Europe is <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/europe-races-prepare-energy-crunch-this-winter-2022-09-19/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heading</a> toward an energy crisis, and some <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/top-economist-mohamed-el-erian-184654610.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economists</a> are even predicting the continent will experience a serious recession. 
“My best guess is we’ll have a recession in the United States but I’m much more confident that there’s going to be a recession and an element of stagflation in Europe that comes as a consequence of what is going to happen as a consequence of the staggering vulnerability that they created for themselves,” economist and former Obama adviser Larry Summers <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPsFCJjFFmI&amp;abj_channel=InstituteofPoliticsatHarvardKennedySchool" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. 
The situation is getting serious for many countries across the continent of Europe. Germany is trying to finalize liquefied natural gas contracts with Middle Eastern producers. Germany’s gas storages are currently around 90%, but its economy minister <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/germany-econ-minister-says-natural-gas-storage-nearly-at-90-but-will-be-empty-after-winter-report-11663597869?siteid=yhoof2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Monday that that will probably be “empty” after winter. 
France’s electric company is also <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/exclusive-edf-contractors-relax-radiation-exposure-limits-speed-up-reactor-2022-09-16/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">working</a> on fixing its nuclear reactors and the country’s energy regulator chief said that if there are setbacks in that process, then the country could be forced to take “exceptional” steps during the winter, including concentrated cuts to power — but she stressed that there will “never” be “gas cuts for households.”
The Spanish Industry Minister made a similar statement, saying that businesses which use a lot of power might be forced to shut down during peak periods this winter.
Finland’s grid operator also <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finns-should-be-prepared-power-outages-this-winter-grid-operator-warns-2022-09-19/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">predicted</a> outages this winter. Finland gets some power from Sweden, but now a major Swedish power company said it&#8217;s putting off resuming its nuclear reactor for two months.
Experts are now saying that Europe could import the most thermal coal this year than it has in at least four years.
Russia’s actions are a major factor. Russia previously supplied about 40% of the EU’s natural gas, but in response to Western sanctions Russia has <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/06/energy-crisis-why-has-russia-cut-off-gas-supplies-to-europe.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cut</a> off the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/german-gas-buyers-resume-nominations-russias-nord-stream-1-data-2022-09-19/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">majority</a> of what it was exporting.
Gas makes up <a href="https://www.acer.europa.eu/gas-factsheet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">around</a> 21% of the EU’s main use of energy, but importantly, it’s the way many households get their power, so this is an extremely precarious position for Europe to be in.
Economist and former Obama adviser Larry Summers recently discussed the situation. He <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPsFCJjFFmI&amp;ab_channel=InstituteofPoliticsatHarvardKennedySchool" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the U.S. is mainly self-sufficient, but “Europe, on the other hand, is completely dependent on imports of fossil fuels.”
“In a decision that in retrospect looks inexplicable Germany decided to make itself completely dependent on natural gas as the basis of its industry and the basis of heating most of its homes and then it decided to make itself completely dependent on Russia as a supplier of natural gas. Well, that was asking for trouble…” he added.

8370C456-2FAC-4D5E-A4FF-7C40BAD0EC6A_1_201_a

Energy Crisis Threatens European Countries Ahead Of Winter

Energy Crisis Threatens European Countries Ahead Of Winter After Russia Cuts Off Gas Supplies

Energy

Europe

Morning Wire

Thursday&#8217;s edition of The Daily Wire &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire/disney-s-gay-agenda-3-31-22">Morning Wire</a>&#8221; podcast reported that one of China’s largest cities, Shanghai, suddenly imposed a widespread lockdown this week in response to reports of rapidly rising COVID-19 cases.
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On Monday, half of Shanghai — the financial capital of China — went into lockdown in response to what authorities believe is a COVID-19 outbreak that is getting out of control, the podcast noted.
On Sunday, Shanghai announced a two-part lockdown of the city, and then reported a record 3,500 new COVID-19 cases, with cases reportedly doubling every few days.
The &#8220;Morning Wire&#8221; podcast also noted that these numbers are from the Chinese government, &#8220;meaning it is likely they are under-reporting the real numbers.&#8221;
On Monday, authorities were putting up barricades shutting off parts of the city, with public transport shut down in many areas. All the residents living east and south of a river that divides the city will be under lockdown until Friday morning. At that point, the lockdown could potentially end, and shift over to the other side of the river.
Some companies based in the city, such as Tesla, suspended manufacturing for a few days, while other factories have been allowed to continue in a closed-loop system.
On Thursday, Reuters <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-extends-shanghai-plant-suspension-081713611.html">reported</a> that Tesla would not be re-opening its Shanghai plant because of the lockdown and other government orders:
<blockquote>Tesla has cancelled plans to resume production at its Shanghai factory on Friday and Saturday, an internal notice seen by Reuters showed, further delaying reopening of the manufacturing hub for its Model 3 and Model Y cars.
The Shanghai factory, located in the Pudong district east of the city&#8217;s Huangpu River, suspended production from Monday to Thursday after the city launched a two-stage lockdown to combat a surge in COVID-19 cases.
The lockdown on districts east of the river is scheduled to lift in the early hours of April 1 and the U.S. automaker initially planned to resume production that day. However, the latest notice seen by Reuters said that it has cancelled production plans for April 1 and April 2.</blockquote>
The sudden change in policy has reportedly sparked panic among residents, with many rushing to markets to get basic necessities like food before the lockdown began.
The lockdown could have an international impact as well. As of now, many of the city’s major production centers and its port are still running, but even if they stay open, the international supply chain will likely feel the strain as the flow of goods from factories to the port is going to be affected as the lockdown hits truck drivers and storage facilities.
The &#8220;Morning Wire&#8221; podcast can be listened to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336">here</a>.
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Xi Jinping

Tesla’s Shanghai Plant Remains Closed As City’s COVID-19 Lockdown Continues

China

COVID

Tesla

The Centers for Disease and Control updated its COVID-19 death statistics last week, revealing that the agency had included an additional 72, 277 deaths that should not have been counted as COVID-19 deaths. 
The change impacted 26 states and all age groups. The CDC explained in a footnote that the overcount stemmed from a “coding logic error.” 
“The CDC also noted that some jurisdictions also include probable COVID cases in their death count and that back in August, the data on COVID deaths was changed after they identified a data discrepancy,” The Daily Wire’s Mairead Elordi explained on Morning Wire. “So they’re pretty cryptic on what exactly these errors were and why they happened, but the end result is that COVID deaths were apparently significantly overcounted.”
With a total of about 969,000 deaths from COVID-19, the extra deaths compose about 7.5% of that number. 416 extra pediatric COVID-19 deaths also represent a significant revision from the initial data. 
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“The huge change in the pediatric death count drops the estimate of COVID deaths in children down to 1,341 nationwide. Children were about 19 percent of all COVID cases but only about a quarter of a percent of those cases were fatal,” Elordi explained, pointing to data from the American Academy of Pediatrics. 
Massachusetts lowered its death count by 3,700 while New York ended up increasing its share of COVID-19 nursing home deaths. In fact, an investigation from New York’s attorney general found that deaths in that state’s nursing homes may have been undercounted by as much as 50%.
Last week, CDC director Rochelle Walensky sent out a letter that referenced the agency’s Data Modernization Initiative, which is supposed to make the data it puts out more reliable and accurate. 
The question of how to differentiate between many deaths were from COVID-19, and how many deaths were with COVID-19, still remains. 
“The current standards still don’t clearly differentiate between patients who died with COVID verse died from COVID, or the degree to which COVID contributed to any given death. It’s possible we will see another downward revision as that reporting gets more granular,” Elordi explained. 
This is not the first time that the CDC has faced criticism for its handling of the pandemic, and Special Counsel Henry J. Kerner in December <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/whistleblower-exposed-cdc-covid-19-vulnerabilities-special-counsel-says">substantiated</a> a whistleblower’s claims about the CDC’s mishandling in both New York City and Atlanta in February and March 2020, were “reasonable.” 
For example, the whistleblower alleged that public health workers were not properly trained when they assisted with the COVID-19 response at New York City&#8217;s JFK Airport in the early months of the COVID-19 outbreak. 
Wednesday’s episode of “Morning Wire,” and all episodes of “Morning Wire,” can be listened to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/sc/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336">here</a>.

Center For Disease Control Director Tom Frieden Addresses The Media On Ebola Case In U.S.

