Biden Pardons Hunter & Syria Rebels Takeover | 12.2.24

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary Episode: Biden Pardons Hunter & Syria Rebels Takeover | December 2, 2024

---

Introduction

In this episode of Morning Wire, Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley and co-host Georgia Howe delve into significant political developments, including President Biden's controversial pardon of his son Hunter Biden, former President Trump's strategic moves within the Justice Department, advancements in border security with Canada and Mexico, and the tumultuous situation in Syria with rebel forces overtaking Aleppo. The discussion is enriched with expert insights and notable quotes from key figures, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of these pivotal events.

---

1. President Biden Pardons Hunter Biden

The episode opens with a bombshell revelation as President Biden announces the full and unconditional pardon of his son, Hunter Biden. This decision marks a stark reversal from previous assurances and has ignited debates about accountability and the integrity of the judicial process.

• John Bickley [00:03]: "In a stunning reversal, President Biden announces that he's pardoning his son Hunter."

• Georgia Howe [00:09]: "Well, Joe Biden just made clear his son Hunter is above the law."

Hunter Biden's legal troubles included a federal conviction for lying about his substance abuse on a firearms application and multiple tax charges in California, which could have resulted in up to 17 years in prison. Despite initial promises from the Biden administration to refrain from such interventions, the pardon was swiftly executed.

• Hunter Biden's Statement [03:06]: "I will never take the clemency I've been given today for granted and will devote the life I rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering."

Georgia Howe highlights Biden's justification for the pardon, suggesting that Hunter was "singled out only because he is my son," and accused the Department of Justice of political weaponization.

• Georgia Howe [01:53]: "President Biden alleging weaponization of the DOJ there."

This unprecedented move has significant implications for public trust in the administration and raises questions about legal equity and political favoritism.

---

2. Trump Appoints Cash Patel as FBI Director

Amidst the unfolding pardon controversy, former President Trump makes a substantial appointment to the FBI, signaling his ongoing battle against what he perceives as corruption within the Justice Department.

• John Bickley [03:20]: "This comes on the heels of Trump shaking things up when it comes to the Justice Department and corruption there."

• Georgia Howe [03:38]: "Cash Patel will serve as the next FBI director. Patel is no doubt a political outsider. Ideologically, he's routinely called for the dismantling of the bureaucratic deep state and pushed for major institutional reforms."

Cash Patel's extensive background—from a public defender to senior director for counterterrorism—positions him as a formidable figure aligned with Trump's agenda to "drain the swamp." His previous work, including the book Government Gangsters, outlines a blueprint for reforming federal agencies by eliminating inefficiency and combating politicization.

• Cash Patel [04:56]: "Go be cops."

Patel's appointment is seen as a strategic move to restore integrity within the FBI and address allegations of the department's misuse of power, particularly concerning the debunked Russia collusion narrative.

---

3. Trump's Advancements in Border Security

Trump reports significant progress in securing the U.S. borders, citing cooperation from Canada and Mexico, as well as unexpected support from some traditionally hostile blue states.

• John Bickley [07:06]: "Donald Trump raised eyebrows during his campaign when he said he could solve America's problems before even taking office. Now he claims he's already making progress on immigration."

• Georgia Howe [07:24]: "Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to stop migration through Mexico and into the United States, effectively closing our southern border." [07:24]

Despite initial denials from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum regarding border closures, Trump leverages threats of imposing a 25% tariff on both Canada and Mexico to compel concessions aimed at curbing illegal immigration and fentanyl flow.

• Cash Patel [08:20]: "Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on both Canada and Mexico unless they stem the tide of drugs and illegal immigrants entering the United States over their borders."

The Canadian response, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, includes commitments to tighten northern border security, motivated by the substantial economic interdependence between the two nations.

Additionally, a significant development comes from New York's Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, who has pledged cooperation with Trump's mass deportation plans underlining a potential paradigm shift in traditionally sanctuary-friendly states.

• Kathy Hochul [09:24]: "Someone breaks the law, I'll be the first one to call up ICE and say, get them out of here." [09:24]

This bipartisan movement toward stricter immigration enforcement marks a notable victory for Trump's immigration policies and showcases his influence in reshaping national immigration strategies.

