On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was lucky to have softballs from liberal journalists discounting the mass, unfettered immigration puts on small towns, schools, and social services like in Springfield, Ohio as, leaving those aside, she was hit with searing questions on the economy and government spending by Fox’s Jacqui Heinrich and Edward Lawrence. Heinrich cited “a new analysis by the Republicans who are on the Congressional Joint Economic Committee” that found, in “seven battleground states....the average household is paying, for the same basket of goods and services on average, about $1,000 more per month compared to January 2021.”     She cited “pretty stark” examples in places like Arizona and Nevada skyrocketing to $1,200 a month to $1,075 in Georgia and then $1,017 in North Carolina before asking: “Has President Biden's policies positioned the Vice President poorly in these states to win this election?” Jean-Pierre insisted that’s not the case because “core inflation has come down...because of the work that [we’ve] been able to do” and “wages are rising faster than prices are, nearly 16 million jobs created” but “we do understand that there is more work to be done.” She also tried to throw in the tiresome lines claiming the 2024 GOP wants cut entitlements, but Heinrich hit back by noting “no one is running on” that and “we went through all of that” before. Heinrich eventually interjected to Jean-Pierre’s word salad: I mean, you had [National Council of Economic Advisers chair] Lael Brainard say that we've turned the page on inflation, but American families aren't feeling that to the point where the Vice President didn't even directly answer the question in the debate. Do you believe that Americans feel they're better off than four years ago? Jean-Pierre likewise wouldn’t say yes or no and instead emphasized “we have made progress against inflation” and Harris “plans to build on that progress”. But, she added, they were hamstrung by “an economy that was in a tailspin...because the former President didn't [sic] nothing” on Covid. Lawrence closed out the briefing, starting with this stunning statistic about childhood poverty: Fox Business’s @EdwardLawrence: “I'm gonna ask you about the new census data that came out. It shows that childhood poverty went to 13.7%. It's more than double childhood poverty in 2021. So, why aren't things getting better with all the programs and the money that's been spent… pic.twitter.com/TOU91QVNja — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 12, 2024 He then had this stunning follow-up: “$904 billion in non-defense spending in 2024 and you're telling me that the only — the child tax credit is the way to fix childhood poverty?” Jean-Pierre doubled down this wasn’t enough, arguing success of one provision in the child tax credit meant that should have been expanded if not for Republicans. Lawrence segued into the deficit, which this year clocked in at $1.9 trillion based on the latest finding from the Treasury. This made him wonder what the plan was for the national debt other than vague calls to raise taxes.     Jean-Pierre got wildly defensive and attacked Lawrence for not blaming the Trump presidency for increasing the debt by $8 trillion and peddled the misleading claim about Biden reducing the deficit. This led Lawrence to fact-check her with the reality that spending is still exceeding what’s taken in (click “expand”): JEAN-PIERRE: So, we got to step back here for a second. Uh — the last administration increased — they increased the debt by a record $8 trillion. I hope you wrote about that. They didn't sign a single law to reduce the deficit. I hope you wrote about that . The president — President Biden — the current President signed a $1 trillion of deficit reduction into law. He's taking action to deal with our deficit. $8 trillion deficit in the last administration. I really hope you wrote about that and his budget would lower the deficit by another tril — three trillion by making millionaires and — and biggest corporations pay their fair share to your question, that's what it would do, cutting spending on special interests. That's what he wants to do. Republicans want —again, they want to increase the deficit by expanding the tax — the Trump tax cut, which would cost $5 trillion. That's what they want to do. So, I — I really hope you wrote about in the past what the Trump administration did when it came to the deficit and what we've had to — what we've had to deal with and fix. LAWRENCE: But we still have deficit spending! JEAN-PIERRE: And every question that you ask me, I mean, there's some irony — LAWRENCE: [Inaudible] over here — JEAN-PIERRE: — Every question that you ask me is something that we're trying to fix and Republicans get in the way of. Literally every question that you ask me. LAWRENCE: — [inaudible] here. I’m talking about the debt. The — the — JEAN-PIERRE: I — I — LAWRENCE: — actual amount — deficit spending is still deficit spending. How do we reduce debt? JEAN-PIERRE: — I'm telling you what the President has done. $1 trillion is not a small number in trying to in signing a legislation to deal with the deficit. Now, 8 trillion, a record number in debt. That's what the Trump administration did. Before going to the softballs from the left, there was this question about press transparency from Bloomberg’s Justin Sink about why there’s not a joint press conference set for Friday between Biden the new British Prime Minister: Bloomberg’s Justin Sink: “The President has the Wilmington summit and the meeting tomorrow with the British Prime Minister. I'm wondering if we can anticipate a press conference at that either of those —” KJP: “Yeah.” Sink: “— since both since traditionally both would be kind… pic.twitter.com/sPJg6odIjm — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 12, 2024 Rewinding to earlier in the briefing, CBS’s Weijia Jiang had this teeball question on whether the White House blames Donald Trump for bomb threats in Springfield, Ohio after Trump’s claim about Haitian immigrants eating pets: CBS’s @Weijia Jiang: “[D]uring the debate, Trump spread false claims and lies about immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. The city manager disputed those false claims, and today City Hall was evacuated after a bomb threat was sent to city agencies and media outlets. Does… pic.twitter.com/8FlRMJDqXm — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 12, 2024 ABC’s MaryAlice Parks immediately followed with this, which shouldn’t even be considered a question: ABC’s @MaryAliceParks: “Any message from the White House specifically to the residents of Springfield, Ohio?” KJP: “Uh — because of the — of the — uh — the bomb threat or —” Parks: “— that's been going on — on social media —” KJP: “Yeah.” Parks: “— and the conversation around… pic.twitter.com/8WbhoxGE43 — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 12, 2024 Later, AFP’s Aurelia End wondered whether Trump calling out the situation in Springfield will lead to more “threats or even hate crimes targeting migrants”: AFP's Aurelia End: “Following up on Springfield, you said that these —” KJP: “On — on Springfield.” End: “— Springfield, yeah.” KJP: “Yep, Ohio, yeah. End: “— these fake stories — yeah — about — about migrants put lives in danger. So how concerned are you about a potential… pic.twitter.com/ggItCUZSrR — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 12, 2024 To see the relevant transcript from the September 12 briefing (including questions form Heinrich and NBC’s Monica Alba about Biden briefly donning a MAGA hat offered by a man he met at the Shanksville, Pennsylvania fire hall on September), click here.

