Hillary Clinton
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President Joe Biden awarded his final list of recipients for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, including Denzel Washington and Hillary Clinton.
On Saturday (Jan. 4), President Joe Biden recognized an array of luminaries by awarding them the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is his final such ceremony as Commander-in-Chief, and the list of 18 honorees included Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington, NBA Hall-of-Famer and businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Denzel Washington receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom. pic.twitter.com/W59TnJxofk
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 4, 2025
The other recipients included Chef Jose Andres, actor Michael J. Fox, scientist Bill Nye, U2 singer/songwriter Bono, scientist and activist Jane Goodall, fashion mogul Ralph Lauren, American Film Institute founder George M. Stevens, entrepreneur Tim Gill, and World Cup winner Lionel Messi. There were also posthumous honorees – activist and co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party Fannie Lou Hamer, former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, former Michigan Governor George Romney, and former Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter.
I am so humbled and overwhelmed with emotion right now. It is an absolute honor and privilege that President Joe Biden selected me for the esteemed Presidential Medal of Freedom award. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that this kid from Lansing, MI would one day… pic.twitter.com/3gFsus16cA
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 4, 2025
One particular honoree caught the wrath of right-wingers – billionaire George Soros, who has been a consistent donor to Democrats through the years. Bestowing the Presidential Medal of Freedom on donors is not unusual. In Donald Trump’s first term in office, he bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom upon the late conservative media figure Rush Limbaugh and billionaire Republican donors Sheldon and Miriam Adelson. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and Carlyle Group co-founder David M. Rubenstein joined Soros on the list of honorees.
The ceremony was held in the East Room of the White House, and it was a jubilant affair. Michael J. Fox, who was honored for his contributions to the research of Parkinson’s disease, was overcome with emotion after receiving the honor. Chef Jose Andrés, who has become a global figure with his World Central Kitchen helping those in need after disasters and conflict, expressed his appreciation in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “Today, I’m humbled to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I know that immigrants are bridges…we build the longer tables that connect us all,” he wrote.
When I first arrived to Washington DC in 1993, Senator Moynihan told me – “if you love America, America will always love you back.”
Today, I’m humbled to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I know that immigrants are bridges…we build the longer tables that connect us… pic.twitter.com/vyV5g4ziyl
— Chef José Andrés 🕊️🥘🍳 (@chefjoseandres) January 4, 2025
The original Broadway cast recording of Suffs hits No. 1 on Billboard’s Cast Albums chart for the first time, as it re-enters atop the list dated Oct. 12 following the set’s CD release. Shaina Taub wrote the show’s book, music and lyrics, while the project counts Hillary Clinton as one of its producers. Billboard’s Cast […]
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An influencer and avid supporter of Donald Trump has been sent to prison for attempting to stop Black people from voting in 2016.
On Wednesday (Oct. 18), the Department of Justice announced that Douglass Mackey, a rabid supporter of former President Donald Trump was sentenced to seven months in prison for election interference in Brooklyn, N.Y. Mackey, who went by the username “Ricky Vaughn” on X, formerly known as Twitter, had been found guilty of using his account to spread misinformation geared to specifically trick Black people into believing that they could vote by text message. This came shortly after he sent messages to his 58,000 followers about the need to “limit Black turnout” in the 2016 election between Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
An example of Mackey’s misconduct found him tweeting a photo of a woman standing in front of an “African Americans For Hillary” sign. “Avoid the Line. Vote from Home,” the tweet read. “Text ‘Hillary’ to 59925.” The tweet was also accompanied by the hashtag that Clinton’s campaign used at the time – #ImWithHer. The tweet was reportedly sent out November 1, 2016. A further investigation by the FBI found that Mackey also sent out a tweet featuring a font similar to that used by Clinton’s campaign team with a woman sitting at a desk typing on a phone. The message was in Spanish and used the same hashtag and a copy of Clinton’s campaign logo. That tweet was sent out around Election Day.
“The defendant weaponized disinformation in a dangerous scheme to stop targeted groups, including black and brown people and women, from participating in our democracy,” said United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace in the press release. “This groundbreaking prosecution demonstrates our commitment to prosecuting those who commit crimes that threaten our democracy and seek to deprive people of their constitutional right to vote.” Mackey had also written at length saying Black voters were “gullible,” and was outed by the M.I.T. Media Lab as a top election influencer.
Andrew Frisch, Mackey’s attorney, had written to U.S. District Judge Ann M. Donnelly that Mackey was a changed man after beginning psychotherapy in 2018. “The Douglass Mackey who stands before the court for sentencing is not Ricky Vaughn of seven years ago,” the memorandum said. Judge Donnelly denied Frisch’s request for leniency, saying that Mackey’s actions were “nothing short of an assault on our democracy.”
Hillary Clinton took to social media on Tuesday (Nov. 22) to give Lea Michele and the cast of Broadway’s Funny Girl her personal stamp of approval.
“Had the best time seeing @leamichele and company in @funnygirlbway this weekend. Don’t miss the show!” the politician wrote on Instagram beneath a photo of herself posing with the Glee alum, who plays Fanny Brice. In the snap, Michele wears a simple gray cardigan while the former Secretary of State and 2016 presidential candidate grins beside her wearing a nameplate necklace emblazoned with the name of her eight-year-old granddaughter, Charlotte.
Clinton’s visit to the August Wilson Theatre comes just one week after Michele and her cast mates unveiled the new Broadway cast recording from the revival, featuring studio versions of classics like “I’m the Greatest Star,” “Sadie, Sadie,” “People” and, of course, “Don’t Rain on My Parade.”
And while Funny Girl‘s leading lady has gotten plenty of famous visitors backstage lately, including Olivia Rodrigo, her Glee cast mates have generally been split about whether they’ll see the show.
On the one hand, Darren Criss, Becca Tobin and Michele’s bestie Jonathan Groff have all stopped by for a backstage visit. On the other, Tony winner Jenna Ushkowitz, Kevin McHale and Chris Colfer have all either politely dodged the question or made it clear they won’t be in the audience. (“I can be triggered at home,” quipped the latter when questioned by Michelle Collins about seeing the show.)
Check out Clinton’s post-show shout-out to Michele and the cast of Funny Girl here.
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