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Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Oct 17, 2013
October 17, 2013
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After the shutdown:
There's little disagreement that the shutdown cost the Republicans a considerable amount of political capital, but how about the economy?
Standard & Poor's calculates that the shutdown has taken $24 billion out of the economy, shaving at least 0.6 percent off of GDP in the fourth quarter. The agency had originally predicted a 3 percent growth rate in GDP this quarter.
Editor's note: I can't seem to find any sources for how many jobs this created, but I'm sure it's in the tens of negative thousands. (Maiman)I'm a Poll Man:
The Tea Party's standing with Americans is at its lowest point since the movement took shape in 2010.
According to a Pew Research Center poll released yesterday, nearly half (49 percent) of the public now view the Tea Party unfavorably, compared with 30 percent who view it favorably. Since February 2010, when Pew first began gauging opinion on the Tea Party, unfavorable views have nearly doubled, and the number of "very unfavorable" views has tripled. (Maiman)Trolling for publicity:
WOODY HARRELSON found out the hard way that partying like a rock star ain't easy when you're 52! The actor fessed up to JIMMY KIMMEL that he drank tequila and played pool with his brother until seven-a.m. the night before the premiere of "Free Birds" and barely made it down the red carpet. Luckily, his trusty co-star OWEN WILSON was there to cover for his hung over pal. (Lee)
LEA MICHELE is getting some help grieving the death of CORY MONTEITH. The "Glee" cutie introduced her new B-F-F on Twitter and showed off an eight-year-old Pomeranian named "Pearl." The furbaby is eight-years-old and Lea calls her my "new little love." (Lee)
CANDICE SWANEPOEL has been anointed as the bearer of tidings of great joy that shall be to all people... The supermodel has been chosen to wear the $10 million dollars fantasy bra for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in December. GISELE BUNDCHEN, HEIDI KLUM and ALESSANDRA AMBROSIO have all done the honors in previous years for the beloved holiday special.
But this holiday season, it's Candice's cleavage that will shine the brightest. People magazine says this year's Fantasy Bra is one of the most expensive ever made. That's because it includes a 52-carat pear shaped ruby dangling from the center panel. The bra and matching belt also includes more than 42-hundred rubies, diamonds and yellow sapphires in 18 karat gold.
Candice said they actually made a mold of her body to construct the bra. She also said the bra comes with two bodyguards. "Walking around wearing $10 million dollars does seem to make me a little bit nervous." (Bartha)Broadcast, cable and video news:
Sorry --there will be no star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for KIM KARDASHIAN.
Although KANYE WEST lobbied for it during his recent appearance on "JIMMY KIMMEL Live" last week, a spokesperson for the Walk of Fame told Yahoo! "We don't have reality stars on the Walk of Fame. We don't have a category for it. We're happy to consider reality stars once they get nominated for, or win, an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar." And then, she added the kiss of death, finishing, "We'll consider them when they're legitimate actors or singers." Ouch!
Kanye's take on this: "People are so so dated and not modern. There's no way Kim Kardashian shouldn't have a star on the Walk of Fame" he told Kimmel. -
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