The Victory Channel is LIVE with Victory News! 4.12.24 | The Victory Channel is LIVE with Victory News! 4.12.24 We are LIVE with our 4 p.m./CT Victory News. Share the feed with your family and friends. | By The Victory Channel | Good evening. Welcome to Victory News. Friday, April the 12th, 20twenty-four. I'm Greg Stevens along with Mike Gerfall of your Andes and Tim Fox and here are few of the stories that we're watching for you tonight. Two reporters are sounding the alarm to congress urging them to protect journalists from federal pressure to disclose their sources and House Speaker Mike Johnson has changed his tune on warrant requirements for Fisa surveillance of Americans. Does that put him on the right side? We'll talk with political strategist CEO Mason Burrough Strategies, Victory News contributor Luke Ball, all about this and a whole lot more but first, let's go to Fior Hernandez with our headlines. Fiora, it's yours. Thank you, Greg. One person has died after the driver of a stolen eighteen-wheeler identified as forty2-year-old Clenard Parker crashed into a Texas DPS office building late this morning in the town of Burnham. Police say the crash was intentional and that Parker had been denied a commercial driver's license on Thursday. According to Fox News, aside from the one fatality, the crash left 13 people injured with three people in critical condition and others seriously hurt. The driver is now in custody. Brenham is located halfway between Houston and Austin. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa signed a bill Wednesday allowing state and local law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants who reentered the United States. Bill SF twenty-three forty also authorized the state courts to deport law breakers. It goes into effect on July 1st and calls for punishing any illegal alien who reenters with up to two years in prison. Governor Reynolds said quote those who come into our country illegally have broken the law yet Biden refuses to deport them. This bill gives Iowa law enforcement the power to do what he is unwilling to do and force immigration laws already on the books. Iowa becomes the second state with such a law joining Texas. Florida Congresswoman Anna Baulina Luna on Thursday introduced the no repeat child sex offenders act. Our constitution stands as a beacon of freedom and justice crafted to safeguard the rights and liberties of every American. Yet what greater violation of those rights could there be than the brutal and unforgivable abuse of our most vulnerable, our children. The federal minimum from child rape must be upgraded to the death penalty and a minimum of life behind bars. Luna shared her philosophy into social media posts with one on X saying quote you cannot debilitate predators. If you rape children, you deserve the death penalty, end quote. Luna noted on Fox News that her bill also applies to those who hire minors for SAX. Vice President Kamala Harris is in Arizona on the heels of a state supreme court ruling that a near total abortion band dating back to eighteen sixty-four is enforceable. Harris is using her appearance in the Grand Canyon State to highlight so-called reproductive rights. The Vice President is scheduled to be in to on to speak alongside state and local officials with an emphasis on what the campaign says is Donald Trump's record and rhetoric about abortion. In response to the Arizona Supreme Court decision, Harris immediately criticized the decision and blamed Trump. Arizona is a swing state and Democrats hope of the killing of the unborn issue will put them over the top there. Former President Donald Trump has yet to pick a running mate although several names have been floated according Washington Poll said Trump adviser Jason Miller indicated the somewhat public contest for the VP position should could facilitate people working for the campaign while the seventy-seven year old candidate makes up his mind. Miller added the running mate contest was the 20twenty-four version of The Apprentice which Trump hosted from 2004 to 2015. Although reports of favourites have emerged. The campaign insists no decision has been made. In 2016 Trump announced his running mate choice only days ahead of the Republican Convention and it's suspected he'll do so again. Mike. If you are Joe Biden and a Democratic National Committee have been caught using campaign donations to cover legal bills by a liberal news outlet. The exact thing they criticized Donald Trump for with the RNC. Axios is reporting today. Quote, President Biden used campaign donations to help pay his legal bills last year during the Special Counsel's probe and his handling of classified documents. Joe Biden's finance chair Rufus Gifford attacked Donald Trump for the same thing while praising their own conduct. Not spending money on legal bills. We are not hawking gold sneakers or any of that stuff. The money that we are we are raising. We are going straight to talking to voters. Axios concluded that the legal bill payments made through the Democratic National Committee are at odds with the Biden campaign's recent attacks on Donald Trump for spending his campaign funds on legal fees. The Biden administration on Thursday announced the largest gun background check expansion in decades. Sparking fears of national registry of firearms among gun rights advocates. The new rule expands who is considered a firearms dealer and mandates that every dealer conduct background checks regardless of sale venue. In Arkansas gunsmith, Rick Brashears claims it's all about knowing who has guns. It's all about them knowing who has guns because they all start getting them. I guarantee you. The administration reportedly believes the new rules will cover tens of thousands of sales every year. Currently not being checked. Attorney General Merrick