Evening Wire: Another Biden Aide Stonewalls & CBS Cancels Colbert | 7.18.25

Summary

Morning Wire Summary: "Evening Wire: Another Biden Aide Stonewalls & CBS Cancels Colbert | 7.18.25"

Release Date: July 18, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe

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1. Another Biden Aide Pleads the Fifth

The episode opens with a significant development in the ongoing investigation into President Biden's administration. John Bickley reports that Annie Tomasini, Biden's Deputy Chief of Staff, has once again invoked her Fifth Amendment rights during a closed-door deposition. This marks the third former White House official to refuse to testify, raising concerns about transparency within the administration.

John Bickley (00:56): "Thomasini is the third ex White House official to plead the fifth. She initially agreed to testify voluntarily, but later reversed course and asked to be subpoenaed."

House Oversight Chair James Comer criticizes Tomasini's refusal, suggesting a consistent pattern of Biden aides shielding themselves from potential criminal liabilities.

John Bickley (00:23): "House Oversight Chair James Comer said her silence fits a pattern of Biden confidants shielding themselves from criminal liability."

This revelation intensifies the scrutiny on Biden's team, particularly concerning doubts about the president's mental fitness, the handling of classified documents, and the administration's family business dealings.

2. Tragic Explosion Kills Three LA Deputies

In a somber turn, Georgia Howe details a tragic incident in East Los Angeles where an explosion at a sheriff's training center resulted in the death of three deputies and injured a fourth.

Georgia Howe (00:56): "Three deputies were killed in the blast and a fourth was wounded and transported to a hospital."

Aerial footage reveals extensive damage to a bomb squad truck, but authorities have yet to determine the cause of the explosion, leaving the community in shock and prompting an ongoing investigation.

3. House Passes $9 Billion Rescission Bill

John Bickley updates listeners on the House's passage of a substantial $9 billion rescission package, now awaiting President Trump's signature.

Mike Johnson (01:29): "The measure passed in a close 216 to 213 vote. Two Republicans joined Democrats in opposition."

The bill aims to retract funds from the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Critics from the Democratic side accuse Republicans of undermining foreign aid and politicizing public media.

Mike Johnson (01:53): "House Speaker Mike Johnson called it a symbolic but important step toward controlling government."

Donald Trump expressed enthusiasm over the bill's passage, viewing it as a victory for America.

Donald Trump (01:53): "We're just winning. We're going to continue to win. This is a great moment for America."

Trump is anticipated to sign the bill into law imminently.

4. Trump's Push for Epstein Grand Jury Testimony Release

The conversation shifts to President Trump's recent call for transparency in the Jeffrey Epstein case. Georgia Howe introduces Tim Pierce, who elaborates on the president's demand to unseal grand jury testimony, contingent on court approval.

Pam Bondi (02:21): "The Justice Department will petition the court on Friday."

Despite Epstein's death in 2019 while awaiting trial, and a DOJ memo indicating no evidence of blackmail, Trump remains steadfast in his belief that the case was a political scam orchestrated by Democrats.

5. Allegations and Denials Over Trump’s Ties to Epstein

A controversial report by the Wall Street Journal alleges that Trump penned a birthday letter to Epstein, purportedly containing a sketch of a naked woman. John Bickley conveys Trump's vehement denial of these claims, labeling the report as fake and threatening legal action against the publication.

John Bickley (02:51): "President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law today."

The Wall Street Journal asserts the existence of the letter within the "Epstein files," though no photo of the document has been released. Both the DOJ and FBI have refrained from commenting on the matter.

6. President Trump's Health Update

Addressing concerns over his health, Georgia Howe provides an update stating that despite a diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, President Trump remains in excellent health. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt confirms that all test results, including heart and blood tests, are within normal limits.

Dr. Mark Glickman (04:04): "The standard of care for these patients is a compression stocking below the knee elevation and exercise if the swelling does not get in control."

Specialist Dr. Mark Glickman emphasizes the treatable nature of the condition, assuring listeners that the president is fully fit for duty.

7. DOJ Investigation into George Mason University

The Justice Department has launched an investigation into George Mason University regarding alleged violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which pertains to employee discrimination based on race.

