--:-- Georgia Howe: I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire editor-in-chief John Bickley. It's Tuesday, December 24th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.
--:-- John Bickley: The Biden administration has lifted a bounty on the rebel leader that overthrew Bashar al-Assad in Syria earlier this month.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce has more. The decision follows Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's leader, Ahmed al-Sharah's, agreement to prevent terrorism groups in Syria from threatening the U.S. or its neighbors.
--:-- Tim Pierce: HTS, which was once linked to al-Qaeda, now controls much of Syria and is attempting to distance itself from its extremist roots.
--:-- Georgia Howe: U.S. officials described their first meeting with al-Sharah as productive, but stressed the focus will remain on actions over promises.
--:-- Tim Pierce: Meanwhile, the U.S. has ramped up its military presence in Syria to counter ISIS threats amid the ongoing upheaval.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Theft and certain drug offenses can once again land you on the naughty list in California.
--:-- Tim Pierce: As of last week, the Golden State's Proposition 36 took effect.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The measure, approved by 69% of voters in November, makes retail thefts under $950 and drug possessions, including meth and fentanyl, felonies again, with convictions for these offenses up to three years in prison.
--:-- [Sound effect: A clip from Seal Beach PD's Instagram video]
--:-- Georgia Howe: Seal Beach PD posted a now viral Instagram video of two thieves dejectedly discussing the new laws in the back of a cruiser.
--:-- Tim Pierce: Critics like Governor Gavin Newsom say such laws disproportionately harm minority communities.
--:-- Georgia Howe: While supporters say it brings back accountability for repeat offenders.
--:-- Nathan Hockman: Too often, criminals understood that they could steal over and over and over again, and little to nothing would happen. That accountability starts today with Proposition 36.
--:-- Georgia Howe: A seven-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being struck by a drone during a Christmas show in Orlando, Florida.
--:-- Tim Pierce: According to his mother, the blade cut his mouth, and there was an imprint of the drone on his chest from the collision.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The blow to the chest was so substantial that the child had to be rushed into open-heart surgery. He also suffered electrocution.
--:-- Tim Pierce: Alexander, whose last name was not released, is expected to recover.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Actress Blake Lively has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni.
--:-- Megan Basham: Daily Wire reporter Megan Basham breaks down the controversy.
--:-- Blake Lively: According to Lively, Valdani sexually harassed her on set and engaged in what she describes as a coordinated effort to destroy her reputation.
--:-- Megan Basham: Lively received an avalanche of bad press while promoting the film, which is about domestic violence, for her tone in interviews, as well as for a viral moment in which Lively snapped back at an interviewer for acknowledging her pregnancy bump.
--:-- Blake Lively: First of all, congrats on your little bump. Congrats on your little bump. What about my bump?
--:-- Megan Basham: The moment was so uncomfortable for the interviewer, who herself was not pregnant, despite Lively's insinuation that she had a bump, that she says she wanted to quit her job.
--:-- Brian Friedman: Baldani's lawyer, Brian Friedman, defended his client, telling the Post, It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldani.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan announced plans to merge in 2026, with formal talks approved by their boards and Japan's government backing the move.
--:-- Tim Pierce: The automakers aim to finalize the deal by mid-2026, creating a joint holding company to combine operations.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Honda CEO said the merger builds on successful collaborations while Nissan hopes to boost profitability and recover market share.
--:-- Tim Pierce: The move underscores Japan's effort to maintain leadership in car manufacturing amid rising competition from China.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And Denzel Washington is now officially a Christian minister.
--:-- Tim Pierce: The actor was baptized and presented with a minister license at Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ, located in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City on Saturday in a live-streamed ceremony.
--:-- Georgia Howe: We baptize you, my brother, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
--:-- Tim Pierce: The 69-year-old two-time Oscar winner called the step a bucket list item, adding, quote, if God can do this for me, there's nothing he can't do for you. The sky is literally the limit.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Before you go, we just wanted to give you a quick reminder about our schedule as we head into Christmas in the new year.
--:-- Tim Pierce: Over the next two weeks, we'll be taking a break from our regular schedule to switch things up a bit.
--:-- Georgia Howe: But don't worry, we will be providing new content every single day in the form of excellent interviews and special episodes.
--:-- Tim Pierce: So keep tuning in. Of course, in the event of any major news, we won't hesitate to drop an extra episode.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's all the time we've got this afternoon. Tune in tomorrow for our special Christmas message.
--:-- John Bickley: And that's a wrap for today's Morning Wire. Thanks for listening.
