Gay former staffer for Troy Nehls sues office, alleging homophobic workplace
Alex Chadwell, who worked for the congressman in Washington and Texas, said he was pushed out of Nehls’ office because of his sexual orientation.
Political parallels between 1968 and 2024 as the Democrats return to Chicago
The whole world is watching. They want to see what unfolds this week in Chicago as Democrats convene their quadrennial political convention and anoint Vice President Harris as their 2024 standard-bearer. But, the mantra “the whole world is watching” is from 1968. REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: WIN OR LOSE, HARRIS MUST ATTEND THE JAN. 6 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CERTIFICATION That was a battle cry from demonstrators who descended on the Democratic convention in Chicago in 1968. They brawled with delegates, reporters and police. The war in Vietnam raged. And anti-war protesters wanted the world to know how they felt. So what better opportunity to converge on the Democratic convention and air their grievances – often within the view finder of a television camera. The 1968 Democratic convention was the most volatile in American history. Democrats hope to avoid such controversies this year. But with raucous, anti-Israel protests raging on college campuses and across the nation all spring, that may be tough to avoid. Moreover, this highlights the schism in the Democratic Party over the Middle East. As they said in 1968, the world is watching. Long before the demonstrations, political observers were already making comparisons between 2024 and 1968. After all, Democrats announced plans to hold their convention in Chicago. Parallels between 1968 and 2024 intensified. 1968 was the year where American society changed. The year featured massive disintegrations in political order. Meantime, social disarray reigned in the streets. 1968 was a temporal storm. A set of months and days on a calendar – metamorphosed into indelible and at times horrific images for history. 2024 might not rival 1968 yet. But its tumult stands out – even against other recent years of bedlam and chaos. Vietnam besieged President Lyndon Baines Johnson in 1968. Republicans won three Senate seats and an attention-grabbing 47 House seats in the 1966 midterms. Johnson may have lost political support. But he never lost his political acumen. Johnson barely won the 1968 Democratic primary in New Hampshire and knew what to do. Like President Biden in 2024, Johnson didn’t formally contest New Hampshire, Johnson ran as a write-in. Mr. Biden’s only true competition in the primary was Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn. Much of the party upbraided Phillips for even challenging the President, lashing out at suggestions that the President wasn’t fit enough for another term. In 1968, Sen. Eugene McCarthy, D-Minn., held Johnson to just under 50 percent of the vote in New Hampshire. Flustered, but keen to the political stakes, Johnson bowed out in late March 1968. “I have concluded that I should not permit the Presidency to become involved in the partisan divisions that are developing in this political year,” declared Johnson in a legendary Oval Office address. In fact, President Biden’s words echoed those of Johnson when he made the decision to drop out after his disastrous debate performance with former President Trump in late June. “I’ve decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That’s the best way to unite our nation,” said the President. REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: WHAT A ‘YACHT ROCK’ SUMMER LOOKS LIKE ON CAPITOL HILL Political violence was a hallmark of 1968. The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. fueled riots across the nation. Two months later, Robert F. Kennedy celebrated his victory at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the California and South Dakota primaries. “My thanks to all of you. And now it’s on to Chicago and let’s win there,” presaged Kennedy – an ominous namecheck of what lurked ahead for Democrats. Sirhan Sirhan – a pro-Palestinian anti-Zionist who popped out from behind an ice machine in the kitchen of the hotel – pumped multiple, point blank shots into Kennedy. Sirhan Sirhan opposed Kennedy over his support for Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. The current Middle East conflict rocks the country today – taking the place of the Vietnam conflict of the 1960s. But there are other similarities. In 1968, former Alabama Gov. George Wallace (D) ran as a third party candidate. In 2024, Kennedy’s son Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wages a challenge to Vice President Harris and former President Trump. And there’s political violence in 2024, too. A gunman nearly killed Mr. Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania last month. Once President Biden abandoned his re-election bid, Democrats quickly pivoted to Harris. This mirrors what Democrats did in 1968. Democrats switched their allegiances to another vice president to be their nominee: Vice President Hubert Humphrey. Democrats formally rally around Harris this week in Chicago – home of the most-ignominious convention on record. “Unless they were looking for this comparison, the Democrats are going back to Chicago for what’s expected to be an unusually turbulent convention,” said Luke Nichter, a professor at Chapman University who has written about 1968. While protesters scuffled with police outside the hall, reporters tangled with security guards inside. Guards roughed up CBS correspondent Dan Rather on the floor. BEWARE THE IDES OF JULY: TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT, BIDEN ENDS REELECTION CAMPAIGN IN WILD MONTH Unflappable CBS anchor Walter Cronkite was none too pleased with how authorities manhandled his colleague. “I think we’ve got a bunch of thugs here, Dan,” said Cronkite on the air. Tension gurgled between Democratic delegates over Vietnam. “With (Sen.) George McGovern, D-S.D., as President of the United States, we wouldn’t have to have Gestapo tactics in the streets of Chicago,” said Sen. Abe Ribicoff, D-Conn., of the anti-war senator. McGovern would have to wait until 1972 to secure the Democratic nomination. The echoes of 1968 worry Democrats ahead of this year’s convention. “You have to re-do the right things from the legal point of view. And also from a political point of view. We want everyone to be safe. And I’m holding my breath,” said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill. “We have law enforcement at every level, local, state and federal, give me their assurance that they’re ready for this. And I pray that they are.” But it’s unclear whether disturbances
Fox News Politics: Beijing Walz?
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington, D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. Here’s what’s happening… – Early voting starts in just 21 days – RFK Jr. denies seeking a Harris Cabinet position, calling the claim ‘fake news’ – A new poll reveals which vice presidential nominee is favored among voters EXCLUSIVE: The House Oversight Committee is investigating Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and his alleged “longstanding connections” to China and CCP-linked entities, Fox News Digital has learned. Fox News Digital exclusively obtained a letter that House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., penned to FBI Director Christopher Wray, notifying the bureau of the committee’s investigation into Walz. “The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is conducting a government-wide investigation into the Chinese Communist Party’s political warfare operations against America and the response from federal agencies,” he wrote. “Vice President Kamala Harris recently announced her vice presidential running mate, Timothy Walz, the current governor of Minnesota.” Comer said that the committee had been briefed by the FBI on April 22 and July 17 — both briefings occurred before Walz was named Harris’ running mate. However, Comer said that FBI briefers told the committee that the bureau’s Foreign Influence Task Force “investigates exactly the kind of activity that has since come to light about Governor Walz.” …Read more ‘DON’T WANT TO JINX ANYTHING’: Biden says admin is ‘closer than we’ve ever been’ to MidEast cease-fire deal …Read more ‘RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH’: Rosen panned for Biden-aligned votes, high housing costs …Read more ‘UNFAIR’: New FTC decision could ‘inject’ DEI into business practices nationwide: GOP commissioner …Read more ‘THAT’S FAKE NEWS’: RFK Jr. denies he sought Cabinet position in potential Harris-Walz admin …Read more HARRIS ECONOMIC PLAN?: Critics blast Harris’ grasp of inflation, attacks on business: ‘Lunatic behavior’ …Read more SNEAK PEEK: Chaos erupts at Kamala Harris NYC event as DNC braces for Chicago unrest …Read more ‘BAD FOR THE U.S.’: Minnesota business owners sound alarm on Harris’ ‘nightmare’ VP pick …Read more ‘WILL NOT WORK’: Dave Ramsey explains why Kamala Harris’ price control plan will not curb inflation …Read more WALZ VS VANCE: New poll reveals which VP nominee is favored among voters …Read