Members of Congress continue to suggest that President Joe Biden should be removed under the 25th Amendment to the Constitution—even after a psychiatrist who led a national movement to oust his predecessor called cognitive decline “normal.” Special counsel Robert Hur issued a report earlier this month finding that Biden “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials‚” but recommending against prosecution because of Biden’s “diminished faculties in advancing age and his sympathetic demeanor.”  “It is sad that it got to this point‚ but America desperately needs capable leadership in the White House‚” Sen. Mike Lee‚ R-Utah‚ told The Daily Signal in a written statement. “The safety of our country is at stake. Democrats who constantly strategized to remove Donald Trump from office outside of the electoral process seem strangely quiet now that their guy is clearly asleep at the switch.” Dr. Bandy X. Lee (no relation)‚ a forensic psychiatrist who edited the book “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 37 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President‚” last week defended Biden in light of the Hur report. “Cognitive decline is a normal part of aging‚” Lee told The Daily Signal‚ and “very high levels of cognitive decline can be present without affecting fitness for duty.” In December 2017‚ however‚ she reportedly briefed a dozen members of Congress about using the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.   Democrats defending Biden after Hur issued his report didn’t give a similar benefit of the doubt to Trump‚ his predecessor‚ Rep. Mary Miller‚ R-Ill.‚ said.  “There has been a glaring double standard in defense of Joe Biden’s failing mental competency since the special counsel report revealed that Joe Biden is mentally unfit to serve in office‚” Miller told The Daily Signal in a statement.  “The same people who questioned President Trump’s mental stamina after he passed a cognitive test are now defending Biden’s mental acuity—even after the report indicates serious concerns over his cognitive abilities‚” the Illinois Republican said. “For the safety of our nation‚ Joe Biden must resign. He is not competent to remain as commander in chief and every day that he remains‚ he puts our national security at risk.” The 25th Amendment allows for the vice president and a majority of Cabinet members to determine whether a president should be temporarily removed from office if he is deemed unfit to serve. It requires votes by two-thirds majorities of both houses of Congress to permanently remove the president.  “Special counsel Hur cited President Biden’s lack of mental fitness as an excuse not to prosecute him for willfully mishandling classified documents‚” Sen. Josh Hawley‚ R-Mo.‚ told The Daily Signal in a statement. “It’s time for Garland to stop treating our commander in chief with kid gloves and either invoke the 25th Amendment or rightfully prosecute him.”  In a press conference after the report’s release‚ the president said  his memory is fine and accused the special counsel of mischaracterizing him in the report.  White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that media coverage of the effects of Biden’s age doesn’t reflect reality. Other administration officials noted that Biden’s two interviews with Hur’s investigative team came as the president was responding to Hamas’ terrorist attacks in Israel.  Rep. Claudia Tenney‚ R-N.Y.‚ has called for the nation’s attorney general to take action. She sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Feb. 8‚ the day the Hur report was released.  “Special counsel Hur’s report details that President Biden knowingly possessed classified documents‚ but even more alarming is the special counsel’s recount of the failing memory and mental capacity of the president‚” Tenney told The Daily Signal.  “I recently sent a letter [to] Attorney General Merrick Garland‚ urging him and the rest of the Cabinet to uphold the Constitution and immediately initiate proceedings under the 25th Amendment to remove President Biden from office due to his severe cognitive decline‚” Tenney said. “Either President Biden is fit to stand trial‚ or he is unfit to serve as president. There is no middle ground.” Beyond the special counsel’s conclusion‚ mere observation of the president makes the case about his capacity‚ contends Rep. Mike Collins‚ R-Ga. “Anyone who watches Joe Biden try to deliver a speech or climb stairs knows he’s not up to the job. The only reason you’d refuse a cognitive test is if you can’t pass it‚” Collins told The Daily Signal. It’s not only federal officials who are weighing in on the findings of the Hur report.  West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey‚ as a top law enforcement official in his state‚ wrote a Feb. 13 letter to Vice President Kamala Harris calling for her to convene Cabinet members to invoke the 25th Amendment.  “President Biden’s behavior and his public missteps—which are well documented—reveal that his diminished cognitive capacity absolutely impacts how he makes decisions‚” Morrisey‚ a Republican‚ told The Daily Signal in a statement.  “If President Biden isn’t well enough to be charged‚ as stated in the Hur report‚ how is he well enough to be the chief executive of the United States? You can’t have it both ways‚”  Morrisey said. “We need a president who can handle the rigors of the office.” Biden‚ according to Hur’s report‚ “did not remember when he was vice president‚ forgetting on the first day of the interview when his term ended … and forgetting on the second day of the interview when his term began.”  The report also stated: “He did not remember‚ even within several years‚ when his son Beau died.” Although Biden expressed outrage during his Feb. 8 press conference that Hur’s team had brought up his son’s death in interviewing him‚ according to subsequent news reports citing sources close to the investigation‚ the president himself raised the subject in recalling his vice presidency. State legislatures ratified the 25th Amendment in 1967‚ after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy four years earlier. Lawmakers crafted the amendment to address concern about what to do if the president were still alive but experiencing a health crisis.  Rep. Ronny Jackson‚ R-Texas‚ a former White House physician for Presidents George W. Bush‚ Barack Obama‚ and Donald Trump‚ last week called for Biden to take a cognitive test.  Jackson was more cautious about invoking the 25th Amendment‚ calling instead in the near term for Biden to take a cognitive test‚ as Trump did.   House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik‚ R-N.Y.‚ and House Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler‚ R-Pa.‚ are among 83 House members who joined Jackson in calling for Biden to undergo a cognitive exam.  “The radical Left and their number one ally‚ the mainstream media‚ hounded me to administer a cognitive exam to President Trump‚ which I did‚ and he got a perfect score‚” Jackson said.  “It is about time they do the same for President Biden. There is absolutely no comparison between Trump and Biden’s mental fitness.” “There is a simple solution to the Biden administration’s problem: Administer a cognitive exam for the president‚” the physician said. “If he is unable or unwilling to sit for an exam‚ then his Cabinet should start the process of invoking the 25th Amendment.” Sen. Rick Scott‚ R-Fla.‚ has said that Biden’s press conference defending his mental competency proved the need for using the process prescribed by the 25th Amendment.  In defending his mental sharpness‚ Biden just mixed up the presidents of Mexico and Egypt. This train wreck of a press conference confirms the need for the 25th Amendment. https://t.co/TzF4cc8nfe— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) February 9‚ 2024 This report labels Biden as a “well meaning‚ elderly man with a poor memory.”That does not describe someone who should be the Commander in Chief of our armed forces and the defender of American freedoms. It’s time for his cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment. https://t.co/zFFTWnDAtI— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) February 8‚ 2024 Specifically‚ the 25th Amendment allows for the vice president and a majority of Cabinet secretaries to determine whether a president is physically or mentally unfit to carry out the duties of the office. If the president is deemed unfit‚ the vice president would become acting president on a temporary basis.  Under the amendment‚ Congress could remove the president from office permanently with a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate. That is a higher bar than for impeachment‚ which requires only a simple majority in the House to vote for an impeachment trial and possible removal in the Senate. What’s different about the political commentary in the “Dangerous Case of Donald Trump” and calls for invoking the 25th Amendment in Biden’s case? There was no formal finding—legal or psychological—regarding Trump’s mental competency to be president. Although the Hur report’s appraisal of Biden isn’t a medical or psychological finding‚ it formally documents Biden’s mental capacity at a time when polls show two-thirds of Americans say they don’t believe Biden is mentally fit to serve as president. Posts on social media frequently mock Biden for appearing confused on stage or for being led off stage by first lady Jill Biden.  Trump announced in 2020‚ his last year as president‚ that he had taken a cognitive test. Neither Trump nor Biden were evaluated by medical professionals for mental fitness‚ however.  Making a determination about either could violate the “Goldwater Rule‚” which prevents psychiatrists and psychologists from offering a “professional opinion unless he or she has conducted an examination and has been granted proper authorization for such a statement.” The American Psychiatric Association adopted the rule after a group of partisan Democrats identified as psychology professionals declared that 1964 Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater was “psychologically unfit to be president.”  Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post ‘Glaring Double Standard’: Lawmakers Compare 25th Amendment Talk on Biden‚ Trump appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Amid a national epidemic of child-focused transgender policies that leave parents out of the equation‚ a Maryland bill enshrining parental rights appears to be garnering bipartisan support. Maryland’s HB 722 would forbid health care providers from providing any transgender medical procedures‚ commonly called “gender-affirming care‚” to minors without parental knowledge and consent. Under the bill‚ anyone who authorizes or provides such transgender procedures to minors could be found guilty of a misdemeanor and sentenced to prison for one to three years. State Del. Lauren Arikan‚ R-Harford County‚ who proposed the bill‚ wrote that it is necessary to “ensure the protection of minors from life-altering‚ permanent medical procedures that have not been proven as necessary or helpful in the treatment of gender dysphoria.” The bill’s sponsors include 16 Republicans and three Democrats in the Maryland House of Delegates‚ bucking the national trend of a party-line split on the issue.  In most recent cases across the nation‚ Democrats typically favored transgender-affirming policy for minors‚ while Republicans strongly opposed it. Maryland’s lower legislative chamber‚ the House of Delegates‚ includes 102 Democrats and 39 Republicans. Maryland is one of five states that allow 12-year-olds to consent to medical procedures without parental knowledge or consent. A total of 22 states have passed restrictions on minors’ access to transgender medical procedures‚ which range from hormonal medication (which can result in sterilization and cancer) to the mutilation of healthy reproductive organs in boys and girls.  At a hearing Wednesday on HB 722 before the Maryland House of Delegates’ Health and Government Operations Committee‚ state Del. Matt Morgan‚ R-St. Mary’s County‚ asked Jamie Reed‚ a former case manager for a pediatric gender transition clinic affiliated with St. Louis Children’s Hospital‚ to describe the effects of hormone-blocking treatments on children. Reed told the committee that “there are significant side effects to all medical treatments that are currently being used to medically transition.” She described both the derailment of healthy gland growth in young men (which is highly carcinogenic) and the process of creating a vagina using colon tissue (which can result in deadly infections).  Photos and videos of the results of such medical procedures and the testimonies of those who participated have resulted in significant backlash across America from elected officials and parental rights advocates. Specifically‚ voters and activists have expressed considerable outrage over liberal campaigns from organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign and the Trevor Project that attempt to provide minors with the agency to seek transgender medical treatment without parental knowledge or consent. These groups claim that if minors aren’t provided with unfettered access to transgender procedures‚ that alone or the stigma of speaking to their parents about it could cause them to commit suicide. Additionally‚ liberal legislators around the nation have introduced bills that would classify failure to “affirm” gender transitions as child abuse‚ further separating parents from children who are struggling with mental illness. The overwhelming public backlash against the push for minors’ access to gender treatments may have contributed to caution from Democrats in both red and blue states. California Gov. Gavin Newsom‚ a Democrat‚ vetoed legislation known as AB 957‚ which would have required judges in custody cases to take parents’ “gender affirmation” of their children into consideration. In the Tennessee Legislature‚ three House Democrats  joined Republicans last February in passing a bill to ban minors’ access to transgender medical procedures. In New Hampshire‚12 House Democrats joined Republicans in March in passing legislation to ban minors’ access to transgender surgeries.  (This new level of caution isn’t limited to the United States. Last June‚ England’s National Health Service of England banned puberty-blocking hormonal therapies and transgender medical procedures for minors.) Last month‚ Louisiana Democrats and Republicans overrode a veto by Gov. John Bel Edwards‚ a Democrat‚ of legislation restricting medical organizations from providing gender treatments to minors. In Maryland’s case‚ HB 722 wouldn’t ban gender-affirming procedures altogether. However‚ it would require parents to be a part of the process as long as their child is a minor. Following the Wednesday hearing‚ the bill likely will be brought up for a second reading before the Health and Government Operations Committee.  The Maryland Senate‚ where Democrats outnumber Republicans 34 to 13‚ also would have to pass the bill before it could go to the desk of Gov. Wes Moore‚ a Democrat. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Bipartisan Maryland Bill Would Ban Transgender Procedures for Minors Without Parental Consent appeared first on The Daily Signal.

