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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. It's Thursday, July 13th, and we've got a packed show for you today.
--:-- John Bickley: That's right. Let's start with the news. The NFL is back, and FanDuel's got everything you need to play your game. From same-game parlays to live betting. Right now, new customers bet $5 and get $300 in bonus bets if you win. 21-plus in president select states. 18-plus in Kentucky and Wyoming. Must be first online real money waging. $5 deposit required. Bonus issued is non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire seven days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See full terms at FanDuel.com slash sportsbook. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Thanks for the reminder, John. Now, let's move on to the big story of the day. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before Congress yesterday, and it was a doozy.
--:-- John Bickley: That's right. Georgia, can you tell us more about what happened?
--:-- Georgia Howe: Sure thing, John. So, Wray testified before the House Judiciary Committee, and it was a heated exchange. Members of the GOP grilled him on a number of issues, including the FBI's handling of the January 6th riot and the agency's use of FISA warrants.
--:-- John Bickley: And what did Wray have to say for himself?
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, he was evasive on many of the topics, saying he couldn't comment on specific personnel matters or ongoing investigations. But one thing's for sure: the American people are demanding answers, and Wray's testimony didn't exactly provide them.
--:-- John Bickley: That's right. And speaking of demanding answers, we spoke with Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson, who sits on the House Judiciary Committee.
--:-- Mike Johnson: I would give him a grade of a D minus. I think he was evasive. I think the people that we all represent are demanding answers. They're demanding accountability. And the leader of the most powerful law enforcement agency in America came to us unprepared or unwilling today to answer those important questions.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Thanks, Congressman Johnson, for sharing your thoughts with us.
--:-- John Bickley: Now, let's move on to another big story. President Biden addressed the NATO summit yesterday, reaffirming Western support for Ukraine.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's right, John. And it's a crucial moment for the war-torn country. Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips joins us now to break it down.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Thanks, Georgia. So, this week, leaders from NATO's 31 member states convened in Lithuania for a crucial summit where talks were dominated by the war in Ukraine. On Wednesday, President Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before addressing the summit, urging them to double down on their efforts to support Ukraine as the war enters its 18th month.
--:-- John Bickley: And what about Ukraine's potential membership in NATO, Cabot?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Well, that's the big question. Throughout the last year and a half, Zelensky has been adamant that if the West was serious about defeating Putin, they must allow his country into the alliance. But with the exception of a few Eastern European countries and Turkey, there's been little support for admitting Ukraine more broadly.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And why is that, Cabot?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Well, the main reason for keeping them out is the very real fear of World War III. Under NATO rules, an attack on any member state triggers an automatic military response from every other country in the alliance, meaning the US and the majority of Europe would be at war with Russia essentially overnight.
--:-- John Bickley: That's a sobering reality, Cabot. Thanks for breaking it down for us.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Now, let's move on to another story that's been making headlines. The new film "Sound of Freedom" has been dominating at the box office, surprising even the film's producers with its massive success.
--:-- John Bickley: That's right, Georgia. And it's not just the box office numbers that are impressive. The film's message is resonating with audiences, who are eager to see a story about the fight against human trafficking.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's right, John. And Daily Wire culture reporter Megan Basham joins us now to tell us more about the controversy surrounding the film.
--:-- Megan Basham: Thanks, Georgia. So, the film is based on the true story of Tim Ballard, a former Homeland Security agent who quit his job to rescue children being trafficked for sex. Working with the Colombian government, he and his team set up an operation that rescued 120 young victims.
--:-- John Bickley: And what's the controversy surrounding the film, Megan?
--:-- Megan Basham: Well, some left-leaning critics are accusing the film of inciting a moral panic and catering to QAnon conspiracy theorists. But Ballard's organization, Operation Underground Railroad, has been denouncing conspiracy theories for a few years now.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Thanks, Megan, for breaking it down for us.
--:-- John Bickley: Now, let's move on to some other news. An attorney for Ray Epps says that his client has been informed by federal officials that they intend to charge Epps in connection with the events of January 6th.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's right, John. And many have alleged that Epps was an undercover federal agent who instigated some of the events of the J6 riot.
--:-- John Bickley: And what about the rate of inflation, Georgia?
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, the rate of inflation dropped to 3% in July, the lowest number in two years. But food, energy, and gasoline prices remained high.
--:-- John Bickley: Thanks for keeping us up to date, Georgia.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Thanks, John.
--:-- John Bickley: And that's a wrap for today's show. Thanks for joining us on Morning Wire.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Don't forget to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast for more news and analysis.
--:-- John Bickley: And if you want to support our show, you can visit our website and become a Daily Wire member.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Thanks for listening, and we'll see you tomorrow.
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