Wednesday morning news: July 26, 2023

GOP Biden impeachment inquiry » House Republicans are weighing a possible impeachment inquiry into the president over allegations of a Biden family bribery scheme.

Democrats insist those claims were debunked during former President Trump’s first impeachment trial. But Speaker Kevin McCarthy says there are holes in the president’s story.

MCCARTHY: We have a president who told the American public in October that he’s never spoken to his family about any of the business. He said no one in the family had ever gotten money from China. Well now that has proven not to be correct.

An inquiry could be a first step toward bringing articles of impeachment.

But McCarthy says the purpose would simply be to—in his words—give “Congress the strongest power to get the rest of the information needed.”

GOP lawmakers have ramped up investigations of Biden and his son Hunter Biden particularly huge payouts the younger Biden received from a Ukrainian energy company.

Judge blocks immigration rule » A federal judge on Tuesday blocked a rule that allows immigration authorities to deny asylum to migrants who did not take newly required steps. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin reports.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: The Biden administration enacted new rules earlier this year for those seeking asylum at the border in an effort to curb record-high border traffic.

Under the rules, migrants should first apply for an asylum appointment online, or seek protection in a country they pass through. If they don’t, border officials can turn them away.

Immigrant rights groups sued, arguing that federal law protects the right to asylum regardless of how a person enters the country.

And U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar on Tuesday agreed.

He said the rules “cannot remain in place;” however, the Obama appointee delayed his order from taking effect immediately to give the Biden administration time to appeal.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Russia conscription » Russia is raising the upper age limit for military drafts.

Beginning January 1st, men up to age 30 can be compelled to serve. The official age limit is currently 27, though there have been reports this year of Russians twice that age being forced to fight in Ukraine.

KARTAPOLOV (Russian): This law is written for a big war, for general mobilization.

Head of the parliamentary defense committee Andrei Kartapolov says the change will allow the government to conscript enough men to fight in a full-scale war.

911 burnout » 911 operators across the country say they’re stretched too thin which for many Americans could mean that urgent help arrives too late. WORLD’s Anna Johansen Brown reports.

ANNA JOHANSEN BROWN: The National Emergency Number Association surveyed more than 800 emergency operators.

A whopping 80 percent of respondents said they were understaffed, with many feeling a sense of burnout.

The findings align with citizens reporting wait times or busy signals when calling 9-11.

Respondents blame the high stress and poor wages of the job for the staffing shortages.

Some workers also said they feel undertrained.

Twenty-five percent of operators surveyed said they needed more training on mental health calls. and nearly 40 percent said they didn’t feel prepared to handle active shooter calls.

For WORLD, I’m Anna Johansen Brown.

Ring of Fire » A Republican senator is proposing a bill that would deploy more missiles to the Asia-Pacific region to counter growing threats from China.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst said Tuesday:

ERNST: We do not have enough missiles, ground-based lauch missiles, in that area to push back against China and protect Taiwan and our own interest.

Ernst said the goal is peace through strength and to bolster not only the defense of Taiwan but of other U.S. allies in the region as well.

SOUND: [SIGNING CEREMONY]

Till Monument » Sounds from a signing ceremony at the White House on Tuesday where President Biden signed a proclamation establishing a national monument to honor the life of Emmett Till.

The black teenager was beaten and murdered in a racist attack in 1955.

Biden also remembered the actions of Till’s mother after her son’s death.

BIDEN: Insisting on an open casket for her murdered son, she said, let the people see what I’ve seen.

With the brutality of his murder laid bare her decision helped to galvanize the Civil Rights Movement.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Scanning the 2024 Republican field on Washington Wednesday. Plus, sharing the gospel through soccer.

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