Manhattan Manhunt Continues & Federal Workers Reviewed | 12.6.24

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary: "Manhattan Manhunt Continues & Federal Workers Reviewed" | December 6, 2024

Overview

In the December 6, 2024 episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe delve into pressing national issues, including the ongoing manhunt for the murderer of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a Senate investigation into federal workforce productivity, and a groundbreaking House report on the origins of COVID-19. The episode provides in-depth analysis, expert insights, and notable quotations to inform listeners about these critical developments.

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1. Manhattan Manhunt Continues

A. Details of the Crime and Suspect Information

The episode opens with a discussion led by Daley Weyer and supported by Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce, focusing on the assassination of Brian Thompson outside the New York Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The suspect, described as hooded and masked, fatally shot Thompson before fleeing the scene.

• Georgia Howe highlights the suspect’s motives: “It is definitely a very strong motive and grievance that this individual had that would cause him to do this. This was highly orchestrated and they wanted it to be on the front stage of the media.” ([00:08])

B. Manhunt Updates and Investigation Leads

Ash Short, also with Daily Wire, provides updates on the investigation, noting that the NYPD has released photos of a person of interest who stayed at a hostel on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Authorities are examining evidence such as a burner phone and a water bottle found at the scene, which may contain crucial information.

• Ash Short explains: “The shell casings taken from the scene appear to carry a message. They had the words Deny, defend and depose written on them. That's reminiscent of a 2010 book highly critical of the health industry called Delay, Deny, Defend.” ([02:20])

C. Suspect's Motive and Targeted Nature

The hosts discuss the possibility that Thompson was specifically targeted due to his role in the healthcare industry, which has been subject to widespread criticism and threats.

• Daley Weyer states: “And the suspicion here is that Thompson may have been singled out by the attacker, correct?” ([03:03])

• Ash Short confirms: “Yes, that's how police are treating this case. Authorities called it a premeditated pre planned targeted attack.” ([03:08])

D. Social Media Reaction and Public Sentiment

The episode addresses the alarming reactions on social media, where some individuals, including prominent figures like former New York Times reporter Taylor Lorenz, publicly expressed sentiments that Thompson "deserved" his fate.

• Daley Weyer remarks: “Pretty alarming reaction to say the least. Let's hope police are able to find this killer.” ([05:32])

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2. Federal Workers Reviewed

A. Senate Investigation Findings

A Senate investigation uncovered that a staggering 94% of federal employees continue to work from home, with concerns that some may not be fulfilling their duties effectively.

• John Bickley emphasizes: “We only have 6% of our federal workforce actually going into work every single day. Something I've been pushing on is getting those federal workers back into the offices or eliminating the buildings that they occupy.” ([00:41])

B. Impact of Remote Work on Productivity and Costs

The discussion highlights inefficiencies, including unused office spaces costing taxpayers billions annually and instances of federal employees not performing their roles adequately.

• Georgia Howe notes: “Environmental Protection Agency, which is in charge of clean drinking water, had toxic water in its own building because water was sitting stagnant in the pipes for so long.” ([07:15])

C. Political and Economic Ramifications

The hosts explore the broader economic impacts, particularly on Washington D.C.'s economy, and the political challenges posed by union demands for continued remote work.

• Georgia Howe states: “Musk has indicated that if workers don't like it, they can quit, which could be the quickest way of shrinking the federal workforce.” ([07:32])

D. Proposed Solutions and Legislative Actions

Senator Joni Ernst advocates for relocating government agencies to more cost-effective areas, potentially reducing operational expenses and increasing efficiency.

• Georgia Howe explains: “Senator Ernst is touting a bill that would move government agencies to places where they're more in touch with the residents they serve.” ([09:37])

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3. COVID-19 Origins Report

A. Overview of the House Report

A new House report, discussed by Luke Roziak and Daily Wire senior editor Ash Short, concludes that COVID-19 likely originated from a laboratory incident at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, challenging previous narratives.

• Brad Wenstrup summarizes: “The virus, quote, likely emerged because of a laboratory or research related accident.” ([10:48])

B. Accusations of a Cover-Up by Officials

The report accuses both U.S. and Chinese officials of attempting to conceal evidence supporting the lab leak theory, including actions taken by Dr. Anthony Fauci.

