Tate Brothers Arrested & Trump Course Corrects ICE | 7.20.26

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary

Episode: Tate Brothers Arrested & Trump Course Corrects ICE
Date: July 20, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley, Georgia Howe
Guests/Reporters: Cabot Phillips, Megan Basham, Tim Pearce

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Overview

This episode of Morning Wire breaks down several urgently developing stories in U.S. and global news: the U.S. retaliation against Iran following deadly attacks on American service members, the arrest and extradition proceedings against controversial internet personalities Andrew and Tristan Tate, and the Trump administration’s quick pivot on ICE traffic stop policy after fatal incidents and public backlash. The episode also touches on major cultural and sports updates, including the FIFA World Cup and Christopher Nolan’s latest film.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Escalation in U.S.–Iran Conflict

(02:36 – 07:20)

• Background: A ceasefire with Iran has completely broken down, with diplomatic efforts failing and military engagement surging after a lethal weekend for U.S. troops.
• Recent Attacks: Iranian missile and drone strikes on U.S. installations, most notably the Muafic Salty Airbase in Jordan, resulted in at least three American deaths, several injuries, and additional fatalities in Iraq during ordnance disposal. Total American deaths in the conflict now stand at 17.
• White House and Pentagon Response:
  • War Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a strong statement of resolve, echoed by President Trump and Defense officials.
  • Notable quote (War Secretary Pete Hegseth):
    "If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation. And we will kill you." [04:25]
  • U.S. military response included eight consecutive nights of airstrikes targeting missile/drone sites, bridges, IRGC bases, and, allegedly, an under-construction nuclear plant—an unprecedented escalation.
  • The Pentagon and State Department have warned Americans against traveling to the Middle East, and large-scale deployments of aircraft suggest an imminent broader military operation.
• Economic & Political Context:
  • Trump reversed his previous stance offering sanctions relief and now seeks Congressional support for tougher sanctions.
  • Domestic support for Trump’s handling of the conflict is exceptionally low, with only about 28% of Americans believing the war is worth fighting. ("That is lower than… support… for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which were historically unpopular in their own right." —Cabot Phillips [06:59])
• Iran’s Response:
  • Iran formally withdrew from the memorandum of understanding and promised 'unforgettable consequences.'
  • Iranian attacks have begun exploiting gaps in U.S. air defenses with faster missile technology.
  • Ongoing damage includes not just military, but vital infrastructure across the region.

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2. Arrest of Andrew and Tristan Tate

(09:42 – 14:06)

• Events: U.S. marshals arrested Andrew and Tristan Tate in Florida after the UK issued a new, expanded extradition request. Britain seeks their return on 59 charges spanning rape, sex trafficking, and producing child sex abuse images. Four new alleged victims have recently come forward.
• Background:
  • The Tate brothers, known for their “hyper masculinity content” online and dual U.S.-U.K. citizenship, were scheduled for a public event when arrested.
  • “In total, now The Tates face 59 charges in the UK, and they could be looking at life in prison if convicted.” —Megan Basham [10:56]
  • They have long claimed both innocence and that their legal woes are politically motivated.
• Tate’s Public Denials and Media Campaign:
  • Notable quote (Andrew Tate):
    "Because I'm seen as a symbol of resistance against their communism. That's why they hate me. ...Because the UK's fallen due to a lack of masculinity, which is why I promote. That's why they hate me." [11:32]
  • The Tates’ narrative of persecution is widely promoted in right-wing and “dissident” media, but traditional conservatives are distancing themselves.
  • Megan Basham notes the charges are about “specific criminal acts against identifiable women,” not speech or controversial opinions.
• Speculation on U.S. Political Intervention:
  • Despite social media rumors of possible U.S. government protection (“maybe the US could deny the UK's extradition request”), both the Trump White House and State Department have explicitly denied involvement:
    • "The President was very quick to correct the record… They are accused rapists, human traffickers, not thought of as good people in many circles." [13:20]
    • Trump denies any administration action to protect the Tates: "I just know nothing about it. We'll check it out. We'll let you know." [13:39]
  • Extradition is likely; denial in such high-profile international criminal cases would be unprecedented.