Garland said of the change, quote, under this regulation, if you sell guns predominantly to earn a profit, you must be licensed and you must conduct background checks. Greg. Alright, two of the country's top investigative reporters urged Congress on Thursday to pass legislation to tech journalist from federal government pressure to disclose their sources. Former Fox and CBS News reporter Kathleen Herage warned that failure to take such action would severely impact investigative journalism. The hearing before the House Judiciary subcommittee was titled quote fighting for a free press protecting journalist and their sources. One proposal. The Protect reporters from the explicit state spying act is meant to prevent the government from forcing journalists or tele Communications firms to reveal protected information unless it's related to preventing terrorism or imminent violence after refusing to reveal confidential sources earlier this year. A US district judge held herage in civil contempt. The case had to do with the Chinese scientist. The FBI had investigated. Joining us now is political strategist and CEO of Masonboro Strategies, Victory News, contributor Luke Ball, welcome to Victory News. Thanks, Greg. Alright, striking rebuke of the Biden DOJ assault on journalistic freedoms by veteran reporter Catherine Harrich on Capitol Hill yesterday. I brought the same approach at every place that I worked. Which is that it's about accountability journalism. On the left and on the right and representing diverse points of view. And I feel that the press act in guaranteeing these protections to sources helps grow the voices in journalism She said forcing a reporter to disclose confidential sources would have a crippling effect on investigating journalism. So, Luke, why would the Biden administration want to destroy the protection of journalist sources? Well, they only want to do it if it hurts them. If it's hurting Donald Trump or anybody else, Republicans, I'm sure they're totally fine with it. I've had a chance to interact with Catherine before when I worked on Capitol Hill and when I was off Capitol Hill, she's an excellent reporter and the journalistic integrity goes far beyond the mainstream media's responsibility. It also goes to any journalist, people that we will read and watch and look into because they are reporting the news and following journalistic standards as well and so if a source wants to come to a reporter and say, hey, the Biden administration is doing this and it is breaking the law and that reporter is bound by journalistic integrity standards to keep that source confidential. The federal government should not be able to come in and say, no, you must tell at because then there will be no transparency moving forward and the Biden administration and frankly any future administration can just operate in darkness and run rough shot over the constitution if they want. Alright, Representative Elise Stefanik put FBI director Exists of Joe Biden saying in February 2017. Quote I just found all the classified stuff downstairs, end quote, to his ghostwriter. Again, I'm I'm just going to refer to the special counsel and his testimony and his report. It sounds like you might be aware of it then. So, the FBI's was doing his job, would he not be an honest investigation into the president's admission and holding a classified government documents, sharing those with a book writer? Yeah, it's easy to defer to the Special Counsel when you're in the hot seat appearing before Congress. Uh the Biden administration has had a double standard when it comes to classified information, classified documents. Going back even frankly beyond the Biden administration. Now, as I think about it, back when the Democrats were in charge of the House of Representatives, they weren't having open briefings with members of Congress when they were looking into Donald Trump's supposedly corruption and things of that nature. So, they weaponized the classified information system to their political advantage. That shouldn't happen in the United States. We need transparency from the FBI and the DOJ. We're going to get it under the Biden administration. Yeah, it doesn't look like it. The tragedy today in Memphis earlier when two police were shot and another killed. Interim Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis shared the details. A total of three officers were struck by gunfire. Tragically, one of our officers lost his life. That officer is Joseph McKinney. Alright, here's the quiet part of this story. One of the teens in the shootout with police was arrested weeks ago for possessing illegal firearm and stolen car. Memphis Judicial System released the shooter without bail. Luke, shouldn't someone who let this happen? Maybe they should be prosecuted for manslaughter or an accessory to murder? You know, we're signalling to our law enforcement officers that our judicial system despises police officers. Why would anybody want to put on the uniform after watching how they are treated, how they're in the streets and things of that nature. We just had a shooting in Chicago where a teen or a young adult fired at law enforcement officers and they fired back killing him and now they're holding protests over the fact that that guy was killed because he was shooting at police officers. I don't think there's going to be any parades for this fallen officer over in Tennessee and it is because we have such a horrible double standard when it comes to our law enforcement officers and our judicial process in the United States. Yeah, Luke Beau, you're exactly right. I wish you weren't but you are right. Thank you so much. Back to you in just a moment like. Greg, the eyes of the world are on the Middle East as Iran reportedly has as many as 100 missiles aimed at targets in Israel. Iran has