President Joe Biden, under the microscope as Democrats debate his political future, tried to make the case that he is best suited to take on Donald Trump this November and finish what he’s started in a second term.
In a nearly hourlong solo press conference, Biden faced a room full of reporters for the first time since his poor debate performance two weeks ago sent his party into a panic about his mental fitness and ability to carry out his campaign.
Almost all questions posed to the president focused on those issues, with Biden on defense on everything from his cognitive health to whether he believes his vice president could take on the role.
The president remained adamant that he believes he is the most qualified person to go up against Trump.
President Biden answered questions from reporters as he faced growing calls from within his own party to step aside from his re-election bid.
“I beat him once, and I will beat him again,” Biden said.
Here are several key takeaways Biden’s press conference.
The gaffes continue
Answering the first question of the night, Biden made a glaring error when he confused Vice President Kamala Harris with Trump.
“Look, I wouldn’t have picked Vice President Trump to be vice president, if I didn’t think that she’s not qualified to be president, so let’s start there, number one,” Biden said after being asked if he had concerns about Harris’ ability to beat Trump if she ever found herself at the top of the ticket.
In responding to a reporter question, President Biden made a slip of the tongue, saying “Vice President Trump” when he was referring to Vice…Show more
He also addressed the mistake he made earlier Thursday during the NATO summit when he introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “President Putin.”
A reporter asked him about the gaffe and whether, when paired with some reports that world leaders privately expressed concern about his age, America’s standing on the world stage was being damaged.
“Do you see any damage by me leading this conference?” Biden responded. “Have you seen a more successful conference? I was talking about Putin and I said — at the very end — I said, ‘Putin. I’m sorry, Zelenskyy.'”
Biden: ‘I’ve gotta finish the job’
Biden said he realizes the importance of allaying fears and plans to do so by letting the American people see him out on the trail making the case for why he should get a second term.
He spent considerable time railing against gun violence, attacks on reproductive rights and the broader dangers that he said would be posed by a Trump presidency.
“Do you think our democracy is under siege based on this (Supreme) Court? Do you think democracy is under siege based on Project 2025?” Biden said. “Do you think he means what he says when he says he is going to do away with the civil service and eliminate the Department Education?”
“I mean, we’ve never been here before,” Biden said. “And that’s the other reason why I didn’t, as you say, ‘hand-off to another generation.’ I’ve got to finish this job. I’ve got to finish this job. Because there’s so much at stake.”
Biden says he needs to ‘pace’ himself
Biden said he needs to “pace myself a little more” when pressed on how he is up to the 24/7 nature of the presidency, but argued that he is kept busy while his 2024 rival is not.
“Since I made that stupid mistake in the campaign — in the debate, I mean, my schedule has been full-bore,” Biden said.
“Where has Trump been? Riding on his golf cart and filling out his scorecard?” Biden said. “He has done virtually nothing. I’ve had roughly 20 major events, some with thousands of people showing up.”
Biden said he has always had an inclination to “keep going” and that his staff is always adding events.
Biden cedes others could beat Trump but argues he’s most qualified
Biden’s long argued that he alone can defeat Trump after having done so in 2020.
“I think I am the best qualified — I know — I believe I’m the best qualified to govern,” Biden said. “And I think I am the best qualified to win.”
“But there are other people who could beat Trump, too,” he acknowledged before quickly adding that it would be “hard” for Democrats to start from the beginning.
A reporter then followed up by asking Biden if he would reconsider his decision to stay in the race if his team showed him polling data that Vice President Harris would fare better against Trump.
“No, unless they came back and said there is no way you could win. Me,” Biden said. “No one’s saying that. No poll says that.”
A new ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll found Biden continues to run evenly with Trump: Americans were divided 46-47% between Biden and Trump if the election were held today. Were Harris to replace Biden as the Democratic nominee, the poll found Harris leading Trump 49-46% among all adults and 49-47% among registered voters.
On taking a cognitive test, Biden says ‘no one’s going to be satisfied’
Asked if he was going to take a cognitive test before the election, Biden said that he would take one if his doctor advised him he needed one.
Biden said he has taken three “significant” neurological exams during his presidency, most recently in February.
