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--:-- John Bickley: Good morning, I'm John Bickley, and this is Morning Wire. Joining me today is Georgia Howe.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Good morning, John. Thanks for having me.
--:-- John Bickley: We've got a lot to cover today. Ongoing protests in Cuba represent the most significant movement against the Cuban government in decades. Now, new information from the Biden administration signals a possible shift in U.S. policy towards the communist-controlled nation.
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--:-- John Bickley: What's fueling the protests, and how has the government responded?
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's right, John. We're going to dive into that story and more. But first, let's get to our top story. A federal judge rules against students who say a public university's vaccine mandate is unconstitutional.
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--:-- John Bickley: What does this mean for the ongoing debate over vaccine mandates? And the U.S. reaches another landmark in illegal border crossings. We'll take a look at the latest data and its implications for immigration policy.
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--:-- John Bickley: Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.
--:-- [Music transitions to a sponsor ad]
--:-- Announcer (Voiceover): This episode is sponsored by Expert Ownership. Over their career, the Benham brothers have built over a dozen businesses in a real estate portfolio that spans 35 states. They took their 40 years of experience building businesses and built a program to help you grow yours. Learn more at expertownership.com.
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--:-- John Bickley: Joining us to discuss the political fallout and the potential foreign policy implications is Daily Wire managing editor Cabot Phillips.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Thanks for having me.
--:-- John Bickley: So this story has really captured global attention over the last couple weeks. What makes these protests so significant?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Well, any demonstrations against the communist regime in Cuba are important because we just don't see this type of thing. This is the first mass protest Cuba has experienced since a change in government leadership last year.
--:-- John Bickley: For the past few decades under Fidel and Raul Castro, mass protests were violently shut down by the communist government, and leaders of opposition movements have often been jailed or murdered.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: But there's new leadership now under Miguel Diaz-Canel, so the world has been watching to see how the new regime is handling the pro-democracy demonstrations.
--:-- Georgia Howe: We've seen some troubling reports about the government cracking down.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Yeah, they've responded harshly. The Communist Party called on the military to suppress the protesters, saying, quote, the order to fight has been given.
--:-- John Bickley: And throughout the past week and a half, Black Berets, which are essentially special agents of the Communist Party, have been seen throughout the city violently detaining protesters.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: For example, one pro-democracy leader was in the middle of an interview with a Spanish news outlet when agents burst into her home and forcibly arrested her.
--:-- John Bickley: I spoke to one Cuban dissident who told me just how dangerous the protests are for those on the ground. The level of brutalization that the Cuban people have endured during the last week is immense.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: There have been beaten, there have been deaths, there have been at least 532 detained and missing people, but those are only the numbers that we have been able to verify. We estimate that the actual number to be in the thousands to get out of the crisis, we have to put an end up to the dictatorship.
--:-- John Bickley: And the Cuban government also reportedly shut down the nation's only Wi-Fi network, which they control, to prevent people from organizing and to keep videos of the protests from being shared with the outside world.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And how about political leaders in the U.S.? How are they approaching this?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Well, much of the original messaging from Democrats, including the Biden administration was centered on COVID Initially one White House official said last week that the protests were sparked by a quote concern about rising COVID cases not necessarily the oppressive government.
--:-- John Bickley: Senator Marco Rubio of Florida told The Daily Wire earlier that he disagreed with that assessment.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: These protests were not about COVID. These protests were not about food shortages. Cuba's been dealing with food shortages forever. And COVID is spreading throughout the world.
--:-- John Bickley: These protests were about what the protesters said they were about, libertad, which means liberty.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Now, as a result of the pushback, the White House seemed to walk those claims back at a press conference later in the week.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Press Secretary Jen Psaki called communism a, quote, failed ideology and said it had let down the people of Cuba.
--:-- John Bickley: President Biden issued a similar statement, which surprised many people.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Communism is a fail system, universally fail system. And I don't see socialism as a very useful substitute, But that's another story.
--:-- John Bickley: So should we expect to see any changes in U.S. policy towards Cuba?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: There have been two announcements so far from the administration, but nothing that you'd call groundbreaking.
--:-- Georgia Howe: First, the Biden administration said that they'd be looking into reversing a law that prevents Cuban exiles from sending money back to their families still on the island.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: President Trump had made that practice illegal in 2017 over concerns that the communist regime was simply taking the money for themselves.
--:-- John Bickley: The administration also announced that they're instructing the State Department to consider expanding their presence in Havana.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Republicans and Democrats don't agree on much lately. Are they at least aligned on Cuba?
--:-- Cabot Phillips: No. Many Republicans want to see a stronger stance against the communist regime. They say it's important to show support for the pro-democracy protesters.
