Fox News 2024-07-09 12:09:32


First lady lashes out at reporter asking questions about Biden dropping out of race

First lady Jill Biden scolded reporters for “screaming” at her Monday, as one tried to ask a question about her husband as she walked from a coffee shop to the car.

In a video shared by Washington Post senior video journalist JM Rieger, the first lady was confronted by a reporter who asked her about the growing number of Democrats calling for Biden to leave the race.

“Dr. Biden, do you have any message to House Democrats who are calling for your husband to drop out of the race? How are you feeling about the state of the race?” a female reporter could be heard shouting.

“Why are you screaming at me? You know me. Don’t scream at me, just let me talk,” Jill Biden responded.

WASHINGTON POST READERS URGE JILL BIDEN TO TELL JOE TO WITHDRAW FROM RACE

She then entered her vehicle without answering any questions.

Fox News Digital reached out to the first lady’s press secretary for a comment.

Biden made three campaign stops across North Carolina, Florida and Georgia to help campaign for her husband on Monday. 

These multiple events are part of ongoing efforts by the Biden administration to push back on growing concerns from media pundits and Democratic colleagues that the president is no longer mentally capable of staying in the race since his first debate against Donald Trump back in June.

President Biden, along with his family, have insisted that he will stay in the race. 

“As commander in chief, President Biden wakes up every morning ready to work for you. That’s what this election is all about. You. For all the talk out there about this race, Joe has made it clear that he’s all in,” Jill Biden said during her North Carolina event.

MEDIA REACT TO JILL BIDEN’S VOGUE APPEARANCE: ‘I THOUGHT THIS WAS SATIRE’

Biden has also begun receiving more media attention, particularly after reports have suggested that she is the “ultimate influence” over whether the president should remain in the race. She was also featured in a puff piece on the cover of the August issue of Vogue.

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Trump predicts which Democrat will receive the nomination if Biden drops

Former President Trump said it seems like President Biden will stay in the 2024 race despite calls from some members of his own party to step down in the wake of his disastrous debate performance late last month. 

Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity in an interview Monday that Biden has an “ego” and he “doesn’t want to quit.”

“It looks to me like he may very well stay, and he’s got an ego, and he doesn’t want to quit. He doesn’t want to do that. It just looks to me like that’s what he wants,” Trump said.

TRUMP CHALLENGES BIDEN TO SECOND PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE- BUT THERE’S A CATCH

Biden told House Democrats in a letter Monday that he’s staying in the race and is committed to beating Trump in November. 

BIDEN REMAINS DEFIANT AS PRESSURE MOUNTS TO WITHDRAW FROM PRESIDENTIAL RACE

“We had a Democratic nomination process and the voters have spoken clearly and decisively. I received over 14 million votes, 87% of the votes cast across the entire nominating process. I have nearly 3,900 delegates, making me the presumptive nominee of our party by a wide margin,” Biden’s letter read in part.

“I can respond to all this by saying clearly and unequivocally: I wouldn’t be running again if I did not absolutely believe I was the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024.”

Trump said if Biden is forced out or steps down, he believes Vice President Kamala Harris will fill his shoes. 

“I think she’s an ineffective person. She was in charge of the border, she’s never been there, she didn’t do a good job, and she hasn’t done a job on a lot of things,” he told Hannity.

“It would seem to me that from a political standpoint, that’s who they’re going with. They’re not even talking about alternatives.”

The former president added that Biden has a lot of power due to the number of delegates he’s received thus far, so the only way Democrats can get him out of the race is by using the 25th Amendment.

“I think unless they use the 25th amendment, which they’d use in a different sense, he has all the power. He has the delegates. He doesn’t have to get out. There’s nothing they can do to get him out,” Trump said. “So, he’ll get the nomination.”

House Democrats held a virtual meeting over the weekend to discuss the future of Biden’s re-election campaign in the wake of his highly-criticized performance at the CNN Presidential Debate.

Fox News senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram reported that multiple ranking Democrats on House committees expressed their desire for Biden to step aside during a virtual meeting convened by Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. 

