Evening Wire: Countdown To Shutdown & Hegseth Hardens Troops | 9.30.25

Summary

Podcast Summary: Morning Wire

Episode: Evening Wire: Countdown To Shutdown & Hegseth Hardens Troops | 9.30.25
Date: September 30, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Presented by: The Daily Wire

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Overview

In this high-stakes news roundup, the hosts cover the looming federal government shutdown, decisive new military directives from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, major policy shifts on crime and immigration, escalating Middle East developments, and notable cultural and legal moments. The episode’s central theme is American institutions—political, military, and judicial—under intense scrutiny and pressure, and how these immediate crises are provoking strong, sometimes controversial responses from leaders.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Looming Government Shutdown

• [00:18] Congress is deadlocked on funding negotiations; the fiscal year ends at midnight with no agreement in sight. Shutdown will occur unless there's emergency intervention from leadership.

2. Military Shake-Up: Pete Hegseth’s Ultimatum

• [00:37] At a major assembly of generals:
  • Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivers a stark message: either support his vision or resign.
    • Quote: “If the words I’m speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign.” (Amber Jo Cooper quoting Hegseth, [00:46])
  • Hegseth announces the end of “woke” policies:
    • No more DEI offices/gender politics
    • Reset combat standards to pre-2015 levels
    • Biannual gender-neutral fitness tests
    • Bans on beards/long hair
    • Tougher basic training
  • Critique of previous leadership’s diversity focus.
    • Quote: “An entire generation of generals and admirals were told they must parrot the insane fallacy that, ‘our diversity is our strength.’” (Amber Jo Cooper, [01:29])
  • Emphasizes returning the military to a warrior ethic.
    • Quote: “You kill people and break things for a living. You are warriors. Today is Liberation Day.” (Hegseth, [01:46])
• Unclear how the brass will respond, but rhetoric is combative and uncompromising.

3. Middle East Updates: Gaza Peace Plan

• [01:58] Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace proposal gets cautious support from eight key Arab/Muslim nations (Qatar, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt).
• Pushback exists, but the joint statement hints at possible diplomatic shifts.

4. Crime Crisis: Louisiana Requests National Guard

• [02:25] Governor Jeff Landry formally requests 1,000 National Guard troops for crime-ridden cities.
  • Quote: “Why would you not want your citizens to be safe?” (Landry, [02:34])
  • Troops would protect key infrastructure and bolster police.
  • A sign of intensifying public safety concerns.

5. US-Iran Tensions: Deportations Amid Nuclear Standoff

• [03:04] US strikes deal to deport 400 Iranian nationals after major military actions against Iran’s nuclear program. The first flight leaves Louisiana as part of a tense diplomatic give-and-take.

6. Botched NYC Prosecution: Pro-Life Case

• [03:38] Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s office mishandled prosecution of Brianna J. Rivers, who assaulted a pro-life activist on camera.
  • Missed deadlines led to the case’s dismissal; allegations emerge that this may have been politically motivated.
  • Civil litigation may still proceed.

7. Culture Wars: Elon Musk vs. ADL

• [04:37] Musk and others accuse the Anti-Defamation League of bias, branding ADL a “hate group” for its criticisms of Turning Point USA and alleged anti-Christian behavior.
  • Quote: “The ADL hates Christians, therefore it is a hate group.” (Musk, [04:47])
  • ADL’s CEO Jonathan Greenblatt defends the organization, calling the allegations “offensive and wrong,” but sidesteps specifics about TPUSA.

8. Viral Testimony: Crime & Failure of Justice

• [05:40] North Carolina father Steven Federico’s moving congressional testimony about his daughter’s murder commands national attention.
  • Quote: “With her hands over her head, begging for her life, begging for her hero, her father. Me that couldn’t be there. She was five foot three, she weighed 115 pounds. Bang. Dead. Gone.” (Amber Jo Cooper quoting Federico, [06:03])
  • Quote: “Because Alexander Devonte Dickey, who was arrested 39 goddamn times, 25 felonies, was on the street.” (Amber Jo Cooper quoting Federico, [06:27])

9. Immigration Scandal: The Fake High Schooler

• [06:49] 24-year-old Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra, an illegal immigrant, is caught pretending to be a high schooler in Ohio; uncovered after over a year by a phone call from his fiancée.
  • Faked ID, possessed firearms, and claimed to be a trafficking victim. Now in federal custody.

