Blog Verité

Keepin’ News Real

With Griner’s release, questions remain over fate of Americans still held in Russia

The Biden administration on Thursday secured the release of Brittney Griner from Russia the controversy persists around the still-imprisoned American Paul Whelan, who remains inside Russia. John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council, joins Judy Woodruff

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News Wrap: House passes $858 billion defense bill in sweeping bipartisan vote

In our news wrap Thursday, the House passed a a record $858 billion defense authorization bill in a sweeping bipartisan vote, the FDA authorized new COVID booster shots for children as young as 6 months old, Iran executed its first

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In the Deal to Free Griner, Putin Used a Familiar Lever: Pain

By seizing the basketball star, the Russian president made things so painful for the U.S. that it capitulated and turned over a convicted arms dealer. Can the same tactic work in the war in Ukraine?

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Ukrainians brace for a brutal winter amid Russian attacks on energy grid

For nearly two months, Russia has targeted Ukraine’s energy grid in an attempt to sap and freeze the country’s morale. At one point, more than 10 million Ukrainians had no electricity or heat. Special correspondent Volodymyr Solohub and videographer Pavlo

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Iconic guitarist Yitzhak Klepter of ‘Kaveret’ fame dead at 72

Singer and songwriter, whose career spanned five decades, performed some of the most well-known and loved Israeli songs, worked with biggest names in industry

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Prisoner Swap for Griner Was Biden’s Second, But White House Says They Must Remain Rare

Since the start of his presidency, Joe Biden has been wary of prisoner swaps. Whenever the prospect of negotiating the exchange of those held in the US for Americans held overseas was broached, members of his administration would exhibit reluctance,

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US blacklists Erdogan-linked businessman for violating sanctions on Iran, Hezbollah

Treasury Department accuses Turkey’s Sitki Ayan of laundering oil sale proceeds for Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Lebanese terror group

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Former evangelical activist says he ‘pushed the boundaries’ in Supreme Court dealings

During a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday, the Rev. Rob Schenck said he knew the outcome of a pivotal religious freedom decision weeks before the Supreme Court released it in 2014. (Image credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

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WATCH: Former Olympic basketball coach Dawn Staley on Brittney Griner’s release

Griner, who was detained at a Russian airport after authorities allegedly found vape cartridges with trace amounts of cannabis oil in her luggage, was let go in exchange for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

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Netanyahu asks president for more time to put together government

Likud head says ministerial postings and other assignments still being finalized, but is widely expected to succeed and return to power; Herzog set to okay 2-week extension

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