SoCal Wildfire Outrage & Biden’s Prohibition 2.0 | 1.10.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary Episode: SoCal Wildfire Outrage & Biden’s Prohibition 2.0 | 01.10.25 Release Date: January 10, 2025

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Introduction In this episode of Morning Wire, Hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe delve into pressing national issues, including the devastating Southern California wildfires, the Supreme Court's latest rulings affecting high-profile cases, and the Biden administration's controversial regulatory initiatives dubbed "Prohibition 2.0." The discussion is enriched with expert insights, notable quotes, and in-depth analysis to provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of these critical topics.

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1. Southern California Wildfires: Unprecedented Devastation and Outrage

Overview California is grappling with its worst wildfires in Los Angeles history, causing widespread destruction and displacing tens of thousands of residents. The fires have not only ravaged the landscape but have also ignited significant public outrage towards city officials and lawmakers.

Key Points:

• Extent of the Devastation: Over 28,000 acres have burned, thousands of homes and businesses have been destroyed, and more than 100,000 people have been evacuated. As of Thursday, the death toll stands at five, with expectations of it rising further. [00:03 - 00:09]

• Economic Impact: Analysts from JP Morgan estimate the total losses to approach $50 billion, making these fires potentially the costliest in U.S. history—nearly five times more expensive than the previous record held by the 2018 Camp Fire, which cost $12 billion. Additionally, the Wall Street Journal reports that less than half of the property damage will be covered by insurance, signaling a long and arduous recovery process. [01:38 - 03:55]

• Containment Efforts and Challenges: Despite efforts to contain smaller fires like Woodley and Tyler, the largest fires in Palisades and Eaton remain 0% contained. Strong Santa Ana winds, reaching up to 100 mph, have exacerbated the situation, though a temporary lull has provided fire crews a brief respite. The imminent return of these winds by Saturday adds urgency to the containment strategies. [02:56 - 04:22]

• Looting and Security Concerns: In the chaos of evacuations, officials advised residents to leave their homes unlocked to facilitate access for firefighting crews. This recommendation unfortunately led to an increase in looting, with at least 20 arrests and numerous reported cases of property ransacking caught on security cameras. [03:55 - 04:02]

Notable Quotes:

• Cabot Phillips, Daily Wire Senior Editor: “More than 28,000 acres have burned, thousands of homes and businesses have been leveled, and more than 100,000 folks have been forced to evacuate.” [01:48]

• Cabot Phillips: “From a financial perspective, this will almost certainly be the costliest set of wildfires in US history.” [02:51]

Policy Critiques and Political Fallout: The discussion highlights criticism of environmental policies that may have inadvertently worsened wildfire conditions. Controlled burns, a traditional method for reducing flammable underbrush, are now hindered by prolonged environmental reviews, delaying approval by up to four years. Additionally, reservoir mismanagement under Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration—specifically the redirection of billions of gallons of rainwater and snowmelt into the ocean—has been blamed by critics for leaving fire crews with insufficient water resources. [04:30 - 05:39]

Political Reactions: Republicans, including Donald Trump, have sharply criticized Governor Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass for their handling of the situation. Trump remarked, “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points. There are those that say that TikTok has something to do with that.” [05:12 - 05:21] The episode anticipates increasing pressure on local officials as the situation intensifies.

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2. Supreme Court Developments: Trump's Hush Money Sentencing and TikTok's Fate

Donald Trump's Hush Money Case: The Supreme Court has declined to delay President Donald Trump’s sentencing related to his New York hush money case. In a narrow 5-4 decision, the Court denied an automatic stay, allowing Judge Juan Merchan to proceed with sentencing. Notably, Merchan has indicated that jail time will not be part of Trump’s punishment, a factor that influenced the Court’s decision. Trump’s legal team expressed disappointment but acknowledged that the appeals process is ongoing. [06:22 - 07:33]

TikTok's Supreme Court Battle: Simultaneously, the Supreme Court is set to hear a pivotal case determining whether the popular social media app TikTok can continue operating in the United States. This case hinges on balancing national security concerns against free speech rights.

