The Media Goes Deeper And Deeper Into Ivanka Trump; Zembla Looks At Jared, Ivanka & Lev Leviev

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The Media Goes Deeper And Deeper Into Ivanka Trump; Zembla Looks At Jared, Ivanka & Lev Leviev

Writing for New York Magazine's current cover story, Caitlin Flanagan shares an insightful view with analysis of Ivanka's childhood, her extraordinary attachment to her father -- and he to her, and the utter loathing that Progressive, Democratic and even Independent women are feeling for Ivanka these days.

Ivanka is now in Saudi Arabia, where she met with women leaders this afternoon. Surely the Trump daughter is shaking over the announcement that the FBI and now Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into ties between the Trump Administration involves a person of interest in Trump's inner circle. Most pundits point to Ivanka's husband Jared Kushner and his previously unreported meetings with sanctioned Russian bank Vnesheconombank. 

Equally interesting -- and an association that involves Ivanka and Jared both -- are the couple's ties to the King of Diamonds -- notably of blood diamonds -- Russian billionaire Lev Leviev.

Macron Appoints Politicos Across Left & Right | Francoise Nyssen Is Culture Minister

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Macron Appoints Politicos Across Left & Right | Francoise Nyssen Is Culture Minister

In purely pragmatic terms and for several reasons, France has far more to fear than America. Watching centrist president  Emmanuel Macron assemble his new cabinet, he seeks to bridge the left-right divide, poaching leading figures from across the political spectrum.

What a change from Trump, who says his only commitment is to the largely white, high-school graduates who voted for him. The rest of Americans can go to hell, as he installs individuals who reject science, educational achievement, women's rights to birth control, labor laws, and goddess knows what other ideas embraced by the other 75% of the country.

With Americans learning that just two months ago, Trump asked then FBI Director Comey if he could imprison journalists, Macron appoints Françoise Nyssen, a publisher, as culture minister.

Belgian-born Nyssen is the CEO of Éditions Actes Sud based in the southern city of Arles, which has published the work of Nobel Laureates Imre Kertész and Svetlana Alexievitch, as well as Prix Goncourt winners Laurent Gaudé, Jérôme Ferrari, and Mathias Ernard.

Marique Schimmel Fronts 'Safari Deluxe' | The Woolly Mammoths Are Coming

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Marique Schimmel Fronts 'Safari Deluxe' Lensed By Laura Sciacove Nciacovelli for Marie Claire Italy's May 2017 'Safari Deluxe'.

Safari looks in May magazines are standard fare -- except for Maria Grazia Chiuri presenting her first cruise collection for Christian Dior on May 11 at the Upper Los Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve in Calabasas, Ca. Continuing her design inspiration inspired by strong women worldwide, Chiuri turned to stellar American artist Georgia O'Keeffe,  along with the writings of feminist shamanic author Vicki Noble. The LATimes writes: 

Although all of the pieces bearing the Lascaux-inspired imagery caught the eye, the most memorable were the full skirts, sleeveless dresses and blazers that rendered the drawings of oxen, deer and horses in a silk jacquard that had a dusty golden cast to it.

AOC covered the opening of France's new exhibition center Lascaux 4, a full-size replica of the ancient cave paintings in the Dordogne region of France. 

Nicolas St-Cyr, artistic decorator of Lascaux-4, officially known as the International Centre for Cave Paintings, is one of the few to have visited the real Lascaux. “It’s very special. You have the feeling you are in the presence of man 22,000 years ago when you see the paintings. These were talented artists, working by the light of animal oil lamps, and it’s like they were done yesterday. I was trembling when I came out.”

Virtually all of the Lascaux paintings are of animals, and 'no' there are no woolly mammoths portrayed in the caves. But the Rouffignac cave nearby, with paintings from the same time period, is best known for the large number of woolly mammoths on the walls. 

'Morning Joe' Roasts Kellyanne Conway, Saying She Detested Trump, The Presidential Candidate

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Morning Joe' Roasts Kellyanne Conway, Saying She Detested Trump, The Presidential Candidate

'Morning Joe' hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski literally harpooned Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway on Monday's broadcast. Mika -- who has banned Conway from the show over her lying -- said that she heard Conway denounce candidate Trump in private before he was elected.

