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--:-- John Bickley: The U.S. and Russia work toward peace, border apprehensions plummet, and Hamas is set to release several more hostages. I'm Daily Wire editor-in-chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Tuesday, February 18th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.
--:-- Georgia Howe: After a Delta Airlines flight crash-landed and overturned at Toronto Pearson Airport, the company's CEO is responding. The crash, which happened yesterday, injured nearly two dozen people. Video shows smoke and passengers fleeing the overturned aircraft. Here's some of the frantic evacuation.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Officials say the plane encountered strong winds upon landing, causing it to turn upside down. Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a statement that the hearts of the entire global Delta family are with those affected, and gave special thanks to first responders. The FAA is investigating the crash as Toronto Pearson has resumed normal operations.
--:-- John Bickley: Severe flooding in Kentucky has claimed over a dozen lives including a mother and her seven daughter who were swept away in their vehicle Daily Wire senior editor Ash Short has more.
--:-- Ash Short: Governor Andy Beshear confirmed the rising death toll and urged residents to stay off the roads as emergency crews continue rescue operations. Over 1,000 rescues have been carried out and nearly 39,000 homes remain without power. Parts of Kentucky and Tennessee received up to six inches of rain, with much of the affected areas now under a winter storm advisory. President Trump has approved a disaster declaration, activating FEMA to assist with relief efforts as recovery begins.
--:-- John Bickley: U.S. and Russian officials reportedly developed a framework for peace at their meeting today in Saudi Arabia. Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips has more.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Today's discussions led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov focused on a possible ceasefire, elections in Ukraine, and a broader peace agreement. Multiple foreign sources say new elections in Ukraine could be a key part of any such deal, and that both the U.S. and Russia believe Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has a low chance of winning re-election. And while Zelensky rejects the talks, many experts, including former Defense Intelligence Officer Rebecca Koffler, say Zelensky has boxed himself in by declaring martial law in the country. She told Fox that Putin views Zelensky as an illegitimate president. His presidency expired in May, and the Russians stated very clearly and unequivocally that they would only negotiate with some legitimate authority.
--:-- John Bickley: New York Governor Kathy Hochul met with New York City leaders today to discuss the future of Mayor Eric Adams. Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presa Giacomo has the latest.
--:-- Amanda Presa Giacomo: Adams, who denies the corruption charges, could see his case dismissed by the Justice Department, though calls for his resignation are growing. City Council Speaker Adrian Adams says he has lost the confidence of New Yorkers Hochul has the power to remove Adams and says she is monitoring the situation closely If Adams is ousted, public advocate Jumaane Williams would serve as acting mayor until the next election.
--:-- John Bickley: This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at shopify.com slash morningwire, all lowercase. Established in 2025 has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Head over to shopify.com slash morningwire to start selling with Shopify today.
--:-- John Bickley: Hamas will release six more hostages on Saturday, as well as the remains of four hostages who were killed on Thursday. The deceased includes young children. Last week, the terrorist group threatened to delay releases, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire, but later proceeded with the exchange. As part of the trade, Israel freed 369 Palestinian prisoners. President Trump had warned Hamas to release all remaining hostages by Saturday or risk Israel resuming military action.
--:-- John Bickley: Apprehensions at our southern border are down 85 percent since this time last year. In January, migrant apprehensions fell to just over 61,000. That's down from 96,000 in December. Trump's executive orders deploying military support and expediting deportations are credited for the decrease. Officials say increased enforcement is freeing up resources to target criminal offenders.
--:-- John Bickley: Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has officially entered the 2026 California governor's race, vowing to restore the promise of California by tackling crime and affordability. At a campaign event in Riverside, Bianco criticized Democratic leadership, blaming them for California's problems while positioning himself as someone who could bridge the partisan divides. It is only our Democrat elected officials who are responsible for the decline of California What is it that they have given us Rampant crime higher taxes the highest cost of living in our nation tent encampments in every major city, more fentanyl deaths, catastrophic fires, a broken homeowner's insurance market, and people across our state are struggling to afford groceries and gas. Californians deserve better. Governor Gavin Newsom is facing a recall effort. Regardless, his term will end in 2026. At least a dozen candidates, all Democrats aside from Bianco, have entered the race. There is also speculation that VP Kamala Harris may be considering a run herself.
--:-- John Bickley: And what would the Olympics be like if they allowed performance-enhancing drugs? Well, such a competition may soon become a reality. Crane & Company co-host David Cohn has the details.
--:-- David Cohn: The controversial Enhanced Games, dubbed the Steroid Olympics, has secured a multi-million dollar investment led by Donald Trump Jr., aiming to bring the event to the United States later this year. The Games will allow athletes to use PEDs while undergoing medical screenings. While the International Olympic Committee has criticized the new endeavor, organizers say it will push the boundaries of human performance. Meanwhile, the Trump administration's stance on the event remains unclear, though organizers say they expect a friendlier regulatory environment.
--:-- John Bickley: All right, those are your drive home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com. And in case you missed it this morning, we covered some important stories, including the new talks between the U.S. and Russia, Doge setting its sights on the IRS, and legacy media being accused of defending censorship. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of Morning Wire.
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