Biden sounds alarm ahead of midterms, claiming 'democracy ... is at risk'



President Joe Biden is warning that U.S. democracy is on the line during the 2022 midterm election cycle.

"In our bones, we know democracy ... is at risk," Biden declared during a speech on Wednesday. He said that every individual has the ability to "preserve our democracy" and that he knows the nation will do so.

Democrats are striving to cling to control in both chambers of Congress when Americans head to the polls on Election Day next week — and some Americans have already cast their votes prior to Election Day. Biden, who is not on the ballot, has been facing dismal job approval numbers in polling for quite some time.

Biden pointed the finger toward former President Donald Trump, asserting that U.S. democracy is under assault "because the defeated former president" declined to accept the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

The current president went on to claim that "extreme MAGA Republicans," which he described as only a minority of the GOP but also as the "driving force" of the party, are seeking to "suppress the right of voters and subvert the electoral system itself." Biden claimed that they have "emboldened violence and intimidation of voters and election officials."

Biden opened his speech by discussing the recent assault perpetrated against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul Pelosi. The suspect had reportedly asked, "Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?" Biden said that people who stormed the U.S. Capitol used "the very same words" on January 6, 2021.

WATCH LIVE: Biden delivers remarks on the state of democracy after attack on Paul Pelosi www.youtube.com

While Rep. Nancy Pelosi was not at home when the incident unfolded, the man charged in connection with the episode told authorities that he had intended to hold Nancy Pelosi hostage.

During an event in Florida on Tuesday, Biden sought to boost Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist and U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Val Demings — Sunshine State Gov. Ron DeSantis, an incumbent Republican, joked that the move marked "an in-kind contribution" to his reelection bid and that his campaign would be willing to "underwrite" Biden's sticking around until the end of the campaign cycle.

\u201c.@RonDeSantisFL \ud83d\udd25 response to Biden campaigning for @charliecrist in Florida today:\n\u201cI think it's an in-kind contribution to my campaign. I just want to make the offer public: we will underwrite him to stay in Florida for the rest of the campaign.\u201d \ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udc40\u201d
— DeSantis War Room \ud83d\udc0a #FloridaStrong (@DeSantis War Room \ud83d\udc0a #FloridaStrong) 1667357138

DeSantis jokes that Biden campaigning against him is 'an in-kind contribution' to his reelection bid



President Joe Biden sought to boost Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Val Demings during an event in Florida on Tuesday, but Sunshine State Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis joked that Biden's move to campaign against him represents "an in-kind contribution" to his campaign.

DeSantis also quipped that his campaign would be willing to "underwrite" Biden to remain in the state for the remainder of the campaign, saying that if the president wants to stick around, "it'll be on our dime."

\u201c.@RonDeSantisFL \ud83d\udd25 response to Biden campaigning for @charliecrist in Florida today:\n\u201cI think it's an in-kind contribution to my campaign. I just want to make the offer public: we will underwrite him to stay in Florida for the rest of the campaign.\u201d \ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udc40\u201d
— DeSantis War Room \ud83d\udc0a #FloridaStrong (@DeSantis War Room \ud83d\udc0a #FloridaStrong) 1667357138

Biden has been underwater in job approval polling for quite some time.

The Florida governor has become a popular figure on the political right who many view as a potential future GOP presidential contender. During a debate last month, Crist pressed DeSantis on whether he would serve for a full four-year term if he secures reelection as governor. DeSantis quipped that "the only worn out old donkey" he is seeking to "put out to pasture is Charlie Crist."

Democrats are aiming to cling to control of the House and Senate during the election contests around the nation next week.

Demings is running against incumbent Republican Sen. Marco Rubio.

Crist previously served as Florida governor from early 2007 through early 2011 after being elected to the role as a Republican. Crist lost the 2010 U.S. Senate race to Republican Marco Rubio while running as an independent. He later lost the 2014 Florida governor's race to incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Scott while running as a Democrat. Crist later served as a Democratic lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives but resigned from that job earlier this year as he focused on his gubernatorial run.

