Latest news with #Doggett
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Democrats pity Biden — but can't avoid atoning for his ‘Sin'
Almost one year ago, Rep. Lloyd Doggett became the first Democrat in Congress to urge Joe Biden to end his re-election campaign. The Texan, only four years younger than the now-former president, got plenty of flack for it. These days, as Democrats try to move past the 2024 campaign and Biden's disclosure this week that he's battling an 'aggressive' form of prostate cancer, Doggett feels somewhat vindicated — even if he won't describe it quite that way. 'Clearly, there were some people around the president that were in denial,' he told Semafor, adding that Biden's diagnosis is 'sad' and wishing him a 'full recovery.' 'He should have been a transitional president, as he said initially he would be,' Doggett added. 'And the only regret I have is not having moved earlier.' The Tuesday release of 'Original Sin,' a book focused on the obfuscation of Biden's declining faculties by those closest to him, is sparking the party's umpteenth reckoning on Biden's choice. Many Democrats say voters don't ask them about him, but his diagnosis has added a tense twist to publication week: Speculation by some Republicans that the cancer might have been discovered earlier, but hidden for political purposes, has offered the former president's colleagues an opening to defend him — if they choose to take it. And several of them did take the opportunity to seek sympathy for Biden as the book raises uncomfortable questions about senior Democrats' willingness to challenge the then-president's decision-making. 'It's revealing, but not surprising, that they're so cruel as somebody suffers,' said Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif. He ran for president in 2019, urging Biden to 'pass the torch' to a younger generation. 'There are Republicans who are peddling conspiracy theories and want us to look backward, at a time when they actually are taking health care away from the American people,' House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters on Monday. 'No. As House Democrats, we're going to look forward.' Yet no Democrat was ready to second-guess the party's abandonment of Biden in favor of a doomed Kamala Harris campaign. Had Biden stayed in and won, the party would now be dealing with an ailing president and more Republican questions about who knew what about his condition. Democrats who worried about nominating an elderly candidate in 2020 had lost the argument with their voters; in 2024, they paid for it. The new book, co-authored by Axios' Alex Thompson and CNN's Jake Tapper, portrays congressional Democrats as nervous and trusting, airing fears about the president's ability to perform and win in 2024 that were waved off by dissembling White House staffers. The book illustrates a small group of Biden advisers engaged in a cover-up: top Jill Biden aide Anthony Bernal, longtime Biden strategist Mike Donilon, and both of the former president's chiefs of staff. 'They were very anxious about rolling the dice on any young candidate because of Trump. They wanted a seasoned hand,' Swalwell said of his fellow congressional Democrats. 'I do think that an earlier change certainly would have served us better.' Republicans wished Biden well after his diagnosis but didn't move off their basic position: That Democrats and the media engaged in the greatest cover-up in history when it came to his declining capabilities, and they were not done asking questions about it. 'I blame him less than I blame the people around him,' Vice President JD Vance told reporters on his way to Rome after the diagnosis. 'I don't believe that they just found out Friday, because they're not credible on anything they've done,' Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) told Fox News of the Biden family. Leo Terrell, a senior Trump Justice Department official, suggested on X that Jill Biden had committed 'elder abuse' by encouraging her husband to run again. But 'Original Sin' contains no evidence of a theory that many MAGA-aligned Republicans have entertained for years: That someone else was running the country, not Biden. Some Democrats are so queasy about the flogging Biden gets in 'Original Sin' that they're edging away from past conclusions that his re-election bid was misguided from the start. Former Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild, who narrowly lost her seat last year, is quoted in the book worrying that she 'cannot campaign with Joe Biden' and 'if I defend the president, I lose my integrity.' As the book's release approached, she took another tone. 