Raw Story

In the aftermath of the 2024 election, some Joe Biden staffers have accused Vice President Kamala Harris behind closed doors of blowing the election, relitigating whether it was even necessary for Biden to drop out in the first place and speculating whether he could have defeated Donald Trump had he just stuck with it and fought past the disastrous debate in June.

This is a complete "fantasy," Will Saletan wrote for The Bulwark — and the polling data makes it clear Biden was not just heading for a far worse blowout, he was a key factor in why Harris lost in the first place.

"It’s not clear whether Biden actually believes this. His aides and associates have given varying accounts. But some people in his circle seem to be nursing the idea that he should have remained in the race and would have succeeded where Harris failed," wrote Saletan. "They’re wrong. Let’s put this delusion to bed."

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The VoteCast data on the 2024 electorate paints a clear picture of what happened, Saletan explained — and it shows that Biden put Democrats in a huge deficit that Harris managed to climb out of, but only partly.

"The top row of the table shows that 70 percent of voters knew all along which way they were going to vote. Of these, 59 percent voted for Trump and 40 percent for Harris. Since Harris didn’t replace Biden till July, it’s logical to infer that those 40 percent were going to vote for Biden. She basically inherited them," wrote Saletan. "Losing 70 percent of the electorate by a spread of 59 percent to 40 percent is very bad. It means that Biden put Harris in a serious hole. When you do the math, it means that she began her leg of the relay with locked-in support from only 28 percent of the electorate, compared to Trump’s 41 percent."

With that in mind, Saletan concluded, it's a wonder Harris kept the race as close as she did.

"There’s plenty to regret about Biden’s campaign," he wrote. "Maybe he should have skipped the 2024 race and let a new generation of Democrats fight it out. Maybe he should have focused less on passing good legislation and more on taking credit. Maybe — and it pains me to say this, as a Bulwark institutionalist — he shouldn’t have counted on a majority of Americans to stand up for the rule of law. But handing the reins to Harris in July, rather than sticking it out, wasn’t one of his mistakes. His mistake was that he didn’t do so sooner."

No, an intern is not to blame for Ford Motor Company’s official X account going rogue on Monday after a series of posts that said: “ALL EYES ON GAZA,” “Israel is a terrorist state,” and “Free Palestine.”

The automaker – the latest high-profile social media account to have been hacked over the years– has since deleted the posts that were fired off Monday evening, and launched an investigation into the matter.

“Our X account was briefly compromised and three posts were made that were not authorized or posted by Ford,” the company wrote on X. “They do not represent the views of Ford Motor Company. Ford and X are investigating this breach.”

But by then, the posts had already made their rounds across social media, and users armed with screenshots were quick to hop on the bandwagon with comments.

“Here for woke ford motor company,” tech journalist Paris Marx wrote on Bluesky.

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“Someone give the ford social media intern a raise,” podcaster Cortland Coffey wrote on Bluesky.

“Ford Motor company popped off,” tech journalist Taylor Lorenz told her Bluesky followers.

“Holy s--- this is real (checked myself),” Lauren McKenzie wrote in a social media post. “What’s it called when you’re anti anti-genocide,” she wrote in a follow-up post above Ford’s own social media statement – which drew their own attacks.

“This is a statement and not an apology,” rabbi Samuel Stern wrote in a reply post. “I wonder if the unauthorized posts targeted anyone else if you would have apologized?"

“Incredibly weak statement,” Brianna Wu, executive director of Rebellion PAC, told her followers on X. “Denounce antisemitism. Apologize to the Jewish community. Promise consequences for the people responsible.”

Donald Trump's most ardent supporters have been battling with the billionaire and business class after a fight broke out between Elon Musk and Trump ally Laura Loomer over H-1B visas.

While Trump has a long documented history of trashing H-1B visas and advocating for their removal, Musk and another so-called "tech bro," Vivek Ramaswamy, said the visas were necessary to find skilled people to undertake the jobs required in the tech industry. MAGA maintains that immigration goes against the America First agenda.

Speaking to MSNBC on Monday, Republican strategist Susan del Percio suggested that members of his base will follow him — even if they disagree with his positions.

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"I think Trump wins with his base, no matter which side he takes. He'll always win with the base because they follow him pretty much blindly," she said.

