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Year: 2024

Biden skips taking questions at G-20 in Brazil, despite reporter pleading with him

Biden skips taking questions at G-20 in Brazil, despite reporter pleading with him

President Biden ignored a reporter’s pleas to speak to the press as she screamed questions at him while he boarded Air Force One to depart from Rio de Janeiro. On Tuesday, Biden finished up his trip to Brazil, where he attended the G-20 summit and met with world leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.  Video shows that as Biden prepared to board Air Force One, an unidentified reporter tried to grab his attention. She can be heard yelling at the top of her lungs to break through the noise created by Biden’s Boeing 747 plane. It is not clear if Biden chose not to answer her or if he could not hear her questions over the roar from the plane’s engines.  “Mr. President, happy early birthday! For your birthday, will you talk to us, sir?” the reporter said, her voice growing louder with each attempt to ask questions. PRESIDENT BIDEN SMILES, IGNORES PRESS SHOUTING QUESTIONS FOR A FULL MINUTE AT WHITE HOUSE EVENT “As a gift to the press will you please talk to us? Mr. President! President Biden, please! We haven’t heard from you all trip!”  Her voice sounded almost hoarse with the final cry of, “MR. PRESIDENT!”  BIDEN MISSES G-20 FAMILY PHOTO, WHITE HOUSE BLAMES ‘LOGISTICAL’ ISSUES Biden turns 82 on Wednesday and will finish office as the oldest person to serve as president in American history – until President-elect Trump, 78, assumes office in January and serves for four more years.   Many news outlets have called out Biden for his habit of ignoring reporters’ questions and lack of direct interviews with the media.  BIDEN LAUGHS AND SMIRKS AS THE PRESS IS USHERED OUT OF THE OVAL OFFICE WITHOUT QUESTIONS “For anyone who understands the role of the free press in a democracy, it should be troubling that President Biden has so actively and effectively avoided questions from independent journalists during his term,” The New York Times said in a public statement in April. “The president occupies the most important office in our nation, and the press plays a vital role in providing insights into his thinking and worldview, allowing the public to assess his record and hold him to account.” The statement went on to say that while Biden may be within his rights to avoid the New York Times in particular, he needs to speak with major news outlets on principle.  “However, in meetings with Vice President Harris and other administration officials, the publisher of The Times focused instead on a higher principle: That systematically avoiding interviews and questions from major news organizations doesn’t just undermine an important norm, it also establishes a dangerous precedent that future presidents can use to avoid scrutiny and accountability.” Fox News Digital’s Alexander Hall contributed to this report.

Speaker Johnson makes clarification after statement regarding transgender House member

Speaker Johnson makes clarification after statement regarding transgender House member

House Speaker Mike Johnson made a clarification on Tuesday after previously declining to answer a reporter’s question on whether transgender Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, D-Del., is a man or a woman.  “I just want to make a statement for all of you here and be very clear: I was asked a question this morning at the leadership gaggle, and I rejected the premise because the answer is so obvious,” Johnson told reporters in the Capitol Tuesday afternoon. “For anybody who doesn’t know my well-established record on this issue, let me be unequivocally clear: A man is a man, and a woman is a woman. And a man cannot become a woman.”  “That said, I also believe that’s what Scripture teaches, what I just said. But I also believe that we treat everybody with dignity, and so we can do and believe all those things at the same time,” he added. “And I wanted to make that clear for everybody because there are lots of questions. But that’s where I stand. I’ve stood there my whole life, and those are facts.”  At the House GOP weekly press conference earlier Tuesday, a reporter had asked Johnson, “Is freshman elect Sarah McBride a man or a woman?”  JOHNSON DECLINES TO SAY IF TRANSGENDER REP-ELECT IS MAN OR WOMAN, SAYS HOUSE TO TREAT EVERYONE WITH ‘RESPECT’  “Look, I’m not going to get into this. We welcome all new members with open arms who are duly elected representatives of the people,” Johnson responded. “I believe it’s a … command that we treat all persons with dignity and respect, and we will.” The question came after Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced a resolution on Monday that moves to prohibit members, officers and employees of the House from using “single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex.”  Asked if the resolution was in response to McBride coming to Congress, Mace said Tuesday, “Yes, and absolutely, and then some.”  TRANSGENDER WOMEN TO BE BANNED FROM CAPITOL HILL FEMALE BATHROOMS UNDER NEW HOUSE GOP PROPOSAL “I’m not going to stand for a man, you know, someone with a penis in the woman’s locker room, that’s not OK,” Mace said. “I’m a victim of abuse myself. I’m a rape survivor. I have PTSD from the abuse I suffered at the hands of a man. And I know how vulnerable women and girls are in private spaces. So I’m absolutely, 100% going to stand in the way of any man who wants to be in a woman’s restroom, in our locker rooms, in our changing rooms. I will be there fighting you every step of the way.”  Outside the Capitol later Tuesday, Mace said Johnson told her on Monday that he would add her resolution to the House rules package.  “And if it doesn’t end up there, I will amend the house rules package,” Mace said. “And I also have a privilege motion ready to go if it’s not in the House rules package for 119th Congress. I will force a vote on this. This is not okay. I’m a survivor of sexual abuse. The idea of having a man in a women’s restroom, locker room, or changing room is repulsive, and I will not allow it. And in fact, I’m not stopping here. This doesn’t end with Capitol Hill. I’m filing legislation tonight. You guys can wait with bated breath for what that’s about. But I am not going to allow this. I’m going to ensure that every woman and girl across the country is protected from this insanity.”  “And today I’m receiving death threats from men pretending to be women who are willing to kill me over my right and women’s rights that I’m fighting for,” Mace added. “It’s insanity. It’s nonsense. And I’m going to stand up and fight back against the radical left all day long, every day, 365 days a year. Good luck. Come at me, bro.”  In X posts on Monday, McBride had derided the resolution as “a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing.”

