Morning Wire
Evening Wire: More Marines to Middle East & Bachelorette Canceled | 3.20.26
20 Mar 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What new developments are happening with U.S. troops in the Middle East?
More troops are inbound to the Middle East. Canceled Bachelorette star Taylor Frankie Paul responds to a viral abuse video. And Hollywood and martial arts legend Chuck Norris passes away. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Friday, March 20th, and this is Evening Wire.
Chapter 2: Why was Bachelorette star Taylor Frankie Paul’s season canceled?
A second Marine Expeditionary Unit, roughly 2,200 Marines and multiple warships, is now heading toward the Middle East and it's joining another similar force already en route. These rapid response units are designed for everything from securing shipping lanes to evacuating civilians and potentially conducting limited ground operations if needed.
Despite the buildup, though, President Trump says he has no plans to put troops on the ground, telling reporters, I'm not putting troops anywhere.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel acted alone in targeting a key gas facility, a move that sent global energy prices surging. He added that President Trump had asked Israel to hold off on additional strikes, even as the two countries remain closely coordinated in the broader campaign.
Chapter 3: What details surround the passing of Chuck Norris?
Netanyahu also pushed back on claims that Israel pulled the U.S. into the war, saying, quote, Trump is not someone you tell what to do.
It's been said that for 40 years, I've been saying that Iran is a danger to Israel and a danger to the world. That is true. You know who else said that? President Trump. 47 years ago, when the Iranian thugs took over the American embassy, he said how dangerous this regime is.
Former intelligence official Joe Kent is suspected of leaking classified information to, quote, disaffected MAGA media personalities. And many are pointing to Tucker Carlson, who just had Kent on his show. Daily Wire senior editor Virginia Kruda has more.
A law enforcement source told the news site News of the U.S. that FBI counterintelligence had already begun a criminal investigation into Kent's alleged actions long before he announced his resignation.
Chapter 4: How is Israel's military strategy affecting global energy prices?
An administration official told the outlet that Kent had, quote, leaked classified information from a server to a member of the media. Kent, according to a report by Semaphore, was already under the FBI's microscope before he abruptly resigned on Tuesday. He claimed that he could no longer support Trump's administration as it waged war against the Iranian regime.
But Notice reports that FBI Director Kash Patel is considering declassifying as much information as possible in order to show that the investigation into Kent was already underway when he announced his plan to leave the administration.
A spokesperson for canceled Bachelorette star Taylor Frankie Paul pushed back following the release of a viral video of her allegedly engaging in domestic abuse with her ex. Daily Wire Entertainment reporter Amanda Harding has the story.
Taylor Frankie Paul's season of The Bachelorette has been canceled by ABC following the release of a viral video of her allegedly engaging in domestic abuse with her former boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen.
Paul's spokesperson has now called the release of the video the, quote, latest installment of Mortensen's, quote, never ending, desperate, attention seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences of their child. The video, the spokesperson said, conveniently omits context and follows a pattern of manipulation from her ex.
Meanwhile, a Disney Entertainment spokesperson has announced that in light of the video, they've made the decision to, quote, not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time and their focus is instead on supporting the family.
Planned Parenthood's Illinois chapter has agreed to pay $500,000 after the federal government investigated allegations that it discriminated against white employees. Daily Wire assistant editor Andy Valdez reports.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said there's reasonable cause to believe the organization segregated its employees by race into so-called affinity networks. Many firms allow employees to join groups with those to whom they feel similar. At these companies, the networks are voluntary. But at Planned Parenthood, they had mandatory affinity caucuses segregated by race.
Every week, the staff were required to attend sessions of these segregated caucuses or DEI training. At the training sessions, white employees were reportedly the target of harassment, being told they don't, quote, feel racism the same way that non-white patients feel it, and that, quote, white supremacy is exerted at every level of oppression.
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Chapter 5: What allegations are being made against former intelligence official Joe Kent?
The situation is drawing comparisons to 2018, when Sanders was asked to leave a Virginia restaurant while serving as White House press secretary. A redhead, deja vu moment that quickly turned into a national flashpoint.
California's $114 million wildlife bridge is still a work in progress, but way over budget and behind schedule. The Wallace-Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, championed by Governor Gavin Newsom, was originally expected to open last year. But aerial footage shows a half-finished structure that doesn't yet connect to the ground, meaning animals can't use it.
The project's cost has ballooned from $93 million to $114 million, with roughly $77 million coming from taxpayers. State officials say the crossing, designed to help wildlife safely cross a 10-lane freeway, is now expected to be complete in fall of 26.
And Hollywood legend Chuck Norris has passed away at age 86. Daily Wire reporter Lyndon Blake has more.
Norris, who was a towering figure in American action cinema, built a legacy as an actor, martial artist, and a veteran that spanned generations. He began his martial arts career in the 1950s while serving in the Air Force in Korea. He then went on to establish a successful chain of karate schools in the 60s.
His on-screen career began with the role in 1968's The Wrecking Crew, and he soon appeared opposite Bruce Lee in 1972's Way of the Dragon. He never stopped working, showing up to hit action films such as The Expendables 2 with his last film appearance as recent as 2024. TMZ reported earlier this week that Norris had been hospitalized in Hawaii.
This morning, his family confirmed the news of his passing, saying they wished to keep the circumstances private and that he, quote, was surrounded by his family and was at peace. Norris will always be remembered as a martial artist, a legend, and the undefeated king of tough guy one-liners.
I heard another rumor that you were bitten by a king cobra. Yeah, I was. But after five days of agonizing pain, the cobra died.
Those are your drive home updates this evening. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com. And in case you missed it earlier today, we covered some major stories, including U.S.
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