indicated it will be retaliating for an attack on Iran's consulate in Syria 11 days ago. They killed 13 people including a number of high-ranking members of the Iranian military. In the meantime, Lebanon-based Iranian backed Hezbollah terrorists are said to have fired numerous rockets at Israel earlier today. Of course, in the north. According to Axios earlier this week, Iran sent a stern message to President Joe Biden saying this, if the US gets involved in the fighting between Israel and Iran, US forces in the region will be attacked. That's according to a report from Axios. Israel has a not claimed responsibility for the consulate attack on April 1st but it is why they believe that Israel was behind it. Now, according to Fox News, US military officials are moving additional assets to the Middle East region to deter escalation and increase force protection for US forces. In addition the United States has restricted travel for diplomats in Israel. The dangers of those crossing the border are coming to light all too often. The latest incident involves an Afghan national who is said to be a member of an anti-western terrorist group. After initially entering the United States near Santa Cedro, California in March of 2023 and despite being in the terror watch list, he was released into the US according to reports about a year later, the FBI informed Ice that Mohammed Carwin is in fact on the terror list. He was most recently arrested in San Antonio on February 28th of this year but Ice prosecutors reportedly failed to inform the Texas immigration judge of Carwin's suspected ties to terrorism. Terrorism that is because the information well it was classified. At least that's what US officials told NBC News. Now, fast forward to March thirtieth. The Texas judge shows not to deport him or detain him. Instead, he was released after posting a $12, 000 bond. A New York Post report says there were no restrict on where he could travel inside the US and was not due back in court until twenty twenty-five. Now, we learn from NBC News after being released twice, Mohammed Carwin was taken into custody for a third time on Thursday night. Fior. Mike, a new report shows nearly 90% of federal office space in DC is unused and going to waste. Did the public building reform board and an independent agency with the mandate to offload unused federal properties, found federal office building occupancy rates were a third loss in 2023 compared to 20 nineteen. Its report found multiple agencies came in below 10% occupancy rates as office space for thousands remains empty due to remote work. Iowa Republican Senator Joni Aarons blasted the MIA bureaucrats. Despite President Biden begging bureaucrats to return to work. Government buildings remain largely abandoned in Washington DC is a town. In 2019, the reform board first suggested consolidating properties bringing multiple agencies under one roof. However, agencies presented multiple excuses for not doing so. An 85-year-old Idaho mom's decision to kill an intruder to save her and her disabled son's lives is being ruled a justifiable homicide. On Wednesday, a Brigham County prosecutor announced that Christine Janaya committed justifiable homicide in March when she defended herself and her son. The prosecu described the case as the most heroic act of self preservation he had ever heard of. On March 13th, the eighty-five year old woke up in the middle of the night to an intruder in her black foot home. Thirty-nine-year-old Derek Condon was allegedly standing over her with a nine-millimeter pistol. After hitting the eighty-five year old, he took her into the living room and handcuffed her to a chair demanding to know where her valuables were. While intruder rummage through the house. The woman was able to the chair and retrieve her gun. While looking through the home, Kundon reportedly became enraged to find that her disabled son was there. That led Jania to shoot Condon twice. He returned a fire hitting the elderly woman four times. The intruder died from his wounds 10 hours after the shooting. The disabled son handed his mom a phone to call for help and after medical attention, she miraculously survived. Tim. Wow, what a story for your the Biden administration today announced the cancellation of another 7. 2 billion dollars in student loan debt for over 200, 000 borrowers. The forgiveness will impact 4. 3 million student borrowers to the amount of one fifty3 billion dollars. The safe plan is helping millions of people who earn less than $15 per hour. I have a monthly payment of zero dollars. And is helping some borrowers get their debts cancelled faster. According to a Penn budget model, the safe plan will cost $475 billion dollars over the next 10 years. Critics have repeatedly claimed the financial burden is only being shifted to majority of US taxpayers who don't have some college education. House education and workforce committee Chairwoman Virginia Fox, a Republican, called the administration tone deaf. For President Donald Trump's immigration policies are resonating with a growing number of Latino voters. That's according to a recent Axials Ipsis poll. It found 38% are in favor of deporting illegal aliens. That's reportedly up 10 points from 28% when Joe Biden took office. In addition, 42% say they support securing the southern border by building a wall. That's reportedly up 12 points since 2021 and 64% say they support allowing a president to close the border if migrants are invading the nation. Even leading political analysts on CNN are calling the shift in Latino and black community support. Fascinating. Donald Trump at this point is polling not only better than he did in twenty twenty among both black and Hispanic voters. He's polling better, Casey, than any Republican presidential nominee since the Civil Rights Era. And the polls showed Latinos rank Biden's southern border invasion as their third highest concern after the economy and crime. Here's a portion of one of Trump's campaign ads aimed at Latinos. The Axials Ipsis poll surveyed 1 thousand and 12 Latino adults with a 3. 