The Daily Signal - Merrick Garland Vote, Anti-DEI Bill, Israel-Gaza Ceasefire, | June 12

Starting point is 00:00:00 Despite Hunter's guilty verdict, President Joe Biden is still proud of him. I'm Elizabeth Troutman, and this is the Daily Signal Top News for Wednesday, June 12th. The House of Representatives just voted on a resolution holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. The 216 to 207 vote is unlikely to result in Garland facing prosecution, but it may strengthen the Republican subpoena for the audio files of President Biden's interview with special counsel Robert Herr. Representative David Joyce, a Republican from Ohio, was the loan member of the GOP to vote no. The resolution focuses on Attorney General Garland's refusal to turn over an audio recording of President Joe Biden's interview with Special Counsel Robert Her. Her investigated Biden's handling of classified documents. Biden invoked executive privilege to prevent the release of the recording.

Starting point is 00:01:04 President Joe Biden said he was proud of his son Hunter yesterday moments following Hunter's conviction on three felony charges involving purchasing a gun. while using crack cocaine. The president committed to accept the outcome of the case and respect the judicial process. President Biden said, As I said last week, I am the president, but I am also a dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today. So many families who have had loved ones battle with addiction understand the feeling of pride, seeing someone you love come out the other side and be so strong and resilient in recovery.

Starting point is 00:01:38 President Biden said he and his wife Jill will always be there for Hunter and the rest of their family. In the past, the president has called Hunter the smartest man he knows. Hunter Biden's lawyers are likely preparing a set of appeals. CNN has speculated the president may overturn his only living son's sentence. This is the clip from CNN. I will note the president has said that he would not pardon his son, that he will respect the verdict. I will note, look, legal nerd here, right, recovering a lawyer. There's also the option to potentially commute any sentence.

Starting point is 00:02:09 While he may not pardon his son, he would have the option to commute whatever sentence his son receives here for this trial. So if at the end of his term, his son is still serving that sentence, he could potentially commute his sentence. So something important to remember, even though his father has said at this point, he would not offer him a pardon. While Hunter faces a maximum of 25 years in prison, legal experts say he is not likely to face jail time as a first time offender. Hunter's sentencing date has not yet been set. House Republicans introduced a bill Wednesday to ban DEI, in government contracting. The bill would eliminate all diversity, equity, and inclusion positions

Starting point is 00:02:48 in the federal government and bar federal contractors from requiring DEI statements and training sessions. Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio and Representative Michael Cloud of Texas introduced the DEMATAL DEI Act. If passed, it would prohibit federal grants from going to diversity initiatives. Heritage Action for America endorsed the bill. Executive Vice President of Heritage Action, Ryan Walker told the Daily Signal that DEI policies have nothing to do with equity or inclusion. Walker said, The American people have had enough of the political spin and DEI indoctrination that has made our country weaker and more divided than ever before. Here to talk about the bill, we have the Heritage Foundation's Mike Gonzalez. Mike is the Angelis T. R.A. Dando, Senior Fellow on

Starting point is 00:03:36 E. Pluribus Unum. How big of a problem is DEI in government right now? The EI is a humongous problem. The private sector and some of the universities are beginning to walk away from the EI because DEI is so divisive and has been found to be so bad for America that it is clear. So the private sector has not wholly abandoned the EI, but it's trying to run away as fast as possible. Not the Biden administration. The Biden administration has embraced it with both. arms in both legs. It's a real big embrace, which means that the whole federal bureaucracy,

Starting point is 00:04:17 four million strong by some counts. And the federal contractors, which I think have been put at 17 million, is a huge size of the American labor force, also needs to embrace the EEI because of these political decisions. And how will this bill change business as usual, if passed, for government contractors who will no longer be able to require diversity initiatives. What this bill will do is get rid of DEI. It takes away money from the EI. It says we'll refuse to fund it. And not only that, but DEI practices will be illegal.

Starting point is 00:05:00 So I think that this bill is actually a very strong cudgel against the EI. Thank you so much for coming in today. Thank you. State, Anthony Blinken announced today that mediators will continue working to close a ceasefire deal in the Hamas-Israel war, though Hamas has changed its demands. This is from Al Jazeera. Here's Blinken. Hamas has proposed numerous changes to the proposal that was on the table. We discussed those changes last night with Egyptian colleagues and today with the prime minister. Some of the changes are workable, some are not.

Starting point is 00:05:38 Neither Israel nor Hamas have fully embraced the ceasefire deal. Blinken said the mediators, which are Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., will keep trying to close this deal. The war between Hamas and Israel has been ongoing since October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel killing more than 1,200 people. Over the weekend, Israel rescued four of the roughly 250 captives seized by Hamas in the October 7th cross-border attack. ICE arrested six Russian nationals with suspected ties to ISIS yesterday. The New York Post reported that the Russian nationals were arrested in a coordinated sting operation spanning Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia. The six were arrested over the last week after the FBI warned ICE about the persons.

Starting point is 00:06:27 Two other members of the same group were also arrested after being under surveillance for several months by a multi-agency joint terrorism task force. NBC reported. Their investigation discovered one of the arrested persons discussing a bomb during a wiretapped phone call. A source from ICE told the New York Post, Remember the Boston Marathon bombing? I'm afraid something like that might happen again or worse. The target, who was subject to the wiretap,

Starting point is 00:06:55 was previously released by federal authorities at the southern border with a court date next year. It has since emerged that he has potential ties to ISIS. Lakers star Jerry West died Wednesday at 86 years old. The legendary NBA player, coach, and general manager died with his wife Karen by his side. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement that he valued his friendship with Jerry in the knowledge he shared with him about basketball and life. Silver continued, on behalf of the NBA, we send our deepest condolences to Jerry's wife, Karen, and his many friends in the NBA community.

Starting point is 00:07:33 West ranks as one of the best ever to play in the NBA. His silhouette is featured on the NBA logo on every uniform and NBA-related piece of merchandise. West was also a co-captain on the U.S. Olympic basketball team that went on to win the gold medal in 1960. He never had a losing season as a coach. West took his team to the playoffs in each of the three years he coached. As general manager, he built some of the greatest teams in Lakers history. West was born May 28, 1938, to Cecil and Howard West. He is survived by his wife, Karen, and their five children. And that'll do it for today's episode. Thank you so much for listening to The Daily Signal's top news.

Starting point is 00:08:17 If you haven't gotten a chance, be sure to check out our morning show right here in this podcast feed, where we interview lawmakers, experts, and leading conservative voices. Join us tomorrow morning for the Daily Signal interview edition. Our Daily Signal, executive editor and president Rob Bluey, will be sitting down with Oklahoma State Treasurer, Todd Russ. Also, make sure you subscribe to The Daily Signal wherever you get your podcasts and help us reach more listeners by leaving a five-star rating and review. We read all of your feedback. Thanks again for listening. Have a wonderful Wednesday night and we'll be back with you all tomorrow morning. The Daily Signal podcast is made possible because of listeners like you. Executive producers are Rob Bluey and Kate Trinko.

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The Daily Signal - Merrick Garland Vote, Anti-DEI Bill, Israel-Gaza Ceasefire, | June 12

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