The Ledes

Friday, February 28, 2025

New York Times: “Boris Spassky, the world chess champion whose career was overshadowed by his loss to Bobby Fischer in the 'Match of the Century' in 1972, died on Thursday in Moscow. He was 88.”

New York Times: “The actor Gene Hackman was found dead in a mud room in his New Mexico home and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, was found dead on the floor of a bathroom on Wednesday, according to a search warrant affidavit. An open prescription bottle and scattered pills were discovered near her body on a counter in the bathroom. A dead German shepherd was found between 10 and 15 feet away from Ms. Arakawa in a closet of the bathroom, the affidavit said. There were no obvious signs of a gas leak in the home, it said, and the Fire Department did not find signs of a carbon monoxide leak. The maintenance workers who found them said they had not been in contact with the couple for two weeks. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on Thursday afternoon that 'there were no apparent signs of foul play.'... The causes of their deaths had not been determined.”

The Wires
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The Ledes

Thursday, February 27, 2025

CNBC: “Initial filings for unemployment benefits hit their highest level of the year last week in another potential signs of weakness in the labor market. Jobless claims for the week ended Feb. 22 totaled a seasonally adjusted 242,000, up 22,000 from the previous week’s revised level and higher than the Dow Jones estimate for 225,000, according to a Labor Department report Thursday. The level of claims matched the highest since early October 2024 and comes amid questions over broader economic growth and worrying signs in recent consumer sentiment surveys.”

CNBC: “High mortgage rates and elevated home prices combined to crush home sales in January. Pending sales, which are based on signed contracts for existing homes, dropped 4.6% from December to the lowest level since the National Association of Realtors began tracking this metric in 2001. Sales were down 5.2% from January 2024. These sales are an indicator of future closings.”

New York Times: “Gene Hackman, who never fit the mold of a Hollywood movie star, but who became one all the same, playing seemingly ordinary characters with deceptive subtlety, intensity and often charm in some of the most noted films of the 1970s and ’80s, has died, the authorities in New Mexico said on Thursday. He was 95. Mr. Hackman and his wife were found dead on Wednesday afternoon at a home in Santa Fe., N.M., where they had been living, according to a statement from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff’s deputies found the bodies of Mr. Hackman; his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 64; and a dog, according to the statement, which said that foul play was not suspected.” ~~~

     ~~~ Update. New York Times: “An investigation was underway on Thursday after the prolific actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead along with their dog at a house in New Mexico, the local authorities said. The bodies of Mr. Hackman, 95, and Ms. Arakawa, 64, were found by sheriff’s deputies in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Santa Fe on Wednesday afternoon, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. The couple had lived in the Santa Fe area for years. Sheriff Adan Mendoza of Santa Fe County said in a phone interview that an associate of Mr. Hackman and his family had placed an emergency call on Wednesday afternoon after discovering the bodies of the actor and his wife.”

New York Times: “Michelle Trachtenberg, a touchstone of millennial youth culture who grew up onscreen, rising to fame as a troubled teenager on the supernatural 1990s series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and as a conniving young socialite on 'Gossip Girl,' was found dead on Wednesday in Manhattan. She was 39. The New York Police Department said in a statement that officers, responding to a 911 call just after 8 a.m. on Wednesday, found Ms. Trachtenberg unconscious and unresponsive in a Manhattan apartment. She was pronounced dead by emergency medical workers, who had also responded.”

Help!

To keep the Conversation going, please help me by linking news articles, opinion pieces and other political content in today's Comments section.

Link Code:   <a href="URL">text</a>

OR here's a link generator. The one I had posted died, then Akhilleus found one, but it too bit the dust. He found yet another, which I've linked here, and as of September 23, 2024, it's working.

OR you can always just block, copy and paste to your comment the URL (Web address) of the page you want to link.

Note for Readers. It is not possible for commenters to "throw" their highlighted links to another window. But you can do that yourself. Right-click on the link and a drop-down box will give you choices as to where you want to open the link: in a new tab, new window or new private window.

Thank you to everyone who has been contributing links to articles & other content in the Comments section of each day's "Conversation." If you're missing the comments, you're missing some vital links.

Marie: Sorry, my countdown clock was unreliable; then it became completely unreliable. I can't keep up with it. Maybe I'll try another one later.

 

Public Service Announcement

Zoë Schlanger in the Atlantic: "Throw out your black plastic spatula. In a world of plastic consumer goods, avoiding the material entirely requires the fervor of a religious conversion. But getting rid of black plastic kitchen utensils is a low-stakes move, and worth it. Cooking with any plastic is a dubious enterprise, because heat encourages potentially harmful plastic compounds to migrate out of the polymers and potentially into the food. But, as Andrew Turner, a biochemist at the University of Plymouth recently told me, black plastic is particularly crucial to avoid." This is a gift link from laura h.

Mashable: "Following the 2024 presidential election results and [Elon] Musk's support for ... Donald Trump, users have been deactivating en masse. And this time, it appears most everyone has settled on one particular X alternative: Bluesky.... Bluesky has gained more than 100,000 new sign ups per day since the U.S. election on Nov. 5. It now has over 15 million users. It's enjoyed a prolonged stay on the very top of Apple's App Store charts as well. Ready to join? Here's how to get started on Bluesky[.]"

Washington Post: "Americans can again order free rapid coronavirus tests by mail, the Biden administration announced Thursday. People can request four free at-home tests per household through covidtests.gov. They will begin shipping Monday. The move comes ahead of an expected winter wave of coronavirus cases. The September revival of the free testing program is in line with the Biden administration’s strategy to respond to the coronavirus as part of a broader public health campaign to protect Americans from respiratory viruses, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), that surge every fall and winter. But free tests were not mailed during the summer wave, which wastewater surveillance data shows is now receding."

Democrats' Weekly Address

Marie (Feb 23): As far as I can tell, there isn't any. I hope I'm wrong, but it looks like Democrats are so screwed up, they can't even put together a couple of minutes of video to tell us how screwed we are.

