Daily newsletter 7/18

🔹 Barack Obama has a solution for the male loneliness epidemic: get some queer friends. The former president appeared on Michelle Obama's podcast this week and talked about how adding diversity to your friend group can help men become more emotionally intelligent and connected to their community.

The current president's friends keep getting him in trouble — Trump is now suing the Wall Street Journal for publishing a weird, raunchy letter he allegedly sent Jeff Epstein on his birthday. California governor Gavin Newsom continues to court Republicans with another anti-trans podcast interview, while the GOP slashes $1.1 billion in funding from PBS and NPR.

😬 Don't miss a bizarre clip of Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan, a gay progressive Democrat, getting into a shouting match with GOP Rep. Derrick Van Orden over a stunt with a motorcycle.

Thank goodness it's Friday!

Christine Linnell
Social media manager, The Advocate

Barack Obama explains why he thinks all men need queer people in their lives

Scott Olson/Getty Images

The former president appeared on Michelle Obama's podcast and shared his thoughts on why men should embrace the queer community rather than push them away.

Trump sues Murdoch, News Corp, and WSJ over Epstein story

Trump: Joey Sussman/Shutterstock; Murdoch: Stocklight/Shutterstock

The case was filed in a federal court in Miami.

PBS and NPR stations at risk as federal funding is slashed

PBS NewsHour; VIAVAL TOURS via Shutterstock

Local stations warn of closures, layoffs, and the darkening of culture as Congress axes funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Gavin Newsom agrees with anti-trans talking points on yet another MAGA podcast

Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock

The California governor spent more than four hours on the Shawn Ryan Show talking about, among other things, trans athletes, gender-affirming care, and "the whole 'pronoun' thing."