'60 minutes prior to the assassination attempt'

'We are able to weaken their influence'

Max Boot previously accused former President Trump of being a Russian asset

MILWAUKEE—Republicans always seem to come home. Some sooner than others. Vivek Ramaswamy never really ran against him. Ron DeSantis threw his weight behind him within an hour of dropping out of the primary. But Nikki Haley, the last woman standing, she took her time. The endorsement took three full months to arrive. Donald Trump didn’t mind. The former president did not need her support to lock down a third consecutive nomination. He may not need it to return to the White House either. But as Haley walked onstage at the Republican National Convention Tuesday, Trump beamed. He listened with a bandaged ear from a box overlooking the arena to his last rival, the member of his Cabinet who went astray, bending the knee in prime time. “If there is one thing Donald Trump loves more than a Day One supporter,” Hogan Gidley, who served as a Trump White House aide, told RealClearPolitics, “it is a convert.” Yet, if there is one thing Trump has notably not done this week, it is gloat. He has said comparatively little since the attempt on his life Saturday, exuding a gracious silence—perhaps even a magnanimous stoicism. A source who spoke with the former president at length the day after he dodged an assassin’s bullet reported talking to “a different Donald Trump, but in the best way possible.” Granted anonymity to speak freely, this individual, who has worked closely with Trump for nearly a decade, described a “weirdly counterintuitive” phenomenon whereby “he almost dies, he miraculously survives, and it becomes even less about him.” Perhaps that explains the last-minute invitation to Haley. She was not originally slated to speak at the RNC, but after the assassination attempt, the Trump campaign asked her to come speak. It was simultaneously an attempt at party and national unity, an overture made more remarkable considering the sheer bitterness of their rivalry.  Remember the birdcage? Trump had one delivered to her hotel room the day after dubbing her “Birdbrain.” It only got worse from that moment on. Haley had been the rare member of the Trump administration to leave the White House on good terms with the former president—and with her reputation intact. Her decision to challenge him was, therefore, seen by Trump and his loyalists as nothing short of a betrayal. And Trump held nothing back. He ridiculed her looks, suggested that there was something awry in her marriage, and dispatched his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., to repeatedly call her “a warmonger.” Haley countered by calling him “unhinged,” calling for cognitive tests for all candidates while suggesting he had lost a step, and characterized a third Trump nomination as “suicide for our country.” But all now seems forgiven, or at least forgotten. At this convention, things just feel altered, said Republican pollster Frank Luntz. “And it feels different, which means people are hearing something different,” he told RealClearPolitics. “That hasn’t happened for years.” What changed among the Republican faithful? “Their hero was almost taken away from them,” he replied, an occurrence that “humanized Trump and humbled his supporters.” The prize for good behavior may very well be a landslide, the famous pollster continued. “If Trump can get through a day without attacking her, that’s the secret ingredient for the rest of this campaign,” he said. “Add Haley voters to Trump’s total, and he is unbeatable.” Haley did her part. “I’ll start by making one thing perfectly clear: Donald Trump has my strong endorsement, period,” she told the delegates, some of whom had booed her at the beginning but were cheering by the end. “There are some Americans who don’t agree with Donald Trump 100% of the time,” she continued. “My message to them is simple: You don’t have to agree with Trump 100% of the time to vote for him.” Trump has made plenty of bitter rivals into friends during his time in office. Just think of the nicknames. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who challenged him eight years ago, went from “Lying Ted” in that time to “Beautiful Ted.” Consider also the props. He had a pallet of Trump bottled water, complete with his face emblazoned on the packaging, delivered to the campaign headquarters of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in 2016. It was a reference to Rubio’s bottled-water moment when he awkwardly paused his response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union to take a drink. Ultimately, the barb did not matter. Rubio became a key legislative ally of Trump, even auditioning this time around to be his running mate. “Kamala Harris called Joe Biden a sex criminal and a segregationist from the debate stage,” Gidley said of the current team of rivals in the White House. “Let’s not pretend like these things aren’t bloody and brutal up until the moment of the nomination. That’s how it works.” But Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene remembers. So do plenty of the former president’s allies. “You’re seeing massive unity here at the conference, and that’s to win in November,” the Georgia Republican told RealClearPolitics. “Does that change the fact that there’s no more opportunism? No way.”  When her colleagues on Capitol Hill suddenly rushed to endorse Trump after it was clear he would win the primary, Greene, perhaps the most loyal MAGA lieutenant in Congress, told RealClearPolitics in March that she found the whole ordeal understandable but “pathetic.” Fast forward three months and the Georgia firebrand reports that “you can see the different characters, the usual ones, who are here for their own careers. That will always continue,” she said, resigning herself to that reality before adding, “but I am glad for the unity.” Indeed, the GOP is basking in it. DeSantis turned the page on his rivalry with Trump and focused his ire on Biden. “Our enemies do not contain their designs to between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.,” he said, referencing reports about the abbreviated hours the president keeps. “We need a commander in chief who can lead 24 hours a day and seven days a week. America cannot afford four more years of a ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ presidency.” “Let’s make the 45th president of the United States the 47th president of the United States,” he said to conclude his remarks as a broad smile came across Trump’s face. “Let’s elect Republicans up and down the ballot, and let’s heed the call of our party’s nominee to fight, fight, fight for these United States.” Republicans feel a different moment. Yes, it was brought on by tragic circumstances that none of them would like to repeat. All the same, the failed assassination attempt has ushered in a feeling of resilience, strength, and unity. “Democrats nearly always land on their feet. They’re faster footed. They figure out how to make lemonade out of lemons,” Indiana Sen. Mike Braun told RealClearPolitics. “I think this is our chance.” Added Gidley, “I’m still shocked by the fact that a shoe hasn’t dropped yet. A positive news cycle this long just doesn’t happen ever, much less to us.” And so, for now, Republicans are enjoying their homecoming. This article was originally published by RealClearPolitics and made available via RealClearWire The post ‘A Different Donald Trump’ Beams as Rivals Become ‘Converts’ appeared first on The Daily Signal.

