The Patriot Post® · Monday: Below the Fold

Cross-Examination

• Biden’s UAW strike: In a bid to beat Donald Trump to the punch, Joe Biden will meet with picketing members of the United Auto Workers to show “solidarity” with their cause. On Friday, Biden announced his plan to go to Michigan and stand with the strikers, contending, “It’s time for a win-win agreement that keeps American auto manufacturing thriving with well-paid UAW jobs.” UAW President Shawn Fain invited Biden to visit the striking workers, seemingly to counter Trump’s announcement last Wednesday of his plan to meet with the workers. With Biden sinking in the polls, Democrats were worried that Biden failing to show would make for bad PR. Following Biden’s announcement, Trump responded on Truth Social, “Crooked Joe Biden had no intention of going to visit the United Autoworkers [sic], until I announced that I would be heading to Michigan to be with them.”

• Hollywood is saved? Speaking of striking workers, the Writers Guild of America has reached a “tentative agreement” regarding a new contract with Hollywood studios. Announcing the presumptive deal, the WGA stated, “This deal is exceptional — with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership.” The actors who joined the WGA strikers last month have yet to come to a deal. The WGA told its members not to end their strike, which has been going since May 2, “until specifically authorized to by the Guild.” The demands from the WGA included increased royalty payments for streaming content and assurances that AI would not be used to encroach on the writers’ work and compensation.

• DeSantis fights CCP: Four schools have been suspended from Florida’s school choice scholarship program over their alleged “direct ties to the Chinese Communist Party.” The Sunshine State’s school choice program spearheaded by Governor Ron DeSantis aims to provide a voucher system for students to go to schools that meet the state’s program requirements. In May, DeSantis signed a bill that prohibits any schools affiliated with a “foreign country of concern” from being included in the voucher program. DeSantis has been a staunch opponent of Marxist ideology and made his position clear: “The Chinese Communist Party is not welcome in the state of Florida. We will not put up with any attempt to influence students with a communist ideology or allow Floridians’ tax dollars to go to schools that are connected to our foreign adversaries.”

• Newsom vetoes AB 957: California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom did the right thing, even if it was for the wrong reasons. Late Friday evening, Newsom vetoed AB 957, a bill that would have required a court to consider parents’ refusal to affirm their child’s “transgender” identity as a detriment to “the health, safety, and welfare of the child,” and therefore give the state the authority to separate the child from his or her parents over the issue of “transgender” identity. In vetoing the legislation, Newsom said that though he appreciates the “deep commitment to advancing the rights of transgender Californians,” the bill undermined the judicial branch, and “other-minded elected officials, in California and other states, could very well use this strategy to diminish the civil rights of vulnerable communities.” What this does reveal is that Newsom clearly has his eye on a run for the White House, likely sooner than later.

• Fatter Americans: Ten years ago, not a single state in the U.S. had an adult population obesity rate over 35%. Today, 22 states do. Demonstrating just how fast the problem of obesity is increasing nationally, just last year there were 19 states with a 35% adult obesity rate. The majority of the 22 states with a 35% or higher adult obesity rate are in the South and Midwest. Three states with the highest obesity rate, topping 40%, are Louisiana, Oklahoma, and West Virginia. Health problems directly associated with obesity include diabetes, heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, and diminished mental health. The solution to this growing problem is simple — more exercise and a better diet. But of course those are decisions individuals need to make. The trouble is, thanks to ObamaCare, everyone is now paying more for poor health choices.

Headlines

• Trump runs away with double-digit lead over Biden, new general election poll finds (Fox News)

• Hillary Clinton predicts Putin will intervene in U.S. elections “again” (Washington Examiner)

• Bob Menendez to announce reelection bid in New Jersey during first public appearance post-indictment (Fox News)

• Dallas mayor announces he’s becoming Republican because “Democratic policies have exacerbated crime and homelessness” (Not the Bee)

• Biden administration knew border surge was coming, internal documents show — and did nothing (Free Beacon)

• The Post tried eating at NYC’s finest restaurants dressed like Senator John Fetterman — see how it went (NY Post)

• X adds brutal “context” update to WaPo “hit piece” after Dave Portnoy tapes call with reporter (Daily Wire)

• More than one-third of Democrats think Americans have too much freedom (Not the Bee)

• Thanks, Biden: More than 60% of young people have moved back in with parents (Free Beacon)

• Canada House speaker apologizes for recognition of veteran who fought for Nazis (Reuters)

• Policy: Study: The benefits of two-parent households break liberal social “narratives” (Washington Examiner)

• Humor: Senate relaxes rules to allow Fetterman to take baths in reflecting pool (Babylon Bee)

For more editors’ choice headlines, click here.