Transcript

Epstein Release Raises Eyebrows & Vance Visits Armenia

From Morning Wire · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

February 10, 2026 · 17 min · 2,843 words · 40 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Epstein Release Raises Eyebrows & Vance Visits Armenia", an episode of Morning Wire published February 10, 2026 (17 min, about 2,843 words). It mentions 49 people, works and ideas, including Armenia, Donald Trump, Hong Kong, Georgia How, J.D. Vance.

What this episode is about

Recent files indicate that the FBI found minimal evidence of Jeffrey Epstein operating a sex trafficking ring involving powerful individuals, leading to skepticism among some lawmakers regarding the agency's findings and lack of transparency. In another development, JD Vance embarks on a historic diplomatic trip to Armenia, focusing on establishing crucial peace and trade agreements.

Key takeaways

FBI's Epstein findings leave some skeptics; redacted files might hide powerful names behind closed doors.
JD Vance's Armenia trip proves: peace isn't found in meetings, but in bold, forward-thinking actions.
Jimmy Lie's impending Chinese imprisonment raises the question: how deep do Trump's diplomacy roots really run?
Epstein's documents reveal abuse but challenge expectations—no celebrity fishing for powerful men in revealed files.
Super Bowl ad slamming Epstein redactions sparks debate: is it activism or opportunism dressed as justice?

Who speaks in this episode?

Georgia How (Host) · 5 min speaking
John Bickley (Host) · 3 min speaking
Amanda Presto Jakamo (Guest) · 3 min speaking
Todd Blanch (Guest) · 1 min speaking
Steppon Sarian (Guest) · 3 min speaking
Tim Pierce (Guest) · 3 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

0:00 – 3:00: Daily Wire (company), John Bickley, FBI, Donald Trump
3:00 – 6:00: Epstein Files, Congressman Thomas Massie, Kate Blanch, DOJ
6:00 – 9:00: Armenia, Donald Trump, Georgia How, Azerbaijan
9:00 – 12:00: Armenia, United States (states), J.D. Vance, Azerbaijan
12:00 – 15:00: Hong Kong, Daily Wire (company), Jimmy Lie, Apple Daily
15:00 – 16:50: Hong Kong, Daily Wire (company), Tim Pierce, Daily Wire Plus

Notable quotes from "Epstein Release Raises Eyebrows & Vance Visits Armenia"

Have been protecting some of these men. Maybe it was not intentionally, but the law is very clear. I'm Georgia How with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Tuesday, February 10th, and this is Morning Wire.
about John Bickley · at 0:21
Off and free rush shipping so you can add lean to your healthy diet and exercise plan. Visit takelean.com and enter wire for your discount. That's promo code wire at takelean.com today.
about Lean · at 2:01
That involved other wealthy or influential people. So, these media reports do say that documents indicate that, photos and videos seized during the investigation do reveal…
about Donald Trump · at 2:49
Yeah, so the ad features alleged victims demanding more transparency surrounding these Epstein files. It also specifically takes aim at AG Bondi.
about Epstein Files · at 5:07
Also on the radar, Georgia, the Clintons have a scheduled deposition before the House Oversight Committee and that's scheduled for the end of this month.
about Georgia How · at 6:29
Vice President Vance became the first president or vice president in American history to travel to Armenia this week.
about Armenia · at 7:47
And particularly why the US got involved. Can you give us some context there? US was involved since the 90s during the first phase of the conflict obviously because of humanitarian reasons to eventually resolve the killing between the two.
about Steppon Sarian · at 8:46
Li's newspaper Apple Daily was widely seen as the last free press outlet in China. Here to discuss Lie sentence is Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce. So Tim, Lie is 78 years old. A 20-year sentence.
about Hong Kong · at 12:34

