Thursday morning news: February 15, 2024

Turner warns of serious national security threat » Members of the House Intelligence Committee are sounding alarms about what they call “a serious National Security threat.”

WALTZ: This is so serious, we need to make all members of Congress aware of it.

GOP Congressman Michael Waltz said the matter is classified, so he could not provide details. But he said in his view …

WALTZ: If we don’t deal with this appropriately, if the administration doesn’t take firm action, this could be a geo-strategic game-changer.

A senior congressional aide told the Associated Press that, as he understands it, the threat relates to a space-deployed Russian anti-satellite weapon that may or may not already have been launched.

Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner on Wednesday publicly called on the Biden administration to declassify the information to make everyone aware of the threat.

That seemed to catch the White House off guard. National security adviser Jake Sullivan:

SULLIVAN: I am a bit surprised that Congressman Turner came out publicly today in advance of a meeting on the books for me to go sit with him alongside our intelligence and defense professionals.

Sullivan referring there to a meeting scheduled for today to brief a group of lawmakers on the intelligence.

Austin out of hospital, pushes for Ukraine aid » Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is back on the job after being discharged from Walter Reed military hospital where he was treated for a bladder infection.

That followed a trip to the ICU last month due to complications from surgery for prostate cancer.

AUSTIN: I’m in good condition, and my cancer prognosis remains excellent. And I’m really grateful for all the well wishes.

Austin heard there as he virtually attended a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

The secretary said despite divisions on Capitol Hill over foreign aid…

AUSTIN: We’ll continue to work to get Ukraine what it needs to hold onto its gains … and to keep pushing back Russia’s illegal occupation in the months ahead.

Ukraine front line » Meantime, Ukraine’s new army chief says his military is starting to feel the effects as Congress waivers on funding more help for Ukraine.

Top general Oleksandr Syrsky visited the front line yesterday, calling conditions extremely difficult.

And back in Washington, Jake Sullivan told reporters …

SULLIVAN: We’ve been increasingly getting reports of Ukrainian troops rationing or even running out of ammunition on the front lines as Russian forces continue to attack, both on the ground and from in the air.

Earlier this week, the Senate passed a bill containing $60 billion in funding for Ukraine, but it faces an uncertain future in the House.

House Speaker Mike Johnson says his chamber won’t be pressured into approving a security bill that “does nothing to secure our own borders.”

FBI director visits Israel » FBI Director Christopher Wray met Wednesday with his counterparts in Israel. He said they talked about the war in Gaza as well as threats to both countries from within the Middle East.

WRAY: We have learned a lot. The information exchange between our two countries has been terrific, as well as with a number of our other close allies.

Wray made the stop before heading on to Germany for a security conference in Munich.

Mayorkas impeachment » Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says his chamber does plan to open an impeachment trial of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. That after House Republicans voted to impeach him on Tuesday saying he betrayed the public trust.

GOP Congressman Jodey Arrington

ARRINGTON: The guy had no intention of enforcing the laws of the land. He didn’t fulfill his sacred oath to his security mission to guard and control the border.

But Schumer called the impeachment a “sham” and an “embarrassment” to House Republicans. The Democrat-led chamber is unlikely to remove Mayorkas from office.

Chiefs parade shooting » Police in Kansas City are still investigating a shooting that marred the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory parade.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves told reporters last night:

GRAVES: The number of shots, the time in between them, the motive; all of that is still actively being investigated.

She said the shots rang out just after the parade ended.

One fan described the chaos:

FAN: We thought it was fireworks, so we kind of remained calm. But then we heard people screaming and running.

Police detained three people for investigation.

Video footage showed fans tackling one person who may have been involved and holding him for police.

More than 20 people were wounded, at least one fatally.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Investigating the Lakewood church shooting. Plus, Religious liberty in hospice care.

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