Tim Pierce

All right, those are your drive home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com. And in case you missed it this morning, we covered some big stories, including Trump's Pentagon overhaul, the cartel crackdown, and Maine digging in its heels over boys and girls sports. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of Morning Wire.

It's a big deal. One way to think about it is that these cartels, groups such as Venezuela's Tren de Aragua and Mexico's Jalisco cartel, will now be treated similarly to Al-Qaeda. Practically, that means more latitude to use tools such as sanctions and criminal charges. The biggest change, though, is that the U.S.

It's a big deal. One way to think about it is that these cartels, groups such as Venezuela's Tren de Aragua and Mexico's Jalisco cartel, will now be treated similarly to Al-Qaeda. Practically, that means more latitude to use tools such as sanctions and criminal charges. The biggest change, though, is that the U.S.

can now crack down on people and organizations deemed to have given material support to the cartels, such as cash, a phone, or an apartment. That could be gangs that work with the cartels in the U.S., or it could be businesses that have deals with the cartels outside of the country. Here's Border Czar Tom Homan talking about it at CPAC last week.

can now crack down on people and organizations deemed to have given material support to the cartels, such as cash, a phone, or an apartment. That could be gangs that work with the cartels in the U.S., or it could be businesses that have deals with the cartels outside of the country. Here's Border Czar Tom Homan talking about it at CPAC last week.

The Trump administration has also ramped up its surveillance of Mexican drug cartels. According to the Los Angeles Times, the CIA has increased drone surveillance flights over Mexico. U.S. officials said that those drones could easily be upgraded to carry lethal payloads.

The Trump administration has also ramped up its surveillance of Mexican drug cartels. According to the Los Angeles Times, the CIA has increased drone surveillance flights over Mexico. U.S. officials said that those drones could easily be upgraded to carry lethal payloads.

Yeah, Mexico has always opposed the designation. President Claudia Scheinbaum and before her, President Lopez Obrador were against it because they thought the designation could be destructive to Mexico's sovereignty. There's a fear that the designation increases the likelihood that the U.S. could use military force against the cartels, many of which operate in Mexico.

Yeah, Mexico has always opposed the designation. President Claudia Scheinbaum and before her, President Lopez Obrador were against it because they thought the designation could be destructive to Mexico's sovereignty. There's a fear that the designation increases the likelihood that the U.S. could use military force against the cartels, many of which operate in Mexico.

Now that it's done, though, it may force Mexico and other Latin American countries to take their cartel problems more seriously. You could see more countries act like El Salvador under Nayib Bukele, and that could have some pretty drastic consequences. For instance, a crackdown on the cartels in Mexico could look a lot like a civil war.

Now that it's done, though, it may force Mexico and other Latin American countries to take their cartel problems more seriously. You could see more countries act like El Salvador under Nayib Bukele, and that could have some pretty drastic consequences. For instance, a crackdown on the cartels in Mexico could look a lot like a civil war.

Like President Trump's executive order said, the cartels function as quasi-governmental entities and control nearly all aspects of society in parts of Mexico.

Like President Trump's executive order said, the cartels function as quasi-governmental entities and control nearly all aspects of society in parts of Mexico.

He hasn't ruled it out. Over the weekend, though, he seemed more focused on handling the cartels that were operating in the U.S. first. Here's Trump at CPAC.

He hasn't ruled it out. Over the weekend, though, he seemed more focused on handling the cartels that were operating in the U.S. first. Here's Trump at CPAC.

As he noted in his speech, he has sent more National Guard troops down to the border, in part to help defend it against the cartels. It's worth pointing out that the cartels are incredibly well-equipped. Reports say that cartels in Mexico have military-grade rocket launchers and grenades, and have even used submarines to smuggle drugs.

As he noted in his speech, he has sent more National Guard troops down to the border, in part to help defend it against the cartels. It's worth pointing out that the cartels are incredibly well-equipped. Reports say that cartels in Mexico have military-grade rocket launchers and grenades, and have even used submarines to smuggle drugs.

Thanks for having me on.

Thanks for having me on.

President Trump announced Wednesday night that he's considering giving taxpayers 20% of the money being saved by Doge as a tax break. Speaking at an investment conference in Miami, Trump praised Doge's efforts under Elon Musk, highlighting $55 billion in savings already achieved. The proposed plan would allocate another 20% of these savings to reduce the national debt.