Harmeet Dhillon (05:11): "Public institutions are not above the Constitution. We are also fighting discrimination wherever it exists and we will enforce the law without fear or favor."

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon asserts that this probe aims to rectify past administration oversights, with the university currently denying any wrongdoing.

8. Puerto Rico Enacts Transgender Medical Procedures Ban

A significant legal development in Puerto Rico involves the enactment of a law banning transgender medical procedures for minors under 21. The stringent penalties include up to 15 years in prison and substantial fines for medical personnel.

Georgia Howe (05:24): "The law says it's important to protect minors who have not yet reached full maturity and should not make decisions with irreversible consequences."

The LGBTQ+ federation of Puerto Rico has condemned the law and announced intentions to sue, aligning with approximately two dozen U.S. states, including Tennessee, that have implemented similar legislation.

9. California Sues Over High-Speed Rail Funding Cuts

John Bickley reports on California's legal action against the federal government following the Trump administration's decision to cut funds allocated for a high-speed rail project. Governor Gavin Newsom acknowledges the project's budget overrun but maintains confidence in its progress.

Sean Duffy (06:18): "It's now projected to cost $135 billion. This is the definition of government incompetence and possibly corruption."

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticizes the project as a "boondoggle," highlighting the financial mismanagement as a primary reason for the funding withdrawal.

10. Illegal Immigrant Charged with Faking ICE Kidnapping

An unusual case involves an illegal immigrant charged with orchestrating a fake kidnapping by ICE officers to garner sympathy and donations. Georgia Howe outlines the incident, where the woman falsely claimed abduction by unidentified men, only for security footage to reveal her calm demeanor and voluntary entry into an unmarked vehicle.

Sean Duffy (07:03): "We found out the whole thing was a hoax. She wasn't anywhere near the border. She was up in Bakersfield and the whole thing was an elaborate conspiracy."

The U.S. Attorney for the District of California asserts that the deceitful act was entirely fabricated, leading to charges of conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers.

11. Murder Charges in American Idol Executive Case

In a high-profile criminal case, Raymond Budarian faces charges for the murder of an American Idol executive and her husband. John Bickley shares insights from investigative reporter Mirada Lordy, who details the incident.

Harmeet Dhillon (07:34): "He's being charged with two counts of murder and one count of residential burglary."

Authorities discovered a firearm at Budarian's residence and believe the murders were premeditated, although the motive remains unclear. The couple's home showed no signs of forced entry, suggesting Budarian may not have known the victims personally.

12. CBS Cancels Stephen Colbert’s Late Night Show

A significant shift in late-night television was announced as CBS plans to discontinue Stephen Colbert's show by next year. While CBS attributes the cancellation to financial reasons, political undertones are suggested by Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, who posits the decision was politically motivated.

John Bickley (07:34): "CBS says it's a purely financial decision with no plans to replace Colbert with another host."

Colbert's history of interviewing liberal politicians and promoting progressive narratives, such as encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations through musical performances, may have influenced viewership decline and the network's decision.

13. Piers Morgan Accuses Joy Reid of Playing Race Card

In a heated segment, Piers Morgan confronts former MSNBC host Joy Reid, accusing her of leveraging racial issues to gain sympathy and manipulate conversations.

Piers Morgan (08:45): "You literally are so fixated on trying to racialize conversations with me."

Mike Johnson interjects, questioning Reid's approach to discussions on race.

Mike Johnson (09:06): "Why play the race card?"

Reid counters by expressing confusion over the cancellation reasons, maintaining that she isn't aware her skin color played a role.

The exchange highlights ongoing tensions in media regarding race discourse, with both parties defending their perspectives amidst declining viewership and shifting audience expectations.

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Conclusion

This episode of "Morning Wire" delved into a spectrum of pressing issues, from political investigations and legislative actions to significant legal cases and media controversies. Hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe provided comprehensive coverage, enriched with direct quotes and expert insights, ensuring listeners remain informed on critical national developments.

For more detailed coverage of these stories and additional updates, visit dailywire.com.

Transcript

[Georgia Howe]

A third Biden aide pleads the fifth during a closed door deposition. Congress sends the $9 billion clawback bill to the president's desk and Puerto Rico bans transgender medical procedures on minors. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Friday, July 18th, and this is Morning Wire.

