President Joe Biden faced a wave of criticism after he vetoed the JUDGES Act, a piece of legislation intended to create 66 new federal judgeships to alleviate pressing caseloads nationwide. The decision sparked outrage from federal judiciary leaders and lawmakers, as the bill, despite initially enjoying bipartisan support, was seen as offering nomination benefits to President-elect Donald Trump.
President Biden's veto of the JUDGES Act prompted significant controversy and debate, as stakeholders expressed dissatisfaction with his decision, as reported by the Hill.
Biden’s veto was announced on a Monday, halting a bill that promised to bring judicial relief across 13 U.S. states. The plan was to introduce the new judgeships in multiple stages until 2035. Among the judgeships, around 24 would fall under the nominating authority of President-elect Trump, a situation criticized by opponents who believed it rushed for the benefit of the incoming administration.
The proposal had enjoyed unanimous approval from Democrats in the Senate back in August. However, it encountered delays in the Republican-controlled House, where it wasn't put to a vote until after Trump's election win. Ultimately, the House passed it with a vote count of 236 to 173, with most Democrats opposing the measure.
President Biden, defending his decision, indicated the bill wasn't primarily addressing caseload issues and critiqued it as a hastily assembled piece of work in the waning weeks of the 118th Congress. He questioned the swiftness with which the House moved without resolving critical ambiguities in the legislation.
The JUDGES Act emerged in response to a dramatic rise in pending federal civil cases, which have increased by 346% over the past two decades. As of March, approximately 82,000 cases were awaiting attention, according to data from the federal judiciary. The Judicial Conference originally put forth the recommendation for new judgeships to Congress, leading to the introduction of the JUDGES Act.
Federal judiciary advocates had tirelessly lobbied for Biden’s endorsement of the legislation, even after the elections. Groups like the Federal Judges Association and several judicial organizations supported the bill, emphasizing the need for more judges to ensure efficient justice administration.
Among Biden’s sternest critics was Judge Robert Conrad, who expressed profound disappointment with the veto. He considered the additional judgeships crucial for maintaining functional justice delivery. Conrad strongly contested Biden's claim of the bill's haphazard construction, noting it was the result of deliberate, detailed analyses focusing on per-judge caseloads and contributions of senior and magistrate judges.
“The President’s veto marks a significant deviation from historical practices where new judgeships benefited sitting presidents,” Conrad remarked. He added that Biden's decision leaned against the legislative groundwork Biden himself supported during his Senate tenure.
Gabe Roth added to the chorus of dissatisfaction, labeling Biden's decision as an "embarrassing" conclusion to an otherwise impactful reshaping of the judiciary over the past four years. Sen. Todd Young accused Biden of engaging in partisan politics, contrasting his enthusiasm for assisting family members with due process against the backdrop of ordinary Americans awaiting judicial relief.
Biden's veto, while controversial, is grounded in his belief that the legislation needed more scrutiny and careful construction. His action underscores the complex interplay of political priorities and judicial necessities, setting a challenging precedent for future judicial reforms.
For now, the fate of the JUDGES Act remains uncertain, as the judiciary and its advocates continue to push for solutions to alleviate the federal caseload crisis, which remains a pressing concern for efficient and effective justice in America.
President Joe Biden has come under fire for commuting the sentences of 37 federal inmates on death row, The Hill reported. Some are outraged that Biden has given the worst criminals life without parole in lieu of execution, while others believe he didn't go far enough.
Biden was busy Monday giving a new lease on life to dozens of cold-blooded killers. It was a favor he granted to all but three prisoners awaiting their death sentence.
This tracks with Biden's criteria for imposing a moratorium on executions except for cases of terrorism and mass killings. The men not granted clemency include Dylann Roof, who shot Black parishioners at a church in 2015; Robert D. Bowers, who shot up the Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018; and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of the brothers who bombed the 2013 Boston Marathon.
People who care about law and order are outraged that Biden would show these people mercy they don't deserve. Others believe Biden's move doesn't go far enough as it leaves out the three worst offenders.
Biden explained his thinking in a statement released Monday. "I’ve dedicated my career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system. Today, I am commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole," Biden began.
