Column SFF Bestiary There’s Something in These Woods: Supernatural and the Jersey Devil Another monster-of-the-week show, and another missed opportunity… By Judith Tarr | Published on July 22, 2024 Credit: The CW Comment 0 Share New Share Credit: The CW Confession time. For this week’s entry in the Bestiary, I just wanted to sit back and rewatch Supernatural episodes. It’s the time of year when we all melt into puddles of goo. What better company for a goo puddle than Sam and Dean and their large cast of frenemies? The Jersey Devil episode showed up halfway through Season 7. While my brain keeps insisting that there are 30 seasons of the show, there are actually only 15. Which means we’re just about exactly halfway through the many-faceted adventures of the brothers Winchester. By this time the show is deeply invested in its mythos, which is fairly straightforward Christian dualism. God and Lucifer. Angels and devils. Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. You’d think the Jersey Devil would have a role to play in the mythos. We get a tease of it in the classic horror-movie opening: Middle-aged man and wife glamping in, we’re informed, the Wharton State Forest, Pine Barrens, New Jersey. They’re tucked up in their posh tent and their pricey burrito-style sleeping bags, with working electricity and a TV with remote. Something is stalking them. We know this because we get POV: blurryvision, also wobblyvision. And then the scene jumps, and middle-aged man is hanging upside down in his sleeping bag, and Something is rustling in the trees. Wife and tent and all the mod-cons are gone. Screaming ensues. Bloody polyfill litters the forest floor. Cut to Sam and Dean and Bobby Singer and extended-plot business, and a monster report for them to address: “Human Burrito” chewed to pieces in the Pine Barrens. Sam opines that this is the habitat of the Jersey Devil, with some familiar history and the standard description (hooves, horns, tail, horse’s head—“More like Chewbacca head,” Dean observes). And so we embark on the hunt titled “How to Win Friends and Influence Monsters.” Bobby checks out the autopsy and points out three things that for sure did not kill the glamper. Bite radius too small for a Leviathan (the monster of the season, a shapeshifter with horribly huge, lethally sharp teeth), there’s still some of the heart left so it’s not a werewolf according the mythos of the show, and there are still scraps left, so nope, not a wendigo. Sam and Dean have begun their investigation in a Chili’s-level dining franchise, Biggerson’s, which prominently advertises a sandwich called the Turducken Slammer. The openly hostile waiter serves one to Dean, while Sam and Bobby choose other options. Dean chows down hungrily. Credit: The CW By this time it’s becoming evident that the Jersey Devil has nothing to do with what’s going on in the Pine Barrens. The monster in the woods is a zombie-like human with cannibalistic urges. The vehicle of the urges is none other than the Turducken Slammer. Dean barely escapes becoming zombified. The body count rises, and includes the Assistant Chief Forest Ranger and his superior, aka Ranger Rick. The focus shifts to an evil doctor in his evil lab, working on an evil experiment. He’s developed a mystery meat that causes people to become hungrier for it the more of it they eat (and, speaking of goo, it melts into a puddle of same after an hour). The goal is turn them into obese, complaisant, apathetic couch potatoes. In short, modern Americans. Unfortunately for the doctor, a very small percentage of consumers have a negative reaction to the formula. They became aggressive and violent. They crave human flesh. The Jersey Devil remains a myth, but there are devils in plenty in the Pine Barrens. The forces behind the Slammer are Leviathans, led by one that took on the identity of Dick Roman, vulture capitalist. Dick is authentically and gleefully evil. He has no moral objection to cannibalism, but that’s not what the experiment is supposed to be about. The doctor’s project gets terminated. As for what happens to the doctor… Well. Evil is evil. Sometimes it’s fun. Sometimes, not nearly so much. It’s entertaining. Sam and Dean are just as eye-candy-lovely as ever, and Bobby is his cranky, seen-it-all, awesome self. My one regret is that they passed on the chance to make the Jersey Devil part of the mythos. I suppose they didn’t want to run up the effects budget. And they had an arc to develop, with Dick and the Leviathans. But they could have done so much with a centuries-old half-human, half-demon who seems to be bound to that particular region. It might even have ended up helping the Winchesters take down the Leviathans that have invaded its territory. Because in some of the lore, the Devil is guardian rather than monster; not a killer but a protector. It watches over the Pine Barrens. They missed an opportunity there. Good thing there’s fanfic, and head canon. Because I am having Thoughts.[end-mark] The post There’s <i>Something</i> in These Woods: <i>Supernatural</i> and the Jersey Devil appeared first on Reactor.

