I am in for jose diazbalart in jose diazbalart reports. Back here at home, just four days until the South Carolina primary. Can nikki haley pull off an update in her home state, or will it prove donald trump has the republican nomination locked up . A historic decision in alabama. The top court, frozen embryos are people and you can be liable for destroying them, and what it means for one of the most antiabortion states. And then we will talk about the merger in the credit card industry. Good to see you today. We will begin this hour with new developments out of russia. A new emotional appeal today from the mother of navalny. She sent the message to Vladimir Putin demanding he releases her sons body so she can bury him humanely. Ly [ speaking in universal language ] the kremlin spokesman responding to navalnys wife, and the kremlin saying her claims are unfounded. We have two new developments showing that a duel american and Russian National who was a los angeles resident was detained in russia on suspicion of treason for raising funds to support ukraine, and also A Moscow Court talking about the reporter, Evan Gershkovich evan is a journalist and any suggestion otherwise is a false depiction. Richard engel joins us. Lets start out with navalnys death and how it happened. Reporter so obviously the kremlin is fearing feeling very strong these days. Its making advances on the battlefield here in ukraine. Alexei navalny was already in prison, not entirely silenced but was out of circulation, is now dead, and his family, his supporters, his late wife and mother now, his lawyers, all trying to figure out what happened to him to keep his cause going, and thats something his widow says she wants to do. We saw that appeal not long ago from his mother, effectively making a sympathy plea saying release the body so we can have a proper burial. According to the ambassador to the United Nations, navalnys body is being held by russian authorities and they say as a matter of course because they are doing exams to figure out the cause of death. So far the official russia accounting is he died of a sudden death syndrome, a very generic term to describe either a Cardiac Arrest or some sort of blood clot, but they did not give any more specificity, and the family believes he was executed perhaps by poison, and they believe the reason russians are holding his body is to give that to work its way out of his system, and allegations that the kremlin denies. Richard, i know you are in ukraine as well. I want to talk about the aid package held up here in the United States, specifically by republicans in congress. Reporter thats all they are talking about here. How is that affecting the ukrainians and the Ukrainian Military fighting against the russian incursion . Reporter well, they are running out of ammunition. They are counting bullets. They are counting artillery shells. They dont have the ability to launch new attacks. Russia is a bigger military. Its been remarkable that ukraine has been able to do what it has thus far. Were now almost exactly at the twoyear anniversary, which is coming up on saturday of the invasion of this country, and most people expected that russia, which has four times ukraines population and a much bigger military would quickly overrun the country, but because of the Political Leadership and the determination here, that didnt happen. But past success does not guarantee future success. They have taken it this far and sacrificed so much, and this is what the soldiers i am talking to here say, they cant keep doing this. Its simple, how are we supposed to fight if we dont have enough ammunition. We are not asking for american troops. Just send the weapons, and they go back that this goes back to american manufacturers of weapons anyway, and its relatively cheap. And containing russia seems to be in the ukraines opinion, is in the United States best interest. I also know, richard, you have been doing reporting on the Nuclear Plant there in ukraine. Tell us about that. Reporter this was a very frightening story, and continues to be. So the Nuclear Power plant is the biggest Nuclear Power plant in all of the region, not just ukraine, and its currently held by the russian troops, and its just outside the city of zaporizhzhia. And Russian Forces came and took over the Nuclear Power plant, and there was a battle there that was extraordinary. The russians kept up the assault and took over the plant and took over the employees and now occupy the area, which is right on the front line, because the ukrainians pulled back to the river. They are warning this is now the most Dangerous Nuclear facility in the world because it could get hit by stray fire, or what they are facing now, they had eight blake blackouts in december, and if three of the four power lines go into it, and the fourth is faulty, you could have a meltdown on the scale of youk shaepla. This is something that officials here are very concerned about. Really troubling. Thank you for the excellent reporting, richard engel. Appreciate it. I want to bring in the Moscow Bureau chief for the New York Times. Thank you for joining us. I appreciate it. I know i was just speaking about the battlefield at ukraine, but i want to circle back to the russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny. You wrote a piece for the New York Times talking about your writings, which is powerful. This is something that he wrote, if they are told to feed you caviar, they will feed you caviar. If they are told to strangle you in