Shooting Blanks posted:

If we had to impeach/prosecute every politician who's had a kid try to trade on their name, I'm not sure we'd have many politicians left.

Craig K posted:

in all fairness, boomer conservatives still hate "Hanoi Jane" Fonda

Leon Trotsky 2012 posted:

Republicans! posted:

“President Biden’s defenders purport a weak defense by asserting the Committee must show payments directly to the President to show corruption,” the House Oversight Republicans wrote.

“This is a hollow claim no other American would be afforded if their family members accepted foreign payments or bribes. Indeed, the law recognizes payments to family members to corruptly influence others can constitute a bribe,” the memo says.

Mellow Seas posted:

They're really going with "anybody whose family member ever took a bribe, took a bribe themselves"?

I think Merrick Garland should make some calls to GOP legislators and remind them of the precedent they may be attempting to set.

selec posted:

Man what the gently caress have Supreme Court journalists been doing? Is there a parallel set of junkets that they send useless stenographers like Nina Totenberg on to keep them from doing the work ProPublica has been doing? How the gently caress do you get your lunch eaten this badly and not just step back and ask what the point of your life’s work has been, if not to do the work that others are doing far better than you ever did?

Mellow Seas posted:

They're really going with "anybody whose family member ever took a bribe, took a bribe themselves"?

I think Merrick Garland should make some calls to GOP legislators and remind them of the precedent they may be attempting to set.

bird food bathtub posted:

Well your big problem there is thinking they intend to set a precedent based on fairness or, hell, even observable reality. They are doing no such thing. Never forget that hypocrisy is the fascist super power. They want their enemies punished, and their team protected. Doesn't matter if it's for doing the same thing in both situations. Enemies punished, themselves protected. Fin.

Shooting Blanks posted:

If we had to impeach/prosecute every politician who's had a kid try to trade on their name, I'm not sure we'd have many politicians left.

selec posted:

Man what the gently caress have Supreme Court journalists been doing? Is there a parallel set of junkets that they send useless stenographers like Nina Totenberg on to keep them from doing the work ProPublica has been doing? How the gently caress do you get your lunch eaten this badly and not just step back and ask what the point of your life’s work has been, if not to do the work that others are doing far better than you ever did?

Mendrian posted:

Sometimes I try to imagine how a no-gifting law would be implemented and enforced in the US and while it sounds nice it feels like it would be impossible.

quote:

'Like a boxing match': Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom embrace ‘risk’ in surprise debate

Peter Thiel, the billionaire tech entrepreneur and benefactor of right-wing causes, opened last year’s National Conservatism Conference in Miami with a dense slideshow presentation during which he argued that regardless of whom Democrats nominate for president, their model for governance will mirror the social and economic policies of California.

Thiel contended it was imperative for conservatives to coalesce around a model that ran counter to California. And there was one he saw that could fit the bill.

“[Gov. Ron] DeSantis in Florida is probably the best of the governors in terms of offering a real alternative to California,” Thiel said, “[who has] tried to tackle California in some ways.”

Almost a full year later, DeSantis, who followed Thiel as a keynote speaker at the conference, is seeking to seize upon the California vs. Florida debate in an effort to juice his stalled presidential campaign.

Last week, DeSantis accepted an invitation from California Gov. Gavin Newsom — who has for months sought to challenge DeSantis face-to-face — to participate in a debate hosted by Fox News host Sean Hannity. The event is so far framed around the many policy differences between the two governors. But with both men either actively running for president or widely viewed to someday seek the office, it’s highly likely their personal differences will be on display, too.

As political strategists on both sides of the aisle told NBC News, DeSantis’ acceptance was not coming from a place of strength; he agreed to the challenge as his poll numbers have been trailing off and he seeks to reset his campaign.

What’s more, the one-on-one showdown carries considerable risk for the Florida governor, these strategists said, should he stumble or falter in the setting. With Newsom not running for president, DeSantis is taking time to confront an opponent who isn’t actually an opponent for 2024.

