Transcripts For MSNBCW The 20240702

Events have been canceled as the man hunt continues for the mass murder who killed it least 18 people and left more than a dozen injured in maines second largest city, lewiston. Authorities say 40yearold suspect robert card is still at large and is considered armed and dangerous. Hes a Firearm Instructor and army reservist, with a history of mental illness. Tonight, more than 80 fbi agents are searching land and water to find him. According to police, the suspect fatally shot his first seven victims and a Bowling Alley where a, childrens lead was holding its weekly practice. The boston globe reports, sarah welch, her husband, and a year old daughter were taking part in that practice when she heard what sounded like the pop of a balloon. We saw someone fall, and we heard another pop when we ran now. We just kept running, wells said, and well said she grabbed her daughter and another child and ran to shelter in a nearby restaurant. She said that the leagues coach, who she declined to name, died in the shooting. The person that coached her daughter since she was in kindergarten. Police say the suspected shooter drove to a bar ten minutes away, where he shot and killed another eight people. Nbcs lester holt spoke to a City Counselor who learned he was the father of one of the victims. Joey walker was shot to death. Shot to death, then he went in to tell her that he died as a hero, because he picked up a Butcher Knife from somewheres. He has all that stuff near the bar anyways. And he tried to go at the gunman, to stop him from shooting anybody. The gunman shot him twice through the stomach. Does it change your pain at all . Knowing that . It made it worse. Yeah. It made it worse. According to senior Law Enforcement officials, the Assault Rifle or used in Wednesday Nights Massacre was purchased legally. Democratic congressman jared golden, who represents maines conservative second congressional district, which includes lewiston, said his prior votes to protect Assault Weapons, was a mistake. Out of fear of this dangerous world we live in, and my determination to protect my own daughter and wife in our home in our community, because of a false confidence that our community was above this and that we could be in full control among many other misjudgements, i have imposed efforts to ban Deadly Weapons of war against Assault Rifle used to carry of this crime. The time is now come for me to take responsibility for this failure, which is why i now call on the United States congress to ban Assault Rifles, like the one used by the sikh perpetrator of this mass killing. Joining us, now retired fbi Special Agent kathryn the creator of the fbis active Shooter Program and the author of how to talk about guns with anyone. And rob damico, founder of 01 consulting uniform remember of fbis hostage rescue team. Thank you both very much for being here. Catherine, this Ground Search Operation is nearly 24 hours. At this stage out as Law Enforcement conduct this land man hunt, given his access to weapons . Pretty meticulously and pretty slowly, because you dont get a Second Chance to do it right. So i think thats the biggest challenge right now. You have a very rural area thats very were wooded area and hes obviously very familiar with it as he is from there and allow the property. You have to work from one area and work your way out from where he was and where he lived and meticulously work their way through and try to see what he had contact with and where he could be going. So part of that also the important part about that is that every tip that Law Enforcement gets, and of course as much as the fbi searching who has a lot of people there, but the state and locals, this is their case. And so the fbi is there in support. They are working to work every tip, and if somebody says they think they saw where they think they heard, line force but will be there. All right. Break in here, because we do have a bit of Breaking News. Joining us by phone right now is nbc news chief White House Correspondent Peter Alexander. Peter, tell us whats happening. Jonathan, we just learned information from the white house. In fact this is coming from the defense department, from lloyd austin, the defense secretary. Now reporting that act of President Bidens direction u. S. Military forces conducted a series of what the pentagon described as selfdefense strikes on a pair of facilities in Eastern Syria used by irans Islamic Revolutionary guard corps, commonly referred to as the irgc, and unaffiliated groups. They say that the selfdefense strikes were response to a series of ongoing, and is the pentagon describes, mostly unsuccessful attack against u. S. Personnel in iraq and syria by iranianbacked militia groups that began just about a week and a half ago, on october 17th. The white house, we should say the pentagon, in recent days, is nbc news was first to report, shared an american citizen, a contractor died from a cardiac incident and sheltering in place there. And separately the 21 u. S. Troops suffered from minor injuries. But they are said to have all returned. But johnson, obviously it is significant because it is demonstrate for the first time with the u. S. Has now responded to iranianbacked attack in the region on