The Daily Signal - TOP NEWS | Russia Arrests American Journalist, Florida AG Sues Antifa and Jane’s Revenge, Drag Queen Story Hour on Military Bases | March 30

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Starting point is 00:00:24 Get the yes you've been waiting for at Capital One.ca.ca. slash yes. Terms and conditions apply. I'm Virginia Allen. I'm Samantha Asharis. And this is the Daily Signal Top News for Thursday, March 30th. Here are today's headlines. The House passed a bill earlier today that is aimed at lowering energy costs and increasing energy independence here in America. The bill is called HR1, or the Lower Energy Costs Act. It passed largely along party lines with 221 Republicans,

Starting point is 00:01:08 voting for it, and 203 Democrats against it. Just four Democrats joined with Republicans to back the legislation, and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania was the only Republican to vote against the bill. So what exactly would this bill, H.R.1, do? I spoke with Iowa Republican Representative Marionette Miller Meeks, and ask her that very question. What I would like to tell the American people is that H.R.1 is a bill put across to lower energy costs for Iowans and Americans.

Starting point is 00:01:40 So it's very important in addressing what they have seen as record high inflation. You know, gas prices are still more than they were when the president was inaugurated into office. Food prices are still way up. And we're a farming community, an agricultural state as well. And so the prices for fertilizer, diesel, all of those prices are up. So that makes food cost higher. And so first and foremost, this bill will help lower costs for the average American person. The bill now heads to the Senate for a vote.

Starting point is 00:02:10 The bill does have a chance of passing in the Senate if Republicans can gain some backing from Democrats. But even if it passes in the Senate, H.R. 1 is unlikely to become law. President Joe Biden is expected to veto the energy bill if it reaches his desk. On Monday, the White House issued a statement saying H.R. 1 would take us backward. Therefore, if presented to the president in its current form, he, meaning Biden, would veto it. The Attorney General of Florida has filed a lawsuit against two individuals for their alleged attacks against pro-life pregnancy resource centers. Attorney General Ashley Moody is suing Caleb Hunter Freestone and Amber Marie Smith-Stewart.

Starting point is 00:02:53 According to Moody, both Freestone and Smith-Stewart are members of the far-left groups, Antifa and the radical pro-abortion group, Jane's Revenge. Moody is suing them for three attacks against pro-life pregnancy centers in Florida. The AG argues that Freestone and Smith Stewart violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act for allegedly v. V. Florida pregnancy centers after the leak of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization draft opinion last May. Moody said Antifa and Jane's Revenge are criminal organizations,

Starting point is 00:03:28 and must answer for their crimes in Florida. According to the complaint, Freestone and Smith Stewart took part in coordinated attacks against Florida pregnancy centers. The Attorney General is suing them for $170,000 each. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. In other news, during a House Armed Service Committee hearing yesterday, General Mark Millie said Drag Queen story hours should not be happening on military bases. Millie is the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and the nation's highest-ranking military officer.

Starting point is 00:04:05 Florida Republican Representative Matt Gates questioned Millie during the hearing about the drag queen story hours on military bases. Gates referenced several news articles that have reported the story hours on various bases. Afterwards, Millie asked if he could have copies of the articles per C-SPAN. Can I get copies of those? Because I'd like to take a look at those myself, actually. You take a look and find out what actually is going on there because that's the first I'm hearing about that kind of stuff. I don't read those news stories. I don't know what you're talking about.

Starting point is 00:04:34 I'd like to take a look at those because I don't agree with those. Well, they're now in the official record. Shouldn't be happening. Thank you. Thank you for that admission. Moments before that exchange, Gates questioned U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, pressing him on how much taxpayer money is used to fund drag queen story hours on military bases. At the joint base Langley Eustace, you put on a drag,

Starting point is 00:04:56 Queen Story Hour on a Saturday for the first ever kid-friendly diversity equity inclusion summer festival and at Nellis Air Force Base you had the drag you Nellis on June 17th who funded these things mr. Secretary listen drag shows and are not something that the Department of Defense supports or funds well why are they happening on military bases I just I just showed you the evidence why are they happening I will say again this is not something that we support or fun. Check out today's show notes for more reporting on this story. Russia has arrested an American reporter. Russian authorities claim Wall Street Journal reporter