Out with the Black. In with the White. New York Times: “Lester Holt, the veteran NBC newscaster and anchor of the 'NBC Nightly News' over the last decade, announced on Monday that he will step down from the flagship evening newscast in the coming months. Mr. Holt told colleagues that he would remain at NBC, expanding his duties at 'Dateline,' where he serves as the show’s anchor.... He said that he would continue anchoring the evening news until 'the start of summer.' The network did not immediately name a successor.” ~~~

~~~ New York Times: “MSNBC said on Monday that Jen Psaki, the former White House press secretary who has become one of the most prominent hosts at the network, would anchor a nightly weekday show in prime time. Ms. Psaki, 46, will host a show at 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, replacing Alex Wagner, a longtime political journalist who has anchored that hour since 2022, according to a memo to staff from Rebecca Kutler, MSNBC’s president. Ms. Wagner will remain at MSNBC as an on-air correspondent. Rachel Maddow, MSNBC’s biggest star, has been anchoring the 9 p.m. hour on weeknights for the early days of ... [Donald] Trump’s administration but will return to hosting one night a week at the end of April.”

New York Times: “Joy Reid’s evening news show on MSNBC is being canceled, part of a far-reaching programming overhaul orchestrated by Rebecca Kutler, the network’s new president, two people familiar with the changes said. The final episode of Ms. Reid’s 7 p.m. show, 'The ReidOut,' is planned for sometime this week, according to the people, who were not authorized to speak publicly. The show, which features in-depth interviews with politicians and other newsmakers, has been a fixture of MSNBC’s lineup for the past five years. MSNBC is planning to replace Ms. Reid’s program with a show led by a trio of anchors: Symone Sanders Townsend, a political commentator and former Democratic strategist; Michael Steele, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee; and Alicia Menendez, the TV journalist, the people said. They currently co-host 'The Weekend,' which airs Saturday and Sunday mornings.” MB: In case you've never seen “The Weekend,” let me assure you it's pretty awful. ~~~

     ~~~ AP Update: "Joy Reid is leaving MSNBC, the network’s new president announced in a memo to staff on Monday, marking an end to the political analyst and anchor’s prime time news show."

Y! Entertainment: "Meanwhile, [Alex] Wagner will also be removed from her 9 pm weeknight slot. Wagner has already been working as a correspondent after Rachel Maddow took over hosting duties during ... Trump’s first 100 days in office. It’s now expected that Wagner will not return as host, but is expected to stay on as a contributor. Jen Psaki, President Biden’s former White House press secretary, is a likely replacement for Wagner, though a decision has not been finalized." MB: In fairness to Psaki, she is really too boring to watch. On the other hand, she is White. ~~~

     ~~~ RAS: "So MSNBC is getting rid of both of their minority evening hosts. Both women of color who are not afraid to call out the truth. Outspoken minorities don't have a long shelf life in the world of our corporate news media."

As we watch in horror the rapid destruction of our democratic form of government, it is comforting to remember there is life outside politics. I took a break a while ago to enjoy a brief lesson in the history of the moonwalk: ~~~

But it may go back even further:

And this chronological account is helpful:

New York Times: “Chuck Todd, the former 'Meet the Press' moderator and a longtime fixture of NBC’s political coverage, told colleagues on Friday that he was leaving the network. A nearly two-decade veteran of NBC, Mr. Todd said that Friday would be his last day at NBC.... Mr. Todd, 52, is the latest TV news star to step aside at a moment when salaries are being scrutinized — and slashed — by major media companies. Hoda Kotb exited NBC’s 'Today' show this month, and Neil Cavuto of Fox News and CNN’s Chris Wallace departed their cable news homes late last year.”

CNBC: “ CNN plans to lay off hundreds of employees Thursday [Jan. 23] as it refocuses the business around a global digital audience.... The layoffs come as CNN is rearranging its linear TV lineup and building out digital subscription products. The cuts will help CNN lower production costs and consolidate teams, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic changes. Certain shows that are produced in New York or Washington may move to Atlanta, where production can be done more cheaply, said the people. For the most part, the job cuts won’t affect CNN’s most recognizable names, who are under contract, said the people. CNN has about 3,500 employees worldwide.... NBC News is also planning cuts later this week, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic changes. While the exact number couldn’t be determined, the job losses will be well under 50....”

 

Contact Marie

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Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts. — Anonymous

A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves. — Edward R. Murrow

Publisher & Editor: Marie Burns

I have a Bluesky account now. The URL is https://bsky.app/profile/marie-burns.bsky.social . When Reality Chex goes down, check my Bluesky page for whatever info I am able to report on the status of Reality Chex. If you can't access the URL, I found that I could Google Bluesky and ask for Marie Burns. Google will include links to accounts for people whose names are, at least in part, Maria Burns, so you'll have to tell Google you looking only for Marie.

Sunday
Jul142024

The Conversation -- July 14, 2024

AP: "... Donald Trump has arrived in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention a day after he was targeted in an attempted assassination at a campaign event.... Trump is not expected to speak at the RNC until Thursday night."

Trump Slightly Injured in Assassination Attempt at Rally. Today's New York Times liveblog is here. ~~~

Michael Shear & Mike Ives: "... Donald J. Trump vowed to remain 'defiant in the face of wickedness' on Sunday as authorities discovered materials to build two explosive devices in a car belonging to a would-be assassin who shot at Mr. Trump at a Saturday rally, roiling the 2024 presidential election. In brief remarks to the nation from the White House on Sunday, President Biden called the assassination attempt 'contrary to everything we stand for us as a nation, everything. It's not who we are as a nation. It's not American. And we cannot allow this to happen.' The president said he would speak at greater length from the Oval Office Sunday night.... Mr. Biden said he had demanded a national security review and promised to share the results with the American people. He also said he had directed the Secret Service to review security arrangements for the Republican convention....

"The spectator who was killed was Corey Comperatore, said Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania. He was 50, according to a post on Facebook by Mr. Comperatore's sister. Law enforcement officials found explosive materials in Mr. Crooks's car and believe they may have found more at his residence.... An AR-15-type semiautomatic rifle found next to Mr. Crooks's body was purchased by a family member, possibly his father.... Mr. Crooks was killed by a Secret Service sniper, according to a spokesman for the agency, just before Mr. Trump was rushed off the stage...." This is the pinned item.

Michael Gold: "Donald Trump has .... issued a new statement offering condolences for the person who was killed at the rally and prayers for those who were injured. In a post on Truth Social, his social media platform, Trump also called for unity in the country...."

Robert Jimison: "Representative Mike Turner, Republican of Ohio and the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, says he hopes to learn more about the unconfirmed reports that rally attendees identified the gunman and were trying to alert law enforcement before he opened fire."

Chris Cameron: "Melania Trump ... published a statement on social media that denounced the shooter as a 'monster' who saw her husband as 'an inhuman political machine.' She called on the nation to 'ascend above the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence.'"

Jimison: "Representatives Ritchie Torres, Democrat of New York, and Mike Lawler, Republican of New York, announced plans to introduce a bill to enhance Secret Service protection for both President Biden and ... Donald J. Trump. The bill would also provide Secret Service protection for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who said last year that his request for protection was denied."

Shear: "The White House said President Biden was receiving a briefing on the shooting from Kimberly Cheatle, the Secret Service director; Attorney General Merrick Garland; the secretary of homeland security, Alejandro Mayorkas; the F.B.I. director, Christopher Wray; the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan; and Liz Sherwood-Randall, the White House homeland security adviser."

Nicholas Nehamas: "The Vice President also attended the briefing in the White House Situation Room, the White House said."

Mike Baker: "Thomas Crooks, the gunman, was employed as a dietary aide at Bethel Park Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, according to Marcie Grimm, the administrator at the facility."

Christina Morales: "Two people who were wounded at the Trump rally were still being treated Sunday at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. They were taken there by helicopter and remain in 'critical condition,' a hospital spokesman, Bill Toland, said."

David Sanger: "Ending his brief remarks from the White House [Sunday afternoon], President Biden said that he would deliver a full address to the nation tonight, which the White House says will be at 8 p.m. Eastern."

Zolan Kanno-Youngs: "Former law enforcement officials are asking questions about the Secret Service's protective perimeter and how closely the agency's countersnipers were watching the building where the gunman fired shots into the Trump rally."

Adam Goldman: "The F.B.I. is trying to break into the shooter's cellphone, with court approval, to learn more about his plans and motive, according to a federal law enforcement official. The official said that dozens of F.B.I. agents, analysts, and evidence technicians from multiple divisions have been called in to work the case."

David Yaffe-Bellany: "Truth Social users posted memes suggesting that President Biden or Hillary Clinton was behind the attack at the rally in Butler, Pa., and argued that there might have been multiple gunmen. They hailed Mr. Trump as a heroic figure, circulating the now-ubiquitous photos of his bloodied face and ear. Right-wing conspiracy theories are par for the course on Truth Social.... Mr. Trump ... said [on the platform that] it was 'God alone who prevented the unthinkable from happening.'" [MB: Yes, God spared Trump but was okay with killing or maiming other rally attendees. Nice god you've got there, Donald.]

Isabelle Taft: "The Pennsylvania State Police released the names of the three rally attendees who were shot. David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pa., and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pa., who were admitted to the hospital in critical condition, were stable on Sunday afternoon, the police said. As previously reported by Gov. Josh Shapiro, the agency confirmed that Corey Comperatore, 50, of Sarver, Pa., was killed at the rally."

Glenn Thrush: "Senior F.B.I. officials, speaking to reporters on a conference call, said they have no reason to believe that Crooks was participating in a larger plot involving other people."

Goldman: "F.B.I. officials also said in the call that agents were investigating the shooting as an assassination and possible domestic terrorism attack. F.B.I. officials said that the gunman's phone, rifle and a possible explosive device was sent to the bureau's lab in Quantico, Va. The F.B.I. described the explosive device as 'rudimentary.' The F.B.I. said it had not uncovered evidence that the shooter had mental health issues.... The F.B.I. confirmed that the father purchased the rifle but it was not clear if the father gave the son the weapon or that he took it without permission. Kevin Rojek, F.B.I. special agent in charge in Pittsburgh, said the family was cooperating with the investigation."

Kellen Browning: "The social media platform Discord said that it had identified and deleted an account that appeared to be linked to the suspected gunman. 'It was rarely utilized, has not been used in months, and we have found no evidence that it was used to plan this incident, promote violence or discuss his political views,' the company said in a statement."

Baker: "Thomas Crooks, identified by law enforcement authorities as the gunman, graduated from the Community College of Allegheny County two months ago, earning an associate degree in engineering science, school officials said in a statement...."

