In his first public remarks following the U.S. assassination on Iran's Major General Qassem Soleimani, President Donald Trump said the killing was an act intended to "stop a war. We did not take action to start a war."
"The world is a safer place without these monsters," Trump said, noting there had been an imminent threat to Americans in the region.
The president ordered the airstrike in Baghdad that killed Soleimani, one of the top Iranian military officials, and several others. However, on Friday Democrats quickly decried the president's failure to notify Congress and the bipartisan 'Gang of Eight' before making the decision to escalate tensions with the Middle Eastern power.
Meanwhile, Republicans have said this was a necessary action to deter the defiant nation from further aggression against the U.S.
Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis. 8th District), who serves on the House Armed Services Committee told Cheddar "You don't always have the luxury of being able to notify Congress," although he noted it is better to do so, when possible.
In the past, "when we have stepped up and said 'We are the superpower here,' we were able to convince them" to back down, Gallagher said. He called today's move a defensive action and said Iran usually backs down when "confronted with a credible American threat."
However, in the immediate aftermath of Soleimani's death, Iran did not appear to be backing down, as the nation's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei quickly promised severe revenge for the drone strike.
Soleimani, who led the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, played a large role in Iranian policy, which made him a target for years, but both presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama opted not to escalate tensions by ordering a strike against him. Soleimani bolstered Shiite influence in the region, supported Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and was behind hundreds of American deaths in Iraq. He and four other Iranian officials were designated as terrorists in 2011.
After Iranians took to the streets to protest and the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised retaliation, the Pentagon announced it will send 3,500 more U.S. troops to the region, further complicating the situation in the Middle East only months after the president vowed to bring home troops from Syria and Iraq. The U.S. said Soleimani was planning attacks on Americans in the region.
Democratic and Republican responses have been divided.
Speaking in front of an audience in Anamosa, Iowa on Friday, Democratic presidential contender Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said "Trump promised to end endless wars. Tragically, his actions now put us on the path to another war." Democrats have said the move was both imprudent and done without Congressional approval.
On the Senate floor, Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) noted the president failed to notify the top Congressional leaders usually briefed on military actions. However, Senator Lindsay Graham (R-S.C), who is not a member of the group, said the president did brief him during his trip to Florida. "I appreciate being brought into the orbit. I really appreciate President Trump letting the world know you cannot kill an American without impunity," Graham said on Fox & Friends.
Tens of thousands of people have fled Ukraine in attempts to escape the Russian Invasion. According to the U.N. neighboring countries like Poland, Hungary, and even Romania have seen half a million refugees. While the hospitality is being welcomed by many, it also highlights the mistreatment of migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa. Professor of Philosophy and Director of Politics at Northeastern University Serena Parekh, joined Cheddar, to discuss more.
As Russia unleashed war in the country of Ukraine, global leaders have started inflicting punishment on Vladimir Putin's regime via commercial and financial penalties. According to President Joe Biden Putin's aggression is "a flagrant violation of international law and it demands a firm response from the international community".However, the main question is will these sanctions actually work. Partner at Jenner & Block LLP, Rachel Alpert, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
A Gallup poll finds that now 7.1% of American adults identify as LGBTQ, jumping from 3.5% in 2012. The increase is driven by Generation-Z – those born between 1997 and 2003 – of whom one out of five identify as LGBTQ. Cheddar News speaks with Washington Blade reporter Chris Johnson about the significant shift.
As the Biden administration continues to see the potential for an imminent invasion of Ukraine after contradictory reports of a Russian troop pullback or buildup, Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif. 7th District), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, joined Cheddar News to give his insight into the tense situation. "When I was in Ukraine a couple of weeks ago and we were talking with the Ukrainian leadership with President Zelensky, they said we ought to approach Vladimir Putin as though he was a poker player," he said. "So this could be one of those head fakes where he's saying one thing and doing another thing."
The Biden Administration has now issued new guidelines when it comes to carbon capture. The new guidelines handed down this week encouraged the widespread use of climate attacks that traps and stores carbon emissions. The goal here is the process would help keep carbon out of the atmosphere without requiring a whole lot of change by big companies and manufacturing plants. Several scientists say that this method would be crucial to help us decrease the use of carbon emissions by the year 2050. Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University, Mark Jacobson, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Natalie Fertig, federal cannabis policy reporter for Politico Pro, joins Cheddar News to discuss the latest in marijuana legalization in the United States.
The Biden administration is launching a new task force to promote the use of 'cleaner' construction materials with lower life cycle emissions. This comes as the White House works to speed up government purchases of greener products. Sweta Chakraborty, climate change expert and U.S. president of "We Don't Have Time," joins Cheddar News to discuss.
Due to the staffing shortages of teachers in New Mexico, the state has been encouraging its National Guard members to fill in as licensed substitutes to keep schools open. Kurt Steinhaus, New Mexico secretary of education, joined Cheddar News to explain the state's stopgap measure amid its lack of teaching professionals. "The first thing they have to go through a fingerprint background check, just like any other substitute new Mexico. The second thing they have to do is go through some online training, and then we provided some in-person professional development about classroom management," Steinhaus explained about the qualifications process.