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“I made clear publicly the day after the debate that I support President Joe Biden and the Democratic ticket,” Jeffries said. “My position has not changed.”

Biden and Trump are poised to square off for another debate in September..

‘Intimate relationship’ gossip interrupts WNBA press conference

A Chicago Sky press conference was interrupted by mysterious audio on Sunday night after the team fell to the Seattle Storm, 84-71.

Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon, rookie sensation Angel Reese and starting guard Marina Mabrey were at their desk awaiting questions from reporters when someone appeared to forget to mute their audio. 

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Video from the press conference showed the trio listening in on an apparent conversation about someone’s “intimate relationship” and their reactions were priceless. Eventually, the person’s audio was muted, but it still appeared to stun Weatherspoon, Reese and Mabrey.

Reese later reacted to the ordeal.

“I was shook,” she wrote on X.

Even as the Sky lost to the Storm, Reese was able to set the record for most consecutive double-doubles by a player. She surpassed Candace Parker’s mark with her 13th. Reese had 17 points and 14 rebounds and is the lone rookie averaging a double-double this year.

2024 WNBA ODDS: ANGEL REESE CHALLENGING CAITLIN CLARK FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

“I’m just trying to be consistent for my teammates, doing whatever I can to help my team,” Reese said, via EPSN. “I think I didn’t do enough tonight, but just being able to be there for my teammates and knowing that I have a job to do every day no matter if I’m a rookie or a vet.”

Reese and Caitlin Clark are the top candidates for the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award.

After Reese tied Parker’s mark, the Sky’s social media account made clear who it believes is the front-runner.

“Record setter. THE front runner,” the team wrote.

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Reese now has 14 double-doubles on the season. According to ESPN, it’s tied for fifth most from a rookie in WNBA history.

Pop star reportedly rakes in $10 million to perform at billionaire’s pre-wedding party

Justin Bieber reportedly just earned a major payday.

The “Love Yourself” singer performed at a pre-wedding event for Indian billionaire heir Anant Ambani and his bride, Radhika Merchant.

Bieber traveled to Mumbai, India, on Friday for the celebration, and treated the audience to a full performance. 

The “Baby” singer shared photos and videos on his social media from the weekend, including the crowd singing along to his hits “Love Yourself,” “I’m the One,” (with DJ Khaled), and “Where Are U Now.”

JUSTIN BIEBER CELEBRATES 30 YEARS: FROM YOUNG YOUTUBE SENSATION TO POP ICON

He also posted several photos with Ambani and Merchant.

According to Entertainment Tonight, Bieber is believed to have been paid $10 million for his performance at the sangeet, a traditional ceremony where the bride and groom’s families perform dances for their guests. 

Representatives for Bieber did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

An eyewitness told the outlet, “Justin was dancing and vibing to the songs all over the stage. He was smiling while the audience sang his songs into his mic.”

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They added that the “performance lasted about an hour or so,” and “the majority female crowd felt fangirl moments when he performed! It was an absolutely unforgettable experience!”

Ambani is the son of billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani, who is worth $116 billion, according to Forbes. He runs Reliance Industries, “which has interests in petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecom, retail and financial services” per the outlet.

Merchant is the daughter of pharmaceutical tycoon Viren Merchant and is the marketing director for his company, Encore Healthcare, according to Vogue.

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This is not the first megastar the couple has hired as part of their wedding celebrations.

In March, Rihanna was allegedly paid $6 million to perform, significant not only for the pay day but also for the fact that apart from her Super Bowl LVII halftime show in 2023, Rihanna hadn’t performed live on stage since 2018.

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Ambani and Merchant’s main wedding ceremony is set for July 12, to be followed by a grand reception on July 14, according to a report from The Independent.

‘Jeopardy’ contestants called out by comedian they didn’t recognize

Sometimes the toughest questions on “Jeopardy” aren’t academic ones.

Last week, contestants Zoe Strassfield, Matt Brooks and Cat Pisacano all had no answer for the $2000 clue in the “Guests on Hot Ones” category during Double Jeopardy.

