GoneTrending

Later this week, Florida representative Matt Gaetz is scheduled to speak at a strongly pro-Trump summit. He appears to be trying to pretend everything’s business-as-usual. But it’s not. Last week The New York Times revealed that he’s been under investigation for months by the Department of Justice over allegations involving sex trafficking of a minor. Then more seedy claims emerged.

Now there’s yet another fishy tidbit: The Times reports that, before Trump left office and well before this scandal blew up, Gaetz sought a blanket pre-emptive pardon from the 45th president before he left office. It wasn’t just for him; also included were unidentified congressional allies. The reason? As NYT puts it, to “thwart what he termed the ‘bloodlust’ of their political opponents.”

It’s unclear whether Gaetz knew of the DoJ investigation at the time of the alleged request, or whether he discussed it private with then-president Trump. Alas, it was all for naught: White House lawyers called the blanket pardons a nonstarter that could set a bad precedent. Trump spent his final days in office pardoning dozens of allies, among them his old cohort Steve Bannon. Gaetz, a die-hard Trumpist, was not among them.

Gaetz has denied the allegations against him, although attempts to clear his name have not gone well. Mere hours after the Times made the investigation public knowledge, Gaetz appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight and only succeeded in weirding out his normally sympathetic host. A spokesperson also denied NYT’s latest report.

“Entry-level political operatives have conflated a pardon call from Representative Gaetz — where he called for President Trump to pardon ‘everyone from himself, to his administration, to Joe Exotic’ — with these false and increasingly bizarre, partisan allegations against him,” read the spokesperson’s statement. “Those comments have been on the record for some time, and President Trump even retweeted the congressman, who tweeted them out himself.”

Wherever the truth lies, for now it appears Gaetz can’t pretend like everything’s normal. But despite the Trump speaking gig, it appears, for now, the man himself wants to keep more than a little distance.

(Via NYT)

The Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors matched up on Tuesday evening in Tampa, with the Lakers still short-handed and the Raptors attempting to build off the recent success of back-to-back wins. In the early going, the Lakers were in control to the tune of a 34-20 lead and, late in the first quarter, Dennis Schröder attempted to stop OG Anunoby in transition.

Schröder and Anunoby were tangled up from there, though, and Anunoby essentially pickedSchröder up and dropped him on the baseline. As you may imagine, a scuffle ensued.

In the end, both Anunoby and Montrezl Harrell were ejected for their roles in the back and forth. Harrell immediately joined the fray, going at it with Gary Trent Jr. within seconds of the initial play, and even with the separation that usually transpires in these instances, it wasn’t enough to keep him in the game.

Anunoby’s initial reaction was certainly the inciting incident and, as a result, the Raptors lost one of the league’s best perimeter defenders for the remainder of the game. It isn’t every day that an NBA player is picked up and dropped onto the hardwood as a result of a non-basketball scuffle, but that’s what happened here.

Who among us hasn’t awoken one day to learn we’ve potentially inspired the lunatic ramblings of a monstrous comic book villain? Such was Tuesday for Jordan Peterson, the controversial professor, psychologist, podcaster, and conservative firebrand, who discovered his beliefs seemed to have been parroted by no less than Captain America baddie Red Skull, in a new comic penned by acclaimed writer Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Peterson has made a name for himself by attacking political correctness and identity politics, in media appearances and in self-help books like 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos, plus its sequel Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life. In the former, he referred to chaos as “the eternal feminine,” and labeled women “choosy maters (unlike female chimps, their closest animal counterparts).” He is very popular among lonely men.

So imagine Peterson’s surprise when someone pointed out some of the things Red Skull, one of Cap’s most iconic adversaries, was saying in Coates’ latest issue. Cap talks about a young boy he knew “disappearing into the internet,” only to return with a “new theory of the world” — one he learned by watching Red Skull videos on YouTube.

“What has happened to the men of the world is truly one of the great tragedies of our time,” Skull rants. “Once, the American man was a conqueror. Now he is but a caretaker.” He goes on: “No more shall women be summoned to fight your battles. I offer steel for your spine and iron for your gut. I offer you the sword of manhood.”

