Julian Castro is the latest Democratic presidential contender to follow the trend of criticizing Fox News Channel while appearing on the network for a town hall.
The former Housing secretary's scolding of Fox on Thursday for its coverage of Hillary Clinton was mild compared to recent attacks by Pete Buttigieg and Kirsten Gillibrand. But it drew an answer from moderator Bret Baier.
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Julian Castro is the latest Democratic presidential contender to follow the trend of criticizing Fox News Channel while appearing on the network for a town hall.
Despite that, five candidates — including Bernie Sanders and Amy Klobuchar — have recognized Fox's reach and accepted invitations. Sanders' April 15 appearance on Fox was seen by 2.55 million people, the largest audience for a town hall or extended interview so far this campaign. That's nearly twice the number of people who watched him on CNN on Feb. 25.
"I don't understand why this network and in so many conservative circles, people are still talking about Hillary Clinton," Castro said. "Hillary Clinton is not on the ballot. Those of us who are running are on the ballot. And I can tell you ... those of us who are running want to focus on the issues that are important to Americans and their families."
"I understand that maybe to make your credentials with Democrats who are not appearing on Fox News, you're going to attack us," Wallace said. "I'm not sure, frankly, that it's very polite. We've invited you to be here."
"There is a reason why anybody has to swallow hard and think twice about participating in this media ecosystem," Buttigieg said.
Whether to engage with or ignore Fox is a still-unresolved argument among Democratic candidates. The candidates who choose to engage undoubtedly hope it shows they're willing to go unexpected places to seek votes, Democratic strategist Karen Finney said. Talking tough about the network's practices illustrates they're aware of what the network puts on its air.
The exchange illustrated the strong feelings Fox generates among many Democrats for its commentators' support of President Donald Trump, and the pressures faced by candidates who choose to engage with the network. The Democratic National Committee has said it won't sponsor a debate on Fox, and Elizabeth Warren has refused an invitation to appear there. She called Fox News a "hate-for-profit racket."
Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro, right, answers a question during a FOX News Channel town hall event, Thursday, June 13, 2019, in Tempe, Ariz. Fox News anchors Bret Baier, left, and Martha MacCallum, second from left, listen to Castro's answer. (AP PhotoRoss D. Franklin)
Despite that, five candidates — including Bernie Sanders and Amy Klobuchar — have recognized Fox's reach and accepted invitations. Sanders' April 15 appearance on Fox was seen by 2.55 million people, the largest audience for a town hall or extended interview so far this campaign. That's nearly twice the number of people who watched him on CNN on Feb. 25.
"I certainly understand the reservations many people have about the Fox News organization," Castro told The Associated Press. "At the same time, I'm determined to be a president for everyone, and that means campaigning in front of everyone, including people who don't agree with me."
The topic of Trump's statement to ABC News about potentially accepting foreign help for his 2020 campaign was broached with Castro Thursday when Baier compared Trump's comments to those of a former Clinton campaign spokesman who suggested he'd be interested in spreading around a dossier of information on Trump compiled by a former British intelligence officer. Baier wondered if a double standard was at work.
Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro speaks during a FOX News Channel town hall event, Thursday, June 13, 2019, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP PhotoRoss D. Franklin)
"I don't understand why this network and in so many conservative circles, people are still talking about Hillary Clinton," Castro said. "Hillary Clinton is not on the ballot. Those of us who are running are on the ballot. And I can tell you ... those of us who are running want to focus on the issues that are important to Americans and their families."
Baier noted that there is an active investigation into how information about Trump began circulating.
It didn't quite match the fireworks generated on June 2 when Gillibrand talked about the "red herring" discussion on Fox about infanticide shortly before Trump gave his State of the Union speech, where she was interrupted by moderator Chris Wallace.
Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro speaks to members in the crowd after a FOX News Channel town hall event, Thursday, June 13, 2019, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP PhotoRoss D. Franklin)
"I understand that maybe to make your credentials with Democrats who are not appearing on Fox News, you're going to attack us," Wallace said. "I'm not sure, frankly, that it's very polite. We've invited you to be here."
Responded Gillibrand: "I will do it in a polite way."
