Better Call Saul actor unloads on ‘simpleton' Jesse Watters after Fox host calls Karine Jean-Pierre a ‘DEI hire'
The host of Primetime was discussing Jean-Pierre's surprise announcement that she has left the Democratic Party and written a new book explaining that decision, titled Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines.
Referring to Jean-Pierre disparagingly as 'Binder' throughout the segment, seemingly because she carried a binder of notes to her briefing sessions with reporters during her tenure in the Biden administration, Watters was scathing.
'Binder spent two years lying from a podium and now she wants to tell us the truth?' he scoffed, going on to suggest she had only ever been hired as part of the diversity, equity, and inclusion [DEI] hiring practices that Trump has since made it his personal mission to eradicate.
'Look at the name of the book: Inside a Broken White House. Now she's telling us the White House was broken?' Watters continued.
'Wait a second, who else wrote a book about this? Yeah, Tapper. Binder's now DEI Tapper. I wonder who got paid more.'
A clip of the Fox pundit's comments shared on X by the ever-prolific Acyn was leapt on by veteran actor Michael McKean, best known to audiences as Chuck McGill in Better Call Saul (2015-2022) and, before that, hapless heavy metal band frontman David St Hubbins in This Is Spinal Tap (1984).
'In all fairness, Jesse is a simpleton and a blazing a**hole,' McKean responded, a sentiment shared by a number of other commentators reacting to the video.
Other recent controversies on Watters' show have included rapper Kid Rock claiming that 'ugly a** liberal women' are the reason for America's declining birthrate and the host himself declaring that 'everyone knows' that wearing a Chicago Bulls cap is a signifier that the wearer belongs to the notorious Central American criminal gang MS-13.
Over the weekend, Watters joked that all of Sports Illustrated 's swimwear models were obese in the Biden era because of political correctness considerations.
Jean-Pierre's book follows hot on the heels of Original Sin by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, in which the CNN and Axios journalists lift the lid on the final year of Joe Biden 's presidency and the alleged effort to cover up the 46th commander-in-chief's declining health by his closest aides.
President Donald Trump ordered an investigation into that affair on Wednesday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
4 minutes ago
- The Independent
Charlie Kirk, who bashed Murdoch media ‘hit job, tapped to host Fox & Friends Weekend
Fox News has tapped MAGA activist Charlie Kirk to guest host the right-wing network's weekend version of its flagship morning program, a network spokesperson confirmed to The Independent . This will be the Turning Point USA founder's first time hosting a show on Fox News. As Axios first reported, Kirk is set to join regular Fox & Friends Weekend co-hosts Rachel Campos-Duffy and Charlie Hurt on the curvy couch this coming Saturday and Sunday. With the dog days of summer upon us, cable news networks are reaching deep into their benches to fill out hosting slots, as this is prime vacation time for anchors and reporters. Therefore, it isn't surprising to see Fox News turn to outside personalities for one-off hosting gigs during this time of year, especially someone with a well-established audience like Kirk, who hosts a radio show and a top-rated podcast. What does make this stand out, though, is that Kirk was one of the MAGA influencers who was highly critical of the Wall Street Journal's bombshell story on the 'bawdy' birthday card Donald Trump allegedly sent deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. According to the WSJ , the card included a hand-drawn outline of a naked woman, with Trump's signature mimicking pubic hair. The report, which Trump immediately described as 'fake,' led to the president suing the Wall Street Journal and its owner Rupert Murdoch, who also owns Fox News. Meanwhile, the story appeared to dissipate the MAGA uproar over the Epstein files, as prominent conservatives who had grown increasingly frustrated with the administration's handling of the saga quickly rallied around the president over their shared disdain of the mainstream media. MAGA podcaster and TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk is set to serve as a guest co-host on Fox & Friends Weekend this coming Saturday and Sunday. (Getty Images) 'This is not how Trump talks at all. I don't believe it,' Kirk tweeted in response to the Wall Street Journal story shortly after it was published. He would go on and share other social media posts from Vice President JD Vance, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Donald Trump Jr. blasting the report as defamatory. Kirk would be even more outspoken about the story on his radio show this week, where he fumed that the WSJ 'attempted a terrible drive-by… of our phenomenal president' while applauding Trump for his $10 billion lawsuit against Murdoch. 'As soon as I read this story, I said this is the dumbest, obviously fakest thing. I don't believe it,' he declared. 