--:-- Georgia Howe: Welcome to Morning Wire. I'm Georgia Howe, and I'm here with Daily Wire editor-in-chief John Bickley.
--:-- John Bickley: Thanks for having me, Georgia.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Today, we're talking about a nuclear arms agreement between the U.S. and South Korea. President Biden met with his South Korean counterpart to solidify the deal. No two countries are better suited to meet the challenges ahead than the Republic of Korea and the United States.
--:-- John Bickley: That's right, Georgia. What action will the U.S. take and what does it mean for relations with North Korea?
--:-- Georgia Howe: I'm joined now by Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips. Cabot, thanks for being here.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Thanks, Georgia.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So, tell us a little bit about this deal. What's the Washington Declaration all about?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Well, on Wednesday, President Yoon joined President Biden to announce what they dubbed the Washington Declaration. As part of the deal, South Korea swore off any and all plans to develop a nuclear arsenal of their own in exchange for an expanded role in military consultations with the U.S.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's interesting. So, South Korea did sign a nonproliferation treaty in 1975 that barred them from developing nuclear weapons, but they've increasingly called for more U.S. support if they're going to remain without such weapons.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: That's right. In January, President Yoon implied his country would consider developing nuclear weapons of their own without assurance that the U.S. would offer stronger military support and also give them a seat at the table for conversations regarding how the U.S. would deter and respond to a potential attack from North Korea.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And now they're getting that support. The deal will also allow U.S. nuclear subs to dock in South Korea for the first time in four decades, a clear indicator of U.S. willingness to use its nuclear arsenal as a deterrent against the North.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: According to the text of the agreement, the U.S. will make every effort to consult with South Korea on the potential deployment of nuclear weapons against North Korea. The deal also establishes a so-called nuclear consultative group that will allow officials from each military to meet regularly to discuss the topic.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And it'll also lead to increased joint military training operations between the two countries.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Now, remember, this declaration comes amid a time of tension between the U.S. and South Korea. Last month's Pentagon leaks showed that American intelligence agencies were spying on high-ranking officials within the South Korean government.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And while officials on both sides publicly downplayed the impact of those leaks on our relationship, South Korean leaders reportedly felt betrayed by what they viewed as a breach of trust.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: So, in many ways, this deal could be viewed as a means of shoring up relations with one of our most important allies in Asia.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So, what does this agreement mean for U.S. and North Korea relations?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: The White House has essentially admitted that any hopes of diplomatic measures between the U.S. and North Korea are gone. That is a notable departure from the previous administration.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Remember, President Trump famously became the first U.S. president to step foot in the country and also held numerous meetings with Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in an attempt to reach a diplomatic agreement on nuclear weapons.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: While those talks ultimately fizzled out, it's noteworthy that the Biden administration has been unable or unwilling to hold similar discussions.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So, what's the Biden administration's strategy been towards North Korea?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: To this point, they've had no official contact with North Korean leaders. White House officials say off the record that they now believe the days of trying to dissuade the North from developing and maintaining a nuclear arsenal are behind us.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's big. It's especially concerning when you consider just how far their nuclear program has come in recent years.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: The country conducted more missile tests in 2022 than the previous five years combined. And it appears they have ICBMs capable of reaching any city in the continental United States.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And that's on top of the unknown number of nuclear warheads at their disposal.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: So, while international focus is understandably on Russia and China, the stakes on the Korean peninsula remain incredibly high.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, Cabot, thanks so much for reporting.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Anytime, Georgia.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That was Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips. Coming up, another lawsuit against Trump gets underway.
--:-- John Bickley: Former President Donald Trump is fielding another lawsuit, this time a defamation suit surrounding an alleged rape.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The minute I was in there, he shut the door and pushed me up against the wall. Bang, bang my head. So it's a total false accusation, and I don't know anything about her.
--:-- John Bickley: We break down the details of the case.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And three days after parting ways with Fox News, Tucker Carlson breaks his silence.
