Evening Wire: Ukraine Talks Begin Again & YouTuber Challenges Disney

What this episode is about

A second round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia is underway, as concerns grow over the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie amidst a ransom note crisis. Additionally, a YouTuber's new horror film has taken the top spot at the weekend box office, while federal authorities have arrested a Minneapolis activist linked to threats against ICE officers.

Key takeaways

• Just when we thought peace talks were hopeless, Ukraine and Russia are giving diplomacy another shot—who says we can’t try again?
• A ransom note involving an Apple Watch? Talk about demanding proof of life in the digital age!
• Wagner’s cross-dressing antics aside, threatening law enforcement is a surefire way to find yourself in a federal pickle.
• With the nuclear weapons cap treaty expired, the arms race is back on—hope everyone's been practicing their duck and cover.
• Kennedy’s health agenda aims for better diets, but let’s be real: for many, the allure of donuts is a tempting call.

Who speaks in this episode?

• John Bickley (Host) · 5 min speaking
• Georgia How (Host) · 1 min speaking
• Lynden Blake (Guest) · 1 min speaking
• Jenny Tar (Guest) · 1 min speaking
• Andy Valdez (Guest) · 1 min speaking
• J.D. Vance (Guest) · 1 min speaking
• Zack Juel (Guest) · 1 min speaking
• Amanda Harding (Guest) · 1 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 3:00: Nancy Guthrie, Kate Blanch, Kyle Wagner, Chris Nanos
2. 3:00 – 6:00: Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, Lean, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
3. 6:00 – 9:00: Lean
4. 9:00 – 11:44: Iron Lung

Notable quotes from "Evening Wire: Ukraine Talks Begin Again & YouTuber Challenges Disney"

• Stretched into its fifth day. Daily Wire reporter Lynden Blake has the latest on the case. We now have a timeline of NY's disappearance from her Tucson area home.

  about Nancy Guthrie · at 0:21

• Minneapolis. Following the fatal shooting of anti-ICE activist Alex Prey, Wagner allegedly told his followers to take up arms and attack law enforcement, saying, quote, Show up…

  about Kyle Wagner · at 1:45

• President Trump has signaled that a new agreement could be reached, though he has said the terms would need to be reconsidered. He's also recently said he wants to restart nuclear systems testing.

  about Donald Trump · at 3:11

• 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…

  about Lean · at 5:59

• The Trump administration asked a federal court on Wednesday to compel Nike to produce information on its diversity, equity, and inclusion goals going back to 2018. The US Equal Employment.

  about Nike · at 7:20

• YouTuber Mark Fishbach, known to his nearly $40 million subscribers as Markiplier, radarly $18 million with his independent film Iron Lung. The film was number one in America for most of the.

