And here we are at the second Friday of October, getting closer to Halloween, and yet the most frightening things most of us encounter day to day are found in the headlines of major news organizations, because we are trapped in a hellscape which is being mode worse—both intentionally and through gross incompetence—by people who have sworn oaths to protect us.

I can’t write a scarier story than the headlines that are so low on the page most people can’t get to them, let alone the much worse ones higher up.

Let’s jump to this week’s Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about deplorable people, five stories about the fight to save my homeland, five stories about the moronic thug occupying the Oval Office, and five videos (plus notable obituaries and some things I wrote).

Stories of the Week:

7 Self-Care Tips If The News Cycle Is Pummeling You Right Now – Experts share what you can do if your mental health is affected by Donald Trump’s constant downplaying of COVID-19.

Ocean Spray Gifts Fleetwood Mac Skateboarder A Truck Full Of Cranberry Juice.

Goldman Sachs: A Democratic sweep would mean faster economic recover.

Hurricane Delta Forecast To Strengthen Before Hitting Louisiana Coast Friday.

Killings of transgender Americans reach all-time high, rights group says – At least 31 trans and gender-nonconforming people have been killed in the U.S. so far this year, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

This Week in News for Queers and Allies:

Are You LGBTQ? How Are You Feeling About This Election? – LGTBQ politics aren’t a monolith. In the lead-up to the election, how are you feeling about the state of the world and how are you getting involved in creating change?

How safe is gay marriage? Advocates fear increasingly conservative court.

Contractor busted on hidden camera slurring a gay couple – “Oh, this is a whole house full of ’em…. Bunch of dope smokin’ queers.”.

Supreme Court Smacks Down Appeal By Official Who Refused Same-Sex Marriage Licenses – Kim Davis, a former county clerk briefly jailed for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses, can be sued by the couples, the U.S. Supreme Court found.

Two Supreme Court justices say marriage equality decision should be overturned – “The Court has created a problem that only it can fix,” they say.

This Week in Haters and Other Deplorable People:

Feds say they thwarted militia plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Whitmer.

White supremacists remain deadliest US terror threat, Homeland Security report says.

McCloskeys indicted, grand jury adds charges of tampering with evidence.

FINALLY: Facebook Bans All QAnon Groups And Pages. Too little, too late…

Conservative Scammers Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman Just Turned Themselves In for Voter Intimidation – Jacob Wohl And Jack Burkman Surrender On Felony Charges, Flash $100 Bills At Arraignment.

This Week in the Fight to Save Democracy:

Donna Brazile Slaps Down Karl Rove’s Critique Of Kamala Harris’ ‘Likability’ – When they can’t criticize on substance, they go for misogyny, just like Karl Rove did. Donna Brazile would have none of it.

Pete Buttigieg delivered some absolutely savage lines about Mike Pence on Fox News – The Fox News host did not look pleased.

Two debates, two takes – ‘Apex predator’ versus the ‘lying bitch’.

Pelosi to introduce legislation related to the 25th Amendment – The 25th Amendment outlines the transfer of power to the vice president if a president is removed, incapacitated or dies. And it has some big gaps, but also has two difference sentences giving Congress the ability to extend or clarify the amendment…

The latest 2020 trend is naked celebrities encouraging people to vote – In multiple campaigns, celebrities are stripping down to inform Americans about voting and #ThirstTrapTheVote.

This Week in the Moronavirus Occupying the White House:

Jake Tapper Shreds Trump’s Mismanagement Following Covid Diagnosis: ‘You Have Become a Symbol of Your Own Failures’.

‘It’s insane’: White House staffers are mad about Trump’s diagnosis and terrified now that he’s back from the hospital while still infected, reports say.

At least 22 in Trump’s circle have tested positive for coronavirus – On Tuesday, Stephen Miller became the latest to confirm he has Covid-19 and will quarantine.

In a few days, more people in Trump’s orbit tested positive for coronavirus than in all of Taiwan.

Loved ones of Covid victims appalled by Trump’s ‘don’t be afraid’ tweet.

In Memoriam:

Eddie Van Halen, Hall of Famer Who Revolutionized the Guitar, Dead at 65. “I don’t know shit about scales or music theory,” he told Rolling Stone in 1980. “I don’t want to be seen as the fastest guitar in town, ready and willing to gun down the competition. All I know is that rock & roll guitar, like blues guitar, should be melody, speed, and taste, but more important, it should have emotion. I just want my guitar playing to make people feel something: happy, sad, even horny.”

Eddie Van Halen, grinning guitar god for a rock generation, dies at 65.

Eddie Van Halen Dies at 65.

Monica Roberts, TransGriot Creator and Pioneer in Trans News, Has Died.

Monica Roberts, Pioneering Transgender Journalist and Founder of TransGriot, Dies.

R.I.P. Johnny Nash, “I Can See Clearly Now” Singer Dead at 80.

Things I wrote:

Oppressed Oppressors: Supporters of Prez Super-spreader feeling the pain of his reckless, moronic decisions.

It’s the most spookiest time of the year!

Cuddle Your Gays, or, let’s talk about positive queer representation in sf/f.

Videos!

Stay The Fuck At Home” – A Poetry reading by Samuel L. Jackson:

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Michelle Obama’s Closing Argument | Joe Biden For President 2020:

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Trump Has Election Meltdown as White House Covers Up COVID-19 Outbreak: A Closer Look:

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IF DONALD GOT FIRED – Randy Rainbow Parody (featuring Patti LuPone!):

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Kylie Minogue – Magic (Official Video:

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