A county judge in Ohio placed a temporary block on the state’s law shielding individuals under 18 years old from life-altering transgender procedures for two weeks or until consideration of a broader injunction against the law.  The law‚ called the “Save Adolescents from Experimentation Act‚” bans so-called “gender-affirming” surgeries‚ such as double mastectomies on girls who identify as boys‚ in addition to prohibiting giving minors cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers. The law does not prevent minors who were already placed on puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones before the legislation passed from staying on them.  Franklin County Judge Michael J. Holbrook put a hold on the law saying that it may have been unlawful because the Ohio Constitution says that bills should have no “more than one subject.” The “Safe Act” included both a ban on transgender procedures and stipulated that males could not compete on female sports teams at grades K-12 and the collegiate level.  The law‚ slated to go into effect on April 24‚ will be placed on hold for two weeks unless a hearing for a preliminary injunction against it takes place before that time. The ACLU challenged the law‚ claiming it was discriminatory.  Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost‚ a Republican‚ said he expected the law to be upheld eventually.  “This is just the first page of the book‚” he said. “We will fight vigorously to defend this properly enacted statute‚ which protects our children from irrevocable adult decisions. I am confident that this law will be upheld.” The law was passed by Republican lawmakers in January over the veto of GOP Governor Mike DeWine. It was sponsored by state Rep. Gary Click (R)‚ who said Tuesday that the law would be upheld after litigation was resolved.  “We have lower court disappointments but higher court victories‚” he said‚ according to 10WBNS.  Click added that “there’s no constitutional right to injure children‚ there’s no constitutional right to chemically castrate children… there is no constitutional right to this‚ this is malpractice and we’re gonna win in the end.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP DeWine said he expected the court battle to go to the state Supreme Court.  “Everybody knew that this would go to court eventually‚” DeWine said. “Whatever the decision the local judge makes‚ it will go up to the court of appeals and I’m sure it will go from there to the Ohio Supreme Court.” More than 20 states have passed similar laws to Ohio’s‚ with most surviving court challenges so far. The Supreme Court on Monday allowed an Idaho law protecting minors from transgender procedures to go into effect while litigation against it proceeds. Meanwhile‚ on Tuesday‚ a federal appeals court ruled that West Virginia’s transgender sports ban violates a federal civil rights law that protects students from sex-based discrimination.

On Tuesday‚ National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan announced that the Biden administration would impose new sanctions targeting Iran in the wake of the regime’s attack on Israel over the weekend. Sullivan stated that the U.S. would coordinate with its allies‚ including the G7 countries‚ to determine the response to the attack. “In the coming days‚ the United States will impose new sanctions targeting Iran‚ including its missile and drone program as well as new sanctions against entities supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s Defense Ministry‚” he stated. “In addition‚ we continue to work through the Department of Defense and U.S. Central Command to further strengthen and expand the successful integration of air and missile defense and early warning systems across the Middle East to further erode the effectiveness of Iran’s missile and UAV capabilities.” “These new sanctions and other measures will continue a steady drumbeat of pressure to contain and degrade Iran’s military capacity and effectiveness and confront the full range of its problematic behaviors‚” he continued. “Over the last three years‚ in addition to missile and drone-related sanctions‚ the United States has sanctioned over 600 individuals and entities connected to terrorism‚ terrorist financing and other forms of illicit trade‚ horrific human rights abuses‚ and support for proxy terrorist groups‚ including Hamas‚ Hezbollah‚ the Houthis‚ and Kataib Hezbollah. The pressure will continue.” Although the Biden administration may impose sanctions‚ the White House extended last month a waiver on sanctions that could allow up to $10 billion to flow to Iran from Iraq through electricity payments to Iran via third-party countries. In a letter to the Treasury and State Departments‚ four House Republicans protested the move‚ writing‚ “Given the Biden Administration’s posture on the last waiver we presume that the Biden Administration will renew the waiver again to continue to allow for the transfer of funds from Iraq to Oman. By waiving the application of sanctions‚ the Administration is maintaining a financial lifeline for the Iranian regime‚ even as it continues to support terrorist organizations around the world.