A cat seen "knocking" on the door of a building got her wish after two days of waiting. Knock Knock (aka Willow)RyanA resident contacted Little Wanderers NYC about a black and white cat sitting at the entrance of a building. The cat had been abandoned and tried to find her way home."She was 'knocking' at the door‚ but nobody let her in. She'd been outside 'for two days‚'" Little Wanderers NYC shared. A volunteer for the rescue rushed to the location when she learned about the situation.While on her way‚ a local community member came to check on the cat and stayed with her until help arrived. "We couldn't turn a blind eye. It was cold‚ rainy‚ and wet." She was found sitting outside the entrance of a buildingLittle Wanderers NYCThe rescuer came with a carrier that night‚ and the cat "pretty much went straight in." Nora‚ another volunteer‚ took her to the vet the next day to get her the medical attention she needed.The cat was weary and shy but relieved to have escaped the rain and cold. When she received pets for the first time from Nora‚ she leaned into her for more. Little Wanderers NYC"She always responded to a kind hand even when she was shy. She let me pet her in the carrier and at the vet's office. You could tell she wanted a loving and patient place to call her own‚" Nora shared with Love Meow.Meanwhile‚ Little Wanderers NYC was seeking a foster family who could open their home and give the cat named Knock Knock a soft landing. NoraA kind-hearted couple who had previously fostered for the rescue stepped up to help.Knock Knock (also known as Willow) was a bit nervous and reserved when she arrived‚ still adjusting to the changes from the outdoors. She was a bit shy at firstNora"She had just come from a building that assisted people living with an assortment of needs/issues. She was trying to get back inside. When we finally got her inside‚ she realized it was not her normal comfortable home‚" Ryan shared with Love Meow.She took refuge next to her litter box whenever she felt overwhelmed. Once she was petted‚ she leaned in for moreNoraRyan‚ who works from home‚ spent ample time sitting with her‚ reassuring her that she was safe. With lots of patience‚ Knock Knock started to come out of her shell."She opened up enough for us to see some of her sweet personality." A wonderful couple took her in to foster. With patience and love‚ she came aroundRyanShe found solace and security in a tent bed‚ her little sanctuary. She stuck her head out of the cubbyhole to watch her foster dad. When he approached her‚ she sauntered right out for head scratches.Over the following weeks‚ Knock Knock blossomed into a confident and talkative cat. She likes to demand affection and has a lot to sayRyanThe couple wakes up in the morning to her eager trill meows‚ demanding attention and breakfast. "She is even louder when she yells at her stuffies. She bunny kicks them and always finds a cozy‚ quiet place to rest."She enjoys sitting on her blankets and watching her humans go about their day. She has a favorite sunspot by the window to bask in the warm rays and scan the world outside. She enjoys basking in the sun by the windowRyan"She's trying to get along with our resident cats but seems to prefer being a solo cat."She has a piercing stare that looks like she's judging your every move‚ but she's just waiting for the opportunity to seek affection or start a "conversation." RyanIt takes a village to save a cat. With the help of many volunteers‚ Knock Knock is inside and happy and will have a lifetime of love and comfort she so deserves. RyanShare this story with your friends. More on Knock Knock (aka Willow) and Little Wanderers NYC on Instagram and Facebook.Related story: Cat Hangs Around Outside a House Every Day Until He Sets Paws Indoors‚ Being Held in Loving Arms

Former CNN Anchor Announces Run for Congress

China's AI Firms Are Copying US Innovations‚ Still Several Years Behind

During an audio-only gaggle on Tuesday with the White House pool (a small subset of the wider press corps) aboard Air Force One to California‚ the always-inept Karine Jean-Pierre ripped into The New York Times for its contributions to the ever-growing plethora of stories about President Biden’s age‚ citing a Substack piece from far-left loon and former Times and Washington Post journalist Margaret Sullivan. The question on the topic came from the Daily Mail’s Rob Crilly: “[T]he publisher of The New York Times has talked about getting flak from the White House for its coverage of the President’s age. Can you talk to us a little bit about what you think is‚ sort of‚ fair game when covering the nation’s oldest president and what might be off limits?” Jean-Pierre came ready‚ saying she had “a couple of things there that I would say on that”‚ first acknowledging “you all ask me pretty regularly about the President’s age and we lay out..our perspective” that everything’s just peachy.     