• Brad Wenstrup states: “Officials in China and the US tried to hide facts that would confirm the lab leak theory, such as Dr. Anthony Fauci prompting doctors to write a report undermining the theory in early 2020.” ([11:40])

C. Implications for Policy and Accountability

The report also critiques former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for allegedly covering up COVID-related deaths in nursing homes and condemns Biden's vaccine mandate, which was invalidated by the Supreme Court.

• Brad Wenstrup adds: “The report also accuses former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of medical malpractice for his role in covering up the number of nursing home deaths...” ([12:16])

D. Educational and Economic Consequences of Pandemic Measures

Lockdowns and stringent measures in schools are highlighted as having detrimental effects on children's education and the economy, with significant fraud and waste reported in pandemic aid distribution.

• Brad Wenstrup concludes: “The prolonged lockdowns caused, quote, immeasurable harm to not only the American economy, but also to the mental and physical health of Americans.” ([12:20])

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Conclusion

The December 6th episode of Morning Wire provides listeners with a comprehensive analysis of significant events shaping the current socio-political landscape. From the intense search for a high-profile murder suspect to scrutinizing federal workforce inefficiencies and reevaluating the origins and handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the podcast underscores the ongoing challenges and debates within the United States.

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Notable Quotes:

• Georgia Howe ([00:08]): “It is definitely a very strong motive and grievance that this individual had that would cause him to do this. This was highly orchestrated and they wanted it to be on the front stage of the media.”

• John Bickley ([00:41]): “We only have 6% of our federal workforce actually going into work every single day. Something I've been pushing on is getting those federal workers back into the offices or eliminating the buildings that they occupy.”

• Brad Wenstrup ([10:48]): “The virus, quote, likely emerged because of a laboratory or research related accident.”

• Georgia Howe ([07:32]): “Musk has indicated that if workers don't like it, they can quit, which could be the quickest way of shrinking the federal workforce.”

These insightful remarks encapsulate the podcast's critical examination of current events, offering listeners a clear understanding of the issues at hand.

Transcript

[Daley Weyer]

More questions arise about the man behind the murder of the United Healthcare CEO in Manhattan.

[Georgia Howe]

It is definitely a very strong motive and grievance that this individual had that would cause him to do this. This was highly orchestrated and they wanted it to be on the front stage of the media.

[Luke Roziak]

We have new details on the manhunt in New York City.

[Daley Weyer]

I'm Daley Weyer, Editor in Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Friday, December 6th, and this is Morning. Wow. A Senate investigation finds a vast majority of federal workers are still working from home, with some not clocking in at all.

[John Bickley]

We only have 6% of our federal workforce actually going into work every single day. Something I've been pushing on is getting those federal workers back into the offices or eliminating the buildings that they occupy.

[Luke Roziak]

And a new House report concludes on how COVID 19 likely originated while accusing both U.S. and Chinese officials of trying to cover it up.

[Daley Weyer]

I'm of the view that the origin of COVID 19 was the gain of function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab, which was funded highly by the United States. Thanks for waking up with MORNING wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.

[Tim Pierce]

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[Daley Weyer]

The suspect has yet to be arrested in the brazen murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Authorities say the shooter disappeared, appeared in Central park after fatally shooting Thompson outside of a hotel in Manhattan. Here to talk about the ongoing manhunt is Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce. Hey, Tim. So what do we know about the shooter so far?

[Ash Short]

Not much, though police do have a few leads. NYPD has already released photos of a person of interest who appears to have stayed at a hostel on Manhattan's Upper west side. Authorities have already searched the hostel and believe that their person of interest stayed there with two other men, though it's not clear if authorities have been able to track them down. The person was pictured at a Starbucks and boarding the subway. Near the crime scene, police found a burner phone and a water bottle that they believe they may be able to pull information from if the objects belong to the shooter. The shell casings taken from the scene appear to carry a message. They had the words Deny, defend and depose written on them. That's reminiscent of a 2010 book highly critical of the health industry called Delay, Deny, Defend.

[Daley Weyer]

And the suspicion here is that Thompson may have been singled out by the attacker, correct?

[Ash Short]

Yes, that's how police are treating this case. Authorities called it a premeditated pre planned targeted attack.

[Daley Weyer]

Many people passed the suspect, but he.

[John Bickley]

Appeared to wait for his intended target.

[Daley Weyer]

The suspect fled first on foot, then.

[John Bickley]

On an E bike and was last.

