Evening Wire: Iranian Leaders Killed & DOT Demands English | 3.17.26

Summary

Morning Wire — Evening Wire: Iranian Leaders Killed & DOT Demands English (3.17.26)

Date: March 17, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Podcast: Morning Wire, The Daily Wire

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Episode Overview

This episode provides in-depth coverage of critical global and domestic events, centering on breaking developments in the Iran conflict, significant policy changes within the U.S., and high-profile legal cases. Key themes include the shifting power dynamics in Iran, U.S. governmental and military responses, the economic and security ramifications of ongoing conflicts, and notable U.S. policy enforcement updates. The tone is urgent, fact-driven, and direct, reflecting the outlet's commitment to "getting the facts first."

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Assassination of Iranian Leaders & Regional Impact

• Major Iranian losses: IDF overnight strikes kill Ali Lerijani (Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, close advisor to the late Khamenei) and Golumreza Soleimani (IRGC paramilitary commander).
  • Quote:
    “We won't let Trump off the hook. He must pay the price… Darkness provides ample opportunity to hunt down US Servicemen running for safety.”
    — Ali Lerijani, threats prior to his death [00:28–01:26]
• Lerijani’s legacy: Sanctioned by the U.S. for inciting violence against protestors (estimated 30,000 deaths).
• Regional response: Heightened Israeli offensive, increased tensions with the U.S., and amplified anti-Western rhetoric from Iran.

2. Top U.S. Counterterrorism Official Resigns

• Joe Kent’s resignation: Steps down opposing Iran war, letter accuses U.S. of being pressured into conflict by Israel and its “powerful American lobby.”
  • Quote:
    “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it's clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
    — Joe Kent, resignation letter [01:26–01:48]
• White House reaction:
  • Trump:
    “I realized that it’s a good thing that he’s out… Iran was a threat. Every country realized what a threat Iran was.” [01:48–02:07]
  • Former staff call Kent a “crazed egomaniac,” allege he was a leaker removed from briefings.

3. U.K. Military Actions & Rising Defense Tensions

• UK's role: While politically noncommittal on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, UK counter-drone units destroy record numbers of drones. British jets provide defensive patrols in the Middle East. [02:27–02:49]

4. U.S.–China Relations and Cancelled Summit

• Summit delay: President Trump postpones talks with Xi Jinping due to war, citing focus on the conflict as the main reason.
  • Quote:
    “It’s not like, oh gee, I’m waiting. It’s very simple. We got a war going on.”
    — President Trump [03:00–03:18]
• Context: Iran is a major oil supplier to China, complicating international negotiations.

5. Energy Attacks & Economic Ramifications

• UAE gas field strike: Iranian drone targets Shah gas field, first direct attack on Emirati production. Regional energy infrastructure remains under threat. [03:30–03:51]

6. U.S. Government Shutdown’s Domestic Security Impact

• DHS funding crisis: 80% of DHS Intelligence and Analysis staff unpaid, despite ongoing terror threats.
  • President Trump:
    “The Democrats don’t want to pay. These are bad people. These are not people that love our country. I can tell you that.” [04:26–04:44]
• Attacks on Americans: Four noted since Iran conflict escalated.

7. Voter ID Law Advances

• Save America Act: Passes test vote in the Senate, heads for floor debate, focuses on election integrity.
  • Majority Leader John Thune:
    “If there’s anything essential to the integrity of elections, it’s ensuring that those who are registered to vote are eligible… It’s just common sense.” [05:07–05:34]

8. U.S. Department of Transportation Demands English Proficiency for Drivers

• Policy enforcement: DOT restores penalties for commercial drivers who lack English proficiency. Highlights tension with states (CA, MN) perceived as noncompliant.
  • Transport Secretary Sean Duffy:
    “We have a long standing rule… The Obama administration had put a notice, a slap on the wrist for that offense. We brought a penalty back for not being English proficient in the cab.” [08:35–08:49]

9. High-Profile Murder Case: Utah Mom Found Guilty

• Corey Richens conviction: Wrote children’s book on grief, then found guilty of murdering husband via fentanyl. Fraudulent insurance policies and prior poisoning attempts exposed.
  • Quote:
    “When that sandwich plot failed, she laced a lemon drop shot with fentanyl, killing her husband.”
    — Lyndon Blake, reporting [06:41–07:34]
• Outcome: Faces up to life without parole.

