I'm Brian Gotstein and this is the Daily Signal Top News for Wednesday, April 17th.

Here are today's headlines. House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Wednesday that he'd move forward on several

foreign aid bills which include spending on Ukraine and Israel.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Johnson's plan includes four bills, one each for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan

and a fourth bill containing many Republican priorities including a ban or

for sale of Tik-Toc in the United States.

Johnson has faced increasing pressure from some conservatives lately.

Texas Republican Representative Chip Roy said that the speaker is seeking a rule to pass almost

$100 billion in foreign aid while dangerous criminals, terrorists, and fentanyl

pour across our border. Roy said that the border part of the package is watered down

and merely provides cover for those who vote for it. On Tuesday,

Representative Thomas Massey of Kentucky became the second Republican to call for a vote to remove Johnson from the speakership.

The House of Representatives held its second hearing on anti-Semitism on Wednesday.

This one is focused on the failure of Columbia University to stop anti-Semitic incidents from happening

on campus.

The Daily Signals Jarrett Ste Stepman, reports that lawmakers directed cutting questions at Columbia University President Manou Chaffique during the hearing. New York Representative Elise Defonic, pressed chafique on tenured Columbia Professor Joseph Masad,

who called the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel awesome,

and has made a number of other anti-Israel statements directed at students.

Shefei said that she condemned his statement and that he's been talked to about his rhetoric.

Stefonic asked if there were any other enforcement actions taken to which

Shefique responded that the professor hasn't made any similar comments since.

Does he need to repeat stating that the massacre of Israeli citizens was awesome?

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