Pardon Chauvin Petition Launched & LA Mayor Recall Effort | Afternoon Update | 3.4.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary: Pardon Chauvin Petition Launched & LA Mayor Recall Effort | Afternoon Update | March 4, 2025

Published on March 4, 2025

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1. Derek Chauvin Pardon Petition Initiated by Ben Shapiro

In this episode, Ben Shapiro, Daily Wire Editor Emeritus, calls on President Trump to pardon former police officer Derek Chauvin. Shapiro contends that the evidence against Chauvin in the death of George Floyd is insufficient. He emphasizes the role of media influence and jury pressure in Chauvin's conviction.

Ben Shapiro [00:33]: "The media decided in the middle of 2020 that they were going to turn a tragic law enforcement stop... into the reason debt of the entire 2020 election. And it led to vast chaos... and a guy rotting in prison who, the evidence demonstrates certainly was not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

Shapiro has spearheaded a petition available at pardonderrek.com aiming to dismiss Chauvin's federal charges. Chauvin remains incarcerated, serving a 22-year sentence on state convictions.

2. President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress and Special Guests

President Trump is scheduled to deliver a joint address to Congress titled "Renewal of the American Dream" at 9 PM Eastern. Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips provides insight into the notable attendees who represent various contentious issues.

Cabot Phillips [01:45]: "Among those hosted by the president this evening will be American schoolteacher Mark Fogel, who was recently freed from a Russian prison... the parents of Lakin Riley and Jocelyn Nungare... Peyton McNabb, a former high school volleyball player severely injured by a transgender opponent."

Shapiro and Matt Walsh will also attend as guests of House Speaker Mike Johnson. The address will be broadcast live on Daily Wire's platform beginning at 8:30 PM.

3. International Tariff Retaliations: Canada, Mexico, and China Respond to Trump’s Tariffs

Following President Trump’s implementation of new tariffs, Canada, Mexico, and China have retaliated with additional duties on U.S. goods.

Justin Trudeau [02:39]: "China immediately imposed an additional 10 to 15% tariff on goods from the US... Mexico... imposed 25% retaliatory tariffs... [President Trump] actually called President Trudeau's tariffs dumb."

Trudeau criticized the tariffs as undermining U.S. agendas and announced plans to discuss the matter with Trump. In response, Trump warned of reciprocal increases.

President Trump [03:35]: "Please explain to Governor Trudeau of Canada that when he puts a retaliatory tariff on the US, our reciprocal tariff will immediately increase by a like amount."

The Canadian Official highlighted collaboration on combating illegal fentanyl, stressing joint efforts to address the crisis affecting both nations.

4. U.S.-Ukraine Relations: Zelensky Calls for Resumed Military Aid

Amid strained relations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for the restoration of military aid from the U.S., proposing a pause on all air and sea combat contingent upon Russia's commitment to the same.

Volodymyr Zelensky [04:51]: "We are ready to begin negotiations... a pause on all air and sea combat as long as Russia commits to the same."

Vice President J.D. Vance indicated bipartisan support for the Biden-era mineral deal, contingent on Zelensky presenting a viable peace plan.

J.D. Vance [04:35]: "If he called and had a serious proposal for how he was going to engage in the process... we want to talk."

5. Recall Campaign Launched Against LA Mayor Karen Bass

A recall effort targeting Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is officially underway in response to her handling of the January wildfires in Pacific Palisades. Organizers have launched a website to collect signatures, aiming to gather support from approximately 15% of LA voters to trigger a special election.

Ben Shapiro [05:15]: "A recall effort against LA Mayor Karen Bass is officially underway... The petition needs signatures from around 15% of LA voters to trigger a special election."

The backlash stems from perceived inadequate responses to fire warnings and the extensive property damage caused during the wildfires.

6. New Evidence in Jeffrey Epstein Case Released to FBI

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that additional evidence related to the Jeffrey Epstein case has been handed over to the FBI, following allegations that the New York FBI field office previously withheld information.

Pam Bondi [05:40]: "It's now in the possession of the FBI... We are going to go through it very cautiously to protect all the victims of Epstein."

