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Thursday Afternoon Update: Americans Abandoned In Sudan, Jerry Springer Dead, DOJ Sues Tennessee

   DailyWire.com
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Igor Levin via Getty Images

This article is adapted from today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click here.

Debt Ceiling Bill Passes House

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) mustered enough support for the GOP-led House to pass a debt ceiling plan late on Wednesday. The move cranks up pressure on the White House to negotiate a deal before a potential unprecedented default in June. The legislation would suspend the debt limit until it rises by $1.5 trillion or until March 31, 2024 — whichever comes first — in exchange for a host of government spending cuts. Four Republicans opposed the bill, while three other members abstained. During a press conference after the vote, McCarthy dared Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to put an alternative debt ceiling plan to a vote and the speaker challenged President Joe Biden to agree to talks.

DOJ Sues Tennessee

The Department of Justice sued Tennessee on Wednesday over a state law prohibiting transgender hormone treatments and surgeries for minors.

The DOJ claims Tennessee’s ban on sex-change treatments for minors violates the Equal Protection Clause. In a statement Wednesday, the Department argued that the law discriminates against “transgender youth” diagnosed with gender dysphoria by blocking sex-change treatments for them “while allowing non-transgender minors access to the same or similar procedures.” Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee called the move “federal overreach at its worst.”

In a statement to The Daily Wire, Governor Lee said: “Tennessee is committed to protecting children from permanent, life-altering decisions.” Lee signed the bill into law in March, but it is not scheduled to take effect until July.

State Department Says It Can’t Evacuate Americans In Sudan

The U.S. State Department says that it is simply too dangerous to attempt to evacuate the 16,000 Americans left behind in Sudan, as fighting and conflict in the African nation continues. While U.S. diplomatic staff have been rescued from the country, thousands more have been advised to shelter in place or leave on their own accord.

The notice comes as other countries such as France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, Holland, and more have been able to facilitate travel for their nationals. At least two U.S. citizens have been killed in Sudan over the past couple of weeks.

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Oil Tanker Seized By Iran

The U.S. Navy confirmed Thursday that Iran has seized a foreign oil tanker flying under the Marshall Islands flag in the Gulf of Oman, Fox News reported. The oil tanker Advantage Sweet issued a distress call during the seizure, and the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet also reports that “Iran’s actions are contrary to international law and disruptive to regional security and stability.” The vessel was taken by Iranian forces after leaving Kuwait for its journey to Houston, Texas. Now, the U.S. is demanding that Iran release the tanker immediately.

Southern Border Rally

A Texas rally planned for this weekend seeks to put pressure on officials to take action on the crisis at the southern border. According to organizers of the “How Many More” rally, people will gather at the Texas State Capitol in Austin on Saturday to demand that elected officials declare an invasion at our southern border and define Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations.

Bacterial Outbreak Kills 4 In Seattle

Four patients at a downtown Seattle hospital are dead in connection to an outbreak of a bacteria often found in health care settings. According to a hospital statement Wednesday, there have so far been 31 infections associated with Klebsiella. Hospital officials say the source of transmission remained under investigation.

Jerry Springer Dead

The “King of daytime TV” Jerry Springer is dead at the age of 79. The controversial TV personality is best known for hosting the syndicated talk show “The Jerry Springer Show” for 27 years. On it, guests often appeared to discuss wild topics and frequently got into fights onstage. A family spokesperson told TMZ that Springer was fighting a “brief illness” and died at his home in the Chicago area. An unnamed source told the outlet that Springer was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago.

To listen to the audio version of this podcast, click here. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

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