This article will be updated throughout the hearing. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle is testifying before the House Oversight Committee Monday, following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. Multiple lawmakers have called for Cheatle to resign after a gunman fired multiple shots at Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, 33 miles north of Pittsburgh, on July 13. A fireman, Corey Comperatore, died shielding his family, and two other rally attendees were injured.  Lawmakers are expected to press Cheatle over the security failure during Monday’s 10 a.m. ET hearing. Cheatle Says No Requests From Trump Team Denied for Butler Rally Update, 10:53 a.m.: The Secret Service is investigating how a shooter could get past the Secret Service to shoot a former president and presidential candidate, Cheatle said.  “How can a 20 year old with his father’s AR-15 assault weapon climb onto a roof with a direct 150-yard line of sight to the speaker’s podium without the Secret Service or local police stopping him?” Rep. Jamie Raskin asked. “So again, sir, I will say, we are nine days out from this event,” Cheatle said, “and I would like to know those answers as well, which is why we are going through these investigations, to be able to determine that fully.” Cheatle again accepted responsibility for the “tragedy.” “We are going to look into how this happened,” she said, “and we are going to take corrective action to ensure that it never happens again.” Raskin, the ranking Democrat on the committee, asked Cheatle if she denied the Trump campaign’s request for additional protective resources. “There were no assets denied for that event in Butler on the thirteenth,” Cheatle responded.  She said requests from Trump’s campaign staff “were granted.”  The Secret Service did not know the gunman had a weapon before Trump took the stage, Cheatle confirmed.  Comer Grills Cheatle About Why No Secret Service on the Roof Update: Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said, “There had been reports that agents were supposed to be on the roof, but it was hot that day and they didn’t want to be on the roof.” Cheatle replied, “What I can tell you is that there was a plan in place to provide overwatch, and we are still looking into responsibilities and who was going to provide overwatch. The Secret Service in general—not speaking specifically to this incident—when we are providing overwatch—whether that be through counter snipers or other technology, prefer to have sterile rooftops.” Comer followed up, asking if the Secret Service used any drones.  “I’m not going to get into specifics of that day,” the director responded. “There are times during a security plan when the Secret Service does deploy an asset like a drone.” Comer noted reports that the shoot deployed a drone before the rally.  “I am waiting for the final report,” Cheatle said.  “Do you know–I’m not asking yes or no–but do you know if the shooter used a drone before the shooting?” Comer asked.  Still inconclusive, Cheatle replied, “That information has been passed to us from the FBI.” She did not “get into specifics” when asked how many agents were assigned to Trump’s detail at the rally.  “We feel there was a sufficient number of agents assigned,” she said.  “There were reports that several agents assigned to the rally on July 13 were temporary agents—agents not normally assigned to President Trump. Is that accurate?” Comer asked.  “The agents that were assigned to President Trump are Secret Service agents that provide close protection to him,” she said.   Comer went on to ask, “Before July 13, had the Trump detail requested additional resources?” “For the event on July 13, the detail, the assets that were requested for that day were given,” she said.  Cheatle Takes ‘Full Responsibility’ Update, 10:40 a.m.: The assassination attempt on Trump was the “most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades,” Cheatle said during her opening remarks.  “The Secret Service’s solemn mission is to protect our nation’s leaders. On July 13th, we failed,” Cheatle said, adding, “I take full responsibility for any security lapse of our agency.”  Cheatle also offered her condolences to the family of Corey Comperatore, a fire chief who died shielding his wife and daughter from sniper fire.  “We must learn what happened and I will move heaven and earth to ensure that an incident like July 13th does not happen again,” the Secret Service director told Congress.  Cheatle defended the law enforcement on the ground at the rally the day of the assassination, noting that the Secret Service can’t do “our job without them.” She also praised the Secret Service agents who shielded Trump “with their own bodies” while shots were being fired.  “We will not rest until we have explored every option and we will leave no stone unturned,” Cheatle said, referring to the investigation into the security failures that led to the assassination attempt on Trump.  