[John Bickley]

Yet another former White House aide is pleading the fifth during a closed door deposition today. Biden Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini declined to answer questions about the president's mental fitness, classified documents and the Biden's family business dealings. House Oversight Chair James Comer said her silence fits a pattern of Biden confidants shielding themselves from criminal liability. Thomasini is the third ex White House official to plead the fifth. She initially agreed to testify voluntarily, but later reversed course and asked to be subpoenaed.

[Georgia Howe]

Three LA sheriff's deputies were killed this morning in an explosion at a training center. Aerial footage from a Sheriff Department training facility in East LA showed damage to the rear windshield of what appears to be a bomb squad truck. Three deputies were killed in the blast and a fourth was wounded and transported to a hospital. Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the explosion.

[John Bickley]

The $9 billion rescission package is on its way to the president's desk after the House passed it just after midnight this morning. Daily Wire Deputy Managing Editor Rice has more.

[Mike Johnson]

The measure passed in a close 216 to 213 vote. Two Republicans joined Democrats in opposition. It claws back $8 billion from the U.S. agency for International Development and $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Democrats accused the GOP of gutting foreign aid and politicizing public media. House Speaker Mike Johnson called it a symbolic but important step toward controlling government.

[Donald Trump]

President Trump called me early this morning. We were doing a victory lap together on the phone about the passage of the rescission bill late night and he said, mike, we're just winning. We're going to continue to win. This is a great moment for America. I said, sir, it's historic and there's much more to come.

[Mike Johnson]

President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law today.

[Georgia Howe]

The president is also calling for the release of grand jury testimony in the Jeffrey Epstein case if the court allows it. Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce has the details.

[Pam Bondi]

Yesterday, Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek approval to unseal any and all pertinent grand jury transcripts. The move follows renewed scrutiny and demands from Trump's base for more transparency. Bondi responded on X, saying the Justice Department will petition the court on Friday Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. A DOJ memo released last week concluded there was no client list and no evidence of blackmail, a finding Trump defended, calling controversy over the case a Democrat scam.

[John Bickley]

The Wall Street Journal report is being slammed as fake by the president. The report claims Trump once wrote Jeffrey Epstein a birthday letter allegedly featuring a sketch of a naked woman. Trump says legal action is coming after warned the Journal, its editor Emma Tucker and owner Rupert Murdoch not to publish the report. The Journal claims the letter was part of a leather bound birthday album found among Justice Department records in the so called Epstein files, but included no photo of the alleged document. The DOJ and FBI declined to comment.

[Georgia Howe]

Despite a recent diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency, the president is said to be in excellent health. The condition, which is very common among people over 70, causes poor leg circulation and swelling but is not considered serious. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said Trump experienced no pain and had normal heart and blood test results. All results were within normal limits. An echocardiogram was also performed and confirmed normal cardiac structure and function. No signs of heart failure, renal impairment or systemic illness were identified. Morning Wire spoke to a specialist, Dr. Mark Glickman, chief medical officer of NVNO, and he said that the president's diagnosis is very treatable.

[Dr. Mark Glickman]

The standard of care for these patients is a compression stocking below the knee elevation and exercise if the swelling does not get in control. A simple trauma to the lower leg, like scraping it on a table or bumping it on a plane, can result in a sore which can result in an ulcer which may take months to heal.

[Georgia Howe]

Bruising seen on his hand was blamed on frequent handshakes and aspirin use. White House Doctors say the 79 year old president remains fully fit for duty.

[John Bickley]

The Justice Department is probing another university over race based hiring goals. The DOJ opened an investigation into George Mason University on Thursday. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the investigation will determine if the university violated Title 7 of the Civil Rights act, which addresses employee discrimination. The investigation will examine the actions of the university's president. The university has denied any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, Dylan said the DOJ is correcting mistakes from the previous administration.

[Harmeet Dhillon]

Public institutions are not above the Constitution. We are also fighting discrimination wherever it exists and we will enforce the law without fear or favor.

