Jack Smith Report Blocked & Congestion Toll Avoidance | Afternoon Update | 1.7.25

Summary

Morning Wire: Jack Smith Report Blocked & Congestion Toll Avoidance | January 7, 2025

Presented by The Daily Wire, Hosted by John Bickley and Georgia Howe

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1. Jack Smith Report Blocked

Georgia Howe begins the afternoon update by discussing a significant legal development involving Special Counsel Jack Smith's final report on former President Donald Trump.

• Court Decision: A federal judge, Judge Eileen Cannon, has blocked the release of Jack Smith's report until a court of appeals can review an emergency motion filed by Trump's co-defendants. This decision delays the planned publication, which was initially scheduled for Friday.

• Legal Arguments: The motion argues that the report might introduce "unfair bias against some of the defendants" (00:21).

• Trump's Response: During a press conference, Donald Trump labeled the investigation a "fake witch hunt," attributing the DOJ's actions to political motivations:

  "Started by the DOJ having to do with books and records and Biden had many more and he wasn't protected by the Presidential Records Act. I was. But all of that fake stuff, stuff that took the lives of people, I mean literally destroyed people. People are destroyed because of what they did." (00:53)

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2. Meta's Content Moderation Overhaul

John Bickley introduces the next topic on Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) and the impending changes to its content moderation policies.

• Policy Shifts: Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, announced that the company will:

  • End partnerships with independent fact-checkers.
  • Loosen restrictions on controversial topics such as gender and immigration.
  • Scale back filters that previously censored innocuous posts.

• Reasoning: Zuckerberg cited bias among fact-checkers, stating they had "done more harm than good, especially in the US." He emphasized that Meta will now implement Community Notes, mirroring a similar initiative by Twitter's parent company, X (01:19).

• Kevin O'Leary's Commentary: Kevin O'Leary, a shark from Shark Tank, expressed skepticism about fact-checkers:

  "After Trump first got elected in 2016, the legacy media wrote non-stop about how misinformation was a threat to democracy. We tried in good faith to address those concerns without becoming the arbiters of truth, but the fact checkers have just been too polite, politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they've created, especially." (01:50)

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3. Kevin O'Leary's Move to Acquire TikTok's U.S. Assets

In a significant business maneuver, Kevin O'Leary announces his intention to acquire TikTok's U.S. operations amidst looming federal restrictions.

• Deal Details: O'Leary is nearing a deal to purchase TikTok's U.S. assets alongside former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. The acquisition aims to secure ownership before the January 19 deadline, which threatens TikTok's removal from U.S. app stores (02:11).

• Motivation: The federal government has flagged concerns over TikTok's ownership by the Chinese tech firm ByteDance, citing potential surveillance risks:

  "This company is living in a dreamland thinking the Supreme Court of the United States is going to uphold spyware against its American people. Ain't going to happen." – Kevin O'Leary (03:01)

• Further Commentary by O'Leary:

  "TikTok down it just has to change ownership to abide by American laws as deemed by the order of Congress." (02:41)

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4. Proposed Legislation to Bar Men from Women's Sports

John Bickley transitions to discussing legislative efforts aimed at defining gender in sports.

• Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act: Reported by Amanda Prestigiacomo, this bill seeks to:

  • Define gender under Title IX based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth.
  • Block federal funding for athletic programs that allow biological males to compete in female sports categories (03:42).

• Sponsorship and Support: The bill is spearheaded by Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama with 23 Republican co-sponsors, including notable figures like Senators Ted Budd, Marsha Blackburn, and John Kennedy.

• Debate:

  • Supporters: Argue the measure protects opportunities and safety for women and girls.
  • Critics: Claim it discriminates against transgender athletes.

• Vote Timing: The Senate is expected to hold a floor vote as early as the week of the episode's release (03:52).

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5. Washington Post Workforce Reductions

Georgia Howe reports on significant layoffs at The Washington Post as the publication navigates financial challenges.

• Layoffs Details: Approximately 4% of the workforce is being cut, primarily affecting employees in advertising, marketing, and IT sectors. Notably, newsroom positions remain secure for the time being.

• Financial Struggles: The Post reported a loss of $77 million last year, driven by declining digital subscriptions and print revenue. The layoffs aim to adapt to industry changes and foster a more sustainable future (04:29).

