James Carville, a veteran Democratic campaign strategist, warned Friday that sticking with President Biden is exactly what former President Trump wants.

MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell noted that Carville seeks to have former presidents Obama and Clinton moderate town halls to discern who can replace Biden as the nominee. The host then asked, “Is that the recipe for chaos?”

“You know, it might be chaos. [But] I tell you, what we are doing right now, we’re doing exactly what Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago wants us to do,” Carville said, referencing a report that the Trump campaign wants to face Biden.

“If the Democratic Party is hellbent on pleasing Donald Trump, then go ahead and [run Biden]. It’s just that simple,” he said.

Carville then slammed “Washington-types” he says quibble with the details about his idea for town halls to find a new candidate, “Well, I don’t care, do something! Don’t just stand there!” 

“The details are, we are on track to lose an election to a major criminal who is going to destroy the western alliance, the constitution and everything in between. So we ought to act like it,” he argued.

JAMES CARVILLE CALLS ON BIDEN TO STEP DOWN AFTER ‘EVERYONE SAW WHAT THEY SAW’ AT DEBATE

Mitchell followed by asking what he thinks Democratic Party elites like “Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer maybe, Hakeem Jeffries” are up to.

“I think they’re mortified,” Carville replied. “I think they want to make a change. I think they see the path that we’re on.”

Carville reiterated his earlier point, slamming the Democratic Party establishment for sticking with what he says is a losing tactic that benefits Trump, merely because new plans to find a more viable candidate “don’t have the details flushed out yet.”

“Think about it. You know exactly what Donald Trump wants us to do. You know precisely what Steve Bannon wants us to do, and we’re hellbent on pleasing them,” he said. “I think it’s a big mistake. I thought it was. I still do. I’m highly unlikely to change my mind because of some namby-pamby technical reasons about how you put a town hall together.”

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Carville concluded that one major concern for Democrats is that “the donor class is shutting down. I know these people. Not only are they shutting down contributions to the Biden campaign, they are shutting down contributions to the Senate committee, to the House committee.”

He concluded, “Unlike me, all I can do is shut my mouth. That would make a lot of people happy. But they shut their wallet and they will make a lot of people unhappy, and that’s going on, a very underappreciated story, and it goes beyond just the top of the ticket.”

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“I’m not going anywhere.”

This week, a defiant Joe Biden called into “Morning Joe”to rebuke members of his own party who are urging him to drop out of the presidential race. The early morning phone interview was as shaky as his televised sit-down with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos—and just as rambling as his debate performance before that.

In President Biden’s slow-motion surrender to senility, the nation is watching a tragedy unfold in real time. The once jolly and relatable everyman from Scranton risks becoming the mad king of the West Wing—an out-of-touch politician unable to accept reality and his own mortality.     

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Sadly, Biden’s televised deterioration is a movie the country has seen before: first in Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and most recently in Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Both Ginsburg and Feinstein tore down gender barriers to become luminaries in the Democratic Party. Both earned endearing nicknames—”RBG” and “Di-Fi”—that became their calling cards in Washington. Both overcame insurmountable odds to dominate their respective fields and expand civil liberties for all Americans.  And both stayed far too long in office, harming their reputations and the progressive cause.

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By clinging to power well past his prime, Biden appears to be going the way of Ginsburg and Feinstein. His incapacity to do the job is becoming evident to the American public. His mental faculties are slipping, and he struggles to string a coherent sentence together in live press conferences. But either out of deference or self-interest, Biden’s staff refuses to acknowledge the President’s obvious decline.  

Democrats know how this movie ends. Yet they seem incapable of yelling “Cut!” Assuming Biden is still the director of his own production, he will have to do that himself.

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The silver lining: Biden still has time. And he can craft the perfect ending for his career by taking a cue from his longtime friend, the late Republican Senator Orrin G. Hatch.

Hatch was a Washington workhorse. At the time of his retirement, he had passed more bills into law (750) than anyone alive. But one quality set him apart from even the most prolific lawmakers: knowing when to call it quits.

