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You want to get your backyard summer ready, but you don't want to break the bank. Wayfair gets it. Planning on dining al fresco or relaxing poolside? Wayfair has everything you need to prep your space. Shop now and save up to 70% off during Wayfair's 4th of July clearance. Score huge deals on outdoor furniture, area rugs and more. We're talking thousands of products for every style and budget, plus surprise flash deals. July 6th. Don't wait. Shop Wayfair's 4th of July clearance now through July 6th at Wayfair.com Wayfair Every style, every home. The Supreme Court disappoints Republicans with their ruling on mail in ballots and hands the president a win on executive powers. We break down the latest rulings.
B
The Washington decision, which was the ballot decision, was a bit of a surprise. It was five to four. I think the other decisions came out as expected.
A
I'm Georgia Howe. John is on vacation this week. It's Tuesday, June 30th, and this is Morning Wire. Populists in Europe rally around a surprising cause, air conditioning, after thousands die from a deadly heat wave.
C
This could be dangerous with the prolonged nature.
D
If this was one day, two days, okay, but we're talking more than three
C
or four days, a bona fide extreme and historic heat wave.
A
And beef prices hit dizzying highs while the administration scrambles to shore up supply.
E
Not to be the bearer of bad news, but we're really not going to see any relief on beef prices until probably 2028.
A
Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.
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On Monday, the Supreme Court dropped multiple high stakes rulings dealing with mail in ballots and executive powers. Joining us now to discuss these pivotal rulings from the Supreme Court is Alliance Defending Freedom Vice president of Litigation Strategy Jonathan Scruggs. Jonathan, thanks for coming on.
B
Thanks for letting me be on.
A
So first, let's talk about the two executive powers cases. Those were Trump versus Slaughter and Trump versus Cook. The Slaughter case, which essentially determined the president's right to fire the heads of independent government, agenc that went in Trump's way. Let's start there. People are saying it's a big win for the president.
B
Yeah, that's exactly right. That's exactly what happened. It was a really big opinion, big win for the Trump administration. The court effectively saying that Congress couldn't put limits on the Trump executive branch and whether they could hire or fire members of the ftc, a federal agency. And so this really is going to have a huge impact, I think on a lot of other agencies as well. So this is one of the biggest wins for the Trump administration this term.
A
So the court said that the president can fire heads of independent agencies, but then surprisingly, they ruled against him in Trump vs Cook. Listeners may remember President Trump attempted to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook. She was a Biden appointee. She fought it and that's what this case was about. So Jonathan, what was the ruling here
B
that was a loss for the Trump administration involving the federal bank where in a 5 to 4 decision the Supreme Court said that Congress had the power to put limits on the president and its ability to hire and fire officials in the Federal Reserve. But something to flag is ultimately the case said Trump couldn't fire the member of the Federal Reserve yet, but may end up being able to later. So this is a temporary loss. But the court did address the bigger constitutional issue. So really going against the Slaughter decision, which I mentioned earlier. So one win, one big win for the Trump administration, one I'd say loss for the Trump administration.
A
Now, arguably the biggest case, at least to a lot of everyday Americans, is the mail in ballot decision. That was Watson versus RNC. Tell us about that decision.
B
As another 5 to 4 decision, this time interpreting the meaning of a federal statute. And what mean, what does election date mean? And there the court ruled that essentially punding it to the states. The states under the statute get discretion to count ballots that are received after election day. So ultimately, at the end of the day, this case will be determined what Congress does. So Congress could amend the statute. But right now, under the read of the federal statute, states can count ballots that are received after election day if they're postmarked before election. This really only affects federal elections. So our state elections, that's going to be heavily regulated by the states. But here, when it talks about election for federal office, it's regulated by a federal statute. So Congress is going to have a lot more say and a lot more authority. But the court did interpret that federal statute to give states some discretion.
A
Okay, so the court has kicked it back to Congress to legislate elections. So for now, nothing changes.
B
That's right. It's a bit of a status quo. And like I said, it's going to be kind of a punt to Congress to decide what to do. And, you know, Congress can reinterpret the statute or amend the statute at issue in this case.
A
Now, how did the court break down for each of these rulings? Were there any surprise votes?
B
I think the Watson decision, which was the ballot decision, was a bit of a surprise. Is 5 to 4 Justice Barrett writing with Chief Justice Roberts joining the liberal justices. I think most people would have said that it would come out the other way. So that was a bit of a surprise. I think the other decisions came out as expected in terms of a split decision for the Trump administration.
A
So it sounds like a mixed bag for the Trump administration. But we still have several more rulings coming out this week.
F
Right?
B
There are four decisions left, including the big birthright citizenship case.
A
All right, well, we're definitely going to be watching that. Jonathan, thanks for coming on.
B
Oh, thanks so much.
F
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A brutal heat wave is gripping Europe for the second time in two months, shattering temperature records and leading to at least 1300 deaths across the continent. Joining us to discuss is Cabot Phillips, host of Wired in. So, Cabot, first off, just how extreme is this heat wave?