But some strategists said this still is a risk worth taking for DeSantis, in no small part because of the interest a California vs. Florida contest could draw in prime time.

“It’s a decent idea because Ron DeSantis has to find a way to break through and make some news on his own that’s not about Donald Trump,” Justin Clark, Trump’s 2020 deputy campaign manager and GOP pollster with National Public Affairs, said. “This does carry some risk — it’s not a Hail Mary, but it’s going for it on 4th down late in the first half.”

While DeSantis’ campaign has signaled it will lessen its focus on Florida to emphasize a broader message, the pending debate shows Sunshine State politics remain where the candidate finds his strongest footing.

“This gimmick is a sign of internal desperation after firing one-third of the staff amid a monthlong reset,” a Republican operative working with a rival campaign said. “If DeSantis and his team finally engaging with mainstream media interviews wasn’t a sign of how tough it’s gotten for him, this sure is.”

The event is not without risk for Newsom, either. For starters, it will be moderated by a right-wing opinion host — although Newsom’s calculus is that having Hannity moderate neutralizes a leading reason for DeSantis not to participate. Should DeSantis come across well, scoring points on Newsom in the process, the California governor could inadvertently play a role in boosting DeSantis’ GOP primary campaign while harming his own prospects for higher office.

At the same time, a strong performance could help elevate the California governor in what, for now, is a shadow 2028 campaign, in which Newsom is already considered a top-tier contender alongside fellow Democratic governors like J.B. Pritzker in Illinois, Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan and Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris.

Jared Leopold, a Democratic strategist who formerly worked at the Democratic Governors Association, said the only thing that surprised him in this process was the selection of Hannity as moderator.

“There is some risk, but there’s also a real potential reward in going into the lion’s den and coming out unscathed,” he said. “Newsom is basically agreeing to do this on DeSantis’ turf. And it’s going to take a lot of prep. But if he can go in and he can clearly state his case despite the stacked odds, it can be a huge win for him and it’s a big stage.”

It’s a big stage that will allow Newsom to tell a story about California nationally — a story he “will tell as whatever point that he runs for national office,” Leopold said.

“Politics is showmanship and this is a huge opportunity to put on a good show,” Leopold added. “Having this sort of prime-time fight, like a boxing match, it’s a venue where you can reach people because people want to see that kind of battle.”

Newsom has pledged not to run for president in 2024, but he has for the past year sought to take the fight to leading Republicans, including DeSantis. He made headlines last year after joining Trump’s social media site, Truth Social, and launched ads in Florida targeting DeSantis’ positions on education and abortion rights. The two governors have also repeatedly tangled on Covid, crime, guns and immigration — including in June when Newsom told NBC News he was planning to launch an investigation into planes of migrants flown to California, which were orchestrated by DeSantis’ administration.

The Newsom/DeSantis battle began amid a wider effort by Democrats in 2022 to redefine the argument around personal “freedoms” as culture war battles championed by DeSantis dominated the midterm landscape. Though DeSantis overwhelmingly won re-election, Democrats implemented such messaging to great success, besting Republicans in a number of critical swing-state races where it was prominently featured.

For DeSantis and like-minded allies, though, the Florida vs. California debate isn’t much of a fight. DeSantis has contrasted Florida’s increasing population (which the Census Bureau projected has risen by about 700,000 from April 2020 to July 2022) with California’s decreasing population (which the Census Bureau projected has decreased by about 500,000 from April 2020 to July 2022) as evidence that his model isn’t just winning, it’s already won.

In a memo to supporters, DeSantis’ campaign argued the candidate is squaring off with Newsom “to highlight the choice facing American voters next year."

“The left wants America to follow the path of California’s decline — Ron DeSantis wants to reignite the American Dream, restore sanity, and ensure our nation’s best days are ahead,” the memo read.

Speaking with NBC News in a recent interview, DeSantis said next fall’s general election will essentially be a choice between wanting the country run like Florida or like California.