Secret Service Now ‘Face of Incompetence’ Update, 10:30 a.m.: The Secret Service has become the “face of incompetence” after failing to protect former President Donald Trump from an assassination attempt, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said Monday. “The Secret Service’s protective mission is to protect us and visiting world leaders and safeguard U.S. elections through protection of candidates and nominees,” said Comer, who is chair of the House Oversight Committee. “The Secret Service has a zero-fail mission, but it failed on July 13, and in the days leading up to the rally. The Secret Service has thousands of employees and a significant budget, but it has now become the face of incompetence.” The assassination attempt was preventable, according to Comer.  “While we give overwhelming thanks to the individual Secret Service agents who did their jobs under immense pressure,” Comer said, “this tragedy was preventable.” Comer said the committee is concerned the Secret Service “lacks the proper management to keep protectees safe from bad actors.”  “Americans demand accountability,” he said, “but no one is yet to be fired for this historic failure.” The hearing will provide the Americans with answers about the assassination attempt, Comer said.  “We will ask these questions because the Secret Service and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security, have been unwilling to provide answers to the American people,” Comer said.  The Kentucky Republican called for Cheatle to resign. Comer said the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security has dodged the committee’s questions on the assassination attempt.  “The DHS has sought to push this hearing to a different time,” he said. “The Secret Service has suggested the hearing occur without media presence, and both agencies have provided only shallow explanations to Congress about what happened on July 13.”  “It shouldn’t take this much time or preparation for Director Cheatle to tell the truth and to be transparent with the American people,” he continued. Raskin Pushes Gun Control, Takes Aim at AR-15 Update, 10:26 a.m: Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., made a push for gun control during his opening remarks, as Democrat lawmakers frequently do after shooting. Raskin, the ranking Democrat on the committee, specifically went after the AR-15, which the would-be assassin used from the rooftop.  “Some are calling it a miracle that President Trump escaped this AR-15 attack unlike so many thousands of citizens who have been killed or seriously wounded in other AR-15 shootings,” Raskin said.  Raskin said America had 655 mass shootings in 2023, which is defined as at least four people being shot during an incident. “What happened in Butler, Pennsylvania was a double failure, the failure of the Secret Service to properly protect President Trump, and the failure of Congress to properly protect our people from criminal gun violence,” Raskin said.  “We must therefore ask hard questions about whether our laws are making it too easy for potential assassins to obtain firearms generally and the AR-15 specifically,” Raskin said.  The post Secret Service Director Testifies Before Congress appeared first on The Daily Signal.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a digital rights group, joined by nearly two dozen other similar civil organizations, has appealed to the EU Commission (EC) regarding the developments around the UN’s Cybercrime Convention. The reason for turning to the EU mere days ahead of the finalization of the controversial text, criticized as a threat to free speech and privacy, is the bloc’s own data protection framework (concerning personal data transfers). In the letter, the signatories state that with the final negotiations looming (the UN Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime (AHC) session is scheduled for July 29-August 9), the EU Commission and delegates from EU’s member countries should urgently “push back on the draft convention’s (treaty’s) many flaws.” We obtained a copy of the letter for you here. Among those flaws, the letter mentions an excessively broad scope that is not accompanied by proper human rights and data protection provisions. If left as is, the treaty will give “intrusive surveillance powers” to those who implement the document. The treaty has been in the works for a long time, ever since the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution paving its way in late December 2019. The many negotiating sessions have featured repeated criticism from organizations like EFF, which, judging by the letter, have remained unaddressed. Those now appealing to the EU fear that if that remains the case even during the final meeting, the treaty will provide abusive practices carried out by various governments with “the veneer of international legitimacy.” And if it can’t be fixed – EFF, Access Now, ARTICLE 19, and 18 other groups say – the draft should be rejected. The letter lists, and expands on, the main concerns regarding the draft treaty as being overly broad in scope and legal uncertainty, insufficient protection for good-faith actors, lack of specific human rights safeguards, procedural measures, and law enforcement, as well as the issue of international cooperation. “Despite the latest modifications, the revised draft fails to address our concerns and continues to risk making individuals and institutions less safe and more vulnerable to cybercrime, thereby undermining its very purpose,” the letter reads. The EC and member states are urged to act with the goal of properly addressing these issues during the final negotiating session, in order to introduce what the rights groups see as necessary changes. Alternatively, they want the EU to block the treaty from reaching the UN General Assembly for adoption. