Morning Wire XX
[0] Following 15 votes and a convincing plea to holdouts, Republican Kevin McCarthy was elected Speaker of the House.
[1] We must get America back on track.
[2] What promises did the new speaker have to make?
[3] And how will they shape the direction of the new Congress?
[4] I'm Daily Wire editor -in -chief John Bickley with Georgia Howl.
[5] It's Monday, January 9th, and this is Morning Wire.
[6] The crisis at the southern border has reached a tipping point, prompting President Biden to make his first official border visit and announce some changes to immigration policy.
[7] Starting today, if you don't apply through the legal process, you will not be eligible for this new parole program.
[8] Will the visit and the changes be enough to stem the tide?
[9] And a high -profile custody battle escalates after California's new trans kids' sanctuary law goes into effect.
[10] We have the details.
[11] Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire.
[12] Stay tuned.
[13] We have the news you need to know.
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[20] On Friday night, following the longest election, since before the Civil War.
[21] California Republican Kevin McCarthy was finally elected Speaker of the House, securing the necessary support on the 15th vote.
[22] Here are the details on how we got over the finish line and what it means for Congress is Daily Wire Senior Editor Cabot Phillips.
[23] Cabot, you've been tracking this all week and spent your Friday evening watching C -SPAN for us.
[24] You're welcome.
[25] So tell us what happened.
[26] It was about as dramatic an evening as you'll see on the House floor, with the whole process taking until nearly 2 a .m. to finally wrap up, and it was a wild conclusion, to say the least.
[27] McCarthy had started to gain momentum on Friday afternoon, slowly peeling off members of the 20 or so GOP holdouts.
[28] As each of those reps announced their support one by one, the Republican side of the chamber erupted in cheers on the floor.
[29] But as voting ended Friday afternoon with Congress set to break for the weekend, McCarthy still did not have the votes.
[30] But then in a surprise twist, he called members back for a 10 p .m. vote, indicating that he had been able to win over the remaining holdouts, led by Florida's Matt Gates and Colorado's Lauren Bover.
[31] But Gates and a handful of others still refused to vote for him, clearly angering GOP leaders on the floor who thought they had it in the back.
[32] After the vote, an agitated McCarthy could be seen approaching Gates on the floor and exchanging words before Alabama rep Mike Rogers appeared and really was just going after Gates.
[33] Yeah, it was.
[34] Rogers became so incensed that he had to be physically restrained by another member who pulled him away, tried to cover his mouth from behind.
[35] The video of the scene is pretty wild.
[36] Yeah, it really gives you an idea of just how contentious things got there.
[37] It was more action than C -SPAN is seen in years, and after that failed 14th vote, it looked like things would have to wait until Monday, but that's when the breakthrough happened.
[38] We don't know exactly what was said, but Gates could be seen talking with McCarthy and his team, which at some point prompted cheers from the floor and chance for one more vote, indicating that the deal had finally been struck.
[39] So on the 15th and final ballot, McCarthy secured the votes necessary and became the next Speaker of the House, ending, like Georgia noted, the longest such stalemate since before the Civil War and making for some very happy Congress members on both sides who were just ready to get sworn in and go home.
[40] The Honorable Kevin McCarthy of the State of California, having received a majority of the votes cast, is duly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.
[41] Now, what ultimately was the turning point for McCarthy?
[42] How did he get this deal done?
[43] Well, because the deal was made behind closed doors, we still don't know all of the details, we've got a few ideas.
[44] First, McCarthy agreed to submit a House budget that balances itself within 10 years and caps certain discretionary spending for Congress.
[45] We also know three seats on the powerful House Rules Committee, which determines which bills come to the floor will be awarded to some of those holdout members.
[46] There were also other committee assignments offered and concessions on rules that make it easier for the Speaker to be voted out.
[47] So if you're one of those GOP holdouts, you're pretty happy with the final outcome, all the concessions you were able to get.
[48] Yeah, sounds like it.
[49] All right, so what does this long battle mean for McCarthy?
[50] now that he's finally elected.
[51] Yeah, that's the interesting question now.
[52] Politically speaking, it really depends on how you look at it.
[53] McCarthy allies would say that this shows he's got a firm grip on the vast majority of the party.
