Evening Wire: Rihanna's Home Shot Up & Iran Launches ‘Operation Trigger’ | 3.9.26

Summary

Podcast Summary: Evening Wire – Rihanna's Home Shot Up & Iran Launches ‘Operation Trigger’

Podcast: Morning Wire | Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Date: March 9, 2026 | Episode Runtime: ~10:30

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Episode Overview

This episode of Evening Wire delivers a fast-paced roundup of global and domestic news headlines. Core themes include increasing terror threats in New York City, political fallout involving the NYC mayor, Iran’s escalating hostilities (including an ominous “Operation Trigger”), price shock in global oil markets, diplomatic interventions for the Iranian women’s soccer team, a high-profile veto in Arizona, and breaking celebrity news about Rihanna. The tone is factual, urgent, and focused on providing context beyond headlines.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Suspected Terror Attacks in New York City

[00:53–01:44]

• Incident: Two men (Amir Balat and Ibrahim Kayoumi) attempted a bomb attack using TATP, a notoriously volatile explosive.
• Charges: Five terrorism-related counts, including providing material support to foreign terror groups and use of a weapon of mass destruction.
• Second Threat: A suspicious device in a parked vehicle led to street closures and FBI terrorism task force engagement.
• Quote:

  "Both men were arrested shortly after the incident and now face five counts of terrorism related charges..." – Cabot Phillips [00:59]

• Insight: Increased vigilance in NYC with federal agencies actively involved.

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2. Controversy Surrounding NYC Mayor’s Wife

[01:44–02:46]

• Details: Zoran Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duaji, criticized after liking social media posts framing the October 7 attack on Israel as “resistance.”
• Response:

  "My wife is the love of my life and she's also a private person who has held no formal position on my campaign or in my city hall." – Zoran Mamdani (quoted by Cabot Phillips) [02:16]

• Critique: Despite claims of privacy, Duaji has had notable public appearances linked to the mayor, fueling skepticism regarding her influence and visibility.

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3. Iran’s “Operation Trigger” and Sleeper Agents

[02:46–03:24]

• Alert: US agencies intercepted an encrypted broadcast from Iran, believed to be covert instructions to sleeper agents abroad, labeled "Operation Trigger."
• US Response: Heightened monitoring—no “specific credible threats” yet.
• Quote:

  "Authorities say the message could contain instructions for covert operatives positioned outside Iran... referred to... as Operation Trigger." – Zach Jewell [02:55]

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4. Oil Prices Surge & Geopolitical Fallout

[03:24–04:26]

• Oil Price Jump: Above $100/barrel; US gas up to $3.47/gallon after Iranian drone strikes on Saudi refinery.
• Presidential Statement:

  "The price of oil would drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iranian nuclear threat is over, adding, 'only fools would think differently.'" – President Trump (reported by Georgia Howe) [03:24]

• G7 Response: Considering releasing oil from strategic reserves; nearly half of 1B barrels held in the US.

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5. Diplomatic Efforts for Iranian Women’s Soccer Team

[04:26–05:41]

• Context: Iranian players branded "wartime traitors" by state media; fears for their safety.
• Diplomacy: Trump claims US intervened with Australia to secure the safety of team members who fled.
• Quote:

  "Five have already been taken care of and the rest are on their way... Some, however, feel they must go back because they're worried about the safety of their families..." – President Trump via Truth Social (reported by Lyndon Blake) [04:39]

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6. International Support for Iran’s Leadership

[05:41–06:46]

• Russia: Putin offers "unwavering support" to Mojtabakh, Iran’s new supreme leader.
• China: Suspected of supplying key chemical components for Iranian missile production. Satellite evidence suggests Iranian ships have left a Chinese chemical port with sodium perchlorate used for solid rocket fuel.

