Overview of Evening Wire: Epstein Files Fallout & Texas Declares Two Terrorist Groups
This episode of Evening Wire (Daily Wire, 11/19/25) runs through the day’s top political and international headlines: fallout from newly released Jeffrey Epstein-related documents, high-profile resignations and investigations, U.S. diplomatic moves on the Ukraine war, state-level terrorism designations in Texas, legal fights over Texas congressional maps, and a set of other domestic and international news items (education department restructuring, a nuclear loan guarantee, campaign appearances, and crime developments).
Top headlines (quick list)
- Epstein files reveal contacts between Jeffrey Epstein and Representative Stacey Plaskett; House GOP motion to censure and strip committee role failed.
- Larry Summers steps back from public roles after extensive email exchanges with Epstein appear in the documents.
- A Pentagon delegation is headed to Kyiv to pursue revived peace talks; meetings with Russian officials planned later.
- Ecuador voters rejected hosting a new U.S. military base in a referendum (61% opposed).
- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott designated the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations under state action.
- A federal court blocked Texas’ new congressional map as racially gerrymandered; Texas is appealing to the Supreme Court.
- Education Department responsibilities are being shifted to other agencies under the Trump administration’s plan to shrink the department.
- The administration approved a $1 billion federal loan guarantee to restart a Three Mile Island reactor to serve a Microsoft data center.
- Kamala Harris campaigned in Nashville for a Democratic congressional candidate; New York Mayor-elect asks for $4M in transition funds.
- U.S. indictment/most-wanted update: Canadian Ryan James Wedding indicted on charges tied to murder, drug trafficking, and money laundering; capture reward increased.
- Kennedy Center to hold its first-ever Christmas tree lighting ceremony on December 17.
Story summaries
Epstein documents / Political fallout
- Newly released Epstein-related materials show text-message exchanges implicating Democratic delegate/Representative Stacey Plaskett communicating with Jeffrey Epstein and seeking his input on questioning Michael Cohen (a Trump critic).
- House Republicans introduced a resolution to censure Plaskett and remove a committee assignment; the motion failed when most House Democrats opposed it.
- Larry Summers (former Treasury Secretary and ex-Harvard president) is reportedly withdrawing from public life and resigning from some boards (including OpenAI) after documents showed extensive email exchanges with Epstein. Harvard has opened an investigation; Summers publicly expressed “shame” over his communications.
Diplomacy & Ukraine
- President Trump dispatched a senior Pentagon delegation (reported led by Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll in this episode) to Ukraine to meet President Zelensky, with later talks planned with Russian officials. The effort is framed as trying to re-start peace negotiations possibly modeled on recent Middle East diplomacy.
Ecuador referendum on U.S. base
- Ecuadorians voted against allowing a new U.S. military base (61% opposed). Analysts say the outcome reflected dissatisfaction with President Daniel Noboa amid domestic problems (outages, medicine shortages) rather than a simple rejection of U.S. presence.
Texas designates Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as terrorist organizations
- Governor Greg Abbott announced state-level designations of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as foreign terrorist organizations.
- The action prohibits these groups from buying/holding land in Texas and raises penalties for those affiliated. Abbott cited alleged ties to extremism and efforts to impose Sharia law.
Texas congressional map & legal fight
- U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown ruled that Texas’ newly enacted congressional map is racially gerrymandered and likely unconstitutional; he ordered the state to use its 2021 map instead.
- Texas is appealing the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Governor Abbott defended the new map as reflecting conservative voting preferences.
Other national/international items
- Education Secretary Lyndon McMahon announced reassigning many Department of Education functions to HHS, Labor, Interior, and State, signaling an administration effort to shrink the department (full abolition still requires Congress).
- The administration approved a $1 billion federal loan guarantee to Constellation Energy to restart a Three Mile Island reactor (not the 1979 partial-meltdown unit) to produce 835 MW; Microsoft intends to use power for a data center.
- Kamala Harris made her first post-election campaign stops in Tennessee supporting Democrat Afton Bain in a Trump-leaning district.
- New York Mayor-elect Joran Mamdani (spelling per transcript) requested $4 million for transition operations, citing the need to vet thousands of applicants and plan policy implementation.
- A group of Democratic lawmakers released a viral call urging service members to refuse “illegal orders”; the video sparked pushback from conservative commentators.
- Canadian fugitive Ryan James Wedding (named in the report) was indicted for leading a major drug trafficking organization; U.S. rewards for capture/information were raised ($15M capture reward; $2M for information on a witness murder).
- The Kennedy Center plans its first-ever tree lighting event for Dec 17, partnering with the U.S. Forest Service.
Notable quotes
- Rep. Ralph Norman (R), on Plaskett: “The American people expect integrity and judgment from their elected officials, not for them to seek advice from a predator who exploited minor children.”
- Larry Summers (classroom remark quoted): “Some of you will have seen my statement of regret expressing my shame with respect to what I did in communication with Mr. Epstein.”
- Education Secretary Lyndon McMahon (X post): Noted the federal Dept. of Education furloughed 90% of its staff during a shutdown and “nothing” happened — used to argue schools operate without federal bureaucracy.
Key takeaways & implications
- The Epstein document releases are producing tangible political consequences and reputational damage for several figures; further revelations could drive additional resignations or investigations.
- State-level terrorism designations (Texas) raise civil liberties and legal questions and could face challenges; they also mark a politicized approach to counterterrorism at the state level.
- The Texas redistricting legal fight likely heads to the Supreme Court and could affect House representation and future redistricting precedent.
- Diplomatic efforts to mediate a peace process in Ukraine indicate continued private channels between Washington and Moscow; outcomes remain uncertain and high-risk.
- Administrative changes (Education Dept. downsizing) and the Three Mile Island loan guarantee show the current administration is pursuing wide-ranging policy shifts in domestic governance and energy policy.
- Crime and law-enforcement updates (notably the large reward and indictment) signal ongoing high-profile transnational cartel enforcement priorities.
Where to find more
- The episode directs listeners to dailywire.com for full stories and additional coverage.