Morning Wire Podcast Summary

Episode: Trans Shooter Claims Lives & Parental Rights Gain Traction
Date: February 12, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley, Georgia Howe
Guest Reporters: Meg Brock, Dr. Marty Makary

Episode Overview

This episode of Morning Wire focuses on three major topics: a tragic mass shooting in British Columbia involving a transgender individual, legislative efforts in Ohio to strengthen parental rights regarding children's gender identity, and the FDA’s new scrutiny on chemical food preservatives, aligning U.S. standards closer to those of Europe.

1. British Columbia School Shooting

Key Segment: [01:21] – [05:00]

Key Discussion Points

• Incident Overview:
  On Tuesday, one of Canada's deadliest mass shootings occurred in Tumblr Ridge, British Columbia. At least nine people died and dozens were wounded.

  • The primary event took place at Tumblr Ridge Secondary School, where six victims and the suspect died.
  • Two additional victims were found in a nearby home, later identified as the suspect's mother and 11-year-old brother.

• Shooter’s Identity:

  • The shooter, an 18-year-old male identifying as female for about five years, had a history of mental illness.
  • There is no clear evidence of targeted victims.
  • Guns had been seized from the shooter's home in the past due to mental health concerns but were later returned to the lawful owner.

• Patterns in Recent Violence:

  • A pattern of violence is noted among trans-identifying shooters, with reference to similar incidents in Nashville, Colorado, and Minneapolis.
  • Quote:
    • Penny Nance, Concerned Women for America:
      “There’s been this uptick in violence by women, biological women that are transitioning into men, and often what that includes is large doses of testosterone.” [03:25]

• Response from Canada:

  • Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered national mourning, including flags at half-mast.
  • Tight gun laws might be reviewed, even though existing measures are already strict since the 2020 Nova Scotia shooting.
  • Quote:
    • Dr. Marty Makary:
      “We owe that to the victims and their families.” [04:30]

Memorable Moment:

• John Bickley highlighting the growing discussion on the intersection of transgender identity and acts of violence associated with mental health and access to firearms. [03:53]

2. Ohio’s Parental Rights Bill and Gender Affirmation

Key Segment: [06:04] – [10:27]

Key Discussion Points

• Current Child Welfare Practices:

  • In Ohio, parents risk losing custody or being denied foster/adoption rights for not affirming a child’s declared gender identity.
  • The state engages in proactively screening children for sexual orientation and gender identity, even as young as five, with corresponding databases.

• Legislative Response:

  • Republican Representatives Josh Williams and Gary Klick introduced the Affirming Families First Act to protect parents' right to affirm their child’s biological sex without being labeled abusive or neglectful.
  • Quote:
    • Rep. Josh Williams:
      “They should not have to choose between maintaining their moral beliefs or abandoning those beliefs just to raise their own children or provide a safe home for children that are the most vulnerable in our state.” [06:18]
    • Rep. Gary Klick:
      “No, they were sitting down actively asking the child, do you feel like a boy or do you feel like a girl?...And then they were creating a database based on this information...” [08:06]

• Federal Context:

  • Federal child welfare guidance briefly required foster families to be “gender affirming,” stemming in part from Ohio’s Cuyahoga County practices, but was vacated in June 2025.

• National Developments and Advocate Perspective:

  • Similar legislative actions have taken place in Texas, Indiana, and North Carolina.
  • Advocacy groups urge Congress to address parental rights at the federal level.
  • Quote:
    • Meg Brock:
      "Ohio has actually been an epicenter of radical gender-affirming child welfare policies nationwide." [09:05]

3. FDA Crackdown on Chemical Food Preservatives

Key Segment: [11:33] – [16:04]

Key Discussion Points

• New FDA Focus:

  • The FDA announced it will re-examine and potentially restrict preservatives such as BHA, BHT, and azodicarbonamide, which are widespread in U.S. foods but often banned in Europe.
  • Many of these chemicals have been connected with cancer risk, hormone disruption, and other health issues.

• Explaining the Chemicals:

  • BHA: Found in about 4,600 U.S. food products, also present in non-food items like rubber and glue.
  • BHT: Common in cereals; linked to hormonal disruption.
  • Azodicarbonamide: Used in bread, also in the production of yoga mats and shoes.

• Why These Chemicals Persist:

  • The "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS) loophole allowed manufacturers to self-certify chemicals as safe without comprehensive testing.
  • Quote:
    • Dr. Marty Makary:
      “…companies over time used this loophole to be able to self declare chemicals as safe without any real good solid testing…” [13:27]

• Cost and Labeling Implications:

  • Alternatives are considered cost-neutral as proven in Canada and Europe.
  • New labeling standards: “No artificial dyes” labels must now truly reflect ingredient content.
  • Quote:
    • Dr. Marty Makary:
      “We need to have cost neutral or lower cost alternatives so that we can move to a healthier food supply without increasing the cost…” [15:13]

• Parental Reassurance:

  • These policy changes enable parents to make safer, more informed choices for their children.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Penny Nance: “There’s been this uptick in violence by women, biological women that are transitioning into men...” [03:25]
• Rep. Josh Williams: “They should not have to choose between maintaining their moral beliefs or abandoning those beliefs just to raise their own children...” [06:18]
• Rep. Gary Klick: “No, they were sitting down actively asking the child, do you feel like a boy or do you feel like a girl?...” [08:06]
• Dr. Marty Makary: “…companies over time used this loophole to be able to self declare chemicals as safe without any real good solid testing…” [13:27]
• Dr. Marty Makary: “We need to have cost-neutral or lower-cost alternatives so that we can move to a healthier food supply without increasing the cost…” [15:13]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:21] – Shooting in British Columbia
• [03:25] – Trends in transgender-related violence
• [06:04] – Ohio moves to protect parental rights
• [08:06] – Rep. Gary Klick describes children’s services practices
• [09:05] – Cuyahoga County’s influence and federal context
• [11:33] – FDA targets food preservatives
• [13:27] – Explanation of “GRAS” loophole
• [15:13] – New food labeling standards

Conclusion

This episode of Morning Wire explores heavy and timely issues: the complexities surrounding a mass shooting by a transgender individual and its implications for both law and social trends, the often-hidden realities of child welfare practices in conservative states, and an overdue regulatory crackdown on unhealthy food chemicals. The hosts engage experts and legislators to add nuance and first-hand insight, giving listeners a fact-driven, accessible overview of pressing cultural and policy developments.