#like bro if we lost both nominees

[chaosoftheages]

OKAY SO TRUMP ALMOST GOT ASSASSINATED AND NOW BIDEN HAS COVID

WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON JESUS FUCK-

[beatrice-otter]

In the replies, @lenuer said:

I'm not american so I might be missing some context, but why not blame the Hillary bros instead? When the "progressive" party offers only candidates that promote the status quo, is it really surprising that people lose interest?

Yeah, you're missing a lot of context. One piece of context is that party nominees get voted on by the whole party. Not the party bosses, the party voters. We actually have two elections for President; in the first (the Primary), people vote for which person they want to be their party's nominee. So, say there's five people who want to be the Democratic nominee for President, the Primary elections decide which one of them is going on the ballot as the Democratic nominee in the general election. Hillary Clinton was the Democratic nominee because a lot more Democrats liked her than liked Bernie. Hillary got 17 million votes in the primary; Bernie got 13 million. And voter turnout is low in the primaries; the only people who tend to show up are the people who are really heavily invested. If Bernie couldn't even win when the only people voting were Democrats who were highly invested (and probably more left-leaning than the average Democrat), what chance do you think he could possibly have had in a general election where everybody's voting?

Second, there weren't really "Hillary Bros". That wasn't a thing. Bernie Bros were not just people who liked Bernie, but who made liking Bernie a part of their identity. (They were a small percentage of Bernie voters, but really loud and annoying.) Bernie was their guru, their Yoda, their savior. Bernie was going to fix everything! Bernie was perfect! Anybody who wasn't Bernie was a betrayal of everything they held dear! Better a Republican than anybody who wasn't Bernie! Whereas the Hillary supporters by and large liked her and her politics, thought she'd do a good job, but if someone else had won the primary they wouldn't have been bent out of shape, and would have voted for whoever the Democratic candidate turned out to be. Most Bernie supporters were also willing to turn out and vote for whoever the Democratic candidate turned out to be. But not the Bernie Bros. And there were enough of them that it turned out to be a major factor. Another factor was Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate. She only got 1% of the vote, but if everyone who voted for her had voted for Hillary instead, Trump would have lost.

The other thing you're missing is that the Democratic party is not a progressive party. It has a progressive wing, but the structure of American political parties is radically different than parties in a parliamentary system (i.e. most of the world).

In the US political system, unless the entire structure of how we vote changes, there will only ever be two political parties that matter. This is a function of how elections work in the US, and there's both historical and mathematical proof of it. The last time a President got elected who was not a candidate from one of the two biggest parties was Lincoln in 1860 ... and that's only because both political parties (at that time, the Democrats and the Whigs) self-destructed in the years leading up to the civil war, and the Whigs didn't exist any more and the Democrats were split in at least three pieces. So in that one election, there was room for a new party ... but by the next election cycle four years later, we were back to two parties, except the parties were now the Republicans and the Democrats.

In a parliamentary system, you will have many more than two parties. After elections, the parties that won the most seats in Parliament come together and negotiate power: who will work together and what compromises are they willing to make to form a coalition that can govern. You usually end up with groups that are very different working together because they are closer to each other than to some of the other groups. Those negotiations--AFTER the voting takes place--are how you get a majority.

In the US system, we also have coalitions between groups that are very different! To be precise, we have two coalitions! They are called the Republicans and the Democrats. Each party is a broad coalition of groups. Democrats are everybody from the center to the left edge, and Republicans are everybody from the center to the right edge. The negotiations for "who is going to work together, what are our goals going to be, what compromises is each faction willing to make in order to get some of their other goals met" happen before the elections. You very rarely get really inspiring candidates for President because people can't agree on what's inspiring. Someone the progressives love would be dangerously leftist for the centrists, and someone the centrists love would be too centrist for the progressives. The people who can win an actual election are usually not anybody's absolute favorite, but nobody really hates them.

(Trump is, as in so many things, an exception.)

What this means is that until at least 50% of voters--not just 50% of Americans but 50% of the Americans who can be reliably counted on to vote in every election--are progressives, the chances of getting a Presidential nominee who progressives love is ... really very small. The amazing thing about Bernie is how close he got to being the Democratic nominee, I was very surprised. We haven't had someone that far left get that close to getting a major party nomination since the 1930s.

But then, if Bernie had been on the ballot instead of Hillary, Trump would probably still have won. Because a lot of people in the center who liked Hillary better than Trump would have jumped ship to vote for Trump, because Bernie was a socialist and that's very scary to centrists in America.

Which is the third major piece of context you're missing. American presidential elections are usually decided by centrists. Of the people who turn out to vote reliably in every election, there are about even numbers of Republicans and Democrats who will vote the party ticket every time ... and a decent-sized group in the middle who are undecided and flip flop between parties depending on whether they like the candidate. Neither party can win an election without the centrists (it's just that our center is a lot further to the right than in, say, Europe). Above all else, you cannot scare or piss off the people in what passes for the center of American politics, or you will lose. It's best if you can inspire them! The reason Trump won in 2016 but lost in 2020 is that the centrist voters who had voted for him in 2016 voted for Biden in 2020. If the Democrats had fielded one of the further-left candidates, there's a decent chance those centrist voters would have decided that Trump wasn't that bad, and at least he was better than a socialist.

So the chances of getting a Presidential candidate with a genuine chance of winning that I actually like is pretty small. But even an establishment/centrist Democrat is better than any Republican.

And the more we on the left hold out for candidates who inspire us, the less chance we have of affecting politics in America.

You’re seriously still blaming Trump on “Bernie Bros”? Time for democrats to start taking responsibility for putting up shitty candidates and deflecting blame toward everyone else, for once

Trump was elected by a very narrow margin. And there was a ton of polling and data crunching and statistical modeling going on during and after the election, so we actually know what the factors that tipped the needle Trump's direction are.

One of the biggies is Bernie Bros. If every leftist who loved Bernie and disliked Hilary because she wasn't perfect enough had held their nose and voted for Hilary, Trump would have lost. They're not the only demographic that's true of; there are a number of others who, if they had turned out in force, would have turned the tide of the election. For example, if a higher percentage of Black women had voted, Trump would also have lost. You know what the difference is between your average Bernie Bro and your average Black woman? Your average Bernie Bro is white and thus a hell of a lot less likely to have his vote suppressed. He is a hell of a lot more likely to find it easy to vote. This is not me saying this because I don't like them, or because I think Hillary was a perfect candidate. This is me saying that when you look at the actual numbers, leftist ideologues who refused to vote for a candidate who was not their perfect choice was one of the main reasons Trump got four years in the White House.

In general, regardless of the candidates involved, if 55% of American adults vote in a national election, the Republican wins in a landslide. If 60% of American adults vote, the Republican wins by a bare margin. If 65% of American adults vote, the Democrat wins by a bare margin. If 70% of American adults vote, the Democrat wins by a landslide. If 75% of American adults voted--and voted regularly in every election--the Republican party would cease to be a significant force in American politics.

This has been known for decades. Republicans will show up and vote no matter what; a very high percentage of Democrats and left-leaning voters will only show up if the candidate in question is perfectly in line with their views. That's why we have a Congress that is dominated by Republicans despite most of the country not liking them, and that's why we have most of the political problems that they do. By waiting for a political candidate who is good enough, you are directly ceding power to the people who are making the world worse.

Elections are decided by the people who show up. If you do not show up to vote, your vote does not get counted. If politicians want to get re-elected, they have to listen to the people who will vote for them. If they try to listen to the people who don't regularly vote, they are far more likely to lose re-election than if they listen to the people who show up every election. And conservatives show up every election. If liberals and leftists changed our voting habits and voted in every single election--voted for the furthest left candidate in the primary, and whoever got the Democratic nomination in the general election--we would prove ourselves to be a voting bloc worth listening to and the party would move left in response.

You want a candidate who perfectly fits your vision and ideals for what America should be? That doesn't happen in a vacuum. That takes work, and the most basic level of that work is showing up to vote now and every time there's an election to vote in.

[edharrisdaily]

Lily Rabe, Ed Harris, Vanessa Hudgens and Finn Wittrock To Star In Sony’s Adaptation Of Chuck Klosterman’s ‘Downtown Owl’

EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures’ Stage 6 Films has set an all-star cast for its adaptation of Chuck Klosterman’s Downtown Owl with Lily Rabe, Academy Award nominee Ed Harris , Vanessa Hudgens, Finn Wittrock, Jack Dylan Grazer and August Blanco Rosenstein. Rabe will also be directing the pic with long-time collaborator Hamish Linklater, joining her as co-director. Linklater, who most recently starred in Midnight Mass, also adapted the screenplay. T Bone Burnett is doing the music.

The film was part of the Sundance Institute Creative Producing Summit and Talent Forum and will be produced by Bettina Barrow and Rabe of Kill Claudio Productions, Rebecca Green and Linklater.  Laura Rister is exec producing as well as Lee Broda and Joel Michaely. Tom McLeod is co-executive producer. The pic is currently in production in Minnesota.

Three Point Capital is financing the pic. Initial artist support funding provided by Esme Grace Media.

The story is set somewhere in rural North Dakota in 1983 and is the fictional town called Owl where you won’t find cable or pop culture, but you will find a downtown with a first-rate Chevrolet dealership, three bars and a new high school English teacher whose presence upends the lives of locals just in time for a white-out blizzard for the ages. Sony Pictures’ Stage 6 Films acquired worldwide rights to the film.  Barrow and Rister negotiated the deal with Stage 6 Films.

Eric Charles and Elizabeth Grave are overseeing the project for Stage 6 Films.

“We are so thrilled to have the opportunity, with this phenomenal cast, exquisite crew, and brilliant producing partners, to bring Chuck Klosterman’s human, haunting, and hilarious novel to the screen. We both grew up in small towns, towns that we love. The town of Owl, sweet and sour, has felt like home to us from the first read and we are elated to be making this love story about home into a movie,” said Rabe and Linklater.

Rabe can currently be seen in Showtime’s anthology series, The First Lady, and recently finished production on HBO’s limited series, Love and Death. She was most recently seen in Amazon Studio’s Tender Bar opposite Ben Affleck and directed by George Clooney; as well as Barry Jenkins’ Underground Railroad and Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story: Double Feature.

Wittrock’s film credits include Long Weekend, starring Zoë Chao, A Mouthful of Air, starring Amanda Seyfried, Judy, starring Renée Zellweger, The Last Black Man and If Beale Street Could Talk. He also starred in American Horror Story: 1984 and Ratched. Up next, he will appear alongside Mila Kunis in Netflix’s Luckiest Girl Alive and HBO Max’s Green Lantern, based on the DC comics.

Harris is a four-time Academy Award nominee and a two-time Golden Globe winner for his performances in The Hours, The Truman Show, Apollo 13, Game Change (HBO), Empire Fall (HBO) and Pollock – his feature film directing debut. His second film, as director, screenwriter and actor, was Appaloosa, co-starring Viggo Mortensen. He is returning for Season 4 of the HBO series sensation, Westworld.  He will next be seen in Top Gun:Maverick, and can be seen in Netflix’s The Lost Daughter, Maggie Gyllenhaal’s award-winning film adaptation of the Elena Ferrante novel.

Grazer starred in Luca Guadagnino’s We Are Who We Are for HBO. He also starred in Warner Bros. horror films It and It: Chapter Two, based on Stephen King’s classic 1986 novel of the same name, Shazam! and Shazam! Fury of the Gods and most recently voiced the lead role of Alberto Scorfano in Pixar’s Oscar-contending animated feature Luca and 20th Century Studios’ Ron Gone Wrong.

Rosenstein is a graduate of LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, and currently a student at Northwestern University. He can be seen as ‘Victor’ on the Netflix series Grand Army, created by Katie Cappiello and produced by Beau Willimon and Chris Hatcher. His other film and TV credits include The Last Full Measure, starring Sebastian Stan, Christopher Plummer, Ed Harris and Samuel L Jackson and Blumhouse’s series The Purge. Hamish most recently starred in Mike Flanagan’s Netflix limited series, Midnight Mass, where he received critical acclaim for his starring role of “Father Paul.” Additional credits include Adam McKay’s The Big Short, the Amazon series Tell Me Your Secrets, and Aaron Sorkin’s HBO series The Newsroom.

Rabe is repped by WME, Sugar23 and attorney Tara Kole at Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett & Kole. Harris is repped by CAA and Julian Zajfen of Ziffren Brittenham. Wittrock is represented by CAA, Weissenbach Management, and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham.  Grazer is repped by WME and manager Todd Tanquay. Hudgens is represented by CAA, Untitled and Ziffren Brittenham LLP. Linklater is repped by ICM, Untitled Entertainment, and attorney Tara Kole at Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett & Kole. Rosenstein is repped by Jill Kaplan at Authentic Talent and Literary Management.

[hillaryisaboss]

Joe Biden is not Hillary 2.0 — he is an older white male. Biden can cut into Trump’s white male base, particularly in the swing states.

The DNC is not why Biden is winning. Black voters are why Biden is winning. Black voters are loyal to the Obama/Biden Administration.

Moderate Democrats won in 2018 when we took back the House of Representatives. Far-left progressives lost in 2018.

If we want to win Congress to actually pass legislation (something Bernie knows nothing about), we cannot have a socialist platform.

Socialism doesn’t win the states we need for both the Electoral College & Congress.

The youth vote hasn’t turned out for Bernie. There is no revolution.

Biden gives us a higher black turnout & a higher suburban woman turnout — two groups that vote in way higher numbers than the youth do.

Historically, Democrats don’t win when we have a far-left spoiler (ie: Ralph Nader & Bernie Sanders).

Trump & Russia are helping Bernie because they know he is a weaker nominee. But once Trump & Russia go from helping Bernie to attacking him, his polling will plummet.

Trump is stating the DNC is rigging the primary against Bernie for the second time in a row. Why? So enough Bernie Bro’s stay home or vote 3rd party (just like they did in 2016). Pure manipulation.

Bernie came out of nowhere and screwed Hillary. Now he is trying to screw Joe Biden. Russia masterminded this entire operation according to the Congressional Report.

In 2016, Bernie called Planned Parenthood & the Human Rights Campaign part of the “establishment” when they endorsed Hillary.

Now, in 2020, Bernie is calling black voters the “establishment.”

Bernie and his supporters don’t realize that politics is the art of addition, not subtraction.

None of the supporters of the candidates who dropped out like Bernie. Why? Because him and his supporters are nasty. They don’t build coalitions. They don’t unify. They divide & help Trump.

“Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it.” ~George Santayana

[turning-dreams-into-chaos]

Transfer Dance

Paring: Jeff Winger x Reader

Show: Community

Word Count: 1.6K 

~Master~

You knew shouldn’t have gone to the dance. After Slater welcomed herself back into the picture, you felt any chances at had with Jeff gone. He was forever to remain your best friend. Nothing more. You loved your friends, you really did, but with Jeff everything was easier. Sure, when the group first joined together, he was hitting on you, a lot, but soon all the flirtations subsided, and Britta got the most of his attempts. You were the one getting the friend side of the man. The side that always bickered with him over the dumbest things, holding grudges until he brought you your favorite food. You were the one he was always drunk dialing, something you loved to use to joke at him and an event that occurred just as often on your store. That was when you realized you liked Jeff more than you should’ve, and you lost the opportunity to tell him.

The dance was crowded as you walked in wearing dress and a pair of heels you hardly ever wore and searched around for your friends. Pierce was playing the piano as you looked past him, seeing the rest of your friends crowded around a table, looking like the life was drained out of them. You chuckled to yourself, your heels clicking across the cafeteria floor as you walked over. Shirley saw you first, waving her hand in the air at you. You shot her a smile as the rest of your friends turned around.

“Wow Y/N. You clean up nicely.” Troy said as you grinned at him. While his compliment was nice, he wasn’t the one you wanted attention from. You tried to hide the fact you looked at Jeff out of the corner of your eye. You could’ve sworn you saw him slack-jawed looking at you, but you couldn’t confirm your suspicions before Annie came running into the room.

“Guys!” she called out, getting you to turn and look at her. “Vaughn got recruited to a college in Delaware. I’m gonna go with him for the summer.” She smiled at you all.

“Classic last-day-of-school plot twist.” Abed said before Annie went on, telling you of Vaughn’s desires to become a famous hackie-sacker. You couldn’t ignore the fact you were happy for her, she had the guts to get with a guy she liked. You should’ve asked for her advice.

“Y/N? Can you help me get refreshments?” She turned to you and suddenly her brows were drawn together.

“Uh, yeah of course.” You said as she grabbed your wrist and pulled you along. You spared a glance back to Shirley, Troy, Abed, and Jeff. The first three were engaging in their own conversations while Jeff was watching you get hauled off, raising his brow at you. You just shrugged, stopping when you got to the refreshment table. “What’s going on Annie, you’re acting weird.”

“I’m not just going to Delaware for the summer.” She blurted out.

You cocked your head at her. “You’re not?” She shook her head.

“I’m transferring with Vaughn.” Your jaw dropped open as you looked at her. After Jeff, she was the one you were the closest too. “Please don’t tell anyone until I’m gone.”

“You’re leaving? I can’t- but we- you’re leaving?!” She grabbed your hands, giving you a smile.

“Y/N, I want to live in the moment! Pierce makes me happy.”

You sighed, trying to hide the way your face wanted to frown. She was right, she had been happier. You pulled her in for a hug, chuckling in her ear. “I hope it’s a catastrophe.” You whispered into her ear as she giggled, and you pulled away.

“Well, I know what you give me as a going away present!” She seemed cheerful and you knew right away this wasn’t going to be good. You narrowed your eyes at her, but she just turned you around. Without even trying, your eyes found Jeff leaning on the table. “Tell Jeff how you feel.”

Your cheeks heated up as you ducked your head. “Annie, I can’t.”

“Come on Y/N. I see the way you look at him! Don’t deny it.” You weren’t denying it, but you weren’t admitting it. Annie saw your reluctance, and put her hands on your shoulder, giving you a shake. “I just want you to be happy like I am.” You knew she meant well, but telling Jeff the truth just wasn’t in the cards for you.

“So, tell me what you and Vaughn are going to do.” Annie’s spirits lifted as she went on, telling you even more about Vaughn and hacky-sack until Vaughn himself showed up and stole Annie away for the moment. You were alright with it until you turned around, seeing both Slater and Britta fanning over Jeff. It wasn’t a sight you expected to see as you tried to walk away but couldn’t manage to take that step. You didn’t know what came over you but once Jeff caught sight of you, you finally unfroze, seeing Troy walk past you with a giant cookie, munching away.

“What is that?” you asked him, seeing him register you were there.

“Giant cookie.” You were going to say more but decided against it, letting him walk away as you snickered, shaking your head. You tried to ignore Jeff for the night, and it mostly worked, even through saying goodbye to Annie. Soon it was time for the nominees to be named and you stood with Shirley, listening to Dean Pelton blabber on. You were honestly starting to get bored but once Britta’s name was called you perked up, remembering your friend was a nominee. But once Britta walked on stage, you furrowed your brows.

She grabbed the microphone from Pelton. “This is a huge honor.” Her words seemed to be pointed towards Slater, only managing to make yourself feel worse. Pelton took the microphone from her and ruined her victory speech, telling her he was just naming the girl nominated. You felt bad for her as Pelton carried on.

But then Britta grabbed the microphone again.