--:-- John Bickley: Suddenly, the United States looks very much like a one-party state. That's a depressing realization, but it's not permanent.
--:-- Georgia Howe: What did Carlson reveal, and what have we learned about why the network dropped its most popular host?
--:-- Georgia Howe: Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.
--:-- Georgia Howe: On Wednesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yul visited the White House to finalize a nuclear weapons agreement that will strengthen relations between the two countries and counteract North Korean aggression in the region.
--:-- John Bickley: Here with more on the details of the accords and what it means for America's role in Asia is Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: So, Cabot, tell us a little bit about this deal.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, on Wednesday, President Yoon joined President Biden to announce what they dubbed the Washington Declaration. As part of the deal, South Korea swore off any and all plans to develop a nuclear arsenal of their own in exchange for an expanded role in military consultations with the U.S.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Now, while South Korea did sign a nonproliferation treaty in 1975 that barred them from developing nuclear weapons, the country has increasingly called for more U.S. support if they're going to remain without such weapons.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And now they're getting that support. The deal will also allow U.S. nuclear subs to dock in South Korea for the first time in four decades, a clear indicator of U.S. willingness to use its nuclear arsenal as a deterrent against the North.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: According to the text of the agreement, the U.S. will make every effort to consult with South Korea on the potential deployment of nuclear weapons against North Korea. The deal also establishes a so-called nuclear consultative group that will allow officials from each military to meet regularly to discuss the topic.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And it'll also lead to increased joint military training operations between the two countries.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Now, remember, this declaration comes amid a time of tension between the U.S. and South Korea. Last month's Pentagon leaks showed that American intelligence agencies were spying on high-ranking officials within the South Korean government.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And while officials on both sides publicly downplayed the impact of those leaks on our relationship, South Korean leaders reportedly felt betrayed by what they viewed as a breach of trust.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: So, in many ways, this deal could be viewed as a means of shoring up relations with one of our most important allies in Asia.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So, what does this agreement mean for U.S. and North Korea relations?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: The White House has essentially admitted that any hopes of diplomatic measures between the U.S. and North Korea are gone. That is a notable departure from the previous administration.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Remember, President Trump famously became the first U.S. president to step foot in the country and also held numerous meetings with Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in an attempt to reach a diplomatic agreement on nuclear weapons.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: While those talks ultimately fizzled out, it's noteworthy that the Biden administration has been unable or unwilling to hold similar discussions.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So, what's the Biden administration's strategy been towards North Korea?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: To this point, they've had no official contact with North Korean leaders. White House officials say off the record that they now believe the days of trying to dissuade the North from developing and maintaining a nuclear arsenal are behind us.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's big. It's especially concerning when you consider just how far their nuclear program has come in recent years.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: The country conducted more missile tests in 2022 than the previous five years combined. And it appears they have ICBMs capable of reaching any city in the continental United States.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And that's on top of the unknown number of nuclear warheads at their disposal.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: So, while international focus is understandably on Russia and China, the stakes on the Korean peninsula remain incredibly high.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, Cabot, thanks so much for reporting.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Anytime, Georgia.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That was Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips. Coming up, another lawsuit against Trump gets underway.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Former advice columnist E. Jean Carroll testified this week during her civil defamation and battery case against former President Donald Trump.
--:-- John Bickley: The minute I was in there, he shut the door and pushed me up against the wall. Bang, bang my head. So it's a total false accusation, and I don't know anything about her.
--:-- Georgia Howe: We break down the details of the case.
--:-- John Bickley: And three days after parting ways with Fox News, Tucker Carlson breaks his silence.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Suddenly, the United States looks very much like a one-party state. That's a depressing realization, but it's not permanent.
--:-- Georgia Howe: What did Carlson reveal, and what have we learned about why the network dropped its most popular host?
--:-- Georgia Howe: Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Here with more on the details of the case is Daily Wire senior editor Ash Short.
--:-- Ash Short: Well, Carroll says that at some point in the 1990s, she ran into Trump at a Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York City.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Carroll claims he asked her to help him buy a gift for a woman. Carol suggested he buy her a handbag or a hat, and somehow the two moved to the lingerie section and joked about having each other try something on.