~~~Yesterday's New York Times liveblog, also linked yesterday, is here: "The federal authorities identified the gunman they said tried to assassinate ... Donald J. Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, a shooting that killed at least one spectator.... At least two other spectators were critically injured on Saturday in Butler, Pa., the Secret Service said in a statement. The agency said the gunman was dead after officers responded. Mr. Trump was escorted off the stage bleeding from around his ear, and taken to a hospital. He later said on social media that a bullet had pierced the upper part of his right ear. President Biden gave a brief televised statement after the incident, condemning the violence as 'sick.' The White House later said the president had spoken to Mr. Trump.... A spokesman for the Secret Service said that the suspected shooter fired 'multiple shots toward the stage' and was on 'an elevated position' outside the rally venue. The Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies have not yet publicly confirmed that Mr. Trump was shot in the ear, saying only that shots were fired and that the former president was 'safe.' Two law enforcement officials said that authorities recovered an AR-15-type semiautomatic rifle from a deceased man they believe was the gunman."

"The gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald J. Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday was identified by the F.B.I. as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Penn., but officials released no additional information about him.... A voter-registration record showed that Mr. Crooks was registered as a Republican, though federal campaign-finance records show he donated $15 to [MB: ActBlue (via NBC News)]. Early on Sunday morning, law-enforcement officers had closed down all roads leading toward the home of the suspect's family in Bethel Park, south of Pittsburgh and about an hour's drive from the site of the rally in Butler. Mr. Crooks was killed after he fired from 'an elevated position' outside the outdoor rally venue where Mr. Trump was speaking, according to the Secret Service."

The liveblog includes (1) an aerial shot of the venue that identifies the locations of the stage & the building where the shooter's body was found and (2) a photo that appears to show the bullet after it grazed Donald Trump and traveled past him.

Simon Levien: "'This evening we had what we're calling an assassination attempt against our former President Donald Trump,' says Kevin Rojek, F.B.I. special agent."

Michael Gold: "Rojek confirmed that the suspected shooter had no identification on him. Agents were looking at photographs and trying to run his D.N.A., Rojek said..... Lt Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said that the rally attendee who was killed and the two that were critically injured were all adult men."

Maggie Haberman: "A Trump aide, Margo Martin, posted on X video of Trump arriving at an airport in New Jersey, where he's supposed to be spending the night. He walked off his plane unaided. His injured ear was out of camera view."

~~~ CNN's liveblog is here. ~~~

     ~~~ You can see the moment here (at about 38 secs. in), where Trump grabs his ear before ducking:

President Biden's statement is here.

Marie: This assassination attempt of course will increase Trump's lead in the presidential race. There's a sickening irony that the person who has constantly promoted violence against his perceived political enemies should be the target (as well as the political beneficiary) of the violence he has advocated. The shooter would not have had a high-powered semi-automatic rifle if not for Republicans' opposition to sensible gun control.

Ashley Parker of the Washington Post: "A shooting at former president Donald Trump's campaign rally Saturday evening ... upended the already dark and tumultuous race for the White House. Trump's campaign said he still plans to attend the Republican National Convention, which is scheduled to begin in Milwaukee on Monday. But the shooting is sure to shift the messaging and tenor -- not to mention the security -- of the massive gathering.... [President] Biden's campaign, meanwhile, announced it was pausing its communication and pulling down all television ads as quickly as possible.... Trump had been speaking for less than 10 minutes in Butler, Pa., when several loud pops rang out and the former president put his hand to his right ear, the upper part of which had been pierced by a bullet, he later said on social media. As Secret Service agents encircled the former president, Trump raised his right fist defiantly and scowled, mouthing: 'Fight. Fight. Fight.'...

"Trump is often most comfortable -- and most effective -- when playing both martyr and victim, and Saturday's shooting naturally thrusts him back into that role. Trump immediately put out a statement thanking the Secret Service and law enforcement, expressing his condolences to the other victims and offering a dramatic recounting of the moment.... 'The political consequences of this assassination attempt will be immense, and they will benefit Donald Trump, who just responded to being shot in the exact same way that Teddy Roosevelt did,' [Steve] Schmidt [-- Trump critic & former a Republican strategist --] wrote on social media."

When Biden Goes High, Republicans Go Wa-a-a-ay Low. Michael Scherer of the Washington Post: "Top allies of Donald Trump quickly accused President Biden and his supporters of using rhetoric that led to a shooting and potential assassination attempt Saturday at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pa., even as Biden condemned the attack and called on the nation to unite against political violence.... 'The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs,&' [Sen. J.D.] Vance [R-Ohio] wrote [on social media]. 'That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination.' Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.)..., [wrote], 'Let's be clear: This was an assassination attempt aided and abetted by the radical Left and corporate media incessantly calling Trump a threat to democracy, fascists, or worse.'..."

Jack Healy, et al., of the New York Times relate what is known about the shooter.


Andrew Solender of Axios: "President Biden was raked over the coals by a group of center-left House Democrats on Saturday in [a] ... meeting aimed at stemming defections on Capitol Hill.... Biden got particularly animated towards a question from Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) about slipping public confidence in his leadership as commander-in-chief, according to several members in the meeting.... Crow's question prompted what two members described as 'shouting' from the president, who challenged the Coloradan to 'name me a foreign leader who thinks I'm not the most effective leader.'... Biden [said] ... it is 'dead wrong' that foreign leaders lack confidence in him and exclaiming, 'I don't want to hear that crap.' Said one member on the call: 'He started shouting at Jason Crow for no reason.'... 'That was a complete disaster. We saw the same Joe Biden from the debate,' said one House Democrat on the call. 'It was awful,' said another lawmaker."

Bernie Sanders in a New York Times op-ed: "I will do all that I can to see that President Biden is re-elected. Why? Despite my disagreements with him on particular issues, he has been the most effective president in the modern history of our country and is the strongest candidate to defeat Donald Trump -- a demagogue and pathological liar. It's time to learn a lesson from the progressive and centrist forces in France who, despite profound political differences, came together this week to soundly defeat right-wing extremism.... Yes. I know: Mr. Biden is old, is prone to gaffes, walks stiffly and had a disastrous debate with Mr. Trump. But this I also know: A presidential election is not an entertainment contest. It does not begin or end with a 90-minute debate." (Also linked yesterday.)

News Lede

New York Times: "Before an enthusiastic crowd on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, the grand boulevard of the French capital, the Olympic torch arrived in Paris on Sunday in a luxury Louis Vuitton suitcase, 12 days before the opening of the Games. The custom-made suitcase stood for some time on a pedestal in the middle of the Rond-Point des Champs-Élysées, a major intersection, looking a little lonely. It was then opened and the torch handed to Thierry Henry, one of the greats of French soccer, who was dressed for the occasion in chic white sweats.... Since the flame arrived in France more than two months ago, welcomed in the ancient port city of Marseille by plumes of red, white and blue smoke -- the colors of the French flag -- it has been on a far-flung journey, including to Martinique, Guadeloupe, Réunion and other overseas French departments.... The city was relatively empty on Sunday, Bastille Day, the most important French national holiday.... Many people had left town on vacation or were away for the weekend."

Comments Off
Saturday
Jul132024

The Conversation -- July 13, 2024

Bloody Scene at Trump Rally; Trump Injured, Shooter Dead. New York Times: "... Donald J. Trump was escorted off the stage by Secret Service agents and into his motorcade just minutes into his rally on Saturday in Butler, Pa., after a series of pops that sounded like gunshots rang out. The exact source of the noises was unclear, but Mr. Trump's ear appeared to be bleeding as he was rushed off the stage.... A spokesman for the Secret Service, Anthony Guglielmi, said in a statement that Mr. Trump 'is safe' after 'an incident occurred' at his rally in Pennsylvania.... The former president ducked quickly after the noises began, with the sound coming from the bleachers to the left of where he was standing at a lectern. The noises came in two groups, and smoke rose from that section of the bleachers. As members of the crowd began screaming, Mr. Trump was tackled by Secret Service agents. Officials shouted for the crowd to duck and cover, whisking members of the news media off the press riser.... After a brief pause, Mr. Trump rose, surrounded by a group of uniformed Secret Service members. He pumped his fist to the crowd, and then was rushed off the stage.... After he departed, a group of officials wearing camouflage escorted someone off a set of bleachers to the left of the podium where Mr. Trump was speaking. Police officials began cordoning off the area with crime-scene tape as the rally/s attendees began clearing out, and blood was visible on the bleachers....

"The Secret Service asked members of the news media to leave roughly 20 minutes after Mr. Trump left the stage, declaring the rally site a crime scene.... President Biden received an initial briefing about what happened at the rally.... Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania said in a statement that he had been briefed, and that the state police were on scene working with federal partners." This is a liveblog. ~~~

     ~~~ NBC News reports on-air that the shooter is dead, that the Butler County D.A. says one spectator also is dead and another is in critical condition. ~~~

     ~~~ ** CNN's live updates are here. "The shooter involved in an incident at Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania has been 'neutralized,' according to multiple law enforcement sources." ~~~

     ~~~ Isaac Arnsdorf & Hannah Knowles of the Washington Post: "Trump appeared to touch his ear and then duck after the sounds, which sent the crowd into a panic." ~~~

     ~~~ You can see the moment here (at about 38 secs. in), where Trump grabs his ear before ducking:

Bernie Sanders in a New York Times op-ed: "I will do all that I can to see that President Biden is re-elected. Why? Despite my disagreements with him on particular issues, he has been the most effective president in the modern history of our country and is the strongest candidate to defeat Donald Trump -- a demagogue and pathological liar. It's time to learn a lesson from the progressive and centrist forces in France who, despite profound political differences, came together this week to soundly defeat right-wing extremism.... Yes. I know: Mr. Biden is old, is prone to gaffes, walks stiffly and had a disastrous debate with Mr. Trump. But this I also know: A presidential election is not an entertainment contest. It does not begin or end with a 90-minute debate."