---

4. Rebel Forces Overtake Aleppo in Syria

Shifting focus to international affairs, the podcast covers the dramatic surge of rebel forces reclaiming Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, signaling a potential turning point in the protracted Syrian civil war.

• John Bickley [10:37]: "Rebel forces took over Syria's second most populous city over the weekend." [10:37]

The rebels, primarily from the al-Haqqani Terrorist Society (HTS), have capitalized on the diversion of Assad's allies—Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah—who are currently preoccupied with the Ukraine war and conflicts in Gaza.

• Jake Sullivan [12:00]: "Assad is particularly vulnerable at the moment because its two greatest allies are weakened." [12:00]

The recapture of Aleppo, previously under rebel control until 2016, marks a significant setback for Bashar al-Assad's regime. However, Russian airstrikes and renewed support from Iran present challenges to the rebel advance.

• Jake Sullivan [12:23]: "Russia has started conducting airstrikes alongside Syrian forces against the rebels." [12:23]

The U.S. stance remains cautious, with no immediate threats to American troops but concerns about the objectives of HTS, a designated terrorist organization by the U.S. government.

• Claudia Sheinbaum [13:27]: "The group at the vanguard of this rebel advance, HTS, is actually a terrorist organization designated by the United States." [13:27]

The situation remains fluid, with the potential for further escalation or stabilization depending on international responses and the resilience of Assad's backers.

---

Conclusion

This episode of Morning Wire provides an in-depth analysis of critical political and international issues shaping the current landscape. From President Biden's unprecedented pardon of his son, challenging the foundations of legal impartiality, to Trump's strategic appointments and border security advancements, the podcast underscores the dynamic interplay of power and policy. Additionally, the developments in Syria highlight the complexities of international conflict and the shifting alliances that influence global stability. Through expert commentary and timely updates, John Bickley and Georgia Howe deliver a compelling narrative that keeps listeners informed and engaged with the pressing matters of the day.

---

Notable Quotes:

• John Bickley [00:03]: "In a stunning reversal, President Biden announces that he's pardoning his son Hunter."

• Georgia Howe [00:09]: "Well, Joe Biden just made clear his son Hunter is above the law."

• Kathy Hochul [09:24]: "Someone breaks the law, I'll be the first one to call up ICE and say, get them out of here."

• Jake Sullivan [12:00]: "Assad is particularly vulnerable at the moment because its two greatest allies are weakened."

---

Stay informed with Morning Wire for the latest updates and comprehensive analyses on the news you need to know.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

In a stunning reversal, President Biden announces that he's pardoning his son Hunter.

[Georgia Howe]

Nobody's above the law.

[John Bickley]

We've been screaming.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, Joe Biden just made clear his son Hunter is above the law.

[John Bickley]

The move comes as Trump takes another step to weed out corruption in the Justice Department. I'm Daily Weyer Editor in chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Monday, December 2nd, and this is Morning Wire. Trump appears to make major progress with Canada and Mexico on border security. And now even some blue states say they'll cooperate with deportations.

[Kareem Jampier]

There are other people who commit crimes or are known to be criminals before they arrived here. When those are identified, I'll be the first one to help get rid of them.

[Tim Rice]

And rebel forces overtake Syria's second most populous city. Is the Syrian government on the verge of collapse?

[John Bickley]

Thanks for waking up with MORNING wire. Stay tuned. We have the new you need to know.

[Tim Pearce]

While the progressive Grinch's running woke corporations are tearing down traditions. Jeremy's Razors is here to help you save them. Cyber Monday deals are here. Save 30% site wide stocking stuffers under $15. Shave, hair and body bundles under $50 plus get free shipping on qualifying orders. Keep Christmas woke free. Order now@jeremy'srazors.com Some exclusions apply. See website for details.

[John Bickley]

President Biden announced Sunday that he's signing a full and unconditional pardon for his son Hunter. The bombshell reversal comes as Trump announces a major appointment to the FBI. Joining us to discuss is Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips, a Cabot. So a seismic weekend when it comes to the Justice Department. First, President Biden made this stunning announcement Sunday. He's pardoning Hunter. That's despite repeated denials that he'd ever do that.

