Evening Wire: Birthright Citizenship On Trial & Artemis II On Track | 4.1.26

Summary

Morning Wire: “Evening Wire: Birthright Citizenship On Trial & Artemis II On Track” April 1, 2026
Hosts: Georgia Howe & John Bickley

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Episode Overview

This episode of Evening Wire delivers a fast-paced roundup of major national and world news, emphasizing significant legal, political, and scientific events. Major themes include President Trump’s evolving foreign policy and legal battles, the Supreme Court’s review of birthright citizenship, free speech protections, ongoing migration issues, and advancements in space exploration with the Artemis II mission. Throughout, the tone is urgent, informative, and at times combative—with sharp commentary and direct quotes from lawmakers, justices, and government officials.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.-Iran Tensions & Trump’s Hardline Stance

• Iran Conflict Update: President Trump announced that Iran is requesting a ceasefire but stated the U.S. will not agree until Iran reopens the vital Strait of Hormuz. (01:00)
  • Quote (Trump via Tim Pierce, 01:06):
    “We will continue blasting Iran into oblivion, or as they say, back to the stone ages.”
• Military Objectives Nearly Met: Officials report significant progress, with thousands of Iranian targets struck.
• Market Reaction: U.S. markets rallied on news that military operations might soon end, and oil prices dropped after Trump claimed the Strait of Hormuz would reopen following U.S. withdrawal. (01:28)

2. U.S.-NATO Relations Under Strain

• Contemplating Withdrawal: Trump criticized NATO’s lack of support in the Iran conflict, saying he’s considering pulling the U.S. out.
  • Quote (John Bickley reporting, 02:17):
    “Trump called the transatlantic alliance a ‘paper tiger’ and argued that the US has consistently supported its allies, including over Ukraine, which he said was, ‘not our problem.’ Meanwhile, NATO did not support America ‘when it mattered.’”
• Critique of UK Leadership: Trump specifically called out UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “no Churchill.”

3. Landmark Free Speech Case - State Department Settlement

• Daily Wire Lawsuit: The State Department has settled with The Daily Wire and The Federalist, agreeing to stop labeling certain media as disinformation and granting the plaintiffs a monitoring role over the agency for a decade. (02:43)
• Conservative Outlets Targeted: The case targeted a Biden-era program suspected of influencing advertising against conservative media.

4. American Journalist Kidnapped in Iraq

• Shelly Kittleson Abduction: An American freelance journalist was kidnapped by an Iranian-backed group in Baghdad. The U.S. State Department is coordinating her release and had warned her previously about threats. (03:19–04:04)

5. Supreme Court Reviews Birthright Citizenship

• Oral Arguments Highlight Divide: The Supreme Court appeared skeptical of Trump’s proposed limits to birthright citizenship, especially for children born to illegal immigrants and “birth tourism.”
• Trump’s Position:
  • Quote (John Bickley quoting Trump, 05:20):
    “We’re the only country in the world stupid enough to allow birthright citizenship.”
• 14th Amendment Debate: Trump’s team claims the 14th Amendment has been abused, while the ACLU insists it's clear in its guarantee.
• Justice Alito’s National Security Concerns:
  • Quote (Justice Alito, 06:02):
    “A boy is born here to an Iranian father…That boy is automatically an Iranian national at birth and he has a duty to provide military service to the Iranian government. Is he not subject to any foreign power?...It’s true to a child who’s born here to Russian parents…to Mexican parents. They’re automatically citizens or nationals of those countries and have a duty of military service.”

6. Supreme Court Split on Free Speech and Conversion Therapy

• Liberal Justices Clash: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the lone dissent in a pro-free-speech ruling overturning Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy, drawing public rebuke from fellow progressive Justice Elena Kagan. (07:02)
  • Quote (Kagan on Jackson, 07:23):
    “Justice Jackson’s dissenting opinion claims that this is a small or even non-existent category. But even her own opinion…offers quite a few examples. Jackson’s view…rests on reimagining and in that way collapsing the well-settled distinction between viewpoint based and other content based speech restrictions.”
• Significance: Highlights real-time ideological divisions on the Supreme Court, even among its liberal members.

7. Judicial Blow to Trump’s Migration Policy

• Judge Blocks Parole Program End: An Obama-appointed judge, Allison Burroughs, blocked the Trump administration’s move to end a Biden-era “humanitarian parole” program that had permitted nearly a million migrants to stay and work in the U.S. indefinitely while awaiting asylum. (07:45)
• Legal Reasoning: The Department of Homeland Security hadn’t provided individualized proof that parole purposes had been served before terminating their status.

8. Cultural Feature: What Makes a ‘Real Man’?

• Promo for ‘Be a Man With Me’: Pavel Wodowski describes his new show, focusing on unsung everyday heroes.
  • Quote (Pavel Wodowski, 09:16):
    “The real heroes and the real men are the people who are doing what’s right. Silently…So I want to bring them up. I want to celebrate them.”

