Latest news with #BlueWall
New York Post
09-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Harris ‘went with her gut' to select Tim Walz as running mate after ‘overly ambitious' Josh Shapiro left ‘bad impression': new book
A new book on the end of Joe Biden's presidential campaign and the birth of Kamala Harris' sheds light on the process behind the vice president choosing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, a decision widely panned by pundits in retrospect. '2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America,' released Tuesday by journalists Josh Dawsey of The Wall Street Journal, Tyler Pager of The New York Times and Isaac Arnsdor of The Washington Post, described a vetting process that came down to three finalists: Walz, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly. Advertisement All three candidates did a final interview with Harris at her residence, the book explains, adding that when asked what they wanted to drink, Shapiro and Kelly chose water while Walz chose Diet Mountain Dew. Appeal with rural voters was a top priority for the Harris ticket and the book states that Harris's advisors felt that Walz was the best candidate to do that. 'Pelosi privately pushed for him too, because she'd worked with him in Congress,' the book said about the former House speaker. 'The pitch for Walz was straightforward: He could appeal to white voters across the Blue Wall states (Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania) and hopefully help Harris with male voters. He'd never lost election.' 5 Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris waits to speak at a campaign rally at United Auto Workers Local 900 on August 8, 2024 in Wayne, Michigan. Getty Images Advertisement While most political experts felt Shapiro, governor of a key swing state, was the most logical choice, the book states that the interview with Harris and Shapiro 'revealed the two were not a perfect match.' 'He came across as overly ambitious, pushing Harris to define what his role would be. He also conceded it would not be natural for him to serve as someone's number two, leaving Harris with a bad impression,' the book states. Conversely, the authors explain that Walz was 'deferential' while 'showing no interest in himself' and 'flatly denied any interest in running for president.' 5 Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro visits the Hershey Company's new manufacturing plant in Hershey, Pa., Wednesday, April 16, 2025. AP Advertisement 'He went so far as to proactively volunteer reasons why she might not want to pick him,' the book says. 'In his interview that Friday, he said he had never used a teleprompter before. On Sunday, he told Harris, 'I would understand if you went with someone else because I'm really nervous about the debate, and I don't think I'll do well.' Still, the vetting team did not fully appreciate his tendency to misspeak, his folksiness sometimes tipping into factual imprecision.' Walz would ultimately draw intense scrutiny on the campaign trail for his 'folksiness' with a series of blunders, including his characterization of his military service and a claim he was present at the Tiananmen Square massacre. The book says Harris 'struggled' deciding between Shapiro and Walz, believing that she had a better 'rapport' with Walz but understood the importance of Pennsylvania. Harris' team, according to the book, told her that polling did not offer a clear answer as to which of the two candidates would help the ticket more. 5 Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz celebrate during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images Advertisement 'There was no empirical evidence that Shapiro would deliver Pennsylvania and with it the White House,' the book said. As Shapiro was being considered, many pundits speculated that his staunch support of Israel could be an issue given the progressive wing of the Democratic Party being vocally pro-Palestinian, resulting in protests, sometimes violent, across the country after Oct. 7. The book said the Harris campaign was aware of that issue. 5 'How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America' was released on July 8, 2025. Penguin Press 'Much of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party declared war on Shapiro, largely because of his support of Israel,' the book said. 'Some Shapiro allies saw the criticism as deeply unfair and borderline antisemitic, since the governor was an observant Jew, but his positions on the Palestinian conflict broadly aligned with the Biden administration and the other vice presidential contenders. The lawyers vetting Shapiro did flag some comments they viewed as more incendiary, particularly as it related to pro- Palestinian protests on college campuses after the October 7 attacks.' 'One that caught their attention was his commentary on CNN from April: 'We have to query whether or not we would tolerate this, if this were people dressed up in KKK outfits or KKK regalia, making comments about people who are African American in our communities.'' Ultimately, the book says Harris 'went with her gut' and chose Walz believing he was the 'better fit' in a decision her staff was 'unanimously behind.' 5 Getty Images Advertisement Fox News Digital reached out to Walz's office and Shapiro's office declined to comment. After losing every battleground state and ultimately the presidency to Donald Trump, critics were quick to judge the Walz pick as a misstep by Harris. 'The choice of Walz was only one of many disastrous mistakes but symptomatic of one larger problem – the Democratic Party leadership is too scared to say no to the hard-left progressive wing of the party,' Julian Epstein, longtime Democratic operative and former chief counsel to the House Judiciary Committee, told Fox News Digital shortly after the election. Advertisement Rob Bluey, president and executive editor of The Daily Signal, told Fox News Digital in November that Harris picking Walz 'proved to be a disastrous decision that doomed Kamala Harris from the moment she made it.' 'Not only was Walz ill-prepared for the national spotlight and media scrutiny, but Harris passed over several better options,' Bluey said. 'Given how little Americans knew about Harris or her policy positions, they were right to question her judgment on this big decision.'