Cap, at least, sees right through it. “[Skull] tells them what they’ve always longed to hear,” Cap says. “That they are secretly great. That the whole world’s against them. That if they’re truly men, they’ll fight back. And bingo. That’s their purpose. That’s what they live for and that’s what they’ll die for.”

Neither Marvel nor Coates — the former Atlantic correspondent and author of the beloved book Between the World and Me, who has long moonlighted as a comics writer — have yet publicly commented on whether or not Peterson served as the basis for the Marvel villain, last seen onscreen in a brief appearance in Avengers: Endgame and played by Hugo Weaving in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. But Peterson seemed convinced, spending much of the day afterwards tweeting and re-tweeting about it.

Others pointed out that maybe it’s not great if you recognize your tenets and beliefs in a larger-than-life villain.

Many agreed that this is really funny.

Others praised Coates for (possibly!) trolling Peterson in such a fashion.

Others put actual Peterson quotes over top Red Skull images to see if they gibed.

But it turns out Coates isn’t the first comics writer to lampoon Jordan Peterson.

Others speculated whether or not Peterson’s own backstory sound similar to the one for another comic book baddie: DC’s Scarecrow.

And some imagined a future in which every comic book villain is a thinly veiled takedown of far right pundits.

Last month California Governor Gavin Newsom became the subject of a formal recall election, led by state Republican lawmakers. They weren’t unhappy with his handling of the pandemic; it’s his immigration and tax policies they dislike. He already has at least one potential successor: Three sources have told Axios that no less than Caitlyn Jenner, the legendary athlete-turned-reality TV star, is weighing a run for the state’s most powerful gig.

Jenner, who is an outspoken Republican who previously supported former president Donald Trump, refused to comment on the rumor, as did Caroline Wren, the longtime GOP fundraiser alleged to be advising her. If it turns out to be true, it would be Jenner’s third high-profile job. She first made her name in 1976, when she won the Olympic decathlon, putting her on the cover of magazines, even cereal boxes. She returned to the spotlight starting in 2007 with Keeping Up with the Kardashians, chronicling the family into which she married in 1991. She transitioned into a woman in 2015.

If Jenner does go through with it, she’ll be yet another celebrity pivoting towards politics. Matthew McConaughey is reportedly also considering a run for governor, looking to take over his homestate of Texas. People are also urging Dwayne Johnson to do something similar.

(Via Axios)

Carmelo Anthony has made sure over the past two seasons in Portland that he still has plenty to offer on the NBA court, but as happens to all players as they get older, he’s also keeping one eye on his post-basketball career. On Tuesday, he announced in an interview with Variety that he and his longtime business partner and strategist Asani Swann are launching Creative 7, a production and content company that already has some TV and film projects in the works, joining fellow NBA stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant in the production and content world.

“Storytelling brings people together, and it can serve as a vehicle for propelling larger societal conversations and understanding,” Anthony said to Variety. “We are interested in all types of stories that have the power to serve as catalysts for the change we wish to see in the world.”

Among the projects in the works are a limited series on the friendship between Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X called “Blood Brothers” with A&E Studios, as well an unnamed project on the Jersey Four, a group of young basketball players who were racially profiled and shot at by police on the Jersey Turnpike in 1998. While one might assume his close friend in LeBron James would serve as his inspiration, its another mega-star that’s gone from the world of sports to TV and film that Anthony cited as his greatest inspiration.

“Honestly, the way that Dwayne Johnson has approached the business is unparalleled. He came at it with the approach that he was just going to do the work, build a legacy and let his resume speak for itself,” Anthony says of the former WWE wrestler, who is now the highest-paid actor in Hollywood with his own prolific production company. “He put in the hard work and the commitment to change the game, and has continued to chart a path that is all his own.”

Anthony and Swann hope to tell continue opening up paths for storytellers to tell important stories that haven’t necessarily been given opportunity in the past.

