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--:-- John Bickley: I'm Daily Wire editor-in-chief John Bickley with guest host Bhatia Ungar-Sargon, opinion editor at Newsweek. It's Thursday, May 9th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.
--:-- John Bickley: Donald Trump's legal team resumed their cross-examination today of former adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the former president's hush money trial. Trump's lawyer Susan Necklace had also planned to invoke testimony about Daniels being accused of assault by her ex-husband, which did not result in a conviction. But Judge Juan Mershon told Necklace that the arrest and allegation would not be allowed in evidence.
--:-- John Bickley: Meanwhile, legal experts have said much of Daniels' testimony is irrelevant to the case. Here's Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz to that regard.
--:-- Alan Dershowitz: The issue of what actually happened is utterly irrelevant. And then we get to the details, the silk pajamas, the kind of lotion he was wearing. I can't imagine how the Court of Appeals in New York that reversed the Harvey Weinstein conviction which was a harder case to reverse wouldn't reverse this conviction if it got up there. I would certainly recommend to the prosecutors in this case that they study the Weinstein case very carefully because it gives a roadmap to what you can do.
--:-- Alan Dershowitz: Trump's lawyer also made the point that Daniel's testimony has nothing to do with the crux of the case, which is how payment business records were filed.
--:-- John Bickley: Israel and a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers are reacting with concern to the Biden administration's announcement that it's halting a weapons shipment to the Jewish state. This news also comes as hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas have paused. Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips has the latest.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: The pause marks a significant shift in the administration's approach to the war, showing opposition to Israel's plan in the southern Gazan city of Rafa. The city is reportedly where more than one million Palestinians are sheltering, though Israel has said it's, quote, the last stronghold of Hamas.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: President Biden defended the move in appearance on CNN. I made it clear that if they go into Rafah, they haven't gone into Rafah yet. If they go into Rafah, I'm not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities, to deal with that problem.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Various Israeli officials reacted with disappointment to the news. The country's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, called the move a, quote, very disappointing decision, while Prime Minister Netanyahu posted a video clip saying Israel would stand alone if necessary.
--:-- John Bickley: Meanwhile, members of the Senate GOP condemned the pause, saying it was worthy of impeachment. Here's Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton.
--:-- Tom Cotton: Israel has to defeat Hamas in Rafah to win. Hamas wins if it survives in Rafah. And Joe Biden has threatened to withhold weapons from Israel for fighting in Rapha. Therefore, Joe Biden objectively favors a Hamas victory over Israel. It just that simple. And the president is only emboldening Hamas. Why would Hamas release hostages when Joe Biden will give Hamas exactly what it wants, survival without releasing hostages?
--:-- John Bickley: A number of Democratic lawmakers also joined in, with Senator John Fetterman posting on X, quote, hard disagree and deeply disappointing.
--:-- John Bickley: A U.S. appeals court has refused to throw out Hunter Biden's indictment on federal gun charges. Court documents show that the president's son is scheduled to stand trial in Delaware next month. Lawyers for the younger Biden filed the motion earlier this year, arguing that a previous diversion agreement with the DOJ and Biden's legal team should remain in effect.
--:-- John Bickley: The House of Representatives has blocked illegal immigrants from being counted in redistricting and electoral college apportionment processes. After a 206 to 202 vote, the Equal Representation Act now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to be dead on arrival. Critics of the bill point to calls in the Constitution to count persons in the country. Meanwhile, those in favor say it would protect democracy by not allowing illegal immigration to distort voting representation.
--:-- John Bickley: Five people, including three kids under the age of 10, are in critical condition after being shot in what police believe was a targeted attack in Texas. According to police, they responded to a call last night in San Antonio and found the victims with gunshot wounds. The youngest is only four years old. All were taken to the hospital immediately. Police say that two suspects drove up and fired about two dozen rounds at the house before fleeing the scene.
--:-- Javier Salazar: At this point, I'm working on the premise that whoever shot into the house knew that there were kids. And I be honest with you, this case could go if God forbid that child should come to pass or one of those children should come to pass, that charge is easily going to be upgraded to a capital murder.
--:-- John Bickley: Pennsylvania is poised to officially criminalize the misuse of a powerful animal tranquilizer called xylazine. Daily Wire investigative reporter Moreta Lordi has more.
--:-- Moreta Lordi: According to the office of Governor Josh Shapiro, the drug has been showing up in supplies of illicit drugs and contributes to a growing number of human overdose deaths. Xylazine, which is being mixed into fentanyl and other illicit opioids, will remain legal for its intended use by veterinarians. The bill has already been approved by both state chambers and awaits a signature from the governor. Under the bill, Xylazine will be listed as a Schedule 3 drug and carries a penalty of imprisonment of up to five years.
--:-- Moreta Lordi: Xylazine can cause breathing and heart rates to fall to dangerous levels when used in humans. When injected, it can cause large open sores and infections, sometimes leading to amputation.
--:-- John Bickley: And former President Trump's 18-year-old son, Barron, was chosen as one of Florida's at-large delegates for the Republican National Convention. Other members of the Trump family will also serve as at-large delegates. That includes Trump's older sons, Eric and Don Jr., and his youngest daughter, Tiffany. Don Jr.'s girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, will also be included. Eric Trump will serve as delegation chair, while Guilfoyle serves on the platform committee.
--:-- John Bickley: 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 the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning. Bye.
