Morning Wire XX
[0] Cities across France have been ravaged by rioting for more than a week after police killed a 17 -year -old citizen of Algerian descent.
[1] What's fueling the riots, and is there an end in sight?
[2] I'm Daily Wire, editor -in -chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe.
[3] It's Wednesday, July 5th, and this is Morning Wire.
[4] Israel is upping its military presence in a terrorism -ridden area to its largest numbers in more than 20 years.
[5] Israeli soldiers tried to reach undetected, the most legitimate target on the planet.
[6] people who would annihilate our country.
[7] We discussed the reason for the operation and its international implications.
[8] And a Tennessee judge has set limits on a state law banning transgender treatments for minors.
[9] What was the judge's argument and how are state officials responding?
[10] Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire.
[11] Stay tuned.
[12] We have the news you need to know.
[13] Cities across France have been ravaged by mass rioting and looting after French police shot dead a 17 -year -old in what demonstrators called a racist incident.
[14] Here with more is Daily Wire Senior Editor Cabot Phillips.
[15] So Cabot first, tell us about the incident that sparked the riots.
[16] So on June 27th, in a suburb west of Paris, police attempted to pull over 17 -year -old Nahel Muzuk, who had been illegally driving in a bus lane.
[17] Mazzuk fled police and led them on a brief chase before getting stuck in traffic.
[18] Two officers then approached his car while aiming a gun through the windshield and ordering him to step out.
[19] At that point, Muzuk quickly accelerated and the officer fired one shot, killing him.
[20] Now, Such of the controversy centered on the police account of that incident.
[21] The official report from government prosecutors claimed that Muzuk was shot after attempting to run an officer over, but a video emerged on social media that appeared to contradict some of those claims.
[22] In the viral footage, the officer fired on Muzuk is not directly in the path of the car, but instead is seen leaning on the hood between the vehicle and a concrete wall a few feet away.
[23] Activists say that video, which quickly garnered millions of views, was proof that police had lied about the incident and attempted to cover up what they called a racist murder.
[24] And soon after, the country was consumed by some of the worst riots seen in decades.
[25] Now, tell us about the riots themselves.
[26] We saw some really dramatic images all week from around the country.
[27] Yeah, the scope of these riots is really extraordinary.
[28] Over the course of the week, hundreds of thousands, maybe more, took to the streets in over a dozen cities, setting fire to hundreds of cars and buildings, looting in mass, and attacking police with fireworks, shotguns, and Maltaf cocktails.
[29] According to French officials, over 500 police officers and firefighters have been injured, many of them hospitalized.
[30] The main targets of the riots were government buildings, including town halls, courthouses, and police stations.
[31] In one incident, rioters targeted a mayor outside of Paris, ramming a burning car into his home while his wife and two young children slept inside.
[32] And then in another highly publicized incident, demonstrators vandalized a Holocaust memorial dedicated to French Jews killed during World War II, painting anti -police slogans and setting fire to portions of the monument.
[33] In total, French officials say the riots have already inflicted well, over a billion dollars worth of damage, with the final number likely to rise much higher once the dust settles.
[34] Now, what's the government response to this, Ben?
[35] So French President Emmanuel Macron has tried to walk a bit of a political balancing act.
[36] At some points, sympathizing with rioters, saying the death was a tragedy, and conceding that racism against the country's immigrant population is real, while simultaneously denouncing the riots and promising the country that you get them under control.
[37] As part of that effort, Macron deployed nearly 50 ,000 to police officers to crack down on the riots and thousands of arrests were made.
[38] Now, this is very reminiscent of the George Floyd case here in the U .S. This incident has really divided France.
[39] Tell us what each side is saying.
[40] Well, rioters say it's an example of institutional racism against immigrant communities and that the riots are a reaction to years of discrimination.
[41] A large portion of the demonstrators are of immigrant descent.
[42] And a common message we've seen on social media from those cheering on the riots is that they're justified as a sort of payback for French colonization throughout the last few centuries.
[43] But there are plenty of people who say the incident had nothing to do with race, and that Mrazook was a dangerous criminal.
[44] They point out that in the past, he'd been charged with drug dealing, driving with fake license plates, and also multiple counts of resisting arrest, including one the week before his death.
