Tim Pierce
Appearances
Morning Wire
Fed Cuts Rates & China’s Nuclear Arsenal | Afternoon Update | 12.18.24
Officials say these actions could have deadly consequences. Pilots of manned aircraft in the area have already reported having lasers shined in their eyes after being mistaken for drones by those on the ground. The Pentagon and federal agencies say there's no evidence these drones pose a national security threat.
Morning Wire
Fed Cuts Rates & China’s Nuclear Arsenal | Afternoon Update | 12.18.24
Still, lawmakers are pressing for more transparency to address the public's concerns, as the FBI has logged over 5,000 drone sightings in recent weeks. The FBI's statement, along with yesterday's classified briefing, have done very little to put the public at ease. Here's DOD Press Secretary Major General Patrick Ryder being asked about that.
Morning Wire
Trump’s Press Conference & Wisconsin’s School Shooting | 12.17.24
Yeah, Trump gave his first press conference since he won the 2024 election and chose to directly address a story that was first reported by The Daily Wire, the sell-off of tons of construction materials from the southern border. Here's Trump calling this almost criminal.
Morning Wire
Trump’s Press Conference & Wisconsin’s School Shooting | 12.17.24
Trump slammed Biden for what he described as failing his commitment to a smooth transition.
Morning Wire
Trump’s Press Conference & Wisconsin’s School Shooting | 12.17.24
Trump said that he is already hearing offers to sell sections of the border wall back to the federal government at a price much higher than what the Biden administration is selling it for now.
Morning Wire
Trump’s Press Conference & Wisconsin’s School Shooting | 12.17.24
Well, we'll see. Trump said he was working with officials in Texas on an application for a restraining order to block the sale of what border wall material is left.
Morning Wire
Trump’s Press Conference & Wisconsin’s School Shooting | 12.17.24
And that's not the only way Texas is trying to help. After the Daily Wire reported on this, state officials offered to buy what the Biden administration is putting up for sale to sell it back to the federal government after Trump is in office. However, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has said that the materials put up for sale so far are useless.
Morning Wire
Trump’s Press Conference & Wisconsin’s School Shooting | 12.17.24
Patrick wrote in a post on X, quote, the Texas Facilities Commission told us today that the material for sale was mostly junk with most panels covered in concrete and rust. He said the few panels that might have been usable weren't worth the cost of shipping from Arizona to Texas.
Morning Wire
Trump’s Press Conference & Wisconsin’s School Shooting | 12.17.24
We're not sure, but either way, GOP lawmakers want to look into it. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday to, quote, "...demand full accountability and transparency from the Department of Defense about its role in the disposal of excess border wall materials."
Morning Wire
Trump’s Press Conference & Wisconsin’s School Shooting | 12.17.24
Now, according to Fox News, the Defense Department says it is selling off excess materials as was authorized in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. According to one defense official, the materials being sold currently have already been purchased by GovPlanet. That's the government surplus site the materials are being auctioned off on.
Morning Wire
Trump’s Press Conference & Wisconsin’s School Shooting | 12.17.24
But the important point is that the DOD can't stop the sale of this material because it doesn't belong to the government anymore.
Morning Wire
House Scraps Spending Bill & Mangione’s Extradition | 12.19.24
So police in Aurora, Colorado arrested 14 suspects in an early morning raid on Tuesday. The suspects are a mix of men and women, but mostly men, and police say they are very likely tied to the Venezuelan gang at Tren de Aragua. According to police, the suspects broke into an apartment at the Edge at Lowry apartment building in Aurora.
Morning Wire
House Scraps Spending Bill & Mangione’s Extradition | 12.19.24
That's an apartment already notorious for Tren de Aragua activity. Police said the suspects broke in, kidnapped the people living there, and took them to another apartment and tortured them. Here's Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain explaining what happened during a press conference on Tuesday.
Morning Wire
House Scraps Spending Bill & Mangione’s Extradition | 12.19.24
They were terrorized. The victims got away only after they swore they wouldn't call police, which thankfully they eventually did.
Morning Wire
House Scraps Spending Bill & Mangione’s Extradition | 12.19.24
Yeah, authorities say the investigation is underway with help from the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The incoming border czar, Tom Homan, said on Fox News on Wednesday that he wants the suspects eventually handed over to ICE.
