1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 1: The Trump administration said on Thursday that it has launched 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:09,479 Speaker 1: an investigation into thirteen states that requires state regulated health 3 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 1: insurance plans to cover abortion. This is a major development, 4 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: and it goes right to the core of one of 5 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: the biggest cultural and constitial battles in America right now. 6 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: We're talking about states like California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, 7 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 1: states where the government has said, if you want insurance, 8 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 1: abortion coverage is mandatory with no exceptions, and the Trump 9 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: administration is now saying that may be illegal. 10 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 2: Now. 11 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 1: At the center of this fight is something called the 12 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: Weldon Amendment. It's a federal law that has been on 13 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: the books for years. It explicitly says the government cannot 14 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: discriminate against healthcare entities, doctors, insurers, employers who refuse to 15 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: provide or pay for refer for abortions. In other words, 16 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 1: you cannot force Americans to violate their conscience. 17 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 3: But here's where it gets serious. 18 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: The Trump Administration's Department of Health and Human Services says 19 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:19,680 Speaker 1: these states mandates may be doing exactly that, forcing employers 20 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 1: and individuals into plans that cover abortion even if it 21 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 1: violates their religious beliefs. And according to officials that could 22 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: put billions of dollars in federal health care funding at 23 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: risk if states are found in violation. 24 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 3: Now, let's talk about the scale of this. 25 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: There are thirteen states currently under the investigation. These laws 26 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: affect millions of Americans enrolled in state regulated insurance plans. 27 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: Federal protections aren't just one law. There are actually more 28 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 1: than two dozen federal statutes protecting religious and moral objections 29 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: in healthcare. And here's the key stat that matters politically. 30 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: For decades, under the High Amendment, federal taxpayer dollars have 31 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: been barred from funding abortion. That policy has had Bi 32 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: Parson support for decades. President Trump didn't just maintain it, 33 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 1: he strengthened it, signing executive action to enforce it across 34 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: the federal government. And most importantly, I'm sure taxpayer money 35 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 1: is not used for elective abortions. And this is where 36 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: the Trump Agenda comes into focus. From day one, the 37 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 1: administration has made it crystal clear we protect life, we 38 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:45,920 Speaker 1: defend religious liberty, and stop government coercion. The White House 39 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: has said President Trump is committed to protecting the unborn 40 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: and restoring conscience rights across federal policy. This investigation, they 41 00:02:56,240 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 1: say is a direct extension of that promise. Now, the 42 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: other part of this debate is how officials are actually 43 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 1: fighting over it. Framing the arguments. Paula Stenard, who heads 44 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 1: the HHS Office for Civil Rights, put it bluntly, healthcare 45 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: entities are protected from paying for abortion contrary to conscience. 46 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 3: Period. That's not ambiguous. 47 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: That's a line in the sand, and conservatives are rallying 48 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: behind this move as well. I'm going to tell you 49 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 1: more about that in a moment, but first I want 50 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: to talk to you about how you can help the 51 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: people in Israel right now who are under attack with 52 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:38,559 Speaker 1: the amazing work that's being done by the International Fellowship 53 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 1: of Christians and Jews. Having just come back from Israel, 54 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: I want to paint you a picture. It's midnight, sirens 55 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:49,119 Speaker 1: are blearing, and you have only seconds to grab your 56 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: child and run. Now imagine your elderly. Your legs don't 57 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 1: work like they used to, Getting downstairs feels impossible, and 58 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 1: after all of that, you end up in a bomb 59 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: shelter for hours, even days, because you can't make the 60 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: trek again. This is what's happening across Israel as Operation 61 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: Epic Fury continues. Children are being traumatized, families are just exhausted, 62 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: and homes have been destroyed. And that's why the International 63 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 1: Fellowship of Christians and Jews is there on the ground, 64 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: bringing food, emergency equipment, care for those children, and help 65 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 1: for the elderly, and supplying the bomb shelters and medical 66 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 1: centers for critically needed essentials. If you've ever wondered what 67 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: it looks like to stand for Israel and stand for 68 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: good against evil, this is it. And that's why I'm 69 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: asking to now, please act, give forty five dollars right 70 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: now to rush life saving essentials to the vulnerables under fire. 71 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 1: You can also call eight eight eight for eight eight IFCJ. 72 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 1: That's eight eight eight for eight eight IFCJ. Join me 73 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 1: and give and make a real difference online at IFC 74 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:01,280 Speaker 1: dot org. 75 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 3: That's IFCJ dot org. 76 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: So back to conservatives that are rallying behind the Presidence leadership. 77 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: Pro life and religious liberty advocates have argued for years 78 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:17,720 Speaker 1: that these mandates are government overreach, forcing faith based organizations, 79 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 1: small businesses, and individuals into impossible choices. Many conservative leaders 80 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:28,359 Speaker 1: have said, in response to policies like this quote, no 81 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 1: Americans should be forced to choose between their faith and 82 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 1: the law, or the government should not compel participation in abortion. 83 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 1: And the White House said this conscience rights are civil rights. 84 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:44,800 Speaker 1: And that last point is key because what the Trump 85 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:49,120 Speaker 1: administration is doing here is reframing this entire debate, and 86 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:53,040 Speaker 1: that is brilliant, not just as an abortion policy, but 87 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 1: as a civil rights issue. 88 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 3: Now. 89 00:05:56,480 --> 00:06:00,599 Speaker 1: Politically, this is a very strategic move. It draws a 90 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 1: crystal clear contrast. The Republicans and the Trump administration are 91 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: defending religious liberty and individual choice, and Democrats are expanding 92 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 1: mandates and government control in healthcare, forcing you to actually 93 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 1: pay for coverage for abortions even if you don't agree 94 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 1: with it religiously. And it puts Democrats finally on defense 95 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 1: because they now have to explain why someone should be 96 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: forced to pay for something they morally and religiously oppose. 97 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:37,719 Speaker 1: Even critics of the administration are admitting what's happening here. 98 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: Some Democratic officials are already calling the investigation politically motivated. 99 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: But that also shows how high stakes this debate really is, 100 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: because if the Trump administration wins, you could see three 101 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 1: different things happen. Number one, states would be forced to 102 00:06:56,080 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 1: roll back abortion mandates, number two, federal funding battles tied 103 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: to compliance would then be up for real debate. And thirdly, 104 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 1: and potentially that you could have a Supreme Court showdown 105 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: on the limits of state's' powers to mandate abortion be 106 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: a part of healthcare. The bottom line is this, this 107 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: isn't just another policy fight. This is about whether the 108 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 1: government can force you, can force your business, can force 109 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: your church, can force your family to fund something that 110 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: violates your moral beliefs. And President Trump has made it 111 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: very clear with this investigation that the line will not 112 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: be crossed without a major fight. We are getting shocking news, 113 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: horrifying news coming out of Iran right now that the 114 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: mainstream media is not screaming about. Iran executed a nineteen 115 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: year old champion wrestler in a public hanging Thursday, along 116 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: with two other people who are arrested during the brutal 117 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: crackdown on the anti regime protesters in January. The nineteen 118 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 1: year old was a rising star. He was allegedly tortured 119 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: to confess to the capital crime of waging war against God, 120 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: with the team executed without a fair trial that according 121 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: to human rights groups on the ground, his execution was 122 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 1: a blatant political murder, part of the Islamic Republic's pattern 123 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:34,199 Speaker 1: of targeting athletes to crush, to scent and to terrorize society, 124 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 1: using their fame to their advantage. Human rights activists are 125 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: saying they're worried that more of this will happen in 126 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:46,199 Speaker 1: the days ahead. This individual, along with fellow protesters, were 127 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: accused of killing two police officers with knives and swords 128 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 1: during the January protests. That, of course, according to the 129 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 1: Iranian regime state media, despite appeals from the US and 130 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 1: other nations and human rights groups, the protesters were quickly 131 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: found guilty and then executed by Tehran. Now following mass 132 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,840 Speaker 1: arrests during the January protests, President Trump said he was 133 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 1: reassured by Tehran that the executioners would not take place, 134 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 1: claiming to have saved the lives of some eight hundred demonstrators. 135 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: We've been told that the killings in Iran are stopping. 136 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: Its stopped, it's stopping, President Trump said at the time. 137 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: There's no plan for executions or an execution or executions, 138 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 1: so I've been told that on good authority. Tehran, however, 139 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:42,319 Speaker 1: denied the president's claim and rushed through the defendant's trials 140 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 1: after the US and Israel began the war on Iran. 141 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 1: This was clearly part of their a revenge and b 142 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:52,960 Speaker 1: sending a message to the people that if they tried 143 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: to rise up, they could be hung as well. Amnesty 144 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 1: Internationals slammed the new executions, alleging that the men were 145 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 1: denied adequate defense and force to make confessions after they 146 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: were tortured. The humanitarian group said the trio were pushed 147 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 1: through fast track proceedings that bore no resemblance to a 148 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:20,239 Speaker 1: meaningful trial. Far said Thursday's execution was a haunting repetition 149 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:24,679 Speaker 1: of the twenty twenty execution of a champion wrestler who 150 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 1: was convicted of killing an Iranian security guard during a 151 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 1: twenty eighteen protest. Far called on the International Olympic Committee 152 00:10:32,720 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: and the United World Wrestling organizations to take action against 153 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 1: Iran over its brutality against their athletes. Iran must be 154 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:47,959 Speaker 1: banned from international competitions until it halts executions of protesters 155 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 1: and athletes, releases those jailed in sham trials, and ends 156 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: retaliation against competitors who speak out or defect. This is 157 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:02,079 Speaker 1: another example of how the regime is holding on to 158 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 1: power anyway they can now. These executions also come as 159 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 1: a lot of attention has been on Iran's women's soccer team, 160 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:14,960 Speaker 1: those that returned to their home country Wednesday. The women 161 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: were branded wartime traders after they failed to sing the 162 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 1: national anthem of Iran at the Asia Cup earlier this month. 163 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 1: In fact, five members ending their bid for asylum in 164 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: Australia after their family members were allegedly threatened. Iranian American 165 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 1: activists said the execution signaled a clear signal from Tehran 166 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 1: that its brutal crackdown would continue, as She also urged 167 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: the Global Athlete Advocacy Group to stand with the protesters, 168 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: saying on Acts, I call on Global Athlete Headquarters to 169 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 1: stand with the Iranian athletes who are being silenced, imprisoned, 170 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 1: and executed simply for raising their voices. This is not 171 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:01,560 Speaker 1: just about sports, This is about human in dignity now. 172 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: The Iranian Human Rights Doctrine Center also condemned the killings, 173 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: warning that the three men's hangings were specifically aimed at 174 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 1: creating an atmosphere of intimidation and deterrence to keep the 175 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:20,080 Speaker 1: Iranian people from protesting against the brutal regime. Fears are 176 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: high that Iran will roll out more executions following mass 177 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 1: arrests during the January eighth and ninth protests, which salt 178 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 1: Iarran security