When word first broke that Joe Biden would be sitting down with Howard Stern for a live interview Friday on his SiriusXM show, it was an absolute guarantee that it would be an embarrassing T-Ball session without anything resembling a challenging question nor anything relating to the major issues that have Biden polling lower than any president since Jimmy Carter. 

And on that front, Stern delivered and then some. 

In what can only be described as the best PR any person in power could possibly ask for, the host went out of his way to repeatedly praise Biden for things like ‘getting the vaccine out’ after COVID hit (that was Trump). Stern also claimed that Biden has ‘cut emissions in half’ (no, he hasn’t). The former shock jock-turned-Democratic activist also falsely accused Republicans of being ‘pro-Putin’ simply because some wanted U.S. border funding to accompany Ukraine aid. And when Biden (again) claimed he was arrested standing alongside a Black family on their porch when he was a youth, a claim that had been thoroughly debunked, Stern stayed silent. 

But that doesn’t mean there weren’t several laugh-out-loud moments, albeit of the unintentional variety: Just take the time about halfway through the hour-long interview when Biden claimed that women used to send him ‘very salacious pictures’ after he was elected to the Senate back in the 1970s. The president claimed he gave the photos to the Secret Service. Any host of a community access station knows that senators don’t have Secret Service protection, and it’s very difficult to believe Biden, a freshman Delaware senator, was some kind of sex symbol. Anyway, that part of the interview was absolutely hilarious, as was Biden’s claim he was once the David Hasselhoff of the Elvis era when he says he saved SIX lives while lifeguarding at his local community pool. 

And what would a Joe Biden interview be without sharing the amount of miles he had flown with another person? Usually in these situations, Biden trots out the line that he had flown more than 17,000 miles with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Numerous fact-checks refute this claim. So instead, for the Stern interview, Biden upped the ante when reminiscing about John McCain during the late Arizona senator’s time as a senate aide. 

‘We flew 100,000 miles together,’ Biden claimed. 

To achieve that kind of distance, Biden and McCain would have had to fly around the world more than four times together. 

The only newsworthy item to come out of the interview was Biden saying he would debate Trump at some point. Until this point, neither the White House nor the president would confirm that intention.

At another point, Biden promised he would have the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade 2022 ruling, the one that sent the abortion issue back to the states, overruled if re-elected. Biden made the same pledge at the State of the Union in March by stating that if he were given a Democrat-controlled Congress, he would sign a bill making abortion legal again in all 50 states. 

My column that predicted how this interview would go almost came precisely to fruition. I wrote that Stern would focus on how horrible he believes Trump is (he did) while bringing up abortion as the only major domestic issue that would be broached during the conversation (also correct on that front). I also predicted the border crisis would be ignored (it was), as would violent crime in major cities (it was) and nothing would be mentioned about the economy by Stern (who only talked about low unemployment but didn’t touch inflation). 

Overall, both men got exactly what they wanted: Stern proved he can kiss butt on a Colbert/Kimmel/Meyers-like level while impressing his A-list celebrity friends in the Hamptons, while Biden came across as a sympathetic figure who loves his family. 

Expect more interviews like this from Biden as we head to Election Day. 

But don’t expect a solo press conference where real questions and follow-up questions would be asked by journalists who still care about holding the powerful accountable. 

Hand-picked lackeys like the once-great Howard Stern are the only people who will be getting access to this president, and that’s a true shame. 

Former President Donald Trump is speaking out aggressively against independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who he claims is a Democratic Party ‘plant.’

Trump made the accusations on Friday night via his proprietary social media platform, Truth Social.

‘RFK Jr. is a Democrat ‘Plant,’ a Radical Left Liberal who’s been put in place in order to help Crooked Joe Biden, the Worst President in the History of the United States, get Re-Elected,’ Trump wrote.

He continued, ‘A Vote for Junior’ would essentially be a WASTED PROTEST VOTE, that could swing either way, but would only swing against the Democrats if Republicans knew the true story about him.’

Trump hammered Kennedy on his record regarding Second Amendment rights, border security, and more in the rant.

‘Junior’ is totally Anti-Gun, an Extreme Environmentalist who makes the Green New Scammers look Conservative, a Big Time Taxer and Open Border Advocate, and Anti-Military/Vet[.]’

