NBA star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lebron-james-says-brittney-griner-shouldnt-even-want-to-come-back-to-america" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LeBron James</a> is taking heat online for walking into his son&#8217;s college basketball game and taking a seat while the National Anthem was playing.
The 34-second video clip, which notably does not show the entire playing of the anthem, went viral, racking up more than 3.9 million views on X in under 24 hours. Most commenters were displeased with James&#8217; actions, qualifying them as <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnDMacari/status/1734916899081736454" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disrespectful</a>, though in lockstep with the baller&#8217;s past actions and comments about the U.S.
&#8220;LeBron James casually walks into the basketball arena while the National Anthem is playing and takes a seat,&#8221; conservative Collin Rugg captioned the video, which was captured by O.C. Register reporter Luca Evans.
&#8220;Zero respect for the country that gave him the opportunity to be a basketball star,&#8221; Rugg added. &#8220;Zero respect for the country that allowed him to become a billionaire. Zero respect for the men and women who defend our country so he can live his life. Shameful.&#8221;
WATCH:
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LeBron James casually walks into the basketball arena while the National Anthem is playing and takes a seat.
Zero respect for the country that gave him the opportunity to be a basketball star.
Zero respect for the country that allowed him to become a billionaire.
Zero respect… <a href="https://t.co/NaTmdeOabx">pic.twitter.com/NaTmdeOabx</a>
&mdash; Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/1734742092411478432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Just last year, James <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lebron-james-says-brittney-griner-shouldnt-even-want-to-come-back-to-america" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suggested</a> that WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was being detained by Russia at the time, shouldn&#8217;t even want to come back to America.
“Now, how can she feel like America has her back?” James said. “I would be feeling like, ‘Do I even want to go back to America?&#8217;”
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Griner was arrested in Russia, back in February 2022, after being caught with marijuana vaping materials. She was sentenced to nine years behind bars but was freed months later in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-freed-from-russian-prison-in-swap-for-arms-dealer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">controversial prisoner exchange</a> for a notorious Russian arms dealer.
Two years earlier, James claimed the U.S. was a racist and oppressive country.
“It’s just heartbreaking,&#8221; James <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lebron-on-black-lives-matter-in-america-there-aint-been-no-damn-movement-for-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> at the time. &#8220;You guys don’t understand. Unless you’re a person of color, you guys don’t understand. I understand you might feel for us. But you will never truly understand what it is to be black in America.”
&#8220;No, this is a walk of life,&#8221; the athlete added about the Black Lives Matter movement. &#8220;When you wake up and you’re black, that is what it is. It shouldn’t be a movement. It should be a lifestyle. This is who we are. … I don’t like the word ‘movement’ because, unfortunately, in America and in society, there ain’t been no damn movement for us. There ain’t been no movement.&#8221;
“You know what’s going on now. Is that progress? I think we can all say that’s not progress,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The conversations being had right now and how many people are really listening or just having the conversations of trying to make things happen, that’s progress. We got a long way to go.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lebron-james-founded-a-school-based-on-equity-it-is-an-unmitigated-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LeBron James Founded A School Based On Equity. It Is An Unmitigated Disaster.</a>

Lakers’ LeBron Jame watches the game between the USC Trojans and the Long Beach State 49ers during the first half at Galen Center in Los Angeles Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023.

‘Shameful’: Video Goes Viral Of LeBron James Ignoring, Sitting During National Anthem At Son’s USC Game

Video Goes Viral Of LeBron James Ignoring, Sitting During National Anthem Son’s USC Game

Brittney Griner

LeBron James

Sports

U.S.

