Pittsburgh diners fume over ‘staged’ Harris campaign stop as popular restaurant cleared: ‘Mind-boggling’
Patrons at a Pittsburgh culinary landmark were outraged Monday after they claimed they were forced to leave the premises before Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz arrived for a weekend campaign stop. Several people who had been enjoying food, drinks and the Pittsburgh Pirates game on TV at Primanti Bros. in Moon, Pennsylvania, on Sunday said they were all forced out of the restaurant promptly at 4 p.m. Mark Dodson of Collier, who said he was just in the area to enjoy “the Bucs” – as the Pirates are nicknamed – simply wanted a quiet day. “I wanted to watch some sports and enjoy an afternoon lunch,” said Dodson, as Primanti is known for its signature Pittsburgh-style sandwiches piled high with sliced meats and french fries – a Steel City custom. “Around 3:30, the bartender, she goes, ‘It’s last call’ – what do you mean last call?” Dodson said, adding the employee informed him there was a private event at the top of the hour. SAM DEMARCO: TRUMP’S STRENGTH IN RESPONSE TO ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT LIKELY WON HIM CRITICS’ SUPPORT Dodson, who said he is familiar with the restaurant business, said the entire situation seemed sudden. “They shut down the TVs… so you couldn’t watch the game,” he said. “I said, this is BS – this is a public restaurant. It was kind of mind-boggling to me.” Dodson said he was ultimately the last real patron to leave the premises and that when he reached his car, it was the only one left in the lot – and that he noticed a growing presence of protesters lining the other side of the road, many in pro-Trump attire. Video shared by Republican Committee of Allegheny County chairman Sam DeMarco III showed a Harris-Walz campaign bus and several white vans showing up soon after. Protesters shouted, “They kicked us out of Primanti Brothers” and “You are terrible people” as the entourage arrived. Others verbally accused the campaign of employing “actors” – as video captured by ABC News of Harris’ visit itself depicted a full dining room with people enjoying their food. “Holy hell, all these actors in these vans,” a man was heard shouting among the anti-Harris demonstrators. Amy Smith, who lives in Moon, said she also was at Primanti Bros. for lunch when she was among the patrons asked to vacate. Smith said she had heard that Harris would be in the area and predicted she would – and did – stop at a nearby Sheetz gas station popular with candidates on their way to Pittsburgh International Airport. FETTERMAN SPOKESWOMAN REAMED FOR REPORTEDLY CONTRADICTING BOSS ON ISRAEL Smith said she saw two blue Harris-Walz buses arrive, followed by a white bus with no decal. She also claimed to have seen Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa. – who represents the suburban area – join Harris at the event. She also offered her timeline of events, having arrived for lunch around 2:50 p.m. After her party left the restaurant, Smith said Harris did not arrive until around 6 p.m. A request for comment to the Harris campaign itself also was not returned by press time. Other local figures who reportedly joined Harris on her day-long swing through western Pennsylvania included Sen. Bob Casey Jr., D-Pa., and retired Pittsburgh Steelers legend Jerome Bettis. Video from an ABC News affiliate from inside Primanti Bros. showed Harris and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff greeting patrons. Fox News Digital reached out to Primanti Bros.’ main office in Pittsburgh, and was directed to a representative’s email address. That representative did not respond. Another stop on the tour was also viewed with criticism, as Harris stopped by Sheetz for some Doritos before leaving the region. The Biden administration is suing the Altoona-based gas-and-convenience chain for allegedly discriminating against applicants in violation of civil rights laws. The EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) cited Sheetz’s use of criminal background checks in the hiring process as reason for the violation. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Republican lobbyist David Urban drew attention to that aspect on X, sharing an image of Harris inside a Sheetz, with the caption, “Apparently, KamalaHarris forgot that the Biden Harris Administration is suing Sheetz for requiring criminal background checks of their employees when she visited for some snacks yesterday.” After the Primanti Bros. debacle, however, DeMarco appeared to try to lower the temperature toward the Pittsburgh mainstay, saying the restaurant should be given some slack. “Oftentimes campaigns rent out a place of business for a private party or particular event. Perhaps that’s what happened here? Anyway, I like a good Primanti Bros. ‘hot & cheese’ sandwich so let’s cut them a break.” DeMarco offered one caveat, quipping that if former President Trump or Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, are not given a similar “affirmative” response if they ever ask to stop in, “I’ll let you know.”
