Former President Donald Trump offered insights into his view on the dealmaking that led to CNN hosting his first debate against President Joe Biden of the 2024 election cycle. The Washington Examiner’s Byron York reported a conversation in which Trump called anchor Jake Tapper, who has been announced as one of the debate moderators, “Fake Tapper.” York noted how “Trump said it was the result of what he believes was failed gamesmanship on the part of the Biden campaign” when asked how the debate came together. “What they did, I’m pretty sure, is that they approached me with a debate that I couldn’t take,” Trump said. The former president noted how Tapper and his fellow anchor, Dana Bash, were selected as moderators. Trump went on to list other rules that CNN has announced for the debate on Thursday evening. “No audience, sitting down, originally sitting down, a dead debate, turn off the mics when you’re not speaking so I can’t interrupt him,” he said. “They knew I wouldn’t accept that because it was CNN, Dana Bash, Jake Tapper, and I like an audience and probably he doesn’t, who knows?” Trump continued. He added, “They thought they would present it, I would say no, and they would say we can’t debate because Trump said no. So I said yes before they even gave me the terms. So he got roped into it.” York point out Democrats “would interpret things differently” than how Trump described them. “After all, Biden took the lead in the debate maneuver and Trump had to react,” he observed. “But there also appears to be little doubt that Biden, who trailed Trump in both national and key state polls, felt a need to shake up the race, and to do it sooner rather than later,” York wrote. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “Thus, the June 27 debate will be the earliest general election faceoff ever,” he went on. Another debate between Biden and Trump — this one hosted by ABC News — is planned for September 10. CNN anchor Kasie Hunt shut down a debate preview on Monday after Trump campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt kept bringing up how the moderators had criticized her boss in the past. The cable network released a statement afterwards, describing Tapper and Bash as “well respected veteran journalists” with experience in covering politics and moderating debates. CNN added, “There are no two people better equipped to co-moderate a substantial and fact-based discussion and we look forward to the debate on June 27 in Atlanta.”

Alec Baldwin’s attorneys went back to court to get the “Rust” involuntary manslaughter case against the actor dismissed due to claims of destruction of the gun in the 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. During a virtual court hearing on Monday, attorneys for the 66-year-old actor argued that when the FBI took a mallet to Baldwin’s Colt .45 revolver during testing of the gun, it destroyed the defense’s case that the gun could have fired due to mechanical issues, CBS News reported. Baldwin’s attorney John Bash said the government “understood that this was potentially exculpatory evidence and they destroyed it anyway. It’s outrageous and it requires dismissal.” “This is among the most egregious constellation of facts I’ve ever seen,” he added, Variety noted. “They knew it would be destroyed, and they did nothing to preserve the evidence for the defendant.” Alec Baldwin attorneys claim FBI damaged revolver, seek to dismiss ‘Rust’ charges https://t.co/gODKiI1KUp — News 4 San Antonio (@News4SA) June 25, 2024 Prosecutors responded that the gun being damaged was “unfortunate” and argued that the defense can still make its case using other evidence that’s available, adding that the gun was not destroyed, just broken into three pieces. “The parts are still available,” special prosecutor Erlinda Johnson said. “The fact that this gun was unfortunately damaged does not deprive the defendant of ability to question the evidence.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “A review of the evidence in this case leads one to conclude that the exculpatory value of this firearm, in the condition it was in on Oct. 21, 2021, is extremely low,” she added, noting in an interview on that day with investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “Baldwin himself told OSHA investigators that the gun had no mechanical defects” and said he had already been using it for some time. “The only problem was that it was … there was a live bullet in the gun. Those were his words,” the prosecutor added. “That could not put law enforcement on notice that this gun had, if you believe their theory, some potential mechanical defects when he was interviewed by law enforcement on Oct. 21, 2021.” New Mexico Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer said she would make a ruling on the motion to dismiss on Friday and said, “Do not think that that means stop working for trial.” Baldwin currently awaits trial after being charged with involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins’ death and pleading not guilty to the charge, as previously reported. In October 2021, the “30 Rock” star was involved in the shooting of Hutchins on the New Mexico film set. The firearm Baldwin was holding discharged a bullet. Baldwin has repeatedly maintained that there was “no trigger pull.” In April, the film’s weapons supervisor, 26-year-old Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after she was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Hutchins. Baldwin’s trial is set to start July 10, Variety noted. If convicted, the “30 Rock” star faces up to 18 months in prison.

Ousted Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) weighed in on the tough primary opponent — George Latimer — facing Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and suggested the writing was already on the wall. Referencing Bowman’s now-infamous fire alarm stunt — which he claimed was simply a failure on his part to differentiate between an exit door and a fire alarm — Cuomo said that the Squad-aligned progressive was going to get “smoked” in his Tuesday primary. “Jamaal Bowman should pull the fire alarm again because he is going to be smoked by @LatimerforNY today. The message is clear: anti-semitism in any and all forms will not be tolerated in New York. And you can’t call yourself a progressive without making progress. Vote!” Jamaal Bowman should pull the fire alarm again because he is going to be smoked by @LatimerforNY today. The message is clear: anti-semitism in any and all forms will not be tolerated in New York. And you can’t call yourself a progressive without making progress. Vote! ?️ — Andrew Cuomo (@andrewcuomo) June 25, 2024 Cuomo’s comment about anti-Semitism was a reference to Bowman’s alignment with the far-Left progressive “Squad” and their insistence on siding with anti-Israel protesters in the wake of the October 7 Hamas terror attacks on Israel. Bowman has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The New York congressman’s relationship with the Jewish community in his own district has been fraught as well. According to a recent report, Bowman allegedly texted a Jewish leader in his district and asked for a photo of them together, explaining that he wanted to “show the world I’m friends with Jewish people.” The Jewish leader, reportedly made uncomfortable by the request, opted not to send the photo: “I was uncomfortable. I kind of joked around with him about it. I said, ‘Oh, I’m sure you guys have it. Don’t worry about it.’ I was like, ‘I don’t want to be his court Jew.’ That wasn’t what I signed up for.”

