Jill Biden, the former first lady, expressed her skepticism on Wednesday about witnessing a female president during her lifetime, mentioning her strong belief that Kamala Harris, the former Vice President, was destined for the role.

In a discussion on Kelly Ripa’s podcast, “Let’s Talk Off Camera,” Ripa queried Jill Biden on whether she imagined a female president emerging in their lifetimes.

“Considering my age, being 75, I doubt it would happen while I’m still around, Kelly. However, it might be possible in your lifetime,” she answered.

Biden conveyed her trust in Harris’s potential to become the first woman president.

“Back then, I truly believed Kamala would secure the presidency. Campaigning alongside her, I witnessed the fervor and enthusiasm,” Biden remarked. “The crowds were there, the energy was palpable at the convention, and I thought, ‘At last, we’re on the brink of having a woman president.’”

Patrice Onwuka, the vice president of economic policy at Independent Women, told Fox News Digital in a statement that the ex-first lady’s comments were a slap in the face.

“Jill Biden’s comments about never expecting to see a female president is a slap to the bench of female Democrats that have 2028 aspirations, like AOC and Gretchen Whitmer. The supposed party of women can’t even convince the former first lady of its prospects to elect a woman at the top of the ticket,” Onwuka said.

Onwuka told Fox News Digital Harris’ loss was about her being a status quo candidate.

“Kamala Harris blew a billion-dollar campaign chest and a coronation on the top of the presidential ticket to only lose. Perhaps it’s time to stop fixating on gender and take policy seriously. Democrats failed to make Americans’ lives better in 2024. They didn’t care about a first female president if she was just going to continue the status quo. This fate lays wait for any female candidate who cannot deliver economic mobility for regular Americans,” she added.

Ripa said during the conversation she was “less hopeful” than the former first lady.

“I’m hoping that at a certain point, that that turns around. I don’t know what it’s going to take. I don’t think social media helps,” Ripa added. “I will always keep moving forward. I just, you know, I just feel like there has to be something internally. There’s got to be a messenger eventually that breaks through (to) the people.”

Former first lady Michelle Obama has also said she didn’t believe the US was ready for a female president.

In November, Obama told a crowd America “ain’t ready” to elect a woman, pointing to Harris’ loss to President Donald Trump in 2024.

Harris pushed back on the notion in December 2025.

“I do believe the country is ready,” Harris told The New York Times at the time.

“Thousands of people are coming to hear my voice. Thousands and thousands,” Harris said in the interview, referring to her book tour. “Every place we’ve gone has been sold out.”

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also pushed back on Obama’s remarks but said the US still needed to change.

When asked by CNN’s Anderson Cooper whether she agreed with the former first lady’s comments, Pelosi asked why a woman commander-in-chief would be out of the question.

“Well, I hope — I mean, I respect her and I know that view is one that we all are saddened by, but we — I think we have to change. The fact is that I‘ve heard every excuse in the book, you know, like, ‘I‘m not sure a woman could be commander-in-chief.’ Well, why not?” she asked. 

“‘Well, I served in the military.’ Well, OK. And so? So do women serve in the military.”

Miss North Carolina has vocally criticized the pageant officials for revoking her title following allegations of sharing racially insensitive posts online.

Brittany Boltinhouse, 27, recently celebrated her win last month and was preparing to represent her state at the national pageant on August 27. However, attention quickly turned to controversy when a social media account, thought to belong to her, shared posts that included racial slurs.

A Blaize Productions, responsible for the Miss USA pageants’ management in North Carolina, promptly rescinded her title, granting the crown to first runner-up Myla Hadley, citing ‘newly emerged details’ as their reasoning.

Boltinhouse, however, disputes this reasoning, insisting the decision was less about the alleged social media activity and more about her political ideology.

Speaking with Carolina Journal in a conversation with editor-in-chief Donna King, she expressed her belief that her removal stemmed from her ‘belief system as a conservative Christian woman.’

Boltinhouse explained that she was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as the Mormon religion. 

She touted herself as a ‘proud conservative’ and ‘God-fearing’ woman, adding, ‘I also love this country. That’s something I want to make clear.’ Boltinhouse continued that she believed in ‘A nation under God.’

When asked about the alleged racist posts, Boltinhouse did not confirm whether they were from her, but said that ‘every teenager has made a mistake.’ 

‘Every person has made a mistake. But I’m not really here to talk about that. I’m here to talk about the woman I am today.’ 

She continued that despite what happened ‘decades ago,’ Boltinhouse believes she is a ‘hardworking woman’ who won her titles fair and square. 

The pageant queen cited her Miss Congeniality award, which is given to a contestant based on their character. 