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “Iran has a history of lying about humanitarian transactions‚” they pointed out. “There is no reason to think that they will not try to skirt these restrictions again. Additionally‚ money is fungible‚ and the waiver and subsequent transfer will free up billions in funds that Iran can now spend on its terrorist proxies‚ nuclear activities‚ and military.” “Under these waivers‚ no money has been permitted to enter Iran‚” a State Department official stated. “These funds‚ which are held abroad in third countries‚ can only be used for transactions for the purchase of food‚ agricultural commodities‚ medicine‚ medical devices‚ and other non-sanctionable transactions. The money goes straight to the trusted vendor or financial institution in another country. The money never touches Iran.” The Wall Street Journal noted last November: Iran exported nearly 1.4 million barrels of oil per day in October‚ sustaining its average for 2023. This is up 80% from the 775‚000 barrels per day Iran averaged under the Trump Administration’s “maximum pressure” strategy‚ according to United Against Nuclear Iran‚ the group of former U.S. Ambassador Mark Wallace and Sen. Joe Lieberman‚ whose Tanker Tracker generates the best public data we have. The Iranian surge in oil exports since President Biden took over has brought Iran an additional $32 billion to $35 billion‚ according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

On Tuesday‚ the GOP-led House passed a resolution declaring the slogan “From the river to the sea‚ Palestine will be free” is anti-Semitic and must be condemned‚ the latest in a series of measures designed to express support for Israel. Lawmakers approved the resolution‚ which also says the slogan is “divisive and does a disservice to Israelis‚ Palestinians‚ and all those in the region who seek peace‚” by a 377-44 vote with bipartisan support. Forty-three Democrats and one Republican — Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) — opposed the resolution. Nine members did not vote‚ while one — Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) — voted “present.” Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY)‚ a staunch Israel ally who introduced the resolution‚ said in floor remarks that activists who recite the slogan are anti-Semitic and only “masquerading” as pro-Palestinian advocates. 🚨BREAKING: My legislation CONDEMNING the slogan‚ “from the river to the sea‚ ‘Palestine’ will be free” has passed the House. These antisemitic activists want nothing more than the destruction of Israel &; the Jewish people inside it. America will always #StandWithIsrael.🇮🇱🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/OfIgUI3QII — Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (@RepDesposito) April 16‚ 2024 “This slogan communicates one thing and one thing only‚” he said. “It is not human rights. It is certainly not peace. It is the violent destruction of the state of Israel and the Jewish people that live within it.” The vote took place a little more than six months into Israel’s fight against Hamas in the Gaza Strip following the group’s deadly terrorist attack on Israeli soil. Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)‚ who is the sole Palestinian American member of Congress and is part of the leftist “Squad‚” was among the 43 Democrats who opposed the resolution. “We are seeing the same ‘messaging’ bills on the floor every single week‚” Tlaib said in a post to X on Tuesday. “These bills are just an attempt to distract from the genocide in Gaza. I am not voting for any of these bills while the genocide of Palestinians continues.” We are seeing the same &;quot;messaging&;quot; bills on the floor every single week. These bills are just an attempt to distract from the genocide in Gaza. I am not voting for any of these bills while the genocide of Palestinians continues. — Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) April 16‚ 2024 The House voted to censure Tlaib last year over her comments regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. One part of the measure rebuked Tlaib for “falsely describing ‘from the river to the sea’ as ‘an aspirational call for freedom‚ human rights‚ and peaceful coexistence’ despite it clearly entailing Israel’s destruction and denial of its fundamental right to exist.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP House lawmakers have done more than just pass resolutions tied to the Israel-Hamas conflict. They also passed a bill that would have provided Israel $14.3 billion in emergency aid with an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offset. However‚ the legislation was blocked in the Democrat-controlled Senate last year. Now‚ after Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Israel over the weekend‚ the House is poised to consider new legislation meant to provide assistance to Israel and other foreign causes. The chamber also passed a raft of Iran sanctions measures.