“She would get off the air, the camera would be turned off, the microphone would be taken off, and she would say ‘Blech, I need to take a shower,’ because she disliked her candidate so much,” Ms. Brzezinski said of Ms. Conway, after describing the White House Conway as part of spectacle she calls 'politics porn'.

Joe Scarborough, Ms. Brzezinski’s co-host and fiancé, affirmed Conway's statements, saying that post-interview she echoed the statements, saying that Ms. Conway said she had only taken the job for money and that her relationship with the future president would be short-lived.

How Does Comey's Fall Play in Hillaryland? No One Is Celebrating

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Liberals are not linear thinkers

 

The fact that Hillary supporters put our grave concerns about Trump's love for the Russians ahead of our frustration over Comey's role in costing Hillary the presidential election only confirms that Clinton supporters do not think in a linear path, as do Trump supporters -- and many Sanders supporters, as well. 

Why Hillary Didn't Carry White Women In The Presidential Election

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We've been talking about the new PRRI/The Atlantic research on white working class voters who preferred Trump to Hillary 2 to 1. Much has been made of Hillary's failure to carry white women without a college degree. This research provides tons of answers, but one really sticks out to me:

Overall, white working-class Americans make up one-third (33%) of the adult public, a substantially larger share than white Americans with at least a four-year college education (22%).

58% of working class white men now express an authoritarian orientation, which is disconcerting to Democrats and progressives, Independents and true conservatives. But on the subject of Hillary Clinton not winning the white working class women's vote, 71% of those women prefer an authoritarian leader.

No one ever accused Hillary Clinton of being an authoritarian like Trump. I believe this stat about women in particular, because the most amazing research out of Baylor University in 2010 was done on America's Four Gods. Well over 150,000 people -- including many of us back then -- took the online survey, which had dramatic results around different visions of God.

The fourth vision of God -- one that I scored in believing -- is a non-gender spiritual energy force in the universe. Fully 25% of Americans embraced God #4, but get this -- it was 98% male who believe that God has no gender. American women believe that God is male -- except for Lisa and me, and a few other brave women with enlightened brains.

When I read the book and then took the online test, I said feminism is sunk in America if 98% of women believe that God is always watching them (more questions) and God is a he. ~ Anne

48% Of White Men Continue To Support President Trump, As Record Poll Lows Haunt His Presidency

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48% Of White Men Continue To Support President Trump, As Record Poll Lows Haunt His Presidency

In the new Quinnipiac Poll, 48% of white men continue to believe that President Trump is doing a good job running the country. The poll was completed last Thursday, May 4 prior to the Comey firing.

While the 48% approval among white men represents a decline from April where 53% approved, clearly white men dominate and prop up President Trump's actions, as his strongest cohort of supporters.

Understand that -- according to all polls -- white men "get it" last, in taking civic responsibility for President Trump's reckless attempts to plunge America into the abyss. What a conundrum: white men dominate our politics and our government. And guess who gets the truth last, according to polls? White men.

Senate GOP On Defensive Over All-Male Health Care Group, Saying They're Not About 'Identity Politics' and 'Father Knows Best'

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Senate GOP On Defensive Over All-Male Health Care Group, Saying They're Not About 'Identity Politics' and 'Father Knows Best'

Two Republican women senators -- Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) sit on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Collins joined the committee in 2015, but Murkowski is a member since 2007.  Both senators support Planned Parenthood.

When asked by ABC's George Stephanopoulos why she *wasn't* in the working group, Sen. Collins replied, "Well, the leaders obviously chose the people they want."

Until Trump Fired FBI Director James Comey, Sally Yates Was The Heroine Headline In Tuesday News

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Until Trump Fired FBI Director James Comey, Sally Yates Was The Heroine Headline In Tuesday News

Yesterday, America's brief interim Attorney General Sally Yates, who was fired by the Trump Administration for refusing to defend his Muslim ban, became what The Daily Beast calls "the early hero of the Trump era."

Until two hours ago when President Trump fired James Comey, America's FBI Director, Sally Yates was the person of the hour, after her professionally dazzling testimony on Monday before a Senate Panel investigating the Russian meddling in America's presidential election. 

