Morning Wire Afternoon Update | November 14, 2024
Hosts: John Bickley (Editor-in-Chief, The Daily Wire) and Georgia Howe
Episode Title: Polymarket Founder Raided & Ukraine Aid Rush
1. Polymarket Founder Raided Amid Political Tensions
Speakers: John Bickley, Cabot Phillips, Shane Coplan
The episode opens with a significant development in the intersection of cryptocurrency and politics. Polymarket founder Shane Coplan has come forward following a raid by FBI agents at his New York City apartment, leading to the seizure of his electronics.
Cabot Phillips elaborates on the situation:
"The raid, which reportedly followed concerns over Americans illegally gambling on the platform, has raised questions about political motives. Coplan condemned the raid as, quote, obvious political retribution by the outgoing Biden administration after Polymarket correctly called the presidential race for Trump. Critics, including figures from the crypto industry, suggest it could be a targeted effort against companies perceived as political opponents." (00:36)
Shane Coplan provides further insight into Polymarket's predictive success:
"It was a good 2, 3 hours ahead of media, so much so that people who were watching legacy media, you know, hours later were like, oh wow, you know, polymarket has comma so low. We were in the office and we were looking at the odds and on polymer and it looked like a done deal. And if you were just watching tv, you would think it's neck and neck." (01:15)
Coplan criticizes the Biden administration’s approach to startups and business post-election, especially after Polymarket's accurate prediction of the Trump victory ahead of mainstream media.
Key Points:
- FBI raid possibly politically motivated retaliation.
- Polymarket's accurate prediction of the Trump win.
- Concerns within the crypto industry about targeted regulatory actions.
- Backing by conservative investor Peter Thiel amplifies political scrutiny.
2. Resignation of Florida Representative Matt Gaetz
Speakers: John Bickley, Tim Rice, Tommy Tuberville
The update moves to political shifts within Congress as Florida Representative Matt Gaetz resigns effective immediately following President-elect Donald Trump's appointment of Matt Gates as Attorney General.
Tim Rice reports:
"The congressman's decision comes after President elect Donald Trump tapped Gates to be his attorney general. House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed the resignation, which reportedly came as a surprise to Republican leadership... under Florida law, a special election to fill Gaetz seat will be held within eight weeks, but potentially early in the new year when the new Congress is sworn in." (01:43)
Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville weighs in on the broader political implications:
"You're finding all the swamp creatures coming out right now. Everybody's got an opinion up here. You are not the United States of America. You have one vote in the U.S. senate. You do not get elected president. Vote with President Trump. This is the last chance we're going to have of saving this country..." (02:15)
Key Points:
- Gaetz's resignation connected to Trump's new Justice Department appointments.
- Surprise resignation prompts a special election process.
- Tuberville emphasizes unity behind President Trump and warns against political fragmentation.
3. Antony Blinken Accelerates Military Aid to Ukraine
Speakers: John Bickley, Shane Coplan, Antony Blinken
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the spotlight for his expedited efforts to deliver military aid to Ukraine. Despite the impending transition to the Trump administration, Blinken is pushing for increased support.
Shane Coplan discusses the strategic moves:
"Blinken met with European officials to strategize on supporting Ukraine in 2025 or negotiating from strength. The Biden administration is pushing NATO allies to increase aid amid growing concerns in Europe that some territorial concessions may be needed in peace talks with Russia." (02:35)
Antony Blinken states:
"We've obligated just recently and pushed out the door another $8 billion in security assistance for Ukraine. That was in September, another almost half a billion dollars just a few weeks ago. And President Biden is committed to making sure that every dollar we have at our disposal will be pushed out the door between now and January 20th." (03:04)
Key Points:
- Significant increase in military aid to Ukraine under Biden.
- Coordination with NATO allies to support Ukraine against Russian aggression.
- Blinken emphasizes the urgency of utilizing available funds before the presidential transition.
4. The Onion Acquires Infowars
Speakers: John Bickley, Alex Jones
In a surprising turn, the satirical left-wing website The Onion has acquired the right-wing Infowars platform, including its social media accounts and customer lists. This acquisition follows Alex Jones losing a defamation lawsuit related to the Sandy Hook shooting, resulting in a $1.5 billion penalty.