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

Donald Trump — Person · Referenced political figure · 5 mentions · first at 0:58
Referenced as signing the Epstein Files Transparency Act and as a key negotiator in Armenia-Azerbaijan peace and in potential talks with Xi about Jimmy Lai.
Georgia How — Person · Host · 4 mentions · first at 0:25
Introduces the show and conducts interviews across segments (Epstein documents and Armenia interview).
J.D. Vance — Person · Primary news subject (referenced) · 4 mentions · first at 0:40
Featured in the Armenia segment as making a historic diplomatic trip, announcing deals and reinforcing a peace framework tied to US-Armenia cooperation.
Vice President Vance became the first president or vice president in American history to travel to Armenia this week.
Jimmy Lie — Person · Primary news subject (referenced) · 3 mentions · first at 1:02
Central figure in the Hong Kong segment: a British media tycoon sentenced to 20 years in China; discussion focuses on prospects for release via Trump-Xi negotiations.
In what's being seen as a major blow to the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, British media tycoon Jimmy Lie was sentenced to 20 years in Chinese prison yesterday.
John Bickley — Person · Host / co-host · 3 mentions · first at 0:27
Introduced as Daily Wire executive editor and co-hosts the episode with Georgia Howe, guiding the Epstein segment interview.
Steppon Sarian — Person · Main guest (interviewee) for Armenia segment · 3 mentions · first at 8:27
Provides context on Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Armenia's religious refuge role, and details on trade corridor and agreements discussed during Vance's visit.
Gileain Maxwell — Person · Referenced figure in Epstein coverage · 2 mentions · first at 2:59
Discussed as Epstein's longtime confidant; appears virtually for a closed-door deposition, pleads the fifth, and signals willingness to speak if sentence reduced.
Now wrapping up, Galain Maxwell appeared virtually from prison for a closed door house deposition. What happened there?
Amanda Presto Jakamo — Person · Correspondent / segment reporter · 2 mentions · first at 2:20
Daily Wire reporter presenting details and interpretation of newly released Epstein-related documents and political reactions.
Little evidence that Jeffrey Epstein was running a sex trafficking ring for powerful individuals. Here with the details is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Jakamo. So Amanda…
Congressman Thomas Massie — Person · Referenced lawmaker · 2 mentions · first at 3:48
Cited as pushing for more transparency and less redaction in Epstein files; described as reviewing redacted materials and speaking to press.
Just far too many redactions and not enough of these documents have been released. Both Democrat Ro Kana and Republican Thomas Massie, they've voiced these concerns. They want…
Kate Blanch — Person · Main speaker · 2 mentions · first at 4:08
Key figure discussing the Epstein files and the DOJ's handling of document releases.
The categories of documents withheld include those permitted under the act to be withheld. Files that contain personal personally identify information of victims or victim's personal and medical.
Tim Pierce — Person · Correspondent / segment reporter · 2 mentions · first at 12:41
Daily Wire reporter covering Jimmy Lai’s sentencing and the geopolitical angle involving Trump and Xi.
Li's newspaper Apple Daily was widely seen as the last free press outlet in China. Here to discuss Lie sentence is Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce. So Tim, Lie is 78 years old.…
Massie and Kana — Person · Referenced lawmaker · 2 mentions · first at 3:45
Mentioned alongside Massie as demanding more transparency and access regarding Epstein file redactions and potential client lists.
Just far too many redactions and not enough of these documents have been released. Both Democrat Ro Kana and Republican Thomas Massie, they've voiced these concerns. They want…
Nicole Pashin — Person · Referenced political leader · 2 mentions · first at 7:53
Named as Armenia’s prime minister in the Vance segment; described as signing documents and holding a press conference with Vance.
States the highest ranking official American official to visit Armenia held press conference with the prime minister of Armenia Nicole Pashin. they signed documents one…
Elon Musk — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 5:45
Mentioned in the context of supporting truth-tellers in the Epstein files discussion.
Didn't start until the exact moment Biden left office. Now, this sparked a response from Elon Musk. He said that he would pay for the defense of anyone who speaks the truth and is sued for doing so. so we'll have to see what happens there.
Jeffrey – Meister, Robert — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 13:04
Mentioned as a friend of Jimmy Lie and advocate for his release from Chinese prison.
He has another meeting scheduled with Xi in April and that could be where a deal for Lie is negotiated. According to Father Robert, he's the founder of the free market think tank the Actton Institute and a longtime friend of Lie.
Chuck Schumer — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 5:07
Mentioned in the context of the Epstein files ad and political reactions.
Yeah, so the ad features alleged victims demanding more transparency surrounding these Epstein files. It also specifically takes aim at AG Bondi.
Matt Walsh — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 5:30
Mentioned in the context of commenting on the Epstein files ad.
Chuck Schumer posting it. U but others questioned the timing of it and felt it was possibly political. The Daily Wire's Matt Walsh, for example, he commented, quote, These…

