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Neither Governor Newsom nor First Lady Michelle Obama will become the Democrats 2024 presidential candidate. No amount of President Bidens mental decline, forgetfulness, mumbling, or stumbling can change that. If Mr. Biden can fog up a mirror come Election Day, he will be the nominee. If he cannot, Vice President Harris awaits, on deck, bat in hand.

As for both Mr. Newsom and Mrs. Obama, they would first have to push Ms. Harris aside. For her part, she recently said, I am ready to serve. Theres no question about that. That does not sound like someone about to walk the plank. She wants to be president, ran for the job in 2020, and probably expected Mr. Biden, at some point after defeating President Trump, to hand her the baton before November 2024.

With her name on the ballot, Ms. Harris has never lost an election, winning her races for San Francisco district attorney, California attorney general, United States Senate, and vice president. She does not believe shes disqualified because of her so-called cackle. Nor does she consider herself having failed to determine the root cause of the three-year massive influx of illegal immigration when all but the hosts on MSNBC know the root cause is Mr. Bidens reversal of Mr. Trumps border policies.

In her identity party, she checks two boxes as a female who identifies as Black. Blacks are the most loyal part of the Democratic base, with Black women more loyal than the men. In a September 2023 article about its CBS News/YouGov poll, CBS News wrote, Black Democrats are the most enthusiastic about Harris today, as they were three years ago.

In 2020, Democrats panicked the after the unelectable, self-described Democrat socialist Senator Sanders won the Nevada caucuses, briefly becoming the partys frontrunner. So, Representative James Clyburn, right before the primary in his state, endorsed Mr. Biden and salvaged his meandering campaign. In exchange for Mr. Clyburns endorsement, Mr. Biden agreed, if elected, to make his first Supreme Court nominee a Black female.

When it seemed likely that Senator Feinstein would not complete her term, Mr. Newsom announced her replacement would be a Black female. When Feinstein died, Mr. Newsom delivered. Democrats, as a reward for Black loyalty, agreed to move the first 2024 primary to South Carolina, where nearly 30 percent of the voters are Black, giving this voting bloc a greater say in the nomination process.

Mr. Newsom has another problem. Most Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, citing the economy, inflation, gas prices, crime, and illegal immigration. What has Mr. Newsom said or done that would make any of this better?

As I explain in my latest book, As Goes California: My Mission to Rescue the Golden State, Mr. Newsom unabashedly resides on the fringe Left of his party. He supported the soft-on-crime district attorneys at San Francisco and Los Angeles. He supports cashless bail. He endorsed Proposition 47, which not only converted theft of nearly $1,000 into a misdemeanor but also took away the ability of cops to force addicts using drugs on the street to either go to rehab or go to jail.

As to Mr. Bidens ill-advised inflation-inducing spending, Mr. Newsom wants to spend more. As to the Biden war on oil and gas and his anti-drilling policies, Mr. Newsom is an even more ferocious climate change warrior, having decreed an end to the sale of new gas-powered vehicles in California by 2035. Even Mr. Biden, who calls climate change an existential threat, has not gone that far.

Mr. Newsom expanded the number of illegal aliens in California eligible for taxpayer-provided health care and brags about Californias status as a sanctuary state. Shortly after Mr. Bidens broadly condemned abrupt pullout from Afghanistan, Mr. Newsom said, Im incredibly proud of President Biden.

This brings us to Mrs. Obama. For the reasons outlined above, Black voters particularly Black female voters would resent a ploy to cast Ms. Harris aside, but there is one caveat: The substitute would have to be a popular Black female. Only two fit the bill: Oprah Winfrey and Mrs. Obama. Ms. Winfrey does not want the gig and, despite the hopeful speculation, neither does Mrs. Obama. She hates politics.

So, Ms. Harris it is.

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Democrats Delude Themselves With Visions of Presidential Bids by Gavin Newsom or Michelle Obama - The New York Sun

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Nicole Sweet/BAL/Contributor via Getty Images, Arturo Holmes/Contributor via Getty Images, and Patrick Smith/Contributor via Getty Images

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J. Cole, Barack Obama, and Steph Curry

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On Wednesday (Feb. 28), Deadline reported about a documentary that is set to feature prominent figures such as Barack Obama, Steph Curry, and J. Cole. Origin: The Story of the Basketball Africa League, announced almost three years ago, boasts Fisher Stevens as one of its executive producers, alongside Richard Brown, who serves as executive producer, writer, and co-director.

Obama, Curry, and J. Cole will play significant roles in the Fremantle-produced documentary alongside former NBA player Joakim Noah, Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri, Cameroonian NBA talent Pascal Siakam, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Obama, a strategic partner of NBA Africa, will discuss the importance of sports to Africa's future and his involvement in the continent's development post-presidency. J. Cole will share his transformative experience playing in the first BAL tournament, while Commissioner Silver will delve into the league's vision.