On the heels of his primary victory in August, Crist said that he did not want the votes of DeSantis supporters, and he accused the governor's backers of harboring hate within their hearts.

Charlie Crist speaks in St. Pete for first time since accepting Democratic nomination for governor youtu.be

Florida Democrats to stage protest outside of Dave Rubin event with Ron DeSantis



Florida Democrats are planning to protest an event featuring BlazeTV host Dave Rubin of "The Rubin Report" and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday evening in Orlando.

Democratic state lawmaker Rep. Anna Eskamani said Thursday that protesters will "hold the Governor accountable for his extreme agenda" in a tweet sharing details about the demonstration, including a meetup time and place of 6:45 p.m. ET at the public sidewalk outside of the event venue.

\u201cREMINDER: Protesting details from @OrangeDemsFL for DeSantis\u2019s Orlando event taking place TODAY are below. \n\nWhen: Meetup at 6:45pm \nWhere: Public Sidewalk outside The Plaza Live\nWhat: Peacefully protest, hold the Governor accountable for his extreme agenda\n\nMore below \ud83d\udc47\u201d
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28 (@Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28) 1654182856

An event description for the protest on Facebook reads, "Once again Governor Ron DeSantis and his alt-right Bully Brigade are coming to Orlando. And we want to make sure he knows who we are in Orlando and that we oppose his extreme agenda."

"Join us outside The Plaza Live as we let him know: We’re WOKE, We Say Gay, Trans, Bi, Lesbian, and Queer, we believe Black Lives Matter, we support reproductive freedom and a person’s right to have an abortion, we demand sensible gun safety reforms, economic justice, and that he is not welcome in our community," the Orange County (FL) Democrats wrote.

"Bring your best signs and be ready to cause a little good trouble," the group added.

In a statement to TheBlaze, Rubin welcomed peaceful protesters but suggested their time might be better spent listening instead of demonstrating.

“Peacefully protesting is the cornerstone of living in a free society. I welcome protesters to exercise their free-speech rights as long as it doesn’t interfere with the event," Rubin said.

"Perhaps a better use of their time would be to actually attend the event and listen to what we had to say. They’d hear nothing close to hatred or bigotry, but would hear an awful lot about freedom and liberty here in the great state of Florida,” he added.

DeSantis, one of the most conservative Republican governors in the nation, has come under fire from the left for his support of Florida's Parental Rights in Education law. The statute prohibits classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, restricting lessons on those topics to age and developmentally appropriate settings in higher grades.

Critics inaccurately called it the "Don't Say Gay" bill, and the mainstream media adopted that name for it, which led many to mistakenly believe the law sought to make it illegal to recognize the "existence" of LGBT people. This led to accusations that DeSantis is anti-gay, hateful, or otherwise bigoted against LGBT people.

During Thursday's event, the governor will be interviewed by Rubin, host of "The Rubin Report" on BlazeTV, as part of Rubin's book tour for "Don't Burn This Country," a book criticizing "woke" leftwing politics and calling for "Americans to live the freest life possible."

\u201c\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udc0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udc0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udc0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udc0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\n\nCatch me and @GovRonDeSantis at The Plaza Live in Orlando on June 2nd.\n\nTickets already going fast. Snag em while you can!\n\nhttps://t.co/ZcKOyUhzpX\n\n\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udc0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udc0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udc0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83d\udc0a\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\u201d
— Dave Rubin (@Dave Rubin) 1651508909

Eskamani criticized The Plaza Live for hosting the event last week, complaining that DeSantis is visiting "one of the most #LGBTQ+ friendly parts of Orlando and during Pride Month too."

"Orlandoans deserve better than this culture war B.S.," she wrote on Twitter.

\u201cHi Representative Eskamani, my husband and I would like to invite you to the event as our guest. First row seats, let me know\u2026\u201d
— Dave Rubin (@Dave Rubin) 1653693028

Rubin, a married gay man, responded to Eskamani on Twitter, inviting her to the event as his guest. She replied that she would accept the invitation only if she "can be on stage and debate both you and DeSantis," but Rubin declined her request.

