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Month: August 2024

FACT FOCUS: Trump blends falsehoods and exaggerations at rambling NJ press conference

FACT FOCUS: Trump blends falsehoods and exaggerations at rambling NJ press conference

Former President Donald Trump on Thursday gave his second news conference in as many weeks as he adjusts to a newly energized Democratic ticket ahead of next week’s Democratic National Convention.

At his New Jersey golf club, the Republican nominee blended falsehoods about the economy with misleading statements and deeply personal attacks about his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Here’s a closer look at the facts.

Inflation did not take the toll Trump claimed. Growth surged under Biden

TRUMP: “As a result of Kamala’s inflation, price hikes have cost the typical household a total of $28,000. … When I left office, I left Kamala and crooked Joe Biden a surging economy and no inflation. The mortgage rate was around 2%. Gasoline had reached $1.87 a gallon. … Harris and Biden blew it all up.”

THE FACTS: Trump made numerous economic claims that were either exaggerated or misleading. Prices did surge during the Biden-Harris administration, though $28,000 is far higher than independent estimates. Moody’s Analytics calculated last year that price increases over the previous two years were costing the typical U.S. household $709 a month. That would equal $8,500 a year. read more

Pictures: Coming to Walt Disney World

Pictures: Coming to Walt Disney World

Coming to Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom will be home...

Coming to Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom will be home to a villains-themed land with two major attractions, shopping and dining. “It’s going to be a fearless new vision for what a Disney experience can be,’ said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences. (Walt Disney Co.)

Coming to Walt Disney World: Animal Kingdom will be home...

Coming to Walt Disney World: Animal Kingdom will be home to a Tropical Americas land that includes an ‘Encanto’ attractions and a ride tied to ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.’ (Walt Disney Co.)

Coming to Walt Disney World: Animal Kingdom will be home...

Coming to Walt Disney World: Animal Kingdom will be home to a Tropical Americas land that includes an ‘Encanto’ attractions and a ride tied to ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.’ (Walt Disney Co.)

Coming to Walt Disney World: Animal Kingdom will be home...

Coming to Walt Disney World: Animal Kingdom will be home to a Tropical Americas land that includes an ‘Encanto’ ride-through attraction featuring Antonio, who can communicate with animals, and other members of the Madrigal family and the Casita. (Walt Disney Co.) read more

Report: Magic Kingdom tops global attendance charts for ’23

Report: Magic Kingdom tops global attendance charts for ’23

Magic Kingdom was the most popular theme park in the world again in 2023, according to a global attendance report released Thursday.

But total gains North America were modest, with two Walt Disney World parks, both Universal Orlando parks and SeaWorld Orlando all having declines from their 2022 figures.

The TEA / AECOM Theme Park and Museum Index froze their rankings for the past three annual reports due to the COVID pandemic and its related closures. But it shared attendance numbers during that period.

“In essence, our 2019 list was a control set that we followed during the recovery period. This year is the right time to return to our normal process of ranking,” wrote Francisco Refuerzo, senior analyst with AECOM Economics.

In 2023, Magic Kingdom had 17.72 million visitors in 2023, an increase of 3.4%. Disneyland of Anaheim California was a close second with 17.25 million, an increase of 2.2%.

Epcot ranked eighth worldwide with 11.98 million guests, an increase of 19.8%. Disney’s Hollywood Studios was 10th with 10.3 million visitors, a decrease of 5.5%. read more