Midwest
'Concise’ Trump-approved GOP platform not crafted with Biden, Dem disarray in mind
EXCLUSIVE – Republican Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn celebrated her successful leadership overseeing the panel charged with crafting the platform for the Republican National Committee, touting the GOP’s 2024 platform as a “concise” document that “will draw more Americans to the Republican Party.”
“The reason it earned the adoption so quickly is because people got it this morning. They were able to quickly read through it – because it is a total of 16 pages. And as they looked through it, they thought, ‘This is really good. It is solid. It is hitting the issues that the American people are talking about.’ And one of the complaints that we have heard from people is, well, ‘Look, that platform is so long, nobody reads it, it gets used against our candidates, by their opponents, and it is time for us to be simple, concise and specific about what we’re going to do,” Blackburn told Fox News Digital in a phone interview Monday evening.
The Republican National Committee’s Platform Committee, which Blackburn served as chairwoman, overwhelmingly passed its draft party platform Monday in an 84-12 vote. The draft, itled the “2024 GOP PLATFORM: MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!,” walks voters through 20 promises former President Trump, as well as other Republican officials, are making to voters ahead of November, including sealing the border and ending the “migrant invasion,” ending inflation, preventing “World War Three” and uniting the U.S. “by bringing it to new and record levels of success.”
Blackburn explained to Fox News Digital that the platform was crafted to address top voter concerns Trump has personally heard from the American people, brushing off questions regarding whether the platform was written with the Democratic Party’s disarray in mind, or whether President Biden would actually be the party’s nominee come November.
TRUMP FOCUSED ON CAMPAIGNING, AS DEMS ARE ‘IN DISARRAY’ AMID BIDEN CHAOS
Then-President Trump looks on Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who is running for U.S. Senate, speaks during a rally at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium on May 29, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Getty Images)
“We’re going to let the Democrats sort their issues out,” Blackburn said when asked about the Democratic Party’s current disarray. “What I can say is this platform is going to be well received by so many people. We’ve already heard from so many people how well received it is. And that they’re so pleased to see instead of an 80-page, 60-page, 100-, 200-page document, that this is something that they can take to lunch, to their coffee group, to their Bunco group, their Sunday school class, and they can read it and discuss it, and use it to get people involved in the process and voting in November.”
When asked if the platform was crafted with the intention of defeating Biden in November or perhaps another nominee as calls mount for Biden to bow out of the race over concerns regarding his mental acuity, Blackburn said it was designed with a focus on the American people.
BIDEN SURROGATE NEWSOM SAYS CALLS BY DEMOCRATS FOR PRESIDENT TO STEP ASIDE ‘NOT HELPFUL’
“This platform is crafted to make certain that the American people know what Republicans are for, and they know what President Trump is for. This platform is simple, concise, easy to read, and it will be used from candidates from your local, state and federal elections. And it is a document we will use to send President Donald Trump back to the White House.”
Former President Trump speaks to supporters at a rally to support local candidates on Sept. 3, 2022 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Blackburn said that Trump personally had input on the platform, noting he “read it, reviewed it, edited it, and approved it,” and also called into the platform comittee’s meeting on Monday.
“As we got started on today’s activities, President Trump called in, and wished everyone well, thanked everyone for volunteering to be there and serving on the platform committee. And talked about some of the issues that he is hearing and the broad net that they cast,” she said.
SOME TOP HOUSE DEMOCRATS URGE BIDEN TO STEP ASIDE
Blackburn pointed to Trump’s recent vow that if re-elected, workers in the service industry would no longer face taxes on their tips, pointing Fox Digital to point number six of the platform, which reads: “LARGE TAX CUTS FOR WORKERS, AND NO TAX ON TIPS!”
“That gives you an idea of how granular this was to what he is hearing, what many of us who are in elected office are hearing. And what the American people are saying: ‘Would you please put some attention on these issues that affect us.’ And I think that really is one of the primary points … this election is about them. It’s not about the bureaucrats. It’s not about elected officials. It is about them and their way of life,” she said.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., blasted President Biden’s Title IX expansion, saying the administration continues its assault on opportunities for young women. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Blackburn touted that, unlike previous party platforms that dragged on for dozens of pages, the 2024 platform is “simple” and easily digested by the American people.
“I am one of those that has for years said we need to make this simple. It doesn’t have to be long. It needs to be concise. It needs to be simply stated, and it should be something that people look forward to printing out and reading and sharing with their friends,” she said.
