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--:-- Georgia Howe: Some days call for working up a sweat, working on your passion, and endless action.
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--:-- [Sound effects: A quick tap on a screen]
--:-- Georgia Howe: Tap the banner to learn more.
--:-- John Bickley: This episode is brought to you by Balance of Nature. Get your daily dose of fruits and veggies that you can take anywhere. Head to balanceofnature.com and use promo code WIRE for 35% off your first order as a preferred customer, plus get a free bottle of fiber and spice. That's balanceofnature.com, promo code WIRE.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Trump and Musk push back on critics, tensions escalate between Trump and Zelensky, and violence erupts in Brooklyn. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire editor-in-chief, John Bickley. It's Wednesday, February 19th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.
--:-- John Bickley: Demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today to protest cuts made by the Trump administration. Protests centered on advocating for federal workers and funding for what they say is critical research.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: Democrats like Senator Chris Van Hollen say this has nothing to do with making government more efficient. This has everything to do with taking over the reins of government, to serve the already powerful, and to slash public services that help every American to make more room for tax cuts for Elon Musk.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: That is what this corrupt bargain is all about.
--:-- John Bickley: Meanwhile, last night in an interview with Fox's Sean Hannity, both Trump and Musk hit back against the left's, quote, absurd and politically motivated claims. They say critics are projecting their own wrongdoing onto the administration.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: They saying that things are being done are unconstitutional but what they are doing is unconstitutional They are guilty of the crime of which they accuse us That always the first thing they do It's in violation of the Constitution. They don't even know what they're talking about.
--:-- John Bickley: Well, it's just a con job. It's a big con job. And they're so bad for the country, so dangerous and so bad. And the media is so bad.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: The two also said they'll discuss giving American taxpayers a $5,000 tax refund known as the Doge Dividend.
--:-- John Bickley: President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky continue to be at odds following yesterday's peace negotiations. While speaking to reporters in Kiev this morning, Zelensky accused Trump of being a disinformation space regarding peace talks with Russia.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: This comes after Trump made the following comments yesterday. I hear that, you know, they're upset about not having a seat. Well, they've had a seat for three years and a long time before that.
--:-- John Bickley: This could have been settled very easily. A half-baked negotiator could have settled this years ago without, I think, without the loss of much land, very little land, without the loss of any lives, and without the loss of cities that are just laying on their sides.
--:-- John Bickley: Trump doubled down this morning calling Zelensky a dictator without elections, while accusing him of prolonging the war in order to stay on the gravy train.
--:-- John Bickley: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is suing after the Trump administration effectively slammed the brakes on New York City's congestion pricing plan.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: Daily Wire Deputy Managing Editor Tim Rice has the latest. As was first reported by the New York Post, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the toll a slap in the face to working class Americans and small business owners in a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul today.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: Hours later, the MTA filed a suit to block the administration's move, touting the unpopular program as highly successful.
--:-- John Bickley: The $9 surcharge for drivers entering Manhattan below 60th Street was meant to fund the MTA's $15 billion transit plan, but federal officials argue the program violates highway funding rules and was designed more for revenue generation than traffic reduction Governor Hochul would face a major funding shortfall for transit projects should the toll be axed
--:-- John Bickley: This episode is brought to you by Old Glory Bank. Co-founded in 2022 by Dr. Ben Carson, Larry Elder, and John Rich, Old Glory Bank now serves tens of thousands of customers in all 50 states. Go to oldglorybank.com slash wire today to open your account and put your money in the hands of people you can actually trust.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: At least one person is dead following a midair plane collision at an Arizona regional airport. The National Transportation Safety Board is now investigating.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: Today's incident follows a series of recent air travel disasters, including the deadly collision at Reagan National Airport last month.
--:-- John Bickley: In response, the Trump administration has pledged a nationwide review of air traffic control systems.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: Violence erupted in Brooklyn last night as anti-Israel protesters clashed with counter-protesters in an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: Protesters chanted anti-Israel slogans while counter-protesters waved Israeli and MAGA flags. One person was arrested for assault after allegedly punching a 61-year-old man.
--:-- John Bickley: Authorities say the demonstration, led by the activist group Pal Aouda, lasted nearly four hours. Police are continuing to investigate the incident.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: Lawyers for Sean Diddy Combs are claiming a prostitution charge is racist and are petitioning to have it dropped.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: Daily Wire reporter Amanda Prestigiacomo explains. Attorneys for Combs claim that, quote, No white person has ever been the target of a remotely similar prosecution.
--:-- John Bickley: Among other offenses, Combs is charged with violation of the Mann Act, a 1910 law which criminalizes the transportation of individuals across state lines to engage in prostitution.
--:-- John Bickley: The Mann Act has also been called the White Slave Traffic Act Combs lawyers say that the charge implies racial bias in the prosecution
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: A boy who identifies as a girl won Maine Class B state championship in girls pole vaulting sparking outrage from lawmakers and parents.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: The boy's female division victory gave Greeley High School's team the championship by just one point on Monday.
--:-- John Bickley: This comes just days after the state's Department of Education and Principals Association refused to enforce Trump's ban on males competing in female sports.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: Lawmakers in the state, like Republican State Representative Laurel Libby, are calling for federal intervention.
--:-- John Bickley: The Trump administration will have to cut federal funding to Maine schools in order to motivate the Democrat majority in the legislature and the unelected bureaucrats pushing this agenda to change the policy currently allowing boys to compete in girls' sports in Maine.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: This session, Republican legislators have submitted several bills to protect girls' sports in Maine.
--:-- John Bickley: I invite every legislator to join me in standing up for fairness in girls' sports by passing these bills.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: Actress Cynthia Erivo has been cast as Jesus in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl this summer.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: The decision has sparked controversy online.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: Supporters argue that the rock opera has always featured unconventional casting.
--:-- John Bickley: But critics accuse Hollywood of pushing an agenda
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: After the casting announcement, many took to social media to slam the move.
--:-- John Bickley: Actor Nick Searcy said, Hollywood is just trolling us now.
--:-- John Bickley: The production, set for August, marks the first return of musicals to the Hollywood Bowl since the pandemic.
--:-- [Sound effects: A quick news clip plays in the background]
--:-- John Bickley: Those are your Drive Home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And in case you missed it this morning, we covered some major stories, including the Russia and U.S. reset, the uncertain future of New York City's mayor, and the housing crisis in D.C.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of Morning Wire.