CDC Overreported COVID-19 Deaths By More Than 70,000

Last week, Daily Wire investigative reporter Mairead Elordi <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wisconsin-teachers-told-to-hide-students-gender-identity-from-parents">uncovered</a> a startling admission from a Wisconsin school district. She joined The Daily Wire’s “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire/russia-escalates-interest-rates-rise-3-21-22">Morning Wire</a>” podcast in an exclusive interview to discuss the school district’s push to hide students’ gender transitions from their parents.
The Eau Claire Area School District in western Wisconsin held a training session for their staff in February, and a slide from a presentation during that training told teachers that “parents are not entitled to know their kids’ identities.”
The slide was first obtained by conservative watchdog group Empower Wisconsin and then reviewed by Elordi for The Daily Wire.
Elordi revealed to “Morning Wire” hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe that the directive from Eau Claire Area School District also told teachers that knowledge of children’s gender identities “must be earned” by parents. She commented, “The training went on to say that teachers are often ‘straddling this complex situation’ and said that the district’s ‘priority is supporting the student.’”
Asked if the training session angered parents of children at Eau Claire schools, Elordi explained that parents, along with three new school board candidates, have voiced their frustration with the district.
“The school board candidates, who are attempting to unseat current members, actually released a joint statement accusing the district of a quote, ‘blatant disregard for parental rights and responsibilities,’” Elordi explained. “They also said this policy directly pressures teachers to break what they called the known social contract between schools and parents.”
She went on to report that the school board candidates believe the district is stirring up division between parents and teachers. “They also said it&#8217;s sending the message that schools are in control of children, rather than parents and families,” she said.
The Eau Claire Area School District is standing by their training, however. Asked how they can defend such a position, Elordi explained that “the Eau Claire District Superintendent Michael Johnson released a statement that primarily chalked it up to the need for equity and inclusion.” Johnson focused on LGBTQ students’ struggles with mental health and social isolation as reasons for keeping their gender transitions a secret from parents.
“Basically kids feel comfortable talking about gender identities with teachers, but less so with parents,” Elordi said, summing up the district&#8217;s argument.
School Board President Tim Nordin also backed the presentation’s statements, saying that “students might not feel safe to be their true self at home, so that’s why they should be able to turn to staff at school,” Elordi told “Morning Wire.”
Eau Claire’s stance on keeping children’s gender identities hidden from parents follows in the steps of state policies in Washington and North Carolina that prohibit school staff from informing parents about a child’s transition unless the child gives them permission.
These policies, coupled with schools across the country encouraging students to experiment with their gender identities, are meeting some severe backlash. Elordi explained that “parents in California, New York, Texas, and Florida have actually accused schools of encouraging children to explore new gender identities behind parents’ backs.”
Monday&#8217;s episode of &#8220;Morning Wire,&#8221; and all episodes of &#8220;Morning Wire,&#8221; can be listened to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/sc/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336">here</a>.

Transgender Flag

‘Blatant Disregard For Parental Rights’: A School District Is Telling Teachers To Hide Students’ Gender Transitions From Parents

Education

Wisconsin

On Monday&#8217;s edition of The Daily Wire&#8217;s podcast, &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire/russia-escalates-interest-rates-rise-3-21-22">Morning Wire</a>,&#8221; Ian Haworth joined hosts Georgia Howe and John Bickley to break down the latest news out of war-torn Ukraine.
As noted on the podcast, Ukraine has shown remarkable resiliency against the Russian army, which has caused Russian President Vladimir Putin to implement more &#8220;desperate measures&#8221; to try and break the Ukrainian people. These escalatory tactics have reportedly included forced deportations and increased targeting of civilians, including children. Neighboring Belarus is also reportedly joining Russia in the war.
&#8220;The ongoing failure of the Russian military to capture Ukraine in a short time is leading to a notable escalation in the sort of violent tactics being used, including indiscriminate artillery strikes on civilian positions,&#8221; Haworth explained.
&#8220;We’re also looking at an increase in terms of raw numbers of invading personnel,&#8221; Haworth continued.
&#8220;Ukrainian officials are also <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/ukraine-warns-belarus-planning-direct-invasion">warning that Belarus is readying its military for an invasion</a>,&#8221; he explained. &#8220;Belarus is an ally of Russia, and was used as one of the launching points for the Russian military when they invaded last month, and so it wouldn’t be a massive surprise if Belarusian forces got involved. Meanwhile, Russia has reportedly ordered cadets to be deployed. This would mean that cadets aged 17 and 18 would be pushed to the frontlines of the invasion.&#8221;
&#8220;And as expected, the number of casualties among Ukrainian citizens keeps rising,&#8221; he continued, noting that the actual death toll is likely far higher than what the United Nations human rights office reported — 902 Ukrainian civilians among the dead, including 115 children.
In the city of Mariupol, more than 2,000 civilians and non-civilians have reportedly been killed, Haworh remarked.
&#8220;Reports continue to flood in regarding the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mariupol-drama-theater-bombed-by-russian-invaders">brutality of the Russian onslaught</a>, with strike after strike hitting civilian areas of the now-destroyed city,&#8221; Haworth updated Bickley and Howe. &#8220;One report on Sunday came in that Russian forces destroyed an art school building, where as many as 400 people were apparently hiding.&#8221;
&#8220;Ukraine’s President Zelensky said that the atrocities committed in Mariupol amounted to &#8216;war crimes,&#8217; and that Russia’s &#8216;terror&#8217; will be &#8216;remembered for centuries to come,’” he added. &#8220;Mariupol’s city council is even <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/20/russia-bombed-mariupol-art-school-sheltering-400-people-says-ukraine">claiming that Russian troops are forcing thousands of residents to move from the city</a>, with some being sent to Russia.&#8221;
&#8220;Over the weekend, there was a lot of talk surrounding the use of a hypersonic missile. What can you tell us about that?&#8221; Bickley asked.
&#8220;Yeah, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/russia-uses-new-superweapon-in-combat-against-ukraine-for-first-time-in-history">on Saturday, a U.S. official confirmed</a> that Russia deployed several hypersonic missiles, saying they destroyed a fuel depot and an underground missile and ammunition storage site,&#8221; Haworth replied.
&#8220;According to Western analysts, this would be the first time hypersonic missiles have been used in combat,&#8221; he stated. &#8220;These weapons, known as &#8216;dagger&#8217; missiles, are designed to be launched from MiG fighter jets, and can fly up to 10 times the speed of sound.”
“But what makes them even more dangerous is that — like much slower missiles — they can change direction during flight, which makes it really hard to track them or intercept them,&#8221; Haworth noted.
Monday&#8217;s episode of &#8220;Morning Wire,&#8221; and all episodes of &#8220;Morning Wire,&#8221; can be listened to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/sc/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336">here</a>.

Ukraine

Russia Implements ‘Desperate Measures’; Belarus Possibly Prepares To Join The Fight

Russia

It’s Tuesday, March 8th, and this is your Morning Wire. Listen to the full podcast: 
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1) Ukraine Crisis Puts Pressure On Biden Administration 

The Topline: With war raging between Ukraine and Russia, pressure is building on the Biden administration to cut off Russian oil imports as civilians face continued threats trying to escape the fighting.
<a href="https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1500475000075214850">Quote Of The Day:</a> “We are now talking to our European partners and allies to look in a coordinated way at the prospect of banning the import of Russian oil, while making sure that there is still an appropriate supply of oil on world markets. That’s a very active discussion as we speak.”
– Secretary of State Antony Blinken
<div id="attachment_351438" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351438" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-351438" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Christopher-FurlongStaffGetty-Images2.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Christopher-FurlongStaffGetty-Images2.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Christopher-FurlongStaffGetty-Images2-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Christopher Furlong/Staff/Getty Images</div>
The Crisis
A third round of talks between Ukraine and Russia ended yesterday with no major developments, as the United Nations reported that over 400 civilians have been killed so far in Russia’s invasion. Of those killed, 27 are children. Over 800 have been injured, though experts have cautioned that the actual number is almost certainly higher. 
Russian forces are making significant gains in the north, south, and east of Ukraine, and targeting cities across the country with heavy rocket fire — with some reports saying they’re specifically targeting civilians in certain regions. Russian forces continue to ignore ceasefires or so-called humanitarian corridors.
Energy
International sanctions and companies pulling their services from Russia have to this point seemed to have no real effect on deterring Putin. Now, America and Europe’s dependence on Russian energy has become a central issue.
In response, the Biden administration is now considering a possible ban on oil imports from Russia, but no decision has been made yet. 
According to a U.S. official, if a ban of Russian energy does happen, it’s likely that the U.S. will do it alone. Germany is the biggest purchaser of Russian energy in Europe, and they’ve rejected a ban on Russian oil.
Don’t Forget China: On Monday, the Chinese Foreign Minister called Moscow the “most important strategic partner.” He also said the Communist Party remains focused on promoting the “development of a comprehensive China-Russia partnership in this new era.” 
<div id="attachment_351439" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351439" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-351439" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Jim-WATSON-JIM-WATSONContributorAFP-via-Getty-Images.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="399" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Jim-WATSON-JIM-WATSONContributorAFP-via-Getty-Images.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Jim-WATSON-JIM-WATSONContributorAFP-via-Getty-Images-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Jim WATSON / JIM WATSON/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images</div>
2) “People’s Convoy” Gathers Near D.C. 