u. S. Forces. Again, those attacks in recent days it happened both in iraq and in syria. It is significant because we did hear a warning from President Biden was there in the rose garden as he goes to the Prime Minister of australia yesterday, to iran, specifically to its ayatollah, where he spoke specifically to this issue and was asked whether the u. S. Would respond and what the response would be to the series of recent attacks. You noted the u. S. Has had troops in the region, iraq and syria, since 9 11, to go after ices, he said, and to try to prevent i. S. I. S. From reemerging. And he said that his warning to the. Ayatollah was that if they continue to move against those troops we will respond and he should be prepared. We have heard from the president repeatedly over the course of the last several weeks, since october 7th, when hamas, which of course is backed by iran, though there is no direct indication that iran was involved in the attack on october 7th. The u. S. And the president said that iran was complicit in. That intervenes in this new strike that we are now reporting on an nbc news from the pentagon, the u. S. Would be doing this and that it had nothing to do with the situation is real. This was simply a response to irans attack on u. S. Forces. Jonathan, thats the best information that we have at this moment. All right, peter, stay with us. Peter alexander coming to us from the white house. In just for those of you who are tuning in right now, the pentagon has announced secretary lloyd austin has announced that today the United States conducted selfdefense drags on to facilities in Eastern Syria used by irans Islamic Revolutionary guard corps. Want to bring in nbcs Pentagon Correspondent. Courtney, bring us up to speed on, we have the statement here from the defense secretary lloyd austin, the statement says today these strikes happen but do we have any specifics on timing . How recently where the strikes made . So we, are not just in the last couple of hours. So nighttime, local, time in Eastern Syria. Which is pretty common when theyre taking these kind of strikes. One thing that we need to take a bigger step back, everyones obviously focused on whats happening in israel and gaza, this is a pretty consistent behavior for the u. S. Military when we see what we have seen in iraq and syria in the region recently, and that is a pretty dramatic uptick in attacks against bases and facilities housing u. S. Troops. Now, so far those attacks, they have been mainly drawns, a couple of fire mortars and rockets. So far they have been largely unsuccessful, meaning that there have not been serious injuries. There have been roughly two dozen minor injuries. There have been some structural injury or problems. We had a hanger on one of the bases. And for the most part they have been unsuccessful. The way the u. S. Military has tended to react to these objects in the past is with these sorts of strikes. Its what the military tends to call strikes that are proportional to what they have endured. So in this case, they start facilities in Eastern Syria, they have ties to the Iranian Revolutionary guard corps, and proxy forces. Generally in that area that tends to be known as k age, thats a group that is backed, funded, and equipped, and frankly, in many cases, trained by iran, operating in that area. They tend to be the ones who, when you hear about iranian backed forces they tend to be the ones who officials are talking about. So its pretty common that when we see the sorts of attacks against facilities, they have done this year. Its also important to know in the statement we got from the pentagon tonight, we call these defensive strikes. The reason they consider this defensive is because they are taking facilities where they say the sorts of attacks like we have seen in iraq and syria over the last eight days or so is where those sorts of attacks are planned or it may be where they house or keep some of the equipment, like the drones we have seen, because thats how they can characterize people. And courtney, i can imagine that americans who are watching right now im wondering if theres any connection between those attacks on american facilities and american personnel. , if theres any connection between those attacks and what they have been watching since october 7th, in terms of how masses Terrorist Attack on israel it israels response any connection, especially with these facilities being linked to irans Islamic Revolutionary guard corps . The pentagon is saying that these are the, quote, separate an indistinct from the conflict of evil israel and whats happening with hamas. But once the, after the october 7th attack happened, that was when we saw this increase of attacks against bases Housing Americans in iraq and syria. There have been, frankly, a lot of that sense that merits of this year. We have not only been hearing about a lot of these sorts of attacks. So even the u. S. Passed so theres nothing to do with whats happening and they dont change your Policy Bill Urge both sides to seek cease their hop to it ease hostility, this is not happening in a vacuum. The world events happening in israel against hamas that have seemed to have led to this uptick in attacks against u. S. Bases is why the u. S. Took the strikes