Former President Donald Trump has explained his decision not to debate Vice President Kamala Harris for a second time saying that he clearly won their first debate. He used the metaphor of a defeated boxer who immediately demands a rematch to prove that Harris, who has called for a second debate, lost it.  But on Friday's Morning Joe, the exclusively liberal panel tried to turn the tables on Trump, breaking out a string of boxing metaphors to assert that their candidate won the debate instead - and beat Trump badly. “It seems to me they could have waited a week or two, but he must have been so traumatized by being so badly beaten that he just wanted to get it out of his mind, that he'd ever have to be on stage again with Kamala Harris,” proclaimed co-host Mika Brzezinski. Co-host Willie Geist also found humor it: “I think the more apt boxing metaphor is that he just got his butt kicked in the third or fourth round, and he's deciding not to come back out for the next round, where Kamala Harris is standing in the middle of the ring saying, ‘let's do it again.’ He wants none of it.”     Former Republican Michael Steele took almost a sick pleasure in the analogies about Trump being physically beaten: We know he's lying. We know he got -- not just got stung, he got knocked down. And he got knocked down in such a way that he could not get up. So basically, what you have is the -- to keep this boxing metaphor going, the guy on the mat looking up, with one hand up in the air, trying to get up off the floor, saying, "I don't want anymore. No mas." . . . And so, yeah, he's on the mat looking up from the floor, saying, "I don't want no more." God bless you, Donald, because if you get up, she gonna hit you again. Geist gave Steele “kudos” for breaking out "no mas," a reference to Roberto Duran's famous phrase from his 1980 fight with Sugar Ray Leonard. So yes, Morning Joe reveled in awarding the debate round to Harris. But as fans of The Sweet Science know, the winner is the boxer who's still standing at the end of the fight -- and there are many rounds to come. Here's the transcript: MSNBC's Morning Joe 9/13/24 6:02 am EDT MIKA BRZEZINSKI: It seems to me that right now, the big story is the fact that he doesn't want to debate again. I'd love to get your thoughts on this. It seems to me they could have waited a week or two, but he must have been so traumatized by being so badly beaten that he just wanted to get it out of his mind, that he'd ever have to be on stage again with Kamala Harris. WILLIE GEIST: Yeah, I mean, he objectively got blown out of the room at that debate three nights ago. He knows that. His advisors know that. Republicans who support him generally have said that on television. Fox News hosts are saying that. He knows he got creamed. And so now, he's framing it as the debate was unfair to me. The moderators were too mean. I'm not going to do that again. He doesn't want to get back in the ring with Vice President Kamala Harris. That's the truth.  . . .  DONALD TRUMP: But when a prize fighter loses a fight, you've seen a lot of fights, right? The first words out of that fighter's mouth is, "I wanna rematch. I wanna rematch." And that's what she said, I want a rematch.  Polls clearly show I won the debate against Comrade Kamala Harris . . . So because we've done two debates, and because they were successful, there will be no third debate. . . .  GEIST: He likes that boxing metaphor about a rematch, somehow framing that as how he won. He doesn't need another one. I think the more apt boxing metaphor is that he just got his butt kicked in the third or fourth round, and he's deciding not to come back out for the next round, where Kamala Harris is standing in the middle of the ring saying, "let's do it again." He wants none of it. . . .  MICHAEL STEELE: We know he's lying. We know he got -- not just got stung, he got knocked down. And he got knocked down in such a way that he could not get up.  So basically, what you have is the -- to keep this boxing metaphor going, the guy on the mat looking up, with one hand up in the air, trying to get up off the floor, saying, "I don't want anymore. No mas." . . . And so, yeah, he's on the mat looking up from the floor, saying, "I don't want no more." God bless you, Donald, because if you get up, she gonna hit you again.  . . .  GEIST: Kudos to you, Michael Steele, for taking our extended boxing metaphor to the Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard fight with "no mas" in 1980. Very nicely done there.