[45] They argue that while his death was a tragedy, he was not the innocent bystander that his supporters had made him out to be, and that violence and rioting are never acceptable forms of protest.
[46] As far as the officer involved, he's been detained and placed under formal investigation for charges of voluntary homicide.
[47] The city's top prosecutor said he had not met the, quote, legal conditions for the use of the weapon.
[48] But many within the country are standing by the officer, saying that he was doing his job and trying to stop a threat to the community.
[49] A fundraiser for the officer has gained traction online with over a million dollars in donations pouring in from around the country.
[50] And police unions have also decried his detention, saying it ignores the presumption of innocence.
[51] So we'll keep a very close watch on the trial of this officer.
[52] and the response from demonstrators.
[53] Well, very reminiscent of 2020, it sounds like.
[54] Yeah.
[55] Cabot, thanks for reporting.
[56] Anytime.
[57] Coming up, Israel launches a large military operation in the city of Janine.
[58] Israel launched its largest military operation in the city of Janine in nearly two decades this week.
[59] The city has increasingly become a hotbed for terrorism in recent years with armed militants from a variety of factions living in the city.
[60] Here to break down what's happening in Israel is Daily Wire reporter Tim.
[61] Here's.
[62] Hi, Tim.
[63] So a major operation in Janine, what do we need to know here?
[64] The military operation began on Monday.
[65] The Israel Defense Forces is using airstrikes and over 1 ,000 ground troops to root out militants that have used the city as a staging ground for anti -Israel terrorism.
[66] Janine is located in the region of Samaria, which, along with Judea to its south, is ostensibly the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority.
[67] Judea and Samaria together make up what's known as the West Bank today.
[68] But while the Palestinian government is technically responsible for the region, it does little to curb terror activity.
[69] So Israel, for its own security, polices terrorism in the region.
[70] That's essentially what's taking place in Janine right now, but on a pretty big scale.
[71] Here's Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking about the operation during a July 4th address at the U .S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
[72] Late last night, the IDF launched a comprehensive action against terrorist strongholds in Janine.
[73] In recent months, Janine has become a safe haven for terrorists.
[74] From that safe haven, terrorists perpetrated savage attacks murdering Israeli civilians, men, women, and children.
[75] Our troops are battling the terrorists with unyielding resolve and fortitude while doing everything, everything, to avoid civilian casualties.
[76] The terrorist activity in Janine has ramped up in recent years.
[77] Hamas terrorists that control the Gaza Strip have smuggled fighters and weapons into the city, and alongside other radical groups, Moss has used Janine to incite and stage attacks against Israel.
[78] And as terror activity has increased, so has Israel's security operations in the region.
[79] A CNN analysis found that last year was the deadliest year in nearly two decades for the region of Judea and Samaria and for Israel.
[80] So what has been the reaction from the Palestinian Authority to this operation?
[81] Well, it's isolated itself even more from Israel.
[82] The PA ended its security coordination with Israel in January over another counterterrorism operation in Janine.
[83] And then on Monday, PA leadership decided in an emergency meeting to cut off communication with Israel entirely.
[84] A spokesman for the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, said the meeting was called to work out a, quote, comprehensive national vision and unite the ranks to confront the Israeli aggression.
[85] The Palestinian Authority says the Janine operation is an excuse to target refugees camp nearby, and it's forced thousands of evacuations.
[86] The PA has claimed that at least eight people have been killed and dozens more are wounded so far.
[87] But we should note that the terror groups operating in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza typically use civilian areas like Janine's refugee camps to cover for terror operations.
[88] The IDF says it has already taken out several weapon storages and explosives facilities during its raid.
[89] Right.
[90] We've seen the Hamas practice of using human shields makes this extremely complicated for Israel.
[91] Right.
[92] Has this had any impact on Israel's relationship with the U .S.?
[93] The U .S. and Israel have already been on rocky ground, and the military operation in Janine likely won't do anything to change that.
[94] While outwardly committed to Israeli security, President Biden has been in odds with Netanyahu over a major security priority for Israel, stopping the Iran nuclear deal.
[95] Yeah.
[96] Netanyahu's good rapport with and support for President Trump has also been a sticking point for Biden, who came out against one of Netanyahu's domestic priorities in reforming Israel's judiciary earlier this year.