[Georgia Howe]

That's right. Hunter was scheduled to be sentenced next week for his federal gun charges conviction and was also just two weeks out from sentencing on his tax cases. Remember, among other things, the president's son was convicted of lying about his substance abuse on a federal firearms application. He also pled guilty to multiple tax charges in California. In that case, he faced up to 17 years in prison. But on Sunday evening, President Biden all but put an end to those cases with a full pardon. In his words, Hunter was clearly, quote, singled out only because he is my son. And that, quote, raw politics has infected the judicial process. So President Biden alleging weaponization of the doj there. Now this really is a shocking about face after President Biden and his staff spent the last year insisting that he would not pardon his son, for example. Here's the president's White House press secretary, Kareem Jampier, with a fiery claim earlier this year.

[Kareem Jampier]

It's still an always. It's still a no. It will be a no. It is a no. And I don't have anything else to add. Will he pardon his son? No.

[Georgia Howe]

And here's President Biden himself reassuring the American people after Hunter was convicted that he would not intervene.

[Kareem Jampier]

I said I abide by the jury.

[John Bickley]

Decision, and I will do that, and.

[Kareem Jampier]

I will not pardon him.

[Georgia Howe]

So just a major reversal there from President Biden. Now, for his part, Hunter issued a statement of his own saying, quote, I will never take the clemency I've been given today for granted and will devote the life I rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering.

[John Bickley]

A truly bombshell move by President Biden that I'm sure we'll be unpacking in the days to come. And this comes on the heels of Trump shaking things up when it comes to the Justice Department and corruption there. About that. Trump announced his choice for FBI director, conservative firebrand Cash Patel. Get us up to speed on that.

[Cash Patel]

Right.

[Georgia Howe]

On Saturday night, President Trump really shook up Washington with a single post on his Truth Social app where he announced that Cash Patel will serve as the next FBI director. Patel is no doubt a political political outsider. Ideologically, he's routinely called for the dismantling of the bureaucratic deep state and pushed for major institutional reforms. But he's got quite the resume. He started as a public defender in Florida before becoming a terrorism prosecutor at the doj, eventually rising to chief of staff for the dod, deputy Director of National intelligence, and senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council.

[John Bickley]

So he certainly has the credentials for this position. But why did Trump pick Patel specifically?

[Georgia Howe]

Well, he's deeply aligned with Donald Trump's goal of draining the swamp. For example, he wrote a book last year called Government Gangsters, which essentially offered a roadmap for reforming the DOJ and FBI. Specifically, that plan includes shrinking the size of the bureau by eliminating unnecessary jobs and rooting out the incompetence that he says has plagued government agencies for decades. For example, here he is talking a few months ago about his vision for the FBI headquarters in D.C. i'd shut.

[John Bickley]

Down the FBI Hoover Building on day.

[Jake Sullivan]

One and reopening the next day as.

[Kareem Jampier]

A museum of the deep state. And I'd take the 7,000 employees that.

[John Bickley]

Work in that building and send them across America to chase down criminals.

[Claudia Sheinbaum]

Go be cops.

[Jake Sullivan]

You're cops.

[Kareem Jampier]

Go be cops.

[Georgia Howe]

Patel has also been one of the leading voices on the right, calling out the weaponization of the Justice Department and pushing for an end to what he calls the surveillance state, where agencies like the FBI spy on American citizens, including the political opponents of those in power.

[John Bickley]

All right, so clearly in line with Trump's agenda. And Patel was a major voice against the false Russia collusion claims, Correct?