Legal Arguments:

• Government's Stance: Supported by Republicans, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, and attorneys general from 22 states, the government argues that TikTok poses a national security threat due to its parent company ByteDance’s ties to China. Concerns include data harvesting that could potentially be used for espionage or blackmail, and the promotion of Chinese propaganda through the app’s algorithm. [07:53 - 09:53]

• TikTok’s Defense: TikTok contends that the proposed ban violates free speech rights and sets a dangerous precedent, particularly because other Chinese-owned companies have not faced similar restrictions. They argue there is insufficient evidence of actual spying or propaganda efforts facilitated by the app. [09:53 - 10:32]

Notable Quotes:

• Megan Basham, Daily Wire Culture Reporter: “Donald Trump's attorneys made an 11th hour bid to the Supreme Court, hoping that they would delay that sentencing in his hush money case.” [06:45]

• Donald Trump: “Well, it's very sad because I've been trying to get Gavin Newsom to allow water to come. You'd have tremendous water. They send it out to the Pacific.” [05:12]

Potential Resolutions: A last-minute acquisition of TikTok by Canadian businessman Kevin O'Leary could render the case moot. O'Leary is reportedly negotiating a deal to purchase TikTok, which, if successful, might satisfy national security concerns without enforcing a ban. However, internal GOP divisions persist, with some leaders advocating for the ban regardless of such developments. [10:48 - 11:16]

Notable Quote:

• Donald Trump: “I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points. There are those that say that TikTok has something to do with that.” [10:22]

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3. Biden’s "Prohibition 2.0": Regulatory Push on Cigarettes and Alcohol

Cigarette Regulation: President Joe Biden is advancing what critics call "Prohibition 2.0," a series of stringent regulations aimed at reducing substance use, beginning with lowering nicotine levels in cigarettes. Initially proposing a ban on menthol cigarettes three months into his term—a proposal he shelved due to unpopularity among black voters—Biden is now shifting strategy. The current proposal doesn’t outright ban cigarettes but seeks to reduce nicotine levels, intending to decrease smoking rates. However, opponents argue this could lead to increased consumption to achieve desired nicotine levels and potentially foster a black market, inadvertently empowering drug cartels. [11:23 - 13:12]

Alcohol Regulation: In addition to tobacco, the Biden administration is targeting alcohol consumption. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has issued a new advisory linking alcohol consumption directly to increased cancer risks. Recommendations include mandatory health warnings on alcohol products and a reassessment of national alcohol consumption guidelines. The Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking is reportedly drafting guidelines suggesting that no level of alcohol consumption is safe, aligning with the World Health Organization's stance. Critics view these moves as overreaching and potentially harmful to personal freedoms. [12:35 - 14:10]

Notable Quotes:

• Tim Rice, Daily Wire Deputy Managing Editor: “Critics say it would actually have the opposite effect since people would just smoke more cigarettes to hit their nicotine baseline.” [12:30]

• Tim Rice: “It's called the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking. And as its name suggests, it's technically supposed to focus on, you know, underage drinking.” [13:04]

Political Implications: While the cigarette regulation may ultimately fall to the incoming Trump administration, which is anticipated to halt such initiatives, the alcohol guidelines face legislative hurdles. Congress would need to pass new laws for alcohol warning labels, but bipartisan reluctance makes this unlikely in the near term. The episode suggests that these regulatory efforts are part of a broader agenda to impose stricter controls on personal habits, raising concerns about governmental overreach. [14:10 - 14:15]

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Conclusion Morning Wire provides a thorough exploration of some of the most urgent issues facing the United States today. From the catastrophic wildfires in Southern California and their political ramifications to landmark Supreme Court cases involving high-profile figures and influential social media platforms, the episode offers listeners detailed insights and diverse perspectives. Additionally, the discussion on Biden’s regulatory policies underscores the ongoing debate over governmental intervention in personal health choices. Through expert analysis and timely reporting, John Bickley and Georgia Howe equip their audience with the necessary information to understand and engage with these critical national conversations.