  about Iron Lung · at 9:08

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Nancy Guthrie — Person · Missing person / central subject of breaking-news segment · 2 mentions · first at 0:05
  Her disappearance is the lead story; the episode provides a timeline, device activity, and ransom-note details tied to the ongoing search.
• Donald Trump — Person · Referenced political leader / administration figure · 2 mentions · first at 3:11
  Mentioned across multiple policy updates: federal workforce oversight changes, nuclear treaty posture, and administration-linked health and minerals initiatives.
• Kyle Wagner — Person · Arrestee / subject of law-enforcement report · 1 mention · first at 1:39
  Presented as the person arrested for allegedly threatening ICE officers and urging followers to attack law enforcement in Minneapolis.
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — Person · Referenced government official / event speaker · 1 mention · first at 3:34
  Covered as HHS Secretary meeting Tennessee leadership and speaking about health initiatives and food guidance changes attributed to his department.
  HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tennessee's Republican leadership met yesterday to address the state's health issues. Daily Wire assistant editor Andy Valdez has more. Kennedy stopped by the.
• J.D. Vance — Person · Referenced government official / speaker · 2 mentions · first at 5:06
  Quoted discussing a proposed critical minerals trade mechanism and 'Project Vault' in the context of countering China's market dominance.
  Concrete mechanism to return the global critical minerals market to a healthier, more competitive state, a preferential trade zone for critical minerals protected from external disruptions through enforcable price floors.
• Chris Nanos — Person · Law-enforcement spokesperson (referenced) · 1 mention · first at 0:31
  Cited as the sheriff providing key timeline details (doorbell camera, camera detection, pacemaker disconnect) in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance.
  Pima County Sheriff Chris Nano said after returning home at 9:48 on Saturday night, NY's doorbell camera was disconnected at 1:47 a.m. At 2:12 in the morning, a person was detected on her.
• Savannah Guthrie — Person · Family member / responder to ransom note (referenced) · 1 mention · first at 0:52
  Identified as part of the family group that responded to the ransom note and demanded proof of life in the Nancy Guthrie case.
  Still no suspect or person of interest in this case. But we learned more about the ransom note Savannah Guthrie and her siblings responded to Wednesday night.
• Kate Blanch — Person · Government official / announcer of arrest (referenced) · 2 mentions · first at 1:37
  Named as Deputy Attorney General who announced the arrest of Kyle Wagner and commented publicly about consequences for threats against officers.
  Saying, quote, Show up ready to go. Not talking about peaceful protests anymore. Following the arrest, Blanch wrote on X, quote, Conspire and threaten to assault, kill, and dox…
• Bill Lee — Person · State official / meeting participant (referenced) · 1 mention · first at 3:42
  Mentioned as Tennessee governor who met with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during the 'take back your health' tour stop at the state capitol.
  Valdez has more. Kennedy stopped by the Tennessee State Capital on Wednesday for a meeting with Governor Bill Lee and other GOP leadership as part of his take back your health…

Companies & orgs

• Nike — Company · Business focus · 4 mentions
  Nike is under investigation by the EEOC for alleged discrimination against white employees in its DEI initiatives.

Products & tech

• Iron Lung — Product · Case study · 1 mention · first at 9:16
  Iron Lung is an independent horror film by YouTuber Mark Fishbach that outperformed Disney's production at the box office.

Sponsors

• Lean — Product · Sponsor · 2 mentions · first at 5:44
  Lean is a weight loss supplement sponsored by the podcast, promoted as an alternative to weight loss injections.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:02 A second round of peace talks begins between Ukraine and Russia. The search for Nancy Guthrie continues and a YouTuber's horror film steals the weekend box office. I'm Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley with Georgia How. It's Thursday, February 5th. This is Evening Wire.

0:19 The search for Nancy Guthrie has stretched into its fifth day. Daily Wire reporter Lynden Blake has the latest on the case. We now have a timeline of NY's disappearance from her Tucson area home. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nano said after returning home at 9:48 on Saturday night, NY's doorbell camera was disconnected at 1:47 a.m. At 2:12 in the morning, a person was detected on her camera. And at 2:28 Sunday morning, NY's pacemaker disconnected from her phone. Still no suspect or person of interest in this case. But we learned more about the ransom note Savannah Guthrie and her siblings responded to Wednesday night.

0:56 The ransom note we mentioned yesterday, which threatened NY's life unless the family sent millions of dollars, also talked specifically about NY's Apple Watch and flood light. The Guthrie family decided on their own to respond, and they demanded proof of life. But as of Thursday evening, no communication has been made with the authors of the note. To learn more about this case, join me on the new podcast episode, Finding Nancy Guthrie. It's available on the Daily Wire website and the Daily Wire Plus podcast channel. We have a link in the description.

1:28 The feds have arrested the cross-dressing Antifa terrorist who threatened to kill ICE officers in Minneapolis. Daily Wire immigration reporter Jenny Tar has more. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch announced Thursday that federal authorities arrested Kyle Wagner, a self-identified cross-dressing Antifa leader in Minneapolis. Following the fatal shooting of anti-ICE activist Alex Prey, Wagner allegedly told his followers to take up arms and attack law enforcement, saying, quote, "Show up ready to go. Not talking about peaceful protests anymore." Following the arrest, Blanch wrote on X, quote, "Conspire and threaten to assault, kill, and dox officers, and you'll find yourself in federal custody facing the full force of justice." Wagner was also seen in videos wearing women's clothing. He said, quote, "I do this all year, all the time. I like to get real clean and pretty and go out." Wagner has since

2:21 been removed from social media as well as the Venmo app, which he used to ask followers for donations for his quote emergency freedom and defense fund. The Trump administration just expanded the president's direct authority over career bureaucrats. While the president has traditionally always had at will authority over political appointees, certain career bureaucrats have expanded protections from disciplinary action or termination. The new rules from the Office of Personnel Management would grant the president oversight authority of any career government employee whose duties directly relate to executing the president's agenda. This means he could now be able to fire some 50,000 employees whose jobs were previously protected.

