It's telling how far down the shit hole America's gone.......

when half the country is angry that a Black, queer woman was released from a Russian gulag. It hits hard especially when I am old enough to remember the hostage crises in Iran and Lebanon.

How Rick Caruso spent $104M and still lost the LA mayor's race

The strategy of swamping his opponent with advertising, tagging her as a City Hall insider and sending out a paid army to knock on doors failed to sway voters across much of Los Angeles, according to preliminary precinct totals and political analysts, who say the avalanche of ads might also have caused some voter fatigue.

“It sounds facetious to say you can have too much money in politics,” said Garry South, a Los Angeles political consultant who has worked for mayoral and gubernatorial campaigns, including those of former California Gov. Gray Davis. But candidates with unlimited money often “engage in overkill, and I think that’s partly what Rick Caruso did.”

“We couldn’t watch TV for half an hour,” he said, “without seeing three Rick Caruso ads.”

Caruso will now take his place in history among the list of candidates who have funded record-setting campaigns in California, only to come up short. The most recent example is Meg Whitman, the former eBay CEO and Republican who spent more than $170 million on her 2010 gubernatorial campaign against former Gov. Jerry Brown. Caruso’s spending per voter dwarfs Whitman’s, as she competed in a statewide race.





https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/18/rick-caruso-lost-la-mayors-race-00069343

'A Perfect Coach': Indigenous Actor Josu Maychi Taught Mayan Language To 'Wakanda Forever' Cast

If you watched “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” over the weekend, you found yourself immersed in the underwater world of Talokan — the Mayan-inspired kingdom ruled by fierce demigod Namor, played by Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta.

Now that the film is finally out, viewers are taking note of Talokan’s impressive attention to authenticity, especially its use of the Yucatec Maya language.

Creators brought in Maya-Mexican actor Josué Maychi as both a cast member and a Mayan language coach to teach his native tongue to the rest of the “Wakanda Forever” actors. While the 34-year-old plays a shaman in the box-office hit, fellow actor Huerta exclusively told mitú that Maychi was the “perfect coach,” and was “really aware” in making the Mayan dialogue “the best” it could possibly be.

With Latinx representation at the forefront, the new side of the franchise is a result of deep research into Maya culture, including everything from consulting with cultural experts to studding costumes with gorgeous jade. It makes sense director Ryan Coogler would bring in Maychi to make sure they lived up to the beauty of the culture — a move Huerta explained to us was “really helpful” in bringing spellbinding Talokan to life.



https://wearemitu.com/wearemitu/entertainment/josue-maychi-mayan-actor-language-wakanda-forever/

AZ-AG: Republican Abe Hamadeh files another election lawsuit

PHOENIX — Republican Arizona Attorney General candidate Abe Hamadeh filed another election lawsuit Friday, asking for the recount of his race to be slowed and for voters who didn’t have their provisional ballots counted to have another opportunity.

The suit, filed in the Superior Court for Mohave County, also asks for inspection of ballots that did not have a vote for attorney general.

Hamadeh lost to Democrat Kris Mayes by 510 votes in the Nov. 8 election. An automatic hand count is underway due to the margin of the race.

“The November 8, 2022 general election was afflicted with certain errors and inaccuracies in the management of some polling place operations and in the processing and tabulation of some ballots,” the lawsuit says.




https://ktar.com/story/5381295/republican-arizona-ag-candidate-abe-hamadeh-files-another-election-lawsuit/

Republicans hit blue wall in WA: Meet your new state Legislature

Republicans thought they could gain ground in the Legislature by stoking dissatisfaction with President Joe Biden, high gas prices and crime. But Republican appointees on the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to abortion at the national level in June, stirring some concerned voters to support Democrats in local races.

Not only did Democratic incumbents in Washington win every legislative race they entered, repelling their Republican challengers even in swing districts the GOP thought were ripe for change, but Democratic candidates also picked up a state Senate seat and look likely to pick up a state House seat.

Tina Podlodowski, who chairs the Washington State Democratic Party, said many voters backed Democrats because they viewed abortion protections, other civil rights and democracy as under attack by Republicans.

“Since 2016, we’ve seen the Republican Party essentially become the party of Trump and MAGA,” Podlodowski said.

