Senate GOP Leader Elected & Congressional FEMA Investigations | Afternoon Update | 11.13.24

Summary

Morning Wire: Senate GOP Leader Elected & Congressional FEMA Investigations | Afternoon Update | 11.13.24

Hosted by John Bickley and Georgia Howe of The Daily Wire

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1. Senate GOP Leadership Election

John Bickley opens the afternoon update by announcing the election of Senator John Thune as the new leader of Senate Republicans. Thune, representing South Dakota, secured the position with a 29 to 24 vote over Texas Senator John Cornyn. Florida Senator Rick Scott was eliminated in the first ballot, garnering only 13 votes compared to Cornyn's 15 and Thune's 23.

John Thune delivered a compelling message from the podium post-election:

[01:01] John Thune: "We have a mandate from the American a mandate not only to clean up the mess left by the Biden Harris Schumer agenda, but also to deliver on President Trump's priorities. [...] We will have an ambitious agenda and will take each and every Republican working together to be successful."

Thune emphasized his commitment to uniting the Republican conference and advancing both the party's current objectives and former President Trump's priorities over the next two years.

2. Trump's Nomination of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense

John Bickley continues with an update on former President Donald Trump's nomination for Secretary of Defense. Trump has selected Pete Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran and Fox News host, known for his staunch opposition to what he terms the military's "WOKE" ideology.

Hegseth, who authored a book criticizing the military's shift towards gender diversity and extremism under the Obama and Biden administrations, pledged to restore merit-based values within the armed forces. In an interview with Ben Shapiro, Hegseth stated:

[02:10] Pete Hegseth: "Every aspect of it is how good are you at your job and how quickly can you execute? [...] If you're a general officer inside the military, you raise your right hand to defend the Constitution."

Hegseth's remarks highlight his focus on competence and constitutional loyalty as cornerstones of his envisioned leadership for the Department of Defense.

3. Arrest Over Leaked Classified Documents

Georgia Howe reports a significant arrest involving William Rahman, a CIA official suspected of leaking classified documents concerning Israel's preparations for a potential attack on Iran. Rahman was apprehended by the FBI in Cambodia and subsequently extradited to Guam, where he faced charges.

The court filing details that Rahman has been indicted on two counts: willful retention and transmission of national defense information, marking a critical development in national security and intelligence integrity.

4. Congressional Investigation into FEMA's Alleged Political Bias

John Bickley brings attention to an ongoing investigation involving FEMA Director Deanne Criswell. Two House committees are set to question Criswell next week regarding allegations that FEMA relief workers in Florida were directed to avoid homes displaying Trump flags or signs during hurricane relief operations.

Amanda Prestigiacomo, a Daily Wire reporter, provides deeper insights:

[03:26] Amanda Prestigiacomo: "The House Subcommittee on Economic Development has now expanded its investigation into FEMA after the now fired supervisor Marnie Washington told workers to skip home homes with Trump flags or signs following recent hurricanes."

Washington asserted that this directive was not an isolated incident but indicative of a broader FEMA policy aimed at steering clear of politically hostile residences. Criswell is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee, with investigations continuing at both federal and state levels.

5. Burglaries Targeting Kansas City Chiefs Stars

Georgia Howe reports unsettling news from the sports world: the homes of Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs were burglarized last month. Mahomes' luxury mansion in Belton, Missouri, was broken into on October 6, and Kelce's estate in Leawood was targeted the following day.

Authorities confirmed that $20,000 in cash was stolen from Kelce's property, although it remains unclear if any items were taken from Mahomes' residence. The FBI is now investigating these incidents, suggesting they may be part of a larger, interstate crime spree targeting affluent individuals.

6. Disney World's Tiana's Bayou Adventure Receives Mixed Reviews

John Bickley shifts focus to entertainment, discussing Disney World's new water ride, Tiana's Bayou Adventure. This attraction, which replaced the contentious Splash Mountain, has garnered feedback for leaving guests excessively soaked. Visitors report that water accumulates within the ride vehicles, leading to riders being drenched from head to toe.

Disneyland's iteration of the ride, slated to open this week, is expected to be even wetter, continuing the trend of high-intensity water experiences. This reaction highlights ongoing challenges Disney faces in balancing immersive experiences with guest comfort.

