Actor Ashley Judd is adding her voice to calls for U.S. President Joe Biden to step aside from the presidential race following his performance in last month's debate, arguing that she worries he could lose to Republican Donald Trump in November.
In an opinion piece for USA Today published on Friday, Judd called on Biden to “voluntarily, gracefully step aside” so that his party can support a “talented, robust Democrat” for the presidency. She described Biden during the debate as “incapable of countering Trump, while he, unchecked, gushed a firehose of galling lies.”
Judd, who has been an outspoken supporter for Biden and other Democrats across the country, noted the political activism that has accompanied her multi-decade Hollywood career. Her allegations against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein helped spark the #MeToo movement.
Warning that she fears Trump “would wield the power of the presidency with unprecedented, incalculable cruelty and unfairness” if voters return him to the White House, Judd said that time is of the essence for Democrats to replace Biden with a candidate who can defeat him.
“We do not have another day for distraction or division among ourselves," she said.
Judd did not posit a possible replacement for Biden atop the ticket, and a representative did not immediately return a message seeking comment as to whom she might suggest.
Her call comes as Democrats consider whether they want Biden to remain as his party's nominee, following concerns over his age and ability to win the general election against Trump.
Earlier this week, movie star and lifelong Democrat George Clooney said in a New York Times opinion piece that he loves Biden but the party would lose the presidential race as well as any in Congress with him as the nominee. He cited what he characterized as a diminished Biden during interactions around a Los Angeles fundraiser last month.
Judd was at the White House in April to help the Biden administration promote its new national strategy to prevent suicide, to which she lost her mother, singer Naomi Judd, in 2022. The Biden campaign did not immediately return a message seeking comment on Ashley Judd's piece.
Kinnard reported from Chapin, South Carolina.
Donald Trump's campaign said in a statement that he was 'fine' after being whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd.
Richard Simmons, the perennial 1980s workout personality who was defined by his uplifting spirit, died in his Los Angeles home, according to multiple reports. He was 76.
U.S. President Joe Biden is on a public and private blitz to shake off concerns about his cognitive capacities.
Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Asia's richest man, ties the knot this weekend with longtime girlfriend Radhika Merchant at a Mumbai wedding dubbed the ceremony of the year – but what was it like to be one of the guests?
A Black man has filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against a hotel in Detroit, Mich., alleging the hotel only offered him a job interview after he changed the name on his resume, according to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by CNN.
The provincial regulator responsible for policing B.C.'s real estate industry has ordered a former Realtor to pay $130,000 and cancelled her licence after determining that she committed a variety of professional misconduct.
An Ontario driver was shocked to get a letter in the mail saying her licence had been suspended over a traffic ticket she received 13 years ago.
The Bank of Canada is expected to announce its key interest rate decision in less than two weeks. Last month, the bank lowered its key interest rate to 4.7 per cent, marking its first rate cut since March 2020.
Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the diminutive sex therapist who became a pop icon, media star and best-selling author through her frank talk about once-taboo bedroom topics, has died. She was 96.
The fire that forced thousands out of their homes in Labrador City Friday night was gently smoldering and under control this week, but a sudden change in conditions caused it to explode into 'an extremely aggressive inferno.'
Lethbridge police are investigating after a bullet hole was discovered in a southside home.
Family members of a homeless Toronto man who died after police allege he was swarmed and stabbed by a group of teen girls say the thought of his last moments haunts them.
The Quebec Human Rights Commission is seeking $13,000 for the family of a 12-year-old girl who was kicked out of her karate class for wearing a hijab.
Doreen Manuel was walking her two small Yorkshire terriers last month when a large off-leash dog suddenly lunged at them.
Calgary police have released the photo of a man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for first-degree murder.
European allies in NATO are stepping up their military spending, just as Donald Trump wanted. They're pointing to common interests, such as concerns over China. They’re creating American jobs by buying U.S. weapons.
A federal judge threw out the bankruptcy case of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Friday. He cited repeated 'uncooperative conduct,' including a failure to comply with court orders and disclose sources of income.
