The Daily Signal - TOP NEWS | Possible Reparations, DeSantis Endorsed for President, “Drag Story Hour” in Manhattan, Border Hearing | March 15

Starting point is 00:00:01 I'm Samantha Chiris. I'm Virginia Allen. And this is the Daily Signal top news for Wednesday, March 15th. Here are today's headlines. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is considering payments of $5 million to every eligible black adult in the city, the Associated Press reports. The board met on Tuesday night where they unanimously supported the idea of reparations. The Associated Press also reports that some other considerations heard on Tuesday evening. including the elimination of personal debt and tax burdens, guaranteed annual incomes of at least

Starting point is 00:00:49 $97,000 for 250 years, and homes in San Francisco for just $1 a family. Raphael Mandelman, who serves on the board, says, those of my constituents who lost their minds about this proposal, it's not something we're doing or we would do for other people. It's something we would do for our future, for everybody's collective future. John Dennis, who chairs the San Francisco Republican Party, says, this conversation we're having in San Francisco is completely unsurious. They just threw a number up, there's no analysis, it seems ridiculous, and it also seems that this is the one city where it could possibly pass.

Starting point is 00:01:32 Conservative leaders representing millions of pro-life Americans are joining forces with Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville to overturn the Defense Department's newly revamped and expansive abortion policies. The Daily Signals Rob Bluey broke this news earlier today. Tuberville is blocking the confirmation of U.S. military flag and general officers, as well as civilian nominees, unless the Pentagon rescinds policies that could lead to a massive increase in the annual number of abortions from approximately 20 to more than 4,000. Now, with the backing of Catholic vote and 23 pro-life conservative leaders, the Alabama Republican has a grassroots army standing with him. The conservative leaders wrote in a letter,

Starting point is 00:02:25 The mission of the U.S. military is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security not to pursue an abortion agenda. being pushed by the Biden administration and the radical allies on the outside. Signatories include Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, Jessica Anderson, executive director of Heritage Action for America, Marjorie Danenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Dr. Ben Carson, former secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council.

Starting point is 00:03:01 Rob is also reporting that Senator Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa, introduced legislation Wednesday, along with 35 of her Senate Republican colleagues, to halt the Pentagon's policies. The Defense Department announced on February 16th it would provide three weeks of paid leave and taxpayer-funded reimbursement of travel expenses for military personnel and dependents who seek an abortion. A study from Rand Corporation estimates the Pentagon's new policies could increase the annual number of abortions from 20 to 4,000. 100 among U.S. service women. Ernst said in a statement to the daily signal,

Starting point is 00:03:41 the Pentagon should not be mobilized against the unborn. The Department of Defense exists to defend life, not destroy it. Biden's DOD's policy is not just unlawful. It's immoral. Congress has been clear. The Hyde Amendment protects taxpayers from being forced to fund abortions. I will continue to ensure the unborn and your tax dollars. are protected.

Starting point is 00:04:07 New York Attorney General Lettisha James is planning to host Drag Story Hour in Manhattan on Sunday. Families with children are invited to watch the drag performers read books for four hours. National Review reports. In an advertisement for the Sunday event, James says, My Office is proud to host a Drag Story Hour read-a-thon. Matt Anter Finance Chairman of the New York Young Republican Club tweeted, Why? Why? What is the purpose of government-funded drag queens for children? To teach tolerance? B.S. Drag is a profession, not a type of person. A profession where adult men do exaggerated female impersonations, often scantily cloud with sexual themes. This is not the way. 17 Senate Democrats are encouraging the CEOs of Costco, Walmart, Kroger, and Albertsons to sell the abortion pill Miffa Pristone. That's according to report.

Starting point is 00:05:05 from CNBC. The senators, led by Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Patty Murray of Washington, wrote a letter to the CEOs saying, we urge you to pursue policies that provide the strongest possible access to the full range of essential health care they need, including MIPA pristone and to communicate clearly to your customers about how they can access this care. CNBC also reports that the companies have not publicly stated yet whether they plan to sell MIFA Pristone at their pharmacies, and that the Food and Drug Administration in January allowed retail drug stores to sell the abortion pill so long as they became certified under a federal program that monitors how the medication is dispensed. The news comes after California Governor Gavin Newsom announced last week that California would not renew

Starting point is 00:06:01 a $54 million contract with Walgreens. That's according to reports from our colleague Kate Trinco. The drugstore chain had said it would not stock abortion pills in 21 states following a sharply worded letter from 20 state attorneys general, warning that mailing abortion drugs could violate federal and state laws. Walgreens still intends to sell abortion pills in California and 28 other states. But that's not good enough for Newsom, a Democrat who tweeted, California won't be doing business without Walgreens or any company that coweres to the extremists and puts women's lives at risk.

