Trump's Call-To-Arms & California Bleeds Billionaires | 3.17.26

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary

Episode: Hormuz Help Wanted & California Leavin’? | 3.17.26

Date: March 17, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe

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Episode Overview

This episode explores three major topics:

• The ongoing war in Iran and the global response to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz
• The continued exodus of residents and businesses from California, including high-profile billionaires
• The rise of dangerous, unregulated "homebrew" hormone cocktails entering the U.S. market in the wake of stricter regulations on medical gender transitions

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1. Continued War in Iran & The Strait of Hormuz Crisis

Segment Start: [02:30]

• Situation Update:

  • U.S. continues its military operation in Iran. Over 6,000 combat missions flown and 100+ Iranian naval vessels destroyed.
  • The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively blocked, severely impacting global trade and oil shipments.

• Legacy Media Criticism:

  • Reports allege the White House was unprepared for the strait’s closure. Trump and his administration deny this, claiming preparations were made from "day one."
  • Quote — President Trump ([03:30]):

    "I knew about the strait, that it would be a weapon, which I predicted a long time ago, predicted all of this stuff."

• International Call for Assistance:

  • Trump appeals to U.S. allies to help reopen the strait.
  • Most countries (Germany, Australia, Japan) decline, France and UK say they’re "exploring options."
  • Trump maintains support is “on the way” but is vague about who is offering aid.
  • Notable Quote — President Trump ([04:14]):

    "We have some that are really enthusiastic. They're coming already. They've already started to get there... They should be jumping to help us because we've helped them for years."

  • Trump expresses frustration with lack of allied support and frames the request as a test of loyalty:
    • Quote ([04:36]):

      "Why are we protecting countries that don't protect us? And I've always felt that was a weakness of NATO."

    • Quote ([04:47]):

      "I'm almost doing it in some cases, not because we need them, but because I want to find out how they react."

• Diplomacy or Impasse?

  • The U.S. stands firm on "unconditional surrender" as the only negotiating point.
  • Iranian back-channel efforts to open dialogue are reported, but uncertainty about regime leadership (due to many leaders killed in strikes) complicates things.
  • Trump on Iranian Regime Disarray ([05:30]):

    "We don't know who their leader is. We have people wanting to negotiate. We have no idea who they are."

• Unexpected Revelation:

  • Media reports suggest Mostaba Khamenei, son of late Ayatollah, may be homosexual, which, if confirmed, poses personal risk under Iran’s laws and could be U.S. leverage.
  • Intelligence official claims the allegation is credible, from highly protected sources.
  • Host’s Reaction ([06:32]):

    "Well, an unexpected wrinkle in this story. Cabot, thanks for reporting."

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2. The Great California Exodus

Segment Start: [07:11]

• Demographic & Economic Trends:

  • California lost about 200,000 residents last year; rates of out-migration remain high despite a slight slowdown.
  • Factors include Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, but the primary driver is cost of living, not immigration shifts.
  • Major companies (Tesla, Oracle, HP, Chevron) have relocated headquarters or operations out of state.
  • In-N-Out Burger opens second headquarters in Tennessee citing state mismanagement.

• Why Californians Are Leaving:

  • Housing costs nearly 60% above national average.
  • Everyday expenses—gas, groceries, and utilities—are far higher than the U.S. average.
  • Congressman Kevin Kiely ([09:36]):

    "The state is importing gasoline from the Bahamas... We have the highest electricity prices. It is just way too hard for folks to get by in California."

• Impact of Proposed Wealth Tax:

  • Push for a 5% state tax on assets over $1 billion is fueling a billionaire and tech leader exodus (Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Peter Thiel, Mark Zuckerberg, Travis Kalanick).
  • Kalanick’s implied reason for leaving ([10:35]):

    "I moved to Texas. You know, I don't know what's so specific about December 18th, but let's just say it's prior to January."

• Cultural Decline:

  • California’s cultural dominance fading; Oscars viewership now half what it once was, expected to fall further as it moves to YouTube.
  • Hollywood perceived as indifferent or hostile to conservatives.
  • Oscar Night Joke ([11:33]):

    "We're coming to you live from the has a small penis theater." (Conan O’Brien on Trump)

  • Host’s summary:

    "Another year, another bright neon reminder from Hollywood that they don't care if Republicans consume their content. And Republicans seem to have similar feelings." ([11:40])

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3. The Rise of "Homebrew" Hormone Cocktails

Segment Start: [13:05]

• What’s Happening:

  • Online retailers (domestic/international) shipping unregulated, homemade hormone cocktail “homebrews” into the U.S.
  • This surge comes as access to medical gender transition drugs tightens under new laws.

