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--:-- John Bickley: This episode is brought to you by LifeLock. Between two-factor authentication, strong passwords, and a VPN, you try to be in control of how your info is protected. But many other places also have it, and they might not be as careful. That's why LifeLock monitors hundreds of millions of data points a second for threats. If your identity is stolen, they'll fix it. Guaranteed or your money back. Save up to 40% your first year. Visit LifeLock.com slash podcast for 40% off. Terms apply.
--:-- John Bickley: This is Daily Wire editor-in-chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Thursday, March 2nd, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The trial of Alec Murdoch, the prominent South Carolina attorney accused of murdering his wife and son, came to a close today. Here with more is Daily Wire senior editor Ash Short.
--:-- Ash Short: The prosecution and defense have delivered their closing arguments in the trial of disgraced South Carolina attorney Alec Murdoch, who has been charged with murdering his wife and youngest son. The prosecution argued that Murdoch is the only one with the means motive and opportunity to kill his family members. While the defense noted the sloppy investigation that lacks any direct evidence to the once prominent attorney.
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--:-- Ash Short: I asked you to return a verdict of guilty against the defendant, Richard Alexander Murdoch, for the murder of his wife, Maggie, and his son, Paul, and for his possession of firearms during the commission of those malicious offenses. You're not being tasked here to give your opinion in this trial. You're being tasked to apply the Constitution, the bedrock principles that protect us all from a government.
--:-- John Bickley: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergi Lavrov had a surprise meeting on Thursday at the G20 summit in New Delhi. Here with more is Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Blinken and Lavrov met for about 10 minutes, and while they didn't reveal everything that was said, The meeting marks the most senior and positive signs for diplomacy between Russia and the US since the start of the war. According to Blinken, he also raised the possibility of releasing Paul Whelan, the US Marine veteran accused of being a spy who's been held by Russia since late 2018.
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--:-- Cabot Phillips: Blinken also said he encouraged his Russian counterpart to re in the treaty known as START, That the last remaining nuclear weapon treaty between Russia and the U which Russia pulled out of earlier this year. American officials say that agreement is crucial to preventing nuclear weapon proliferation around the world.
--:-- John Bickley: The White House is defending President Biden's new pick for Secretary of Labor, Julie Su. Su, who is currently Deputy Secretary of Labor, oversaw California's Labor Department and billions in COVID fraud during her watch.
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--:-- Georgia Howe: Sue led the California Labor Department as the state's unemployment system witnessed as much as $31 billion in pandemic relief go to possible fraudsters. She acknowledged the matter to reporters two years ago, but nevertheless said the Trump administration didn't provide enough guidance on how to prevent illegal activity.
--:-- Georgia Howe: When one journalist raised the concern with Sue's nomination to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, she downplayed the scandal by pointing to the large volume of claims that officials in California had to handle. Under her leadership, under Julie's leadership, California took important steps to process a number of claims. We're talking about one in five, which is in the entire nation. That what California was dealing with to ensure that working people who were out of work and this was not their fault could continue to pay their rent could continue to put food on the table continue to keep the lights on.
--:-- John Bickley: On Thursday, the Tennessee State Senate passed a bill effectively banning any events or shows featuring drag queens from being performed in front of children. Republican Governor Bill Lee has said he will sign it into law, making Tennessee the first state to have such a law on the books.
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--:-- Georgia Howe: The law, if signed, would ban adults from impersonating the opposite sex in public or near where children could see it while appealing to prurient interests. That is engaging in a sexually suggestive performance. Anyone who violates the law will be hit with a misdemeanor and repeat offenders could face felony charges.
--:-- John Bickley: Critics of the law say it's discriminatory and infringes on freedom of expression, while advocates for the law describe it as pro-child.
--:-- John Bickley: And beginning in April of 2023, Discover Credit will become the first credit card company to track users' gun purchases.
--:-- 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 our latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.
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