[54] The fact this thing went 15 rounds and he maintained the support of almost every member who voted for him on the first ballot could absolutely be viewed as a sign that he is the clear party power broker.
[55] But critics say the fact it took him so long to get nominated.
[56] Remember, every speaker from the last century was elected on the first ballot shows that his grip on the speaker's gavel may not be as firm.
[57] And remember, because of those new rules that he agreed to in order to win over those holdouts, it'll only take a handful of members to initiate a vote of no confidence, which is basically a recall vote on the speaker.
[58] So we could have an answer to the question of how strongly he's positioned very soon.
[59] Yeah, we could.
[60] Well, we know there's going to be a lot more coming from this split Congress in the coming months.
[61] Cabot, thanks for reporting.
[62] Anytime.
[63] That's Daily Wire senior editor, Cabot Phillips.
[64] Coming up, President Biden visits the border and makes some big changes to immigration policy.
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[73] President Biden made his first official visit to the U .S. southern border on Sunday.
[74] He's faced bipartisan pressure to make the trip since taking office in 2021.
[75] Since his term began, the U .S. has experienced an unprecedented amount of illegal migration over the southern border.
[76] Here to talk about Biden's trip and the president's updated approach to border security is Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce.
[77] So, Tim, tell us about the visit.
[78] Sure, this was the first trip to the border during his presidency.
[79] looks like the first dedicated border trip of his political career.
[80] In 2008, he traveled in a motorcade for a few miles along the border on the way to a campaign event in New Mexico, but there's no record of him making any stops.
[81] That said, he has worked on immigration issues before.
[82] For example, he's had discussions in Congress and met diplomats in the U .S. and in Mexico over immigration.
[83] Now, has he laid out any specific plans or updated plans for border security?
[84] In a speech on Thursday, he indicated that he would be talking to officials at the border to formulate a plan.
[85] Here's what he said.
[86] Next week, I'm going to travel to Mexico where I'm going to meet with President Lopez Obedo.
[87] We have a big agenda that ranges in a climate crisis to economic development and other issues, but one important part of that agenda is strengthening our border between our nations.
[88] And I will visit the border myself this Sunday in El Paso to assess border enforcement operations, meet with the local officials and community leaders and the folks at the border sending me what they need that they don't have.
[89] Biden also announced a few specific changes to policy during that speech.
[90] Mainly, he's expanding a parole program put in place for Venezuelan migrants last year to include migrants from Nicaragua, Cuba, and Haiti.
[91] Under that policy, the U .S. will accept 30 ,000 people from those countries per month as long as they have a tie to the U .S. already.
[92] Migrants who don't qualify or who didn't apply for the program correctly will face an expedited removal process.
[93] Here's Biden talking about the new program Thursday.
[94] My message is this.
[95] Do not.
[96] Do not just show up at the border.
[97] Stay where you are and apply legally from there.
[98] What prompted this trip now?
[99] Well, he's facing increasing political pressure to address the situation at the border.
[100] Initially, that pressure was primarily from Republican border.
[101] But now some blue states are also applying pressure as well.
[102] Earlier this week, Colorado's governor said he is joining several Republican governors and busing migrants to sanctuary cities, such as Chicago and New York City.
[103] Those sanctuary cities are really starting to fill the strain.
[104] New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently called the situation unfair.
[105] Here's what he said.
[106] Now, I said we were notified yesterday.
[107] This is just unfair for local governments to have to take on this national obligation.
[108] Now, has Biden announced any new policies or updates since visiting the border?
[109] He hasn't made any official statements yet, but we will hopefully hear more later this week.
[110] All right.
[111] Well, Tim, thanks for reporting.
[112] That's Daily Wires, Tim.
[113] A new transgender sanctuary law in California could complicate a high -profile custody battle in Texas.
[114] Here to discuss the latest in this year's long legal battle is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presta Giacomo.
[115] So Amanda, can you give us a brief background into this situation for those unfamiliar?
[116] Sure, John.
[117] Yeah, this case has gained national attention for years.
[118] It really strikes at the heart of the culture where it's brewing here in the West.
[119] and at the center of the case is young biological male named James.