The Topline: A convoy of truckers calling themselves the “People’s Convoy” has gathered in Hagerstown, Maryland, this week to protest COVID restrictions and vaccine mandates. While the Canadian truckers blocked the streets of Ottawa for weeks, this convoy is slowly circling D.C.
Quote Of The Day: “I am fearful, [myself] and the organizers are fearful of them trying to do to us what they did to those involved in January 6th. It is our belief that they will try to do that….we are not and will not go into D.C. proper.”
–  Brian Brase, leader of the convoy
The Convoy
The Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland is the launching point of the convoy, where more than 100 large trucks and hundreds of smaller vehicles joined together.
The truckers told The Daily Wire they were “here for freedom.” They are protesting COVID restrictions across the country and want President Joe Biden to end the emergency order, initially issued under President Donald Trump, which includes all remaining COVID-related vaccine mandates. 
The U.S. convoy mirrors the Canadian trucker convoy that ended a few weeks ago and began as a response to the government mandate that Canadian truckers crossing the border must be fully vaccinated. 
A few hundred members of the national guard were deployed to D.C. in late February to help control traffic related to concerns about the trucker convoy.
Right now, the convoy isn’t planning to enter the city, or construct any type of deliberate blockades. The leader of the convoy, Brian Brase, admitted there is a faction of this group who wants to go into D.C., but as of right now, he’s against that. He brought up “concerns about people trying to come in here who didn’t belong,” warning that anyone who intends to “cause harm, violence and disruption” is not welcome.
The organizer said that several prominent U.S. senators and lawmakers plan to speak with the convoy this week. He also hinted that a nearby governor might speak with them as well.
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3) The Optics War In Ukraine 

The Topline: Russian President Vladimir Putin has found that conquering Ukraine is tougher than he anticipated, and he now appears to be losing the optics war in the West when compared with former actor and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
President Zelensky
President Zelensky first won a Ukrainian sketch comedy competition show when he was 17, initiating his career as a comedian. From there, he won the Ukrainian version of Dancing with the Stars before starring in a number of films, largely Russian language romantic comedies. He was even the voice of Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian-dubbed version of the 2014 film.
In 2015, he began starring in a sitcom, “Servant of the People,” playing the president of Ukraine.
He has said that experience was part of what inspired him to run for office and he was still playing that role as he was campaigning to be president.
The television production company behind the show formed a political party with the same name as the party on the show, and Zelensky won the presidency running with that new party platform. 
Within a month of the show&#8217;s finale, Zelensky was elected president.
Memorable Moments
In one viral moment that galvanized supporters of Ukraine, Zelensky posted a video selfie to Telegram, a messaging app popular in Russia, announcing he wasn’t leaving Kyiv as Russian troops were reportedly heading directly toward the city. When the American military offered to airlift him out of Kyiv, he reportedly said he didn’t need a ride, he needed ammunition.
In his most recent video on March 3rd, he said, &#8220;We have nothing to lose but our own freedom.&#8221;  
It was reported that last week, as the E.U. gathered to debate imposing sanctions on Russia, the German delegate was balking at employing the harshest measures, but that changed when Zelensky was teleconferenced in. He gave an especially passionate five-minute speech, pleading for the E.U.’s help and ended by saying it may be the last time those leaders saw him alive. By the time he was done, the mood had reportedly entirely shifted to his side.
<div id="attachment_351443" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-351443" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-351443" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Photo-Illustration-by-Jakub-PorzyckiNurPhoto-via-Getty-Images-.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Photo-Illustration-by-Jakub-PorzyckiNurPhoto-via-Getty-Images-.jpeg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Photo-Illustration-by-Jakub-PorzyckiNurPhoto-via-Getty-Images--300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Photo Illustration by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images</div>
Other Stories We&#8217;re Tracking
Netflix, TikTok
Netflix and TikTok have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/netflix-tiktok-suspend-operations-in-russia">suspended</a> their services in Russia. A spokesperson for Netflix announced the move Sunday, citing the “circumstances on the ground” in the region. TikTok pointed to the new “fake news” law in Russia, and said they have “no choice” but to suspend livestreaming and new content to their video service in the country. 
Biden Polls
President Biden continues to be under water in the polls. According to Real Clear Politics’ average of national polls, the president’s approval sits at 42, while his disapproval is currently 54, a 12-point gap. On his handling of the economy and foreign policy, the gaps are larger: 20 and 19 points, respectively. 64% of Americans believe the country is moving in the wrong direction. 
COVID 
The global death toll from the virus has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/global-death-toll-from-covid-19-hits-6-million-even-as-omicron-wanes">surpassed</a> 6 million people, according to data gathered by the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering. According to the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-pandemic-h1n1.html">CDC</a>, the 1918 influenza pandemic is estimated to have killed at least 50 million people around the world.
Masks
Washington State will lift its statewide indoor mask mandate starting March 12th, but students in Seattle public schools may be required to wear masks through May 1st. A Seattle teachers union is pushing the district to maintain masks until at least 2 weeks after students return from spring break, claiming the masks give students a &#8220;sense of safety and normalcy.&#8221;
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MWP-220308 FULL

Ukraine Crisis Puts Pressure On Biden Administration

Readers Pass

It’s Monday, March 7th, and this is your Morning Wire. Listen to the full podcast: 
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1) Russian Violence Escalates In Ukraine 

The Topline: The Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, and reports indicate that Russian forces are ramping up their attacks, even targeting civilians.
<a href="https://twitter.com/CalebHowe/status/1500508898452779008">Quote Of The Day:</a> “&#8230;A no-fly zone, if people understood what it means, it means World War III. It means starting World War III.”
– Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)
<div id="attachment_350986" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-350986" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-350986" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Anastasia-VlasovaStringerGetty-Images.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Anastasia-VlasovaStringerGetty-Images.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Anastasia-VlasovaStringerGetty-Images-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Anastasia Vlasova/Stringer/Getty Images</div>
Escalation
Last Thursday, leaders from Ukraine and Russia announced they had agreed to a temporary cease-fire to support “humanitarian corridors” to allow food and medicine to be brought in, and for civilians to get out.
But it appears that Russian forces have ignored this agreement. More territory has been taken by Russia in recent days and multiple Ukrainian cities are now surrounded. As civilians try to escape, ruthless shelling of these cities has continued, with numerous reports that civilians are being targeted.
The mayor of one surrounded city – Mariupol – said thousands of residents had gathered on Saturday to escape the city under the supposed safety corridor, but Russian shelling began regardless.
In Mariupol, the Ukrainian National Guard said Russian forces encircled the port and continued to shell the area on Sunday as Russian media blamed Ukrainian forces for supposedly failing to uphold the ceasefire.
The continued and increasing levels of violence are only fueling the scale of humanitarian disaster. In addition to those suffering on the ground, either due to lack of supplies, injuries, or death, a massive number of refugees are trying to escape under horrendous conditions. The U.N. estimates that 1.5 million have now fled, with almost 1 million refugees flooding into Poland alone.
No-Fly Zone Debate
On Sunday, Russia attacked Vinnytsia, a civilian town, destroying its airport with eight cruise missiles. The continued threat from the air is making the debate over the issue of a no-fly zone over Ukraine more central.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked for a no-fly zone, which would mean NATO forces would actively prevent Russian planes from entering Ukrainian airspace – with the use of force if necessary. 
Putin has said he would consider this an act of war and the concern among many is that a western-enforced no-fly zone would escalate the conflict beyond Ukraine into what could become a world war.
NATO’s Secretary General said NATO planes would not operate over Ukrainian airspace, and the United States’ U.N. ambassador reiterated President Biden’s position on American military intervention, <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1500477777295855618">saying</a>, “President Biden has been very, very clear that American troops will not be put on the ground or in the air…”
<div id="attachment_350980" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-350980" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-350980" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Frederic-J.-BROWN-AFPFREDERIC-J.-BROWNContributor-via-Getty-Images.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="357" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Frederic-J.-BROWN-AFPFREDERIC-J.-BROWNContributor-via-Getty-Images.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Frederic-J.-BROWN-AFPFREDERIC-J.-BROWNContributor-via-Getty-Images-300x179.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Frederic J. BROWN / AFP/FREDERIC J. BROWN/Contributor via Getty Images</div>
2) Gas Prices Hit Record High 