Congressional election observers deploy to Iowa for recount in uncalled House race

Congressional election observers deploy to Iowa for recount in uncalled House race

Congressional election observers are being deployed to Iowa to monitor the recount in an uncalled House race.  The House Committee on Administration, which provides oversight of federal elections, announced on X that “Congressional Election Observers are being deployed to Iowa to observe the recount of the First Congressional District race.”  Chairman Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wisc., “is committed to ensuring an accurate count of all legal ballots,” the committee’s GOP leadership said.  “We must make sure that every legal ballot is counted accurately,” Steil added in a statement. “This Congress, we recruited a record number of Congressional Election Observers and continue to run the most robust Program in the history of the House to ensure fairness and accuracy in our election results. I want to thank each of our Election Observers and my colleagues for sharing their staff’s time as a commitment to strengthening our elections.” Democrat Christina Bohannan’s campaign on Thursday requested the recount in her bid against Republican incumbent Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks to represent Iowa’s 1st District. The initial tally puts Bohannan fewer than 1,000 votes — less than a percentage point — behind Miller-Meeks. SIZE OF SLIM REPUBLICAN HOUSE MAJORITY HANGS ON 5 UNCALLED RACES The contest is a much tighter rematch of 2022, when Miller-Meeks won by 7 percentage points. Miller-Meeks earned a first term in Congress representing Iowa’s 2nd District when she defeated Democrat Rita Hart by just six votes in 2020. Miller-Meeks has declared victory and said she was confident in her lead. In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Miller-Meeks’ campaign accused Bohannan and other Democrats of being “election deniers.” “This is a delaying tactic to thwart the will of the people,” the statement said. “A recount won’t meaningfully change the outcome of this race as the congresswoman’s lead is mathematically impossible to overcome.” HOUSE LAUNCHES POLL WATCHER PROGRAM AMID GOP-WIDE PUSH FOR ELECTION SECURITY Bohannan’s campaign said in a statement that the recount will make certain “that every voter is heard,” but that they have “full trust in this process and will accept the results regardless of the outcome.” Steil’s announcement comes as part of a GOP poll watcher program launched by the House in September in the party’s push for election security.  Eight weeks before the election, the House Committee on Administration moved to boost accountability efforts at the polls for more than a dozen House races expected to come down to razor-thin margins through the Election Observer Program. Congressional staffers were eligible to volunteer for a training program that would set them up to be poll watchers to then be sent out to districts, not including their own, if requested by a congressional candidate in a close race. Republican incumbents held onto Iowa’s three other congressional seats, including the competitive 3rd District where Zach Nunn fended off a challenge from Democrat Lanon Baccam. Republican incumbents Ashley Hinson in the 2nd District and Randy Feenstra in the 4th District won decisively. Hinson defeated Democrat Sarah Corkery. Feenstra defeated Democrat Ryan Melton. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Republicans so far have won enough seats to control the House, completing the party’s sweep into power and securing their hold alongside President-elect Trump. Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

After declining to state whether trans Rep-elect is a man or woman, Johnson says ‘A man cannot become a woman’

After declining to state whether trans Rep-elect is a man or woman, Johnson says ‘A man cannot become a woman’