“[President Joe] Biden basically would like to Californicate the United States,” he said. “Biden also may not be the nominee. You could have Kamala from California. You could have Newsom.”

It is not yet a sure thing the debate will take place, though both parties have now hyped the showdown. On Saturday, Nathan Click, a Newsom spokesperson, slammed DeSantis’ counter on the conditions for the debate as “a joke” that was “littered with crutches to hide his insecurity and ineptitude."

Newsom’s initial debate offer stated the governor wanted both men to use no notes, that the contest would feature no live audience and that both men would have four minutes of opening remarks. DeSantis’ counter called for a live audience, both governors being able to use a pen and paper during the program and opening statements swapped for a two-minute long hype video at the start of the debate. The two offered varying dates and locations but both included Nov. 8 and Georgia in their proposals.

Meanwhile, a person familiar with the Republican National Committee's debate criteria said DeSantis' face-off with Newsom would not violate the RNC’s requirement that candidates who appear in its approved debates do not participate in unsanctioned primary debates.

“This battle has the mystique of what the World Series used to be,” Leopold said of when Major League Baseball’s championship round marked the only time when American League and National League teams faced off in games that counted. “Because you have these two separate worlds where California can talk about investing in clean energy, and investing in programs that help the social safety net. And Florida has dismantled all of that. And there’s a real contrast in stories and it’s playing out in real time, as opposed to just a hypothetical.”

A second Republican aligned with a rival candidate said that although the event “reeks a little bit of desperation” since Newsom is not on the ballot next fall, a good showing by DeSantis could be beneficial for Republicans broadly.

“Gavin has most to gain from this because it just grants legitimacy to his shadow campaign-in-waiting in hopes that Biden doesn’t run in 2024,” this person said. “If DeSantis does well — and to be quite frank, if you’ve watched his debate videos, it’s hit or miss — then it’s a plus for Republicans. But it really is a toss-up. And there’s so many different factors you have to consider here.”

One factor, of course, is whether people even tune in.

“I mean, I watched the 2016 debates with popcorn,” this operative said of whether they will watch. “So probably, yeah. Just for the entertainment factor.”

Mellow Seas posted:

Well, yeah, sure. It's just, like... they know we can hear them, right? It's another example of Republicans having to do something that turns off a bunch of voters because they would lose too many of their own if they were 1% less lovely. I'm sure the majority of the members in the House realize how stupid it is. But they all have primaries next year, so they're all going to go along with it. Maybe one or two won't - they're gone after the next election.

e: You know, I'm kind of wondering - why would you even want to impeach Biden?

Isn't it just better to keep throwing out innuendo and questioning guys like Archer in private, so they can spin/lie about what about he said? And just let your media organs push the story out to your base? Instead you're putting yourself in a situation where all these people with flimsy allegations are going to have to deal with guys like Ron Wyden and Richard Blumenthal making them look stupid with incredibly simple questions, in the most public forum possible.

They saw how impeachment affected public opinion when they impeached a guy who had actually committed the crime he was accused of. Granted, the made up Biden crimes are more serious than the real Clinton crime was, but man oh man are they out on a limb on this one.

(At least they have some SA posters on their side! )

Leon Trotsky 2012 posted:

DeSantis is having the first debate of the 2024 primary field... against California Governor Gavin Newsom.

This is kind of sad in a way, but I honestly have to give DeSantis credit for accepting the challenge. He loses some points for saying he won't debate unless it is on Fox News and moderated by Sean Hannity, though.

https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1689350956650016768

FlamingLiberal posted:

I don’t think I’ve seen someone who so desperately wants to be President more than Gavin Newsom

quote:

Peter Thiel, the billionaire tech entrepreneur and benefactor of right-wing causes, opened last year’s National Conservatism Conference in Miami with a dense slideshow presentation during which he argued that regardless of whom Democrats nominate for president, their model for governance will mirror the social and economic policies of California.

