Morning Wire (Evening Wire): “Metro Surge” Moves Out & Bondi Defends Investigation | 2.12.26

Date: February 12, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Main Theme:
This episode delivers fact-driven updates on major national and international news. Key stories include the winding down of Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, developments in high-profile criminal cases, shifting U.S. policy and military maneuvers, controversy within the Olympic Games, legislative developments on voter ID, and the ongoing crisis in New York City due to extreme winter and governance challenges.

Main Topics and Key Insights

1. Operation Metro Surge’s Conclusion in Minnesota

[00:21-01:13]

• Reporter Jenny Terr covers the end of Operation Metro Surge, a Trump administration initiative deploying thousands of ICE and Border Patrol agents to the Twin Cities.
  • Nearly 4,000 arrests made; federal authorities tracked 3,364 missing migrant children previously unaccounted for.
  • Tom Homan (White House border czar): Cites “unprecedented levels of coordination” and a reduction in anti-ICE activity.
  • Homan rebuffs claims ICE is “backing down”:

    “You are simply wrong. Look at the data, record number of arrests and deportations and we'll continue that effort.” (Tom Homan, 01:13)

2. Canadian Mass Shooting: Shooter’s Identity and Motive

[01:13-02:05]

• Senior Editor Joel Niedler reports on the trans-identifying Canadian high school dropout who killed eight in British Columbia, including family members.
  • Initial active shooter alerts described the suspect as “a female in a dress,” later clarified as a man who identified as transgender.
  • Eerie images online add to public scrutiny.
  • No overt speculation on motive, with coverage focusing on the attack’s facts.

3. Nancy Guthrie Case Update

[02:05-03:00]

• Reporter Lyndon Blake follows the latest in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance.
  • FBI and investigators revisit her home, placing a tent where Guthrie’s blood and critical ring doorbell footage were found.
  • Authorities request neighbors’ surveillance from Jan 1–Feb 2; suspect list remains blank and official briefings have been sparse.

4. Trump’s Energy Policy Shift—Coal Power Order

[03:00-03:34]

• President Trump issues an executive order requiring the Department of War to use coal-generated electricity, countering previous solar and wind priorities.
  • Trump at the signing:

    “Clean, beautiful coal. Clean, beautiful coal. We love clean, beautiful coal, don't we.” (Donald Trump, 03:23)

  • Policy moves to bolster grid reliability and “make use of America’s plentiful coal resources.”

5. U.S. Military Escalation in the Middle East

[03:34-04:12]

• Zach Jewell reports the Pentagon prepping a second carrier strike group for Middle East deployment amid stalled negotiations with Iran.
  • Escalation signals possible imminent strikes.
  • Deployment poised as negotiation leverage; decision could come “in a matter of hours.”

6. U.S. House Rebukes Trump’s Canada Tariffs

[04:12-04:53]

• House votes to rescind Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian imports; six GOP members join Democrats.
  • Largely symbolic—the President expected to veto.
  • Speaker Mike Johnson states the Supreme Court will likely make the final call after November arguments; a decision expected later this year.
  • Notable Republicans joining Democrats: Thomas Massie, Don Bacon, Kevin Kiley, Jeff Heard, Dan Newhouse, Brian Fitzpatrick.

7. Pam Bondi Defends DOJ in Epstein Probe

[04:53-06:18]

• Political reporter Cameron Arcan covers Attorney General Pam Bondi’s contentious House Judiciary appearance on Epstein files.
  • Rep. Pramila Jayapal: Criticizes explicit victim details and protected perpetrator identities, urges Bondi to apologize—Bondi declines.
  • Bondi refuses to engage in “theatrics,” but expresses sympathy for victims.
  • Rep. Thomas Massie questions redactions and mishandling of names, particularly Les Wexner’s.
    • Bondi:

      “I believe Wexner’s name was listed more than 4,000 times…” (Pam Bondi, 05:56)
      “We corrected that within 40 minutes.” (Pam Bondi, 06:05)

  • Sharp partisan divide: Democrats criticize, while most GOP members defend Bondi as refocusing DOJ on the rule of law.