10. Vaccine Policy Ruling: RFK Jr. Blocked

• Court decision: Judge halts Health Secretary RFK Jr.’s efforts to scale back childhood vaccination schedule for procedural violations.
  • Quote:
    “Abandonment of the technical knowledge and expertise embodied by that committee.”
    — Judge Brian Murphy [07:34–08:10]

11. U.S. vs. Venezuela in World Baseball Classic

• Team USA advances: Defeats Japan and Dominican Republic, will play Venezuela for the championship.
  • Paul Skeens:
    “The proudest I’ve ever been wearing a jersey is the USA jersey… playing for your country, it’s a different level.” [09:27–09:40]

12. St. Patrick’s Day at the White House

• Irish PM visit: President Trump hosts PM Michal Martin; delivers blessing in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
  • Quote:
    “May the power of God preserve us… May God bless the people of Ireland and may God bless the United States of America.”
    — President Trump [09:54–10:24]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Context | |-----------|------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:28 | Ali Lerijani | “We won't let Trump off the hook. He must pay the price.” | | 01:26 | Joe Kent (letter) | “Iran posed no imminent threat… pressure from Israel…” | | 01:48 | President Trump | “It’s a good thing that he’s out… Iran was a threat.” | | 03:00 | President Trump | “We got a war going on… I think it’s important that I be here.” | | 04:26 | President Trump | “The Democrats… these are not people that love our country.” | | 05:07 | Sen. John Thune | “If there’s anything essential… it’s… election integrity.” | | 06:41 | Reporter Lyndon Blake | “She laced a lemon drop shot with fentanyl, killing her husband.”| | 07:34 | Judge Brian Murphy | “Abandonment of the technical knowledge and expertise…” | | 08:35 | Sec. Sean Duffy | “We brought a penalty back for not being English proficient…” | | 09:27 | Paul Skeens | “The proudest I’ve ever been wearing a jersey is the USA jersey.”| | 09:54 | President Trump | “May the power of God preserve us… May God bless the people…” |

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:28 — IDF strikes kill top Iranian leaders (Ali Lerijani, Golumreza Soleimani)
• 01:26 — U.S. counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigns; Trump’s response
• 02:27 — UK counters Iranian drone attacks; Middle East defense updates
• 03:00 — President Trump postpones summit with Xi Jinping
• 03:30 — Iranian drone strike shuts down UAE gas field
• 04:01 — DHS terror investigators go unpaid during shutdown
• 05:07 — Senate moves forward on Save America Act (voter ID)
• 06:41 — Utah murder-mystery: children's author convicted
• 07:34 — Federal judge blocks RFK Jr. on vaccine schedule
• 08:21 — DOT mandates English for commercial drivers
• 09:12 — U.S. vs. Venezuela, World Baseball Classic preview
• 09:54 — St. Patrick’s Day remarks at the White House

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Conclusion

This Evening Wire episode offers comprehensive news updates on the evolving Iran conflict, U.S. domestic political strife, regulatory changes, and cultural highlights. The rapid-fire format and pointed quotes provide listeners with essential context and expert analysis, maintaining Morning Wire’s direct, no-nonsense style.

Transcript

[A]

Two more Iranian leaders fall to IDF strikes, a top US Counterterrorism official resigns, and President Trump hosts the Irish prime minister for St. Patrick's Day. I'm Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Tuesday, March 17th. This is Evening Wire.

[B]

One of the most powerful figures in Iran's Islamic regime is dead. Daily Wire foreign affairs reporter Cassia Akiva has more.

