Author name: Chase Brennan

Girl Dads in Maine Mobilize to Block Transgender Athletes from Girls’ Sports
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Girl Dads in Maine Mobilize to Block Transgender Athletes from Girls’ Sports

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A group of fathers in Maine is continuing its effort to advance a statewide initiative that would bar transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports.

Members of the organization Maine Girl Dads held a drive-thru signature event in Brunswick on Saturday to support the proposal, according to WMTW.

The event allowed supporters to quickly sign the petition from their vehicles. Organizers with Protect Girls’ Sports in Maine also took part in the effort, the report said.

The petition seeks to place the measure, titled “An Act to Designate School Sports Participation and Facilities by Sex,” before voters in November 2026.

WMTW reported that the group needs 68,000 signatures by February for the initiative to qualify for the ballot.

A video posted Thursday by a member of Maine Girl Dads said the campaign was “going amazing,” noting the group had already collected more than 60,000 signatures.

According to the WMTW report, the referendum would require schools to designate sports teams, bathrooms, and locker rooms by gender: male, female, or co-ed.

The debate over transgender athletes’ participation in girls’ sports has spread across the country, with female athletes in various states facing decisions about competing against biological males.

The issue has also led to disputes between state officials and the federal government.

In February, President Donald Trump had a heated exchange with Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) over her refusal to comply with his executive order regarding the protection of women’s sports.

“You better comply because otherwise you’re not getting any federal funding,” he told her, according to reporting at the time.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi later announced a lawsuit against the state of Maine related to transgender sports policies.

The complaint stated, “By prioritizing gender identity over biological reality, Maine’s policies deprive girl athletes of fair competition, deny them equal athletic opportunities, and expose them to heightened risks of physical injury and physiological harm.”

The debate drew further attention in October when three activists stripped to their underwear during a school board meeting in Maine to protest the district’s policy allowing transgender athletes to participate in female sports and use related facilities, according to Breitbart News.

Maine Girl Dads describes itself as a coalition dedicated to reinforcing sex-based distinctions in schools and athletic programs.

According to the group’s website, it “is a coalition of dads (8,000 of us and counting) that have banded together over a common cause — to protect the dignity, opportunity, and privacy of our daughters.

Simply put, we want districts across Maine to re-institute sex-based policies in school & sport. No more males in female spaces nor sports.”

Hunter Biden Floats Charlie Kirk Conspiracy, Attacks Journalist That Exposed Him
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Hunter Biden Floats Charlie Kirk Conspiracy, Attacks Journalist That Exposed Him

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Hunter Biden’s recent appearance on the “Wide Awake Podcast” is drawing scrutiny after he questioned the motive behind the fatal shooting of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk and made remarks about New York Post reporter Miranda Devine.

The interview, recorded last week, began circulating widely after clips appeared on social media.

During the discussion, host Joshua Rubin noted he had “never really seen a figure like Charlie Kirk be assassinated pretty much purely because of their beliefs.”

Biden disagreed with that characterization. “He wasn’t necessarily shot for his beliefs,” he said.

“He was shot because he was one of the loudest people speaking out there … I don’t know whether Charlie Kirk was shot because of what he believed.”

Biden went on to question details surrounding the alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson. He raised doubts about Robinson’s ability “to shoot a kill shot from over 200 yards” and claimed Robinson “somehow disassemble(d) the rifle before he got off the roof.”

Biden continued, “And then amazingly, after being able to do that, (Robinson) was so dumb that he wrote a full confession over text message to his supposed trans roommate that may have been his boyfriend, exonerating his father and blah blah blah blah blah. Come on, man. Come on. And so I don’t know why Charlie Kirk was shot.”

He added, “It didn’t matter whether you shot Charlie Kirk, or whether you shot Charlie Kirk’s equivalent on the left.”

Federal officials investigating the shooting have identified ideological motive.

FBI Director Kash Patel stated earlier that Robinson was motivated “because of his hatred for what Charlie stood for.”

“I don’t know why Charlie Kirk was shot, but I do know this. It’s only served one group of people, Charlie Kirk’s death. MAGA,” he said.

“They have taken this. They have wrapped themselves in it. They have righteous indignation.”

During the same interview, Biden criticized Devine, who reported extensively on the contents of his laptop.

“There’s no ethics in what someone as horrendously ugly as Miranda Devine—physically and in terms of her ethics—does,” he said. He later added, “They’re whores. They’re whores for money, and she does it because she makes money.”

