Evening Wire: Spencer Pratt Goes Scorched Earth & Epstein Suicide Note? | 5.7.26

Summary

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Morning Wire – Evening Wire: Spencer Pratt Goes Scorched Earth & Epstein Suicide Note?

Date: May 7, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley, Georgia Howe
Podcast: The Daily Wire

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Overview

This episode of "Evening Wire" delivers a high-velocity roundup of the day’s most significant stories in news, politics, culture, and current affairs. The main headlines include the public release of Jeffrey Epstein’s purported suicide note, Iran’s missile capacity after Middle East hostilities, Spencer Pratt’s surprising win in the LA mayoral debate, a child pornography bust on cruise ships, the DOJ’s lawsuits over gun laws, and the FBI’s expansion of AI in threat prevention. Notable quotes and sharp exchanges highlight the heated political landscape, growing concerns over tech and security, and ongoing debates about crime, homelessness, and media integrity.

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Major Stories & Key Discussions

1. Jeffrey Epstein Suicide Note Released

• [00:51] A New York court unsealed what appears to be Epstein’s suicide note after seven years in a vault, prompted by a New York Times request.
  • Content of the note:
    • “They investigated for months, found nothing...”
    • “It is a treat to be able to choose one's time to say goodbye.”
  • Context: The note was withheld because of another court case but now joins public record after long speculation.

2. Iran’s Missile Stockpile – Contradicting Claims

• [01:19] CIA assessment reveals Iran still has the majority of its missiles despite weeks of allied strikes.
  • Kassia Kiva:
    • “Iran's regime still possesses roughly 70% of its missile stockpile from before the war and about 75% of mobile launchers.” ([01:29])
    • Contradicts President Trump’s claim that Iran had just 18-19% left.
    • Iran has “reopened underground storage sites, repaired damaged missiles, and resumed work on weapons near completion before the war.”
  • Insight: Facts differ sharply between intelligence assessments and presidential statements.

3. Oil Tankers Navigate Iranian Blockade

• [02:10] Despite Iran’s attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz, at least four tankers from the UAE have crossed the blockade.
  • Tim Pierce: Risk remains significant, but oil continues to flow at great peril.
  • Global Impact: “More than two months into Iran's blockade roughly 20% of the world's oil passed through the strait prior to the war...”
  • Middle East suppliers and East Asian buyers most affected.

4. Disney Cruise Ship Raided in Child Pornography Sting

• [02:50] Five cruise ships, including a Disney vessel, were raided by US Customs in San Diego, resulting in 28 arrests.
  • Amanda Harding:
    • “After boarding the vessels and interviewing 26 suspected crew members... officers confirmed all subjects were involved in either the receipt, possession, transportation, distribution or viewing of CSEM [child pornography].”
    • Disney spokesperson: “Zero tolerance policy... fully cooperated.”
  • Memorable Moment: Swift law enforcement action leads to immediate firings and visa cancellations.

5. Spencer Pratt Dominates LA Mayoral Debate

• [03:44] Reality TV personality Spencer Pratt emerges as the surprise frontrunner in the Los Angeles Mayor race, winning 89% in an NBC poll post-debate.
  • Debate Highlights:
    • Pratts’s “scorched earth” stance against crime and homelessness efforts.
    • Spencer Pratt [04:19]:
      • “When I enforce the law and clear the street of the drug addicts that have taken over 40 blocks of downtown LA... I will have potentially 20,000 units available to build.”
    • Spencer Pratt [04:42]:
      • “She [Raman] acts like this is just Mayor Bass. The DEA statistics says 93% of this is a drug addiction problem.... She's going to get stabbed in the neck. These people do not want a bed. They want fentanyl or super meth. These ideas cost us over $400 million to house, what is it, 3,000 people? This is absolute failure.”
  • Analysis: Pratt’s blunt rhetoric and promise to “crack down on crime” resonate with voters.

6. US-China AI Guardrails — Diplomatic Previews

• [05:20] Washington and Beijing consider talks on AI safeguards ahead of President Trump’s Beijing visit.
  • Cabot Phillips: Previous US-China discussions yielded little; new negotiations may influence global tech policy.
  • Key Player: Treasury Secretary Scott Besant will lead the US side.

