Crosstalk: August 19, 2019

This edition of Crosstalk featured both news stories of interest to listeners and a special guest who’s dealing with a pro-life issue in another part of the world. 

Some of the news stories of interest included:

–At least 100 car tires slashed in a predominantly orthodox Jewish neighborhood in New Jersey over the past few days.

–Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the sole objective for Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar and their trip to Israel was to deny the nation’s legitimacy in a lengthy Twitter thread explaining the decision to deny them entry into the country.

–Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval commander warned on Sunday that any illegitimate presence by the Zionists in the waters of the Persian Gulf could spark a war.  This was after Israel announced that it was taking part in a U.S. led mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

–The contract to purchase two ‘Iron Dome’ systems for the U.S. Army’s interim cruise missile defense capability has now been finalized.  The ‘Iron Dome’ was co-developed by an American company and an Israeli defense firm.

–Iranian oil production fell by 50,000 barrels per day in July to 2.23 million barrels per day.  That’s the nation’s lowest since the 1980’s.

–President Trump wants a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Jeffrey Epstein at a federal detention facility in New York City while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

–The Trump administration issued a rule strengthening the ability of federal officials to deny green cards to immigrants deemed likely to rely on government aid.

–A federal appeals court sided with the Trump administration today in the legal battle over its efforts to limit asylum claims from Central America, blocking for now a nationwide injunction that blocked the implementation of the rule.

–Acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan told NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ that out of 680 individuals (illegals) arrested during the raids at the food processing plants through Mississippi last week, 200 of them had a criminal record.

–In five states, one in five prisoners are Muslim.

The New Zealand government has introduced a radical abortion bill and about 80% of the members of parliament have voted for it.  It now goes to a special committee for consideration. They are, however, open to reaction and currently taking input not just from people in New Zealand, but from around the world.

Joining Jim to discuss this issue was Bob McCoskrie, the national director of Family First in New Zealand.

New Zealand currently has a liberal abortion law.  Effectively they have abortion on demand up to 20 weeks.  Between 20 and 40 weeks exceptional circumstances come into play such as endangerment to life of the mother or the child while also taking into account instances of incest or rape.

Some want abortion on demand and at any time for any reason and that’s what they’re lobbying for.  What the government has proposed falls somewhat short of that. They want to allow abortion for any reason and at any time up to 20 weeks with no checks or balances.  Between 20 and 40 weeks you simply go to the abortion provider and if the provider reasonably believes that an abortion is appropriate, then you can go ahead with it.