Biden continued, “And when she goes to sleep at night, I’m sure she sleeps just fine, but I don’t know anybody that is going to be mourning her when she’s gone. An ugly person.”

Biden also suggested political violence in the United States is driven more by the right, despite multiple documented incidents of violence across the political spectrum.

His comments on both Kirk and Devine drew widespread reaction online due to the nature and tone of his statements as the clips circulated over the weekend.

Donald Trump Breaks Up with ‘Wacky’ Marjorie Taylor Greene
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Donald Trump Breaks Up with ‘Wacky’ Marjorie Taylor Greene

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President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is withdrawing his endorsement of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, citing weeks of disagreements and what he described as her persistent criticism of his administration.

The decision was posted on Truth Social, where the president outlined a series of grievances and signaled support for a potential Republican primary challenger in her district.

“I am withdrawing my support and Endorsement of ‘Congresswoman’ Marjorie Taylor Greene, of the Great State of Georgia,” Trump wrote.

He paired the announcement with a list of what he described as his “Record Achievements for our Country,” contrasting it with Greene’s recent comments about his administration.

“[A]ll I see ‘Wacky’ Marjorie do is COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN!” Trump said.

Greene, once a consistent ally of the president, has split with him on several policy issues in recent weeks.

She voiced support for extending Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire December 31 and joined a bipartisan discharge petition demanding the Department of Justice release unclassified documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.

The petition is led by Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Ro Khanna of California and has only four Republican signatories.

Trump said tensions escalated after he sent Greene internal polling suggesting she should not pursue higher office.

“It seemed to all begin when I sent her a Poll stating that she should not run for Senator, or Governor, she was at 12%, and didn’t have a chance (unless, of course, she had my Endorsement — which she wasn’t about to get!),” he wrote.

He also said Greene had grown frustrated with limited communication.

“She has told many people that she is upset that I don’t return her phone calls anymore, but with 219 Congressmen/women, 53 U.S. Senators, 24 Cabinet Members, almost 200 Countries, and an otherwise normal life to lead, I can’t take a ranting Lunatic’s call every day,” Trump said.

The president indicated that he would support a primary challenger to Greene in the 2026 midterm elections.

“I understand that wonderful, Conservative people are thinking about primarying Marjorie in her District of Georgia, that they too are fed up with her and her antics and, if the right person runs, they will have my Complete and Unyielding Support,” he wrote.

Trump also criticized her recent media appearances, saying she “has gone Far Left, even doing The View, with their Low IQ Republican hating Anchors.”

He concluded the post by writing, “Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Greene responded publicly by releasing what she said were private text messages exchanged with the president.

On X she wrote, “President Trump just attacked me and lied about me. I haven’t called him at all, but I did send these text messages today.”

One message to “DJT” urged him to “check the flight logs of Epstein’s plane,” adding that former president Bill Clinton appeared on them “26 times! Hillary too!!”

In the texts, Greene pressed for the release of Epstein-related files “for the women who were victims” and asked whether “Democrat bad guys” were “entangled and involved” with Epstein.

“Epstein was the spider that wove the web of the deep state. Lean into it!” she wrote.

In an additional message to “Natalie,” also shared online, Greene wrote that she had defended Trump for years and insisted that the Epstein case is “not a hoax.”

On X, she said, “Apparently this is what sent him over the edge. The Epstein files.”

Greene accused Trump of using her as “an example to scare all the other Republicans before next weeks vote” on the discharge petition.

“It’s astonishing really how hard he’s fighting to stop the Epstein files from coming out that he actually goes to this level,” she wrote.

She continued, “I have supported President Trump with too much of my precious time, too much of my own money, and fought harder for him even when almost all other Republicans turned their back and denounced him. But I don’t worship or serve Donald Trump.”

JD Vance Hits Fox News Audience with a Massive Housing Affordability Truth Bomb
News

JD Vance Hits Fox News Audience with a Massive Housing Affordability Truth Bomb

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Vice President JD Vance said in an interview this week that mass illegal immigration during Joe Biden’s term played a central role in driving up rent and home prices across the United States.

Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Vance said record levels of illegal immigration created a direct strain on the housing market, leaving many Americans — especially first-time buyers — priced out.

“To me [this] is maybe the most important because I care so much about our young people being able to afford a good life, a lot of young people are saying, ‘Housing is way too expensive,’” Vance said.

