Thursday morning news: July 13, 2023

KRISTEN FLAVIN, NEWS ANCHOR: FBI Oversight hearing » Republicans and Democrats grilled FBI Director Christopher Wray yesterday on Capitol Hill.

GOP members of the House Judiciary Committee outlined a crisis of public trust in the nation’s top law enforcement agency.

Congressman Mike Johnson questioned Wray about a recent court ruling … stating the F-B-I pressured social media platforms to censor user content during the pandemic.

Here’s Wray:

WRAY: I would say is that FBI is not in the business of moderating content, or causing any social media company to suppress or censor.

JOHNSON (cutting in): That is not what the court has found.

Democratic Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren accused the FBI of dragging its feet in its investigation of former President Donald Trump. And both sides wanted to know more about the bureau’s use of private civilian information.

Here’s Lofgren:

LOFGREN: You said it was limited to data derived from internet advertising. It has since been reported that the FBI has admitted it bought U.S. location data. Is the FBI purchasing location data from commercial sources without a warrant?

Wray avoided giving straight answers to many questions, repeatedly telling lawmakers to refer to private reports.

NATO and Ukraine » The world’s seven most industrialized nations are launching an effort to provide Ukraine with long-term military and financial support.

U.S. President Joe Biden:

BIDEN: We will not waiver. I mean that. Our commitment to Ukraine will not weaken.

The plan was announced during a NATO summit where President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed his push for the alliance to accept Ukraine as a member.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg:

STOLTENBERG: We reaffirm that Ukraine will become a member. We actually have agreed on concrete tools, political tools, practical tools to help Ukraine move towards membership.

The group’s 31-members will not admit Ukraine while the conflict with Russia is ongoing.

NATO created a special defense council focused on supporting Kyiv as part of a plan to eventually include Ukraine in the alliance.

Iowa Heartbeat law » Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is expected to sign a law on Friday that would protect most babies from abortion once they have a detectable heartbeat.

Doctors can usually hear a baby’s heartbeat at about six weeks of pregnancy.

Iowa’s Republican-controlled Legislature passed the law after hours of pushback from Democrats and abortion activists.

SOUND: I am going to ask the State Patrol to remove anybody that is shouting in the gallery. It will not be tolerated.

Iowa Senate President Amy Sinclair:

SINCLAIR: This bill that we just passed carries all the gravity of what is the human rights atrocity of our time and history will judge each of us for the role we've played here.

This bill is similar to a 2018 law that the State Supreme Court blocked last month.

Inflation » Inflation in the United States is now at its lowest rate in nearly two years. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER: The Labor Department reported yesterday that consumer prices had increased by just 3 percent over the 12 months that ended in June.

That’s compared to a 4 percent increase in the 12 months ending in May. President Joe Biden touted the report as evidence of the success of his economic policies… But Republicans disagree.

The Federal Reserve will decide in two weeks whether to continue raising interest rates. It’s target rate for inflation is 2 percent.

For WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

Wagner weapons surrender » Officials in Moscow say the Wagner mercenary group has surrendered its weapons to the Russian military.

KONASHENKOV (Speaking Russian): Heavy tracked vehicles, high-capacity self-propelled artillery and tanks.

Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov saying the group turned over hundreds of tanks, anti-tank guns, artillery, and thousands of small arms. Many of the units had never been used in combat.

The ministry released footage of the inventory being transported. Konashenkov said the weapons will be restored and prepared for use.

Members of the Wagner group last month staged a short-lived armed uprising to protest how Russian generals were handling the war.

A Kremlin spokesman on Monday said the Wagner chiefs pledged their support for Putin.

Pennsylvania » Police say a fugitive from a Pennsylvania prison … is likely still in the area and receiving help.

Michael Burham escaped the Warren County Prison late last week by climbing on exercise equipment to get to the roof and then climbing down a makeshift rope made from prison bedding.

Warren County Commissioner Jeff Eggleston:

EGGLESTON - The commissioners and prison Board have also ordered the space be augmented with deterrents and safety measures and that the exercise equipment be removed and replaced with equipment that does not provide access to higher elevations in the facility.

Burham is the prime suspect in a murder and arson in New York. Reward money for help finding him has more than doubled to almost $20,000.

I'm Kristen Flavin.

Straight ahead: Campaigning for president in South Carolina. Plus, bringing enemies together for a special movie night.

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