Companies & orgs

Apple Daily — Company · Case study · 2 mentions · first at 12:34
Central to the discussion about free speech in Hong Kong and the imprisonment of Jimmy Lie.
Newspaper in Hong Kong. The last edition sold 1 million copies. Apple Daily was kind of an amalgamation between the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal and the National…
FBI — Company · Case study · 4 mentions · first at 0:04
Discussed in the context of the Epstein files and their findings on sex trafficking allegations.
New files suggest the FBI found little evidence that Epstein was operating a sex trafficking ring for powerful men, but some lawmakers remain skeptical.
DOJ — Company · Case study · 2 mentions · first at 3:24
Mentioned in the context of the Epstein files and their handling of document releases.
About Epstein working on behalf of a foreign government or intelligence service. The DOJ says that many documents just could not be released to the public for a number of…
House Oversight Committee — Company · Case study · 1 mention · first at 6:32
Mentioned in the context of the Clintons' scheduled deposition.
Also on the radar, Georgia, the Clintons have a scheduled deposition before the House Oversight Committee and that's scheduled for the end of this month.
Acton Institute — Company · Case study · 1 mention · first at 13:09
Mentioned as the think tank founded by Father Robert.
He has another meeting scheduled with Xi in April and that could be where a deal for Lie is negotiated. According to Father Robert, he's the founder of the free market think tank the Actton Institute and a longtime friend of Lie.
SiriusXM — Company · Case study · 1 mention · first at 16:38
Mentioned in passing, no significant relevance to the main topics.
Thanks for having me. Thanks for waking up with us. And for those listening to the show, you can now also watch the show free on Daily Wire Plus. We'll be back this evening with more news you need to know.

Concepts & topics

free speech — Concept · Key argument · 1 mention · first at 13:57
Central to the discussion about Hong Kong and the suppression of Apple Daily.
Li's newspaper Apple Daily was widely seen as the last free press outlet in China. Here to discuss Lie sentence is Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce. So Tim, Lie is 78 years old. A 20-year sentence.
Epstein Files Transparency Act — Concept · Key argument · 1 mention · first at 2:38
Legislation mentioned in the context of the release of Epstein-related documents.
What did they reveal? Yeah, so analysis of millions of documents that were just recently released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act that was signed by Trump in November. The FBI apparently.
national security law — Concept · Key argument · 1 mention · first at 13:44
Central to the discussion about Hong Kong and the imprisonment of Jimmy Lie.
Man needs to be a Sultaniten. He needs to be a Mandela. He needs to be seen in that light. Now, Lie was convicted of violating Hong Kong's new national security law, but a lot…
peace building — Concept · Strategy · 2 mentions · first at 0:51
Mentioned in the context of diplomatic efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Peace is not made by people who are too focused on the past. Peace is made by people who are focused on the future.
religious freedom — Concept · Key argument · 1 mention · first at 9:46
Discussed in the context of Armenia's role as a safe haven for persecuted religious groups.
Centuries to the 300s. Do you see many refugees from countries that persecute Christians flowing into Armenia? Armenia is one beacon of religious freedom in the entire region.…
strategic location — Concept · Key argument · 1 mention · first at 10:37
Mentioned in the context of Armenia's geopolitical importance.
Humanitarian reasons to eventually resolve the killing between the two nations but also United States has strategic interest in region because both Armenia and Azarbaan being…

