Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signs law at FAMiLY Leadership Summit banning most abortions after six weeks

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signs law at FAMiLY Leadership Summit banning most abortions after six weeks



Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill banning most abortions after a detectable heartbeat while the Republican leader was on stage at the FAMiLY Leadership Summit in Des Moines, Iowa, Friday afternoon.

"This week, in a rare and historic special session, the Iowa legislature voted for a second time, to reject the inhumanity of abortion and pass the fetal heartbeat law," Gov. Reynolds said on stage at the Summit, days after convening a special session of Iowa's legislature to pass the historic fetal heartbeat legislation.

"Everyone understands that a heartbeat signifies life, and we understand that when it falls silent, something precious has been lost," Reynolds said.

"We have a responsibility not only to protect the unborn, but to change the destructive culture of abortion that still exists in a post-Roe world."

"For the last five years, our battleground has been the courts," Gov. Reynolds also said, speaking of a lengthy battle in the Hawkeye State to enact pro-life legislation.

"[Iowa's Supreme Court] expressed uncertainty that such a law would pass today, post-Roe, as if the politics of the day would change our view on life. They were wrong,"

Reynolds invited the legislators in attendance at the conference onto the stage for the special signing.

"As we gather here today at this very moment, the abortion industry is in the court trying to prevent this law from taking effect, and stop, once again, the will of the people."

"But the passage of this law, by even a wider margin, this time sends an unmistakable message."

"Make no mistake. Almost without exception, Democrats believe in abortion on demand up until the very moment of birth," Reynolds said, noting that Democrats, as opposed to Republicans, are rarely asked to specify at what point they believe an unborn baby deserves protection.

"She is arguably the best governor in the country," said the FAMiLY Leader CEO Bob Vander Plaats, also joking about other states having "governor envy."

Vander Plaats showed the audience a gift, wrapped in baby shower wrapping paper, in which he said was the flag that flew over Iowa's Capitol when the heartbeat bill passed.

The six-week "fetal heartbeat" abortion ban was passed in a marathon special session Tuesday. The bill went into effect immediately after Reynolds' signature.

"In spite of the fact that Iowans keep electing pro-life legislators with increasing majorities, the laws protecting our unborn children have lagged behind those of most other U.S. states, and even Europe," Pulse Life Advocates executive director Maggie DeWitte wrote in an op-ed Friday in the Des Moines Register.

"This has been a long time coming. Iowa is finally catching up with the rest of the world in protecting our posterity," DeWitte also said.

Presidential hopeful interviewees at 2023 “Principle Over Politics” FAMiLY Leader Summit at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines, Iowa, were interviewed by Tucker Carlson Friday. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and former Vice President Mike Pence were interviewed prior to Reynold's appearance. Gov. Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley were scheduled to appear later in the day.

Watch BlazeMedia’s live coverage of the Summit below, and be sure to stick around for Glenn Beck's interview with Tucker Carlson exclusively on BlazeTV at the conclusion of the Summit.



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Mike Pence  acknowledges 'irregularities' in 2020 election, says Trump was 'reckless' on January 6 in hard-hitting interview with Tucker Carlson

Mike Pence  acknowledges 'irregularities' in 2020 election, says Trump was 'reckless' on January 6 in hard-hitting interview with Tucker Carlson



Tucker Carlson's interview with former Vice President Mike Pence at the 2023 FAMiLY Leader Summit in Des Moines, Iowa, featured pointed confrontations between Pence and the former Fox host on subjects ranging from January 6 to the war in Ukraine.

"That was a tragic day," said Pence, responding to Carlson's question about whether the riots on January 6 constituted an insurrection

"I've never used the word 'insurrection,' Tucker, over the last two years," Pence also said. "It was a riot that took place at the Capitol that day."

"A day of tragedy became a triumph of freedom," Pence said, also commenting on the tragic loss of life that the ransacking of the Capitol had wrought.

Pressed by Carlson to specify to whom he was referring with respect to the tragic loss of life, Pence said, "Obviously, Ashli Babbit would come to mind immediately."

Pence said it "infuriated" him to see the assaults on law enforcement officers and the ransacking of the Capitol.

"I'm still waiting for equal vigor and equal prosecutions to be brought on those that brought hundreds of BLM riots to cities across America," Pence said, drawing a comparison with prosecutions related to the riots of January 6.

He emphasized that the BLM riots of the summer of 2020 cost lives and the perpetrators must be held to account.

"Why do you think the people who swarmed the Capitol on January 6 were mad?" Carlson asked.

Pence characterized the January 6 committee as "partisan" and said it failed in its "historic mission" to "bring the facts forward."

Without using former President Donald Trump's name, Pence said the Jan. 6 committee spent too much time "focused on one individual and on placing blame" and that they "spent very little time focusing on law enforcement failures that happened that day and intelligence failures that happened that day."

"American citizens ... were really mad because they thought the election was unfair. ... Why doesn't anyone try to reassure the public that the mechanics of voting are legit? And are they? Do you think the last election was fair?" Carlson asked.

"There were irregularities in the 2020 election," Pence said.

Pence noted that half a dozen states changed the rules around elections based on COVID that "undermined public confidence in the outcome of the election."

But after the recounts were complete and courts upheld states' certifications of the elections in "virtually every instance," Pence said "there's no evidence that the changes would have changed the outcome of the election."

"President Trump's words that day were reckless," Pence said. "I believe whatever his intentions were in that moment, it endangered me and my family and everyone who was at the Capitol that day."

"I believe history will hold him accountable for that."

Carlson asked Pence if Americans can ever be confident in election results as long as electronic voting machines are widely used. "

"I believe we can," Pence said, adding that he is pleased that Republican-led states have enacted election integrity reforms.

