--:-- [Theme music fades out]
--:-- Georgia Howe: This episode is brought to you by LifeLock. Between two-factor authentication, strong passwords, and a VPN, you try to be in control of how your info is protected. But many other places also have it, and they might not be as careful. That's why LifeLock monitors hundreds of millions of data points a second for threats. If your identity is stolen, they'll fix it. Guaranteed or your money back. Save up to 40% your first year. Visit LifeLock.com slash podcast for 40% off. Terms apply.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The fallout for Governor Andrew Cuomo over a bombshell sexual harassment report intensifies. With high-profile resignations among Cuomo's inner circle, we'll look at the latest on the scandal and what it all means for New York's governor. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire editor-in-chief John Bickley. It's Tuesday, August 10th, and this is Morning Wire.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The ACLU takes legal action against the Biden administration over Title 42, which fast-tracks deportations to protect against the spread of COVID-19. We'll take a look at the lawsuit and its potential impact on the border. And fake vaccine cards are flooding the black market amid rising vaccine mandates. What are the implications of this growing underground industry?
--:-- Georgia Howe: Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Sexual harassment scandal continues to gain steam, several high-profile members of his inner circle have announced their resignations. Here to discuss is Daily Wire's Ian Howarth. Great to be here, Georgia.
--:-- Ian Howarth: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So last week, New York Attorney General Letitia James released a report concluding that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women. What's the latest on this?
--:-- Ian Howarth: Well, pressure is mounting on Cuomo to resign, with both President Biden and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio rounding on the governor. While Cuomo hasn't budged, Melissa DeRosa, Cuomo's right-hand woman, announced her resignation on Sunday night.
--:-- Georgia Howe: DeRosa joined the Cuomo administration in 2013 as his comms director and rose to become what the New York Times described as the most powerful appointed official in the state. So why is she resigning?
--:-- Ian Howarth: Well, in her statement, DeRosa claims that the past two years have been emotionally and mentally trying, but there's a lot more at play here. First, DeRosa is being implicated in the attorney general's report. Some outlets have reported that she's mentioned as often as Cuomo and that she fostered a toxic work environment.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Another example the attorney general included was that DeRosa requested the full file of Lindsay Boylan, a woman who publicly accused Cuomo of being, quote, one of the biggest abusers of all time.
--:-- Ian Howarth: DeRosa also played a part in releasing confidential files about Boylan to the media to try and damage her credibility, and also helped draft an unpublished op-ed about Boylan, an act James described as unlawful retaliation.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So the allegation here is that DeRosa was directly involved in covering this up?
--:-- Ian Howarth: Right.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And DeRosa's resignation came as another Cuomo accuser spoke with the media about her experience, having filed a criminal complaint. What he did to me was a crime. He broke the law.
--:-- Ian Howarth: And then there's the far larger scandal, arguably being swept under the rug, the fallout from Cuomo's nursing home policies, after which they attempted to conceal data on death counts.
--:-- Georgia Howe: During a private call in February with state Democrats which was uncovered by the New York Post DeRosa admitted the Cuomo administration intentionally withheld the number of COVID nursing home deaths because they were scared of the political backlash.
--:-- Ian Howarth: One assembly member who was on the call spoke up about the nursing home deaths and then claimed that Cuomo threatened his career if he didn't cover for DeRosa and what she said.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And DeRosa isn't the only person whose career is falling apart because of this, though. That's very true.
--:-- Ian Howarth: Roberta Kaplan, co-founder of the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund, also got caught up in this. She resigned from the Me Too organization after she was named in the attorney general's report as having also consulted on the very same op-ed about a Cuomo accuser that DeRosa was involved with.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So she works with Time's Up, but she was involved in drafting this retaliation piece against Cuomo's accuser?
--:-- Ian Howarth: Yeah, exactly.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And during the investigation, Kaplan, again, a co-founder of a Me Too legal defense fund, was serving as an attorney to DeRosa, whose boss, Cuomo, was under investigation for sexual harassment.
--:-- Ian Howarth: Yeah, bad luck.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So big picture here, people in Cuomo's inner circle have been resigning over this, but he's still hanging on.
--:-- Ian Howarth: Yeah, that seems to be the case. The question for Cuomo right now really hinges on a few factors. First, whether any criminal charges will be leveled against him, and second, whether he is impeached.
--:-- Georgia Howe: We'll obviously have to wait on these topics, but many are pointing out that Cuomo might just try and weather the storm.
--:-- Ian Howarth: After all, the COVID-19 scandal was being talked about in conservative circles back in the spring of 2020, and allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo have been swirling around for years.