Arguing Biden has “deliver[ed] on historic — historic piece of legislation that’s going to change the lives of Americans for generations to come” and is thus in complete grasp of his faculties‚ Jean-Pierre turned to‚ well‚ a mangled mess: That — so wh- — now‚ to your question‚ more specifically‚ about — about The New York Times coverage‚ is that — that display — what we believe a journalistic objectivity about coverage of the President’s age speaks to why we agree with former New York Times public editor Margaret Sullivan‚ and she says‚ “Maybe The Times and other major media outlets ought to look in the mirror...Self-scrutiny and — and course correction are not among their core strengths.” And I’ll leave it there. The answer above is reminiscent of this quote from the character Michael Scott on NBC’s The Office: “Sometimes I’ll start a sentence‚ and I don’t even know where it’s going. I just hope I find it along the way.” But to sift through Jean-Pierre’s mess‚ her delusion and citation of Sullivan boils down to a missive from the regime: cut it out and instead do more Trump bashing (i.e. how dare they go off the reservation). Whenever the liberal ruling class isn’t happy with their chief mouthpiece in The Times‚ it’s a tell-tale sign the topic is such a sore subject it could cost them the election. The gaggle ended with an exchange between a reporter and Jean-Pierre about whether the President (A) plans to see Hunter Biden during his California trip and (B) if he had spoke to or was aware of what brother Jim Biden would tell a House committee behind closed doors. On both‚ Jean-Pierre insisted she “never” has and wouldn’t start describing “the President’s private conversation with his family.” Those answers are‚ not surprisingly‚ false. Back on December 13‚ Jean-Pierre revealed Joe was actually aware of what Hunter was up to and would say when the First Son flaunted a congressional subpoena by instead addressing reporters outside the Capitol. There was also this important exchange from The Washington Times’s Jeff Mordock on the explosion of tech layoffs (click “expand”): MORDOCK: [L]ast month was the worst month we’ve had in layoffs in the tech sector. Any chance that the President will address that fear it’s going to spread into the larger economy?  JEAN-PIERRE: It’s the largest month of what? MORDOCK: The largest — largest lump monthly — largest — excuse me‚ largest layoffs in a single month in the tech sector since‚ I think‚ May of — May of 2023.  JEAN-PIERRE: So — so‚ we closely monitor‚ obviously‚ all reports of Americans losing their jobs. President Biden knows what losing a job can mean for a family and entire community. You’ve heard him talk about his own personal experience growing up‚ but broadly speaking‚ thanks to the strong economy under President Biden‚ layoffs are near record lows. In fact‚ they’re lower than the average during the prior administration‚ even before COVID. As you know‚ unemployment is at under four percent and — and‚ also‚ three million jobs were created just last year‚ more than any year under the previous administration.  And companies continue to grow. We’ve seen small business application boom at 16 million applications in the last three years and so‚ that tells you a lot about the economy‚ but obviously‚ anytime we hear about Americans losing jobs‚ that’s something that we monitor. Earlier in the gaggle‚ Reuters’s Trevor Hunnicutt and the AP’s Aamer Madhani repeatedly tried to have Jean-Pierre state whether the administration agrees with socialist Brazilian President Lula de Silva that the plight of Palestinians inside Gaza amid Hamas’s war with Israel is akin to what Jews went through during the Holocaust. Only near the end of the two-minute-and-21-second exchange did she admit that‚ yes‚ that comparison’s wrong. To see the relevant transcript from the February 20 Air Force One gaggle‚ click “expand.” White House press gaggle on Air Force One February 20‚ 2024 Time N/A TREVOR HUNNICUTT: Do you — do you agree with — with Prime Minister Netanyahu that it was inappropriate for Lula of Brazil to compare the plight of the Palestinians with the plight of the Jews in the Holocaust? KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: Look‚ I’m not — I’m going to let Lula speak for himself. We’ve been very clear where we stand. We stand‚ obviously‚ with Israel being able to defend itself against Hamas and this terrorist organization. That’s why we continue to push for — obviously‚ one of the reasons we continue to push for the national security supplemental. What we saw on October 7 was 1‚200 — 1‚200 people — more than 1‚200 people who were killed and more than — obviously‚ more than 150 people who were — who were taken hostage and it was a — it was a devastating‚ tragic day and