forces kill more than seven thousand demonstrators that 179 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: according to the US based human rights Activist news Agency, 180 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:40,640 Speaker 1: and the number honestly could even be higher than that. 181 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 1: The full extent of the atrocities, however, didn't come to 182 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: light for some later time due to the nationwide internet 183 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 1: blackout as well. The hangings come just a day after 184 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:59,559 Speaker 1: Iranian authorities executed a dual Iranian Swedish national on charges 185 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 1: of spo they claim for Israel. The Iran Human Rights 186 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: in Geogroup warned that the executions seen in recent days 187 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: may only be the start, saying we are deeply concerned 188 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:17,599 Speaker 1: about the risk of mass executions of protesters and political 189 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 1: prisoners and the shadow of war, the group putting out 190 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 1: in a statement, this is obviously something the White House 191 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: is paying close attention to, and this is also clearly 192 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 1: coming from a regime that's doing everything they can now 193 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:35,200 Speaker 1: to try to hold on to power no matter what, 194 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:39,400 Speaker 1: which brings us to another important story from the Middle East. 195 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: Saudi Arabia has now united the Arab world against Iran. 196 00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:47,679 Speaker 1: Trust has completely been shattered, as what they said in 197 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: new statements as the government of Saudi Arabia held a 198 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: large level meeting with representatives of other victims of Iranian 199 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:59,719 Speaker 1: bombings in the past month, issuing a joint statement condemning 200 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 1: to Iran for widespread drone and missile attacks on civilian 201 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:08,680 Speaker 1: sites in over a dozen countries. Participating in the meeting 202 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 1: were the foreign ministers of Bahrain, the United air of Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Turkey, Katar, Syria, 203 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 1: and Lebanon as well. On Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency 204 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: published a joint statement from the participants demanding an immediate 205 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:33,120 Speaker 1: end to bombings by Iran's Terras Islamic Revolutionary Guard and 206 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: warning Iran to stop disrupting commercial traffic in the Strait 207 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 1: of Hormuz. Iran has been at war with Israel. In 208 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: the United States since February the twenty eighth, President Trump 209 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 1: announced Operation Epic Fury to eliminate Iran's ability to pose 210 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 1: a threat to its neighbors. Iran is the world's most 211 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: plurific state sponsor of terrorism, funding the IRGC in addition 212 00:14:55,360 --> 00:15:00,040 Speaker 1: to several other terrorist proxies, including Hesbalahamas, the Yemeni, the 213 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: Houthy Gangs, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and several Iraqi Sheite militias, 214 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 1: among others. On the first day of Operation Epic Fury, 215 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 1: Trump announced an airstrike had eliminated the Supreme Leader American 216 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 1: Israel have eliminated, as you know, dozens of senior Iranian 217 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:23,080 Speaker 1: leaderships since but in response to the military campaign, Iran 218 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 1: has used its missiles and drone capabilities to target its 219 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: Arab and Muslim neighbors. Among the countries Iran has targeted, 220 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 1: striking civilian areas are many of the participants in the 221 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: meeting late Wednesday. Iran has also repeatedly targeted Israel and 222 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 1: struck Cyprus, and Iranian officials have denied targeting nations such 223 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 1: as Turkey, though the IRGC has openly struck Saudi Arabia 224 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 1: and the UAE, allegedly because they're not actively hostile towards 225 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: America and Israel. Now, following the meeting of the Gulf 226 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 1: Corporation Council countries and other guests, the government of Saudi 227 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: Arabia also published a joint statement by the participating countries 228 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 1: condemning Iran. The nations, according to Saudi Press Agency, affirm 229 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: their condemnation and said these deliberate Iranian attacks with ballistic 230 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 1: missiles and drones which targeted residential areas, civilian infrastructure, including 231 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 1: oil facilities, as well as airports, residential buildings and diplomatic premises, 232 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 1: was unacceptable. The Minister's further affirm that such attacks could 233 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 1: not be justified under any pretexts or in any manner whatsoever. 