Two weeks earlier, Buttigieg noted that many people in his party opposed his appearance on Fox News. He criticized the network's opinion hosts Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham for remarks they had made about immigration in recent months.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand greets FOX News Anchor Chris Wallace, right, as she arrives at a FOX News town hall, Sunday, June 2, 2019, in Dubuque, Iowa. (AP PhotoCharlie Neibergall)
"There is a reason why anybody has to swallow hard and think twice about participating in this media ecosystem," Buttigieg said.
He drew pushback the next day from Fox personalities. Brian Kilmeade of "Fox & Friends" said he shouldn't badmouth the network's hosts. "If you feel that negative about it, don't come."
Fox has no further town halls scheduled presently, as attention turns to the first debate later this month in Miami, to be televised on NBC News. The network had no additional comment on the candidate critiques.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand talks with FOX News Anchor Chris Wallace, right, during a FOX News town hall, Sunday, June 2, 2019, in Dubuque, Iowa. (AP PhotoCharlie Neibergall)
Whether to engage with or ignore Fox is a still-unresolved argument among Democratic candidates. The candidates who choose to engage undoubtedly hope it shows they're willing to go unexpected places to seek votes, Democratic strategist Karen Finney said. Talking tough about the network's practices illustrates they're aware of what the network puts on its air.
"Part of the hope is that it says to viewers that 'I believe you're important and it's important to hear the other side,'" said Finney, a former Democratic National Committee spokeswoman.
The liberal watchdog Media Matters for America has urged Democratic candidates to stay away from Fox, arguing the appearances helped the network at a time it was vulnerable following the Democrats' decision not to hold any of its debate on the network.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand speaks during a FOX News town hall, Sunday, June 2, 2019, in Dubuque, Iowa. (AP PhotoCharlie Neibergall)
"When they go there and criticize the network, they're actually legitimizing the validity of our core critique," said Angelo Carusone, Media Matters president.
If candidates want to reach out to Fox viewers, criticizing the network doesn't help, he said. Neither do the attacks Fox personalities will heap on them after they leave the studio, he said.
Some numbers are hard for candidates to ignore: Klobuchar reached 1.61 million viewers for her Fox town hall and 1.15 million for one of CNN, the Nielsen company said. Gillibrand's audience was 834,000 on Fox and 507,000 on CNN. Buttigieg's audience was slightly larger on CNN — 1.18 million versus 1.11 million on Fox.
Associated Press writer Jonathan Cooper in Phoenix, Arizona contributed to this report.
COLUMBIA, Tenn. (AP) — Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.
A heavy line of storms swept into Atlanta near the end of the morning rush hour. Busy hub airports in Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina, reported delays. The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center cited an “enhanced risk” for severe weather from Texas to South Carolina.
The storms continue a streak of torrential rains and tornadoes this week from the Plains to the Midwest and, now, the Southeast. Since Monday, 39 states have been under threat of severe weather and at least four people have died. On Wednesday, 98 million people were under some sort of severe weather risk, said Evan Bentley, a Storm Prediction Center forecaster.
The weather comes on the heels of a stormy April in which the U.S. had 300 confirmed tornadoes, the second-most on record for the month and the most since 2011.
More than 170,000 homes and businesses still lacked power Thursday afternoon in several Southern states after storms the night before, according to PowerOutage.us.
One in Tennessee damaged homes, injured people, toppled power lines and trees, and killed a 22-year-old man in a car in Claiborne County, north of Knoxville, officials said. A second person was killed south of Nashville in Columbia, the seat of Maury County, where officials said a tornado damaged or destroyed more than 140 homes.
Bob Booth had just gotten home to Columbia from Georgia and was sitting down to watch television when he heard a “crazy racket.”
“I get up and look out, and it was all hell breaking loose outside,” Booth said. “Then the top half of one of my trees goes down across the road.”
Retired pastor Walter Shell said he and his wife grabbed their two dogs and headed for the basement when his phone alerted him to a tornado.
“It missed where me and my wife were standing by about 4 inches. It went around,” he said. “It pays to pray, I can tell you.”
Torrential rains led to a flash flood emergency and water rescues northeast of Nashville, and the weather service issued a tornado emergency, its highest alert level, for nearby areas.