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3. ICE Traffic Stops Resume After Maine Shooting

(14:09 – 17:20)

• Incident: An ICE agent shot and killed a Colombian migrant in Maine, prompting Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen to temporarily pause ICE-initiated traffic stops nationwide.
  • Trump swiftly reversed the decision, signaling a sharp executive rebuke and a correction in Homeland Security operations.
  • "Mark Wayne Mullen, you know, took some action in concern of safety of the agents and how we do operations, and that's why he did that… that pause on enforcement on vehicle stops." —Tom Homan (recapped by Tim Pearce) [14:53]
• Shooting Details:
  • The agent has been identified in media reports as David Brulette, who underwent an expedited training process (47 vs. 72 days).
  • No bodycam footage exists. DHS claims the agent acted in self-defense as the migrant allegedly tried to run him over; the event is under FBI investigation.
• Political and Rhetorical Context:
  • Officials and commentators point to heated rhetoric against ICE as potentially emboldening resistance during enforcement encounters.
  • Notable quote (Tim Pearce):
    "My concern is, I think a lot of the rhetoric… especially in sanctuary cities and at these protests that resist members of Congress saying ICE isn't a real law enforcement agency… emboldens some people to say, I'm not going to comply with ICE." [16:54]
• Pending Developments: The community and national response remain tense. All await the FBI's findings on the incident as protests in Maine continue.

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4. Quick Hits: Culture and Sports

(17:20 – 18:05)

• FIFA World Cup: Spain takes home the trophy for the second time.
  "Spain, for the second time in their history, have won the World Cup." —Howard Mackler [17:41]
• Box Office: Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” defies controversy, pulling record-setting ticket sales ($120M domestic/$260M global) and high audience/critic praise.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Secretary Pete Hegseth on Iranian attacks:
  "If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation. And we will kill you." [04:25]
• Cabot Phillips on political reality:
  "On average, only one in three Americans support [Trump’s] handling of the conflict." [07:00]
• Andrew Tate defending himself:
  "They hate me because I teach young men to think for themselves." [11:32]
• Trump on the Tates:
  "They are accused rapists, human traffickers, not thought of as good people in many circles...I just know nothing about it. We'll check it out. We'll let you know." [13:24, 13:39]
• Tim Pearce on anti-ICE rhetoric:
  "I think a lot of the rhetoric… emboldens some people to say, I'm not going to comply with ICE." [16:54]

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Key Timestamps

• [02:36] – U.S.–Iran conflict escalation
• [04:25] – Hegseth’s vow of retribution
• [05:46] – U.S. economic/political impact and polling
• [09:42] – Arrest of Andrew & Tristan Tate
• [11:32] – Tate’s defense and media strategy
• [13:20] – White House response to Tate speculation
• [14:09] – ICE shooting in Maine, resulting policy reversal
• [16:54] – The role of rhetoric in ICE-community confrontations
• [17:20] – Sports and entertainment updates

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Tone

The show maintains a direct, news-first style, balancing grave seriousness (war, crime) with critical but calm context and occasional dry asides. Quotes are presented with their original intent and rhetorical sharpness, reflecting the program’s straight-shooting, right-leaning editorial slant.

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Conclusion

This Morning Wire episode delivers crucial updates on rapidly unfolding global and national events, framing the news in the context of political realities, official responses, and cultural undercurrents. The stories are covered in detail, while still making space for memorable soundbites and thought-provoking moments for their audience.

Transcript

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[Georgia Howe]

Paid for by Super Sure Insurance Agency, llc, a licensed insurance agency. President Trump orders intensive strikes on Iran after US Troops are killed in Jordan and Iraq.

[Andrew Tate]

We will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation and we will kill you.

[Georgia Howe]

I'm Daily Wire Executive editor John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Monday, July 20th. This is Morning Wire.

[Megan Basham]

Andrew Tate and his brother are arrested in Florida on dozens of new charges in an expanding sex trafficking case.

[Georgia Howe]

ICE traffic stops resume, though, with some significant changes while more details emerge about the deadly shooting in Maine.

[Tim Pearce]

It's more dangerous now than it ever has been because of the false stories,

[Georgia Howe]

the rhetoric, plus the odyssey brings home epic returns at the box office.