'We would be so much better off if Dems had unified behind him,' Wild wrote on X over the weekend. Democrats who want questions about Biden to go away will probably never be satisfied. What might have happened, had he not run again, is a counter-factual up there with 'What if Lincoln had kept Hannibal Hamlin on the ticket?' and 'What if Ted Kennedy had tossed the keys to a designated driver?' Too many 2028 hopefuls are on tape defending Biden's acuity, or at least his decisions, some (like Pete Buttigieg) from inside the Cabinet. Democratic primary voters may not want to revisit Biden and may even reward candidates who attack the media for asking about it; that attitude, however, put them where they are today,. But 'Original Sin' is only partly about other Democrats, who mostly come off as loyal, nervous, weak, and finally, betrayed. Their betrayers are unlikely to matter again in party politics. Donilon is reported as promising to share polling that can show Biden's path to victory, then not doing it. Bernal shuts down challenges to the president by saying that 'Jill isn't going to like this.' A critical reader might connect Bernal's defense of the Bidens to the anonymously sourced negative stories the New York Post ran about him last year. And a more cynical reader might want Tapper to be more introspective and ask: Why didn't the press uncover this stuff sooner? The answer in 'Original Sin' is that Biden's inner circle protected him from scrutiny and reacted to a drumbeat of age questions — which started before he was inaugurated — by tightening that circle. But throughout the campaign, key figures in press never stopped covering Biden's age and its impact on voters. During that fatal June debate with Trump, for example, when CNN colleague Dana Bash heard Biden mutter that 'we finally beat Medicaid,' she passed Tapper a note: 'He just lost the election.' Biden's camp inherited his distaste for the Beltway media and his confidence that he could bounce back from anything. Perhaps their biggest sin was looking at the friendly media infrastructure built around Donald Trump that still tosses him softballs, and asking: Can we get one of those? In The Bulwark, Jonathan V. Last bemoans how 'all of America' failed the 2024 election test, not just Biden. 'We blame Joe Biden because he was the last link in the chain and because it's safer than coming to terms with the reality.' In the Columbia Journalism Review, Richard J. Tofel argues that the 2024 campaign books don't probe deep enough into what Democrats with political futures knew about the president. 'Joe Biden failed the country in deciding to seek a second term. But the press also failed in its job to confirm, in undeniable fashion, what the voters already knew.' In The Wall Street Journal, Brianna Abbott and Annie Linskey investigate why Biden's medical tests didn't reveal his cancer earlier. 'The Republican-led House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is currently probing whether top White House officials concealed negative information about Biden's decline.
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Homecare provider to create 60 new jobs in Louth
Drogheda Independent Home care provider, Dovida, has today announced plans to create up to 60 new caregiver jobs in Louth. The positions, which will be a mix of full-time and part-time roles, are part of the company's broader effort to expand services and meet increasing demand for home care in the region. Formerly known as Home Instead, Dovida has been operating in Ireland since 2005 and recently rebranded as it broadened its range of services and intends to increase capacity across the region. The company currently provides home care to over 8,000 people across the country. The organisation's client base began with people in the over-65 age group but there is a growing portion of their clients (10pc) who are under the age of 65, with children under 18 making up 1pc of their clients. Dovida's services have adapted to the varied needs of its clients, and the company now provides services to support people living with an acquired brain injury, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Motor Neurone Disease, as well as helping children and young adults with additional needs. The new roles will be a combination of full and part-time positions, offering competitive rates of pay, flexible schedules, and comprehensive, sector-leading training through the Home Care Professionals Academy. Speaking at the launch of Dovida's Louth office, Allison Doggett, General Manager of Dovida Louth, said, 'We are excited about welcoming more caregivers to our team. They will help us meet the growing need for home care services in Louth and make it possible for more people to receive the support they need to live comfortably and independently at home. 'Caregivers joining our team can expect comprehensive training, a dedicated local team and supportive environment as well as opportunities to grow professionally and develop a rewarding career in home care. We believe in quality home care that empowers people to live with dignity, independence, and comfort in familiar surroundings,' Doggett continued. 'That means keeping them in their own home, connected to their family, friends and communities for as long as possible. Social interaction and companionship are crucial for maintaining good mental health and supporting those experiencing cognitive decline, particularly older people. As an organisation with deep roots in the community, we understand the value of connection and it's fantastic to be in a position to grow our team so we can support more and more people throughout the county,' Allison concluded. Dovida caregivers provide essential support to ageing adults and people living with disabilities in their own homes. The organisation's person-centred approach means that its caregivers build meaningful connections with their clients and empower them to live fuller, more independent lives. Dovida welcomes applications from people from all walks of life and is committed to supporting them every step of the way. People interested in pursuing a rewarding career in caregiving are encouraged to visit
