Biden: Blame Garland‚ Gaslight Trump‚ Wear More Makeup and Use Better Lighting

Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart and New York Times columnist David Brooks joined PBS NewsHour host Amna Nawaz on Friday to recap the week’s biggest stories‚ including Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report that claimed he could not win a conviction in President Joe Biden’s classified documents case because a jury would view him as a sympathetic old man with memory problems. For both men‚ but especially Capehart‚ the report was both “terrific‚” but also “gratuitous.” On the decision not to charge Biden‚ Capehart claimed it was “great‚ the decision‚ you know‚ not charging the president‚ terrific.”     Capehart proceeded to argue that Biden’s case was fundamentally different than Donald Trump’s‚ “He lied about handing them all over. And that's why he was indicted. And so anyone who's trying to conflate the two situations is being disingenuous. So that's what I have to say about that.” Nawaz agreed‚ as she turned to Brooks‚ “the special counsel went to great lengths to say there were several material distinctions between the two cases. Is that resonating with the public?” Brooks agreed and although he condemned Biden for throwing his staff under the bus when he blamed them‚ he declared‚ “if Donald Trump‚ when they came to him about his documents‚ had said‚ yeah‚ I cooperate‚ he probably wouldn't be in the mess he's in.” Turning the part of the report that dealt with Biden’s age‚ Nawaz turned back to Capehart and after quoting Hur‚ asked “Jonathan‚ what did you make of that inclusion in the report?” After asking if Nawaz was trying to “trigger me‚” Capehart first condemned Hur‚ “I thought those reports were supposed to be just the facts. That was gratuitous.” Then he appeared to condemn the segment itself‚ “We have spent way too much time talking about this president's age. And I will say it again. When Ronald Reagan was the oldest person to ever be in the White House and to run for reelection‚ I don't recall a lot of people within his own party talking about the fact that we need to get another person‚ he's too old.” Ronald Reagan was 77 when he left the White House. Joe Biden is 81 and running for re-election. Capehart also tried to defend Biden’s Egypt-Mexico gaffe by claiming‚ “I did the same thing on — around this table when talking about the governor of Virginia. Remember when I said Governor Northam‚ and the two of you — your heads popped off.” Even Nawaz wasn’t buying that one‚ “Well‚ the former governor... And‚ also‚ to be fair‚ you are not president of the United States.” However‚ she would later ask Brooks the same question‚ “David‚ the White House used the word gratuitous. Was it?” Brooks mostly agreed‚ “Two-thirds. You know‚ I think the special counsel used — talked about the age because his job is to think through how a jury would think… prosecutors are also not allowed to insult people who they don't charge‚ because they — the people they're insulting don't get their day in court to fight back. And so there — this is prosecutorial standards‚ and I think he sort of very much flirted or went over the line on that.” Brooks and Capehart can lament the age portions of the Hur Report all they want‚ but not being able to remember the years you were vice president or confusing Egypt for Mexico at a press conference meant to reassure the nation that there’s no problem with your mental faculties is not something that is going to be easily dismissed as no big deal. Here is a transcript for the February 9 show: PBS NewsHour 2/9/2024 7:37 PM ET AMNA NAWAZ: This was at President Biden's Delaware home‚ a tattered box in a garage‚ among others. But he did conclude the evidence was not sufficient for criminal charges. Jonathan‚ what was your reaction to that decision and how it's being received? JONATHAN CAPEHART: Well‚ I mean‚ great‚ the decision‚ you know‚ not charging the president‚ terrific. The other thing about the report that was good is that it compared-- NAWAZ: Yeah. CAPEHART: -- and contrasted President Biden versus what former President Trump did and that is the thing that I think everyone needs to remember. When classified documents were found at the home and all the other places of President Biden‚ President Biden and his administration cooperated‚ gave them back‚ had authorities do searches. When documents were found or believed to have been at the former president's residences‚ he stonewalled. He lied about handing them all over. And that's why he was indicted. And so anyone who's trying to conflate the two situations is being disingenuous. So that's what I have to say about that. NAWAZ: Well‚ David‚ we know he did — the special counsel went to great lengths to say there were several material distinctions between the two cases. Is that resonating with the public? DAVID BROOKS: Yeah‚ I think so. I think people know the Mar-a-Lago case is more