But the Biden Administration is receiving a lot of criticism for the deal that brought them home. Well go through all of that in just a moment. Also ahead wellbri you a preview of President Bidens busy day at the United NationsGeneral Assembly here in new york where hes expected to push for continued support for ukraine. Plus the latest on capitol hill to avoid a shutdown as House Republicans are struggling to get all their members onboard with even a shortterm funding deal. Good morning and welcome to way too early on this tuesday, september 19th. Im jonathan lemire, and thanks for starting your day with us. Later on this morning President Joe Biden is set to address the United NationsGeneral Assembly for the third time. A Senior Administration official tells nbc news that the president will lay out for the world the steps that he and his administration challenges. Those challenges range from the Largest Armed conflict in europe since world war ii to escalating tensions with global super powsers, notably china. Well have much more on the president s speech as the morning continues. Meanwhile four americans wrongfully imprisoned in iran are now making their way back to it United States. They were freed after the u. S. Released five iranians from custody. Yesterday morning the Freed Americans landed in qatar. Some of them had been held in one of irans most notorious Detention Centers for years. In a statement President Biden celebrated their Return Writing in part this. They will soon be reunited would their loved ones after enduring years of agony, uncertainty, and suffering. The president also thanked several other Foreign Government for their help. Secretary blinken saying he had an emotional conversation with the freed prisoners after they landed in qatar. Its easy in the work we do every day sometimes to get lost in the distractions in Foreign Policy and relations with other countries and forgetting the Human Element thats at the heart of everything we do. But today their freedom, the freedom of these americans for so long us unjusty imprisoned and detained in iran means some pretty basic things. It means that husbands and wives, fathers and children, grandparents can hug each other again, can see each other again, can be with each other again. So its a day im grateful for. However, President Biden is facing some criticism for the deal he brokered with iran to release those prisoners. Republicans are condemning the white houses decision to unfreeze 6 billion of funds. They warned this could create an incentive of sorts to take more americans hostages adding iran has not changed its ways. We should be clear President Biden isnt the first one to negotiate a prisoner swap. In the 1980s Ronald Reagan secretly sold weapons to iran and donald trump when he was in office also agreed to prisoner swaps with both iran and north korea. Still trump criticized bidens Agreement Posting on truth social he never paid anything to bring hostages home writing, quote, once you pay you always pay and many more hostages will be taken. The Trump Administration, however, we should point out did give some concessions in hostage deals such as releasing tallben leaders back in 2014. Joining us now she also works at the nsc and Treasury Department and having a busy week. Lets start with the prisoner deal. Respond if you will to the criticism from some who suggest this is a mistake to pay for hostages because it may indeed inceptvise bad actors from doing it again. And iran floats this could be the first step in improving relations with the United States. Do you think thats possible . No, to your last point i think its laughable iran thinks now we have grounds we could imprive our relationship especially when they found theyre going to easily and happily nab americans to use as bargaining chips. When theyre at the level increasing iranian to the closest Weapons Grade material ever. Its the lowest point for sure for iranian, u. S. Relationship. On the criticism i dont think criticism is walmarted only because this is good news as Secretary Blinken said. Its amazing to have these prisonered return. These relations are difficult and trying and complicated and to be honest with you now never know theyre going to work until those prisoners are out of iranian airspace. That is how precarious the situation is. These negotiations apparently took two years. Everybody suffers in these situations, the victims, the families. The government is put in a very difficult spot between a rock and a hard place. And the fact is the Iranian Regime not dealing with a government that plays by the same rules, so its very likely they pull all the stops they could, made thing emotional and tried to drag it out to get as many concessions they could. I ask note two things, number one if it was so easy to get these Prisoners Released without giving all these concessions then what did the Trump Administration achieve releasing these prisoners so thats the first. The second i would note it is true, by the way, it does encourage this behavior. We know that when i was at the Treasury Department we worked in paying for ransoms in kid nappings paid to Terrorist Organizations and we know it encourages this behavior, but the fact is Hostage Diploepacy is a hallmark of the Iranian Regime. Theyre going to pursue this policy no matter what because its the only concession they have. Lets turn to the speech in a few hours. This some of the main leaders are skipping it and includes those from china and russia. The president going to focus on promoting democracy and continue to ral to the world to stand with kyiv even as there are questions about domestic support. What do you expect well hear from him today . I suspect hell focus the majority of his speech on Building Support for the war in ukraine. Were about to enter into an Election Year where some republican candidates have voiced themselves loudly for continuing aid for ukraine. Biden feels that pressure, that we need to shore up support and do as much as we can especially in this upcoming year his argument to everybody is, listen, the u. N. Charter says explicitly youre not allowed to attack your neighbor and seize territory and yet it is happening. If we dont push back and support ukraine in defeating russia, then dictators Around The World will continue this behavior. Russians wont stop. Itll continue onto moldova to other countries and that destabilizes the whole world. Youve had a number of