Evening Wire: Vance Rebukes Anti-ICE Rhetoric & Coldplay Couple Resurfaces | 9.25.25

Summary

Podcast Summary: Evening Wire – September 25, 2025

Episode: Vance Rebukes Anti-ICE Rhetoric & Coldplay Couple Resurfaces
Host: John Bickley, with Georgia Howe (The Daily Wire)
Air Date: September 25, 2025

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Overview

In this episode of Evening Wire, John Bickley and Georgia Howe deliver concise updates on the day’s major headlines. The central theme explores escalating tensions over immigration enforcement rhetoric, with Vice President J.D. Vance sharply rebutting Democrats’ criticisms of ICE. The episode also reviews serious violence against immigration officers, breaking legal and political headlines, economic news, and cultural stories—including an update on the so-called “Coldplay couple” controversy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Vice President J.D. Vance Rebukes Anti-ICE Rhetoric

• Escalating Tensions:
  Vice President J.D. Vance strongly criticizes Democrats and media outlets for dangerous rhetoric surrounding ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), naming California Governor Gavin Newsom as an example ([00:19]).

• Risks to Officers:
  Vance connects inflammatory public statements to increased violence against law enforcement:

  “When the left wing media lies about what they're doing, when they lie about who they're arresting...what they're doing is encouraging crazy people to go and commit violence.”
  — J.D. Vance [00:31]

• Citing Newsom:
  Vance references Newsom’s recent appearance on Stephen Colbert, where ICE was depicted as a “lawless group” terrorizing minorities ([00:51]).

  • Noted quote from Newsom (via Vance):

    “Masked men jumping out of unmarked cars, people disappearing, no due process, no oversight, zero accountability happening in United States of America today.”
    — J.D. Vance quoting Gavin Newsom [01:01]

2. Spike in Violence Against ICE Agents

• Incident Overview:
  Reports of a fatal anti-ICE shooting in Dallas and a dramatic rise in assaults against officers ([01:20]).

• ICE Acting Director Comments:
  ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons highlights the severity:

  “We’re up over 1000% assaults on officers right now. … We had that shooting at the Alvarado facility, which is right on July 4, where they ambushed officers in military tactical gear under the guise of fireworks. And now we have this and it just seems like it keeps getting worse and worse and it has to stop.”
  — Todd Lyons [01:33]

• Texas Governor’s Reaction:
  Governor Greg Abbott deems the Dallas shooting an “attempted assassination” and insists the country faces a “serious problem” with violence towards law enforcement ([02:11]):

  “This is not the first time this has happened in the state of Texas, not the first time it's happened across the United States. … This violence against our ICE agents … is being incited and it needs to stop right now.”
  — Greg Abbott [02:20]

3. Threat at Charlie Kirk Vigil

• Threat & Arrest:
  A 19-year-old Texan is charged after threatening to disrupt a vigil for Charlie Kirk at the University of Texas at San Antonio ([02:44]).
  • The suspect posted:

    “This is a disgrace and I can tell you right now I’m gonna make sure this won’t be a good nor comforting vigil. Y'all watch and see. … I just wouldn’t advise trying to stop a Ford 250 diesel truck.”
    — Tim Pierce reading the affidavit [02:51]

4. James Comey Expected to Face Charges

• Legal News:
  Former FBI Director James Comey is reportedly facing imminent federal charges, possibly for lying to Congress about authorizing a leak ([03:31]).
  • MSNBC’s Ken Delignon:

    “[S]ources believe that at least one element of the indictment will accuse him of lying to Congress during his testimony on September 30, 2020 about whether he authorized a leak of information.”
    — Georgia Howe reading Delignon’s reporting [03:58]

5. Trump and Erdogan Discuss Fighter Jet Deals

• Evolving US-Turkey Relations:
  President Trump hosts Turkish President Erdogan at the White House, revisiting major military hardware deals, including possible advancement of F16 and F35 sales to Turkey ([03:58]).

6. Economic Growth Surpasses Forecasts

• Q2 GDP Revision:
  New economic data show the U.S. GDP grew by 3.8% in Q2 2025, up from previous projections of 3% ([04:34]).
  • Analyst notes:

    “The increase in real GDP in the second quarter primarily reflected a decrease in imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, and an increase in consumer spending.”
    — Amanda Presa Giacomo [04:45]

7. Mass Gathering of U.S. Military Leadership

• Unusual Meeting Called:
  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered 800 top U.S. generals and admirals to meet in Virginia, part of ongoing efforts to refocus the military on core warfighting and away from social engineering programs ([05:25]).

