White House proposes rule to stop bans on transgender athletes: April 7 rundown

KARAH RUCKER: THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS INTRODUCED NEW TITLE NINE REGULATIONS TO ENSURE TRANSGENDER ATHLETES HAVE A PLACE IN SCHOOL SPORTS – THE TWO EXCEPTIONS TO THE WHITE HOUSE’S PROPOSAL.

AND – TWO HOUSE DEMOCRATS IN TENNESSEE HAVE BEEN EXPELLED FROM THE CHAMBER – AN ACTION ONLY ENFORCED A HANDFUL OF TIMES SINCE THE CIVIL WAR.

THE DAILY RUNDOWN STARTS NOW. THIS IS STRAIGHT-ARROW NEWS. BRINGING YOU UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS. I’M KARAH RUCKER.

NEW RULE TO STOP TRANS ATHLETE BANS

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING NEW RULES – STOPPING SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM ENACTING OUTRIGHT BANS ON TRANSGENDER ATHLETES. 

IT UPDATES FEDERAL LAW KNOWN AS TITLE NINE – WHICH ENSURES STUDENTS AREN’T DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BASED ON SEX. THE PROPOSAL DOES HAVE SOME EXCEPTIONS…ALLOWING K-THROUGH-12 SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES TO RESTRICT– IN SOME CASES — WHERE THE PARTICIPATION OF A TRANSGENDER STUDENT UNDERMINES “FAIRNESS ON THE FIELD” OR “COULD LEAD TO INJURIES.”

THE LEGISLATION COMES IN RESPONSE TO TWENTY STATES ENACTING BANS ON TRANS ATHLETES FROM PARTICIPATING IN WOMEN’S AND GIRLS SPORTS. KANSAS BEING THE LATEST STATE TO DO SO AFTER OVERRIDING THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR’S VETO THIS WEEK.

Karine Jean-Pierre | White House Press Secretary: “This has been one of the worst weeks for 2023 so far in terms of anti-LGBTQ bills becoming law in states across America. I know that these political attacks can really take a toll on people’s mental health. So I want to say directly to LGBTQI+ kids, you are loved just as you are just the way you are.”

TN EXPELS HOUSE REPS OVER PROTEST

KARAH RUCKER: THE TENNESSEE HOUSE HAS VOTED TO EXPEL TWO DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS OVER THEIR ROLE IN GUN REFORM PROTESTS THAT INTERRUPTED PROCEEDINGS LAST WEEK. 

THE RARE MOVE HAS ONLY HAPPENED TO EIGHT LAWMAKERS SINCE THE CIVIL WAR. 

THE GOP LED HOUSE VOTED TO EXPEL STATE REPRESENTATIVES JUSTIN JONES AND JUSTIN PEARSON FOR “DISORDERLY BEHAVIOR” AND “DISHONOR” AFTER LEADING CHANTS WITH GUN CONTROL PROTESTORS LAST WEEK FROM THE HOUSE FLOOR. 

REPRESENTATIVE GLORIA JOHNSON, WHO WAS ALSO PART OF THE PROTEST WAS NOT EXPELLED OVER HER PARTICIPATION.

THE PROTESTS CAME JUST DAYS AFTER THE DEADLY NASHVILLE SCHOOL SHOOTING.

Justin Pearson | expelled member of the Tennessee House of Representatives: “You say to protest is wrong because you spoke out of turn, because you spoke up for people who are marginalized. You spoke up for children who won’t ever be able to speak again. You spoke up for parents who don’t want to live in fear. You spoke up for Larry Thorn, who was murdered by gun violence. You spoke up for people that we don’t want to care about.”

KARAH RUCKER: THE OUSTED REPRESENTATIVES WILL STILL BE ABLE TO RUN FOR THEIR SEATS…WHEN A SPECIAL ELECTION IS HELD. PRESIDENT BIDEN TOOK TO TWITTER– CALLING THE DECISION “SHOCKING, UN-DEMOCRATIC AND WITHOUT PRECEDENT.”