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Note: The summary above intentionally excludes advertisements, introductions, outros, and non-content sections, focusing solely on the substantive discussions presented in the podcast episode.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

California reels as the worst fires in LA's history continue to rage out of control.

[Georgia Howe]

How are officials handling the containment efforts and the threat of looting?

[Brandon]

These acts are despicable and we will prosecute them with maximal punishment.

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Friday, January 10th, and this is Morning Wire. The Supreme Court refuses to intervene in Donald Trump's New York hush money sentencing. And here's a case that will determine the survival of social media app TikTok.

[Georgia Howe]

And is the Biden administration trying to ban cigarettes and alcohol? We discuss what some are calling Prohibition 2.0.

[John Bickley]

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

[Brandon]

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[Georgia Howe]

As wildfires continue to ravage Los Angeles, displacing tens of thousands, outrage against city officials and lawmakers is growing.

[John Bickley]

Here to break it all down is Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips. Cabot said these fires keep raging and the devastation's unthinkable. What's the latest from Los Angeles?

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, by now everyone has seen the horrifying images coming out of Los Angeles. Just sheer devastation. More than 28,000 acres have burned, thousands of homes and businesses have been leveled, and more than 100,000 folks have been forced to evacuate. By Thursday, the death toll was at 5, but those numbers are certain to rise. First responders have been so overwhelmed by the task of fighting back the fires, they've hardly even begun the grim process of recovering and identifying those who did not escape. And beyond that terrible loss of life, from a financial perspective, this will almost certainly be the costliest set of wildfires in US history. Analysts from JP Morgan estimate that total losses will be close to $50 billion. That would be nearly five times more costly than any other blaze. The previous record holder was the campfire back in 2018 that cost $12 billion. And to make Matters worse, the Wall Street Journal estimates that less than half of the property damage will be covered by insurance. So a long road to recovery in more ways than one.

[John Bickley]

Yeah, and that recovery effort can't even begin yet because the fires have yet to be contained.

[Cabot Phillips]

Exactly. While firefighters contain the smaller Woodley and Tyler fires, as well as a smaller blaze that erupted in the Hollywood Hills Wednesday night, By Thursday, the two largest fires, Palisades and Eaton, were 0% contained. Now, thankfully, those strong Santa Ana winds coming off the Pacific, which peaked at 100 miles per hour, and it really fed the flames, dissipated a bit on Thursday, offering fire crews a brief respite. But they're expected to pick back up by Saturday. So officials are racing to make a dent in the existing fires before then. In the meantime, first responders are still contending not just with the flames, but also with looters. Fire officials urged evacuating residents to leave their houses unlocked, with gates and doors open so crews could gain access. And sadly, that's left opportunities for criminals taking advantage of this tragedy. At latest count, at least 20 looters have been arrested, but far more cases have been reported as helpless folks watched on security cameras as looters ransacked their homes before police could arrive.

[John Bickley]

Now, just unthinkable to take advantage of a tragedy like this. So what do we know about the cause of these fires?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, officials say they still don't know the answer to that question, but they certainly believe arson could be at play, particularly in the massive Palisades fire. More than a dozen arson investigators, many with specially trained dogs, are combing through that area where the fire first broke out. They're looking for signs of accelerants, fireworks, electrical damage, or even lightning.

[John Bickley]

Now, all of this comes amid increased scrutiny on policies that critics say have made these fires harder to prevent and fight. Tell us about that.

[Brandon]

Right.

