TRANSCRIPT
You’re listening to Red River Radio News.
Good morning, I’m Jeff Ferrell.
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INTRO:
House Speaker Mike Johnson is defending President Trump’s White House ban of CNN, MS Now and Politico. Johnson spoke to Red River Radio immediately following a legislative update sponsored by the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday morning.
The speaker addressed roughly a hundred business, civic and community leaders and members of the public at the LSU Shreveport ballroom.
Johnson tells us that he’s largely tried to stay out of the controversy involving the President’s feud with the media outlets. But:
SOT:
“The president’s point is that there has been a lot of fake news, there has been a lot of, he’s been treated very unfairly. But, we’ll see how that shakes out. There has been a lawsuit filed. We’ll see how it shakes out.”
TAG:
The speaker is no stranger to disputes over free speech. Before arriving to Congress to represent northwest Louisiana’s 4th Congressional district a decade ago, Johnson had even worked as a First Amendment attorney himself.
And he calls free speech a quote, “important principal.”
Yet, Johnson says he understands the president’s ongoing frustrations with the media:
SOT:
“I’ve been greatly frustrated that he’s gotten such unfair treatment in the press. And some of those outlets have been pretty brutal to him and they have said things that are blatantly untrue. They do it about me as well.”
TAG:
When asked about media coverage that also blames congress for not doing more about the high cost of gasoline and diesel, he also told us quote, “That’s what the press will do.” Speaker Johnson then added:
SOT:
“We’ve done everything in the congressional level, in terms of legislation. We’ve done everything possible, cut regulations, cut permitting [to] bring down the cost. But it’s directly tied to the Strait of Hormuz and the lack of commerce there. I think we’re entering a new phase of that. We obviously need to bring down gas prices and that’s a top priority for us. So we’re looking at every avenue on how to do that.”
TAG:
Johnson also made some other news, telling the audience he’s been talking with President Trump about attending the LSU football home game against Alabama on November 7th, just four days after the midterm elections.
<**** NEW STORY ****>
INTRO:
In Texas, State Representative Vikki Goodwin, the Democrat running to unseat Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, filed a police report against his campaign.
Goodwin says that artificial intelligence-generated ads released by the Patrick campaign violated state law.
KUT News Reporter Olivia Aldridge has the latest:
SOT:
“Goodwin filed a report with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, citing two social media posts from Patrick. She says the posts included ads with deepfake images of her making misleading comments about her tax policies. “I don't think that we should allow political candidates to put false words into their opponents' mouths through AI advertising.” Goodwin believes the posts, which have now been deleted, violated a 2019 law that bars campaigns from distributing artificial intelligence-created deepfake ads within 30 days of an election. She also says she wants to see tougher laws passed on the use of deepfakes in political campaigns. The Patrick campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.”
<**** FORECAST ****>
The National Weather Service in Shreveport is calling for:
* More summer-like conditions on this first full day of fall, with more sun and a high near 95 degrees.
* By Tomorrow: the sun still shines, while the high drifts down to 91.
then 93 Friday.
* For the weekend we can expect highs near 94 Saturday and Sunday.
* The chance for showers and thunderstorms returns Monday.
*******END*******
