DeSantis nervously laughs when asked about campaign ‘failure to launch’ in Fox News interview
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was left laughing and speechless after Fox News's Maria Bartiromo pointedly asked him "what happened" to his presidential campaign. During an interview on her show Sunday Morning Futures, Bartiromo referenced a Politico article titled "Failure to Launch" that highlighted an assessment from a surrogate for Mr DeSantis who admitted "we are way behind" in polling. “What’s going on with your campaign?” Bartiromo asked. “There was a lot of optimism about you running for president earlier in the year. … What happened?!” Mr DeSantis met the question with nervous laughter before he composed an answer denying that anything had gone wrong, according to Mediaite. “Maria, These are narratives,” Mr DeSantis answered. “The media does not want me to be the nominee. I think that’s very, very clear. Why? Because they know I’ll beat [President Joe] Biden. But even more importantly, they know I will actually deliver on all these things." He then expounded on a number of his policy initiatives that he believes scares the media into trying to undermine his campaign. Mr DeSantis insisted that his campaign was a work in progress, and said he intended to keep fighting to come out on top in the Republican primaries. “I never expected to just snap fingers and all of a sudden, you know, you win seven months before anyone happens,” he said. “You got to earn it and you got to work. And it requires a lot of toil and tears and sweat. And we’re going to do that.” The numbers tell a different story, as Bartiromo pointed out; she referenced a Fox News poll showing Mr DeSantis behind his chief rival, former President Donald Trump by 34 points. She also asked Mr DeSantis if he planned on participating in an upcoming debate on 23 August. “Of course, I look forward to doing it,” Mr DeSantis said. “I think really, Maria, that’s when people are really going to start paying attention to the primary. I think up to this point, a lot of that has been about some of these legal cases. And I think a lot of the voters concern about that and understandably so.” He said the debate would open the door to policy issues that he believes will win him more support among the nation's Republican voters. “We’re going to be able to talk about the vision, and I look forward to doing it,” he said. “So I’m glad we’re going to get started.” Mr Trump has a different view of the race, claiming in a flurry of Truth Social posts made Saturday evening that Mr DeSantis was looking for an off-ramp. “Ron DeSanctimonious is desperately trying to get out of the Presidential race, while at the same time saving face for 2028, where he has been greatly damaged,” the former president said. He then mused about whether or not he should even bother debating Mr DeSantis and his other challengers, citing — and exaggerating — his polling lead. “Maybe I should enter the debates," Mr Trump said. "But, then again, when you have a 40 to 50 point lead over the field, maybe I shouldn’t???” Read More Gavin Newsom urges DoJ to investigate Florida over ‘unconscionable’ transportation of migrants Florida Republican lawmaker accused of sexually harassing two male staffers Cillian Murphy responds to ‘homophobic’ video shared by Ron DeSantis campaign
2023-07-10 03:50
Cowboys playoff factoid makes latest two QB eras even more depressing
Playoff futility has tied Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Tony Romo and Dak Prescott even more together than we ever realized.Not since Troy Aikman starred for them have the Dallas Cowboys been to the NFC Championship.It has been over a quarter of a century since the Cowboys played for the right...
2023-07-10 03:47
Why isn’t Matisse Thybulle on the Mavericks?
The Dallas Mavericks' impressive offseason comes to a halt after Portland officially matches the offer sheet for Matisse Thybulle.After the Dallas Mavericks submitted an offer sheet for Matisse Thybulle that could have brought him to Texas, the Portland Trail Blazers matched the deal, keepi...
2023-07-10 03:46
Powell Haunted by Repo Crisis as Fed Aims to Cut Balance Sheet
Tucked away in hours of congressional testimony by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell last month was an admission
2023-07-10 03:25
Sparks vs. Mercury prediction and odds for Sunday, July 9 (Back Phoenix with Taurasi back)
The Los Angeles Sparks and Phoenix Mercury are both in the middle of losing streaks heading into Sunday night’s matchup.Phoenix is the worst team in the WNBA this season at 3-14, but it has Diana Taurasi returning to the lineup for this game.The Sparks have a loaded injury report for t...
2023-07-10 03:23
Chiefs lurking on one of the biggest free agents still available
The Kansas City Chiefs are still somewhat in on signing DeAndre Hopkins in his free agency.Although other teams probably have the upper hand over them right now, do not be shocked if DeAndre Hopkins were to make his way onto the Kansas City Chiefs roster in his long-drawn-out NFL free agency....