9. Science and Space: Artemis II Launch

• Livestream Announcement: The human-crewed Artemis II moon mission remains scheduled for 6:24pm Eastern—potentially marking the farthest humans have ever been from Earth. (09:44)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Trump on NATO and Iran:
  “We will continue blasting Iran into oblivion…” (Tim Pierce quoting Trump, 01:06)
  “Trump called the transatlantic alliance a ‘paper tiger’…” (John Bickley, 02:17)
• Justice Alito on Birthright Citizenship:
  “A boy is born here to an Iranian father…Is he not subject to any foreign power?” (Justice Alito, 06:02)
• SCOTUS Ideological Tension:
  “Justice Jackson’s dissenting opinion claims that this is a small or even non-existent category…” (Justice Kagan, 07:23)
• Pavel Wodowski reflecting on masculinity:
  “I think the real heroes and the real men are the people who are doing what’s right. Silently. I call them silent heroes.” (09:16)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Iran Conflict & Ceasefire Standoff: 01:00–01:28
• Market Reaction to Middle East News: 01:28–02:08
• NATO Tensions: 02:08–02:43
• Daily Wire Free Speech Lawsuit Settlement: 02:43–03:19
• Journalist Shelly Kittleson Kidnapping: 03:19–04:04
• Supreme Court Hears Birthright Citizenship Case: 05:08–06:48
• Alito Birthright Citizenship Exchange: 06:02
• Justice Kagan Rebukes Justice Jackson: 07:02–07:45
• Judge Blocks Trump Move Against Humanitarian Parole: 07:45–08:52
• Be a Man With Me / Masculinity Segment: 09:16–09:44
• Artemis II Launch Livestream Info: 09:44–10:05

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Summary Takeaways

• The episode underscores foundational debates over citizenship, national security, and constitutional interpretation at the highest judicial level, while tracking dramatic real-time changes in U.S. foreign policy under President Trump.
• Tensions with NATO and Europe hint at broader geopolitical realignment.
• Free speech and migration remain contentious flashpoints in U.S. law and politics.
• Human stories—both in crisis (the kidnapped journalist) and in aspiration (the Artemis moon mission, everyday masculinity)—round out the narrative with texture and hope.

(End of summary)

Transcript

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[Daily Wire Announcer]

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[Georgia Howe]

the Supreme Court hears arguments on birthright citizenship. The Artemis 2 launch is still a go, and President Trump addresses the nation tonight. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Executive editor John Bickley. It's Wednesday, April 1st, and this is Evening Wire.

[Daily Wire Announcer]

President Trump, who's set to give a prime time speech tonight on Epic Fury, says Iran is asking for a ceasefire, but he's not letting up just yet. Daily Wire contributor Tim Pierce has the latest.

[Tim Pierce]

In a true social post this morning, the president said Tehran has begged for a pause in fighting, but made clear the US Will only consider it if Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global oil. Until then, Trump says, we will continue blasting Iran into oblivion, or as they say, back to the stone ages. Officials say the US Is nearing its objectives with thousands of targets struck and Iran's military significantly weakened. For now, the White House is signaling no ceasefire without concessions while maintaining pressure on the regime until they come.

[Georgia Howe]

Stocks continued to surge when the markets opened this morning. The Dow Jones S&P 500 and NASDAQ all climbed after President Trump signaled that military operations in Iran could end in the next few weeks. On Tuesday, the president told the New York Post that the US has accomplished its goal and destroyed Iran's capacity to make a nuclear weapon. He added that the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point for 20% of the world's oil, would reopen as soon as the US Leaves Iran. Crude prices fell after Trump's comments today signaling that an end was in sight. The benchmark Brent Crude fell over 2% Wednesday morning, while the U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate dropped 1.2%.

[Daily Wire Announcer]

President Trump says he's strongly considering pulling the U.S. out of NATO over their hesitation to engage in the Iran conflict. Daily Wire reporter Lyndon Blake has more.

[John Bickley]

Trump called the transatlantic alliance a, quote, paper tiger and argued that the US has consistently supported its allies, including over Ukraine, which he said was, quote, unquote, not our problem. Meanwhile, NATO did not support America, quote, when it mattered. Trump said Europe failed a test and warned that Washington would remember that refusal. The president took aim at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, especially calling him, quote, no Churchill.

[Georgia Howe]

In a landmark free speech case, the State Department has settled a lawsuit brought by the Daily Wire agreeing to end the Department's involvement in efforts to censor certain media outlets, including by labeling them disinformation. The agreement not only shuts down those practices, but puts the plaintiffs, both the Daily Wire and the Federalist, in a monitoring role over the government agency to check their compliance through 2036. The case centered on a Biden era program that funded third party groups that were found targeting conservative outlets by influencing advertisers. Tune in to Morning Wire tomorrow for the full report.

[Daily Wire Announcer]

An American journalist has been kidnapped in Baghdad by an Iranian backed Iraqi group. Daily Wire reporter Zach Jewell has the details.

