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--:-- John Bickley: This episode is brought to you by LifeLock. When you visit the doctor, you probably hand over your insurance, your ID, and contact details. It's just one of the many places that has your personal info. And if any of them accidentally expose it, you could be at risk for identity theft. LifeLock monitors millions of data points a second. If you become a victim, they'll fix it, guaranteed, or your money back. Save up to 40% your first year at LifeLock.com slash podcast. Terms apply.
--:-- John Bickley: The Olympics are well underway, but drama off the field is drawing the most attention. We'll discuss the decision of an American-born gold medal winner to represent China, and the abrupt retirement of tennis star Peng Shui, who made an appearance at the Games. I'm John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Wednesday, February 9th, and this is Morning Wire.
--:-- Georgia Howe: A new equity initiative from the federal government will distribute smoking kits for drug users in underserved communities. What's the theory behind this initiative? What else will be included in the $30 million grant? And the potentially explosive situation in Ukraine continues. How are other countries responding to Russia's refusal to de-escalate? This and more. Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned.
--:-- John Bickley: This show is sponsored by Dwell. As we move into 2022, don't forget to carve out space and time for your spiritual life. The Dwell Bible app makes it fun and easy to get into the Bible by providing a world-class listening experience of scripture. Today, you can try Dwell for free by going to dwellapp.io slash morningwire. That's dwellapp.io slash morningwire. In this new year, invest in your spiritual life. Let God's word be read over you using Dwell.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The Beijing Winter Olympics are in full swing, and the storylines are beginning to take shape. Here with an Olympics update is Daily Wire sports reporter Joe Morgan. Joe, what do you have for us?
--:-- Joe Morgan: Well, John, it's been a difficult start to the Olympics for the Americans, as we've won just five total medals with zero gold. In fact, even when an American has won a gold medal, it's gone to another country. Allow me to explain.
--:-- Joe Morgan: The spotlight has been firmly on freestyle skiing sensation Eileen Gu in Beijing, but it hasn't been because of her immense talent. It's because of what Gu represents. So she is an American, born and raised in San Francisco, California, but she's not skiing under the American flag in Beijing. Gu is representing the country of China in the 2022 Games.
--:-- Joe Morgan: In 2019, Gu made the announcement to ski for her mother's home country of China, and as you can imagine, her decision has created quite a few critics. There's been a lot of buzz about that. And she's already seen success, right?
--:-- Joe Morgan: Yeah, I mean, she's a star, John. On Tuesday morning in Beijing, Gu won gold in the women's big air. After the event, she was asked about her citizenship. For those who don't know, China does not allow dual citizenship. So it makes many wonder whether Gu was forced to give up her U.S. citizenship in order to compete or if China made an exemption in order to allow Gu to compete on the Chinese roster.
--:-- Joe Morgan: Are you still a U.S. citizen or how's that work? I've always been super outspoken in my gratitude to the U.S., to the U.S. team as well. They have been nothing but supportive to me. And so for that, I'm forever grateful. And same to the Chinese team. They have been so, so supportive of me. We're all out here doing this together. We're pushing the sport together, especially women's skiing.
--:-- Joe Morgan: So really a non Correct She was pressed by a different reporter to answer the question and really answered in a similar fashion
--:-- Joe Morgan: And I understand that there was an interesting sighting at the women big air competition right Another famous name Another famous name Yeah Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai was in attendance. And that's just one day after denying ever making sexual assault claims against a senior Chinese official and announcing her retirement from competitive tennis.
--:-- Joe Morgan: So we've got an abrupt retirement amid all the controversy over the allegations. Yeah, I mean, it's troubling. Peng met with IOC President Thomas Bach at the event. Peng said that she would be entering, quote, quarantine and leaving the closed loop.
--:-- Joe Morgan: So look, there's been a lot of questions around the Peng situation and how the IOC has handled this, and this obviously does not help. No, it's not a good look for the IOC at all. It's not. I mean, they've basically gone along with whatever China and Peng have said on the matter of the sexual assault allegations, while others, like the Women's Tennis Association, have actually taken action.