--:-- Georgia Howe: We should also remember that Chris Cuomo, the governor's younger brother, is also part of this ongoing story, being heavily criticized for his parallel role as a news anchor for CNN and a close advisor of Andrew Cuomo.
--:-- Ian Howarth: Only made worse after an uncovered email showed that Chris Cuomo helped draft a statement for his brother to combat claims of sexual harassment.
--:-- Ian Howarth: Yeah, so really a lot of moving parts here, but we're going to have to wait to understand what the outcomes are for the Cuomo brothers as these scandals only continue to grow.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Definitely. Thanks for the update, Ian.
--:-- Ian Howarth: My pleasure.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Daily Wires, Ian Howarth. Up next, the ACLU pushes ahead with its lawsuit against the Biden administration.
--:-- Georgia Howe: You can get this show and all of the content you love wherever you are, All on the Daily Wire app. Even if you're not a Daily Wire member, you'll be the first to know what's trending with mobile notifications for the latest news, and you'll get content from all your favorite Daily Wire shows. Download the Daily Wire app and keep up with the facts, no matter where your day takes you.
--:-- Georgia Howe: A group of organizations, including the ACLU, is revamping its lawsuit against the Biden administration over the use of Title 42 with regard to deporting migrants. Here to discuss the situation is Daily Wire's Charlotte Pence Bond. Charlotte, welcome.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So tell us about this. The ACLU has decided to sue the Biden administration?
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: Yes, the organizations previously filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over Title 42 and agreed to negotiate with the Biden administration to end the policy earlier this year. But they've reached an impasse, and now they're pushing the lawsuit through again.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Give us some background here. What exactly is Title 42?
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: Yeah, sure. Title 42 is part of the U.S. code that has to do with public health and welfare. It allows the government to be able to take emergency steps to stop the introduction of communicable diseases into the U.S. Like COVID.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Right. The measure was reportedly used by the Trump administration to expel migrants who were coming into the U.S. and not allow them to seek asylum.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: Organizations like the ACLU sued the Trump administration and are still seeking an immediate halt to the policy which they say restricts immigration at the border quote based on an unprecedented and unlawful invocation of the Public Health Service Act.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And now they're suing the new administration?
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: Yes. The lead lawyer on the case said that they gave the Biden administration quote more than enough time to fix any problems left behind by the Trump administration. They said it has left them no choice but to return to court.
--:-- Georgia Howe: What's the Biden administration saying about all this?
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: Well, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki punted the decision to the CDC last week. The president views it as a public health measure where the CDC is going to continue to provide guidance on how long it needs to be in place.
--:-- Georgia Howe: We have not given a timeline of when they will lift Title 42, but we will look for them to provide us that guidance.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: Later in the day, the CDC put out a statement explaining they had extended the measure suspending non-citizens from coming into the U.S. who are migrating through Canada or Mexico.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The agency said that it would remain where it is for now, but they look at it again every 60 days. Unaccompanied migrant children are exempted from the order.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: So probably another two months before the CDC reviews it again.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Right. What are border officials saying about this?
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: In May, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Tay Johnson told lawmakers that Title 42 was critical to their operations.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The only way we've been able to survive and have so few COVID-related deaths in custody over the last 15 months has been because of Title 42.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: This all comes as COVID continues to be a concern at the border, especially for those who work to secure it.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Right. Border Patrol Union President Brandon Judd said that they have agents coming down with the virus.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: He also said that the Biden administration isn't being forthright about the migrants who are released into the U.S. under the catch and release program.
--:-- Georgia Howe: We're going to exceed 200,000 apprehensions in the month of July. 40% of those people were released into the United States to spread throughout our communities, a lot of whom very well could have COVID, but we don't know because we don't test them.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: He added that well over 20% of unaccompanied children are testing positive for COVID. 20%?
--:-- Georgia Howe: Wow. Reports also say that the Biden administration plans to vaccinate migrants at the border, although this would not apply to those expelled under Title 42.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: Well, thanks for the reporting.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Thanks for having me on.
--:-- Georgia Howe: More governments and businesses around the world are requiring people to provide proof that they've received the COVID vaccine to work, travel, or dine. Many Americans are undermining those mandates by buying or forging their own fake vaccination cards. Here to tell us more is Daily Wire's reporter, Ben Johnson. Thanks for coming on, Ben.
--:-- Ben Johnson: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So some Americans are trying to forge their own vaccine passports. How widespread is this?