2023-07-10 03:22
Isis leader killed by US drone strike in Syria, Pentagon says
US Reaper drones in Syria were able to seek out and destroy a top Isis commander on Friday despite interference from the Russian military, the Pentagon said on Sunday. In a statement to The Independent, the Defense Department said that a group of Reaper aircraft destroyed a motorcycle being ridden by Usamah al-Muhajir, thought by US forces to be a top commander of Islamic State forces remaining in the Aleppo region of Syria. Isis has been pushed out of every inch of territory over which it once claimed military control, but pockets of fighters and leaders of the terrorist group remain dispersed around the region, plotting attacks against Syrian forces and the west. “We have made it clear that we remain committed to the defeat of ISIS throughout the region,” said Gen Michael Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command. [CENTCOM]. “ISIS remains a threat, not only to the region but well beyond.” The Pentagon’s press release added: “There are no indications that any civilians were killed in this strike, and the coalition is assessing reports of a civilian injury. This will disrupt and degrade ISIS’s ability to plan and conduct terror attacks. However, CENTCOM’s operations against ISIS, alongside partner forces in Iraq and Syria, will continue in order to achieve the group’s enduring defeat.” Photos and video released by the agency showed the moment that the aircraft were confronted by Russian fighter jets carrying out “unsafe” maneuvers as they sought their target, which according to defence officials took place just hours before the successful strike. “The strike on Friday was conducted by the same MQ-9s that had, earlier in the day, been harassed by Russian aircraft in an encounter that had lasted almost two hours,” explained the agency. A similar set of incidents has occurred in recent days involving Russian aircraft and Nato forces over Syria — the US has blamed Russian aircraft for a number of incidents involving drone craft, while the French military last week accused Russian forces of what it described as a “non-professional interaction” in the same region. Pentagon officials had initially addressed the harassment on Friday, without announcing the successful operation that had taken place. “Earlier today three MQ-9 drones were once again harassed by Russian fighter aircraft while flying over Syria. During the almost two hour encounter, Russian aircraft flew 18 unprofessional close passes that caused the MQ-9s to react to avoid unsafe situations,” Air Force Lt Gen Alex Grynkewich said in a Friday statement. “We continue to encourage Russia to return to the established norms of a professional Air Force so we can all return our focus to ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS,” he added. Read More Biden says Ukraine not ‘ready’ for Nato membership ahead of key summit 20 miles from the Russian border, one town struggles to move on from bloody occupation by Putin’s forces NATO's unity will be tested at summit in Vilnius How a racist conspiracy has driven a surge in migration to Europe Armed rebellion by Wagner chief Prigozhin underscores erosion of Russian legal system Moment Russian fighter jets harass US drones over Syria
2023-07-10 00:58
Trump lawyer Alina Habba leaves his defence team in New York fraud case
Donald Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba has stepped down from her role defending the former president in the fraud lawsuit filed against him by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Ms Habba has taken up a new role with Mr Trump’s Save America leadership political action committee. A press release issued by the PAC says that Mr Trump appointed Ms Habba to be his legal spokesperson and general counsel to Save America, though she will also still assist the former president with “certain legal matters”. “Alina has worked diligently and tirelessly on many of the witch-hunt cases that have been unfairly brought against President Trump,” said Steven Cheung, communications director for the Trump 2024 campaign. The statement continues: “While the Habba Madaio Law firm will continue to assist the President in certain legal matters, Ms Habba will withdraw from the New York Attorney General’s case against the Trump Organization and President Trump and other cases, in order to devote her time to Save America and her duties as his media representative on legal matters.” Ms Habba says: “It is an honour to be asked by such a leader as President Trump to help Save America. Being able to devote more time to addressing publicly his many legal matters is the privilege of a lifetime.” The appointment is effective immediately. Ms Habba is also tied to and more widely known for her role in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case and was called before the federal grand jury. She spoke on Jesse Watters’ Fox News show amid news that the grand jury indicted Mr Trump on charges related to his allegedly unlawful retention of national defence information. The attorney claimed the indictment was a distraction from supposed impropriety on behalf of President Joe Biden of which House Republicans have so far failed to produce any evidence. “Every single time there is a coordinated dance that is becoming obvious to the American people because they are smart,” Ms Habba said. She added that the indictments of the twice-impeached former president were the equivalent of a “shiny ball” meant to distract the American public. “I’m embarrassed to be a lawyer at this moment,” she said. “Honestly, I am ashamed. I’m ashamed to be a lawyer. I’m ashamed that this is the state of our country.” Ms Habba claimed the indictment showed the United States had a two-tiered system of justice. “And it is so obvious that there’s this dual system of justice,” she said. “This is selective prosecution, selective persecution. It is absolute persecution. It is Russia third world stuff, and it should not be happening.” Read More Trump lawyer says she’s ‘ashamed’ and ‘embarrassed’ over secret papers indictment Trump attorneys worry some may snitch to feds as documents probe closes in, report claims Trump attorney Alina Habba reveals why his mugshot shouldn’t be released AOC says idea Trump is victim of a ‘two-tier’ justice system is an insult to Black and brown Americans
2023-07-10 00:50
Contenders to replace Harry Maguire as Man Utd captain
Assessing the contenders to replace Harry Maguire as Manchester United captain.