234 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 1: The text continued that Iran must immediately halt its attax 235 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 1: and affirm the necessity of respecting international law, international humanitarian law, 236 00:16:47,080 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 1: and the principles of good neighborliness. Yes, this is now 237 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: where we are in the Middle East, as all of 238 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:56,440 Speaker 1: these countries seem to be finally realizing they can't just 239 00:16:56,520 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: look the other way with what Iran is doing, and 240 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 1: now they're joining with the US to hold him accountable. 241 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:06,400 Speaker 1: Democrats are pushing a new narrative right now that Iran 242 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 1: was not an imminent threat to the United States of America. 243 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 1: Therefore Donald Trump jumped the gun and should not have 244 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 1: acted to go after the regime. Well after the strikes 245 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 1: and the broader military operations have been a massive success. 246 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: Democrats are now trying to figure out how do you 247 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 1: push this narrative that this was a war of choice, 248 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:35,240 Speaker 1: arguing there's no credible intelligence to justify the actions. Some lawmakers, 249 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: even after classified briefings, have doubled down, saying they didn't 250 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 1: see evidence of an immediate threat. Take a listen to 251 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:47,880 Speaker 1: the House Minority Leader Hakim Jeffries and what he had 252 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:49,360 Speaker 1: to say at the press conference. 253 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 4: Having been briefed now not once, but twice, there is 254 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:58,199 Speaker 4: no evidence that has been presented to us that the 255 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:01,919 Speaker 4: United States was under threat of an attack from Iran, 256 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 4: zero evidence of that. In fact, many members of the 257 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 4: administration have actually publicly now admitted that. So if in 258 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:17,879 Speaker 4: fact that was the case, it's hard for the American 259 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:23,920 Speaker 4: people to understand the rationale from launching a preemptive war 260 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:28,400 Speaker 4: in the Middle East that has now spread to more 261 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:33,160 Speaker 4: than half a dozen countries and resulted in the death 262 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 4: of at least six brave, courageous, heroic service members. That's unacceptable. 263 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: Now Democrats are using the death of their soldiers to 264 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 1: push their political agenda. 265 00:18:49,760 --> 00:18:49,920 Speaker 3: Now. 266 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 1: The d and I director Gabbard was also asked on 267 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:56,760 Speaker 1: Capitol Hill as Democrats are honing in on this one 268 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:00,200 Speaker 1: single point, and here's what she had to say about 269 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 1: the only person that opinion matters really on what an 270 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 1: imminent threat is and can determine what to do about it, 271 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:11,399 Speaker 1: she says, is actually the President of the United States 272 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 1: of America. 273 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 5: Was it the assessment of the intelligence community that there 274 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 5: was an imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime? 275 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 6: The intelligence community assessed that Iran maintained the intention to 276 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 6: rebuild and to continue to grow their nuclear enrichment. 277 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 5: Was it the assessment of the intelligence community that there 278 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 5: was a quote imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime? 279 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:35,960 Speaker 6: Yes or no, Senator, the only person who can determine 280 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 6: in what is and is not an iminent threat is 281 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 6: the president. 282 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 2: False. 283 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:42,159 Speaker 5: This is this is the Worldwide Threats Hearing where you 284 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:46,760 Speaker 5: present to Congress national intelligence, timely, objective and independent of 285 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 5: political considerations. You've stated today that the intelligence community's assessment 286 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:55,879 Speaker 5: is that Iran's nuclear enrichment program was obliterated and that 287 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 5: quote there had been no efforts since then to try 288 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 5: to rebuild their enrichment capability. Was it the intelligence community's 289 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 5: assessment that, nevertheless, despite this obliteration, there was a quote 290 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:11,119 Speaker 5: imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime. 291 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 6: Yes or no, it is not the intelligence community's responsibility 292 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 6: to determine what is and is not an imminent threat. 293 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 5: Here's the problem is, it is precisely, it is precisely 294 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:23,680 Speaker 5: your responsibility. 