10. Trump’s Big Tech Legal Wins

• [07:41] YouTube (Google) pays $24.5M to settle Trump’s lawsuit over his 2021 account suspension. Other companies (Meta: $25M; X: $10M) have also settled.
  • Notably, settlement funds go to a Trump-linked ballroom at the White House, his presidential library, and directly to him.

11. Canada's Gun Buyback Program

• [08:38] Canada commences controversial firearm buyback, following bans on over 1,500 models.
  • Despite claims of “voluntary” participation, citizens face destruction of property or legal consequences for noncompliance.

12. Israel's PR Struggle: Letter from Charlie Kirk

• [09:29] Israeli PM Netanyahu shares a supportive letter from Charlie Kirk, who urges Israel to fight back in the social media “information war.”
  • Quote: “Israel should not sit back and allow its enemies to define her.” (Kirk via Valdez, [09:39])

13. Pop Culture: Kidman & Urban Divorce

• [10:10] After nearly 20 years, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are splitting, amid rumors of infidelity and months of separation.

14. Media: Jimmy Kimmel Ratings Crash

• [10:34] Kimmel’s ratings briefly surge after his suspension, then drop steeply, signaling audience dissatisfaction and controversy over his “MAGA assassin” comment and lack of apologies.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Hegseth on Generals:
  “If the words I’m speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign.” (Amber Jo Cooper quoting Hegseth, [00:46])

• Hegseth on Military Purpose:
  “You kill people and break things for a living. You are warriors. Today is Liberation Day.” (Hegseth, [01:46])

• Gov. Landry on Public Safety:
  “Why would you not want your citizens to be safe?” (Landry, [02:34])

• Elon Musk on ADL:
  “The ADL hates Christians, therefore it is a hate group.” (Musk, [04:47])

• Frederico’s Heartbreaking Testimony:
  “With her hands over her head, begging for her life, begging for her hero, her father. Me that couldn’t be there… Bang. Dead. Gone.” (Amber Jo Cooper quoting Federico, [06:03])

• Charlies Kirk to Netanyahu:
  “Israel should not sit back and allow its enemies to define her.” (Kirk via Valdez, [09:39])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:18] – Looming government shutdown news
• [00:37 - 01:58] – Hegseth’s reforms and Defense Department shake-up
• [01:58] – Trump’s Gaza peace plan reactions
• [02:25] – Louisiana’s National Guard request
• [03:04] – US-Iran deportation deal and military tensions
• [03:38] – Pro-life assault case botched by NYC DA
• [04:37] – Elon Musk/ADL Turning Point controversy
• [05:40 - 06:40] – Steven Federico’s congressional testimony
• [06:49] – Immigrant posing as high schooler caught
• [07:41] – Trump’s legal settlements with Big Tech
• [08:38] – Canada’s gun buyback program explainer
• [09:29] – Charlie Kirk’s letter to Netanyahu
• [10:10] – Nicole Kidman/Keith Urban divorce news
• [10:34] – Jimmy Kimmel’s ratings fallout

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Recap & Final Takeaways

The episode delivers a stark and fast-paced overview of escalating tensions—in politics, defense, justice, and culture. Dominant themes are the loss of institutional trust, calls for radical transformation, and the resurgence of combative rhetoric from those in power. The hosts keep the tone urgent and pointed, frequently letting the subjects’ own words drive the narrative. This episode is essential for understanding the current climate—where accountability, toughness, and narrative control are fiercely contested.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

Government funding runs out. Tonight, Pete Hegseth challenges the top brass and Louisiana's governor calls on Trump to send in the troops. I'm Daily Wire Executive editor John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Tuesday, September 30th. This is Evening Wire.

[Georgia Howe]

The federal government is rapidly approaching a shutdown. The current fiscal year ends tonight and negotiations for a new budget are at a standstill. Barring an 11th hour intervention from Democrat and Republican leadership, the government will run out of authorized funding at 12:01am tomorrow morning. Our team will continue to follow this story.

[John Bickley]

During today's meeting of hundreds of generals in Virginia, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth gave America's top brass a blunt ultimatum. Get on board or get out of the way.

[Amber Jo Cooper]

If the words I'm speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign.

[John Bickley]

Newly minted Daily Wire DC Reporter Amber Jo Cooper has more.