your cell, they will strangle you. That gave me chills reading that, as if he saw his death coming. Yeah, i also had chills when i saw that letter from a friend of navalnys who shared some of those letters with me. Absolutely. Navalny, you know, he had been in prison for more than three years. He was imprisoned after surviving an attack with the militarygrade nerve agent. He knew that what he was doing could well cost him his life. As you know, as you saw throughout that imprisonment, and as we saw in reading those letters that he sent to friends and a family, you could see tha. We saw that in his return after he was poisoned, and then as he returned, obviously, he didnt even get off the bus at the terminal and he was arrested yet again. Even in his determination for the future of russia, i thought, was astounding in a letter, you spoke with somebody that said in their final letter, navalny concluded it by saying if South Carolina and taiwan were able to do it i think what he said before that quote there was hope, i have no problem with it. You know, he had this hope. His hope was contagious. I think thats why his death is so devastating to so many people, certainly russians around the world that believe in a different future for russia, because they could really see their countrys future in navalny. Now without him alive, there really is a question, theres a vacuum of what else could a postputin russia look like. We think about Alexei Navalny and how he died in that prison, and we still dont know the details of that death. His family is still demanding the details of his death. We also see what has taken place this morning with your friend, Evan Gershkovich, the journalist, the Wall Street Journal reporter, his appeal being rejected by A Moscow Court. He has been detained for nearly a year now. Also news of the dual citizen Russian National that has been detained. What do you see for Evan Gershkovich . What are you most worried about, what are you most worried about the people who are speaking out in light of navalnys death. For my colleague and friend, evan, you know, we have to get him out of there. He was doing his job. He was an accredited journalist working in moscow, in russia, doing incredibly valuable reporting. Theres its just really incredible. Theres appreciation for everybody out there, including the u. S. Government working so hard to get him out, and you just have to keep going and get him out. Do you know anything about the dual national that was detained . Do you know who she is or what shes being accused of . The details are sketchy at the moment. Shes described as a los angeles resident. What is remarkable here is that the early reports are her offense was transferring just over 50, just over 50 u. S. Dollars to an organization supporting ukraine. That really shows you the degree of arbitrariness in moscow. Yeah, on the heels of the election there. Thank you. Up next, the reporting about the back and forth between President Biden and mike johnson over funding for ukraine. Plus, nikki haley is about to give the state of the race speech. What exactly does that mean . Were back in just 60 seconds. N. Get a light scent that lasts with no heavy perfumes or dyes. breathing claritin clear is like. is he . Confidently Walking 8 Long Haired Dogs and living as if he doesnt have allergies . Yeah. Fast relief of your worst allergy symptoms, like nasal congestion. Are you keeping as much of your Investment Gains as possible . High taxes can erode returns quickly. At creative planning, your portfolio is managed in a taxefficient manner. Its what you keep that really matters. Book your free meeting today at creativeplanning. Com. Welcome back, everybody. Congress is on recess this week, but the fight over funding for National Security priorities including ukraine and israel front and center. President biden saying he would be meeting to meet with mike johnson and negotiate a deal if the speaker has anything to say. The Speakers Office says he has been requesting a oneonone meeting for the president for weeks to discuss how to secure the border. With us to talk about that, is jake from punchbowl news. So a johnson and biden dance. What kind of dance are we talking about here . The president says hes happy to talk to johnson if he has anything to say. I think johnson has things to say to the president and i am not sure if it will be useful or constructive in any way. Johnson has not shown his hand on if he plans to pass the ukraine funding, and its not just ukraine, its israel and taiwan. The reality is he has a lot of people in the House Republican conference, johnson does, that want ukraine funding to pass. Roughly half, and maybe a little less. I expect the white house and the president and johnson will meet probably before the state of the union. I think its inevitable. I am not sure what will be accomplished. Johnson asked for Border Security and they produced a bill for Border Security and then johnson killed it. Not sure where it goes from here. What i cant understand here, you see the death of Alexei Navalny, right, and you see the Battlefield Gains in which russia is making and how it seems like russian president Vladimir Putin is acting with impunity. Is any of this kind of spurring, inspiring congress and more specifically republicans in congress and the speaker to get ukraine aid across the finish line . There are two things happening and worth thinking in this context. Number one, you have a group of republicans that dont think the u. S. Should be