Evening Wire: Kirk’s Killer Caught & Senate Republicans Go Nuclear | 9.12.25

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Morning Wire – Evening Wire: Kirk’s Killer Caught & Senate Republicans Go Nuclear

Date: September 12, 2025
Hosts: Georgia Howe, John Bickley

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Episode Overview

This episode of Evening Wire delivers rapid-fire news on national turmoil following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, law enforcement responses, escalating political tensions, and a breakdown of top stories in politics, the judiciary, healthcare, and international affairs. Georgia Howe and John Bickley guide listeners through significant developments, with commentary, remarks from public figures, and on-the-ground reporting.

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Key Topics & Insights

1. Charlie Kirk’s Assassin Apprehended

[00:03–02:18]

• Suspect Arrested

  • Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested for the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
  • Charged with aggravated murder, unlawful firearm discharge, causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice.
  • His family turned him in and helped recover the bolt-action Mauser rifle used in the killing.

• Motivation and Radicalization

  • Robinson’s family reported a rise in his political agitation and resentment toward Kirk.
  • Messages found via Discord with his roommate discussed weapon drop points.
  • Authorities found the rifle etched with anti-fascist slogans, e.g., "hey fascist, catch."

• Political and Legal Reactions

  • President Trump praised the arrest, advocating for the death penalty if Robinson is convicted:
    • “In Utah they have the death penalty and you have a very good governor there... The governor is very intent on the death penalty in this case and he should be.” (Donald Trump, 00:51)
  • Governor Spencer Cox confirmed Robinson confessed or implied guilt to a family member.

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2. Aftermath: Public, Military, and Media Response

[02:18–04:02]

• Military Zero-Tolerance Stance

  • Pentagon warns military and civilian personnel: mockery or celebration of the assassination is strictly forbidden.
  • Chief Spokesman Sean Parnell calls such behavior “completely unacceptable,” promising "swift discipline" (Sean Parnell, 02:29).

• Backlash in Media and Entertainment

  • Social media posts celebrating Kirk’s death cause firings nationwide.

  • DC Comics cancels two upcoming "Red Hood" issues after creator Gretchen Felker-Martin mocks the killing online.

    • “The comic book creator Gretchen Felker Martin...prompted backlash after posting a comment on X calling Kirk a Nazi and mocking thoughts and prayers for him.” (Georgia Howe, 03:03)

• International Reaction

  • Attempted moment of silence for Kirk in the European Parliament sparks protests; President Metsola denies the request, prompting right-wing MPs to accuse the chamber of hypocrisy.
  • Italian PM Giorgia Meloni calls Kirk’s murder a “deep wound for democracy.”

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3. National Security: Trump Sends Troops to Memphis

[04:02–04:46]

• Announcement & Rationale
  • President Trump announces National Guard deployment to Memphis, Tennessee, part of his broader anti-crime initiative—possibly to be escalated to federal military involvement.
    • “Almost every city that's in trouble is run by Democrats. Cashless bail is a disaster...The Republicans want me to come in there so badly.” (Donald Trump, 04:27)
  • Bipartisan agreement: Republican Gov. Bill Lee and Democratic Mayor Paul Young support the move.

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4. Judiciary: High-Profile Crime and Accountability Calls

[04:46–05:20]

• Charlotte Tragedy and Judicial Backlash
  • NC Republicans demand the removal of Judge Teresa Stokes for releasing a repeat offender who then murdered Irina Zarutska:
    • Congressional letter calls the judge’s decision “reckless and a failure of judicial responsibility.”

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5. Healthcare: Planned Parenthood Funding Blocked

[05:20–05:49]

• Federal Appeals Court Ruling
  • Court allows Trump administration to withhold Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood under the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
  • Despite ongoing legal challenges, the administration can now uniformly block Planned Parenthood affiliates’ funding.

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6. Senate GOP Goes Nuclear on Confirmations

[05:49–06:26]

• Nuclear Option Invoked
  • Senate Republicans change rules to speed up confirmation of 48 lower-level Trump nominees with a simple majority.
  • Majority Leader John Thune criticizes Democrats for obstruction, arguing their delays are “unsustainable.”
    • Trump calls the tactics “political extortion.”

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7. International Briefs & Other News

[06:26–08:13]

• Middle East

  • IDF controls 40% of Gaza City; Netanyahu calls it Hamas’s "last important stronghold."
  • Israel orders evacuation; Hamas tells civilians to stay.

• Tylenol and Autism Debate

  • Tylenol's interim CEO tells HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. there’s "no link between acetaminophen and autism," countering HHS’s pending report.