[Pete Hegseth]

Hegseth declared the Pentagon's Woke era dead, vowing no more DEI offices, no more gender politics and no more lowered standards. Instead, he unveiled 10 sweeping directives, including combat standards reset to pre2015 levels, gender neutral fitness tests twice a year, bans on beards and long hair, and a return to scary, tough basic training. Hegseth blasted diversity programs as DK and said weak men and women alike would be cut if they couldn't meet the bar.

[Amber Jo Cooper]

As foolish and reckless as the WOKE department was, those officers were following elected political leadership. An entire generation of generals and admirals were told that they must parrot the insane fallacy that, quote, our diversity is our strength.

[Pete Hegseth]

He also gave the following warning to our adversaries f around and find out his closing words. You kill people and break things for a living. You are warriors. Today is Liberation Day.

[Georgia Howe]

While there's reportedly been some pushback behind the scenes among Arab leaders, Trump's 20 point plan to bring peace to Gaza is getting mostly positive responses from the region. Eight countries issued a joint statement welcoming Trump's sincere efforts in crafting the plan, though without offering full support for it, at least not yet. Signing onto that statement were foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

[John Bickley]

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has put in a formal request for 1,000 state National Guardsmen to help fight crime. Here's Landry announcing his plans on Fox News last night.

[Amber Jo Cooper]

Tonight we're sending the Department of War request to send the National Guard, asking them to deploy the National Guard here in Louisiana into our cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge and others so we can continue to reduce the amount of violence on our streets. Why would you not want your citizens to be safe?

[John Bickley]

Per Landry's request, the National Guard would protect critical infrastructure and supplement police presence in high crime areas across Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Shreveport.

[Georgia Howe]

Washington has reportedly struck a deal to return 400 Iranian nationals to their home country. The first planeload of Iranians took off from Louisiana on Monday night. An Iranian Foreign Ministry official told Iranian Press that Tehran had agreed to accept a number of citizens who are in the US Illegally, most of whom immigrated through Mexico. The reported agreement comes amid heightened tension between Tehran and Washington. Over the summer, the US Air Force delivered the final blows to three Iranian nuclear sites. The attack is estimated to have set back Iran's nuclear program at least two years.

[John Bickley]

A New York City woman who sucker punched a pro life activist will avoid prosecution as Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's office admitted to botching the case. Daily Wire reporter Zach Jewell has the details.

[Zach Jewell]

Brianna J. Rivers faced second degree assault charges after she was caught on camera punching pro life activists Savannah Craven and Tao. A video posted in April showed and Tao interviewing Rivers on the street in New York City before Rivers physically attacked the pro lifer while the two were debating abortion. The case against Rivers was dismissed by a court in July after Bragg's office missed a deadline to submit evidence to the defense team. The DA's office admitted to committing an unacceptable error in the case, but a veteran NYPD officer told the New York Post that Bragg's office possibly botched the case intentionally for political reasons. Now Antow is looking to file a lawsuit against the woman who punched her. According to the New York Post, the Thomas Moore Society is planning to sue Rivers on the pro life activist's behalf.

[Georgia Howe]

Elon Musk and others on the right are blasting the Anti Defamation League as a hate group after it smeared tpusa. Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Giacomo has the story.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

The ADL's page on Turning Point USA accuses the group's leadership and activists of having made, quote, multiple racist or bigoted comments and supposedly being linked to a variety of extremists. In response, Musk, who's been a longtime critic of the adl, he posted to X the ADL hates Christians, therefore it is a hate group. The ADL's CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, responded to the growing criticism of his group among Christians. He said in a statement, quote, the idea that the ADL is anti Christian is offensive and wrong. Many of our staff members are Christian. Many of our supporters are Christian. We are blessed to work with many Christian brothers and sisters in the shared fight against antisemitism and all forms of hate. Greenblatt, however, did not directly address his group's page on Turning Point.

[John Bickley]

A grieving North Carolina father's congressional testimony has gone viral. In an emotional statement in front of lawmakers in Charlotte on Monday, Steven Federico highlighted the lengthy criminal record of the man who murdered his 22 year old daughter Logan, during an armed invasion in South Carolina. Despite dozens of felonies. Her murderer, he said, was allowed to roam the streets, forced on her knees.

[Amber Jo Cooper]

With her hands over her head, begging for her life, begging for her hero, her father. Me that couldn't be there. She was five foot three, she weighed 115 pounds. Bang. Dead. Gone.