The platform this election cycle notably only mentions abortion once, instead focusing on the preservation of life and returning power to the states when developing laws surrounding abortion. Blackburn said that when the platform was drafted, committee members had to take into account the Dobbs decision of 2022, which overturned Roe v. Wade, effectively ended the recognition of a constitutional right to abortion and ruled that individual states have the power to allow, limit or ban abortion procedures.
EX-OBAMA ADVISER SAYS BIDEN CAN’T BEAT ‘FATHER TIME’ AND IS ‘NOT WINNING THIS RACE’
“And so, having as we do with all other issues, whether it’s defending religious liberty, or protecting free speech, or working to end the gender insanity – this left-wing gender insanity – and protecting our rights and freedoms. What the platform says is we proudly stand for families and for life.”
“We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied life or liberty without due process, and that the United States are, therefore, free to pass laws protecting those rights. And that was a very appropriate way to approach this. This responsibility has come back to the states. The states are in the lead on this,” she continued.
BIDEN’S ‘DISASTER’ DEBATE PERFORMANCE SPARKS MEDIA MELTDOWN, CALLS FOR HIM TO WITHDRAW FROM 2024 RACE
Trump touted the platform on his Truth Social account on Monday as a “forward-looking Agenda with strong promises that we will accomplish very quickly” while thanking Blackburn and Florida Rep. Michael Waltz, who served as vice chair on the committee, for their “tireless work to PUT AMERICA FIRST.”
Former President Trump speaks during a rally at the Dayton International Airport on Nov. 7, 2022 in Vandalia, Ohio. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
“We are, quite simply, the Party of Common Sense! America needs determined Republican Leadership at every level of Government to address the core threats to our very survival: Our disastrously Open Border, our weakened Economy, Inflation, crippling restrictions on American Energy Production, our depleted Military, attacks on the American System of Justice, the Weaponization of Politics, and much more,” he wrote.
TRUMP APPROVAL RATING TOPS 50% AS HE LEADS BIDEN ON VOTERS’ TOP TWO ISSUES: POLL
Following its committee passage Monday, the platform will go to a full vote Tuesday before it is officially approved at the Republican National Convention next week in Milwaukee.
“This is something that will draw more Americans to the Republican Party. I quite honestly believe that when they print this document off and look at it, they’re going to open that first page and see that the Republican National Committee has dedicated this document to the forgotten men and women of America. And then, in the preamble, we talk about common sense, and we end with citing those 20 promises that people want to see activity on: energy issues, border issues, crime issues, making certain that we are dealing with rebuilding our military, being strong at home and abroad, protecting our freedoms, dealing with the weaponization of government.”
“Those are things that we all hear about every day.”
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
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Detroit, MI
‘DWTS: Live!’ tour hits Fox Theatre Detroit this month, Grand Rapids in March; how to get tickets
If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.
The “Dancing with the Stars” touring show is scheduled to visit Detroit, Michigan on Tuesday, February 24.
The “Dancing with the Stars: Live!” season 34 cast tour is now underway. The nearly 90-show trek began January 22 in Akron, Ohio, and is still to hit Radio City Music Hall in New York; Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Hippodrome Performing Arts Center in Baltimore as well as The Theater at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland; and the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh before taking the stage at the Fox Theatre Detroit on February 24. The production will return to Michigan on Sunday, March 8 for a show at DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids, and is even set to circle back for a second date at the Fox later this spring (May 8).
‘Dancing with the Stars: Live!’ to visit Detroit & Grand Rapids in 2026, how to get tickets
Featured on the “Dancing with the Stars: Live!” lineup are co-hosts Danielle Fishel, Andy Richter, Elaine Hendrix, and Emma Slater, as well as special guest stars Alix Earle, Dylan Efron, Jordan Chiles, and season 34 title holder Robert Irwin. Pros performing throughout the tour include Val Chmerkovskiy, Britt Stewart, Alan Bersten, Brandon Armstrong, Jenna Johnson, Daniella Karagach, Pasha Pashkov, Ezra Sosa, Hailey Bills, and latest Mirrorball winner Witney Carson.
How to get tickets:
Shop official tickets via Ticketmaster and dwtstour.com/dates. Fans can also browse available listings on secondary markets like SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, and StubHub.