A cat followed passersby around, asking for help until someone stopped for him and changed his life. RocketPawsOfHopeNYCAn orange and white cat with a wound on his left cheek was seen wandering the streets alone. He approached people and trailed behind them, begging for attention.Gissell, founder of Paws of Hope NYC, was contacted about the friendly stray and rushed to his rescue. "He was abandoned near one of my feeding stations (for community cats), desperately following people and crying for help," Gissell shared with Love Meow.The moment she called out to the cat named Rocket, he launched himself from the ground and sprinted towards her. He was found wandering the streets alonePawsOfHopeNYCHe meowed affectionately, rubbing his face against Gissell's hand and leaning into her petting with his eyes closed. Rocket scooted up beside his rescuer as if ready to leave the outdoors once and for all.Rocket was delighted to be in a cool, comfortable room at the vet's office, away from the relentless heat and dangerous streets. He was grateful to have water to quench his thirst and food to quell his pangs of hunger. He followed people around, begging for helpPawsOfHopeNYCUpon hearing Rocket's plight, a volunteer for the rescue stepped up to foster him so he could start healing in the comfort of a loving home."Shelters are full, and independent rescuers rely on fosters to continue their work." Rocket was rescuedPawsOfHopeNYCWith an abundance of food, Rocket filled out beautifully, and his coat turned soft and gleaming. He insisted on being close to people at all times, lying next to them on a cozy blanket or falling asleep in their arms."He is the most adorable and content kitty." He quickly settled into his foster homePawsOfHopeNYCRocket was "surrounded by heaps of love, yummy food, tasty treats, and of course, lots of catnip." He looked as if he wore a smile on his face now that he was back in his element.After what Rocket had gone through, Gissell and her team were determined to find the perfect match for him, someone who would cherish him endlessly. PawsOfHopeNYCEarly this year, his dream was finally realized. Rocket met a lovely family who fell head over heels for him. The feeling was mutual as he curled up beside them, brushing affectionately against their arms.After exploring his new abode, he plopped down on the floor, claiming it as his kingdom. Rocket met his new mom, and it was love at first sightRocketCatNYCHe began shadowing his humans around the house, keeping them company while they watched TV, guarding them when they were in the shower, and offering his assistance when they were on the computer.In true Rocket fashion, he jumped to the highest places in the house to find the best vantage points. Rocket held hands with his human while they watched TVRocketCatNYCNow, he's the first thing they wake up to in the morning, a little supervisor in the kitchen. He greets them when they get home and reminds them to take a break to relax and play.He's always ready to cuddle, give a cat massage, or get under the covers to help his humans go to sleep. He's blossomed into a cuddle bugRocketCatNYCHe stays by their side when they work and even puts a paw on their hand for added support.It's been a year since Rocket was found outside, crying for help. "I will never forget the sadness in his eyes. But today, I am overjoyed to share that Rocket is safe, loved, and thriving in his forever home." He offers "help" when they workRocketCatNYCThanks to many compassionate people, Rocket is now living the best life in his dream home, where love and cuddles abound. He's living the best lifeRocketCatNYCShare this story with your friends. More on Paws of Hope NYC on Instagram @pawsofhopenyc and Rocket @rocketcatnyc.Related story: Cat Came Indoors After Hanging Around House, No One Knew She Had Kittens at the Time

