Morning Wire XX
[0] After 12 days of war, Russia is stepping up attacks on civilian targets and infrastructure as hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians attempt to flee the country.
[1] Meanwhile, the U .S. is weighing a ban on Russian oil.
[2] But how likely are European nations to join a potential embargo?
[3] I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Editor -in -Chief John Bickley.
[4] It's Tuesday, March 8th, and this is Morning Wire.
[5] The People's Convoy is on its second day of demonstrations in D .C., What are their goals and how do their tactics differ from the Canadian truckers?
[6] We do not want to shut down the beltway.
[7] We just want them to hear us wrong.
[8] And Ukraine may be losing ground in the war with Russia, but Ukraine's president, Flotamier Zelensky, has so far been able to win the messaging war.
[9] How is Zelensky using his entertainment background to win worldwide support?
[10] Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire.
[11] Stay tuned.
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[19] With war raging between Ukraine and Russia, pressure is building on the Biden administration to cut off Russian oil imports.
[20] This comes as civilians face continued.
[21] threats trying to escape the fighting.
[22] Here with the latest from Ukraine is daily wires Ian Howarth.
[23] So, Ian, what can you tell us?
[24] Well, a third round of talks between Ukraine and Russia ended yesterday with no major developments, as the United Nations reported that over 400 civilians have been killed so far in Russia's invasion.
[25] Of those killed, 27 a children, and over 800 have been injured.
[26] Now, yesterday we spoke about the 1 .5 million refugees who've managed to escape Ukraine so far.
[27] Where do those numbers stand now?
[28] Well, the number of The numbers continue to increase, but those who haven't left yet are facing some real challenges.
[29] Russian forces are making significant gains in the north, south and east of Ukraine, and targeting cities across the country with heavy rocket fire, often targeting civilians specifically, while Russia repeatedly ignores ceasefires or fails to respect so -called humanitarian corridors.
[30] Russia did propose their own plan to evacuate citizens from Ukraine, but their proposal involved Ukrainians having to escape to Russia or Belarus, a close Russian ally.
[31] So unsurprisingly, this was rejected by the Ukrainians.
[32] Now, tell us more about what's going on in response.
[33] We spoke yesterday about how a no -fly zone looks unlikely.
[34] What else is on the table?
[35] Well, energy has increasingly become the focus.
[36] As we've noted, international sanctions and companies pulling out of Russia haven't had a real effect.
[37] So now this subject of dependence on Russian energy has become the central issue when it comes to next steps.
[38] The Biden administration is now considering a possible ban on oil imports from Russia, but no decision has been made yet.
[39] Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the U .S. is working with partners and allies on whether a ban on Russian energy is plausible.
[40] We are now talking to our European partners and allies to look in a coordinated way at the prospect of banning the import of Russian oil while making sure that there is still an appropriate supply of oil on world markets.
[41] But according to another U .S. official, if a ban of Russian energy does happen, it's likely that the U .S. will go it alone.
[42] As we've discussed before, Germany is the biggest purchaser of Russian energy in Europe, and they've rejected a ban on Russian oil, so Europe is definitely not on the same page.
[43] And last but certainly not least, we can't forget that China is going to play a massive role in opposing any economic strategies against Russia.
[44] The Chinese foreign minister called Moscow the, quote, most important strategic partner on Monday.
[45] He also said they remain focused on promoting the, quote, development of a comprehensive China -Russia partnership in this new era.
[46] Well, we'll all be watching to see what moves China makes next.
[47] Yes, absolutely.
[48] Ian, thanks for the update.
[49] Thanks, Georgia.
[50] That's DailyWire's Ian Howarth.
[51] Coming up, Truckers convene in D .C. to protest COVID measures.
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[56] A convoy of truckers calling themselves the People's Convoy has gathered in Hagerstown, Maryland this week to protest COVID restrictions and vaccine mandates.
[57] While the Canadian truckers block the streets of Ottawa, this convoy slowly circles D .C. Joining us now is DailyWire's Mary Margaret Ola -Han, who was there on the scene Monday and spoke to some of the protesters.