• Safety & Legality Concerns:

  • Hard to track purchases—often paid for with cryptocurrency.
  • Lax or fake age verification systems mean minors may obtain drugs.
  • Dr. Jared Ross (Do No Harm) compares these compounds to "basement cooked meth."
  • Dr. Ross ([14:44]):

    "This is potentially some of the most dangerous because these are really industrial animal research compounds that are not intended for human use and are being used by humans."

• How Drugs Move:

  • Three methods:
    • Drug Diversion: Legitimate prescriptions resold to others
    • Gray Market: Imported without necessary prescriptions
    • Black Market/Homebrew: Synthesized and sold domestically outside medical oversight

• Health Risks:

  • Cross-sex hormone use (particularly estrogen for biological males) comes with high risks—cancers, stroke, and blood-related injuries.
  • The scale and scope of the problem remain unknown due to its underground nature.

• Key Takeaway:

  "These activists are determined and these entrepreneurs want to keep this medicine racket going." – John Bickley ([15:58])

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Key Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on alliances ([04:36]):

  "Why are we protecting countries that don't protect us? And I've always felt that was a weakness of NATO."

• Dr. Jared Ross on homebrew hormones ([14:44]):

  "These are really industrial animal research compounds that are not intended for human use and are being used by humans."

• Megan Basham on California’s cultural decline ([11:40]):

  "Another year, another bright neon reminder from Hollywood that they don't care if Republicans consume their content."

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Important Timestamps

• [02:30] Iran War & the Strait of Hormuz
• [07:11] California Exit Trends
• [13:05] Homebrew Hormone Cocktails Exposed

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Tone & Style

The tone remains fact-driven but pointed, with critical commentary and a sense of urgency—particularly on issues of national security, state governance, culture, and the medical dangers posed by unregulated hormone sales.

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Transcript

[Ryan Reynolds]

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[John Bickley]

of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail]. As the war in Iran grinds on, the fight shifts from the skies to the seas.

[President Trump]

We strongly encourage other nations whose economies depend on the Strait far more than ours to come and help us with the strait.

[John Bickley]

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Executive editor John Bickley. It's Tuesday, March 17th. Happy St. Patrick's Day. And this is Morning Wire.

A growing number of Californians plan their Golden State exit, including even more billionaires.

[Daily Wire Host]

There's a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here.

[John Bickley]

And experts sound the alarm over groups around the world mailing home brewed hormone cocktails into the U.S. thanks for waking

up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.

[Daily Wire Host]

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[John Bickley]

As the war in Iran continues, President Trump is calling on allies and adversaries alike to help the US Reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

Wired in live host Cabot Phillips is here to break down Trump's call to arms and how the world is responding. So, Cabot, President Trump addressed a variety of things in his press conference this week. What did we learn?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Well, first, at the start of the day, CENTCOM offered a new update on the war effort, announcing that US forces have now flown more than 6,000 combat missions, destroying more than 100 Iranian naval vessels and further degrading the regime's missile stores and manufacturing capabilities. So there's no question that from a military standpoint, this operation has been successful so far. But the biggest challenge remains the Strait of Hormuz, which is still effectively blocked. Numerous reports in the legacy media this week claim that the White House was supposedly caught off guard by Iran's decision to close the strait. But on Monday, the president and his team slammed those claims, saying the Pentagon was preparing for this reality from day one. Here's Trump.

[President Trump]

I knew about the strait, that it would be a weapon, which I predicted a long time ago, predicted all of this stuff.

[John Bickley]

Now, as you reported yesterday, President Trump also called on some of our allies to assist with reopening the Strait of Hormuz. How have they responded?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Well, so far, most countries have outright refused that call or been just non committal. Germany, Australia and Japan, among others, said they had no plans to send any ships to the strait, while France and the UK Said they were, quote, exploring options to help open the strait. But for his part, President Trump once again insisted that help was on the way, though he declined to say who exactly was coming. Here he is, for example, responding to a question from Daily Wire White House correspondent Mary Margaret Olahan.

[President Trump]

I have to tell you, we have some that are really enthusiastic. They're coming already. They've already started to get there. You know, it takes a little while to get there. They should be jumping to help us because we've helped them for years. Stay out of words.