Morning Wire
House Scraps Spending Bill & Mangione’s Extradition | 12.19.24
Right. Border Patrol this week announced the arrest of an illegal alien from South Africa who is on the U.S. terror watch list. The alien was picked up in New York City, but that was only after he was released into the country by federal authorities. This man was originally detained in Texas by the State Department of Public Safety for trespassing.
Morning Wire
House Scraps Spending Bill & Mangione’s Extradition | 12.19.24
Texas turned him over to federal authorities, along with dozens of others, and the feds released him back into the U.S. When it became clear this man had ties to terrorism, that obviously set off alarms and authorities rushed to catch him again. They eventually found him in Brooklyn, but they don't yet know how he got there or how long he'd been in New York.
Morning Wire
Trudeau Mulls Next Move & Wisconsin School Shooting | Afternoon Update | 12.16.24
FBI and Homeland Security agents are utilizing drone detection systems and infrared cameras after nearly 1,000 reported drone sightings since November. White House adviser John Kirby said there is no evidence of threats to our national security. However, lawmakers in New York and New Jersey have criticized the administration's handling of the situation.
Morning Wire
Trudeau Mulls Next Move & Wisconsin School Shooting | Afternoon Update | 12.16.24
Drones have been spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, as well as President-elect Donald Trump's Bedminster Golf Club in New Jersey, sparking concern from nearby residents and local officials. The president-elect addressed the drone situation during a press conference earlier today.
Morning Wire
Duke Lacrosse Accuser Retracts & Daniel Penny Army Navy Game | Afternoon Update | 12.13.24
Tom Homan was direct, saying he will implement Donald Trump's plan to deport millions of illegal immigrants beginning in the Windy City.
Morning Wire
Duke Lacrosse Accuser Retracts & Daniel Penny Army Navy Game | Afternoon Update | 12.13.24
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have vowed to fight deportations and continue their sanctuary policies. But Holman said he won't back down. This comes just days after Chicago residents criticized the mayor for using taxpayer dollars to house and feed illegal immigrants instead of taxpaying citizens.
Morning Wire
Border Wall Fire Sale & New Jersey’s Drone Mystery | 12.13.24
Yeah, The Daily Wire was able to reveal this thanks to the reporting of James Lalino. He obtained video from a source he has in Arizona that shows a government contractor trucking company hauling away tons of border wall materials. Those materials, these heavy steel slats and bollards, are being shipped north.
Morning Wire
Border Wall Fire Sale & New Jersey’s Drone Mystery | 12.13.24
This is potentially millions of dollars worth of materials, and it's being placed on a government surplus auction site where the starting bid for a segment of wall is just $5. Here's Lalino.
Morning Wire
Border Wall Fire Sale & New Jersey’s Drone Mystery | 12.13.24
Well, the Biden administration refused to answer questions on this fire sale. But a border agent in Arizona told Lulino that the operation looks like the Biden administration is trying to hamper Trump's plans to restart construction on the border wall. Here was Trump in January this year.
Morning Wire
Border Wall Fire Sale & New Jersey’s Drone Mystery | 12.13.24
According to the agent, officials want the materials gone by Christmas. That would mean no materials to immediately restart construction of the border wall, which Trump was counting on for his day one lockdown of the border. And it's not clear what needs to happen for Trump to replace all those materials.
Morning Wire
Border Wall Fire Sale & New Jersey’s Drone Mystery | 12.13.24
It may be that he has to fight again for Congress to approve more funds, which will take away from other priorities he has heading into a second term.
Morning Wire
Border Wall Fire Sale & New Jersey’s Drone Mystery | 12.13.24
Right. So we've reported extensively on sanctuary city policies. But in San Diego County, local officials there are taking it up a notch and passing what's been dubbed super sanctuary policies. The San Diego Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 this week to issue more protections for illegal immigrants than even California state law provides for.
Morning Wire
Border Wall Fire Sale & New Jersey’s Drone Mystery | 12.13.24
And according to the board's only member to vote no, Republican Jim Desmond, the policy could have some pretty dire consequences.
Morning Wire
Border Wall Fire Sale & New Jersey’s Drone Mystery | 12.13.24
Of course, Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, has made it clear that federal law enforcement will go into places like San Diego County to enforce the law no matter how local leaders feel.