U.S. Marine veteran Trevor Reed, who was released from a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/russia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russian</a> prison in exchange for a convicted Russian drug trafficker, has been injured while fighting in Ukraine, the State Department reportedly said on Tuesday.
&#8220;We&#8217;re aware that Trevor Reed was injured while participating in fighting in Ukraine,&#8221; a Biden administration official told <a href="https://themessenger.com/news/freed-in-russia-prisoner-swap-u-s-marine-injured-serving-as-mercenary-in-ukraine-exclusive?utm_source=onsite&amp;utm_medium=latest_news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Messenger</a>.
State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trevor-reed-russia-prisoner-marine-ukraine-bdfe9b245571f479c25a09d1872ac726" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Associated Press</a> in a statement that Reed did not engage in any activities on behalf of the U.S. government.
&#8220;As I indicated, we have been incredibly clear warning American citizens, American nationals, not to travel to Ukraine, let alone participate in fighting,&#8221; Patel said. &#8220;As you know, we are not in a place to provide assistance to evacuate private U.S. citizens from Ukraine, including those Americans who may decide to travel to Ukraine to participate in fighting.&#8221;
According to reports, Reed sustained shrapnel wounds from an explosion several weeks ago and was treated in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, before requesting military medical assistance in Germany or Poland.
Reed was released by Russian authorities last year after serving approximately three years in prison. Reed was charged with violence committed against Russian police officers after a night of drinking in Moscow. According to The Messenger, Reed allegedly grabbed an officer driving a police vehicle, causing the officer to swerve dangerously.
Russian authorities sentenced Reed to nine years in prison despite his denying the allegations.
U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan called the trial &#8220;so preposterous that they provoked laughter in the courtroom. Even the judge laughed,&#8221; according to The Messenger.
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Last year, the Biden administration struck a surprise deal with Russia amid its international conflict with Ukraine. The Russian drug trafficker exchanged in the prisoner swap was Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was serving a 20-year sentence for a conviction of conspiring to smuggle more than $100 million worth of cocaine into the U.S.
Upon returning to the U.S., Reed reportedly joined a group of outside freelance fighters to connect with Ukrainian forces at some point last year.
Russian officials also arrested American journalist Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges earlier this year while he was on a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg, located in the Ural Mountains — becoming the first arrest of an American journalist on espionage charges since 1986.
In addition to Gerschkovich, Russia is also holding U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan, who has been imprisoned in Russia for nearly four years and is currently serving 16 years in a penal colony for a crime that he says never happened.
Last year, U.S. officials swapped American WNBA player Brittney Griner, who was held prisoner in Russia after she pleaded guilty to drug charges, with international arms dealer Viktor Bout, also known as the &#8220;Merchant of Death.&#8221;

RUSSIA-US-COURT

U.S. Marine Veteran Trevor Reed, Ex-Russian Prisoner Exchanged For Drug Trafficker, Injured While Fighting In Ukraine: Report

Freed Russian Prisoner U.S. Marine Vet Trevor Reed Injured While Fighting In Ukraine: Report

Biden Administration

Global Politics

Russia

Ukraine-Russia War

World

Former ESPN reporter Charly Arnolt slammed her former employer, WNBA player <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kjp-gushes-over-griners-release-an-important-role-model-for-lgbtqi-americans-and-women-of-color" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brittney Griner</a>, transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, and retired professional soccer player <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/riley-gaines-rips-megan-rapinoe-for-attacking-bill-protecting-womens-sports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Megan Rapinoe</a> during a recent interview.
The 35-year-old sports broadcaster and TV personality spoke <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-12089535/Lia-Thomas-biggest-bigot-Brittney-Griner-puppet-Biden-Administration.html">exclusively</a> to the Daily Mail, saying for five years she couldn&#8217;t be her true self while working for the sports television network, and she&#8217;s done holding back, offering opinions on several controversial athletes.
Arnolt criticized Griner, who spent nearly a year detained in Russia, for saying it was a &#8220;crime&#8221; not to allow biological men to compete in women&#8217;s sports.
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EXCLUSIVE: &#39;Brittney Griner is a PUPPET for the Biden Administration, Lia Thomas is a bigot,&#39; says Charly Arnolt <a href="https://t.co/kzo9BmybwF">https://t.co/kzo9BmybwF</a> <a href="https://t.co/3GmE62DKpn">pic.twitter.com/3GmE62DKpn</a>
&mdash; Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) <a href="https://twitter.com/MailOnline/status/1660630858015948801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Brittney Griner should be very thankful that she wouldn&#8217;t have had that obstacle leading up to this point because she might not be playing in the WNBA if she would have,&#8221; said Arnolt.
&#8220;I also think that just calling it a crime is taking it one step further, and that&#8217;s the scary part, is now it&#8217;s not just saying, &#8216;Oh, this is wrong,&#8217; we&#8217;re criminalizing,&#8221; she added. &#8220;It&#8217;s very much the Left&#8217;s disposition to take dissenting viewpoints and criminalize them.&#8221;
Arnolt went on to describe Thomas, a biological male who identifies as transgender and competed on the University of Pennsylvania&#8217;s women&#8217;s swim team, as the &#8220;biggest bigot that I have encountered in recent times because [Thomas] is forcing [the swimmer&#8217;s] own beliefs onto other people and saying that if you don&#8217;t believe in this, then you&#8217;re a hateful person.&#8221;
&#8220;You [Thomas] were a mediocre athlete in terms of male competition, and then you decided that you wanted to jump up the ladder and enter into the women&#8217;s competition,&#8221; she added. &#8220;You are built differently than a woman.&#8221;
&#8220;Anyone who tries to make the argument that there is a gender spectrum, you can believe whatever you want, but science will tell you, the DNA will tell you, there was a man and there was a woman,&#8221; Arnolt continued. &#8220;I don&#8217;t care how you want to identify; at ground zero, that&#8217;s who you are. I find it offensive as a woman when a man decides that just because they have decided to live their life and identify differently, that now they can enter into a space that belongs to women that they have fought so hard for and just completely obliterate the success and opportunities that they should have.&#8221;
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The broadcaster felt similar about Rapinoe, who she blasted for supporting the rights of biological males who identify as transgender to participate in women&#8217;s sports.
&#8220;Suddenly she&#8217;s turning around after she retires from playing for the national team and says, &#8216;Yeah, I totally I totally believe that males should be able to play with women,'&#8221; the sports reporter said of Rapinoe.
&#8220;She&#8217;s promoted equality and women&#8217;s rights and the ability to be able to share in their success, that is almost completely the opposite to what she&#8217;s put forth,&#8221; Arnolt added.