She was looking out into the crowd. “Jeff Winger, do not get back with Slater.” You ignored the feeling in your stomach as you followed, listening to her words. You figured out she was looking at Jeff not far from you. “I love you.”

You knew you gasped, hoping the action went unnoticed as everyone fell silent. It was unnerving, sitting there with Jeff just not replying to her. He wasn’t denying her… why was that the only hope you had? Jeff had started towards her to talk and you watched absolutely terrified.

That’s when Slater joined, and you knew any chance you truly had was gone at Slater’s words. “I love you.”

Why couldn’t you breathe?

Why, despite how much you wanted, you couldn’t manage to take that breath.

“Y/N? Are you okay?” You could hear Shirley call your name, but it was faint, almost as if she wasn’t saying a thing. “Y/N?”

You didn’t say anything as you took off, not hearing two distinct voices call after you.

You were outside before you realized, finally able to catch your breath. You were dumb. You were stupid and blind not to be able to see any of the signs! How could you not see the signs you and Jeff would never be! You were-

“Y/N?” Your eyes widened as you spun around on your heels, watch a jogging Jeff come to a stop.

“Jeff?” You tried to hide the crack in your voice as you cleared your throat. “What are you doing out here?”

“You ran off.”

You didn’t think he noticed being caught up in the two beautiful women professing their love for him inside. You needed an excuse. “I had to take a call.”

“You had to take a call?” Jeff didn’t believe you, obviously. In fact, the moment he heard Shirley call out your name amongst the chaos in his brain, his eyes shot to you, hoping you’d make his decision for him. In all honesty, you did. One look at you running out of a dance and he felt like he was in high school again.

“What are you doing out here Jeff.” You played with the fabric of your dress, avoiding looking up at him. “I think Britta and Michele are waiting for you back inside.” You knew you were practically pushing him away, but you couldn’t help it. You struggled to come to terms with your feelings, feeling it was too high school-y for college, but Britta and Slater were able to do it.

“You ran out.” He repeated, a small smirk on his face when you looked up to him, feeling your heart stop as he came closer to you. “I choose you Y/N.”

You didn’t hear… he didn’t say… wait, what?

“What about Britta?” You hadn’t known what you were doing. He said he chose you. Why are you denying it?! “Or Slater? I thought-“

“I choose you.” He cut you off. His hand reached out, grabbing you by the waist and pulling you against him. Your lips parted in surprise as you gasped and looking into his eyes. Your eyes closed slowly as Jeff leaned in, his lips hitting yours briefly before pulling back. Your eyes were still closed, terrified you imagined it before you finally opened to see the cocky look on Jeff’s face. The expression however softened at one look into your E/C eyes. Your lips were magnets as they reconnected, and you were drunk off the feeling.

You were kissing Jeff.

Jeff kissed you.

You when you separated this time you didn’t wait to look at him, feeling his thumb come up to caress your cheek gently. “I’ll always choose you.”

A/N: Did I mean for this to happen? Not one bit. Thank you @faith-quake​ for getting me addicted to Community. I started watching it yesterday and now im in the middle of season 2, then this came to be last night when I was talking to her. So here you go! Faith how’d I do?😂 Also forgive me if people seem OoC, I’m still learning characters and haven't gotten far into the series.

ALSO THERE IS LIKE NO COMMUNTIY FICS ON TUMBLR, THUS THIS NEEDED TO BE BORN! TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK?

Tags Open!

Permanent: @literal-fand0m-trash​ @just4muggles​ @saturn-aka-six​ @nathaliabakes​ @whyamihere-bro​ @colored-confetti​ @wiseeggspickleslime​ @btsiguess-kpop​ @galacticstxrdust​ @independentgirl​ @wellhellotherelovey​ @hollymac79​ @delicately-important-trash​ @emcchi​ @rauwz​ @herondalescecilys​ @chewymoustachio​ @smilexcaptainx​

[quakerjoe]

LAST CALL ON FACEBOOK

I’m done. I’ve had it with Facebook, so fuck this shit; I’m out. Here’s the final publication...

THE LAST CUPPA JOE SERVED ON FACEBOOK:  TUESDAY 10 MARCH 2020

Perhaps you’ve noticed that it’s been quiet around here despite all the political excitement. If you’ve guessed “He’s in facebook jail again”, you’d be right. Being put in a childish “time out” because I pissed off someone who came to MY page uninvited is the name of today’s game, and I’m done with it. I already lost the original Quaker Joe page with well over 10,000 followers without an opportunity to say good-bye, so I’m doing so here and now to you all and to share some final thoughts about what I’ve learned about America, its people, and the political process in a collection of simple, straightforward observations. Here it goes.

First, it has become abundantly clear that America simply does NOT want to make this “a more perfect union” as prescribed in the Constitution that everyone claims to hold so dear. My whole life I’ve watched the GOP sink the economy and destroy civil rights and worker & environmental protections while making massive money grabs. While doing so, they’ve enacted shit laws to benefit the rich while screwing “the help”, meaning YOU in general.

This brings me to “Democrats are feckless” and suck-ass at delivering a clear message or any sort of show of strength. While they’re busy trying to clean up the mess left by the GOP every turn of the tide, the GOP points at them and they shout “Look at the mess the Dems are responsible for!” and Dems say nothing. Civility, I guess. It only goes so far before you get the reputation for being wimps. You know, like today.

Democrats are yesterday’s Republicans. They’re scared, angry and afraid of taking chances. Bold leaders like Bernie Sanders want to bring us ALL to a new, all-time high. Democrats are now his #1 enemy, trying to tear an honest man down. “He hasn’t accomplished anything” the same way Jesus didn’t in the N.T. No, I’m not comparing the two, but it’s funny how a “Christian Nation” isn’t rallying behind a Jew who is a former carpenter and is trying to lead a movement to tend to the poor and heal the sick. Fuck, Bernie could walk on water and turn water into wine all while bringing a dead man back to life and the Dems AND GOPers would still shit on him.

Liz Warren. She’s a brand. Granted, her brand is taking a royal shit on the rich and powerful by calling them out on their bullshit, and she used to be a hero to me, but we’ve got to face it- she ignored the call in 2016 when Bernie urged her to run for POTUS. She was either afraid of Clinton or she was playing the “But I’m A Woman” card and secretly wanted to back HRC. Either way, Warren was out for Warren, not a Progressive agenda and clearly wasn’t behind the cause. When Sanders picked up the torch for the Progressive Cause, she fucked him over and backed HRC, all while calling herself a Progressive. Again, she saw HRC as the inevitable victor and ponied up with her, probably hoping for a cabinet position. She’s doing it now, only more cautiously. This round, however, she thought it smart to shit all over Sanders EARLY in the game and when she did it cost her and her campaign tanked. She’s dropped out. So why hasn’t she openly endorsed Sanders, a fellow Progressive? She won’t. She’s waiting to throw in with Biden after the Primaries and we ALL know it. She’s no champion of the Progressive cause. She’s a brand and she’s looking out for her own ass and nothing more. She’s fallen from grace, if she ever truly had some. She WAS GOP before and clearly nothing’s changed much.

Biden. Fuck me, are we seriously considering fronting this next generation “W”? Why not just hand the election to trump now and get it over with. 2016 all over again. He’s already lining up his potential cabinet with Wall St. tycoons, and has OPENLY admitted that he’s going to slash Social Security (even though the Fed. OWES it a fuck-tonne of payback from all the times it has dipped into YOUR paid-in benefits) and Medicaid/Medicare, but do Americans find this a threat? With typical GOP mentality on BOTH sides of the aisle, it’s only a threat when a Dem. wants to do it, but if the GOP tries, well then it’s all good and fine. Biden is a fucking REPUBLICAN. Just because he CLAIMS to be a Dem, it doesn’t make him so. He’s racist, and twats like Kamala backing him already after the whole “I was that little girl” jab in the debates only shows that she’s not for “We the People” but her own ass. Shocker.

I could go through the list of formerly anti-Biden hypocrites who’ve jumped on board to support Biden and shit on Sanders. All the moneylenders are organizing and ganging up on the ONE true delegate trying to save YOU and not the RICH. Again, this is a CLEAR example of how America doesn’t WANT to be saved.

This has taught me that Americans are not only deluded and hypocritical, as a people in general, but that they seem to LOVE being put into position of strife and misery. It’s where they’re the happiest; embracing the stupidity and ignorance instead of trying to find a way to make us ALL safer, healthier, and happier. Americans HATE being happy with the “others” are happy too. Instead of reaching down to help a fellow American up, it’s the “American Way” to punch down and blame the poor and powerless for their own failings while the rich at the top keep pissing and shitting down on them all while making money grabs.

Next, there’s all this infantile bullshit about “Bernie Bros”. Seriously, shut the fuck up. Hypocrisy in action, yet again is what this is. I’ve found in my personal experience that if I call out another Dem on their bullshit, I’m labeled a “BB”. No matter how you try to point out how Pelosi’s asleep at the wheel or Schumer’s a babbling idiot or how Biden’s a declining fuckwit who can’t string words together and that trump will eat him alive on the debates if he’s the nominee, because I back Sanders, I AM THE ONE getting labeled. The media and the fuckwits out there who are tender little snowflakes who can’t handle criticism or having dirt on their picks dug up and called out cry and cry and cry until someone puts an admin in FB jail for days or even weeks or months.

So to them I say- “Fuck ALL y’all!” I’m done here. Cry me a river because I’m sailing off of Facebook and leaving you all with this cesspool of social mania run by a cunt who backs trump. It’s bad enough knowing that the game is rigged when electing who’ll be our nominee in the Dem. party, but it’s fucking stupid trying to fight the battle here on social media when there are thousands of people following who don’t have a problem with my postings, the description WARNS that I cuss here, yet it only takes one or two fucktards to shut down your page. Fuck this bullshit. I’ve got better shit to do, and my posts on other platforms like Tumblr and even Twitter never get me blocked or locked out. Childish as this whole notion of social media is, at least virtually every other platform is infinitely less riddled with whingers, bitchers and cry-babies who can’t take the heat and instead of clicking to go elsewhere they feel the need to fuck up a page. Enough is enough.

So for those of you who’ve even made it this far and still want to follow me, you can find me on Tumblr, a much more grown-up platform, here at https://quakerjoe.tumblr.com/. If you’re into Twitter (yuck) I’m there too for who knows what reason. https://twitter.com/QuakerJoe2020 will get you to me. I hope to see you all at one of those places. It’s been a real adventure and learning experience, but all I’ve learned is that America is a dirty, filthy nation with a dark and sinister past that it refuses to acknowledge and accept, let alone apologize for because admitting that you’re wrong is UNAMERICAN. Trying to do some form of penance is considered weakness, and turning to truth instead of lies and deceits only leads to the revelation that you’re all up to your eyeballs in selfishness, racism, misogyny, all sorts of phobias, and that you’re only happy as a nation in general when you’re literally given the liberty to tear each others throats out legally.

Good-bye, Facebook. I hope you ALL get a chance to get the fuck out and perhaps regain some sanity one day because if there’s one thing that trumplefuckstick did that was good, it was that he took off the covers and the gilded paint and showed us all what Americans REALLY are, it we’re not pretty.

-Quaker Joe

[rosethornewrites]

Rare political post: US election blather

Honestly, I’m apathetic about Super Tuesday. I’m apathetic about who wins the primary. I personally intend to vote for Sanders—not because I’m a “Bernie bro,” but because I think he’d do the best in debates and have more likelihood of getting out the vote in the general. But that’s also opinion. I told folks long ago I’d vote for Satan if he was the democratic nominee in 2020’s general election because the alternative is worse, and that’s not changed.

And honestly this 24 hour barrage news cycle seems geared toward pushing us into glazed apathy as we’re overwhelmed by the bullshit takes force-fed to us by agenda-driven dullards. And it’s not information we’re given: the “news” inflicts interpretations of information, encouraging us to let personalities with overinflated egos think for us, contaminating our ability to critically think for ourselves. It’s largely garbage, and we’re mired in it like the world’s mired in plastic pollution.

Sanders has flaws, and major ones at that, in that his anti-establishment rhetoric can seem similar to Trump’s, whether you agree with the content or not. So does Warren, in that she’s easily baited, which led to her genealogy gaffe. Biden’s dishonesty is a major flaw, not really new since it caused him to pull out of the race in 1988. Gabbard has problematic ties to extremists. Bloomberg’s just a hot mess who thinks he can pull a 2016 Trump-esque from left field conquest if he throws enough money around. Oop, he just dropped out; let’s see if he runs a spoiler campaign as a “third party” candidate.

I also don’t like that this election is shaping up to be “anybody but...” Know who also ran on that? Kerry in 2004 and Romney in 2012. They both lost by about the same amount. Romney actually reused Kerry slogans. I’m concerned 2020 will be another repeat, same results.

At this point I feel like US elections are a fast-repeating cycle of despair as we circle the drain, closer and closer to falling into the abyss as the world burns and floods around us.

This is why I’ve retreated into fandom. Also why I dropped political science as my second major in 2004.

Welcome to my depressing Ted Talk.

[emblem-333]

What-If Richard Nixon won the election of 1960?

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic Ocean, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbin is the last thing standing in the way of total economic collapse of the government. Corbin is their Bernie Sanders, only with more political clout given the parliamentary system. Through years of effective party building, mobilizing and a decaying growth of income inequality worked to provide the Labour Party a large chunk of the seats, though not a majority. Though in the minority the gains of the Labour Party causes massive upheaval in Britain’s power structure. Conservative party leader Theresa May recently left office in disgrace after numerous electoral shortcomings. Right now the Prime Minister of the U.K is Boris Johnson. Basically, he’s mini-Trump. More disheveled, and aligned with the corporate class.

Elsewhere, the French did what the United States electorate couldn’t and bite the bullet and vote for the establishment Neoliberal shill in the face of the rising tide of fascism. Perhaps it was the debacle the Trump presidency only in its infancy managed to cause scared the French into running into the arms of Emmanuel Macron. You’d hope this brush with disaster would humble the centrist in the country. Except, in victory they’re only emboldened that only they know what needs to be done and the filthy unwashed peasants need to understand that. Macron shown hostility towards the Yellow Vest movement whose aims are to raise the poultry minimum wage, in U.S dollars roughly translates to 11.62. Far better than our federal minimum wage of $7.25. But hardly something that can be described as a livable wage.

Macron sits at 70 percent disapproval and his re-election date is 2022.

These three countries have come to the unanimous conclusion that is Neoliberalism is completely useless and only works to facilitate a totalitarian ruler to wrangle enough power to squeeze into power and bring us closer to the apocalypse. However, neither country is truly democratic. So the people, their ideals and concerns don’t matter in the slightest. Though, I’d say the United States is the least democratic of of the three. Two of the last six presidential elections have given us a winner who did not secure the plurality of the popular vote, but their superiority in the electoral college swung them to the Oval Office.

We are still in the early stages of our primary for the out of power party. Democrats are weeding out the competitive field and have three choices apparently to pick from. The candidate of the Hillary Clinton-wing of the Party, made up of aspiring Pod Save America Bros. former vice-president Joe Biden. To his way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way left is elder statesman, self described Democratic-Socialist Bernie Sanders. He is the only candidate marching with labor unions, not crossing the picket line to hold fundraiser with the party’s bigwigs. Somewhere in the middle blowing aimlessly in the wind is Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren. A real Rockefeller Republican. If only that wing of the Republicans didn’t collapse and migrate to the Democrats.

Back when Democrats were the party of the working man (you know, the alliance that allowed them to occupy the White House for all but eight-years between 1933 and 1969) in the middle o the Great Depression recently elected president FDR inherited a country on the brink of succumbing to the same forces that destroyed the Czardom. Luckily for them, the Bolshevik Revolution did anything but wet starving Americans appetites for socialism. The ugliness of the Russian Revolution, and a tinge of antisemitism kept what many in the establishment considered the electorates darkest impulses at bay. The New Deal was designed to prevent a movement similar to Eugene V. Debs from upending the established hierarchy.

In the 1932 election there were four far left candidates. William Z. Foster of the Communist Party, Norman Thomas of the Socialist, Verne L. Reynolds of Socialist Labor, and militant labor leader Jacob Coxey of Farmer-Labor. Together the four pooled 1,029,661 votes, enough for 2.6 percent of the vote share. In Debs’ best showing in his many campaigns for the presidency was 913,693 in the election of 1920.

Suffering Americans wanted the blood of the Wall Street tycoons responsible for the demise of their lives. The wolves were at the gates and Roosevelt went to work to ensure his head wouldn’t be on a pike. The New Deal gave the populist its needed relief and the left wing third parties withered away as the dire situation grew less gruesome. Democrats dominated the White House winning five consecutive elections. Conservatives in the party brought up in the era of States’ Rights and limited government radically had to alter their persona to ensure political survival. Harry S. Truman needed to mend his relationship between the AFL-CIO in order to win re-election in ‘48. Texas senator Lyndon Johnson built upon the New Deal instituting a “War on Poverty” birthing his “Great Society.” This aggressive pro-worker party that was a force at the ballot box brought the rise of the liberal republicans in the GOP. Laissez-faire Republicans like Robert A. Taft, Alf Landon, and Wendell Willkie could only push so far in an age where the voter couldn’t stomach the rich. From 1944 to 1960 the “eastern establishment” wing of the GOP ran on platforms which assured voters worried about giving the reins back to the party of Herbert Hoover their intentions are not to gut the popular social programs such as social security, though they wished government interference would not venture farther than it already had.

Moderates like New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, and the first presidential attempt of Richard Nixon failed to win the White House. Their only victory was famous war General Dwight Eisenhower, who could’ve ran as the nominee as any party and won by the substantial margin he did in ‘52 and ‘56. The party designed to appeal on the coasts couldn’t muster up the coalition in the Midwest needed to secure victory. Ultimately, Republicans learned the lesson today’s Democrats never will. Running as the lite-beer version of your opponent is a recipe for failure. In 1968, Nixon unleashed his Southern Strategy when the Democrats cast their lot in with the civil rights movement. The effects of the southern strategy are still felt today. The strategy itself still works over fifty-years after its inception.

But back in the early 1960’s neither party truly knew where they stood on the issue of civil rights. Dwight Eisenhower deployed federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas to ensure the entry and safety of black students during integration. His opponent, Adlai Stevenson, a great man, a forward thinker, picked a Alabaman segregationist for his V.P. While the Democrats had its fair share of activist on their team, Hubert Humphrey to name one, who fought tooth and nail for a civil rights plank to be enacted into the party’s platform for 1948. But by the 1950’s the segregationist have regained control.

Perhaps the liberal republicans could have had more success if they exercised political fortitude in advocating and legislating in favor of civil rights. Rather than seeing leaders like Martin Luther King as a controversial figure, at the very least they could have viewed him as somebody who could get them more votes and be heralded as a hero in the process. The infamous “turnip session” in the heat of the ‘48 campaign incumbent underdog Truman addresses the Congress held predominantly by republicans he dared them to put their money where their mouths were regarding civil rights. Of course, they balked and lost the White House they were supposed to win and both the House and Senate.

Playing as Nixon on the Internet game “Campaign Trail” I tapped New Yorker Nelson Rockefeller to be my veep rather than tread water with actual running mate Henry Cabot Lodge. Other options are Arizona senator staunch Neocon Barry Goldwater, and moderate elder statesman Everett Dirksen of Illinois. I choose Rockefeller because I wanted to run on a civil rights platform. I condemned the arrest of of MLK, endorsed a federal minimum wage of $1.25 and didn’t distance myself when Rockefeller promised further civil rights legislation while on the campaign trail.