serious. But Biden was sloppy. He did share classified material with a ghostwriter‚ apparently. I think‚ frankly‚ it was unattractive of him last night to blame it all on staff. Maybe staff was partially to blame. But I don't think that's what leaders do‚ that they blame the team. But‚ nonetheless‚ as Jonathan said‚ he cooperated. It was sloppy. He said‚ let's rectify this. And if Donald Trump‚ when they came to him about his documents‚ had said‚ yeah‚ I cooperate‚ he probably wouldn't be in the mess he's in. NAWAZ: Well‚ we also know the special counsel chose to comment on Biden's memory function in that report‚ saying he had — quote — "significant memory problems." He wrote this: “Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury‚ as he did during our interview of him‚ as a sympathetic‚ well-meaning‚ elderly man with a poor memory.” Jonathan‚ what did you make of that inclusion in the report? Does that— CAPEHART: You trying to trigger me‚ Amna? NAWAZ: Your face perhaps says it all. CAPEHART: So… NAWAZ: But‚ please. CAPEHART: And that wasn't the only place— NAWAZ: Correct. CAPEHART: -- where he talked about the president's age. I thought those reports were supposed to be just the facts. That was gratuitous. A lot of the other ones were gratuitous. We have spent way too much time talking about this president's age. And I will say it again. When Ronald Reagan was the oldest person to ever be in the White House and to run for reelection‚ I don't recall a lot of people within his own party talking about the fact that we need to get another person‚ he's too old. And what Counsel Hur did was feed lines to Republicans who want to make the president's memory and capabilities and whether he's senile a talking point. It gives them some fodder. But what he's also — what Counsel Hur has also done is given bed-wetting Democrats another reason to complain about the president's age. Meanwhile‚ they're not focused on the fact that the 82-year-old president of the United States has an incredible record in the three years he's been president. I wish people would focus on that. And the fact that he mixed up the president of Egypt with the president of Mexico‚ I did the same thing on — around this table when talking about the governor of Virginia. Remember when I said Governor Northam‚ and the two of you — your heads popped off. You're like‚ who's he talking about? NAWAZ: Well‚ the former governor. CAPEHART: A former governor‚ but still. NAWAZ: And‚ also‚ to be fair‚ you are not president of the United States. … NAWAZ : David‚ the White House used the word gratuitous. Was it? BROOKS: Two-thirds. You know‚ I think the special counsel used — talked about the age because his job is to think through how a jury would think. And the argument was‚ a jury would not convict the guy because they think he'd be a well-intentioned guy with memory problems. Nonetheless‚ prosecutors are also not allowed to insult people who they don't charge‚ because they — the people they're insulting don't get their day in court to fight back. And so there — this is prosecutorial standards‚ and I think he sort of very much flirted or went over the line on that.

Former Biden official and current MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend joined the Saturday edition of Today on NBC to discuss President Joe Biden’s age and recent gaffes in the wake of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report. Sanders-Townsend spun for Biden so hard that it is amazing she didn’t fall out of her chair from dizziness‚ as she actually tried to argue that Biden’s gaffes will dispel concerns about his age. Co-host Peter Alexander wondered if Sanders-Townsend was actually giving good advice‚ “I know your sense is they got to let Joe be Joe here‚ let him get out there‚ interact with more Americans‚ but frankly‚ I think some would say in the recent days‚ when we've seen Joe be Joe‚ there have been other mistakes‚ some flubs‚ if you will‚ even in those remarks on Thursday night‚ the president confused the presidents of Mexico and Egypt. Is Joe being Joe‚ helping Joe or hurting?”     Sanders-Townsend was undeterred by Biden’s week of constant world leader blunders‚ "Well look‚ I think it can only help Joe Biden. When‚ back in the day‚ maybe four years ago‚ people used to say Joe Biden was the gaffe king. Well‚ now gaffes have turned into‚ 'oh‚ well‚ has he lost a step. Is he too old?’” Yes‚ she actually argued that Biden isn’t gaffe-prone because he’s old‚ he’s just gaffe-prone and this makes him more appealing. Sanders-Townsend also argued that Biden needs to be in public more‚ “And so I think that‚ look‚ the more the president is out there‚ fighting‚ looking like Uncle Joe as folks know‚ that is something the American people want to see‚ and frankly‚ how folks -- part of the reason they voted for them last time‚ anybody remember ‘beat him a drum?’” She continued‚ “So‚ the president has to put himself in