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., declined to answer when asked on Tuesday whether Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, D-Del., is a man or woman, but the speaker later made a statement in which he declared, “A man cannot become a woman.”  McBride, a Delaware state senator who identifies as transgender, won election to the U.S. House of Representatives this year and will become the first openly transgender member of Congress after being sworn in next year. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who has called McBride a “biological male,” is pushing a resolution to block House members and others from using single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House office buildings that do not correspond with their biological sex. NANCY MACE’S EFFORT TO BAN TRANSGENDER DELAWARE DEMOCRAT FROM CAPITOL WOMEN’S RESTROOMS GAINS SUPPORT “A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House may not use a single-sex facility (including a restroom, changing room, or locker room) in the Capitol or House Office Buildings, other than those corresponding to the biological sex of such individual,” the resolution states, noting that the House sergeant-at-arms would be tasked with enforcement. When asked on Tuesday whether McBride is a man or a woman, Johnson declined to answer the question, saying, “I’m not gonna get in to this.” Johnson said that everyone would be treated with dignity and respect. JOHNSON DECLINES TO SAY IF TRANSGENDER REP-ELECT IS MAN OR WOMAN, SAYS HOUSE TO TREAT EVERYONE WITH ‘RESPECT’ Later, Johnson made a statement of clarification in which he said he had rejected the question’s “premise because the answer is … so obvious.” “A man is a man. And a woman is a woman. And a man cannot become a woman,” Johnson declared. “But I also believe that we treat everybody with dignity,” he said. MACE FACES BACKLASH OVER EFFORT TO BAN NEW TRANSGENDER MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM WOMEN’S BATHROOMS CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Every day Americans go to work with people who have life journeys different than their own and engage with them respectfully, I hope members of Congress can muster that same kindness,” McBride posted on Monday. “This is a blatant attempt from far right-wing extremists to distract from the fact that they have no real solutions to what Americans are facing. We should be focused on bringing down the cost of housing, health care, and child care, not manufacturing culture wars. Delawareans sent me here to make the American dream more affordable and accessible and that’s what I’m focused on,” the incoming House lawmaker added in another post on X.

Biden makes another Ukraine policy shift with approval of sending anti-personnel mines

Biden makes another Ukraine policy shift with approval of sending anti-personnel mines

President Biden approved sending anti-personnel mines to Ukraine late Tuesday, a reversal of policy and yet another escalation in the conflict with Russia ahead of President-elect Trump’s inauguration. Ukrainian officials have reportedly promised to only deploy the mines in Ukrainian territory and away from major population centers. The U.S. had previously withheld anti-personnel mines because of their tendency to outlast conflicts once deployed and cause injury to innocents. The U.S. has reportedly taken precautions to prevent such injuries, however. The mines being delivered to Ukraine operate on an electric fuse that relies on a battery. That battery typically runs out over the course of hours or even weeks, and it is then inoperative, according to CBS News. The Biden administration’s approval came the same day that Ukraine used American-made ATACMs in a strike on Russian soil. Biden had prohibited such uses until last week. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY SITS DOWN WITH FOX NEWS ANCHOR BRET BAIER AS WAR NEARS TWO-YEAR MARK Allies of President-elect Trump have blasted the Biden administration for approving Ukraine’s escalation of its conflict with Russia in the final months before Trump takes office. TRUMP’S FIRST CABINET PICKS DECIDEDLY NOT ISOLATIONISTS: UKRAINE, ISRAEL BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF “The Military Industrial Complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives,” Donald Trump Jr. posted on social media after Biden’s long-range missile approval. “Gotta lock in those $Trillions. Life be dammed!!! Imbeciles!” According to a senior U.S. official, Biden’s actions are spurred by the Russian decision to invite 10,000 North Korean soldiers into the fight against Ukraine in Kursk. A second official told Fox News that it is unclear if Biden plans to approve the use of the missiles outside the Kursk region. Russian President Vladimir Putin reacted by updating Russia’s nuclear weapon use doctrines. The White House National Security Council downplayed that reaction. DOCUMENTS REVEAL RUSSIA’S INITIAL ‘PEACE DEAL’ EQUATED TO THE SURRENDER OF UKRAINE: REPORT “As we said earlier this month, we were not surprised by Russia’s announcement that it would update its nuclear doctrine; Russia had been signaling its intent to update its doctrine for several weeks. Observing no changes to Russia’s nuclear posture, we have not seen any reason to adjust our own nuclear posture or doctrine in response to Russia’s statements today,” an NSC spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “This is more of the same irresponsible rhetoric from Russia, which we have seen for the past two years. As we said to Russia weeks ago, Russia’s use of DPRK soldiers in combat operations against Ukraine presents a significant escalation of its war of choice against Ukraine and we warned that the United States would respond,” the statement continued. The announcement came after Great Britain and France authorized Ukraine to launch SCALP/Storm Shadow missile strikes, according to French outlet Le Figaro. Putin has previously said that giving Ukraine the green light on missile use would effectively mean that the U.S. and NATO are “in the war.”

From far-right gains to the economy: What’s at stake in Germany’s election?

From far-right gains to the economy: What’s at stake in Germany’s election?

