Trump’s Georgia Case Win & Colony Ridge Smuggling Arrest | 12.20.24

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary

Episode: Trump’s Georgia Case Win & Colony Ridge Smuggling Arrest
Release Date: December 20, 2024
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Co-Hosts: Tim Rice, Spencer Lindquist, Cabot Phillips

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1. Major Legal Victory for Donald Trump in Georgia

[00:03] John Bickley opened the episode by announcing a significant development in Donald Trump's legal battles: "In another legal win for Trump, Fannie Willis has been disqualified from prosecuting his case in Georgia."

Disqualification of Prosecutor Fani Willis
Co-host Georgia Howe and producer Brandon briefly touched upon the complexities surrounding Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis and her handling of Trump's case. Tim Rice probed the implications of Willis being ousted, leading John Bickley to introduce Tim Rice for an in-depth analysis.

[01:37] Tim Rice detailed the court's decision: "Georgia's Court of Appeals voted to yank Willis from the case, citing an appearance of impropriety." This refers to Willis hiring her boyfriend, Nathan Wade, as a special prosecutor—a move criticized for potential bias.

Impact on the Trump Case
Cabot Phillips explained that the disqualification is likely permanent, as Law Professor Jonathan Turley stated, "any prosecutor in their right mind would see pursuing this case as totally destructive to their office." With Trump potentially returning to the presidency, John Bickley highlighted the improbability of future prosecutions due to presidential immunity.

Trump's Response
Cabot Phillips reported Trump's enthusiastic reaction: "the case against him was now entirely dead because no prosecutor could continue a case that was started corruptly by an incompetent prosecutor." Trump's spokesman, Stephen Chung, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing an "overwhelming mandate" from the American people to end what he termed "the political weaponization of our justice system."

Conclusion: This legal setback marks another substantial victory for Trump, reinforcing his defenses against ongoing legal challenges.

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2. Blue States Face Population Decline and Political Repercussions

[05:19] John Bickley introduced a critical analysis of demographic shifts: "Blue states have lost millions of residents in recent years amid a record migration. Now they're set to lose congressional seats and electoral votes as a result."

Migration Trends and Statistics
Georgia Howe provided a comprehensive breakdown: "Starting in 2020, we began to see a mass exodus of residents leaving deep blue states and resettling in red states across the Sunbelt." Recent Census Bureau data revealed that in the past year alone, blue states like California, New York, and Illinois saw significant population losses, whereas red states like Texas, Florida, and North Carolina experienced gains.

Political Consequences
Cabot Phillips emphasized the future implications: "Electoral votes and congressional seats are allocated based on population. That means if this trend continues, 2030, when the next census takes place, red states will reap immense political rewards." For instance, Georgia Howe noted that states like California and New York could lose up to four congressional seats, tipping the balance of power in favor of Republicans.

Census Bureau Controversy
The discussion shifted to errors in the 2020 Census, where red states were undercounted, and blue states were overcounted. Georgia Howe highlighted the Republican-led House Oversight Committee’s concerns: "The census appears to have tended to noticeably skew in favor of one political party over another." These inaccuracies potentially altered the distribution of electoral seats, disadvantaging Republicans by denying Texas and Florida additional congressional seats.

Conclusion: The ongoing migration from blue to red states not only reshapes demographic landscapes but also significantly impacts political power, potentially benefiting Republicans in future elections.

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3. Arrest of Guatemalan Smuggler at Colony Ridge

[07:45] Tim Rice introduced a significant law enforcement story: a Guatemalan national involved in smuggling and linked to a tragic mass casualty event was arrested at Colony Ridge. Spencer Lindquist provided detailed reporting on the incident.

Details of the Arrest and Crime
Spencer Lindquist reported, "The suspect's name is Jorge Agapido Ventura and he was arrested last week at his home in Colony Ridge following a joint operation from the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the local sheriff." Ventura is connected to a 2021 smuggling operation where a trailer truck crashed in Mexico, resulting in over 50 deaths.