A new remix song about one brief comment from former President Donald Trump during the debate against Kamala Harris has taken social media platforms by storm.On Tuesday night, Trump drew attention to problems in Springfield, Ohio, wrought by an influx of Haitian immigrants who have allegedly defied local laws and customs regarding animals.'Those searches will direct people's attention to the Biden-Harris-engineered migrant invasion of small towns: a Trumpian issue if there ever was one.'"In Springfield, they’re eating dogs," Trump said, referring to the Haitian immigrants. "They’re eating the cats. They’re eating ... the pets of the people that live there. And this is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame."At the time, Harris snickered with condescension and incredulity. ABC News host David Muir then attempted to fact-check Trump's assertion by citing a statement from Springfield city manager Bryan Heck, who insisted that "there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community."The veracity of the allegations about pets remains to be seen. With other lingering questions about Haitians' treatment of wildlife like ducks and geese, Trump may have also sensationalized the story to draw attention to the plight of Springfield residents more generally.Regardless of the credibility of Trump's statement during the debate, some savvy content creators have used it to generate catchy songs that have sent social media users into a craze.The song lyrics are simple: "They're eating the dogs. They're eating the cats. Eat the cat, eat eat the cat." But between the simplistic language and the strong beat, TikTok users from many different backgrounds have started filming themselves dancing along.Take a look at a handful of examples here.The trend even seems to transcend party lines as the messages posted on some of the videos in this five-minute compilation attest:"I hate that this slaps.""Too catchy to pass up.""I'm not gonna lie... Track number 3 On this political soundtrack is fire.""Me trying to remind myself of the context while this beat makes me feel some type of way."Other creative users have attached the song to videos of Trump with pets, Joe Biden listening to music, and Kamala Harris dancing.Another version of the song involves more animation and synthesized electronic beats but has still appealed to many social media users.Aside from offering some fun that could unify some of our divisions, the viral songs may also bring some electoral benefits to Trump. For one thing, they keep prospective voters' minds on Trump while they smile, dance, and have a good time.They may also prompt some curious people to investigate Trump's claims and uncover clear problems in Springfield, Ohio — problems that Democrats have tried to keep quiet because they relate to immigration.Harry Enten of CNN even admitted that "the most rapidly rising Google search phrases associated with Trump following the debate are all about eating animals." Though Enten suggested that such search phrases would ultimately boost Harris, most X users in the comments disagreed. "Those searches will direct people's attention to the Biden-Harris-engineered migrant invasion of small towns: a Trumpian issue if there ever was one," one user said in part."The effect has literally been the opposite, Harry," said another."Gonna go out on a limb, Trump will benefit. There’s something to the claim, but even if there isn’t it should be scandalous enough to fly in and drop 20k Haitians on a town of 50k," said a verified account named Oilfield test monkey.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

What Trump and Harris should have said about immigration during Tuesday’s debate.