--:-- John Bickley: Democrats, on the other hand, say the best way to support the Cuban people is by loosening economic sanctions against Cuba.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So now it's a waiting game to see if the administration will go any further.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Definitely a major movement developing in Cuba right now.
--:-- John Bickley: Thanks for coming on, Cabot.
--:-- Cabot Phillips: Anytime.
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--:-- John Bickley: Up next, a federal judge upholds a public university's vaccine mandate. If you like this podcast, subscribe to our Morning Wire newsletter, available exclusively to Daily Wire members.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Get the Morning Wire newsletter delivered straight to your inbox when you join at dailywire.com slash subscribe. Use code MORNINGWIRE to try a Reader's Pass membership and get your first month for only 99 cents.
--:-- John Bickley: A recent court ruling is stirring up the national debate over vaccine mandates.
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--:-- John Bickley: A federal judge sided with Indiana University on Monday, upholding the school's COVID vaccine mandate for students, faculty, and staff for the coming school year.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Here to tell us more is Daily Wire's Charlotte Pence Bond.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: Morning, John.
--:-- John Bickley: So a lawsuit over a university's vaccine mandate. Tell us about this case.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: Right. So eight of the students filed a lawsuit last month trying to halt the university's mandate. But a U.S. district judge ruled against their attempt, meaning that for now, the school can go ahead with its requirement this fall.
--:-- John Bickley: What are the students claiming here?
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: A few things. First, the lawsuit said that the university's mandate violates the liberty protected by the 14th Amendment. That includes rights of personal autonomy, bodily integrity, and the right to reject medical treatment.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The students also say the mandate violates Indiana law, since it's against the law for state and local units to require or issue immunization passports, except in certain situations.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: So state law doesn't allow requiring proof of vaccine, but the university does.
--:-- John Bickley: But the judge didn't side with the students here.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: No. He wrote an opinion noting that the university is presenting the students with a difficult choice but he said this doesn't amount to coercion.
--:-- John Bickley: He argued that the 14th Amendment allows the school to pursue a reasonable and due process of vaccination in the interest of public health.
--:-- Georgia Howe: He also said the students haven't established a likelihood of success.
--:-- John Bickley: So sounds like the judge didn't think their lawsuit would succeed.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: Right. So what exactly does the university require? Why are the students so upset?
--:-- John Bickley: That the school requires that students, faculty, and staff need to be fully vaccinated by August 15th or when they come back to campus.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: If anyone chooses not to get vaccinated, the school said that students' class registration would be canceled and their access to school systems and activities will be blocked.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Students will be totally cut off from the university.
--:-- John Bickley: If faculty and staff don't get vaccinated, they will be fired.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: Working remotely and not getting a vaccine was not an alternative choice.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Are there any exceptions? Is anyone allowed to not get the vaccine?
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: Yes, there are exemptions allowed, including for religious, ethical, or medical reasons.
--:-- John Bickley: Students in an all-online program can also be exempted.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: There are also some medical deferrals, including if someone is pregnant or actively breastfeeding.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So there's some situations where people wouldn't have to be vaccinated, but they're pretty strict.
--:-- John Bickley: But the lawsuit pointed out that the school still requires anyone who gets an exemption to follow extra requirements.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: These include mitigation testing twice a week and a mandatory quarantine if they're exposed to someone who has COVID.
--:-- Georgia Howe: They also have to wear masks in public spaces and must return to their home address if there's a serious outbreak on campus.
--:-- John Bickley: And those who are exempt but don't wear a face mask or do the mitigation testing, they face disciplinary action, which could include dismissal.
--:-- Georgia Howe: So what's next for this case?
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: The students plan to appeal the decision.
--:-- John Bickley: Their lawyer has also pointed out that no federal or state agencies mandate the vaccine.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The broader significance here, John, is that this could send a signal to other universities considering vaccine mandates.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: A significant ruling here on vaccines.
--:-- John Bickley: Thanks, Charlotte.
--:-- Charlotte Pence Bond: Anytime.
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--:-- John Bickley: Immigration has become a defining issue for the Biden administration, and the latest numbers show that the U.S. just reached a new milestone with illegal immigrant crossings.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Joining us to discuss the border situation is Daily Wire's Ben Johnson.
--:-- Ben Johnson: Morning, John.
--:-- John Bickley: Good morning, Ben. So illegal crossings have been climbing every month. What's the latest from the border?
--:-- Ben Johnson: The government just released the numbers for June, and they show near record levels of illegal border crossings.
--:-- John Bickley: Already this fiscal year, more than a million people have entered the U.S. illegally. That's the first time that's happened since 2006.
--:-- Ben Johnson: If the trend continues, that would mean a million illegal immigrants have already crossed the border since January.