"These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my Administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss," the president added.
"But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice President, and now President, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted," he added.
Many who are on the side of criminals lauded this decision. Anthony Romero, executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union, said that Biden will be remembered as "a leader who stands for racial justice, humanity and morality."
The Equal Justice Initiative applauded the move as a "turning point in the history of capital punishment in the United States." Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights president and CEO Maya Wiley called Biden "courageous" for this decision.
While leftists celebrated Biden's decision to save the lives of murderers, others rightly excoriated Biden for the decision not to consider the victims in this decision. According to Fox News, that included the family of Donna Major, whose killer was one of those granted clemency.
"I was angry. I'm still angry," Major's adult daughter, Heather Turner, said Tuesday.
"I am upset that this is even happening, that one man can make this decision without even talking to the victims, without any regard for what we've been through, what we're going through, and completely hurt, frustrated and angry," she added. The family was informed just two days before Christmas that her killer, Brandon Council, would be spared the death penalty.
Meanwhile, others were upset that Biden didn't do the same for all 40 prisoners. "If you’re going to commute 37 and not 40 – now you’re playing judge, President Biden," Rev. Sharon Risher, whose mother and two cousins were murdered by Roof, said.
The death penalty exists to punish the most heinous crimes and keep those who commit them from ever doing it again. Biden has once again sided with the worst people in the world while forgetting the victims.
The family of Donna Major, who was shot to death in 2017, is outraged that President Joe Biden commuted the sentence of her killer just days before Christmas, the Daily Wire reported. Brandon Council was sentenced to death for killing Major and Kathryn Skeen during a 2017 bank robbery.
Biden is on a tear when it comes to letting criminals off the hook and explained his motivations. "I am commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole," the president said in a statement Monday.
"These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my Administration has imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss," Biden claimed.
"But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice President, and now President, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted," Biden concluded.
Biden's explanation does nothing for the families whose loved ones were killed by people like Council. Major's family spoke to Fox News Tuesday about the sucker punch this was for them.
"Anger -- absolute anger," Major's adult daughter Heather Turner said. "We were told from our prosecution team on Sunday afternoon. I was actually gathered with my in-laws for our family Christmas; my sister was gathered with her in-laws, and we got the call," she added.
"And I was angry. I’m still angry. I am upset that this is even happening, that one man can make this decision without even talking to the victims; without any regard for what we’ve been through, what we’re going through. I’m completely hurt, frustrated, and angry," Turner said.
Danny Jenkins, Major's husband, also expressed outrage that Biden was eager to be merciful to Council. "She was shown no mercy at all. This man walked into the bank, never said two words to her. Shot her three times in total," Jenkins recalled.
"He went and shot her coworker, Katie Skeen as well, who was totally defenseless and unaware of anything happening. I can't even believe that this is actually happening…" Jenkins said.
Council was already a career criminal when he gunned down Major, 59, and Skeen, 36, on August 21, 2017, at Crescom Bank in South Carolina, Fox News reported. The family has seen the surveillance video from the incident which showed the cold-blooded murderer briefly speaking with Major before shooting her several times.
He then scaled the bank counter and shot Skeen to death. This heinous crime was punishable by execution until Biden commuted Council's sentence, which radical "Squad" member Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) called "moral" and "compassionate" of Biden.
The victim's family couldn't disagree more. "Compassion? I don't think that that's compassion," Major's other adult daughter, Katie Jenkins, said.
Biden is leaving office and casting off any last shred of decency he may have had. Like all leftists, he has all of the compassion and mercy in the world for the people committing the crimes instead of the victims.
House Speaker Mike Johnson's supporters are circling the wagons to ensure he will remain as the GOP leader, Fox News reported. Lawmakers hope to avoid in-fighting at the start of President-elect Donald Trump's new administration as another fight threatens to undermine Trump's new administration.
Republican lawmakers are still shell-shocked from the last fight over the speakership. Johnson's predecessor, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, endured 15 rounds of votes before finally being confirmed.
