Transcript of Evening Wire: Trump Resumes Hormuz Blockade & New Details Emerge On Walz’s Predator Pardon | 7.13.26

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President Trump resumes the Hormuz blockade. One person in Maine is dead after a shooting involving ICE, and new documents emerge on Tim Walz's pardon of a child rapist. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Executive Editor John Bickley. It's Monday, July 13th, and this is Evening Wire.

President Trump has reinstated the Hormuz blockade and is now charging tolls. Daily Wire foreign affairs reporter Kassia Kiva has the story.

President Trump announced that the US military will resume its blockade on Iranian ports today. The move comes as US forces carried out another wave of strikes against Iranian military targets and revealed the first-ever combat use of American sea drones, which struck a submarine and sea maintenance facility in Iran's Bandar Abbas naval base. President Trump also declared that the United States is, quote, the guardian of the Hormuz Strait and said that cargo ships transiting the waterway will face a new 20% fee to help cover the cost of securing one of the world's most important shipping lanes.

One person was killed in a Maine shooting involving ICE. Daily Wire immigration reporter Jenny Ter has the details.

Federal and state authorities are investigating after officials say an ICE agent fatally shot a 26-year-old Colombian man during an immigration enforcement operation in Biddeford, Maine. As hundreds of protesters marched through downtown and stopped outside Senator Susan Collins' local office chanting, quote, "Vote her out." Senator Angus King said Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen told him the man had been ordered to leave the United States and allegedly, quote, "weaponized his vehicle" before the shooting, though King called for a full, transparent, and open investigation, in his words, into whether the use of deadly force was justified. Immigration advocacy groups said the man was authorized to work in the United States and had been issued a Social Security number. The FBI is leading the investigation alongside Maine officials.

President Trump took to Truth Social this morning to recommend that Lindsey Graham's sister, Darlene Graham Nordone, fill the late senator's seat on an interim basis. Trump said it would be a, quote, fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly. The post was directed at South Carolina's Governor Henry McMaster, who's set to announce the move today. State law requires that Republicans hold a snap primary election on August 11th, and there are several potential challengers. Nordone spoke briefly in reaction to the president's support, saying she is just, quote, devastated right now.

Senator Mitch McConnell revealed on Sunday that lingering effects from his childhood battle with polio caused the fall that sent him to the hospital last month. He said he was briefly unconscious after the fall and later developed a mild case of pneumonia while recovering. Doctors also confirmed he suffered no broken bones, concussion, heart attack, stroke, tumor, or hemorrhage. While he offered no estimate for when he'll return to the Senate floor, McConnell says he remains actively engaged in the work Kentuckians elected him to do.

The Trump Justice Department has hit 4 New York Times reporters with grand jury subpoenas over a story exposing classified security details of Trump's new Qatari-gifted Air Force One. Daily Wire reporter Drew Berkmeier has more.

The story published by the Times cites unnamed sources claiming the new jet lacks anti-missile defenses. A top FBI official contacted a reporter and a senior editor asking them to kill the story, warning that it could jeopardize the security of the president by potentially exposing classified information. The Times, after ignoring the request and publishing the story, released a statement slamming the subpoenas as anti-free press and said it should shock the conscience Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also released a video today announcing a new task force to shut down future leaks. Here he is.

The security of our nation cannot be a bargaining chip for those who seek momentary headlines. Access to confidential and secret information is a sacred trust, and those who betray that trust will be met with the full force of the law. This episode is sponsored by Brickhouse Nutrition. Everybody knows someone right now who's talking about weight loss injections, and to be fair, the results can be dramatic. But a lot of people are also hesitant about weekly injections. That's why more people, including some here at The Daily Wire, have been looking into Lean from Brickhouse Nutrition. Lean is a doctor-developed weight loss supplement, and several people around The Daily Wire team have talked about how helpful it is for controlling cravings and staying more consistent with healthier eating habits. The ingredients in Lean are backed by research showing that they can help lower blood sugar and convert stored fat into energy and reduce those constant hunger cravings that make dieting so difficult. And this is important— Lean is not really aimed at someone trying to lose 2 or £3 before vacation. The doctors at Brickhouse Nutrition created it for people who've been struggling to lose £10 or more and are looking for a realistic option that fits in their everyday life.

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A gay men's cruise has been denied entry into Turkey and Egypt. Daily Wire producer Justice Spuler has the story.

Virgin Voyages is hosting the cruise, which features LGBTQ-themed entertainment and events for roughly 2,000 passengers. The Mediterranean itinerary originally included a stop in Turkey, But Turkish authorities denied the ship's entry, saying it was, quote, "known for behaviors incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values." Passengers expressed outrage and confusion on social media as the ship rerouted to Egypt. But after arriving in Egyptian waters, it was denied entry there as well. One of the cruise organizers said Egyptian officials offered no formal explanation, but added it was, quote, "obviously because we're gay." Broadway star Patti LuPone, who was performing on the cruise, said that she was shocked and questioned why any country would refuse entry to a ship full of gay travelers.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is facing renewed scrutiny after internal documents revealed why the state's clemency commission recommended pardoning a repeat child rapist. Commissioners pointed to the man's remorse, support from the victim, and concerns that a conviction could lead to his deportation and harm his family. That despite objections from prosecutors who cited the seriousness of his crimes. Walls and the rest of the State Board of Pardons approved the recommendation, but after the pardon, the Trump administration revoked the man's legal status and deported him to Laos.

The Fort Worth Police Department is being investigated by the DOJ after viral videos showed officers threatening Christian preachers at a Pride event. The footage appears to show officers warning the preachers that they would be ticketed or arrested for, quote, offensive speech while at a public event. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon says the DOJ's Civil Rights Division would look into the situation as a potential free speech violation. Following the backlash, the department released a statement admitting that its officers were in the wrong and committed to giving all officers a refresher on First Amendment rights.

The 2026 World Cup is down to its final 4 teams. France, Spain, England, and Argentina are the last teams left standing after 48 teams played nearly 100 matches in the summer's tournament. The semifinal matchup between Spain and France kicks off Tuesday afternoon in Dallas, followed by Argentina versus England in Atlanta on Wednesday. Defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi in his final World Cup, will look to become just the third team ever to win back-to-back titles, with the winners advancing to Sunday's final in New Jersey.

And actor Sam Neill passed away in Sydney today at the age of 78. Neill began his career 5 decades ago, first appearing in 1977's Sleeping Dogs, He then landed larger roles in films like 1981's "Possession," played opposite Meryl Streep in 1988's "A Cry in the Dark," and several other notable credits well before playing the iconic Dr. Alan Grant in 1993's "Jurassic Park." After careful consideration, I've decided not to endorse your park. So have I. Neill's cause of death has not been disclosed, but he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of non-Hodgkin's blood cancer in early 2022. However, he was said to be cancer-free in the months before his passing. His family released a statement saying his death was, quote, sudden and unexpected. Neil is survived by two children.

All right, those are your drive home updates. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com. And in case you missed it, earlier today we covered some major stories including the passing of Lindsey Graham and its impact on the Senate, and the key evidence and what comes next in the Tyler Robinson case. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of Morning Wire.