Podcast Summary: Morning Wire – Evening Wire: Ukraine Talks Begin Again & YouTuber Challenges Disney | 02.05.26

Hosts: John Bickley, Georgia Howe
Producer: The Daily Wire
Air Date: February 5, 2026

Overview

This episode of Evening Wire covers a range of breaking political, cultural, and legal stories, focusing particularly on the renewed Ukraine-Russia peace talks, a high-profile kidnapping investigation, major shifts in U.S. federal employment policy, cultural shakeups in the entertainment industry, and notable legal and political developments in the United States. The tone is crisp, fact-oriented, and subtly conservative, with a focus on giving counter-narratives to mainstream coverage.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Resume

• [06:42] Andy Valdez: A second round of peace talks took place in the UAE between Russia and Ukraine, with U.S. negotiators present.
  • Negotiators spent five and a half hours behind closed doors.
  • Main issues: Russia rejects NATO troops in Ukraine; Ukraine refuses to cede territory.
  • Recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure have left at least six dead.
  • Outcome: "Whether either side will budge remains to be seen."

2. Ongoing Search for Nancy Guthrie

• [00:19 – 01:28] Lyndon Blake: Updates on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, missing for five days from her Tucson home.
  • Timeline breakdown:
    • Returned home: 9:48pm Saturday.
    • Doorbell camera disconnected: 1:47am.
    • Person detected on camera: 2:12am.
    • Pacemaker disconnected: 2:28am Sunday.
  • Family received a ransom note with threats and specific tech mentions (Apple Watch, floodlight).
  • Family demanded proof of life; no further contact so far.
  • Lyndon plugs “Finding Nancy Guthrie,” a new investigative podcast for in-depth updates.

3. Arrest of Antifa Leader in Minneapolis

• [01:28 – 02:30] Jenny Terr:
  • Federal authorities arrested Kyle Wagner (self-identified cross-dressing antifa leader) after threats and calls to violence against ICE officers.
  • Social media banned Wagner; Venmo accounts used for “Emergency Freedom and Defense Fund” deactivated.
  • Notable Quote:

    "[He] told his followers to take up arms and attack law enforcement saying, 'Show up ready to go. Not talking about peaceful protests any.'" – Jenny Terr ([01:36])

4. Expansion of Presidential Authority over Federal Bureaucrats

• [02:30] Andy Valdez:
  • Trump administration expanded the president’s authority to fire up to 50,000 career federal employees whose work directly impacts presidential agenda.
  • Shifts longstanding bureaucratic protections.

5. Expiry of US-Russia Nuclear Weapons Cap Treaty

• [03:01] John Bickley:
  • Formal expiration of bilateral missile treaty; no longer a limit on deployed nuclear arms.
  • Trump hints at renegotiation, stipulating new terms and desire to restart nuclear testing.
  • Russia suspended participation in 2023 amidst the Ukraine conflict.

6. RFK Jr. and Tennessee’s Health Crisis

• [03:35 – 04:59] Andy Valdez, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.:
  • RFK Jr. met with TN officials, urging rural health investment, food transparency, and addressing autism rates.
  • HHS updated food guidelines, now advising more whole foods, healthy fats, and reduced ultra-processed foods.
  • Notable Quote:

    "Our job is not to tell Americans what to eat, it's to tell them what's good for them and give them good information. ...But we're going to tell you what the cost is. It seems cheap at the grocery store. The long-term cost may not be worth it." – Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ([04:33])

7. US Moves to Counter China’s Mineral Dominance

• [04:59 – 05:56] John Bickley, J.D. Vance:
  • Trump administration is forming a new critical minerals trade bloc (Project Vault), with price floors to stabilize the market and reduce China’s control.
  • Notable Quote:

    “A concrete mechanism to return the global critical minerals market to a healthier, more competitive state.” – J.D. Vance ([05:25])

8. Federal Investigation into Nike’s DEI Practices

• [07:12 – 08:24] Zach Jewell:
  • EEOC is investigating claims that Nike discriminated against white employees as part of its DEI initiatives, focusing on layoffs and hiring practices.
  • Nike has resisted subpoenas for documentation and called the legal escalation “surprising and unusual.”
  • EEOC committed to full investigation, per Andrea Lucas.

9. NYT Rejects ICE Ad Highlighting Criminal Arrests

• [08:24] Andy Valdez:
  • The New York Times denied a full-page ad purchase that would have showcased mug shots of suspects arrested in Minnesota, sparking criticism about the paper's support for "sanctuary cities."

10. YouTube Star Markiplier Tops Weekend Box Office with "Iron Lung"

• [08:58 – 09:56] Amanda Harding:
  • Mark Fischbach, aka Markiplier, grossed nearly $18 million with his horror film Iron Lung, outperforming major studio releases in per-theater average.
  • Hollywood media downplayed his success, emphasizing resistance to digital-native creators.
  • Notable Quote:

    “There's still a stigma against YouTube. One of the reasons why I really wanted this to work is to help move that mountain.” – Mark Fischbach ([09:09], via Amanda Harding)

  • Entire project created, written, and directed by Fischbach for just $3 million.

11. FTC Hires Attorney Fired by NY A.G. for Opposing Trans Procedures for Children

• [09:56 – 10:46] Andy Valdez:
  • Glenna Goldis, a self-described “lefty lesbian lawyer,” will spearhead reviews of “gender-affirming care.”
  • Fired by NY Attorney General Letitia James for her critical stance on transgender procedures for minors.

12. Daily Wire Secures White House Briefing Room Seat

• [10:46] John Bickley:
  • The Daily Wire now holds a coveted, permanent seat in the White House Briefing Room after Mary Margaret Olihan’s appointment as correspondent.
  • Marks Daily Wire’s growing influence in D.C. political reporting.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kyle Wagner’s Threats:
  “Show up ready to go. Not talking about peaceful protests any.” — Jenny Terr on Wagner’s rallying cry ([01:36])

• RFK Jr. on Health Policy:
  “It seems cheap at the grocery store. The long-term cost may not be worth it.” — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ([04:33])

• J.D. Vance on Critical Minerals:
  “Preferential trade zone for critical minerals protected from external disruptions through enforceable price floors.” — J.D. Vance ([05:25])

• Markiplier on Digital Creative Stigma:
  “There's still a stigma against YouTube. ... I really wanted this to work to help move that mountain.” — Mark Fischbach ([09:09])

Important Timestamps

• [00:19] Guthrie kidnapping timeline
• [01:36] Arrest of Antifa leader in Minneapolis
• [02:30] Presidential authority over federal employees expanded
• [03:01] US-Russia nuclear cap treaty expires
• [04:33] RFK Jr. remarks on food policy
• [05:25] J.D. Vance on critical minerals initiative
• [06:42] Ukraine-Russia peace talks overview
• [07:20] EEOC investigates Nike
• [08:24] NYT denies ICE ad
• [08:58] Markiplier box office breakthrough
• [09:56] FTC hires Glenna Goldis
• [10:46] Daily Wire gets White House press seat

Conclusion

This edition covers a breadth of timely, newsworthy events with original reporting and pointed commentary. Highlights include the high-stakes Ukraine peace talks, expansion of Trump administration federal authority, cultural disruption by YouTubers in Hollywood, scrutiny of corporate DEI policies, and The Daily Wire’s advance into establishment media territory. The episode is brisk, informative, and aimed squarely at listeners hungry for non-mainstream perspectives on national and global events.