Rubin Report host Rubin Draper analyzes President Trump's April 23, 2026 intervention saving eight Iranian female protesters from execution, including Bida Hamadi, while securing a ceasefire to retrieve 1,000 pounds of enriched uranium. The episode contrasts this diplomatic win with the tragic murder of Sheridan Gorman by Venezuelan immigrant Jose Medina, whose release under Biden-era policies sparked Illinois sanctuary law debates. Finally, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis clashes with House Leader Hakeem Jeffries over Virginia's redistricting plans, demanding a special session to address population growth before the 2026 election. These events collectively highlight the volatile intersection of foreign policy leverage, domestic immigration accountability, and shifting electoral boundaries in the United States. [Automatically generated summary]
It's Thursday, April 23rd, 2026, and this is First Look.
We've got a big show today global pressure campaigns, a tragic reminder of failed policies here at home, and a major political battle heating up ahead of 2026.
Here's what is coming up President Trump pressures Iran, and suddenly, eight women are no longer facing execution.
A grieving family speaks out after a brutal killing they say never should have happened.
And later, DeSantis versus Democrats as Florida redistricting turns into a full blown political showdown.
Let's get into it.
We start overseas, where once again strong American leadership is making an impact.
President Trump announced that Iran will not execute eight female protesters after he personally called for their release just one day earlier.
In a post, Trump said four of the women will be released immediately.
And the other four will now face just one month in prison instead of execution.
That's not a small change.
That's the difference between life and death.
Trump thanked Iran's leadership for respecting his request, calling it very good news.
Now, predictably, Iran is trying to spin this.
Their judiciary is claiming the women were never going to be executed, saying Trump was misled by fake news.
But that doesn't line up with what we know.
At least one of the women, Bida Hamadi had already been sentenced to death for taking part in protests earlier this year.
Her crime included chanting slogans and participating in demonstrations, the kind of thing that gets you executed under that regime.
And this is all happening in the context of a much bigger conflict.
Trump recently extended a two week ceasefire with Iran while negotiations continue over their nuclear program.
His goal is clear end nuclear enrichment.
Retrieve roughly 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium, and stop Iran from holding the world hostage.
And let's not forget, this all started after the regime violently suppressed protests earlier this year, killing thousands.
So when you zoom out, this is what leadership looks like pressure applied, results delivered.
Now to a heartbreaking story here at home.
The parents of Sheridan Gorman, an 18 year old college freshman murdered in Chicago, spoke out for the first time.
And they're making something very clear.
This was preventable.
Gorman was out with friends early in the morning trying to catch a glimpse of the northern lights.
Instead, they encountered a masked man with a gun.
Sheridan warned her friends to run.
She made it about 40 feet, and then she was shot in the back and neck and killed.
The suspect?
Jose Medina, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela.
And here's where this story becomes more than just a tragedy, it becomes a failure of policy.
Medina was caught crossing the border illegally in 2023.
Border agents flagged him as a danger and a flight risk, and he was still released into the United States under Biden era policies.
Later, he was arrested for shoplifting in Chicago.
He didn't show up to court.
Nothing happened.
Because Chicago, like much of Illinois, is a sanctuary jurisdiction, meaning local authorities refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
And now, an innocent young woman is dead.
The suspect's defense is already claiming he has the mental capacity of a child due to a past injury.
But Sheridan's parents aren't buying it.
They pointed out he had the ability to get a gun, wear a mask, wait for victims, and carry out the attack.
As her father said, a child does not do that.
And her mother said it plainly.
This wasn't senseless.
It was murder.
A preventable murder.
And they're demanding accountability, not just for the killer, but for the system that allowed him to be here in the first place.
And finally, a political fight is heating up in a big way.
Florida Republicans Face Redistricting Threat00:01:46
After Democrats pushed through a mid-decade redistricting plan in Virginia to boost their chances in Congress, they're now warning Florida Republicans not to do the same.
House Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries even issued a threat.
F around and find out.
That's the message.
But Florida Governor Ron DeSantis?
He's not backing down.
In fact, he's leaning in.
DeSantis responded by basically inviting Jeffries to Florida, saying he'd pay for him to campaign, host him at the governor's mansion, even take him fishing.
Because, in his words, nothing would help Florida Republicans more than having a far left Democrat touring the state.
He even took a jab at Jeffrey's standing within his own party, suggesting the far left base isn't exactly buying what he's selling.
Here's what's actually happening Florida lawmakers are preparing for a special session starting April 28th to redraw congressional districts.
The justification?
Massive population growth.
DeSantis says Florida has experienced 10 years of population growth in just three, meaning the current districts are no longer fairly apportioned.
No final map has been released yet, but both parties know what's at stake.
Democrats want to block it.
Republicans see an opportunity to strengthen their hold.
And heading into 2026, this could be one of the biggest political battles in the country.
All right, that's your first look this Thursday.
Trump applying pressure and getting results overseas, a devastating reminder of failed policies here at home, and a political showdown brewing in Florida.