\u201c@ChristinaPushaw @RonDeSantisFL lol how ridiculous @AnnaForFlorida. 1K people bought tickets to see me and the governor. I\u2019m not giving you a second of that time. I invited you to see what freedom, liberty and Florida are truly all about. I\u2019ll gladly debate you at another venue in the future.\u201d
— Christina Pushaw \ud83d\udc0a \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Christina Pushaw \ud83d\udc0a \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1653700376

"I’m not giving you a second of that time," Rubin said. " I invited you to see what freedom, liberty and Florida are truly all about. I’ll gladly debate you at another venue in the future."

Eskamani instead will be protesting outside as Rubin interviews the governor.

'Does someone wanna tell her?' Florida Dem INSTANTLY regrets her embarrassing attempt to shame DeSantis



Florida State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D) thought she had come up with a real zinger when she decided to blast Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and BlazeTV's David Rubin for hosting an event in “literally in one of the most #LGBTQ+ friendly parts of Orlando and during Pride Month too” – but there was just one critical detail the liberal lawmaker missed.

"Wow. Super disappointed to see The Plaza Live hosting an event w/DeSantis next week -- this is literally in one of the most #LGBTQ+ friendly parts of Orlando and during Pride Month too," tweeted Eskamani, adding, "Orlandoans deserve better than this culture war BS."

\u201cWow. Super disappointed to see The Plaza Live hosting an event w/DeSantis next week -- this is literally in one of the most #LGBTQ+ friendly parts of Orlando and during Pride Month too.\n\nOrlandoans deserve better than this culture war BS.\n\nhttps://t.co/HTXnftphFm\u201d
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28 (@Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28) 1653688247

In a second tweet, Eskamani removed all doubt of her ignorance by making it clear she thinks Dave Rubin is another one of those "awful" homophobic conservatives.

"It’s not just DeSantis; the guy hosting him is awful too," she tweeted about the "Rubin Report" host.

\u201cAnd it\u2019s not just DeSantis; the guy hosting him is awful too\u201d
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28 (@Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28) 1653688247
\u201c@AnnaForFlorida Does someone wanna tell her \ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffb\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\u201d
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28 (@Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28) 1653688247
\u201c@AnnaForFlorida This is not the own you think it is, Representative.\n\nMaybe do a little research on who @RubinReport is before proceeding? \ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffc\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffc\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffc\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\u201d
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28 (@Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28) 1653688247
\u201c@AnnaForFlorida Wow Anna, do some research first!!\u201d
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28 (@Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28) 1653688247
\u201c@AnnaForFlorida I\u2026you know Dave is gay, right?\u201d
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28 (@Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28) 1653688247

Christina Pushaw, DeSantis’ press secretary, helpfully enlightened Eskamani:

\u201c@AnnaForFlorida Anna, @RubinReport is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Bad look for you to be gatekeeping.\u201d
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28 (@Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28) 1653688247

Dave tried to help out as well:

\u201cNot only married, but this picture was at noted white supremacist @RealCandaceO\u2019s wedding! \n\nI\u2019m sure she\u2019d be happy to sit down with @AnnaForFlorida too!\u201d
— Dave Rubin (@Dave Rubin) 1653699503

He also extended a friendly invitation:

\u201cHi Representative Eskamani, my husband and I would like to invite you to the event as our guest. First row seats, let me know\u2026\u201d
— Dave Rubin (@Dave Rubin) 1653693028

Twice:

\u201c@AnnaForFlorida No need for the homophobia. Please come to the event and see what it\u2019s all about!\u201d
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28 (@Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28) 1653688247

When Eskamani responded with a bit of low-brow name-calling, Rubin repeated his offer a third time:

\u201cDespite your obvious homophobia and bigotry (you think all gay people must think the same way, which is the very definition of prejudice), my offer to come to the show still stands.\u201d
— Dave Rubin (@Dave Rubin) 1653694399

About an hour and a half later, Eskamani came up with this clever retort:

\u201cOnly if I can be on stage and debate both you and DeSantis. And @bjoewolf can join us to livestream the whole thing \ud83d\udc85\ud83c\udffd\u201d
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28 (@Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28) 1653699690

For obvious reasons, Dave wasn't about to disappoint his audience by turning the DeSantis venue into the All-About-Anna Show, but he did offer to debate her "at another venue in the future."