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7. US Policy on Deploying Troops to Iran

[06:46–07:36]

• Clarification: Trump states the US is "nowhere near" sending ground troops to secure Iranian nuclear materials.
• Quote:

  "I don't even want to talk about it. I mean, that's, I don't think it's an appropriate question... if we ever did that, they would be so decimated that they wouldn't be able to fight at the ground level." – President Trump [07:16]

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8. Arizona Vetoes Charlie Kirk Memorial License Plate

[07:36–08:38]

• Issue: Governor Katie Hobbs vetoes specialty plate honoring slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, citing the need to keep government programs nonpartisan.
• Reactions:

  "Hobbs's, quote, grotesque partisanship knows no bounds... simply to allow those who wish to honor Charlie Kirk to do so." – Senator Jake Hoffman (reported by Megan Basham) [07:48]

• Comparison: Other specialty plates exist for various causes and figures.

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9. Breaking: Gunfire at Rihanna’s Home

[08:38–09:26]

• Incident: Woman arrested after firing seven to nine AR-15 rounds at Rihanna’s Beverly Hills house while the singer was inside. No injuries reported.
• Response: Suspect apprehended at a shopping center ~30 minutes later.
• Quote:

  "Los Angeles police arrested a woman after she allegedly fired multiple rounds from an AR15 style rifle at pop star Rihanna's Beverly Hills area mansion while the singer was inside..." – Amanda Harding [08:48]

• Additional Note: A$AP Rocky was not home.

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10. Passing of Boston Lead Singer Tommy DeCarlo

[09:26–10:06]

• Announcement: DeCarlo died at 60 after a battle with brain cancer. Remembered for his strength and recent tenure with the band.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sleeper Cell Threat:

  "Operation Trigger" – Federal agencies on alert [02:55]

• Gas Prices/Trump Soundbite:

  "Only fools would think differently." – President Trump [03:24]

• License Plate Debate:

  "Grotesque partisanship knows no bounds..." – Senator Jake Hoffman [07:48]

• Rihanna Attack:

  "Apparently one bullet managed to pierce the inner walls..." – Amanda Harding [08:48]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Terror arrests in NYC: [00:53–01:44]
• Mayor’s wife controversy: [01:44–02:46]
• Iran’s Operation Trigger: [02:46–03:24]
• Oil market impact: [03:24–04:26]
• Iranian women’s soccer team/Rescue diplomacy: [04:26–05:41]
• Iran’s allies – Russia & China: [05:41–06:46]
• US ground troops policy: [06:46–07:36]
• AZ specialty plate veto: [07:36–08:38]
• Rihanna’s home shot at: [08:38–09:26]
• Tommy DeCarlo obituary: [09:26–10:06]

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Summary

The episode is an incisive briefing on breaking events with sharp, original reporting and curated quotes. It balances hard news (terror threats, diplomatic maneuvers, market instability) with cultural updates (celebrity legal troubles, commemorative controversies), reflecting the unpredictable news landscape of 2026. The hosts maintain a brisk, urgent tone, framing stories through a lens of skepticism toward establishment narratives and highlighting accountability at every level.

Transcript

[Ryan Reynolds]

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[Interviewer]

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[Ryan Reynolds]

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[Georgia Howe]

of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, Taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail] New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani comes under fire amid suspected terror in his city. Trump says he's nowhere near putting boots on the ground in Iran, and Rihanna's house is fired on with her inside. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Monday, March 9th, and this is Evening Wire.

[Cabot Phillips]

The two men arrested for an alleged bomb attack in New York have now been charged. Wired In Live Host Cabot Phillips has more.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Authorities say Amir Balat and Ibrahim Kayoumi tried to detonate two devices Saturday night, including one that tested positive for tatp, a highly volatile explosive used in previous terrorist attacks nationwide. Both men were arrested shortly after the incident and now face five counts of terrorism related charges, including knowingly attempting to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization, use of a weapon of mass destruction and unlawful possession of a destructive device. But that wasn't the only potential terror threat in the city over the weekend. Police closed off East End Avenue Sunday after discovering a suspicious device inside a parked vehicle. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force has joined the investigation, and bomb squads conducted limited evacuations while assessing the new discovery.