‘I’m also the first married woman who had that title, and that’s something that I’m proud of,’ she continued. 

‘I won’t be judged for my past and I won’t be judged at all because I am the woman I am today.’ 

Boltinhouse reflected on her short-lived pageant career, having just started competing last year. 

She explained that her experience with Miss USA went from a ‘dream to a nightmare’ after the allegations surfaced. 

Despite the media firestorm, Boltinhouse said she was glad the controversy happened to her, boasting that she could handle the scrutiny and had made peace with her unwanted departure from pageantry. 

When discussing the pageant executives who stripped her of her title, Boltinhouse said, ‘I show a lot of grace and a lot of love to those people because I know they make mistakes too. 

‘I understand that they might not have the wisdom and knowledge that I do, but I forgive them,’ she boasted. 

Boltinhouse refused to elaborate on the events that transpired before her title was stripped, citing a confidentiality clause, but said that the narrative against her was untrue. 

Thom Brodeur, the chairman of Miss USA, addressed the matter in a lengthy Instagram message, explaining that the organization ‘does not tolerate racism, homophobia, transphobia nor language that strips any person of their dignity.’

‘A title here isn’t a trinket. It is a position of trust, extended by an organization and accepted by a woman who agrees to carry a standard in public,’ he added.

‘When that standard is broken, the title cannot continue as though nothing happened.’

He said that the decision didn’t come down to a ‘single moment,’ but rather ‘conduct over an extended period of time.’

‘State titleholders are recruited, vetted and approved for competition at the state level. We acted as soon as this reached us.’

A family member of Boltinhouse’s previously told the Daily Mail that ‘it’s important to put her truth out and have the proper narrative out versus a narrative that is saving the face [of] an organization.’

‘As you can imagine, there’s a lot we would like to say but we are taking the time to be in prayer and unity and [will] respond in a manner [that] God calls us to.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to A Blaize Productions for comment on Boltinhouse’s interview.  

A tragic incident unfolded in Thailand on Friday when a student unleashed gunfire at a high school, leaving six people dead and several others wounded, according to police reports.

The assault occurred at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, located in Nonthaburi province, which is situated to the northwest of Bangkok. Royal Thai Police spokesperson Trairong Piwpan confirmed the event in a statement to The Associated Press.

Eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing moments as students sought refuge inside a classroom. They described hearing the chaotic sounds of gunfire coming from an adjacent building. The tension eased as police officers arrived, facilitating a safe evacuation from the premises.

Amidst the chaos, conflicting reports emerged regarding the exact number of casualties, adding to the atmosphere of confusion surrounding the attack.

Trairong told news broadcaster Channel 3 that the attacker was being hospitalized in serious condition, while 15 other individuals had been hurt, including two in critical condition — he reported that three teachers and three students had been killed.

Thailand Health Minister Pattana Promphat indicated that 22 individuals were hurt with nine in critical condition. Some were hurt due to causes like falls, and it was unclear how many were gunshot victims.

Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee indicated to reporters that five teachers passed away and that the perpetrator took the lives of his two grandparents at home prior to heading to the school. He reported that the attacker died at a hospital.

Trairong reported that the weapon was thought to have been taken from a member of the shooter’s family.

A former reality television contestant finds himself behind bars after an altercation with his elderly landlord. This clash over unpaid rent in Oklahoma tragically resulted in the landlord suffering from “severe, debilitating, and permanent” injuries.

Ethan Treadwell, known for his stint on “Ultimate Cowboy Showdown,” was sentenced on Wednesday to serve 25 years—though 15 of those years are suspended. This penalty comes as a consequence of his January 2024 assault on 74-year-old William “Junior” Hicks, as reported by People.

The root of their confrontation was an eviction notice issued by Hicks in December 2023. Having leased land in Kiowa County, Oklahoma to Treadwell for seven years, Hicks sought legal recourse after Treadwell fell behind on rent payments.

According to Hicks, Treadwell had agreed to vacate the property and ceased paying rent, yet continued to graze his cattle on the land in southwest Oklahoma.

On January 30, 2024, Hicks recounted that while driving home, he noticed Treadwell moving livestock off the land. Hoping to resolve the issue, Hicks confronted Treadwell, insisting he halt the relocation until the overdue rent was settled.

But Hicks said Treadwell, “without provocation,” attacked him and beat him into an “unconscious state.”

Treadwell’s ex-wife, who was at the scene, told authorities that Treadwell knocked Hicks to the ground and repeatedly kicked him, according to KBTX.

Hicks suffered traumatic brain injuries and a broken nose and was placed on a ventilator for a period of time.

In his lawsuit, he described his injuries as “severe, debilitating and permanent,” People reported.