From the beginning it was clear that the launch of a Pan African Sports League consisting of 12 teams from 12 countries across the most diverse continent in the world presented an exciting opportunity for a thrilling documentary series, Brown stated. "Then the reality superseded all expectations as we were able to dive deeply into the stories of some fascinating and extraordinary characters; from players and coaches to the visionaries behind the project.

The series will delve into the intricate relationship between America and Africa, portraying the BAL as a cultural bridge. According to Brown and co-director Tebogo Malope, the documentary explores the stories of remarkable individuals involved in the league's inception, from players and coaches to visionary leaders.

The documentary, overseen by Oscar winner Fisher Stevens, Ujiri, and Nigerian filmmaker Akin Omotoso, looks to captivate audiences with its portrayal of the BAL's journey. Fremantle is set to handle international distribution and will showcase the project at the London TV Screenings. No official release date for the film was confirmed.

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Upcoming African basketball documentary to feature J. Cole, Barack Obama, and Steph Curry - REVOLT

Iris Apfel, a fashion icon whose eclectic wardrobe was featured in an exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, reportedly passed away on Friday, March 1, 2024, at her home in Palm Beach, Florida, Variety reported. She was 102 years old.

Her death was confirmed by her agent, Lori Sale, in a statement to Variety, where she described Iris Apfel as a visionary in every sense of the word, who saw the world through a unique lens.

As news of her tragic passing spread across the internet, fans posted tributes honoring her colorful life, which revolved around her unique sense of style. However, in the wake of her death, her polarizing political views were also dredged up by some of her critics.

In an interview with Elle in 2017, Iris Apfel said she was fed up with the media's "really awful" treatment of Donald Trump. Apfel, who then stated she doesn't like to discuss politics or faith, called President Barack Obama one of the worst presidents, adding, "The last eight years have been a total disaster."

Iris Apfel then sympathized with the current president at the time, Donald Trump, "for what he has to work with and all the disgusting press they throw at him," adding the reporting was all lies, and the press treatment of Trump has really been awful.

In a statement to Variety on Friday, March 1, the agent of Iris Apfel confirmed her client passed away at her home in Florida. Lori Sale, who described working alongside the fashion icon as the honor of a lifetime, added:

In the wake of her passing, fans of the late fashion icon Icon took to X and posted tributes honoring her legacy.

According to NPR, Apfel, who was born in Queens, New York, in 1921, worked as a copywriter for "Women's Wear Daily" before starting a textile and fabric reproduction business in 1950 alongside her husband Carl, who died in 2015. Her company reportedly managed White House restoration projects for nine presidents, from Harry Truman to Bill Clinton.

She was catapulted to mainstream fame in 2005 after the Metropolitan Museum of Art featured an exhibition of her eclectic and colorful wardrobe called Rara Avis: Selections From the Iris Apfel Collection.

Her singular sense of style was admired by many, including fashion powerhouses that featured her in many of their ad campaigns. Her fame also led to her becoming the subject of a well-reviewed documentary by Albert Maysles (Iris) in 2014.

According to NPR, at age 97, she became a professional fashion model and modeled for Vogue Italia, Kate Spade, and M.A.C.

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What did Iris Apfel say about Trump and Obama? 2017 interview revisited in wake of designer's death at 102 - Sportskeeda

It goes without saying that growing up in the First Family means living under a microscope. You know this if you even occasionally read the newspaper (or have seen the sleeper hit movie, My Date with the Presidents Daughter). But few people on earth can speak to that experience better than former First Daughter Malia Obama.

Under the gaze of the public eye for more than half of her life, the eldest Obama daughter is forging a path of her own outside of D.C., having traded our nations capitol for L.A. The 25-year-old Harvard grads writing career is blossomingthanks in part to Donald Glover, who welcomed her into the Swarm writers roomand she debuted her first short film, The Heart, at Sundance.(Obama also directed the project).

Obamas writing and filmmaking, however, isnt the only thing weve taken note of over at Vogue: Shes also becoming something of a fashion star. Eschewing the idea that children of powerful figures are just mini politicians themselves, shes leaned into a slouchy, bohemian sensibilitya far cry from the pantsuits of Capitol Hill.

The first Gen Z-er to occupy the White House, Obama is adopting the new generations sartorial tendencies, showing off a penchant for baggy separates, cropped shirts, funky pattern mixing, and lug-sole stompers. (Plus, an adorable recurring feature: her Eeyore keychain!).

