Evening Wire: Noem Out At DHS & Britney Spears Arrested | 3.5.26

Summary

Morning Wire: "Evening Wire: Noem Out At DHS & Britney Spears Arrested"

Date: March 5, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Platform: The Daily Wire

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Overview

This episode of the Evening Wire covers breaking developments in U.S. politics, legal battles, international security, economics, and pop culture. Key stories include Kristi Noem stepping down as Secretary of Homeland Security and being replaced by Senator Markwayne Mullin, multiple states suing the Trump administration over new tariffs, significant shifts in Middle East geopolitics, and the arrest of Britney Spears. The show maintains a brisk, factual tone, offering direct quotes from major figures, concise legal rundowns, and impactful commentary on ongoing global and domestic stories.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kristi Noem Out at Homeland Security

• Announcement & Transition
  • President Trump announced Noem will step down as DHS Secretary at the end of March, praising her service and naming Senator Markwayne Mullin as successor.
  • Trump stated Noem would move to a new role as Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, focusing on security initiatives for the Western Hemisphere.
  • Mullin's Reaction:
    • [01:10] Mullin described the transition as sudden, noting:

      "Neither one of us had time to talk, so I'm going to go give her a call. Just a second. Our families are very close and this happened very quick."

    • [01:24] On Trump's expectations, Mullin said:

      "I will never discuss private conversations. Never have. Not going to do that now either."

2. Border Shootout in Texas

• Incident Details
  • [01:39] Reported by Tim Pierce:
    • After a drug K9 alerted to his car at a Border Patrol checkpoint, James Douglas McMillan, 33, attempted to flee in a stolen vehicle, ending in a fatal confrontation with law enforcement after he barricaded himself and brandished a firearm.

3. Tariffs Lawsuit Against the Trump Administration

• Legal Challenge
  • [02:16] Heidi Hall reports:
    • Twenty-four states led by Oregon, Arizona, California, and New York filed a lawsuit following the Supreme Court's voiding of previous tariffs; the suit challenges the administration’s authority to institute a 10% global tariff.
    • Notable Quote:

      [02:35] Dan Rayfield, Oregon Attorney General:
      "The focus right now should be on paying people back, not doubling down on illegal tariffs."

4. US and Israel Deploy Directed-Energy Weapons

• Military Technology
  • [02:55] The US Destroyer off Iran equipped with the Helios laser system, with videos suggesting its use against Iranian drones. Israel believed to be using its "Iron Beam" defense against missile threats.

5. Markets & Oil Prices Respond to Middle East Tensions

• Economic Impact
  • [03:26] Wall Street tumbled (Dow down >1%) amid spiking oil prices—crude at $84/barrel—and concerns over the Strait of Hormuz closure.
  • Expert Insight:

    [03:54] Dr. Peter Earle (American Institute for Economic Research):
    "We still haven't seen half of the move in oil markets that we saw when Russia invaded Ukraine. So the wonder right now is has the Strait of Hormuz... been overstated? Or are the markets just that optimistic this will be resolved quickly?"

6. Senate Blocks Attempt to End Military Action in Iran

• [04:33] The Senate voted down a resolution to end US involvement in Iran. Only Senator Rand Paul crossed party lines, marking the eighth such failed attempt this Congress—a record.

7. Iran Nuclear Stall Tactics & Backroom Details

• Diplomatic Issues Uncovered
  • [05:09] Details from Joel Niedler:
    • During negotiations, Iran proposed continuing uranium enrichment under the guise of civilian research.
    • US negotiators discovered Iran was stockpiling for weapons far beyond previous agreements—fueling years’ worth for future use.

8. Operation Epic Fury Weakens US Adversaries

• [06:55] Cameron Arkan reports:
  • CNN military analyst Admiral James Dravidis stated that the US’s recent military actions have forced Russia and China to "sit up and take notice":

    "If you are Xi or Putin, you hate us, but you have to respect the military capability of the United States. When you look at the span of what the US Military has done in the last two months, it's pretty extraordinary." [07:20]

9. Federal Guidance on Trans Children & Child Abuse Claims

• [08:15]
  • New HHS guidance clarifies that not affirming a child's gender identity is not, by itself, child abuse under federal law.
  • [08:48]

    "The state's decision to break up a family cannot be based solely on a parent's objection to radical gender ideology or irreversible sex rejection." – Georgia Howell

10. NYC's $36k-Per-Child '2K' Program

• [09:06]
  • The city’s free public 2-year-old childcare pilot will cost $36,000 per child, $13,000 above average private childcare costs. Long-term funding still unclear.