\u201c@ChristinaPushaw @RonDeSantisFL lol how ridiculous @AnnaForFlorida. 1K people bought tickets to see me and the governor. I\u2019m not giving you a second of that time. I invited you to see what freedom, liberty and Florida are truly all about. I\u2019ll gladly debate you at another venue in the future.\u201d
— Christina Pushaw \ud83d\udc0a \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Christina Pushaw \ud83d\udc0a \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1653700376

Dave Rubin, host of BlazeTV's "The Rubin Report," is no stranger to unhinged leftist attacks. In the video clip below, Dave talks to Tucker Carlson, Lewis Howes, Larry King, the Babylon Bee and others about why the Democratic party is turning so many liberals into conservatives in this special “best of” episode.


Want more from Dave Rubin?

To enjoy more honest conversations, free speech, and big ideas with Dave Rubin, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.

Democrat Nikki Fried said she does not sign pledges — but after gun control activist David Hogg demanded that she 'sign the damn pledge,' she responded by saying that she had signed it



Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried, who is competing in the state's Democratic gubernatorial primary, announced that she signed a pledge in support of banning assault weapons. Prior to making the announcement, people on social media had been expressing disapproval that Fried had not signed the pledge, but Fried said that she does not sign pledges — then after gun control activist David Hogg called for her to sign, she responded to him by announcing that she had signed the pledge.

Ban Assault Weapons Now chair Gail Schwartz noted in a tweet on Thursday that Fried had not signed the group's pledge.

In response to a critic who described Fried's failure to sign the pledge as "shameful," the gubernatorial hopeful explained, "I don't sign pledges." Fried also pointed to a tweet in which she had stated, "When the Florida Legislature sends a bill to my desk banning assault weapons, I’ll sign it in orange sharpie for all those we’ve loved and lost due to inaction."

\u201c@DrLiver @gailbarb1 @CharlieCrist @Annette_Taddeo @RonDeSantisFL I don\u2019t sign pledges\u201d
— Gail Schwartz (@Gail Schwartz) 1653602932

But that was not enough for David Hogg, who demanded that Fried sign the pledge. "I don't care sign the damn pledge," Hogg wrote to Fried.

Fried then replied, "Signed. Judge me also by my actions. Nothing I won't do to protect students and end mass shootings."

\u201c@davidhogg111 @DrLiver @gailbarb1 @CharlieCrist @Annette_Taddeo @RonDeSantisFL Signed. \n\nJudge me also by my actions. Nothing I won't do to protect students and end mass shootings.\u201d
— Gail Schwartz (@Gail Schwartz) 1653602932

The text of the pledge reads, "By signing below, I hereby pledge and affirm that if elected Governor of Florida, I will prioritize banning the sale and transfer of assault weapons and large capacity magazines by encouraging Florida's legislators to approve the bill and I will sign the legislation into law."

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has endorsed Democratic Rep. Charlie Crist for the Florida governorship.

GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis is currently seeking re-election and could prove to be a difficult candidate to beat for the Democratic candidate during the upcoming general election.

DeSantis says 'we have to protect the jobs,' vows to sue Biden over vaccine mandate: 'You are trying to plunge people into destitution'



Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hammered President Joe Biden this week over the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The Republican governor of Florida vowed to sue the Biden administration over the vaccine mandate, and proclaimed that it is "fundamentally wrong to be taking people's jobs away," especially after they worked during the deadly pandemic.

"Let's not have Biden come in and effectively take away — threaten to take away — the jobs of people who have been working hard throughout this entire pandemic," DeSantis said during a Thursday press conference on monoclonal antibody treatments in Fort Myers, Florida. "I am offended that a police officer could potentially lose their job."

