--:-- Georgia Howe: Welcome to Morning Wire, I'm Georgia Howe.
--:-- John Bickley: And I'm John Bickley, Daily Wire's editor-in-chief.
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--:-- Georgia Howe: After 12 days of war, Russia is stepping up attacks on civilian targets and infrastructure as hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians attempt to flee the country. Meanwhile, the U.S. is weighing a ban on Russian oil. But how likely are European nations to join a potential embargo?
--:-- John Bickley: I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire editor-in-chief John Bickley. It's Tuesday, March 8th, and this is Morning Wire. The People's Convoy is on its second day of demonstrations in D.C. What are their goals and how do their tactics differ from the Canadian truckers?
--:-- Georgia Howe: We do not want to shut down the beltway. We just want them to hear us roar. And Ukraine may be losing ground in the war with Russia, but Ukraine's president, Vladimir Zelensky, has so far been able to win the messaging war. How is Zelensky using his entertainment background to win worldwide support?
--:-- John Bickley: Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.
--:-- Georgia Howe: With war raging between Ukraine and Russia, pressure is building on the Biden administration to cut off Russian oil imports. This comes as civilians face continued threats trying to escape the fighting.
--:-- Ian Howarth: Here with the latest from Ukraine is Daily Wire's Ian Howarth.
--:-- Ian Howarth: So, a third round of talks between Ukraine and Russia ended yesterday with no major developments, as the United Nations reported that over 400 civilians have been killed so far in Russia's invasion. Of those killed, 27 are children, and over 800 have been injured.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Now, yesterday we spoke about the 1.5 million refugees who've managed to escape Ukraine so far. Where do those numbers stand now?
--:-- Ian Howarth: Well, the numbers continue to increase, but those who haven't left yet are facing some real challenges. Russian forces are making significant gains in the north, south, and east of Ukraine, and targeting cities across the country with heavy rocket fire, often targeting civilians specifically.
--:-- Georgia Howe: While Russia repeatedly ignores ceasefires or fails to respect so-called humanitarian corridors. Russia did propose their own plan to evacuate citizens from Ukraine, but their proposal involved Ukrainians having to escape to Russia or Belarus, a close Russian ally. So unsurprisingly, this was rejected by the Ukrainians.
--:-- Ian Howarth: Now, tell us more about what's going on in response. We spoke yesterday about how a no-fly zone looks unlikely. What else is on the table?
--:-- Ian Howarth: Well, energy has increasingly become the focus. As we've noted, international sanctions and companies pulling out of Russia haven't had a real effect. So now the subject of dependence on Russian energy has become the central issue when it comes to next steps.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The Biden administration is now considering a possible ban on oil imports from Russia, but no decision has been made yet. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is working with partners and allies on whether a ban on Russian energy is plausible.
--:-- Ian Howarth: We are now talking to our European partners and allies to look in a coordinated way at the prospect of banning the import of Russian oil while making sure that there is still an appropriate supply of oil on world markets.
--:-- Georgia Howe: But according to another US official, if a ban of Russian energy does happen, it's likely that the US will go it alone.
--:-- Ian Howarth: As we've discussed before, Germany is the biggest purchaser of Russian energy in Europe and they've rejected a ban on Russian oil. So Europe is definitely not on the same page.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And last but certainly not least, we can't forget that China is going to play a massive role in opposing any economic strategies against Russia. The Chinese foreign minister called Moscow the, quote, most important strategic partner on Monday.
--:-- Ian Howarth: He also said they remain focused on promoting the, quote, development of a comprehensive China-Russia partnership in this new era.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, we'll all be watching to see what moves China makes next.
--:-- Ian Howarth: Yes, absolutely. Ian, thanks for the update.
--:-- Ian Howarth: Thanks, Georgia. That's Daily Wire's Ian Howarth.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Coming up, truckers convene in D.C. to protest COVID measures. You can get this show and all of the content you love wherever you are, all on the Daily Wire app.