'Now I quickly, and we quickly, came to the president's defense because this thing was obviously a hit job. Obviously, a drive-by shooting trying to go after President Trump and trying to tie some of the Epstein news to President Trump to try to bring down his approval rating.' Meanwhile, the MAGA backlash against the WSJ as Trump comes for Murdoch has put Fox News in something of a bind, especially considering that the conservative cable giant shares a symbiotic relationship with the president and has helped staff up his administration. Left without the option of doing what is the network's standard modus operandi, which is parroting Trump's attacks on the mainstream media, Fox News has also decided against defending its sister publication and its owner. This has resulted in the network largely ignoring both the WSJ's blockbuster article and the president's lawsuit, mentioning both only a handful of times since last week. Additionally, the network has also devoted significantly less airtime to the Epstein controversy than its cable news rivals and even other right-wing outlets. After the president began ordering his supporters to 'stop talking about' Epstein, Fox News has pulled way back on its coverage of the drama surrounding the administration's handling of the flies, prompting MAGA media competitors to outright mock the 'terrified' network for not wanting to 'p*ss off' Trump. Sharing common ground with Fox News on the issue, Kirk has also sought to heed the president's demand that the MAGA base move on from Epstein and instead concentrated on the various seeming distractions he's tossed out into the ether, such as changing sports teams' names back to racist caricatures or reigniting the 'Russia Witch Hunt' conspiracy and demanding 'Barack Hussein Obama' be charged with treason. After hosting a TPUSA student event that featured young activists railing against Trump over the DOJ memo that concluded Epstein died by suicide and didn't keep a 'client list,' Kirk returned to his podcast that Monday and said he was 'done talking about Epstein' and would instead 'trust my friends in the government.' That announcement came shortly after it was reported that Trump personally called Kirk to ask him to ease up on the criticism of Attorney General Pam Bondi, who had come under intense fire from MAGA loyalists over the memo, particularly because she had previously said she had the so-called 'client list' on her desk for review. Kirk would later backtrack from his proclamation that he was moving on from Epstein, declaring the following day that he had merely meant 'yesterday' when he said 'for the time being,' grousing that the 'fake news' had taken him out of context.
The Independent
4 minutes ago
- The Independent
Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron sue far-right podcaster Candace Owens over false claims French president's wife is a man
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron have filed a defamation lawsuit against Candace Owens over the far-right influencer's 'relentless and unjustified smear campaign' falsely accusing Brigitte of being a man. The 219-page defamation complaint filed in Delaware state court on Wednesday accuses Owens of proliferating 'demonstrably false' claims through her platforms, including in an eight-part podcast and on social media, designed to feed a 'frenzied fan base' in 'pursuit of fame,' the Macrons allege. 'These lies have caused tremendous damage to the Macrons,' according to the lawsuit, which names Owens as well her business entities, which are incorporated in Delaware. The false claims have subjected the Macrons to a 'campaign of global humiliation, turning their lives into fodder for profit-driven lies,' the complaint says. 'Owens has dissected their appearance, their marriage, their friends, their family, and their personal history — twisting it all into a grotesque narrative designed to inflame and degrade,' the complaint alleges. 'The result is relentless bullying on a worldwide scale. Every time the Macrons leave their home, they do so knowing that countless people have heard, and many believe, these vile fabrications. It is invasive, dehumanizing, and deeply unjust.' The Independent
Scottish Sun
5 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Moment Iran helicopter faces off with US warship in the Gulf in pathetic show of force after Trump threatens new strikes
The wounded state claimed it issued a 'stern warning' to the USS Fitzgerald SEA OF STEEL Moment Iran helicopter faces off with US warship in the Gulf in pathetic show of force after Trump threatens new strikes THIS is the moment a single Iranian naval helicopter tries to drive away a huge US destroyer in a pathetic show of force. The USS Fitzgerald was sailing through the Gulf of Oman this morning when the attack helicopter buzzed the guided missile destroyer. Advertisement 11 The USS Fitzgerald is seen from an Iranian helicopter today Credit: Tasnim News Agency 11 Iran claimed it forced the destroyer to retreat Credit: Tasnim News Agency 11 Iran has vowed to push on with its nuclear enrichment programme 11 Iranian state media claims the pilot issued a "stern warning" to vacate the waters. Footage shows the pilot attempting to order the destroyer to "change course" without success. The destroyer issued threats of its own, Iran said, but "the Iranian pilot... reiterated the warning to stay away from Iranian waters", forcing the US vessel to "give in" and alter its course. Iranian forces have a history of confronting US forces in waters off the country's southern coast. Advertisement In 2023, the rogue state said it forced a US submarine to surface while crossing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which Washington denied. The flashpoint comes at a tense moment between the two nations a month after Donald Trump struck three nuclear sites during Iran's frenzied 12-day war with Israel. Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian has warned Iran will not halt its nuclear programme despite Trump unleashing the devastating blitz on the trio of facilities. The leader, who was wounded in the leg during the war and forced to flee a high-profile emergency meeting, said it is as "illusion" for Trump to suggest their nuclear programme has been obliterated. Advertisement He said: "Our nuclear capabilities are in the minds of our scientists and not in the facilities." The comments echo previous remarks by Tehran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi who said Iran would never abandon its uranium enrichment programme. Iran vows to press on with nuke enrichment despite Trump's threats and 'serious damage' done by stealth bombings Pezeshkian added that Iran remains on guard for any future Israeli attack and doesn't believe the ceasefire will hold. He said: "We are fully prepared for any new Israeli military move, and our armed forces are ready to strike deep inside Israel again." Advertisement Reflecting the simmering tensions that remain in the region despite the ceasefire, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said yesterday there is a possibility of renewed attacks against Iran. His statements came during a situation assessment with several top Israeli military officials, including the chief of staff. He stressed the need for an effective plan to ensure that Iran does not restore its nuclear program. Earlier this week, Araghchi told Fox News: "We cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists. Advertisement "And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride." The Foreign Minister also said: "Enrichment is so dear to us." 11 Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian has warned Iran will not halt its nuclear programme Credit: Alamy 11 A satellite view shows an overview of Fordow underground complex after the US bombings on June 21 Advertisement 11 Firefighters extinguish a blaze after an Israeli missile strike Credit: AP 11 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would keep pushing forward with the programme Aragchi confirmed that the damage done by Donald Trump's Operation Midnight Hammer on Iran's nuclear sites had been "serious". But he stopped short of commenting on whether any enriched uranium survived the sophisticated attack. Advertisement "Our facilities have been damaged – seriously damaged," Araghchi said. "The extent of which is now under evaluation by our atomic energy organisation." He did confirm, however, that all enrichment capabilities in Iran had been ceased as a result of the facilities being "seriously damaged". Iran is due to meet with representatives from Britain, France and Germany on Friday to discuss its nuclear programme. Advertisement The European trio have warned that if no progress is reached by the end of August, they will invoke a "snapback" mechanism. This would reimpose UN sanctions on Tehran that were lifted under a 2015 deal in return for restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme The three European countries, along with China and Russia, are the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal - from which the United States withdrew in 2018. 11 Israeli Iron Dome air defence system intercepts missiles over Tel Aviv Advertisement 11 President Donald Trump and his national security team meeting in the Situation Room in June 11 Tehran denies seeking a nuclear weapon and says its nuclear programme is solely meant for civilian purposes. This was despite enrichment levels reaching 60% prior to the US bombardment. Advertisement The 12-day war last month kicked off with Operation Rising Lion, which saw Israel attempting to derail Iran's nuclear programme by striking Tehran's enrichment facilities. The Israelis also orchestrated Operation Red Wedding - which saw 30 top Iranian military chiefs killed in a near-simultaneous blitz as Tel Aviv sought to root out the country's military strength entirely. Less than a fortnight later, Trump joined the Israeli bombing campaign against Iran with Operation Midnight Hammer. The US military's flagship B-2 Spirit stealth bombers dropped more than a dozen 30,000lb GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs. Advertisement The bunker-buster bombs were used to hit Iran's Fordow Nuclear Enrichment Plant. The Don celebrated his sophisticated blitz on the Iranian regime - and said that the US bombs went through enemy nuclear sites "like absolute butter". Iran, which vowed to hit US military bases across the Middle East, sought its revenge by launching missiles at Al-Udeid Air Base - America's biggest military station in the region. But Tehran seemingly cooked up a fake attack after passing warnings to its Qatari allies, which allowed all US service personnel and aircraft to be moved out of harm's way. Advertisement Trump dubbed the expected response "weak" before announcing that a ceasefire deal had been reached between the Israelis and Iranians.
