we re learning from our sources about the special counsel s investigation. plus, our russia experts are weighing in on cnn s exclusive new reporting. documents showing a missing top general in vladimir putin s military has been a secret member of the mercenary group behind the recent mutiny. welcome to our viewers here in the united states and around the world. i m wolf blitzer, you re in the situation room . there s angry backlash tonight after the u.s. supreme court ruled that race can no longer be a specific basis for college admissions. cnn justice correspondent jessica schneider has our report on the decision and the disredissent. reporter: the supreme court stirring up protests with its decision to gutting affirmative action saying colleges and universities can no longer rely on race in the admissions process, but prospective students are allowed to talk about how race has shaped their experiences in the applications. the decision will prohibit students from ch
february of 2021, signs pointing to a recession soon if they are not already there. and with that cheery news, we kick off the day. john roberts in washington. harris said have a great weekend, i m with it. let s pull up stakes and go home. sandra: go with it. great to be with you, john. sandra smith in new york. this is america reports . latest response from the white house seems to be about semantics with the president and his team trying to change the definition of a recession. the administration is also claiming the economy is in strong shape due to a hot labor market and falling gas prices. john: millions of americans struggling to afford groceries and to fill up their tanks as inflation runs rampant. sandra: mike emmanuel is live on the north lawn, white house says don t look here, not recession, but the white house seems to counter what millions of americans are actually feeling. sandra, you are right. white house officials are already downplaying this week s
the way here. we will be joined in a moment. john: but first, a fox news alert, a furious china and military on high alert. house speaker pelosi s trip to taiwan is now over, as the world awaits the fallout promised by the chinese government. good wednesday to you. gillian: pelosi met with taiwan s president and other senior leaders during her 20-hour stay in taipei. reaffirming the commitment to taiwan s democracy and supporting the island militarily. critics say it does more harm than good in an already unstable region. john: communist regime planning a series of live fire exercises tomorrow. ten miles off the coast of taiwan. tennessee republican senator bill haggerty has expertise as a former ambassador to japan. gillian: aishah hasnie joins us this afternoon. how is the white house responding to china s plans? hey there, good afternoon to you, gillian and john. the white house is really trying to get china to not increase tensions any more, to not escalate the
breaking tonight, 13 israelis held hostage by hamas terrorist for seven weeks are back in their home country this evening. the return was the centerpiece of a four-day cease-firend agreement that was struckk between israel and hamas. that positive effect at midnighl today. 11 others were also freed today. this is supposed to be the firsr in a series of prisonerl av exchanges. jeff is inwi tel aviv tonight wh what comes nexhit tonight. we are learning tonight that, on top of the 13 hostages whoto are free today, an additional 13 could be released tomorrow.er the move on the ground is still bittersweet knowing there arhoe more than 200 hostages who have. yet to go home. a moment nearly seven weeks in the making. buses leading people through the crossing. 13 israelis and one person from the philippines were freed after spending 48 days in captivity. among the israelis released, four kids, three mothers, and six elderly women. it was the first round of hostage releases and wh
breaking tonight, 13 israelis held hostage by hamas terrorists for seven weeks. now back in their home country this evening. the return was the center period of a four-day cease-fire agreement that was struck between israel and hamas. that pause in fighting took effect at midnight today. 11 other freedom thailand and the philippines supposed to be the first of a series of prisoner exchanges. jeff paul is in tel aviv tonight with what comes next. hi, jeff. yeah, gillian, we are learning tonight on top of the 13 hostages freed today, an additional 13 could be released tomorrow. but the mood here on the ground in israel is still very bittersweet. knowing that are more than 200 hostages who have yet to go home. a moment nearly seven weeks in the making. buses leaving gaza through the rafah crossing entering egypt carrying 24-hamas held hostages who were r. now free. 13 israelis, 10 thai citizens and one person from the philippines freed after spending 48 days in captivity. am