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Digital Rights Groups Rally Against UN Convention That Threatens Free Speech and Privacy appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Congressman Adam Schiff of California has intensified his scrutiny of Google’s management of AI technologies, particularly its AI Overview, which summarizes top web pages but has been prone to errors, raising concerns about its tendency to spread “misinformation.” While it’s true that Google’s AI has been known to output bizarre and false information, and many have been alarmed about the potential implications of unreliable AI outputs, there’s a broader skepticism about the idea of government intervention, given that it involves the regulation of information and speech. The AI Overview aims to provide succinct information to users, but Schiff’s inquiries to Google CEO Sundar Pichai suggest it may often use questionable sources. It shouldn’t fall to the government to be the ones who can choose which sources are reliable. They argue for prioritizing “authoritative” sources, traditionally recognized media outlets, to mitigate the spread of misinformation. Additionally, there’s a call for collaboration between Google and government agencies like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), despite concerns that CISA has previously been involved in flagging online content, which critics argue borders on censorship. “Given the rising threat of misinformation and disinformation online, it is critical that Americans are directed to authoritative, accurate resources when using Google’s platform,” the letter reads. We obtained a copy of the letter for you here. These demands extend specifically to areas such as voting and election information, where Democrats urge that only verified and accurate information be propagated through AI Overviews. “How is Google working with relevant government entities, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), to ensure that only accurate information is provided through AI Overviews, particularly with respect to information about voting and elections?” the letter asks. Similar standards are sought for health-related content, advocating that such information must be clinically accurate and scientifically sound. This push can be seen as an attempt to limit criticism of vaccine efficacy and other COVID-19 measures, which have been contentious topics. Other representatives, including Henry C. Johnson, Jr., Donald S. Beyer Jr., Pramila Jayapal, and Lori Trahan, have joined Schiff in requesting more details from Google about how it ensures the accuracy of AI-generated summaries, error notification mechanisms, and methodologies for generating health-related information. Instances cited by Schiff include the AI erroneously suggesting harmful actions or misrepresenting public figures, which underscores the technology’s flaws. But now, the question of what to do about it, alongside pressure from Congress to restrict which sources get to be used for the next content revolution, will likely raise First Amendment arguments. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Democrats Push Google To Promote “Authoritative” Sources, Collaborate With Government on AI Overviews for Election and Health Topics appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Elon Musk's Revenge: Biden Announced His Exit on Twitter/X

Hunter Supports Dad Dropping Out. Let's Figure Out Why

All aboard everyone, we’re back on the funky-colored animal train – and this week’s flavor of choice is strawberry! Strawberry-patterned leopards, to be exact. They join bright blue lobsters, black lynx, and white orcas as among our favorite color morphs to be spotted (see what we did there?) in the wild.Strawberry leopards are true leopards (Panthera pardus) and not a separate species. They have a rare genetic mutation that, instead of dark spots and facial features, fades or completely removes the black coloring giving them a rare pink or golden hue. While the cause was previously thought to be linked to excessive production of red pigment as a result of erythrism, researchers have now discovered that the pathways to strawberry-colored fur might be more closely linked to albinism instead. Albinism is a genetic condition causing all-white individuals due to very low levels or the total absence of the pigment melanin within the skin. Larger numbers of strawberry