Pro-Trump women are hitting back at billionaire Mark Cuban after his remarks that the former president typically doesn’t surround himself with “strong, intelligent women,” including senior Trump adviser Susie Wiles, who rarely posts online.
“I’m told @mcuban needs help identifying the strong and intelligent women surrounding Pres. Trump. Well, here we are!” Wiles said on the social platform X on Thursday, her first post there since February 2023. “I’ve been proud to lead this campaign,” she added, also pointing to the efforts of Linda McMahon, chair for Trump’s transition policy, and Republican National Committee co-Chair Lara Trump.
Earlier Thursday, Cuban claimed Trump does not surround himself with “strong, intelligent women”
because he doesn’t “like to be challenged” by them. He argued on ABC’s “The View” that Trump doesn’t spend time with women because they are “intimidating to him.”
Other female supporters of Trump, including Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), also posted online in his defense.
Stefanik dismissed Cuban as a “sexist disgrace.”
“I’m proud to be the highest-ranking woman in the United States Congress. When I ran, I was the youngest woman ever elected. I’m the most senior woman on the House Arms Services Committee, the House Intelligence Committee and I proudly am voting and endorse President Trump,” Stefanik said in a video
. “Save America in five days, vote Trump.”
Noem, another Trump ally, told Cuban that it was “game on.”
“I’ll take you on any day in a debate, or, maybe even arm wrestling,” she said in a video response to the Trump War Room account’s posting of Cuban’s statements.
Cuban has joined the campaign trail for Vice President Harris and continually criticized
Trump. He’s warned of the dangers of a second Trump term, particularly since tech billionaire Elon Musk began propping up the former president’s campaign.
Cuban argued his point Thursday about Trump and women by pointing to former GOP primary candidate Nikki Haley, who clashed with Trump before dropping out. Although Haley has endorsed the former president, the two don’t appear together on the campaign trail
She warned earlier this week
that there was too much “bro romance and this masculinity stuff” in his campaign, saying he needs to be careful about losing support from female voters.
Reached for comment, Cuban said, “What I said was in response to Nikki Haley not being on the campaign trail. That I believe he doesn’t like to be challenged in public by smart intelligent people.”
“I know many strong, intelligent women voting for Trump. Including in my extended family. I’m certainly not saying female voters are not smart, strong and intelligent,” he added on X
.
“I stand by my opinion that he does not like being challenged publicly.”
The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for further comment.
Mr. James, the N.B.A.’s all-time leading scorer, campaigned for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in previous election cycles. He has made no secret of his low opinion of Donald J. Trump.
Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign should be happy with new polling from Gallup
, which shows Democratic enthusiasm among its highest ever—and Republican enthusiasm lagging far behind.
The poll, which was fielded Oct. 14-27, finds that 77% of registered Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents are more excited than usual to vote, just above 75% in 2020 and 76% in 2008. Compare that to Republicans, though: Only 67% of Republicans or Republican-leaning independents are more excited than usual.
Gallup also finds that Democrats are more likely to vote before Election Day, writing:
Democratic voters continue to be significantly more likely than Republican voters to cast early ballots. Currently, 63% of registered voters who are Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents have already voted or plan to vote before Election Day, compared with 47% of Republicans and Republican leaners. The 16-percentage-point Democratic-Republican gap is similar to what Gallup measured in the 2020 election (74% for Democrats and 56% for Republicans). Before 2020, Republicans and Democrats were about equally likely to vote early.
Which makes sense. The Republican Party has sent its voters mixed messages about early voting, promoting
it at the same time they denigrate
it.
And who is to say that some of those Republican early voters aren’t wives of MAGA-brained lunatics
and casting secret ballots against one of the most misogynistic political platforms in recent memory?
Part of that gap in enthusiasm might be because while Harris has continued to campaign on creating a better future for voters
, Trump has mostly spent his time telling MAGA crowds that the United States is a “garbage can
.” He stokes fear and anger, and along with the election-fraud lies being peddled in the right-wing media sphere, it generates the opposite of enthusiasm
.
