CEO Shooter Celebrated & Hegseth Support Surges | 12.11.24

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary
Episode: CEO Shooter Celebrated & Hegseth Support Surges | 12.11.24
Release Date: December 11, 2024

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I. The United Healthcare CEO Shooting Case

Introduction to the Case
In the opening segment, John Bickley announces the serious developments in the case of Luigi Mangione, the individual accused of assassinating the CEO of United Healthcare. Mangione has been formally charged with murder and is currently contesting his extradition to New York (00:03).

Legal Defense and Motives
Cabot Phillips, Daily Wire Senior Editor, provides an in-depth update on Mangione’s legal standing. Mangione is detained in Pennsylvania, having been denied bail during his initial court appearance. Phillips reveals that Mangione authored a manifesto which included the statement, "to the feds, I'll keep this short because I do respect what you do for our country." This indicates a complex relationship with law enforcement and hints at possible ideological motives (02:00).
Georgia Howe adds that new details about Mangione’s background and motives have surfaced, suggesting a targeted grievance against corporate America, specifically within the healthcare sector (01:43).

Identification and Capture
Mangione was apprehended following a series of meticulous steps he took to avoid detection, such as traveling under an alias and remaining masked during his stay at a hostel. However, his overconfidence led to a critical mistake when he lowered his mask to flirt with an employee, resulting in his identification through security footage (03:16). This narrative underscores the balance between careful planning and human error in criminal activities.

Public and Online Reaction
A surprising and troubling development is the significant online support Mangione has garnered. After the shooting, even before he was identified, numerous individuals praised his actions as acts of defiance rather than crimes. Once identified, his social media platforms were inundated with supportive messages, and the McDonald's location where he was apprehended received backlash through one-star reviews, labeling employees as "rats and snitches" for their role in his capture (05:00). This phenomenon reflects the deep-seated divisions and the power of online sentiment in modern criminal cases.

Personal Struggles and Familial Impact
Mangione’s personal history reveals that he suffered from severe chronic back pain, leading to unsuccessful surgery and eventual social withdrawal. His disappearance was reported by his mother on November 18, highlighting the personal toll and the abrupt shift from a life plagued by pain to one marked by extreme actions (04:20). His family's reaction, expressing shock and devastation, adds a poignant layer to the narrative (04:50).

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II. Surge in Support for Trump’s Defense Nominee Pete Hegseth

Background on Pete Hegseth’s Nomination
The podcast shifts focus to the political sphere, highlighting the growing support for Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s defense nominee. Despite facing substantial opposition from within his own party, Hegseth's backing has intensified due to grassroots efforts and endorsements from key senators (00:22).

Senatorial Support and Opposition
Mary Margaret Olihan emphasizes the unprecedented groundswell of support for Hegseth, noting that such fervor hasn't been seen in her 30-year experience in military reporting (00:39).
Lindsey Graham provides insights into the Republican dynamics, explaining that while Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins remain obstacles, recent support from Senators Joni Ernst and Tommy Tuberville signifies a potential shift towards consolidating Trump's influence within the party (06:35).
Conversely, Senators Tom Tillis and John Cornyn express reservations, advocating for adherence to constitutional principles over party loyalty. Olihan criticizes these dissenting voices, arguing that they mirror the bipartisan support Democrats received for their nominees, where none of Biden's initial picks faced significant Republican opposition (08:03).
This internal GOP debate underscores the tension between traditional Republican values and Trump's populist approach, highlighting the complexities of party allegiance and the impact on confirmation processes.

Implications for the Republican Party
The support for Hegseth symbolizes a broader strategy within the Republican Party to back Trump's selections firmly, portraying them as vetted and aligned with the electorate's desires. This strategy is juxtaposed against the Democratic uniformity in pushing their nominees through, suggesting a double standard in partisan support and opposition (08:23).
Mary Margaret Olihan remarks on the federated support and the challenges posed by external opposition from Democrats and the media, reinforcing the narrative of Republicans versus Democrats in the nomination battles (08:47).