Joe Biden embodies the Democratic Party’s age problem. But he is also the only person who can fix it.  

Indeed, the last year of Hatch’s career is a case study in retiring with dignity—one that Biden and other members of America’s leadership class could learn from.

Before Hatch announced that he would be stepping down in 2018, Republican leaders spared no effort to convince him to run again. Leading this campaign was the most powerful man in the world—President Donald Trump.

Hatch and Trump had a tight-knit relationship made even tighter by the work they had done together to pass comprehensive tax reform. As early as January 2017, Trump began privately encouraging Hatch to seek another term, emphasizing what they could accomplish with a few more years together.

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The White House lobbying campaign culminated at the end of the year in Trump’s first—and only—presidential visit to Salt Lake City, where he signed an executive order that handed Hatch a massive victory on federal lands reform. Trump capped off the signing ceremony by handing Hatch the presidential pen, calling him “a true fighter,” and expressing his desire that the Senator would continue to serve Utah and the country “for a very long time to come.”

Donald Trump had summoned the collective might of the GOP to persuade Hatch to run again. But it was all for naught. 

Just a month later, Hatch stunned the political world when he announced he would be retiring at the end of his term.

Hatch’s decision baffled many onlookers: he had reached peak performance as a legislator and enjoyed a direct line to the President of the United States. Why leave now?  

As his speechwriter of many years, I can share insights into Hatch’s thinking, as well as lessons leaders can draw from his example.

From boxing in his youth, Hatch had learned the importance of going out with a strong performance—and with your head still on your shoulders.    

Hatch had a penchant for making unlikely friends. And perhaps his most unlikely friend was the greatest fighter in history, Muhammad Ali. The Muslim and the Mormon had such a close bond that Hatch was even asked to deliver a eulogy at Ali’s funeral.

As a former boxer himself, Hatch was in awe of Ali’s athleticism. But he was also keenly aware of the damage fighting can inflict on the human body, having witnessed firsthand Ali’s rapid physical and mental decline in his old age. Hatch often likened the pugilism of politics to fighting in the ring. And he was just as wary of the physical and spiritual toll of partisan combat.

It’s telling, then, that Hatch explained his decision to retire in boxing terms: “I was an amateur boxer in my youth, and I brought that fighting spirit with me to Washington. But every good fighter knows when to hang up the gloves. And for me, that time is soon approaching.”

Hatch had the foresight to leave the political arena with his physical and cognitive health intact, rather than risk losing them by fighting in extra rounds. This is the risk Ginsburg and Feinstein took—and the risk Biden appears to be taking today. It doesn’t appear to be a well-calculated one.

Hatch’s decision to retire was also motivated by a desire to cultivate fresh talent and pass on the lessons of statesmanship to younger Americans. He wanted to dedicate the rest of his able years to building up the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, a now-thriving think tank that seeks to “restore the public discourse and empower the next generation of civic leaders.”

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Before devoting himself to building his think tank, however, Hatch needed to ensure his Senate seat would be in good hands. That’s why, almost a year before formally announcing his retirement, he sent a memo to Mitt Romney encouraging him to run for his seat in the event Hatch would step down. Senator Romney did exactly that. And he honored Hatch’s legacy recently by stating that he too would soon retire to make way “for a new generation of leaders.”

The president—and his party—would benefit from following Senator Hatch’s example by passing the reins of leadership to the next generation.  

Without this necessary course correction, the Democratic Party will continue to hemorrhage young voters, thus risking its reputation as “the party of the youth vote.” Consider that Biden had a 20-point lead over Trump in the last election among voters 18-29 years old. Today, the two candidates are virtually tied among this demographic.

Millions of young Americans are defecting to the GOP. And it’s no wonder why—the Democratic Party leadership is significantly older than its core constituency: Joe Biden is 81; Nancy Pelosi is 84; and Chuck Schumer is 73. And none of this is to mention Senator Feinstein and Justice Ginsburg, who guarded their power till their deaths at ages 90 and 87 respectively.  