Charly Arnolt-1

Former ESPN Reporter Slams Network, Brittney Griner, Lia Thomas, And Megan Rapinoe

Celebrities

Entertainment

ESPN

Joe Biden

Lia Thomas

Megan Rapinoe

WNBA player Brittney Griner says her time in a Russian prison has <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/brittney-griner-discusses-national-anthem-stance-return-i-definitely-want-stand?intcmp=fb_fnc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">changed her perspective</a> on the American flag and the national anthem: after <a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2023/05/16/brittney-griner-national-anthem-flipflop-american/70221726007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promising to protest</a> the traditional pregame anthem in 2020, she said this season she is ready to stand.
The Phoenix Mercury star center spent nearly ten months imprisoned in Russia after she was caught in February of 2022 at Moscow&#8217;s Sheremetyevo Airport — while traveling to play basketball — with cannabis oil in vape canisters. She was returned to the United States after President Joe Biden&#8217;s administration agreed to trade convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to secure her freedom.
When she was finally able to return to play basketball, however, she said that the national anthem &#8220;hit different&#8221; than it had before her arrest. She explained that while she would never tell others that they should not protest in whatever way they saw fit, she was ready to stand for the anthem when it played.
&#8220;You have the right to protest, the right to able to speak out, question, challenge and do all these things. What I went through and everything, it just means a little bit more to me now. So I want to be able to stand. I was literally in a cage [in Russia] and could not stand the way I wanted to,&#8221; she <a href="https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/37688877/welcome-back-griner-marks-wnba-homecoming-vp-hand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained to ESPN</a>.
&#8220;Just being able to hear my national anthem, see my flag, I definitely want to stand. Now everybody that will not stand or not come out, I totally support them 100 percent. That&#8217;s our right, as an American in this great country.&#8221;
&#8220;I appreciate everything a little bit more, all of the small moments, like, ‘Oh, I’m so tired I don’t want to go to practice today,’ that has changed, honestly. Tomorrow is not guaranteed, you don’t know what it’s going to look like. I feel a lot older somehow, too,&#8221; she said.
Griner had opted not to stand for the anthem in 2020, saying that if the league continued to play it prior to every game, she simply would not come out to the court until it was over.

Phoenix Mercury v Los Angeles Sparks

‘I Definitely Want To Stand’: Brittney Griner Sees U.S. Flag And Anthem Differently After Russian Imprisonment

Brittney Griner Sees The U.S. Flag And Anthem Differently After Russian Imprisonment

American Flag

National Anthem

Former NCAA star swimmer Riley Gaines slammed Brittney Griner over the weekend after the WNBA star claimed that it was a &#8220;crime&#8221; to stop transgender athletes from competing against biological females in women&#8217;s sports.
Griner, who was freed from a Russian prison late last year in a prisoner swap for a notorious Russian terrorist, decried during a press conference last week legislation being pushed across the U.S. that aims to protect biological females from having to compete against biological males.
&#8220;Which NBA team would have @brittneygriner since apparently the overwhelming, obvious differences between men and women should simply be overlooked?&#8221; Gaines tweeted. &#8220;Heartbreaking to see athletically successful women take this demeaning stance.&#8221;
&#8220;And if we&#8217;re going to talk about crimes, Brittney&#8230;&#8221; Gaines added.
Griner was arrested in Russia last year on drug charges.
“You’ve always represented so much throughout your entire career about access and, you know, being able to do stuff, and I hate to put one more thing on your plate, but there have been a number of states who are aggressively moving to prevent transgender athletes from playing,” Bill Rhoden from ESPN <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brittney-griner-its-a-crime-to-stop-biological-males-from-competing-against-women">said</a> to Griner on Thursday.
“And I was wondering, again, I’d hate to put one more thing on your plate, but in terms of on your radar, where is that?” he asked. “You’re gonna have a tremendous platform, but where is that going to be on your radar in terms of advocating for athletes, all transgender athletes being able to play?”
Griner responded, “I mean, that ranks high on the list of things that I’ll be fighting for and speaking up against, you know, everyone has, everyone deserves the right to play, everyone deserves the right to come here, sit in these seats and feel safe and not feel like there’s a threat or they can’t be who they are or, um, like it’s just all eyes on them.”
“So, I think it’s a crime, honestly, to, to separate someone for any reason,” Griner claimed. “So, I definitely will be speaking up against those, that legislation, and those laws that are trying to be passed for sure.”
WATCH:
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Brittney Griner claims it’s a “crime” to stop biological males from being able to compete against women in sports. <a href="https://t.co/CTM9mV9nDz">pic.twitter.com/CTM9mV9nDz</a>
&mdash; Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonrantz/status/1651755021363712004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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US-POLITICS-CORRESPONDENTS