Main Paineframe posted:

If they can get CNN reporters to put the phrases "President Biden" and "corruption allegations" in the same sentence enough times, that's probably a success for them.

Mellow Seas posted:

Motherfucker, you live in California! And recently said to the press that you weren't moving to Florida because California's biggest problem, housing, is now a gigantic problem there as well! (Bloomberg)

Maybe. But I don't know, I never got the sense that the Trump impeachment helped Democrats all that much, and I don't know if this one would do much more. If anything it's less effective now that it's easier, with three impeachments in six years, for an uninformed voter to just dismiss it as DC bullshit.

Leon Trotsky 2012 posted:

The biggest downside (and this is somewhat unfair, but it's politics) to his schtick is his looks and voice. He absolutely looks like a used car salesman and I envision with perfect clarity him saying, "What's it going to take to get you in this Toyota Corolla today?" and it reinforces the perception of him desperately trying to sell you himself.

Main Paineframe posted:

If they can get CNN reporters to put the phrases "President Biden" and "corruption allegations" in the same sentence enough times, that's probably a success for them.

Mellow Seas posted:

Maybe. But I don't know, I never got the sense that the Trump impeachment helped Democrats all that much, and I don't know if this one would do much more. If anything it's less effective now that it's easier, with three impeachments in six years, for an uninformed voter to just dismiss it as DC bullshit.

zoux posted:

That dude was so blantant it's almost like he was trying to commit suicide by fed.

Leon Trotsky 2012 posted:

I also thought it was funny/weirdly admirable in a dumb way when Romney was running in 2012, and people kept asking him why he was a pro-choice moderate in the 90's and now he was the most conservative to ever conservate in history, and he just went with, "Because I was running in Massachusetts back then, duh." when he realized that no other answer would work.

zoux posted:

https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/status/1689398765596160000

Voters are such loving dipshits. Why would you assume that this was not going to happen when it has been the stated #1 goal of conservatives for decades

quote:

Iggy Azalea to Tory Lanez's sentencing judge: 'I would not write to you on behalf of an abuser'

The quotes in this article are taken verbatim from the letter, including misspellings, punctuation errors and typos.

Rapper Iggy Azalea told the judge who sentenced Tory Lanez for shooting Megan Thee Stallion that he’s not an abuser and “any leniency you may afford him would be something you could be proud of.”

“I deeply appreciate the person he is and have never witnessed him loose [sp] his temper or raise his voice at a woman,” Azalea wrote. “He’s always been incredibly respectful of me and I refuse to believe that he would do anything in malice especially to a woman.”

She described herself as a “victim of abuse myself” in her three-page, typed letter.

“I must make note of the things ive suffered through so that you understand definitively: I would not write to you on behalf of an abuser,” wrote the 33-year-old Australian, whose songs include the 2014 smash “Fancy.”

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David Herriford referenced Azalea’s Feb. 22 letter and the 75 others submitted for Lanez during the two-day hearing that concluded Tuesday afternoon with Lanez being sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion in the feet and injuring her on July 12, 2020.

Herriford said Lanez’s harassment of Megan, including online and through his music, was a “a major factor in aggravation in this case.”

At the beginning of the hearing on Monday, the judge briefly described each letter submitted for Lanez and identified the author. With Azaleas’, he mentioned only that she described Lanez as a talented songwriter and asked for a sentence that’s transformational and not life destroying.

As word spread of her letter, Azalea posted online that she was told her words would only be seen by the judge. She said she “never intended to publicly comment.”

“I don’t ‘support’ anyone. the whole thing is full of oddities,” she said in the post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “My letter never mentioned anything in regard to what happened that night.”

Legal Affairs and Trials with Meghann Cuniff obtained a copy of Azalea’s letter on Wednesday. In it, Azalea told Judge Herriford of Lanez, “I have remained in close contact with him during incarceration and I am confident he has already gained positive insight in regard to this experience.” She said she spoke with Lanez “last week,” which, based on the Feb. 22 date on the letter, would have been the week of Feb. 12 through Feb. 18.