Places & events

Armenia — Place · Setting · 9 mentions · first at 0:43
Central location discussed for diplomatic peace and trade deals involving the US and Azerbaijan.
Hong Kong — Place · Setting · 5 mentions · first at 12:27
Central to the discussion about the imprisonment of Jimmy Lie and the suppression of free speech.
Epstein Files — Event · Core topic · 4 mentions · first at 2:12
Main topic of discussion regarding the FBI's findings and the call for more transparency.
Azerbaijan — Place · Setting · 4 mentions · first at 0:51
Discussed in relation to peace and trade deals with Armenia, facilitated by the US.
Minister who signed a document reaffirming Armenia's commitment to peace with Azerbaijan. A piece negotiated six months ago by President Trump after more than 30 years of…
United States (states) — Place · Setting · 4 mentions · first at 8:14
Key player in diplomatic efforts in Armenia and Azerbaijan, and mentioned in various contexts.
Vice President Vance became the first president or vice president in American history to travel to Armenia this week.
China — Place · Setting · 3 mentions · first at 0:56
Discussed in the context of Hong Kong's political situation and the imprisonment of Jimmy Lie.
In what's being seen as a major blow to the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, British media tycoon Jimmy Lie was sentenced to 20 years in Chinese prison yesterday.
Super Bowl — Event · Case study · 1 mention · first at 5:00
Mentioned in the context of an ad about the Epstein files.
Now, there was also a Super Bowl ad that ran on Sunday about the files and those redactions. Tell us about that ad.
Eurasian landmass — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at 9:26
Mentioned in the context of Armenia's strategic importance.
Various is oil and gas pipelines or trade between China and Europe. Overall, a key piece of real estate in the Eurasian landmass. Now, you personally helped organize the first…
National Prayer Breakfast — Event · Case study · 1 mention · first at 9:31
Mentioned in the context of Armenia's religious freedom.
Trade between China and Europe. Overall, a key piece of real estate in the Eurasian landmass. Now, you personally helped organize the first ever national prayer breakfast in…
Iran — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at 10:03
Mentioned in the context of Armenia's geopolitical relations.
Countries. as you referred already earlier so with some of them we've been at war. frosty relations with Iran we've had great friendly relations. but without betraying our…
Syria — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at 10:22
Mentioned in the context of refugees finding safe haven in Armenia.
Refuge not only Christians persecuted in other countries but also other religious minorities, Yazidis, Kurds, even Muslims who had been persecuted by Islamic State in Syria and…
Iraq — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at 10:25
Mentioned in the context of refugees finding safe haven in Armenia.
Minorities, Yazidis, Kurds, even Muslims who had been persecuted by Islamic State in Syria and you know corresponding territories of Iraq who could find Armenia as the safe…

Media & podcasts

Morning Wire — Media · Host · 2 mentions · first at 0:29
The podcast show being discussed and produced by Daily Wire.
The law is very clear. I'm Georgia How with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Tuesday, February 10th, and this is Morning Wire.
Apple Daily — Media · Case study · 2 mentions · first at 12:34
Central to the discussion about free speech in Hong Kong and the imprisonment of Jimmy Lie.
Newspaper in Hong Kong. The last edition sold 1 million copies. Apple Daily was kind of an amalgamation between the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal and the National…

