Morning Wire: ICE Agents Come Under Fire & Meme-Maker Walks Free | July 11, 2025

Release Date: July 11, 2025
Hosts: Cabot Phillips & Georgia Howe
Podcast: Morning Wire by The Daily Wire

1. Rising Violence and Rhetoric Against ICE Agents

The episode opens with Ben Shapiro addressing the increasing violent rhetoric and attacks targeting ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents. He challenges the narrative pushed by Democrats, questioning public support for stringent deportation efforts.

Ben Shapiro [00:04]: "Violent rhetoric and attacks on ICE agents are on the rise as Democrats try to paint deportation efforts as evil. But are Americans buying it?"

Michael Knowles complements by highlighting that a majority of Americans favor strong deportation measures.

Michael Knowles [00:21]: "That finds six in ten."

Cabot Phillips delves deeper into the escalating threats against ICE agents, citing a spike in violent incidents across the United States. He emphasizes the severity and planned nature of these attacks.

Cabot Phillips [02:37]: "Well, lately it's been more random and for that, more dangerous. Here's some of the attacks in the last week alone..."

He details specific incidents, including a planned ambush in Alvarado, Texas, where an ICE agent was shot, and assaults in Oregon and San Francisco targeting ICE facilities and agents.

Georgia Howe prompts further discussion on the White House's stance, leading to a critique of the administration's handling of the situation.

Cabot Phillips [03:51]: "The attack on ICE over as you've covered it many times, is up nearly 700% now."

Michael Knowles criticizes the extreme comparisons made by some Democrats, equating ICE to organizations like the Nazis.

Michael Knowles [04:07]: "We have senators, we have CongressPeople that compare ice to the Nazis..."

The hosts discuss the possible political motivations behind the increased rhetoric, suggesting that Democrats aim to provoke ICE into overreactions to erode support for President Trump's immigration policies.

Cabot Phillips [04:49]: "The idea of trying to provoke an overreaction on the part of ICE is part of the strategy."

Donald Trump is quoted responding to proposals that target ICE operational protocols, defending agents' use of masks to ensure safety and anonymity.

Donald Trump [05:34]: "But when a patriot who works for ICE or Border Patrol puts a mask on so that they won't recognize him... there's a problem with that."

2. Legal Victory for Douglas Mackey: A Win for Free Speech

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Douglas Mackey, a Trump supporter who was prosecuted by the Biden DOJ for online meme postings. His conviction was recently overturned, marking a triumph for free speech advocates.

Amanda Prestigiacomo, a Daily Wire reporter, provides a comprehensive overview of Mackey's case:

Amanda Prestigiacomo [08:07]: "Douglas Mackey had a popular pro Trump account on Twitter... The DOJ claimed this was a mass conspiracy, voter suppression and election interference. Mackey was facing 10 years in prison... the appeals court reversed Mackey's conviction and directed a lower court to enter a judgment of acquittal."

Cabot Phillips underscores the rarity and significance of the appeals court's decision, highlighting the weakness of the government's case.

Cabot Phillips [09:02]: "It's extremely rare for a case... to be overturned on appeal."

Mackey elaborates on the political motivations behind his prosecution, citing personal targeting due to his political stance and influence.

Cabot Phillips [09:29]: "They targeted me... because I supported Trump... there was actually a Russiagate angle..."

Despite his acquittal, Mackey shares the personal toll the legal battle took on his life, including financial strains and personal hardships.

Amanda Prestigiacomo [10:22]: "Legally Fees... north of a million dollars... his wife was pregnant during the trial and had an emergency C-section."

Looking ahead, Mackey plans to file a civil lawsuit against the DOJ, with confidence in securing a favorable outcome.

Ben Shapiro highlights the broader implications of Mackey's victory for First Amendment rights.

Ben Shapiro [11:29]: "A lot of First Amendment activists viewing this ruling as a victory for free speech."

3. The Fierce Race for AI Dominance

The podcast shifts focus to the rapidly intensifying competition in the artificial intelligence sector. Michael Knowles and Sam Altman discuss the high-stakes maneuvers by major tech companies to secure top AI talent.

Michael Knowles outlines the current leaders in AI, emphasizing the dominance of U.S. companies despite efforts from international firms and governments.

Michael Knowles [12:18]: "US Companies definitely lead the field... Apple, Nvidia, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta..."

He points out that Meta has made a significant move by offering a $200 million signing bonus to poach Apple's head of AI model research, highlighting the lengths companies are willing to go to gain an edge.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shares his company's experience with similar high-value offers aimed at his team members.

Sam Altman [13:08]: "They started making these, like, giant offers to... $100 million signing bonuses... more than that comp per year."

Georgia Howe and Michael Knowles express astonishment at the exorbitant salaries being offered, reflecting the fierce competition for AI expertise.

4. The Emerging Threat of AI-Driven Vishing

The episode concludes with a discussion on the evolving security threats posed by AI, specifically focusing on vishing—a sophisticated form of phishing using deepfake technologies.

Michael Knowles defines vishing and elaborates on its implications, citing recent incidents where AI-generated voices were used to impersonate government officials, compromising sensitive information.

Michael Knowles [13:24]: "It's very similar to phishing, except with more virtual components, more AI, and it is a growing concern."

He provides examples, including attempts to impersonate the White House Chief of Staff and a fictional Secretary of State, demonstrating the advanced capabilities of current AI technologies in mimicking human speech patterns.

Leah Siskind, an AI research fellow, explains the technical aspects of how these deepfakes are created with minimal audio samples, making it accessible even to individuals with limited technical knowledge.

Leah Siskind [15:27]: "You don't need much technical knowledge to learn how to produce these audio fakes... they can produce a very realistic mimic of your voice."

Michael Knowles humorously acknowledges the ease of replicating voices, including his own, underscoring the pervasive nature of this threat.

Michael Knowles [15:55]: "Thanks for having me and not replacing me with my AI double who's cheaper."

Conclusion

In this episode of Morning Wire, listeners are presented with a comprehensive analysis of pressing issues surrounding immigration enforcement, free speech jurisprudence, the competitive landscape of artificial intelligence, and emerging cybersecurity threats. Through in-depth discussions and expert insights, the hosts provide a nuanced perspective on these critical topics, reinforcing the show's commitment to delivering unfiltered and fact-based news.

Stay informed with Morning Wire for the latest developments in politics, culture, education, and more.

Note: Advertisements and non-content segments from the transcript have been omitted to focus on the core discussions of the episode.