[Georgia Howe]

New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani's wife is facing criticism for liking posts that celebrated the October 7 terror attack on Israel. Daily Wire homepage editor Jordan Schroeder has more.

[Jordan Schroeder]

Reports claim that Mandani's wife, Syrian American artist Rama Duaji, used her Instagram account to like posts in the hours just following the October 7 attack, which framed the acts of terror as a form of, quote, resistance. One of the posts she liked described the breach of Israel's border barrier as, quote, breaking the walls of apartheid. When asked about this by reporters, Mandani

[Cabot Phillips]

said this you know, my wife is the love of my life and she's also a private person who has held no formal position on my campaign or in my city hall.

[Jordan Schroeder]

The deflection drew immediate skepticism since in December Duaji appeared on the digital cover of New York magazine's the Cut and was featured in coverage by the New York Times. In the same magazine profile, Duaji acknowledged that Mandani's political ascent had thrust her into the public eye, saying, quote, I realized that it was not just his thing, but our thing.

[Cabot Phillips]

U.S. officials are warning that Iran may have sent an encrypted message intended to awaken sleeper assets. Daily Wire reporter Zach Jewell has the details.

[Ryan Reynolds]

According to a federal alert, intelligence agencies intercepted a coded transmission from what appears to be an Iranian broadcast station sending signals to multiple countries. Authorities say the message could contain instructions for covert operatives positioned outside Iran, and Iranian officials have reportedly referred to the signal as Operation Trigger. The alert has prompted U.S. law enforcement and counterterrorism agencies to heighten monitoring for potential attacks, though officials say there are currently no specific credible threats to the public.

[Georgia Howe]

Oil prices jumped above $100 per barrel on Monday. According to AAA, the national average for gasoline rose from 299 per gallon one week ago to 347 on Monday. Iran has launched attacks on regional oil facilities, including the Ross Tenur refinery run by Aramco in Saudi Arabia, which produces 550,000 barrels per day. Aramco shut down the facility as a precautionary measure after an Iranian drone attack. But President Trump reassured Americans Sunday night that the price of oil would drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iranian nuclear threat is over, adding, quote, only fools would think differently.

[Cabot Phillips]

With oil prices rising, the G7 countries are meeting tomorrow to discuss releasing oil from the strategic reserves. The member nations currently hold just over 1 billion barrels of crude in reserve, nearly half of which is in the U.S. the U.S. maintains another 400 million barrels of commercial reserves held by private entities. If the conflict in Iran continues, calls to release the reserves can be expected to grow louder.

[Georgia Howe]

President Trump intervened on behalf of the Iranian women's national soccer team following reports that the players had been branded, quote, wartime traitors by Iranian state media. Daily Wire reporter Lyndon Blake has the

[Lyndon Blake]

story following a public post urging the Australian government to act and saying the U.S. would if, quote, they don't. The president revealed today that he'd spoken with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on behalf of the Iranian soccer team. He wrote on Truth Social, quote, five have already been taken care of and the rest are on their way. This is in reference to securing the safety of five Iranian team members so far who fled the hotel their team was staying at and who are now in police custody. Trump continued writing, quote, some, however, feel they must go back because they're worried about the safety of their families, including threats to those family members if they don't return. Iran's exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi thanked President Trump on X and posted that quote, these five courageous athletes currently in a safe location have announced that they have joined Iran's national lion and son revolution. We'll have more on this as the story develops.

[Cabot Phillips]

Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged, quote, unwavering support for Iran's new supreme leader, what remains of the Iranian regime named as the successor to Ali Khamenei, his son Mojtabakh. In a telegram sent Monday, Putin said Russia would remain a, quote, reliable partner to Iran.

[Georgia Howe]

Russia is not the only American geopolitical adversary backing the Iranian regime. China appears to be enabling its war machine as well. Daily Wire senior editor Joel Niedler has more.

