Morning Wire - Inflation Rises & Red Dye No. 3 Banned | Afternoon Update | 1.15.25

Episode Date: January 15, 2025

Developing stories you need to know just in time for your drive home. Get the facts first on Morning Wire. Balance of Nature: Go to https://balanceofnature.com and use promo code WIRE for an exclusive offer! Lumen: Head to http://lumen.me/WIRE for 20% off your purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode is brought to you by Balance of Nature. Don't miss out on the convenience of balance of nature, fruits and veggie capsules. Head over to Balanceofnature.com and use promo code Wire for 35% off your first order as a preferred customer, plus you get a free bottle of fiber and spice. That's Balance of Nature.com promo code Wire. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire editor-in-chief John Bickley. It's Wednesday, January 15th. And this is your Morning Wire afternoon update. President-elect Trump's nominee for Attorney General Pam Bondi faced the Senate Judiciary Committee today in her confirmation hearing.

Daily Wire Deputy Managing editor Tim Rice reports. The former Sunshine State AG pledged to restore integrity while addressing concerns over potential politicization. While Bondi's nomination has gained bipartisan support, there was still some moments of contention during today's hearing. In one particular exchange, Bondi flipped the script on Democratic Senator Sheldon White House, who asked about potential weaponization of the DOJ. White House asked Bondi's thoughts on looking for a crime after picking a name to target, which Democrats fear will happen with Trump against his political opponents. Here's how Bondi responded. Senator, I think that is the whole problem with the weaponization that we have seen the last four years and what's been happening to

Donald Trump. They targeted Donald Trump. They went after him. Actually starting back in 2016, They targeted his campaign. They have launched countless investigations against him. That will not be the case if I am Attorney General. I will not politicize that office. I will not target people simply because of their political affiliation. Several other of Trump's cabinet picks appeared for hearings today, including CIA director nominee John Ratcliffe and Trump's pick for Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The Supreme Court heard arguments today over a Texas law that requires adult websites to verify the user's age before granting access. The case pits child safety against First Amendment rights. Daily Wire reporter Amanda Prestigamo has the latest. The law, which is being challenged by adult content creators, imposes steep penalties for noncompliance, but critics say it violates free speech and endangers user privacy. Opponents, including the ACLU, warn of risk to privacy and broader impacts on free expression. Meanwhile, supporters like the age verification providers, argue that the law protects children from harmful content and uses secure technology for age verification. A ruling in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton is expected by June with implications for online content nationwide.

The Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says details of a ceasefire deal are still being worked out. Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce has more. Netanyahu says the final details are still being ironed out. Multiple mediators say the two parties agreed to a ceasefire. firing Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages. The deal comes after more than 15 months of war. Under the reported agreement, Hamas will release 33 hostages, including women, children, and the elderly, in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The deal would also provide an opportunity to negotiate the release of the 97 other hostages. The first three hostages are expected

to be freed on day one as a gesture of compliance. inflation rose again in December, with prices continuing to squeeze household budgets ahead of another federal interest rate decision. According to the Labor Department, inflation ticked up 0.4% last month, bringing the annual rate to 2.9%, the highest since July of 2024. Rising energy costs, which surged 2.6% drove much of the increase, while food prices have also risen. Despite the uptick, economists expect the Fed to hold interest rates steady later this month. Here's Wells Fargo economist Shannon Green. I don't think this really changes anything for where the Fed sits at this point. I think the Fed's going to take a cautious approach to further reduction in rates.

And depending on how the data evolve in January and February before their March meeting, we'll see kind of what the expectation is in terms of further easing. This episode is brought you by Lumen. Did you know that 80% of resolutions fail by February? This year, don't let it. Take the next step to improving your health by going to Lumen.me slash wire to get 20% off your L-U-M-E-N-D-M-E-S-W-W-E-N-D-S-W-W-E-RU-RPOR to get 20% off your purchase. Donald Trump has unveiled his plans for a new federal agency.

Trump has announced his intent to establish the External Revenue Service, with the purpose of collecting tariffs, duties, and other foreign payments owed to the U.S. The President-elect said the move will end reliance on the American taxpayer to fund national growth while reiterating his intent to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. Trump says the initials. We'll launch on January 20th, his first day in office. A bill barring males from female sports passed the House with two Democrats supporting the measure. The Protection of Women in Girls' Sports Act passed 218 to 206,

with representatives Henry Quayar and Vincent Gonzalez of Texas breaking party lines to support the measure. Opponents, like Representative Andrea Salinas, warn it could lead to intrusive questioning and unfair targeting of transgender youth. proponents, including Speaker Mike Johnson, argue the bill protects fairness in women's sports. Congressman August Fluger, a co-sponsor of the bill, told Morning Wire he and his colleagues want to continue this push back towards common sense. Let's get back to balance because we've been out of balance with a radical push to the left. It doesn't represent America.

It doesn't represent our society. And quite frankly, in the instance of men playing women's sports, it's not just a Title IX issue or an equality issue. it's a safety issue. And the FDA will ban the use of food additive red dye number three. The move comes 35 years after the same chemical was banned in cosmetics. Daily Wire's senior reporter Mary Margaret Olahan has more. The dye, which has already been banned in California and Europe, is used to create a bright red color in food, candy, and condiments,

and has been linked to ADHD and children. It's also been linked to cancer in animal studies. The food ban comes after years of activism from parents and food. food safety experts, as well as a focus from RFK Jr's presidential campaign on hazardous chemicals. In the past, outgoing FDA chief, Dr. Robert Klee, had stalled the move, claiming they were funding barriers to banning the die without more research. Nevertheless, the agency announced the ban on Wednesday. All right, there's your drive home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to

Dailywire.com and for more in-depth reporting on the biggest stories of the day, tune into our full episode of Morning Wire every morning.