The Daily Signal - Biden and Trump Agree to Debate, Former Democrat Wins WV GOP Primary, Congress Launches Probe Into Anti-Israel Protests| May 15

Starting point is 00:00:02 I'm Brian Gottstein, and this is the Daily Signal Top News for Wednesday, May 15th. Here are today's headlines. Former President Donald Trump accepted President Joe Biden's offer to go head-to-head in two televised debates. They're set to take place on CNN on June 27th and September 10th. Biden said in a post on X, I've received and accepted an invitation from CNN for a debate on June 27th. Over to you, Donald. as you said, anywhere, any time, any place. CNN set rules for who would be eligible for the debate,

Starting point is 00:00:48 including that candidates must have their name appear on enough state ballots to reach the threshold of 270 electoral votes that are needed to win the presidency. Candidates must also receive at least 15% in four separate national polls. So far, Biden and Trump are the only candidates who can fill out those requirements. Independent candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. currently doesn't meet the polling or ballot requirements. Biden's ex-account posted a video challenging Trump to the debates. Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020.

Starting point is 00:01:22 The sense that he hadn't shown up for debate. Now he's acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal. I'll even do it twice. So let's pick the dates, Donald. I hear you're free on Wednesdays. Biden proposed who would host the debate, saying that it could be any broadcast organization

Starting point is 00:01:38 that oversaw a Republican primary debate in 2016 that Trump participated in, and a Democratic primary debate in 2020 that Mr. Biden took part in. According to CBS News, that narrowed the networks down to CBS, ABC, CNN, and Telemundo. Trump sent in a statement to Fox News, Crooked Joe Biden is the worst debater I've ever faced. He can't put two sentences together. Crooked is also the worst president in the history of the United States by far. Trump said he was ready to go anywhere, anytime, any place.

Starting point is 00:02:12 Followed by, let's see if Joe can make it to the stand-up podium. Several election primaries took place on Tuesday. West Virginia Governor Jim Justice won the GOP nomination for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. He defeated Representative Alex Mooney. Justice is a former Democrat who switched parties in 2017 during an event with then President Donald Trump. Justice is a heavy favorite against Democrat Glenn Elliott,

Starting point is 00:02:43 a mayor from Wheeling, West Virginia, who defeated two other Democrats to take the nomination. Elliot told Metro News following his victory on Tuesday that he thinks he will outwork justice, who he says has his own issues to be worrying about. Elliot says he thinks the race is going to be closer than people think. In Maryland, former Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican won the nomination for a Senate seat

Starting point is 00:03:05 that opened up after a Democratic Senator Ben Cardin's announcement that he won't run for re-election. He'll face Democrat Angela Alstabrooks in the general election. If Alsobrooks wins, she will be the first black senator from Maryland. Hogan is a more moderate Republican who won two statewide elections for governor in the heavily Democratic state. Inflation slowed down in April, but still remains high. Inflation increased 0.3% from March, according to a Labor Department Bureau of Labor Statistics report released on Wednesday. It's up 3.4% since April a year ago. The Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index report tracks what suppliers are charging customers and other businesses.

Starting point is 00:03:50 President Joe Biden issued a statement on the numbers saying, Fighting inflation and lowering costs is my top economic priority. I know many families are struggling and that even though we've made progress, we have a lot more to do. inflation has fallen more than 60% from its peak and core inflation fell to its lowest level in three years. Alfredo Ortiz, CEO of the Job Creators Network, criticized the administration for the continuing inflation problem. He said that the country has hit a sad milestone. Inflation under President Joe Biden hit 20%, he said. He continued, as a result ordinary Americans face a cost of living crisis and declining living standards,

Starting point is 00:04:31 with price increases outpacing wages. Many businesses don't work in this inflationary environment. For instance, Red Lobster is shutting down and considering filing for bankruptcy. For every Red Lobster, there are dozens of small businesses that can't make the new numbers work. At a certain price point, consumers refuse to pay for goods and services. Ortiz said that the reason for high prices is the Biden administration and congressional Democrats, reckless government spending, and what he calls anti-cheap energy policies. Congress launched a probe into 20 nonprofit groups bankrolling and supporting anti-Israel protests on college campuses on Tuesday,

Starting point is 00:05:10 according to a report by the Washington Free Beacon. The Beacon reported that Congress is petitioning federal authorities to turn over internal documents that could tie the nonprofits to money laundering and terrorism financing. Kentucky Representative James Comer and North Carolina Representative Virginia Fox, both Republicans, launched the investigation. They are the chairs of the House's Oversight Committee and Education Committee respectively. They asked the Treasury Department to turn over what are called suspicious activity reports to Congress, which are filed if financial institutions detect instances of potential money laundering or terrorism support. According to the Free Beacon, the groups being investigated include students for justice in Palestine, American Muslims for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, the Tides Foundation, Open Society Foundation,

Starting point is 00:06:00 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Council on American Islamic Relations or Care. Comer and Fox say that they have grave concerns over what they say is the ongoing chaos and illegal and anti-Semitic activities taking place on an increasing number of campuses across the country. The FBI suspended security clearances of 106 whistleblower agents for more than a year, according to an Inspector General's report released on Tuesday. According to the report, the FBI didn't provide ways for those whistleblowers to stay employed while their clearances were being reviewed. This despite a top FBI official denying in closed-door depositions before Congress that there was retaliation. According to the New York Post, which reviewed transcripts of depositions,

Starting point is 00:06:48 this is despite a top FBI official denying in closed-door depositions before Congress that there was retaliation. Former FBI Assistant Director of Human Resources, Jennifer Lee Moore, denied to the House Judiciary Committee in April 2023 that her agency took retaliatory measures against agents who had gone to Congress with information. Moore said at the time the FBI does not use a suspension as a punitive measure ever. It is only utilized in national security matters. She further said that the FBI takes whistleblowers very seriously and that the FBI requires agents to report waste, fraud, abuse and misconduct. An armed man shot Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico in an assassination attempt on Wednesday. The gunman shot Fico in the stomach outside a government building in the town of Handova, according to government officials. The shooter was quickly apprehended and arrested.

Starting point is 00:07:43 According to ABC News, the prime minister was rushed to a local hospital and is in critical condition. Slovakian president, Susana Kapatova, said in an address to the nation, I am shocked. We are all shocked by the terrible and malicious attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico. She continued, a physical act on the Prime Minister is primarily an attack on a person. But it's also an attack on democracy. Any violence is unacceptable. The hateful rhetoric we witness in society leads to hateful acts. Please, let's stop it. And that'll do it for today's episode. Thank you for listening to the Daily Signal's top news. If you haven't gotten a chance, be sure to check out our morning show,

Starting point is 00:08:24 right here in this podcast feed, where we interview lawmakers, experts, and leading conservative voices. Also, make sure you subscribe to The Daily Signal wherever you get your podcasts and help us to reach more listeners by leaving a five-star rating and review. We read all of your feedback. Thanks again for listening. Have a great night, and we'll be back with you all again tomorrow morning. The Daily Signal podcast is made possible because of listeners like you. Executive producers are Rob Bluey and Kate Trinko. Hosts are Virginia Allen, Brian Gottstein, Mary Margaret O'Lehann, and Tyler O'Neill. Sound design by Lauren Evans, Mark Geiney, and John Pop.

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The Daily Signal - Biden and Trump Agree to Debate, Former Democrat Wins WV GOP Primary, Congress Launches Probe Into Anti-Israel Protests| May 15

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