By Nathan Layne

CLIVE, Iowa (Reuters) -Donald Trump and other Republican presidential hopefuls called for restricting abortion at an event for evangelicals in Iowa on Saturday, courting the key conservative voting bloc in the state set to hold the party’s first nominating contest in early 2024.

At the first major campaign event for the evangelical community, speakers also talked up their opposition to transgender rights and their plans to promote Christian values and school choice.

“Every child born and unborn is a sacred gift from God,” said Trump, promising to fight against late-term abortions, although he did not touch on whether he would pursue federal restrictions on the procedure, a step some conservatives want.

Also addressing the event were former Vice President Mike Pence, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, U.S. Senator Tim Scott, venture capitalist Vivek Ramaswamy, and Michigan businessman Perry Johnson. All have said they intend to seek the presidency or are considering a run.

Roughly 1,000 people attended the annual presidential forum organized by the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition, a conservative nonprofit. Trump was the only speaker who did not attend in person, delivering remarks via a video link.

Trump appears to be consolidating his grip on the Republican Party, with national polls showing him expanding his lead over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a potential primary rival who did not attend Saturday’s event but will visit the state next month.

Iowa is slated to hold the first-in-the-nation Republican caucus in early 2024. Strong evangelical support early on in the nominating process could help give a challenger a chance to strike a blow against Trump.

Trump won 76% of the white evangelical vote in 2020, down from 80% in 2016, according to Edison Research exit polls. About one-third of U.S. adults identify as born-again or evangelical Christians, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll in November 2020.

Pence, a devout evangelical who may soon launch a presidential bid, was one of several speakers who vowed to curb the availability of transition surgeries and other gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth. Trump said he would issue an executive order “instructing every federal agency to cease the promotion of sex and gender transition at any age.”

Pence and other speakers described the promotion of such procedures as part of a radical leftist agenda that went against Christian values, offering a preview of the culture-war themes that are likely to dominate the Republican primary battle.

“The battle against radical gender ideology is a battle for religious freedom,” Pence said.

(Reporting by Nathan Layne; Editing by Colleen Jenkins, Alistair Bell and Edwina Gibbs)

By Katharine Jackson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed a Republican bill intended to ban transgender women and girls from competing in women’s and girls’ school sports, delivering at least a short-term victory to social conservatives.

The House passed the measure by 219-203 but it has little chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate. President Joe Biden has also voiced his opposition to the bill, calling it discriminatory, and has vowed to veto it if needed.

Still, the vote was a win for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy who hopes to keep his narrow Republican majority unified, as a fight over raising the nation’s debt ceiling looms.

“There’s a reason why there’s men and women’s sports,” McCarthy told reporters on the grounds of the Capitol, where he held a news conference with three female athletes who had competed with transgender athletes and lost. “It’s about fairness. And if there’s one final fiber of America, it’s about giving people an opportunity.”

If passed, the bill would change the civil rights law known as Title IX to require that a student’s sex be “based on an individual’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”

Enacted in 1972, Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs or activities that receive federal funding. It was created to ensure equal opportunity for participation and opened the door for more women in sports.

Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal, who said during Wednesday’s debate that she is raising a transgender daughter, said, “This bill fuels a virulent hate campaign against kids who just want to play with their friends.”

The White House on Monday said the bill would effectively deny access to sports for transgender students, even at the elementary school level.

Republicans have stepped up their focus on transgender youth. On Wednesday, Florida education officials voted to ban classroom instruction on gender identity and social orientation in public schools through high school. That expanded on a law signed by likely Republican presidential candidate Governor Ron DeSantis, which had banned such lessons for younger students and was derided by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Twenty-one U.S. states already have transgender school sports bans in place, according to the Human Rights Campaign LGBTQ advocacy group.

The Biden administration has proposed prohibiting schools from banning transgender athletes from playing on teams consistent with their gender identities, with exceptions possible for the highest levels of competition.

(Reporting by Katharine Jackson; Editing by Scott Malone and Alistair Bell)

By Daniel Wiessner

(Reuters) – Advocacy groups filed a lawsuit on Thursday seeking to strike down a new Tennessee law that bans doctors from providing gender-affirming medical treatment such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery to transgender minors.

The American Civil Liberties Union and LGBTQ group Lambda Legal in a lawsuit filed in Nashville, Tennessee federal court say the law, which takes effect July 1, unlawfully discriminates against transgender people based on their sex.

The law would ban any medical procedure performed for the purpose of enabling a minor to identify with a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth.

Republican state lawmakers who passed the bill in February said it was necessary to protect young people from being permanently harmed. But many medical associations have said the law is transphobic and that gender-affirming care can be life-saving.

The new lawsuit says depriving transgender youth of medically necessary care will have devastating consequences for them and their families. Untreated gender dysphoria can trigger anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts, the groups said.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three families with transgender children and a Memphis-based doctor who performs gender-affirming procedures.