“Dancing with the Stars: Live! – 2026 Tour”
Sat, Feb 14 — New Jersey Performing Arts Center; Newark, NJ
Sun, Feb 15 — Radio City Music Hall; New York, NY **
Tue, Feb 17 — Wind Creek Event Center; Bethlehem, PA
Wed, Feb 18 — Wind Creek Event Center; Bethlehem, PA
Thu, Feb 19 — Hippodrome Performing Arts Center; Baltimore, MD
Fri, Feb 20 — The Theater at MGM National Harbor; Oxon Hill, MD
Sat, Feb 21 — The Theater at MGM National Harbor; Oxon Hill, MD
Sun, Feb 22 — Petersen Events Center; Pittsburgh, PA
Tue, Feb 24 — Fox Theatre Detroit; Detroit, MI
Wed, Feb 25 — Murat Theatre at Old National Centre; Indianapolis, IN
Thu, Feb 26 — Stephens Auditorium; Ames, IA
Fri, Feb 27 — Stifel Theatre; St. Louis, MO
Sat, Feb 28 — Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center; Cincinnati, OH
Sun, Mar 1 — Prairie Home Alliance Theater; Peoria, IL
Tue, Mar 3 — Miller High Life Theatre; Milwaukee, WI
Wed, Mar 4 — Armory; Minneapolis, MN
Thu, Mar 5 — Music Hall Kansas City; Kansas City, MO
Fri, Mar 6 — Rosemont Theatre; Rosemont, IL
Sat, Mar 7 — Rosemont Theatre; Rosemont, IL **
Sun, Mar 8 — DeVos Performance Hall; Grand Rapids, MI
Tue, Mar 10 — Value City Arena at Schottenstein Center; Columbus, OH
Wed, Mar 11 — Grand Ole Opry House; Nashville, TN
Thu, Mar 12 — Knoxville Civic Auditorium; Knoxville, TN
Fri, Mar 13 — Altria Theater; Richmond, VA
Sat, Mar 14 — Ovens Auditorium; Charlotte, NC **
Sun, Mar 15 — Durham Performing Arts Center; Durham, NC
Tue, Mar 17 — The Dome; Virginia Beach, VA
Wed, Mar 18 — Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts; Greensboro, NC
Thu, Mar 19 — North Charleston Performing Arts Center; North Charleston, SC
Fri, Mar 20 — Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium; Spartanburg, SC
Sat, Mar 21 — Mark C. Smith Concert Hall at the Von Braun Center; Huntsville, AL
Sun, Mar 22 — BJCC Concert Hall; Birmingham, AL
Tue, Mar 24 — Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts; Jacksonville, FL
Wed, Mar 25 — Peabody Auditorium; Daytona Beach, FL
Thu, Mar 26 — Addition Financial Arena; Orlando, FL
Fri, Mar 27 — Ruth Eckerd Hall; Clearwater, FL
Sat, Mar 28 — Ruth Eckerd Hall; Clearwater, FL
Sun, Mar 29 — Hard Rock Live; Hollywood, FL **
Tue, Mar 31 — Fox Theatre; Atlanta, GA
Wed, Apr 1 — Orpheum Theatre; Memphis, TN
Thu, Apr 2 — Simmons Bank Arena; North Little Rock, AR
Fri, Apr 3 — Beau Rivage Theatre; Biloxi, MS
Sat, Apr 4 — Beau Rivage Theatre; Biloxi, MS
Thu, Apr 9 — Smart Financial Centre; Sugar Land, TX
Fri, Apr 10 — Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory; Irving, TX
Sat, Apr 11 — Intrust Bank Arena; Wichita, KS
Sun, Apr 12 — Bellco Theatre at Colorado Convention Center; Denver, CO
Wed, Apr 15 — WaMu Theater; Seattle, WA
Thu, Apr 16 — Moda Center; Portland, OR
Fri, Apr 17 — Hult Center; Eugene, OR
Sat, Apr 18 — San Jose Civic; San Jose, CA **
Sun, Apr 19 — Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort; Reno, NV
Tue, Apr 21 — SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center; Sacramento, CA
Wed, Apr 22 — San Diego Civic Theatre; San Diego, CA
Thu, Apr 23 — Segerstrom Center for the Arts; Costa Mesa, CA
Fri, Apr 24 — Fontainebleau Las Vegas; Las Vegas, NV
Sat, Apr 25 — Dolby Theatre; Hollywood, CA
Sun, Apr 26 — Dolby Theatre; Hollywood, CA
Wed, Apr 29 — Arizona Financial Theatre; Phoenix, AZ
Thu, Apr 30 — Arizona Financial Theatre; Phoenix, AZ
Sat, May 2 — Eccles Theater; Salt Lake City, UT **
Sun, May 3 — Eccles Theater; Salt Lake City, UT
Tue, May 5 — Orpheum Theater; Omaha, NE
Wed, May 6 — Stifel Theatre; St. Louis, MO
Thu, May 7 — Andrew J Brady ICON Music Center; Cincinnati, OH
Fri, May 8 — Fox Theatre Detroit; Detroit, MI
Sat, May 9 — OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino; Niagara Falls, ON
Sun, May 10 — Shea’s Buffalo Theatre; Buffalo, NY
Tue, May 12 — The Met Philadelphia; Philadelphia, PA
Wed, May 13 — Akron Civic Theatre; Akron, OH
** Multiple showtimes
MILWAUKEE – Forecast from FOX6 Meteorologist Lisa Michaels
Patchy fog and frost in the morning with temps in the 20s.