8. Olympic Controversy: Ukrainian Skeleton Racer Disqualified

[06:36-07:11]

• Ukrainian athlete Vladislav Hareskevich is disqualified after plans to honor fallen soldiers on his helmet, which Olympic officials deem “political speech.”
  • IOC President delivers decision personally; Hareskevich emotional:

    “Of course as an athlete I always, always was dreaming about Olympic medal and it's also like a feeling that it was taken away from me.” (Hareskevich, 07:11)

9. Legislative Update: Save America Act—Voter ID

[07:11-07:50]

• House passes the Save America Act, mandating photo ID and citizenship proof for voting.
  • Passed on party lines; only House Democrat joining: Henry Cuellar (TX).
  • Bill faces likely defeat in the Senate due to filibuster (60-vote threshold).
  • Polling: “Vast majority of Americans support voter id.”

10. NYC Humanitarian and Weather Crisis

[07:50-09:07]

• Reporter Breckah Stoll details deaths and citywide struggles as NYC grapples with historic cold, snow, and trash.
  • Death toll: 19; rising trash and snowfall.
  • Interview with former mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa:

    “A lot of this is the result of Eric Adams’ failures as mayor... They spent $7 billion housing migrants... but we weren’t doing likewise with our own homeless and, more importantly, the emotionally disturbed…” (Curtis Sliwa, 08:13)

  • Sliwa points to Adams’ administration and severe weather, dating comparison to “1780, in the middle of the American Revolution.”
  • Homeless found sleeping directly on ice and snow.

11. NYPD Seeks Drone Disruption Authority

[09:17-09:50]

• NYPD asks Trump administration for the legal ability to disable unauthorized drones.
  • Commissioner Jessica Tisch voices concern:

    “Tactics that once belonged to militaries are now increasingly accessible to smaller groups and commercial drones can be easily adapted into weapons of war.” (Jessica Tisch, 09:36)

  • Increasing drone activity, potential threats to NYC security.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tom Homan on ICE’s performance:

  “You are simply wrong. Look at the data, record number of arrests and deportations and we'll continue that effort.” (01:13)

• Donald Trump’s coal energy catchphrase:

  “Clean, beautiful coal. Clean, beautiful coal. We love clean, beautiful coal, don't we.” (03:23)

• Pam Bondi on redactions:

  “I believe Wexner’s name was listed more than 4,000 times about... We corrected that within 40 minutes.” (05:56–06:05)

• Curtis Sliwa on NYC’s crisis:

  “A lot of this is the result of Eric Adams’ failures as mayor. They spent $7 billion housing migrants... but we weren't doing likewise with our own homeless.” (08:13)

• Jessica Tisch on drone threats:

  “Tactics that once belonged to militaries are now increasingly accessible to smaller groups and commercial drones can be easily adapted into weapons of war.” (09:36)

Key Segment Timestamps

• Operation Metro Surge Wrap-Up: 00:21–01:13
• Canadian Mass Shooting Update: 01:13–02:05
• Nancy Guthrie Investigation: 02:05–03:00
• Trump’s Coal Energy Executive Order: 03:00–03:34
• Middle East Military Escalation: 03:34–04:12
• Congress & Canada Tariffs: 04:12–04:53
• Pam Bondi’s Epstein Hearing: 04:53–06:18
• Olympics—Ukraine Disqualification: 06:36–07:11
• Voter ID Legislation: 07:11–07:50
• NYC Winter Crisis & Migrant Costs: 07:50–09:07
• NYPD Drone Security Concerns: 09:17–09:50

This summary captures the core content and notable points in the Daily Wire’s Evening Wire episode, presenting a factual, comprehensive rundown ideal for listeners who need the facts first and fast.