May 19, 2019

Pence Taylor University address: Dozens walk out in protest

Vice President Mike Pence. Photo: Shannon Finney/Getty Images

Dozens of Taylor University faculty members and graduating students walked out moments before Vice President Mike Pence gave a commencement address about standing up for traditional Christian beliefs Saturday, the Indianapolis Star first reported.

Details: A petition expressing dissent at Taylor University for giving Pence a platform was signed by more than 8,000 people. It said the move made the institution, staff and students "complicit in the Trump-Pence Administration's policies, which we believe are not consistent with the Christian ethic of love." Most of the 494 Christian liberal arts school graduates remained seated during the planned protest, according to Fox News.

Go deeper: Pence to Christian students: Prepare for persecution from secular left

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Ursula Perano
Updated 20 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Tim Scott says Trump "misspoke" when he told Proud Boys to "stand by"

Photo: Bonnie Cash/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) told reporters on Wednesday that he believes President Trump "misspoke" when he told the far-right "Proud Boys" group to "stand back and stand by" in response to a question about condemning white supremacy at the first presidential debate.

Catch up quick: Moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump on Tuesday, "Are you willing, tonight, to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and to say that they need to stand down?" Trump asked who specifically he should condemn, and then responded, "Proud Boys, stand back and stand by. But I'll tell you what, somebody's got to do something about antifa and the left."

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Axios
Updated 28 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Commission on Presidential Debates wants changes

Photos: Jim Watson and Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Wednesday that it plans to implement changes to rules for the remaining debates, after Tuesday night's head-to-head between Joe Biden and Donald Trump was practically incoherent for most of the night.

What they are saying: "Last night's debate made clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues," the CPD said in a statement.

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Axios
42 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Trump says he doesn't know who Proud Boys are after telling them to "stand by"

President Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he doesn't know who the "Proud Boys" are, after saying at the presidential debate last night that the far-right group should "stand back and stand by" in response to a question asking him to condemn white supremacists.

Why it matters: The comments set off outrage and calls for clarification from a number of Republican senators. After being asked several times on Wednesday whether he will condemn white supremacy, Trump responded: "I have always denounced any form — any form of any of that, you have to denounce. But I also — Joe Biden has to say something about antifa."

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