A miner who was reported missing after an earthquake shook Poland's Rydultowy coal mine has been found alive more than two days after the accident that killed one of his colleagues and injured another 17, local officials said Saturday.
Five people were able to escape a hot, acidic pond in Yellowstone National Park after the sport utility vehicle they were riding in went off the road and into an inactive geyser, park officials said Friday.
Former U.S. first lady Melania Trump will attend the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week, making a rare political appearance. But unlike in years past, she is not expected to address the gathering where her husband, former President Donald Trump, will formally accept the Republican nomination.
Facebook has lifted restrictions imposed on Donald Trump after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, placing the former president on an equal footing on the platform with U.S. President Joe Biden just days before the Republican National Convention.
While Republicans and Democrats alike have long complained about Canada's sluggish military spending, experts say Canada is more likely to suffer consequences under a second Trump presidency, which could also end U.S. support for Ukraine.
After months of pitching what they describe as the most ambitious housing plan ever, a new poll shows concern about the cost of housing is on the upswing while support for the Liberal government is down.
Supervised consumption sites are just 'drug dens' that a future Conservative government would seek to close and not provide with 'a single taxpayer dollar,' Pierre Poilievre said Friday.
With temperatures rising for the oncoming summer, many shutdowns due to the toxic blue-green algae has made for a tough time finding a safe spot to swim in the region – with one of the most recent shutdowns at Cunard Pond Beach in Halifax.
Sex and gender are often conflated or equated in everyday conversations, and most American adults believe a person’s gender is determined by sex assigned at birth. But a new study of nearly 5,000 nine and 10-year-olds found that sex and gender map onto largely distinct parts of the brain.
Longevity isn’t just about living a long life but also about living well. More than one in five Americans will be 65 or older by 2040, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services projects.
The Federal Court of Canada is being asked to declare that only humans — and not artificial intelligence — can be considered authors under Canada’s copyright law.
The Webb Space Telescope has captured a pair of intertwined galaxies glowing in the infrared.
A SpaceX rocket has failed for the first time in nearly a decade, leaving the company's internet satellites in an orbit so low that they're doomed to fall through the atmosphere and burn up.
Alec Baldwin made his first public comments to thank his supporters Saturday after the stunning early end to his involuntary manslaughter trial.
Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the diminutive sex therapist who became a pop icon, media star and best-selling author through her frank talk about once-taboo bedroom topics, has died. She was 96.
Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Asia's richest man, ties the knot this weekend with longtime girlfriend Radhika Merchant at a Mumbai wedding dubbed the ceremony of the year – but what was it like to be one of the guests?
The provincial regulator responsible for policing B.C.'s real estate industry has ordered a former Realtor to pay $130,000 and cancelled her licence after determining that she committed a variety of professional misconduct.
A Black man has filed an employment discrimination lawsuit against a hotel in Detroit, Mich., alleging the hotel only offered him a job interview after he changed the name on his resume, according to a copy of the lawsuit obtained by CNN.
The Bank of Canada is expected to announce its key interest rate decision in less than two weeks. Last month, the bank lowered its key interest rate to 4.7 per cent, marking its first rate cut since March 2020.
As North America navigates what U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy described last year as a loneliness epidemic, employers and employees are trying to address what for many people is a lack of real friendships at work.
Singapore’s state food agency has approved 16 species of edible insects for sale and consumption in the country, according to a July 8 public circular addressed to food traders.
When the $55-million Lotto Max jackpot they won was finally deposited in their bank account, Laurene Shail and Doltan Hawk couldn't help but be overcome by emotions and hug each other.
At age 18, a decade before Barbora Krejcikova won Wimbledon on Saturday, she was done with junior tennis and couldn't decide whether to pursue a professional tennis career or move on, go to school and find a different path.
French sports minister Amélie Oudea-Castera took a symbolic dip in the Seine on Saturday in a bid to ease concerns about water quality before the start of the Paris Olympics.
With breaking set to make its Olympics debut at the 2024 Paris Games, the local breaking community hopes to see opportunities spin off to help the sport grow.
Police north of Toronto have released dramatic video of a car chase that led officers across York Region in pursuit of a Lamborghini SUV that was clocked at speeds in excess of 200 km/h.