3:01 The nuclear weapons cap treaty between the US and Russia formally expired today. So, the two nations now no longer have a limit on the number of nuclear armed missiles they may deploy. President Trump has signaled that a new agreement could be reached, though he has said the terms would need to be reconsidered. He's also recently said he wants to restart nuclear systems testing in the US, arguing that Russia and China are doing the same in defiance of international treaties. Although the deal officially ended today, Russia suspended its participation in the treaty in 2023 amid its war in Ukraine.

3:34 HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tennessee's Republican leadership met yesterday to address the state's health issues. Daily Wire assistant editor Andy Valdez has more. Kennedy stopped by the Tennessee State Capital on Wednesday for a meeting with Governor Bill Lee and other GOP leadership as part of his take back your health tour. During his speech, Kennedy spoke about various initiatives the Trump administration had launched to invest in rural health care, remove harmful additives from food, increase pricing transparency, and study the dramatic increase in autism.

4:04 According to HHS, Tennessee ranks 44th in the nation in terms of overall health due to drug overdoses, chronic health problems, smoking, physical inactivity, premature death, obesity, and preventable hospitalizations. Part of reversing this trend is eating better food. One of the reasons why Kennedy's HHS flipped the food pyramid last month to recommend whole foods, prioritizing healthy fats and protein, and limiting or avoiding ultrarocessed foods. Here's Kennedy at the event. Our job is not to tell Americans what to eat. It's to tell them what's good for them and to give them good information. If you want to drink a Coca-Cola or eat a you know crispy cream donut, you live in America, you ought to be able to do that. But um we're going to tell you what the cost is. It it seems cheap at the grocery store. The long-term cost is uh may not be worth it. The Trump administration is assembling a new trading block to

5:02 stabilize critical mineral markets and counter China's dominance. Vice President JD Vance discussed the initiative yesterday at the inaugural critical minerals ministerial hosted by the State Department and featuring representatives from over 50 countries. The event was held just 2 days after Trump announced a new initiative called Project Vault, which aims to create a stockpile of critical minerals. Here's Vance at the event. So this morning, the Trump administration is proposing a concrete mechanism to return the global critical minerals market to a healthier, more competitive state, a preferential trade zone for critical minerals protected from external disruptions through enforcable price floors.

5:44 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 I'm stressed. But once Lean came into the picture, I was able to rein in my

6:27 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.

6:42 A second round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia began Wednesday in the United Arab Emirates. Negotiators from the US, Russia, and Ukraine spent about 5 and a half hours behind closed doors yesterday, but would not disclose what was discussed. The talks follow new attacks by Russia against Ukrainian power grid infrastructure, which have left at least six people dead. The sticking points, Russia does not want NATO troops in Ukraine as a security guarantee, and Ukraine refuses to surrender territory. Whether either side will budge remains to be seen. The feds are investigating Nike over claims of discrimination against white employees.

7:17 Here's Daily Wire reporter Zack Juel with the details. The Trump administration asked a federal court on Wednesday to compel Nike to produce information on its diversity, equity, and inclusion goals going back to 2018. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in a court filing that it is investigating allegations that Nike discriminated against white workers and job applicants to carry out its DEI objectives. Nike also faces accusations of quote desperate treatment against white employees in layoff decisions. Nike refused to comply with a subpoena asking for the information according to the commission which has now filed an enforcement action in a federal court. A Nike spokesman told the Daily Wire that the federal government's action quote feels like a surprising and unusual escalation. The spokesman went on to explain how Nike has shared thousands of pages of information and detailed

8:07 responses to the EEOC's inquiries. The commission's chair, Andrea Lucas, said in a press release, quote, "The EEOC will take all necessary steps, including subpoena enforcement actions to ensure the opportunity to fully and comprehensively investigate." The Department of Homeland Security says the New York Times denied a request to buy a full page ad highlighting notable ICE arrests in Minnesota and gave no reason for the refusal. The ad would have included 30 mug shots of suspects arrested in Operation Metro Surge, specifically those with additional criminal convictions ranging from domestic violence to rape and homicide.

