
Will Hurd says he 'can't lie to get access to a microphone' at RNC debate
Republican presidential candidate Will Hurd said Sunday he was working toward "hitting all the requirements" to qualify for next month's first GOP primary debate in Milwaukee. But when it came to the requirement to pledge support for the eventual GOP nominee -- even if that is former President Donald Trump -- Hurd said, "I can't lie to get access to a microphone."
2023-07-03 02:57

Mike Pence makes surprise appearance in Paris
Former Vice President Mike Pence was a surprise guest this weekend at a rally in Paris, France, hosted by Iranian dissidents in support of overthrowing Iran’s regime. Mr Pence, who’s running in the increasingly-crowded 2024 Republican primary, railed against the authoritarian government in Tehran and what he claimed were efforts by the Biden administration to revive the 2015 nuclear accord between Iran, the US, and several European countries. That deal was abandoned by the Trump administration who accused Tehran of violating the deal “in spirit”. “Now, a new administration is threatening to unravel all of the progress we made in marinalising the tyrannical regime in Tehran,” Mr Pence claimed. “They are working overtime to restore the Iran Nuclear Deal, putting Tehran back on the fast track to obtaining nuclear weapons.” The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment on those comments. He also claimed that Iran could develop a nuclear weapon in a year if sanctions were rolled back and the 2015 deal snapped back into place. However, the Biden administration has shown no signs, at least publicly, of reigniting the abandoned agreement. If there was any possibility of restarting Iran negotiations, those would now have likely hit a roadblock with the suspension of Rob Malley, Biden’s special envoy to Iran, over an internal State Department review into whether he mishandled classified material. Sources with knowledge of the situation described Mr Malley as a proponent of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal to The Independent. The State Department has refused to confirm in recent weeks whether talks regarding the nuclear deal are ongoing, and has only said that Mr Malley’s status is under review. Pence appeared at the annual event hosted by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) just days after an unannounced visit to Ukraine to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky. The dissident group’s event went off without a hitch and was attended by thousands despite an initial refusal by the French government to allow the group a permit for an outdoor rally. That decision was later reversed by a French court. Authorities had warned that the threat of a terror attack necessitated the rally’s cancelation. NCRI’s previous events in Paris have faced similar threats including in 2018 when a diplomat working for Iran’s government and three others were arrested and later convicted of a bomb plot. The former vice president’s European trip comes as his bid for the White House has yet to clear double-digit levels of support in any major polling, though he is likely to qualify for at least one presidential debate. Read More Mike Pence meets with Zelensky in Ukraine Indiana Supreme Court upholds abortion ban, says state constitution gives only limited protections Biden blames GOP for student loan ruling as 2024 political consequences loom Trump leaned on Arizona governor to flip state’s election results after 2020 loss, report says Biden condemns Supreme Court striking down affirmative action: ‘This is not a normal court’ Senator who once worked at a Planned Parenthood warns that Republicans are planning a national abortion ban
2023-07-03 02:51

Buttigieg says Supreme Court case was designed for 'clear purpose of chipping away' at LGBTQ equality
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Sunday slammed the Supreme Court's ruling in favor of a Christian web designer in Colorado who refuses to create websites to celebrate same-sex weddings out of religious objections, saying the case was designed "for the clear purpose of chipping away" at LGBTQ equality.
2023-07-03 01:56

Christie calls back-and-forth between Trump and DeSantis a teenage 'food fight'
Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie on Sunday lamented what he called the teenage "food fight" between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis over LGBTQ rights in the 2024 GOP race, as rivals of the two front-runners seek to break out of the crowded race.
2023-07-03 01:18

Pence says he doesn't recall 'any pressure' from Trump in calling Arizona governor
Former Vice President Mike Pence says he doesn't recall "any pressure" from Donald Trump in 2020 asking him to call Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey about their loss in the presidential election.
2023-07-03 00:19

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says justices are 'destroying the legitimacy' of the Supreme Court
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said Sunday that some Supreme Court justices are "destroying the legitimacy of the court," amid a lack of oversight, calling it "profoundly dangerous" for democracy.
2023-07-03 00:17

Biden to travel to UK next week to meet King Charles
President Joe Biden will travel to the UK next week for two days ahead of a Nato summit in Lithuania. Mr Biden will meet King Charles and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the White House said in a brief statement on Sunday. “President Biden is scheduled to travel to the United Kingdom, Lithuania, and Finland from July 9-13. President Biden will first travel to London, United Kingdom for engagements with King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to further strengthen the close relationship between our nations,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. She added: “The President will then travel to Vilnius, Lithuania from July 11-12 to attend the 74th NATO Summit. On July 13, President Biden will visit Helsinki, Finland for a U.S.-Nordic Leaders Summit. More details about the trip will be announced soon.” Mr Biden’s first meeting with King Charles comes soon after the coronation of the British monarch, which he did not attend. First Lady Jill Biden and granddaughter Finnegan represented the US at the historic event. Mr Biden spoke with Mr Sunak and other European leaders last week in the wake of the armed rebellion in Russia by the mercenary army Wagner Group. The British Prime Minister, who is facing waves of political blows at home, travelled to Washington DC last month where he met with the president at the White House. Read More Biden's upcoming European trip is meant to boost NATO against Russia as the war in Ukraine drags on Prosecutor in the Hunter Biden case denies retaliating against IRS agent who talked to House GOP Biden reveals ‘new path’ to student debt relief after Supreme Court strikes down president’s plan
2023-07-02 23:48

Tyson Foods to drop 'no antibiotics ever' label on some chicken products- WSJ
Tyson Foods is reintroducing certain antibiotics to its chicken supply chain, and will drop its “no antibiotics ever”
2023-07-02 23:27

5 players Blazers could acquire in Lillard deal to stay competitive
The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to pursue a star-level return for Damain Lillard -- perhaps with the goal of staying in contention. Who can they realistically acquire?Damian Lillard's trade request was awkwardly timed, if not particularly surprising. The Blazers have plenty of young...
2023-07-02 23:20

Why there won't be a backlash against the Supreme Court this time
The Supreme Court handed down several key rulings this past week that dismayed liberals. Chief among them was the court's decision to disallow colleges and universities from using race or ethnicity as a specific factor in admissions. The court also found that President Joe Biden's student debt forgiveness plan was unconstitutional.
2023-07-02 21:17

America's front line of missile defense is straining under the demand of global threats
The US Army's air defense units are among the most overworked in the US military, manning missile systems across the globe to provide around-the-clock deterrence against adversaries including North Korea, China, Iran and Russia.
2023-07-02 20:23

Trump and DeSantis, once pandemic allies, are now gaslighting each other over Covid
Former president Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis -- both maligned by Democrats and medical experts for not doing enough to slow the spread of the coronavirus -- are lately each trying to convince GOP voters that the other was too strict in responding to Covid-19.
2023-07-02 19:56