[Megan Basham]

Thanks for waking up with MORNING wire. Stay tuned. We have the news. You need to know if you've ever found yourself frustrated by what's happening in your child's school or wondering if there's anything you can actually do about it. You're not alone. Concerned Women for America is the nation's largest public policy grassroots organization for women, helping families get informed, get involved and stand up for the values they believe in. They've even put together a free practical guide to civic engagement and voting. Join CWA's growing army of fighters for truth and download their free Practical Guide for Engagement and [e-mail] wire that's concernedwomen.org wire.

[Georgia Howe]

The US has vowed severe retaliation against Iran after missile strikes killed multiple American service members over the weekend. Cabot Phillips, host of Wired in, is here to get us up to speed. So Cabot, for weeks now, you know things have been escalating now it looks like we're on the verge of all out war again. So what is the latest in the conflict?

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, as we've discussed on the show, the ceasefire with Iran had been slowly dissolving over the last few weeks with tit for tat strikes. But President Trump maintained the talks were ongoing and diplomacy was still a main goal for both sides. But there's now no doubt that the memorandum of understanding is over with. And the real question now is whether we return to all out war. The turning point came Saturday when Iranian missiles and drones made it past our air defense system and scored a direct hit on Muafic Salty Airbase. That's an American installation used throughout this conflict. That strike killed at least three American service members and sent four more to the hospital with serious injuries. And then Sunday afternoon CENTCOM announced that yet another soldier had been killed, this time in Iraq, quote, during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one way attack drone. These are the first American deaths in the Middle east since back in April and bring the death toll for this conflict up to at least 17. In remarkable and just horrifying footage reportedly captured at the scene, you can see the devastating impact of this Iranian strike on the base in Jordan.

[Georgia Howe]

Like you said, just horrific footage there. So what have we heard so far from the White House and the Pentagon?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, in a statement shortly after the strikes, War Secretary Pete Hegseth said, quote, godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve. And that has been the general sentiment so far. Resolve. For example, a Pentagon smokesman posted this clip of Secretary Hegseth as well over the weekend. If you kill Americans, if you threaten

[Andrew Tate]

Americans anywhere on earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation. And we will kill you.

[Cabot Phillips]

US Central Command announced that they had completed their eighth consecutive night of airstrikes across Iran. This time they targeted not just missile and drone sites along the Strait of Hormuz. They but they also hit key bridges in the specific IRGC bases that launched this lethal attack on our base in Jordan. And according to Iranian state media, the US Also targeted an under construction nuclear power plant in the country's southwest. Now, if true, that would mark the first strike on such a facility. So a major escalation. But based on the military buildup, we're seeing retaliation. Looks like it's going to be even broader. The State Department issued a new warning urging Americans against traveling to the Middle East. And then we saw untold numbers of F16s, F35s and refueling craft all to say, ending on the Middle east from bases across Europe and the US Mainland, presumably in preparation for a wider operation. It's all reminiscent of what we saw back in the early days of the conflict and the buildup in late February.

[Georgia Howe]

Right.

[Cabot Phillips]

And now, from an economic perspective, President Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday calling for Congress to enact new sanctions on the Iranian regime. Remember, that's a far cry from last month when he was offering the Iranians sanctions relief in pursuit of a peace deal. So all that to say it's hard to envision an off ramp at this point, at least not in the near future.

[Georgia Howe]

Indeed, this feels far from over. So what have we heard from the Iranian side? How have they responded to this?

[Cabot Phillips]

So on Saturday, they took the kind of symbolic step of formally withdrawing from the memorandum of understanding and they've issued their normal statements vowing, quote, unforgettable consequences for the US and while the majority of Iranian missiles and drones have been taken out, thanks to our high tech air defense systems is impossible to stop. All of them. Over the weekend, the Iranians scored hits on military and infrastructure sites across Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, doing significant damage not just to that military base in Jordan, but also oil and gas refineries and water treatment plants and other infrastructure. And more concerning, the regime has reportedly adopted new strategies to get past our air defenses. Numerous reports from the Pentagon say Iran has begun deploying high speed missiles that are slightly less maneuverable but are faster and harder to knock out of the sky. So that is certainly something to keep an eye on. Now, from a political perspective, this remains a major liability for President Trump. There's no other way of saying it. On average, only one in three Americans support his handling of the conflict. And a new poll from the Washington Post this week found that just 28% say the war was worth fighting to begin with. 28%. That is lower than the support we saw for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which were historically unpopular in their own right. So as President Trump weighs how to respond to these American deaths, we know he's going to do something. But the political pressure is certainly mounting,

[Georgia Howe]

indeed a very difficult situation for the president. And meanwhile, our prayers are with the families of those who have fallen. Kevin, thank you for reporting.