He emphasized that voters should have to present a photo ID to cast a ballot in every state in America.

"Why not just get rid of electronic voting machines and call it a day? Then we don't have to debate it," Carlson said, to thunderous applause.

"I would certainly be open to that," Pence said.

Carlson also pressed Pence on his support of the ongoing war in Ukraine, particularly given questions about the extent to which the Ukrainian government has protected the religious freedoms of some Orthodox Christians in Ukraine. Pence insisted that his belief is that Christians in Ukraine are not being prosecuted for their beliefs, but instead claimed that the Ukrainian government was punishing some Russian Orthodox members who were accused of helping the Russian government's efforts to conquer the country.

Other presidential hopeful interviewees at 2023 “Principle over Politics” FAMiLY Leader Summit in Des Moines' Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center include Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Gov. Nikki Haley, and former Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Watch BlazeMedia’s live coverage of the Summit below, and be sure to stick around for Glenn Beck's interview with Tucker Carlson exclusively on BlazeTV at the conclusion of the Summit.

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Sen. Tim Scott says he'd appoint Tucker Carlson 'Bye-Bye Ambassador' in charge of deportation

Sen. Tim Scott says he'd appoint Tucker Carlson 'Bye-Bye Ambassador' in charge of deportation



Tucker Carlson's interview with South Carolina Senator Tim Scott (R) at the 2023 FAMiLY Leader Summit in Des Moines, Iowa, Friday started off the faith-based conference with a bang.

"Isn’t it good to be in a nation where you are free to praise the Lord?" said Scott to a sold-out crowd.

The stage was set with chairs for both Carlson and Scott, but Scott spent a good portion of the interview standing, working the stage, and speaking directly to the audience rather than directly to Carlson.

Scott earned laughter and the applause of the audience joking about appointing Carlson his future "Bye-Bye Ambassador." Scott was referring to Carlson suggesting people in the country illegally could be rounded up and "dropped off in Tijuana."

Scott dodged some of Carlson's pointed questions on the war between Ukraine and Russia, but was adamant about keeping U.S. soldiers at home.

"We should never allow American soldiers to be engulfed into the challenge between Ukraine and Russia. Our boots on the ground should not be there."

Scott similarly deflected Carlson's question about sending cluster bombs to Ukraine, saying only that such a move would not be necessary if he were president.

"Totally with you," Scott said, responding to Carlson's suggestion that U.S. reservists should be deployed at the border to form a "human wall" rather than being sent to Ukraine.

"If you don't control your own back door, it's not your country," he said, emphasizing the devastating effects of fentanyl brought into the country via Mexican cartels.

When Carlson asked about the flow of millions of illegal immigrants of military age into the country constituting an invasion, Scott said, "I don't disagree."

"[I want to] make sure the Mexican cartels cease to exist," Scott also said.

Closing the southern border and building a wall was one of several applause lines Scott delivered during the approximately 25-minute interview.

"There are forces in this nation that hate objective truth," Scott said. "Two genders, one truth."

Scott ended his interview with Carlson the same way he began: emphasizing his faith.

"For those who don’t like commonsense conservative principles driven by the Judeo- Christian foundation, choose another candidate. It’s that simple."

Carlson's interview with Scott was the first of the daylong annual event.

Monday's faith-based Summit kicked off with a worship session led by multi-GMA Dove Award-winning Selah, followed by an introductory address delivered by FAMiLY Leader CEO Bob Vander Plaats.

Scott praised Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds for her commitment to protecting life earlier this week after Iowa lawmakers passed legislation to outlaw most abortions as soon as the unborn baby has a heartbeat. Reynolds will be signing the bill at the Summit later in the day.

"Great news! I celebrate states like Iowa and the leadership of Gov. @KimReynoldsIA that understand the importance of creating a culture that protects life," Scott tweeted.

— (@)

Other presidential hopeful interviewees at 2023 “Principle over Politics” FAMiLY Leader Summit in Des Moines' Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center include Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Amb. Nikki Haley, and former Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Watch BlazeMedia's live coverage of the Summit below, and be sure to stick around for Glenn Beck's interview with Tucker Carlson exclusively on BlazeTVBlazeTV at the conclusion of the Summit.

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Tucker Carlson to host first presidential forum of the 2024 GOP primary season, for which Blaze Media and the FAMiLY Leader are teaming up



Blaze Media is joining forces with the FAMiLY Leader to present a presidential candidate forum hosted by Tucker Carlson.

A tweet on TheBlaze Twitter account indicates that the company will be streaming the Friday event live on BlazeTV and the BlazeTV YouTube channel.

— (@)

The livestream on the BlazeTV YouTube channel is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Friday. According to the video description on the BlazeTV YouTube channel, Carlson will speak "one-on-one" to various GOP primary contenders, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, author and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

"Blaze Media is teaming up with The FAMiLY Leader to bring you the first presidential forum of the 2024 Republican primary season, hosted by Tucker Carlson," the video description states. "Following the presidential forum, stay tuned for a special episode of 'Glenn TV,' with an intimate conversation with Tucker Carlson that you don't want to miss."

The FAMiLY Leadership Summit is slated to take place in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday.

Polling indicates that former President Donald Trump is trouncing the rest of the GOP primary field while DeSantis trails in a distant second place.

The first Republican presidential primary debate will take place on August 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In order to be eligible to participate in the debate, candidates must meet certain criteria, including polling and fundraising thresholds, and they must pledge to support the eventual GOP presidential nominee.

You can watch the event on Friday here:

Blaze Media Presents: The Summit www.youtube.com

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