Democratic leaders have expressed parallel concerns that RFK Jr’s campaign may siphon voters from their own camp, making the independent candidate unpopular with both parties’ establishment.

Half a dozen Kennedy family members appeared alongside President Biden at an event in Philadelphia to publicly back him over Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who is driving Democrats to panic that his independent White House bid could lead to a victory for former President Donald Trump.

‘President Biden has been a champion for all the rights and freedoms that my father and uncles stood for,’ RFK Jr’s sister, Kerry Kennedy, said during the event, referencing the late former President John F. Kennedy, the late former U.S. Attorney General and New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and the late former Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy.

Last month, the Democratic National Committee launched an effort to silence the threat to Biden’s re-election from third-party candidates, namely Kennedy, in the form of a team that is expected to actively combat them with legal challenges and opposition research.

Since its inception, members of the team post near constant criticism of RFK Jr. on social media, and have frequently referred to him as a ‘spoiler’ candidate. They have also claimed Kennedy is in cahoots with Trump in order to help him win.

Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser and Brandon Gillespie contributed to this report.

The three House Republican rebels pushing to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., are silent on former President Trump’s support for the embattled congressional leader.

Roughly just six months after winning the speaker’s gavel following three weeks of chaos over the ouster of ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., Johnson is already under threat of losing the position after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., filed a resolution for a House-wide vote on his leadership, known as a motion to vacate the chair.

Two more lawmakers, Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., signed onto her resolution in protest of Johnson’s $95 billion foreign aid plan, which included funds for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific, but nothing on the U.S. border, much to some conservatives’ chagrin.

Johnson got some key backup earlier this week when Trump came to his defense, arguing Johnson is doing the best he can with a razor-thin House GOP majority.

‘It’s not like he can go and do whatever he wants to do. I think he’s a very good person. You know, he stood very strongly with me on NATO when I said NATO has to pay up,’ Trump told radio host John Fredericks after his Monday court appearance. ‘It’s a tough situation when you have what, I think, is a very good man. I think he’s trying very hard. And again, we’ve got to have a big election.’

Gosar’s office told Fox News Digital he had ‘no comment’ on Trump’s defense of Johnson. Gosar has been one of Trump’s most ardent supporters in Congress.

Spokespeople for Greene and Massie similarly had nothing to share. Fox News Digital attempted to reach both offices multiple times for comment on Trump’s remarks but did not get responses.

Like Gosar, Greene has been a top Trump ally in Congress and a popular surrogate for him on the campaign trail. She is also been one of Johnson’s fiercest critics over his bipartisan work on issues like government spending and foreign aid.

Massie has had a significantly frostier relationship with the former president, having supported his GOP primary rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, before DeSantis dropped out of the race earlier this year.

The Kentucky Republican has most recently accused Trump of ‘bullying’ fellow Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Fla., when he called for a primary challenger to take her down.

Both Greene and Massie, however, have signaled that they are unrepentant about their threats against Johnson in the days since Trump’s defense.

‘It’s baffling hearing the establishment complain that it’s too much drama, too hard, and too risky to go through another Speaker race. Meanwhile, Americans are getting kicked in the teeth from the ridiculous drama inflicted on them from pathetic politicians in Washington,’ Greene wrote Tuesday on X. ‘You know what Americans think is hard? Paying their bills. You know what Americans think is risky? Doing absolutely nothing but pass messaging bills about the daily deadly border invasion.’

Massie wrote on X that same day, ‘The weakest argument in defense of Speaker Johnson is ‘It’s a razor thin majority; you can’t get everything you want.’ We don’t expect to get everything, but we also won’t tolerate complete & total surrender.’

All eyes are on Greene. For now, there is nothing compelling House leaders to bring her motion up for a vote. If she declares it a ‘privileged resolution,’ lawmakers would be forced to take it up within two legislative days.

A majority of House Republican lawmakers have already signaled that they do not have the appetite for another period of upheaval like what followed McCarthy’s ouster.

Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson’s office and the Trump campaign for comment.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was interrupted by anti-Israel students during a speech she gave in the U.K. on Thursday. A protest group also called her a ‘warmonger.’

As Pelosi, former House speaker, was beginning her remarks to the Oxford Union at the University of Oxford, a student quietly stood up and walked to the front of the room. He then presented a Palestinian flag and turned to the audience, blocking their view of the 84-year-old California congresswoman.

