Evening Wire: Oil Prices Spike & Trump Reclassifies Marijuana | 4.23.26

Summary

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Morning Wire – Evening Wire: Oil Prices Spike & Trump Reclassifies Marijuana | 4.23.26

Podcast: Morning Wire
Hosts: John Bickley, Georgia Howe
Date: April 23, 2026

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Episode Overview

This Evening Wire episode delivers a rapid-fire roundup of high-impact political, cultural, and economic stories, with a focus on the Trump administration’s escalating actions in the Persian Gulf, a controversial DOJ move on marijuana, a surprising lawmaker push to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, scientific developments, and several lighter cultural updates. The episode maintains the direct, news-driven tone characteristic of Morning Wire.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Persian Gulf Tensions and Oil Price Spikes

• President Trump Escalates Control Over Hormuz Strait

  • Trump orders the Navy to “shoot and kill” any Iranian boats found mining the Strait of Hormuz as US minesweepers work to clear existing threats (01:30).
  • Iranian regime, allegedly in direct contact with Trump, cancels the planned executions of eight women. Four to be released, four to serve brief jail sentences (01:46–02:05).
    • Caroline Levitt: “He has received direct word from the Iranian regime... that their lives are going to be spared. And that comes as a result of President Trump asking them directly not to kill these young, beautiful women who certainly deserve a chance to continue living their lives freely and peacefully.” (01:51–02:03)
  • Iran disputes Trump’s version, claiming the executions were never planned (02:05).

• Leadership Shakeup at the Navy

  • Trump’s pick, Navy Secretary John Fon, steps down abruptly. Undersecretary Hung Cao, a Navy veteran, steps in during the Hormuz crisis (02:05–02:49).

• Impact on Oil Prices

  • Brent crude surges over $100/barrel, WTI over $90/barrel, amid continued blockade and ceasefire extensions with Iran (02:49–03:21).
  • Tim Pierce: “Trump extended a ceasefire with Iran earlier this week because of dysfunction inside the Iranian regime. The president kept in place a blockade... strangling its economy and increasing pressure on oil prices, especially in countries like China that rely on Iranian oil.” (02:49–03:21)

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2. Political & Legal Stories

• Ghislaine Maxwell Pardon Discussions

  • Some lawmakers float the idea of a pardon for Maxwell if she testifies on Epstein-related matters. Oversight Chairman James Comer voices opposition:
    • James Comer: “I think it looks bad. Honestly, other than Epstein, the worst person in this whole investigation is Maxwell.” (03:31–04:09)

• Federal vs. State Law: ICE ID Rule Overturned

  • 9th Circuit strikes down a California law requiring ICE agents to show ID, citing federal supremacy. DOJ challenged the law immediately after its passage (05:11–05:56).
    • Caroline Levitt: “The administration has said that such measures would place agents and their families at risk of threats and attacks.” (05:22)

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3. Cultural & Scientific Notes

• Elizabeth Smart’s Bodybuilding Win

  • Elizabeth Smart, child safety advocate, wins a bodybuilding competition in Salt Lake City.
    • Elizabeth Smart: “I think it’s easy to be labeled as one thing, and honestly, that’s not me. Nor do I think it’s any of us. We are more than just one topic, one idea, one label.” (06:07–06:54)

• RFK Jr. Pushes for Enhanced Disease Surveillance

  • Kennedy advocates for the Predict Act, highlighting a $325m “Bio Threat Radar system” for early detection via wastewater surveillance (07:51–08:36).
    • RFK Jr.: “It’s something that's very personally important to me... as soon as they emerge in our country and elsewhere in the world.” (08:06–08:36)

• Drug Pollution in Waterways

  • Growing cocaine use is now measurably affecting fish behavior in European lakes. Scientists highlight growing biodiversity risks (08:51–09:57).
    • Marcus Michelangelo: “We’re finding higher and higher concentrations of not just illicit drugs but all types of pharmaceuticals in our waterways.” (09:01)

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4. Policy Developments

• Marijuana Reclassified

  • DOJ to reclassify marijuana from Schedule 1 (heroin, LSD) to Schedule 3 (typical prescriptions). Research, production, and tax restrictions eased, but not fully legalized (09:57–10:56).
    • Jordan Schroeder: “Following directives from the president... the DOJ is finalizing the reclassification of marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3, placing it alongside most normal prescription medications.” (10:07–10:56)

