CNN anchor Audie Cornish moderated a panel discussion on Monday about President Donald Trump sending envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv over the weekend.

Cornish began the conversation, “Joining the group, Harrison Mann, a former US Army major and former executive officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency. So I was trying to think, what has changed?”

“One, we know our head of intelligence went to Moscow, right, even though we don’t know the details of what happened. And then the second thing, Russia has developed some new technology, right, in terms of how it can attack Ukraine. So, A, are those two things true? And B, do you think that had an effect on getting everyone to the table?”

Mann replied, “Yeah, I think that the biggest thing that’s changed is the reason that negotiations were suspended for six months. The last time Witkoff and Kushner were in Russia was in February. What’s happened between then and now — Trump started this big war in Iran. And that’s probably the biggest effect that has weakened the negotiating position of Ukraine and the pro-Ukraine alliance.”

“Why? Because I thought Ukraine had so much knowledge around drone warfare now that they were in a position to go to the United States and say, ‘Hey, we can help you figure out how to deal with Iran’s drones,’” pressed Cornish.

Mann replied, “They can help us maybe defend against Iranian drones, but there’s been a constant, evolving arms race as Russian and Ukrainian forces and inventors learn from each other on the battlefield — that’s been going on basically since day one. Any technological advance maybe gives one side an advantage for a couple months before somebody else learns how to deal with it.”

“Now, allegedly, Russia maybe has AI-guided drones which allow it to overcome all of the jamming networks that Ukraine’s developed, for example. But now — I mean, first of all — I think it’s worth recognizing that you don’t send Kushner and Witkoff when you actually really want to get something done. We can look at their track record: Iran, Gaza. You can notice Vance and Rubio are nowhere near this right now, which gives you an idea of the lack of seriousness, in my view,” Mann added to a chuckle from Cornish.

Below is the rest of their exchange:

Cornish: Well, let’s at least give people a chance to hear for themselves. Here’s an example of Witkoff talking about Putin on Saturday. This was in Moscow.

Witkoff in Clip: “So, first of all, President Putin, thank you so much for having us. We were sitting outside just now — me, Jared, and Carol — and then Yuri joined us, and we were all talking about when we retire, we’ll have all these incredible stories and incredible memories, and yours will be right at the top of it all.”

Cornish: As you know, it’s his eighth trip — but doesn’t flattery get you everywhere when you’re dealing with a dictator?

Mann: No, and I’m not even sure it’s flattery. I mean, I think Witkoff is genuinely — you know, it’s the friends we made along the way, whatever happens with ending this war. It’s like these guys are not really there to lean hard on anybody. And again, I don’t think they’re really, you know, intellectually or experientially equipped to do this, like you said. Eight times, I think, and we’re not even sure what deal, if any, they’ve offered. They definitely have even less leverage than they did back in February, due to the diminishing amount of support that the U.S. can provide Ukraine. We used up both offensive and defensive munitions that Ukraine wants in Iran.

Cornish: In the meantime, the fight remains over, I think, control over a nuclear facility and the land to swap. So, for people who don’t know at home, the idea is this war has been going on long enough that territory has been taken on both sides, and Ukraine is trying to basically retain its borders. Can that happen under this scenario?

Mann: No, I think — yeah, there’s the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which Russia captured from Ukraine. And then there’s the Eastern Donbas region, which Putin is demanding that Ukraine cede even more of in exchange for peace. I think those are quite bold and probably unreasonable demands. But on the other hand, it’s really not realistic that Ukraine is going to reclaim more territory on the battlefield. So it’s up to, apparently, Witkoff and Kushner to bridge this gap, which I don’t really think that they’re qualified to do.

Watch the clip above via CNN.

The post CNN Defense Expert Roasts Trump Envoy’s ‘Whatever Happens’ Approach to Russia-Ukraine War first appeared on Mediaite.

(Screengrab via Truth Social)

President Donald Trump raised eyebrows and sparked criticism on both sides of the aisle on Monday by posting a map of the United States expanding to include both Canada and Mexico.

Many pundits and observers on the left questioned Trump’s mental well-being and accused him of trying to distract from high gas prices and other issues with the post. On the right, pundits called out the hypocrisy of Trump wanting to erase the U.S.- Mexico border after years of campaigning on strengthening it.

Trump’s post was the latest in a bevy of wild social media messages from the president, which included several maps renaming “New Mexico’ to “New America” and a Labor Day message insulting Democrats.

The Atlantic’s Conor Friedersdorf shared Trump’s AI-generated map and added, “And his remaining base of support is such a sycophantic personality cult that they’ll simultaneously cheer posts touting mass deportations to Mexico *and* subsuming Mexico into America.”

“Why would we want this, though?” added conservative writer James Lindsay.

“This same Republican Party used to be terrified in the 2000s that elites were secretly planning to unite Canada, America and Mexico,” commented political journalist Nick Field.