“They say I am in good shape,” he said. He then reiterated that he is tested “every single day” on his neurological capacity by simply doing his job as commander in chief.
“And I’ll ask you another question, no matter what I did, no one’s going to be satisfied,” Biden said. “Did you have seven (doctors)? Did you have two? Who’d you have? Did you do this? How many times did you — so, I am not opposed if my doctors told me I should have another neurological exam, I’ll do it. But that’s where I am.”
Biden takes tough stance on Russia, China
The press conference came off the heels of a weeklong gathering of NATO leaders in Washington, and Biden took the opportunity to emphasize his leadership on the world stage during several exchanges.
On Russia and China, Biden said he is “ready to deal with them now and three years from now.”
Biden said no world leader has spent more time with Chinese President Xi Jinping than him, and that they will continue to negotiate. When it comes to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden said he saw “no good reason” to speak with him now but would be prepared to do so.
“There isn’t any world leader I’m not prepared to deal with,” Biden said.
ABC News’ Meredith Deliso and Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.
Shelley Duvall, the actress best known for starring in Robert Altman’s “Nashville” and “3 Women,” and in Stanley Kubrick’s horror opus “The Shining,” has died, her partner Dan Gilroy told ABC News. She was 75.
“Shelley loved animals, especially birds, now she’s free to fly,” Gilroy said. “She’s been suffering for many months, as much as I miss her, my life partner for 34 years, I’m glad she’s not suffering anymore.”
A cause of death was not immediately shared.
Duvall won a Cannes best actress award for her role in “3 Women” and later won a Peabody for producing and hosting the children’s anthology series “Faerie Tale Theatre.”
Born in Texas in 1949, Duvall was a regular figure in the films of Robert Altman, having appeared in seven of the director’s films, beginning with 1970’s “Brewster McCloud” — her first film role — and most famously in 1975’s “Nashville” and 1977’s “3 Women.”
Duvall’s last film with Altman was 1980’s “Popeye,” in which she played Olive Oyl, the girlfriend of Robin Williams’ titular character.
She also appeared alongside Diane Keaton in Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall” in 1977.
Duvall was probably best known to audiences for her role in Kubrick’s “The Shining.” In the 1980 Stephen King adaptation, Duvall played Wendy Torrance, a housewife fending off her unstable husband — played by Jack Nicholson — in a haunted hotel in the Rocky Mountains. The movie endeared Duvall to horror fans, although she later expressed mixed feelings about the difficulties in filming the movie under Kubrick’s famously iron-fisted direction.
Some of Duvall’s other film roles included Tim Burton’s 1984 short film “Frankenweenie,” the Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah rom-com “Roxanne” in 1987, Jane Campion’s 1996 film “The Portrait of a Lady” and as Hilary Duff’s witchy aunt in 1998’s “Casper Meets Wendy.”
Duvall hosted several anthology television series, including “Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre” in the ’80s and “Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime Stories” in the ’90s, the latter of which earned her an Emmy nomination.
Beginning in the early aughts, Duvall largely remained out of the public eye while living in her home state of Texas. The actress had been open about her struggles with mental illness in recent years.
Serena Williams emcee’s the ESPY awards on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — Hosted by Serena Williams, the 2024 ESPYS held Thursday in Hollywood celebrated and recognized the best players, teams and moments in sports.
It was a night of high style inside the Dolby Theater as several stars had memorable red-carpet appearances before heading inside for the ceremony.
The night celebrated a landmark year for women in sports, with basketball players Caitlin Clark, A’ja Wilson, JuJu Watkins and gymnast Simone Biles winning awards. The final award of the night went to South Carolina women’s basketball for best team.
Prince Harry was awarded the Pat Tillman Award for Service, and South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.
Here is a list of notable winners from the night.