[Cabot Phillips]

So California residents have long said that policies meant to protect the environment have actually made the state more susceptible to wildfires. For example, fire departments have historically conducted controlled burns to clear out flammable underbrush. But new environmental reviews have slowed that process greatly. It now takes around four years for controlled burn requests to be approved and get through all the red tape. Others point to the fact that reservoirs often used by fire crews in LA were low or even completely empty in the days leading up to the fire. As we noted yesterday, critics, including President Trump, blame Governor Gavin Newsom, who last year allowed billions of gallons of rainwater and snow melt to be directed out of reservoirs and into the ocean.

[Donald Trump]

Well, it's very sad because I've been trying to get Gavin Newsom to allow water to come. You'd have tremendous water. They send it out to the Pacific.

[Cabot Phillips]

And while Republicans have been among the most vocal critics of Governor Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass, we've also seen plenty of outrage from more than a few Democrats in the state who say the pair failed to properly prepare for these wildfires left LA vulnerable. We'll see just how much that pressure ramps up in the coming weeks.

[John Bickley]

It's already at fever pitch at this point. Cabot, thanks so much for reporting.

[Cabot Phillips]

Anytime.

[Brandon]

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[John Bickley]

The case that will decide TikTok's fate in the US Lands at the Supreme Court today. It's a moment that comes just after the court decided against a Trump appeal.

[Georgia Howe]

Here with the details is Daily Wire culture reporter Megan Basham. So, Megan, before we get to TikTok, the Supreme Court last night refused to intervene in Donald Trump's hush money sentencing. What are the details of last night's decision?

[Megan Basham]

So Donald Trump's attorneys made an 11th hour bid to the Supreme Court, hoping that they would delay that sentencing in his hush money case. Instead, what happened? In a 5 to 4 decision, the justices rejected his request for an automatic stay. And Chief Justice John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett joined the liberal justices in denying Trump's appeal. So what that does is it clears the way for today's sentencing by Judge Juan Merchan. Now, Mershon has indicated that he will not make jail time part of the punishment. And that did factor into the Supreme Court's decision not to issue a stay on the sentencing. They said that the sentencing wasn't burdensome enough to stay and that Trump's arguments against the verdict could be heard in the regular appeals process. So this is not over yet.

[Georgia Howe]

Okay. So turning to today's Supreme Court docket, that's the fate of social media giant TikTok. This case has been a long time coming, and about 150 million Americans use TikTok. They may not be able to access it past January 19, which is just about a week from now. What are the legal arguments for banning TikTok?

[Megan Basham]

So what this case really comes down to is national security versus free speech. You have on one side a lot of Republicans, including FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr and the attorneys general of 22 states who have backed the law that will require this ban to go into effect next week if ByteDance doesn't sell its American holdings in the company. Now, they argue that TikTok poses a threat because of ByteDance's ties to China, given that Chinese business law allows the CCP to harvest the data of Americans, including location, browsing habits, personal details, things like that. And that kind of spying could be used to blackmail American officials, just one example of the national security risks. So they're also concerned about how the app's algorithm could be used to promote Chinese propaganda to American users. In fact, two different academic studies have found that TikTok has done exactly this. For example, one found that the app suppressed negative news related to Chinese treatment of the Uyghurs, and it promoted content that denied its human rights abuses. So, in essence, the Justice Department is arguing that this law is not targeting speech, but, but only foreign control of the platform. But on the other side, TikTok is asking the court to block the law because they say it's a violation of free speech. So, one, they argue the law is only being applied to TikTok and not to other businesses that also have Chinese owned parent companies. And the government has never banned a communication tool like this with this many users before. So they say it would set a precedent with unforeseen speech consequences. And then they deny that there's evidence that the app has been used for spying or propaganda. Now, it's worth noting the D.C. court of Appeals didn't buy TikTok's argument. It found that the government does have a national security interest in preventing foreign spying through the app.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, Donald Trump famously spearheaded the idea of banning TikTok back in around 2019, but he's since changed his tune on that. What's he saying now?

