Friday morning news: May 5, 2023

Ukraine » The White House is firing back after Moscow accused Ukraine and the United States of launching what it claimed was a drone attack on the Kremlin.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby responded to the claims by the Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

KIRBY: The United States was not involved in this incident in any way, contrary to Mr. Peskov’s lies. And that’s what they are, just lies.

Russian leaders claim Ukrainian drones targeted the Kremlin, and that Washington helped Kyiv carry out the attack.

Top Ukrainian officials say it was likely a “false flag” attack staged by Moscow to fuel its propaganda.

But Kirby says other than to declare that the U.S. wasn’t involved, the White House isn’t ready to comment.

KIRBY: We’re still trying to gather information about what happened, and we just don’t have conclusive evidence one way or the other.

Russia claimed the attack was an assassination attempt against Vladimir Putin. Kirby said the US “certainly would not support” a strike “against Mr. Putin."

Border » Border towns continue to brace for a massive surge of migrants. Texas GOP Senator Ted Cruz weighed in on Thursday.

TED CRUZ: The crisis at our southern border is the worst in history. We’ve had over 6 million cross illegally under Joe Biden. And next week they’re going to lift Title 42, which means the numbers will go up.

The expiration of the pandemic-era Title 42 rule next Thursday will make it easier for migrants who cross the border to remain in the United States.

The White House says it’s prepared. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre:

KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: We have been putting forth policies and programs for the past several months, kind of heading into May 11th and understanding that Title 42 is going to lift.

The Biden administration moved to lift the rule last year, but multiple court rulings delayed its expiration until next week.

VP Harris AI meetings » The Biden administration is putting artificial intelligence under the microscope amid growing concerns about the cutting edge tech. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER: Vice President Kamala Harris met Thursday with leaders of the companies behind new AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s Bard.

The meeting comes as the administration prepares to spend $140 million dollars to study the impact of those tools.. The funds will go to create seven new research groups.

The Administration says it is also taking steps to have an independent assessment of artificial intelligence engines, as well as an examination of their risks.

Top technology figures like Elon Musk have recently urged companies to pump the brakes on AI development until experts better understand those risks.

For WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

Porn industry sues over age law » A pornography industry group is suing to halt a new Utah law that requires pornographic websites to verify the age of users.

The law took effect Wednesday. It made Utah the second state to require such websites to verify ages to protect children.

But multiple plaintiffs argue the new law unfairly discriminates against certain kinds of speech.

Utah’s new law comes less than a year after Louisiana enacted similar protections for children.

Abortion roundup » State governments across the country have passed abortion legislation this week, both to limit and allow it. WORLD’s Anna Johansen Brown has more.

ANNA JOHANSEN BROWN: Montana’s governor signed pro-life bills into law, including one that declares that the right to privacy in the state constitution does not include abortion.

A Montana court also blocked a law this week that would have required doctors to show an abortion was medically necessary before Medicaid would pay for it.

In Utah a court blocked a law that would have banned abortion centers altogether.

In North Carolina lawmakers say they’ve agreed to extend protection to unborn babies from 12 to 20 weeks.

The law needs a veto-proof majority to survive—which it likely has.

But Maryland’s governor signed a pro-abortion bill into law.

The state will also put a constitutional amendment on the ballot next year that would guarantee abortion access.

And in New York a new rule requires private insurance companies to cover abortion drugs.

For WORLD, I’m Anna Johansen Brown.

Proud Boys » A Washington D.C. jury has convicted four leaders of the group known as the Proud Boys of seditious conspiracy. The charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

Jurors cleared a fifth defendant of the seditious conspiracy charge, but still convicted him of several other felonies.

Attorney General Merrick Garland:

MERRICK GARLAND: Today's verdict makes clear that the Justice Department will do everything in its power to defend the American people and American democracy.

The Justice Department has also hit several members of the Oath Keepers group with similar charges.

I'm Kent Covington. Straight ahead: Culture Friday with Katie McCoy. Plus, wrapping up Guardians of the Galaxy.

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