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--:-- John Bickley: I'm Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Tuesday, August 8th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Thanks for tuning in, John.
--:-- John Bickley: On Monday, Judge Eileen Cannon, the federal judge overseeing special counsel Jack Smith's documents case, demanded a legal explanation for why the DOJ used, quote, out-of-district grand jury proceeding.
--:-- John Bickley: Daily Wire reporter Zach Jewell has more on this story.
--:-- Zach Jewell: The questioning came as Cannon responded to the DOJ's request for a hearing to address possible conflicts of interest with Stanley Woodward. Woodward is the lawyer representing Trump valet Walt Nata, but he has also previously represented people the government may call to testify.
--:-- Zach Jewell: Cannon said the DOJ needs to explain the reason for using an out-of-district grand jury proceeding to continue to investigate and or to seek post-indictment hearings on matters related to the instant indicted matter in this district.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's a significant development, Zach. Thanks for breaking it down for us.
--:-- John Bickley: Next, we have some disturbing images from the southern border. Images have surfaced of several suspected cartel gunmen crossing the southern border into Texas while wearing body armor and carrying rifles.
--:-- John Bickley: Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce has more on this story.
--:-- Tim Pierce: Law enforcement sources tell Fox News that three men were spotted on Saturday by camera in the area of Fronton, Texas. When the Border Patrol sent agents to the area, they found nothing. Law enforcement arrested five suspected members of the Northeast cartel at the same location back in June.
--:-- Tim Pierce: This latest incident comes soon after the Lone Star State Department of Public Safety spotted an armed smuggler in Eagle Pass via drone carrying a long gun and guiding a group of illegal immigrants across the Rio Grande.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's a concerning trend, Tim. Thanks for sharing the latest developments.
--:-- John Bickley: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' 2024 presidential campaign shake-up continues. On Monday, he replaced his campaign manager, Janera Peck, with his current chief of staff, James Utmeier.
--:-- John Bickley: The campaign said in a statement that Utmeier has, quote, been one of Governor DeSantis' top advisors for years, and he is needed where it matters most.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The change comes as DeSantis has continued to struggle to gain traction against President Trump in the polls.
--:-- John Bickley: DeSantis has defended his campaign in recent days. So if I had a nickel for every naysayer I've had in my life, I'd be a very, very wealthy man. I would much rather be underestimated.
--:-- John Bickley: When they underestimate you, that's when we're able to strike.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's a bold statement, John. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
--:-- John Bickley: A powerful storm that battered the eastern part of the U.S. on Monday has left two people dead and more than 1.1 million without power.
--:-- John Bickley: One of the victims was a South Carolina teenager who was killed by a tree falling on him as he stepped out of his car, while another was a 28-year-old Alabama man who was struck by lightning.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Due to the storm, tornado watches and warnings were posted across 10 states from Tennessee to New York at one point on Monday afternoon.
--:-- John Bickley: Here's a reaction from a Philadelphia mother and son, courtesy of CBS News.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The house was shaking and it was just, it was horrible. It was really scary. Things were flying, rain you could barely see.
--:-- John Bickley: A 17-year-old boy who reportedly is the cousin of the Uvalde Texas teenage school shooter who murdered 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary in May 2022 was arrested in San Antonio after his mother reported he was planning to do the same and shoot up an elementary school.
--:-- John Bickley: Court documents state that the mother said her son was on probation and was intoxicated when he issued the threats, and she overheard him on the phone trying to buy an AR-15 illegally.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The cousin was booked into the Bayer County Jail on Monday afternoon.
--:-- John Bickley: More than 10,000 city workers picketed in Los Angeles this morning after promising to walk off their jobs over unfair labor contracts.
--:-- John Bickley: The workers included a range of occupations, including sanitation and airport workers. The union said its members voted to authorize the walkout because the city has failed to bargain in good faith and also has engaged in labor practices that restricted employee and union rights.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Here's what union members told KTLA.
--:-- Union Member: Well, we're sending the message to City Hall that we deserve a fair contract, respect, proper bargaining. The city did not come and bargain in good faith. What I mean by that is they didn't come ready to address the issues.
--:-- John Bickley: L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said the following in a statement.
--:-- Karen Bass: They deserve fair contracts and we have been bargaining in good faith with SEIU 721 since January. The city will always be available to make progress 24 hours a day seven days a week.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Voters in Ohio are heading to cast their ballots today on Ohio issue one.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's a referendum backed by Republicans, which would require any proposed amendment to the constitution of the state to get 60% of the vote on the proposed amendment. That's a change from the traditional simple majority needed for approval now.
--:-- John Bickley: If the amendment passes, it would tie Ohio with Florida as the state with the highest voter approval requirement to pass citizen-initiated constitutional amendments.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And New York City experienced its first shark attack in 65 years after a 65-year-old woman was bitten in the leg on Monday at Rockaway City Beach.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Shark attack at the lifeguard seating is in the evening. Rescue has been notified. Police officers rushed to save her by applying a tourniquet to her significant injuries.
--:-- John Bickley: First responders were able to transport her to a nearby hospital. She's now reportedly in serious but stable condition.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Witnesses say it was shocking.
--:-- Witness: Everybody was leaving the beach and they were just like, just don't get in the water. I was like, what happened? He was like, somebody got bit by a shark.
--:-- John Bickley: All right, those are your drive home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com.
--:-- John Bickley: And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to our latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.