ISRAEL LAUNCHES RARE STRIKES IN LEBANON

THE ISRAELI MILITARY LAUNCHED RARE AIRSTRIKES INTO LEBANON EARLY FRIDAY MORNING, JUST HOURS AFTER IT STRUCK OPPOSITION TARGETS IN THE GAZA STRIP. 

BOTH SERIES OF ATTACKS WERE IN RETALIATION AFTER PALESTINIAN MILITANTS IN GAZA FIRED ROCKETS INTO SOUTHERN ISRAEL AND A SERIES OF ROCKETS WAS FIRED FROM LEBANON INTO NORTHERN ISRAEL. THE LATEST ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES INTO LEBANON ARE SPARKING FEARS OF A BROADER CONFLICT.

THE TIMING IS SIGNIFICANT – AS THOUSANDS OF WORSHIPPERS GATHER IN JERUSALEM DURING HOLY WEEK. THIS WEEK’S ESCALATION IS SEEN AS THE MOST SERIOUS VIOLENCE SINCE ISRAEL’S WAR WITH LEBANON MILITANTS IN 2006.

IRS TO ADD AGENTS, INCREASE AUDITS

THE IRS HAS ANNOUNCED WHAT THE AGENCY PLANS TO DO WITH THE 80 BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT FROM DEMOCRAT’S INFLATION REDUCTION ACT THAT WAS SIGNED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN LAST SUMMER.

THE IRS PLANS TO HIRE NEARLY 30 THOUSAND NEW EMPLOYEES OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

THE NEW FUNDING WILL GO TOWARD TWO TOP OBJECTIVES — ONE IS IMPROVING CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE SECOND IS AN INVESTMENT INTO MORE TAX AUDITS ON THE WEALTHY. 60 PERCENT OF THE 80 BILLION DOLLARS WILL GO TOWARD EXPANDING THESE “ENFORCEMENT” EFFORTS. 

REPUBLICANS HAVE CALLED THE IRS NEW HIRES AS AN “ARMY OF AGENTS” TO INCREASE TAX AUDITS. THERE IS DISCUSSION ON CAPITOL HILL TO REPEAL THE IRS FUNDING AS PART OF THE GOP’S NEGOTIATIONS FOR RAISING THE DEBT CEILING.

COOLIO DIED OF FENTANYL OVERDOSE

THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER HAS DETERMINED RAPPER COOLIO DIED FROM AN ACCIDENTAL FENTANYL OVERDOSE. THE RAPPER DIED AT A FRIEND’S HOME IN LOS ANGELES SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR. HE WAS FOUND ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR.

ACCORDING TO THE CORONER – COOLIO HAD FENTANYL, HEROIN AND METH IN HIS SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO THE CDC, FENTANYL OVERDOSES IS THE CAUSE OF 150 DEATHS EVERY DAY IN THE U.S.

WEST COAST SALMON FISHING BAN

A FEDERAL REGULATORY GROUP HAS VOTED TO OFFICIALLY CLOSE KING SALMON FISHING SEASON ALONG MUCH OF THE WEST COAST AFTER NEAR-RECORD LOW NUMBERS OF THE FISH RETURNED TO CALIFORNIA’S RIVERS LAST YEAR.

THE CLOSURE OF THE 2023 SEASON WILL IMPACT ALL COMMERCIAL AND MOST RECREATIONAL SALMON FISHING ALONG THE COAST. THE FISHING BAN MARKED ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN STATE HISTORY THAT CALIFORNIA HAD CANCELED ITS SALMON FISHING SEASON, WITH THE LAST BAN TAKING PLACE BETWEEN 2008 AND 2009, ALSO DUE TO DROUGHT CONDITIONS.

BIOLOGISTS SAY THE SALMON POPULATION HAS BEEN IN DRAMATIC DECLINE AFTER YEARS OF DROUGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING THE DAILY RUNDOWN.WE’RE ON A MISSION TO BRING BACK TRUSTWORTHY JOURNALISM BY SERVING ONLY YOU — NOT AN AGENDA. BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MORE OF OUR WORK AT STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS DOT COM.

WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK! UNTIL THEN I’M KARAH RUCKER. HAVE A GREAT DAY!