A 31-year-old man from Milford Bay is facing multiple charges following a traffic stop last week.
As many as four out of 10 Canadians say it is 'important' to know if a vehicle they're interested in purchasing is more likely to be targeted by thieves, according to a new Nanos Research survey.
A rare ammonite fossil – about 75 million years old - has been discovered in eastern Saskatchewan.
Seven-year-old goalie Hudson Hardill is an unlikely Calgary Flames fan, being that he lives in Peterborough, Ont., and his dad Chris is a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.
A WestJet employee's chance encounter on a recent flight spiced up her life in a big way.
A Kelowna, B.C., man says he's always liked gnomes because they have a 'bit of mystery' to them. And he recently got a taste of that whimsy when his garden gnomes disappeared, and came back to him in a peculiar fashion.
After more than 50 years, Toronto's iconic 'Leslieville dollhouse' will soon have a new owner.
One man is bringing a blast from the past to a Winnipeg community.
Some say a photograph is simply a memory frozen in time – and a high school graduation photo taken in Churchill, Man. takes that adage to a completely new level.
A rising track and field star overcame a big hurdle in his dream to represent Canada at the Olympics.
Would-be homebuyers who backed out of a deal to purchase a B.C. property in a hot real estate market have been ordered to pay the seller the difference between what they offered and what he was able to sell the home for when the market cooled.
Firefighters are working on a cluster of new blazes that were sparked by lightning overnight in the Lillooet Fire Zone, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
Donald Trump's campaign said in a statement that he was 'fine' after being whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd.
A recent attack on a Victoria paramedic and the subsequent threats against cops who were called in to help mark the latest incidents of violence against local first responders, the city's police chief said in announcing emergency personnel would no longer respond to calls from a specific neighbourhood without police backup.
A 42-year-old man and woman are dead after a shooting in Oshawa Saturday afternoon.
Donald Trump's campaign said in a statement that he was 'fine' after being whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd.
Toronto and the rest of the Golden Horseshoe will be enveloped in sweltering heat and humidity for the next few days, with daytime temperatures climbing above 30 degrees C and humidex values nearing 40.
Cooler Calgary weather helped water consumption drop Friday, the city said in its Saturday update.
More than two dozen new Canadians were sworn in Saturday by the immigration minister at a ceremony that took place in southeast Calgary.
About 50 people gathered in Calgary's East Village to mark the Day of Ukrainian Statehood Saturday.
A heat warning has been issued for Ottawa by Environment Canada.
Three weeks after the provincial government began allowing grocery stores to apply for beer, wine, and cocktail licences, independent grocery stores are stating they are steering clear.
New to the Ottawa Valley, skydiving company Airborne Petawawa was looking to add their name to the book of world records.
The Quebec Human Rights Commission is seeking $13,000 for the family of a 12-year-old girl who was kicked out of her karate class for wearing a hijab.
There are new speed bumps on Mont-Royal Avenue in the Plateau but they're not for the cars. The street is closed to cars for the summer and pedestrians take priority so the speed bumps are to slow down the cyclists.
A 10-year-old girl from Montreal has written two books, including one to help parents navigate the difficult preteen years.
If you've wondered what that sticky stuff all over your car and sidewalk is, it's all thanks to a tiny insect who leaves a big mess.
Donald Trump's campaign said in a statement that he was 'fine' after being whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd.
Grandparent scams are on the rise, according to Strathcona County RCMP.
A collision between a vehicle and a tractor trailer on Saturday led to the tractor trailer striking a Dieppe home.
The Halifax Mural Festival made its return with parts of downtown becoming one giant canvas for artists from all over.
The Shediac Lobster Festival is almost over, but those in attendance Saturday got to witness a display of skill and expertise.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) have issued several severe thunderstorm warnings and watches for southern parts of the province.
Winnipeg police are warning residents about a convicted sex offender, who was released from a Manitoba prison for the third time in four years.
A wildfire near the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border isn’t threatening local communities at this time, according to the mayor of Flin Flon, Man.
A Regina woman says emergency shelter provided by the Ministry of Social Services was living hell.
A Regina man is paying tribute to his dog through a new animal rescue non-for-profit organization.
