House Advances Ukraine, Israel Aid Legislation
The House moved ahead with legislation to send aid to Gaza, Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine. The lower chamber approved the procedural hurdle in a 316-94 vote, with Democrats helping House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) inch closer to passing the comprehensive foreign aid bill. The successful passage of the foreign aid rule will now allow rigorous debate on the House floor on April 20 surrounding four bills that combine military aid to Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine with humanitarian assistance to Gaza and other warzones worldwide.
Democrats to the Rescue: It is rare for the minority to come to the majority’s rescue when passing procedural rules. At the same time, it was unsurprising as President Joe Biden lent his support to the foreign aid package, and the White House has urged Congress to move swiftly to assist Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel. The Democrats last helped the Republicans move forward with legislation in May 2023 to initiate a debt limit bill debate. Related: Is foreign aid the beginning of the end for Speaker Mike Johnson?
Liberty Nation Today: A Sneak Peek
What You Don’t Know About NPR CEO Katherine the Not-So-Great - Look who's running the show now. - Read Now!
Is Foreign Aid the Beginning of the End for Speaker Mike Johnson? - The future looks bleak for the speaker of the House. - Read Now!
Israel Struck Back – But What Else Were They to Do? - Iran now understands that Israel is good to its word. - Read Now!
Brothers in Arms – C5 TV - One day after Iran attacked Israel it's business as usual. - Watch Now!
Biden Cuts Payments to Medicare Advantage Plans - Pain coming for seniors if the White House axes private medical care services. - Read Now!
Man Sets Himself on Fire Outside of Trump Trial
Max Azzarello self-immolated outside former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial at the Manhattan courthouse. The New York Police Department confirmed at a press conference on April 19 that Azzarello poured accelerant on his body and set himself on fire. Police say the man, who was labeled a “conspiracy theorist,” traveled from Florida to New York earlier this week. Following the incident, digital sleuths found his Substack, which warned “cryptocurrency is our first planetary multi-trillion-dollar Ponzi scheme” that “could best be described as an economic doomsday device, intentionally made to shatter the world economy.”
Beefed Up Security?: Police officials admitted that they are “very concerned” that Azzarello could self-immolate near the trial. They plan to review security protocols and determine if they need to beef up security. “We’ll make decisions if we need to tighten up security, maybe we’ll shut down the park – this is something that we’ll determine once we talk with all our partners, with the court officers, to make sure that, with everything going on – the gravity of the event going on right now – we have ample security,” a police official said. Related: Trump looking better in the rearview mirror…
Iran Vows Not to Retaliate After Israeli Strike
A top Iranian official shrugged off Israel’s latest strikes on his country, asserting that “what happened last night wasn’t a strike.” Speaking in an interview with NBC News’ Top Story with Tom Llamas, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian described the strike as inconsequential and called the drone attacks “more like toys our children played with.” He added that Iran will not retaliate but will respond at a “maximum level” if “Israel wants to do another.”
Sanctions: US officials confirmed this week that the Biden administration was planning to impose fresh sanctions on Tehran. However, they refrained from previewing the sanctions, so it is unclear if Washington will target Iran’s oil exports. Nevertheless, G7 foreign ministers said in Italy that they were working on slapping new sanctions on Iran. Related: Iran struck back – but what else were they to do?
Senate Passes FISA Renewal Just as It Expires
Just under an hour after it lapsed, the Senate passed the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which grants the US government authority to spy on foreign subjets abroad using the compelled assistance of electronic communication service providers. The Senate voted 60-34 to reauthorize the power. It now heads to Biden’s desk for his signature.
The Stakes Are Grave: Should the reauthorization have failed, the government would have been required to seek warrants to compel companies to grant the assistance, a process that can be time consuming. “The stakes of such an outcome are grave,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) warned in remarks on the Senate floor Friday. “The authorities in question today have, quite literally, been the only defense against would-be national security disasters.” Related: House renews Section 702 FISA authorization…
New York AG Asks Judge to Avoid Trump’s $175 Million Bond
The New York Attorney General’s office asked a judge to void former President Trump’s $175 million bond to obtain a more significant financial damage award in his civil business fraud case. In a 26-page court filing on April 19, the AG’s office told Judge Arthur Engoron that Trump and other defendants in the Trump Organization did not show enough identifiable collateral to support the bond. The Knight Specialty Insurance Company secured the presumptive Republican nominee’s bond. Attorneys for Letitia James requested a replacement bond within seven days of the ruling. A hearing on the bond challenge is scheduled for April 22.
Necessary and Appropriate: “Based on the foregoing, the People respectfully request that the Court deny Movants’ motion to justify the surety, declare the Bond to be without effect and order that any replacement bond be posted within seven days, along with such other and further relief the Court deems necessary and appropriate,” the lawyers wrote. Related: Trump tees off on Jack Smith as judge smacks down DOJ demands…