• Tax Program Controversy

  • Treasury Secretary Scott Besant defends shutdown of a “free” Direct File tax program, citing cost and low completion rates (10:56–11:50).
    • Besant: “It’s $138 per person, so $72 million for... about 300,000 taxpayers. Over 3 million people use [the alternative].” (11:16–11:50)

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5. Digital Culture

• AI Catfishing and Conservative Men
  • Indian student “Sam” uses AI to create a fake conservative influencer (“Emily Hart”) to profit off social media audiences, amassing millions of views before takedown.
    • Sam: “I was basically doing nothing and it just flooded with money.” (12:00–12:48)
    • Claims his scam merely tapped into a loyal and profitable audience: “Followers might have engaged anyway because they, quote, like the sentiment.” (12:00–12:48)

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Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

• Caroline Levitt (re: Iranian executions):
  "He has received direct word from the Iranian regime... that their lives are going to be spared." (01:51)
• James Comer (on Maxwell pardon):
  "I think it looks bad. Honestly, other than Epstein, the worst person in this whole investigation is Maxwell." (03:31–04:09)
• Elizabeth Smart:
  "We are more than just one topic, one idea, one label." (06:54)
• RFK Jr.:
  "Bio Threat Radar system... to detect pathogens as soon as they emerge in our country and elsewhere in the world." (08:06–08:36)
• Jordan Schroeder (on marijuana policy):
  “The DOJ is finalizing the reclassification of marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3, placing it alongside most normal prescription medications.” (10:07–10:56)
• Sam (AI scammer):
  "I was basically doing nothing and it just flooded with money." (12:00–12:48)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Hormuz Crisis/Oil Prices – 01:20–03:21
• Maxwell Pardon Debate – 03:25–04:09
• ICE ID Law Ruling – 05:11–05:56
• Elizabeth Smart Bodybuilding – 06:07–06:54
• RFK Jr. on Disease Surveillance – 07:51–08:36
• Waterway Drug Pollution – 08:51–09:57
• Marijuana Reclassification – 09:57–10:56
• Tax Filing Program Closure – 10:56–11:50
• AI “Catfishing” Scam – 12:00–12:48

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Conclusion

This Evening Wire spans pressing geopolitical developments, national policy shifts, and cultural curiosities, with direct quotes and detailed reporting. It offers a concise, fact-driven snapshot of the day’s top stories—a go-to for subscribers seeking a summarized yet sharp take on the news.

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Transcript

[Alliance Defending Freedom Representative]

If you're listening to the Daily Wire, you already know how important the fight for our fundamental freedoms is. That's why we want to take a moment to share what we're doing at Alliance Defending Freedom. We are a Christian legal ministry dedicated to advancing free speech, religious freedom, the sanctity of life, parental rights, and God's design for marriage and family. We've secured major legal victories like helping topple Roe v. Wade and winning a landmark free speech case at the Supreme Court on behalf of a graphic designer, Lori Smith. For right now, we're taking on some of the most pressing issues in our culture today, from protecting women's sports to pushing back against mail order abortion drugs. We rely on the support of people like you to continue defending freedom, both in the courtroom and across the culture. And for a limited time, every dollar you give will be matched. That means $25 becomes $50, $50 becomes $100, but only while matching funds last. Go to joinadf.com wire or text wire to 83848 to double your impact for freedom.

[John Bickley]

Oil prices spike as President Trump ratchets up control of the Hormuz Strait. Top lawmakers seek a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell and the DOJ reclassifies marijuana. I'm Daily Wire Executive editor John Bickley with Georgia Howell. It's Thursday, April 23rd, and this is EVENING Wire.

[Tim Pierce]

President Trump has stepped up efforts to control the Strait of Hormuz as the US And Iran standoff continues to Here with the latest is Daily Wire contributor Tim Pierce.

[John Bickley]

The president said on Thursday that he has ordered the US Navy to shoot and kill any Iranian boats caught mining the strait while naval minesweepers work to clear mines already placed. Meanwhile, the president took credit after Iran called off the executions of eight women. White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt explained on

[Caroline Levitt]

Fox News he has received direct word from the Iranian regime, or what's left

[Tim Pierce]

of it, that their lives are going to be spared. And that comes as a result of President Trump asking them directly not to

[Caroline Levitt]

kill these young, beautiful women who certainly

[Tim Pierce]

deserve a chance to continue living their

[Caroline Levitt]

lives freely and peacefully.