[Megan Basham]

Yeah, he has. He's now taking the position that the ban is going to unfairly benefit TikTok competitors like Facebook. And he also agrees that it could set a bad precedent that would cause issues for other foreign companies operating on US Soil. And he pointed out last month that the app helped him win over a lot of young voters.

[Donald Trump]

You know, I have a warm spot in my heart for TikTok because I won youth by 34 points. There are those that say that TikTok has something to do with that.

[Megan Basham]

So he's filed an amicus brief asking the court not to uphold the law so that he can instead negotiate a solution. But other GOP leaders feel differently. And we do have to remember that this law passed with strong bipartisan support back in April.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, any chance that a last minute sale goes through and it makes this whole case moot?

[Megan Basham]

It could, yes. So Canadian business mogul Kevin O'Leary, who, you know, a lot of listeners might know as the judge on the show Shark Tank, well, he said he's trying to close a last minute deal to buy it. And this is what he told FOX News on Thursday. I wanted to let Trump know as.

[Donald Trump]

Well as others in his cabinet that we're doing this and we're gonna need their help.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, a lot of split opinions on this. Meghan, thanks for reporting.

[Megan Basham]

Anytime.

[Georgia Howe]

With just days left in his term, Joe Biden is trying to push through what may be his least popular policy yet, a cigarette ban. And that's just the tip of the regulatory iceberg.

[John Bickley]

Daily Wire deputy Managing editor Tim Rice is here with a look at what some people are calling Prohibition 2.0. Hey, Tim. So walk us through what's going on here.

[Tim Rice]

You know, John, in a way, this is kind of a full circle moment for Biden. Just three months into his term, he proposed banning menthol cigarettes. That was immediately unpopular and the White House actually shelved the plan this past August out of fear that it would specifically alienate black voters. But now that the election is already lost, Biden's plugging ahead. The proposed rule isn't technically a ban, but a move to lower nicotine levels in cigarettes. Obviously, this is a bid to get Americans to smoke less, but critics say it would actually have the opposite effect since people would just smoke more cigarettes to hit their nicotine baseline. There are also concerns that the rule would fuel a black market for cigarettes, which could empower the cartels already flooding the country with drugs. The good news here is that the final decision to implement this rule will land with the Trump administration, which likely isn't going to go through with it.

[John Bickley]

Right now. Cigarettes are not all the White House is trying to ban or reduce, correct?

[Tim Rice]

Yeah, that's right. Listeners may have noticed a lot of anti alcohol content circulating recently, more than the usual dry January ads. A lot of that has to do with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's new advisory outlining the direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk. Murthy wants there to be health warnings on all alcohol products that mention cancer risk, just like those that we have on cigarettes. And he wants there to be, quote, a reassessment of the guideline limits for alcohol consumption to account for cancer risk.

[John Bickley]

So warning labels and tightening the limits, I presume. Is this just another thing that the Trump administration can eventually kill, or is there something else going on here?

[Tim Rice]

It's a little different. For one thing, Congress would have to vote to put new warning labels on alcohol. And members from both parties have already signaled that they're not going to do that. But the more important part is Murphy's second recommendation, that reassessment of alcohol consumption guidelines. Murthy didn't just suggest this out of the blue. There's actually a kind of shady committee working deep within the Biden administration drafting new guidance which, if adopted, would recommend that Americans never drink, ever. It's called the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking. And as its name suggests, it's technically supposed to focus on, you know, underage drinking. But the Biden administration has charged it with updating the federal Dietary Guidelines for alcohol. Currently, the government defines moderate drinking as two daily drinks or less for men and one for women. But sources say this committee wants to adopt the World Health Organization's position on drinking. That 2023 declaration, no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.

[John Bickley]

We'll have to see what happens. But until then, maybe think about stocking up on your favorite beer. Tim, thanks for reporting.

[Tim Rice]

You bet.

[John Bickley]

Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back this afternoon with more news. You need to know.

[Brandon]

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