The Democratic Party has become a misnomer. By favoring the old over the young, it is actively negating the will of the . That’s how the party nominated an aging politician that polls consistently lower than his younger counterparts. And it’s why the party appears incapable of swapping him out anytime soon.

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The irony: Joe Biden embodies the Democratic Party’s age problem. But he is also the only person who can fix it.  

If Biden wants what’s best for his legacy, he should throw out the old Democratic playbook that encourages politicians to hold onto power for as long as they hold onto life. And he should look instead to the example of Senator Hatch. As Hatch demonstrated, retiring with dignity is the first step to empowering the next generation. If Biden can muster the courage to take that step, he can help renew both his party and the nation.   

A 4-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped from a California restaurant by a suspected homeless woman, police said.

The Santa Monica Police Department said a “frantic” grandmother called police at 12:11 p.m. local time when she and her 4-year-old granddaughter were having lunch at a Panda Express restaurant.

Police were on the scene “within minutes” desperately searching for the disappeared child, authorities said.

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Authorities quickly gathered video images of potential suspects and began sending additional units to the general area of the restaurant.

Police said there were more than 30 law enforcement officers searching for the suspect.

Video footage revealed that the suspect was a heavyset white female in her 30s.

At 12:37 p.m., officers located the suspect and child in a room at the Holiday Motel.

“Thankfully, the child was unharmed, and the suspect was taken into custody,” police said.

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Police said “no stone was left unturned” in their investigation.

“Our heartfelt best wishes go out to the child and her family as they deal with the shock of this ordeal,” police said. “We will do everything we can to make sure they are helped through this time and also to make sure no stone is left unturned in the investigation.”

Authorities, who did not immediately release the name of the suspect, said she was booked on suspicion of kidnapping.

The alleged abduction comes after a 73-year-old woman was assaulted by a homeless man in May.

The woman said she was on her daily morning walk and tried to get out of his way so he could pass, but “he intentionally pushed her to the ground,” resulting in a back injury and cuts on her hands, police said. 

About a week beforehand, a homeless man was arrested for the attempted rape of a female jogger.

One Santa Monica resident said that the once-idyllic coastal town is “not what it was.”

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“Everybody knows that Santa Monica is not what it was three or four years ago,” one resident told FOX 11. “Every day is something new.”

Serena Williams said women “don’t need” Harrison Butker to celebrate women’s sports.

The tennis legend made the comment Thursday night at the ESPY Awards alongside her sister Venus Williams and actress Quinta Brunson.

The Kansas City Chiefs kicker drew criticism when he delivered a commencement speech at Benedictine College that included encouraging female graduates to embrace being a “homemaker.” 

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“You can enjoy women’s sports, just like any other sport, because they are sports,” Venus said.

Serena gave her response about Butker while barely able to control her laughter.

Butker, who was in attendance, released a statement saying Williams was a “great host” but didn’t use the “opportunity” for good.

“I thought Mrs. Williams was a great host and applaud her for using her platform to express her beliefs on a variety of topics,” Butker told NBC Sports. “Sports are supposed to be the great unifier. And at an event dedicated to celebrating a diverse group of men and women who have accomplished great feats, she used it as an opportunity to disinvite those with whom she disagrees with from supporting fellow athletes.”

Williams’ jab got a positive reaction from the crowd and went viral.

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Butker remained unapologetic for his speech when he made another public appearance a couple of weeks later, saying it was “not people, but Jesus Christ who I’m trying to please.”

Butker’s jersey sales have since skyrocketed on NFL Shop, and many in the media remain split about the speech.

Dean Martin, the “King of Cool,” never recovered after he lost his “golden boy.”

The ‘50s crooner and member of the Rat Pack was struck by tragedy in 1985 following a lustrous Hollywood career. A military jet carrying his oldest son, Dean Paul Martin, crashed into the side of a mountain during a routine exercise in 1987. Martin’s son was 35 at the time of his death.

“Dean Martin’s final years were very, very sad after he lost his son,” author William Keck told Fox News Digital. “It was like looking at a candle without a flame.”