tonight. Courtney, one more question for you, because im reading fully, more fully this statement here from the secretary lloyd austin where it says these iranianbacked attacks against u. S. Forces are unacceptable. Unless stopped we will not hesitate to take further necessary measures to protect our people. Is there any indication that this is the first of many defensive, im trying to find the right, well let, see the defense defense strikes, it is the first of many more selfdefense tricks we could see from the United States . I have no doubt. The whole will deter further action. More Attack Groans and attacks on basic in iraq but to the big question is, will this actually work . Will this actually deter . Theres been a real lull in these sorts of attacks since march, but that was the last time the west took series of strikes in syria against these sorts of groups. In that case, it did seem to work. Its santa message, and they stopped these sorts of attacks. If it doesnt stop, if you still see this one, two, even three a day over the next few days, i have no doubt that the u. S. Military will take further the question is, will they continue to do in the same manner, which is the proportional where. So striking facilities or will the u. S. Start to escalate . One thing that we frequently here in these sorts of situations is, the u. S. Doesnt want to engage in titfortat. They dont want to have a strike on the u. S. State in the immediately take a strike in syria. The reality is, i have no doubt that if in fact we see the same sorts of activities, because the real concern is not just the drones and these mortars that are hitting these bases. The concern is that if one of those actually killed u. S. Service member or even more than one, that will really escalate the situation. Weve already seen, just in the last week, there was one aerate siren. A number of Service Members were sheltering in place, and there is an American Contractor who saw offered cardiac and died. So the individual deaths was not a direct result of one of these attacks, but the individual sheltering in place and did die. So if we were to see one of these attacks be successful and kill americans, that would really escalate the situation. Thats what concern. Here Courtney Kube, our correspondent at the pentagon. I want you to stick around, but i wanted about to nbcs correspondent Peter Alexander for a quick followup here. Peter, do we expect a statement from the white house . We are reading from the statement from the defense secretary, lloyd austin, but any indicator, any indication that well get a statement from the president . A good question. We certainly reached out to the white house. If we get when will share with you in the near term. There is no public event that we have where we had to take the president would be will keep posted that changes as well. To the point courting was making obviously the president s given the circumstances between the war with israel and hamas, in the priority of the administration, if they communicated not to escalate the situation and try to do everything in their power to avoid the potential for a wider war. The president and lloyd austin, the defense secretary, have now sent those Carrier Strike groups, a pair of them, to the Eastern Mediterranean, not far from the coast with israel there. And its also a little part of this slow walk sort of strategy by the president , where he has made very clear before there is any ground invasion, he has made efforts privately to try to get more aid to his many palestinians as possible. He wants to get as many u. S. Citizens were trapped in gaza out right now. He needs more time to try to Fortify Americas Broad Military Presence in the middle east. Then these renewed fears that iran or irani bagged terrorist groups might attack israel Going Forward. So the white house indicates that this deterrence staffer has nothing to do with whats going on in israel, in so many ways they seem ultimately are tied together right now. The president is walking a very delicate line a year to well, its not surprising that iran has done what its done. It tries as much as possible to use proxies, but its fingerprints are on absolutely every attack on american and allied interests in the region. And so, at some juncture, they would expect that the United States would strike. We have struck before in syria and other places as a result of attacks on american interests. It depends on whether or not iran wants to take it further. The likelihood is that they will not. They will continue to use proxies, make small scale attacks, and as we heard, in the event that there is a death, an american death, as a result of an attack by iran or in iran proxy, then we can expect an escalation and we already have plans to attack a specific targets among iranian interests in order to prevent that sort of thing from happening again. Colonel, is there any way for this not to spiral out of control considering everything thats happening in the region as we speak in terms of the israelhamas war . Everybody on the other side is, of course, using this, whats happening in israel, as an opportunity to push the envelope as, it were. But at the end of the day, everything is in the hands of iran and the arab nations in the region. We