Lanez “told me he’s glad God put him in jail,” Azalea wrote.

“He said this is an opportunity to humble himself and soften his heart - ironic to hear one of the kindest people I know strive to become even kinder,” she continued. “I’m not shocked - Its who he is. Watering and shining light on others until something beautiful grows.”

Using Lanez’s legal name, Azalea wrote, “Daystar Peterson is not the pest you’ve heard about, he’s a gardener. He helps others bloom.”

Should Lanez not be deported to his native Canada after he serves his sentence, Azalea told the judge, “I would employ him without hesitation as an executive producer on my next album.”

“In fact - I already hired him for the job prior to his conviction! I guarantee to you he has significant income and work awaiting him upon release if you would kindly consider a sentence that does not require deportation,” Azalea wrote.

She called Lanez “far from your average entitled rap star” and that he’s “been helping me from the moment I met him” in a recording studio in 2018.

“Although he was writing music for another artist, he took the initiative to come to my room in his break time and play song ideas he’d written for me too,” Azalea wrote. “This resonated with me because it’s highly unusual for someone who’s already very successful to want to help others. Music is competitive in that way,” she said.

Azalea said she understands Lanez to be “genuinely passionate about helping others.”

“He will go out of his way to help someone he sees even glimmer of greatness inside. Although he’s an incredible songwriter, it’s my belief this is his true gift,” she wrote. “Seeing what could be and becoming the driving force to make it happen.”

Azalea said she hired six of Lanez’s employees “not only because they are great hardworking people, but so that they remain in a position to transition back into running his business when he’s completed his sentence.”

“Im doing all I can to make sure he’s in a position to come home and get back to work,” she wrote.

Azalea said the music business “is not designed to empower Artists - especially not women.”

“You learn to expect misogyny at every turn, no matter how much you’ve personally achieved,” Azalea said. “Sadly I’ve spent my entire career battling sexism and bad behavior behind the curtains.”

She said her past abuse is why “I felt it very imperative I share my viewpoint as a woman in music: in regard to Daystar Peterson.”

Azalea never mentioned Megan or Lanez’s felony convictions for first-degree assault with a firearm, negligent discharge of a firearm and possession of a concealed and unregistered firearm inside a vehicle.

But she described Lanez as “the last person to loose [sp] his cool” and says she’s seen him “defuse so many sticky situations with kindness and humor.”

“I’ve never encountered this jealous, rage filled person he’s accused of being,” she wrote. “I know him to be someone who’s always bursting with happiness. In the moments you want to cry, if you call daystar, he will find a way to make you laugh.”

She also implies the jury got it wrong, first telling Herriford she was “elated when I saw your name in relation to this trial because you have a reputation of being a very fair judge.”

“In fact its one of the reasons I was a sadnned [s]) Daystar had subpar legal counsel and did not take the stand at his own trial,” she wrote. “We’ve all been frozen in fear before. The unfortunate side effect of his choice is he’s been painted in the most unrecognizable way: to you, the jury and the public.”

“I hope you’ll consider a sentence that allows for this to be transformational and not life destroying. Not only for Daystar - but for his family, son and the countless others who depend on him & are committed to helping him reach his full potential,” Azalea wrote.

Azalea did not explain how she knew of Herriford, a former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney who was appointed to the bench by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010.

“I believe in justice and I know you do too. You’ve dedicated your life’s work to it and I respect that deeply. Thats why im taking my time to do this, because I know the person you are understands in order to truly conclude what a fair sentence is, You need better understanding of who the person you’re sentencing IS at their core.” ” Azalea wrote.

Azalea introduced herself as “a successful musician for the last decade” and said she’s sold “over 65 million records throughout my career, had number 1 hits on the billboard hot 100 and broken records previously held by ‘The Beatles’.”

