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Growing up as a gay child, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper thought he would never be able to have his own children

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Anderson Cooper became a father when he was close to 60 and had already broken up with his long-term boyfriend, Benjamin Maisani. However, the two exes got back together, just not in a romantic way.

Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani were so private about their relationship that it took years before it was revealed that they were dating. The pair started seeing each other in 2009.

In March 2018, Daily Mail announced that the couple was living together at Anderson’s firehouse home. The Manhattan, Greenwich Village home he bought for $4 million was later renovated.

Anderson and Benjamin only came out about their relationship in May 2015. At the time, the CNN news anchor shared an Instagram image of him and Benjamin and wrote:

“I guess when you’re with someone a long time, you start to pose alike.”

After that, Anderson started opening up more about his relationship. So much so that in August 2016, he and his boyfriend appeared together for an issue of Architectural Digest.

At the time, the couple was showing off the remote home they co-owned in a section of Brazil. In 2014, Benjamin spoke to French Morning about all the attention his relationship with Anderson was getting.

He also addressed why they’d spent so much time trying to keep it private. The businessman said he understood why people were so interested in their relationship but didn’t feel the same.

Benjamin explained that he hadn’t thought about or wanted to be a celebrity like most people. He shared that he knew from the beginning that exposing the relationship was risking the attention on it getting out of hand.

Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani at the Windward School Benefit on March 10, 2018, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

In March 2018, after a decade of dating, Anderson’s spokesperson confirmed that the journalist and Benjamin had separated. According to reports, the CNN anchor explained the split by saying:

“Benjamin and I separated as boyfriends some time ago. We are still family to each other, and love each other very much.”

Anderson explained that he and his ex-boyfriend remained best friends and would continue sharing their lives. During an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, the television personality revealed one of the reasons that caused them to break up.

He shared how Benjamin wasn’t sure he wanted to have children. However, Anderson didn’t wait to have another partner before working on his dream of becoming a father and fulfilling it at age 53.

In 2020, when reaching the end of his segment on CNN, Anderson revealed that his first child and son, Wyatt Morgan, had been born. He also opened up about why the milestone was especially significant for him, stating:

“As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child.”

The star shared his gratitude for the people who paved the way for him to realize his dream. He also shared his appreciation of the nurses and doctors who took part in helping welcome his son.

The television personality also uploaded four Instagram images of his baby boy, with the first image showing him lovingly bottle-feeding Wyatt. In the post’s caption, he revealed that the boy was only then-three days old.

He explained how the child’s first name was the same as his own father, who passed on when he was just ten. The second name was a family one from his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt’s side, and also one his parents liked.

At the time, Anderson said he’d found a list his parents had made 52 years before when deciding what to name him. Little Wyatt was born weighing 7.2 lbs and was described as “sweet, and soft, and healthy.”

The journalist also thanked his son’s surrogate for carrying him, watching lovingly and tenderly over him, and giving birth to the boy. He also thanked the surrogate’s family for their support throughout the process and afterward. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Anderson concluded by revealing that he wished his mother, father, and brother, Carter, were alive to meet his son. However, he chose to believe they could see his child, and he imagined them smiling and laughing with their arms around each other.

He was happy knowing their love was still alive in him and Wyatt and that their family line would continue. In August 2020, Anderson heard that Wyatt’s sleep schedule was unusual for the then almost four-month-old child.

The newborn baby was sleeping for 12 hours each night! The CNN anchor explained that he was being assisted by a nurse and joked he wasn’t sure what she did to make the boy sleep so much, but whiskey and Ambien weren’t used!

Even though he had someone assisting him in taking care of the child, Anderson had one condition. The star said he didn’t want his child to be raised by a single parent.

During a May 2020 “The Howard Stern Show” appearance, Anderson explained why he didn’t want his child raised by him alone. After losing his father, the star noted how his mother wasn’t very parental when she raised him and his brother as a single parent.

He wished he’d had another adult who came in and filled that gap. Someone who would offer to take him to lunch or a ball game now and then, or suggest to talk to him, with the journalist adding:

“So I thought, ‘Well if something happens to me — or even if something doesn’t happen to me — if more people love my son and are in his life, I’m all for that.”

He noted how he thought having two parents would be good if possible. Ironically, even though he and Benjamin broke up, the former couple still lived together in their home because they got along well.

Anderson acknowledged the situation between him and the nightclub owner was “weird.” Although Benjamin was initially reluctant to have children, he’d come around to it and was now a great co-parent to little Wyatt.

