Tuesday Night Open Thread: It’s All About the Benj… I Mean, Hamiltons

Report: ‘Hamilton’ Musical to Receive at Least $30 million in Federal Aid
Breitbart | 30 Jun 2021 | David Ng

The hit stage musical Hamilton will reportedly receive at least $30 million in federal aid, with a possible $20 million in additional funding, as part of the government’s pandemic relief program for the arts and entertainment.

Hamilton had five productions around the country prior to the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with each production applying for $10 million in relief, according to a report in the New York Times. So far, three of those productions have qualified for assistance, bringing the total amount of aid to $30 million.

Hamilton, which was written by the left-wing Lin-Manuel Miranda, has grossed an estimated $650 million on Broadway alone, with touring productions generating even more revenue. The show opened in New York in 2015 and has played to sold-out houses at the Richard Rodgers Theatre for most of its run.

The musical is eligible for federal aid under the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, which is aimed at helping performing arts venues, museums, and cinemas recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant is overseen by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Lin-Manuel Miranda campaigned for Joe Biden during last year’s presidential race, including appearing in an ad for Biden’s campaign aimed at Florida’s Puerto Rican voters.

Miranda also repeatedly attacked former President Donald Trump. “Your occasional reminder that our current president lies as easy as you and I breathe air. Every day, all day, reflexively,” Miranda said in a social media post in 2019.

As Ricky Gervais says: “That is absolutely mental.”

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Florida man planned to murder ex and blame Black Lives Matter movement
audacy.com | July 13, 2021 | Mark Menard

A Florida man pleaded guilty to planning a double-homicide, one he had hoped to blame on the Black Lives Matter movement.

Daniel Slater, 51, of Palm Beach County, Fla., elocuted in a Fort Lauderdale federal district court that he had met with someone to plan the murder of his ex-girlfriend and her husband. The identity of his co-conspirator was not revealed.

Among the revealed details of his plan, Slater said he instructed his accomplice which windows of the couple’s home to shoot through as well as instructions to spray-paint “Black Lives Matter” on the house.

In return, Slater told his accomplice he would forgive a debt she owed to him. The two also discussed involving a third party.

Great plan, by the way.