Though Rockefeller was the rising star of the party at the time, his efforts did not give me the crucial state of New York. However, I fortunately did not need it to secure victory. (I’ll post my answers at the bottom)

Richard Nixon/Nelson Rockefeller: 299; 32,825,498

John F. Kennedy /Lyndon B. Johnson: 224; 33,806,388

Harry Byrd/Strom Thurmond: 14; 328,017

[Post Game Speech] With luck, you will be able to duplicate the eight years of peace and prosperity under Eisenhower. Unfortunately, the Democrats maintain their majority in both houses of Congress. With luck, they will be good partners in a bipartisan governing coalition. Your first order of business is to mend fences with Lyndon Johnson, who is returning to his role as Senate Majority Leader.

I swept the northeast and cleaned up in the west and by the skin of my teeth, despite losing the popular vote changed the trajectory of U.S history. Butterflying JFK from the Oval Office basically ensures Robert Kennedy’s effect on the political landscape as well. People often forget right around this era both parties took orders from the mob thanks to their heavy influence in organized labor. In 1952, the voters of the Democrats eyed Estes Kefauver. Kefauver won 12 primary contests and made his political bones unearthing the dirty secrets of his own party’s ties to the mafia. He was shut out of the convention and didn’t sniff the presidential ticket. Nixon complains of ballot stuffing in crucial swing like Illinois. Only reason he never brought it to court is because his party was guilty of doing the same thing.

Without a president John, we don’t get senator Bobby prosecuting scumbag apes like Carlos Marcello. They could continue to exercise extreme influence over the parties today.

The trade off is maybe a Republican comes along and flushes the monsters out of the Democratic Party. It have to be Nixon. Anyone else is a far reach. Then again, this column is attempting to articulate Nixon, of all people, championing civil rights. So perhaps nothing is impossible?

A plus in not having JFK in the Oval Office is he isn’t around to bungle the Bay of Pigs and take us to the brink of nuclear annihilation in the subsequent Cuban Missile Crisis. Young John was inexperienced and couldn’t beat back the bloodthirsty members in his cabinet advocating for the removal of Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Castro disliked Nixon - I’m not so sure the feeling wasn’t mutual. But Nixon was craftier than JFK when it comes to foreign policy. Kennedy waffled between caving completely to the pressure of Allen Dulles and standing his ground. Kennedy green-lit a half-assed attempt on Castro’s life, did not supply the CIA-sponsored Cuban exiles the support needed to sustain their offensive and their failure drove Castro right into the arms of the Soviet Union and Nikita Khruschev. By October of 1962 the Russians parked missiles 90-miles off the coast of Florida.

Nixon was far from a pacifist. But at the very least, his decisive nature would’ve warranted a legitimate threat to Castro and possibly dethroned him and turned Cuba into a puppet state for the United States. It’s debatable whether that is a good thing or not. I’m going to say it’s the latter. Cuba has tons of numerous human rights atrocities, but they treat their poor better than we do by giving them decent health care coverage.

The fate of Cuba probably isn’t different than the Dominican Republic in the mid-60’s when the U.S overthrew their democratically elected leader for implanting social programs that angered the church and corporate sectors of the country. Either Cuba becomes a fully impoverished country or succumbs to right-wing theocracy like Iran.

On a brighter note, Nixon likely pushes forward on civil rights and with his victory it vindicates the eastern establishment and sets up Rockefeller to be the face of the party. So we are spared Ronald Reagan. Though, the caveat is Rockefeller was an architect of the War on Drugs in the pre-Reagan era. So despite his superior record on civil rights we can still expect an explosion of the prison population for minor offenses for black Americans.

A Nixon victory in ‘60 keeps the GOP the party of Honest Abe. While the Democrats continue on as the White populist party. Maybe George Wallace gets a crack at the White House in ‘64 and he is the sacrificial lamb for the future trajectory of the party like Goldwater was in OTL for the Republicans. No more coastal or big city elites for the Democrats. They likely run southern gentleman like Wallace or Johnson from here on out.

Kennedy appointed two Supreme Court justices to the bench. It is likely Nixon nominates Warren E. Burger and maybe Thurgood Marshall to the bench. The difference this makes is Nixon probably never runs into Lewis Powell. The justice who would crusade in favor of big money contaminating our elections. If so, our political system is held hostage by the mob, but not by multinational corporations destroying the earth to make a profit.

[mtvsims]

Season 1: Ep. 8: Messy

To access the previous episode, click here.

Challenge #3: Underwater

The guy and girl to stay in the pool the longest win the challenge. The first ones to leave are automatically going into elimination.

*Chloe and Riki immediately get out of the pool*

Chloe: I felt like I was drowning. Such a bummer :( Now I’m scared I’ll go home.

Riki: I can’t swim. This elimination was my worst nightmare.

Kali: I have to take off my wig to swim, which is such an embarrassment.

Brad: It’s clear to me now that some people NEED hair to look attractive. Kali is one of those people.

Stella: Don’t touch my leg, bitch.

Alexandria: What is your issue with me?! Get the f*ck over yourself.

Alexandria: Stella? Hating me? Wow, let me pretend to be shocked.

Kali, Bree, & Erica remain for the ladies!

Peter: Damn.

BRAD wins the challenge for the guys! His second win in a row!

Brad: Yeeeees!

*Kali exits the pool*

Erica: Ahhhh!

Bree: This is amazing.

*Erica exits*

Bree: OMG I won! From the first person to go into elimination, to a challenge winner! This feels so great.

Chloe: I’m so happy you won, babe.

Brad: Thanks, babe. I just wish you hadn’t lost like that.

Brad: I felt more pressure to win once I saw that Chloe was heading into elimination from losing the challenge for the girls. I need to make sure she goes against somebody that she can beat. I can’t let her leave right now.

Casey: Enjoying the dance party?

Bree: For sure. Don’t look so sad. Where’s your head at?

Casey: I’m a lone wolf now that Rei’s gone.

Bree: Good to know.

Bree: I needed this power. I was near the bottom, and I almost got thrown into a back-to-back elimination last round. Hopefully I can build connections by showing some people loyalty with my challenge win.

Hank: This group of 3 right here is the Power Trio.

DeKirra: You want me to 3rd wheel with you and Stella to the end?

Stella: Don’t make it sound that bad, D.

Stella: If DeKirra was smart, she would work with me and Hank. Yes, we’re a couple, but I’m definitely a raging bitch and people will start coming for me soon. I can be DeKirra’s shield. And I’ll look good doing it!

*Chloe and Brad make out*

Stella: Okay, you don’t need to flirt with her, Hank.

DeKirra: He can if he wants to!

Brad: Are you good?

Erica: F*ck off, I’m fine.

Brad: What did I just walk into?

Erica: I’m pissed. Just let me have a moment to myself.

Erica: I know I’m the best competitor here, but I keep coming up short in the challenges. I’m mad that Bree has the power here. Even though she’s my friend, I doubt she’ll know what to do with it. 

Riki: Hey! So, red head alliance?

Jade: When I said yes to that, you made fun of me for not being a real red head.

Kali: It’s hilarious to me that Jade is acting like she can be picky with her allies right now. Just be happy that he’s talking to you, bitch!

Stella: Get up.

Hank: ...hmm?

Hank: What is it?

Stella: I don’t want to be another game piece for you if I’m about to catch feelings. If you’re just using me, it’s fine, but tell me right now so I don’t get attached.

Hank: Where’s this coming from?

Stella: DeKirra and you were getting on pretty well.

Hank: We talked about bringing her in. It’s strategy. Relax.

Hank: Stella getting jealous? That’s good for me. I like her, but also, that means she really cares about me and wants me here.

Stella: I hope you’re being real with me.

Alexandria: OMG you’re kissing me now? You just tried to get me out.

Spencer: That’s in the past.

Alexandria: It was yesterday. Pick a bed, go to sleep.

Spencer: Alexandria was blowing up my game, so I tried distancing myself from her, but now I feel bad. This is a mess.

Spencer: Rough night.

Stella: Same here.

Spencer: I think the 2 of us should stay close. We’re both getting into some shit. We need each other.

Stella: Are you getting close with Alexandria again? Don’t. She’s only going to bring you down.

Spencer: Hank seems to be doing the same to you. Let me be messy.

Nominations

Bree, you must nominate 3 guys to go into danger.

Brad, you must nominate 3 girls to go into danger.

Then, you will each choose one of the other winner’s nominees to face off against today’s losers, Chloe and Riki.

Bree: I choose Hank, Aarav, & Charles. Hank, you have your fingers in many pots right now. Aarav, you’re the strongest guy in the game, and you and I don’t vibe. Charles, you seem to be all about the bros, but what about us girls?

Brad: I choose Kali, Jade, and Alexandria. Kali, you might be shocked, but you’ve been pretty divisive these past few days. Also, it was me who stole your wig.

Kali: What?!

Brad: Alexandria, you know I was against you last round and tried to get you out. And Jade... you’re always getting nominated because you’re a loner.

Hank: You wrote your ticket out of this game, Bree.

Bree: I’ll be waiting for you to do something, boy!

Alexandria: Again?! Why me? If you want Chloe to WIN this elimination, you shouldn’t have her go against the best competitor here. And that’s me, you asshole. I just won an elimination and I’ll do it again.

Chloe: I’m worried now :( Alexandria is my friend, and Bree might throw her in against me. I know I can’t beat her. I hope I go against one of the red heads tbh.

Riki: With my options looking pretty awful, I’m opting to go against Charles, because he’s lazy and lounges by the pool all day. Watch me go against Aarav or Hank. I think I will if Bree wants me gone.

Next time: The 3rd elimination. Which 2 will leave? And plus, more DRAMA!

[easyfoodnetwork]

Here Are the 2020 James Beard Awards Restaurant, Chef, and Media Finalists

Getty/Victor Spinelli/WireImage | Getty/Victor Spinelli/WireImage

The full list of nominees

Today, on what would have been the 30th annual James Beard Awards ceremony, the James Beard Foundation announced the finalists for the 2020 James Beard Awards, which honors the year’s outstanding restaurants and chefs, as well as food journalism, books, and broadcast media. The announcement was originally scheduled for March 25, but the coronavirus pandemic forced the Foundation to cancel the planned Philadelphia event and postpone both the finalists reveal and the awards themselves.

COVID-19 has left the restaurant industry in a precarious position, to put it mildly. Restaurants are pivoting their operations to stay in business, closing temporarily, and in some cases, closing for good. When the Foundation opted to postpone the finalist announcement, it acknowledged that it did so in part to focus on rebuilding the restaurant industry, awards being the last thing on anyone’s mind. And so it came as a bit of a surprise when on April 27 the Foundation announced plans to move forward with a virtual finalist announcement and, eventually, the 2020 James Beard Awards. Today, the Foundation revealed the Restaurant and Chef Awards Gala will take place in late September, and the Media Awards will take place in late May.

In a post on the James Beard Foundation website, chief strategy officer Mitchell Davis explained that the Foundation consulted with chefs, restaurateurs, and others in the industry and determined that the James Beard Awards finalists, like the list of semifinalists announced in late February, deserved recognition for their work in 2019. “Those we consulted felt the Awards could also offer a glimmer of hope to an industry looking for light in a very dark time,” he writes. Davis acknowledged that it is also a particularly dark time for the media, which will be recognized for the first time in the 2020 James Beard Awards cycle with the finalists announcement.

Given the ongoing restrictions related to COVID-19, the format for the 2020 James Beard Awards is still undecided — but they will go on, and “take place” in Chicago at some date later this year. “We want every James Beard Award winner to have a chance to have their moment in the spotlight,” Mitchell writes. “We have partners who support this industry, who support the Foundation, who are willing to work with us to figure out what’s best for all.”

Visit Philadelphia, which stands to lose millions due to the coronavirus pandemic, is still sponsoring the virtual event. Last year, Houston hosted the finalist announcement and although there was plenty of Texas representation on the semifinalists list, including 11 chefs and restaurants from Houston, the city’s restaurants and chefs were completely shut out of the whittled down finalists list. Philadelphia didn’t see the same fate.

Below, the 2020 James Beard Awards finalists.

James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards Finalists

Best New Restaurant

Automatic Seafood & Oysters, Birmingham, AL

Demi, Minneapolis

Eem, Portland, OR

Fox & the Knife, Boston

Gado Gado, Portland, OR

Gianna, New Orleans

Kalaya, Philadelphia

Nightshade, Los Angeles

Pasjoli, Santa Monica, CA

Verjus, San Francisco

Outstanding Baker

Graison Gill, Bellegarde Bakery, New Orleans

Zachary Golper, Bien Cuit, NYC

Lisa Ludwinski, Sister Pie, Detroit

Avery Ruzicka, Manresa Bread, Los Gatos, CA

Maura Kilpatrick, Sofra Bakery, Cambridge, MA i

Outstanding Bar Program

Anvil Bar & Refuge, Houston

Expatriate, Portland, OR

Kimball House, Decatur, GA

Lost Lake, Chicago

Trick Dog, San Francisco

Outstanding Chef

David Kinch, Manresa, Los Gatos, CA

Corey Lee, Benu, San Francisco

Donald Link, Herbsaint, New Orleans

Missy Robbins, Lilia, NYC

Ana Sortun, Oleana, Cambridge, MA

Marc Vetri, Vetri Cucina, Philadelphia

Outstanding Hospitality

Brigtsen’s, New Orleans

Canlis, Seattle

Saison, San Francisco

Swan Oyster Depot, San Francisco

Zingerman’s Roadhouse, Ann Arbor, MI

Outstanding Pastry Chef

Lincoln Carson, Bon Temps, Los Angeles

Juan Contreras, Atelier Crenn, San Francisco

Margarita Manzke, République, Los Angeles

Diane Moua, Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis

Natasha Pickowicz, Flora Bar, NYC

Miro Uskokovic, Gramercy Tavern, NYC

Outstanding Restaurant

FIG, Charleston, SC

Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, CO

Jaleo, Washington, D.C.

Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix

Quince, San Francisco

Outstanding Restaurateur

Paul Bartolotta, The Bartolotta Restaurants, Milwaukee (Ristorante Bartolotta, Harbor House, Lake Park Bistro, and others)

Jamie Bissonnette and Ken Oringer, JK Food Group, Boston (Little Donkey, Toro, Coppa)

JoAnn Clevenger, Upperline Restaurant, New Orleans

Alex Raij and Eder Montero, NYC (La Vara, Saint Julivert Fisherie, Txikito)

Jason Wang, Xi’an Famous Foods, NYC

Outstanding Wine Program

Bacchanal, New Orleans

Canard, Portland, OR

COTE, NYC

Miller Union, Atlanta

Night + Market Sahm, Venice, CA

Spiaggia, Chicago

Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Producer

Scott Blackwell and Ann Marshall, High Wire Distilling Co., Charleston, SC

Cathy Corison, Corison Winery, St. Helena, CA

Drew Kulsveen, Willett Distillery, Bardstown, KY

Todd Leopold and Scott Leopold, Leopold Bros., Denver

Rising Star Chef of the Year

Will Aghajanian and Liz Johnson, The Catbird Seat, Nashville

Irene Li, Mei Mei, Boston

Gaby Maeda, State Bird Provisions, San Francisco

Ashleigh Shanti, Benne on Eagle, Asheville, NC

Paola Velez, Kith/Kin, Washington, D.C.

Jon Yao, Kato, Los Angeles

Best Chef: California

Jeremy Fox, Birdie G’s, Santa Monica, CA

Brandon Jew, Mister Jiu’s, San Francisco

Jessica Koslow, Sqirl, Los Angeles

Mourad Lahlou, Mourad, San Francisco

Joshua Skenes, Angler, San Francisco

Pim Techamuanvivit, Kin Khao, San Francisco

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Gene Kato, Momotaro, Chicago

Jason Hammel, Lula Cafe, Chicago

Noah Sandoval, Oriole, Chicago

John Shields and Karen Urie Shields, Smyth, Chicago

Erick Williams, Virtue, Chicago

Lee Wolen, Boka, Chicago

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (D.C., DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

Amy Brandwein, Centrolina, Washington, D.C.

Nicholas Elmi, Laurel, Philadelphia

Rich Landau, Vedge, Philadelphia

Cristina Martinez, South Philly Barbacoa, Philadelphia

Jon Sybert, Tail Up Goat, Washington, D.C.

Cindy Wolf, Charleston, Baltimore

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

Steven Brown, Tilia, Minneapolis

Michael Corvino, Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room, Kansas City, MO

Michael Gallina, Vicia, St. Louis

Jamie Malone, Grand Café, Minneapolis

Christina Nguyen, Hai Hai, Minneapolis

Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)

Carrie Baird, Bar Dough, Denver

Jen Castle and Blake Spalding, Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm, Boulder, UT

Jeff Drew, Snake River Grill, Jackson, WY

Caroline Glover, Annette, Aurora, CO

Dana Rodriguez, Super Mega Bien, Denver

Kelly Whitaker, The Wolf’s Tailor, Denver

Best Chef: New York State

Sean Gray, Momofuku Ko, NYC

Brooks Headley, Superiority Burger, NYC

Junghyun Park, Atomix, NYC

Daniela Soto-Innes, ATLA, NYC

Alex Stupak, Empellón, NYC

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

Vien Dobui, CÔNG TỬ BỘT, Portland, ME

Ben Jackson, Drifters Wife, Portland, ME

Tiffani Faison, Orfano, Boston

Krista Kern Desjarlais, The Purple House, North Yarmouth, ME

Greg Mitchell and Chad Conley, Palace Diner, Biddeford, ME

Cassie Piuma, Sarma, Somerville, MA

Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)

Peter Cho, Han Oak, Portland, OR

Gregory Gourdet, Departure, Portland, OR

Chris Kajioka and Anthony Rush, Senia, Honolulu

Katy Millard, Coquine, Portland, OR

Kristen Murray, MÅURICE, Portland, OR

Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, Joule, Seattle

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, FL, LA, MS)

Jose Enrique, Jose Enrique, San Juan, PR

Kristen Essig and Michael Stoltzfus, Coquette, New Orleans

Michael Gulotta, Maypop, New Orleans

Mason Hereford, Turkey and the Wolf, New Orleans

Isaac Toups, Toups’ Meatery, New Orleans

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

Katie Button, Cúrate, Asheville, NC

Cassidee Dabney, The Barn at Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN

Cheetie Kumar, Garland, Raleigh, NC

Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Memphis, TN

Julia Sullivan, Henrietta Red, Nashville

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)

Dan Krohmer, Other Mama, Las Vegas

Jonathan Perno, Campo at Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM

Chrysa Robertson, Rancho Pinot, Scottsdale, AZ

Silvana Salcido Esparza, Barrio Café Gran Reserva, Phoenix

Jeff Smedstad, Elote Cafe, Sedona, AZ

James Trees, Esther’s Kitchen, Las Vegas

Best Chef: Texas

Kevin Fink, Emmer & Rye, Austin

Michael Fojtasek, Olamaie, Austin

Anita Jaisinghani, Pondicheri, Houston

Steve McHugh, Cured, San Antonio

Trong Nguyen, Crawfish & Noodles, Houston

America’s Classics Awards

Previously announced

El Taco de Mexico, Denver, Colorado

Lassis Inn, Little Rock, Arkansas

Oriental Mart, Seattle, Washington

Puritan Backroom, Manchester, New Hampshire

Vera’s Backyard Bar-B-Que, Brownsville, Texas

Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth, Frankenmouth, Michigan

Humanitarian of the Year:

Jessica B. Harris

Leadership Awards:

Phillip and Dorathy E. Barker, Operations Spring Plant

Rosalinda Guillen, Community to Community Development (C2C)

Abiodun Henderson, The Come Up Project

Mark and Kerry Marhefka of Abundant Seafood

Caleb Zigas, La Cocina

James Beard Restaurant Design Awards

Design Icon

Chez Panisse

Outstanding Restaurant Design, 75 Seats and Under:

SIMPLICITY for HALL by o.d.o

Heliotrope Architects for Rupee

Vermillion Architects, LLC for Spoonbill Watering Hole and Restaurant

Outstanding Restaurant Design, 76 Seats and Over:

Hacin + Associates for Shore Leave;

Ken Fulk, Inc for Swan & Bar Bevy

Klein Agency and ORA for Auburn

2020 James Beard Foundation Book Awards

For cookbooks and other non-fiction food- or beverage-related books that were published in the U.S. in 2019. Winners, including the Book of the Year Award and the Cookbook Hall of Fame inductee will be announced on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.