Sponsors

Daily Wire (company) — Company · Sponsor · 7 mentions · first at 0:27
The podcast's producer and sponsor, mentioned multiple times throughout the episode.
Little evidence that Jeffrey Epstein was running a sex trafficking ring for powerful individuals. Here with the details is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Jakamo. So Amanda…
Lean — Product · Sponsor product (ad read) · 2 mentions · first at 1:34
Weight loss supplement promoted as an alternative to injections; includes discount code and purchase URL.
Prime Bar — Product · Sponsor product (ad read) · 2 mentions · first at 6:57
Protein bar promoted for clean ingredients and high protein; includes discount and subscription offer with URL and code.
Each bar boasts 20 g of clean protein and just 11 ingredients, including collagen, beef tallow, colostrum, dates, and honey. Plus, they have fantastic flavors like chocolate and peanut butter.
Equip — Company · Sponsor · 2 mentions · first at 6:59
Sponsor of the podcast, promoting their Prime Bar product.
Our sponsor, Equip, is all about making healthy habits simple and sustainable.
Brick House Nutrition — Company · Sponsor · 2 mentions · first at 1:16
Sponsor of the podcast, promoting their Lean weight loss supplement.
I'm stressed. But once Lean came into the picture, I was able to rein in my cravings. Let's get you started with 20% off and free rush shipping so you can add lean to your…
Daily Wire Plus — Media · Sponsor · 1 mention · first at 16:38
Mentioned as a platform where the show can be watched.
Thanks for having me. Thanks for waking up with us. And for those listening to the show, you can now also watch the show free on Daily Wire Plus. We'll be back this evening with more news you need to know.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:04 New files suggest the FBI found little evidence that Epstein was operating a sex trafficking ring for powerful men, but some lawmakers remain skeptical.

0:14 Our law says that the FBI uh and the original grand jury needs to be unredacted. And of course, there uh they have been protecting some of these these men. Maybe it was not intentionally, but the law is very clear. I'm Georgia How with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Tuesday, February 10th, and this is Morning Wire.

0:40 JD Vance makes history with a diplomatic trip to Armenia, forging key peace and trade deals.

0:46 Peace is not made by cautious people. Peace is not made by people who are too focused on the past. Peace is made by people who are focused on the future. And a British businessman faces 20 years in a Chinese prison. Is President Trump the key to his release?

1:02 Jimmy Lie and and Presidency are big enemies, but it's been a long time and I will be it'll be on my list.

1:09 Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know. This episode is sponsored by Brick House Nutrition. You've probably heard about those weight loss injections that everyone's been talking about, and for good reason. The results can be pretty incredible. They work by helping regulate blood sugar and keeping your appetite in check. But here's the thing. Not everyone wants to deal with weekly injections, especially when you start hearing about some of the side effects that can come with them. That's where Lean comes in. It's a weight loss supplement developed by doctors, and people are seeing some really impressive results. The ingredients in Lean are backed by research showing that they can help lower blood sugar, turn stored fat into energy, and reduce those constant cravings that make dieting so hard. This stuff is no joke. I am one of those people that eats sometimes a lot when

1:54 I'm stressed. But once Lean came into the picture, I was able to rein in my cravings. Let's get you started with 20% off and free rush shipping so you can add lean to your healthy diet and exercise plan. Visit takelean.com and enter wire for your discount. That's promo code wire at takelean.com today. Analysis of newly released Epstein documents showed that the FBI found little evidence that Jeffrey Epstein was running a sex trafficking ring for powerful individuals. Here with the details is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Jakamo. So Amanda, this new reporting has been unexpected. Some people are still skeptical. First, let's start with these apparent FBI findings.

2:33 What did they reveal? Yeah, so analysis of millions of documents that were just recently released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act that was signed by Trump in November. The FBI apparently found insufficient evidence that Epstein was operating a sex trafficking ring that involved other wealthy or influential people. So, these media reports do say that documents indicate that, you know, photos and videos seized during the investigation do reveal abuse by Epstein and longtime confidant Galain Maxwell. But while these files confirm Epstein sexually abused underage girls, there was not enough evidence to prove that he supplied minors to other powerful men. Basically, feds couldn't find enough evidence for federal charges despite referrals to local law enforcement about allegations of abuse.

