Salem News Channel

Reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were denied access to the White House over the weekend, one day after President Donald Trump announced he was barring the three news organizations over coverage he described as “fake news.” White House reporters Betsy Klein of CNN and Akayla Gardner of MS NOW said Saturday that their press credentials had been deactivated when they attempted to enter the White House grounds. Politico reporter Cheyenne Haslett was also turned away and had her White House credential confiscated. The action followed Trump’s announcement Friday that he was banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House because of what he described as inaccurate and unfavorable coverage of his administration. Trump also suggested additional news organizations could face restrictions. All three organizations have challenged the decision and defended their reporting. CNN called the restriction an “illegal assault” on its rights, while MS NOW and Politico said they would take steps to defend their First Amendment protections. The White House Correspondents’ Association has also called on the administration to restore the outlets’ access. The dispute moved toward the courts Monday, when CNN, MS NOW and Politico announced they had notified the Trump administration that they were filing a lawsuit challenging the restrictions. The organizations argue their credentials were revoked because the White House objected to their reporting and say the action violates their First Amendment rights.

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A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and wounded a Venezuelan man during an immigration enforcement operation in Austin on Sunday, prompting calls from local officials for a transparent investigation. The man was identified by his attorney as 28-year-old Wilber Rafael Garces Perez. Austin officials said he was shot once in the torso and was hospitalized in serious but stable condition. He was later released from the hospital into federal custody. The shooting occurred on Austin’s north side following a traffic stop and brief pursuit. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said city police officers were not involved in the federal operation or the shooting. The Department of Homeland Security said Garces Perez entered the United States illegally during the Biden administration and had a final order of removal. DHS said he remains in federal custody pending removal. His attorney has disputed parts of the government’s account of his immigration status, previously saying he entered the country legally and had a work permit. Garces Perez's attorney also said he was working as a DoorDash delivery driver when the incident occurred. DoorDash confirmed he was in the process of making a delivery at the time of the shooting. Homeland Security Investigations is leading the investigation into the shooting with assistance from the FBI. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson has called for Austin police and other outside authorities to have a role in the investigation, saying independent involvement would provide “clear, third-party eyes” on what happened. The shooting drew about 100 protesters to the area Sunday as federal and local authorities remained at the scene. Texas Rep. Greg Casar, whose district includes parts of Austin, also called for transparency in the investigation. Local officials say they are seeking additional information from federal authorities about the circumstances leading up to the shooting.

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Patrick Clancy is speaking publicly about the deaths of his three children, the murder trial of his former wife and the intense scrutiny surrounding the case following a mistrial earlier this month. In his first televised interview since the trial, Clancy spoke with CBS News’ “60 Minutes” about his grief and the deaths of Cora, Dawson and Callan at the family’s Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in January 2023. Lindsay Clancy was charged with three counts of first-degree murder. Her attorneys argued she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and was not criminally responsible for killing the children, while prosecutors argued she understood what she was doing. Neither side disputed that she killed the children. The trial ended in a mistrial on Sept. 4 after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Eleven of the 12 jurors were prepared to find Lindsay Clancy not criminally responsible, while one juror sided with prosecutors. During the interview, Patrick Clancy described the emotional toll the deaths and subsequent trial have taken on him. He also recalled suffering a panic attack while testifying after jurors heard the 911 call he made after discovering his children. Clancy said he continues to forgive his former wife and believes mental illness was responsible for her actions. He also discussed the importance of raising awareness about perinatal mental health. He also addressed baseless conspiracy theories that have circulated on social media suggesting he was somehow connected to his children's deaths. Clancy said the claims have been harmful to him and distract from what he believes should be the larger conversation surrounding perinatal mental health. Clancy was joined during the interview by his wife, Dr. Rachel Danis. The couple married earlier this year and said they are now preparing to start a family. The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office has not yet announced whether prosecutors will retry Lindsay Clancy.

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CNN, MS NOW and Politico say they are taking legal action against the Trump administration after their reporters were denied access to the White House over the weekend. The three news organizations said Monday they notified the administration that they are filing a lawsuit seeking to protect their First Amendment rights and restore access for their journalists. Reporters from all three outlets were turned away from the White House Saturday, one day after President Donald Trump announced he was barring the organizations because of reporting he described as “fake news.” CNN White House reporter Betsy Klein and MS NOW reporter Akayla Gardner said their White House credentials had been deactivated when they attempted to enter. Politico said its White House reporter Cheyenne Haslett was also denied entry and had her credential confiscated. The three organizations said in a joint statement that the White House revoked their journalists’ credentials because it objected to their reporting. They argue the restrictions violate First Amendment protections and contend the government should not determine what news organizations report or publish. Trump announced the restrictions Friday, saying CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be banned from the White House because of what he called unfavorable and inaccurate coverage. The president also suggested additional news organizations could face similar restrictions. The White House Correspondents’ Association has called on the administration to restore access to the three organizations, warning that standards used to exclude one outlet because of its coverage could potentially be applied to others.