American Books with recipes focused on the cooking or foodways of regions or communities in the United States.

Cook Like a Local: Flavors That Can Change How You Cook and See the World; Chris Shepherd and Kaitlyn Goalen, (Clarkson Potter)

Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking; Toni Tipton-Martin, (Clarkson Potter)

South: Essential Recipes and New Explorations; Sean Brock, (Artisan Books)

Baking and Desserts Books with recipes focused on breads, pastries, desserts, and other treats.

Dappled: Baking Recipes for Fruit Lovers; Nicole Rucker, (Avery)

Living Bread: Tradition and Innovation in Artisan Bread Making; Daniel Leader and Lauren Chattman, (Avery)

Pastry Love: A Baker’s Journal of Favorite Recipes; Joanne Chang, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Beverage with Recipes Books focused on recipes for how to make beverages.

Last Call: Bartenders on Their Final Drink and the Wisdom and Rituals of Closing Time; Brad Thomas Parsons, (Ten Speed Press)

The Martini Cocktail: A Meditation on the World’s Greatest Drink, with Recipes; Robert Simonson, (Ten Speed Press)

The NoMad Cocktail Book; Leo Robitschek, (Ten Speed Press)

Beverage without Recipes Beverage-focused books and guides that either don’t contain recipes or that may have minimal recipes but aren’t recipe-centric.

The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks: Sake, Shochu, Japanese Whisky, Beer, Wine, Cocktails and Other Beverages; Stephen Lyman and Chris Bunting, (Tuttle Publishing)

Red & White: An Unquenchable Thirst for Wine; Oz Clarke, (Little, Brown Book Group)

World Atlas of Wine 8th Edition; Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson, (Mitchell Beazley)

General Books with recipes that address a broad scope of cooking, not just a single topic, technique or region.

All About Dinner: Simple Meals, Expert Advice; Molly Stevens, (W. W. Norton & Company)

Milk Street: The New Rules: Recipes That Will Change the Way You Cook; Christopher Kimball, (Voracious)

Where Cooking Begins: Uncomplicated Recipes to Make You a Great Cook; Carla Lalli Music, (Clarkson Potter)

Health and Special Diets Books with recipes related to health and nutrition, or that address specific health issues, such as allergies or diabetes.

The Beauty Chef Gut Guide: With 90+ Delicious Recipes and Weekly Meal Plans; Carla Oates, (Hardie Grant Books)

Cannelle et Vanille: Nourishing, Gluten-Free Recipes for Every Meal and Mood; Aran Goyoaga, (Sasquatch Books)

Gluten-Free Baking at Home: 102 Foolproof Recipes for Delicious Breads, Cakes, Cookies, and More; Jeffrey Larsen, (Ten Speed Press)

International

Books with recipes focused on food and cooking traditions of countries or regions outside of the United States.

Black Sea: Dispatches and Recipes – Through Darkness and Light; Caroline Eden, (Quadrille Publishing)

Ethiopia: Recipes and Traditions from the Horn of Africa; Yohanis Gebreyesus, (Interlink Publishing)

The Food of Sichuan; Fuchsia Dunlop, (W. W. Norton & Company)

Photography

American Sfoglino: A Master Class in Handmade Pasta; Eric Wolfinger, (Chronicle Books)

Le Corbuffet: Edible Art and Design Classics; Esther Choi, (Prestel)

Oaxaca: Home Cooking from the Heart of Mexico; Quentin Bacon, (Abrams Books)

Reference, History, and Scholarship Includes manuals, guides, encyclopedias, and books that present research related to food or foodways.

Gandhi’s Search for the Perfect Diet: Eating with the World in Mind; Nico Slate, (University of Washington Press)

A South You Never Ate: Savoring Flavors and Stories from the Eastern Shore of Virginia; Bernard L. Herman, (The University of North Carolina Press)

The Whole Okra: A Seed to Stem Celebration; Chris Smith, (Chelsea Green Publishing)

Restaurant and Professional Books written by a culinary professional or restaurant chef with recipes that may include advanced cooking techniques, use specialty ingredients, and require professional equipment. This includes culinary arts textbooks.

Dishoom: From Bombay with Love; Shamil Thakrar, Kavi Thakrar, and Naved Nasir, (Bloomsbury Publishing)

Eleven Madison Park: The Next Chapter, Revised and Unlimited Edition; Daniel Humm, (Ten Speed Press)

The Whole Fish Cookbook: New Ways to Cook, Eat and Think; Josh Niland, (Hardie Grant Books)

Single Subject Books with recipes focused on a single or category of ingredients, a dish, or a method of cooking – such as lobster, seafood, grains, pasta, burgers, or canning. Exceptions: baking and desserts books, vegetable-focused books, health and special diets books, restaurant and professional books, and beverage books should be entered in those respective categories.

From the Oven to the Table: Simple Dishes That Look After Themselves; Diana Henry, (Mitchell Beazley)

Pasta Grannies: The Official Cookbook: The Secrets of Italy’s Best Home Cooks; Vicky Bennison, (Hardie Grant Books)

Sour: The Magical Element That Will Transform Your Cooking; Mark Diacono, (Quadrille Publishing)

Vegetable-Focused Cooking Books that feature recipes for how to prepare and serve vegetables and plant-based ingredients. Books may be vegetarian, vegan, or vegetable-focused with minimal reference to meats.

Ruffage: A Practical Guide to Vegetables; Abra Berens, (Chronicle Books)

Vegetables Illustrated: An Inspiring Guide with 700+ Kitchen-Tested Recipes; Editors at America’s Test Kitchen, (America’s Test Kitchen)

Whole Food Cooking Every Day: Transform the Way You Eat with 250 Vegetarian Recipes Free of Gluten, Dairy, and Refined Sugar; Amy Chaplin, (Artisan Books)

Writing Narrative nonfiction books, including memoirs, culinary tourism, investigative journalism, food advocacy, and critical analysis of food and foodways for a general audience.

Eat Like a Fish: My Adventures as a Fisherman Turned Restorative Ocean Farmer; Bren Smith, (Knopf)

Notes from a Young Black Chef: A Memoir; Kwame Onwuachi with Joshua David Stein, (Knopf)

Women on Food: Charlotte Druckman and 115 Writers, Chefs, Critics, Television Stars, and Eaters; Charlotte Druckman, (Abrams Press)

2020 James Beard Foundation Broadcast Media Awards

For radio, television broadcasts, podcasts, webcasts, and documentaries appearing in 2019. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.

Audio Program

The Food Programme – The Search for Esiah’s Seeds; Airs on: BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

It Burns: The Scandal-Plagued Race to Breed the World’s Hottest Chili; Airs on: Audible

The Sporkful – When White People Say Plantation; Airs on: iTunes, Sporkful, Spotify, and Stitcher

Audio Reporting

California Foodways – The Curious Second Life of a Prather Ranch Cow: Biomedical Research; Trans Man Finds – and Creates – Refuge in His Family’s Small-Town Cafe; Legalizing Cannabis Impacts Food, Farming in Humboldt; Reporter: Lisa Morehouse; Airs on: KQED, California Foodways, iTunes, Google Play, Radio Public, SoundCloud, and Stitcher

Food Actually – Junk Food Actually; Reporter: Tamar Adler; Airs on: Luminary

Gravy – Mahalia Jackson’s Glori-Fried Chicken; Reporter: Betsy Shepherd; Airs on: southernfoodways.org and iTunes

Documentary

Harvest Season; Airs on: PBS

Nothing Fancy: Diana Kennedy; Airs on: Premiered at SXSW in March 2019

That’s My Jazz; Airs on: Vimeo

Online Video, Fixed Location and/or Instructional

Chef Studio: The Crumby Bits – Cricket Macarons; Airs on: YouTube

Grace Young – Wok Therapist; Airs on: GraceYoung.com and YouTube

Ready Jet Cook - How to Make Pad Thai with Jet Tila; Airs on: FoodNetwork.com and YouTube

Online Video, on Location

Eat, Drink, Share, Puerto Rico Food – El Burén de Lula; Airs on: YouTube

Handmade – How Knives Are Made for New York’s Best Restaurants; How a Ceramics Master Makes Plates for Michelin-Starred Restaurants; Airs on: Eater and YouTube

In Real Life – Why Eating This Fish Could Save Coral Reefs; Airs on: YouTube and AJ+

Outstanding Personality/Host

Alton Brown, Good Eats: The Return; Airs on: Food Network

David Chang, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner; Airs on: Netflix

Roy Choi; Broken Bread with Roy Choi; Airs on: Tastemade and KCET

Television Program, in Studio or Fixed Location

Good Eats: The Return – American Classic: Chicken Parm; Airs on: Food Network

Lidia’s Kitchen – Trattoria Favorites; Airs on: PBS

Pati’s Mexican Table – A Local’s Tour of Culiacán; Airs on: WETA; distributed nationally by American Public Television

Television Program, on Location

Chef’s Table – Asma Khan; Airs on: Netflix

Las Crónicas del Taco (Taco Chronicles) – Canasta; Airs on: Netflix

Street Food – Bangkok, Thailand; Airs on: Netflix

Visual and Audio Technical Excellence

Chef’s Table; Adam Bricker, Chloe Weaver, and Will Basanta; Airs on: Netflix

Street Food; Alexander D. Paul, Matthew Chavez, and Shane Reed; Airs on: Netflix

The Taste of Place – Wild Rice; Jesse Roesler and Kevin Russell; Airs on: Vimeo

Visual Reporting (on TV or Online)

Fork the System – Moro Food of Muslim Mindanao: This is Filipino, Too; Reporters: Joi Lee and HyoJin Park; Airs on: Al Jazeera English Digital, YouTube, and Facebook

In Real Life– Why This $300 Clam Is so Important to Native Americans and China; Reporters: AJ+ Staff; Airs on: YouTube and AJ+

Rotten – The Avocado War; Reporters: Christine Haughney, Erin Cauchi, and Gretchen Goetz; Airs on: Netflix

2020 James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards Finalists

For articles published in English in 2019. Winners, including the Emerging Voice Award, will be announced on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.

Columns

What She’s Having: “Popeyes’ Fried Chicken Sandwich: A Delicious Distraction, a Cultural Lesson”; “Every Season Is Soup Season”; “Why a Somali Nook in East Boston Is One of the Country’s Best New Restaurants” — Devra First, The Boston Globe

Power Rankings: “The Official Fast Food French Fry Power Rankings”; “The Official Spicy Snack Power Rankings”; “The Official Domestic Beer Power Rankings” — Lucas Kwan Peterson, Los Angeles Times

Rooted in Place: “In Service”; “Hair, Food, and Hustle”; “The Best That We’ve Got” — Rosalind Bentley, Gravy

Craig Claiborne Distinguished Restaurant Review Award

“Le Colonial Is an Orientalist Specter”; “The Ultimate Chaat Truck Crawl”; “The Fantasy — and Reality — of Dining at Chez Panisse” — Soleil Ho, San Francisco Chronicle

“NYC’s Buzziest New Sushi Parlors Are Transcendent, If You Can Handle the Bros”; “Wall Street’s Underground Russian Spa Is a Dining Destination for the Soul”; “Estiatorio Milos Is One of the Last Big Restaurant Scams in New York” —Ryan Sutton

Eater New York

“Peter Luger Used to Sizzle. Now It Sputters.”; “The 20 Most Delicious Things at Mercado Little Spain”; “Benno, Proudly Out of Step With the Age”

Pete Wells

The New York Times

Dining and Travel

“In Pursuit of the Perfect Pizza”

Matt Goulding

Airbnb Magazine

“Interview With the Vampiro”

Dylan James Ho

Taste

“These Are the World’s Best Restaurants: North America, South America, Africa and Middle East”

Besha Rodell

Travel + Leisure and Food & Wine

Feature Reporting

America’s farmers in crisis during Trump’s trade wars: “Left Behind: Farmers Fight to Save Their Land in Rural Minnesota as Trade War Intensifies”; “’I’m Gonna Lose Everything’: A Farm Family Struggles to Recover after Rising Debt Pushes a Husband to Suicide”; “In Trump Country, a Season of Need on Family Farms”

Annie Gowen

The Washington Post

“The Great Land Robbery”

Vann R. Newkirk II

The Atlantic

“Value Meal”

Tad Friend

The New Yorker

Food Coverage in a General Interest Publication

The Bitter Southerner

Gastro Obscura

The New Yorker

Foodways

“An Indigenous Community in Mexico Finds Its Voice — and Strength — in Wild Mushrooms”

Michael Snyder

Los Angeles Times

“On Hawaii, the Fight for Taro’s Revival”

Ligaya Mishan

T: The New York Times Style Magazine

“A Real Hot Mess: How Grits Got Weaponized Against Cheating Men”

Cynthia R. Greenlee

MUNCHIES | Food by VICE

Health and Wellness

“The AGEs Puzzle: How We Cook Food Is Killing Us. Scientists in SC Know Why.”; “9 Easy Ways to Eat Fewer AGEs: A Stress-Free Guide”

Tony Bartelme

The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)

“How Washington Keeps America Sick and Fat”; “Meet the Silicon Valley Investor Who Wants Washington to Figure Out What You Should Eat”

Catherine Boudreau and Helena Bottemiller Evich

Politico

“Protein Nation”

Shaun Dreisbach

EatingWell

Home Cooking

“6 Holiday Cookies That Will Win You the Cookie Swap”

Hilary Cadigan and Rick Martinez

Bon Appétit

“Fry Time”

Nancy Singleton Hachisu

Saveur

“In Praise of Schmaltz”

Rachel Handler

Grub Street

Innovative Storytelling

“Best New Restaurants 2019”

Kevin Alexander, Nicole A. Taylor, and Adriana Velez

Thrillist

“Food and Loathing on the Campaign Trail”

Gary He, Matt Buchanan, and Meghan McCarron

Eater

“Made in America”

Tim Carman and Shelly Tan

The Washington Post

Investigative Reporting

“How USDA Distorted Data to Conceal Decades of Discrimination Against Black Farmers”

Nathan Rosenberg and Bryce Wilson Stucki

The Counter

“‘The Man Who Attacked Me Works in Your Kitchen’: Victim of Serial Groper Took Justice into Her Own Hands”

Amy Brittain and Maura Judkis

The Washington Post

“The Young Hands That Feed Us”

Karen Coates and Valeria Fernández

Pacific Standard

Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award

“Forget Democratic Votes. Which Presidential Hopeful Will Eat 16 Iconic SC Foods First?”; “A James Island Meat-and-Two Secretly Switched to Carolina Gold Rice. Here’s What Happened.”; “In Prisons Across South Carolina, It’s Not a Birthday Without Cake Made by a Fellow Inmate”

Hanna Raskin

The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)

“In Search of Hot Beef”; “Chef Jack Riebel Is in the Fight of His Life”; “Harry Singh on the Perfect Roti, Trinidad, and Life in the Kitchen”

Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl

Mpls.St.Paul Magazine

“In a Wheelchair and Hungry”; “Where to Eat Regionally Inspired Mexican Food in New York City”; “How Sichuan Became NYC’s Dominant Chinese Cuisine”

Robert Sietsema

Eater New York

M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award

“A Mind to Stay Here”

Rosalind Bentley

Gravy

“My Mother’s Catfish Stew”

John T. Edge

Oxford American

“An Undeserved Gift”

Shane Mitchell

The Bitter Southerner

Personal Essay, Long Form

“The Dysfunction of Food”

Kim Foster

Kim-Foster.com

“Love, Peace, and Taco Grease: How I Left My Abusive Husband and Found Guy Fieri”

Rax King

Catapult

“Seeking Jewish Identity at the Sabra Hummus Factory”

Orr Shtuhl

The Forward

Personal Essay, Short Form

“For 20 Years, happy hour has seen us through work — and life”

M. Carrie Allan

The Washington Post

“How the Starbucks Macchiato Ruined My Indie Coffee Shop Experiences”

Nicole A. Taylor

Thrillist

“In Memoriam of Hominy Grill, the Restaurant That Defined Charleston”

Ali Rosen

Plate

Profile

“First Course”

Zoe Tennant

Granta

“The Fruit Saver”

Tejal Rao

Women on Food

(Abrams Press)

“The Provocations of Chef Tunde Wey”

Brett Martin

GQ Magazine

Wine, Spirits, and Other Beverages

“How Climate Change Impacts Wine”

Eric Asimov

The New York Times

“May I Help You With That Wine List?”

Ray Isle

Food & Wine

“Seltzer Is Over. Mineral Water Is Forever.”

Jordan Michelman

PUNCH

Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Foundation Awards.

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The full list of nominees

Today, on what would have been the 30th annual James Beard Awards ceremony, the James Beard Foundation announced the finalists for the 2020 James Beard Awards, which honors the year’s outstanding restaurants and chefs, as well as food journalism, books, and broadcast media. The announcement was originally scheduled for March 25, but the coronavirus pandemic forced the Foundation to cancel the planned Philadelphia event and postpone both the finalists reveal and the awards themselves.

COVID-19 has left the restaurant industry in a precarious position, to put it mildly. Restaurants are pivoting their operations to stay in business, closing temporarily, and in some cases, closing for good. When the Foundation opted to postpone the finalist announcement, it acknowledged that it did so in part to focus on rebuilding the restaurant industry, awards being the last thing on anyone’s mind. And so it came as a bit of a surprise when on April 27 the Foundation announced plans to move forward with a virtual finalist announcement and, eventually, the 2020 James Beard Awards. Today, the Foundation revealed the Restaurant and Chef Awards Gala will take place in late September, and the Media Awards will take place in late May.

In a post on the James Beard Foundation website, chief strategy officer Mitchell Davis explained that the Foundation consulted with chefs, restaurateurs, and others in the industry and determined that the James Beard Awards finalists, like the list of semifinalists announced in late February, deserved recognition for their work in 2019. “Those we consulted felt the Awards could also offer a glimmer of hope to an industry looking for light in a very dark time,” he writes. Davis acknowledged that it is also a particularly dark time for the media, which will be recognized for the first time in the 2020 James Beard Awards cycle with the finalists announcement.

Given the ongoing restrictions related to COVID-19, the format for the 2020 James Beard Awards is still undecided — but they will go on, and “take place” in Chicago at some date later this year. “We want every James Beard Award winner to have a chance to have their moment in the spotlight,” Mitchell writes. “We have partners who support this industry, who support the Foundation, who are willing to work with us to figure out what’s best for all.”

