Latest news with #KamalaHarris
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Trump just delivered a word salad speech that would've got Biden impeached
Once upon a time, if the president of the United States stumbled over a sentence, forgot a name, or momentarily glitched mid-speech, it was treated as a national emergency. 'Cognitive decline!' the headlines cried. 'Who's really running the country?' asked Republican attack ads on then-president Joe Biden, implying former vice president Kamala Harris was lurking just offstage with the strings of the puppet in her hands. Twitter (not X, never X) diagnosed poor Joe with dementia. There was talk about invoking the 25th Amendment. Biden's enemies — and then even some of his friends — painted him as a husk of a man: barely lucid, tragically unaware, propelled only by hubris toward a second term. But now Donald Trump is back, and aren't things different? Or wait, are they? During a speech in Pittsburgh Tuesday afternoon for the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, the 47th president certainly had his faculties on full display. To start, the president claimed, without blinking, that he had already secured $16 trillion in investments into the U.S. economy. For reference, the entire GDP of the United States is under $30 trillion. Now, we all know that Donald is prone to exaggeration. We've all heard that his latest idea/bill/haircut is the greatest thing ever, and that some people are saying it's the most incredible idea/bill/haircut the world has ever seen. But this was clearly not delivered for melodramatic effect. This was the president of the United States claiming that he had single-handedly funded half of capitalism, in six months. Moments later, Trump attempted to introduce Republican Rep. Dan Meuser. 'Where's Dan?' he asked, scanning the crowd. Dave McCormick, seated beside him, had to quietly inform him that all the representatives had stayed in Washington. 'Oh, they're in Washington working on our next bill? Good!' Trump replied. 'Now I don't have to mention their names, although they're watching on television, I guarantee.' He laughed nervously as he said it, in quite an uncharacteristic way, and then trailed off while muttering, again, that it was 'good' that 'they' are working on something in D.C. It was oddly difficult to watch. The 79-year-old president then struggled to pronounce the name of one of his own White House aides, before saying, 'They tell me you're doing great.' And, as the spicy dressing on the word salad, he added a bizarre aside about Unabomber Ted Kaczynski being a great student ('It didn't work out too well for him' in the end, however, according to Trump, a conclusion that clearly demands intellectual rigor beyond the everyday man or woman.) If Biden had said any of this, Fox News would have launched a live countdown to impeachment. But it's unlikely we'll see these gaffes dominate the news cycle — even though President Donald J. Trump, supposedly the sparkiest 79-year-old who ever damn lived, began to visibly struggle to stay awake while seated behind the microphone. There's something to be said here about gerontocracy, and the fact that the last election felt like watching two bald grandpas fighting over a comb, and the awfulness of having people on both sides of the aisle (the late Dianne Feinstein and the clearly struggling Mitch McConnell as two examples) hold on to power rather than relinquish it to people who have the mental and physical capacity to wield it. There's something to be said about Republicans sticking together, even in the face of clear dereliction of duty, and Democrats routinely turning on their own. There's even, perhaps, something to be said about how one can sleepwalk (quite literally) into stupid-sounding lies if one is accustomed to just saying whatever one wants all the time, until eventually it becomes clear that the emperor has no clothes. Trump is vulnerable at this moment, writing as he has on Truth Social that he's disappointed in his 'boys' and 'gals' for not letting themselves be gaslit into believing there was no Epstein list after all. Elon Musk is calling for a new party, as Laura Loomer and Tucker Carlson are being periodically, and loudly, more disloyal. Vice President J.D. Vance isn't exactly coming to a resounding defense of his running mate each time controversy rears its head, either. So it really might've been a good idea for Trump to bring his A-game to events right now. Instead, he showed, in a few short remarks, that he has very little knowledge of the reality of the American economy; is incapable of remembering where his own representatives are, to the point that he'll invite one onstage who is literal states away; doesn't appear to have heard of his aide; and cannot stay awake during an early afternoon public appearance. It's hard to sell 'disruptor' and 'firebrand' when you're falling asleep at the table and muttering people's names semi-coherently. But of course, as we know, all of this will simply be absorbed into the MAGA mythos: just another quirk of the ever-evolving, benevolent Trumpian character. The Republicans will carry him, even if they saw ten times less from Biden and called it reprehensible. And they won't do it because they truly think he's sharp. They'll do it because, in the end, they no longer think that matters.
