Top House Dems want Biden to step aside — and point to who should replace him
Democrats met behind closed doors Sunday as pressure mounted on President Biden to drop out of the race.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., held a virtual meeting with ranking Democrats on House panels Sunday afternoon.
Fox News learned that multiple Democrats on House committees expressed concerns about the viability of Biden continuing to run for re-election against former President Trump.
Fox is told the consensus among most Democrats on the call who suggested Biden should abandon the race was that the party should focus on Vice President Kamala Harris as a potential successor.
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Reps. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y.; Mark Takano, D-Calif.; Don Beyer, D-Va.; and Adam Smith, D-Wash., expressed privately that Biden should exit the presidential race as the Democratic nominee on Sunday. Most of them also reportedly said Harris should be the nominee, two people familiar with the meeting told The Associated Press.
Following reports on the meeting, Beyer issued a statement.
“I support President Biden. I support the Biden-Harris ticket, and look forward to helping defeat Donald Trump in November,” the representative said. “I was proud to host an event this week in Northern Virginia with the President, and will continue doing all I can to support the Biden-Harris campaign in Virginia and across the country.”
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The meeting was proposed after Biden’s 22-minute interview with ABC News on Friday, which the Biden campaign hoped would ease fears that the president doesn’t have what it takes to continue the campaign and defeat former President Donald Trump.
Instead, the interview set off a new round of fears among Democrats who were already concerned by Biden’s disastrous debate performance.
“Look, Biden looked better and certainly more coherent than he looked during the debate, but there’s nothing in this interview that is calming the nerves of jittery Democrats who fear that Joe Biden is on a trajectory to lose this race, to lose to Donald Trump,” ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl said after the interview.
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Biden, however, struck a defiant tone, saying at one point that he would not drop out unless “the Lord Almighty were to come down and say, ‘Joe, get outta the race.'”
The president of the National Education Association (NEA) was mocked over the weekend for giving a “totally unhinged” speech that reminded critics of a comedy skit from a famous American TV show.
NEA President Becky Pringle banged on the podium, flailed her hands in the air and screamed about winning “all the things” repeatedly at the NEA’s Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly (RA) in Philadelphia. X critics compared the moment to an iconic scene with Dwight Schrute from “The Office.”
During the screechy speech, Pringle called for transformative social justice change in the education system in the pursuit of equity.
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“To unite not just our members, but the nation to reclaim public education as a common good, as the foundation of our democracy, and then transform it into something it was never designed to be—a racially and socially just and equitable system,” Pringle said. “We worked hard to rid ourselves of a tyrannical, deceitful, and corrupt White House, but the reality is that the seeds that were sown during that horrible season continue to germinate.”
“We are the ones who help shape the heart of this nation’s hope and dreams. We are the ones who hold steadfast to the belief in the plausibility of the possible. We are the heirs of all who did this work before us. We must keep going. NEA Delegates, we can do this work. We must do this work,” she added.
“Our students are depending on us to win all the things,” Pringle said, while continuing her screechy pitch. “All the things! All the things! All the things.”
Critics, such as school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis called her speech “off-the-rails” and compared it to a scene from “The Office.”
“These power-hungry control freaks think they own your kids. They’re in a cult that worships government and detests parents. It’s time to defund teachers unions and allow the money to follow the child,” Corey DeAngelis told Fox News Digital. “Becky Pringle pulled a Dwight Schrute. She is off-the-rails and desperate to maintain control over the minds of other people’s children.”
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The creators of Dwight’s speech based his over-the-top performance upon real speeches by Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
“Blood alone moves the wheels of history!” Schrute said in the episode. “It has been a lifetime struggle. A never-ending fight. I say to you, and you will understand that it is a privilege to fight! We are warriors!… Rise and be worthy of this historical hour! No revolution is worth anything unless it can defend itself! …We must never acquiesce, for it is together, TOGETHER, THAT WE PREVAIL!
Critics said Pringle’s speech carried similar screechy riffs and mannerisms. Pringle proposed transforming the education system with social justice.
“Her overwrought, hyper-partisan tirade amounted to an advertisement for school choice,” said Heritage Foundation research fellow, Jason Bedrick, in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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“During her speech, Pringle claimed the NEA would ‘continue to embrace the profound trust that has been placed in’ them. Apparently, she hasn’t seen the polls showing record-low public trust in public schools,” he added. “Even Pringle’s over-the-top, Dwight Schrute-like theatrics can’t distract from her union’s role in the dismal state of education in this country, from keeping schools closed for far too long during COVID, to shielding bad teachers from accountability–all at the expense of students’ learning.”
