Medicine Rebuffs Gender Transitions & Troubled Tehran Talks | 2.5.26

Summary

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Morning Wire – February 5, 2026

Medicine Rebuffs Gender Transitions & Troubled Tehran Talks

Hosts: John Bickley (Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief) & Georgia Howe
Guests/Reporters: Amanda Presto Giacomo, Jenny Terre, Tim Pierce
Main Theme:
This episode examines seismic shifts in U.S. medical policy on gender transitions for minors, ICE enforcement changes in Minneapolis, and escalating tensions in U.S. relations with Iran and China.

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The American Medical Establishment Reverses Course on Transgender Procedures for Minors

Summary

The episode opens with a discussion on a pivotal change: the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) have moved away from supporting surgical and hormonal interventions for minors with gender dysphoria. This move signals a major rethinking in medical circles and has wide-reaching legal and cultural implications.

Key Points & Insights

• ASPS Statement ([03:03]):

  • The ASPS, the world’s largest plastic surgeons’ association, now asserts insufficient evidence supports trans surgeries or puberty blockers for minors.
  • This is a marked break from the recent near-unanimous support from U.S. medical groups despite growing evidence of harm and irreversibility.

• Dr. Richard Bossart (Do No Harm), on ASPS’s Reversal:

  “They have really taken a lot of trouble to provide for a reasoned position that is based on medical evidence. And on that basis alone, I’m very, very happy with that. I just hope they take an even stronger chance and totally… denunciate gender-affirming care once and for all.”
  — Dr. Bossart ([04:02])

• AMA Shifts Policy ([04:29]):

  • Now states that “surgical interventions in minors should be generally deferred to adulthood,” a significant departure from its vocal support for these procedures in the past.

• Possible Motive: Legal Liability After Landmark Judgment ([05:14]):

  • The timing coincides with a landmark $2 million jury verdict for detransitioner Fox Varian, who sued the doctors who removed her breasts at age 16.
  • Amanda Presto Giacomo suggests this is “very likely beginning to influence medical organizations.”

• Dr. Bossart on the Legal Wave Coming:

  “I would say that every one of these individuals probably has a case, and I suspect they’re all going to win their judgments. I’ll be surprised if they don’t, given the way this has been carried out with very poor informed consent...”
  — Dr. Bossart ([06:04])

Memorable Moment

• The hosts frame the moment as “the old dominoes falling analogy” ([00:41]), suggesting the medical establishment’s reversal will trigger broader changes nationwide.

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ICE Enforcement & Federal Drawdown in Minneapolis

Summary

Tom Homan, the "Border Czar," announces the drawdown of hundreds of immigration officers from Minneapolis in response to increased cooperation from local sheriffs, pointing to a tactical shift in federal immigration enforcement.

Key Points & Insights

• Drawdown Details ([08:12]):

  • 700 federal agents removed—a little less than a third of the previous presence.
  • Comes after sheriffs agree to allow ICE personnel access to local jails, facilitating the deportation of illegal immigrants with criminal records.

• Local Law Enforcement Reversal ([09:12]):

  • Majority of sheriffs favor communication with ICE but want it conditional on lower federal presence.
  • Roadblocks set up by anti-ICE protesters were swiftly dismantled following Homan’s call to the Minneapolis Chief of Police.

• Tom Homan on Protesters:

  “This is illegal. You can’t do that. And again, a message to those folks, what are you doing? You really think it will stop ICE and CBP from doing the job? It’s a joke. Only people you’re hurting is your own community...”
  — Tom Homan ([10:11])

• Shift in Enforcement Strategy ([11:33]):

  • Focus now on efficient jail transfers rather than community arrests, which “frees up more officers to arrest or remove criminal aliens.”
  • Mass deportation efforts will not slow, says Homan; all illegal immigrants remain under scrutiny.

Memorable Moment

• Homan’s swift action against protester roadblocks shows the new assertive, tactical approach to immigration enforcement.

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U.S.-Iran Talks on the Brink, China Relations Stable but Uncertain

Summary

The international segment covers fraught U.S.-Iran talks after a series of confrontations at sea, contrasting with Trump’s reported “excellent” call with China’s Xi Jinping even as China undergoes extraordinary internal purges.

Key Points & Insights

• Iran Talks in Turmoil ([12:33]):

  • Talks scheduled but mired in disputes over scope, location, and agenda.
  • Iran only wishes to discuss its nuclear program, while Sec. of State Marco Rubio insists on a broader agenda (missiles, terror sponsorship, human rights).
  • Trump’s warning to Iran:

    “I would say he [the Supreme Leader] should be very worried, yeah.”
    — Donald Trump ([13:44])

• Escalating Confrontations ([13:46]):

  • U.S. military downed an Iranian drone after “aggressively” approaching a U.S. carrier.
  • Revolutionary Guard boats and drones harassed a U.S.-flagged tanker hours later.

