As the 81-year-old Joe Biden runs for re-election‚ Democratic donors are already weighing the idea of his political successor. Who will it be? Vice President Kamala Harris or California Governor Gavin Newsom? I detail the relationship between Harris and Newsom in my new book‚ “Amateur Hour: Kamala Harris in the White House.” The 2024 election is nine months away‚ but the Democratic primary race for 2028 has already begun. Since Biden endorsed changing the Democratic Party rules to make South Carolina the first-in-the-nation Democratic presidential primary‚ guess who showed up last week to campaign? If Biden survives and wins re-election in November‚ Harris has a very real chance of becoming the 47th president of the United States. Gavin Newsom insisted he was only on hand to support Biden. Nevertheless‚ California’s governor rubbed shoulders with some of the most powerful Democrats in the Palmetto State and regaled a group of predominantly black voters with how he frequently communicates with rap legend and entrepreneur Snoop Dogg. (For some reason‚ however‚ Newsom made no mention of drafting Snoop to coax people into supporting his lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic.) Nevertheless‚ Newsom has embraced Biden in an almost comical fashion‚ after finally ending speculation that he would challenge the president in the primaries this year. “Who in their right mind would want to run when you have someone of such esteem as our incumbent president?” Newsom told an MSNBC reporter after a campaign appearance. Asked about his own political ambitions‚ he quickly shifted gears and spoke glowingly about Biden. “Talk about loyalty‚” he added. “I’ll go to the ends of the earth for this guy‚ I really would. I’m not making that up.” With messaging like that‚ Newsom already seems more comfortable selling President Biden than Kamala Harris‚ Biden's vice president. Harris tries to pretend in interviews that Biden is “very much alive” and “tireless in terms of working‚” but her insistence rings hollow as she waits just a heartbeat or a stroke away from the presidency. A decades-old rivalry The looming competition between Newsom and Harris has been a feature of the last decade in California politics. Both are protégés of Willie Brown‚ the legendary former speaker of the state legislature and two-term San Francisco mayor. Newsom succeeded Brown in the mayor’s office the same year Harris was elected San Francisco’s district attorney. Since then‚ they have forged ahead in celebrity and donor circles to boost their political prospects. Sources I spoke with in California describe Newsom and Harris as “frenemies‚” cordial and saccharine in public while quietly undermining each other behind the scenes‚ each bracing for an ugly collision of political egos. Sometimes the cold war created friction‚ such as when Newsom sided with activists protesting Harris for weighing a settlement with the banks during the 2008 mortgage financial crisis. California Democrats nervously watched both Harris and Newsom eyeing a 2016 campaign for governor after Jerry Brown wrapped up his final term. But suddenly four-term U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer announced her retirement‚ offering Harris a chance to avoid a one-on-one political knife fight with Newsom. She took it. The rest is history. Harris ran and won the Senate seat‚ and Newsom won his race for governor. The inevitable clash‚ however‚ was only postponed‚ as the pair are competing for the mantle of leadership of the Democratic Party. Democrats are terrified Harris and Newsom are not without their political baggage. Harris‚ once touted by the media as the next Barack Obama‚ fell flat during her inaugural presidential campaign. After almost a year and $40 million‚ Harris ended her campaign before the Iowa caucus started. Her vice presidency has not inspired the country either‚ as she frequently spirals into word salads whenever she goes off-script. Newsom‚ on the other hand‚ carries the weight of savaging his state by draconian coronavirus restrictions as the state’s greatest cities are overrun with homeless camps and crime. Golden State voters didn’t seem to hold the lockdowns against him‚ however‚ when they had the chance to recall him in 2021. The recall failed‚ and Newsom was re-elected easily in 2022. But California is not America. The future of the Newsom-Harris rivalry depends mostly on Joe Biden’s health. Democrats are terrified that the elderly Biden might not make it to November. If that happens‚ expect a messy fight among donors and party elites about who should replace him. Everyone will have an idea of who is the best candidate to run against Donald Trump. Harris is not at the top of the list for most elites or even on the list at all. Many prominent Democrats in Washington‚ D.C.‚ and a great many donors in America’s wealthiest cities are utterly dazzled by Newsom’s talent. Harris has disappointed them‚ but few criticize her for fear of being branded as racist and sexist. The fact is that if Biden survives and wins re-election in November‚ Harris has a very real chance of becoming the 47th president of the United States if at some point in his second term the family finally concedes it is time to step aside. If Harris takes power‚ she could even run for re-election in 2028‚ as inconceivable as it seems today. I understand the skepticism. But recall that no one ever thought Biden‚ a laughingstock in Washington when he was vice president‚ would ever run for president‚ let alone win and run for a second term. If Harris runs in 2028‚ she also has the advantage of competing in the South Carolina primary instead of Iowa and New Hampshire. The same voters who rescued Biden’s 2020 campaign may be asked to choose between Harris‚ the nation’s first black woman vice president who proved herself an ineffectual amateur‚ or Newsom‚ the smooth-talking governor burdened by the consequences of his leftist policies.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) admitted the controversial bill that will allegedly stymie the border crisis won't actually close the border.On Sunday‚ the Senate released the full text of the bipartisan Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act‚ which would cost taxpayers $118 billion. More than half of that money ($60 billion‚ which is more than the entire budget of the U.S. Marine Corps)‚ would be sent to Ukraine‚ while just $20 billion would be spent on the border crisis.The most controversial and debated provisions of the bill center on how many migrants can be allowed into the U.S. before the president can "shut down" the border. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.)‚ who helped co-author the bill with Murphy and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.)‚ denied the bill would allow 5‚000 migrants to enter the U.S. per day. Rather‚ he argued the bill "is designed to close the border" and turn away migrants.A good way to gauge the truth is to see what the other side of the aisle is saying about the matter. And‚ according to Murphy‚ what Lankford claimed is not true. Murphy explained the bill stipulates:the president to funnel asylum claims to the land ports of entry when more than 5‚000 people cross a day. The border never closes‚ but claims must be processed at the ports. This allows for a more a more orderly‚ humane asylum processing system.In another statement‚ Murphy explained the emergency authority that Lankford argued permits the president to "close the border" is temporary — and doesn't even result in a full closure."Importantly‚ even during these emergency times‚ the border never fully closes‚" Murphy celebrated.The legislation‚ indeed‚ permits the continual processing of migrants when the emergency authority has been activated (i.e.‚ the time when the border is supposedly shut down)."During any activation of the border emergency authority ... the Secretary shall maintain the capacity to process‚ and continue processing ... a minimum of 1‚400 inadmissible aliens each calendar day cumulatively across all southwest land border ports of entry in a safe and orderly process‚" the bill states.It's no wonder‚ then‚ why House Republicans say the bill is "DEAD on arrival in the House.""House Republicans oppose the Senate immigration bill because it fails in every policy area needed to secure our border and would actually incentivize more illegal immigration‚" House Republican leadership said in a joint statement on Monday. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The inventive member of the Los Angeles-based studio musicians performed on hits by the Beach Boys‚ Mamas and Papas‚ Sonny &; Cher‚ and many more The post Remembering Hal Blaine‚ Wrecking Crew Drummer on 100s of Hits appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

