--:-- Georgia Howe: I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire editor-in-chief John Bickley. It's Monday, October 24th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.
--:-- John Bickley: In a press conference this afternoon, the Justice Department unsealed charges against 13 Chinese nationals who allegedly tried to unlawfully exert influence in the United States on behalf of the CCP.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The State Department is under scrutiny for awarding grants to Ecuador for the purpose of hosting drag shows. The department defended the use of taxpayer funds, totaling approximately $20,000, saying the events promote diversity and help LGBT persons in Latin America express themselves freely and safely.
--:-- John Bickley: U.S. military forces have deployed thousands of troops from the Army's elite 101st Airborne Division to Europe for the first time since World War II, vowing to fight alongside Ukrainian troops in the war against Russia. According to Colonel Edward Mathedas, commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, the soldiers stand ready at a moment's notice.
--:-- Colonel Edward Mathedas: The real meaning for me to have the American troops here is like if you were to have allies in Normandy before any enemy was there.
--:-- John Bickley: In other international news, British lawmaker Rishi Sunak will succeed Liz Truss as the nation's prime minister after his last rival dropped out of the Conservative Party contest early Monday morning. Sunak, who formerly served as finance minister under Boris Johnson, will be the country's first non-white prime minister. His parents are of Punjabi Indian descent.
--:-- Rishi Sunak: I pledge that I will serve you with integrity and humility, and I will work day in, day out to deliver for the British people.
--:-- Georgia Howe: In a pre-interview with a number of progressive activists at the White House, President Biden weighed in on the debate over sex change surgeries.
--:-- Joe Biden: Do you think states should have a right to ban gender health care? I don't think any state or anybody should have the right to do that. As a moral question and as a legal question, I just think it's wrong.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The New York City Health Department announced that it will now refer to monkeypox as MPV. The department says the term monkeypox is inaccurate and stigmatizing. Two people have died so far from the disease in New York City since the global outbreak began earlier this year.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Violence continues in Chicago as more than 50 people were shot over the weekend, resulting in 10 deaths. As Fox News reports, the victims included a 14-year-old boy on a playground, as well as three men with gang affiliations killed at a drag racing incident that involved nearly 100 cars.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Authorities pleaded with members of the public to recognize the seriousness of such events. We have to remind the public this is not a game. This is not just fun and games on the street. We are seeing gangs and criminality join into the drifting and drag racing, as you just heard, led to bloodshed on the streets of Brighton Park.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday officially called for the resignation of Los Angeles City Council members Kevin DeLeon and Gil Cedillo. Following the leaked audio published earlier this month where both members participated in a closed-door redistricting meeting where racist comments were made.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, 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 episode of Morning Wire every morning.
--:-- Georgia Howe: From all of us here at Morning Wire, we hope you're enjoying the show. Did you know that if you subscribe to Daily Wire Plus, you can get access to all Daily Wire has to offer? That means news, commentary, documentaries, movies, and so much more. Become a subscriber today. Download the Daily Wire Plus app and take us with you wherever you go.
