Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ruffled feathers within his own party when he said Ukraine isn’t one of the United States’ “vital national interests.” We did a close reading of his recent statement to see whether, and how, it breaks from his previous statements.
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‘More anxious’: Republicans in panic mode after Trump’s lackluster address backfires
Republicans were shocked by President Donald Trump's finger-pointing and have questioned what's next after his lackluster primetime speech.
White House insiders and GOP lawmakers were reacting to responses to Trump's speech, CNN senior White House correspondent Kristen Holmes told viewers Thursday.
"Look, they're all watching everything closely, and they've seen how it's been reviewed. I will say one thing. The White House worked together as a team, as they often do the inner circle to craft this speech. And they needed a speech in which President Trump would stay on message, that was short, that addressed the economy," Holmes said.
Trump blamed former President Joe Biden, a common move he's made in the past — something his team has begged him to stop doing — and tried to say the economy was better than before.
"Now, whether or not you think his message was true, we obviously know that there were numbers that were inflated or just plain wrong. Or if you think that he went off topic, airing his grievances, he did talk about the economy more than we've ever we've seen him in the last several months," Holmes said. "And that is what the White House was intending to do, to try and get the message across that he is aware that things are not in the place that they need to be, and that they are working on it as an administration."
That message did not land well, she said. And Republicans outside the White House had a different response to what the White House had aimed for, "which is try and alleviate people's fears."
Instead, it only ramped up people's worries, especially ahead of the midterms.
"Republicans came out of that speech more anxious that the messaging around the economy was not where it should be going into 2026, and that the party as a whole was not really solidified in that messaging about the economy, especially when it came to all of this blame on the previous administration," Holmes said.
Trump's former campaign advisers have claimed that the president has previously made gains in convincing people he has an understanding of improving the economy. But now things have changed.
"The other thing they said was that it was a lot easier to run when President Trump himself wasn't in power. When you are running against something, you were saying, you can change something," she added. "Now he is facing the same exact circumstances that President Biden was facing at the time, and handling it the exact same way, which, of course, is raising a lot of questions as to where Republicans are going to go from here."
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‘Devastated’: NASCAR legend Greg Biffle and family dead in plane crash in North Carolina
NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife, Cristina, and their children were killed in a plane crash on Thursday in North Carolina.
Biffle and his family were on board a private jet when the plane crashed and burst into flames at an airport in Statesville, North Carolina, at about 10:20 a.m. ET, where low clouds, rain and poor visibility were reported.
Rep. Richard Hudson announced their deaths in a post on X:
"I am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is with all who loved them. They were friends who lived their lives focused on helping others. Greg was a great NASCAR champion who thrilled millions of fans. But he was an extraordinary person as well, and will be remembered for his service to others as much as for his fearlessness on the track. The Biffles flew hundreds of rescue missions in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica. That’s who the Biffles were. Our prayers are with their family, friends, and everyone grieving this unimaginable loss."
It's unclear what caused the crash. The investigation was ongoing.
Biffle was nominated for the NASCAR Hall of Fame this year. He raced 14 full-time seasons, collecting 19 wins in over 500 starts, and was a perennial playoff contender. Biffle finished in the top 10 in the standings six times, including a runner-up finish in 2005.
The Hall of Fame called Biffle one of NASCAR’s 75 "greatest drivers."