Charges Against Ventura
An indictment revealed charges including "conspiracy to bring undocumented aliens to the United States, placing life in jeopardy, causing serious bodily injuries and resulting in death." Esteemed prosecutor Nicole Argentieri described the event as a "mass casualty" incident.

Colony Ridge’s Reputation and Other Arrests
Spencer Lindquist further explained Colony Ridge's notorious status as a hub for illegal aliens, noting Ventura's multiple properties there. Additionally, two other illegal aliens wanted for murder were arrested in the area, and there were reports of a teen abduction and shooting within Colony Ridge.

Conclusion: The arrest of Jorge Agapido Ventura underscores ongoing law enforcement efforts to combat smuggling operations and highlights Colony Ridge's challenges with illegal immigration and related criminal activities.

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Final Thoughts

John Bickley wrapped up the episode by reinforcing the podcast's mission to provide balanced news coverage amid declining trust in mainstream media. Listeners were encouraged to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to support its efforts in fostering informed discussions on pressing national issues.

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Notable Quotes:

• John Bickley [00:03]: "In another legal win for Trump, Fannie Willis has been disqualified from prosecuting his case in Georgia."
• Trump [03:46]: "The case against him was now entirely dead because no prosecutor could continue a case that was started corruptly by an incompetent prosecutor."
• Georgia Howe [05:28]: "California will lose four, New York, three, Illinois, two, and Oregon, Minnesota and Rhode Island, one."

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the major topics covered.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

In another legal win for Trump, Fannie Willis has been disqualified from prosecuting his case in Georgia.

[Georgia Howe]

It's hard for me to see another.

[Brandon]

Georgia district attorney wanting to take up this flawed case and try to prosecute.

[Georgia Howe]

Trump on these theories.

[Tim Rice]

Why is Willis out and what does it mean for the case going forward?

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire editor in chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Friday, December 20th, and this is Morning Wire. Years of mass exodus from blue states is set to give Republicans a major advantage. Blue states are failing.

[Spencer Lindquist]

Blue states have high crime, tense cities, high taxes.

[Georgia Howe]

And so people look at it from an economic perspective.

[Tim Rice]

And a foreign national accused of being involved in a mass casualty event is arrested in Colony Ridge.

[John Bickley]

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

[Brandon]

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[Tim Rice]

The election interference case against Donald Trump in Georgia took another unexpected turn on Thursday when a court disqualified controversial prosecutor Fani Willis from the case.

[John Bickley]

With a major update on the Willis saga is Daily Wire deputy managing editor Tim Rice. Hey, Tim, so this case has just been one surprise after the next. This is a big one here. What's the latest?

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, John. On Thursday, Georgia's Court of Appeals voted to yank Willis from the case, citing an appearance of impropriety. That's a reference to Willis decision to hire her boyfriend, Nathan Wade, to serve as a special prosecutor for the Trump case. Critics said Wade was unqualified for the job and that both he and Willis were biased against Trump. In March, the judge presiding over the case said Willis could only remain at the helm if she fired Wade, which she did. But now it seems incredibly likely that Willis is off the case for good. Her office has appealed to the Georgia Supreme Court to overturn the decision, but a reversal doesn't seem likely. A court of Appeals panel voted 2 to 1 to disqualify Willis, noting that the penalty was unusually harsh. But the majority noted pulling Willis from the case was, quote, the rare case in which disqualification is mandated and no other remedy will suffice to restore public confidence in the integrity of these proceedings.

[John Bickley]

Also an extraordinary measure for an extraordinary circumstance stance, to be sure. So where does the case go now?

[Cabot Phillips]

It's still unclear. Technically, it'll be handed off to another prosecutor who will decide how to proceed, if at all. But it seems unlikely that Willis's replacement will decide to move forward. For one thing, this whole case is now tainted by Willis and Wade. Law professor Jonathan Turley noted this week that any prosecutor in their right mind would see pursuing this case as totally destructive to their office. But more importantly, Trump's about to be president again. Remember, the Supreme Court ruled that presidents have presumptive immunity for any official acts undertaken while in office. So prosecuting Trump over the next four years will be virtually impossible. That's why special prosecutor Jack Smith dropped his case against Trump and why the hush money case against Trump has been put on hold indefinitely.