Political consultant, Matt Dole, reached a similar conclusion, believing the fictitious Schrute was Pringle’s “speech coach.”
It wasn’t the first time critics drew the comparison.
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During last year’s RA speech, the National Review’s Jack Crowe said, “Pringle believes she’s a revolutionary; that is the only conclusion to be drawn from the truly unhinged speech she delivered.”
“Channeling Dwight Schrute, Pringle urges her colleagues, not to raise the nation’s embarrassing reading and math scores, no, but to ‘fight for freedom,’ the National Review added.
Fox News Digital contacted the NEA for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Daughter of rock legend snubbed from Paris Olympics despite medal win in Tokyo
Jessica Springsteen, the equestrian daughter of legendary rock star Bruce Springsteen, is not going to be representing the United States again in this year’s Olympics despite doing so in Tokyo in 2021.
USA Equestrian revealed its jumping team for the Paris Olympics on Saturday afternoon, and Springsteen wasn’t on it.
Instead, veteran riders Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut and McLain Ward were in the three spots, with Karl Cook named as the team’s alternate.
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Springsteen, 32, was with Kraut and Ward at the Toyko Olympics, helping them collect a silver medal to mark the fourth medal in the past five Olympics for the Americans in the event. Springsteen was riding her 12-year-old stallion named Don Juan van de Donkhoeve.
She was tracking to make the team this year, being named one of 10 on the U.S. Jumping Team’s short list for the Olympics in April. U.S. Equestrian said in a press release at the time that those 10 athletes would be “chosen for continued observation.”
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However, Springsteen’s status in rankings didn’t match up with where she was three years ago.
According to the International Federation of Equestrian Sports’ official website, Springsteen is ranked 127th in the world after being 14th in 2021.
Farrington (6th), Ward, (15th), Kraut (35th) and Cook (23rd) are all much higher in the rankings than Springsteen.
Springsteen expressed the desire to keep competing with hopes of reaching the Olympics during an interview in May with Harper’s Bazaar.
“Tokyo 2020 was such an incredible experience, but because of that year and all the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, you know, you couldn’t have your family and your friends there,” Springsteen explained. “So I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I would love to go to another Olympics and be able to share that with my family, who’ve been so supportive of my career for so many years.’”
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Her father actually had a two-week block in his touring schedule set aside during the Olympics. And though that’s not officially the reason behind the tour break, one would think it worked perfectly for Springsteen to see his daughter if she made the team.
Radio host out of job after behind-the-scenes bombshell about Biden interview
WURD, a Philadelphia-based Black-owned radio station, has parted ways with its host after she revealed that the White House provided her with a list of pre-determined questions prior to her interview with President Biden last week.
Andrea Lawful-Sanders admitted during a CNN interview Saturday that that Biden’s team sent her eight questions to ask ahead of his interview on “The Source” last Wednesday. Lawful-Sanders said she “approved” four of the questions and used them during her sit-down with the president, which marked his first interview following his disastrous debate performance last month.
The questions centered around Biden’s accomplishments, debate performance, progress in both Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, what’s at stake in the election, and what he would say to voters who are considering not voting in the presidential election.
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On Sunday, WURD’s president and CEO, Sara M. Lomax, announced that Lawful-Sanders and WURD have “mutually agreed to part ways,” emphasizing that “WURD Radio is not a mouthpiece for the Biden or any other admin.”
“On July 3, the first post-debate interview with President Joe Biden was arranged and negotiated independently by WURD Radio host Andrea Lawful-Sanders without knowledge, consultation or collaboration with WURD management,” Lomax said in a statement on Sunday.
“The interview featured pre-determined questions provided by the White House, which violates our practice of remaining an independent media outlet accountable to our listeners. As a result, Ms. Lawful-Sanders and WURD Radio have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately,” she added.
Lomax said WURD has remained an independent voice in radio and that agreeing to a pre-approved list of questions “jeopardizes” the trust its audience has placed in them for 20 years to “hold elected officials accountable.”
“This is something we take very seriously,” her statement reads.
“This practice of de-legitimizing Black voices continues today. WURD Radio is not a mouthpiece for the Biden or any other Administration. Internally, we will commit to reviewing our policies, procedures, and practices to reinforce WURD’s independence and trust with our listeners. But mainstream media should do its own introspection to explore how they have lost the trust of so many Americans, Black Americans chief among them.”