leopards have previously been reported in South Africa. To explore more about strawberry leopards and assess how frequently they occur in the wild, a team of scientists deployed 319 paired camera trap stations across the Nyerere-Selous ecosystem in southern Tanzania. The cameras captured over 4,000 images of leopards, which could be identified by the team as 373 unique individuals. Just one of these 373 leopards turned out to have strawberry coloration. Compared to a typical leopard, the female has much lighter spots with a lack of black around her mouth, on her paws, and the back of the ears. However, the team consider the possibility that the female is not a true strawberry leopard and that her coloring is instead part of a natural color gradient. This theory would need further genetic testing to confirm. Far from being disadvantageous to the leopard, the authors write that such coloration could offer a benefit, such as being able to blend better into the landscape.Even the toe beans are affected by the genetic mutation.Image credit: Searle, C.E., et al, Ecology and Evolution 2024 (CC BY 4.0)There are two alternative theories as to how the genetic mutation arose in the Selous Game Reserve. One possibility is that the strawberry leopards from northern South Africa have spread the trait into the Tanzanian population; however, this is unlikely given the vast distance and geographical challenges separating the two. Or, the team explain, the mutation could be the result of inbreeding due to trophy hunting, the reason thought to be behind the higher levels of strawberry leopards observed in South Africa. The study is published in Ecology and Evolution. 

There are an estimated 1.2 million species in total, but which is the most dangerous animal in the world? More specifically, which animal is responsible for the most human deaths? Hollywood films often portray nature’s giants, like lions and crocodiles, as the deadliest animals to humans. However, many of these large predators are less lethal than you might think. For example, sharks only kill about 70 humans each year. Surprisingly, the most deadly creatures on Earth are often much smaller. They are more likely to kill through disease, venom, and other means, rather than by sharp teeth. The killer scorpion. Credit: Wikipedia Scorpions – 3,300 Deaths per Year These ancient, aggressive arachnids sting with their tails, injecting venom into their prey. Of the more than 2,600 scorpion species, only about 25 have venom powerful enough to kill humans. One of the most dangerous is the Deathstalker. These yellow carriers of death inhabit the dry, arid landscapes and deserts of North Africa and the Middle East. Underestimating them can be fatal. The venom of the Deathstalker is potent enough to kill individuals with medical conditions, including heart disease. While healthy adults, both young and old, can survive its sting, fatalities are still possible. Triatomine bugs typically live in the wall or roof cracks of poorly constructed homes in rural or suburban areas, becoming active at night, biting exposed areas of skin, then defecating close to the bite. Triatomine Bugs – 10,000 Deaths per Year Also known as “kissing bugs,” these insects are the primary spreaders of the deadly Chagas disease. These bloodthirsty predators pose a significant threat in Central and South America. Chagas disease is potentially fatal and is transmitted through the bite of a triatomine bug or the consumption of food and drinks contaminated by the insect or its feces, which carry the parasite. According to the Pan American Health Organization, Chagas disease is a devastating illness that affects the heart, as well as the digestive and nervous systems. Alarmingly, the disease can also be transmitted from mother to child through the placenta during pregnancy. The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is a species of highly venomous snake belonging to the family Elapidae. Snakes – 138,000 Deaths per Year Dangerous snakes can be found all over the world. They can kill people in various, often cruel ways. For example, a black mamba can kill a human with just two drops of its venom, while pythons can swallow an adult human whole. Most snake-related human deaths are due to venomous bites. However, according to health ministries worldwide, survivors of dangerous snake encounters often face amputations and other serious medical conditions. While 2022’s global murder rate was 6.1 (per 100k people), murder rates varied widely across the globe. Central America and the Caribbean were global hotspots, with countries such as El Salvador (61.7), Honduras (41), and Jamaica (56.4) posting murder rates up to 10 times higher than the global average. Humans – 400,000 Deaths per Year Humans are technically the second most dangerous animal on the planet when it comes to killing their own kind, primarily through homicide. According to global data, as of 2019, 0.7% of deaths worldwide were the result of homicide. Latin America has a particularly high homicide rate, with El Salvador experiencing homicide rates