--:-- [Upbeat music fades out, and the host, Georgia Howe, speaks]
--:-- Georgia Howe: Why shop at Burlington? Maybe it's the deals that are new each time you drop by. Maybe it's the brand names you'll be shocked Burlington has in store. Or maybe it's the quality of the items, the amazing selection, and the newest trends. If you like to save, but also like to stay in style, Burlington is your answer. And the question you'll be asking yourself is, why go anywhere else? Burlington. Deals. Brands. Wow.
--:-- [Music transitions to a short commercial break]
--:-- Announcer (Old Glory Bank): This episode is brought to you by Old Glory Bank. It's time to put your money where your mouth is when you say America is back. Old Glory Bank supports hardworking Americans, small businesses, and your constitutional rights. No cancel culture, no woke nonsense. Head to oldglorybank.com slash wire and be part of something bigger. Again, that's oldglorybank.com slash wire.
--:-- [Music transitions back to the show]
--:-- Georgia Howe: The EU and Canada move to counter Trump's tariffs. Russia strikes Zelensky's hometown hours after Ukraine agrees to a ceasefire and Greenland elects new leadership. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire editor-in-chief John Bickley. It's Wednesday, March 12th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.
--:-- John Bickley: Both Canada and the EU will impose their own counter-tariffs in response to Trump's recent 25% steel and aluminum tariffs. Daily Wire deputy managing editor Tim Rice has more.
--:-- Tim Rice: Canadian Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc says their 25% countertariffs, which take effect tomorrow, will hit nearly $30 billion in U.S. goods, including computers, sports equipment, and cast iron products.
--:-- John Bickley: Earlier in the day, the European Union also imposed countertariffs on the United States, targeting things like textiles, home appliances, agricultural products, and iconic American products like bourbon, peanut butter, and jeans.
--:-- Tim Rice: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the U.S. tariffs disruptive and warned of rising prices and job losses. We firmly believe that in a world fraught with geo and political uncertainties, it is not in our common interest to burden our economies with such tariffs. We're ready to engage in a meaningful dialogue. I have entrusted Trade Commissioner Maros Sefkovic to resume his talks to explore better solutions with the United States.
--:-- John Bickley: As of right now, the EU tariffs are set to take effect April 1st, with additional duties set to hit the U.S. on April 13th. Meanwhile, Britain is holding off on its own tariffs, but says it will continue to press for a deal.
--:-- Amanda Prestigiacomo: A stopgap funding bill now heads to the Senate after narrowly passing the House. The vote landed at 217 to 213, with nearly all Republicans backing the measure. The bill extends government funding through September 30th. And while most Democrats opposed it, Congressman Jared Golden of Maine voted in the affirmation. Meanwhile, Republican Congressman Thomas Massey voted against the measure, setting off a heated feud with President Trump.
--:-- John Bickley: Trump criticized Massey and vowed to lead a primary challenge against him. Massey, who has survived Trump-backed challenges before, said that the threats wouldn't change his vote. Democrats claim the bill threatens health care and veterans benefits, but Speaker Mike Johnson says it contains no cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security. Democrats could still filibuster the bill, potentially triggering a shutdown this weekend.
--:-- John Bickley: Kansas Senator Roger Marshall is reintroducing a bill to ban federal funding for gender transition procedures. The End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act aligns with Trump's executive order and prohibits federal health care providers from offering such treatment. Critics argue that the bill targets transgender individuals while supporters say it protects children from permanent life-altering procedures.
--:-- Roger Marshall: The stopping taxpayer funding of gender experimentation puts into law what President Trump has done in executive order. So we stop all federal funding of transition surgeries as well as transitional hormones. Stopping the VA from doing it, stopping the armed forces from doing it as well, the Department of Defense, let alone the Medicaid folks as well.
--:-- John Bickley: Marshall points to polling data that shows that Americans oppose taxpayer dollars funding gender transitions. The bill has several Republican co-sponsors and support from conservative organizations like Family Research Council and Alliance Defending Freedom.
--:-- John Bickley: Russia launched a deadly missile strike on Ukraine, hitting President Zelensky's hometown just hours after Ukraine agreed to the U.S.-proposed ceasefire. The attack killed a 47-year-old woman and injured at least nine others, damaging apartment buildings, infrastructure, and businesses. Other areas saw overnight strikes as well, wounding many.
--:-- Marco Rubio: The president's objective here is, number one, above everything else, he wants the war to end. And I think today Ukraine has taken a concrete step in that regard. We hope the Russians will reciprocate.
--:-- John Bickley: A state farm executive has been fired after being secretly recorded discussing a rate hike for California homeowners recovering from wildfires. Here's a bit from the video.
--:-- State Farm Executive: We've got like maybe $5 billion that we're short if something happens. We'll go to the Department of Insurance and say, we're overexposed here. You have to let us catch up our radio. And they'll say, because the Department of Insurance and the insurance commissioner is in an elected position. He'll say, nah. And we'll say, okay, then we are going to cancel these laws.
--:-- John Bickley: State Farm confirmed his termination, calling his remarks inaccurate and not reflective of company policy. Now, California insurance commissioner is demanding answers about the rate hike.
--:-- John Bickley: In a surprise political shakeup, Greenland's center-right Democratic Party has won parliamentary elections, unseating the pro-independence party. Leader Yins Frederick Nielsen says the Democratic Party wants economic growth before full independence from Denmark, a stance that comes as President Trump renews U.S. interest in Greenland.
--:-- Yins Frederick Nielsen: Greenland is not for sale.
--:-- John Bickley: Trump recently told Congress, we need Greenland, pledging economic prosperity for the island if it aligns with the U.S. I think we're going to get it. One way or the other, we're going to get it. We will keep you safe. We will make you rich, and together, we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before.
--:-- John Bickley: And border czar Tom Homan confronted New York Democrats in Albany today over their pro-illegal immigration policies.
--:-- Tom Homan: Someone in the country who committed a crime against you and sent in jail. Why not give access to that person? So when you're done with them, we can have them and do our job. Because releasing a public safety threat back in the public is just stupid. Victims and witnesses of crime don't want the bad guy out back out there either.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Those are your drive home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com. And in case you missed it this morning, we covered some big stories, including Wall Street's tariff uncertainty, Ukraine's ceasefire agreement, and New York's mass firing of striking prison guards. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of Morning Wire.
