Photo: Science Photo Library RF
1 Russia Releases Trevor Reed As Part Of Prisoner Exchange
After three years in Russian prison on bogus charges, US Marine Trevor Reed is free. Spokesman for the U.S. State Department Ned Price said Reed's release is a testament to the Biden administration's commitment "to bring home Americans who were unjustly detained around the world." Apparently, it was in the works long before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration negotiated Trevor's release as part of a prisoner swap for a Russian jailed in the U.S. Price has confirmed a U.S. official met with Reed and said he's in good spirits and is ready to be reunited with his family. Price noted this wasn't part of a larger discussion with Russia it was about one thing only – the safe release of Trevor. The State Department spokesman also addressed the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Price called the war "unprovoked" and "unnecessary."
2 President Biden To Speak On Ukraine Situation Today
President Biden will speak on Ukraine's fight against Russia today. A White House staffer says Biden will "deliver remarks on support for Ukrainians defending their country." Apparently, Biden intends to make a "massive" request for funds to support Ukraine through the end of the fiscal year. The comments also come just days after Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin traveled to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top officials. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security says it has processed more than 20-thousand Ukrainians at the U.S.-Mexico border since the middle of last month. Officials began exempting the Ukrainian refugees on a case-by-case basis due to the Russian invasion on March 11th and have been granting them humanitarian parole.
3 WH Pressed On Fauci Pulling Out Of Correspondents' Dinner
President Biden's top medical adviser is pulling out of Saturday night's White House Correspondents' Dinner. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called it a “personal decision” by Dr. Anthony Fauci, based on a personal risk assessment. She said Biden still plans to attend the dinner and will speak before a crowd of more than two-thousand people. Psaki noted that Biden plans to wear a mask when he's not addressing the gathering. Fauci is 81 and Biden is 79. Speculation is that the move has to do with Fauci’s comments about the U.S. being “out of the pandemic phase.” He later clarified his comments, saying his comments where “misinterpreted” and that this “transition phase” hopefully means society gets to more of a point of control where there is "some form of normality" without total disruption of life.