Trump Keeps Winning & Drone Defense Debate | 12.16.24

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary Episode: Trump Keeps Winning & Drone Defense Debate | 12.16.24
Release Date: December 16, 2024
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe

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1. ABC News Settles Defamation Case with Donald Trump

Key Points:

• Settlement Details: ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million to Donald Trump’s presidential library and an additional $1 million for his legal fees. This settlement resolves Trump’s defamation lawsuit against ABC and its anchor, George Stephanopoulos.
• False Allegations: The lawsuit stemmed from an interview in March 2024, where Stephanopoulos falsely accused Trump of rape based on statements from columnist E. Jean Carroll. Trump was previously ordered to pay over $80 million for defamation related to similar allegations.
• Apology Issued: As part of the settlement, ABC News and Stephanopoulos will publish an apology on their website: "ABC News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump made during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC's This Week on March 10, 2024." (04:00)

Notable Quotes:

• Cabot Phillips (Senior Editor, Daily Wire): “Donald Trump continues to ride high just weeks after the final criminal cases against him were brought to an end.” (02:00)
• George Stephanopoulos: “I’m not gonna be cowed out of doing my job because of the threat of...” (03:55)

Analysis: John Bickley and Georgia Howe discuss the implications of ABC’s settlement, highlighting Trump’s continued legal victories and the impact on media credibility. The hosts emphasize the significance of ABC admitting fault after Stephanopoulos initially defended his statements.

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2. President Elect Trump's Hero’s Welcome and Daylight Saving Time Proposal

Key Points:

• Army-Navy Game Appearance: Trump attended the annual Army-Navy football game in D.C., receiving a raucous welcome alongside Vice President J.D. Vance, Elon Musk, Pete Hegseth, and guest Daniel Penny. The crowd chanted “USA” in support (05:08).
• Policy Proposal: Trump has proposed eliminating Daylight Saving Time, arguing it is inconvenient and costly. He stated, “Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight saving time...” (05:15). This move targets a long-debated issue with potential legislative changes aimed at ending the practice permanently.

Notable Quotes:

• J.D. Vance: “Daniel's a good guy. And New York's mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone.” (04:32)
• Trump’s Proposal: “Shouldn't Daylight saving Time is inconvenient and very costly to our nation.” (05:15)

Analysis: The hosts highlight Trump’s strategic public appearances and his foray into policy debates, presenting him as a proactive leader addressing both legal battles and everyday issues. The proposed elimination of Daylight Saving Time reflects Trump’s commitment to resonating with voter concerns over practical matters.

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3. Texas Sues New York Doctor Over Abortion Pills

Key Points:

• Lawsuit Details: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Dr. Margaret Daly Carpenter, a New York physician, for allegedly prescribing abortion pills across state lines, violating Texas laws that require in-person examinations for abortion-inducing drugs (06:40).
• Legal Conflict: This lawsuit challenges New York’s abortion shield laws, which protect doctors from prosecution when providing abortions that defy other states' regulations. New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James have vowed to oppose the suit (08:53).
• Health and Legal Implications: The suit argues that Dr. Carpenter violated Texas’s heartbeat law by mailing abortion pills, leading to severe health complications for the patient. Texas seeks to enjoin Carpenter from providing such services to Texas residents and impose a $250,000 civil penalty (07:06).

Notable Quotes:

• Letitia James (NY Attorney General): “We will always protect our providers from unjust attempts to punish them for doing their job.” (09:17)
• Dr. Carpenter’s Spokesperson: “Abortion pills are, quote, FDA approved medicine that are an essential part of women's health care.” (10:02)

Analysis: Georgia Howe and Megan Basham delve into the legal showdown between Texas and New York, underscoring the broader national debate on abortion rights and state sovereignty. The episode highlights the tension between restrictive state laws and protective shield laws in more liberal states, pointing towards potential Supreme Court involvement.

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4. Unidentified Drone Sightings Spark Defense Concerns

Key Points:

• Drone Sightings: Unidentified drones have been reported in six states—New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Virginia—raising national security concerns (10:46).
• Government Response: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated that while the Department of Homeland Security is vigilant, they lack sufficient authority to incapacitate these drones effectively. He emphasized that current measures are limited and called for expanded authorities (11:25 & 12:08).
• Local Officials' Reactions: Local officials, frustrated with the federal response, are demanding more concrete actions. New Jersey Republican State Senator John Bram has called for a state of emergency and involvement from the Department of Defense, expressing doubts about the federal government's knowledge of the drone origins (12:50 - 13:35).