more WEATHERING THE STORM: Tim Walz doubled down on allowing COVID patients into nursing homes despite 80% death stat …Read more BLUE WALL BATTLE: Trump running mate Vance aims to turn Blue Wall states red …Read more ‘UNSCRIPTED NATURE’: Vance says he doesn’t think Trump ‘needs to pivot’ …Read more TROUBLE IN PARADISE: Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home could be closed as election nears, with Palm Beach mayor citing safety concerns …Read more PROVE IT: Arizona law requiring proof of citizenship to vote supported by 24 state AGs in plea to SCOTUS …Read more ‘LUDICROUS’: Former NYPD cop running for House blasts ‘ludicrous’ claims after wrongful arrest settlements surface …Read more BLOOD ‘ON THEIR HANDS’: Trump assassination attempt victim’s family vows to get justice …Read more THE SAGA CONTINUES…: State funds to Dolton cut as embattled ‘supermayor’ tries to reinstate indicted police chief …Read more ‘COWARDLY’: Progressive NYC Dem condemns violent anti-Israel protest …Read more ‘THE PLAYBOOK WORKS’: Youngkin takes victory lap against ‘losing states’ as Virginia marks $1B surplus …Read more Subscribe now to get the Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Harris campaign signals continued support for ending cash bail
The Harris campaign is signaling continued support for ending cash bail and bail reform as the vice president and former prosecutor faces scrutiny over past policies and positions related to crime and law enforcement. “Vice President Harris believes our criminal justice system should protect and serve all Americans, regardless of their economic status, gender, or race,” James Singer, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, told Fox News Digital. “On the issue of cash bail, she believes that we need a system where public safety, not wealth, determines who should stay behind bars following an arrest. Anyone who is a danger to society should be detained regardless of how wealthy they are.” During her public life as district attorney in San Francisco, California attorney general and U.S. senator, Harris’ position on cash bail has varied. ‘STUPID’ ABOLISHMENT OF CASH BAIL MEANS ILLINOIS STREETS ARE ‘NEVER GONNA BE SAFE’ AGAIN: RESIDENTS In 2019, when she unsuccessfully ran for president, Harris made her position known a little more forcefully. “End money bail. Our bail system is unjust and broken,” Harris wrote in a post on Medium. “450,000 Americans sit in jail today awaiting trial because they cannot afford to pay bail. Excessive cash bail disproportionately harms people from low-income communities and communities of color,” she said. “Black defendants are more likely to be detained before trial and less likely to be able to post bail compared with similarly-situated White defendants. And Black men pay higher bail than similarly-situated White defendants.” ILLINOIS ENDING CASH BAIL A ‘BACKDOOR’ DEFUND MOVEMENT THAT WILL SPARK POLICE EXODUS: EXPERTS But in 2004, Harris said one of her top “priorities” during the first 100 days of serving as a DA would be to make bail more expensive, the Washington Free Beacon reported. “On a daily basis, the work I have to do and where I have to put my mind in terms of my priorities is on things like sitting down with Russ [Guintini] my chief assistant and talking with him about the fact we are going to change the bail schedule in San Francisco,” Harris said in an interview. “We are in the process of asking the bench, the judiciary, to reevaluate the fact that we require people who have been arrested to pay a lot less than other counties.” She also commented that individuals were coming to San Francisco “to commit crimes because it’s cheaper to do it.” AFTER ONE YEAR, ‘AMERICA’S MOST DANGEROUS LAW’ IS DAMAGING POLICING PROFESSION IN ILLINOIS, SAYS LOCAL SHERIFF “You know, we have to do something about that,” she said. “Those are things I’m spending my time on.” Later in 2014, while she was attorney general, Harris’ office argued against the release of nonviolent criminals because they wanted to keep them for cheap labor, the Washington Examiner reported. “Extending 2-for-1 credits to all minimum custody inmates at this time would severely impact fire camp participation — a dangerous outcome while California is in the middle of a difficult fire season and severe drought,” lawyers from Harris’ office wrote in a filing. Abolishing cash bail is generally considered a progressive approach to criminal justice. But as such reforms have been implemented in states like New York, data shows that bail elimination can lead to higher recidivism rates. The Data