Treadwell originally faced aggravated assault and battery charges but entered a blind guilty plea to a reduced maiming charge.

The civil case was dismissed in 2025 while the criminal proceedings against Treadwell were pending, court records show.

Treadwell apologized to Hicks in court Tuesday, saying he wished the events had never happened, according to KBTX.

Hicks’ daughter told the court about her father’s injuries and recovery, while former Tillman County Undersheriff Gary Sanders spoke on Treadwell’s behalf and the judge received several character statements supporting him.

Treadwell appeared on the first season of “Ultimate Cowboy Showdown,” the reality competition hosted by country star Trace Adkins.

Contestants competed in cowboy skills, including cattle herding, lassoing and horsemanship for a chance to win a herd of cattle worth $50,000.

Treadwell made it to the final three in the first season before being eliminated after a “grueling” three-mile herding challenge.

He later returned for the show’s fourth season as an all-star.

One judge described Treadwell as “a little abrasive at times.”

Treadwell has a restitution hearing scheduled for October and has 10 days to appeal his sentence.

In his continuous effort to champion the cause of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Donald Trump remains adamant that it fell victim to vandalism. This stance persists despite conclusions from the US Attorney’s Office indicating that the supposed damage was actually the result of a renovation mishap.

Trump initially celebrated the ambitious $16 million endeavor aimed at revitalizing the algae-laden Reflecting Pool. However, his triumph was short-lived as the site started deteriorating, a decline he attributed to acts of vandalism.

David Hearn, a former Olympic athlete, faced arrest in June under allegations of defacing the pool. Yet, in a twist, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro recently dropped the charges, citing a federal investigation’s findings that the deterioration was more likely linked to the renovation.

Despite this, Trump continues to assert vandalism as the root cause. He shared images on Truth Social, taken by photographer Andrew Leyden, which purportedly depict graffiti and scarring along the pool’s side.

Trump emphatically stated, ‘The material was cut precisely where the video evidence showed—a stretch extending 300 feet or more. Observers were seen kneeling with their hands in the water exactly at the site where the “slashes” appeared,’ reflecting his unwavering stance.

‘Additionally, there were witnesses to the VANDALISM, and the flexible areas of the material were cut with a knife. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro should re-visit her hastily made decision.’

Pirro has been a longtime ally of Trump’s and has been in lockstep with the president since he appointed her as the US Attorney for the District of Columbia. 

However, the Reflecting Pool case has divided the two, and Trump has publicly said he believes Pirro ‘choked’ and ‘folded like an umbrella’ by dismissing the charges against Hearn. 

When asked by reporters on Tuesday night if Pirro’s job was safe, he replied: ‘I haven’t made a determination. I told her I was not happy.’

‘I just think she was totally wrong. They did a beautiful job, there were a couple of little things but that was not a big deal and everybody saw the vandalism, all you have to do is look at the tape,’ he said.

‘Plus, we have a witness or two witnesses that saw the vandalism, so certainly there was vandalism. In my opinion, it was major vandalism.’

A day earlier, Trump echoed a similar sentiment, telling reporters in the Oval Office, ‘I was disappointed with Jeanine Pirro, really disappointed with Jeanine Pirro.’ 

‘Frankly, I think she choked,’ Trump said, adding: ‘I don’t know what the hell happened.’

Trump also slammed Hearn and his attorney, Norm Eisen, in his recent Truth Social post, saying that the two have liberal affiliations and a political vendetta against him. 

The president claimed that Eisen was a ‘Trump deranged sleazebag’ and a ‘political hack lawyer,’ adding that he believed the attorney used charity for partisan goals. 

‘I have been beating Eisen, a complete LUNATIC, in Court for 10 years, or more. He just keeps coming, but I always WIN!’ Trump concluded.

Eisen previously served in former President Barack Obama’s administration and was an ambassador to the Czech Republic. He has been critical of Trump and is a cofounder of Democracy Defenders Action.

Eisen and Hearn have maintained that the charges against the former Olympian were politically motivated by the Trump administration.

‘A case gets brought because someone powerful wanted it brought, & it falls apart the moment a court looks at it. Davey Hearn walked away, but the machinery that came for him is still running,’ Eisen wrote on X. 

Hearn told CNN that the case against him was ‘surreal and absurd,’ warning others that he believes anyone can be targeted by the federal government. 

The former Olympian pleaded not guilty last month to one felony count of property destruction and had a trial scheduled to start September 28  before the case was dismissed. He was facing a maximum prison sentence of 10 years if convicted. 

A federal investigation later revealed that evidence uncovered ‘undermines the evidentiary basis for the indictment,’ the dismissal of Hearn’s indictment read. 

The filing revealed that new documents indicated that the damage to the pool ‘was the result of a botched installation and not vandalism as initially represented’ by the Interior Department.

