--:-- [Sound of a news theme music fading out]
--:-- Georgia Howe: Welcome to Morning Wire, I'm Georgia Howe.
--:-- John Bickley: And I'm John Bickley, Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Wire.
--:-- Georgia Howe: It's Tuesday, December 24th, and this is a Christmas Eve edition of Morning Wire.
--:-- John Bickley: Today, we're discussing a shocking crime that took place in a New York subway, President Biden's decision to commute the sentences of 37 death row inmates, and Hollywood's shift towards old intellectual property in 2024.
--:-- Georgia Howe: First, let's talk about the New York subway incident. A woman was set on fire by a Guatemalan migrant, and this has sparked a debate about sanctuary laws.
--:-- John Bickley: That's right. Incoming border czar Tom Homan has blamed the situation on democratic immigration policies.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Let's go to our guest, Tim Pierce, a Daily Wire reporter who's been following this story. Tim, can you tell us more about the incident and the debate around sanctuary laws?
--:-- Tim Pierce: Yes, the suspect is a Guatemalan national in the U.S. illegally. He first entered the U.S. in 2018, but he was removed by border enforcement. He later made it back into the country and began living in New York City shelters in 2023.
--:-- John Bickley: That's right. And as you mentioned, Tom Homan has blamed the situation on democratic immigration policies.
--:-- Tim Pierce: Yes, he said that this is another example of an illegal alien killing an American citizen, and that it's a result of lax immigration policies.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And what about the census data that shows foreign-born migrants are flocking to states like New York, while native-born people are leaving those same states?
--:-- Tim Pierce: Yes, the Census Bureau report shows that the U.S. took in roughly 2.8 million immigrants in the past year, and that foreign migration made up 84% of the increase in the U.S. population.
--:-- John Bickley: That's a staggering number. And what's the impact been of this population shift in some of those blue states?
--:-- Tim Pierce: Well, part of the answer has to do with why immigrants are attracted to blue areas in the first place. These areas tend to have higher taxes, higher unemployment rates, and generally more expensive standards of living.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And what about the debate around migrant crime? Some people say that immigrants cause crime at lower rates than Americans, while others say that crime committed by aliens is preventable with tough border enforcement.
--:-- Tim Pierce: Yes, that's a persistent debate in U.S. immigration policy. But as Tom Homan said, the key point is that crime committed by aliens is preventable with tough border enforcement.
--:-- John Bickley: Thanks, Tim, for coming on and sharing your insights with us.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Now, let's move on to President Biden's decision to commute the sentences of 37 death row inmates.
--:-- John Bickley: That's right. This has sparked a lot of controversy, and we're joined by Tim Rice, a Daily Wire Deputy Managing Editor.
--:-- Tim Rice: Thanks for having me on.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So, can you tell us more about the inmates who were commuted?
--:-- Tim Rice: Yes, these are some pretty serious crimes. There's Thomas Sanders, who was convicted of kidnapping and murdering a 12-year-old girl, and Brendan Basham and Chadrick Fulks, who kidnapped and killed a woman after escaping from jail.
--:-- John Bickley: That's horrific. And what about the argument that Biden's decision is driven by his declining mental faculties?
--:-- Tim Rice: Yes, that's a valid concern. Senator Tom Cotton has called for Congress and the Trump Justice Department to investigate these pardons, and it's possible that some of them could be overturned.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And what about the impact of this on the death penalty debate?
--:-- Tim Rice: Well, this move is certainly rife for criticism, but Biden has already come under fire for some controversial pardons in the past.
--:-- John Bickley: Thanks, Tim, for sharing your insights with us.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Now, let's move on to Hollywood's shift towards old intellectual property in 2024.
--:-- John Bickley: That's right. We're joined by Christian Toto, host of the Hollywood and Toto podcast.
--:-- Christian Toto: Thanks for having me on.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So, can you tell us more about the biggest hits of 2024?
--:-- Christian Toto: Yes, Disney had a comeback year, with Inside Out 2 being a huge success. And they also had Deadpool and Wolverine, which are another massive hit.
--:-- John Bickley: That's great to hear. And what about the misses? What were some of the biggest flops of 2024?
--:-- Christian Toto: Well, there were a few duds, including Joker: Faliadou, which was critically and commercially unsuccessful. And also, some superhero duds, including Madam Web and Kraven the Hunter.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And what about the woke politics that tend to show up in movies? Was 2024 the wokest year yet?
--:-- Christian Toto: Absolutely not. We've seen a real reversal there. Disney has been dialing it back, and even other films like Twisters and Bad Boys Ride or Die are straightforward storytelling, escapism, humor, relatable situations.
--:-- John Bickley: That's great to hear. And what about some of the most anticipated films coming out this holiday season?
--:-- Christian Toto: Well, I want to start with my favorite, The Complete Unknown, which is the story of Bob Dylan's early years. It's a wonderful story, and Timothee Chalamet is terrific as the young Bob Dylan.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That sounds great. And what about The Brutalist, which is a three and a half hour movie set after the Holocaust?
--:-- Christian Toto: Yes, that's another great film. It's a wonderful story, and it's a great example of a film that doesn't make anymore.
--:-- John Bickley: Thanks, Christian, for sharing your insights with us.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And that's all for today's show. Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire.
--:-- John Bickley: We'll be back tomorrow with a special Christmas edition of Morning Wire.
--:-- [Sound of a news theme music fading in]
--:-- Announcer: This episode of Morning Wire is brought to you by NetSuite. Make better business decisions with NetSuite. Visit NetSuite.com/MORNINGWIRE.
--:-- Announcer: And by Black Rifle Coffee. Drink America's coffee at BlackRifleCoffee.com.
--:-- Announcer: And by Balance of Nature. Get 35% off Your Order of Fruits & Veggies + FREE Fiber & Spice Supplements. Use promo code WIRE at checkout: BalanceOfNature.com