Notable Quotes:

• Alejandro Mayorkas: “We have certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security that can do that and outside our department. But we need those authorities expanded as well.” (12:08)
• Senator John Bram: “If the Department of Defense doesn't know where the origins are for these so-called drones, then we're in trouble.” (13:08)

Analysis: John Bickley and Tim Pierce explore the growing unease among Americans regarding the surge of unidentified drones. The discussion highlights the perceived inadequacy of federal responses and the urgent calls from local officials for more decisive action, framing the issue as a potential national security threat that may require legislative and military intervention.

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Conclusion

In this episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe provide a comprehensive analysis of Donald Trump’s recent legal victories and public appearances, Texas’s groundbreaking lawsuit against a New York doctor challenging abortion shield laws, and the escalating concerns over unidentified drone sightings in multiple states. The discussion underscores ongoing political battles, national security debates, and the intersection of state and federal laws, offering listeners a balanced perspective on these critical issues shaping the current American landscape.

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Notable Timestamped Quotes:

• John Bickley: “Whatever these drones are doing, the government really doesn't want us to know.” (00:53)
• Cabot Phillips: “It was not a criminal court. This was a civil court.” (02:44)
• Alejandro Mayorkas: “We are aware of the drone sightings.” (11:25)

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For more detailed discussions and daily news coverage, subscribe to Morning Wire by Daily Wire.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

ABC News agrees to pay out millions for pushing false allegations against Donald Trump. While the president elect enjoys a hero's welcome at the Army Navy Game.

[Georgia Howe]

We discuss what forced the network's hand and a new policy proposal from Trump that's creating some buzz.

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Weyer Editor in Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Monday, December 16th, and this Morning Wire. Texas is suing a New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills across state lines. The suit will put blue state's abortion shield laws to the test.

[Georgia Howe]

And sightings of unidentified drones have expanded, sparking concern in the Northeast and more questions for officials.

[Unknown]

Whatever these drones are doing, the government really doesn't want us to know. There's no way the Department of Defense does not know what's going on.

[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]

Over the weekend, ABC News admitted fault and agreed to pay $15 million to Donald Trump after anchor George Stephanopoulos falsely accused him of rape.

[John Bickley]

Here with the details on another packed weekend for the president elect is Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips, a Cabot. So first, a big payout and apology from abc. What can you tell us about that?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, Donald Trump continues to ride high just weeks after the final criminal cases against him were brought to an end. And days after being named Time magazine's Person of the Year, he enjoyed another legal victory, this time regarding a lawsuit he had filed against ABC News and George Stephanopoulos. On Saturday, the two sides reached a settlement with the network, agreeing to pay $15 million to Trump's presidential library and another million to cover his legal fees. It all started back in MARCH When Stephanopoulos, ABC's top anchor, falsely claimed during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace that a juro had found Trump, quote, raped. Columnist E. Jean Carroll, I'm asking you.

[George Stephanopoulos]

A very simple question, and I answered.

[Megan Basham]

Shaming me for my political choice.

[Alejandro Mayorkas]

I'm asking you a question about why you endorse someone who's been found liable for rape.

[George Stephanopoulos]

It was not a criminal court. This was, this was.

[Unknown]

It was a civil.

[George Stephanopoulos]

It was a civil court. And by the way, why are you.

[Alejandro Mayorkas]

Supporting someone who's been found liable for rape?

[Cabot Phillips]

During that interview, Stephanopoulos repeated that false claim 10 times. But again, it was not true in the case he was referencing. The jury specifically stated that Carol had not proven Trump raped her in a department's toy in the 90s. Remember, Carol also was not able to provide even the exact month or year when that supposed assault took place.

[John Bickley]

Yeah.

[Cabot Phillips]

Trump was ordered by a judge in that case to pay Carol more than $80 million in damages for battery and defamation. But he was importantly never found guilty of the rape allegation. In response to those false claims from Stepanopoulos, Trump filed that defamation suit against him and abc. And this weekend, as part of that settlement, the network agreed to admit fault. That is quite the reversal from Stephanopoulos, who initially struck a defiant tone, claiming he did nothing wrong and would not be intimidated by the lawsuit. Here he is on CBS Late Night with Stephen Colbert, for example.