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III. Syria and Israel: Current Geopolitical Developments

Syria’s Fragmented State and International Involvement
Tim Pearce, a Daily Wire reporter, explores the chaotic situation in Syria following the collapse of Assad's regime. With various factions vying for control, the future of Syria remains uncertain. Dr. Paul Ray, a history professor from Hillsdale College, provides historical context, explaining that Syria's modern borders were artificially drawn post-World War I, leading to a lack of cohesive national identity (11:13).
Ray further elaborates that the dominant factions include the U.S.-backed Kurds and the Turkish-supported Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. The U.S. maintains a limited military presence aimed primarily at combating ISIS, with approximately 900 troops conducting airstrikes against residual ISIS elements (12:18).

U.S. Policy and Strategic Interests
President Biden has prioritized preventing a resurgence of ISIS in Syria, but Dr. Paul Ray questions the necessity and efficacy of continued U.S. intervention, noting that ISIS's influence is minimal. Ray advocates for a cautious approach, suggesting that the U.S. should recognize and engage with any emerging stable government in Syria rather than imposing solutions (12:45).
The complexity of U.S. interests in Syria is further complicated by Turkey's unpredictable policies towards Israel, as Dr. Ray points out. Turkey's shifting stance poses challenges for American and Israeli strategic planning in the region (13:18).

Israel’s Security and Political Challenges
The instability in Syria has direct implications for Israel, particularly concerning the Golan Heights. The Israeli Air Force has undertaken numerous strikes to prevent jihadist groups from gaining a foothold. Simultaneously, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a criminal trial on corruption charges, which he vehemently denies as politically motivated and detrimental to Israel’s national security (13:43).
This dual pressure—external military threats and internal political turmoil—places Netanyahu in a precarious position, balancing the nation's immediate security concerns with the potential fallout from his legal battles (14:26). Tim Pearce concludes by highlighting the multifaceted challenges Israel faces, underscoring the region's fragility (14:30).

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Conclusion

This episode of Morning Wire navigates through high-stakes national issues, from the chilling case of Luigi Mangione and the surprising online support he receives, to the intricate political maneuvers within the Republican Party surrounding Pete Hegseth’s nomination. Additionally, it delves into the volatile geopolitical landscape of Syria and the compounded pressures on Israel amidst regional instability and internal political strife. Through insightful commentary and notable quotes from key figures, the podcast provides a comprehensive overview of current events shaping the political and social fabric of the nation and beyond.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• John Bickley [00:03]: "The man accused of shooting the United Healthcare CEO has been charged with murder and now he's fighting extradition to New York."

• Cabot Phillips [02:35]: "To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone."

• Mary Margaret Olihan [05:09]: "I've never seen a groundswell of support in my 30 years around military like I'm seeing right now."

• Dr. Paul Ray [11:25]: "The crucial thing to understand is that Syria is artificial... Maybe some sense of loyalty to the country has developed in the last century, but it doesn't amount to much."

• Lindsey Graham [08:05]: "Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins are always going to be an issue for Trump's nominees."

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Timestamps Reference:

• [00:03] - Introduction to Mangione’s Charges
• [00:17] - Legal Defense Statements
• [00:22] - Introduction to Hegseth’s Support
• [02:00] - Update on Mangione’s Court Appearance
• [02:35] - Mangione’s Manifesto Excerpt
• [03:16] - Details on Mangione’s Capture
• [05:00] - Online Support for Mangione
• [08:03] - GOP Senators' Stance on Hegseth
• [11:13] - Syria’s Current State
• [12:18] - U.S. Troop Presence in Syria
• [13:18] - Turkey’s Policy Impact
• [14:26] - Netanyahu’s Trial

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For more detailed discussions and analysis, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode of Morning Wire.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

The man accused of shooting the United Healthcare CEO has been charged with murder and now he's fighting extradition to New York.