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Closing Remarks

Georgia Howe wraps up the update, directing listeners to dailywire.com for more comprehensive coverage and encouraging them to tune into the full Morning Wire episodes for in-depth reporting on the day’s most significant stories.

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For the latest news and comprehensive analyses, visit dailywire.com and stay informed with Morning Wire’s daily updates.

Transcript

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[Georgia Howe]

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley. It's Wednesday, November 13th, and this is your MORNING Wire afternoon update.

[John Bickley]

Republicans in the Senate have chosen their new leader. John Thune of South Dakota will succeed Mitch McConnell and lead Senate Republicans for at least the next two years. Thune, who has served as the Republican whip in the chamber since 2019, won by vote of 29 to 24 over Texas Senator John Cornyn, a late favorite in the race. Florida's Rick Scott was eliminated on the first ballot after receiving just 13 votes to 15 for Cornyn and 23 for Thune. Here was Majority Leader Elect Thune in a press conference after the vote.

[John Thune]

We have a mandate from the American a mandate not only to clean up the mess left by the Biden Harris Schumer agenda, but also to deliver on President Trump's priorities. And I want to thank my colleagues who placed their faith in me to serve as leader and to those who were supporting another candidate. I promise to be a leader who serves the entire Republican conference. We will have an ambitious agenda and will take each and every Republican working together to be successful.

[John Bickley]

Trump has also announced his choice for secretary of defense. Army National Guard vet and Fox News host Pete Hegseth, known for his outspoken criticism of the military's embrace of WOKE ideology. In a book he authored, Hegseth criticized the military's shift under the Obama and Biden administrations, citing changes focused on gender diversity and extremism rather than military readiness. He's vowed to restore merit based values in the armed forces if confirmed. Here's what Hegseth told Daily Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro on a recent Sunday special.

[Pete Hegseth]

Every aspect of it is how good are you at your job and how quickly can you execute? And that's what it's supposed to be. And if you're a general officer inside the military, you raise your right hand to defend the Constitution. That's what you're defending. You're not going to let anything inside the ranks of your forces that tear that down. We have a whole warrior general class that has done just that.

[Georgia Howe]

The man suspected of leaking classified documents detailing Israel's preparations for a possible attack on Iran has been arrested. CIA official William Rahman was apprehended by the FBI in Cambodia today and then brought to Guam, where he faced charges, according to a court filing. Rahman was indicted in federal court last week on two counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information.

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[John Bickley]

Two House committees are set to question FEMA Director Deanne Criswell next week over allegations that relief workers in Florida were instructed to avoid homes advertising Trump. Daily Wire reporter Amanda Prestigiacomo has the details.

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

The House Subcommittee on Economic Development has now expanded its investigation into FEMA after the now fired supervisor Marnie Washington told workers to skip home homes with Trump flags or signs following recent hurricanes. Washington claimed in an interview earlier this week that this was not an isolated incident, but part of FEMA's broader policy to avoid politically hostile homes. Criswell is scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee, and investigations at both the federal and state levels are ongoing.

[Georgia Howe]

The homes of Kansas City Chiefs stars Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes were both targeted in burglaries last month, according to reports. Mahomes luxury mansion in Belton, Missouri, was broken into on October 6, with Kelsey's Leawood estate hit the following day. Authorities say $20,000 in cash was stolen from Kelsey's property, though it's unclear if anything was taken from Mahomes house. The FBI is now investigating, suggesting the incidence may be part of a larger crime spree across state lines.

[John Bickley]

And Disney World's new water ride is making a much bigger than anticipated splash park. Visitors say they're getting too soaked on Tiana's Bayou Adventure, the attraction replies, replaced Splash Mountain, which was shut down over claims that it was racist and is inspired by the Princess and the Frog. Guests say the ride leaves them drenched, with some even claiming that water collects in the cars, soaking riders from head to toe. Disneyland's version, which is set to open this week, is reportedly even wetter.

[Georgia Howe]

Those are your Drive Home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com and for more in depth reporting on the biggest stories of the day, tune into our full episode of Morning Wire every.