--:-- Ben Johnson: We don't know for certain. The Justice Department says it doesn't have any definitive numbers. But the authorities have reported that websites like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy have carried ads for imitation vaccination cards.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And we know there's international demand, especially in areas with more restrictive laws for unvaccinated people.
--:-- Ben Johnson: And how hard is it to forge the vaccination cards?
--:-- Georgia Howe: For U.S. cards, it's very easy. They're just white cardboard. Anyone could print up a forgery on their home printer.
--:-- Ben Johnson: International cards are much more difficult. The EU's cards, for example, contain a digital code linked to a national database of everyone who's been vaccinated.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The U.S. has no national database thanks to privacy concerns and a 1998 ban led by former Congressman Ron Paul.
--:-- Ben Johnson: And are they expensive? I mean, what kind of prices are people paying to get a fake card?
--:-- Georgia Howe: U.S. prices range anywhere from $13 for a pack of 10 up to $200 a piece.
--:-- Ben Johnson: Wow. Overseas Europeans are paying about 100 euros for a copy of the EU smart cards.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So people are willing to part with a lot of money to have access to basic services.
--:-- Ben Johnson: What happens to people who get caught though? Is the government cracking down on this?
--:-- Georgia Howe: The FBI announced in March that forging the CDC logo that's on each card constitutes the illegal misuse of a government seal. Each offense is punishable by a $5,000 fine and five years in prison.
--:-- Ben Johnson: Wow. And has anyone actually been prosecuted for this yet?
--:-- Georgia Howe: Yes. In July, federal agents arrested a homeopathic doctor in California for selling pills that she claimed were a natural cure for COVID-19.
--:-- Ben Johnson: Along with the pills, she sent all of her customers a fake vaccination card saying they'd received the Moderna vaccine.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The Biden Justice Department said that the pills put people's lives at risk, but that it was, quote, even worse that she sent out fake vaccination cards.
--:-- Ben Johnson: So some pretty severe penalties. Oh, yes.
--:-- Georgia Howe: California state authorities arrested a bar owner named Todd Anderson for selling his patrons fake vaccination cards. He's now facing three felonies, including identity theft for allegedly stealing the identity of Pfizer and the CDC.
--:-- Ben Johnson: Other governments are emphasizing financial punishments. Two Canadians who returned to Toronto from the U.S. have been charged with forging their vaccination cards. The Canadian government fined them $16,000 American dollars or $20,000 in their own currency.
--:-- Ben Johnson: And what's driving the demand for this? Is this all related to vaccine mandates?
--:-- Georgia Howe: Yeah, the talk of vaccine passports is a major factor. Some governments require anyone without proof of vaccination to wear masks or take weekly COVID tests, which are quite uncomfortable.
--:-- Ben Johnson: Other venues deny those people the right to work, attend college, or travel. With vaccination rates flatlining, many public figures are calling on politicians to make life so difficult for unvaccinated people that they have little choice but to get the vaccine.
--:-- Georgia Howe: For example, former Congressman Joe Scarborough. At some point, you know what? We've got to say you can't work for the federal government if you don't have a vaccine. You can't teach school if you don't have a vaccine. You can't work in hospitals if you don't have a vaccine. You can't work with our parents and grandparents at long-care term facilities if you don't have a vaccine.
--:-- Ben Johnson: Any economist will tell you throughout history, whenever the government restricts access to goods with a high demand, a black market always develops.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, it certainly has here.
--:-- Ben Johnson: Thanks for reporting.
--:-- Georgia Howe: My pleasure.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Other big developments that we're tracking this week. President Biden signed an executive order last week calling for zero emissions vehicles to represent half of all new vehicles sold in 2030. The president held a summit at the White House, which notably excluded Tesla.
--:-- Georgia Howe: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki implied that Tesla was not included due to its lack of unionization, saying that the companies invited were, quote, the three largest employers of the United Auto Workers.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And Democrats have announced how much their budget proposal will cost, putting the price at $3.5 trillion dollars.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Among other items, the package is expected to include various climate policies, including polluter import fees.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Democrats plan to get the package through with only 51 votes by using the budget reconciliation process because no Republican senators are expected to vote for it.
--:-- Georgia Howe: If you like this episode and are interested in hearing more, subscribe to Morning Wire on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening and give us a five-star review.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's all the time we've got this morning. Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back tomorrow with the news you need to know.
--:-- Georgia Howe: If you like this podcast, subscribe to our Morning Wire newsletter, available exclusively to Daily Wire members. Get the Morning Wire newsletter delivered straight to your inbox when you join at dailywire.com slash subscribe.
--:-- [Theme music starts playing]
--:-- Georgia Howe: Thanks for listening to Morning Wire.