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President Donald Trump says his proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery would also serve as what he described as a “top grade military complex,” adding a national security component to the planned Washington landmark. Trump announced Sunday that the arch would be capable of housing and rapidly deploying drones, while also providing locations for snipers and ammunition storage. The president said he agreed to the changes at the “strong request” of the U.S. military and for national security purposes. The arch is planned for Memorial Circle near the Arlington Memorial Bridge, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Trump has promoted the project as a monument commemorating the United States’ 250th anniversary. The Pentagon said it had no information to provide about the military component of the project beyond the president’s announcement. The project has received preliminary approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, but it has not yet received final approval from the National Capital Planning Commission. That commission approved the site and preliminary plans in July and is expected to consider the project again this fall. The arch is also facing a legal challenge from three military veterans and an architectural historian. Their lawsuit argues that congressional authorization is required before construction can move forward. The Trump administration has argued that existing federal authority allows the project to proceed. The groundbreaking had been expected sometime this month. Trump has not announced whether the addition of the proposed military functions will affect the construction schedule or design of the arch.

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Jessica Tarlov, a host on Fox News' popular show "The Five," shares her insights on the evolving situation at the southern border. Initially believing the Biden administration's claims that the border was secure, Tarlov was surprised to see the stark reality revealed by Fox News' drone footage. The footage showed tens of thousands of people crossing the border monthly, a situation she found both alarming and unfair. Tarlov notes the contrast between the administration's statements and the actual border conditions, suggesting that the administration only began addressing the issue as elections approached. She also highlights the significant surge in border crossings following the end of President Trump's "remain in Mexico" policy. Interviews with asylum seekers indicate that many are coming due to the perceived leniency under the Biden administration, contrasting sharply with their reluctance during Trump's presidency. This video provides a detailed look at the border crisis and its political implications, offering a perspective from a notable figure in conservative media.

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The discussion centers on President Trump's critical decision regarding Iran, emphasizing the potential for military action to dismantle the regime. The conversation highlights the brutal crackdown on Iranian protesters, noting the rising death toll. It also touches on the strained relationship between the U.S. and its NATO allies over military cooperation. Additionally, the segment discusses differing opinions on Iran's right to nuclear arms, with one commentator suggesting that nuclear weapons could lead to regional stability in the Middle East. The broader context involves ongoing geopolitical tensions and the complex dynamics of international alliances and security.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced that all 50 states will join a program to provide Most Favored Nation pricing for some Medicaid drugs. The administration claims this plan, called the Medicaid “GENEROUS” model, will save billions on prescription drug costs. Last year, Trump signed an executive order to pay the same price for medications as the lowest-paying nation. The White House estimated these deals could save $529 billion over 10 years. However, details of the deals remain unclear, raising questions about the true savings. The announcement comes as cost-of-living issues are a major concern for voters.

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GAZA/JERUSALEM, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Artists in Gaza have painted a mural of Macklemore wrapped in a Palestinian flag on a huge slab of concrete in the ruins of Gaza City, after the US rapper was kicked off Ed Sheeran's upcoming tour for calling for a "Free Palestine". The mural, on a slab that leans against ruined buildings surrounded by rubble, depicts the "Thrift Shop" rapper raising a fist in the air. "Thank you for using your voice for Palestine," it reads. "We wanted to send a message to thank rapper Macklemore in this simple way," said Anne Redwan, 26, who designed and painted the mural with fellow artist Qusai al-Helo. "As an artist living under siege here in Gaza, we are waiting for support from anyone who can see (the) persecution we live under," she told Reuters. "We can paint murals bigger than this to express our feelings." Macklemore, who has long supported Palestinian causes, was cut from British pop star Sheeran's musical lineup over remarks on stage criticizing Israel's military assault in Gaza, which was launched after Hamas-led fighters attacked Israel in October 2023. Sheeran said he was unable to keep Macklemore on the tour after stadium owners refused to let him appear. US billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts where his New England Patriots football team plays, said he had barred Macklemore from appearing there for antisemitism, which the rapper denies. Nearly a year after a ceasefire ended major fighting in Gaza, reconstruction has yet to begin. Most buildings have been destroyed and more than two million residents are confined to around a third of the enclave's territory, mostly in tents or crowded rooms in damaged buildings among the ruins. A US-brokered plan to end the war has stalled, with negotiators failing to agree conditions for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its troops. The furore over Sheeran's tour has led to a series of pledges from those involved to send money. Macklemore said on Wednesday he would donate his $1 million in net earnings from the tour to six aid groups supporting Gaza. Kraft, in turn, said Sheeran had told him he would donate $2 million for aid in the region, and had asked him to match the pledge. Sheeran has not commented on any donations. Macklemore's donation drew a matching $1 million pledge from Ms Rachel, a popular children's TV personality. Aid agency officials said the boost in celebrity attention could help bring more support to Gaza, where nearly all residents rely on aid for food, water, medical care and shelter. "But what's really most important is that people who have been so generous keep fighting over a sustained time," said Toby Fricker, a local official with UNICEF. "That's why we really call for sustained support, not one-off peaks, but sustained." Hussein Murtaja, who runs a Gaza humanitarian group that provides mental health support to children, said Macklemore's solidarity matters more than the money he donated. "When artists of this stature, with this many followers or fans, all come to know more about the cause, and support reaching a political solution, support achieving peace for the people of Gaza... That means a great deal to us."