The office of Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, a Republican, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed the ban into law last month along with a separate measure restricting drag performances in public. A federal judge blocked the drag law earlier this month pending the outcome of a lawsuit by an LGBTQ theater group.

The laws are part of escalating efforts by Republican lawmakers to regulate the conduct of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people.

The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill intended to ban transgender women and girls from competing in women’s and girls’ school sports. The proposal is seen as having little chance of passing the Democrat-led Senate.

The ACLU and Lambda Legal claim in Thursday’s lawsuit that Tennessee’s law violates the Equal Protection clause of the U.S. Constitution by singling out transgender people. They also say the law violates the federal Affordable Care Act, which prohibits sex discrimination in the provision of healthcare.

Several other U.S. states have banned gender-affirming care for minors, and over the last several weeks groups have sued over laws adopted in Utah, Florida, Indiana and Arkansas.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and Richard Chang)

Fox News admitted it lied as part of the historic $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems — but its millions of viewers won’t hear that.

The network’s highest-ranking stars, chiefly Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity, will not issue on-air retractions despite their lies about the 2020 presidential election, RadarOnline.com has learned.

Dominion had cited 20 specific broadcasts and tweets in which the voting company argued Fox News knowingly promoted lies that it had rigged the presidential election.

Those anchors entangled also included Jeanine Pirro, Lou Dobbs and Maria Bartiromo.

But none of the network’s stars will be forced to issue groveling retractions or apologies to Fox News viewers or Dominion, despite the company initially seeking that as part of the settlement, sources told RadarOnline.com.

“During the settlement negotiations, Fox maintained all along that it would not issue on-air apologies or retractions,” a source said.

“Privately, Fox believed it would have to pay a number, but it wasn’t prepared to willingly do anything to compromise its talent to its audience — or compromise its business.

Added the insider: “The payout might hurt in the hip pocket but the business of Fox News continues.”

Tuesday’s last-second settlement ended a messy two-year legal battle and avoided what was being billed as the media trial of the century.

The witness list for the trial included Fox boss Rupert Murdoch, his son Lachlan Murdoch, and top-rated anchors like Hannity and Carlson.

The settlement — hailed widely in the media as ground-breaking — represents “vindication and accountability,” according to Dominion lawyer Justin Nelson.

“For our democracy to endure for another 250 years, and hopefully much longer, we must share a commitment to facts… Today represents a ringing endorsement for truth and for democracy.”

Fox said in a statement that it “acknowledge[s] the Court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false.”

“This settlement reflects Fox’s continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards,” it added in a statement.

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“We are hopeful that our decision to resolve this dispute with Dominion amicably, instead of the acrimony of a divisive trial, allows the country to move forward from these issues.”

The channel’s highest-ranking executives and biggest stars, such as Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity, would have been forced to confront how lies they never believed were promoted on the network’s air to its millions of loyal viewers.

And RadarOnline.com has been told by sources that the settlement the network reached with Dominion will not require its dishonest personalities to acknowledge reality and issue retractions on the air.

LONDON (Reuters) – Pope Francis has gifted fragments believed to be from the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified to form part of a new processional cross which will be used at the coronation of Britain’s King Charles next month.

The new cross, made from recycled silver along with Welsh slate and reclaimed wood, was a gift from the king to the Church in Wales to mark its centenary in 2020. It will lead the coronation procession at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6.

It features two small shards from the relic donated by the pope which have been shaped into a cross behind a rose crystal gemstone.

“In a significant ecumenical gesture, the Cross of Wales will incorporate a relic of the True Cross, the personal gift of Pope Francis to His Majesty The King to mark the Coronation,” the Church in Wales, a branch of the Anglican Church, said in a statement.

After the coronation, the cross will be shared between the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches in Wales.

“Its design speaks to our Christian faith, our heritage, our resources and our commitment to sustainability,” said Andrew John, the Anglican Archbishop of Wales, who blessed the cross at a service on Wednesday in Llandudno in North Wales.

“We are delighted too that its first use will be to guide their majesties into Westminster Abbey at the Coronation Service.”

Charles has close links to Wales. As heir to the British throne, he held the ancient title of Prince of Wales until he became king last September on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth. His son and heir William is now Prince of Wales.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Gareth Jones)

A former member of Menudo came forward with shocking claims that Jose Menendez, the slain father of imprisoned Menendez brothers Lyle and Erik, sexually assaulted him during his childhood, RadarOnline.com has learned.

Roy Rosselló detailed a time years ago when Jose was affiliated with Menudo because he had signed the group as an executive of RCA Records, claiming Jose drugged and raped him during a visit to his home in New Jersey.

Rosselló was 14 at the time, the Claridad crooner said in a segment that aired on the Today show April 18 from the upcoming three-part docuseries scheduled to premiere on Peacock.

“That’s the man here that raped me,” he said while pointing to a photo of Jose, who was shot dead by his sons in 1989. “That’s the pedophile.” Rosselló declared, “It’s time for the world to know the truth.”