Senior Business Editor Uri Berliner is resigning from National Public Radio (NPR) a little more than a week after he publicly accused the network of espousing left-wing bias in an essay. In a post to X on Wednesday‚ Berliner shared what he said was his resignation letter to NPR CEO Katherine Maher‚ who lashed out at the editor’s critique and has faced blowback over old tweets. “I am resigning from NPR‚ a great American institution where I have worked for 25 years‚” Berliner said. “I don’t support calls to defund NPR. I respect the integrity of my colleagues and wish for NPR to thrive and do important journalism.” My resignation letter to NPR CEO @krmaher pic.twitter.com/0hafVbcZAK — Uri Berliner (@uberliner) April 17‚ 2024 He added‚ “But I cannot work in a newsroom where I am disparaged by a new CEO whose divisive views confirm the very problems at NPR I cite in my Free Press essay.” The Free Press published the essay on Tuesday last week in which Berliner argued NPR “lost America’s trust” with its increasingly liberal bent. His critique touched on topics related to former President Donald Trump‚ NPR’s COVID coverage‚ reporting on transgender issues‚ audience figures‚ the network’s own level of diversity‚ and more. Berliner additionally wrote about how he tried to make some of his concerns known internally. He said no one ever “trashed” him‚ but he was repeatedly brushed off and nothing changed. On Tuesday of this week‚ NPR’s media correspondent David Folkenflik reported that Berliner had received a letter informing him that he had been suspended without pay for five days starting on Friday. NPR told Berliner he failed to follow the network’s rules and get approval for outside work for other news outlets. Berliner was also accused of publicly releasing proprietary information about audience demographics that NPR considered confidential. The letter‚ billed as a “final warning‚” said Berliner would be fired for another policy violation. Berliner conceded he did not get permission to speak with Folkenflik‚ but said he thought it would be “extraordinary” if he were fired for speaking to an NPR journalist. In the backlash that followed the essay‚ Trump demanded NPR’s funding be cut. And Maher‚ who has served as NPR’s chief executive for less than a month‚ condemned the “deeply simplistic” and “profoundly disrespectful‚ hurtful‚ and demeaning” assessment. Old tweets from Maher that displayed her personal views in favor of liberal causes began to resurface as the fallout over Berliner’s essay and follow-up interviews began to grow‚ fueling more criticism‚ particularly from the Right. Maher called Trump a “racist” in a 2018 post that has since been deleted and shared a photo of herself wearing a hat touting President Joe Biden’s campaign in November of 2020. Journalist Christopher Rufo‚ a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute‚ posted to X on Wednesday a clip of Maher talking about the First Amendment and platforms dealing with “bad information.” EXCLUSIVE: Katherine Maher says the &;quot;the number one challenge&;quot; in her fight against disinformation is &;quot;the First Amendment in the United States‚&;quot; which makes it &;quot;a little bit tricky&;quot; to censor &;quot;bad information&;quot; and &;quot;the influence peddlers&;quot; who spread it. NPR's censor-in-chief. pic.twitter.com/0vY6hIpbmO — Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) April 17‚ 2024 Berliner told Folkenflik the posts indicate Maher is the “opposite” of the kind of leader NPR needs to be “unifying and bring more people into the tent and have a broader perspective on‚ sort of‚ what America is all about.” Maher released a statement that said “everyone is entitled to free speech as a private citizen” in America. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “What matters is NPR’s work and my commitment as its CEO: public service‚ editorial independence‚ and the mission to serve all of the American public‚” she added. “NPR is independent‚ beholden to no party‚ and without commercial interests.” The report from Folkenflik noted that NPR emphasized that “the CEO is not involved in editorial decisions.” Folkenflik wrote that some in the newsroom acknowledge Berliner’s critique as valid‚ while others say they are no longer willing to work with him. NPR’s chief news executive‚ Edith Chapin‚ reportedly announced that Executive Editor Eva Rodriguez would lead monthly coverage review meetings. Berliner reportedly said he welcomed the announcement but would reserve judgment until those meetings happen.

