Evening Wire: Russia Pummels Ukraine & Brown-Trump Reach Settlement | 7.31.25

Summary

Evening Wire: Russia Pummels Ukraine & Brown-Trump Reach Settlement | 7.31.25

Hosted by John Bickley and Georgia Howe

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1. Russiagate Evidence Unveiled [00:51]

Georgia Howe kicks off the episode by discussing newly declassified files that allege former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton authorized the Russiagate smear campaign against Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. She states, “According to memos obtained by US Intelligence, false Russian collusion claims also involved Democratic operatives and groups tied to George Soros’ Open Society Foundations and included disseminating information through the media and FBI-linked firms” [00:51]. These revelations come from Special Counsel John Durham's probe, which deemed the intelligence likely authentic, raising alarms about the political weaponization of federal agencies.

2. US-Mexico Trade Agreement Extension and New Tariffs [01:26]

John Bickley reports on the agreement between Mexico and the US to extend their current trade arrangement. President Trump has granted Mexico an additional 90 days before implementing new tariffs, providing a temporary reprieve while negotiations continue. In a statement on Truth Social, Trump declared, “Mexico will continue to pay a 25% fentanyl tariff, a blanket tariff on all goods including 25% on cars and 50% on steel, aluminum, and copper” [01:26]. Additionally, Mexico has consented to immediately terminate its non-tariff trade barriers, aiming to foster smoother trade relations.

3. Canada Faces Trade Threat Over Palestine Recognition [01:55]

Georgia Howe addresses President Trump’s recent warning to Canada regarding its decision to recognize Palestine as a state. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada would join France and the United Kingdom in affirming Palestine as a state. Trump responded on Truth Social, stating, “That will make it very hard for us to make a trade deal” [01:55]. As a consequence, new tariffs on Canadian goods are scheduled to take effect on August 1st, escalating trade tensions between the two nations.

4. US Diplomatic Efforts in Gaza Amid Humanitarian Crisis [02:19]

John Bickley highlights the deployment of US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Ambassador Mike Huckabee to Gaza in response to escalating humanitarian concerns. “The two men will inspect aid efforts tomorrow amid conflicting claims about distribution being held up,” Bickley reports [02:19]. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt adds, “The special envoy and the ambassador will brief the President immediately after their visit to approve a final plan for food and aid distribution into the region” [02:36], promising further details post-approval.

5. Israel-Gaza Conflict: International Criticism and Trump’s Stance [03:11-03:56]

John Bickley discusses the international backlash against Israel amidst fears of famine in Gaza, even from traditional allies like Germany. He notes, “President Trump repeated his calls for Hamas to surrender and release hostages, saying it’s the fastest way to end the suffering in Gaza” [03:56]. Despite evidence of undistributed aid and videos showing Hamas fortifications, Israel faces mounting criticism for its handling of the humanitarian situation.

6. NYT Vandalism Targets New York Times Over Gaza Report [03:11]

Georgia Howe reports on the recent vandalism at the New York Times headquarters, where vandals spray-painted “New York Times lies Gaza Dies” on the windows and covered parts of the lower exterior with red paint [03:11]. This act follows the publication of a major correction clarifying that a viral report incorrectly attributed a child's emaciation to Israeli actions, whereas the child suffered from pre-existing conditions.

7. Russia’s Deadly Attack on Kyiv and Trump’s Response [03:56]

John Bickley details Russia's latest offensive against Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, which resulted in at least nine deaths, including a six-year-old boy, and injuries to over 100 individuals [03:56]. Ukrainian officials reported that over 300 drones and missiles targeted 27 sites across the city, leading to the collapse of a nine-story apartment building. President Zelensky condemned the assault as “a brutal answer to peace efforts,” while President Trump has issued a deadline of August 8th for Russia to show progress or face new sanctions.

8. Trump’s Efforts to Revive North Korea Diplomacy [04:31]

Georgia Howe discusses President Trump’s open stance towards meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un despite North Korea’s resistance to denuclearization efforts. Trump expressed aspirations to “revive dialogue and achieve a fully denuclearized North Korea” [04:31]. Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, criticized the disarmament demands, calling them “a mockery,” and Kim himself insisted that the US must recognize North Korea as a nuclear power. Despite North Korea's claims of an expanded arsenal since their last summit, Trump remains committed to his goal of peace on the Korean peninsula.

9. Trump Secures Preliminary Trade Deal with South Korea [05:09]

John Bickley reports on President Trump’s announcement of a preliminary trade deal with South Korea, strategically timed ahead of the August 1st tariff deadline. Under this agreement, South Korea will invest $350 billion in US-controlled assets and purchase $100 billion in American energy [05:09]. In return, tariffs on South Korean goods will be reduced from 25% to 15%, and the deal will open South Korea to increased US exports, including automobiles and agricultural products.