--:-- Joe Morgan: And there's been some rough stories regarding athletes who have tested positive for COVID-19 while in Beijing, right? Yeah, athletes have complained of receiving the same exact meal three times each day, with one Olympian sharing a picture of the food. It was a very basic meal, not appetizing stuff, John.
--:-- Joe Morgan: Of course, the IOC has backed China on the matter, saying they feel for the athletes. Yeah.
--:-- Joe Morgan: Joe, thanks. Yeah, I appreciate it, John. It's Daily Wire sports reporter, Joe Morgan.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Coming up, a new federal grant will fund drug paraphernalia. The Daily Wire is proud to announce our exclusive partnership with Good Ranchers, the 100% American meat company. Did you know 85% of the grass-fed beef sold in stores and online is imported from overseas? With Good Ranchers, you help support local American farms and ranches while getting steakhouse quality cuts. Head on over to GoodRanchers.com slash wire or use code wire at checkout to get their biggest offer ever. $30 off of your first order plus free express shipping. Visit GoodRanchers.com slash wire today.
--:-- Georgia Howe: A controversial new federal program will provide free smoking kits for drug users along with other drug paraphernalia in the name of public health. The $30 million program will fund safe smoking kits for drug users and will prioritize people who are black or LGBT. Daily Wire investigative reporter Maraid Elordi has the details.
--:-- Maraid Elordi: So, Maraid, tell us about this plan. Yeah, so the Biden administration is pioneering a program to distribute clean syringes, as well as what they're calling safe smoking kits to users. This is part of a controversial effort to make smoking crack cocaine, crystal meth, and other illegal drugs more, again, as they put it, safe.
--:-- Maraid Elordi: This effort comes from a $30 million grant program funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. It plans to fund nonprofit groups and local governments in order to distribute the supplies. The idea behind the program is that it will reduce infections among drug users. The program goes into effect in May and is set to last three years.
--:-- Maraid Elordi: Now, we should note that the Biden administration is emphasizing health equity in this program, which the administration defines as the right to access quality health care regardless of, and they list these out, race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or geographical location.
--:-- Maraid Elordi: The grant specifies the need for treatment and addiction-related support in Black communities, and specifically among Black women. This has led some critics to dub the program Crack Pipes for Equity. Right. Well, a lot of communities are pretty resistant to programs like this.
--:-- Maraid Elordi: Yeah, the idea of a taxpayer-funded crack pipe program has definitely raised some eyebrows, especially in light of the suggestion that Black neighborhoods would be prioritized for distribution Now this is presumably a response to the country current drug crisis correct That right
--:-- Maraid Elordi: And sadly the problem has gotten much worse in recent years with the massive influx of fentanyl. Not to mention, crystal meth is also flooding the drug market and is one of the drugs that these smoking kits are designed for.
--:-- Maraid Elordi: Take into account that most experts agree that the meth, opioid, and other drug crises have contributed to a mental illness and homelessness crisis over the last two decades. So the problem is very real.
--:-- Maraid Elordi: That said, not everyone is on board with programs like this. Police chiefs in places like Oregon and Washington State, where illegal drug use is rampant, have criticized laws that make it harder to address drug use. They say lenient laws are misguided and that they very often contribute to a vicious cycle of violence and addiction.
--:-- Maraid Elordi: So beyond safe smoking kits, what else is in this plan? Well, they're also wanting to provide what they're calling harm reduction vending machines to distribute other supplies. The program also funds HIV and drug testing kits, overdose reversal medication, safe sex kits that include condoms, and hepatitis vaccination services, among several other things.
--:-- Maraid Elordi: Well, I have to admit this seems like a counterintuitive way to address a drug crisis. Maraid, thanks for reporting. Thanks, Georgia. That's Daily Wire investigative reporter Maraid Elordi.
--:-- Georgia Howe: With Russia threatening to invade Ukraine, world leaders are attempting to deescalate tensions in Eastern Europe. Here to give us the latest is Daily Wire's Ian Howarth. So, Ian, what's going on with Ukraine? Last time we spoke, Russia was sending troops to the Ukraine border, and it was kind of unclear what their intention was.
--:-- Ian Howarth: Well, the main updates revolve around world leaders who are trying to prevent military action. To start, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. In an interview with a French weekly journal before leaving for Russia, he said that, quote, the intensity of the dialogue we have had with Russia and this visit to Moscow are likely to prevent a military invasion from happening.