A secret plan to undermine the U.S. and The West with an “offensive information campaign” was drawn up by Russia’s Foreign Ministry and now has been revealed. The April 11‚ 2023 document uses much more harsh language regarding Russia’s relations with the West than the The Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation‚ approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin only 12 days before. The March document calls for “the democratization of international relations‚” “sovereign equality” and states that “Russia does not consider itself an enemy of the West … and has no ill intentions toward it‚” adding that Russia hoped the West would “realize the lack of any future in its confrontational policy and hegemonistic ambitions‚ and will accept the complicated realities of the multipolar world‚” But the April 2023 secret document utilizes harsher rhetoric‚ as The Washington Post reports‚ writing‚ “We need to continue adjusting our approach to relations with unfriendly states. It’s important to create a mechanism for finding the vulnerable points of their external and internal policies with the aim of developing practical steps to weaken Russia’s opponents.” The Post noted last week‚ “In an ongoing campaign that seeks to influence congressional and other political debates to stoke anti-Ukraine sentiment‚ Kremlin-linked political strategists and trolls have written thousands of fabricated news articles‚ social media posts and comments that promote American isolationism‚ stir fear over the United States’ border security and attempt to amplify U.S. economic and racial tensions …” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) said that a portion of the Republican Party’s base has bought into Russian propaganda thanks to what they described as “conspiracy theory outlets” and “nighttime entertainment shows.” In an interview with Puck News‚ McCaul said‚ “I think Russian propaganda has made its way into the United States‚ unfortunately‚ and it’s infected a good chunk of my party’s base.” McCaul said that the source of a lot of the propaganda has been “some more nighttime entertainment shows that seem to spin‚ like‚ I see the Russian propaganda in some of it — and it’s almost identical [to what they’re saying on Russian state television] — on our airwaves.” “They have the same problem in Europe. I mean‚ Russia’s been very effective at that‚” he continued. “These people that read various conspiracy theory outlets that are just not accurate‚ and they actually model Russian propaganda. And I have to explain to them‚ ‘You’re actually a victim of Russian propaganda‚ and what you’re saying‚ you’re spreading Russian [propaganda].’ [And they respond‚] ‘Oh‚ no I’m not.'” Turner was asked about McCaul’s comments during a Sunday interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” with Jake Tapper‚ specifically if he thought McCaul was correct and if it was a big problem. “Oh‚ it is absolutely true‚” Turner responded. “We see directly coming from Russia attempts to mask communications that are anti-Ukraine and pro-Russia messages‚ some of which we even hear being uttered on the House floor.” “I mean‚ there are members of Congress today who still incorrectly say that this conflict between Russia and Ukraine is over NATO‚ which‚ of course‚ it is not‚ Vladimir Putin having made it very clear‚ both publicly and to his own population‚ that his view is that this is a conflict of a much broader claim of Russia to Eastern Europe‚ including claiming all of Ukraine territory as Russia’s‚” he continued. “To the extent that this propaganda takes hold‚ it makes it more difficult for us to really see this as an authoritarian-versus-democracy battle‚ which is what it is. President Xi of China‚ Vladimir Putin himself have identified it as such. We need to stand up for democracy. We need to make certain that we know that authoritarian regimes never stop when they start an aggression.” Related: House Republican Committee Chair: ‘Russian Propaganda’ Has Infiltrated Chunk Of GOP Base

A North Carolina high school boy was suspended for three days because he used the term “illegal alien” on a vocabulary assignment. Leah McGhee’s 16-year-old son‚ who attends Central Davidson High School in Lexington‚ was given a list of vocabulary words by his teacher‚ one of which was the word “alien.” She said her son was trying to clarify exactly what the term referred to‚ asking‚ “Like space aliens or illegal aliens without green cards&;#63;” The Carolina Journal procured an email that said another high school boy was offended by the question and reportedly threatened to fight McGhee’s son. The teacher notified the assistant principal‚ which led to the school’s administration deciding the question was offensive and disrespectful to Hispanics in the classroom. “I didn’t make a statement directed towards anyone; I asked a question‚” McGhee’s son stated. “I wasn’t speaking of Hispanics because everyone from other countries needs green cards‚ and the term “illegal alien” is an actual term that I hear on the news and can find in the dictionary.” “Because of his question‚ our son was disciplined and given THREE days OUT of school suspension for ‘racism‚’” Leah McGhee declared. “He is devastated and concerned that the racism label on his school record will harm his future goal of receiving a track scholarship. We are concerned that he will fall behind in his classes due to being absent for three consecutive days.” According to the school district’s student handbook‚ “schools may place restrictions on a student’s right to free speech when the speech is obscene‚ abusive‚ promoting illegal drug use‚ or is reasonably expected to cause a substantial disruption to the school day.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The handbook also notes‚ “A student must be provided with an opportunity for an informal hearing with the principal before a short-term suspension is imposed. The principal or designee may hold the hearing immediately after giving the student oral or written notice of the charges against him or her. At the informal hearing‚ the student has the right to be present‚ to be informed of the charges and the basis for the accusations against him or her‚ and to make statements in defense or mitigation of the charges.”

