Evening Wire: Congress Votes On Epstein Files & Nicki Minaj’s UN Address | 11.18.25

Summary

Morning Wire: Congress Votes On Epstein Files & Nicki Minaj’s UN Address | 11.18.25

Episode Overview

This episode of "Evening Wire" from The Daily Wire, hosted by John Bickley and Georgia Howe, focuses on significant developments in politics and culture, including Congress's landmark vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, major updates on U.S.-Saudi relations, a high-profile speech by Nicki Minaj at the United Nations, and trending topics in immigration, public safety, and shifting social values.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Congress Votes to Release Epstein Files

• House Passed Bill: The House overwhelmingly passed a bill (427-1) mandating the DOJ release Epstein-related files. Only Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) voted against it. The Senate had already passed it unanimously; the President is expected to sign it.
  [00:48-01:05]

• Potential for Major Revelations: Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) described the contents as “shocking,” hinting at significant fallout.

  • Quote:
    “There needs to be a reckoning in this country when those files come out. It's going to shock the conscience of this country.”
    — Rep. Ro Khanna [01:25]

• Fallout for Elites: Larry Summers, former Treasury Secretary, announced stepping back from public roles after messages between him and Epstein surfaced, revealing a close relationship as late as 2019. He expressed shame but will continue teaching at Harvard.
  [01:36-02:10]

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2. Trump Welcomes Saudi Crown Prince

• Historic Visit: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited the White House for the first time in seven years, signaling deepening U.S.-Saudi ties after friction during the Biden administration.
  [02:10-02:20]

• Economic and Diplomatic Stakes: The Crown Prince committed to nearly $1 trillion in planned U.S. investments over the next year. Marked by military honors and public pageantry, the visit underscores a shift in Middle East policy under President Trump.

  • Quote:
    “The visit…tightens ties between the US and Saudi Arabia, is momentous since this country had been largely shunned by President Joe Biden’s administration.”
    — Mary Margaret Olihan, Daily Wire correspondent [02:20]

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3. Updates on Trump Assassination Attempt Investigation

• Calls for Transparency: White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt addressed frustration over unresolved questions in the Trump shooting investigation.

  • Quotes: “Those questions are definitely deserving of answers, and I understand why the public wants those answers and I believe the president does, too.”
    — Caroline Levitt [03:18]

    “It's a good question and it's one I'd like to see the answer to, and I think all Americans would.”
    — Caroline Levitt [03:29]

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4. American Medical Education Group’s Political Influence

• AAMC Activism: Leaked footage shows the Association of American Medical Colleges prioritizing advocacy for transgender care, defending puberty blockers for minors, and fighting federal/state restrictions.

  • Quote:
    “We have a lot of work to do in this area and it's definitely, definitely a high priority for us.”
    — AAMC senior leader [03:52]

• Criticism: Critics argue AAMC has shifted too far into activism, rebranding DEI programs amid increased scrutiny.
  [04:02-04:22]

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5. Immigration & Security Concerns

• Terror Watch List Licensing Incident:
  A trucking license was issued to Akar Bazarov, an Uzbek national on the terror watch list, due to failures in border vetting amid processing pressures in 2023. ICE has since detained him.
  [04:22-05:02]

• Human Trafficking Raid in Texas:
  Texas authorities arrested at least 140 illegal immigrants connected to sex trafficking and cartel activity, many from Central and South America.
  [05:02-05:32]

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6. Judicial Decisions & Public Safety in California

• Zero-Bail Policy Concerns:
  A judge released a second murder suspect without bail, worrying Santa Clara DA Jeff Rosen.
  • Quote:
    “People's lives ride on those odds.”
    — Jeff Rosen [06:02] [06:02-06:33]

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7. New York State Prison Closures

• Understaffing Crisis:
  Severe correctional staff shortages have forced the closure of facilities like Bear Hill Correctional Facility and the deployment of the National Guard. State officials fear overcrowding and resource strain could worsen.
  [06:44-07:25]

