--:-- Georgia Howe: This episode is brought to you by Balance of Nature. Go 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: I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley. It's Wednesday, December 11th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.
--:-- John Bickley: South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace is doubling down on her stance against men in women's spaces after allegedly being attacked last night on Capitol grounds. Daily Wire senior reporter Mary Margaret Olihan reports.
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: Capitol Police told us Tuesday night that they've arrested 33-year-old James McIntyre of Illinois, who's now facing assault charges. Mace, who's been vocal in her fight to prevent trans-identifying men from using women's spaces, says she was attacked over her stance on the issue. And undeterred by the incident, the congresswoman reaffirmed her commitment to advocating for women's safety, saying, "Your threats will not stop my fight for women."
--:-- John Bickley: The incident comes weeks after Mace put forward a resolution banning men from women's facilities in Congress, and she later upped the ante and introduced legislation to include all federal property.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: According to plans detailed in a spiral notebook, Luigi Mangione had at one point considered using a bomb to kill UnitedHealthcare's CEO, Brian Thompson. Police say the notebook indicates that Mangione considered a bombing before deciding on a targeted shooting over concerns about injuring other people. Mangione is also said to have written a manifesto expressing disdain for health insurance companies and corporate greed.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: A 26-year-old who was arrested in Pennsylvania after a five-day manhunt faces murder charges in New York and is reportedly fighting extradition from Pennsylvania. Mangione's lawyer maintains that he's yet to see any evidence linking his client to the crime. Here he is on ABC this morning.
--:-- [Audio clip of Mangione's lawyer]
--:-- Cabot Phillips: There was one document, an arrest warrant from the state of New York, which merely referenced the statute. We see no evidence. That one of the many reasons why we're challenging the extradition at this point, so we can see some evidence and get a little more detailed information about the charges against Luigi.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Hannah Kobayashi's family says Hannah has been found safe. According to the Daily Mail, Kobayashi reached out to family today and told them she's fine, although her whereabouts have not been reported and it's unclear if her family has physically seen her. Kobayashi disappeared from LAX on November 8th after failing to make her connecting flight to New York. The 31-year-old woman was later seen on surveillance footage crossing into Mexico on foot in Tijuana. Kobayashi's father flew to Los Angeles after her disappearance and spent 13 days searching for her and ultimately committed suicide on November 24th. Kobayashi's disappearance is believed to be connected with a green card marriage scam.
--:-- Amanda Prestigiacomo: Recently acquitted Marine veteran Daniel Penny says he has no regrets. Daily Wire reporter Amanda Prestigiacomo breaks down what comes next. Penny was on trial facing charges that stemmed from the death of Jordan Neely, but a New York jury found him not guilty. The veteran says he'd do it all again if it meant preventing harm to others. Here he is on Fox News.
--:-- [Audio clip of Daniel Penny]
--:-- Amanda Prestigiacomo: I'll take a million court appearances and people calling me names and people hating me just to keep one of those people from getting hurt or killed. While the not guilty verdict can certainly allow Penny to breathe a sigh of relief, his legal battles aren't over yet. Mealy's father has filed a civil lawsuit against him, and legal experts say this suit could present a new set of issues for Penny.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The legal team representing Ryan Ruth, who allegedly attempted to assassinate Donald Trump, is considering an insanity defense. His legal team claims that mental health professionals have found evidence of his instability, with witnesses describing Ruth as hallucinating and delusional before his arrest. Ruth allegedly waited over 12 hours with a rifle on Trump International Golf Course grounds before being confronted by a Secret Service agent. His trial is set for February of 2025, though his attorneys are seeking a delay until December of 2025 due to the volume of evidence still under review.
--:-- Georgia Howe: New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew says the mystery drones flying over New Jersey are coming from an Iran-operated mothership stationed off the East Coast. Here's Van Drew on Fox News.
--:-- [Audio clip of Jeff Van Drew]
--:-- Jeff Van Drew: I know that Iran made a deal with China to purchase drones, motherships, and technology in order to go forward. The sources I have are good. The drones have been spotted near military sites, power plants, and Trump's golf club. Meanwhile, the FBI testified it has no answers regarding the sightings. Congressman Van Drew argues that the drones should be shot down.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Secretary of State Antony Blinken faced grilling from the House Foreign Affairs Committee today regarding Afghanistan. Blinken's opening statement was interrupted more than once, both times by anti-Israel protesters.
--:-- [Audio clip of Antony Blinken]
--:-- Georgia Howe: I think we've done good and important things together. Remind the audience members, disruption of committee proceedings is against the law. The hearing was the result of three years of investigations addressing the botched Afghanistan withdrawal that left 13 U.S. service members dead. Lawmakers have demanded answers on the withdrawal execution. Democrats defended Blinken, claiming that the pullout was necessary and argued that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was not influenced by it. Republicans disagree.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Here's Representative Brian Mast ripping the secretary over the billions sent to the country since the withdrawal.
--:-- [Audio clip of Brian Mast]
--:-- Brian Mast: We are giving $280 million to the United Nations to do cash transfers for food in Afghanistan. Yet we're not sending an ear of corn from Iowa, a sack of potatoes from Idaho, or a cucumber or an orange from Florida. And that discounts the fact that there's no American tonnage going through our ports to send those things out of here either. It's just cash transfers. By the numbers, we've spent $9 billion to resettle 90,000 roughly Afghan refugees here since the fall of Afghanistan. State. My simple army math tells me that's about $100,000 a person. That's absurd.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Inflation in the U.S. edged higher in November. The consumer price index rose 0.3% for the month and 2.7% year over year. Housing costs contributed heavily to the increase, accounting for nearly 40% of the rise, while food also became more costly. Despite the uptick, core inflation, which excludes food and energy, remained steady at 3.3% annually. Even though inflation continues to be stubborn, the Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates again by 25 basis points at its meeting next week.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And a new poll finds that two in 10 Americans approve of President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son, despite earlier promises not to do so. The pardon granted after Hunter faced gun and tax charges has sparked bipartisan criticism, with many Americans, especially Republicans and Independents, disapproving of the move.
--:-- Georgia Howe: All right, those are your drive home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com. And for more in-depth reporting on the biggest stories of the day, tune into our full episode of Morning Wire every morning.
--:-- Georgia Howe: This episode is brought to you by Z-Biotics. Take Z-Biotics pre-alcohol before your first drink, enjoy your evening, and wake up ready for whatever tomorrow may bring. Head over to Z-B-I-O-T-I-C-S dot com slash wire today.
