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Morning Wire

Iran Response Imminent? & 'Gender Surgeon' Scrutinized | 2.19.26

19 Feb 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What is the current status of U.S.-Iran relations?

4.402 - 11.474 Georgia Howe

Though the U.S. and Iran cite progress in their negotiations, the U.S. military buildup in the Middle East tells a different story.

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12.056 - 19.388 Benham Ben-Taliblu

The president does have many options here, and the more he brings military assets to the theater, the more flexibility and options he can actually find.

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20.05 - 21.773 John Bickley

Are the two countries on the brink of war?

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22.173 - 29.346 Georgia Howe

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Thursday, February 19th, and this is Morning Wire.

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36.582 - 42.708 John Bickley

A new Daily Wire investigation reveals that Washington state spent millions on gender transition procedures for prisoners.

43.609 - 50.477 Georgia Howe

And the FDA reverses on the Moderna flu vaccine while RFK ratchets up his assault on processed foods.

50.957 - 57.844 Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

We're seeing in our population people who are obscenely obese and at the same time malnourished.

58.385 - 60.647 John Bickley

Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned.

Chapter 2: What options does the Trump administration have regarding Iran?

60.687 - 62.269 John Bickley

We have the news you need to know.

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Chapter 3: Are we on the brink of war with Iran?

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120.982 - 125.128 HelloFresh Representative

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127.505 - 135.579 John Bickley

As tensions escalate over Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons and the murder of thousands of protesters, the Trump administration is gearing up for war.

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135.98 - 143.353 Georgia Howe

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips has the latest. So Cabot, a lot of moving parts to this story, but can you catch us up to speed on the latest?

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143.333 - 163.915 John Bickley

Yeah, bottom line, the war drums are beating and military action against Iran appears increasingly likely. So let's give some context to start. For the last year, the Trump administration has been pushing Iran on three main fronts. First, they want Iran to cut off their support of terror groups like the Houthis and Hamas. But that has not happened, so call that strike one.

164.336 - 174.297 John Bickley

Second, Trump has demanded that the Supreme Leader stop targeting protesters, warning that he was, quote, locked and loaded and ready to go if they continued to kill anti-regime demonstrators.

Chapter 4: How much is Washington State spending on gender surgeries for inmates?

174.858 - 188.362 John Bickley

But despite those warnings, as we've talked about on the show, thousands, potentially tens of thousands of Iranian citizens have have been slaughtered amid those unprecedented protests nationwide. So we'll call that strike two. And finally, and most importantly, the U.S.

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188.402 - 208.292 John Bickley

has demanded that the Ayatollah give up his pursuit of nuclear weapons, offering sanctions relief in exchange for them doing away with their nuclear program. Now, the two sides have held multiple rounds of talks on the topic, but those have failed to bear much fruit. Meantime, the Ayatollah has continued to put out defiant statements, reiterating that he will never give up his nuclear ambitions.

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208.312 - 210.515 John Bickley

And that could potentially be strike three.

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210.975 - 215.542 Georgia Howe

Well, and now it's looking more and more likely each day that there is going to be a military response.

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Chapter 5: What controversies surround the gender surgeon in Washington State?

215.582 - 216.063 Georgia Howe

Is that correct?

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216.283 - 232.386 John Bickley

Right. Over the last 36 hours, we've seen arguably the largest military buildup in the Middle East in decades. Hundreds of cargo flights have transported weapons systems to the region, as hundreds more fighter jets, dozens of warships, and multiple aircraft carrier groups have also made their way towards Iran.

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232.366 - 246.671 John Bickley

Now, it is always possible this is a negotiating tactic from Trump to try and get concessions from the regime as these diplomatic talks continue. But numerous advisors to the president, including his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said they do not think it's a bluff.

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247.292 - 256.568 Unknown

I can't imagine this much buildup of military power in the region without President Trump actually taking action that leads to an outcome that he's been seeking for an awfully long time.

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256.868 - 276.676 John Bickley

Now, zooming out here, President Trump does reportedly feel emboldened by the immense success of his bombing raid on their nuclear facilities back in June. And, of course, the operation to grab Nicolas Maduro back in January. As one former U.S. diplomat put it to The Wall Street Journal, Trump is now offering to Iran, quote, a similar offer to Venezuela, surrender and we won't attack you.

277.257 - 280.902 John Bickley

For her part, White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt had this to say on Wednesday.

281.135 - 294.317 Caroline Leavitt

Well, there's many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran. Diplomacy is always his first option, and Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump.

294.5 - 297.264 Georgia Howe

And how is the Iranian regime responding to that pressure?

297.444 - 313.226 John Bickley

Yeah, as we've come to expect, they have continued to strike a very defiant tone. One top general said the U.S. is, quote, incapable of doing a damn thing, while the ayatollah himself gave a speech vowing to sink our aircraft carriers. They keep saying we have sent warships toward Iran.

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