Starting point is 00:05:41 Evan Gershkovic is a spy. Russia claims the reporter has been trying to obtain state secrets. The Wall Street Journal says it vehemently denies the allegations from Russia and is standing in solidarity with Evan and his family. According to his biography on the Wall Street Journal website. Gershkovic covers Russia, Ukraine, and the former Soviet Union for the news site. The White House says the State Department has been in contact with the Russian government over the arrest. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in the strongest possible terms, we condemn the Kremlin's continued attempt to intimidate, repress, and punish journalists and civic society voices. Gershkovick's arrest comes shortly after U.S. authorities

Starting point is 00:06:28 arrested a Russian spy in America. Now, Americans are asking if Gershkovic's arrest is a sort of payback or warning to America for America's arrest of the Russian spy. Here with us to answer that question is Victoria Coates, a Heritage Foundation senior research fellow in international affairs and national security. Victoria, I know that you are traveling right now, but thanks so much for taking the time to be with us today. Good to be making you for your next.

Starting point is 00:06:56 Victoria, did Russia make this arrest of the Wall Street Journal reporter for America arresting a Russian spy? Well, I mean, that's certainly one excuse at some point of the last couple of weeks under some pretty serious circumstances. And if you look at the Department of Justice website, they put out a voting record of the arrest and they laid out the charges against him. And that contrast dramatically with the Dershkovic detention actually arrested for, we don't know where he is, we can't get consular access to him. It's all very shady. So they can use that as an excuse, but I don't see the cases that's equivalent. Now, Russia says that it's going to hold Djerkovic until May 29th.

Starting point is 00:07:45 Is there anything that the U.S. government can do to free him sooner? Well, we're in a very sticky situation because unfortunately one of the things Evan was reporting on is the increasing weakness of the Russian economy, which should have happened a lot sooner. We actually should have lowered the boom on that thing this time last year. It would have been one way to wrap up the war much more quickly, but finally with dropping energy prices, Putin's really filling the pinch. And so I think he felt that he really got the better of the Britney Greiner-Victor-Vittor-Vittor-Vist Exchange. And so for him, hostage-taking as well as he possibly can, and try to leverage his celebrity as Wall Street Journal reporter to get as much as he possibly can for them.

Starting point is 00:08:37 What does this incident mean for America's relationship with Russia moving forward? Well, if you had asked me last night, I don't know that I would have said it could have gotten much worse. But, you know, this is pretty much the bottom of the barrel. I was very disappointed by the White House press secretary's statement that she was, you know, concerned by troubling reports about this and then concluded by urging American citizens not to go to Russia. Now, I certainly wouldn't take a vacation there. But for the international press, you know, who wants to report, are important, you know, significant over international stories, it is critical to go to Russia.

Starting point is 00:09:19 It's tried to get some truth out, and this was an incredibly brave thing for Owen to do. And so rather than scold him, I think we should be much more aggressive about supporting the need for, you know, a free and open press, as Secretary Blinken said. But no, it's very, in a long history of low moments, this is a real. low moment for U.S. Russian relations, and I think we have to make it clear that we're not going to stand for this. Victoria Coates of the Heritage Foundation, Victoria, thanks for your time today. Thank you, Virginia.

Starting point is 00:09:56 And that's going to do it for today's episode. Thanks so much for listening to The Daily Signal's top news. 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 a double-hitter interview. We have two lawmakers joining us, Representative Matt Rosendale and Representative Harriet Hagman, to talk about this new energy bill that the House has just passed, what exactly is included within it, and how it may lower energy costs.

Starting point is 00:10:28 Also, make sure you subscribe to the Daily Signal wherever you get your podcast and help us reach even more listeners by leaving a five-star rating and review. We read and appreciate all of your feedback. for joining us today. We hope that you all have a great night, and we'll see you right back here tomorrow morning. The Daily Signal podcast is brought to 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, Mark Geinney, and John Pop. To learn more, please visitdailySignal.com.

The Daily Signal - TOP NEWS | Russia Arrests American Journalist, Florida AG Sues Antifa and Jane’s Revenge, Drag Queen Story Hour on Military Bases | March 30

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