[Dylan Johnson]

The U.S. state Department says that it's working to ensure the release of American Shelly Kittleson, quote, as soon as possible. Kittelson is a longtime freelancer in the Middle east who's reported on stories from Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Dylan Johnson, the Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public affairs, said in a statement Tuesday that an individual with ties to the Iranian aligned militia group Khatib Hezbollah is believed to be involved in the kidnapping and has been taken into custody by Iraqi authorities. Johnson also noted that the State Department previously warned Kittleson of threats against her and will continue to coordinate with the FBI to ensure her release as quickly as possible.

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[Georgia Howe]

The Supreme Court appeared skeptical of Trump's executive order proposing to limit the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship for anyone born on US Soil. Daily Wire Homepage editor Jordan Schroeder has more.

[John Bickley]

President Trump himself attended arguments today and took to Truth Social with his reaction, saying we're the only country in the world stupid enough to allow birthright citizenship. The president's team argues that the 14th Amendment has been abused to include people it was never meant to apply to, specifically the children of illegal immigrants in so called birth tourism. Meanwhile, the ACLU claims the 14th Amendment is clear. In one sharp moment, Justice Samuel Alito questioned whether immigration laws are being effectively enforced, suggesting current policies have allowed individuals facing removal to establish long term residence in the country. He went on to point out how the reality intersects with legal definitions of domicile and the broader implications for birthright citizenship. He also raised concern over national security.

[Justice Samuel Alito]

A boy is born here to an Iranian father who has entered the country illegally. That boy is automatically an Iranian national at birth and he has a duty to provide military service to the Iranian government. Is he not subject to any foreign power? What I said about a boy born to an Iranian father is true of children born here to parents who were nationals of other countries. If I'm correct, it's true to a child who's born here to Russian parents. It's true to a child who's born here to Mexican parents. They're automatically citizens or nationals of those countries and have a duty of military service.

[John Bickley]

The justices are expected to announce their decision by the end of the term in June.

[Daily Wire Announcer]

Meanwhile, in other high Court news, left wing Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has come under fire from one of her fellow progressives on the court. Daily Wire senior editor Virginia Kruta has more.

[Virginia Kruta]

Jackson was the only justice to dissent in the pro free speech ruling striking down Colorado's ban on so called conversion therapy. In a rare rebuke of her colleague, Justice Elena Kagan slapped down Jackson's dissent, hitting her for failing to acknowledge case law related to regulating speech in the medical field, Kagan wrote, quote, justice Jackson's dissenting opinion claims that this is a small or even non existent category. But even her own opinion, when listing laws supposedly put at risk, today offers quite a few examples. Jackson's view, Kagan said, rests on reimagining and in that way collapsing the well settled distinction between viewpoint based and other content based speech restrictions.

[Georgia Howe]

An Obama appointed judge has blocked the Trump administration's plan to end a much criticized Biden era migrant program. Daily Wire senior editor Joel Niedler has the details.

[Joel Niedler]

U.S. district Judge Allison Burroughs issued a ruling Tuesday that prevents the Department of Homeland Security from canceling the legal status of hundreds of thousands of migrants who entered the country under a controversial Biden era program. The ruling is a significant blow to the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the CBP1 app system. Launched in 2023, the app allowed nearly 1 million noncitizens from countries like Venezuela, Cuba and Haiti to receive humanitarian parole. This status allowed them to live and work in the United States indefinitely while awaiting asylum hearings that are often scheduled years into the future. In April of 2025, the Trump administration notified approximately 900,000 CBP1 users that the parole had been terminated, but Burrow sided with the Venezuelan association of Massachusetts and the liberal legal group Democracy Forward. She ruled that DHS failed to provide individualized records proving that purposes of parole had been served for each migrant before revoking their status.

[Daily Wire Announcer]

And before you go, the Daily Wire has a new show called Be a Man With Me, in which our fearless director of Production operations walks a mile in the shoes of rough and tumble American men, including ranchers, police officers and MMA fighters. Pavel Wodowski's putting the man hours into discovering what real grit looks like and in several cases, the bruises it leaves behind, like when he got tased. Here's the man himself.

[Pavel Wodowski]

I learned that there's a lot to be a real man. It really doesn't mean that having multiple cars, multiple girlfriends, multiple apartments, millions of dollars in the bank, that does not make you a real man. Far from it. I think the real heroes and the real men are the people who are doing what's right. Silently. I call them silent heroes. They're just doing what needs to be done every single day. And nobody hears about them. So I want to bring them up. I want to celebrate them.

[Daily Wire Announcer]

You can watch Pavel's journey on Daily Wire plus and speaking of watching, you can also watch this evening on the DW platform, the livestream of the Artemis 2 launch, which is still a go for 6:24pm Eastern. If successful, we'll see human beings travel the farthest we've ever been from Earth in an orbit around the moon. So tune in to watch with us.

[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, earlier today we covered some major stories, including Trump unloading on European countries for refusing to help with Hormuz, the Supreme Court issuing another landmark ruling, and the latest on the DHS funding battle on Capitol Hill. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of Morning Wire.

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