• EU Bans Gel Nail Polish Chemical

  • Chemical TPO banned due to potential health risks; experts note risks based on high oral doses in rats and call for caution mainly among pregnant women and salon workers.

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Notable Quotes

• President Trump on Charlie Kirk’s assassin:
  “He should be facing the death penalty. And you have a very good governor there...” (00:51)

• Sean Parnell (Pentagon Spokesman):
  “Completely unacceptable... zero tolerance for both military personnel and civilian staff.” (02:29)

• Georgia Howe on social media backlash:
  “Social media posts mocking or celebrating Kirk's assassination have resulted in multiple firings across the country.” (03:03)

• John Thune (Senate Majority Leader):
  “The Democrats’ strategy is unsustainable.” (05:49)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:03–02:18] – Arrest of Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin, investigation details, political reaction
• [02:18–04:02] – Pentagon’s warning, media/industry fallout, international response
• [04:02–04:46] – Trump deploys National Guard to Memphis, comments on crime and Democrat-led cities
• [04:46–05:20] – North Carolina judicial controversy over repeat offender killing
• [05:20–05:49] – Appeals court ruling on Planned Parenthood funding
• [05:49–06:26] – Senate Republicans invoke the nuclear option
• [06:26–07:36] – Israel-Gaza update and Tylenol autism controversy
• [07:36–08:13] – EU bans nail polish chemical; health implications

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Memorable Moments

• Tense discussion over the Pentagon’s crackdown on inappropriate responses to Kirk’s assassination.
• DC Comics’ immediate cancellation of a series after its creator’s inflammatory social media post.
• The European Parliament’s raucous reaction to the denied tribute for Kirk, with right-wing MPs banging on desks.

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Summary Tone

The episode maintains a fast-paced, urgent tone reflecting the gravity of national headlines and political polarization. Host commentary remains straightforward, focusing on factual reporting interspersed with brief analysis and direct attribution of guest and official remarks.

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For more detailed coverage, visit DailyWire.com or tune in to the next episode.

Transcript

[Georgia Howe]

The suspected assassin of Charlie Kirk is arrested and charged. Trump says he's sending troops to Memphis and Senate Republicans are going nuclear. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Friday, September 12th, and this is Evening Wire.

[John Bickley]

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. We got him.

[News Reporter]

Police have caught the man they say assassinated Charlie Kirk. The suspect, 22 year old Tyler Robinson, has, has been charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice. Investigators say he was turned in by his own family, who has also helped police recover the suspected murder weapon, a bolt action Mauser rifle. President Trump praised the arrest, saying Friday he hopes a suspect faces the death penalty if convicted.

[Donald Trump]

In Utah they have the death penalty and you have a very good governor there. The governor, I've gotten to know him. The governor is very intent on the death penalty in this case and he should be.

[Georgia Howe]

Utah Republican Governor Spencer Cox said at a press conference that Robinson was arrested after confessing or implying to a family member that he'd assassinated Kirk. Family members said he had recently become more political and accused the TPUSA founder of supposedly spreading hate.

[John Bickley]

The family member referenced a recent incident in which Robinson came to dinner prior to September 10th, and in the conversation with another family member member, Robinson mentioned Charlie Kirk was coming to uvu. They talked about why they didn't like him and the viewpoints that he had. The family member also stated Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate. The family member also confirmed Robinson had a gray Dodge Challenger. Investigators identified an individual as the roommate of Robinson.

[Georgia Howe]

The roommate allowed investigators to review messages from Robinson that were sent via the online platform Discord. They discussed retrieving a rifle from a drop point and leaving the rifle in a bush, Cox said. Authorities said they found a bolt action rifle with a scope attached in a bush in a wooded area near the assassination. Officials say bullet casings from the rifle were etched with radical left anti fascist phrases, including hey fascist, catch.

[News Reporter]

The Pentagon has issued a blunt warning. Any celebration or mockery by its personnel in the wake of Kirk's assassination will not be tolerated. Daily Wire Washington editor Tim Rice has.

[Sean Parnell]

The details of Chief Spokesman Sean Parnell called such behavior completely unacceptable, stressing zero tolerance for both military personnel and civilian staff. War Secretary Pete Hegseth backed the statement, as did leaders of the Navy, Air Force and Army, all pledging that swift discipline would follow for anyone who disgraces the uniform. The crackdown comes after reports of online posts mocking Kirk's death, which prompted Republican Congressman Derek Van Orden to threaten Navy Secretary John Phelan with removal if he fails to act. Van Orden said wearing a uniform is a privilege, not a right.