[Daley Weyer]

Seen in Central park on Center Drive.

[Ash Short]

The killing itself took place early Wednesday morning as Thompson walked to the New York Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan. The Hotel was hosting UnitedHealth Group's investor conference and Thompson was slated to be a speaker. Video of the street outside the hotel that morning shows Thompson in a blue suit making his way there when someone in a hooded jacket and mask, wearing a backpack, pulls a gun and shoots Thompson several times in the back. Here's how one witness described the scene.

[Georgia Howe]

I was holding my phone. Then I hear the shot, you know, and when I look at the guy was with the gun, like, you know, the silent gun. I got like a black gun and I saw him after he shot him. He ran across the street this way.

[Ash Short]

According to police, the shooter took off towards Central park and hasn't been seen since.

[Daley Weyer]

And what are the chances the suspect is actually able to get away here?

[Ash Short]

Well, to put it in context, police are looking for one man in a city of 8 million people. One of the big questions right now is could the shooter have changed clothes in Central Park? If he did, that would make tracking him around the city almost impossible without more information to go on.

[Daley Weyer]

So police could be in for a very tough manhunt here. Any more on the motive? Do police think the killer was connected with Thompson in some way?

[Ash Short]

Well, we don't know. But we do know that as an executive of one of the largest healthcare companies in the world, Thompson did receive his share of threats. His widow told NBC News that they had been job related. Lack of coverage, for instance. But that isn't all that surprising. Healthcare executives routinely receive threats, and they're very often job related. And it appears that United Healthcare hadn't provided Thompson or any of its other executives with personal security. But you can probably get an idea about the level of threats healthcare executives receive just by watching the social media reactions to Thompson's death. Many accounts, including prominent accounts, suggested that Thompson may have deserved it. For example, tech reporter Taylor Lorenz, formerly of the New York Times and Washington Post, wrote a piece on her substack after Thompson's death headlined, why We Want Insurance Executives Dead.

[Daley Weyer]

Pretty alarming reaction to say the least. Let's hope police are able to find this killer. Tim, thanks for joining us.

[Ash Short]

Thanks for having me.

[Georgia Howe]

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[Daley Weyer]

A Senate investigation found that 94% of federal employees are still working from home, and some of those might not be working very much at all.

[Luke Roziak]

Daily Wire reporter Luke Roziak joins us to talk about the state of the federal workforce. So, Luke, Senator Joni Ernst worked with Inspect to put out this pretty thorough and damning report. What did it find?

[Georgia Howe]

Hi, Georgia. So Senator Ernst is chair of the Senate Doge Caucus, and the Department of Government Efficiency is definitely going to be interested in this, she said. The federal government is still operating as if it's March 2020 in the midst of the COVID pandemic. Government office buildings have a 12% occupancy rate, and yet taxpayers are spending $16 billion a year operating them.

[John Bickley]

If we're not using the space, we need to get rid of it. Those federal office buildings cost us $8 billion every single year to lease and maintain, plus another 7 billion on top of that for the utilities. And we're not using those buildings. So use it or lose it.

[Georgia Howe]

Environmental Protection Agency, which is in charge of clean drinking water, had toxic water in its own building because water was sitting stagnant in the pipes for so long. House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke to reporters after meeting with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are heading up Doge.

[Daley Weyer]

One of the first things that I think you'll see is a demand from the new administration and from all of us in Congress that federal workers return to their desks and get back to the work that they're supposed to be doing.

[Georgia Howe]

Musk has indicated that if workers don't like it, they can quit, which could be the quickest way of shrinking the federal workforce. At some agencies, a majority of remote workers have actually moved to lower cost of living areas, but kept collecting DC Cost of living pay. That could backfire for them because if they're called back to the office full time, they may have to quit unless they're willing to move again. President Biden himself has said that workers should be on site in order to ensure they're working productively, with his chief of staff saying there's no substitute for face to face. Yet on his way out the door, his administration signed a contract with the Social Security Administration union agreeing to remote work through 2029.

[Luke Roziak]

So unions now are going to be an obstacle.