Visit Philadelphia, which stands to lose millions due to the coronavirus pandemic, is still sponsoring the virtual event. Last year, Houston hosted the finalist announcement and although there was plenty of Texas representation on the semifinalists list, including 11 chefs and restaurants from Houston, the city’s restaurants and chefs were completely shut out of the whittled down finalists list. Philadelphia didn’t see the same fate.

Below, the 2020 James Beard Awards finalists.

James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards Finalists

Best New Restaurant

Automatic Seafood & Oysters, Birmingham, AL

Demi, Minneapolis

Eem, Portland, OR

Fox & the Knife, Boston

Gado Gado, Portland, OR

Gianna, New Orleans

Kalaya, Philadelphia

Nightshade, Los Angeles

Pasjoli, Santa Monica, CA

Verjus, San Francisco

Outstanding Baker

Graison Gill, Bellegarde Bakery, New Orleans

Zachary Golper, Bien Cuit, NYC

Lisa Ludwinski, Sister Pie, Detroit

Avery Ruzicka, Manresa Bread, Los Gatos, CA

Maura Kilpatrick, Sofra Bakery, Cambridge, MA i

Outstanding Bar Program

Anvil Bar & Refuge, Houston

Expatriate, Portland, OR

Kimball House, Decatur, GA

Lost Lake, Chicago

Trick Dog, San Francisco

Outstanding Chef

David Kinch, Manresa, Los Gatos, CA

Corey Lee, Benu, San Francisco

Donald Link, Herbsaint, New Orleans

Missy Robbins, Lilia, NYC

Ana Sortun, Oleana, Cambridge, MA

Marc Vetri, Vetri Cucina, Philadelphia

Outstanding Hospitality

Brigtsen’s, New Orleans

Canlis, Seattle

Saison, San Francisco

Swan Oyster Depot, San Francisco

Zingerman’s Roadhouse, Ann Arbor, MI

Outstanding Pastry Chef

Lincoln Carson, Bon Temps, Los Angeles

Juan Contreras, Atelier Crenn, San Francisco

Margarita Manzke, République, Los Angeles

Diane Moua, Spoon and Stable, Minneapolis

Natasha Pickowicz, Flora Bar, NYC

Miro Uskokovic, Gramercy Tavern, NYC

Outstanding Restaurant

FIG, Charleston, SC

Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder, CO

Jaleo, Washington, D.C.

Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix

Quince, San Francisco

Outstanding Restaurateur

Paul Bartolotta, The Bartolotta Restaurants, Milwaukee (Ristorante Bartolotta, Harbor House, Lake Park Bistro, and others)

Jamie Bissonnette and Ken Oringer, JK Food Group, Boston (Little Donkey, Toro, Coppa)

JoAnn Clevenger, Upperline Restaurant, New Orleans

Alex Raij and Eder Montero, NYC (La Vara, Saint Julivert Fisherie, Txikito)

Jason Wang, Xi’an Famous Foods, NYC

Outstanding Wine Program

Bacchanal, New Orleans

Canard, Portland, OR

COTE, NYC

Miller Union, Atlanta

Night + Market Sahm, Venice, CA

Spiaggia, Chicago

Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Producer

Scott Blackwell and Ann Marshall, High Wire Distilling Co., Charleston, SC

Cathy Corison, Corison Winery, St. Helena, CA

Drew Kulsveen, Willett Distillery, Bardstown, KY

Todd Leopold and Scott Leopold, Leopold Bros., Denver

Rising Star Chef of the Year

Will Aghajanian and Liz Johnson, The Catbird Seat, Nashville

Irene Li, Mei Mei, Boston

Gaby Maeda, State Bird Provisions, San Francisco

Ashleigh Shanti, Benne on Eagle, Asheville, NC

Paola Velez, Kith/Kin, Washington, D.C.

Jon Yao, Kato, Los Angeles

Best Chef: California

Jeremy Fox, Birdie G’s, Santa Monica, CA

Brandon Jew, Mister Jiu’s, San Francisco

Jessica Koslow, Sqirl, Los Angeles

Mourad Lahlou, Mourad, San Francisco

Joshua Skenes, Angler, San Francisco

Pim Techamuanvivit, Kin Khao, San Francisco

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH)

Gene Kato, Momotaro, Chicago

Jason Hammel, Lula Cafe, Chicago

Noah Sandoval, Oriole, Chicago

John Shields and Karen Urie Shields, Smyth, Chicago

Erick Williams, Virtue, Chicago

Lee Wolen, Boka, Chicago

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (D.C., DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)

Amy Brandwein, Centrolina, Washington, D.C.

Nicholas Elmi, Laurel, Philadelphia

Rich Landau, Vedge, Philadelphia

Cristina Martinez, South Philly Barbacoa, Philadelphia

Jon Sybert, Tail Up Goat, Washington, D.C.

Cindy Wolf, Charleston, Baltimore

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI)

Steven Brown, Tilia, Minneapolis

Michael Corvino, Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room, Kansas City, MO

Michael Gallina, Vicia, St. Louis

Jamie Malone, Grand Café, Minneapolis

Christina Nguyen, Hai Hai, Minneapolis

Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY)

Carrie Baird, Bar Dough, Denver

Jen Castle and Blake Spalding, Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm, Boulder, UT

Jeff Drew, Snake River Grill, Jackson, WY

Caroline Glover, Annette, Aurora, CO

Dana Rodriguez, Super Mega Bien, Denver

Kelly Whitaker, The Wolf’s Tailor, Denver

Best Chef: New York State

Sean Gray, Momofuku Ko, NYC

Brooks Headley, Superiority Burger, NYC

Junghyun Park, Atomix, NYC

Daniela Soto-Innes, ATLA, NYC

Alex Stupak, Empellón, NYC

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

Vien Dobui, CÔNG TỬ BỘT, Portland, ME

Ben Jackson, Drifters Wife, Portland, ME

Tiffani Faison, Orfano, Boston

Krista Kern Desjarlais, The Purple House, North Yarmouth, ME

Greg Mitchell and Chad Conley, Palace Diner, Biddeford, ME

Cassie Piuma, Sarma, Somerville, MA

Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA)

Peter Cho, Han Oak, Portland, OR

Gregory Gourdet, Departure, Portland, OR

Chris Kajioka and Anthony Rush, Senia, Honolulu

Katy Millard, Coquine, Portland, OR

Kristen Murray, MÅURICE, Portland, OR

Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi, Joule, Seattle

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, FL, LA, MS)

Jose Enrique, Jose Enrique, San Juan, PR

Kristen Essig and Michael Stoltzfus, Coquette, New Orleans

Michael Gulotta, Maypop, New Orleans

Mason Hereford, Turkey and the Wolf, New Orleans

Isaac Toups, Toups’ Meatery, New Orleans

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

Katie Button, Cúrate, Asheville, NC

Cassidee Dabney, The Barn at Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN

Cheetie Kumar, Garland, Raleigh, NC

Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Memphis, TN

Julia Sullivan, Henrietta Red, Nashville

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK)

Dan Krohmer, Other Mama, Las Vegas

Jonathan Perno, Campo at Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM

Chrysa Robertson, Rancho Pinot, Scottsdale, AZ

Silvana Salcido Esparza, Barrio Café Gran Reserva, Phoenix

Jeff Smedstad, Elote Cafe, Sedona, AZ

James Trees, Esther’s Kitchen, Las Vegas

Best Chef: Texas

Kevin Fink, Emmer & Rye, Austin

Michael Fojtasek, Olamaie, Austin

Anita Jaisinghani, Pondicheri, Houston

Steve McHugh, Cured, San Antonio

Trong Nguyen, Crawfish & Noodles, Houston

America’s Classics Awards

Previously announced

El Taco de Mexico, Denver, Colorado

Lassis Inn, Little Rock, Arkansas

Oriental Mart, Seattle, Washington

Puritan Backroom, Manchester, New Hampshire

Vera’s Backyard Bar-B-Que, Brownsville, Texas

Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth, Frankenmouth, Michigan

Humanitarian of the Year:

Jessica B. Harris

Leadership Awards:

Phillip and Dorathy E. Barker, Operations Spring Plant

Rosalinda Guillen, Community to Community Development (C2C)

Abiodun Henderson, The Come Up Project

Mark and Kerry Marhefka of Abundant Seafood

Caleb Zigas, La Cocina

James Beard Restaurant Design Awards

Design Icon

Chez Panisse

Outstanding Restaurant Design, 75 Seats and Under:

SIMPLICITY for HALL by o.d.o

Heliotrope Architects for Rupee

Vermillion Architects, LLC for Spoonbill Watering Hole and Restaurant

Outstanding Restaurant Design, 76 Seats and Over:

Hacin + Associates for Shore Leave;

Ken Fulk, Inc for Swan & Bar Bevy

Klein Agency and ORA for Auburn

2020 James Beard Foundation Book Awards

For cookbooks and other non-fiction food- or beverage-related books that were published in the U.S. in 2019. Winners, including the Book of the Year Award and the Cookbook Hall of Fame inductee will be announced on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.

American Books with recipes focused on the cooking or foodways of regions or communities in the United States.

Cook Like a Local: Flavors That Can Change How You Cook and See the World; Chris Shepherd and Kaitlyn Goalen, (Clarkson Potter)

Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking; Toni Tipton-Martin, (Clarkson Potter)

South: Essential Recipes and New Explorations; Sean Brock, (Artisan Books)

Baking and Desserts Books with recipes focused on breads, pastries, desserts, and other treats.

Dappled: Baking Recipes for Fruit Lovers; Nicole Rucker, (Avery)

Living Bread: Tradition and Innovation in Artisan Bread Making; Daniel Leader and Lauren Chattman, (Avery)

Pastry Love: A Baker’s Journal of Favorite Recipes; Joanne Chang, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Beverage with Recipes Books focused on recipes for how to make beverages.

Last Call: Bartenders on Their Final Drink and the Wisdom and Rituals of Closing Time; Brad Thomas Parsons, (Ten Speed Press)

The Martini Cocktail: A Meditation on the World’s Greatest Drink, with Recipes; Robert Simonson, (Ten Speed Press)

The NoMad Cocktail Book; Leo Robitschek, (Ten Speed Press)

Beverage without Recipes Beverage-focused books and guides that either don’t contain recipes or that may have minimal recipes but aren’t recipe-centric.

The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks: Sake, Shochu, Japanese Whisky, Beer, Wine, Cocktails and Other Beverages; Stephen Lyman and Chris Bunting, (Tuttle Publishing)

Red & White: An Unquenchable Thirst for Wine; Oz Clarke, (Little, Brown Book Group)

World Atlas of Wine 8th Edition; Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson, (Mitchell Beazley)

General Books with recipes that address a broad scope of cooking, not just a single topic, technique or region.

All About Dinner: Simple Meals, Expert Advice; Molly Stevens, (W. W. Norton & Company)

Milk Street: The New Rules: Recipes That Will Change the Way You Cook; Christopher Kimball, (Voracious)

Where Cooking Begins: Uncomplicated Recipes to Make You a Great Cook; Carla Lalli Music, (Clarkson Potter)

Health and Special Diets Books with recipes related to health and nutrition, or that address specific health issues, such as allergies or diabetes.

The Beauty Chef Gut Guide: With 90+ Delicious Recipes and Weekly Meal Plans; Carla Oates, (Hardie Grant Books)

Cannelle et Vanille: Nourishing, Gluten-Free Recipes for Every Meal and Mood; Aran Goyoaga, (Sasquatch Books)

Gluten-Free Baking at Home: 102 Foolproof Recipes for Delicious Breads, Cakes, Cookies, and More; Jeffrey Larsen, (Ten Speed Press)

International

Books with recipes focused on food and cooking traditions of countries or regions outside of the United States.

Black Sea: Dispatches and Recipes – Through Darkness and Light; Caroline Eden, (Quadrille Publishing)

Ethiopia: Recipes and Traditions from the Horn of Africa; Yohanis Gebreyesus, (Interlink Publishing)

The Food of Sichuan; Fuchsia Dunlop, (W. W. Norton & Company)

Photography

American Sfoglino: A Master Class in Handmade Pasta; Eric Wolfinger, (Chronicle Books)

Le Corbuffet: Edible Art and Design Classics; Esther Choi, (Prestel)

Oaxaca: Home Cooking from the Heart of Mexico; Quentin Bacon, (Abrams Books)

Reference, History, and Scholarship Includes manuals, guides, encyclopedias, and books that present research related to food or foodways.

Gandhi’s Search for the Perfect Diet: Eating with the World in Mind; Nico Slate, (University of Washington Press)

A South You Never Ate: Savoring Flavors and Stories from the Eastern Shore of Virginia; Bernard L. Herman, (The University of North Carolina Press)

The Whole Okra: A Seed to Stem Celebration; Chris Smith, (Chelsea Green Publishing)

Restaurant and Professional Books written by a culinary professional or restaurant chef with recipes that may include advanced cooking techniques, use specialty ingredients, and require professional equipment. This includes culinary arts textbooks.

Dishoom: From Bombay with Love; Shamil Thakrar, Kavi Thakrar, and Naved Nasir, (Bloomsbury Publishing)

Eleven Madison Park: The Next Chapter, Revised and Unlimited Edition; Daniel Humm, (Ten Speed Press)

The Whole Fish Cookbook: New Ways to Cook, Eat and Think; Josh Niland, (Hardie Grant Books)

Single Subject Books with recipes focused on a single or category of ingredients, a dish, or a method of cooking – such as lobster, seafood, grains, pasta, burgers, or canning. Exceptions: baking and desserts books, vegetable-focused books, health and special diets books, restaurant and professional books, and beverage books should be entered in those respective categories.

From the Oven to the Table: Simple Dishes That Look After Themselves; Diana Henry, (Mitchell Beazley)

Pasta Grannies: The Official Cookbook: The Secrets of Italy’s Best Home Cooks; Vicky Bennison, (Hardie Grant Books)

Sour: The Magical Element That Will Transform Your Cooking; Mark Diacono, (Quadrille Publishing)

Vegetable-Focused Cooking Books that feature recipes for how to prepare and serve vegetables and plant-based ingredients. Books may be vegetarian, vegan, or vegetable-focused with minimal reference to meats.

Ruffage: A Practical Guide to Vegetables; Abra Berens, (Chronicle Books)

Vegetables Illustrated: An Inspiring Guide with 700+ Kitchen-Tested Recipes; Editors at America’s Test Kitchen, (America’s Test Kitchen)

Whole Food Cooking Every Day: Transform the Way You Eat with 250 Vegetarian Recipes Free of Gluten, Dairy, and Refined Sugar; Amy Chaplin, (Artisan Books)

Writing Narrative nonfiction books, including memoirs, culinary tourism, investigative journalism, food advocacy, and critical analysis of food and foodways for a general audience.

Eat Like a Fish: My Adventures as a Fisherman Turned Restorative Ocean Farmer; Bren Smith, (Knopf)

Notes from a Young Black Chef: A Memoir; Kwame Onwuachi with Joshua David Stein, (Knopf)

Women on Food: Charlotte Druckman and 115 Writers, Chefs, Critics, Television Stars, and Eaters; Charlotte Druckman, (Abrams Press)

2020 James Beard Foundation Broadcast Media Awards

For radio, television broadcasts, podcasts, webcasts, and documentaries appearing in 2019. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.

Audio Program

The Food Programme – The Search for Esiah’s Seeds; Airs on: BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

It Burns: The Scandal-Plagued Race to Breed the World’s Hottest Chili; Airs on: Audible

The Sporkful – When White People Say Plantation; Airs on: iTunes, Sporkful, Spotify, and Stitcher

Audio Reporting

California Foodways – The Curious Second Life of a Prather Ranch Cow: Biomedical Research; Trans Man Finds – and Creates – Refuge in His Family’s Small-Town Cafe; Legalizing Cannabis Impacts Food, Farming in Humboldt; Reporter: Lisa Morehouse; Airs on: KQED, California Foodways, iTunes, Google Play, Radio Public, SoundCloud, and Stitcher

Food Actually – Junk Food Actually; Reporter: Tamar Adler; Airs on: Luminary

Gravy – Mahalia Jackson’s Glori-Fried Chicken; Reporter: Betsy Shepherd; Airs on: southernfoodways.org and iTunes

Documentary

Harvest Season; Airs on: PBS

Nothing Fancy: Diana Kennedy; Airs on: Premiered at SXSW in March 2019

That’s My Jazz; Airs on: Vimeo

Online Video, Fixed Location and/or Instructional

Chef Studio: The Crumby Bits – Cricket Macarons; Airs on: YouTube

Grace Young – Wok Therapist; Airs on: GraceYoung.com and YouTube

Ready Jet Cook - How to Make Pad Thai with Jet Tila; Airs on: FoodNetwork.com and YouTube

Online Video, on Location

Eat, Drink, Share, Puerto Rico Food – El Burén de Lula; Airs on: YouTube

Handmade – How Knives Are Made for New York’s Best Restaurants; How a Ceramics Master Makes Plates for Michelin-Starred Restaurants; Airs on: Eater and YouTube

In Real Life – Why Eating This Fish Could Save Coral Reefs; Airs on: YouTube and AJ+

Outstanding Personality/Host

Alton Brown, Good Eats: The Return; Airs on: Food Network

David Chang, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner; Airs on: Netflix

Roy Choi; Broken Bread with Roy Choi; Airs on: Tastemade and KCET

Television Program, in Studio or Fixed Location

Good Eats: The Return – American Classic: Chicken Parm; Airs on: Food Network

Lidia’s Kitchen – Trattoria Favorites; Airs on: PBS

Pati’s Mexican Table – A Local’s Tour of Culiacán; Airs on: WETA; distributed nationally by American Public Television

Television Program, on Location

Chef’s Table – Asma Khan; Airs on: Netflix

Las Crónicas del Taco (Taco Chronicles) – Canasta; Airs on: Netflix

Street Food – Bangkok, Thailand; Airs on: Netflix

Visual and Audio Technical Excellence

Chef’s Table; Adam Bricker, Chloe Weaver, and Will Basanta; Airs on: Netflix

Street Food; Alexander D. Paul, Matthew Chavez, and Shane Reed; Airs on: Netflix

The Taste of Place – Wild Rice; Jesse Roesler and Kevin Russell; Airs on: Vimeo

Visual Reporting (on TV or Online)

Fork the System – Moro Food of Muslim Mindanao: This is Filipino, Too; Reporters: Joi Lee and HyoJin Park; Airs on: Al Jazeera English Digital, YouTube, and Facebook

In Real Life– Why This $300 Clam Is so Important to Native Americans and China; Reporters: AJ+ Staff; Airs on: YouTube and AJ+

Rotten – The Avocado War; Reporters: Christine Haughney, Erin Cauchi, and Gretchen Goetz; Airs on: Netflix

2020 James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards Finalists

For articles published in English in 2019. Winners, including the Emerging Voice Award, will be announced on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.