The Gallup poll suggests the Harris campaign has been more successful in reaching voters too, with 42% saying they’ve been contacted by her campaign, compared with only 35% saying Trump’s campaign has reached them. That gap increases when party is factored in: 58% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents report being contacted by the Harris campaign,versus 40% of Republicans and Republican-leaners who say they’ve heard from the Trump campaign.
But maybe it’s no surprise, considering that the world’s most obnoxious billionaire, Elon Musk, has reportedly made a mess
of the Trump campaign’s outreach efforts. It might partially explain why he’s desperately making voter registration into a lottery
.
On Wednesday, Harris gave her closing-argument address
at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. It was the kind of presidential proof that is unlikely to do anything but boost enthusiasm. Meanwhile, trash-can mouth Trump did this:
I’m sorry, everyone else saw him straight up miss the door handle and nearly fall over, right? pic.twitter.com/Au2mmulLcD
On the latest episode of “The Tony Kinnett Cast
,” we examine the possible effects of Vice President Kamala Harris’ resolute decision to continue diving deeper into divisive politics and far-left rhetoric as the contested Nov. 5 election draws near.
Speaking of Nov. 5, join us beginning at 6 p.m. EST that fateful Tuesday evening for our ultimate election coverage, straight from the show’s new studio! The guests will be legendary, and the live coverage even better!
We take a closer look at polling and Election Day expectations and what they mean for the up-for-grabs demographics neither party has been able to lock in. What can sway these voters, if anything?
Jerry Lopez, @IndySpanglish on X
, joins us for “Awful Tweets,” where we take the worst social media posts sent in by viewers and listeners from all corners of the internet for a heaping helping of scorn.
Catch the live radio show and livestream weeknights at 7 p.m. EDT on The Daily Signal’s YouTube
, X
, or Facebook
—and subscribe to the podcast
so you never miss an episode or exclusive interview.
Life in the Chicagoland area has changed drastically over the past few years. Inflation has
ruined Portillo’s Italian Beef Sandwiches, ketchupless hotdogs, and mom-and-pop restaurants.
Maya Sanchez, a senior at Elmhurst University and Chicagoland native, is just one of many struggling with inflation. Growing up in the area, Sanchez has very fond memories of going to Simon’s Restaurant and Baker Hill with her family. But local prices for groceries and restaurants have increased by 20.2% over the past four years.
New college graduates, the working class, and small business owners are the backbone of Chicago and
of America, yet they are the ones bearing the brunt of inflation. These underdogs are fighting to make their way in the world. Inflation is starting to ramp up because of exponential increases in government spending. Our national debt has increased by trillions in the past four years and our underdogs in Illinois, hard-working everyday Americans, are the ones hurt the most.
Sanchez has worked hard to get where she is now, and she is ready to go out into the world. But unfortunately, it is not that simple. Sanchez has expressed her concerns about life after school, saying, “It shouldn’t be so difficult to be able to afford basic living necessities and getting entry-level jobs … we are stuck barely making it by to pay our bills.”
Sanchez’s commute to Elmhurst has gone up 35.7% since January 2021. Tuition and student loans are one thing, but she also worries about the rising cost of rent, utilities, and other expenses which may very well double after she graduates and goes to live on her own.
Since January 2021, a Chicago family of four now pays 19.3% more on groceries and 20.9% more on rent. Many of these families own local businesses. Families work and run these businesses that give us amazing local goods, yet how does the government support them? By tripling the money supply, causing inflation and racking up our national debt.
The Heritage Foundation has created a Personal Inflation Calculator so the everyday American can see just how high prices have gotten.
The young workers of Chicago have seen inflation of 20.7% in just four years. A $436 grocery bill from 2021 is now $520. Average housing expenses used to be about $1,650, now, it’s crept over $2,000. Sanchez says that she is “starting to understand the stress and struggle of college graduates and young families. We can’t find jobs, afford groceries, or even get housing.”
Unfortunately, that is not the only thing she has to worry about. There has been a $266 increase in monthly car expenses, with car insurance
increasing by 54.9% and gasoline prices increasing by 57.7%.
The cost of living has increased an abhorrent amount in only a few short years. Inflation is on the rise. Everyday essentials are suddenly breaking the bank and Americans are reeling.