During his four years as president, Donald J. Trump rarely appeared to sleep. That didn’t mean he was working. Far as one could tell, he spent most of his many waking hours either rage-tweeting or binge-watching Fox News for hours and hours on end. His successor, meanwhile, seems to be getting enough rest to accomplish as much as he has in his two-and-a-half months on the job. But one person thinks — without, admittedly, knowing anything — that mysterious forces are really doing the bulk of his work.

Trump took a break from clumsily hiding Coke bottles during photo opps with unemployed former employees to call into Newsmax, the far right network still beholden to him, for one of his rambling, self-contradicting epic chats. Host Heather Childers teed him up for a variety of Biden disses. In between getting him to diss his foreign policy and the like, Childers asked the former president if his replacement is “capable” of a position requiring long and intense hours, day in, day out, which is definitely how Trump spent his tenure.

“Well it does take that kind of drive, and it takes tremendous strength and enthusiasm and everything you can imagine,” Trump told Childers. “It’s 50 hours a day and you understand what I mean by that.” He then accused Biden of perhaps not spending his time watching lots of TV and yelling at reporters in front of helicopters.

“It’s a lot of work, and I think other people are making most of the decisions, but I may be wrong about that, I don’t know,” Trump charged, in his typical willy-nilly way. “I don’t really know him very well, but to be honest with you, somebody’s making decisions.”

Trump later doubled down on that accusation, saying, point blank, “Other people are making the decisions.”

It was classic Trump, making bold, baseless claims then backing off them, then making them again, creating confusion out of nothing, all while exaggerating about his own unlikely accomplishments. Luckily he can no longer do his over his favorite social media site, forcing hosts at Fox News, Newsmax, and OANN to pass it all along.

(Via Mediaite)

One of the strangest weddings in human history happened on May 31 in China’s Jiangsu province. A woman was marrying off her son when she realized something unbelievably familiar about his wife-to-be.

She had a birthmark that was identical to the one that her daughter had. Unfortunately, she lost her daughter as a baby and never found her again.

So, the woman asked one of the most uncomfortable questions ever to the bride’s parents: “Did you, by any chance, adopt your daughter?”

---

The parents were totally shocked because the adoption had been a family secret. But they told the groom’s mother that her instincts were correct, the daughter was adopted. The mother of the groom immediately broke into tears, claiming that she was the mother and had been searching for her lost daughter for over twenty years.

This caused the bride to break down because she had been searching for her mother, too.

via Nat Tung / Flickr

As you can see, this opened up a real can of worms. Should the couple be allowed to marry if they are brother and sister? Surely it wouldn’t be legal and it’d also be seriously creepy.

Alas, the wedding was allowed to go on because the son was adopted. After searching for years for her daughter to no avail, the mother adopted a boy.

The bride later said that meeting her real mother was “happier than the wedding day itself.”

So, is there anything to this story besides an incredible coincidence? Well, there is a psychological phenomenon known as Genetic Sexual Attraction in which people who are reunited with their long-lost siblings or parents often experience obsessive emotions about their newfound relatives.

Sometimes these feelings can turn sexual.

“This isn’t fiction; in the age of the sperm donor, it’s a growing reality: 50% of reunions between siblings, or parents and offspring, separated at birth result in obsessive emotions,” a report in The Guardian said.

In this case, the bride and groom aren’t genetically related. But, the fact that the bride was genetically similar to the groom’s mother could have played a part in his attraction to her.

“We are drawn to what is familiar,” psychotherapist Robi Ludwig told USA Today. “When there is a genetic link, that can increase, especially if you are not raised together.”

via PixaBay

The story could also be further confirmation of the old theory that men always wind up marrying their mothers.

A 2019 study published in The Daily Mirror found that “almost two-thirds of men are in a relationship with someone remarkably similar to their mother.” It found that 64% of heterosexual men are attracted to women with the same personality traits as their mothers.

All in all, it had to be an emotional day for all involved. Just imagine being the mother, she got to have the privilege of seeing both her children being married at the same time. The bride and groom also have the unique experience of having their mother and mother-in-law as the same person.