--:-- Georgia Howe: We'll find that out next month.
--:-- John Bickley: The other important statistics, the number of illegal border crossings that took place last month, almost 189,000 illegal immigrants entered the U.S. in June.
--:-- Ben Johnson: That's the second highest number of monthly entries in U.S. history behind March of 2000.
--:-- John Bickley: So a record number going back a couple of decades.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Right. And the timing of the surge is also an issue.
--:-- Ben Johnson: The Biden administration has said the rising number of border crossings after his inauguration was part of a regular seasonal increase.
--:-- John Bickley: But there's nothing seasonal about an immigration surge in June.
--:-- Ben Johnson: Right. A spike over the summer is almost unheard of.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Usually border crossings reach their high around March and then fall over the summer when temperatures rise.
--:-- Ben Johnson: According to CBP statistics this is only the second time this century that border crossings increase between the months of May and June.
--:-- John Bickley: Border crossings fall in the summer because people don't want to cross the desert when the temperature is over 100 degrees.
--:-- Ben Johnson: Heat, exposure, and abandonment are putting people at risk.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The Border Patrol sent out 9,500 rescue missions this year to try and save illegal immigrants' lives.
--:-- Ben Johnson: That's an 81% increase over last year.
--:-- John Bickley: Wow. What's driving so many people to make such a dangerous journey?
--:-- Ben Johnson: The Biden administration primarily blames violence in Central America.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The GOP primarily blames President Biden.
--:-- Ben Johnson: On Tuesday, Republicans on the House Oversight and Reform Committee released a 37-page report documenting every Biden administration policy they believe has given the world the message that our border is open.
--:-- John Bickley: So partisan division, no surprise there.
--:-- Ben Johnson: What are some of the policy changes Republicans highlighted?
--:-- Georgia Howe: They point to President Biden announcing a 100-day freeze on deportations and lifting a policy requiring would-be entrants to stay in Mexico.
--:-- Ben Johnson: He also reversed a series of asylum agreements that President Trump had signed, which kept asylum seekers waiting outside the United States.
--:-- John Bickley: Republicans also noted that President Biden essentially reinstated the catch-and-release policy.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And, of course, he stopped building the wall on the southern border.
--:-- Ben Johnson: So they say it's not one particular policy, it's the combination.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's right. With the numbers adding up, is Biden done changing policies?
--:-- Ben Johnson: No, more changes are coming, and soon.
--:-- John Bickley: Now the Biden administration is talking about lifting Title 42.
--:-- Ben Johnson: That lets border officials expel illegal immigrants during times of disease outbreaks, like COVID-19.
--:-- Georgia Howe: More than 200,000 entrants were deported under Title 42 in the last two months alone.
--:-- Ben Johnson: Officials announced that the president's considering lifting that policy by the end of this month.
--:-- John Bickley: So we might have more months like this ahead.
--:-- Ben Johnson: Thanks for the reporting.
--:-- John Bickley: Thanks for having me.
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--:-- John Bickley: Those are the top stories this morning, but there's more in the news to keep an eye on.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Other big developments that we're tracking this week.
--:-- John Bickley: A 38-year-old Florida man was sentenced to eight months in prison on Monday for his involvement with the January 6th riots.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Paul Hodgkins pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of an official proceeding, acknowledging his intention to obstruct the certification of the 2020 election.
--:-- John Bickley: It's the first felony sentence related to January 6th.
--:-- Georgia Howe: With violent crime in Portland reaching a 30-year high, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is now vowing to, quote, fight for more police.
--:-- John Bickley: The city lost 125 members of the police force over the past year due to budget cuts and resignations.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Last September, Wheeler publicly aligned with the Defund the Police movement, supporting a $15 million budget cut.
--:-- John Bickley: And Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made history Tuesday, successfully completing an all-civilian space voyage aboard Blue Origin spacecraft New Shepard.
--:-- Georgia Howe: The spacecraft launched 66 miles above Earth, then descended in a parachute-aided landing in West Texas.
--:-- John Bickley: In total, the voyage lasted just over 10 minutes.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Along with Virgin Galactic's recent launch, this marks the beginning of the space tourism industry.
--:-- John Bickley: 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 leave us a five-star review.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's all the time we've got this morning.
--:-- John Bickley: Thanks for waking up with us.
--:-- Georgia Howe: We'll be back tomorrow with the news you need to know.
--:-- John Bickley: If you prefer facts over feelings and aren't offended by the truth, join me, Ben Shapiro, on The Ben Shapiro Show Monday through Friday to get a whole lot of that and much more on the fastest moving daily news program in America.
--:-- Georgia Howe: We'll see you there.
