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Welcome to the first Friday of August!

After a streak of record-breaking hot, humid days, we’re getting a couple of days of relief including some light rain! If the forecast is correct, the heat will be back soon, alas.

It’s time for the Friday Five in which I bring you: two bonus stories about people f-ers facing consequences, the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to queers and our allies, five stories about elections, five stories about haters and traitors, five stories about another epidemic, and some notable obituaries.

This Week in F-ing Around and Finding Out:

MAGA Influencer’s Social Media Blabbing Leads to Jan. 6 Charges

74-year-old Long Island man sentenced to prison for dozens of anti-LGBTQ death threats – Sentenced to 30 months in prison for mailing more than 60 letters containing death threats

Stories of the Week:

Biden’s long-game economic success story

How Kansas women ‘surprised’ America – The math never changed. But the mainstream media failed to note just what a paradigm shift the loss of Roe was — and will continue to be.

Randy Rainbow Torches GOP’s ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ Response to Mass Shootings in New Parody Song (Video)

Go Ask Alice: why a Mormon mom made up stories of teen drug life that swept America

The Founder of GeoCities on What Killed the ‘Old’ Internet

Stories of Interest to Queers and Our Allies:

Study argues that “social contagion” isn’t making the kids today transgender – The "social contagion" claim has long been repeated by right-wing politicians and activists who support laws criminalizing gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth.

West Virginia Medicaid Must Cover Trans Surgery, Judge Rules

House Dems seek IRS review of anti-LGBTQ organization’s tax status – Family Research Council designated ‘association of churches’

Michigan Supreme Court rules sex discrimination ban includes sexual orientation

Some Republicans see good politics in same-sex marriage bill – As the Senate contemplates legislation to protect same-sex marriages, there has been a sharp shift in Republican support for the issue

Elections and Related:

‘Kansas will not be our last fight’: Abortion rights victory gives Democrats new hope for midterms

Recount confirms Tina Peters lost her Secretary of State primary – Recount Confirms Election Denier Lost Big

A Georgia district attorney opposes Lindsey Graham’s attempt to quash a subpoena in a probe of efforts to overturn the 2020 election

The Republicans Who Want Election Laws to ‘Stay Broken’ – MAGA-Land is trying to make sure the FEC is never able to function again

Florida Republican candidate may be ineligible after canceling registration in fit of rage in January 2021: ‘Thank you communists’

This Week in Liars, Homophobes, and Other Deplorables:

Alex Jones’ spontaneous cell death

How a Child-Killer Set the Stage for Today’s Republicans to Revel in Cruelty

The backlash to Christianity: Republicans are now panicked — but they only have themselves to blame

Records tied to $600,000 money transfer subpoenaed in Miami ‘ghost’ candidate case – Probe Widens In Republican “Ghost Candidates” Scheme

Town votes to defund library after claims it was “grooming” kids – "They are trying to groom our children to believe that it’s OK to have these sinful desires," a defund activist said. "It’s not a political issue, it’s a Biblical issue."

This Week in the Other Epidemic:

Monkeypox Declared Public Health Emergency by Biden Administration

Monkeypox is not a "gay disease" but it is being painted that way worldwide

Here’s What You Should Know About Monkeypox In Children – Although there have been at least five cases of monkeypox in kids in the US, public health officials say that they believe the chance of widespread infections in youngsters is remote, even with a new school year just around the corner

It May Be Too Late to Stop Monkeypox Becoming Endemic in the U.S. and Europe

The smallpox vaccine stockpile isn’t the monkeypox solution we need — yet – Public health leaders are weighing significant trade-offs to ACAM2000, including the vaccine’s side effects

In Memoriam:

Nichelle Nichols Dead: Uhura in Original ‘Star Trek’ Series Was 89

Nichelle Nichols’ Death Sparks Tributes From ‘Star Trek’ Stars

Nichelle Nichols completed her "Star Trek" mission so that I’d never know a world without Lt. Uhura – Nichols’ career was mainly related to "Star Trek." But if she’d quit, a galaxy of talent may never have emerged

Nichelle Nichols, trailblazing ‘Star Trek’ actress, dies at 89

Pat Carroll Dead: Actress and Voice of Ursula in The Little Mermaid

R.I.P. Pat Carroll, staple on classic television and Ursula’s voice in The Little Mermaid – The Emmy award-winning actress was 95

Celtics legend Bill Russell, towering champion in Boston, dies at 88

Bill Russell’s Lifelong Fight Against Racism

Obama on Bill Russell: ‘Today we lost a giant’