keep forgetting that the nations in the region, egypt and others, are part of it should be part of the solution and not part of the problem. To the extent that they are off stage, that they do not participate in solving the problem, then things might escalate, and probably will. Colonel jack, what might the reaction be in the middle east, in the arab and muslim world to news of this limited strike in syria . Well, its not good. Of course, hamas, hezbollah, and iranian interests dont need any excuse to do things that are disadvantageous not only to our interests, but their own interests, and the interests of those in the area. And so, its also fragmented there. Nobody is under the direct command of anybody, particularly. So as a result of that, were liable to see fragmented interests taking advantage of the situation and wreaking havoc in a wide variety of places. Its extremely difficult for the United States because, unless somebodys fingerprints are on an attack, it makes it difficult for us to execute what plans we have in order to prevent other attacks. We have plans, we have targets, but at the end of the day, unless we can specifically identify the origin of the attack, its very tough for us to justify internally attacking someplace where somebody in particular. Hes a very fraught times. There is a lot of volatility, and its very easy for things to spiral out of control. Colonel jack, howell might now that these strikes have taken place, and the defense secretary has specifically called out the Islamic Revolutionary guard corps, how might we expect iran to react to the United States action . Typically, theyll use proxies. They dont want to necessarily be directly involved. And were liable to see continued limit allude attacks from time to time. Of course, to use a cliche, the elephant in the room when the fully in the gulf, the persian golf, and also in the Eastern Mediterranean, one would expect that iran would not necessarily use the Republican Guards to carry on even limited attacks on our naval assets in the region. But if cooler heads dont prevail, thats whats liable to happen. If anything will permit the situation in the area that could spiral out of control, its a direct attack on american interests in the east mediterranean. Colonel jack, let me ask you a basic question, a rudimentary question for those of us who are not in the military and just hearing about this limited strike on two facilities in Eastern Syria by the United States in response to attacks on American Personnel By the Iranian Revolutionary guard. Where did these strikes originate . Are they originating from, i think its the uss Eisenhower Strike Group that was sent to the persian gulf or maybe the american Aircraft Carriers that are in the Eastern Mediterranean, or do we have bases on the ground in the middle east where these limited strikes could be carried out from . The short answer is yes to all of that, bust the most likely is that the assets are afloat because theyre manoeuvrable. Its very easy to dilate the targets that we want to attack. And we can follow up also battery radar, we can tell where and when attacks come, where they originate from, and where they move to because we have good Technological Capabilities in surveillance to produce Finish Intelligence so we know exactly where they are. The most likely origin are assets afloat in the fleet. Let me bring in Pentagon Correspondent courtney qb and bring her back into this. Could because courtney, we have the statement from the defense secretary lloyd austin announcing the selfdefense of strikes of two facilities in Eastern Syria. Im wondering, do we know if the defense secretary called his counterpart in israel to let them know, let the israelis know about the action the United States was about to take . Thats a great question. I dont know the answer to that. It tends to be that when the u. S. Is doing Something Like this, if theres a potential that it might interfere with forces of another nation, they would, like the israelis, give them a heads up. In this case, i dont know that they wouldve done, that candidly. Because there are no Israeli Forces in northEastern Syria where the strikes were taking place. But it is fair to assume when there is a Deconfliction Mechanism in northEastern Syria. Its primarily between the u. S. And the russians. If there was any chance that these strikes occurred, we dont know exactly where they were, but id imagine giving the general you region, if there was any chance that they wouldve potentially come in contact, these aircraft, which we are just hearing from colonel jacobs, they were most likely manned aircraft that were involved, most likely Unmanned Forest surveillance capabilities as well. But they would have notified the russians if there was any chance that they would have come close to russia. But given the area, i doubt that wouldve been necessary. Thats actually really good question a Fair Question asked about the israelis, and i will ask that to jonathan. Thats a good line of questioning. I am happy to help, courtney, and let me bring in our White House Correspondent Peter Alexander back into the conversation, because peter, the question, my question to courtney, makes me wonder, for you, covering the white house, the planning of this