“My music has been nominated for 6 Grammys and I have a multitude of other musical awards. Throughout my career I’ve toured with some of the biggest acts in music: from Beyonce to Pitbull. I’ve also collaborated withe everyone from Britney Spears to Jenifer Lopez,” Azalea said. “In short, like yourself, I’m great at what I do and I’m well respected by my peers.”

quote:

Dear Honorable Judge Herriford,

I'm writing to you in regards to a case in your court.

My name is Iggy Azalea and I've been a successful musician for the last decade.

Ive sold over 65 million records throughout my career, had number 1 hits on the billboard hot 100 and broken records previously held by 'The Beatles'.

My music has been nominated for 6 Grammys and I have a multitude of other musical awards.

Throughout my career I've toured with some of the biggest acts in music: from Beyonce to Pitbull.
Ive also collaborated with everyone from Britney Spears to Jenifer Lopez. In short, like yourself, I'm great at what I do and I'm well respected by my peers.

Becoming successful is incredibly hard to do and maintaining success is even harder.

The music industry is not designed to empower Artists - especially not women.

You learn to expect misogyny at every turn, no matter how much you've personally achived.

Sadly I've spent my entire career battling sexism and bad behavior behind the curtains.

One unfortunate consequence of that is I am victim of abuse myself.

I must make note of the things ive suffered through so that you understand definitively:
I would not write to you on behalf of an abuser.

In fact, its the very reason I felt it imperative I share my viewpoint as a woman in music: in regard to Daystar Peterson.

You are presiding over his case and It would mean a great deal to me if you'd please let me share with you why "Tory Lanez" is far from your average entitled rap star.

I believe in justice and I know you do too. You've dedicated your life's work to it and I respect that deeply.

Thats why im taking my time to do this, because I know the person you are understands in order to truly conclude what a fair sentence is, You need better understanding of who the person you're sentencing IS at their core.

Judge Herriford, I was elated when I saw your name in relation to this trial because you have a reputation of being a very fair judge.

In fact its one of the reasons I was sadnned Daystar had subpar legal counsel and did not take the stand at his own trial.

We've all been frozen in fear before. The unfortunate side effect of his choice is he's been painted in the most unrecognizable way: to you, the jury and the public.

Daystar Peterson is not the pest you've heard about, he's a gardener. He helps others bloom. Any leniency you may afford him would be something you could be proud of.

You see, daystar has been helping me from the moment I met him. Our paths crossed in 2018 while working in the same recording studio. Although he was writing music for another artist, he took the initiative to come to my room in his break time and play song ideas he'd written for me too.

This resonated with me because it's highly unusual for someone who's already very successful to want to help others.

Music is competitive in that way.

We've remained friends since and what I've come to understand about Daystar is: he's genuinely passionate about helping others. He will go out of his way to help someone he sees even a glimmer of greatness inside.

Although he's an incredible songwriter, it's my belief this is his true gift.

Seeing what could be, and becoming the driving force to make it happen.

He battled and overcame some incredible odds on his pathway to success, in many ways he's still battling now.

I think that's one of the reasons he always fights hard to elevate others.

One of my favorite examples of this is the story of how he came to hire his personal assistant; Mario.

Daystar was stopped at a red-light with his window down when a guy in his early twenties yelled from the sidewalk:

"Im chasing a dream too and ill do anything to work with you! Im working for postmates! Please let me give you my resume."

Shockingly Daystar took his number, called the next day and interviewed him for a job.

He wasn't in need of another employee. Still he created an internship and later a full time job for Mario. Ive seen him silently help people empower themselves in this way time and time again.

He creates space for others to be great.

I deeply appreciate the person he is and have never witnessed him loose his temper or raise his voice at a woman.

He's always been incredibly respectful of me and I refuse to believe that he would do anything in malice especially to a woman.

Ive witnessed him defuse so many sticky situations with kindness and humor, he is the last person to loose his cool.

