Podcast Summary: Evening Wire: Border Agent Car Attack & Weinstein To Plead Guilty?

Podcast: Morning Wire
Hosts: John Bickley (Editor-in-Chief, The Daily Wire) & Georgia Howe
Date: January 9, 2026

Overview

This episode of Evening Wire examines a surge in anti-ICE protests following an agent-involved car attack and shooting in Oregon, details new developments in the Harvey Weinstein case, updates listeners on U.S. action against drug cartels and oil smuggling, and highlights shifts in political leadership in Minneapolis. The episode also touches on President Trump’s responses to housing affordability, an alleged SCOTUS mass bombing attempt, and comedian Conan O’Brien’s take on political comedy. The discussion is timely, covering complex intersections of law enforcement, immigration, national policy, and cultural commentary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Border Agent Car Attack, Shooting, and Anti-ICE Protests

• Incident Details

  • U.S. Border Patrol agents in Portland, Oregon, fired on two suspected Train de Aragua gang members after they allegedly tried to run over federal agents during a “targeted vehicle stop.”
    • (Zach Jewel reporting) [00:23]
  • DHS Statement: The vehicle’s occupants were identified as affiliates of a Venezuelan transnational gang, with ties to prostitution and a recent Portland shooting. [00:40]

• Oregon’s Political Response

  • State Senator Casey Jama condemned federal involvement:
    • “This is Oregon. We do not need you, you're not welcome, and you need to get the hell out of our community.” —Casey Jama [01:27]

• Minnesota Fallout and Protests

  • After a similar shooting in Minnesota, the FBI took over the investigation from state authorities.

  • The deceased, Renee Nicole Good, was claimed by family to not be involved in activism, but local sources describe her as a “warrior” committed to anti-ICE action, trained through her child’s activist charter school. [01:42-02:46]

    • “She was a warrior. She died doing what was right.” —Lisa, parent and local resident [02:26]

  • Protests continued following the publication of body cam footage and diverging narratives around the incident.

  • Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and MN Governor Tim Walz demanded federal transparency.

  • Local businesses, including a McDonald’s, posted signs refusing service to ICE agents:

    • “Just to let you know at the end of the day, this is private property, so you can't just break the law because you're a federal agent.” —Security Guard [03:56]

• McDonald’s Clarifies

  • The corporation stated the “No ICE” sign was unauthorized and has since been removed. [04:23]

2. U.S. Strikes on Ghost Fleet Oil Tanker

• U.S. Navy and Coast Guard seized a tanker carrying $53M in Venezuelan oil, foiling an attempt to circumvent sanctions. The operation aimed to prevent terrorist funding via illicit oil sales. [04:23-05:16]

3. President Trump’s Policy Announcements

• Land Strikes on Mexican Cartels

  • Trump claimed 97% of maritime drug routes have been disrupted and announced forthcoming land strikes against cartels operating in Mexico:
    • “The cartels are running Mexico... killing 250, 300,000 people in our country every single year.” —Donald Trump [05:16]

• Pivot on Venezuela

  • Trump delayed further action on Venezuela, citing their release of political prisoners and cooperation on rebuilding oil and gas infrastructure. [05:45]

• Affordable Housing Effort

  • Trump announced the planned purchase of $200 billion in mortgage bonds to drive down housing costs, pointing to surplus government holdings in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac:

    • “Because I chose not to sell Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in my first term, it is now worth many times that amount and has $200 billion in cash.” —Donald Trump (quoted) [08:19]

  • The administration is also preparing measures to curb institutional investment in single-family homes. [08:30]

4. Harvey Weinstein Legal Developments

• Weinstein, facing another third-degree rape trial in March, is considering a guilty plea to avoid the trial.
  • “I admit my moral failings. I was unfaithful and acted wrongly, but I have never assaulted anyone.” —Harvey Weinstein [07:54]
• Weinstein’s 2020 conviction was overturned in 2024, with the retrial yielding a hung jury. [07:40-08:19]

5. Minneapolis City Council: Political Shift

• Democratic Socialists of America members now hold both Majority and Minority Leader roles.
  • The majority leader’s job is to “identify uncontroversial ideas that the rest of the body largely agreed with.”
  • The minority leader will focus on “recognizing the political diversity of the council,” though the leaders are both from the same political faction, raising protest from moderate members. [08:30-09:55]

6. Supreme Court Mass Bombing Attempt: Status Update

• Suspect Lewis Gary appeared in court after his October arrest with large quantities of explosives at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, ahead of the Red Mass for the Supreme Court. He faces multiple WMD-related charges. [10:09-11:00]

7. Trump vs. Rep. Thomas Massie

• Trump endorsed Navy SEAL Ed Goll Rhine to challenge Rep. Massie, citing ongoing disagreements over Trump’s record and legislative agenda.
  • Massie labeled “the worst… Republican congressman we have had in many years.” —Donald Trump [11:00-11:40]

8. Conan O’Brien on Political Comedy

• O’Brien addressed the pitfalls of anti-Trump comedy, cautioning comics against letting anger eclipse humor:
  • “If you're just screaming and you're just angry, you've lost your best tool in the toolbox.” —Conan O’Brien [11:55]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Oregon’s Strong Words to Federal Agencies:

  • “We do not need you, you're not welcome, and you need to get the hell out of our community.” —Sen. Casey Jama [01:27]

• Minnesota Anti-ICE Activist Described as 'Warrior':

  • “She was a warrior. She died doing what was right.” —Lisa, local parent [02:26]

• Business Refusal to ICE Agents:

  • “You can't just break the law because you're a federal agent.” —Security Guard, Minneapolis McDonald's [03:58]

• Presidential Intent on Cartels:

  • “The cartels are running Mexico… killing 250, 300,000 people in our country every single year.” —Donald Trump [05:16]

• Weinstein’s Courtroom Statement:

  • “I admit my moral failings... but I have never assaulted anyone.” —Harvey Weinstein [07:54]

• Conan O’Brien Cautions Fellow Comedians:

  • "If you’re just screaming and you’re just angry, you’ve lost your best tool in the toolbox.” —Conan O’Brien [11:55]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Border Agent Car Attack & Shooting in Oregon: [00:23]
• Anti-ICE Protests in Minnesota: [01:42]
• McDonald’s ‘No ICE’ Sign Issue: [03:56]
• US Coast Guard Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker: [04:23]
• Trump’s Announcement on Mexican Cartels: [05:16]
• Weinstein Considering Plea Deal: [07:15]
• Trump’s $200B Housing Action: [08:19]
• DSA Leadership in Minneapolis Council: [08:55]
• SCOTUS Mass Bombing Attempt Update: [10:09]
• Trump vs. Rep. Massie: [11:00]
• Conan O’Brien on Comedy & Politics: [11:40]

Tone & Language

• The episode maintains a brisk, fact-driven tone, typical of Morning Wire and Daily Wire programming, combining direct news delivery with pointed, opinionated commentary and firsthand audio from events and interviews. The hosts and reporters frequently highlight contrasting narratives, political tensions, and cultural divides, with language that is direct, unfiltered, and often charged.