The Topline: This week, for the first time since 2008, the price of gasoline hit $4.00 a gallon, marking a drastic increase of 43 cents in one month. 
The Prices
Nationwide, the average price of gas is now slightly over $4.00 per gallon, which is the highest on record since 2008, when prices jumped to $4.11. The data show that every region is seeing a major spike. West Coast states are at $4.31, midwest states are at $3.47 a gallon, and even in the Gulf Coast, where prices are typically the lowest due to their proximity to oil reserves, prices are also at $3.31. 
Remember: A gallon of gas at the end of 2020 was $2.12. The average household goes through around 90 gallons of gasoline a month, meaning people could be paying roughly $1,300 more for gas this year than last year.
Potential Causes
President Joe Biden and his administration are positioning the rising gas prices as the cost of holding Russia accountable. Prices have gone up 47 cents since the war started 12 days ago. Even though America only relies on Russia for around 8% of oil imports, Europe and Asia are very reliant on them. Now that more countries are unwilling or unable to purchase Russian oil, the global price is soaring, which impacts the price for everyone. 
However, gas prices were already going up rapidly well before the conflict due to record inflation, supply chain backups, and a shift away from domestic energy production after President Donald Trump left office. America imported more Russian oil in 2021 than at any point in over a decade. 
Some commodity experts project prices to be at $4.25 a gallon by Memorial Day, while Tom Kloza from the Oil Price Information Service said he expects the price to top out around $4.50 a gallon in the coming months.
Russia
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say it’s outrageous to import Russian oil and essentially financially aid Putin during the war, and the Biden administration is feeling pressure to take action. Right now, however, they’re not taking any concrete steps to ban Russian oil. 
Cecilia Rouse, the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors was asked about that last week and said, “We don’t import a lot of Russian oil, but we are looking at options that we can take right now if we were to cut the U.S. consumption of Russian energy.”
<div id="attachment_350982" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-350982" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-350982" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Westend61-via-Getty-Images.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Westend61-via-Getty-Images.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Westend61-via-Getty-Images-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Westend61 via Getty Images</div>
3) Hollywood Withdraws From Russia
The Topline: Along with formal sanctions, American companies like McDonalds, Dell Computers, and Apple have <a href="https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/business-a-lobbying/596200-multinational-us-companies-flee-russia-amid-invasion">suspended sales</a> in the country and now, Hollywood is joining the backlash.
Studios
Last Monday, Disney said it was pulling its new Pixar animated movie – “Turning Red” – from the Russian market because of the war with Ukraine.
In a statement, the company said that “given the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the tragic humanitarian crisis, we are pausing the release of theatrical films in Russia.”
The next day, Warner Bros. announced it, too, is pausing releases in Russia, meaning Russian audiences aren’t going to get the new Batman movie.
After that, other major studios put out their own announcements, including Paramount, Universal, Sony.
The Motion Picture Association also put out a statement supporting Ukraine and condemning Russia.
China
Some are criticizing the studios for hypocrisy regarding China.
The country has notoriously committed genocide and forced sterilization of its Uyghur population, but that didn’t stop Disney from filming in the area where the most egregious human rights abuses were happening — and publicly thanking local authorities. They’ve also famously altered some content to avoid offending CCP censors.
Remember: Russia accounted for 2.8% of global ticket sales last year, but China represents 34% of the global box office. 
Studio defenders, however, claim that open war is different from human rights violations.
Defenders also point out that while studios may not be applying this policy uniformly to bad actors, it’s better for them to take a stand here than stay silent.
And…With the SWIFT banking system down, it’s not clear that studios would have been able to get their box office earnings out of Russia anyway – at least not soon. 
<div id="attachment_350985" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-350985" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-350985" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Sergei-GuneyevTASS-via-Getty-Images-.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Sergei-GuneyevTASS-via-Getty-Images-.jpeg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Sergei-GuneyevTASS-via-Getty-Images--300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Sergei GuneyevTASS via Getty Images</div>
Other Stories We&#8217;re Tracking
News
Several news networks have stopped broadcasting from Russia. Among the networks are ABC, CBS, CNN, Bloomberg, BBC and CBC. The move comes after Russia’s parliament passed a “fake news” law threatening to arrest journalists whose reports don’t align with Russian propaganda. Journalists could face up to 15 years in prison.
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MWP-220307 FULL

Russian Violence Escalates In Ukraine

It’s Saturday, March 5th, and this is your Morning Wire. Listen to the full podcast:<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-top-left-radius: 10px; border-top-right-radius: 10px; border-bottom-right-radius: 10px; border-bottom-left-radius: 10px; background-color: transparent;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/texas-battles-gender-transition-in-minors-3-5-22/id1576594336?i=1000552999345&amp;itsct=podcast_box_player&amp;itscg=30200&amp;ls=1&amp;theme=auto" height="175px" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
1) Texas Gov Calls For Investigations Into Transgender Procedures On Minors 

The Topline: Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) made headlines last week when he called on members of the public to report parents suspected of giving gender transition treatments to their children.
<div id="attachment_350595" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-350595" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-350595" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Brandon-BellGetty-Images-.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Brandon-BellGetty-Images-.jpeg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Brandon-BellGetty-Images--300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Brandon Bell/Getty Images</div>
The Directive
Governor Greg Abbott issued a directive last week as part of a letter he sent on Tuesday to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. He told the agency to “conduct a prompt and thorough investigation” of any instances involving minors receiving “elective procedures for gender transitioning.” Abbott wrote that such treatments should be classified as “child abuse.” 
The governor also wrote that licensed professionals who work with children — people like teachers, nurses, and doctors — as well as “members of the general public” should report parents to state authorities if they believe they’re putting their child through gender transition treatments.
Abbott wants parents who are putting their child through gender transition treatment to be subject to child abuse charges. The governor also wrote that anyone who fails to report this type of behavior is subject to criminal penalties, as well. 
Response
Within the state legislature, there are signs that lawmakers could support the measure, or others like it, in the future, but the governor also received harsh criticism from LGBT activists who argue that medical transition is necessary healthcare for children who experience gender dysphoria. This week, the ACLU filed a suit against the state in an attempt to block the new policy on behalf of one 16 year-old.
On Wednesday, a Texas judge sided with that 16 year-old’s family, blocking them from investigation. The judge did not go as far as to stop the state from investigating other reports of children receiving gender transition treatments. However, she did set a March 11th hearing to decide whether to temporarily block Abbott’s order.
In February, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), issued an opinion saying that existing state law already makes it child abuse to have minors put on puberty blockers or hormone therapy, or receive gender transition surgery. However, some county and district attorneys don’t interpret the law that way, and they’re already saying they won’t enforce Abbot’s order. 
Last year, the Texas legislature attempted to pass a bill that would have made it a felony to provide those kinds of transgender treatments to minors, but the bill failed. That bill would have put these treatments in the same category as physical and sexual abuse of children. 
That said, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services investigated the issue in 2021 and concluded that gender reassignment surgery is child abuse because it inflicts “irreversible harm” on children, who “lack the legal capacity to consent to surgical treatments.” So the issue is far from settled in Texas. 
Elsewhere: In Arkansas, it’s illegal for doctors to prescribe hormones or perform gender reassignment surgery on minors. Last year, over a dozen states considered similar bills but the majority didn’t pass. 
<div id="attachment_350596" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-350596" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-350596" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/mari-matsuri-MARI-MATSURIContributorAFP-via-Getty-Images.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="401" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/mari-matsuri-MARI-MATSURIContributorAFP-via-Getty-Images.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/mari-matsuri-MARI-MATSURIContributorAFP-via-Getty-Images-300x201.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />mari matsuri / MARI MATSURI/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images</div>
2) SCOTUS To Hear Religious Freedom Case 

The Topline: The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case relating to free speech in art, which involves a Denver-based web designer who has challenged a state law that forbids her from stating on her website that she only creates wedding pages for traditional weddings due to her religious convictions.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t-1vh5hM2k&amp;ab_channel=TheFirst">Quote Of The Day:</a> “And while I’m happy to work with all people, there are certain messages I am unable to promote through my business which is why I am challenging this law.”
– Lorie Smith, August 2021
Background
The Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act is at issue again, this time concerning a web designer rather than a baker. In the 2018 baker case, Jack Phillips told a same-sex couple that he wouldn’t make a wedding cake for them because his religious convictions don’t allow him to support same sex marriage. However, he did say he would sell them other goods instead. 
Colorado <a href="https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-24-government-state/co-rev-st-sect-24-34-601.html">law</a> holds that businesses can’t discriminate against any customer based on a variety of factors, including sexual orientation. They also can’t announce their intention to do so.
I’m 2018, the Supreme Court ultimately <a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/2017/16-111">ruled</a> on the side of the baker, essentially agreeing that Phillips received hostile treatment from the Colorado Civil Rights Commission because of his religious views, and that the commission had violated the Free Exercise Clause. However, the high court did not rule on freedom of speech in that case. That’s the issue they’re taking up now with this case. 
The specific <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/qp/21-00476qp.pdf">question</a> the Justices will weigh in on is “whether applying a public-accommodation law to compel an artist to speak or stay silent violates the free speech clause of the First Amendment.”
The Case
Lorie Smith owns a web company called 303 Creative and says she is willing to serve all customers regardless of their sexual orientation. However, the company is planning to restrict wedding-related work to exclusively heterosexual marriages. 
According to the <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/21/21-476/193619/20210924115918275_USSC%20Petition%20for%20Writ%20of%20Certiorari.pdf">petition</a> to the Supreme Court, her proposed statement reads, “These same religious convictions that motivate me also prevent me from creating websites promoting and celebrating ideas or messages that violate my beliefs. So I will not be able to create websites for same-sex marriages or any other marriage that is not between one man and one woman. Doing that would compromise my Christian witness and tell a story about marriage that contradicts God’s true story of marriage – the very story He is calling me to promote.”
Smith hasn&#8217;t put that message up yet, and 303 Creative hasn&#8217;t even started offering wedding websites yet, because Smith knows it would be breaking the law. Instead, she is preemptively challenging the law.  
The high court will likely hear the case next term, which starts in October. 
<div id="attachment_350597" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-350597" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-350597" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Marcos-del-MazoContributorLightRocket-via-Getty-Images.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Marcos-del-MazoContributorLightRocket-via-Getty-Images.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Marcos-del-MazoContributorLightRocket-via-Getty-Images-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Marcos del Mazo/Contributor/LightRocket via Getty Images</div>
3) The Role Of Social Media In Ukraine 