10. Trump Slams Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell [05:36]

Georgia Howe introduces the segment where John Bickley covers President Trump’s harsh criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. In a “fiery social post,” Trump described Powell as “too angry, too stupid and too political to lead the central bank” and blamed him for costing the country “trillions of dollars” [05:47]. Powell had recently maintained the federal funds rate between 4.25% and 4.5% amidst concerns over inflation and impending tariffs [05:47]. Additionally, two Fed governors have publicly called for rate cuts, leading to speculation about potential replacements for Powell when his term ends in 2026.

11. Cincinnati Violence and Political Responses [05:36-07:41]

John Bickley transitions to domestic issues, highlighting US Senator Bernie Moreno’s response to a viral video showing violence in Cincinnati. Moreno posted alarming photos of the injured woman, stating, “She wanted to have a nice evening out with friends. Instead, she got this” [05:47]. He condemned the inadequate response from local officials and criticized Democratic City Council President Victoria Parks for her insensitive comment, “they begged for that beatdown” [05:47]. Parks, who is not seeking reelection, faced backlash for her remarks, further intensifying the political divide over responses to mob violence.

12. Honoring Fallen NYPD Officer Diderol Islam [07:41]

Georgia Howe reports on the funeral of NYPD Officer Diderol Islam, who was killed in the mass shooting at a midtown Manhattan skyscraper on Monday. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch honored Islam’s dedication, stating, “No matter what this job threw at him, you could count on Dar to get it done and to get it done right” [07:41]. The ceremony, held at a Bronx mosque, saw New York City Mayor Eric Adams and mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani in attendance. Islam is survived by his wife and two young children.

13. NYC Mayoral Candidate Zoran Mamdani Addresses Defunding Police Comments [08:43-09:34]

John Bickley covers a press conference by New York City mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani, who addressed his previous calls to defund the police. Mamdani clarified, “My statements in 2020 were ones made amidst a frustration that many New Yorkers felt at the murder of George Floyd” [08:43]. He also referenced the recent mass shooting, emphasizing the ongoing need for comprehensive solutions. Mamdani signaled support for increased nationwide gun control while acknowledging the necessity for substantial work both locally and nationally to prevent such tragedies [09:34].

14. Brown University Reaches Settlement with Trump Administration [09:34]

Georgia Howe discusses a significant settlement between Brown University and the Trump administration. The Ivy League institution has agreed to a $50 million settlement to fund workforce development initiatives in exchange for restored federal grants and the closure of multiple investigations [09:34]. Education Secretary Linda McMahon praised the deal, highlighting that it will “restore merit-based admissions and enforce protections against anti-Semitism and discrimination” [09:59]. President Trump celebrated the agreement on Truth Social, declaring, “woke is officially dead at Brown” [10:15]. The settlement also involves the elimination of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices in hiring, promotions, and admissions, prioritizing merit over ideology.

15. Delta Flight Turbulence Incident [10:40]

John Bickley reports on a harrowing incident involving a Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam that experienced severe turbulence before nosediving for nearly 90 seconds. The plane made an emergency landing in Minneapolis, resulting in at least 25 passengers being hospitalized [10:40]. Passengers described the chaos onboard, with beverage carts flying through the air and individuals being violently thrown against cabin ceilings. Passenger Leanne Clement Nash recounted, “There’s a moment where we thought we were going down, so I'm still shaking about it” [10:40]. One passenger suffered fractured ribs after being hurled multiple times, underscoring the severity of the incident.

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Conclusion

In this episode of Evening Wire, John Bickley and Georgia Howe delve into a range of pressing issues, from international conflicts and trade negotiations to domestic political controversies and personal tragedies. Notable discussions include the resurgence of Russiagate evidence, escalating trade tensions with Mexico and Canada, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The hosts also address significant domestic events such as political responses to violence in Cincinnati, the honoring of a fallen NYPD officer, and the controversial settlement between Brown University and the Trump administration. Additionally, the episode covers a terrifying turbulence incident on a Delta flight, highlighting the unpredictable nature of air travel safety.

For more detailed coverage on these stories, visit dailywire.com.

Transcript

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[John Bickley]

More Russiagate Evidence is brought to light, Russia pummels Kyiv again despite Trump's new peace deadline and the NYPD officer killed in Monday's mass shooting is honored in the Bronx. I'm Daily Wire Executive Editor John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Thursday, July 31st, and this is Evening Wire.

