Morning Wire Podcast Summary

Episode: House Considers Epstein Files & Thomas Crooks Questions | 11.18.25
Date: November 18, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley (Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief), Georgia Howe

Episode Overview

This episode zeroes in on three major news stories dominating U.S. headlines:

• The imminent House vote on the release of the Epstein files and the high political stakes surrounding it,
• Intensifying questions about the 2024 attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump and the true nature of suspect Thomas Crooks,
• Renewed diplomatic and military tension between the U.S. and Venezuela, including the possibility of talks and growing military pressure.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. House Vote on Epstein Files

[02:12-06:28]

• Background:
  For years, both parties have pushed for the release of the Epstein files, suspecting explosive revelations tied to prominent political opponents.
• Recent Developments:
  • A petition to force a vote garnered the 218 signatures required after four Republicans joined all 214 Democrats, compelling Speaker Mike Johnson to move the measure forward.
  • Trump previously dismissed the Epstein case as a “Democrat hoax,” angering his base and prompting Democrats to leverage the issue against GOP candidates.
  • Under mounting political pressure, Trump publicly reversed course and urged Republicans to vote for release.
• Election-Year Fallout:
  • Democrats have used Trump’s resistance to transparency as campaign ammunition, even in GOP-heavy districts.
  • Significant Republican discontent: “Polling shows that about 75% of Republicans want the files released in their entirety. While just 40% of Republicans approve of his handling of the Epstein files. On most other issues, he's around 90%.” [Cabot Phillips, 04:30]
• Notable Quote:

  "The train has left the station on this. Let's rip the band aid off and get it done. I wish the President realized that the more the White House pushes back on this, it's, you know, it just looks bad."
  — Rep. Don Bacon, replayed by John Bickley, [05:00]

• Republican Leaders’ Dilemma:
  By supporting the vote last-minute, Trump aimed to diminish embarrassment and protect GOP reelection prospects.
• White House Messaging:
  Trump’s team underscores his claimed lack of involvement while highlighting that the Biden administration also withheld the files during their tenure.
• Sample Released Emails:
  • Epstein disparaged Trump (“None as bad as Trump. Not one decent cell in his body.”) but also cryptically referenced Trump’s knowledge and actions (“Trump knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop”). [Cabot Phillips, 06:00]
  • “Trump World says it's... a compliment that Epstein hated him and... that the latter email clearly confirms President Trump's claim that he had ostracized Epstein over his shady behavior.” [Cabot Phillips, 06:15]

2. The Thomas Crooks Assassination Attempt

[07:31-12:13]

• Backdrop:
  The FBI reports Thomas Crooks as a 20-year-old lone gunman with vague motives in the failed assassination of Donald Trump in July 2024. Many, however, now question this narrative.
• New Revelations:
  • Joe Rogan and Elon Musk reignited public skepticism, highlighting inadequate transparency and inconsistencies in the government's version of events (e.g., lack of detailed reports and unusual security protocols).
    • "There was never a formal report. There was never press conferences where they detailed all the information... Secret Service lady said [the roof] was sloped and it was dangerous. Meanwhile, the snipers that were on the other roof was a steeper pitch." [John Bickley paraphrases Rogan/Musk, 08:27]
  • Miranda Devine (New York Post) surfaced new findings via a confidential source accessing 17 of Crooks’s online accounts (Gmail, YouTube, Snapchat, etc.).
    • Revealed an ideological transformation:
      • 2019: Crooks praised Trump as "the literal definition of patriotism."
      • By 2020: Crooks labeled Trump "racist" and expressed fantasies about terrorism and assassination.
    • Crooks frequented niche pornography sites and used they/them pronouns, counter to initial FBI claims of “no meaningful online footprint or political motive.”
• Aftermath and Government Response:
  • Legislators (including Senator Kennedy and Congressman Burchett) now openly push for new hearings.
    • “I would ask them to release all of this, the assassin’s cell phone records... his history on social media. I would ask them to release all of the interviews they've done.” — Senator Kennedy [10:49]
  • The DOJ and FBI push back, asserting that Crooks acted alone and denying any official claim that he lacked an online presence.
    • Official FBI spokesperson Cash Patel: “No, the FBI never said that.” He further emphasized the scale of the investigation and affirmed no evidence of outside conspiracy or leaked plans.

3. U.S.-Venezuela Relations: Tensions and Talks

[12:16-16:04]

• Context:
  With a massive U.S. military presence off the coast, new pressure mounts against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
• Trump Administration Position:
  • Trump hinted that negotiations with Maduro “could happen,” while simultaneously authorizing new hardline measures.
    • "It allows us to do that, but we haven't said we're going to do that. And we may be discussing. We may be having some discussions with Maduro, and we'll see how that turns out. They would like to talk." — Trump, as relayed by Tim Pierce [12:53]
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally designated Maduro’s cartel (“Cartel de Los Solas”) as a foreign terrorist organization, enabling potential military and financial actions.
• Maduro’s Response:
  • Maduro calls for peace at a conspicuously large Caracas rally, ending with a public rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine.”
    • "Peace, peace, peace. The imagination." — [14:16]
  • Nonetheless, U.S. intelligence reports note the White House is actively considering options including direct strikes, and has engaged in high-level discussions (involving VP J.D. Vance, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, etc.).
• Escalating Pressures:
  • The U.S. has doubled the reward for Maduro's capture to $50 million, higher than the former bounty on Osama bin Laden, and greenlit further CIA activity within Venezuela.
  • There is significant optimism among the opposition that increased pressure might, at last, force Maduro's departure.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "The train has left the station on this. Let's rip the band aid off and get it done."
  – Rep. Don Bacon [05:00]
• “Polling shows that about 75% of Republicans want the files released in their entirety. While just 40% of Republicans approve of his handling of the Epstein files.”
  – Cabot Phillips [04:30]
• “[Crooks] was calling Trump a racist and fantasizing about terrorism style attacks, including assassination.”
  – Megan Basham [09:30]
• "I would ask them to release all of this, the assassin’s cell phone records...his history on social media."
  – Senator Kennedy [10:49]
• "Peace, peace, peace. The imagination."
  – Nicolás Maduro [14:16]
• "The possibility of US strikes against Venezuela remains very real. The US has about 15,000 troops in the region, as well as an armada of warships that includes the largest aircraft carrier in the world.”
  – Tim Pierce [14:27]

Conclusion

This Morning Wire episode delivers an incisive, fact-focused exploration of three headline issues:

• An unprecedented push for government transparency on the Epstein files with major implications for both parties;
• Revived debate about the facts of the Trump assassination attempt, underscoring persistent mistrust in official narratives;
• Heightened tension and possible diplomatic shifts in U.S.-Venezuela relations amid robust military posturing.

The show balances news, analysis, and direct quotations, letting listeners catch up on breaking developments and ongoing controversies with clarity and depth.