Podcast Summary: Evening Wire – Routh Verdict Handed Down & Biden FBI’s Pro-Life Persecution

Podcast: Morning Wire (The Daily Wire)
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Air Date: September 23, 2025
Episode Focus:
This episode delivers fast-paced, fact-driven updates on major national and global developments: the guilty verdict in the Trump golf course assassination attempt, new revelations on FBI collaboration with pro-abortion groups, and seismic shifts in U.S. media, politics, and foreign policy. It features direct quotes from major figures, crisp analysis, and the signature straight-talk tone of Morning Wire.

1. Trump Golf Course Assassination Attempt: Guilty Verdict

[00:20] – [01:06]

• What Happened:
  • Ryan Routh, 59, was found guilty by a Florida jury of attempting to assassinate former President Trump at Trump International Golf Course.
  • Routh represented himself during the two-week trial.
  • After the verdict, Routh attempted suicide in court by stabbing himself with a pen but survived and was removed in handcuffs.
• Potential Sentence:
  • Convicted of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate; facing possible life in prison.
• Response:
  • FBI Director Kash Patel commented, "We are grateful to see a quick resolution. The FBI will continue working aggressively to take violent offenders off American streets and protect public officials from threats of all nature." [00:57]

2. Trump Addresses UN: Criticizes Europe on Russian Energy

[01:06] – [02:05]

• UN Speech Key Points:
  • Trump accused European nations of “funding the war against themselves” by buying Russian energy.
  • He highlighted France’s ongoing long-term contracts for Russian natural gas.
• Notable Quote:
  • Donald Trump: "Europe has to step it up. They can't be doing what they're doing. They're buying oil and gas from Russia while they're fighting Russia. It's embarrassing to them and it was very embarrassing to them when I found out about it. I can tell you that." [01:22–01:33]
• Policy Threat:
  • Trump warned of new tariffs on Russian energy unless Europe joins the U.S. in sanctions.

3. Capitol Politics: Budget Showdown

[02:05] – [02:32]

• What Happened:
  • Trump canceled a meeting with Democrats Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, citing “unserious” demands such as "$1 trillion in new spending on free health care for illegal aliens and transgender surgery for minors."
  • The federal budget deadline looms on September 30th.
• Trump’s Stand:
  • The president signaled negotiations may resume if Democrats present "serious" proposals.

4. Jimmy Kimmel Live Shutdown – Media Landscape Shifts

[02:32] – [03:41]

• Backstory:
  • Jimmy Kimmel returns to air, but Sinclair and Nexstar refuse to broadcast his show over recent controversial comments about conservatives and the Charlie Kirk assassination.
• Broadcast Companies’ Responses:
  • Sinclair: "Beginning Tuesday night, Sinclair will be preempting Jimmy Kimmel Live across our ABC affiliate stations and replacing it with news programming."
  • Nexstar: Will not air the show "pending assurance that all parties are committed to fostering an environment of respectful, constructive dialogue in the markets we serve." [03:34]

5. Federal Reserve Rate Policy

[03:41] – [04:27]

• Headline:
  • Fed Chair Jerome Powell signals a cautious, data-dependent approach following a recent rate cut, citing "two-sided risks" to inflation and employment.
• Notable Quote:
  • Jerome Powell: "Near term risks to inflation are tilted to the upside and risks to employment are tilted to the downside. A challenging situation. Two sided risks mean that there is no risk-free path." [03:55]
  • "Our policy is not on a preset course. We will continue to determine the appropriate stance based on the incoming data, the evolving outlook and the balance of risks." [04:15]

6. Biden’s FBI Coordinated with Pro-Abortion Activists Against Pro-Lifers

[04:27] – [05:32]

• New Evidence:
  • Newly released emails reveal DOJ and FBI partnerships with the National Abortion Federation to investigate pro-life protests, facilitating “an amazing relationship.”
• Notable Email Quote:
  • Robert Ledogar (National Abortion Federation Security Manager): "Over the past two years that I've been with NAF security, I have witnessed an amazing relationship with the NAF security director, Michelle Davidson and members of the DOJ Civil Rights Division." [04:55]
• Impact:
  • This cooperation led to the prosecution of elderly and devout pro-life activists under the FACE Act, some receiving prison time.