Starting point is 00:06:42 We're done. Texas Republican Representative Chip Roy announced Wednesday that he is endorsing Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis for president. Roy, the policy chair of the Freedom Caucus, said in a campaign email obtained by the Daily Signal, it's time for Ron DeSantis to be president of the United States. DeSantis is considered one of the top 2024 contenders, though he has not yet announced a presidential campaign. The Florida governor has drawn the ire of former President Donald Trump, who heavily critiqued DeSantis as recently as Tuesday,

Starting point is 00:07:18 comparing him to Republicans Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney, and joking about calling DeSantis Tiny D, according to the Daily Caller. Neither the Trump campaign nor Team DeSantis immediately responded to requests for comment from the Daily Signal. Roy's email states that the next president must be a vibrant and energetic leader with the faith, vision, and courage to chart a new course. Roy writes, America needs a leader who will truly defend her and empower the people against the destructive force of unrestrained government and corporate excess, profligate spending, and woke culture indoctrination. That leader is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Starting point is 00:08:00 And last today, but certainly not least, the House Homeland Security Committee hosted a field hearing in McCallin, Texas earlier today. Chairman Mark Green kicked off the meeting by criticizing Democrats who were noticeably absent from the hearing. Green labeled their absence a political stunt. Green also said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas won't detain illegal aliens because he needs. knows that detention is deterrence. Green also questioned Border Patrol Chief Raoul Ortiz about whether DHS has operational control of the border. Let's listen to what he had to say. Chief Ortiz, does DHS have operational control of our entire border? No, sir. Okay, thank you for that. I'd like to share it with the American people. This is the actual definition.

Starting point is 00:08:58 of operational control that is in the code, written into the code well before I came to Congress, the definition, and I appreciate the honesty of G4T's. Do you think that, let's play a video clip here. I just want to share this question. Will you testify under oath right now? Do we have operational control, yes or no? Yes, we do. We have operational control of the borders.

Starting point is 00:09:25 Yes, we do. G4D, Ortiz. Do you think that Secretary Mayorkas is lying there? Sir, when you talk about operational control, about 10 years ago, we used operational control as a measuring stick of our effectiveness along the southwest border. My new strategy is geared towards mission advantage. So you know, I'm asking a very specific question. And you're kind of describing how the goalpost has been moved because of the mass waves of people that are coming.

Starting point is 00:09:59 My question, you heard the secretary. He said we have operational control. That's the definition of operational control. Based upon the definition you have, sir, up there, no. Kenny County Sheriff Brad Coe also testified. Let's take a listen to some of his comments. Currently we're under siege by illegal aliens and smugglers coming through the county, trying to get to destinations within the United States.

Starting point is 00:10:23 With the current open door policy, Kenny County has seen a dramatic increase in alien activity. The number of migrants seen on the United States. game cameras that I currently have deployed throughout the state, thanks to DPS, we're averaging between 160 and 180 people per night that are going through the county unchallenged. That comes out to roughly 60,000 people enter through my county this year. These are also considered godwise by Kenny County because we don't have the resources to go out and track and try to apprehend these people walking through the county. We'll be sure to include a link in today's show notes with the Daily Signals report on the full

Starting point is 00:10:58 hearing. And that'll do for today's episode. Thank you for listening to The Daily Signal's top news. And if you haven't had the chance, be sure to check out our morning show right here in the same podcast feed where we interview lawmakers, experts, and leading conservative voices. Join us tomorrow morning for the Daily Signal interview edition. I'll be sitting down with Art Matthias. He's the founder of the group Alaskans for honest elections. We'll be discussing ranked choice voting the importance of election integrity, how big the movement around.

Starting point is 00:11:29 ranked choice voting is, and what's at stake if Alaska continues down this path. Also, make sure to take just five minutes to subscribe to the Daily Foodnote wherever you like to listen, and leave us a rating and review. We love hearing 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 you by more than half a million members of the Heritage Foundation. Executive producers are Rob Luey and Kate Trinko. Producers are Virginia Allen and Samantha Asheras. Sound designed by Lauren Evans,

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The Daily Signal - TOP NEWS | Possible Reparations, DeSantis Endorsed for President, “Drag Story Hour” in Manhattan, Border Hearing | March 15

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