strike and the order being given by the president of the United States. Have you seen any indicators around the white house that this kind of action was in the offing . Just by whos been around, whos been around the white house who you might not have seen before days earlier. Jonathan, peter . Yes, peter. Certainly, we saw the president s onward say that yesterday, and deliver this direct warning to the ayatollah, saying that if they continue to move against these troops, that they will respond, and should be prepared. We do know that the president has had a series of meetings over the last several days in the Situation Room. Notably, today, the president hosted at the white house for the first time the new house speaker, mike johnson, the republican, the trump ally as well as the houses top democrat, Akeem Jeffries there as well. Were told that at points that conversation took place in the Situation Room as well. No indication as to whether that focused on the strikes that weve now learned about from the pentagon today. But there certainly among the questions that well be asking Going Forward right now. But you know, this goes back to the conversation, the back and forth i had with the president , i think we are in ottawa traveling with him. Yeah, back in march, and i asked the president specifically about the circumstances thats related to iranian efforts to try to undermine american interests, target americans. And the president basically said, we will not stop. He said, we will not stop. I followed up to find out what that meant. He said we will not stop in our effort to try to defeat i. S. I. S. Throughout that region and also, do whats necessary to deter iran from doing anything further. A followup question for you, because you did remind me that today, the president of the United States had a meeting with the new speaker of the house, speaker mike johnson. Had a leader with the House Minority leader, hAkeem Jeffries in the house. In the Situation Room, would it be unusual for a kind of strike like this being in the planning, but the white house and the president not talk to those leaders in congress . Hes got them right there in the Situation Room. Is it unreasonable for me to wonder whether the president briefed those leaders at that time . Its not unreasonable. In fairness, i have no idea what the basis or circumstances were in that conversation. It is an interesting moment that couldve existed there. Certainly though, President Biden, though he has hosted the now Republican House speaker at the white house on a separate occasion, i think it was there many months ago when the lsu Womens Basketball team that won the ncaa championship came to the white house. So johnson had been there, whether he and biden had any interaction at any time before, no one has been able to communicate to us. So you can only imagine, mike johnson and im trying to think of the best language to describe him, how speaker is, not like Kevin Mccarthy had, not like nancy pelosi certainly had, now hes facing the potential of a Government Shutdown soon. He has 105 Billion Dollar request from the white house for additional supplemental aid to ukraine. About 60 billion to them to israel, to taiwan fighting off threats from china as well as efforts to try to fortify the u. S. Southern border with mexico right now. And then, all of a sudden, conceivably, if this conversation did exist in that form, the president or his aides wouldve been discussing with Speaker Johnson the potential for a strike overseas. That is definitely getting thrown into the fire of some of the responsibilities that come with been the Top Republican in the house. But again, for simple clarity, we do not know exactly what was discussed in that conversation. We just know that the president did greet both jeffries and johnson and the president was there for a part of that visit in the Situation Room. Peter alexander at the white house, please stand by. Just for those of you who might be tuning in, since it is just a little after 10 30, the Secretary Of Defense lloyd austin announced just moments ago the u. S. Military strikes in Eastern Syria, selfdefense strikes onto facilities in Eastern Syria used by irans revolutionary guard kora. And the release goes on to say that this is in response to unsuccessful attacks against u. S. Personnel in iraq and syria by iranianbacked militia groups that began on october 17th. It goes on to say, these iranianbacked attacks against u. S. Forces are unacceptable and must stop. If attacks by irans proxies against u. S. Forces continue, we will not hesitate to take further necessary measures to protect our people. Let me bring back in msnbc military analyst colonel jack jacobs. And colonel jack, after resetting the scene, especially for those who are just tuning in, will iran view these with limited, quote unquote, selfdefense strikes as a discreet action by the United States or will they view it as the United States been in lead with israel in israels war against hamas. Its an interesting question, because in the past, they almost always perceived it as discrete. But this is a totally different situation altogether, because whats happened in israel on october 7th, and of course, the world of possibilities as expanded in the region. Iran is