Morning Wire XX
[0] At least one Hollywood elite is claiming responsibility for funding the recent spate of attacks on famous paintings in Europe.
[1] There's this weird, bizarre lack of action at literally, empirically speaking, the greatest threat to human life in history.
[2] And yet, no one's doing anything.
[3] Who is behind the climate vandalism and can we expect to see more?
[4] I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire editor -in -chief John Bickiecky.
[5] It's December 3rd, and this is your Saturday edition of Morning Wire.
[6] The U .S. men's team faces off against the Netherlands this morning in the first knockout game of the 2022 World Cup.
[7] How many Americans are tuning in?
[8] And could soccer finally be catching on in the U .S.?
[9] And after an unprecedented housing boom, home ownership is on the decline.
[10] Why are more individuals and families choosing to rent instead of own?
[11] That's what the American dream was, 50 years ago.
[12] go, buy a house, two car garage, picking fans, 2 .2 kids.
[13] That's what the American dream is.
[14] The American dream today is economic freedom.
[15] Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire.
[16] Stay tuned.
[17] We have the news you need to know.
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[25] Protesters have glued themselves to priceless works of art like John Constables the Haywain.
[26] Others have thrown soup and other food items at works of art such as Van Gogh's Sunflowers.
[27] Here to tell us more about what we now know about how these demonstrations are being funded is Daily Wire contributor Christian Toto.
[28] So, Christian, what have we learned about who or what is behind the funding of these art attacks?
[29] Well, one of the primary funders is someone that is very familiar in Hollywood circles.
[30] His name is Adam McKay, famous director, producer, and he gave $4 million to the climate emergency fund just earlier this year.
[31] He also joined the group's board of director, so he's heavily invested in it's not just from a monetary point of view, but this is his mission.
[32] He really cares about what they're doing.
[33] Now, this group also works with other subgroups, including Just Stop Oil.
[34] They've gotten a lot of publicity in recent months.
[35] And also part of the group's mission is to train the protesters who are attacking these works of art. Now, who is Adam McKay?
[36] What might we know him from?
[37] You know, there's so many famous people in Hollywood, Tom Hanks, Merrill Streep.
[38] We don't know Adam McKay's name, most people don't at least, but you know his work, and I bet you know it very well.
[39] He directed some of Will Ferrell's best comedies, including stepbrothers and anchorman.
[40] That's for starters.
[41] He also won a best adapted screenplay Oscar for The Big Short, a film he directed.
[42] That was based on the 2008 financial crisis.
[43] He also directed Vice, another politically active film that was attacking Vice President Dick Cheney.
[44] And he's producing Succession, one of HBO's best shows.
[45] People love it, critics love it as well, star -studded, you name it.
[46] It's got all the power behind the HBO name.
[47] and he's a major player there.
[48] So if you don't know his name, you know his work.
[49] Now, so he's a pretty powerful person in Hollywood, obviously, very financially successful.
[50] Has he spoken out publicly about these attacks or addressed the fact that he's funding them?
[51] Absolutely.
[52] He's defended them on Twitter, obviously in his sort of his press statements when he first joined the board.
[53] He has no qualms about what they're doing.
[54] He said, those people who are upset about these protests are just pearl clutches.
[55] He's basically saying the time to being polite is over.
[56] We need to take more direct action.
[57] And he full of supports the measures that are undertaken with these attacks.
[58] Well, he also addressed at one point the fact that these paintings themselves are not technically being harmed, correct?
[59] Yeah, you know, they haven't been harmed as of yet.
[60] But while that continue, it's hard to say most times these are covered by glass.
[61] So the potatoes and soup and other items that are thrown on them just kind of slide off.
[62] but some of the frames have been damaged, and you never know.
[63] I mean, the works of art in question are extremely delicate.
[64] They're hundreds of years old, and is it possible that some of those items could kind of sneak between the glass and the painting and do some damage eventually?
[65] It certainly seems possible to me. Now, aside from McKay, has anyone else in Hollywood spoken up about this?