Below are some additional reactions:

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The post ‘Giant Baby’: Trump Irks Left and Right With Map Annexing Mexico and Canada first appeared on Mediaite.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has little patience for speculation about who will eventually inherit the political movement he helped build.

In a wide-ranging Politico profile published Sunday by Will Steakin, Sanders pushed back when asked which younger progressive might eventually take the torch. According to Steakin, questioning the Vermont senator on the topic “becomes an exercise in watching a man swat away question after question.”

“That is precisely the wrong question,” Sanders shot back, accusing the Politico journalist of “sounding like an inside-the-Beltway media pundit.”

Instead, Sanders said the “right question” was how many strong figures the progressive movement had already produced, pointing to Reps. Greg Casar (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).

“The media is focused on personality,” Sanders complained to Steakin. “‘Oh my God, what will Alexandria do? Is she going to run for president? Run for the Senate? Stay in the House? Let’s talk about that for 14 years.’ How often do we talk about the fact that we’re the only major country on earth that doesn’t guarantee health care to all people?”

While Ocasio-Cortez said in May that her “ambition is way bigger” than the Oval Office, she’s also made clear that a 2028 presidential bid isn’t off the table.

Sanders was similarly tight-lipped when pressed on her potential plans.

“Do I talk to Alexandria? Yes, I do. Am I going to tell you what we talk about? Of course I won’t,” he told Politico. Asked directly if he wanted her to mount a campaign, Sanders responded, “No comment. That’s her decision.”

His remarks about a potential successor come after a number of fellow socialists have won Democratic primaries recently and as his pal Zohran Mamdani (D) is in his first year as mayor of New York City.

Sanders also emphasized that another White House run of his own is not in the cards, joking about his age as he prepares to turn 85.

“Well, I am 40 years of age now,” he deadpanned, “and I think having reached the golden age of 40, it’s hard, you know. So yeah, I think it’s unlikely that I will become president of the United States.”

The post Bernie Sanders Scoffs at Search for His Successor: ‘Precisely the Wrong Question’ first appeared on Mediaite.

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

He’s just joking around… you would think.

President Donald Trump hinted he isn’t done changing the names of major geographic locations in a Sunday post on Truth Social, with the president apparently now looking at swapping the name of a U.S. state — New Mexico.

Trump posted a map of the Southwest state with the word “Mexico” getting crossed out in bright red and replaced with the word “America,” in a move which unofficially rechristened it “New America.”

You can check it out below:

(Photo via Truth Social)

The post is (likely) just a troll following the president’s much-publicized renaming of Lake Ontario to Lake America last month, in retaliation to a trade deal with Canada collapsing at the last minute. Trump’s name change immediately riled up many liberals, while a ton of MAGA fans hailed the move by saying it was elite trolling from Trump. Google and Apple also went ahead and changed the name for U.S. users on their map apps.

But the move hasn’t been a hit with most Americans, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll which found only 14% of citizens were fans of name change. Still, the president’s official Trump Store quickly moved to serve those citizens who do like the name change by selling $55 hats with Lake America emblazoned on them.

Trump kept the jabs at Canada coming last weekend by posting a video of machine gun-wielding Canadian geese — which he dubbed “Donald Ducks” — patrolling the lake on his behalf.

He followed the geese video up a bit later with an AI clip of himself kicking over a sign reading “Lake Ontario” and planting a Lake America sign in its place; the president then broke into his trademark “YMCA” dance in the video.

And on August 30, Trump declared he wanted the USA to reject all products coming from North of the border — unless those Canadian companies are willing to relocate to the States.

“I don’t want Canadian cars, I don’t want Canadian parts, I don’t want Canadian anything,” Trump fumed.

This all followed Trump renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America early in his second term — a move which generated a similar amount of headlines and pushback from MAGA critics.

Trump’s post about New Mexico came amid a flurry of other posts which included him mocking “jerk” Robert De Niro and riding on horseback alongside George Washington.

The post Trump Hints at Renaming US State After Lake America Name Swap first appeared on Mediaite.

Screenshot via Fox Business

Fox Business’s Jackie DeAngelis has filed a lawsuit against Whole Foods, saying she was attacked by a dog while in a New York store.

The lawsuit, which was first found and reported by the New York Post’s Sonya Gugliara on Saturday, alleges that DeAngelis, the co-host of The Big Money Show, was bitten by a dog at the Whole Foods at 10 Columbus Circle.

DeAngelis, 46, has worked as a financial correspondent, anchor, and host during her tenure at Fox Business. She began at the network in 2019.

She was allegedly left with “severe and permanent personal injuries” and with limited mobility after the black pit bull bit her left hand, she alleged in the court papers filed Aug. 20 in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Police told the Post the dog and its owner allegedly involved in the Sept. 20, 2023 incident left the store before they had arrived.