7. EEOC Sues New York Times for Discrimination

• [07:01] The EEOC alleges the NYT passed over a white male candidate in favor of a less experienced multiracial woman for Deputy Real Estate Editor, challenging the Times' “Call to Action” diversity initiative.
  • Zachual:
    • “This reflects a broader pattern connected to the Times’ 'Call to Action' initiative...”
    • Times response: “Hiring is merit-based... neither race nor gender played a role... lawsuit politically motivated.” ([07:16])

8. Justice Dept. Sues Colorado Over Gun Laws

• [08:01] DOJ challenges Colorado’s and Denver’s bans on “high capacity” magazines and semi-automatic weapons.
  • Jordan Schroeder / Mom:
    • DOJ argument: Bans violate the Second Amendment; assault weapon is “a rhetorically charged political term developed by anti gun publicists.” ([08:09])
    • Colorado’s courts defended the bans; Supreme Court intervention likely.

9. FBI Director Kash Patel on AI and Crime Prevention

• [09:02] FBI begins deploying AI for threat analysis, triaging tips, and disrupting shootings.
  • Kash Patel:
    • “I put AI in there. We stopped a school massacre in North Carolina... We stopped [a] school shooting in New York...” ([09:22])
    • AI speeds up identifying suspects via databases and increases efficiency.
  • Notable Reaction:
    • “Wow.” (Zachual [09:47])

10. New York State Budget Drama

• [09:55] Significant infighting erupts among state Democrats over budget negotiations.
  • Speaker Carl Hesty [10:11]:
    • “We signed off on nothing major. And this is what I'm telling y'all is wrong with this process. And I'm saying this y' all very clearly. I'm never doing this again. Budgets are supposed to be about money, not policy.”
  • Backdrop: NYC faces a $5.4 billion shortfall, pressure mounts for Governor Hochul to find solutions.

11. California High-Speed Rail Audit Controversy

• [10:32] State lawmakers approve a measure potentially blocking the release of a key audit for the troubled rail project (originally $33B, now $231B).
  • Law would let inspectors hide audit findings if disclosure “would pose a substantial and articulable risk to the project or to state operations if publicly disclosed.”

12. Quick Update: Caroline Levitt Welcomes Daughter

• [11:08] Politician Caroline Levitt announces birth of her daughter, Viviana.
  • “Our hearts instantly exploded with love... God is good.”

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Epstein Note:

  • “They investigated for months, found nothing... It is a treat to be able to choose one's time to say goodbye.” (Jeffrey Epstein, [00:51])

• Kassia Kiva on Iran:

  • “Even after launching hundreds of missiles... Iran has reopened underground storage sites, repaired damaged missiles, and resumed work on weapons...” ([01:29])

• Spencer Pratt on LA:

  • “I will enforce the law and clear the street of the drug addicts... I will have potentially 20,000 units available to build.” ([04:19])
  • “She’s going to get stabbed in the neck. These people do not want a bed. They want fentanyl or super meth.” ([04:42])

• Kash Patel on AI:

  • “I put AI in there. We stopped a school massacre in North Carolina... We stopped school shooting in New York...” ([09:22])

• Speaker Carl Hesty:

  • “We signed off on nothing major... I'm never doing this again. Budgets are supposed to be about money, not policy.” ([10:11])

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Timestamps for Key Stories

• Epstein Suicide Note Released: [00:51]
• Iran’s Missile Stockpile: [01:19]
• Oil Tankers Evade Blockade: [02:10]
• Disney Cruise Raids: [02:50]
• Spencer Pratt Wins Debate: [03:44]
• AI Regulation Talks: [05:20]
• EEOC Sues NYT: [07:01]
• Justice Dept. Sues CO on Guns: [08:01]
• FBI on AI, Crime Prevention: [09:02]
• New York Budget Infighting: [09:55]
• CA Rail Audit Fight: [10:32]
• Caroline Levitt Baby Announcement: [11:08]

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Tone & Style

The episode’s tone is brisk, urgent, and steeped in political skepticism, with a focus on accountability, fact-checking, and sharp criticism of officials’ claims and failures. Notable is the program’s direct language and willingness to call out perceived dysfunction, especially in debates and legislative matters.

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This summary covers all crucial moments and discussions, preserving the candid exchanges and providing a clear guide for listeners seeking essential updates without the filler.

Transcript

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[John Bickley]

A purported suicide letter from Jeffrey Epstein is released by a New York court. Reality star Spencer Pratt earns high marks in the debate for LA Mayor and a couple of oil tankers sneak past Iran's missiles. I'm Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Thursday, May 7th. This is Evening Wire.

[Narrator/Host]

A New York court has released what appears to be a suicide note left by the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The note begins, quote, they investigated for months, found nothing. A couple lines later, it says, it is a treat to be able to choose one's time to say goodbye. The note has stayed in a vault of a New York courthouse for seven years. It was kept hidden from the public because of an unrelated case of the prisoner who found it. On Wednesday, a judge made it public after a request from the New York Times.