‘Warmongers like Nancy Pelosi are not welcome on University campuses,’ Youth Demand, who took credit for the protest, wrote later on X, sharing a video of the protest.

The post also warned that the group’s protesters ‘aren’t f—ing around anymore.’

The student, who was joined by an apparent colleague, was met with boos and was told by people in the crowd to sit down after they realized it was a protest.

Despite the disruption, Pelosi continued her remarks, calling for peace in Gaza.

‘The suffering of Gaza must stop,’ the Democratic lawmaker said, per the Telegraph. ‘We want peace on both sides. Both sides must agree to it.’

According to the Telegraph, the duo stood awkwardly in front of the podium but were later removed by police. Those in attendance appeared to applaud their removal.

‘When children are being murdered, and hospitals are being bombed, we will not sit down and be quiet while these people are given platforms,’ Youth Demand added in the post.

On Monday, Pelosi visited University College Dublin in Dublin, where she was presented the Sutherland Leadership Award. During her visit, students protest outside the university.

The interruption comes as hundreds of students at elite U.S. colleges and universities have formed anti-Israel encampments on their campuses. The demonstrations, some violent and antisemitic in nature, have called for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza as their war has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Former President Trump suggested the White House as the venue for a debate against President Biden, saying he ‘would be very comfortable.’ 

The presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, after hours in a Manhattan courtroom for the eighth day of his criminal trial, has repeatedly said he will debate Biden ‘anywhere, anytime, anyplace.’ 

Biden broke his silence on debating his 2024 opponent on Friday during an interview with radio host Howard Stern. Biden said he would be ‘happy’ to debate Trump. 

‘I am, somewhere, I don’t know when,’ Biden said, after Stern said he didn’t know whether Biden would participate in a debate. ‘I’m happy to debate him.’ 

Trump, shortly after Biden’s interview, which he did during a visit to New York City Friday, posted to his Truth Social account inviting Biden to debate him at the courthouse in Lower Manhattan. 

‘In the alternative, he’s in New York City today, although probably doesn’t know it, and so am I, stuck in one of the many Court cases that he instigated as ELECTION INTERFERENCE AGAINST A POLITICAL OPPONENT – A CONTINUING WITCH HUNT!’ Trump posted to Truth Social. ‘It’s the only way he thinks he can win. In fact, let’s do the Debate at the Courthouse tonight – on National Television, I’ll wait around!’ 

Trump, after court ended Friday, came out and reflected on the day of testimony. 

‘We sit here day, after day, after day, which is their plan,’ Trump said of the Democrats, who he said hope to win the election. ‘But I doubt it because the poll numbers are very good for us.’ 

Trump told reporters he had invited Biden to debate. 

‘He can do it anytime he wants, including tonight. He can do it tonight,’ Trump said. ‘I invited him to the courthouse that he has us tied up in. This is a well coordinated attack on a political opponent.’ 

Trump added: ‘But I’m here, I’m ready, willing and able.’ 

Trump said ‘if he wants, I’ll do it on Monday night, Tuesday night and Wednesday night.’ 

Trump said Wednesday night he will campaign in Michigan, saying it is a state that Biden ‘has destroyed because of the auto industry’ and said auto jobs are ‘all going over to China with his ridiculous electric vehicle mandate.’ 

‘But we’re willing to do it Monday night, Tuesday night, Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday night on national television,’ Trump said. ‘We’re ready. Just tell me where.’ 

‘We’ll do it at the White House,’ Trump said. ‘That would be very comfortable, actually. You tell me where. We’re ready.’ 

Trump told reporters that Biden was ‘obviously not showing up now’ to the courthouse.

‘We’ve heard nothing, but he said today he’d love to debate,’ Trump said. ‘But he won’t debate. I don’t think he’ll debate. Maybe he will. Maybe he will. I’m not sure he has a choice.’ 

He added: ‘We’re ready, willing and able. We don’t see him and I don’t think he’ll be here. Maybe next week he’ll do it.’ 

‘I doubt it,’ Trump said. ‘But maybe next week.’ 

Earlier this month, the Trump campaign called for additional 2024 presidential debates and for them to take place ‘much earlier’ than initially proposed by the debate commission. 

Trump, in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital shortly after, said he is ‘totally committed’ to debating President Biden ‘anytime, anywhere, anyplace.’ 