--:-- Ian Howarth: He said that he wants to build historic solutions with Putin before saying that the geopolitical objective of Russia is not the occupation of Ukraine, but the clarification of rules of cohabitation with NATO and the EU. The security and sovereignty of Ukraine or any other European state cannot be subject for compromise, he said, adding that it is, quote, also legitimate for Russia to pose the question of its own security.
--:-- Ian Howarth: This effectively added credence to the Russian messaging on the subject that they are simply reacting to the potential expansion of NATO to encompass the Western-leaning Ukraine. And on Tuesday, Macron said that Putin assured him that there will be no further military escalation, but it's not clear whether the Russian government is supporting this.
--:-- Ian Howarth: Then shifting focus to the US, President Biden is hosting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Washington, D.C. This follows criticism of Germany that they're not doing enough to help Ukraine, such as their refusal to send weapons. They did offer 5,000 helmets, though, which Kiev's mayor described as a joke.
--:-- Ian Howarth: But as we've discussed before, Germany's position is complicated because they rely on Russia for energy, and made even more so given that Joe Biden is now threatening to cut off the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if Russia does invade. If Russia invades, that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine again, then there will be no longer a Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it.
--:-- Ian Howarth: But how will you do that exactly since the project and control of the project is within Germany control We will I promise you we be able to do it
--:-- Ian Howarth: Now before you go has the U position on Ukraine changed at all since we last reported Not really, no. New satellite images have shown that the Russian movement of military equipment has accelerated, and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said that military action could happen at any time.
--:-- Ian Howarth: Well, what I can tell you, Martha, is that we are in the window. Any day now, Russia could take military action against Ukraine, or it could be a couple of weeks from now, or Russia could choose to take the diplomatic path instead.
--:-- Ian Howarth: So with NATO also announcing that they're considering a longer term military posture in Eastern Europe to strengthen deterrence, we pretty much remain in the same position, which is waiting to see what Russia does next and whether Western leaders are successful in their attempts to de-escalate the situation.
--:-- Ian Howarth: Well, there's a lot to consider here. Ian, thanks for keeping us updated. Of course. That's Daily Wire's Ian Howarth.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Other stories we're tracking this week. The Biden administration has assembled a task force to work on recalculating the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. The group is asking hospitals to report with more clarity whether patients are there because of COVID or for other reasons but happen to test positive.
--:-- Georgia Howe: On Tuesday, Republican Governor of Texas Greg Abbott filed a preliminary injunction asking the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas to protect the non-federalized Texas National Guard members against the Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccine orders. In a statement, Abbott said the governor of Texas does not take orders from the president of the United States.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Some soft on crime policies are being walked back in New York. On Monday, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg announced that all armed burglaries will again be charged as a felony, rather than downgraded to petty larceny, whether or not the weapon is operable, loaded, or pointed at the victim. Bragg also walked back directives on suspects resisting arrest. The office now will prosecute attacks on police during arrests.
--:-- Georgia Howe: A survey from the National Federation of Independent Businesses found that 61% of small businesses raised their prices in January. the highest rate seen in 48 years. Price hikes were most pronounced in wholesale, manufacturing, retail, and construction.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, has filed a lawsuit against Insider.com over two stories containing allegations from women of sexual misconduct. Portnoy has consistently denied the allegations and is accusing Insider of, quote, willful and unlawful defamation and privacy rights violations. Insider says it will defend the case vigorously.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And California is set to end its indoor mask mandate for vaccinated people in most indoor settings next week. The mask mandate will remain for some areas, such as inside K-12 schools and on public transportation.
--:-- Georgia Howe: If you liked 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. 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: The Daily Wire is proud to announce our exclusive partnership with Good Ranchers, the 100% American meat company. Did you know 85% of the grass-fed beef sold in stores and online is imported from overseas? With Good Ranchers, you help support local American farms and ranches while getting steakhouse quality cuts. Head on over to goodranchers.com slash wire or use code wire at checkout to get their biggest offer ever. $30 off of your first order plus free express shipping. Visit goodranchers.com slash wire today.