Boston Globe
13-06-2025
- Boston Globe
With the Karen Read case about to head to the jury, a look at 10 pivotal moments from the trial
Her lawyers say she was framed and that O'Keefe entered the Fairview Road house, owned at the time by a fellow Boston officer, where he was fatally beaten and possibly mauled by a German Shepherd before his body was planted on the front lawn. Advertisement With the verdict watch about to begin, here's a look at 10 key moments from the second trial. Crime scene testimony - 'I hit him, I hit him, I hit him' Katie McLaughlin, a paramedic/firefighter with the Canton Fire Department, points to defendant Karen Read, in Dedham, Mass., on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Pat Greenhouse/Associated Press Jurors heard testimony from emergency responders and a civilian witness, Read's lawyers said the testimony was false and that one of the first responders, McCabe's disputed dying in cold search Witness Jennifer McCabe continues her cross examination testimony during the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Greg Derr/Associated Press Jurors also heard testimony from forensic experts regarding a Google search on McCabe's phone for 'hos [sic] long to die in cold,' which was time stamped at 2:27 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2022, nearly two hours after Read allegedly hit O'Keefe with her SUV. Advertisement McCabe had testified that she twice attempted in frigid weather at the crime scene to Google the information at Read's request, and digital forensic experts Barros breaks the Blue Wall Read's lawyers allege that authorities tampered with her taillight when her SUV was brought to a Canton police garage on the evening of Jan. 29, 2022, and later planted pieces of broken taillight at the scene in an effort to frame her. They called Barros was in Dighton with State Police troopers, who seized the vehicle after speaking with Read. 'That taillight is completely smashed out' in the garage photo, Barros said. 'That middle section was intact when I was there.' Barros told prosecutor Hank Brennan on cross-examination that video footage from O'Keefe's driveway at 5:07 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2022, showing a white portion of the right taillight that would be red if the taillight was fully intact was 'consistent' with the damage he later saw in Dighton. Advertisement Higgins appears angry at bar, later visits police station Witness Brian Higgins answers a question from defense attorney Alan Jackson regarding text messages between Higgins and defendant Karen Read, during Read's trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, May 24, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Charles Krupa/Associated Press Jurors also viewed surveillance footage of ATF agent Brian Higgins that the defense contends is highly suspicious. Higgins had swapped flirtatious texts with Read in the weeks leading up to O'Keefe's death, and he was seen on video footage at the Waterfall, the second bar the group visited on the night in question, gesturing aggressively in O'Keefe's direction as the group prepared to leave around midnight for the afterparty on Fairview. At one point in the clip, another patron seems to restrain Higgins by grabbing his forearm. In addition, the jury saw footage of Higgins briefly entering the Canton police station, where he had an office, around 1:30 a.m., about an hour after Read allegedly struck O'Keefe. He then headed back out to the parking lot, where he retrieved an empty duffel bag from another vehicle amid heavy snowfall. He also retrieved a garden hoe from another part of the lot. Higgins did not testify at the retrial. Former R.I. chief medical examiner testifies Dr. Elizabeth Laposata defines a specific head injury for the defense during the murder retrial of Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court, Monday, June 9, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. Pat Greenhouse/Associated Press Among the defense witnesses who testified was Lopasata told jurors that O'Keefe's injuries, including a skull fracture, abrasions on his right arm, swelling to his eyes, cuts over his right eye and to his nose, and bruises on his hand and right knee, weren't consistent with a vehicle strike. 