An Arizona woman who claimed former MLB pitcher Trevor Bauer sexually assaulted her has been charged with extorting him. Darcy Esemonu has been indicted by a grand jury for fraudulent schemes and theft by extortion‚ both felonies‚ ESPN reported. She is scheduled for arraignment on April 26 in Maricopa County. Esemonu “knowingly did obtain a benefit from … Trevor Anthony Bauer by means of fraudulent pretenses‚ representation‚ promises‚ or material omissions‚” the indictment against her says. She also “knowingly did obtain or sought to obtain property or services … by means of a threat to in the future expose a secret or an asserted fact in a social media message or in any other manner” involving a second man‚ who is not associated with Bauer. In 2022‚ Esemonu filed a lawsuit against Bauer‚ claiming he sexually assaulted her in 2020 and that she had become pregnant from the encounter. She later updated that lawsuit in 2023. Bauer countersued‚ saying his encounter with Esemonu “was consensual” and alleging that she tried to harass and extort money from him after he was accused of sexual assault by several other women. Bauer’s attorneys told ESPN that Esemonu demanded $3.6 million from Bauer‚ claiming he “forced her to have an abortion.” When he refused to pay her the money‚ “she made up a bogus sexual assault claim and filed a civil suit against” Bauer. Esemonu reported the alleged sexual assault to police a week after she filed her lawsuit. Police reports obtained by ESPN show that Esemonu “initially stated she had a miscarriage‚ but later referred to the miscarriage as an abortion” when talking to police. Later‚ she told police there was no abortion but that she miscarried just before heading to a clinic in a different state. A police detective noted in the reports that none of the medical records Esemonu provided indicated that she “was in fact pregnant.” In January 2023‚ Bauer’s attorney‚ Anne Chapman‚ filed a criminal complaint with the Scottsdale Police Department – the same police department where Esemonu made her allegations – and said the woman “had demanded financial compensation from her client for a pregnancy and abortion that was alleged to be false.” Bauer was also accused of sexual assault by Lindsey Hill‚ who also claimed the former star pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers beat her. He never faced charges relating to the allegations‚ and a restraining order filed by Hill was denied. Bauer always maintained that the rough sex between him and Hill was consensual. Once the settlement was announced‚ Bauer released a video revealing some of the text messages Hill had sent to her friends prior to meeting Bauer and after their encounter‚ which suggests she had always been focused on getting money from him. “’Next victim. Star pitcher for the Dodgers‚’” Bauer begins in the video with a picture of Hill’s text. “A text Lindsey Hill sent to a friend before she ever even met me. ‘What should I steal&;#63;’ she asked another‚ in reference to visiting my house for the first time. The answer&;#63; ‘Take his money.’ So how might that work&;#63; ‘I’m going to his house Wednesday.’ she said‚ ‘I already have my hooks in. You know how I roll.’ Then‚ after the first time we met‚ “Net worth is 51 mil” she said. ‘b—h‚ you better secure the bag’‚ was the response.” “But how was she going to do that&;#63;” Bauer continued. “‘Need daddy to choke me out‚’ she said. ‘being an absolute whore to try to get in on his 51 million‚’ read another text. Then‚ after the second time we met‚ former [San Diego] Padres pitcher Jacob Nix told her ‘you gotta get this bag.’ ‘I’ll give you 50‚000’ Lindsey replied. Her AA sponsor asked her at one point‚ ‘do you feel a tiny bit guilty&;#63;’ ‘Not really‚’ she replied.” Bauer said these messages were “deliberately and unlawfully concealed from me and my legal team” until he filed his lawsuit against Hill and the case entered discovery. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP He also played a video taken just minutes before Hill left Bauer’s house in the morning after the alleged assault‚ showing her in bed next to him smirking at the camera with no evidence of injury or distress. He said Hill’s legal team had approached him for money‚ but after this evidence was turned over‚ they approached with a settlement offer that included no money. He agreed to a settlement that allowed him to publicly discuss the case since he could not do so for legal reasons prior. Bauer was suspended for 324 games because of the allegations‚ but an independent arbitrator reduced that ban to 194 games in December‚ Fox reported. No team picked him up‚ so he began playing in Japan for the Yokohama DeNa Baystars‚ where he was 10-4 with a 2.76 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 19 games.