--:-- Ash Short: She said they ended up in a closed dressing room, and Trump allegedly began kissing her forcefully, pulled down her tights, and raped her.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Though she initially refused to call the alleged incident sexual assault, saying it was instead a fight.
--:-- Ash Short: Carol never went to police or attempted to have Trump held criminally responsible. She wrote about the alleged incident in her 2019 book, also accusing CBS Corporation executive Les Moonves of sexually assaulting her in an elevator in the late 1990s.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Moonves has also denied the charges, but Carroll hasn't sued him.
--:-- Ash Short: So, this allegedly happened sometime in the 90s. Why is this going to trial now?
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, this is a civil suit. Carroll published the allegations in 2019, at which point Trump denied it categorically.
--:-- Ash Short: Carroll sued Trump in 2019 after he told The Hill that Carroll was totally lying, that she's not his type, and it never happened.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The case has taken this long to get to trial because of a procedural back and forth over whether Trump was acting as an employee of the federal government when he made those claims.
--:-- Ash Short: The issue still hasn't been resolved. The case will be thrown out if it's determined Trump acted in his official capacity at the time he made the claim, because citizens can sue the government for defamation.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So, does Carroll have a case?
--:-- Ash Short: Normally, she probably does. She says the incident happened in the mid-90s, but critics point out that she didn't say anything about it until 2019.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The major problem for Carol's case is that she can't narrow down a timeline for the alleged incident, as Trump's attorney, Joe Tacopina, said in his opening statement.
--:-- Ash Short: He said that Carroll can't tell the date the incident happened or even the month or season or year it occurred. Yet she claims to remember the event itself in vivid detail.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Carol initially said she thought the incident occurred in 1994 or 1995. But since her friend Lisa Bernbach published an article about Trump in New York Magazine in February 1996, she believed it must have happened after that, since Bernbach wouldn't have written the article had she known about what Trump allegedly did.
--:-- Ash Short: Bernbach and another friend, Carol Martin, told New York Magazine that Carroll confided in them after the alleged incident. But in Carroll's favor is a deep hatred for Trump in New York, especially in New York City.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Carroll was able to add an allegation of battery to her defamation claim because of a recently adopted New York law that allows people claiming to be survivors of sexual abuse to sue their alleged attacker, even if the statute of limitations has run out for the crime.
--:-- Ash Short: Well, Georgia, another case against Trump and definitely one we'll be following. Thanks for reporting.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Anytime, Ash. That was Daily Wire senior editor Ash Short.
--:-- Georgia Howe: A couple of days after parting ways with Fox News, primetime host Tucker Carlson broke his silence in a two-minute video statement that has sparked lots of speculation.
--:-- John Bickley: Suddenly, the United States looks very much like a one-party state. That's a depressing realization, but it's not permanent.
--:-- Georgia Howe: What did Carlson reveal, and what have we learned about why the network dropped its most popular host?
--:-- Georgia Howe: Here to discuss Carlson's cryptic statement and the latest reports on his split with Fox is Daily Wire culture reporter Megan Basham.
--:-- Megan Basham: Yeah, it was intriguing to say the least. His fans and the media world had obviously been waiting for any direct statement from him for days. And finally, he drops this video that you have to say was the quintessential Carlson monologue, albeit, of course, under much different circumstances.
--:-- Georgia Howe: When honest people say what's true calmly and without embarrassment, they become powerful. At the same time, the liars who've been trying to silence them shrink and they become weaker. That's the iron law of the universe. True things prevail.
--:-- Megan Basham: Where can you still find Americans saying true things? There aren't many places left, but there are some, and that's enough. As long as you can hear the words, there is hope.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So sure to please his fans, as it does tease more to come, but no explanation for what just happened.
--:-- Megan Basham: Right. Now, to that question of why he's out at Fox, there have been a variety of theories flying around, and a number of outlets are now making claims based on supposed inside sources.
