Evening Wire: Bill Clinton Testifies & MN Church Disruptors Charged | 2.27.26

Summary

Morning Wire: Evening Wire – Bill Clinton Testifies & MN Church Disruptors Charged | 2.27.26
Date: February 27, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe

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Episode Overview

This Evening Wire episode tackles the day’s major political, cultural, and legal developments, with a special focus on surging tensions in the Middle East, Bill Clinton’s closed-door testimony in the Epstein case, entertainment industry headlines, and notable legal updates from around the US. The show maintains a brisk, fact-driven approach, offering insight from correspondents and breaking quotes directly from central figures.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. US Military Buildup in the Middle East and Stalled Nuclear Talks

• Segment Timestamps: 00:36–02:02
• Ongoing diplomatic efforts with Iran have stalled, escalating tensions in the region.
• Action steps:
  • The US Embassy in Jerusalem has authorized non-emergency departures.
  • Bomb shelters opened in Beersheba, southern Israel.
  • US military assets, including 14 refueling tankers and F22 jets, deployed to Israeli bases.
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio's planned Israel visit remains as scheduled.
• Cassia Kiva (01:06):
  “Nuclear talks in Geneva ended yesterday with no real progress, leaving tensions between the United States and Iran high… The State Department confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s trip to Israel on Monday is still on, where he is set to discuss Iran, Lebanon, and the implementation of President Trump’s 20 point peace plan for Gaza.”

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2. Jonathan Majors' Return to Film with Daily Wire Production

• Segment Timestamps: 02:02–03:29
• The embattled Marvel star Jonathan Majors will star in an as-yet-untitled action film from the Daily Wire, his first project in four years.
• Film likened to 80s/90s classics, directed by Kyle Rankin, and produced by Ben Shapiro and Dallas Sonier.
• Ben Shapiro (02:49):
  “Those rumors are true and we are ecstatic about this. Jonathan Majors is unbelievably talented.”

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3. Bill Clinton Epstein Testimony

• Segment Timestamps: 03:29–04:07
• Former President Clinton delivers a forceful denial of wrongdoing in his House Oversight Committee deposition, addressing ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
• He described the relationship as “brief and ending before Epstein’s crimes became widely known.”
• Lawmakers probed his travels and foundation connections but he hasn’t been accused of criminal wrongdoing.
• Georgia Howe (03:29):
  “Clinton said he saw nothing and did nothing wrong, describing his relationship with Epstein as brief and ending before Epstein’s crimes became widely known.”

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4. Tariff Refund Lawsuits After Supreme Court Reversal

• Segment Timestamps: 04:07–04:56
• Over 1,800 companies, including Costco and Goodyear, have filed to reclaim roughly $130 billion in tariffs after a Supreme Court reversal.
• The New York-based Court of International Trade now has to adjudicate the mountain of claims, likely leading to years of legal limbo.
• Most experts predict companies will eventually get refunds with interest.

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5. Charges Against Minnesota Church Disruptors

• Segment Timestamps: 04:56–05:34
• Thirty more anti-ICE protesters face charges after allegedly interrupting a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota.
• Attorney General Pam Bondi warns: “Attacks on houses of worship will be prosecuted.”
• Some defendants claim to have been observers or media members; the investigation continues.

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6. Manhattan DA Downgrades Charges in Police Snowball Incident

• Segment Timestamps: 06:34–07:15
• Assault charges dropped against a man accused of hitting police with snowballs in Washington Square Park.
• DA cited doubts about proving causality for an officer’s reported facial injury.
• NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch says: “She will not tolerate any attacks on her officers.”

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7. Netflix Drops Out of Warner Brothers Acquisition Battle

• Segment Timestamps: 07:15–08:09
• Netflix officially exits the bidding war for Warner Brothers after Paramount’s superior offer.
• Netflix co-CEOs:
  “At the price required to match Paramount Skydance’s latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive. So we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid.”

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8. AI Privacy Clash after Canadian Mass Shooting

• Segment Timestamps: 08:09–09:19
• Old comments from OpenAI’s Sam Altman surface, calling for doctor/patient-level privacy for AI users.
• Recent mass shooting in Canada raises questions: the shooter’s ChatGPT conversations went unreported, though the account was banned.
• Sam Altman (08:36):
  “We have decided that society has an interest in [privacy] being privileged… I think we should have the same concept for AI.”
• This principle is now under scrutiny as authorities seek more vigilant reporting from tech firms.

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9. Mortgage Rates Fall Below 6%

• Segment Timestamps: 09:19–09:50
• 30-year mortgage rates drop to 5.98% for the first time since September 2022.
• The real estate industry hopes the drop will stimulate a sluggish housing market.

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10. Massachusetts Population Exodus

• Segment Timestamps: 09:50–10:28
• Over the past five years, Massachusetts lost 200,000 net residents to neighboring states.
• Factors: job market competitiveness, high costs, an aging population, low birth rates, and declining immigration.
• Private sector jobs have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Cassia Kiva on US-Iran Tensions (01:06):
  “Nuclear talks in Geneva ended yesterday with no real progress, leaving tensions between the United States and Iran high.”