8. Heightened Russian Military Activity

• Airspace Incursions:
  Four Russian warplanes (bombers and fighters) entered the Alaska Air Identification Zone; such provocations are described as “regular” by NORAD ([05:54]).

9. Trump Administration and Elon Musk Collaborate on AI

• Government AI Upgrade:
  The General Services Administration signs a deal with Elon Musk’s XAI, granting federal agencies access to Grok 4 and Grok 4 Fast, streamlining workflows until at least March 2027 ([06:17]):
  • Musk claims the partnership “will help drive innovation in the government” ([06:27]).

10. Delta Airlines to Overhaul Airbus 320 Jets

• Fleet Safety Update:
  Delta will replace engine units on its Airbus 320s over reports of engine fumes causing nausea and mild brain injuries, in an effort to boost safety and public confidence ([06:55]).

11. Starbucks Announces Store Closures and Layoffs

• Corporate Downsizing:
  Starbucks will close ~200 stores (1%) and lay off 900 more employees as part of a restructuring plan to upgrade locations and reduce wait times ([07:28]).

12. Tropical Storm Umberto Poised to Become Major Hurricane

• Weather Alert:
  Storms in the Atlantic are rapidly intensifying and are poised to potentially hit the Carolinas and Virginia as a Category 3 hurricane early next week ([07:59]).

13. Coldplay Concert Couple Controversy Clarified

• Affair Rumors Refuted:
  The much-discussed “Coldplay concert couple” were not actually having an affair, according to sources close to Kristian Cabot. Although her and CEO Andy Byron’s conduct was deemed “inappropriate,” sources insist professional boundaries weren’t breached ([08:26]).
  • Employer quote:

    “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability. And recently, that standard was not met.”
    — Reagan Conrad quoting Astronomer company statement [08:36]

  • Byron has not commented publicly.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• J.D. Vance on Democratic rhetoric endangering officers:

  “What they're doing is encouraging crazy people to go and commit violence.” [00:31]

• ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons on attack spike:

  “We’re up over 1000% assaults on officers … it just seems like it keeps getting worse and worse and it has to stop.” [01:33]

• Greg Abbott on Dallas shooting:

  “I view it as an attempted assassination on our ICE officers.” [02:20]

• Suspect’s social media threat:

  “I just wouldn’t advise trying to stop a Ford 250 diesel truck.” [02:51]

• Amanda Presa Giacomo on economic data:

  “The economy performed better in the second quarter of 2025 than previously projected … primarily due to a rise in consumer spending.” [04:45]

• Astronomer’s official statement post-Coldplay concert:

  “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability. And recently, that standard was not met.” [08:36]

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Timeline of Important Segments

• 00:19 – Vance rebukes anti-ICE rhetoric
• 01:20 – Surge in violence against ICE, comments from Director Lyons
• 02:11 – Reaction from Governor Abbott
• 02:44 – Threat against Charlie Kirk vigil
• 03:31 – James Comey indictment news
• 03:58 – Trump/Erdogan and fighter jet sales
• 04:34 – Economic growth data revised
• 05:25 – U.S. military commanders’ meeting
• 05:54 – Russian airspace provocation
• 06:17 – Trump administration and Elon Musk’s AI partnership
• 06:55 – Delta airlines fleet overhaul
• 07:28 – Starbucks closures and layoffs
• 07:59 – Hurricane forecast
• 08:26 – Coldplay concert couple update

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Tone and Language

The hosts maintain a news-driven, factual tone, occasionally featuring direct, charged statements from policymakers and public figures. The language focuses on clarity, brevity, and the relaying of official viewpoints and data, complemented by pointed quotes to convey the emotional gravity and stakes in topics like law enforcement risks and public scandals.

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In Summary

This Evening Wire episode is dense with impactful headlines, spotlighting growing dangers to law enforcement linked to public rhetoric, new alliances shaping government tech, economic optimism, and cultural controversies. For listeners wanting essential political, legal, economic, and culture news—all punctuated by memorable quotes—this episode delivers a succinct yet comprehensive update on the day’s most urgent stories.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

JD Vance blasts Democrats for their anti ICE rhetoric. The Trump administration and Elon Musk team up once again and the Coldplay concert couple is back in the news. I'm Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Thursday, September 25th, and this is Evening Wire.