“Why is that? Because we flooded the country with 30 million illegal immigrants who are taking houses, which ought by right go to American citizens and at the same time, we weren’t building enough new houses to begin with even for the population we have.”

Vance said the current administration is working to expand home construction while carrying out strict interior immigration enforcement to help stabilize housing costs.

“What we’re doing is trying to make it easier to build houses, to build factories, and things like that so that people have good jobs,” Vance said.

“We’re also getting all of those illegal aliens out of our country and you’re already seeing it starting to pay some dividends.”

He also said improving affordability depends on strengthening wages for American workers.

“That is where the Trump economy, I think objectively … is just doing better than any economy in 50-60 years,” Vance said.

He added that the president aims to “make an economy for people who can afford to buy the things that they need — the best way to do that is good jobs and good wages.”

Vance’s comments came as new international research reinforces the link between immigration levels and housing cost spikes.

In September, a group of economists in Denmark published findings that immigration significantly increases rents and home prices for local residents.

“Our results suggest large and positive impacts of immigration on private rental prices and house prices at the municipal level,” the researchers wrote.

“More specifically, we find that a one percentage point increase in the local immigration influx over a five-year horizon relative to the local population in the base year 1995 leads to an average increase of approximately 6 percent and 11 percent in private rental prices and house prices at the municipal level, respectively, during the same period.”

Their work adds to years of published studies pointing to the same conclusion.

Last year, Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies testified before Congress that “a 5-percentage-point increase in the recent immigrant share of a metro area’s population is associated with a 12-percent increase in the average U.S.-born household’s rent, relative to their income.”

Vance said the administration will continue pairing expanded housing construction with immigration enforcement to address the underlying pressures on the market.

Eric Swalwell Hit With Criminal Referral Over Mortgage and Tax Fraud Allegations
News

Eric Swalwell Hit With Criminal Referral Over Mortgage and Tax Fraud Allegations

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Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California is the subject of a criminal referral connected to alleged mortgage and tax fraud, according to a report from NBC News published Wednesday.

The referral was sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi by Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte.

NBC News, citing an anonymous source, reported that Pulte’s letter said Swalwell may have provided false or misleading information on loan documents tied to his purchase of a home in Washington, D.C.

The same source told the outlet that the FHFA’s acting inspector general is conducting a separate review into the mortgage-related allegations.

The Department of Justice declined to comment on the matter. The FHFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Swalwell issued a statement to the DCNF responding to the referral.

“As the most vocal critic of [President] Donald Trump over the last decade and as the only person who still has a surviving lawsuit against him, the only thing I am surprised about is that it took him this long to come after me,” Swalwell said.

“Like James Comey and John Bolton, Adam Schiff and Lisa Cook, Letitia James and the dozens more to come – I refuse to live in fear in what was once the freest country in the world.”

Swalwell also said, “Of course, I will not end my lawsuit against him. And I will not stop speaking out against the President and speaking up for Californians. As Mark Twain said, ‘Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.’ Mr. President, do better. Be Better.”

The allegations against Swalwell follow similar developments involving other Democratic officials.

In August, Sen. Adam Schiff of California established a legal defense fund in response to a Department of Justice investigation into his finances involving claims of mortgage fraud.

Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed Ed Martin as a special prosecutor on August 8 to lead a probe into mortgage fraud allegations involving both Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, was also referred to the Department of Justice in August.

Pulte made that referral as well, according to the report, prompting a federal review of allegations regarding her mortgage documents.

Swalwell has been a frequent critic of President Donald Trump and has made multiple public statements about him over the years.

He has previously referred to Trump as a “dictator.”

The new criminal referral adds to the ongoing federal reviews involving several Democratic officials and follows a series of inquiries into alleged inconsistencies in financial disclosures and loan documentation.

Chris Murphy Claims Democracy Is at Risk When Dems Work With GOP
News

Chris Murphy Claims Democracy Is at Risk When Dems Work With GOP

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Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut urged members of his party to close ranks following the end of the recent government shutdown, telling voters in New Hampshire that Democrats cannot afford internal divisions after several senators crossed party lines to advance a stopgap spending measure.

Murphy delivered the remarks Wednesday during a visit to New Hampshire, where he participated in a town hall event hosted by the New Hampshire Institute of Politics and Stand Up New Hampshire.

In a video obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation, Murphy warned that bipartisan cooperation on the shutdown exposed a deeper challenge for Democrats.