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Business Standard
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Standard
Australia announce Test squad for WTC final 2025 vs South Africa at Lord's
Flamboyant opener Sam Konstas and fully-fit all-rounder Cameron Green have earned spots in Australia's 15-member squad for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final against South Africa. The high-stakes match will be held at Lord's in London from June 11 to 15, with Pat Cummins leading the side in their quest to retain the prestigious mace. No major surprises in squad selection The squad features a familiar lineup, largely unchanged from the one that faced India and Sri Lanka earlier this year. 'The team capped the WTC cycle with a strong series win in Sri Lanka, following an impressive summer where we defeated India for the first time in a decade,' said chief selector George Bailey, as quoted by He added, 'These consistent performances over the two-year cycle have earned us an exciting chance to defend our WTC title. Reaching the final means a great deal to this group, and they are eager for the challenge South Africa will bring.' Konstas had missed out on selection during the Sri Lanka tour and was sent home early. He had been playing domestic cricket for New South Wales and had previously impressed with a vibrant debut against India in Melbourne, though he struggled to maintain that form. Green, on the other hand, returns after recovering from a back injury that required surgery last year. Kuhnemann, Doggett named as reserves Spinner Matt Kuhnemann has been included as a backup to frontline spinner Nathan Lyon. Meanwhile, pacer Brendan Doggett has been named as a travelling reserve, ready to step in if needed. Squad to tour West Indies post WTC Final Following the WTC final, the same Australian squad will head to the Caribbean for a three-Test series against the West Indies, with matches scheduled in Barbados, Grenada, and Jamaica starting June 25. Cummins, Hazlewood back after injury Layoffs Skipper Pat Cummins and fellow quick Josh Hazlewood return to the squad after sitting out the Sri Lanka Tests and Champions Trophy due to injuries. Both made successful comebacks during their stints in the Indian Premier League. Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland complete the pace attack, with Doggett in reserve. The South Australian seamer has shown form in county cricket, picking up nine wickets in his first two matches for Durham.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
FAA: Austin airport delays blamed on continued staffing issues
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) staffing issues continue to cause some problems in Austin according to the agency. On Mother's Day, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport dealt with some delays blamed on staffing by the FAA. 'I know that this airport is understaffed, and I can see it when I travel,' said Valentia Davalos who was dropping her mother off at the airport on Monday. The staffing issues continue to leave some fliers on edge, due to it being an ongoing problem that, in some cases, has impacted safety. Another close call near AUS: Small aircraft enters flight path of commercial plane 'We had a few of those close calls on the runway and stuff like that, and that really makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up a little bit,' traveler Sydney Malcom said, referring to past incidents at Austin's airport. The FAA on Monday said operations were back to normal. But U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett, who represents part of Austin, still takes issue with what those normal operations are. He's advocated for more to be done to address staffing problems.'The real danger is safety,' Doggett said. 'Those are indications that it's not safe to fly, because yesterday [Sunday], we were short five air traffic controllers. We don't want to wait until there's a catastrophe here before we get the action that we need.' The sense of urgency in Austin is heightened by what is happening at the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Newark has experienced FAA staffing shortages, and even radar outages, leading to cancellations and delays.'We have to fix this, because what you see in Newark is going to happen in other places across the country,' U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. In an interview with Meet the Press Moderator Kristen Welker on Sunday, Duffy said they're looking at fixes. 