[Georgia Howe]

Vice President J.D. vance is calling out Democrats and left wing media for ramping up the risk on immigration officials through their anti ICE rhetoric. Among those cranking up the temperature, said the VP, is California Governor Gavin Newsom.

[J.D. Vance]

Here's what happens when Democrats like Gavin Newsom did say that these people are part of an authoritarian government. When the left wing media lies about what they're doing, when they lie about who they're arresting, when they lie about the actual job of law enforcement, what they're doing is encouraging crazy people to go and commit violence.

[Georgia Howe]

Vance was referring to recent comments from Newsom on Stephen Colbert's left wing late night show portraying ICE as a lawless group terrorizing and rounding up minorities.

[J.D. Vance]

That's happening in the United States of America. Masked men jumping out of unmarked cars, people disappearing, no due process, no oversight, zero accountability happening in United States of America today. People ask, well, is authoritarianism? You're being hyperbolic. We're being hyperbolic. If you're a black and brown community, it's here.

[John Bickley]

ICE officials revealed after the fatal anti ICE shooting that attacks on officers are up more than 1,000%. Here's ICE acting Director Todd Lyons talking to CNN after the shooting at the Dallas immigration facility Wednesday.

[Todd Lyons]

I've never seen anything like this in my law enforcement career. I've never seen threats on law enforcement, specifically ICE increased the way it is. You know, we're up over 1000% assaults on officers right now. And really just a lot of the, the talk that's out there, a lot of the rhetoric is just the violence directed towards law enforcement officers just trying to do their job. And we just keep, just keeping seeing an increase step by step. You know, we, we, like I said, we had that shooting at the Alvarado facility, which is right on July 4, where they ambushed officers in military tactical gear under the guise of fireworks. And now we have this and it just seems like it keeps getting worse and worse and it has to stop.

[Georgia Howe]

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has also sounded the alarm saying the Dallas ICE facility shooting was clearly an attempted assassination of ICE officers. Here's the governor on FOX News.

[Greg Abbott]

Well, obviously it's a tragedy. It's horrific. I view it as an attempted assassination on our ICE officers. And as you know, this is not the first time this has happened in the state of Texas, not the first time it's happened across the United States. And so we have a serious problem across this country where this violence against our ICE agents, our law enforcement agents, is being incited and it needs to stop right now.

[John Bickley]

A Texas man has been charged after making a threat related to a Charlie Kirk vigil. Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce has more.

[Tim Pierce]

The 19 year old suspect suggested in a social media post that he planned to use his truck to disrupt a vigil for Kirk at the University of Texas at San Antonio, as reported by ABC 7. An arrest affidavit accuses a suspect of commenting on a Facebook message feed for the San Antonio Young Republicans. Ahead of the vigil. He wrote, quote, this is a disgrace and I can tell you right now I'm gonna make sure this won't be a good nor comforting vigil. Y' all watch and see. He added, you'll see tomorrow. I just wouldn't advise trying to stop a Ford 250 diesel truck. Police conducted a welfare check during which the suspect reportedly confessed to posting the threat. He was arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat and is being held on a $40,000 bond.

[John Bickley]

Former FBI Director James Comey is expected to be indicted on criminal charges in federal court in Virginia and very soon. That's according to msnbc, whose reporter Ken Delanyon wrote Wednesday, quote, the full extent of the charges being prepared against Comey is unclear, but the sources believe that at least one element of the indictment will accuse him of lying to Congress during his testimony on September 30, 2020 about whether he authorized a leak of information.

[Georgia Howe]

President Trump is holding talks in the White House today with Turkish President Erdogan. The talks come as Trump has signaled that he may soon lift a ban on the sale of advanced fighter jets to Turkey. During his first term in 2019, Trump removed Turkey from the F35 Joint Strike Fighter program. US officials were concerned that after Turkey bought a Russian made air defense system, the Russian tech could be used to gather data on American fighter jets. But last week, Trump posted on Truth Social that the White House and Turkey are working on many trade and military deals, which include a major F16 deal and a continuation of the F35 talks.

[John Bickley]

New revisions of second quarter economy data far outpaced economic forecasts as shoppers went on a spending spree. Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presa Giacomo has the numbers revised.