[58] Mary Margaret, thanks for joining us.
[59] Good to be here.
[60] So you visited the convoy in person on Monday.
[61] What did you see?
[62] So I drove up bright and early from D .C. to the Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland, which is the launching point of the convoy.
[63] And I saw more than a hundred large trucks and hundreds of small vehicles.
[64] And I'm told that many of these truckers camped out there all night last night.
[65] At this point, most of the country has already opened up or ended mask mandates.
[66] What are the truckers hoping to accomplish?
[67] The truckers told me that they're here for freedom.
[68] They're protesting COVID restrictions across the country, and they want President Joe Biden to end the emergency order, which was initially issued under President Donald Trump, that includes all remaining COVID -related vaccine mandates.
[69] So they're calling for an end to all remaining COVID measures.
[70] Yes, so this convoy mirrors the Canadian Trucker Convoy that ended a few weeks ago, and that one began as a response to the government mandate that Canadian Trucker crossing the border must be fully vaccinated.
[71] And that one turned into a full -on anti -COVID restriction convoy.
[72] That's what this U .S. one appears to be turning into as well.
[73] So they're similar in focus.
[74] What about the timing?
[75] Why now?
[76] Well, this one's taken a few weeks to organize.
[77] We began hearing in February that a convoy might be coming to the United States, beginning in California, and it's been in the works for a few weeks.
[78] How did D .C. officials respond to news that the convoy was coming.
[79] There definitely were some concerns.
[80] In fact, a few hundred members of the National Guard were deployed to D .C. in late February to help control traffic related to concerns about the trucker convoy.
[81] The leader of the convoy, Brian Brace, has suggested that these preparations are unnecessary.
[82] Right now, the convoy isn't planning to enter the city, just circle it.
[83] And he really emphasized that he does not want this convoy to be compared to the January 6th protest.
[84] Here's what he had to say.
[85] So with that said, we're making diplomatic moves.
[86] That means at this time, meaning today and tomorrow, we are not and will not go into D .C. proper.
[87] We saw the Canadian protests go on for weeks and involve blockades.
[88] What does this convoy plan to do?
[89] Well, they're not planning any kind of deliberate blockades.
[90] They're planning to drive around the city, driving about 55 miles per hour.
[91] or to bring attention to their cause.
[92] Now, Bray's did admit that there's a faction of the group that does want to go to D .C., but as of right now, he's against that.
[93] There are two sides to me in this.
[94] There's the side that just wants to get shot done.
[95] Yeah, he is.
[96] Then there is the side of me where I am genuinely concerned about the actions that they are taking in downtown D .C. in the event that we show up down there.
[97] He also brought up concerns about people trying to come in here who didn't belong, warning that anyone who intends to cause harm, violence, or disruption is not welcome.
[98] The organizer also said that several prominent United States senators and lawmakers plan to speak with the convoy this week.
[99] And I've been able to confirm that at least one will be talking to the convoy.
[100] All right.
[101] Well, Barry Margaret, thanks for giving us a firsthand report on the event.
[102] Of course.
[103] My pleasure.
[104] Daily Wire reporter Mary Margaret O 'Lean.
[105] Russia's invasion has made Ukrainian president Vladimir Zelensky into a rising star on the global stage.
[106] Part of his appeal grows out of his experience as an actor and entertainer.
[107] Here to give us some insight into Zelensky's background and how he's leveraging it to rally international support is Daily Wire culture reporter Megan Basham.
[108] So, Megan, I think a lot of us have seen clips on social media of Zelensky performing.
[109] in various comedy routines.
[110] I understand he was also on Ukrainian Dancing with the Stars.
[111] Before we talk about the skills he's using in this war effort, maybe let's start by giving a bit of a rundown on his acting resume.
[112] Yeah, with pleasure, because it's really fascinating.
[113] So Zelensky first won this Ukrainian sketch comedy competition show when he was 17.
[114] And that's sort of what kicked off his career as a comedian.
[115] From there, as you mentioned, Georgia, he actually won the Ukrainian version.
[116] version of Dancing with the Stars.
[117] He then went on to star in a number of films, largely Russian language romantic comedies.