11. Morgan Stanley Lays Off Thousands Amidst AI Expansion

• [09:33] Zach Duel:
  • Despite record 2025 profits, 3% of Morgan Stanley's workforce (2,500 jobs) is cut as AI replaces roles across investment banking and back office operations. Other banks follow suit.

12. Britney Spears Arrested for Drunk Driving

• [10:32] Amanda Harding:
  • Spears released from custody; court date May 4th. The incident included erratic driving and marks the latest concern in her public struggles.

13. Tribute to Lou Holtz, Legendary Notre Dame Coach

• [11:20]
  • Holtz, one of college football’s most influential coaches, passed at 89.
  • University statement:

    "Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family..."

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• [01:10] Markwayne Mullin: “Neither one of us had time to talk… Our families are very close and this happened very quick.”
• [02:35] Dan Rayfield (Oregon AG) on tariffs: “The focus right now should be on paying people back, not doubling down on illegal tariffs.”
• [03:54] Dr. Peter Earle: “We haven’t seen half of the move in oil markets that we saw when Russia invaded Ukraine...”
• [07:20] Adm. Dravidis on Operation Epic Fury: “If you are Xi or Putin, you hate us, but you have to respect the military capability of the United States...”
• [08:48] Georgia Howell: “The state's decision to break up a family cannot be based solely on a parent's objection to radical gender ideology...”

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:48 — Noem out/DHS transition
• 01:39 — Texas border shootout
• 02:16 — States sue Trump admin over tariffs
• 02:55 — US and Israel deploy laser defenses
• 03:26 — Market and oil price response
• 03:54 — Expert analysis on oil
• 04:33 — Senate blocks Iran operation resolution
• 05:09 — Iran negotiations & nuclear enrichment
• 06:55 — Operation Epic Fury & U.S. military posture
• 08:15 — Federal guidance on trans issues & child removal
• 09:06 — NYC’s '2K' childcare plan
• 09:33 — Morgan Stanley layoffs & AI trends
• 10:32 — Britney Spears arrested
• 11:20 — Lou Holtz tribute

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Final Remarks

The episode presents a fast-paced, fact-driven review of major developments, balancing hard news with cultural updates. Listeners receive direct insights into administration changes, global diplomatic maneuvering, and the interplay between technology, economics, and politics—all with a tone characteristic of The Daily Wire: direct, skeptical of progressive policies, and focused on conservative views on family, governance, and economics.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

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[Georgia Howell]

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[Georgia Howell]

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[Georgia Howell]

Kristi Noem is out at Homeland Security Dozens of states sue the Trump administration over tariffs and Britney Spears is arrested. I'm Daily Wire Executive editor John Bickley with Georgia Howell. It's Thursday, March 5th. This is Evening Wire.

[John Bickley]

President Trump announced today that Kristi Noem is stepping down as head of Homeland Security at the end of the month. The president said he'll nominate Oklahoma Senator Mark Wayne Mullen to lead dhs. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said he was pleased with Mullins appointment and that Noem had, quote, served us well. Mullen spoke to the press minutes after the news broke and was asked whether he and Noem had discussed the transition.

[Georgia Howell]

Neither one of us had time to talk, so I'm going to go give her a call. Just a second. You know, we're our families are very close and this happened very quick. So we're going to, we're going to have a conversation with her in a second.

[John Bickley]

A reporter asked Mullen if he knew what Trump was expecting from him.

[Georgia Howell]

I will never discuss private conversations. Never have. Not going to do that now either.

[John Bickley]

Trump announced that Noem will take over a new role called Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas, which he described as leading, quote, our new security initiative for the Western Hemisphere.

[Georgia Howell]

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a Wisconsin man died on Wednesday after he initiated a shootout with federal and state authorities in Texas. Daily Wire contributor Tim Pierce has the latest. Authorities say 33 year old James Douglas McMillan attempted to flee from a Border Patrol checkpoint after a drug sniffing K9 alerted to his vehicle. Law enforcement directed McMillan to pull over for a secondary search when he attempted to flee. DPS said that McMillan was driving a stolen vehicle. The chase ended when a Texas officer performed a pit maneuver and stopped McMillan. The 33 year old then barricaded himself in his vehicle and aimed a firearm at law enforcement, prompting officers to fire and kill him.

