--:-- Georgia Howe: I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire editor-in-chief John Bickley. It's Wednesday, October 26th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.
--:-- John Bickley: In the New York governor's race, incumbent Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul faced her GOP challenger, Congressman Lee Zeldin, on the debate stage on Tuesday night.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Zeldin is facing an uphill battle in the reliably blue Empire State, but has been surging in recent weeks.
--:-- John Bickley: Zeldin focused on crime, inflation and immigration throughout the debate.
--:-- Georgia Howe: This governor, who still to this moment, we're halfway through the debate, she still hasn't talked about locking up anyone committing any crimes.
--:-- John Bickley: Okay. Anyone who commits a crime under our laws, especially with the change we made to bail, has consequences.
--:-- Georgia Howe: For her part, Hochul focused on tying Zeldin to former President Donald Trump while defending her record on issues like climate change and the pandemic.
--:-- John Bickley: You've been an election denier, a climate change denier. You and Donald Trump were the masterful COVID deniers.
--:-- Georgia Howe: We are dealing with a real crisis. And the more people get vaccinated, get those shots in arms. And I would do it all over again what I did last year, that mandate for health care workers.
--:-- John Bickley: Since early voting began on October 17th in Georgia, more than one million people have voted via early mail and absentee ballots, smashing previous records.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Democratic leaders had voiced concerns that a 2021 voting law signed by incumbent Governor Brian Kemp would lead to voter disenfranchisement.
--:-- John Bickley: Speaking on behalf of the president, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre claimed that voter suppression and record turnout can happen simultaneously.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And speaking generally, of course, more broadly, of course, high turnout and voter suppression can take place at the same time. They don't have to be one doesn't have to happen on its own. They could be happening at the same time
--:-- John Bickley: But I leave it there without being able to really dig into the politics of this
--:-- Georgia Howe: According to data released by the Mortgage Bankers Association on Wednesday the average U mortgage interest rate is officially at the highest level since 2001 at 7.16 percent.
--:-- John Bickley: A South Carolina judge ruled on Wednesday that Trump's ex-chief of staff, Mark Meadows, must testify in an Atlanta-area grand jury investigation regarding alleged 2020 presidential election meddling.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Meadows currently lives in South Carolina, which is why prosecutors asked the Paul Meadows State Court to take action in the case.
--:-- John Bickley: The three men accused of plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer were convicted on all charges this morning.
--:-- Georgia Howe: In addition to a conspiracy charge, they were also convicted on gun charges and for gang membership.
--:-- John Bickley: A jury in Waukesha, Wisconsin, found Daryl Brooks guilty on all six charges of homicide after he drove an SUV into a Christmas parade and killed half a dozen people last year.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Lawyers for a Missouri woman filed a federal lawsuit this past week against cosmetic manufacturers L'Oreal and four other companies for allegedly contributing to an increased risk of uterine cancer related to chemical hair straightening products.
--:-- John Bickley: On Wednesday, Pennsylvania Republican state representatives announced that they will be filing articles of impeachment against Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who has been criticized for his lax criminal policies.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, those are your drive home updates this afternoon.
--:-- John Bickley: To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.
--:-- John Bickley: From all of us here at Morning Wire, we hope you're enjoying the show.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Did you know that if you subscribe to Daily Wire Plus, you can get access to all Daily Wire has to offer? That means news, commentary, documentaries, movies, and so much more.
--:-- John Bickley: Become a subscriber today. Download the Daily Wire Plus app and take us with you wherever you go.