[Georgia Howe]

Social media posts mocking or celebrating Kirk's assassination have resulted in multiple firings across the country. DC Comics has canceled a Batman spinoff series after its creator celebrated the shooting of Charlie Kirk. The comic book creator Gretchen Felker Martin, who is trans identifying, prompted backlash after posting a comment on X calling Kirk a Nazi and mocking thoughts and prayers for him. This prompted DC to cancel the next two planned installments of Red Hood and offer retailers reimbursements for any unsold copies of the first issue.

[News Reporter]

A request to honor Charlie Kirk with a moment of silence erupted into protests in the European Parliament. Swedish lawmaker Charlie Weimers asked Parliament to pause in tribute, but President Roberta Metsola denied the request, citing rules. Right wing members banged on desks in anger, accusing the chamber of hypocrisy. Mezzola later offered condolences to Kirk's wife and children. Ital Prime Minister Georgia Maloney called it a deep wound for democracy.

[Georgia Howe]

Trump says he's deploying the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee next, and that the governor and mayor are on board. The president made the announcement this morning on Fox and Friends, saying Memphis is the next focus for his national anti crime initiative. The deployment, he said, will not necessarily be limited to the National Guard. If needed, the army could also be involved. According to Trump, Republican governor Bill Lee and Democrat Memphis Mayor Paul Young both agreed to the plan.

[Donald Trump]

Here's Trump Almost every city that's in trouble is run by Democrats. Cashless bail is a disaster. Cashless bail has to be ended immediately. Sanctuary cities are a disaster. There are a couple of bad Republican places and we'll fix them up. By the way, the Republicans want me to come in there so badly.

[News Reporter]

North Carolina Republicans are demanding the removal of a magistrate, Judge Teresa Stokes, blaming her for releasing the repeat offender who murdered Irina Zarutska on a light rail in Charlotte. In a letter led by Congressman Tim Moore, the group called Stokes decision to release 14 time offender to Carlos Johnson, quote, reckless and a failure of judicial responsibility. Johnson, who was freed on nothing more than a written promise to return, stabbed Zarutska in the neck as she sat quietly with her phone. Moore says the tragedy was preventable and insists there must be accountability.

[Georgia Howe]

A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that the Trump administration can withhold Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood. The provision is included in the president's flagship one Big Beautiful bill. After the bill passed, Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit in Boston and a lower court put the funding halt on hold. The initial nationwide restriction expired, but a pared down version remained in place. Now, even if Planned Parenthood appeals, the government can legally withhold funding from all Planned Parenthood affiliates in keeping with the law.

[News Reporter]

Senate Republicans are invoking the nuclear option to speed up confirmation of President Trump's nominees. The move comes as Democrats continue to delay scores of comps confirmations. The Republicans invoke the nuclear option on Thursday, a move that will allow them to confirm 48 lower level Trump nominees at a time with a simple majority vote. Senate Majority Leader John Thune criticized Democrats for delaying a process that both parties have traditionally agreed to expedite. He argued that the Democrats strategy is, quote, unsustainable. Trump has also blasted Democrats over the confirmation process, calling their tactics political extortion.

[Georgia Howe]

Israel's offensive into Gaza City continues. The IDF currently controls roughly 40% of the city, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refers to as the, quote, last important stronghold of Hamas. Israel ordered the city's residents to evacuate, but Hamas has told Gazans to stay put.

[News Reporter]

The CEO of the maker of Tylenol lobbied HHS secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. In a hastily scheduled meeting this week, insisting that the drug has no link to autism. Here with the details is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Giacomo Kirk Perry, the.

[Giacomo Kirk Perry]

Interim CEO of Kenview, argued in a private meeting with Kennedy that there is not a link between pregnant women taking Tylenol and autism in their babies. Perry told Kennedy that pregnant women have few other safe alternatives to acetaminophen, which is the active ingredient in Tylenol, if they are to spike a fever during pregnancy. He added that other options do have links to birth defects. It was reported last week that HHS plans to name Tylenol as a potential link to autism in a report expected to be released sometime this month. HHS has not confirmed if it will name the drug as a potential cause, nor has it confirmed the meeting with Perry.

[Georgia Howe]

The EU has banned a chemical used in gel nail polish. The chemical, tpo, is what allows the polish to polymerize quickly under UV light, creating a longer lasting durable surface. Based on animal studies, TPO is hypothesized to adversely affect fertility, testicular health, fetal development and cause liver and kidney problems. However, some experts offer the caveat that the animal studies involved used high levels of TPO ingested orally, and that exposure levels from an occasional manicure are unlikely to cause the same issues. That said, women who are pregnant or those working as nail technicians may want to take precautions.

[News Reporter]

All right, those are your Drive Home updates this evening. As always, to learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with a weekend edition of MORNING Wire.