“It’s a never-ending cycle. Americans are
struggling to live, and it’s time for a change,” Sanchez says. Don’t let people like Sanchez suffer because of the government’s overspending.
While we all claim to love the underdog and support the little guy, the way our country is going, it seems the little guy may just fall through the cracks. Inflation is hurting our everyday lives, so it is up to the everyday American to make it known.
Chicago Bears coordinators spoke with reporters before practice Thursday at Halas Hall as the team prepares for Sunday’s road game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Here are three things we learned from those sessions.
1. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron said ‘there’s always valid criticism when things don’t work out’ — but repeatedly noted he was confident in the third-and-goal handoff to Doug Kramer.
Waldron’s call to hand the ball off to Kramer, an offensive lineman, on third-and-goal at the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter of the loss to the Washington Commanders
has been a major storyline this week. Kramer, who had never had an NFL carry, didn’t control the handoff from quarterback Caleb Williams, and the Commanders recovered the fumble.
“Every play call that doesn’t work out, you go back and look at it and see, ‘Was it the best call in that situation?’ ” Waldron said. “And I think I’ll always look inwardly first, and every play call that doesn’t work out, obviously you’re going to have a sense of what could I have done better as a play-caller? What situations could I have put those guys in? But also, going back to the play, I have all the confidence in the world in all our players.”
Waldron stopped short of saying he shouldn’t have made such a risky call when the Bears were in position to take the lead with 6 minutes, 21 seconds to play. And when he was asked whether he would make the call again, he said yes.
“In that moment? Yeah, I was confident,” he said. “I had trust in it.”
“You look at the risk-reward,” Waldron said when asked about such plays. “(Against the Colts), I know I could have done a better job of getting us prepared in that moment, having a better play call in that instance. I try to learn from it.
“I felt moving forward here, hey, we have different plays that are not all vanilla and when’s the right time to use those? I felt confident. I always feel confident in our guys’ ability to execute those. And then, I’ve got to reflect and look at, hey, when the next scenario comes up, what can we all do better to execute in that situation?”
2. Defensive coordinator Eric Washington said he has ‘complete confidence’ in cornerback Tyrique Stevenson.
Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (86) and Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (29) go up for the Hail Mary pass that Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown (85) caught for a touchdown on the final play on Oct. 27, 2024, at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Washington said this week has called for “a moment of reflection” and “a moment of growth” as the Bears defense looks back at what went wrong on Jayden Daniels’ winning 52-yard Hail Mary
. That includes Stevenson missing the first few seconds
of the play because he was interacting with the crowd — and then being in the wrong position when he was supposed to defend Noah Brown, who made the catch.
Washington said the Bears have looked at how they managed the entire operation and processed what was going on — as coach Matt Eberflus didn’t call a timeout even though Stevenson wasn’t clued into the play at first. Washington said he didn’t see Stevenson at the snap because he was looking at the line of scrimmage and then examining how the Commanders were setting up on offense.
“My expectation for every player on the field is to be in the right position and to do exactly what they’re supposed to be doing at that particular point,” Washington said.
Along with the reflection of the last drive, Washington noted the Bears also made sure to acknowledge with the players all that went right Sunday, as the defense held a high-scoring Commanders team to four field goals until the very end.
As for Stevenson, Washington declined to give his opinion on whether the Bears should discipline the second-year cornerback, saying he is focused on the Cardinals. Eberflus hasn’t revealed publicly whether Stevenson will face any consequences for his actions, such as not starting Sunday.
“I’m not as much interested in consequences as I am making sure we grow from every situation that we’re involved in,” Washington said.
Washington said Stevenson has been “locked in” this week despite all of the media attention his actions have received
, and the coordinator defended Stevenson when asked whether he has a problem with focus.
“I have complete confidence in Tyrique Stevenson,” he said. “I have complete confidence in his position coach, Jon Hoke. We need to continue to work, continue to grow. I know Tyrique and I know everybody on our defense beyond that particular moment. That’s the advantage I have that maybe others don’t.”