spaces and places‚ and the campaign does where he can-- that can come out. Where he is unscripted‚ where he is not on a big stage with flags behind him‚ but with the people‚ speaking plainly‚ and you know‚ showing the best thing you could do to combat if one has lost a step or if you can do the job‚ is to go out there and show people‚ but folks have to see it.” What about the part of the Hur Report that mentions Biden’s memory problems? Earlier‚ Alexander asked her‚ “This is not a legal indictment‚ but perhaps it can be viewed as a political one here because it really gets to the heart of what Americans' main concern is about this president... So‚ how politically problematic is this for the president‚ and how does the White House try to turn this issue and go on offense again?" Here too‚ Sanders-Townsend also argued that Biden’s Thursday press conference actually benefited him‚ “In terms of what is problematic‚ I think that had the president not gone out Thursday night after the report surfaced and defended himself and then opened the door for his vice president and others to vigorously defend him‚ he would be in hotter waters.” For Sanders-Townsend‚ Biden’s age is simply a conservative obsession‚ “Folks know the president is old‚ it is something that frankly‚ a sustained campaign has been ran against him in conservative‚ I would argue‚ conservative media circles and conservative campaigns for a while.” Yes‚ they know he is old and‚ unlike Sanders-Townsend‚ they are not impressed with what they are seeing. Here is a transcript for the February 10 show:  NBC Today 2/10/2024 7:05  AM ET PETER ALEXANDER: We want to bring in Symone Sanders-Townsend‚ she served as a senior member of the Biden Administration‚ is also a Democratic campaign veteran. Symone now co-hosts The Weekend on MSNBC. Symone‚ nice to see you on a Saturday morning‚ I appreciate your waking up with us. This is not a legal indictment‚ but perhaps it can be viewed as a political one here because it really gets to the heart of what Americans' main concern is about this president. More than 70 percent of Americans in NBC’s latest poll say they have concerns about his age and his mental acuity. So‚ how politically problematic is this for the president‚ and how does the White House try to turn this issue and go on offense again? SYMONE SANDERS-TOWNSEND: Well‚ good to you both‚ happy Saturday. The heart of that report was‚ in fact‚ that there were no criminal charges to be filed because there was no crime to be found. And on that-- on those grounds‚ that's great for the president‚ the White House and the president's re-election campaign. In terms of what is problematic‚ I think that had the president not gone out Thursday night after the report surfaced and defended himself and then opened the door for his vice president and others to vigorously defend him‚ he would be in hotter waters.  Folks know the president is old‚ it is something that frankly‚ a sustained campaign has been ran against him in conservative‚ I would argue‚ conservative media circles and conservative campaigns for a while.  And so it is baked in on the president's side that he is old‚ and that is why‚ I think‚ frankly now it's showing up in the polling. When-- I like to say when the president was a senior‚ Donald Trump was a freshman‚ but there was not a sustained campaign. Democrats did not choose when Donald Trump first came on the scene to brand him as crazy‚ senile‚ or too old to do the job. They said he was dangerous and unfit and a threat to the republic‚ so— ALEXANDER: So‚ Symone‚ let me ask you if I can quickly‚ because I know your sense is they got to let Joe be Joe‚ here— SANDERS-TOWNSEND: Yes. ALEXANDER: --let him get out there‚ interact with more Americans‚ but frankly‚ I think some would say in the recent days‚ when we've seen Joe be Joe‚ there have been other mistakes‚ some flubs‚ if you will‚ even in those remarks on Thursday night‚ the president confused the presidents of Mexico and Egypt. Is Joe being Joe‚ helping Joe or hurting?  SANDERS-TOWNSEND: Well look‚ I think it can only help Joe Biden. When‚ back in the day‚ maybe four years ago‚ people used to say Joe Biden was the gaffe king. Well‚ now gaffes have turned into‚ “oh‚ well‚ has he lost a step. Is he too old?” And so I think that‚ look‚ the more the president is out there‚ fighting‚ looking like Uncle Joe as folks know‚ that is something the American people want to see‚ and frankly‚ how folks -- part of the reason they voted for them last time‚ anybody remember “beat him a drum?” So‚ the president has to put himself in spaces and places‚ and the campaign does where he can-- that can come out. Where he is unscripted‚ where he is not on a big stage with flags behind him‚ but with the people‚ speaking plainly‚ and you know‚ showing the best thing you could do to combat if one has lost a step or if you can do the job‚ is to go out there and show people‚ but folks have to see it. 