The former couple lived together in the Greenwich Village firehouse home that Anderson bought in 2009 and renovated. The star said because Benjamin was French, Wyatt would probably call him “Papa” while he would be “Dad” or “Daddy.”

The businessman spoke to the little boy in his home language, and Anderson joked that he didn’t understand what he was saying and could be turning Wyatt against him! However, when asked if the former couple could get back together, the journalist said that wouldn’t happen.

While speaking to WSJ magazine in August 2020, Anderson revealed how becoming a father had woken him up. He shared how he’d felt he was waiting for his actual life to begin even though he was then-53.

The star said he’d focused on getting somewhere or having a story, but focusing on Wyatt finally gave an order to everything. The news anchor noted how “It’s changed everything.”

Anderson also used to wake up late because of working night shifts, but since welcoming Wyatt, he now woke up at seven in the morning. It was his goal to wake up before his son got up because it was the most significant moment of his day.

The newborn baby [Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper], who weighed 6.8 lbs. at birth, would also be co-parented with Benjamin [Maisani].
He loved seeing the little boy stretch and smile when he saw him. Anderson made his way to his son’s room on the fourth floor from the third one and waited for him to make sounds alerting the star that he was awake before going in to check up on him.

In June 2020, the television personality told People magazine that he was open to expanding his family in the future. However, he needed time to sleep more normally and clear his head first!

He thought having a sister or brother for Wyatt would be great. Then in February 2022, Anderson announced on “Anderson Cooper 360°” that he’d welcomed another son, Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper, through a surrogate!

The newborn baby, who weighed 6.8 lbs. at birth, would also be co-parented with Benjamin. The star also revealed at that moment that his former partner was in the process of adopting Wyatt, and the boy’s last name would be changed to Maisani-Cooper too.

Although in December 2020, after welcoming Wyatt, Anderson confessed that he’d become “more tired than I’ve ever been.” However, he loved being a father and “wouldn’t change it for the world,” plus seeing his son often moved him to tears.

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IN-THE-NEWS

Biden Walks Away Without Taking Any Questions About New Orleans Terror Attack After Remarks at Camp David (Video) –

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Joe Biden addressed the nation from Camp David, the presidential retreat in Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland on Wednesday evening following a terrorist attack that left at least 15 people dead in New Orleans.

At least 15 people were killed, 35 injured after a terrorist identified as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar plowed through a crowd in New Orleans during the New Year’s Eve celebration.

According to law enforcement, Jabbar did not work alone and was part of a larger network of terrorists…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

Earlier Wednesday Joe Biden stopped to chat with reporters as he departed Wilmington, Delaware for Camp David on Wednesday for another vacation.

He provided an absolutely worthless statement on the terrorist attack

“You all got my statement. I’ll have more to say in next hour about what’s going on in New Orleans…I’ve spoken to every member of the agencies, from CIA to national security team to FBI and NSC…anger and frustration,” Biden said.

WATCH:

https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1874497608758231145?t=YuQCmcwKKHI8pmAs8ZVmZA&s=19

On Wednesday evening, Biden’s handlers shot him up with his latest meth cocktail and pushed out in front of a camera to address the nation READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Biden slurred through prepared remarks.

“Hours before, he posted videos on social media indicating that he is inspired by ISIS, expressing a desire to kill,” Biden said.

WATCH:

https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1874607215832936940?t=rFMzrMBZyaDjmnmxvr3Xuw&s=19

Biden didn’t take any questions about the terror attack. He shuffled away from the lectern and disappeared.

WATCH:

https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1874607915795189940?t=rPhPr7FW8QPw-1zIUHoMRQ&s=19

 

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Biden Announces Liz Cheney to Receive Presidential Citizens Medal, The Reason Will Shock You –

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President Joe Biden will formally announce recipients of the Presidential Thursday at 5 PM, and one name on the list is sure to raise eyebrows: Liz Cheney. The former Republican member of Congress — and vocal critic of President-elect Donald Trump — is among the 20 names in a statement released early Thursday morning.

The Presidential Citizens Medal is awarded to citizens of the United States of America who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens. President Biden believes these Americans are bonded by their common decency and commitment to serving others. The country is better because of their dedication and sacrifice…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

The White House statement lauds Cheney: “Throughout two decades in public service, including as a Congresswoman for Wyoming and Vice Chair of the Committee on the January 6 attack, Liz Cheney has raised her voice—and reached across the aisle—to defend our Nation and the ideals we stand for: Freedom. Dignity. And decency. Her integrity and intrepidness remind us all what is possible if we work together.”