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Furious Stephen Colbert rips Paramount bosses live on air for settling $16m lawsuit with Trump
Late night talk show host Stephen Colbert went nuclear on his parent corporation, Paramount, after the company settled a bombshell lawsuit with Donald Trump for a whopping $16 million. Trump accused Paramount's network, CBS, which also airs The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, of falsely editing an interview with then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris before the election. Although the network didn't admit to any journalistic wrongdoing, the massive settlement will cover Trump's legal fees and his future presidential library. Paramount also agreed to release unedited transcripts of 60 Minutes interviews with presidential candidates. Colbert didn't hesitate to take shots at his parent corporation, confessing in his opening monologue on Wednesday's episode that he was 'offended' by the actions of his employer. The late night host called the lawsuit against CBS a 'nuisance,' and claimed that Paramount could've 'easily fought it' citing the company's own words calling the allegations 'completely without merit.' 'And keep in mind Paramount produced Transformers: Rise of the Beast. They know "completely without merit,"' Colbert joked, poking fun at the Paramount+ film that bombed at the box office. Colbert then cited a phony statement, joking that the network said, 'You may take our money, but you will never take our dignity. 'You may, however, purchase our dignity for the low, low, price of $16 million. We need the cash.' Colbert argued that the settlement was a 'big, fat, bribe,' in light of the company's merger with Skydance, which will need approval from the Trump administration. The late night host then cited an article from Puck, that claimed the merger could 'put pressure' on him to ease up on Trump criticisms. Colbert brushed off the gossip, joking that his new mustache will make it impossible for the new executives to find and put pressure on him. Daily Mail reached out to Paramount for comment in response to Colbert's claims. CBS has undergone executive changes as an $8 billion merger with David Ellison's Skydance remains on the table. David's father, Larry Ellison, is a multi-billionaire and Trump supporter. He joined the president at the White House in January for the unveiling of a project called Stargate and is providing the $8 billion for the CBS deal, according to the New York Times. The merger agreement was announced last July, but has stalled. A 90-day extension was issued a few weeks ago to give the parties more time to come to an agreement. Paramount heiress Shari Redstone has reportedly been pushing for the deal and was in favor of settling the lawsuit. Colbert isn't the only employee at Paramount upset with the recent business dealings. CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon announced her resignation in May, writing in a memo, 'It's become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward.' 'It's time for me to move on and for this organization to move forward with new leadership.' Former 60 Minutes boss Bill Owens also resigned after he opposed the settlement with the president. Owens resigned in April amid the turmoil after serving as the program's executive producer since 2019. 'Over the past months, it has become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it,' he wrote at the time. Under Owens' leadership, 60 Minutes interviewed Harris which prompted the lawsuit from Trump. In the interview, Harris was asked about the war in Gaza and her response was edited down. The network defended the decision at the time, arguing that it was edited to fit the program's time constraint. After the lawsuit was settled, Trump's legal team issued a statement that read, 'With this record settlement, President Donald J. Trump delivers another win for the American people as he, once again, holds the Fake News media accountable for their wrongdoing and deceit.' 'CBS and Paramount Global realized the strength of this historic case and had no choice but to settle. 'President Trump will always ensure that no one gets away with lying to the American People as he continues on his singular mission to Make America Great Again.' The settlement marks another win for Trump's legal crusade against the media. ABC News agreed to a settlement of $15 million in December after the president accused anchor George Stephanopoulos of making false claims about him on air.
Fox News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Steve Hilton: California Needs A Governor Who Is Actually Willing To Enforce The Law
California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton joins Fox Across America With Jimmy Failla to shed light on why he believes voters in the Golden State are tired of the same failing policies and are ready to embrace a new kind of leader in Sacramento. 'You know, it's early days, but it's feeling good to me. Just today, new poll came out. I'm leading. I'm leading all the Democrats in a situation where they put Kamala Harris in there. She clears the field for the Democrats pretty much, but I'm right there with her as the real challenger. And I think we've got a shot because for a long time, I think there's been this sort of assumption that a Republican can never win, it's too democratic. That's not true. There's plenty of Republican votes. Here's a simple way of putting it. If everybody who voted for Trump in California last year votes for me next year, I'll win. I'll be the governor. So we've just got to fire people up and say, this time we can do it. Here's positive alternative. It doesn't have to be like this. You don't have put up with this nonsense. Let's go for it.' Steve Hilton: Everything Touched By The Government In California Is A Total Disaster PLUS, check out the podcast to hear Tuesday's full show!