D
Yeah, it's shaping up to be one of the deadliest heat waves in European history. Germany recorded a temperature of 107 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend, which would stand as the hottest temperature ever recorded in the country's history. Poland and the Czech Republic have also set new records, and Hungary is expected to also break its record within the next day or so. The heat is now making its way east across the continent. That'll bring some relief to Britain, France and Spain after a week of temperatures north of 104 degrees there.
A
Now, as we mentioned at the top, this heat wave has already killed more than a thousand people. Are these heatstroke deaths or how are they counting these?
D
So it's a bit more of a statistical inference, as they say, but there's no doubt that heat is the leading factor for a lot of these deaths. The head of the World Health Organization, for example, says that more than 1300 excess deaths, as they call them, have been linked to the heat since June 21 alone. The vast majority are logged among older people, 65 and above, mostly in nursing homes, many of which lack air conditioning. And the true number might actually be higher because a lot of these countries are slow to officially link deaths to the heat. For example, France alone reported about a thousand excess deaths during this heat wave when compared to cooler weeks. Now, these deaths have not been formally tied to the heat wave yet, but again, if we make some educated guesses, that 1300 number will likely be revised upward in the coming days and weeks.
A
Now, understandably, people are very upset that their loved ones have died in this way, especially because it could have been prevented in many of these cases. And this has become something of a political lightning rod in Europe. Tell us about that debate.
D
Right. There's no doubt this is a surprisingly politically charged debate for Europeans. Just for some context, air conditioning is Extremely rare across most of Europe. Only about 20% of European homes are equipped with it. That's compared to roughly 90% in the US and considering the generally cooler climate of Europe, a lot of homes, schools and offices were built to retain heat. So when temperatures spike like this, people have very little defense. And many folks on the right across Europe have certainly seized on this issue as an example of climate policy gone too far. In France, for example, national rally leader Marine Le Pen pledged on Friday that if she's elected president, she'll roll out what she called a massive air conditioning plan, starting with the most vulnerable populations. And this is not a trivial issue. More than 62,000 Europeans died of heat related deaths in 2024 alone, compared to fewer than 2,500 in the US in the same year.
A
So what's the counter argument for putting air conditioning in places like nursing homes?
D
Yeah, the counter is coming from the left and more green parties who are still staunchly opposed to AC despite what we've seen this week. They argue that it draws far too much electricity and contributes to climate change. The clearest example of that came from a city in Belgium run almost entirely by left leaning officials. Its government website told residents last week that, quote, the best air conditioner is a tree and offered them a free tree to plant outside their homes instead of ac. The city eventually walked that back after backlash and has since installed portable AC units in a number of daycare centers. And the right is arguing at this point, no matter what you believe about climate change, protecting vulnerable populations needs to come first. And there are signs that public opinion is shifting in favor of AC now
A
bringing it back to the US we also have a huge heat wave this week for fourth of July weekend. What are we expecting to see?
D
Yeah, it's going to be dangerously hot for much of the country. There's no other way of putting it. A heat dome, as they're calling it, is settling over the eastern half of the country. It's forecasted to peak on Friday. More than 100 million people under a major heat risk at some point this week. And cities along the I95 corridor could see several straight days in the upper 90s to low 1/ hundreds with heat indexes hitting as high as 110. Washington could hit 103 on Friday. New York projected to record its first 100 degree day since 2012. Forecasters are urging people to take the heat seriously as folks celebrate America's 250th anniversary with cookouts and fireworks. So, you know, stay hydrated, be smart, and Enjoy ac which thankfully most of us have.
A
So on the east coast we have a heat dome, but also there are some very dangerous conditions out west. Tell us about the wildfires.
D
Yeah, that's right. Fire season is hitting hardest right now on the Colorado Utah border where three federal firefighters were just killed over the weekend while battling a fast moving wildfire. These firefighters were part of an elite unit that specializes in stopping new fires, but this one unfortunately spread so fast that the flames overtook them just before they could be pulled out. There are dozens of other massive fires raging across the western US Right now. The biggest one in Utah has already burned more than 93,000 acres. And if it continues at this rate, it will be the most destructive fire in state history.
B
Wow.
A
Well, Cabot, thanks so much for reporting.
D
Absolutely.
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rising beef prices could put a damper on Americans plans to celebrate the fourth. Daily Wire contributor Tim Pierce joins us now to talk about what happened to beef price prices in recent years. And in case listeners don't know, Tim Pierce is actually a fifth generation rancher. So basically all cattle and no hat. Tim, why do beef prices seem so high right now?
C
Yeah, this is obviously a subject that I have a personal connection to and my family spends a lot of time monitoring the beef prices. Makes sense. And that beef prices seem high because they are high. Federal data says that beef prices have risen 16 just in the past year. A lot of that comes down to herd sizes shrinking. Demand is going up. Morning Wire recently spoke to Good Ranchers founder and CEO Ben Spell. Here's what he said.