‘Given all of this newly discovered information, it is difficult to attribute the widespread damage to the Reflecting Pool to vandalism, let alone to establish that fact beyond a reasonable doubt,’ the filing stated.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Eisen and Pirro’s office for comment. 

Two men have been taken into custody after allegedly duping an 85-year-old man from Washington, D.C., into surrendering over $200,000 in gold bars. Authorities revealed this during a Friday announcement.

Identified as Chu Lin, 50, from Fresh Meadows, New York, and Xiean Cheng, 42, from Cornelius, North Carolina, the suspects were apprehended when they reportedly arrived at the elderly man’s residence to retrieve the gold, said the Metropolitan Police Department.

The pair are facing charges of second-degree financial fraud.

The fraudulent activity commenced on July 8 when the scammers first reached out to the victim through email, followed by phone calls, all while masquerading as officials from a federal agency, the police detailed.

The scammers allegedly told the victim that funds in his bank account were “in jeopardy of being lost” unless he secured the money by purchasing gold bars and turning them over.

Believing the scheme was legitimate, the victim attempted to purchase more than $200,000 worth of gold bars before the gold dealer recognized the apparent scam and alerted him, police said.

EXCLUSIVE: FBI ADDS ALLEGED COVID FRAUDSTER ACCUSED OF TAKING $5M FROM KIDS’ MEAL PROGRAM TO MOST WANTED LIST

“Thinking that the scam was legitimate, the victim attempted to purchase over $200,000 worth of gold bars and was alerted by the gold dealer that he was being scammed,” police said.

The gold dealer then alerted MPD’s Financial and Cyber Crimes Unit and the FBI, according to authorities.

When the alleged scammers later arrived at the victim’s home to retrieve the gold bars, officers with MPD’s Violent Crime Suppression Division arrested Lin and Cheng, police said.

In a candid revelation, a food critic from Tennessee disclosed that she recently endured a grueling battle with cyclosporiasis. This intestinal illness plagued her for nearly a month, tying her to the bathroom out of sheer necessity.

Christina Hart, 29, well-known as the host of “The Locally Owned Series” on TikTok, shared her troubling experience with her sizable audience of almost 160,000. Initially, Hart thought she was dealing with a typical case of food poisoning or perhaps a stomach virus, only to discover that she was indeed infected by the parasite notorious for causing “explosive diarrhea.”

“If I had to describe the experience in one word, it would be ‘miserable’,” Hart confessed in an interview with USA Today.

Enduring a week filled with unsettling stomach issues, Hart finally sought medical attention to identify the root cause.

“I went for tests,” she explained. “I had seen reports about cyclosporiasis, and recognized my symptoms. It made me insist on being tested for it. Sure enough, the results came back positive,” she recounted.

“I was sick for three weeks with it. And then around the three-and-a-half-week mark, I started feeling better.”

Despite seeing the headlines about the “diarrhea parasite” exploding across the US, sickening over 22,000 people, Hart was unaware of how severe the illness could be.

“The timestamps in between having to go (to the bathroom) was just a little extreme for me,” she said.

“That kind of stopped me from just living my everyday life because I was scared to go out in public.”

Hart explained that during her bout of the parasitic illness, she was “scared to go out in public,” because “you lose complete control” over your bodily functions.

“It’s not a fun experience…you will need to be near a restroom if you have it,” she quipped.

After battling with cyclosporiasis for almost a month, Hart now feels “fantastic” and “completely normal,” but stressed that the food-borne illness that is believed to have stemmed from tainted iceberg lettuce is “very uncomfortable.”

She explained that despite not eating much throughout the ordeal, she dealt with severe bloating and lost 17 pounds.

The TikTok food critic initially thought her “explosive diarrhea” diagnosis would impact her social-media career as she had to put her social media show on pause, which was “kind of depressing.”

However, the cyclosporiasis battle ended up launching her toward more “success,” she said.

The “whole parasite thing flipped everything upside down and then launched it into even more success,” the influencer said, adding that a lot of her viewers initially reached out wondering where she went when she stopped posting.

“It’s not the most pleasant thing to be like, ‘Well, I’m stuck in the bathroom,” she told the outlet.

But “a lot of doors kind of opened unexpectedly through this miserable experience, so I’m grateful for it,” Hart added.

“I hated the whole experience, but now I’m finding the blessing in (it).”

The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed more than 10,000 lab-tested cases of cyclosporiasis across the US, which has claimed the lives of two Michigan residents.

The total number of cases throughout the US, however, is much higher — with many states, including the hardest-hit Wolverine State, using different testing protocols that have indicated much higher figures of the foodborne illness.