The Topline: With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, millions worldwide have turned to social media platforms, where images of the conflict have flooded in and offered unprecedented access to outside viewers. 
Social Media
In the past, the only real way to find out what was happening in a war zone was to rely on on-the-ground reporters, who are limited in what they can document, or military officials themselves, who are notorious for releasing misinformation in an attempt to control the narrative for their own benefit. 
Now, anyone with a smartphone can become an on-the-ground reporter and because of that, people around the world are being made aware of bombings and troop movements as they’re happening. This makes it harder to keep large military operations a secret, which has benefited Ukraine, and it also makes it almost impossible to cover up war crimes and other human rights abuses. 
From the start, Putin’s message to his people has been that Ukraine is a “neo-nazi” regime full of an oppressed people longing to be united with Russia. Due to social media, ordinary Russians have been able to see what’s going on in Ukraine, and hear directly from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and actual victims of the invasion, which has allowed people to see how untrue Putin’s message has been, creating an environment in Russia where there’s a surprising level of pushback among the people.
Negative Impact
There have been multiple examples of false reports getting millions of views and shares before they’re corrected. For example, countless outlets reported on a group of 13 soldiers who’d told a Russian warship to “Go F— themselves” before fighting to the death. The story was massive on social media, but according to Ukraine’s Navy, it was untrue. The soldiers might have sent that message, but ended up surrendering and are all “alive and well.” 
There were also reports of a Ukrainian pilot known as the “ghost of Kyiv” who’d supposedly shot down half a dozen Russian jets in one day. Supposed footage of the incident garnered millions of views, but one of the main clips actually came from a video game, and the existence of the pilot is now up in the air as no military officials have confirmed the story. 
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MWP-220305 FULL

Texas Gov Calls For Investigations Into Transgender Procedures On Minors

It’s Friday, March 4th, and this is your Morning Wire. Listen to the full podcast: 
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-top-left-radius: 10px; border-top-right-radius: 10px; border-bottom-right-radius: 10px; border-bottom-left-radius: 10px; background-color: transparent;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/funding-war-with-russian-oil-3-4-22/id1576594336?i=1000552909690&amp;itsct=podcast_box_player&amp;itscg=30200&amp;ls=1&amp;theme=auto" height="175px" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
1) The Russian Oil Industry 

The Topline: The military invasion of Ukraine has thrown a spotlight on the role fossil fuel exports play in Russia’s economy. Now, a bipartisan group of legislators says this proves the U.S. has to make energy independence a priority. 
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQJQJvbaKI">Quote Of The Day:</a> “Between the United States, the U.K., and the European Union, every single day, we are sending $700 million a day to Putin by buying his oil. …President Biden needs to stop financing Putin’s war with Russian oil, because he shut off the spigots of American energy.”
– Congressman Steve Scalise (R-LA) 
<div id="attachment_350190" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-350190" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-350190" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Denis-KozhevnikovContributorTASS-via-Getty-Images.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="384" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Denis-KozhevnikovContributorTASS-via-Getty-Images.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Denis-KozhevnikovContributorTASS-via-Getty-Images-300x192.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Denis Kozhevnikov/Contributor/TASS via Getty Images</div>
Russian Oil
Like most of the world, Russia’s economy runs on fossil fuels. Russia produces 11% of all the oil in the world. Last year, oil and petroleum exports accounted for <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/russias-oil-gas-revenue-windfall-2022-01-21/">more than one-third</a> of the country’s budget. 
The amount of oil the U.S. imported from Russia has reached a <a href="https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&amp;s=MTTIM_NUS-NRS_1&amp;f=M">record-high</a> under President Joe Bide . Today, Russia supplies around 7% of all of America’s energy imports and is America’s <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenroberts/2022/02/24/russia-is-united-states-top-source-of-imported-gasoline/">number-one supplier</a> of imported gasoline.
Republicans are calling on the Biden administration to move toward energy independence. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin (WV) has also separately called on the president to increase U.S. energy production. In 2020, under President Trump, the U.S. gained energy independence for the first time in <a href="https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/oil-and-petroleum-products/imports-and-exports.php">more than 70 years</a>.
Biden
President Biden’s taken several steps that could reduce U.S. energy production long term. In his first week in office, he <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/">signed</a> an executive order to “pause new oil and natural gas leases on public lands or in offshore waters.” A federal judge in Louisiana <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/federal-judge-delivers-significant-setback-for-biden-in-ruling-on-new-oil-and-gas-drilling-leases-reports">overturned</a> that order last June, but Biden once again <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-halts-oil-gas-leases-as-oil-prices-skyrocket-at-home">halted</a> all federal energy leases last month. 
The administration also canceled the Keystone XL pipeline, and Biden ordered federal regulators to invent a new measure he called the “social cost of carbon,” which would factor in the harms that the environmentalist movement claims are created by fossil fuels. 
This all caused U.S. gas and heating prices to rise, even before the current war. The price of a barrel of oil reached a near-record level this week of <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/01/us-oil-jumps-to-7-year-high-above-101-a-barrel-as-russian-assault-prompts-supply-shortage-fears.html">more than $106</a> a barrel, which is a <a href="https://ycharts.com/indicators/average_crude_oil_spot_price">60% increase</a> in one year. 
The Russian energy industry gives Putin tremendous leverage over U.S. allies. Even without the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Germany already imports <a href="https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/germany-to-create-strategic-coal-and-gas-reserves/">55%</a> of its natural gas from Russia. 
Remember: The U.S. government estimates that the global energy use will increase 50% by 2050.
 Last month, 10 senators <a href="https://www.reed.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_to_department_of_energy_on_lng_2-2-22.pdf">wrote a letter</a> to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm stating, “we urge you to take swift action to limit U.S. natural gas exports.”  
<div id="attachment_350192" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-350192" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-350192" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Dan-KitwoodStaffGetty-Images.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Dan-KitwoodStaffGetty-Images.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Dan-KitwoodStaffGetty-Images-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Dan Kitwood/Staff/Getty Images</div>
2) Ukrainians Flee Violence 

The Topline: The Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, as new reports stream in of Russian gains in southern port cities and threats of violence by Russian forces once cities are captured.
Quote Of The Day: “&#8230;what they&#8217;re desperate for right now is anti-tank missiles. So something that can cut the supply line. Something that can sort of destroy this ring that is being formed around the capital right now.”
– Hollie McKay, a journalist on the ground in Ukraine and author of “<a href="https://www.diangelopublications.com/books/only-cry-for-the-living">Only Cry For The Living</a>”
Updates
Russian forces have entered Kherson, a port city in the south of Ukraine along the Black Sea. As many as 300 people have been killed there, according to the city’s mayor. Some reports appear to suggest they’ve captured the city, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is saying Ukrainians are still fighting. If Russia holds this position, it would be a major strategic win for them, with Russian forces laying siege on other seaports while also bombarding Kyiv and Kharkiv.
When it comes to Kyiv, it appears as if the vast majority of violence is still limited to missile attacks. 
Hollie McKay, a journalist on the ground in Ukraine, said the massive convoy just north of the capital city of Kyiv is still at a standstill.
As the conflict continues to rage, the number of Ukrainians fleeing the country continues to rise. The United Nations is now saying that one million refugees have fled Ukraine, with evacuations being slowed down or even stopped by the Russian army blocking or damaging railway lines, trains, and bridges.
There are also reports that Russia’s Federal Security Service has drafted plans to carry out public executions in captured Ukrainian cities. 
The mass exodus isn’t limited to Ukraine. Two independent news outlets in Russia have been shut down for refusing to fall in line with the Kremlin. They’ve been accused by the Russian government of pushing false information. In response, some Russian journalists are reportedly trying to escape the country.
Peace Talks
The second meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegates took place on Thursday night. 
It was reported that talks ended without any deal being reached, but an advisor to Zelensky who took part in the talks said that a tentative agreement was reached to organize safe corridors for civilian evacuation, as well as the delivery of humanitarian supplies. Under this agreement, cease-fires would be observed where corridors are created.
And… Zelensky is calling for a face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin. “Sit down with me to negotiate, just not at 30 meters,&#8221; he said. “I don’t bite. What are you afraid of? Any words are more important than shots.”
<div id="attachment_350193" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-350193" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-350193" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Daisy-Daisy-via-Getty-Images.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Daisy-Daisy-via-Getty-Images.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Daisy-Daisy-via-Getty-Images-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Daisy-Daisy via Getty Images</div>
3) White House Reveals New COVID Strategy 