8:43 The proposed ad declared, quote, "These are some of the 10,000 criminals ICE law enforcement has risked their lives to arrest in Minnesota. Sanctuary cities like Minneapolis protect criminals instead of handing them over." It continued with a tagline that read, "ICE saves innocent lives." A YouTuber proved Disney and Hollywood wrong this past weekend, winning the box office with his independent horror film. Daily Wire Entertainment reporter Amanda Harding explains.

9:08 YouTuber Mark Fishbach, known to his nearly $40 million subscribers as Markiplier, radarly $18 million with his independent film Iron Lung. The film was number one in America for most of the weekend, taken over on Sunday by Sam Ramy's Disney produced Send Help, which grossed $19 million, but also appeared in nearly 400 more theaters. Hollywood outlets omitted Iron Lung from many of its headlines, crowning Send Help the winner of the weekend and opting to then discuss Amazon Studios' Melania, which came in third overall. When asked about this by the Hollywood Reporter, Fishbox said, quote, "There's still a stigma against YouTube. One of the reasons why I really wanted this to work is to help move that mountain. Iron Long was produced written directed edited and starred Fishbach, working on a budget of just $3 million. The Federal Trade Commission has hired a lawyer fired by New York Attorney General Leticia James

10:01 after she spoke out publicly against transgender procedures for children. Daily Wire White House correspondent Mary Margaret Olahan was the first to report it. Glenn Goldis will work as a senior litigator in the Bureau of Consumer Protection. A person familiar with the matter told the Daily Wire she will spearhead investigations into any potential harms from so-called gender affirming care. Goldis, a self-described lefty lesbian lawyer, previously served as assistant attorney general for James, who has earned a reputation for herself as one of the most liberal and anti-Trump attorneys general in the United States. Goldis lost her position in James Consumer Fraud Bureau after she spoke out against dangers of so-called treatments like puberty blockers and cross- sex hormones for minors. In July, the Daily Wire first reported that Goldis had participated in an FTC roundt on trans procedures in her private

10:45 capacity. And since we just heard from Mary Margaret, now is a good time to note that the White House Correspondents Association just unveiled its new seating chart for the White House briefing room. And the Daily Wires, now one of a handful of news outlets granted a seat in the redesigned room. Mary Margaret became the Daily Wire's first ever White House correspondent just over a year ago, marking the beginning of the Daily Wire's Washington DC operations. There are very few seats in the briefing room, and reporters without set spots must arrive early and stand in the aisles, often for hours. But now, the Daily Wire has a seat of its own.

11:18 Those are your drive home updates this evening. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com. And in case you missed it earlier today, we covered some major stories, including major medical organizations turning against transitioning minors, the borders are drawing down federal agents in Minneapolis, and talks breaking down between Washington and Thrron. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of Morning Wire.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Evening Wire: Ukraine Talks Begin Again & YouTuber Challenges Disney"?

John Bickley (Host), Georgia How (Host), Lynden Blake (Guest), Jenny Tar (Guest), Andy Valdez (Guest), J.D. Vance (Guest), Zack Juel (Guest), Amanda Harding (Guest).

What is "Evening Wire: Ukraine Talks Begin Again & YouTuber Challenges Disney" about?

A second round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia is underway, as concerns grow over the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie amidst a ransom note crisis. Additionally, a YouTuber's new horror film has taken the top spot at the weekend box office, while federal authorities have arrested a Minneapolis activist linked to threats against ICE officers.

What is mentioned in this Morning Wire episode?

12 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Nancy Guthrie, Nike, Donald Trump, Kyle Wagner, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., J.D. Vance. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Evening Wire: Ukraine Talks Begin Again & YouTuber Challenges Disney"?

The episode runs 12 min; the transcript is about 2,061 words in 19 timestamped sections.

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