always looking to push the envelope. Theyve always done it, and they will continue to do it. And as a result, we can expect that they might expand their opportunity to attack americans and allied interests in the region. Their perception, probably, at the moment, given the situation in the region, is no longer that its discreet. Its part of a larger Strategic Initiative on their part to insert themselves in the region as the dominant force, both politically, religiously with, and indeed, militarily. And to make life as difficult as possible for america and its allies. Colonel jack, colonel jacobs, please stay with me. Joining us now by phone is nbc chief Foreign Affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell. Andrea, thank you very much for hopping on the phone. I would love to know from you, diplomatically, how will this selfdefense strikes, these two strikes on the two facilities in Eastern Syria, how will this news be received in the middle east . I just asked that very question to the senior ad meter Administration Official at the state department tonight. The Secretary Of State has been the Foreign Minister and very powerful advisor to china. A very important meeting at the highest level, chinese visitor that has come to visit this administration in washington, and a lot on the the table there, figuratively, at least at dinner. One of his main goals, according to state Department Officials for the last two days, and the Secretary Of State himself when hes at the u on the other day, have been to trying to influence china to pressure iran. China is a huge importer of iranian oil. And so that was the main mission tonight. So separately, i just talked to a top official over there, and asked exactly what you are asking. How would this interact with our diplomatic efforts to work with israel, to try to get our hostages out since this is the irgc, the Iranian Revolutionary guard that we were taking action against tonight, according to the pentagon in the white house. And this official said this is separate, completely separate from our diplomacy. Has nothing at all to do with israel or with gaza. It has to do with restoring deterrence. It has to go with going after the facilities that targeted our people, and asserting our deterrence. They are calling it a defensive measure. Not just at the pentagon did. This is what the administration is going to say. Whether it deters or ran or whenever it determines irans remains to be seen. But they are claiming they can keep this on a separate track, and are simply responding to iran being aggressive and going after our troops. And you know there was some minor casualties. There was one u. S. Contractor who had died of a fatal heart attack during one of these incidents, related to the incident, perhaps. The other Service Members, some two dozen, maybe as many or up to two dozen who were affected according to Courtney Kube and all reporting from the pentagon have returned. There was not by any means lifethreatening injuries. But this is certainly a mine in the sand that the u. S. Is not going to tolerate attacks against our troops. Andrea, you have covered foreign for years, for decades. These sorts of situations are not new to you with your reporters hat on. So im wondering, do you think, how do you think this is going to go over with iran. This gets more to your point about the United States saying that this is a discreet action, has nothing to do with the israelhamas war, nothing to do with anything else, this is just deterrence. But given your years of reporting, is that likely that iran is going to view it that way as well . Its very hard to predict what iran is going to do, except that there is a lot of pressure on iran not to escalate. And it depends perhaps on the result of the conversations with the chinese leader, the top chinese leader, the meeting with secretary blinken tonight, with Jake Sullivan tomorrow, probably see the president as well. I havent looked in the last few minutes at the president s schedule tomorrow. But this is obviously a very important meeting to set up a meeting that u. S. Officials think china now wants, president xi jinping now wants, between Cheating Thing and President Biden, who is likely going to be in San Francisco and Cheating Things expected to be at the apex meeting. So that was one of the purposes, one of the big issues between us and the chinese. There was an aggressive action by a chinese boat against philippine boat in the South China Sea last sunday. And that is another issue. The problem in the South China Sea its really hard to say whether china will now be willing to put some pressure on iran. Its not a china for there to be a major widening of this war, in oil crisis in the gulf. Oil prices shooting up when its economy is not in the best shape. And thats heavily dependent on iranian oil. So if theyre really pursuing their economic interests, they will try to do what they can to help the u. S. With iran. And that could be a stabilizing force. That is the hope of the administration. Andrea, one more quick question for you. Now that this action has been announced, what are you watching for next . Very good question, clearly what iran is going to do. Level has paula do . Will they take action . Is this going to be a titfortat