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: Joining us now is Daily Wire's Mary Margaret Olihan, who was there on the scene Monday and spoke to some of the protesters.
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: So I drove up bright and early from D.C. to the Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland, which is the launching point of the convoy. And I saw more than 100 large trucks and hundreds of small vehicles.
--:-- Georgia Howe: At this point, most of the country has already opened up or ended mask mandates. What are the truckers hoping to accomplish?
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: The truckers told me that they're here for freedom. They're protesting COVID restrictions across the country, and they want President Joe Biden to end the emergency order, which was initially issued under President Donald Trump, that includes all remaining COVID-related vaccine mandates.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So they're calling for an end to all remaining COVID measures.
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: Yes. So this convoy mirrors the Canadian trucker convoy that ended a few weeks ago, and that one began as a response to the government mandate that Canadian truckers crossing the border must be fully vaccinated.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And that one turned into a full-on anti-COVID restriction convoy. That's what this U.S. one appears to be turning into as well.
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: So they're similar in focus. What about the timing? Why now?
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: Well, this one's taken a few weeks to organize. We began hearing in February that a convoy might be coming to the United States, beginning in California, and it's been in the works for a few weeks.
--:-- Georgia Howe: There definitely were some concerns. In fact, a few hundred members of the National Guard were deployed to D.C. in late February to help control traffic related to concerns about the trucker convoy.
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: The leader of the convoy, Brian Brace, has suggested that these preparations are unnecessary.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Right now, the convoy isn't planning to enter the city, just circle it. And he really emphasized that he does not want this convoy to be compared to the January 6th protest.
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: So with that said we making diplomatic moves That means at this time meaning today and tomorrow we are not and will not go into D properly
--:-- Georgia Howe: We saw the Canadian protests go on for weeks and involve blockades. What does this convoy plan to do?
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: Well, they're not planning any kind of deliberate blockades. They're planning to drive around the city, driving about 55 miles per hour to bring attention to their cause.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Now, Bray did admit that there's a faction of the group that does want to go to D.C., but as of right now, he's against that.
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: There are two sides to me in this. There's the side that just wants to get s*** done. Then there is the side of me where I am genuinely concerned about the actions that they are taking in downtown D.C. in the event that we show up down there.
--:-- Georgia Howe: He also brought up concerns about people trying to come in here who didn't belong, warning that anyone who intends to cause harm, violence, or disruption is not welcome.
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: The organizer also said that several prominent United States senators and lawmakers plan to speak with the convoy this week. And I've been able to confirm that at least one will be talking to the convoy.
--:-- Georgia Howe: All right, well, Barry and Margaret, thanks for giving us a firsthand report on the event.
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: Of course. My pleasure.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Daily Wire reporter Mary Margaret Olehan.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Russia's invasion has made Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky into a rising star on the global stage. Part of his appeal grows out of his experience as an actor and entertainer.
--:-- Megan Basham: Here to give us some insight into Zelensky's background and how he's leveraging it to rally international support is Daily Wire culture reporter Megan Basham.
--:-- Megan Basham: So Megan, I think a lot of us have seen clips on social media of Zelensky performing in various comedy routines. I understand he was also on Ukrainian Dancing with the Stars.
--:-- Megan Basham: Yeah, with pleasure, because it's really fascinating. So Zelensky first won this Ukrainian sketch comedy competition show when he was 17. And that's sort of what kicked off his career as a comedian.
--:-- Georgia Howe: From there, as you mentioned, Georgia, he actually won the Ukrainian version of Dancing with the Stars. He then went on to star in a number of films, largely Russian-language romantic comedies.
--:-- Megan Basham: He was even the voice of Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian-dubbed version of that 2014 film.
--:-- Georgia Howe: But the big turn in his life came in 2015 when he began starring in a sitcom, Servant of the People, and he was playing, ironically, the president of Ukraine.
--:-- Megan Basham: So life imitates art. Yes, exactly. Because he said that that experience was part of what inspired him to run for office.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And he was still playing that role as he was campaigning to be president. So he was still acting on TV at the time that he was running his campaign.