The Topline: In his State of the Union address, President Biden announced a new COVID strategy, which he says will help bring about a “new normal” for the United States.
The Plan
Biden said he would start a “test to treat” initiative, which would provide antiviral medications to those who test positive. 
The president completely rejected the idea of “living with the virus.” He compared it to living with AIDS or cancer. Critics were quick to observe that Americans don’t shut the country down for those diseases.
Another item in the plan includes more funding for schools and businesses. The initiative would provide guidance, tests, and supplies to help them stay open and improve ventilation and air filtration. This is in addition to the tens of billions of dollars already given to schools during the pandemic – much of which has yet to be spent.
The United States will be funding vaccination efforts for poor countries, as well as the infrastructure to deliver those vaccines. The plan also promises emergency healthcare to address COVID surges overseas. Biden committed to donating 1.2 billion doses to other countries  “for free, with zero strings attached.”
The Biden administration wants to work with drug manufacturers to produce a billion more doses of the vaccine, and work on a universal vaccine to protect against all variants. The administration also partnered with Pfizer to produce more than a million antiviral pills this month for people who test positive. This would also be paired with a PR campaign to inform people that the pills are available for free in pharmacies as soon as they test positive.
The Numbers: After a spike over the holidays, the numbers are about where they were a year ago. The average for deaths in the same time period is higher than it was at this point last year, while the seven-day average for hospitalizations is around where it was at the start of the pandemic. 
<div id="attachment_350198" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-350198" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-350198" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Michele-CroweCBS-via-Getty-Images-.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Michele-CroweCBS-via-Getty-Images-.jpeg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Michele-CroweCBS-via-Getty-Images--300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Michele Crowe/CBS via Getty Images</div>
Other Stories We&#8217;re Tracking
Melinda French Gates
Melinda French Gates sat down with CBS This Morning to explain details of her divorce from Bill Gates. Gates <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2022/03/03/melinda-french-gates-jeffrey-epstein-evil-divorce-bill-gates/">said</a> directly that Bill’s ongoing friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was one of many factors that played a role in their divorce, and that she was vocal about her disapproval of Epstein. 
Special Message: Morning Wire will release a special episode this Sunday that looks into alleged financial violations of the Black Lives Matter organization.  
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MWP-220304 FULL

The Russian Oil Industry

It’s Wednesday, March 2nd, and this is your Morning Wire. Listen to the full podcast: 
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1) Biden Gives First State Of The Union 

The Topline: Thirteen months after taking office, President Joe Biden addressed the nation on Tuesday night in his first State of the Union Address. He offered new plans of action against Russia, and called for action on inflation, abortion, immigration and more.  
<div id="attachment_349241" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-349241" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-349241" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Saul-Loeb-PoolPoolGetty-Images.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Saul-Loeb-PoolPoolGetty-Images.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Saul-Loeb-PoolPoolGetty-Images-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Saul Loeb &#8211; Pool/Pool/Getty Images</div>
Ukraine
President Biden started the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/03/01/remarks-of-president-joe-biden-state-of-the-union-address-as-delivered/">speech</a> by praising the Ukrainian people for their “courage and determination that inspires the world.” He then asked members to stand as a show of their support for the Ukrainians, as well as the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. who was sitting with the First Lady. 
He drew rousing applause from both sides after addressing Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he was more isolated from the world than he’d ever been. 
Much of what the President said on Ukraine was encouragement rather than concrete proposals, but there were some specifics on Russian oligarchs and U.S. airspace.
“We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments, your private jets. We are coming for your ill-begotten gains. And tonight I am announcing that we will join our allies in closing off American air space to all Russian flights – further isolating Russia – and adding an additional squeeze –on their economy,” Biden said.
He also announced that he’d worked with 30 other countries to release 60 million barrels of oil to lessen energy dependence on Russia, which drew strong applause from Democrats, though the U.S. goes through 20 million barrels a day.
Key Domestic Points
The President addressed the economy, which has quickly become the most important issue for many voters as inflation has hit record levels. He said the best way to help fight inflation was by investing in American manufacturing, making homes and cars more energy efficient, and reducing childcare costs.
One social issue that received a lot of attention was a comment he made about transgenderism in response to laws on parental consent in schools in several Republican states. 
“The onslaught of state laws targeting transgender Americans and their families is wrong. As I said last year, especially to our younger transgender Americans, I will always have your back as your President, so you can be yourself and reach your God-given potential,” he said.
He also addressed defunding the police, stating, “We should all agree: The answer is not to Defund the police. The answer is to fund the police with the resources and training they need to protect our communities.” 
Responses
This year was unique in that there were a slew of responses to the address, not just one from the opposing party. 
The traditional GOP response was given by Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa. She responded by criticizing Biden on inflation, saying his speech offered little in terms of solutions to the record rates. She also addressed the immigration crisis and the president’s COVID response. 
There were also responses given by Representative Colin Allred (D-TX) of the Congressional Black Caucus, Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) gave an “America First” response, and Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) delivered the “Progressive” response. 
The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro delivered his own address in response. He refuted the President’s claim that the State of our Union is strong, instead calling it pathetic, and went on to address the President’s response to Afghanistan, inflation, immigration, COVID, and more. 
<div id="attachment_349132" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-349132" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-349132" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Sergey-BOBOK-SERGEY-BOBOKContributorAFP-via-Getty-Images.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Sergey-BOBOK-SERGEY-BOBOKContributorAFP-via-Getty-Images.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/Sergey-BOBOK-SERGEY-BOBOKContributorAFP-via-Getty-Images-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Sergey BOBOK/ SERGEY BOBOK/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images</div>
2) The Latest From Ukraine 

The Topline: After more than six days of fighting and heavy resistance, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been far less successful than Russian President Vladimir Putin initially predicted, leading to concerns that the violence could escalate in response.
<a href="https://fb.watch/bu7pqNjfuQ/">Quote Of The Day:</a> &#8220;Mama, I&#8217;m in Ukraine. There is a real war raging here. I&#8217;m afraid. We are bombing all of the cities&#8230;even targeting civilians.&#8221;
– Russian soldier to his mother moments before he was killed
Shift In Strategy
The main news out of Ukraine is that there’s been a noticeable shift in the military strategy being employed by the Russians. 
A massive 40-mile long convoy of Russian vehicles and equipment is currently bearing down on Kyiv, as Russia is ramping up the aggression of their air-based attacks, with multiple missile strikes being reported across the country. Five people were killed in one strike in Kyiv, with footage showing massive levels of damage, while another attack targeted Freedom Square in Kharkiv, which is home to the regional government’s headquarters. At least 10 people died in this attack, with at least 20 more injured, based on initial reports.
According to Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, the attacks on Ukraine are getting more extreme. For example, Russia has been accused of using “vacuum bombs” during their invasion.
“Vacuum bombs” are also known as thermo-baric bombs, which create a pressure wave and subsequent vacuum which ruptures the victim’s lungs.These sorts of explosives are banned by the Geneva Convention.
Multiple human rights groups have also accused Russian forces of using cluster munitions, with Amnesty International also accusing them of attacking a preschool in northeastern Ukraine, with civilians sheltering inside.
The latest waves of more devastating attacks are adding to what was already a humanitarian crisis, with shortages of food, water and medical aid reported.
The latest string of attacks is now leading to calls for an investigation into Putin for committing war crimes. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court responded by opening an investigation.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky went one step further, accusing Russia of “state terrorism,” calling one Russian attack which hit an administrative building in Kharkiv as well as residential arrears an act of “frank, undisguised terror.”
Ukraine And The EU
Earlier this week, Ukraine pushed for EU membership, and the European Union has accepted their application and will start a “special admission” process to try and quickly integrate the country into the EU.
Here in the U.S., the Biden administration recently announced it would be revoking diplomatic privileges for 12 Russian spies accused of espionage. This process had apparently been going on for months, starting long before Russia invaded Ukraine.
<div id="attachment_349130" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-349130" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-349130" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/SERGEI-GUNEYEVSputnikAFP-via-Getty-Images.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/SERGEI-GUNEYEVSputnikAFP-via-Getty-Images.jpeg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/SERGEI-GUNEYEVSputnikAFP-via-Getty-Images-300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />SERGEI GUNEYEV/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images</div>
3) Russian Oligarchs Unhappy With Putin 

