ICC Arrest Warrants & Smollett Conviction Overturned | Afternoon Update | 11.21.24

This episode is brought to you by Birch Gold Group. Birch Gold makes it easy and cost free to convert your existing IRA or 401k. Dust text the word wire to 989898 and get a free info kit on gold today. That's wire to 989898 today. I'm Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Vickley with Georgia Hal. It's Thursday, November 21st, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.

Former Florida representative Matt Gates has withdrawn his nomination for attorney general. Daily wire deputy managing editor Tim Rice has the latest. The former congressman cited concerns that his confirmation process was becoming a distraction. In a statement, Gates expressed appreciation for the support he received, but emphasized the need to avoid unnecessary delays. Gates had faced scrutiny due to past allegations, including a federal investigation into sex trafficking that concluded without charges.

This comes as the House Ethics Committee deliberated and decided not to release a report on Gates, though Committee Chair Michael Guest confirmed they will reconvene on December 5th to discuss the matter further. Senator Lindsey Graham says he respects Gates' decision, but said it's time to move on to someone else. Here's what I would say. President nominated somebody they chose to not go forward, now he'll nominate somebody else. You know, all this interest about Republican nominees, I understand it, but where were most of y'all at when the Democrats were doing this?

Tensions continue to escalate in the Russia-Ukraine war with direct threats made against the U.S. Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce has latest. Ukrainian officials say Russia fired an intercontinental ballistic missile at key infrastructure, marking the first known use of such a powerful weapon in the war. This attack follows Ukraine's use of U.S. made missiles inside Russia, something President Biden has allowed. Here's former national security aide John Elliott reacting.

This would mean a major escalation, really a response to the provocation that the Biden administration is doing in the last throws. We got two months going in this administration. President Trump has said that he's going to ramp this war down. And suddenly, why are we provoking the Russians and then having a tit for tat?

Moscow has warned that such actions would escalate the conflict and appears to be doubling down. Moscow has threatened to target a new U.S. missile defense base in Poland with advanced weapons. Russian officials claim the base increases nuclear risks, while Poland insists it is purely for defense not attacks.

A massive caravan of migrants hoping to enter the U.S. is heading north. The caravan of at least 1,500 migrants, which includes children, is trying to cross before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Many migrants expressed hopes for faster appointments for entry before Trump's promised crackdown begins.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant. Daily Wire reporter Amanda Prestashakomo has the details.

The ICC has charged them with crimes against humanity and war crimes, including the use of starvation as a warfare tactic and targeting civilians. The move has sparked outrage in Israel with President Isaac Herzog condemning the decision as a mockery of justice and accusing the ICC of siding with terrorism.

Israel had attempted to block the warrants, arguing that the ICC lacked jurisdiction, but the court upheld its decision. The US has expressed its disapproval with Senate Majority Leader-elect John Thune warning of sanctions against the ICC if the warrants are not reversed.

I am again calling on Leader Schumer to bring a bill to the floor, sanctioning the ICC, which the House has already passed with bipartisan support. If he chooses not to act, the new Senate Republican majority next year will.

Jesse Smollett's fake attack conviction has been overturned on a technicality. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that Smollett's Fifth Amendment rights were violated when a special prosecutor tried him after charges were dropped. Smollett had falsely claimed two men attacked him in January of 2019, but investigators later revealed he had orchestrated the hoax with two brothers to boost his career. Smollett continues to insist he's innocent.

A Pennsylvania Democratic election official has apologized after claiming precedent doesn't matter anymore in regard to counting provisional ballots in the state's Senate recount. Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marceglia was met with widespread backlash after making the controversial remark in a statement Wednesday she claimed that she was referring to the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade.

I took my frustration out on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, many of whom are friends of mine and who I respect and whose decisions are complicated, difficult and important. We are all going to learn lessons from this new media landscape and most of all, I am.

Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia De Rossi, have fled the country in the wake of Donald Trump's election. The couple decided to get the hell out and say they will never return to live permanently. DeGeneres, who is worth an estimated $370 million, previously resided in Montecito, California, next door to close friends, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. DeGeneres and De Rossi are now living in a property in the Cotswolds in southwest England near David and Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss, and Elizabeth Hurley.

Those of 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 latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.