While Republicans accused Democratic lawmakers of placing dangerous limits on policing in response to 2020’s racial justice protests, Democrats touted recent steps in Olympia, like the establishment of a paid parental leave program and a sales tax credit for lower-income households.

John Lovick in Snohomish County, Claire Wilson in King County and Emily Randall on the Kitsap Peninsula were among the Democrats who retained their Senate seats under pressure in suburban battleground districts.

Democratic Rep. Sharon Shewmake unseated Republican Sen. Simon Sefzik in Whatcom County and Democratic candidate Clyde Shavers narrowly leads Republican Rep. Greg Gilday in Island County. Those contests attracted millions of dollars in independent spending by political action committees.





https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/republicans-hit-blue-wall-in-wa-meet-your-new-state-legislature/

PA-HD32: Allegheny Dems To Pick Candidate To Replace DeLuca

This Sunday, while most western Pennsylvanians will be focused on the Steelers-Ravens game, Allegheny County Democrats will be looking to replace a legend.

The group will meet to select a candidate for a special election to replace the late Anthony DeLuca in the 32nd state House District.

DeLuca, who served in Harrisburg since 1983, passed away on October 9. His name remained on the general election ballot and he was reelected to the seat with more than 85 percent of the vote.

Eight candidates are vying for the nomination during the Sunday afternoon meeting in Oakmont.

- Pauline Calabrese, Penn Hills Mayor
- Nicholas Futules, Allegheny County Council Vice President
- Tracey Holst, Oakmont Borough Council member
- Louis Leon, Penn Hills constable
- Joe McAndrew, Penn Hills Democratic Committee Chair
- Frank Pecora, Penn Hills Deputy Mayor
- Erin Vecchio, Penn Hills School Board President
- Lois Vitti, a lawyer in Oakmont

Carrie DelRosso, Doug Mastriano's running mate, is the lone Republican.



https://www.politicspa.com/allegheny-dems-to-pick-candidate-to-replace-deluca/116232/

PA-HD32: Allegheny Dems To Pick Candidate To Replace DeLuca

This Sunday, while most western Pennsylvanians will be focused on the Steelers-Ravens game, Allegheny County Democrats will be looking to replace a legend.

The group will meet to select a candidate for a special election to replace the late Anthony DeLuca in the 32nd state House District.

DeLuca, who served in Harrisburg since 1983, passed away on October 9. His name remained on the general election ballot and he was reelected to the seat with more than 85 percent of the vote.

Eight candidates are vying for the nomination during the Sunday afternoon meeting in Oakmont.

- Pauline Calabrese, Penn Hills Mayor
- Nicholas Futules, Allegheny County Council Vice President
- Tracey Holst, Oakmont Borough Council member
- Louis Leon, Penn Hills constable
- Joe McAndrew, Penn Hills Democratic Committee Chair
- Frank Pecora, Penn Hills Deputy Mayor
- Erin Vecchio, Penn Hills School Board President
- Lois Vitti, a lawyer in Oakmont

Carrie DelRosso, Doug Mastriano's running mate, is the lone Republican.



https://www.politicspa.com/allegheny-dems-to-pick-candidate-to-replace-deluca/116232/

VA-04: Del. Lamont Bagby running for McEachin's Congressional seat.

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Del. Lamont Bagby is running for the Democratic nomination in the upcoming special election to fill the U.S. House seat left vacant after the death of Rep. Donald McEachin (D-Va.), a person with direct knowledge of his plans told 8News.

Del. Bagby (D-Henrico), the chairman of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, plans to make the announcement official next week, the person told 8News Friday.

Bagby, a mentee of McEachin, told 8News after McEachin’s sudden passing that he’s always wanted to follow in his “big brother’s footsteps.” He and several others honored McEachin as the late congressman was laid to rest Wednesday.

The Democratic state delegate all but confirmed a run in a series of tweets Thursday, noting his efforts in Virginia’s legislature, taking aim at Gov. Glenn Youngkin and teasing “a major announcement.”



https://www.wric.com/news/politics/del-lamont-bagby-running-for-virginias-4th-congressional-district-seat/

VA-SD07: Mark Warner and Bobby Scott to campaign for Aaron Rouse.

VA-SD07: Mark Warner and Bobby Scott to campaign for Aaron Rouse.