3:20 Now, to be clear, these conclusions are based on media reporting of newly released DOJ and FBI documents, like internal memos, and the DOJ has not independently issued a statement confirming these findings.

3:33 Now, not everyone is satisfied with these findings. What are the main complaints? Yes, some politicians and commentators, they say that there are just far too many redactions and not enough of these documents have been released. Both Democrat Ro Kana and Republican Thomas Massie, they've voiced these concerns. They want to know if redacted or unreleased documents contain any client lists or other information about Epstein uh working on behalf of a foreign government or intelligence service. The DOJ says that many documents just could not be released to the public for a number of reasons, including victim privacy. Here's Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch explaining.

4:13 The categories of documents withheld include those permitted under the act to be withheld. Files that contain personal personally identify information of victims or victim's personal and medical files. Child pornography was obviously excluded. anything that would jeopardize an active federal investigation. And finally, anything that depicts or contain images of death, physical abuse, or injury.

4:36 Blanch did say that members of Congress uh could look at material that has been redacted. Massie and Kana did just that on Monday and then spoke to the press. Here's Massie.

4:47 We went in there for 2 hours. There's millions of files, right? And in a couple of hours, we found six men whose names have been redacted who are implicated in the way that the files are presented.

5:00 Now, there was also a Super Bowl ad that ran on Sunday about the files and those redactions. Tell us about that ad.

5:07 Yeah, so the ad features alleged victims demanding more transparency surrounding these Epstein files. It also specifically takes aim at AG Bondi. Here's a few seconds of that ad.

5:17 We all deserve the truth. Now, this garnered a pretty interesting reaction online. We saw Democrats like Chuck Schumer posting it. U but others questioned the timing of it and felt it was possibly political. The Daily Wire's Matt Walsh, for example, he commented, quote, "These women could also just name their abusers at any time. Instead, they've embarked on a monthslong publicity campaign which curiously didn't start until the exact moment Biden left office." Now, this sparked a response from Elon Musk. He said that he would pay for the defense of anyone who speaks the truth and is sued for doing so. Uh so we'll have to see what happens there.

5:57 Now wrapping up, Galain Maxwell appeared virtually from prison for a closed door house deposition. What happened there?

6:04 Well, she pleaded the fifth. She refused to answer questions, but she did say through her attorney that she will provide the public with the unfiltered truth if her sentence is to be cut short. The attorney for Maxwell also said that she alone could explain why President Trump and former President Clinton are innocent of any wrongdoing connected to Epstein. Uh so some strategic silence there from Maxwell. Also on the radar, Georgia, the Clintons have a scheduled deposition before the House Oversight Committee and that's scheduled for the end of this month.

6:37 Well, that's coming up. Hopefully we can get some answers. Amanda, thanks for reporting.

6:41 You're welcome. If you're trying to hit your protein goals in 2026, you might want to actually read a protein bar label. Most often, it's like reading a candy bar full of chemicals you can't pronounce and then leaving you bloated and unsatisfied. Bars with whey and processed junk that just don't work. That's why we're into Equip's Prime Bar. Our sponsor, Equip, is all about making healthy habits simple and sustainable. Each bar boasts 20 g of clean protein and just 11 ingredients, including collagen, beef tallow, colostrum, dates, and honey. Plus, they have fantastic flavors like chocolate and peanut butter and mixed berry. I've been taking these bars everywhere. It's such a convenient way to not only hit my goals, but also satisfy the sweet tooth craving I didn't know I had while keeping me on track.