Meet Chloe & Halle Bailey, Lensed By Matthew Sprout For InStyle June 2017

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Meet Chloe & Halle Bailey, Lensed By Matthew Sprout For InStyle June 2017

R&B talents, YouTube stars and Beyonce proteges Chloe & Halle Bailey are styled by James Valeri in Matthew Sprout images for InStyle June 2017./ Makeup by Fiona Stiles; hair by Kim Mcallister

Gabriela Hearst Launches Luxury Sweater Worth $50,000 To Planned Parenthood

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Gabriela Hearst Launches Luxury Sweater Worth $50,000 To Planned Parenthood

Designer Gabriela Hearst is standing with Planned Parenthood, launching pre-sales on a merino wool sweater intarsia'd that unifies a ram's head and ovaries. Vogue explains that Hearst originally conceived the sweater as her entry into the Woolmark Prize competition, which took place in Paris on January 21, the same day as global Women's Marches. Note that Hearst won the prize. 

Hearst developed her Planned Parenthood support strategy when she realized the outline of a ram's head looks remarkably similar to a woman's reproductive system. “I liked that they’re both symbols of strength,” Hearst said.

“Planned Parenthood right now needs all the help it can get, and all the attention it can get,” Hearst told Vogue. For me, it’s not only about my body my choice, it’s about our overall health. They take care of our cancer screenings. They take care of so many things. And when the government is making a direct attack on women’s health… first of all, it’s appalling. And we have to do something.”

$500 of each $699 sweater will go to Planned Parenthood, and Hearst is making 100 of them. “That’s $50,000,” she underscores, with a plea for women of financial means to get out their wallets.

Coach Acquires Kate Spade For $2.4 Billion

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Coach will buy handbag and accessories brand Kate Spade for $2.5 billion, an acquisition already approved by both boards of directors. 

Coach CEO Victor Luis said he planned to "unlock Kate Spade's largely untapped global growth potential" and that the acquisition provides "an additional vehicle for driving long-term, sustainable growth.” The purchase also gives Coach a prestige brand with a strong Millennial following and potential to capitalize on recent success expanding into lifestyle categories like home furnishings. 

Coach is also focused on its own brand, with a strategy of running fewer promotions and pulling out of discounting department stores like Macy's and Lord & Taylor. The company will employ the same strategy with Kate Spade by reducing online flash sales and its wholesale presence.

Kate Spade is the second major acquisition by Coach, who bought designer shoe brand Stuart Weitzman in 2015.

'Morning Joe' Gets The SNL Treatment & Kate McKinnon Is Brilliant As Mika Brzezinski

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This weekend's 'Saturday Night Live' took aim at the American Health Care Act; President Donald Trump -- voiced by Alex Baldwin -- posing via phone as his own mythical PR agent John Miller; and this week's news that 'Morning Joe' hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski are engaged. 

The shows's cold open skit featured comedians Kate McKinnon doing a great Brzezinski with Alex Moffat playing Scarborough. The duo got racy and more than once -- much to the horror of regular 'Morning Joe' panelists also in the skit. 

Meet Brigitte Macron -- The Super Smart, Glamorous First Lady of France! Viva la France!

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Meet Brigitte Macron -- The Super Smart, Glamorous First Lady of France! Viva la France!

This is going to great, watching Brigitte Macron, France's new First Lady, who is a true modern woman, not living in the shadow of her husband but in concert with him. Like Melania Trump, Brigitte loves 'blue' and I'll bet she gets along great with Michelle Obama. My mind is racing on what these two ace women can do together. Obama gave a big endorsement to her husband, so expect the two couples to develop a deep personal relationship.

Forbes just profiled Brigitte Macron and also included what the haters -- lead by Marine Le Pen at this week's debate in terrible, personal insinuations -- have to say about their age difference.

Forget The Flip Book, Ivanka: The Women You Say You Stand For Are Getting Creamed By Republicans

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Smart Women Across America Are Asking: 'Where Is Ivanka When We Need Her?' AOC RedTracker Daily

The insults to Ivanka Trump are piling up in trailerloads. Sady Doyle's is one of countless, incredulous, scathing reviews of the pink frosted cupcakes baked from the wisdom of other people that America's First Daughter calls a book for working women. There is near-unanimous agreement that Ivanka Trump has a unique idea about the very word 'working'.  It's not the one that over 100 million of the rest of us relate to. 

