosexual acts” as “immoral” by suggesting his views are actually normal.

“Some people use the [word] ‘immoral’ when they really mean ‘distasteful’ — I think a lot of heterosexuals, especially men, find the idea of homosexual sex to be … well … gross, and they lump it in with immorality,” wrote the author in a post dated to 2007. “And then there are the concerns that adult gay men tend to be attracted to very young, post-pubescent types, bringing them ‘into the lifestyle’ in a way that many people consider to be immoral.”

The author continued by using the same argument that conservatives deploy today against transgender activists: “Ditto with gay rights groups that seek to organize very young, impressionable teens who may have an inclination that they are gay.”

The author also casually wrote about the idea of manipulating genes to ensure that children would “not be gay.” The procedure was not explicitly condoned, but was instead presented as an “interesting moral question.”

A 2006 Reid Report post included a compilation of the top five “totally not gay celebrities of the year,” which was a satirical attempt — albeit, a lazy one — at suggesting everyone on the list was secretly gay. Singer Clay Aiken and CNN pundit Anderson Cooper both made the list, which — if the publishing date is correct — was posted years before they had come-out publicly.

In another post dated to 2005, the author said Cooper is the “gayest thing on TV” and noted that they have it “on good authority that Cooper is totally gay.” He didn’t come out publicly until 2012.

Other mentions on the list included the stars of Brokeback Mountain, the previously noted film that the author didn’t see because “two male characters having sex” was “too out there.”

The author also repeatedly advocated against gay marriage on the site by criticizing liberals deemed too far left on the issue. Cable news host Rachel Maddow, who is openly gay and now works with Reid at MSNBC, was a recurring target in these Reid Report posts.

“[Rick] Warren’s views on gays are out of the mainstream. Perhaps Rachel Maddow… and those at the left-most end of political spectrum wish it were so, but it is not,” the author wrote in a post arguing against Democrats who were pushing for gay marriage to be part of the party’s platform.

The author cited, in different post, a “terrific” article from Bob Ostertag — described as a “pretty out there gay man” — in which he said, “How is that queers became the odd ones out at such a momentous turning point in history? By pushing an agenda of stupid issues like gay marriage.”

These advocacy posts lined-up with the author’s own views, as one post states “I’m not even in favor of gay marriage” and a second adds “I’m not a gay marriage proponent.”

Another article voiced disdain toward activists who wanted a Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage, which was the vehicle ultimately used to push the measure into law.

“Why are interest groups on the left and right flogging the justices of the peace over gay marriage?” The author asked, before suggesting they should instead focus on learning if Supreme Court justices support “private property” rights.

Other comments include making gay jokes about dozens of figures in politics, media, and entertainment. The following list includes the names of people the author either accused of being gay — satirically or not — or has made a gay joke about, aside from the previously mentioned Aiken and Cooper:

Supreme Court Justice John Roberts and his son, conservative pundit Michelle Malkin’s son, Republican consultant Karl Rove, actor Tom Cruise, singer Rob Thomas, Fox News host Sean Hannity, disgraced ex-lawmaker Mark Foley, late actor Heath Ledger, former vice president Dick Cheney, former president George W. Bush, talk show icon Oprah Winfrey, news personality Gayle King, Senator John McCain, boxer Laila Ali, artist Queen Latifah, former White House counsel Harriet Miers, comedian Eddie Murphy, Congressman Charlie Crist, actor Jake Gyllenhaal, former TV host Keith Olbermann, lawmaker-turned-CNN pundit Rick Santorum, and Mediaite‘s own Dan Abrams.

The author even lobbed a gay joke at Reid’s now-MSNBC colleague Chris Matthews, who was accused of “loving” Bush in the same sexual way Saudi Prince Abdullah was accused of loving the former president.

As for the posts reported in December that Mediaite can confirm Reid wrote, the AM Joy host said her gay jokes about former Republican Charlie Crist were intended to highlight the GOP’s hypocrisy on the issue — as she suggested Crist himself was gay while opposing gay marriage.