Floridian transgender activists decided to stage die-in demonstrations in several driver's license offices across the state. The development comes after the state issued a new rule that would criminalize anyone who decides to change genders on their driver's license‚ according to Fox News Digital.Dozens of people covered in Pride flags and safety vests went into several DMV locations and laid down in mock death. Protesters held up signs that read "hate kills." X account PRISM FL‚ Inc. posted activists at one location‚ writing: "The FL DMV is killing trans people‚ so we're showing them the consequences." — (@) Theo Jordan took exception to the demonstration‚ responding to Prism: "This is the dumbest thing I've seen. Empty performative brats with nothing else in life to derive self-value. Most pathetic thing I've ever witnessed. I would go mock them relentlessly if they were here. Yes‚ we use ID for identification and not ideology‚ you brainwashed losers." — (@) In a press release‚ Prism said "[p]articipants will stage die-ins to underscore the devastating consequences of efforts to erase the transgender community’s legal recognition." The development comes as the Sunshine State is set to institute a new rule that would bar transgender residents from being allowed to change genders on their driver's license to fall in line with their personal gender identity.Robert Kynoch‚ the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Deputy Executive Director‚ recently wrote in a memo to county tax collectors that "misrepresenting one's gender‚ understood as sex‚ on a driver's license constitutes fraud‚" adding that those who misrepresent their biological gender could receive "criminal and civil penalties‚ including cancelation‚ suspension‚ or revocation of his or her driver license.""The term 'gender'… does not refer to a person's internal sense of his or her gender role or identification‚ but has historically and commonly been understood as a synonym for 'sex‚' which is determined by innate and immutable biological and genetic characteristics‚" Kynoch wrote.X account Youth Action Fund responded to Kynoch's memo‚ writing: "This HORRIFIC anti-LGBTQ+ policy change was directed by Robert Kynoch‚ Deputy Director of the FL DMV‚ in a department-wide memo. He ORDERED a BAN on accurate gender marker changes‚ contributing to TRANS ERASURE‚ while opening the door for potential suspension or “fraud” charges." — (@) Previously‚ Florida residents were allowed to submit a court order for a name change. They were also allowed to provide a letter from a physician on gender transition that would allow them to change genders on their driver's licenses.Like Blaze News? Circumvent the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Two Michigan suspects have been arrested after they were involved in a robbery and sexual assault incident in Northville Township late last month‚ according to WJBK. The attack took place while a one-year-old child was present. Javon Bryant Anderson‚ 29‚ and a second unidentified suspect carried out the attack in a home at Eight Mile Road and Silver Spring Driver. A man was reportedly assaulted and a woman was raped. The attack took place on January 20‚ but the suspects were not arrested until February 5.The suspects and victims were set to meet up for an online sale. Detective Dan Jones said that the "incident itself lasted about 20 minutes from start to finish." Anderson is originally from Detroit‚ and the second unidentified suspect is reportedly from Taylor. The second suspect was transferred to federal custody after being apprehended to face federal weapons charges.Jones said 26 total charges were being brought against the two suspects.A second report noted that the male resident was lured out of his home and subsequently beaten. He was then forced back into his home‚ where he was continually beaten while the woman was sexually assaulted. The man and one-year-old child were held at gunpoint during the sexual assault.The Northville Township police said the following: "Through intensive investigative efforts‚ the Northville Township Police identified two suspects.""On Feb. 5‚ in a coordinated effort involving the Northville Township Detective Bureau‚ FBI SWAT‚ FBI Violent Crimes Task Force‚ Michigan State Police‚ and the Canton Special Operations Group‚ search warrants were executed at residences in Taylor and Detroit."It appears that this is not Anderson's first crime. He has been convicted of felonies in the past‚ and his bond was set at $500‚000."In my 17 years (of) experience here‚ this is a very abnormal incident‚" Jones said. "There was surveillance that was