[John Bickley]

According to the president, four of the women will be released immediately and four will receive sentences of one month in prison. For its part, Iranian state media pushed back on Trump and claimed that none of the eight women were ever slated for execution. President Trump's pick to head the US Navy, John Fon, unexpectedly stepped down on Wednesday. The Pentagon announced his exit in a brief statement and said his departure was effective immediately. This comes at a critical time for the Navy with the blockade and raises questions about the cause. Just a day before, Phelan gave a speech at a naval conference in D.C. and laid out his agenda for the future. He'll be replaced by Undersecretary hung Cao, a 25 year Navy veteran and former US Senate candidate from Virginia.

[Tim Pierce]

Oil prices have spiked over the past two days as President Trump extended a ceasefire with Iran. The international benchmark Brent crude surged over $100 a barrel on Wednesday and remained high through this afternoon, while the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate stayed slightly lower at over $90 a barrel. Trump extended a ceasefire with Iran earlier this week because of dysfunction inside the Iranian regime. The president kept in place a blockade on Iran's shipping that has strangled its economy and increased pressure on oil prices, especially in countries like China that rely

[Treasury Secretary Scott Besant]

on Iranian oil behind closed doors.

[John Bickley]

Some top Republicans are reportedly seeking a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell. Daily Wire reporter Zach Jewell has the details.

[Zach Jewell]

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said on Wednesday that some lawmakers on the committee are in favor of a pardon for Jeffrey Epstein's associate Ghisne Maxwell, in exchange for Maxwell answering questions on her and Epstein's sex trafficking scheme. Maxwell appeared for a virtual deposition before the committee in February, but pled the fifth and said she would only testify if she were granted clemency. Comer did not name any of his colleagues who have voiced support for pardoning Maxwell, but he clarified that he is opposed to the idea, stating, quote, I think it looks bad. Honestly, other than Epstein, the worst person in this whole investigation is Maxwell.

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[Tim Pierce]

After the notorious Unite the Right rally In Charlottesville in 2017, the Southern Poverty Law center was outraged at PayPal. The SPLC called the payment processor the banking system for white nationalism. Because of SPLC pressure, PayPal cut off dozens of accounts linked to the rally. But the Justice Department says that at the time of the white nationalist rally, the SPLC was secretly paying one of the event's organizers. On Tuesday, the DOJ accused the SPLC of spending millions to fund the type of hate that it raised fortunes to

[John Bickley]

fight A federal judge has slapped down a California law that would have forced ICE agents to show ID while on duty. Daily Wire immigration reporter Jenny Terre has more.

[Caroline Levitt]

A 9th Circuit Court of Appeals judge ruled that the law amounted to an illegal attempt to directly regulate the federal government. The law, the judge said, violated the Constitution's supremacy clause, which gives federal law primacy over state law when the two come into conflict. The Department of Justice challenged that law shortly after it was enacted last fall. Democrats on the state and federal level have pushed to force immigration agents to show their faces and IDs while on duty. The administration has said that such measures would place agents and their families at risk of threats and attacks.

[Tim Pierce]

Famous kidnapping victim and child safety advocate Elizabeth Smart won first place at a bodybuilding competition in Salt Lake City last weekend. Daily Wire reporter Lyndon Blake has the story.

[Lyndon Blake]

Elizabeth Smart says she's embracing her chance at life in a new bodybuilding adventure. The 38 year old, who is abducted for nine months when she was only 14, has competed in four bodybuilding competitions so far with no signs of slowing down. She said her body has carried her through her worst days and now it's created and nurtured her three kids. She compared sharing her bodybuilding pictures to her trauma from her kidnapping, saying, quote, this past weekend. It struck me how eerily familiar these feelings and thoughts are for too many survivors. I think it's easy to be labeled as one thing, and honestly, that's not me. Nor do I think it's any of us. We are more than just one topic, one idea, one label.