“The only way we’re going to survive this moment is to stay united,” Murphy said

. “There’s obviously been this repeating phenomenon where a handful of Democrats crosses over and works with Republicans. I don’t know that you can save our democracy, if we aren’t united.”

Murphy’s comments followed the decision by eight members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to break from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and vote with Republicans to advance the stopgap spending bill. The measure ended a funding lapse that had persisted for weeks.

Two of the Democrats who supported the bill were New Hampshire Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen. Both cited the impact of the shutdown on their constituents and said they hoped Republicans would work with them on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits in December.

Neither senator was named directly by Murphy, but he made clear he disagreed with the decision to move forward with a deal.

“What happened in our caucus last week can’t continue to happen,” Murphy said.

“We’ve got to stay united.”

In the days leading up to the vote, Murphy had urged his colleagues to continue pressing their shutdown demands.

He argued that conceding early, particularly after Democrats’ strong results in November’s off-year elections, could cause “some pretty substantial damage” to the party’s standing.

Murphy said the party had gained momentum following its setbacks in the 2024 elections and should not risk losing ground.

Questions about Schumer’s position surfaced during Murphy’s visit. Schumer opposed the bipartisan spending package but drew criticism from progressives for failing to keep Democrats aligned during the shutdown.

More than ten House Democrats have publicly urged Schumer to step aside.

No Senate Democrats have issued similar calls. When asked directly whether Schumer should remain as the party’s leader in the Senate, Murphy replied, “I think Chuck has a super hard job right now.”

Murphy was also asked whether he is considering a run for president. The Connecticut Democrat did not provide a direct answer.

“I’m here because New Hampshire is the epicenter of American democracy, in some ways,” Murphy said.

“I’m just here to say thank you for what they did to elect a bunch of Democrats in this last election and to spur them on.”

Murphy made the trip as part of a broader effort to engage with voters after the shutdown and speak with Democrats involved in recounts, local races, and state-level organizing.

The New Hampshire appearance followed a series of discussions Murphy held with activists about the party’s direction heading into the next legislative fight.

K-Pop Star Suddenly Collapses Mid Song and Dance On Stage in Macau, China
Entertainment

K-Pop Star Suddenly Collapses Mid Song and Dance On Stage in Macau, China

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Singer HyunA collapsed during a live performance on November 9, prompting widespread concern from fans after the incident occurred at a music festival in Macau, a region in China.

The collapse happened while she was performing her song “Bubble Pop,” one of her most well-known releases.

Video from the event showed HyunA falling to the ground mid-performance. Event staff and fellow performers moved quickly to assist her before she was taken offstage.

Following the incident, she addressed fans directly through social media, offering an apology and expressing regret over the interruption.

“I am really really sorry.. It was a short while since the previous show though I wanted to show a good look,” HyunA wrote in a post originally in Korean and translated through Google.

She also noted that she could not recall details from the moment she fell, writing, “I don’t remember anything” about the performance.

HyunA told fans she intends to focus on her health going forward.

“From now on, I’ll try to develop more stamina and work hard consistently,” she wrote.

“It would be great if everything goes according to my wish, but I’ll try..!!”

Fans responded quickly in the comment section of her post, expressing concern and urging her to prioritize her well-being.

One fan wrote, “The problem is not stamina or professionalism. K-pop company must absolutely understand they need to treat idols correctly in terms of health and work charge.

Even considering their view of it, idols look prettier when they’re healthy and happy than when they’re overworked and trying unnecessary and unhealthy weight losses. How can’t they understand that? Big support to you.”

Another commenter expressed concern about her workload and health pressures, writing, “Whoever told you to apologize has no soul. It’s probably the same person that put your health in this position. You can either listen to your body and take breaks when you need to or your body will take a break and likely during an inconvenient time. You’re too young to be dealing with this. Mental and physical health go hand in hand. Eat something today, hydrate and rest.”

The incident followed a series of personal posts from HyunA that drew attention from fans in the days leading up to the concert.

On November 4, she shared a photo of a scale on Instagram, noting in the caption that she had a “long way to go” to reach her ideal weight.

HyunA debuted in the K-pop industry as a member of the Wonder Girls in 2007. She later pursued a solo career, releasing her single “Change” in 2010.

In 2011, she released the EP “Bubble Pop!,” which became a major part of her rise in global popularity.

Alongside her solo work, she performed in the groups Trouble Maker and Triple H.

