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

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

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

Songs of Conquest has been one of the biggest surprises of the year so far. A fantasy strategy game that pulls from Heroes of Might and Magic, Songs of Conquest stands alongside fresh entries to the genre like Manor Lords, Frostpunk 2, and Age of Mythologies: Retold to make 2024 outstanding for anyone looking for new options to explore. Now, good news has just arrived for fans of the game who have wrung a lot of enjoyment from it already as a new update has launched that should help provide another reason to jump back in. Continue reading Beloved Steam 4X game Songs of Conquest just got even better

You would be forgiven for wondering exactly when Besiege developer Spiderling Studios is going to take a break. Almost ten years after the medieval sandbox sim’s release it’s still getting updated and has just launched a new DLC - the game’s first. After all that you might expect a moment of silence but it’s not to be, as the dev has just shown off a roadmap for the upcoming months, packed with updates. Continue reading Legendary sandbox game Besiege unveils roadmap filled with new stuff MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best sandbox games, Best building games, Best medieval games

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Inscryption is a horror game that uses cards as a method of storytelling to convey the dark past of its grim world. Kaycees Mod is a free update from the developers that provides a replayable roguelike version of the first chapter of Inscryption. Beneath the horror and seeded truth behind the main game is an innovative card game with engaging replayability, challenging puzzles, and a difficulty level that makes you earn your power spike.

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The Destiny 2 Nerf Ace of Spades blaster. | Image: Hasbro When Bungie and Hasbro decided to create a real-life, dart-blasting Nerf version of one of the most famous Destiny 2 guns, someone got lazy — stealing a fan artist’s nine-year-old work instead of creating the Ace of Spades from scratch. To Bungie’s credit, the game company has just announced it will “make sure” to compensate and credit Tofu Rabbit “for their incredible artwork,” after a rapid investigation. As you can see in Tofu’s examples below, this is an incredibly clear-cut case of copying, despite the changes that Bungie or Hasbro’s artists made to the blaster. Hey @Bungie @BungieHelp @DestinyTheGame @A_dmg04 @Cozmo23 @DestinyComArt soo, the NERF ace of spades DIRECTLY lifts a commission i did in 2015. This is not "similar" or... Continue reading…