'By looking at the body, I could tell that there was no evidence of impact from a vehicle,' she testified. Government expert says otherwise Dr. Judson Welcher, an accident reconstruction expert, testifies, during the murder retrial of Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. Mark Stockwell/Associated Press Lopasata's opinion was contradicted by Advertisement Welcher also described a test he ran with a replica Lexus SUV in which the right taillight area was painted blue as the vehicle lightly contacted him, leaving blue paint on his arm in the same general area as O'Keefe's wounds. Welcher's colleague also provides key testimony Digital forensics analyst Shanon Burgess testifies during the Karen Read trial Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. Matt Stone The government also called Welcher's colleague, ARCCA reenters the fray Expert Daniel Wolfe returns to the stand in the murder retrial of Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court, Monday June 9, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. Pat Greenhouse/Associated Press Jurors also heard testimony from The analysts were initially hired by the Justice Department, which launched a federal grand jury probe into state law enforcement's handling of O'Keefe's death, and the defense later retained them separately. No one was charged with any federal crimes in connection with the case, and jurors were barred from learning about that probe at trial. A dog bite expert testifies Dr. Marie Russell, an emergency physician and forensic pathologist, is questioned during Karen Read's murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Libby O'Neill/Associated Press Another defense witness was A Boston police officer gives tense testimony Dedham, MA June 2 Boston Police officer Kelly Dever, formerly with Canton Police, testifies. The murder retrial of Karen Read continues in Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, MA on Monday June 2, 2025. Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff The defense also called Boston police o In a tense exchange, Read attorney Alan Jackson asked her about an interview she gave to the FBI in which she said Ken Berkowitz, the Canton police chief at the time, and Higgins were in the police garage for a 'wildly long time' on the afternoon of Jan. 29, 2022. Advertisement Dever said that was her recollection at the time she spoke to the agents. She told Brennan on cross-examination that she knew her shift ended at 3:45 p.m. on Jan. 29, 2022, and that she left then. Dever said the defense later produced a timeline showing the SUV came into the garage after that, 'meaning it is not possible that I saw that.' Dever said it was a 'false memory' that she 'provided in good faith,' which she then 'retracted immediately [upon] being provided evidence that it was not possible.' She said her false memory may have been colored by media reports she saw about the case. Travis Andersen can be reached at
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Despite ‘tense' exchange in Karen Read trial, Boston Police officer unlikely to face blowback
Even in a trial filled with dramatic twists, Boston Police officer Kelly Dever's testimony this week in the Karen Read retrial stuck out for just how tense her exchanges with a lawyer representing Read actually were. Dever, who worked in Canton at the time of Read's arrest, was called by the defense Monday morning. On the stand, she faced aggressive questioning from Alan Jackson, one of Read's lawyers, about a statement she made to federal investigators looking into the death of Read's boyfriend, John O'Keefe. On the morning of Jan. 29, 2022, when O'Keefe's body was found, Dever was working an overnight patrol shift in Canton. A supervisor asked her to cover dispatch so he could respond to the scene. Dever, according to Jackson, told federal authorities she saw the department's then-chief, Ken Berkowitz, and another man, Brian Higgins, alone with Read's SUV for a 'wildly long time.' But Dever has since recanted that statement, saying on the stand this week it was a false memory. She could not have seen Berkowitz and Higgins, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the SUV, because her shift concluded at 3:45 p.m., she said. The SUV wasn't towed to the station until hours later. Still, Dever's testimony in the Read case is unlikely to have any impact on her ability to testify in other cases down the line, said Jack Lu, a retired Superior Court judge. 'A failure of memory in one case is not admissible in another case. This is black letter law,' he said. But Mark Bederow, a defense attorney following the trial from New York City, said Dever's 'ridiculous claim' that her memory was false would concern him going forward. Bederow, who also represents the blogger Aidan Kearney, said Dever's recollection to the FBI was so specific that it makes it difficult to believe what she saw didn't actually happen. Dever admitted on the stand that Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox called her to a meeting before she testified in the Read case. Jackson suggested Cox told her to 'do the right thing' during that meeting. 'I think it's clear a message was sent,' Bederow said. 'Most people would think 'do the right thing' means the 'Blue Wall.'' Dever said the meeting with Cox proved how good a leader he is. But Bederow said it is 'absolutely unheard of' for a police commissioner to speak to a low-level officer before they testify in a trial. Still, Bederow and Lu agreed that Dever's behavior on the stand would likely not come back to haunt her in other cases. Bederow described her demeanor as 'embarrassing' and 'beyond inappropriate.' There was 'no need for her open hostility and nastiness,' he said in a telephone interview. 