Riley Gaines Torches Brittney Griner For Calling It A ‘Crime’ To Protect Women’s Sports From Men

Riley Gaines

Transgender Athletes

WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was freed from a Russian prison late last year in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-freed-from-russian-prison-in-swap-for-arms-dealer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prisoner swap</a> for a notorious Russian terrorist, decried legislation being pushed across the U.S. that aims to protect biological females from having to compete against biological males.
Bill Rhoden from ESPN asked Griner about the matter during a press conference on Thursday. &#8220;You&#8217;ve always represented so much throughout your entire career about access and, you know, being able to do stuff, and I hate to put one more thing on your plate, but there have been a number of states who are aggressively moving to prevent transgender athletes from playing,&#8221; he began.
&#8220;And I was wondering, again, I&#8217;d hate to put one more thing on your plate, but in terms of on your radar, where is that?&#8221; he asked. &#8220;You&#8217;re gonna have a tremendous platform, but where is that going to be on your radar in terms of advocating for athletes, all transgender athletes being able to play?&#8221;
Griner responded, &#8220;I mean, that ranks high on the list of things that I&#8217;ll be fighting for and speaking up against, you know, everyone has, everyone deserves the right to play, everyone deserves the right to come here, sit in these seats and feel safe and not feel like there&#8217;s a threat or they can&#8217;t be who they are or, um, like it&#8217;s just all eyes on them.&#8221;
&#8220;So, I think it&#8217;s a crime, honestly, to, to separate someone for any reason,&#8221; Griner claimed. &#8220;So, I definitely will be speaking up against those, that legislation, and those laws that are trying to be passed for sure.&#8221;
WATCH:
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9125">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Brittney Griner claims it’s a “crime” to stop biological males from being able to compete against women in sports. <a href="https://t.co/CTM9mV9nDz">pic.twitter.com/CTM9mV9nDz</a>
&mdash; Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonrantz/status/1651755021363712004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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BASKET-WNBA-GRINER

Brittney Griner: It’s A ‘Crime’ To Stop Biological Males From Competing Against Women

Brittney Griner: It's A 'Crime' To Stop Biological Males From Competing Against Women

LGBTQ

Politics

Social Issues

Transgender

WNBA player Brittney Griner made an appearance at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in Phoenix, Arizona, a month after being <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-freed-from-russian-prison-in-swap-for-arms-dealer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> from a Russian jail in a prisoner swap.
Griner appeared in the parade on Monday with her wife, Cherelle, reportedly telling fans she was glad to be home.
Local reporter Jonathan McCall shared an image and video with Griner at the parade on Twitter.
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HAPPY TO BE HOME: <a href="https://twitter.com/PhoenixMercury?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PhoenixMercury</a> star <a href="https://twitter.com/brittneygriner?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@brittneygriner</a> makes appearance at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AZMLK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AZMLK</a> Festival in Phoenix. 
BG posed for pictures with fans. 
Talked about being Houstonians.
Says she’s happy to be home after time in Russian prison.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/News?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#News</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BG42?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BG42</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hoops?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hoops</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WNBA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WNBA</a> <a href="https://t.co/G2ocB8fEqO">pic.twitter.com/G2ocB8fEqO</a>
&mdash; Jonathan McCall (@JonathanMcCall) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonathanMcCall/status/1615095676404404226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Griner was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-wnba-star-detained-in-russia-on-drug-charges-could-face-up-to-10-years-in-prison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> in February in a Moscow airport after vaping cartridges containing hashish oil were found in her luggage. She was later <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-sentenced-to-9-years-in-russian-prison" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sentenced</a> to more than nine years in a decision many argued was politically motivated.
The Mercury Phoenix center&#8217;s arrest occurred shortly before Russia <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-russia-begins-full-scale-invasion-into-ukraine-putin-confirms-military-operation-underway" target="_blank" rel="noopener">invaded</a> Ukraine in February. President Joe Biden spoke out against Russia&#8217;s invasion, with the U.S. providing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senate-advances-massive-40-billion-ukraine-spending-package-11-republicans-oppose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">billions of dollars</a> in support to Ukraine.
Griner was released in December in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/video-emerges-of-brittney-griner-being-swapped-for-russian-terrorist-critics-instantly-notice-problem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prisoner swap</a> for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, also known as the “Merchant of Death.”
The two-time Olympic gold medalist wrote a post on Instagram to celebrate her freedom last month.
&#8220;It feels so good to be home! The last 10 months have been a battle at every turn. I dug deep to keep my faith and it was the love from so many of you that helped keep me going. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone for your help,&#8221; Griner <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmPAWB5O8F1/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> in December.
Griner also commented on her return to the basketball court next season.
&#8220;I also want to make one thing very clear: I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon,&#8221; she added in the Instagram post.
Bout was serving a 25-year prison sentence in the U.S. for conspiring to kill Americans, delivery of anti-aircraft missiles, and aiding a terrorist organization.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was among those who spoke out against the Biden administration&#8217;s strategy in the prisoner swap.
“We weren’t going to trade bad guys for celebrities because it creates the wrong incentives for the bad guys. As we go forward, it’s not good for American national security. It’s not good for people who are traveling across the world,” he <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNewsSunday/status/1601983971520569345" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Others have also expressed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pompeo-blasts-griner-prisoner-swap-bad-guys-for-celebrities-sends-wrong-message" target="_blank" rel="noopener">frustration</a> that former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan remains imprisoned in Russia and was not freed during the negotiations to secure Griner&#8217;s release.
“I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up. I was arrested for a crime that never occurred,” Whelan <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/08/politics/paul-whelan-cnn-interview-brittney-griner/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.”