E
It's no surprise we have the the lowest cattle herds in the US Pretty much in history. That's probably the biggest driver of it. The herds have been dwindling, you know, because of drought, but also because the average age of ranchers in the US is very high. Like I think it's 62. Meaning there's a saying, make hay when the sun's shining. And right now on the selling cattle side, cattle are selling for record prices. And so a lot of people, a lot of the ranchers are seeing this as an opportunity for them to sell off their herds.
C
So we're in a bit of a death spiral with aging ranchers being incentivized to liquidate their farms right as we need more cattle. Spell also said that changing tastes factor into this as well. Americans in general now eat a lot more beef than they used to, and that added demand has driven up prices as well.
A
Now, the price of beef is something that the Trump administration has tried to address directly. In February, President Trump signed an order to increase beef imports from Argentina to try to bring down those prices. Has that worked at all?
B
Yeah.
C
Basic economics says that the imports should help out the prices in the short term, at least with the price of ground beef, which was specifically targeted in that order. But ag and ranching groups have warned that increasing U.S. reliance on foreign beef has drawbacks as well, and in particular, particular to this order. Some groups have said that the amount that Trump's order increases imports by is not enough to have a measurable impact on beef prices in the grocery store. And then in general, there is a big concern that importing cattle, not just beef, could lead to the spread of disease. Cattle groups have warned that Argentina has a history of foot and mouth disease. It's a severe viral disease that is highly contagious and while not often fatal, can leave the animal very weak and underweight. It's also very hard to get rid of once it starts to spread. There's also a more immediate example of this. Ag producers in the Southwest are currently fighting a resurgence of what's called the New World screwworm. It's a fly that will lay its eggs in open wounds, and the maggots that hatch will burrow through the host and eat its flesh. Obviously painful and lethal as well, if left untreated. Screw worm reappeared in Mexico in 2024, and now cases of it just recently began to pop up in Texas. Authorities there have already issued emergency quarantine and animal movement orders across nearly two dozen counties.
A
Now, if we need more cattle to bring down some of these prices, what do we need to do to get there? And how long will it take?
C
Well, there's really only two ways to get more cattle. You can either buy them or you can breed them. And then breeding, obviously you have to wait on the breeding cycle of the cattle, which will take months, if not years to replenish stock. We also asked spell about this and he said it could be a long process.
E
You're talking about a two year process, really. Not to be the bearer of bad news, but we're really not going to see any relief on beef prices until probably 2028 at the soonest. But it is a cycle and if you look back over the last 50 years, there's cycles like we're in right now.
C
So Americans will have to deal with high prices for now, but relief will hopefully come in the next couple of years.
A
Yeah, well, as a almost daily steak eater, this is something I have noticed a lot over the past year. Tim, thanks for reporting.
C
Thanks for having me.
A
Thanks for waking up with us. The reporting that fuels this show is only possible because you tune in every day and because of our Daily Wire subscribers. To enjoy the show ad free and join our mission become a member@dailywire.com we'll be back later this evening with more news you need to know.
D
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Date: June 30, 2026
Host: Georgia Howe (The Daily Wire)
Guests: Jonathan Scruggs (Alliance Defending Freedom), Cabot Phillips (Wired In), Tim Pierce (Daily Wire Contributor, 5th Generation Rancher), Ben Spell (Good Ranchers CEO)
This episode dives into major Supreme Court rulings impacting presidential powers and federal elections, widespread deadly heat waves in Europe and the US, and the surge in beef prices affecting Fourth of July celebrations. The discussions feature expert legal, economic, and political commentary to break down these timely issues.
[02:55 – 06:51]
Trump vs. Slaughter:
Trump vs. Cook:
[07:39 – 12:28]
East Coast Heat Dome:
Western Wildfires:
[13:04 – 17:09]
| Segment | Topic | Timestamp | |---|---|---| | Supreme Court Rulings Begin | SCOTUS mail-in ballots, executive power decisions | 02:55 | | Executive Power – Trump vs. Slaughter | Presidential agency firing authority | 03:13–03:57 | | Executive Power – Trump vs. Cook | Firing Federal Reserve officials | 03:57–04:54 | | Mail-in Ballots – Watson vs. RNC | State discretion, surprising vote split | 04:54–06:37 | | Heat Wave in Europe | Record temps, death toll, politics of AC | 07:39–11:03 | | US Heat and Wildfires | East Coast heat dome, wildfires in West | 11:03–12:28 | | Beef Prices | Reasons for price hike, impacts, relief timeline | 13:04–17:09 |
The conversation is brisk, fact-driven, and slightly skeptical about mainstream narratives, in keeping with the Daily Wire’s tone. There are clear appeals to practical issues (“more than a thousand Europeans dying…could have been prevented”), as well as a focus on government policy impact and public reaction.
This episode delivers sharp, accessible analysis of top news: a split Supreme Court outcome on major presidential and election powers, intensifying heat crises in Europe and the US with political fallout, and a deep dive on why your burger costs so much more this summer—with no quick relief in sight.