SECOND LOCAL RADIO HOST ADMITS TO GETTING QUESTIONS FROM BIDEN TEAM AHEAD OF INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT
Lawful-Sanders’ show page has been removed from WURD’s website as of Sunday afternoon.
Her departure comes shortly after a second local radio host who interviewed Biden in the days following the presidential debate admitted that he received the questions beforehand. In statements given to ABC News, Wisconsin radio station host Earl Ingram confirmed that he was given five questions to ask Biden during their recent chat and wasn’t able to get through all of them before the interview ended.
CNN’s Blackwell told Lawful-Sanders that he listened to both interviews and said the questions were “essentially the same” in both. Both radio show appearances were branded as an opportunity for Biden to prove to voters that he is capable of answering pointed questions and defending his record after his debate performance raised serious concerns about his mental competency and has resulted in mounting calls for him to drop out of the race.
Biden campaign spokesperson Lauren Hitt defended the practice of sending questions prior to interviews in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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“It’s not at all an uncommon practice for interviewees to share topics they would prefer. These questions were relevant to news of the day – the president was asked about this debate performance as well as what he’d delivered for black Americans,” she said. “We do not condition interviews on acceptance of these questions, and hosts are always free to ask the questions they think will best inform their listeners. In addition to these interviews, the President also participated in a press gaggle yesterday as well as an interview with ABC. Americans have had several opportunities to see him unscripted since the debate.”
Lawful-Sanders did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Riots erupt in France after left-wing coalition projected to win plurality of seats
Crowds of protesters and celebrators flooded the streets of Paris as French election results began pouring in on Sunday.
On Sunday, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced his intent to resign after a far-left political coalition was poised to win a plurality of French parliamentary seats. The coalition had unexpectedly assembled before the snap elections began.
Tens of thousands of left-wing demonstrators gathered in Paris’s Place de la République on Sunday night to celebrate the news. President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist coalition is projected to take second place.
The results were a huge upset for conservatives in France, who had hoped that Marine Le Pen’s National Rally would take power.
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Social media footage shows massive bonfires in Parisian streets as authorities confronted demonstrators while wearing riot gear.
Tear gas was released as rowdy protesters were arrested. Protesters were also recorded throwing Molotov cocktails in the streets and setting off smoke bombs.
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The left-wing coalition, which is called the Popular Front, is made up of France’s Socialist Party, the French Communist Party, a green political party called the Ecologists and France Unbowed.
The bloc has pledged to institute a number of measures if elected, including scrapping Macron’s pension reform and working towards establishing “a right to retire” at 60 years old.
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The coalition also pledges to increase wages for public sector employees, establish a wealth tax and raise France’s minimum wage.
Hollywood star steps out hand-in-hand with girlfriend at British Grand Prix
Brad Pitt arrived hand in hand with girlfriend Ines de Ramon at the British Grand Prix on Sunday.
Pitt wore a light-yellow zip-up jacket with light trousers and accessorized his look with a houndstooth bucket hat and aviator sunglasses.
De Ramon wore a pale blue long sleeved dress with a chic bag, sunglasses with a long, gold necklace completing her look.
The 60-year-old actor has been at the four-day event all weekend, but this is the first day he and de Ramon have been photographed there together.
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Representatives for Pitt did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment about their appearance at the event.
Earlier this year, a source told People magazine there was a “natural” progression in their romance and the couple had moved in together.
“They were spending so much time together at Brad’s that it just made sense for Ines to move in with him,” the insider said. “Brad’s very happy and loves spending time with her. Moving in together was a natural thing.”
Pitt and de Ramon, 34, have been romantically linked since November 2022 and were first photographed together at a Bono concert along with Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber.
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She was previously married to “Vampire Diaries” star Paul Wesley for almost three years before they split in early 2022.
The “Fight Club” star was famously married to Angelina Jolie in 2014 after dating for more than a decade, only to end their marriage and relationship two years later when she filed for divorce in 2016. The former couple is still embroiled in a legal battle over their winery.
“Since the divorce, Brad’s dated but never seriously,” the source told the outlet. “This is the first serious relationship, and he couldn’t be happier.”
Pitt’s appearance at the British Grand Prix over the past few days coincides with the release of the trailer for his new movie about Formula 1 racing on Sunday.