DeSantis maintained, "We have a responsibility at the state level to do whatever we need to do to protect Floridians from mandates that could result in them losing their jobs. We have to protect the jobs of Floridians."

DeSantis highlighted the health care workers who worked on the frontlines during the pandemic — the same workers that Biden previously called "heroes" — who would lose their jobs because of Biden's vaccine mandate.

"I just think its fundamentally wrong to be taking people's jobs away particularly given the situation that we see ourselves facing with the economy where you need people in a lot of these key areas," DeSantis remarked. "What's going to happen with these hospitals if these mandates are allowed to go in, where they already need more nurses?"

At another news conference on Friday, DeSantis continued to skewer Biden's vaccine mandate. DeSantis picked apart Biden's comments from this week, where the president said the vaccine mandates shouldn't "divide us."

Biden said on Thursday, "Let's be clear: Vaccination requirements should not be another issue that divides us. That's why we continue to battle the misinformation that's out there and companies and communities are stepping up as well to combat this misinformation."

DeSantis postured that taking away people's livelihood ignites divisiveness.

The Florida governor asserted, "Just think of Biden, he says, 'Don't make the vaccines divisive.' Don't make the vaccines divisive? You are trying to take peoples' jobs away over this issue. You are trying to plunge people into destitution."

"You are taking away their livelihoods. Nobody else is doing that. You are the one that's being divisive about this," he stated.

NOW - Florida's Gov. DeSantis accuses Biden to divide the country through vaccine mandates.https://t.co/C6U7ur3LoS

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) 1634318694.0

"No one should lose their job over these shots," DeSantis stated. "I think we want to protect people's jobs. These are folks that have been working throughout this whole time. They were put in situations where they were exposing themselves to risks knowingly to help others, and they did that, and we considered them heroes just a year ago. Now you're going to let them go by the wayside?"

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on opposing Biden's mandate: "No one should lose their job over these shots. I think we w… https://t.co/z5P2skviqU

— The Hill (@thehill) 1634396460.0

DeSantis pledged to sue the Biden administration over a forthcoming rule requiring private businesses with 100 workers or more to force their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration-enforced rule would reportedly affect more than 130,000 U.S. businesses and apply to roughly two-thirds of the private sector workforce.

"We are going to contest that immediately. We think the state of Florida has standing to do it and we also know businesses that we're going to work with to contest it," DeSantis said. "I think the mandate is going lose in court."

DeSantis said that Florida-based lawsuits against federal vaccine mandates will be filed in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order on Monday that prohibits mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations in the Lone Star State.

"The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced," Abbott said in a statement.

On Tuesday, the White House stressed that the Biden administration would push for a nationwide vaccine mandate despite Texas and Florida opposing them.

"These requirements are promulgated by federal law, so when the president announced his vaccine mandates for businesses — that, of course, we're waiting on OSHA regulations for as a next step — that was pursuant to federal law," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.

"Our intention is to implement and continue to work to implement these requirements across the country, including in the states where there are attempts to oppose them," she added.

"Governor Abbott's executive order banning mandates and, I would also note, the announcement by Gov. DeSantis this morning essentially banning the implementation of mandates, fit a familiar pattern that we've seen of putting politics ahead of public health," Psaki claimed.

Psaki on TX Gov. @GregAbbott_TX and FL Gov. @RonDeSantisFL banning vaccine mandates:"Our intention is to implemen… https://t.co/YaDh6tnaB1

— Benny (@bennyjohnson) 1634063064.0

'60 Minutes' finally responds to criticism for hit piece on Florida Gov. DeSantis: 'Some viewers ... applauded the story'



After a week of getting slapped around for a clear hit piece on Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis accusing the executive of a pay-to-play scheme involving COVID-19 vaccine distribution, CBS News' "60 Minutes" finally responded Sunday night.

