Evening Wire: Trump Meets With Zelensky & Netanyahu & D.C. Honors Lindsey Graham | 7.28.26

Summary

Evening Wire: Trump Meets With Zelensky & Netanyahu & D.C. Honors Lindsey Graham | July 28, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Morning Wire, hosted by John Bickley and Georgia Howe, delivers a fast-paced rundown of the day’s major political, cultural, and global news developments. The central themes include the memorial service for the late Senator Lindsey Graham, significant diplomatic meetings between former President Trump, Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, and a series of urgent domestic and international headlines ranging from natural disasters to policy controversies.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Senator Lindsey Graham’s Memorial Services

• [00:20] The memorial for Senator Lindsey Graham began in the Capitol Rotunda with bipartisan attendance.
  • John Thune, Senate Majority Leader: Emphasized Graham’s integrity and independence, “It didn't matter to Lindsey whether an issue was popular or unpopular... he told things the way he saw them, and he didn't mince words.” ([00:36-00:45])
• [01:00] President Trump’s tribute at the National Cathedral:
  • Trump: “He was a man who gave America the full measure of his good and mighty heart... a friend that none of us will ever forget. There was truly nobody like Lindsey Graham.” ([01:00-01:28])
• Services continue with public and private ceremonies in South Carolina.

2. Diplomatic Meetings: Trump, Netanyahu, and Zelensky

• [01:37] Trump met with both Zelensky and Netanyahu at the White House.
  • Zelensky Meeting: Focused on a “potential reboot of peace talks with Russia” and increasing U.S. air defense support for Ukraine, reflecting recent warming of relations. ([01:44])
  • Netanyahu Meeting: Centered on Iran; both parties reaffirmed their intent to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The tone was “excellent and comprehensive,” according to Netanyahu’s office. ([01:44-02:17])
  • White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt: Labeled the meetings “positive and productive.” ([02:27])

3. Biden Tapes and Classified Records Controversy

• [02:33] New tapes suggest Joe Biden was aware of keeping classified documents in his basement.
  • Transcripts reveal: Biden discusses working with his ghostwriter and possibly referencing classified material:
    • Biden: “Some of this may be classified, so be careful, okay? I'm not sure there's not more classified. I just found all the classified stuff downstairs.” ([02:59])
  • Tapes show instances of confusion—potentially highlighting cognitive decline:
    • Biden: “The guy at Princeton now chief economic advisor. Not Kaufman. Think of his name...Goolsby is one.” ([03:17-03:49])
• Biden's team response: Called the leak “political retribution.” ([03:49])

4. Global Crisis Updates

• Japan Earthquake ([04:02]): 7.1 magnitude – Hundreds of thousands evacuated, 30 people unaccounted for after a shopping mall collapse.
• Wildfires in France ([04:26]): The largest in years; hundreds of thousands evacuated. Story included a Tennessee mother and her children trapped while on vacation.

5. U.S. Culture and Policy Stories

Ms. Rachel and Political Donations ([06:08])

• Children’s YouTube star Ms. Rachel (Rachel Griffin Accurso) is revealed to have donated “thousands to the campaigns of Democratic socialists.”
• Content has become more political, including singalongs in protest of immigration enforcement.

‘Cult’ Accusations Against Pastor Catherine Crick ([06:50])

• Footage of followers exhibiting possession-like behavior stirs renewed cult allegations.
  • Critics: Accuse Crick of accepting “a level of admiration that should be reserved for Christ alone.” ([07:00])
  • Crick's defense: Attributes backlash to “jealousy and misunderstanding.”

NYC’s Plan for City-Owned Grocery Stores ([07:33])

• Mayor Zoran Mandani proposes five city-run stores with steep discounts, sparking criticism from local businesses.
  • One VC: “This plan is literally how you destroy an economy.”
  • Critics highlight prior failures (e.g., Kansas City’s government-run store losses).

Montana Nurse’s Gritty Survival ([08:13])

• David Cifaldi impaled by a trekking pole, chooses a 10-mile hike to safety over an airlift.
  • Stayed positive: Intends to finish the climb next year.

Pepper Spray Drones in Schools ([09:09])

• “Campus Guardian Angels” drones being deployed in schools in three states.
  • CEO Justin Marston: “We're really designed to go after a school shooter and get them pacified before they have chance to murder lots of children.” ([09:41])
  • Drones can reach targets in under 15 seconds.

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Notable Quotes

• John Thune on Graham:
  “It didn't matter to Lindsey whether an issue was popular or unpopular... he told things the way he saw them, and he didn't mince words.” - [00:36-00:45]

• President Trump on Graham:
  “There was truly nobody like Lindsey Graham.” - [01:28]

• Biden on classified materials:
  “Some of this may be classified, so be careful, okay? I'm not sure there's not more classified. I just found all the classified stuff downstairs.” - [02:59]

• Venture Capitalist on NYC grocery plan:
  “This plan is literally how you destroy an economy.” - [07:33]

• CEO Justin Marston on school drones:
  “Really you’re limited to like whatever you’ve got on site... we’re a lot like [sprinkler systems], but... designed to go after a school shooter and get them pacified before they have chance to murder lots of children.” - [09:41]

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Memorable Moments & Context

• The emotional farewell to Lindsey Graham drew bipartisan respect.
• The tape leak reignites the Biden document controversy with direct quotes.
• The personal account of a Montana nurse’s survival stands out for bravery and humor.
• The pepper spray drone discussion reflects on the escalation of school security technology.