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6. Massachusetts Governor's Response to Migrant Shelter Incident

John Bickley covers an incident involving criminal activity at a state-run migrant shelter in Massachusetts.

• Incident Overview: An illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic was apprehended at a shelter with:

  • $750,000 worth of fentanyl and cocaine.
  • An AR-15 rifle.

• Governor Maura Healey's Reaction: Frustrated by the misuse of state resources, Healey has:

  • Ordered inspections of all state shelters.
  • Called for comprehensive federal immigration reform.

• Governor's Statement: In response to the incident, Maura Healey emphasized the need to "protect our citizens, to protect our residents and protect our states, and certainly to hold the line on democracy and the rule of law as a basic principle." (05:10)

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7. New York City's $9 Congestion Toll and Public Backlash

Georgia Howe highlights the recent implementation of a new congestion toll in New York City and the public's reaction.

• Toll Implementation: A $9 congestion toll was introduced in midtown Manhattan, sparking various methods by drivers to evade the fee.

• Evasion Tactics: Drivers have resorted to:

  • Scratching out digits on license plates.
  • Coating plates with translucent substances to confuse toll cameras (05:48).

• Public Response:

  • Kevin O'Leary: Expressed personal inconvenience:

    "I'm going to have to just take a different way. You know, it affects everyone's lifestyle. Like I work right on 60th street, so now I have to park a couple blocks up and walk." (06:11)

  • NYC Driver: Criticized the toll for its impact on working-class commuters:

    "It's terrible for everybody. If you can't make your subway or bus budget, figure out, you know, a budgetary way to do it. But don't charge people congestion tax. It just doesn't work for working class folks that are coming into the et cetera, et cetera. So it's terrible." (06:22)

  • Kevin O'Leary: Added further dissatisfaction:

    "Not thrilled. I drive to work a couple days a week and you know it's gonna get expensive or I'm just gonna have to find the other way." (06:38)

• Government Response:

  • Governor Kathy Hochul stated that the state will analyze toll data in the coming days to evaluate the system's effectiveness (06:45).

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Conclusion

John Bickley wraps up the update, encouraging listeners to visit dailywire.com for more information and to tune into the full episode of Morning Wire for in-depth reporting on the day's biggest stories.

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Notable Quotes Recap:

• Donald Trump (00:53):

  "Started by the DOJ having to do with books and records... I was. But all of that fake stuff... literally destroyed people."

• Mark Zuckerberg (01:19):

  "Fact checkers have just been too polite, politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they've created."

• Kevin O'Leary (02:41):

  "TikTok down it just has to change ownership to abide by American laws as deemed by the order of Congress."

• Kevin O'Leary (06:11):

  "I'm going to have to just take a different way... you know, it affects everyone's lifestyle."

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This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key discussions and insights from the January 7, 2025, episode of Morning Wire. For detailed coverage and further analysis, listen to the full episode or visit dailywire.com.

Transcript

[Sponsor Voice]

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[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Tuesday, January 7th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.

[Georgia Howe]

A federal judge has blocked the release of Special Counsel Jack Smith's final report on Donald Trump. Judge Eileen Cannon issued the order today, delaying publication until a court of appeals reviews an emergency motion from Trump's co defendants. The move follows legal filings that argue the report could create an unfair bias against some of the defendants. The Justice Department had planned to release the report by Friday. During a press conference today, Trump commented on the development the fake witch hunt.

[Donald Trump]

Started by the DOJ having to do with books and records and Biden had many more and he wasn't protected by the Presidential Records Act. I was. But all of that fake stuff, stuff that took the lives of people, I mean literally destroyed people. People are destroyed because of what they did.

[John Bickley]

Destroyed content. Moderation policies on Facebook and Instagram are headed for some drastic changes. Daily Wire reporter Megan Basham has more.

[Mark Zuckerberg]

In a video today, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the platform would end its partnerships with independent fact checkers, loosen restrictions on controversial topics like gender and immigration, and scale back filters that previously censored Innocuous post. Zuckerberg cited bias among fact checkers as a key reason for the shift, saying they had done more harm than good, especially in the US Meta will now implement Community Notes, a similar program to that used by X.