[John Bickley]

Two dozen states are suing the Trump administration over the new round of tariffs. Daily Wire legal analyst Heidi hall has the details. After the Supreme Court voided several of the president's tariffs in a ruling last week, Trump announced a blanket 10% global tariff rate. The lawsuit, which was filed today, claims the administration does not have the authority to implement these tariffs either. Attorneys general from Oregon, Arizona, California and New York are leading the case. Oregon's Attorney General, Dan Rayfield said of the lawsuit, quote, the focus right now should be on paying people back, not doubling debt down on illegal tariffs. The suit is backed by 20 predominantly blue states, including Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota.

[Georgia Howell]

The US and Israel appear to have both deployed high intensity lasers to help defend against Iranian drones and missile strikes. The New York Post reports that at least one US Destroyer off the coast of Iran is equipped with a Helios system that's short for high energy laser with integrated optical dazzler and surveillance. That's a mouthful. Military experts say the system seemed to be in use in videos released by the Pentagon to take out drones. Experts also believe that Israel has deployed its iron beam to knock down Iranian drones and missiles shortly after they are launched.

[John Bickley]

Wall street hit some turbulence today as oil prices spiked and investors braced for more fallout from the Middle East. The Dow fell over 1%, with both the S and P and Nasdaq sliding as well. As for oil prices, crude ticked up to roughly $84 a barrel and US oil pushed past $77. Morning Wire spoke to Dr. Peter Earle of the American Institute for Economic Research, who says the closure of the Strait of Hormuz hasn't been as disruptive yet as some have feared.

[Georgia Howell]

And we still haven't seen half of the move in oil markets that we saw when Russia invaded Ukraine. So the wonder right now is has the Strait of Hormuz, its importance been sort of overvalued in the years? Has it been overstated? Or are the markets just that optimistic that this will be resolved quickly, especially since the President has said that there would be military assistance and there would be government insurance for the traffic that goes through there. So it's kind of an interesting quandary because one would have, would have expected to see upon the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, much, much higher oil prices than we see right now.

[John Bickley]

Higher energy prices are also sending treasury yields up, dimming hopes for quick interest rate cuts.

[Georgia Howell]

The US Senate blocked another attempt to stop the President from engaging in foreign conflicts. On Wednesday, the Senate voted down a resolution to force the President to end the operation in Iran. Senator Rand Paul was the only Republican to join with Democrats. Wednesday's failure marked the eighth time an attempt has been made against the president's military intervention since he took office last year. That's a record for one sitting Congress.

[John Bickley]

Washington revealed this week that Iran was using negotiations with the United States to stall time as it stockpiled materials needed for weapons grade nuclear enrichment. Daily Wire senior editor Joel Niedler has the details.

[Georgia Howell]

During several rounds of negotiations with Iran, the Trump team, led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, was offered an agreement. Iran wanted to continue uranium enrichment for the next decade, claiming it was necessary for a civilian research program. Witkoff and Kushner asked if they could take the agreement back to the US So they could have nuclear experts weigh in, but were refused. Team Trump then discovered that the Iranians were seeking to enrich five times more uranium than was allowed under the Iran nuclear deal. Then they looked closer at the Tehran Research Reactor, the civilian research program, and discovered that it was really being used to stockpile seven to eight years worth of fuel.

[John Bickley]

Well, before we continue, I'm excited to give you some amazing news about an issue that we care about here at the Daily Wire. Our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom have just announced that the state of Vermont has agreed to change its policy that discriminated against Christian foster families. Families like the Wotes and Gantz were model foster parents. They had taken in siblings and even focused on caring for kids with struggles like fetal alcohol syndrome. And these parents had lost their foster licenses because they refused to compromise their faith by participating in a lie they were told. They had to agree to promote the state's radical gender ideology, including by taking kids to pride parades following a victory in a similar case out of Oregon last year. This win in Vermont means we're winning the battle, folks. I can't tell you how inspiring it is to learn about the courage of these families, moms and dads who have answered the call to care for vulnerable children who deserve a loving home. Go to joinadf.com wire and find out more about this incredible victory and how Alliance Defending Freedom is standing up for everyday families and protecting our constitutional rights. That's joinadf.com wire or text wire to 83848 and celebrate this amazing victory with us.