[Amanda Presa Giacomo]

Stats released on Thursday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis show that the economy performed better in the second quarter of 2025 than previously projected. The second quarter of April, May and June saw a 3.8% increase in gross domestic product. Previous estimates came in at 3%. The bureau attributes the increase in GDP primarily to a rise in consumer spending. The bureau said the increase in real GDP in the second quarter primarily reflected a decrease in imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of gdp, and an increase in consumer spending. These movements were partly offset by decreases in investment and exports.

[Georgia Howe]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered hundreds of top military commanders to gather in Virginia next week. About 800 generals and admirals spread across the globe are expected to gather in Quantico, Virginia, to hear from the defense secretary. In his directive, Hegseth did not mention a reason for the gathering of top military brass on short notice. The meeting comes as Hegseth has sought to reform the US Military and remove DEI and other social engineering ideas that that the secretary says has distracted the military from war fighting.

[John Bickley]

Russian aircraft flirted with American airspace in Alaska this morning. Two strategic bombers and two fighter jets entered the Alaska Air Identification Zone. In a statement, NORAD officials noted that similar Russian activity quote, occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat. This comes amid heightened tensions in the skies as Russian craft have crossed into NATO airspace three times this month.

[Georgia Howe]

The Trump administration and Elon Musk are teaming up once again, this time to give the US an edge in the AI industry. Daily Wire senior editor Joel Niedler has the details.

[J.D. Vance]

The federal agency that manages the government's real estate holdings, procurement and technology services, is partnering with Elon Musk's XAI in order to streamline federal workflow, according to Fox News. The General Services Administration announced on Thursday morning that federal agencies will now have access to Grok 4 and Grok 4 fast and as part of an agreement with Xai. Musk says the deal, which runs through March of 2027, will help drive innovation in the government.

[John Bickley]

In response to concerns over its cabin air quality, Delta is replacing engine units on its entire fleet of Airbus 320 jets. In recent years, crew members and passengers have reported increased incidents of nausea and even mild brain injuries, which the airline attributes to engine fumes leaking into the cabin. This decision could be part of a broader push toward transparency by the airline industry. Although the National Transportation Safety Board still reports that air travel is safer now than ever. High profile incidents of mechanical failures and close call incidents have eroded public trust.

[Georgia Howe]

Starbucks will be shuttering more stores and slashing 900 more jobs in the US and Canada. The downsizing is part of the coffee giant's turnaround plan begun earlier this year. The company says it will shrink the number of stores by 1%, which amounts to around 200 stores. Execs say after that, they'll begin to renovate and eventually add more locations. The first wave of layoffs came in February, when the chain laid off 1100 employees as part of an effort to redirect money to upgrading stores and adding more baristas to speed up wait times.

[John Bickley]

Forecasters are projecting that Tropical Storm Umberto in the Atlantic will grow into a major hurricane that could wreak havoc on the east coast by early next week. The storm developed overnight, quickly growing from a tropical depression to a named storm and with sustained winds of 45 mph. The National Hurricane center predicts the storm will expand to a Category 3 hurricane by early Monday and then could threaten states like South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia by Tuesday.

[Georgia Howe]

And according to a new report, the infamous Coldplay concert couple were not really having an affair. Daily Wire host Reagan Conrad has the story.

[Reagan Conrad]

So a source close to Kristin Cabot, the female HR manager at Astronomer, claimed in a recent interview with People magazine, there's nothing to see here. The source claims that Cabot and CEO Andy Byron had an excellent working relationship, a great friendship, but, quote, there was no affair. Cabot filed for divorce from her husband on August 13, but the couple had reportedly been amicably separated prior to the viral event. Now, the source acknowledged that the behavior was inappropriate, but stressed that the job loss and the public humiliation that followed were unfair. Her employer, though Astronomer, disagreed. Soon after the event, the company fired the pair, saying, quote, our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability. And recently, that standard was not met. Andy Byron, the former Astronomer CEO caught in the scandal, has not yet commented.

[Greg Abbott]

Right.

[John Bickley]

Those are your Drive Home updates today. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com and in case you missed it, this morning we covered some major stories, including the anti ice attack in Dallas, a Covid era housing bailout prompting racial discrimination lawsuits, and Democrats digging in despite a looming government shutdown. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of Morning Wire.