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The teaser for the film, titled “F1,” features multiple scenes of Pitt behind the wheel of a Formula 1 race car and speaking about going faster but not playing it safe.
According to Variety, the Oscar-winner plays former Formula 1 driver Sonny Hayes, who returns to the sport, partnering with and mentoring a rookie teammate played by Damson Idris. Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem and Tobias Menzies also star.
At the British Grand Prix on Sunday, Pitt, Bardem and Idris were all in attendance for the star-studded race.
Other celebrities on hand included Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, chef Gordon Ramsey, “Ted Lasso” star Hannah Waddingham, and Spice Girl Geri Horner (formerly Halliwell).
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Pitt also donned some F1 racing gear, but it’s unclear if he got behind the wheel of a vehicle on the track at any point.
Filming for “F1” has taken place at several racing events, including last year’s British Grand Prix, according to Variety. Pitt’s fictional team in the film, APXGP, also had a full hospitality suite in the paddock at this year’s event.
“Top Gun” director Joseph Kosinski directs the film, with Pitt and Jerry Bruckheimer producing.
“F1” is due in theaters in June 2025.
Widow of legendary comedian dead at 73: ‘There was no one like her’
Judy Belushi-Pisano, the widow of the late John Belushi, has died at age 73.
The official Instagram and Facebook pages for Belushi announced the news on Saturday, sharing touching words about her dedication to his legacy.
“Today, our hearts are heavy as we say goodbye to our sweet Judy,” the post begins. “Her unwavering dedication and creative genius alongside Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi gave birth to The Blues Brothers, a timeless testament to the power of music and laughter.”
The post continued, “In the years following John’s passing in 1982, Judy honored his life and championed his legacy and Blues Brothers brand. As we bid farewell, we pledge to continue her work, ensuring that John’s legacy, and the Blues Brothers will never fade.”
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“There was no one like her. Judy made everyone feel loved. She was nonjudgmental, light, funny and pure. You could be truly yourself around her, that alone was a gift,” the statement concluded, adding, “The Belushi and Pisano families will carry your love in their hearts forever.”
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Judy was born Judith Jacklin in 1951, and she and the comedian met during high school, later marrying in 1976.
In a 2020 interview with People ahead of the release of the documentary about him, she recalled Belushi told her she “‘should probably break up with me because I want to be an actor, and I’ll probably never make any money.’ But I always thought he’d do well.”
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They moved to New York City in the 1970s, where she worked as a radio producer before Belushi landed on the debut season of “SNL.” During his time on the show, the couple were known for throwing afterparties at their home.
Judy also appeared in both of Belushi’s hit films, “Animal House” and “The Blues Brothers.”
The couple was married until Belushi’s death from a drug overdose in 1982.
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“John wasn’t perfect,” Judy told People in 2020. “But he was a full human being — caring and adventurous and kind. And he not only made people laugh, he made them feel.”
The Martha’s Vineyard Times reported she later married Victor Pisano in 1990, later filing for divorce in 2010.
In addition to her work maintaining Belushi’s legacy, including producing the 2010 documentary “John Belushi: Dancing on the Edge,” Judy was also active in the arts and held local screenings on the island.
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According to the outlet, Judy passed away after a long battle with endometrial cancer. She is survived by her children and grandchildren.
LeBron James’ son struggles in nightmare debut then gets terrible news
After struggling in his Summer League debut, Los Angeles Lakers second-round pick Bronny James didn’t suit up for the team’s next game due to knee swelling.
Lakers reporter Mike Trudell posted on X that James is dealing with “trace swelling” in his left knee, and he was held out of the back-to-back against the Golden State Warriors for precautionary reasons.
Lakers fans shouldn’t wait long to see James back on the court, though, as he’s expected to play in Wednesday’s final California Classic Game against the Miami Heat.
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James, who the Lakers took with the No. 55 pick in this year’s NBA Draft, got the start in his first professional action on Saturday night. However, he didn’t have the greatest performance in the 108-94 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
James shot just 2 of 9 for four points with two rebounds and two assists over 22 minutes on the court. He missed all three of his three-point shots, and he couldn’t hit either of his two free throws.
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On the defensive end, James collected his first steal of the Summer League, though he posted a minus-15 when he was on the floor.
Dalton Knecht, the Lakers’ first-round pick out of Tennessee, also struggled for Los Angeles. He shot 3 of 12 but went 5 of 9 from the charity stripe for 12 total points over 26 minutes.