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Lindsey Graham Memorial & Tributes: [00:20–01:28]
• Trump’s Meetings with Zelensky & Netanyahu: [01:37–02:33]
• Biden Tapes/Records Story: [02:33–03:49]
• Japan Earthquake/Wildfire in France: [04:02–05:03]
• Ms. Rachel Political Donations: [06:08–06:50]
• Pastor Cult Accusations: [06:50–07:33]
• NYC City-Run Groceries Debate: [07:33–08:13]
• Montana Nurse Survival: [08:13–09:04]
• Pepper Spray School Drones: [09:09–10:21]

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Tone & Style

The episode balances sober reporting with occasional light banter and vivid, concise storytelling, often infusing personality into otherwise somber or divisive topics.

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Conclusion

This Evening Wire delivers critical developments in politics and global news, intertwined with cultural trends and technological responses to violence and disaster. Its brisk, fact-driven tone gives listeners what they need to know heading into the next news cycle.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

Lindsey Graham's memorial service begins with several notable attendees. President Trump speaks with Israel's Netanyahu in Ukraine's Zelensky. And wildfires rage in Europe. I'm Daily Wire Executive editor John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Tuesday, July 28th. This is Evening Wire.

[Georgia Howe]

Memorial services for Senator Lindsey Graham began this morning in the Capitol Rotunda with dozens of notable attendees from across the political aisle. Graham was a top dealmaker in D.C. for decades, but it was his principal stances that earned him respect from many colleagues. Here was Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

[John Bickley]

It didn't matter to Lindsey whether an issue was popular or unpopular, whether he had the full support of his colleagues or whether he was standing alone.

[President Trump]

If he believed he was in the

[John Bickley]

right, he spoke up, he told things the way he saw them, and he didn't mince words.

[Georgia Howe]

President Trump gave remarks later in the day when Graham's memorial service moved to the Washington National Cathedral. Here was the president after the loss of one of his closest Senate allies.

[President Trump]

He was a man who gave America the full measure of his good and mighty heart. There can be no doubt that he lived absolutely to the fullest. He died doing the work he was born to do. He was truly a great politician, serving the country he loved to serve so deeply, a friend that none of us will ever forget. There was truly nobody like Lindsey Graham.

[Georgia Howe]

Graham's memorial service will be continued in South Carolina on Wednesday. A procession and public funeral will be held before a private burial service for the late senator.

[John Bickley]

President Trump met separately with Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Zelensky today. Daily Wire contributor Tim Pierce has more.

[Tim Pierce]

Trump met with both leaders at the White House on Tuesday to talk about the ongoing wars in Europe and the Middle East. Zelensky was first. According to the New York Times, the two presidents spoke about a potential reboot of peace talks with Russia. Zelensky also took the opportunity to push for more U.S. support for Ukraine, especially air defense, as his relationship with the White House has thawed recently. After the Ukrainian left Prime Minister Netanyahu entered the White House to discuss Iran, the Israeli side was quick to release images of the conversation that showed both leaders getting along warmly. And Netanyahu's office distributed a statement that described the meeting as excellent and comprehensive. The statement also noted that the two leaders, quote, reaffirmed their ironclad commitment to ensuring that Iran never has nuclear weapons. On the US Side, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt described both meetings as positive and productive.

[Georgia Howe]

Newly released tapes from former President Joe Biden and his ghostwriter reveal that Biden was aware that many records he kept in his basement were classified. Daily Wire associate producer Wyatt Harms has the story.

[Wyatt Harms]

Biden worked on his memoir Promise Me dad with ghostwriter mark Zwanitzer in 2016 and 2017. Throughout the recorded conversations, Biden references information from the DoD classified material and content he believes to be unmarked, classified material.

[President Trump]

Some of this may be classified, so be careful, okay? I'm not sure there's not more classified. I just found all the classified stuff downstairs.

[Wyatt Harms]

The tapes also underscore his mental decline as he repeatedly appears confused and forgetful.

[President Trump]

I, I, I had the team that said, including the two guys who I think were with me were. Oh God. The guy at Princeton now chief economic advisor. Not Kaufman. Think of his name. And the guy back out at the University of Chicago with a funny name. I'll think of it.

[John Bickley]

Goolsby is one.

[President Trump]

Yeah, Goolsby is in Chicago. And the other guys at Princeton. Yeah, we should break the name down. So I'll keep for.

[Wyatt Harms]

In a statement, a Biden spokesman said the released tapes are part of decade old private conversations and that the release is just the latest example of this administration weaponizing the DOJ for political retribution.

