Morning Wire XX
[0] Ukraine's long -anticipated counteroffensive against Russia using resources and training from NATO has finally begun to take shape.
[1] The only reason they're thinking about launching an offensive is because of tremendous pressure from the West.
[2] They don't want to do it because they understand that they're in trouble.
[3] Where does the war currently stand?
[4] And what new details have emerged about the Nord Stream Pipeline attack?
[5] I'm Daily Wire, editor -in -chief John Bickley with Georgia House.
[6] It's Wednesday, June 7th, and this is Morning Wire.
[7] The feud between California Governor Gavin Newsom and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has escalated to a new level.
[8] Why is the Golden State Governor accusing DeSantis of kidnapping?
[9] And in one of the most significant developments in the history of professional golf, the PGA tour has announced a merger with Saudi Arabia -funded competitor, Live Golf.
[10] There's been a lot of tension in our sport over the last couple of years.
[11] But what we're talking about today is coming together to unify the game of golf.
[12] Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire.
[13] Stay tuned.
[14] We have the news you need to know.
[15] A long -awaited Ukrainian counter -offensive appears to have finally started.
[16] And a new report says the CIA had information on a Ukrainian plot to sabotage the Nord Stream network months before the pipelines were attacked.
[17] Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce is here to update us on the state of the war in Ukraine.
[18] Hi, Tim.
[19] It looks like Ukraine's summer counteroffensive is finally here.
[20] What's the strategy?
[21] Well, Russia controls most of four oblasts in Ukraine's south and east, in addition to the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014.
[22] Ukraine wants all that back, and the plan appears to be to start out in the east before pushing south toward Crimea.
[23] Other than that, it's hard to say what the actual battle plans are.
[24] Ukraine officials haven't shared much for obvious reasons, though U .S. officials were given a rough time estimate for the start of the operation, and Sunday, when the attack started fit within that time frame.
[25] Okay, so do we have any idea on how the counteroffensive is going?
[26] It's in its early stages, but it looks like the beginning of a serious push.
[27] There have been some reports that German -made leopard tanks are moving toward Russian lines, which suggests that Ukraine is bringing its NATO -trained forces up.
[28] U .S. officials told the New York Times that Ukraine appears to be using a tactic it learned from the U .S. called reconnaissance by force.
[29] Ukraine's troops are making small pushes into Russian -controlled territory to gauge the response and look for weak points.
[30] This will last for a few days before the real assault starts.
[31] The U .S. just agreed to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F -16s.
[32] What effect will that have on the war?
[33] We won't know for a while yet.
[34] The pilots still need to be trained, so the F -16s will likely have a limited role in the counteroffensive if they come into play at all.
[35] John Meersheimer, an expert on international relations at the University of Chicago, actually doubts whether the fighter jets will help Ukraine at all in the long run.
[36] Here's Meersheimer speaking to the committee.
[37] for the Republic two weeks ago.
[38] Those F -16s are going to be in real trouble going up against ground -based air defenses.
[39] The other thing is that the Russians have a formidable air force of their own that has lots of combat experience is gaining combat experience and will be ready to engage those F -16s.
[40] The real danger with the F -16s is that Ukrainians use them to attack targets in Russia.
[41] President Biden has said Ukraine isn't allowed to use U .S. armaments in Russian territory, but attacks have crossed over into Russia anyway.
[42] For example, Moscow was hit by drones just a few weeks ago.
[43] Right.
[44] Now, what about peace talks?
[45] Any movement by Ukraine or Russia to negotiate a settlement?
[46] Mearsheimer was pessimistic about any peace agreement when he spoke two weeks ago.
[47] Here's what he said.
[48] Not going to be a peace agreement.
[49] Meaningful peace agreement.
[50] Not going to happen.
[51] You'll get a frozen conflict.
[52] Why is there not going to be?
[53] a meaningful peace agreement.
[54] Two main reasons.
[55] The first is the territory problem.
[56] The Ukrainians want their territory back.
[57] The Russians have made it clear.
[58] They're not going to get their territory back.
[59] Second big problem is the neutrality problem.
[60] The Russians insist that Ukraine be neutral.
[61] The Ukrainians, on the other hand, they don't want neutrality.
[62] The Ukrainians, for completely understandable reasons, want a security guarantee from someone.
