Morning Wire — Evening Wire: Colbert’s Network Feud & A Forbidden Nuclear Test? | 2.18.26

Date: February 18, 2026
Hosts: Georgia Howe & John Bickley (Daily Wire)
Summary by: [Assistant]

Episode Overview

This Evening Wire episode addresses several pressing topics in politics, media, international affairs, U.S. domestic policy, and pop culture. Key subjects include Stephen Colbert's accusations against CBS and Donald Trump over FCC rules and alleged censorship, alarming reports about China's banned nuclear test, and developing stories from high-stakes international standoffs to landmark legal settlements. There’s also focus on sociopolitical issues like transgender policies, city budget battles, and Gina Carano’s headline-grabbing MMA return.

1. Colbert, CBS, and FCC: Clash Over Censorship

[00:03–01:33]

• Stephen Colbert's Accusation
  Colbert claimed on The Late Show that Donald Trump and CBS colluded to silence him over an interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Tallarico.
• Underlying Issue:
  • FCC's "equal-time" rule only applies to radio and broadcast TV, not cable/streaming (John Bickley, 00:43).
  • Bona fide news exemptions exist, previously applied to shows like Jay Leno’s, but CBS was more restrictive.
  • Colbert bypassed CBS, posting the pulled interview on YouTube where it garnered 5 million+ views (Cabot Phillips, 01:13).

Notable Quote:

“CBS lawyers told him, quote, in no uncertain terms that the interview would not air. And this allegedly contributed to him bypassing the network and posting the Tallarico interview on YouTube.” – Cabot Phillips, [01:13]

2. Lake Tahoe Avalanche Tragedy

[01:33–02:12]

• Incident Overview:
  A deadly avalanche near Frog Lake, Castle Peak (Sierra Nevada) claimed nine lives, with rescue teams still searching for one missing skier after a group was buried.
• Survival and Rescue:
  Six skiers sheltered in place for 10 hours during a severe snowstorm, complicating rescue efforts.

3. U.S.-Iran Military Escalation and Nuclear Tensions

[02:12–03:49]

• Backdrop:
  As U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations stall, American military forces and assets are amassing in the Middle East (Tim Pierce, 02:20).
• Dual Strategy:
  President Trump employs both diplomacy and military build-up:
  • 2 aircraft carriers, dozens of warships, and hundreds of fighter jets deployed.
• Imminent Risk:
  Israeli counterparts prepare for possible action; U.S. sources suggest 90% likelihood of imminent military engagement.
• Expert Insight:
  Benham Ben Taliblu (Foundation for Defense of Democracies):

  “Right now we’re seeing a slow, steely eyed game of chicken between Trump and Tehran…” [03:13]

Notable Quote:

“One advisor to the president told Axios he thinks there is a quote 90% chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks.” – Tim Pierce, [03:41]

4. China’s Alleged Prohibited Nuclear Test

[03:49–04:43]

• State Department Claim:
  Newly analyzed seismic data (from Kazakhstan) points to a clandestine nuclear weapons test by China in 2020.
• U.S. Response:
  President Trump pledges to resume U.S. nuclear tests “on an equal basis with China and Russia” (Joel Niedler, 04:17) and plans for arms control talks with President Xi Jinping in April.

5. AOC’s Taiwan Stumble & GOP Reactions

[04:43–05:47]

• Event:
  At the Munich Security Conference, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gives a non-answer after being asked if the U.S. should defend Taiwan against Chinese aggression.
• GOP Reaction:
  Vice President J.D. Vance lampoons AOC’s response:

  “Does anybody really believe that AOC has very thoughtful ideas about the global world order…No, this is a person who is mouthing the slogans that somebody else gave her and it shows...” – J.D. Vance, [05:05] “If I had given that answer…I’d go read a book about China and Taiwan before I go out on the world stage again.” – J.D. Vance, [05:32]

6. Bayer’s Roundup Cancer Settlement

[06:49–07:37]

• Settlement:
  Bayer will pay up to $7.25 billion to settle roughly 65,000 claims that Roundup weed killer caused various cancers, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
• Impact:
  Share price rose almost 8% following the resolution.