[Georgia Howell]

CNN has admitted that Operation Epic Fury has in fact weakened our greatest enemies. Daily Wire political reporter Cameron Arkan has the story. A CNN senior military analyst said on Tuesday that the demonstration of military force and precision on display in Operation Epic Fury was enough to make the political leadership in both Russia and China sit up and take notice. Retired Admiral James Dravidis joined anchor Casey Hahn on the arena with Casey Hahn, where he argued that in addition to capturing the complete attention of global adversaries, the United States was also progressively weakening both Russia and China as it weakened Iran. If you are Xi or Putin, you hate us, but you have to respect the military capability of the United States. When you look at the span of what the US Military has done in the last two months, it's pretty extraordinary and it will get your attention in Beijing and Moscow. China looks at Iran as a big investment opportunity. Russia looks at Iran as an arms and technology supplier. Many of the drones flying in Ukraine today were made in Iran. So there's a geopolitical pragmatism that can affix itself to these strikes in terms of degrading both Russia and China.

[John Bickley]

The Trump administration has issued new guidance over abuse claims for trans identifying children. Daily Wire reporter Meg Brock has the story. The Administration for Children and Families ACF at the U.S. department of Health and Human Services, HHS, has alerted all 50 states that affirming biological reality does not constitute child abuse or neglect under federal law. The assistant secretary for the acf, Alex Adams, said yesterday that letters had been sent reminding states that removing a child from their home must be based on objective evidence.

[Georgia Howell]

The state's decision to break up a family cannot be based solely on a parent's objection to radical gender ideology or irreversible sex. Rejecting medical interventions, the ACF is asking

[John Bickley]

states to adopt clearer definitions of abuse and to protect the rights of parents as well as the freedom of religion.

[Georgia Howell]

New York City's taxpayers are set to fork out over $36,000 per child under Mayor Zoran Mamdani's new free 2K pilot program. That's around $13,000 more than the average cost of private child care. City officials say the state will cover the bill using current tax revenues, though a detailed long term funding plan has not been released. The program, a key campaign promise for Mamdani, will begin in five school districts with applications opening this summer.

[John Bickley]

Morgan Stanley is laying off 3% of its workforce following record financial growth in 2025. Daily Wire reporter Zach Duel has the

[Georgia Howell]

reason why Morgan Stanley plans to cut roughly 2,500 jobs despite impressive gains over the past year. The reason is artificial intelligence. The layoffs began last week and will affect employees in investment banking, trading and wealth management across both US and international offices. This follows a broader trend of workforce reductions on Wall street, trimming roles including private bankers and back office staff handling client mortgages. Other major financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are doing the same in efforts to improve efficiency measures as they increasingly adopt AI over human employees. Pop star Britney Spears was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Ventura, California last night. Daily Wire Entertainment reporter Amanda Harding has more.

[John Bickley]

Spears was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on May 4th. She's facing possible jail time, several years of probation and the loss of her license. The arrest follows a pattern of increasingly erratic behavior over the past few months. Newly released dispatch audio reveals that she was swerving in and out of lanes before being pulled over. 3 North Sound 101 from Rancho Road. A black DMW sedan in and out of lanes and near CC's mouse speeding. 9 Victor Boy Mary 173 returns clear on a 26 BMW convertible out of LA. And tributes continue to pour in for legendary Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz after he passed away this week at age 89. Holtz was considered one of the most influential coaches in college football history, winning 249 games as a college head coach. 100 of those happened at Notre Dame, where he served as head coach from 1986 to 1996. A statement from the university reads. Quote, notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family, a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

[Georgia Howell]

All right, those are your drive Home updates. To learn more about those stories, go to dailywire.com and in case you missed it, earlier today we covered some major stories including the US And Israel moving toward air dominance over Iran, Tim Walls facing a fiery fraud hearing and the Pentagon identifying six soldiers killed by an Iranian strike in Kuwait. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of Morning Wire. By order of the Peaky Blinders Academy Award winner Cillian Murphy returns alongside an all star cast including Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, Sophie Rundle with Academy Award nominee Barry Keoghan and Emmy Award winner Steven Graham. In Netflix's upcoming film Peaky Blinders, the Immortal Man, Tommy Shelby must face his own demons and choose whether to confront his legacy or or burn it to the ground. Peaky Blinders the Immortal man is in select theaters March 6 and on Netflix March 20. Rated R.