[Cabot Phillips]

Absolutely.

[Georgia Howe]

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[Georgia Howe]

code WIRE US marshals arrested controversial social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate Saturday evening. Britain is seeking their extradition on Dozens of charges related to rape, sex trafficking and producing child sex abuse images.

[Megan Basham]

Daily Wire Culture reporter Megan Basham is here now with the details. So, Megan, the Tate brothers hold dual US and British citizenship, and they're known online for their hyper masculinity content. And they have been in trouble with the law before. What can you tell us about these latest charges?

Yeah, Georgia. So the Tates were already facing 21 charges of rape, trafficking and prostitution in the UK, and those were from activities that involved three alleged victims between 2012 and 2015. But now the Crown's prosecution service says that four more victims have come forward, and the authorities decided to add these 38 new counts to those current charges. So Andrew Tate was scheduled to appear at a bare knuckle boxing event in downtown Miami on Saturday night. But before that could happen, U.S. marshals arrived and arrested the Tate brothers. So in total, now The Tates face 59 charges in the UK, and they could be looking at life in prison if convicted. And as you mentioned, that is in addition to some similar charges that they were already facing in Romania.

Right, and that would be a very long sentence considering they're still relatively Young, about late 30s. What do the Tates say about these charges?

Well, they admit to running a quote unquote webcam business. So think something like only fans online pornography, but they deny doing anything illegal. And they are characterizing these latest charges much as they characterize the older charges as political prosecution. In fact, this was what Andrew Tate said on Patrick Bet David's podcast last year.

[Andrew Tate]

Why does the UK want to lock me up? Because I'm seen as a symbol of resistance against their communism. That's why they hate me. They hate me because I teach young men to think for themselves. That's why they hate me. Because the UK's fallen due to a lack of masculinity, which is why I promote. That's why they hate me. Are they going to try and get me? Probably. If I go to uk, will I ever get out? Probably not. I don't know what they're going to try and do. All I know is I don't trust them. And I don't think any. Any American who understands how the world's currently operating trust the UK government with anything.

[Megan Basham]

And the Tates have been very much trying to wage war in the media against the UK authorities over the last couple of years. They have gone on to a lot of sort of dissident right podcast. But that's to the consternation of a lot of traditional conservatives who don't want anything to do with them. And I think it's important to remember that while you and I have discussed a number of times on this program, Georgia, the crackdown on speech in the uk, these charges are not related to speech or controversial opinions. These charges are related to specific criminal acts against identifiable women.

Now, obviously, the Tates have tens of millions of followers across a variety of social media platforms. And I have seen a lot of chatter out there right now that the Tates are enjoying a certain amount of support from the Trump administration. They're speculating that maybe the US could deny the UK's extradition request. Is there anything to that, or is that wishful thinking?

I highly doubt it, Georgia. I think this is a little bit of a Twitter is not real life incident here, because while the Tates have been very noisy Trump supporters, I think, trying to kind of glom onto the MAGA movement, the White House has made it pretty clear that they have no relationship with the Tates. In fact, when the brothers arrived in Florida last year and some influencers tried to claim that the Trump administration was offering them some kind of shelter from Romanian authorities, the President was very quick to correct the record.

[Andrew Tate]

They are accused rapists, human traffickers, not

[Howard Mackler]

thought of as good people in many circles.

[Andrew Tate]

Did your administration pressure the remaining government to release them?

[Georgia Howe]

And if so, I know nothing about that.

[Tim Pearce]

I don't know.

[Georgia Howe]

You're saying he's on a plane right now, he's back?

[Andrew Tate]

They already.

[Georgia Howe]

Yeah, I just know nothing about it. We'll check it out. We'll let you know.