[Cabot Phillips]

We're going to fight this along the.

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

Rules and with the constitutional protections that my client has. And that's what we're going to do.

[Georgia Howe]

We're learning more details and possible motives behind the targeted shooting.

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Weiher Editor in Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Wednesday, December 11th, and this is Morning Wire. Support for Trump's defense nominee Pete Hegseth grows after grassroots efforts and a few senators speak out.

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

I've never seen a groundswell of support in my 30 years around military like I'm seeing right now.

[Tim Pearce]

Repeat, Hegset secdev.

[John Bickley]

Right.

[Georgia Howe]

And Syria's future is up in the air following the collapse of Assad's regime, with several countries looking to intervene.

[Dr. Paul Ray]

We can't control this. The Russians can't control it. The Iranians can't control it. The Turks can't control it, though. They can influence things.

[John Bickley]

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

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[Georgia Howe]

24 hours after the arrest of suspected CEO killer Luigi Mangione, new details have begun to emerge about his background and possible motive.

[John Bickley]

Here with the latest developments is Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips. Hey, Cabot. So, a story that continues to captivate the nation, catch us up to speak.

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, Luigi Mangione is currently being held in Pennsylvania, where he made his first court appearance yesterday after being denied bail. The big question at the moment is when he'll be extradited to New York where he was charged with murder. We've also learned in the last 24 hours that Mangione's manifesto included the line quote, to the feds, I'll keep this short because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn't working with anyone as Mangione was led into the courtroom for his extradition hearing yesterday, he began struggling with police, frantically shouting at reporters. Have a listen.

[Georgia Howe]

As completely out of touch as an insult to the intelligence of the American.

[Brandon]

People and lived experience.

[Cabot Phillips]

We also heard yesterday from a customer who was in McDonald's Monday morning and helped identify Mangione, joking with his friends at the time that he looked like the suspect. An employee taking Mangione's order overheard that customer and thought the same thing before calling police.

[Dr. Paul Ray]

One of my friends and I thought he was kidding. When the shooter, I'm assuming was the shooter came in, he made a comment. But that looks like the shooter from New York.

[John Bickley]

Wild to think this is how he ended up getting caught. Now we're also learning new details on how police were able to catch their man. Tell us about that.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah. As they work to piece together a timeline leading up to the murder, investigators say Mangioni took meticulous steps to evade detection. For example, he traveled to New York by Greyhound bus, meaning he was able to avoid using his real name or credit card. And he stayed in a hostel for 10 nights prior to the attack, paying with cash and wearing a mask for the duration of his trip. But it was one crucial error that ultimately led to his capture. According to authorities, Mangione was flirting with an employee at the hostel who at one point asked him to lower his mask and show his face. He complied, and it was that smiling image captured on a security camera that was then shared with the public and ultimately used to identify him.

[John Bickley]

One little slip there. So what more do we know about his potential motive?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, it's now clear he was driven in large part by a hatred for corporate America and healthcare companies in particular. According to an NYPD intelligence report, Mangione, quote, appeared to view the targeted killing of the company's highest ranking representative as a symbolic takedown and a direct challenge to its alleged corruption. That report also cited his opposition to what they called corporate greed. But there's also growing evidence of an apparent personal connection. According to multiple reports, Mangione had been suffering from severe chronic back pain for years, which left him debilitated at times. At some point in the last 12 months, he underwent back surgery, which was apparently unsuccessful. Friends say following that surgery, he essentially fell off the map and became impossible to reach. So much so that on November 18, Mangione's mother reported him missing to the San Francisco Police Department. That's where she believed that he might have been living. His family released a statement Tuesday saying they were, quote, shocked and devastated by the news, offering prayers for the family of Brian Thompson and all involved.

[John Bickley]

Now, this all comes amid a rather frankly shocking movement of online support for this alleged murderer. What exactly are we seeing there?

