Morning Wire XX
[0] Ongoing protests in Cuba represent the most significant movement against the Cuban government in decades.
[1] Now, new information from the Biden administration signals a possible shift in U .S. policy towards the communist -controlled nation.
[2] What's fueling the protests, and how has the government responded?
[3] It's Wednesday, July 21st.
[4] I'm John Bickley with Georgia Howe, and this is Morning Wire.
[5] A federal judge rules against students who say a public university's vaccine, mandate is unconstitutional.
[6] What does this mean for the ongoing debate over vaccine mandates?
[7] And the U .S. reaches another landmark in illegal border crossings.
[8] We'll take a look at the latest data and its implications for immigration policy.
[9] Thanks for waking up with Morningwire.
[10] Stay tuned.
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[16] Following the largest anti -communist protests in Cuba in decades, the Biden administration is weighing in.
[17] Joining us to discuss the political fallout and the potential foreign policy implications is Daily Wire Managing Editor Cabot Phillips.
[18] Cabot, thanks for joining us.
[19] Thanks for having me. So this story has really captured global attention over the last couple weeks.
[20] What makes these protests so significant?
[21] Well, any demonstrations against the communist regime in Cuba are important because we just don't see this type of thing.
[22] This is the first mass protest Cuba has experienced since a change in government leadership last year.
[23] For the past few decades under Fidel and Roald Castro, mass protests were violently shut down by the communist government, and leaders of opposition movements have often been jailed or murdered.
[24] But there's new leadership now under Miguel Diaz -Cannell, so the world has been watching to see how the new regime is handling the pro -democracy demonstrations.
[25] Right.
[26] We've seen some troubling reports about the government cracking down.
[27] Yeah, they've responded harshly.
[28] The Communist Party called on the military to suppress the protesters, saying, quote, the order to fight has been given.
[29] And throughout the past week and a half, Black Berets, which are essentially special agents of the Communist Party, have been seen throughout the city violently detaining protesters.
[30] For example, one pro -democracy leader was in the middle of an interview with a Spanish news outlet when, agents burst into her home and forcibly arrested her.
[31] I spoke to one Cuban dissident who told me just how dangerous the protests are for those on the ground.
[32] The level of brutalization that the Cuban people have endured during the last week is immense.
[33] They have been beaten, there have been deaths, they have been at least 532 detained and missing people, but those are only the numbers that we have been able to verify.
[34] We estimate that the actual number to be in the thousands, to get out of the crisis, we have to put an end up to the dictatorship.
[35] And the Cuban government also reportedly shut down the nation's only Wi -Fi network, which they control, to prevent people from organizing and to keep videos of the protests from being shared with the outside world.
[36] And how about political leaders in the U .S.?
[37] How are they approaching this?
[38] Well, much of the original messaging from Democrats, including the Biden administration, was centered on COVID.
[39] Initially, one White House official said last week that the protests were sparked by a, quote, concern about rising COVID cases, not necessarily the oppressive government.
[40] Senator Marco Rubio of Florida told the Daily Wire earlier that he disagreed with that assessment.
[41] These protests were not about COVID.
[42] These protests were not about food shortages.
[43] Cuba's been dealing with food shortages forever.
[44] And COVID is spreading throughout the world.
[45] These protests were about what the protesters said they were about.
[46] Libertad, which means liberty.
[47] Now, as a result of the pushback, the White House seemed to walk those claims back at a press conference later in the week.
[48] Press Secretary Jen Saki called communism a, quote, failed ideology and said it had let down the people of Cuba.
[49] President Biden issued a similar statement, which surprised many people.
[50] Communism is a fail system, universally failed system.
[51] And I don't see socialism as a very, useful substitute, but that's another story.
[52] So should we expect to see any changes in U .S. policy towards Cuba?
[53] There have been two announcements so far from the administration, but nothing that you'd call groundbreaking.
[54] First, the Biden administration said that they'd be looking into reversing a law that prevents Cuban exiles from sending money back to their families still on the island.
[55] President Trump had made that practice illegal in 2017 over concerns that the communist regime was simply taking the money for themselves.
[56] The administration also announced that they're instructing the State Department to consider expanding their presence in Havana.
[57] Republicans and Democrats don't agree on much lately.
[58] Are they at least aligned on Cuba?