WNBA’s Brittney Griner Makes MLK Day Appearance In Arizona

Arizona

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Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blasted the Biden administration over its recent prisoner swap of Russian &#8220;Merchant of Death&#8221; arms dealer Viktor Bout for American WNBA player Brittney Griner.
Pompeo shared his criticisms during an interview on &#8220;Fox News Sunday&#8221; with Shannon Bream.
“We weren’t going to trade bad guys for celebrities because it creates the wrong incentives for the bad guys. As we go forward, it’s not good for American national security. It’s not good for people who are traveling across the world,” Pompeo said.
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WATCH: Former Secretary of State <a href="https://twitter.com/mikepompeo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mikepompeo</a> joined <a href="https://twitter.com/ShannonBream?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShannonBream</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FoxNewsSunday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FoxNewsSunday</a> to react to Brittney Griner&#39;s release and China&#39;s developing relationship with Saudi Arabia. Plus, he shares his thoughts on the future of the Republican Party as well as his 2024 plans. <a href="https://t.co/gGjEzcy54n">pic.twitter.com/gGjEzcy54n</a>
&mdash; Fox News Sunday (@FoxNewsSunday) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNewsSunday/status/1601983971520569345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Griner was released after being detained in Russia for ten months for bringing cannabis oil cartridges into the country just ahead of the Kremlin&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine.
The Phoenix Mercury star was later sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony. The Biden administration held months of talks with Russian leaders to negotiate Griner&#8217;s release.
Griner&#8217;s prison swap was announced on Thursday. Some Americans celebrated her freedom, but many were critical of the trade.
Bout was serving a 25-year prison sentence in the U.S. on charges of conspiring to kill Americans, delivery of anti-aircraft missiles, and aiding a terrorist organization. Some worries remain that the Merchant of Death could soon return to his former ways.
&#8220;[W]e cannot ignore that releasing Bout back into the world is a deeply disturbing decision,&#8221; Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) said in a <a href="https://www.menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/press/chairman-menendez-statement-on-the-release-of-brittney-griner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. &#8220;We must stop inviting dictatorial and rogue regimes to use Americans overseas as bargaining chips, and we must try do (sic) better at encouraging American citizens against traveling to places like Russia where they are primary targets for this type of unlawful detention.&#8221;
Former DEA agent Robert Zachariasiewicz told the Washington Post that he opposed the prisoner swap over the message it could send to Russian leaders.
“We just showed that it is really useful to have an American in your back pocket because you never know when you need them to trade,” Zachariasiewicz <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/12/09/brittney-griner-viktor-bout-paul-whelan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton also criticized the agreement.
“This is not a deal. This is not a swap. This is a surrender. And terrorists and rogue states all around the world will take note of this, and it endangers other Americans in the future who can be grabbed and used as bargaining chips by people who don’t have the same morals and scruples that we do,” Bolton <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/12/08/trump-turned-down-viktor-bout-for-paul-whelan-prisoner-swap-john-bolton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> during a CBS interview.
Others have expressed frustration that former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan remains imprisoned in Russia and was not part of the deal.
“I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four-year anniversary of my arrest is coming up. I was arrested for a crime that never occurred,” Whelan <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/08/politics/paul-whelan-cnn-interview-brittney-griner/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.”