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With the iPhone 16 pre-orders now available, you probably want a case to match the style of your new iPhone. Besides Apple's Silicone and Clear Case options, several third-party makers have innovative and ultra-protective cases available for your upcoming new phones. These are BGR's top choices for iPhone 16 cases. MOFT iPhone 16 cases Image source: MOFT This year, MOFT is taking on iPhone 16 with the Snap Case MOVAS ($49.99). Made of four-layer vegan leather, the company says this durable case is also fingerprint—and stain-resistant. The case offers a raised front edge (1.3mm) and an elevated camera cutout (1mm) for added protection. The Snap Case is available in two versions: a standard model and a variant compatible with the Phone Lanyard for hands-free use, priced separately at $29.99. The Snap Case will be available for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max in colors Jet Black, Taupe, and Misty Cove by September 20, as well as in Cement and Earthen Beige in early October.   MOFT also has invisible cases ($39.99) for all iPhone 16, the Snap Phone Tripod Stand Wallet, and the new Snap Flow Notepad Stand, which you can write your best ideas on the back of your phone. Incase offers plant-based cases Left: ICON case, middle City Case, and right Level Case Image source: Incase Incase is also prepared for the iPhone 16 release with several new cases. BGR's favorite is the new plant-based corn leather ICON case ($59.99). It features a full-wrap protective bumper with a high-quality, textured co-mold inlay, protecting against drops up to 12 feet. This accessory is designed to be used with Apple's MagSafe accessories with built-in magnets. The third-party accessory maker also offers a new City Case ($49.99) in vegan leather for protection and performance, level and halo cases ($49.99) with unique designs and more. CASETiFY improves popular options Image source: CASETiFY Popular case maker CASETiFY upgraded its MagSafe-compatible Ultra Bounce Case for the iPhone 16. It uses the company's proprietary Tesselock to increase the durability and lifespan of the case, withstanding drops of up to 32.8ft. The case is available in various prints and customizable choices for $100. It's possible to put some add-on accessories, such as the Ultra Bounce Carabiner, the Ultra Bounce Utility Lanyard, and the Ultra Bounce Keychain. CASETiFY is also refreshing its popular Bounce Cases that can withstand a 21.3ft drop. It has a more ergonomic grip, and it's 5% slimmer and 11% lighter than its predecessor. It comes in five color options for $80. TORRAS focuses on next-gen Ostand cases Image source: TORRAS For the iPhone 16, TORRAS offers new Ostand cases ($45.99). This sleek case features smooth, rounded curves that enhance grip comfort. What makes this case unique is the new kickstand, merging style with functionality. The company says its magnets are 40% stronger than MagSafe, and the versatile positioning is ideal for everything from "office work and photography to fitness and entertainment." There's also the popular Ostand Spin Classic ($42.99), with a 360º spin stand, 3-in-1 functionality, and a slim design. PITAKA's known ultra-thin options are here Image source: PITAKA Popular brand PITAKA has added several case collections for the iPhone 16 release, including the Ultra Slim Case ($49.99), for the minimalists out there. The thinnest and lightest option, made from aramid fiber, offers strong MagSafe compatibility and reinforced magnets. The company also bets on the Tactile Woven Case ($59.99). The aramid fiber constructed option combines a great great with ultra-thing and lightweight design. Still, if you prefer strong cases, PITAKA offers a military-grade protective case ($79.99), which is perfect for those who usually drop their phones. Beats joins the party with exclusive cases with Camera Control integration Image source: Beats Beats has iPhone 16 cases ($49) with soft microfiber material and "bold interior accent colors" in Midnight Black, Summit Stone, Riptide Blue, and Sunset Purple. These iPhone 16 cases are made of hardshell polycarbonate and flexible sidewalls to optimize shock absorption while making the accessory “thin, light, and easy to grip.” The case is MagSafe compatible, with built-in magnets that align perfectly with all iPhone 16 models for an easy-to-attach experience and efficient wireless charging. It’s also a different solution from Apple, which now only sells Clear and Silicone cases. To take full advantage of the new Camera Control, Beats says its cases feature a sapphire crystal coupled to a conductive layer that communicates finger movements to the Camera Control. InfinaCore adds minimalistic and on-the-budget iPhone 16 cases Image source: InfinaCore InfinaCore’s new iPhone 16 Case ($17.99) is designed with MagSafe compatibility, featuring an extra-strength 3500 Gauss magnet for secure attachment. The minimalistic case offers anti-yellowing silicone with a smooth, silky finish, soft-felt interior, and button protection. Besides that, the third-party accessory maker has announced several new products for iPhone owners, including a MagSafe Battery Pack-like M3 mini ($49.99) accessory with a 5,200 mAh capacity, a 3-in-1 Q2 wireless charger ($39.99), a foldable wireless charging stand ($29.99), and a 2-in-1 charger ($29.99). Wrap up These are some of the best iPhone 16 cases available today. BGR will update this article as we learn more about new options. Below, we have a comprehensive guide on the new iPhones, including their features, price, software updates, and more. Don't Miss: iPhone 16: Release date, features, A18, price, AI, and more The post Best iPhone 16 cases from 7 third-party accessory makers appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $20 Amazon credit, 23% off Galaxy Z Flip 6, $50 Ninja blender, $48 Anker ANC earbuds, more Today’s deals: $129 AirPods 3, Nintendo Switch game sale, $30 Fire TV Stick 4K, $16 TOZO earbuds, more Today’s deals: $299 Apple Watch Series 9, Energizer battery sale, $650 Acer Nitro gaming laptop, more Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2024: Get $375+ free

A German tech company waded into the Kamala Harris earrings conspiracy theory after saying that the vice president's jewelry on debate night bears a "striking" resemblance to its wearable Bluetooth product.

Justin Timberlake pleaded guilty to impaired driving Friday, resolving the criminal case stemming from his June arrest in New York's Hamptons.

The terrible war imposed on Israel on Oct. 7 tested not only Israel's military power and national strength but also its relations with its neighbors in the Arab and Muslim world.