[John Bickley]

A CIA assessment says Iran still has most of its missiles. This comes as a new peace deal is still being considered. Daily Wire foreign affairs reporter Kassia Kiva has the latest.

[Kassia Kiva]

An intelligence source confirms the findings of the CIA's assessment to the Daily Wire. Despite weeks of sustained US and Israeli strikes, Iran's regime still possesses roughly 70% of its missile stockpile from before the war and about 75% of mobile launchers. Even after launching hundreds of missiles at Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the US Military sites across the region. This assessment breaks with President Trump's Wednesday claim that Iran only had 18 to 19% of missiles left. The CIA assessment also reportedly concludes that Iran has reopened underground storage sites, repaired damaged missiles, and resumed work on weapons that were near completion before the war began.

[Narrator/Host]

Despite Iran's attempt to block the Strait of Hormuz, some tankers have snuck through. Daily Wire contributor Tim Pierce has more,

[John Bickley]

experts say, and shipping data shows four tankers from the United Arab Emirates have sailed through the strait. The crossings show the risk that some oil producers and buyers are willing to hazard. More than two months into Iran's blockade roughly 20% of the world's oil passed through the strait prior to the war in Iran. While the strait's closure has had a global impact, oil producers in the Middle east and their customers in East Asia have been some of the hardest hit. Federal agents raided a Disney cruise ship in a major child pornography sting. Daily Wire entertainment reporter Amanda Harding has the details.

[Amanda Harding]

US Customs and Border Protection recently raided five cruise ships, including one Disney ship, as they identified predators viewing and distributing child sexual exploitation material. The operation took place in San Diego and led to 28 individuals being arrested. A CBP spokesperson said, quote, after boarding the vessels and interviewing 26 suspected crew members from the Philippines, one suspected crew member from Portugal, and one from Indonesia, a officers confirmed all subjects were involved in either the receipt, possession, transportation, distribution or viewing of CSEM or child pornography. The CBP then canceled their visas with plans to remove each of the criminals from the United States. A Disney rep said in response to the news, quote, we have a zero tolerance policy for this type of behavior and fully cooperated with law enforcement. While the majority of these individuals were not from our cruise line, those who were are no longer with the company.

[Narrator/Host]

Reality TV star Spencer Pratt has emerged the clear winner after last night's heated LA mayoral debate. An NBC poll released this morning showed 89% of viewers rated him the winner. Daily Wire lifestyle reporter Lauren Baer has the details. Pratt faced off against Mayor Karen Bass and socialist Councilwoman Nithya Raman on the debate stage, where they clashed on how to best lead the city of 3.8 million. The former reality TV star said that he would crack down on crime, improve the city's fire response readiness and move away from the city's ineffective efforts to combat homelessness.

[Spencer Pratt]

Well, the good news is when I enforce the law and clear the street of the drug addicts that have taken over 40 blocks of downtown LA abandoned buildings that have drug addicts just lighting them on fire every other day, I will have potentially 20,000 units available to build.

[Narrator/Host]

During a different exchange, Pratt criticized Raman over her approach to homelessness.

[Spencer Pratt]

She runs the homeless housing thing. She acts like this is just Mayor Bass. The DEA statistics says 93% of this is a drug addiction problem. Councilwoman Robins plan for treatment. First, I will go below the Harbor Freeway tomorrow with her and we can find some of these people she's going to offer treatment for. She's going to get stabbed in the neck. These people do not want a bed. They want fentanyl or super meth. These ideas cost us over $400 million to house, what is it, 3,000 people for 400 million? This is absolute failure.

[Narrator/Host]

Tune in to Morning Wire tomorrow for full coverage of the debate.

[John Bickley]

Washington and Beijing are considering talks on AI controls amid rising concerns over its rapid development. Cabot Phillips, host of Wired in Live, has more ahead of President Trump's planned visit to Beijing next week. One of the main agenda items could have a heavy influence on the future of AI. Guardrails could now be considered to prevent new tech from spiraling into disaster. Similar talks took place under the Biden administration without any meaningful results. If AI makes the agenda, the US Side will be led by Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, who has been closely following tech advancements. The president is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on May 14.