Recently, on a warm winter day in L.A., she paired an oversized button-up with denim cutoffs, calf-high boots, a brown suede bag, and rectangular sunnies. On another occasion, she juxtaposed a sweet floral midi skirt with a leather biker jacket. Shes also tried her hand at subverting traditional menswear, wearing a pair of brown trousers with a blue graphic cardigan. And while she may live in California these days, Obama hasnt forgotten how to dress for a colder climate. Last winter, she battled dreary winter dressing with a colorful look: blue zebra-printed pants, which she contrasted with a multicolored plaid scarf.

While we cant wait to see whats next for Malia Obamas film career, were keeping an equally watchful eye on her personal style, as well. Below, take a look back at some of our favorite fits from the former FDOTUS.

GOME

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Malia Obama Is the Reigning Queen of Gen Z Style - Vogue

President Joe Biden is reaching into the past to shore up support for his reelection bid.

The Biden campaign is planning a fundraiser with former President Barack Obama, who served as commander in chief from 2009 through early 2017, and former President Bill Clinton, who was first elected to office more than 30 years ago.

Yet Biden, 81, ran four years ago on a promise to be a bridge to the next generation of Democratic leaders, a transition that has yet to take place. His continued presence in the spotlight has invited questions as to the fitness of the partys younger generation.

While both Clinton, 77, and Obama, 62, remain beloved figures within the party, some question whether Democrats would do well to look forward rather than back. Biden struggles to connect with younger voters, who may be unimpressed with figures from previous decades, and minority voters who have been trending toward the GOP in recent election cycles.

Clinton and Obamas influence still circulates in the form of whispers and even polls about former first lady Michelle Obama running for the White House. A January poll of Democratic voters from the Center Square had Michelle Obama winning a plurality of respondents. Biden came in second.

Michelle Obama has said repeatedly she isnt interested in the job.

Another poll, from Harvard/Harris, revealed a scattershot of preferences if Biden were off the ballot, with 27% of respondents selecting unsure, Vice President Kamala Harris in second at 15%, someone else at 13%, 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton drawing 8% support, and everyone else at 7% or below.

Harris has faced her own questions about electability and whether she can connect with voters. Her approval rating sits at 35.5%, per the RealClearPolitics average, a historically low figure that is four points below that of her boss. She is also tasked with reaching a wide swath of voters and could use help from state-level Democratic surrogates.

Other figures have drawn at least some buzz about a future presidential campaign, mostly notably Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA). But Newsom has built so much of a national profile that he often draws questions about when his own presidential campaign will start, which could undermine the Biden campaign rather than boost it.

Beyond Harris and Newsom are a slew of governors who show promise but have not yet broken out on the national stage, such as Govs. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), Andy Beshear (D-KY), and Wes Moore (D-MD).

At the other end of the spectrum are Democratic superstars of decades gone, such as Clinton and Obama, who can still electrify a crowd but who represent the past rather than the future.

Biden is trailing his likely GOP rival, former President Donald Trump, 46.6% to 44.8%, per the RealClearPolitics polling average, and his party is working to overcome an enthusiasm gap among base voters between the two.

The Biden campaign insists its doing just as well or even better than Clinton in 1996 or Obama in 2012. For example, it boasted in January of raising over $97 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, with $117 million in cash on hand, more than Obama raised at the end of 2011.

I remember when [Obama campaign manager Jim Messina] told me to shoot for $100 million in Q4 of 2011, Biden finance chairman Rufus Gifford posted on X. Even the much-praised Obama fundraising machine couldnt get even close and we scratched and clawed our way to $68 million as I was refreshing our totals on New Years Eve.

Yet the problematic polling and questions about Bidens age as he seeks to remain in office until age 86 have critics calling the three-president fundraiser a risky move.

We know what theyre dealing with here, which is a serious enthusiasm gap, GOP strategist Jim Merrill said in a Fox News interview. This is a calculated risk putting Joe Biden, who, anytime hes on stage is a potential liability for his own reelection, up with two of the most influential spokespeople for the Democratic Party over the last 25 years. So it certainly could blow up in their face.

The fundraiser also folds into questions about the depth of the Democratic bench beyond Biden, his presidential predecessors, and strong campaign surrogate Harris.

The Biden/Obama/Clinton fundraiser hasnt been formally announced but is likely to take place in March or April. Organizers hope it will generate both cash and headlines, with older voters excited to see the three men in the same room.

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Party leaders insist that each will help out in their own way as Biden makes the last run of his 50-year political career.

The Obamas drum up incredible excitement still, but the surrogate tapped really depends on the audience theyre speaking to, Tom Cochran, a Democratic strategist and a partner at 720 Strategies, previously told the Washington Examiner. Whitmer, Moore, Beshear, Newsom are all excellent in the right setting. Most important is stressing that this is a team effort to keep the White House for the Democrats.

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Democrats turn to the past to gin up support for 81-year-old Biden - Washington Examiner