[Alejandro Mayorkas]

How does it feel to be sued by a former president for defamation for just doing your job? Unfortunately, it now comes with the territory.

[John Bickley]

But I'm not gonna be cowed out.

[George Stephanopoulos]

Of doing my job because of the threat of.

[Cabot Phillips]

But ultimately, again, he did admit fault. In addition to the $15 million payout to the President Elect's library, Stephanopoulos and ABC also agreed to publish an apology on their website that reads, quote, abc News and George Stephanopoulos regret statements regarding President Donald J. Trump made during an interview by George Stephanopoulos with Rep. Nancy Mace on ABC's this Week on March 10, 2024.

[John Bickley]

All right, so still pretty vague statement there. So another big legal win for Trump. And he also made a high profile public as all of this news was breaking, correct?

[Cabot Phillips]

Right. He attended the annual Army Navy football game in D.C. joined by his VP, J.D. vance, Elon Musk, Pete Hegseth, and their guest of honor, Daniel Penny, who was acquitted this month in that New York City subway trial. Ahead of the game, Vance issued a statement saying, quote, daniel's a good guy. And New York's mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone. I'm grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he's able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage. Ahead of kickoff, Trump and Vance received a raucous welcome from the sellout crowd, which erupted in chants of USA as they waved from their box.

[John Bickley]

Yeah, that was quite a moment there. Now, before we go, one final piece of Trump news. This one, a policy proposal. Tell us about that.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah. Trump now wading into one of the most hotly contested policy debates of our time, Daylight savings. In a social media post Saturday, he said, quote, the Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight saving time, which has a small but strong constituency. But shouldn't Daylight saving Time is inconvenient and very costly to our nation. Now, in the past few decades, lawmakers here and there have floated the idea, citing medical research, that the current system is detrimental to public health, throwing off sleep cycles. But efforts have always stalled. Trump hopes to break that trend and end the practice once and for all. We'll have to wait and see what exactly that proposed legislation looks like. But maybe this will be the last year. John, we have to fiddle with our clocks.

[John Bickley]

Seriously, please. Let's hope. Cabot, thanks for reporting.

[Cabot Phillips]

Anytime.

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[John Bickley]

Texas is suing a New York doctor over her alleged distribution of abortion pills to a Dallas resident in violation of Texas law. The case marks the first challenge to the shield laws many Democrat controlled states set up after the fall of Roe.

[Georgia Howe]

Daily Wire Culture reporter Megan Basham is here now with the details. So Megan, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton just announced the suit on Friday and it's the first of its kind. What's the basis for it?

[Megan Basham]

So in 2022, when the Supreme Court handed down the Dobbs decision, Texas was one of those states that had a trigger law on the books. Now, that law had been passed in 2021, but it was superseded by Roe. Once Roe was overturned, it was then allowed to take effect. Essentially, it's a heartbeat law that bans abortion after around six weeks. So the Texas law also requires any physician who provides an abortion inducing drug to examine the pregnant woman in person, meaning they can't simply have an appointment online or over the phone. This past July, However, New York Dr. Margaret Daly Carpenter, who is the founder of the Abortion Coalition for telemedicine, a group that seeks to expand abortion access through mail delivery, allegedly prescribed abortion pills to a 20 year old Dallas callous woman who was around nine weeks pregnant. Now, according to that suit, the woman received the pills via the mail, and after she took them, she began to experience serious complications and called the father to take her to the hospital. It was only at that point that he discovered she had ended her pregnancy. And after getting her medical attention for what the suit calls severe bleeding, he then called the authorities. So Paxton says that Dr. Carpenter violated not only Texas's abortion law, but also a state law that requires any facility physician who treats patients through telehealth services to hold a valid Texas medical license. So he's asking the district court of Collin County, Texas, to enjoin Carpenter from providing abortion services to Texas residents and also to impose civil penalties of $250,000 for her violation of Texas law.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, what makes this such a groundbreaking suit, though, is because it directly conflicts with that New York law, correct?

[Megan Basham]

Exactly. Because New York is one of 18 states that have an abortion shield law, and those are laws that protect doctors from prosecution when they provide abortions in violation of another state's law. In fact, in 2023, when New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed her state shield law, she specifically referenced Texas. Perhaps expecting a showdown like this, we.