[66] I mean, this is the destruction of art, so you'd think that would be controversial.
[67] There have been some media pieces written on the subject that, been fairly negative toward what's happening with the different protests.
[68] And some of the art museum directors have spoken out as well.
[69] But as far as I know, I've not seen any prominent Hollywood players weighing in one way or the other.
[70] I don't think they want to touch it.
[71] Maybe they want to, they don't want to attack their fellow artist in, you know, with McKay's situation here.
[72] But perhaps they just don't want to get involved or maybe they silently agree what's what happening.
[73] It's possible to know, but they have been very, very quiet on this issue.
[74] Now, is there any evidence that this activism is effective?
[75] Does he believe that this is changing hearts and minds at all?
[76] You know, a recent poll by the University of Pennsylvania shows that, no, it's not really changing hearts and minds.
[77] It's having the opposite effect.
[78] Turns out that more people are turned off by what's going on and are less interested in kind of pushing climate change activism after they've read about these situations.
[79] Now, it is changing some minds, but the plurality of people say, this is not a good idea.
[80] this is not the way to go, even if you really want to kind of improve the environment and make climate change and even more urgent issue.
[81] Well, I can't say I'm totally surprised to see Hollywood behind this.
[82] Christian, thanks so much for coming on.
[83] Oh, thank you.
[84] That was Daily Wire contributor, Christian Toto.
[85] Coming up, the U .S. men's soccer team reaches the knockout round.
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[92] The U .S. men's soccer team has advanced to the knockout round of 16 in the World Cup, where they'll be facing off against the Netherlands this morning.
[93] Here to talk about this year's World Cup and how many of the United States.
[94] Americans are tuning in as Crane and Company co -host, David Cohn.
[95] Hey, David.
[96] Hi, John.
[97] All right, so where do things currently stand at the World Cup?
[98] So the United States advanced past the opening round group stage after defeating Iran on Tuesday.
[99] America opened the tournament with a 1 -1 draw against Wales, then played England to a nil -nill -nill draw, which meant they had to be victorious against Iran to continue in this World Cup.
[100] Now, there was a bit of controversy before that matchup with Iran, right?
[101] That's right.
[102] It involves an Iranian reporter who interviewed U .S. Captain Tyler Adams in a pregame press conference.
[103] First, the journalist made a point to correct Adams, citing his country was pronounced Iran, not Iran.
[104] But then he asked Adams, are you okay representing a country with so much discrimination against black people?
[105] Adams, a 23 -year -old black man from New York, responded with poise, stating, quote, there is discrimination everywhere you go, and in the U .S. we're continuing to make progress every single day, unquote.
[106] The United States went on to defeat Iran winning one to nothing.
[107] So what exactly is the knockout round for those who don't follow soccer as closely?
[108] Sure.
[109] Well, each World Cup begins with the group stage, so that's eight different groups with four teams.
[110] We're beyond that now, and the knockout stage means there are no more ties, and the tournament becomes single elimination.
[111] It's worth noting for this match, the Dutch also advanced from their group stage without suffering a defeat.
[112] The game begins early.
[113] It's at 10 a .m. Eastern, so it might be over by the time some listeners are hearing this.
[114] Right.
[115] So we're either celebrating or mourning the loss.
[116] That's correct.
[117] So broadening out a bit here, soccer has always struggled with ratings here in the U .S. How are the ratings for the team in this World Cup?
[118] That's a good question.
[119] That first game I mentioned, which pitted the United States versus Wales, that drew about 12 million.
[120] people.
[121] The next game, which happened on Black Friday, that was the U .S. and England, that brought in almost 20 million viewers.
[122] And the most recent match, U .S. and Iran, which was a winner go home, drew in about 12 million people.
[123] So similar to the Wales match, just for perspective, also on Fox that weekend, Michigan and Ohio State, college football matchup brought in 17 million viewers.
[124] Okay, so solid numbers for the U .S. team.