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[John Bickley]

The equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a discrimination lawsuit against the New York Times on Tuesday, alleging the paper unlawfully passed over a white male employee in favor of a less experienced multiracial woman. Daily Wire reporter Zachual has more this

[Zachual]

involved filling the position of deputy real estate editor, and according to the complaint, the decision allegedly deviated from the normal hiring procedures and involved bypassing the candidate who had relevant experience in real estate journalism. Despite that experience being listed as a requirement in the job posting. The EEOC argues that this reflects a broader pattern connected to the Times quote, Call to Action initiative, which seeks to address so called underrepresentation of women and people of color in leadership roles and aims to increase diversity in management. The Times denied the allegations with a spokesperson stating the company's hiring is, quote, merit based and that, quote, neither race nor gender played a role in this decision. The Times also called the lawsuit politically motivated and said it will be, quote, vigorously defended.

[Narrator/Host]

The Justice Department is suing Colorado over restrictive gun laws. Daily Wire Homepage Managing Editor Jordan Schroeder has the details.

[Mom]

The suit against Colorado was filed Wednesday following a separate suit against the city of Denver on Tuesday. The state banned what they call high capacity magazines in 2012 following the Aurora theater shooting. Denver, for its part, has had a ban on many semiautomatic guns since 1989. The Justice Department is now arguing that both of those laws violate the Second Amendment and that the laws were written in a politically charged manner. In the suit against Denver, the DOJ wrote that the term assault weapon is a rhetorically charged political term developed by anti gun publicists. The DOJ also argued that Colorado's ban on any magazine above 15 rounds is not a ban on high capacity magazines, given that 30 round magazines are the most common size and are standard issue with most AR15 style firearms. Colorado's highest court upheld the bans in a separate suit a few years ago. Now it seems like the Supreme Court will have the final say.

[John Bickley]

FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau has begun deploying artificial intelligence tools to disrupt potential acts of violence, including planned school shootings. Patel says the move is already saving lives. He told Sean Hannity on his podcast that AI tools have helped the FBI solve cases more quickly as well as prevent potential tragedies.

[Kash Patel]

I'm using it in places like our Criminal Justice Information System database so we can pop fingerprints immediately and get fugitives and arrest warrants out. I'm using in places like our National Threat Operations Center. I'll give you an example. Can you imagine how many tips the FBI gets a week? Thousands. If we had just humans look at it, we would never sift through them all. I put AI in there. We stopped a school massacre in North Carolina because we got a tip and we were able to triage it with artificial intelligence.

[Zachual]

Wow.

[Kash Patel]

We stopped school shooting in New York because we got a tip from our private sector partners who are building our AI infrastructure in New York.

[John Bickley]

Disagreements over the state's budget have caused a very public split among top Democratic lawmakers. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this morning that lawmakers had struck a deal. But just hours later, she was contradicted by the top Democrat in New York's Assembly. Speaker Carl Hesty vented his frustration to reporters.

[Kash Patel]

We signed off on nothing major. And this is what I'm telling y'

[Spencer Pratt]

all is wrong with this process. And I'm saying this y' all very clearly. I'm never doing this again.

[Kash Patel]

Budgets are supposed to be about money, not policy.

[John Bickley]

The infighting comes as New York City Mayor Zoran Mandani has pushed Hochul to make up a $5.4 billion shortfall in his city's budget.

[Narrator/Host]

Democrats in California's assembly approved a bill that critics say could block public release of an audit into the state's high speed rail. The San Francisco to LA line was originally projected to cost $33 billion and be completed by 2020. It has since ballooned to an estimated cost of 231 billion. And now skeptical officials say state Democrats want to hide how the project went so far off the rails. The bill would allow the inspector general to keep the results of his audit hidden if the report, quote, would pose a substantial and articulable risk to the project or to state operations if publicly disclosed.

[John Bickley]

And Caroline Levitt introduced her newborn daughter to the world over social media today. She wrote, quote, On May 1st, Viviana, aka Vivi, joined our family and our hearts instantly exploded with love. She concluded her post by thanking everyone who'd reached out with prayers during her pregnancy and said, quote, I truly felt them throughout the entire experience. God is good.

[Narrator/Host]

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 a Daily Wire investigation revealing more Medicaid fraud in Ohio, the FBI raiding the offices of a leading Democrat in the Virginia Senate, and LIV Golf being on life support as Saudi funding dries up. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of MORNING wire. Looking for the best place to shop this Mother's Day? Go with the brand that makes it easy to send something thoughtful to everyone on your list. 1-800-flowers.com right now at 1-800-flowers. Order one dozen roses and get another dozen free. More flowers mean more smiles, all backed by the quality, attention to detail and trusted delivery experience that make 1-800-flowers my top choice to send something beautiful mom will love. Make Mom's Day at 1-800-flowers.com Spotify that's 1-800-flowers com Spotify.