Tina Fey: “We Did Want To Write On It, Though”
When late-night host David Letterman interviewed Tina Fey on his new show, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, he tried to defend the lack of female writers working on his programs.”There was no policy against women writers,” he told her. “I always thought, ‘Well, geez, if I was a woman I don’t know if I would want to write on my nickel-and-dime, dog-and-pony show anyway because we’re on at 12:30.’”
But Fey, ever-unafraid to call men out on their bullshit, responded: “Yeah, we did want to write on it, though.” Her words prompted a quick apology from Letterman, and a promise that things are “changing.” But as Nell Scovell, the first female writer on Letterman’s The Late Show, pointed out via, things aren’t changing nearly fast enough. Read the full story at Glamour.
via Twitter, @NellSco
Iowa Governor Signs 6-Week Abortion Ban
Last Friday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a six-week abortion ban into law. This ban, which prohibits abortion in most cases after a fetal heartbeat is detected, is now the strictest in the nation. Similar bans have been shot down in other states, and both Planned Parenthood’s Iowa affiliate and the ACLU are likely to sue. Read the full story at the Kansas City Star.
…But South Carolina Democrats Filibuster One!
This Friday, South Carolina democrats successfully filibustered a Republican-backed bill that would ban almost all abortions in the state. State Sen. Marlon Kimpson spoke for eight hours, and moral support (and Chinese food deliveries) from fellow politicians and constituents helped him stop a very, very bad bill from moving forward. Learn more at The State.
Department Of Justice To Donate $40 Million To Test Rape Kits
The Department of Justice plans to donate $40 million in grants to local police departments to help them test rape kits, which have long been underutilized in identifying perpetrators. The grants require the departments to submit their findings to the FBI’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Program, in hopes that the similarly underutilized Program can stop violent sexual crimes before they occur. Read the full story at ProPublica.
Peter Madsen Won’t Appeal His Conviction For Murdering Journalist Kim Wall
This morning, counsel for Danish inventor Peter Madsen announced that her client did not wish to appeal his guilty verdict in the murder trial of journalist Kim Wall. Wall’s August 2017 death shocked the nation with its grisly details; after inviting Wall to his submarine for an interview, Madsen allegedly murdered her, dismembered her body, and threw her remains into the ocean. Madsen is currently set to serve 12 years in prison, although he may appeal for a reduced sentence. Learn more at The Cut, and read a comprehensive story of Wall’s life and death at Wired.
More Women Speak Out Against Junot Diaz
In the wake of Zinzi Clemmons’ allegations against Junot Diaz (and his withdrawal from the remainder of the Sydney Writers’ Festival), more women have come forward to accuse the author of inappropriate behavior. One of them is Alisa Valdez, who began a relationship with Diaz while working as a young journalist. In a blog post titled “I Tried To Warn You About Junot Diaz,” Valdez describes Diaz as “misogynistic, demeaning, and cruel,” and thanks his other accusers for helping her find the courage to come forward. Read the full story at Vulture.
Mary Karr Reminds Us That Nobody Cared When She Accused David Foster Wallace Of Abuse
As allegations against Junot Diaz continue to surface, and are met with widespread cultural support, Mary Karr wants to remind us that we were not always this kind towards women who shared their stories. The author recently tweeted about her experiences of abuse and harassment at the hands of author David Foster Wallace, and noted that Wallace’s biographer once said that “the intensity of violence in his personality” made him “a really fascinating guy and an honor to write about.” Read more at Jezebel.
Now, For Some Good News: Childish Gambino Drops “This Is America”
This weekend, Childish Gambino debuted his new single “This Is America” a scathing indictment of police brutality, gun violence, and national complacency. CNN breaks it all down piece by piece, but this is a video you need to watch yourself:
Samira Wiley And Jay-Z’s Mo Gloria Carter Speak At GLAAD Media Awards
Our April/ May cover girl Samira Wiley delivered a powerful speech at the GLAAD Media Awards this Sunday, reminding the audience that “visibility (of LGBTQ individuals) is essential.” Wiley is the first queer woman of color to receive the award. Jay-Z’s mother, Gloria Carter, also spoke after receiving a Special Recognition Award for her poem about coming out as a lesbian (which was featured on Jay-Z’s “Smile”). Learn more about Wiley and Carter’s achievements at Vulture.
This article was published on May 7, 2018.
Photo Credit: Screengrab, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction
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