• Ben Shapiro on Jonathan Majors (02:49):
  “Those rumors are true and we are ecstatic about this. Jonathan Majors is unbelievably talented.”

• Georgia Howe on Clinton’s Testimony (03:29):
  “Clinton said he saw nothing and did nothing wrong, describing his relationship with Epstein as brief and ending before Epstein’s crimes became widely known.”

• Sam Altman on AI Privacy (08:36):
  “We have decided that society has an interest in that being privileged … I think we should have the same concept for AI.”

• Netflix Co-CEOs on Warner Brothers Deal (07:27):
  “At the price required to match Paramount Skydance’s latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive … this transaction was always a nice to have at the right price, not a must have at any price.”

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Additional Updates

• Mortgage Market: 30-year mortgage rates fall below 6% for the first time in over three years, possibly restoring market activity.
• Demographic Shifts: Massachusetts’ population decline reflects broad challenges facing several blue states.

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Useful Time Guide

• US-Iran Escalation & Military Movements: 00:36–02:02
• Jonathan Majors Film Announcement: 02:02–03:29
• Bill Clinton Epstein Testimony: 03:29–04:07
• Tariff Lawsuits Update: 04:07–04:56
• MN Church Protest Charges: 04:56–05:34
• Manhattan DA & Police Snowball Case: 06:34–07:15
• Netflix vs. Paramount for Warner Bros.: 07:15–08:09
• AI Privacy & Canadian Shooting: 08:09–09:19
• Mortgage, Population: 09:19–10:28

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This episode delivers a rapid-fire brief on major stories, aiming to provide listeners with a factual, alternative perspective on the day’s political, cultural, and legal headlines.

Transcript

[Ben Shapiro]

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[Georgia Howe]

US forces amass in the Middle East Bill Clinton testifies on his ties to Epstein and Marvel star Jonathan Majors is set to star in a new Daily Wire action thriller. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Executive editor Jon Bickley. It's Friday, February 27th, and this is Evening Wire. The U.S. military buildup in the Middle east escalates as the showdown with Iran appears to be coming to a head. Daily Wire foreign affairs reporter Cassia Kiva has the latest Nuclear talks in Geneva

[Cassia Kiva]

ended yesterday with no real progress, leaving tensions between the United States and Iran high. In response to the ongoing security concerns, the US Embassy in Jerusalem has authorized the departure of non emergency personnel and eligible family members, with Ambassador Mike Huckabee telling staff in a Friday email that those who wish to leave should do so today. At the same time, public bomb shelters have been opened in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba. The United States is also continuing to strengthen its military presence in the region. Over the past week, 14American refueling tankers have landed at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, while F22 fighter jets have been positioned on the Runway at Abda Air Base in southern Israel. Despite the heightened tensions, the State Department confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio's trip to Israel on Monday is still on, where he is set to discuss Iran, Lebanon and the implementation of President Trump's 20 point peace plan for Gaza.

[Jon Bickley]

A list actor Jonathan Majors will return to the screen for the first time in four years and it'll be for a Daily Wire production. Our Culture reporter Megan Basham has more.

[Megan Basham]

The 36 year old star, best known for his roles in Creed 3 and Ant man and the Quantumania, will begin working on the project this week in South Carolina. The as of yet unnamed action film is reported to be similar to 80s and 90s classics such as Red dawn and Toy Soldiers. Kyle Rankin, director of Daily Wire's action thriller Run, Hide Fight, wrote the screenplay and will serve as director while Daily Wire editor emeritus Ben Shapiro and Dallas Sonier of Bonfire Legend are producing the project. After Deadline broke the story this week, Shapiro confirmed Major's role in the film.

[Ben Shapiro]

There were rumors yesterday that the Daily Wire is working with the formal Marvel action star Jonathan Majors to make a brand new action movie. Those rumors are true and we are ecstatic about this. Jonathan Majors is unbelievably talented.

[Megan Basham]

The Daily Wire has made an aggressive push into entertainment through Daily Wire, plus releasing several feature films and series in various genres, including the Gina Carano starring Western Terror on the Prairie, Shut in and most recently the Pendragon Cycle, the season finale of which airs next Thursday and which has a really great companion podcast hosted by yours truly Former President

[Georgia Howe]

Bill Clinton forcefully denied any wrongdoing during his closed door testimony today, despite the trove of photos of him discovered in the Epstein files. In his two page opening statement ahead of his House Oversight Committee deposition, Clinton said he saw nothing and did nothing wrong, describing his relationship with Epstein as brief and ending before Epstein's crimes became widely known. He said he never witnessed misconduct and would have acted if he had. Lawmakers are questioning Clinton about his past interactions with Epstein, including travel and foundation ties. Clinton has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing in connection to the Epstein case.