• China Relations Update ([14:14]):

  • Trump’s call with Xi described as “excellent”—topics included trade, Taiwan, Ukraine.
  • Trump on the relationship:

    “There will be many positive results achieved over the next three years of my presidency…”
    ([14:24])

• Turmoil Within the Chinese Communist Party ([14:58]):

  • Xi’s number two under investigation—interpreted as a “guilty verdict” in CCP terms.
  • Trump, on leadership in China:

    “As far as I’m concerned, there’s one boss in China, that’s President Xi. That’s the person I’m dealing with.”
    ([15:44])

  • Analysts skeptical about CCP stability; Xi’s power is consolidated but possibly more isolated.

Memorable Moment

• The episode underscores the “black box” nature of Chinese elite politics while portraying Trump as dismissive of concerns about leadership changes:

  “He’s [Xi] the boss. I watch it very closely and he’s highly respected in China.”
  — Donald Trump ([15:54])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Medical Establishment Reversal on Gender Transitions: 02:35 – 06:44
• ICE Drawdown in Minneapolis: 07:51 – 12:13
• U.S.-Iran Talks and China Update: 12:16 – 16:16

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Notable Quotes

| Time | Speaker | Quote | |---------|------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:02 | Dr. Richard Bossart | “They have really taken a lot of trouble to provide for a reasoned position..." | | 06:04 | Dr. Richard Bossart | “…very poor informed consent and addressing long term issues… I’ll be surprised if they don’t win their judgments.” | | 10:11 | Tom Homan | “This is illegal. You can’t do that... Only people you’re hurting is your own community.” | | 11:33 | Tom Homan | “This is efficient. Requires only one or two officers to assume custody of a criminal alien target…” | | 13:44 | Donald Trump | “I would say he should be very worried, yeah.” | | 15:44 | Donald Trump | “As far as I’m concerned, there’s one boss in China, that’s President Xi. That’s the person I’m dealing with.” | | 15:54 | Donald Trump | “He’s the boss. I watch it very closely and he’s highly respected in China.” |

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Takeaways

• The “dam is breaking” on pediatric gender transition with landmark reversals by key U.S. medical bodies, likely driven by mounting lawsuits and liability fears.
• ICE shifts strategy in Minneapolis, working more closely with local law enforcement and moving away from community sweeps to focus on jail transfers.
• U.S. foreign policy is under stress: Iran talks are at risk while China remains a “black box”—yet relations with Xi remain publicly cordial.
• The episode frames each issue with urgency and skepticism toward previous institutional consensus, consistent with the Morning Wire's tone.

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Transcript

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[Georgia Howe]

The American Medical association, once a staunch supporter of gender procedures for minors, reverses course on the issue.

[John Bickley]

It's the old dominoes falling analogy where, you know, the first domino drops and pretty soon the entire line of dominoes is falling.

[Host/Anchor]

Has the dam now fully broken on medically transitioning kids?

[Georgia Howe]

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Thursday, February 5th, and this is Morning Wire.

[Host/Anchor]

Porter czar Tom Homan pulls hundreds of federal agents off the streets of Minneapolis, citing a move towards smarter enforcement.

[Tom Homan]

We currently have an unprecedented number of counties communicating with us now and allowing ICE to take custody of illegal aliens before they hit the streets.

[Georgia Howe]

And Trump says talks with Iran have nearly collapsed after a recent conflict in the Arabian Sea, while tensions with China appear to ease.

[Host/Anchor]

Thanks for waking up with MORNING wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.

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[Host/Anchor]

In the wake of a Landmark detransitioner verdict. The supposed consensus in support of transgender surgeries for minors appears to be crumbling.

[Georgia Howe]

Here with more is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Giacomo. So, Amanda, just in the past week, we saw a noticeable shift from the medical establishment. It started with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and then later with the American Medical association changing their stance on medical transition for minors. So what did they say?

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Yeah, I mean, the dam is certainly breaking, Georgia. The asps, which is the largest association of plastic surgeons in the world, they said that available evidence does not support trans surgeries for gender confused kids. And they also said that there's insufficient evidence for putting kids on puberty blockers or cross sex hormones. Now, this is a very big deal. Basically every medical group or association has been in support of these surgeries for minors. And that's despite all the mounting evidence that these can be harmful and irreversible. So this statement broke the mold. I was able to speak to Dr. Richard Bossart about this reversal. He's a senior fellow at do no Harm and he's been a member of the ASPs for decades. He said the ASPs actually told members back in 2024 that they could not endorse gender affirming care for minors based on new evidence. Now, at the time, that was really out of step with the establishment. So they were ahead of the curve, relatively speaking. Here's boss Hart.

