President Trump blasts CNN’s debate ratings ahead of day two

President Donald Trump rarely misses an opportunity to weigh in on a TV program’s ratings.

The former ‘Apprentice’ star, who remained silent on Twitter during the first night of the debate, jumped in on Wednesday before the candidates even took the stage.

“Very low ratings for the Democratic Debate last night,” Trump wrote. “They’re desperate for Trump!”

The ratings for Tuesday night’s Democratic presidential debate in Detroit were a mixed bag.

Some 8.7 million viewers watched the debate live on CNN, according to the Nielsen ratings. Another 2.8 million watched on CNN’s live stream, the cable network said.

Debate viewership declined sharply – by 7 million fewer viewers, to be exact – from the candidates’ first face-off in Miami earlier this summer. The June 26 debate was broadcast by NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo and was seen by 15.3 million viewers.

But the debate – the first of two in Detroit this week – won the ratings race against The Bachelorette season finale, which aired the same time on ABC and drew 7.4 million viewers.

CNN’s ratings for this week’s debates could rebound during the second round, which takes place tonight. Former Vice President Joe Biden, the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, and nine other candidates will take the stage.

Trump names new Small Business Administration chief

59% of small businesses believe the US economy is healthy: US Chamber of Commerce EVP

U.S. Chamber of Commerce EVP Neil Bradley discusses why small businesses are optimistic about the economy despite the U.S.-China trade war.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump said on Thursday he will nominate U.S. Treasurer Jovita Carranza to lead the Small Business Administration.

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If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Carranza will replace World Wrestling Entertainment co-founder Linda McMahon, who announced last week she was stepping down as SBA administrator.

“Jovita was a great Treasurer of the United States – and I look forward to her joining my Cabinet!” Trump said in a tweet announcing her nomination.

Carranza served as SBA deputy administrator from 2006 to 2009. Prior to that she worked at United Parcel Service, rising from box handler to president of its Latin America and Caribbean operations.

Biden to Harris: ‘Go easy on me, kid,’ as Democrats kick off debate: live blog

DETROIT (MarketWatch) — Follow along with MarketWatch reporters for live updates and analysis of the second and final night of the Democratic presidential debates in Detroit, when former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris will take the stage along with eight more contenders.

Key tickers: Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -1.23%  | U.S. dollar DXY, +0.30%  | 10-year Treasury TMUBMUSD10Y, +1.81%.

‘Go easy on me, kid’: Joe Biden’s line to Kamala Harris gets reaction from her campaign

In the first Democratic presidential debate, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., sparred over federally ordered busing, grabbing headlines and prompting speculation their fight will spill over into tonight’s debate. 

Biden had previously said at a July 24 fundraiser in Detroit that he was not going to be as “polite” in the coming debate, according to the Detroit News. 

“This is the same person who asked me to come to California and nominate her in her convention,” he added. 

But if any hard feelings still lingered, it didn’t show when the two greeted each other at the beginning of the event.

“Go easy on me kid,” he said to her as they shook hands and she clasped his arm.

“How are you doing?” She said back. “Are you good?”

Biden replied, “I’m good.” 

Despite the candidates’ outwardly calm appearances, the reaction online was less positive. 

Ian Sams, Harris’ press secretary, asked on Twitter, “Kid?”

Kid? https://t.co/KDvxxIwoXz

Bloomberg reporter Jennifer Epstein noted Biden had his “Bidenisms” including “kid,” but “urging a 54-year-old U.S. senator and opponent ‘go easy on me, kid’ is not a great start for his efforts to reset with this debate.”

Christina Reynolds, the Emily’s List VP of Communications, quipped, “She’s a senator and a bad ass. Not a kid.”

She's a senator and a bad ass. Not a kid.

Contributing: Ledyard King 

Good Samaritans lift SUV, rescue pinned motorcyclist

RENO, Nev. – A group of good Samaritans on Tuesday lifted an SUV off of a motorcyclist, allowing a highway patrol trooper to pull the trapped man out from underneath the vehicle.

The accident happened at about 5:56 p.m. on Tuesday when a motorcycle carrying two people made an unsafe lane change on Interstate 80 in Sparks, according to a release from the Nevada Highway Patrol.

The motorcycle struck the back of a 2015 GMC pickup, and both the driver and the passenger were thrown from the bike. The driver slid underneath a 2001 Ford Escape passing in an adjacent lane and was pinned underneath.

Good Samaritan: Man saves woman from alleged sexual assault on the side of a New Jersey highway

A group of people stopped and raised the SUV enough that an NHP trooper, who witnessed the crash, was able to pull the motorcyclist out from underneath.

Both the driver and passenger of the motorcycle were transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

NHP called the good Samaritans’ actions “instrumental in preventing further injury to the trapped motorcycle driver,” in the statement.