Will GOP Forgive George 'Kitara' Santos, Former Drag Queen?
And does this make Santos the first drag queen ever elected to Congress? Plus: money suddenly vanishes from Bank of America accounts and Canadian health experts say even a little booze is bad
Thanks for rising up with me on this Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. Today we mark the birth of Edgar Allan Poe on this day in 1809. If all you know of him is his writing, check out this account of his extraordinarily difficult and short life!
Here Now The News
PRIME MINISTER’S SHOCKING RESIGNATION: New Zealand’s iconic P.M. Jacinda Ardern announced today she is quitting next month, ahead of this year's election, saying she no longer has "enough in the tank" to lead. —BBC
MURDER CHARGES FILED IN MASSACHUSETTS MISSING MOM CASE: Prosecutors say Brian Walshe "dismembered Ana Walshe and discarded her body" on Jan. 1. The remains of his wife and mother to their three boys have not been found. Walshe allegedly started an extensive series of online searches on an iPad belonging to one of their three sons, to learn how to dispose of a body at 4:55 a.m. on Jan. 1, beginning with "how long before a body starts to smell." The searches allegedly included several other questions:
How to stop a body from decomposing
10 ways to dispose of a dead body if you really need to
How long for someone to be missing to inherit
How to throw away body parts
How long does DNA last
Can identification be made on partial remains
Can you be charged with murder without a body
Can you identify a body with broken teeth
Assistant D.A. Lynn Beland laid out a more detailed timeline of the case yesterday. She said beginning on Dec. 27, five days before Ana disappeared, Brian Walshe googled, "What's the best state to divorce for a man?" —More from CBS Boston
A LIST OF WHAT POLICE FOUND IN APARTMENT OF IDAHO MURDERS SUSPECT BRYAN KOHBERGER:
A pillow with a "reddish/brown stain"
A "collection of dark red spotting"
A disposable glove
At least a dozen strands of hair — More from NBC News
Politicukoos
GOP USING COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS TO REWARD AND PUNISH: Four of former president Donald Trump’s staunchest and most controversial allies:
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.)
Rep. Paul A. Gosar (R-Ariz.)
Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.)
and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.)
All appear headed to the House Oversight Committee, which is expected to make investigations of President Biden and his family its leading priority. MTG was also rewarded with a seat on the Homeland Security Committee, which the Washington Post called “ironic.” Expect the GOP to deny Democratic Reps. Adam B. Schiff (Calif.) and Eric Swalwell (Calif.) seats on the House Intelligence Committee and to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from the Foreign Affairs Committee. — Washington Post
GREENE VS. BOEBERT IN “MEAN GIRLS: THE LADIES ROOM SCENE” — The Daily Beast
MTG BURNS MATT GAETZ AFTER HE TWEETS CONGRATULATIONS — Fox
SANTOS SEATED ON TWO COMMITTEES: The Small Business Committee, as well as the Science Committee, which the Washington Post said would “rival Greene’s installment on Homeland Security in terms of audacity.”
CALL HIM, “KITARA:” Being accused of stealing money from the GoFundMe for a dying service dog, and lying about his mother escaping the Twin Towers on 9/11 when she was actually in Rio, on top of all his other lies, has not been enough to warrant his removal from Congress. But now there’s this for the GOP to consider: A 2008 photo from Brazil depicts Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), known at the time as Anthony, in drag using the moniker Kitara Ravache. — The New Republic
And of course, there’s video of “Kitara,” too, here. The best take, and there are so many takes, is a tweet by author Julia Serano, in contrast to those on the left thinking this will finally convince the GOP to remove Santos; Her argument is that instead, this will only add to the arsenal of those accusing drag performers of grooming children. One thing is clear: Republicans have indeed elected the first drag queen in Congress (that we know of)! My money is on GOP leadership playing the Herschel Walker card, offering him forgiveness for his past mistakes, youthful transgressions, etc.
History Has Its Eyes On…
MARYLAND INAUGURATES ITS FIRST BLACK GOVERNOR, WES MOORE: Washington Post
Show Me The Money
BANK OF AMERICA SAYS ZELLE PROBLEM IS “FIXED:'“ Money mysteriously vanished from customers’ accounts, and Zelle said, that’s not our problem. — NPR
NHL Player Refuses To Wear Pride Jersey
IVAN PROVOROV SITS OUT FLYERS WARMUP ON PRIDE NIGHT: The Russian-born hockey player cited his Christian faith as his reason for skipping the fundraiser:
In my story in the Los Angeles Blade, a sportswriter reminds the Philadelphia defenseman that being LGBTQ+ is not “a choice.” Can I get an “amen”?
Trans World
“HOW CAN YOU ENFORCE THIS?” Erin Reed reports in her excellent Substack, Erin In The Morning, that a North Dakota bill that would have forced anyone receiving public money to misgender transgender people based on their "DNA” has failed, by a vote of 7-0. Details here (And you should subscribe!)
ACLU DROPS APPEAL OF INDIANA’S TRANS SPORTS BAN: — ABC
LGBTQ Review
NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED: Congratulations to all the nominees announced by GLAAD yesterday for its 34th annual GLAAD Media Awards! Read the full list here. One year after winning the award for Outstanding Online Journalism, I am thrilled to be part of the team being honored with this year’s Barbara Gittings Award for Excellence in LGBTQ Media! Congrats to us, Los Angeles Blade and Washington Blade!
Dry January (and February, and…)
“NO AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL IS HEALTHY:” Canadian health officials have revised their advice on beverages containing alcohol and their advice is, don’t drink any. — The New York Times
Closing the (Half) Door
SLÁINTE: Finally, if ever you wanted to visit an authentic American version of a classic Irish pub, you’d make the pilgrimage to Hartford, Conn., and step inside the The Half Door. But if you haven’t yet, you’d better hurry! As reported in Patch.com, its owners announced they’re closing on Jan. 23 after 20 years, due to the rising cost of rent. Hopefully, they’ll move to a new location. Until then, I will miss this beloved institution, having lived just a few miles down the road for 19 years and brought many a visitor to its bar. In spite of Canada’s guidance, I think I will enjoy one last Half ‘n’ Half (“Black and Tan” to you heathens) or maybe two before last call. Farewell, old friend.
Thank you for rising up again today and thanks to all my subscribers! I won’t be back until Sunday afternoon, as I shift to a new schedule, Sunday through Thursday, starting this week, in response to reader input! Until then, may your news be good news, and I send my best wishes for your weekend.
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