295 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: You can hear there Democrats honing in and now they've 296 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: launched onto the resignation of the top counter terrorism official 297 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 1: who is grandstanding claiming the same exact thing, that Iran 298 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:39,880 Speaker 1: didn't pose an imminent danger. Now, to be clear, that 299 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 1: completely contradicts what that individual had said in the weeks 300 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 1: and months and years in the past. We also have 301 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:51,160 Speaker 1: now found out that that same individual is apparently under 302 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:56,119 Speaker 1: FBI investigation that was opened long before his resignation for 303 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: leaking classified information. 304 00:20:59,000 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 3: I want to go. 305 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 7: Sources are saying that Joe Kent, the former director of 306 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 7: the United States National counter Terror Center. This is from Semaphore. 307 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 7: He just resigned, he's now under FBI investigation for allegedly 308 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:22,640 Speaker 7: leaking classified information, and the investigation predates his departure. Congressman, 309 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:25,640 Speaker 7: your reaction to that tonight, Wow. 310 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:29,159 Speaker 8: Well, there's a lot there, and I think that we 311 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 8: need to let this investigation play out. But we shouldn't 312 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:37,240 Speaker 8: tolerate any leakers in the administration, particularly regarding classified national 313 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 8: security interests and information. So we'll let this play out 314 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:42,760 Speaker 8: and see. 315 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 3: Where it goes. 316 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:45,440 Speaker 8: But if he was leaking, he ought to be held accountable, 317 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:46,919 Speaker 8: just like anybody else would be. 318 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:51,240 Speaker 1: You listen to the former National counter Terrorism Center director 319 00:21:51,359 --> 00:21:56,679 Speaker 1: Joe Kent again under FBI investigation for allegedly leaking classified information, 320 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:01,719 Speaker 1: and the investigation predates his depart Now the White House, 321 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:04,680 Speaker 1: by the way, they're in on this as well, making 322 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:07,639 Speaker 1: it clear where they stand. They were acting, as they 323 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 1: described it, on intelligence, on decades of Iranian aggression, and 324 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 1: on a very simple reality. Iran has been a sustained, 325 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 1: evolving threat to the United States since allies for nearly 326 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 1: half a century. Top Republicans and administration officials that pushed 327 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 1: back hard saying the present reviewed intelligence and made a 328 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:31,199 Speaker 1: deliberate decision that the threat was real and imminent and 329 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 1: they're not alone. Military leadership has been crystal clear about 330 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 1: the mission dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities, neutralized missile threats, and 331 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 1: stop a regime that has targeted Americans around the globe. 332 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:48,399 Speaker 1: Defensive officials have said this operation is about finishing a 333 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 1: fight Iran has been waging for years, not starting a 334 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:53,640 Speaker 1: new one. 335 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:56,280 Speaker 3: And even more importantly, early. 336 00:22:56,080 --> 00:23:00,880 Speaker 1: Intelligence assessments now say that Iran's capabilities have been significantly 337 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:05,360 Speaker 1: degraded as a result of these new strikes. That's not speculation, 338 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:08,399 Speaker 1: that's literally the results of the actions taken by the 339 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: Trump administration. And while Democrats are focused on second guessing 340 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 1: the timing, the Trump administration is focused on outcomes, stopping 341 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:23,159 Speaker 1: nuclear escalation, protecting American lives, and reasserting to tyrans in 342 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 1: a region where weakness has major consequences. Let's be honest 343 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:32,399 Speaker 1: about what's happening here. Democrats are debating process and President 344 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:36,159 Speaker 1: Trump is acting on prevention. They're arguing about whether the 345 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:39,800 Speaker 1: threat was imminent enough. The administration is saying, we're not 346 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:43,160 Speaker 1: waiting for Americans to die to prove it. And politically, 347 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:47,200 Speaker 1: this is a familiar pattern because every time decisive action 348 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:50,800 Speaker 1: is taken against an adversary like Iran, the same voices 349 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 1: emerge questioning whether we should have acted at all. But 350 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 1: the Trump doctrine is different. In fact, it's really simple. 