In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

[Content Note: Misogyny] Hey, remember when Mike Huckabee, who is a human nightmare concealed behind a goofy grin, said that women who curse in the workplace are "trashy"? Well, even conservative women were unhappy with that garbage: "[Fox News host Megyn Kelly] waited until the end of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee's interview to serve the outspoken presidential hopeful an unwelcome reality check. 'I do have news for you before I let you go,' Kelly told Huckabee on her show, The Kelly File, on Wednesday night. 'We are not only swearing. We're drinking, we're smoking, we're having premarital sex with birth control before we go to work, and sometimes boss around a bunch of men. [Huckabee] laughed but was clearly taken aback. 'I just don't want to hear that,' he joked." Hahaha FUCK YOU AGAIN. Guess what? If you "don't want to hear" about the basic lives of women, then you aren't fit to be president of a nation, half of whose people are women. Asshole.

Imani Gandy explores "Congressman Tim Ryan's Abortion Stance Switcheroo." I'm definitely with Imani on this one: "Whether he will follow up his abortion switcheroo with some concrete action—especially now that Republicans control Congress and seem intent on regulating the contents of every person's uterus—remains to be seen. Still, I welcome his change of heart with a full-throttled 'Hooray!'—at least for now."

Cuban President Raul Castro said that the "process of normalising bilateral relations" between Cuba and the US is dependent on the US giving "back the territory illegally occupied by the Guantanamo naval base." And that ain't gonna happen. Welp.

[CN: Death penalty; disablism; descriptions of violence at link] Despite the fact that the Supreme Court has banned executions of people with significant intellectual disabilities, Texas executed Robert Ladd last night, citing its absurd Steinbeck standard for establishing the severity of intellectual disabilities.

John McCain, one of the nastiest men to ever haunt the halls of Congress (which is really saying something), said that CodePink protesters who called former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger a war criminal were "low-life scum." Seriously. "I've been a member of this committee for many years, and I have never seen anything as disgraceful and outrageous and despicable as the last demonstration that just took place. ...You know, you're going to have to shut up, or I'm going to have you arrested. Get out of here, you low-life scum." Christ.

[CN: Misogyny] Gee, I hope the poor NFL can find the money for this: "A California state representative who is a former college cheerleader this week introduced legislation that would legally classify the state's NFL cheerleaders as employees, making them subject to state minimum wage and employment laws." Billionaires paying women less than minimum wage. For fuck's sake.

[CN: Transphobia] Cisgender Transparent creator Jill Soloway posted images mocking Bruce Jenner on her Facebook page, accompanied by the text: "I couldn't not. Someone sent it to me. Tell me it's wrong and I'll take it down." She couldn't not be transphobic! Gross.

In good news: Meet the Radical Brownies! "The Radical Brownies, a social justice-oriented version of the Girl Scouts, was set up only a few weeks ago to 'empower young girls of colour to step into their collective power, brilliance and leadership to make the world a more radical place'. The group of 12 girls are not affiliated to the Girl Guide movement and there are no badges for hostessing. Instead, the members, aged between eight and 12 years old, learn about black history, civil rights and social justice; their reward system includes a 'Black Lives Matter' badge and lessons in sustainable agriculture for a 'Food Justice' badge. 'Radical Beauty,' 'Radical Self-Love,' and 'LGBT Ally' badges are also on the curriculum."

Do you want a picture of your own face on your morning toast? Well, if you've got $75, you are in luck!

And finally: Icelandic Horses!