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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 episode is brought to you by Black Rifle Coffee. Right now, a portion of every purchase you make at BlackRifleCoffee.com goes to supporting veteran and first responder causes. Visit BlackRifleCoffee.com to learn more.
--:-- John Bickley: I'm Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley. It's Friday, June 28th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.
--:-- John Bickley: In a pivotal decision, the Supreme Court ruled today against the Justice Department's use of a key charge, obstruction of an official proceeding. The ruling could potentially affect hundreds of January 6 cases, including Donald Trump's.
--:-- John Bickley: The court sided 6-3 with a J-6 defendant who challenged his obstruction charge, arguing that it was misapplied. The Biden DOJ claims the defendant deliberately attempted to disrupt the congressional certification of the 2020 election, a charge they leveled on hundreds of other defendants.
--:-- Andy McCarthy: For this kind of obstruction to apply, you actually have to corrupt the documentary evidence that's being presented in a proceeding. The way the Justice Department tried to apply it was that if you engage in conduct that prevents the proceeding from happening in the first place, that it was applicable.
--:-- Andy McCarthy: The court seems to me emphatically to be saying that that's not the case, at least the majority decision.
--:-- John Bickley: In a second major decision today the high court overruled so Chevron deference greatly limiting the power of federal agencies. The landmark 6 ruling gives the courts more say on how federal agencies are able to interpret and implement laws.
--:-- John Bickley: The court also ruled today in favor of removing homeless tents on public land, ruling 6-3 that camping bans, which allow tents to be removed from public property, including parks and sidewalks, are not cruel and unusual punishment.
--:-- John Bickley: On the heels of what has been universally declared a disastrous debate for President Biden, his team remains defiant against calls for him to step aside. The Biden campaign tells CNN that not only is Biden not going to give up the nomination, he is still committed to appearing at the next debate.
--:-- John Bickley: Still, Biden's performance seems to have spooked many within the Democrat Party, with some suggesting he should drop out of the race.
--:-- Joe Scarborough: I think we have to ask the same questions of him that we have asked of Donald Trump since 2016. And that is, if he were CEO and he turned in a performance like that, would any corporation in America, any Fortune 500 corporation in America, keep him on as CEO?
--:-- John Bickley: NATO is set to bolster its support for Ukraine with a new mission aimed at coordinating military aid. The alliance plans to establish a headquarters in Germany to streamline assistance, signaling a long-term commitment amid tensions with Russia.
--:-- John Bickley: The move follows President Zelensky's push for NATO membership talks, and it's being considered a bridge to the country's eventual membership.
--:-- Antony Blinken: We're establishing a NATO command in V-spot, coordinating training, security assistance, equipment, transfer, repair, maintenance. For strengthening our collective deterrence and defense, we're implementing the robust plans that allies agreed to.
--:-- Antony Blinken: Meeting the long challenge that Russia poses to the transatlantic alliance and to security.
--:-- John Bickley: This episode is brought to you by Done With Debt. Let Done With Debt negotiate a plan to get you out of debt permanently. Go right now to donewithdebt.com. That's donewithdebt.com today.
--:-- John Bickley: Online retail giant Amazon reportedly plans to launch a service to rival Chinese companies Timu and Xi'an. Daily Wire reporter Mireille Delordi has the details.
--:-- Mireille Delordi: Amazon held an invite-only meeting with Chinese merchants earlier this week where it outlined plans for a new marketplace on its website. The new digital storefront would sell unbranded clothes, accessories, and household products directly from Chinese warehouses.
--:-- Mireille Delordi: This strategy is a major shift from Amazon's current system, which typically routes products through American warehouses. Since these products are coming directly from China, their delivery time is closer to two weeks, not the usual two days for prime deliveries.
--:-- John Bickley: It's a clear shot at e-commerce platforms Timu and Sheen, which have taken over American shoppers with their cheap, direct-from-China products.
--:-- John Bickley: Walgreens, America's second-largest pharmacy chain, announced plans to close many of its stores over the next three years. CEO Tim Wentworth said the company has not decided exactly which stores will be closing, but it will look at roughly 25% of stores that are not profitable.
--:-- John Bickley: Walgreens will also sell off most of its shares in Village MD, a primary care provider. Wentworth said he hopes to limit the impact of closures by reassigning employees and improving public safety measures to prevent theft and protect workers.
--:-- John Bickley: Sandy Hook victims are in a battle to collect assets from commentator Alex Jones, leaving his media company Infowars at risk of shutting down. The pressure comes after Jones was ordered to pay $1.5 billion in damages as a result of two defamation lawsuits in 2022.
--:-- John Bickley: Since then a trustee appointed by the court has overseen the liquidation of Jones assets to pay off that enormous sum. Plaintiffs in one of the suits moved to collect immediately but were blocked by a federal judge. In the other suit plaintiffs were against collecting now citing concerns that the families would fight over Jones's assets.
--:-- John Bickley: Ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics, former Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps testified earlier this week to Congress on Chinese steroid use.
--:-- John Bickley: Here with more is Daily Wire contributor Matthew Sanofsky.
--:-- Matthew Sanofsky: A scandal uncovered earlier this year found that almost two dozen Chinese Olympic swimmers tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs before the 2021 Games. Those tests were covered up by the World Anti-Doping Agency and Chinese Anti-Doping Agency.
--:-- Matthew Sanofsky: Half of those swimmers reportedly qualified for and are expected to compete again in this year's Olympics.
--:-- Michael Phelps: If we continue to let this slide any further, the Olympic Games might not even be there.
--:-- Travis Tiger: Russia and China have been too big to fail in their eyes, and they get a different set of rules than the rest of the world does.
--:-- John Bickley: Officials for the World Anti-Doping Agency have denied wrongdoing, but have also not fully explained the unreported positive results.
--:-- John Bickley: Two NASA astronauts are seemingly stuck in space due to technical difficulties with a Boeing space capsule. Daily Wire senior editor Joel Needler has the latest.
--:-- Joel Needler: The astronauts have been aboard the International Space Station for three weeks now after their trip home was postponed. They were originally scheduled to stay aboard the satellite for just one week.
--:-- Joel Needler: Boeing said, quote, the astronauts are not stranded after its space capsule experienced issues while docking. NASA is looking into those problems, which reportedly include five thrusters not firing and five helium leaks.
--:-- Joel Needler: Officials say the astronauts will be brought back to Earth safely aboard the same capsule.
--:-- John Bickley: All right, 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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