[John Bickley]

An earthquake in southern Japan has forced hundreds of thousands to evacuate. The 7.1 magnitude quake struck around 50 miles from Nagasaki. Officials have called for the evacuation of around 300,000 residents after dozens of collapsed buildings. While still too early for any definitive counts, hundreds are believed to be injured and around 30 people remain unaccounted for in a collapsed shopping mall.

[Georgia Howe]

A wildfire in southern France has forced hundreds of thousands to evacuate and left others trapped, including a Tennessee mother and her children. The fire is the most devastating in years with more than five times the evacuations as the last major French wildfire. Dozens of firefighters have been injured and at least 200 homes have been destroyed as the fire rapidly spread through the night. Rebecca Papen of Franklin, Tennessee and her two children awoke to find themselves trapped in their vacation home. Police informed her that all roads out of the area had been overtaken by the fire and she would have to stay put. The fires continue to spread as crews work around the clock.

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[John Bickley]

Influential children's show star Ms. Rachel donated thousands to fund debt Democratic Socialists Daily Wire reporter Zach Jewell has more.

[Zach Jewell]

Rachel Griffin accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, hosts a YouTube channel with more than 20 million subscribers and is one of the most popular makers of kids content online. Accurso has faced backlash before for making videos promoting LGBT themes and radical gender ideology. Now, through public disclosures, it has been revealed that Accurso has donated thousands to the campaigns of Democratic socialists, and Accurso's political bent has become more front and center in her content that was once viewed as nonpartisan, even recently hosting a Miss Rachel Sing along to protest against immigration enforcement.

[Georgia Howe]

A Los Angeles pastor with more than a half a million Instagram followers is facing renewed accusations that her ministry operates like a cult. Daily Wire Culture reporter Megan Basham has more.

[Megan Basham]

Videos from a Houston book signing last week show followers of self described apostle Catherine Cricket falling to the floor, trembling and convulsing as she prayed over them. Several Christian leaders have called the 35 year old a quote unquote cult leader who promotes false teachings, and another pastor accused her of accepting a level of admiration that should be reserved for Christ alone. Crick says the pushback stems from jealousy and misunderstanding, and many of her supporters insist her miraculous healings are genuine.

[John Bickley]

New York City Mayor Zoran Mandani is facing a growing wave of backlash over his plans to fund five city run grocery stores. The $70 million proposal promises a 30% discount on items like meat, produce and milk. But business leaders argue some of the math isn't adding up, pointing out that most grocers in the city already operate on margins of 1 to 3%, leaving taxpayers to cover the difference and likely driving many neighborhood bodegas out of business. One venture capitalist warned that his plan is literally how you destroy an economy. And critics have pointed to government run stores in Kansas City that lost taxpayers nearly $900,000 while leaving shelves bare.

[Georgia Howe]

A Montana nurse survived a severe hiking accident after a trekking pole pierced through the side of his abdomen during a climb near Granite Peak. What's wild? He refused an airlift reporter. Drew Berkmeyer has more.

[Drew Berkmeyer]

David Cifaldi, the man in question, made the wild choice to walk more than 10 miles back to the trailhead instead of calling for what he called an expensive helicopter rescue. He assessed his injury, realizing no major organs had been skewered, and secured the pole to prevent further damage, then hiked for more than six hours from Granite Peak. He received help from two friends who monitored him for bleeding along the way, while one ran ahead to warn families of the harrowing sight soon to pass them. Doctors later removed the pole at a hospital and Cifaldi is now recovering, though he may need additional surgery. He was reportedly in high spirits the entire way and spoke of his plans to return and complete the climb next year.

[John Bickley]

I mean, that's bad, but I told you about that splinter that I got. That was super.

[Georgia Howe]

And you had to be airlifted.

[John Bickley]

I did get the airlift. I was like, you know what, guys? Screw it. And schools are adding pepper spraying drones to help combat active shooters. This year, schools across at least three states will receive drones to be deployed against active shooters. The drones, which are equipped with pepper spray and capable of smashing through windows, will be released if a teacher reports a threat and can be at their target in under 15 seconds. The robots have been aptly named Campus Guardian Angels and are made by company Mithril Defense. Morning Wire spoke to CEO Justin Marston earlier this year about the venture.

[Justin Marston]

Statistically, across the US there's around 200 to 300 school shootings each year. And then the problem is they're over so fast in two minutes they're typically done. So there's no time for police to get there from somewhere else. So really you're limited to like whatever you've got on site, that's what it's gonna be. And that's why, obviously, we don't only rely on firemen, fire crews, we rely on sprinkler systems to keep our kids safe in schools. Because if there's a fire, the sprinkler system can put water on that fire immediately. And so we would say, look, we're a lot like that, but we're really designed to go after a school shooter and get them pacified before they have chance to murder lots of children.

[Georgia Howe]

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 Fauci's leaked diary fallout, Mayor Mamdani's government run grocery store announcements, and troubling details coming to light about an anti ice hunger strike leader. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of MORNING Wire.