One wonders if Ivanka isn't actually doing more damage than good with this book, even if the proceeds are going to charity. Personally, I thought Ivanka was smarter than the Stepford wife she projects in 'Women Who Work'.  Her prolific use of people's quotations, taking them out of context and giving them revised life through an Ivanka-envisioned hastag, implies a certain sympatico with her -- one that more often than not, doesn't exist at all. Ivanka Trump is smelling the roses in Hillary country, leaving many people not amused. 

When Ivanka takes Toni Morrison's 'Beloved' and its reflections on both freedom from physical slavery and a psychological prison living in the mind of its main character Sethe and applies it to the lives of well-off, working white women, our aggravation is beyond exasperation. She sounds like a heartless, clueless airhead -- or more like her father than we want to believe. 

As Gail Collins wrote in her New York Times column this weekend: 'Where's Ivanka When We Need Her?' 

Hard Work Is All That's Required, Says Ivanka Trump In A Book Drowning In Bad Reviews AOC In-Depth

Martha Stewart Goes Rogue With Trump & Snoop Dogg Artworks At Frieze New York

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Martha Stewart Goes Rogue With Trump & Snoop Dogg Artworks At Frieze New York

We don't know if Martha had a double shot of vodka in her morning green juice, before heading off Saturday to the Frieze Art Fair at Randall's Island Park in New York. In true Martha's new style, she enjoyed a double take at the juncture of Donald Trump's image positioned against her good friend's Snoop Digg.

"Was taking a pic of Trump and Snoop Dogg at Frieze and Martha Stewart walks up like this #america," Twitter user Newlin Tillotson wrote, alongside a photo of Stewart flipping the bird at Trump's portrait and giving a V sign to Snoop's.

Ever the businesswoman, Stewart also needed a promo for her and Snoop's VH1 cooking show 'Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party' and Sunday's 2017 MTV Movie and TV Awards.  Her Instagram photo shows her giving V signs to both men.  The pc pic was taken by an executive at Stewart's company Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, who shared it on Instagram and said it was a "so much less interesting" version of a similar image. 

Absent A Terrorist Attack, Marine Le Pen Is Poised To Lose French Presidency

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Absent A Terrorist Attack, Marine Le Pen Is Poised To Lose French Presidency

Writing for The Daily Beast, Christopher Dickey says definitively that "barring an act of God or ISIS, or a massive vote for the mysterious Monsiur Blanc", it is near certain that France will dodge a right-wing bullet, electing 39-year-old centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron and not far-right, nationalist-socialistic candidate Marine Le Pen as France's next president. 

The two candidates faced off in their one and only debate on Wednesday night, in which instant polls declared Macron the winner 60%-40%. If Macron is elected on Sunday, his victory represents a huge roadblock in what threatened to be a wave of nativism and populism sweeping Europe after Britain's Brexit vote.  

Morning Joe Hosts Joe Scarborough & Mika Brzezinski Confirm Engagement

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MSNBC's Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski are engaged to be married, cementing their relationship at a weekend proposal at the scenic Bar Bellini at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes. Brzezinski celebrated her 50th birthday on the romantic trip to the south of France and Monaco. 

Scarborough remarked to The Hollywood Reporter last month that he and Brzezinski "have a crackling on-air chemistry, and a crackling off-air chemistry, too." Scarborough divorced his second wife in 2013 and Brzezinski divorced her husband in 2016. In the same interview, Scarborough made it clear that even their pets were co-mingling. 

Hillary Clinton Slams Trump Administration's Assault On Women's Reproductive Health

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Hillary Clinton, speaking at the 100th anniversary gala honoring Planned Parenthood on Tuesday, slammed "groups of men" in Washington, DC who are deciding the future of women's health protections. Everyone in the room knew she was talking about the men of the Trump administration and now the anti-women lieutenants like Teresa Manning and Charmaine Yoest, hired to rollback women's health advancements over the last 50 years.