Mike Pompeo

Pompeo Blasts Griner Prisoner Swap: ‘Bad Guys For Celebrities’ Sends Wrong Message

Pompeo Blasts Griner Prisoner Swap

Executive

Fox News Sunday

National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby defended the Biden administration’s prisoner swap of notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for American WNBA player Brittney Griner. 
Appearing Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” with host Martha Raddatz, Kirby responded to bipartisan criticism of the exchange, specifically reacting to Sen. Bob Menendez&#8217;s (D-NJ) remarks calling it a “deeply disturbing decision.” 
“He would have gone free anyway in 2029,” Kirby said in response. “He wasn’t serving a life sentence.” 
Raddatz pushed back on his statement, saying, “that’s a long way away.” 
“It’s six years away,” Kirby replied. “And nobody’s doing backflips over there about the fact that Mr. Bout is a free man six years earlier than he would have been.” 
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&quot;Nobody’s doing back flips over there about the fact” Viktor Bout was released early, WH&#39;s John Kirby tells <a href="https://twitter.com/MarthaRaddatz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarthaRaddatz</a>.
“If Mr. Bout decides to go back to his previous line of work, then we’re going to do what we need to do to hold him accountable.” <a href="https://t.co/vY0BbWFHCJ">https://t.co/vY0BbWFHCJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/lNl9HSBVv2">pic.twitter.com/lNl9HSBVv2</a>
&mdash; This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1601951055939616769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Griner was arrested in February at a Moscow airport after being caught with marijuana vaping materials and sentenced to nine years in prison in August. Bout was <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/international-arms-dealer-viktor-bout-convicted-new-york-terrorism-crimes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">convicted</a> in 2011 of conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to a designated foreign terrorist group to be used to kill Americans.
Kirby insisted, “we’re going to protect our national security&#8221; while Bout is free. 
&#8220;If Mr. Bout goes back to his previous line of work, then we’re going to do what we need to do to hold him accountable and protect our interests.” 
President Joe Biden has been slammed for the deal as many Americans are upset that former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan remains detained in Russia. Whelan has been jailed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/madness-even-biden-doj-officials-calling-foul-on-griner-swap-for-merchant-of-death" target="_blank" rel="noopener">since</a> 2018 on espionage charges that the U.S. government says are baseless.
Sen. Menendez released a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/top-democrat-senator-blasts-biden-over-releasing-terrorist-for-griner-deeply-disturbing-decision" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> last week saying, “The Russians and other regimes that take American citizens hostage cannot pretend that there is equivalence between the Brittney Griners of the world and people like Viktor Bout, the so-called ‘Merchant of Death.’”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) <a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2022/12/08/mccarthy_griner_was_jailed_for_a_trumped-up_charge_but_to_exchange_her_for_merchant_of_death_makes_us_weaker.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> the one-for-one exchange a “big win for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin” and said that Biden “left a Marine behind.” 
Raddatz pressed Kirby on critics who said American negotiators weren’t “tough enough.” Kirby responded, “They weren’t in the room. They weren’t on the phone,” and added that negotiators pushed for the release of both Griner and Whelan.

White House Holds Press Briefing

‘He Would Have Gone Free Anyway In 2029’: John Kirby Responds To Critics Of Swapping Viktor Bout For Brittney Griner

John Kirby Responds To Critics Of Releasing Viktor Bout For Brittney Griner

Officials at the Department of Justice (DOJ) think it was a mistake for President Joe Biden to swap WNBA star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-freed-from-russian-prison-in-swap-for-arms-dealer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brittney Griner</a> for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, dubbed the “Merchant of Death.&#8221;
Griner was arrested in February at a Moscow airport after being caught with marijuana vaping materials and sentenced to nine years in prison in August. Bout, one of the world’s most notorious arms dealers, was <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/international-arms-dealer-viktor-bout-convicted-new-york-terrorism-crimes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">convicted</a> in 2011 of conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to a designated foreign terrorist group to be used to kill Americans.
&#8220;If she were my relative, I would want to do the swap,&#8221; one DOJ official <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/12/09/brittney-griner-viktor-bout-paul-whelan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> The Washington Post. &#8220;But trading a notorious international arms dealer for a basketball player is madness.&#8221;
The Post said many officials within the department view the one-for-one swap as a mistake, given the glaring disparity between offenses.
Former DEA agent Robert Zachariasiewicz told the Post he was opposed to the move over what it likely reinforces to Russia.
&#8220;We just showed that it is really useful to have an American in your back pocket because you never know when you need them to trade,&#8221; Zachariasiewicz said.
At the time of his conviction, then-Attorney General Eric Holder called Bout &#8220;one of the world’s most prolific arms dealers.&#8221;
“Viktor Bout’s arms trafficking activity and support of armed conflicts have been a source of concern around the globe for decades,&#8221; the Obama administration AG said, adding that Bout would pay for his &#8220;efforts to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to terrorists for use in killing Americans.&#8221;
The Biden administration took additional heat for the Griner swap since they failed to secure the release of Paul Whelan, a retired U.S. Marine jailed in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges that the U.S. government said are baseless.
David Whelan, brother of the imprisoned Michigan man, said in a statement that he “can’t fathom” how his brother would feel upon hearing the news of Griner’s release.
“Despite the possibility that there might be an exchange without Paul, our family is still devastated,” David said, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-freed-from-russian-prison-in-swap-for-arms-dealer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> reported. “I can’t even fathom how Paul will feel when he learns. Paul has worked so hard to survive nearly 4 years of this injustice. His hopes had soared with the knowledge that the US government was taking concrete steps for once towards his release. He’d been worrying about where he’d live when he got back to the U.S.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hell-nah-dallas-cowboy-has-strong-reaction-to-brittney-griner-swap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘Hell Nah’: Dallas Cowboy Has Strong Reaction To Brittney Griner Swap, Walks It Back</a>