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, this has really stunned a lot of people. Within hours of the shooting, before Mangione was even identified, large numbers of folks online began praising the act, not as an egregious crime, but as a heroic act of defiance. And that sort of hero worship only grew once Mangione was caught. His social media accounts were flooded with literally tens of thousands of supportive messages while users flooded the Yelp account of the McDonald's where he was caught in Pennsylvania, leaving one star reviews, calling the employees their rats and snitches for turning them in. So a lot to take into account here as we prepare for a trial that will sure draw the eyes of millions of Americans.

[John Bickley]

There's no doubt about that. Cabot, thanks for reporting.

[Cabot Phillips]

Anytime.

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[John Bickley]

As the flurry of Donald Trump's nominations have been announced, several have faced some opposition from within his own party. But there's some recent progress on that front.

[Georgia Howe]

Here to discuss is Daily Wire senior reporter Mary Margaret Olihan. So, Mary Margaret, which Republican senators are standing in the way of Trump's picks right now?

[Lindsey Graham]

Hey, Georgia. So Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins are always going to be an issue for Trump's nominees, which means that Republicans can really only afford to lose two other senators. So it's an issue that Joni Ernst of Iowa and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina were expressing concerns about Trump's secretary of defense pick, Pete Hegseth. Now, Hegseth has been one of Trump's most disputed choices, facing an avalanche of allegations from Democrats and the media about sexual misconduct and excessive drinking, both of which he's denied. Some on the right, like TPSA's Charlie Kirk, have floated the possibility of backing a primary challenger against Ernst for not supporting Hegseth that may have worked because on Monday, Ernst met with Hegseth for the second time and said she had a, quote, unquote, encouraging conversation with him. She said, and I'm quoting again, as I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources. Senate sources tell me that it's widely believed that Ernst was either tasked by Senate leadership to tank Hegseth's nomination or she sought to do it of her own accord, hoping she'd be his replacement if he were to fail. One source told me, and I'm quoting, it appears that she's trying to walk back her opposition to Hegseth by demanding an audit of the Pentagon, something Hegseth was already on board with before even meeting her. That source also suggested that people are still doubtful of Ernst's sincerity to get he across the finish line.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, what about Lindsey Graham?

[Lindsey Graham]

Well, Lindsey Graham also expressed new support for Pete on Monday. And the fact that these two came around this week is yet another sign of Trump's consolidated influence over the Republican Party. I spoke to Senator Tommy Tuberville about this whole process, and he tells me that he views Trump's nominees as selected by the American people who voted for Trump.

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

We've got, as I've said, people in the Republican side for some reason, that they're trying to push the envelope too much. We need to get President Trump. His people now know we're up here for confirmation. But I'm going to take President Trump's word that the people he picks are vetted and they're the type of people that he needs. It's just hard to watch what's going on up here because it's Republicans versus the Democrats and the media, you know, they gang up on us up here.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, have Democrats shown the same kind of pushback when it's their nominees?

[Lindsey Graham]

Actually, Democrats were much more unified when it came to pushing through Biden's nominees. Here's Tuberville on that.

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

I went through the first process with Biden. When I first got here, there was zero Democrats that voted against any of his nominees. Zero. Not right now. We got three or four of these nominees fighting to get all the Republican votes. They're fighting hard, and they're having to go see senators more than once. It makes no sense to me whatsoever.

[Lindsey Graham]

But some Republican senators are pushing back on the idea that they should support Trump nominees no matter what. That includes Senator Tom Tillis of North Carolina and Senator John Cornyn of Texas. Tillis is up for reelection in 2020. Six, and he says he should be asking tough questions. And Cornyn, who had reservations about Matt Gaetz and currently isn't sold on Tulsi Gabbard, suggested he's more concerned about being loyal to the Constitution than to Trump. These kinds of comments triggered frustration among Trump's circle, who point out that some of the GOP senators on the fence about Trump's nominees actually voted to confirm Biden's most controversial picks, including Attorney General Merrick Garland, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. In fact, Lloyd Austin was confirmed 93 to 2.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, what's Trump himself saying about all this?

