‘Who here is on stage making promises to get elected?’ Democratic candidates take tough questions

WASHINGTON – Moderator Jake Tapper posed a question about promises to Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., during the second Democratic debate in Detroit.

“Who here is on stage making promises to get elected?” Tapper asked. Klobuchar has framed her candidacy as a pragmatic approach to governing given her experience in the Senate. 

“Everyone wants to get elected,” Klobuchar replied, refusing to speak negatively of her fellow Democrats. 

Speaking on “Meet the Press” earlier in July, Klobuchar had told host Chuck Todd “There are a lot of people making promises, and I’m not going to make promises just to get elected.”

“Some of my colleagues, yes, they have, I guess you can call them, bigger and bigger promises. But I think what’s most important to the people of America is that we actually get those things done,” she had said at the time. 

Marianne Williamson cites the ‘dark psychic force’ of ‘collectivized hatred’ in America

WASHINGTON – Candidates at the second Democratic debate in Detroit were asked about the water crisis in Flint, Mich. and what they would do to solve it. Author and activist Marianne Williamson, who has made racial reconciliation a cornerstone of her campaign, said the problem was “deeper than Flint.” 

Flint’s water crisis began in 2014 after a change in water supply and treatment resulted in the lead contamination of the city’s water. Flint is a majority African-American city. 

“Flint is just the tip of the iceberg,” Williamson said, turning to the broader issue of racial inequalities in American society. She said the problem in Flint would not have happened in Grosse Pointe, an affluent, majority-white suburb of Detroit where Williamson raised her daughter. 

“If you think any of this wonkiness is going to deal with this dark psychic force of the collectivized hatred that this president is bringing up in this country, then I’m afraid that the Democrats are going to see some very dark days,” she continued. 

Williamson argued the Democrats needed to start talking about deeper issues of race. “If the Democrats don’t start saying it, why would those people vote for us,” she said, referring to African American voters.  

Williamson is currently the top trending candidate on Twitter during the debate despite her relative lack of speaking time. 

Cardi B Concert Suddenly Canceled Over “Threat” Against The Rapper

A Cardi B concert scheduled to take place this evening in Indianapolis, Indiana, was suddenly shelved because of what police described as an “unverified threat” against the rapper.

“This evening, there was a scheduled concert at Bankers Life. We were notified of an unverified threat to the artist and the artist canceled this evening’s concert – there is no immediate threat to public safety, this not an active incident. Ongoing investigation,” the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement on Twitter.

The Grammy-winning rapper also took to Twitter to apologize to fans. She shared a message, along with a video from the stage, saying she had been rehearsing just before the concert was scrapped.

“Dear Indiana people I’m so sorry for today. I will like to let you know I was at the venue I was even rehearsing a new move I been excited to do on my show,” Cardi B tweeted. “Unfortunately there was a security threat that is currently under investigation right now. My safety and your safety first.”

The hip-hop star had been scheduled to take the stage along with special guests Kevin Gates and Saweetie.

A statement from Bankers Life Field House said the show would be rescheduled for  for September 11, and all tickets for the original date will be honored.

Meme Queen Marianne Williamson Just Made Yada Yada Yada Happen All Over Again

She may not be winning in the polls, but Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson has been a leading source of political memes during the debates. 

After lighting up Twitter in last month’s first debate with a wild performance that included a plan to beat President Donald Trump with love, Williamson’s name spiked on Tuesday during the second debate after another unusual moment.

She dropped a “yada yada yada” ― the phrase elevated by the TV sitcom “Seinfeld” ― in the middle of an answer.

Moderator Jack Tapper had asked about gun control, which Williamson seized on to decry the role of big-spending groups in politics, including the National Rifle Association.

She answered: 

Naturally, it was quickly turned into a GIF:

Williamson trended on Twitter during the debate for everything from her unusual Mid-Atlantic accent to her New Age background.

But it was the “yada yada yada” moment that many people couldn’t get over: 

Gunman kills two workers at Walmart before being shot

A gunman fatally shot two people and wounded a police officer before he was shot and arrested at a Walmart in northern Mississippi.

The killer was shot by a Southaven police officer and hospitalised in unknown condition.

Both victims of the shooting were Walmart employees.

Carlos Odom (35) was leaving at about 6.30am when he heard more than a dozen shots.

“I just hear gunshots,” Mr Odom said. “Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow.

“When the cops run in to the Walmart, you hear more gunshots. After that, it stopped.”

Real estate company Avison Young moving to Fifth Ave.

The commercial real estate company Avison Young will move its NYC headquarters to 45,000 square feet at 530 Fifth Ave., where the brokerage is also the agent for the RXR-owned building.

The company will occupy part of the third and the entire fourth floor, which will be connected by a new interior staircase.

The current tenant, spirits-maker Diageo, will be relocating and consolidating its North American offices at Three World Trade Center.

A. Mitti Liebersohn and Joe Harbert represented Avison Young in-house, while Dan Birney and Alexandra Budd represented RXR in-house.