Evening Wire: Hormuz Opens & Todd Lyons Resigns | 4.17.26

Summary

Podcast Summary: Morning Wire – Evening Wire: Hormuz Opens & Todd Lyons Resigns | 4.17.26

Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Date: April 17, 2026
Episode Focus: Major global and US political news, defense updates, regulatory changes, culture, immigration, business, and sports.

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Episode Overview

This episode of "Evening Wire" dives into the reopening of the critically important Strait of Hormuz, significant political and regulatory developments in the US (including the designation of June as "Nuclear Family Month" and changes to peptide regulations), updates on immigration enforcement leadership, a major auto recall, and turbulence in the professional golf world. Hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe break down the day's top news stories with detailed reporting and key interviews.

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Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Strait of Hormuz Reopens

[00:03–01:33]

• Reopening Details: President Trump and Iran’s Foreign Affairs Minister jointly announce the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for commercial passage after a period of closure.
• Caveats: The naval blockade remains in effect for Iranian military traffic until US-Iranian "transactions" are fully completed.
• NATO Critique: Trump critiques NATO, saying they only offered help after the crisis was resolved, with a pointed statement:
  • “They were useless when needed.” — President Trump, via Cassia Akiva [00:30]
• Iran’s Stance: Iran confirms reopening, but restricts transit to non-military vessels and insists ships adhere to regime-designated routes.
• Economic Impact: Oil prices plummet more than 10%; WTI drops to $80 and Brent below $90 per barrel, immediately affecting global markets.
• International Response: French PM Emmanuel Macron and UK PM Keir Starmer welcome the development but stress the need for permanent security in the region.
  • “The world needs the Strait of Hormuz fully open because that is how we keep prices down for our people and stop global economic damage. ... mission ... is defensive.” — Keir Starmer [01:58]

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2. US Air Force Readiness Warning

[02:19–02:48]

• Critical Status: Military leaders inform Congress that the Air Force is the oldest, smallest, and least ready in nearly 80 years.
• Request for Upgrades: Urgent need for 72–100 new fighter jets, including F-35s and F-15EXs, to restore readiness across active, reserve, and guard forces.

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3. FDA Peptide Regulation Reconsideration

[02:48–03:25]

• Regulatory Shift: FDA summoning experts this summer to discuss loosening regulation of peptide injections, widely used in wellness and fitness.
• Public Figures: Health Secretary RFK Jr. is a major proponent.
  • “He’s a big fan of peptides and hopes to make them more accessible to the public.” — John Bickley [02:48]
• Industry Concern: Fears of regulatory chaos and potential for reduced drug safety if rules are relaxed.

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4. UK Asylum Fraud Uncovered

[03:25–04:34]

• Undercover Investigation: BBC reveals that legal advisors are tutoring migrants to falsely claim LGBTQ status for asylum in Britain.
• Fraud Details: Migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh coached on fake stories and photos as proof.
• Advisory Quote:
  • “Listen to me, there is nobody who is real at the moment. There is only one route from where you can get a visa and it is open. ... It is the asylum visa. ... There is no hope for any other visa.” — Advisor Tenisa, per BBC [03:35]
• Systemic Issues: Report highlights widespread abuse of the asylum system.

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5. Tennessee Declares June ‘Nuclear Family Month’

[04:34–05:18]

• Political Shift: Governor Bill Lee replaces ‘Pride Month’ with ‘Nuclear Family Month,’ emphasizing traditional family structures.
• Resolution Language:
  • “The nuclear family ... is God's design for familial structure and has been the bedrock of society since the creation of the world.” [04:34]
  • The move explicitly opposes "population control through sterilization and abortion" and asserts that "the nuclear family is under attack.”

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6. ICE Director Todd Lyons Resigns

[06:21–06:54]

• Leadership Transition: Todd Lyons, instrumental in recent large-scale deportations, stepping down as ICE director.
• Reason: Lyons reportedly stepping away “to be back with his family.”
• Agency Statement: Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen highlights Lyons' role in removing dangerous criminals.

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7. Idaho State Senator Faces Industry Backlash

[06:54–07:46]

• Senator Glenita Zuderveld’s Claim: 85% income loss after dairies in Idaho stop working with her husband over her tough stance on illegal immigration.
• Quote:
  • “I’m about trying to protect our state from illegal immigration, but they’re always trying to protect their workforce. ... That’s not free market. That’s intimidation.” — Glenita Zuderveld [07:04]
• Larger Issue: Highlights intersection of immigration policy and economic pressures in agricultural sectors.

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8. Massive Ford F-150 Recall

[07:46–08:51]

• Recall Scope: Up to 1.39 million F-150s (2015-2017) recalled for safety defects—may shift to second gear unexpectedly or cause loss of steering control.
• Dealer Response: Software update planned; mail alerts and final repair solutions expected by July.
• Industry Context: Ford led the auto industry in recalls last year, impacting brand reputation.