[120] The boy's mother, a pediatrician named Dr. Anne Georgilis, she claims the boy has identified as a girl named Luna since the child was a toddler.
[121] The father, Jeff Younger, says his son has never presented as a girl and doesn't want him to undergo any transition, be it social or medical.
[122] Younger in 2019 released a cell phone video he took of James at age three.
[123] Here's an audio clip of that.
[124] You're a boy, right?
[125] No. I'm a girl.
[126] Who told you you were a girl?
[127] Mommy.
[128] When did she tell you you were a girl?
[129] I love girls.
[130] Oh, I see.
[131] So mommy told you you were a girl?
[132] Uh -huh.
[133] And here's Georgilus, in her own words, at a custody hearing, talking about James, whom she calls Luna.
[134] When she was about three, she started wanting to do things and dress in certain ways that were female.
[135] And then when she was about five, she told me that she was.
[136] didn't want this to be pretend anymore, and she had been telling us to use female pronouns for a year and a half, maybe a year at that point.
[137] As a child gets older, now nine years old, and medical, so -called transgender care is on the table.
[138] The legal battle has become even more high stakes.
[139] A lot of this treatment for minors is irreversible and life -altering.
[140] Now, the Texas Supreme Court recently ruled against an appeal from the father.
[141] What can you tell us about that ruling?
[142] Yeah, the court ruled 8 to 1 against Younger's request that his ex -wife move their child back to Texas from California, where younger fears Georgilis will be allowed to medically transition the child under California's SB 107, which took effect on January 1st.
[143] That law obstructs the enforcement of out -of -state laws that prevent services like hormone therapy and so -called trans surgeries for kids, which opponents say are tantamount to sterilization and child mutilation.
[144] A note here, back in 2021, Georgia Lus was awarded full custody of their child and was permitted to live where she pleases within the U .S. and treat the boy as a girl without the consent of Mr. Younger.
[145] Now, the only caveat to that was that she was not allowed to move forward with puberty blockers or transgender reassignment surgery without her ex -husband's consent.
[146] This order was put in place before Texas moved to criminalize the treatments on minors, by the way.
[147] Right.
[148] So with this new California law, Younger fears is, ex -wife can now actually move forward with medical transition against his wishes.
[149] Right.
[150] And younger claims, Georgilis actually moved their children to California specifically for this reason.
[151] Here's the father speaking on tipping point last week just before the decision from the Texas Supreme Court was handed down.
[152] My ex -wife transferred her medical license to California looks like in September.
[153] So this was well -planned legal strategy to get my son to California so it can be a transition.
[154] Now, a concurring opinion from one of the judges said Younger is misreading the California law, claiming SB 107 won't negate the Texas court order prohibiting unilateral reassignment medication or surgery for this child.
[155] The judge wrote, quoting here, I see no provision in the bill that would alter the enforceability in California of a Texas court order requiring divorce parents to agree before subjecting their child to gender transition therapy.
[156] Okay, so some disagreement on SB 107.
[157] How has Younger reacted since this Texas Supreme Court's decision?
[158] He's vowed to never stop fighting against the transitioning of his child, and he's clearly not happy with the decision from the Texas Supreme Court.
[159] Younger said on Twitter that the Texas Supreme Court effectively terminated his parental rights, adding, quote, my children are now subject to being chemically castrated in California.
[160] Well, these sorts of transgender -centered custody battle seem to be becoming more and more common.
[161] Amanda, thanks for reporting.
[162] Anytime.
[163] That was Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presta Giacomo.
[164] Other stories we're tracking this week.
[165] Supporters of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who refused to accept his electoral defeat by his leftist rival, stormed Congress, the Supreme Court, and the presidential palace in the capital on Sunday.
[166] Some of his supporters are calling for a military intervention to restore the right -wing.
[167] Bolsonaro to power.
[168] A teacher was shot and injured by a six -year -old student in Virginia on Friday.
[169] The student reportedly opened fire after an altercation with the teacher in the first grade public school classroom.
[170] Police are currently investigating how the student gained access to the fire on.
[171] That's all the time we've got this morning.
[172] Thanks for waking up with us.
[173] We'll be back later this afternoon with more news you need to know.
[174] Hey guys, producer Brandon here.
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