"President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump both strayed repeatedly from the truth as they squared off in the first presidential debate of the 2024 election season.
"Here are the claims the USA TODAY Fact Check Team dug into."
"The debate will be quite different from the one's in 2020. Mics will be muted when it's not a candidate's allotted time, Biden and Trump can't talk with staff during breaks, pre-written notes are banned and most importantly, there is no live audience." . . .
CarolineGlick.com06/11/2024 "An incredible Israeli operation rescues four hostages from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip.
"Yet in a new low, the mainstream media focuses on alleged Palestinian civilian casualties, accusing Israel of “war crimes” based on numbers provided by the Hamas-controlled “Gaza Health Ministry.”
"What does the daring rescue mission reveal about the coastal enclave’s “civilian population” and the way mainstream journalists operate?
"The two-minute video clip was played in Tel Aviv on Saturday as part of a call for the return of the remaining hostages still in captivity under Hamas. Argamani's mother, Liora, said she has stage 4 brain cancer and only wanted to see her child one last time before passing away. She evenwrote a letterto President Joe Biden about the situation.
"While Argamani was safely returned home, she mentioned that her partner, Avinatan Or, has remained in captivity in Gaza.
"'I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that there are 120 more hostages in Hamas captivity, and among them is Avinatan Or, my partner from whom I was separated at the moment of the abduction.”
“ 'Although I’m at home now, we cannot forget the hostages who are still in Hamas captivity, and we must do everything that’s possible to bring them back home," she added.
"Women were specifically targeted during the October 7 attack, many of whom were victims of violent sexual assault.
""Wonder Woman" actress, Gal Gadot,drew attention to the situationin December 2023, writing on Instagram: "We claim we stand against rape, violence against women. We will not let women be victimized and then silenced. We say we believe women. Stand with women. Speak out for women."
“On October 7th, the world witnessed Hamas carrying out its violent plans in real time. Within hours of the October 7th attack, the first blood-chilling video emerged of Shani Louk being paraded naked and defiled by her proud assailants,” Gadot wrote on the social media platform,referring to Shani Louk, the German-Israeli tattoo artist who was kidnapped by Hamas." . . .
And killed by the Gazans, her body in the back of a truck, driven through the streets of Gaza, and spat on by the citizens of Gaza.
"Time slots on the cable network once devoted to news programming are now occupied by Trump-bashing opinion hosts. The channel has become a landing spot for high-profile alumni of President Biden’s administration like Jen Psaki, who went from hosting White House press briefings to hosting her own show. On Super Tuesday, when producers aired a portion of a live speech by former President Donald J. Trump, Rachel Maddowchastisedher bosses on the air.
"The moves have been a hit with viewers. MSNBC has leapfrogged past its erstwhile rival CNN in the ratings and has seen viewership rise over the past year, securing second place in cable news behind the perennial leader, Fox News."
“I am not going to put a fine sheen on it, or a spin on it, even though I am in the spin room,” "MSNBC anchor Alex Wagner saidfrom the CNN presidential debate spin room
in Atlanta.
"Wagner was speaking about the reaction from Democratic sources, but on the cable news channel that’s seen as the home to America’s progressive political wing, the mood on set was stark.
“This was about revealing who Donald Trump was, but it was also Joe Biden battling a caricature of himself as an enfeebled person,” Wagner said of the debate. “And he did nothing to disabuse, I think, the country of the notion that he is very old and was lost frequently in that debate.”
"CNNandMSNBCthrived during the Trump years, reaching new heights in ratings and revenue while devoting countless prime-time hours to criticizing a White House antagonist their viewers just could not quit." . . .
"People at both networks know that viewers who abhorred President Trump may no longer need their nightly therapy sessions with Rachel Maddow or Don Lemon." . . .
Gwen Aviles (nbcnews.com)Proponents of the bill say it will protect religious freedom. Critics however, say it will be used to discriminate against LGBTQ people.
"The legislation, known as Senate Bill 1978, prohibits government entities from taking "adverse actions" against businesses or individuals because of their religious beliefs or moral convictions. But while proponents view the bill as a necessary measure ensuring religious freedom, critics say it's a thinly veiled attempt to undermine LGBTQ rights.
"The bill — which has no official connection to Chick-fil-A — received its nickname after the San Antonio City Council banned the fast-food franchise from opening a location in the city's airport because of the company's "legacy of anti-LGBT behavior."
"Chick-fil-A has been under fire for its LGBTQ track record since 2012, when it was revealed that the company, through the charity of its founder, S. Truett Cathy, who died in 2014, donated nearly $2 million to groups that oppose same-sex marriage.
"The Save Chick-fil-A law makes it clear in Texas: You don’t mess with Chick-fil-A, and you don’t mess with religious freedom,” Jonathan Saenz, president of the socially conservative Texas Values Action, said in a statement." . . .
"Several commentators were critical of former President Barack ObamaJoe's reaction to the first 2024 presidential debate, where his former running mate's performance raised alarm bells in Democrats ahead of November.
"In a post to X, formerly Twitter, Friday afternoon, Obama offered support for President Joe Biden's reelection run, whose demeanor Thursday night renewed concerns over the 81-year-old's age and ability to serve another four years. A Biden aide told Newsweek that the president was suffering from a cold."
" 'Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight — and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit," the former president continued. "Last night didn't change that, and it's why so much is at stake in November."
"Thursday's debate was the first time that Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, faced former President Donald Trump this election cycle. The night began with Biden speaking with a rather raspy-sounding voice and was filled with several gaffes.
"Trump, meanwhile, repeated many of the same falsehoods that he has used throughout his campaign, including regarding Democrats' policies on abortion, the economy and immigration. The former president is 78 years old and is the first former president in U.S. history to be criminally convicted.
"Biden's performance has sparked concern from some close to the Democratic Party, and commentators have suggested that the president should be replaced with a different candidate before November. Obama's comments of support were received by several as being untimely coming off such a poor debate performance, including political commentator Chris Cillizza, who addressed Obama's point about having a "bad" debate night." . . .