[Georgia Howe]

Puerto Rico has banned transgender medical procedures on minors. The law applies to anyone under 21 and violators will be punished by 15 years in prison. Medical staff would receive a full $50,000 penalty and have medical licenses and permits revoked. The law says it's important to protect minors who have not yet reached full maturity and should not make decisions with irreversible consequences. Puerto Rico's LGBTQ+ federation criticized the law and says it will sue. About two dozen states have similar laws to the US Territory, including Tennessee.

[John Bickley]

California is suing after the Trump administration cut funds for a high speed rail project. The lawsuit accuses the administration political retribution. Governor Gavin Newsom admitted the project was billions of dollars over budget but insisted it was making progress. In a video about the project, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called it a boondoggle and a waste of funds.

[Sean Duffy]

It's now projected to cost $135 billion. This is the definition of government incompetence and possibly corruption. That's why we're pulling the plug.

[Georgia Howe]

An illegal immigrant is facing charges after allegedly faking her own ICE kidnapping. The Justice Department says the woman made up the kidnapping to generate sympathy and donations. The woman was hit with charges of conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers. She had claimed a group of unidentified men forced her into an unmarked vehicle and that she was then detained. But security footage shows her waiting in a parking lot and calmly entering the vehicle without a struggle, even though a police officer was nearby. The U.S. attorney for the District of California says the story was all overlooked.

[Sean Duffy]

We knew she was not in our custody and our agents were concerned that she was actually kidnapped. So we launched an investigation to make sure she was safe. They worked over the holiday, over the Fourth of July break. I got calls about this and we got surveillance video. We investigated. We found out the whole thing was a hoax. She wasn't anywhere near the border. She was up in Bakersfield and the whole thing was an elaborate conspiracy.

[John Bickley]

A suspect has been charged with murder in the killing of an American Idol executive and her husband. Daily Wire investigative reporter Mirada Lordy has the latest.

[Harmeet Dhillon]

Raymond Budarian is accused of scaling offense and then shooting the couple when they returned home. He's being charged with two counts of murder and one count of residential burglary. He's being held without bail. Police found a gun at Budarian's residence and are determining if it is the murder weapon. Officials say they do not think Budarian knew the victims and are still investigating the motive. The house did not appear to be ransacked and Buderian entered through an unlocked door. The investigation is still ongoing.

[John Bickley]

CBS plans to can Stephen Colbert. The network will end the late night show next year. CBS says it's a purely financial decision with no plans to replace Colbert with another host. But Democratic Senator Adam Schiff suggested the show was canceled for political reasons. The end of the show comes amid a massive decline in late night comedy viewership, including for Colbert's show. The host has a history of interviewing liberal politicians and pushing leftist narratives that included performing a musical number to convince viewers to get the COVID vaccine.

[Sean Duffy]

The vaccine.

[Georgia Howe]

And in other cancellation news, Piers Morgan accused Joy Reid of playing the race card during her appearance on his show. Morgan told the former MSNBC host her show was canceled because it was unpopular, not because of her skin color. The show had seen a 28% decline in ratings before its cancellation. Reid insisted she didn't understand the reason for the cancellation.

[Mike Johnson]

Why play the race card?

[Piers Morgan]

First of all, I love the fact that your play the race card is your version of the race card. You literally are so fixated on trying to racialize conversations with me. Pierce, I find it actually quite true.

[Mike Johnson]

You racialize more conversations than any host in history.

[Piers Morgan]

All right, Mark. All right, Pierce. And the bottom line is you take an entire conversation that I had with Mark Lamont Hill and pick the bits that you can racialize because this is your shtick. And I get that. This is your shtick.

[Mike Johnson]

Are you racialized?

[John Bickley]

Everything.

[Mike Johnson]

Joy, come on.

[Piers Morgan]

I get it. And I understand. This is your stick, Piers. And listen, game. Recognize the game. I guess this is your stick. The bottom, it was your stick. And everyone knows your stick, Piers.

[Mike Johnson]

We got BO with it.

[John Bickley]

All right. Those are your drive home updates. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com and in case you missed it, this morning we covered some major stories, including the Senate voting to defund NPR and pbs, another Biden aide pleading the fifth, and the Chicago Fed president joining to discuss the Trump Powell feud and the interest rate vote. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with a weekend edition of Morning Wire.