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[John Bickley]

RFK is backing a push to overhaul how the US detects emerging health threats. This includes expanding wastewater surveillance and building a national early warning system for infectious diseases. Here he is speaking to lawmakers on the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

I absolutely will work with you on the Predict Act. It's something that's very personally important to me to have more wastewater surveillance. And we are also putting $325 million in this budget into a new Bio Threat Radar system that will integrate with the Microbial Surveillance Wastewater Treatment Plan to detect pathogens as soon as they emerge in our country and elsewhere in the world.

[John Bickley]

The Predict act would expand the nation's ability to monitor wastewater for traces of viruses and bacteria, a method that gained traction during the COVID 19 pandemic. It's since been used to track diseases such as the flu, RSV and measles.

[Tim Pierce]

Cocaine use is increasingly polluting waterways, and scientists say the effects on wildlife are a clear warning. Daily Wire assistant editor Andy Valdez has more.

[Marcus Michelangelo]

As global cocaine use rises, nearly 25 million people used the drug last year, according to the UN and scientists warn the impact is now showing up in the environment. Marcus Michelangelo of Griffith University said, quote, we're finding higher and higher concentrations of not just illicit drugs but, but all types of pharmaceuticals in our waterways. This comes after Michelangelo co authored a recent study in which researchers exposed wild Atlantic salmon in Sweden's Lake Vetern to cocaine and its byproduct benzoylecanine, and then tracked their movement. They found that the exposed fish swam nearly twice as far as those in clean water, evidence that even trace contamination can alter natural behavior. Experts say that findings point to a growing problem with drug pollution, posing a, quote, major and escalating risk to biodiversity and highlighting the need for stronger wastewater treatment and monitoring.

[John Bickley]

The Trump administration is making some major moves on marijuana, removing long standing restrictions. Daily Wire Homepage Managing editor Jordan Schroeder has more.

[Jordan Schroeder]

Since 1970, marijuana has been classified as a Schedule 1 drug, placing it alongside drugs like heroin and LSD. Many states have found carve outs in the law to allow medical use as well as full legality. But the drug has remained illegal on the federal level and carries heavy restrictions. Now, following directives from the president issued late last year, the DOJ is finalizing the reclassification of marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3, placing it alongside most normal prescription medications. While the move will not fully legalize the drug nationwide. It does remove massive restrictions for research as well as production. Marijuana producers will soon be able to make deductions on federal taxes for the first time for expenses like payroll and rent. Many states have followed the growing trend of marijuana legality in recent years, with Idaho and Kansas being the only remaining states where the drug is fully illegal.

[Tim Pierce]

Treasury Secretary Scott Besant fought back on Wednesday after Democrats accused him of needlessly canceling a supposedly free tax program. Besant said the program actually costs taxpayers millions of dollars a year to run and was a less popular version than other no cost opt.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

Why'd you shut down Direct File when it was free and easy to use?

[Treasury Secretary Scott Besant]

Well, it wasn't free and the Direct File was free to taxpayers, not to the American people. It's $138 per person, so $72 million for, as you said, about 300,000 taxpayers. There is an alternative which is public private partnership free file which is free to the American people. The and filers. Over 3 million people use that and for direct file, more than 60% of the people who started their application didn't finish it.

[John Bickley]

And an Indian scammer is bragging about making money by conning conservative men with AI generated social media accounts. Daily Wire lifestyle reporter Lauren Baer has more.

[Lauren Baer]

The 22 year old Med student identified by the pseudonym Sam said he created a fictional Persona, Emily Hart, to help pay for school. The blonde quote maga Jennifer Lawrence character built a following across Facebook, Instagram and OnlyFans competitor Fanview using Google's Gemini chatbot. Sam said he targeted a conservative audience, claiming it suggested the niche could be especially loyal and profitable. He tailored posts accordingly, depicting Emily as a gun loving Coors Light drinking nurse, and the accounts drew 3 to 10 million views per post. Sam said, quote, I was basically doing nothing and it just flooded with money. The accounts have since been taken down, but Sam said he didn't see it as scamming, arguing followers might have engaged anyway because they, quote, like the sentiment.

[Tim Pierce]

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 legal roadblock hitting Virginia Democrats, redistricting attempts, the bombshell indictment of the Southern Poverty Law center and Middle Eastern countries pressuring Iran to return to the negotiating table. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of Morning Wire

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