Best MLB Player: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
Best NFL Player: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Best Driver: Max Verstappen, F1
Best NBA Player: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks
Best Athlete with a Disability: Brenna Huckaby, Snowboarding
Best College Athlete, Women’s Sports: Caitlin Clark, Iowa Basketball
Best WNBA Player: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Best Breakthrough Athlete: JuJu Watkins, USC Basketball
Best Championship Performance: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Pat Tillman Award for Service: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
Best Athlete, Women’s Sports: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Dawn Staley
Best Play: Lamar Jackson catches his own pass
Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: Steve Gleason
Best Athlete, Men’s Sports: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Best Record-Breaking Performance: Caitlin Clark crowned as the NCAA’s all-time scoring leader
Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award: Maui Surfing Community
Best Comeback Athlete: Simone Biles, Gymnastics
Best Team: South Carolina Women’s Basketball
Disney is the parent company of this station and ESPN.
In today’s digital age, financial literacy is becoming an essential skill for children and teenagers. Among the various aspects of financial education, understanding credit cards holds a pivotal place. Parents are increasingly faced with the decision of whether or not to introduce their kids to credit cards, and if so, the best approach to do so. Here’s a comprehensive look at how to navigate this important financial step.
Why Introduce Credit Cards Early?
Introducing children to credit cards early can have several benefits. It can help them understand the concept of credit, build a strong credit history from a young age, and develop responsible spending habits. However, the approach must be carefully managed to ensure these benefits are realized without leading to potential pitfalls.
The Best Age to Start
Experts suggest that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the right age for introducing credit cards. Generally, high school students, particularly those 16 and older, are at an appropriate age to start learning about credit. This is an age when many teens are already handling money from part-time jobs or allowances and are preparing for greater financial independence as they approach college years.
The Authorized User Approach
One popular method for introducing credit cards to kids is by adding them as authorized users on a parent’s account. This allows the child to have a card in their name, but the primary account holder (the parent) remains responsible for the bill. This method can help build the child’s credit history while allowing parents to monitor spending and guide their child’s financial habits.
Secured Credit Cards for Teens
For older teens, typically those heading to college, a secured credit card can be a viable option. A secured credit card requires a cash deposit that serves as the credit limit, minimizing risk while providing a practical tool for learning about credit. This type of card can help teens build credit without the danger of accruing significant debt.
Prepaid Cards as a Learning Tool
For younger children, a prepaid card can be an excellent starting point. Prepaid cards limit spending to the amount loaded onto the card, which can help children learn budgeting and responsible spending without the risk of debt. These cards often come with parental controls and monitoring features, making them a safe introduction to financial management.
Educational Conversations are Key
Regardless of the method chosen, the most critical aspect of introducing kids to credit cards is education. Parents should have ongoing discussions about how credit works, the importance of paying bills on time, and the long-term consequences of credit decisions. Real-life examples and practical advice can make these lessons more relatable and impactful.
Monitoring and Guidance
Monitoring your child’s credit card usage is crucial. Regularly review statements together, discuss any issues, and provide guidance on managing credit responsibly. Tools and apps that track spending and provide alerts can be beneficial in this learning phase.
Building a Strong Financial Foundation
Ultimately, the goal of introducing kids to credit cards is to build a strong financial foundation. Teaching children about credit early on can empower them to make informed financial decisions, avoid common credit pitfalls, and set them on a path to financial independence and success.
By carefully choosing the right approach and maintaining open lines of communication, parents can help their children navigate the complex world of credit with confidence and responsibility.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Over 800,000 CenterPoint Energy customers are still without power four days after Hurricane Beryl ripped through southeast Texas.
CenterPoint, the largest energy provider for the area, says crews are working 16-hour shifts — and apparently getting threats.
In a post on social media, the company asked the public to keep distance from the crews and allow them to keep working.
“Safety is our number one priority. We have received numerous reports of threats being made to our employees and crews,” CenterPoint wrote.
According to CenterPoint’s Outage Tracker, over 870,000 customers were still in the dark on Friday morning, and 1.3 million customers had been restored since the storm. CenterPoint declared that, with 2.26 million customers impacted, this is the largest outage in the company’s history.
In some areas, customers can now zoom in on their neighborhood, click the color that highlights their area, and see an estimated restoration date. Some areas have estimations, while many others do not.
In an update on Wednesday evening, CenterPoint said approximately 400,000 customers will be in the dark past Sunday. See the latest restoration data here.
The company said it will continue to update the map with estimated restoration dates throughout the day.