Bondi has instructed FBI Director Cash Patel to provide a detailed report on the initial withholding of documents, further eroding public trust in the investigation.

7. Senate Votes Against Title IX Legislation on Transgender Athletes

A Senate bill aimed at preventing men and boys from participating in female-designated school sports failed to advance. The legislation sought to redefine Title IX protections based on biological sex at birth, aligning with President Trump's executive order.

Ben Shapiro [06:31]: "The legislation sought to define Title IX protections based on a person's reproductive biology at birth... Democrats call it divisive and a culture war distraction."

The vote concluded with 51 yeas and 45 nays, with no Democrat senators supporting the measure. Republicans argue that the bill is essential for ensuring fairness in women's athletics.

8. NASA Set to Launch Sphere X Space Observatory

NASA is preparing to launch the Sphere X space observatory, a nearly $500 million mission aimed at mapping over 450 million galaxies to explore the origins of the universe. Scheduled for liftoff on Thursday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California, Sphere X will utilize infrared spectroscopy to study cosmic inflation, galaxy formation, and the distribution of water in the Milky Way.

Ben Shapiro [06:53]: "NASA is set to launch its Sphere X space Observatory this week, aiming to map over 450 million galaxies and unlock the origins of the universe... Scientists say Sphere X could provide groundbreaking insights into cosmic inflation."

The mission is expected to offer unprecedented data on the early moments following the Big Bang, contributing significantly to our understanding of the universe's expansion.

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Conclusion

Today's Morning Wire Afternoon Update covered a spectrum of critical issues, from high-profile pardon petitions and international trade tensions to pivotal legislative battles and groundbreaking scientific missions. For a deeper dive into these stories, visit dailywire.com.

Thank you for tuning in. Join us tomorrow morning for another comprehensive edition of Morning Wire.

Transcript

[Sponsor Announcer]

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[John Bickley]

Ben Shapiro calls for the pardon of Derek Chauvin Canada, Mexico and China seek to match Trump's tariffs in an effort to recall LA's mayor gets underway. I'm Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Tuesday, March 4th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.

[Ben Shapiro]

Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro has called on President Trump to pardon former police officer Derek Chauvin. Shapiro argues that evidence does not support Chauvin's conviction in the death of George Floyd. He says that pressure on the jury in the trial, as well as legacy media influence, played a major role in the verdict. Here's Shapiro the media decided in the.

Middle of 2020 that they were going to turn a tragic law enforcement stop that ended with the death of a man who had a significant problem with drugs and preexisting health problems into the raison debt of the entire 2020 election. And it led to vast chaos. It led to again the destruction of racial comedy in the United States, $2 billion in property damage and a guy rotting in prison who, the evidence demonstrates certainly was not guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

In that case, Daily Wire has launched a [e-mail] in an effort to rally support for the dismissal of Chauvin's federal charges. Currently, Derek Chauvin remains in prison, where he's serving a 22 and a sentence on state charges.

[John Bickley]

President Trump will deliver his joint address to Congress tonight with many special guests in the audience. Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips has more.

[Cabot Phillips]

Among those hosted by the president this evening will be American schoolteacher Mark Fogel, who was recently freed from a Russian prison after nearly three years in detention. The parents of Lakin Riley and Jocelyn Nungare will also be in attendance as the president is expected to call on lawmakers to increase resources for deportation efforts. Riley and Nungare were both brutally murdered by illegal immigrants. Another special guest of the president will be Peyton McNabb, a former high school volleyball player severely injured by a transgender opponent. Daily Wire editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro and host Matt Walsh will also be in attendance as special guests of House Speaker Mike Johnson. The address, titled Renewal of the American dream, starts at 9pm Eastern from the U.S. capitol. You can watch the entire thing live on Daily Wire's platform starting at 8:30.

[Ben Shapiro]

Eastern Canada, China and Mexico have hit back after President Trump's new tariffs took effect today. Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce has the latest.

[Justin Trudeau]

China immediately imposed an additional 10 to 15% tariff on goods from the US saying it has raised complaints with the World Trade Organization. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded by imposing 25% retaliatory tariffs. Trudeau did the same, but went a step further and called President Trump's tariffs dumb. In a press conference today, Trudeau says the U.S. is sabotaging its own agenda and plans to speak with Trump in the coming days.