Rossello said that he was also assaulted by one of Menudo’s former managers, Edgardo Diaz, a claim that Diaz vehemently denied.

Following two hung juries and mistrials, the siblings were retried together in 1996 and found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for gunning down their father, Jose, as well as their mother, Mary Louise, a former beauty queen AKA Kitty, inside of their Beverly Hills home.

After the brothers were convicted of the killings, a judge ruled that their claims of sexual abuse involving Jose were inadmissible. Although prior appeals from Lyle and Erik have been denied, it is wondered if Rosselló’s allegations could be the catalyst for a new trial.

“Frankly I feel horrible. It’s sad to know that there was another victim of my father,” Erik said amid the explosive claims.

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“It’s a remarkable thing to happen so many decades later. Of course you know that would have made a difference at trial. Certainly that would have made an enormous difference because the entire trial centered on the belief of these events,” added Lyle.

A GoFundMe page set up for Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager from Kansas City who was shot twice after he rang the wrong doorbell, reached $3 million in donations, RadarOnline.com has learned.

On April 13, Yarl, 16, went to pick up his younger siblings when he accidentally approached the wrong home. Upon ringing the doorbell, the homeowner, Andrew Lester, 84, shot him twice through the glass door.

After back-to-back mass shootings in Nashville and Louisville, the horrifying news of the innocent teenager being senselessly shot by the man was almost too much to bear.

The GoFundMe, organized by Yarl’s aunt Faith Spoonmore, provided insight into the teen’s condition.

“Ralph is currently at home with the family. He can ambulate and communicate,” the update read. “A true miracle considering what he survived.”

After the teen was shot, he managed to gather himself enough to run to neighbors for help. Sadly, it took approaching three different homeowners until someonesprang into action.

Yarl was taken to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries and has since been released.

“Each day is different. He has a long road ahead,” the update continued. “However, we are very thankful that he is still here with us.”

Donors from around the world flocked to the GoFundMe page to offer their support and leave encouraging messages for the family.

“People should not be shot for ringing a doorbell. Thank goodness you survived this terrible attack,” wrote one donor who wished Yarl a speedy recovery.

“Brave young man, so sorry this happened to you. With love from Ireland,” read another note from a donor overseas.

The GoFundMe update included an acknowledgment of the donors’ kind words.

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“I’ve been taking the time to read the emails and comments to Ralph,” the update stated. “It warms our hearts to see him smile at all the kind words.”

According to the GoFundMe, donations will be put towards Yarl’s medical expenses and recovery. Any funds left over “will be used for college expenses at Texas A&M, a trip to West Africa, and other expenses.”

Yarl aspired to be a chemical engineer and planned to attend Texas A&M University, with hopes of earning a scholarship for academics or music.

Former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner attacked the transgender community by claiming trans individuals were “oversaturated” and “destroying the family unit,” despite being a member herself, RadarOnline.comhas learned.

Caitlyn made the bizarre remarks when announcing her new PAC, Fairness First, which zones in on “parent rights” and keeping “boys out of women’s sports.”

Caitlyn ruffled feathers with her latest comments about fellow trans-woman Dylan Mulvaney‘s brand deals with Nike and Bud Light.

Caitlyn spoke about the Fairness First PAC initiative to Breitbart.

The Olympian, who made an unsuccessful run for California governor in 2021, claimed that “state laws” were needed to “ultimately govern our schools at a state level.”

“They need to provide state-level guidance to their local school boards, from a legislative perspective, to govern who can compete in what leagues,” Caitlyn told the outlet as she noted that a key issue was boys participating in girls’ sports.

“Our advocacy is to align athletes with sports that are at a chromosomal or DNA level — not birth certificate,” Caitlyn continued. “Which has been extremely visible in sports, is an effort to break down the family unit.”

The outspoken conservative said that “the family unit” was “under assault and looking to be replaced by teachers.”

In a more direct attack, Caitlyn went after the “radical rainbow mafia.”

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Caitlyn boasted about being Fairness First’s spokesperson — and how her exposure as a Fox News contributor helped elect “officials from school boards, the state level and the federal level, to work on policy issues and advocate for our recommendations.”

The former reality star doubled down on the PAC’s widespread commitment to the “family unit” and its boots-on-the-ground effort to keep teachers out of “parental rights.”

“We have events and grassroots partnerships in the works to show up to school board meetings, state capitols to testify, LGBT people to testify in congress, to stop the radical rainbow mafia,” Caitlyn stated.

When asked if transgender rights would be a tipping point issue for conservatives, Caitlyn stayed true to her PAC’s “parental rights” core.

“I think this actually comes down to parental rights. Big government left-wing liberals are all about destroying the family unit, at any cost,” Caitlyn replied. “That means government gets to take the place of the parents and the families.”

While Caitlyn acknowledged that “trans is not made up or fake,” she claimed that “trans” was “oversaturated due to indoctrination and is the latest way the left is destroying the family unit.”

The ex-E! star warned that “we won’t see the true impact” of minors transitioning “for years to come.”