'It was childlike.' In one memorable moment, Dever criticized Jackson for mispronouncing her name. 'Like you can't remember my name, I don't remember,' she said. Despite his criticisms, Bederow said, 'I don't know if the hostility component will impact her future career in terms of testifying.' Lu, the former judge, disputed the notion that Dever was 'confrontational' on the stand. 'Sorry, but not even close. At most, the witness examination was tense. A trial is not a tea party,' he said. Karen Read reveals when the defense could rest its case Karen Read trial recap: Canton snowplow driver describes passing 34 Fairview Road during storm Karen Read trial recap: 'Not completely damaged': police officer describes SUV taillight Karen Read trial recap: Injuries on John O'Keefe's arm result of dog attack, expert says Karen Read retrial: Biggest takeaways from week 6 as prosecution rests its case Read the original article on MassLive.
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Dismantling Medicine's White Wall Of Silence
Medicine's White Wall is harmful in more ways than one. In law enforcement, the 'Blue Wall of Silence' refers to the unwritten code among officers that discourages reporting a colleague's misconduct. The message is clear: if you come for one of us, you come for all of us. It's a powerful and dangerous loyalty. Medicine has its own version of the Blue Wall, the White Wall. It is less visible, rarely dramatized, and seldom discussed. But it's real—and just as harmful. When a physician is disruptive, unethical, or even dangerous, the chatter in private circles can be loud. Hospital lounges, back hallways, and group chats hum with warnings and anecdotes. But outside those safe spaces? Silence. Formal reporting—whether to a hospital peer review committee, a licensing board, or an oversight body—is vanishingly rare. It is generally reserved for the most blatant, indefensible cases. For everything else, the default is inaction. I've encountered countless examples: Where does this silence come from? Some of it is fear—fear of retribution, lawsuits, or institutional backlash. But more often, it's cultural. Medicine prizes loyalty. We are taught to protect our own. There's an unspoken belief that reporting a colleague is betrayal, not courage. But silence has a cost. When we fail to regulate ourselves, others fill the vacuum. Payers implement blunt instruments like prior authorization and step therapy. Regulators impose rigid compliance frameworks. Plaintiffs' attorneys amplify public distrust. Patients suffer. And physician autonomy erodes. We often pride ourselves on being part of a profession—not a trade, not a business, but a calling with higher standards. But professionalism demands accountability. If we do not police our own ranks, we abdicate that identity. It doesn't have to be this way. Accountability can be developmental, not punitive. It can identify struggling colleagues before harm occurs. It can create pathways for mentorship, coaching, and support. And yes, when needed, it must create consequences for those who should not be practicing. We need new norms—where raising concerns is seen as an act of integrity, not disloyalty. We need protections for whistleblowers and leaders who listen without retaliating. Most of all, we need to confront the fear and complicity that have calcified within our professional culture. Medicine's White Wall is not immovable. But dismantling it will require courage—from each of us. And if we truly care about our patients and the future of our field, we'll start tearing it down today.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
AOC, Sanders tell supporters to mask up for West Coast town halls
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., are taking the "Fighting Oligarchy" rallies out West next week – and advising supporters to mask up to participate. Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, Fox News Digital can confirm that the RSVP for the events in Denver and Las Vegas includes guidance that "masks are advised for all attendees of this event." A post shared by conservative podcaster Stephen L. Miller on Friday about the Denver event had many wondering why masks would be advised for an outdoor event in 2025. Sanders did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's inquiry about the mask guidance. Dem Leader Swings Through Gop-held Districts After 'Clown Show Protests' Halted Town Halls "Sent from a friend. Bernie's speaking tour is advising everyone in attendance to wear masks. This is an outdoor event," the X post said, accompanied by a screenshot of the RSVP. Read On The Fox News App 'He Cannot Buy An Election Here In Wisconsin': Sanders Slams Musk In State Trump Won By Less Than 1% "Still trying the Covid panic politics," the top comment said. "Was this from the year 2020?" a content creator asked. But another reply countered: "They don't want the paid attendees found out." The reactions to the post are