Sky News AU
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Three Democrats win double-digit support in early 2028 presidential primary poll — with one clear frontrunner
Former Vice President Kamala Harris is the 2028 Democratic presidential primary frontrunner by a substantial margin, according to a poll released Monday. Harris, who lost the 2024 race in a landslide to President Trump, received 26% support from Democrats and Democrat-leaning voters in the survey conducted by Echelon Insights. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and California Gov. Gavin Newsom were the only other Democrats to muster double-digit support at 11% and 10% respectively. Rounding out the top five were Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), whom 7% of Democrats said they would vote for if the primary were held today, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who garnered a 6% backing. At 3%, entrepreneur Mark Cuban led the group of political outsiders included in the survey, with sports commentator Stephen A. Smith and comedian Jon Stewart receiving 1% apiece. Thirteen percent of voters indicated that they were unsure who they would vote for, with the primaries still more than two years away. Support for Newsom and Buttigieg increased slightly when Harris – who is reportedly mulling a run for governor in California – was not included in the poll, with both polling at 12%. Ocasio-Cortez (9%) topped and Booker (8%) in that scenario, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (7%) jumped into the top 5. On the Republican side, Vice President JD Vance – at 42% support – held a commanding 33-point lead over his closest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was backed by 9% of GOP and GOP-leaning voters. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (7%), former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (6%), Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (5%) and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy (4%) were within striking distance of DeSantis, but well behind Vance. Sixteen percent of respondents were unsure about who they would vote for. Originally published as Three Democrats win double-digit support in early 2028 presidential primary poll — with one clear frontrunner
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tim Walz's South Dakota visit focuses on hope for Dems, ‘petty' jabs for Noem, Rhoden
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has a message for South Dakota Democrats: Don't give up hope. He also had a few wisecracks to sling at the state's supermajority party. The South Dakota Democratic Party hosted Walz during their annual McGovern Day dinner July 12 at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls. The event honors the legacy of the late George McGovern, an American politician who represented the state for 18 years in the U.S. Senate. Walz was welcomed to the dinner party as the keynote speaker, preceded by the party's Vice Chair Jessica Meyer, Chair Shane Merrill, and State Sen. Minority Leader Liz Larson, of Sioux Falls. In red South Dakota, a state with one of the largest Republican supermajorities in the U.S., Walz focused his message on the idea of "hope." But it wasn't solely hope that the Democratic Party should rely on, Walz added, pulling from his personal experience as former Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate during their unsuccessful 2024 presidential bid. More: Potential for gold mine in Black Hills near Lead, South Dakota "You can't hope you're going to win," Walz told the dinner attendees. "You can't hope that [Donald] Trump goes away. You can't hope that you do this. You have to work for it." The Minnesota governor's speech comes as South Dakota's Democratic representation in the state shrinks. There are currently nine Democrats in the state Legislature — six in the House, three in the Senate — compared with the 95 Republicans between both chambers. That's down from 11 Democrats in 2022 and 16 in 2020. The state Democrats' single-digit hold in the Legislature stands in stark contrast, as well, to the party's 35-seat hold in 2008. That's why, Walz said, his blue neighbors to the west have to "win the hard races." That means winning county chair seats, school board elections and mayoral races. Walz's appearance also comes almost a month after State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed at their home. "We are reeling in Minnesota," Walz said. "The murder of Melissa Hortman is a wound that is going to take a long time and will never truly heal. But I have shared with all of you: Not only was this an incredible person -- smart, funny, talented -- she was a singular legislator who understood not just where we were going, but how to get there. And for all of you who are out here and know the tragedy of this, the way you honor that is run for office." The Democratic Party, in general, is in "a hell of a pickle," Walz said. Compared with his successful 2006 upset for a Minnesota U.S. House seat, when Walz was a "teacher with no money," today's Democrats have a harder time winning elections without necessary funding. "You can't get elected if you're a teacher or a small business owner or a nurse or retired if you don't have infrastructure to make it happen," Walz said. Walz also spoke to a messaging problem the party is facing, with some