As for Biden, before today, he had not yet committed to debating his opponent. 

When asked last month if he would debate the former president, Biden said it was dependent on Trump’s ‘behavior.’ 

‘Depends on his behavior,’ Biden said. 

Earlier this year, Biden addressed previous calls for earlier debates with Trump.

‘If I were him, I would want to debate me, too,’ Biden told reporters in Nevada when asked about Trump wanting to debate him earlier in the election cycle.

‘He’s got nothing else to do,’ Biden said.

The Biden administration abruptly announced Friday that it will delay regulations banning menthol cigarettes amid widespread opposition to the proposal.

In a statement, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra said his agency would not move to finalize the regulations and pointed to opposition from civil rights activists. Since they were first proposed by the HHS’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the regulations have sparked a contentious debate between health advocates and civil liberties and business groups.

‘This rule has garnered historic attention and the public comment period has yielded an immense amount of feedback, including from various elements of the civil rights and criminal justice movement,’ Becerra said in a statement. ‘It’s clear that there are still more conversations to have, and that will take significantly more time.’

Initiated 2 years ago

The announcement comes exactly two years after FDA initially proposed the regulations, paving the way for an historic ban on menthol cigarettes that the administration said would be a ‘critical’ piece of President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative. FDA also argued at the time that the ban would broadly ‘reduce the appeal of cigarettes’ and have substantial health impacts.

FDA ultimately handed the regulations off to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for final approval months ago after a lengthy public comment period. However, officials dragged their feet in moving forward with the regulations and missed multiple self-imposed deadlines to finalize them, igniting concerns among health advocates that the administration may change course.

‘Unfortunately, the possibility of this administration making these rules a reality is shrinking with the passage of time, and ACS CAN is calling on the administration to not miss the opportunity to make a historic gain in the fight against cancer,’ American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network CEO Karen Knudsen said in a statement on Friday ahead of Becerra’s announcement.

‘Top priority’

OMB declined to comment and referred Fox News Digital back to Becerra’s statement. 

And an FDA spokesperson said the agency remains committed to issuing tobacco product standards for menthol in cigarettes and characterizing flavors in cigars.

‘As we’ve made clear, these product standards remain at the top of our priorities,’ the spokesperson said.

During the public comment period, associations representing convenience stores, police, consumers and minority groups warned the administration that a ban on menthol cigarettes could foster an illicit market for the product, while punishing small business owners and minorities who are the largest consumers of the product.

Groups representing minorities, like the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement and the nonprofit National Action Network — the latter of which was founded by civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton — argued that banning menthol cigarettes while not restricting non-menthol cigarettes ‘puts a microscope on minority communities.’ 

White House meetings

The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement, National Action Network, National Newspaper Publishers Association and civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump met with Becerra, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and White House domestic policy adviser Neera Tanden to discuss the proposal in November, according to White House records.

The White House also convened meetings with other stakeholders, including the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Lung Association, and the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). 

‘The USHBC applauds President Biden for his leadership in delaying the menthol ban, recognizing the unintended consequences it would have had on convenience store sales nationwide and the livelihoods of over 600,000 workers,’ Javier Palomarez, the president and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Business Council, told Fox News Digital in a statement.

‘Implementing a ban would have not only been ineffective but would also risk disproportionately criminalizing people of color, the very communities where menthol cigarettes are consumed,’ Palomarez added. ‘We are delighted that the President has heard our concerns and we offer ourselves up as a resource to develop a comprehensive approach to public health.’

Dollars and cents

According to NACS, the rule would have led to a reduction of $72,285 a year in non-tobacco sundry sales and $160,107 a year in tobacco product sales for the typical convenience store nationwide. The organization projected that the convenience store industry could have collectively lost $2.16 billion in sales as a result of the regulations. 

In addition, government watchdog group Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT) said the administration’s actions Friday confirmed its concerns it expressed last week when it sued HHS for withholding documents related to the regulations.

‘This announcement appears to confirm the basis for our lawsuit a few weeks ago on the proposed menthol cigarette ban. Public health authorities following the polling rather than the science is not a good look. It’s also a major reason why trust in our public health officials is at an all-time low,’ PPT Director Michael Chamberlain said. ‘This only heightens the need for transparency into what’s really driving decisions at the FDA.’