Raw Story

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s independent presidential run got off to a rocky start on Monday after he took the stage without a speech.

After being introduced by his wife, Cheryl Hines, Kennedy was expected to announce that he was leaving the Democratic Party to pursue an independent presidential bid.

Instead, there was a moment of confusion while he fumbled through his jacket for a speech.

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"I need my speech," he said, noting that the TelePrompter appeared upside down.

Kennedy left the stage and returned moments later with a speech in hand.

Watch the video below or at this link.

A Philadelphia journalist was found shot multiple times in his home early after 911 calls reported gunshots and screams, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Josh Kruger had been shot multiple times and collapsed in the street outside his home. He later died after being rushed to the hospital. Police say someone entered Kruger's home and shot him at the base of the stairs, before fleeing.

No arrests had been made as of Monday morning and police still don't know a motive. There were no signs of forced entry, they said.

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“Either the door was open, or the offender knew how to get the door open,” police said, according to the Inquirer. “We just don’t know yet.”

Kruger had posted on Facebook about two weeks ago that someone came to his house searching for their boyfriend — “a man I’ve never met once in my entire life" -- and threatened him. According to his post, the person called themselves “Lady Diabla, the She-Devil of the Streets.”

READ MORE: Mike Lindell's vote fraud gizmo could send 'enraged partisans' marching on election offices: report

Kruger's freelance journalism covered the city's most vulnerable residents, including the homeless, people in addiction, and LGBTQ community, the Inquirer reported.

Read more at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The United Auto Workers expanded its strikes against Ford and General Motors on Friday, calling on nearly 7,000 additional members in Michigan and Illinois to walk off the job as the union looks to ramp up pressure on the companies to deliver stronger wage and benefit proposals.

The union opted not to expand its walkouts against Chrysler parent company Stellantis, citing progress in recent bargaining sessions on cost-of-living adjustments, the right to strike over plant closures, and other issues.

"Sadly, despite our willingness to bargain, Ford and GM have refused to make meaningful progress at the table," UAW president Shawn Fain said in a video update posted to social media on Friday. "To be clear, negotiations haven't broke down. We're still talking with all three companies, and I'm still very hopeful that we can reach a deal that reflects the incredible sacrifices and contributions our members have made over the last decade."

"But I also know that what we win at the bargaining table depends on the power we build on the job," said Fain. "It's time to use that power."

Friday's walkouts brought the total number of UAW members on strike at the Big Three U.S. car manufacturers to roughly 25,000—nearly double the number of workers who walked off the job on the first day of the strikes two weeks ago.

Survey data released earlier this week showed public support for the strikes has grown since their launch earlier this month. Last week, UAW members walked out at every General Motors and Stellantis parts distribution facility in the U.S.

As part of its "stand-up strike" strategy, the UAW is expected to continue steadily expanding its walkouts at strategic locations throughout the country in an effort to give negotiators more leverage to pursue the union's demands at the bargaining table.

"We will not be intimidated into backing down by the companies or scabs," Fain said Friday. "Our cause is just. Striking for a better future, to protect our communities, and to defeat corporate greed is not just our right, it's our duty."

"We will win. Our strategy is working," said Fain. "Our solidarity is the most powerful force in the world. When we stand together, united in the cause of social and economic justice, there's nothing we can't do."

Chris Christie keeps trying to make his "Donald Duck" nickname stick to Donald Trump.

The former New Jersey governor slapped that sobriquet on the ex-president Wednesday at the second Republican presidential debate, which the GOP front-runner skipped –or ducked, as Christie said by way of explaining the nickname.

“If you keep doing that, no one up here is going to call you Donald Trump anymore," Christie said. "They’re going to call you Donald Duck.”

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The joke landed with a thud, but Christie tried to make the name stick by posting a meme of Donald Duck with Trump's distinctive hair and styling Friday.

— (@)

His joke met with scorn and ridicule on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, where users responded with a slew of unflattering photos mocking Christie's weight.

"This is beneath you," said X user "Jeff," @Football_expert.

READ MORE: See the multi-million dollar real estate empire Trump could lose in fraud trial

"Christie calling Trump 'Donald Duck' is so hilariously old-timey," said comic writer Marc Deschamps. "You’re making a reference to a 100-year-old cartoon character when 'Donald Chump' was RIGHT THERE. Amazing."

"The best KFChris McChristie could come up with was Donald Duck," said the Old School Republicans account. "I don’t think an aide thought it up, it’s so dumb that it could only come from the mind of the most unpopular Governor in the history of the United States."

A Proud Boys member who served as the far-right group’s “tool” during the Jan. 6, 2021, attempted insurrection and then disappeared after he was convicted has reportedly been found and arrested again.

In May, Christopher Worrell, of Naples, Florida, was convicted of assaulting police and rioting, among other charges. Worrell was found guilty after a five-day bench trial.

His sentencing was scheduled for Aug. 18, but he later disappeared, according to reports.

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The defendant has now been located, according to Naples Daily News.

"Naples resident Christopher Worrell, convicted for his part in Jan. 6 Capitol riot, has been arrested at his home by the FBI, a Collier County Sheriff's Office spokesperson confirmed Thursday night," the outlet reported. "The sheriff's office assisted the FBI with the warrant. When it was served, Worrell was home."

According to the Thursday article:

"Worrell, a member of the Proud Boys extremist group, went missing in August just as he was about to face sentencing for multiple crimes he committed during the riot. He was found guilty in May. Prosecutors had asked for a sentence that includes 14 years in prison, fines and other conditions."

The report continues:

"Among other violations, Worrell was accused of assaulting law enforcement officers with pepper spray."

You can read it here.

Donald Trump Thursday night took a swipe at Fox News and the GOP debates, calling on an end to the primary and on those in the media to "stop with the bad debates and negative ads."

Trump on Thursday suggested that some of the GOP candidates did better than others at the recent Republican debate, even giving a report card for his rivals.

After that, he called for an end to the debates altogether.

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Trump, who has skipped the first two debates and said he plans to avoid them all, had this to say late Thursday.

"The second Republican Primary Debate on FoxNews had the Lowest Viewership since 2016. Their overall Ratings are down 30%," he added. "FOX NEEDS MAGA, THEY JUST DON’T KNOW IT YET. STOP WITH THE BAD DEBATES & NEGATIVE ADS, NO MORE. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE! DJT."