The queer internet is currently losing its mind over what many are speculating is a romantic relationship not-so-quietly brewing between author, model and foodie Padma Lakshmi, and Top Chef icon, Melissa King. The pair have been close for a while, but the delicious rumors really began to swell when Lakshmi and King wore joint The Addams Family Halloween costumes (obviously, Lakshmi was Morticia and King was Gomez). In a post featuring the two of them together — which, by the way, included one picture of King kissing Lakshmi’s bicep — King quoted Gomez Addams: “I would die for her. Although Lakshmi has never explicitly come out to the public as queer, she has dropped hints. King, on the other hand, openly identifies as a lesbian and has long been an advocate for LGBTQ+ issues.

The 38-year-old transgender Air Force member had already jumped through bureaucratic hoops to be able to serve during Trump’s first term. Ireland is now one of 17 transgender Air Force and Space Force members suing the United States government over what they say is an “unlawful” revocation of their early retirement benefits and pensions. Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementBut none of these circumstances apply to any of the service members in the case. There are about 4,200 service members who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria as of last December, a senior defense official toldThe Washington Post. Advocates warn that if the court allows the government to revoke retirement benefits for the plaintiffs, it could set a dangerous precedent for how the Trump administration might get away with denying benefits to other populations.

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LOADING ERROR LOADINGRachel Maddow on Tuesday examined the latest “weirdness” from President Donald Trump and his administration, arguing that the litany of apparent scandals would have typically ruined any other administration. Advertisement“The FBI has never before had a taxpayer-funded security detail for an FBI official’s girlfriend, but that’s what we’re paying for now. The girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel has members of the FBI’s SWAT team protecting her as if they’re private bodyguards,” Maddow said. Demand The Truth Your Support Fuels Our Mission Your Support Fuels Our Mission Support Fearless Journalism The Trump administration hopes its deepest secrets remain hidden, but we will not stop demanding answers. Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times.

LOADING ERROR LOADINGA group of moderate Republicans has teamed up with House Democrats to force a vote on blocking President Donald Trump from stripping union rights from federal workers. Under House rules, the measure must come to a vote on the full House floor within seven legislative days. The leader of a federal union at the Bureau of Land Management, which is included in Trump’s order, told HuffPost earlier this year that the justification was absurd. We don’t engage in counterintelligence.”AdvertisementUnions have filed lawsuits aimed at blocking the order, arguing Trump’s move is retaliatory and unlawful. “Working people built a bipartisan coalition to restore union rights to federal workers in the face of unprecedented attacks on our freedoms,” Shuler said.

Support Fearless Journalism The Trump administration hopes its deepest secrets remain hidden, but we will not stop demanding answers. Your membership strengthens journalism that holds those in power to account. We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves. Thank you again for your support along the way. Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times.

Become a Member Today As the year ends, our reporting does not slow down. Support the journalists who continue asking questions and telling stories with depth and care. We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves. Thank you again for your support along the way. Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times.

LOADING ERROR LOADING“Daily Show” host Jon Stewart on Monday said the pressure over files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein might finally be getting to President Donald Trump. Trump, who promised during the campaign to release the Epstein files, has instead spent months trying to block that release. “If he had nothing to hide, he could have declassified and released these files himself at any time,” Stewart said. Advertisement“Is it possible that Trump’s whole bullshit facade is crumbling?” Stewart asked. “You know, I’ve always said that the best nicknames are the ones you have to explain in parentheses,” Stewart snarked.

Become a Member Today As the year ends, our reporting does not slow down. Support the journalists who continue asking questions and telling stories with depth and care. We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves. Thank you again for your support along the way. Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times.

Add in potentially record-breaking Thanksgiving crowds, and millions of Americans could be facing a travel week that feels especially overwhelming. “This year’s Thanksgiving travel season could feel especially tense because of the government shutdown,” French said. “Thanksgiving and Christmas week are incredibly popular travel weeks,” he said. “As such, travelers should prepare for extra-long wait times at security and potential slowdowns tied to boarding, takeoff and taxiing.”AdvertisementKAMIL KRZACZYNSKI via Getty Images Travel experts anticipate a more chaotic Thanksgiving travel season. A recent Deloitte holiday travel survey found budget concerns are pushing many Americans to prioritize shorter, more affordable domestic trips this season.

Become a Member Today As the year ends, our reporting does not slow down. Support the journalists who continue asking questions and telling stories with depth and care. We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves. Thank you again for your support along the way. Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times.

The 38-year-old transgender Air Force member had already jumped through bureaucratic hoops to be able to serve during Trump’s first term. He planned a retirement ceremony for November, inviting every trans service member on the base he could think of to join him and his family. But none of these circumstances apply to any of the service members in the case. Hash, who helped shape the Air Force’s policies regarding trans service members in 2016, is just one year shy of the 15-year benchmark for TERA benefits eligibility. AdvertisementThere are about 4,200 service members who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria as of last December, a senior defense official told The Washington Post.

Support Fearless Journalism The Trump administration hopes its deepest secrets remain hidden, but we will not stop demanding answers. Your membership strengthens journalism that holds those in power to account. We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves. Thank you again for your support along the way. Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times.

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