Marriage Equality Bill Clears Congress In House Vote; Joe Biden Next Will Sign Protections For Same-Sex And Interracial Unions

Congress cleared a massive, $1.7 trillion year-end spending bill on Friday that boosts funding for the arts and for public broadcasting.

Thom Bell, who helped to create the soul songs style that became known in the 1960s and 1970s as “The Sound of Philadelphia,” died Thursday in Bellingham, Washington. He was 79 and no cause of death was given.

“I sincerely hope this holiday season will drain the poison that has infected our politics, and set us against one another,” an optimistic President Joe Biden said this afternoon in a Christmas address to the nation. However, if the politically nimble Democrat in the White House hoped to break through the echo chamber of our national discourse, Fox News Channel burst that wish

UPDATE: During a photo op in the Oval Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented a medal to Joe Biden that an Army officer wanted to give to the U.S. president as a thank you.

Brittney Griner spoke out today for the first time since being freed from a Russian penal colony.

David DePape, accused of attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul Pelosi at their San Francisco home in October, told police that he also planned to target a list of other public figures, including actor Tom Hanks, Hunter Biden and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Tyler Perry is set to helm his fourth movie at Netflix, Six Triple Eight, which follows the 6888th battalion, the only all-black, all-female troop in the World War II effort.

The SNP has announced new plans to introduce a bill to allow Scotland to decide on independence. The party is pushing for the Scottish Parliament to hold its own referendum to “unlock Westminster’s denial of democracy”.

It looks like the Moscow Police Department are making a real effort to increase their transparency after news broke of victims’ families hiring lawyers.

EXCLUSIVE: Scott Koondel’s Sox Entertainment has partnered with Jon Shapiro’s Ideal Entertainment to co-produce Big Men, a limited series docudrama about the NBA and its stars’ important roles in the civil rights movement.

SAG-AFTRA today applauded the enactment of the Respect for Marriage Act, which was signed into law today by President Joe Biden. The bipartisan legislation was passed in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, and concerns that the court might next rule that states can make same-sex and interracial marriages illegal.

The White House again drew on celebrity activists as it marked another legislative milestone: Cyndi Lauper performed and spoke briefly to reporters on Tuesday as President Joe Biden signed into law a bill that will protect same-sex and interracial marriage rights at the federal lebel.

It was a highly-political “Weekend Update” on Saturday Night Live with Colin Jost and Michael Che taking swipes at political figures.

Joe Exotic is pissed that Brittney Griner was able to walk free from a Russian prison… and now he wants his own deal from Joe Biden!!

The DGA and IATSE are praising Congress for passing the Respect for Marriage Act, which ensures federal recognition of same-sex and interracial unions.

UPDATE: President Joe Biden signed the Speak Out Act, which limits employers’ use of non-disclosure agreements to keep victims of sexual harassment silent.

Almost time to head back to Wellsbury! Fans are less than one month away from new episodes of Ginny & Georgia — and according to stars Brianne Howey and Sara Waisglass, they are in for a wild ride.

Below Deck meets The Bachelor? Stars from several different fan-favorite reality shows will come together for Peacock’s newest competition binge, The Traitors.