Collaborative for Justice concluded in February that “the elimination of money bail increased recidivism for people charged with nonviolent felonies, with recent criminal history, and with a recent violent felony arrest, while it decreased recidivism for people charged with misdemeanors and people with no recent criminal history.” Critics of Harris have said she has a pattern of flipping her positions on potentially controversial policies depending on what will favor her politically. A former elected public safety official in California, who criticized Harris for her role in championing the state’s notorious crime law, said Harris’ purported ability to combat drug and violent crime was “all foam and no beer.” “That’s really her principle. She doesn’t want to take a position because she doesn’t know how it will impact her future,” a former official told Fox News Digital. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign is characterizing the elimination of cash bail as a “catastrophe.” “Eliminating cash bail is a catastrophe for public safety and puts more violent criminals back on the streets to cause further mayhem,” Trump press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Digital. “In cities and states with Dangerously Liberal prosecutors like Kamala Harris, crime has skyrocketed and daily life has degenerated and it is all thanks to the turnstile justice these radical, left-wing policies create. Kamala Harris is a dangerously liberal hypocrite and only President Trump and JD Vance can clean up our streets and make America safe again.”
Who’s a good boy? JD Vance’s family pooch makes campaign trail debut
JD Vance hit the campaign trail in Milwaukee on Friday, debuting his family’s four-legged-friend as he hits the road as former President Trump’s vice presidential pick. Atlas, a German shepherd, energetically bounded up the stairs of a Trump campaign plane despite the rainy weather. “Atlas had a great time on the campaign trail today, and unlike Kamala, enjoyed meeting the press on the plane!” said Taylor Van Kirk, Vance spokeswoman, in an exclusive comment to Fox News Digital. VANCE SAYS HE DOESN’T THINK TRUMP ‘NEEDS TO PIVOT,’ PRAISES HIS ‘UNSCRIPTED NATURE’ Vance’s wife Usha also joined her husband and their dog in Milwaukee while campaigning on Friday. Vance poked fun at his pooch in a post attached to a video on X, which now has over 10k likes. “Can’t really tell in this video, but he was *not happy* about the wet metal stairs. He’s doing good on the plane though,” said Vance. TRUMP RUNNING MATE VANCE AIMS TO TURN BLUE WALL STATES RED “We’ve had two GSDs, and both of them do this thing where they find the one person who doesn’t like dogs and they suck up to them.” Atlas’ eventful day didn’t end with his boarding of the Trump plane. The flight made an emergency landing back in Milwaukee soon afterward. “The pilot advised there was a malfunction with the door seal,” said Vance spokeswoman Taylor Van Kirk. “After declaring an emergency, Trump Force Two returned to Milwaukee.” “As soon as the issue was resolved, the plane returned to its originally planned flight path back to Cincinnati.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Top conservative think tank exposes how Dems have ‘abandoned ordinary Americans’ with major shift to left
FIRST ON FOX: Former Vice President Mike Pence’s conservative think tank is calling out what it says is a significant shift to the left over the last several decades. “Over the last 50 years, the Democratic Party has increasingly abandoned ordinary Americans for its most radical fringe,” reads a new memo from Advancing American Freedom (AAF) released ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week. “Here is a sample of positions that Democrats held to in their past party platforms, even as they attack Republicans for believing many of the same things today,” the memo said. “With the next party convention scheduled for August 2024, there is still time for Democrats to restore themselves as a party of moderation.” TIM SCOTT SAYS AMERICANS ‘SMARTER THAN’ HARRIS ON ECONOMY AMID RELEASE OF CONTROVERSIAL PLAN The group noted that Pence himself was once a Democrat until changing his registration in 1983. “President Ronald Reagan was a registered Democrat until 1962,” it added. According to AAF’s policy director John Shelton, the Democratic Party has “without a doubt” shifted more over the years than the Republican Party has. The group released a similar memo last month looking at the changes in the Republican National Convention platform. “Their platform was a complete rejection