Transcribe your podcast
[00:00:00]

This episode is brought to you by Zbiotics. Go to zbiotics. Com/wire to get 15% off your first order with code wire at checkout. That's zbiotics. Com/wire.

[00:00:12]

I'm Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Thursday, February eighth, and this is your Morning Wire Afternoon Update.

[00:00:21]

Special Counsel Robert Herr says he's not recommending charges against President Joe Biden for his mishandling of classified documents. Kerr's recommendation comes despite him finding evidence that the President, quote, willfully retained materials. Among the materials found in Biden's possession were classified, marked documents regarding foreign policy in Afghanistan and notebooks containing Biden's notes he wrote down about national security and foreign policy. According to a report, these items were recovered from the garage, offices, and a basement den in Biden's Wilmington, Delaware home. The question of Trump's ballot eligibility has reached the Supreme Court Court. Here's Daily Wire reporter Tim pierce with a breakdown of events.

[00:01:04]

The high court heard arguments today regarding whether or not former President Donald Trump should be removed from Colorado's state primary ballot, a ruling that could then be applied across many other states. Supporters of ballot disqualification claim that the former President is constitutionally unable to hold office under the 14th Amendment for his alleged role in the events of January sixth. Meanwhile, attorneys representing the former President have offered several grounds for tossing out the lawsuit. They argued that Trump is not an officer of the US, claimed that January sixth was not an insurrection but a riot, and that only Congress can enforce Section 3. Meanwhile, most of the justices seem skeptical of the arguments against Trump. Here's Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

[00:01:43]

Some of the rhetoric of your position seems to suggest unless the states can do this, no one can prevent insurrectionists from holding federal office. But obviously, Congress has enacted statutes, including one still in effect, Section 23 83 of Title 18 prohibits insurrection. It's a federal criminal statute. And if you're convicted of that, you are, it says, Shall be disqualified from holding any office. And so there is a federal statute on the books, but President Trump has not been charged with that. So what are we to make of that?

[00:02:20]

The Supreme Court is hearing this case on an expedited schedule that will likely have a ruling within weeks. Colorado is one of several states that has a primary set on Super Tuesday on March A bill that would send billions in aid to key US allies passed a procedural hurdle in the Senate Thursday, likely setting up several days of debates over foreign aid.

[00:02:39]

The move is surprising, considering that much of the Senate GOP had held off on approving funds for Ukraine, insisting that border reform be attached to it. This came after Majority Leader Chuck Schumer forced a vote on the $118 billion Bipartisan Border and National Security Bill, which included funding for both Israel and Ukraine. The Majority Leader changed his vote last second as part of a strategic move that will allow him to raise the measure again. The bill that moved forward today was part of a package that includes $60 billion in aid for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel.

[00:03:12]

Another day of negotiation between Israel and Hamas got underway today in Egypt. The talks over a potential hostage release deal come after Israel's Prime Minister rejected Hamas's demand for a permanent ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israel has stepped up its presence in Rafeh, which Benjamin Netanyahu who called the last bastion of Hamas in Southern Gaza. Us Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, was in the Middle East this week in hopes of helping to secure a deal, but returned home without one. Here's Blinken saying there's still hope for an agreement.

[00:03:43]

We see in what was sent back, space to continue to pursue an agreement. These things are always negotiations. It's not flipping a light switch. It's not yes or no. There's invariably back and forth. As I said, we see the space for that. Given the imperative, given the importance that we all attach to bringing the hostages home.

[00:04:10]

Five marines aboard a military helicopter that went down near San Diego were confirmed dead. Military officials say the Super Stalion Chopper went missing Tuesday night while returning from training at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. The commanding officer above the fallen Marines said in a statement, It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that I share the loss of five outstanding Marines from 3D Marine aircraft wing and the Flying Tigres. The names of the Marines were not immediately released.

[00:04:40]

Vladimir Zelenskyy has replaced Ukraine's top general. The dramatic shakeup, BBC News reports, follows days of speculation and months of reported tension between the two over strategy. It also comes as Ukraine's counteroffensive has faltered and its ally's support has begun to waver. Zelenskyy announced the change in a Telegram post Thursday, cite the need for urgent changes in approach and strategy.

[00:05:05]

European Union lawmakers are calling for a travel ban on Tucker Carlson over his interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The calls for sanctions against Wilson come after he posted a video on X on Tuesday announcing he was in Moscow to interview Putin.

[00:05:21]

Not a single Western journalist has bothered to interview the President of the other country involved in this conflict, Vladimir Putin. Most Americans have idea why Putin invaded Ukraine or what his goals are now. They've never heard his voice. That's wrong. Americans have a right to know all they can about a war they're implicated in. We have the right to tell them about it because we are Americans, too. Freedom of speech is our birthright.

[00:05:47]

Carlson's sit down with the Russian President, which is set to air this evening, is the first time Putin agreed to speak with a Western newsperson since Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago. Former Prime Minister of Belgium and current European Parliament member, Guy Verhofstadt, said that EU should consider a travel ban on the host for serving as a mouthpiece for Putin.

[00:06:07]

The family of a nine-year-old boy who was accused by dead spin of wearing blackface to an NFL game is now suing the leaning outlets. Daily Wire reporter, Zack Juhl has more.

[00:06:18]

Deadspin published an article in November falsely framing a nine-year-old boy for wearing blackface during a Kansas City Chiefs game. The author of the article, Karen J. Phillips, included a photo of the kid that only showed one side his face, which was painted black. But other photos show that the boy had painted his face half black and half red and wore an American Indian headdress in support of his team. Phillips went on to accuse the nine-year-old of hating Black people and the Native Americans at the same time. The boy's parents filed a lawsuit this week against Deadspin and parent company GeoMedia for maliciously and wantonly attacking their son. They say the boy has faced alarming death threats, and the family has even considered moving over the backlash from Deadspin's false allegations.

[00:06:58]

All right, those are your drive home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire. Com. For more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of MorningWire every morning.