we want to continue to make sure that Israel is able to defend itself. Obviously‚ we want to also make sure that the all-important humanitarian aid get to — get to Palestinian civilians‚ who are — who are victims of — who are victims themselves of what Hamas is doing. Let’s not forgot — forget: Hamas is embedding themselves into hospital‚ into civilian infrastructure‚ and they’re causing harm to their own people and so‚ we want to make sure we get that — that temporary ceasefire and get that done so we can get that aid in and also make sure that we get those hostages home to their families. AAMER MADHANI: And if I could just follow on just what Trevor asked. Is it — just to put a fine point on it‚ is it appropriate‚ as terrible as the suffering is in Gaza‚ to equate it with the — with the Holocaust? JEAN-PIERRE: Look‚ I — I — I’m not going to — this is a very sensitive situation right now — obviously‚ a very sensitive issue. We understand that as it relates to what folks are seeing in Gaza‚ it’s incredibly personal and what I can say is that we support — obviously‚ our policy in Israel is — is steadfast and — and I’m just going to be super mindful. Obviously‚ those are two different scenarios — right — two different situation: what we saw in the Holocaust and it is — it is two different things that should not be compared‚ but obviously‚ what we’re seeing in — what we’re seeing — the devastation that we’re seeing in — in — with the Palestinian civilians‚ what Hamas is causing is devastating. It is devastating‚ but they’re two different times in history‚ and we have to be very clear about that. (....) Time N/A ROB CRILLY: Karine‚ the — the publisher of The New York Times has talked about getting flak from the White House for its coverage of the President’s age. Can you talk to us a little bit about what you think is‚ sort of‚ fair game when covering the nation’s oldest president and what might be off limits?  JEAN-PIERRE: So‚ look‚ I mean‚ a couple of things there that I would say on that — on that particular — particular item. Look‚ you know — and‚ you know‚ you — you all ask me pretty regularly about the President’s age and we lay out what our perspective is. We lay out what we see — we’ve seen this president do in the last three years‚ which is deliver on historic — historic piece of legislation that’s going to change the lives of Americans for generations to come. That — so wh- — now‚ to your question‚ more specifically‚ about — about The New York Times coverage‚ is that — that display — what we believe a journalistic objectivity about coverage of the President’s age speaks to why we agree with former New York Times public editor Margaret Sullivan‚ and she says‚ “Maybe The Times and other major media outlets ought to look in the mirror...Self-scrutiny and — and course correction are not among their core strengths.” And I’ll leave it there. (....) Time N/A JEFF MORDOCK: [L]ast month was the worst month we’ve had in layoffs in the tech sector. Any chance that the President will address that fear it’s going to spread into the larger economy?  JEAN-PIERRE: It’s the largest month of what? MORDOCK: The largest — largest lump monthly — largest — excuse me‚ largest layoffs in a single month in the tech sector since‚ I think‚ May of — May of 2023.  JEAN-PIERRE: So — so‚ we closely monitor‚ obviously‚ all reports of Americans losing their jobs. President Biden knows what losing a job can mean for a family and entire community. You’ve heard him talk about his own personal experience growing up‚ but broadly speaking‚ thanks to the strong economy under President Biden‚ layoffs are near record lows. In fact‚ they’re lower than the average during the prior administration‚ even before COVID. As you know‚ unemployment is at under 4 percent and — and‚ also‚ three million jobs were created just last year‚ more than any year under the previous administration.  And companies continue to grow. We’ve seen small business application boom at 16 million applications in the last three years and so‚ that tells you a lot about the economy‚ but obviously‚ anytime we hear about Americans losing jobs‚ that’s something that we monitor. All right. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: Does the President plan to meet with his son‚ Hunter‚ while he is in California? He was with — JEAN-PIERRE: I’m not — I’m not going to speak to — to the President’s family. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: And then‚ is he — is he aware — is he aware or in touch with his brother James heading into his interviews with House Republicans — JEAN-PIERRE: I — I’m not — UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: — tomorrow?  JEAN-PIERRE: — I’m not going to — I’m not going to speak to the President’s private conversation with his family. I never do‚ and I’m not going to do that now.