that could get evander easily in such a volatile situation. And how it could affect anything that israel does, whether it be the hostages, a targeted incursion yesterday with tanks for the first time moving into gaza. And then, moving out very quickly. What are the next steps that israel could take . There are conflicting pressures on netanyahu. Many hostage families arguing and press when netanyahu and his war cabinet not to go in heavily with the full ground invasion, because they think it will just jeopardize any hostage releases. Either parts of the population in israel wanting to retaliate, wanting to do something about Decapitating Hamas leadership, that thats even possible. That thats their stated goal. It is an enormously complicated and really treacherous situation, and from my experience, and i think most people would agree, one of the most difficult that any administrations had to confront. Colonel jack jacobs, let me pull you in for one last question. The same one that i asked Andrea Mitchell just a second ago. What are you watching for next . Well, i think andrea had an absolutely brilliant take on the relationship among the United States, iran, and china. Its hard to believe, but china can actually be a stabilizing force in this entire circumstance. In the meantime, we have to remember that the United States forces have specific targets already selected, and it just requires in order to execute. At the end of the day, its an nobodys interest, including irans, to push the envelope any further. And the likelihood that they probably wont. Theyd like to use proxies. But its entirely possible that there will be an acquiescence now while iran decides whats going to do next in trying to make life difficult for the allies of the Eastern Mediterranean and the gulf. But china certainly can serve as a stabilizing force for reasons of their own and reasons of everybody elses. Its likely that things will be quiet for a while until Something Else happens, but this may be the last time for a while that weve seen any kind of action like this. And again for those of you watching, the United States announced basically the top of this hour that it has carried out selfdefense of strikes on two facilities in Eastern Syria used by irans revolutionary guard as a result of unsuccessful attacks against u. S. Personnel in iraq and syria. My thanks to Andrea Mitchell, colonel jack jacobs, Courtney Kube, and Peter Alexander. Thank you all for joining us on this Breaking News from the pentagon tonight. President Biden Ordering what lloyd austin has called selfdefense strikes onto facilities in Eastern Syria used by the Islamic Revolutionary guard and affiliated groups. Well be right back. I told myself i was ok with my moderate to severe Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms. With my Psoriatic Arthritis symptoms. But just ok isnt ok. And i was done settling. If you still have symptoms after a tnf blocker like humira or enbrel, rinvoq is different and may help. 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Trelegy may increase your risk of thrush, pneumonia, and osteoporosis. Call your doctor if worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating, vision changes, or eye pain occur. Take a stand, and start a new day with trelegy. Ask your doctor about oncedaily trelegy, and save at trelegy. Com welcome back. We will continue to monitor the latest Breaking News of the night. The President Ordering Strikes on two facilities and Eastern Syria used by irans revolutionary guard. The pentagon calling those, quote, selfdefense strikes. We will bring you new developments or reaction from the white house as it happens. Meanwhile, today, at the white house mike johnson offered thoughts and prayers after the deadliest shooting this year ahead of his first meeting with President Biden and House Democratic leader hAkeem Jeffries. This is a dark time in america. We have a lot of problems, and we are really really hopeful and prayerful. Prayer is appropriate in a time like this that the evil can and and the senseless violence can stop. According to the white house, johnson said hes ready to get to work and to find Common Ground. But we are learning a lot about Speaker Johnsons extreme views since his election yesterday. He is a staunch proponent of gun rights who voted against gun legislation. He even blames School Shootings on abortion, telling new York Magazine in a new york interview saying quote, when you break up a new color family, when you tell a generation of people that life has no value, no meeting, that its expendable, then you do wind up with school shooters. An extreme farright religious idealogue with Donald Trumps back cain who the New York Times dubbed the most important architect of the Electoral College objections. Speaker johnson led an effort by republicans to sign on to a texas lawsuit challenging the Election Result in key States Donald trump lost with a novel legal theory. And he privately encouraged House Republicans to join him in objecting to have certifying joe bidens victory on january 6th. Speaker johnson is also extremely antiwomens rights and antilgbtq plus rights. He praised the supreme courts decision to overturn roe v. Wade. He supports a nationwide abortion ban, and Cosponsored A