[C]

The IDF said Tuesday that a targeted overnight strike killed Ali Lerijani, the secretary of Iran's supreme National Security Council. The US Sanctioned Lerijani for his role in the regime, claiming he was one of the first leaders to call for violence against Iranian protesters, which left more than 30,000 people dead by some estimates. Larajani was a close advisor to the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and was responsible for Iran's military response to Operation Epic Fury. In the weeks before his assassination, he flooded social media with tough rhetoric and threats targeting the United States military, regional partners, and President Donald Trump. Examples include, quote, we won't let Trump off the hook. He must pay the price. And, quote, darkness provides ample opportunity to hunt down US Servicemen running for safety. The IDF said it also killed Golumreza Soleimani on Tuesday, the commander of a paramilitary unit under Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.

[A]

Joe Kent, a top U.S. counterterrorism official, has resigned over his opposition to the war in Iran. In a letter addressed to President Trump, Kent wrote, quote, iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it's clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby. The president clearly was not broken up by the resignation. Here's how he responded earlier today.

[D]

I didn't know him well, but I thought he seemed like a pretty nice guy. But when I read his statement, I realized that it's a good thing that he's out because he said that Iran was not a threat. Iran was a threat. Every country realized what a threat Iran was. The question is whether or not they wanted to do something about it.

[A]

Former Deputy White House Chief of Staff Taylor Butovich characterized Kent as a, quote, crazed egomaniac and went on to claim that Kent, quote, just wanted to make a splash before getting canned. Several administration officials have claimed that Kent is a known leaker of classified information and that he was removed from intelligence briefings months ago.

[B]

While the UK has thus far rebuffed President Trump's calls to help reopen the street of Hormuz, a UK Counter drone unit took out the largest number of drones in a single night since the war with Iran began. In a post on X, the Defense Ministry announced the anti drone measures. British jets are also conducting, quote, defensive air patrols over allies in the Middle East.

[E]

President Trump has announced that his long scheduled summit with China's President Xi Jinping is delayed because of the war in Iran. Trump delivered the news during remarks in the Oval Office yesterday.

[D]

We've requested that we delay it a month or so, and I'm looking forward to being with him. We have a very good relationship, but because of the war, there's no tricks to it either. It's just, it's not like, oh, gee, I'm waiting. It's very simple. We got a war going on. I think it's important that I be here.

[A]

The war in Iran has added a new point of tension to the upcoming talks as Iran is one of China's largest sources of oil. Trump has also pushed China to take a tougher stand against its allies in Tehran.

[B]

In the latest blow to energy markets, an Iranian drone strike has shut down a major gas field in the uae. Emirati authorities said Tuesday that workers had contained a fire caused by a strike at the Shah gas field. The strike is the first on a production field in the UAE and comes as Iranian missiles and drones have targeted energy infrastructure throughout the region.

[A]

A large portion of the Department of Homeland Security staff who investigate terrorism are still not being paid due to the

[E]

ongoing partial government shutdown.

[A]

Here's Daily Wire DC Bureau Chief Tim

[E]

Rice with the story.

[F]

A Homeland Security spokesman told us that 80% of the office of Intelligence and Analysis is working without pay while they defend the United States on the home front. That department is the primary office tracking terrorism and threats and specializes in sharing intelligence and analysis to, quote, identify and mitigate threats to the homeland. When President Trump was asked about this by our White House correspondent, Mary Margaret Olihan, he said this.

[D]

The Democrats are terrible. Here we are, we're fighting big battles with a very tough enemy and we're not allowed to have security in our country. It's crazy. The Democrats don't want to pay. These are bad people. These are not people that love our country. I can tell you that.

[F]

The department has not been funded since February 14, and there have been at least four attacks on Americans since the conflict in Iran began.

[B]

The Senate held a test vote this afternoon on the Save America Act. The vote passed by a simple majority and means the hotly contested voter ID law will come to the Senate floor for debate. Here's Senate Majority Leader John Thune describing the bill on the Senate floor.

[G]

If there's anything essential to the integrity of elections, it's ensuring that those who are registered to vote are eligible to vote and that those who show up to vote at polling places are those who they say they are. That's what the Save America act would do. It's just common sense. And polls show that the American people overwhelmingly agree.