Schumer, Katzenberg to Biden: Get Out

Former President Donald Trump has demonstrated serious heroism in the wake of the attempt on his life. Not only did he stand up after the bullet grazed his ear, pump his fist, and make sure he made contact with his supporters while telling them to keep fighting — but he has already completely changed his RNC 2024 speech to allegedly focus on unity instead of political jabs. Glenn Beck is thoroughly impressed and has an idea of what he hopes Trump will tell the nation in his speech. “I would hope the president will come out and say something along the lines of ‘We’re standing here today because America is resilient. A few days ago, somebody tried to kill me, but by God’s grace that bullet only grazed me,’” Glenn says. “When you have a bullet whiz by your head, there’s two ways to go. One is vengeance and the other is unity. And our nation is divided. Trust is low in our neighborhoods, in the media, everywhere,” he continues. Despite knowing exactly what Trump meant, Glenn also believes he needs to address his use of the word “fight” that he yelled while pumping his fist. “When I say ‘fight,’ what I mean is the little guy needs to rise up. Make sure your voice is heard, to be not afraid. We need to fight, but not with violence. We fight with our words, we fight on the streets with our words and with our actions,” he explains. “Let’s show the rest of the world what it means to be American,” he continues. “Every voice matters, every citizen matters. Stand up for the principles in our Bill of Rights. Defend the truth with integrity and courage. Forgive others without compromising our values.” Glenn leaves one parting message for Trump. “It is important today that we all reach out to somebody that doesn’t agree with us, that is a friend. Just say, ‘How you doing today? Yeah, I know our guy was shot, but I want you to know I don’t hold you responsible for that, I’m sure you were just as offended as I was,’” he says. “If they weren’t, move on. But most likely, any decent American was horrified by what they saw.” Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis, and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

The largest commercial offshore wind farm in the United States has been temporarily shut down after a "blade failure incident" over the weekend dumped debris into the ocean near the Island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, debris that soon made its way to nearby beaches.Just seven short months ago, the wind farm owned by Vineyard Wind, a joint venture between Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, began operating about 15 miles off the coast of Massachusetts. Vineyard Wind eventually plans to have 62 turbines in the area, but for now, just 10 are operational, contributing about 136 megawatts to the regional grid, WGBH reported.'The people of Massachusetts shouldn’t be forced to spend their hard-earned money on precarious energy sources resulting in environmental cleanups and unreliable, unproven outcomes.'These turbines are massive, reaching a height of over 850 feet. Each turbine is also outfitted with three blades that are longer than a football field.On Saturday, one blade on one of the turbines "experienced a breakage approximately 20 meters out from the root," said Vineyard Wind spokesperson Craig Gilvarg. Despite the damage, the blade remains attached to the turbine.Still, the "breakage" was enough to dump hundreds of blade fragments into the water. Gilvarg described this debris as "non-toxic fiberglass," but the Nantucket Harbormaster noted that these fiberglass shards are nevertheless "sharp." For this reason, Nantucket officials encouraged people to "wear appropriate footwear" when walking along the beaches and "to leave pets at home."By Tuesday afternoon, the debris became such a problem that the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement announced that "operations" of the Vineyard Wind farm had been "shut down until further notice." The island's south shore beaches were likewise closed as company crews worked to clean up the mess. It hasn't been easy. As of Wednesday afternoon, six full truckloads of blade debris had been removed from the area, the AP reported, enough to allow the south shore beaches to reopen for swimming and other "recreational activities."Thus far, no injuries have been reported. GE, the company which manufactures and installs the turbines, "will now be conducting the analysis into the root cause of the incident," Vineyard Wind said."We’re making progress in the debris recovery efforts and mobilizing even more resources on the island to hasten the cleanup as quickly as possible," said a statement from Vineyard Wind CEO Klaus Moeller. "The public can have confidence that we will be here as long as it takes to get the job done and make sure the beaches are cleaned up."Despite the progress, residents and area officials are demanding answers. At a town Select Board meeting on Wednesday, evening, Select Board member Malcolm MacNab called out Vineyard Wind for the assertion that the debris was "non-toxic.""It IS toxic material," he insisted. "The whole thing upsets me."Paul Craney of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance is likewise "upset" by "the whole thing," including that turbines can suffer such a catastrophic breakdown after only a few months of use."There should be an immediate investigation to determine if the other current turbines are dysfunctional and the turbines in production," Craney told Blaze News. "The people of Massachusetts shouldn’t be forced to spend their hard-earned money on precarious energy sources resulting in environmental cleanups and unreliable, unproven outcomes."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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