Morning Wire - LA Fire Forecast & Israel Recovers Hostage Bodies | Afternoon Update | 1.8.25

Episode Date: January 8, 2025

Developing stories you need to know just in time for your drive home. Get the facts first on Morning Wire. Beam: Go to [https://shopbeam.com/WIRE] and use code WIRE for up to 40% off. (https://www.ShopBeam.com/Wire) NetSuite: Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning for FREE at https://www.NetSuite.com/WIRE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode is brought to you by Beam. Put those restless nights behind you with Beam's bestselling dream pattern. You can get up to 40% off for a limited time when you go to shopbeam.com and use code wire at checkout. That's shop, B-E-A-M.com slash wire and use code wire for up to 40% off. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley. It's Wednesday, January 8th, and this is your morning wire afternoon update. Several wildfires are raging in Los Angeles County with two people dead

and thousands of structures burned. Three separate fires are ravaging areas, including Pacific Palisades, Silmar, and Altadena near Pasadena. Daily Wire reporter Amanda Prestazakamo breaks down what we know so far. The fires remain completely uncontained as Santa Ana winds intensify, prompting California Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency. Power outages have left more than 200,000 without electricity.

Officials warned the strongest winds will hit overnight, forcing evacuations for over 30,000 residents. As fire crews are working tirelessly, officials say conditions are expected to worsen under the current weather forecast. President Joe Biden spoke to Newsom and has pledged federal support. Biden is scheduled to visit a Santa Monica fire station today

for a briefing on the Pacific Palisades Fire, one of the many blazes threatening the region. Luxury hotels in Los Angeles are reportedly packed to the gills as ultra-wealthy residents flee the fires. The Beverly Hills Hotel, Four Seasons Beverly Hills, the Peninsula Hotel, and Waldorf Astoria are reportedly all sold out with many guests arriving with pets. Stars like Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Kate Hudson, Reese Witherspoon, and Tom Hanks all have homes in the fire-stricken Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. President-elect Trump is calling on the Supreme Court to block his Friday sentencing proceedings.

Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce has more. Trump was convicted back in May on 34 felony counts. related to so-called hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. He's asked the High Court to halt the proceedings during his transition to the Oval Office. This comes after a New York appeals court yesterday rejected the president-elect's latest attempt to delay the sentencing. Trump's lawyers argue that the Supreme Court's recent decision on presidential immunity should cover the current transition period and that the hush money case undermines the presidency. The Supreme Court filing comes alongside a similar request to New York's highest court. As Trump continues to challenge what he

calls a politically motivated prosecution. As things currently stand, sentencing is set for Friday at 9.30 a.m. Donald Trump's talk of purchasing Greenland has garnered some strong reactions, especially from Denmark. Daily Wire's senior editor, Cabot Phillips, has the latest. Prime Minister Matei Frederikson responded to Trump saying Greenland is not for sale. Remarks also follow a personal visit to the island this week by Donald Trump Jr. Frederickson told Danish TV that Greenland's future is for its own people to decide, dismissing Trump's proposal as unrealistic. Meanwhile, Trump Jr. toured Greenland's capital,

shooting a video for his podcast, but avoiding government meetings. Trump has long claimed Greenland is critical to U.S. security, posting on social media, quote, make Greenland great again. Separately, Trump's suggestion to make Canada the 51st state has also prompted some strong reactions from Canadian officials, including both former Prime Minister Trudeau and conservative majority leader Pierre Palayev. Mexico is reportedly cracking down on illegal immigrant caravans

as Donald Trump's inauguration approaches. Authorities are using a dispersion and exhaustion strategy busing migrants to cities like Acapulco. Once a thriving tourist destination, the city now faces crime and instability. Trump has vowed strict border policies and heavy tariffs on Mexico, aiming to curb illegal crossings and deport millions once in office.

Business leaders, are you here to play or are you playing to win? If you're in it to win, meet your next MVP. NetSuite by Oracle. Right now, get the CFO's guide to AI and machine learning at netsuite.com slash morning wire. NetSuite.com slash morning wire. Israel says the bodies of two hostages have been recovered from Gaza. Daily Wire Deputy Managing editor, Tim Rice, has the details.

Defense Minister Israel Katz says the bodies were identified as Yosef al-Zidani and his son Hamza. Both men were taken prisoner during Hamas' brutal October 7th attack that killed thousands. The return of the two bodies comes amid negotiations of a ceasefire deal that would free the remaining 100 or so hostages. However, Israel believes a third of those held captive in Gaza are dead. During a lengthy press conference yesterday, President-elect Donald Trump addressed the hostage situation. If those hostages aren't back, I don't want to hurt your negotiation. If they're not back, by the time I get into office, all hell will break out. in the Middle East. And it will not be good for Hamas, and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone.

All hell will break out. I don't have to say anymore, but that's what it is. And they should have given them back a long time. They should have never taken them. And President Biden says he's still considering preemptive pardons for political figures he believes could face retaliation under President Trump. During an interview with USA Today, Biden mentioned potential pardons for Dr. Anthony Fauci, former Representative Liz Cheney and Senator Adam Schiff. Some Democrats fear such a move could set a dangerous precedent, while others see it as a safeguard against Trump. Biden has already issued a record number of clemencies, including a pardon for his son Hunter, despite insisting that no one is above the law. Those are your drive home updates this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com.

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