[63] lastly we got some explosive news yesterday in the investigation into who sabotaged the nordstream pipelines last year what did we learn according to the washington post one of the documents allegedly leaked by air national guardsman jack teshara showed that the CIA was told months ahead of the attack on nordstream that ukraine was plotting to sabotage the pipeline what's more of the alleged plot outlined to the CIA in june 2022 is very similar to what investigators suspect was carried out to blow the pipeline in september the pipeline strike was the biggest attack on civilian infrastructure since World War II.
[64] So you have to wonder how Europe will react if Ukraine is found at fault.
[65] That will cause quite a stir to say the least.
[66] Tim, thanks for reporting.
[67] Coming up, Newsom accuses DeSantis of kidnapping.
[68] This week, California Governor Gavin Newsom threatened to charge Ron DeSantis with kidnapping after a number of migrants arrived on charter flights to Sacramento.
[69] Here with more on the escalating war of words between two of the nation's most prominent governors, And the continued battle over immigration policy nationwide is Daily Wire Senior Editor Cabot Phillips.
[70] So Cabot, things are really heating up here.
[71] First, give us some context for Newsom's remarks.
[72] Yeah, so we've talked before about the well -documented feud between lawmakers in California and Florida.
[73] But this week, it reached new levels.
[74] In a tweet on Monday, Newsom called DeSantis a, quote, small, pathetic man and threatened him with kidnapping charges over migrant flights that had arrived in California.
[75] The threat comes after two charter planes carrying a few dozen migrants landed in Sacramento this month.
[76] Now, while the planes originated in Texas, officials from the California Department of Justice say they were carrying documents linking them to the state of Florida.
[77] Newsom now says he'll, quote, investigate the circumstances around who paid for the group's travel and whether the individuals orchestrating this trip misled anyone with false promises or violated any criminal laws.
[78] California's attorney general released a similar statement reiterating that threat, saying, quote, state sanctioned kidnapping is not a public policy choice.
[79] It is immoral and disgusting.
[80] Now, what sort of response have we had from DeSantis?
[81] Well, Florida officials did confirm that the flights originated in the state, but say the migrants went voluntarily and gave verbal and written consent.
[82] They provided Fox News video of the migrants and good spirits on their way to the airport, singing and laughing in a car.
[83] At one point, a number of migrants are asked if they've been treated poorly, and the group emphatically says no, with one man saying they were treated, quote, super well, and other footage showing the migrants thanking the Florida officials.
[84] More broadly, though, Republicans have consistently said that it's hypocritical for Democrats to object to migrants being sent to their states because they've passed sanctuary laws to welcome those very migrants.
[85] Others like DeSantis have also noted that the Biden administration has done essentially the same thing, busing and flying hundreds of thousands of migrants to cities across the country over the last two years.
[86] They say that Democrats are displaying selective outrage because Republicans are now doing the same.
[87] The question now becomes whether this strategy will continue.
[88] Remember, last month, Governor DeSantis signed a bill securing $12 million in funding for a special program that shipped migrants out of his state to sanctuary cities nationwide.
[89] Now, Texas has been engaging in very similar tactics.
[90] We saw some developments there last week.
[91] Tell us about that.
[92] So Texas was actually the first state we saw shipping migrants to California and other Blue States.
[93] Last month, Governor Greg Abbott said that they bust 17 ,000 migrants to cities like Washington, D .C., Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia.
[94] But now, law enforcement in Deep Blue San Antonio is trying to put a stop to that program.
[95] On Monday, the Bexler County Sheriff's Office recommended that the San Antonio District Attorney filed criminal charges against individuals who had helped orchestrate a highly publicized flight that sent 49 migrants to Martha's Vineyard last fall.
[96] While the Sheriff's Office has not yet disclosed who they want charged, they say their investigation, uncovered felony and misdemeanor -level crimes, including unlawful restraint.
[97] So they're going with a similar to act to what we're seeing from California officials in another bid to stop migrant transports out of the state.
[98] Now, in the past, Newsom has been very proud of California's sanctuary status.
[99] What's change?
[100] Yeah, to your point, for the last few years, Newsom has really touted the fact that his state would welcome migrants, proudly noting California's status as a sanctuary state, and actually passing a number of laws protecting illegal immigrants settling there and also expanding funding for migrant and refugee programs.