~~~~~~~~~~

Presidential Race

Annie Karni of the New York Times: "President Biden fought back on Friday against escalating pressure from Democrats questioning his viability as a candidate, publicly and privately defending his decision to continue running as rank-and-file lawmakers continued to call on him to end his re-election bid. One day after a serviceable news conference that had been meant to quell the growing resistance within the party to Mr. Biden's candidacy, Democratic lawmakers returned to their home districts anxious and uncertain about how to proceed. Their House leader made it clear directly to Mr. Biden that his members still harbored deep concerns over the president's candidacy. And as he held a rally in the battleground state of Michigan, prominent Democrats were not by his side. But at the rally in a high school gymnasium in Detroit, Mr. Biden was dug in, telling a raucous throng of supporters, 'I'm not going anywhere.' What he saw there was unlikely to change his mind. An adoring crowd chanted 'Don't you quit!' as Mr. Biden delivered a fiery message, at times poking fun at ... Donald J. Trump as he drew a sharp contrast with his predecessor. In a Trumpian move, the president at one point pointed to the press stands and said, 'They've been hammering me,' eliciting boos from the crowd. 'Guess what -- Donald Trump has gotten a free pass.'" The Guardian's story is here.

Domenico Montanaro of NPR: "The race for the presidency remains statistically tied despite President Biden's dismal debate performance two weeks ago, a new national NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll finds. Biden actually gained a point since last month's survey, which was taken before the debate. In this poll, he leads Trump 50% to 48% in a head-to-head matchup. But Biden slips when third-party options are introduced, with Trump holding the slightest advantage with 43% to 42%. Those numbers, though, do not represent statistically significant differences, as the margin of error in the survey is +/- 3.1 percentage points, meaning results could be 3 points higher or lower. The poll also found that, at this point, no other mainstream Democrat who has been mentioned as a replacement for the president on the ticket does better than Biden." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: In case you're thinking, "Okay, it's a toss-up," let me disabuse you of that idea. On November 2, 2020, Joe Biden was beating Donald Trump by an average of eight points. in polls testing the popular vote. It was days after the election before he was declared the winner, and even then he barely won, eking out victories in a few swing states by a few thousand votes. (No doubt you know it was 11,700 votes in Georgia.) Therefore, Biden needs to be trouncing Trump in the polls to demonstrate even minimal dominance in the Electoral College count. ~~~

~~~ Doug Sosnik in a New York Times op-ed: Mr. Trump is now the clear front-runner to be the next president of the United States.... I've never seen such a grim Electoral College landscape for Mr. Biden: He not only faces losing battleground states he won in 2020, he is also at risk of losing traditional Democratic states like Minnesota and New Hampshire, which Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama carried.... By spring, he had the lowest job approval average of any recent president seeking re-election since George H.W. Bush in 1992. [MB: With help from Ross Perot, Bush lost in 1992 to corn-pone womanizer Bill Clinton.] His support has dropped by nearly a net 10 points since the 2022 midterm elections."

Marie: Since some time in 2022, I have wondered why President Biden's poll numbers were so low inasmuch as he's been the most effective president most voters have seen. Pollsters blamed inflation or lingering Covid malais or or or. I think it's this: there's no doubt ours is a democracy in decline. The fact that Americans could elect an ignorant, malicious con man to the presidency -- and nearly re-elect him, and now re-nominate him -- is the proof. Naturally, Americans want to see themselves as patriots in a vibrant country with a sunny future for themselves and their children. That requires a president who reflects a youthful optimism. An old man is not physically equipped to do that.

The most popular U.S. president of my lifetime was John Kennedy. He wasn't president for long and much of what we thought we knew about him during his presidency was not true. But his (partly fake) youthful demeanor, his good looks, his beautiful young family, his vibrant speeches and repartee with reporters, his decisive actions -- those all reflected what any country would want in a leader. Joe Biden is unpopular not because of what he does but because of his presentation. According to Plutarch, the great Greek orator Demosthenes had a speech defect which "he overcame by speaking with pebbles in his mouth and by reciting verses when running or out of breath." Joe Biden sounds as if he always has pebbles in his mouth. Sure, what we don't like about Biden is superficial, but the POTUS must be more than a good administrator; s/he is also a symbol of the nation, and as such, must convey a sense of strength and optimism that only a vigorous, relatively young, leader can do.

Marie: According to Erica Green of the New York Times, writing in a liveblog covering President Biden's press conference Thursday and other aspects of the presidential race, "Biden said that if his staff showed him data that Vice President Harris could beat Donald Trump, he wouldn't consider dropping out unless he was shown he couldn't win. He said no one is saying that to him." IOW, a "heads I win, tales you lose" challenge. ~~~

     ~~~ Philip Bump of the Washington Post agrees: "Those in the Democratic Party hoping to replace Biden with someone better positioned to win are obstructed, in part, by this obstinance from Biden. But they are obstructed, too, because while Biden's position is historically weak, polling doesn't (and perhaps can't) show someone else doing demonstrably better.... No poll says he can't win and no poll says that some other candidate definitely will win." (Also linked yesterday.)

Washington Post Editors: "With time running out before the Democratic National Convention opens Aug. 19, [President] Biden and his inner circle of advisers seem to be playing for time. Indeed, based on his comments Thursday, Mr. Biden seems to be somewhat oblivious to the political furor surrounding him and in denial about his frailty, personally and politically.... What makes Mr. Biden's cognitive decline especially damaging is that he and his aides have systematically failed to level with the public about it.... Eighty-five percent of Americans now say Biden is too old to serve four more years as president, according to a Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll published this week, and 56 percent of Democrats say he should end his candidacy. His approval rating is 36 percent. Just 14 percent of adults think Mr. Biden has more of the mental sharpness it takes to effectively serve as president than Mr. Trump.... Mr. Biden's defenders are right to insist on more attention to the dangers Mr. Trump poses.... But the best way to keep Mr. Trump away from the Oval Office is by offering a strong alternative." (Also linked yesterday.)

Maureen Dowd of the New York Times: President Biden's "gymnastics -- showing he can walk and talk in a way that instills confidence -- fill me with sadness. Every stumble, jumble and tumble will now be treated as if it's a constitutional crisis.... The president pushed back in a call on Friday with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, when Representative Mike Levin, a vulnerable California Democrat, told Biden he needed to move aside. 'That's why I'm going out and letting people touch me, poke me, ask me questions,' the president replied. 'I think I know what I'm doing.'... At a moment when Joe Biden should be getting hosannas for his good work and becoming the party paterfamilias, his team is sniping at Democratic luminaries like Barack Obama and George Clooney.... He is oblivious or in denial, bolstered by Jill and Hunter's self-interested fantasies."

Michael Grynbaum of the New York Times: "More than 23 million people -- a bigger audience than this year's Academy Awards -- tuned in on Thursday evening to see how [President] Biden handled his first live news conference since a poor performance at last month's debate with ... Donald J. Trump. The television audience amounted to roughly 45 percent of the 51.3 million who watched the debate, according to Nielsen. The president's nearly hourlong appearance, at the NATO summit in Washington, was one of the most-watched telecasts of the year, outside of sporting events. It aired across several major TV networks, with ABC, CBS and NBC all pre-empting regular entertainment programming. Millions more may have watched on digital news sites and social media platforms, which are, for the most part, not captured by Nielsen's data." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: As I was reading, I was wondering, "Were these viewers people who were looking for a train wreck?" Then I read this sentence: "Fox News attracted the largest audience of any network, 5.7 million, representing nearly a quarter of the overall television viewership." So yeah.

Shane Goldmacher & Theodore Schleifer of the New York Times: "Some major Democratic donors have told the largest pro-Biden super PAC, Future Forward, that pledges worth roughly $90 million are now on hold if President Biden remains atop the ticket, according to two people who have been briefed on the conversations."

Annie Karni of the New York Times: "Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, met one-on-one with President Biden on Thursday night to discuss the deep concerns many of his members harbor about the viability of the president's re-election campaign. In a brief letter he sent to House Democrats on Friday morning, Mr. Jeffries, a deliberate politician and a relatively untested leader, offered few details about the meeting, which took place at the Whitw House after the president's high-stakes news conference. The private meeting, Mr. Jeffries told his colleagues, had been set at his request. 'In my conversation with President Biden, I directly expressed the full breadth of insight, heartfelt perspectives and conclusions about the path forward that the caucus has shared in our recent time together,' Mr. Jeffries wrote. In a moment when every word from Democratic leaders is being parsed, it was notable that Mr. Jeffries, who has said he supports Mr. Biden, left out any endorsement of the president in his three-paragraph letter." (Also linked yesterday.)

Mike Lillis & Mychael Schnell of the Hill: "Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is working furiously behind the scenes to put pressure on President Biden to reconsider his place at the top of the 2024 ticket, according to a number of Democratic lawmakers familiar with her efforts. The Speaker emerita is talking to a broad swath of House Democrats -- from front-liners in tough districts to hardened veterans with institutional clout -- to pump the brakes on the notion that Biden should definitively be the party's nominee heading into November, these lawmakers said." (Also linked yesterday.)

Caitlyn Kim of Colorado Public Radio: "Freshman Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen is calling on President Joe Biden to drop his bid for reelection. She is the first Colorado congress member to take such a step. 'Joe Biden saved our country once, and I'm joining the growing number of people in my district and across the country to ask him to do it again. Please pass the torch to one of our many capable Democratic leaders so we have the best chance to defeat Donald Trump, who is the greatest threat to the foundation of this country that we have ever faced,' she said in a statement." (Also linked yesterday.)