[H]

Let me tell you about one of the most concerning threats to your free speech, one that our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom are tackling right now. It's called the Digital Services Act. It's an EU censorship law, but it's having real consequences for free speech all over the globe, including in the US The DSA essentially gives European bureaucrats the power to shut down online speech, including Americans online speech, in the name of fighting hate speech and misinformation. It coerces American tech platforms like X to censor you or else face crushing fines and penalties. Alliance Defending Freedom is sounding the alarm on the dsa. ADF is also supporting a historic lawsuit from X that challenges the DSA in court. Your gift to ADF now helps fight the growing threat of censorship and advance your free speech. For a limited time. Your gift will be matched visit joinadf.comwire or text wire to 83848 to have your gift to protect free speech doubled. That's joinadf.com wire or text wire to 83848 text have your gift matched?

[E]

A mom who published a children's book on grief after her husband's death has been convicted of his murder. Daily Wire reporter Lyndon Blake has the story.

[I]

Utah mother Corey Richens, who wrote the book Are youe With Me? To help her children grieve her husband Eric, has now been found guilty of his murder. After a three hour deliberation Monday, a jury found Richards guilty of murdering Eric Richards with an intentional fentanyl overdose. Richards reportedly took out fraudulent life insurance policies in her husband's name, then attempted to kill him by poisoning a sandwich. Just a few weeks earlier. When that sandwich plot failed, she laced a lemon drop shot with fentanyl, killing her husband. About a year after her husband's death, Richards appeared on a local TV station to promote her new children's book, meant to help kids deal with grief, using the fake story of her husband's tragic death for the promotion. Richards was arrested shortly after that appearance. Following her conviction, she now faces up to life in prison without parole.

[B]

A federal judge in Massachusetts has blocked Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. From scaling back the childhood vaccine schedule. Judge Brian Murphy, a Biden appointee sided with major medical organizations and ruled that the health department broke procedure to alter national vaccine policy. Murphy said that RFK's failure to consult the CDC vaccine advisory panel was a, quote, unquote, abandonment of the technical knowledge and expertise embodied by that committee. Secretary Kennedy had previously dismissed the 17 outside experts that made up the panel, naming eight new experts to the panel last June.

[A]

New measures announced on Friday are designed to ensure that commercial truckers on American roads actually speak and read English. Daily Wire immigration reporter Jenny Terre has the details.

[J]

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy visited Monroe County, Wisconsin on Friday to highlight the allocation of 8.4 million doll to improve infrastructure in the region and the moves made by the Trump administration to make highways safer.

[K]

We have a long standing rule that you have to speak English if you're going to have a commercial driver's license. The Obama administration had put a notice, a slap on the wrist for that offense. We brought a penalty back for not being English proficient in the cab.

[J]

Duffy added that the Department of Transportation was dependent on state partners to crack down on unauthorized drivers. He mentioned California and Minnesota specifically saying they were, quote, not good partners.

[A]

The U.S. and Venezuela will face off tonight at 8pm Eastern for the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Miami. Daily Wire lifestyle reporter Lauren Baer reports.

[L]

Team USA has advanced decisively, edging out powerhouse and three time title holder Japan as well as the formidable Dominican Republic squad. Here's American pitcher Paul Skeens telling Alex Rodriguez how much it means to him to wear the Team USA jersey.

[M]

The proudest I've ever been wearing a jersey is the USA jersey. You're playing for a whole lot more. It's great to play for a city, great to play for, you know, for Pittsburgh in the regular season. But playing for your country, it's, it's a different level.

[L]

Tune in to Fox at 8pm Eastern to support Team USA.

[B]

And President Trump hosted Irish Prime Minister Michal Martin at the White House today for economic discussions. Amid the serious business, the president took a moment to honor the holiday.

[D]

But on this St. Patrick's Day, as we press ahead toward the opportunities that await, let us remember the beautiful words of St Patrick himself. May the power of God preserve us. May the wisdom of God instruct us. May the hand of God protect us. And today we add, may God bless the people of Ireland and may God bless the United States of America. And it's great to be with you. Thank you very much, everybody. All right.

[E]

Those are your Drive Home updates. 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 war in Iran, shifting focus from the skies to the seas, California losing more billionaires and home brewed hormone cocktails making their way into the States. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of MORNING Wire.