[John Bickley]

Why?

[Amber Jo Cooper]

Because Alexander Devonte Dickey, who was arrested 39 goddamn times 25 felonies, was on the street.

[John Bickley]

Federico's daughter was fatally shot on May 3rd while visiting friends at the University of South Carolina in Colombia after Dickey broke into her friend's home.

[Georgia Howe]

A 24 year old illegal immigrant dad was caught posing as a high school kid in the US through one phone call. Daily Wire senior editor Virginia Cruta has.

[Virginia Cruta]

More A high schooler in Ohio faces decades in prison following a shocking discovery he's actually a 24 year old illegal immigrant man. Anthony Emmanuel Labrador Sierra reportedly faked his identity, including a birth certificate, and lived for over a year with legal guardians in the town of Perrysburg under the assumed Persona of a human trafficking victim. He was exposed when his fiance called the house where he lived. Police searched Labrador Sierra's room and found a burner phone, a fake ID and a pistol with loaded magazines. Labrador Sierra pleaded guilty to lying on federal forms, including immigration forms and an application to purchase a firearm. Labrador Sierra is currently in ICE custody.

[John Bickley]

In another big legal win for Donald Trump against Big Tech, YouTube has agreed to pay $24.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by him back in 2021. Daily Wire senior editor Joel Niedler has the details.

[Joel Niedler]

Then candidate Trump sued YouTube and its CEO over its suspension of his account after the capitol riot in 2021. The settlement makes Google, which owns YouTube, the third big tech company to settle lawsuits by Trump shortly after he left office. The payout is just a little less than the $25 million meta platforms agreed to pay back in January, and X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, agreed to pay Trump $10 million for likewise kicking him off their platform. As for where exactly all the money is going, a majority of Google's money will go to the nonprofit Trust for the National Mall earmarked for the construction of a Mar? A Lago style ballroom Trump is building at the White House. Most of Meta's cash is being directed to Trump's presidential library, while the money from X will go directly to Trump.

[Georgia Howe]

Canada has begun the rollout of their controversial gun buyback program following comprehensive bans on what they call assault style weapons. Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce breaks down the program.

[Tim Pierce]

The bans came in 2020 when then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used executive authority to prohibit the sale or ownership of more than 1500 firearm models. The government offered an amnesty period to comply, but that time has now run out, prompting the buyback program. Government officials insist that the program is voluntary, but in reality the only choice Canadian citizens have been offered is whether to turn in their firearms or have them destroyed. Failure to comply would leave gun owning Canadians in violation of federal law. The ban is said to focus on assault style semiautomatic rifles, but also prohibits carbines, semiautomatic,22 caliber rifles, large caliber bolt action rifles as well as many pump action shotguns.

[John Bickley]

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently shared a letter he received from Charlie Kirk earlier this year. Daily Wire assistant editor Andy Valdez has the details.

[Andy Valdez]

In the letter Kirk expressed his solidarity with Israel and his concern about rising anti Israel and anti Semitic trends. Kirk admitted that Israel is losing the so called information war, particularly among young people, but he believed Israel could better communicate with this age group where they are most active social media. Kirk went on to challenge Netanyahu to assemble a team of experts to actively fight online misinformation and clearly expose the Iranian threat, saying quote, israel should not sit back and allow its enemies to define her.

[Georgia Howe]

Another superstar couple is splitting up. Nicole Kidman and country singer Keith Urban are divorcing after almost 20 years of marriage. Kidman filed for divorce on Tuesday amid allegations that Urban is involved with another woman. The couple share two teenage daughters, Sunday and Faith, both born in Nashville. Urban was already living apart from Kidman in a rented home in Nashville for the past several months, and Jimmy Kimmel's.

[John Bickley]

Post suspension rating surge fizzled fast after Disney briefly pulled the late night host off the air over his false claim that Charlie Kirk's assassin was quote MAGA. His return last Tuesday drew 6.5 million viewers, but by Thursday that audience tapered off by 64% to just 2.3 million. In the key 25 to 54 demo, Kimmel shed 73% while his 18 to 49 numbers collapsed as well. Critics blasted his refusal to apologize fully while turning point USA accused him of smearing conservatives.

[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, this morning we covered some major stories, including Trump working high stakes deals on the government shutdown and a Gaza peace agreement, anti ice riots in Portland and a foster care scandal in Maryland. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of MORNING Wire.