6% margin of error. Mike. Tim, after an amendment at a warrant requirement failed, the House voter in favor of reauthorizing section 70 2 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The measure passed early this afternoon by a 273 to 147 vote. Section 702 gives the US government the legal right to collect electronic communications of non-Americans located outside the country. An amendment backed by a number of conservative Republicans required a warrant in order to see the data of Americans that failed in a tie 212 to 212. The reauthorization of section 702 would extend the Fisa program by just 2 years. Not five as initially requested. The bill now heads to the Senate. Once again, let's talk with political analyst Luke Ball, Luke Slovaki twenty twenty-one alone. The FBI abused Fisa. Two hundred and seventy-eight times, Luke. So, how can the Speaker of the House and other Republicans have voted for the reauthorization of a warrantless spying on that could take place on Americans today. You know, I like Speaker Mike Johnson. I think that his motives went beyond the warrant issue. I think that he probably would have liked the warrant thing to be in there but strategically looking as the tie breaker vote. Uh he was I think on the wrong side of this one issue. Um now, as far as the entire Fisa process goes, it is in drastic need of reform and I would question the motives of anybody, especially Republicans who did not want the warrant attached. This Andy Biggs piece of legislation that would have allowed for the Fourth Amendment rights of Americans to actually go through and stop this Fisa abuse. So, I think Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to balance a very tricky situation. So, I'm always careful to lay blame directly at his feet especially with this motion to vacate issue but I believe that when it comes down to it, that was a wrong vote and the members of Congress who voted against having a warrant or violation Constitution. You know, RFK Junior says CNN reporter Aaron Burnett's brain stopped working when he made this stunning argument on CNN. There's no court that's found that President Trump tried to steal the election or tried to derail the election. Uh or tried to start an insurrection. But there's a a courts that have found that President Biden was censoring his opponents. RFK Junior said they created a new term for the truth he shared. It's mao information. Mainstream media says it's information that is factually correct but is inconvenient for the government. Luke does a label make it any less truthful or Biden any less guilty? No it was a good point. In fact I think that's why they had to come up with the January 6th committee. They recognized that there was no conviction. There was no charge for insurrection. And so they had to cobble together literally piping in producers from Hollywood to come in and create this narrative the January 6th events. That was sensational and dramatized. Nancy Pelosi kicking off fact finders that Republicans put up like Jim, Jordan, and Jim Banks who would have followed the trail of bread crumbs back to Nancy Pelosi's office and found that she was liable for not having security at the Capitol that day. So whenever we're talking about this stuff, it is very easy to overlook the things that have happened with Joe Biden, frankly, because there is so much going on right now between Hunter Biden and Joe Biden, the Biden crime family. It's kind of hard to figure out what to focus on. Now, yesterday showed a moment in a Chick fil A in Atlanta where Donald Trump received a wonderful welcome from a teacher, Michaela Montgomery and her students. Today, she explained why she was there to support Donald Trump. We were able to not only let him know that regardless of what social media says, you know, I know they're trying to make us think we're supposed to hate you but we don't. And additionally, it was a learning experience for my students because they were able to see and experience firsthand how the media can warp the perception of an opinion or a person. A Wall Street Journal poll is showing 30 percent of black male voters in particular plan to vote for Donald Trump. Why isn't the mainstream media telling this eye-opening story of black voters shifting their votes away from Joe Biden? Luke? Well, it's scary to them because over the last few years, we have seen a drastic shift towards Donald Trump with the black community. 19% over the last few years actually and so they're a little bit concerned about this and giving them a platform is something that not happened in the mainstream media. So now we're seeing conservative support in the black community for Donald Trump. And I believe it is because his agenda that he has put forth allows for policies that align with people who might have historically voted Democrat and those who have historically voted Republican because it's all about the economy right now coming up into this election. That's going to be one of the major points. And people recognize regardless of whether you live in Atlanta, Georgia, or not black American or you live somewhere else and you're a white American or whatever. That the economy is irrespective of persons and so that checkbook, that pocketbook is going to be one of the things on the forefront of their minds heading to the voting booth. For sure. Luke, thank you for your insight. We're going to see you back here in a couple of minutes. Thanks. Michael Cider from the warning about threats to our homeland. Christopher Ray also got a bit of a tongue lashing from Representative