7:22 Starting today, our listeners will receive an exclusive discount on Prime Bar, which has become our team's favorite protein bar on the market with 20 g of protein in every bar. Go to equipfoods.com/wire and use code wire at checkout to get 25% off onetime purchases or 40% off your first subscription order for a limited time. That's equipfoods.comwire and use code wire at checkout. Vice President Vance became the first president or vice president in American history to travel to Armenia this week. He met Monday with Armenia's prime minister who signed a document reaffirming Armenia's commitment to peace with Azerbaijan. A piece negotiated six months ago by President Trump after more than 30 years of conflict. What President Trump and the prime minister have accomplished together is really visionary. We're not just making peace for Armenia. We're also creating real prosperity for Armenia and the United States together.

8:16 The vice president also announced a deal for the US to sell Armenia 11 million in drone technology and that the two countries are working on a civil nuclear agreement.

8:27 Joining us to discuss is Steppon Sarian who is from Armenia and is a former governor who works closely with the prime minister. to step on. Thank you so much for joining us.

8:35 It's a pleasure. Thanks for the invitation. So many Americans are familiar with the peace deal worked out last year between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but not many people know the history of that conflict and particularly why the US got involved. Can you give us some context there? US was involved since the 90s during the first uh phase of the conflict obviously because of humanitarian reasons to eventually resolve the killing between the two nations but also um United States has strategic interest in region because uh both Armenia and Azarbaan uh being in the south caucuses represent an important corridor which serves uh a bridge between east and west be it for various is oil and gas pipelines or trade between China and Europe. Overall, a key piece of uh real estate in the Eurasian landmass. Now, you personally helped organize the first ever national prayer breakfast in Armenia and you were

9:35 inspired by the US. Uh obviously that Christian heritage of Armenia goes back centuries to the 300s. Do you see many refugees from countries that persecute Christians flowing into Armenia? Armenia is one beacon of religious freedom in the entire region. Armenia on all three sides is surrounded by Islamic countries. Uh as you referred already earlier so with some of them we've been at war. Uh frosty relations with Iran we've had great friendly relations. uh but without uh betraying our Christian roots, we have been able to both remain Christian uh but at the same time offer refuge not only Christians persecuted in other countries but also other religious minorities, Yazidis, Kurds, even Muslims who had been persecuted by Islamic State in Syria and uh you know corresponding territories of Iraq who could find Armenia as the safe haven to come and uh both find physical security and also liberty to exercise their faith. Now you

10:37 mentioned the strategic location of Armenia in particular uh when it comes to trade. The Trump trade routes are a major part of these negotiations. Where do things stand now with those talks?

10:50 JD Vance the vice president of United States the highest ranking official American official to visit Armenia held press conference with the prime minister of Armenia Nicole Pashin. they signed uh uh documents one pertaining specifically to uh cooperation between Armenia and United States in the sphere of nuclear energy. So the trip project as we call it as is commonly known the Trump route for international peace and uh prosperity is a key corridor of uh railways uh energy corridor it all kinds of fiber optic cables uh that's meant to solidify and institutionalize uh the peace process between Armenia and Azarba Jang. It's meant to carry ferry all kinds of goods uh oil, gas not only within the region but also uh as far as central Asia perhaps even as far as China and right now uh they uh both the Americans and Armenians and the Azerbaijani counterparts are working very diligently and um very

11:58 expeditiously to bring it uh um into fruition. And just as vice president said during the press conference, that means uh a lot of investment, but it's not just about money, it's about peace building.

12:10 Well, truly transformative negotiations taking place right now and really exciting to see the American vice president for the first time ever in your country. Thank you so much for joining us.

12:21 Thank you for the interview. In what's being seen as a major blow to the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, British media tycoon Jimmy Lie was sentenced to 20 years in Chinese prison yesterday.

12:34 Li's newspaper Apple Daily was widely seen as the last free press outlet in China. Here to discuss Lie sentence is Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce. So Tim, Lie is 78 years old. A 20-year sentence could mean he spends the rest of his life in prison. What are his chances of getting out? Yeah, it seems like it's going to come down to President Trump and whether he can negotiate a deal with President Xi for lies release. Trump has previously pushed for lies release and he has another meeting scheduled with Xi in April and that could be where a deal for Lie is negotiated. According to Father Robert, he's the founder of the free market think tank the Actton Institute and a longtime friend of Lie.