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Sept 18 (Reuters) - A US immigration agent pleaded not guilty on Friday to federal charges of lying to the FBI that he was attacked before shooting a Venezuelan man in the leg in Minneapolis at the height of President Donald Trump's deportation sweeps in January. Christian Castro, who has been suspended without pay from his job as a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, is the first federal law enforcement officer to be charged by the US Justice Department with wrongdoing in Operation Metro Surge, which saw thousands of armed, masked agents deployed to Minnesota's cities last winter. Federal prosecutors say that Castro lied when he told investigators that Julio Sosa-Celis, 24, and others were attacking him with a broom and snow shovel when he fired his gun. Castro's plea in the US District Court in Saint Paul comes a day after he answered to separate state charges of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and falsely reporting a crime brought by Hennepin County prosecutors in neighboring Minneapolis. The court appearances follow an extraordinary months-long legal battle to have Castro, who lives in Texas, returned to Minneapolis. The state charges were filed in May, but Castro, 52, spent 90 days in a county jail in Texas after Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, refused to sign extradition papers sent down by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat. A few days after his release earlier this month, he was arrested again after a federal grand jury handed down an indictment of six counts of making materially false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of six years in prison. Castro drove from Texas to Minneapolis on Wednesday to surrender himself, his lawyers said, and spent the night in the Hennepin County jail before being released on bail. After the nonfatal shooting on January 14, Castro told investigators that he fired at Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan delivery driver, when Sosa-Celis and another man attacked him in a struggle on the ground. His account was repeated by then Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other Trump administration officials as they defended the widely protested surge in immigration enforcement in Minnesota. Prosecutors say Castro's account was disproved by video evidence, forcing the Justice Department to drop its prosecution of Sosa-Celis and open a criminal investigation into Castro. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said the video evidence showed Castro was standing and fired from a short distance through the front door of Sosa-Celis's home, wounding the man in the leg. "Mr. Castro invented a story to justify shooting through a front door into a house with multiple people in it," Moriarty told reporters after Thursday's state court hearing. "The bullet he fired lodged in the wall of a child's bedroom." A lawyer for Castro, Daniel Gerdts, declined to comment. Moriarty's office is continuing to investigate the federal immigration officers who fatally shot Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both US citizens, in January.

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Is Energy Reform Possible?

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WASHINGTON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The United States, Denmark and Greenland have entered into an agreement that will see the US develop a significant military presence on the island, while prohibiting US adversaries from building their own bases there, Donald Trump said on Friday. In a Truth Social post, the US president wrote that no US enemies would be able to make sensitive investments on the island without the approval of the United States and that the agreement had no expiry date. "At my direction, we worked with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to guarantee that the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America," Trump wrote. "Additionally, from now on, no U.S. adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval." Earlier on Friday, Reuters exclusively reported that the US and Greenland were closing in on a deal for the island that would result in an increased US military presence, but would stop well short of Trump's long-held dream of acquiring the island for the United States.