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8. Global Tech Outage

• Major Websites Affected:
  Platforms like X, Spotify, and ChatGPT experienced downtime due to a Cloudflare configuration error. No evidence of malicious hacking; issue resolved within hours.
  [07:25-08:08]

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9. Mass Kidnapping in Nigeria

• 25 Schoolgirls Abducted:
  Armed bandits kidnapped students in northwest Nigeria; part of ongoing, widespread attacks on schools for ransom.
  • Quote:
    “Hundreds of children remain missing from similar crimes over the past decades.”
    — Virginia Kruta [08:16] [08:08-08:49]

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10. Nicki Minaj’s United Nations Address on Christian Persecution

• High-Profile Advocacy:
  Nicki Minaj, alongside UN Ambassador Mike Walls, called for unity against Christian persecution in Nigeria, highlighting U.S. efforts led by President Trump.
  [08:49-09:46]

  • Quote:
    “Protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people. It is about uniting humanity.…to fight for security and liberty for all those who pray.”
    — Nicki Minaj [09:06-09:46]

• Statistics: 7,000 Christians killed in Nigeria in 2025 alone, as reported by the International Society of Civil Liberties and Rule of Law.

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11. Social Trends: Declining Marriage Interest Among Young Women

• Pew Data: Only 61% of senior girls express interest in marriage vs. 74% of boys; a steep drop from 83% in 1993 for girls.
  • Quote:
    “The declining interest in marriage for high school girls is really bad news for those concerned about happiness, loneliness and shortening lifespans.”
    — JP DeGance, Communio founder [10:03] [09:46-10:51]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rep. Ro Khanna [01:25]:
  “When those files come out, it’s going to shock the conscience of this country.”

• Mary Margaret Olihan [02:20]:
  “The visit…tightens ties between the US and Saudi Arabia, is momentous since this country had been largely shunned by President Joe Biden’s administration.”

• Caroline Levitt [03:18]:
  “Those questions are definitely deserving of answers, and I believe the president does, too.”

• AAMC Leader [03:52]:
  “We have a lot of work to do in this area and it's definitely, definitely a high priority for us.”

• Nicki Minaj [09:06]:
  “Protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people. It is about uniting humanity. I am inspired by [those] who…chose not to look the other way.”

• JP DeGance [10:03]:
  “The declining interest in marriage for high school girls is really bad news for those concerned about happiness, loneliness and shortening lifespans.”

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Segment Timestamps

• Epstein files vote & fallout — [00:48–02:10]
• Saudi Crown Prince’s White House visit — [02:10–02:57]
• Trump assassination investigation — [02:57–03:35]
• AAMC activism leak — [03:35–04:22]
• Immigration & trafficking stories — [04:22–05:32]
• California no-bail controversy — [06:02–06:33]
• NY prison closures — [06:33–07:25]
• Global tech outage — [07:25–08:08]
• Nigerian schoolgirl kidnapping — [08:08–08:49]
• Nicki Minaj’s UN speech — [08:49–09:46]
• Marriage interest among teens — [09:46–10:51]

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Episode Tone & Style

The episode maintains a brisk, fact-driven tone with elements of commentary, delivering national and international news through a conservative lens, while highlighting contrasts between actions taken by current and prior administrations, and framing cultural stories with a sense of urgency and concern. Notably, it mixes hard news with cultural analysis and high-profile voices.

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This summary provides a comprehensive look at the episode’s major discussions—valuable for any listener who missed the original broadcast.

Transcript

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[John Bickley]

Congress votes to force the release of the Epstein files Trump welcomes the Saudi crown prince to the White House and Nicki Minaj speaks at the UN I'm Daily Wire Executive editor John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Tuesday, November 18th. This is Evening Wire.

[Georgia Howe]

The House passed the bill 427 to 1, to force the Department of Justice to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein. Republican Clay Higgins of Louisiana was the only no vote on the bill. The Senate passed the measure unanimously. It napped heads to the president's desk, where he's expected to sign it.