Berlin, Germany – In some countries, a snap election is held in a matter of weeks. Germany, by contrast, will enjoy a leisurely three months before it goes to the polls in an election that is likely to be overshadowed by the return of Donald Trump to the White House, an increasingly perilous situation in Ukraine, and a flagging domestic economy. Germany’s ruling “traffic light” coalition, formed by the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Greens and Free Democrats (FDP) collapsed on November 6, after Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed his finance minister, FDP leader Christian Lindner. Scholz has announced a vote of confidence will take place on December 16. The snap poll is expected to take place on February 23. Why did the coalition collapse? The three-way alliance formed after the 2021 elections was a rarity for Germany, and the FDP’s fiscal hawkishness always made an uneasy marriage with its centre-left partners, who campaigned in the 2021 elections on increased social and climate spending. The final break came during preparations for the 2025 budget, with Scholz arguing to pause Germany’s “debt brake”, which tightly limits public borrowing. Lindner insisted on demanding major public spending cuts and rolling back climate targets. Last week in the Bundestag, Scholz accused the FDP leader of pitting the government’s financial and military support for Ukraine against German pensioners. The national weekly newspaper Die Zeit reported that the FDP had deliberately provoked Scholz to collapse the coalition and force an early election, which the party has denied. “It was difficult to reconcile those three very different political ideas and ideologies,” said Markus Ziener, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund think tank, who believes infighting has weakened Germany’s position within the European Union at a time when the bloc is sorely in need of leadership. “The hope could be that the next elections will bring much more stable conditions to form a reliable government.” Who’s leading opinion polls now? The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party are currently polling at 32 percent, according to a recent INSA poll, more than all three of the coalition parties put together. Friedrich Merz, a former BlackRock board member who has moved the party rightward since becoming leader in 2022, is therefore well-placed to become the next chancellor. Based on current polling, he could lead a government with the SPD – based on the latest predictions likely to secure 16 percent, as a junior partner, a return to the familiar “grand coalition” that was in place for three of Angela Merkel’s four terms, or with the Greens, which are polling at 12 percent. Merz has promised to roll back several of the coalition’s reforms, including on climate. He wants to lower taxes, reduce social welfare spending and tighten the country’s borders. “It is time for a fundamental course correction in migration, security, foreign and economic policy,” Merz told the Bundestag last week. Scholz, now the least popular chancellor in post-war German history according to polls, has indicated that he will run again as the party’s candidate. But many senior figures in the SPD want to make a clear break with his tenure, and quickly. If he is to be deposed, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius is likely to replace him. How popular are far-right and leftist parties? The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is on course to record a historic result. Assessments from Germany’s domestic intelligence agency that several of the party’s state branches are right-wing extremist organisations have not prevented the party from polling second, at 20 percent. Though all other parties refuse to form a coalition with the AfD, a strong performance could increase its influence on powerful parliamentary committees. Meanwhile, the FDP and the socialist Left party are currently below the 5 percent threshold required to enter parliament. The newly formed, left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance is at 7 percent. What are the key foreign policy and domestic economic issues? Trump’s campaign promise to bring a quick end to the conflict in Ukraine, and threats to pull military assistance to President Volodymr Zelenskyy’s government, come at a time when the war-torn nation is losing ground to Russia in the east and facing major attacks on its energy infrastructure ahead of winter. If Trump follows through, Germany, Ukraine’s second-largest backer, will be expected to dig deep and massively increase its military spending. Scholz recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time in two years. He tends to tread a more careful approach and has refused to deliver long-range Taurus missiles out of fears of escalating the conflict. By comparison, Merz has been more hawkish on weapons deliveries and indicated he would approve the transfer, in line with the policies of the United Kingdom, France and the United States. Potentially adding further strain to the budget, Trump’s plans to slap 20 percent tariffs on all imports and 60 percent on Chinese imports would have severe consequences for the economy, as Germany remains heavily reliant on exporting manufactured goods. Europe’s largest economy is also its slowest growing. Though it has narrowly skirted recession, Germany’s central bank said on Tuesday that the present stagnation is likely to continue in the face of weak international demand and investment, and the prospect of new US tariffs. “We’re basically in a squeeze here. On the one hand, we probably have to deal with direct additional customs in the United States,” said Ziener. “On the other hand, we will probably be very much affected by high duties against Chinese products.” How do politicians plan to fix the economy? With no end in sight to the economic woes, more financial institutions and business representatives are calling for a reform of Germany’s debt brake to increase public investment, which has lagged for years. Merz, long known as a fiscal disciplinarian, has recently suggested an openness to reforming it, a possible sign of a shifting consensus. The constitutional-anchored measure limits borrowing to 0.35 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), but special investment off-budget funds