split, with many people online dumbfounded by the need for masks exactly five years after the COVID-19 pandemic forced shutdowns and social distancing. Others speculated that the masks are a way to protect attendees' identities. Masks are a common practice to protect protesters' identities at large demonstrations, like the pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University this past year. However, Sanders' "Fighting Oligarchy" events are not protests. Events in the Blue Wall states of Michigan and Wisconsin last weekend operated like a traditional campaign rally, with thousands of supporters lining up to earn a spot inside to hear the headline speaker. Sanders announced the West Coast leg of his "Fighting Oligarchy" tour with Ocasio-Cortez in a social media video on Friday. The progressives will make stops in Nevada, Arizona and Colorado "to hold town meetings with working people who are profoundly disgusted with what is going on in Washington, D.C." "Nevada, Colorado, Arizona: You deserve public servants who show up for you. The time is now to protect the public good, advance healthcare and living wages for all, and fight against corruption. See you next week," Ocasio-Cortez said on Friday. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the political campaign committee tasked with electing more Republicans to the U.S. House of Representatives, advised against town halls following a series of protest disruptions fueled by Democrats' discontent with President Donald Trump's second term. Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., began his own slew of town hall events in Republican-held congressional districts on Friday, saying if a Republican representative refused to meet with their constituents, then he would "lend a megaphone" to them. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced on Friday a revised organized effort alongside the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Association of State Democratic Committees (ASDC) and Democrat state parties to host town halls in Republican-held districts. "Republicans in Congress know they sold out their voters by backing the Trump-Musk agenda – and now they're terrified to be in the same room as the people who sent them to Washington," DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement on Friday. "Instead of facing their constituents, they're running scared and hiding from the people they were elected to represent. If they won't talk to their own voters, then Democrats will. That's why we'll be hosting People's Town Halls in all 50 states across the country, starting now with vulnerable GOP-held target districts. Working families deserve to have their voices heard, even if Republicans want to ignore them," Martin added. The NRCC said the protests that shut down Republicans' town hall meetings were "manufactured productions." Fox News Digital reported last month about the coordinated effort by progressive groups protesting the Department of Government Efficiency. Meet The Far-left Groups Funding Anti-doge Protests At Gop Offices Across The Country which has accepted millions of dollars from billionaire George Soros and his Open Society Policy Center, announced in a press release last month that it was mobilizing resources as part of a "Congress Works for Us, Not Musk" initiative "aimed at pressuring lawmakers to fight back against the Trump-Musk agenda" at Republican town halls and offices. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Trump called the protesters who shut down Republican town halls "professionals" and "paid troublemakers." "Paid 'troublemakers' are attending Republican Town Hall Meetings. It is all part of the game for the Democrats, but just like our big LANDSLIDE ELECTION, it's not going to work for them!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. In addition to the mask guidance, the flier for next Friday's event with Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez includes typical safety precautions for large public events, including a request for anyone not feeling well to stay home. "Please note: no bags, signs, or firearms are allowed. Masks are advised for all attendees of this event. Anyone experiencing a fever or other symptoms of COVID-19 is asked to stay home and not attend," it says on the RSVP. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ended their travel mask mandate on April 18, 2022. According to the CDC's website, masks are still "recommended in indoor public transportation settings" and "people may choose to mask at any time." The website advises people who are at medium to high risk of getting very sick to wear a mask or "consider avoiding non-essential indoor activities in public where you could be exposed." While the CDC has maintained that masking can reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, other studies since the pandemic have brought into question the efficacy of wearing a article source: AOC, Sanders tell supporters to mask up for West Coast town halls