Trump, Vance hitting the campaign trail this week to counterprogram Democrats’ convention
CHICAGO – As the Democratic National Convention gets underway Monday in blue state Illinois’ largest city, former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, will be in battleground Pennsylvania. It’s part of the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee’s plan to offer a full week of counterprogramming to the Democrats’ national nominating convention. “Donald Trump is barnstorming all across the country over the course of this next week,” RNC chair Michael Whatley emphasized in a Sunday interview on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom.” “We are going to be out directly talking to every American family across the country the way that only Donald Trump can. And we are absolutely asking for their votes. We’re asking for their support,” Whatley highlighted. HARRIS AND TRUMP HOLD DUELING RALLIES IN THE BIGGEST OF THE BATTLEGROUNDS The move is partially to try and blunt the momentum of Vice President Kamala Harris heading into the Democrats’ convention. Harris has been riding a wave of energy and enthusiasm – both in polling and in fundraising – since replacing President Biden at the top of the Democrats’ 2024 ticket four weeks ago. But it also appears to be another move to try and put pressure on Harris for not holding a news conference or a major interview since Biden bowed out and backed his vice president. TRUMP RUNNING MATE VANCE AIMS TO TURN BLUE WALL STATES RED “At the DNC, Kamala Harris will hide behind celebrities because everyday families know that she has been an absolute disaster for our nation, and real Americans are worse off now than four years ago,” Trump campaign co-chairs Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita charged in a statement on the eve of the convention. And they argued that the vice president “has failed to answer media questions for 28 days because she can’t explain away her record of supporting policies that cause inflation, bans on private health insurance, destroying American energy, and higher taxes.” As Fox News first reported last week, both Trump and Vance will be on the campaign trail during the Democrats’ convention, headlining both smaller “messaging events” and larger rallies in the states that will likely decide the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. And as a Trump adviser revealed last week, “a whole cadre of people” – including top surrogates – will also be making the GOP’s case throughout the week. HARRIS AND TRUMP TRADE FIRE IN BATTLE FOR THE BLUE WALL STATES Trump’s schedule is packed this week – with more events than he’s done in months. The former president and Vance, the first-term senator from Ohio, hold separate events Monday on the economy in Pennsylvania, which, with 19 electoral votes up for grabs, is the largest prize among the crucial swing states. On Tuesday, Trump will be in Michigan while Vance spotlights the issue of crime during a news conference in Wisconsin. The GOP running mates team up on Wednesday for a national security-themed event in North Carolina. On Thursday, Trump’s in Arizona while Vance highlights immigration during a stop in Georgia. And on Friday, the former president stumps in Arizona and Nevada on his “no tax on tips” pledge. “As they meet Americans where they are in battleground states across the country, President Trump and Senator Vance will remind voters that under their leadership, we can end inflation, protect our communities from violent criminals, secure the border, and Make America Great Again,” LaCivita and Wiles said. On Monday, as the convention kicked off, top Trump allies in the Senate – Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin – were also making the case for the former president and took aim at Harris and Walz, at a news conference in downtown Chicago’s Trump International Hotel and Tower. The campaign plans on holding news conferences throughout the week at Trump’s Chicago hotel. The Biden campaign counterprogrammed with a news conference that included top surrogates in Milwaukee during the Republican National Convention last month. Ahead of stops by Trump and Vance in Pennsylvania on Monday, the Harris campaign took aim at the former president. “The more Americans hear Trump speak, the clearer the choice this November: Vice President Harris is unifying voters with her positive vision to protect our freedoms, build up the middle class, and move America forward – and Donald Trump is trying to take us backwards.” Harris campaign spokesperson Joseph Costello claimed. Trump and Vance won’t be the only candidates in the swing states this week. Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will travel Tuesday from Chicago to Milwaukee to headline a rally in the key Midwestern battleground. In years past, it was traditional for a presidential candidate to lay low while the other party held its national nominating convention. But last month, as the Republicans held their convention in Milwaukee, Biden briefly campaigned in the key swing state of Nevada before cutting his trip short after catching COVID. Days later, Biden’s blockbuster announcement that he was ending his re-election campaign following his disastrous late June debate performance against Trump upended the 2024 election. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Window to define Harris rapidly closing as favorability rating rises in new poll
