Micah Parker
Appearances
Morning Wire
USAID Programs Slashed & Anti-Israel Activist Detained | 3.11.25
Hey, John. Yeah, so this one hits especially close to home for me. Many of our listeners might remember that we spoke last June about my friend and actor Johnny Wachter, who was shot and killed during a catalytic converter theft in downtown L.A. His story gained national attention at the time, but unfortunately, he wasn't the last victim of this type of crime.
Morning Wire
USAID Programs Slashed & Anti-Israel Activist Detained | 3.11.25
Just a few weeks ago on February 27th, 36-year-old Juan Johnny Sanchez, father of two, was fatally shot outside his home in Englewood, California after confronting two men trying to steal his neighbor's catalytic converter. His son doesn't want to be named, but remembered his father as a hero.
Morning Wire
USAID Programs Slashed & Anti-Israel Activist Detained | 3.11.25
You know, he's very heroic. He always wants to do the right thing. Now, the men accused of killing him, Wilbur Alberto Rabinales and Jose Christian Servia Sanchez, fled the scene but were arrested earlier last week. Now, both have lengthy criminal records and multiple arrests for violent crimes. And most alarmingly, authorities confirmed that both suspects are, in fact, illegal immigrants.
Morning Wire
USAID Programs Slashed & Anti-Israel Activist Detained | 3.11.25
Rabinales is a Guatemalan national, while Servia Sanchez immigrated illegally from El Salvador. Now, as George noted at the top, the murder has intensified criticisms of Los Angeles' longstanding sanctuary city policies. And while I do want to note for our listeners that Inglewood is technically a separate city from Los Angeles, it is still part of L.A.
Morning Wire
USAID Programs Slashed & Anti-Israel Activist Detained | 3.11.25
County, where sanctuary policies have had a significant impact. I mean, just weeks before Sanchez's killing, the city of Los Angeles formally codified its sanctuary status. And LA County has long limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities, even in cases involving criminal suspects. So the biggest question still remains.
Morning Wire
USAID Programs Slashed & Anti-Israel Activist Detained | 3.11.25
If the county had cooperated with immigration enforcement, would these men have even been in the county to commit this crime in the first place?
Morning Wire
USAID Programs Slashed & Anti-Israel Activist Detained | 3.11.25
Yeah, well, they argue that protecting illegal immigrants fosters trust between communities and law enforcement. But critics say these policies are downright dangerous, allowing repeat offenders to stay in the country and continue committing crimes. Sanchez's death is now being held up as yet another tragic example of what happens when public safety takes a backseat to political ideology.
Morning Wire
USAID Programs Slashed & Anti-Israel Activist Detained | 3.11.25
And of course, this is coming at a time when public frustration with Los Angeles leadership is at an all-time high.
Morning Wire
USAID Programs Slashed & Anti-Israel Activist Detained | 3.11.25
Yeah, so the recall effort against Bass is gaining serious momentum. It's been brewing for a while over issues like rising crime, homelessness, and of course, her handling of the city's response to the recent wildfires. But this outrage over Sanchez's murder has added fuel to that fire. And here's the big development.
Morning Wire
USAID Programs Slashed & Anti-Israel Activist Detained | 3.11.25
Former vice presidential candidate Nicole Shanahan has thrown her support behind the recall, donating a reported $4 million to the effort. So she's now one of the biggest financial backers of the recall, signaling that this isn't just a fringe movement.
Morning Wire
USAID Programs Slashed & Anti-Israel Activist Detained | 3.11.25
Right. Well, the recall effort against Bass is still in the very early stages, but if it gains enough traction, it could be a major political shakeup for L.A. And as for the Sanchez case, it's sure to keep the spotlight on the city's sanctuary policies as more people start asking who is really being protected here.
Morning Wire
Trump Hosts Starmer & Hollywood’s Woke Reversal | 2.28.25
Hey, Georgia. So yeah, in battle, Governor Gavin Newsom was officially served recall papers a few weeks ago by a bipartisan group called Saving California amid mounting frustration over the wildfire crisis. The group pushing for the recall held a press conference Wednesday where Hollywood heavyweight Mel Gibson actually showed up. Here he is harshly criticizing the governor and L.A.
Morning Wire
Trump Hosts Starmer & Hollywood’s Woke Reversal | 2.28.25
Now, Gibson's involvement adds national attention to this recall effort, and it's going to be interesting to see if other Hollywood figures follow. Adding to Newsom's criticism, Chevron also just announced it's moving its headquarters to Texas after 140 years. Saudi California's hostile business climate. So that's another wrench to throw in the governor's troubled tenure.
Morning Wire
Trump Hosts Starmer & Hollywood’s Woke Reversal | 2.28.25
Well, in short, yes, that was four years ago. And politically speaking, the landscape in California and across the whole country has shifted. Consider this. Ten California counties that voted for Biden in 2020 flipped to Trump in 2024. That's a massive swing, even if it wasn't enough to flip the state entirely.
Morning Wire
Trump Hosts Starmer & Hollywood’s Woke Reversal | 2.28.25
It signals a broader trend, one where voters, even in historically liberal regions, are looking for change. I spoke with Randy Economy, chairman of Saving California. That's the group behind the recall. Here's what he had to say.
Morning Wire
Trump Hosts Starmer & Hollywood’s Woke Reversal | 2.28.25
So does this recall stand a real chance? Maybe. If California's political shift continues, and that's a big if, then Newsom's once unshakable grip on the state may finally be slipping.
Morning Wire
Trump Hosts Starmer & Hollywood’s Woke Reversal | 2.28.25
Well, his office dismissed it as another far-right stunt, releasing this statement following Wednesday's press conference. Quote, But listeners should keep in mind, Saving California isn't some fringe group. It includes Democrats, independents, and Republicans who feel abandoned by Newsom's leadership.
Morning Wire
Trump Hosts Starmer & Hollywood’s Woke Reversal | 2.28.25
No, that's absolutely right. In fact, Mayor Bass is also facing pressure to resign and facing a possible recall effort herself if she doesn't. She's facing criticism over the recent firing of LAFD Fire Chief Kristen Crowley. Crowley spoke out about budget cuts and lack of support from city leadership, and many see this as retribution.
Morning Wire
Trump Hosts Starmer & Hollywood’s Woke Reversal | 2.28.25
Also, in another bizarre move, Bass did an interview with Fox 11 where she tried to deflect blame for lack of preparation and her questionable trip to Ghana. claiming she received no warnings about the fire danger from Chief Crowley and calling for an investigation into why she was allowed to go to Ghana in the first place. Here's that audio.