The Daily Signal - Death of Iran’s President, Netanyahu Arrest Warrant, Judge Blocks Biden’s Gun Rule | May 20

Starting point is 00:00:01 I'm Brian Gottstein, and this is the Daily Signal Top News for Monday, May 20th. Here are today's headlines. Questions remain over how this weekend's death of Iran's president will affect tensions in the Middle East. Iranian president, Ibrahim Raussi, and Iran's foreign minister were killed in a helicopter crash over the weekend. There's no evidence of foul play, and speculation is that bad weather and pilot negligence may have been the main reasons for the crash. Raeisi was nicknamed the butcher of Tehran for ordering the execution of thousands of political prisoners in the 1980s. While he was Iran's highest elected leader, he was not the highest leader in the nation. That position goes to Supreme Leader Ali Komeni.

Starting point is 00:00:58 Virginia Allen sat down with Heritage Foundation's director of the Allison Center for National Security, Robert Greenway, to ask him about what the president's death means for the leadership of Iran. In the end, in terms of the significance, obviously the president's departure has a significant impact on the politics inside of Iran, but the Supreme Leader remains in control. And in the end, the position of both were really to convey the decisions made by the Supreme Leader. They had some influence over it, but in the end, the Supreme Leader remains in charge. And so there should be no change to domestic or external policies. The Supreme Leader of Iran has named the country's first vice president, to serve as acting president for now. Greenway says the Biden administration could use the death of the

Starting point is 00:01:46 president as an opportunity to stand with the citizens of Iran, but notes that he is not likely to use that approach. I think there's an opportunity for the U.S. to demonstrate maximum support for the Iranian population. And again, I don't think that's the policy. The White House had reportedly negotiators in Oman just the last week or so discussing the latest round of. nuclear and sanctions-related conversations with Iran. So I suspect that they will take an opposite tact and probably try to be additionally conciliatory toward the Iranian regime, which is unfortunate. You can hear the rest of Virginia's interview with Robert Greenway in the Daily Signal podcast

Starting point is 00:02:27 tomorrow morning. The International Criminal Court is seeking an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defense minister Yoav Galant for crimes that allegedly include murder, persecution, and starvation of a civilian population. Prosecutor Karim Khan said Monday, now more than ever, we must collectively demonstrate that international humanitarian law, the foundational baseline for human conduct during conflict, applies to all individuals and applies equally across situations addressed by my office and the

Starting point is 00:03:01 court. The court says it's also seeking an arrest warrant against three Hamas leaders. President Joe Biden responded to the news today, saying the warrants for the Israeli leaders is outrageous. Biden added that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas. The announcement from the International Criminal Court has left many in Israel in shock and outraged. Reuters reports that opposition leader Yar-Lapid called the move from the criminal court a disaster. Encentress Benny Gantz called it a crime of historic proportions.

Starting point is 00:03:35 The Heritage Foundation's Brett Schaefer says the International Criminal Court is part of a broad-based effort. by the Palestinian Authority to weaponize international organizations in its dispute with Israel. Schaefer says the criminal court has enabled Palestinian lawfare efforts against Israel and damaged prospects for peace by recognizing Palestinian statehood. He said that the court has asserted jurisdiction over Israeli citizens, even though Israel has rejected its jurisdiction, and that the court has ignored Israel's demonstrated ability and willingness to investigate crimes. Former President Donald Trump was back in court in Manhattan today.

Starting point is 00:04:15 Trump's legal team concluded their cross-examination of former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. Trump gave brief remarks outside the courtroom this morning, as we hear from Forbes. They have no case, they have no crime. It's been determined by everybody, every legal scholar, New York Post editorial board today. Trump prosecution wind down. It's always been a witch hunt. With a prosecution winding down to Donald Trump's Manhattan case, we have to ask, in the mortal words of Peggy Lee, is that all there is? Cohen allegedly carried out what prosecutors are calling a hush money scheme for Trump ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Starting point is 00:04:58 This was Cohen's fourth day on the stand giving testimony about the role he played in facilitating $130,000 in payments to Porn Star Stormy Daniels, to keep her quiet about her alleged relations with Trump before he was president. Cohen testified today that he did talk to Trump in October 2016 and said he received Trump's approval to facilitate the payment to Daniels. Trump lawyer Todd Blanche highlighted Cohen's history of lying, even lying under oath as he concluded the cross-examination today. At one point, Trump's lawyer asked Cohen, It's true that you will lie out of loyalty, correct?

Starting point is 00:05:36 and Cohen, according to Yahoo News, responded, yes, sir. The jury may begin their deliberation as soon as this week, but the case may extend into next. We close today's show with a bit of Second Amendment news. A U.S. District Court judge has blocked a new Biden administration rule that would require private individuals selling firearms at gun shows to register as gun dealers and obtain federal licenses and conduct background checks on the people they sell their guns to. The gun rule was supposed to take effect today. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been fighting the new rule.

Starting point is 00:06:13 After the judge temporarily blocked it, Paxton said he was relieved that Texas was able to secure a restraining order that will prevent the rule from taking effect. The judge's order stopping the restrictions on gun sales is in effect until June 2nd, pending further litigation. And that'll do it for today's episode. Thanks for listening to the Daily Signals Top News. If you haven't gotten a chance, be sure to check out.

Starting point is 00:06:36 our morning show right here in this podcast feed, where we interview lawmakers, experts, and leading conservative voices. Be sure to check out Virginia Allen's conversation with Robert Greenway tomorrow morning as they discuss what the death of Iran's president means for tensions in the Middle East. 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 tomorrow morning. The Daily Signal podcast is brought to by more than half a million members of the Heritage Foundation.

Starting point is 00:07:18 Executive producers are Rob Blewey and Kate Trinko. Producers are Virginia Allen and Samantha Asheras. Sound designed by Lauren Evans, Mark Geinney, and John Pop. To learn more, please visit DailySignal.com.

The Daily Signal - Death of Iran’s President, Netanyahu Arrest Warrant, Judge Blocks Biden’s Gun Rule | May 20

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