A 10-year-old boy was seriously injured in Christiana, southeast of Nashville, when he got caught in a storm drain and swept under streets while playing with other children as adults cleared debris, his father, Rutherford County Schools Superintendent Jimmy Sullivan, posted on social media.
The boy, Asher, emerged in a drainage ditch and survived after being given CPR, “but the damage is substantial,” Sullivan posted on Facebook, asking for prayers. A vigil was planned for Thursday afternoon at the school district office.
“Asher needs a miracle,” Sullivan wrote.
Schools were closed Thursday in Rutherford and several other Tennessee counties. In Georgia, some districts north of Atlanta canceled in-person classes or delayed start times because of storm damage overnight that included fallen trees on houses and vehicles around Clarkesville. No injuries were reported there.
“We’re just trying to clean up right now and wait for the next round,” said Lynn Smith, director of the Habersham County Emergency Management Agency.
A strong tornado damaged at least 20 homes in northern Alabama’s DeKalb County and caused injuries but no deaths, officials said.
In North Carolina, a state of emergency was declared Wednesday night for Gaston County, west of Charlotte, after a storm that toppled power lines and trees, including one that landed on a car. One person in the car was killed, and another was taken to a hospital, officials said.
The storms followed heavy rain, strong winds, hail and tornadoes in parts of the central U.S. on Monday, including a twister that ripped through an Oklahoma town and killed one person. On Tuesday, the Midwest took the brunt of the bad weather. Tornadoes touched down in parts of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, according to the weather service.
Michigan's Kalamazoo area was hard hit as a FedEx facility was ripped apart, with downed power lines trapping about 50 people.
Tornadoes were also confirmed near Pittsburgh, in central Arkansas and in northern West Virginia. The West Virginia twister was at least the 11th tornado this year in the state, which sees two tornadoes in an average year.
Both the Plains and Midwest have been hammered by tornadoes this spring.
Associated Press journalists around the country contributed to this report, including Travis Loller, Jeff Amy, Joey Cappelletti, Ed White, Sarah Brumfield, Adrian Sainz and John Raby.
The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Valerie Bernhardt searches for belongings outside her stormed damaged home Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. Severe storms tore through the central and southeast U.S., Wednesday, spawning damaging tornadoes, producing massive hail, and killing several people in Tennessee. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Valerie Bernhardt looks through debris at her stormed damaged home Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. A wave of dangerous storms began crashing over parts of the South on Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes killed at least several people in the region. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Stephen Morgan removes belongings from his storm damaged home along Blackburn Lane, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. Severe storms tore through the central and southeast U.S., Wednesday, spawning damaging tornadoes, producing massive hail, and killing two people in Tennessee. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Utility workers survey a damaged TVA tower Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. Severe storms tore through the central and southeast U.S., Wednesday, spawning damaging tornadoes, producing massive hail, and killing two people in Tennessee. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
John Bernhardt picks up debris at his stormed damaged home Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. A wave of dangerous storms began crashing over parts of the South on Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes killed several people in the region. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Valerie Bernhardt looks through debris at her stormed damaged home Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. A wave of dangerous storms began crashing over parts of the South on Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes killed at least three people in the region. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Storm damaged houses are seen along Blackburn Lane, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. Severe storms tore through the central and southeast U.S., Wednesday, spawning damaging tornadoes, producing massive hail, and killing two people in Tennessee. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
A storm damaged house is seen along Blackburn Lane, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. Severe storms tore through the central and southeast U.S., Wednesday, spawning damaging tornadoes, producing massive hail, and killing two people in Tennessee. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
A storm damaged house is seen along Clara Mathis Road, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. Severe storms tore through the central and southeast U.S., Wednesday, spawning damaging tornadoes, producing massive hail, and killing two people in Tennessee. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
A storm damaged house is seen along Blackburn Lane, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. Severe storms tore through the central and southeast U.S., Wednesday, spawning damaging tornadoes, producing massive hail, and killing two people in Tennessee. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