In her December statement, she apologized to Crist, who is not actually gay, and admitted her comments were “insensitive, tone deaf and dumb.”

“I deeply apologize to Congressman Crist, who was the target of my thoughtlessness,” Reid said. “My critique of anti-LGBT positions he once held but has since abandoned was legitimate in my view. My means of critiquing were not.”

She continued by admitting she is “disappointed” and apologized “to those who also are disappointed in me.”

“Life can be humbling. It often is. But I hope that you know where my heart is, and that I will always strive to use my words for good. I know better and I will do better,” Reid concluded.

Other controversial comments Reid has made on LGBTQ issues include the pundit’s 2017 tweetstorm against the supposedly “volatile & vulnerable” whistleblower Chelsea Manning — a tirade that many deemed transphobic.

[images via screengrab]

Follow the author on Twitter (@calebecarma).

It was the seventh shooting of the day.

‘Nazi scum get out’

WASHINGTON — Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy will be among the roughly 150 White House guests for a Tuesday night state dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron.

'As a Canadian, I regret answering this unexpected question'

Four months after we reported that Goldman Sachs is preparing to launch a cryptocurrency trading desk, an announcement which coincided with bitcoin trading near its all time highs just shy of $20,000, the bank announced that in its first official expansion to this (r)evolutionary new venture, Goldman has hired Justin Schmidt as head of digital asset markets to help it navigate client interest in trading bitcoin and other crypto assets, and to allow clients gain exposure to cryptocurrencies.

Schmidt, 38, joined the securities division in New York as a VP and head of digital asset markets, said bank spokeswoman Tiffany Galvin-Cohen. He previously worked at quantitative trading firms Seven Eight Capital LLC and WorldQuant LLC and has computer science degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“In response to client interest in various digital products, we are exploring how best to serve them in the space,” Tiffany Galvin, a spokeswoman, said in a statement Friday. “At this point, we have not reached a conclusion on the scope of our digital asset offering.”

As Tearsheet notes, it’s telling that Goldman, the bank with a reputation for being one step ahead of its peers, is putting money and resources behind someone dedicated to helping it explore “the range of options” it has to help clients play with crypto if they want to.

Goldman's growing involvement - and investment in - the crypto side of the business is notable as it is squarely opposite the posture of most of the remaining Wall Street firms, most famously JPMorgan, who last summer called bitcoin a fraud, and threatened any JPM trader caught buying or selling the digital currency with immediate termination.

Still thinking about #Bitcoin. No conclusion - not endorsing/rejecting. Know that folks also were skeptical when paper money displaced gold.

— Lloyd Blankfein (@lloydblankfein) October 3, 2017

As Tearsheet adds, Goldman’s current involvement in crypto assets is as a facilitator rather than a market maker, i.e., offering clients exposure to bitcoin through the bitcoin futures contracts offered on the Cboe Global Markets and CME Group exchanges. It acts in an agent-only capacity, serving as a middleman to allow clients to get access to crypto on the exchanges by placing an order with Goldman Sachs, a member of the exchanges. It is not active on any cryptocurrency exchanges, Galvin confirmed.

Goldman was one of the earlier members of these exchanges to agree to do that, but its offering as it relates to bitcoin remains limited, she added.

In other words, Goldman is not trading bitcoin on a prop basis. Yet.

Last week, UK bank Barclays said last week that it’s similarly monitoring developments in the cryptocurrency space and gauging clients’ interest in the bank launching a crypto trading desk (ironically just days after its "researchers" said the Bitcoin bubble has peaked and that it behaves like a "virus.")

It’s likely more and more banks will begin touting the ability to give clients access to crypto trading, without having to sell contracts themselves — at least until client expectation of this type of trading reaches a critical mass or the industry gets more clarity from regulators.

One thing is certain: increased institutional participation in cryptocurrencies, both on the flow and prop side, assures that regulatory approval, explicit or tacit, is just a matter of time.

