News Wrap: Tenn. House Republicans move to oust 3 Democrats who joined anti-gun protest

Amna Nawaz:

In the day's other headlines: Thousands of protesters engulfed the Tennessee state capitol, as a majority of Republicans moved to oust three Democratic lawmakers.

Representatives Justin Pearson, Gloria Johnson and Justin Jones had led anti-gun protests from the House floor last week. Today, their supporters surrounded the capitol building and crowded inside as the trio, with raised fists, entered the House hand in hand. The calls for gun control have grown since a school shooting in Nashville killed six people, including three children.

The Biden administration moved today to block states from outright banning transgender athletes in school sports. The proposed rule would allow limited exceptions. It was issued as the U.S. Supreme Court allowed a transgender girl in West Virginia to compete in girls sports for now. A lawsuit in her case is pending.

China vowed today to take forceful measures after Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen met with us House Speaker Kevin McCarthy Wednesday in Los Angeles. Chinese Coast Guard and naval vessels sailed north and south of Taiwan today, but Beijing said Washington and Taipei are the ones making trouble.

Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman (through translator):

The United States and Taiwan are colluding with each other to condone Taiwan independent separatists to engage in political activities in the United States, carry out official exchanges and enhance substantive relations between the United States and Taiwan.

This move seriously violates the one China principle.

Amna Nawaz:

Last August, after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, China conducted its largest live-fire drills in decades.

French President Emmanuel Macron was in China today urging President Xi Jinping to help end the war in Ukraine. The two leaders and their delegations met in Beijing. Macron said he encouraged Xi to persuade Russia to stop the fighting and negotiate peace

Emmanuel Macron French President (through translator):

The Russian aggression in Ukraine has dealt a blow to stability and put an end to decades of peace in Europe. I know that I can count on you to bring Russia to reason and everyone to the negotiating table. We need to find a lasting peace that respects internationally recognized borders and avoids any form of escalation.

Amna Nawaz:

Macron says that President Xi agreed that there can be no use of nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war.

While Macron was in China, an 11th day of mass protests raged in France after — over raising the retirement age to 64. Crowds marched in Paris and other cities to voice their opposition. Their overall numbers were down, but police fired tear gas to disperse some who turned violent. The demonstrations came after talks between unions and the government failed to yield any progress.

Back in this country, the Republican governor of Idaho has signed the nation's first abortion trafficking law. The measure bars adults from helping a minor to get an abortion without parental consent. That includes obtaining abortion pills. Penalties range from two to five years in prison and offenders can be sued by the minors' parent or guardian.

And on Wall Street today, stocks finished with small gains before taking Good Friday off. The Dow Jones industrial average added two points to close at 33485. The Nasdaq rose 91 points. The S&P 500 was up 14.

Still to come on the "NewsHour": Iran and Saudi Arabia take a major step towards reconciliation; former U.S. education secretaries weigh in on the widening learning gap; an investigative report unveils how Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas took lavish trips paid for by a GOP donor; plus much more.