Sarah Ferris of Politico: "A group of two dozen former House Democrats has sent a letter to President Joe Biden calling for him to step aside to prevent a GOP takeover of Washington. Instead, they want him to allow for an 'open convention' this summer to decide the 2024 ticket.... The letter includes several members who served for over two decades each, including Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Jim Moran (D-Va.), Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), Phil Sharp (D-Ind.) and John LaFalce (D-N.Y.). One is also a former senator, Sen. Tim Wirth of Colorado."

Meredith McGraw, et al., of Politico: "... Donald Trump's advisers and allies viewed President Joe Biden's press conference [Thursday] as the best-case scenario for the Republican's campaign: not enough to force him out but with enough errors that they can mine the event for opposition material. Trump's campaign is still hoping Biden stays in the race, believing he is the weakest candidate for the former president to face in November. His strategy, in part, centers on the notion that Biden is not mentally fit to be president." (Also linked yesterday.)

Dana Milbank of the Washington Post contrasts President Biden and Donald Trump. "In Washington, President Biden assembled world leaders to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of NATO, which Biden has rebuilt and expanded over the last 3½ years.... In Miami a few hours later, former president Donald Trump assembled supporters at his Doral golf club -- another transfer of wealth from his campaign to his personal accounts -- and ridiculed NATO partners. 'I didn't even know what the hell NATO was too much before' he became president, Trump told them.... If [Biden graciously bows out]..., he will be remembered for the most substantial record of accomplishment of any president in decades. If he holds on in the face of mounting evidence that he can't win, he will be remembered for selfishness -- a trait incompatible with his character...." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Here's a quote Milbank relates which I had not heard: "Also this week, longtime Trump adviser Sebastian Gorka told Newsmax that Vice President Harris is 'a DEI hire, right? She's a woman. She's colored." The last public figure to use such language was probably Strom Thurmond. Really unbelievable in the 21st century, but a picture window into the MATA mind.

The Big Grift, Ctd. Russ Buettner of the New York Times: "As he seeks to reclaim the presidency, [Donald] Trump has reprised the pitchman role from his reality TV days, with a crucial difference: He has intertwined the marketing of his private business affairs with the messaging of his campaign, leveraging his political stature for profit. All of it could be described as Martyr Inc., a machinery that makes Mr. Trump money and promotes his re-election by characterizing him as unjustly persecuted and selflessly saving his supporters from a similar fate." (Also linked yesterday.)

Here We Go Loopty-Loo. Isaac Arnsdorf of the Washington Post: The Heritage Foundation, progenitor of Project 2025, gave a presentation at its Washington, D.C., headquarters stating "as a given that the Biden administration was already engaged in a sweeping conspiracy to use multiple forms of federal power to influence the presidential election. It did not supply any evidence. 'As things stand right now, there's a zero percent chance of a free and fair election,' said Mike Howell, executive director of Heritage's Oversight Project.... The report said a key finding was that the sitting president is the greatest danger to the peaceful transition of power, with no mention of Trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 loss. Instead it offered that conclusion as justification for doubting the outcome of the 2024 election and trying to reject anything other than a Trump victory." (Also linked yesterday.) The Guardian's story is here.


Shayna Jacobs of the Washington Post: "Donald Trump's legal team has formally asked a judge to toss out the former president's hush money conviction and the indictment that led to his trial, saying last week's Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity means some of the evidence prosecutors used should not have been allowed."

Katelyn Polantz of CNN: "Rudy Giuliani is no longer entitled to bankruptcy protection, a judge decided Friday, making it possible for creditors to immediately pursue his assets within days. The former mayor of New York sought bankruptcy protection after a jury awarded two Georgia election workers $148 million because Giuliani defamed them after the 2020 election. The judge's decision Friday, to end his bankruptcy, paves the way for Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, as well as other creditors, who are trying to collect on the more than $150 million Giuliani owes. Judge Sean Lane of the federal bankruptcy court in New York made the decision partly because of Giuliani's lack of transparency after he filed for bankruptcy more than six months ago..... 'Mr. Giuliani has failed to provide an accurate and complete picture of his financial affairs in the six months that this case has been pending,' Lane wrote in his decision Friday. 'The lack of financial transparency is particularly troubling given concerns that Mr. Giuliani has engaged in self-dealing and that he has potential conflicts of interest that would hamper the administration of his bankruptcy case.'" The Washington Post's story is here. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Who could possibly have guessed America's Mayor was a lying SOS?

Angry White Male. David Edwards of the Raw Story: "Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) blamed the 'angry feminist movement' for emasculating men and called for the nation to 'work our way back' to the 1960s if ... Donald Trump wins reelection. In a lengthy House floor speech on Thursday, Grothman claimed feminists and former President Lyndon B. Johnson's 'war on poverty' had removed men from families." (Also linked yesterday.)

Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times: "The most important takeaway from the Supreme Court's decision in Trump v. United States is that Chief Justice John Roberts, with the approval of his Republican colleagues, rewrote the Constitution to place the president above the law.... The majority's opinion in Trump v. United States is not so much a legal decision -- it is untethered from the text, structure and history of the Constitution, making claims that are, according to the legal scholar Akhil Reed Amar, 'flatly contradicted by the document's unambiguous letter and obvious spirit' -- as it is a political one.... If Trump wins a second term..., Trump v. United States would become, in short order, one of the worst opinions ever issued by the Supreme Court. And Roberts would take his place in infamy alongside the other man whose work as chief justice helped unravel the American republic before the Civil War: Roger Taney." Bouie goes on to explain how Taney's ruling in the Dred Scott case was similar to Roberts' ruling in Trump.

Jesse Wegman of the New York Times: As it imposes its right-wing agenda, "the Supreme Court is gaslighting us all.... The right-wing justices' repeated and patronizing [attempt] to minimize the importance of their unprecedented decisions.... In his majority opinion in the case about presidential immunity, Chief Justice John Roberts mocked the three liberal dissenters for striking 'a tone of chilling doom that is wholly disproportionate to what the court actually does today.' (Reality check: The immunity ruling -- which gave presidents carte blanche to break most criminal laws when carrying out their official duties -- is not grounded in any clause of the Constitution.)... During oral arguments in a case that pitted Idaho's near-total abortion ban against the federally guaranteed right of a woman to end her pregnancy if necessary..., Samuel Alito dismissed the government's concerns. 'Nobody's suggesting that the woman is not an individual and she doesn't -- she doesn't deserve stabilization,' the justice who wrote the opinion striking down Roe v. Wade said with his trademark irritation.... (Reality check: That is precisely what Idaho was suggesting, by arguing that federal law doesn't pre-empt the state ban.)"

Patrick Smith & Jason Abbruzzese of NBC News: "Hackers stole six months' worth of call and text message records of nearly every AT&T cellular network customer, the company said Friday, a breach that has the potential to reveal sensitive information about millions of Americans. The company said in an SEC filing that it learned from an internal investigation that in April, hackers 'unlawfully accessed and copied AT&T call logs' that were saved on a third-party cloud platform." (Also linked yesterday.)

Julia Jacobs of the New York Times: "A judge in New Mexico dismissed the case against Alec Baldwin on Friday after finding that the state had withheld evidence that could have shed light on how live rounds got onto a film set where the cinematographer was fatally shot. The dismissal was with prejudice, meaning that the prosecution of Mr. Baldwin is over. If he had been convicted of involuntary manslaughter, Mr. Baldwin would have faced up to 18 months in prison. 'There is no way for the court to right this wrong,' Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said in court as Mr. Baldwin wept. It was a stunning end to the trial of Mr. Baldwin, who was rehearsing with a gun on the 'Rust' film set in 2021 when it fired a live round, killing Halyna Hutchins, the movie's cinematographer. Mr. Baldwin had been told the gun was 'cold,' meaning it should have been impossible to fire." (Also linked yesterday.)

Marie: The 100-Year Cycle of American History. In 1865, Congress passed the Reconstruction Amendments -- the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the Constitution abolishing slavery, granting full citizenship to everyone born in the U.S. and giving Black Americans the right to vote. In 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights act eliminating racial discrimination in voting. In 1921, a White mob in Tulsa, Oklahoma, burned the town thriving Black community and slaughtered as many as 300 Black Tulsans. In 2020, a White policeman murdered George Floyd in broad daylight with cameras rolling; the following month the POTUS* ordered troops to tear-gas peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters outside the White House. In 1924, Congress passed an immigration act with national origins quotas and that completely excluded Asian immigrants. In 2024, Congress attempted to pass a restrictive immigration bill but failed because Donald Trump wanted to retain immigration as a campaign wedge issue.

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DeNeen Brown of the Washington Post: "Scientists have identified a victim of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre whose remains were found in a mass grave in a city-owned cemetery, Tulsa's mayor announced Friday. The man was identified as C.L. Daniel, a World War I veteran, who was killed in 1921. His remains were discovered during a 2021 excavation of a mass grave in Oaklawn Cemetery, which is blocks from Greenwood, the all-Black community destroyed by a White mob in a rampage that historians say left as many as 300 Black people dead and 10,000 homeless."

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Israel/Palestine, et al. The New York Times' live updates of developments Saturday in the Israel/Hamas war are here.

Victoria Bisset & Mohamad El Chamaa of the Washington Post: "Israel;s military targeted the leader of Hamas's military wing, Mohammed Deif, in the Mawasi area of southern Gaza on Saturday, according to Israeli officials, as Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 71 people had been killed in a 'massacre.'"

News Ledes

New York Times: "Ruth Westheimer, the grandmotherly psychologist who as 'Dr. Ruth' became America's best-known sex counselor with her frank, funny radio and television programs, died on Friday at her home in Manhattan. She was 96."

