Morning Wire
Episode: Evening Wire: Hillary Testifies & Iran Talks Resume
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Date: February 26, 2026

Episode Overview

In this Evening Wire edition, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe break down a dramatic news day marked by Hillary Clinton's sworn testimony about Jeffrey Epstein, pivotal US-Iran nuclear negotiations, and major moves by the US military in Israel. The episode also covers breaking developments in immigration enforcement, a snowball-turned-assault incident in NYC, and a high-profile Medicaid fraud scandal. Through a fast-paced, fact-first lens, the hosts offer context and direct reporting on stories driving headlines and shaking institutions.

Key Segments & Highlights

1. Hillary Clinton Testifies on Epstein (00:33–02:04)

• Summary:
  Hillary Clinton appeared under oath before the House Oversight Committee regarding Jeffrey Epstein, after the Clintons initially resisted—only agreeing after contempt proceedings loomed.
• Notable Developments:
  • Session briefly disrupted due to a leaked internal photo shared by Rep. Lauren Boebert, allegedly violating House rules (00:52).
  • Clinton characterized the probe as “partisan”, while lawmakers of both parties stress public interest in untangling Epstein’s ties to the powerful.
  • Former President Bill Clinton is set to testify next.
  • Video & transcripts of testimony to be released after lawmaker review.
• Notable Quote:
  “Clinton has criticized the probe as partisan, while lawmakers from both parties say they are seeking answers about Epstein's connections to powerful people.” — Cassia Akiva (00:52)

Additional Epstein-Related Updates (01:42–02:39):

• Harvard Fallout:
  • Professor Martin Novak suspended after being outed as Epstein’s “inside man”, organizing 40+ visits to Harvard even post-2008 conviction.
• WEF Scandal:
  • World Economic Forum CEO Børge Brende resigns amid exposure of multiple meetings and “friendly texts” with Epstein (“missing you, sir”), despite prior denials.

2. US-Iran Nuclear Talks & Middle East Military Buildup (02:39–05:04)

• Diplomacy in Geneva:
  • US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner lead talks aiming to “neuter Iran’s military nuclear capacity.”
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio expresses skepticism over Iran’s intentions:
    • Quote:
      “If what they really wanted was energy...they could do small modular reactors. ...When you say we want to enrich and we want to enrich deep underground…and you have a history...that doesn’t sound to me like someone…not interested in building weapons. This is an unsustainable threat.” — Marco Rubio (02:57)
• Military Maneuvers:
  • US to station fighter jets in Israel for the first time—breaking precedent amid concern over Iranian retaliation (04:15).
  • Move allows dispersal of aircraft and demonstrates a harder security posture post-Abraham Accords.
• Contextual Note:
  Indian PM Narendra Modi had just left Israel, possibly deterring active operations during his visit (04:15).

3. Cuba Incident: Deadly Speedboat Altercation (05:04–05:47)

• Incident Recap:
  Cuban authorities shot at a Florida speedboat, killing 4 and injuring 6.
• Quote:
  “The majority of the information we still possess is what Cuban authorities are providing…Various elements of the US Government are trying to verify elements of the story…” — Marco Rubio (05:17)
• Unanswered Questions:
  Vessel origin and the presence of US citizens onboard remain unclear.

4. LAUSD Superintendent Under Federal Investigation (05:47–06:56)

• Searches Conducted:
  Search warrants executed at multiple properties tied to Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, including his LA home, district HQ, and a Miami-area property.
• Background:
  Carvalho came to the US illegally, later achieving citizenship; previously scrutinized in Miami-Dade for a $1.57M nonprofit donation linked to a district contract.
• Agency Response:
  District fully cooperating; investigation details sealed (05:56).

5. NYC Snowball Fight Leads to Arrests (08:03–08:35)

• Incident:
  Police officers in Washington Square Park pelted with snowballs; Guzmane Koulibaly, previously arrested for attempted robbery, detained. Three suspects remain at large.
• Injury & Controversy:
  Two officers suffered facial lacerations.
  • Mayor Zoran Mamdani labeled it a “snowball fight”, drawing fire from police unions.
• Quote:
  “The New York City Police Benevolent association condemned Mamdani for giving cover to assault police officers for doing their job.” — John Bickley (08:03)

6. New York Officials Promote Childcare for Illegal Immigrants (08:35–09:19)

• Initiative:
  Mayor Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in a Spanish-language video, urge undocumented parents to sign up for free city childcare for 3-year-olds.
  • AOC’s Words:
    “Any New York parent, regardless of your occupation, income or immigration status, is eligible to sign their child up for...free full day high quality education...” (08:53)
• Note:
  Residency requirements waived for children in temporary housing.

7. Immigration Law Challenges & High-Profile Cases (09:19–10:58)

• Deportation Policy Ruling:
  A federal judge in Boston found Trump-era “third country” removal procedures violated due process by moving too quickly, mandating advance notice and challenge rights (09:19).
• Repeat Offender Arrest:
  Indian national Karmjit Singh, who killed an 8-year-old in a DUI and faced two more DUIs after a short prison term, is back in ICE custody after another recent release (10:02).
  • Quote from father:
    “Scott Martin told the Daily Wire...Singh is now being held at the California City Corrections center.” (10:16)
• Policy Note:
  Homeland Security is defending the administration’s practices and expects eventual court vindication.

8. Medicaid Fraud Crackdown in Minnesota (10:58–12:01)

• Action:
  VP and “Fraud Czar” JD Vance announced the Trump administration is withholding $260 million in Medicaid funding from Minnesota, demanding stricter fraud prevention.
• Quotes:
  • “We are stopping the federal payments...until the state government takes its obligations...seriously to stop the fraud being perpetrated against the American taxpayer.” — JD Vance, via Zach Jewell (11:14)
  • “If Minnesota fails to clean up the systems, the state will rack up a billion dollars of deferred payments this year. Governor Walsh has 60 days...to respond to our letter.” — Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator, CMS (11:49)

Notable Moments & Quotes

• “Clinton has criticized the probe as partisan, while lawmakers from both parties say they are seeking answers about Epstein's connections to powerful people.” — Cassia Akiva (00:52)
• “We are stopping the federal payments... until the state government takes its obligations... seriously to stop the fraud...” — JD Vance (11:14)
• “Any New York parent, regardless of your occupation, income or immigration status, is eligible to sign their child up for... free full day high quality education...” — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (08:53)
• “...that doesn’t sound to me like someone…not interested in building weapons. This is an unsustainable threat.” — Marco Rubio (02:57)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:33 — Hillary Clinton testifies before Congress on Epstein
• 01:42 — Harvard professor suspended over Epstein ties
• 02:04 — World Economic Forum CEO resigns amid Epstein revelations
• 02:39 — US-Iran nuclear negotiations in Geneva begin
• 04:04 — US dispatches fighter jets to Israeli bases
• 05:04 — Deadly speedboat incident off Cuba; Rubio comments
• 05:47 — Federal investigation of LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho
• 08:03 — NYC police assaulted with snowballs; arrest and fallout
• 08:35 — NYC officials encourage childcare enrollment for illegal immigrants
• 09:19 — Boston judge halts fast-track deportations; due process ruling
• 10:02 — Repeat-offender drunk driver, illegal immigrant, back in ICE custody
• 10:58 — VP JD Vance suspends Medicaid funds to Minnesota after fraud scandal

This episode delivers a rapid-fire but thorough review of the day's most consequential stories, marked by biting analysis and direct quotes from political figures—an essential listen for those tracking U.S. politics, legal drama, and domestic policy.