[101] But the state's infrastructure is now straining under the weight of all those new residents.
[102] According to state officials, California has seen the arrival of at least 350 ,000 migrants in the last two years alone.
[103] And city leaders in many parts of the state, especially in the south, near the Mexico border, say they can't handle any more.
[104] Newsom has recently begun saying the state is now, quote, overwhelmed by the number of migrants, and that reality is likely playing a role in his opposition to more being sent there.
[105] Well, we'll see if they do, in fact, take legal action.
[106] Cabot, thanks for reporting.
[107] Any time.
[108] In a move that shocked the sports world, the PGA tour and live golf have agreed to a merger that will form an entirely new professional golf entity.
[109] Here to discuss the development is Daily Wire Sports Reporter and Crane & Company co -host David Cohn.
[110] Hey, Dave.
[111] Hi, John.
[112] So I don't think I'm alone here for being caught flat -footed on this move by the PGA, which really puts its legacy on the line in some ways.
[113] What happened here?
[114] You are certainly not alone.
[115] Look, it's not hyperbole for me to say that this is the most historic moment for professional golf during my lifetime, at least.
[116] As you said, after three years of division and litigation, it appears the PGA tour will actually merge with live golf.
[117] Now, this was announced by the PGA's commissioner yesterday.
[118] What did he say?
[119] That's correct.
[120] So Commissioner Jay Monaghan informed the public in a statement yesterday.
[121] The PGA tour plans to lead the formation of a new commercial golf.
[122] entity through a framework agreement, the public investment fund.
[123] So that's PIF, PIF, which is the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia and the owner of LiveGolf.
[124] They will contribute their golf -related commercial businesses and rights, along with a significant financial investment for which they will receive a minority stake in a collectively held for -profit LLC.
[125] Well, on the other side of that, This new entity, which has yet to be named, will also include the commercial businesses and rights of the PGA tour as well as the DP World Tour.
[126] So that's the European Golf Tour.
[127] Well, so a for -profit LLC that the Saudi Arabia government -run investment fund will have minority ownership of.
[128] Correct.
[129] That raises a bunch of questions, legal and ethical questions.
[130] What other details have been revealed?
[131] There is much we don't know right now, but here are a few points of clarification.
[132] The PGA tour, will remain in place as a 501C6 tax -exempt organization.
[133] Executives of both the PGA Tour and PIF will join to form the new board of directors here, which will oversee all of this new entity's golf -related operations.
[134] This announcement brings about an end to all pending litigation between the parties.
[135] So lives antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour that you and I have talked about for months now.
[136] That is apparently settled here.
[137] And also the PGA Tour will work cooperatively to establish a fair process for any of those players who desire to reapply for the PGA tour, which is something else we've talked about.
[138] Right, because some of those players were banned from playing by the PGA over their involvement with Live.
[139] Correct, and had their tour cards removed.
[140] Now, every time we've discussed LiveGolf, Greg Norman's name has been mentioned.
[141] How does he fit into all this?
[142] Add that to the top of our ever -growing list of questions here.
[143] Greg Norman's name was not mentioned in the commissioner's statement, so it remains to be seen whether or not he will be involved moving forward.
[144] I had a source tell me that he was informed of the deal, but not involved.
[145] Okay.
[146] What about the players?
[147] Were the PGA Tour players involved at all in this decision?
[148] Apparently not.
[149] Some players are even being quoted saying they are shocked and confused.
[150] Now, Commissioner Monaghan agreed to meet with players yesterday afternoon on site of the RBC Canadian Open to answer questions.
[151] More information from that meeting will certainly be available soon.
[152] But John, Jay Monaghan did end his statement by admitting there is much work to do to get us from a framework agreement to a definitive agreement, which will require PGA Tour Policy Board approval.
[153] So it will be fascinating to see how this plays out, considering many tour players turn down guaranteed money from LiveGolf and stood in solidarity with the PGA Tour.
[154] Yeah, fascinating indeed.
[155] We'll just say a truly remarkable development in the golf world.
[156] Dave, thanks for joining us.
[157] Thank you.
[158] That was David Cohn, co -host of Craning Company.
[159] That's all the time we've got this morning.
[160] Thanks for waking up with us.
[161] We'll be back later this afternoon with more news you need to know.