Even great shows tend to overstay their welcome, but some of the very best are smart enough to go out on top. When it’s over, Pose, Ryan Murphy’s groundbreaking series about New York City’s drag ball scene in the 1980s, will only have three seasons to its name. The trailer for the final season shows that it’s trying to go out on top, bravely barreling further into the brink of the AIDS crisis.

Billy Porter reprises his star-making, Emmy-winning turn as Pray Tell, fashion designer and ballroom show emcee, shown warmly reminiscing about an era that’s about to come to an untimely end. We see our main cast — including Indya Moore’s trans prostitute-turned-hospital worker — finding strength in their makeshift family. And we see glimpses of the fight they have in front of them: against a brutal disease that descended upon their community and against the rich and powerful who did nothing to stop it.

But it’s clear the third and final season won’t be strictly defined by tragedy. The ball shows must go on, and the protagonists of Pose are shown rallying the troops, banding together, even celebrating all they’ve accomplished. “We are just gonna be ourselves and that’s it,” says Moore’s Angel, and it’s a reminder that some show’s are about quality, not quantity.

You can watch the trailer in the video above.

Bartenders spend much of their lives surrounded by amazing bottles of whiskey. And sampling the various expressions that get released is a fairly big part of the job. So it’s safe to say that they know a thing or two about what makes up a great dram.

Meaning that when they treat someone to a bottle, it’s likely to be good. Even more so when they’re giving it to fellow bartenders, who have similarly discerning palates.

In that vein, we wondered what bottles of whiskey bartenders give to their friends and co-workers. What do they share with those in the field? So we asked a handful of bartenders to tell us the bottles of Scotch, bourbon, rye, and other whiskeys they’re most likely to offer fellow bartenders as a gift.

Booker’s Bourbon

Benjamin Pozar, bartender at Fogo de Chao in Philadelphia

Most bartenders have tasted all the whiskies that grace their shelves. I’d get something single barrel. Booker’s would be a great option if they are a regular whiskey drinker who can appreciate cask strength.

Average Price: $100

Teeling Blackpitts Irish Whiskey

Gabriel Urrutia, USBG bartender in Miami

I would gift the new Teeling Blackpitts. A smoky Irish whiskey that is bold yet delicate, with a nice sweet smoky kick.

Average Price: $86

Noah’s Mill Bourbon

Andy Printy, beverage director at Chao Baan in St. Louis

When gifting for other bartenders, I like to keep it simple and classic. Noah’s Mill from Willett is reasonably priced and almost universally enjoyed. It starts with abundant heat and dank lumber but eases into softer notes of dark fruit, toffee, and oak.

The finish is bold but in the friendliest way.

Average Price: $53.99

Town Branch Double Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Mari Kodama, general manager at The Breakwater Restaurant in Stonington, Connecticut

Town Branch Double Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon. The second round of aging in new white oak barrels adds a deep oakiness to the bourbon, lending it a complexity that shines in craft cocktails.

Average Price: $43.99

Old Crow Bourbon

Hayden Miller, head bartender at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila in Miami

Old Crow. Cut the cost and pour the drinks. It’s a cheap, classic, bourbon perfect to hoist with your fellow bartenders.

Average Price: $10

Aberfeldy 12 Single Malt Scotch

Charles Hardwick, former bartender at The Aviary in New York City

Aberfeldy 12. It’s a wonderfully balanced whisky which makes a wonderful highball but it’s also assertive enough to work well in a Rob Roy or even neat with a medium-to-full bodied cigar. Gift a bartender a bottle of this and it’ll become a staple in their liquor cabinets.

Average Price: $43.99

St. George Breaking & Entering Whiskey

Denise Padin’ Cuevas, bartender at Siro Urban Italian Kitchen in Orlando

Breaking & Entering by St. George (if you can find it). It is discontinued, but it has the flavors of banana nut bread and is delicious with just a few ice cubes.