The Topline: Russian President Vladimir Putin has been censured by international leaders over his decision to invade Ukraine, but now it appears as though he could be facing mounting displeasure from powerful figures within his own country, as elite members of Russian society are beginning to speak out against the Russian president.
Quote Of The Day: “The biggest and most successful lie of the Kremlin&#8217;s propaganda is that most Russians stand with Putin.”
– Sofia Abramovich, daughter of Roman Abramovich, known as “Putin’s banker,” on Instagram
Who Are The Oligarchs?
Oligarchs are a class of Russian business moguls who are wealthy and powerful enough to influence national politics. They are men who accumulated hundreds of billions of dollars when Russian industry was privatized after the fall of the Soviet Union. This involved oil companies, but also aluminum production, telecom systems, banking systems, and diamond mines.
Today, these tycoons control massive industries in Russia and Putin needs their support. 
The economic sanctions the U.S. and other nations have placed on Russia in the last few days are directly impacting their net worth, prompting the oligarchs to start questioning Putin’s decision to attack Ukraine.
Other Countries
Several European countries have applied other kinds of pressure directly on these oligarchs as well.
The U.K., Canada, and more than 15 other countries have instituted travel bans that are keeping Russian private planes from flying over their airspace. They’ve also promised to block so-called “golden passports” which allow these ultra-wealthy Russians to buy citizenship in Western nations.
Oligarch assets are also being frozen. One unnamed U.S. official said the administration is going to “collectively hunt down…their yachts, jets, fancy cars and luxury homes.”
A number of these oligarchs own extensive property in England and on Monday, the British parliament introduced an economic crime bill directly targeting those assets.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said of the new law, “There is no place for dirty money in the UK. Those backing Putin have been put on notice: there will be nowhere to hide your ill-gotten gains.”
Is It Working?
While it’s hard to tell the direct impacts, over the weekend, two oligarchs, Mikhail Fridman, chairman of Alpha Bank, and Oleg Deripaska, an aluminum magnate, openly broke ranks with the Kremlin.
They didn’t directly ask Putin to end his campaign against Ukraine, but they both called for “peace.”
Additionally, the daughters of these oligarchs have been posting anti-war messages to social media. 
<div id="attachment_349133" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-349133" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-349133" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/David-M.-BenettDave-BenettWireImage-via-Getty-Images.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/David-M.-BenettDave-BenettWireImage-via-Getty-Images.jpeg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/03/David-M.-BenettDave-BenettWireImage-via-Getty-Images-300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage via Getty Images</div>
Other Stories We&#8217;re Tracking
The Batman
Warner Bros. has halted the release of “The Batman” in Russian theaters. A spokesperson said, “In light of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, WarnerMedia is pausing the release of its feature film ‘The Batman’ in Russia.’”
Cargo Vessel
On Tuesday, a large cargo vessel transporting cars from Germany to the U.S. sank off the coast of Portugal. The ship was being towed to shore after a fire broke out, and 22 crew members were evacuated. While car makers have not disclosed the number of the cars onboard, comparable vessels carry some 4,000 vehicles.
Wyoming
The Wyoming <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wyoming-senate-passes-amendment-to-defund-university-of-wyomings-gender-and-womens-studies-program">Senate</a> <a href="https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/senate-votes-to-no-longer-fund-uw-gender-studies-program/article_3aaef771-f088-5050-8425-0ac615a28348.html">passed an amendment</a> to the state budget on Friday that would cut taxpayer funding for the Gender and Women’s Studies program at the University of Wyoming. 
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MWP-220302 FULL

Biden Gives First State Of The Union

It’s Tuesday, March 1st, and this is your Morning Wire. Listen to the full podcast: 
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1) Political Impact Of Ukraine For Biden 

The Topline: As Russia continues its violent invasion of Ukraine, a growing number of Americans now say President Joe Biden could have done more to prevent the conflict.
<div id="attachment_348717" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-348717" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-348717" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Anna-MoneymakerStaffGetty-Images0.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/02/Anna-MoneymakerStaffGetty-Images0.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/02/Anna-MoneymakerStaffGetty-Images0-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Anna Moneymaker/Staff/Getty Images</div>
Biden
President Biden came into last week with a 37% approval rating, which is around his lowest point, and it appears to be going down further with the news from Ukraine. 
According to a Washington-Post/ABC poll, 33% of Americans approve of the president’s handling of the conflict, while 47% disapprove. Another poll from Gallup found that among Democrats, 64% approve of the job he’s doing in Ukraine, while among Independents, that number falls to 35%. 
Twelve months ago, 56% of Americans approved of Biden’s foreign policy, while 40% disapproved. Today, those numbers have flipped. 
According to the poll from ABC, just 23% of Americans say the U.S. has gotten stronger on the world stage since Biden took office. 
Another poll from Gallup gauged Americans’ views of Russia and found that the same number of Republicans and Democrats – 88% each – view Russia unfavorably. 
Over the weekend, President Donald Trump spoke at the conservative conference CPAC, and implied that things in Russia would have gone differently if he were in charge. According to a poll from the Harvard Center for American Political Studies, a large majority of Americans agree, with 62% of those polled saying Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if Trump were still in office. The poll also found that 59% of Americans believed Putin moved on Ukraine now because he saw “Weakness” in President Biden. 
Midterms: A new poll from ABC and the Washington Post shows Republicans with a 49-42 advantage in early midterm voting, while among registered voters who say they’re likely to vote in November, the advantage jumps to 54-41.
<div id="attachment_348721" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-348721" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-348721" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Photo-by-Presidency-of-UkraineHandoutAnadolu-AgencyContributor-via-Getty-Images.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/02/Photo-by-Presidency-of-UkraineHandoutAnadolu-AgencyContributor-via-Getty-Images.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/02/Photo-by-Presidency-of-UkraineHandoutAnadolu-AgencyContributor-via-Getty-Images-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Photo by Presidency of Ukraine/Handout/Anadolu Agency/Contributor via Getty Images</div>
2) Ukraine Updates 

The Topline: The Russian invasion of Ukraine has carried on for more than five days, while pushback from the international community continues to grow.
Developments
Belarus, which Russia used as the launch point for the northern front of their invasion,  could soon join the war themselves. 
The Belarusian border was also the location chosen for initial peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. A Ukrainian delegation arrived to take part in the talks on Monday, while Russia captured two more Ukrainian cities, and the country’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, came under heavy rocket fire.
The first round of peace talks concluded Monday evening in Ukraine, with an agreement on topics for future talks.
Shortly after, explosions were reported in Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv. With reports that the Russians have deployed 75% of their assembled combat power in Ukraine, there have been no noticeable changes in the Russian position, according to U.S. officials.
On Monday, President Zelensky signed an official application to join the European Union.
Zelensky said, &#8220;Our goal is to be with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be equal. I&#8217;m sure that&#8217;s fair. I am sure we deserve it.” Zelensky remains in Kyiv, despite reports that Russia has sent 400 mercenaries into the city to assassinate him.
Putin has escalated his rhetoric. In an economic summit on Monday, for example, he called the West an “empire of lies.” He also ratcheted up fears of nuclear war by putting his nuclear forces on increased alert.
As economic sanctions from the west went into effect, the Russian ruble crashed, losing 40% of its value. In an effort to prop up the ruble, the Russian central bank raised its key interest rate to 20% and ordered companies to sell 80% of their foreign currency revenues.
Refugees: One UN refugee agency said up to 4 million Ukrainians could be displaced. The latest numbers suggest at least 360,000 people have already fled the country. Poland alone has reported taking in at least 200,000 Ukrainians. There are also reports that at least 20,000 Polish citizens have crossed into Ukraine to aid in their defense, but that remains to be confirmed. 
Fake News 
Last week, Zelensky said 13 soldiers on a small island south of Odessa had died “heroically” after Russian warships attacked. Reports that they told the Russian warship to, “go F— yourself,” went viral, especially on social media.
The Ukrainian Navy is now reporting that the soldiers are “alive and well,” having been forced to surrender after repelling two attacks by Russian forces.
<div id="attachment_348718" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-348718" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-348718" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Photographer-Jason-AldenBloombergContributor-via-Getty-Images.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/02/Photographer-Jason-AldenBloombergContributor-via-Getty-Images.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/02/Photographer-Jason-AldenBloombergContributor-via-Getty-Images-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg/Contributor via Getty Images</div>
3) Breaking Down ‘SWIFT’ 

The Topline: Western countries continue to ramp up sanctions on Russia and have moved to block it from the SWIFT banking system. 
Quote Of The Day: “Either they&#8217;re actually able to weather this storm and they&#8217;re strengthened by it …Or in the short run, the bone is so brittle that it&#8217;s going to break in a way that Russia…comes out of this even weaker.”
– Vivek Ramaswamy, entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author
SWIFT 
Russia is now being blocked from the SWIFT banking system.
SWIFT is the system that allows banks to effectively send messages to one another, and allows the wire transfer architecture to operate. It&#8217;s what allows people to wire money from one institution to another. Being pulled off the system makes it very costly for a country to operate in the global financial system. 
China has its own alternative to SWIFT, but there aren’t many people using it by comparison. Russia has a nascent alternative, as well. 
Taking Russia off of the antiquated system could catalyze the transition to making alternatives come to life and develop real network effects of their own. Russia can also effectively use its reliance on crypto and blockchain-based approaches to transfer money in the meantime, in a way that bridges it to plugging into the Chinese or alternative SWIFT system.
<div id="attachment_348719" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-348719" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-348719" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Ben-HastyMediaNews-GroupReading-Eagle-via-Getty-Images-.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/02/Ben-HastyMediaNews-GroupReading-Eagle-via-Getty-Images-.jpeg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/02/Ben-HastyMediaNews-GroupReading-Eagle-via-Getty-Images--300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images</div>
Other Stories We&#8217;re Tracking
Masks
More mask mandates are being lifted across the country. Starting Wednesday, New York’s public school children will no longer need to wear masks. California is also lifting its school mask mandates starting on March 12th, though officials will still “strongly recommend” mask wearing. Masks are also now <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-mask-requirement-dropped-ahead-of-bidens-state-of-the-union-address">optional</a> in the U.S. Capitol complex, including for those who attend the State of the Union address. 
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MWP-220301 FULL