conducted‚ both electronically and physical(ly)‚ over the course of a two a week period."The victims of the assault were treated at a nearby hospital‚ and they were released shortly after."The victims are OK‚" Jones said. "Obviously‚ they're going through a process‚ and they went through a lot of trauma which takes some healing."Anderson is expected to appear in court on February 16.It is still not clear what motivated the attack.Like Blaze News? Circumvent the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The estranged wife of a man in New Hampshire testified on Friday that he punched their five-year-old daughter to death. Afterward‚ he folded the girl's body into a duffel bag and stuffed it in the trunk of his car‚ then moved it to a ceiling vent‚ and finally to a restaurant freezer while he tried to figure out how to dispose of the body‚ according to the Associated Press.Kayla Montgomery said that her stepdaughter‚ Harmony Montgomery‚ died on December 7‚ 2019‚ in a car that the family was living in after they were evicted from their home. Harmony's body has still not been recovered by the authorities. The report mentioned that Kayla's comments were made during the third day of Adam Montgomery's murder trial‚ but he has not been in attendance.Kayla said Harmony had been potty trained‚ but she had been experiencing frequent accidents. She went on to say that her husband‚ Adam‚ punched the five-year-old in the head after two such accidents in the car. She added that Adam covered Harmony's body with a blanket as the child cried and moaned and ultimately went silent. When the family's car broke down shortly after‚ Adam allegedly stuffed the girl's body in a duffel bag. The Midland Daily News reported that Adam has been charged with second-degree murder‚ assault‚ and witness tampering. His lawyers went on to say that he was also guilty of two other charges: abusing a corpse and falsifying evidence. But they concluded that Adam did not kill his daughter and suggested Kayla was lying to the authorities to protect herself.Public defender James T. Brooks told the jury that "[o]nly she knows the truth‚" adding that Kayla was the only one who has "benefitted from all the lies she has told."Though Kayla appeared to suggest her husband was solely responsible for Harmony's death‚ she told jurors in May 2022 that she did not know what happened to her stepdaughter. Defense attorney Caroline Smith asked: "So‚ looking at jurors while you’re lying doesn’t change the lie‚ right?"Kayla is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to perjury for lying to the grand jury about where she was when Harmony was last seen‚ according to reports.After being questioned by Smith‚ Kayla appeared to admit that she had told at least a dozen other lies during her testimony.“You said the last time you saw Harmony‚ she was happy‚” Smith said. “You had no problem with lying to the grand jury.”The authorities did not learn about Harmony's disappearance until December 2021‚ two years after she allegedly died. Kayla claimed that she tried to stop her husband from attacking the child‚ but added that "he gave me this look that was like‚ evil‚ his crazy eyes."“I was scared‚" she said. Like Blaze News? Circumvent the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Doom hardly needs any help in the violence department. Ripping and tearing is par the course for the iconic series‚ and the Doomslayer's propensity for such has only increased over the years. Mullet Mad Jack takes Doom‚ and imagines it as some bloodsoaked‚ effervescent anime‚ and there's a free demo for you to see why it rules for yourself. Continue reading Doom becomes a super-violent anime in roguelike FPS you can try now

The Palworld concurrent Steam playercount has already dropped significantly after launch as Pocketpair’s take on the survival game genre could be starting to find its player rhythm. The concurrent peak has seen over 1.3 million players begin to step away from the game‚ while the active player count still sits comfortably in the hundreds of thousands. Continue reading Palworld down 1.3m players in Steam’s biggest-ever two-week drop MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Palworld bosses‚ Palworld map‚ Palworld settings

After being imprisoned in Ariel Castro's home for a decade‚ Amanda Berry escaped her kidnapper in 2013 — and freed his other victims‚ Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight. The post How Kidnapping Victim Amanda Berry Survived 10 Years In Captivity appeared first on All That's Interesting.

In the same speech‚ Trump also said of President Biden: ‘I don’t think he knows he’s alive.’