2023-07-10 00:27
2 killed, 5 injured after shooting at Texas party
Two people were killed and five others were injured after gunfire broke out at a party early Sunday morning in Amarillo, Texas, according to police.
2023-07-10 00:17
Violent brawl breaks out at Michigan GOP committee meeting
While the scuffles may be verbal as leading Republicans jostle to become the party’s 2024 presidential nominee, down at the state level things have actually turned physical — at least in Michigan, and not for the first time. Tensions boiled over within the Michigan Republican Party on Saturday resulting in an altercation at a hotel to which the police were called. The GOP’s state committee came together for a meeting at the Doherty Hotel in Clare as members have been feuding over the party’s direction and the leadership approach of the new chairwoman, Kristina Karamo, The Detroit News reports. Some Michigan Republicans arriving at the venue on Saturday were frustrated to find the meeting was limited only to members of the state committee and was taking place behind a locked door. In an interview with The Detroit News, James Chapman, a Republican from Wayne County, said he had travelled to Clare for the meeting but was forced to listen to it through a locked door. Mr Chapman said he and others said the Pledge of Allegiance together in the lobby outside the meeting, after which he jiggled the doorknob of the meeting room. It was then that Mark DeYoung, chairman of the Clare County Republican Party, approached the door, saw someone flip him off through a small window, and opened it. “He kicked me in my balls as soon as I opened the door,” Mr DeYoung said, adding that Mr Chapman ran at him and slammed him into a chair. Mr DeYoung gave his account to the outlet over the phone from an emergency room where he said he was being treated for a broken rib. For his part, Mr Chapman alleges that Mr DeYoung had swung at him and said: “I’ll kick your ass.” Mr DeYoung denies this happened. Continuing, Mr Chapman says he removed his glasses, took Mr DeYoung by the legs and knocked him down: “When you see me taking my glasses off, I’m ready to rock.” Multiple police officers were at the scene after the scuffle and Mr DeYoung said he intended to press charges against Mr Chapman. “We’re so divided,” Mr DeYoung said from the hospital. “I just wish we could come together.” This is also not the first time internal tensions have erupted. The Washington Post reported in June: “At least four county parties in Michigan have been at open war with themselves, with members suing one another or putting forward competing slates that claim to be in charge. The night before an April state party meeting, two GOP officials got into a physical altercation in a hotel bar over an attempt to expel members.” Other tension stems from criticism of Ms Karamo, who became the chairwoman in February, for not providing more information about fundraising and spending. The Post also reported that she has struggled to raise money and abandoned the party’s longtime headquarters. Ms Karamo had recently removed Matt Johnson, the budget committee chairman, citing “dereliction of duty and several other grievances”. Mr Johnson had said spending was “so far out of proportion with income as to put us on the path to bankruptcy”. The Michigan Republican Party was trounced in the 2022 midterms — Ms Karamo lost a run for secretary of state in November by 14 percentage points to her Democrat rival — and has found itself out of power in the state legislature for the first time in four decades. The Democratic Party also controls the state Senate and Governor Gretchen Whitmer comfortably won reelection by 11 points in November 2022. Continuing internal struggles will likely make it even harder for a Republican candidate to take the state in 2024’s presidential election. Read More Trump attorney who was key to election conspiracies retires from legal practice Forget everything else: These four states will decide the presidency Trump tells Michigan Republicans that EVs will ‘decimate’ state’s auto industry Prosecutors are prepared to hit Trump and his allies with new charges, sources say Trump mocked for bursting into bizarre moaning sounds at Michigan GOP dinner
2023-07-09 23:51
23 people were injured in a Chicago city bus crash
Twenty-three people were injured when a Chicago city bus collided with a car Sunday morning, leaving three in severe condition and a car on fire, the Chicago Fire Department said.
2023-07-09 23:49