Her onstage collapse and recent social media activity have prompted significant concern from fans who have followed her career for more than a decade.

Trump Ends Shutdown After Dems Cave, Get Nothing, White House Trolls Them Hard
News

Trump Ends Shutdown After Dems Cave, Get Nothing, White House Trolls Them Hard

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President Donald Trump ended the 43-day government shutdown Wednesday night after the House approved a GOP-backed continuing resolution, sending the bill to the White House for signature and bringing the longest shutdown in U.S. history to a close.

The House passed the legislation in a 222-209 vote.

The breakdown showed 216 Republicans voting in favor and 207 Democrats voting against the measure.

Two Republicans opposed the bill, while six Democrats voted in support.

The Senate had cleared the measure earlier in the day.

Speaking from the Oval Office shortly after signing the resolution, Trump said, “People were hurt so badly. Nobody’s ever seen anything like this one. This was a no-brainer. This was an easy extension. But they didn’t want to do it the easy way. They had to do it the hard way.”

He added, “They look very bad, the Democrats do.”

Trump urged voters nationwide to recall the shutdown when casting ballots in the 2026 midterm elections.

“I just want to tell the American people: You should not forget this,” he said.

“When we come up to midterms and other things, don’t forget what they’ve done to our country.”

The shutdown began after Democrats blocked a clean continuing resolution in the Senate ahead of the September 30 government funding deadline.

That move initiated a standoff that extended more than six weeks, affecting federal agencies and workers across the country.

Democratic leaders maintained that their primary objective was to negotiate on Affordable Care Act subsidies scheduled to expire at the end of the year.

They sought to secure commitments from Republicans to revisit the issue during the funding process.

The final agreement did not alter current health policy, nor did it include changes to subsidy timelines or extensions beyond what was already expected.

Instead, Democrats obtained one narrow provision: reversing reduction-in-force notices issued during the shutdown and preventing additional RIFs through January 30, when the new funding law expires.

According to available federal workforce data, the protection applies to roughly 4,200 positions out of an estimated 150,000 federal layoffs that have occurred during Trump’s second term.

In the Senate, the turning point came when eight Democrats crossed party lines to vote for the resolution.

Their decision prompted frustration within the Democratic caucus, with critics characterizing the outcome as a “pathetic” political deal that failed to meet the party’s stated goals after more than a month of halted government operations.

The vote by Senate Democrats came without any commitments from Republicans to negotiate changes to the Affordable Care Act or broader health-care policy.

The only agreement secured was a promise from Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to hold a vote on extending the subsidies.

That same offer had been available since the first day of the shutdown, according to lawmakers involved in the discussions.

With the government now funded through January 30, Congress faces another deadline early next year.

Both chambers will need to determine whether to approve another short-term extension, pursue a full-year funding package, or engage in negotiations over policy provisions that were left unresolved during this latest standoff.

Police Arrest Suspect Named ‘Jihad’ After Robbery and Assault at UC Berkeley TPUSA Event
News

Police Arrest Suspect Named ‘Jihad’ After Robbery and Assault at UC Berkeley TPUSA Event

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Police have arrested and charged a man identified as Jihad Dphrepaulezz, 25, for robbery and assault in connection with the violence that broke out during a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) event Monday at the University of California, Berkeley.

Authorities said Dphrepaulezz allegedly attacked an attendee outside the event, stole a necklace from the victim, and left him bloodied during a physical altercation that occurred as protesters clashed with police and attendees.

According to a statement provided to the New York Post, an officer on the scene said, “Officers determined that one of the men—Jihad Dphrepaulezz … had stolen the other man’s chain from around his neck. The other man was attempting to get his chain back from Dphrepaulezz.”

Police said the incident took place amid widespread unrest outside the TPUSA event, where Antifa-linked demonstrators lit flares, threw objects, and attempted to breach police barricades.

The event had already drawn heightened security following previous threats from far-left activists.

Video recorded by journalist Savanah Hernandez for TPUSA’s Frontlines captured portions of the fight.

Footage shows Dphrepaulezz appearing to grab an item from the victim before the two became engaged in a scuffle.

Additional videos circulating on social media appeared to show the victim trying to retrieve his stolen necklace as bystanders shouted and recorded the confrontation.

One man seen in the footage taunted the injured victim, yelling, “What happened white boy? Hey white boy, what the f**k happened?”