7. New York City’s Tax Showdown

[07:37–08:23]

• Budget Crisis:
  Mayor Zoran Mamdani threatens a 10% property tax hike unless the state government increases taxes on wealthy residents and corporations. Expected to generate $3.7 billion.
• Reserves:
  Proposes drawing over $1 billion from city reserves to mitigate deficit.

Notable Quote:

“Faced with no other choice, the city would have to exercise the only revenue lever for fully within our own control.” – John Bickley, [08:12]

8. NYC Immigration Appointee with Anti-ICE Stance

[08:23–09:15]

• Appointment:
  Mayor Mamdani appoints Faiza Ali as the city’s commissioner of immigrant affairs.
  Ali formerly called for abolishing ICE in reaction to Trump’s immigration policy (Jenny Terr, 08:32).
• Advocacy:
  Ali pledges to “build a city that ensures every New Yorker…can live, work and raise families with dignity.”

9. NYU Hospital Halts Gender Transition Surgeries for Minors

[09:15–10:06]

• Hospital Decision:
  Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone stops all gender transition surgeries for minors, citing new regulations and a change in leadership.
• Trump’s Role:
  Move follows Trump’s executive order denying federal funds to hospitals offering these procedures (Andy Valdez, 09:25).

10. California Pushes for Sex-Separated Restrooms

[10:06–10:50]

• New Legislation:
  Republican Assemblywoman Letitia Castillo wants to require gyms, spas, and other facilities to provide separate bathrooms and locker rooms for men and women.
• Rationale:
  Castillo says measure is needed to protect women and provide “clarity and common sense protections in intimate spaces.”

11. Gina Carano Returns to MMA: Netflix's First Live Fight

[10:50–11:43]

• Fight Announcement:
  Gina Carano will face Ronda Rousey in a professional MMA fight on Netflix, May 16 at LA's Intuit Dome (Amanda Harding, 11:01).
• Context:
  Carano’s first fight since 2009, significant as her first major public spotlight since being fired by Disney.

Notable Quote:

“The fight will take place at featherweight, 145 pounds inside a hexagon cage instead of the traditional UFC Octagon.” – Amanda Harding, [11:18]

Key Memorable Moments

• Colbert posts uncensored interview to YouTube, bypassing CBS reaction [01:13]
• Benham Ben Taliblu describes US-Iran tensions as a “steely eyed game of chicken” [03:13]
• VP J.D. Vance's criticism of AOC's foreign policy knowledge [05:05]
• Big legal settlement by Bayer, pivoting company’s legal and PR woes [06:49]
• NYU’s announcement to cease all child gender surgeries—a national flashpoint story [09:15]
• Netflix’s leap into live sports streaming with women’s MMA headliners [11:01]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Colbert and CBS FCC Controversy: [00:03–01:33]
• Lake Tahoe Avalanche Story: [01:33–02:12]
• US-Iran Military Tension: [02:12–03:49]
• China Nuclear Test Allegation: [03:49–04:43]
• AOC & Taiwan, GOP Response: [04:43–05:47]
• Bayer Roundup Settlement: [06:49–07:37]
• NYC Property Tax Debate: [07:37–08:23]
• NYC immigrant affairs appointment: [08:23–09:15]
• NYU Stops Gender Transition Surgeries: [09:15–10:06]
• CA Bathroom Policy Bill: [10:06–10:50]
• Gina Carano Fight Announcement: [10:50–11:43]

Tone & Style

The conversation is brisk, factual, and analytical, with occasional dry wit and underscoring of ideological divides, reflecting both editorial skepticism and emphasis on providing “facts first,” as per Morning Wire’s branding.

For detailed coverage and further follow-up, listeners are encouraged to visit dailywire.com.