However, the response was limited to a claim that "some viewers" — including, the show noted, a "retired newsman" — actually "applauded" what was the program's deceptively edited exchange and smear of DeSantis. The short CBS News reaction said "viewers focused" on the edited back-and-forth with the governor, and it failed to address the controversy at the heart of the criticisms.

What's the background?

The long-running news show ran a deceptively edited segment with Gov. DeSantis on April 4, accusing the governor of corruption.

CBS News' Sharyn Alfonsi reported that the governor received a $100,000 donation to his PAC from Publix grocery stores, which later partnered with the state to distribute COVID-19 vaccines. "60 Minutes" aired a clip of Alfonsi confronting DeSantis at a news conference, accusing the governor of engaging in a "pay-to-play" scheme by giving Publix exclusive rights to distribute the vaccine in exchange for the donation.

DeSantis told the reporter she was spreading a "fake narrative" and then corrected the record in an extended answer, which was cut out of the segment by CBS editors before it aired.

The news program's efforts were so egregious that even CNN's Brian Stelter pointed out CBS' malfeasance. And the Democratic mayor of Palm Beach County, Dave Kerner, came out in defense of DeSantis, saying the report "was not just based on bad information — it was intentionally false."

What did '60 Minutes' say?

One week later, after taking a beating online — both from the left and the right — "60 Minutes" addressed the controversy ... in a less-than-one-minute segment that appeared to blame viewers who "focused" on the show's deceptive editing.

Sunday's episode ended with Alfonsi addressing her hit piece in a "mail" segment about messages from viewers regarding the anti-DeSantis report.

"Viewers focused on an exchange with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at a press conference," Alfonsi began, neglecting to note it was her "exchange" with DeSantis that people were "focused on."

As she reported the messages from viewers, Alfonsi focused first on positive feedback CBS had received, including from a "retired newsman."

"Some viewers, including a retired newsman, applauded the story," Alfonsi said. "Ron DeSantis will continue to deny, refute ... call your reporting a witch hunt ... I can only hope ... that you continue to investigate and expose the truth," she continued, quoting "retired newsman" Nick Boryack of Vero Beach, Florida.

But that's where the glowing reviews of Alfonsi's report ended.

"Many more comments condemned our editing and reporting," Alfonsi said, without saying what the actual problems with the editing and reporting were.

"Shameful biased reporting — that is what you are guilty of. You are no longer journalists, but lobbyists and advocates," one viewer wrote, Alfonsi said.

Anther viewer wrote, "I have watched 60 MINUTES for decades. After you biased piece on Governor DeSantis, I will only watch it one more time. Just to see if you broadcast this message," the reporter said.

And with that, Alfonsi signed off without uttering a word about her role in the controversy, a correction, or any information on what happened.

Sunday’s @60Minutes ended with @Sharyn_Alfonsi reading comments about her shoddy hit piece on @RonDeSantisFL. She d… https://t.co/KtBAd4VpRE
— Brent Baker (@Brent Baker)1618187446.0

(H/T: HotAir)

'It doesn't impact me': Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reacts after attacks from CNN



Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) engaged in a heated exchange with a CNN reporter that went viral on Tuesday, leading to fellow CNN journalists criticizing the governor — with one even calling him a name live on air.

But the Republican dismissed the attacks when asked about it, saying, "It doesn't impact me."

What are the details?

On Monday, CNN's Rosa Flores pressed DeSantis during a news conference, asking about the cause of wait lines experienced by seniors in the state seeking to receive the recently approved COVID-19 vaccines after the state prioritized citizens age 65 and over.

During a tense back-and-forth, the governor explained that hospitals were in charge of administering the vaccines rather than his office issuing directives, saying "these people are much more competent to be able to deliver health services than a state government could ever be."

After video of DeSantis' and Flores' exchange gained attention, CNN reporter Jim Acosta rushed to his colleague's defense, saying Flores "does a fantastic job here insisting that the governor answer the question. It's too bad DeSantis frequently interrupts and insults Rosa. But we've seen that routine before."

On-air Tuesday evening, a CNN anchor called DeSantis an "ass" for his treatment of Flores.