“On his Adult Swim show, this host destroys his set every episode, but says he is sedated in real life: ‘I meditate, jog. I eat salad,’” host Ken Jennings read, with a photo a comedian they apparently didn’t recognize.

The answer was Eric Andre, host of the Adult Swim series “The Eric Andre Show,” and a comedian who has also appeared in films like “Jackass Forever,” “Rough Night,” and “Bad Trip.”

‘JEOPARDY!’ CONTESTANTS STUMPED BY TAYLOR SWIFT QUESTION: ‘WE’RE GOING TO GET KILLED FOR THAT’

Andre playfully called the contestants out on social media, sharing a clip from the show on his Instagram with the caption, “Damn they left me hanging” accompanied by a laughing emoji and cricket emoji.

“Jeopardy” responded to Andre’s post, writing, “This is worse than Bird Up!” a reference to a recurring bit on Andre’s Adult Swim show featuring “the worst show on television” titled “Bird Up.”

Fans in the comments tried to cheer Andre up, with one person writing, “I think being the 2000 question is somewhat of a compliment.”

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Another wrote, “Uncultured contestants that didn’t know who you were. Damn shame.”

“You can really hear Ken’s disappointment,” added another person.

Andre isn’t the first star to not get recognized by the brainy contestants on “Jeopardy.”

Last November, in the category of “’90s Singers,” the clue read, “This country superstar’s ‘Friends In Low Places’ was named CMA Single of the Year in 1991.”

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A photo of Garth Brooks appeared onscreen, but none of the players buzzed in.

“Whoa!” a surprised Jennings reacted to the silence. “How soon we forget. That’s Chris Gaines’ alter ego, Garth Brooks.”

Fans went wild on social media, questioning how they could have failed to recognize the popular singer.

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“How do these three not know who Garth Brooks is??” one user wrote on X. “Even if you aren’t a country fan, he’s one of the most well-known music artists from the 90s.”

Target to stop accepting payment method that has been on the decline for years

Target Corp. is killing off the use of personal checks at its stores for good.

“Due to extremely low volumes, we’ll no longer accept personal checks starting July 15,” Target said in a statement to FOX Television stations. “We have taken several measures to notify guests in advance to aid an easy and efficient checkout experience.”

Target will still allow customers to write checks through its Target Circle Week sale, which is going on this week through Saturday.

After the retail giant stops accepting checks, it will still accept several other forms of payments, including cash, debit and credit cards, digital wallets, SNAP/EBT, and buy now, pay later options.

TARGET, DICK’S SPORTING GOODS FACING PUSHBACK FROM INVESTORS FOR ‘GOING WOKE’

Target Circle Card payments may still be made by personal check via mail.

Federal Reserve data shows the use of personal checks as a payment method has been on the decline for years. In 2023, checks accounted for only 3% of payments, down from 4% in the two previous years and 7% in 2020. Last year, the vast majority (62%) of payments were made using a credit or debit card, and 16% were made with cash.

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
TGT TARGET CORP. 148.72 +3.07 +2.11%

Target Corp.

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USA Today noted that Target joins other major retailers in ending its acceptance of personal checks for payments at stores, including Aldi and Amazon-owned Whole Foods Markets

Biden blasted from the left for ‘defiant’ phone call into MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’

President Biden’s defiant phone call to MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” insisting he’d stay in the race set off a firestorm of criticism on social media on Monday.

During the call, Biden knocked the media and Democratic “elites” demanding he drop out of the race and suggested his critics challenge him for the nomination at the upcoming party convention. 

“I’m getting frustrated by the elites — not you guys — the elites in the party. Oh, they know so much more. Any of these guys that don’t think I should run, run against me. Announce for president, challenge me at the convention,” he told “Morning Joe.”

Media commentators and Biden allies criticized the president’s defensive tone on X and said he was hurting his chances with voters and his party.

ILLINOIS DEMOCRAT WARNS BIDEN LOOKS ‘VERY FRAIL,’ RISKING RACE: ‘HAVE TO BE HONEST … IT’S GETTING WORSE’

“Overall takeaway: He is absolutely DARING the party to try to get rid of him. Positively Trumpian about his crowd sizes — and what that means. Defiant bordering on arrogant,” political commentator and ex-CNNer Chris Cillizza wrote.