Others, like Steve Bannon and Loomer, "are talking about ending basically a possibility of legal immigration and legal entry into the country. That's not what Donald Trump talked about on his campaign. Yes, he's kind of hinted that he was against it before, and now he's for it."

Del Percio called it "such a stupid fight for them to pick because Donald Trump will win it, because he will win it by coming out or acting strong on deportation."

Former Bill Clinton administration deputy assistant Matt Bennett pointed to Trump's pledge to deport more than 9 million immigrants. He predicted that Trump is "not going to get the job done that he promised."

But Del Percio said it won't matter if Trump fails to keep his promise if he deports, "a certain amount of criminals, for example." The workers' visa issue will, she said, be quickly forgotten.

See the discussion below or at the link here.

- YouTube youtu.be

A Democratic senator was shocked to admit that one of the "best tributes" to former President Jimmy Carter came from an unlikely source.

Taking to X on Monday, less than 24 hours after Carter's death was announced, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) posted a statement from outgoing Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell (KY).

"Jimmy Carter served as our commander-in-chief for four years, but he served as the beloved, unassuming Sunday school teacher at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia for 40. And his humble devotion leaves us little doubt which of those two important roles he prized the most," read McConnell's statement.

Whitehouse responded: "The best tribute comes from Mitch McConnell. Who knew?"

Also Read: Habitat for Humanity pioneer remembers Jimmy Carter's charitable efforts

In 2018, Carter published his book "Faith: A Journey for All."

Speaking to CBS News' Norah O'Donnell about the book, the former president said, “I still have faith in the long-term correction of our problems.”

"It is urgent that humans take a new look at the rapidly growing need for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Ten Commandments, the Koran, or the teachings of Jesus Christ and to see if these visions of improved human interrelationships might be used to meet the challenges of the present moment and evolve a future of peaceful coexistence, based on faith in each other," Carter wrote in the introduction of the book.

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Elon Musk, the billionaire co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency, suggested he could oppose Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) for speaker of the House — moments after promising "full support" for the Republican lawmaker.

In a post on the X social media platform, Johnson thanked President-elect Donald Trump for his "Complete & Total endorsement."

"Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN," Trump wrote in support of Johnson.

"I feel the same way!" Musk replied. "You have my full support."

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But less than an hour later, the billionaire changed his tune when Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said he would not support Johnson despite Trump's endorsement.

Massie argued Trump's "endorsement of Mike Johnson is going to work out about as well as his endorsement of Speaker Paul Ryan."

"You might be right, but let's see how it goes," Musk agreed.

A former police chief in West Virginia has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for sex trafficking a teen girl and then subsequently trying to hinder investigators.

Larry Clay Jr., 58, former police chief in Fayetteville, was convicted of child sex trafficking and obstruction of justice last year. He served as the chief of police for the Gauley Bridge Police Department and was also an employee of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department.

Prosecutors sought a life sentence for Clay, The Washington Post reported. Clay did not react when he received his sentence.

The Post reported that the victim, who is now 22, told Clay in court: “You were supposed to help keep people safe. You used your badge and took advantage of your power and took whatever you wanted."

“Because of you, I’m still looking over my shoulder to make sure I’m not being watched, and watching what I wear because I still feel like sweatpants and a hoodie is too revealing. I might never be the same again, but you won’t ever make anyone else a victim of your games. I’ll never forget what you did, and I’m not forgiving you for what you did. I’m forgiving you so I can heal," she said.

Clay paid $100 to co-defendant Kristen Naylor-Legg to engage in sexual misconduct with her 17-year-old relative on two occasions in June 2020, authorities said. Clay remained in his police uniform for the duration of each assault, authorities added.

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The first incident happened in his government-issued vehicle on a rural county road and the second took place inside the old Gauley Bridge High School building, in a location restricted to certain people including police. Law enforcement authorities found DNA evidence on a discarded washcloth.

“Larry Allen Clay’s crimes are particularly heinous, as he was in a position of trust and respect within his community,” said Derek W. Gordon, special agent in charge at Homeland Security Investigations. "Clay violated that trust and victimized a minor. HSI will work tirelessly to ensure that there is no refuge for child sexual predators who believe they can pursue their perverse behavior with impunity; they cannot escape justice and there will be serious consequences for their heinous actions.”

In September 2020, Clay tried to persuade his co-defendant to lie to investigators about the incidents and asked a law enforcement officer if his crimes could be concealed, officials said.

Naylor-Legg pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking in 2021.