[John Bickley]

One House Democrat pushing for the release of the Epstein files has teased the contents as shocking. Representative Ro Khanna of California spoke to the New York Post yesterday. Here's what he had to say.

[The Replacer / Commentary Host]

This is one of the most disgusting, outrageous corruption scandals. I want to know why some of these people still have universities named after them, why they still have scholarships named after them, why they are still in positions of power. There needs to be a reckoning in this country when those files come out. It's going to shock the conscience of this country.

[Georgia Howe]

After the release of emails and texts between him and Jeffrey Epstein, former Clinton and Obama administration official Larry Summers said Monday that he plans to pull back from his public commitments, but he's going to continue to teach at Harvard. The former treasury secretary exchanged messages with Epstein long after he pled guilty to sex crimes back in 2008. The messages show the two had a close relationship as late as 2019, with Summers even asking for relationship advice and criticizing Donald Trump. Summers told the New York Post he is deeply ashamed of his exchanges with Epstein.

[John Bickley]

President Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House for the prince's first visit in more than seven years. Daily Wire White House correspondent Mary Margaret Olihan has the story.

[AutoTrader Announcer 2]

During the meeting, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman committed to increasing planned investments with the US to almost $1 trillion over the next year. The visit, which tightens ties between the US And Saudi Arabia, is momentous since this country had been largely shunned by President Joe Biden's administration. After the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the crown prince was greeted with a military honor guard, a cannon salute, and even a flyover from US Warplanes. The meeting comes amid President Trump's series of high stakes meetings with the leaders of foreign countries on everything from trade to military tensions to protecting religious rights.

[Georgia Howe]

As new claims emerge about the man who shot President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, White House press secretary Caroline Levitt says Americans ought to have the full story. Here's Levitt speaking with Miranda Devine on Pod Force One.

[AutoTrader Announcer]

There are so many questions out there, and I mean, you know, did he act alone, et cetera? And it's over a year, it's 16 months now for sure.

[Caroline Levitt]

Yeah, I mean, those questions are definitely deserving of answers, and I understand why the public wants those answers and I believe the president does, too.

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So why don't we have, you know.

[Caroline Levitt]

It'S a good question and it's one I'd like to see the answer to, and I think all Americans would.

[John Bickley]

A leaked town hall video from America's top medical education group is raising new questions about their political reach. Footage obtained by the Daily Wire shows senior leaders at the association of American Medical Colleges vowing to fight federal and state efforts to restrict transgender medical practices.

[The Replacer / Commentary Host]

It's easy to say we're very concerned, but we are very concerned about this. We have a lot of work to do in this area and it's definitely, definitely a high priority for us.

[John Bickley]

The AAMC, which oversees the MCAT and influences nearly every U.S. medical school, has joined a series of legal challenges defending puberty blockers and cross sex hormones for minors. Critics say the group has drifted into activism and away from science, even as it rebrands its DEI programs amid public pressure.

[Georgia Howe]

Pennsylvania issued a trucking license to an illegal immigrant on a terror watch list. Daily Wire immigration reporter Jenny Terre has the story.

[Caroline Levitt]

Local authorities pulled over Uzbek national Akar Bazarov while he was driving an 18 wheeler and discovered an Interpol warrant for alleged terrorist activity, including distributing jihadist propaganda and recruiting terrorists. ICE took Bazarov into custody. Bazarov crossed the California border illegally in 2023, when the Biden administration was pushing Border Patrol to move people out of custody as quickly. Sources told the Daily Wire that border agents didn't find any such red flags at the time because they didn't have enough time to properly vet him.

[John Bickley]

In other immigration news, at least 140 illegal aliens were arrested in a raid on a human smuggling and sex trafficking operation. On Sunday, Texas governor Greg Abbott announced the results of the raid yesterday. Authorities took into custody foreign nationals from Central and South America, including migrants from Honduras, Mexico and Venezuela. Some of those arrested had ties to notorious drug cartels, gangs such as Trende, Ragua.