[Kevin O'Leary]

Here's Zuckerberg After Trump first got elected in 2016, the legacy media wrote non stop about how misinformation was a threat to democracy. We tried in good faith to address those concerns without becoming the arbiters of truth, but the fact checkers have just been too polite, politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they've created, especially.

[Georgia Howe]

In the U.S. shark Tank star Kevin O'Leary says he's nearing a deal to purchase TikTok. The deal comes as the social media platform faces a federal ban in the U.S. during an interview this week on Fox News, the 70 year old businessman revealed that he plans to acquire TikTok's U.S. assets alongside former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt. The pair hopes to secure ownership before the January 19 deadline that could see TikTok removed from U.S. app stores. Here's O'Leary we don't have to shut.

[Kevin O'Leary]

TikTok down it just has to change ownership to abide by American laws as deemed by the order of Congress.

[Georgia Howe]

The federal government raised alarms about TikTok's current ownership by Chinese tech firm ByteDance, citing risks of surveillance on American citizens. A U S based owner could prevent the platform from being banned. Here's O'Leary again.

[Kevin O'Leary]

This company is living in a dreamland thinking the Supreme Court of the United States is going to uphold spyware against its American people. Ain't going to happen. And then you've got this timing situation.

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[John Bickley]

A bill barring men from women's sports is expected to receive a floor vote in the newly Republican led Senate. Daily Wire reporter Amanda Prestigiacomo details the legislation.

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports act would define gender under Title IX as based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth. It aims to block federal funding for athletic programs that allow biological males to compete in female sports categories. The bill was pushed forward by Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, along with 23 Republican co sponsors, including Senators Ted Budd, Marsha Blackburn and John Kennedy. Critics argue the measure discriminates against transgender athletes, while supporters like Tuberville say it protects opportunities and safety for women and girls in sports. The vote could come as early as this week.

[Georgia Howe]

The Washington Post is cutting about 4% of its workforce as it grapples with millions in annual losses. Employees in advertising, marketing and IT are affected, but newsroom jobs remain untouched, at least for now. The Post says the layoffs aim to adapt to industry changes and build a more sustainable future. The paper lost $77 million last year, with declining digital subscriptions and print revenue adding to its challenges.

[John Bickley]

Massachusetts governor Maura Healy has expressed frustration after an illegal immigrant allegedly used a state run shelter as a base for criminal activity. This comes just two months after Healy vowed to oppose Trump's deportation efforts.

[Mark Zuckerberg]

I think that the key here is that, you know, every tool in the toolbox has got to be used to protect our citizens, to protect our residents and protect our states, and certainly to hold the line on democracy and the rule of law as a basic principle, police say.

[John Bickley]

The Dominican Republic citizen was found with $750,000 worth of fentanyl and cocaine along with an AR15 rifle. He had this all at a hotel turned migrant shelter. The suspect is reportedly being held without bail. Governor Healey has since ordered inspections of all state shelters and called for federal immigration reform.

[Georgia Howe]

And some New York City drivers are turning to low tech tricks to dodge the city's new $9 congestion toll, which took effect over the weekend. From scratched out digits to plates coated with translucent goo, altered license plates have been spotted near midtown Manhattan toll zones. These modifications can confuse cameras, potentially allowing drivers to bypass fees. The toll has seen a slew of backlash from commuters.

[Kevin O'Leary]

I'm going to have to just take a different way. You know, it affects everyone's lifestyle. Like I work right on 60th street, so now I have to park a couple blocks up and walk.

[New York City Driver]

It's terrible for everybody. If you can't make your subway or bus budget, figure out, you know, a budgetary way to do it. But don't charge people congestion tax. It just doesn't work for working class folks that are coming into the et cetera, et cetera. So it's terrible.

[Kevin O'Leary]

Not thrilled. I drive to work a couple days a week and you know it's gonna get expensive or I'm just gonna have to find the other way.

[Georgia Howe]

Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul says the state will analyze toll data in the coming days to assess the system's effectiveness.

[John Bickley]

All right, those are your Drive Home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com and for more in depth reporting on the biggest stories of the day, tune in to our full episode of Morning Wire. Every morning.