of what the party once was,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital. ‘RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH’: ROSEN PANNED FOR BIDEN-ALIGNED VOTES, HIGH HOUSING COSTS The group highlights past stances of the Democratic Party on several issues to demonstrate the stark changes. On abortion, Pence’s organization recalled previous DNC platforms in the 1980s and 1990s that acknowledged “the religious and ethical concerns” about abortion and stated their goal to make the procedure “rare.” DHS, FBI PROBED FOR INFO ON ALLEGED IRANIAN AGENT’S ASSASSINATION PLOT POSSIBLY TARGETING TRUMP Shelton pointed to abortion and illegal immigration as the top two issues that the party has shifted on the most. AAF’s memo highlighted strong language against illegal immigration used by the DNC in 1996, stating they “cannot tolerate” it and “must stop it.” ‘PREGNANT PERSONS’: OHIO SEN SHERROD BROWN SCRUBBED ‘WOMEN’ FROM BILL ON PREGNANCY The DNC platform at the time also read, “In 1992, our borders might as well not have existed. The border was under-patrolled, and what patrols there were, were under-equipped. Drugs flowed freely. Illegal immigration was rampant. Criminal immigrants, deported after committing crimes in America, returned the very next day to commit crimes again.” AAF claimed the Democratic Party “has jettisoned a broad, bipartisan consensus on the critical issues of the day.” The group further criticized media coverage that has portrayed the Republican Party as “extremists,” given the Democrats’ shift. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Dem-aligned group hammers Harris’ former VP shortlister for turning ‘his back’ on Black students
FIRST ON FOX: A Black advocacy group blasted Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker ahead of the Democratic National Convention in his state, accusing him of failing Black students across Illinois. “Governor Pritzker has failed Illinois’ Black students, and he has no one to blame but himself,” Darius Jones, founder and executive director of the National Black Empowerment Action Fund, said in a statement to Fox News Digital Friday. The group, which often aligns with Democratic policies and politicians, called out Pritzker, who was on Vice President Kamala Harris’ short list for vice president, for his record on education funding in accordance with state law. TIM SCOTT SAYS AMERICANS ‘SMARTER THAN’ HARRIS ON ECONOMY AMID RELEASE OF CONTROVERSIAL PLAN “Rather than helping Black students, Pritzker has turned his back on them by systematically underfunding their schools, denying them the high-quality public education that every child is entitled to,” Jones said. “This puts multiple generations of Black children who deserve a fair shot at a severe disadvantage as they are ignored by a governor who clearly has other priorities. That’s just wrong.” ‘RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH’: ROSEN PANNED FOR BIDEN-ALIGNED VOTES, HIGH HOUSING COSTS The Evidence-Based Funding for Student Success Act, which was signed into law in Illinois in 2017, laid out that the government would use a specific formula to determine where to allocate money with a requirement of fully funding public schools by 2027. DHS, FBI PROBED FOR INFO ON ALLEGED IRANIAN AGENT’S ASSASSINATION PLOT POSSIBLY TARGETING TRUMP According to NBEAF and the Partnership for Equity and Education Rights (PEER IL), Illinois must increase its education funding by over $7 billion by 2027. However, in the years since its passage, the funding has only been increased by the minimum amount of $350 million per year, including during Pritzker’s administration. “If Illinois does only the bare minimum annually, it will not come close to meeting the law’s deadline for full funding,” the NBEAF report says. ‘PREGNANT PERSONS’: OHIO SEN SHERROD BROWN SCRUBBED ‘WOMEN’ FROM BILL ON PREGNANCY The law requires the state to fulfill its duty in accordance with the Illinois Constitution, which lists its goal as providing “the educational development of all persons to the limits of their capacities.” Per the report, 95% of Black students’ school districts are currently underfunded. It further claims White students in Illinois are over four times more likely to be in well-funded districts, reinforcing racial disparities in education. Pritzker’s office did not provide comment to Fox News Digital in time for publication. The report and criticism of the Illinois governor come just days before Pritzker hosts Democratic leaders from across the country in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention.