A storm damaged car is seen along Blackburn Road, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. Severe storms tore through the central and southeast U.S., Wednesday, spawning damaging tornadoes, producing massive hail, and killing two people in Tennessee. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
A storm damaged building is seen along Blackburn Lane, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. Severe storms tore through the central and southeast U.S., Wednesday, spawning damaging tornadoes, producing massive hail, and killing two people in Tennessee. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Storm debris litters a portion of Cranford Hollow Road, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
A home damaged by severe weather is pictured Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Charles Hodge works to clear storm damage at a home along Cothran Road, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Emergency crews are seen along Cranford Hollow Road after severe storms tore through the area Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Storm damaged mobile homes are surrounded by debris at Pavilion Estates mobile home park just east of Kalamazoo, Mich. Wednesday, May 8, 2024. A tornado ripped through the area the evening of May 7. (Neil Blake/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)
Storm damaged mobile homes are surrounded by debris at Pavilion Estates mobile home park just east of Kalamazoo, Mich. Wednesday, May 8, 2024. A tornado ripped through the area the evening of May 7. (Neil Blake/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)
Storm damaged mobile homes are surrounded by debris at Pavilion Estates mobile home park just east of Kalamazoo, Mich. Wednesday, May 8, 2024. A tornado ripped through the area the evening of May 7. (Neil Blake/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)
A utility truck passes damaged trees along Cothran Road, after severe storms tore through the area, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Charles Hodge works to clear storm damage at a home along Cothran Road, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Carl Kelley and Jon Reynolds search through Kelley's mother's home after it was damaged by a severe storm, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Barnsdall, Okla. A tornado destroyed homes, forced the evacuation of a nursing home and toppled trees and power lines when it roared through the small Oklahoma town. (Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP)
Storm damaged mobile homes are surrounded by debris at Pavilion Estates mobile home park just east of Kalamazoo, Mich. Wednesday, May 8, 2024. A tornado ripped through the area the evening of May 7. (Neil Blake/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)
Debris and damage from powerful storms are pictured, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Barnsdall, Okla. A tornado destroyed homes, forced the evacuation of a nursing home and toppled trees and power lines when it roared through the small Oklahoma town. (Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP)
Debris litters the ground near a damaged building after a tornado swept through the area of the Pavilion Estates mobile home park, in Kalamazoo, Mich., Tuesday, May 7, 2024. ( J. Scott Park/Jackson Citizen Patriot via AP)
A mobile park home flipped onto two nearby cars after a tornado struck Pavilion Estates near Kalamazoo, Mich. on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Joey Cappelletti)
Debris litters the ground near damaged buildings after a tornado swept through the area of the Pavilion Estates mobile home park, in Kalamazoo, Mich., Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Multiple injuries were reported at the park. ( J. Scott Park/Jackson Citizen Patriot via AP)
A mobile park home at Pavilion Estates near Kalamazoo, Mich. is destroyed on the morning of Wednesday, May 8, 2024 after a tornado had swept through the night before. (AP Photo/Joey Cappelletti)
Debris is seen from a damaged FedEx facility after a tornado in Portage, Mich., Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (Brad Devereaux/Kalamazoo Gazette via AP)
FedEx trucks sit outside a damaged FedEx facility after a tornado in Portage, Mich., Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (Brad Devereaux/Kalamazoo Gazette via AP)
Storm damaged mobile homes are surrounded by debris at Pavilion Estates mobile home park just east of Kalamazoo, Mich. Wednesday, May 8, 2024. A tornado ripped through the area the evening of May 7. (Neil Blake/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)
A storm damaged mobile home is surrounded by debris at Pavilion Estates mobile home park just east of Kalamazoo, Mich. Wednesday, May 8, 2024. A tornado ripped through the area the evening of May 7. (AP Photo/Joey Cappelletti)
Residents work to remove downed trees at their home along Cothran Road after severe storms tore through the area, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Utility workers survey storm damage along Cothran Road, Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Columbia, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
A storm damaged mobile home rests in the street at Pavilion Estates mobile home park just east of Kalamazoo, Mich. Wednesday, May 8, 2024. A tornado ripped through the area the evening of May 7. (Neil Blake/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)
Greenville, Ohio, resident Brenda Pollitt wipes the tears from her eyes as she removes important papers from her bedroom, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Pollitt and her children were home at the time of the strong storm that hit Tuesday evening, May 7. She and her family ran downstairs and were all safe. (Marshall Gorby/Dayton Daily News via AP)