[Georgia Howe]

Yeah, unions have demanded across the board telework, but they've also demanded full individual workstations be preserved on site in case they want to come in. The Biden administration just spent $120 million renovating Social Security's massive headquarters, even though it's 91% unused. Meanwhile, one Social Security worker was running a home inspection business while he was supposedly working from home. He had his mom occasionally send emails from his account, and he got away with it for years. Now, many people can do their jobs from home just fine, but Senator Ernst said that the government culture makes it easier to slack off with nobody noticing. When the Department of Health and Human Services looked at its server logs during the pandemic, it found that up to 30% of remote employees weren't even logging into their computers on any given day. Keep in mind, these are health Department workers, and this was during a pandemic. So it seems like maybe even some of these employees don't think their jobs are important. Here are some of the most egregious examples. Some food inspectors now inspect food facilities for safety remotely through video chat. One third of calls to a veteran's mental health outline went unanswered, while a manager responsible for scheduling posted online that he was working from a bubble bath.

[Luke Roziak]

So what is the economic impact, though, of having all these government workers working from home?

[Georgia Howe]

Well, the mayor of D.C. won't say it publicly, but she's got to be overjoyed that Trump won. The economy of D.C. has been hollowed out without government employees spending money at restaurants and so on. Democrats in the D.C. suburbs of Maryland and Virginia are saying cuts to the federal workforce could harm their economies. But those suburbs are the richest areas in America, so it's not a very sympathetic argument, particularly from people who preach redistributing wealth. Senator Ernst is touting a bill that would move government agencies to places where they're more in touch with the residents they serve. The Agriculture Department, for example, could move to a farm state. They would also save money there with lower cost of living.

[Luke Roziak]

Well, it sounds like there's a lot of low hanging fruit for Elon's efficiency task force. Luke, thanks for reporting.

[Georgia Howe]

Absolutely.

[Daley Weyer]

This week a Republican led House committee has released a report stating that the COVID 19 virus, quote, most likely emerged from a laboratory in Wuhan, China.

[Luke Roziak]

The 520 page report, based on a two year investigation, is meant to serve as a roadmap for how to handle future pandemics. Here to discuss the report is Daily Wire senior editor Ash Short. So Ash, first off, who conducted this investigation?

[Brad Wenstrup]

This report is from the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, which is chaired by Brad Wenstrup, a Republican congressman from Ohio.

[Luke Roziak]

And what did they find?

[Brad Wenstrup]

Well, as expected, the report found that the government misled the public about the origins of the COVID virus. Specifically, the report found that the virus, quote, likely emerged because of a laboratory or research related accident. They base this assertion on the biological characteristics of viruses and illnesses being studied at the Wuhan Institute of Virology at the time the pandemic started. The report also found that officials in China and the US tried to hide facts that would confirm the lab leak theory, such as Dr. Anthony Fauci prompting doctors to write a report undermining the theory in early 2020. That report, titled the Proximal Origin of SARS COV2, claimed that it wasn't plausible for the virus to have escaped from a lab.

[Luke Roziak]

So basically this report is confirming what people were censored and punished for saying back in 2020.

[Brad Wenstrup]

Yeah, basically. The report also accuses former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of medical malpractice for his role in covering up the number of nursing home deaths in his state caused by forcing nursing homes to take COVID positive patients. Now, the same panel previously referred Cuomo for criminal prosecution for his alleged lying about a report used to defend placing COVID patients in nursing homes. This current report also took to task Biden's vaccine mandate, which was struck down by the Supreme Court with the help of the Daily Wire.

[Luke Roziak]

So it sounds pretty comprehensive. Did it also talk about schools?

[Brad Wenstrup]

Yes. It also confirmed that locking down schools had a significant negative impact on children's education and the billions spent on pandemic aid was rampant with fraud and waste. The report also found that social distancing and mask mandates weren't based on hard science and that the prolonged lockdowns caused, quote, immeasurable harm to not only the American economy, but also to the mental and physical health of Americans. With a particularly negative effect on younger citizens. Senator Mike Lee of Utah said on social media that the report should, quote, stand as a warning for future generations of what not to do.

[Luke Roziak]

Well, this was a stunning chapter to live through, and it's good that we're remembering what happened. Ash, thanks for reporting.

[Brad Wenstrup]

You're welcome.

[Daley Weyer]

Hey, thank you for listening this morning. We created this show to bring more balance to the national conversation. If you love our show and stand with that mission, consider subscribing, giving us a five star rating and most importantly, sharing our podcast with a friend.

[Luke Roziak]

Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back later this afternoon with more news you need to know.

[Tim Pierce]

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