Political Impact Of Ukraine For Biden

It’s Monday, February 28th, and this is your Morning Wire. Listen to the full podcast:<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-top-left-radius: 10px; border-top-right-radius: 10px; border-bottom-right-radius: 10px; border-bottom-left-radius: 10px; background-color: transparent;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ukraine-fights-back-bidens-supreme-court-pick-2-28-22/id1576594336?i=1000552425791&amp;itsct=podcast_box_player&amp;itscg=30200&amp;ls=1&amp;theme=auto" height="175px" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe> 
1) The Latest From Ukraine 

The Topline: As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continued over the weekend, concerns grew that Russian President Vladimir Putin was becoming increasingly erratic in response to unexpectedly strong Ukrainian resistance. On Sunday, Ukraine and Russia agreed to talks “without preconditions,” while at the same time Putin escalated nuclear threats. 
<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/condoleezza-rice-putin-russia-erratic-ukraine">Quote Of The Day:</a> “He was always calculating and cold. But this is different. He seems erratic. There is an ever-deepening, delusional rendering of history. It was always a kind of victimology about what had happened to them, but now it goes back to blaming Lenin for the foundation of Kyiv in…Ukraine.”
– Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice 
<div id="attachment_348393" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-348393" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-348393" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Presidency-of-Ukraine-HandoutAnadolu-AgencyContributor-via-Getty-Images.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/02/Presidency-of-Ukraine-HandoutAnadolu-AgencyContributor-via-Getty-Images.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/02/Presidency-of-Ukraine-HandoutAnadolu-AgencyContributor-via-Getty-Images-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Presidency of Ukraine / Handout/Anadolu Agency/Contributor via Getty Images</div>
The Update
Russian forces continued to assault key Ukrainian cities over the weekend, but were met with far more resistance than originally expected. 
While tens of thousands of Ukrainian women and children have fled to mostly urban areas, all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 60 were not allowed to leave the country. Countless Ukrainians have joined the fight, many of them with weapons given to them by the Ukrainian government.
Other citizens were instructed to help with other forms of defense, such as making Molotov cocktails to use on incoming Russian forces.
The Ukrainian strategy appears to have been far more successful than Putin predicted. By Sunday, Russian forces had still not managed to breach the center of Kyiv, the capital city, even though they arrived on the outskirts on Friday. 
Russian forces have made major inroads in the areas of Ukraine they first invaded. In the north, they flooded from the Belarus border to the outskirts of Kyiv. In the north east, they’ve moved inland from the Russian border and are on the edge of another major city, Kharkiv. Based on current information, Russians have entered that city. They’ve made progress in the eastern areas of Ukraine already under the control of Russian-backed separatists, and also in the south from the Russian annexed Crimea.
There has been a mixture of strategies by the Russians. Tanks have been seen moving quickly through the country, but have faced stronger resistance, especially given that Ukrainian forces are now armed with anti-tank weaponry. 
Ukraine Fights 
On Saturday, it was reported that the U.S. offered to evacuate Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, but he turned them down, choosing to stay in Kyiv, even while surrounded by Russian forces. 
“The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride,” he said.
News coming out of Ukraine is replete with acts of heroism, whether it be reports of a Ukrainian marine giving his life to destroy a bridge to stop a Russian advance, or a civilian standing in front of an advancing Russian tank column.
According to an EU official, Putin is furious the invasion hasn’t been easy, which seems to align with an escalation in his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHVX2sUFdPk">rhetoric</a>.
On Sunday, Putin ordered the status of Russia’s nuclear deterrent forces to “special combat readiness,” worrying many who see Putin as increasingly unstable. 
International Response
After last week’s wave of new sanctions and international uproar, there were further waves of high-level responses. Sanctions on SWIFT, the international banking system, would finally be imposed after European leaders came to an agreement, while Russian airlines are facing an almost complete airspace ban to the west, with the EU and the UK blocking flights. 
There have also been worldwide protests, expressions of support, and boycotts on Russian products. Protests are being held in Russia, with thousands of demonstrators arrested, according to human rights groups.
Elon Musk responded to a request from the Ukrainian government to open up his Starlink internet service over the country, which will make it far more difficult for Russia to block Ukrainians from accessing the internet. 
Zelensky is now demanding that Russia lose its United Nations Security Council spot. The U.S. still buys Russian oil, but the Biden administration appears determined not to expand U.S. energy production as a solution. 
<div id="attachment_348399" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-348399" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-348399" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Valentyn-Semenov-EyeEm-via-Getty-Images.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="400" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/02/Valentyn-Semenov-EyeEm-via-Getty-Images.jpg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/02/Valentyn-Semenov-EyeEm-via-Getty-Images-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Valentyn Semenov / EyeEm via Getty Images</div>
2) Ukraine Official Speaks 

The Topline: The conflict in Ukraine has heightened the scrutiny on President Joe Biden’s handling of the situation, with some members of Ukraine’s government even voicing concerns. 
Ukraine Official
Columnist David Marcus has been in touch with a member of Ukraine’s government, who used some strong language in condemning the United States’ handling of the situation. 
This went back to the Obama administration’s unwillingness to arm the Ukrainians, or in their view, to stand up to Putin. The official did acknowledge that President Donald Trump sent some arms during his presidency, but was quite angry at Biden’s approach to the run up to the invasion. 
Like many of the president’s domestic critics, the official pointed to his failure to sanction Russia prior to the invasion, going all the way back to last year and the lifting of sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. They didn&#8217;t understand why the president took the use of American or NATO troops off the table. It wasn’t necessarily an argument for troops, as much as it was a question of why make concessions when you aren’t getting any. 
Going forward, like almost everyone in the Ukrainian government, the message is to send weapons, along with severe economic sanctions against Russia. 
This official and Ukrainians in general said they know they are winning the war for hearts and minds, and that Putin’s actions are being viewed as increasingly unhinged. 
<div id="attachment_348394" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-348394" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-348394" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2Kevin-Lamarque-PoolPoolGetty-Images.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/02/2Kevin-Lamarque-PoolPoolGetty-Images.jpeg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/02/2Kevin-Lamarque-PoolPoolGetty-Images-300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Kevin Lamarque-Pool/Pool/Getty Images</div>
3) Biden Nominates Judge Jackson To Supreme Court 

The Topline: On Friday, President Joe Biden announced his pick for the upcoming Supreme Court vacancy. The president nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, fulfilling his campaign promise to nominate a black woman to the highest court in the land. 
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson 
Judge Jackson had long been rumored as the most likely Supreme Court pick. 
In 2012, President Barack Obama appointed her to the D.C. District Court, where she served until 2021 when President Biden nominated her to the D..C Circuit Court. Jackson attended Harvard for her undergrad, as well as law school. After college, she clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer from 1999 to 2000 and then served as a public defender. Jackson is also only 51 years old, which would make her the youngest Justice, with the exception of Amy Coney Barrett.
During President Trump’s tenure, she ruled against his administration on multiple high-profile cases. In one, she temporarily blocked a Trump policy that would’ve fast-tracked deportations, while on another, she sided with House Democrats, ruling that members of the Trump administration would not be exempt from testifying in the Russian collusion trial.
While Judge Jackson has all of the experience that a typical Supreme Court nominee would have, many Republicans took issue with how President Biden essentially limited the pool of potential nominees to a sliver of the population by saying he would only nominate a black woman. They said it’s a contradiction to say you’re conducting a “rigorous” search for the most qualified candidate, and then ultimately make the decision based on skin color and gender. Democrats view it differently. They say diversifying the court is essential to creating a balanced judicial system, and have already started to say Republicans&#8217; opposition to Jackson is due in part to her being a black woman.
What’s Next
Congress is almost entirely focused on Ukraine right now, so there hasn’t been much commentary from the Senators who will be conducting the nomination process. In 2021, the Senate confirmed her to the circuit court with a 53-44 vote, but this is expected to be a much tougher process. 
This is the first liberal nominee since Democrats put Justice Brett Kavanaugh through a confirmation process in 2018. A lot of Republicans felt as if he was unfairly maligned and vowed to hold Democrats to the same standard the next time around. 
Remember: Democrats only need all 50 of their members to vote yes, as they can count on Vice President Harris for the tie breaking vote. 
<div id="attachment_348395" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-348395" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-348395" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Xinzheng-via-Getty-Images.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="338" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/02/Xinzheng-via-Getty-Images.jpeg 600w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/02/Xinzheng-via-Getty-Images-300x169.jpeg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" />Xinzheng via Getty Images</div>
Other Stories We&#8217;re Tracking
CDC
The CDC has officially eased mask recommendations for most Americans. Under the CDC’s previous guidance, indoor masking was recommended for about 95% of Americans based on levels of community spread. On Friday, the CDC announced that masks are now appropriate for only about 30% of Americans. The “guidance” does not affect mask use on public transportation, including airplanes. 
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