[125] Yes, yes.
[126] And many soccer fans.
[127] across the United States are excited to see the sport growing.
[128] Meanwhile, we've also got a lot of real football left.
[129] That's just a joke there.
[130] That's correct.
[131] Go blue.
[132] Right.
[133] Dave, thanks for coming on.
[134] Thank you.
[135] That was David Cohn, Cranan Company co -host.
[136] Inflation and high home prices are keeping many from realizing their dreams of owning a home.
[137] As a result, more people are choosing to rent single -family homes while they wait for mortgage interest rates and home prices to drop.
[138] Here to discuss the situation.
[139] as DailyWire Senior Editor Ash Short.
[140] Ash, what's driving the trend away from home ownership?
[141] So in a word, cost, the average rate on a 30 -year fixed mortgage is now 6 .61%, which is double what it was this time last year when the rates averaged 3 .33%.
[142] That, coupled with high inflation and the recession, have made people think twice about what is typically their largest lifetime purchase.
[143] The numbers bear this out.
[144] According to data from John Burns Real Estate Consulting, it costs $888 a month more to buy an entry -level single -family home than to rent one.
[145] Specifically, the consulting firm reported that putting 5 % down on a starter home with mortgage rates where they are would result in a $3 ,058 a month payment, including principal interest, taxes, and insurance.
[146] To rent that same home would cost just $2 ,170.
[147] Yeah, so major savings there.
[148] Is it just inflation and mortgage rates then that are resulting in more people renting than buying?
[149] Not entirely.
[150] Banks are also making it harder to get a loan by restricting their requirements, fearing loan defaults.
[151] And for some people, the move to remote work has made them less likely to want to settle in one place.
[152] For these people, they want to be able to move regularly to wherever their quality of life will be best.
[153] It makes sense.
[154] Now, it's not always the case that renting is more affordable than owning, right?
[155] Right.
[156] Between 2009 and 2013 and then again, between 2015 and 2017, it was actually cheaper to buy a home than to rent.
[157] And even now, in some cities, renting comes with its own struggles since landlords, which are often companies, not people, have been hiking rents for years.
[158] In some places, rents can spike by hundreds of dollars a year, forcing people to move or even become homeless.
[159] Yeah, wow.
[160] So what's being done about this?
[161] There has been a recent movement toward what's described as tenants' rights.
[162] In the most recent election, voters in California, Florida, and Maine voted for ballot measures that would provide rent control, limiting rent increases.
[163] But there's a problem with rent control.
[164] A 2018 report from the Brookings Institution found that in some cases, people may choose to stay in rent control departments, even if they no longer suit their needs because the price is so good.
[165] This can lead to empty nesters living in large family -sized homes or families stuffed into two small apartments.
[166] And if rent prices are held to below market rate, landlords may not pay for maintenance of older homes because they can't recoup those costs through increased rents.
[167] That sounds like a tough market regardless.
[168] Ash, thanks for reporting.
[169] You're welcome.
[170] That's Daily Wire senior editor, Assh Short.
[171] Other stories we're tracking this week.
[172] A 10 -month -old child overdosed on fentanyl in San Francisco while playing in the grass and putting leaves in his mouth at a neighborhood playground.
[173] The toddler was revived by paramedics after receiving CPR from his nanny.
[174] The child's father is Ivan Matkovick, founder of IT and consulting tech company Spendgo.
[175] Republican Indiana Senator Mike Braun filed paperwork to run for governor of Indiana in 2024.
[176] which means his Senate seat will be vacant.
[177] New data from the CDC announced on Monday showed that at least 2 ,900 Americans have passed away from influenza since October.
[178] Jeffrey Epstein's estate came to an agreement on Wednesday to pay over $105 million to the U .S. Virgin Islands and settlement claims.
[179] A French bakery product has been given a special status by the United Nations.
[180] The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, granted a special heritage recognition to the French baguette by placing it on its list of intangible cultural heritage.
[181] Thanks for listening to Morning Wire.
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