Columns

What She’s Having: “Popeyes’ Fried Chicken Sandwich: A Delicious Distraction, a Cultural Lesson”; “Every Season Is Soup Season”; “Why a Somali Nook in East Boston Is One of the Country’s Best New Restaurants” — Devra First, The Boston Globe

Power Rankings: “The Official Fast Food French Fry Power Rankings”; “The Official Spicy Snack Power Rankings”; “The Official Domestic Beer Power Rankings” — Lucas Kwan Peterson, Los Angeles Times

Rooted in Place: “In Service”; “Hair, Food, and Hustle”; “The Best That We’ve Got” — Rosalind Bentley, Gravy

Craig Claiborne Distinguished Restaurant Review Award

“Le Colonial Is an Orientalist Specter”; “The Ultimate Chaat Truck Crawl”; “The Fantasy — and Reality — of Dining at Chez Panisse” — Soleil Ho, San Francisco Chronicle

“NYC’s Buzziest New Sushi Parlors Are Transcendent, If You Can Handle the Bros”; “Wall Street’s Underground Russian Spa Is a Dining Destination for the Soul”; “Estiatorio Milos Is One of the Last Big Restaurant Scams in New York” —Ryan Sutton

Eater New York

“Peter Luger Used to Sizzle. Now It Sputters.”; “The 20 Most Delicious Things at Mercado Little Spain”; “Benno, Proudly Out of Step With the Age”

Pete Wells

The New York Times

Dining and Travel

“In Pursuit of the Perfect Pizza”

Matt Goulding

Airbnb Magazine

“Interview With the Vampiro”

Dylan James Ho

Taste

“These Are the World’s Best Restaurants: North America, South America, Africa and Middle East”

Besha Rodell

Travel + Leisure and Food & Wine

Feature Reporting

America’s farmers in crisis during Trump’s trade wars: “Left Behind: Farmers Fight to Save Their Land in Rural Minnesota as Trade War Intensifies”; “’I’m Gonna Lose Everything’: A Farm Family Struggles to Recover after Rising Debt Pushes a Husband to Suicide”; “In Trump Country, a Season of Need on Family Farms”

Annie Gowen

The Washington Post

“The Great Land Robbery”

Vann R. Newkirk II

The Atlantic

“Value Meal”

Tad Friend

The New Yorker

Food Coverage in a General Interest Publication

The Bitter Southerner

Gastro Obscura

The New Yorker

Foodways

“An Indigenous Community in Mexico Finds Its Voice — and Strength — in Wild Mushrooms”

Michael Snyder

Los Angeles Times

“On Hawaii, the Fight for Taro’s Revival”

Ligaya Mishan

T: The New York Times Style Magazine

“A Real Hot Mess: How Grits Got Weaponized Against Cheating Men”

Cynthia R. Greenlee

MUNCHIES | Food by VICE

Health and Wellness

“The AGEs Puzzle: How We Cook Food Is Killing Us. Scientists in SC Know Why.”; “9 Easy Ways to Eat Fewer AGEs: A Stress-Free Guide”

Tony Bartelme

The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)

“How Washington Keeps America Sick and Fat”; “Meet the Silicon Valley Investor Who Wants Washington to Figure Out What You Should Eat”

Catherine Boudreau and Helena Bottemiller Evich

Politico

“Protein Nation”

Shaun Dreisbach

EatingWell

Home Cooking

“6 Holiday Cookies That Will Win You the Cookie Swap”

Hilary Cadigan and Rick Martinez

Bon Appétit

“Fry Time”

Nancy Singleton Hachisu

Saveur

“In Praise of Schmaltz”

Rachel Handler

Grub Street

Innovative Storytelling

“Best New Restaurants 2019”

Kevin Alexander, Nicole A. Taylor, and Adriana Velez

Thrillist

“Food and Loathing on the Campaign Trail”

Gary He, Matt Buchanan, and Meghan McCarron

Eater

“Made in America”

Tim Carman and Shelly Tan

The Washington Post

Investigative Reporting

“How USDA Distorted Data to Conceal Decades of Discrimination Against Black Farmers”

Nathan Rosenberg and Bryce Wilson Stucki

The Counter

“‘The Man Who Attacked Me Works in Your Kitchen’: Victim of Serial Groper Took Justice into Her Own Hands”

Amy Brittain and Maura Judkis

The Washington Post

“The Young Hands That Feed Us”

Karen Coates and Valeria Fernández

Pacific Standard

Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award

“Forget Democratic Votes. Which Presidential Hopeful Will Eat 16 Iconic SC Foods First?”; “A James Island Meat-and-Two Secretly Switched to Carolina Gold Rice. Here’s What Happened.”; “In Prisons Across South Carolina, It’s Not a Birthday Without Cake Made by a Fellow Inmate”

Hanna Raskin

The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)

“In Search of Hot Beef”; “Chef Jack Riebel Is in the Fight of His Life”; “Harry Singh on the Perfect Roti, Trinidad, and Life in the Kitchen”

Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl

Mpls.St.Paul Magazine

“In a Wheelchair and Hungry”; “Where to Eat Regionally Inspired Mexican Food in New York City”; “How Sichuan Became NYC’s Dominant Chinese Cuisine”

Robert Sietsema

Eater New York

M.F.K. Fisher Distinguished Writing Award

“A Mind to Stay Here”

Rosalind Bentley

Gravy

“My Mother’s Catfish Stew”

John T. Edge

Oxford American

“An Undeserved Gift”

Shane Mitchell

The Bitter Southerner

Personal Essay, Long Form

“The Dysfunction of Food”

Kim Foster

Kim-Foster.com

“Love, Peace, and Taco Grease: How I Left My Abusive Husband and Found Guy Fieri”

Rax King

Catapult

“Seeking Jewish Identity at the Sabra Hummus Factory”

Orr Shtuhl

The Forward

Personal Essay, Short Form

“For 20 Years, happy hour has seen us through work — and life”

M. Carrie Allan

The Washington Post

“How the Starbucks Macchiato Ruined My Indie Coffee Shop Experiences”

Nicole A. Taylor

Thrillist

“In Memoriam of Hominy Grill, the Restaurant That Defined Charleston”

Ali Rosen

Plate

Profile

“First Course”

Zoe Tennant

Granta

“The Fruit Saver”

Tejal Rao

Women on Food

(Abrams Press)

“The Provocations of Chef Tunde Wey”

Brett Martin

GQ Magazine

Wine, Spirits, and Other Beverages

“How Climate Change Impacts Wine”

Eric Asimov

The New York Times

“May I Help You With That Wine List?”

Ray Isle

Food & Wine

“Seltzer Is Over. Mineral Water Is Forever.”

Jordan Michelman

PUNCH

Disclosure: Some Vox Media staff members are part of the voting body for the James Beard Foundation Awards.

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/2YFiewV via Blogger https://ift.tt/3djsA9s

[the-dead-skwad]

Award night Part 1 X Norman Reedus X Reader

So this one is about the reader working for the walking dead *my dream job* up for an award and her brother Andrew Lincoln is taking her. She's also awkwardly inlove with Norman. Not like the usual ones I do. Part 1 of 2 :) Also this is a set up for a part 2 smut and I sometimes write how I say things (e.g. gret means great) it's just my accent. So any questions please ask. 💚 --- You were sat at your desk, headphones on concentrating on your work in front of you. After hours of trying to make this zombie suit squirt blood you thought you had finally done it. All of a sudden a hand grabbed your shoulder scaring the life out of you. You let out an unearlthy scream. You spun around to see your brother Andrew laughing hysterically at you. You pulled your headphones off “Oi asshole! You scared the shit outta me!” “You, scared? You make zombies for a living.” He said still laughing. You raised your eyebrows “Walkers actually” he just mimicked you in response. Looking at your work you smiled to yourself. “Hey check this out. I’ve been on it for a good two hours.” You stepped aside so he was stood directly in front of the silicone walker. “What’s this one do?” he said bending down to get a close look. “This!” you laughed as you pressed the button causing fake blood to spray all over his face. He shot back wiping his face “You little shit!” “You two done fuckin around?” Norman’s voice made you stop laughing instantly. “are you ready to go?” “Yeah man” Andrew winking at you. Norman left and you punched Andy on the arm “Asshole. Are we taking him home?” He rubbed his arm “Yeah. Need to get ready for tonight. Also you need to sort your shit out. Tell him how you feel.” “Not a chance. I get all weird and sweaty around him and I’m already nervous enough about tonight.” You both left your workshop and walked out in the blazing sun. After all this time living in America you still weren’t used to the heat. You wiped your head and look out at the car park. Norman was stood next to you car waiting. You saw this guy everyday but still you felt sick with how much you liked him. But he was a Hollywood star so there was no way he’d like you. You walked past the cast and crew. The cast kept shouting “See you later” If the sweaty awkward car journey wasn’t enough you were going to your first ever red carpet event. The thought of all those famous people made you excited and ill at the same time. You approached the car and he smiled at you. You could feel the sweat building on your hands. Andy went towards the drivers door. “Erm I’m driving.” You said to him. He scoffed a little “No.. no.. I hate your driving.” “Tough shit bro. My car, I’m driving.” “You two have so much love.” Norman laughed at you. You all climbed in. Your brother got in the back so he wouldn’t have to look at the road while you drove. You stuck the keys in the ignition, turned up Radar Love by Golden Earring and put it in gear. “Oh god.” You heard him moan in the back as he shut his eyes. You reversed full speed straight out the car park and on the road. Norman just laughed, he was the only person you had met that loved your driving. You drove down the road singing away with him. It was actually really nice and comfortable. You took it in turns to chose a song, while Andy in the back was, you think, praying he lived. Finally you reached your apartment and did a hand break turn into your spot. Just to fuck with Andy a little more. He leapt out the car and shouted “I’m free! I’m alive!” “Pipe down you gret baby.” Norman looked at you and smiled “Right, so I’ll see you tonight.” He gave you a slight hug and walked towards his place. It was only 2 streets away. Andy raised his eyebrows “Tonight might be the night.” “Shut up. I will punch you.” After a few hours you were ready to go. Your stomach kept on turning over and over. You smoothed down your dress and took one last look at yourself. You were so used to wearing shorts, vest and doc martens. But your reflection showed you standing there with a beautiful black high-low dress that surrounded you like a beautiful ball gown, it a had stunning velvet pattern all over it also in black. You wore black shiny stilettos and a gorgeous clutch bag to match. Your face was painted perfectly and your hair flowed down wavey past your shoulders, unlock the usually messy platts and pony tails you had at work. Andy called your name because the car had arrived. You finished your glass of rum and coke you had to calm you down and walked into the hall way to meet him. “Oh I’m sorry, I’m looking for my sister.” He smiled at you. “Hey. Shut it. I’m so nervous.” “I’m joking, honestly I don’t think you’ve ever looked so beautiful and you know how beautiful you are.” You tilted your head “You have to say that. You’re my brother.” You both left the house and climbed in the Lamborghini Adventadour he had hired for the night, just for you. You climbed in the passenger seat taking deep breaths. This whole night just seemed like a dream. He grabbed hold of your hand “Look it’s all going to be fine and we need you there if we win the award for best makeup. I mean your in charge of that. We wouldn’t have even the option of that award if it wasn’t for you.” “Alright speak boy. Let’s go” you laughed when really all you wanted was 10 cigarettes and all the shots. Pulling up you could hear screams and shouting and god knows what else. “I really hope i don’t throw up on the red carpet.” “Yeahhh, not smooth and don’t fall over. I know you.” The car doors opened and you stepped out, instant flashes filled your eyes overwhelming you. “Fucking hell” “Don’t swear at people.” He whispered to you. Walking slowly down the red carpet following your brother closely you didn’t want to talk to anyone. They wanted to talk to the star of walking dead. Not you. Then you heard a reporter say something to him “We all have to know who is this stunning woman you have with you? She is beautiful.” He pulled you closer to him where people started taking your photo and asking for your name “This is y/N, my sister.” They all kept shouting your name but Andy pulled you away. “This is madness” you whispered to him. An arm on your shoulder made you jump, it was Norman. “How you holding up?” he said in your ear. “Okay, a little dizzy though. I might go blind from the flashes.” By then you had just realised he had his arm around your waist whole everyone was taking your photo. “It gets okay after a while. Stick with me and you’ll get used to it.” The three of you walked into the building. It was pandemonium, celebrities everywhere you looked. People like Idris Elba and Corey Micael Smith introduced themselves like it was nothing. Slowly you felt yourself start to sweat. Norman grabbed hold of your hand as he saw you were starting to get lost in the moment. He didn’t want you wandering off alone. Finally you sat at your table, it was nice to be with Lauren, Steven, Chandler, Jeffery, Dania and Melissa. Friendly faces you could calmly talk to. You were in between your brother and Lauren. Norman sat directly opposite you which meant you couldn’t help but keep getting eye contact. The awards were being announced one after another, it was getting close and closer to yours. You started to sweat again, you were starting to think you may have a problem. A big voice pulled you from the conversation you and Lauren were having “Now the award for best television special effects makeup. The nominees are: Game of Thrones, Gotham and The Walking Dead.” Your heart was pounding. You needed this so badly, it was your life’s work being presented to millions and it was up for an award. “The winner is.....” ‘Don’t throw up. Don’t throw up.’ You repeated in your head over and over. “.... The Walking Dead!” Your heart jumped. This was the best day of your life. The producer Frank stood up to collect the award. He looked out to the front where you all sat. “This is amazing. But I’m not going to say much because if it weren’t for our head on makeup this would never have happened. I really want this award to be presented to Y/N Lincoln. The real woman behind the horror and gore. Come up here sweetheart.” Your eyes widened. Andy pushed you to stand. You felt so nervous you couldn’t even feel your self walking in to stage it was like your whole body was numb. He passed you the award, kissed you on the cheek and whispered “Good job.” You stood at the mike and looked down at the cast sat like a little family. “This is.. wow.. erm thank you so much. This means more to me than you could all ever imagine. All the cast and crew and my amazing makeup crew made this happen and I just.. wow thank you all. It’s hasn’t been an easy street,” the cameras panned to Norman shaking his head and laughing “but we did it. I love you all so much. Did I say thank you?” everyone laughed and clapped as you walked off stage. You felt like you were on a cloud. You sat down beaming with happiness Everyone congratulated you. “Hey, you didn’t swear either.” You just rolled your eyes at Jeffery in response. -- After it was all over there was an after party at Michael Rookers house. You couldn’t believe that you were invited. Everything just didn’t seem to be real. You eventually got through all the chaos of people shouting your name and taking your photo. You got in the car and Andy followed Norman. “I’m so proud of you.” He said while driving. You still hadn’t stopped smiling “I just can’t believe it. Like I know you this is normal to you but Jesus this is just something else.” “Well they loved you.. so get used to it.” You reached the house, it was beautiful. Even though you were friends back when he was on the show you hadn’t actually been to his place. As soon as you walked in he ran to hug you “Hey sugar plum! How you been?” You squeezed him tight “Oh I’ve missed you.” He waved the three of you into the house. Celebrities left right and centre, it was all taking you a little off guard. “Hi.” A voice from behind you made you jump. It was Corey Smith “We met earlier.” “Oh yeah. Hi, having a good night?” “Amazing thank you. Would you like to get a drink?” Your eyes nearly shot out your head “Wow. Yeah of course!” your brother raised his eyebrows at you as you walked away. Conversation was flowing between you and Corey. You spoke about work, his girlfriend, comics. It was nice to be able to chat with someone without being all panicky. “Congratulations by the way.” He said. “Oh god, thank you. You too, I mean best TV villain. That’s amazing.” “y/N!” Lauren interrupted you both “Sorry but you have to come see this.” You followed her into Michael’s living room which was about the size of your whole apartment. A few people were stood around the telly. You moved through them all and watched it. “And the name on everyone’s lips tonight is y/n Lincoln! Who is this girl? Will we see more of her?” You felt your face flush red. You were actually famous. The TV carried on “I’m not sure where this girl has come from but I can say I hope we see her on our screens real soon. There’s a petition going on face book to get this girl in the walking dead. Let’s hope it happens.” The room started cheering. You turned to hug the closest person to you which happened to be Corey. Everyone came to congratulate you. You turned to your brother, face beaming with happiness. Your smile faded when you couldn’t see Norman “Where is He?” you asked Andy. “He just left.” You frowned “why? Was he not happy for me?” He shook his head and then nodded towards Corey. “What? I’ve been talking to him about work and his girlfriend.” “You seemed pretty close.” You downed your drink and turned to Michael “I’m sorry but I’ve got to go.” “Awh what. Come on stay sugar plum.” You raised your eyebrows at him “Sugar plum isn’t going to work this time. I gotta go tell someone I love them.”

[omgstupendousbouquetbasement]

Drake Breaks Taylor Swift's Record at Billboard Music Awards

Mother's Day is in a couple weeks, but Drake gave his mom an early gift with a heartfelt speech at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, where the rap star also broke Taylor Swift's record for most wins. Drake turned up the love for his mom when he picked up top artist, besting Cardi B, Ariana Grande, Post Malone and Travis Scott. He won 12 awards Wednesday in Las Vegas, making his career total 27 (Swift has 23 wins). He looked up to the ceiling as he held the trophy, then said: "I just want to thank my mom for her relentless effort in my life. "I want to thank my mom for all the times you drove me to piano. All the times you drove me to basketball and hockey — that clearly didn't work out. All the times you drove me to `Degrassi.' No matter how long it took me to figure out what I wanted to do, you were always there to give me a ride, and now we're on one hell of ride," Drake said. Family bonding was a theme at the three-hour show, which aired live on NBC and was hosted by Kelly Clarkson Ciara's young son and husband, NFL player Russell Wilson, danced along while she worked the stage, and Nick and Joe Jonas gave kisses to Priyanka Chopra and Sophie Turner of "Game of Thrones" fame when they sang in the audience before hitting the stage. Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco looked to his parents as he accepted top rock song, quoting the name of his current hit: "Hey look Ma, I made it!" Mariah Carey's twins cheered her on as she sang a medley of her hits and accepted the Icon award. She was in diva form before taking the award from Jennifer Hudson, throwing her napkin on the floor after dabbing her face with it. "Without getting into all the drama, all the ups and downs of my career ... I guess I always felt like an outsider, someone who doesn't quite belong anywhere, and I still feel like that lost interracial child who had a lot of nerve to believe I could succeed at anything at all in this world. But, and this is the truth, I did believe because I had to," she said. "The truth is I dedicated my life to my music — my saving grace — and to my fans." Cardi B, the night's top nominee with 21, locked lips with husband Offset on the red carpet and the couple sat closely inside the venue. She won six awards, including top Hot 100 song for "Girls Like You" with Maroon 5. "I remember when Maroon 5 hit me up to do this song. I was like, `Bro I'm five months pregnant. I can't even breathe.' But this record to me was so amazing. I was like, `Oh this is going to be a hit.' And now I sing this song to my daughter because she's the girl that I need," she said. Drake and Cardi B — who both won multiple awards during the live telecast — used their speeches to promote love and appreciation for their peers in the music industry. Others, too, brought on the positive energy when onstage. Imagine Dragons' band leader Dan Reynolds used his speech to highlight the dangers of conversion therapy on LGBTQ youth. He earned rousing applause. Florida Georgia Line's Tyler Hubbard followed suit, telling the audience after winning top country song: "In the spirit of so much truth being spoken tonight by so many talented artists, I think we should speak some truth." "As artists we all get to experience so many unbelievable things, but in our opinion, at the end of the day, it's all for nothing if you're not using your platform for better ... to spread love, to help those in needs, to be a light to your community," he said. Swift kicked off the show when she brought her new music video to life with a colorful, eye-popping performance of her song "ME!" Dancers wearing bright, pastel colors spun in the air holding umbrellas and a marching band kicked off Swift's performance — like most of the world, maybe she was inspired by Beyonce's new Coachella film? Madonna, wearing an eye-patch, teamed up with Colombian singer Maluma for a performance, but it was Grammy-winning Christian artist Lauren Daigle who had the night's best performance. She sang "You Say," giving the audience a calm, yet strong and powerful performance. She was backed by three awesome background singers and a pianist. BTS, who performed alongside Halsey, also had a major night. At the Billboard Awards and American Music Awards, the K-pop band had only previously won "social" awards based off their fanatic fan base, but on Wednesday BTS picked up top duo/group, besting Grammy-winning groups like Maroon 5, Imagine Dragons and Dan + Shay. "I still can't believe we're here on this stage with so many great artists," RM said as fans screamed loudly. "We're still the same boys from six years ago, we still have the same dreams ... we still have the same thoughts. Let us keep dreaming." An unlikely winner at the Billboard Awards? "Game of Thrones" actress Maisie Williams, whose plays Arya Stark on the HBO series and shined brightly on last week's episode. "Shout-out to Arya Stark for putting in that work last week," Drake said onstage after winning his first award of the evening. from Blogger http://bit.ly/2IUPysJ via IFTTT

[duaneodavila]

Brett Kavanaugh’s TIME Profile Is Designed To Make Me Vomit

(Photo by MELINA MARA/AFP/Getty Images)

A while back, I was at a poker table and cleaning up. There was only one other player there worth a damn, and we just politely stayed away from each other and took money from others.