President Biden Welcomes French President Macron To The White House

‘Madness’: Even Biden DOJ Officials Calling Foul On Griner Swap For ‘Merchant Of Death’

‘Madness’: Even DOJ Officials Calling Foul On Biden Swapping Griner For ‘Merchant Of Death’

General

NBC published a bombshell story — alleging that Russian officials initially offered the Biden administration the choice between WNBA star <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/wnba-star-brittney-griner-freed-from-russian-prison-in-swap-for-arms-dealer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brittney Griner</a> and Marine veteran <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/i-dont-understand-marine-vet-left-in-russian-prison-greatly-disappointed-after-griner-swap/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paul Whelan</a> in Thursday&#8217;s prisoner swap — but then <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/nbc-news-issues-correction-reporting-biden-choice-between-griner-whelan-prisoner-swap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued a correction</a> after the White House told a different story.
Outkick&#8217;s David Hookstead shared screenshots of both the original story and the edited version, explaining, &#8220;NBC had a bombshell report that Russia offered America Brittney Griner OR Paul Whelan, citing a senior government official. It would be Biden&#8217;s choice which one to save. The report was later edited without explanation to mirror Biden&#8217;s explanation that only Griner was offered.&#8221;
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NBC had a bombshell report that Russia offered America Brittney Griner OR Paul Whelan, citing a senior government official. It would be Biden&#39;s choice which one to save.
The report was later edited without explanation to mirror Biden&#39;s explanation that only Griner was offered. <a href="https://t.co/5BvGeyP0RU">pic.twitter.com/5BvGeyP0RU</a>
&mdash; David Hookstead (@dhookstead) <a href="https://twitter.com/dhookstead/status/1601255872365461504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Both the original and the edited stories noted that Russia was willing to make a trade for convicted international arms dealer Viktor Bout, who has served 11 years of his 25-year sentence.
&#8220;But the official said Russia has treated Whelan differently because he is an accused spy, and that the Kremlin gave the White House the choice of either Griner or Whelan — or none,&#8221; the text of the original story read.
But the corrected copy offered a slight alteration, stating that Russian officials had only offered a deal for Griner, saying, &#8220;But the official said Russia has treated Whelan differently because he is accused of spying and that the Kremlin ultimately gave the White House the choice of Griner or no one after different options were proposed.&#8221;
The article included a correction, adding, &#8220;an earlier version of this article misstated the choice the Biden administration was given over hostages. It was to swap for Griner or no one, not a choice between Griner or Whelan.&#8221;
The revised copy mirrored the White House&#8217;s claims almost exactly. After Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre highlighted <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/kjp-gushes-over-griners-release-an-important-role-model-for-lgbtqi-americans-and-women-of-color/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all the reasons</a> it was great that Griner was coming home — namely that she was &#8220;more than an athlete, more than an Olympian, she is an important role model and inspiration to millions of Americans, particularly the LGBTQI+ Americans and women of color&#8221; — she told reporters, &#8220;unfortunately, the choice became to either bring Brittney home or no one.&#8221;
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Karine Jean-Pierre on why the White House was able to bring WNBA player Brittney Griner home but not former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan:
“Unfortunately, the choice became to either bring Brittney home or no one.” <a href="https://t.co/KTUcWCHfmZ">pic.twitter.com/KTUcWCHfmZ</a>
&mdash; Townhall.com (@townhallcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1600928310640676866?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Former National Security Advisor John Bolton cast additional doubt on the Biden administration&#8217;s claim when he said that the Kremlin had previously offered Whelan as part of a one-for-one swap for Bout. He explained at the time that then-President Donald Trump had turned down the deal — and excoriated Biden for taking it.
&#8220;The possibility of a Bout-for-Whelan trade existed back then and it wasn’t made, for very good reasons having to deal with Viktor Bout,&#8221; Bolton said during a <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/12/08/trump-turned-down-viktor-bout-for-paul-whelan-prisoner-swap-john-bolton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS interview</a>, adding that he saw the final deal — Bout for Griner — as a &#8220;very bad mistake.&#8221;
&#8220;This is not a deal. This is not a swap. This is a surrender. And terrorists and rogue states all around the world will take note of this, and it endangers other Americans in the future who can be grabbed and used as bargaining chips by people who don’t have the same morals and scruples that we do,&#8221; Bolton said. &#8220;There are occasions when you swap spies. Obviously, there are legitimate exchanges of prisoners of war. But this doesn’t even approximate that. The idea that somehow what Brittney Griner did — very foolishly, in my estimate — but that whatever she did compares to Viktor Bout is something that shows just how desperate the administration was to make this deal. And I’m just very worried about the effect it has and the danger that it can put many other Americans in, all around the world.&#8221;

