| Stop deflecting! White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany held her first press briefing since a controversial presidential debate and was pressed by Fox News’ John Roberts to declaratively denounce white supremacy, resulting in confrontation that quickly escalated in intensity.
“Why not just come right out today and say 'here is the definitive answer to that question'?" Roberts said afterward on Fox, expressing his consternation at the refusal.
Roberts also had strong words for the Twitter critics on the right. "I don’t care," he said. "Because it’s a question that needs to be asked and clearly the president’s Republican colleagues a mile away from here are looking for an answer for it too."
“So stop deflecting. Stop blaming the media,” Roberts said with force. “I’m tired of it.”
Fox's Kennedy weighed in shortly after, pointing out that "sure" is not, in fact, a forceful denunciation.
"My district sent this refugee to Congress" President Donald Trump launched another xenophobic attack against Rep. Ilhan Omar — and bashed refugees — during a Wednesday campaign event in her home state of Minnesota.
"She tells us how to run our country, can you believe it?" said Trump. "How the hell did Minnesota elect her? What the hell is wrong with you people?”
Omar shot back at the president today, calling him a "white supremacist" who can't accept that a predominantly white district would vote her in.
"Let this sink in," said Omar, "not only are refugees welcome in Minnesota, but 78% of my district sent this refugee to Congress."
Stand By
In a series of local TV interviews, former Vice President Joe Biden hammered President Donald Trump over his debate remarks telling the extremist Proud Boys to “Stand back and stand by,” even displaying a Trump-inspired logo the group has adopted. On Wednesday, Biden gave a raft of interviews to local stations in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and was repeatedly asked about Trump’s comments, which set off widespread outrage, as well as celebration from white supremacist and right-wing extremist groups. Biden went after Trump hard. In an interview with WPXI, Biden even showed a logo inspired by Trump’s remarks that was quickly adopted by the Proud Boys, and said “The pride boys didn’t think that. Go online, this is, it says the proud boys, that’s their symbol, right? It says ‘Stand back and stand by.'”
Speaking of that logo and quote... It's for sale at Amazon.
Debate Rules The Commission on Presidential Debates said they will add "additional structure" to the upcoming debates to help prevent... well you know what it's to prevent. But there is speculation that Trump won't go along with rules changes.
If he doesn't, says pollster Frank Luntz, it would spell his doom in November.
Meanwhile, despite reports of Trump resisting format changes and suggestions by multiple media figures to cancel the debates or for Biden to pull out, most voters say they want this to go on.
Debate Ratings There were fewer viewers for Tuesday's big debate than there were for the first Trump vs. Hillary Clinton match in 2016. But that dip doesn't equal dearth, as the numbers were still huge as compared to almost any other such debate. And for cable news, that equaled some record ratings.
According to Nielsen Media Research, a total of 67.4 million total viewers tuned in to the 90-minute presidential debate on Tuesday that was simulcast on all four broadcast networks as well as thre major cable news networks. And there were winners and losers in that ratings race. Read all about it here from Mediaite+!
You Dodged
Multiple reporters unsuccessfully pressed Joe Biden or a definitive answer on whether or not he supports packing the Supreme Court — calling him out for dodging the question during the debate.
Talking About it Matters
Last night, Chrissy Teigen and her husband, John Legend, shared the devastating news that their unborn child, who they had begun to call Jack, had been lost due to complications with the pregnancy.
It was heartbreaking news that resonated with so many people, not just because of how popular Teigen is on social media, but because miscarriage and pregnancy complications are issues that are almost never talked about publicly. Perhaps this will change that. 6.5.0 | 