The other good player was a wearing a wife beater and a trucker hat and had a gap in his teeth. He was playing an “I’m just a redneck” game that I could spot a mile away. I was wearing my Mets cap, backwards like a d-bag, fronting an “I’m from New York and play against my roomies and bros” kind of vibe. Or so I thought. As the evening progressed the yokel sharp, who was already out of the hand, looked at me and said, “Well, at least you have Mariano, his split-finger is the best in baseball.” I folded my hand. I politely corrected him that Mariano Rivera played for the Yankees, and he threw a cut fastball, not a split-finger fastball. Remember, I’m supposed to be a “bro.”

It was a financially ruinous mistake. I had shown the sharp that I could be easily annoyed and distracted by wrong sports ass-talk. By folding and then responding, instead of ignoring or responding while playing, I showed that it actually affected my game. I didn’t know it immediately, but he had me. The rest of the night was just a barrage of stupid sports: “You know, I watched ‘The Fumble’ live, I can’t believe Elway dropped the ball.” ERNEST BYNER FUMBLED THE BALL, ELWAY WON THE GAME! I spectacularly lost all of my money. I didn’t even really know what had happened to me, until I was leaving the table and the sharp said, “Let’s go Mets.”

It is incredibly annoying when a troll trolls you, and wins because you can’t stop yourself from having the reaction he was trying to provoke. The same feeling I had leaving that poker table is the feeling I had today, when I opened up Twitter and learned that TIME magazine had named Brett Kavanaugh one of its 100 most influential people… along with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.

TIME. IS. TROLLING. US. It knows that nobody under 60 actually gives a crap about TIME and who they think the 100 most influential people are. It knows that it is peak “both siderism” to have a list that includes Ford and Kavanaugh in this context. It knows that the only way people are going to write about TIME is when it does crap like this, and just sits back and lets people’s outrage drive clicks.

I wasn’t going to play, I wasn’t going to tweet about it, much less write about it. But I couldn’t help myself from reading TIME’s write-up of Kavanaugh… which was penned by none other than Mitch McConnell:

When Brett Kavanaugh was named the President’s choice to succeed Justice Anthony Kennedy, he was one of the most qualified Supreme Court nominees in modern history. He had a sterling academic record, impeccable legal credentials and a prolific record of thoughtful and impartial jurisprudence over more than a decade on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

But when unhinged partisanship and special interests sought to distract the Senate from considering those qualifications, we saw other facets of Justice Kavanaugh’s character shine forth as well. The country saw his resilience and commitment to public service. We saw his loyal devotion to family and friends. We saw his undeterred reverence for the law, for precedents and for our nation’s highest traditions.

It is all these qualities combined that make Justice Kavanaugh exactly the kind of jurist whom the American people deserve on our Supreme Court. I look forward to many years of brilliant, distinguished public service.

McConnell, a Republican, is a Senator from Kentucky and serves as Senate majority leader

ARRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHH! F^(% YOU. F^(%ITY F^(% YOU INTO THE F^(%ING SUN! Eighty-three ethics complaints. PERJURY. And an alleged attempted rapist is not “the kind of jurist whom the American people deserve.” He’s not the kind of jurist sentient puddles of slime “deserve,” assuming the slime is just trying to ooze in peace and harmony.

TIME is only putting this out there to trigger people and it’s WORKING ON ME. I feel like a male Stark, letting my freaking sense of JUSTICE obscure the obvious trap that has been laid before me.

Kamala Harris wrote Christine Blasey Ford’s blurb and it’s nice and fine and I’m sure the rape apologist crowd feels as angry about that as I do about the Kavanaugh fluffing. It all works out for TIME. Everybody gets to be pissed at something and they don’t care because people are clicking. The house always wins.

Me, I’m just angry. And a fool for being angry. Which is just making me more angry. Well played, yokel TIME. Well freaking played.

Time honors Brett Kavanaugh on ‘Most Influential’ list — along with his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford [Linking to Yahoo because screw TIME]

Elie Mystal is the Executive Editor of Above the Law and a contributor at The Nation. He can be reached @ElieNYC on Twitter, or at elie@abovethelaw.com. He will resist.

Brett Kavanaugh’s TIME Profile Is Designed To Make Me Vomit republished via Above the Law

[weekendwarriorblog]

WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND April 5, 2019  - SHAZAM, PET SEMATARY, THE BEST OF ENEMIES, PETERLOO

Sadly, this is yet another weekend where I wasn’t able to see two of the three new movies, but that’s because I’m in Las Vegas covering CinemaConfor The Beat, but I do want to write a little more about a movie coming out this weekend that I want to put a little added focus on. Back in the day, I used to include a “Chosen One” in each week’s column, and I’m getting to the point where I’d like to try to do something like that again… and so, after the jump, you will get my review of one such film.

That movie is PETERLOO (Amazon), the new movie from director Mike Leigh, an eight-time Oscar nominee whose work has garnered him much respect and whose work I’ve especially enjoyed, particularly Vera Drake and Happy-Go-Lucky. The first of these is significant because it’s one of Leigh’s rare historic pieces but his last movie Mr. Turner went one further by telling the story of a real person, in that case, painter J.M.W. Turner, as played by Tim Spall.

Peterloo is somewhat of a departure for Mr. Leigh, since it isn’t focused on a small group of two to four characters, instead telling a massively complex storyline about a peaceful rally in Manchester that was racked by violence when politicians decided to disperse the crowd.

I have to admit that as Peterloo began on the battlefield of Waterloo, I wasn’t sure to expect, thinking it might be Leigh’s attempt at a war film, but the story follows a young bugler, Joseph, whom we see on the battlefield before he returns home to Manchester with a case of PTSD.  His family, and in fact, the whole town, is suffering from poverty and hunger, and there’s a growing desire to be represented in the Parliament in London so that things might improve. The city’s grew white hope is one Henry Hunt, played by Rory Kinnear, and he’s going to travel up to Manchester to talk to the people who will presumably vote for him.

Once it gets going, Peterloo is such a fascinating film. I’m really curious to see how Americans will react to it, because while it’s just as typically British as Leigh’s previous work, it’s a movie that’s more about British history and British politics, and I’m just not sure if that’s the sort of thing that will connect with Americans.

I can completely understand why some might be frustrated with Leigh’s latest, because it is very long, it does take some time to get going, and a lot of time you might not know exactly what is going on or what is being discussed.  I certainly wasn’t exactly sure what was going on or who some of the characters were as they flew through the vast ensemble cast moving from one character and location to another. Eventually, you get used to this pace and start seeing familiar faces that makes things much clearer.  Leigh also uses this tactic to create layers that build and build to the climactic last half hour of the film where violence disrupts an otherwise peaceful day. It’s quite the counterpoint to the war scene that opens the film, but don’t worry. Joseph doesn’t get lost in the shuffle, as you might suspect, because it really follows his journey despite often focusing on others.

One of the things I especially liked about Leigh’s latest is that while it does often get somber and serious, there’s still a wit to it, especially in the way it deals with the stupidity of the politicians and magistrates who seem to have little care for the people they’re supposed to be representing.

Oddly, two days after seeing Peterloo, I saw the Broadway musical Hamilton, a historical piece that takes place in America earlier than the events of Leigh’s film, but it offered a similar resonance to me, even though it did so with musical numbers rather than talking.

Leigh’s screenplay is another masterpiece, but I was equally impressed by the casting of such a large ensemble, many with British actors whom few on these shores will have ever seen or heard of. I’m really curious to know where he found them, because he’s become so known for working with the same small group of actors over the years, and almost everyone in this movie is new to the Leigh camp.

Personally, I think this is Leigh’s best film in many, many years, possibly on par with some of his best work even though I know it deals with a far more difficult (and localized) subject. Regardless, it’s also a film I will gladly see a second time just to catch some of the nuances I may have missed the first time around.

Rating: 8.5/10

Now, back to your regularly scheduled preview column…

As far as the wide releases, I’ve only seen one of them and that was SHAZAM! (New Line/WB), the latest DC Comics character to be brought to the big screen, in this case by Swedish filmmaker David F. Sandberg (Lights Out). I already reviewedthe movie for The Beat, so I don’t have much more to say about it (other than my Box Office Preview, which is ALSO at The Beat), but I did enjoy this quite a bit, maybe not as much as Aquaman but definitely as much as Wonder Woman. It’s a good movie that shows you can do something different with supereheroes and still make a movie work on its own merits (rather than connecting to future movies)

The other movie I’m really looking forward to seeing (when I get back from Vegas) is the new version of Stephen King’s PET SEMATARY (Paramount), directed by Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer, who found some fans in the horror crowd with their earlier film Starry Eyes.  I guess the cast could be more interesting, although I do love John Lithgow and Amy Seimetz has been a favorite of mine from the indie work she’s done. And I don’t hate Jason Clarke either, although some of his choices in films (other than last year’s Chappaquidick, in which he was great) sometimes leaves me scratching my head.

Robin Bissell’s THE BEST OF ENEMIES (STXfilms) is a civil rights drama that one would normally see during Oscar season, since it stars Oscar winner Sam Rockwell and nominee Taraji P. Henson. This story is interesting to me as someone who loved last year’s Green Book, mainly because there are stories like this (and that) from the ‘60s that deserve to be told. Unfortunately, I’m missing this due to CinemaCon as well, so hopefully I’ll have a chance to see it when I’m back in New York.

LIMITED RELEASES

Besides Peterloo, reviewed above, there’s a few other films I recommend seeking out, and hopefully the first three of these will expand into other places than big cities after this weekend:

Correction: Oops!! It looks like I missed the fact that Teen Spirit will not open in select cities until April 12, so I’ll rerun my write-up on it next week

Seemingly a lost project/movie, the late filmmaker Sydney Pollack was commissioned by Warner Bros. Records to capture a concert by Aretha Franklin singing gospel songs for a movie, but it was shelved due to technical difficulties. More than 45 years later, that concert is presented in AMAZING GRACE (NEON), and if there ever was any doubt in your mind about what an amazing singer Franklin was, this movie will certainly change that. It opens in select cities.

Opening in New York, L.A. and other cities is Emma Tammi’s Western werewolf movie THE WIND (IFC Midnight), which played at TIFF and Fantastic Fest last year and the more-recent What the Fest in New York. It stars Caitlin Gerard from Insidious: The Last Key as a rugged woman who has moved into a cabin on the American frontier in the early 19thCentury, where she immediately starts feeling as if there’s a sinister presence, possibly tied to the only other couple who lives out there. Her husband (Ashley Zukerman) doesn’t believe her.  If you like Westerns and want to see one with a dominant female presence (both in front and behind the camera) then you’ll want to check this out.

I guess this is as good a place as any to mention that one of my favorite filmmaker Terry Gilliam’s new movie The Man Who Killed Don Quixote will be available to see nationwide on Tuesday via Fathom Events. The movie, starring Adam Driver, Jonathan Pryce and a number of amazing European actors who I was unfamiliar with, is one that Gilliam has been trying to make for over 20 years and no surprise, it harks back to his great films like The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and The Fisher King, which came out during the filmmaker’s heyday. I’m just so happy Gilliam was finally able to make this movie, and it actually turned out quite well.. maybe a little weird for some tastes, but not too weird for lifelong Gilliam fans like myself. 

Hilary Duff stars in the title role of Daniel Ferrands’ THE HAUNTING OF SHARON TATE (Saban Films) about the murder of the 26-year-old actress who was pregnant with Roman Polanski’s baby when she was murdered by Charles Manson and his cult.It opens in theaters and will be available On Demand starting Friday.

Jordan Downey’s The Head Hunter (Vertical) involves a medieval warrior who is protecting the kingdom from monsters, collecting their heads as he slays them. The one monster he hasn’t killed yet is the one that killed his daughter, so he travels on horseback to try to get revenge. It opens in select cities and On Demand.

Jai Courtney stars in Shawn Seet’s adaptation of Colin Thiele’s Storm Boy (Good Deed Entertainment), an Australian drama in which the retired businessman Michael Kingley reflects back on his past life. Some of these memories including a story about how as a boy, he rescued an orphaned pelican and named it Mr. Percival.

Filmmaker Emilio Estevez’s latest film, the political drama The Public (Greenwich), will also open Friday after playing TIFF and a few other festivals. It stars Alec Baldwin with Estevez, Jena Malone, Taylor Schilling, Christian Slater, Gabrielle Union, Michael K. Williams and Jeffrey Wright, and with a cast like that, do you really need to know what the movie is about? Okay, fine. It takes place in a public library in Cincinnati where a number of homeless patrons take it over during an Arctic blast, seeking shelter from the cold but also staging an act of civil disobedience, in the process.

Showing FREE OF CHARGE at New York’s Film Forum (as part of their annual Free Movie Week) starting Wednesday is Cam Christiansen’s animated doc Wall, which looks at the decision by Israel to build the 435-mile long wall to separate the Palestinian West Bank from the rest of Israel. Building that $4 billion wall meant the confiscation of 4,000 acres of Palestinian land and the destruction of 1,000 trees…and that area is still in disarray. So yeah… building walls is a bad idea.

Stephanie Wang-Breal’s documentary Blowin’ Up (Once in a Blue) deals with the first-ever court created to deal with prostitution in Queens, New York, the Queens Human Intervention Trafficking Court led by the Honorable Toko Serita. The purpose is to help deal with the women and girls arrested for prostitution who are illegal Asian immigrants or are black, Latina or trans, so they get shuffled through the system without it ever dealing with the complex reasons why they turn to prostitution. The doc opens at the Quad in New York Friday and then in L.A. on April 12.

Opening at the Metrograph in New York City is Qiu Sheng’s feature debut Suburban Birds (Cinema Guild) involving two narrative strands, one involving land surveyors who are laying subway tracks, the other involving pre-adolescents who rove the streets of the town unsupervised. It sounds…um… interesting?

Josh Stewart from Criminal Minds writes, directs and stars in Back Fork (Uncork’d) as family man Waylon who is struggling to keep his life together after tragedy, becoming more dependent on pills. Also starring Agnes Bruckner, the film will open in select cities and be available On Demand starting April 9.

LOCAL FESTIVALS

First up, on Tuesday began the 11th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival at the JCC Manhattan, celebrating those who have fought past what would normally be considered “disabilities” to greatness. It kicked off with the Opening Night Gala and Screening of Irene Taylor Brodsky’s Moonlight Sonata: Deafness in Three Movements, a documentary about a boy with genetic deafness who grew up with cochlear implants whose grandfather is adverse against using such technology in his old age. The festival runs through April 9 where the Closing Night film is Nick Kelly’s The Drummer and the Keeper about a drummer dealing with a bipolar diagnosis. In between is a full line-up of narratives and documentaries exploring different disabilities from blindness to mental disorders, and it’s quite an amazing array of films, many which might not ever get distribution, sadly. Screenings take place all over the city including Bellevue Hospital, Lincoln Center and the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens.

Although the 22nd Annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival takes place in Durham, North Carolina – home of Duke University -- starting Thursday, I do have a love for the documentary genre that makes me want to mention the amazing programming, which will include a thematic program called “Some Other Lives of Time,” curated by Oscar nominee RaMell Ross (Hale County This Morning, This Evening). Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert’s American Factory is the opening night film while the Aretha Franklin concert doc Amazing Grace (released this weekend in other cities) closes this year’s festival. There’s an amazing line-up of docs in between, some that have played other festivals like David Modigliani’s Running with Beto  and Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, and others that are premiering at Full Frame. American Factory  directors Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert are getting a tribute with all of their earlier features and shorts shown, as well as their new film about a General Motors plant in Dayton, Ohio that closed, forcing 2,500 people into unemployment. This is a festival I’ve wanted to attend for so long and I do have friends in the Durham area that would make this worth a visit, but it’s only four days from Thursday through Sunday, so can’t do it this year.

Also, the Havana Film Festival New York begins at the Museum of the Moving Image on Sunday.

STREAMING AND CABLE

This week’s big Netflix release is Brie Larson’s directorial debut UNICORN STORE, in which she plays a 20-something artist named Kit, who is kicked out of art school, forcing her to move back home with her parents. Just as Kit decides to finally grow up, a salesman, played by Larson’s Captain Marvel co-star Samuel L. Jackson, shows up to offer Kit her heart’s desire. Based on a script by Samantha McIntyre, the film also stars Joan Cusack as Kit’s mother.

Netflix also has a number of new series starting on Friday including Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (from Riverdale showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa) and the eight-part nature series Our Planet, narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

I didn’t go to Sundance so I haven’t had a chance to see Rashid Johnson’s Native Son, starring Margaret Qualley, Nick Robinson, Kiki Layne, Ashton Sanders, Sanaa Lathan and Elizabeth Marvel, but that will premiere on HBO this Saturday night.

REPERTORY

METROGRAPH (NYC):

On Friday, Metrograph will open a restoration of King Hu’s little-seen 1973 martial arts film The Fate of Lee Khan (Film Movement Classics) but the real winner this weekend is the Playtime: Family Matinees screenings of one of my childhood faves, Ken Hughes’ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), starring Dick Van Dyke. Late Nites at Metrograph will show Sion Sono’s 2016 film Anti-Porno, which I may have seen before or maybe I just saw the trailer at Metrograph when it screened there a couple years back. I can’t remember! Also, the Total Kaurismäki Show continues through the weekend with Leningrad Cowboys Go America  (1989) on Thursday, more esoteric films like Juha  (1999) and Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatiana  (1994) on Saturday, Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses (1994) on Sunday and then his recent The Other Side of Hopeon Monday. That series continues through next Wednesday. Thursday also continues the Academy at Metrograph series with a screening of the 1959 rom-com Pillow Talk.

THE NEW BEVERLY (L.A.):

Weds and Thursday are double features of  Jack Nicholson’s 1971 film Drive, He Said  with the 1972 John Wayne movie The Cowboys. Friday and Saturday, the New Bev does a sci-double feature of Silent Running  (1972) and The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant (1971). This weekend’s KIDDEE MATINEE is Tom Hanks and Joe Dante’s The Burbs (1989), the Friday midnight screening is Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight (Multiplex version) while the Saturday night midnight offering is John Landis’ 1978 comedy classic Animal House. A 4-track mag print (whatever that is) of Carl Foreman’s war movie The Victors (1963) will screen on Sunday and Monday. Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia (1999) will also screen on Monday afternoon.