[Georgia Howe]

Newly declassified files allege Hillary Clinton greenlit the Russiagate smear of Trump's 2016 campaign to distract from her email scandal. A According to memos obtained by US Intelligence, false Russian collusion claims also involved Democratic operatives and groups tied to George Soros Open Society Foundations and included disseminating information through the media and FBI linked firms. Special Counsel John Durham's probe found this intel likely authentic but long buried, raising renewed concerns over political weaponization of federal agencies.

[John Bickley]

Mexico and the US have agreed to extend their current trade arrangement. President Trump says he's giving our southern neighbors 90 more days, delaying the effect of new tariffs while negotiations continue. In a post on Truth Social, the President said, quote, mexico will continue to pay a 25% fentanyl tariff, a blanket tariff on all goods including 25% on cars and 50% on steel, aluminum and copper. Additionally, Mexico has agreed to immediately terminate its non tariff trade barriers.

[Georgia Howe]

President Trump is warning Canada that recognizing a Palestinian state could damage their trade deal with the U.S. canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney released a statement declaring that the country would join France and the United Kingdom in affirming Palestine as a state. President Trump responded on Truth Social last night saying that will make it very hard for us to make a trade deal. New tariffs on Canadian goods are set to take effect tomorrow, August 1st.

[John Bickley]

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Ambassador Mike Huckabee are heading to Gaza in response to growing claims of a humanitarian crisis. The two men will inspect aid efforts tomorrow amid conflicting claims about distribution being held up. Here's Press Secretary Caroline Levitt.

[Georgia Howe]

The special envoy and the ambassador will brief the President immediately after their visit to approve a final plan for food and aid distribution into the region, and we will provide more details for all of you once that plan is approved and agreed on by the President of the United States.

[John Bickley]

Israel has faced international criticism, even from allies like Germany, as fears of a famine escalate. The calls come despite evidence of undistributed aid and videos of Hamas feasting below ground. President Trump repeated his calls for Hamas to to surrender and release hostages, saying it's the fastest way to end the suffering in Gaza.

[Georgia Howe]

The New York Times headquarters was vandalized. Daily Wire reporter Cassie Akiva has the latest. On Wednesday, the phrase New York Times lies Gaza Dies was spray painted in large white letters on windows, while sizable sections of the lower level exterior was covered with red paint. The vandalism comes a day after the paper published a major correction to a report from last week that went viral due to the use of photos of an emaciated child in Gaza. The alarming condition of the child was used to accuse Israel of starving the Gazan population, but as the editor's note now explains, the child was actually emaciated due to suffering from pre existing conditions. The child has cerebral palsy hypoxemia and was born with a serious genetic disorder.

[John Bickley]

Russia battered Ukraine's capital overnight in another deadly attack. The assault left at least nine people dead, including a six year old boy, while injuring over 100 more. A nine story apartment building collapsed with rescue teams still searching the rubble. Ukrainian officials say the barrage included over 300 drones and missiles striking 27 sites across the capital. President Zelensky called it a brutal answer to peace efforts, urging allies to act. Meanwhile, President Trump has given Russia an August 8th grade deadline to show progress or face new sanctions.

[Georgia Howe]

President Trump says he's still open to meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un despite the country's warning against denuclearization efforts. The White House says Trump hopes to revive dialogue and achieve a fully denuclearized North Korea. Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong says relations with Trump are not bad, but called disarmament demands a mockery. Meanwhile, Kim himself says the US Must recognize them as a nuclear power. North Korea claims its arsenal has expanded since the last summit. Trump, who held three historic meetings with Kim during his first term, says his goal of peace on the Korean peninsula remains unchanged.

[John Bickley]

Meanwhile, Trump has announced a preliminary trade deal with South Korea just days ahead of the August 1st tariff deadline. Under the agreement, South Korea will invest 350 billion in US controlled assets and buy 100 billion in American energy in return. Trump says tariffs on South Korean goods will be reduced from 25% to 15%. The deal also opens South Korea to more U.S. exports, including cars and agriculture.

[Georgia Howe]

President Trump is unloading on Fed chair Jerome Powell after the central bank left rates unchanged for the fifth straight time. Daily Wire senior editor Joel Niedler has the details.