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Keck, a former reporter for the National Enquirer, has written a new memoir about his decades-long career, “When You Step Upon a Star: Cringeworthy Confessions of a Tabloid Bad Boy.” In it, he details the celebrities he befriended, protected and wronged.

Keck, who reported on Martin’s final years, said the singer was someone he was eager to protect.

“He was still the nice man that he seemed to be on television,” said Keck. “He would always greet me when I came over to his table. He would always say, ‘I’ll be back on that stage one day. You’ll see me.’ But he was done.”

“He would eat by himself, always wearing the same outfit,” Keck recalled “It was navy pants and a light blue shirt. He would order the same dish — clams casino. He would just let the clam juice drip down his shirt. At a nearby table would be his ex-wife Jeanne… It was very strange to observe. It was like seeing a wax figure that was barely moving around.”

In his book, Keck described how Martin was suffering from “a broken heart” after losing his son. He claimed that every evening, Martin would go to the same Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills, La Famiglia, where the same dish awaited him. He was always spotted quietly twirling his pasta as he sat alone.

Martin would always smile at Keck whenever he spotted the young writer. Martin even allowed Keck to take photos of him for his stories.

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“The problem was that it always looked like the same photo because he would wear the same outfit every time,” Keck explained. “You weren’t sure if it was taken six months ago or a year ago.”

Keck said he spoke to numerous pals to gain insight into what Martin’s life was like outside the spotlight. It was clear the patriarch was hurting.

Dean Paul, nicknamed “Dino Jr.,” was a jack of all trades. According to People magazine, he made his mark with tennis and had a rock band with pals Desi Arnaz Jr. and Billy Hinsche. He eventually followed in his father’s footsteps and pursued acting. That led to a Golden Globe nomination for his role in the 1979 film “Players.”

According to the outlet, Dean Paul was also a semi-professional football player, race car driver and pre-med student. But it appeared he finally found his calling when he became a pilot with the Air National Guard in 1981.

“I’m proud of him,” Martin was quoted as saying by the outlet. “I’d be proud even if he didn’t become a jet pilot because he’s a good boy. He just doesn’t know what he wants to be.”

According to The New York Times, Dean Paul and Capt. Ramon Ortiz, 39, were in one of three F4-C Phantom jets that were flying maneuvers near the San Bernadino Mountain range. The plane was lost and the remains of both men were found six days later.

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”Capt. Dean Paul Martin and Capt. Ramon Ortiz perished instantly at the time of impact,” Sgt. Carolyn Hamilton, an Air National Guard spokeswoman, said at the time.

According to officials, the jet piloted by Dean Paul plunged nearly 4,000 feet from its last radar altitude reading of 9,300 feet. The outlet noted that it hit the side of the mountain at about 400 miles an hour.

“[Dean Paul’s] death had a huge impact on Dean Martin,” said Keck. “Everyone who knew Dean Martin would tell you that. And it was [his pal] Rich Little who told me that once he lost his son, that was the end of him. That was a big part of him that died and never recovered.”

The Associated Press quoted singer Paul Anka as saying that the death of Martin’s son was “a huge turning point.”

“After that event in his life, things really changed,” said Anka. “He said to me, ‘I’m just waiting to die. Just waiting to die.’”

Martin passed away at his Beverly Hills home on Christmas Day 1995. He was 78.

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“In a way, he fooled us,” said Keck. “He kept going. I remember we weren’t going to miss his funeral. It was a private VIP service with all of these celebrities. Everyone wanted to pay their respects. I remember at one point it just got dark. All you could hear was Rosemary Clooney, George Clooney’s aunt, singing ‘Everybody Loves Somebody.'”

“It was completely surreal,” Keck admitted. “In the end, it was a friend paying tribute to him.”

Keck said his memories of greeting Martin at the same restaurant for his stories are bittersweet.

“I remember him always greeting me with that warm smile,” said Keck. “It was heartbreaking. I don’t think his broken heart ever healed.”