By Kelly Garrity POLITICO STAFF  President Joe Biden on Saturday ( aPRIL 29, 2023) used the traditionally lighthearted White House Correspondents’ Dinner to drive home the importance of the free press amid threats to democracy at home and abroad. Biden opened his speech by recognizing the family of Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter who was arrested in Russia in March and falsely accused of espionage.  “Evan went to Russia to shed light on the darkness that you escaped from years ago,” Biden said, praising Gershkovich’s “absolute courage.” “Tonight our message is this: journalism is not a crime,” Biden told the applauding crowd. The president also acknowledged dinner attendee and WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was detained in Russia for nearly 10 months, and Debra Tice, the mother of Austin

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