Police later detained that individual, but he was released after officers confirmed he was the victim attempting to recover his property.

The brawl occurred as attendees were waiting in line for the TPUSA campus tour event.

The protest quickly escalated, with rioters lighting fireworks and attempting to push through metal barriers surrounding the building.

Officers from the University of California Police Department, backed by city police, intervened to separate the crowd and make arrests.

Authorities later identified Dphrepaulezz as an employee of the California Department of Health. He also describes himself as a rapper under the stage name “AR The Believer.”

Police said he attempted to shield his face from cameras as reporters captured footage of his arrest.

Berkeley police confirmed that Dphrepaulezz faces charges of robbery and assault.

He was taken into custody at the scene and booked at Alameda County Jail. The injured attendee received treatment for minor injuries and was released.

The altercation was one of several violent incidents reported at the event. UC Berkeley police said protesters blocked access points and set off smoke devices, forcing officers to temporarily close nearby streets.

No officers were seriously injured, but police confirmed multiple property damage reports and several detentions.

TPUSA spokesman Andrew Kolvet commended law enforcement for maintaining order amid the disruption.

“Despite Antifa thugs blocking our campus tour stop with tear gas, fireworks, and glass bottles, we had a PACKED HOUSE in the heart of deep blue UC Berkeley,” Kolvet said following the event.

Michelle Obama Recalls ‘Infuriating’ 2009 Air Force One Shorts Controversy on Podcast
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Michelle Obama Recalls ‘Infuriating’ 2009 Air Force One Shorts Controversy on Podcast

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Former First Lady Michelle Obama revisited a 2009 controversy that erupted after she wore Bermuda shorts while stepping off Air Force One during a family trip to the Grand Canyon, calling the experience “infuriating” during a recent episode of her podcast, as reported by Fox News.

Speaking on “IMO With Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson,” which she co-hosts with her brother, Obama described how the seemingly small wardrobe choice became a national talking point during her husband’s first year in office.

RALEIGH – OCTOBER 4: FLOTUS, Michelle Obama, speaking to students at NC State University. Other speakers were former governor Jim Hunt and Deborah Ross, on October 4th, 2016 in Raleigh, USA.

“The fact that we had to spend time thinking about that kind of stuff in ways that my husband didn’t — it was really infuriating,” Obama said. “Then an article, a negative article, still happened.”

The former first lady explained that the August 2009 trip marked the Obamas’ first vacation since President Barack Obama’s inauguration.

As the family prepared to deplane for a hike at the Grand Canyon, Michelle Obama said she wrestled with what to wear to appear appropriate for both the occasion and her public role.

“It was 100 degrees,” she recalled. “Barack — I was like, ‘Well, what are you wearing?’

He was like, ‘Well, I’m gonna throw on some sneakers, I’m gonna take my jacket off and roll my sleeves up,’ because that’s what men can do. White shirt, no collar, no tie. That was how he changed.”

She said she debated between wearing a dress or hiking shorts before choosing Bermuda shorts. “I can’t wear hiking shorts there, and I can’t wear a dress to hike,” she said.

“That would be crazy. People would call me ‘disconnected’ and ‘un-American.’ I was like, ‘That’s not how people go to the Grand Canyon.’”

U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle acknowledge the crowd after President Obama delivered a farewell address at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. January 10, 2017.

Obama said she ultimately chose what felt natural. “I eventually opted for the thing that felt mostly me,” she said. “And it was the Bermuda shorts. Because if we’re going on a hike, this is how a normal person would go on a hike.”

The decision prompted a wave of media coverage, with headlines such as “Who Wears Short Shorts? Michelle Obama,” “First Lady’s Shorts Draw Some Long, Hard Looks,” and “Michelle Obama: The Shorts Heard Round the World.”

In 2013, Obama reflected that she would not wear shorts on Air Force One again, noting that the attention caused “a huge stink.” She said at the time the outfit was a casual choice because the family was “on vacation.”

The topic of first ladies’ wardrobes has often drawn scrutiny.

Former First Lady Melania Trump faced similar media criticism in 2017 for wearing jeans and a baseball cap while visiting Texas after Hurricane Harvey, and again in 2018 when she wore a green jacket with the phrase “I really don’t care. Do u?” on a trip to the southern border.

Melania Trump later said she wore the jacket to send a message to the media, explaining, “I want to show them that I don’t care.”

Fox News Digital reported that Michelle Obama’s office did not respond to a request for additional comment.


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