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Abortions Are On The Rise In America

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WASHINGTON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - US President Donald Trump said on Friday he is banning three major news outlets – CNN, MS NOW and Politico – from the White House in his latest move to crack down on the independent press. Trump wrote that he is banning the outlets for allegedly "reporting FAKE NEWS" in a move that is likely to be challenged as conflicting with the US Constitution's First Amendment protections for free speech and a free press. "Media Outlets shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they're covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America," Trump wrote on social media. "Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow." CNN, MS NOW, Politico and the National Press Club did not immediately respond to requests for comment. CNN's team remains at the White House working as if it were a normal Friday afternoon, CNN reporter Brian Stelter said on air. Trump has a long history of bickering with members of the press corps and has stepped up his complaints during his second term in office. And he has repeatedly urged broadcasters to drop comedy or news programs he dislikes or which have joked about or criticized him or his administration, calling on the Federal Communications Commission to strip disfavored broadcast stations of their licenses. In 2019, the White House credential of Brian Karem, a Playboy magazine correspondent, was suspended after he traded insults with Sebastian Gorka, then an aide to the president, in the White House Rose Garden. A judge later ordered the White House to reinstate Karem's credential. Since returning to the presidency in January 2025, Trump has openly badgered reporters, particularly from US television networks. Last year, he also banned the Associated Press from the usual pool of reporters that cover his movements because the news agency did not adopt Trump's preferred name for the Gulf of Mexico, which Trump has instructed executive branch employees to refer to as the Gulf of America. US Representative Frank Pallone, the lead Democrat on the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee, called Trump's action censorship. "If Trump thinks banning media outlets from the White House will make his presidency seem less like a failure, he's delusional," Pallone said.

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Gas prices jumped again overnight, with AAA putting today's new national average at $4.46 cents a gallon for regular unleaded. That's up three cents from Thursday, Sept. 17 and 40 cents from where we were a month ago. AAA also says record-high diesel prices of $6.44 cents today, up a nickel from Thursday.

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An investigation is under way in Kansas after a woman's body was found in a suitcase outside a fire station. The body of 67-year-old Lorretta Moody was discovered Wednesday evening in Wichita. Two people who brought the suitcase to the fire station are being interviewed by investigators.

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Parts of the Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes will face the threat of floods through the weekend. Today, the heaviest rain is set to impact millions in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. Tomorrow, storms will move south to Des Moines and Chicago.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday signed an executive order requiring leading artificial intelligence companies to create a “kill switch” in their programs that would allow them to be shut down if they go full Skynet. In a press release, the governor bashed President Donald Trump for not championing more regulations on the AI industry. Read more: https://townhall.com/news/jeff-charles/2026/09/18/gavin-newsom-mandates-ai-kill-switch-while-bashing-trump-n2683217

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WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The Pentagon is reinstituting a mandatory testing program for testosterone deficiency among US service members age 30 and older, a spokesperson said on Thursday, bringing back a program that medical experts have described as unnecessary and potentially harmful. The latest clinical guidance applies only to male service members, establishing uniform screening and treatment pathways for testosterone deficiency. The Pentagon said it will issue separate guidance for female service members at a later date. Medical ?professionals have warned that testosterone, if prescribed inappropriately, could increase service members' risk of infertility or lead to other health consequences. The Pentagon temporarily rescinded an earlier version of the guidance in early September "to allow for updates," and it was not immediately clear what changes had been made. The new guidance calls for testosterone testing as part of periodic health assessments and annual physical examinations, with younger service members able to be screened on request or when clinically indicated. "Effective immediately, this guidance addresses male testosterone deficiency, establishing uniform screening and treatment pathways," Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has promoted the use of ?testosterone to improve military readiness, first announced the screening mandate in July. Under the prior guidance, women were also set to be screened through a questionnaire and could then move to treatment for conditions related to hormonal imbalances. The new approach comes amid changes in the US Food and Drug Administration's position on testosterone therapy in men. Last year, the agency removed the boxed warning about increased cardiovascular risk from testosterone products for ?men after reviewing post-marketing studies, though the products still carry warnings about increased blood pressure. In June, the FDA asked manufacturers to remove labeling that said the safety and efficacy of testosterone replacement had not been established for men with age-related hypogonadism, following a review of newer evidence. Testosterone products remain FDA-approved for men with low testosterone associated with an underlying medical condition. No FDA-approved testosterone product exists for women. Medical groups generally recommend testosterone for women primarily to treat persistently low sexual desire related to menopause, and say evidence is insufficient for broader uses such as improving energy, cognition or muscle mass.

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The sole holdout juror in the Lindsay Clancy triple murder trial in Massachusetts says he didn't have any doubts that she purposely killed her children. In a statement first reported by NewsNation, Michael P. Desronvil said while he tried to explain different possible theories during deliberation, he kept getting cut off as if he had doubts based on the evidence present. Desronvil said based on all the physical evidence, key witnesses and what the prosecution presents, he thought it was enough proof that she knew exactly what she was doing and planned.

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