Despite the California Republican's eventual win, he wouldn't last in the position with some members of his party champing at the bit to get rid of him. McCarthy's fellow Republicans ousted him from the position, and a three-week fight ensued that hamstrung the Congress before Johnson became the replacement.
So far, Johnson has held onto his leadership position and avoided McCarthy's fate. Now his fellow lawmakers are urging colleagues to keep the status quo for to ensure a smooth transition for Trump when he takes over.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) warned that conflict with Johnson could prevent the new Congress from officially taking office. "If we have some kind of protracted fight where we can’t elect a speaker — the speaker’s not elected; we’re not sworn in," Giminez pointed out.
"And if we’re not sworn in, we can’t certify the election," he told Fox Digital. Gimenez believes Trump might hold the key to making this happen.
"I would hope that President Trump would chime in and talk to those who are maybe a little hesitant, and say, 'We’ve got to get going. We don’t have time.'" Gimenez added.
Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) similarly believes "it would be immensely helpful" for Trump to throw his weight behind Johnson. "Any time would be great, but right after Christmas if President Trump said, ‘You know, listen’ — it would even be really cool if somehow Mike Johnson ended up at Mar-a-Lago for Christmas… wherever the president is," Fallon hoped.
"I think it would be incredibly powerful," he added. Unfortunately, there is a tight timeline to getting this done as lawmakers return on Friday, Jan. 3, to elect the speaker before the vote is certified three days later on Jan. 6.
The concerns about instability are very real, but some conservatives are still pushing for a fight. The Hill reported that anonymous sources said lawmakers behind the scenes are urging Trump to give Johnson the boot.
"Members are calling Trump to dump Johnson," one of the sources told the news outlet. Another said that "members are sharing their discontent and concern, and he’s observing" Johnson’s "inability to decide, inability to get it done" in Congress.
“The president recognizes that [Johnson] is somebody he can push around. I think he’s weighing the benefit of that with, can this guy get it done," the second source said. Yet a third source shared that "there’s real concerns about his ability to manage the place" based on the spending deals Johnson has brokered.
"It’s just laying out what’s going on. You can kind of see what was happening with this was going to happen," the source noted. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) confirmed that these discussions have indeed been happening "for a couple of weeks" ahead of the vote.
Trump notched a decisive victory and should have smooth sailing ahead with such a mandate. Unfortunately, Republicans sometimes can't get out of their own way and might diminish Trump's power with these squabbles.
A federal judge agreed Thursday to a Jan. 6 rioter's request to travel to Washington, D.C., for President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, the New York Post reported. Eric Peterson was convicted after he unlawfully entered the U.S. Capitol during the protest and faces up to a year in prison.
On Nov. 1, Peterson pleaded guilty to charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds. He is free without bail until his sentencing hearing on Jan. 27 but is under travel restrictions until then.
Peterson, a veteran and business owner, requested through his attorney Michael Bullotta to attend Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20. The main event requires tickets, but many revelers watch from the National Mall on a jumbotron.
Bullotta argued that Peterson did not engage in any vandalism or violence while inside the Capitol for eight minutes and was unaware that others were. The attorney also argued that Trump has promised to pardon Jan. 6 prisoners, meaning Peterson's sentence "will likely be rendered moot."
Others who were violent and destructive have made similar requests for Trump's inauguration but have met resistance. However, prosecutors did not counter Peterson's request.
This more nuanced approach perhaps represents a change in how the Jan. 6, 2021 incursion at the U.S. Capitol will now be treated. Almost immediately after the incident, Democrats attempted to turn it into a coordinated insurrection and threw the book at anyone caught in the vicinity.
However, these were ordinary Americans caught up in the "Stop the Steal" protest that suddenly escalated. While some were indeed criminal and violent, many were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
With Trump on his way to the White House and ready to grant pardons, these cases and convictions have been defanged, including Peterson's. His offense was only walking into a restricted area after rioters broke in while repeating, "This is our house!"
Peterson proceeded into the building and noted he walked "right by a police officer posted at the doors … Peterson knew that the building was off limits and he was not authorized to be there," the court filings say. Now it seems he might not face jail as the nightmare is over.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump made it clear that he would pardon Jan. 6 protesters who were convicted of crimes. Even after his election, Trump was steadfast in his pledge.
"I’m going to look at everything. We’ll look at individual cases," Trump said to NBC's Kristen Welker, Fox News reported.
"But I’m going to be acting very quickly," he added. Welker pushed back for a timeline about when this might take place.
"First day, I'm looking first day. These people have been there — how long is it? Three, four years. They’ve been in there for years. And they’re in a filthy, disgusting place that shouldn’t even be allowed to be open," Trump said.
There's no doubt Trump is unbelievably happy about how things are going since Election Day, including for people like Peterson. The 2024 presidential election was consequential for them and the nation.
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) brushed off a comment by Elon Musk that he planned to fund moderates in heavily Democratic districts over the next two years in order to "get rid of those who don't represent them."
"When I worked for John Lewis back in the 60s, a lot of the money and power was against us. We did what we had to do. And I don’t know of a single Democrat who is afraid of Elon Musk’s money because we stay close to our constituents and we will outwork him," he said on CNN.
The media narrative in recent days and weeks has been to claim that Musk is the "real" president taking office and that he has some kind of power behind the scenes even though he wasn't elected.
That claim is rich considering that President Joe Biden has been in a diminished mental state since before taking office in 2021.
In reality, unelected officials have been running the country for the last four years, so why would they complain about that with Trump taking office?
Their woe-is-me attitude is almost humorous, as illustrated by this tweet.
The next two years sound awesome !!!
Quote:
“Can you imagine what the next two years are going to be like?”“there's a tweet from an individual ... who threatens members on the Republican side with a primary, they succumb?”pic.twitter.com/Nu7SOT7RC6
— Wall Street Mav (@WallStreetMav) December 20, 2024
As Scott Jennings of CNN pointed out, the Wall Street Journal this week began talking about Biden's diminished capacity during his presidency, giving several examples from three years ago in 2021 to describe his lack of function.
The report cited dozens of sources and gave specific details about the diminished nature of Biden's mental state.
It also said that handlers surrounding the president controlled who he spoke to, what his team said to him, and what information he received.
"Un-elected people have been running the government for the last four years. I hear Democrats criticizing the influence of billionaires on our politics when you've got this Soros punk running around collecting Democrat politicians like my kids collect Pokémon cards," Jennings said.
"I think all the criticism of Musk coming from the left is totally hypocritical, totally over the top," he added.
Of course, the White House is clinging to the party line that Biden is totally fine and sharp as a tack.
The denial of reality by the powers that be is one of the main reasons Democrats lost big in the election, and they are bound to lose more if they don't face facts.
The frustrating December ritual of congressional haggling over government funding up until the brink of a shutdown reared its head again this year, but what grabbed a surprising share of headlines was the startling silence that came from the White House as negotiations continued.
As the uninterrupted continuation of federal functions hung in the balance late last week, President Joe Biden, who still has nearly a month left in his term, remained mum on the contentious battle, leaving many to wonder why he would choose not to weigh in, as Fox News reports.
As Republicans, Democrats, and President-elect Donald Trump duked it out over federal funding last week, there was a conspicuous sense of quiet coming from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Whereas a battle over a potential government shutdown is usually the province of the commander-in-chief, Biden remained utterly above the fray, leading to a host of questions from curious journalists.
On Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre received numerous inquiries from reporters, one of whom asked, “Why hasn't President Biden said anything in the public about this? Don't the American people deserve to know why millions of federal workers could enter this holiday period without a paycheck?”
Jean-Pierre deflected, saying, “All Americans need to know that Republicans are getting in the way here and they are the ones who have created this mess. That's the reality. That's the fact. This is not the first time we've been here. And the president has had this approach before.”
She went on, “He understands how Congress works. He's been around for some time. He understands what strategy works here to get this done” also adding that Biden had been “getting regular updates from his team.”
Dissatisfied with Jean-Pierre's response, those in attendance in the briefing room continued to press for answers about Biden's absence on the issue.
In response to the general curiosity about the president's lack of input on the crisis, Jean-Pierre said, “The president is the president of the United States, and he is leading.”
That remark prompted to journalist to follow up by saying, “To be clear, the strategy is he is leading by staying in the background?”
Jean-Pierre continued to dodge the point by musing, “The strategy is that Congress, Republicans in particular, need to do their jobs and get out of their own way and focus on the American people, not their billionaire friends.”
She continued, “That is what needs to happen. And that's what the president wants to see,” though she did not offer further insight into Biden's level of engagement with the process.
With Biden effectively AWOL, President-elect Donald Trump has played the role of de facto commander in chief, as David Marcus wrote in an op-ed for Fox News.
As Marcus noted, “In the space of just a few days, Trump's pressure on the Congress, including siccing his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) attack dogs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy on reckless spending, turned a 1,500 page monstrosity of a bill into a slim 120-page banger of basic necessities, including disaster relief and help for farmers,” and given that level of success, few Americans are likely to lament Biden's decision to sit this one out.
Francis J. Conway, best known as the production manager for Baywatch and Criminal Minds, passed away on Dec. 17, Deadline reported. The 70-year-old West Hollywood resident died of natural causes.
Conway's death was confirmed by his brother, John. He shared memories about Francis and his love for the entertainment industry.
John Conway recalled how his brother would take his Volkswagen bus "to anybody who wanted help. He loved it and felt like it was a blessing to be working in that field," he said.
"I remember going to the premiere of Baywatch. One of them was in Hawaii. He loved the beach," John Conway said.
Francis Conway was born in Westwood, California, and was one of five children. He studied film at UC Santa Cruz in the hopes of making a career in Hollywood.
He would eventually make a name for himself in the business as production manager on the original Baywatch from 1996 to 2001. He would return to work for the franchise in 2003 for the made-for-TV movie Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding.
Francis Conway also worked as a unit production member for other major television shows of the era. Some of those productions included The Agency, ER, Prison Break, Criminal Minds, and Stalker.
According to his IMDB page, the 2023 series The Consultant was his last credited project. It's unclear whether Francis Conway was in poor health prior to his passing.
Besides his brother John, Francis Conway is survived by his siblings Mary, Anne, and Joe. His brother Chris, along with his parents, preceded him in death.
Francis Conway isn't the only tragedy the long-running series experienced this year. In October, Michael Newman died after a long battle with Parkinson's disease, PEOPLE reported.
Matt Felker, Newman's close friend and director of Hulu docuseries After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun, said he passed away "from heart complications" but was "surrounded by his family and friends." Newman was 67 at the time.
"I got to see Mike the last time he was conscious and he looked [at] me and in typical Mike fashion said, 'You’re just in time,'" Felker recalled. Despite having a role on the hit series, Felker maintained his day job as a fireman and retired after 25 years.
Another Baywatch alum, Nicole Eggert, recently finished treatment for Stage 2 breast cancer, which has created challenges for her. "But the gray area is the hardest because you don’t know what’s happening. When I’m doing treatment, I felt like I was doing something productive," she lamented.
Francis Conway spent his life making popular television, which is enjoyed by many. Although he worked behind the scenes, his contributions to the medium will not be forgotten.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) shut down rumors that he's leaving Congress to serve as head of President-elect Donald Trump's Federal Emergency Management Agency, The Hill reported. Media reports earlier this week noted that Moskowitz was on Trump's shortlist for the position.
After the news spread, Moskowitz felt it necessary to get ahead of the chatter. In a post to X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, Moskowitz unequivocally stated he would not be leaving his position.
"I appreciate the speculation but I am staying in Congress and running for re-election. It’s an honor to serve the people of Florida’s 23rd district," Moskowitz wrote. "To be clear, nothing was ever offered," he added.
To be clear, nothing was ever offered.
— Jared Moskowitz (@JaredEMoskowitz) December 17, 2024
If Moskowitz had taken a position with the Trump administration, he would have been the first Florida Democrat to do so. However, he is already one Democrat who is used to working with Republicans.
Under Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, Mosowitz served as the Florida Division of Emergency Management from 2019-2021. He's also the first Democrat on the Department of Government Efficiency Caucus, with Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk's DOGE.
According to the New York Post, Moskowitz was very receptive to the idea of creating such a committee. His priority was moving FEMA from under the Department of Homeland Security because it had "become too big."
Perhaps seeing Moskowitz side with Republicans made it okay for others to join in on DOGE in the Democratic Party. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) have expressed interest in joining the mission to cut waste, especially in the military.
Moskowitz has also joined Republicans speaking out against the antisemitism that has crept into his party since the war in Gaza began. Many Democrats are openly criticizing Israel for retaliating against the attacks perpetrated by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.
Even if Trump didn't tap Moskowitz this time, it's possible he's considering asking other Democrats to fill other positions. Many of his appointments take Republicans out of Congress, which narrows the GOP's already slim majority.
The president-elect has asked House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to become the U.S. ambassador as well as Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) for national security adviser. He also had tapped Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) as his attorney general, though the ensuing accusations against him led to Gaetz stepping down from Congress altogether.
With his appointments and the loss of three seats by Republicans since November, the GOP could find itself with just a one-seat majority in the House of Representatives. This will mean a more complicated path to implementing all of his agenda.
Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance have repeatedly expressed their openness to appointing Democrats. With the Republican majority at stake, it would help alleviate that issue.
It seems it was just a rumor that Moskowitz had been asked to join the Trump administration. Even so, there are other signs that Trump is willing to work with whoever will get the most done for the American people, even Democrats.
First Lady Jill Biden told a group of supporters that Kamala Harris could "go f--k" herself after she insinuated that Joe Biden was racist during the 2020 presidential primary debate, The Inquisitr reported. After Harris became the vice president who lost the race Joe Biden handed her, their mutual disdain is out in the open.
In June 2019, when the Democratic field was still anybody's to win, Harris pulled out her story about desegregation to blame Biden for opposing it at the time. Harris blasted Joe Biden for working with politicians with spotty records on racial justice and confronted him about the busing.
"It was not only that, but you also worked with them to oppose there was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools and she was bused to school every day. That little girl was me," Harris famously claimed.
"So I will tell you that on this subject, it cannot be an intellectual debate among Democrats." At the time, this landed quite a blow against Joe Biden, and his wife was not about to let it go.
When Harris made this remark, her star was rising as a strong contender to be the Democratic nominee. Her campaign was leaning into Biden's tough stance on criminal justice, and it was working.
This was before the George Floyd riots, but the tide was already turning away from the conventional approach to these issues. Harris' comment was precisely the kind of thing that would hurt a longtime politician like Joe Biden, and Jill Biden couldn't hack it.
"With what he cares about, what he fights for, what he’s committed to, you get up there and call him a racist without basis? Go f–k yourself," Jill Biden said of Harris during a phone call to supporters shortly after this exchange.
Perhaps the reason Jill Biden was particularly upset by this comment was because it was so effective. The New York Times reported that Joe Biden's poll numbers "generally slipped while support for Ms. Harris increased" after Harris made the remark.
Harris also got a significant bump in fundraising after the exchange. Joe Biden would eventually admit that Harris' question took him by surprise, and he apologized for his previous cooperation with segregationists.
Despite nearly four years of coexisting around Joe Biden, it doesn't seem Harris and Jill Biden have improved their relationship. If anything, Harris' her loss to President-elect Donald Trump has allowed both women to drop any pretense of mutual respect.
Not long after that disastrous Election Day, Harris and Jill Biden appeared at the same event but made no effort to interact, even for optics. Conservative commentator Steve Cortes picked up on this iciness and shared the clip to X, formerly Twitter, last month.
"It’s safe to say that Jill Biden hates Kamala Harris’s guts," Cortes captioned the brief clip. It's undeniable that there is palpable tension between the two when watching it.
It’s safe to say that Jill Biden hates Kamala Harris’s guts. pic.twitter.com/K6Te9Onf50
— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) November 12, 2024
Harris' attack was effective, and possibly the reason Joe Biden picked her as his running mate was to put the issue to bed forever. However, Jill Biden apparently sees this as more than political and always has.