[John Bickley]

In a fiery social post this morning, Trump slammed Powell as, quote, too angry, too stupid and too political to lead the central bank, while blaming him for costing the country trillions of dollars and overseeing what he called a disastrous renovation project. The Fed's decision to keep rates between 4.25 and 4.5% comes amid some inflation and concerns over new tariffs set to take effect this Friday. Yesterday, Powell said no rate decision has been made yet for September. It seems to, to me and to almost the whole committee that the economy is not performing as a restrictive policy is holding it back inappropriately and modest, modestly restrictive policy seems appropriate. All that said, there's also downside risk to the labor market. In coming months, we'll receive a good amount of data that will help inform our assessment of the balance of risks and the appropriate setting of the federal funds rate. Meanwhile, two Fed governors broke ranks in a rare dissent and called for rate cuts. Both are now rumored to be potential Powell replacements when his term ends in 2026. US Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio posted alarming photos of the woman shown being knocked out cold by a man in the viral video of the Cincinnati brawl last weekend. Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce has more. The photos show the woman with a severe black eye, bruised and swollen face, busted lip and black and blue neck and chest. This is Holly, moreno wrote. She wanted to have a nice evening out with friends. Instead, she got this. Along with condemning the weak response from Cincinnati's mayor, police chief and other officials, the senator highlighted a shocking social media statement from Cincinnati's Democratic City Council President Pro Tem Victoria Parks in response to someone saying the victims of the mob violence did not deserve being abused like they were, parks wrote, quote, they begged for that beatdown. I'm grateful for the whole story. Parks has previously said she is not seeking reelection.

[Georgia Howe]

Fallen NYPD officer Diderol Islam was honored in funeral proceedings today. Islam was killed in the mass shooting in a midtown Manhattan skyscraper on Monday. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch spoke at the funeral, held at a mosque in the Bronx. Tish praised Islam's work ethic and promoted him posthumously to detective first grade during the ceremony. No matter what this job threw at him, you could count on Dar to get it done and to get it done right. And though his journey was cut too short, the way he lived this job, with steadiness, with heart, with conviction, it reflected everything this title represents. So today it is my honor and my great privilege to promote Police Officer Didarul Islam to Detective first Grade. New York City Mayor Eric Adams also spoke at the funeral, and mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani was reportedly in attendance. Islam is survived by his wife, two young boys and a baby.

[John Bickley]

On the way, New York City mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani excused his previous calls to defund the police in a presser on Wednesday and indicated support for increased gun control nationwide. While Mamdani has walked back some of his comments, he refused to disassociate outright, saying, quote, my statements in 2020 were ones made amidst a frustration that many New Yorkers felt at the murder of George Floyd. He also referenced the Manhattan shooting. Here's Mamdani. Clearly we are still home to a.

[Georgia Howe]

Site of a senseless mass shooting.

[John Bickley]

And so there is much work for us to do here in New York City. But there is also so much work.

[Georgia Howe]

To be done at a national level.

[John Bickley]

And that is why, again, I appreciate Governor Hochul taking this moment to point.

[Georgia Howe]

Not only New Yorkers but Americans towards a way in which we can ensure.

[John Bickley]

That history does not repeat itself itself.

[Georgia Howe]

Brown University has reached a $50 million settlement with the Trump administration. The Ivy League school has agreed to fund workforce development in exchange for restored federal grants and the closure of multiple investigations. Education Secretary Linda McMahon praised the agreement, saying it will restore merit based admissions and enforce protections against anti Semitism and discrimination. They've also agreed to get rid of.

[John Bickley]

The DEI and their hiring practices to make sure that it's based on merit.

[Georgia Howe]

And promotions and admissions are based on merit and not on other ideologies.

[John Bickley]

And this is no way the administration trying in any way to control what's taught on campuses.

[Georgia Howe]

Brown's president called the agreement voluntary, while warning of increased federal scrutiny on academic institutions. Meanwhile, President Trump celebrated the deal on Truth Social, declaring woke is officially dead at Brown. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt hailed the move as a major win for the administration. This is yet another huge win for American students and for those who love our country and want to abide by our country's laws.

[John Bickley]

And a flight traveling from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam experienced some major turbulence before nose diving for nearly 90 seconds. The Delta flight eventually made an emergency landing in Minneapolis, where at least 25 people were taken to the hospital. Passengers described seeing the beverage cart flying through the air and other people hitting the cabin ceiling. One female passenger was thrown into the air multiple times, resulting in broken ribs. Passenger Leanne Clement Nash told ABC News all about the terrifying flight.

[Georgia Howe]

There's a moment where we thought we were going down, so I'm, you know, still shaking about it. It was very scary. One young lady in particular, I believe she got thrown up twice to the ceiling and down and landed on people. I think she ended up with some fractured ribs. Those are your Drive Home updates this evening. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com and in case you missed it, this morning we covered some major stories, including Trump's economy gets some very welcome news. The EPA rolls back the climate agenda in a historic way and ICE is swamped with new applicants. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of Morning Wire.

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