--:-- Megan Basham: Yes, that is correct. And life imitated art even more when the television production company behind that show actually formed a political party with the same name as the party on the show.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And Zelensky won the presidency running with that new party platform.
--:-- Megan Basham: So within a month of the show's finale, Zelensky was elected president.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Bringing us back to this situation in Ukraine now, Zelensky has put out a few very viral videos and he's become sort of a social media star.
--:-- Megan Basham: He has. And I think in particular, there was that one video selfie that he posted to Telegram. Now, if you're not familiar, that's a messaging app that's very popular in Russia.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well in that video he announced that he leaving Kiev even as Russian troops were reportedly heading directly toward the city I think that inspired just a lot of sympathy
--:-- Megan Basham: So videos like that have been instrumental at galvanizing the world on Ukraine's behalf. And his legend has sort of grown with these striking one-liners.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Just one example, when the American military offered to airlift him out of Kiev, he reportedly said that he didn't need a ride, he needed ammunition.
--:-- Megan Basham: That was a big moment. And then the most recent video on March 3rd, he says in that, quoting here, we have nothing to lose but our own freedom.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So again, just these very memorable statements. And I think what you can say is that Zelensky's public appeals are always very sophisticated and very effective.
--:-- Megan Basham: Then you compare that with, say, those shirtless photos of Putin on a horse a few years ago. Now, ostensibly, those were also meant to convey masculinity, toughness, but I think to Western eyes, those just mostly seem silly.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And then there's also the speeches that he's been giving to other world leaders. We heard reports that last week, as the EU gathered to debate imposing sanctions on Russia, the German delegate especially was balking at employing the harshest measures.
--:-- Megan Basham: But that changed when Zelensky was teleconferenced in. He gave an especially passionate five-minute speech pleading for the EU's help.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And he ended that by saying that it may be the last time those leaders saw him alive. By the time he was done, the mood had shifted entirely to his side.
--:-- Megan Basham: So all of these arresting images and speeches, you have to say they're really moving the needle in the world's response.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, and as of now, Zelensky is still in Kiev, so we're going to be keeping an eye on that.
--:-- Megan Basham: Megan, thanks for reporting.
--:-- Megan Basham: Yeah, anytime. That's Daily Wire culture reporter Megan Basham.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Other stories we're tracking this week. Netflix and TikTok have suspended their services in Russia. A spokesperson for Netflix announced the move Sunday, citing the circumstances on the ground in the region.
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: TikTok pointed to the new fake news law in Russia and said they have no choice but to suspend live streaming and new content to their video service in the country.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The global toll from the virus has surpassed 6 million people. That's according to Johns Hopkins data.
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: For comparison, the 1918 flu pandemic is estimated to have killed at least 50 million people around the world.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Washington state will lift its statewide indoor mask mandate starting March 12th, but students in Seattle public schools may be required to wear masks through May 1st.
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: A Seattle teachers union is pushing the district to maintain masks until at least two weeks after spring break, claiming the mask gives students a sense of safety and normalcy.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And President Biden continues to be underwater in the polls. According to the RealClearPolitics average of national polls, the president's approval sits at 42 percent, while his disapproval is currently 54 percent, a 12-point gap.
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: On his handling of the economy and foreign policy, the gaps are larger, 20 points and 19 points respectively.
--:-- Georgia Howe: 64 percent of Americans believe the country is moving in the wrong direction.
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: If you like this episode and are interested in hearing more, subscribe to Morning Wire on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening, and give us a five-star review.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's all the time we've got this morning. Thanks for waking up with us.
--:-- Mary Margaret Olihan: We'll be back tomorrow with the news you need to know.
--:-- Georgia Howe: If you like this podcast, subscribe to our Morning Wire newsletter, available exclusively to Daily Wire members. Get the Morning Wire newsletter delivered straight to your inbox when you join at dailywire.com slash subscribe. Use code MORNINGWIRE to try a Reader's Pass membership and get your first month for only 99 cents.
