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Rep. Adam Smith on why Biden should step aside — “The Takeout”

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Congressman Adam Smith, who represents Washington and was among the first House Democrats to call on President Biden to exit the presidential race after his dismal debate, talked with CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett on “The Takeout” podcast about why the president, who easily clinched his party’s nomination, should now walk away from the race. 

“When Joe Biden walked off that debate stage two weeks ago, there was only one thing to do,” Smith said. “And that was for his team to say, ‘We’re done.'”

Smith is among at least 13 House Democrats to have publicly expressed opposition to the president’s reelection bid. Smith suspects “somewhere between three and 10” more to also come out against Mr. Biden, bringing the total to around 20. 

Smith believes the president has a strong platform to run on, but he “can no longer effectively deliver the message.”

He believes Vice President Kamala Harris should replace Mr. Biden atop the ticket and suggested Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer should be her vice president. 

“The country has been saying since the start of this campaign, give us somebody different,” Smith said. “They’ve been begging for somebody different. If the Democratic Party at a convention with our delegates, came out and gave them somebody different, I think we would get an incredible boost out of that.”

If Mr. Biden stays in the race, however, he will still have Smith’s full support. 

“If Joe Biden runs, he is the best candidate of the field by a wide margin. Even in his current condition, he is the best candidate in this field by a wide margin.”

Smith called Mr. Biden one of the best first-term presidents ever but worries a loss in November would forever damage his legacy. 

“You have an incredible legacy. Don’t screw it up,” Smith said about Mr. Biden.  “It’s unfair and it’s unforgiving, but if you run and you make a mistake and you misjudge how strong you are to get into this campaign, you’re jeopardizing your legacy and you care about this country.”

Executive producer: Arden Farhi

Producers: Jamie Benson, Jacob Rosen, Sara Cook and Eleanor Watson

CBSN Production: Eric Soussanin 
Show email: TakeoutPodcast@cbsnews.com
Twitter: @TakeoutPodcast
Instagram: @TakeoutPodcast
Facebook: Facebook.com/TakeoutPodcast





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911 calls released in deadly Georgia school shooting

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A Georgia county’s emergency call center was overwhelmed by calls on Sept. 4 about a school shooting at Apalachee High School that killed four people and wounded nine others, records released Friday by Barrow County show.

Local news organizations report many of the 911 phone calls were not released under public record requests because state law exempts from release calls recording the voice of someone younger than 18 years old. That exemption would cover calls from most of the 1,900 students at the school in Winder, northeast of Atlanta.

Calls spiked around 10:20 a.m., when authorities have said that 14-year-old suspect Colt Gray began shooting. Many calls were answered with an automated message saying there was a “high call volume,” WAGA-TV reported.

One man called 911 after receiving text messages from a girlfriend. He was put on hold for just over 10 minutes because of an influx of calls at the time of the shooting, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

“She hears people yelling outside, so I don’t know if that’s officers in the building or that’s — I don’t know,” he said, adding that she was eventually evacuated out of the school.

Other adults also called 911 after their children contacted them.

“My daughter calling me crying. Somebody go ‘boom, boom, boom, boom,'” one mother said. The 911 operator responded: “Ma’am we have officers out there, OK?”

Parents of students at an elementary school and middle school neighboring Apalachee also flooded 911 seeking information.

“Sir, my daughter goes to school next door to Apalachee. Is there a school shooter?” one caller asked.

“We do have an active situation (at) Apalachee High School right now,” the operator responded. “We have a lot of calls coming in.”

More than 500 radio messages between emergency personnel were also released Friday.

“Active shooter!” an officer yells in one audio clip while speaking with a dispatcher, CNN reported. Another officer responds, “Correct. We have an active shooter at Apalachee High School.”

The shooting killed teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, as well as students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. Another teacher and eight more students were wounded, with seven of those hit by gunfire.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported Thursday that the suspect rode the school bus on the day of the shooting with the assault-style rifle concealed in his backpack.

He then asked a teacher for permission to go to the front office to speak with someone, and when he received it, he was allowed to take his backpack with him, GBI said. He then went to a restroom, where he hid, and then eventually took out the weapon and started shooting, investigators said. A knife was also found on him when he was arrested.

According to investigators, the suspect enrolled at Apalachee High on Aug. 14, and between Aug. 14 and the day of the shooting, he was absent for nine days of school.

The family told CBS News that the suspect’s maternal grandmother had visited the school the day before the massacre to discuss the suspect’s alleged behavioral issues. 

The suspect has been charged as an adult with four counts of murder, and District Attorney Brad Smith has said more charges are likely to be filed against him in connection with the wounded. Authorities have also charged his father, 54-year-old Colin Gray, alleging that he gave his son access to the gun when he knew or should have known that the teen was a danger to himself and others.

The 13,000 students at Barrow County’s other schools returned to class Tuesday. The 1,900 students who attend Apalachee are supposed to start returning the week of Sept. 23, officials said Friday.



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Pope says Trump, Harris are both “against life”

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Pope says Trump, Harris are both “against life” – CBS News


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Speaking to reporters Friday, Pope Francis made clear he doesn’t agree with former President Donald Trump’s immigration policy, or Vice President Kamala Harris’ stance on abortion.

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9/13: CBS News Weekender – CBS News

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9/13: CBS News Weekender – CBS News


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Lana Zak has the latest on Boeing factory workers going on strike for the first time in 16 years, an update from the Starliner astronauts still on the International Space Station, and how you can combat election anxiety.

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