Vice President Kamala Harris is enjoying a spike in favorability among U.S. adults as the Democratic Party prepares to formally nominate her as a presidential candidate in Chicago this week. The new poll from the Associated Press found that 48% of Americans have a very or somewhat favorable view of Harris, up from 39% earlier this year. Harris has benefited from a deluge of positive media coverage in the weeks since President Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race. The rise is also a marked improvement over Biden’s own favorability when he dropped out of the race. At the time, just 38% of Americans approved of him. Meanwhile, former President Trump sits at 41% approval, according to the Monday poll. HARRIS, TRUMP HOLD DUELING EVENTS IN FIGHT TO WIN BIGGEST BATTLEGROUND The race for the White House remains neck-and-neck between Trump and Harris, with most polls placing the candidates within the margin of error. In some polls, Harris leads by a few points; in others, Trump holds the advantage. FOX NEWS POLL: CLOSE RACES IN BATTLEGROUND STATES SHOW VOTERS LOCKED IN Harris has faced heavy criticism for her lack of media transparency since her nomination. She has gone 29 days without holding a press conference as of Monday. While she has been busy on the campaign trail, spoken at various events, and given informal remarks to reporters at various points, she hasn’t done a formal press conference or wide-ranging interview in the four weeks that have followed. Meanwhile, Trump held his second press conference in a week on Thursday at Bedminster, and since Aug. 6, he’s answered 81 questions in pressers and interviews, including a two-hour session with supporter Elon Musk last week. CNN HOST PRESSES HARRIS CAMPAIGN SPOX ON VP’S SCHEDULE AS SHE AVOIDS PRESS: ‘SHE HAS TIME’ FOR AN INTERVIEW Over that same period, Harris has done brief “gaggles” as well as off-the-record sessions with traveling reporters, but she still hasn’t done anything formal with the press. She spoke for a few minutes at a campaign stop with reporters in Pennsylvania on Sunday, telling the media she still considered herself an “underdog” as the Democratic National Convention gets set to kick off. The left-leaning Washington Post editorial board challenged Harris over dodging the media last week, saying of her opponent, “at least he has taken questions.” The Post said she should account for her numerous policy shifts, including on fracking, border security and private health insurance. Liberal columnist Perry Bacon also called on Harris to take questions in a new piece on Sunday. Fox News’ Brian Flood contributed to this report
Fetterman spokeswoman reamed for reportedly contradicting boss on Israel: ‘Unparalleled hubris’
The spokeswoman for Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman dissented from her own boss’ position on the Israel-Gaza conflict after a reporter held an interview with the junior Democrat. The Free Press reported Sunday that Carrie Adams told him of her disagreement after the senator hung up the call. “I don’t agree with him,” Adams, the lawmaker’s communications director, reportedly said. Adams went on to claim that Fetterman, at 55, has “less nuanced” views on global policy than people her age. JOHN FETTERMAN RECEIVES TOP US JEWISH COLLEGE’S HIGHEST AWARD “[W]hen he was growing up, it was might-makes-right, and for my generation and younger who, of course, are the ones protesting this, they have a much more nuanced view of the region.” The Free Press report went on to express incredulity at the idea that a spokesperson for a “principal” would openly differ from that principal, whether the conversation was on-the-record or not. Fox News Digital reached out to Fetterman’s office for comment and to inquire whether Adams stood by her remarks. A woman who picked up the phone at Fetterman’s Capitol Hill office responded by offering a second telephone number and email for another representative. Efforts to reach another representative were unsuccessful at press time. However, the reported exchange led to stunned responses from the political world. PENNSYLVANIA DEMOCRATS RALLY AROUND BIDEN AMID SHAPIRO SPECULATION Republican communications strategist Erin Perrine wrote that it is a “big deal” to have a staffer criticize the person they are working for. “But when the person whose job it is to speak for the boss, defend their decisions, and manage the press does it — That’s an unparalleled level of hubris,” Perrine said on X. “Always remember whose name is on the door.” On the left, Democratic strategist Symone Sanders-Townsend wrote that Adams “should be employed after this because WTF?” “Not saying I disagree with her viewpoint. Rather. Since when does the comms director call up reporters to say ‘I disagree’ with the principal?” said Sanders-Townsend, who previously served in a similar role with the 2016 campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Meanwhile, New York Post columnist John Podhoretz flagged that Adams’ X feed is currently private, following the fallout. “She’s a communications director. Whom you cannot reach. Or read,” Podhoretz said. For his part, Fetterman has notably bucked his party on the issue, saying in a statement on his official website that he “fully support[s] Israel neutralizing the terrorists responsible for this barbarism.” “We now know this was a wide-scale, premeditated, cowardly, terrorist campaign against Israeli civilians that also claimed the lives of American citizens. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “I unequivocally support any necessary military, intelligence, and humanitarian aid to Israel. The United States has a moral obligation to be in lockstep with our ally as they confront this threat.” He also welcomed the idea of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking before Congress, as he did earlier this summer. While visiting Jerusalem in June, Fetterman said there is a “reckoning necessary in the political left with antisemitism…” In comments in June as well, Fetterman decried the “unending capitulation and sandbagging of Israel.” The senator’s home in the industrial Pittsburgh suburb of Braddock has been the site of protests, as well as his Philadelphia office, where pro-cease-fire demonstrators hold “Fridays at Fetterman’s.”