New York Times: "Richard Simmons, who for years was the face of home fitness through his wildly popular videos and his energetic personality, died on Saturday morning in Los Angeles. He was 76."

Comments Off
Friday
Jul122024

The Conversation -- July 12, 2024

Julia Jacobs of the New York Times: "A judge in New Mexico dismissed the case against Alec Baldwin on Friday after finding that the state had withheld evidence that could have shed light on how live rounds got onto a film set where the cinematographer was fatally shot. The dismissal was with prejudice, meaning that the prosecution of Mr. Baldwin is over.... 'There is no way for the court to right this wrong,' Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said in court as Mr. Baldwin wept. It was a stunning end to the trial of Mr. Baldwin, who was rehearsing with a gun on the 'Rust' film set in 2021 when it fired a live round, killing Halyna Hutchins, the movie's cinematographer. Mr. Baldwin had been told the gun was 'cold,' meaning it should have been impossible to fire."

Washington Post Editors: "With time running out before the Democratic National Convention opens Aug. 19, [President] Biden and his inner circle of advisers seem to be playing for time. Indeed, based on his comments Thursday, Mr. Biden seems to be somewhat oblivious to the political furor surrounding him and in denial about his frailty, personally and politically.... What makes Mr. Biden's cognitive decline especially damaging is that he and his aides have systematically failed to level with the public about it.... Eighty-five percent of Americans now say Biden is too old to serve four more years as president, according to a Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll published this week, and 56 percent of Democrats say he should end his candidacy. His approval rating is 36 percent. Just 14 percent of adults think Mr. Biden has more of the mental sharpness it takes to effectively serve as president than Mr. Trump. Of course, Mr. Biden's defenders are right to insist on more attention to the dangers Mr. Trump poses.... But the best way to keep Mr. Trump away from the Oval Office is by offering a strong alternative."

Dana Milbank of the Washington Post contrasts President Biden and Donald Trump. "In Washington, President Biden assembled world leaders to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of NATO, which Biden has rebuilt and expanded over the last 3½ years.... In Miami a few hours later, former president Donald Trump assembled supporters at his Doral golf club -- another transfer of wealth from his campaign to his personal accounts -- and ridiculed NATO partners. 'I didn't even know what the hell NATO was too much before' he became president, Trump told them.... If [Biden graciously bows out]..., he will be remembered for the most substantial record of accomplishment of any president in decades. If he holds on in the face of mounting evidence that he can't win, he will be remembered for selfishness -- a trait incompatible with his character...." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Here's a quote Milbank relates which I had not heard: "Also this week, longtime Trump adviser Sebastian Gorka told Newsmax that Vice President Harris is 'a DEI hire, right? She's a woman. She's colored.'" The last public figure to use such language was probably Strom Thurmond. Really unbelievable in the 21st century.

Katelyn Polantz of CNN: "Rudy Giuliani is no longer entitled to bankruptcy protection, a judge decided Friday, making it possible for creditors to immediately pursue his assets within days. The former mayor of New York sought bankruptcy protection after a jury awarded two Georgia election workers $148 million because Giuliani defamed them after the 2020 election. The judge's decision Friday, to end his bankruptcy, paves the way for Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, as well as other creditors, who are trying to collect on the more than $150 million Giuliani owes. Judge Sean Lane of the federal bankruptcy court in New York made the decision partly because of Giuliani's lack of transparency after he filed for bankruptcy more than six months ago..... 'Mr. Giuliani has failed to provide an accurate and complete picture of his financial affairs in the six months that this case has been pending,' Lane wrote in his decision Friday. 'The lack of financial transparency is particularly troubling given concerns that Mr. Giuliani has engaged in self-dealing and that he has potential conflicts of interest that would hamper the administration of his bankruptcy case.'" The Washington Post's story is here. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Who could possibly have guessed America's Mayor was a lying SOS?

Here We Go Loopty-Loo. Isaac Arnsdorf of the Washington Post: The Heritage Foundation, progenitor of Project 2025, gave a presentation at its Washington, D.C., headquarters stating "as a given that the Biden administration was already engaged in a sweeping conspiracy to use multiple forms of federal power to influence the presidential election. It did not supply any evidence. 'As things stand right now, there's a zero percent chance of a free and fair election,' said Mike Howell, executive director of Heritage's Oversight Project.... The report said a key finding was that the sitting president is the greatest danger to the peaceful transition of power, with no mention of Trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 loss. Instead it offered that conclusion as justification for doubting the outcome of the 2024 election and trying to reject anything other than a Trump victory."

Caitlyn Kim of Colorado Public Radio: "Freshman Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen is calling on President Joe Biden to drop his bid for reelection. She is the first Colorado congress member to take such a step. 'Joe Biden saved our country once, and I'm joining the growing number of people in my district and across the country to ask him to do it again. Please pass the torch to one of our many capable Democratic leaders so we have the best chance to defeat Donald Trump, who is the greatest threat to the foundation of this country that we have ever faced,' she said in a statement."

Mike Lillis & Mychael Schnell of the Hill: "Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is working furiously behind the scenes to put pressure on President Biden to reconsider his place at the top of the 2024 ticket, according to a number of Democratic lawmakers familiar with her efforts. The Speaker emerita is talking to a broad swath of House Democrats -- from front-liners in tough districts to hardened veterans with institutional clout -- to pump the brakes on the notion that Biden should definitively be the party's nominee heading into November, these lawmakers said."

Domenico Montanaro of NPR: "The race for the presidency remains statistically tied despite President Biden's dismal debate performance two weeks ago, a new national NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll finds. Biden actually gained a point since last month's survey, which was taken before the debate. In this poll, he leads Trump 50% to 48% in a head-to-head matchup. But Biden slips when third-party options are introduced, with Trump holding the slightest advantage with 43% to 42%. Those numbers, though, do not represent statistically significant differences, as the margin of error in the survey is +/- 3.1 percentage points, meaning results could be 3 points higher or lower. The poll also found that, at this point, no other mainstream Democrat who has been mentioned as a replacement for the president on the ticket does better than Biden." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: In case you're thinking, "Okay, it's a toss-up," let me disabuse you of that idea. On November 2, 2020, Joe Biden was beating Donald Trump by an average of eight points. It was days after the election before he was declared the winner, and even then he barely won, eking out victories in a few swing states by a few thousand votes. (No doubt you know it was 11,700 votes in Georgia.) Therefore, Biden needs to be trouncing Trump in the polls to demonstrate even minimal dominance in the Electoral College count.

Annie Karni of the New York Times: "Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, met one-on-one with President Biden on Thursday night to discuss the deep concerns many of his members harbor about the viability of the president's re-election campaign. In a brief letter he sent to House Democrats on Friday morning, Mr. Jeffries, a deliberate politician and a relatively untested leader, offered few details about the meeting, which took place at the White House after the president's high-stakes news conference. The private meeting, Mr. Jeffries told his colleagues, had been set at his request. 'In my conversation with President Biden, I directly expressed the full breadth of insight, heartfelt perspectives and conclusions about the path forward that the caucus has shared in our recent time together,' Mr. Jeffries wrote. In a moment when every word from Democratic leaders is being parsed, it was notable that Mr. Jeffries, who has said he supports Mr. Biden, left out any endorsement of the president in his three-paragraph letter."

Marie: According to Erica Green of the New York Times, writing in a liveblog covering President Biden's press conference and other aspects of the presidential race, "Biden said that if his staff showed him data that Vice President Harris could beat Donald Trump, he wouldn't consider dropping out unless he was shown he couldn't win. He said no one is saying that to him." It struck me then that Biden had set up a "heads I win, tales you lose" challenge. ~~~

     ~~~ Philip Bump of the Washington Post agrees: "Those in the Democratic Party hoping to replace Biden with someone better positioned to win are obstructed, in part, by this obstinance from Biden. But they are obstructed, too, because while Biden's position is historically weak, polling doesn't (and perhaps can't) show someone else doing demonstrably better.... No poll says he can't win and no poll says that some other candidate definitely will win."

Meredith McGraw, et al., of Politico: "... Donald Trump's advisers and allies viewed President Joe Biden's press conference as the best-case scenario for the Republican's campaign: not enough to force him out but with enough errors that they can mine the event for opposition material. Trump's campaign is still hoping Biden stays in the race, believing he is the weakest candidate for the former president to face in November. His strategy, in part, centers on the notion that Biden is not mentally fit to be president."

The Big Grift, Ctd. Russ Buettner of the New York Times: "As he seeks to reclaim the presidency, [Donald] Trump has reprised the pitchman role from his reality TV days, with a crucial difference: He has intertwined the marketing of his private business affairs with the messaging of his campaign, leveraging his political stature for profit. All of it could be described as Martyr Inc., a machinery that makes Mr. Trump money and promotes his re-election by characterizing him as unjustly persecuted and selflessly saving his supporters from a similar fate."

Angry White Male. David Edwards of the Raw Story: "Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) blamed the 'angry feminist movement' for emasculating men and called for the nation to 'work our way back' to the 1960s if ... Donald Trump wins reelection. In a lengthy House floor speech on Thursday, Grothman claimed feminists and former President Lyndon B. Johnson's 'war on poverty' had removed men from families."

Patrick Smith & Jason Abbruzzese of NBC News: "Hackers stole six months' worth of call and text message records of nearly every AT&T cellular network customer, the company said Friday, a breach that has the potential to reveal sensitive information about millions of Americans. The company said in an SEC filing that it learned from an internal investigation that in April, hackers 'unlawfully accessed and copied AT&T call logs' that were saved on a third-party cloud platform."