[John Bickley]

So yet another huge win for Trump legally. How has his team responded to the news?

[Cabot Phillips]

Needless to say, they're thrilled. Speaking to Fox News yesterday, Trump cheered the decision, saying the case against him was now entirely dead because no prosecutor could continue a case that was started corruptly by an incompetent prosecutor. Trump said the entire case against him was a political attack drummed up by the Biden Justice Department and said that everybody should receive an apology, including those wonderful patriots who have been caught up in this for years. That's likely a reference to Republican State Senator Sean still and Trump attorney John Eastman, who were charged in the Georgia case alongside Trump. Trump spokesman Stephen Chung also cheered the decision, saying that in granting President Trump an overwhelming mandate, the American people have demanded an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and a swift dismissal of all the witch hunts against him.

[John Bickley]

We'll have to see if there are any prosecutors waiting in the wings to continue Willis's fight. Until then, big legal win for Trump. 10 thanks for reporting.

[Cabot Phillips]

Thanks for having me.

[Brandon]

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[John Bickley]

Blue states have lost millions of residents in recent years amid a record migration. Now they're set to lose congressional seats and electoral votes as a result.

[Tim Rice]

Here to break it all down is Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips. So, Cabot, a trend that started during COVID that continues to this day. Walk us through the latest numbers.

[Georgia Howe]

Yeah. So starting in 2020, we began to see a mass exodus of residents leaving deep blue states and resettling in red states across the Sunbelt. Now, initially there was a case to be made that the trend was the result of remote work offering folks the option to live anywhere. So they sought out warmer, cheaper places to call home. But now, four years removed from COVID that trend has continued. According to new data from the Census Bureau, last year alone, California, New York and Illinois suffered a net loss of 540,000 residents, while Texas, Florida and North Carolina saw a NET gain of 366,000. And get this, of the seven states that saw the largest increase in net migration, all seven were red states. And if you zoom out and look at the numbers since 2020, of the 10 states that saw the highest population gains, you guessed it, all 10 went red in November. So a clear trend emerging. Americans are continuing to move to Republican led states.

[Tim Rice]

So talk about the political consequences of all this migration.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, it's important to remember electoral votes and congressional seats are allocated based on population. That means if this trend continues, 2030, when the next census takes place, red states will reap immense political rewards. For example, at the current pace, states that voted for Kamala Harris in November will lose 12 congressional seats and 12 electoral college votes. California will lose four, New York, three, Illinois, two, and Oregon, Minnesota and Rhode island, one. And the Lion's share of those electoral votes and congressional seats will go to solidly red states like Texas and Florida. Now, that would not only give future Republican candidates an easier shot at the White House, just improving their number of guaranteed electoral votes, it would also make it harder for Democrats to control the House. It is just hard to overstate how important this trend will be in the coming years. Beyond the obvious economic ramifications, Democrat led states now have a massive political incentive to stop the bleeding and convince folks to start moving back.

[Tim Rice]

Well, now all of this comes as Republicans are expressing concern over the 2020 census and some things that since come out. What's going on there?

[Cabot Phillips]

Right.

[Georgia Howe]

This is a really big story. So it went under the radar. But two years ago, the Census Bureau quietly released a stunning report admitting serious errors in their population count from 2020. Specifically, the Bureau massively undercounted the number of residents in red states and overcounted the population of blue states. Of the six states where they undercounted residents, five were red. And of the eight where they overcounted, seven were blue. For example, deep red Arkansas was undercounted by 5%, Tennessee 4.7%, and Florida 3.5%. That adds up to a million plus residents. While deep blue Delaware was overcounted by 5.5%, New York 3.4%, Rhode island by 5%. You get the idea.

[Tim Rice]

So what was the impact of that on the most recent election?