coups, and so its the state of peace and security is not good, and thats why bidens got to focus on this as a means of achieving it. Well of course have complete coverage of the speech later today. Thank you so much for joining us this morning. Well speak to you again soon. We turn to capitol hill and as a potential Government Shutdown looms over congress, both the house and sept attempted to move things along yesterday but both sides appear to be at a real stalemate. Chuck schumer said the Upper Chamber will not be considering a recent shortterm proposal made by House Republicans. Last nights proposal in the house can be boiled down to two words, slapdash, reckless, time is short to finish the job. If both sides embrace bipartisanship, the shutdown will be avoided. If the hard right is given a license to run the show, the shutdown is almost inevitable. Its that simple. Meanwhile leadership in the Senate Republican conference is seemingly punting Government Funding responsibility to the house gop, which means any bipartisan effort in the Upper Chamber appears unlikely. Now, over in the house it appears Speaker Mccarthy doesnt have the votes with at least 15 republicans say they vote against it. Congressman steve womack of arkansas share his concerns yesterday. Well, its unmitigated disaster right now on the majority side. Look, im fearful of what this leads to, but lets also remember its the 18th of september. Its really early in the process, and i say tongue in cheek. Im concerned right now there are too many people out here that dont feel Government Shutdowns are not all that big a deal and they dont affect you. Even if you dont think a Government Shutdown affects you, trust me its expensive, it affects you, and necessary going to have to get it operational once we shut it down. And the question is what changes to do that and was it fools air ened in the beginning. The republicans focused yesterday on the new senate dress code. Last week majority leader Chuck Schumer quietly announce he was Loogsening The Rules in the Upper Chamber to let all senators include to wear casual clothes on the senate floor. That change did not sit well with republicans both in congress and the campaign trail. Did you guys hear the u. S. Senate just eliminated its dress code because youve got this guy from pennsylvania whos got a lot of problems. To show up in the United States senate with that and not have the decency to put on proper attire i think its disrespectful to the body. I plan to wear a bikini tomorrow to the senate floor to do away with the dress code, to me, debases the institution. I think its terrible. Its, you know, respect for the institution must not exist anymore. I dont intend to change anything. I expect to do the senate the same way its been done for 20, 40 years. I mean its about tradition, discipline, organization, a show of strength. I mean its a joke. Still ahead well take a look at Donald Trumps plans to appeal to striking auto workers in detroit while his republican primary opponents debate in california next week. Plus another Talk Show Host reconsiders a decision to return to tv amid the ongoing writer strike. Well tell you who. Those stories and a check on sports and weather when we come right back. Weather when we com right back mom bringing in a new roommate to save money is that the plan . dad well we gotta find some way to save. So say hi to glen. From work. glen hey. Thats my mom. mom i think i have a much better plan. We switch to myplan from verizon. We get exactly what we want and save big. All on the network we can count on. daughter its a good plan dad that is a good plan. Glen looks like were not going to be needing you. 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Republican frontrunner donald trump is skipping the next Republican Debate again and will once more hold his own counter programming. The former president is planning to Travel To Detroit On September 27th to give a prime time speech before current and former union members. Now, this comes as thousands of auto workers are currently on strike against general motors, ford, and stellantis. The Trump Campaign is even considering having to make an appearance on the picket lines. But the United Auto Workers union is not welcoming the move writing in a statement this, every fiber of our union is being poured into fighting the Billionaire Class and an economy that enriches people like donald trump at the expense of workers. We cant keep electing billionaires and millionaires who dont have an understanding what it is like to live paycheck to paycheck. When trump delivers his speech to detroit next week the rest of the gop president ial candidates who meet the rncs requirements will be debating each other at the Reagan Library at simi valley, california. Uaw leadership has been pretty clear they wont support trump, his aides feel like he can win the support of some of the Rank And File members. Elsewhere, bill marr has reversed his decision to bring back his Late Night Talk Show in the middle of the hollywood writers strike. News that marr hit pause on his production on the hbo show called Realtime With Bill Maher came several days after other Talk Show Hosts postponed their returns following the backlash for crossing the picket liep. Last week maher announced hell resume his show wrout writers because much of his Production Staff was struggling and seemed like there was no end to the strike. But in a post on social media yesterday announcing the pause, maher wrote this, now that both sides have agreed to go back to the negotiating table, im going to delay the realtime for now and hope they can finally get this done. Still ahead well turn to sports and have the highlights from a Monday Night Football doubleheader. Plus a major milestone was reached last night in major league baseball. Well show you who joined An Exclusive Club. Thatll all be next. D An Exclusive Club thatll all be next. Trelegy for copd. Birds flyin high, you know how i feel. Breeze driftin on. [coughing]. By, you know how i feel. If youre tired of staring down your copd,. Its a new dawn, its a new day. Stop settling. And im feelin good. Start a new day with trelegy. No oncedaily Copd Medicine has the power to treat copd in as many ways as trelegy. With three medicines in one inhaler, trelegy makes breathing easier for a full 24 hours, improves lung function, and helps prevent future flareups. 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