that account for more than 7% of deaths. Humans are not unique in killing their own kind; this behavior is observed throughout the animal kingdom. The mosquito is the world’s deadliest animal. Spreading diseases like malaria, dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya, and lymphatic filariasis, the mosquito kills more people than any other creature in the world. Mosquitoes – 725,000 Deaths per Year Mosquitoes are the world’s deadliest animal, responsible for 725,000 deaths annually through diseases such as malaria. Only female mosquitoes bite, making them the most dangerous. This tiny flying insect has repeatedly shaped the course of human history, being crucial to events like American independence and the rise and fall of Rome. Malaria is particularly severe in Africa, where the region accounts for 95% of cases and 96% of deaths worldwide. It is best to take precautions against mosquitoes if you plan to travel to areas where these insects are prevalent. These five creatures highlight the diversity and severity of dangers posed by the animal kingdom. While some use venom or disease to kill, others, like humans, use physical force. Awareness and prevention are key to avoiding these deadly encounters. The post The Deadliest Creatures: Top 5 Animals That Threaten Humans appeared first on Anomalien.com.

Always a loyal foot soldier for the left, ABC’s Good Morning America was ebullient Monday in fluffing Vice President Kamala Harris being handed an “extraordinary moment” as the likely Democratic presidential nominee with “a flood of cash” and “history” on her side now that President Biden has dropped out against “felon” Donald Trump. Co-host Robin Roberts kicked things off in an opening tease: “Vice President Harris hitting the ground running. Dozens of top lawmakers and party officials quickly lining up behind the VP as she looks to make history again...The issues that define her and who could join her on the Democratic ticket?” Certainly relieved Biden’s not running, co-host and former Clinton official George Stephanopoulos told viewers this “was already the most unusual race in American history” as it originally consisted of a face-off “between two former presidents — one a convicted felon who tried to overturn an election he lost, then survived an assassination attempt.” ABC’s George Stephanopoulos opens ‘Good Morning America’ by talking about how Kamala Harris is running against “a convicted felon who tried to overturn an election he lost”. He can’t even say Trump’s name. pic.twitter.com/uVnNp88EnW — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 22, 2024 Not even going to say Trump’s name there, George? Perhaps the most loyal member of the White House press corps, chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce first commiserated with her guy, saying the decision to quit “was always Joe Biden’s to make and his alone, but ultimately, the pressure was just too much to bear” as he has “giv[en] up the job he spent a lifetime working towards.” Adding the Covid diagnosis was “another blow” following a slew of party defections, she said he finally “reckon[ed] with his political reality” and touted a gooey statement from son Hunter Biden (a convicted felon himself) She made sure to grease the skids for Harris (click “expand”): Harris, who’s been hitting the trail hard in recent weeks, praising Biden for making the difficult decision writing, “With this selfless and patriotic act, president Biden is doing what he has done throughout his life of service: putting the American people and our country above everything else.” Then making clear she’s all in, saying “my intention is to earn and win this nomination...We have 107 days until Election Day. Together, we will fight and together, we will win.” This morning, many top party leaders now swiftly rallying around Harris as she’s working the phones, reaching out to key Democrats. Bill and Hillary Clinton writing, “now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight with everything we’ve got to elect her. America’s future depends on it.” Harris also securing endorsements from key constituencies, including the Congressional Black Caucus and several key governors like Gavin Newsom of California, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Roy Cooper of North Carolina all lining up behind her. The Biden campaign this morning now full steam ahead for Harris, even filing the paperwork. The campaign now officially Harris for President. Kamala Harris is now the frontrunner in this race. She could, of course, become the first black woman, the first Asian-American to top a ticket. But others could still jump in. Congressional correspondent Rachel Scott was also excited, claiming this was “ curve ball the Trump campaign was preparing for, but this is not one they wanted” and lamented Trump would dare to criticize Harris because he “just days ago said he wanted to focus on this message of unity.” ABC’s @RachelVScott on @GMA: “This is now a major campaign reset, today the least. With just over 100 days to go until the November election, It's