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[Georgia Howe]

A California district attorney is concerned about public safety after a judge's decision to set loose a second murder suspect. Judge Hector Ramon has now released two men charged with the June 2024 murder of a 21 year old without requiring any bail. Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen told Fox News Digital that it was bad enough that an accused murderer with a violent past let out of custody. Now there are two the odds of reoffense or fleeing from justice just doubled. People's lives ride on those odds.

[John Bickley]

New York governor Kathy Hochul is expected to announce the closure of a state prison as the correctional system continues to grapple with severe staffing shortages. Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Giacomo has more.

[AutoTrader Announcer]

The state budget passed earlier this year authorized the shutdown of up to three facilities, including the Bear Hill Correctional Facility in Franklin county, which will now move forward. New York's prisons have been strained by persistent understaffing, a problem that was only intensified by a correctional officer strike earlier this year that led to roughly 2,000 dismissals. The system is currently short more than 4,000 employees, prompting officials to deploy National Guard troops to help maintain operations. While the closure is intended to consolidate staff and ease pressure on the workforce, state officials warn that it may actually worsen overcrowding and stretch already limited resources across the remaining facilities.

[Georgia Howe]

A slate of major online platforms went down temporarily on Tuesday morning after trouble at an IT services company. The outage affected sites such as X Spotify and ChatGPT, and issues lasted for several hours. The problem stemmed from an issue at Cloudflare, an American company that offers security and web tracking services for websites. Cloudflare spokeswoman Jackie Dutton said the outage came from, quote, a configuration file that is automatically generated to manage threat traffic. She continued, saying there is no evidence of a cyber attack, only that the generating file grew so large it triggered a crash in the software system that handles traffic for a number of Cloudflare's services. The issue was resolved after several hours.

[John Bickley]

25 schoolgirls were abducted at gunpoint from a boarding school in northwest Nigeria this morning. Daily Wire senior editor Virginia Kruta has more.

[Virginia Kruta]

The incident is just the latest in a years long pattern and hundreds of children remain missing from similar crimes over the past decades. The assailants exchanged gunfire with local police officers before scaling the school's perimeter fence and carrying out the mass abduction. Police and soldiers are now attempting to track the perpetrators through suspected escape corridors and forested areas. The incident is just the latest mass kidnapping in Nigeria's northwest, where armed criminal gangs, often referred to locally as bandits, have repeatedly targeted schools for ransom.

[Georgia Howe]

Nicki Minaj spoke at the United nations today on the topic of Christian persecution alongside UN Ambassador Mike Mike Walls. The rapper outlined the actions President Trump and his administration are taking to stop the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Here's Minaj I want to be clear.

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Protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people. It is about uniting humanity. I am joined here today by peace builders, by faith leaders, by those who saw violence, saw rising intolerance, saw the threats clearly before us, and chose not to look the other way. I am inspired by their work to build interfaith ties, to see the humanity across the lines which might divide us, and to fight for security and liberty for all those who pray.

[Georgia Howe]

According to the International Society of Civil Liberties and Rule of Law School, 7,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria in 2025 alone, and high school girls are now less interested in marriage than their male counterparts. For more on the data, we spoke with Communio founder JP DeGance.

[The Replacer / Commentary Host]

New Pew polling data on 12th graders reveals that the storybook Happily Ever after ending is not on the priority list for a growing number of young women today. Back in 1993, 83% of graduating high school senior girls said they were very likely to choose to get married. Today, that number has plummeted to just 61%. Boys interest in marriage has largely remained unchanged and is at 74% today. The declining interest in marriage for high school girls is really bad news. For those concerned about happiness, loneliness and shortening lifespans, research continues to show the happiest, least lonely and longest living people are married people. In a healthy society, men and women in different ways depend on one another. While we work to get this right as parents, we should also get back to sharing stories that include that happily ever after ending once again.

[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 House vote on the Epstein files new claims about the man who shot President Trump and the US And Venezuela, signaling a willingness to talk. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of Morning Wire.