Transcript of Mangione Enters Plea & Gaetz Ethics Report | Afternoon Update | 12.23.24

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I'm Georgia Howe with DailyWire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley. It's Monday, December 23rd, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.

Luigi Mangioni pleaded not guilty in New York State Supreme Court today. Daily Wire senior editor, S. Short, has more.

The man accused of killing United Health care CEO, Brian Thompson, faces first-degree murder and terrorism-related charges, along with weapons charges that could lead to life in prison without parole. Prosecutors allege Mangioni's actions were intended to intimidate and worse, targeting both the public and government. The case has drawn national attention, with some viewing Mangioni as a symbol of frustration over the US health care system. Mangioni also faces federal charges, including a potential death penalty and Pennsylvania charges related to his arrest.

President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates today, prompting intense backlash. Daily Wire reporter Tim pierce explains.

Biden took the action on behalf of the convicted criminals just weeks before Donald Trump's return to the White House. Those commuted will serve life without parole while three men convicted of mass killings, including the Boston Marathon bomber and the Charleston Church shooter, remain on death row. President-elect Trump has pledged to resume federal executions when he takes office. Biden had campaigned on ending the federal death penalty and said he acted to prevent executions by the next administration. The move sparked widespread criticism, with many accusing the President of demonstrating a glaring double standard on the sanctity of life and a lack of concern for the victims of the violent criminals.

Robert Kennedy Jr. Is calling for a ban on pharmaceutical ads on TV. Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presta Giacomo has the story.

The pharmaceutical industry's multibillion dollar spending on TV ads faces is new scrutiny from incoming Trump administration officials, including Health Secretary Nominy Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy argues that the drug ads distort health priorities and they lead to biased media coverage. Brenda Carr, who who have been tapped to lead the FCC, says that the agency could enforce a ban which would face legal challenges. The US and New Zealand are the only wealthy nations that allow such ads, which generate billions for networks and pharmaceutical companies.

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Pressed on allegations that the Biden administration has lost hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied miners, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said keeping track of them is not his responsibility. In an interview with Face the Nation, Mayorkas tried to downplay the scandal by saying that all of the lost children aren't necessarily being abused. Here's an exchange from Mayorkas and CBS host Margaret Brennan.

The incoming borders are.

Tom Homan says these children are being exploited and trafficked. Is that true?

Well, we certainly- Do you know? Margaret, we certainly have received reports of children being trafficked, even those as to whom we know where they are, That is outside the responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security. What we do is we turn children over within 72 hours as the law requires to the Department of Health and Human Services, and then HHS places those children.

Former congressman Matt Gates has filed a lawsuit against the House Ethics Committee seeking to stop the release of its investigation into him. Daily Wire Deputy Managing Editor Tim Rice has the details.

Gates filed an emergency, temporary restraining order Monday after forcefully denying the allegations in the report, a leaked draft of which details alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use by the former congressman. Gates slammed the committee for moving to release the report despite, explicitly acknowledging it lacks jurisdiction over former members. Gates added, It's embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank, and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. He noted that he lives a different life now and stressed that, These allegations Investigations were investigated by the Department of Justice, and the investigation was completely dropped.

The darkest, shortest days of the year are finally behind us. Saturday was the winter solstice, which marks the official start of winter, so we can now begin to look forward to gradually longer days and later sunsets. While Earth's tilt brings some seasonal gloom, daylight savings time artificially makes the sunset come an hour earlier. But President Trump has suggested making standard time permanent, calling daylight savings inconvenient and costly. His pledge has reignited a national debate about whether we should stop changing clocks altogether. For now, the days are getting longer, and that's something we can all celebrate.

All right, those are your drive home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire. Com. For more in-depth reporting on the biggest stories of the day, tune into our full episode of MorningWire every morning.