a curve ball the trump campaign was preparing for, but this is not one they wanted. And Trump's playbook so far has been to attack,… pic.twitter.com/2SqYF9ulrR — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 22, 2024 Stephanopoulos then brought Bruce and Scott back alongside chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl, whom he declared “Biden really had no choice” but drop out. For his party, Karl bragged this was causing “an all-out meltdown” by Trump, as if to suggest Harris will be able to skate by. Stephanopoulos: “Jon, in the end, President Biden really had no choice. It's almost as if, in the days since the debate, the Democratic Party held another primary.” Jonathan Karl: “Absolutely, George. No choice at all. He was left as the leader of a party that no longer wanted… pic.twitter.com/C2WmbmaYHs — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 22, 2024 Scott doubled down on Karl’s talking points about Biden dropping out being a massive boon for Democrats and then Stephanopoulos said these recent twists have been “Shakespearean, biblical, unprecedented, historic”. Karl also implied the age issues will remain given Trump’s age: ABC insists it is Republicans who are melting down over Harris becoming the nominee after a “biblical” twist in the election with Joe Biden's cognitive decline.... ABC’s @RachelVScott: “[Y]ou could tell just how irritated and frustrated former President Trump is just by looking… pic.twitter.com/GrzvITKlUv — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 22, 2024 Senior White House correspondent Selina Wang also did her part for The Cause: ABC's Selina Wang, very excited by how much cash Kamala is raising to bully others from entering the race: “Vice President Harris has already raised a flood of cash. Since yesterday she's raised more than $49 million from small dollar donors. That is more than the Biden… pic.twitter.com/7Dqx7mP0Pi — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 22, 2024 The second-half hour led off with a nauseating puff piece from 20/20 co-anchor Deborah Roberts, but not before a lead-in from co-host Robin Roberts about Harris being granted an “extraordinary moment”. Deborah Roberts — the wife of NBC’s Today co-host Al Roker — swooned over Harris as “poised to possibly shatter that elusive glass ceiling in American politics” and one “she’s become familiar with” as her life has been defined by “blazing new trails in public service”. State-run media from ABC’s Robin Roberts and Deborah Roberts puffing Kamala Harris. They said Harris has “extraordinary moment” before her “after blazing new trails in public service” and is “known for her work on the Judicial and Intelligence committees, with a strong stance… pic.twitter.com/8lVe2lVfxj — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 22, 2024 “Harris became known for her work on the Judicial and Intelligence committees, with a strong stance on civil and abortion rights which she grilled future Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanagh...As Vice President, Harris has taken the lead on the abortion rights issue following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade,” she added. Ever the propagandist, she framed Harris’s work on the Biden crisis as marred by partisanship and puffed her personal life. Speaking of her gender, Stephanopoulos moments later used that to cue up Chris Christie to strongly imply Trump could go too far in attacking her (click “expand”): DEBORAH ROBERTS: She’s also taking on immigration. In 2021, President Biden tasking her to lead the diplomatic efforts with three Central American countries to address the root causes of migration. The White House praising her work, but after migrant encounters hit record levels before decreasing, Republicans hit Harris on the hot button issue.  [NIKKI HALEY CLIP] DEBORAH ROBERTS: Before her VP role, Harris had presidential ambitions, taking on former president Donald Trump. [HARRIS AD CLIP] DEBORAH ROBERTS: Married for ten years to lawyer Doug Emhoff, Harris is known as Mamala to her stepchildren, Ella and Cole. When she was chosen as Vice President, she reflected on the historic moment with Robin. (....) CHRISTIE: It changes it, George. But the real question is we don’t how it changes it. And what’s going to determine how it changes is how these two candidates now perform in this new dynamic, right? So, here’s Kamala Harris going from number two to number one like that. And it’s gonna take a real transformation on her part. And she’s going to have to perform. Everyone’s going to be watching her closely. Donald Trump’s not going to have a different dynamic. Eight years ago, he want against a woman for president. But when he did, Hillary Clinton was a more known quantity and, quite frankly, was disliked by a lot of voters. Kamala Harris is not personally disliked. There’s a question of respect and whether they respect her or not. And that’s going to be in her control now. If she performs well, she’s going to make this a very close race. To see the relevant transcript from July 22, click here.