In an update on Thursday evening, CenterPoint said it expects to restore power to 80% of impacted customers by the end of the day on Sunday, July 14.
However, that still leaves roughly 400,000 customers who may be in the dark past Sunday.
In an interview with 13 Investigates, CenterPoint Energy admits not enough resiliency work was done heading into Hurricane Beryl.
CenterPoint said in areas with significant structural damage, customers could experience prolonged outages while crews work to install new distribution poles, overhead conductors, and other critical electrical equiment.
He defended the company’s response to the massive power outage, highlighting they managed to restore 1.1 million customers within 48 hours, claiming that’s faster than what other companies have done in the past 10 named storms.
Wells did take ownership of doing better with communicating expectations with customers.
His comments come after Acting Gov. Dan Patrick demanded an investigation be done into CenterPoint and whether or not it was prepared for the storm.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A manhunt is underway for the man who shot and killed a 28-year-old deputy overnight in northeast Harris County, officials said.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez identified him as Deputy Fernando Esqueda — a five-year veteran with the department in the Violent Person Task Force.
“He was dedicated to protecting and serving the residents of Harris County,” Gonzalez wrote in a post on social media. “We pray with Deputy Esqueda’s family, friends, and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time. Deputy Esqueda’s commitment to duty and his sacrifice will always be remembered.”
According to Chief Deputy Mike Lee, deputies heard a call at about 10:10 p.m. Wednesday regarding an aggravated assault at a Little Caesars Pizza on Wallisville Road.
A suspect came in to pick up a pizza, but became upset because the order was incorrect.
That’s when he verbally assaulted the clerk, pulled out a gun, and pistol-whipped the employee before taking off, Lee said.
The employee described the suspect’s vehicle to detectives, including the license plate.
The plate was tracked to the 13200 block of Italian Cypress Trail, near Tidwell Road and Highway 90, after deputies entered the number into the county’s Flock camera system.
Officials said Esqueda, who was one of the many detectives working overtime to keep everyone safe after Hurricane Beryl, responded and notified his team members over the phone that he spotted what he thought was the vehicle.
“During that phone conversation, our deputy apparently was ambushed,” Lee said. “The other detectives in the area went to his location, and at that time, saw his undercover vehicle with multiple gun strikes in it.”
Esqueda was shot multiple times, Lee said.
Lee added that rather than wait for EMS, due to the severity of his injuries, Esqueda was placed in a patrol vehicle and rushed to the hospital, where he died.
Gonzalez shared a photo of the suspect on social media and identified him as 44-year-old Ronnie Palmer. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is encouraged to call the sheriff’s office at 713-221-6000 or Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
“Palmer is wanted for an aggravated assault that occurred on July 10, 2024, at 15634 Wallisville in east Harris County,” Gonzalez wrote on social media. “He is also a person of interest in the capital murder of a Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy.”
“We have no doubt that suspect will be in custody in no time,” Lee said.
The Violent Person Task Force, which Esqueda was a part of, is a group that hunts down child rapists, homicide suspects, and “some of the most egregious criminals out there,” Lee told ABC13.
A number of toxic metals including arsenic and lead have been detected in widely used tampons that could increase the risk of adverse health effects among users, a new study by the University of California, Berkeley has found.
Researchers purchased tampons from September 2022 to March 2023 from stores in New York City, Athens, and London and from two popular online retailers. They tested 30 tampons—made from cotton, rayon, viscose, or a mix of these materials—across 14 brands and 18 product lines, and found all 16 types of metal they were testing for in every product.
“To our knowledge, our study is the first to assess concentrations of metals in tampons, despite the potential for substantial vaginal absorption of metals and the widespread and frequent use of tampons among menstruators,” the study’s authors wrote.
An estimated 52 to 86% of Americans who menstruate use tampons. There is no “safe” level for any of the metals researchers tested for, the study said.
Toxic metals are particularly dangerous if they come into direct contact with the vagina, where they are more easily absorbed. Chronic metal absorption has been linked to increased risk of dementia, cancer, infertility, and other health issues.
The level of metal detected in each tampon varied according to whether they were sold in the U.S., U.K., or E.U. There was also variance in metal levels depending on whether the tampons were organic or non-organic.