The Lakers’ top performer came off the bench as forward Blake Hinson had 17 points after draining 5 of 7 of his 3-pointers and hitting his two free throws.
This is just one game for the young James, son of superstar LeBron James, who is in Las Vegas preparing for the Paris Olympics with his Team USA squad.
James noted during his introductory press conference that he didn’t get “that much of an opportunity” to “showcase what I can really do” during his freshman season at USC. He averaged less than five points per game after getting a late start to his college career due to a cardiac arrest he suffered while working out with the team in July.
James had surgery to repair a congenital heart defect.
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Now, James looks to silence the naysayers and doubters who didn’t believe he should’ve been drafted this year. These games are all about development, and according to ESPN, James should be spending most of the year in the G League with the South Bay Lakers.
US braces for Beryl’s life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds
HOUSTON — Beryl is only hours away from making landfall along Texas’ Gulf Coast, where it’s expected to bring damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge, flooding rains and even the threat of tornadoes. Landfall is expected during the next 12 hours as the storm becomes better organized.
Beryl’s outer bands lashed the state Sunday as Texans worked to finish their last-minute preparations.
“We’re keeping a close eye right now for any waterspouts or tornadoes developing with those outer rain bands,” National Weather Service Corpus Christi Meteorologist Eric Forinash said on Sunday afternoon.
(FOX Weather)
Numerous Hurricane Warnings, Storm Surge Warnings and Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for the Texas Gulf Coast. A Hurricane Warning means hurricane conditions with sustained winds of 74 mph or greater are expected within the next 36 hours. Galveston is under a Hurricane Watch as Beryl barrels closer.
As the storm moves ashore, rainbands could produce a risk of tornadoes and, because of the potential, a Tornado Watch has been issued for much of the Upper Texas coastline.
The Tornado Watch box includes communities such as Port Arthur, Houston and Galveston.
(FOX Weather)
In addition to the damaging wind threat, a dangerous storm surge and a foot of rain or more are possible through the early half of the week.
A dangerous storm surge of up to 7 feet is expected to impact a wide swath of the Texas coast by Sunday night into Monday, while torrential rains that total as much as 10–15 inches threaten flash and urban flooding – some of which could be considerable. Beryl’s powerful hurricane-force winds could lead to power outages and property damage.
KNOW YOUR ZONE: TEXAS HURRICANE EVACUATION ZONES
How much storm surge can be expected along the Texas coast?
A Storm Surge Warning is also in effect from Padre Island to High Island, including Corpus Christi Bay, Matagorda Bay and Galveston Bay.
A Storm Surge Warning means there is a potential for life-threatening water rises within the next 36 hours.
(FOX Weather)
Storm Surge models indicate a water rise of 3–7 feet is possible from Baffin Bay to Sargent, along with Corpus Christi Bay and Matagorda Bay, starting as early as Sunday night and lasting into Monday.
“The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the right of the center, where the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves,” the NHC warned. “Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle and can vary greatly over short distances.”
How much rain is expected in Texas from Beryl?
(FOX Weather)
Much of East Texas should brace for several inches of rain from Beryl. Wide swaths of 5-10 inch accumulations, with localized amounts up to 15 inches, are expected across portions of the Texas Gulf Coast and eastern Texas from Sunday through the middle of the week.
“This rainfall is likely to produce areas of flash and urban flooding, some of which may be locally considerable in nature,” the NHC warned.
The Houston area is currently forecast to receive 5–8 inches of rain, with heavier amounts in the southern and western suburbs.
(FOX Weather)
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service office in Corpus Christi, Texas, said any of the outer rain bands could also produce tropical storm-force gusts and even spin up an isolated tornado.
WHAT IS THE IKE DIKE?
Evacuation orders issued for some Texas communities
Cameron County, Texas, was one of the first in the state to issue voluntary evacuations.
Authorities advised those living in mobile homes and visitors staying in parks to seek more substantial shelter.
Nueces County issued similar orders and advised all visitors to leave by Sunday afternoon.
The counties were two of the 40 included in a disaster declaration signed by acting Texas Gov. Dan Patrick.
The Refugio County Office of Emergency Management issued a mandatory evacuation order, telling everyone to leave by 7:30 a.m. Sunday.
“Please take precautions to get your family and pets out of the county to a safe location,” the order stated.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is currently out of the country but is monitoring the situation.
Communities in low-lying areas and along the coast have already started to offer sandbags to residents, which will be available as long as supplies last.