Once Joe Biden knuckled under to tremendous pressure to drop out of the race, Biden's advisers went out to proclaim he was like...George Washington? That was former Newsweek editor, "historian" and Biden speechwriter Jon Meacham on Monday's Morning Joe. Joe Scarborough read from his New York Times op-ed and put the gushy words on screen for his hardcore-Democrat audience. "Mr. Biden has spent a lifetime trying to do right by the nation, and he did so in the most epic of ways when he chose to end his campaign for re-election. His decision is one of the most remarkable acts of leadership in our history. An act of self-sacrifice that places him in the company of George Washington, who also stepped away from the presidency." Willie Geist told Meacham he was interested in his take as a Biden friend and adviser, but "also has a historian." Out came the flowery oration:  MEACHAM: Well, we're commemorating here a remarkable act of political sacrifice, self-sacrifice by a man of great grace and a president of great consequence. And understandably, we're talking about what happens now. That's what the republic does, what democracy does, and it's an organic thing, and it’s at risk. And it’s vital, as Mika said, we stand for the Constitution, the rule of law, and the kind of decency and dignity President Biden embodied. There was an old Tennessee senator from my state who said that the only true cure for political ambition is embalming fluid. And so what you have here is someone who did assess reality.  He -- as he often says, he respects fate. One would, given the arc of his life, which is punctuated by great victory, immense achievement and immense tragedy. There is no more dreadfully overworked partisan life-story talking point than Biden tragically losing his family members. But then, Washington wasn't enough! Meacham found Biden parallels to Franklin Roosevelt in 1933 (he won in a landslide, but there was a Great Depression) and Abraham Lincoln in 1861:  And so this is a president who -- when people like me look back, we’re gonna look at someone who stepped into the breach in 2020, who defended democracy. You know, when you think about it, in many ways, the Biden presidency began on January 6th, 2021. And it was a moment where, remember how eerily empty the Capitol was once the protesters, the rioters, the insurrectionists were gone? He stood in that strangely quiet West front to step into a moment in which democracy itself was under the greatest siege it'd been since FDR had been there in 1933. And before that, since Abraham Lincoln had been there, both of them on the other side of the Capitol in 1861. And that's not overly grand. That’s not hyperbolic, as President Biden would say. It is, I think, a cold-eyed assessment of the reality of the history of the moment. Since this is MSNBC, it’s never hyperbolic to suggest that a Trump victory ends American democracy. Meacham has consistently beat that drum. The other completely preposterous note is that Biden unified us in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Don't the libs call that "Earth 2"? President Biden stepped in and he bent history in what I would argue, and I think most of the folks here would agree, is a very American -- you can disagree with the policy details, you can disagree with the emphasis here or there, but, by God, the American consensus in which we actually recognize and respect each other fundamentally, and are together enough to try to make this a more perfect union, we are a more perfect union because of President Biden. I think history is going to laud him for it, and I hope the president does, as well.