[John Bickley]

I just hope they take a stronger stance. I think this is great, the position statement, but I think it doesn't go far enough because surgery is the last step. They have really taken a lot of trouble to provide for a reasoned position that is based on medical evidence. And on that basis alone, I'm very, very happy with that. I just hope they take an even stronger chance and totally, you know, denunciate gender affirming care once and for all.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

And following the ASPs, we have the AMA, which wields major influence as the nation's largest medical association. They reverse course too. The AMA told National Review that it agrees with the ASPs that quote, surgical interventions in minors should be generally deferred to adulthood. Now, some hedging there, but this is a huge shift for the ama, which has been rabidly in favor of these procedures for minors. So for example, the AMA's president said just last year that it's not for him or anyone else to question the so called experts on trans care. The association also made it a point to bash a Supreme Court ruling from this summer that effectively allows states to ban these procedures for minors.

[Georgia Howe]

We have to note the timing of these changes in stances very conspicuous. Megan Basham recently reported on the landmark $2 million judgment out of New York State concerning a detransitioner. How does that case factor in? Is that at the root of these changes?

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Yeah, I mean, that's very likely beginning to influence medical organizations. Fox Varian was the first detransitioner to get a verdict in her legal battle against the medical professionals who facilitated and then performed the removal of her healthy breasts at just 16 years old. Again, you know, in the name of trans care. As you mentioned, that was a $2 million judgment. So, you know, certainly some worry about liability now, it seems. Here's boss Hart talking about this change and specifically the more than two dozen detransitioner cases that are currently pending.

[John Bickley]

I'm not in the business of making predictions, but if I had to, I would say that every one of these individuals probably has a case and I suspect they're all going to win their judgments. I'll be surprised if they don't, given the way this has been carried out with very poor informed consent and addressing long term issues and not even addressing the underlying problems that so many of these, these children have. So I would predict there's going to be a wave of judgments in favor of the plaintiffs in all these cases and I think it's fantastic.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, he's not alone in thinking that this is going to be a major turn of tide. Amanda, thanks for reporting.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

You're welcome.

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[Georgia Howe]

Borders are tom Homan has announced a drawdown of hundreds of federal immigration officers.

[Host/Anchor]

From Minneapolis Daily Wire immigration reporter Jenny Terre joins us now with the latest on this week's long saga. Morning, Jenny. So a significant announcement yesterday, and we're now seeing the change on the ground there in Minneapolis. First, what motivated this decision from Homan?

[Jenny Terre]

Right. So Homan came out Wednesday morning and said there's been progress in his, you know, leadership down there in Minneapolis, saying that they're drawing down 700 of those federal agents that have been deployed. So it's about a little less than a third of the force that has been there. So leaving about 2,000 agents and officers on the ground. And this was a result of deals that he said have been brokered between the federal government and local sheriffs who have agreed to now cooperate with ICE and let them into jails to take inmates who are here illegally into ICE custody in the hopes of deporting those people. This is something he said is being done at an unprecedented level. So we're trying to figure out how this is all developing. But it sounds like within just nine days of Homan touching down there, there's been a lot of progress.

[Host/Anchor]

It sounds like a massive shift, in fact, a reversal of some of these sanctuary city policies. Have we heard from any local leaders about this agreement?

[Jenny Terre]

So I spoke with the head of the Minnesota Sheriff's association about this, about those conversations that the sheriffs, those local sheriffs have been having with the federal authorities. And he told me that the vast majority of those sheriffs want better communication with ice, and that's what they've been working towards. They are willing to work with ICE and Border Pat, but they really want to only do so in a lot of cases if there's a drawdown of federal authorities, which seems to be consistent with what Homan was saying this week. But he said a formal agreement could take weeks or months. Now, Homan said it took one phone call to the Minneapolis police chief when he learned about these roadblocks that have been erected by anti ICE protesters in the streets of Minneapolis trying to dox ice, take their license plates. They've even been seen assaulting journalists. He made a phone call to that police chief. He said this needs to be disbanded. And that one phone call actually resulted in that. And he talked about that during the.

[Tom Homan]

Press conference when I was away to wear the roadblocks. Yesterday, I called the chief of police and he went and disbanded them after I got off the phone with him. He has promised to take enforcement action. This is illegal. You can't do that. And again, a message to those folks, what are you doing? You really think it will stop an ICE and CBP from doing the job? It's a joke. Only people you're hurting is your own community. Who wants to go and get groceries, pick up the dry cleaning or go to work, whatever. You're just hindering them.

[Host/Anchor]

Clearly sounds like some big changes are at least in the works since Homan's arrival. Does this mean ICE arrests will slow down?