A 69-year-old allegedly stabbed a man in the buttocks Friday after a leg press run-in at an LA Fitness in Austin‚ Texas.What are the details?The victim told detectives he was waiting to use the leg press when John Makinson told him to find something else to do‚ KVUE-TV reported. Makinson walked to the locker room area after finishing the leg press‚ and the victim began using the leg press‚ the station said.KVUE — citing an affidavit it obtained — reported that after the victim finished his workout‚ he and Makinson walked past each other near the locker room area when Makinson started yelling and then stabbed the victim in the buttocks.The victim told police Makinson then chased him through the gym while holding a four- to six-inch knife in the air‚ the station said.More from KVUE:The affidavit states people gathered around the victim to protect him from Makinson when he started yelling at them‚ "Who else wants some?" Police later found Makinson behind the gym where he allegedly told an officer‚ "I just got out of prison for this." Records show Makinson was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for another stabbing in Austin in 2011‚ before being paroled in 2021.Following the investigation‚ Makinson was charged again with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.Police said the victim was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center‚ where he immediately needed 500 milliliters of blood‚ the station said‚ adding that the affidavit indicates the victim's stab wound was three to four inches deep and required four staples to close.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The death of a non-binary student at an Oklahoma high school has led to liberals blaming Republican policies regarding transgender bathroom use. 16-year-old Nex Benedict reportedly died as a result of injuries sustained during a brutal beating in the bathroom at Owasso High School in Owasso on Feb. 7. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was among those scurrying to score political points off of the death of a child. "Nex Benedict’s death from a brutal assault in their high school bathroom is outrageous and heartbreaking. The anti-trans fervor fueled by extreme Republicans across the country is having deadly consequences for our children‚" Pelosi tweeted Wednesday. "We must stand up against anti-trans hate‚" she added. Another notable liberal voice jumping on the bandwagon was Democrat Sen. Liz Warren of Massachusetts. "The killing of Nex Benedict is gut-wrenching and underscores the danger of extremists who are dehumanizing kids with anti-trans hate in Oklahoma and across the country‚" she tweeted."Every student should feel safe at school and supported for who they are. Nex deserves justice‚" she added. The narrative collapses Despite the attempt to smear Republicans‚ police said Wednesday that the non-binary student did not die as a result of injuries from the fight but that they were still investigating the cause of death. "While the investigation continues into the altercation. Preliminary information from the medical examiner’s office is that a complete autopsy was performed and indicated that the decedent did not die as a result of trauma‚" read a statement from Owasso Police. "At this time‚ any further comments on the cause of death are currently pending until toxicology results and other ancillary testing results are received‚" they added. "The official autopsy report will be available at a later date." Police added other information from their investigation thus far. They said that the fight was broken up by other students in the bathroom. All of the people involved were juveniles‚ and a school nurse examined them and determined an ambulance didn't need to be called. “All students involved in the altercation walked under their own power to the assistant principal’s office and nurse’s office‚” said district spokesman Jordan Korphage. The next day‚ emergency personnel were called to a medical emergency involving Benedict‚ and the student was transported to the St. Francis Pediatric Emergency Room‚ where Benedict was declared dead. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond released a statement cautioning against rash conclusions but condemning bullying. "As a parent and grandparent‚ my heart breaks for the tragic death of the Owasso student. Because investigators are still working to determine what precipitated this tragedy and the student's cause of death‚ it is too early to jump to conclusions‚" said Drummond. "What is clear‚ however‚ is that our children are precious and should not have to endure the cruelty of others‚ especially when they are in school‚" he added. "Bullying must not be tolerated in any form." Here's more about Benedict's death: Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Yesterday‚ Glenn Beck had the opportunity to conduct the first interview with Tucker Carlson following the commentator’s return from Russia to interview Vladimir Putin. Today‚ Glenn sits down with Pat Gray to share his thoughts on his time with Tucker. “I think it went really well‚” says Glenn. Prior to the interview‚ “I really didn't know where [Tucker] stood on Russia‚” and “as I pushed him on it‚ he really flipped.” “He's so tired of having to be clear on absolutely everything when he thinks some things are just understood.” In essence‚ Tucker told Glenn: “I'm an American‚ I don't care about any other country other than America ... If this is what this crappy‚ communist country can do‚ what the hell [is America] doing?” and explained that Russia was actually far nicer than it’s being portrayed in the media and that our biggest concern should be the rapid devolution of the United States. Another topic of conversation was Tucker’s inexplicable ability to relate to the common man despite growing up in the political sphere of Washington‚ D.C. “I said‚ ‘You grew up in Washington‚ D.C. Your dad ... was part of the machine‚”’ Glenn recounts. “‘How is it you escaped all this elitism — because you are kind of elite — and yet you relate to the people?”’ “‘I don’t‚’ [Tucker] said. ‘I am the elite ... but because I grew up around them‚ I know them‚ and I know them by name ... I despise them.”’ “He said‚ ‘I love America‚ and I hate the people who are running it‚”’ Glenn explains. Even though people have essentially called Tucker “Vladimir Putin’s b****” following his controversial interview‚ “he's not‚” says Pat. “He’s just pointing out that we've let our country go to ruin ... and it's partly because of the oppression that they have in Russia.” Glenn confirms that this is entirely true. “[Tucker] said‚ ‘I’m not saying we should be Russian. We should be pissed off that the Russians have this‚”’ referring to how nice and in-tact Russia actually is‚ ‘“while we have tent cities”’ in America. “He’s absolutely right‚” says Glenn. Tucker also took a similar approach when Glenn broached the subject of Alexei Navalny’s mysterious and sudden death. “He said‚ ‘Why does that matter so much to Americans? … I don’t care about Navalny. I care about what’s happening here in America.”’ In sum‚ Tucker told Glenn‚ “‘I don't care about the internal politics of Ukraine; I don't care about the internal politics of Russia ... How does that affect us?”’ “He’s right‚” agrees Pat. To hear more of Glenn’s thoughts on his interview with Tucker‚ watch the clip below. Want more from Pat Gray?To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

Meghan McCain‚ a daughter of the late Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona‚ has spurned GOP U.S. Senate primary candidate Kari Lake's invitation to meet."Kari Lake is trying to walk back her continued attacks on my Dad (&; family) and all of his loyal supporters after telling them to 'get the hell out'. Guess she realized she can't become a Senator without us. No peace‚ b****. We see you for who you are - and are repulsed by it‚" McCain tweeted.In response‚ Lake invited McCain to get together and chat."I value you. I value your family and I value the passion you have for our state. I'd love nothing more than to buy you a beer‚ a coffee or lunch and pick your brain about how we can work together to strengthen our state. My team is sending you my contact info — if you’re willing to meet‚ it would mean a lot to me. Thank you‚ Meghan. I hope we can connect soon! God bless‚" Lake tweeted. — (@) But McCain fired back by exclaiming with all capital letters‚ "NO PEACE‚ B****!""All Kari can do is extend the olive branch. If you refuse to take it‚ that's your call. This kind of blind anger is not conducive to bringing Arizona together. It won't stop Kari from trying‚" the Kari Lake War Room X account responded.In the past‚ Lake made the comment‚ "We don't have any McCain Republicans in here do we?" before adding‚ "get the hell out."During a recent radio interview‚ Lake said that she wants everybody's vote‚ including those who identify as a "McCain Republican" or "Trump Republican‚" as well as independents and "disaffected Democrats." Bruce St. James‚ who identified himself as a "McCain Republican‚" said that Lake had told McCain Republicans they were not welcome. He asked her‚ "What changed?"Lake pushed back‚ saying that was "not what I said‚" and asserting that her comment had been "joke." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!