[Georgia Howe]

Right. Before joining the first Trump administration, he served as senior counsel for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. It was there that he really spearheaded the investigation into Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 election. And Patel not only played a critical role in proving that story was a hoax, he also exposed the political motives behind that now debunked story and served as the primary writer of the memo that ultimately proved the FBI used, quote, politically motivated sources to obtain their warrant to spy on the Trump campaign. In recent years, he has slammed the FBI for its raid of Trump's personal residence in Mar? A Lago, saying it was more proof that, quote, crazed partisans had hijacked the law enforcement apparatus against Trump. In an effort to combat that partisanship, Patel recently launched a nonprofit aimed at supporting whistleblowers across the federal government, including the FBI, urging them to come forward with evidence of political weaponization. So Trump campaigned on a promise of appointing outsiders to drain the swamp. His new FBI pick certainly fits the bill.

[John Bickley]

Yeah, sure sounds like it. Cabot, thanks for reporting.

[Georgia Howe]

Anytime.

[Tim Pearce]

Are you tired of big corporations pushing their progressive agenda? Then don't give them a penny of your money. This holiday season, the Daily Wire shop is your conservative gift. Headquarters. And Cyber Monday deals are here. Score up to 70% off gifts from your favorite conservative voices like Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh, Michael Knowles, and more with great Daily Wire exclusive items under $30. There's something for everyone. Conservative uncles, friends, neighbors, that guy from work who jokes about HR's latest sensitivity training. Everyone head over to DailyWire.com shop today.

[John Bickley]

Donald Trump raised eyebrows during his campaign when he said he could solve America's problems before even taking office. Now he claims he's already making progress on immigration.

[Tim Rice]

Daily Wire deputy Managing editor Tim Rice is here to discuss. So, Tim, Trump made some waves over the weekend. Tell us a little about that.

[Claudia Sheinbaum]

Yeah.

[Cash Patel]

Good morning, Georgia. It started Wednesday night when Trump posted on Truth Social about his very productive conversation with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Trump said Sheinbaum, quote, agreed to stop migration through Mexico and into the United States, effectively closing our southern border. Now, Sheinbaum very quickly claimed this wasn't true. She said she simply reiterated Mexico's immigration policy to Trump and stressed that she was not interested in closing the border. So, obviously, we can't know for sure what happened on that call. But if Sheinbaum made concessions to Trump, she wouldn't have been the only one. On Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised Trump that he would tighten security on the northern border to stop the flow of fentanyl. And there's no he said, she said here. Canada's Public safety minister, Dominic LeBlanc, who was at the dinner with Trump and Trudeau, confirmed the whole thing.

[Tim Rice]

So it sounds like potentially some major concessions from Trudeau, possibly more from Sheinbaum. What's behind the change of heart from these two?

[Cash Patel]

Well, Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on both Canada and Mexico unless they stem the tide of drugs and illegal immigrants entering the United States over their borders. And it's safe to say that threat has both countries spooked. Sheinbaum responded immediately, saying that tariffs weren't the answer, but that she was willing to cooperate with Trump to solve these problems. And considering 75% of Canadian exports go to the United States, it's no surprise that Trudeau is willing to do just about anything to keep that tariff at bay. So this is a pretty huge win for Trump. He's already making progress on one of his big campaign pledges. He's proving that world leaders take him seriously, and he's demonstrating that tariffs, which are really at the center of his economic agenda, really can work.

[Tim Rice]

So it sounds like a lot of good news for Trump. Now, there was also some good news domestically. Tell us about some of his interactions with governors.

[Cash Patel]

Yeah. Perhaps the best news Trump got this week came from right here in the US Of A. Last week, New York's Democratic Governor, Kathy Hochul, said that she would cooperate with the Trump administration's planned mass deportations of illegal immigrants. Have a listen.

[Kareem Jampier]

Our immigration system is woefully broken. It's been broken for decades. There was an opportunity to make meaningful change that the Republicans in the House representatives killed, and they should be held accountable for that. But we need to fix the border, fix the system. But I'll tell you this, those who come here legally, we want to get them jobs. I have 460,000 open jobs in the state of New York. I want them to get the proper work permits. I want them to keep their temporary protective status, if that's what they have. I want to make sure that they're part of contributing to society while they're here. That's separate from people who are criminals. Someone breaks the law, I'll be the first one to call up ICE and say, get them out of here.