John Bickley reports:
"In news that is not satire, the left wing satirical website the Onion has purchased Alex Jones right wing infowars website. The deal came after an auction of Jones major assets after he lost a defamation lawsuit which was brought by families of victims of the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting." (03:24)
Alex Jones reacts:
"They said where they're shutting us down even without a court order. This morning the Connecticut Democrats with the Onion Newsp bought us... I'm about to go live out of Harrison's American Journal studio. I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm going to be here until they come in there and turn the lights off." (04:00)
Key Points:
- The Onion's acquisition of Infowars marks a significant media merger.
- Legal pressures following the defamation lawsuit have dismantled Infowars' previous operations.
- Jones expresses defiance against the acquisition and potential shutdown.
5. Explosive Attack on Brazil’s Supreme Court
Speaker: Shane Coplan
A tragic incident unfolded in Brazil as a man detonated explosives while attempting to breach the nation's Supreme Court, resulting in his death and prompting a major security response.
Shane Coplan details the incident:
"A man has died after detonating explosives while attempting to enter Brazil's Supreme Court in an apparent attack on the nation's political center... The Three Powers Plaza, which houses Brazil's government branches was evacuated and blocked off after two explosions rocked the area yesterday. Police are investigating the incident, which began with a car explosion that evening near the Congress Building." (04:47)
Key Points:
- The attack targets Brazil's heart of political power, emphasizing increasing global political unrest.
- Immediate evacuation and lockdown indicate the severity of the threat.
- Ongoing investigations seek to uncover the motives and preventing future attacks.
6. Lawsuit by Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Players Against Mountain West Conference
Speaker: Mairead Elordi
A group of collegiate women’s volleyball players has initiated a lawsuit against the Mountain West Conference and San Jose State University, citing violations of their First Amendment rights and Title IX.
Mairead Elordi explains:
"The suit, which claims both their First Amendment rights and Title IX were violated, centers around transgender athlete Blair Fleming's participation on the San Jose State volleyball team. The suit alleges that a new policy suppresses free speech and led to forfeits by multiple teams. In protest, the plaintiffs are seeking emergency relief ahead of the conference tournament, asking for Fleming's disqualification and the removal of forfeited game results." (05:28)
Key Points:
- Central issue revolves around transgender athlete participation and related policies.
- Allegations include suppression of free speech and unfair forfeits impacting competitive integrity.
- Plaintiffs seek immediate judicial intervention to influence ongoing athletic competitions.
7. Celebrities Emigrate from the U.S. Amid Political Disillusionment
Speaker: John Bickley
The episode highlights a trend of celebrities leaving the United States, motivated by various socio-political and economic factors.
John Bickley reports:
"And celebrities who vowed to leave the US If Trump was reelected are beginning to make good on that promise. Actress Eva Longoria has revealed that she and her family have left the US for a new life in Mexico and Spain, citing issues like homelessness, high taxes and political disillusionment. In an interview with Marie Claire, the 49 year old Desperate Housewives star described the US as, quote, a dystopian country and said she felt anxiety for most Americans who she believes are, quote, stuck in the current state." (05:55)
Key Points:
- Eva Longoria publicly moves to Mexico and Spain, citing systemic issues in the U.S.
- Reasons include concerns over homelessness, taxation, and political climate.
- Reflects broader dissatisfaction among certain demographics with the current administration and societal trends.
Conclusion
Today's Morning Wire Afternoon Update covered a spectrum of pressing issues, from political retribution in the crypto industry and significant congressional resignations to international conflicts and media acquisitions. The discussions emphasize the ongoing tensions within U.S. politics, the impact of policy decisions on businesses and individuals, and the global ripple effects of domestic actions.
For more detailed analyses and up-to-date reporting on these stories, visit dailywire.com and tune into the full episodes of Morning Wire each morning.
Timestamps Referenced:
- 00:36 – Cabot Phillips on Polymarket Raid
- 01:15 – Shane Coplan on Election Prediction
- 01:43 – Tim Rice on Matt Gaetz’s Resignation
- 02:15 – Tommy Tuberville’s Statement
- 02:35 – Blinken’s Ukraine Aid Strategy
- 03:04 – Antony Blinken’s Statement
- 03:24 – The Onion Acquiring Infowars
- 04:00 – Alex Jones’ Reaction
- 04:47 – Brazil Supreme Court Attack
- 05:28 – Volleyball Players’ Lawsuit
- 05:55 – Eva Longoria Moving Abroad