[59] No. Many Republicans want to see a stronger stance against the communist regime.
[60] They say it's important to show support for the pro -democracy protesters.
[61] Democrats, on the other hand, say the best way to support the Cuban people is by loosening economic sanctions against Cuba.
[62] So now it's a waiting game to see if the administration will go any further.
[63] Definitely a major movement developing in Cuba right now.
[64] Thanks for coming on, Cabot.
[65] Anytime.
[66] Daily Wire Managing Editor, Cabot Phillips.
[67] Up next, a federal judge upholds a public university's vaccine mandate.
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[71] A recent court ruling is stirring up the national debate over vaccine mandates.
[72] A federal judge sided with Indiana University on Monday, upholding the school's COVID vaccine mandate for students, faculty, and staff for the coming school year.
[73] Here to tell us more is Daily Wire's Charlotte Pence Bond.
[74] Morning, Charlotte.
[75] Hi, John.
[76] So a lawsuit over a university's vaccine mandate.
[77] Tell us about this case.
[78] Right.
[79] So eight of the students filed a lawsuit last month.
[80] last month trying to halt the university's mandate.
[81] But a U .S. district judge ruled against their attempt, meaning that for now, the school can go ahead with its requirement this fall.
[82] What are the students claiming here?
[83] A few things.
[84] First, the lawsuit said that the university's mandate violates the liberty protected by the 14th Amendment.
[85] That includes rights of personal autonomy, bodily integrity, and the right to reject medical treatment.
[86] The students also say the mandate violates Indiana law, since it's against the law for state and local units to require or issue immunization passports except in certain situations.
[87] So state law doesn't allow requiring proof of vaccine, but the university does.
[88] But the judge didn't side with the students here.
[89] No. He wrote an opinion noting that the university is presenting the students with a difficult choice, but he said this doesn't amount to coercion.
[90] He argued that the 14th Amendment allows the school to pursue a reasonable and due process of vaccination in the interest of public health.
[91] He also said the students haven't established a likelihood of success.
[92] So sounds like the judge didn't think their lawsuit would succeed.
[93] Right.
[94] So what exactly does the university require?
[95] Why are the students so upset?
[96] Well, the school requires that students, faculty, and staff need to be fully vaccinated by August 15th or when they come back to campus.
[97] If anyone chooses not to get vaccinated, the school said that students' class registration would be canceled and their access to school systems and activities will be blocked.
[98] So students will be totally cut off from the university.
[99] Wow.
[100] If faculty and staff don't get vaccinated, they will be fired.
[101] Working remotely and not getting a vaccine was not an alternative choice.
[102] Okay, so no other choice.
[103] Are there any exceptions?
[104] Is anyone allowed to not get the vaccine?
[105] Yes, there are exemptions allowed, including for religious, ethical, or medical reasons.
[106] Students in an all -on -line program can also be exempted.
[107] There are also some medical deferrals, including if someone is pregnant or actively breastfeeding.
[108] So there's some situations where people wouldn't have to be vaccinated, but they're pretty strict?
[109] Yes.
[110] Okay.
[111] But the lawsuit pointed out that the school still requires anyone who gets an exemption to follow extra requirements.
[112] These include mitigation testing twice a week and a mandatory quarantine if they're exposed to someone who has COVID.
[113] They also have to wear masks.
[114] in public spaces and must return to their home address if there's a serious outbreak on campus.
[115] And those who are exempt but don't wear a face mask or do the mitigation testing, they face disciplinary action, which could include dismissal.
[116] So what's next for this case?
[117] The students plan to appeal the decision.
[118] Their lawyer has also pointed out that no federal or state agencies mandate the vaccine.
[119] The broader significance here, John, is that this could send a signal to other universities considering vaccine mandates.
[120] A significant ruling here on vaccines.
[121] Thanks, Charlotte.
[122] Anytime.
[123] Daily Wires, Charlotte Pence -Bond.
[124] Immigration has become a defining issue for the Biden administration, and the latest numbers show that the U .S. just reached a new milestone with illegal immigrant crossings.
[125] Joining us to discuss the border situation as Daily Wires Ben Johnson.
[126] Morning, Ben.
[127] Good morning, John.
[128] So illegal crossings have been climbing every month.
[129] What's the latest from the border?
[130] The government just released the numbers for June, and they show near -record levels of illegal border crossings.