Two editorial boards that have often been critics of President Trump have decided to endorse Mike Pompeo for confirmation as Secretary of State.The endorsements by the ...

Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan resigned Monday, after being in the post for just six days.

If it passes the California Senate and the governor signs it, Assembly Bill 2943 would make the selling or advertising of gay conversion therapy a violation of the state’s consumer fraud laws. Conservatives are understandably up in arms after it passed the California State Assembly Thursday. Some language in the bill appears to violate the free speech and free exercise clauses of the First Amendment. So California continues to deftly pioneer the war on gender, while simultaneously squashing free speech.

Evan Low, an openly gay member of California’s Assembly proposed the bill, which would make it an “unlawful business practice” to engage in “a transaction intended to result or that results in the sale or lease of goods or services to any consumer” that advertise, offer to engage in, or do engage in “sexual orientation change efforts with an individual.” He gave an emotional testimony of his own experience as a gay man who had tried conversion therapy and had a negative experience.

The bill defines “sexual orientation change efforts” as “any practices that seek to change an individual’s sexual orientation. This includes efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same sex.”

What’s more, as part of its proof that the practice to “convert” or “change” sexual orientations is absurd, unscientific, and even fraudulent, the bill claims “contemporary science recognizes that being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender is part of the natural spectrum of human identity and is not a disease, disorder, or illness.”

Being transgender is now referred to as a lot of things, but a bill defining it as part of the “natural spectrum of human identity” is not only flat out wrong, but also dangerous. Psychiatrists like Dr. Paul McHugh and men like Walt Heyer have found from professional and personal experience that biology is innate, dysphoria in children often fades over time, and that transitioning is harmful.

Advocates of the bill say it’s just about banning harmful conversion therapy, and therefore should be no cause for concern. But whether conversion therapy is right or wrong isn’t the issue here. Even conservatives have wide-ranging opinions on the topic — some say it’s therapy while others claim it’s as absurd as palm-reading — and certainly not all conservatives or religious people embrace conversion therapy. However, it doesn’t take a political genius to read between the lines that this piece of legislation is a wolf in sheep’s clothing that isn’t just about conversion therapy — it’s about freedom of speech and free exercise of religion.

Consider this: Who are the major proponents of conversion therapy, or at the very least, who typically might encourage someone struggling with dysphoria to try conversion therapy or to reject transitioning? The bill takes aim at religious groups and people who believe same-sex marriage or being transgender contradicts their religious beliefs. Imagine a bill that bans the construction of synagogues but claims it’s not an attack on any particular religious group?

Huffington Post reported: “Several Republican Assembly members were concerned that the bill would infringe upon the right to freedom of religion. They cited the ability of churches to sell books about conversion therapy, for example, or invite a therapist to speak about the subject at a church event. ‘This is a bill that would be overturned by a higher court on the grounds of the First Amendment,’ Assemblyman Matthew Harper, a Republican, said.”

David French, at National Review Online, said, “The state is creating a new religion of sexual libertinism, declaring that religions opposing it aren’t just false but harmful, and then prohibiting contrary religious exercise.”

For lovers of freedom who recognize the authority of the Bill of Rights this is a double whammy: Not only does this bill seek to punish religious organizations or even clinicians and other therapists who help people with gender dysphoria, or even with same-sex attractions, but it then further defines sex and gender, saying bisexuality and transgender is “part of the natural spectrum of human identity” and seeks to punish those who might believe otherwise.

Because California Democrats enjoy a supermajority in both chambers, it’s likely this bill will pass and Gov. Gavin Newsom will sign it, paving a new path forward not to protect consumers from fraud, as the bill posits, but to squash the freedom of speech for (usually religious) people who believe gender is a binary, biological reality. This piece of legislation puts in place two separate but powerful components: a belief system (being transgender is natural) and a punishment for those who would oppose that belief in practice (offering therapy) and intersects them so they create an indelible result: violating free speech and free exercise rights of California residents.

Hillary Clinton continues to blame everything and everyone apart from herself for not being elected President. In a speech this past weeken...