The awards will be presented at the White House on January 2, 2025. The following individuals will be awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal:

Mary L. Bonauto — Attorney and activist Mary Bonauto first fought to legalize same-sex marriage in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine before arguing before the Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges, which established marriage equality as the law of the land. Her efforts made millions of families whole and forged a more perfect Union.

Bill Bradley — Raised in small-town Missouri, Bill Bradley showed a dedication to basketball that would define his courage, discipline, and selflessness. A two-time NBA Champion and Hall-of-Fame New York Knick, he served three terms as a United States Senator from New Jersey and was a candidate for president, advancing tax reform, water rights, civil rights, and more, while still today seeking to deepen our common humanity with humility and heart.

Frank K. Butler, Jr. — As a pioneering innovator, Navy Seal, and leader in dive medicine, Dr. Frank Butler introduced Tactical Combat Casualty Care to the medical world that set new standards for tourniquet use not only for injuries in war, but injuries across daily civilian life. He has transformed battlefield trauma care for the United States military and saved countless lives.

Elizabeth L. Cheney — Throughout two decades in public service, including as a Congresswoman for Wyoming and Vice Chair of the Committee on the January 6 attack, Liz Cheney has raised her voice—and reached across the aisle—to defend our Nation and the ideals we stand for: Freedom. Dignity. And decency. Her integrity and intrepidness remind us all what is possible if we work together.

Christopher J. Dodd — Chris Dodd has served our Nation with distinction for more than 50 years as a United States Congressman, Senator, respected lawyer, and diplomat. From advancing childcare, to reforming our financial markets, to fostering partnerships across the Western Hemisphere—he has stood watch over America as a beacon to the world.

Diane Carlson Evans —After serving as an Army nurse during the Vietnam War, Diane Carlson Evans founded the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation to ensure female service members received the recognition they deserve—one of our Nation’s most sacred obligations. Her duty and devotion embody the very best of who we are as Americans.

Joseph L. Galloway (posthumous) — From Vietnam to the Persian Gulf, Joe Galloway spent decades sharing first-hand accounts of horror, humanity, and heroism in battle. Known as the soldier’s reporter and the soldier’s friend, he embedded with American troops, rescued wounded soldiers under fire, and became the only civilian awarded a Bronze Star for combat valor by the United States Army as one of the most respected war correspondents of his era.

Nancy Landon Kassebaum — The first woman to represent Kansas, Nancy Kassebaum was a force in the United States Senate. From supporting a woman’s right to choose to reforming health care, she stood up for what she believed in even if it meant standing alone, and she reached across the aisle to do what she believed was right.

Ted Kaufman — For decades, including as a United States Senator from Delaware, Ted Kaufman has served the Nation with honesty and integrity. A master of the Senate who championed everyday Americans and public servants, he’s been at the forefront of consequential debates about the courts, the financial system, and more. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Carolyn McCarthy — As a nurse, Carolyn McCarthy had an instinct to heal and serve. When her husband and son were shot on a local commuter train, she became an advocate so persuasive that she was recruited to run for Congress. She served 18 years, championing gun safety measures including improved background checks, as a citizen legislator devoted to protecting our Nation’s welfare.

Louis Lorenzo Redding (posthumous) — A groundbreaking civil rights advocate, Louis was the first Black attorney admitted to the bar in Delaware, where he argued against segregation in the seminal cases of Bulah v. Gebhart and Belton v. Gebhart—laying the legal framework for Brown v. Board of Education. A towering figure and a generous mentor, he opened doors of equity and opportunity for all Americans.

Bobby Sager — A Boston native, Bobby Sager travels the world as a photographer and philanthropist grounded in family and empathy, wielding his camera and influence to connect with people in war-torn countries, capture their hope and humanity, and inspire others to take action and see a fuller portrait of the planet we all share.

Collins J. Seitz (posthumous) —As a state judge in Delaware, Judge Seitz became the first judge in America to integrate a white public school, dismantling the doctrine of “separate but equal” with exacting detail and reverence for the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of our Constitution. His brave ruling tore down walls of separation to help us see each other as fellow Americans.

Eleanor Smeal — From leading massive protests and galvanizing women’s votes in the 1970s to steering progress for equal pay and helping the Violence Against Women Act become law, Ellie Smeal forced the Nation to not only include women in political discourse but to value them as power brokers and equals. Her strategic vision over more than 40 years embodies the American pursuit to create a fairer, more just world.