[131] Already this fiscal year, more than a million people have entered the U .S. illegally.
[132] That's the first time that's happened since 2006.
[133] If the trend continues, that would mean a million illegal immigrants have already crossed the border since January.
[134] We'll find that out next month.
[135] The other important statistics, the number of illegal border crossings that took place last month, almost 189 ,000 illegal immigrants entered the U .S. in June, that's the second highest number of monthly entries in U .S. history behind March of 2000.
[136] So a record number going back a couple of decades.
[137] Right.
[138] And the timing of the surge is also an issue.
[139] The Biden administration has said the rising number of border crossings after his inauguration was part of a regular seasonal increase, but there's nothing seasonal about an immigration surge in June.
[140] Right.
[141] A spike over the summer is almost unheard of.
[142] Usually border crossings reach their high around March and then fall over the summer when temperatures rise.
[143] According to CBP statistics, this is only the second time this century that border crossings increase between the months of May and June.
[144] Border crossings fall in the summer because people don't want to cross the desert when the temperature is over 100 degrees.
[145] Heat, exposure, and abandonment are putting people at risk.
[146] The Border Patrol sent out 9 ,500 rescue missions this year to try and save illegal immigrants' lives.
[147] That's an 81 % increase over last year.
[148] Wow.
[149] What's driving so many people to make such a dangerous journey.
[150] The Biden administration primarily blames violence in Central America.
[151] The GOP primarily blames President Biden.
[152] On Tuesday, Republicans on the House Oversight and Reform Committee released a 37 -page report, documenting every Biden administration policy they believes, given the world, the message that our border is open.
[153] So partisan division.
[154] No surprise there.
[155] What are some of the policy changes Republicans highlighted?
[156] They point to President Biden announcing 100 -day freeze on deportations and lifting a policy requiring would -be entrance to stay in Mexico.
[157] He also reversed a series of asylum agreements that President Trump had signed, which kept asylum seekers waiting outside the United States.
[158] Republicans also noted that President Biden essentially reinstated the catch -and -release policy.
[159] And, of course, he stopped building the wall on the southern border.
[160] So they say it's not one particular policy, it's the combination.
[161] That's right.
[162] With the numbers adding up, is Biden done changing policies?
[163] No. More changes are coming and soon.
[164] Now the Biden administration is talking about lifting Title 42.
[165] That lets border officials expel illegal immigrants during times of disease outbreaks, like COVID -19.
[166] More than 200 ,000 entrants were deported under Title 42 in the last two months alone.
[167] Officials announced that the president's considering lifting that policy by the end of this month.
[168] So we might have more months like this ahead.
[169] Ben, thanks for the reporting.
[170] Thanks for having me. Daily Wire reporter, Ben Johnson.
[171] Those are the top stories this morning, but there's more in the news to keep an eye on.
[172] Other big developments that were tracking this week.
[173] A 38 -year -old Florida man was sentenced to eight months in prison on Monday for his involvement with the January 6th riots.
[174] Paul Hodgkins pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of an official proceeding, acknowledging his intention to obstruct the certification of the 2020 election.
[175] It's the first felony sentence related to January 6th.
[176] With violent crime in Portland reaching a 30 -year high, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is now vowing to, quote, fight for more police.
[177] The city lost 125 members of the police force over the past year due to budget cuts and resignations.
[178] Last September, Wheeler publicly aligned with the defund the police movement, supporting a $15 million budget cut.
[179] And Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made history Tuesday, successfully completing an all -civilian space voyage aboard Blue Origin spacecraft New Shepard.
[180] The spacecraft launched 66 miles above Earth, then descended in a parachute -aided landing in West Texas.
[181] In total, the voyage lasted just over 10 minutes.
[182] Along with Virgin Galactic's recent launch, this marks the beginning of the space tourism industry.
[183] If you like this episode and are interested in hearing more, subscribe to Morning Wire on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening, and leave us a five -star review.
[184] That's all the time we've got this morning.
[185] Thanks for waking up with us.
[186] We'll be back tomorrow with the news you need to know.
[187] If you prefer facts over feelings and aren't offended by the truth, join me, Ben Shapiro on the Ben Shapiro show Monday through Friday to get a whole lot of that and much more on the fastest moving daily news program in America.
[188] We'll see you there.