351 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:02,200 Speaker 1: If you threaten Americans, if you move towards Newcleark capability, 352 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 1: if you destabilize the world. You don't get the benefit 353 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:09,680 Speaker 1: of the doubt. You get stopped. And that's exactly what 354 00:24:09,720 --> 00:24:13,160 Speaker 1: this administration believes it has done so far and will 355 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:15,399 Speaker 1: continue to do. I want you to tell you a 356 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 1: listen to what Speaker Johnson had to say on Fox 357 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 1: News Channel, not only about Joe Kin's resignation, but the 358 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 1: reality of the situation in DC and the presence decision 359 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:25,840 Speaker 1: to act. 360 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:28,119 Speaker 2: How is that not an imminent threat? 361 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 9: Yeah, that's a great question. I'm not sure what Joe 362 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:34,399 Speaker 9: Kent is reading, but it's not the same intel that 363 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:35,000 Speaker 9: I've seen. 364 00:24:35,080 --> 00:24:36,280 Speaker 2: Look, I'm on the Gang of Eight. 365 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:41,560 Speaker 9: We got all the briefings before this operation in Iran began, 366 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:45,959 Speaker 9: we got briefings during and then after it commenced, and 367 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 9: the intelligence was exquisite. It was very clear this was 368 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:51,560 Speaker 9: an eminent threat to the United States and America's interest, 369 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 9: and the Commander in Chief did exactly the right thing. 370 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:56,680 Speaker 9: He had to protect American lives. We knew that those 371 00:24:56,920 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 9: ballistic missiles that they were stockpiling and preparing were going 372 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 9: to be fired at our troops and our civilians and 373 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:04,960 Speaker 9: our installations in the region. And so the Commander chief 374 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:06,840 Speaker 9: did what he had to do. Joe kn't seem to 375 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 9: understand that until about twenty four hours ago. 376 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 2: I'm not sure what happened there. There's lots of. 377 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:13,920 Speaker 9: Discussion about it on Capitol Hill, as you can imagine, 378 00:25:14,160 --> 00:25:15,560 Speaker 9: we're trying to get down to the bottom of it. 379 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 9: But he is an outlier, I'm telling you. As we 380 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:20,879 Speaker 9: noted earlier, Bongino and others have said, everyone else in 381 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:24,879 Speaker 9: the administration and everyone who sees the actual intelligence understands 382 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 9: clearly that the president did what he had to do. 383 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 10: All right, And Speaker Johnson, I think you would confirm 384 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 10: as I know, as Dan Bongino knows. Anybody that knows 385 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:35,199 Speaker 10: the president knows he is the same man of his 386 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 10: own mind. He will listen to everybody, he'll listen to 387 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:39,639 Speaker 10: all points of view, and he's going to make up 388 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 10: his own mind. 389 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:41,200 Speaker 2: Then it's the job of. 390 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:44,840 Speaker 10: Those people around him to support the policies he was 391 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 10: elected commander in chief, not them. 392 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 2: Some of them need to learn that that's right. 393 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:52,160 Speaker 9: We appreciate you're exactly right, and he's restoring peace through 394 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 9: strength in America is better for it, and so is 395 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 9: the all of the free world. 396 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 2: Well, okay, peace through strength. He learned the lesson. 397 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:01,280 Speaker 10: In the last century, We're over hundred million people died 398 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 10: because we didn't take action when we could have sooner 399 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 10: on many occasions. And he also doesn't want to get 400 00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:11,240 Speaker 10: into a quagmire, and that has been and will be 401 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 10: the Trump doctrine throughout his presidency that I can pretty. 402 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:17,400 Speaker 3: Much Speaker Johnson is absolutely right. 403 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:20,240 Speaker 1: Joe Kent, Well, he's not reading the same intel that 404 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 1: many others have seen. And unfortunately he wasn't on the 405 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 1: A team, he was on the B team, and he 406 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:27,399 Speaker 1: wasn't in the room for the decisions that were being made. 407 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:30,159 Speaker 1: So yeah, he's a useful idiot to our enemies and 408 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:32,919 Speaker 1: a Tucker Carlson and Candice Owens and Megan Kelly. 409 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:35,000 Speaker 3: But the reality is the majority 410 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 1: Of Americans are trusting Donald Trump, and when he says 411 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 1: that Iran is an imminent threat, well the American people 412 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:43,120 Speaker 1: overwhelmingly seem to believe him.