Biden in Oval Office speech says it's time to 'pass the torch to a new generation' after announcing Sunday he's leaving race



President Joe Biden on Wednesday night gave a short speech to the American people from the Oval Office just days after he announced that he's leaving the 2024 presidential race.

Biden — who sounded slightly short of breath and stumbled over his words at times — said the "best way forward" is to "pass the torch to a new generation" and let "new voices, fresh voices" and "younger voices" to lead the country.

Biden — who on Sunday endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president — waited until the end of his speech to mention Harris, calling her "tough" and "capable."

Biden also said while his performance during his first term in office "merits a second term," he decided to put aside "personal ambition."

"It's not about me," he added, "it's about you."

Biden also said he'd spend the next six months "doing my job as president" — and then spent the most of the remainder of his address talking about what he saw as his accomplishments.

Biden — who on Sunday endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president after announcing that he's dropping out — waited until the end of his Oval Office address to mention Harris, calling her "tough" and "capable." He noted that the choice in November's election "is up to you."

Speaking of Harris, it was reported Monday that she likely has secured enough delegates to become the Democratic nominee.

Biden had been facing growing pressure from Democrats to drop out of the race after his disastrous debate against former President Donald Trump last month. Following Biden's announcement that he's dropping out the race, Republicans across the country called on Biden to resign if he can't complete his campaign.

What's more, Biden on Monday did little to beat back concerns about his health during an apparent phone call to Harris campaign headquarters during which his voice sounded strained, weak, and stumbling.

Biden also has been recovering from another bout of COVID-19, according to the White House. In addition, rumors began swirling on social media Monday that in Las Vegas last week, Biden perhaps suffered an even more severe medical emergency than previously thought.

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Obamacare Exchange’s Data Breach Exposed Not Only My Private Info But The Hypocrisy Of D.C. Officials

Not just my name, address, email, and telephone number were exposed, but my date of birth and Social Security number as well.
LIVE FACT-CHECK! Biden's First Address Before The Joint Session of Congress | Louder with Crowder

LIVE FACT-CHECK! Biden's First Address Before The Joint Session of Congress | Louder with Crowder

President Trump delivers farewell address: 'I fought for America and all it stands for'



President Donald Trump issued a farewell address to Americans on Tuesday, where he celebrated the successes of his administration and expressed optimism for the nation's future.

What did the president say?

The president began by thanking his family, along with Vice President Mike Pence and the entire Pence family, as well as law enforcement and the U.S. military before extending his gratitude to the American people for what he referred to as the "privilege" of serving as commander in chief.

Reflecting back on when he first took office, the president said:

"Four years ago I came to Washington as the only true outsider ever to win the presidency. I had not spent my career as a politician, but as a builder looking at open skylines and imagining infinite possibilities. I ran for president because I knew there were towering new summits for America, just waiting to be scaled. I knew the potential for our nation was boundless as long as we put America first.

America had given me so much, and I wanted to give something back. Together with millions of hardworking patriots across this land, we built the greatest political movement in the history of our country. We also built the greatest economy in the history of the world."

Trump listed a number of his administration's successes, including energy independence, a number of Middle East peace deals, the creation of the U.S. Space Force, pre-pandemic record-low unemployment for African Americans, criminal justice reform, and the rapid development of two successful coronavirus vaccines under Operation Warp Speed.

Pointing to his achievements in increasing border security, the president declared, "We restored American strength at home, and American leadership abroad. The world respects us again — please don't lose that respect."

The president also expressed his pride in being "the first president in decades" who did not start any new wars.

"I did not seek the path that would get the least criticism," Trump said. "I took on the tough battles, the hardest fights, the most difficult choices, because that's what you elected me to do."

Trump told the American people, "I fought for you, I fought for your family, I fought for our country. Above all, I fought for America and all it stands for, and that is: safe, strong, proud and free."

How did Trump's speech end?

President Trump concluded:

Now, as I prepare to hand power over to a new administration at noon on Wednesday, I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning. There's never been anything like it. The belief that a nation must serve its citizens will not dwindle but instead only grow stronger by the day. As long as the American people hold in their hearts deep and devoted love of country, then there is nothing this nation cannot achieve. Our communities will flourish, our people will be prosperous, our traditions will be cherished, our faith will be strong, and our future will be brighter than ever before.

I go from this majestic place with a loyal and joyful heart, an optimistic spirit, and a supreme confidence that for our country and for our children, the best is yet to come.

Farewell Address of President Donald J. Trump www.youtube.com

As many as 140,000 New Yorkers receive absentee ballots with wrong names and addresses



Voters in New York City are sounding the alarm after several have reported receiving absentee ballots containing either the wrong name and address, or another person's ballot altogether — and officials estimate as many as 140,000 mismatched absentee mailings were sent out.

What are the details?

The Gothamist reported Monday that multiple voters in Brooklyn said "they have received a mislabeled 'official absentee ballot envelope.' Normally, the voter inserts their completed ballot into the envelope and signs the outside. But in these cases, their ballot envelopes bear the wrong name and address. If a person signs their own name to this faulty ballot envelope, the ballot would be voided."

The outlet noted that "the New York City Board of Elections has mailed out nearly half a million absentee ballots ahead of Election Day this November," and "more than 140,000 absentee ballots have gone out across the borough."

Business Insider reporter Grace Panetta tweeted, "And it looks like some people are getting not just the wrong return envelopes with their ballot, but other's people's ballots entirely. I can only hope this isn't a widespread problem bc it's a pretty serious safety/privacy issue."

And it looks like some people are getting not just the wrong return envelopes with their ballot, but other’s people… https://t.co/Tji8eG1s3T
— Grace Panetta (@Grace Panetta)1601333420.0

Impacted New Yorkers also took to social media to sound the alarm. One Brooklyn resident called out her city councilman, Brad Lander, tweeting, "I, too, received somebody else's absentee ballot. Pls help your constituents/our democracy, @bradlander?"

Lander responded, "Sigh. You and apparently as many as 140,000 others. Here's what we know so far," pointing to his own Twitter feed where he had linked to the Gothamist article. He had written earlier, "Emerging from Yom Kippur to dozens of emails from Brooklyn voters who were mailed absentee ballots with the wrong name/address on the return envelope. Just so enraging & depressing."

"Voting absentee is going to work. It really is," he also tweeted, followed by a "fingers crossed" emoji.

Voting absentee is going to work. It really is. (🤞)But if you're immunocompromised or out-of-town or uncomfortabl… https://t.co/3KDVlU5Tsh
— Brad Lander (@Brad Lander)1601338031.0

He added, "As @commoncauseny's Susan Lerner says: 'Look, this is a stupid error, but there is time to get it fixed.' And I know it won't affect the Presidential race (fortunately, swing states have been doing mail-in ballots longer & better). But still, [New York City Board of Elections], please. I can't take it."


As @commoncauseny's Susan Lerner says: “Look, this is a stupid error, but there is time to get it fixed.”And I kn… https://t.co/zpsHZ2mPHW
— Brad Lander (@Brad Lander)1601338031.0

The New York City Board of Elections blamed an outside vendor for the error, and advised voters to send them a private message, email them, or call to rectify the problem.