[Jon Bickley]

At least 1800 companies have filed lawsuits seeking tariff refunds following the Supreme Court's reversal last week. Daily Wire reporter Zachary has More companies,

[Zachary]

including Costco, Goodyear and Barnes and Noble, are looking to reclaim the costs of the now overruled tariffs, which netted the government roughly $130 billion in the 10 months they were in place. The duty now falls on the New York based Court of International Trade to adjudicate the disputes, but the sheer number of claims will almost certainly leave companies in limbo for years. Although the tariffs were overturned, the Supreme Court ruling did not clearly lay out whether or not the companies who paid them would be entitled to payback, leaving it up to the lower court to decide. Most experts agree the companies will end up receiving refunds with interest, but it could take a long time.

[Georgia Howe]

30 more anti ICE protesters who allegedly interrupted a Minnesota church service last month have been charged. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the charges today, saying federal agents have already arrested 25 suspects with more arrests to come. She went on to warn that attacks on houses of worship will be prosecuted. The demonstration took place on January 18th at City's Church in St. Paul. Several others have already been arrested previously in connection with the incident. Some of those charged have argued they were present as observers or members of the media. The investigation remains ongoing.

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[Georgia Howe]

The Manhattan DA's office says it will not pursue an assault charge against a man accused of pelting police with snowballs during an incident in Washington Square Park. 27 year old Guzman Koulibaly had originally been charged with assault on a police officer, among other charges, but at his arraignment, prosecutors downgraded the charges, citing difficulty proving that an officer's facial injury was directly caused by Koulibaly. In response, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch says she will not tolerate any attacks on her officers. One officer reportedly suffered facial pain and remains on leave. Koulibaly was granted supervised release and is expected back in court next month.

[Jon Bickley]

In a stunning twist in the months long war between Netflix and Paramount over which company would purchase Warner Brothers, the streaming giant has bowed out. Daily Wire Entertainment reporter Amanda Harding has the details.

[Amanda Harding]

After Warner Brothers released a statement on Thursday saying that the company's board of directors viewed Paramount's latest offer as a superior proposal and that Netflix had four days to respond, the streamer backed out of the bidding war, Netflix Co CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters said in a statement, quote, at the price required to match Paramount Skydance's latest offer, the deal is no longer financially attractive. So we are declining to match the Paramount Skydance bid. The company heads added that they believe Netflix would have taken good care of the Warner Brothers IP and strengthened the entertainment industry and preserved and created more production jobs in the US but this transaction was always a nice to have at the right price, not a must have at any price.

[Jon Bickley]

Statements that OpenAI's co founder and CEO Sam Altman made last year over AI user privacy are resurfacing amid a noticeable rise in trans violence. Daily Wire senior editor Joel Needler has the story.

[Joel Needler]

Sam Altman said on the Tucker Carlson podcast in September that his ideal policy in the AI space would be giving users the same amount of privilege they enjoy with doctors or lawyers. That is making sure your conversations with ChatGPT can never be seen by the government.

[Sam Altman]

We have decided that society has an interest in that being privileged and that

[Cassia Kiva]

we don't, and that, you know, a

[Sam Altman]

subpoena can't get, that the government can't come asking your doctor for it or whatever. I think we should have the same concept for AI.

[Joel Needler]

This is now coming into conflict with a growing number of cases, such as this month's deadly mass shooting in Canada. Months before the Trans identifying shooter opened fire on Tumblr Ridge Secondary school and killed six people. His conversations with ChatGPT allegedly related to shooting scenarios raised warning signs among OpenAI employees. Those June 2025 conversations were not reported to law enforcement, though his account was banned. Canadian officials have summoned OpenAI employees for meetings to discuss their handling of the incident.

[Georgia Howe]

Mortgage rates have fallen below 6% for the first time in more than three years and the real estate market is hoping that this will get sales rolling again. The current average for a 30 year mortgage rate is now at 5.98%. That's the first time since September of 2022 that the rate's been under 6% and it's down from a high of 7.8% in October of 2023. The high rates have severely hurt the housing market over the last year, with would be buyers reluctant to lock in at the costly rates.

[Jon Bickley]

And another blue state has started hemorrhaging residents. Over the past five years, Massachusetts has lost a net 200,000 residents to neighboring states. The declining native population was initially masked by foreign immigration, but tighter immigration policies and declining birth rates are hitting the state hard. An analysis from the Pioneer Institute claims that affordability, waning, job market competitiveness and an aging population are contributing to the trend. Massachusetts is one of just four states whose private sector employment levels have not yet bounced back to pre pandemic levels, and it consistently ranks among the lowest for birth rate.

[Georgia Howe]

Those are your Drive Home updates this evening. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com, and in case you missed it, earlier today, we covered some major stories, stories including nuclear talks intensifying with Iran, the Clintons facing the House Oversight Committee, and the Trump administration cracking down further on illegal immigrant truckers. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with a full edition of MORNING Wire.