[Lindsey Graham]

Well, Trump has surprisingly largely stayed out of it. He'll of course, announce the nominees and truth social posts praise their backgrounds and tout their achievements. And he's been sending his nominees to meet with Republican senators in the weeks leading up to possible confirmation hearings. But those around him are working hard to rally support for his nominees, particularly Hegseth. And the attitude in Trump world right now is this, the American people elected Trump and Trump picked his nominees. It's time for senators to fall in line.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, it sounds like things are looking more optimistic for Hegseth. Mary Margaret, thanks for reporting.

[Lindsey Graham]

Thanks for having me.

[Georgia Howe]

Syria's future remains in limbo after the Assad regime's shocking fall. The chaos has attracted interventions from numerous players as each vies for influence over the next government. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now has to balance a criminal trial in addition to Israel's war effort here to.

[John Bickley]

Break down what's happening in Syria and Israel. As Daily Wire reporter Tim Pearce. Tim, so things moving very rapidly here. First, where, where is Syria headed?

[Tim Pearce]

Yeah, that's almost an impossible question to answer. To get some help with that, we spoke with Hillsdale College history professor Dr. Paul Ray, who said to know where things are headed, it's important to know where this all began.

[Dr. Paul Ray]

The crucial thing to understand is that Syria is artificial. You know, it goes back to the divvying up of the near east between the British and the French after World War I. So there really isn't a country there. Maybe some sense of loyalty to the country has developed in the last century, but it doesn't amount to much.

[Tim Pearce]

In other words, Syria isn't a united country by any means. It's made up of a bunch of different factions that mostly control their own slices of the country. And each faction typically has much more powerful state sponsors. The US has favored the Kurds, for example. The ascendant power right now is a Turkish back group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham or a HTS, which is on the U.S. terror list. Right.

[John Bickley]

A U.S. designated terror group. About the U.S. how much has it been involved so far? Some.

[Tim Pearce]

The US still has about 900 troops in the country, first stationed there in 2015 to fight the rise of the Islamic State. US forces are focused on that mission again and have launched dozens of airstrikes against ISIS positions. President Biden said over the weekend that preventing a resurgence of ISIS is one of the United States top priorities. But Ray was skeptical that that intervention is necessary, useful as ISIS barely has a foothold in Syria anyway.

[Dr. Paul Ray]

It's too easy for Americans to exaggerate. American agency our capacity to fix things, to shape things. The prudent thing to do is to watch and wait. And if a government emerges and it's in control of the territory, we should recognize it and our diplomats should try to work with it. Then we'll see.

[John Bickley]

What exactly are US Interests in Syria now?

[Tim Pearce]

Yeah, it's a good question. I asked Ray how to approach that. Here's what he said.

[Dr. Paul Ray]

Whether it's in our interest or in the interest of the Israelis depends to a great degree on the policy of Turkey. And there's no clarity about the policy of Turkey with regard to Israel. At times, the Erdogan government has cooperated very closely with the Israelis. At other times it has been strongly hostile to Israel.

[Tim Pearce]

But he also said that Syria is notoriously hard to control. So while the Turks are in the best place to exert influence, there's no guarantee that that relationship holds as far as Israel is concerned. The Israelis have taken over the Golan Heights between Israel and Syria to keep the high ground from going to jihadists. Its air force has struck hundreds of sites to keep military assets from falling into the hands of terrorists. It's worth mentioning that while Israel is trying to strike a delicate balance between all these pressures it is facing externally, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went on trial this week on corruption charges. Netanyahu has said the allegations are politically motivated and that forcing him to sit in court now of all times is dangerous to Israel's national security.

[John Bickley]

It definitely seems like a lot to juggle right now. Tim, thanks for joining us.

[Tim Pearce]

Thanks for having me.

[Georgia Howe]

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