Jane Fonda says Harris-Walz ticket is ‘only hope’ to beat ‘orange man’ in campaign call with climate activists
Actress Jane Fonda and other climate change activists gathered Friday to tout the Harris-Walz campaign as “a proud climate ticket.” Climate Voters for Harris kicked off a virtual call on Friday, two years since the signing of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, to discuss “the historic accomplishments of the IRA, we’ll hear messaging guidance and the best ways for Climate Voters to get involved in the campaign.” The call was hosted by Sweta Chakraborty, a behavioral scientist, who said there was “palpable” excitement around Harris as the Democratic nominee. The call also saw celebrity appearances from Fonda and TV personality Bill Nye. IT’S BEEN TWO MISERABLE YEARS SINCE THE BIDEN-HARRIS INFLATION REDUCTION ACT. AND IT’S WORSE THAN YOU THINK Fonda encouraged people to “vote with climate in their hearts,” claiming that the Harris-Walz ticket is “our only hope.” “Sitting it out, voting for a third-party candidate, this is voting for the orange man,” she told listeners on the call. Other speakers included former Secretary of State John Kerry, Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Gov. James Inslee, D-Wa. TRUMP FLIPS SCRIPT ON HARRIS’ ‘DUCK AND HIDE’ MEDIA STRATEGY WITH SECOND PRESS CONFERENCE IN A WEEK Inslee said, “Kamala Harris really gets this” issue, sharing a story of being at the White House and the vice president telling him “how excited she was” about climate issues. Interim Climate Voters Director for the campaign, Jake Shwartz, said, “Harris-Walz is a proud climate ticket.” Some speakers took aim at the Trump-Vance ticket, claiming they “cater to polluters” and want to “roll back America’s freedoms.” Harris is a longtime supporter of climate change, once claiming in a recently resurfaced clip that young people are not buying homes or having kids because of “climate anxiety.”
Dem socialist senator rallies behind Harris’ price-fixing plan: ‘Important step forward’
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., gave his approval to Vice President Kamala Harris’ newly unveiled economic policy proposal on Friday, calling it “bold and popular.” “Is it all that I would like? No,” he said in a statement. “Is it an important step forward in making our country a fairer and more just society? Absolutely.” Sanders lauded the proposal for speaking “to the needs of working families” and taking on “the unprecedented corporate greed that is taking place throughout America.” TIM SCOTT SAYS AMERICANS ‘SMARTER THAN’ HARRIS ON ECONOMY AMID RELEASE OF CONTROVERSIAL PLAN Sanders has long-described himself as a Democratic socialist, and has been considered one of the most far-left U.S. politicians. Harris’ plan was revealed by her campaign on Friday, including several expansions of policies implemented during the Biden-Harris administration. It specifically targets corporate “price gouging” in the food industry, calling for a first-ever federal ban on it. It would also drastically expand the child tax credit, granting credits up to $6,000 during a child’s first year. Existing prescription drug price caps would additionally be expanded to everyone, not just senior citizens. ‘RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH’: ROSEN PANNED FOR BIDEN-ALIGNED VOTES, HIGH HOUSING COSTS Harris’ economic agenda would further establish a $40 billion fund to help local governments build more housing, alongside policies to crack down on landlords. “At a time of unprecedented wealth and income inequality, when the 1% have never had it so good, while 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, Vice President Harris understands that we need to create an economy that works for all and not just the people on top,” Sanders said in a lengthy statement. DHS, FBI PROBED FOR INFO ON ALLEGED IRANIAN AGENT’S ASSASSINATION PLOT POSSIBLY TARGETING TRUMP He added that Harris “understands that we need to take on the greed of the food and beverage industry, which is making huge profits by jacking up the price of groceries.” Critics have disagreed with Harris and Democrats’ conclusion that high prices are a product of corporate greed. Republicans have been