In the 2024 presidential election, third-party and independent candidates are facing significant hurdles in their quest for ballot access. Candidates such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West have decided to create their own political parties to ease the stringent requirements for getting on the ballot in various states. Kennedy, running under the "We the People" party, and West, initially planning to run with the Green Party before forming the "Justice for All" party, are leveraging the legal advantages that minor-party candidates have over independents. For example, in states like North Carolina, minor parties need only around 13,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot, whereas independents require over 83,000​. The scam “debates” are finally getting some much needed attention from people just figuring out issues that 3rd Party/Independents have with debate access because of RFK Jr not being invited to debate. How could someone polling so high not be included? How could someone on the… pic.twitter.com/xKJyhILTWu — Being Libertarian (@beinlibertarian) May 16, 2024 This strategic move comes as polling indicates an unprecedented appetite for third-party candidates, driven by widespread dissatisfaction with the major parties' frontrunners, President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Despite the enthusiasm, experts like political scholar Tamas emphasize that these candidates need a galvanizing issue to sustain their momentum and avoid fading by November​​. While the Greens and Libertarians remain focused on their traditional platforms, new entrants like Kennedy and West are attempting to capture the moderate and progressive vote respectively. Interesting perspective. Time to cut bait and join Kennedy. Your 3% could make a 3rd party win the Electoral College.Be a GameChangeror not. Kennedy Shanahan Winning https://t.co/jCWOHQkbLI — Billy from Philly -Kennedy-Shanahan (@MuffiWilliam) June 21, 2024 This dynamic could produce a significant spoiler effect, especially in a tight race where even a small shift in votes could determine the outcome. Historically, third-party candidates have impacted elections by forcing major parties to address neglected issues, but their success hinges on running candidates at all levels, not just the presidential ticket​​. The ballot access process varies widely across states, with independent candidates facing particularly high hurdles. For instance, Texas requires over 113,000 signatures from voters who did not participate in the primary elections of either major party, a daunting task within a limited timeframe​​. In contrast, states like Florida and Delaware offer more accessible routes for minor parties, enabling candidates like Kennedy and West to navigate these complexities more effectively. As the election draws closer, the role of third-party candidates will become clearer. Their ability to influence the political landscape depends on their organizational strength and the resonance of their platforms with voters. While the major parties co-opt popular third-party issues to neutralize their impact, the presence of strong third-party contenders could still shape the national conversation and potentially alter the election's outcome​​. In summary, the 2024 election cycle is witnessing a strategic adaptation by third-party candidates to overcome ballot access challenges. By forming new parties and focusing on key states, candidates like Kennedy and West are positioning themselves to influence the election, despite the historical difficulties faced by third-party campaigns. The post Third-Party Candidates Aim for 2024 Ballot Access Amid Challenges appeared first on The Conservative Brief.

After more than 35 years of marriage, Kevin Bacon still lights up when he sees Kyra Sedgwick shine. The happy couple attended the MaXXXine premiere this week with their kids, Travis Bacon, 35, and Sosie Bacon, 32. The outing was to support Kevin’s role in the horror flick. “That’s the way we roll,” Kevin told ET’s Ash Crossan before he made his way down the red carpet. “We’re a wholesome family that likes to come out for horror movies.” Kyra pulled out all the stops for the event and looked absolutely stunning in a black leather mini-dress and high heels, and her naturally curly hair was styled into a loose, straight style. The look did not go unnoticed by Kevin.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by Entertainment Tonight (@entertainmenttonight) “Yes, killer. I know, I know, I know,” he said after Ash commented on Krya’s perfect style. “She’s, uh, look, what can I say? She looks better and better.”  Kevin Bacon And Kyra Sedgwick Teamed Up For A Romantic Comedy Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick have been a Hollywood “it couple” for decades. After meeting on the set of Lemon Sky in the late 1980s, they fell in love, got married, and started a family. While some couples can’t mix business and pleasure, they’ve never grown tired of collaborating on set.  Over the years, Kevin and Kyra continued to film together when possible. Following Lemon Sky, they co-starred in Cavedweller and The Woodsman. And now they have a romantic comedy in post-production. “Yeah, we did a movie,” she continued. “We’re still dialing in on what the movie is going to be called. But yeah, we did. It was really fun. We got to act together. It was really a romantic comedy, and that’s pretty fun.” This story’s featured image is by Kayla Oaddams/WireImage. The post Kevin Bacon Gushes Over Wife Kyra Sedgwick As She Walks The Red Carpet appeared first on InspireMore.

I can’t just go play make-believe right now

MMFA says it paid ASR LCC for 'consultant advisory services'

'The video is from 2016 and shows Syrian rebels attacking pro-government forces'

'Try to ridicule him'

Such ambiguity will always breed more anxiety than confidence, and you can't blame people for responding with pessimism