Average Price: $32.99

Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon

Anthony Aviles, general manager at Jack Dusty in Sarasota, Florida

Elijah Craig Small Batch is an excellent bourbon that is relatively versatile while also remaining a fantastic sipping whiskey. Notes of caramel and spice mixed with some depth from the charred barrels used during aging create a well-rounded spirit that most bartenders would enjoy.

Average Price: $29.99

Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon

Daniel Burns, bartender at Elixir in San Francisco

Four Roses has a great barrel program and at Elixir we have quite a few of our own picks. I’d gift a bottle of our private barrel of Four Roses Single Barrel, because you can’t find it anywhere else. This particular bourbon celebrates their high rye mash bill and a more floral yeast strain. Together those elements combine to create a robust, spicy, and floral bourbon that anyone would be stoked to be given.

Average Price: $49.99

Mars IWAI 45 Japanese Whiskey

Chris Zulueta, bartender at Sylvain in New Orleans

I’d go with the Mars IWAI 45 Japanese Whiskey. It’s a good alternative to bourbon and showcases more of a profile familiar to the American palate of whiskeys. The proof is great for mixing as well!

We bartenders need higher strength distillates to have shoulders to build cocktails on.

Average Price: $34.99

WhistlePig 10-Year-Old Rye

Israel Meléndez Ayala, bartender in San Juan, Puerto Rico

My fiancée gifted me a wonderful Whistlepig Single batch Rye 10. Allspice, orange peel, anise, oak, char, and caramel in the nose with the taste of caramel, vanilla, followed by rye spice and mint, finishing with warm butterscotch and caramel.

Perfect for sipping on the rocks while chatting on the patio with bartending friends or in my favorite cocktail, the Boulevardier.

Average Price: $74.99

Hakushu 12

Aaron Polsky, founder of LiveWire Drinks in Los Angeles

Hakushu 12. It’s my all-time favorite for its light smoke and balanced maltiness, and it’s become pretty hard to come by, so it would definitely make a bartender happy.

Average Price: $200

Willett Family Estate 4-Year-Old Rye

Tim Wiggins, co-owner and beverage director of Lazy Tiger in St. Louis

Willett 4-Year-Old Rye Whiskey. It is super spicy and dry with a long warm finish but is just sweet enough to be very drinkable. It’s my go-to and not often found in my parts of town.

Average Price: $49.99

Talisker 10 Single Malt Scotch

Isaac Rice, lead bartender at Urban Farmer in Philadelphia

Talisker 10… if I really like the bartender. It’s my ideal bottle of Scotch. It’s the perfect middle ground of Islay peat and smoke, balanced together and not drowning out the other fantastic scotch flavors of malted barley, pepper, and orchard fruit.

Average Price: $66.99

Deshaun Watson is facing nearly two dozen lawsuits from massage therapists alleging sexual harassment and assault in recent years. One therapist who has not filed a lawsuit against Watson spoke recently with Sports Illustrated about her own experience with Watson in which he displayed inappropriate behavior similar to that detailed in the numerous lawsuits, and on Tuesday, the first woman to file a lawsuit against Watson spoke publicly for the first time.

Ashley Solis spoke at a press conference, reading from a prepared statement in which she detailed her “nightmare” experience with Watson and how it has impacted her life going forward. She said Watson is her assaulter and harasser, and that he has “tainted a profession in which I take enormous pride,” noting that she has had to cut sessions short because of anxiety after Watson exposed himself to her and touched her with his penis during a session last March.

“I know a lot of you are probably wondering who I was, or if I even existed. I’m not afraid anymore,” Solis said. “People say that I’m doing this just for money. That is false. I’ve come forward now so Deshaun Watson does not assault another woman.”

Solis announced that she will also be filing a criminal complaint against Watson, the second woman to do so, as not all of those who have filed civil lawsuits have filed a criminal complaint as well. While Solis was the only one to speak at the press conference, Lauren Baxley attached her name publicly to the allegations and had a statement read on her behalf, which detailed a similar experience to Solis. Baxley’s statement called Watson a “predator with power,” via the Washington Post, and noted that his actions with these women have “poisoned” any good he’s done otherwise.