'Congress has given me the authority to extend the retirement age for air traffic controllers from from 56 to 61, but that's not the problem,' Duffy said. 'I'm going to give them [air traffic controllers] a 20% up front bonus to stay on the job. Don't retire. Keep serving your country.'' Texas Rep. Doggett: Austin airport missing half of necessary air traffic controllers Still, Doggett said that doesn't take care of the issues happening now that need immediate fixes. 'That's why I've been advocating strong support for the application made last summer to give our air traffic controllers the tool of expanded space to watch for these and also continue to advocate for more air traffic controllers, because we don't want to wait until there's a catastrophe here before we get the action that we need,' Doggett said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tennessee lawmakers postpone pesticide bill until 2026
Nearly 170,000 lawsuits have been filed against Bayer, parent company of the weedkiller Roundup, over claims the product causes cancer. (Photo Illustration by) Chemical companies seeking legal immunity from Roundup-related lawsuits will have to wait a year to get their way in Tennessee. The House Judiciary Committee opted Tuesday to postpone legislation until 2026 enabling Bayer/Monsanto to avoid liability in lawsuits connected to cancer claims. Republican Rep. Clay Doggett of Pulaski called for the delay less than a week after the full Senate passed its version of the bill. 'I felt like there was a lot of stakeholders, there was a lot of questions that we had that didn't get answered,' Doggett said Tuesday. Tennessee bill would expand weed-killer manufacturers' legal immunity Germany-based Bayer, the parent company of Monsanto, recently agreed to pay nearly $2.1 billion to a man who claimed he contracted non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from Roundup. Some 170,000 similar lawsuits have been filed against the chemical company. Under the legislation, though, as long as a pesticide manufacturer's federally-approved label doesn't warn of a disease, they couldn't be held liable for causing an illness. Farmers in his rural Middle Tennessee district supported the bill, Doggett said. Yet lawmakers were overwhelmed with information about the bill, making it difficult to bring it to a vote this year, he said. For instance, Republican Rep. Gino Bulso, a Brentwood attorney, told lawmakers a provision in state law gives people standing to sue in federal court. Doggett also added that he favors an amendment to the measure that dropped a 'blanket immunity' provision for the companies involved. Doggett conceded that farmers could be 'more prone' to contract illnesses from spraying the pesticide/herbicide. Yet he said farmers in his district support the legislation and use of the chemical, and he added that other lawmakers said foreign countries will continue using the product on their crops even if it vanishes in America. Farmers and the Farm Bureau testified previously that the Roundup used in modern agriculture enables no-till farming on larger tracts, which is considered a more efficient method. The House bill's sponsor, Republican Rep. Rusty Grills of Newbern in West Tennessee, called the outcome 'part of the legislative process.' 'There's lots of questions people have that they didn't feel like they got adequate answers to, so knowing that, we're at the end of the session now, so there's not a whole lot of time to get answers,' Grills said. The bill can be brought back for consideration in 2026 since it wasn't voted down. Critics have said they believe it gives Bayer and Monsanto blanket immunity to lawsuits. But Grills said rather than a giveaway to the company, the legislation would put an end to frivolous lawsuits and stave off a day when farmers can't use preferred products because of the threat of legal action against manufacturers. 'I'm one of those farmers. We use these products, and because we use those products, we're able to make a living,' Grills said. A Tennessee Farm Bureau lobbyist testified recently that the Senate bill would avert only cases involving product labels approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. Opponents of the legislation say it will remove people's constitutional rights to a jury trial when they're diagnosed with deadly illnesses caused by the product. Legislatures in Iowa, Missouri, Idaho, Wyoming and Mississippi have turned down similar bills, yet Bayer-Monsanto hasn't pulled products from shelves, leaving opponents to say the chemical maker is more concerned with increasing earnings than protecting people. The Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association testified in the Senate that opponents don't believe the products should be banned, only that customers should maintain their right to take legal action. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
