Same old story with aging politicians
Whenever a lawmaker who is advancing in years appears infirm or confused in public, or takes some time to convalesce, there are questions about their fitness for office.
1970-01-01 08:00
Sen Dianne Feinstein appears confused and is instructed to vote ‘aye’ by fellow senator at meeting
One of the frequent instances in which Senator Dianne Feinstein has appeared confused and unsure of the business of the Senate at hand has been caught on camera, a day after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze at a press conference and was ushered away after appearing unable to talk. The Democratic senator from California was attending a meeting Thursday of the Senate Appropriations Commitee, where during votes she appeared to lose track of the proceedings and began to motion for a vote that was already in progress. The beginning of her speech prompted a fellow Democratic senator, Patty Murray, to lean in and tell her: “Just vote ‘aye’”. It was a concerning moment made all the more relevant by the display of Mr McConnell a day earlier; after pressing from reporters throughout the afternoon and into the evening, it was eventually revealed that the Senate GOP leader, who suffered a concussion after a fall this past spring, was the victim of another fall just a few weeks ago at DC’s Reagan airport. The incident was branded “awkward” by NBC’s congressional reporter Sahil Kapur, and it drew the issue of the Senate’s graying membership back into the headlines for a second day in a row. Ms Feinstein, 90, is one of the chamber’s oldest members and has long been the subject of stories and anecdotes wherein she appears unsure or confused about her immediate surroundings or the proceedings of the Senate. The concerns have escalated to the point where there are now persistent calls for her retirement on social media, something that the senator has pledged to do at the end of her term. A crowded field has already emerged to vie for her seat next year; California US House members Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee and Katie Porter are all contending to succeed her in what is expected to be one of the most expensive statewide races in 2024. The senator returned to work earlier this year after a two-and-a-half month absence, related to illness; the void left by her leave prevented the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Democratic majority from compelling Supreme Court Justice John Roberts to testify at a hearing called to discuss ethical issues plaguing the nation’s highest judicial authority.
1970-01-01 08:00
Civil rights groups condemn 'Soul Fest' concerts at Georgia park with giant Confederate carving
Civil rights groups are criticizing a concert series with Black performers dubbed “Soul Fest” that is being held at a Georgia park with a giant carving of Confederate leaders
1970-01-01 08:00
Bank Capital Rules’ Clampdown on Mortgages Raises Borrower Fears
A sweeping overhaul of bank capital rules proposed by regulators includes changes to requirements for residential mortgages that
1970-01-01 08:00
Hunter Biden plea docs highlight rifts that upended the deal for now
A version of Hunter Biden's proposed agreements with federal prosecutors was made public Wednesday night by Politico, providing further insights into the convoluted legal deals that nearly collapsed under scrutiny from a federal judge at his plea hearing earlier in the day.
1970-01-01 08:00
Trump lawyers meet prosecutor ahead of expected indictment
Donald Trump said his lawyers met with Justice Department officials on Thursday ahead of an expected indictment over his alleged efforts to overturn the...
1970-01-01 08:00
LeBron James says family 'safe, healthy' after son suffers cardiac arrest
NBA superstar LeBron James said on Thursday his family was "together, safe and healthy" four days after his eldest son suffered cardiac arrest during practice...
1970-01-01 08:00
Yadav, Jadeja lead India to five-wicket romp over abject West Indies
Left-arm spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja masterminded the rout of an abject West Indies team as India romped to a five-wicket victory with more than 27 overs to spare in the opening One-Day International of a three-match...
1970-01-01 08:00
US House votes to approve first 2024 spending bill
By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed a fiscal 2024 appropriations bill for military construction
1970-01-01 08:00
Facebook False News in US Election Reached More Conservatives, Study Says
Researchers observed conservatives engaging more with false news stories on Facebook than liberals during the US 2020 presidential
1970-01-01 08:00
Microsoft ‘Bears Responsibility’ For China-Tied Hacks, Senator Says
In a scathing letter sent to key federal agencies, Senator Ron Wyden called for multiple investigations of Microsoft
1970-01-01 08:00
Fox News’ Sean Hannity says he’ll ‘throw his staff down the stairs’ after he got congressman’s name wrong
Fox News host Sean Hannity joked that he was going to throw his staff down the stairs after he flubbed the name of a Congressman during a broadcast. Every reporter gets a name wrong once in awhile, but Hannity had the misfortune of getting Congressman Tim Burchett's name wrong not only in front of the man himself, but in front of a live studio audience. The fumble occurred as Hannity was introducing Mr Burchett to discuss the much-hyped House Subcommittee hearing on unidentified aerial phenomena. Mr Burchett has been a vocal supporter of the witnesses who testified during the meeting about their encounters with UAPs and — in the case of former intelligence officer David Grusch — allegations regarding murderous coverups and the recovery of non-human bodies. Hannity welcomed Mr Burchett onto the show, calling him "Tom" instead of Tim. Mr Burchett initially tried to correct Hannity, but the applause of the Fox News anchor's live studio audience drowned him out. After Hannity introduced the topic of discussion — making it clear that he, at least on his show, is treating the witnesses as credible — Mr Burchett finally got a chance to offer a correction. "My name's Tim. Sorry to correct you," he told the host. Hannity apologised for his mix-up – and then threw his staff under the bus. "I'm going to blame my staff and throw them down the stairs, but that's ok," he said, prompting laughter from the live studio audience. The rest of the segment played out without a hitch. While it's clear by Hannity's tenor that he was joking about abusing his staff, it may have been an instance of a joke coming "too soon." Less than a month ago Fox News paid a former producer on Tucker Carlson's show won $12m in a settlement after she claimed the set was an abusive place to work. Abby Grossberg, the former producer, said Carlson's show was a hotbed of bigotry, misogyny, and bullying. "I am hopeful, based on our discussions with Fox News today, that this resolution represents a positive step by the Network regarding its treatment of women and minorities in the workplace," her attorney, Tanvir Rahman, wrote in a statement following the settlement. Read More Holocaust survivor responds to Fox News host’s comment about ‘useful’ people in concentration camps Explosive claims, impossible craft and questions of ‘murder’: House UFO hearing probes alleged alien technology defying laws of physics Fox News ousts eight remaining Tucker Carlson show staff as Jesse Watters takes over primetime spot House Speaker Kevin McCarthy floats an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden Fox chooses to air Trump’s false election claims again despite $787m Dominion payout Trump not frightened by Jan 6 indictment but it would be ‘dangerous’ to jail him
1970-01-01 08:00