prompt with their condemnations of the plan, blaming rising prices on spending packages that were spearheaded by President Biden and Harris throughout their administration. ‘PREGNANT PERSONS’: OHIO SEN SHERROD BROWN SCRUBBED ‘WOMEN’ FROM BILL ON PREGNANCY “The ‘price-gouging’ that they’ve experienced has come at the hands of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden,” Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., told Fox News Digital in an interview on Friday. “When you artificially stimulate the economy by the federal government and the Democrats spending trillions of dollars, the net effect is high inflation, high interest, high demand and lower supply.” “Now Kamala is reportedly proposing communist price control. She wants price controls, and if they worked, I’d go all along with it, but they don’t work. They actually have the exact opposite impact and effect,” former President Trump said Thursday at a press conference. The plan has also taken heat from a left-leaning Washington Post columnist who titled her op-ed, “When your opponent calls you ‘communist,’ maybe don’t propose price controls?” Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Harris rips economic hardships that began during her own administration in campaign speech
Vice President Kamala Harris conceded Americans are struggling in the current economy and vowed to improve things after President Biden boasted his policies were “working” just a day earlier. Harris made the remarks during a campaign stop in North Carolina, where she unveiled part of her economic platform for the 2024 election. “We’ve made historic investments in infrastructure, in [semiconductor chips], manufacturing, in clean energy. And new numbers this week alone show that inflation is down under 3%. And as president of the United States, it will be my intention to build on the foundation of this progress,” Harris said. “Still, we know that many Americans don’t yet feel that progress in their daily lives. Costs are still too high and on a deeper level, for too many people, no matter how much they work, it feels so hard to just be able to get ahead.” BIDEN GETS TESTY WITH NBC’S LESTER HOLT OVER UNFAVORABLE MEDIA COVERAGE: ‘WHAT’S WITH YOU GUYS?’ Harris also pledged if she wins to “take on the high costs that matter most to most Americans.” “Like the cost of food. We all know that prices went up during the pandemic when the supply chains shut down and failed, but our supply chains have now improved, and prices are still too high,” Harris said. Critics hammered Biden in the first half of his administration over pervasive supply chain issues that left grocery store shelves bare while other goods like automobiles had monthslong production delays. Inflation and supply chain problems were worldwide issues as most countries struggled to rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. fared better than most in terms of inflation rates, but many Americans still felt a disconnect between Biden’s early insistence the economy was in good shape and their own financial struggles, a gap that showed in Biden’s low economic approval numbers. Economists, including some who formerly worked with the Obama-Biden administration, also blamed Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan for over-stimulating the economy and sparking the inflation surge of 2021. ‘RUBBER-STAMPED’: KEY DEM HIT OVER BIDEN-HARRIS SUPPORT ON BORDER, INFLATION Harris’ remarks come a day after year-over-year inflation was announced to have reached its lowest level in over three years, with consumer prices only going up 0.2% between June and July. Biden told reporters Thursday, “I told you they’re going to have a soft landing – we’re going to have a soft landing. My policies are working. Start writing that way.” CRITICS BLAST HARRIS’ GRASP OF INFLATION, ATTACK ON BUSINESS AHEAD OF POLICY SPEECH: ‘LUNATIC BEHAVIOR’ Earlier that morning, Axios reported Harris wanted to distance herself from Biden on the economy, with her advisers urging her to break from him on issues like high prices. Asked whether Harris would ditch his unpopular “Bidenomics” label, the president told reporters, “The economy is going to continue with all the legislation we passed … working.”