Saskatchewan Roughriders Head Coach Corey Mace called out fans this week after the team had its lowest attendance since new Mosaic Stadium opened seven years ago.
A large crowd gathered under a bright blue sky to remember a young Elora girl whose positive attitude and zest for life continue to inspire others.
The SIU is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 36-year-old man inside a Rockwood, Ont. police cell.
Donald Trump's campaign said in a statement that he was 'fine' after being whisked off the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania after apparent gunshots rang through the crowd.
One man has been sent to hospital with serious injuries after a collision between a cyclist and a truck on Friday evening.
Saskatchewan Roughriders Head Coach Corey Mace called out fans this week after the team had its lowest attendance since new Mosaic Stadium opened seven years ago.
RCMP are investigating a second sexual assault which took place at Country Thunder on Friday night.
Outgoing Nipissing First Nation Chief Scott McLeod is among several Indigenous leaders who are calling out federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre over a speech he made at the Assembly of First Nations' annual general meeting. Here is what he said.
Richard Simmons, the perennial 1980s workout personality who was defined by his uplifting spirit, died in his Los Angeles home, according to multiple reports. He was 76.
Longevity isn’t just about living a long life but also about living well. More than one in five Americans will be 65 or older by 2040, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services projects.
The Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) has confirmed two EF0 tornadoes occurred in London, Ont. on Wednesday July 10, 2024.
Just before 2:00 p.m. today, police say they were called the scene of the collision on Highway 21 between MTO Road and Blyth Road.
Middlesex OPP are on the scene of an active investigation this afternoon in the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation.
The annual Butter Tart Festival made its return to downtown Barrie on Saturday.
This weekend's warm and sunny weather has fuelled an abundance of last-minute bookings at Muskoka resorts.
Emergency services were on the scene of an early morning crash in Oro-Medonte on Saturday morning.
The Windsor Essex Hospice has awarded $20,000 to the individual who purchased the first duck to cross the finish line at the organization's second annual Rubber Duck Race.
At an establishment on Grand Avenue East, a 22-year-old man was hit in the head with a bottle. He later sought medical attention at a local hospital for his head injury.
An education centre specializing in robotics and coding has opened a second location in Windsor-Essex — and the town's mayor says it can help address a shortage of spaces where kids can engage in STEM outside of the classroom.
A recent attack on a Victoria paramedic and the subsequent threats against cops who were called in to help mark the latest incidents of violence against local first responders, the city's police chief said in announcing emergency personnel would no longer respond to calls from a specific neighbourhood without police backup.
The price of forgetting to bring a bag when shopping is going up in B.C.
A shakeup of seismic proportions is reshaping the British Columbia political landscape a little over three months ahead of this fall's Oct. 19 election.
A search effort is underway for a man who was swept away by the North Thompson River in Kamloops on Friday.
One person is dead and 17 others have been displaced after a stubborn fire burned overnight in a Kelowna apartment building.
Mounties in the Okanagan say they're continuing to focus on speed enforcement this week after a spike in the number of fatal collisions on B.C. highways.
Lethbridge police are investigating after a bullet hole was discovered in a southside home.
The judge in the trial of two men charged with conspiracy to commit murder at the border blockade at Coutts, Alta., has cautioned the jury about an opening statement by a defence lawyer.
The chance to host the Memorial Cup in Lethbridge got one step closer on Thursday.
Northern Ontario distilleries and breweries have been busy keeping up with increased demand for their product since the LCBO strike began on July 5.
Outgoing Nipissing First Nation Chief Scott McLeod is among several Indigenous leaders who are calling out federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre over a speech he made at the Assembly of First Nations' annual general meeting. Here is what he said.
With the growth of the northern Ontario film and TV industry comes an increased need for local stunt performers.
The fire that forced thousands out of their homes in Labrador City Friday night was gently smoldering and under control this week, but a sudden change in conditions caused it to explode into 'an extremely aggressive inferno.'
A new government plan to expand the national parks system might bring some to your backyard.
Forestry officials have asked everyone in Labrador City to leave as a nearby wildfire creeps closer.
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