Whole Foods only allows pets in their stores if they are registered service animals, but DeAngelis claimed the animal was not a service pet and that Whole Foods should have been aware of this.

“The subject dog was present within the store for a sufficient period of time and under such circumstances that defendant, in the exercise of reasonable care, should have discovered its presence prior to the attack upon plaintiff,” she claimed in the legal filing.

DeAngelis alleged Whole Foods “failed to reasonably enforce its own policies” and “failed to exercise reasonable care in controlling and regulating the presence of unauthorized animals within its premises.”

According to the suit, DeAngelis underwent surgical treatment, but has been left with “significant scarring and disfigurement.”

“Plaintiff’s injuries and resulting damages are permanent and continuing in nature,” the suit states, adding she has been “unable to perform her usual activities and duties for periods of time and may continue to suffer limitations in the future.”

DeAngelis is seeking unspecified damages for her medical expenses and emotional distress.

Fox Business did not provide comment to Mediaite, while Whole Foods did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The post Fox Business Host Files Suit Against Whole Foods Over Dog Attack first appeared on Mediaite.

Screenshot via X

Dolly Parton’s younger sister admitted it’s been difficult for the legendary singer’s family to deal with what she called “endless garbage” being posted online since the icon’s death.

Stella Parton, 77, took to Instagram to thank members of the public offering what she described as “genuine” support for the family:

As most of you who follow my accounts know, I’m an early riser, so here goes during my coffee hour.

First let me say, thank you to the ones of you who have shown “genuine” support and love during this time of our family bereavement.

We will be okay in time but each of us will grieve in our own personal way.

Every human being experiences pain and loss in life and my family is no different.

Sadly, because of the way our lives have been lived in front of the public, we have no choice but to be subjected to incredible pressure and insensitivity from strangers.

There is a tremendous amount of AI and endless garbage being posted everyday and it’s been challenging to absorb and or ignore.

As time passes, those who are in the business of exploiting the loss and tragedies of others on a daily basis will move on to the next stampede of endless misinformation.

My big sister Dolly would be surprised and delighted by the love her family and she have been shown during this time.

She loved her fans and the public in general. That is the reason she chose not to express on a lot of things like politics, religion and individuals in the public eye.

Dolly Parton died Aug. 25 at age 80 after a reported battle with cancer.

Stella Parton’s admission of frustration came a day after Variety reported the famed singer, songwriter and actress’ star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame had been replaced — after someone vandalized it following news of her death.

The star on Hollywood Boulevard had been given to Parton in 1984, and had a crack in it before someone scratched the tribute, according to reports.

Comedian Bill Maher was slammed after he tried to joke about Parton’s death during the Aug. 28 episode of Real Time with Bill Maher.

“All this was going on, and all America could really talk about this week was how sad it is we lost Dolly Parton,” Maher said.

“Everybody around the country, even around the world—London, they’re doing things, the Santa Monica ferris wheel is lit up with hearts, the Empire State Building was put up in pink. The Sphere in Las Vegas added a nipple.”

Critics shredded Maher as “lame” and a “soulless ghoul” for the joke.

The post Dolly Parton’s Sister Grateful for ‘Genuine’ Support While Trashing ‘Endless Garbage Being Posted Everyday’ first appeared on Mediaite.

President Donald Trump claimed his former fixer, Michael Cohen, has recanted his 2024 testimony in Trump’s infamous New York hush money trial.

Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social:

I am pleased to report that Michael Cohen, the Prosecution’s Star Witness and, in actuality, only Witness in the New York State Attorney General and Manhattan DA Witch Hunt Cases brought against me, has just fully RECANTED his testimony. He was “pressured” and “coerced” to say things that were not true. I would like to thank Michael for having the Wisdom and Courage to step forward and do the right thing! His Act of Bravery is a Great Credit to the Justice System in New York City and State. I am sure it was not easy for him! Now we are asking that any remnant of those Politically Weaponized Cases against me be immediately terminated and dismissed. Their Star Witness said everything they did was WRONG and UNLAWFUL! Letitia James and Alvin Bragg broke the Law in order to do this in order to prevent me from becoming the President of the United States. Such a thing can never be allowed to happen again! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP

Cohen claimed in his Substack earlier this year that he felt pressured to testify during the trial, which resulted in Trump’s conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.

It’s unclear if Cohen has officially recanted his testimony. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump and Cohen recently sat down for a wild interview, in which Trump told his former longtime employee “they forced you” to testify.

“Look, you took back, you recanted your testimony,” Trump said. “They forced you to do that. They threatened you with jail, they threatened you with everything if you didn’t go against Trump — and you took it back. I wouldn’t even be talking to you right now if you didn’t, to be honest. You did something very few people have done.”

The post Trump Claims Michael Cohen Has ‘Fully RECANTED His Testimony’ in Hush Money Trial first appeared on Mediaite.