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--:-- Georgia Howe: I'm Georgia Howe. It's Thursday, July 18th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The White House announced last night that President Biden has tested positive for COVID-19. He will self-isolate at his beach house in Delaware and continue to carry out his presidential responsibilities. Though Biden only has mild symptoms, the diagnosis is a tough blow to his effort to hold on to the nomination as the Democratic candidate for president. Though the Biden campaign is adamant that he will be the nominee, Biden has said he will step aside if diagnosed with some medical condition.
--:-- Georgia Howe: According to Axios, many top Democrats believe Biden will step aside.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Gold star families took to the stage at the RNC last night to say the names of their loved ones who were killed in the Afghanistan withdrawal. Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce has more.
--:-- Tim Pierce: Joe Biden came under fire last month for saying this in his debate against Donald Trump The truth is I the only president this century that don have any this decade that don have any troops dying anywhere in the world
--:-- Tim Pierce: 13 U.S. service members died in Afghanistan during Biden's disastrous withdrawal three years ago. Last night, families of two of those fallen service members voiced their frustrations at the Republican National Convention.
--:-- Tim Pierce: Our son, Corporal Hunter Lopez, whose name Joe Biden, has refused to say out loud, was killed on August 26, 2021. Lopez's father, Herman, read aloud the names of all 13 service members who died during the Afghanistan withdrawal, receiving thunderous applause after each one.
--:-- Tim Pierce: Christy Shamlin, a gold star mother-in-law, drew a sharp comparison between President Biden and former President Trump. While Joe Biden has refused to recognize their sacrifice, Donald Trump knew all of our children's names. He knew their stories and he spoke to us in a way that made us feel understood.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Morning Wire spoke with Gold Star Aunt Cheryl Jules this morning at the RNC, and she really underscored what the moment meant for these families.
--:-- Cheryl Jules: For the last three years, we've been basically ignored by this administration. And, just having these kids remembered, saying their names, it was important to us. And having this opportunity, it meant everything.
--:-- Cheryl Jules: The crowd was so receptive and made us feel so warm and welcome. And, when they were chanting, never forget, it meant so much to us.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The Biden administration announced today that it's canceling billion more in student debt
--:-- Georgia Howe: Here to discuss is Daily Wire senior editor Joel Needler
--:-- Joel Needler: The latest round in Biden student debt cancellations will reportedly forgive 35 borrowers who work in public service professions such as firefighters and teachers. The Department of Education has now waived almost 170 billion dollars for 4.8 million Americans, this despite a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that found Biden's original student bailout plan unconstitutional.
--:-- Joel Needler: Since then, relief programs have targeted specific borrowers. For example, this round only applies to people with a limited public service loan forgiveness waiver from 2022. However, the Biden administration said it's still planning to relaunch the original broad-based program.
--:-- Georgia Howe: This episode is brought to you by Good Ranchers. Subscribe to any box on GoodRanchers.com to save up to $150 on their 100% American Meat subscription service.
--:-- Georgia Howe: A former CIA analyst has been charged with secretly working as a foreign agent.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The indictment alleges Sue Mi Terry began to provide South Korean intelligence officers with access, information, and advocacy in 2013, a few years after she left the CIA. In return, Terry allegedly received luxury handbags, expensive meals, and thousands of dollars.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The FBI said, quote, this arrest sends a clear message. The FBI will pursue and arrest anyone who endangers our nation's security by collaborating with foreign spies.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The indictment mirrors U.S. Senator Robert Menendez's conviction this week, where he was found guilty in a bribery scheme.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Despite that conviction, New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez continues to refute reports that he has agreed to step down
--:-- Georgia Howe: Here with the details is Daily Wire contributor Matthew Sinofsky
--:-- Matthew Sinofsky: Menendez was convicted Tuesday of 16 felony counts related to a bribery scheme where he quote, sold out his office to foreign and domestic partners alike. But that doesn't immediately disqualify him from the Senate.
--:-- Matthew Sinofsky: Though he stepped down as chair of the Foreign Relations Committee when he was first charged, Menendez has resisted calls for him to resign entirely since the start of his trial. He could be forced out, but it would require a two-thirds vote in the Senate.
--:-- Matthew Sinofsky: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and fellow New Jersey Senator Cory Booker have both called for Menendez to resign, among other Democrats. Menendez will be sentenced on October 29th, but plans to appeal.
--:-- Georgia Howe: After a long-awaited, week-long meeting, Chinese officials announced few changes to the communist nation's sagging economy.
--:-- Georgia Howe: In a rare move, leaders did acknowledge the country's economic threats, but didn't signal any major overhauls to the government's financial direction. Instead, they reaffirmed their dedication to a state-controlled market and made calls to persist amid growing unease among Chinese citizens and foreign investors.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And historic agriculture company John Deere announced it will discontinue its diversity initiatives.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The world's largest seller of farm equipment said it will not include socially motivated messages in its training or participate in social or cultural awareness parades, festivals, or events.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The move comes in the wake of fellow rural retailer Tractor Supply also retreating from DEI goals. Both companies cited customer feedback for their decisions.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Those are your drive home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.