Bill Banning Abortions around six weeks, when a fetal heartbeat is detected. And he advocated for imprisoning doctors at hard labor who performed abortion care. Speaker johnson voted against legislation to codify samesex marriage that Congress Passed with bipartisan support. Speaker johnson has written in support of laws criminalizing Homosexual Activity and said that samesex marriage would, quote, place our entire democratic system in jeopardy by rhodium its foundation. Why was that powerful . Democratic congressman angie craig in voting for hAkeem Jeffries and not mike johnson for the speaker, used to roll call time to answer to tell the house it was a special day in her family. Craig, happy Wedding Anniversary to my wife hAkeem Jeffries [applause] [applause] go ahead. Joining me now, democratic congresswoman angie craig from minnesota, my alma mater, congresswoman, thank you very much for being here. Republicans unanimously coalesced behind Speaker Johnson. Does this signal that he and his extreme views represent the Republican Party . Well, thank you so much, jonathan, for having me on on such a busy news night. It really does symbolize a complete takeover, or i should say, the completion of the takeover of the Republican Party by the maga wing. I am still just stunned, and frankly, we had to Google Mike Johnson. A bunch of members of congress were on google lucky enough who the guy is. And the more we learn about him, the more we realize that this is someone who doesnt support lgbtq equality, supports a federal ban on abortion, and actually worked to overturn the 2020 election. So, its a complete takeover at this point. I have to ask why did you decide in that moment, when it was time for you to cast your vote for speaker for leader jeffries that you decided that you were going to make a very personal statement in such a momentous moment . Well, jonathan, as you know, because its your alma mater, i come from a swing district. Its one of the toughest seats among all democrats in the country. I have to defend my seat every single cycle. But as i sat there, and in realtime we learned that the potential speaker was so anti lgbtq, you know, i felt compelled to speak out in a way that some people have culled pretty minnesota. I wanted to wish my wife a happy Wedding Anniversary, and it was our wedding then every. Weve been married under the law, at least, for 15 years. Weve raised four sons together, and we now have two grandsons. So i truly hope that the speaker, we can work to change his views overtime because i really think that his view on this is outdated, its wrong, and in one of the toughest swing states in america, guess what . People have elected me now three times to congress. Just to put a finer point on, and were talking about my alma mater, a carleton college, which is in northfield, minnesota. Lets turn to something equally serious, even more serious, and that is the Mass Shooting in lewiston, maine last night. Main democrat reversed his opposition and called for an Assault Weapons ban and apologized for his failure. Lets listen. To the people of lewiston, my constituents throughout the second district, to the families who lost loved ones, and to those who have been on homed, i asked for forgiveness, support as i seek to put an end to these terrible shootings. Congresswoman craig, you just said a moment ago a bunch of you and your colleagues had to Google Mike Johnson to see who he is, but do you think, given the information youve been able to find, can you find Common Ground on an Assault Weapons ban . Well, its time that we stopped in green around the edges of Gun Safety Legislation in this country. Im so proud of my colleague, joe golden from maine in his words this evening. Its time to act. Its the guns. We dont need to say anything else. Weapons of war should not be on american streets. Again, i come from a district where we heavily value freedom, and i know jared does as well, and my constituents value the freedom to go to a Bowling Alley or to a Movie Theater or to a place of worship or a grocery store. And until we understand that acting on gun safety is really about giving the American People the freedom to live in our communities safe. Were not doing our job. Congresswoman angie craig from the great state of minnesota, happy anniversary. Thank you very much for coming to the last word. Happy anniversary, cheryl. Well be right back. Your best defense against erosion and cavities is strong enamel nothing beats it. New pronamel active shield actively shields the enamel to defend against erosion and cavities. I think that this product is a gamechanger for my patients it really works. rsv can be a dangerous virus [sneeze] for those 60 and older. Its not just a cold. And if youre 60 or older. You may be at increased risk of hospitalization from this highly contagious virus. Not all dangers come with warning labels. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about getting vaccinated against rsv today. Rsv vaccines, including pfizers, are now available. Liberty mutual customized my Car Insurance and i saved hundreds. With the money i saved, i started a dog walking business. I was a bit nervous at first but then i figured its just walking, right . 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