~~~~~~~~~~

Presidential Race

Peter Baker of the New York Times: "For nearly an hour, at the most anticipated news conference of his presidency, Mr. Biden held forth on the nation, the world and his political future. He demonstrated a grasp of the issues and seemed most comfortable during a long discourse on foreign policy. He argued that age gave him wisdom and made clear that he had no intention of dropping out of the race. The challenge, however, is that every momentary flub, every verbal miscue, even if quickly corrected, now takes on outsized importance, ricocheting across the internet in viral video clips, some more distorted than others, that may reinforce doubts about his capacity. He gets no free passes anymore, not since last month's debate. The reality is that every public appearance between now and November will be scrutinized for evidence of infirmity."

From the New York Times liveblog of election developments: "Under siege from fellow Democrats, President Biden's campaign is quietly testing the strength of Vice President Kamala Harris against ... Donald J. Trump in a head-to-head survey of voters, as Mr. Biden fights for his political future with a high-stakes news conference on Thursday." (Also linked yesterday.)

Ken Bensinger of the New York Times: "A close look at more than two dozen radio and podcast interviews given by [President] Biden over the past two years reveals a distinct pattern: In appearance after appearance, the president has been served up nearly identical questions, prescreened or suggested ahead of time by campaign staff members. And in nearly every case, the questions set the president up to deliver on-message talking points, without notable flubs. The review sheds light on a tactic the Biden campaign has used liberally to control the president's interactions in public, one that appears to have accelerated as the election has approached. Mr. Biden has given fewer interviews with news outlets than any modern president, and many of those have been with friendly interviewers, rather than journalists...." (Also linked yesterday.)