[Ryan Reynolds]

But look, to be frank here, the president's messaging on this call to arms has been a bit scattered at times. Monday, he expressed anger that more allies had not volunteered to join.

[President Trump]

Why are we protecting countries that don't protect us? And I've always felt that was a weakness of Naito.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And still again, at other points, he implied that his request for aid was simply a loyalty test.

[President Trump]

I'm almost doing it in some cases, not because we need them, but because I want to find out how they react.

[John Bickley]

Now, what about diplomatic avenues? Has there been any attempt to end the war on those terms?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, the White House is adamant that the one and only offer they'll take from Iran is unconditional surrender. They say the fighting will continue until then. But there are reports that Iranian officials have been attempting to make some back channel conversations work with the White House. But one issue complicating potential negotiations is that it's unclear who exactly is in charge right now with the regime. With the success of those US Strikes, scores of military leaders and government officials have been killed, and that's created a lot of diplomatic confusion. Here's President Trump elaborating on that point yesterday.

[President Trump]

We don't know who their leader is. We have people wanting to negotiate. We have no idea who they are.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And on the topic of Iranian leadership, there was a report Monday that turned more than a few heads in Washington. It's been widely known for years now that the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hesitant to name his son Mostaba as heir apparent. As CBS put it, the elder Khamenei was concerned about, quote, issues in most of his personal life. And now we might know why. According to a New York Post report, President Trump was briefed this week by senior officials who shared intelligence reports that Mosheba may be homosexual and engaged in an affair with a male member of his family staff, reportedly a former childhood tutor. As one intelligence official put it, the allegation is credible and, quote, derived from one of the most protected sources that the government has. Now, some might question why this story really matters, but keep in mind, homosexuality is entirely illegal in Iran and the regime routinely executes those engaging in same sex activity. So if true, this revelation could provide some leverage for the White House.

[John Bickley]

Well, an unexpected wrinkle in this story. Cabot, thanks for reporting.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Absolutely.

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[John Bickley]

California has long enjoyed an image of glamour and prosperity. But in recent years, middle class Californians are joining the billionaire in fleeing the state.

Here with more on the problems in the Golden State is Daily Wire culture reporter Megan Basham. Morning, Megan. So let's start big picture. We've reported for the last few years data showing more people leaving California than moving there first. Is that still happening?

[Megan Basham]

Yeah, it is, John. It has slowed a little bit, but not much. And just to rattle off some numbers here for you, California lost roughly 200,000 residents last year alone. Now, Trump's crackdown on illegal immig has played a role in that, as we have seen some California residents deported either willingly or unwillingly. But that has caused the state's population to go down somewhat. But that's not the key driver here. What we're actually seeing is that for the first time in modern history, California has become a state that has consistently seen more people leaving than coming into the state. And so we're not talking about a temporary blip here. We're talking about the slowest population growth in California in the last 25 years. And it's not just families, John. Over the last several years, hundreds of companies have relocated their headquarters or major operations out of California. Some of the biggest names here include Tesla, Oracle, Hewlett Packard, Enterprise and Chevron. The CEO of In N Out Burgers said that part of the reason that she was not necessarily entirely moving out of the state, but opening up a second headquarters in Tennessee was because of how she feels that the state is being mismanaged.

[John Bickley]

We love hearing about in and out moving here in particular. What is driving that? Why are people deciding to pack up and leave a state that was once considered the land of opportunity?

[Megan Basham]

Yeah, I mean, the biggest factor is cost of living. So housing in California is among the most expensive in the country at nearly 60% higher than the national average. For many middle class families, that kind of math just doesn't work. Then there's everyday expenses like gas, groceries, insurance. These are also significantly higher in California than just about any other state in the union. This was something that California Congressman Kevin Kiely addressed on Newsmax just last week.

[Ben Shapiro]

The state is importing gasoline from the Bahamas, if you can believe that. There's just a new regulation that might add another dollar to it. We have the highest electricity prices. It is just way too hard for folks to get by in California.

[Megan Basham]

Now, what Congressman Kylie didn't mention there is that there's also a new proposed billionaire tax to try to help shore up some of the state's chronic budget deficits that hit between 50 and 70 billion dollars over the last couple of years. So it would place a 5% state wealth tax on assets above $1 billion. And what that has done is driven a big tech exodus. So now we have seen Google co founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin moving out. Other big names that are saying audios to California include people like Peter Thiel. And there are reports that Mark Zuckerberg is buying up property in Florida. And then this was a big one. John Uber co founder Travis Kalanick hinted that that tax is why he has

[Ryan Reynolds]

also left Cali on December 18.

