California Republicans aim to turn the blue state red under Trump, the pass-thru sequoia called Pioneer Cabin falls in powerful winter storm, and the future of historic Formosa Cafe in question after sudden closure.
Pot meet kettle: US-Russia election tampering nothing new
The Kremlin called a report arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin meddled in the 2016 U.S, presidential election "baseless" Monday.
The release alleges that Russia hacked into Democrats' accounts and used paid internet trolls to swing the race in Donald Trump's favor.
Many would argue that Russia was the primary actor and that they were way out of line, trying to mess with U.S. elections: but might this be a case of the pot calling the kettle black?
That's what Robert English argues. He specializes in U.S.-Russia relations at the University of Southern California, where he is a professor of international relations. English tells Take Two that in 1996, the U.S. took steps to ensure that Boris Yeltsin won reelection.
Robert English: The election involved ballot box stuffing, all kinds of chicanery... We not only supported Yeltsin diplomatically, rhetorically, and as powerfully as we could, but we engineered an international loan of $10 billion dollars which went directly into campaign slush funds and pork projects to help Yeltsin get re-elected.
[We] put our finger on the scales in multiple other ways which included sending campaign advisors and specialists in attack ads to help Yeltsin dominate his rivals.
Some people might say that sending financial support and campaign advisors shouldn't necessarily be considered the equivalent to hacking into emails. What's your reaction?
They are different kinds of pursuits, but the end result was the same: the interference of a foreign power that ought to remain impartial and not meddle in the politics of other countries. [With] our resources, and with our technical expertise were able to play a decisive role in supporting a corrupt Yeltsin regime and prolonging it in power for another term. Yes, it wasn't the same as hacking into emails, but we're comparing apples and oranges when the end result is they're both fruit...
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue media player above.
(Answers have been edited for clarity.)
Trump backers hope to broaden support in California
In L.A. County, President-elect Donald Trump garnered support from fewer than one in four voters, but his backers are hoping that his presidency will broaden appeal for the GOP in California.
"Everybody started wondering, what do we do after the election?" said Mike Simpfrenderfer, a Trump supporter and secretary of the newly-formed group, Make California Great Again. "We wanted to figure out how do we help Donald Trump be successful."
The group launched as a non-profit last Saturday in Long Beach. The goal, said Simpfrenderfer, is to make the issues count at the local level, whether they are health care or immigration.
"At our level, where we work, where we live, where we go to church, friends, family, how do we help with the debate of the issues," said Simpfrenderfer.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue media player above
What could Obama highlight in his farewell speech?
President Obama is scheduled to make a farewell speech in Chicago Tuesday evening, capping two terms as President. It's likely to include efforts to burnish his legacy during a time of political division and rancor.
"I think we will remember this as an incredibly partisan period in American politics," said Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University.
To listen to the interview, click on the blue media player above.
The Styled Side: Golden Globes 2017
The Golden Globes is where many of the year's big fashion trends are set.
For the Styled Side, Michelle Dalton Tyree from Fashion Trends Daily assesses which looks will make an impact throughout 2017.
Pantsuit Nation
I predicted that we were going to see more pantsuits on the red carpet, and we saw a lot more.
We were watching out for Evan Rachel Wood, nominated for her role as Delores in Westworld. She's known for making bold fashion statements.
Her pantsuit was both androgynous and feminine. It was a custom tuxedo suit by Altuzarra with a crisp pussy bow blouse and her hair was in a very sleek, neat boyish style.
Pantsuits seem to always enjoy big moments every few years on the red carpet, but last year was a big year for them.
Of course, a lot of people want to thank Hillary for this. According to one stat, "pantsuit" searches online saw a nearly 500 percent increase last year.
We did see a lot of velvet ones for the holiday, but now that it's been on the red carpet, not just the runway, we're going to see even more of these in stores.
Heavy Metal, and Cold is Hot
Metallics shone, last night. It was a positively molten red carpet.
Ruth Negga, currently on the cover of Vogue, wore a stunning Louis Vuitton metallic gown with short sleeves that zipped down the front and looked like liquid metal.
Another trend to watch for is the Cold Shoulder. It's where the shoulders of a garment are cut out, leaving your bare shoulder exposed.
Some were more successful than others. Sophia Vergara, for example, looked great in a gold Zuhair Murad.
And the "color of the night" award goes to yellow.
We saw it on a few stars, most notably Viola Davis in a yellow, sequin Michael Kors gown.
Hair of Sophistication
Facial hair was the big trend of the night, with stars Casey Affleck, Chris Pine, and both Ryans – Gosling and Reynolds – letting their beards hang out.
Hilariously, Mad Men star Jon Hamm mentioned on stage that it was the night of the "Beard Parade"
What NOT to wear...
So there was that Carrie Underwood pink dress with ruffles on the bodice and neckline. Many people likened it to buttercream frosting, and one person on Twitter asked if her dress was from Magnolia Bakery.
Let's just say it really ruffled people's feathers.
And watch for these three women on screen
There was another first last night: three Miss Golden Globes.
Since 1963, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association chooses the daughter or son of a celebrity to assist with the show and escort nominees on stage. Miss Golden Globe often turns out to be the next young Hollywood ingénue.
This year, Sylvester Stallone's children Sistine, Sophia and Scarlet all presided over the title.
I was at the Miss Golden Globe luncheon last week and Scarlet said that her father helped devise a training plan for her – like the Rocky of fashion – to be up to snuff. He had her train in heels every day so she could get comfortable wearing them on stage.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue media player above.
How Botox became 'the drug that's treating everything'
Angelenos are no strangers to Botox.
The drug is known to relax those little lines around your eyes and forehead, or even prevent them from forming in the first place.
But did you know that this popular cosmetic procedure is also being used to help with everything from excessive sweating to migraines?
Alexandra Sifferlin, a health reporter for Time magazine, wrote an article for this month's issue on the many uses of Botox. She joined Take Two to shed some light on the drug's future in the medical field.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue media player above.
The trials and tribulations of the Lucas Museum
He's one of our best-loved film makers. But things have been a little difficult for George Lucas lately.
Since he sold his Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012, the filmmaking force behind "Star Wars" has been trying to build a museum to house his art collection.
He's more than willing to pay for it...
If you tally up construction costs, the value of the artwork, and an endowment he's promised, the museum is said to be worth one and a half BILLION dollars.
You'd think that just about every city in the country would be clamoring to play host, but the story is a bit more complicated than that...
Devin Leonard wrote about the saga for Bloomberg Business week and joined Take Two with more details.
To listen to the interview, click on the blue media player above.
Is this the end for the famed Formosa Cafe?
The famed Formosa Cafe in West Hollywood is officially closed, according to multiple sources.
It was founded in 1925 by a boxer named Jimmy Bernstein, and for years it hosted a who's who of Hollywood glamour.
Originally operated in a converted trolley car, the Cafe eventually grew to become a Hollywood institution. It was even featured in the film "L.A. Confidential."