--:-- Georgia Howe: What are they saying?
--:-- Megan Basham: Well, I'd say the story that's getting the most attention right now comes from Vanity Fair. So their reporter said sources at Fox told him that a lot of factors, of course, played into it, but the final decision to pull the trigger came down to a speech that Carlson gave at a gala for the Heritage Foundation.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So Carlson framed the political divides the nation is facing right now as a spiritual battle. But when the treasury secretary stands up and says, you know what you can do to help the economy? Get an abortion. Well, that's like an Aztec principle, actually.
--:-- Megan Basham: There's not a society in history that didn't practice human sacrifice. Not one, I checked. What's the point of child sacrifice? Well, there's no policy goal entwined with that. No, that's a theological phenomenon.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And that kind of the point I'm making. None of this makes sense in conventional political terms. When people or crowds of people or the largest crowd of people at all, which is the federal government, decide that the goal is to destroy things, destruction for its own sake, hey, let's tear it down.
--:-- Megan Basham: What you're watching is not a political movement. It's evil. After that, he encouraged the audience to take 10 minutes a day to pray for the country.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, Vanity Fair's source said that Fox Corp chair Rupert Murdoch didn't like, quote, all the spiritual talk. And he particularly didn't like Carlson framing these debates as a struggle between good and evil.
--:-- Megan Basham: The story framed it as a last straw for Murdoch, who they say personally made the call to pull the plug on Carlson right then.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Vanity Fair says that explains why this decision seemed really abrupt.
--:-- Megan Basham: So that's one theory. You mentioned, though, that there are other factors that may have played into this as well. What are we hearing as far as those go?
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, a lot of focus immediately after the news broke, of course, centered on that $800 million Dominion settlement and whether some of the blame for that was being placed at Carlson's feet.
--:-- Megan Basham: But reports since then have mostly dismissed that, especially since Carlson's departure has already cost Fox about the same amount in market value.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal both say that people inside Fox told them that the bigger issue was Carlson's private texts that came out of the discovery process for that lawsuit.
--:-- Megan Basham: He spoke disparagingly of Fox bosses and said that they were hurting the network's credibility. He also used some fairly vulgar language referring to former Trump attorney Sidney Powell.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And then there's the other lawsuit that Fox is facing.
--:-- Megan Basham: So the Los Angeles Times said their inside sources, apparently everybody's got different inside sources, told them that the decision came down to a former producer, Abby Grossberg.
--:-- Georgia Howe: She's suing Fox for discrimination and claims that Carlson created a hostile work environment.
--:-- Megan Basham: Now, that video that dropped last night, notwithstanding, there's been some discussion of whether he'll have the freedom to take other jobs or start new media ventures on his own.
--:-- Georgia Howe: What do we know about that?
--:-- Megan Basham: Well, Carlson's contract reportedly runs through 2024 or 2025, and it's pretty certain that Fox had a non-compete clause in place.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And what that's going to mean is that Carlson wouldn't be able to take another job or launch any other new program on his own before the end of 2024.
--:-- Megan Basham: It's not even totally clear whether he's actually been officially fired yet. So he might be navigating some sort of exit agreement.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And what all of that could mean is that he could conceivably be benched for the entire presidential election season.
--:-- Megan Basham: All right. Well, Georgia, thanks so much for reporting.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Anytime, Megan. That was Daily Wire culture reporter Megan Basham.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Another story we're tracking this week. The Department of Justice filed a complaint Wednesday challenging a Tennessee bill that seeks to ban transgender medical procedures for minors.
--:-- John Bickley: The department argues that the law violates the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The Tennessee bill bans doctors from conducting sex change surgeries and administering puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children.
--:-- John Bickley: The DOJ is asking the court to issue an order to prevent the law from taking effect on July 1st.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's all the time we've got this morning. Thanks for waking up with us.
--:-- John Bickley: We'll be back later this afternoon with more news you need to know.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Thanks for listening to Morning Wire.