[John Bickley]

I moved to Texas.

[Daily Wire Host]

Sure.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know, I don't know what's so specific about December 18th, but let's just say it's prior to January.

[John Bickley]

And it feels like the cultural influence of California just isn't what it once was either. The Oscars were on Sunday and it feels like it went by largely unnoticed.

[Megan Basham]

Yeah, that was true for a lot of people. You know, as, as recently as a decade ago, we saw Oscar audiences that were drawing around 40 million plus. Now they're at about half of that. The ceremony is likely to become even less culturally significant once it moves over to YouTube in a few years. And on Sunday night, I would say that we saw even more, that it's probably going to continue to lose audience. Once again, Hollywood indicated that they really don't care if they alienate half the audience. The part of the audience that's Republicans. This is what Conan o' Brien said about Donald Trump, one of several jokes.

[John Bickley]

We're coming to you live from the

[Ben Shapiro]

has a small penis theater.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Let's see him put his name in front of that.

[Megan Basham]

So another year, another bright neon reminder from Hollywood that they don't care if Republicans consume their content. And Republicans seem to have similar feelings.

[John Bickley]

Well, it's hard to see, you know, a once beloved institution like Hollywood really fall off and then a great state like California fail on so many levels. Megan, thank you so much for coming on.

[Megan Basham]

Yep, my pleasure.

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[John Bickley]

Online retailers from around the world are claiming to mail homemade hormone cocktails known as Homebrews into the U.S. daily Wire

investigative reporter Meg Brock is here to discuss the troubling trend that's been on the rise in since the Trump administration has cracked down on child sex changes. Meg, good morning.

[Meg Brock]

Good morning.

[John Bickley]

So tell us about this new report.

[Meg Brock]

Yeah, this is very troubling. A Daily Wire investigation found that there are groups and individuals mixing these DIY homemade hormone cocktails known as homebrews and selling them online. Domestic and international leftist activists have been connected to these hormone homebrew operations around the US and they're being purchased by trans identifying individuals, some of whom may be teens who can't access the drugs legally. Given that this is happening outside of the purview of the law, it's unclear as to exactly how widespread this problem is, but it's on the radar of medical watchdog organizations like do no Harm.

[John Bickley]

Is there data on who is buying this or where it's being shipped to?

[Meg Brock]

Yeah, it's very hard to trace because they are usually purchased using cryptocurrency. But looking at the websites, it appears they are being shipped without prescription or actual age verification. While many of the sites sites selling these products claim they don't sell to kids, the age verification process is often just a checkbox, kind of like a name it and claim it. Obviously, these unregulated drugs bring a host of safety concerns. Dr. Jared Ross, an expert with do no Harm, likened estrogen compounds to basement cooked meth and noted, you don't really know what you are getting with these homebrews and how they might be contaminated. He also mentioned that pharmaceuticals which are meant for animals are being given to humans, which is very dangerous. Dr. Ross told us, quote, this is potentially some of the most dangerous because these are really industrial animal research compounds that are not intended for human use and are being used by humans.

[John Bickley]

Now, is there a black market for gender transition drugs? And if so, do these drugs move through the street drug trade?

[Meg Brock]

These drugs are technically legal, so they don't always have to move in the same cloak and dagger ways as illicit drugs. But certainly there are some very sketchy avenues. Dr. Ross says there are largely three main ways these drugs are bought and sold outside of the legitimate medical system. One is drug diversion, where legitimate prescriptions from doctors are resold or given to a person seeking the treatment. The other is the gray market, where drugs are sent into the US without prescriptions. The third method is black market homebrew, where medications are synthesized and sold out of American homes. Aside from the additional risks of these homemade cocktails, Dr. Ross noted that taking any form of cross sex hormones carries a high level of risk. For example, estrogen is the main drug being sold and it comes with a host of risks. Putting men on estrogen can lead to significant increases in a variety of cancers as well as stroke and other blood clot related injuries, all which can be deadly.

[John Bickley]

Well, it's very clear these activists are determined and these entrepreneurs want to keep this medicine racket going. Meg, thanks for reporting.

[Meg Brock]

Thanks for having me.

[John Bickley]

Thanks for waking up with us. And for those listening to the show, you can also now watch the show free on Daily Wire. Plus, we'll be back this evening with more news you need to know.

Momento, seno frecido porriquea ordenando suropa interior que organizar cada cajon se a como una organise. In medida.