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--:-- John Bickley: Welcome to Morning Wire. I'm John Bickley, editor-in-chief of The Daily Wire, and I'm here with my co-host Georgia Howe.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Thanks for joining us, John.
--:-- John Bickley: Today, we're going to cover the latest developments in the SoCal fires, the Biden administration's latest move on immigration, and a new documentary that's exposing the harsh reality of so-called "gender-affirming" care.
--:-- John Bickley: First up, the fires in SoCal continue to burn out of control. The death toll is rising, and officials are pointing fingers at each other. Let's go to our senior editor, Cabot Phillips, for the latest.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Thanks, John. The situation is dire. Three of the six main fires are still raging, and they've destroyed over 40,000 acres and 12,000 structures. The death toll stands at 24, but the LAPD is reporting dozens of missing person cases, so the final count could be much higher.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's devastating. What's the latest on the containment efforts?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Well, the largest blaze, the Palisades Fire, is only 11% contained, and the Eaton Fire is at 27%. Meteorologists are warning of strong Santa Ana winds returning on Tuesday, which could make the situation even worse.
--:-- John Bickley: And there are reports of looting in the area?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Yes, unfortunately. The LAPD is making dozens of arrests related to looting, and there are videos circulating of organized gangs of burglars posing as residents.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's just heartbreaking. What about the budget cuts to the L.A. Fire Department?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Well, last year, the city made $17 million in cuts to the fire department's budget, which was the second-largest cut of any department. The fire chief has come out saying that those cuts have severely limited their ability to prepare for and respond to emergencies.
--:-- John Bickley: And now, President Trump is weighing in on the situation.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Yes, he's issued a statement on Truth Social, saying that the fires are still raging in LA, and the incompetent officials have no idea how to put them out.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's a pretty strong statement.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Yeah, it's clear that he's frustrated with the situation.
--:-- John Bickley: Thanks, Cabot, for the update.
--:-- John Bickley: Next up, the Biden administration has made it harder for Trump to deport immigrants. Our reporter, Tim Pierce, is here to explain.
--:-- Tim Pierce: Thanks, John. The Biden administration has extended the temporary protected status for immigrants from El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine, and Venezuela. This means that nearly 900,000 people will be shielded from deportation for the first year and a half of Trump's administration.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's a significant move. How will this impact Trump's agenda?
--:-- Tim Pierce: Well, Trump and Vance have been critical of the temporary protected status program and want to drastically reduce it or phase it out. But with this extension, it's going to be harder for them to make that happen.
--:-- John Bickley: And what about the concerns that this will allow gang members to stay in the country?
--:-- Tim Pierce: The Biden administration says that anyone who doesn't qualify for asylum can't qualify for TPS, including those with serious criminal backgrounds or national security threats.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's reassuring.
--:-- Tim Pierce: Yeah, but as we've seen, officials often have trouble identifying and catching these individuals.
--:-- John Bickley: Thanks, Tim, for the update.
--:-- John Bickley: Now, a new documentary from TPUSA and The Daily Wire is exposing the harsh reality of so-called "gender-affirming" care. Our culture reporter, Megan Basham, is here to tell us more.
--:-- Megan Basham: Thanks, John. The documentary, Identity Crisis, scrutinizes how gender ideology has impacted ordinary Americans and their families. We're seeing a rapid sea change in public opinion, particularly as it relates to children.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's right. Only a couple of years ago, it was an expanding field within the medical establishment. But since then, 25 states have moved to outlaw these practices.
--:-- Megan Basham: Yes, and it's not just about the medical procedures. We're also seeing parents speaking out about how gender ideology has created havoc and pain in their lives.
--:-- John Bickley: That's heartbreaking. What's driving this shift in public opinion?
--:-- Megan Basham: Well, it's a combination of factors, but one of the biggest is that enough time has now passed that a lot of those kids who were given puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, surgeries, all of those things to ostensibly change their gender, well, they've now grown up and they're telling stories of regret and they're sounding the alarm about the long-term and irreversible harms of transgender procedures.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's a powerful message.
--:-- Megan Basham: Yes, and it's not just about the kids. We're also seeing family members speaking out about how this issue has created havoc and pain in their lives.
--:-- John Bickley: Thanks, Megan, for the update.
--:-- John Bickley: And finally, a word from our sponsor, Shopify. If you're an entrepreneur looking to start or grow your business, Shopify is the perfect platform for you. Go to Shopify.com/morningwire to start selling today.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And don't forget to use code DAILYWIRE for 20% off your first order or Coffee Club subscription with Black Rifle Coffee.
--:-- John Bickley: Thanks for joining us on Morning Wire. We'll be back with more news and updates tomorrow.
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