--:-- [Upbeat music fades out, and the host, Georgia Howe, speaks]
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--:-- [Music transitions to a new segment]
--:-- Georgia Howe: This episode is brought to you by Balance of Nature. Go to balanceofnature.com and use promo code WIRE for 35% off, plus get a free fiber and spice supplement in your first order as a preferred customer. That's balanceofnature.com, promo code WIRE.
--:-- Georgia Howe: I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley. It's Friday, March 1st, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.
--:-- John Bickley: That's right, Georgia. Let's get started.
--:-- Georgia Howe: A judge has held former CBS reporter Catherine Herridge in contempt of civil court for refusing to reveal her sources. Herridge had produced a series of reports about a Chinese scientist who was working at a U.S. university and was under investigation by the FBI. A U.S. district judge imposed a fine of $800 per day, nearly $300,000 per year, until Herridge reveals her sources.
--:-- John Bickley: That's right, Georgia. Catherine Herridge was recently laid off from her job as a reporter at CBS News. Some CBS insiders told Jonathan Turley she had run into internal roadblocks at the network for her reporting on Hunter Biden.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Thousands of people lined the streets of Moscow this morning, defying the Kremlin, in order to catch a glimpse of the casket of Putin critic Alexei Navalny. Navalny died last month in a remote prison where he was serving a 19-year sentence for corruption and terrorism. Many blame his death on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
--:-- John Bickley: As Navalny's casket made its way from the church of the icon of the Mother of God to the cemetery where his body will rest, thousands came out to show their support and chant his name. Russian state media reported a significant police presence, but there were no disruptions or violence reported.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The FBI has arrested Blaze News investigative reporter Steve Baker for his actions while reporting on January 6th. As an independent journalist, Baker entered the Capitol that day, but says he did not take part in the protests.
--:-- John Bickley: Baker turned himself in at the Dallas FBI field office. Video shows him being handcuffed and perp-walked by authorities. He's been charged with four nonviolent misdemeanors, including knowingly entering a restricted building and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a Capitol building.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The charging documents highlight Baker expressing sympathy for the rioters' actions. Baker spoke to Glenn Beck in advance of his arrest. This is the first time in history since January 6th that the FBI is even involving themselves in misdemeanor offenses and with misdemeanor defendants. And swatting misdemeanor defendants with sometimes 15, 20, 25 agents.
--:-- John Bickley: The FBI has never done that in their history until ordered to do so by Merrick Garland's DOJ after January 6th. So fast forward to this. Why are they doing that? My attorney told me, I said, why are they doing this to me? He said, you know why? He said, you've been poking them in the eye for three years. This is retribution.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Meanwhile, Representative Barry Loudermilk says Speaker Johnson has approved the release of 5,000 hours of January 6 footage on Rumble later today. You know, anticipating some technical issues or whatever, we're looking at maybe eight weeks. We should have all 40 hours up.
--:-- John Bickley: The prioritization of which videos we decided to do first is partially because of what Steve is going through because that is important to get those angles and those things out because we see the direction that certain people are going and what they're trying to cover up.
--:-- Georgia Howe: A federal judge has blocked a Texas law that would allow police to arrest people they suspect of having entered the country illegally. This is another instance of the federal government stopping Governor Greg Abbott's efforts to combat illegal immigration.
--:-- John Bickley: U.S. District Judge David Ezra blocked the law, which was set to take effect March 5th, saying it conflicts with federal immigration law. This is the second ruling by Judge Ezra against Texas. He also ruled against floating barriers in the Rio Grande.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The Texas Attorney General immediately appealed the ruling.
--:-- John Bickley: This episode is brought to you by Ramp. Get $250 when you join Ramp. Just go to ramp.com slash wire. That's ramp.com slash wire today.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit against Planned Parenthood on Thursday. Here's Daily Wire reporter Amanda Prestigiacomo.
--:-- Amanda Prestigiacomo: A.G. Bailey's lawsuit claims Planned Parenthood trafficked minors out of state in order to obtain abortions without their parents' consent. Bailey wrote on social media, quote, This lawsuit is the culmination of a multi-year campaign to drive Planned Parenthood from the state of Missouri because of its flagrant and intentional refusal to comply with state law.
--:-- John Bickley: I'm calling upon policymakers at all level of state government to use any tools necessary to permanently defund Planned Parenthood. That's why investigative journalism is so important. to give policymakers the necessary information upon which to set policy, and to give law enforcement agencies the necessary information to hold wrongdoers accountable.
--:-- Amanda Prestigiacomo: The lawsuit relies on hidden camera video provided by Project Veritas that shows a Planned Parenthood employee admitting they transport girls to Kansas for abortions during school hours.
--:-- John Bickley: A Planned Parenthood spokesperson claims the video has been heavily doctored and edited.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Independent third party group No Labels say they will meet after Super Tuesday to decide whether or not to launch a unity party presidential candidate. No Labels chief strategist Ryan Clancy said 800 delegates from all 50 states will meet on March 8th to discuss the path forward.
--:-- John Bickley: Democrats have criticized and even sued the group, saying their efforts will hurt President Biden's reelection chances. But Morning Wire spoke to No Labels National Director Joe Cunningham earlier this year, who disputed that accusation.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Week by week, we're securing ballot access in various states, pushing back against partisan-driven complaints or litigation, and we're winning. It's not just no labels that's winning. It's the American people that are winning because we've never seen the type of numbers that we're seeing right now with the appetite for another option besides this Biden-Trump rematch.
--:-- John Bickley: Oprah Winfrey is giving up her seat on the board of Weight Watchers. The media powerhouse holds the largest individual stock share in the weight loss company and has held a board seat for nine years.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Winfrey plans to donate her shares to the National Museum of African-American History and culture. Last December, Winfrey admitted she too had joined the Ozempic craze and was using a prescription weight loss drug, though she did not disclose which brand she uses.
--:-- John Bickley: Weight Watchers itself has also entered the prescription drug market, offering subscription programs for those using the drugs. Weight Watchers International stock price dropped on the news of Winfrey's exit.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Those are your drive home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.