[George Stephanopoulos]

Saw a hard line. Mega judge in Amarillo, Texas, issued an unprecedented decree banning medication that countless women have relied upon safely to terminate pregnancies or manage miscarriages, overruling the experts, doctors, the fda, scientists. It was an attack on abortion and ultimately an attack on democracy. That was Texas.

[Megan Basham]

So Hochul and New York attorney General Letitia James both put out statements on Friday promising to oppose Paxton's suit. With James saying, quoting here, we will always protect our providers from unjust attempts to punish them for doing their job.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, has Dr. Carpenter also put out a statement?

[Megan Basham]

Not directly, but a spokesman for the abortion coalition that she founded said that abortion pills are, quote, FDA approved medicine that are an essential part of women's health care. The spokesperson also accused Paxton of prioritizing his anti abortion agenda over the health and wellbeing of women. Paxton, on the other hand, says that Texas quoting treasures the health and the lives of mothers and babies. And this is why out of state doctors may not illegally and dangerously prescribe abortion inducing drugs to Texas residents.

[Georgia Howe]

So this is a real showdown. Could likely go to scotus.

[Megan Basham]

Yep, very possible.

[Georgia Howe]

Megan, thanks for reporting.

[Megan Basham]

Anytime.

[Georgia Howe]

Drone sightings have been reported in at least six states in the past month and federal officials have yet to to determine where they came from or what they're doing.

[John Bickley]

Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce is here to talk about the swarms of UFOs disturbing Americans all over the Northeast. Hey Tim. So we touched on this last week. A truly mind boggling story in many ways. What have we learned about these drones so far?

[Tim Pierce]

Hey John. Not much, unfortunately. So far drones have been spotted in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Virginia. But federal officials still haven't said much about them. Here's Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on AB on Sunday.

[Alejandro Mayorkas]

Look, it is our job to be vigilant in the federal government with our state and local partners on behalf of the American public and we can assure their safety. By reason of that vigilance. We've deployed personnel, technology and if there is any reason for concern, if we identify any foreign involvement or criminal activity, we will communicate with the American public accordingly. Right now we are not aware of any. If we become aware of any, we will communicate accordingly and take appropriate action.

[Tim Pierce]

Trump has said if it's true the government really knows as little about these drones as it says, it should shoot them down. Here's Mayorkas essentially saying no to that.

[Alejandro Mayorkas]

We are aware of the drone sightings. As I've said, I think there are more than 8,000 drones flown every day in the United States. With respect to the ability to incapacitate those drones, we are limited in our authorities. We have certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security Security that can do that and outside our department. But we need those authorities expanded as well.

[Tim Pierce]

So Mayorkas says his hands are tied. But that response doesn't seem to be sitting well with many of the local officials whose constituents are reporting these UFOs.

[John Bickley]

Yeah, but not seems like a pretty indifferent response to what many are saying could be a significant national security issue. How are locals on the ground responding?

[Tim Pierce]

People are unsettled with these drones buzzing around and frustrated with the response and those feelings are driving skeptic what federal officials are saying. New Jersey Republican State Senator John Bram has called for a limited state of emergency to get some answers. Here's Bram giving his thoughts on News Nation on Saturday.

[Unknown]

Not only did I call for a limited state of emergency and the FAA shutting down the airspace for drones, but also having the Department of Defense come in and answer questions. If the Department of Defense doesn't know where the origins are for these so called drones, then we're in trouble.

[Tim Pierce]

Bram Nick went on to highlight one of the reasons why he finds this situation so wild.

[Unknown]

We always thought that if there was something in the air the size of a car, that the Department of Defense would know where it came from, what its origin was and what its purpose was. Now you have a United States senator going out with the local police. What to look at for fireworks at night. That is scary.

[Tim Pierce]

And it's for some of the reasons that Bramnick laid out that some local officials are questioning whether the Biden administration doesn't already know all about the drones. But then, if that's true, why is the FAA putting in flight restrictions? There are just many unanswered questions here and many officials are frankly over it.

[John Bickley]

An understandable reaction, especially when the federal response has been so unimpressive. Tim, thanks for joining us.

[Tim Pierce]

Good to be on.

[John Bickley]

Hey, thank you for listening this morning. We created this show to bring more balance to the national conversation. If you love our show and stand with that mission, consider subscribing, giving us a five star rating and most importantly, sharing our podcast with a friend.

[Georgia Howe]

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