Diablo 4 season 3 started just over a week ago‚ and one of the most promising features won't be arriving after all. Season of the Construct kicked off on January 23‚ offering lots of additions like a new boss battle‚ new creature‚ a seasonal dungeon and more. Sadly‚ though‚ the Gauntlet won't be joining this lineup as planned. Continue reading Highly anticipated Diablo 4 Season 3 feature delayed‚ “new date soon” MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds‚ Diablo 4 review‚ Diablo 4 classes

If you enjoying being a healer but Clerics and Paladins didn't offer enough power in Baldur's Gate 3‚ this mod might do the trick. It introduces a Priest class‚ based on the spiritual healers from World of Warcraft‚ allowing players a more robust experience for keeping their group healthy. Continue reading Baldur’s Gate 3 mod introduces new class inspired by World of Warcraft MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 builds‚ BG3 mods‚ Baldur's Gate 3 classes

Biden has not yet appeared on camera to address recent attacks on Iranian proxies in the Middle East.

The week of Monday‚ January 29: Musk’s canceled billions‚ LNG‚ the Fed‚ Miami‚ and much‚ much‚ more.

Border Patrol Union's 'Dear America' Note and Pic From Biden Is Brutally Spot-on

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Chip Roy Torches Border Bill‚ Renames It the 'War‚ Debt‚ and Open Borders Bill'