[Georgia Howe]

They're massively important. As a result of those errors, Florida was denied two congressional seats they were entitled to, while Texas was denied another. And blue states like Minnesota, Rhode island and Colorado were all allowed to hold on to seats that they should have lost. So if the last census had been accurate, Republicans would likely be looking at a 10 to 12 seat majority instead of the 6 seat majority that they currently hold now. In light of those errors, the Republican led House Oversight Committee recently launched a probe of the Census Bureau demanding internal documents and communications related to their most recent census. According to Chairman James Comer, the census quote appears to have tended to noticeably skew in favor of one political party over another. Now they want answers about why that happened.

[Tim Rice]

Well, this seems like it should be a day one priority for President Trump. Cabot, thanks for reporting.

[Georgia Howe]

Anytime.

[Tim Rice]

A Guatemalan national and illegal alien smuggler was recently caught by federal law enforcement enforcement and arrested at Colony Ridge, the controversial land development just north of Houston, Texas that is known for attracting illegal aliens. The man is believed to have been involved in a mass casualty event that happened three years ago during a smuggling operation.

[John Bickley]

Here to discuss is Daily Wire investigative reporter Spencer Lindquist. Hey, Spencer. So tell us about this man who was caught and what he's accused of.

[Spencer Lindquist]

The suspect's name is Jorge Agapido Ventura and he was arrested last week at his home in Colony Ridge following a joint operation from the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the local sheriff there. Ventura is believed to be connected to a smuggling operation that left more than 50 migrants dead in Mexico three years ago. It was horrific. The DOJ described it as a mass casualty event and about 160 migrants were being transported through Mexico on their way to the border of the United States when the trailer truck that they were traveling in crashed. The head of the Department of Justice's criminal Division, Nicole Argentieri, said this about the case.

[Tim Rice]

According to the indictment filed in the Southern District of Texas from October 2021 to February 2023. In some instances, the defendants allegedly provided scripts and instructions to the migrants telling them what to say if they were apprehended.

[Spencer Lindquist]

She also detailed the mass casualty event that Ventura is believed to be connected to, which occurred on December 9, 2021.

[Tim Rice]

Exactly three years ago today. A semi trailer truck containing at least 160 migrants crashed, resulting in the deaths of more than 50 people and injuring over a hundred others.

[John Bickley]

All right, so Ventura was allegedly one of the people behind this smuggling incident. But what are the specific charges that he faces?

[Spencer Lindquist]

An unsealed indictment from the DOJ states that Ventura and several other Guatemalan men who were arrested in their home country was charged with, quote, conspiracy to bring undocumented aliens to the United States, placing life in jeopardy, causing serious bodily injuries and resulting in death.

[John Bickley]

So this man is a Guatemalan national. What is his connection to Colony Ridge?

[Spencer Lindquist]

So we reported in September of last year that Colony Ridge is a magnet for illegal aliens. And it's this massive development just outside of Houston. And if it's allowed to continue the development projects, it'll ultimately have a population of 250,000 people. That would be a population higher than Boise, Idaho, or Scottsdale, Arizona, for reference. And Ventura was arrested by those federal agents in Colney Ridge at his residence. The smugglers owned multiple properties at the development and bought one as recently as September of this year. And data from the county clerk indicates that he first bought property at Colney Ridge in 2019 and had a total of four properties at the development.

[John Bickley]

And this isn't the only alleged criminal who's been caught at that development this year. Tell us a bit about some of the other arrests connected to Colony Ridge.

[Spencer Lindquist]

Yeah, that's right. Over the summer, there were two illegal aliens who were wanted by the international police for murder, and they were caught in the nearby area. And both of those people lived in Colony Ridge. One of those two illegal aliens, a Mexican national named Juan Jose Valero Cruz, had already been deported from the United States twice. And just before the arrest of those two alleged murderers, there was another incident in which a teen was allegedly abducted inside Colony Ridge and then was shot at when he fled his captors.

[John Bickley]

It sounds like this development has really been keeping law enforcement busy.

[Spencer Lindquist]

Certainly has.

[John Bickley]

We'll certainly keep our eye on Colony Ridge. Spencer, thanks for reporting.

[Spencer Lindquist]

Thank you.

[John Bickley]

Hey, thank you for listening this morning. We created the 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.

[Tim Rice]

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

[Brandon]

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