Former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau had high praise for Biden’s “energy” but said his messaging “sucks.”

“Energy is great! Sounds strong! Love that part. Message absolutely sucks – angry, defensive, lashing out at all the wrong people. Just please, please talk about voter concerns, how you’ll address them, and how Trump will make them worse. That’s all!” he wrote on X.

In response to Favreau’s post, Semafor reporter Benjy Sarlin described the intraparty conflict as a “murder-suicide:” 

“The basic dynamic: Biden has not made much progress since the debate convincing Democrats he’s up to the job of beating Trump, but he’s made progress in telegraphing to them it will be a murder-suicide if they try to take the nomination and fail,” he posted.

Conservative figures also criticized the president for calling into the MSNBC show and shouting at the friendly hosts.

“Because letting your boss call into a cable TV show, hiding his face and possibly a stack of talking points and white board full of answers, is certainly a choice that will quell the concerns of the American people,” former press secretary for Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign Ken Farnaso wrote.

“Look, I’m not a political consultant, but I’m thinking that Biden screaming on Morning Joe isn’t going to soothe any souls about his condition. How easily he’s angered is a symptom of his condition,” RedState writer Bonchie posted.

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CNN host Jim Acosta and Vanity Fair correspondent Brian Stelter also compared Biden’s phone call to something his GOP rival would do, but framed it as a strategic political maneuver. 

“It was a little bit of a page out of Donald Trump‘s playbook calling into a morning show this morning,” Acosta said on CNN on Monday. 

“Yes, Biden did sound a bit Trumpian in this most recent call. He did, by the way, also on ABC,” Stelter said, referencing the president’s interview with George Stephanopoulos Friday. “There‘s an element of resentment and grievance that you and I very well-recognize from the former president, and we do know that motivates some voters.”

“It certainly is a way to fire up base voters,” he continued, before questioning if it would move the needle for the “nervous” members of his party.

Biden’s phone call did impress some supporters on social media. Filmmaker Rob Reiner posted to X, “If we see the Joe Biden that appeared on Morning Joe today every day until Nov.5, he’ll be able to shut up people like me who think he should step aside.”

The president has gone on a media blitz in response to prominent Democrats and media figures calling on him to take more media interviews following his disastrous debate performance in June that spurred a firestorm of concerns about his mental acuity and re-election chances.

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Boy bitten by shark after landing on predator while diving into ocean at US beach

A 14-year-old boy was bitten in the leg by a shark during a lifeguard training camp in Florida on Monday morning, Volusia County Beach Safety (VCBS) officials confirmed to Fox News Digital.

Around 11:15 a.m. on Monday, officials said a 14-year-old boy was entering the water at Ponce Inlet, a beach area north of the jetty, when he was bitten on the right calf.

The boy was participating in the Junior Lifeguard Camp, officials with the VCBS said. 

Witnesses stated as he was diving into the water, the boy landed on the shark and that’s when he was attacked.

SHARK ATTACKS 4 PEOPLE AT TEXAS BEACH ON FOURTH OF JULY: POLICE

According to witnesses, the shark was a 4 to 5 Black Tip, which is common to the beaches in the area. 

Officials said the boy was treated on scene and was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening lacerations.

According to a report from the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack file, Florida — specifically Volusia County — is the shark capital of the world. 

FLORIDA MAN ATTACKED BY SHARK ON BOATING TRIP

Not counting Monday’s attack, there have been 351 attacks in Volusia County alone since 1882. 

After Florida, which had 16 total shark bites recorded, was Hawaii, which had eight unprovoked bites in 2023. 

HAWAII TOURIST BITTEN BY SHARK WHILE SWIMMING, FOUND ‘BLEEDING PROFUSELY’

While the report shows that most shark attacks have happened in September since 1926, July, August and October are also among the most common months for attacks to happen in Florida.

At the beginning of June, miles of beaches in Walton County were closed down in Florida after two back-to-back shark attacks.

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Over the Fourth of July weekend, at least four people were injured in shark attacks on South Padre Island in Texas.