[Cash Patel]

It's hard to overstate how big this is. New York Democrats have always defied Trump on immigration, vowing to maintain their sanctuary cities and give quarter to illegal immigrants. So either Hochul has decided it's in her best interest to work with Trump, or illegal immigration has gotten so bad in New York that she's come around to the idea of deportations. Either way, it's good news for Trump.

[Tim Rice]

Well, and it sounds like things are at least off to a smoother start than Trump's first term. Tim, thanks for reporting.

[Cash Patel]

You bet.

[Tim Rice]

Rebel forces took over Syria's second most populous city over the weekend. Saturday marked the first time rebel troops have occupied Aleppo in nearly a decade.

[John Bickley]

Here to talk about the latest in the civil war in Syria is Daily Wire reporter Tim Pearce. Hey, Tim. So a major development over the weekend in Syria. How bad are things for the regime there?

[Jake Sullivan]

They're pretty dire. It's not an overstatement to say that Bashar Al Assad's rule in Syria is under its most severe threat since he took power. Rebel forces took control of Aleppo for the first time since they were forced out of the city in 2016. This is a major blow to Assad, who has relied on close allies in Russia and Iran to support his regime. Listeners might remember that Syria has been embroiled in a civil Civil War since 2011 that's resulted in about 300,000 dead and millions more made refugees. The anti government forces are led by a group known as hts. It began as an offshoot of Al Qaeda, and in 2018, the US State Department designated it a terror group. It's backed by Turkey, which has given the group training and material support in recent years. The rebel forces have largely stayed in Syria's northwest, building up in the Idlib province and apparently preparing for an attack such as this one. As far as that goes, reports say the anti government forces have taken control of large parts of western Syria. That includes Aleppo.

[John Bickley]

So western parts of the country, why now? Why is this group carrying out an attack at this particular moment?

[Jake Sullivan]

The short version is the Ukraine war and the war in Gaza. Assad is particularly vulnerable at the moment because its two greatest allies are weakened. Russia is focused on fighting Ukraine, and Iran has suffered serious strategic setbacks from Israel. Hezbollah has also been an ally to Assad, and that terror group has been decimated by Israel as well. Here's President Biden's national security advisor Jake Sullivan on cnn.

[Claudia Sheinbaum]

We were not surprised that these rebels would try to take advantage of a new situation in which the Syrian government's main backers, Iran, Russia and Hezbollah, were all distracted and weakened by conflicts and events elsewhere. So the Syrian rebels took a look at that. They took a look at three actors who had been pummeling them for years. Iran, Russia, Hezbollah. They had seen them weaker and more exposed than before and they tried to take advantage of it.

[Jake Sullivan]

It's important to note that Assad is getting some support. Russia has started conducting airstrikes alongside Syrian forces against the rebels. And Iran's foreign minister met with Assad on Sunday to show support for the regime. We'll have to see if it's enough to keep Assad in power.

[John Bickley]

Right? That's the big question right now. What does this mean for the US for its forces and its various interests in the region?

[Jake Sullivan]

According to Sullivan, there's no immediate threat to U.S. troops. There aren't any U.S. assets in the areas of the fighting. But as for US Interests, that's hard to determine. Here's Sullivan.

[Claudia Sheinbaum]

It's a complicated question because the group at the vanguard of this rebel advance, hts, is actually a terrorist organization designated by the United States. So we have real concerns about the designs and objectives of that organization. At the same time, of course, we don't cry over the fact that the Assad government, backed by Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, you know, are facing certain kinds of pressure. So it's a complicated situation. It's one we are monitoring closely and we are staying in close touch with regional partners about it.

[Jake Sullivan]

So it seems like Sullivan is saying the US should take a wait and see approach here.

[John Bickley]

Meanwhile, another growing conflict that Trump will have on his plate when he takes office. Tim, thanks for joining us.

[Jake Sullivan]

Thanks for having me.

[John Bickley]

Hey, thank you for listening this morning. We created this show to bring more balance to the national conversation. If you love our show and stand with that mission, consider subscribing giving us a five star rating and most importantly, sharing our podcast with a friend.

[Tim Rice]

Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back later this afternoon with more news. You need to know.