[97] That said, Netanyahu sounded optimistic about his relationship with the U .S. I have no doubt that as Israel exercises its inherent right of self -defense, the United States will stand firmly by our side.
[98] And I also believe that in the months ahead, Israel and America will work closely together to thwart the danger posed by Iran and seize the opportunity to expand the circle of peace.
[99] We'll see whether Netanyahu's optimism translates to something more substantial later.
[100] Well, obviously a crucial relationship for both sides.
[101] Tim, thanks for reporting.
[102] Thanks for having me. A federal judge in Tennessee has temporarily limited a state law that bans puberty blockers, cross -sex hormones, and surgeries for minors.
[103] Here to discuss the ruling is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Giacomo.
[104] So Amanda, this ruling halted SB1, just a few days before it was set to take effect on July 1st.
[105] Tell us about the ruling and the current status of the law.
[106] Yeah, sure thing.
[107] U .S. District Judge Eli Richardson, that's a Trump appointee.
[108] He issued a temporary injunction on a portion of this law, and that effectively voided the ban on children receiving cross -sex hormones and puberty blockers while further litigation plays out.
[109] So what's left in place in the law is the ban on transgender surgeries for minors.
[110] So that would include double mastectomies for girls and what's called a vaginoplasty for boys.
[111] that's when surgeons remove a boy's penis and testicles to create the appearance of a vagina.
[112] So it sounds like the judge upheld the ban on surgeries for minors but voided the ban on hormones.
[113] What was the rationale for that?
[114] Yeah, that's right.
[115] Judge Richardson wrote that SB1 right now could possibly infringe on Americans' rights in the U .S. Constitution, which supersedes Tennessee law.
[116] He argued that the medications used to block purity in children are also used for some other pediatric conditions.
[117] So banning these medications for some users and not everyone else is part of the issue.
[118] And remember, this is just a temporary injunction.
[119] So this block holds until this lawsuit was heard in a full trial.
[120] A few parents and a doctor sued over the law, and the Biden DOJ joined the suit.
[121] None of the children involved in the suit were seeking surgeries as minors.
[122] So that's why that part of the law wasn't touched by Richardson.
[123] Now, what's the reaction been to this ruling?
[124] Well, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Scurmetti says he will appeal this ruling.
[125] And the state Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, he sponsored SB1 in the Senate.
[126] He pushed back against Richardson, saying that he has complete faith in the legislation as constitutional.
[127] Johnson also said the law is designed to protect Tennessee children from, quote, permanent, irreversible mutilation of their bodies.
[128] Now, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee also signed that famous drag bill on the same day as he signed SBB.
[129] What's the status on that drag bill?
[130] So SB3 is blocked in portions of the state right now.
[131] Some quick background.
[132] The law band's adult cabaret shows from being performed in front of minors if they, quote, appeal to prurient interest.
[133] It came in response to this trend of sexualized drag shows being brought to places like K through 12 schools in the name of inclusivity.
[134] Some viral videos showed things like kids handing over dollar bills to scantily clad performers, as one might see in a strip club.
[135] The law was the first of its kind in the nation, and opponents criticized it for being vaguely written.
[136] ASB3 was challenged by a group in Memphis, and a federal judge issued a temporary injunction in April.
[137] That injunction was changed to a permanent injunction in early June, but there's limited scope, as I mentioned.
[138] The law can't be enforced in Shelby County, which includes Memphis and Jackson, but it's still in effect in the rest of the state.
[139] AG Scrimetti, for his part, he's already filed a motion to appeal that rule.
[140] Well, I think other states are going to be watching to see how these laws stand up in Tennessee.
[141] Amanda, thanks for reporting.
[142] Yeah, thanks for having me. Another story we're tracking this week.
[143] According to the New York Times, White House aides are being lied to in strategy meetings in an apparent attempt to cover up the president's seventh grandchild, bothered out of wedlock by the president's son Hunter.
[144] The president's team is reportedly pushing a public relations strategy that involves never recognizing the granddaughter as part of the Biden family, claiming Biden only has six grandchildren, not seven.
[145] The Times reports that President Biden has failed to meet, speak with, or even publicly acknowledge his four -year -old granddaughter.
[146] Thanks for waking up with us.
[147] We'll be back later this afternoon with more news you need to know.