13:12 That's really Lie's best bet. So spoke to the Daily Wire in December after Lie was sentenced and he said that Lie should be a top priority despite the complexity that bargaining over Li's life would cause on international relations. Here's a bit more from Srio.

13:27 I am just determined to not let this thing be forgotten. This needs to be in everybody's face. We are being judged by this. The way we react to this man, this man needs to be a Sultaniten. He needs to be a Mandela. He needs to be seen in that light. Now, Lie was convicted of violating Hong Kong's new national security law, but a lot of people thought that was just a contrived defense that came from the CCP because they didn't like what Jimmy Lie was doing with his newspaper. Can you describe why they were so upset with him?

13:57 Yeah, Li's case is really about free speech and the consequences of standing up to a dictatorial regime. Lie was a very successful entrepreneur before he decided to take on the Chinese government and afterward he made the decision to stay in Hong Kong essentially ensuring he would be arrested for his outspoken stance against the communist Chinese. Here's again

14:18 Chennaman Square hit and he was deeply moved uh about the land of his ancestors but didn't think of it in in political terms until then. And then he began printing up t-shirts defending the uh the the protests. And China didn't like this very much. So they basically said, "You'll either stop or we will close you down." So he sold out his interest in the textile company uh and then uh put the money into Apple Daily. I think actually he began a media uh empire before that but then he really built it and it became the number one selling newspaper uh in Hong Kong. The last edition sold 1 million copies. Apple Daily was kind of an amalgamation between the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal and the National Inquirer. So it had a lot of gossip and stuff and entertainment stuff and all that kind of thing. and then a very serious uh editorial position and news uh content and he took on the

15:26 Chinese and he he insulted the you know some of the high political leaders and then when of course the umbrella revolution came uh back in 2000 or a little bit before that when you had almost the entirety of the population of Hong Kong there's 7 million people I think they had 4 million on the streets very creatively demonstrating the communists in Beijing finally said we're going to kind of clamp down on the all this. They instituted the u security law which enable them now to pry Jimmy which he's been in jail for 4 years solitary confinement to today.

16:07 So is also a Catholic priest and he encouraged people to remember and pray that lie will be returned to his family soon.

16:14 Think of your freedom. say a prayer or if you don't pray, have some good thoughts or whatever that does. Uh, you know, pray pray even if you have to pray to whom it may concern. Pray that this man is is free.

16:29 Well, a disturbing situation, but no doubt lie is an incredibly brave person. Tim, thanks for reporting.

16:34 Thanks for having me. Thanks for waking up with us. And for those listening to the show, you can now also watch the show free on Daily Wire Plus. We'll be back this evening with more news you need to know.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Epstein Release Raises Eyebrows & Vance Visits Armenia"?

Georgia How (Host), John Bickley (Host), Amanda Presto Jakamo (Guest), Todd Blanch (Guest), Steppon Sarian (Guest), Tim Pierce (Guest).

What is "Epstein Release Raises Eyebrows & Vance Visits Armenia" about?

Recent files indicate that the FBI found minimal evidence of Jeffrey Epstein operating a sex trafficking ring involving powerful individuals, leading to skepticism among some lawmakers regarding the agency's findings and lack of transparency. In another development, JD Vance embarks on a historic diplomatic trip to Armenia, focusing on establishing crucial peace and trade agreements.

What is mentioned in this Morning Wire episode?

49 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Armenia, Donald Trump, Hong Kong, Georgia How, J.D. Vance, Epstein Files. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Epstein Release Raises Eyebrows & Vance Visits Armenia"?

The episode runs 17 min; the transcript is about 2,843 words in 40 timestamped sections.

More from Morning Wire

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated February 11, 2026.