[Joel Niedler]

Two Iranian supply ships suspected of carrying chemicals used to make rocket fuel have departed a Chinese port. The ships docked at a Chinese chemical supply depot last week. Satellite imagery shows them departing a few days later laden with cargo. According to the Washington Post, it and based on the history of Iranian shipments from that particular Chinese port, the ships are almost certainly carrying sodium perchlorate, which is used to make solid rocket fuel. Iran uses this fuel to power its ballistic missiles. Analysts note that Beijing could have held the ships in port through diplomatic means. However, they did not. The ships are scheduled to arrive in Iran sometime next week.

[Cabot Phillips]

President Trump says the U.S. is, quote, nowhere near sending American troops to retrieve nuclear material in Iran. Trump told the New York Post during a phone call today that, quote, we haven't made any decision on that. We're nowhere near that. Several news outlets reported on Saturday that American brass was considering a boots on the ground operation to control the nuclear material in Isfahan, which the US Targeted last summer. Here's how the president addressed that question aboard Air Force One on Saturday.

[Interviewer]

What are the circumstances where you'd send in ground troops?

[Cabot Phillips]

How are you thinking about that?

[Interviewer]

I don't even want to talk about it. I mean, that's, I don't think it's an appropriate question. You know, I'm not going to answer it. Could there be possibly for very good reason. Have to be very good reason. And I would say if we ever did that, they would be so decimated that they wouldn't be able to fight at the ground level.

[Georgia Howe]

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill that would have created a specialty license plate honoring slain Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Here's Daily Wire Culture reporter Megan Basham with the story.

[Megan Basham]

The proposed plate approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives would have featured Kirk's image and raised money for a conservative grassroots organization tied to his work. In her veto letter, Hobbs called Kirk's assassination, quote, tragic, but she said the bill would inject politics into a government program that should remain nonpartisan. Republican State Senator Jake Hoffman, who sponsored the measure, blasted the decision, writing that Hobbs's, quote, grotesque partisanship knows no bounds and he accused the governor of failing to show, quote, the human decency to put her far left extremism aside simply to allow those who wish to honor Charlie Kirk to do so. Other approved specialty plates include the Choose Life plate, the Homes for All plate and the Alice Cooper's Solid Rock plate.

[Cabot Phillips]

Shots were fired Sunday at the home of pop star Rihanna and rapper ASAP Rocky while Rihanna was inside. Data Wire Entertainment reporter Amanda Harding has the details.

[Amanda Harding]

Los Angeles police arrested a woman after she allegedly fired multiple rounds from an AR15 style rifle at pop star Rihanna's Beverly Hills area mansion while the singer was inside the home. Apparently one bullet managed to pierce the inner walls. Authorities say officers responded to reports of gunfire Sunday afternoon and quickly tracked down the suspect, who allegedly fled the scene in a white Tesla before being taken into custody at a nearby shopping center about 30 minutes later. Investigators say between seven and nine shots were fired with several rounds striking the house. Though no one was injured. Police are still working to determine a motive and Rihanna's partner, ASAP Rocky, was

[Georgia Howe]

not home at the time and the lead singer of legendary rock group Boston has died. Tommy DeCarlo's family announced that he passed away on Monday at 60 years old. DeCarlo's family said in a statement that he fought brain cancer with, quote, incredible strength and courage right up until the very end. A brain bleed last September sent DeCarlo to emergency surgery and led to his diagnosis. DeCarlo joined Boston in 2008 and led vocals on the band's 2013 album Life, Love and Hope.

[Cabot Phillips]

All right, this is 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 epic fury ramping up as Iran's leadership fractures, mounting fears of Islamic terror attacks here at home and the economic fallout from the operation in Iran. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of Morning Wire.

[Narrator]

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 Stephen Graham. In Netflix's upcoming film Peaky the Immortal Man, Tommy Shelby must face his own demons and choose whether to confront his legacy or burn it to the ground. Peaky the Immortal man is in select theaters March 6 and on Netflix March 20. Rated R.