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Holds Daily Media Briefing

NBC Issues Correction, Changing Story To Match White House Spin On Griner Swap

Media

This article is a companion piece to today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
FBI Looking Into Northwest Electricity Substations Attacks
The FBI <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/authorities-report-five-electricity-substations-targeted-in-pacific-northwest-days-after-north-carolina-attacks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">says</a> there have been reports of apparent attacks against at least five electricity substations in Washington State and Oregon in November. The incidents followed what appeared to be deliberate attacks on two substations in North Carolina that resulted in the loss of power for tens of thousands of residents.
Biden Gets Blowback For Prisoner Swap
President Biden has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/americas-enemies-have-a-best-friend-in-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suffered some blowback</a> from his own party for his agreement to a one-for-one swap of WNBA star Britney Griner for infamous Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as “The Merchant of Death.”
Democratic Senator Bob Menendez called it a “deeply disturbing decision,” saying quote, “The Russians and other regimes that take American citizens hostage cannot pretend that there is equivalence between the Brittney Griner’s of the world and people like Viktor Bout, the so-called ‘Merchant of Death.’ Nothing could be further from the truth, and we cannot ignore that releasing Bout back into the world is a deeply disturbing decision.”
Former Marine Disappointed He Hasn&#8217;t Been Freed
Paul Whelan, the former Marine who has been imprisoned in Russia for more than three years, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-dont-understand-marine-vet-left-in-russian-prison-greatly-disappointed-after-griner-swap" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> CNN that he doesn’t understand why the Biden administration hasn’t done more to free him, saying, “I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four year anniversary of my arrest is coming up. I was arrested for a crime that never occurred. I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.”
Biden&#8217;s Approval Remains Low
President Biden’s <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/biden-approval-rating-holds-underwater-130431600.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approval rating</a> remains at 43% among U.S. adults, about the same as last month. 55% of people disapprove of the job Biden is doing, while just 25% of people describe the economy as “good.”
Detroit School Board Changes Name Of Benjamin Carson High School of Science and Medicine
The Detroit School Board recently voted to change the name of Benjamin Carson High School of Science and Medicine, named for famed neurosurgeon and former Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson. The new name will be Crockett Midtown High School of Science and Medicine. Carson commented this week on the name change.
&#8220;I think it&#8217;s ridiculous that they believe that to solve a problem, you redefine it,&#8221; Carson recently <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/worked-ben-carson-know-canceling-just-not-right" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;Call it something else and it&#8217;s not a problem anymore &#8230; basically it depends on people being less than intellectually strong. That’s a good way of saying stupid. They know exactly what’s going on.&#8221;
Theranos Executive Sentenced
Former Theranos executive Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani was <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/07/tech/sunny-balwani-theranos-trial-sentencing/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sentenced</a> Wednesday to nearly 13 years in prison for his role in the company’s blood-testing fraud. That punishment is slightly longer than that given to CEO Elizabeth Homes, who was his accomplice in one of Silicon Valley’s biggest scandals. The 57-year-old was convicted in July of fraud and conspiracy connected to the company’s faulty medical technology that duped investors and endangered patients.
DOJ Claims &#8216;Bureaucratic Incompetence&#8217; In Whitey Bulger Killing
&#8220;Serious mismanagement,” “bureaucratic incompetence,” and bad policy <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/doj-ig-mismanagement-bureaucratic-incompetence-bad-policy-contributed-to-prison-murder-of-former-most-wanted-fugitive-whitey-bulger" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contributed</a> to the death of Boston mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger.
That’s according to a report from the Department of Justice Inspector General released Wednesday. Bulger was killed in the Hazelton prison by three inmates in West Virginia shortly after being transferred from a federal prison in Florida. Bulger was placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list in 1999 until his arrest in 2011.
Weekly Jobless Claims Increase 
And, weekly jobless claims <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-jobless-claims-modestly-last-133803693.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increased</a> by 4,000 to 230,000 and long-term or continuing claims rose by 62,000 to 1.67 million — a 10-month high — as the labor market remains tight.
To listen to the audio version of this podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

Friday

Friday Afternoon Update: More Electricity Substations Attacked, Biden Slammed For Prisoner Swap, Weekly Jobless Claims Increase

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