[118] He was even the voice of Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian -dubbed version of that 2014 film.
[119] But the big turn in his life came in 2015 when he began starring in his sitcom, Servant of the People, and he was playing, ironically, the president of Ukraine.
[120] So life imitates art. Yes, exactly, because he said that that experience was part of what inspired him to run for office, and he was still playing that role as he was campaigning to be president.
[121] So he was still acting on TV at the time that he was running his campaign?
[122] Yes, that is correct.
[123] And life imitated art even more when the television production company behind that show actually formed a political party with the same name as the party on the show, and Zelensky won the presidency running with that new party platform.
[124] So within a month of the show's finale, Zelensky was elected president.
[125] So bringing us back to this situation in Ukraine now, Zelensky has put out a few very viral videos, and he's become sort of a social media star.
[126] He has, and I think in particular there was that one video selfie that he posted to Telegram.
[127] Now, if you're not familiar, that's a messaging app.
[128] It's very popular in Russia.
[129] Well, in that video, he announced that he wasn't leaving Kiv, even as Russian troops were reportedly heading directly toward the city.
[130] I think that inspired just a lot of sympathy.
[131] So videos like that have been instrumental at galvanizing the world on Ukraine's behalf.
[132] And his legend has sort of grown with these striking one -liners.
[133] Just one example when the American military offered to airlift him out of Kiev.
[134] He reportedly said that he didn't need a ride.
[135] He needed ammunition.
[136] That was a big moment.
[137] And then the most recent video on March 3rd, he says in that, quoting here, we have nothing to lose but our own freedom.
[138] So again, just these very memorable statements.
[139] And I think what you can say is that Zelensky's public appeals are always very sophisticated and very effective.
[140] Then you compare that with, say, those shirtless photos of Putin on a horse a few years ago.
[141] Now, ostensibly, those were also meant to convey masculinity, toughness.
[142] But I think to Western eyes, those just mostly seem silly.
[143] And then there's also the speeches that he's been giving to other world leaders.
[144] We heard reports that last week, as the EU gathered to debate imposing sanctions on Russia, the German delegate especially was balking at employing the harshest measures.
[145] But that changed when Zelensky was teleconferenced in.
[146] He gave an especially passionate five -minute speech pleading for the EU's help.
[147] And he ended that by saying that it may be the last time those leaders saw him alive.
[148] And by the time he was done, the mood had shifted entirely to his side.
[149] So all of these arresting images and speeches, you have to say they're really moving the needle in the world's response.
[150] Well, and as of now, Zelensky is still in Kyiv, so we're going to be keeping an eye on that.
[151] Megan, thanks for reporting.
[152] Yeah, anytime.
[153] That's Daily Wire Culture reporter, Megan Basham.
[154] Other stories we're tracking this week, Netflix and TikTok have suspended their services in Russia.
[155] A spokesperson for Netflix announced the move Sunday, citing the circumstances on the ground in the region.
[156] TikTok pointed to the new fake news law in Russia and said they have no choice but to suspend live streaming and new content to their video service in the country.
[157] The global toll from the virus has surpassed 6 million people.
[158] That's according to Johns Hopkins data.
[159] For comparison, the 1918 flu pandemic is estimated to have killed at least 50 million people around the world.
[160] Washington State will lift its statewide indoor mask mandate starting March 12, but students in Seattle public schools may be required to wear masks.
[161] through May 1st.
[162] A Seattle Teachers Union is pushing the district to maintain masks until at least two weeks after spring break, claiming the masks give students a sense of safety and normalcy.
[163] And President Biden continues to be underwater in the polls.
[164] According to the real clear politics average of national polls, the president's approval sits at 42 percent, while his disapproval is currently 54%, a 12 -point gap.
[165] On his handling of the economy and foreign policy, the gaps are larger, 20 points and 19 points, respectively.
[166] Sixty -four percent of Americans believe the country is moving in the wrong direction.
[167] If you like this episode and are interested in hearing more, subscribe to MorningWire on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening, and give us a five -star review.
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[169] Thanks for waking up with us.
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