Confronted with stark evidence of President Joe Biden's decrepitude Thursday night, Democratic operatives and other fair-weather friends of the White House immediately began expressing interest in scuttling his campaign and nominating a more capable fellow traveler at the Democratic National Convention in August. The trouble for Democrats is that the decision effectively rests with Biden, who appears convinced of his capability and who surpassed the 1,968 pledged delegates needed to secure the nomination by nearly double. According to the delegate selection rules for the 2024 DNC, "delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them." Unless Biden is incapacitated, his substitution therefore relies upon him following in the footsteps of Lyndon B. Johnson, who revealed on March 31, 1968, that he was no longer seeking his party's nomination for president. "I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office — the presidency of your country," said Johnson. Unlike Johnson, Biden has indicated that he's willing to spend many more days campaigning to hold on to power. A White House adviser told CNN that not only does Biden not plan to drop out, he "remains committed to a second debate in September." 'Do we have time to put somebody else in there?' Jill Biden is reportedly also insistent that her husband remain in the race. "Biden is about to face a crescendo of calls to step aside," a veteran Democratic strategist and Biden booster told the New York Times. "Joe had a deep well of affection among Democrats. It has run dry." "The man on the stage with Trump cannot win," continued the strategist. "The fear of Trump stifled criticism of Biden. Now that same fear is going to fuel calls for him to step down." Prominent Biden donor Mark Buell asked, "Do we have time to put somebody else in there?" and noted further that the "Democratic leadership has a responsibility to go to the White House and clearly show what America's thinking, because democracy is at stake here and we're all nervous." Should Democrats' doubts eat away at Biden's commitment to stay in the race, then the party might be looking at an open convention in August, whereby individual delegates, largely anointed by the Biden campaign, would have to decide the party's alternate nominee. The Associated Press noted that should Biden decline the nomination, he cannot name his deeply unpopular vice president and running mate as his stand-in. Instead, Harris would have to duke it out with other potential challengers — and the last time she attempted that, she had an abysmal showing. Leftist politicians who might stand a better chance than Harris, whose approval rating averages below 40%, include California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. While Michelle Obama has long been rumored as a potential replacement, Forbes underscored her repeated expressions of disinterest in the job. When asked by the Daily Mail Thursday whether he was ready to replace Biden, Newsom said, "[Biden's] our guy. And that's part of the diversion tactic of the right — to continue to sort of muddy the waters on all of that and that nonsensical speculation." If Biden does receive the nomination but withdraws following the convention, then CNN indicated the DNC would be able to name his replacement after having the party chair consult with the Democratic governors and congressional leadership. Biden dropping out at a late stage would again not result in Harris automatically becoming his replacement. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

United States Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) sent a letter to a Miami federal court on Thursday requesting additional information regarding reports that Judge Aileen Cannon may have faced pressure to step away from the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump, the Daily Caller News Foundation reported.The letter, first obtained by the DCNF, referenced a New York Times report that stated sources claimed two judges pushed Cannon to remove herself from the case.Gaetz wrote to Cecilia Altonaga, chief judge of the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Florida, “The New York Times recently reported that multiple individuals report that potentially unethical pressure was brought to bear upon Judge Aileen Cannon in your district (‘Judge in Trump Documents Case Rejected Suggestions to Step Aside,’ June 20, 2024). Specifically, multiple anonymous sources note that two judges have publicized their attempts to convince Judge Cannon to step aside in the Trump classified-documents case. The timing (apparently well into the litigation) and the fact that the New York Times has described this effort as ‘extraordinary’ do warrant at least a reach out from Congress.”Gaetz noted that he is “well aware of the dynamics of a collegial court, and the facts, as reported by the media, may be wrong.”“There is nothing untoward in a senior colleague explaining to a more junior colleague about the pitfalls of an assigned case and providing options to her. But the article suggests much more than that,” he added.Gaetz posed several questions to the court, including: Did you personally have a conversation with Judge Cannon about the Trump documents case and, if so, on what date(s)?; Did you attempt to convince her to leave the case, through reassignment or another means, and, if so, what means and on what date(s)?; Do you have reason to believe that the conversation(s) with Judge Cannon is/are protected by any canons of court conduct or judicial ethics, such that leaks to the New York Times may constitute a violation of those rules and, if so, what rules?; Is there any pending investigation into those leaks?; andWhat affirmative steps has your court taken to avoid a repeat of this situation?He asked for a response by July 5.A press release from Gaetz stated that the two judges were accused of “exert[ing] undue political pressure” on Cannon to step aside to “allow another, more liberal judge, to take it.”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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Contrary to popular belief, Fujairah in southeast Arabia, was not deserted in ancient times. Recent archaeological excavations have revealed human settlements in the area, resetting previously accepted timelines by thousands of years! Evidence of the habitation of the Jabal Kaf Addor rock shelter in the Al Habhab region from 13,000 years ago has been the focus of the new research, where artifacts such as stone tools, animal bones, and fireplaces found at the site demonstrate that nomadic, mobile groups occupied it repeatedly during this period until 7,500 years ago. Previously, it was thought that Southeast Arabia remained uninhabited from approximately 38,000 years ago until 7,000 years ago, which was met by the development of dry conditions, until the onset of more moist conditions. The Cult, Pilgrimage – and Herding Past of a Saudi Arabian Mustatil Pre-Islamic Ruins Found in UAE Belong to Rare 6th Century Christian Monastery   Read moreSection: NewsEvolution & Human OriginsAncient PlacesAsiaRead Later 

President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia should resume production of intermediate and shorter range nuclear-capable missiles and then consider where to deploy them after the U.S. brought similar missiles to Europe and Asia.