A few more clouds for Valentine’s Day with temperatures ranging from mid 40s lakeside to upper 40s inland.
A big warming trend on Sunday and Monday with temps back in the low to mid 50s.
Our next storm system moves in Tuesday night in to Wednesday with the chance for rain.
Today: 44° Lake. Morning fog then partly sunny.
High: 48°
Wind: SE 5-10
Tonight: Patchy fog possible, mostly cloudy.
Low: 32°
Wind: S 5
Sunday: Mostly sunny and mild.
High: 52°
Wind: SW 5-10
Monday: Partly sunny and warm.
AM Low: 34° High: 56°
Wind: S 5-15
Tuesday: Cloudy. Rain at night.
AM Low: 35° High: 46°
Wind: E 10-25
Wednesday:Rain in the morning. Windy and mostly cloudy.
AM Low: 38° High: 53°
Wind: SW 10-20
Thursday: Partly sunny.
AM Low: 33° High: 41°
Wind: NW 5-10
6-day planner
FOX6 Weather Extras
Local perspective:
Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:
FOX6 Storm Center app
FOX LOCAL Mobile app
FOX Weather app
FOX Weather
Big picture view:
Maps and radar
We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.
School and business closings
When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.
FOX6 Weather Experts in social media
Barack Obama publicly gave his support to demonstrators in Minneapolis for standing up to the “unprecedented nature” of the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Minnesota.
Speaking in an interview with progressive YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen on Saturday, the former president discussed the power that US citizens hold when standing up for the values they believe in and his hopes for the next generation of American leaders.
“The reason I point out that I don’t think the majority of the American people approve of this is because ultimately, the answer is going to come from the American people,” he said. “We just saw this in Minnesota, in Minneapolis.”
“It is important for us to recognize the unprecedented nature of what ICE was doing in Minneapolis, St Paul, the way that federal agents, ICE agents were being deployed, without any clear guidelines, training, pulling people out of their homes, using five-year-olds to try to bait their parents, all the stuff that we saw, teargassing crowds simply who were standing there, not breaking any laws,” he added.
The Twin Cities area of Minnesota has been the site of ongoing anti-immigration enforcement protests. These demonstrations have grown in scope following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents.
But this week, Tom Homan, the US border czar, said that the Trump administration would be drawing down its immigration crackdown in Minnesota following the killings after initial escalations by immigration agencies. Many have credited the decision to draw back as proof that the protests were successful in sending a message.
“Right now, we’re being tested, and the good news is, what we saw in Minneapolis and St Paul, and what we’re seeing in places across the country, including here in Los Angeles, has been the American people saying no,” Obama said. “At least a good number of the American people saying, we’re going to live up to those values that we say we believe in.”
“As long as we have folks doing that, I feel like we’re going to get through this,” he added.
Obama, along with the former first lady, Michelle Obama, called the killing of Alex Pretti “a heartbreaking tragedy” and “a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault”.
In a statement released last month, the Obamas said federal law enforcement and immigration agents were not operating in a lawful or accountable way in Minnesota. They said the tactics employed by ICE and other federal agents seemed “designed to intimidate, harass, provoke and endanger the residents of a major American city”.
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