3. The Bears have some questions this week when it comes to the offensive line.
Bears guard Teven Jenkins walks off with an injury in the fourth quarter against the Commanders on Oct. 27, 2024. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Left tackle Braxton Jones and left guard Teven Jenkins sat out practice Thursday while recovering from knee injuries that knocked them out of the Commanders game. Eberflus already said rookie offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie won’t return from a calf injury this week.
However, offensive tackle Larry Borom practiced in full as he works to come off injured reserve following an ankle injury, and guard/center Ryan Bates, who is also on IR, was limited.
The Bears have a few options in replacements if Jones and/or Jenkins are out, depending on who is ready. Matt Pryor has been at right guard but also can play tackle. Nate Davis and Kramer are potential guard replacements, though Davis has played primarily on the right side.
Waldron noted it is usually easier to make fewer moves on the line than to mix the whole thing up.
“There’s always a benefit if you can get away with it being a one-position move,” Waldron said. “So that way you have someone that can fill right in and you’re not taking two guys and putting them out of position.”
Safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion) and nickel Kyler Gordon (hamstring) remained out of practice. Defensive end Montez Sweat (shin) was limited.
Director Shawn Levy’s ode to Marvel Comics’ Homo superior species moves from its more than $1 billion box office theatrical release to ultra-high definition home entertainment rooms in “Deadpool and Wolverine: Cinematic Universe Edition.”
The House Oversight and Reform Committee on Thursday demanded the FBI explain why it released crime data last year that seemed to back up President Biden’s claims that violent crime had dropped, only to “quietly” revise the numbers this year.
While a multimillion-dollar project at the halfway point in Robbins is aimed primarily at controlling flooding, Mayor Darren Bryant sees recreational opportunities as well, such as a boat launch and youth football field.
Bryant and other officials marked completion Thursday of the first phase of a project, called Robbins Heritage Park, that incorporates diverting floodwater from Midlothian Creek.
The full project is expected to wrap up in summer 2026 and, when done, will represent “a dawn of new opportunities” for Robbins in recreational and business development, said Kari Steele, president of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
The $30 million project will remove about 140 acres from the flood plain, protect 92 structures and remove more than 1,300 parcels from the 100-year flood plain, according to the MWRD.
A diversion channel under construction will carry water overflowing the Midlothian Creek and direct it to the Calumet Sag Channel.
“We’re halfway there and we’ve gotten an awful lot done,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said, as a light wind-driven rain pelted spectators.
The project, he said, will go a long way toward “mitigating long-term flooding and drainage issues,” with the hope that new businesses and housing projects “can be planned for the long-term future of the community.”
Robbins Mayor Darren Bryant speaks Oct. 31, 2024, at an event marking the halfway point of completing a $30 million flood control project in his suburb. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown)
Thursday’s celebration was completion of the first phase, which includes part of the diversion channel as well as a walkway leading to the Cal Sag. Earth excavated was pushed into a tiered mound, now covered with grass, and rock was pulled from a few feet below the surface to create ornamental features along the diversion channel and stabilize the banks, according to the district.
The land, at one point, was the site of apartments owned by the county’s housing authority, which were demolished several years ago.
Bryant said an artificial turf football field is planned near the east side of the bank and will be used by Robbins youth sports teams.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker talks Oct. 31, 2024, at an event marking the halfway point of completing a flood control project in Robbins. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown)
Along with the diversion channel, the $30 million project includes excavating a detention pond, which will be bordered by 137th Street, Kedzie Avenue and Claire Boulevard. The pond will be able to hold 9 million gallons of water.
Bryant said Robbins relied greatly on outside sources of funding, and said there “is a realistic worry” about maintaining it once it is done. The mayor said the village would more than likely turn to those same partners down the road to help pay for ongoing maintenance.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said in 2023 the county received $84 million in federal funding for flood control projects, with attention being paid to work in the south suburbs, including $2.3 million for the Robbins project.
A stormwater diversion channel in Robbins empties into the Calumet Sag Channel Oct. 31, 2024. (Mike Nolan / Daily Southtown)
She said officials are “confident this project will alleviate much of the risk” of flooding in the village.
James Jennings, interim director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, said the investment in Robbins comes after the community has “long been unnoticed by a variety of agencies” for assistance.