Democratic areas in the Midwest having shifted Republican over time. In this, Walz bemoaned the conservative tilt, asking out loud, "How did we lose those people?" before saying the party's policies haven't been delivered "in a way that they were able to employ." More: South Dakota supports ban on China owning US farmland But throughout Walz's call for uplifting conservatives into the Democratic fold and driving progressive policies, the former teacher spent time heckling South Dakota's former and current Republican leadership and lampooning the state's cultural and political identity. Kristi Noem, former South Dakota governor, now-secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, whom Walz worked alongside while both served in the U.S. House of Representatives, was his first target. Walz joked it would be "really tough" to make the trip to South Dakota because he "had to decide what [he] was going to wear." "When you're coming and you're in South Dakota, do you dress as a fireman? Do you dress as a cowboy?" Walz said, referencing Noem's donning of firefighting gear at a U.S. Coast Guard training facility and similar field attire when meeting with various groups. Walz also cracked that he didn't bring his dog, Scout, "for obvious reasons." Noem had written in a 2024 memoir a controversial account in which she shot and killed a 14-month-old hunting dog that disrupted a pheasant hunt more than 20 years ago. She also put down a goat that she stated smelled "wretched." The comments were petty, Walz concluded. But he refused to apologize, saying, "Some people just bring out the petty in me." Noem was particularly vexing, as Walz said he couldn't "rectify in [his] mind" how the former U.S. representative became the head of South Dakota. "If you picked someone who's the antithesis of the South Dakota I know, it would be that," Walz said of Noem. Walz also poked at South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden, who succeeded Noem after she took the secretary job in Trump's Cabinet. In a weekly column posted on the state's official news page, Rhoden wrote a passage celebrating South Dakota as "the freest state in America," which he stated provides "stronger 2nd Amendment protections than any other state." Rhoden related the state's gun laws to a mock shootout he observed at 1880 Town near Midland, which Walz mocked. "He said he did that because he wants you to know, as those pioneers have the ability to use their firearms to protect themselves, he wants South Dakota to be able to do that today," Walz said. "Who's gonna tell him that's pretend? It's Hollywood. My God. That's the No. 1 concern of the people of South Dakota is that he went to 1880s Day and watched a shoot out?" As far as South Dakota being the "freest" state, Walz said he "ran into an OBGYN that says that's not true." "The people discriminating against others are never the good guys in this," Walz said. "And that arc of the moral universe bends, but I would argue we need to get a little bit more aggressive and help that damn thing bend. Start pulling it in our direction and start making a difference because there are millions of Americans out there, many of them who voted the other way, who need us to bend that part for them." Walz pointed to his own wins in Minnesota as examples of liberal achievements, such as the state recording its highest graduation of high school seniors in 2025, and the Minnesota Legislature's passing of a 2023 bill to provide breakfasts and lunches to students at no cost to them. "I think making the case to folks in a more … proud, Democratic way is our policies that we're advocating for are very, very popular," Walz said. South Dakota Democrats had their own recent successes, Larson noted. Between blocking "bad bills on school vouchers, on criminalizing librarians and on bills that fan the flames of distracting culture wars" and pushing for public education, environmental policies and accessible healthcare, Larson said the current cohort of Democrats in Pierre are "small, but mighty." "We're speaking for the soul of our state," Larson said. "Now, I'm not going to tell you that we're going to flip South Dakota blue tomorrow, but we are growing … we are organizing and we are running stronger candidates every year. Because the point is progress. And what is the alternative? The alternative is giving up and letting the voices of South Dakota go silent and letting (the) other party turn South Dakota into something that we are not." In that vein, Walz said the party as a whole needs to take on a "50-state strategy" and not "leave these candidates for Senate in South Dakota or the House or the governor" behind. But Walz also criticized the limited broadcast of modern Democrats' "positive message of progressive change." Reflecting on the Harris-Walz campaign, the ex-vice presidential candidate said the ticket's strategy of maintaining the Blue Wall — states that have consistently voted Democrat — meant that said message went unheard in rural communities. "It was mostly heard in seven states, and it wasn't heard in Gregory, South Dakota," Walz said. "If you're afraid to go into any legion hall or any small restaurant and proudly talk about what our platform is, maybe we're not as proud as we should be about our policies." This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz brings message to South Dakota Democrats