funding ukraine at all. Number two, you have the House Majority of republicans that say they will not do anything until they have the border bill. So they dont believe funding ukraine is not politically advantageous without doing Something Big on the border. The problem is the House Republicans position on the border is irreconcilable with the white house. There are various maneuvers, and a Discharge Petition being one of them, and some republicans could join with democrats and get it across the finish line. There are two major Funding Deadlines for the u. S. Government on march 1st and march 8th. Yeah, they have a couple days after they come back from vacation to get all that passed. Good luck good luck to us. Thank you. Yes. The push for a ceasefire from the United Nations for hamas and israel. Well be right back. Well be right back. Clinically proven Nutrient Formula to help reduce the risk of moderate to advanced amd progression. Thanks to preservision, i feel better that im doing something about it like millions of others. Preservision. ella fashion moves fast. Setting trends is our business. We need to scale with customer demand. In real time. jen so we partner with verizon. Their solution for us . A private 5g network. ella we now get more control of production, efficiencies, and greater agility. marquis with a custom private 5g network. Our customers get what they want, when they want it. jen now were even smarter and ready for whats next. vo achieve enterprise intelligence. Its your vision, its your verizon. Pain hits fast. So get relief fast. Only Tylenol Rapid release gels have laser drilled holes. They release Medicine Fast for fast pain relief. And now, get max strength topical pain relief precisely where you need it. With new tylenol precise. This is patricks look of pure bliss. And this is his john deere 3 series tractor. It connects to every tool he needs, to complete almost any task. But above all, it delivers total confidence. You just have to get in the seat. Covid19 . Im not waiting. If its covid, paxlovid. Paxlovid is an oral treatment for adults with mildtomoderate covid19 and a highrisk factor for it becoming severe. It does not prevent covid19. My symptoms are mild now, but im not risking it. If its covid, paxlovid. Paxlovid must be taken within the first five days of symptoms, and helps stop the virus from multiplying in your body. Taking paxlovid with certain medicines can lead to serious or lifethreatening side effects or affect how it or other medicines work, including hormonal birth control. Its critical to tell your doctor about all the medicines you take because certain tests or changes in their dosage may be needed. Tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, hiv1, are or plan to become pregnant, or breastfeed. Dont take paxlovid if youre allergic to nirmatrelvir, ritonavir, or any of its ingredients. Serious side effects can include allergic reactions, some severe like anaphylaxis, and liver problems. These are not all the possible side effects so talk to your doctor. If its covid, paxlovid. Ask your doctor today. Fair, freckled, or melanated. We are appreciated. Ultra hydrated. Glazed and glowing. Confidence overflowing. Vaseline lotions 90 more moisture for my oneofakind skin. And theres no other skin i want to be in. You founded your Kayak Company because you love the ocean not spreadsheets. You need to hire. I need indeed. Indeed you do. Indeed instant match instantly delivers quality candidates matching your job description. Visit indeed. Com hire welcome back. We are following Breaking News from the u. N. Security council where the u. S. Vetoed a ceasefire resolution brought by algeria brought by 22 different states. Molly is following this from jerusalem. If you will, walk us through what is happening here and the alternative being presented by the United States. The vote was 1341, and the u. S. Was against. The u. N. U. S. Ambassador explaining what she didnt like about the algerianbacked bill, and lets take a quick listen to the ambassador and i will explain the differences on the back end. Any action this Council Takes should help and not hinder the sensitive and ongoing negotiations. We believe the resolution on the table right now would, in fact, negatively impact those negotiations. Demanding an immediate unconditional ceasefire without an agreement requiring hamas to release the hostages will not bring about endurable peace. Instead it could reporter all right, she said the buzzword, immediate. The u. S. Backed Resolution Says temporary, and then the arab backed Resolution Calls for israel and hamas to comply with international law. She says the u. S. Resolution calls for a temporary ceasefire with the release of hostages as well as unimpeded access for humanitarian aid and the compliance with the international law. The other thing the u. S. Resolution does is talk about the israeli threatened ground into rafah, and the u. S. Language says it cannot proceed under the current circumstances. Shes answering critics. She says this is not an effort to cover for Israel Ground encouragement because the u. S. Has concern. It hinges on the word immediate versus temporary, and one resolution will bring all the hostages home and bring peace quicker for the civilians inside gaza. Thank you, molly. Appreciate it. We are following news out of washington. The white house announcing it will unveil a new major Sanctions Package for the death of Alexei Navalny. I want to bring in our white house correspondent, Peter Alexander on t