Tulsi Gabbard Confirmed & Cartel Drug Tunnels | Afternoon Update | 2.12.25
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What is the main topic of this episode?
I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley. It's Wednesday, February 12th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update. The Senate has confirmed former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as President Trump's Director of National Intelligence.
Why was Tulsi Gabbard confirmed as Director of National Intelligence?
Yeaser 52, Naser 48 nomination is confirmed. Under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered, made, and laid upon the table, and the President will immediately notify of the Senate's actions.
Gabbard was voted through despite strong opposition from Senate Democrats and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Gabbard faced heated questioning over her past views on NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden and U.S. intelligence operations. Supporters say she will focus on cutting bureaucracy and strengthening national security, while critics question her stance on surveillance and foreign policy. The Senate also voted to invoke cloture for nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services Secretary. He now heads for a final confirmation vote.
What are the latest developments in government efficiency?
The Delivery of Government Efficiency Subcommittee held its first hearing today, which got heated at some points. Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips has the latest.
Subcommittee chair Marjorie Taylor Greene opened the hearing by saying, quote, the American people are in debt slavery to everyone who owns our debt. The issue of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has very much become a partisan issue, with Democrats saying it's wrong to let him access databases like the U.S. Treasury payment system. Meanwhile, Republicans say government spending is out of control and long overdue for an audit. Here's Democrat Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett criticizing what Doge is suggesting.
We know that they are trying to get rid of the Department of Education, USAID, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. They're laying off FAA workers. They are going after the FDA, the CDC, the HHS, the FBI agents.
But Republicans like Rep. Eric Burleson of Missouri argue the cuts are necessary, saying we face an existential debt crisis.
We're nearing $37 trillion in national debt. What does that mean? That means when the EPIC, which is the Economic Policy Innovation Center, says we have $18 trillion left, that's it, $18 trillion left to take out, and we're spending $2 trillion in debt every year, we are literally at a point in which the dollar will be worth nothing.
How was Mark Fogel released from Russian detention?
Late last night, President Trump welcomed Mark Fogel to the White House. Fogel is an American teacher who was wrongfully detained in a Russian prison for over three years. Daily Wire reporter Cassie Akiva, who's been in touch with the Fogel family during the saga, has the story.
The three and a half year nightmare for the Fogle family that started during the Biden administration has finally ended. After watching the previous administration prioritize more famous detainees like Brittany Griner, the Fogle family clung to hope that he would be released. The main source of that enduring hope was Donald Trump. who famously met with Mark's 95-year-old mother, Malfeen, at his Butler, Pennsylvania rally. She was actually set to take the stage until the would-be assassin began shooting. President Trump did indeed remember Mark's name and welcomed him to the White House late last night.
What are the implications of U.S.-Russia relations on the Ukraine conflict?
I feel like the luckiest man on earth right now. I want you to know that I am not a hero in this at all. President Trump is a hero. These men that came from the diplomatic service are heroes. The senators and representatives that passed legislation in my honor to get me home are the heroes.
In exchange for Fogle, the U.S. released Russian prisoner Alexander Vinik, who pled guilty to money laundering $4 billion through a cryptocurrency exchange platform that he operated. He had been facing a 20-year prison sentence.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic of this episode?
0:17–0:33
2
Why was Tulsi Gabbard confirmed as Director of National Intelligence?
0:33–1:16
3
What are the latest developments in government efficiency?
1:16–2:36
4
How was Mark Fogel released from Russian detention?
2:36–3:24
5
What are the implications of U.S.-Russia relations on the Ukraine conflict?
3:24–9:04
Speakers
11 identifiedMore from Morning Wire
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