Mike Garcia. Uh I'll be honest with you and and this pains me to say this but I don't trust you. The Republican from California went on to explain why. The the lack of transparency and hearings like this and an Intel hearings, your your weaponization and politicization of issues and instruments of national security against innocent Americans and against institutions like churches and the fact that you have held noone truly accountable for prior Fisa abuses that we have all seen and recognized. I think you yourself have acknowledged that there's been abuses and because of the fact that as the director that you stood relatively silent and passive about the biggest national security threat to our nation that being our very open southern borders. And Garcia may have a point there. When was the last time you heard Director Ray criticize the president for allowing millions of unvetted illegal immigrants into our country. The congressman summed up his assessment of the FBI director this way. Uh I I give very little credence in either your ability to do this job or frankly lead the brave agents below you and I I don't trust you to protect us The director was testifying before the House Appropriation Subcommittee about the Bureau's fiscal year 2025, a budget request. Tim. If you are members of the European Parliament on Thursday chose to enshrine the killing of the unborn as a fundamental right with a vote of 336 to 163 with 39 abstentions. The vote seeks to amend article three of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights to state that everyone has the right to bodily autonomy and universal access to sexual healthcare rights including safe and legal abortions. The parliament members condemned the attempts to restrict or remove existing protections and called on member states like Poland and Malta to repeal their laws and measures that restrict or ban the killing of unborn babies. The largest pro-life group coalition in Europe decried the resolution and accused the parliament of failing to uphold the right to life. A representative of the US European Foundation told Catholic vote. The parliament had overstepped the EU's treaties and encroached on member state sovereignty. The resolution also calls to stop all funding for pro-life groups and direct the funds toward pro abortion pro abortion organizations and groups instead. Greg. Before we go, let's talk with Luke Ball one more time. For this week, Luke, the EU says abortions for all anytime. How are they not linking their struggles with declining populations to this type of policy and thinking? Well, they're also not linking it the science. They're ignoring the science and the pursuit of a consensus agenda and one that, you know, is a horrible genocide among some of the most vulnerable in our population. Now, I believe that they think if they don't come out in support of this, they're going to lose support from very liberal nations and from countries, they're going to lose funding and backing. So, whenever you're looking at these globalist organizations with the EU and and things of that nature, I think that you're having to look at the motivation. Follow the money trail and I think you'll find their motivations. You you were on Tim Poole's broadcast a couple of weeks ago. You told him quote half of what happens on Capitol Hill would be white-collar crime if it happened in corporate America. Okay, you gotta break that one down for us. I'll try to do it in the 40 seconds I have but basically, Washington DC operates in what we call the swamp and permanent Washington. Basically, if you go and vote a certain way that a lobbyist wants you to vote, then, you're probably going to go back home and see in a few days that you get a nice, fat donation from their political action committee and your campaign coffers but if went up to him and said, hey, I'm going to give you a check if you vote this way. That's corruption. The line is so fine there that if it happened in white collar or excuse me, in corporate America, it would be white-collar crime and that's what I meant. The pay to play in Washington DC is astounding and one final thing too, you would think that members are given their committee assignments based off of their accolades but they actually have to pay the political committees for them and that's what I meant by having to operate in the swamp. Wow and we were always taught every time I talked to Congressman give them any gifts. Don't at all, it's illegal for them to take everything and now we know the rest of the story as mister Harvey used to say. Uh Luke Ball, thank you so much. Have a great and blessed weekend. Thanks for being with us. You too. Thanks, Greg. Alright, number on the screen is for you to call if you'd like to pray with a licensed prayer minister. Maybe you're feeling a little overwhelmed today or or I even sense this, maybe struggling with your faith. I don't know what to believe anymore. Call the number. Let somebody pray with you according to the word. Eight seven seven two eight one six two nine seven. Listen, this is the day the lord has made. We rejoice. We are glad in it and we've got a great weekend ahead of us. So, you go out and you have a blessed weekend and be an inspiration to somebody. Listen to the lord's voice. He'll direct you to somebody that needs a smile or a hug or something and you can be that person. I encourage you to do so. Alright, thanks to Luke Baldwin, especially you. Thanks for joining us. We return Monday at noon Eastern, 11 with the Exodus Movement founder Keisha King and Just The News No Noise host Amanda Head. So, make sure you're here with us as well. World reports the problem, Victory Channel brings you the answer. Whatever is born of god overcomes the world. This is the victory that's overcome the world, our faith. Stay in faith. See you Monday.