CNN anchor calls GOP Gov. @RonDeSantisFL an "ass" on live television. https://t.co/ADP8ua3ygn
— The First (@The First)1609886104.0

But Fox News' Tucker Carlson hosted DeSantis on his show the same evening, and asked the governor for his reaction to CNN's treatment of him in comparison to the kid gloves the network shows New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo — a Democrat whose brother is a CNN host.

Gov. Cuomo has faced heavy criticism for his executive order sending coronavirus patients into nursing homes early on in the pandemic, receiving blame from some loved ones of elderly residents who passed away from COVID-19. But CNN has highlighted the New York Democratic on the show of his brother, CNN host Chris Cuomo.

Meanwhile, Gov. Cuomo has written a book about his leadership during the ongoing pandemic and won an Emmy Award for his communication style.

What else?

The treatment of Gov. DeSantis has been quite different.

"Do you think you'd get fair treatment from CNN if your brother had a primetime show on that channel?" Carlson asked the Florida governor on Tuesday.

DeSantis laughed, saying, "You know, I think it's pretty clear some of these networks, obviously, they have agendas. They're doing narratives, they're not trying to report facts anymore. It's all about spinning whatever narrative they think can get ratings, and that's just the reality of the situation."

He added, "It doesn't impact me. We're gonna continue keeping our eye on the ball and working as hard as we can to deliver results."

Tucker Carlson asks Governor DeSantis:"Do you think you’d get fair treatment from CNN if your brother had a prime… https://t.co/qnxgIEgSx2
— Daily Caller (@Daily Caller)1609897023.0

Lindsey Graham donates $500,000 to Trump's legal defense fund, says 'Philadelphia elections are crooked as a snake'



Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) declared that he would donate $500,000 to President Donald Trump's legal defense fund. Graham announced the financial support of the Trump campaign's legal efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results on Thursday night during an appearance on Fox News' "Hannity."

"I'm here tonight to stand with President Trump," Graham told host Sean Hannity. "He stood with me, he's the reason we're going to have a Senate majority ... He helped Senate Republicans. We're going to pick up House seats because of the campaign that President Trump won.

"I'm going to donate $500,000 tonight to President Trump's defense legal fund," the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman said.

Lindsey Graham pledges $500K to Trump's legal fund www.youtube.com


The money will come from Graham's campaign account, according to a spokesperson.

Graham set a fundraising record for a Republican Senate candidate with $28 million in the third quarter during his re-election battle. His opponent, Democrat Jaime Harrison, raised $57 million in the third quarter, the most ever raised in that period by any U.S. Senate candidate. In total, Graham raised roughly $58 million, according to the Associated Press.

Graham went on to beat Harrison by 10 points in the 2020 election, 54.5% to 44.2%.

Earlier on Thursday, Donald Trump Jr. called out Republicans for not supporting the president, citing only Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) as exceptions.

"The total lack of action from virtually all of the '2024 GOP hopefuls' is pretty amazing," the president's son tweeted. "They have a perfect platform to show that they're willing & able to fight but they will cower to the media mob instead. Don't worry @realDonaldTrump will fight & they can watch as usual!"

When it was pointed out that Graham hadn't shown support for the president as of Thursday afternoon, Trump Jr. responded, "No one is surprised."

One notable exception seems to be Ron DeSantis right now. He has been active and vocal. @RonDeSantisFL
— Donald Trump Jr. (@Donald Trump Jr.)1604609427.0

Graham's donation will help fund the Trump campaign's legal battle to contest the election procedures in the swing states of Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.

During the "Hannity" interview, Graham discussed the presidential election, and proclaimed that the "allegations of wrongdoing are earth-shattering."

When asked if Republican lawmakers in Pennsylvania and elsewhere should invalidate the election results if there is corruption, Graham said, "I think everything should be on the table." He also said, "Philadelphia elections are crooked as a snake."

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) tells Sean Hannity that Republicans in Pennsylvania should consider sending Trump electo… https://t.co/jO7whAIXax
— The Recount (@The Recount)1604630966.0