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9. LIV Golf League Funding Uncertainty

[08:51–09:54]

• Potential Crisis: Reports that Saudi Arabia may withdraw or drastically cut funding for LIV Golf, threatening its viability.
• CEO Response: LIV CEO Scott O’Neill reassures players/staff the league is “fully funded through the rest of the year... season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle.”
  • No comment regarding funding beyond 2026.
• Broader Impact: Reflects the challenge of sustaining alternative sports ventures without guaranteed financial backing.

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Notable Quotes

• President Trump: “They were useless when needed.” [via Cassia Akiva, 00:30]
• Keir Starmer (UK PM): “The world needs the Strait of Hormuz fully open because that is how we keep prices down for our people and stop the global economic damage. ... [Our] mission... is defensive.” [01:58]
• Advisor Tenisa: “Listen to me, there is nobody who is real at the moment. There is only one route from where you can get a visa and it is open. ... It is the asylum visa. ... There is no hope for any other visa.” [03:35]
• Tennessee resolution: “The nuclear family ... is God's design for familial structure and has been the bedrock of society since the creation of the world.” [04:34]
• Sen. Glenita Zuderveld: “They’re basically working with other dairies ... that’s not free market. That’s intimidation.” [07:04]
• LIV CEO Scott O’Neill: “Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle...” [09:01]

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Timestamps for Key Events

• 00:03 – Episode opens; Strait of Hormuz news headline
• 00:20–01:16 – Hormuz reopening announcement; Trump/Iran/NATO quotes
• 01:16–01:33 – Oil price reaction
• 01:33–01:58 – French/UK response: Macron, Starmer
• 02:19–02:48 – US Air Force readiness warning
• 02:48–03:25 – FDA peptides regulation review
• 03:25–04:34 – UK asylum fraud investigation
• 04:34–05:18 – TN's ‘Nuclear Family Month’ declaration
• 06:21–06:54 – ICE Director Todd Lyons resignation
• 06:54–07:46 – Idaho State Senator intimidation over immigration stance
• 07:46–08:51 – Ford F-150 recall
• 08:51–09:54 – LIV Golf financial uncertainty & CEO statement

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Memorable Moments

• A sharp rebuke of NATO by President Trump, highlighting international tensions and post-crisis finger-pointing [00:30].
• The undercover BBC story exposing manipulation of asylum systems via fabricated sexual orientation claims [03:35].
• Tennessee's symbolic swap from Pride Month to Nuclear Family Month, marking a shift in state-level cultural politics [04:34].
• The inside look at the economics of controversial political stances for lawmakers and their families, as shown in Sen. Zuderveld’s testimony [07:04].
• High-stakes drama in the golfing world, with the possible collapse of LIV Golf looming but met with CEO bravado [09:01].

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Conclusion

This Evening Wire episode offers in-depth reporting on contentious and transformative stories across geopolitics, domestic policy, culture, and business. Each segment is supported by direct quotes and on-the-ground insights, making it a valuable catch-up for listeners who want a factual, no-nonsense overview of today's most significant developments.

Transcript

[Georgia Howe]

The Strait of Hormuz is officially open again. Tennessee designates June as nuclear family month. And live golf may be gone as fast as it came. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Friday, April 17th, and this is EVENING Wire.

[John Bickley]

President Trump and Iran's foreign affairs minister announced today that the Strait of Hormuz is now completely open for business. Daily Wire foreign affairs reporter Cassia Akiva

[Cassia Akiva]

has the latest in a social media post. This morning the president announced, quote, the Strait of Hormuz is completely open and ready for business in full passage. But he added, the naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran only until such a time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete. In a follow up post, he criticized NATO for not helping originally with opening the strait, claiming that they only reached out now after the situation is over, he said, quote, I told them to stay away unless they just want to load up their ships with oil. They were useless when needed. Iran confirmed the strait is open, although a senior military official told Iranian regime run media that only non military vessels are permitted to transit and that they must pass through routes designated by the regime.

[John Bickley]

The announcement on the opening of the strait sent oil prices plummeting. Early prices for West Texas Intermediate crude, that's a key US benchmark, rapidly fell more than 10% to around $80 a barrel, while Brent crude likewise dropped more than 10% to under $90.

[Georgia Howe]

The Prime Ministers of France and the UK Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer, welcomed Iran's announcement that the Strait of Hormuz has reopened to commercial traffic, but warned that access to the critical oil route must be permanently secured. The two leaders said they will coordinate an international effort to ensure maritime safety, with military planners set to meet in London next week and a potential deployment to follow once conditions allow. Here's Starmer.

[Keir Starmer]

The world needs the Strait of Hormuz fully open because that is how we keep prices down for our people and stop the global economic damage. We want to see a return to talks and a lasting agreement. We're very clear that the mission that we're putting together is a defensive mission.

[John Bickley]

National Guard leaders say that the U.S. air Force is the oldest, the smallest and the least ready it's been in nearly eight decades. The warning came in a letter to Congress asking lawmakers to approve funds for dozens of new fighter jets. Military leaders say the Air force needs between 72 and 100 new jets, including dozens of F35s and new F15EXs Officials say this is all necessary to bring the Air Force up to proper readiness across its active duty, reserve and guard corps.