Bennie G. Thompson — Born and raised in a segregated Mississippi, as a college student inspired by the Civil Rights movement, Bennie Thompson volunteered on campaigns and registered southern Black voters. That call to serve eventually led him to Congress, where he chaired the House January 6th Committee—at the forefront of defending the rule of law with unwavering integrity and a steadfast commitment to truth.

Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi (posthumous) — In a shameful chapter in our Nation’s history, Mitsuye Endo was incarcerated alongside more than 120,000 Japanese Americans. Undaunted, she challenged the injustice and reached the Supreme Court. Her resolve allowed thousands of Japanese Americans to return home and rebuild their lives, reminding us that we are a Nation that stands for freedom for all.

Thomas J. Vallely — A United States Marine during the Vietnam War, Thomas Vallely has never given up on peace. Over the course of five decades, he has brought Vietnam and the United States together—establishing Fulbright University Vietnam, fostering greater economic and cultural exchange, and overcoming the perils of the past to seize the promise of the future. His service remains a symbol of American leadership in the world.

Frances M. Visco — As president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, Fran Visco has fought tirelessly and fearlessly to increase Federal funding for breast cancer research, early detection education, and access to women’s healthcare. As a breast cancer survivor, she turned pain into purpose, changed the landscape of breast cancer advocacy, and has become a powerful symbol of hope for the Nation.

Paula S. Wallace —A lifelong educator and trailblazer of the arts, Paula Wallace dreamt of a school that would transform how we think about professional education. By establishing the esteemed Savannah College of Art and Design and serving as its president, she has guided thousands of students into creative industries.

Evan Wolfson —By leading the marriage equality movement, Evan Wolfson helped millions of people in all 50 states win the fundamental right to love, marry, and be themselves. For 32 years, starting with a visionary law school thesis, Evan Wolfson worked with singular focus and untiring optimism to change not just the law, but society—pioneering a political playbook for change and sharing its lessons, even now, with countless causes worldwide.

 

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‘Historical Context Can Be Tricky’ –

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Vice President-elect JD Vance promoted Elon Musk’s recent op-ed in support of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Vance shared the op-ed on Thursday and wrote, “I’m not endorsing a party in the German elections, as it’s not my country and we hope to have good relations with all Germans. But this is an interesting piece.”

“Also interesting; American media slanders AfD as Nazi-lite, But AfD is most popular in the same areas of Germany that were most resistant to the Nazis,” Vance added. Vance’s claim was quickly shot down by German journalist James Jackson who shared electoral maps from 1932 and 2024 showing that regional overlap for the AfD and the Nazi party in northeastern Germany…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

https://twitter.com/derJamesJackson/status/1874895472726569038?t=3Uny-1Nr-JG3vENhNMQu6g&s=19

The German Ambassador to the US, Andreas Michaelis, also refuted Vance’s claim, replying, “Interesting observation, Senator JD Vance. Historical context can be tricky – while some areas you are referring to resisted the Nazi party early on, others did not, or later became strongholds of the regime. Germany’s history reminds us how important it is to challenge extremism in all its forms.”

https://twitter.com/GermanyinUSA/status/1874923587557286171?t=vj_DqTZ3OsCWoKvN9nc9cg&s=19

Musk stirred controversy last month when he endorsed the party, which has long been controversial both across Europe and in the U.S. Musk wrote on his X platform that “only the AfD can save Germany.” The AfD is polling strongly in Germany’s upcoming election, but is seen as unlikely to be voted into a position to govern the country as the other parties have vowed not to work with them. Germany publicly accused Musk earlier in the week of trying to influence its elections

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) addressed Musk’s support for the AfD in late December on CNN, “Yeah. I mean, this is not normal. So AfD is essentially the neo-Nazi party in Germany. They exist to try to rehabilitate the image of the Nazi party. And they have all sorts of very dangerous ideas about ridding Germany of anyone who is not naturally born in that country. They are an extremist group,” Murphy replied, adding: READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

And it is just extraordinary that maybe the most important advisor to the president of the United States, somebody that has been, you know, parading around the halls of Congress as a key advisor to the president, is endorsing a neo-Nazi party inside Germany.

Germany’s DW news agency describes the party’s platform as one that “insists on the primacy of “traditional” German culture and rejects Islam as a part of German society. It also questions the notion that climate change is man-made, wants to uphold family values and opposes diversity and gender issues. The AfD wants to limit NATO’s operational area to the territory of its member states and replace the EU with a new organization.”

DW also noted, “The AfD has a powerful extremist section which the domestic intelligence service is keeping tabs on.”

 

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