FILM FORUM (NYC):

Besides debuting an uncut (220 mins. With intermission) version of Franesco Rosi’s 1979 epic Christ Stopped at Eboli (Rialto Pictures), the Film Forum is screening the 1968 war film Where Eagles Dare introduced by British author Geoff Dyer (who wrote a book about the movie) on Saturday, and then John Boorman’s 1967 film Point Blank on Sunday, also introduced by Dyer.

EGYPTIAN THEATRE (LA):

Noir City: Hollywood – The 21stAnnual Los Angeles Festival of Film Noir continues through the weekend with chronological double features of 1955 films The Big Combo and Bad Day at Black Rock on Weds, the 1956 films A Kiss Before Dying and The Harder They Fall on Thurs, and then 1957′s The Midnight Story and Monkey on my Back Friday, Clara Bow’s Call Her Savage from 1932 with a Forbidden Hollywood presentation on Saturday, along with Orson Welles’ Touch of Evil and Louis Malle’s Elevator to the Gallows, both from 1958. The series ends on Sunday with I Want to Live (1958) and Cry Tough (1959). 

AERO  (LA):

I wish I lived in L.A. right now because the Aero is launching a Mike Leigh retrospective called “Bleak, But Never Boring: Life According to Mike Leigh” starting Friday with a double feature of Naked  (1993)and Meantime (1984), Saturday is Secrets & Lies  (1996)and Vera Drake (2004), then Sunday is Life is Sweet  (1990)and High Hopes (1988).   On Thursday, the Aero is ALSO showing Animal House… but with guests!

BAM CINEMATEK (NYC):

Strange Desire: The Films of Claire Deniscontinues through the weekend with Bastards and The Breidjing Camp on Thursday, Towards Mathilde (2005) with the 2002 short Vers Nancy and US Go Home (1994) & the doc Claire Denis, The Vagabondon Saturday. Denis’ fairly recent film Let the Sunshine Inwill screen again on Sunday, as will Denis’ 1994 film I Can’t Sleep.

MOMA (NYC):

Modern Matinees: B is for Bacall continues with 1966’s Harper Weds, Woman’s World  (1954) Thursday and Robert Altman’s Pret-A-Porter (Ready to Wear) (1994) on Friday.

MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE (NYC):

Besides taking apart in a few film festivals mentioned above, MOMI will also screen Antonio Tibaldi’s On My Own (1991) with Tibaldi in person.

QUAD CINEMA  (NYC):

Bertrand Blier’s Get Out Your Handkerchiefscontinues…

LANDMARK THEATRES NUART  (LA):

Friday’s midnight screening is the anime classic Akira.

The IFC CENTER in New York seems to be in-between repertory programs, while FILM SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER is still focused on New Directors/New Films through Sunday.

Next week, Lionsgate revives Mike Mignola’s Hellboy, this time played by David Harbour, Tina Gordon’s comedy Littlestarring Regina Hall and Issa Rae, and LAIKA Studios returns with their latest stop-motion animated film Missing Link.

[veliusthewanderer]

2021 The Race is On and It Looks Like A Frak-Up

Yes ladies and gentlemen, that time that you anticipate with both hope and dread is fast approaching: 2021 and the presentation of a new POTUS. Will he be Republican? Will he be Democrat? Will he actually be a ‘she’? Third Party? Its much too early in the game to know for sure, but let’s go over a few of the choices from each and see how they might stand against an incumbent dictator.

As of this post, there are no confirmed Republican challengers to Donald Trump. There are at least two possible explanations for this lack of a spine on the part of the GOP to field someone willing to take on Trump. They either worship the ground he slithers on, kissing his bumpy, sewer-smelling backside and act as those bobble-head dolls whenever he makes a move to usurp Congress, or they’re so terrified of him because of his ill-gotten wealth and dynamism that they cower in the corner and allow Trump to get away with murder-figuratively speaking. Its still early so there is hope someone will eventually tire of Trump’s oral flatulence and defy his cult of personality to put the country back on the right path, but personally I feel that hope is so slim as to be nonexistent.

On the other hand, thanks to a surge which propelled them into the House of Representatives for the first time in a decade, Democrats have been lining up, ready willing and able to take on the Ogre Trump. Fresh faces (three of which I’ll get to in a moment) as well as old favorites have either announced their candidacy or are exploring the idea seriously. Before I get to the new faces, however, I need to talk of the three old favorites and why I believe two of those might bring the worst outcome, a continuation of the Trump dictatorship, into reality. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders (no poo-pooing from the Bernie Bros), and Joe Biden, starting with Warren. Back in 2016, she was being touted as a possible alternative to Hillary Clinton, an idea she spurned right from the start. Since then, however, she has become a magnet for those hoping to put a woman in the Oval Office but STILL can’t see Hillary Clinton as that woman. She’s taken on Trump, who delights in calling her ‘Pocahantas’ while besmirching her on TV, and at rallies. The recent revelation that she misidentified as ‘Native American’ on a document years ago has now come back to haunt her, as Trump has taken that football and ran with it, with little defense from Warren or the Democrats. A Warren nomination now would spell a second Trump administration as I feel she no longer has credibility and thus Trump would easily destroy her in the general election. Next up, Joe Biden. While the fact he was VP under Obama gives him major points among those hoping to revive the Obama coalition and take Trump down, Trump hasn’t shied away from attacking him as well, saying he’d knock Biden out in a single punch because he’s too old. While it is more likely that Biden could stand toe-to-toe with Trump on equal footing, I personally still believe that Trump would somehow (Russia) find a way to come out on top. I saved Bernie Sanders for last because I’m certain the Bernie Bros and ‘Berniecrats’ will start posting death-threats once I’m done (but as you don’t know who I am or where I live, good luck *wink* ), but sadly for you Berniecrats, he’s right now the biggest threat to any hope of removing Trump from office and making him face justice once and for all. It should be apparent to you Berniecrats that Trump is LOVING the idea of Bernie running again, as the many Berniecrats who defected to Trump did give some assistance to his campaign in 2016. Trump is already planning how to play up the ‘humiliation of 2016′ in which Clinton FAIR AND SQUARE beat Sanders to grab more support from those who still feel that Bernie got screwed. Now let me just be clear on this point (and make sure if you have trouble reading, zoom in the text or buy glasses). I didn’t fully support Bernie back in 2016 (yep, a Clinton supporter, KMA), but had he won the nomination, I would’ve voted for him readily and easily because as we now know, the alternative would’ve been a Trump dictatorship that would make Stalin look like Mr Rogers in comparison. Unfortunately, that is where my sympathy comes to an end, as a Bernie nomination-like the Warren nomination-would only spell another four years of the Orange Ogre.

Now that I’ve likely dashed the hopes of the supporters of the old school Democrats (and likely gotten death-threats from the Bernie fans), let me now talk about the three fresh faces of the Democratic Party who are running for president: Kamala Harris, Beto O’Rorke, and Julian Castro (no offense to Cory Booker, I’ll save him for another blog. Don’t worry, nothing bad will be said about him). Kamala Harris is another woman looking to to pick up the torch Hillary was forced to drop (Russia, FBI, Snowden), but unlike Warren, she is younger and-when it comes to Trump-just as fired up as her older fellow Democrat. Harris has been garnering a lot of support (second really, behind Bernie), raised more than $1 million and been meeting across the country. Thanks to the #MeToo movement and the earlier midterm elections, her campaign has received a boost and she could very well be able to remove the Trump blight from the Oval Office, especially if she’s paired up with one of the other two (three if you count Booker) candidates, O’Rorke and Castro. Harris is best placed to challenge Trump on matters that most concern women, such as healthcare, abortion rights, education. Julian Castro, son of immigrant parents, has the credentials either as presidential nominee or as running-mate to Harris, and could take on Trump on matters of immigration, healthcare, gun regulations, and education. Personally he’s my second choice for president for those very reasons, and while I would happily back a Harris-Castro Democratic ticket against Trump-Pence, another dream combination would be Castro and the third and most fresh face in the Democrat Party, Beto O’Rorke. Beto came from literally out of the blue, took on the Canadian Ted Cruz and lost by ONLY 3%. But even in defeat, Beto won simply by having his name out there, in Texas. Using that, he traveled to Iowa, where the first caucus is held, and announced his presidential campaign. Even if he gesticulates with his hands (a fact not lost on Trump, who ridiculed it much to the disinterest of O’Rorke himself) and looks like a model for L.L.Bean, Beto, like Castro, can take on Trump when it comes to immigration-having come from a border state, education, and gun regulations. He’s MY personal choice for Democratic candidate.

Now, unfortunately, I have to mention the Third Party because this year that candidate could play spoiler. Howard Schultz announced his candidacy just two months ago, and the resulting firestorm of protest from Democratic voters forced him, in a CNN town hall, to make clear he’d withdraw if it looked like his campaign would give Trump an edge. As much as I’d like to believe him, past history with third-party candidates has shown that its not likely he’ll honor his word. I could write a whole new paragraph ripping into the past third party candidacies of Ross Perot, Ralph Nader, Gary Johnson..but I won’t. I’ll simply conclude this one by saying that Schultz ties Bernie Sanders for biggest threat to any hopes of removing the stain that is Trump from the Oval Office and confining him forever to a mere chapter in US history texts. 

In conclusion, while I will NEVER vote Republican, I still hope someone in the GOP will finally come to their senses, grow a pair, and stand up to Trump on the presidential stage. Barring that, I hope that either Harris, O’Rorke, Castro, even Booker will emerge as nominees (and maybe select one of the others as running mate) and take Trump down. I sincerely hope Bernie reconsiders once it becomes clear he would hand the Oval Office to Trump on a gold plate should he continue to run..and drop out. I hope Schultz will honor his pledge should it look like Trump will get an advantage and drop out. But as I said, the day is still young. Anything can happen, so until the final nominations on both sides takes place, its all up in the air.

[news-mashable-yahoopartner-blog]

An in-depth history of the world's best bromance

Near, far, wherever they are, we believe that Barack Obama and Joe Biden's bromance does go on.

With inauguration day only hours away, it's time to look back on the laughter, the tears and the fierce brotherly love that made the Obama and Biden friendship the beloved First Bromance of America that it's been over these past eight years.

SEE ALSO: 10 inspiring moments from Barack Obama's presidency in GIFs

From ice-cream socials and grand birthday gestures to supportive speeches and financial assistance, ever since Barack and Joe won the 2008 election, they've had each other's backs, through thick and thin.

So before the boys try out the whole long-distance thing, let us reflect on some of the maaaaany times they raised the bar for #FriendshipGoals, in no particular order.

Casual hangouts

Even though they're two of the most important people on earth, Barack and Joe don't need to be surrounded by impressive architecture, fancy cuisine or famous friends to have a good time. Whether they're grabbing some ice cream, a few burgers or kicking it in the stands of a game, like true BFFs, they chill whenever and whenever.

Phil Schiliro, assistant to the President for legislative affairs, left, with President Obama and VP Biden bro-ing out at a Duke Georgetown NCAA college basketball game in 2010.

Image: Nick wass/ap photo

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meeting with, from left, Aidin Sarabi, Abdullahi Mohamed, Meredith Upchurch and Antonio Byrd at a Shake Shack in Washington, Friday, May 16, 2014.

Image: MANUEL BALCE CENETA/ap photo

Back in August of 2008 before winning the election, Obama and Biden shared a laugh while ordering ice cream at the Windmill Ice Cream Shop in Aliquippa, Pa.

Image: Alex Brandon/ap photo

The BroHugs

Obama and Biden made sure to hug it out at every available opportunity. Though they've embraced every opportunity to embrace they could find, over the past eight years, one of the most memorable hugs came during a moment the two shared on stage after being re-elected for a second term in 2012.

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden embrace on stage after his victory speech on election night in 2012.

Image: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

That time they made a workout video together

After the dynamic duo was challenged by Michelle Obama to show us how they move, in support of FLOTUS's "Let's Move" campaign, BFFs Barack and Joe came together to do some jogging around the White House, a little stretching, and a lot of rehydrating, of course.

When Joe made sure Barack was in his first selfie

Normally, a first selfie is an iconic moment for you—and you alone. But when it came time for Joe Biden to snap his first selfie, he knew it'd be nothing without his best friend by his side. The legendary Instagram post (captioned: "Found a friend to join my first selfie on Instagram. Thanks for following and stay tuned. –VP") features the bros smiling ear-to-ear in the back of a presidential motorcade.

We wish we could be this cool.

Found a friend to join my first selfie on Instagram. Thanks for following and stay tuned. –VP

A photo posted by Vice President Joe Biden (@vp) on Apr 16, 2014 at 6:11pm PDT

In times of tragedy

When Joe Biden's eldest son, former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, passed away in May of 2015, Barack made sure he was right by our VP's side every step of the way.

After the news broke, Obama released a touching statement explaining, "Like his dad, Beau was a good, big-hearted, devoutly Catholic and deeply faithful man, who made a difference in the lives of all he touched—and he lives on in their hearts." 

He later gave a moving eulogy at Beau's funeral.

"We are here to grieve with you, but more importantly we are here because we love you," Obama addressed the Biden family before praising Beau's character. "Anyone can make a name for themselves in this reality TV age, but to make that name mean something, to have it associated with dignity and integrity—that is rare," he said. 

Before concluding his speech, Obama addressed his dear friend, reassuring him, "Joe, you are my brother."

Image: YURI GRIPAS/Ap photo

In an interview with CNN that aired in January 2016, Biden reflected on Obama's deeply supportive actions during the difficult time, and shared that POTUS offered him and his family financial help and heartfelt advice during his son's illness.

After Biden told Obama he was thinking of selling his family's Wilmington, Delaware home in order to care for Beau's family, Obama immediately took action. According to the VP, Obama "got up and he said, 'Don't sell that house. Promise me you won't sell the house.'" 

Biden told CNN's Gloria Borger, Obama said, "I'll give you the money. Whatever you need, I'll give you the money. Don't, Joe—promise me. Promise me."

.@VP: @POTUS offered financial help amid my son's illness https://t.co/9hQLocgkaA https://t.co/wAR3T0ueCV

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 12, 2016

Post-Trump, but still tight

On Nov. 9, President Obama stood in the Rose Garden to deliver a statement on the election results following Hillary Clinton's loss. At a time when Americans were feeling a range of emotions, Obama and Biden did their best to keep things hopeful and lighthearted.

"I've lost elections before," Obama admitted before joking, "Joe hasn't, but you know."

Biden then graced Obama with one of his epic side hugs and recalled his own ill-fated presidential campaign in 2008, reminding his pal: "You beat me badly."

The presents

For President Obama's 55th birthday, Biden tweeted a photo of friendship bracelets made for the duo. 

Are. You. Kidding. Me.

The gesture was likely a throwback to a June BuzzFeed video, "5 Things that Are Harder than Registering to Vote," in which President Obama makes his very own "Barack" and "Joe" bracelets, but whatever the inspiration was, friendship bracelets are no joke. 

Happy 55th, Barack! A brother to me, a best friend forever. pic.twitter.com/uNsxouTKOO

— Vice President Biden (@VP) August 4, 2016

In case that gift wasn't heartfelt enough, Biden continued to woo Obama as his special day went on, bringing him delicious looking birthday cupcakes... WITH CANDLES.

President Obama blows out candles on birthday cupcakes brought to him by VP Joe Biden, Aug. 4 - Pete Souza pic.twitter.com/aNQncMkXzd

— GoldenCouple (@TRH_WandC) August 5, 2016

In September, Obama returned the love to Biden on his special day, offering him birthday wishes in the form of an adorable tweet where he referred to Joe as the "best VP and friend."

Happy birthday, Joe! The best @VP and friend I could have had alongside me these past eight years. pic.twitter.com/kWH3L5uSFC

— President Obama (@POTUS) November 20, 2016

The meme of all memes

When America needed it most, Barack and Joe's friendship was there.

Following Donald Trump's election, the bromance inspired the brilliant people of the internet to create a coping meme, which consisted of charming photographs of POTUS and VP accompanied by Biden's fictional and menacing intentions of ways to mess with Trump.

Obama: "Joe, why are you still holding my hand?" Biden: "I wanna freak Mike Pence out" Obama: "But why?" Biden: "Just roll with it" pic.twitter.com/o5KZZ0Ysgz

— thomas moore (@Thomas_A_Moore) November 12, 2016

biden: cmon you gotta print a fake birth certificate, put it in an envelope labeled "SECRET" and leave it in the oval office desk obama: joe pic.twitter.com/UTtv1JkE5o

— jomny sun (@jonnysun) November 11, 2016

Joe: Okay so we sneak in one night around February, steal his shoes Obama: Joe Joe: And then dump legos all over the floor pic.twitter.com/2KCU7LbciV

— Jacqueline (@jacquelinehey) November 13, 2016

The "Biden plotting against Trump" memes will live in glorious infamy and forever remind us of the intimate and humorous relationship Barack and Biden shared in the White House.

Barack's goodbyes

On Jan. 10, President Obama delivered his emotional farewell address to the American people.

Towards the end of the speech, he turned to Vice President Joe Biden, whom he of course called a "brother."

"To Joe Biden, the scrappy kid from Scranton who became Delaware’s favorite son," Obama said. "You were the first choice I made as a nominee, and the best. Not just because you have been a great vice president, but because in the bargain, I gained a brother."

*blinks back tears*

"We love you and Jill like family, and your friendship has been one of the great joys of our life," Obama concluded before he and Joe exchanged a legendary finger guns exchange.

Joe's big surprise

After watching the video below—which documents the ultimate display of bromantic affection—you'll be hard pressed not to be weepy.

On Jan. 12 President Obama surprised Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Americans watched through blurry eyes as the VP broke down in tears.

Biden and Obama both took the mic to praise one another and share some insight on their friendship.

One final meme

As Obama praised Biden's accomplishments and character before presenting him with the Medal of Freedom, he straight up acknowledged the bromance.

"This also gives the internet one last chance to talk about our bromance." pic.twitter.com/aQnsUyH293

— Mashable GIF (@mashablegif) January 12, 2017

Not only did the internet talk about their bromance once again, but of course, made one final meme of the two pals before they left the White House.

To help us survive inauguration week, the  touching moment when Obama presented Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom was transformed into a joke sesh.

biden: i am one with the force, the force is with me obama: what? biden: nothing pic.twitter.com/xAlcWBPM4M

— Colin Jones (@colinjones) January 14, 2017

Biden: am i an avenger now? Obama: sure Joe Biden: pic.twitter.com/fNAy5Xwte2

— Ally Gator (@notacroc) January 13, 2017

"but i thought the old lady dropped it into the ocean in the end" "well baby, i went down and got it for you" "aw, you shouldn't have" pic.twitter.com/GfhnGsXFIW

— ((Julia Reinstein)) (@juliareinstein) January 13, 2017

Biden: wow this is like a black belt huh Obama: no it's the presidential medal of free- ya know what, yeah joe, it's like a black belt pic.twitter.com/2WfFJ2Wn7c

— rudy mustang (@roostermustache) January 12, 2017

Excuse us, while we try to find a friendship this true.

BONUS: History of Obama / Biden bromance