[Georgia Howe]

The FDA will bring experts together this summer to discuss potentially relaxing regulations around more than half a dozen peptide injections. Peptides are short strings of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Wellness experts, fitness influencers and others have advocated for them as a way to kickstart or speed up natural processes in the body, such as healing injuries. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Said publicly that he's a big fan of peptides and he hopes to make them more accessible to the public. Some public officials have warned that relaxing rules around peptides could cause chaos in the pharmaceutical industry and lead to less strenuous testing of some drugs.

[John Bickley]

New undercover reporting caught legal advisors telling migrants from Muslim countries to pose as gay to be granted asylum in Britain. Daily Wire reporter Zach Jewel reports.

[Zach Jewel]

A BBC undercover investigation has revealed how legal advisors are raking in cash by helping migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh apply for asylum by claiming to be gay, which would put them at risk of persecution in their home countries. Some lawyers are going as far as coaching migrants on how to fabricate photos and come up with their own backstories. One BBC reporter went undercover to a meeting of 175 people organized by a group that claims to support gay and lesbian asylum seekers, but it appeared that none of them actually identified as lesbian or gay. An advisor from the LGBT group named Tenisa advised the undercover reporter to to apply for asylum as a gay man. When the reporter said he wasn't gay, the advisor said, quote, listen to me, there is nobody who is real at the moment. There is only one route from where you can get a visa and it is open. She added, quote, it is the asylum visa. It is called gay case or same sex. There is no hope for any other visa.

[John Bickley]

In more LGBT news here in the state of Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee has just signed a resolution that swaps out Pride Month for Nuclear Family Month in June. The resolution declares, quote, the nuclear family, consisting of one husband, one wife and any biological, adopted or fostered children, is God's design for familial structure and has been the bedrock of society since the creation of the world. It goes on to say that Tennessee's values do not align with ideologies that fight for population control through sterilization and abortion practices. It adds, quote, the nuclear family is under attack in our beloved state and nation and it's our responsibility to uplift, protect and support values that help Tennessee prosperity.

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[Georgia Howe]

Todd Lyons, who oversaw one of the largest deportation efforts in modern history, will step down as acting director of ICE at the end of May. Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen announced Lyons departure date on Thursday night, and he said he plans to play a key role in efforts to remove murderers, rapists, pedophiles, terrorists and gang members from American communities. Lyon's exit has been expected. He told the Daily Wire last year that he planned to depart the agency within a year or two. A source told the Daily Wire that Lyon's departure is about him, quote, wanting to be back with his family.

[John Bickley]

A Republican state senator in Idaho says her family's livelihood is on the line over her stance on illegal immigration. Daily Wire assistant editor Andy Valdez has the story.

[Andy Valdez]

Senator Glenita Zuderveld said multiple dairies are refusing to work with her husband, Tom, because of her politics, adding that they've lost 85% of their income in the past month. While the state's dairy industry says Zeterveld is, quote, anti ag. She believes that she is being targeted because of her support for policies that are tough on illegal immigration, like those that mandate employers verify the legal status of workers, the lawmaker told the Daily Wire quote, I'm about trying to protect our state from illegal immigration, but they're always trying to protect their workforce. They're basically working with other dairies that will probably be withdrawing from us, so they're colluding together. That's not free market. That's intimidation.

[Georgia Howe]

Ford Motor Company is recalling up to 1.39 million F150 pickup trucks from model years 2015 to 2017 over a defect that could be deadly. Daily Wire senior editor Joel Niedler has the details.

[Joel Niedler]

The defect in question could unexpectedly shift the truck into second gear while driving or cause the driver to lose steering control entirely. The issue stems from a potential loss of signal between the transmission range sensor and the vehicle's powertrain control module. Dealers plan to address the problem with a software update, while the company will begin notifying owners by mail later this month with a final repair solution expected by July. The recall marks the latest in a series of quality concerns for Ford, which issued more recalls than any other automaker last year, affecting nearly 13 million vehicles. Ford's F Series trucks have been America's best selling automobile for 48 consecutive years, with the automaker selling nearly 830,000 vehicles in 2025 alone. If you happen to own one from the affected window, be on the lookout for instructions in the mail and LIV

[John Bickley]

Golf may be on its back nine as the Saudis consider yanking funds, though its CEO insists it's still full throttle ahead. Daily Wire reporter Lyndon Blake has more.

[Lyndon Blake]

Saudi Arabia's public investment fund is reportedly considering pulling funding from the tour that lured the biggest names away from the PGA just over four years ago. The Financial Times reported Wednesday that the fund is, quote, on the verge of slashing financial support for the league, while other outlets suggested LIV could be facing, quote, imminent closure. The fund has poured millions into LIV Golf to rival the PGA Tour, but the league struggled to attract a significant television audience in the United States amid the dire reports. LIV Golf CEO Scott o' Neill told players and personnel Wednesday that the league is fully funded through the rest of the year and that reports of its imminent shutdown are false. He said our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle, though he didn't address funding beyond the 2026 season.

[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, earlier today we covered some major stories, including the latest on Iran, more details emerging on the Justin Fairfax murder suicide case, and France and Britain's belated response to reopening the Strait. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with a weekend edition of Morning Wire.