7. Kamala Harris’ Regret over Biden Candidacy

[05:32] – [06:08]

• Context:
  • In her new book promo, former Vice President Kamala Harris discussed her decision not to counsel President Biden on his reelection bid.
• Notable Quote:
  • Kamala Harris: "Was that grace to not bring it up to him or was it reckless? And on my part, I do reflect on that and feel that it was… there was a recklessness about not raising it with him." [05:51]

8. Pharma Price Parity: Trump Policy Ripple Effect

[06:08] – [06:58]

• Key Development:
  • Bristol Myers Squibb will price a new schizophrenia drug in the UK at the same cost as in the US ($1,850/month), unprecedented in pharma history.
• Pressure Context:
  • The move comes after Trump administration’s campaign for “fair share” pharma pricing.
• Notable Quote:
  • Adam Lenkowski (Bristol CCO): "We agree with the Trump administration that other countries need to pay their fair share." [06:54]

9. US-China Diplomacy; Northern European Drone Mystery

[06:58] – [08:04]

• US Lawmakers Visit China:
  • First congressional delegation in six years meets Chinese officials to ease tensions over Taiwan ahead of a potential Trump–Xi summit.
• Drone Airport Closures:
  • Events in Denmark and Norway led to hours-long airport shutdowns—Russia suspected, but denies involvement.

10. Virginia School Abortion Scandal Allegations

[08:04] – [09:03]

• Allegations:
  • Fairfax County Public Schools purportedly encouraged minor Hispanic students to get abortions, possibly without parental consent—potentially a federal law violation.
• Political Pressure:
  • Senator Bill Cassidy’s letter: "A school official pressuring minor students to obtain covert abortions using school funding is illegal and if proven, requires concrete action by the school board to hold the perpetrators accountable." [08:39]
• District Response:
  • Superintendent Michelle Reed claimed ignorance of the allegations and insisted it’s “behavior [that] would never have been tolerated.”

11. Trump Sanctions Iranian Diplomats; Macron’s Manhattan Mishap

[09:03] – [10:09]

• Iranian Diplomats' Shopping Restrictions:
  • Trump administration restricts UN-visiting Iranian diplomats from shopping at Costco, Sam’s Club, or buying U.S. luxury goods.
  • State Department: "Iranian elites won't be able to have a shopping spree in the United States while their people suffer poverty and shortages at home." [09:28]
• French President Macron in NYC:
  • Macron’s motorcade blocked by NYPD due to Trump’s convoy; he jokes with Trump via phone and walks half an hour through Manhattan, posing for selfies.
  • Donald Trump (by phone): "Guess what? I'm waiting because everything is present for you." [09:55]

Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

• On European Energy Policy:
  • Trump: "They're buying oil and gas from Russia while they're fighting Russia. It's embarrassing to them..." [01:22]
• On FBI-Pro-Abortion Cooperation:
  • "I have witnessed an amazing relationship with the NAF security director... and members of the DOJ Civil Rights Division." – Robert Ledogar [04:55]
• Kamala Harris' Reflection:
  • "I do reflect on that and feel that it was... a recklessness about not raising it with him." [05:51]
• Pharma Pricing Stand-Off:
  • "We agree with the Trump administration that other countries need to pay their fair share." – Adam Lenkowski [06:54]
• Diplomatic Quirk:
  • Trump (to Macron): "Guess what? I'm waiting because everything is present for you." [09:55]

Key Timestamps for Sections

• Assassination Trial Verdict: 00:20–01:06
• UN Europe Oil Speech: 01:06–02:05
• Budget Deadline Standoff: 02:05–02:32
• Jimmy Kimmel Affiliate Ban: 02:32–03:41
• Federal Reserve Stance: 03:41–04:27
• FBI-Pro-Abortion Investigation: 04:27–05:32
• Kamala Harris on 2024: 05:32–06:08
• Pharma Pricing Parity: 06:08–06:58
• US-China Talks & Drone Disruptions: 06:58–08:04
• School Abortion Allegation: 08:04–09:03
• Iranian Diplomat Sanctions; Macron Incident: 09:03–10:09

Tone & Takeaway

The episode’s tone is brisk, gravely serious on legal and political matters, and occasionally light on international escapades. Listeners walk away with rapid-fire, issue-first insights into U.S. law enforcement headlines, international policy shifts, media controversies, and the repercussions of high-level political decisions.