The authors wrote that some metals may be more “more abundant” in organic cotton tampons due to the use of fertilizers prevalent in the soil of organic cotton fields.
Tampons are regulated for product safety across the U.S., U.K., and the E.U., but existing rules do not require chemical testing in these jurisdictions.
The study notes that further research is needed to replicate its findings. The researchers also acknowledged some limitations of the study, including that absorption of metals was not tested and “thus we cannot estimate health risks (if any) from tampon use.”
“I really hope that manufacturers are required to test their products for metals, especially for toxic metals,” Jenni Shearston, the study’s lead author told Sky News.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — As millions remain without power in Houston and Southeast Texas, the Heat Advisory has been extended through at least Thursday evening with the hot, humid conditions continuing. Thankfully, cooling showers and storms will occur more frequently Thursday through Saturday.
We are starting off this morning with lows in the mid to upper 70s. After the sun comes out, temperatures will quickly warm into the low 90s by the early afternoon. Heat indices should get up close to 106 degrees. We also have an Ozone Pollution Watch in effect. The good news is there will be more tropical moisture in the air, which should lead to scattered showers and thunderstorms bubbling up from the late morning to the early afternoon. Any downpour could drop a quick inch of rain, produce cloud-to-ground lightning, and drop the temperatures into the upper 70s. Stronger storms could also bring gusty winds and small hail so make sure you head indoors if you hear thunder.
What does the rest of the week look like?
Storm chances will continue to climb Friday and Saturday as more tropical moisture piles in. This will cap highs in the upper 80s both days for most. Even if you don’t get rain, you’ll likely enjoy the benefits of the extra clouds and rain-cooled air pushing through.
Anything else in the tropics to be concerned about?
At this point, nope! There is a small disturbance off the east coast of Georgia and Florida but it has a very low chance of development and should move into the southeastern US by this weekend. Head to our daily Tropical Update page for the latest on what’s happening in the tropics.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Over a million Houston-area CenterPoint Energy customers are still without power, three long and hot days since Hurricane Beryl slammed the area.
Many southeast Texas residents say they have lost their faith in CenterPoint, the primary energy provider for the region. On Wednesday, a mural popped up on the side of I-10 at Sawyer that says “CenterPointless.” That pretty much sums up how many people feel, not about the linemen working out in the elements to get the power back on, but about the system leading to the massive outage.
According to CenterPoint’s Outage Tracker, 1.1 million customers were still in the dark on Thursay morning, and over 1.1 million customers had been restored since the storm. CenterPoint declared that, with 2.26 million customers impacted, this is the largest outage in the company’s history.
In an interview with 13 Investigates, CenterPoint Energy admits not enough resiliency work was done heading into Hurricane Beryl.
The company’s executive vice president, Jason Ryan, sat down with 13 Investigates’ Kevin Ozebek — sharing details about their “resiliency” plan, which is aimed at making badly-needed upgrades.
From 2025 to 2027, CenterPoint wants to spend a whopping $376 million to harden its transmission system.
Much of that money would be used to replace old wooden power poles with stronger poles made out of materials like concrete, which are more likely to withstand hurricanes.
Another $268 million would be used to upgrade larger power towers to sturdier models.
Then, $31 million would move some above ground lines to under our highways.
“Will this truly prepare our electric infrastructure for the storms of the future?” Kevin asked. “Yes. We’re confident it will,” Ryan said.
“How can you say with confidence this is enough?” Kevin asked. “We’ve seen those poles stand up in these extreme events, both the strong category 2 equivalent hurricane of the derecho and this strong category 1 storm that just hit 48 hours ago. We’ve seen those poles perform,” Ryan said.
In total, the plan adds up to $1.45 billion. Ryan said CenterPoint is applying for federal grants to help pay for it.
While CenterPoint supplies most of the energy to the Houston area, there are also a few other providers.
Entergy is giving specifics on its own restorations efforts. It released a detailed timelineshowing when people living in certain areas should expect to get their power back.
For example, people in New Caney and Conroe should get their power back by Sunday. People in Bolivar Peninsula and Huntsville should get their power back by Friday.
Entergy says it has restored power to more than half of the 252,000 customers who lost power during Beryl.