I've never encountered this jealous, rage filled person he's accused of being. I know him to be someone who's always bursting with happiness. In the moments you want to cry, if you call daystar, he will find a way to make you laugh.

Since Daystar remains in jail, many of his employees are left without work. I took it upon myself to hire six of his staff members, full time.

I did this not only because they are great hardworking people, but so that they remain in a position to transition back into running his business when he's completed his sentence. Im doing all I can to make sure he's in a position to come home and get back to work.

I hope that you'll consider a sentence that allows for this to be transformational and not life destroying. Not only for Daystar - but for his family, son and the countless others who depend on him & are committed to helping him reach his full potential.

If daystar is able to remain in the United States after he has served his time, I would employ him without hesitation as an executive producer on my next album.
In fact - I already hired him for the job prior to his conviction!

I guarantee to you he has significant income and work awaiting him upon release if you would kindly consider a sentence that does not require deportation.

I have remained in close contact with him during his incarceration and I am confident he has already gained positive insight in regard to this experience. He leads a prayer circle nightly and is already empowering others during his time in Jail.

In fact when we spoke last week, told me he's glad God put him in jail. He said this is an opportunity to humble himself and soften his heart - ironic to hear one of the kindest people I know strive to become even kinder.

Im not shocked - Its who he is!

Watering and shinning light on others until something beautiful grows.

Thank you for taking the time to hear what I have to say in relation to Daystars character.

Kind regards,

Iggy Azalea.

Levitate posted:

I don't know how common the sentiment was among regular people but in places like here people kept saying "conservatives will never actually kill off RvW because it's such a good issue to use to whip up their base and get them to turnout!"

And...they were right that it ultimately wasn't a good move but that didn't stop the GOP from doing it.

Leon Trotsky 2012 posted:

Rapper Tory Lanez was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting his girlfriend at the time, fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion, in the feet multiple times during an argument.

Rapper and musician Iggy Azalia sent a letter to the court - that she did not realize could be made public - asking the judge to throw out the jury's conviction or be lenient in his sentencing. She publicly said she was not supporting him and was glad that he was in jail, but her letter was fairly extreme and effusive in her defense of Lanez and claimed that she could guarantee that he would never hurt a woman.

She also wrote to the judge, “In short, like yourself, I’m great at what I do and I’m well respected by my peers,” and said that he would disgrace himself if he put someone with the soul of Tory Lanez in jail. She also explained that as a woman in the music industry, she has had to face sexism throughout her entire career and Megan Thee Stallion was ruining it for other women in the music industry by blowing this out of proportion to ruin an innocent man.

The whole letter is pasted at the bottom of the post after the article and it is pretty wild and unhinged.

https://twitter.com/meghanncuniff/status/1689481708582875136

Azalia's full letter here:

Leon Trotsky 2012 posted:

DeSantis is having the first debate of the 2024 primary field... against California Governor Gavin Newsom.

This is kind of sad in a way, but I honestly have to give DeSantis credit for accepting the challenge. He loses some points for saying he won't debate unless it is on Fox News and moderated by Sean Hannity, though.

https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1689350956650016768

Beastie posted:

Now do Lil Tay

Leon Trotsky 2012 posted:

That one legitimately confuses me. I had not heard of her until today.

Apparently, her social media was hacked to say she died and Variety and the Hollywood Reporter spoke to her management who confirmed that she died, but then she came out and said she was alive?

And she is famous for being a little Canadian white girl who is a very profane 14-year old rapper, I guess? Somehow, her management either thought she was really dead or someone pranked Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. Also, why does someone want to fake the death of 14-year old Canadian rapper?

Levitate posted:

I don't know how common the sentiment was among regular people but in places like here people kept saying "conservatives will never actually kill off RvW because it's such a good issue to use to whip up their base and get them to turnout!"

And...they were right that it ultimately wasn't a good move but that didn't stop the GOP from doing it.

Leon Trotsky 2012 posted: