Monday, February 12, 2024

2/12 WAKE-UP CALL: Biden Defended, Trump Troubled


The president's lawyer goes on TV to defend his client's mental acuity. The likely Republican presidential nominee heads toward winning one unprecedented court case and losing another. And the House speaker tries to figure out how to get his raucous caucus to pass even legislation they support.

Let's start at the White House. President Joe Biden's personal lawyer, Bob Bauer, on Sunday defended the commander in chief's mental fitness and accused the special prosecutor who questioned it in his investigative report of having political motives. "You have to wonder" if Robert Hur added pejorative comments about Biden's memory to "placate" Republicans who would be angry about the decision not to prosecute the president for his handling of sensitive documents, Bauer told CBS' "Face the Nation."

Meanwhile, at D.C. courthouses, Supreme Court justices Thursday signaled during oral arguments they were likely to block efforts to keep Trump off the ballot in Colorado and elsewhere − a win for him. But an appeals court panel two days earlier unanimously rejected his argument that he should have presidential immunity from criminal prosecution. That's a bigger loss, one that increases the prospects he'll face a trial before Election Day on criminal charges related to the Jan. 6 attack.

➤AUSTIN GETTING CRITICAL CARE: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was rushed to the hospital Sunday for symptoms of an "emergent" bladder issue and admitted to the critical care unit, less than a month after his previous secret stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center sparked controversy. Austin, 70, was taken back to Walter Reed by his security detail at 2:20 p.m. Sunday, according to Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary. Just before 5 p.m., he transferred his authority to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks. In a statement late Sunday night, Austin's doctors said they ran tests on Austin and admitted him to the "critical care unit" at Watler Reed for "supportive care and close monitoring."

"At this time, it is not clear how long Secretary Austin will remain hospitalized," John Maddox and Gregory Chesnut, Austin's doctors said. Unlike his previous hospitalization that began Jan. 1, Austin notified the White House, Congress and Pentagon officials, Ryder said in a statement.

➤TRUMP GOES OFF SCRIPT: Former President Donald Trump again stirred fears about the future of NATO by suggesting he might not come to the aid of European nations if they're attacked by Russia − and might even "encourage" Russians "to do whatever the hell they want."  Trump, during a campaign rally in Conway, South Carolina, on Saturday said his decision, if he's elected again, would be based on whether NATO members are contributing enough to the foundational alliance. The former president said he made that very point during an international meeting that took place during his presidency. “One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, ‘Well sir, if we don’t pay and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?’ I said, ‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’ He said, ‘Yes, let’s say that happened.’ No, I would not protect you."

➤HALEY RIPS TRUMP: Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has a new reason to demand that ex-President Donald Trump debate her in South Carolina: The former president attacked Haley's husband, who is overseas on military deployment, for being absent from the campaign trial.

"If you mock the service of a combat veteran, you don’t deserve a driver’s license, let alone being president of the United States,” Haley told supporters in Gilbert, S.C., part of her bus tour throughout the state. "Donald, if you have something to say, don’t say it behind my back," she said. "Get on a debate stage and say it to my face."

Hours earlier, during a rally in Conway, S.C., Trump referred to Michael Haley when discussing a meeting he had with Nikki Haley some time ago. "She comes over to see me at Mar-a-Lago - 'sir, I will never run against you' ... She brought her husband," Trump said. The former president then added: "Where’s your husband? ... Oh, he’s away ... He’s away ... What happened to her husband? What happened to her husband?! Where is he?! ... He’s gone! He knew! He knew!"

➤SHOOTING AT OSTEEN'S MEGSCHURCH: Off-duty officers shot and killed a woman who claimed she had a bomb and opened fire with a rifle in Joel Osteen's Houston megachurch on Sunday, leaving a 5-year-old child in critical condition after being hit by gunfire. The woman, wearing a trench coat and escorting the child, walked into Osteen's Lakewood church in between services shortly before 2 p.m. CT and inexplicably began firing a long rifle, said Houston Police Chief Troy Finner.



"Once she entered, at some point she began to fire," Finner said. He added that officers on scene reported the woman, whose age was estimated at 30-35, said she had an explosive device.  Two officers fired and struck the woman, Finner said, a Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission officer and a Houston Police Department officer. "Unfortunately the 5-year-old was hit. There was a 57-year-old man who didn't have anything to do with it, I don't think, who was shot in the leg," the chief said.

Osteen, one of the highest profile pastors in the country who presides over services attended by tens of thousands, said the shooting has left him "in a fog." Services at the church are regularly attended by 45,000 people every week, making it the third largest megachurch in the U.S., according to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Osteen’s televised sermons reach about 100 countries.

➤NIGERIAN BANK CEO KILLED IN MOJAVE DESERT HELICOPTER CRASH: Herbert Wigwe, the CEO of a major Nigerian bank, was one of the six people killed in a Friday night helicopter crash in California's Mojave Desert, authorities say. The death of Wigwe, who led Access Bank Group, was confirmed by Nigerian officials on social media, including World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, a former Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group, was also killed in the crash. Nigerian politician Godwin Obaseki reported that Wigwe's wife and son were among the decedents as well.

➤TEXAS REPUBLICANS CENSURE HOUSE SPEAKER DADE PHELAN: The Texas GOP has officially censured State Representative Dade Phelan for his vote to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton. The censure, which imposes penalties under Rule 44 of the party, cites Phelan's perceived lack of fidelity to Republican principles and priorities. The release specifies five instances, including the impeachment of Paxton, as grounds for censure. Phelan had supported the impeachment of Paxton, who faced allegations of misusing his official powers. The censure comes as a consequence of violating party principles multiple times, as allowed by Rule 44.

➤HUNGARIAN PRESIDENT KATALIN NOVAK RESIGNS: The President of Hungary, Katalin Novak, has resigned on live television following public outcry over her decision to pardon a man convicted of covering up child sexual abuse. Last week, it was revealed that President Novak had granted clemency to an individual who coerced children into retracting sexual abuse allegations against a state-run children's home director. Novak apologized for her mistake in granting the pardon.

➤MAHOMES NAMED MVP: Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs are back-to-back Super Bowl champions. Mahomes threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman with 3 seconds left in overtime, and the Chiefs rallied to beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 on Sunday, becoming the first repeat Super Bowl champs in 19 years and ninth overall.

The NFL’s first Super Bowl in Las Vegas was a sloppy, mistake-filled affair that was mostly boring until the back-and-forth fourth quarter and OT. It was the second of 58 Super Bowls to be tied after regulation, and the first played under new overtime rules that ensured both teams got the ball.  The Chiefs (15-6) trailed 22-19 after Jake Moody kicked a 27-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime, but Mahomes rallied the Chiefs, completing another impressive comeback in a rematch of the Super Bowl four years ago.

Mahomes ran 8 yards on fourth-and-1 to keep the Chiefs’ chances alive and then scrambled 19 yards to set up the winning score, which came 14:57 into the extra period — just before what would have been the second OT. “With all the adversity we’ve been through this season to come through tonight. ... I’m proud of the guys,” said Mahomes, who was named MVP. “This is awesome. Legendary.”


The most excitement in the first half came when a frustrated Kelce bumped Andy Reid on the sideline, knocking the Chiefs’ 65-year-old coach a few steps back after teammate Isiah Pacheco fumbled inside the red zone during the second quarter. “You guys saw that?” Kelce said. “I’m going to keep it between us unless my ‘mic’d up’ tells the world. I was just telling him how much I loved him.” After the game, Reid was asked about Kelce's outburst by the CBS crew. "He keeps me young," Reid said with a smile.

The action picked up after a crucial blunder by San Francisco’s special teams set up Mahomes’ 16-yard TD pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 13-10 lead. Brock Purdy and the 49ers (14-6) answered but they couldn’t make enough plays, denying Mr. Irrelevant an opportunity to go from last pick in the 2022 NFL draft to Super Bowl champion. Mahomes and Reid are now halfway to Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, who won six championships in 20 years together with the New England Patriots and were the most recent team to go back-to-back following the 2003-04 seasons.

The 28-year-old Mahomes becomes the fourth starting QB to win three Super Bowls — joining Brady, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw and Troy Aikman — and second-youngest.

Travis Kelce was heated on the Kansas City Chiefs’ sideline following Isiah Pacheco's red zone fumble in Super Bowl 58. Kelce was shown on the CBS broadcast screaming at coach Andy Reid, even bumping into the 65-year-old. CBS analyst Tony Romo speculated that Kelce was aggressively saying he should have stayed on the field with the Chiefs on the verge of the end zone (he was not on the field when Pacheco fumbled).

Kelce was held to one catch for 1 yard in the first half as the Chiefs trailed the San Francisco 49ers 10-3 at halftime. It was a different story later in the game. Kelce finished with nine receptions for 93 yards, with his final catch setting up the Chiefs' game-winning touchdown in overtime.


🎵THE MUSIC: Reba McEntire gave a brief but beautiful performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to the Big Game. According to the Associated Press, she wrapped things up in one minute and 40 seconds – the quickest version at the Super Bowl since Kelly Clarkson sang it 12 years ago. Last year, Chris Stapleton went past the 2-minute mark. Her rendition of the National anthem followed Post Malone’s twangy take on “America the Beautiful.” Posty embraced his Texas roots, showing up in a bolo tie with his acoustic guitar. And Andra Day, backed by six backup singers, provided a touching version of “Lift Every Voice and Sing."

Usher performed a 14-song set during halftime and featured special appearances by Alicia Keys, Jermaine Dupri, H.E.R., will.i.am, Lil Jon and Ludacris. The show started off slow but ended with a bang. The 45-year-old singer kicked things off on the turf, surrounded by dancers and a marching band, singing hits like “Caught Up” and “Superstar”. Things picked up a bit as Keys made her appearance behind an abstract red piano for “If I Ain’t Got You” and a duet of “My Boo” with the headliner.

However, things really heated up when Usher made his way to the mainstage. The singer stripped down during "Burn," and H.E.R. kept audiences occupied with a guitar solo during “You Got It Bad” while he changed into roller skates and a black and blue sparkly ensemble for “OMG.” And the surprise guest appearances continued to escelate the energy levels of the crowd when Lil John and Ludacris showed up for the final songs of the night - "Turn Down For What" and "Yea."

➤MONDAY'S WEATHER MAP:


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