[Canadian Official]

In terms of taking action on fentanyl, we are doing everything that is necessary and not just for the United States, for ourselves as well as Canadians are suffering as well from the scourge that is illegal fentanyl. We have laid out extensive plans, actions, cooperations, including as recently as the past days in Washington, and they have always been very well received and the numbers bear that out.

[Justin Trudeau]

The White House says Canada's actions don't go far enough and that Mexico has afforded safe havens to deadly drug cartels. President Trump responded to Trudeau on social media today. He says, please explain to Governor Trudeau of Canada that when he puts a retaliatory tariff on the US Our reciprocal tariff will immediately increase by a like amount.

[John Bickley]

Less than 24 hours after Trump cut off military aid to Ukraine, President Zelensky is saying it's time to make things right. Daily Wire deputy Managing editor Tim Rice has the latest.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

In a post on X just days after his Oval Office meeting turned contentious, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the meeting didn't go the way it was supposed to, but stopped short of apologizing. Zelenskyy is urging Trump to restart military aid and says his country is ready to begin negotiations. The Biden era mineral deal remains up in the air, though Vice President J.D. vance says both he and Trump still support it. Vance says aid could be restored if Zelensky offers a plan for peace. Here's Vance last night on Hannity.

[J.D. Vance]

If he called and had a serious proposal for how he was going to engage in the process, look, there are details that really matter that we're already working on with the Russians. We've already talked with some of our allies. He needs to engage seriously on the details. I think once that happens, then absolutely we want to talk.

[John Bickley]

You can.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy has proposed a pause on all air and sea combat as long as Russia commits to the same.

[Sponsor Announcer]

This episode is brought to you by NetSuite. Download the CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at NetSuite.com MorningWire the guide is free to you at NetSuite.com Morningwire Again, that's NetSuite.com MorningWire.

[Ben Shapiro]

A recall effort against LA Mayor Karen Bass is officially underway, with organizers launching a website to gather signatures. The MO movement follows severe backlash over Bass handling of the January wildfires in Pacific Palisades, which burned thousands of homes and businesses while she was in Ghana. Despite fire warnings. The petition needs signatures from around 15% of LA voters to trigger a special election.

[John Bickley]

A truckload of evidence related to the Jeffrey Epstein case has been delivered to the FBI's headquarters. That's according to Attorney General Pam Bondi. Bondi had previously accused the New York FBI field office of withholding information after a small cache of documents were released to a group of journalists last week. Bondi has also tasked FBI Director Cash Patel with answering why the full portfolio of documents were not released the first time. That led to even more lost trust with the public. Here's Bondi on Hannity last night.

[Pam Bondi]

It's now in the possession of the FBI. Cash is going to get me and himself really a detailed report as to why all these documents and evidence had been withheld. And you know, we're going to go through it, go through it as fast as we can, but go through it very cautiously to protect all the victims of Epstein, because there are a lot of victims.

[Ben Shapiro]

A Senate bill aimed at barring men and boys from competing in female designated school sports failed to advance last night. Not a single Democrat senator voted in favor of the measure.

[John Bickley]

On this vote, the yeas are 51 and the nays are 45, 3/5 of the senators duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, the motion is not agreed to.

[Ben Shapiro]

The legislation sought to define Title IX protections based on a person's reproductive biology at birth, aligning with President Trump's recent executive order on the issue. Democrats call it divisive and a culture war distraction, while Republicans argue the measure ensures fairness in women's athletics. And NASA is set to launch its Sphere X space Observatory this week, aiming to map over 450 million galaxies and unlock the origins of the universe. The nearly $500 million mission will use infrared spectroscopy to analyze the formation of galaxies, the distribution of water in the Milky Way and the early moments following the Big Bang. The observatory will lift off from California on Thursday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Scientists say Sphere X could provide groundbreaking insights into cosmic inflation, which scientists believe shaped universe billions of years ago.

[John Bickley]

All right. There's your Drive Home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com in case you missed it. This morning we covered some major stories, including Trump's congressional address, new tariffs, and crypto reserve. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of MORNING Wire.