[Jenny Terre]

You know, Homan made clear during the press conference that this does not mean that the Trump administration is, quote, surrendering their mass deportation effort. He said that really it's about getting ICE into those jails. That's the best way to get the worst criminals, which has been his priority. And what he's wanted ICE and Border Patrol to go out and get in Minneapolis. And so he said this is going to continue. They're going to continue to go through their target lists and get those people, he said, illegal immigrants whose sole crime is just being in the country illegally. They're not off the list. So they should feel that they are also under scrutiny, that ICE will come and get them, too. Here's what he had to say about how enforcement efforts will proceed from here.

[Tom Homan]

This is efficient. Requires only one or two officers to assume custody of a criminal alien target, rather than eight or 10 officers going into the community and arresting that public safety threat. This frees up more officers to arrest or remove criminal aliens. More officers taking custody of criminal aliens directly from the jails means less officers on the street doing criminal operations. This is smart law enforcement, not less law enforcement.

[Host/Anchor]

It's certainly fascinating to watch homemen try to thread the needle on this very complex political situation. Jenny, thank you so much for joining us.

[Jenny Terre]

Thank you.

[Host/Anchor]

Talks between Washington and Tehran may be on the verge of collapse after Iranian attacks on US Ships. Meanwhile, tensions with Beijing appear to be cooling off.

[Georgia Howe]

Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce is here to talk about all the international news so far this week. So, Tim, let's start with Iran. Where do things stand there?

[Tim Pierce]

Well, talks seem to be somewhat teetering. However, Washington and Tehran are still on track for a meeting on Friday, but it's been a messy ride. According to the Trump administration, Tehran initially reached out to talk after the US Moved the USS Abraham Lincoln and a lot of heavy firepower into the region. The two sides were supposed to meet in Turkey, but Iran apparently wanted a different venue. And Foreign Minister said Wednesday talks will now take place in Oman, but there still seem to be major questions over the scope of the talks. According to reports, Iran is ready to talk about its nuclear program, but not much else when these talks are supposed to be all encompassing. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Wednesday that in order for talks to lead to something meaningful, they will have to include certain things. Those things included the nuclear program, but also ballistic missiles, Iran's sponsorship of terror groups across the region, and the treatment of the Iranian people. So that is an enormous amount that Iran wants off the table.

[Georgia Howe]

So what's the alternative plan if they don't want to have these talks?

[Tim Pierce]

Trump has never taken off the table the use of force. Trump reminded Iran of that in an interview with NBC News on Wednesday.

[Host/Anchor]

Should the supreme leader in Iran be worried right now?

[John Bickley]

I would say he should be very worried, yeah.

[Tim Pierce]

And it's worth noting that Iran may have attempted a first strike already. The US Military said on Tuesday that it shot down an Iranian drone after it, quote, aggressively approached the Lincoln, though the military did say in that statement that the drone's intent wasn't clear. But then just hours later, two boats and a drone with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps harassed a US Flagged oil tanker. The US Military said Iranian forces approached the tanker at high speeds and threatened aboard it.

[Georgia Howe]

So a very high stakes gamble for Iran, if nothing else. Now moving on to China. President Trump had a call with President Xi Jinping on Wednesday. How did that go?

[Tim Pierce]

According to Trump, the call was, quote, excellent. He posted about it on True Social, and he said him and she talked about a wide range of issues, from trade to Taiwan to the war in Ukraine. Trump said that the United States relationship with China is extremely good and that, quote, there will be many positive results achieved over the next three years of my presidency having to do with President Xi and the People's Republic of China.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, the backdrop to this, of course, is some very significant dysfunction at the highest levels of the Chinese government. Tell us about these recent investigations and what kind of threats they might pose to Xi.

[Tim Pierce]

Yeah, it is serious. Some analysts have called it unprecedented in the context of China's current communist regime. But it's hard to know what exactly is going on since the inner workings of Beijing is a black box to the rest of the world. But what we found out last month is that she's number two, someone she has known since childhood and whom she personally elevated as being investigated for corruption. In a state like China, the announcement of an investigation is tantamount to a guilty verdict. General Zhang Yu Sha has been suspended from his role as the vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission that controls the armed forces. The commission is a seven person board counting Xi, but she has now removed all but one of the generals he appointed to it in 2022. Trump was asked about the turnover over the weekend. Here's what he said.

[John Bickley]

As far as I'm concerned, there's one boss in China, that's President Xi. That's the person I'm dealing with.

[Jenny Terre]

Are there any concern about stability or with regard to Taiwan?

[John Bickley]

I think President Xi is the boss. I watch it very closely and he's highly respected in China.

[Georgia Howe]

He's the boss.

[Tim Pierce]

So it's hard to know what this means exactly for Xi, but it does appear like his hold on power is more secure, though he may be more isolated.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, like you said, the CCP is like a black box, so it's really hard to know. Tim, thanks for coming on.

[Tim Pierce]

Thanks for having me.

[Host/Anchor]

Thanks for waking up with us. And if you're listening to the show, you can now watch the show free on Daily Wire. We'll be back this evening with more news.

[Tim Pierce]

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