[Megan Basham]

So there is still a process to play out here. The Tates can appeal and there will be further hearings. It would be nearly unprecedented for the US to deny the UK extradition in a situation like this. And I think it would be very unlikely that the State Department would start with the Tate brothers.

[Unidentified Host/Promoter]

Right.

[Megan Basham]

Especially since there are some particularly despicable allegations in there. Megan, thanks for reporting.

Yep, my pleasure.

ICE has restarted traffic stops after a brief pause following a fatal ICE involved shooting in Maine.

[Georgia Howe]

Daily Wire contributor Tim Pearce is here to talk about the recent changes to ICE tactics. Thanks for coming on, Tim. So a quick reversal from the administration on this temporary pause to traffic stops by ICE agents. Now, we've reported on some of the background here, but could you tell us what's behind these shifts?

[Tim Pearce]

Yeah. As Jenny reported last week, Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen paused traffic stops after an ICE agent shot and killed a Colombian migrant in Maine last week. But that decision was quickly reversed. And that came in an order Directly from President Trump. Orders are Tom Homan went on the networks over the weekend to explain the administration's actions.

Mark Wayne Mullen, you know, took some action in concern of safety of the agents and how we do operations, and that's why he did that. You know, that, that pause on enforcement on vehicle stops.

Now, it seems like poor communication between Homeland Security and the White House may have caused some of the confusion there. But the White House now insists that President Trump and Mullen are on the same page on ICE tactics.

[Georgia Howe]

All right, so some public alignment now from the president and dhs. Now, we've seen some new information about this fatal shooting in Maine that sparked, you know, mass protests in the state. What have we learned now?

[Tim Pearce]

Yeah. Now, the agency has not released the identity of the officer that was involved in this shooting, but it has said that the officer has been placed on leave while the incident is under investigation. In the meantime, a report in the Washington Post has identified the officer as David Brulette. And the report suggests that Brulette has a complicated personal history that includes a couple failed marriages. And each one involved claims by both sides that the other was abusive. So some competing claims here, but not a lot confirmed. We've also learned that when Brulette signed up to join ice, he received an expedited training program which only lasted for about 47 days instead of the typical 72 days. Now, that shorter training window was put in place after officials say they streamlined training. But then that decision was reversed soon after Mullen took control of the department in March.

[Georgia Howe]

All right, so Mullen had already made a change to this policy before this incident even happened. Have we learned any more about the traffic stop that may suggest, you know, one way or the other, whether the ICE officer was justified or not?

[Tim Pearce]

Well, we don't know a lot more about what took place during the actual incident because as we reported before, the agent wasn't wearing a body camera. But the FBI is reportedly leading the investigation into the shooting. DHS says that the officer acted in self defense after the migrant attempted to run him over with a vehicle. The administration says that that has become a common tactic used against ICE that has been encouraged by Democrats. Rhetoric.

My concern is, I think a lot of the rhetoric that you see every day, especially in sanctuary cities and at these protests that resist members of Congress saying ICE isn't a real law enforcement agency. I think that. I actually think that emboldens some people to say, I'm not going to comply with ice.

So again, not much new on the specific incident, but the administration is going on the attack here against its critics on the other side of the aisle.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, we're certainly looking forward to the FBI's findings in this case. Tim, thanks so much for joining us. Good to be on other stories we're tracking. The FIFA World cup is a wrap and Spain ended up winning it all.

[Tim Pearce]

Ferra Torres, his final touch of the game.

[Howard Mackler]

He had the decisive touch as well.

[Tim Pearce]

Spain, for the second time in their

[Howard Mackler]

history, have won the World Cup.

[Georgia Howe]

Also, Christopher Nolan's epic blockbuster the Odyssey was undaunted by the pre release controversy and ended up conquering the box office. It racked up more than 120 million over the weekend domestically and more than 260 million globally. It's also earned high marks with critics and and viewers alike who are giving it rave reviews.

[Megan Basham]

Thanks for waking up with us. The recording that fuels this show is only possible because you tune in every day and because of our Daily Wire subscribers.

[Georgia Howe]

To enjoy the show ad free and join our mission, become a [e-mail] we'll be back this evening with more news you need to know.