Michael Schmidt, et al., of the New York Times: "Some longtime aides and advisers to President Biden have become increasingly convinced that he will have to step aside from the campaign, and in recent days they have been trying to come up with ways to persuade him that he should, according to three people briefed on the matter.... They said they have to make the case to the president, who remains convinced of the strength of his campaign, that he cannot win against ... Donald J. Trump. They have to persuade him to believe that another candidate, like Vice President Kamala Harris, could beat Mr. Trump. And they have to assure Mr. Biden that, should he step aside, the process to choose another candidate would be orderly and not devolve into chaos in the Democratic Party." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

~~~ Jonathan Allen, et al., of NBC News: "Several of President Joe Biden's closest allies, including three people who are directly involved in efforts to re-elect him, told NBC News they now see his chances of winning as zero -- and the likelihood of him taking down fellow Democratic candidates growing. 'He needs to drop out,' one Biden campaign official said. 'He will never recover from this.'... The set of Democrats who think he should reconsider his decision to stay in the race has grown to include aides, operatives and officials tasked with guiding his campaign to victory." (Also linked yesterday.)

Edward-Isaac Dovere & Jeff Zelany of CNN: "Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi have spoken privately about Joe Biden and the future of his 2024 campaign. Both the former president and ex-speaker expressed concerns about how much harder they think it's become for the president to beat Donald Trump. Neither is quite sure what to do. Democrats are desperate for the dispiriting infighting to end so they can get back to trying to beat the former president. And they're begging either Obama or Pelosi to help them get there, aware that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer doesn't have the trust of Biden and that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries doesn't have the depth of relationship to deliver the message."

Nicholas Nehamas of the New York Times: "President Biden entered Thursday night hoping that a steady performance at a news conference with the national press corps would quell dissension among Democrats.... But within minutes of his departure from the stage, two more Democratic representatives joined the growing number of party members calling for him to end his re-election campaign.... 'The 2024 election will define the future of American democracy, and we must put forth the strongest candidate possible to confront the threat posed by Trump's promised MAGA authoritarianism,' Representative Jim Himes, a moderate Democrat from Connecticut and the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement.... And Representative Scott Peters of California also argued that Mr. Biden should leave the race, saying, 'The stakes are high, and we are on a losing course.' Later in the evening, Representative Eric Sorensen of Illinois joined their ranks, becoming the 18th Democratic member of either the House or the Senate to call for Mr. Biden to step aside.... But other Democrats said Mr. Biden's deft grasp of policy -- and the fact that he answered questions for nearly an hour -- was heartening, despite awkward moments like a flub in which he referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as 'Vice President Trump.'" A related Politico story is here.

Here's the New York Times list of Democratic members of Congress, as well as one senator and one governor who have called on President Biden to resign as well as those who have expressed "concern" or support. Earlier on Thursday, the following members of the House called on him to resign: Greg Stanton, Arizona; Brad Schneider, Illinois; Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Washington; Ed Case, Hawaii, and Hillary Scholten, Michigan. ~~~

~~~ Anthony Adragna of Politico: "Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.), a frontline Democrat from a critical swing state, became the 11th Democratic member of Congress and 10th from the House to call for President Joe Biden to stand down from his reelection bid on Thursday. In a Thursday statement and social media post, Scholten said, 'President Biden has served his country well, but for the sake of our democracy, he must pass the torch to a new candidate for the 2024 election.' In an interview with The Detroit News, she said she would respect Biden's decision and vote for him if he ultimately continues in the race." (Also linked yesterday.)

MJ Lee, et al., of CNN: "At a star-studded fundraiser for President Joe Biden in Los Angeles last month, George Clooney wasn't the only one who came away concerned about the president.... 'There is a marked difference in the president from the spring to the summer,' a senior Democrat told CNN.... Back in Washington, there have been clear signs throughout his term of Biden being increasingly stage-managed, with lists of talking points, names of questioners and drawings of where he should walk presented to him by aides. Ahead of closed-door Cabinet meetings that Biden attends, it is customary for Cabinet officials to submit questions and key talking points that they plan to present in front of Biden ahead of time to White House aides, two sources with direct knowledge told CNN.... 'There's this general sense of just, unbelievable holding your breath every time he does an event, every time he's with people,' one top Democrat in close touch with Biden's inner circle of advisers told CNN. This person added that some of those advisers have privately acknowledged: 'This is going to get worse.'" (Also linked yesterday.)

AND, as a reminder, an effigy of Joe Biden would be a better president than Donald Trump: ~~~

~~~ Dictators' Club Members to Meet. Mariana Alfaro & Michael Birnbaum of the Washington Post: "As President Biden met with world leaders at the NATO summit this week, his opponent..., Donald Trump, was scheduled to meet with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban -- the autocratic leader who, like Trump, has questioned NATO policy toward Ukraine and Russia. The two will meet in Florida, a Trump campaign official confirmed. Orban, who attended this week's NATO summit, has pursued a Russia-friendly foreign policy that has put him out of step with the Biden administration and with other European allies. Inside NATO, he has slowed steps to bolster defenses against Moscow. At the European Union, which handles economic policy, he has watered down Russia sanctions."

Annals of "Journalism," Ctd. If you read yesterday's long New York Times editorial declaring Donald Trump was not fit to be president*, you may have noticed what Steve M. points out: "...what's really striking about the editorial -- although it's not surprising at all, given the tone of mainstream media coverage since the Reagan era -- is the fact that its message is 'Republicans have an awesome party, and it's really a shame that that Trump fellow came along to ruin it.' Many Republicans are trotted out as examples of the party's awesomeness, though, notably -- although the editorial never notes it -- all are dead or estranged from the GOP."


Katie Lillis, et al., of CNN: "US intelligence discovered earlier this year that the Russian government planned to assassinate the chief executive of a powerful German arms manufacturer that has been producing artillery shells and military vehicles for Ukraine, according to five US and western officials familiar with the episode. The plot was one of a series of Russian plans to assassinate defense industry executives across Europe who were supporting Ukraine's war effort, these sources said. The plan to kill Armin Papperger, a white-haired goliath who has led the German manufacturing charge in support of Kyiv, was the most mature. When the Americans learned of the effort, they informed Germany, whose security services were then able to protect Papperger and foil the plot. A high-level German government official confirmed that Berlin was warned about the plot by the US." (Also linked yesterday.)

Katie Lobosco of CNN: "The Internal Revenue Service said Thursday that it has collected more than $1 billion in past-due taxes from millionaires since last fall -- thanks to a ramp up of enforcement efforts funded by the Democrat-backed Inflation Reduction Act that passed Congress nearly two years ago. The Biden administration is eager to show how the IRS is using the money to crack down on wealthy tax cheats and improve taxpayers services. Republicans, who have criticized the funding as wasteful spending, have made several efforts to chip away at the 10-year investment provided by the legislation."

Mike Can't Count. Caitlin Emma & Jennifer Scholtes of Politico: "House Republicans failed to pass their $7 billion funding bill for parts of the legislative branch on Thursday, a surprise misstep in what should have been an easy victory for GOP leaders. The failure is an ominous sign for Republicans' push to pass the rest of their fiscal 2025 spending bills on the floor before August recess, with seven bills -- most of which are far more politically divisive -- tentatively slated for floor action during the last two weeks of July. The measure collapsed on the House floor in a 205-213 vote, with 10 Republicans joining Democrats to tank the legislation as well as several GOP absences. A longstanding and contentious freeze on a cost-of-living pay raise for members of Congress, in addition to concerns about higher spending, contributed to the GOP dissension." (Also linked yesterday.)

Jordain Carney of Politico: "The House on Thursday rejected a rare effort to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in 'inherent contempt' after a handful of Republicans helped squash the resolution. Democrats and a handful of Republicans defeated the measure on a 204-210 vote. It was forced by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and would have required the top Justice Department official to pay fines of $10,000 per day until he handed over audio of former special counsel Robert Hur's interview with President Joe Biden." (Also linked yesterday.)

** Read Ian Millhiser's analysis of Supreme Court incompetence, also linked yesterday.

~~~~~~~~~~

Israel/Palestine, et al.

The New York Times' live updates of developments Friday in the Israel/Hamas war are here.

Eric Schmitt of the New York Times: "The Biden administration will soon permanently shut down the star-crossed $230 million temporary pier that the U.S. military built to rush humanitarian aid to Gaza, American officials said on Thursday.... On Wednesday, personnel from the military's Central Command attempted and failed to reattach the makeshift pier to the beach in Gaza after rough seas forced operators to remove the structure several days ago to avoid damage, the Pentagon said."

News Lede

New York Times: "Shelley Duvall, whose lithesome features and quirky screen personality made her one of the biggest film stars of the 1970s and early '80s, appearing in a string of movies by the director Robert Altman and, perhaps most memorably, opposite Jack Nicholson in 'The Shining,' died on Thursday at her home in Blanco, Texas. She was 75."

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