Indian airports, borders on high alert as Mpox cases rise: 10 points to know
The ministry has designated three Centre-run hospitals in the national capital — Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung, and Lady Hardinge — as nodal centres for the isolation, management, and treatment of any Mpox patient.
Andhra Pradesh: 3 children dead, over 30 hospitalized due to food poisoning
The students had consumed snacks including samosa and biriyani on Saturday and had rice and sambar at night.
Bipartisan lawmakers put UN on notice over ‘rampant anti-Israel bias’
FIRST ON FOX: A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is moving to insulate Israel from any possible political turbulence at the United Nations. A bill led by Reps. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., would block funding from U.N. agencies that try to restrict Israel’s participation in global affairs. “With anti-Israel bias running rampant at the UN, it is more crucial than ever that we stand up to this disgusting hypocrisy and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our closest ally,” Lawler told Fox News Digital. “We should not be giving a single cent to any UN agency that diminishes the status of Israel.” Moskowitz said, “The United Nations has been biased and almost useless after Hamas murdered over a thousand innocent Israelis, but has held Israel to a ridiculous, antisemitic double standard when it has exercised its right to defend itself.” MUSLIM CLERIC WHO PRAISED ADOLF HITLER, HAMAS SPOKE AT HARRIS RUNNING MATE TIM WALZ’S 2019 INAUGURATION The Florida Democrat, who is Jewish, urged the U.N. to use its influence to pressure Hamas into accepting a cease-fire deal. The new bill comes a month after the U.N.’s top court issued a non-binding opinion ordering Israel to immediately stop settlement construction in the West Bank. The U.N. has also been sounding an increasingly loud alarm about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid Israel’s military response to Hamas’ surprise attack on Oct. 7 last year. The U.S. has largely stood by Israel through the conflict. In April, the U.S. vetoed a draft resolution to recommend full U.N. membership status for a Palestinian state. BIDEN FOCUSED ON ‘LEGACY’ IN FINAL MONTHS, BUT SKELETON SCHEDULE ‘SIGNALS’ AN EMPTY HOUSE TO RIVALS: EXPERT Lawler and Moskowitz’s bill would stop funding to the U.N. or any related agency “that expels, downgrades or suspends membership, or otherwise restricts the participation of Israel such that it may not participate fully and equivalently with 15 other Member States of the United Nations or the respective fund, program, specialized ageney, or other related entity,” according to bill text obtained by Fox News Digital. The bill has support from two additional Democrats and 21 House Republicans. Both of those Democratic co-sponsors, Reps. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, and Josh Gottheimer, D-N.Y., are Jewish. It was introduced just as Democrats kick off their presidential nominating convention in Chicago, which has already seen fierce anti-Israel protests. DEMOCRATIC HEAVYWEIGHTS TO SPEAK AT PARTY’S CONVENTION; PREPARING FOR LARGE PALESTINIAN PROTESTS CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Demonstrators walked the streets of Chicago calling Vice President Kamala Harris a “killer” and demanding policy changes on Gaza. Some on the left were outraged when the national party released a platform that did not call for an arms embargo on Israel. A group of delegates in Chicago, called “Delegates Against Genocide,” is planning to protest the decision, according to The Times of Israel.
PM Modi to visit Ukraine for first time since war with Russia on this date
PM Modi will visit the Ukrainian capital on August 23 to hold talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
SEE IT: Protests erupt, businesses board up outside the DNC in Chicago
Anti-Israel protesters are swarming outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago as police gear up for a week of unrest in the city. The four-day convention kicks off Monday at the United Center near the West Side, where as many as 100,000 anti-Israel demonstrators are expected to protest throughout the week. At least seven large demonstrations took place on the eve of the convention on issues from abortion to voicing objections to U.S. support for Israel, the Chicago Tribune reported. The city prepared for discord by fencing off the convention center and recruiting a heavy police presence to the scene. DEMS PROJECT IMAGES ON TRUMP TOWER AHEAD OF DNC Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Ill., said around 150 Illinois National Guard members are on “standby” for the convention, Fox 32 reported. ‘WALLS FOR WALL, BUT NOT FOR THEE’: DEMOCRATS CALLED OUT FOR HYPOCRISY ON SECURITY MEASURES AT DNC Businesses also boarded up their doors ahead of the anticipated protests. More than 300 police officers joined Police Superintendent Larry Snelling on Saturday for a police training session ahead of the convention, the Chicago Police Department shared in a post on X, formerly Twitter. President Biden is scheduled to deliver an opening night address Monday to pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris. The convention, where Harris will formally accept the Democratic nomination, will take place from Aug. 19 to 22.
Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Court grants permission to CBI for lie-detector test of accused
One day after the doctor’s body was discovered in the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, Roy, a volunteer for the community, was taken into custody.